ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN FURNITURE DRIVE

Abstract

Electric motor driven furniture drive for adjusting components of a piece of furniture relative to one another has a first adjustment unit, having a first fixed-location main body and a first adjustment member movable relative to same. First adjustment member is in drive connection with electric motor, has a second adjustment unit with a second fixed-location main body, and a second adjustment member movable relative to it. Furniture drive has a Bowden cable with a pulling cable in a pressure-resistant sheath, and one end of pulling cable is secured on first main body and that end of sheath of Bowden cable which is assigned to the end is secured on first adjustment member. The other end of pulling cable is secured on second adjustment member and that end of sheath of Bowden cable assigned to the end is secured on second main body.

Claims

1. Electric motor driven furniture drive for adjusting components of a piece of furniture relative to one another, comprising: a) a first adjustment unit, having a stationary first main body and a first adjustment member movable relative thereto, and the first adjustment member being in drive connection with an electric motor; b) a second adjustment unit, having a stationary second main body and a second adjustment member movable relative thereto; c) at least one Bowden cable having a traction cable accommodated in a pressure-resistant sheath; and d) one end of the traction cable being secured to the first main body and the end of the sheath of the Bowden cable which is associated with this end being secured to the first adjustment member, and the other end of the traction cable being secured to the second adjustment member and the end of the sheath of the Bowden cable which is associated with this end being secured to the second main body.

2. Furniture drive according to claim 1, wherein: a) at least one of the first adjustment member and the second adjustment member is mounted so as to be movable in translation.

3. Supporting device adjustable by an electric motor for an upholstered unit on a piece of furniture for sitting and/or lying on, comprising: a) a main body, having at least two support parts which are adjustable relative to one another, on which the upholstered unit is supported during use of the supporting device; and b) at least one electric motor driven furniture drive according to claim 1 is provided for adjusting the support parts relative to one another.

4. Supporting device according to claim 3, wherein: a) the supporting device is a slatted frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In the drawings:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a supporting device according to the invention in the form of a slatted frame in an unadjusted starting position,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 1, the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in an end position of the adjusting movement of an upper body support part and of a leg support part,

[0035] FIG. 3 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 1, the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in which some components are omitted for reasons of clarity of illustration,

[0036] FIG. 4 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 2, details of a driving apparatus of the supporting device according to FIG. 1,

[0037] FIG. 5 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 4, details of a driving apparatus from another perspective,

[0038] FIG. 6 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 5, but on an enlarged scale, a detail of FIG. 5,

[0039] FIG. 7 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 5, the driving apparatus according to FIG. 5, wherein further components of the supporting device are omitted for clarification of the adjustment of the head support part relative to the upper body support part,

[0040] FIG. 8 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 7, but from a different perspective, the supporting device according to FIG. 2, wherein further components of the supporting device are omitted,

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a detail of FIG. 8 from a different perspective, but on an enlarged scale,

[0042] FIG. 10 shows, in a perspective depiction, a second illustrative example of a supporting device in the starting position of the adjusting movement, in which the support parts span a horizontal support plane,

[0043] FIG. 11 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 10, the supporting device according to FIG. 10, wherein the support parts are located in an adjusted position which lies between the starting position and the end position of the adjusting movement,

[0044] FIG. 12 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 10, the supporting device according to FIG. 10, wherein the support parts are located in the end position of the adjusting movement,

[0045] FIG. 13 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 10, the supporting device according to FIG. 10, wherein components of the supporting device are omitted for clarification of the structure of the driving apparatus,

[0046] FIG. 14 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 13, but in a somewhat different perspective, the supporting device according to FIG. 10, and

[0047] FIG. 15 shows, in the same depiction as FIG. 13, the supporting device according to FIG. 10 in the end position of the adjusting movement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] In the figures of the drawings the same or corresponding components are provided with the same reference signs. The drawings schematically depict embodiments of a supporting device according to the invention. For reasons of clarity of illustration, components of the supporting device are omitted in individual figures of the drawing. It is conceivable that these components can be complemented in an appropriate manner.

[0049] For explanation of a first embodiment of the invention reference is made below to FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a supporting device 2 according to the invention which is adjustable by an electric motor, which in this embodiment is formed as a slatted frame. The supporting device 2 has a main body 4 which has support parts on which a mattress of a bed is supported during use of the supporting device 2. For reasons of clarity of illustration, the mattress is completely omitted in the drawing.

[0051] In the depicted embodiment (cf. FIG. 2) the supporting device 2 has a stationary central support part 6, to which an upper body support part 8 is connected in an articulated manner and so as to pivot about a horizontal pivot axis, and a head support part 10 is connected, in an articulated manner and so as to pivot about a horizontal pivot axis, to the end of the upper body support part remote from the central support part 6. A leg support part 12 is connected, in an articulated manner and so as to pivot about a horizontal pivot axis, to the end of the central support part 6 remote from the upper body support part 8, and a calf support part 14 is connected, in an articulated manner and so as to pivot about a horizontal pivot axis, to the end of the leg support part remote from the central support part 6.

[0052] For the pivoting adjustment of the support parts 6 to 14 relative to one another an electric motor-powered driving apparatus 16 is provided, which has a drive unit 18 arranged on a first longitudinal spar 20 on the central support part 6. A further drive unit 18 of the electric motor-powered driving apparatus 16 is arranged on a second longitudinal spar 22 spaced apart from the first longitudinal spar 20 transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the supporting device 2. The drive units 18, 18 are explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9.

[0053] Slat holders, on which slats are held which spring during use of the supporting device 2 and on which the mattress is supported, are connected to the supporting parts 6 to 14. In the drawings (cf. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) only one slat holder is provided with the reference numeral 24. The springy slats are not depicted in the drawings for reasons of clarity of illustration.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows the supporting device 2 in an unadjusted starting position of the support parts 6 to 14, in which the support parts 6 to 14 with one another span a horizontal or approximately horizontal support plane for supporting the mattress.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows the supporting device 2 in an end position of the adjusting movement, in which the upper body support part 8 with the head support part 10 and also the leg support part 12 with the calf support part 14 are pivoted to a maximum extent relative to the central support part 6 and thus are adjusted. The starting position of the supporting device 2 corresponds to a reclined position of the supporting device 2, whereas the end position in FIG. 2 corresponds to a sitting position. Any adjusted position is possible between the starting position and the end position.

[0056] For reasons of clarity of illustration, voltage supply and control means for controlling the drive unit 16 are not depicted in the drawings. However, the structure and the mode of operation of a corresponding voltage supply and control means are generally known to the person skilled in the art and therefore are not explained in greater detail here.

[0057] According to the invention the upper body support part 8 is constructed and configured in such a way that the pivot axis is mounted so as to be movable in translation in the longitudinal direction of the supporting device 2. This avoids compression of the mattress relative to the central support part 6 during the pivoting adjustment of the upper body support part 8. Thus, even in the adjusted position of the upper body support part 8 a high degree of convenience is ensured for a user of the supporting device 2. As can also be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2, the consequence of the mounting of the pivot axis so as to be movable in translation is that, during an adjustment from the starting position in the direction of the end position, the distance between the slat holders which are arranged adjacent to one another in the starting position (cf. FIG. 1) is increased on the central support part 6 and the upper body support part 8. In this way compression of the mattress is avoided.

[0058] The same also applies to an adjustment of the leg support part 12 relative to the central support part 6. The pivot axis associated with the leg support part 12 is likewise mounted so as to be movable in translation in the longitudinal direction of the supporting device 2. Accordingly, during a pivoting adjustment of the leg support part 12 relative to the central support part 6 the distance between the slat holders increases on the central support part 6 and the leg support part 12, which in the starting position of the adjusting movement (cf. FIG. 1) are arranged adjacent to one another. Thus, compression of the mattress is also avoided in the region of the leg support part 12. Because of the adjustment and translational movement of the upper body support part 8 and of the leg support part 12 independently of one another relative to the central support part 6, in each adjusted position a compression of the mattress is avoided and thus in all adjusted positions of the supporting device 2 the mattress decompresses.

[0059] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the supporting device 2 has an outer frame 26 to which the main body 4 is fastened.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows the supporting device 2 according to FIG. 1, wherein for reasons of clarity of illustration slat holders are omitted on the first longitudinal spar 20 in the region of the central support part 6, the upper body support part 8 and the leg support part 12, so that first longitudinal spars 28, 30, 32 of the central support part 6 or of the upper body support part 8 or of the leg support part 12 can be discerned.

[0061] With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the structure of the supporting device 2 according to the invention is explained in greater detail with regard to the driving apparatus 16.

[0062] Only the drive unit 18 associated with the first longitudinal spar 20 is explained in greater detail below. The drive unit associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 has a corresponding structure and therefore is not explained in greater detail here.

[0063] The drive unit 18 has a base element 34 which in this embodiment is formed by an injection molded part made of plastic and on which the components of the drive unit 18 are arranged or mounted. On the base element 34 is arranged an electric motor 36, the output shaft of which is in rotary drive connection with a threaded spindle 38 mounted in a stationary manner and so that it can be driven in rotation on the base element 34. In the illustrated embodiment the rotary drive connection between the output shaft of the electric motor 36 and the threaded spindle 38 is produced by means of a worm gear. The output element of the drive unit 18 is formed by a spindle nut 40 which is arranged so as to be non-rotatable and movable on the threaded spindle 38 in the axial direction thereof.

[0064] The spindle nut 40 forms a carriage on which is mounted a pivot axis 42, about which the upper body support part 8 is pivotable relative to the central support part 6 (cf. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4).

[0065] FIG. 5 shows the drive unit 18 from the side facing away from the electric motor 36.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows the drive unit 18 in the same depiction as FIG. 5, but on an enlarged scale.

[0067] The adjustment of the upper body support part 8 (second support part) relative to the central support part 6 (first support part) is accomplished in such a way that during the translational movement the second support part or a component connected thereto runs onto a first erecting element and is pivoted. As is explained with reference to FIG. 4, by means of the spindle drive 38, 14 a translational movement of the spindle nut 40 and thus of the upper body support part 8 relative to the central support part 6 is effected. In the illustrated embodiment the pivoting movement of the upper body support part 8 relative to the central support part 6 is effected in that a first erecting element 44 is arranged laterally adjacent to the translational movement path of the spindle nut 40 and thus of the upper body support part 8, onto which a second erecting element 46 connected to the upper body support part 8 runs on, so that in this case the upper body support part 8 pivots relative to the central support part 6.

[0068] In the depicted embodiment the first erecting element 44 is formed in one piece with the base element 34. The first erecting element 44 is formed in one piece with the first longitudinal spar 30 of the upper body support part 8, wherein in the illustrated embodiment the first longitudinal spar 30 and the second erecting element 46 in the illustrated embodiment are likewise formed by an injection molded part made of plastic. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment the second erecting element 46 is connected non-pivotably to the upper body support part 8. In a modification of this embodiment, however, the second erecting element can also be movably connected to the upper body support part 8 if in the required manner an erection of the upper body support part 8 and thus a pivoting thereof relative to the central support part 6 is effected.

[0069] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 6, in the depicted embodiment the erecting elements 44, 46 are formed in cross-section as cam members, wherein the erecting elements 44, 46 in the depicted embodiment are formed in cross-section in a substantially complementary manner. As can be seen from FIG.

[0070] 6, the upper body support part 8 is arranged horizontally in the starting position (cf. FIG. 1), wherein the dead center of the pivoting adjustment of the upper body support part 8 is overcome during the translational movement of the spindle nut 40 and thus the pivoting movement is carried out.

[0071] In order to avoid overcoming the upper body support part 8 during the adjustment, the translational movement of the carriage 40, which is formed by the spindle nut 40, of the first drive unit 18 is transmitted to a carriage, which is mounted so to be movable in translation, of the drive unit associated with the second longitudinal spar 22. For this purpose, a synchronizing means is provided which is explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 9. This carriage, which is mounted so to be movable in translation on the drive unit provided on the second longitudinal spar 22, is powerless, so that the adjustment of the two longitudinal spars of the upper body support part 8 is effected by the electric motor 36, wherein the synchronizing means ensures that twisting of the upper body support part 8 does not occur.

[0072] The adjustment of the leg support part 12 takes place in a corresponding manner. For this purpose, the first longitudinal spar 32 of the leg support part 12 is mounted so as to pivot about a pivot axis 48 on a carriage 50 which is mounted so to be movable in translation on the base element 34 of the drive unit 18.

[0073] The drive unit associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 has, corresponding to the drive unit 18, an electric motor which drives a carriage formed by the spindle nut of a spindle drive, as has been described above for the carriage 40. Translational movements of this driven carriage of the drive unit associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 are transmitted to the carriage 50 by the synchronizing means explained in greater detail below. Thus, the carriages associated with the upper body support part 8 are driven by the electric motor 36, whereas the carriages associated with the leg support part 12 are driven by the electric motor which is associated with the drive unit associated with the second longitudinal spar 22. In other words, the electric motor 36 effects an adjustment of the upper body support part 8 with the head support part 10, whereas the corresponding electric motor associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 effects an adjustment of the leg support part with the calf support part.

[0074] Because of the pivotably movable connection of the calf support part 14 to the leg support part 12, the calf support part 14 pivots due to its gravity relative to the leg support part 12 when the leg support part is pivoted. The end position of the adjusting movement (cf. FIG. 2) is defined by a stop acting between the leg support part 12 and the calf support part 14.

[0075] The adjustment of the head support part 10 relative to the upper body support part 8 is explained below with reference to FIG. 7.

[0076] A rod-like adjusting element 52, of which one end is pivotably movable and is mounted on the carriage 40 coaxially with the pivot axis 42, is provided for adjustment of the head support part 10. The other end of the adjusting element 52 is mounted around a pivot axis 44 on a first longitudinal spar 56 of the head support part 10. The pivot axis 54 is mounted eccentrically with respect to a pivot axis 58 about which the head support part 10 is pivotable relative to the upper body support part 8. Because of the arrangement of the pivot axis 54 eccentrically with respect to the pivot axis 58, during pivoting of the upper body support part 8 relative to the central support part 6 the head support part 10 pivots relative to the upper body support part 8 until the end position of the adjusting movement is reached (cf. FIG. 2).

[0077] The return of the support parts 8 to 14 relative to the central support part 6 into the starting position (cf. FIG. 1) takes place under the weight of the support parts 6 to 12, possibly additionally under the load of a person resting on the supporting device 2, wherein the driving apparatus remains switched on.

[0078] In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the first erecting element 44 is arranged stationaryrelative to the central support part 6 (first support part)whereas the second erecting element 46 is arranged movably. However, according to the respective requirements it is also possible to arrange both erecting elements 44, 46 movably relative to the first support part.

[0079] The synchronizing means according to the invention has a Bowden cable 60 (cf. FIG. 8) which has a traction cable (core) 62 accommodated in a sheathing 64 which is flexible, but is pressure-resistant in the pulling direction. One end 66 of the traction cable 62 is secured to the stationary base element 34. The end 68 of the sheathing facing the end 66 of the traction cable 62 is secured non-displaceably to the carriage 40, as can be seen from FIG. 9.

[0080] As explained above, a carriage which corresponds to the carriage 40, but is designed without a drive, is provided on the second longitudinal spar 22.

[0081] The other end of the traction cable 62 remote from the end 66 is secured non-displaceably to this driveless carriage, whereas the other end 70 of the sheathing remote from the end 68 is secured non-displaceably to a base element which is associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 and on which the driveless carriage is mounted so as to be movable in translation. For reasons of clarity of depiction, the connection of the traction cable 62 and of the end 70 of the sheathing to this driveless carriage is not shown in the drawings.

[0082] In the starting position of the adjusting movement the distance of the spindle nut 40 from the end 66 of the traction cable secured on the base element 34 is minimal. During the adjusting movement the spindle nut 40 in FIG. 8 moves in translation towards the left, wherein the upper body support part 8 pivots in the previously described manner.

[0083] During the translational movement of the spindle nut 40 in FIG. 8 towards the left the traction cable 62 of the Bowden cable60 remains stationary, whilst the sheathing in FIG. 8 is displaced towards the left. Because of this displacement of the sheathing the distance of the end 70 of the Bowden cable 60 from the associated end of the traction cable 62 decreases. Since the end 70 is secured to the further base element associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 and the traction cable is secured to the driveless carriage associated with this base element, this carriage moves synchronously with the carriage formed by the spindle nut 40. In this way the adjusting force applied by the electric motor 36 is introduced synchronously or approximately synchronously into the two longitudinal spars of the upper body support part 8, so that twisting of the upper body support part 8 during the adjusting movement is avoided.

[0084] As already described above, the drive unit associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 likewise has a carriage in the form of a spindle nut driven by an electric motor, wherein the configuration corresponds to the configuration described for the base element 34, the electric motor 36 and the spindle drive 38, 40. A Bowden cable 70 having a traction cable 72 and a sheathing 74 serves as synchronizing means. According to the configuration described for the end 66 of the Bowden cable 60, the end 76 of the Bowden cable 70 is secured to the base element 34 associated with the second longitudinal spar 22, whilst the end 78 of the sheathing 74 facing the end 76 of the traction cable 72 is secured to this spindle nut. The end 80 of the sheathing 74 remote from the end 78 is secured to the base element 34 which is not shown in FIG. 8, whilst the end of the traction cable 72 remote from the end 76 is secured to a driveless carriage 82 which is associated with the leg support part 12.

[0085] During a movement of the spindle nut associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 in the direction of the end position of the adjusting movement, the distance between the carriage 82 and the end 80 of the sheathing 74 decreases, so that the carriage 82 moves towards the right in FIG. 8. In this way is the adjusting force applied by the electric motor associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 is introduced synchronously into the two longitudinal spars of the leg support part 12.

[0086] Thus, as already explained above, the electric motor 36 associated with the first longitudinal spar 20 effects an adjustment of the upper body support part 8 with the head support part 10 relative to the central support part 6, whilst the electric motor associated with the second longitudinal spar 22 effects an adjustment of the leg support part 12 with the calf support part 14.

[0087] Reference is made below to FIGS. 10 to 15.

[0088] FIG. 10 shows the second embodiment in a view corresponding to FIG. 1. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment firstly in that the supporting device 2 is designed for supporting a box-spring mattress. Since in such a box-spring mattress the springing, which in a slatted frame is provided by the resilient slats, is integrated into the mattress, in the embodiment according to FIG. 10 the support parts are plate-shaped.

[0089] In the depicted embodiment the supporting device is of 4-membered construction and has a stationary central support part 6 to which, on the one hand, an upper body support part 8 and, on the other hand, a leg support part 12 in addition to a calf support part 14 is connected so as to be pivotably adjustable.

[0090] FIG. 11 shows the supporting device 2 in an adjusted position, which is between the starting position of the adjusting movement depicted in FIG. 10 and an end position of the adjusting movement depicted in FIG. 12 in which the support parts 8, 12, 14 are adjusted to a maximum extent relative to the central support part 6.

[0091] The driving apparatus 16 of the second embodiment is explained in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15. For reasons of clarity of illustration, various components of the supporting device 2 are omitted in FIGS. 13 to 15.

[0092] FIGS. 13 and 14 show the supporting device 2 in the starting position from different perspectives, whilst FIG. 15 shows the supporting device 2 in the end position of the adjusting movement.

[0093] In the second embodiment the outer frame 26 has longitudinal spars 80, 80 which in each case are formed by a C-profile. The openings of the C-profiles of the longitudinal spars 80, 80 are facing one another. A drive unit 82 is provided for adjustment of the upper body support part 8 relative to the central support part 6, whilst a further drive unit 82 is provided for adjustment of the leg support part 12 with the calf support part 14 relative to the central support part 6. The drive 82 is exclusively explained in greater detail below. The drive unit 82 has a corresponding construction, and the components thereof are provided with reference numerals which correspond to the reference numerals of the drive unit 82.

[0094] The drive unit has an electric motor 86 which is arranged on a stationary first transverse member 84 and is in rotary drive connection with a spindle nut which can be driven in rotation and is arranged on a torsion-free threaded spindle 88 which is movable in the axial direction. The end of the threaded spindle 88 remote from the electric motor 86 and thus from the spindle nut is connected non-displaceably to a carriage 90 which has a second transverse member 92, the ends of which are connected to carriage elements 94, 96 which are in each case caught and guided so as to be movable in translation in the C-profiles of the longitudinal spars 80, 80. Longitudinal spars 98, 100 are mounted on the transverse member 92 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis defined thereby.

[0095] For adjustment of the upper body support part 8 relative to the central support part 6, the electric motor 86 drives the spindle nut in such a way that the carriage 90 moves in translation in the direction of the first transverse member 84. A first erecting element 102, which for pivoting of the upper body support part 8 interacts with a second erecting element 104 connected non-pivotably to the longitudinal spar 98, is arranged on the first transverse member 84. Thus, the fundamental principle, according to which the upper body support part 8 simultaneously carries out a translational and a pivoting movement, is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0096] The same applies to the other longitudinal spar 100 of the upper body support part 8.

[0097] It can be seen from FIGS. 14 and 15 that the travel of the translational movement of the upper body support part 8 during the adjustment is greater than in the first embodiment. This takes account of the fact that in the case of a box-spring mattress a greater travel is necessary in order to avoid compression.

[0098] In the second embodiment compression of the mattress is also avoided both in the region of the upper body support part 8 and also in the region of the leg support part 12.

[0099] FIG. 15 shows the supporting device 2 in the end position of the adjusting movement.

[0100] In the various figures of the drawings and the various embodiments the same or corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals. In so far as components are omitted in the figures of the drawings for reasons of clarity of depiction or illustration, the relevant components should be added analogously in each case in the other figures. It can be seen by the person skilled in the art that the features of the individual embodiments are also interchangeable among the embodiments, that is to say the features disclosed in relation to an embodiment or illustrative example can also be provided identically or analogously in the other embodiments.

[0101] Furthermore, it can be seen by the person skilled in the art that the features disclosed with regard to the individual embodiments in each case further embody the invention by itself, that is to say independently of the further features of the respective embodiment.

[0102] While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention.