The invention relates to an electromotively adjustable support device of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 for a cushioning of a seating and/or lying furniture, in particular a mattress of a box-spring bed.

Corresponding support devices are generally known and comprise support parts that can be pivoted electromotively relative to each other, for example between a lying position and a sitting position of the furniture. For example, corresponding support devices in the form of slatted frames are known, in which the support parts are provided with resilient slats on their side facing the cushioning. In contrast, support devices for a mattress of a box-spring bed have support parts, which are provided with plates, on which the mattress of the box-spring bed is supported during use.

Corresponding to the respective requirements, the number of support parts is selectable within wide limits. In the simplest manner, the support device is formed in two parts and comprises a fixed support part, which functions as a buttock support part, for example, and with which a back support part is pivotally adjustably connected. In an extension of a corresponding structure, the support device can be formed as a 3-part structure and also have a head/neck support part, which is connected to the end of the upper body support part facing away from the buttock support part and can be pivotally adjusted relative to it. In an extension of a corresponding structure, the support device can also be formed as a 5-part structure and additionally comprise a calf support part, which is connected to the end of the leg support part facing away from the buttock support part and can be pivotally adjusted relative to it.

DE 100 46 751 A1 discloses a support device with the features of the preamble of claim 1. The support device known from the publication is formed in five parts and comprises a first support part in the manner of a buttock support part, to which a second support part in the manner of an upper body support part is connected to be pivotally adjustable. A third support part in the form of a head/neck support part is pivotally connected to the end of the second support part facing away from the first support part. For pivotal adjustment of the second support part relative to the first support part, a pivot lever pivotally disposed around a pivot-lever-pivot-axis is provided. In the known support device, the head/neck support part is adjustably coupled to the upper body support part via a knee lever arrangement, so that the head/neck support part is adjusted with an adjustment of it.

The object underlying the invention is to provide a support device of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, the functionality of which is improved compared to the known support device.

This object is solved by the invention specified in claim 1.

According to the invention, the second support part comprises a guiding for the end of the pivot lever facing away from the pivot-lever-pivot-axis, wherein the guiding carries an adjusting means for pivotally adjusting the third support part relative to the second support part.

The invention is based on the idea of realising an adjustability of the head/neck support part independent of the adjustment of the upper body support part with simple means.

For this purpose, a guiding provided at the second support part, which in particular can be the upper body support part, for the pivot lever, which serves to adjust the second support part, has a dual function. On the one hand, the guiding guides the end of the pivot lever during its relative movement to the second support part. On the other hand, the guiding serves as mechanical carrier for an adjustment means for adjusting the third support part, which in particular can be the head/neck support part. In particular, the adjustment means can be or comprise an electromotive drive unit, via which the head/neck support part can be adjusted relative to the upper body support part independently of the latter.

In this manner, independent adjustment of the head/neck support part is realised with relatively little constructive effort, thus improving the functionality of the support device of the invention against the known support device.

The fact that the head/neck support part can be adjusted independently of the upper body support part means that a user can better adapt the adjustment position to his personal needs, so that the comfort of the support device according to the invention is improved.

Due to the dual function of the guiding according to the invention, the design effort for this gain in functionality and comfort is relatively low.

The structure of the support device according to the invention is selectable within wide limits correspondingly to the respective requirements and conditions. For example, the support device according to the invention can be formed as slatted frame, in which the support parts are provided with resilient slats at their side facing the cushioning. In particular, however, the support device according to the invention can also be provided for supporting a mattress of a box-spring bed, wherein the support parts comprise plates, for example made of wood, at their side facing the mattress, on which the mattress is supported.

An extraordinarily advantageous further development of the invention provides that the guiding extends via a pivot axis between the second and the third support part in a direction towards the free end of the third support part. In this manner, the guiding comprises a projection via the second support part in the longitudinal direction of the support device in a direction towards the third support part. This projection makes it possible to realise support devices with different lengths of the second support part and the third support part with one and the same assembly unit, consisting of the guiding and the adjusting means. For example, a relatively short third support part can be combined as a head/neck support part with a relatively long second support part as an upper body support part when only adjustability via a relatively short length is required or desired in the portion of the head and neck.

Regarding the design of the guiding, it is selectable within wide limits correspondingly to the respective requirements and conditions. An advantageous further development of the invention provides in this respect that the guiding is formed as a guiding rail. This manner results in a particularly simple structure. The guiding rail can be connected to the rear side, i.e. the side of the second support part facing away from the cushioning, in a suitable manner, for example by screwing.

An advantageous further development of the aforementioned embodiment provides for that the guiding is formed by two rail-like guide elements, in particular made of metal, spaced apart from one another transversely to the longitudinal direction of the support device. Correspondingly, guiding elements can, for example, be formed by profile elements made of metal, which are simple and relatively inexpensive.

In order to reduce the friction between the pivot lever and the guide arranged at the rear side of the second support part during the adjustment movement, an advantageous further development of the invention provides that at least one roller is arranged at the free end of the pivot lever, which is guided in or at the guide. In this case, it is generally sufficient when the free end of the pivot lever is provided with a single roller. If the guiding is formed by two guiding elements spaced apart transversely to the longitudinal direction of the support device, two rollers spaced apart correspondingly to the distance between the guiding elements can also be provided instead of a single roller.

The adjusting means can be formed in a variety of manners corresponding to the respective requirements and conditions. A particularly advantageous further development of the invention provides in this respect that the adjustment means comprises an electromotive drive unit with a base body, in particular designed as drive housing, and an output member, which is operatively connected to the third support part for adjusting it relative to the second support part between a starting position of the adjustment movement, in which the third support part spans a common support plane with the second support part, and an end position of the adjustment movement, in which the third support part is pivotally adjusted relative to the second support part. In this manner, the third support part is adjusted relative to the second support part electromotively.

A particularly simple further development of the aforementioned embodiment provides that the base body of the electromotive drive unit is fixed to the guiding.

In the aforementioned embodiments with the electromotive drive unit, the same can be designed in a variety of manners. An advantageous further development of the invention provides in this respect that the output member of the electromotive drive unit is linearly movable and is operatively connected to the third support part via an adjusting member in such a way that the third support part is pivoted relative to the second support part during a linear movement of the output member. Linear drivers corresponding to this are available as relatively simple and inexpensive standard assemblies.

An advantageous further development of the aforementioned embodiment provides that the adjusting member is a further pivot lever, which is disposed at the base body of the electromotive drive unit pivotally around a further pivot-lever-pivot-axis and is operatively connected to the output member of the electromotive drive unit in such a way that, when the output member is moved linearly, the further pivot lever is pivoted around the further pivot-lever-pivot-axis. In this embodiment, the adjustment mechanism for adjusting the third support part relative to the second support part has a particularly simple and robust design.

Another advantageous further development of the aforementioned embodiments provides that the electromotive drive unit comprises a spindle drive. Corresponding to this, spindle drives are available as relatively simple, inexpensive and robust standard assemblies and are suitable for transmitting large forces.

A further development of the aforementioned embodiment provides that the output member of the drive unit is formed by a threaded spindle, which is disposed so as to be rotationally secure and movable in its axial direction and at which a fixed spindle nut is disposed, which is in rotation drive connection with an electromotor of the electromotive drive unit. Alternatively, however, the output member can also be formed by a spindle nut, which is arranged to be rotationally secure and movable in the axial direction at a fixed threaded spindle, which is in rotation drive connection to an electric motor of the electromotive drive unit.

In terms of a simple design, another advantageous further development of the invention provides that the adjusting element loosely acts on the third support part to adjust it.

In order to reduce the friction between the adjusting member and the third support part during adjustment thereof, another advantageous further development of the invention provides that the adjusting member carries at least one roller for abutting against the third support part.

Another advantageous further development of the invention provides that the first support part is a fixed buttock support part, the second support part is an upper body support part and the third support part is a head/neck support part.

A seating and/or lying furniture, in particular a box-spring bed, according to the invention is specified in claim 15 and comprises a support device according to the invention.

With reference to the support parts, the rear side is understood to be the side of the support parts facing away from the cushioning, when the support device is in use.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached, highly schematised drawing by means of an embodiment. It is apparent to the skilled person that the individual features of an embodiment respectively further develop the embodiment on their own, i.e. independently of the other features. It is thus also apparent to the skilled person that all the features described, shown in the drawing and claimed in the claims form the subject matter of the invention in themselves and in any technically meaningful combination with one another, irrespective of their summary in the claims and their references and irrespective of their specific description and setting in the drawing. The subject matter and disclosed content of the present application also includes sub-combinations of the claims, in which at least one feature of a claim is omitted or replaced by another feature.

It shows in:

FIG. 1 a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a support device according to the invention in an starting position of the adjustment movement,

FIG. 2 the support device according to FIG. 1 in the same view as FIG. 1, wherein an outer frame of the support device is omitted,

FIG. 3 a side view of the support device according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 in the same representation as FIG. 1, the support device according to FIG. 1 in an adjustment position, in which a back support part and a head/neck support part are adjusted relative to a buttock support part,

FIG. 5 in the same view as FIG. 4, the support device according to FIG. 4, wherein the head/neck support part is additionally adjusted relative to the back support part,

FIG. 6 in a perspective view of an assembly unit according to the invention comprising an electromotive drive unit and a guiding,

FIG. 7 in the same view, but on a scale enlarged against FIG. 6, the assembly unit according to FIG. 6, wherein one housing half of the housing of the electromotive drive unit is omitted,

FIG. 8 a detail from FIG. 4 in the portion of the head/neck support part in an adjustment position, in which the head/neck support part is not adjusted relative to the back support part,

FIG. 9 the detail according to FIG. 8 in an adjustment position, in which the head/neck support part is adjusted relative to the back support part and

FIG. 10 in the same representation as FIG. 3, the support device according to FIG. 3, wherein only the head/neck support part is adjusted relative to the back support part.

In the following, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10, an embodiment of a support device according to the invention is explained in more detail. In individual figures of the drawing, individual components of the support device according to the invention have been omitted in order to illustrate the structure of the support device according to the invention and to simplify the representation. In the relevant figures, the omitted components are to be notionally supplemented accordingly.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a support device 2 according to the invention, which in this embodiment is formed to support a box-spring mattress. To simplify the illustration, the box-spring mattress is not shown in the drawing. However, the structure and mode of operation of a corresponding box-spring mattress are generally known to the skilled person and are therefore not explained in more detail here.

The support device 2 comprises an outer frame 4 and a longitudinal cross-member 6 extending in the longitudinal direction of the support device 2. The outer frame 4 is shown in FIG. 1, but is omitted in the other figures to simplify the illustration.

In the embodiment shown, the longitudinal cross-member 6 is made of metal and is provided at its ends with support parts 8, 10 (see FIG. 4) made of plastic, with which the longitudinal cross-member 6 is supported on the outer frame 4 (see FIG. 1).

The support device 2 comprises a fixed buttock support part 12 (first support part), with which a back support part (second support part) 14 is connected pivotally adjustably around a horizontal pivot axis. A head/neck support part 16 (third support part) is connected to the end of the back support part 14 facing away from the buttock support part 12 pivotally adjustably around a horizontal pivot axis. To support a box-spring mattress, the support parts 12, 14 and 16 are formed plate-like in the embodiment shown and can be made of wood, for example.

The back support part 14 is connected to the buttock support part 12 via hinges 18, 20, while the head/neck support part 16 is connected to the back support part 14 via hinges 22, 24.

The buttock support part 12 is connected to the upper side of a housing 26 for a pivot drive of a one-armed pivot lever 28, which is pivotally disposed at the longitudinal cross-member 6 around a pivot-lever-pivot-axis 30 (cf. FIG. 4). To simplify the illustration, details of the pivot drive for the swivel lever 28 are not shown in the drawing. However, corresponding pivot drives are generally known to the skilled person and are therefore not explained in more detail here. A corresponding pivot drive is known to the skilled person, for example, from DE 10 2013 110 096 A1.

According to the invention, the back support part 14 (second support part) comprises a guiding 32 for the end of the pivot lever 28 facing away from the pivot-lever-pivot-axis 30 (see, for example, FIG. 5)

In the embodiment shown, the guiding 32 is formed as a guiding rail, which is formed by two rail-like guide elements 34, 36 spaced apart from each other transversely to the longitudinal direction of the support device.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5, the guiding 32 extends beyond a pivot axis between the back support part 14 and the head/neck support part 16 in the direction of the free end of the head/neck support part 16 and thus forms a projection via the back support part 14 in the longitudinal direction of the support device 2.

According to the invention, the guiding 32 carries an adjusting means for pivoting the head/neck support part 16 relative to the back support part 14.

The pivot lever 28 carries rollers 38, 40 at its free end (see FIG. 5), with which the pivot lever 28 is guided at the guiding elements 34, 36 of the guiding 32.

In the embodiment shown, the adjustment means comprise an electromotive drive unit 42 with a base body in the form of a drive housing 44 and an output member, which is in operative connection with the head/neck support part 16 for adjusting the same relative to the back support part 14 between a starting position of the adjustment movement, in which the head/neck support part 16 spans a common support plane with the back support part 14 (cf. FIG. 4), and an end position of the adjustment movement, in which the head/neck support part 16 is pivotally adjusted relative to the back support part 14 (cf. FIG. 5).

The drive housing 44 of the drive unit 42 is fixed to the guiding element 36 by screwing. The guiding elements 34, 36 are connected to each other by a rod-shaped connecting element 46. In this manner, the guiding 32 forms an assembly unit with the electromotive drive unit 42, which forms an essential element of the embodiment shown.

The structure of the electromotive drive unit 42 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 7:

In the embodiment shown, the electromotive drive unit 42 comprises a spindle drive 48 with a threaded spindle 50 and a spindle nut 52. In the embodiment shown, the output member of the electromotive drive unit 42 is formed by the threaded spindle 50, which is disposed in the drive housing 44, rotationally secure and movable in its axial direction. A fixed spindle nut 52 is arranged at the threaded spindle 50, which is rotatably disposed via a ball bearing 54 and connected to a worm wheel 56 of a worm gear, which is in engagement with a worm that is moulded onto the output shaft of an electric motor 58 not shown in FIG. 7 (see FIG. 6). In this manner, the spindle nut 52 is in rotation drive connection with the electric motor 58 of the electromotive drive unit 42.

The threaded spindle 50 as output member of the electromotive drive unit 42 is in operative connection with the head/neck support part 16 via an adjusting member in such a way that the head/neck support part 16 is pivoted relative to the back support part 14 during a linear movement of the threaded spindle 50.

In the embodiment shown, the adjusting member is a further single-armed pivot lever 60, which is disposed in the drive housing 44 of the electromotive drive unit 42 pivotally around a further pivot-lever-pivot-axis 62 and is operatively connected to the threaded spindle 50 as output member of the electromotive drive unit 42 in such a way that, with a linear movement of the threaded spindle 50, the further pivot lever 60 is pivoted around the further pivot-lever-pivot-axis 62.

For co-operation with the further swivel lever 60, the threaded spindle 50 comprises a plastic slider 64 at its end facing the swivel lever 60, which engages eccentrically to the further pivot-lever-pivot-axis 62 at a linkage lever 66 connected to the further swivel lever 60 in a rotationally fixed manner.

At its free end, the further pivot lever 60 carries a further roller 68, with which the pivot lever 60 abuts against the rear side of the head/neck support part 16 and loosely applies pressure on it for pivoting.

The mode of operation of the support device 2 of the invention is as follows:

On the basis of the starting position of the adjustment movement shown in FIG. 3, in which the support parts 12, 14 and 16 span a common support plane, the pivot lever 28 is pivoted counterclockwise in the drawing to adjust the back support part 14 relative to the fixed buttock support part 12, until the position of the adjustment movement shown in FIG. 4 is reached.

FIG. 8 shows the head/neck support part 16 in a position, in which it spans a common support plane with the back support part 14. To adjust the head/neck support part 16 relative to the back support part 14, the electric motor 58 drives the spindle nut 52 in such a way that the threaded spindle 50 presses with its slider 64 against the free end of the pivot lever 66, so that the other pivot lever 60 in the drawing pivots anti-clockwise around the other pivot-lever-pivot-axis 62 until the end position of the adjustment movement shown in FIG. 9 is reached.

Due to the fact that the head/neck support part 16 is assigned an own electromotive drive unit 42, the head/neck support part 16 can be adjusted relative to the back support part 14 by operating this electromotive drive unit 42 independently of an adjustment of the back support part 14, as shown in FIG. 10. In this manner, the adjustment possibilities when adjusting the support parts 12, 14 and 16 relative to each other are extended, thereby increasing the comfort for the user.

Since the guiding 32 projects beyond the pivot axis between the back support part 14 and the head/neck support part 16 in the direction of the head/neck support part 16, support devices with different length ratios between the length of the head/neck support part 16 and the length of the back support part 14 can be constructed using one and the same assembly unit of guiding 32 and drive unit 42. In this manner, the production of different support devices is simplified and made more cost-effective.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

- 2 support device
- 4 outer frame
- 6 longitudinal cross-member
- 8 support part
- 10 support part
- 12 buttock support section
- 14 back support section
- 16 head/neck support section
- 18 hinge
- 20 hinge
- 22 hinge
- 24 hinge
- 26 housing
- 28 pivot lever
- 30 pivot-lever-pivot-axis
- 32 guiding
- 34 guiding element
- 36 guiding element
- 38 roller
- 40 roller
- 42 electromotive drive unit
- 44 drive housing
- 46 connecting element
- 48 spindle drive
- 50 threaded spindle
- 52 spindle nut
- 54 ball bearing
- 56 worm wheel
- 58 electric motor
- 60 further pivot lever
- 62 further pivot-lever-pivot-axis
- 64 slider
- 66 pivot lever
- 68 further roller