Zero-wall clearance linkage mechanism including a single drive link

1. An improved adjustment mechanism for a seating unit of the type having a motor, a track that is coupled to the motor and that extends from a front portion of the seating unit to a rear portion of the seating unit, a motor activator block slidably coupled to the track and movable along the track using the motor, and a single drive link that is attached to the motor activator block, wherein the improvement includes:

a carriage body that slidably attaches the motor activator block to the track, and

one or more mounting tabs that extend from a top surface of the carriage body toward the rear portion of the seating unit and that are coupled to the single drive link.

2. The improved adjustment mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the single drive link is pivotably coupled at a first pivot to the one or more mounting tabs and pivotably coupled at a second pivot to one or more angle brackets, wherein a distance of at least 7 inches is between the first pivot and the second pivot.

3. The improved adjustment mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the one or more angle brackets are coupled to a drive tube, and wherein a distance of at least 2 inches extends between the second pivot and an axis of rotation of the drive tube.

4. The improved adjustment mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the motor activator block includes a range of travel along the track and wherein the range of travel is at least 13 inches.

5. A seating unit including a linear actuator for controlling a position of a seating-unit footrest and a seating-unit recline, the seating unit comprising:

a front lateral member positioned in a front portion of the seating unit and a rear lateral member positioned in a rear portion of the seating unit, the front lateral member and the rear lateral member providing at least part of a base for the seating unit;

a motor coupled to the front lateral member;

a track that is coupled to the motor and to the rear lateral member; and

a motor activator block slidably coupled to the track and movable along the track using the motor, wherein the motor activator block includes a carriage body that slidably couples the motor activator block to the track and one or more mounting tabs that extend from a top surface of the carriage body in a direction towards the rear portion of the seating unit.

6. The seating unit of claim 5 further comprising, a drive link pivotably coupled at a first pivot to the one or more mounting tabs and pivotably coupled at a second pivot to one or more angle brackets, wherein a distance of at least about 7 inches is between the first pivot and the second pivot.

7. The seating unit of claim 6 , wherein the one or more angle brackets are coupled to a drive tube, and wherein a distance of at least about 2 inches extends between the second pivot and a center of the drive tube.

8. The seating unit of claim 7 , wherein the motor activator block includes a range of travel along the track and wherein the range of travel is at least about 13 inches.

9. The seating unit of claim 7 , wherein the seating unit adjusts between a standard position and a reclined position and wherein the drive tube is generally horizontally traversed a distance in a range of about 8.9 inches to about 9.8 inches when the seating unit adjusts from the standard position to the reclined position.

10. The seating unit of claim 9 , wherein the distance traversed by the drive tube is at least partially determined based on a length of the one or more angle brackets.

11. The seating unit of claim 7 , wherein the drive tube rotates when the seating unit is adjusted from a standard position to an extended position, and wherein a degree of rotation is in a range of about 104 degrees and about 104.815 degrees.

12. The seating unit of claim 6 , wherein the seating unit only includes a single drive link.

13. A seating unit comprising:

a pair of base plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation;

a front lateral member and a rear lateral member in substantially parallel-spaced relation and coupled between the pair of base plates;

a pair of seat-mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein each of the seat-mounting plates is disposed in an inclined orientation in relation to each of the base plates, respectively;

an activator bar that is rotatably mounted to, and that extends between, each of the seat-mounting plates;

a pair of angle brackets that are coupled to the activator bar;

a single drive link that includes a first pivot and a second pivot and that is rotatably coupled at the first pivot to the pair of angle brackets;

a motor activator block that is rotatably coupled at the second pivot of the drive link,

wherein the motor activator block includes a carriage body that slidably couples the motor activator block to a track and one or more mounting tabs that extend from a top surface of the carriage body, and

wherein the one or more mounting tabs extend in a direction toward the rear lateral member; and

a motor coupled to the track and positioned near the front lateral member, wherein the motor translates the motor activator block along the track.

14. The seating unit of claim 13 , wherein a distance of at least 7 inches is between the first pivot and the second pivot of the single drive link.

15. The seating unit of claim 13 , wherein a distance of at least 2 inches extends between the first pivot and a center of the activator bar.

16. The seating unit of claim 13 , wherein the motor activator block includes a range of travel along the track and wherein the range of travel is at least 13 inches.

17. The seating unit of claim 13 , wherein the seating unit adjusts between a standard position and a reclined position and wherein the activator bar is generally horizontally traversed a distance in a range of about 8.9 inches to about 9.8 inches when the seating unit adjusts from the standard position to the reclined position.

18. The seating unit of claim 17 , wherein the distance traversed by the activator bar is at least partially determined based on a length of the one or more angle brackets.

19. The seating unit of claim 13 , wherein the activator bar rotates when the seating unit is adjusted from a standard position to an extended position, and wherein a degree of rotation is in a range of about 104 degrees and about 104.815 degrees.