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: 20250012285Abstract: 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: September 25, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Inventor: Larry P. LAPOINTE
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Publication number: 20240365982Abstract: A furniture member may include a seat base, a seat assembly, a legrest platform, a drive rod, and a sequencing mechanism. The seat assembly is movable relative to the seat base. The legrest platform is coupled to the seat assembly. The drive rod is rotatable relative to the seat assembly, and rotation of the drive rod causes the seat assembly and the legrest platform to move. The sequencing mechanism includes a cam that is attached to the drive rod and a follower wheel that is attached to the seat assembly. The cam is configured to prevent the seat assembly from moving between a first recline position and a second recline position while the seat assembly moves between first and second tilt positions and while the legrest platform moves between first and second legrest positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2023Publication date: November 7, 2024Applicant: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventor: Larry P. LaPointe
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Patent number: 12123422Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 1, 2022Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Inventor: Larry P. Lapointe
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Publication number: 20240251950Abstract: A furniture member including a seat base, a seat assembly, a first and second rocker member, and a first and second rocker spring assembly. The seat assembly is movable relative to the seat base. The first and second rocker members are fixedly attached to the seat frame assembly. Each of the first and second rocker members includes a curved bottom surface in rolling contact with a surface of the seat base. The first and second rocker spring assemblies are secured to the seat base and the first and second rocker members, respectively. The first rocker spring assembly includes a first mount bracket, a second mount bracket, and a first spring that extends between the first and second mount brackets. The second rocker spring assembly includes a third mount bracket, a fourth mount bracket, and a second spring that extends between the third and fourth mount brackets.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2024Publication date: August 1, 2024Applicant: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LAPOINTE, Christopher A. LARSEN
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Publication number: 20240180332Abstract: A chair mechanism includes a frame structure with a seat bottom supported by the frame structure and a seat back supported by the frame structure and pivotable to a reclined position relative to the seat bottom. A leg rest assembly is supported by the seat bottom and movable between a stowed position and an extended position. A rocking support structure connects the seat frame to a base structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2023Publication date: June 6, 2024Applicant: La-Z-Boy IncorporatedInventors: Larry P. LAPOINTE, Chandrasekar RAMASUBRAMANIAN, Jason D. RAINS
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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