DRIVE MECHANISM

Abstract

A drive mechanism for an article of adjustable furniture, the drive mechanism having support sections, the support sections including a first support section and a second support section, an actuator mechanism, and at least one connecting mechanism, the at least one connecting mechanism includes a first arm pivotally connected to the first support section, and a second arm pivotally connected to the second support section, the first arm being pivotally connected to the second arm, in which the actuator mechanism is drivingly connected to the o second support section to effect concertina-like movement between the first arm and the second arm to move the second support section relative to the first support section.

Claims

1. A drive mechanism (7) for an article of adjustable furniture (10), the drive mechanism (7) comprising: a plurality of support sections, said support sections including a first support section (12) and a second support section (14), an actuator mechanism (16), and at least one connecting mechanism (18), the at least one connecting mechanism (18) includes a first arm (20) pivotally connected to the first support section (12), and a second arm (22) pivotally connected to the second support section (14), the first arm (20) being pivotally connected to the second arm (22), wherein the actuator mechanism (16) is drivingly connected to the second support section (14) to effect a concertina-like movement between the first arm (20) and the second arm (22) to move the second support section (14) relative to the first support section (12).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of furniture in the form of a. chair in a fully extended second position according to one aspect of the present invention,

[0027] FIG. 2 is a side of the chair of FIG. 1 in a fully retracted first position,

[0028] FIGS. 3 to 5 are perspective views of a drive mechanism of the chair of FIG. 1 in a fully extended second position,

[0029] FIG. 6 is a side view of the drive mechanism of FIG. 1 in a fully retracted first position,

[0030] FIG. 7 is a side view of the drive mechanism of FIG. 1 between a fully retracted first position and a fully extended second position,

[0031] FIG. 8 is a side view of the drive mechanism of FIG. 1 in a fully extended second position,

[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative chair with the drive mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0033] FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative chair with the drive mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0034] FIGS. 11 to 14 are different view of the chair of FIG. 10 incorporating a lift mechanism,

[0035] FIGS. 15 and 16 are alternative views of the lift mechanism of FIGS. 11 to 14,

[0036] FIGS. 17 and 18 are side views of the drive mechanism of FIG. 1 in the chair of FIGS. 11 to 14 in the lowered and raised configurations,

[0037] FIG. 19 is a side view of the chair of FIG. 10 incorporating a glider mechanism,

[0038] FIG. 20 is a side view of the drive mechanism of FIG. 1 in chair of FIG. 19, and

[0039] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the glider mechanism of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, an article of adjustable furniture in the form of a chair (10), in this embodiment, a high-leg chair, comprises a drive mechanism (7) having a base section (11), and a plurality of support sections in the form of a back support (13), a first support section in the form of a seat support (12) and a second support section in the form of a footrest (14). It will be understood that the back support (13) is shown without a frame onto which a panel (not shown) is attached, the panel including an integral or separate cushioned support (not shown). The footrest (14) includes a panel (17) which includes a cushioned supported (not shown). The seat support (12) includes a support frame (19), onto which a cover panel (21) is attached. The cover panel (21) can also include an integral or separate cushioned support (not shown). The chair (10) also includes side arms (27).

[0041] The seat support (12) includes guide wheels (23) which cooperate with side arms (25) of the base section (11) to enable the seat support (12) to move relative to the base section (11) and provide both reclining and zero-wall functionality.

[0042] The chair (10) further comprises an actuator mechanism in the form of a single electric linear drive actuator (16), a connecting mechanism (18), and a drive arm (26).

[0043] The connecting mechanism (16) comprises a pair of first arms (20) and second arms (22). The first arms are pivotally connected to the seat support (12) at a first arm pivot point (42). The first arm (20) extends beyond the first arm pivot point (42) to define a first arm extension section (44). The first arm extension section (44) has a wheel (46) at its free end.

[0044] The first arm (20) is pivotally connected to the second arm (22) at a connecting arm pivotal connection (24). The connecting mechanism (18) further comprises a block (40) which is pivotally connected to the footrest (12) at a pivotal connection 39. The block (40) pivots relative to the footrest (14) about a first axis (A.sub.1). The second arm (22) is pivotally connected to the block (40) at a second arm pivotal connection (34). The second arm (22) pivots relative to the block (40) about a second axis (A.sub.2). The first (A.sub.1) and second (A.sub.2) axis are arranged relative to each other so as to enable the coordinated movement of the footrest as described further below.

[0045] The second arm (22) is therefore pivotally connected to the footrest (14) by being pivotally connected to the block (40) which is itself pivotally connected to the footrest (14). The second arm (24) extends beyond the second arm pivotal connection (34) to define a second arm extension section (36). The second arm extension section (36) has a wheel (38) at its free end.

[0046] The drive arm (26) includes a first drive arm (28) and a second drive arm (30). The first drive arm (28) is pivotally connected to the first support section (12) at a first arm pivotal connection (31). The second drive arm (30) is pivotally connected to the footrest (14) at a second arm pivotal connection (33), and the first drive arm (28) is pivotally connected to the second drive arm (30) at a connecting arm pivotal connection (32).

[0047] The actuator (16) is a linear actuator of the Delta-drive type as produced by Dewert-Okin GmbH, having a first end (motor and gear box end) mounted to a cross-member (41) of the base section (11) and a second end (43) (rod) pivotally connected to the first drive arm (28) at an actuator pivotal connection (35), such that movement of the actuator (16) causes movement of the footrest (14) via the first (28) and second (30) drive arms as will be described below.

[0048] Operation of the chair (10) is as follows:

[0049] With power supplied to the actuator (16), movement of the actuator (16) causes the first drive arm (28) to pivot about connecting arm pivotal connection (32), which in turn causes the second drive arm (28) to pivot and move or push the footrest (14) forwards via the second arm pivotal connection (33) from a first fully retracted position (FIG. 6) towards a second fully extended position (FIG. 8). It can be seen from FIGS. 5 to 7 that, as the footrest (14) moves forwards, the pivotal connection (32) moves upwards in the direction of arrow (Y). It can also be seen that the first (28) and second (30) drive arms move in a concertina-like manner when being powered by the actuator (16) between the first and second positions.

[0050] As the first (28) and second (30) drive arms move the footrest (14) forward under the power of the actuator (16) towards the second fully extended position, the first arm (20) and the second arm (22) also move in a concertina-like manner, as well as pivoting outwardly and laterally. More specifically, it can be seen that the connecting arm pivotal connection (24) extends laterally in the direction of arrow (L) and outwardly in the direction of arrow (O) (FIGS. 3 and 4). It can also be seen that a plane defined by the seat support (12) substantially coincides with a plane defined by the pivotal movement of the first (20) and second (22) arms.

[0051] As the second arm (22) pivots about the pivotal connection (24), the pivoting of the second arm (22) relative to the block (40) about the first axis (At) and the pivoting of the block (40) about the second axis (A.sub.2) relative to the footrest (14), results in movement of the second arm (22) causing the footrest (14) to simultaneously move both linearly and rotationally.

[0052] As the second arm (22) pivots about the pivotal connection (24), the wheel (38) at the free end of the second arm extension (36) rotates on and engages with the underside of the footrest (14) to cause rotation of the footrest (14) as it moves between the first and second positions. At the same time, rotation and engagement of the wheel (46) at the free end of the first arm extension section (44) with the seat support (12). in conjunction with the engagement of the wheel (38) with the underside of the footrest (14) enables the seat support (12) to support the weight of an occupant on the footrest (14).

[0053] The drive arm (26) provides a triangulation effect with the first (20) and second (22) arms, to increase the rigidity of the connecting mechanism, ensure the pair of first and second arms (20),(22) extend evenly, and prevent the footrest from moving laterally relative to the seat support (12).

[0054] Connecting the actuator (16) to the footrest (12) via the first (28) and second (30) drive arms, also enables an actuator with a shorter stroke to he used.

[0055] In the first retracted position, the first (20) and second (22) arms are substantially parallel to each other, thereby providing a compact mechanism the depth (direction X) of the chair (10).

[0056] It will be understood that the connecting mechanism (18) described above enables the footrest (14) to be driven both linearly and rotationally between first retracted and second extended positions.

[0057] It will also be understood that the connecting mechanism can be used to move any two support sections relative to each other, and is not limited to moving a seat support relative to a foot rest. For example, the connecting mechanism can move a back support relative to a seat support, or a neck support relative to a back support. It will be further understood, that the concertina-like movement between the first and second arms of the connecting mechanism is able to provide linear movement of one support section relative to another, or a combination of linear and rotational movement of one support section relative to another.

[0058] In FIGS. 9 and 10, an alternative chair (110) is provided which is identical to the chair of FIGS. 1 to 8, except that instead of being a high-leg chair, the chair (110) has no legs. The chair (110) includes a drive mechanism (107) which is identical to the drive mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0059] In FIGS. 11 to 18, an alternative chair (210), identical to the chair of FIGS. 9 and 10, incorporates a drive mechanism (207) which is identical to the drive mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 8, and a second mechanism in the form of a lift mechanism (250) as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The lift mechanism (250) is releasable attachable to the drive mechanism (207), and further operable to provide functionality to raise and lower the drive mechanism (207) relative to the floor upon which the chair is positioned in the direction of arrow Y. FIG. 18 shows the chair (210) in a lowered configured, and FIG. 19, in a raised configuration.

[0060] In FIGS. 19 to 21, an alternative chair (310), identical to the chair of FIGS. 9 and 10, incorporates a drive mechanism (307) which is identical to the drive mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 8, and a second mechanism in the form of glider mechanism (350) as shown in FIG. 21.

[0061] The glider mechanism (350) is releasable attachable to the drive mechanism (307), and further operable to provide functionality to allow the drive mechanism (307) to glide relative to the floor upon which the chair is positioned in the direction of arrow X.

[0062] It will be understood that the compact nature of the drive mechanism in the height direction (arrow Y) and depth direction (arrow X) provides space to enable the attachment of the second mechanisms and still be able to retain the seat support at a desirable height with adequate cushioning, and enough space below the seat support so that if the chair includes legs extending below the seat support, the second mechanism is not visible below the seat support.

[0063] It will also be understood that whilst the above embodiments have been described in relation to an adjustable chair, the drive mechanism can also be applied to other furniture, for example, a bed with multiple support sections.