Furniture and furniture item motion control device
The system of furniture part motion control devices with wireless communication between ejector units addresses assembly time challenges by enabling synchronized and efficient operation, facilitating rapid installation and smart home integration.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GRASS GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2021-03-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing furniture systems with multiple ejector units for large, heavy movable components face challenges in assembly time due to mechanical adjustments, necessitating improved coordination and synchronization.
A system of furniture part motion control devices with wireless communication between ejector units, utilizing electromagnetic waves or IR signals for synchronized movement control, enabling rapid installation and integration into smart home environments.
Facilitates cost-effective, efficient, and synchronized operation of multiple ejector units, reducing assembly time and allowing flexible installation and integration with smart home systems.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a system of at least two furniture part motion control devices for controlling the movement of a movable furniture part relative to a furniture body of a piece of furniture and to a piece of furniture with such a furniture part motion control device. State of the art
[0002] Furniture consists of a cabinet body and often one or more movable parts, especially drawers. The movable part is guided by means of guides, such as drawer slides. These guides usually comprise two or three slides: a cabinet slide, a drawer slide, and possibly a center slide.
[0003] To improve user comfort, solutions exist that use an ejector unit to move the movable furniture component, at least partially, out of the furniture body. The ejector unit can be electrical, electromechanical, or mechanical. Relevant state-of-the-art information can be found in documents WO 2007 / 006061 A1, US 5 158 347 A, WO 2007 / 092969 A1, US 2009 / 102338 A1, and DE 20 2012 009566 U1.
[0004] For larger, especially wide and correspondingly heavy, movable furniture components, two ejector units are often used. These two ejector units can be positioned, for example, on the two side walls of the furniture carcass. The two ejector units ensure the smooth and even removal of the movable furniture component from the carcass. Coordination, and in particular synchronization, of the ejector units is necessary for the trouble-free operation of the movable furniture components.
[0005] The ejector units are adjusted mechanically via a rod. The disadvantage here is that assembly is very time-consuming. Purpose and advantages of the invention
[0006] The object of the invention is to provide an improved system comprising at least two furniture component motion control devices. In particular, the improved furniture component motion control device is intended to enable improved coordination between multiple furniture component motion control devices.
[0007] The problem is solved by the characteristics of independent claims.
[0008] The dependent claims specify advantageous and expedient further developments and variants of the invention.
[0009] The invention relates to a furniture part motion control device for mounting on a furniture body of a piece of furniture and / or on a movable furniture part of the furniture, wherein the movable furniture part is guided on the furniture body of the furniture via guide means, wherein an ejector unit is arranged on the furniture body and / or on the movable furniture part, wherein each furniture part motion control device is assigned an ejector unit, wherein the ejector unit is designed to influence the movement of the movable furniture part.
[0010] Preferably, the furniture carcass is formed from two opposing side panels, a top panel, a bottom panel, and a back panel. The furniture further comprises one or more movable components. In particular, the movable component is designed as a drawer, a door, a flap, or the like. The drawer or flap is movably guided on the furniture carcass by means of guides, for example, drawer slides designed as partial or full extension slides, and / or by a hinge and / or a flap fitting. For example, the movable component includes a front panel, particularly on one front side.
[0011] Advantageously, the furniture component motion control device can be mounted on the side wall of the furniture body and / or on the back wall of the furniture body and / or on the guide elements. Mounting the furniture component motion control device on the movable furniture component itself is also conceivable, in particular on a side wall of the movable furniture component and / or on an underside of the movable furniture component.
[0012] For example, the ejector unit can be arranged on the furniture carcass, e.g., on the back panel. Likewise, the ejector unit can be attached to the side panel of the furniture carcass. Preferably, the ejector unit is configured so that, when mounted, it interacts with the movable furniture part. Advantageously, the ejector unit is designed as an automatic ejector unit. In particular, the ejector unit is designed as an automatic ejection and / or retraction mechanism, e.g., a touch-latch unit and / or an electric and / or electromechanical ejector unit. Preferably, the ejector unit transmits a force to the movable furniture part by means of, e.g., a lever and / or a hook.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, several, in particular exactly two, ejector units can be arranged on the movable furniture part. Advantageously, the ejector units can each be arranged on the side wall of the furniture body. For example, the ejector unit is assigned to the furniture part motion control device. Advantageously, the ejector unit is arranged on the furniture part motion control device. According to the invention, each furniture part motion control device can be connected to the ejector unit. For example, the furniture part motion control device is connected to the ejector unit. For example, the furniture part motion control device includes the ejector unit. In an advantageous embodiment, the furniture part motion control device and the ejector unit are arranged in a common housing.
[0014] The core of the invention is that each furniture part motion control device has at least one transmitter and receiver unit which is designed to wirelessly receive first information from a second furniture part motion control device and / or to wirelessly transmit, in particular second, information to the second furniture part motion control device.
[0015] Advantageously, the transmitter and receiver unit of the second furniture part motion control device is designed to receive the second piece of information wirelessly.
[0016] Wireless data transmission enables cost-effective connection of multiple furniture component motion control devices. Rapid installation is also possible, and retrofitting furniture with one or more furniture component motion control devices is feasible, as only a few components need to be installed.
[0017] Preferably, the furniture component motion control device is connected to the ejector unit via a signal transmission interface. In particular, the ejector unit is designed to use information transmitted from the furniture component motion control device to the ejector unit via the signal transmission interface to influence the movement of the movable furniture component. Specifically, the signal transmission interface is located on the ejector unit. In a preferred embodiment, the ejector unit includes the signal transmission interface.
[0018] Advantageously, the ejector unit transmits information to the furniture component motion control device via the signal transmission interface. Specifically, the transmitting and receiving unit of the furniture component motion control device sends information to the other furniture component motion control device. Advantageously, the ejector unit, which includes, for example, the signal transmission interface, can be controlled by means of information provided by the furniture component motion control device.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the furniture component motion control device is designed to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic waves. Preferably, the information exchanged between two furniture component motion control devices is in the form of electromagnetic wave signals. For example, the furniture component motion control device comprises a housing. In an advantageous embodiment, the housing is mostly closed. In particular, the housing is transparent to electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 315 nm and 1000 m at at least one point.
[0020] For example, the furniture component motion control device is designed to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 315 nm and 1 mm. Preferably, the furniture component motion control device is designed to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic waves with wavelengths in the visible light and / or infrared range. For example, the transmitter and receiver unit is designed to transmit and / or receive infrared with a wavelength of 780 nm to 1 mm, for example, from 900 nm to 960 nm, and in particular with a wavelength of 940 nm. Preferably, the transmitter and receiver unit is designed as an IR transmitter / receiver. Using IR signal transmission results in a cost-effective design for the furniture component motion control device. Furthermore, IR signal transmission requires minimal certification effort.
[0021] Another preferred embodiment of the furniture component motion control device is designed to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic waves with frequencies in the ISM band. Preferably, the transmitting and receiving unit is designed to transmit and / or receive frequencies in the ISM band. Advantageously, in this embodiment, the transmitting and receiving unit includes an antenna, e.g., a radio antenna. In particular, the antenna is designed as an antenna that transmits frequencies in the ISM band. The ISM band is a frequency range available for high-frequency applications in industry, science, and medicine. This includes, for example, frequencies from 2.3 GHz to 2.6 GHz, particularly 2.4 GHz, and / or frequencies between 13.50 MHz and 13.60 MHz, preferably 13.56 MHz. Preferably, the transmission protocol used is zibBee, Z-wave, Bluetooth, NFC, and / or another radio transmission protocol.For example, the information to be transmitted between two furniture component motion control devices is inserted into the transmission protocol by the transmitter and receiver unit of the first furniture component motion control device. Advantageously, the transmission protocol containing this information is then transmitted to the transmitter and receiver unit of the second furniture component motion control device. The transmitter and receiver unit of the second furniture component motion control device can then extract and use the information from the transmission protocol.
[0022] Wireless signal transmission between multiple furniture motion control devices enables flexible use and installation of the interconnected devices. Integration of the furniture motion control devices into a smart home environment is also possible.
[0023] Preferably, when using a wireless connection, several furniture component motion control devices can be interconnected and information can be transmitted between them. In particular, the furniture component motion control device is designed to be connected to another, and especially to several, other furniture component motion control devices. The multiple furniture component motion control devices can be connected, for example, by a wall of the furniture made of wood and / or plastic and / or a composite material.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the furniture component motion control device comprises several transmitters and receivers. Advantageously, the furniture component motion control device includes a first and a second transmitter and receiver. For example, the two transmitters and receivers may be identical or different. In particular, the first transmitter and receiver may be configured as the antenna and the second as the IR transmitter / receiver. It is also possible that the first transmitter and receiver may be configured as the IR transmitter / receiver and the second as the antenna.
[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment, the furniture component motion control device includes a power supply. Preferably, the power supply comprises a mains cable and / or a battery and / or an accumulator. For example, the power supply is provided as a connection for a mains cable, a compartment for a battery and / or an accumulator, and / or as a solar module.
[0026] According to the invention, a system comprising at least two furniture component motion control devices can be formed. The furniture component motion control devices advantageously include at least one of the properties described above. In a preferred embodiment, for example, two furniture component motion control devices can be arranged, particularly on the furniture, such that a line of sight exists between the transmitting and / or receiving units. Preferably, the furniture is designed such that, for example, two furniture component motion control devices can be arranged such that a line of sight exists between the transmitting and receiving units. This configuration is further preferred if the furniture component motion control devices communicate with each other via IR.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, several furniture component motion control devices can be connected to one another. Advantageously, several furniture component motion control devices form a system. Preferably, several, in particular two, furniture component motion control devices are synchronized with one another. Advantageously, the connection of several furniture component motion control devices enables synchronization. For example, a movement sequence of the movable furniture component can be synchronized by connecting several furniture component motion control devices.
[0028] For example, furniture component motion control devices that have a line of sight, in particular a direct line of sight between the transmitting and receiving units, can be connected, for example, using visible light and / or IR. Whereas furniture component motion control devices that are arranged, for example, in different furniture bodies, are preferably connected via radio.
[0029] Advantageously, the furniture component motion control device includes a control element. For example, the control element is designed as a button, a push button, a switch, a touch-sensitive surface, or similar. Preferably, the control element allows for the targeted selection, connection, and / or coupling of two furniture component motion control devices. For example, the connection between the two furniture component motion control devices is a wireless connection, e.g., via radio. Coupling is particularly necessary so that, with multiple, especially more than two, furniture component motion control devices, it can be determined which devices will cooperate with each other. For example, which furniture component motion control devices will trigger their respective assigned ejector units almost simultaneously upon receiving a signal. For example, if a signal, e.g.,When a signal from one furniture component motion control device is transmitted to the coupled second furniture component motion control device, the respective assigned ejector units are triggered, and the movable furniture component can be removed from the furniture carcass. Advantageously, the information received by the furniture component motion control device is transmitted to the assigned ejector unit via the signal transmission interface. For example, the ejector unit then triggers the removal of the movable furniture component from the furniture carcass.
[0030] For example, it is also conceivable that the system includes a further, third furniture part motion control device.
[0031] Advantageously, the third furniture component motion control device comprises a, in particular a third, transmitter and receiver unit designed to transmit and / or receive the first, and / or the second, or a third piece of information. For example, the transmitter and receiver unit of the first furniture component motion control device sends the first piece of information to the transmitter and receiver unit of the third furniture component motion control device. Furthermore, the transmitter and receiver unit of the third furniture component motion control device can send the first, and / or the second, and / or the third piece of information to the first and / or the second furniture component motion control device.
[0032] Advantageously, several furniture component motion control devices can be connected to each other in this way.
[0033] A further advantageous embodiment results in the arrangement of several furniture part motion control devices; according to the invention, two furniture part motion control devices are arranged as a pair of furniture part motion control devices, connected to each other according to the invention, and can be assigned to a movable furniture part.
[0034] More preferably, four furniture component motion control devices are provided as two pairs. Preferably, two furniture component motion control devices can always be arranged on a movable furniture component and, for example, coupled together. For instance, a first furniture component motion control device on the respective movable furniture component then comprises a radio and an IR transmitter and receiver unit, while the second furniture component motion control device in this pair comprises only the IR transmitter and receiver unit. This advantageously results in a cost-effective design for the second furniture component motion control device, which is equipped only with IR.
[0035] For example, vertically stacked furniture part motion control devices are also possible; in particular, pairs of furniture part motion control devices can also be arranged vertically one above the other.
[0036] In an advantageous embodiment with vertically stacked furniture component motion control devices, it is possible to couple, for example, two ejector units to, for example, two different movable furniture components, particularly to two vertically stacked movable furniture components. This is advantageously applicable, for instance, to an inner drawer and an outer drawer, where the front of the outer drawer conceals the inner drawer.
[0037] In one embodiment, the furniture includes the furniture part motion control device as described above, or the system of furniture part motion control devices as described above. Character description
[0038] Further features and variants of the device are explained below using several exemplary embodiments and schematic drawings.
[0039] They show: Figure 1: a piece of furniture viewed from a slightly oblique angle from above, showing a movable part of the furniture, Figure 2 : another piece of furniture in cross-section, with two movable furniture parts, Figure 3 : a rear view of the furniture made of Figure 2 without a back panel, with a first variant of a furniture part motion control device according to the invention, Figure 4 : the back view of the furniture from Figure 2 without the back panel, with a second variant of a furniture part motion control device according to the invention.
[0040] A piece of furniture 1 according to the invention, comprising a box-shaped furniture body 2 and a drawer 4 movably guided by means of guide means 3, is in Figure 1The drawer 4 is shown in an open position relative to the furniture carcass 2. The drawer 4 comprises, for example, a drawer bottom 5, a front component 6, two opposing side components 7, and a drawer back panel 8. For guiding the drawer 4, two synchronously acting guide elements 3 are provided between each side component 7 of the drawer 4 and a corresponding side panel 9 of the carcass. The drawer 4 is slidably mounted on the furniture carcass 2 in an opening direction M1 and a closing direction M2 via the guide elements 3. The guide elements 3 comprise, for example, two identical partial or full extension slides. For example, a furniture component motion control device 10 according to the invention is arranged on the side panel 9 of the carcass.
[0041] Figure 2Figure 1 shows another piece of furniture 11 in a cutaway side view. The piece of furniture 11 has a furniture body 12 with a base 25. For example, guide means 13 are attached to the side wall 24 of the piece of furniture 11. In the embodiment shown, the piece of furniture 11 comprises two movable furniture parts in the form of two drawers 14 and 15. For example, the drawer 15 is designed as an inner drawer, in particular an inner drawer box. In particular, a front component 16 of the outer drawer 14 covers a front component 17 of the inner drawer 15. The movable furniture part 14 preferably has two side components 20, a drawer back panel 22, and a drawer base 18. The movable furniture part 15 preferably comprises two side components 21, a drawer back panel 23, and a drawer base 19. Figure 2 The outer movable furniture part 14 is moved further out of the furniture body 12 in the opening direction M1 than the inner movable furniture part 15.
[0042] Figure 3 shows a rear view of furniture 11 from Figure 2 The rear panel of the furniture body 12 is not shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the four furniture part motion control devices 10, 36, 37, 38 are arranged on the rear panel (not shown).
[0043] The furniture component motion control device 10 comprises an ejector unit 26, an operating element 27, a signal transmission interface 28, and a transmitter and receiver unit 29. The furniture component motion control devices 36, 37, and 38 each also comprise the ejector unit 26, the operating element 27, the signal transmission interface 28, and the transmitter and receiver unit 29. For ease of reading, only the furniture component motion control devices are distinguished, but not the individual components of the furniture component motion control devices.
[0044] In the Figure 3In the illustrated embodiment, two furniture part motion control devices 10 and 36 are arranged on the movable furniture part 14, and two furniture part motion control devices 37 and 38 are arranged on the movable furniture part 15. Preferably, the two furniture part motion control devices are arranged on the right and left sides of the movable furniture part 14 and 15, respectively. For example, the furniture part motion control device 10 is built into, and in particular integrated into, the ejector unit 26. The ejector unit 26 and the furniture part motion control device 10 are connected to each other via the signal transmission interface 28. More preferably, the operating element 27 and the transmitter and receiver unit 29 are arranged on the furniture part motion control device 10, and in particular built into, the furniture part motion control device 10. The same applies to the furniture part motion control devices 36 to 38.
[0045] For example, in the, in Figure 3In the illustrated embodiment, two furniture component motion control devices 10 and 36, or 37 and 38, can always be connected by means of, for example, IR light 35. For example, in this embodiment, signal and / or information transmission takes place between two furniture component motion control devices 10 and 36 and / or 37 and 38 by means of, for example, IR light 35. The information transmission is in Figure 3 Dashed line with reference symbol 35 (IR light).
[0046] Figure 4 shows a rear view of furniture 11 from Figure 2 The back panel of the furniture carcass 12 is not shown. In the further version shown according to Figure 4 The four furniture part motion control devices 30, 39, 40, 41 are arranged on the (not shown) rear wall.
[0047] In this further embodiment, for example, the furniture component motion control device 30 is arranged separately from the ejector unit 31 on the rear wall. The furniture component motion control device 30 and the ejector unit 31 are connected to each other via the signal transmission interface 32. For example, the furniture component motion control device 30 comprises the operating element 33 and the transmitter and receiver unit 34. In particular, the operating element 33 and the transmitter and receiver unit 34 are arranged on the furniture component motion control device 30, and in particular, are integrated into it. The same applies to the furniture component motion control devices 39, 40, and 41.
[0048] In the Figure 4In the illustrated embodiment, for example, two furniture component motion control devices 30 and / or 39 and / or 40 and / or 41 can always be connected by means of, for example, IR light 35. In this embodiment, signal and / or information transmission between two furniture component motion control devices 30 and / or 39 and / or 40 and / or 41 takes place by means of, for example, IR light 35. The information transmission is in Figure 4 Dashed line with reference symbol 35 (IR light).
[0049] For example, coupling of two vertically arranged furniture part motion control devices 10 and 38, or 36 and 37, or 30 and 41, or 39 and 40, is possible, in particular by means of IR light 35.
[0050] For example, the one in the Figures 3 and 4The arrangement shown, with four furniture part motion control devices 10, 36, 37, 38 and 30, 39, 40, 41 respectively, is advantageous when dealing with two large and wide movable furniture parts. For example, opening information is transmitted from furniture part motion control device 10 to the other furniture part motion control devices 36, 37, 38. This advantageously leads to the simultaneous opening of the movable furniture parts 14 and 15. The same applies to furniture part motion control devices 30, 39, 40, 41.
[0051] For example, in the, in Figure 3 or Figure 4In the arrangement of furniture component motion control devices 10, 36, 37, 38 or 30, 39, 40, 41 shown, only one furniture component motion control device, e.g., furniture component motion control device 10 or 30, is designed to send and receive information. Specifically, the remaining furniture component motion control devices 36, 37, 38 or 39, 40, 41 are designed only to receive the information.
[0052] For example, it is also possible to transmit information and / or couple several furniture part motion control devices 10, 36, 37, 38, 30, 39, 40, 41 via radio. Reference symbol list
[0053] 1 Furniture 2 Furniture carcass 3 Guide element 4 Movable furniture part 5 Drawer bottom 6 Front component 7 Side component 8 Drawer back panel 9 Carcass side panel 10 Furniture part motion control device 11 Furniture 12 Furniture carcass 13 Guide element 14 Movable furniture part 15 Movable furniture part 16 Front component 17 Front component 18 Drawer bottom 19 Drawer bottom 20 Side component 21 Side component 22 Drawer back panel 23 Drawer back panel 24 Side panel 25 Bottom 26 Ejector unit 27 Control element 28 Signal transmission interface 29 Transmit and receive unit 30 Furniture part motion control device 31 Ejector unit 32 Signal transmission interface 33 Control element 34 Transmit and receive unit 35 IR light 36 Furniture part motion control device 37 Furniture component motion control device 38 Furniture component motion control device 39 Furniture component motion control device 40 Furniture component motion control device 41 Furniture component motion control device
Claims
1. System comprising at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) for mounting on a furniture body (2, 12) of an item of furniture (1, 11) and / or on a movable furniture part (4, 14, 15) of the item of furniture (1, 11), wherein the movable furniture part (4, 14, 15) is guided on the furniture body (2, 12) of the item of furniture (1, 11) via guide means (3, 13), wherein a plurality of ejector units (26, 31) are arranged on the furniture body (2, 12) and / or on the movable furniture part (4, 14, 15), wherein each of the at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) can be assigned to one of the ejector units (26, 31) and each of the at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) can be connected to the assigned ejector unit (26, 31), wherein the ejector units (26, 31) are designed to influence the movement of the movable furniture part (4, 14, 15), characterized in that each of the at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) has at least one transmitting and receiving unit (29, 34), which is designed to wirelessly receive a first item of information from a second of the at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) and / or to wirelessly transmit an item of information to the second furniture part movement control device (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41), wherein two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) are arranged as a pair and connected to each other as to be associated with a movable furniture part (4, 14, 15).
2. System comprising at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a furniture part movement control device (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) is designed to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic waves.
3. System comprising at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the furniture part movement control device (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) is designed to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic waves in the IR (infrared) range.
4. System comprising at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the furniture part movement control device (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) is designed to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic waves having frequencies in the GHz frequency range.
5. System comprising at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) according to Claim 2, characterized in that two different transmitting and receiving units (29, 34) are present on a furniture part movement control device (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41).
6. System comprising at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) is connected to the ejector unit (26, 31) via a signal transmission interface (28, 32), and the ejector unit (26, 31) is designed to use information that is transmitted by the furniture part movement control apparatus (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) via the signal transmission interface (28, 32) to the ejector unit (26, 31) to influence the movement of the movable furniture part (4, 14, 15).
7. System comprising at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an operating element (27, 33) is present on a furniture part movement control device (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41).
8. System comprising at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an energy supply is formed on a furniture part movement control device (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41).
9. System comprising at least two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that two furniture part movement control devices (10, 30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) are arranged in such a way that there is a visual connection between the transmitting and receiving units (29, 34).
10. Item of furniture having a system according to any of the preceding claims.