Beds – Invalid bed or surgical support – Sectional user supporting surface
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-11
2004-07-20
Santos, Robert G. (Department: 3673)
Beds
Invalid bed or surgical support
Sectional user supporting surface
C005S616000, C005S617000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06763536
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an adjustable support device for the upholstery of a piece of furniture that is used for sitting and/or laying upon. More particularly, the invention relates to a motor adjustable support device for adjusting the configuration of the mattress of a bed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such support devices are generally known in the form of motor adjustable slats for beds and such.
A related motor adjustable support device of this type is known from DE 38 42 078 C2 in the form of a slat system that is provided with a base body with a frame, to which several adjustable support components are connected in relation to one another. The known support device has a drive unit with a housing that is connected to the base body and can be removed. The housing has two recesses offset from one another, into which in the assembly position of the drive unit one shaft each, each of which is rotatably mounted to the base body of the support device, engages with an adjustable support component; and the adjustable support can be rotated by means of the drive unit. In the known support device, the drive unit is arranged below the slat frame.
One disadvantage of the known support device is that it has a relatively large height.
Similar support devices are also known from EP 0 372 032 B1, and EP 0 583 660 B1. These support devices also have a relatively large height.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the task of providing a motor adjustable support device for a piece of reclining furniture that does not have the disadvantage of known support devices; namely, the height of the adjustable support device is reduced.
This object is achieved by the motor adjustable support device for a piece of reclining furniture according to the invention including: a base; at least two support components provided on the base and defining a support side of the support device, the at least two support components being adjustable relative to each other; at least one detachable drive unit detachably connected to the base; a drive housing provided for the at least one drive unit; at least one recess provided in the drive housing; a rotatable shaft provided for adjusting the at least two support components relative to each other; at least one of the rotatable shaft and a drive of the at least one drive unit extending through the at least one recess for engaging with the other one of the at least one rotatable shaft and the drive of the at least one drive unit; the at least one detachable drive unit being provided in the drive housing for causing the drive to engage the rotatable shaft by placing the at least one detachable drive unit onto the rotatable shaft from the support side, the at least one drive unit thereby adjusting the at least two support components relative to each other when the at least one drive unit is driven; and the at least one drive unit being disposed substantially between the at least two support components and the rotatable shaft.
The invention departs from the concept of arranging the drive unit below the base body of the support device, as is the case in known support devices. The invention is rather further based on the idea of arranging the drive unit in such a way that it is arranged in a vertical direction in its assembly position between the shaft and the support components. For this purpose the invention includes that the drive unit is placed onto the shaft from the support side.
In this way, the drive unit is received between the shaft and the support components so that it does not, or only insignificantly protrudes over the base body of the support device. The height of the inventive support device is therefore substantially reduced, and is essentially determined by the height of the base body of the support device.
Owing to the low height of the support device, a space formed below the support device at the assembly position of the support device, such as on a bed, can be utilized, such as for the storage of objects, as this space is not filled, or is only insignificantly filled by the drive unit.
Furthermore, the inventive support device is visually attractive, as it essentially gives the appearance of a conventional, non-motor adjustable support device owing to its low height.
A further advantage of the inventive support device is that due to its low height, it uses less space during transport and during storage than known support devices. This represents a cost savings.
The inventive support device can be produced simply and at low cost, and can be easily attached to the base body of the support device.
A further embodiment of the inventive teaching includes the feature that the shaft is supported on the base body of the support device. This results in a stable and robust construction.
Another embodiment of the inventive teaching intends that a pivot lever is nonrotatably connected to the shaft, which is rotatably mounted to the drive unit by means of a drive motor for rotating the pivot lever. In this way, the adjusting device of the inventive support device is of particular simple construction, and can therefore be produced at low cost. Furthermore, in this embodiment, extremely high forces can be exerted by the adjusting device, which is particularly of advantage when the support device is to be adjusted under a load, such as under the weight of the person resting on it.
The drive unit of the inventive support device can be constructed in any suitable way. An advantageous embodiment includes that the drive unit has a linearly movable drive element which engages with a rotation lever for rotating the same. In this way, a simple and low cost, as well as robust construction of the drive unit is achieved.
In the embodiment with the rotation lever, the rotation lever is may be an angled or bent lever, as a further embodiment teaches. Given a corresponding linkage to the lever, such as with a linearly movable drive element, particularly high forces can be exerted in this embodiment.
In the embodiment with the linearly movable drive element, it can be constructed in any suitable way. A further embodiment includes the feature that the linear movable drive element is a spindle nut which is nonrotatably and in axial direction displaceably held on a rotatable non-displaceable spindle. Such spindle drives are available as simple and low cost, as well as robust standard components.
In a kinematic reverse of the previously mentioned embodiment, the linearly movable drive element, however, can also be a fixed spindle movable in its axial direction, on which a locally fixed, rotatable spindle nut is arranged.
It is generally sufficient that the support device has a single shaft which engages with the support component to be adjusted. Purposefully, however, two rotatable shafts may be included, whereby a recess in the housing of the drive unit is assigned to each shaft. By using two shafts, of which each engages with at least one support component to be adjusted, multiple adjustment possibilities can be achieved. For instance in the case of a slat system that has an upper body support component, a head support component, a leg support component, and a lower leg support component, which can be adjusted in relation to a center support component.
A further advantageous embodiment of the inventive teaching includes a locking means for the locking of the drive unit in an assembly position on the support device. This prevents the drive units from separating from the shaft under load.
Purposefully, the base body of the inventive support device has a frame, such as a further embodiment includes.
A further embodiment of the inventive teaching includes that the support device is constructed as a slat system.
An extraordinarily advantageous improvement of the inventive teaching includes the feature that the drive unit is arranged on a first part of the furniture, that the drive unit has a winding device for a band, rope, strand-like, or chain-like pulling element, that the strand-like pulling element is fed across at least one first pulle
Cimosys AG
Santos Robert G.
Shlesinger & Arkwright & Garvey LLP
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