WO2002060300A1

WO2002060300A1 - Item of furniture with an automatically moveable piece and device for moving an item of furniture or a piece thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2002060300A1
Application number: PCT/DE2002/000277
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Mack
Original assignee: Heinemack Gmbh
Priority date: 2001-01-30
Filing date: 2002-01-28
Publication date: 2002-08-08
Also published as: DE10290178D2; DE10104152C1

Abstract

The invention relates to an item of furniture (1) comprising several pieces, e.g. feet, seats, lying areas, arm rests, head rests etc., particularly an item of reclining furniture, e.g. beds for young children, adolescents or adults, wherein at least one piece of the furniture is automatically moveable in order to produce a vibrating or a shaking movement by means of a displacing element (2). The invention also relates to device for automatically moving at least one piece of an item of furniture (1) or an item of furniture (1), wherein the device is connected in a detachable manner to the piece of furniture or the item of furniture (1) and comprises at least one displacing element (2) for producing a vibrating or shaking movement.

Description

Piece of furniture with an automatically movable furniture part as well

Device for moving a piece of furniture or a piece of furniture

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a piece of furniture consisting of several pieces of furniture, e.g. Feet, seats, lying surfaces, armrests, headrests etc., in particular a piece of reclining furniture, e.g. Bed furniture for toddlers, teenagers or adults. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for the automatic movement of a piece of furniture or a furniture part of a piece of furniture.

As prior art, e.g. Seating or reclining furniture is known which, for increased convenience of the user, adjustable furniture parts, e.g. Backrests or armrests as well as soft seat or lying padding. Although this allows the individual pieces of furniture to be adapted to the individual needs and ideas of the user, extensive or even complete relaxation of the user when using the piece of furniture can rarely be achieved, especially not when the user is in a somewhat tense state of mind.

The invention has for its object to offer a piece of furniture that allows the user an even greater convenience. Furthermore, a device for moving, for example, a furniture part and / or a furniture Belstücks are offered, which offers the user increased convenience when using the piece of furniture.

For the piece of furniture, the object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the piece of furniture are described in subclaims 2-16. For the device, the object is achieved by the features of patent claim 17. Advantageous embodiments of the device are shown in subclaims 18-23.

In the piece of furniture according to the invention, at least one piece of furniture for generating a vibrating or shaking movement (or generalized a rocking movement of any kind) can be moved automatically via a movement element. If such a piece of furniture is e.g. is a piece of seating or reclining furniture, e.g. the seating or lying surface can be moved automatically and e.g. be vibrated or shaken. For toddlers (babies), tense adolescents, adults or older people, such a vibrating or shaking movement works e.g. of a chair or bed furniture is often particularly soothing, so that the user feels a sense of relaxation and e.g. can fall asleep more easily. The piece of furniture according to the invention can thus be used in particular for toddlers or just-born babies, who can be soothed by such a slight vibrating or shaking movement and finally "cradled to sleep". In this way, the caring parents can be relieved and the toddler receives a sleep aid. In addition, the piece of furniture according to the invention can be used in the medical-therapeutic field (for example in hospitals) or can also be used in office chairs to prevent postural damage.

In general, the piece of furniture according to the invention can be used for users of all ages. The term "piece of furniture" is to be interpreted broadly and understood in general and includes, for example, mobile pieces of furniture (eg travel beds) and other seating or lying areas, e.g. strollers or baby cradles.

The movement element for the automatic movement of at least one furniture part of the piece of furniture according to the invention can be designed as a motor (e.g. as a direct current or alternating current motor). Furthermore, the moving element can also be an (oscillating) pump, e.g. a radial or axial piston pump. As further embodiments of the movement element e.g. spring-loaded drives or other preloaded drive systems can be used. As a motor with an attached rotating imbalance, the movement element can also be connected directly to the piece of furniture or a piece of furniture for its movement. A vibrating or shaking movement on the respective furniture part is generated by a transmission medium via the activated movement element.

When using a hose or pipe system, liquids (e.g. water) or gases (e.g. air) can serve as the transmission medium. Furthermore, the movement element can be connected to the furniture part or piece of furniture via mechanical parts (e.g. springs, rubber elements, plungers or shafts).

By controlling the speed of the motor or the pump, for example, and activating the movement element for a limited time, certain frequency patterns of the vibrating or shaking movement can be generated, as perceived by the user, for example by the baby, as particularly pleasant. After a time-limited activation, the movement element can also take an adjustable break in order to then reactivate itself. The transmission medium vibrated by the movement element can be connected to the piece of furniture and / or the movable furniture part via at least one hose element. The movement element can thus be mounted at a distance from the piece of furniture and in another room are so that the noise generated by the activated movement element may no longer be perceived in the vicinity of the piece of furniture.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the piece of furniture and / or the movable furniture part is mounted on at least one base element. In a first embodiment variant, a commercially available piece of furniture, e.g. a children's bed, which is placed on a mat, e.g. a plate, and this pad is set by the moving element in a vibrating or shaking motion.

In a further embodiment variant (air or water cushions), trained basic elements are e.g. attached to the feet of the piece of furniture. A child's bed standing on four feet can have a pillow element under each foot. These four cushion elements are connected to the movement element directly via individual hose elements or via a distributor element. When the movement element is activated, the vibration of the transmission medium in the hose elements causes a corresponding expansion or contraction of the pillow elements, so that the feet of the child's bed connected to the pillow elements swing up and down and thus the child's bed is set in the desired vibrating or shaking movement.

Another advantageous embodiment provides that, for example, a constantly changing supply of different amounts of the transmission medium to the individual pillow elements takes place via a distributor element between the moving element and piece of furniture, so that an irregular (chaotic) vibration or shaking movement on the individual pillow elements and thus on the entire piece of furniture takes place. Such an irregular movement of the piece of furniture can be perceived as particularly relaxing by the user, in particular by the toddler, so that the desired sleep effect can then be achieved particularly quickly. Such a distributor element can have an inner guide element for forwarding the transmission medium (pump medium) into different hose elements. This creates a particularly irregular vibrating or shaking movement, which the user cannot predict and which is perceived as particularly relaxing.

The piece of furniture according to the invention can be placed directly on the base element, e.g. be stored on the cushion elements and additionally or alternatively hanging on suspensions such as (Helical) springs, rubber springs or belts etc. may be attached.

The vibrating or shaking movement can advantageously be adapted directly to the needs of the user. In this context, a time element can be provided for the temporary activation / deactivation of the movement element. A remote control element (e.g. ultrasound or infrared remote control) can e.g. a child seat can be remotely set or stopped by the caregiver. Furthermore, the characteristics of the vibrating or shaking movement can be changed via the remote control.

Particularly in the case of a piece of furniture according to the invention intended for small children as a sleep aid, a noise generator for generating a uniform background noise (background noise) can additionally be present, since this makes it easier for many small children to fall asleep. The modeling of this background noise (volume, duration, melody course, etc.) can be individually adapted to the needs of the toddler and can also be adapted to the vibration or shaking movement that takes place at the same time. For example, with a faster vibrating or shaking movement, a "moving" background noise can be played and vice versa.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the piece of furniture according to the invention has a noise sensor which e.g. Expressions or cries from toddlers can record and these as dissatisfaction and lack of relaxation hints for the activation of the

Movement element and used to generate a soothing background noise. If the piece of furniture according to the invention also has an EDP unit (e.g. a small computer), all functions of the individual elements of the piece of furniture described can be coordinated with one another. For example, the activation of the movement element and the noise generator can be coordinated and coupled with the setting of the inner guide element of the distributor element. As a result, all activation characteristics of the piece of furniture according to the invention can be modeled in a user-friendly manner.

The device according to the invention for the automatic movement of at least one piece of furniture of a piece of furniture or of a piece of furniture can be attached to existing pieces of furniture as a separately available component. As a result, these pieces of furniture or individual furniture parts thereof can be set in the desired vibrating or shaking motion. Such a device can be attached to individual pieces of furniture or furniture parts of the most varied of types, the term “piece of furniture” also being understood here in general and also affecting pushchairs, baby cradles or mobile pieces of furniture (for example travel cots). The device according to the invention can also be used in the field of medical therapy (for example in hospitals) or used in office chairs to prevent postural damage. In the simplest case, such a device can be equipped with a hose element which is attached directly to the piece of furniture, the desired vibrating or shaking movement on the piece of furniture being achieved by activating the movement element by transmitting the transmission medium in the hose element. Such movement elements can also be built to save space and thus be used when traveling. As a result, parents can also convert travel cots or hotel beds with little effort in order to generate the desired vibrating or shaking movement, for example to help the toddler fall asleep better.

The device according to the invention can be operated with all other elements that have been described in connection with the piece of furniture according to the invention according to claims 1 to 16.

Further details of the invention are explained in more detail in the drawing figures. Show it:

1 is a schematic representation of a piece of furniture designed as a cot, which is connected to a motor via hose elements,

Fig. 2 shows a distributor element according to Fig. 1 and

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the piece of furniture with several

Basic elements.

Fig. 1 shows a piece of furniture 1, for example a children's bed, which stands on four feet 6a-d (base 6d is not visible). Under the feet 6 there are base elements 5a-5d, for example air or water cushions, base element 5d again being invisible. These base elements 5 are connected via hose elements 4a-4d to a distributor element 3, which is connected via a further hose element 4e to a movement element 2, for example an (air pump). The base elements 5a-5d can also be arranged between the four feet 6a-d and contact the piece of furniture 1 directly or via elongated (board-like) supports on which the piece of furniture 1 rests between the feet 6a-d. The feet 6a-d then hover at a low height above the floor (not shown).

Via the moving element 2, a transmission medium, e.g. Water or air, set in motion or vibrating, passed on to the distributor element 3 via a hose element 4e and fed from there via the hose elements 4a-d to the base elements 5, as a result of which the base elements 5 change their geometric shape and in particular when they act as cushions are trained (e.g. rhythmically, periodically or chaotically) to expand and contract. Then the feet 6 of the piece of furniture 1 supported on the base elements 5 are raised or lowered so that the entire piece of furniture 1 is set in a vibrating or shaking motion.

The characteristics of this vibrating or shaking movement can e.g. can be controlled and modeled by the timing or intensity of the movement element 2, by the supply of the transmission media from the distribution element 3 to the individual base elements 5.

Particularly when an irregular (chaotic) distribution of the transmission medium supplied by the movement element 2 occurs in the distributor element 3, irregular expansions and contractions also occur on the individual base elements 5, so that an irregular and therefore unpredictable vibration or shaking movement occurs on the piece of furniture 1 , This can have a particularly sleepy effect, especially when the child's bed is moved, whereby the desired relaxation effect occurs and the infant stops feeling uncomfortable or crying. 1 also shows an EDP unit 7 (small computer) which is used to control and network the movement element 2 and the distributor element 3. Certain programs can be stored in this EDP unit 7, which generate a certain desired vibrating or shaking movement of the piece of furniture 1. When it comes to putting a child's bed into a vibrating or shaking movement soothing for an infant, certain computer-specific exercise programs can be stored in the EDP unit 7, which are based, for example, on the biorhythm of the infant and a suitable and generate vibrating or shaking movements felt by the infant as harmonious.

A time element (timer) can also be provided in the EDP unit 7, which can serve to activate the movement element 2 and the distributor element 3 for a limited time and repeated according to a certain pattern. Furthermore, the EDP unit 7 can also be controlled by a remote control.

A sound generator (e.g. loudspeaker 20) and / or a sound sensor (e.g. microphone 21) can also be attached to the EDP unit 7 (or on the piece of furniture 1) in order to detect crying noises from the infant and e.g. then initiate activation of the movement element 2. Such activation of the movement element 2 can be accompanied by a background noise (e.g. car noise) that the infant may find pleasant and relaxing, which is generated by the noise generator.

2 shows the distributor element 3, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 1, in a sectional view. 1, the transmission medium (for example air), which is not shown in more detail, is fed to the distributor element 3 at the feed 11, for example via the cover of the distributor element 3, into an inner cavity 13 of the distributor element , This inner cavity 13 has in particular only two openings, namely the feed 11 and an outlet opening 14.

By means of the guide element 8 driven in the direction of rotation 12 (by the transmission medium or separately), the air flowing into the cavity 13 of the guide element 8 is passed irregularly (chaotically) via the outlet opening 14 of the guide element 8 to the outlets 15a-15d and thus to the hose elements connected there 4a - 4d, which are not shown in Fig. 2. In this way, pressure is built up irregularly in the individual hose elements 4a-4d by supplying the transmission medium, which pressure serves to expand the base elements 5a-5d. The desired irregular vibrating or shaking movement occurs on the individual feet 6. Excess air is expelled from the valve 16 of the distributor element 3.

The illustration according to FIG. 2 shows a possible schematic configuration of the distributor element 3. Further embodiments are also conceivable, e.g. a control of the guide element 8 via a motor, which is controlled via the EDP unit 7 and thereby enables control of the supply of the transmission medium to the individual hose elements 4a-4d (not shown).

In FIG. 3, attachment options for a movement element 2 with hose elements 4f-4h and base elements 5f-5h are shown in schematic form on a piece of furniture 1 shown in section, for example on a child's bed. The piece of furniture 1 has a lying surface 17 which can be pivoted about a joint 9 in the direction of movement 10 and on which, for example, the infant (not shown) is located. The piece of furniture 1 stands on feet 6f and 6g. The base element 5h is connected to the lying surface 17 via a connection 18, for example a web element. When expanding and contracting the base element 5h due to the activation of the movement element 2 and the vibrating The transmission of a transmission medium via the hose element 4h between the movement element 2 and the base element 5h, the connection 18 is moved back and forth in the direction 19, so that a movement of the lying surface 17 occurs in the direction of movement 10 and the infant is relaxed and rocked to sleep. The lying surface 17 can also be attached over several joints, so that a rocking movement occurs in several directions (not shown). The movement element 2 can be controlled via a computer unit 7, not shown.

Furthermore, the base elements 5f and 5g can be attached directly below the feet 6f and 6g and can be connected to the movement element 2 via hose elements 4f and 4g, which means that existing pieces of furniture 1 can be easily retrofitted.

Claims

1. piece of furniture (1) consisting of several pieces of furniture, e.g. Feet, seats, lying surfaces, armrests, headrests etc., especially reclining furniture, e.g. Bed furniture for small children, adolescents or adults, at least one piece of furniture for generating a vibrating or shaking movement being automatically movable via a movement element (2).

2. Piece of furniture (1) according to claim 1, with a motor as a moving element (2).

3. piece of furniture (1) according to claim 1 or 2, with a pump as a moving element (2).

4. piece of furniture (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movement element (2) via at least one hose element (4) with the piece of furniture (1) and / or the movable furniture part is connected.

5. piece of furniture (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the piece of furniture (1) and / or the movable furniture part is mounted on at least one base element (5).

6. piece of furniture (1) according to claim 5, wherein the base element (5) is designed as a cushion.

7. piece of furniture (1) according to claim 6, wherein the cushion is designed as an air or water cushion.

8. piece of furniture (1) according to any one of claims 5-7, wherein a distributor element (3) is provided between the base element (5) and the movement element (2).

9. piece of furniture (1) according to claim 8, wherein the distributor element (3) has an inner guide element (8) for forwarding a transmission medium into different hose elements (4).

10. piece of furniture (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the piece of furniture (1) is suspended on resilient straps.

11. piece of furniture (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the piece of furniture (1) is mounted on springs.

12. piece of furniture (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a time element for the time-limited actuation of the movement element (2) is provided.

13. piece of furniture (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a remote control element for controlling the movement element (2) is provided.

14. Piece of furniture (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a noise generator is provided for generating a background noise.

15. piece of furniture (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a noise sensor for detecting ambient noise, such as baby cries, is provided.

16. piece of furniture (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a computer unit (7) for controlling the piece of furniture (1) is provided.

17. Device for the automatic movement of at least one furniture part of a piece of furniture (1) or a piece of furniture (1), in particular a piece of furniture (1) according to one of claims 1-16, wherein the device with the furniture part or piece of furniture (1) is releasably connectable and has at least one movement element (2) for generating a vibrating or shaking movement.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the moving element (2) is a motor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 or 18, wherein the moving element (2) is a pump.

20. Device according to one of claims 17 - 19, wherein the movement element (2) is connected to the piece of furniture (1) and / or the movable furniture part via at least one hose element (4).

21. Device according to one of claims 17 - 20, wherein the movement element (2) is connected to at least one base element (5) on which the piece of furniture (1) and / or the movable furniture part is mounted.

22. Device according to one of claims 17-21, wherein the movement element (2) is connected to the piece of furniture (1) and / or the movable furniture part via at least one distributor element (3).

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the distributor element (3) is connected to the base element (5) and the movement element (2) via at least one hose element (4).