TEPZZ 

957_9ZB_T
(19)

(11) EP 2 957 190 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.:

of the grant of the patent: A47C 7/50 (2006.01)
05.10.2016 Bulletin 2016/40

(21) Application number: 15173027.2

(22) Date of filing: 19.06.2015

(54) Footrest device for armchairs or sofas

Fussstütze für armsessel oder sofas
Dispositif repose-pied pour fauteuils ou canapés

(84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventor: Carrera, Massimo

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB 61100 Pesaro (IT)
GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO
PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR (74) Representative: Manconi, Stefano et al
Studio Torta S.p.A.
(30) Priority: 19.06.2014 IT BO20140342 Via Viotti, 9
10121 Torino (IT)
(43) Date of publication of application:
23.12.2015 Bulletin 2015/52 (56) References cited:
DE-A1- 19 700 617 DE-U1- 20 104 534
(73) Proprietor: CIAR S.P.A.
61100 Pesaro (IT)
EP 2 957 190 B1

Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent
Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the
Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

 1 EP 2 957 190 B1
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a footrest de-
vice for armchairs or sofas.
[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a
footrest device for armchairs or sofas of the type com-
prising a support frame; a first footrest panel; a second
footrest panel having a width substantially equal to a
width of the first footrest panel; and an actuating device
for moving the two footrest panels between an extracted
operating position, in which the two footrest panels
project from the front of the support frame, and a retracted
rest position.
[0003] Generally, the actuating device comprises a
crank mechanism interposed between the support frame
and the two footrest panels, and an actuating cylinder
interposed between the support frame and the crank
mechanism to move the two footrest panels between the
extracted operating position and a retracted rest position.
[0004] The crank mechanism is configured in such a
way that, when the two footrest panels are arranged in
their retracted rest position, the first footrest panel is ar-
ranged in a substantially vertical position and the second
footrest panel is folded beneath the armchair or sofa in
a position substantially horizontal and at an angle of sub-
stantially 90° with respect to the first footrest panel.
[0005] Such a footrest device is known for example
from DE 197 00 617 A1.
[0006] The footrest devices for the known types of arm-
chairs or sofas described above have some drawbacks
mainly deriving from the fact that, during the movement
between the extracted operating position and a retracted
rest position, the second footrest panel takes positions
at which the second footrest panel interferes with a sup-
port floor of the armchair or sofa and, thus, could damage
its padding and/or the floor itself.
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide
a novel footrest device for armchairs or sofas which lacks
the drawbacks described above and which can be pro-
duced in a simple and inexpensive manner.
[0008] According to the present invention, a footrest
device for armchairs or sofas as claimed in the appended
claims is provided.
[0009] The present invention will now be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings, which il-
lustrate a non-limitative embodiment, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view, with parts
removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the
footrest device for armchairs or sofas of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic plan view, with parts removed
for clarity, of a detail of the footrest device of Figure
1; and
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are three schematic lateral views,
with parts removed for clarity, of a detail of Figure 2
shown in three different operating positions.
2
[0010] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, number 1
indicates, as a whole, a footrest device for armchairs or
sofas (not shown).
[0011] The footrest device 1 comprises a support
5 frame 2 insertable in an armchair or sofa (not shown); a
pair of footrest panels 3, 4 mounted at the front of the
frame 2 and insertable in respective paddings (not illus-
trated); and a crank mechanism 5 interposed between
the frame 2 and the panels 3, 4 themselves.
10 [0012] The frame 2 comprises two longitudinal side
members 6 parallel to one another, and has a plane of
longitudinal symmetry S parallel to the side members 6
themselves.
[0013] The crank mechanism 5 comprises two lever
15 mechanisms 7, which are arranged on opposite sides
with regard to plane S in a direction 8 perpendicular to
the plane S itself, and are each associated to a respective
side member 6.
[0014] Each lever mechanism 7 comprises two cranks
20 9, 10, which are hinged to the respective side member 6
to rotate, with respect to the frame 2, about respective
fulcrum axes 11, 12 parallel to the direction 8.
[0015] The two cranks 10 are connected to one another
by a first cross member 13, which extends parallel to
25 direction 8, and supports the output rod 14 of an actuating
cylinder 15 connected, in turn, to a second cross member
16 extending between the side members 6 parallel to the
direction 8.
[0016] Each lever mechanism 7 further comprises a
30 rocker arm 17 hinged at an intermediate point of the re-
spective crank 10 to rotate, with respect to the crank 10
itself, about a fulcrum axis 18 parallel to the axes 11, 12.
The rocker arm 17 has a first arm 19 hinged to the re-
spective crank 9 to rotate, with respect to the crank 9
35 itself, about a fulcrum axis 20 parallel to the axis 18.
[0017] The lever mechanism 7 also comprises a con-
necting rod 21 hinged to a free end of the respective
crank 10 to rotate, with respect to the crank 10 itself,
about a fulcrum axis 22 parallel to the axis 20.
40 [0018] In addition, the lever mechanism 7 has a shaped
bracket 23, which is hinged to a second arm 24 of the
rocker arm 17 to rotate, with respect to the rocker arm
17 itself, about a fulcrum axis 25 parallel to the axis 22,
and is hinged, furthermore, to a free end of the connecting
45 rod 21 to rotate, with respect to the connecting rod 21
itself, about a fulcrum axis 26 parallel to the axis 25.
[0019] The brackets 23 of the two lever mechanisms
7 support the panel 3, which has a width L1, measured
parallel to the direction 8, substantially equal to a width
50 L2 of the panel 4 also measured parallel to direction 8.
[0020] Each lever mechanism 7 further comprises a
connecting rod 27 hinged to the respective rocker arm
17 to rotate, with respect to the rocker arm 17 itself, about
a fulcrum axis 28 parallel to the axis 26.
55 [0021] The connecting rod 27 is connected with a rock-
er arm 29, which is hinged to the bracket 23 to rotate,
with respect to the bracket 23 itself, about a fulcrum axis
30 parallel to the axis 28, has a first arm 31 hinged to the
2
 3 EP 2 957 190 B1
connecting rod 27 to rotate, with respect to the connecting
rod 27 itself, about a fulcrum axis 32 parallel to the axis
30, and has, moreover, a second arm 33.
[0022] The lever mechanism 7 further comprises a
connecting rod 34 hinged to the bracket 23 to rotate, with
respect to the bracket 23 itself, about a fulcrum axis 35
parallel to the axis 32, and a shaped bracket 36 hinged
to the connecting rod 34 to rotate, with respect to con-
necting rod 34 itself, about a fulcrum axis 37 parallel to
the axis 35 and to the arm 33 to rotate, with respect to
the rocker arm 29, about a fulcrum axis 38 parallel to the
axis 37.
[0023] The brackets 36 of the two lever mechanisms
7 support the panel 4.
[0024] The two panels 3, 4 are moved by the crank
mechanism 5 under the thrust of the actuating cylinder
15 between an extracted operating position (Figure 1),
in which the panels 3, 4 project at the front of the frame
2, and a retracted rest position (Figure 5), in which the
panels 3, 4 substantially overlap one another.
[0025] In connection to the abovementioned, it should
be specified that:
when arranged in their retracted rest position, the
two panels 3, 4 extend in respective containment
planes P1, P2 distinct from one another and sub-
stantially parallel to one another; and
when arranged in their extracted operating position,
the two panels 3, 4 can be coplanar or parallel to one
another.
[0026] In the present invention, containment planes
P1, P2 substantially parallel to one another means two
containment planes P1, P2 parallel to one another or
arranged to one another at an angle between 0° and 10°.
[0027] The crank mechanism 5 is configured so as to
enable the two panels 3, 4, during the movement between
the extracted operating position and the retracted rest
position, to take positions that prevent the two panels 3,
4 interfering with the support floor P of the armchair or
sofa inside which the footrest device 1 is mounted.
[0028] In particular, during the movement from the ex-
tracted operating position to the retracted rest position,
the panel 4 is progressively arranged inside a movement
path of the panel 3 so as to maintain itself at a distance
determined by the floor P.
[0029] The footrest device 1 has some advantages
mainly deriving from the fact that the crank mechanism
5 is used to move two panels of equal width, i.e. the pan-
els 3, 4, between the extracted operating position and
the retracted rest position without interfering with the floor
P and, therefore, without damaging the padding (not
shown) of the panels 3, 4 and/or the floor P itself.
Claims
1. A footrest device for armchairs or sofas comprising
4
a support frame (2); a first footrest panel (3); a sec-
ond footrest panel (4) having a width (L2) substan-
tially equal to a width (L1) of the first footrest panel
(3); and an actuating device (5, 15) to move the two
5 footrest panels (3, 4) between an extracted operating
position, in which the two footrest panels (3, 4)
project from the front of the support frame (2), and
a retracted rest position; the actuating device (5, 15)
comprising a crank mechanism (5) configured in
10 such a way that, when arranged in their retracted
rest position, the two footrest panels (3, 4) substan-
tially overlap one another and are arranged in re-
spective containment planes (P1, P2) distinct from
one another and substantially parallel to one another
15 and that, when the footrest panels (3, 4) are arranged
in their retracted rest position, the second footrest
panel (4) is arranged behind the first footrest panel
(3); and characterized in that the crank mechanism
(5) is configured in such a way that, when the footrest
20 panels (3, 4) are arranged in their extracted operat-
ing position, the second footrest panel (4) is arranged
before the first footrest panel (3).
2. The footrest device according to claim 1, wherein,
25 when the two footrest panels (3, 4) are arranged in
their retracted rest position, the two containment
planes (P1, P2) are parallel to one another.
3. The footrest device according to claim 1, wherein,
30 when the two footrest panels (3, 4) are arranged in
their retracted rest position, the two containment
planes (P1, P2) are arranged to one another at angle
between 0° and 10°.
35 4. The footrest device according to any one of the pre-
ceding claims, wherein the crank mechanism (5) is
configured in such a way that, during the movement
from the extracted operating position to the retracted
rest position, the second footrest panel (4) projects
40 within a movement path of the first footrest panel (3).
5. The footrest device according to any one of the pre-
ceding claims, wherein the actuating device (5, 15)
further comprises actuating means (15) interposed
45 between the support frame (2) and the crank mech-
anism (5) so as to move the crank mechanism (5)
itself between the extracted operating position and
the retracted rest position of the footrest panels (3, 4).
50 6. The footrest device according to any one of the pre-
ceding claims, wherein the crank mechanism (5) is
configured in such a way to allow the footrest panels
(3, 4), during the movement between the extracted
operating position and the retracted rest position, to
55 take positions that prevent the footrest panels (3, 4)
interfering with a support floor (P) of the footrest de-
vice itself.
3
 5 EP 2 957 190 B1
7. The footrest device according to any one of the pre-
ceding claims, wherein the crank mechanism (5)
comprises two lever mechanisms (7) arranged on
opposite sides with regard to a longitudinal symmetry
plane (S) of the support frame (2).
8. The footrest device according to claim 7, wherein
each lever mechanism (7) comprises a first crank
(10) and a second crank (9), which are hinged to the
support frame (2), a first rocker arm (17), which is
hinged to the first crank (10) and which has a first
arm (19) hinged to the second crank (9), a first con-
necting rod (21) hinged to the first crank (10), and a
first support bracket (23), hinged to a second arm
(24) of the first rocker arm (17) and to the first con-
necting rod (21), and supports the first footrest panel
(3).
9. The footrest device according to claim 8, wherein
each lever mechanism (7) further comprises a sec-
ond connecting rod (27) hinged to the second arm
(24) of the first rocker arm (17), a second rocker arm
(29) hinged to the first support bracket (23) and has
a first arm (31) hinged to the second connecting rod
(27), a third connecting rod (34) hinged to the first
support bracket (23), and a second support bracket
(36), hinged to the third connecting rod (34) and to
a second arm (33) of the second rocker arm (29),
and supports the second footrest panel (4).
Patentansprüche
1. Fußauflage für Sessel oder Sofas umfassend einen
Tragrahmen (2), eine erste Fußauflageplatte (3), ei-
ne zweite Fußauflageplatte (4) mit einer Breite (L2),
die im Wesentlichen einer Breite (L1) der ersten
Fußauflageplatte (3) entspricht, und eine Betäti-
gungsvorrichtung (5, 15) zur Bewegung der beiden
Fußauflageplatten (3, 4) zwischen einer ausgefah-
renen Betriebsstellung, in welcher sich die beiden
Fußauflageplatten (3, 4) von einer Vorderseite des
Tragrahmens (2) erstrecken, und einer eingefahre-
nen Ruheposition, wobei die Betätigungsvorrichtung
(5, 15) einen Schwenkmechanismus (5) umfasst,
der derart angeordnet ist, dass die beiden Fußauf-
lageplatten (3, 4) in ihrer eingefahrenen Ruheposi-
tion einander im Wesentlichen überlappen und im
Wesentlichen parallel zueinander jeweils in unter-
schiedlichen Einschlussebenen (P1, P2) angeord-
net sind, und dass die zweite Fußauflageplatte (4)
hinter der ersten Fußauflageplatte (3) angeordnet
ist, wenn sich die Fußauflageplatten (3, 4) in ihrer
eingefahrenen Ruheposition befinden, dadurch ge-
kennzeichnet, dass der Schwenkmechanismus (5)
derart ausgestaltet ist, dass die zweite Fußauflage-
platte (4) vor der ersten Fußauflageplatte (3) ange-
ordnet ist, wenn sich die Fußauflageplatten (3, 4) in
6
ihrer ausgefahrenen Betriebsposition befinden.
2. Fußauflage nach Anspruch 1, wobei die beiden Ein-
schlussebenen (P1, P2) parallel zueinander ange-
5 ordnet sind, wenn sich die Fußauflageplatten (3, 4)
in ihrer eingefahrenen Ruheposition befinden.
3. Fußauflage nach Anspruch 1, wobei die beiden Ein-
schlussebenen (P1, P2) zueinander in einem Winkel
10 zwischen 0 ° und 10 ° angeordnet sind, wenn sich
die beiden Fußauflageplatten (3, 4) in ihrer einge-
fahrenen Ruheposition befinden.
4. Fußauflage nach einem der vorhergehenden An-
15 sprüche, wobei der Schwenkmechanismus (5) der-
art ausgestaltet ist, dass die zweite Fußauflageplatte
(4) während der Bewegung von der ausgefahrenen
Betriebsposition in die eingefahrene Ruheposition in
eine Bewegungsbahn der ersten Fußauflageplatte
20 (3) hineinragt.
5. Fußauflage nach einem der vorhergehenden An-
sprüche, wobei die Betätigungsvorrichtung (5, 15)
weiterhin zwischen dem Tragrahmen (2) und dem
25 Schwenkmechanismus (5) angeordnete Betäti-
gungsmittel (15) zur Bewegung des Schwenkme-
chanismus (5) selbst zwischen der ausgefahrenen
Betriebsposition und der eingefahrenen Ruheposi-
tion der Fußauflageplatten (3, 4) aufweist.
30
6. Fußauflage nach einem der vorhergehenden An-
sprüche, wobei der Schwenkmechanismus (5) der-
art ausgestaltet ist, dass es den Fußauflageplatten
(3, 4) ermöglicht wird, während der Bewegung zwi-
35 schen der ausgefahrenen Betriebsposition und der
eingefahrenen Ruheposition, Positionen einzuneh-
men, die eine Behinderung der Fußauflageplatten
(3, 4) durch einen Stützboden (P) der Fußauflage
verhindern.
40
7. Fußauflage nach einem der vorhergehenden An-
sprüche, wobei der Schwenkmechanismus (5) zwei
auf gegenüberliegenden Seiten einer longitudinalen
Symmetrieebene (S) des Tragrahmens (2) angeord-
45 nete Hebelmechanismen (7) umfasst.
8. Fußauflage nach Anspruch 7, wobei jeder Hebelme-
chanismus (7) Folgendes umfasst: eine erste Kulis-
se (10) und eine zweite Kulisse (9), die drehbar an
50 dem Tragrahmen (2) angebracht sind, einen ersten
Kipphebel (17), der drehbar an der ersten Kulisse
(10) angebracht ist und der einen drehbar an der
zweiten Kulisse (9) angebrachten ersten Arm (19)
aufweist, eine drehbar an der ersten Kulisse (10) an-
55 gebrachte erste Pleuelstange (21), und einen ersten
Stützbügel (23), der drehbar an einem zweiten Arm
(24) des ersten Kipphebels (17) und an der ersten
Pleuelstange (21) angebracht ist und die erste
4
 7 EP 2 957 190 B1
Fußauflageplatte (3) stützt.
9. Fußauflage nach Anspruch 8, wobei jeder Hebelme-
chanismus (7) weiterhin Folgendes umfasst: eine mit
dem ersten Arm (24) des ersten Kipphebels (17)
drehbar verbundene zweite Pleuelstange (27), einen
mit dem ersten Stützbügel (23) drehbar verbunde-
nen zweiten Kipphebel (29), der einen drehbar mit
der zweiten Pleuelstange (27) verbundenen ersten
Arm (31) aufweist, eine drehbar mit dem ersten
Stützbügel (23) verbundene dritte Pleuelstange (34),
und ein zweiter Stützbügel (36), der mit der dritten
Pleuelstange (34) und einem zweiten Arm (33) des
zweiten Kipphebels (29) drehbar verbunden ist und
die zweite Fußauflageplatte (4) stützt.
Revendications
1. Dispositif repose-pieds pour des fauteuils ou cana-
pés comprenant un cadre de support (2) ; un premier
panneau de repose-pieds (3) ; un second panneau
de repose-pieds (4) présentant une largeur (L2) sen-
siblement égale à une largeur (L1) du premier pan-
neau de repose-pieds (3) ; et un dispositif d’action-
nement (5, 15) pour déplacer les deux panneaux de
repose-pieds (3, 4) entre une position opérationnelle
extraite, dans laquelle les deux panneaux de repose-
pieds (3, 4) font saillie de l’avant du cadre de support
(2) et une position de repos rétractée ; le dispositif
d’actionnement (5, 15) comprenant un mécanisme
de manivelle (5) configuré de manière que lorsqu’ils
sont agencés dans leur position de repos rétractée,
les deux panneaux de repose-pieds (3, 4) se recou-
vrent sensiblement et soient agencés dans des plans
de confinement respectifs (P1, P2) distincts l’un de
l’autre et sensiblement parallèles l’un à l’autre et que
lorsque les panneaux de repose-pieds (3, 4) sont
agencés dans leur position de repos rétractée, le
second panneau de repose-pieds (4) soit agencé
derrière le premier panneau de repose-pieds (3) ; et
caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de manivelle
(5) est configuré de manière que lorsque les pan-
neaux de repose-pieds (3, 4) sont agencés dans leur
position opérationnelle extraite, le second panneau
de repose-pieds (4) est agencé avant le premier pan-
neau de repose-pieds (3).
2. Dispositif de repose-pieds selon la revendication 1,
dans lequel lorsque les deux panneaux de repose-
pieds (3, 4) sont agencés dans leur position de repos
rétractée, les deux plans de confinement (P1, P2)
sont parallèles l’un à l’autre.
3. Dispositif de repose-pieds selon la revendication 1,
dans lequel lorsque les deux panneaux de repose-
pieds (3, 4) sont agencés dans leur position de repos
rétractée, les deux plans de confinement (P1, P2)
8
sont agencés l’un sur l’autre selon un angle entre 0
et 10°.
4. Dispositif de repose-pieds selon l’une quelconque
5 des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le mé-
canisme de manivelle (5) est configuré de manière
que pendant le mouvement de la position opération-
nelle extraite à la position de repos rétractée, le se-
cond panneau de repose-pieds (4) fasse saillie dans
10 une voie de mouvement du premier panneau de re-
pose-pieds (3).
5. Dispositif de repose-pieds selon l’une quelconque
des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le dis-
15 positif d’actionnement (5, 15) comprend en outre des
moyens d’actionnement (15) interposés entre le ca-
dre de support (2) et le mécanisme de manivelle (5)
de sorte à déplacer le mécanisme de manivelle (5)
lui-même entre la position opérationnelle extraite et
20 la position de repos rétractée des panneaux de re-
pose-pieds (3, 4).
6. Dispositif de repose-pieds selon l’une quelconque
des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le mé-
25 canisme de manivelle (5) est configuré de manière
à permettre aux panneaux de repose-pieds (3, 4)
pendant le mouvement entre la position opération-
nelle extraite et la position de repos rétractée de
prendre des positions qui empêchent les panneaux
30 de repose-pieds (3, 4) d’interférer avec un plancher
de support (P) du dispositif de repose-pieds lui-mê-
me.
7. Dispositif de repose-pieds selon l’une quelconque
35 des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le mé-
canisme de manivelle (5) comprend deux mécanis-
mes de levier (7) agencés sur des côtés en regard
par rapport à un plan de symétrie longitudinal (S) du
cadre de support (2).
40
8. Dispositif de repose-pieds selon la revendication 7,
dans lequel chaque mécanisme de levier (7) com-
prend une première manivelle (10) et une seconde
manivelle (9) qui sont articulées au cadre de support
45 (2), un premier bras oscillant (17) qui est articulé à
la première manivelle (10) et qui a un premier bras
(19) articulé à la seconde manivelle (9), une premiè-
re tige de liaison (21) articulée à la première mani-
velle (10) et une première console de support (23)
50 articulée à un second bras (24) du premier bras os-
cillant (17) et à la première tige de liaison (21) et
supporte le premier panneau de repose-pieds (3).
9. Dispositif de repose-pieds selon la revendication 8,
55 dans lequel chaque mécanisme de levier (7) com-
prend en outre une seconde tige de liaison (27) ar-
ticulée au second bras (24) du premier bras oscillant
(17), un second bras oscillant (29) articulé à la pre-
5
 9 EP 2 957 190 B1 10

mière console de support (23) et présente un premier

bras (31) articulé à la seconde tige de liaison (27),
une troisième tige de liaison (34) articulée à la pre-
mière console de support (23), et une seconde con-
sole de support (36) articulée à la troisième tige de 5
liaison (34) et à un second bras (33) du second bras
oscillant (29) et supporte le second panneau de re-
pose-pieds (4).

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REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• DE 19700617 A1 [0005]

10