Patents by Inventor Marcus L. Murphy
Marcus L. Murphy 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).
-
Publication number: 20110291460Abstract: A seating unit includes: a base; a frame with arms on opposing sides; a seat; a backrest; at least one ottoman; a reclining mechanism, a lift mechanism and a power unit. The reclining mechanism interconnects the frame, the seat, the backrest, and the at least one ottoman, and comprises a series of pivotally interconnected links and configured to move the seating unit between (a) an upright position, in which the backrest is generally upright and defines a first backrest angle relative to horizontal, the seat is generally horizontal, and the at least one ottoman is retracted below the seat, (b) a TV position, in which the backrest substantially maintains the first backrest angle, and the at least one ottoman is extended in front of the seat, and a fully reclined position, in the at least one ottoman remains extended on front of the seat, and the backrest defines a second backrest angle relative to horizontal that is shallower than the first backrest angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
-
Patent number: 8016348Abstract: A reciprocating and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a reciprocating mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the reciprocating mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to reciprocate relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Patent number: 8011034Abstract: A sofa-bed includes: a frame with opposed arms; a backrest operatively connected to the frame; a seat; a subseat hinged to the seat and pivotable relative thereto; an extension-assist mechanism attached to the frame and at least one of the seat and the subseat; and a folding-assist mechanism attached to the frame and at least one of the subseat and seat. The frame, backrest, seat and subseat are configured to move between a folded position, in which the backrest is generally upright, the seat is generally horizontal, and the subseat is generally horizontal and positioned beneath the seat in a first inverted orientation, and an unfolded position, in which the backrest, subseat and seat are generally horizontal, and the subseat is positioned between the backrest and the seat in a second non-inverted orientation. The folding-assist mechanism is configured such that the sofa-bed is biased toward the folded position as the sofa-bed moves from the unfolded position toward a first intermediate position.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2009Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: American LeatherInventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy, Douglas Gasal, Robert Barron Duncan
-
Patent number: 7997644Abstract: A gliding and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Publication number: 20110018331Abstract: A rocking and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base unit; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base unit and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links, the reclining mechanism configured to move the seating unit between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman are generally vertically disposed and positioned below the seat, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as they have in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases; aType: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
-
Publication number: 20110010846Abstract: A furniture unit containing a foldable bed includes: a base including a storage cavity; a seat section; an intermediate section; a head section; and a mechanism having pivotally interconnected links, the mechanism interconnecting the base with the head, intermediate and seat sections. The mechanism controls the movement of the head, intermediate and seat sections between a folded position, in which the head, intermediate and seat sections are generally horizontally disposed and positioned in vertically stacked relationship, with the head section below the intermediate section and the seat section above the intermediate section, the head and intermediate sections being positioned in the cavity of the base, and an unfolded position, in which the head, intermediate and seat sections are horizontally disposed and serially aligned to form a sleeping surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Inventor: Marcus L. Murphy
-
Publication number: 20110010847Abstract: A seating unit containing a foldable bed includes: a seating unit frame having a pair of opposed arms; a housing including a storage cavity, the housing fixed to the arms of the seating unit frame; a seat section; an intermediate section; a head section; and a mechanism having pivotally interconnected links, the mechanism interconnecting the base with the head, intermediate and seat sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2009Publication date: January 20, 2011Inventor: Marcus L. Murphy
-
Publication number: 20100264702Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat; a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat; a footrest unit; and a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls the relative movement of the frame, the seat and the backrest between an upright position and a reclined position. In the upright position, the backrest is generally upright and positioned above the frame, and the seat has a first rearward position relative to the frame. In the reclined position, the backrest is reclined relative to the underlying surface as compared to its disposition in the upright position and the seat has a second forward position relative to the frame that is forward of the first rearward position. The footrest unit comprises at least one footrest and a footrest mechanism that interconnects the footrest with the seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Patent number: 7762625Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat; a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat; a footrest unit; and a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls the relative movement of the frame, the seat and the backrest between an upright position and a reclined position. In the upright position, the backrest is generally upright and positioned above the frame, and the seat has a first rearward position relative to the frame. In the reclined position, the backrest is reclined relative to the underlying surface as compared to its disposition in the upright position and the seat has a second forward position relative to the frame that is forward of the first rearward position. The footrest unit comprises at least one footrest and a footrest mechanism that interconnects the footrest with the seat.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2007Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Patent number: 7731276Abstract: A seating unit includes: a frame having arms on opposing sides thereof, the frame located in a first position relative to an underlying surface that supports the seating unit; a backrest; a seat; and a reclining mechanism attached to the frame, backrest and seat. The reclining mechanism comprises a series of pivotally interconnected links, the links configured and arranged to move the backrest and seat between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed and in a first location relative to the frame and the backrest forms a first angle with the seat, and a reclined position, in which the backrest forms a second angle with the seat, the second angle being smaller than the first angle, and the seat is in a second location relative to the frame that is forwardly of the first location.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Publication number: 20100127538Abstract: A rocking and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a rocker mechanism attached with the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the rocker mechanism configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to experience a longitudinally-directed rocking motion relative to the base unit; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2008Publication date: May 27, 2010Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Publication number: 20100127556Abstract: A reciprocating and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a reciprocating mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the reciprocating mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to reciprocate relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism, the actuating unit configured to move the chair between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman are generally vertiType: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Publication number: 20100127555Abstract: A gliding and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2008Publication date: May 27, 2010Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Patent number: 7669922Abstract: A reclining chair includes: a base; a seat; a backrest; and a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat and backrest. The reclining mechanism comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected links and is configured to move the seat and backrest relative to the base between a fully upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed above the base and the backrest is generally vertically disposed at a first angle to an underlying surface above a rear portion of the backrest, and one or more reclined positions, in which the backrest is disposed at a second angle to the underlying surface, the second angle being less than the first angle. One of the links of the reclining mechanism is a backrest support link that moves in concert with the backrest between the upright and reclined positions.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2004Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, D. Stephen Hoffman
-
Patent number: 7669921Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat; a backrest that includes a body and a headrest that is positioned above the body; a reclining mechanism that interconnects the base, seat and backrest that controls the movement thereof between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed above the base and the backrest is generally vertically disposed at a first angle to the underlying surface above a rear portion of the backrest, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest is disposed at a second angle to the underlying surface, the second angle being less than the first angle; and a headrest mechanism coupled to the reclining mechanism and attached to the body and headrest.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Publication number: 20090235452Abstract: A sofa-bed includes: a frame with opposed arms; a backrest operatively connected to the frame; a seat; a subseat hinged to the seat and pivotable relative thereto; an extension-assist mechanism attached to the frame and at least one of the seat and the subseat; and a folding-assist mechanism attached to the frame and at least one of the subseat and seat. The frame, backrest, seat and subseat are configured to move between a folded position, in which the backrest is generally upright, the seat is generally horizontal, and the subseat is generally horizontal and positioned beneath the seat in a first inverted orientation, and an unfolded position, in which the backrest, subseat and seat are generally horizontal, and the subseat is positioned between the backrest and the seat in a second non-inverted orientation. The folding-assist mechanism is configured such that the sofa-bed is biased toward the folded position as the sofa-bed moves from the unfolded position toward a first intermediate position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy, Douglas Gasal, Robert Barron Duncan
-
Patent number: 7549182Abstract: A seating unit includes: a frame; a backrest section having a backrest cushion; body, hinge and foot sections sharing a common cushion; and a folding mechanism comprising a series of pivotally interconnected links configured and arranged to move the backrest, body, hinge and foot sections between folded and unfolded positions. In the unfolded position, the backrest, body, hinge and foot sections are generally horizontally disposed and serially aligned, with the backrest cushion and the common cushion facing upwardly.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2006Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.Inventor: Marcus L. Murphy
-
Publication number: 20090072593Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat; a backrest that includes a body and a headrest that is positioned above the body; a reclining mechanism that interconnects the base, seat and backrest that controls the movement thereof between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed above the base and the backrest is generally vertically disposed at a first angle to the underlying surface above a rear portion of the backrest, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest is disposed at a second angle to the underlying surface, the second angle being less than the first angle; and a headrest mechanism coupled to the reclining mechanism and attached to the body and headrest.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2007Publication date: March 19, 2009Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Patent number: 7503624Abstract: A press-back style reclining seating unit includes: a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat fixed to the frame, the seat being generally horizontally disposed; a generally upright backrest positioned above the rear portion of the seat; and a reclining mechanism that interconnects the frame and the backrest and controls the movement of the backrest relative to the frame between an upright position, in which the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest is more reclined relative to the underlying surface than in the upright position. The reclining mechanism includes an actuating unit that enables the backrest to move to and remain in any partially reclined position between the upright and fully reclined positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
-
Publication number: 20080012396Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat; a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat; a footrest unit; and a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls the relative movement of the frame, the seat and the backrest between an upright position and a reclined position. In the upright position, the backrest is generally upright and positioned above the frame, and the seat has a first rearward position relative to the frame. In the reclined position, the backrest is reclined relative to the underlying surface as compared to its disposition in the upright position and the seat has a second forward position relative to the frame that is forward of the first rearward position. The footrest unit comprises at least one footrest and a footrest mechanism that interconnects the footrest with the seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy