Flap drive system

• US 8,011,741 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Mattle, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): WILKENS, JANET MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/579,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 493/39, 493/40, 493/41, 493/45, 162/86, 16/79, 312/323, 312/327, 312/328, 312/325, 3123195-3198, 312/116, 312/138.1, 312/139, 310/83, 318/663
• US Class Current: 312/319.5
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/401 specially adapted for overhead wings E05D15/403 - E05D15/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/46 with two pairs of pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1058 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/232 by automatically acting means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/51 Screwing or bolting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/528 Hooking, e.g. using bayonets; Locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/56 Positioning or pre-mounting
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/626 Plates or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/11 Manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/205 forming a unit
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/232 of motors and transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/238 of springs and transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/70 Retrofitting of elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furnitures, e.g. cabinets

Abstract

A flap drive system for moving a flap mounted in a movable manner on the body of a piece of furniture has a mechanical actuating unit with an actuating arm that can be linked to the flap, and has an energy accumulator that can apply a force to the actuating arm. The flap drive system also has an electric drive secured to the actuating unit for driving the flap. The electric drive has at least one electric motor and is designed as a self-contained component, such that the electric drive can be secured to the actuating unit even when the actuating unit is already mounted on the body of the piece of furniture.

Claims

1. A flap drive system for driving a flap movably mounted on a body of a piece of furniture, said flap drive system comprising:

a mechanical actuating unit including;

a housing having a base to be fastened to the body of the piece of furniture and having a covering plate apart from and opposing said base;

an actuating arm to be connected to the flap, said actuating arm being arranged between said base and said covering plate of said housing; and

an energy accumulator for acting on said actuating arm, said energy accumulator being arranged between said base and said covering plate of said housing;

an electric drive including an electric motor and a base plate detachably fastened to said covering plate of said actuating unit; and

an interface between said electric drive and said actuating unit, said interface being configured to transmit driving force from said electric motor to said actuating arm when said base plate of said electric drive is detachably fastened to said covering plate of said actuating unit,

wherein said electric drive is configured to be detachably fastened to said actuating unit without disassembling said actuating unit when said actuating unit is already mounted to the body of the piece of furniture.

2. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said interface comprises a central shaft coupled to said electric drive, and said interface further comprises a receptacle unit on said actuating unit for engaging said central shaft when said base plate of said electric drive is detachably fastened to said covering plate of said actuating unit.

3. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein all components of said electric drive are fastened to said base plate.

4. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said electric drive further includes a housing, all components of said electric drive being arranged in said housing of said electric drive.

5. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said interface is configured to establish a connection for transmitting the driving force between said electric drive and said actuating unit as a result of detachably fastening said electric drive to said actuating unit.

6. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said electric drive is detachably fastened to said actuating unit so as to be located laterally adjacent to said actuating unit.

7. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said electric drive further includes a gear mechanism.

8. The flap drive system of claim 7, wherein said interface is coupled to said gear mechanism of said electric drive.

9. The flap drive system of claim 8, wherein said interface is further coupled to said actuating arm of said actuating unit.

10. The flap drive system of claim 7, wherein said interface comprises a central shaft coupled to said gear mechanism of said electric drive, and said interface further comprises a receptacle unit on said actuating unit for engaging said central shaft when said base plate of said electric drive is detachably fastened to said covering plate of said actuating unit.

11. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said interface is coupled to said actuating arm of said actuating unit.

12. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said electric drive further includes a coupling between said electric motor and said interface.

13. The flap drive system of claim 12, wherein said coupling comprises a mechanically flexible coupling.

14. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said electric drive further includes a freewheeling coupling linked to said electric motor.

15. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said electric drive further includes a housing for accommodating said electric motor therein, said electric motor being mounted so as to float within said housing of said electric drive.

16. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said electric drive further includes additional weights connected to said electric motor.

17. The flap drive system of claim 16, further comprising a position measuring device including a rotary potentiometer for measuring an amount of movement of said actuating arm.

18. The flap drive system of claim 1, further comprising a position measuring device for determining a position of at least one of said actuating arm and said electric motor.

19. The flap drive system of claim 1, wherein said actuating arm and said energy accumulator are arranged within said housing between an inner surface of said covering plate and an inner surface of said base, and said base plate of said electric drive is detachably fastened to an outer surface of said covering plate.

20. A piece of furniture comprising:

a body member;

a flap member movably mounted to said body member; and

a flap drive system for driving said flap member, said flap drive system comprising;

a mechanical actuating unit including;

a housing having a base fastened to said body member and having a covering plate apart from and opposing said base;

an actuating arm connected to said flap member, said actuating arm being arranged between said base and said covering plate of said housing; and

an energy accumulator for acting on said actuating arm, said energy accumulator being arranged between said base and said covering plate of said housing;

an electric drive including an electric motor and a base plate detachably fastened to said covering plate of said actuating unit; and

an interface between said electric drive and said actuating unit, said interface being configured to transmit driving force from said electric motor to said actuating arm when said base plate of said electric drive is detachably fastened to said covering plate of said actuating unit,

wherein said electric drive is configured to be detachably fastened to said actuating unit without disassembling said actuating unit when said actuating unit is mounted to said body member.