Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Adjustable recliner or bed
This invention relates to an adjustable recliner or bed. Only the term
"recliner" is used
below, although the concepts of a couch and a bed are also covered by the
invention.
Recliners of this type have been known for an extremely long time. To adjust
the
recliners, the recliners are preferably divided into a plurality of segments
that are
connected to one another so that they can pivot. The parts are pivoted with
respect to
one another and/or with respect to the base frame.
The adjustment also includes at least one locking device to immobilize the
movable
parts in the current pivoted position.
The prior art also describes recliners that are simultaneously provided with a
motorized
adjustment in various parts. The motorized adjustment makes possible an
adjustment
while the occupant is sitting or lying on the recliner into any desired
position. In the
absence of a motorized adjustment, most people are forced to make several
attempts to
approximate the optimal position. During these adjustments they are required
to stand
up repeatedly, make an adjustment and then re-assume the seated or reclining
position.
A motorized adjustment capability makes this repeated standing up and sitting
down
unnecessary. The comfort and convenience of a motorized adjustment are
considered
significant.
The motorized adjustment also presents a risk of injury to the user. This risk
is present in
particular when the seat consists of a seat part, with torso and leg parts
fastened
adjustably to it. When the parts are adjusted in relation to each other by a
reclining
person, the reclining person can become jammed between the two parts.
On other seats, there is a danger of injury to the feet, because the feet can
become
stuck under the foot portion.
The object of the invention is therefore to eliminate the risk of injury from
hazardous
pivoting positions. The invention teaches that at least one separate adjusting
motor is
provided for each pivoting part that poses a danger of injury, and that for
each adjusting
motor, a displacement limiting device is provided to limit the displacement
with respect to
the neighboring part. The invention therefore ensures that neighboring parts
of the
recliner do not come excessively close to one another and thereby pose a risk
of injury.
The advantages are particularly important for seats with a torso part and a
separate leg
part.
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The invention also teaches that a displacement limiting device is preferably
provided for
the leg part and for the foot part, to prevent the feet from becoming jammed
between the
foot part and the base frame.
The adjusting motors provided are preferably provided with an automatic
interlock and/or
with a stop. The automatic interlock can be created, for example, by using a
transmission with a spindle or a threaded rod. A nut can thereby sit on the
spindle or
threaded rod, for example. The spindle or the threaded rod and/or the nut can
be
rotationally mounted. A gear wheel can also interact with the spindle. If a
gear wheel is
used, at least the spindle or the threaded rod is provided with a drive motor.
The
automatic interlocking action of the spindle or threaded rod is greater, the
smaller the
pitch of the spindle or the pitch of the thread on the threaded rod.
Instead of or in addition to the automatic interlocking device, a mechanical
and/or
electronic or electrical locking device can also be provided. Preferably a
motorized
locking device is provided.
Optionally, the spindle or the threaded rod and/or the nut are provided with a
drive
motor. The drive motors can simultaneously have a locking device. Stepper
motors are
advantageous. Stepper motors with locking devices in the current step position
are
commercially available.
One exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Figures 1 to 4 show a recliner with a seat part 1, a leg part 4, a foot part
5, a torso part 2
and a head part 3. The different parts are connected to one another in an
articulated
manner. In the exemplary embodiment, the articulations are conventional hinges
with
moving parts that are engaged with one another and are connected to one
another by
hinge bolts. In other exemplary embodiments, flexible parts made of plastic or
spring
steel sheet can be used as hinges.
The seat part 1 is simultaneously rigidly connected with a fixed base frame.
The fixed
base frame has rounded feet 6 made of aluminum profiles. To reduce the weight,
a
perforated profile is used. In the exemplary embodiment, two profiles located
at some
distance from each other are provided with a curved shape. The curve has its
maximum
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curvature in the area in which it comes into contact with the seat part 1.
Toward the ends
of the recliner, the curvatures decreases, until the profiles come into
contact with the
base frame. The profiles are also tapered toward the ends.
Parts 10 and 11 are also provided on the parts 1, 2 and 3. These parts form
reinforcement and bearing brackets for the articulated attachment of electric
elevating
motors 9. On the foot part 5 and the head part 3, bearing brackets are also
provided,
although they are not shown in the exemplary embodiment.
The elevating motors have a spindle 12 which is extended out of the housing by
rotation
and can be retracted again.
The spindles 12 are connected in an articulated manner on the head with the
facing part
which forms a bearing bracket. On the other end of the elevating motors 8 and
9, an
articulated connection with the parts 10 and 11 is provided.
All the elevating motors are electrical stepper motors that can be locked in
the current
step position.
The elevating motors are provided with a pivoting limitation. In the
illustrated exemplary
embodiment, the pivoting is limited by means of a computer, whereby the step
position is
measured and the pivoted position is determined from the current step
position. This
measurement can be made empirically or on the basis of the geometry of the
parts that
participate in the pivoting movement. For the empirical determination, the
pivot position
that corresponds to each step position is measured. By a comparison of the
data that
correspond to each pivot position, it is possible to prevent the further
extension of a
elevating motor or the further retraction of a elevating motor and an
excessive closeness
of the moving parts or an excessive distance between the moving parts. In the
exemplary embodiment, the computer acts on the control system that controls
the
elevating motors, so that the elevating motors can be moved only in the safe
direction,
i.e. retracted or extended in a direction that reduces any potential hazard.
In the exemplary embodiment, the elevating motors are designed so that in
every
position of the parts 1 to 5, an adjustment is possible in response to a spot
load at the
farther end of the parts. Therefore even extremely overweight people can sit
or lie on
any desired point of the recliner and still make a motorized adjustment of the
recliner.
In an additional exemplary embodiment, the chair is designed to support a load
of 200
kg, and in additional exemplary embodiments, the recliner is designed to
support a load
of only 100 kg.
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Regardless of the question of the adjustment force, the parts 1 to 5 and the
adjustment
mechanism are designed so that they will withstand the load applied. This
concept also
includes the design of the base frame, with regard to both strength and
stability.
The elevating motors 8 and 9 are located at a short distance from the parts 1
to 5, so
that the elevating motors, when viewed from the side of the recliner, lie
essentially in a
line one behind the other, whereby the line in Figure 4 runs approximately
parallel to the
contour of the seating surface of the recliner, and in the recliner positions
illustrated in
Figures 1 to 3, the line follows the contour of the recliner seating surface,
i.e. it has
essentially the same contour.
The term "essentially the same" includes variations of the longitudinal axis
of the
elevating motor up to 20 degrees from the position parallel to the closest
part of the
reclining chair or to the seating surface of the closest part of the reclining
chair.
In the exemplary embodiment, the distance between the elevating motors 8 and 9
is 15
cm, while in other exemplary embodiments it can be up to 20 cm or 30 cm.
The construction described above provides advantageous clearance between the
adjustment mechanism and the floor and reduces the risk of injury. The
invention
thereby prevents the user's feet from becoming jammed in the adjustment
mechanism.
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the adjustment mechanism is also
located
centrally underneath the recliner, so that the adjustment mechanism is out of
reach of
the user's hands, and thereby prevents injuries to the user's hands.
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a mattress-shaped cushion (not shown)
sits on
the parts 1 to 5, and the cushion and the mechanism of the recliner (Parts 1
to 5 and
their adjustment) are covered by cushion upholstery (not shown). This feature
also
contributes to the safety of the recliner.
In other exemplary embodiments, the cushion encloses the parts 1 to 5 and
their
adjustment mechanisms.
When an adjustment is made, in the exemplary embodiment any further pivoting
movement of the parts 2 and 4 is blocked when the parts enclose a pivot angle
of less
than 70 degrees between them. The position is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
In other
exemplary embodiments, the limit angle selected is a smaller or larger
enclosed angle.
The limit can be changed by changing the computer data.
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In Figures 1 and 2, the foot part 5 is horizontal.
The computer and the control system, in the manner described above, also
prevent the
foot part 5 from coming into contact with the floor or ground. In other
exemplary
embodiments, a certain clearance is provided between the end of the foot part
5 and the
floor or ground, so that if a foot or feet are inadvertently placed underneath
the foot part
5, they are not injured.
Figure 3 shows a recliner position in which both parts 4 and 5 are horizontal.
Figure 4 shows a recliner position in which all the parts 1 to 5 are
horizontal.
