GB2287400A

GB2287400A - An adjustable television or similar armchair

Info

Publication number: GB2287400A
Application number: GB9502010A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Klaus Hausherr; Karl Altrock; Gerhard Geisler
Original assignee: Stanzwerk Wetter Sichelschmidt GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Stanzwerk Wetter Sichelschmidt GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1994-03-15
Filing date: 1995-02-02
Publication date: 1995-09-20
Also published as: GB9502010D0; FR2717357A1; FR2717357B1; DE9404355U1

Abstract

A linear electric motor is retro-fitted to a television or similar armchair of the type having a tilting seat and back part and a swing-out footrest, consisting of a lower frame part having lateral faces and a seat-backrest part forming a rigid unit, between which link chains are disposed as swivel members for the seat-backrest part, which link chains consist of first fittings fixed to the seat, second fittings fixed to the side faces, which are strengthened by crossbars, scissor-type pairs of articulated arms by means of which the footrest can be inevitably swung out when swivelling the seat-backrest part from the sitting position into a resting position, and also connecting rods. The fitting involves a rigid lever 15 fixed to the rear crossbar 11, to which lever one end of a linear, electromotive actuator 16 is supported. A shaft 21 is mounted on the front crossbar 10 and the second metal fittings 7, which shaft comprises a first adjusting lever 22 on which the other end of the actuator 16 is hinged, and which comprises a pair of second adjusting levers 20 which are hinged via hinged links 23 to the front end region of the first metal fittings 6. <IMAGE>

Description

A television or similar armchair The invention relates to a television armchair or similar armchair having a tilting seat and back part and swing-out footrest, consisting of a lower frame part with lateral faces and a seat-backrest part forming a rigid unit, wherein between the lower frame part and the seat part on either side of the lateral edges link chains are disposed as swivel members for the seatbackrest part, which link chains consist of a first metal fitting attached to the seat part, a second metal fitting attached to the adjacent lateral face and connecting rods, which connecting rods are hinged at the ends or close to the ends of the bar-shaped first and second metal fittings, which fittings extend roughly parallel to the seat surface, wherein the bar-shaped metal fittings attached to the lateral faces are strengthened in the seat direction at the front and rear by crossbars, attached to the lateral faces, also consisting of a scissor-type pair of articulated arms, which are hinged to the metal fittings and the front connecting rods and by means of which the footrest can be inevitably swung out when swivelling the seat-backrest part from the sitting position into a resting position.

Such television armchairs are known in the prior art. The structure and in particular the constructional design of the operational fittings is very simply and cost-favourably developed. Such television armchairs can only be operated by the person sitting therein, with the result that this person can swing the seat-back part by application of force and weight transfer from the normal sitting position into the resting position, with the swinging-out movement of the footrest following this swivel motion, and it is also possible to transfer the seat-backrest part together with the footrest from the resting position back to the normal sitting position by weight displacement and application of force.

There is therefore a need to be able to adjust such a television armchair by means of an electromotive drive, in order to improve operating comfort, whilst nevertheless creating a very costfavourable design.

Accordingly, the present invention proposes that a rigid lever is fixed to the rear crossbar, on which lever the one end of an electromotive linear actuator is supported, that a shaft directed parallel to the crossbar is mounted on the front crossbar and preferably also on the second metal fittings, which shaft comprises a first adjusting lever on which the other end of the actuator is hinged, and which comprises a pair of second adjusting levers, which are hinged via hinged links to the front end region of the first metal fittings. The actuating drive including the crossbars, levers and links can form a structural unit.

By the design specified by the invention it is possible, in the simplest possible manner, without modifying previous fittings, to equip conventional television armchairs with a motor adjustment, which can be operated in a manner known per se by means of a wired remote control device. All metal fittings previously used can be used again. In order to supply a unit which enables retrofitting (in the factory or later at the customer's premises), the essential operational unit of the adjusting drive is constructed as a unit so that this unit can be mounted after the removal of the previously standard crossbars.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinbelow, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 3 show an elevational view of the essential operational components of a motor adjustment assembly in different operating positions; and Figures 4 to 6 show a conventional television armchair with fittings, which can be equipped with a unit as shown in Figures 1 to 3 for the purpose of motorised adjustment.

The television armchair shown in Figures 4 to 6 comprises a rigidly interconnected seat-backrest part 1 and also a footrest 2. The armchair consists of a lower frame part 3 having lateral s arms 4 and the seat-backrest part 1 forming a rigid unit, with link chains 5 as swivel members for the seat-backrest part 1 being disposed between the lower frame part 3 and seat part 1 on either side of the lateral edges, which link chains 5 consist of a first metal fitting 6 attached to the seat part 1, a second metal fitting 7 attached to the adjacent lateral face and two connecting rods 8 and 9 respectively, which are hinged directly or indirectly to the ends or close to the ends of the bar-shaped first and second metal fittings 6, 7. The first and second metal fittings 6, 7 extend roughly parallel to the seat surface.

The bar-shaped metal fittings 7 attached to the lateral faces 4 are strengthened in the seat direction at the front and rear by crossbars 10, 11, attached to the lateral faces 4, which are fixed via bar-shaped attachment members 12, 13 to the lateral faces 4. A scissor-type pair of articulated arms 14 is also provided, which arms are hinged to the metal fittings 6, 7 and the front connecting rods 9, and by means of which the footrest 2 is inevitably swung out when swivelling the seat-backrest part 1 from the sitting position into the resting position.

In order to be able to adjust a television armchair as shown in Figures 4 to 6 by motor, the design shown in Figures 1 to 3 is provided. Here an L-shaped rigid lever 15, which ends bent away from the seat surface, is fixed to the rear crossbar 11. The one end of a linear actuator 16 which can be operated by electric motor is hinged to this end. A mounting 17, which can be fixed to the second metal fitting 7 at 18, is fixed to the front crossbar 10. The metal fittings 7 and 17 are constructed with L-shaped cross sections so that in the attachment region they have a contiguous face, which can be connected to one another by means of screws.A shaft 21 directed parallel to the crossbar 10, which has a first adjusting lever 22 to which the other end of the actuator 16 is hinged, is indirectly attached to the connection part 17 via a lever 20 hinged at 19. The shaft 21 also has a pair of second adjusting levers 20, which are hinged via hinged links 23 at the front end region of the first metal fittings 6. The point of articulation is given at 24. The complete unit, which is shown in Figures 1 to 3, may be constructed as a structural unit and be combined with the previously standard fittings of such television armchairs, so that operation by electric motor is possible.

The handle required to operate the actuating drive 16 is connected via a cable 25 with the actuating drive 16 and constructed as a remotely controlled part, which comprises corresponding buttons for the operation of the actuating drive 16. The actuating drive 16 may be an electromotive spindle drive or the like, which depending on the direction of rotation of the motor can be moved out of the position shown in Figure 1 into the position shown in Figure 3 and back again into position 1.

The positions of the assembly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 correspond to the armchair positions shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplified embodiment, but can be varied in many different ways within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A television armchair or similar armchair having a tilting seat and back part and a swing-out footrest, comprising a lower frame part with lateral faces and a seat-backrest part forming a rigid unit, wherein between the lower frame part and the seat part on either side of the lateral edges link chains are disposed as swivel members for the seat backrest part, which link chains consist of a first fitting attached to the seat part, a second fitting attached to the adjacent lateral faces and connecting rods, which connecting rods are hinged at the ends or close to the ends of the bar-shaped first and second fittings, which fittings extend roughly parallel to the seat surface, wherein the bar-shaped fittings attached to the lateral faces are strengthened in the seat direction at the front and rear by crossbars attached to the lateral faces; a scissor-type pair of articulated arms which are hinged to the fittings and the front connecting rods and by means of which the footrest can be inevitably swung out when swivelling the seat-backrest part from the sitting position into a resting position; a rigid lever attached to the rear crossbar, on which lever the one end of a linear actuator which can be operated by electric motor is supported; and a shaft directed parallel to the crossbar mounted on the front crossbar, which shaft comprises a first adjusting lever, to which the other end of the actuator is hinged, and which comprises a pair of second adjusting levers, which are hinged via hinged links to the front end region of the first fittings.

2. An armchair according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is also mounted on the second fittings.

3. An armchair according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first and second fittings are composed of a metal.

4. An armchars according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuating drive together with crossbars, levers and links form a structural unit.

5. An armchair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 when taken in combination with Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.