Leg support lining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leg rest fittings for seating and reclining furniture lack easy and reliable fully automatic reversible adjustment mechanisms, often leading to damage from improper pivoting or obstruction, as they are not secured against excessive pivoting or objects underneath.
Innovation Solution
A leg rest fitting with a swivel arm and displacement unit that uses a contact surface and auxiliary contact surface to guide the leg rest up and down automatically, featuring a bevelled contact surface to prevent over-pivoting and an auxiliary contact surface to prevent damage from objects, utilizing a motor-driven belt drive for smooth adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a motor-driven displacement unit is used for automatic adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to lack of protection against over-pivoting and obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing mechanical guidance elements (contact surface and auxiliary contact surface on the swivel arm that engage with the frame) before damage can occur. These elements preemptively prevent over-pivoting and obstruction damage by establishing defined movement paths and stopping points, ensuring the leg rest cannot pivot beyond safe limits or be damaged by objects positioned underneath during the adjustment process
2Device complexity
If a simple linear drive mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to prevent over-pivoting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary mechanical guidance system consisting of contact surfaces and auxiliary contact surfaces on the swivel arm that interact with the frame. These intermediary elements mediate between the simple linear drive and the leg rest, translating the linear motion into controlled pivoting while preventing over-pivoting and damage, thus maintaining simplicity while enhancing reliability
3Ease of operation
If the leg rest is brought into use position, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to potential damage from objects positioned underneath
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing the auxiliary contact surface on the swivel arm before the leg rest is positioned. This auxiliary contact surface proactively creates a protective barrier that prevents objects from being positioned underneath the leg rest during adjustment, eliminating the harmful effect before it can occur while maintaining full accessibility
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 fully automatic and secure reversible adjustment of the leg rest between use and non-use positions, preventing damage from over-pivoting and obstruction, ensuring reliable and safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
the contact surface of the lever projection of the first swivel arm is moved against a stationary deflection element of the frame and the first swivel axis is moved to the front in front of the deflection element such that a weight of the swivel unit is supported on the deflection element of the frame
Implementation Method 2
the weight of the swivel unit is supported on the deflection element of the frame
Implementation Method 3
the auxiliary contact surface and a surface facing the leg rest form a protrusion in the first pivot arm end of the first pivot arm
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a leg rest fitting for the reversible adjustment of a leg rest of a seating and/or reclining furniture from a position of use to a position of non-use and back, comprising a sliding unit with a carriage that is translationally movable in a frame and comprising a pivoting unit with a first pivoting arm, wherein the leg rest is held at a first leg rest end of the first pivoting arm and wherein the first pivoting arm is pivotably connected to the carriage of the sliding unit at a first pivoting arm end opposite the leg rest via a first pivot joint rotatable about a first pivot axis.wherein in the first pivot arm end of the first pivot arm a lever projection is formed which, at least partially, extends beyond the first pivot axis of the first pivot joint on a rear side opposite the leg support and on an upper side opposite a floor, and which has a contact surface designed as a ramp, and an auxiliary contact surface is formed which, at least partially, extends beyond the first pivot axis of the first pivot joint on its upper side and is opposite the contact surface, wherein the auxiliary contact surface and a surface facing the leg support form a projection in the first pivot arm end of the first pivot arm, and wherein, in order to move the leg support from the non-use position to the use position, the pivot arms rotate about the pivot joints by moving the slide of the displacement unit towards a front side in the frame in such a way thatthat the contact surface of the lever projection of the first pivot arm is against a stationary deflection element of the frame and the first pivot axis is moved towards the front in front of the deflection element, that a weight force of the pivot unit is supported on the deflection element of the frame and that the auxiliary contact surface is kept spaced apart from the deflection element of the frame.