CONTROL OF POWERED FURNITURE

Abstract: Furniture (typically a chair or bed) is powered to be movable between a first and a second configuration. A detector arrangement detects the presence of foreign bodies in the vicinity of the furniture piece, the detector arrangement being connected to a controller arranged to modify the output of the driver driving the furniture where a foreign body is detected.

Description: Control of Powered Furniture Th^ present; invention relates to the control of powered furniture . Chairs, beds and other furniture are available which include mechanisms and power units that enable the occupant to be moved. Tnese devices are particularly useful for people with physical disabilities and typically have the power to lift as much as 250kg. The same power is typically available wnen tne mechanism is lowered or closed. It is normal thar when the mechanism is m its raised position, access can be gained to the workings of the mechanism. This access is not necessarily required, but is inherent m the design of such mechanisms. It is possible that a person, small child, animal or equipment such as a power cord may nave moved into a position where in j ury or damage may occur if the mechanism is subsequently lowered. Improved furniture has now been devised. According to a first aspect, the invention provides furniture comprising: I) a furniture piece movable between a first configuration and a second configuration; li ) motive means for moving tne furniture between the first and second configurations; lii ) control means controlling the operation of the motive means; and, IV) a detector arrangement for detecting the presence of foreign bodies m the vicinity of the furniture piece, the detector arrangement being connected to the control means and arranged to modify the output of the motive means where a foreign body is detected. The detector arrangement is preferably arranged to detect the presence of foreign bodies positioned between the furniture piece and the floor or wall of a building, or more preferably, the furniture piece and a plinth or base of the furniture piece, relative to which the furniture piece is moveable. The furniture therefore preferably comprises a base mount or plinth for supporting the movable furniture piece, and relative to which the furniture piece is movable, preferably by tilting. Desirably, the detector arrangement is positioned on a portion of the arrangement which remains substantially stationary whilst the furniture piece moves between the first and second configurations. The detector arrangement preferably comprises a an elongate flexible detector, desirably extending about the base mount: or plinth or the base cr plinth contacting portion of the furniture piece. The detector arrangement comprises electrical contacts normally biassed away from one another but capable of being brought into contact by an applied operating force which is substantially m the range 5N or less. The detector arrangement preferably comprises an elongate housing resiliently compressible m a direction transverse to its longitudinal direction, which housing preferably carries an elongate electrical contact. The contact is preferably received m a receiving formation of the housing which receiving formation is preferably arranged to releasably retain the contact, desirably m releasable gripping engagement. A second contact desirably runs adjacent the first contact m the housing desirably received m a channel provided m a base portion of the housing . In one embodiment at least one of the contacts may comprise an electrically conductive wire wound about an elongate flexible former. It is believed that a detector arrangement as herein defined is novel and inventive per se . Desirably, the control means is arranged to modify the output of the motive means m response to change m the contact status of the detector arrangemen . The motive means is preferably caused to cease operation or reverse m operation m response to output from the detector arrangement corresponding to the contacts touching. Desirably, the motive means is caused to reverse in operation before ceasing operation, m such circumstances. The motive means is preferably arranged to operate the furniture piece to tilt between the first and second configurat ion . In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a tilting chair or bed arrangement comprising: I) a tilting bed or chair movable between a first configuration and a second configuration tilted relative to the first configuration; li ) a base mount or plinth for the chair or bed; m) motive means for tilting the bed or chair from the first to the second configuration; IV) control means controlling the operation of the motive means; and, v) a detector arrangement for detecting the presence of foreign bodies between the base mount or plinth and the bed or chair, the detector arrangement being connected to the control means and arranged to modify the output of the motive means where a foreign body is detected, the detector means comprising an elongate detector element extending about the base of tne bed or chair, or (more preferably) the base mount or plinth and having elongate portions extending m substantially mutually perpendicular directions. The chair or bed is preferably connected to the base mount or plinth at a tilt axis connection. Desirably, the motive means is arranged to extend and retract a pivotal arm connected to the bed or chair and the base mount or plinth. The invention will now be further described m a specific embodiment, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, m which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an arrangement for controlling the operation of furniture according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of a detector arrangement comprising furniture according to the invention; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the construction of a flexible continuous conductor shown m figure 2 ; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a support frame for powered tilting furniture according to the invention; and, Figure 5 is a view corresponding to figure 4, showing a detector arrangement according to the invention m position. Referring to the drawings, as shown m Figure 1, an elongate flexible detector 1 is connected to an electronic circuit 2, which can be interfaced as required to the control unit of the powered furniture 3. The electronic circuit comprises a monitor section 10 and a latch 11. The detector 1 comprises two continuous metal contacts 8 and 9, supported m a rigid non-conducting base 7 and a flexible non-conducting cover 6 as shown m Figure 2. The cover 6 has sufficient flexibility to allow the contacts 8 and 9 to touch when pressure is applied and sufficient recovery strength to separate the contacts 8 and 9 when the pressure is removed. To ensure that the upper contact 8 has sufficient flexibility m all dimensions it may be made of a thin metal material, or as shown m Figure 5 it may be constructed as a wire 13 wound onto a nonconducting flexible, non-stretch former 12. Under normal circumstances, when it is safe for the furniture to be operated (for example tilted to a lowered position from a raised position) , the output of the latch 11 m the electronic circuit 2 will be m a reset state. The monitor 10 m the electronic circuit 2 detects if the contacts 8 and 9 m the detector device break along their length or if they come into contact. If either event happens, the monitor 10 will set the output of the latch 11. The changed output state of the latch 11 can be used py the machine's control unit 3 to initiate the most desirable action, for example to stop or reverse the machine's power unit 5. The letch 11 will remain with a changed output state until the contacts 8 and 9 separate and the latch 11 subsequently receives a separate reset signal . As an example, for the case of a lifting chair, which is used to help the chair's occupant to stand from a sitting position, the chair's mechanism will be opened by its power unit 5 as shown m Figure 4. The detector 1 is fitted to a base mount frame 14 to extend around three sides of the frame enclosing the opening area of the mechanism 4 as shown m Figure 5, so that any body of sufficient weight entering the opening m the machine will press the contacts 8 and 9 m the detector device together. Alternatively, if an object with insufficient weight, such as a power cord enters the mechanism, the contacts 8 and 9 m the detector device 1 will come together as the mechanism 4 closes on it. The amount of movement allowed m the detector device will ensure that damage is not caused to the obstructing object before the mechanisms' movement is stopped or reversed.

Claims: Claims : 1. Furniture comprising: i) a furniture piece movable between a first configuration and a second configuration; n) motive means for moving the furniture between the first and second configurations; in) control means controlling the operation of the motive means; and, IV) a detector arrangement for detecting the presence of foreign bodies m the vicinity of the furniture piece, the detector arrangement being connected to the control means and arranged to modify the output of the motive means where a foreign body is detected. 2. Furniture according to claim 1, wherein the detector arrangement s arranged to detect the presence of foreign bodies positioned between the furniture piece and the floor or wall of a building. 3. Furniture according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the detector arrangement is arranged to detect the presence of foreign bodies positioned between furniture piece and a plinth or base of the furniture piece, relative to which the furniture piece is moveable . Furniture according to any preceding claim, wherein the furniture further comprises a base mount or plinth for supporting the movable furniture piece, and relative to which the furniture piece is movable. Furniture according to claim 4, wherein.the furniture piece is movable relative to the plinth or base by tilting. 6. Furniture according to any preceding claim, wherein the detector arrangement is positioned on a portion of the arrangement which remains substantially stationary whilst the furniture piece moves between the first and second configurations. 7. Furniture according to any preceding claim, wherein the detector arrangement comprises a an elongate flexible detector. 8. Furniture according to claim 7, wherein the furniture further comprises a base mount or plinth for supporting the movable furniture piece, and relative to which the furniture piece is movable, the elongate flexible detector extending about the base mount or plinth. 9. Furniture according to claim 7, wherein the furniture further comprises a base mount or plinth for supporting the movable furniture piece, and relative to which the furniture piece is movable, the elongate flexible detector extending about the base or plinth contacting portion of the furniture piece. 10 Furniture according to any preceding claim, wherein the detector arrangement comprises electrical contacts normally biassed away from one another but capable of being brought into contact by an applied operating force which is substantially m the range 5N or less. 11. Furniture according to any preceding claim, wherein the detector arrangement includes an elongate housing resiliently compressible m a direction transverse to its longitudinal direction, which housing carries an elongate electrical contact. 12. Furniture according to claim 11, wherein the contact is received m a receiving formation of the housing which receiving formation is arranged to releasably retain the contact. 13. Furniture according to claim 12, wherein the contact is retained m releasable gripping engagement by the receiving formation. 14. Furniture according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein a second contact extends adjacent the first contact m the housing. 15. Furniture according to claim 14, wherein the second contact is received m a channel provided in a base portion of the housing. 16. Furniture according to any of claims 11 to 35, wherein at least one of the contacts comprises an electrically conductive wire wound about an elongate flexible former. 17. Furniture according to any preceding claim, wherein the detector arrangement comprises electrical contacts, the control means being arranged to modify the output of the motive means in response to change in the contact status of the detector arrangement . 18. Furniture according to any preceding claim, wherein the motive means is caused to cease operation or reverse in operation in response to output from the detector arrangement . 19. Furniture according to claim 18, wherein, the motive means is caused to reverse in operation before ceasing operation. 20. Furniture according to any preceding claim, wherein the motive means is arranged to operate the furniture piece to tilt between the first and second configuration. 21. Furniture according to any preceding claim; comprising a tilting chair or bed arrangement comprising: i) a tilting bed or chair movable between a first configuration and a second configuration tilted relative to the first configuration; ii) a base mount or plinth for the chair or bed; iii) motive means for tilting the bed or chair from the first to the second configuration; iv) control means controlling the operation of the motive means; and, v) a detector arrangement for detecting the presence of foreign bodies between the base mount or plinth and the bed or chair, the detector arrangement being connected to the control means and arranged to modify the output of the motive means where a foreign body is detected, the detector means comprising an elongate detector element extending about the base of the bed or chair, or (more preferably) the base mount or plinth and having elongate portions extending in substantially mutually perpendicular directions. 22. Furniture according to claim 21, wherein the chair or bed is connected to the base mount or plinth at a tilt axis connection. 23. Furniture according to claim 22, wherein,- the motive means is arranged to extend and retract a pivotal arm connected to the bed or chair and the base mount or plinth. 24. Furniture substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: COLCLOUGH STEPHEN HENRY, WATKINS ULLAND ISLWYN, COLCLOUGH, STEPHEN, HENRY, WATKINS, ULLAND, ISLWYN
Applicants: COLCLOUGH STEPHEN HENRY, WATKINS ULLAND ISLWYN, COLCLOUGH, STEPHEN, HENRY, WATKINS, ULLAND, ISLWYN
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A47C20
IPC codes: A47C20, A61G5, A61G7