Device for detecting collisions and a method related thereto

• US 9,236,817 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2012
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kessebohmer Produktions GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Kessebohmer Produktions GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Strothmann, Thomas, Spahn, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Leykin, Rita
• Application Number:
  US13/653,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20130293173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 318/466, 318/280, 318/430, 318/469, 318/453, 49/26, 49/28, 310/316, 310/318
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0052 with two telescopic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0056 with a motor, e.g. an electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0061 Height-adjustable desk, electronically regulated with no mechanical link between the legs
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/04 with vertical spindle
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/20 Telescopic guides
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/06 for stopping or slowing an individual dynamo-electric motor or dynamo-electric converter

Abstract

In summary it is described a column for a piece of furniture as well as a piece of furniture with at least one movable member (1, 2, 31), wherein said part is adapted to be moved relative to the rest of the furniture in a non-manual way. Further, there is provided a device for detecting collisions of the automatically movable member with obstacles, an automatic drive mechanism (5, 6) which is adapted to move the movable member, a control device adapted to control the automatic drive mechanism (5, 6), and at least one sensor (4) adapted to detect a collision during the motion of the movable member (1, 2, 31) with an obstacle and to transmit this incident to the control device wherein the at least one sensor (4) comprises a force-sensitive sensor (41).

Claims

1. A furniture column with at least one motor-driven member which can be moved relative to the rest of the furniture, comprising:

a device for detecting collisions of the movable member with obstacles, an automatic drive mechanism adapted to move the movable member, a control device adapted to control the automatic drive mechanism, and at least one sensor adapted to detect a collision during the motion of the movable member with an obstacle and to transmit this incident to the control device, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a force-sensitive sensor, wherein a control-signal can be generated, depending on the conductivity value of the force-sensitive sensor.

2. A furniture column according to claim 1, wherein the force-sensitive sensor comprises at least one conducting layer and a matrix consisting of a conductive and a non-conductive material.

3. A furniture column according to claim 1, wherein the force-sensitive sensor is formed in such a way that the conductivity of the force-sensitive sensor is proportional to a compressive force applied to the force-sensitive sensor.

4. A furniture column according to claim 3, wherein the operating member comprises a plastic foam material and/or an elastomer.

5. A furniture column according to claim 1, wherein the force-sensitive sensor is arranged axially above the motor.

6. A furniture column according to claim 5, wherein the plastic foam material and/or the elastomer can be injection-moulded.

7. A furniture column according to claim 1, wherein there is provided an operating member influencing the force-sensitive sensor.

8. A furniture column according to claim 7, wherein the operating member comprises an operating protrusion.

9. A furniture column according to claim 8, wherein the operating protrusion has a conical shape.

10. A furniture column according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged in such a way that there is applied a compressive force on the force-sensitive sensor, in case of a collision.

11. A furniture column according to claim 1 wherein at least one sensor is arranged in such a way that there is applied a tensile force on the force-sensitive sensor in case of a collision.

12. A furniture column according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is pre-impinged with a compressive force in a non-colliding state.

13. Sensor for use in a furniture column according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a force-sensitive sensor.

14. A use of a sensor according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is a collision-sensor and/or an absolute weight-sensor provided in the furniture column.

15. Furniture with at least one furniture column according to claim 1.

16. A method for controlling an automatic motion of the movable member in a furniture column according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

measuring the resistance of the force-sensitive sensor;

detecting a compressive force on the force-sensitive sensor within the sensor in the case of a collision of the furniture with an obstacle;

transmitting a collision-signal to the control-unit;

stopping the motion of the movable member by means of the control device.

17. A method for controlling the automatic motion of the movable member according to claim 16, comprising the steps of:

reversing the direction of movement of the movable member for a certain time and/or a distance after detecting a collision.

18. A height-adjustable table including a table top movably supported on a leg member having motor-driven table top which can be moved relative to the rest of the table, comprising:

a device for detecting collisions of the table top with obstacles, an automatic drive mechanism adapted to move the table top, a control device adapted to control the automatic drive mechanism, and at least one force-sensitive sensor adapted to detect a collision during the motion of the table top with an obstacle located above or below the table top, and to transmit this incident to the control device;

wherein a control-signal can be generated, depending on the conductivity value of the force-sensitive sensor;

wherein there is applied a tensile force on the at least one force-sensitive sensor in case of a collision with an object located below the table top;

wherein the at least one force-sensitive sensor is pre-impinged with a compressive force in a non-colliding state; and

wherein further, in case of a collision with an object located below the table top, the application of the tensile force on the at least one force-sensitive sensor effects a change in the conductivity value of the force-sensitive sensor pre-impinged with the compressive force.

19. A furniture column with at least one motor-driven member which can be moved relative to the rest of the furniture, comprising:

a device for detecting the application upon the movable member of excessive weight and/or collision of the movable member with an obstacle, an automatic drive mechanism adapted to move the movable member, a control device adapted to control the automatic drive mechanism, and at least one force-sensitive sensor adapted to detect (i) an absolute weight applied to the movable member and (ii) a collision with an obstacle during the motion of the movable member;

wherein, depending on the conductivity value of the force-sensitive sensor, the force-sensitive sensor generates and transmits to the control device a control signal, the control signal being either a collision signal signaling collision of the movable member with an obstacle or an overload signal signaling the application of excessive weight upon the movable member.