Support unit for use on an article of furniture

Inventors: David King (Turrella, AU); Anastasie Panagopoulos (Turrella, AU); David Hardwick (Turrella, AU)

Assignee: King Furniture Australia Pty Ltd.

A47C7/383 A47C7/425 A47C20/027

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12696981
App. No.: 17/909,347
Granted: Aug 4, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A support unit for use on an article of furniture includes an adjustable support structure displacably mountable to the article of furniture and a cushion member carried by the support structure. The support structure is configured to be arranged in a first orientation relative to the article of furniture for enabling the cushion member to adopt a first position relative to the article of furniture and in a second orientation ( 46 ) relative to the article of furniture for enabling the cushion member to adopt a second position relative to the article of furniture.

Claims (36)

1 . A support unit for use on an article of furniture, wherein the article of furniture comprises a seat cushion, a back rest, and a back cushion, the support unit comprising:

an adjustable support structure displaceably mountable to the article of furniture, the support structure comprising:

a frame comprising:

a first face;

a second face opposite the first face;

an operatively upper end; and

an operatively lower end; and

a support element displaceably arranged relative to the frame so as to be displaceable between a first configuration relative to the frame and a second configuration relative to the frame, wherein the support element extends from the operatively lower end of the frame in the second configuration and is retracted in the first configuration, and wherein the support element is in a common plane with that of an operatively lower end portion of the frame in both the first configuration and the second configuration; and

a cushion member fixedly connected to the operatively upper end of the frame, the cushion member being offset from the common plane in a direction extending away from the first face,

such that:

in use, with the support element in the first configuration and the support structure engaged between the back rest and the back cushion with the first face facing the back rest and the second face facing the back cushion: (i) the support element and at least the operatively lower end portion of the frame are configured to follow a periphery of the back rest of the article of furniture; and (ii) the cushion member extends operatively rearwardly relative to the common plane to adopt a first position in which the cushion member functions as a bolster by engaging a rear surface of the back cushion to provide support to the back cushion of the article of furniture; and

in use, with the support element in the second configuration and the support structure engaged between the back rest and the back cushion with the second face facing the back rest and the first face facing the back cushion: (i) the support element and at least the operatively lower end portion of the frame are configured to follow a periphery of the back cushion of the article of furniture; (ii) the cushion member extends operatively forwardly relative to the common plane to adopt a second position in which the cushion member functions as a head rest by extending to a location adjacent a top of the back cushion; and (iii) at least a part of the support structure is configured to impart support to the back cushion of the article of furniture, the imparted support including inhibiting folding of the back cushion over the top of the back rest.

2 . The support unit according to claim 1 , wherein the support element is pivotally coupled to the operatively lower end of the frame.

3 . The support unit according to claim 1 , wherein the cushion member is cylindrical shaped.

4 . The support unit according to claim 1 , wherein an operatively upper portion of the frame curves away from the common plane.

5 . An article of furniture comprising:

a base;

a back rest extending operatively upwardly from the base;

a back cushion located operatively forwardly of the back rest; and

a support unit for use on the article of furniture, the support unit comprising:

an adjustable support structure engageable between the back rest and the back cushion, the support structure comprising:

a frame comprising:

a first face;

a second face opposite the first face;

an operatively upper end; and

an operatively lower end; and

a cushion member fixedly connected to the operatively upper end of the frame, the cushion member being offset from the common plane in a direction extending away from the first face,

such that:

6 . The article of furniture according to claim 5 , wherein, in use, at least a part of the support structure is located between the seat cushion and the back rest of the article of furniture.

7 . The article of furniture according to claim 6 , wherein the support element is pivotally coupled to the operatively lower end of the frame.

8 . The article of furniture according to claim 5 , wherein the support element is pivotally coupled to the operatively lower end of the frame.

9 . The article of furniture according to claim 5 , wherein the cushion member is cylindrical shaped.

10 . The article of furniture according to claim 5 , wherein an operatively upper portion of the frame curves away from the common plane.