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: 20070163475
    Abstract: A table with a moveable table surface includes: a base; a substantially planar table surface having an uppermost visible surface; and a lifting mechanism mounted to the base and to the table surface. The lifting mechanism is configured to move the table between a closed position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed adjacent to and above the base, and an open position, in which the table surface is horizontally disposed above and forwardly of its position in the closed position. The lifting mechanism comprises: a front pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface, the front pivot link having a spring extension finger; a rear pivot link pivotally interconnected with the base and with the table surface; and a spring having opposite ends, one of the ends of the spring being attached to the spring extension finger of the front pivot link and the other end of the spring being fixed relative to the table surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventor: Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 7207624
    Abstract: An ottoman convertible to a seating unit includes: a body; a seat associated with the body; and a lid pivotally attached to the body, the lid having an underside. The lid is movable between a closed position, in which the lid overlies the body, the seat is beneath the lid, and the underside of the lid faces generally downwardly, and an open position, in which the lid is generally upright and located above a rear portion of the body, the underside of the lid faces generally forwardly and forms the backrest of a seating unit and the seat is accessible for a seated occupant. The seat is inclined from rear to front. Typically, movement of the lid and the seat (if any) is controlled by one or more mechanisms that couple the seat and the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 7114770
    Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a frame having two arms; a backrest; a seat; at least one ottoman; an ottoman linkage, and a reclining mechanism. The ottoman linkage is attached to the frame and to the at least one ottoman and includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected links that are configured to move the at least one ottoman between a retracted position, in which the at least one ottoman is positioned below the seat, and an extended position, in which the at least one ottoman is disposed generally horizontally and in front of the seat. The reclining mechanism is attached to the backrest, the seat and the frame and includeses a plurality of pivotally interconnected links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 7021711
    Abstract: A locking mechanism configured to prevent rocking motion of a seat of a rocking and reclining chair relative to a base of the chair when the chair is in a reclined position, the locking mechanism being interconnected with the base and with a reclining mechanism of the chair, includes: a drive link adapted to be pivotally interconnected with the reclining mechanism; a control link adapted to be pivotally interconnected with the base and having a slot; and a bracing link pivotally interconnected with the drive link and slidably and pivotally interconnected with the control link via a pin inserted into the control link slot, the bracing link including a wheel at an engagement end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6932428
    Abstract: A furniture assembly includes: a first seating unit with a stationary support; a second seating unit with a stationary support; and a connector that is configured to interconnect the first and second seating units such that respective lateral portions thereof are adjacent. The connector includes: a first component attached to the stationary support of the first seating unit; a second component attached to the stationary support of the second seating unit; and interconnecting structure attached to the first and second components that (a) prevents relative horizontal movement of the first and second seating units when the first and second seating units are in an interconnected condition, and (b) permits relative vertical movement of the first and second seating units when in the interconnected condition to separate the first and second seating units. This configuration can enable the rapid interconnection and separation of adjacent seating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6904628
    Abstract: A sofa-bed has: a frame with opposing arms; a seat; a subseat hinged to the seat; a connecting rod that pivotally interconnects the subseat and the backrest; pairs of center legs and end legs pivotally attached to, respectively, the subseat and seat; and mechanisms for folding and unfolding the center and end legs. The sofa-bed is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. The mechanisms for the center legs and the end legs are configured to move the legs from a generally horizontal folded position between the seat and subseat when the sofa-bed is in the folded position to a generally upright position beneath, respectively, the subseat and seat when the bed is in the unfolded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: American Leather
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, Douglas Gasal, Robert B. Duncan, H. Robert Tiffany
  • Patent number: 6793279
    Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a generally horizontally disposed seat; a pair of upright arms, each of the arms being positioned adjacent opposite sides of the seat and configured to rest on an underlying surface; a generally upright backrest positioned adjacent to a rear portion of the seat; at least one ottoman; and a pair of reclining mechanisms attached to the seat, arms, backrest and at least one ottoman, and a heart-rest mechanism pivotally interconnected with the reclining mechanisms. The heart-rest mechanism is configured so that the seating unit is movable between fully reclined and heart-rest positions in which the ottoman is disposed forwardly of the seat, the backrest forms a fully reclined angle with the seat that is substantially the same as that formed in the fully reclined position, and the seat forms a heart-rest angle with the underlying surface that is greater than in the fully reclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6588841
    Abstract: A gliding seating unit includes: a base; a seat positioned generally above the base; front and rear swing links attached to the base and seat, the front and rear swing links being constructed and mounted such that the seat is suspended from the base and is free to glide along a longitudinal path; and a locking mechanism attached to the base and seat. The locking mechanism includes: a first engagement member fixed to and below the seat; and a second engagement member pivotally interconnected with the base and configured to engage the first engagement member in one of a plurality of engagement locations. The locking member is configured such that, in the locked position, the second engagement member is raised to engage the first engagement member, and in the unlocked position, the second engagement member is lowered and disengaged from the first engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6554354
    Abstract: A seating unit comprises: an armrest having an inwardly facing surface that includes an aperture; a table having a support surface mounted on and above a mounting post; and a mounting bracket mounted within the armrest. The mounting bracket is configured to receive the mounting post through the aperture in the armrest and to detachably secure the mounting post such that the support surface is generally horizontally disposed. In this configuration, the seating unit can provide a table-type surface in a convenient location for an occupant of the seating unit, yet the table can be removed when its presence is undesirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20030070225
    Abstract: A sofa-bed has: a frame with opposing arms; a seat; a subseat hinged to the seat; a connecting rod that pivotally interconnects the subseat and the backrest; pairs of center legs and end legs pivotally attached to, respectively, the subseat and seat; and mechanisms for folding and unfolding the center and end legs. The sofa-bed is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. The mechanisms for the center legs and the end legs are configured to move the legs from a generally horizontal folded position between the seat and subseat when the sofa-bed is in the folded position to a generally upright position beneath, respectively, the subseat and seat when the bed is in the unfolded position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Marcus L. Murphy, Douglas Gasal, Robert B. Duncan, H. Robert Tiffany
  • Patent number: 6540291
    Abstract: A reclining chair includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a swivel unit attached to the base; a chassis assembly mounted to the base; an arm member mounted above the base and to the chassis assembly; a seat having a seat frame, a lowermost portion of the seat frame being located at least 6 inches from the underlying surface; a backrest; an intermediate ottoman; a front ottoman; and a pair of reclining mechanisms mounted to the chassis assembly, the seat and the backrest. The reclining mechanisms are configured to move the seat and backrest relative to the base between an upright position, a “TV” position, and a fully reclined position. The chassis assembly has a first longitudinal dimension. The arm member has a horizontal run and two upright runs. The horizontal run is positioned above and in non-contacting relationship with the underlying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ultra-Mek, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20030015893
    Abstract: A reclining seating unit includes: a generally horizontally disposed seat; a pair of upright arms, each of the arms being positioned adjacent opposite sides of the seat and configured to rest on an underlying surface; a generally upright backrest positioned adjacent to a rear portion of the seat; at least one ottoman; and a pair of reclining mechanisms attached to the seat, arms, backrest and at least one ottoman, and a heart-rest mechanism pivotally interconnected with the reclining mechanisms. The heart-rest mechanism is configured so that the seating unit is movable between fully reclined and heart-rest positions in which the ottoman is disposed forwardly of the seat, the backrest forms a fully reclined angle with the seat that is substantially the same as that formed in the fully reclined position, and the seat forms a heart-rest angle with the underlying surface that is greater than in the fully reclined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20020149238
    Abstract: A reclining chair includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a swivel unit attached to the base; a chassis assembly mounted to the base; an arm member mounted above the base and to the chassis assembly; a seat having a seat frame, a lowermost portion of the seat frame being located at least 6 inches from the underlying surface; a backrest; an intermediate ottoman; a front ottoman; and a pair of reclining mechanisms mounted to the chassis assembly, the seat and the backrest. The reclining mechanisms are configured to move the seat and backrest relative to the base between an upright position, a “TV” position, and a fully reclined position. The chassis assembly has a first longitudinal dimension. The arm member has a horizontal run and two upright runs. The horizontal run is positioned above and in non-contacting relationship with the underlying surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: D. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy