The invention relates to a furniture drive, embodied as a double drive, for moving parts of a piece of furniture relative to one another.
Such furniture drives are known in general and serve, for example, as adjustment drives for the movement or adjustment of parts of a lattice structure relative to one another. EP 0 372 032 B1 discloses a furniture drive, embodied as a double drive, for the adjustment of parts of a piece of furniture relative to one another, and is provided with two drive units. Each drive unit of the known furniture drive cooperates with a pivot lever that in the assembled position of the furniture drive is in functional connection with the part of the piece of furniture that is to be adjusted. With the known furniture drive, each drive unit has a linearly movable drive element that is in functional connection with the pivot lever for pivoting the latter. In this connection, the pivot lever is embodied as an angle lever upon which the linearly movable drive element, which is formed by a spindle nut that is disposed on an adjusting spindle, exerts a push for pivoting the pivot lever, and is thus in functional connection with the pivot lever.
DE 38 420 78 C2 discloses a furniture drive, embodied as a double drive, for the adjustment of parts of a piece of furniture relative to one another and is provided with two drive units, each drive unit being provided with a linearly movable drive element in the form of a spindle nut that is held on an adjusting spindle in such a way as to be protected against torsion and to be moved in an axial direction, and which is provided with a pivot lever for pivoting a part of a piece of furniture that the pivot lever is in functional connection with in the assembled position. For the cooperation with the pivot lever, each drive unit of the double drive of the known document is provided with a right-angled abutment member, the one holding leg of which that extends parallel to the linear movement axis of the spindle nut is connected with the spindle nut, and the other leg of which is perpendicular to the movement axis of the spindle nut and lightly acts upon that end of the pivot lever that is remote from the pivot axis.
DE 296 07 493 U1 discloses a furniture drive where formed on a spindle nut are two essentially horizontal abutment surfaces that are offset relative to one another in the direction of the movement axis, and that for the adjustment of a part of a piece of furniture, cooperate with a link lever that is provided with two lever arms that are angularly offset from one another.
The object of the invention is to provide a furniture drive, embodied as a double drive, that is simple in construction and hence economical to manufacture, and is also compact.
The basic concept of the inventive teaching is to provide on the linearly movable drive element, or an abutment member connected therewith, an abutment surface on which the pivot lever runs during the relative movement between the linearly movable drive element and the pivot lever, whereby the pivot lever cooperates with the abutment surface essentially in the manner of a cam drive, and is thereby pivoted.
In this way there results a straightforward and hence economical construction of the furniture drive with relatively few components.
A particular advantage of the inventive furniture drive is that especially when exploiting the operating principle of an inclined plane, the pivot lever can be shorter than is the case with the known furniture drive. In this way, the inventive furniture drive can have a relatively low overall height. This has the significant advantage that when combining, for example, a lattice structure with an inventive furniture drive, the thus-formed unit has an overall height that is not, or is only slightly, greater than the overall height of the lattice structure itself.
A further advantage of the inventive furniture drive is that it has a sturdy construction and is suitable for the application of great forces.
The inventive furniture drive is embodied as a dual or double drive. While basically maintaining the basic principle of operation, it is, however, also possible to embody the furniture drive as a single drive.
The component on which the abutment surface is embodied can have any desired shape. A further development provides that this component is essentially wedge-shaped or ramp-shaped. This embodiment is particularly straightforward and hence economical to manufacture, whereby the wedge or ramp shape forms the abutment surface that is inclined relative to the movement axis of the linearly movable drive element.
Another further development provides that the abutment surface is an essentially planar surface. However, while basically maintaining the basic principle of operation of an inclined plane, the abutment surface can also have a curved cross-section, as provided in another embodiment. By an appropriate selection of the cross section of the abutment surface one can select over a wide range about what pivot angle the pivot lever is pivoted if the linearly movable drive element is moved a certain stretch along its movement axis relative to the pivot lever.
In the embodiment having the essentially planar abutment surface, it is advantageous that the abutment surface form with the linear movement axis of the drive element an acute angle, especially an angle that is less than about 45°, whereas with the embodiment where the abutment surface has a curved cross section it is advantageous that an imaginary connecting line between the end points of the curved cross section form with the linear movement axis of the drive element an acute angle, especially an angle that is less than 45°. In this way, during the entire adjustment movement a particularly favorable articulation angle of the pivot lever results.
In the embodiment having the abutment surface with a curved cross section, the abutment surface can be convex or concave relative to the pivot lever, as provided in other embodiments.
The pivot lever can have any desired suitable shape, in particular being embodied as a single-arm lever that in the assembled position rests against the abutment surface with that end thereof that is remote from the pivot axis, i.e. eccentrically relative to the pivot axis. In this connection the pivot lever is generally not part of the inventive furniture drive, but rather is part of an adjustment fitting that is mounted on a lattice structure or the like. However, in principle the pivot lever can also be part of the inventive furniture drive. For the mounting of the furniture drive, it is then necessary to additionally produce, for example, a fixed connection between the pivot lever and the pivot shaft of the adjustment fitting. A further development provides that in the assembled position of the furniture drive the pivot lever rests against the abutment surface via a rotatably mounted roller. In this way, during the adjustment movement the friction between the pivot lever and the abutment surface is considerably reduced, thereby avoiding power loss due to friction. Furthermore, wearing-away of the abutment surface is considerably reduced.
The abutment surface can be formed directly on the linearly movable drive element or on an abutment member that is connected with the drive element in a suitable fashion. In this connection, the component on which the abutment surface is formed can be made of any desired suitable material. However, this component is expediently made of polymeric material. This embodiment is particularly straightforward and economical to produce.
Another advantageous further development provides that the component on which the abutment surface is formed is supported during the adjustment movement on a housing of the furniture drive or on a part connected therewith. In this way, the component of the reaction force of the pivot lever that extends perpendicular to the movement axis of the drive element is introduced into the housing. In this way there is avoided, for example with a spindle drive, that bending moments occur on the adjusting spindle that could lead to damage to the adjusting spindle.
A further development of the aforementioned embodiment provides that the abutment surface have a support portion against which the pivot lever is supported in one end position of the adjustment movement in such a way that forces introduced from the pivot lever into the component on which the abutment surface is formed act essentially entirely perpendicular to the movement axis of the drive element. In this way, in the end position of the adjustment movement, there occur practically no forces against the components of the furniture drive in the direction of the movement axis of the drive element and that try to move the component on which the abutment surface is formed back against the drive force of the furniture drive. As a result, in this end position the components of the furniture drive are nearly entirely relieved of forces that act in the direction of the movement axis of the drive element. This is particularly advantageous for the reason that in an end position that, for example, can correspond to a maximum pivot position of a part of a lattice structure that is pivoted with the inventive furniture drive, in general the greatest forces act upon the furniture drive and without relieving the components of the furniture drive can lead to damage of the furniture drive.
The linearly movable drive element can have any desired suitable configuration. One expedient further development provides that the linearly movable drive element be a spindle nut that is held on a rotatably drivable adjusting spindle in a manner protected against torsion and movable in an axial direction. Such spindle drives are available as simple and economical standard components, and have a sturdy construction and are suitable for the application of particularly great forces.
In a kinematic reversal of the aforementioned embodiment, the linearly movable drive element can also be an adjusting spindle that is movable in its axial direction and on which is disposed a stationary rotatably drivable spindle nut.
Another further development provides that the pivot lever, in the assembled position of the furniture drive, be fixedly connected with a rotatably mounted shaft that is in functional connection with a part of a piece of furniture that is to be moved or adjusted. In this connection, the pivot lever is generally not part of the furniture drive, but rather of an adjustment fitting, for example of a lattice structure. The pivot lever can, however, also be part of the furniture drive.
Other expedient further developments provide that each drive unit be provided with an electric motor and/or that the drive units of the double drive be accommodated in a common housing.
The pivot lever is expediently a single-arm lever.
A particularly advantageous further development of the inventive teaching provides that a part of the lever arm that is adjacent to the pivot axis form an angle with a part of the lever arm that is adjacent to the free end of the lever arm in such a way that the pivot lever have an angled-off or bent configuration. With this embodiment, the furniture drive can have a particularly low overall height. With the aforementioned embodiment, the angle can be an acute angle or approximately 90°, as provided by expedient further developments.
Another advantageous further development of the inventive teaching provides that the abutment surface be formed on that side of the abutment member that is remote from the pivot axis. With this embodiment, the forces that act upon the pivot lever during the adjustment movement try to pull the pivot shaft of the pivot lever into the housing of the furniture drive, so that an arresting or securing element, which can, for example, be embodied as a closing element and secures the pivot shaft against the housing, is to a large extent relieved of stress. In this way, damage to the securing element is reliably prevented.
In principle, the pivot lever can be subjected to pressure during the adjustment movement. Pursuant to a further development, however, the pivot lever is subjected to traction during the adjustment movement. In this way there is effected an introduction of the forces into the housing of the furniture drive essentially only in that region in which the pivot lever is disposed.
The invention will be subsequently explained in greater detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of an inventive furniture drive are illustrated.
Shown are:
In the figures of the drawings, the same or corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals.
The drive unit 4 has a linearly movable drive element, which in this embodiment is formed by an adjusting spindle 10 that is movable back and forth in its axial direction in the direction of the double arrow 8, and which in this embodiment is embodied as a threaded spindle. On the adjusting spindle 10 is a stationary spindle nut 12 that is provided with an internal thread and which is rotatably drivable by means of an electric motor 14, which is indicated only schematically in the drawing, and a non-illustrated gear mechanism.
In the assembled position of the furniture drive 2, the adjusting spindle 10 is functionally connected with a pivot lever 18, which is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis 16, for the pivoting of the pivot lever. In this embodiment, the pivot lever 18 is not part of the furniture drive 2, but rather is part of an adjustment fitting of a support device, not illustrated in
For the pivoting of the pivot lever 18, the drive unit 4 is provided with an abutment member 24 that is connected to that end of the adjusting spindle 10 that faces the pivot lever 18, whereby the connection between the adjusting spindle 10 and the abutment member 24 is able to withstand pushing and pulling. Pursuant to the invention, formed on the abutment member 24 is an abutment surface 26 that is inclined relative to the linear movement axis of the adjusting spindle 10 and that in this embodiment is essentially planar; during the course of the adjustment movement, the pivot lever 18 continually rests against the abutment surface and cooperates therewith in the manner of a cam drive. To form the inclined abutment surface 26, in this embodiment the upper side of the abutment member 24 that faces the pivot axis 16 is embodied in a ramp-shaped manner as an inclined plane, as can be seen from FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the abutment surface 26 is inclined at an acute angle of about 18° relative to the linear movement axis of the adjusting spindle 10. The inclination of the abutment surface 26 relative to the movement axis is, however, selectable over a wide range in conformity with the respective requirements.
The operation of the inventive furniture drive 2 will be explained subsequently with the aid of
For contact against the abutment surface 26, the pivot lever 18, which in this embodiment is embodied as a single-arm lever, is provided at its end, in other words eccentrically relative to the pivot axis 16, with a rotatably mounted roller 28, which will be described in greater detail subsequently with the aid of FIG. 7. The linear movement axis of the adjusting spindle 10 is symbolized in
For pivoting the pivot lever 18, and hence for moving or adjusting a part of a piece of furniture that is in functional connection with the pivot lever 18 and is not illustrated in
As the adjusting spindle 10, with the abutment member 24, moves toward the left in
During the pivoting, the pivot lever 18 moves a part of a piece of furniture that is not illustrated in
During the adjustment movement, the abutment member 24 is supported on a guide of the housing 6, which guide is not illustrated in
To adjust or move the leg support element 42 and the calf support element 44 relative to the central support element 36, a pivotable adjustment lever 46 is provided that is fixedly connected with a pivot shaft 48 with which also the pivot lever 18 is fixedly connected. The adjustment lever 46 is thus pivotable together with the pivot lever 18 about the pivot axis 16 of the latter.
To move or adjust the upper body support element 38 and the head support element 40 relative to the central support element 36, a further adjustment lever 50 is provided that is fixedly connected with a further pivot shaft 52 with which also the pivot lever 18′ that is associated with the drive unit 4′ is connected. The further adjustment lever 50 is thus pivotable together with the pivot lever 18′ about the pivot axis 16′ of the latter.
An end 56 of a link lever 58 is hingedly connected with that end 54 of the adjustment lever 50 that is remote from the pivot lever 18′, and the other end 60 of the link lever is hingedly connected with the head support element 40.
In a corresponding manner, for adjusting or moving the upper body support element 38 and the head support element 40 relative to the central support element 36, the electric motor 14′ of the drive unit 4′ drives the spindle nut 12′ in such a way that the adjusting spindle 10′, together with the abutment member 24′, are moved toward the right in FIG. 5. In so doing, the pivot lever 18′ runs up on the abutment surface 26′ of the abutment member 24′ and pivots, so that also the further adjustment lever 50 is pivoted and the upper body support element 38 and the head support element 40 are moved until the end position of the adjustment movement illustrated in
For returning to the adjustment position illustrated in
The inventive furniture drive 2 is straightforward and economical in construction as well as sturdy. Due to the exploitation of the operating principle of an inclined plane, the pivot levers 18, 18′ can be relatively short, so that a compact construction having a low overall height results. As can be seen from
To mount the furniture drive 2 on the lattice structure 34, the housing is placed from below onto the lattice structure 34, so that the pivot levers 18, 18′ of the lattice structure engage into the recesses 20, 20′ of the housing 6. The securing elements 22, 22′ are subsequently mounted, thereby preventing the furniture drive 2 from coming off of the lattice structure 34.
Illustrated in
In this embodiment, the spindle nut 10 forms the abutment member on which the abutment surface 26 is formed, in which an opening 74 is formed through which the adjusting spindle 10 extends. In contrast to the embodiment of
In this embodiment, the pivot lever 18 is also a single-armed lever, whereby a part 76 of the lever arm 78 that is adjacent to the pivot axis 16 forms an angle with a part 80 of the lever arm 78 that is adjacent to the lever arm 78, whereby in this embodiment the angle is approximately 90° and is formed such that the lever arm 78 has a bent configuration.
As can be seen from
Due to the configuration of the pivot lever 18 as a bent lever, as well as the arrangement of the abutment surface 26 on that side of the spindle nut 12 that is remote from the pivot axis 16, the embodiment of
Furthermore, the forces that act upon the pivot lever 18 during the adjustment movement try to pull the pivot shaft of the pivot lever 18 into the housing 6. In this way, the security element 22, which can be embodied as a closing element, is to a large extent relieved of stress. Thus, damage to the securing element 22 is reliably prevented.
The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority document 100 46 752.0 filed Sep. 21, 2000, 201 06 189.9 filed Apr. 9, 2001 and PCT/EP01/10815 filed Sep. 19, 2001.
The resent invention is of course in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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100 46 752 | Sep 2000 | DE | national |
201 06 189 U | Apr 2001 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP01/10815 | 9/19/2001 | WO | 00 | 3/21/2003 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO02/24034 | 3/28/2002 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030172756 A1 | Sep 2003 | US |