EP1416832B1 - Drive for furniture for displacing parts of furniture in relation to one another - Google Patents

Abstract

A furniture drive for displacing components of a piece of furniture is provided. An adjustment element is pivotably mounted on a main body and serves for displacing a component of a piece of furniture. A drive element is drivingly connected with the adjustment element for displacing the same. A lever gear mechanism is disposed between the drive element and the adjustment element for effecting the driving connection therebetween.

Description

The invention relates to a furniture drive referred to in the preamble of claim 1 for adjusting parts of a piece of furniture relative to each other.

For example, EP 0 372 032 B1, DE 38 42 078 C2 and EP 0 583 660 B1 disclose furniture drives which serve to adjust parts of slatted frames.

From DE 100 17 978 A1 a furniture drive is known, which has a base body in the form of a housing, on which an adjusting element for adjusting a part of the furniture is pivotally mounted. The known furniture drive also has a drive element which is in drive connection with the adjusting element for adjusting the same.

Furniture drives for adjusting parts of a furniture relative to one another are further described by EP 0 919 746 A2, DE 296 01 605 U1, DE 299 08 362 U1, DE 109 62 538, EP 0 583 660 A1, DE 100 17 979 A1, CH 421 382 DE 197 18 255 C1 and DE 41 36 373 A1.

From DE 295 21 893 U1 and the subsequently filed application WO 02/00065 A1, a respective furniture drive of the type in question for adjusting parts of a furniture is relatively known, comprising a base body, a pivotally mounted on the base adjusting element for adjusting a part of the furniture and a drive element which is in drive connection with the adjusting element for adjusting the same, wherein a lever mechanism is arranged in the drive train between the drive element and the adjusting element.

A disadvantage of these furniture drives is that they are relatively expensive in construction and thus expensive to manufacture.

The invention has for its object to provide a furniture drive referred to in the preamble of claim 1 species whose structure is simplified and designed more cost effective.

This object is achieved by the teaching defined in claim 1.

According to the invention, a lever mechanism is arranged in the drive train between the drive element and the adjusting element. By using a lever mechanism, the furniture drive according to the invention is simple and inexpensive to produce, robust in construction and suitable for applying large forces.

According to the invention, the drive element or an intermediate part connected thereto acts loosely on a lever of the lever mechanism. In this way, the adjustment of the adjusting element from an initial position into an adjustment position takes place in that the drive element or the intermediate part acts on a lever of the lever mechanism with an adjusting force. A provision of the adjustment from the Verstellage back to the starting position is under the weight of a displaced with the adjusting element of a piece of furniture, for example, a support member of a slatted frame. Characterized in that the lever of the lever mechanism is acted upon by the drive element or the intermediate part loosely, the adjusting element with the lever mechanism is freely movable from the initial position into the Verstellage so that, for example, the installation of the drive in a piece of furniture, such as a slatted frame, is simplified.

An advantageous development of the aforementioned embodiment provides that the intermediate part is a slide which is in operative connection with a claimable on adjustment of the adjusting element on pressure lever of the lever mechanism. This embodiment is particularly simple and inexpensive to produce. The slide can be formed in this embodiment in any suitable manner, for example by a spindle nut or a part connected to an adjusting spindle.

Another extremely advantageous development of the teaching of the invention provides that the lever mechanism at least two spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the pivot axis of the adjusting element to each other Make attacks on the adjustment. In this way, based on the pivot axis of the adjusting element, a circumferentially uniform introduction of the force exerted by the lever mechanism force is achieved in the adjustment. Tensions and twists of the adjustment are thus reliably avoided.

A particularly uniform application of force results from the fact that the lever mechanism acts on at least two diametrically opposite points relative to the pivot axis on the adjusting element, as provided for by a development of the aforementioned embodiment.

The structure of the lever mechanism is selected according to the requirements within wide limits, for example, one-armed lever, two-armed lever or angle lever or other lever can be used. In addition, the number of levers and their length ratios are widely selectable to set a desired reduction ratio.

In the structurally simplest and thus most cost-producible embodiment, the lever mechanism has a first lever, one end of which is articulated to the adjusting element and which is in power transmission connection with the drive element.

Another development of the teaching of the invention provides that the lever mechanism has a second lever which is hinged to the adjusting element, wherein for adjusting the adjusting one of the lever, the adjusting element claimed to train and the other lever claims the adjusting element to pressure. This embodiment is simple and therefore inexpensive to produce.

An expedient development of the aforementioned embodiment provides that the first lever and the second levers are coupled together by coupling means. By the coupling means it is ensured that the two levers perform the movements required for adjusting the adjustment in a coordinated manner.

The coupling means may be formed in any suitable manner. A particularly simple and thus cost-producible development of the embodiment with the coupling means provides that the coupling means have a third lever.

In the aforementioned embodiment, the third lever is expediently a two-armed lever whose one lever arm is articulated on the first lever and whose other lever arm is articulated on the second lever. This embodiment is particularly simple in construction and thus particularly inexpensive to produce. In addition, it is particularly robust.

The drive element of the furniture drive according to the invention is expediently a linearly movable drive element.

An embodiment according to the invention provides that the linearly movable drive element is a spindle nut which is held against rotation and is movable in the axial direction on a rotationally driven adjusting spindle. Such spindle drives are available as simple and inexpensive standard components and are suitable for applying large forces.

In a kinematic reversal of the aforementioned embodiment, however, the linearly movable drive element according to the invention can also be an axially movable, rotationally guided adjusting spindle, on which a rotationally drivable spindle nut is arranged.

Another extremely advantageous development of the teaching of the invention provides that the Adjustment rotatably connected to a rotatably mounted shaft is connected, which in the mounting position of the furniture drive with a part of the furniture for adjusting the same in operative connection. This embodiment is simple in construction and particularly robust, so that can be applied particularly large forces with the furniture drive according to the invention according to this embodiment. In addition, the assembly of the furniture drive to a furniture is simplified.

A development of the aforementioned embodiment provides that the adjusting element to form a rotationally fixed connection is positively connected to the shaft. This embodiment is also particularly robust and suitable for transmitting particularly large forces.

Another embodiment provides that the waves has a non-circular cross section and engages positively in the mounting position of the furniture drive in a recess of the adjusting element, which is formed to the cross section of the shaft substantially complementary. This embodiment is particularly simple in construction and thus particularly inexpensive to produce. In addition, it is particularly robust and facilitates the installation of the furniture drive on the furniture.

According to a development of the aforementioned embodiment, the recess of the pivot lever is designed to be open in the radial direction of the shaft. This facilitates the installation of the furniture drive according to the invention the insertion of the shaft in the recess.

In the aforementioned embodiment, if necessary, locking means for locking the shaft may be provided in the recess. The locking means prevents the shaft from disengaging from the recess during the adjustment movement.

Provided with a furniture drive according to the invention motorically adjustable support means for upholstering a sitting and / or lying furniture, such as a mattress of a bed, is specified in claim 16. The claim 17 indicates a development of the support device according to the invention. A seat and / or reclining furniture provided with a support device according to the invention is specified in claim 18.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an embodiment of a furniture drive according to the invention is shown.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Seitenansicht ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Stützeinrichtung in Form eines Lattenrostes, wobei die Stützteile der Stützeinrichtung relativ zueinander nicht verstellt sind,

Fig. 2

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 1 die Stützeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1, wobei die Stützteile der Stützeinrichtung relativ zueinander verstellt sind und

Fig. 3

in stark schematischer Seitenansicht einen Teil eines Ausführungsbeispieles eines als Doppelantrieb ausgebildeten erfindungsgemäßen Möbelantriebs in einer ersten Verstellage, wobei zur Veranschaulichung eine Hälfte des Gehäuses weggelassen ist,

Fig. 4

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 3, jedoch in kleinerem Maßstab den Möbelantrieb gemäß Fig. 3 in einer zweiten Verstellage,

Fig. 5

in gleicher Darstellung wie Fig. 4 den Möbelantrieb gemäß Fig. 3 in einer dritten Verstellage und

Fig. 6

in gegenüber Fig. 3 kleinerem Maßstab den Möbelantrieb gemäß Fig.3, wobei aus Gründen der Veranschaulichung eine Hälfte des Gehäuses weggelassen ist und wobei beide Antriebseinheiten des Doppelantriebs dargestellt sind.

It shows:

Fig. 1

in a schematic side view of an embodiment of a support device according to the invention in the form of a slatted frame, wherein the support members of the support means are not adjusted relative to each other,

Fig. 2

in the same representation as FIG. 1, the support device according to FIG. 1, wherein the support parts of the support means are adjusted relative to each other and

Fig. 3

in a highly schematic side view of a part of an embodiment of a trained as a double drive furniture drive according to the invention in a first Verstellage, wherein for illustration a half of the housing is omitted,

Fig. 4

in the same representation as FIG. 3, but on a smaller scale the furniture drive according to FIG. 3 in a second adjustment position,

Fig. 5

in the same representation as FIG. 4 shows the furniture drive according to FIG. 3 in a third adjustment position and

Fig. 6

in comparison with Fig. 3 smaller scale the furniture drive according to Figure 3, wherein for the sake of illustration, a half of the housing is omitted and wherein both drive units of the double drive are shown.

In Fig. 1, an embodiment of a support device 2 according to the invention in the form of a slatted base for supporting a not shown in the drawing upholstery of a sitting and / or reclining furniture, such as a mattress of a bed, is shown. The support device 2 has a plurality of relatively mutually parallel to each other horizontal pivot axes pivotable support members and serves to support the padding, not shown in the drawing of the seat and / or reclining furniture.

In detail, the support device 2 has a central support part 4, which is pivotally connected at one side and pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis with a leg support part 6, which on its side facing away from the central support member 4 hinged and pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis with a calf support part. 8 connected is.

The middle support member 4 is pivotally connected on its side facing away from the leg support member 6 and pivotally connected about a horizontal pivot axis with an upper body support member 10 on its side facing away from the central support member 4 side and pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis with a headrest part 12 is connected.

For pivoting the leg support member 6 and the calf support member 8 relative to the central support member 4, an adjusting lever 14 is provided, whose one end 16 is hinged to the calf support member 8 and the other end 18 rotatably with a about a horizontal axis of rotation at one in the drawing, not shown Frame of the support means 2 rotatably mounted shaft 20 is connected in the form of a square shaft.

For pivoting the upper body support member 10 and the head support member 12 relative to the central support member 4, a further adjusting lever 22 is provided, one end 23 rotatably with a about a horizontal axis of rotation on the frame, not shown in the drawing of the support means 2 rotatably mounted shaft 24 in shape a square shaft is connected and the other end 26 is connected to one end 28 of a further adjusting lever 30, the lever 22 facing away from the end 32 is pivotally connected to the headrest part 12.

FIG. 2 shows the support device according to FIG. 1 in a position in which the support parts 6, 8 and 10, 12 are pivoted relative to the central support part 4.

For pivoting the support members 6, 8 and 10, 12 relative to the central support member 4 furniture drives are provided according to the invention, which are accommodated in a common housing 34 below the support means 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, arranged in the housing 34 furniture drives are supported by the shafts 20, 24, which in turn are rotatably mounted on the frame of the support means 2, not shown in the drawing. However, the housing 34 may for example also be fastened to the frame of the support device 2, which is not shown in the drawing be.

In Fig. 3 is a highly schematic partial view of an embodiment of a furniture drive 36 according to the invention for adjusting parts of a piece of furniture relative to each other, whose main body is formed in this embodiment by the housing 34. The furniture drive 36 has two drive units 35, 35 'accommodated in the housing 34, of which only the drive unit 35 can be seen in FIG. The drive unit 35 has an adjustment element 38 designed as a shaft receptacle, which is mounted pivotably on the housing 34 about a pivot axis 40. The adjusting element 38 is positively connected to the shaft 20 to form a rotationally fixed connection (cf., FIG. 1). For this purpose, the shaft 20 has a non-circular cross section in the form of a square and engages positively in a recess 42 of the adjusting element 38, which is formed to the cross section of the shaft 20 substantially complementary and formed in the radial direction of the shaft 20 to the side. The shaft 20 is held in the mounting position of the furniture drive 36 frictionally engaged in the recess 42.

The drive unit 35 also has a drive element which can be moved back and forth in the direction of a double arrow 43 and, in this exemplary embodiment, is an adjusting spindle 44 which is movable in the axial direction and secured against rotation, on which a rotationally drivable spindle nut 46 is arranged. As a rotary drive for the spindle nut 46, an electric motor 48 is provided, which is connected to the spindle nut 46 via a gear 50 in rotary drive connection. With the adjusting spindle 44, a slide 52 is non-displaceably and non-rotatably connected, which is guided on an inner wall 54 of the housing 34.

According to the invention, a lever mechanism 56 is arranged in the drive train between the adjusting spindle 44 and the adjusting element 38, which has a first lever 58, which is articulated eccentrically to the pivot axis 40 on the adjusting element 38 and the other end 62 on the spindle nut 46th remote from the surface 52 of the slider 52 and is applied loosely by this. The lever mechanism 56 has in this embodiment further comprises a second lever 64, whose one end 66 is articulated eccentrically to the pivot axis 40 on the adjusting element 38. 3, the ends 60, 66 of the levers 58, 64 are articulated to the adjusting element 38 at positions diametrically opposite the pivot axis 40 in this exemplary embodiment.

The lever mechanism 56 further includes a third lever 68 which is formed in this embodiment as a two-armed lever and is pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the pivot axis 40 of the adjusting element 38 pivot axis 70 on an inner wall of the housing 34. A lever arm 72 of the third lever 68 is articulated on the end of the first lever 58 facing away from the adjusting element 38, while its other lever arm 74 is articulated on the end 76 of the second lever 64 facing away from the adjusting element 38. The third lever 68 forms coupling means which transmit movement of the first lever 58 to the second lever 64 so that movements of the levers 58, 64 are coupled to each other with the levers 58, 64 moving in opposite directions. As can be seen from the drawing, the first lever 58 and the second lever 64 have the same length. Further, the ends of the levers 58, 64 at the same distance from the pivot axis 70 of the third lever 68 are articulated thereto.

From the drawing is not apparent and therefore it is explained here that the third lever 68 consists of two flat, in the axial direction of the pivot axis 70 mutually spaced lever parts, so that the lever arms 72, 74 are formed as forks, between which the lever 58, 64 are included.

The operation of the furniture drive 36 according to the invention is as follows:

In the mounting position of the furniture drive 36, the shaft 20 is positively received in the recess 42 of the adjusting element 38, as shown in FIG. 3 can be seen. For pivoting the shaft 20 from the initial position shown in Figures 1 and 3 in a position shown in FIG. 2, the electric motor 48 drives the spindle nut 6 such that the adjusting spindle 44 moves with the slider 52 in Fig. 3 to the left, so that the first lever 58 in Fig. 3 also moves to the left and this pivots the third lever 68 in Fig. 3 in a clockwise direction, so that at the same time the second lever 64 moves in Fig. 3 to the right. Here, the first lever 58 claims the adjusting element 38 to pressure, while the second lever 64, the adjusting element 38 claimed to train, so that this pivoted in Fig. 3 in the clockwise direction. Because of this, the shaft 20 also pivots clockwise, so that the leg support member 6 is pivoted together with the calf support member 8 in the adjustment position shown in Fig. 2.

A return from the adjustment position shown in Fig. 2 in the starting position shown in FIG. 1 is carried out under the weight of the leg support member 6 and the calf support member 8 and a possibly resting on the support person, the furniture drive 36 is turned on.

Characterized in that the lever mechanism 56 spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the pivot axis 40, relative to the pivot axis 40 diametrically opposite points on the adjusting element 38 engages, a uniform force is ensured in the adjusting element 38. From a non-uniform application of force resulting voltages or torsions of the adjusting element 38 are thus reliably avoided. Because the slider 52, the first lever 58 of the lever mechanism 56 is applied loosely, the assembly of the furniture drive 36 is simplified to the support means 2, since the adjusting element 38 can rotate freely between the starting position and the Verstellage when the slider 52 in his located in Fig. 3 illustrated starting position.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the drive unit 35, which is shown in FIG. 3 in a first end position of the adjusting movement, is shown in further adjusting positions, the adjusting position shown in FIG. 5 being a second end position of the adjusting movement. From a comparison of Figures 3 and 5 it can be seen that the shaft 20 is pivotable by means of the drive unit 35 by 90 °. With a corresponding structure of the adjusting element 38 and the lever mechanism 56, however, maximum pivot angle of less than 90 ° or more than 90 ° can be achieved.

From Fig. 6 it is seen that in addition to the drive unit 35 in the housing 34, a further drive unit 35 'is added, so that the furniture drive 36 according to the invention is formed in this embodiment as a double drive. However, the furniture drive according to the invention can in principle also be constructed as a single drive. The drive unit 35 'is corresponding to one of the drive unit 35 Constructed way; their components are provided with reference numerals corresponding to the reference numerals of the components of the drive unit 35.

Claims (18)

1. Furniture drive (36) for displacing parts of furniture in relation to one another,
   having a base element,
   having a displacing element (38) pivotably supported on the base element for displacing part of the furniture and
   having a drive element which is drivably connected to the displacing element in order to displace the same,
   with a lever gear (56) being disposed in the drive train between the drive element and the displacing element (38),
   characterised in that
   the drive element or an intermediate part connected thereto acts slackly on a lever (58) of the lever gear (56), and in that the linearly movable drive element is a spindle nut held on a rotatable actuating spindle in such a way that it is protected against torsion and is movable in an axial direction, or it is an actuating spindle (44) which is guided in such a way that it is protected against torsion and is movable in the axial direction, on which a rotatable spindle nut (46) is disposed.
2. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the intermediate part is a slide (52) which is operatively connected to a lever (58) of the lever gear (56), which can be subjected to compressive stress during the displacement of the displacing element.
3. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the lever gear (56) acts on at least two points on the displacing element (38) located at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction of the pivoting axis (40) of the displacing element (38).
4. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the lever gear (56) acts on at least two points on the displacing element (38), which are diametrically opposed with respect to the pivoting axis (40).
5. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the lever gear (56) has a first lever (58), one end of which is articulated to the displacing element (38) and which lever is in a power transmitting connection with the drive element.
6. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the lever gear (56) has a second lever (64) which is articulated to the displacing element (38), with one of the levers (58, 64) subjecting the displacing element (38) to tensile stress and the other lever subjecting the displacing element (38) to compressive stress, in order to displace the displacing element (38).
7. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that the first lever (58) and the second lever (64) are connected to one another by coupling means.
8. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the coupling means have a third lever (68).
9. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that the third lever (68) is a two-arm lever, one lever arm (72) of which is articulated to the first lever (58) and the other lever arm (74) of which is articulated to the second lever (64).
10. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the drive element is a linearly movable drive element.
11. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the displacing element (38) can be connected in a non-rotational manner to a rotatably supported shaft (20) which, in the assembly position of the furniture drive (36), is operatively connected to a part of the furniture (8, 16) in order to displace the same.
12. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 11, characterised in that the displacing element (38) can be positively connected to the shaft (20) to form a non-rotational connection.
13. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that the shaft (20) has a noncircular cross section and, in the assembly position of the furniture drive (36), positively engages in a recess (42) of the displacing element (38), which recess is substantially formed in a complementary manner to the cross section of the shaft (20).
14. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 13, characterised in that the recess (42) of the displacing element (38) is configured in an open form in the radial direction of the shaft (20).
15. Furniture drive as claimed in Claim 14, characterised in that locking means for locking the shaft (20) are provided in the recess (42).
16. Supporting device which can be displaced by motor for the upholstery of sitting and/or lying furniture, for example a mattress of a bed,
    having a first support section and at least a second support section for the two-dimensional support of the upholstery, with the first support section and the second support section being articulated to one another and being pivotable in relation to one another by means of a drive unit,
    characterised in that
    the drive unit has at least one furniture drive (36) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
17. Supporting device as claimed in Claim 16, characterised in that the supporting device (2) is configured as a lath base.
18. Sitting and/or lying furniture, characterised in that it has a supporting device (2) as claimed in Claim 16 or 17.

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