Method and system for footrest stretching device for convertible sofa seating unit

Abstract

A footrest stretching device used for a convertible sofa including a left-side component and a right-side component; the left-side component and the right-side component are each provided with identical parts as follows: a mounting side-plate, a third foot lever and a fourth foot lever, with one end of the third foot lever and one end of the fourth foot lever being rotatably connected to the mounting side-plate; the footrest stretching device includes a first footrest connector connected to the other end of the third foot lever, and a second footrest connector connected to the other end of the fourth foot lever; an outer footrest mounting member is connected to the other end of the first footrest connector; a middle footrest mounting member is connected to the other end of the second footrest connector; a third footrest connector is rotatably connected onto the second footrest connector; a fourth footrest connector is connected onto the third footrest connector; an inner footrest mounting member is rotatably connected to the other end of the fourth footrest connector.

Claims

1. A footrest stretching device for a convertible sofa, comprising a left-side component and a right-side component, the left-side component and the right-side component being fixedly connected by a fixing member and each provided with identical parts as follows: a mounting side-plate, a third foot lever and a fourth foot lever, with one end of the third foot lever and one end of the fourth foot lever being rotatably connected to the mounting side-plate; the footrest stretching device including a first footrest connector connected to the other end of the third foot lever, and a second footrest connector connected to the other end of the fourth foot lever; wherein, an outer footrest mounting member is connected to the other end of the first footrest connector; a middle footrest mounting member is connected to the other end of the second footrest connector; a third footrest connector is rotatably connected onto the second footrest connector; the other end of the third footrest connector is rotatably connected to the outer footrest mounting member by a footrest support member; a fourth footrest connector is connected onto the third footrest connector; an inner footrest mounting member is rotatably connected to the other end of the fourth footrest connector; said middle footrest mounting member provided with a sliding slot; said outer footrest mounting member has a sliding post fixed thereon; the sliding post disposed in the sliding slot and being slidable along the sliding slot; a middle footrest is detachably connected onto said middle footrest mounting member; an inner footrest being detachably connected onto said inner footrest mounting member; an outer footrest being detachably connected onto said outer footrest mounting member.

2. The footrest stretching device for a convertible sofa according to claim 1, the other end of the third foot lever and the first footrest connector being rotatably connected through a first rotating shaft; the other end of the fourth foot lever and the second footrest connector being rotatably connected through a second rotating shaft; the other end of the first footrest connector and the outer footrest mounting member being rotatably connected through a third rotating shaft; the other end of the second footrest connector and the middle footrest mounting member being rotatably connected through a fourth rotating shaft; the second footrest connector and one end of the third footrest connector being rotatably connected through a fifth rotating shaft; the other end of the third footrest connector and one end of the footrest support member being rotatably connected through a sixth rotating shaft; the other end of the footrest support member and the outer footrest mounting member being rotatably connected through a seventh rotating shaft; an intermediate portion of the third footrest connector and one end of the fourth footrest connector being rotatably connected through an eighth rotating shaft; and the other end of the fourth footrest connector and the inner footrest mounting member being rotatably connected through a ninth rotating shaft.

3. The footrest stretching device for a convertible sofa according to claim 2, the first footrest connector having a protrusion fixed thereon and protruding relative to the surface thereof; the fourth footrest connector having a limiting slot provided thereon; the protrusion movable back and forth in the limiting slot.

4. The footrest stretching device for a convertible sofa according to claim 3, further comprising a footrest protector is detachably fixed onto the middle footrest mounting member.

5. The footrest stretching device for a convertible sofa according to claim 4, wherein the footrest protector is made of a plastic material.

6. The footrest stretching device for a convertible sofa according to claim 1, the middle footrest mounting member having thereon a first fixing portion perpendicular to the surface thereof; the first fixing portion having a plurality of elongate first mounting holes; the middle footrest having a plurality of first connecting holes corresponding to the first mounting holes; the first mounting hole and the corresponding first connecting hole being connected by a first bolt therethrough.

7. The footrest stretching device for a convertible sofa according to claim 1, the outer footrest mounting member having thereon a second fixing portion perpendicular to the surface thereof; the second fixing portion having a plurality of elongate second mounting holes and round third mounting holes; the outer footrest having a plurality of second connecting holes corresponding to the second mounting holes and third connecting holes corresponding to the third mounting holes; the second mounting hole and the corresponding second connecting hole being connected by a second bolt therethrough; the third mounting hole and the corresponding third connecting hole being connected by a third bolt therethrough.

8. The footrest stretching device for a convertible sofa according to claim 1, the inner footrest mounting member having thereon a fourth fixing portion perpendicular to the surface thereof; the fourth fixing portion having a plurality of round fourth mounting holes; the inner footrest having a plurality of fourth connecting holes corresponding to the fourth mounting holes; the fourth mounting hole and the corresponding fourth connecting hole being connected by a fourth bolt therethrough.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stretching device for an articulating sofa section with the three footrests depicted;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stretching device for an articulating sofa section without the three footrests depicted;

(3) FIG. 3 is a right elevation view of the footrest of the stretching device of FIG. 1, in a fully retracted state;

(4) FIG. 4 is a right elevation view of the footrest of the stretching device of FIG. 1, in a partially stretched state;

(5) FIG. 5 is a right elevation view of the footrest of the stretching device of FIG. 1, in a fully stretched state;

(6) FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partially exploded perspective view of a portion of the stretching device of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the stretching device of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 8 is a left side view of the middle footrest mounting member of the stretching device of FIG. 1, the left side view including an enlarged portion illustrating a protrusion of a foot rest connector bearing against a limiting slot;

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the foot rest connector of FIG. 7, illustrating the position of the protrusion of the first footrest connector; and

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the middle footrest mounting member.

(11) In the drawings the components and the corresponding numerical indicator of the components are as follows, with the numerical indicator listed first and then the name of the component:

(12) RSC Right-side component

(13) LSC Left-side component

(14) 1. mounting side-plate;

(15) 2. third foot lever;

(16) 3. fourth foot lever;

(17) 4. first footrest connector;

(18) 5. second footrest connector;

(19) 6. third footrest connector;

(20) 7. fourth footrest connector;

(21) 8. middle footrest mounting member;

(22) 9. outer footrest mounting member;

(23) 10. inner footrest mounting member;

(24) 11. footrest support member;

(25) 12. sliding slot;

(26) 13. middle footrest;

(27) 14. outer footrest;

(28) 15. inner footrest;

(29) 16. footrest protector;

(30) 17. protrusion;

(31) 18. limiting slot;

(32) 21. front linkage member;

(33) 22. third link rod;

(34) 23. rear linkage member;

(35) 24. fourth link rod;

(36) 25. protective member;

(37) 26. backrest member;

(38) 27. linkage member;

(39) 28. torsion tube;

(40) 29. bottom foot;

(41) 31A. front stabilizing tube;

(42) 31 B. rear stabilizing tube;

(43) 32. bottom connecting tube;

(44) 33. rear support member;

(45) 34. first link rod;

(46) 35. A rotating-shaft transmission member;

(47) 36. front support member;

(48) 37. sixth link rod;

(49) 38. fifth link rod;

(50) 39. rotating square tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(51) Hereinafter, the technical solutions of the present invention will be further described in connection with the specific embodiments of the present invention given below with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

(52) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a stretching device for an articulating section of a convertible sofa, which includes a left-side component and a right-side component, the left-side component and the right-side component being fixedly connected by a fixing member and each provided with identical parts as follows: a third foot lever 2, a fourth foot lever 3, a mounting side-plate 1, a first link rod 34, a front linkage member 21, a fourth link rod 24, a sixth link rod 37, a rear support member 33, a front support member 36, a linkage member 27, a rear linkage member 23, a rotating-shaft transmission member 35, a backrest member 26, a bottom foot 29, a protective member 25, a third link rod 22, and a fifth link rod 38. One end of the third foot lever 2 is rotatably connected to the mounting side-plate 1; one end of the fourth foot lever 3 is rotatably connected to the mounting side-plate 1; the fourth foot lever 3 is also rotatably connected to the sixth link rod 37 and the fifth link rod 38; the sixth link rod 37 is rotatably connected to the rotating-shaft transmission member 35; the mounting side-plate 1 is rotatably connected to the fourth foot lever 3, the third foot lever 2, the rear linkage member 23, the backrest member 26 and the front linkage member 21; the front linkage member 21 is rotatably connected to the fourth link rod 24 and the front support member 36; the front support member 36 is rotatably connected to the third link rod 22 and the bottom foot 29; the rear linkage member 23 is rotatably connected to the third link rod 22, the mounting side-plate 1 and the fifth link rod 38; the linkage member 27 is rotatably connected to the fourth link rod 24, the rear support member 33, the first link rod 34 and the mounting side-plate 1; the first link rod 34 is rotatably connected to the backrest member 26; the protective member 25 is fixedly connected to the mounting side-plate 1.

(53) Specifically, the connectors includes: a rotating square tube 39, a bottom connecting tube 32, a front stabilizing tube 31A, a rear stabilizing tube 31 B and a torsion tube 28; the front stabilizing tube 31A is fixedly connected to the front support members 36 of both the left-side component LSC and the right-side component RSC; the rear stabilizing tube 31 B is fixedly connected to the rear support members 33 of both the left-side component LSC and the right-side component RSC; the torsion tube 28 is fixedly connected to the linkage members 27 of both the left-side component LSC and the right-side component RSC; the rotating square tube 39 is fixedly connected to the rotating-shaft transmission members 35 of both the left-side component LSC and the right-side component RSC; the bottom connecting tube 32 is fixedly connected to the bottom feet 29 of both the left-side component LSC and the right-side component RSC, respectively; the above-mentioned tubes in the connectors are all fixedly connected by bolts.

(54) As described earlier in this disclosure, one of the fundamental problems that manufacturers of sofas with a recliner mechanism and footrest ottomans are trying to solve is how to maximize the area covered by the footrest, or footrests, when the recliner mechanism is fully extended, while at the same time minimizing the area or the space covered by the same footrest or footrests when the footrest(s) are hidden under the sofa when the recliner mechanism is fully retracted. This area is best indicated by measuring the distance between the outer edge of the outer-most footrest to the outer edge of the inner-most footrest. In FIG. 1 this distance is indicated by TW1.

(55) This distance TW1 in FIG. 1, as described above, when the recliner mechanism is fully extended determines how much space the footrest(s) provide to the person using the sofa. The bigger the area covered by the footrest(s), when the recliner mechanism is fully extended, the more comfortable it will be for the user of the sofa (particularly if the user has relatively long legs) and thus this makes the product more desirable to the user. However, the less area covered by the footrest(s) when the recliner mechanism is fully retracted the better the mechanism can be hidden under the sofa and the less space will be required under the sofa in order to store the footrest(s), and the recliner mechanism as well, when the recliner mechanism is fully retracted. This is important from design, comfort, functionality and manufacturability points of view.

(56) Consequently, based on what is indicated above, the ratio of the area covered by the footrest(s) during full extension of the recliner mechanism to the area covered by the footrest(s) during the full retraction of the recliner mechanism is an important measure of how well the sofa functions and how much comfort the user receives from the product. The larger this ratio is the more desirable the product will be from design, comfort, functionality and manufacturability points of view.

(57) Referring to FIG. 1, since the widths of the footrest(s), which are indicated as W1, W2 and W3 are generally constant, and also the lengths L1, L2, and L3 of each individual footrest are also constant, the main variables to determining the range of effective total footrest surface area (including the three footrests and intermediate gaps therebetween) are the extent of the separation gaps (the distance between each footrest and the adjacent footrest). In a design in which there exist three separate footrests, there will be two such gaps which in the embodiments depicted in FIG. 1 are indicated by G1 and G2.

(58) The first gap G1 is the distance between the outer footrest and the middle footrest and the second gap G2 is the distance between the middle footrest and the inner footrest as indicated in FIG. 1. In a theoretically optimum scenario the combined distances of these two gaps (G1+G2) should be zero when the recliner mechanism is fully retracted. In other words, it is desirable to have the three footrests packed very tightly together in the space under the sofa in order to minimize the space required to store them during the full retraction of the recliner mechanism. Similarly, one would desire to have these two gaps G1 and G2 be as wide as possible when the footrest(s) are out and are fully stretched during the full extension of the recliner mechanism. This is because a larger gap (G1 and/or G2) between two adjacent footrests translates into more effective area for the user to more comfortably spread out their feet and legs on the footrest(s).

(59) Since the lengths of the footrests L1, L2 and L3 are constant then the effective footrest area is dependent on the total width (TW1=W1+G1+W2+G2+W3). In FIG. 1 this total width, in the case of the recliner mechanism being fully extended is indicated by TW1. In FIG. 3 this total width, in the case of the recliner mechanism being fully retracted is indicated by TW2. The ratio of expansion is the ratio of TW1 to TW2 or in other words TW1/TW2. It is desirable to maximize this ratio of expansion. The ability to have the inner footrest 15 automatically tucked behind one or both of the other footrests 13, 14 when the unit is in the un-reclined (retracted) position advantageously helps to increase the ratio of expansion, as the effective contribution of G2 and W3 to the overall width dimension in the un-reclined position is zero.

(60) Mechanically, in order to achieve the above desired effect of maximizing the gaps G1 and G2 between the adjacent footrests during full extension of the recliner mechanism, and consequently maximizing the expansion ratio (TW2/TW1), an optimal design is one that allows each footrest to be moved individually with respect to one another. This permits the gap (G1 and/or G2) between each two adjacent footrests to be varied individually. In other words, in the example of a three footrest design where there are gaps between the adjacent footrests, each gap (G1 and/or G2) is maximized during the full extension of the recliner mechanism and minimized during the full retraction of the recliner mechanism. In the current disclosure this effect is achieved through a novel linkage mechanism that is capable of varying each individual gaps (G1 and/or G2) between each pair of adjacent footrests and consequently maximize the above described ratio of expansion. The outer footrest mounting member 9 is linked to the middle footrest mounting member 8 by a variable-length connection, such as by a pin-and-slot connection, that effectively permits the gap G1 to vary telescopingly during the movement of the unit from the retracted to the reclined position. Simultaneously, a pivoting, slidable connection between the inner footrest mounting member 10 and links that effect movement and support of the middle and outer footrest mounting members facilitates movement of the inner footrest 15 from the tucked position when the unit is in the un-reclined (retracted) condition to an extended position substantially aligned with the middle footrest 13 and outer footrest 14.

(61) FIGS. 1-10 illustrate a footrest stretching device, and the associated components, for a convertible sofa. The footrest stretching device includes: a first footrest connector 4 connected to the other end of the third foot lever 2, and a second footrest connector 5 connected to the other end of the fourth foot lever 3; wherein an outer footrest mounting member 9 (see FIGS. 4, 5) is connected to the other end of the first footrest connector 4; a middle footrest mounting member 8 is connected to the other end of the second footrest connector 5; a third footrest connector 6 is rotatably connected onto the second footrest connector 5; the other end of the third footrest connector 6 is rotatably connected to the outer footrest mounting member 9 by a footrest support member 11; a fourth footrest connector 7 is connected onto the third footrest connector 6; an inner footrest mounting member 10 is rotatably connected to the other end of the fourth footrest connector 7. A middle footrest 13 is detachably connected onto the middle footrest mounting member 8; an inner footrest 15 is detachably connected onto the inner footrest mounting member 10; an outer footrest 14 is detachably connected onto the outer footrest mounting member 9. A footrest protector 16 is detachably fixed onto the middle footrest mounting member 8, and the footrest protector 16 is made of a plastic material. The middle footrest mounting member 8 is provided with a sliding slot 12; the outer footrest mounting member 9 has a sliding post fixed thereon; the sliding post is disposed in the sliding slot 12 and can slide along the sliding slot 12.

(62) In this embodiment, the other end of the third foot lever 2 and the first footrest connector 4 are rotatably connected through a first rotating shaft RS1; the other end of the fourth foot lever 3 and the second footrest connector 5 are rotatably connected through a second rotating shaft RS2; the other end of the first footrest connector 4 and the outer footrest mounting member 9 are rotatably connected through a third rotating shaft RS3; the other end of the second footrest connector 5 and the middle footrest mounting member 8 are rotatably connected through a fourth rotating shaft RS4; the second footrest connector 5 and one end of the third footrest connector 6 are rotatably connected through a fifth rotating shaft RS5; the other end of the third footrest connector 6 and one end of the footrest support member 11 are rotatably connected through a sixth rotating shaft RS6; the other end of the footrest support member 11 and the outer footrest mounting member 9 are rotatably connected through a seventh rotating shaft RS7; an intermediate portion of the third footrest connector 6 and one end of the fourth footrest connector 7 are rotatably connected through an eighth rotating shaft RS8; the other end of the fourth footrest connector 7 and the inner footrest mounting member 10 are rotatably connected through a ninth rotating shaft RS9.

(63) FIGS. 5-9 depict the first footrest connector 4 which includes a protrusion 17 fixed thereon and protruding relative to the surface thereof; the fourth footrest connector 7 has a limiting slot 18 provided thereon; the protrusion 17 can move back and forth in the limiting slot 18. The fourth footrest connector 7 can move along with the movement of the first footrest connector 4, so that the fourth footrest connector 7 will not disengage from the first footrest connector 4, thus ensuring the mutual movement between the inner footrest mounting member 10 and the outer footrest mounting member 9.

(64) FIGS. 6-10 depict the middle footrest mounting member 8 which includes thereon a first fixing portion 55 perpendicular to the surface thereof; the first fixing portion 55 is provided thereon with three first mounting holes 54a, 54b and 54c in an elongated shape, where, two of these three first mounting holes 54a and 54c are transversely arranged, and one of these three first mounting holes 54b is vertically arranged; the middle footrest 13 is provided thereon with three first connecting holes corresponding to the first mounting holes 54a, 54b and 54c; the first mounting hole 54a and the corresponding first connecting hole are connected through a first bolt in them.

(65) The outer footrest mounting member 9, as depicted in FIGS. 6-7, has thereon a second fixing portion 53 perpendicular to the surface thereof; the second fixing portion 53 is provided thereon with one second mounting hole 42a in an elongated shape and two third mounting holes 42b and 42c in a circular shape; the outer footrest 14 is provided thereon with one second connecting hole 41a corresponding to the second mounting hole 42a and two third connecting holes 41b and 41c corresponding to the third mounting holes 42b and 42c; the second mounting hole 42a and the corresponding second connecting hole 41b are connected through a second bolt 44b in them; the third mounting hole 42c and the corresponding third connecting hole 42c are connected through a third bolt 44c in them.

(66) The inner footrest mounting member 10 has thereon a fourth fixing portion 56 perpendicular to the surface thereof; the fourth fixing portion 56 is provided thereon with two fourth mounting holes 57 in a circular shape; the inner footrest 15 is provided thereon with two fourth connecting holes corresponding to the fourth mounting holes 57; the fourth mounting hole 57 and the corresponding fourth connecting hole are connected through a fourth bolt in them.

(67) In the footrest stretching device for a convertible sofa provided by the present invention, the footrest includes three plates: The middle footrest 13, the inner footrest 15 and the outer footrest 14. Under the action of an external force, the third foot lever 2 and the fourth foot lever 3 rotate, and correspondingly, the first footrest connector 4 and the second footrest connector start their motion; under the action of the third footrest connector 6 and the footrest support member 11, the outer footrest mounting member 9 and the middle footrest mounting member 8 are separated from each other, so that the middle footrest 13 and the outer footrest 14 move relative to each other and thus are separated; in the meantime, under the action of the third footrest connector 6 and the fourth footrest connector 7, the inner footrest mounting member 10 and the middle footrest mounting member 8 are separated from each other, so that the middle footrest 13 and the inner footrest 15 move relative to each other and thus are separated; the middle footrest 13, the outer footrest 14 and the inner footrest 15 are separated, thus making the footrest area x of the sofa become larger, thereby facilitating a user resting his feet.

(68) The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the spirit of the present invention. A person skilled in the art may make various modifications or additions to the specific embodiments described or substitute them in a similar manner, without departing from the spirit of the present invention or beyond the scope defined by the appended claims.

(69) Although many terms are used herein, such as 1. mounting side-plate; 2. third foot lever; 3. fourth foot lever; 4. first footrest connector; 5. second footrest connector; 6. third footrest connector; 7. fourth footrest connector; 8. middle footrest mounting member; 9. outer footrest mounting member; 10. inner footrest mounting member; 11. footrest support member; 12. sliding slot; 13. middle footrest; 14. outer footrest; 15. inner footrest; 16. footrest protector; 17. protrusion; 18. limit slot, etc.; the possibility of using other terms is not excluded. The use of these terms is merely for convenience of describing and explaining the essence of the present invention; it is contrary to the spirit of the present invention to interpret them as any kind of additional limitations.