Method of and apparatus for locking a powered movable furniture item

• US 6,492,786 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raffel Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Raffel Product Development Company
• Inventors: Seidl, Kenneth G., Vang, David, Elliott, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duda, Rina I.
• Application Number:
  US09/850,718
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 318/17, 318/265, 318/466, 318/468, 318/552, 318/553, 297/19, 297/330, 297/362.11, 297/DIG.7, 561/6, 280/647
• US Class Current: 318/553
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0242 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/14 Standing-up or sitting-down aids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/07 Rocker/recliner
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/10 Occupant-arising assist

Abstract

A powered movable chair controllable by a user. The chair includes a frame, a powered apparatus mounted to the frame to power the movable chair, and a controller including a control circuit coupled to the powered apparatus. The control circuit includes at least two switches for selectively controlling a change of the status of the powered apparatus between a locked state and an unlocked state. The control circuit is operable to generate an output signal allowing control of the powered apparatus in the unlocked state and preventing control of the powered apparatus in the locked state. The control circuit is further operable to change from the unlocked state to the locked state when a user operates only a first switch of the at least two switches, and to change from the locked state to the unlocked state when a user operates two switches of the at least two switches.

Claims

1. A controller for a powered furniture item including a frame and a powered apparatus mounted on the frame, the controller comprising:

a control circuit coupled to the powered apparatus, the control circuit including

at least two switches for selectively controlling a change of the status of the powered apparatus between a locked state and an unlocked state,

the control circuit being operable to

generate an output signal allowing control of the powered apparatus in the unlocked state and preventing control of the powered apparatus in the locked state,

change from the unlocked state to the locked state when a user operates only a first switch of the at least two switches, and

change from the locked state to the unlocked state when a user operates two switches of the at least two switches.

2. A controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the switches is a push-button switch.

3. A controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first switch of the at least two switches is a multi-function switch, and wherein the control circuit changes from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to the user holding the first switch for a predefined time period.

4. A controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control circuit changes from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to the user operating the two switches concurrently.

5. A controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein the control circuit changes from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to the user operating the two switches sequentially.

6. A powered movable chair comprising

a frame;

a powered apparatus mounted to the frame to power the movable chair;

a controller including a control circuit coupled to the powered apparatus, the control circuit including

at least two switches for selectively controlling a change of the status of the powered apparatus between a locked state and an unlocked state,

the control circuit being operable to

generate an output signal allowing control of the powered apparatus in the unlocked state and preventing control of the powered apparatus in the locked state,

change from the unlocked state to the locked state when a user operates only a first switch of the at least two switches, and

change from the locked state to the unlocked state when a user operates two switches of the at least two switches.

7. A controller as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of the switches is a push-button switch.

8. A controller as set forth in claim 6 wherein the first switch of the at least two switches is a multi-function switch, and wherein the control circuit changes from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to the user holding the first switch for a pre-defined time period.

9. A controller as set forth in claim 6 wherein the control circuit changes from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to the user operating the two switches concurrently.

10. A controller as set forth in claim 6 wherein the control circuit changes from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to the user operating the two switches sequentially.

11. A method of controlling a powered movable furniture item including

a powered apparatus connected to the item and a control circuit coupled to the powered apparatus,

the control circuit including at least two switches controllable by a user and being operable to provide output signals to the powered apparatus to change the status thereof between a locked and an unlocked state,

the method comprising the acts of:

changing from the unlocked state to the locked state when the user operates only a first switch of the at least two switches; and

changing from the locked state to the unlocked state when the user operates two switches of the at least two switches.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first switch of the two switches is a multi-function switch and wherein the act of changing from the unlocked state to the locked state includes the act of changing from the unlocked state to the locked state when the user holds the first switch for a predefined time period.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the act of changing from the locked state to the unlocked state includes the act of changing from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to the user operating the two push-buttons concurrently.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the act of changing from the locked state to the unlocked state includes the act of changing from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to the user operating the two push-buttons sequentially.