sun lounger

Abstract

Sun lounger (1) with a weatherproof frame (5) supported on a foot arrangement (4) and a weatherproof lying grid (6) received on this, which has a head section (60) pivotably mounted with a pivoting mechanism (22), which can be pivoted up and down about a pivot bearing arrangement by means of a drive device (3) comprising a moisture-proof encapsulated motor (30) via gear means (31), characterized in that the gear means (32) have Bowden cables (310) which are coupled on the one hand to the motor (30) and on the other hand to the pivoting mechanism (22).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sun lounger with a weatherproof frame supported on a foot arrangement and a weatherproof lying surface mounted on this, which has a head section pivotably mounted with a pivoting mechanism, which can be pivoted up and down about a rotary bearing arrangement by means of a drive device comprising a moisture-proof encapsulated motor via gear means.

[0002] A sun lounger of this type is described in DE 10 2009 052 396 A1. This known sun lounger, or garden lounger, has a weatherproof base frame on which a weatherproof reclining frame with at least two movable frame elements, such as a headrest and footrest, is mounted. A drive mechanism connected to an electrical power supply unit is provided for pivoting the frame elements. The power supply unit has a rechargeable battery connected to an electronic unit, which can be charged via a solar cell also located on the sun lounger. The drive mechanism is weatherproofed and housed in a compartment, with a slot for easy access to the surroundings.The power supply unit is also located in the compartment below the bed frame or attached to the sun lounger as a separate component and connected to a control element, for example in the form of a remote control.

[0003] Another weatherproof sun lounger with electrically adjustable headrest and footrest, as well as a rechargeable energy supply via a solar module, is shown in EP 3 506 801 B1.

[0004] DE 20 2004 014 101 U1 also discloses a sun lounger with an electrically adjustable headrest via a drive device, in which an accumulator is provided for the electrical power supply, which can be charged or powered, for example, via an energy converter operating on the photovoltaic principle. A drive motor is housed within a sealed, weatherproof, and temperature-resistant enclosure, and fittings are made of a corrosion-resistant material or provided with a corrosion-protected coating to allow the sun lounger to be used outdoors for a season.

[0005] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a weather-resistant sun lounger suitable for outdoor use, which is designed to be user-friendly with the simplest possible construction.

[0006] This problem is solved in a sun lounger with the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the transmission means comprise Bowden cables, which are coupled to the motor on one side and to the swivel mechanism on the other. This embodiment of the sun lounger, with its weatherproof frame and reclining base, together with the drive unit comprising the moisture-tight encapsulated motor and the transmission means comprising Bowden cables, wherein the Bowden cables connect the swivel mechanism to the motor, results in a structure with relatively few, easily sealable components, which significantly contribute to the user-friendliness of the sun lounger. Thus, the transmission means can be guided to the swivel mechanism with a reliable seal (since the outer sheath of the Bowden cables remains stationary relative to the sealing elements) along the motor's encapsulation or a housing wall.Within the moisture-proof encapsulation of the motor, coupling elements for the transmission components can advantageously be arranged for connecting and operating the inner cables of the Bowden cables. The drive unit with its transmission components, designed in this way, also contributes significantly to the low weight of the sun lounger and thus to its ease of handling. For example, the foot assembly, particularly in the motor-side end area, can be equipped with a wheel on each of its long sides.

[0007] An advantageous design for a weatherproof, moisture-proof construction of the sun lounger consists in the motor being encapsulated by means of a moisture-proof housing, with the Bowden cables being guided through the housing wall by means of a feedthrough unit that seals around their outer sheath.

[0008] A structurally advantageous design consists in the motor being surrounded by a motor encapsulation at the coupling points to the Bowden cables and being attached to the housing by means of mounting elements arranged thereon.

[0009] Further advantageous features for the design and function include the swivel mechanism having pivot bearings arranged on both longitudinal sides of the sun lounger, and the frame having two lateral longitudinal struts, particularly rectangular or square hollow profiles, which are equipped on their facing inner surfaces with Bowden cable receptacles featuring cable stops for inserting the opposing sheath end of the respective Bowden cable. To protect against the elements, the pivot bearings are designed as roller or ball bearings and are at least largely moisture-proof. These pivot bearings also contribute to smooth swiveling of the headrest and, if applicable, the corresponding swivel mechanism of the footrest, thereby minimizing energy consumption for the electric drive of the swivel mechanism.

[0010] To further simplify the construction of the sun lounger, the swivel mechanism features pivot levers mounted on both sides of the lounger, rotatably in a vertical plane, attached to the frame or headrest. These levers are connected at one end to the inner cable of the corresponding Bowden cable and are rotatably supported against a guide support attached to the headrest or frame, allowing the headrest to be raised and lowered. The pivot levers and guide supports are designed with a suitable material or coating and a functionally optimized surface shape at their interacting surfaces, allowing for smooth sliding against each other. Advantageously, one support section of the pivot levers is rounded in the vertical plane. Roller bearings for the pivot levers in this area are also conceivable.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments consist in that the respective pivot lever is arranged on an associated longitudinal member of the head section and the guide support on an adjacent longitudinal strut of the frame, or that - conversely - the respective guide support is arranged on the associated longitudinal member of the head section and the respective pivot lever on the adjacent longitudinal strut.

[0012] Contributing to safe and user-friendly operation is the fact that the head section is actively raised by applying a pulling force to the respective inner cables on both sides via the drive mechanism, and lowered by its own weight in the opposite direction to the pulling movement of the drive mechanism. Since the lowering of the head section, or similarly the foot section, is thus not actively controlled by the drive mechanism (as, for example, with a gear drive), the risk of injury from body parts being trapped is at least largely reduced.

[0013] A further advantageous embodiment of the sun lounger consists in the fact that the reclining base includes a foot section that can be pivoted up and down, and that the drive mechanism comprises two additional Bowden cables coupled to the motor of the drive device. At their end section furthest from the motor, these Bowden cables are coupled to a pivoting mechanism for the foot section, corresponding to the head section. The drive mechanism with the Bowden cables for operating the head section on the one hand and the foot section on the other is coupled to the motor drive in such a way that the head section and the foot section can be pivoted independently of each other.

[0014] Another design feature of the sun lounger that is advantageous for assembly and user-friendliness is that the base of the lounger comprises a central section arranged between the headrest and the footrest, resting non-pivoting on the frame and, in particular, attached to it; and that the footrest has an upper footrest section adjacent to the central section and a lower footrest section pivotally connected to it towards the foot end up to a limit, allowing free pivoting; and that the upper footrest section is connected to the pivoting mechanism at its end area facing the central section, wherein the lower footrest section pivots in the opposite direction when the upper footrest section is pivoted up to the limit, and is carried along in the pivoting direction by means of the limit when the upper footrest section is pivoted further up.in particular until the lower foot section is approximately horizontal. When the upper foot section is pivoted upwards, the lower foot section can be pivoted in the opposite direction to it to such an extent that, at the highest pivoted position of the upper foot section, it is approximately horizontal and held in place by the limit.

[0015] The most energy-efficient swivel function of the head section and / or the foot section is supported by the fact that the swivel bearing arrangement on each longitudinal side of the sun lounger has a head section joint with a respective roller bearing or ball bearing for swiveling the head section and a foot section joint with a respective roller bearing or ball bearing for swiveling the foot section.

[0016] Further contributing to user-friendly training are the training variants in which the drive device for the electrical power supply includes a rechargeable battery unit, which is located in, on, or outside the housing. The battery unit can be charged, for example, via a detachable mains connection, a separate charging unit that can be attached and detached, or a photovoltaic unit mounted on the sun lounger, with or without an associated charging unit.

[0017] For user-friendly operation, it is also advantageous that it has a wired or wireless control unit for communication with the drive device.

[0018] The design features also contribute to a stable structure, including the foot arrangement with feet at the head and foot. These feet are inserted into rectangular or square hollow profiles through recesses at their free upper ends and secured with screws. For easy relocation and maneuvering of the sun lounger, the feet, or even just the two feet at the foot, can be equipped with wheels.

[0019] The fact that at least the frame and the foot assembly are made of aluminium also contributes to the user-friendly design of the sun lounger.

[0020] Insofar as the terms “horizontal” or “horizontal and vertical” or “vertical” as well as “above” and “below” and their variations are used in the present application, these refer, unless otherwise stated, to the direction of gravity or geodetic orientation.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 An embodiment of a sun lounger according to the invention in a perspective view from an oblique angle above, Fig. 2 the sun lounger after Fig. 1 in bottom view with the housing of a drive device open, Fig. 3 the sun lounger after Fig. 1 in side view with one longitudinal strut of the frame omitted, Fig. 4 an enlarged section of the sun lounger Fig. 1 in the area of ​​swivel mechanisms of a footboard and a headboard in a perspective view from obliquely below.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows a sun lounger 1 in a perspective view from an oblique angle above with a frame 5, which is supported on a foot arrangement 4 towards a ground and on whose upper side (with respect to the direction of gravity or geodesically seen) a lying grid 6 is mounted.

[0023] The foot assembly 4 has four support legs, two of which are attached with their upper end sections to the longitudinal end sections of the frame 5, one on each longitudinal side. In this case, the two support legs arranged on each longitudinal side of the sun lounger 1 are connected to each other via a crossbar at the bottom to form a U-shaped foot unit 40 or 41.

[0024] The frame 5 has two longitudinal struts 50 extending along the two long sides of the sun lounger 1, to the ends of which the upper end sections of the support legs are attached. The longitudinal struts 50 are designed as rectangular hollow profiles, with the longer side of the rectangle oriented vertically. The end sections of the support legs are inserted into recesses on the underside of the longitudinal struts 50 and are securely fixed by means of horizontally inserted fastening screws. In the width direction of the sun lounger 1, the longitudinal struts 50 are secured by (in Fig. The two crossbars 51 shown are connected to each other to form a stable frame. The crossbars of the foot assembly 4 also have a stabilizing effect in the lateral direction of the sun lounger 1, which is connected on the bottom side with (in Fig. 2 visible) stand elements may be provided.

[0025] As from Fig. As further shown in Figure 1, the lounger 6 has a central section 62, to which a head section 60 is attached at one end of the sun lounger 1, the head end section, and at the other end of the head section 60, a foot section 61 is attached via a foot section joint 21 to the other longitudinal end of the sun lounger 1, the foot end. The foot section 61 in turn has an upper foot section 610 adjoining the central section 62 and a lower foot section 611 adjoining the upper foot section 610 towards the foot end of the sun lounger 1, the upper foot section 610 and the lower foot section 611 being articulated or pivotally connected to each other via an intermediate joint 210.The lying frame 6 in turn has longitudinal beams 63 running laterally parallel to the longitudinal struts 50 on their inner side at a small distance, which are divided into individual longitudinal beam sections connected by hinges to the head section 60, the middle section 62 and the foot section 61 with the upper foot section section 610 and the lower foot section section 611, as also shown in . Fig. 2. The longitudinal beam sections 63 are connected to each other in the width direction of the sun lounger 1 or the reclining frame 6 by means of transverse struts 64 to form a stable reclining frame. A suitable support, in particular a cushion, can be arranged on the upper side of the reclining frame 6. The headrest joints 20 on both sides, the footrest joints 21 and / or intermediate joints 210 are advantageously equipped with roller or ball bearings and are designed to be weather-resistant and at least largely moisture-proof.

[0026] The longitudinal struts 50 and transverse struts 51 of the frame 5, as well as the longitudinal beams 63 and transverse struts 64 of the reclining base 6, and also the support legs and crossbars of the head-end and foot-end foot unit 40, 41 are preferably made of a stable, lightweight material, in particular aluminium, so that the sun lounger 1 has a low weight with stable construction and can therefore be easily maneuvered outdoors by a user.

[0027] For raising and lowering the head section 60 and the foot section 61 with the upper and lower foot section sections 610, 611, the sun lounger 1 is equipped with a drive device 3 by means of which a swivel mechanism 22 of the head section and a swivel mechanism 23 of the foot section can be operated independently of each other. To provide the drive force, the drive device 3 has an electrically operated motor 30 and coupled transmission means 31, as shown. Fig. Figure 2 shows that the electrical energy for the motor 30 is preferably supplied by a rechargeable battery or accumulator unit, which is permanently or removablely attached to the sun lounger 1. The motor 30 and parts of the transmission elements 31 are weatherproofed, in particular moisture-proof, and housed in a casing 32, which is located under the sunbed 6 and attached to parts of the frame 5, in particular cross members 51. The motor 30 can itself be encapsulated together with coupling sections of the transmission elements 31. The casing 32 can be made of metal and / or plastic and may be provided with support elements for the motor 30, its casing, and / or parts of the transmission elements 31.

[0028] According to the invention, the transmission means 31 have Bowden cables 310, which are guided through the housing wall with their (outer) sheath 311 sealed. A reliable seal is facilitated by the fact that the sheath 311 of the Bowden cables 310 remains stationary and tightly enclosed by respective sealing elements during motor operation. Only the inner cables 312 of the Bowden cables 310 are moved within their respective sheaths 311 to pivot the head section 60 or foot section 61 up or down. The housing 32 is advantageously cuboid in shape and, in this case, is attached to the frame 5 below the foot-side section of the lying surface 6, with the Bowden cables 310 being guided through a wall section facing the central section 62 and sealing elements arranged therein.

[0029] The inner cables 312 of the Bowden cables 310, which are coupled at one end section to the motor 30 or to gear components located therein, are connected at their other end sections partly to the pivoting mechanism 22 of the head section 60 and partly to the pivoting mechanism 23 of the foot section, in order to pivot the head section 60 or the foot section 61 upwards by means of motor-induced pull on the inner cable 312. The pivoting downwards of the head section 60 or the foot section 61, on the other hand, occurs solely by the force of gravity of the head section 60 or the foot section 61, whereby the inner cable 312 is only extended against the retraction movement during pivoting upwards, against a certain braking effect of the motor and the relevant gear components, after a holding function is released. There are four Bowden cables 310, one pair of which (one on each long side of the sun lounger 1) is assigned to the swivel mechanism 22 of the head section 60 and one pair to the swivel mechanism 23 of the foot section 61.

[0030] As the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and, in enlarged view, the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the pivoting mechanism 22 of the head section 60 and, correspondingly, the pivoting mechanism 23 of the foot section 61 each have a pivoting lever 220 and a guide support 221 that interacts with it during the pivoting movement on both longitudinal sides of the sun lounger 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivoting lever 220 is attached to the relevant section of the longitudinal beam 63 of the head section 60 or the foot section 61 in a pivot axis or pivot point such that it can pivot in a vertical longitudinal plane of the sun lounger 1. To pivot upwards the lying end of the head section 60 or the foot section 61, the pivot lever 220 is pivoted downwards by means of the inner cable 312 of the Bowden cable 310 attached to it, whereby it slidably supports itself on a horizontal sliding surface of the guide support 221, which is attached to the inner side of the respective longitudinal strut 50.In order to achieve the smoothest possible sliding movement of the pivot lever 220, its underside, which interacts with the sliding surface of the guide support 221, is convexly curved downwards in the vertical longitudinal plane, as shown. Fig. 3 and in particular the enlarged representation in Fig. Figure 4 shows the arrangement. The pivot lever 220 and the guide support 221 are arranged in a space formed between the outer side of the respective longitudinal beam 63 of the lying surface 6 and the facing inner side of the longitudinal strut 50 of the frame 5. The sheath 311 of the Bowden cable 310 is inserted into a recess of a block-shaped Bowden cable receptacle 313 located on the inner side of the longitudinal strut 50 and is fixed therein by its end piece. The inner cable 312, which leads out of the fixed end of the sheath 311, is held at its end in a retaining chamber of the pivot lever 220 such that the pivot lever 220 is pulled into its support position when the inner cable 312 is tightened by the motor 30 (via an associated gear component). On the convex underside of the pivot lever 220 facing the sliding plane of the guide support 221, a groove for the inner cable, running longitudinally in accordance with the inner cable 312, is provided.The Bowden cable receptacle 313 is block-shaped and, in this example, also serves as a support for the relevant section of the longitudinal strut 63, with a projecting shoulder located from the inside of the longitudinal strut 50.

[0031] How in particular the Fig. 3 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the pivoting mechanism 22 of the head section 60 and the pivoting mechanism 23 of the foot section 61 are arranged near the respective adjacent sides of the central section 62, which rests non-pivotably on the frame 5 and is preferably attached to it. The pivot points for pivoting the head section 60 and the foot section 61 are arranged at their end regions facing the central section 62 on both sides of the sun lounger 1, as shown in Figure 4. Fig.Figure 3 shows the head section joint 20 and foot section joint 21. The pivoting mechanism 22 of the head section 60 and the pivoting mechanism 23 of the foot section 61 are arranged in the lower half facing the head section joint 20 and the foot section joint 21, respectively, in particular in the lower third of the head section 60 and the foot section 61, respectively, in order to achieve, on the one hand, a not very long pivoting travel of the pivot levers 220 and, on the other hand, the lowest possible actuating forces for pivoting up the head section 60 and the foot section 61 with their sections pointing towards the end of the sun lounger 1.

[0032] The lower foot section 611 is pivotally attached to the upper foot section 610, with a limiting mechanism in place, such that initially only the upper foot section 610, facing the central section 62, is pivoted upwards when the foot section 61 is pivoted upwards, and subsequently the lower foot section 611 is carried along by a stop against the limiting mechanism, which is located, for example, in the area of ​​the intermediate joint 210. The limiting mechanism is positioned such that, in the uppermost pivoted position of the upper foot section 610, the lower foot section 611 is approximately horizontally aligned.

[0033] For operation, the sun lounger 1 has a control unit, which is attached, for example, to the outside of the frame or to another suitable location on the sun lounger, either permanently or removable, and is connected, for example, with or without a cable connection to the drive unit 3 for signal transmission. The user can select their desired swivel operation or adjustment of the headrest 60 and / or footrest 61 via the control unit. A suitable charger or power supply is provided for charging the battery or accumulator unit.

[0034] The entire sun lounger 1 is designed to be weather-resistant, with the drive device 3 in particular its electrical components and electronics being designed to be moisture-protected for outdoor use over a longer period of time. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2009 052 396 A1

[0002] EP 3 506 801 B1

[0003] DE 20 2004 014 101 U1

[0004]

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