Operating mechanism for furniture parts including a shape memory element

• US 9,380,873 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gunther Zimmer, Martin Zimmer
• Original Assignee: Gunther Zimmer
• Inventors: Zimmer, Gnther, Zimmer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bogue, Jesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dounis, Laert
• Application Number:
  US12/928,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20110154817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 60527-529, 292/251.5, 292/167, 292/139, 292/142, 3123191-3198
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 comprising

a drive arrangement (30, 130, 230) adapted to be fixed to one of a moveable furniture part (21) and a stationary furniture part (11),

the drive arrangement including:

a drive element in the form of a shape memory element (91, 94, 95) which is heatable to be shortened, and

a spring storage device (61, 261) in the form of a tension spring, as well as

a linearly movable carriage (50, 150, 250) guided by the stationary furniture part (11) to which the drive arrangement (30, 130, 230) is fixed,

wherein the drive element (91, 94, 95) is connected to the furniture part (11, 21) to which the drive arrangement (30, 130, 230) is fixed and is guided by the movable carriage (50, 150, 250) and wherein the spring storage device (61, 261) interconnects the movable carriage (50, 150, 250) and the furniture part (11, 21) to which the drive arrangement (30, 130, 230) is fixed,

so that the drive element

operates directly against the linear stroke force of the spring storage device (61, 261) which counteracts an operating stroke of the shape memory element (91, 94, 95), and charges the spring storage device (61, 261), which is tensioned by the shortening of the shape memory element upon heating thereof, the movable furniture part (21) and the stationary furniture part (11) not being in contact with each other when the drive element is not heated,

the operating mechanism further comprising a coupling element (24, 70, 270) in the form of one of a pin (24) fixed to the furniture part (11, 21) to which the drive arrangement (30) is not fixed and a lever (70, 270) arranged on a pivot bearing (75, 275) which is fixed to the furniture part (11, 21) to which the drive arrangement (130, 230) is fixed and is driveable by the movable carriage (50, 150, 250), so that the movable furniture part (21) and the stationary furniture part (11) are brought into temporarily abutting contact with each other via the coupling element (24, 70, 270) by shortening the shape memory element (91, 94, 95),

whereby the movement of the movable furniture part (21) with respect to the stationary furniture part (11) is initiated, and further shortening of the memory element (91, 94, 95) moves the movable carriage (50, 150, 250) into a position in which the coupling element (24, 70, 270) is decoupleable from the memory element (91, 94, 95), so that the shape memory element (91, 94, 95), upon cooling down, regains its original length without being connected to the coupling element (24, 70, 270).

2. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shape memory element (91, 94, 95) is shortened by heating for generating the force to operate the drive arrangement (30, 130, 230) and 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) 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) 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 of the movable furniture part (21) are arranged on one of a support plate and a frame and in a housing (31, 131, 231).

7. The operating mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the coupling element in the form of a lever is an opening lever (70, 270) which is pivotally supported on the stationary furniture part so as to be engageable by a coupling projection (45) for opening the movable furniture part (21).

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

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

10. 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.