Operating mechanism for furniture parts including a shape memory element

• US 20110154817A1
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Günther Zimmer, Martin Zimmer
• Original Assignee: Günther Zimmer, Martin Zimmer
• Inventors: Zimmer, Günther, Zimmer, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,380,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/528
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/463 self-opening
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/065 using a shape memory element

Abstract

In an operating mechanism for a movable furniture part with a drive arrangement including a shape memory element, wherein the drive arrangement is fixed to one furniture part and comprises a drive element and which abuts another furniture part for moving the other furniture part, the drive element includes a shape memory element which is heatable to change its shape for operating the drive arrangement directly or for charging a spring store storing the energy for operating the drive arrangement.

Claims

1. An operating mechanism for moving a movable furniture part (21) with respect to a stationary furniture part (11) with a drive arrangement (30, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630) including a shape memory element (91, 94, 95, 691) toward an open or a closed position, said drive arrangement (30, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630) being fixed to one furniture part (11, 21) and abutting another furniture part (21, 11) via a coupling element (23, 70, 270, 472, 670) and including as drive element a shape memory element (91, 94, 95, 691) which is heatable to change its shape for operating directly the drive arrangement or for a spring storage device (561) which is tensioned by the shape memory element.

2. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory element (91, 94, 95, 691) is shortened by heating for generating the force to operate the drive arrangement (30, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630) and which is again elongated upon cooling down.

3. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory element (91, 94, 95, 591, 691) is electrically energized to be heated.

4. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory element (91, 94, 95, 591, 691) consists of a wire or a bundle of wires.

5. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory element (91, 94, 95, 591, 691) is provided at its ends with electrical connectors or electrical connecting wires.

6. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein all components needed for the movement at the movable furniture part (21) are arranged on one of a support plate and a frame and in a housing (31, 131, 231, 331, 431, 531, 631).

7. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the drive arrangement (30, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630) includes at least one carriage (50, 250, 150) or a rope pulley (340) to which the shape memory element (91, 94, 95, 591, 691) is linked.

8. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the coupling element is one of an engagement pin (24), an opening lever (70, 270, 370, 670) and a rotatable disc (470) with a contact pin (472).

9. The operating mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the coupling element (24, 70, 270, 370, 472, 670) abuts a furniture part (21, 11) during opening without being coupled thereto.

10. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory element (91, 94, 95, 591, 691) consists of a nickel titanium alloy.

11. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory element (91, 94, 95, 591, 691) has an intrinsic two way effect.

12. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the movable furniture part (21) is one of a drawer, a revolving door, a pivotable door, a flap and an extension table.