EP1275328A1 - Control mechanism for an adjustable position furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a safety arrangement for an electrically adjustablepiece of furniture for sitting, reclining and/or lying down, the piece of furnitureincluding a stationary supporting structure (4), a movable framework (6) composed ofarticulated metallic members (8), and an electric motor (14) for moving the framework (6), thesafety arrangement including at least one electrically conductive strip (18) conductivelyattached to at least those portions of the metallic members (8) exposed to human touch,and a control unit (16) including a touch sensor/switch (20) electrically connected to theframework (6), for overridingly stopping the operation of the motor (14) when the strip (18) istouched during the movement of the framework (6).

Description

Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to a piece of furniture for sitting, reclining and/orlying down, hereinafter referred to as "adjustable position furniture."
Background of the Invention
• Adjustable position furniture is known, composed essentially of a stationarysupporting chassis to which there is linked an adjustable configuration frameworkconsisting of articulated members. Some of these frameworks are mechanically orpneumatically adjustable; however, more and more of them are operated and adjustedelectrically. Electrical adjustment is effected by a powerful motor which moves themembers of the framework with respect to each other and with the stationary chassisin scissors-like fashion. Usually, at least the lateral sides of the framework areexposed, presenting a real danger to the limbs of nearby persons, including the user.
• It is therefore a broad object of the present invention to ameliorate the dangerof injury from electrically adjustable furniture.
• It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement forgoverning the operation of an electric motor which adjusts the position of theframework of an electrically adjustable piece of furniture.
• Accordingly, the present invention provides a safety arrangement for anelectrically adjustable piece of furniture for sitting, reclining and/or lying down, saidpiece of furniture including a stationary supporting structure, a movable frameworkcomposed of articulated metallic members, and an electric motor for moving saidframework, said safety arrangement comprising at least one electrically conductivestrip conductively attached to at least those portions of said metallic membersexposed to human touch, and a control unit including a touch sensor/switchelectrically connected to said framework for overridingly stopping the operation ofsaid motor when said strip is touched during the movement of said framework.
Brief Description of the Drawings
• The invention will now be described in connection with a certain preferredembodiment with reference to the following illustrative figure, so that it may be morefully understood.
• With specific reference now to the figure in detail, it is stressed that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussionof the preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and are presented in thecause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understooddescription of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard,no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than isnecessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description takenwith the drawing making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms ofthe invention may be embodied in practice.
• In the drawing:
• Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a safety arrangement for electrically adjustablefurniture, according to the present invention.
Detailed Description
• There is shown in Fig. 1 an adjustable piece of furniture 2, e.g., a bed, having astationary supporting chassis 4, amovable framework 6 composed of a plurality ofper se known articulated metallic members 8, amattress 10, aseparate head support12 and anelectric motor 14. Further shown iscontrol unit 16 for controlling theoperation ofmotor 14. The metallic members 8 offramework 6, and possibly alsothe chassis, are made of painted metal or any other material and are at least partlycovered with a strip of conductive material, e.g.,aluminum strip 18, attached tomembers 8 by any suitable means, such as adhesive.
• Control unit 16 consists of a touch sensor/switch 20, e.g., a capacitive switch,connected to and adapted to activate alatch module 22 which, in turn, is adapted to actuate arelay 24.Relay 24 is connected to the power line ofmotor 14 so as toconnect and disconnect the motor therefrom. Advantageously,control unit 16 alsoincludes avoice module 28, so as to provide an audible alarm when the motor isdeactivated upon receiving a signal from the touch sensor/switch.Control unit 16may be powered from an AC orDC power supply 30.
• As can be understood, sensor/switch 20 detects when someone touches theframework 6 when the motor is in operation, and activateslatch module 22, whichimmediately activatesrelay 24, causing the instant cessation of the motor's operation.Hence, a person's limb, carelessly or inadvertently located in or onmovableframework 6, will automatically cause the interruption of the motor's operation untilthe user will pressreset switch 26. Therelay 24 remains in the disconnecting state aslong as it does not receive a reset signal fromlatch module 22, activated byresetswitch 26, thereby causing the return of power tomotor 14.
• It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited tothe details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and that the present inventionmay be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be consideredin all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (7)

1. A safety arrangement for an electrically adjustable piece of furniture forsitting, reclining and/or lying down, said piece of furniture including a stationarysupporting structure, a movable framework composed of articulated metallicmembers, and an electric motor for moving said framework, said safety arrangementcomprising:

   at least one electrically conductive strip conductively attached to at least thoseportions of said metallic members exposed to human touch, and

   a control unit including a touch sensor/switch electrically connected to saidframework, for overridingly stopping the operation of said motor when said strip istouched during the movement of said framework.
2. The safety arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unitincludes a relay connectable to the power supply line of said motor, and wherein saidrelay is activated by said touch sensor/switch for disconnecting the power from saidmotor.
3. The safety arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said touchsensor/switch is a capacitive touch switch.
4. The safety arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit furthercomprises an acoustic alarm activated by said touch sensor/switch.
5. The safety arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a resetswitch for reactivating the motor by resetting said relay.
6. The safety arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive strip isan aluminum strip attached to said members by means of adhesive.
7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control unit furthercomprises a latch module for activating said relay.

Images