EP1074237B1 - Armchair - Google Patents

Abstract

The movable seat has at least one roller (12) that can be driven by an electric motor (14), whereby the seat is preferably an easy chair. The seat or chair can have two rollers driven by at least one electric motor, whereby each roller preferably has an associated electric motor. Each roller and motor can be combined into a drive module.

Description

The invention relates to a chair, in particular for the living area, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Above all older and / or handicapped humans can become self in Often move their own living spaces only with difficulty, causing the Quality of life of these people is limited.

Mobile, motorized seating such. B. electrically driven Wheelchairs are basically known, for example from US-A-5,111,899 and DE-A-2 425 960, wherein a chair according to the preamble of claim 1 from the latter document is known.

It is the problem underlying the invention (task), the quality of life especially elderly and / or handicapped people too increase.

The solution of this object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

With such a mobile seating older and / or handicapped people effortlessly move in their own living spaces. Furthermore, such a mobile seating by people moved with low body forces easily with the help of the electric drive be, which is particularly advantageous for heavy seating is. It is preferable that the mobile according to the invention Seating furniture around rest, massage and / or TV chairs, as in Living spaces are common. In principle, however, according to the invention Also, such seating furniture be designed to be mobile, in private or public Facilities are offered as seating. So For example, the seating furniture according to the invention can be used in retirement homes or generally in the care sector, e.g. in hospitals.

According to the invention, in each case a roller, a gear and an electric motor to a drive module which can be mounted as a unit on the seat summarized. The assembly of the drive on the seat is thereby considerably simplified. In particular, it is possible existing model series of rest, massage and / or TV chairs with little effort retrofit and subsequently provided with a travel drive.

In each drive module, the transmission between the electric motor and a drive axle of the roller arranged, the gearbox each directly are attached to the drive axles of the rollers and in each case an electric motor and summarized a transmission to a compact drive unit are. In this way are particularly compact, easy to handle and mountable drive modules, each having an electric motor, a gear and a roller include.

The gears may e.g. each attached to the drive axles of the rollers become. Conversely, it is also possible to change the roles to one Disconnect output shaft or shaft of gearbox.

Furthermore, each drive module also includes a support structure which includes the roller and the electric motor and the transmission Drive unit are mounted and via which the drive module on Seating furniture is attached. This allows the drive module separated from the seating is assembled and prepared for assembly, for which then only the support structure is to be attached to the seating, to attach the entire drive module to the seating.

In this case, according to the invention, the carrier structures each have a side part and / or associated with a fitting of the chair, in particular screwed. The arrangement of the drive modules in the area the side parts of the chair has the advantage that for the traction drive no components are arranged in the back of the chair have to. This is particularly advantageous for massage chairs where in the back part massaging devices are integrated.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the drive modules are each designed in this way and attachable to the seating, that the drive modules each in a Side part of the seat integrated and at least the drive units by a padding of the chair are covered. The visual appearance of the chair is thus in no way impaired by the drive modules.

For chairs in the form of armchairs, which have a separate base, in the e.g. Fittings and other mechanical and / or electromechanical Facilities are integrated, it is preferred if the drive module or the drive modules also in such a base to get integrated. Also controls and Versorgungsseinrichtugen for the drive modules can be arranged in the area of the undercarriage become.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention is a control unit provided, over which then, if several drivable roles are provided, the electric motors independently operable are. The ability to control the electric motors independently, allows the rollers to rotate at different speeds drive. As with tracked vehicles, where a change the direction of travel achieved by chains running at different speeds can be achieved by driving the rollers at different rotational speeds steer the mobile seating. Especially It is possible to use electric motors with different polarities to operate, so that one role forward and the other role turns backwards. This drive also used in tracked vehicles allows the mobile seating to turn on the spot and thus in confined spaces to change the direction of travel quickly and easily. Especially can the seating hereby turned in a confined space, so rotated by 180 °.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the control unit with an automatic starting and / or stopping function provided with a user-initiated driving speed change automatically the rotational speeds of the rollers with one predetermined time delay gradually on the user desired value can be brought. By such a function, the also referred to as "soft start" function with respect to startup, a disturbing jerky start can be avoided.

In a preferred embodiment of the seat according to the invention Two rollers are provided, each in one of the rear corner areas of the chair are arranged. At the front corner areas are in In this case, for example, provided conventional furniture roles.

It is also possible, the rollers or the drive modules on the side panels further ahead, e.g. approximately in the middle, to arrange and then to support the seat to provide a support roller at each corner.

Furthermore, the rollers or the drive modules also further inside and thus not be arranged in the area of the side parts.

Basically it is also possible in each of the four corner areas of the Seat furniture each to arrange a drivable role. If according to the preferred variant of each of these roles with an associated electric motor can be provided by individually controlling the individual Electric motors are created a very agile seating. One Another advantage of such "four-wheel drive" is the ability to overcome obstacles such as. Doors, carpet edges and high pile carpets too overcome, as no freely rotatable and easily prone to blocking Furniture casters are needed.

Basically, for example, by Two or four roles drivable chairs each have at least two roles be driven by a common electric motor, the rollers a differential gear is connected upstream. To change direction The roles are designed to be steerable. However, it is also possible Always in straight ahead oriented, unrestricted roles and a change to provide the direction of travel steplessly adjustable differential gear.

According to another variant of the invention, only a single drivable roller may be provided, e.g. in the central or rear area the chair is centrally located and designed steerable. Also In such an arrangement is a very manoeuvrable mobile seating created. By crossing the role can thereby change direction done in a confined space.

In principle, the rollers can be anywhere be arranged of the chair. It can either only a single Role be driven, or it may be several, in particular two or four, rollers be provided with a drive.

According to a variant of the invention, a single central, i. either centered with respect to the longitudinal direction as well as the transverse direction, provided drivable role.

According to another possible variant, the seating furniture has four wheels on, which are each arranged in a corner region of the chair, wherein two diagonally opposite rollers, e.g. the front right roller and the rear left roller, each provided with a drive are.

Furthermore, it is possible to use only one or more to drive several arranged in the front of the chair rolls. In this way a pure front drive of the chair is realized, with the obstacles such as carpet edges or door sills can be overcome easily.

Each drive module is according to the invention on a side part and / or associated with a fitting of the chair, via a support structure. Here, the Beschalg a fitting for adjusting a Footrest or other components of the chair.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the or each is drivable Roller provided with a suspension, which ensures that the respective role remains in permanent contact with the ground. This way is for optimal traction of the mobile seat ensured.

Another preferred embodiment proposes between each a drive motor and the drive roller to provide a slip clutch, which serves as overload and transport protection. Damage to the Drive unit, in particular of the engine, in overload conditions or for example then when the seating is moved by the user by hand can be safely avoided in this way.

While it is basically possible for cornering or to turn the chair on the spot opposite Side arranged drive rollers with different directions of rotation Alternatively, the drive rollers can always be driven with the same Driven rotation, but operated at different speeds become. For cornering, the drive rollers rotate so in the same direction, but at different speeds, in extreme cases a drive roller is stationary when driving a sharp left turn, e.g. the or each left drive roller.

Fig. 1

eine schematisierte Seitenansicht eines Sitzmöbels gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

eine Rückansicht des Sitzmöbels von Fig. 1, und

Fig. 3

schematisch ein an einem Sitzmöbel montiertes Antriebsmodul gemäß der Erfindung.

Further embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims, the description and the drawing. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings. In this shows:

Fig. 1

2 a schematic side view of a seat according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2

a rear view of the chair of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3

schematically a mounted on a chair drive module according to the invention.

In the chair of Fig. 1 is a mobile armchair with a seat part 25, a back part 27 as well two side parts 26. To be seen in this illustration, a back padding 27a and a seat padding 25a. Furthermore, the Armchair a swing-out footrest 29, taking the clarity half of all equipment such as fittings for adjusting the footrest 29 and other components of the chair in Fig. 1 are not shown.

The armchair can be a functional piece of furniture that fits with you various functions such as Massage facilities, heating facilities etc. is equipped.

While in the front corners of the chair usual furniture casters 42 are arranged, the armchair in the rear corner areas respectively provided with a drive module, which is essentially a drive unit 14, 18 and a by means of the drive unit 14, 18 drivable Roller 12 includes. The drive unit 14, 18 comprises an electric motor and a transmission, wherein the transmission directly to the drive axle 16 of the Roll 12 is attached.

A possible construction of the drive module is subsequently connected described with Fig. 3.

The drive module further comprises a support structure, of which in Fig. 1 is a plate-shaped support member 22 can be seen. About the plate-shaped support member 22, which screwed to the side part 26 of the chair is, the drive module is attached to the chair. The drive unit 14, 18 is attached to a further support element which in Fig. 1 is not shown and which in turn with the carrier element 22 is connected. The composite drive module can thus as a unit simply by screwing the plate-shaped support member 22 are mounted with the side part 26 on the chair.

About a in Fig. 1 only dashed lines indicated supply line 15th the electric motor 14 is connected to an accumulator unit 32 which is in communication with a control unit 28. The accumulator unit 32 and the control unit 28 are in a cavity of the chair below the seat part 25 is arranged.

On the side part 26 is shown in Fig. 1 only schematically illustrated operating part 48 attached, which may be integrated, for example, in the armrest can. The control unit 48 is shown by a dashed line in Fig. 1 Line 49 is connected to the control unit 28. At the control panel 48 it can be e.g. to act as a separate device for driving, For example, as a control lever in the form of a so-called. "Joystick" or is designed as provided with directional keys keyboard. It is also possible, the operation for driving in an existing control panel - over the other functions of the chair, such as a Massage device, are actuated - to integrate. Here, the Controls for driving in a separate module provided be that can be coupled with the existing keypad, for example by is plugged into the existing control panel.

The electric motors 14 of the drive modules are independent of each other via the control unit 48 and the control unit 28 controllable. Dependent on of the size and polarity of the applied to the electric motors 14 Voltages can be straight ahead in the forward direction or backward direction can be arbitrary with the armchair can be driven tight or wide bends, and the armchair can open the point to be rotated, as described in the introduction to the description has been. If steerable rollers are used, then the Control of the steering means provided for steering the rollers also via the control unit 28.

From the rear view of Fig. 2 is in particular the integration of the drive modules in the side parts 26 of the chair out. The one each Electric motor 14 and a transmission 18 comprehensive drive units each arranged in the region of the upholstery 26 a of the side parts 26 and thus obscured for a viewer by the padding 26a. The outer Appearance of the chair is thus by the drive modules not changed.

In Fig. 3, the rear right corner region of an armchair is shown, wherein on the left rear corner area of the chair, not shown, a structurally identical Drive module is arranged. You can see them made of wood right side part 26 and a structural element 34 made of plastic, on attached to the fabric cover and / or the padding of the side part 26 becomes. Furthermore, in Fig. 3, the back part 27 of the chair is indicated.

From Fig. 3 it is apparent that the drive modules exceed compact assemblies are.

The plate-shaped support member 22 of the support structure is from the inside the side part 26 of the chair screwed. With the plate-shaped carrier element 22 again a U-shaped bent support member 24 is screwed, wherein the screw in Fig. 3 by the shaft of the one Connecting screws 36 is indicated.

In the gap formed by the two support elements 22, 24 a roller or an impeller 12 is arranged, whose or in Fig. 3rd not shown drive axle in corresponding recesses of Carrier elements 22, 24 is mounted so that the roller 12 supported on both sides is.

The transmission 18 of the drive unit is at least one point over a Screw 39 with a cylindrical projection 44 of the U-shaped support element 24 bolted. Furthermore, the transmission 18 is directly on the drive shaft of the roller 12 plugged and is supported on a for Drive axis coaxial cylindrical projection 46 of the support element 24th from. The cylindrical electric motor 14 is set directly on the transmission 18, so that the transmission 18 and the electric motor 14 is a very compact Form drive unit.

Over supply lines, not shown in Fig. 3 is the electric motor 14 arranged with a corresponding to FIG. 1 under the seat part of the chair Accumulator connected.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

12

role

14

electric motor

15

supply line

16

drive axle

18

transmission

22

support element

24

support element

25

seat part

25a

upholstery

26

side panel

26a

upholstery

27

back

27a

upholstery

28

control unit

29

footrest

32

accumulator

34

structural element

36

screw

39

screw

42

front roller

44

approach

46

approach

48

control panel

49

management

Claims (18)

1. A mobile chair, in particular for the living area, having at least one roller (12) which can be driven by an electric motor (14), wherein

   the chair is an easy chair or armchair;

   a roller (12), a transmission (18) and an electric motor (14) are each combined to form one drive module mounted to the easy chair as a unit;

   the transmission (18) in each drive module is arranged between the electric motor (14) and a driving axle (16) of the roller (12);

   the electric motor (14) and the transmission (18) are each combined to form a compact drive unit of the respective drive module;

   the transmission (18) is fitted directly to the driving axle (16) of the roller (12);

   each drive module comprises a carrier structure (22, 24) to which the respective drive unit comprising the electric motor (14) and the transmission (18), are attached and via which the drive module can be fastened to the easy chair; and

   the carrier structures (22, 24) are each connected to a side part (26) and/or to a fitting of the easy chair,

   characterized in that

   the drive modules are each integrated into a side part (26) of the easy chair and at least the drive units are covered by a cushioning of the easy chair.
2. A chair in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that each drive module is integrated in an underframe of the chair.
3. A chair in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the transmissions (18) are each pushed onto the driving axles (16) of the rollers (12).
4. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier structures each comprise a board-like carrier member (22) and a U-shaped carrier member (24), with the roller (12) being arranged between the two carrier members (22, 24).
5. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive units are each connected, in particular screwed, to the carrier structure (22, 24) via the transmission (18).
6. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier structures (22, 24) are each connected, in particular screwed, to a side part (26) of the chair.
7. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier structures (22, 24) are each connected, in particular screwed, to a fitting of the chair.
8. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier structures are each connected to the chair via a board-like carrier element (22) and to the drive unit via a U-shaped carrier element (24).
9. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rollers (12), in particular the non-steerable rollers (12), can be driven at different speeds and/or in opposite directions to change the direction of movement.
10. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control unit (28) is provided which can be controlled by a person sitting in the chair via a control element (48) and via which the electric motors (14) and/or steering devices for the rollers (12) can be driven independently of one another.
11. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control unit (28) is provided with an automatic start and/or stop function, through which the speeds of the rollers (12) can automatically be gradually brought to the value desired by the user with a preset time lag in the event of a user-initiated speed change.
12. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two rollers (12) are provided which can be driven by at least one electric motor (14), with an electric motor (14) preferably being associated with each roller (12).
13. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two drivable rollers are provided which are arranged in diagonally opposite corner regions of the chair; or in that four drivable rollers are provided, each of which is arranged in a corner region of the chair.
14. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two rollers can be driven via a common electric motor, with a differential gear being positioned before the rollers.
15. A chair in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that the rollers are unsteerable and in that the differential gear is in particular infinitely adjustable to change direction.
16. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, characterized in that exactly one drivable and steerable roller is provided which is arranged centrally and in particular in the rear or central region of the chair.
17. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a battery unit and/or a rechargeable battery unit (32) is/are integrated in the chair for the power supply.
18. A chair in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be connected to an electric power supply for the supply of power.

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