Electric motor-powered furniture drive

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric motor-powered furniture drive (24) for adjusting support parts (4, 8, 12) of a support unit (2), which support parts are pivotably adjustable relative to one another, for supporting the upholstery of an item of seating or reclining furniture, the furniture drive comprising an electric motor-powered adjustment device which has an electric motor-powered drive unit (32) and a pivot lever (36). According to the invention, the pivot lever (36) is designed and configured and, in the installation position of the furniture drive (24), is operatively connected to the support parts (8, 12), in such a way that, in a first kinematic phase of the adjustment movement, starting from a starting position, a third support part (12) is adjusted relative to a second support part (8), and, in a second kinematic phase, the second support part (8) together with the third support part (12) is adjusted relative to a first support part (4).

Description

[0001] Electromotive furniture drive

[0002] The invention relates to an electromotive furniture drive of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 for adjusting support parts of a support device which can be pivoted relative to one another for supporting the upholstery of a piece of seating and / or reclining furniture.

[0003] Corresponding support devices frequently comprise a stationary buttock support part to which a back support part is connected such that it can pivot about a horizontal first pivot axis, and a neck support part is connected to the end of the back support part which is remote from the buttock support part and can pivot about a horizontal second pivot axis. An electromotive adjustment device comprises an electromotive drive device and a pivot lever which is mounted such that it can pivot about a pivot axis and is operatively connected to the support parts for adjusting them relative to one another, wherein the pivot lever is pivotally connected to the electromotive drive device for adjusting the support parts between a starting position of the adjustment movement, in which the support parts together form a substantially horizontal support plane, and an end position of the adjustment movement, in which the support parts are pivotally adjusted relative to one another.

[0004] Furniture drives are well known and are used, for example, to adjust the headboard and / or footboard of a slatted frame. The furniture drive can be integrated into a piece of furniture, as is known, for example, from DE 199 62 541 A1 and DE 100 46 751 A1. However, the furniture drive can also be designed as an add-on component to a piece of furniture, as is known, for example, from DE 38 42 078 C1.

[0005] For adjusting slatted frames, for example, so-called double drives are known. These have a housing designed as a separate component that can be connected to the slatted frame and in which two adjustment units are accommodated, one of which serves, for example, to adjust a back support part and the other to adjust a leg support part of the slatted frame. The adjustment units in the known double drives are designed as spindle drives, with the drive coupling to a support part to be adjusted via a linkage lever that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a pivot shaft assigned to the support part to be adjusted. To adjust the support part, the spindle nut of the spindle drive presses against the linkage lever, so that the pivot shaft and thus the support part pivots. Such double drives are known, for example, from EP 0 372 032 A1 and DE 38 42 078 A1.

[0006] DE 100 17 989 C2 and DE 100 17 979 C2 each disclose a furniture drive designed as a double drive, in which each adjustment unit has an electric motor-driven winding device for a rope, belt or chain-shaped traction means, which is connected in the manner of a pulley to a pivoting lever which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a pivoting shaft which in turn is operatively connected to a support part to be adjusted.

[0007] Furniture drives operating according to a similar principle are also known from DE 34 09 223 C2, DE 198 43 259 C1 and EP 1 020 171 A1.

[0008] Double drives operating according to different operating principles are also known from DE 197 29 2812 A1, DE 298 11 566 U1 and DE 297 14 746 U1.

[0009] The invention is based on the object of providing a furniture drive that enables a high level of adjustment functionality using simple means.

[0010] This object is achieved by the invention defined in claim 1.

[0011] The invention provides that the pivot lever is designed and arranged in such a way and is in operative connection with the support parts in the assembly position of the furniture drive in such a way that

[0012] - in a first kinematic phase of the adjustment movement, starting from the initial position, the third support part relative to the second support part and

[0013] - in a second kinematic phase, the second support part is adjusted together with the third support part relative to the first support part.

[0014] In this way, the adjustment of the second support part and the third support part relative to the first support part is coupled to one another, so that a single electric motor is sufficient to adjust both support parts. According to the invention, in the first kinematic phase, with the second support part stationary, the third support part is initially adjusted relative to the second support part. Subsequently, in the second kinematic phase, the second support part is adjusted together with the third support part relative to the first support part.

[0015] For example, and in particular, the first support part can be a stationary buttock support part, the second support part can be a back support part, and the third support part can be a neck support part. Then, in the first kinematic phase, the neck support part is first adjusted relative to the back support part and the buttock support part, and subsequently, in the second kinematic phase, the back support part together with the neck support part are adjusted relative to the buttock support part.

[0016] In this way, when adjusting the support device from a lying position, in which the support parts together form a substantially horizontal support plane, to a sitting position, an ergonomically and anatomically “correct” movement sequence results, in that when transitioning from the lying position to the sitting position, first the neck support part and then the back support part are raised together with the neck support part.

[0017] The fact that, according to the invention, the adjustment of the support parts is kinematically coupled to one another and accordingly a single electric motor is sufficient to adjust the support parts results in a simple and cost-effective construction.

[0018] In the sense of a simple and robust construction, an advantageous further development of the invention provides

[0019] - that the pivot lever is designed and arranged such that it is spaced apart from the second support part in the initial position of the adjustment movement, - that for adjusting the third support part in the first kinematic phase, one end of a bracket is connected in an articulated manner about a first joint axis to the end of the pivot lever facing away from the pivot axis, the other end of which is connected in an articulated manner about a second joint axis to the side of the third support part facing away from the support side, and

[0020] - that the pivot lever has a contact part remote from its ends, which comes into contact with the side of the second support part facing away from the support side in order to adjust the second support part with the third support part in the second kinematic phase, such that the pivot lever takes the second support part with it in the second kinematic phase and pivots it together with the third support part relative to the first support part.

[0021] Since the third pivot axis, about which the pivot lever is pivotally mounted, is spaced from the first pivot axis, a relative movement occurs between the pivot lever and the second support part during the adjustment movement, while the pivot lever rests against the second support part in the second kinematic phase. To reduce friction between the pivot lever and the second support part in the second kinematic phase, an advantageous development of the invention provides for the contact part to be designed as a roller.

[0022] The drive mechanism of the furniture drive according to the invention can be designed in different ways depending on the respective requirements and circumstances. An advantageous development provides that the drive mechanism has an output element that is translationally movable along a translation axis. In this embodiment, the drive mechanism is designed as a linear drive. Corresponding linear drives are available as relatively simple, cost-effective, and robust standard assemblies.

[0023] In order to enable an adjustment-technical coupling of the output member to the pivot lever in the aforementioned embodiment, another advantageous development of the invention provides that one end of a further link is articulated to the output member about a third joint axis and the other end of the further link is articulated to the pivot lever about a fourth joint axis eccentrically to the pivot axis, wherein the further link is subjected to tensile stress during the adjustment movement.

[0024] Another advantageous development of the invention provides that the drive device comprises a spindle drive with a threaded spindle and a spindle nut mounted on the threaded spindle. Such spindle drives are available as relatively simple and cost-effective standard assemblies and are suitable for transmitting large forces.

[0025] An advantageous development of the aforementioned embodiment provides that the output element of the spindle drive is formed by the threaded spindle, which is mounted in a rotationally secure manner and movable in its axial direction, and that the spindle nut is connected to an electric motor of the drive device for rotational drive. In a kinematic reversal of this embodiment, however, the output element of the spindle drive can also be formed by a spindle nut, which is arranged in a rotationally secure manner and movable in the axial direction on a threaded spindle, which is connected to the electric motor of the drive device for rotational drive.

[0026] An electromotively adjustable support device according to the invention for supporting the upholstery of a seating and / or reclining furniture is specified in claim 8, wherein the

[0027] - has a stationary first support part with which it can be pivoted about a horizontal first pivot axis

[0028] - a second support part is connected, with the end of which is remote from the first support part and can be pivoted about a horizontal second pivot axis

[0029] - third support part is connected.

[0030] The support device according to the invention has at least one electromotive furniture drive according to the invention.

[0031] An advantageous development of the support device according to the invention provides that the first support part is a buttock support part, the second support part is a back support part and the third support part is a neck support part.

[0032] In the sense of a simple and robust construction, another advantageous development of the support device according to the invention provides that adjacent support parts are connected to one another by at least one hinge, the hinge axis of which defines the respective pivot axis between the support parts.

[0033] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached schematic drawing. All features described, illustrated in the drawing, and claimed in the claims, taken individually and in any technically reasonable combination with one another, constitute the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims and their references, as well as regardless of their specific description or representation in the drawing. The subject matter and disclosure content of the present application also include subcombinations of the claims in which at least one feature of the respective claim is omitted or replaced by another feature.It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the individual features disclosed in the embodiment further develop the embodiment in themselves, i.e. independently of the other features of the embodiment.

[0034] It shows:

[0035] Fig. 1.1 to Fig. 1.3 each show in a perspective view an embodiment of a support device according to the invention in the starting position of the adjustment movement (Fig. 1.1), at the end of the first kinematic phase (Fig. 1.2) and in the end position of the adjustment movement (Fig. 1.3),

[0036] Fig.2 the support device according to Fig. 1.1 in the starting position of the adjustment movement, wherein an outer frame of the support device is omitted, and

[0037] Fig. 3.1 to Fig. 3.3 in a side view and on an enlarged scale compared to Fig. 1.1 to Fig. 1.3 a detail from Fig. 1 in the area of ​​a pivot lever in the starting position of the adjustment movement (Fig. 3.1), at the end of the first kinematic phase (Fig. 3.2) and in the end position of the adjustment movement (Fig. 3.3), wherein for reasons of illustration a half shell of a drive housing of the furniture drive is omitted.

[0038] An exemplary embodiment of a furniture drive according to the invention and an exemplary embodiment of a support device according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to Fig. 1.1 to Fig. 3.3. Individual components have been omitted from the figures of the drawing for the purpose of illustration. The omitted components are to be added in the relevant figures in a conceptual manner.

[0039] Fig. 1.1 shows an embodiment of a support device 2 according to the invention for supporting the upholstery of a piece of seating and / or reclining furniture. The support device 2 comprises plate-shaped support parts that are pivotally adjustable relative to one another and, in the illustrated embodiment, serve to support a mattress of a box-spring bed.

[0040] In detail, the support device 2 comprises a stationary first support part 4 in the form of a buttock support part, to one end of which a second support part in the form of a back support part 8 is connected so as to be pivotable about a horizontal first pivot axis 6. A third support part in the form of a neck support part 12 is connected to the end of the back support part 10 facing away from the buttock support part 4 and so as to be pivotable about a horizontal second pivot axis 10.

[0041] The back support part 8 is connected to the buttock support part 4 via hinges 14, 14', the hinge axis of which defines the first pivot axis 6. Correspondingly, the back support part 8 is connected to the neck support part 12 via hinges 16, 16', the hinge axis of which defines the second pivot axis 10. Furthermore, the support device 2 has a pivotally adjustable leg support part 18 connected to the end of the buttock support part 4 facing away from the back support part 8, to which a calf support part 20 is pivotally connected to the end of the leg support part 18 facing away from the buttock support part 4.

[0042] The basic structure and functioning of a corresponding support device are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are therefore not explained in detail here.

[0043] In the initial position of the adjustment movement shown in Fig. 1.1, the support parts 4, 8, 12 together with the support parts 18, 20 form a substantially horizontal support plane which corresponds to a lying position of a person resting on the support device 2.

[0044] Fig. 1.2 shows an intermediate position of the adjustment movement in which the neck support part 12 is pivotally adjusted and raised relative to the back support part 8.

[0045] Fig. 1.3 shows an end position of the adjustment movement, in which, in addition to the adjustment of the neck support part 12, the back support part 8 is adjusted relative to the buttock support part 4. This end position of the adjustment movement corresponds to a sitting position of a person resting on the support device 2. In this sitting position, the leg support part 18, together with the calf support part 20, are also adjusted relative to the buttock support part 4, although this is not explained in detail here.

[0046] The support device 2 has an outer frame 22.

[0047] The outer frame 22 is omitted in Fig. 2, so that it can be seen that an embodiment of a furniture drive 24 according to the invention is mounted on the support device 2, which serves to adjust the back support part 8 and the neck support part 12 relative to the buttock support part 4. A further furniture drive 26 is provided for adjusting the leg support part 18 and the calf support part 20 relative to the buttock support part 4, but this will not be explained in more detail here.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the furniture drive 24 is designed as a single drive with a single drive unit housed in a drive housing 28. However, the furniture drive 24 according to the invention can also be designed as a dual drive, in which two drive units are housed in a common drive housing. In this embodiment, the drive housing 28 consists of plastic half-shells.

[0049] In their mounted position, the furniture drives 24, 26 are supported on crossbeams connected to the outer frame 22, which are not shown in the drawing to simplify the illustration. Regarding a corresponding mounting of a furniture drive on a support device, reference is made to DE 10 2016 116 256 A1. If necessary, the drive housing 28 of the furniture drive 24 can be connected to a drive housing 30 of the furniture drive 26.

[0050] The structure and operation of the furniture drive 24 are explained in more detail below with reference to Fig. 3.1 to Fig. 3.3. To illustrate the structure of the furniture drive 24, a half shell of the drive housing 28 of the furniture drive 24 has been omitted in Fig. 3.1 to Fig. 3.3.

[0051] Fig. 3.1 shows (corresponding to Fig. 1.1 ) the support device in the starting position of the adjustment movement.

[0052] The furniture drive 24 has an electromotive drive device 32 and a pivot lever 36 which is pivotally mounted on the drive housing 28 about a third pivot axis 34 and which is operatively connected to the back support part 8 and the neck support part 12 for adjusting the same, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0053] The pivot lever 36 is pivotally connected to the electromotive drive device 32 for adjusting the neck support part 12 and the back support part 8 relative to the buttock support part 4 between the starting position of the adjustment movement (see Fig. 1.1 or 3.1) and the end position of the adjustment movement (see Fig. 1.3 or 3.3) in which the neck support part 12 and the back support part 8 are pivotally adjusted relative to the buttock support part.

[0054] According to the invention, the pivot lever 36 is designed and configured in such a way and is in the assembly position of the furniture drive 24 shown in operative connection with the support parts 12, 8 in such a way that in a first kinematic phase of the adjustment movement, starting from the starting position, the neck support part 12 (third support part) is adjusted relative to the back support part 8 (second support part) and - in a second kinematic phase, the back support part 8 together with the neck support part 12 is adjusted relative to the seat support part 4 (first support part).

[0055] The pivot lever 36 is designed, shaped, and arranged such that, in the initial position of the adjustment movement, it is spaced from the side of the back support part 8 facing away from the support side, i.e., the underside, as can be seen from Fig. 3.1. According to the invention, the support side is understood to be the side of the support parts 4, 8, 12 on which a padding rests when the support device 2 is in use.

[0056] In order to adjust the neck support part 12 relative to the back support part 8 in the first kinematic phase, one end of a tab 40 is connected in an articulated manner about a first hinge axis 38 to the end of the pivot lever 36 facing away from the third pivot axis 34, the other end of which is connected in an articulated manner about a second hinge axis 42 to the side of the neck support part 12 facing away from the support side.

[0057] The pivot lever 36 has, remote from its ends, a contact part which in this embodiment is designed as a roller 44, which, in order to adjust the back support part 8 with the neck support part 12 in the second kinematic phase, comes to rest on the side of the back support part 8 facing away from the support side, i.e. the underside, in such a way that the pivot lever 36 takes the back support part 8 with it in the second kinematic phase and pivots it together with the neck support part 12 relative to the buttock support part 4.

[0058] The electromotive drive device 32 has an electric motor 46 whose output shaft, running perpendicular to the plane of the drawing (see Fig. 3.1), is designed as a worm gear that engages a spindle nut 50 designed as a worm wheel, which is rotatably mounted in the drive housing 28 of the furniture drive 24. The spindle nut 50 is mounted on a threaded spindle 54 that is mounted in the drive housing 28 in a rotationally secure manner and movable in its axial direction, and carries a tension piece 54 at its end facing away from the spindle nut 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the threaded spindle 34, together with the tension piece 54, forms the output element of the electromotive drive device 32.The furniture drive 24 has a further tab 58, one end of which is pivotally connected to the tension piece 56 about a third pivot axis 60 and the other end of which is pivotally connected to the pivot lever 36 about a fourth pivot axis 62, specifically eccentrically to the pivot axis 34 of the pivot lever 36.

[0059] In the illustrated embodiment, the end of the further tab 58 facing away from the tension piece 56 is designed as a hook 64 which is hooked onto a pin 66 which is formed eccentrically to the pivot axis 34 on the pivot lever 36.

[0060] Starting from the starting position of the adjustment movement shown in Fig. 3.1, the electric motor 46 drives the spindle nut 52 in the first kinematic phase of the adjustment movement such that the threaded spindle 54 with the tension piece 56 moves to the right in Fig. 3.1. The further tab 58 pulls eccentrically to the pivot axis 34 on the pivot lever 36 so that the latter pivots clockwise in Fig. 3.1 about the pivot axis 34. Due to the connection of the end of the pivot lever 36 facing away from the pivot axis 34 to the neck support part 12 by the tab 40, the neck support part 12 is pivoted clockwise about the second pivot axis 10 relative to the back support part 8 in Fig. 3.1. In the first kinematic phase, the back support part 8 is stationary and is initially not adjusted.

[0061] Fig. 3.2 shows the adjustment position reached at the end of the first kinematic phase. In this adjustment position, the neck support part 12 is pivoted to its maximum relative to the back support part 8 and thus raised, while the back support part 8 continues to form a substantially horizontal support plane with the buttock support part 4. Fig. 3.2 shows that at the end of the first kinematic phase, the roller 44 of the pivot lever 36 has come to rest against the underside of the back support part 8.

[0062] Starting from the adjustment position shown in Fig. 3.2, in the second kinematic phase, the electric motor 46 continues to drive the spindle nut 52 such that the threaded spindle 54 with the tension piece 56 moves further to the right in Fig. 3.2. In this case, the pivot lever 36 is pivoted further clockwise about the pivot axis 38, whereby the pivot lever 36, together with the roller 44, carries the back support part 8 with it, so that the back support part 8 is pivoted about the first pivot axis 6 relative to the buttock support part 4. It can be seen that in the second kinematic phase, the position of the neck support part 12 relative to the back support part 8 no longer changes.

[0063] Fig. 3.3 shows the final position of the adjustment movement, in which the back support part 8 with the neck support part 12 is maximally adjusted relative to the buttock support part 4. The return from this final position back to the starting position occurs when the drive device 32 is switched on, but under the weight of the support parts 8, 12 or the weight of a person resting on the support parts 8, 12.

[0064] Because the neck support part 12 is first adjusted and raised relative to the back support part 8 during adjustment and only then is the back support part 8 adjusted together with the neck support part 12, an anatomically and ergonomically “correct” kinematics of the support device 2 is achieved.

[0065] The furniture drive 24 according to the invention thus enables, with a particularly simple construction, an adjustment of both the neck support part 12 and the back support part 8 with a single electric motor 46.

[0066] While the furniture drive 24 according to the invention is functional with a single electric motor 46, two or more electric motors can also be used according to the invention in order to increase the adjustment force, depending on the respective requirements and circumstances.

[0067] Reference symbol list for AZ OAC240403PCT

[0068] Support device

[0069] Seat support part first pivot axis

[0070] Back support part second swivel axis

[0071] Neck support part

[0072] hinge

[0073] hinge

[0074] Leg support part

[0075] Calf support part

[0076] Outer frame

[0077] Furniture drive

[0078] Furniture drive

[0079] Drive housing of 24

[0080] Drive housing of 26 electric motor drive device third swivel axis

[0081] Swivel lever first joint axis

[0082] Tab second joint axis

[0083] role

[0084] electric motor

[0085] Output shaft

[0086] spindle nut

[0087] threaded spindle

[0088] Tension piece further tab third joint axis fourth joint axis hook pin

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Electromotive furniture drive (24) for adjusting support parts (4, 8, 12) of a support device (2) which can be pivoted relative to one another for supporting the upholstery of a piece of seating and / or reclining furniture, which - a stationary first support part (4) with which it can be pivoted about a horizontal first pivot axis (6) - a second support part (8) is connected, with the end of which facing away from the first support part (4) a - third support part (12) is connected to an electromotive adjustment device which has an electromotive drive device (32) and a pivoting lever (36) which is pivotally mounted about a third pivot axis (34) and is operatively connected to the support parts (4, 8, 12) for adjusting the support parts (4, 8, 12) between a starting position of the adjustment movement, in which the support parts (4, 8, 12) together form a substantially horizontal support plane, and an end position of the adjustment movement, in which the support parts (4, 8, 12) are pivotally adjusted relative to one another, wherein the pivoting lever (36) is in pivoting drive connection with the electromotive drive device (32), characterized in that that the pivot lever (36) is designed and arranged in such a way and, in the assembly position of the furniture drive (24), is in operative connection with the support parts (4, 8, 12) in such a way that - in a first kinematic phase of the adjustment movement, starting from the initial position, the third support part (12) relative to the second support part (8) and - in a second kinematic phase, the second support part (8) is adjusted together with the third support part (12) relative to the first support part (4).

2. Furniture drive according to claim 1, characterized in that - that the pivot lever (36) is designed and arranged such that it is spaced apart from the second support part (8) in the initial position of the adjustment movement, - that for adjusting the third support part (12) in the first kinematic phase, one end of a bracket (40) is connected in an articulated manner about a first joint axis (38) to the end of the pivot lever (36) facing away from the third pivot axis (34), the other end of which is connected in an articulated manner about a second joint axis (42) to the side of the third support part (12) facing away from the support side, and - that the pivot lever (36) has a contact part remote from its ends, which in the second kinematic phase comes to bear on the side of the second support part (8) facing away from the support side, such that the pivot lever (36) in the second kinematic phase, the second support part (8) and pivots together with the third support part (12) relative to the first support part (4).

3. Furniture drive according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact part is designed as a roller (44).

4. Furniture drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device (32) has an output member which is translationally movable along a translation axis.

5. Furniture drive according to claim 4, characterized in that one end of a further tab (58) is connected to the output member in an articulated manner about a third hinge axis (60) and the other end of the further tab (58) is connected to the pivot lever (36) in an articulated manner about a fourth hinge axis (62) eccentrically to the third pivot axis (34), wherein the further tab (58) is subjected to tensile stress during the adjustment movement from the starting position towards the end position.

6. Furniture drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device (32) has a spindle drive with a threaded spindle (54) and a spindle nut (52) placed on the threaded spindle.

7. Furniture drive according to claim 6, characterized in that the output member of the spindle drive is formed by the threaded spindle (54), which is mounted in a rotationally secure manner and movable in its axial direction, and in that the spindle nut (52) is in rotary drive connection with an electric motor (46) of the drive device (32).

8. Electrically adjustable support device (2) for supporting the upholstery of a seating and / or reclining furniture, which - a stationary first support part (4) with which it can be pivoted about a horizontal first pivot axis (6) - a second support part (8) is connected, with the end of which facing away from the first support part (4) a - third support part (12) is connected, characterized in that the support device (2) has at least one electromotive furniture drive (24) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Support device according to claim 8, characterized in that the first support part (4) is a buttock support part, the second support part (8) is a back support part and the third support part is a neck support part (12).

10. Support device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that adjacent support parts (4, 8 or 8, 12) are each connected to one another by at least one hinge (14, 14' or 16, 16'), the hinge axis of which defines the respective pivot axis (6 or 10) between the support parts (4, 8 or 8, 12).

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