EP1712154A1

EP1712154A1 - Mechanism for seating furniture with reclining back, seat and leg supports

Info

Publication number: EP1712154A1
Application number: EP05008249A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mladen Curdija; Slavko Dusak; Ivan Golubic; Ines Dr. Marko; Drago Svetec; Ivan Storga; Alexander Hajdu; Karl-Juergen Sauter; Richard Weinzierl
Original assignee: Hettich Franke GmbH and Co KG; Opruga dd
Current assignee: Hettich Franke GmbH and Co KG; Opruga dd
Priority date: 2005-04-15
Filing date: 2005-04-15
Publication date: 2006-10-18

Abstract

Furniture mechanism for adjusting back (34), seat (33), and leg supports (30) by means of rotating motor drive (1) solves above described technical problem by using rotating electrical motor (5) attached to adjustable chairs or beds, or to frames earmarked for furniture. The axle (2) of said motor (5) is used as torque source for adjusting the mechanism, and through the mechanism, parts of the furniture. The main advantages of proposed solution are in reduction of necessary space, and in shorter and less frequent movements of adjustable mechanism.

The essence of the invention is in using at least one electrical motor (5) enabling rotation with original kinematic system as well as originally solved rotating driving motors (5) which serve as torque supply. There can, of course, be more than one electrical motor (5) resulting in separated movements of the supports, or other parts of the frame subject of this invention.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mechanism which through optimally solved lever system, operated by torque sources and their control, enables continuous, synchronized, or independently separately for a back and separately for foot supports, achievement of the position for seating, relaxing or lying. The invention particularly refers to the embodiment of the source of torque for operating said mechanism, contrary to usual linear electrical motors as known in state of the art.

Technical problem

In order to achieve adjustment of moving parts of adjusting furniture mechanisms regardless of whether they were applied for seating mechanisms, or beds, one used linear electrical motors. Kinematic structures of the mechanism for adjusting parts of chairs or beds are also adapted to such linear motors. The problems of these motors is space necessary for their use and assembly as the position of these linear motors is changeable according to radius of curve of driven leg of a lever. This effect runs high costs during design and construction of such frames as, for example, cross tubes which are used to connect these frames must be adapted to these linear motors by bending around them and cannot be set across the path of these linear motors.
Proposed invention should solve the above referenced problem as well as the problem of providing sufficient torque to provide for smooth operation of reclining furniture such as chairs or beds.

State of the art

There are hardly any solutions in furniture industry which do not base on linear motors. There seem to be, however, hundreds of patents connected to linear motors or their applications in furniture. This patent application is not concerned at all with linear motors. The only state of the art, however unpublished, is described in PCT application PCT/HR 2005/000006 of January 26 2005 and that application is incorporated in this application by reference. As the application PCT/HR 2005/000006 of January 26 2005 is yet unpublished, the applicants deem said application as not damaging to either novelty or inventive step of this invention, and simply refering to it in State of the art section of this application does not institute statement of the applicants to the contrary.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Furniture mechanism for adjusting back, seat, and leg supports by means of rotating motor drive solves above described technical problem by using rotating electrical motor attached to adjustable chairs or beds, or to frames earmarked for furniture. The axle of said motor is used as torque source for adjusting the mechanism, and through the mechanism, parts of the furniture. The main advantages of proposed solution are in reduction of necessary space, and in shorter and less frequent movements of adjustable mechanism.
For purposes of this application words chair or armchair can be used interchangeably. In all cases, one has in mind a piece of seating furniture, well padded, and usually used for seating or relaxing, and comprises also chairs which seat, back, or leg support, whether in group, or separately, are adjustable (sometimes these chairs are known as "recliners" in state of the art).
The essence of the invention is in using at least one electrical motor enabling rotation with original kinematic system as well as originally solved rotating driving motors which serve as torque supply. There can, of course, be more than one electrical motor resulting in separated movements of the supports, or other parts of the frame subject of this invention.
The motors used in this application are comprised of electrical motors with appropriate gear mechanisms which transform input rotation, number of revolutions, and rotational speed of the motors into exit rotational torque necessary for mechanism movement for adjusting parts of the furniture into the desired position for any of seating, relaxing, or lying of its user.
Surprising technical effect was achieved by linking worm drive, gear drive, and planetary drive, however, other combination of gears can also be used to achieve same, or similar, effect.
The driving motors are attached to stable part of mechanism for adjusting the chair or bed. The legs of levers for moving of said frame are connected to driving axles which are put into motion by moving of the motors. The leg of the lever moves, and drives driving lever of adjusting mechanism.
The rotating movements of driving axle, and leg of the lever can be limited by appropriate means for switching the mechanism off and on. Usually, micro-clutches are used, said micro-clutches turned on and off using a cam disk which is within the driving mechanism connected to driving axle. For purposes of this application a cam disk refers to a disk populated with protrusions which are used as mechanical switches to turn said micro-clutches on and off.
In addition, the driving mechanism can be designed in such a fashion that micro-clutches are engaged directly in driving axle joint in order to minimize inaccurate angular positioning of the mechanism. As limiting means for engaging and disengaging due to limited angular position of the mechanism an incremental measuring device can be utilized with help of so called Hall sensor or forked light emitting limited and appropriate increments of angular motion increase.

Description of figures

Figure 1 shows view in perspective of rotating driving mechanism, and its basic elements: housing of gear and worm drives (1), driving axle with attached clutch (2) for engaing of rotating lever (4), attachment plate (3), and electric drive motor (5).
Figre 2 shows side view of Fig. 1, from electric drive motor perspective (5).
Figure 3 shows front view of Fig. 1, however without attachment plate (3), as motionless part. Further, the figure shows connection of rotating mechansim with lever for moving said mechamism.
Figure 4 shows side view on mechanism with kinematic scheme of levers, view and position of mounting of rotating electro motors, and means of connecting and transport of movement onto parts of chair or bed: back, seat, and leg support.
Figure 5 shows space view of the whole mechanism with levers set in such a fashion to facilitate best view of rotating machinery, their position, and function..
Figure 6 shows rotating eletrical motor for movements of shear mechanism of back support, and complete shear mechanism for moving of support of reclining chair.

Description of embodiment

Mechanism for seating furniture with reclining back, seat, and leg support which is adjustable by means of rotating electrical motors comprises parts which are adjusted as kinematic mechanism several synchronized shear mechanisms, driving and regulating mechanisms which enable parts of reclining chair into desired positions.
Compared to state of the art the invention as shown in this application is based on specially designed rotating electrical motors driving specially designed shear mechanism.
Below, we further describe the invention with help of description of figures whereby the figures form part of the application, as follows:

Detailed description of Figures 1, 2, and 3

The essence of the invention is in transition from linear motors for changing back, seat, and leg support into rotational motors. The former require more space, and prevent the frame of furniture to be designed in its optimal form while the latter enable use of shear formed mechanisms which are smaller, lighter, and much more flexible. The rotational motors may be of different forms, they can have gearboxes attached, but also, in some cases, there may be motors which enable just partial movements.
The figures described below describe typical setup for embodiment of this invention.
Rotational driving mechanism with gear box housing (1) is comprised of electro motor (5) and attached combined transport, as well as integrated free play and means for disengaging and engaging limitation of rotational movements. There is driving axle (2) originating from said driving mechanism, said axle used as main driving axle of frame mechanism, said axle driven by said electro motor. Said rotational mechanism (1) is attached to some part of the frame such as, in a way of example, attaching plate (3) with use of appropriately designed housing. The leg of the lever (4) is attached to axle (2) thereby enabling transport of rotational movements from said axle (2) onto said lever (4).
The user of the chair or of the bed, or of reclining chair determines direction of movement of particular parts of said chair or said bed by means of manual clutch, and consequently the direction of rotation of said motor. Depending on direction of rotation the driving axle (2)as well as leg of said lever (4) moves in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. There is driving interconnection (6) connected to said leg of said lever (4), and said driving interconnection (6) causes adjustment of said mechanism, and consequently parts of the furniture attached to said mechanism.
The rotating movements of said axle (2), and the leg of said lever (4) is limited by electric limitation means for electrical disengagement as well as mechanical limitation means. These means are built into the system for safety reasons as well as technical reasons. Usually, micro-clutches are used as limitation means, said micro-clutches engaged and disengaged with means of cam disk within the driving mechanism, said plate connected to the driving mechanism.
One can also use incremental mechanism, i.e. mechanism which measures angle from some preset reference point, or is connected to some mechanism using light beam or light limiters or limiters equipped with so called Hall sensors, or forked light limiters with appropriate incremental measuring devices (incremental limiters).
The users can control the electric motors and resulting movements of said furniture frame by means of classical hand-held switches, remote control, or preprogrammed processing means which enables memorizing of positions of parts of reclining chair for seating, relaxing, or laying for several users, all of these means of course well known in state of the art, and by themselves not part of this invention.

Detailed description of Figures 4 and 5

The mechanism, according to this invention, in particular embodiment which shows usability of this invention to anyone skilled in the art, however, it does not limit the scope of this invention.
In this embodiment, the mechanism for seating furniture with adjustment of back, seat, and leg support is described, which is set into motion by means of rotating driving motors, said mechanism moving a back support (34), a seat support (33), and a leg support (30) in such a fashion that the driving mechanism as shown in Fig. 1 (1 through 5) through a pair of interconnections (6), L-shaped levers (10), rotating driving tube (7), and a lever mechanism or plurality thereof (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) moves leg support (30) movement into desired position, said position acceptable to the user, usually as relaxing.
On the side of a reclining chair (32) there are attached sides of the interconnections (6) to which driving rotating tube (19) is attached by means of a pivot (19a), said rotating tube (19) driving both lever of leg support and by means of pair of lifting levers (9) also longitudinal seat bars (11). The seat (33) therefore by means of said longitudinal seat bars (11) and supports on the levers (9) and (21) changes slope synchronously with movements of leg support in order to facilitate comfortable positions of seating, laying, or relaxing.
The rotational motor drive enables positioning of shear mechanism for driving of leg support into central position and moving of that mechanism within narrow central corridor for movements where it is far less visible, aesthetically acceptable and safe-wise improved.
Together with movements of said seat (33), the back support (34) moves while maintaining current relative angle between said seat (33) and said back support (34). As a consequence, described movements are comfortable and acceptable to the user.
Further movements of the back support (34) are performed by the second rotational motor drive in such a way that a driving lever (4a) pulls a traverse pull lever (27), and by means of a pivot (28) also pair of main levers of shearing mechanism (22). Said pair of main levers of shearing mechanism (22) by means of connectors (26) pulls pair of back support supports (24) toward the front. This causes turning of said back support supports (24) around pivot (23a) therefore lifting or lowering of back support into desired position.
At the same time, with movements of said lever (22) around pivots (21a, 30) lengthwise supports of seat support (11) are lifted, and consequently said seat (33). This causes the fold between said seat (33) and back support (34) to additionally open and therefore increases angle between them. The laying position of a bed is therefore more comfortable.

Detailed description of Figure 6

Figure 6 further shows motor drive of back support which serves for movements of back support together with pair of shearing mechanism levers, said back support detailed description found in description of Figures 4, and 5. Said Figure serves for better overview of above described functioning of drive for additional movements of said back support.

Claims

Mechanism for seating furniture with reclining back, seat, and leg supports, said seating furnitre referring to elements of furniture such as chairs, beds, or reclining chairs, characterized in that said seating furniture is adjustable by means of rotating movements of said mechanism as opposed to longitudinal movements as known in state of the art, said rotating movements caused by at least one rotating electrical motor drive (1), said rotating electrical motor drive(1) attached to attaching plate (3), and in addition characterized in that a leg of rotating lever (4) is attached to a driving axle (2) said axle (2) driven by said rotating electrical motor drive (1) whereby said leg of rotating lever (4) is put into motion by rotation of an electrical motor (5), and moving driving lever (4) of a mechanism for adjusting said back, seat, and back supports.
Mechanism for seating furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that it is set into motion by means of rotating driving motors, said mechanism moving a back support (34), a seat support (33), and a leg support (30) in such a fashion that the driving mechanism (1 through 5) through a pair of interconnections (6), L-shaped levers (10), rotating driving tube (7), and a lever mechanism or plurality thereof (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) moves the leg support (30) movement into desired position; further characterized in that on the side of a reclining chair (32) there are attached sides of the interconnections (6) to which a driving rotating tube (19) is attached by means of a pivot (19a), said rotating tube (19) driving both the lever of leg support and by means of pair of a lifting levers (9) also longitudinal seat bars (11), said seat (33) therefore by means of said longitudinal seat bars (11) and supports on the levers (9) and (21) changing slope synchronously with movements of leg support; further characterized in that together with movements of said seat (33), the back support (34) moves while maintaining current relative angle between said seat (33) and said back support (34); further characterized in that further movements of the back support (34) are performed by the second rotational motor drive in such a way that a driving lever (4a) pulls a traverse pull lever (27), and by means of a pivot (28) also a pair of main levers of shearing mechanism (22); further characterized in that with movements of said lever (22) around pivots (21a, 30) lengthwise supports of the seat support (11) are lifted, and consequently said seat (33) which causes the fold between said seat (33) and said back support (34) to additionally open and therefore increases angle between them.
Mechanism for seating furniture according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that said rotating movement of the leg of rotating lever (4) is limited by means of limiting means.
Mechanism for seating furniture according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that said limiting means are housed within same gear box housing and gear drive, worm drive, or planetary drive attached to said rotating electrical motor.
Mechanism for seating furniture according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that said limiting means are comprised of micro-clutches which are engaged or disengaged by means of cam disk, said micro-clutches connecting gear box of said electrical motor (5) with driving axle (2).
Mechanism for seating furniture according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that the limiting means turn on and off said electrical motor based on incremental measurements of position of said leg of lever (4).
Mechanism for seating furniture according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that the direction of rotation of said mechanism is controlled by hand-held switch, said rotation transferred from said drive (1) through clutch (2) onto said leg of rotational lever (4), said lever (4) further driving said mechanism for seating furniture into desired position.
Mechanism for seating furniture according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises means for free-play of said mechanism in order to protect sensitive parts of said mechanism from overload.
Mechanism for seating furniture according to any of preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises electronic safety means connected to the electronic control of the user with which said user controls movements of said mechanism, further comprises micro-clutches within the gear box as mechanical safety means, and further comprises mechanical limiters attached to attaching plate (3).