Abstract:
A seat-recliner fitting is provided for the motor-driven inclination adjustment of a backrest ( 1 ) and for the motor-driven folding out and folding in of a two-part leg support ( 3 A,  3 B), whereby the fitting is completely pre-installed at the factory between two lateral plates ( 4 ), which are connected to cross-members ( 40, 41 ) and to which each lateral wall ( 42 ) provided with an arm rest is attached.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is concerned with a seat recliner fitting for the motor-driven inclination adjustment of a backrest and for the motor-driven folding out and folding in of a two-part leg support. 
   Known fittings of this type consists of a multitude of individual elements and assemblies that must be installed into a recliner frame and to the armrest, backrest, seat and leg support elements, as well as to one another. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is the object of the present invention to create a substantially simpler furniture fitting that is exceedingly simple to install on the furniture elements. 
   This object is met in such a way that the fitting is completely pre-installed at the factory between two lateral plates, which are connected to cross-members and to which each side panel provided with an arm rest is attached, that each lateral plate has seat fitting linkage arms directly or indirectly linked to it, to which a mounting angle is linked to attach a seat frame along the length of which it approximately extends, and the leg support components are linked by means of scissor-type linkages directly or indirectly as support fitting linkage arms, which carry the leg supports on the respective angle pieces and a mounting plate to hold a backrest frame is directly or indirectly linked to the mounting angle, and that a backrest cross bar is disposed between the mounting plates on both sides, and a seat cross bar is disposed between the mounting angles on both sides, and a drive member of a backrest adjusting motor extends between this seat cross bar and the backrest cross bar, and that a scissor-type cross bar extends between the two scissor-type linkages, with a drive member for a leg support drive motor extending between this scissor-type cross bar and one of the cross-members, or that the drive member for the leg support motor extends between a cross-member and a cross bar that is disposed between the mounting angles. 
   Advantageous embodiments will be specified in the subclaims. 
   The skeletal structure that supports the entire linkage and drive means and also carries the backrest, seat, and supporting elements to be mounted thereon, consists of the two outer lateral plates to which the side parts with the arm rests are to be attached, and of the interposed cross-members that are rigidly connected to the former. The linkage arms are made of flat steel, partly shaped with an offset bend to the extent that a narrow clearance is required and disposed near the plates, and the mounting angles and angle pieces extend inward with their assembly legs to receive the seat frame or the plate-shaped leg supports. The skeletal structure also incorporates the drive means with the motors. 
   The drive forces are transferred from the motors via cross bars to the given fitting pieces that are symmetrically disposed on both sides and movable, either directly or indirectly, by means of cross bars. The drive means are provided preferably in the form of spindle motors, which can be connected very easily. 
   The entire skeletal structure is held at its lateral plates in supporting side panels, which carry the arm rests and side padding. A separate base frame for the piece of furniture can be eliminated, as all remaining furniture elements, i.e., the backrest, seat and leg support plates are held on and fastened to the skeletal structure. The lateral stability of the piece of furniture, in addition to the cross-members, also results from the cross bars and from the furniture elements that extend from side fitting to side fitting and which are screwed on with rigid angles. 
   The cross-members and bars are preferably made of tubing that is inserted into matching cutouts and connected therein releasable or rigidly, e.g., by welding. 
   Owing to a suitable execution of the scissor-type linkage arms and a linking of the leg support closest to the seat to the lower front scissor-type linkage section on one hand, and via an auxiliary linkage to the lower scissor-type linkage section closest to the seat on the other hand, the two leg supports are situated to one another in such a way that the leg supports in their extended position are situated in one plane behind one another and in their retracted position approximately vertically behind one another, with the inner support plate extending between the scissor-type linkages and the wider outer support plate closing off the front face below the seat. The support plates may be covered with suitable padding or upholstery fabric, so that they are an integral component of the visual seat design. 
   An advantageous wide overhang of the leg supports is attained by long scissor-type linkage members that are directly or indirectly linked to the lateral plates closely underneath the seat and that extend close to the floor when they are being pivoted. The total pivoting angle of the inner scissor-type linkage arms is approximately 145°. They are situated in one and the same plane of the scissor-type linkage mechanism so that low moments of force occur in the support points. The front linkage arms of the scissor-type linkage mechanism are each located to both sides of the rear linkage arms and to both sides of the associated connecting leg of the angle piece, which closes off the scissor-type linkage mechanism. One of the front scissor-type linkage arms, preferably the outer one, is designed wide enough so that it always overlaps the other one at least to a certain degree so that there is no danger of a person&#39;s fingers or the like getting caught during a readjustment of the scissor-type linkage mechanism. This wide design of the scissor-type linkage arm additionally also provides a high degree of stability to support the weight when the leg support is extended. 
   Each of the seat mounting angles is linked directly or indirectly to the lateral plate by means of a short seat fitting linkage arm in the front and a longer one in the rear. These seat linkage arms extend upward. The front linkage arm is connected to a leg support fitting linkage arm and is adjusted together with the same by means of the leg support adjusting drive. The seat is accordingly coupled to the leg supports in such a way that the seat linkage arms are positioned nearly parallel when the leg supports are extended and slanted forward when the leg supports are retracted, so that the seat is lowered more in the front in this position and remains essentially at an unchanged height in the back during any adjustment. Since the backrest is linked to the seat mounting angle in the rear area and the backrest adjusting drive is situated between the seat and the backrest, the respective given backrest position relative to the seat remains unaffected by any adjustment of the leg support, which displaces the seat and backrest together approximately horizontally. 
   In a first embodiment the mounting angle of the seat and the mounting plate of the backrest are connected to one another in articulated fashion at a mounting angle extension, which is disposed at approximately half the height of the seat and backrest between the same, close to the backrest padding. As a result the two padding elements lie close against one another in the sitting position and move apart in the reclined position only by a measure corresponding to half of the padding thickness. The hinges and mounting components that are installed laterally close to the padding elements are sufficiently recessed downward in the gap in order not to have any interfering effect. 
   In a second embodiment, the mounting angle and the mounting plate are connected in each case to a scissor-type backrest linkage, the linkage arm of which is designed and linked in such a way that the backrest padding and seat padding always touch in the upper region when the backrest is being readjusted and no gap occurs between them. To connect the lower linkage arm closest to the seat, the seat mounting angle has a downward facing extension. The upper scissor-type linkage arm closest to the seat is connected close to the lower rear end of the seat above the other scissor-type linkage arm. 
   In a further improvement of the second embodiment, the scissor-type backrest linkages are implemented as a multi-part scissor-type linkage, thus permitting advantageous adaptations of the movements to different types of padding. This permits, in a particularly advantageous fashion, the contact of the backrest and seat padding with one another along the entire adjustment range of the backrest almost completely without the padding elements sliding on one another, thus preventing increased wear and tear in the contact areas. 
   In a third embodiment, the leg supports are adjusted via the movement of the seat frame and the motor is fastened on a cross-member and its adjusting spindle moves the seat frame back and forth via a pivoting lever that engages in the rear seat frame area. The coupling of the seat frame in the front region to the leg support fitting linkage arms accordingly permits the adjustment of the leg supports. In this advantageous system the cross bar between the leg support linkage arms is eliminated and permits a larger degree of freedom in this area. 
   Advantageous embodiments are presented in FIGS.  1 - 8 : 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of a chair in the reclined position with the side panel removed, partly in the view I—I; 
       FIG. 2  is an assembled longitudinal view of a fuel injector according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a sectional view upon the injection; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view showing another support portion of a cylindrical member; 
       FIG. 4  is an assembled longitudinal view of a portion of a fuel injector according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing the second and third cylindrical members of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  formed as one pierce; and 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled longitudinal view of a portion of a fuel injector according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing the third and fourth cylindrical members of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  formed as one piece. 
       FIG. 6  shows a backrest with scissor-type linkage in the sitting position; 
       Fig. 7  shows a reclined position for the chair in  FIG. 6 , partially in the view VII—VII; 
       FIG. 8  shows a top view on the fitting in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  shows a chair similar to  FIG. 6 and 7 , in an intermediate position with a multi-part scissor-type linkage mechanism to link to the backrest, and a different position of the leg support drive; 
       FIG. 10  shows a linkage variant between the seat frame and leg support fitting linkage in a section enlargement of the area X of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  shows a view A—A according to  FIG. 10  in a section; 
       FIG. 12  shows a top view of the fitting in FIG.  9 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a chair in a reclined position in a side view, which has one side panel removed and whose side panel  42 , shown in the back of the figure has a complete sub-assembly screwed to it that consists of symmetrical fitting assemblies, which are congruent in the figure and each of which is held on a lateral plate  4  of which the one that is located covered in the back of the figure is screwed to the side panel  42 . Since the lateral fitting assemblies are symmetrical, identical reference numerals will be used throughout for matching pieces. Extending between the lateral plates  4  are sturdy cross-members  40 ,  41 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , which are designed tubular, welded into matching plate recesses, or otherwise connected removable or rigidly. 
   In the front and rear area of the plate  4  a seat fitting linkage  24 ,  34 A is connected in each case, to the other end of which a mounting angle  20  is linked in each case, to the inwardly pointing leg of which a seat frame of a seat is screwed. The mounting angle  20  is connected to its laterally reversed counterpart by means of a sturdy seat cross bar  22 . 
   On the rear, a mounting angle extension  20 A extends from the mounting angle  20  upward to approximately half the height of the seat padding, with a fitting plate linked to the mounting angle extension  20 A as a mounting plate  10  for the backrest  1  or for a backrest frame, to which it is laterally screwed in multiple locations. Said backrest linkage joint  23  on the mounting plate  10  is located some distance below the surface of the backrest padding. Below this backrest linkage joint  23  a backrest cross bar  12  is disposed, extending from mounting plate  10  to mounting plate. 
   On this backrest cross bar  12  and on the seat cross bar  22 , a backrest adjusting motor is linked by means of a drive member  13 , preferably a spindle. 
   When the adjusting spindle  13  pushes the bars  12 ,  22  apart, the seat  2  is pushed forward on the seat mounting angle  20  while being supported on the short front linkage arm  34 A. When the bars  12 ,  22  are pushed apart, the backrest  1  is swiveled upward with the mounting plate  10 , as shown in various phases in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the swiveled-up seat position the seat padding and backrest padding sit closely against one another. The front seat linkage arm  34 A extends beyond its plate joint into the upper scissor-type linkage arm  34  of the support fitting linkages closest to the seat and is adjusted together with its drive. 
   In the resting position shown in  FIG. 1 , the backrest  1  is tilted back slightly rising and the seat padding  2  is slightly tilted back and displaced by a hand&#39;s width toward the backrest  1 , however, a gap of a few centimeters width remains between the two padding elements. 
   In front of the seat surface, on a somewhat lower level, the surfaces of two leg supports  3 A,  3 B extend flush with one another and are linked on both sides to leg support fitting linkage arms  34 - 38 ,in each case via angle pieces  30 A,  30 B to which they are screwed, with the leg support fitting linkage arm consisting of an auxiliary linkage arm  38  and scissor-type linkage mechanism  34 - 37 , which is linked at its other end to the lateral plate  4 . The scissor-type linkage mechanism  34 - 38  has relatively long levers that extend approximately from the seat to the floor when the scissor-type linkage joint passes approximately through its lowest point during a pivoting process, as can be derived from  FIGS. 3 and 5 , which show an intermediate position and the retracted position of the leg supports  3 A,  3 B. 
   The front leg support  3 B in its retracted position is positioned vertically and extends at its top to within a close distance underneath the frame of the seat  2  with a small clearance and at its bottom to a few centimeters above the floor. In the cross direction it closes the entire front region between the chair side panels  42 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , with a small clearance on the sides. 
   The rear leg support  3 A in its folded-in position is located approximately parallel to the front leg support at a distance from the same to leave space for the padding. The lateral extension of the rear leg support  3 A is somewhat smaller than that of the front leg support, as shown in  FIG. 2 , to leave space on the sides for the scissor-type linkage and the flange of the angle pieces  30 A,  30 B. 
   To permit the rear leg support  3 A to swivel from its vertical position into the approximately horizontal supporting position according to  FIG. 1  when the scissor-type linkage mechanisms are actuated, the downward pointing leg of the angle piece  30 A is linked both to a front scissor-type linkage arm  36  and also with an auxiliary linkage  38  to a rear scissor-type linkage arm  35 . The view of the leg support fitting linkages  34 - 38  in  FIG. 1  corresponds to a view I—I from the center of  FIG. 2  onto the above-drawn fitting. 
   As shown by  FIG. 2 , the rear scissor-type linkage arms  34 ,  35  are disposed above one another close to the lateral plate  4  and the front scissor-type linkage arms  36 ,  37  are disposed to the right and left of the them. This narrow design of the scissor-type linkage mechanism prevents the occurrence of twisting moments. 
   The outer front scissor-type linkage arm  37  is approximately twice as wide as the others. It thus has a much higher section modulus and no gap forms between the front scissor-type linkage arms in any readjustment position of a size that would allow a finger to get caught. The rear scissor-type linkage arms  34 ,  35  are spaced far enough apart even in their closest position, which is shown in  FIG. 1 , so that fingers can be placed between them and there is no danger of them getting caught. 
     FIGS. 6 through 8  show a second embodiment of the backrest coupling that takes place via scissor-type linkage gears  14 - 17 . The projections in  FIGS. 6 and 7  are derived from the section VI—VI; the lateral plates and the rear seat linkage arm are not shown for ease of viewing. 
     FIG. 6  shows the backrest  1  in the upright position and  FIG. 7  shows it in the completely reclined position. The padding of the backrest  1  and seat  2  are in contact in all positions, no interfering gap is formed into which loose padding elements or pieces of clothing could be drawn or become wedged. 
   The seat fitting  20  has a downward facing mounting angle extension  20 B to which the scissor-type linkage arms  14 ,  15  closest to the seat are linked at a distance above one another offset behind one another. The scissor-type linkage arms  16 ,  17  closest to the backrest are directed upward and linked to the former on one hand and linked, spaced apart above and behind one another, to a mounting plate  10 B and connected via the same with the backrest  1  to its frame. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , the backrest cross bar  20 B, to which the backrest adjusting motor  11  is connected, is shaped with an offset bend. The backrest cross bar  20 B extends between mounting plates  10 B. These as well as all backrest drive elements and the scissor-type backrest linkage gears are situated under the seat padding and backrest padding in all positions of the backrest, and on the sides these padding elements extend close to the chair side panels. 
     FIG. 9  shows a chair in a further exemplary embodiment of the scissor-type backrest linkages  14 - 17  and leg support drive  31 ,  33 . The scissor-type backrest linkage arms  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 , together with additional scissor-type backrest linkage arms  15 A,  16 A, form a multi-step scissor-type linkage mechanism in the style of lazy tongs. The backrest  1  is shown in its upright position. 
   The scissor-type linkage arm  15  closest to the seat is connected pivoting to the scissor-type linkage arm  16  closest to the backrest, and the scissor-type linkage arm  14  is connected via two additional scissor-type linkage arms  16 A and  15 A to the scissor-type linkage arm  17  closest to the backrest. In this embodiment the scissor-type linkage arm  16  closest to the backrest is situated at a distance from the scissor-type linkage arm  17  closest to the backrest. This results in an advantageous option to adapt the movement of the backrests to different frames so that the padding elements of the backrest  1  and seat  2  are again advantageously in contact in any position in such a way that no gap occurs. 
   The motor  31  of the leg support adjusting drive is linked to the cross-member  40 , its leg support adjusting spindle  33  is connected pivoting to a cross bar  22 A. The cross bar  22 A is situated between two pivoting levers  43  and connected to the same. The pivoting levers  43  are pivot mounted on the two lateral plates  4  and connected pivoting at their upper ends to the mounting angles  20 . During a readjustment of the leg support adjusting spindle  33 , for example in the direction toward the foot end, this direction of movement is reversed by the pivoting levers  43  so that the mounting angles  20  move in the opposite direction. In the front area of the mounting angles  20  the leg support fitting linkages  34  are linked in a coupled fashion and, in the process, extend the leg supports  3 A,  3 B. The leg supports  3 A,  3 B are thus adjusted indirectly via the movement of the mounting angles  20 . It is advantageous in this context that the cross bar  32  is eliminated and more space is created to retract the leg supports  3 A,  3 B. 
     FIG. 10  shows, in an enlarged section of the area X according to  FIG. 9 , the coupling of the mounting angle  20  to the leg support fitting linkage arm  34  via a pin  44 . The leg support fitting linkage arm  34  has, for this purpose, an angled extension with a slotted hole  34 B, which is connected to the pin  44  and, hence, to the mounting angle  20 . It is particularly advantageous to use a slotted hole since significantly lesser drive forces are thus required to adjust the leg supports. 
     FIG. 11  shows a view of the section A—A in FIG.  10 . The slotted hole  34 B is provided with a low-friction design, for example in the form of a sleeve  34 C. In this sleeve  34 C, the pin  44 , which also has a sleeve  34 , is guided in a low-friction manner. The material for the sleeves  34 C,  34 D is preferably plastic. 
   In an advantageous arrangement, the seat fitting linkage arms  34 A, leg support fitting linkage arms  34 , and mounting angle  20  are connected in a linking point by means of the pins  44  so that they are pivotable in relation to one another. 
     FIG. 12  shows a top view of the fitting according to FIG.  9 . 
   To facilitate the installation of the seat frame  2  on the mounting angle  20 , a plurality of centering pins  18  and additional round screw holes  19  are provided in the same. The seat frame can thus be inserted with the centering pins ( 18 ) into matching centering holes and held in position while the securing screws are screwed in through the screw holes  19 . 
   The backrest frame and side panels are pre-drilled with templates or provided with bolts or threaded inserts so that the backrest and lateral plates can easily be screwed together there in an accurate position. 
   To facilitate the installation of the seat frame  2  and/or seat side panels  42 , the mounting angles and/or lateral plates  4  are preferably entered into the centering pins  18 , causing them to be received in matching bores and held centered and in the correct position. 
   List of Reference Numerals 
   
       
         1  Backrest (Backrest Frame) 
         2  Seat (Seat Frame) 
         3  Leg Supports 
         3 A Leg Supports 
         3 B Leg Supports 
         4  Lateral Plates 
         10  Mounting Plate 
         10 B Mounting Plate-with Scissor-Type Linkage Joint 
         11  Motor for  1   
         12  Backrest Cross Bar for  11 / 1   
         12 B Backrest Cross Bar with an Offset Bend on the Scissor-Type Linkage Joint 
         13  Adjusting Spindle in  11  (Drive Member) 
         14  Backrest Scissor-Type Arms 
         15 ,  15 A Backrest Scissor-Type Arms 
         16 ,  16 A Backrest Scissor-Type Arms 
         17  Backrest Scissor-Type Arms 
         18  Centering Pins 
         19  Screw Holes 
         20  Mounting Angle for  2   
         20 A Mounting Angle Extension 
         20 B Mounting Angle Extension for Scissor-Type Linkage Joints 
         22  Seat Cross Bar 
         22 A Cross Bar 
         23  Backrest Linkage Joint 
         24  Seat Fitting Linkage Arm, Rear 
         30  Angle Piece 
         30 A Angle Piece for  3 A 
         30 B Angle Piece for  3 B 
         31  Motor for  3 A,  3 B 
         32  Cross Bar for  31   
         33  Leg Support Adjusting Spindle in  31  (Drive Member) 
         34  Leg Support Fitting Linkage Arm, Rear 
         34 A Seat Fitting Linkage Arm, Front 
         34 B Slotted Hole 
         34 C Sleeve 
         34 D Sleeve 
         35  Leg Support Fitting Linkage Arm—Scissor-Type Linkage Arm 
         36  Leg Support Fitting Linkage Arm—Front Side 
         37  Scissor-Type Linkage Arm 
         38  Auxiliary Linkage Arm 
         40  Cross-members between  4   
         41  Cross-members between  4   
         42  Chair Side Panel with Armrest 
         43  Pivoting Lever 
         44  Pin