MOVABLE SEAT UNIT AND MOVABLE SEAT

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation application of PCT Application No. PCT/CN2024/082176 filed on Mar. 18, 2024, which claims priority of Chinese Patent Applications No. 2023207643209 filed on Apr. 7, 2023 before CNIPA. All the above are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as part of the present disclosure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a movable seat unit. Additionally, the present disclosure further relates to a movable seat including the seat unit.

BACKGROUND

A variety of movable chair units are known in the prior art, such as sofas or seats with multi-position transformation functions. With the improvement of people's living standards, the comfort requirements for sofas and chairs are also increasing. In known designs, movable seat units are typically equipped with a mechanical extension device, thereby enabling transformation between at least two positions including a sitting position, a relaxing position (or TV position), and a reclining position. When the seat unit transforms from the sitting position to the relaxing position, the footrest of the seat unit extends forward, and the angle between the backrest and the seat portion remains substantially unchanged. When the seat unit transforms from the relaxing position to the reclining position, the footrest extends further forward and elevates upward compared to the relaxing position, and the backrest reclines significantly. However, in existing movable seats equipped with a reclining position, the backrest often moves significantly rearward in the reclining state, thereby imposing greater spatial requirements for furniture arrangement. To address this technical issue, so-called “zero-wall clearance” solutions have been proposed. However, these product types often feature complex structures and higher manufacturing costs.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, the technical issue to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a movable seat with a simpler structure, more flexible and convenient operation, and reduced required installation space.

To address the aforementioned technical issues, provided in the present disclosure is a movable seat unit, including a pair of armrest side plates, arranged in parallel and supported on the ground; a mechanical extension device, disposed between the pair of armrest side plates, the mechanical extension device including a seat frame configured to attach a seat portion and a backrest assembly disposed at a rear portion of the seat frame and configured to attach a backrest, where a guide rail extending in a front-rear direction of the seat unit is provided on each of the pair of armrest side plates, and the seat frame is slidably engaged with the guide rail; and an electric drive unit, by means of which the seat frame is configured to slide front and rear relative to the pair of armrest side plates along the guide rail.

According to the present disclosure, the backrest assembly includes a backrest mounting member and a guide chute member fixedly mounted relative to the pair of armrest side plates, the guide chute member is provided with a guide chute extending in the front-rear direction of the seat unit, an upper end of the backrest mounting member is attached to the backrest, a lower end of the backrest mounting member is pivotally connected to a rear portion of the seat frame, and a middle portion of the backrest mounting member is provided with a guide pin configured to slidably engage with the guide chute, such that a pivot point between the lower end of the backrest mounting member and the rear portion of the seat frame moves forward when the seat frame slides forward.

According to some implementations of the present disclosure, a highest point of the backrest has a tendency to move downward and forward when the seat frame slides forward. It should be noted that the tendency of the highest point of the backrest to move downward and forward does not exclude temporary or minimal rearward movement of the highest point of the backrest.

In the present implementation, as the seat frame moves forward, the lower end of the backrest mounting member hinged to the seat frame moves forward, causing the angle between the backrest mounting member and the follow-up connecting rod to increase, and the entire backrest mounting member moves forward with the seat frame, driving the backrest to move forward while tilting, thereby causing the highest point of the backrest to move downward and, when necessary, forward. This reduces the excessive requirement for rear installation space.

According to some implementations of the present disclosure, the seat frame includes two seat frame longitudinal beams extending in parallel in the front-rear direction of the seat unit and at least one seat frame cross beam transversely connected between the two seat frame longitudinal beams, where the seat frame longitudinal beams are slidably engaged with the guide rails.

In the present implementation, the electric drive unit includes a seat frame actuator acting between the pair of armrest side plates and the seat frame.

According to the present implementation, an end of the seat frame actuator is fixedly positioned relative to the pair of armrest side plates, and an opposite end of the seat frame actuator is connected to the seat frame cross beam, where extension and retraction of the seat frame actuator cause the seat frame to slide front and rear relative to the pair of armrest side plates.

According to the present implementation, transformation of the seat unit between a sitting position and a backrest tilting position may be achieved.

According to some implementations of the present disclosure, the mechanical extension device further includes a leg extension device pivotally connected to a front portion of the seat frame, a leg cross beam is connected between the leg extension devices, and the seat unit is configured to transform between a sitting position, a TV position, and a reclining position by means of the electric drive unit, where the backrest is upright and the leg extension device is retracted below the seat portion in the sitting position, the leg extension device is extended in front of the seat portion in the TV position, and the leg extension device is extended in front of the seat portion in the reclining position, and the seat frame slides forward and drives the backrest to tilt at a larger angle.

According to the present implementation, the electric drive unit further includes, besides the seat frame actuator, a leg actuator acting between the seat frame and the leg extension device.

In some implementations, an end of the leg actuator is connected to the seat frame cross beam, and an opposite end of the leg actuator is connected to the leg cross beam, where extension and retraction of the leg actuator cause the leg extension device to extend or retract. In such an implementation, the electric drive unit independently controls the seat frame and the leg extension device by means of two actuators, respectively, thereby achieving more flexible positional transformation.

In an optional implementation, the mechanical extension device further includes a leg extension device pivotally connected to a front portion of the seat frame, a leg cross beam is connected between the leg extension devices, and the seat unit is configured to transform sequentially between a sitting position, a TV position, and a reclining position by means of the electric drive unit, where the backrest is upright and the leg extension device is retracted below the seat portion in the sitting position, the leg extension device is extended in front of the seat portion in the TV position, and the leg extension device is extended in front of the seat portion in the reclining position, the seat frame slides forward and drives the backrest to tilt at a larger angle, where the electric drive unit is configured as a seat actuator acting between the pair of armrest side plates and the leg extension device.

In the present implementation, an end of the seat actuator is fixedly positioned relative to the pair of armrest side plates, and an opposite end of the seat actuator is connected to the leg cross beam, where extension and retraction of the seat actuator cause the leg extension device and the seat frame to act sequentially. In the present implementation, the electric drive unit achieves coordinated control of the seat frame, the backrest, and the leg extension device by means of only one actuator.

In some implementation, an adjustment stroke of the seat actuator is divided into two sequentially performed phases, the leg extension device moves relative to the seat frame in a first phase, and the seat frame slides relative to the pair of armrest side plates in a second phase.

To address the aforementioned technical issues, provided is further a movable seat, including the aforementioned seat unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a schematic diagram of a movable seat unit according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2a and 2b schematically show partial side views of the seat unit shown in FIG. 1, respectively;

FIG. 3 schematically shows a partial perspective view of a movable seat unit according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 schematically shows an exploded partial perspective view of the seat unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 schematically shows another perspective view of the seat unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 schematically shows a perspective view according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 schematically shows a partial perspective view of the seat unit shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 schematically shows a side view of the seat unit shown in FIG. 6 in a sitting position;

FIG. 9 schematically shows a side view of the seat unit shown in FIG. 6 in a TV position;

FIG. 10 schematically shows a side view of the seat unit shown in FIG. 6 in a reclining position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure are clearly and completely described and discussed below in conjunction with the attached drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the embodiments described herein are only some of the embodiments of the present disclosure but not all of them. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

References herein to “an embodiment” or “embodiments” refer to particular features, structures or characteristics that may be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the description of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the terms “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “top”, “bottom”, and other orientation or position relationships are based on the orientation or position relationships shown in the attached drawings. It is only intended to facilitate description of the present disclosure and simplify description, but not to indicate or imply that the referred device or element has a specific orientation, or is constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as a limitation of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the related terms “first”, and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. As a result, a feature defined as “first” or “second” may expressly or implicitly include one or more such features. The terms “first”, “second” and the like are used to identify different objects and are not intended to describe a particular sequence or order. It should be understood that the data herein used may be interchangeable in appropriate cases so that the embodiment of the present disclosure described herein may be implemented in an order other than what is illustrated or described herein.

FIGS. 1 to 2b schematically show a movable seat unit according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The seat unit is configured as a floor-standing type movable seat.

The seat unit includes a pair of parallel arranged armrest side plates 1, on which armrest pads (not shown in the figures) are respectively mounted. The pair of armrest side plates 1 support the seat unit on the ground, and guide rails 11 extending in the front-rear direction of the seat unit are formed on inner side surfaces of the pair of armrest side plates 1. A side plate cross beam 12 is fixedly installed between the two armrest side plates 1 by means of anchoring members. A mechanical extension device 2 is installed between the pair of armrest side plates 1 and is configured to transform the seat unit between different positions.

The mechanical extension device 2 includes a seat frame 21 configured to attach a seat portion. The seat frame 21 includes a first seat frame longitudinal beam 211a and a second seat frame longitudinal beam 211b extending in parallel in the front-rear direction of the seat unit, and a seat frame cross beam 212 transversely connected between the first and second seat frame longitudinal beams. The first seat frame longitudinal beam 211a and the second seat frame longitudinal beam 211b are slidably engaged with the guide rails 11 on the inner side surfaces of the pair of armrest side plates, respectively, thereby enabling the seat frame 21 to slide front and rear relative to the pair of armrest side plates along the guide rails 11.

A rear portion of the seat frame 21 is connected to a backrest assembly 22. The backrest assembly 22 includes a backrest mounting member 221 configured to attach a backrest and a guide chute member 222 provided with a guide chute 222a, where the guide chute member 222 is fixedly mounted on the pair of armrest side plates, and the guide chute 222a extends in the front-rear direction of the seat unit. A lower end of the backrest mounting member 221 is hinged to rear ends of the first and second seat frame longitudinal beams, an upper end of the backrest mounting member 221 is attached to the backrest, and a middle portion of the backrest mounting member 221 is provided with a guide pin 221a configured to be slidably supported in the guide chute 222a, thereby achieving a slidable connection between the backrest mounting member 221 and the guide chute member 222.

In the present embodiment, the electric drive unit 3 includes a seat frame actuator 31 configured to drive the seat frame 21 to slide front and rear relative to the pair of armrest side plates 1 along the guide rails 11.

The seat frame actuator 31 is configured as a linear actuator. As shown in FIG. 3, a motor head of the seat frame actuator 31 is mounted on the side plate cross beam 12, and a retractable actuator rod acts on the seat frame cross beam 212.

The seat frame actuator 31 pushes the seat frame cross beam 212 together with the first seat frame longitudinal beam 211a and the second seat frame longitudinal beam 211b fixedly connected thereto to slide forward along the guide rails 11 when the seat frame actuator 31 extends. Meanwhile, an angle between the backrest mounting member 221 and the guide chute member 222 decreases, and the entire backrest mounting member 221 moves forward with the seat frame 21, driving the backrest to move forward while tilting, thereby causing a highest point of the backrest to move downward. This achieves transformation of the seat unit between a sitting position and a backrest tilting position.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the seat unit further includes a leg extension device 23 disposed at a front portion of the seat frame 21.

The leg extension device 23 is composed of a plurality of pivotally connected linkages in a known manner, where a rear end of a first leg linkage 232 is hinged to a front end of the seat frame 21, a front end of the first leg linkage 232 is hinged to a rear end of a second leg linkage 233, a rear end of a third leg linkage 234 is hinged to the front end of the seat frame 21, a front end of the third leg linkage 234 is hinged to a rear end of a fourth leg linkage 235, and the second leg linkage 233 and the fourth leg linkage 235 are respectively hinged at their front ends to a footrest member 236, where a leg cross beam 231 is installed between the first leg linkages 232.

In the present embodiment, the electric drive unit 3 further includes, besides the seat frame actuator 31, a leg actuator 32 configured to drive the leg extension device 23 to extend and retract relative to the seat frame 21. The seat frame actuator 31 and the leg actuator 32 are operable independently of each other, thereby enabling independent sliding movement of the seat frame 21 and extension/retraction of the leg extension device.

The leg actuator 32 is also configured as a linear actuator. As shown in FIG. 4, a motor head of the leg actuator 32 is mounted on the seat frame cross beam 212, and a retractable actuator rod acts on the leg cross beam 231.

When the seat unit is in the sitting position, the backrest attached to the backrest mounting member 221 is upright, and the leg extension device 23 is retracted below the seat frame 21. At this point, if only the leg actuator 32 extends, the leg actuator 32 pushes the leg cross beam 231 to move forward and drives the leg extension device 23 to deploy, thereby achieving transformation from the sitting position to the TV position.

Starting from the TV position, if the seat frame actuator 31 extends, the seat frame actuator 31 pushes the seat frame cross beam 212 together with the first seat frame longitudinal beam 211a and the second seat frame longitudinal beam 211b fixedly connected thereto to slide forward along the guide rails 11. Meanwhile, an angle between the backrest mounting member 221 and the guide chute member 222 decreases, and the entire backrest mounting member 221 moves forward with the seat frame 21, driving the backrest to move forward while tilting, thereby causing a highest point of the backrest to move downward. This achieves transformation from the TV position to the reclining position.

Admittedly, it is also possible to extend only the seat frame actuator 31 starting from the sitting position, thereby causing the seat frame 21 to slide forward along the guide rails 11 and the backrest to tilt, while the leg extension device 23 remains retracted below the seat frame 21.

The corresponding reverse positional transformations of the seat unit are achieved by retracting the actuator rods of the actuators, which is not elaborated herein.

FIGS. 6 to 10 schematically show a seat unit according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

The difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment lies in the configuration of the electric drive unit 3. According to the third embodiment, the electric drive unit 3 is configured as a seat actuator 33. The seat actuator 33 is configured as a linear actuator, with the motor head thereof mounted on the side plate cross beam 12 of the armrest side plate 1, and the retractable actuator rod thereof acting on the leg cross beam 231.

The adjustment stroke of the seat actuator 33 is divided into two sequentially performed phases. This is explained below using FIGS. 8 to 10 as an example, i.e., the sequential transformation of the seat unit between the sitting position, the TV position, and the reclining position.

In the first phase, only the leg extension device extends or retracts relative to the seat frame. Specifically, when the seat actuator 33 extends, the weight of the user seated on the seat keeps the seat frame 21 stationary relative to the armrest side plates 1, and the backrest posture remains unchanged. The actuator rod only pushes the leg cross beam 231 forward, thereby driving the leg extension device 23 to deploy. This transforms the seat unit from the sitting position shown in FIG. 8 to the TV position shown in FIG. 9.

In the second phase, the seat frame slides front and rear relative to the pair of armrest side plates. Specifically, the leg extension device drives the seat frame 21 to slide forward relative to the armrest side plates 1 along the guide rails 11 when the actuator rod of the seat actuator continues to extend until the leg extension device 23 is fully deployed. Meanwhile, the angle between the backrest mounting member 221 and the guide chute member 222 decreases, and the entire backrest mounting member 221 moves forward with the seat frame 21, driving the backrest to move forward while tilting. This causes the highest point of the backrest to move downward, achieving the transformation of the seat unit from the TV position shown in FIG. 9 to the reclining position shown in FIG. 10.

Alternatively, in the third embodiment, a sequence spring 25 may be provided as shown in FIG. 7. The sequence spring 25 acts between the seat frame 21 and the leg extension device 23. As shown in FIG. 7, an end of the sequence spring 25 is connected to an inner side of the seat frame longitudinal beam, and an opposite end is connected to a linkage of the leg extension device. The sequence spring 25 more reliably ensures sequential transformation of the seat unit between the sitting position, the TV position, and the reclining position, preventing disorder in the sequence of posture transitions.