JP2010527659A - Furniture with switch elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture. The furniture includes a furniture body (2), a furniture part (3) provided so as to be movable with respect to the furniture body, and a drive device (5) for moving the furniture part. The drive can be activated via the switch element (4) and comprises at least one motor. The switch element (4) is covered by the furniture part (3) in or on the furniture body (2) when the furniture part (3) is closed. Then, the drive unit is activated by the indirect operation of the switch element (4) caused by the user and the force applied to the movable furniture part (3). The switch element (4) that activates the drive device (5) is easily accessible by the user and can be activated directly when the furniture part (3) is moved from the closed position.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to furniture (furniture products). In particular, a furniture comprising a furniture body, a furniture part movably provided with respect to the furniture body, and a drive device that can be activated by a switch element for moving the furniture part, wherein the switch element And the furniture hidden in or on the furniture body by the furniture component in the closed position.

  In the case of such furniture products, the activation of the switch element and the consequent activation of the drive device is performed indirectly by the movement of the furniture parts caused by the user. For example, it is possible to configure a part of the furniture part to lean against the switch element in the closed position, so that the user pushes the furniture part into the furniture body, for example in the form of a pressure switch The switch element is activated. And of course for that purpose, a sufficiently large push-in margin is left for the furniture part in the closed position in or on the furniture body. It is ensured in a known manner by a spring cushion.

  If the furniture part is in a partially or fully open position after the drive is activated, the conventional switch element does not require any further function.

  Since it may often be desirable for the return movement of the furniture part to the closed position to be assisted by the drive device, another additional switch is required to activate the drive device in the partially or fully open position of the furniture part. Elements can be provided. This involves additional costs and structural complexity.

  The object of the present invention is to develop a furniture product of the kind described above so as to provide the same function without incurring significant structural complexity and at low cost.

  The object of the invention is achieved by a furniture (product) having the features of claim 1.

  Thus, the same switch element can serve to activate the drive device regardless of whether the furniture part is in the closed position or in a position different from the closed position.

  The present invention is not limited to a given form of furniture part. For example, the furniture part may be a drawer or a flap.

  The invention is particularly advantageous when the furniture part is a flap. Inevitably, it is already known that an open flap in a higher position than it is in a closed position is activated by exerting a force on the flap itself (eg furniture by a user). A detection device is provided to detect the movement of the part). However, this has the disadvantage that it is difficult for the relatively short user to reach the flap in the open position. The means (strategy) provided by the present invention means that the user can directly actuate a switching element that is no longer obscured by furniture parts, so that the flap closing operation (ie from the fully or partially open position to the closed position). To move easily).

  Such an operation can be provided regardless of the form of the furniture part.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch element has at least one light emitting means. The position of the switch element is indicated to the user by the light emitting means.

  In the closed position of the furniture part where the switch element is obscured by the furniture part, the light emitting means need not be active (i.e. shining), so that the furniture part is at least partially opened (i.e. the switch element is The light emitting means can be switched to the active state only when it is at least opened to such an extent that it is visible. For example, a position measuring device is provided for detecting the position of the furniture part in at least a part of a movement process between the closed position and the open position of the furniture part, and at least one light emitting means is provided for the position measurement. This can be realized by enabling switching according to a signal from the apparatus. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange limit switches that are actuated by furniture parts in the open position.

  The position measuring device can also be provided completely independent of the arrangement of the light emitting means, for example, in addition to the activation of the drive device by a switch element, the drive device can be activated by detecting the movement of furniture parts. .

  Additionally or alternatively, the position measuring device signals can also be used in the drive control unit to calculate motion values of furniture parts such as speed and acceleration. It makes it possible to bring the drive of the furniture part by the drive device in response to the detected motion value of the furniture part.

  As such, various structural forms can be employed for the switch element. For example, the switch element can have a sensor (eg, a capacitive sensor) that is activated in a contactless mode. However, if the switch element has a spring-loaded pressing pin, a particularly simple switch element configuration is provided. Then, the switch element can be configured to activate the drive device only when the push pin is pushed. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to mount the pressing pin on the switch element so that a predetermined amount of the force comes out of the switch element without exerting an opposing force. When the furniture part comes into contact, either by means of a suitably configured accumulating means (eg a spring) or by the furniture part itself (and its mass) and optionally by the closing force of the closing device, the switch element Movement to the outside is prevented. However, when the furniture part is separated from the furniture body by the user for some reason, the pressing pin can move out of the switch element by a predetermined distance, so that the switch element activates the drive device. That provides a way to activate the drive device by pulling as well as pushing against the furniture part in the closed position.

  Of course, it is preferred that at least one light emitting means is arranged adjacent to the pressing pin.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive device has at least one electric motor.

  The position measuring device may be, for example, a linear or rotary potentiometer. The switch element may be a wireless switch. In particular, it is possible to design such wireless switches in a battery-free manner, in which case the power required for wireless operation is generated by piezoelectric crystals or electrodynamic means (for example by moving coils). )

  Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and the associated description.

1a and 1b are a perspective view and an exploded view of an embodiment of a switch element that can be used in furniture according to the present invention. 2a, 2b and 2c show the embodiment of FIG. 1 in each operating position. FIG. 3 shows a part of the furniture according to the invention. 4a and 4b are a perspective view and a detailed view (partially enlarged view) of another example of furniture according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a switch element 4 with an elastically supported pin 7. Here, two light emitting means in the form of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged adjacent to the pins 7.

  The structure of the switch element 4 can be seen in particular from the exploded view in FIG. As can be seen from the figure, the pin 7 has a toothed extension 8 which meshes with a control member of the rotary potentiometer 10 for performing position measurement (in this example, the form of the gear 9). .

  Furthermore, not only the spring 11 that applies a load to the pin 7 but also the electric wire 12 can be observed. The electric wire 12 not only serves to supply power to the circuit board 13 on which the rotary potentiometer 10 is disposed, but also serves to pass a signal from the potentiometer to a control device section (not shown) of the driving device 5.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the electric wire 12 can be protected and extended in the passage 14 on the wall or bottom of the furniture body 2.

  The switch element 4 is covered with a housing cover 15. A cable holder 16 is provided to relieve a tensile load applied to the electric wire 12.

  2 a-2 c show three different working positions on the pin 7 of the switch element 4. Since the spring 11 is in the form of a compression spring, the pin 7 is always subjected to the force of the compression spring trying to urge it to the outside of the housing.

  In FIG. 2 b, which shows the neutral position of the switch element 4, the pin 7 is held in the position shown against the application force of the spring 11 by the movable furniture part 3 (not shown). In FIG. 2a, the movable furniture part 3 has been separated from the pin 7 by the user, so that the spring 11 can bias the pin 7 out of the housing. It is detected by the rotary potentiometer 10 and is transmitted via the electric wire 12 to a control device (not shown) for starting the drive device. In FIG. 2 c, the movable furniture part has been moved into the furniture body, whereby the pin 7 is pushed deeply into the housing against the application force of the spring 11. Again, the movement is detected by the rotary potentiometer 10 and transmitted via the electric wire 12 to a control unit (not shown) for starting the driving device 5.

  FIG. 3 shows the switch element 4 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a state of being mounted (mounted) on the furniture body 2. The two mounting projections 17 that have not yet been pushed in can be seen. The housing of the switch element 4 is held in the hole (or recess) of the furniture body 2 by pushing in these convex portions 17.

  FIG. 4a shows a furniture (furniture article) 1 comprising a furniture body or carcass and a movable furniture part 3 in the form of a flap. In this embodiment, the switch element 4 according to the invention is mounted on the side wall of the furniture body 2 (see FIG. 4b).

  In this embodiment, the drive device 5 for the furniture part 3 is integrated with the control mechanism of the furniture part 3 itself.

  In order to ensure the existence of a sufficient push-in allowance for the furniture part 3 in the closed position on the furniture body 2, a spacer (not shown), for example a spring cushioning material, is provided.

  The allowance for attachment is also possible with the rotary potentiometer 10. It is also possible to employ a linear potentiometer instead of the rotary potentiometer.

  Instead of providing a potentiometer, it is also possible to provide a simple switch that is mechanically activated by the pin 7 and closes the electrical contact when activated. The switch is not only a push button or rotary switch, but also an opener (open switch, which is in contact when the switch is released) or a closer (closed switch, which is in contact when the switch is turned on). May be.

Claims (7)

A furniture comprising a furniture body, a furniture part movably provided with respect to the furniture body, and a drive device that can be activated by a switch element and has at least one motor for moving the furniture part. And
The switch element is concealed in or on the furniture body by the furniture part in the closed position, and the driving is performed by indirect activation of the switch element by a user applying a force to the movable furniture part. In the furniture where the device unit is activated,
The switch element (4) for activating the drive device (5) is accessible to the user and can be activated directly when the furniture part (3) leaves the closed position. furniture.   A position measuring device for detecting the position of the furniture part (3) is provided in at least a part of a movement process between the closed position and the open position of the furniture part (3). The furniture according to claim 1.   Furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the switch element (4) has at least one light emitting means (6).   The furniture according to claim 3, wherein the at least one light emitting means (6) is switchable in response to a signal from the position measuring device.   5. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch element (4) has a spring-loaded pin (7).   6. Furniture according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one light emitting means (6) is arranged adjacent to the pin (7).   The furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the furniture part (3) is a drawer or a flap.

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