Tilting device for seating units

Claim 2

A tilting device for a seating unit which comprises: a casing disposed beneath a seat resting on the understructure of the seating unit; a seat carrier pivotably mounted about a horizontal swivel axis to the front edge area of said seat; mechanical locking means for connecting the seat carrier within the casing including first locking members and second locking members engageable with said first locking members; means for biasing said second locking members into engagement with said first locking members; means for guiding said second locking members into and out of engagement with said first locking members; sliding means for moving said second locking members so as to engage with said first locking members; a rest member pivotably adjustably mounted to said casing; a lever member operatively associated with said casing; a bearing member connected to said casing operably engageable with said rest member; a plurality of spring elements mounted on said casing which acts at one end of the seat carrier opposite to the load of the user; bistable activation lever means connected to said sliding means for activating said mechanical locking means, accessible to the user of the seating unit in such a manner that, in a first operable position, said second locking members are disengaged from said first locking members and, in a second operable position, at least one of said second locking members is engaged with said first locking members; means extending outside said casing for adjusting the initial tension of said plurality of spring elements from outside said casing mounted on said casing; and said first locking members comprise a locking plate operatively associated with the seat carrier including holes formed in said locking plate and wherein said second locking member comprises locking bolts, supported by the means for guiding the second locking means, engageable in said holes formed in said locking plate and wherein only one part of said plurality of spring elements is adjustably connected to said lever for initial tension by said adjusting means.

Claim 3

A tilting device for a seating unit which comprises: a casing disposed beneath a seat resting on the understructure of the seating unit; a seat carrier pivotably mounted about a horizontal swivel axis to the front edge of said seat; mechanical locking means for connecting the seat carrier within the casing including first locking members and second locking members engageable with said first locking members; means for biasing said second locking members into engagement with said first locking members; means for guiding said second locking members into and out of engagement with said first locking members; sliding means for moving said second locking members so as to engage with said first locking members; a bell-crank back rest carrier pivotably adjustably connected to said casing including a shank member; a lever member connected to said shank member; a bearing member connected to said casing operably engageable with said shank member of the back rest carrier; a plurality of spring elements mounted on said casing which acts at one end of the seat carrier opposite to the load of the user; bistable activation lever means connected to said sliding means for activating said mechanical locking means, accessible to the user of the seating unit in such a manner that, in a first operable position, said second locking members are disengaged from said first locking members and, in a second operable position, at least one of said second locking members is engaged with said first locking members; means extending outside said casing for adjusting the initial tension of said plurality of spring elements mounted on said casing; a link member movably interconnecting the seat carrier with said shank member of the back rest carrier disposed in an area of the seating unit away from the swivel axis of the seat carrier so as to provide a second swivel axis for the back rest carrier member parallel to the swivel axis of the seat carrier; wherein said first locking members comprise a locking plate connected to the rear portion of the shank member of the back rest carrier member including holes formed in said locking plate and said second locking member comprises locking bolts, supported by the means for guiding the second locking means engageable in said holes formed in said locking plate and wherein only one part of said plurality of spring elements is adjustably connected to said lever for initial tensioning by said adjusting means.

Claim 4

A tilting device for a seating unit which comprises: a casing disposed beneath a seat resting on the understructure of the seating unit; a seat carrier pivotably mounted about a horizontal swivel axis to the front edge of said seat; mechanical locking means for connecting the seat carrier within the casing including first locking members and second locking members engageable with said first locking members; means for biasing said second locking members into engagement with said first locking members; means for guiding said second locking members into and out of engagement with said first locking members; sliding means for moving said second locking members so as to engage with said first locking members; a bell-crank back rest carrier pivotably adjustably connected to said casing including a shank member; a lever member connected to said shank member; a bearing member connected to said casing operably engageable with said shank member of the back rest carrier; a plurality of spring elements mounted on said casing which acts at one end of the seat carrier opposite to the load of the user; bistable activation lever means connected to said sliding means for activating said mechanical locking means, accessible to the user of the seating unit in such a manner that, in a first operable position, said second locking members are disengaged from said first locking members and, in a second operable position, at least one of said second locking members is engaged with said first locking members; means extending outside said casing for adjusting the initial tension of said plurality of spring elements mounted on said casing; a link member movably interconnecting the seat carrier with said shank member of the back rest carrier disposed in an area of the seating unit away from the swivel axis of the seat carrier so as to provide a second swivel axis for the back rest carrier member parallel to the swivel axis of the seat carrier; wherein said first locking members comprise a locking plate connected to the rear portion of the shank member of the back rest carrier member including holes formed in said locking plate and said second locking member comprises locking bolts, supported by the means for guiding the second locking means engageable in said holes formed in said locking plate and wherein only one part of said plurality of spring elements is adjustably connected to said lever for initial tensioning by said adjusting means.

Claim 5

The tilting device of claim 2 wherein the distance between the swivel axis of the seat carrier and the link member connecting the seat carrier with the shank member of the back rest carrier member is approximately twice the distance between the link member and the swivel axis of the shank member of the back rest carrier.

Claim 6

A tilting device as set forth in claims 1 or 2, which further comprises: a lever connected to the seat carrier at the swivel axis of the seat carrier; and fastening eye members mounted on the casing wherein said plurality of spring elements interconnect the lever and the fastening eye members.

Claim 7

A tilting device as set forth in claim 2, said shank member further comprising: a lever member disposed on the swivel axis of said bell crank back rest carrier and wherein said plurality of spring elements interconnect said lever member and the casing.