Abstract:
Modular system for assembling electromechanically adjustable supporting devices for upholstery of furniture for sitting or lying upon, particularly for bed mattresses. The supporting devices, when assembled, have at least two supporting parts, which can be displaced relative to one another and which serve to support the upholstery. Modular system includes first and second longitudinal member subassemblies joined together, forming a base body of supporting device. Modular system includes an electromechanical drive for displacing the supporting parts relative to one another, and a control device for controlling the electromechanical drive. First and second electromechanical drive units are assigned to respective first and second longitudinal member subassemblies, and the first and second electromechanical drive units are usable together and brought into active connection with the same supporting part of the supporting device for displacing it, and the control device synchronously controls the first and second electromechanical drive units.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of application no. PCT/EP2005/002043, filed 26 Feb. 2005, which claims priority of German application no. 10 2004 016 048.1, filed 1 Apr. 2004, and which claims priority of German application no. 20 2004 018 913.5, filed 6 Dec. 2004, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a modular system for the assembly of an electromechanically adjustable supporting device for upholstery of furniture for one of sitting and lying upon. The invention further relates to an electromechanically adjustable supporting device for upholstery of furniture for one of sitting and lying upon.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Electromechanically adjustable supporting devices for upholstery of items of furniture for sitting and/or lying upon are generally known, for example, in the form of slatted frames, for example from DE 0 372 032 B2, DE 38 42 078 C2, DE 199 62 541 C3, DE 100 46 751 A1, DE 100 62 538 A1, and DE 100 46 751 A1.  
         [0004]     A submattress is known from EP 0 445 325 B1, and a physiotherapeutic table is known from DE 32 16 559 A1.  
         [0005]     Electromechanically adjustable supporting devices for upholstery of furniture for sitting and/or lying upon are further known from EP 778 016 A2, WO 96/29970, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,065 B1.  
         [0006]     From EP 0 642 753 A1 a modular system of the relevant type is known, which comprises a first longitudinal member subassembly and a second longitudinal member subassembly, which can be connected to one another, laterally interspaced, via connecting elements to form a base body of the supporting device. The modular system known from the publication further comprises electromechanical drive elements, which can be placed in active connection with supporting parts of the supporting device for the purpose of adjusting the same. Further, the known modular system in the publication has control elements that are not described in detail, designed for actuating the electromechanical drive elements. In the known modular system, a dual-arm control lever is pivotably mounted on each of the longitudinal member subassemblies, with the assigned supporting part, for example an upper body supporting part, being movably supported on one end of the lever. The other end of the control lever is in active connection with the electromechanical drive elements. In addition, the ends of the control lever (which is allocated to one supporting part such as the upper body supporting part) that are closest to the electromechanical drive elements are connected to one another via a rod that extends transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the supporting device, with a push element lying adjacent to the rod, which is linearly adjustable via a spindle actuator with a spindle nut. The spindle of the spindle actuator can be rotary actuated via an electric motor, which is mounted between the longitudinal member subassemblies. To adjust, for example, the upper body supporting part, the electric motor actuates the threaded spindle such that the spindle nut presses via the push element against the rod that connects the ends of the control lever, so that the control levers pivot around their pivoting axis, thereby raising the upper body supporting part.  
         [0007]     One disadvantage of the known modular system consists in the fact that, because of the mechanics required to produce an introduction of force into the respective supporting part that is symmetrical relative the longitudinal center plane of the supporting device, the system is very costly and thus expensive to produce.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the invention is to provide a modular system for the assembly of an electromechanically adjustable supporting device for upholstery of furniture for one of sitting and lying upon that does not have the disadvantages, as described above, and that thus can be more simply and cost-effectively produced.  
         [0009]     This object is achieved by the teachings set forth below.  
         [0010]     This object is also achieved by an embodiment of the invention which includes a modular system for the assembly of an electromechanically adjustable supporting device for upholstery of furniture for one of sitting and lying upon, which modular system, when assembled, in use, with the supporting device, includes at least two supporting parts for supporting the upholstery and that can be adjusted relative to one another. There is likewise a first longitudinal member subassembly and a second longitudinal member subassembly, the first and second longitudinal member subassemblies being connectable together, laterally spaced apart, by a connecting device to form a base body for the supporting device. An electromechanical drive device for adjusting the supporting parts relative to one another is provided, and a control device for actuating the electromechanical drive device is likewise provided. The electromechanical drive device includes first and second electromechanical drive units, the first electromechanical drive unit being assigned to the first longitudinal member subassembly, and the second electromechanical drive unit being assigned to the second longitudinal member subassembly. The first electromechanical drive unit and the second electromechanical drive unit are placeable in active connection with the same supporting part of the supporting device for adjusting the same, and the control device includes an electric or electronic control circuit for the substantially synchronous actuation of the first electromechanical drive unit and the second electromechanical drive unit.  
         [0011]     The basic idea of the teaching of the invention includes allocating two drive units to one of the supporting parts to be adjusted, which are in active connection with this supporting part for the purpose of adjusting the same. In this manner, a first electromechanical drive unit is assigned to and preferably arranged on a first longitudinal member subassembly and a second electromechanical drive unit is allocated to and preferably arranged on the second longitudinal member subassembly, so that the drive force of the first electromechanical drive unit is introduced into a part of the supporting part to be adjusted that is adjacent to the first longitudinal member subassembly, and the drive force of the second electromechanical drive unit is introduced into the part of the supporting part to be adjusted that is adjacent to the second longitudinal member subassembly. In this manner, without costly mechanics, an introduction of force into the supporting part to be adjusted that is symmetrical in relation to the longitudinal center plane of the supporting device is enabled, so that during adjustment of the same, twisting, distortion, or the like can be prevented.  
         [0012]     The electric or electronic control circuit that is provided according to the invention effects a synchronous or essentially synchronous actuation of the electromechanical drive units. In this manner it is ensured that the electromechanical drive units, which preferably have the same construction, can be placed in operation synchronously to adjust a supporting part, and operate synchronously, for example in such a way that the output elements or devices of the electromechanical drive units execute the same adjusting movement. If the output elements of the electromechanical drive units are, for example, spindle nuts, then, on the basis of the synchronized actuation of the drive units, the spindle nuts travel the same path along their linear axis of motion per unit of time. If the output elements of the electromechanical drive units are, for example, pivoting shafts, then the two pivoting shafts pivot synchronously with one another by the same pivoting angle.  
         [0013]     In this manner, an introduction of force into the supporting parts to be adjusted that is symmetrical in relation to the longitudinal center plane is achieved with a very small number of mechanical components, so that the modular system according to the invention can be produced especially simply and thus cost-effectively. Furthermore, due to the reduced number of mechanical components the assembly of the modular system according to the invention is facilitated.  
         [0014]     One particularly advantageous further development of the teaching of the invention provides that the first electromechanical drive unit can be placed in active connection with a first pivoting shaft that is assigned to the first longitudinal member subassembly, and the second electromechanical drive unit can be placed in active connection with a second pivoting shaft that is assigned to the second longitudinal member subassembly, wherein the first pivoting shaft and the second pivoting shaft can be placed in active connection with the same supporting part of the supporting device to allow adjustment of the same, wherein the control circuit actuates the first electromechanical drive unit and the second electromechanical drive unit such that the first pivoting shaft and the second pivoting shaft pivot essentially synchronously with one another. With this embodiment, a particularly simple, sturdy and cost-effective construction results. The pivoting shafts can be especially and for example non-rotatably connected to pivoting levers, on which the supporting part to be adjusted is movably supported, or which form a component of the supporting part to be adjusted.  
         [0015]     Another advantageous further development of the teaching of the invention provides that the control circuit has a memory unit, especially a permanent memory unit, for storing the respective position of adjustment of the supporting parts that have been adjusted by means of the electromechanical drive units. By using a permanent memory unit it is ensured that the drive units can be placed in operation in a manner that corresponds to the respective control commands, even in the event of a loss of power.  
         [0016]     Expediently, according to the invention the control circuit can have a programmable circuit. Programmable circuits of this type are available as simple and cost-effective standard components.  
         [0017]     Another advantageous further development of the teaching of the invention provides that the first electromechanical drive unit is arranged on the first longitudinal member subassembly and the second electromechanical drive unit is arranged on the second longitudinal member subassembly. In this manner the drive units are preassembled on the longitudinal member subassemblies, so that the number of components required for the assembly of a supporting device using the modular system of the invention is further reduced. In addition, according to the invention at least one of the longitudinal member subassemblies can be configured as a preferably closed hollow profiled section or a hollow profiled section that is open on one side, with the respective drive unit being completely or at least partially accommodated within the hollow profiled section. For example, a spindle actuator of the respective electromechanical drive unit, including a reduction gear, can be accommodated in the hollow profiled section, while the electric motor is arranged outside the hollow profiled section and can be in drive connection with parts of the drive unit that are arranged in the interior of the longitudinal member subassembly through a recess in the hollow profiled section.  
         [0018]     A supporting device according to the invention is likewise disclosed herein. Advantageous and expedient further developments and embodiments of the supporting device according to the invention are disclosed throughout.  
         [0019]     Below, the invention is described in greater detail with reference to the attached set of drawings, in which an exemplary embodiment of a modular system according to the invention is represented. In this, all characterizing features of the invention that are described or represented in the drawing define and achieve the objects of the invention, alone or in any combination, are as described herein, and are independent of their formulation or representation in the description or in the drawings.  
         [0020]     Relative terms such as left, right, up, and down are for convenience only and are not intended to be limiting. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of components of an exemplary embodiment of a modular system according to the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first longitudinal member subassembly of the modular system according to  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal section through the longitudinal member subassembly according to  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a part of a longitudinal section through an exemplary embodiment of a supporting device according to the invention, assembled using the modular system according to the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of control device for actuating electromechanical drive devices of the supporting device according to  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the supporting device according to  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     In  FIG. 1 , components of a modular system  2  according to the invention are illustrated, which in this exemplary embodiment includes a first longitudinal member subassembly  4  and a second longitudinal member subassembly  6 , which can be detachably connected to one another via connecting elements that are not shown in  FIG. 1 , to form a base body for a supporting device  8 , the supporting device  8  in this exemplary embodiment being configured as a slatted frame. The connecting elements for connecting the longitudinal member subassemblies  4 ,  6  can be formed, for example, by cross rails that connect the longitudinal member subassemblies  4 ,  6  and extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the supporting device  8 .  
         [0028]     In this exemplary embodiment, the first longitudinal member subassembly  4  has a center supporting section  10 , with which an upper body supporting section  12  is connected such that it can pivot around a horizontal pivoting axis; and a headrest section  14  is pivotably connected to the supporting section at its end that faces away from the center supporting section  10 , such that it can pivot around a horizontal pivoting axis. A leg supporting section  16  is pivotably connected to the end of the center supporting section  10  that is opposite the upper body supporting section  12 , such that it can pivot around a horizontal pivoting axis, and a calf supporting section  18  is pivotably connected to its end that is opposite the center supporting section  10  such that it can pivot around a horizontal pivoting axis.  
         [0029]     The second longitudinal member subassembly  6  is constructed in a corresponding manner, and its components are provided with reference symbols which are analogous to the reference symbols of the first longitudinal member subassembly  4 .  
         [0030]     Slat mounts or supports for resilient slats that are not shown in  FIG. 1  are connected to the upper surface of the supporting sections  10  through  18 , or  10 ′ through  18 ′ , of the longitudinal member subassemblies  4 ,  6 , wherein in  FIG. 1  in each case only one slat support is indicated by the reference symbols  20  or  20 ′.  
         [0031]     When the supporting device is assembled, in each case the center supporting sections  10 ,  10 ′ together form a center supporting part  10 ″, the upper body supporting sections  12 ,  12 ′ form an upper body supporting part  12 ″, the headrest or head supporting sections  14 ,  14 ′ form a headrest part  14 ″, the leg supporting sections  16 ,  16 ′ form a leg supporting part  16 ″, and the calf supporting sections  18 ,  18 ′ form a calf supporting part  18 ″of the supporting device  8 . The supporting parts  10 ″ through  18 ″ formed in this manner can be adjusted between an adjustment position that corresponds to a sitting position of the supporting device  8  and a lying position not shown in the drawing, in which the supporting parts  10 ″ through  18 ″ span an essentially horizontal support plane.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows the first longitudinal member subassembly  4 , the center supporting section  10  which in this exemplary embodiment is configured as a closed hollow profiled section and as a housing configured to accommodate parts of a first drive unit  22 . The first drive unit  22  in this exemplary embodiment has a first electric motor  24 , which in this exemplary embodiment is in drive connection with a pivoting shaft  26  that is pivotably mounted on the first longitudinal member subassembly  4 . The first pivoting shaft  26  is non-rotatably connected, in a manner described further below in reference to  FIG. 3 , to the upper body supporting section  12  of the first longitudinal member subassembly  4 , so that when the pivoting shaft  26  is pivoted by means of the electric motor  24 , the upper body supporting section  12 , and thereby the upper body supporting part  12 ″, is pivoted.  
         [0033]     Next to the first drive unit  22 , an additional drive unit  28  with an additional electric motor  29  is arranged on the first longitudinal member subassembly  4 , which motor serves to pivot the leg supporting section  16  and the calf supporting section  18  relative to the center supporting section  10 . The additional drive unit  28  is configured in a manner that corresponds to the first drive unit  26  and is not described in further detail here.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a longitudinal section through the first longitudinal member subassembly  4  and serves to illustrate the construction of the first drive unit  22 . The first drive unit  22  has an electric motor that is arranged outside of the center supporting section  10  of the first longitudinal member subassembly  4 , the output shaft  32  of which is configured as a worm and is in engagement with a worm gear  34  that is rotatably mounted in the interior of the center supporting section  10  of the first longitudinal member subassembly  4 , and a threaded spindle  36 , which is rotatably mounted in the interior of the center supporting section  10 , is non-rotatably engaged with the worm gear. A spindle nut  38  with internal threading that is mounted in a manner fixed against rotation in the first longitudinal member subassembly  4  is arranged on the threaded spindle  36 . One end of an actuator arm  42  is connected to the spindle nut  38  via a disengagement device  40  that is of no further interest here. The other end of the actuator arm  42  is eccentrically connected to an articulated lever  46 , which is non-rotatably connected to the first pivoting shaft  26 , by a pivoting axis  44 , and around which the first pivoting shaft  26  is pivotably mounted on the first longitudinal member subassembly  4 .  
         [0035]     A pivoting lever  48  is non-rotatably connected to the first pivoting shaft  26 , and which is a part of the upper body supporting section  10 . When the electric motor  22  of the first drive unit  32  actuates the threaded spindle  36  such that the spindle nut  38  in  FIG. 3  moves toward the right, the spindle nut  38  moves the actuator arm  42  along with it, so that given the connection of the actuator arm  42  to the articulated lever  46 , the connection being eccentric relative to the pivoting axis  44 , the first pivoting shaft  26  in  FIG. 3  is pivoted clockwise, so that the pivoting lever  48 , and thereby the upper body supporting section  12 , is also pivoted clockwise in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a part of a cross-section through the first longitudinal member subassembly  4 . As is apparent from  FIG. 4 , the pivoting lever  48  is non-rotatably connected to a lever extension  50 , which in turn is provided with a facing  52  that holds the slat supports  20 . Thus the pivoting lever  48  together with the lever extension  50 , the facing  52 , the slat supports  20  and the slats, which are not illustrated here, form a part of the upper body supporting part  12 ″ of the supporting device  8 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 5  shows a functional block diagram of control device  54  for actuating the drive units  22 ,  30 . The control device can be actuated, for example, via a manual switch  56 , and has an electric or electronic control circuit  58  for the essentially synchronous actuation of the first drive unit  22  and the second drive unit  30 . In this exemplary embodiment the control circuit  58  has a permanent memory unit  60  for storing the respective position of adjustment of the upper body support part  12  achieved by means of the drive units  22 ,  30 .  
         [0038]     The manner of operation of the supporting device  8  of the invention is as follows:  
         [0039]     When a user actuates the manual switch  56  in order, for example, to adjust the upper body supporting part  12 ″ of the supporting device  8  from an essentially horizontal position of adjustment to the position of adjustment shown in  FIG. 1 , the control circuit  58  generates control signals for the synchronous actuation of the drive units  22 ,  30 . These control signals are sent to the drive units  22 ,  30  via control cables  62 ,  64 .  
         [0040]     On the basis of the synchronous actuation with the control signals, the first drive unit  22  starts up and pivots the first pivoting shaft  26  in  FIG. 4  clockwise, so that the upper body supporting section  12  in  FIG. 4  is also pivoted clockwise. At the same time and synchronously the second pivoting shaft  26 ′, which is assigned to the second longitudinal member subassembly  6 , is also pivoted clockwise in  FIG. 4  by the second drive unit  30 , so that the upper body supporting section  12  is also pivoted clockwise. Because the drive units  22 ,  30  are synchronously actuated by the control circuit  58 , the upper body supporting section  12  pivots synchronously with the upper body supporting section  12 ′, so that during pivoting, twisting/distortion of the upper body supporting part  12 ″, which is formed by the upper body supporting sections  12 ,  12 ′, is reliably prevented.  
         [0041]     Because of the control-based synchronization of the drive units  22 ,  30  achieved by means of the electric or electronic control circuit  58 , mechanical synchronization devices in principle are unnecessary. However, if desired on the basis of relevant requirements, the pivoting shafts  26 ,  26 ′ can also be non-rotatably connected to one another via a connecting shaft.  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows the supporting device  8  that is assembled using the modular system  2  of the invention. In this exemplary embodiment the connecting elements configured to effect the separable connection of the longitudinal member subassemblies  4 ,  6  are formed by crossbars  66 ,  68 , which are connected to longitudinal bars  70 ,  72  of an exterior frame  74  of the supporting device  8 , with which longitudinal bars the longitudinal member subassemblies  6 ,  4  are separably connected via screws.  
         [0043]     In  FIG. 6 , an additional electric motor  29 ′ for an additional drive unit  28 ′ assigned to the second longitudinal member subassembly  6  is illustrated. By means of the additional drive units  28 ,  28 ′ the leg supporting part  16 ″ together with the calf supporting part  18 ″ can be adjusted, wherein the additional drive units  28 ,  28 ′ can be synchronously actuated via the control circuit, in the manner already described in relation to the drive units  22 ,  22 ′. The construction of the additional drive units  28 ,  28 ′ corresponds essentially to that of the drive units  22 ,  22 ′ and thus will not be described in further detail here.  
         [0044]     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or limits of the claims appended hereto.