Improved ratchet mechanism

Abstract

A ratchet mechanism (M) substantially comprising two mutually articulated and connected parts; support means (10,50), in particular for fixing to movable parts of a padded piece of furniture, rack gear means (23,22) and a transmission body (30).

Description

[0001] The Invention is related to a ratchet mechanism.

[0002] In particular, the invention is advantageously used in the production and marketing of upholstered furniture such as armchairs, chairs, sofas or equivalent, to which the following description makes explicit reference without losing in general, having reclining parts or similar, thus allowing users to move the reclining parts, such as footrests and backrests, from a first closed configuration to a second open configuration.

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved ratchet mechanism that allows users to obtain an easier, optimal and stable operation of handling the reclining parts, such as footrests and / or backrests.

[0004] The structural and functional characteristics of this invention and its advantages over the known art will become even clearer and more evident from the claims below, and in particular from an examination of the following description, referring to the accompanying drawings, which show the layout of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of an improved ratchet mechanism, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the ratchet mechanism in object; Figure 2 represents the mechanism of Figure 1, in a front view; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the same mechanism as Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is another perspective view of the mechanism in object, shown from above; and Figure 5 represents in perspective view an operating component of the mechanism in object.

[0005] With reference to the attached Figures from 1 to 5, M is globally indicated a ratchet mechanism adapted to be applied / mounted preferably on a padded piece of furniture (known and not illustrated), such as an armchair, chair, sofa or the like, having reclining parts such as, for example, footrest and / or backrest elements, and to move the reclining parts themselves from a closed configuration to an open configuration (also known and not illustrated). The mechanism M is substantially "T" or "L" shaped in the closed folded front configuration as shown in Figure 2, and comprises a support rod or leg 10, a mounting seat 20, a gear 23, a transmission body 30, a support plate 50, a bolt 40 and a nut 41. The aforementioned support leg 10 is "L" shaped (but could also be "I" shaped) and includes a first section and a second section connected to each other. The second section is equipped with a locking element and a gasket for connecting and fixing a padded piece of furniture (not shown) to a bracket. The end of the first section is a flat connecting end 11. The mounting seat 20 is connected and fixed to the connecting end 11 of the support leg 10 and is provided with a through hole 211 and a mounting hole 210. A movable rack 22 is disposed in the aforementioned mounting hole 210. The gear 23 is at least partially received in the mounting seat 20 and can rotate relative to the mounting seat 20. The transmission plate 30 is located on one side of the mounting seat 20. The support plate 50 is used to connect the moving parts of the furniture, such as the armrests of a sofa, the footrests of a sofa or a reclining chair, and other moving parts. When the nut 41 is not tightened, the support plate 50 can rotate relative to the mounting seat 20, and the gear 23 does not rotate; when the nut 41 is tightened, the support plate 50 is tightened with the transmission plate 30, and the support plate 50 can rotate the gear 23 through the transmission plate 30. At least two connecting pieces 51 are connected and fixed to one end of the support plate 50. When two connecting pieces 51 are present, one end of the two connecting pieces 51 is connected by two stud bolts 52, the support plate 50 is connected to the stud bolts 52, and the two connecting pieces 51 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart. The support leg 10 may support the support plate 50 through the center of the stud screw 52. The bolt 40 passes through the connecting plate 51, the transmission plate 30, and the gear 23, that is, the connecting plate 51, the transmission plate 30, and the gear 23 are rotatably mounted on the bolt 40. The nut 41 is threadedly connected to bolt 40. The seal is adjusted by screwing and unscrewing the nut 41.

[0006] It may be envisaged that the connecting piece 51 may also be a part of the support plate 50 itself. At least two connecting pieces 51 are connected and fixed to one end of the support plate 50: one end of the two connecting pieces 51 is connected by two stud bolts 52, the support plate 50 is connected to the stud bolts 52, and the two connecting pieces 51 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart. The support leg 10 may support the support plate 50 through the center of the stud screw 52. The bolt 40 passes through the connecting plate 51, the transmission plate 30, and the gear 23, that is, the connecting plate 51, the transmission plate 30, and the gear 23 are rotatably mounted on the bolt 40. The nut 41 is threadedly connected to the bolt 40. The seal is adjusted by screwing and unscrewing the nut 41. It can be understood that the connecting piece 51 may also be a part of the support plate 50 itself. According to what is well illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the transmission sheet 30 is provided with a first projection 31 adapted to the through hole 211 on the mounting seat 20, and the first projection 31 extends from the through hole 211 in the mounting seat 20. The first protrusion 31 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 310 at intervals with its center as the center of the circle. The gear 23 is provided with a plurality of slots 231 adapted to the projections 310. Each projection 310 is clamped in each slot 231 one by one. In this way, the transmission plate 30 realizes a transmission connection with the gear 23 through the cooperation between the protrusion 310 and the slot 231, and thus can drive the gear 23 in rotation, thereby realizing torque transmission. The torque transmission is obtained between the transmission plate 30 and the gear 23 using a plurality of protrusions 310 and the card slots 231. The transmission correspondence structure between the transmission plate 30 and the gear 23 is relatively strong. This structure can withstand a high load and has a high structural strength. It is suitable for long-term use and is not subject to deformation or breakage, thus increasing the life of the connecting device and corresponding furniture. Preferably, the number of the protrusions 310 on the first boss 31 is set to be greater than or equal to three. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, an elastic member 24 is disposed on the mounting seat 20, and the elastic force of the elastic member 24 causes the rack 22 to move toward the gear 23, so that the rack 22 is meshed with the gear 23, thereby disposing the elastic member 24 on the mounting seat 20, with the rack 22 and the gear 23 can be flexibly meshed. When the nut 41 is not tightened, the friction between the connecting plate 51 and the transmission plate 30 is small. When the support plate 50 is rotated, the friction between the connecting plate 51 and the transmission plate 30 is not sufficient to overcome the resistance between the rack 22 and the gear 23. At this time, the connecting plate 51 and the transmission plate 30 can obtain relative rotation. Thus, rotation of the support plate 50 allows greater labor savings and the support plate 50 can be easily rotated relative to the support leg 10. When, instead, the nut 41 is tightened, the connecting piece 51 and the transmission piece 30 are tightened, and the frictional force between the connecting piece 51 and the transmission piece 30 increases; continuing to tighten the nut 41, and the frictional force between the connecting piece 51 and the transmission piece 30, increases, to be sufficient to overcome the resistance between the rack 22 and the gear 23. At this time, the support plate 50 is rotated and the link piece 51 can drive the transmission member 30 to rotate together, and the transmission member 30 drives the gear 23 to rotate. The rack 22 exerts a certain resistance to the rotation of the gear 23, and the gear 23 exerts a large meshing force on the rack 22. The rack 22 moves slightly in the mounting hole 210, and the rack 22 crushes the elastic member 24, causing deformation of the elastic member 24; after the gear 23 rotates by a certain angle, the elastic force of the elastic member 24 causes the rack 22 to restore to a normal meshing state with the gear 23.

[0007] After tightening the nut 41, a large force is required to realize the rotation of the connecting plate 51 with respect to the support leg 10, and at the same time, the support plate 50 can be held at a certain preset angle with respect to the support leg 10. Therefore, the seal of the nut 41 can be adjusted according to the actual needs of use, and a flexible gear is formed between the rack 22 and the gear 23. The gear 23 can rotate forward or backward with respect to the rack 22. The rotation angle is not limited by the travel of the gear, and the range of the rotation angle is wide, which overcomes the defects of the ratchet which can rotate only in one direction, and the rotation angle is limited. According to what is well illustrated in figures 3 to 5, the mounting seat 20 includes two rack seats 21 which are spaced apart and arranged in parallel. The seats of the rack 21 are in the form of a sheet. The two rack seats 21 have the same external dimensions and structure. The first support leg section 10 is connected and fixed to two rack seats 21 by two rivets 12, and the two rack seats 21 are symmetrically connected to opposite sides of the first section. A space for accommodating the gear 23 is formed between the two rack seats 21. One end of the rack 22 extends into the mounting hole 210 of the rack seat 21 on one side, and the other end of the rack 22 extends into the mounting hole 210 of the rack seat 21 on the other side. It is understandable that the mounting seat 20 can also adopt other structures, such as using a rack seat 22 with a larger thickness, and also opening the mounting hole 210 and the through hole 211 in the rack seat 22, so that the rack 22 and the gear 23 can be installed. According to what is well illustrated in Figure 5, a second projection 230 is provided on the side of the gear 23 facing away from the transmission plate 30, and the slot 231 on the gear 23 is a blind slot. The second protrusion 230 is combined with the through hole 211 of the rack seat 21 on the other side. The second projection 230 extends out of the through hole 211 of the rack seat 21 and abuts against the connecting piece 51. The first protrusion 31 of the transmission sheet 30 extends into the mounting seat 20 from the through hole 211 of the rack seat 21 on one side, and the protrusion 310 on the first protrusion 31 is engaged with the slot 231 on the gear 23, thereby realizing the transmission connection. A brake pad 70 is provided between the transmission plate 30 and the connection plate 51 to disperse the pressure of the connection plate 51 on the transmission plate 30.

[0008] Three connecting pieces 51 are provided, one connecting piece 51 is provided on one side of the mounting base 20, and two overlapping connecting pieces 51 are provided on the other side. This may improve the structural strength and prevent the connecting pieces 51 from bending or deforming easily. It can be understood that the slot 231 on the gear 23 may extend to the second protrusion 230 but not penetrate the second protrusion 230, or the slot 231 may extend and penetrate the second protrusion 230. As best illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, an end cover 60 is disposed on the outer side of the connecting piece 51, the bolt 40 passes through the end cover 60, and the end cover 60 covers a portion of the connecting piece 51, thereby protecting the connecting piece 51. The end cover 60 has a locking edge extending inward, and the locking edge may cover a portion of the connecting piece 51. According to what is well illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, the elastic element 24 is a leaf spring 240. A connecting shaft 213 is disposed between the two rack seats 21. One end of the leaf spring 240 is connected and fixed to the rack 22, and the other end of the leaf spring 240 is crimped and bent and sleeved on the connecting shaft 213. The side of the rack 22 away from the gear 23, is an arc-shaped surface and abuts against the wall of the mounting hole 210. The side of the rack 22 near the gear 23 is provided with a plurality of external teeth meshing with the gear 23. The side wall of the mounting hole 210 of the rack seat 21 away from the gear 23 is an arc-shaped wall, and the side wall of the mounting hole 210 near the gear 23 has two arc-shaped walls connected, and the connection between the two arc-shaped walls is bent and extended toward the gear 23. The lower section of the mounting hole 210 has a profile that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, so that the rack 22 can move slightly along the mounting hole 210. The sofa or recliner chair provided with the above described embodiment of the ratchet mechanism in object, so as to make the adjustment operation of the sofa or recliner chair easier and more comfortable, and with prolonged duration. In addition, if subjected to a weight that exceeds the maximum capacity, instead of breaking, the ratchet in question, closes, exploiting the advantages of the friction mechanism. Another advantage of the friction mechanism in object is that, during opening the user can adjust the position as desired.

Claims

1. Ratchet mechanism (M) substantially comprising two mutually articulated and connected parts; support means (10,50), in particular for fixing to movable parts of a padded cabinet, rack gear means (23,22) and a transmission body (30).

2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said support means (10,50) comprise plate means (50) and rod or support leg means (10) provided with threads.

3. Mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one (22) of said rack gear means (23,22) is provided with an arc-shaped surface.

4. Mechanism according to one or more of the preceding claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that it is substantially "T" shaped.

5. Mechanism according to one or more of the preceding claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that it is substantially "L" shaped.

6. Mechanism according to one or more of the preceding claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that it is substantially "I" shaped.

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