Michael A Crum

US Patent:

46626735, May 5, 1987

Filed:

Sep 24, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/779673

Inventors:

Michael A. Crum - LaGrange KY

Assignee:

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated - Carthage MO

International Classification:

A47C 102

US Classification:

297 68

Abstract:

A three-position away-from-the-wall recliner and a three-position rocker recliner are disclosed wherein the body support including the seat and backrest of both recliners are movable between upright, intermediate or TV and full recline positions. Both recliners include a mechanism operable upon release of a latch to move the body support of the recliner between upright and TV positions as a consequence of the weight of a person sitting in the recliner propelling the body support to the TV position. Both recliners utilize a common recliner linkage to support the body support from a fixed base. In the away-from-the-wall recliner, the recliner linkage is mounted upon a forward biased four bar linkage mechanism such that upon release of the latch, the four bar linkage swings forwardly, propelling the body support from the upright to the TV position. In the rocker recliner, this same recliner linkage pivots about a front pivot of a rocker base plate and drops the rear of the seat upon release of the latch. Because identical recliner linkages are common to both recliner mechanisms, identical chair frames may be mounted upon either mechanism to create either an away-from-the-wall recliner or a rocker recliner.

US Patent:

51352842, Aug 4, 1992

Filed:

Jan 9, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/641718

Inventors:

Michael A. Crum - Bagdad KY

Assignee:

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated - Carthage MO

International Classification:

A47C 0700

US Classification:

297443

Abstract:

A knock-down chair back bracket assembly allows for removably securing a chair or sofa back to a chair or sofa base. The bracket assembly comprises a pair of matingly tapered interfitting brackets, one of which attaches to a base of a piece of seating furniture and the other of which attaches to a side of a back of a piece of seating furniture. The base mounting bracket has a pin at an upper end which is cooperable with a double cam lock lever pivoted to an upper end of the back slide bracket. The double cam lock lever has two cam surfaces one of which cams the mounting and slide brackets into fixed engagement and the other of which cams the brackets out of fixed engagement.

US Patent:

45154074, May 7, 1985

Filed:

Jul 22, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/400982

Inventors:

Michael A. Crum - LaGrange KY

Assignee:

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated - Carthage MO

International Classification:

A47C 750
A47C 102

US Classification:

297429

Abstract:

A novel friction latch connected with a chair's footrest mechanism, the footrest mechanism operating to open and close the chair's footrest. The friction latch cooperates with the footrest mechanism to hold the footrest in any desired location between the full extend and full retract positions. The friction latch, in preferred form, includes a torsion spring concentrically and coaxially positioned with a drum that is connected to the footrest mechanism. In the extend mode, the torsion spring is released from a tight friction fit with the drum so the footrest can be opened by a spring motor that extends the footrest assembly. In the latch mode, the torsion spring grips the drum in sufficiently tight friction fit to prevent the footrest from moving when no force is exerted on it, as well as from being retracted in response to the leg weight of the chair's occupant when that occupant is seated comfortably in the chair with his feet on the footrest. In the retract mode, the torsion spring and drum may be the same as in the latch mode, but when an occupant is in the chair the footrest can be closed in response to drawing up of the occupant's legs, i. e. , the friction fit of the torsion spring and drum can be overcome by the chair's occupant simply using his legs to exert a closing force against the footrest.

US Patent:

45779023, Mar 25, 1986

Filed:

Feb 8, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/464874

Inventors:

Michael A. Crum - LaGrange KY

Assignee:

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated - Carthage MO

International Classification:

A47C 102

US Classification:

297 85

Abstract:

A three-position away-from-the-wall recliner and a three-position rocker recliner are disclosed wherein the body support including the seat and backrest of both recliners are movable between upright, intermediate or TV and full recline positions. Both recliners include a mechanism operable upon release of a latch to move the body support of the recliner between upright and TV positions as a consequence of the weight of a person sitting in the recliner propelling the body support to the TV position. Both recliners utilize a common recliner linkage to support the body support from a fixed base. In the away-from-the-wall recliner, the recliner linkage is mounted upon a forward biased four bar linkage mechanism such that upon release of the latch, the four bar linkage swings forwardly, propelling the body support from the upright to the TV position. In the rocker recliner, this same recliner linkage pivots about a front pivot of a rocker base plate and drops the rear of the seat upon release of the latch. Because identical recliner linkages are common to both recliner mechanisms, identical chair frames may be mounted upon either mechanism to create either an away-from-the-wall recliner or a rocker recliner.

US Patent:

45069255, Mar 26, 1985

Filed:

Jan 5, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/455652

Inventors:

Michael A. Crum - LaGrange KY

Assignee:

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated - Carthage MO

International Classification:

A47C 1034

US Classification:

297 69

Abstract:

An improved footrest extension and retraction mechanism for reclining chairs is disclosed having a footrest which follows the natural movement of an occupant's leg when moving between various chair positions. The footrest mechanism utilizes a pair of spaced substantially parallel glide bars carrying a footrest bracket which are each suspended for arcuate movement by a pair of pivoted suspension links. The glide bars and suspension links are driven in tandem through the use of a handle rotated drive bar extending across the chair frame. Rotation of the drive bar drives pairs of drive and connector links which in turn cause swinging movement of the suspension links and glide bars. A footrest bracket control rod is also disclosed which operates in conjunction with movement of a suspension link to change the orientation of the footrest bracket relative to the glide bars. The linkage arrangement disclosed serves to hold the footrest mechanism in either an extended or retracted position.

US Patent:

43067468, Dec 22, 1981

Filed:

Jun 21, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/050700

Inventors:

Michael A. Crum - LaGrange KY

Assignee:

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated - Carthage MO

International Classification:

A47C 102

US Classification:

297 85

Abstract:

A close-to-the-wall, three-way reclining chair having an all linkage recliner mechanism which allows the chair to move between upright, intermediate and full recline positions while the back of the chair remains a fixed distance from a wall located behind the chair. The chair incorporates a novel recliner linkage assembly for moving the seat and backrest of the chair relative to the chair's arms during movement between upright and reclined positions. The recliner linkage assembly includes a novel four bar linkage system for serving the dual function of (a) supporting the arm rests from a pair of hanger links for generally linear translatory movement during movement between upright and reclined positions, and (b) supporting the chair seat and back rest frames from the four bars for generally pivotal translatory movement between upright and reclined positions. The novel all linkage recliner mechanism is so constructed that only a minimal starting effort or motion is required to initiate movement from an upright toward a reclined position, after which the weight of the person in the chair causes the movement to be continued until the chair arrives at the first reclined or so-called TV position. Thereafter, movement from the first reclined to the full reclined position is effected by the person leaning back further in the chair or alternatively, movement is effected to the upright position from either of the two reclined positions by the person seated in the chair simply leaning forwardly.

US Patent:

48632155, Sep 5, 1989

Filed:

Nov 30, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/277711

Inventors:

Michael A. Crum - Bagdad KY

Assignee:

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated - Carthage MO

International Classification:

A47C 102

US Classification:

297 85

Abstract:

An improved linkage mechanism for use in a reclining item of action furniture having a movable seat, backrest and footrest, the mechanism being so constructed as to move the seat and backrest away from a wall immediately behind the backrest as the item of furniture moves from an upright to a TV or fully reclined position. Thereby, the backrest is prevented from contacting the wall behind the item of furniture during its movement to a fully reclined position. The mechanism is so constructed that a weight applied to the footrest when the mechanism is fully reclined will cause the mechanism to move from the fully reclined to the TV position and ultimately to the upright position.