Abstract:
A blocker linkage for use in selectively locking a glider-recliner is provided. The glider-recliner is operable to move between closed, TV and full-recline positions. The blocker linkage includes a glide bracket having front and rear glide links pivotably coupled thereto. The rear glide link has a blocker pin coupled to it that extends outwardly. A carrier link is pivotably coupled to the bottoms of the front and rear glide links. A rear blocker cam is pivotably coupled to the carrier link. Similarly, a front blocker cam is also pivotably coupled to the carrier link. The rear blocker cam and the front blocker cam are operably coupled to cooperatively engage the blocker pin on the rear glide link when the glider-recliner is moved from the closed position to the TV and full-recline positions, preventing movement of the rear glide link (and thus the gliding movement supported by the carrier link).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/368,283, filed on Jul. 29, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Glider-recliner (glider) chairs are generally well known in the furniture industry. The term glider is used throughout this description to describe articles of furniture that include a reclining mechanism with a glider feature. Gliders are chairs that allow the user to reciprocate back-and-forth in a gliding motion. Gliders are known in both a manual configuration (where the user releases the mechanism from closed to TV, and moves the mechanism from TV to full recline) and a motorized version (where a motor is used to move the mechanism between the various positions). 
         [0003]    The reclining motion is achieved in glider chairs with a linkage mechanism that is coupled to the base and/or to a gliding linkage. The linkage mechanisms found in gliders in the art include a plurality of interconnected links that provide one or more mechanisms for extending a footrest, reclining the chair, and obstructing movements of the chair when in specific orientations. Typically, gliders known in the art provide three positions: an upright seated position with the footrest retracted beneath the chair (the closed position), a television viewing or TV position in which the chair back is slightly reclined but still provides a generally upright position with the footrest extended, and a full-recline position in which the chair back is reclined an additional amount farther than in the TV position but still generally inclined with respect to the seat of the chair and with the foot rest extended. For gliders, the chair is permitted to glide when the mechanism is in the closed position. The mechanism “locks” the glide mechanism to prevent gliding movement when the chair is in the TV or full-recline position. 
         [0004]    Previous mechanisms used to lock the glide mechanism sometimes inadvertently locked the glider, when undesired, or resulted in an abrupt stop, which could be unpleasant to users. It would be desirable to provide a glider (whether manual or powered) having a locking structure that is more reliable and that more-smoothly locks the glider when desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not this summary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention are provided here for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure, and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed-description section. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0006]    In an aspect of the invention a blocker linkage for use in selectively locking a glider-recliner is provided. The glider-recliner is operable to move between closed, TV and full-recline positions. The blocker linkage includes a glide bracket having a forward end and a rearward end. A top end of a front glide link is pivotably coupled to the forward end of the glide bracket. Similarly, a top end of a rear glide link is pivotably coupled to the rearward end of the glide bracket. The rear glide link has a blocker pin coupled to it that extends outwardly. A carrier link is pivotably coupled to the bottom of the front glide link and pivotably coupled to the bottom of the rear glide link. A rear blocker cam is pivotably coupled to the carrier link. Similarly, a front blocker cam is also pivotably coupled to the carrier link. The rear blocker cam and the front blocker cam are operably coupled to cooperatively engage the blocker pin on the rear glide link when the glider-recliner is moved from the closed position to the TV and full-recline positions, preventing movement of the rear glide link (and thus the gliding movement supported by the carrier link). 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of selected components of an exemplary glider-recliner chair mechanism in a closed position, showing the blocking linkage disengaged, in accordance with an aspect of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the other side of  FIG. 1 , showing selected components of an exemplary glider-recliner chair mechanism in a closed position, showing the blocking linkage disengaged, in accordance with an aspect of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the components in a forward-glide position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the components in a rearward-glide position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the selected components of  FIG. 1  with the glider recliner in the TV position, showing the blocking linkage engaged, in accordance with an aspect of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  a side view of one side of the components of an exemplary glider-recliner chair mechanism in a closed position, showing the blocking linkage disengaged, in accordance with an aspect of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , with certain components shown in dashed lines to reveal other components; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a view of the mechanism in the TV position, with certain components shown in dashed lines to reveal other components; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a view of the mechanism in the full-recline position with certain components shown in dashed lines to reveal other components; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a side view similar to  FIG. 9 , but from the other side; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , in accordance with an additional aspect of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a view of  FIG. 11 , with certain components, or portions of components, removed for clarity to reveal other components; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a view of the mechanism of  FIG. 11  in the full-recline position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a view of  FIG. 13  with certain components, or portions of components, removed for clarity to reveal other components; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , in accordance with an additional aspect of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of  FIG. 15  with certain components, or portions of components, removed, for clarity; 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  is a view of the mechanism of  FIG. 15  in the full-recline position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  is a view similar to  FIG. 17  with certain components, or portions of components, removed, for clarity; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the mechanism of claim  17 , shown with one side removed for clarity. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The subject matter of aspects of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different steps, components, or combinations thereof, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. 
         [0028]    Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-5 , certain components of a glider-recliner base  10  are shown, in the closed position in accordance with aspects of the invention. The glider-recliner base  10  is more-fully described later, with reference to  FIGS. 6-10 . Glider-recliner base  10  includes a blocker linkage  12  that allows a gliding motion when the glider-recliner base  10  is in the closed position, but blocks a gliding motion when the glider-recliner base  10  is in the TV or full-recline positions. The blocker linkage  12  includes a glide bracket  14  that is typically coupled to a frame supporting the remainder of the mechanism. A top end of a front glide link  16  is pivotably coupled to a front portion of glide bracket  14 , and a top end of a rear glide link  18  is pivotably coupled to a rear portion of glide bracket  14 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the bottom ends of front glide link  16  and rear glide link  18  are pivotably coupled to a carrier link  20 . As best seen in  FIG. 1 , rear glide link  18  includes a blocker pin  22 , which is rigidly secured to the rear glide link  18  generally midway between the top and bottom of the rear glide link  18 . Carrier link  20  is thus supported on glide bracket  14  by front glide link  16  and rear glide link  18  such that the carrier link can reciprocate in a back-and-forth motion (gliding) relative to the glide bracket  14  (and thus the supporting frame) when the glider-recliner is in the closed position. 
         [0029]    When the glider-recliner is in a closed position, the carrier link  20  should thus be able to reciprocate in the back-and-forth gliding motion relative to the glide bracket  14 . However, when the chair is in the TV or full-recline positions, the carrier link  20  should be locked in placed relative to the glide bracket  14 . To facilitate this locking, a front blocker cam  24  is pivotably coupled to carrier link  20  at pivot point  26 . The front blocker cam rotates clock-wise (as viewed in  FIGS. 1 and 3-5 ) about pivot point  26 . The front block cam has a cam surface  28 , as best seen in  FIG. 1 . Similarly, a rear blocker cam  30  is pivotably coupled to carrier link  20  at pivot point  32 . The rear blocker cam rotates counter-clockwise (as viewed in  FIGS. 1 and 3-5 ) about pivot point  32 . The rear blocker cam  30  includes a cam surface  34 , as best seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    The front blocker cam  24  and the rear blocker cam  30  rotate from the position shown in  FIG. 1 , which illustrates the glider-recliner in the closed position, to the position shown in  FIG. 5 , which illustrates the glider recliner in the TV position. As can be seen, in the closed position of  FIG. 1 , the cam surface  28  of front blocker cam  24  and the cam surface  34  of rear blocker cam  30  do not engage the blocker pin  22  on the rear glide link  18 . In this closed position, the glider-recliner can “glide” between a forward-most glide position, shown in  FIG. 3 , and a rearward-most glide position, shown in  FIG. 4 . In the forward-most glide position, the blocker pin  22  abuts a rear notched surface  36  on carrier link  20 . The carrier link  20  is thus prevented from further forward movement by the blocker pin  22  in this position. In the rearward-most glide position, the blocker pin  22  abuts an angled face on carrier link  20 . The carrier link  20  is thus prevented from further rearward movement by the blocker pin  22  in this position. As the glider mechanism moves to the TV position (see  FIG. 5 ), the front blocker cam  24  is rotated about pivot point  26 , and the rear blocker cam  30  is rotated about pivot point  32 . This rotation moves cam surface  28  and cam surface  34  into contact with the blocker pin  22 , as best seen in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0031]    Rotation of front blocker cam  24  and rear blocker cam  30 , in concert with moving from the closed to the TV position, can be achieved in several ways. In a first aspect, as shown in  FIGS. 1-10 , the rotation is driven by movement of a footrest drive link  40  (see  FIG. 6 ). In this exemplary aspect, a blocker control link  42  is pivotably coupled to footrest drive link  40  at pivot point  44 . Blocker control link  42  extends forwardly and is pivotably coupled near its forward end to front blocker cam  24  at pivot point  46 . The forward-most end of blocker control link  42  is pivotably coupled to a blocker connector link  48  at pivot point  50 . The opposite end of blocker connector link  48  is pivotably coupled to rear blocker cam  30  at pivot point  52 . 
         [0032]    As the glider-recliner moves from the closed position to the TV position, the footrest drive link  40  moves forwardly, moving the blocker control link  42  forwardly, and driving rotation of front blocker cam  24  about pivot point  26 . Additionally, as the footrest drive link  40  drives the blocker control link  42  forwardly, the blocker connector link  48  also moves forwardly, driving rotation of the rear blocker cam  30  about pivot point  32 . Therefore, as the glider-recliner moves from the closed position to the TV position, the front blocker cam  24  and the rear blocker cam  30  are rotated in opposite directions. In the TV position ( FIGS. 5, 8 ), cam surface  28  of front blocker cam  24 , and cam surface  34  of rear blocker cam  30  trap the blocker pin  22  on the rear glide link  18 , preventing any gliding movement. This trapped condition of blocker pin  22  remains as the glider recliner is moved to the fully-extend position, as shown in  FIG. 9 . When the glider-recliner is returned to the closed position, the footrest drive link  40  moves rearwardly, and through the connections of the blocker control link  42  and blocker connector link  48 , the front blocker cam  24  and the rear blocker cam  30  are returned to the position shown in  FIG. 7 , once again allowing gliding movement. 
         [0033]    The remainder of the glider-recliner base  10  can be constructed from any of many designs. As one example, the remainder of a recline mechanism  54  of glider-recliner base  10  is shown in  FIGS. 7-10  and described below. Only one side of glider recliner base  10  is shown in the Figures, for clarity, with the removed side being a mirror-image of the side that is shown. Moreover, the recline mechanism  54  is coupled to a manual or motorized base assembly as would be understood by those of skill in the art. The recline mechanism  54  is coupled to the glider-recliner base  10  at one point through a rear pivot link  56  pivotably coupled to carrier link  20  at pivot point  58 . Rear pivot link  56  has a generally triangular shape, as shown. As best seen in  FIG. 9 , the lower end of rear pivot link  56  is pivotably coupled to a footrest drive link  40  through a roller  60  that rides within a slot  62  on a sequence link  64 . The opposite end of sequence link  64  is pivotably coupled to a rear lift link  66  at pivot point  67 , seen in  FIG. 10 . Sequence link  64  thus extends between rear lift link  66  and rear pivot link  56 , and is also coupled to footrest drive link  40 . 
         [0034]    As best seen in  FIG. 10 , the rear lift link  66  is pivotably coupled on its rearward end to rear pivot link  56  at pivot point  68 . The opposite end of rear lift link  66  is pivotably coupled to a connector link  70  at pivot point  72 . The rear lift link  66  thus extends between, and is pivotably coupled to, the rear pivot link  56  and the connector link  70 . As best seen in  FIG. 9 , a rear back pivot link  74  is pivotably coupled to rear lift link  66  at pivot point  76 . The rear lift link  66  is also pivotably connected to a seat mounting plate  104  at pivot point  69 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 . The travel of rear lift link relative to sear mounting plate  104  is limited by a pin and slot coupling  71 . The opposite end of rear back pivot link  74  is pivotably coupled to back bracket  78  at pivot point  80 . The back bracket  78  is shaped as shown, with an upper extending leg that is used to couple the back bracket  78  to a back of the chair. The forward, lower area of back bracket  78  is pivotably coupled to an upper end of a forward back pivot link  82  at pivot point  84 . The lower end of forward back pivot link  82  is pivotably coupled to rear lift link  66  at pivot point  86 . An alternative coupling of forward back pivot link  82  is shown in  FIGS. 15 and 17 , where forward back pivot link  82  is pivotably coupled on its lower end to seat mounting plate  104 , at pivot point  86 . 
         [0035]    As best seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a rearward end of a control link  88  is pivotably coupled to the forward back pivot link  82  at pivot point  90 . The forward end of control link  88  is pivotably coupled to a front lift link  92  at pivot point  94 . The front lift link  92  is pivotably coupled on its rear end to the upper end of connector link  70  at pivot point  96  ( FIG. 9 ). A forward end of front lift link  92  is pivotably coupled to the upper end of a front pivot link  98  at pivot point  100 . Below pivot point  94 , front lift link  92  is also pivotably coupled to a seat mounting plate  104  at pivot point  106  (see  FIG. 10 ). The lower end of front pivot link  98  is pivotably coupled to carrier link  20  at pivot point  108 . 
         [0036]    As best seen in  FIG. 6 , footrest drive link  40  extends from the connection to sequence link  64  and rear pivot link  56  forwardly and is pivotably connected on its forward end to a rear ottoman link  110  at pivot point  112 . Rear ottoman link  110  is pivotably coupled on its upper end to seat mounting plate  104  at pivot point  114 . The opposite end of rear ottoman link  110  is pivotably coupled to a footrest extension link  116  at pivot point  118  (see  FIG. 9 ). The end of footrest extension link  116  opposite pivot point  118  is pivotably coupled to a mid-ottoman bracket  120  and pivot point  122 . Additionally, footrest extension link  116  is pivotably coupled, generally at a mid-point, to a front ottoman link  124  at pivot point  126 . Front ottoman link  124  is pivotably coupled on one end to seat mounting plate  104  at pivot point  128  (see  FIG. 10 ), and is pivotably coupled on the other end to a wide ottoman link  130  at pivot point  132 . The wide ottoman link  130  is pivotably coupled on its other end to an ottoman bracket  134  at pivot point  136 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , a mid-point of the mid-ottoman bracket  120  is pivotably coupled to the wide ottoman link  130  at pivot point  138 . A footrest control link  140  is pivotably coupled on one end to ottoman bracket  134  at pivot point  142 , and is pivotably coupled on the other end to mid-ottoman bracket  120  at pivot point  144 . The ottoman linkage described above can be moved from a closed position in  FIGS. 6-7 , to an extended position as shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . 
         [0037]    As noted above, rotation of front blocker cam  24  and rear blocker cam  30 , in concert with moving from the closed to the TV position, can be achieved in several ways. Another exemplary aspect is shown in  FIGS. 11-14 . In this aspect, the rotation is again driven by movement of the footrest drive link  40 . A blocker control link  150  is pivotably coupled to footrest drive link  40  at pivot point  152 . Blocker control link  150  extends forwardly and is pivotably coupled on its forward end to a blocker connector link  154  at pivot point  156 . Blocker connector link  154  has an approximate J-shape and is pivotably coupled on one outer end to front blocker cam  24  at pivot point  158  and is pivotably coupled on the other outer end to rear blocker cam  30  at pivot point  160 . Operationally, this aspect functions largely as described above. More specifically, as the glider-recliner moves from the closed position to the TV position, the footrest drive link  40  moves forwardly, moving the blocker control link  150  forwardly. This movement also moves the blocker connector link  154  forwardly and upwardly (compare  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 12 ). As the blocker connector link  154  moves it drives rotation of front blocker cam  24  about pivot point  26  and the rear blocker cam  30  about pivot point  32 . Therefore, as the glider-recliner moves from the closed position to the TV position, the front blocker cam  24  and the rear blocker cam  30  are again rotated in opposite directions. In the TV position, cam surface  28  of front blocker cam  24 , and cam surface  34  of rear blocker cam  30  hold the blocker pin  22  on the rear glide link  18 , preventing any gliding movement. This held condition of blocker pin  22  remains as the glider recliner is moved to the fully-extend position, as shown in  FIG. 13 . When the glider-recliner is returned to the closed position, the footrest drive link  40  moves rearwardly, and through the connections of the blocker control link  150  and blocker connector link  154 , the front blocker cam  24  and the rear blocker cam  30  are returned to the position shown in  FIG. 11 , once again allowing gliding movement. 
         [0038]    Another exemplary aspect for implementing rotation of the front and rear blocker cams, in concert with moving from the closed to the TV position, is shown in  FIGS. 15-19 . In this aspect, the rotation of a front blocker cam  24 ′ is again driven by movement of the footrest drive link  40 . More specifically, a front blocker control link  170  is pivotably coupled to footrest drive link  40  at pivot point  172 . Front blocker control link  170  extends forwardly and is pivotably coupled on its forward end directly to the front blocker cam  24 ′ at pivot point  174 . A rear blocker control link  176  is pivotably coupled on one end to rear pivot link  56  and pivot point  178 , and is pivotably coupled on the other end to a rear blocker cam  30 ′ at pivot point  180 . In this aspect, front blocker cam  24 ′ and rear blocker cam  30 ′ have slightly different overall shapes so as to properly connect with the front blocker control link  170  and the rear blocker control link  176 , respectively. Operationally, this aspect functions as the other embodiments described above, in that front blocker cam  24 ′ and rear blocker cam  30 ′ are caused to rotate in opposite directions as the glider-recliner moves from the closed position to the TV position. In this aspect however, as the footrest drive link  40  moves forwardly, it drives the front blocker control link  170  forwardly, to drive rotation of front blocker cam  24 ′ about pivot point  26 . As the glider-recliner moves from the closed position to the TV position, the rear pivot link  56  rotates, driving rotation of rear blocker cam  30 ′ about pivot point  32 . Therefore, as the glider-recliner moves from the closed position to the TV position, the front blocker cam  24 ′ and the rear blocker cam  30 ′ are again rotated in opposite directions. In the TV position, cam surface  28  of front blocker cam  24 ′, and cam surface  34  of rear blocker cam  30 ′ hold the blocker pin  22  on the rear glide link  18 , preventing any gliding movement. This held condition of blocker pin  22  remains as the glider recliner is moved to the fully-extend position, as shown in  FIG. 19 . When the glider-recliner is returned to the closed position, the footrest drive link  40  moves rearwardly, and through the connections of the front blocker control link  170 , the front blocker cam  24 ′ is returned to the position shown in  FIG. 15 . As the glider-recliner is returned to the closed position, the rear pivot link  56  rotates, and through the connection of the rear blocker control link  176 , the rear blocker cam  30 ′ also is returned to the position shown in  FIG. 15 , once again allowing gliding movement. 
         [0039]    The blocker linkage described above can be implemented on a motorized glider-recliner or a manual glider-recliner, depending on the desired end use. As would be understood by those of skill in the art, in a motorized version, such as shown in  FIG. 19 , a base and motor are coupled to the glider-recliner linkage. An exemplary base and motor structure is shown and described in United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/368,283, filed on Jul. 29, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0040]    Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.