Motor-Adjustable Furniture Support with Linear Rod Pivoting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric motor-adjustable support devices for furniture, such as slatted frames, have complex structures and high overall heights due to the requirement of linkage levers and rotatable connections, making them costly and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a rod-like actuating element that is linearly guided within the support device, allowing for eccentric pivoting of support parts without the need for linkage levers or rotatable connections, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing the overall height.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If linkage levers and rotatable connections are used for pivoting support parts, then the support device achieves reliable pivoting function, but the structure becomes complex and the overall height increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivoting functionVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the linkage lever and rotatable connection components from the traditional pivoting mechanism. Instead of using a complex linkage system with multiple rotating joints, the invention uses a linearly guided rod-like actuating element that directly transmits force to pivot the support part, thereby simplifying the structure while maintaining the pivoting function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional pivoting mechanism by replacing rotational joints with a linear guidance system. Rather than having the actuating element rotate through a linkage lever, the rod-like actuating element moves linearly within a guide and transfers motion eccentrically to achieve pivoting, thus inverting the conventional approach and reducing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If linkage levers and rotatable connections are used for pivoting support parts, then the support device achieves reliable pivoting function, but the overall height increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivoting functionVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the linkage lever and rotatable connection components that contribute to the overall height. By using a linearly guided rod-like actuating element instead, the structure becomes more compact in the vertical direction while maintaining the necessary pivoting functionality through eccentric force application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If traditional support device structure with linkage levers is used, then the pivoting function is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepivoting functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates expensive components such as linkage levers and precision rotatable connections. The simplified design using a linearly guided rod-like actuating element reduces the number of parts that require precision manufacturing and assembly, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Device complexity

If fewer components are used to simplify the structure, then the device becomes more cost-effective and compact, but the ability to transmit adjusting force may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidadjusting force transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the rod-like actuating element within the linear guide, with the rod positioned eccentrically relative to the pivot axis of the support part. This asymmetric arrangement allows the linear motion of the rod to be efficiently converted into rotational motion, effectively transmitting the adjusting force from the motor to the support part despite the reduced number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

This approach results in a cost-effective, robust, and compact design with fewer components, enabling ergonomic adjustments of support parts while maintaining the ability to pivot multiple parts simultaneously or sequentially.

Implementation Method 1

the actuating element for pivoting the second support part acts eccentrically to the pivot axis on the second support part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric mechanism: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP2418984B1Support device adjustable by an electric motor
Publication Date: 2015.05.13 BIONICAL SYST
  • EP2418984B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2418984B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2418984B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a support device (2) which can be adjusted by an electric motor for the cushioning arrangement of an item of furniture for sitting or lying on. Said support device comprises a first support part (4) and a second support part (6) which can pivot about a pivotable axis (10), and a third support part (8) is arranged between said two other parts. Said support device (2) also comprises an electric motor drive comprising an adjusting element which can be connected in a force transmitting manner to the second support part (6) by an actuation element (26) used to pivot said second support part. According to the invention, said actuation element (26) is rod-shaped and can be guided into a guide (28), which is in or on the third support part (8), such that it can be displaced in a linear manner by means of the adjusting element, and said actuation element (26) engages with the second support part (6) in a manner eccentric to the pivotable axis (10) for pivoting the second support part (6).