Patents by Inventor Larry P. LaPointe
Larry P. LaPointe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230292922Abstract: A furniture member may include a seat bottom frame, a seatback frame, and a reclining mechanism. The seatback frame may be movable relative to the seat bottom frame between an upright position and a reclined position. The seatback frame may be coupled to the seat bottom frame by a pair of linkages. The reclining mechanism may include a front support member and a rear support member. The front support member may be attached to the seat bottom frame and the rear support member may be attached to the linkages. The rear support member may be movable relative to the seat bottom frame between a first position when the seatback frame is in the upright position and a second position when the seatback frame is in the reclined position. Movement of the seatback frame between the upright position and the reclined position causes movement of the rear support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Jason D. RAINS, Larry P. LAPOINTE, Jaime A. MCPHERSON, Ryan M. Nowicki
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Patent number: 11672348Abstract: A furniture assembly may include a seat bottom, a seatback, and a lumbar adjustment assembly. The seatback is disposed adjacent the seat bottom and includes a seatback frame. The lumbar adjustment assembly may be mounted to the seatback frame and may include a rail, a threaded rod disposed within the rail, a first slider block slidably engaging the rail, a second slider block slidably engaging the rail, a lumbar pad, and links connecting the lumbar pad to the first and second slider blocks. The threaded rod may include a first threaded section having threads with a first handedness and a second threaded section having threads with a second handedness that is opposite the first handedness. The first slider block may threadably engage the first threaded section. The second slider block may threadably engage the second threaded section. One or more massaging units may be mounted to the lumbar pad.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2022Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Brandon Bucholz, Alexander M. Hegedus, Larry P. LaPointe
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Patent number: 11622629Abstract: A furniture member includes a base assembly, a frame assembly, a legrest mechanism, a support rod, and a sync mechanism. The frame assembly is movable relative to the base assembly among an upright position, a partially reclined position, and a fully reclined position. The legrest mechanism is movable relative to the frame assembly between a retracted position and a fully extended position. The support rod is supported by the frame assembly. The sync mechanism is coupled to and supported by the support rod. The sync mechanism is configured to prevent the frame assembly from moving from the upright position to the partially reclined position until the legrest mechanism reaches the fully extended position.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Jaime A. McPherson, Christopher A. Larsen, Randy Loper, Richard D. Hartford, Chandrasekar Ramasubramanian
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Publication number: 20230011552Abstract: A fan apparatus may include a frame, a fan, and a drive mechanism. The fan may be supported for rotation relative to the frame and may include a fan shaft and a plurality of blades extending outward from the fan shaft. The drive mechanism may include a driven wheel, a drive shaft, a first drive wheel, a second drive wheel, and a torque-transmission loop. The driven wheel may be mounted on the fan shaft. The drive shaft may be supported for rotation relative to the frame. The first drive wheel may be mounted on the drive shaft. The second drive wheel may be mounted on the drive shaft. The torque-transmission loop may be engaged with the driven wheel and a selected one of the first and second drive wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Inventor: Larry P. LAPOINTE
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Publication number: 20220257021Abstract: A furniture assembly may include a seat bottom, a seatback, and a lumbar adjustment assembly. The seatback is disposed adjacent the seat bottom and includes a seatback frame. The lumbar adjustment assembly may be mounted to the seatback frame and may include a rail, a threaded rod disposed within the rail, a first slider block slidably engaging the rail, a second slider block slidably engaging the rail, a lumbar pad, and links connecting the lumbar pad to the first and second slider blocks. The threaded rod may include a first threaded section having threads with a first handedness and a second threaded section having threads with a second handedness that is opposite the first handedness. The first slider block may threadably engage the first threaded section. The second slider block may threadably engage the second threaded section. One or more massaging units may be mounted to the lumbar pad.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Brandon BUCHOLZ, Alexander M. HEGEDUS, Larry P. LAPOINTE
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Patent number: 11324324Abstract: A seating or furniture assembly may include a seat bottom, a seatback, and a lumbar adjustment assembly. The seatback is disposed adjacent the seat bottom and includes a seatback frame. The lumbar adjustment assembly may be mounted to the seatback frame and may include a rail, a threaded rod disposed within the rail, a first slider block slidably engaging the rail, a second slider block slidably engaging the rail, a third slider block engaging the rail, a lumbar pad, and a plurality of links connecting the lumbar pad to the first, second, and third slider blocks. The threaded rod includes a first threaded section having threads with a first handedness and a second threaded section having threads with a second handedness that is opposite the first handedness. The first and second slider blocks threadably engage the first threaded section. The third slider block threadably engage the second threaded section.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Brandon Bucholz, Alexander M. Hegedus, Larry P. LaPointe
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Publication number: 20220125201Abstract: A furniture member includes a base assembly, a frame assembly, a legrest mechanism, a support rod, and a sync mechanism. The frame assembly is movable relative to the base assembly among an upright position, a partially reclined position, and a fully reclined position. The legrest mechanism is movable relative to the frame assembly between a retracted position and a fully extended position. The support rod is supported by the frame assembly. The sync mechanism is coupled to and supported by the support rod. The sync mechanism is configured to prevent the frame assembly from moving from the upright position to the partially reclined position until the legrest mechanism reaches the fully extended position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2021Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LAPOINTE, Jaime A. MCPHERSON, Christopher A. LARSEN, Randy LOPER, Richard D. HARTFORD, Chandrasekar RAMASUBRAMANIAN
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Patent number: 11197549Abstract: A furniture member includes a base assembly, a frame assembly, a legrest mechanism, a support rod, and a sync mechanism. The frame assembly is movable relative to the base assembly among an upright position, a partially reclined position, and a fully reclined position. The legrest mechanism is movable relative to the frame assembly between a retracted position and a fully extended position. The support rod is supported by the frame assembly. The sync mechanism is coupled to and supported by the support rod. The sync mechanism is configured to prevent the frame assembly from moving from the upright position to the partially reclined position until the legrest mechanism reaches the fully extended position.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Jaime A. McPherson, Christopher A. Larsen, Randy C. Loper, Richard D. Hartford, Chandrasekar Ramasubramanian
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Patent number: 11134778Abstract: A furniture member may include a base frame, a chaise seat bottom frame, and a seatback frame. The chaise seat bottom frame is supported by the base frame and is movable relative to the base frame between first and second positions. The chaise seat bottom frame includes an upper-leg-supporting portion and a lower-leg-supporting portion that are fixed to each other. The lower-leg-supporting portion may support an occupant's lower legs in an extended position relative to the occupant's upper legs. The seatback frame may be supported by the base frame and may be movable relative to the base frame and the chaise seat bottom frame between upright and reclined positions. Movement of the seatback frame from the upright position to the reclined position causes movement of the chaise seat bottom frame upward and forward relative to an aft end of the base frame from the first position to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LaPointe, John J. Bryson, Jason D. Rains, Mark D. McClung
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Publication number: 20210251388Abstract: A seating or furniture assembly may include a seat bottom, a seatback, and a lumbar adjustment assembly. The seatback is disposed adjacent the seat bottom and includes a seatback frame. The lumbar adjustment assembly may be mounted to the seatback frame and may include a rail, a threaded rod disposed within the rail, a first slider block slidably engaging the rail, a second slider block slidably engaging the rail, a third slider block engaging the rail, a lumbar pad, and a plurality of links connecting the lumbar pad to the first, second, and third slider blocks. The threaded rod includes a first threaded section having threads with a first handedness and a second threaded section having threads with a second handedness that is opposite the first handedness. The first and second slider blocks threadably engage the first threaded section. The third slider block threadably engage the second threaded section.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Applicant: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Brandon BUCHOLZ, Alexander M. HEGEDUS, Larry P. LAPOINTE
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Publication number: 20200352333Abstract: A furniture member may include a base frame, a chaise seat bottom frame, and a seatback frame. The chaise seat bottom frame is supported by the base frame and is movable relative to the base frame between first and second positions. The chaise seat bottom frame includes an upper-leg-supporting portion and a lower-leg-supporting portion that are fixed to each other. The lower-leg-supporting portion may support an occupant's lower legs in an extended position relative to the occupant's upper legs. The seatback frame may be supported by the base frame and may be movable relative to the base frame and the chaise seat bottom frame between upright and reclined positions. Movement of the seatback frame from the upright position to the reclined position causes movement of the chaise seat bottom frame upward and forward relative to an aft end of the base frame from the first position to the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Applicant: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LAPOINTE, John J. BRYSON, Jason D. RAINS, Mark D. MCCLUNG
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Patent number: 10820708Abstract: A furniture member includes a base frame and a seat assembly supported by the base frame. The seat assembly includes a seat frame, a seat bottom, a seatback and a legrest. The legrest is movable relative to the base frame and seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The furniture member further includes a legrest mechanism attached to the legrest and the seat frame and driven by a drive rod configured to move the legrest between the retracted and extended positions in response to rotation of the drive rod. A wall-proximity mechanism is configured to translate the seat frame forward relative to the base frame. A trigger release mechanism is operable between a locked position in which a trigger limits rotation of the drive rod and a released position in which the trigger permits rotation of the drive rod.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Gerald G. Stotz
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Patent number: 10779653Abstract: A furniture member may include a base frame and a seat assembly mounted on the base frame. The seat assembly may include a seat frame, a seatback, a seat bottom, and a legrest mechanism. The legrest mechanism may be mounted to the seat frame and attached to a legrest platform. The legrest mechanism may include a drive rod coupled to a pantograph linkage that is movable relative to the seat frame between retracted and extended positions.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Michael R. Mero
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Patent number: 10561244Abstract: A furniture member may include a base assembly, a seat assembly, a tilt mechanism, and a recliner actuator. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom, a seatback, and a seat base frame. The seat base frame includes armrest members. The tilt mechanism includes a tilt actuator attached to the base assembly and a plurality of links. The tilt mechanism moves the seat bottom, seatback and seat base frame relative to the base assembly between upright and rearward tilt positions. The recline actuator is mounted to the seat base frame and the seat bottom and moves the seat bottom relative to the armrest members between forward and rearward positions. Movement of the seat bottom between the forward and rearward positions causes movement of the seatback relative to the seat bottom between reclined and non-reclined positions. The recline actuator and the tilt actuator are operable independently of each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. Lapointe, Chad E. Adams, Gerald G. Stotz
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Patent number: 10537177Abstract: A furniture member may include a seat base frame, a seat bottom, and a seatback. The seat bottom may be attached to the seat base frame. The seatback may be attached to the seat base frame and may include a seatback frame and a seat-depth-adjustment mechanism. The seat-depth-adjustment mechanism may include a backrest support member and a seat-depth-adjustment actuator. The seat-depth-adjustment actuator may be mounted to the seatback frame and may be drivingly coupled to the backrest support member to move the backrest support member relative to the seatback frame and the seat bottom between a retracted position and an extended position.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. Lapointe, Chad E. Adams, Gerald G. Stotz
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Patent number: 10524575Abstract: A rocking furniture member may include a base frame, a seat assembly, a legrest mechanism, and a pawl assembly. The seat assembly may include a ratchet rack having a plurality of teeth. The pawl assembly may include a support link, a pawl arm, and an actuation link. The support link is rotatably coupled to the base frame. The pawl arm is rotatably attached to the support link and selectively engages one of the ratchet teeth. The actuation link may be attached to the pawl arm and may be coupled to the legrest mechanism such that movement of the legrest mechanism into the extended position moves the pawl arm into engagement with the ratchet rack and movement of the legrest mechanism toward the retracted position causes rotation of the pawl arm relative to the support link and disengages the pawl arm from the ratchet rack.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventor: Larry P. LaPointe
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Patent number: 10524574Abstract: A furniture member includes a base frame, a seat assembly, a motor assembly, a legrest mechanism and a wall-proximity mechanism. The seat assembly is supported by the base frame and includes a seat frame, a seat bottom, a seat back and a legrest. The legrest is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The seat back is movable between an upright position and a reclined position. The motor assembly includes a draw bar that moves along a motor extrusion housing from an initial position to a first position and to a second position. The legrest mechanism is driven by the draw bar to move the legrest between the retracted and extended positions. The wall-proximity mechanism is driven by the draw bar to translate the seat frame forward relative to the base frame in response to movement of the draw bar from the first position to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Gerald G. Stotz
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Patent number: 10512332Abstract: A furniture member may include a stationary base frame, a seat bottom frame, a seat bottom cushion, a seatback frame, and a seatback cushion. The base frame may include a forward support, an aft support, and a pair of armrests that extend between the forward support and the aft support. The forward, aft and lateral supports are stationary and fixed relative to each other. The seat bottom frame may be supported by the base frame. An upper end of the seatback frame may be pivotably coupled to the aft support such that the seatback frame is rotatable relative to the aft support and the seat bottom frame between a first position and a second position. A lower end of the seatback cushion has a greater range of motion than an upper end of the seatback cushion when the seatback frame moves between the first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Jason Rains, Jason Bryson
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Patent number: 10499745Abstract: A furniture member may include first and second seat assemblies and an auxiliary assembly. The first seat assembly includes a first seat bottom and a first seatback. The second seat assembly includes a second seat bottom and a second seatback. The second seat assembly may be movable relative to the first seat assembly between a retracted position in which the first seat bottom and the first seatback portion are adjacent to the second seat bottom and the second seatback, and an extended position in which the first seat bottom and the first seatback are spaced apart from the second seat bottom and the second seatback. The auxiliary assembly is movable between a stowed position in which the auxiliary assembly is disposed below the first and second seat assemblies and a deployed position in which at least a portion of the auxiliary assembly is vertically higher than in the stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Chad E. Adams, Larry P. Lapointe, Jason Bryson, Ericka K. Norling, Jason D. Rains, Mark D. McClung, Tahir Ahmad
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Patent number: 10492613Abstract: A furniture member may include a seat assembly and a legrest assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The legrest assembly may include a legrest platform and articulating arm assemblies. Each articulating arm assembly may include first and second link-housings and first and second control links. The first link-housings may be rotatably attached to the seat bottom. The second link-housings may be rotatably attached to respective first link-housings and the legrest platform. The first control links may be disposed within respective first link-housings. Rotation of the first link-housings relative to the seat bottom may cause relative movement between the first control links and the first link-housings and relative movement between the first control links and the second link-housings. The second control links may be disposed at least partially within respective second link-housings and may be movably coupled to the second link-housings and to the legrest platform.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Gerald G. Stotz