Modular Furniture and Reclining Assemblies

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/298,839, entitled “MODULAR FURNITURE AND RECLINING ASSEMBLIES”, filed on Apr. 11, 2023, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/362,809, entitled “MODULAR FURNITURE AND RECLINING ASSEMBLIES”, filed on Apr. 11, 2022. The disclosure of each of the foregoing applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This disclosure generally relates to furniture systems, modular furniture and reclining assemblies.

Modular furniture is advantageous in part because it enables a variety of different furniture configurations to be created using a limited number of parts and because in manufacturing and design, only a limited number of designs are needed, simplifying the manufacturing and supply process. Modular furniture is therefore both efficient, convenient and valuable. It is also important that modular furniture be comfortable so that users will want to sit and remain seated in a sofa configuration, for example, or in a chair or other furniture system.

Traditional furniture has evolved into a variety of different furniture configurations that enable the user to sit comfortably in a variety of different seated positions. For example, traditional furniture features extensive numbers of pieces in order to create a large couch, or a sectional seating configuration in which a number of people can enjoy sitting together to engage in an activity or to watch television or a movie together as a group or family, for example. Recliners, for example, can be used to move from a sitting position to a reclining position in order to further relax the muscles of the back and/or neck. Typical recliners, however, often have a bulky, mechanized appearance that is not aesthetically pleasing or contiguous with the appearance of neighboring furniture pieces. It is often possible to immediately identify which piece is a recliner, often yielding an unpleasant and non-unified appearance.

Furthermore, many traditional recliners included in sectional couches cannot be positioned closely against a back wall because the backrest of the recliner section will often need space behind it in order to recline. This requires the placement of the entire sectional couch system to be sufficiently far away from such a wall to allow for the recliner section to recline. This may reduce the usable space within a room and/or leave undesired spaces between the furniture and such a wall.

Many traditional recliners included in sectional couches simultaneously recline the back support piece and extend the footrest of the recliner. It may be impossible to recline only the back support piece or extend only the footrest with traditional recliners. Additionally, the footrest of traditional recliners typically only provides support to the calves or legs of a user and does not allow a user to comfortably place the soles of their feet on the footrest, where the footrest would provide an appropriately inclined surface to comfortably accommodate such placement of the soles of the user's feet.

For those consumers who do not have the space to accommodate or cannot afford many pieces of furniture, it is also desirable to have furniture which can provide multiple functions, or which can be reconfigured. For example, a couch with a relatively deep and soft seating surface can be desirable when lounging, watching television, or listening to music. In contrast, a couch with a relatively shallow seating surface is often more desirable when sitting upright while in conversation with others. Further, different shapes, sizes, and footprint configurations of furniture may be desired depending on the space which the furniture is to fill, such as a large living room, a small office space, or a home theater setting.

It would be an advantage in the art to provide improved recliner systems, compatible for use with modular furniture systems.

Disclosed are furniture systems including at least one reclining assembly configured to be selectively coupled to a modular furniture assembly that comprises a base providing a seating surface and an upright member. The reclining assembly includes a housing, a footrest assembly, and a reclining mechanism configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or a seat of the base with respect to the housing. The reclining mechanism can be configured to be selectively mountable within the housing (e.g., entirely within the housing), and the reclining mechanism can be selectively orientable within the housing, between at least two different orientations. For example, the reclining mechanism can be selectively oriented within the housing in a “deep” configuration as well as in a “shallow” configuration, allowing the reclining assembly to provide a reclining function in either a “deep” or “shallow” configuration, as selected by the user. In an embodiment, the footrest assembly includes a rotatable footrest panel.

In an embodiment, a reclining assembly includes a base comprising a housing and a footrest assembly where the footrest assembly includes a rotatable footrest panel. The reclining assembly also includes a reclining mechanism mounted within the housing and coupled to the rotatable footrest panel at an attachment point, where the rotatable footrest panel is configured to rotate about the attachment point between at least forward and rearwardly rotated positions relative to a generally horizontal footrest panel position. A backrest panel can be provided, coupled to the base. The ability to rotate the footrest panel in a rearward direction, in addition to forward rotation, allows the footrest to provide an inclined footrest surface against which the user can place the soles of their feet, in an inclined orientation, oriented back towards the seated user. Such functionality of the footrest panel can be particularly advantageous.

In an embodiment, a furniture system is provided that includes a reclining assembly configured to be selectively coupled to a modular furniture assembly comprising a base and an upright member that can be selectively coupled together, the reclining assembly including a housing, a footrest assembly, and a reclining mechanism configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or a seat of the base with respect to the housing. The reclining mechanism can be mounted within the housing, and the footrest assembly can include a rotatable footrest panel. The footrest assembly can accommodate both forward and rearward rotation of the panel, as described in other embodiments.

In an embodiment, the furniture system includes a reclining assembly configured to be selectively coupled to a modular furniture assembly comprising a base and an upright member that can be selectively coupled together, the reclining assembly including a housing, a footrest assembly, and a reclining mechanism configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or a seat base with respect to the housing. The reclining mechanism can be mounted within the housing, and the reclining mechanism can be configured to selectively extend a footrest assembly out of the deep side or the shallow side of the housing (e.g., where the housing is a non-square rectangle, so as to allow a user to select either a “deep” orientation or a “shallow” orientation for seating, and reclining).

In an embodiment, the furniture system includes a reclining assembly configured to be selectively coupled to a modular furniture assembly comprising a base and an upright member that can be selectively coupled together, wherein the base and upright member each include feet, wherein at least a portion of the coupling is achieved with a shoe coupler, including holes into which the feet of the base and upright member are received, so as to couple the base to the upright member (e.g., which serves as an armrest and/or backrest). The reclining assembly is interchangeable with a standard modular furniture assembly (e.g., by interchanging a standard base with the reclining assembly), so that such a reclining assembly can “drop into” the same shoes that would have held the standard base and/or upright member in such a modular furniture assembly. The reclining assembly can include a housing, a footrest assembly, and a reclining mechanism configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or a seat base with respect to the housing. The reclining mechanism can be mounted within the housing, and the reclining mechanism can be configured to selectively extend a footrest assembly out of the housing (e.g., out a deep or shallow side of such housing). In an embodiment, such a configuration can allow a user to transition the reclining assembly between a deep and shallow configuration, while allowing extension of the footrest assembly, and/or reclining of the seat base with whatever dimension (deep or shallow) is positioned to be the front edge of the seat base. For example, the foot spacing of feet on the upright member and standard modular seating base can match the foot spacing on the reclining assembly seating base, allowing such interchangeability to occur.

In any of various embodiments, the reclining assembly is configured to seamlessly integrate and couple to the modular furniture assembly, having a footprint that substantially fits within the geometric specifications of the footprint of the modular furniture assembly. The reclining assembly has a general appearance that is substantially similar to the modular furniture assembly when the reclining assembly is in an un-reclined, compressed position, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing, unified appearance. This allows a user to install a reclining assembly in any desired seating positions where reclining is desired, while installing modular furniture assembly seating positions (e.g., made up of a base providing a seating surface and one or more upright members providing armrests and/or backrests) in other seating positions, where all such seating positions can be coupled together, to form any of a wide variety of sectional seating configurations. Any given seating position can be swapped out, and interchanged with a reclining assembly (e.g., by dropping the feet of the reclining assembly base into the shoe couplers of the previous standard modular furniture assembly seating position).

As a result, in the compressed position, the reclining assemblies substantially appear to be another (identical) piece of the modular furniture assembly, rather than a more bulky recliner placed next to a modular furniture assembly seating position. The base of the reclining assembly (which houses the reclining mechanism) can have the same or substantially the same footprint and dimensions as a corresponding base of the modular furniture assembly. Thus, a coherent, unified couch design and configuration can be created when the reclining assembly is mounted adjacent a modular furniture assembly of the furniture system. In some embodiments, the reclining assembly appears to be another portion of the modular furniture assembly, as opposed to appearing to be a more bulky mechanized recliner, with an appearance different from the adjacent standard modular furniture assembly which does not recline. The collective reclining assembly and modular furniture assembly thus form an aesthetically pleasing and unified, coherent furniture system where the reclining assembly portion does not stand out awkwardly as a typical recliner and does not have an unpleasant appearance of a typical recliner incongruously placed onto the end of a furniture system.

In an embodiment, the reclining mechanism can fit entirely within the base of the reclining assembly, which base is identical or substantially identical to a non-recliner, standard seating base of the associated modular furniture assembly. This is advantageous as it can allow one to provide for reclining seating locations within a given modular furniture assembly, while minimizing the number of different SKUs needed. For example, a reclining base can simply be provided, coupleable to standard bases, where all armrests and backrests are provided by the same standard upright members coupleable to the various bases (standard bases as well as reclining bases). In other words, no portion of the reclining mechanism need be housed within any of the adjacent upright members, but the entire reclining mechanism is housed entirely within the base of the reclining assembly.

In an embodiment, a furniture system includes a reclining assembly comprising (i) a housing, (ii) a footrest assembly, and (iii) a reclining mechanism configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or a seat with respect to the housing, wherein the reclining mechanism is mounted within the housing, and the footrest assembly comprises a rotatable (e.g., both forward and backward) footrest panel.

In an embodiment, a headrest for use with a furniture system is provided, where the headrest is detachable from the furniture system, or is provided separately from the furniture system, and where the headrest includes electronic or other functional components (e.g., speakers or other sound, heating, cooling, massage, or lights).

In an embodiment, a reclining furniture system includes a reclining assembly comprising a seat having a width and depth of different dimensions (e.g., non-square rectangular seat), where the furniture system is configured to allow a user to orient the width or the depth of the seat to form a front edge of the seat, wherein a footrest assembly selectively extends from the front edge of the seat, wherein the reclining assembly includes a reclining mechanism housed within the seat, the reclining assembly being configured to selectively recline the seat with respect to a remainder of the furniture system in either the orientation where the width of the seat forms the front edge of the seat (e.g., a “shallow” configuration) or the depth of the seat forms the front edge of the seat (e.g., a “deep configuration”).

In an embodiment a reclining furniture system is provided, including a reclining assembly comprising a seat, wherein the reclining assembly includes a reclining mechanism housed entirely within a footprint of the seat, the reclining assembly being configured to selectively recline the seat with respect to a remainder of the furniture system. For example, such a system can be fully and seamlessly compatible with a modular furniture system that includes one or more bases providing a seating surface, and one or more upright members which provide armrests and/or backrests, when coupled to the bases. The seat of the reclining assembly can have identical or substantially identical dimensions to the non-recliner base of the standard modular furniture system, and can similarly couple to the upright members, to provide armrests and/or backrests. The reclining assembly can thus be configured as a fully interchangeable SKU, relative to the standard base, where the entire reclining mechanism is fully housed within the seat “base” of the reclining assembly, without any portion of the reclining mechanism needing to be housed within the upright members. This minimizes the number of SKUs required for such a system, while providing full compatibility with an existing standard modular furniture system.

In an embodiment, a reclining furniture assembly comprises a reclining assembly comprising a seat, wherein the reclining assembly includes a reclining mechanism housed within the seat, the reclining assembly being configured to selectively recline the seat with respect to a static upright member that is positioned as a backrest, wherein the reclining mechanism comprises a rotating gear that engages against a gear rack, a backrest angle reclining as the seat is pushed forward by the reclining mechanism, the reclining mechanism further including a back support member and/or back support panel (separate from the static upright member that serves as the backrest) having a bottom edge that is pivotally coupled to a back of the seat, wherein a top of the back support member or panel slides up or down, adjacent the upright member that is the backrest, wherein as the seat reclines forward, the bottom of the back support member or panel also moves forward with the seat, and a top of the back support member or panel slides down.

A similar embodiment of a reclining furniture assembly comprises a reclining assembly comprising a seat, wherein the reclining assembly includes a reclining mechanism housed within the seat, the reclining assembly being configured to selectively recline the seat with respect to a static upright member that is positioned as a backrest, wherein the reclining mechanism comprises a rotating gear that engages against a gear rack, a backrest angle reclining as the seat is pushed forward by the reclining mechanism, the reclining mechanism further including a back support member and/or back support panel (separate from the static upright member that serves as the backrest) having a bottom edge that is coupled to a back of the seat, which back support member or panel engages with a back support panel that is pulled outward as the back support member or panel is pulled forward with the seat during the reclining extension. Such a panel can provide a backrest support against which the user can rest or recline. The top of the panel can be hingedly attached to a static backrest upright member, so that the angle between the top hinge point and the bottom of the panel is extended as the bottom of the panel is pulled forward by the back support member or panel (e.g., bracket), attached to the seat. Upon the reverse movement of the seat, the angle between the panel and the static backrest upright member is reduced or closed, as the seat is driven back to its standard un-reclined position.

In an embodiment, a reclining furniture system includes a reclining assembly configured to be selectively coupled to a modular furniture assembly comprising a base providing a seating surface and an upright member that can be selectively coupled together, wherein the modular furniture assembly is such that the seat base has a length (x) and a width (y), and the upright member has a length (x′) and a width (z), wherein the seat base and the upright member have a defined spatial relationship, where the length (x) of the seat base is substantially equal to the length (x′) of the upright member, and the length (x) of the seat base is substantially equal to the sum of the width (y) of the seat base and the width (z) of the upright member (i.e., x=x′=y+z). The reclining assembly comprises (i) a housing, (ii) a footrest assembly and (iii) a reclining mechanism housed entirely within a seat base of the reclining assembly, the reclining mechanism being configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or the seat base of the reclining assembly with respect to a remainder of the furniture system. In an embodiment, the seat base within which the reclining mechanism is housed has substantially the same dimensions as the base of the modular furniture assembly that the reclining assembly is selectively coupleable to.

In an embodiment, a reclining assembly includes a carriage of the base, comprising a pivot point defining an axis of rotation, a plurality of tracks, wherein a size and shape of the plurality of tracks is defined by the pivot point, a plurality of brackets each having a set of top dowels or other protrusions that engage and/or communicate with the plurality of tracks and a set of bottom dowels or other protrusions, wherein the plurality of brackets includes a pair of side brackets and a backrest bracket, and a backrest panel attached to the backrest bracket; and a static base portion comprising a plurality of arced tracks, wherein the set of bottom dowels or other protrusions of the plurality of brackets engage and/or communicate with the plurality of arced tracks, and wherein a size and shape of the plurality of arced tracks is also defined by the pivot point of the carriage.

In an embodiment, a reclining assembly includes a carriage of a base comprising a pivot point defining an axis of rotation, a plurality of tracks, wherein a size and shape of the plurality of tracks is defined by the pivot point, a plurality of brackets each having a set of top dowels or other protrusions that engage and/or communicate with the plurality of tracks and a set of bottom dowels or other protrusions, wherein the plurality of brackets includes a pair of side brackets and a backrest bracket, a backrest panel attached to the backrest bracket, and a reclining mechanism. The reclining assembly further includes a static base portion comprising a plurality of arced tracks, wherein the set of bottom dowels or other protrusions of the plurality of brackets engage and/or communicate with the plurality of arced tracks, and wherein a size and shape of the plurality of arced tracks is also defined by the pivot point of the carriage.

In some embodiments, the modular furniture assembly includes (i) a base member for providing a seating surface for a user; and (ii) an upright member configured to be used as a backrest and/or an armrest. Such modular furniture assemblies are highly advantageous, particularly in the dimensions which have a ratio of x=x′=y+z wherein x is the length of the base, x′ is the length of a upright member and wherein y is the width of the base and z is the width (thickness) of the upright member. This x=x′=y+z relationship enables a variety of different furniture configurations to be formed, using only the components of the base and the upright member, as described in the following U.S. Patents, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,213,885; 7,419,220; 7,547,073; 7,963,612; 8,783,778; 9,277,826; 10,143,307; 10,154,733; 10,806,261; 10,123,621; 10,123,623; and 11,253,073.

In an embodiment, the reclining assembly of the present disclosure enables reclining in a system that employs the x=x′=y+z design ratio, and/or is seamlessly compatible with a modular furniture assembly that employs such a design ratio. Reclining assemblies as described herein could of course also be used with other design ratios, whether used in modular furniture systems, or otherwise. For example, the present reclining assemblies could also be used with a modular furniture system design ratio where x=y+22, as described in U.S. Publication No. 2022/0000266, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, the reclining assembly includes a base framework assembly configured to be mounted on a support surface (e.g., a floor) and a backrest member mounted on and/or coupled to the base framework assembly. The base includes at least a two-piece framework, which in an embodiment, has a length x, a width y, where x=y+z, and is capable of an extended, reclined dimension a (dimension in the shallow seat configuration) or b (dimension in the deep seat configuration), wherein the framework is a rectangular framework and wherein a=y+z+extension of the footrest panel; b=x+z+extension of the footrest panel; and b is greater than a. The framework includes (i) a housing, which rests on the support surface or floor, and (ii) a footrest assembly. In some embodiments, the housing comprises four panels: a first pair of static panels and a second pair of panels, where each panel of the second pair is configured to be static and/or dynamic. For example, in some embodiments, a first panel (e.g., corresponding to the x dimension, when oriented in the shallow seat configuration) of the second pair is configured to act as the footrest panel while the second panel of the second pair is configured to be a static panel of the housing. In some embodiments, the second panel (e.g., corresponding to the y dimension when oriented in the deep seat configuration) of the second pair is configured to act as the footrest panel while the first panel of the second pair is configured to be a static panel of the housing.

The base further comprises a reclining mechanism housed within the housing and operatively coupled to the footrest assembly, the reclining mechanism selectively moving the footrest assembly with respect to the housing. In some embodiments, the backrest member is also coupled to the reclining mechanism. The recliner framework remains or substantially remains within the x=x′=y+z footprint in the compressed position and at least a portion of the footrest assembly moves out of the x=x′=y+z footprint in the extended position, where x is the length of the base; x′ is the length of an upright member; y is the width of the base and z is the width (or thickness) of the upright member.

In some embodiments, the footrest assembly can include at least one rotatable footrest panel that is attached and/or coupled to the reclining mechanism. The footrest panel can be configured to rotate with respect to the base (and, therefore, with respect to the housing of the base framework). In some embodiments, the footrest panel is configured to rotate back towards the user, with a negative rotation, so as to provide an inclined surface on which the user can place the soles of their feet. Such a configuration can be particularly comfortable for a relatively shorter user. In some embodiments, the footrest panel is configured to rotate forward, away from the user, with a positive rotation (e.g., allowing resting of the calves of the user against the declined, forwardly rotated surface). In some embodiments, the footrest panel is capable of both types of rotation (both negative and positive), allowing the user to select the rotation they desire. In some embodiments, the rotatable footrest panel is detachable from the reclining mechanism and can be engaged with the housing, to be hidden from view, or otherwise disguised.

In some embodiments, the reclining mechanism includes a gas spring actuator and/or a lock. The lock can be incorporated in the gas spring actuator or can be an additional, separate component. The reclining mechanism can be configured to be rotated within the housing, enabling at least two reclining arrangements or orientations for the reclining assembly. The at least two reclining arrangements or orientations include a reclining shallow seating arrangement or orientation and a reclining deep seating arrangement or orientation. While a gas spring or linear actuator can be used, other embodiments, including a rotating gear and a gear rack, can provide additional benefits, as described herein (e.g., significantly greater footrest extension while housing the actuator mechanism within a given compact footprint).

In some embodiments, the furniture system can include embedded electronic or other functional components, such as induction or other chargers, speakers, subwoofers, electrical hubs, haptic feedback elements (e.g., eccentric rotating mass actuators), and/or combinations thereof. Examples of such embedded components are described in the following U.S. Patents, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,236,643; 10,212,519; 10,979,241; 11,172,301; 11,178,487; 10,972,838; and 11,178,486. In some embodiments, the furniture system includes a controller to control the reclining mechanism. The controller can be a wired remote controller, a wireless remote controller, buttons on a portion of the reclining assembly and/or a software application on a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone), for example. The software application can be configured for voice control and/or activation of the reclining mechanism. The software application can also be configured to control any such embedded electronic or other functional components.

Beneficially, disclosed furniture systems enable a coherent, unified couch design and configuration that can be created when the reclining assembly is mounted adjacent a modular furniture assembly of the furniture system (which can simply include standard, non-reclining bases, and upright members). In other words, the reclining assembly is beneficially stealthily incorporated into the overall furniture system. Additionally, disclosed furniture systems employ a reclining assembly that is configured to recline with “zero-wall clearance,” meaning the reclining assembly can be placed up against, or in close proximity to, a back wall or other support and still allow a user to experience a full range of reclining. Disclosed furniture systems also beneficially include a rotatable footrest panel, which is configured to be rotated away from or toward the reclining assembly and a user. The rotatable footrest panel enables a more ergonomic seating experience for the user, as a user can now rotate the footrest panel to accommodate either the user's calves or legs, or soles of their feet at the user's discretion. Further, the rotatable footrest panel enables a more ergonomic seating experience for users of all sizes and heights.

Also beneficially, the disclosed furniture systems include a reclining mechanism that is selectively mountable and orientable within the reclining assembly. Such selective mountability and orientation enable a user to configure the reclining assembly in at least two seating arrangements or orientations, further enabling a flexible, adaptable ergonomic experience for the user.

One particular benefit of the present reclining assemblies is that the present systems are far easier to take home, or move, once purchased. In addition, because the components of the system are modular, where conventional recliners are one piece (which piece is very heavy, and bulky), the present systems are modular, providing the reclining base separate from the upright member of the furniture assembly. In an embodiment, the reclining mechanism could be provided separately from the reclining base, as well. In any case, each component by itself is far easier to move and handle, such that the system can be moved and assembled even by a single person, which is simply not practical with a conventional recliner.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an indication of the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Disclosed are furniture systems including at least one reclining assembly, configured for selective coupling to a modular furniture assembly including a base and upright member that are coupleable together, to form the modular furniture assembly. The reclining assembly includes a housing, a footrest assembly, and a reclining mechanism configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or a seat base with respect to the housing. The reclining mechanism can be configured to be selectively mountable within the housing, and the reclining mechanism can be selectively orientable within the housing, between at least two different orientations (e.g., a deep seat configuration and a shallow seat configuration). In an embodiment, the footrest assembly includes a rotatable footrest panel.

Another embodiment is directed to a reclining assembly including a base with a housing and a footrest assembly, where the footrest assembly includes a rotatable footrest panel. The reclining assembly also includes a reclining mechanism mounted within the housing, coupled to the footrest assembly, where the rotatable footrest panel is configured to rotate between at least forwardly and rearwardly rotated positions relative to a generally horizontal footrest panel position.

Another embodiment is directed to a furniture system including a reclining assembly that can be selectively coupled to a modular furniture assembly that includes a base and an upright member. Such a reclining assembly includes a housing, a footrest assembly, and a reclining mechanism configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or a seat base with respect to the housing. The reclining mechanism can be configured to be selectively mountable within the housing, and the footrest assembly includes a rotatable footrest panel (e.g., rotatable in both a forward and rearward direction).

Another embodiment is directed to a furniture system including a reclining assembly that can be selectively coupled to a modular furniture assembly that includes a base and an upright member. Such a reclining assembly includes a housing, a footrest assembly, and a reclining mechanism configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or a seat base with respect to the housing. The reclining mechanism can be configured to be selectively mountable within the housing, and the reclining mechanism can be configured to selectively extend a footrest assembly out of a deep side or a shallow side of the housing.

Another embodiment is directed to a reclining furniture system including a reclining assembly including a seat having a width and a depth of different dimensions (e.g., a non-square, rectangular seat). The furniture system is configured to allow a user to orient the width or depth of the seat to form a front edge of the seat, wherein a footrest assembly selectively extends from the front edge of the seat, where the reclining assembly includes a reclining mechanism housed within the seat, the reclining assembly being configured to selectively recline the seat with respect to a remainder of the furniture system in either the orientation where the width of the seat forms the front edge of the seat or the depth of the seat forms the front edge of the seat. For example, the seat width may be 35 inches, and the seat depth 29 inches. This allows the system to be configured to allow reclining such that either the 35 inch width forms the front edge (out of which the reclining foot panel extends) or that the 29 inch depth forms the front edge (out of which the reclining foot panel extends). The user can select which orientation they wish to set the system to, and this selection can be changed by the user, when desired.

Another embodiment is directed to a reclining furniture system including a reclining assembly with a seat, where the reclining assembly includes a reclining mechanism housed entirely within a footprint of the seat, the reclining assembly being configured to selectively recline the seat with respect to a remainder of the furniture system.

Another embodiment is directed to a reclining furniture system including a reclining assembly having a seat, wherein the reclining assembly includes a reclining mechanism housed within the seat, the reclining assembly being configured to selectively recline the seat with respect to a static upright member that serves as a backrest. The reclining mechanism includes a rotating gear that engages against a gear rack, where a backrest angle reclines as the seat is pushed forward by the reclining mechanism. The reclining mechanism further includes a back support member or panel having a bottom edge that is pivotally coupled to a back of the seat, wherein a top of the back support member or panel slides up or down, adjacent the upright member that serves as the backrest. As the seat reclines forward, the bottom of the back support member or panel also moves forward with the seat, and a top of the back support member or panel slides down.

Another embodiment is directed to a reclining furniture system including a reclining assembly that is selectively coupleable to a modular furniture assembly, where the modular furniture assembly includes a seat base and an upright member that can be selectively coupled together. The modular furniture assembly is such that the seat base has a length (x) and a width (y), and the upright member has a length (x′) and a width (z). The seat base and upright member have a defined spatial relationship where the length (x) is substantially equal to the length (x′) of the upright member, and the length (x) of the seat base is substantially equal to the sum of the width (y) of the seat base plus the width (z) of the upright member. The reclining assembly includes a housing, a footrest assembly, and a reclining mechanism that is housed entirely within the seat base of the reclining assembly. The reclining mechanism is configured to selectively move the footrest assembly and/or the seat base of the reclining assembly with respect to a stationary portion (e.g., remainder) of the furniture system.

Another embodiment is directed to a reclining assembly that can accomplish one or more of the various characteristics described for any such embodiments. For example, such a reclining assembly can include a carriage that includes a pivot point defining an axis of rotation, a plurality of tracks, where a size and shape of the tracks is defined by the pivot point. A plurality of brackets are provided, each having a set of top dowels or other protrusions that engage or communicate with the tracks and a set of bottom dowels or other protrusions, where the brackets include a pair of side brackets and a back support bracket. A back support panel is attached to the back support bracket. A static lower base member is also provided, for coupling to the carriage, where the static lower base member includes a plurality of arced tracks. The bottom dowels or other protrusions of the side brackets and back support bracket engage or communicate with the arced tracks, to allow rotation (e.g., 90° rotation) of the carriage over the static base. Such a configuration allows rotation of the carriage from a deep seat configuration, to a shallow seat configuration, and vice versa. The size and shape of the arced tracks is defined by the pivot point of the carriage, so as to allow accomplishment of the desired 90° rotation, between deep seat and shallow seat configurations.

Another embodiment is directed to a reclining assembly including a carriage having a pivot point defining an axis of rotation, a plurality of tracks in the carriage, where a size and shape of the tracks is defined by the pivot point. The carriage also includes a plurality of brackets, where each bracket includes one or more top dowels or other protrusions that engage or communicate with the tracks. The brackets also include bottom dowels or other protrusions that engage or communicate with arced tracks of a static lower base member. The brackets include a pair of side brackets, and a back support bracket. Such brackets can be L-shaped, so one leg of the bracket can be sandwiched between the upper and lower base members associated with the rotating carriage, and the other leg can extend substantially vertically to provide an attachment point for the side panels (e.g., kick panels) of the housing. A back support panel is attached to the back support bracket. The carriage further includes a reclining mechanism. The size and shape (e.g., length, radius of curvature, etc.) of the arced tracks is defined by the pivot point of the carriage, to ensure the desired rotation of the carriage from a shallow seat configuration, to a deep seat configuration.

In an embodiment, the rotatable footrest panel is configured to selectively rotate forwardly or rearwardly relative to a generally horizontal footrest panel position, allowing a user to rotate the footrest for reception of either the user's calves (e.g., when rotated forward), or the users soles of the feet (when rotated rearward).

In an embodiment, the reclining mechanism is configured to be rotatable within the housing, so as to allow a user to selectively extend a footrest assembly out of the deep side or out of the shallow side of the housing. The described carriage and static lower base member is one mechanism for accomplishing such. Other possible mechanisms for accomplishing such are of course possible, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

The reclining assembly is configured to seamlessly integrate and couple to an existing modular furniture assembly, having a footprint in a compressed position that substantially fits within the geometric specifications of the footprint associated with the modular furniture assembly. The reclining assembly has a general appearance that is substantially identical to the modular furniture assembly (formed from base(s) and upright member(s)) when the reclining assembly is in the un-reclined, compressed position, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing, unified appearance. The reclining assembly can be modular in the same way that the modular furniture assembly is modular. For example, a user can purchase any number of desired standard bases or seats, and any number of reclining bases or seats, and a corresponding number of upright members (to provide armrests and/or backrests), by coupling such components in a wide variety of different configurations. Any of the reclining bases or seats can be interchanged with any of the standard bases or seats, as they have the same footprint dimensions.

For example, such a modular furniture assembly can be configured to attach bases and upright members using a system of feet, and shoe couplers that couple a foot of a base to a foot of an upright member (or a foot of a base, to a foot of another base). For example, such shoe couplers can include holes into which the feet of the base and upright member are received, so as to couple the base to the upright member together. The reclining base is interchangeable with a standard base by interchanging the two, so that such a reclining base can “drop into” the same shoes that would have held the standard base and/or upright member in such a modular furniture assembly. For example, the foot spacing of feet on the upright member and standard modular seating base can match the foot spacing on the reclining base, allowing such interchangeability to occur.

In addition, because the reclining mechanism is entirely housed within the reclining base (not split between the base and upright member), the same upright members can be used for coupling to a reclining base, as a standard base. Such minimizes the need for additional SKUs, while providing additional functionality.