Patents by Inventor Michael R. MERO

Michael R. MERO 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).

  • Patent number: 10779653
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Michael R. Mero
  • Publication number: 20190116981
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LAPOINTE, Michael R. MERO
  • Patent number: 8833844
    Abstract: A glider furniture member adapted for electrically powered operation includes a frame having a plurality of upright posts. A plurality of links are individually rotatably connected to individual ones of the plurality of upright posts. An actuation mechanism suspended from the upright posts at rotatably connected free ends of each of the links permits forward and rearward gliding motions of the actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes a leg rest assembly movable between a fully retracted and a fully extended position inclusive. An electrically powered drive assembly connected to the actuation mechanism rotates the leg rest assembly and the seat back member independently of an occupant induced force operating to move the actuation mechanism in the forward and rearward gliding motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Eric B. Harwood, Richard E. Marshall, Michael R. Mero, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8506009
    Abstract: An electrically operated wall proximity furniture member includes a frame and an actuation mechanism rotatably connected to the frame. The actuation mechanism includes first and second independently rotatable seat back support members oriented to face a wall outer surface. An electrically powered drive assembly operates to rotate the seat back member between fully upright and fully reclined positions inclusive. A point of the seat back support members when positioned in the fully upright position defines a rear-most extent of the actuation mechanism. The rear-most extent defines a vertical plane having no portion of the actuation mechanism extending beyond the rear-most extent toward the wall outer surface during any operation of the actuation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Eric B. Harwood, Richard E. Marshall, Michael R. Mero, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8459732
    Abstract: A rocking furniture member having an electrically powered actuation mechanism includes a frame and an actuation mechanism connected to the frame. The actuation mechanism includes an extendable and retractable leg rest assembly. A drive assembly connected to the actuation mechanism having an electric motor operates to move the leg rest assembly between a retracted position and any of a plurality of extended positions inclusive including a fully extended position by a command provided by an occupant of the furniture member. A rotation member connecting the actuation mechanism to the frame permits an occupant induced rocking motion of the actuation mechanism with respect to the frame at least when the leg rest assembly is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Eric B. Harwood, Richard E. Marshall, Michael R. Mero, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8366188
    Abstract: A release system for a furniture member leg rest assembly extended from an actuation mechanism includes an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism having a leg rest assembly movable between a fully retracted and a plurality of extended positions inclusive, including a fully extended position. A pantograph link of the leg rest assembly is rotatably connected to the actuation mechanism. An extension link is rotatably connected to the actuation mechanism and moves in extension and retraction directions. A member is in contact with the extension link and in releasable contact with the pantograph link. The member is in contact with the pantograph link when the member is operating to push the pantograph link outward toward the fully extended position. The member is spatially separable from the pantograph link when an object is contacted by the leg rest assembly during return from any of the extended positions toward the fully retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Chad E. Adams, Larry P. LaPointe, Eric B. Harwood, Richard E. Marshall, Michael R. Mero, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110248547
    Abstract: A rocking furniture member having an electrically powered actuation mechanism includes a frame and an actuation mechanism connected to the frame. The actuation mechanism includes an extendable and retractable leg rest assembly. A drive assembly connected to the actuation mechanism having an electric motor operates to move the leg rest assembly between a retracted position and any of a plurality of extended positions inclusive including a fully extended position by a command provided by an occupant of the furniture member. A rotation member connecting the actuation mechanism to the frame permits an occupant induced rocking motion of the actuation mechanism with respect to the frame at least when the leg rest assembly is in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Eric B. Harwood, Richard E. Marshall, Michael R. Mero, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110248545
    Abstract: An electrically operated wall proximity furniture member includes a frame and an actuation mechanism rotatably connected to the frame. The actuation mechanism includes first and second independently rotatable seat back support members oriented to face a wall outer surface. An electrically powered drive assembly operates to rotate the seat back member between fully upright and fully reclined positions inclusive. A point of the seat back support members when positioned in the fully upright position defines a rear-most extent of the actuation mechanism. The rear-most extent defines a vertical plane having no portion of the actuation mechanism extending beyond the rear-most extent toward the wall outer surface during any operation of the actuation mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Eric B. Harwood, Richard E. Marshall, Michael R. Mero, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110248546
    Abstract: A glider furniture member adapted for electrically powered operation includes a frame having a plurality of upright posts. A plurality of links are individually rotatably connected to individual ones of the plurality of upright posts. An actuation mechanism suspended from the upright posts at rotatably connected free ends of each of the links permits forward and rearward gliding motions of the actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes a leg rest assembly movable between a fully retracted and a fully extended position inclusive. An electrically powered drive assembly connected to the actuation mechanism rotates the leg rest assembly and the seat back member independently of an occupant induced force operating to move the actuation mechanism in the forward and rearward gliding motions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Chad E. Adams, Eric B. Harwood, Richard E. Marshall, Michael R. Mero, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110248544
    Abstract: A release system for a furniture member leg rest assembly extended from an actuation mechanism includes an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism having a leg rest assembly movable between a fully retracted and a plurality of extended positions inclusive, including a fully extended position. A pantograph link of the leg rest assembly is rotatably connected to the actuation mechanism. An extension link is rotatably connected to the actuation mechanism and moves in extension and retraction directions. A member is in contact with the extension link and in releasable contact with the pantograph link. The member is in contact with the pantograph link when the member is operating to push the pantograph link outward toward the fully extended position. The member is spatially separable from the pantograph link when an object is contacted by the leg rest assembly during return from any of the extended positions toward the fully retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Chad E. Adams, Larry P. LaPointe, Eric B. Harwood, Richard E. Marshall, Michael R. Mero, JR.
  • Patent number: 6347835
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable frame member for a chair seat frame and a lockable alignment tool which is implemented between the chair seat frame and an attachable seat back. Initially, the chair seat frame is pre-assembled such that the adjustable frame member is in a non-rigid state, therefore allowing for side to side skewing motion of the chair seat frame. The lockable alignment tool is mounted onto the seat back, in its unlocked position. Once the lockable alignment tool is mounted to the seat back, it is locked such that its length is fixed. The lockable alignment tool is then removed from the seat back and mounted onto the seat frame. As the lockable alignment tool is mounted onto the seat frame, skewing motion of the seat frame is caused as the seat frame aligns with the lockable alignment tool. Once the lockable alignment tool has been fully mounted to the chair frame, screws are used to lock the adjustable frame member. As such, the adjustable frame member becomes a rigid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Michael R. Mero, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6145924
    Abstract: An all-linkage reclining chair having a reinforced chair frame is disclosed. The chair frame includes a side frame assembly integrally connected to a seat assembly along two orthogonal planes. More specifically, a longitudinal seat rail is secured to an inboard side panel which defines a longitudinal coupling plane. In addition, the front seat rail extends laterally outboard of the inboard side panel and is integrally connected to a front post panel associated with the side frame assembly which defines a transverse coupling plane. A support bracket is secured to the front seat rail and the front post assembly to further enhance the rigidity of the chair frame. An all-linkage reclining mechanism is secured to and operably supports the chair frame for reclining movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael R. Mero, Jr., Larry P. LaPointe
  • Patent number: 5518298
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for a modular sofa assembly. The apparatus comprises a first bracket member and a second bracket member which are secured to sidewalls and a rear frame bar, respectively, of a fixed seating section of a modular sofa assembly. The first and second bracket members each allow a frame of a seat member of the seating section to be secured to the side walls of the seating section after the side walls have been secured to a pair of frame rails or other like members. In an alternative preferred embodiment a pair of seatback brackets are incorporated for allowing a frame of the seatback member to be secured to the sidewalls of the fixed seating section after the sidewalls have been secured to the frame rails or other like frame members of the sofa assembly. In this manner the seatback member and seat member of the fixed seating section can be upholstered at a location remote from that at which assembly of the sidewalls and other frame members of the sofa assembly takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Chair Company
    Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe, Michael R. Mero, Jr.