WO2005112708A1

WO2005112708A1 - Item of furniture

Info

Publication number: WO2005112708A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/003861
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Roither
Original assignee: Dewert Antriebs- Und Systemtechnik Gmbh
Priority date: 2004-05-07
Filing date: 2005-04-13
Publication date: 2005-12-01
Also published as: EP1742553A1; DE202004007549U1

Abstract

The invention relates to an item of furniture (10), which is equipped with at least one adjustable furniture part (15, 16) and with at least one electric motor-driven linear drive (17, 18), and whose linearly displaceable output element (27) is actively connected to a coupling lever (23) of a swivel shaft (20) or of a pivot pin (26). The aim of the invention is to provide an item of furniture of the aforementioned type in which the parts to be displaced by the linear drive not only have a structurally simple design, but the number of parts are also kept to a minimum so that the linear drive can be provided with the simplest possible design. According to the invention, a rotationally mounted swivel shaft (20) or a fixed swivel pin (26) is functionally assigned to each furniture part (15, 16) to be swiveled. The interspaced housing walls of the linear drive (17, 18) are provided with aligned recesses for accommodating the swivel shaft (20) or the swivel pin (26). These recesses can be covered by means of a closing element (21). At least one coupling lever (23) is placed in a rotationally fixed manner on the swivel shaft (20) or on the swivel pin (26), and an abutment (25) is assigned to each swivel shaft (20) or to each swivel pin (26). This abutment is connected to a thrust bearing of the housing of the linear drive (17, 18). The swivel shaft (20) or the swivel pin (26) and the abutment (25) are situated on different horizontal planes. The inventive item of furniture is, in a preferred design, provided in the form of a slatted frame.

Description

Furniture

The invention relates to a piece of furniture with at least one adjustable furniture component, with at least one electromotive linear drive, each electromotive linear drive having a housing with spaced housing walls, an electric motor and a linearly movable output member, and in which the linearly movable output member is operatively connected to a link lever stands.

The furniture in question is, for example, seating furniture, reclining furniture, a slatted frame, a bed or the like, but preferably a slatted frame.

The linear drives are considered mass-produced items and should be simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture. The linear drives are usually spindle drives, on the spindles of which spindle nuts are fitted, which are equipped with a lifting tube, which, for example, has a free end

Fork head carries, so that an articulated connection between the link lever and the fork head can be made. Depending on the type of furniture, corresponding fittings or rods are also necessary. These are specially designed for the respective application.

Furthermore, depending on the type of drive and the furniture, the corresponding fittings or linkage can be designed in a complex manner, which is initially evident in the production outlay of both the furniture and the linear drive and later also during the assembly of the linear drive in the furniture. Page 2

The invention has for its object to design a piece of furniture of the type described in the introduction in such a way that the components required for adjustment by means of the linear drive can not only be designed in a structurally simple manner, but also that the number is kept as small as possible, and that an extreme simple linear actuator can be used.

The object is achieved according to a first proposal by assigning a rotatably mounted pivot shaft or a fixed pivot axis to each furniture component of the furniture to be pivoted, that the spaced housing walls of the linear drive are provided with aligned recesses for receiving the pivot shaft or the pivot axis, and that the recesses can be covered by a closer, and that at least one articulated lever is non-rotatably mounted on the swivel shaft or on the swivel axis, and that an abutment is associated with each swivel shaft or swivel axis, which supports a counter bearing of the housing of the linear drive in

Connection is established.

The swivel shaft is designed in such a way that the linearly displaceable output member of the linear drive is operatively connected to the free end of the articulation lever at a distance from the swivel shaft, so that a force can be applied to the articulation lever. As a result, a torque is introduced to the swivel shaft so that it rotates relative to the housing of the linear drive. The swivel shaft itself is rotatably mounted on the edges of the housing walls of the linear drive. The recesses in connection with the closer covering them keep the swivel shaft in a defined position with respect to the linear drive, so that in this embodiment the linear drive does not move.

Since an action torque acts on the swivel shaft when adjusting the linear output element of the linear drive, the housing of the linear drive is supported on the abutment, so that the latter absorbs the reaction torque so that it is transmitted to the furniture. Page 3

The arrangement of the swivel shaft or swivel axis to the abutment depends on the type of furniture. They are usually arranged on the same level, but it is also possible for them to be offset from one another, that is to say to be arranged on different horizontal levels. Furthermore, it is conceivable for a plurality of articulated levers to be non-rotatable and at a distance from one another

Swivel shaft or the swivel axis are connected.

It is particularly advantageous if the area of the housing of the linear drive connected to the abutment is adapted to the contour of the abutment in such a way that the abutment is at least partially encompassed. In addition, the linear drive is securely fixed in the furniture after it has been installed. Certain installation conditions of the linear drive in the furniture can make certain geometries of the abutment necessary. It is therefore provided that further holding or closing elements are necessary to fix the linear drive to the abutment. The counter bearing could be semicircular, fork-shaped or U-shaped and limited by appropriately designed webs.

It is provided in a particularly simple manner that the swivel lever is held in a connection-free manner with the output element of the linear drive, that is, only one contact takes place. This version is particularly advantageous if the furniture component to be adjusted is the backrest of an armchair or a slatted frame, since then this component to be adjusted is only adjusted against gravity by the linear drive. The furniture component is reset in the opposite direction and therefore solely by gravity.

According to the proposed solution, the pivot shaft is fixed and rotated in the furniture. The abutment is at a fixed distance from the pivot shaft and is also firmly connected to the furniture. The linear drive is mounted on the swivel shaft and the abutment. While the linear output member of the linear drive acts on the link lever, the pivot shaft rotates relative to the housing of the linear drive and thus relative to the furniture. A movable furniture component is either direct on the pivot shaft page 4

connected or coupled via an intermediate linkage. The linear drive is thus held stationary on the furniture, while the movable furniture component, for example the backrest of a slatted frame, is pivoted.

Another embodiment provides that the pivot shaft and the abutment are connected to a first movable furniture component. The linear drive, which is connected to the pivot shaft and the abutment, is now held relative to the first movable furniture component and moves with this first furniture component. The pivot shaft rotates again relative to the housing of the linear drive and thus also relative to the first movable furniture component. In a further embodiment, a second movable furniture component can be connected to this pivot shaft either directly or via an interposed linkage.

The combination of the suggestions made above shows that a first

Linear drive moves a first furniture component and a second linear drive attached to the first furniture component moves a second furniture component relative to the first furniture component. Thus, for example, a first linear drive could pivot the back part of a slatted frame, while the second linear drive moves the neck support connected to the back part.

Thus, several swivel shafts and several abutments can be attached to one piece of furniture. Furthermore, it is possible for a plurality of movable furniture components to be arranged in the furniture, which can also be strung together. The swivel shafts and / or the abutments can be stationary in the

Furniture or be fixed in a movable furniture component.

According to a second proposal for solving the problem, it is provided that each pivotable furniture component of the furniture is assigned a non-rotatably arranged pivot axis, that the spaced housing walls of the linear drive are provided with aligned recesses for receiving the pivot axis, and that the recesses can be covered by a closer and that the abutment with the furniture page 5

part is firmly connected. In this version, too, the articulation lever is non-rotatably mounted on the swivel axis. Furthermore, the furniture component to be moved could form the abutment.

While the linear output element of the linear drive acts on the articulation lever, the housing of the linear drive now rotates relative to the fixed pivot axis and thus also relative to the furniture component which is connected to this pivot axis. The abutment now absorbs the movement forces and forwards them to the connected and movable furniture component. In this case, the abutment can in turn be part of the movable furniture component or an interposed linkage can be arranged between the abutment and the furniture component. First of all, therefore, only the housing of the linear drive carries out a pivoting movement which is transmitted directly to a furniture component which is also to be pivoted.

Based on the previously described embodiment, a first linear drive could pivot with a first furniture component. A second furniture component, which pivots with the second linear drive relative to the first furniture component, could be pivotably mounted on this pivoting, first furniture component. Thus, again several furniture components can be arranged one behind the other, each pivoted individually by a linear drive. Combinations would also be conceivable such that, for example, a first and a second linear drive pivots with a first furniture component, while a second linear drive pivots a second furniture component, which is articulated on the first furniture component.

Regardless of the design, the pivot shaft or the pivot axis and also the abutment can be designed as a circularly symmetrical tube, so that the pivot shaft forms the pivot axis or the abutment at the same time the pivot bearing for a pivoting furniture component.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the swivel shaft, the swivel axis and / or the abutment extend from one side flank to the other side flank page 6

of the furniture or the movable furniture component extends. The side flanks of the furniture or the furniture component could be connected to one another. The entire furniture or individual furniture components could then also be stiffened and stabilized. If the furniture is a slatted frame, these side flanks can be the longitudinal bars of the backrest or the base frame, if it is an armchair, the side plates of an armchair frame or the side frame elements of the footrest of an armchair.

Depending on the design of the piece of furniture, however, it may also be entirely sufficient if the pivot shaft, the pivot axis and / or the abutment are designed as a stub which is fixed only on one side flank of the piece of furniture. In such an embodiment, the abutment in particular could be designed as a simple bent sheet metal part which is only connected to one side flank of the piece of furniture.

In a further embodiment, the abutment can be detachably, for example pluggable, screwed, or the like, connected to the furniture. A piece of furniture that is equipped with two spaced-apart swivel shafts or a swivel shaft and a swivel axis at a distance from it could therefore be equipped with two individual linear drives, or else it could be equipped with a double drive. Such double drives have two linear drives in one housing.

In a further embodiment, the abutment and the swivel shaft or the swivel axis can have a height offset, considering the horizontal plane when the furniture is used as intended. Thus, individual linear drives or also a double drive can be inserted into the furniture without the housing of the double drive touching one of the abutments.

In a further embodiment, one or more pivot shafts or pivot axes can have more than just one link lever. For this purpose, two link levers are preferably offset from one another laterally. In this way, it is possible to move freely when equipping the furniture with a drive Page 7

decide whether single linear drives or a double drive should be used.

According to a further embodiment, the holder for the pivot shaft, the holder for the pivot axis, the holder for the abutment can be a one-piece molded part or components arranged separately from one another.

Basically, the swivel shaft, the swivel axis, the abutment can be connected to the furniture either directly or indirectly via brackets, rods, joints. Fixed, detachable or articulated connections would be conceivable. Furniture generally has a base frame made of a wooden material. It therefore makes sense that the components described above are detachable, for example by means of screws or the like, or fixed in place, for example by nails. Other furniture has a steel base frame. The components described above could be detachable here, for example by screws or fixed, for example by rivets or by welding.

The aforementioned intermediate linkages can also be simple levers. Multi-part levers or link chains connected with links can also be used.

Depending on the design of the furniture and depending on the required movement sequence of a furniture component, the furniture components can pivot about a pivot point, but they can also move in one or more planes, whereby combinations of the movement sequences can also be carried out simultaneously.

In another embodiment, it is also conceivable that the distance between the pivot shaft or the pivot axis and the abutment changes during the movement. In such an embodiment, the pivot shaft is rotatable or the pivot axis is fixed, but is not displaceable relative to the housing of the linear drive. It is then provided that the abutment and / or the counter bearing are designed as slideways so that page 8

distance between the abutment and the counter bearing.

The linear drives used for the furniture mentioned are equipped with a drive motor and a worm drive. The worm is driven by the drive motor or the driven pin is designed as a worm and is in engagement with a worm wheel. The worm wheel is provided with an internally threaded hole so that it engages with the spindle, which is secured against rotation. This spindle travels in its longitudinal direction when the worm wheel is rotating, so that this spindle or a component placed on the spindle also forms the output element of the linear drive.

In another embodiment, the spindle is connected to the rotating worm wheel, a nut being placed on the spindle and being movable in the longitudinal direction of the spindle. The mother then forms the output member of the linear drive.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 shows a piece of furniture designed as a slatted frame with a flat backrest and a flat foot part in a perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows a partial view according to FIG. 1, showing the fixing of the linear drive;

3 shows a piece of furniture designed as a slatted frame with an extended backrest and an extended foot section in a perspective view, in which the two linear drives are designed as swivel drives;

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the linear drive with a rotatable swivel shaft with the swivel lever lying flat; Page 9

5 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 4, but with the pivoting lever raised;

Figure 6 is a linear drive which is placed on a fixed pivot shaft in the flat state of the pivot lever, and

FIG. 7 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 6, but with the linear drive and the pivoted lever pivoted.

The slatted frame 10 shown in FIG. 1 contains two lateral bars 11, 12 and in the end regions two cross bars 13, 14 which form the supporting frame of the slatted frame 10. A pivotable backrest 15 and a pivotable foot part 16 are mounted on the side rails 11, 12. The backrest 15 is pivoted by a linear drive 17 and the foot part 16 by a linear drive 18. For the sake of illustration, the spring wooden slats of the slatted frame 10 are not shown, but only the end pieces 19 arranged on the side rails 11, 12.

In the embodiments shown, each linear drive 17, 18 is correspondingly suspended on a pivot shaft 20 fixed in the side rails 11, 12. For this purpose, each linear drive 17, 18 is provided with recesses in the housing halves running parallel to one another, and a closer 21 is fixed to these housing walls and is pushed onto the housing walls from the side. A pivot lever 23 is fixedly attached to the pivot shaft 20 and extends into the interior of the linear drive. Each linear drive 17, 18 contains a drive motor which drives a worm drive. The worm wheel is provided with an internally threaded bore which engages with a spindle, so that when the worm wheel rotates, the spindle shifts in the longitudinal direction since it is secured against rotation. The spindle or a component placed thereon consequently forms the output element of each linear drive 17, 18. The output element in turn acts on the linkage lever 23. As a result, the Page 10

Swivel shaft 20 is rotated relative to the housing of the linear drive 17, 18.

If, when the linear drive 17, 18 is switched on, the spindle moves away from the drive motor, the linkage lever 23 is moved clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the arrangement. The articulation lever 23 is fastened to the swivel shaft 20, so that the swivel movement causes the swivel lever 22 and the backrest 15 or the foot part 16 connected to it to rise. The torque applied to the respective pivot shaft 20 is intercepted by a fixed abutment 25 which supports the linear drive 17, 18. For this purpose, the housing of each linear drive 17, 18 is provided with a counter bearing, which is semicircular or U-shaped by appropriately designed webs.

As FIG. 2 in particular shows, the abutment 25 can be a stub which is fixed to the side rails 11, 12. In contrast to the version shown, it could also be a continuous traverse. FIG. 2 in particular shows that the inventive design of the slatted frame 10 makes it possible to dispense with structurally complex fittings or erecting rods.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, each linear drive 17, 18 is designed as a swivel drive, that is to say when the backrest 15 or the foot part 16 is swiveled, the linear drive 17, 18 rotates about the rotationally fixed swivel axis 20 to which it is suspended. For this purpose, each pivot axis 20 is provided with a pivot or pivot lever 23, not shown, on which the spindle presses. The counter bearing of each linear drive 17, 18 in turn engages in a shaft 26 which is connected to the pivot lever 22, so that the backrest 15 or the foot part 16 is raised by the pivoting movement of the linear drive 17, 18.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a piece of furniture 10 or a furniture component 15 which is connected to the linear drive 17. The linear drive 17 is partially cut open so that one can look inside the linear drive 17. The linear output member 27 moves and acts on the link lever 23. Page 11

Figures 4 and 5 show a linear drive 17 with a rotatably mounted pivot shaft 20 and an abutment 25. The pivot shaft 20 is rotatably mounted on a holding plate 28, while the abutment 25 is fixedly connected to the holding plate 28. The holding plate 28 is firmly connected to a piece of furniture 10 or a furniture component 15. Compared to Figure 4 is the linear output member

27 of the linear drive 17 move a little. As a result, the link lever 23 and the pivot lever 22 have now also been brought into a different angular position.

According to FIGS. 6 and 7, the linear output member 27 of the linear drive acts

17 on a link lever 23 which is fixedly connected to a rotationally fixed pivot axis 26. The pivot axis 26 is in turn firmly connected to a piece of furniture 10 or a furniture component 15 via a holding plate 28. If the linear output member 27 of the linear drive 17 now moves, then the entire linear drive 17 is pivoted relative to the articulation lever 23 and thus also relative to the furniture 10 or to the furniture component 15. The counter bearing of the linear drive 17 is connected to the abutment 25. The abutment 25 is fixedly connected to a pivot lever 22. Thus, during the pivoting of the linear drive 17, the pivot lever 22 is also set in a different angular position compared to FIG. 4.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown. It is essential that the backrest 15 and the foot part 16 of the slatted frame 10 or the adjustable components of a differently designed piece of furniture can be adjusted without correspondingly designed fittings or upright rods.

page 12

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Slatted frame, 12 side rails, 14 cross rails, backrest, foot section, linear drive, linear drive, end piece, swivel shaft, closer, swivel lever, articulation lever, stationary abutment, swivel axis, output member, holding plate

Claims

Page 13 Patent claims

1. Furniture (10) with at least one adjustable furniture component (15, 16) with at least one electromotive linear drive (17, 18), each electromotive linear drive (17, 18) having a housing with spaced housing walls, an electric motor and a linearly movable one Has output member (27), and in the linearly movable output member (27) with a link lever (23) of a pivot shaft (20) or a pivot axis (26) for the respectively adjustable furniture component (15, 16) is operatively connected, characterized in that Each piece of furniture (15, 16) of the piece of furniture (10) to be pivoted is assigned a rotatably mounted pivot shaft (20) or a fixed pivot axis (26) that the spaced housing walls of the linear drive (17, 18) with aligned recesses for receiving the pivot shaft (20) or the swivel axis (26), and that the recesses can be covered by means of a closer (21), and that the swivel shaft ( 20) or at least one articulation lever (23) is placed on the swivel axis (26) in a rotationally fixed manner, that each swivel shaft (20) or each swivel axis (26) is assigned an abutment (25) which is connected to a counter bearing of the housing of the linear drive (17, 18) communicates.

2. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot shaft (20), the pivot axis (26) and the abutment (25) are arranged on different horizontal planes.

3. Furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of articulated levers (23) are non-rotatably and at a distance from each other with the pivot shaft (20) or the pivot axis (26).

4. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of the housing of the linear drive (17, 18) in connection with the abutment (25) is adapted to the contour of the abutment (25) such that the abutment (25) is at least partially is encompassed. Page 14

5. Furniture according to claim 4, characterized in that holding or closing elements are provided for fixing the linear drive (17, 18) on the abutment (25).

6. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pivot shaft (20), the pivot axis (26) or the abutment (25) directly on a piece of furniture (10) or on a furniture component (15, 16th ) are fastened by screws, welding, rivets, nails and the like, or that a holder is arranged between the pivot shaft (20), the pivot axis (26) or the abutment (25).

7. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pivot shaft (20) and / or the pivot axis (26) and / or the abutment (25) via a common holder or via separate holders with the furniture ( 10) or a furniture component (15, 16) are connected.

8. Furniture according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the counter bearing of the housing of the linear drive (17, 18) is semicircular, fork-shaped or U-shaped, and that the counter bearing is limited by corresponding webs.

9. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pivot shaft (20) is fixedly but rotatably mounted in the furniture (10), and that the abutment (25) at a fixed distance from the pivot shaft (20 ) stands.

10. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a movable furniture component is directly connected to the pivot shaft (20) (15, 16) or that the pivot shaft (20) via an intermediate linkage with the movable Furniture component (15, 16) is coupled. Page 15

11. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the pivot shaft (20) and the abutment (25) are connected to a first movable furniture component (15, 16).

12. Furniture according to claim 11, characterized in that a second movable furniture component (15, 16) is coupled directly or via a linkage to the pivot shaft (20).

13. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the furniture (10) has a plurality of pivot shafts (20) and a corresponding number of abutments (25).

14. Furniture (10) with at least one furniture component to be adjusted (15, 16), which can be moved by means of an electromotive linear drive (17, 18) having a linearly movable output member, which has a housing, characterized in that each furniture component to be pivoted ( 15, 16) of the piece of furniture (10) is assigned a non-rotatably mounted pivot shaft (20), that the spaced housing walls of the linear drive (17, 18) are provided with aligned recesses for receiving the pivot shaft (20), and that the recesses are by means of a closer (21) can be covered, and that the abutment (25) is firmly connected to the furniture component (15, 16) to be pivoted.

15. Furniture according to claim 14, characterized in that on the pivot shaft (20) a pivot lever (22) is rotatably mounted.

16. Furniture according to claim 14, characterized in that the furniture component to be moved (15, 16) forms the abutment (25).

17. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the pivot shaft (20) and / or the abutment (25) are designed as a circularly symmetrical tube. Page 16

18. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the pivot shaft (20) and / or the abutment (25) from one side flank to the other side flank of the furniture (10) or a movable furniture component (15 , 16) extend.

19. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the pivot shaft (20) and / or the abutment (25) are designed in the manner of a stub which is fixed only on one side flank of the furniture (10) ,

20. Furniture according to claim 19, characterized in that in particular the abutment (25) is designed as a bent sheet metal part.

21. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the linkages are simple or multi-part levers which are connected by links or that the linkages are designed as link chains.

22. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the furniture components (15, 16) are pivotable about a pivot point, that they can be moved in one or more planes, or that the movement sequences as combinations of the aforementioned Movements are executable.

23. Furniture according to claim 1 or 14, characterized in that the distance between the pivot shaft (20) and the abutment (25) is variable, and that the abutment (25) and / or the counter bearing are designed as slideways or slideways ,