WO2008141348A2 - Piece of furniture comprising a switch element - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a piece of furniture (1) comprising a furniture body (2), a furniture part (3) that is mounted so as to be mobile relative to the furniture body (2) and a drive device (5) for moving the furniture part, which drive device can be triggered via a switch element (4) and comprises at least one motor. The switch element (4) is covered by the furniture part (3) in or on the furniture body (2) when the furniture part (3) is closed and an indirect actuation of the switch element (4) via a force exerted by a user and impacting the mobile furniture part (3) triggers the drive unit. The switch element (4) triggering the drive device (5) is accessible for the user and can be directly actuated when the furniture part (3) is moved out of the closed position.

Description

 Furniture with a switching element

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture with a furniture body, a relative to the furniture body movably mounted furniture part and a triggerable via a switch element drive device for moving the furniture part, wherein the switching element is concealed in a closed position of the furniture part in or on the furniture body by the furniture part.

In such furniture, the actuation of the switching element and thus the triggering of the drive device takes place indirectly via a movement caused by a user of the furniture part. For example, it may be provided that a part of the furniture part rests in the closed position on the switching element and therefore presses a depression of the furniture part by the user in the furniture body in the example designed as a pressure switch switching element. For this purpose, of course, provide that in the closed position of the furniture part in or on the furniture body remains a sufficiently large Eindrückweg for the furniture part. This can be ensured in a known manner by spring buffer.

The furniture part is after a successful release of the drive device in a partial or full opening position, the switching element in the prior art no longer has functionality.

Since it is often desirable to have support for the return of the furniture part in the closed position by the drive device available, separate additional switching elements are optionally provided for the release of the drive device in the partial or full opening position of the furniture part. This is associated with additional costs and increased construction costs.

The object of the invention is to develop a generic furniture such that the same functionality is given without significantly increased structural complexity and at a lower cost.

This object is achieved by a furniture with the features of claim 1. The same switching element can therefore serve to trigger the drive device, regardless of whether the furniture part is in the closed position or a different position from the closed position.

The invention is not limited to a specific embodiment of the furniture part. For example, the furniture part may be designed as a drawer or flap.

Especially in the formation of the furniture part as a flap, the invention is advantageous. Although it is already known, an open flap, which is inevitably located at a greater height than in the state of the closed position by the exertion of force on the flap itself trigger (for example, a detection device for detecting a user exercised movement of the furniture part is provided) , However, this has the disadvantage that it is difficult, especially for smaller users, to reach the flap in the open position. By inventively provided measure the closing of the flap (ie, the movement of a full or partial opening position in the closed position) can be done quite simply by the fact that the user now no longer actuated by the furniture part concealed switching element.

This type of operation can be provided independently of the design of the furniture part.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the switching element has at least one lighting means. By means of the illuminant, the user is shown the position of the switching element.

Since the luminous element in the closed position of the furniture part, in which the switching element is covered by the furniture part, not be active (ie light), can be provided that the light source only at an at least partially open furniture part (at least so far open that the switching element becomes visible) is actively switched. This can be done, for example, such that a position measuring device for detecting the position of the furniture part is provided at least over a portion of the path between the closed position and an open position of the furniture part and that the at least one light emitting device in dependence the signals of the position measuring device is switchable. Alternatively, the arrangement of a limit switch is possible, which is actuated by the furniture part in the open position.

The position measuring device can also be provided completely independent of the arrangement of a light source and, for example, in addition to triggering of the drive device by the switching element allow triggering of the drive device by detecting a movement of the furniture part.

Additionally or alternatively, the signals of the position measuring device can also be used to calculate movement variables of the furniture part such as speed and acceleration in a control unit of the drive device. This makes it possible to carry out the driving of the furniture part by the drive device in dependence of the detected movement variables of the furniture part.

In itself, various constructive embodiments of the switching element come into question. The switching element may, for example, have a contactless triggering sensor (for example, capacitive sensor). A particularly simple embodiment of the switching element results, however, if it is provided that the switching element has a spring-loaded pressure pin. It can either be provided that the switching element triggers the drive device only when a depression of the pressure pin. Alternatively, however, it may be provided that the pressure pin is mounted on the switching element in such a way that it would emerge from the switching element by a predetermined distance without an opposing counteracting force. This emergence is prevented in an adjacent furniture part either by appropriately arranged power storage (for example, springs) or by the mass of the furniture part and optionally the locking forces of a locking device. If the furniture part is moved away a little from the furniture body by a user, however, the pressure pin can move out of the switching element by the predetermined distance, whereupon the switching element triggers the drive device. As a result, a possibility of triggering the drive device is realized not only by pressing but also by pulling the furniture part in the closed position.

Of course, it is particularly preferably provided that the at least one lighting means is arranged adjacent to the pressure pin. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the drive device has at least one electric motor.

The position measuring device can be designed, for example, as a linear or rotary potentiometer. The switching element can also be realized as a radio switch. In particular, it is possible to design such radio switches without batteries, wherein the power generation required for the radio operation by means of a piezoelectric crystal or electrodynamically (for example by a plunger coil) takes place.

Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the figures and the associated description of the figures. Showing:

Fig. 1a. 1 b shows an exemplary embodiment of a switching element which can be used in a furniture according to the invention in a perspective view and an exploded view, FIGS. 2 a to 2 c show the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 in different views

Operating positions,

Fig. 3 shows a detail of a piece of furniture according to the invention, Fig. 4a, 4b, a further embodiment of an inventive

Furniture in perspective view and a detail view.

Fig. 1a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a switching element 4 with a spring-mounted pin 7, wherein adjacent to the pin 7 as two light-emitting diodes (LED) formed bulbs are arranged.

The construction of the switching element 4 is apparent in particular from the exploded view of Fig. 1 b. It can be seen that the pin 7 has a toothed extension 8, which meshes with the formed as a gear 9 actuator of a position measurement rotary potentiometer 10.

Furthermore, a spring 11 for acting on the pin 7, as well as electrical lines 12, which the power supply of the circuit board 13 together with rotary potentiometer 10 arranged thereon and the forwarding of the signals of Potentiometer to a control or regulating device, not shown, of the drive device 5 is used.

The conduits 12 may extend in a channel 14 protected in a wall or a floor of the furniture body 2 shown in more detail in Fig. 3.

The switching element 4 is covered by a housing cover 15. To strain relief of the lines 12, a cable holder 16 is provided.

2a to 2c show three different operating positions of the pin 7 of the switching element 4. Since the spring 11 is formed as a compression spring, the pin 7 is always acted upon by the compression spring with a force that wants to push him out of the housing.

In Fig. 2b, which illustrates the neutral position of the switching element 4, the pin 7 is held by a not shown movable furniture part 3 in the position shown against the application of the spring 11. In Fig. 2a, the movable furniture part 3 has been moved away from the pin 7 by a user, whereby the spring 11 can push the pin 7 out of the housing. This is detected by the rotary potentiometer 10 and transmitted via lines 12 to a control or regulating device, not shown, for triggering the drive device. In Fig. 2c, the movable furniture part was moved into the furniture body, whereby the pin 7 was pressed against the application of the spring 11 far into the housing. Again, this movement is detected by the rotary potentiometer 10 and forwarded via lines 12 to a control unit, not shown, for activating the drive device 5.

Fig. 3 shows the switching element 4 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the assembled state in a furniture carcass 2. Recognizable are further two mounting pins 17 in the not yet depressed state. By pressing in the pins 17, the housing of the switching element 4 holds in the bore in the furniture body. 2

4a shows a piece of furniture 1 with a furniture body 2 and a movable furniture part 3 designed as a flap. In this embodiment, the switching element 4 according to the invention is mounted on a side wall of the furniture body 2 (see FIG. 4b). In this embodiment, the drive device 5 is integrated for the furniture part 3 in the adjusting mechanism for the Möbelteil.3 itself.

To ensure a sufficient Eindrückweges for the furniture part 3 in its closed position on the furniture body 2, spacers, not shown, to provide, for example spring buffer.

About the rotary potentiometer 10 is also a compensation of installation tolerances possible. Of course, instead of the rotary potentiometer 10, a linear potentiometer may be provided.

Instead of the .Anordnung a potentiometer can of course also be provided the arrangement of simple switch, which are mechanically actuated by the pin 7 and close an electrical contact when actuated. These switches can be designed as a push-button or rotary switch and as a "normally closed contact" (contact closes when the switch is released) or as a "make contact" (contact closes when the switch is actuated).

Claims

claims: 1. Furniture with a furniture body, a relative to the furniture body movably mounted furniture part and a triggerable via a switching element, at least one electric motor having a drive device for moving the Furniture part, wherein the switching element is concealed in a closed position of the furniture part in or on the furniture body by the furniture part and an indirect Actuation of the switching element via a force on the movable furniture part by a user triggers the drive unit, characterized in that the drive device (5) triggering Switching element (4) at a moving away from the closed position furniture part (3) accessible to the user and is directly operable. 2. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that a Position measuring device for detecting the position of the furniture part (3) is provided at least over a portion of the path between the closed position and an open position of the furniture part (3). 3. Furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the Switching element (4) has at least one lighting means (6) 4. Furniture according to claim 2 and 3, characterized in that the at least one lighting means (6) is switchable in dependence of the signals of the position-measuring device. 5. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the switching element (4) has a spring-loaded pin (7). 6. Furniture according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one Illuminant (6) adjacent to the pin (7) is arranged. 7. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the furniture part (3) is designed as a drawer or flap.