Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of a seat and/or reclining furniture

US 6,961,971 B2
Filed: 06/24/2002
Issued: 11/08/2005
Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
Status: Expired due to Term

First Claim

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1. Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of one of a seat and a reclining furniture, comprising:

a) a base body having rails;

b) at least one adjustable support element adjustable relative to the base body;

c) an adjusting device for the adjustment of the adjustable support element relative to the base body; and

d) at least one adjustment motor provided with the adjusting device, the adjustment motor being disposed, as viewed in side view, within the bounds of one of the rails.

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Abstract

Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of a seat and/or of reclining furniture, especially suited for a bed mattress, including a base body having rails, and one adjustable support element adjustable relative to the base body. An adjusting device for the adjustment of the support device relative to the base body may be provided. One of the rails may be hollow or open on one side for receiving part of the adjusting device. The one adjustable element can be adjusted between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position and that interacts with the support element, and that is received in the first adjustment position in a rail, or as viewed in a side view, for example, within the bounds of the rail, and that protrudes in the second adjustment position over the rail toward the support side.

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84 Claims

1. Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of one of a seat and a reclining furniture, comprising:
- a) a base body having rails;
  
  b) at least one adjustable support element adjustable relative to the base body;
  
  c) an adjusting device for the adjustment of the adjustable support element relative to the base body; and
  
  d) at least one adjustment motor provided with the adjusting device, the adjustment motor being disposed, as viewed in side view, within the bounds of one of the rails.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- - 2. Support device according to claim 1, wherein:
    - a) the adjusting device has at least one adjustment element that is adjustable between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position, that interacts with the support element to be adjusted, and that is received by one of the rails in the first adjustment position, or in side view within the limits of one of the rails, and that protrudes over the one of the rails toward a support side in the second adjustment position.
  - 3. Support device according to claim 2, wherein:
    - a) the adjusting device has an actuator movable relative to the adjustment element, the at least one adjustment element has an abutting face for abutment with the actuator, whereby the actuator moves back and forth relative to and along an abutting face of the adjustment element, and thereby adjusts the at least one adjustment element between its first adjustment position and its second adjustment position.
  - 4. Support device according to claim 3, wherein:
    - a) the actuator moves linearly relative to the at least one adjustment element, and the abutting face of the adjustment element is tilted relative to the movement axis of the actuator.
  - 5. Support device according to claim 3, wherein:
    - a) the abutting face of the at least one adjustment element is an essentially level surface.
  - 6. Support device according to claim 3, wherein:
    - a) the abutting face of the at least one adjustment element in a cross section includes a bow shape configuration.
  - 7. Support device according to claim 6, wherein:
    - a) the abutting face in a cross section to the actuator includes a convex configuration.
  - 8. Support device according to claim 3, wherein:
    - a) the actuator is arranged in one of the rails, or in side view, within the limits of one of the rails.

9. Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of one of a seat and a reclining furniture, comprising:
- a) a base body having rails;
  
  b) at least one adjustable support element adjustable relative to the base body, the adjustable support element including at least one rail;
  
  c) an adjusting device for the adjustment of the at least one adjustable support element relative to the base body;
  
  d) at least one of the rails being one of hollow and open on one side for receiving at least a part of the adjusting device; and
  
  e) the adjusting device including an adjustment motor, the adjustment motor being received by one of the rails which is one of hollow and open on one side.
- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
- - 10. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) the adjusting device has at least one linearly movable drive element that moves back and forth.
  - 11. Support device according to claim 10, wherein:
    - a) the linearly movable drive element interacts with the at least one adjustable support element for the adjustment of the same, and an element is provided that transfers a back and forth movement of the drive element in movement of the adjustable support element between its adjustment positions.
  - 12. Support device according to claim 10, wherein:
    - a) the drive element is arranged in one of the rails, or in side view, within the limits of one of the rails.
  - 13. Support device according to claim 12, wherein:
    - a) the rail, in which the linearly movable drive element is received, has a recess, through which a free end of one of an angle lever and an actuator lever extends in at least one adjustment position for the purpose of interacting with a guide.
  - 14. Support device according to claim 10, wherein:
    - a) the linearly movable drive element includes a spindle nut disposed on a fixed spindle and movable in an axial direction.
  - 15. Support device according to claims 10, wherein:
    - a) the linearly movable drive element is unpivotable, in an axial direction movable fixed spindle, on which a locally fixed, pivot driven spindle nut is disposed.
  - 16. Support device according to claim 15, wherein:
    - a) the fixed spindle includes a threaded spindle, and the spindle nut has a female thread.
  - 17. Support device according to claim 10, wherein:
    - a) the linearly movable drive element includes a guide that extends substantially laterally to the linear movement axis of the drive element, and into which one of a free end of an angle lever and a free end of an actuator lever engages at least in one adjustment position.
  - 18. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) at least one of the rails, at least in a section, is constructed as an open hollow profile toward a support side of the support element.
  - 19. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) at least one of the rails, at least in a section, is constructed as a closed hollow profile.
  - 20. Support device according to claim 19, wherein:
    - a) the one of the rails has a recess toward a support side, in which the at least one adjustable support element is received in a first adjustment position, and through which the at least one adjustable element protrudes toward the support side in a second adjustment position.
  - 21. Support device according to claim 20, wherein:
    - a) an adjustable support element is loosely positioned on an adjustment element associated with the at least one adjustable support element.
  - 22. Support device according to claim 20, wherein:
    - a) the at least one adjustment element is an adjustment lever.
  - 23. Support device according to claim 22, wherein:
    - a) the adjustment lever is a pivot lever that is pivotably linked toward the support side.
  - 24. Support device according to claim 23, wherein:
    - a) the adjusting device has a drive element, and an element is provided that transfers a back and forth movement of the drive element into a pivot movement of the pivot lever between its adjustment positions.
  - 25. Support device according to claim 23, wherein:
    - a) the adjusting device has at least one linearly movable drive element that moves back and forth; and
      
      b) the pivot lever is pivotably linked to one of the at least one linearly movable drive element and to a part that is connected to it.
  - 26. Support device according to claim 23, wherein:
    - a) the pivot lever includes one of an angle lever and a bow-shaped lever.
  - 27. Support device according to claim 23, wherein:
    - a) an angularly movable actuator is arranged between the pivot lever and one of the base body and a drive element, and the angularly movable actuator interacts with a stop unit during the course of the adjustment movement for pivoting of the pivot lever.
  - 28. Support device according to claim 27, wherein:
    - a) the angularly movable actuator is responsive to pulling.
  - 29. Support device according to claim 27, wherein:
    - a) the angularly movable actuator is responsive to pressure.
  - 30. Support device according to claim 27, wherein:
    - a) the angularly movable actuator includes one of a lever and a rod.
  - 31. Support device according to claim 27, wherein:
    - a) the angularly movable actuator is received at least in a first adjustment movement of the pivot lever by one of the rails, or in side view, within the limits of one of the rails.
  - 32. Support device according to claim 27, wherein:
    - a) the pivot lever is directly or indirectly pivotably linked to the base body, a first end of the actuator is pivotably linked to the pivot lever around a pivot axis parallel and at a distance to the pivot axis of the pivot lever, and the stop unit is included on the linearly movable drive element, that abuts a second end of the actuator during the course of the adjustment movement in such a way that the actuator pivots around its second end during the course of the adjustment movement, and the pivot lever thereby pivots around its pivot axis.
  - 33. Support device according to claim 27, wherein:
    - a) the pivot lever is pivotably linked to the base body, a first end of the actuator is pivotably linked to the drive element that pivots around a pivot axis parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot, lever, and a second end of the actuator is movable along a guide relative to the pivot lever, the stop unit is arranged at one end of the guide, onto which the actuator abuts with its second end during the course of the adjustment movement in such a way that the actuator pivots the pivot axis assigned to it, and the pivot lever thereby pivots around the pivot axis assigned to it.
  - 34. Support device according to claim 27, wherein:
    - a) the pivot lever is pivotably linked to the drive element, a first end of the actuator is pivotably linked to the base body, around a pivot axis parallel and at a distance to the pivot axis of the pivot lever, and a second end of the actuator is movable along a guide relative to the pivot lever, a stop unit is arranged at one end of the guide, onto which the actuator abuts with its second end during the course of the adjustment movement in such a way that the actuator pivots the pivot axis associated with it, and the pivot lever thereby pivots around the pivot axis associated with it.
  - 35. Support device according to claim 27, wherein:
    - a) the pivot lever is pivotably linked to one of a linearly movable drive element, a first end of the actuator is pivotably linked to the pivot lever around a pivot axis parallel and at a distance from the pivot axis of the pivot lever, and the stop unit is arranged on the base body, and against which a second end of the actuator abuts during the course of the adjustment movement in such a way that the actuator pivots around its second end, and thereby pivots the pivot lever around its pivot axis.
  - 36. Support device according to claims 33 or 34, wherein:
    - a) the guide includes an elongated recess, in which the actuator engages with a protrusion.
  - 37. Support device according to claim 36, wherein:
    - a) the longitudinal axis of the recess extends at an angle relative to a movement axis of the linearly movable drive element.
  - 38. Support device according to claim 36, wherein:
    - a) the recess runs straight.
  - 39. Support device according to claim 36, wherein:
    - a) the recess runs bow-shaped.
  - 40. Support device according to claim 36, wherein:
    - a) the recess includes one of a groove and a slot.
  - 41. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) a one first rail of the base body, and a second rail of the base body at least in the area of their ends facing each other, are hollow, and a drive element is arranged in the first rail;
      
      b) one of a rope, a ribbon, and a chain-shaped pull element is provided a first end of which is attached to one of the rails, and which interacts with the drive element is arranged in the first rail for the adjustment of the rails relative to each other; and
      
      c) the pull element is guided successively across at least one turn assigned to the first rail like a pulley, and at least one turn assigned to the second rail.
  - 42. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) the drive element includes a linearly movable drive element with which a second end of the pull element interacts.
  - 43. Support device according to claim 42, wherein:
    - a) the second end of the pull element is attached to the drive element.
  - 44. Support device according to claim 42, wherein:
    - a) the linearly movable drive element includes a further pull element, and exerts a pulling force on the pull element for the adjustment of the second rail relative to the first rail.
  - 45. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) a turn that is associated with the one of the rails, is arranged on an intermediary element that forms a force transmission connection to the one of the rails.
  - 46. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) the turns include turn rollers.
  - 47. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) the turns are received by the rails.
  - 48. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) at least one turn that is associated the rails includes an axis, or is disposed on an axis that extends into the interior of the rails by means of a recess in an adjustment direction, which recess is disposed in another one of the rails.
  - 49. Support device according to claim 48, wherein:
    - a) the recess runs at a radius around the axis.
  - 50. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) the drive element includes a pivot driven winding element for the winding of the pull element, and on which a second end of the pull element is attached.
  - 51. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) the first end of the pull element is attached to the second rail, and at an interior wall of the second rail.
  - 52. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) the pull element is fed successively across turns associated with the first rail in the manner of a 4-rope pulley, and across turns associated with the second rail.
  - 53. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) the second rail can be pivoted relative to the first rail in such a way that the adjusting device comprises a pivot drive.
  - 54. Support device according to claim 41, wherein:
    - a) a turn is associated with the one of the rails, and is disposed on the one of the rails on the interior wall of the one of the rail.
  - 55. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) the adjusting device has at least one electric motor as the adjustment motor.
  - 56. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) the support device has at least a first support element and a second support element for the plane support of the upholstery, the first support element and the second support element are pivotably linked, and can be pivoted relative to each other by the adjusting device.
  - 57. Support device according to claim 56, wherein:
    - a) the first support element includes a center support element, and the second support element is constructed of an upper body support element, and a leg support element is provided that is pivotably linked to the center support element on a side opposite of the upper body support element, and that pivots around a pivot axis substantially parallel to a pivot axis of the upper body support element.
  - 58. Support device according to claim 57, wherein:
    - a) a head support element is provided that is pivotably linked to the upper body support element on a side opposite the center support element, and that pivots around a pivot axis substantially parallel to a pivot axis between the upper body support element and the center support element.
  - 59. Support device according to claim 57, wherein:
    - a) a lower leg support element is provided that is pivotably linked to the leg support element on a side opposite the center support element, and that pivots around a pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the pivot axis between the center support element and the leg support element.
  - 60. Support device according to claim 56, wherein:
    - a) an adjustment position with a dead point for pivoting of the support elements relative to each other is associated with two neighboring support elements that can be pivoted relative to each other, and an actuator is provided that moves the adjustment position for the pivoting of the support elements relative to each other beyond their dead point into a stable adjustment position, in which a reverse operation of the support elements relative to each other into the base position is prevented.
  - 61. Support device according to claim 60, wherein:
    - a) the adjustment position has a knee lever, the one lever arm of which is linked to the first support element, and the other lever arm of which is linked to the second support element.
  - 62. Support device according to claim 61, wherein:
    - a) one of the lever arms of the knee lever is constructed as an angle lever, or is unpivotably linked to an actuator lever for defining an angle lever, whereby a free end of one of the angle lever and of the actuator lever can be moved back and forth for articulating the adjustment movement.
  - 63. Support device according to claim 62, wherein:
    - a) a drive element for moving the free end back and forth is associated with one of the free end of the angle lever and the actuator lever.
  - 64. Support device according to claim 60, wherein:
    - a) the stable adjustment position is an adjustment position, in which the support elements are pivoted relative to each other.
  - 65. Support device according to claim 60, wherein:
    - a) an eccentric is provided that is pivotably linked to one of the support elements, and abuts the other support element in such a way that the support elements pivot relative to each other with the turn of the eccentric.
  - 66. Support device according to claim 65, wherein:
    - a) an actuator lever is provided for the turning of the eccentric around its pivot axis, that is pivotably connected to the eccentric, a free end of which can be moved back and forth for turning of the eccentric.
  - 67. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) the reclining furniture includes a bed.
  - 68. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) the base body has at least two longitudinal rails that are parallel to each other and are at a distance to each other, and which are connected to each other by at least one cross rail.
  - 69. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) the support device includes a slat system.
  - 70. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) the base body includes in a frame.
  - 71. Support device according to claim 9, wherein:
    - a) the adjusting device includes at least first and second adjusting devices, each adjusting device is associated with a support element for the adjustment of the same, and a mechanical coupling is provided that couples a movement of an element of the first adjusting device to the movement of an element of the second adjusting device in such a way that an adjustment movement of the first adjusting device for the adjustment of the associated support element is mechanically coupled to an adjustment movement of the second adjusting device for the adjustment of the associated support element.
  - 72. Support device according to claim 71, wherein:
    - a) the coupling includes at least one coupling element that couples a turn of the element of the first adjusting device to a turn of the element of the second adjusting device, and couples the element of the first adjusting device unpivotably to the element of the second adjusting device.
  - 73. Support device according to claim 72, wherein:
    - a) the coupling element includes a shaft.
  - 74. Support device according to claim 72, wherein:
    - a) the coupling includes at least one coupling is received by one of the rails, or in side view, within the limits of the rail.
  - 75. Support device according to claim 71, wherein:
    - a) the coupling includes at least one coupling element that couples the element of the first adjusting device offset to the element of the second adjusting device.
  - 76. Support device according to claim 75, wherein:
    - a) the coupling element is one of rod-shaped and plate-shaped.
  - 77. Support device according to claim 71, wherein:
    - a) the first adjusting device and the second adjusting device are associated with the same support element.
  - 78. Support device according to claim 71, wherein:
    - a) the first adjusting device and the second adjusting device are associated with different support elements.
  - 79. Support device according to claim 78, wherein:
    - a) the couplings are configured in such a way that the adjustment of the support element, to which the first adjusting device is assigned, substantially occurs at the same time as the adjustment of the support element, to which the second adjusting device is associated.
  - 80. Support device according to claim 78, wherein:
    - a) the coupling is configured in such a way that the adjustment of the support element, with which the first adjusting device is associated, occurs at an offset to the adjustment of the support element, with which the first adjusting device is associated.
  - 81. Support device according to claim 78, wherein:
    - a) at least one of the rails is a longitudinal rail configured for receiving parts of the adjusting device.
  - 82. Support device according to claim 71, wherein:
    - a) the coupling is arranged in one of the rails, or in side view, within the limits of the rail.

83. Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of one of a seat and a reclining furniture, comprising:
- a) a base body having rails;
  
  b) at least one adjustable support element adjustable relative to the base body;
  
  c) an adjusting device, including an adjustment motor, for the adjustment of the adjustable support element relative to the base body;
  
  d) at least one of the rails being a hollow rail and receiving substantially receiving the adjustment motor and at least a part of the adjusting device therein;
  
  e) the adjusting device having at least one adjustable element that can be adjusted between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position; and
  
  f) the at least one adjustable element interacting in the first adjustment position with the at least one adjustable support element to be adjusted, and the at least one adjustable element being received in the first adjustment position within the hollow rail, and the at least one adjustable element protruding in the second adjustment position over the hollow rail toward a support side.

84. Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of one of a seat and a reclining furniture, comprising:
- a) a base body having rails;
  
  b) at least one adjustable support element adjustable relative to the base body;
  
  c) an adjusting device moluding an adjustment motor, for the adjustment of the at least one adjustable support element relative to the base body;
  
  d) at least one of the rails being one of hollow and open on one side for receiving substantially receiving the adjustment motor and at least a part of the adjusting device;
  
  e) the adjusting device having at least one adjustable element that can be adjusted between a first adjustment position and a second adjustment position; and
  
  f) the at least one adjustable element interacting in the second adjustment position with the at least one adjustable support element to be adjusted, and the at least one adjustable element being received in the first adjustment position within the extent of the at least one of the rails, and the at least one adjustable element in the first adjustment position being invisible from the exterior of the at least one of the rails, and the at least one adjustable element protruding in the second adjustment position over the at least one of the rails toward a support side.

Specification

Resources

Litigation Campaign Assessment

Current Assignee
Cimosys AG
Original Assignee
Cimosys AG
Inventors
Dewert, Eckhart, Schneider, Johannes
Primary Examiner(s)
LUU, TUYET PHUONG PHAM

Application Number

US10/177,750
Publication Number

US 20030052238A1
Time in Patent Office

1,233 Days
Field of Search

561/3, 561/6, 561/7, 561/8
US Class Current

5/618
CPC Class Codes

A47C 20/041 by electric motors

A47C 20/08 with means for adjusting tw...

Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of a seat and/or reclining furniture

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

97 Citations

84 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

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Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of a seat and/or reclining furniture

First Claim

1 Assignment

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

97 Citations

84 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links