Cable-Pull Furniture Adjustment Mechanism With Freewheel Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture adjustment mechanisms, such as those using motorized solutions or toothed gears with cranks, are complex and cumbersome for height and angle adjustments of table tops.
Innovation Solution
A simple and comfortable actuation mechanism using a cable-like traction element with a return spring and freewheel device, allowing for easy manual adjustment of furniture parts by pulling the element into an extended position and returning it to a rest position, decoupling from the drive shaft to maintain the adjusted position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If motorized solutions are used for adjusting furniture parts, then adjustment precision and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces motorized actuation with a purely mechanical cable-pull system. The pulling element (cable or belt) directly transmits force to the drive drum, which rotates the threaded spindle to adjust the furniture part position. This eliminates motors, control electronics, and power supply requirements while maintaining manual adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the motorized components from the adjustment mechanism, retaining only the essential mechanical elements (cable, drum, spindle, gears). This simplification achieves ease of operation through manual pulling while reducing device complexity by eliminating the motor assembly.
2Device complexity
If toothed gears with crank are used for manual adjustment, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome operation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a crank that requires rotational motion and two-handed operation, the invention inverts the actuation method to a linear pulling motion. The cable-pull mechanism allows the user to simply pull the pulling element in the desired direction, which is more intuitive and easier to operate, especially for height adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the motion parameter from rotational (crank) to linear (cable pull). This parameter change makes the operation more natural and easier to perform with one hand, improving ease of operation while keeping the mechanical structure relatively simple.
3Speed
If the pulling element is continuously coupled to the drive shaft, then adjustment responsiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to hold position
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting mechanism is designed to be self-locking through the threaded spindle and gear system. Once the pulling element is released, the mechanism automatically maintains the adjusted position without requiring continuous force or active coupling. The friction and mechanical interference in the threaded connection provide automatic position holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static continuous coupling to a dynamic on-demand coupling. The pulling element is coupled to the drive shaft only during adjustment motion, and automatically decoupled or locked when adjustment is complete, providing both responsiveness during movement and stability at rest.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effortless height and angle adjustments of furniture parts, improving ergonomics and usability, particularly in office, children's, and youth furniture, while keeping the mechanism aesthetically integrated and easy to use.
Implementation Method 1
The actuating device has a return spring or other return spring means which can be tensioned when the pulling element is pulled into an extended position and which bring the pulling element back into a rest position
Implementation Method 2
A freewheel device is provided in the adjusting gear or the actuating device. The freewheel device decouples the traction element from the rotary actuation when it is brought back into the rest position, so that the traction element can be brought back into the rest position when it is freewheeling
Implementation Method 3
it transmits a force via a drive jaw to a drive drum, which in turn drives a threaded spindle via gear wheels in order to raise an upper frame relative to a base frame
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~20
Figure 5~6b
AI summary
The invention relates to a piece of furniture (10a-10f), comprising a furniture base part (13a-13f), in particular a furniture frame, and a furniture part (11), in particular a table top (12), which can be moved relative thereto, an adjuster gear (20a-20f) for driving the furniture part (11) and an actuating device (30a-30f) used to rotationally actuate a drive shaft (36a-36f) of the adjuster gear (20a-20f). According to the invention, the actuating device for the rotational actuation of the adjuster gear (20a-20f) comprises a manually actuatable rope- or belt-type tractive element (31a-31f) wound around a contact means (51a-51f) which is rotationally coupled to the drive shaft (36a-36f) at least during the actuation of the actuating device (30a-30f) and sets the drive shaft (36a-36f) in rotation during traction.