Actuator for movable furniture parts

• US 9,631,411 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Lutz, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gallego, Andres F
• Application Number:
  US15/040,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20160160551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1064 with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/40 supported on arms movable in vertical planes
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/105 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1058 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/416 for counterbalancing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/474 Compression springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/499 Spring tensioners; Tension sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/624 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/638 Cams; Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/70 Nuts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/266 curved
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furniture, e.g. cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 1/02 characterised by shape or material of spring, e.g. helical, spiral, coil
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 1/10 for producing output movement other than rotary, e.g. vibratory

Abstract

An actuator for moving a movable furniture part includes at least one movably mounted actuating member for moving the movable furniture part, a spring device for applying a force to the actuating member, and a setting device by which a force of the spring device that acts on the actuating member can be set. The setting device has a threaded portion and a screw nut mounted adjustably between two end positions, and the force of the spring device acting on the actuating member can be set by adjusting the screw nut along the threaded portion. At least one supporting element is provided which relieves the screw nut in at least one of the two end positions of the force of the spring device.

Claims

1. An actuator for moving a moveable furniture part, said actuator comprising:

a moveably mounted actuating member for moving the moveable furniture part;

a spring device for applying a force to said actuating member;

an adjusting device for adjusting the force of said spring device acting on said actuating member, said adjusting device including a threaded portion and a screw nut mounted displaceably between two end positions, wherein the force of said spring device acting on said actuating member is adjustable by displacement of said screw nut along said threaded portion;

a support element operatively arranged between said spring device and said screw nut such that said spring device indirectly acts on said screw nut via said support element;

a housing; and

a counterpart abutment fixed with respect to said housing;

wherein said support element, said counterpart abutment, said housing, and said spring device are configured such that said support element bears directly against said counterpart abutment at the one of the two end positions such that said spring device is supported by said support element to relieve said screw nut of the force of said spring device.

2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said actuating member includes an actuating arm mounted pivotably about an axis of rotation.

3. The actuator according to claim 2, wherein said actuating member further includes a control cam along which a pressure roller loaded by said spring device runs, said control cam being configured to pivot said actuating arm.

4. The actuator according to claim 3, wherein said control cam is on said actuating arm and is configured to provide differing radial spacing relative to the axis of rotation of said actuating arm.

5. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said support element has an opening for receiving said screw nut.

6. The actuator according to claim 5, wherein said opening is step-shaped.

7. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting device has a threadless portion adjoining said threaded portion, said adjusting device being configured such that said screw nut is to pass into said threadless portion and be brought out of engagement with said threaded portion at the one of the two end positions.

8. The actuator according to claim 7, wherein said screw nut and said threaded portion are configured so that the force of the spring device presses onto said screw nut when said screw nut is engaged with said threaded portion, and said screw nut and said threadless portion are configured so that said screw nut is relieved of the force of said spring device by the support of said support element against said counterpart abutment when said screw nut is at said threadless portion.

9. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said spring device includes a coil spring.

10. The actuator according to claim 9, wherein said coil spring is a compression spring.

11. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said support element is a sleeve configured to surround at least a part of said threaded portion.

12. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said support element is mounted loosely to said threaded portion.

13. The actuator according to claim 1, further comprising a spring element for acting upon said screw nut in the one of the two end positions with a force applied in a direction away from the one of the two end positions.

14. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting device further includes an adjusting wheel for moving said screw nut along said threaded portion.

15. An arrangement comprising:

a moveable furniture part; and

said actuator according to claim 1.