Patent ID: 7708347

Claim:
A footrest mounting arrangement for an article of furniture having a base, comprising: a footrest member; an extension and retraction mechanism interposed between the footrest member and the base for providing selective outward and upward movement of the footrest relative to the base; a footrest actuator for selectively operating the extension and retraction mechanism for raising and lowering the footrest; a retainer arrangement for selectively maintaining the footrest in an angular orientation relative to the base, comprising a stationary retainer member having a lower end fixed to the base and defining one or more engagement areas, and an engagement assembly having an engagement member interconnected with the footrest actuator for selective engagement of the engagement member with one of the engagement areas, wherein the engagement member is movable toward a disengaged position once the footrest is fully raised and is maintained in the disengaged position when the footrest is lowered, and further comprising means for returning the engagement member to an engaged position when the footrest is lowered, wherein the engagement member is supported by the engagement assembly at one end thereof, and wherein the footrest actuator is supported by and drivingly received in the engagement assembly at another end thereof, such that movement of the footrest actuator causes rotation of the engagement assembly; and a pivotable handle attached to the base, wherein the handle is interconnected with the footrest actuator, and wherein movement of the handle operates the extension and retraction mechanism for moving the footrest, wherein application of a force to the handle in a first direction causes rotation of the footrest actuator thereby driving the footrest extension and retraction mechanism to extend so as to move the footrest upwardly and outwardly, and wherein application of a force to the handle in a second direction causes rotation of the footrest actuator thereby driving the footrest extension and retraction mechanism to retract so as to move the footrest downwardly and inwardly.