The present invention concerns a trigger sensor for triggering an electric furniture drive based on a movement caused by a user of the furniture part to be driven by the furniture drive. The trigger sensor has at least one actuating member movable in the mounted position by the furniture part.
Trigger sensors are shown in various different design configurations in AT 413 472 B. Thus, for example, FIG. 17 shows a trigger sensor having a potentiometer actutable by an actuating member, the actuating member being integrated in the ejection lever of the furniture drive. For that purpose, the ejection lever is of a two-part configuration, the two lever parts being prestressed relative to each other by a spring.
FIG. 18 shows another embodiment in which the trigger sensor is fixed separately from the furniture drive to the furniture carcass. Here the actuating member of the trigger sensor is in the form of a spring-loaded push rod cooperating by way of a rack with a pinion of a potentiometer. The precise structure of that trigger sensor is shown in FIG. 19.
The above-discussed trigger sensors suffer from the disadvantage that they are each sensitive only to movements of the furniture part in a single predetermined direction. That direction is the specific direction in which the furniture part is movably mounted. If the furniture part is especially in the form of a drawer, the problem arises precisely in relation to very wide drawers which are of a small internal depth, that a trigger sensor which is sensitive only to the predetermined direction of movement of the furniture part does not permit reliable triggering of the furniture drive, particularly when the situation involves the manual application of pressure to the front panel of the drawer in one of the edge regions. In that case, more specifically, only a negligible depthwise movement of the furniture part parallel to the side walls of the furniture carcass is made possible by the force applied from the exterior by the user. Instead, that primarily involves a rotary movement of the furniture part, and that movement cannot be detected by the trigger sensor. That problem can also arise in relation to other furniture parts such as, for example, furniture doors or furniture flaps.
DE 10 2006 008 505 A1 discloses a trigger sensor having the features of the classifying portion of the present invention.
The object of the invention is to ensure reliable triggering of a furniture drive even in the above-discussed situations, wherein the invention seeks to provide that the trigger sensor has a simpler and less expensive structure than DE 10 2006 008 505 A1.
That object is attained by a trigger sensor having the features of the present invention, and an article of furniture having the features of the present invention.
The use of a trigger sensor which in itself is suitable for detecting movements of the furniture part along at least two directions which are mutually orthogonal makes it possible to ensure triggering of the furniture drive even when using a single trigger sensor without the use of complicated and expensive multi-axis acceleration sensors.
For the specific situation where the movable furniture part is a drawer which is mounted in a furniture carcass in such a way that it can be extended, it may even be sufficient under some circumstances if it is only provided that a movement of the furniture drive is monitored in a direction orthogonal to the extension direction. That can be effected for example in such a way that a trigger sensor, in accordance with the above-described state of the art, is either arranged at a side wall of the furniture carcass or is arranged at the rear side of the furniture carcass, and in that case cooperates with an abutment which extends in the extension direction and which is arranged on the furniture part.
The measures according to the invention are suitable in particular for use in relation to all electrically driven furniture parts in which there is either a storage space for filling items which can be introduced thereinto or removed therefrom (for example drawers) or which openably close such a storage space (for example flaps, doors).
Further advantageous embodiments are defined in the respective appendant claims.
A particularly simple configuration of the actuating member is afforded if it is provided that the actuating member is in the form of an articulated lever having two articulation arms movable relative to each other. In itself, it may be sufficient if the two articulation arms are mounted limitedly movably to each other for example by a flexural joint. Particularly preferably, however, it is provided that the articulation arms are connected together by a rotary joint.
In each of the described embodiments it can be provided that the actuating member cooperates with a potentiometer by way of an output drive. It will be appreciated that triggering can also be effected in a different manner than by a potentiometer. Other examples are the use of optical or magnetic encoders which can also be coupled to the output drive.
It can be provided in each embodiment that the furniture drive has a control or regulating device which is in signal relationship with the at least one trigger sensor. The control or regulating device can have a drive module which serves to control or regulate the electric drive unit. The electric drive unit can be for example in the form of an electric motor.
Other examples of movable furniture parts, besides drawers, are also furniture flaps and furniture doors.
Further advantages and details of the invention will be apparent from the specific description and the accompanying Figures in which:
a, 2b, 2c show a first embodiment of a trigger sensor according to the invention,
a, 3b, 3c show a second embodiment of a trigger sensor according to the invention,
a through 6e show various trigger situations.
As already stated, it was only possible to detect movements along the x-direction with the previous trigger sensors. The invention makes it possible also to detect such movements of the furniture part 3, which have components greater than zero (i.e., at least some movement) along at least two of the orthogonal directions x, y, z.
Basically two trigger functionalities can be provided. In the one trigger functionality, the potentiometer already triggers the furniture drive 2 when the drive wheel 9 begins to move. With the other trigger functionality, the potentiometer must first receive a predetermined number of revolutions of the drive wheel 9 before triggering of the furniture drive 2 is effected. In that case, therefore, triggering occurs only after a given distance has been covered.
As can be seen in particular from
That prestressing effect provides that the actuating member 4 is moved, on the one hand, upon a pure movement of the furniture part 3 in the x-direction. On the other hand, it provides that a movement of the furniture part 3 in the y-direction also causes a movement of the actuating member 4, which improves the triggering sensitivity of the trigger sensor 1 according to the invention in comparison with the state of the art. Therefore triggering of the furniture drive 2 can be implemented by both movements.
In
The illustrated configuration of the actuating member 4 provides that triggering of the furniture drive 1 can be registered not only upon a movement in the x-direction but also upon a movement in the y-direction (see
The embodiment of the invention shown in
Unlike the situation shown in the Figures, a trigger sensor 1 according to the invention can also be arranged separately from the furniture drive 2 on the furniture carcass 7 or on the furniture part 3 and can be in a signal-transmitting relationship therewith. It is also possible to provide two or more furniture drives 2 for driving the same furniture part 3. The trigger sensor 1 and the abutment 8 can also be arranged laterally on the furniture carcass 7 or on the movable furniture part 3 respectively. The furniture drive 2 can have, for example, a conventional electric motor and can be designed for example precisely as in one of
Driving of a furniture part 3 by a furniture drive 2 according to the invention can be limited to the furniture part 3 being moved out of the closed end position in or on the furniture carcass 7 only to such an extent that a user can engage the furniture part 3 by hand and can manually move it further (initial push aid).
Lines for the electric power supply and signal transmission have not been shown.
Quite generally, it can be said that the trigger sensor 1 according to the invention reacts sensitively in relation to at least two mutually orthogonal directions of movement x, y, z of the furniture part 3.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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70/2009 | Jan 2009 | AT | national |
This application is a Continuation of International application No. PCT/AT2009/000458, filed Nov. 25, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110254418 A1 | Oct 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/AU2009/000458 | Nov 2009 | US |
Child | 13173201 | US |