Patent Publication Number: US-10779653-B2

Title: Furniture member having legrest mechanism

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/US2017/043899 filed on Jul. 26, 2017, which claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 15/272,825 filed on Sep. 22, 2016. The entire disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a furniture member having a legrest mechanism. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art. 
     Furniture members such as chairs, sofas, loveseats, sectionals, and the like can include a mechanism that allows an occupant of the furniture member to move a legrest panel or platform from a stowed or retracted position to a deployed or extended position to support the legs and/or feet of the occupant. Other furniture members include rocker assemblies that allow for one or more seat assemblies to rock between a rocked-back tilt position and a rocked-forward tilt position. 
     The present disclosure provides a furniture member having an extendable legrest. The furniture member of the present disclosure may also include a tilt mechanism that locks the seat assembly in a selected tilt position when the occupant moves the legrest out of the retracted position. This allows the occupant to select a position of the furniture member that provides optimal comfort for any given occupant on any given occasion. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     The present disclosure provides a furniture member that may include a base frame and a seat assembly mounted on the base frame. The seat assembly may include a seat frame, a seatback, a seat bottom, and a legrest mechanism. The seatback is mounted to the seat frame. The seat bottom is mounted to the seat frame. The legrest mechanism may be mounted to the seat frame and attached to a legrest platform. The legrest mechanism may include a drive rod coupled to a pantograph linkage that is movable relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     In some configurations, the furniture member includes a rocker member attached to the seat frame and in rolling contact with the base frame. The rocker member may support the seat assembly relative to the base frame such that the seat assembly is movable between a fully rocked-back tilt position and a fully rocked-forward tilt position. 
     In some configurations, the furniture member includes a tilt mechanism that selectively locks the seat assembly in one of an infinite number of tilt positions between the fully rocked-back tilt position and the fully rocked-forward tilt position. 
     In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a cam, a first link (e.g., a cam support link), a second link (e.g., a connecting link), and a cam follower. The cam may be coupled to the drive rod and the first link. The first link may be rotatably mounted to the base frame. The second link may be rotatably coupled to the first link and the seat frame. The cam follower may be rotatably coupled to the second link. The first and second links may rotate relative to the base frame and the seat frame as the seat assembly moves between the fully rocked-back and fully rocked-forward tilt positions. 
     In some configurations, rotation of the drive rod relative to the seat frame causes corresponding rotation of the cam about a first rotational axis extending through the cam and the first link between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cam may frictionally engage the cam follower in the locked position to lock the seat assembly in one of the infinite number of tilt positions between the fully rocked-back tilt position and the fully rocked-forward tilt position. The cam may be disengaged from the cam follower in the unlocked position. 
     In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a third link (e.g., an actuation link) operatively coupling the cam with the drive rod. The cam may be rotatable relative to the third link about a second rotational axis that extends through the cam and the third link. 
     In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a crank link coupling the drive rod with the third link. 
     In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a fourth link (e.g., a cam follower support link) coupled to the seat frame and rotatable relative to the first and second links. The cam follower may be rotatably attached to an end of the fourth link. 
     In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a first stop member that extends from the second link and limits a range of rotational motion of the fourth link relative to the second link. 
     In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a spring attached to the first stop member and the cam follower. 
     In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a cam follower runner extending outward from the cam follower and slidably engaging the cam when the cam is in the unlocked position. The cam follower runner may maintain a cam engagement surface of the cam follower spaced apart from the cam in the unlocked position. 
     In some configurations, the seat assembly includes a brace member extending from the drive rod to a front rail plate of the seat frame. The brace member may include a second stop member extending therefrom and further limiting the range of rotational motion of the fourth link relative to the second link. 
     In some configurations, the cam includes a convex cam surface that engages a concave cam engagement surface of the cam follower. 
     In some configurations, a friction pad is attached to a body of the cam follower and defines the concave cam engagement surface. The body of the cam follower may be formed from a first material, and the friction pad may be formed from a second material having a higher coefficient of friction than the first material. 
     In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a torsion spring attached to the cam and the first link and rotationally biasing the cam about a first rotational axis relative to the first link. The first rotational axis extends through the first link and the cam. 
     In some configurations, the legrest mechanism includes a mid-ottoman bracket non-rotatably attached to a link of the pantograph linkage. The mid-ottoman bracket is disposed between the seat bottom and the legrest platform when the pantograph linkage is in the extended position. 
     In some configurations, the mid-ottoman bracket is removably attached to the link of the pantograph linkage with a fastener (e.g., a threaded fastener, a rivet, etc.). 
     In some configurations, all of the links of the pantograph (except for a bracket link to which the legrest platform is attached) are flat (i.e., lacking offsets). 
     In some configurations, the seat assembly includes a front swing link having a first end pivotably coupled to a first bracket fixedly attached to the seat bottom and a second end pivotably coupled to a second bracket fixedly attached to a front rail plate of the seat frame. 
     In some configurations, the seatback is rotatable relative to the seat bottom between a reclined position and an upright position. Rotation of the seatback may cause rotation of the front swing link relative to the seat frame. Rotation of the front swing link relative to the seat frame may move the seat bottom forward or backward relative to the seat frame. 
     The present disclosure also provides a furniture member that may include a base frame, a seat frame, a rocker member, a legrest mechanism, and a tilt mechanism. The seat frame is mounted to the base frame. The rocker member is attached to the seat frame and is in rolling contact with the base frame. The rocker member supports the seat frame relative to the base frame such that the seat frame is movable between a fully rocked-back tilt position and a fully rocked-forward tilt position. The legrest mechanism is mounted to the seat frame and is attached to a legrest platform. The legrest mechanism may include a drive rod coupled to a pantograph linkage that is movable relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The tilt mechanism may include a cam and a cam follower. The drive rod may be drivingly coupled to the cam to move the cam relative to the cam follower between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cam may frictionally engage the cam follower in the locked position to lock the seat frame in one of an infinite number of tilt positions between the fully rocked-back tilt position and the fully rocked-forward tilt position. The cam may be disengaged from the cam follower in the unlocked position. 
     The present disclosure also provides a furniture member that may include a base frame, a seat frame, a seat bottom, a seatback, a front swing link, a rocker member, a legrest mechanism, and a tilt mechanism. The seat frame is mounted to the base frame. The seat bottom is mounted to the seat frame. The seatback is mounted to the seat frame. The seatback is rotatable relative to the seat bottom and the seat frame between a reclined position and an upright position. The front swing link includes a first end pivotably coupled to a first bracket fixedly attached to the seat bottom and a second end pivotably coupled to a second bracket fixedly attached to a front rail plate and/or a side rail plate of the seat frame. Rotation of the seatback between the reclined and upright positions may cause rotation of the front swing link relative to the seat frame. Rotation of the front swing link relative to the seat frame may move the seat bottom relative to the seat frame. The rocker member may be attached to the seat frame and is in rolling contact with the base frame. The rocker member supports the seat frame relative to the base frame such that the seat frame is movable between a fully rocked-back tilt position and a fully rocked-forward tilt position. The legrest mechanism is mounted to the seat frame and attached to a legrest platform. The legrest mechanism may include a drive rod coupled to a pantograph linkage that is movable relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The legrest mechanism may include a mid-ottoman bracket non-rotatably and removably attached to a link of the pantograph linkage. The mid-ottoman bracket may be disposed between the seat bottom and the legrest platform when the pantograph linkage is in the extended position. The tilt mechanism including a cam and a cam follower. The drive rod may be drivingly coupled to the cam to move the cam relative to the cam follower between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cam frictionally engages the cam follower in the locked position to lock the seat frame in one of an infinite number of tilt positions between the fully rocked-back tilt position and the fully rocked-forward tilt position. The cam may be disengaged from the cam follower in the unlocked position. In some configurations, a cam follower support link may move the center of a pivot of the cam follower to an over-center position relative to a pivot of the cam (e.g., a rotational axis of the cam extending through the cam and cam support links) to prevent disengagement of the cam follower from the cam during operational use. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a furniture member having a tilt mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the furniture member; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the furniture member in a nominal tilt position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the furniture member in the nominal tilt position and with portions of a base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show a tilt mechanism in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the furniture member in a rocked-back tilt position; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the furniture member in the rocked-back tilt position and with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in the unlocked position; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the furniture member in a rocked-forward tilt position; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the furniture member in the rocked-forward tilt position and with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in the unlocked position; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the tilt mechanism in the unlocked position; 
         FIG. 10  is another perspective view of the tilt mechanism in the unlocked position; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the furniture member in the nominal tilt position with a seatback in a reclined position and a legrest mechanism in an extended position; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the furniture member positioned as shown in  FIG. 11  with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in a locked position; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the furniture member in the rocked-back tilt position with the seatback in the reclined position and the legrest mechanism in the extended position and with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in the locked position; 
         FIG. 14  is a partial side view of the furniture member with the legrest moving toward the retracted position and the tilt mechanism moving toward the unlocked position; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a front swing link and brackets; 
         FIG. 16  is another side view of the furniture member in the rocked-back tilt position with the seatback in the reclined position and the legrest mechanism in the extended position and with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in the locked position; 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of the furniture member with the seatback in the reclined position with portions of the base frame, seat frame, legrest mechanism and tilt mechanism removed to more clearly show a position of the front swing link; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the furniture member with the seatback in the upright position with portions of the base frame, seat frame, legrest mechanism and tilt mechanism removed to more clearly show a position of the front swing link; 
         FIG. 19  is another side view of the furniture member with the seatback in the upright position with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show positions of the front swing link and links connecting the seatback and seat bottom; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a pantograph linkage of the legrest mechanism with a mid-ottoman bracket removed according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a pantograph linkage of the legrest mechanism with the mid-ottoman bracket attached according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 22  is partial side view of the furniture member with another configuration of the tilt mechanism in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 23  is a side view of the pantograph linkage of  FIG. 21  in a fully extended position; and 
         FIG. 24  is a top view of the pantograph linkage of  FIG. 21  in the fully extended position. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a furniture member  10  is provided that may include a base frame  12 , a seat assembly  14 , a legrest mechanism  16 , and a tilt mechanism  18 . As will be described in more detail below, the seat assembly  14  may be configured to rock relative to the base frame  12  among a nominal tilt position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), a rocked-back tilt position ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ), and a rocked-forward tilt position ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). The seat assembly  14  may be movable between a reclined position ( FIGS. 16 and 17 ) and an upright position ( FIGS. 18 and 19 ) while the furniture member  10  is in any of the nominal, rocked-back, and rocked-forward tilt positions (and in any tilt position between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions). Furthermore, the legrest mechanism  16  is movable between a retracted position ( FIGS. 18 and 19 ) and an extended position ( FIGS. 16 and 17 ) while the furniture member  10  is in any of the nominal, rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions (and in any tilt position between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions) and while the seat assembly  14  is in either of reclined and upright positions (or any position therebetween). As shown in  FIGS. 12-14 , when the legrest mechanism  16  is moved into the extended position (i.e., a fully extended position or a partially extended position), the tilt mechanism  18  locks the seat assembly  14  into a selected tilt position (i.e., the seat assembly  14  is prevented from rocking relative to the base frame  12 ). As the legrest mechanism  16  moves into the retracted position, the tilt mechanism  18  unlocks the seat assembly  14  relative to the base frame  12  to allow the seat assembly  14  to rock among the nominal, rocked-back, and rocked-forward tilt positions. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-8 , the base frame  12  may include plurality of stationary beams including, for example, a pair of side support members  20  and a pair of cross members  22  (only one of which is shown in  FIG. 1 ). The cross members  22  are spaced apart from each other and are attached to and extend between the side support members  20 . A pair of feet  24  ( FIG. 3 ) may be attached to each of the side support members  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the seat assembly  14  may include a seat frame  28 , a seatback  30 , a seat bottom  32 , and a legrest platform  34 . The seat frame  28  may include a plurality of armrests  36  and a seat base  38  that supports the seatback  30 , the seat bottom  32  and the legrest mechanism  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 4, 6 and 8 , a pair of rocker assemblies  40  (only one of which is shown in the figures) may be attached to the seat base  38  and the base frame  12  to allow the seat assembly  14  to rock relative to the base frame  12  among the nominal, rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions. 
     Each rocker assembly  40  includes a rocker member  42  and a pair of springs  44 . The rocker member  42  is fixedly attached to the seat base  38  and rollingly contacts a corresponding one of the side support members  20  of the base frame  12 . Each pair of springs  44  are attached via brackets  46  to the corresponding rocker member  42  and the corresponding side support member  20 . The springs  44  allow the rocker members  42  to rock along the side support members  20  between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions ( FIGS. 5-8 ) while biasing the rocker members  42  (and hence, the seat assembly  14 ) toward the nominal position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The rocker assemblies  40  could have the structure and function of those disclosed in Assignee&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 9,314,101, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 19 , the seatback  30  is rotatably coupled to the seat base  38  to allow the seatback  30  to rotate relative to the seat frame  28  and the seat bottom  32  between the fully upright position (e.g.,  FIGS. 18 and 19 ) and the fully reclined position (e.g.,  FIGS. 16 and 17 ). The seatback  30  is pivotably coupled to the seat frame  28  by a pair of rear swing links  48 . Each rear swing link  48  is pivotably coupled to a friction link  50  and a rear arm  52 . The rear arms  52  include fasteners  54  that slidably engage slots  56  in the friction links  50 . The seat bottom  32  is supported by the rear arms  52  and a pair of front swing links  58  ( FIGS. 15, 16 and 19 ). As shown in  FIG. 18 , each front swing link  58  is rotatably coupled at one end to the seat bottom  32  via a first bracket  59  and coupled at the other end to a front rail plate  60  and a side rail plate  61  of the seat base  38  via a second bracket  62  (e.g., an L-shaped bracket). The front swing links  58  may be rotatably coupled to the brackets  59 ,  62  via preloaded joint assemblies  63 ,  67  ( FIG. 15 ). The joint assemblies  63 ,  67  can be similar or identical to the joint assemblies disclosed in Assignee&#39;s co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/174,060, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The rear arms  52  and the front swing links  58  cooperate to support the seat bottom  32 . When the seatback  30  rotates relative to the seat frame  28  between the upright and reclined positions, the slots  56  of the friction links  50  slide along the fasteners  54 , and the front swing links  58  rotate relative to the seat bottom  32  and the front rail plate  60 , thereby moving the seat bottom  32  forward relative to the seat frame  28  (compare  FIGS. 16 and 19 ). Moving the seat bottom  32  forward and rearward using the front swing links  58  allows for an amount of material at or near the top corners of the front rail plate  60  to be increased as compared to seat bottoms that are moved forward and rearward using brackets (placed at the front of the seat bottom  32 ) having slots that slide along a support rod. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 11-14 , the legrest mechanism  16  may include the drive rod  64  ( FIG. 2 ) and a pair of pantograph linkages  66  (only one of which is shown in the figures). A handle  68  ( FIGS. 2 and 11 ) is connected to an end of the drive rod  64 . Rotation of the handle  68  relative to the seat frame  28  causes corresponding rotation of the drive rod  64  relative to the seat frame  28 . The drive rod  64  is rotatably coupled to drive links  65  ( FIG. 2 ; only one of which is shown in the figures) which is rotatably coupled to the pantograph linkages  66  such that rotation of the drive rod  64  causes the pantograph linkages  66  to move between the retracted position ( FIG. 2 ) and the extended position ( FIGS. 11-14 ). The legrest platform  34  is attached to and supported by the pantograph linkages  66  such that a user may rest his or her legs and/or feet on the legrest platform  34  while sitting in the furniture member  10  with the legrest mechanism  16  in the extended position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 21, 23, and 24 , each of the pantograph linkages  66  may include a first support link  70 , a swing link  72 , a second support link  74 , a cross link  76 , a third support link  78 , a bracket link  80 , and a mid-ottoman bracket  82 . In some configurations, preloaded joint assemblies similar or identical to the joint assemblies disclosed in Assignee&#39;s commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,986,832 can be utilized to rotatably couple any of two or more of the links  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80  to each other. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 16 , a first end  84  of the first support link  70  may be rotatably coupled to an end of the drive link  65 . As shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , a second end  86  of the first support link  70  is rotatably coupled to a first end  88  of the cross link  76 . An intermediate portion  90  of the first support link  70  (disposed between the first and second ends  84 ,  86 ) is rotatably coupled to an intermediate portion  92  of the swing link  72 . 
     In some configurations, the first support link  70  can be a substantially flat member without any offsets, as shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . Forming the first support link  70  without offsets improves the load capacity of the first support link  70 . In some configurations, the swing link  72 , the second support link  74 , the cross link  76 , and the third support link  78  may also be substantially flat members without any offsets. As shown in  FIG. 21 , the first support link  70  may be formed with varying width to provide improved column strength. For example, the increasing width of the first support link  70  as the first support link  70  extends from the intermediate portion  90  to the first end  84  improves resistance to buckling from compressive loads that originate from the pivots at the second end  86  and the intermediate portion  90 ). The width of the first support link  70  can be narrower between the intermediate portion  90  and the second end  86 , where the distance between the pivots at the second end  86  and the intermediate portion  90  is shorter than the distance between the pivots at the first end  84  and the intermediate portion  90 . 
     Forming the links  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  as flat members without any offsets also allows the links  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  to be non-handed (i.e., identical links can be used in the right-hand-side pantograph linkage  66  and in the left-hand-side pantograph linkage  66  of the seat assembly  14 ). 
     The links  70 ,  72 ,  74  are configured to travel side-by-side between the retracted and extended positions to prevent spaces between the links  70 ,  72 ,  74  from opening and closing during movement of the pantographs  66  so that foreign objects cannot be inadvertently inserted into such spaces and pinched during movement between the retracted and extended positions. As shown in  FIG. 24 , the links  70 ,  78  are in line with each other (i.e., disposed in the same plane), and the links  72 ,  76  and part of link  80  (i.e., the portion of link  80  that extends toward and away from the legrest platform  34 ) are in line with each other. The second support link  74  may be spaced outward from the links  72 ,  76 . As shown in  FIGS. 13, 20, and 23 , the second support link  74  may be formed wide enough to block potential pinch-points between the links  70 ,  72  and between links  70 ,  76 . In this manner, the second support link  74  may be multi-functional—i.e., a structural link, a guard to block pinch-points, and an aesthetic member that partially cover the rotation of links  72 ,  76  when the legrest mechanism is in the extended position. 
     A first end  94  of the swing link  72  may be rotatably coupled to a support rod  96  ( FIG. 2 ) that is mounted to the seat frame  28 . As shown in  FIG. 21 , a second end  98  of the swing link  72  may be rotatably coupled to a first end  100  of the second support link  74 . The intermediate portion  92  of the swing link  72  is disposed between the first and second ends  94 ,  98 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , a second end  102  of the second support link  74  is rotatably coupled to a first end  104  of the bracket link  80 . As shown in  FIG. 20 , an intermediate portion  106  of the second support link  74  (disposed between the first and second ends  100 ,  102 ) is rotatably coupled to an intermediate portion  108  of the cross link  76 . A second end  110  of the cross link  76  is rotatably coupled to a first end  112  of the third support link  78 . A second end  114  of the third support link  78  is rotatably coupled to a second end  116  of the bracket link  80 . The legrest platform  34  may be fixedly attached to the bracket link  80 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     The mid-ottoman bracket  82  may support a mid-ottoman platform  83  ( FIGS. 14 and 16 ) such that the mid-ottoman platform  83  is positioned between the seat bottom  32  and the legrest platform  34  when the legrest mechanism  16  is in the extended position ( FIG. 16 ). As shown in  FIG. 21 , the mid-ottoman bracket  82  may be fixedly (i.e., non-rotatably) attached to the cross link  76  by a fastener  118  (e.g., a screw, bolt, rivet, etc.). Attaching the mid-ottoman bracket  82  to the cross link  76  in this manner allows for the same pantograph linkages  66  to be used in non-chaise versions of the furniture member  10  (i.e., configurations having the mid-ottoman bracket  82  and mid-ottoman platform  83 ) and in chaise versions of the furniture member  10  (i.e., configurations that do not have the mid-ottoman bracket  82  and mid-ottoman platform  83 ). That is, the manufacturer of the furniture member  10  can optionally attach the mid-ottoman bracket  82  and mid-ottoman platform  83  to the cross link  76  ( FIG. 21 ) for non-chaise versions of the furniture member  10  or omit the mid-ottoman bracket  82  and mid-ottoman platform  83  ( FIG. 20 ) for chaise versions of the furniture member  10  without making any changes to the structure of the pantograph linkage  66 . This reduces the number of sub-assemblies that the manufacturer needs to have in inventory to offer chaise and non-chaise configurations of the furniture member  10 . 
     In some configurations, one or more of the links  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80  of the pantographs  66  could be made longer to increase the distance between the seat bottom  32  and the legrest platform  34 . To accommodate the longer links, openings in the front rail plate  60  may need to be made larger and/or the base frame  12  may need to be heightened so that the seat assembly  14  is higher off of the ground. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the tilt mechanism  18  may include an actuation link  120 , a cam  122 , a pair of cam support links  124 , a pair of connecting links  126 , a cam follower  128 , and a pair of cam follower support links  130 . The actuation link  120  may be rotatably coupled at one end to a crank link  132  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) and rotatably coupled at the other end to the cam  122 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the crank link  132  is coupled to the drive rod  64  such that rotation of the drive rod  64  (via handle  68 ) causes corresponding motion of the crank link  132  and the actuation link  120 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the cam  122  includes a cam body  134  and a convex curved cam surface  136  that defines a portion of the outer periphery of the cam body  134 . The cam body  134  may be rotatably coupled to an intermediate portion  138  of each of the cam support links  124 . One or more torsion springs  139  ( FIG. 10 ) are attached to the cam body  134  and the cam support links  124  and rotationally bias the cam  122  relative to the cam support links  124  in a clockwise direction (relative to the frame of reference of  FIG. 4 ). First ends  140  of the cam support links  124  are rotatably coupled to brackets  142  that are fixedly mounted to the base frame  12  (e.g., one of the cross members  22 ). Second ends  144  of the cam support links  124  are rotatably coupled to first ends  146  of the connecting links  126 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the second ends  148  of the connecting links  126  are rotatably coupled to the support rod  96  (which is attached to the seat frame  28 ) via one or more bushings  150 . Because the cam support links  124  are mounted for rotation relative to the base frame  12 , and the connecting links  126  are rotatably mounted to the cam support links  124  for rotation relative to the seat frame  28 , the rocking motion of the seat assembly  14  relative to the base frame  12  between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions causes corresponding rotation of the cam support links  124  and the connecting links  126  (see  FIGS. 4, 6 and 8 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the cam follower  128  includes a cam engagement surface  152  and is rotatably coupled to a first end  154  of each cam follower support link  130 . The cam engagement surface  152  is a concave surface having a radius that substantially matches a radius of the convex cam surface  136  of the cam  122 . In some configurations, a friction pad  153  is attached to a main body of the cam follower  128 . The friction pad  153  may define the cam engagement surface  152  and may be formed from a material having a higher coefficient of friction than a material from which the main body of the cam follower  128  is formed. For example, the main body of the cam follower  128  may be formed from a relatively hard polymer or metal, and the friction pad  153  can be formed from urethane (e.g., with a Shore hardness of about 60 A) or any other polymer or elastomer that allows for improved grip with the cam surface  136 . In some configurations, the friction pad  153  can be attached to the cam follower  128  with brads or other fasteners. In some configurations, the cam surface  136  may include a surface texture (i.e., scratches and/or scuffs formed by rubbing steel wool or other abrasive material on the cam surface  136 ) that increases the coefficient of friction of the cam surface  136 . In some configurations, the cam follower  128  can be formed from a single, homogenous material selected such that the minimum coefficient of friction between the cam follower  128  and the cam  122  is approximately 0.5, for example. 
     A second end  156  of each cam follower support link  130  is rotatably coupled to the support rod  96  and the second ends  148  of the connecting links  126  via a bushing  158 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , a spring  160  is attached to the cam follower  128  and to a peg  162  that is attached to and spans between the two connecting links  126 . The spring  160  causes rotation of the cam follower  128  relative to the cam follower support links  130  as the cam follower support links  130  rotate relative to the connecting links  126 . The peg  162  also acts as a stop member to limit to a range of relative rotation between the connecting links  126  and the cam follower support links  130 . The spring  160  also rotationally biases the cam follower support links  130  toward the peg  162 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , brace members  164  are mounted to the drive rod  64  and the front rail plate  60 . The drive rod  64  is allowed to rotate relative to the brace members  164 . A cross member  166  extends between the brace members  164  and acts as a stop member to limit the range of rotational motion of the cam follower support links  130 . The brace members  164  also support the support rod  96  and are supported by pegs  168  attached to the connecting links  126 . In this manner, the tilt mechanism  18  can assist in supporting the weight of the seat bottom  32  and an occupant sitting on the seat bottom  32 . The pegs  168  may act as an overall stop (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) to prevent the cam support links  124  and the connecting links  126  from moving over-center at pivots defined by bushings  150  and ends  140 ,  144  of the cam support links  124 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-21 , operation of the tilt mechanism  18  will be described in detail. As described above, the seat assembly  14  is able to freely rock between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions while the legrest mechanism  16  is in the retracted position, as shown in  FIGS. 3-8 . As shown in  FIGS. 12-14 , when the legrest mechanism  16  is moved into the extended position, the tilt mechanism  18  locks the seat assembly  14  into a selected tilt position (i.e., the tilt mechanism  18  prevents the seat assembly  14  from rocking relative to the base frame  12  when the legrest mechanism is in the extended position). As the legrest mechanism  16  moves into the retracted position, the tilt mechanism  18  unlocks the seat assembly  14  relative to the base frame  12  to allow the seat assembly  14  to rock among the nominal, rocked-back, and rocked-forward tilt positions. 
     As described above, rotation of the handle  68  ( FIG. 2 ) causes rotation of the drive rod  64  relative to the seat frame  28 , which simultaneously moves the pantograph linkages  66  of the legrest mechanism  16  between the retracted and extended positions and moves actuation link  120  of the tilt mechanism  18 . Comparing  FIGS. 4 and 12 , for example, it can be seen that rotation of the drive rod  64  causes corresponding rotation of the crank link  132 , which pushes the actuation link  120  of the tilt mechanism  18  forward relative to the base frame  12  toward the front end of the furniture member  10  (i.e., toward the front rail plate  60 ). Such forward motion of the actuation link  120  causes the cam  122  to rotate relative to the cam support link  124  (about a rotational axis A 1  ( FIG. 10 ) extending through the cam  122  and the cam support links  124 ) from the unlocked position shown in  FIG. 4  (in which the cam surface  136  of the cam  122  is spaced apart from the cam engagement surface  152  of the cam follower  128 ) to the locked position shown in  FIG. 12  (in which the cam surface  136  of the cam  122  is engaged with the cam engagement surface  152  of the cam follower  128 ). A frictional force between the cam follower  128  and the cam  122  holds or locks the seat assembly  14  relative to the base frame  12  at the tilt position (e.g., rocked-back, nominal or rocked-forward) at which the seat assembly  14  is positioned when the legrest mechanism  16  is moved into at least a partially extended position. 
     In some configurations, full rotation of the handle  68  and drive rod  64  (i.e., rotation of the handle  68  to fully extend the legrest mechanism  16 ) is not necessary to engage the cam follower  128  with the cam  122 . Rather, partial rotation (i.e., to partially extend the legrest mechanism  16 ) is all that may be required to engage the cam follower  128  with the cam  122 . For example, in configurations of the furniture member  10  having a three-position legrest mechanism (e.g., such as the type disclosed in Assignee&#39;s commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,855, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference), the cam follower  128  may be in full engagement with the cam  122  at all three partially or fully extended positions. Engagement of the cam follower  128  with the cam  122  at any of the three partially or fully extended positions can be accomplished at any position within the full range of tilt movement and does not limit the ability of the cam  122  and cam follower  128  to stop rocking movement. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 6 and 8 , when the tilt mechanism  18  is in the unlocked position, rocking of the seat assembly  14  among the tilt positions causes the cam  122  to rotate about a rotational axis A 2  ( FIGS. 4 and 10 ) extending through the actuation link  120  and the cam  122 . The frictional force between the cam follower  128  and the cam  122  when the tilt mechanism  18  is in the locked position prevents the cam  122  from rotating relative to the cam follower  128  and thus prevents the cam  122  from rotating about the rotational axis A 2 . Preventing rotation of the cam  122  about the rotational axis A 2  prevents movement of the cam support links  124  and the connecting links  126  relative to the base frame  12 , thereby preventing the seat assembly  14  from rocking relative to the base frame  12 . Because the cam follower  128  only engages a portion of the cam surface  136  of the cam  122 , the cam follower  128  can engage the cam  122  to lock seat assembly  14  in any of the infinite number of tilt positions between (and including) the fully rocked-back and fully rocked-forward tilt positions. 
     When the legrest mechanism  16  is moved from an extended position toward the retracted position (as shown in  FIG. 14 ), the cam follower support links  130  can rotate clockwise (relative to the frame of reference of  FIG. 14 ). Such rotation of the cam follower support links  130  reduces the frictional force between the cam follower  128  and the cam  122 , thereby reducing the amount of force that the user is required to apply to rotate the handle  68  to unlock the tilt mechanism  18  and retract the legrest mechanism  16 . Once the cam follower  128  disengages the cam  122 , the spring  160  ( FIG. 10 ) rotates the cam follower support links  130  counterclockwise (relative to the frame of reference of  FIG. 14 ) back toward the peg  162 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , when the tilt mechanism  18  is in the locked position, a pivot  170  that defines a rotational axis of the cam follower  128  relative to the cam follower support links  130  is located in an over-center position in which the pivot  170  is located between the front rail plate  60  and a vertical axis A 3  extending through the support rod  96  and the rotational axis A 1 . When the pivot  170  is in this over-center position, the cam follower support links  130  assist in supporting the load from an occupant&#39;s weight and a load applied by the springs  44  of the rocker assemblies  40 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , when the legrest mechanism  16  is moved from the extended position toward the retracted position, the clockwise rotation (relative to the frame of reference of  FIG. 14 ) of the cam follower support links  130  described above moves the pivot  170  out of the over-center position (i.e., such that the axis A 3  is located between the axis A 3  and the front rail plate  60 ), which reduces the load on the cam follower support links  130 , thereby reducing the amount of force that the user is required to apply to rotate the handle  68  to unlock the tilt mechanism  18  and retract the legrest mechanism  16 , as described above. 
     As shown in  FIG. 22 , in some configurations, the cam follower  128  may include a cam follower runner  180  (e.g., a thin, flexible tab) extending therefrom that slidably engages the cam surface  136  of the cam  122  when the tilt mechanism  18  is in the unlocked position. Contact between the cam follower runner  180  and the cam surface  136  keeps the cam follower  128  and cam follower support links  130  out of the over-center position while the tilt mechanism  18  is in the unlocked position (but does not prevent the cam follower  128  and cam follower support links  130  from moving into the over-center position when the tilt mechanism  18  is in the locked position). Keeping the cam follower  128  and cam follower support links  130  out of the over-center position prevents incidental contact between the cam  122  and the cam follower  128  during normal rocking of the seat assembly  14  while the tilt mechanism  18  is in the unlocked position. Preventing such incidental contact eliminates noise that can occur due to incidental rubbing of the cam follower  128  against the cam  122  during normal rocking. 
     While the furniture member  10  is shown in the figures as a chair having a single seat assembly  14 , it will be appreciated that the principles of the present disclosure could be incorporated into a sofa, a love seat, a sectional, or any other type of furniture member having one or more seat assemblies. 
     While the legrest mechanism  16  is described above as being actuated by the manually driven drive rod  64 , in some configurations of the furniture member  10 , the drive rod  64  could be driven by an electric motor. In other configurations, the legrest mechanism  16  could be driven by a motor-driven linear actuator. 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.