Patent Publication Number: US-2013234477-A1

Title: Chair or couch with motor-driven movable parts

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a piece of adjustable seating furniture. More particularly this invention concerns a chair or couch with motor-driven movable parts. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a piece of seating furniture, that is a couch or chair, with parts that are adjustable by an electric motor, and that specifically include at least one seat and/or back and/or footrest. The piece of furniture has a frame normally comprised of two vertical end members or plates interconnected by front and back longitudinal beams on which parts of the adjustment mechanism of the adjustable parts are pivotally linked or attached. 
     A drive having an electric motor is attached to parts of the adjustment mechanism and also has a step-down transmission as well as a tube that projects from the motor and transmission and that surrounds a drive element, in particular, a threaded drive spindle that is operatively connected to the step-down transmission. The outer surface of the tube carries a slide that is can be moved by the drive element front-to-back in the longitudinal direction of the tube, and that is connected between the drive element and parts of the adjustment mechanism or linkage. The motor of the unit is positioned below the front end of the seat facing immediately behind the footrest and is attached to the seat parts. A retaining bracket for attaching the drive unit to the frame is mounted on the rear end of the tube facing away from the motor and transmission. This retaining bracket is below the rear end of the seat. 
     An electrical power-supply cable is connected to the drive motor and carries a plug to provide connection to a power source. 
     Pieces of furniture of this type are widely known in the prior art. In this type of seat, adjustable elements are disposed between the side parts of the body, such as for example: the seat that can be disposed so as to be adjustable in terms of angle and able to slide longitudinally, the back that can be adjusted both in angle and height, the footrest that can be composed of a single or multiple parts and can be pivoted into and out of various positions. In order to facilitate these movements with an electric motor, the couch or chair includes drive elements in the form of the motor and transmission that are attached to a frame element extending between the side elements of the frame. A tube projecting from this motor and transmission holds a drive element, such as for example a rotatable threaded spindle. This spindle drives the adjustment slide that can thus be slid forward or backward along the tube. Parts of the adjustment mechanism, such as, for example, adjustment links or the like, are pivotally linked or attached to this adjustment slide so it can move the elements of the seat. 
     Using the conventional approach in many applications, assembly is effected in such a way that the motor and transmission are placed under the front end of the seat and are attached to the frame so that the tube located thereon projects together with the threaded spindle and the adjustment slide toward the rear. In conventional designs, the incoming cable that provides the power supply to the electric motor is routed out of a housing holding the motor in the vicinity of the motor from the housing. The corresponding incoming line is relatively long so as to allow it to be run toward the back below the seat of the piece of furniture within it. An outlet is then provided there for the incoming cable that can be connected, for example, to the power supply and/or to a wire-connected remote control. Running the incoming cable within the chair is relatively costly and complex, and in particular takes quite some time. However, in many areas of application, installation is provided so that the motor is in the region of the footrest, and thus the cable outlet is also provided there. This is costly in terms of the assembly and is associated with relatively high manufacturing costs. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved chair or couch with motor-driven movable parts. 
     Another object is the provision of such an improved chair or couch with motor-driven movable parts that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that can be assembled effected cost-effectively and within a short time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is a drive used in combination with a piece of seating furniture having a frame, a seat movable on the frame, a back movable on the frame at a rear end of the seat, a footrest movable on the frame at a front end of the seat, and a linkage connected to the seat, back, and footrest to shift same between different positions on the frame. The drive has according to the invention a motor, a transmission, a drive housing holding the motor and transmission and secured to the frame underneath the front end of the seat, and a rigid tube having a front end fixed to the housing and a rear end. A mounting bracket fixed to the rear end of the tube is secured to the frame under the rear end of the seat, and a drive element extends in the tube between the ends thereof and is connected to the transmission for rotation thereby. A slide sitting on the tube between the ends thereof os engaged by the drive element for displacement thereby. The slide is connected to the linkage to shift the seat, back, and footrest on the frame. A cable having a front end connected to the motor and extending rearward along the tube from the housing and past the bracket carries a plug rearward of the bracket. 
     In other words, the invention proposes an approach whereby the connector cable is routed out of a housing surrounding the motor and transmission, runs along the tube from the motor and step-down transmission to the retaining bracket and exits at the retaining bracket. The exiting rear end carries the connector plug. 
     In this arrangement, the entire drive unit can be installed in the conventional manner, that is, so that the motor and transmission is close to the footrest while the end of the tube is near the backrest. Running and attaching the connector cable along the tube from the motor step-down transmission to the retaining bracket and having it exit at the retaining bracket obviates the need for any additional installation expense of running the cable within the chair or seat contours. Instead, the exiting end of the incoming cable that includes the connector plug is positioned right from the start below the rear end of the seat cushion and is thus immediately accessible for installation without the need for additional installation steps. 
     Preferably, the connector cable is routed within the tube and is attached to it. In this solution, the connector cable is recessed and concealed in the tube. Only the end with the connector plug exiting at the retaining bracket is accessible for connecting and assembly. 
     A less costly but also very advantageous arrangement is seen in the approach whereby the connector cable is routed and attached outside the tube, the routing and attachment creating a gap with the tube in which parts of the adjustment slide can move freely. The connector cable here is routed outside and along the tube so as to make available sufficient freedom of movement for movement of the adjustment slide. 
     Provision is preferably made here whereby the connector cable is routed in a cable conduit whose dimensions have been matched to this cable, which conduit is attached to the tube, or to the motor and step-down transmission and to the retaining bracket. This arrangement achieves protection for the cable and creates a further aid to installation. 
     Provision is furthermore made whereby using the approach known per se the drive motor is in the form of a DC motor. 
     The object of this invention is furthermore a drive unit for the seat of the type described, the drive unit including an enclosed motor and transmission having externally exiting connector cables, from which unit a drive element, in particular, a drive spindle projects that is surrounded by a tube and that engages an adjustment slide guided on the tube. Attachment means are provided on the drive unit, and the retaining bracket with means for attachment to the parts is provided on the rear end of the tube facing away from the drive unit, and the adjustment slide includes connection means for connection to parts of an adjustment mechanism or linkage of a seat. 
     Also considered as a distinctive characteristic is the fact that a connection socket is provided on the drive motor or on a housing surrounding this motor, the connection socket being accessible from the outside of the housing for the plugging in or contacting, which connection socket is permanently attached to the motor connector cable, and to which connection socket the connector cable can be mechanically or electrically connected by a matching connector component. A corresponding configuration can be provided for both the drive unit as well as the seat. Here the cable outlet from the motor or from the motor housing is essentially created by a socket that is connected at one end by connecting wires to the drive motor. The connection externally is effected in the form of a plug-in connection that is accessible from the outside. With this arrangement the cable connected to the motor does not exits the housing or the like and is routed to the retaining bracket. Instead the connector cable that is preferably routed outside can, on the one hand, be plugged by the one end section into the connection socket so as to make contact and be mechanically connectable, while the other end of the connector cable has the connector plug. The overall installation is facilitated even further thereby since the motor can be installed in finished form, optionally with a housing surrounding the motor including electrical wiring, while connecting to the connector socket leading to the motor with the connector cable can be effected subsequently, that is, during a later operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is partly sectional end view of the couch or chair according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a large-scale side view of the drive of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the drive of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As seen in  FIG. 1  a couch or chair  1  has a generally horizontal seat  2 , an upright back  3  projecting up from a rear end of the seat  2 , and a footrest  4  projecting down from a front end of the seat  2 , all shown without upholstery or cushions for clarity of view. These parts  2 ,  3 , and  4  are all slidable and/or pivotal on a frame  5  having a longitudinal floor beam  6  by a linkage  17 . 
     In addition, an electric-motor-driven drive  7  is attached, for example, to the beam  6  and serves for operating the linkage  17 . It has an electric drive motor  8  with a step-down transmission  9 . A tube  10  extends from a housing  18  surrounding the motor  8  and transmission  9  and coaxially receives a drive element, such as, for example, a threaded spindle  16  that is operatively connected to the step-down transmission  9 . 
     An adjustment slide  11  can move along the outer surface of the tube  10 , with its longitudinal front-to-back position determined by the drive element  16 , so that it connects this drive element  16  and the linkage  17 , for example, by a link  15  pivoted on the slide  11 . Moving the slide  11  along the tube  10  allows the seat  2 , back  3 , and/or footrest  4  to be adjusted accordingly.  FIG. 1  shows how the motor  8  and step-down transmission  9  are secured to the frame  5  below the front end of the seat  2  and immediately rearward of the footrest  4  in its vertical rest position. At its rear end it is secured to the beam  6 . A holder or mounting bracket  12  for attachment, for example, to the frame element  6  is fixed on the rear end of the tube  10  opposite from the motor  8  and transmission  9  below the rear end of the seat  2  and the seat back  3 . 
     An electrical connector cable  13  is connected to the motor  9  and has a plug  14  for connection to a power source, typically a line-voltage outlet. According to the invention, the cable  13  is routed out of the housing  18  holding the motor  8  and transmission  9 , running in or along the tube  10  from the motor  8  to the bracket  12 . The cable  13  is routed through the bracket  12  and secured to the tube  10 . This cable  13  extends out of the bracket  12  so that the plug  14  is accessible at the back of the piece  1  of seating furniture. 
     The cable  13  can also extend inside and be attached to the tube  10 . A preferred embodiment is illustrated in the drawing in which connector cable  13  is routed and attached outside the tube  10  in a groove extending along its underside so that it does not interfere with the slide  11  that largely surrounds the tube  1 . 
     The cable  13  is preferably inside a stiff cable conduit that is closely fitted and attached to the tube  10  and to the housing  18  of the motor  8  and transmission  9  and to the bracket  12 . In addition an interlock  19  comprised of a complementary plug and socket is provided at the front end of the cable  13  on the housing  18  for releasably connecting the cable  13  to the motor  8 . 
     The arrangement and mode of installation according to the invention makes the connector plug  14  accessible somewhat below the seat back  3  at the rear region of the couch or chair  1 . The cable  13  does not also have to be routed and installed during assembly. Instead, it forms together with the motor  8  and the tube  10  as well as the bracket an assembly or module that can be quickly and easily installed, and subsequently can be connected up to the motor  8  to establish connection with the corresponding incoming lines for power and/or remote control. The costly and complex assembly process traditionally required is not needed here. 
     The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment but can be varied in multifarious ways. 
     All of the features, whether individually or in combination, that are disclosed in the description and/or the drawing are considered essential to the invention.