EP3490410B1 - Drive for adjusting parts of seating and lying furniture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a drive for adjusting parts of seating and reclining furniture, wherein a first furniture component is movably mounted relative to a second furniture component, with at least one spindle rotatable via an electric drive motor, an adjusting nut seated on the spindle, which is fixed against rotation in a guide tube guided and can be driven by rotating the spindle in the axial direction of the guide tube, a lifting tube which is in operative connection with the adjusting nut, a first articulation device arranged at the free end of the lifting tube, which can be articulated via a first joint connection on the first furniture component, and one on the opposite one At the end of the adjusting drive, the second articulation device is provided, which can be fastened via a second joint connection to a fixed frame part or to a second furniture component, with an extension element firmly connected to it being provided on at least one of the two articulation devices, on which one joint half of the joint connection is arranged.

Adjustment drives of the type mentioned ( DE 20 2005 006 571 U1 ) have been known for seating and reclining furniture for some time and have proven themselves very well.

However, if such a known adjustment drive for the movement kinematics is to be used to adjust the headboard of beds, in particular hospital beds, difficulties arise. The space available for the kinematics and the drive of a head part is extremely limited, so the well-known, relatively long adjustment drive cannot be used because of the space problem.

In order to avoid the space problem when adjusting the headboard, relatively expensive, short drives must be used.

The invention is therefore based on the object of being able to use the relatively long, but unproblematic, reliable and inexpensive adjustment drive described above for the movement kinematics for adjusting furniture components when only a limited space is available, such as in hospital beds.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the joint half seated on the extension element is offset in the direction of the central section of the guide tube, so that the dimension between the connecting bolts of the joint halves in the retracted state of the lifting tube is relatively small and is therefore shortened as desired so that the respective extension element is rigidly attached to the relevant articulation device, that the extension element is directly or indirectly firmly connected to the free end of the lifting tube, that the extension element is designed as a U-shaped bracket, the base of the bracket being attached directly or indirectly to the front end of the lifting tube , the U-legs of the bracket extend parallel to the lifting tube on both sides and the joint halves are arranged in the area of the free ends of the U-legs, or that the extension part is designed as a pot, with the inner surface of the pot base being directly or indirectly connected to it the free end of the lifting tube is connected, or that a crossbar is attached to the free end of the lifting tube, with a flexible rope being guided around the crossbar and to produce. However, such a mechanism has nothing to do with the invention, because it does not shorten the dimension between the connecting bolts of the joint halves, so that the object on which the invention is based is not solved.

According to the invention, the respective extension element is preferably attached to the relevant articulation device.

A first variant is that the extension element is directly or indirectly firmly connected to the free end of the lifting tube.

The extension element can be designed as a U-shaped bracket, with the base of the bracket being able to be connected directly or indirectly to the free end of the lifting tube. The U-legs of the bracket extend on both sides of the lifting tube parallel to the lifting tube, while the joint halves are in the area of the free ends of the U-die Ends of the rope can be connected to the ends of the swivel fork of the swivel shaft.

The invention makes it possible to avoid the space problem, which is the case when adjusting the head part, for example, because the dimension between the connecting bolts in the retracted state of the lifting tube is relatively small. Thanks to the invention, the adjustment drive described at the beginning can be converted in a very simple manner and with little resources, so that it can be used despite the existing space problem when adjusting the headboard.

From the US 2009/0094748 A1 An adjusting drive is also known in which an end piece attached to the lifting tube is provided. This serves to extend the lifting tube and has the task of reaching over a joint pin with a side slot in order to thereby create an articulated connection. However, such a mechanism has nothing to do with the invention, because it does not shorten the dimension between the connecting bolts of the joint halves, so that the object on which the invention is based is not solved.

The invention can basically be based on three different variants.

In the first variant, the extension element can be designed as a U-shaped bracket, with the base of the bracket being connected directly or indirectly to the free end of the lifting tube. The U-legs of the bracket extend on both sides of the lifting tube parallel to the lifting tube, while the joint halves are arranged in the area of the free ends of the U-legs. Thus, the joint half, which serves to connect to the swivel fork of the swivel shaft, is moved towards the middle area of the guide tube and thus the distance between the corresponding joint connections is shortened as desired.

In this variant, the U-bracket can be designed as a stable, multi-ribbed plastic part or cast metal part.

Alternatively, the U-bracket can also be made of bent sheet steel.

In order to connect the U-bracket to the free end of the lifting tube, a pin can be provided, for example welded, on the inner surface of the base of the U-bracket, which serves as a connecting element.

In another embodiment of this variant, a pipe pin can be provided, for example welded, on the outer surface of the U-bracket around an opening provided in the base of the U-bracket, which is inserted directly or indirectly onto the free end of the lifting tube and fastened thereto .

In another embodiment of this variant, the U-bracket can be formed from two halves onto which half-shells are molded, so that the half-shells can be screwed directly or indirectly to the free end of the lifting tube or fastened in another way.

In a further embodiment of this variant, the U-legs of the U-bracket can be pivotable relative to the base about an axis running transversely to the base, so that the kinematics can be changed.

In a further embodiment of this variant, you can The U-legs of the U-bracket can be provided with lateral projections, the joint halves being formed on the projections so that they are offset from the plane of the U-legs.

A second variant is that the extension part is pot-shaped, whereby the inner surface of the pot base can be connected directly or indirectly to the free end of the lifting tube.

A third variant of the invention consists in that a crossbar is attached to the free end of the lifting tube and that a flexible rope is guided around the crossbar, the ends of which can be connected to the swivel fork of the swivel shaft.

A further embodiment of the invention consists in that the extension element is arranged on the side of the adjusting drive facing away from the free end of the lifting tube, whereby the dimension between the connecting bolts can also be shortened.

In this embodiment, the extension element can be designed as a U-bracket, the base of which is attached to the articulation device, while the U-legs extend parallel to the lifting tube on both sides. The joint halves are expediently arranged in the area of the free ends of the U-legs.

Finally, there is also the possibility of arranging corresponding extension elements on the articulation devices at both ends of the adjustment drive. This design results in an extremely short distance between the articulation areas.

Each extension element forms a firm connection with the adjustment drive. If the extension element is inherently rigid and therefore non-articulated and therefore does not have any flexible or articulated sections, the adjustment drive connected to it can use its adjustment force without restriction transferred to the furniture or the respective furniture element in both directions of movement. For safety reasons, for example, some furniture requires adjustment using motor power only in one direction of movement. The reset in the other direction of movement is then carried out by gravity and/or by spring force. According to such an embodiment of the adjustment drive, the lifting tube is simply acted upon inside by the force and movement-generating adjustment nut. While the adjusting nut remains stationary on the spindle in the resting state, the lifting tube has the option of moving away from the adjusting nut all the way to an internal end stop. The lifting tube can therefore move freely between the first limitation given by the adjusting nut and a second limitation. In other words, in contrast to the variant mentioned at the beginning, in which the adjusting nut and the lifting tube form a firm connection, the end of the lifting tube located in the adjusting drive is now only loosely contacted by the adjusting nut and can be acted upon by the adjusting and holding force. In any case, the adjusting nut is in operative connection with the lifting tube, in that the adjusting nut is either firmly connected to the lifting tube or makes loose contact with the lifting tube.

In principle, the adjustment drive is designed to adjust furniture components relative to one another. Depending on the design of the furniture, part of the adjustment drive either remains stationary, such as on a fixed frame part, or the adjustment drive can be pivoted about a point, or the adjustment drive moves during the adjustment process, viewed from a fixed point in space.

Fig. 1:

die perspektivische Darstellung eines herkömmlichen Verstellantriebs,

Fig. 2:

einen Längsschnitt durch den Verstellantrieb gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3:

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 4:

die Anwendung der Ausführungsform gemäß Fig. 3 bei einer Kopfteilverstellung für ein Bett,

Fig. 5:

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 6:

ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 7:

ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 8:

ein fünftes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 9:

ein sechstes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 10:

ein siebtes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 11:

ein achtes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 12:

ein neuntes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 13:

ein zehntes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the drawing and described in detail below using the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1:

the perspective view of a conventional adjustment drive,

Fig. 2:

a longitudinal section through the adjustment drive Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3:

a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4:

the application of the embodiment according to Fig. 3 when adjusting the headboard for a bed,

Fig. 5:

a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 6:

a third embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 7:

a fourth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 8:

a fifth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 9:

a sixth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 10:

a seventh embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 11:

an eighth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 12:

a ninth embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 13:

a tenth embodiment of the invention,

After Fig. 1 and 2 In the drawing, the known adjustment drive, which is used to adjust parts of seating and reclining furniture, consists of an electric drive motor 1, a rotatably mounted threaded spindle 2 that can be driven by the drive motor 1, and an adjusting nut 3 seated on the threaded spindle 2, which is non-rotatable is guided in a guide tube 4 and can be driven by rotating the threaded spindle 2 in the axial direction of the guide tube 4. Further is a lifting tube 5 connected to the adjusting nut 3 is provided, at the free end of which a first articulation device 6 in the form of a fork head is provided, which can be articulated via a first joint connection 7 on the swivel fork 8 of a swivel shaft 9, as shown Fig. 4 emerges.

Furthermore, a second articulation device 10 in the form of a fork head is provided at the motor-side end of the adjustment drive, which is connected via an articulated connection 11 to a fixed frame part 12 of the furniture as shown Fig. 4 can be attached.

At the in Fig. 3 Illustrated first embodiment of the invention, an extension element 13 is rigidly attached to the articulation device 6 or to the free end of the lifting tube 5. The extension element 13 can be attached in various ways.

In this case, the extension element 13 is designed as a U-shaped bracket 18, the base 19 of which is attached to the front end of the lifting tube 5. The U-legs 20 of the bracket 18 extend on both sides of the lifting tube 5 parallel to it, with the joint halves 15 being arranged in the area of the free ends of the U-legs 20. Due to the fact that the U-legs 20 are arranged parallel to the lifting tube 5, a force direction that runs exactly in the longitudinal axis of the lifting tube 5 is specified.

In the in Fig. 3 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the U-bracket 18 is designed as a stable, multi-ribbed plastic part or cast metal part 21, the ribs being very stably connected to one another by cross struts.

In Fig. 4 is an installation example for the adjustment drive according to Fig. 3 shown. For reasons of clarity, only part of a bed frame is shown, diagonally from below.

How out Fig. 4 can be seen in detail, the joint halves 15 of the U-bracket 18 are in engagement with corresponding joint halves 16 provided on the swivel fork 8. The pivot fork 8 is used to pivot a pivot shaft 9, with which corresponding actuating arms 38 are provided for lifting a head part, not shown in the drawing.

The second articulation device 10 provided at the motor-side end of the adjustment drive is connected by means of its articulated connection 11 to a corresponding counterpart which is attached to a fixed frame part 12 of the furniture, the joint half of the articulation device 10 designed as a fork head being connected to the joint half 16 sitting on the frame part 12 interacts.

In this installation example it can be clearly seen that the dimension between the connecting bolts, which interact with the joint halves 15 and 16, can be significantly shortened, so that the known adjustment drive, which is relatively long, can also be used for the movement kinematics for adjusting the headboard of beds. In this exemplary embodiment, this is achieved by moving the joint halves 15 provided on the U-shaped bracket 18 in the direction of the middle section 17 of the guide tube 4.

According to Fig. 5 the U-bracket 22 is made from a bent sheet steel. A pin 23 is welded to the inner surface of the base 19 of the U-bracket 18 and is firmly connected to the free end of the lifting tube 5. In this exemplary embodiment, the joint halves 15 are designed as simple eyelets, which interact with the joint halves provided on the swivel fork 8 and designed in the form of bolts. In this exemplary embodiment, too, the location of the joint halves is towards the middle section 17 of the guide tube 4 shifted so that the dimension between the connection bolts is significantly shortened.

The exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 6 is structured in a similar way to that in Fig. 5 illustrated embodiment. The only difference is that a pipe pin 26 is welded to the outer surface of the U-bracket 22 around a corresponding opening, which is plugged onto the lifting tube 5 and is indirectly connected to the lifting tube via any fastening element.

At the in Fig. 7 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the U-bracket 22 consists of two bracket halves 24, onto each of which a half-shell 25 is formed. The half-shells 25 encompass the free end of the lifting tube 5 or an extension part fastened therein and are fastened to it with the aid of a transversely arranged screw.

At the in Fig. 8 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the U-legs 27 of the U-bracket 22 can be pivoted relative to the base 19 about an axis running transversely to the base 19, so that the adjustment drive can also be adapted to a modified movement kinematics.

At the in Fig. 9 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the U-bracket 22 is again made from a bent sheet metal part. The U-legs 27 of the U-bracket 22 are provided with lateral projections 28. The joint halves 15, which are designed as bores, are arranged on the projections 28 and are therefore offset from the plane of the U-legs 27.

At the in Fig. 10 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the extension element 13 connected to the free end of the lifting tube 5 is designed as a pot 29, the inner surface of the pot base being connected directly or indirectly to the free end of the lifting tube 5.

At the in Fig. 11 In the exemplary embodiment shown, a crossbar 30 is attached to the free end of the lifting tube 5, around which a flexible rope 31 is guided. The ends of the rope 31 can be connected to the swivel fork 8 of the swivel shaft 9.

In this exemplary embodiment, the ends of the rope 31 are designed as loops 37, which can be easily attached to the swivel fork 8 using suitable connecting elements.

The rope 31 is captively clipped to the crossbar 30.

At the in Fig. 12 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the extension element 14 is arranged on the side of the adjusting drive facing away from the free end of the lifting tube 5, i.e. on the motor side. In this case, the extension element is designed as a U-bracket 32, the base 33 of which is attached to the motor-side articulation device 10.

The U-legs 34 extend on both sides of the guide tube 4 or lifting tube 5 parallel to it. The joint halves 15, which in the present case are designed as bores, are arranged in the area of the ends of the U-legs 34, so that the dimension between the connecting bolts can be significantly reduced, just as in the previous exemplary embodiments.

At the in Fig. 13 In the exemplary embodiment shown, corresponding extension elements 35, 36 are arranged at both ends of the adjusting drive on its articulation devices 6 and 7, which are designed as shaped sheet metal parts. By taking the measure of providing extension elements 35 and 36 at both ends of the adjusting drive, the dimension between the connecting bolts can be reduced to a minimum.

Reference symbol list

1

electric drive motor

2

rotatable threaded spindle

3

Adjusting nut

4

Guide tube

5

lifting tube

6

first articulation device

7

first joint connection

8th

Swivel fork

9

Pivot shaft

10

second articulation device

11

second joint connection

12

frame part

13

Extension element

14

Extension element

15

half of the joint

16

half of the joint

17

middle section of the guide tube 4

18

U-shaped bracket

19

Base of the bracket 18

20

U-leg of the bracket 18

21

Plastic part / metal casting part

22

U-bolt made of sheet steel

23

Cones

24

U-bracket halves

25

half shells

26

pipe spigot

27

U-leg of the U-bracket 22

28

lateral projections

29

Pot

30

Cross bar

31

flexible rope

32

U-bolt

33

Base of the U-bracket 32

34

U-leg of the U-bracket 32

35

Extension element

36

Extension element

37

loops

38

Fastening arms

Claims (11)

1. Drive for adjusting parts of seating and lying furniture, wherein a first furniture component is movably supported relative to a second furniture component, comprising

   - at least one spindle (2) rotatable by way of an electric drive motor (1),

   - an adjusting nut (3) which is carried on the spindle (2) and which is guided non-rotatably in a guide tube (4) which is drivable by rotation of the spindle (2) in the axial direction of the guide tube (4),

   - a lift tube (5) operatively connected to the adjusting nut (3),

   - a first pivotal connecting device (6) which is arranged at the free end of the lift tube (5) and which can be pivotally connected to the first furniture component by way of a first hinge connection (7), and

   - a second pivotal connecting device (10) which is provided at the opposite end of the adjusting drive and which can be fixed by way of a second hinge connection (11) to a stationary frame portion (12) or to a second furniture component, wherein a first extension element (13; 14) is provided at at least one of said two pivotal connecting devices (6; 10) and is rigidly connected thereto, one hinge half (15; 16) of the hinge connection (7; 11) being arranged in each case at the extension element,

   - wherein the hinge half (15; 16) which is carried at the respective extension element (13; 14) is displaced in the direction to the central portion (17) of the guide tube (4) so that the dimension between the connecting bolts of the hinge halves (15; 16) in the retracted state of the lift tube (5) is relatively small and therefore arbitrarily shortened,

   - wherein the respective extension element (13; 14) is rigidly fixed to the corresponding pivotal connecting device (6; 10),

   - wherein the extension element (13) is fixedly connected directly or indirectly to the free end of the lift tube (5), characterized in that

   - the extension element (13) is in the form of a U-shaped loop (18), the base (19) of the loop (18) is indirectly or directly fixed to the end of the lift tube (5), the limbs (20) of the U-shape of the loop (18) extend on both sides of the lift tube (5) parallel thereto and the hinge halves (15) are arranged in the region of the free ends of the limbs (20) of the U-shape or

   - the extension part is designed a pot (29), the inner surface of the pot bottom being connected directly or indirectly to the free end of the lift tube (5) or

   - a cross-loop (30) is fixed to the free end of the lift tube (5), a flexible rope (31) being passed around said cross-loop (30) and the ends of the rope (31) being connectible to the pivot fork (8) of the pivot shaft (9).
2. Drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the U-bracket is in the form of a stable, multi-ribbed plastic portion or cast metal portion (21).
3. Drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the U-shaped loop (18) comprises a bent steel plate.
4. Drive according to claim 3, characterized in that a pin (23) is welded to the inside surface of the base of the U-shaped loop (18) and is connected to the free end of the lift tube (5).
5. Drive according to claim 3, characterized in that a tubular projection (26) is welded to the outside surface of the U-shaped loop (18) around an opening provided in the base (19) of the U-shaped loop (18), which projection is fitted indirectly or directly on the free end of the lift tube (5) and is fixed thereto.
6. Drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the U-shaped loop (22) is formed from two halves (24), that half-shell portions (25) are molded to the halves (24), and that the half-shell portions (25) are screwed indirectly or directly to the free end of the lift tube (5) .
7. Drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the limbs (27) of the U-shaped loop (22) are pivotable relative to the base (19) about an axis extending transversely relative to the base (19).
8. Drive according to claim 3, characterized in that the limbs (27) of the U-shaped loop (22) have lateral projections (28) and that the hinge halves (15) are formed on the projections (28) and are displaced out of the plane of the U-shaped loops.
9. Drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the extension element (14) is arranged at the side of the adjusting drive, that is remote from the free end of the lift tube (5).
10. Drive according to claim 9, characterized in that the extension element (14) is in the form of a U-shaped loop (32), the base (33) of the U-shaped loop (32) is fixed to the pivotal connecting device (10), the limbs (34) of the U-shape extend on both sides of the lift tube (5) parallel thereto and the hinge halves (15) are arranged in the region of the free ends of the limbs (34) of the U-shape.
11. Drive according to claim 1, characterized in that corresponding extension elements (35, 36) are arranged on the pivotal connecting devices (6, 10) at the two ends of the adjusting drive.

Images