Patent ID: 7108322

Claim:
A mechanism for changing a horizontal length of a one-piece thigh support surface of seats and couches and formed as a one-piece part having a deformable bent region at a front end of a seat and a couch, the changing mechanism comprising: two telescopic rods extending horizontally parallel to each other and in a spaced relationship with each other and forming a support for the thigh support surface, the telescopic rods having respective U-shaped regions, upper straight regions, and lower straight regions adjoining the respective U-shaped regions at lower portions of the U-shaped regions by a transversely extending rod, the U-shaped regions forming, together with respective lower straight regions, a support for supporting the deformable bent region of the thigh support surface; two telescopic sleeves to which the two telescopic rods are relatively displaceable; means for changing the horizontal length of the thigh support surface and having means for displacing the telescopic rods in a direction away from the telescopic sleeves, whereby a length of the thigh support surface changes, resulting in a change of the horizontal length of the thigh support surface which is caused by deformation of the bent region produced by sliding of the bent support region along the telescopic rods; and two arcuate slide connection elements surrounding respective telescopic rods in an area of the U-shaped region thereof, fixedly secured thereto, and supporting the deformable bent region of the thigh support surface by circumferential surfaces thereof, the slide connection elements having a variable length to provide for sliding of the deformable bent region of the thigh support surface along the U-shaped regions of the telescopic rods.