U.S. patent application number 13/448714 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-12 for chair or couch with motor-driven movable parts.
The applicant listed for this patent is Christoph SICHELSCHMIDT. Invention is credited to Christoph SICHELSCHMIDT.
Application Number | 20130234477 13/448714 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49029450 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130234477 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SICHELSCHMIDT; Christoph |
September 12, 2013 |
CHAIR OR COUCH WITH MOTOR-DRIVEN MOVABLE PARTS
Abstract
A couch or chair has a frame, a movable seat, a movable back, a
movable footrest, and a linkage connected to the seat, back, and
footrest to shift same between different positions on the frame. A
drive has a motor, a transmission, a drive housing holding the
motor and transmission and secured to the frame underneath the
seat, and a rigid tube having a front end fixed to the housing and
a rear end. A mounting bracket fixed to the rear end of the tube is
secured to the frame, and a drive element in the tube is connected
to the transmission. A slide on the tube between the ends thereof
engages the drive element and is connected to the linkage to shift
the seat, back, and footrest. A cable is connected to the motor,
extends rearward along the tube past the bracket, and carries a
plug.
Inventors: |
SICHELSCHMIDT; Christoph;
(Wetter, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SICHELSCHMIDT; Christoph |
Wetter |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
49029450 |
Appl. No.: |
13/448714 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/68 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 1/03211 20130101;
A47C 1/034 20130101; A47C 1/0242 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/68 |
International
Class: |
A47C 1/035 20060101
A47C001/035 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 6, 2012 |
DE |
102012101846.4 |
Claims
1. In combination with a piece of seating furniture having a frame,
a seat movable on the frame, a back movable on the frame at a rear
end of the seat, a footrest movable on the frame at a front end of
the seat, and a linkage connected to the seat, back, and footrest
to shift same between different positions on the frame, a drive
comprising: a motor; a transmission; a drive housing holding the
motor and transmission and secured to the frame underneath the
front end of the seat; a rigid tube having a front end fixed to the
housing and a rear end; a mounting bracket fixed to the rear end of
the tube and secured to the frame under the rear end of the seat; a
drive element extending in the tube between the ends thereof and
connected to the transmission for rotation thereby; a slide sitting
on the tube between the ends thereof and engaged by the drive
element for displacement thereby, the slide being connected to the
linkage to shift the seat, back, and footrest on the frame; a power
cable having a front end connected to the motor and extending
rearward along the tube from the housing and past the bracket; and
a plug carried on the power cable rearward of the bracket.
2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the cable is
recessed in the tube.
3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the cable is
spacedly mounted on the tube and the slide extends between the
cable and the tube.
4. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the cable includes a
stiff conduit containing the cable and extending along the
tube.
5. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the motor is a
direct-current motor.
6. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the housing is
provided with an electrical interlock releasably interconnecting a
front end of the cable with the motor.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a piece of adjustable
seating furniture. More particularly this invention concerns a
chair or couch with motor-driven movable parts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a piece of seating furniture, that
is a couch or chair, with parts that are adjustable by an electric
motor, and that specifically include at least one seat and/or back
and/or footrest. The piece of furniture has a frame normally
comprised of two vertical end members or plates interconnected by
front and back longitudinal beams on which parts of the adjustment
mechanism of the adjustable parts are pivotally linked or
attached.
[0003] A drive having an electric motor is attached to parts of the
adjustment mechanism and also has a step-down transmission as well
as a tube that projects from the motor and transmission and that
surrounds a drive element, in particular, a threaded drive spindle
that is operatively connected to the step-down transmission. The
outer surface of the tube carries a slide that is can be moved by
the drive element front-to-back in the longitudinal direction of
the tube, and that is connected between the drive element and parts
of the adjustment mechanism or linkage. The motor of the unit is
positioned below the front end of the seat facing immediately
behind the footrest and is attached to the seat parts. A retaining
bracket for attaching the drive unit to the frame is mounted on the
rear end of the tube facing away from the motor and transmission.
This retaining bracket is below the rear end of the seat.
[0004] An electrical power-supply cable is connected to the drive
motor and carries a plug to provide connection to a power
source.
[0005] Pieces of furniture of this type are widely known in the
prior art. In this type of seat, adjustable elements are disposed
between the side parts of the body, such as for example: the seat
that can be disposed so as to be adjustable in terms of angle and
able to slide longitudinally, the back that can be adjusted both in
angle and height, the footrest that can be composed of a single or
multiple parts and can be pivoted into and out of various
positions. In order to facilitate these movements with an electric
motor, the couch or chair includes drive elements in the form of
the motor and transmission that are attached to a frame element
extending between the side elements of the frame. A tube projecting
from this motor and transmission holds a drive element, such as for
example a rotatable threaded spindle. This spindle drives the
adjustment slide that can thus be slid forward or backward along
the tube. Parts of the adjustment mechanism, such as, for example,
adjustment links or the like, are pivotally linked or attached to
this adjustment slide so it can move the elements of the seat.
[0006] Using the conventional approach in many applications,
assembly is effected in such a way that the motor and transmission
are placed under the front end of the seat and are attached to the
frame so that the tube located thereon projects together with the
threaded spindle and the adjustment slide toward the rear. In
conventional designs, the incoming cable that provides the power
supply to the electric motor is routed out of a housing holding the
motor in the vicinity of the motor from the housing. The
corresponding incoming line is relatively long so as to allow it to
be run toward the back below the seat of the piece of furniture
within it. An outlet is then provided there for the incoming cable
that can be connected, for example, to the power supply and/or to a
wire-connected remote control. Running the incoming cable within
the chair is relatively costly and complex, and in particular takes
quite some time. However, in many areas of application,
installation is provided so that the motor is in the region of the
footrest, and thus the cable outlet is also provided there. This is
costly in terms of the assembly and is associated with relatively
high manufacturing costs.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved chair or couch with motor-driven movable
parts.
[0008] Another object is the provision of such an improved chair or
couch with motor-driven movable parts that overcomes the
above-given disadvantages, in particular that can be assembled
effected cost-effectively and within a short time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The instant invention is a drive used in combination with a
piece of seating furniture having a frame, a seat movable on the
frame, a back movable on the frame at a rear end of the seat, a
footrest movable on the frame at a front end of the seat, and a
linkage connected to the seat, back, and footrest to shift same
between different positions on the frame. The drive has according
to the invention a motor, a transmission, a drive housing holding
the motor and transmission and secured to the frame underneath the
front end of the seat, and a rigid tube having a front end fixed to
the housing and a rear end. A mounting bracket fixed to the rear
end of the tube is secured to the frame under the rear end of the
seat, and a drive element extends in the tube between the ends
thereof and is connected to the transmission for rotation thereby.
A slide sitting on the tube between the ends thereof os engaged by
the drive element for displacement thereby. The slide is connected
to the linkage to shift the seat, back, and footrest on the frame.
A cable having a front end connected to the motor and extending
rearward along the tube from the housing and past the bracket
carries a plug rearward of the bracket.
[0010] In other words, the invention proposes an approach whereby
the connector cable is routed out of a housing surrounding the
motor and transmission, runs along the tube from the motor and
step-down transmission to the retaining bracket and exits at the
retaining bracket. The exiting rear end carries the connector
plug.
[0011] In this arrangement, the entire drive unit can be installed
in the conventional manner, that is, so that the motor and
transmission is close to the footrest while the end of the tube is
near the backrest. Running and attaching the connector cable along
the tube from the motor step-down transmission to the retaining
bracket and having it exit at the retaining bracket obviates the
need for any additional installation expense of running the cable
within the chair or seat contours. Instead, the exiting end of the
incoming cable that includes the connector plug is positioned right
from the start below the rear end of the seat cushion and is thus
immediately accessible for installation without the need for
additional installation steps.
[0012] Preferably, the connector cable is routed within the tube
and is attached to it. In this solution, the connector cable is
recessed and concealed in the tube. Only the end with the connector
plug exiting at the retaining bracket is accessible for connecting
and assembly.
[0013] A less costly but also very advantageous arrangement is seen
in the approach whereby the connector cable is routed and attached
outside the tube, the routing and attachment creating a gap with
the tube in which parts of the adjustment slide can move freely.
The connector cable here is routed outside and along the tube so as
to make available sufficient freedom of movement for movement of
the adjustment slide.
[0014] Provision is preferably made here whereby the connector
cable is routed in a cable conduit whose dimensions have been
matched to this cable, which conduit is attached to the tube, or to
the motor and step-down transmission and to the retaining bracket.
This arrangement achieves protection for the cable and creates a
further aid to installation.
[0015] Provision is furthermore made whereby using the approach
known per se the drive motor is in the form of a DC motor.
[0016] The object of this invention is furthermore a drive unit for
the seat of the type described, the drive unit including an
enclosed motor and transmission having externally exiting connector
cables, from which unit a drive element, in particular, a drive
spindle projects that is surrounded by a tube and that engages an
adjustment slide guided on the tube. Attachment means are provided
on the drive unit, and the retaining bracket with means for
attachment to the parts is provided on the rear end of the tube
facing away from the drive unit, and the adjustment slide includes
connection means for connection to parts of an adjustment mechanism
or linkage of a seat.
[0017] Also considered as a distinctive characteristic is the fact
that a connection socket is provided on the drive motor or on a
housing surrounding this motor, the connection socket being
accessible from the outside of the housing for the plugging in or
contacting, which connection socket is permanently attached to the
motor connector cable, and to which connection socket the connector
cable can be mechanically or electrically connected by a matching
connector component. A corresponding configuration can be provided
for both the drive unit as well as the seat. Here the cable outlet
from the motor or from the motor housing is essentially created by
a socket that is connected at one end by connecting wires to the
drive motor. The connection externally is effected in the form of a
plug-in connection that is accessible from the outside. With this
arrangement the cable connected to the motor does not exits the
housing or the like and is routed to the retaining bracket. Instead
the connector cable that is preferably routed outside can, on the
one hand, be plugged by the one end section into the connection
socket so as to make contact and be mechanically connectable, while
the other end of the connector cable has the connector plug. The
overall installation is facilitated even further thereby since the
motor can be installed in finished form, optionally with a housing
surrounding the motor including electrical wiring, while connecting
to the connector socket leading to the motor with the connector
cable can be effected subsequently, that is, during a later
operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0018] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will
become more readily apparent from the following description,
reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is partly sectional end view of the couch or chair
according to the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a large-scale side view of the drive of FIG. 1;
and
[0021] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the drive of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] As seen in FIG. 1 a couch or chair 1 has a generally
horizontal seat 2, an upright back 3 projecting up from a rear end
of the seat 2, and a footrest 4 projecting down from a front end of
the seat 2, all shown without upholstery or cushions for clarity of
view. These parts 2, 3, and 4 are all slidable and/or pivotal on a
frame 5 having a longitudinal floor beam 6 by a linkage 17.
[0023] In addition, an electric-motor-driven drive 7 is attached,
for example, to the beam 6 and serves for operating the linkage 17.
It has an electric drive motor 8 with a step-down transmission 9. A
tube 10 extends from a housing 18 surrounding the motor 8 and
transmission 9 and coaxially receives a drive element, such as, for
example, a threaded spindle 16 that is operatively connected to the
step-down transmission 9.
[0024] An adjustment slide 11 can move along the outer surface of
the tube 10, with its longitudinal front-to-back position
determined by the drive element 16, so that it connects this drive
element 16 and the linkage 17, for example, by a link 15 pivoted on
the slide 11. Moving the slide 11 along the tube 10 allows the seat
2, back 3, and/or footrest 4 to be adjusted accordingly. FIG. 1
shows how the motor 8 and step-down transmission 9 are secured to
the frame 5 below the front end of the seat 2 and immediately
rearward of the footrest 4 in its vertical rest position. At its
rear end it is secured to the beam 6. A holder or mounting bracket
12 for attachment, for example, to the frame element 6 is fixed on
the rear end of the tube 10 opposite from the motor 8 and
transmission 9 below the rear end of the seat 2 and the seat back
3.
[0025] An electrical connector cable 13 is connected to the motor 9
and has a plug 14 for connection to a power source, typically a
line-voltage outlet. According to the invention, the cable 13 is
routed out of the housing 18 holding the motor 8 and transmission
9, running in or along the tube 10 from the motor 8 to the bracket
12. The cable 13 is routed through the bracket 12 and secured to
the tube 10. This cable 13 extends out of the bracket 12 so that
the plug 14 is accessible at the back of the piece 1 of seating
furniture.
[0026] The cable 13 can also extend inside and be attached to the
tube 10. A preferred embodiment is illustrated in the drawing in
which connector cable 13 is routed and attached outside the tube 10
in a groove extending along its underside so that it does not
interfere with the slide 11 that largely surrounds the tube 1.
[0027] The cable 13 is preferably inside a stiff cable conduit that
is closely fitted and attached to the tube 10 and to the housing 18
of the motor 8 and transmission 9 and to the bracket 12. In
addition an interlock 19 comprised of a complementary plug and
socket is provided at the front end of the cable 13 on the housing
18 for releasably connecting the cable 13 to the motor 8.
[0028] The arrangement and mode of installation according to the
invention makes the connector plug 14 accessible somewhat below the
seat back 3 at the rear region of the couch or chair 1. The cable
13 does not also have to be routed and installed during assembly.
Instead, it forms together with the motor 8 and the tube 10 as well
as the bracket an assembly or module that can be quickly and easily
installed, and subsequently can be connected up to the motor 8 to
establish connection with the corresponding incoming lines for
power and/or remote control. The costly and complex assembly
process traditionally required is not needed here.
[0029] The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment
but can be varied in multifarious ways.
[0030] All of the features, whether individually or in combination,
that are disclosed in the description and/or the drawing are
considered essential to the invention.
* * * * *