阅读说明：本技术 用于使家具结构线性、平稳地移动的单个电动双向致动器系统 (Single electric bi-directional actuator system for linear, smooth movement of furniture structures ) 是由 刘智雄 徐梅钧 于 2019-05-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于使家具的腰部支撑杆移动的电动致动器系统,其包括安装在底座(102)上的单个双向电动致动器(106),所述腰部支撑杆(104)将相对于所述底座在完全伸展位置与完全收缩位置以及多个中间位置之间移动。所述单个双向电动致动器(106)借助第一主提升连杆(126)操作性地连接到所述腰部支撑杆(104)的第一端部,而同步杆(124)将所述第一主提升连杆(126)与第二主提升连杆(138)操作性地互连,所述第二主提升连杆操作性地连接到所述腰部支撑杆(104)的第二端部。通过这种方式,所述腰部支撑杆(104)以线性、平稳模式在其伸展位置与收缩位置之间移动。(An electric actuator system for moving a lumbar support rod of a piece of furniture includes a single bi-directional electric actuator (106) mounted on a base (102), the lumbar support rod (104) to be moved relative to the base between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position and a plurality of intermediate positions. The single bi-directional electric actuator (106) is operatively connected to a first end of the lumbar support rod (104) by means of a first main lift link (126), while a synchronization rod (124) operatively interconnects the first main lift link (126) with a second main lift link (138) operatively connected to a second end of the lumbar support rod (104). In this way, the lumbar support rod (104) moves in a linear, smooth pattern between its extended and retracted positions.)

1. An electric actuator system for moving a section of furniture, comprising:

a base;

a section of furniture adapted to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the base;

a single bi-directional electric actuator mounted at one end to the base;

a first main lift link operatively connected at a first end thereof to a first end of the section of the furniture and a second end of the first main lift link connected to a second end of the single bi-directional electric actuator; and

a second main lift link operatively connected at a first end thereof to a second end of the section of the furniture and a second end of the second main lift link operatively connected to the second end of the first main lift link,

whereby when the single bi-directional electric actuator is driven, the second end of the single bi-directional electric actuator will cause the first main lifting link to extend the first end of the section of the furniture to an extended position, while the second main lifting link will simultaneously extend the second end of the section of the furniture such that the section of the furniture moves in a linear, smooth pattern between an extended position and a retracted position.

2. The electric actuator system of claim 1, further comprising:

a synchronization link operatively interconnecting the second ends of the first and second main lift links to enable simultaneous extension of the first and second main lift links when the single bi-directional electric actuator is driven.

3. The electric actuator system of claim 1, wherein:

the section of the furniture includes a lumbar support bar.

4. The electric actuator system of claim 3, wherein:

the lumbar support rod may be used on a lounge chair to properly support the lumbar region of a person's spine.

5. The electric actuator system of claim 3, wherein:

the lumbar support rod may be used in a bed to properly support the lumbar region of a person's spine.

6. The electric actuator system of claim 1, wherein:

the single bi-directional electric actuator comprises a piston cylinder actuator.

7. The electric actuator system of claim 6, wherein:

the first end of the single bi-directional electric actuator comprises a cylinder portion of the piston cylinder actuator; and is

The second end of the single bi-directional electric actuator comprises a piston portion of the piston-cylinder actuator.

8. The electric actuator system of claim 1, wherein:

the first end of the single bi-directional electric actuator is mounted on a bottom surface portion of the base.

9. The electric actuator system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first actuator mounting bracket disposed in front, mounted on the base;

a longitudinally extending first slot defined within said forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket; and

a transversely oriented first cross pin connected to the second end of the single bi-directional electric actuator, connected to the first end of the first main lift link, and slidingly disposed within the longitudinally extending first slot defined within the forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket.

10. The electric actuator system of claim 9, further comprising:

a second actuator mounting bracket disposed at a rear, mounted on the base;

a longitudinally extending second slot defined within said rearwardly disposed second actuator mounting bracket; and

a transversely oriented second cross pin connected to the second end of the second main lift link and slidingly disposed within the longitudinally extending second slot defined within the rearwardly disposed second actuator mounting bracket.

11. The electric actuator system of claim 10, wherein:

the first and second opposite ends of the synchronization link are operatively connected to the first and second transversely oriented cross pins slidably disposed within the first and second longitudinally extending slots, respectively, defined within the first and second forwardly disposed actuator mounting brackets and the second rearwardly disposed actuator mounting bracket, respectively.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to electrically powered mechanisms, such as electrically powered actuators, and more particularly to a single electrically powered actuator system that may be used in conjunction with various furniture items, such as electrically powered chairs, electrically powered beds, and the like, to linearly, smoothly drive a furniture structure.

Background

The prior art is replete with powered mechanisms that are often used in conjunction with powered chairs or powered beds or other similar pieces of furniture to drive specific portions or sections of the chair or bed. For example, electric actuators are commonly used in conjunction with powered chairs to tilt the back of the chair or extend the footrest of the chair. In order to drive an elongated structural member of furniture, such as a lumbar support rod, a plurality of actuators are typically attached to spaced apart portions or sections of the lumbar support rod, which actuators of course need to be driven simultaneously and to the same extent in order to ensure that the lumbar support rod moves in a particular direction, and more importantly in a structurally smooth manner, such that, for example, the extent of extension or contraction of one end of the lumbar support rod is not greater than the opposite end of the lumbar support rod. However, the use of multiple actuators can add significant cost to the furniture. In addition, as can be seen in fig. 1, an electric actuator system of known type, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, in fact causes the link element 12 connecting the electric actuator 14 to the lumbar support rod 16 to move in a substantially arcuate manner, as schematically illustrated at different positions along the arcuate path of movement, so that the lumbar support rod 16 does not always act directly on the lumbar region of the human spine, but rather acts on other spinal regions adjacent to the lumbar region of the spine during arcuate movement thereof. These impact forces on other spinal regions adjacent to the lumbar region of the spine can actually cause discomfort problems, as opposed to the desired goal of properly supporting the lumbar region of the spine when, for example, a person is lying in a bed in a supine position.

There is therefore a need in the art for an improved new single electric actuator system that can be used in conjunction with a variety of furniture items, such as power chairs, power beds, and the like. There is a further need in the art for an improved new single electric actuator system that may be used in conjunction with a lumbar support rod. There is also a need in the art for an improved new single electric actuator system that can be used in conjunction with a lumbar support rod that can be incorporated into furniture such as a lounge chair or bed. There is a further need in the art for an improved new single electric actuator system that can be used in conjunction with a lumbar support rod that can be incorporated into furniture such as a lounge chair or bed and wherein the actuator system will move the lumbar support rod structure linearly and smoothly. There is a further need in the art for an improved new single electric actuator system that may be used in conjunction with a lumbar support rod that may be incorporated into furniture such as a lounge chair or bed and wherein the actuator system will cause the lumbar support rod structure to move linearly and smoothly so that the lumbar support rod will only impact and thus properly support the lumbar region of a person's spine.

Disclosure of Invention

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved new single electric actuator system that can be used in connection with various furniture such as electric chairs, electric beds and the like. It is another general object of the present invention to provide an improved new single electric actuator system that may be used in conjunction with a lumbar support rod. An additional overall object of the present invention is to provide an improved new single electric actuator system that can be used in conjunction with a lumbar support rod that can be incorporated into furniture such as a lounge chair or bed. It is a further general object of the present invention to provide an improved new single electric actuator system that can be used in conjunction with a lumbar support rod that can be incorporated into furniture such as a lounge chair or bed and wherein the actuator system will cause the lumbar support rod structure to move linearly and smoothly. It is a still further general object of the present invention to provide an improved new single electric actuator system that may be used in conjunction with a lumbar support rod that may be incorporated into furniture such as a lounge chair or bed and wherein the actuator system will cause the lumbar support rod structure to move linearly and smoothly so that the lumbar support rod will only impact and thus properly support the lumbar region of a person's spine.

The above objects and others are achieved in accordance with a single electric actuator system developed in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention and including a single electric actuator operatively connected to opposite ends of a lumbar support rod. The single electric actuator includes a piston-cylinder type actuator, wherein a cylinder end of the single electric actuator is pivotally mounted to a mounting bracket fixedly secured to the bottom surface portion of the base deck, and a piston end of the single electric actuator is connected to a transversely oriented first cross pin slidably disposed within a longitudinally extending first slot defined within the forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket. A first main lift link is operatively connected at a first end thereof to the first transversely oriented cross pin and a second end of the first main lift link is operatively connected to a first end of the lumbar support bar. In a similar manner, a transversely oriented second cross pin is slidably disposed within a longitudinally extending second slot defined within a second actuator mounting bracket disposed rearwardly, and a second main lift link is operatively connected at a first end thereof to the transversely oriented second cross pin and a second end of the second main lift link is operatively connected to a second end of the lumbar support rod. In addition, a synchronization link is operatively connected at opposite ends thereof to the first and second transversely oriented cross pins disposed within the first and second longitudinally extending slots, respectively, defined within the first and second forwardly and rearwardly disposed actuator mounting brackets, respectively.

Thus, when the single electric actuator is driven such that the piston portion of the cylinder-piston actuator extends, the extending piston will cause the transversely oriented first cross pin to move forwardly within the longitudinally extending first slot defined within the forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket so as to cause the first main lift link to pivot upwardly so as to effectively raise the front portion of the lumbar support rod to, for example, a fully extended position. However, because the transversely oriented first cross pin disposed within the longitudinally extending first slot defined within the forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket is operatively connected to the transversely oriented second cross pin disposed within the longitudinally extending second slot defined within the rearwardly disposed second actuator mounting bracket by the synchronizing link, the transversely oriented second cross pin and the second main lift link operatively connected to the second end of the lumbar support rod will experience exactly the same movement as the transversely oriented first cross pin and the first main lift link so as to effectively raise the opposed second end of the lumbar support rod to its fully extended position in a simultaneous, linear and smooth mode. It will be appreciated that when the electric actuator is driven in the reverse mode (with the piston end of the electric actuator retracted), then the lumbar support rod returns to its fully retracted position. It is further understood and appreciated that the electric actuator can be controlled such that the lumbar support rod can be raised to a plurality of positions intermediate the fully extended position and the fully retracted position.

Drawings

Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view showing a conventional prior art actuator system operatively connected to a lumbar support rod as used in a bed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an improved new single motorized lumbar actuator system developed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention; and is

Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevational view similar to that of fig. 1, but showing the use of the improved new single electric actuator system of the present invention as used in a bed.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to fig. 2, an improved novel powered lumbar actuator system to be used in connection with furniture such as a lounge chair or bed is disclosed and is generally designated by the reference numeral 100. The furniture will include a base or deck 102 upon which the independent motorized lumbar mechanism 100 will be fixedly mounted. More specifically, it is seen that the independent electric lumbar mechanism 100 comprises a lumbar support rod 104 to which a lumbar support, not shown, a cushion, padding or the like is adapted to be attached. As is well known, lumbar supports are adapted to move between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position and a plurality of intermediate positions between the fully extended position and the fully retracted position to comfortably support a lumbar region of a person whether the person is in a seated or supine position. Thus, to move the lumbar support rod 104 between various extended or retracted positions (including positions intermediate the fully extended and fully retracted positions), a single bi-directional electric piston-cylinder actuator 106 is provided and has a first or cylinder end pivotally connected to a mounting bracket 108 by means of a pivot pin 110, and it can be seen that the mounting bracket 108 is fixedly mounted on the underside of the base or deck 102 by any suitable fastener. The opposite second or piston end of the electric piston cylinder actuator 106 is provided with a transversely oriented first cross pin 112 slidably disposed within a longitudinally extending first slot 114 defined within a forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket 116 also fixedly mounted on the underside of the base or platen 102 by any suitable fastener. Still further, it is seen that a rearwardly disposed second actuator mounting bracket 118 is fixedly mounted on the underside of the base or deck 102, again by any suitable fastener and in a manner similar to that of the forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket 116, the rearwardly disposed second actuator mounting bracket 118 being provided with a longitudinally extending second slot 120 within which a transversely oriented second cross pin 122 is slidably disposed. Finally, it can be seen that the longitudinally extending synchronization link 124 has opposite ends connected to the transversely oriented first cross pin 112 and the second cross pin 122.

With continued reference to fig. 2, it is further seen that the first main lift link 126 has a first end pivotally connected to the transversely oriented first cross pin 112, while an opposite second end of the first main lift link 126 is pivotally connected to a forwardly disposed first lumbar mounting bracket 128 by means of a pivot pin 130, wherein the forwardly disposed first lumbar mounting bracket 128 is fixedly mounted on a forward bottom portion of the lumbar support rod 104. Additionally, it can also be seen that the first support link 132 has a first end pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the first main lift link 126 by a pivot pin 134, while an opposite second end of the first support link 132 is pivotally connected to the forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket 116 by another pivot pin 136. In a similar manner, it is seen that the second main lift link 138 has a first end pivotally connected to the transversely oriented second cross pin 122, while an opposite second end of the second main lift link 138 is pivotally connected to a rearwardly disposed second lumbar mounting bracket 140 by means of a pivot pin 142, wherein the rearwardly disposed second lumbar mounting bracket 140 is fixedly mounted on a rearward bottom portion of the lumbar support rod 104. In addition, it can also be seen that the second support link 144 has a first end pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the second main lift link 138 by means of a pivot pin 146, while an opposite second end of the second support link 144 is pivotally connected to the rearwardly disposed second actuator mounting bracket 118 by means of another pivot pin 148.

Having described substantially all of the structural components that make up the improved new and independent motorized lumbar mechanism 100, the operation thereof will now be briefly described. When the lumbar support rod 104 is to be extended from, for example, the initial fully retracted position, the electric piston-cylinder actuator 106 is driven such that the piston end of the piston-cylinder electric piston-cylinder actuator 106 will extend to the right as shown in fig. 2. Thus, the piston ends of the piston cylinder electric piston cylinder actuators 106 will cause the transversely oriented cross pin 112 to move within the longitudinally extending slot 114 defined within the forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket 116, thereby in turn effectively causing the first main lift link 126 to begin lifting within the permitted range of the first support link 132, which is also pivotally connected to the forwardly disposed first actuator mounting bracket 116. As the first main lift link 126 begins to rise, it causes the front portion of the lumbar support rod 104 to move outward from its fully retracted position toward its fully extended position. At the same time, in view of the fact that the synchronization link 124 is connected at its opposite ends to both the first and second transversely oriented cross pins 112, 122, the synchronization link 124 will cause the second transversely oriented cross pin 122 to likewise move rightward, as viewed in fig. 2, and will move within the longitudinally extending slot 120 defined within the second actuator mounting bracket 118 disposed rearwardly, whereby sliding movement of the second transversely oriented cross pin 122 within its longitudinally extending slot 120 will cause the second main lift link 138 to begin to rise within the permitted range of the second support link 144, which is also pivotally connected to the second actuator mounting bracket 118 disposed rearwardly. Thus, as the second main lift link 138 begins to rise, it causes the rear portion of the lumbar support rod 104 to move outwardly from its fully retracted position toward its fully extended position in complete synchronization with the manner in which the front portion of the lumbar support rod 104 is caused to move by the movement of the first main lift link 126 and the first support link 132 described above. Thus, with a single piston-cylinder actuator 106, the lumbar support rod 104 can be moved in a structurally smooth manner to achieve precise movement of the lumbar support rod 104 to its fully extended and fully retracted positions, as well as to any of a plurality of positions intermediate the fully extended and fully retracted positions, depending on the degree to which the piston-cylinder actuator 106 is actually driven. More specifically, as shown in fig. 3, it is also clear that the improved new single electric actuator system of the present invention is capable of extending and retracting the lumbar support rod 104 in a linear manner such that the lumbar support rod 104 indirectly affects or directly contacts the lumbar region of the spine of the person to provide the appropriate or desired support thereto.

Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.