Patent ID: 8573687

Claim:
A seating unit, comprising: a pair of base plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation; a pair of seat-mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein each of the seat-mounting plates is disposed in an inclined orientation in relation to each of the base plates, respectively; and a pair of generally mirror-image linkage mechanisms each moveably interconnecting each of the base plates to a respective seat-mounting plate, and adapted to move between a closed position, an extended position, and a reclined position, wherein each of the linkage mechanisms comprise: (a) a back-mounting link that supports a backrest, wherein the back-mounting link is rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate; (b) a rear control link that is pivotably coupled to the back-mounting link; (c) a rear pivot link that is rotatably coupled at a first end directly to a respective base plate; and (d) a rear bellcrank that is rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate and is pivotably coupled to the rear control link and to a second end of the rear pivot link that opposes the first end, the pivotable coupling of the rear bellcrank to the rear control link and the rear pivot link establishes an inclined orientation relationship between the seat-mounting plates and the base plates, wherein the inter-coupling of the rear control link, the rear pivot link, and the rear bellcrank is adapted to translate the seat-mounting plates over the base plates during adjustment between the closed position, the extended position, and the reclined position while maintaining the inclined orientation relationship therebetween.