U.S. patent application number 16/511026 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-16 for seating and/or lounging furniture.
The applicant listed for this patent is CIAR S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Massimo Carrera.
Application Number | 20200015596 16/511026 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63112502 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200015596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carrera; Massimo |
January 16, 2020 |
SEATING AND/OR LOUNGING FURNITURE
Abstract
A seating and/or lounging furniture includes: a seat frame; an
extendable footrest; a footrest frame, which is displaceable on the
seat frame, and on the front end of which the footrest is held
movably, pivotable around a pivot axis; at least one drive for
displacement of the footrest frame along a displacement distance
relative to the seat frame; and at least one operating rod for
swinging the footrest in and out, around the pivot axis, wherein
the operating rod is connected at one end to the footrest, while
the other end of the operating rod is connected to the seat frame
by means of a hinge mechanism, so that displacement of the footrest
frame over at least 60%, preferably over at least 80%, and
extremely preferably over at least 90% of the displacement distance
causes a simultaneous pivoting movement of the footrest about the
pivot axis.
Inventors: |
Carrera; Massimo; (Pesaro,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CIAR S.P.A. |
Pesaro |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
63112502 |
Appl. No.: |
16/511026 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/5068 20180801;
A47C 7/506 20130101; A47C 7/503 20130101; A47C 16/02 20130101; A47C
7/5066 20180801; A47C 1/034 20130101; A47C 7/5062 20180801 |
International
Class: |
A47C 16/02 20060101
A47C016/02; A47C 1/034 20060101 A47C001/034; A47C 7/50 20060101
A47C007/50 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 16, 2018 |
DE |
20 2018 104 073.1 |
Claims
1. A seating and/or lounging furniture, comprising a seat frame
(7), an extendable footrest (4), a footrest frame (6), which is
displaceable on the seat frame (7) and on the front end of which
the footrest (4) is held movably, pivotable around a pivot axis
(6), at least one drive (11) for displacement of the footrest frame
(6) along a displacement distance relative to the seat frame (7),
and at least one operating rod (14) for swinging the footrest (4)
out and in around the pivot axis (13), wherein the operating rod
(14) is connected at one end to the footrest (4), characterized in
that the other end of the operating rod (14) is connected to the
seat frame (7) by means of a hinge mechanism (16), so that a
displacement of the footrest frame (6) over at least 60%,
preferably over at least 80%, and extremely preferably over at
least 90% of the displacement distance causes a simultaneous
pivoting movement of the footrest (4) about the pivot axis
(13).
2. The seating and/or lounging furniture according to claim 1,
characterized in that the footrest frame (6) is supported
displaceably in at least one guide profile.
3. The seating and/or lounging furniture according to claim 1,
characterized in that the footrest frame (6) is supported
displaceably on the seat frame (7) by means of guide rollers (8, 9,
10).
4. The seating and/or lounging furniture according to claim 1,
characterized in that the articulated joint mechanism comprises a
first articulated lever (16a), which is connected to the rear end
of the foot rest frame (6) in an articulated connection.
5. The seating and/or lounging furniture according to claim 4,
characterized in that the first articulated lever (16a) has a
central hinge point (16b), with which it is connected to the
footrest frame (6) in an articulated connection and has a first
outer hinge point (16c) for an articulated connection to the
operating rod (14) and a second outer hinge point (16d) for
connection to a second articulated lever (16e).
6. The seating and/or lounging furniture according to claim 5,
characterized in that the second articulated lever (16e) has an
articulated connection to the first articulated lever (16a) at one
end and an articulated connection to the seat frame (7) at a second
end.
7. The seating and/or lounging furniture according to claim 1,
characterized in that, when the footrest (4) is extended, the
operating rod (14) is arranged so that, in a side view of the
seating and/or lounging furniture, the footrest is at least 80%
concealed, preferably at least 90% concealed, behind the footrest
frame (6).
8. The seating and/or lounging furniture according to claim 7,
characterized in that when the footrest (4) is folded in, the
operating rod (14) is arranged, so that it is at least 80%
concealed, preferably at least 90% concealed, behind the footrest
frame (6), as seen in a side view of the seating or lounging
furniture.
9. The seating and/or lounging furniture according to claim 1,
characterized in that the footrest (4) has a main supporting
element (4a) and an additional supporting element (4b) connected to
the former in an articulated connection.
10. The seating and/or lounging furniture according to claim 9,
characterized in that the additional supporting element (4b) is
also connected to the operating rod (14) by means of a connecting
arm (4c) in an articulated connection.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to seating and/or lounging furniture
having an extendable footrest.
[0002] German Utility model DE-U-87 03 625 discloses an armchair
having an extendable footrest in which the footrest is connected to
a displaceable frame by means of a scissors mechanism. The
actuating device acts on a hinge point between two connecting rods
of the scissors mechanism. This known armchair allows the heels of
a person resting in the armchair to be supported due to the great
cantilever range of the scissors mechanism. However, this known
approach requires a relatively large amount of space in the
retracted condition and also requires safety measures to prevent
jamming during movement of the footrest in the extended
condition.
[0003] DE 20 2015 006 245 U discloses a much more compact approach,
in which the seating and/or lounging furniture has essentially an
extendable footrest, a frame that is displaceable on the base frame
of the furniture, with a footrest connected to the front end of the
frame as well as an actuating device for extending and retracting
the footrest. In addition, it is provided that the footrest is
held, so that it is pivotable about a pivot axis on the front end
of the frame. The extension and retraction of the footrest take
place by means of an operating rod in combination with the
displaceable frame, so that the scissors mechanism can be omitted.
However, the extension and/or retraction of the footrest take place
relatively abruptly, only at the end of the travel distance of the
displaceable frame.
[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to further improve
upon the extension and retraction of the footrest, while
maintaining strict safety requirements and preventing any possible
risk of injury.
[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by the
features of claim 1.
[0006] The seating and/or lounging furniture according to the
invention has essentially the following features: [0007] a seat
frame, [0008] an extendable footrest, [0009] a footrest frame which
is displaceable on the seat frame, on the front end of which the
footrest is held movably, pivotable around a pivot axis, [0010] a
drive for displacement of the footrest frame along a displacement
distance relative to the seat frame, and [0011] at least one
operating rod for swinging the footrest out and in around the pivot
axis, wherein the operating rod is connected to the footrest at one
end, while the other end of the operating rod is connected to the
seat frame by means of a hinge mechanism so that a displacement of
the footrest frame over at least 60%, preferably over at least 80%
and most preferably over at least 90% of the displacement distance
causes a simultaneous pivoting movement of the footrest about the
pivot axis.
[0012] Due to the connection of the operating rod to the seat
frame, the pivoting movement of the footrest is synchronized with
the displacement of the footrest frame over a significantly greater
displacement distance. The footrest is swung out and is thus swung
simultaneously over most of the total displacement distance of the
footrest frame so that swinging the footrest out and in takes place
much more slowly in comparison with DE 20 2005 006 245 U and is
therefore much more pleasant for the user. Avoiding the use of a
scissors mechanism also minimizes the risk of injury.
[0013] Additional advantages and embodiments of the invention are
the subject matter of the dependent claims.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the footrest
frame is mounted displaceably in at least one guide profile.
According to a preferred embodiment, the footrest frame is guided
on the seat frame by means of guide rollers. The simultaneous
pivoting movement of the footrest over most of the displacement
distance of the footrest frame is ensured by the hinge mechanism to
which the end of the operating rod facing away from the footrest is
connected to the seat frame. This hinge mechanism preferably has a
first hinge lever which is preferably connected to the rear end of
the footrest frame in an articulated connection by means of a
central hinge point. According to another embodiment the first
hinge lever has a first outer hinge point for connection to the
operating rod in an articulated connection and has a second outer
hinge point for connection to a second hinge lever. The second
hinge lever can in particular be connected in an articulated
connection to the first hinge lever at one end and also to the seat
frame at a second end.
[0015] According to another embodiment of the invention, the
operating rod is arranged behind the footrest frame so that it is
concealed at least 80%, preferably at least 90% in a side view of
the sitting and/or lounging furniture with the footrest extended.
This construction results in an aesthetically attractive external
appearance that is easy to implement structurally. Due to the
construction of the displaceable footrest frame however a
sufficient stability is ensured even when the footrest is fully
extended. In addition it is possible to provide that the operating
rod is arranged behind the footrest frame so that it is at least
80% concealed, preferably at least 90% in a side view of the
seating and/or lounging furniture with the footrest retracted.
Therefore the seating and/or lounging furniture gives an
aesthetically attractive appearance, whether the footrest is
extended or retracted.
[0016] To ensure a sufficiently great supporting surface for the
user's feet, the footrest may also have an extra supporting element
connected to it in an articulated connection in addition to having
the main supporting element. The additional supporting element may
then expediently be connected to the operating rod by means of a
connecting arm in an articulated connection to make it possible to
extend or retract the main supporting element and the additional
supporting element at the same time.
[0017] Additional embodiments of the invention are described in
greater detail below on the basis of the following description of
one exemplary embodiment of the drawings.
[0018] In the drawings:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of the seating
and/or lounging furniture according to the invention with the
footrest extended,
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional diagram of an actuating
mechanism according to a first exemplary embodiment in the extended
position of the footrest,
[0021] FIGS. 3a-3c show side views of the actuating mechanism (as
seen from the inside to the outside) in three different positions
of the footrest,
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the position according to FIG.
3c as seen from the outside,
[0023] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional diagram of an actuating
mechanism according to a second exemplary embodiment in which the
footrest has, in addition to a main supporting element, also an
additional supporting element connected thereto with an articulated
connection,
[0024] FIGS. 6a-6c show side views of the actuating mechanism
according to FIG. 5 in various positions of the footrest.
[0025] The seating and/or lounging furniture illustrated in FIG. 1
is for example an armchair or a sofa. In the exemplary embodiment
shown here, the seating and/or lounging furniture has a seat 1, a
backrest 2, an armrest 3 and a footrest 4, wherein the footrest 4
is shown in the extended state in FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 2 shows an actuating mechanism 5 for extending and
retracting the footrest 4. It has a footrest frame 6 consisting of
two rods 6a (only one of the two rods is shown in FIG. 2) and at
least one crossbar 6d connecting the two rods 6a. This forms an
essentially H-shaped footrest frame 6, which is mounted
displaceably in the area of its two opposing rods 6a. In the
exemplary embodiment illustrated here, each rod 6a on the seat
frame 7 is mounted by means of two guide rolls 8, 9 arranged above
the rod 6a and one guide roll 10 arranged below the rod, so that
the footrest frame 6 is guided in a stable manner and is
displaceable along the extent of the rods 6a on the seat frame
7.
[0027] The footrest frame 6 is displaced by means of a drive 11,
which is designed as a linear motor and is connected at one end to
a crossbar 12, which is firmly connected to the seat frame 7, and
to the crossbar 6b of the footrest frame 6 at its other end.
Therefore, actuation of the drive 11 results in a parallel
displacement of the crossbar 6b relative to the stationary crossbar
12 of the seat frame 7 after the crossbar 6b has been firmly
connected to the rods 6a, so that actuation of the drive results in
displacement of the footrest frame 6 along a displacement distance,
which is predetermined by the guide rollers 8-10. However, a slide
bearing or any other suitable type of bearing could be provided
instead of guide rollers 8-10, for example.
[0028] The additional embodiments of the actuating mechanism 5 are
described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 2 and the
various positions of the footrest illustrated in FIGS. 3a to 3c.
FIG. 3a shows the retracted position of the footrest;
[0029] FIG. 3c shows the extended position and FIG. 3b shows an
intermediate position. The maximum displacement distance of the
footrest frame 6 is thus indicated by a comparison of the FIGS. 3a
and 3c, each of which illustrates the end positions of the footrest
frame 6.
[0030] In this exemplary embodiment, the footrest 4 has a main
supporting element 4a which is held movably at the end of the rod
6a to pivot about a pivot axis 13. The pivoting movement of the
footrest 4 which is synchronized with the displacement of the
footrest frame 6 is implemented with an operating rod 14, which is
connected with an articulated joint to the footrest 4 at one end
and/or to the main supporting element 4a at a hinge point 15 (FIG.
2a). At the other end of the operating rod 14, an articulated joint
mechanism 16 is provided, with which the operating rod 14 is
connected to the footrest frame 6 as well as to the seating frame
7.
[0031] The articulated joint mechanism 16 comprises a first joint
lever 16a, which is connected to the footrest frame 6 at a middle
joint position 16b in an articulated connection. The operating rod
14 is connected to a first outer hinge point 16c of the first joint
lever 16a at its end facing away from the footrest 4. At the other
end of the first joint lever 16a, a second outer hinge point 16d is
provided, at which the first joint lever 16a is connected to a
second joint lever 16e in an articulated connection, wherein the
second joint lever 16e is connected to the seat frame 7 in an
articulated connection at a third hinge point 16f.
[0032] The positions of the individual joint levers of the
articulated joint mechanism 6 with respect to the footrest 4 can be
seen in three different positions of the footrest 4 in FIGS. 3a to
3c. FIGS. 3a to 3c show a side view of the actuating mechanism 5
from the center of the seating and/or lounging furniture, as seen
from the outside. It can be seen in FIG. 3c in particular that
operating rod 4 and rod 6a of the footrest frame are designed to be
parallel and overlapping. When the seating and/or lounging
furniture is seen from the outside (see FIG. 4), the operating rod
14 is covered completely by the rod 6a of the footrest frame,
resulting in a particularly slender construction. The footrest
frame 8 is arranged to be guided by means of the guide rollers 8-10
inside the seat frame 7, so that injury of the user can be ruled
out. Only in the area of the folding movement of the footrest 4 on
the forward end of the operating rod 14 are suitable covers and/or
safety measures provided to prevent injury to the user.
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention
which corresponds essentially to the exemplary embodiment according
to FIG. 2. There is only one difference in the area of the footrest
4, which also discloses, in addition to the main supporting element
4a in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, an additional
supporting element 4b connected thereto in an articulated
connection. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 6a to 6c, the
main supporting element 4a and the additional supporting element 4b
are connected to each other by an articulated point 4c.
[0034] The operating rod 14 is still connected to the main
supporting element 4a via the hinge point 15 in an articulated
connection. However, the operating rod 14 is still connected to the
additional supporting element 4b by means of a connecting arm 4d in
an articulated connection. Displacement of the operating rod 4
relative to the footrest frame 6 thus causes not only a pivoting
movement of the main supporting element 4a about the pivot axis 13,
but at the same time also causes the additional supporting element
4b to be pivoted outward by means of the connecting arm 4d at the
same time. Due to this construction, the footrest 4 may be designed
to be somewhat larger and is also shown in the retracted condition
of the footrest, so that the footrest is also folded away, so that
it is much more compact and therefore can be placed beneath the
seat 1 more easily and in a more aesthetically attractive
manner.
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