A brake device for a movable part of a piece of furniture, particularly of upholstered furniture

The invention relates to a braking device for a movable component of a furniture element, in particular an upholstered furniture element, having the features of The preamble of claim 1. In a furniture element in this sense are sitting and understand reclining furniture with corresponding movable components (chair, armchair, Recliner, bus, train and airplane seats, lawn furniture).

A furniture element to which realized a braking device of the type in question can be, in particular an upholstered furniture element, namely an upholstered armchair. Such furniture element is known in various embodiments (WO - A - 95/25452). For the upholstery elements here shown known a coupled backrest -and- seat adjustment characteristic. This backrest - And seat adjustment realized with a connection mechanism between the Support frame, the backrest and the seat a synchronous adjustment of the backrest and seat of a highest, upright position, the sitting position, in a lowest, preferably also further extended position, the reclining position. In the Moving from the sitting position to the reclining position, results of a small seat Movement, enabling a substantial translatory component (sliding component) - Having.

In order not to allow the sliding movement of the seat in an uncontrolled manner, but to make controllable, is a braking device between the seat and support frame arranged one on the movable member, the seat, or possibly also on the support frame Inappropriate, normally made of metal slide and an associated therewith Brake bearing block on the opposite component, ie the support frame, or the movable member has. An adjustment to the brake bearing block adjusts the braking force exerted by the bearing block on the slide Braking force (DE - U - 86 09 844). Optionally, it is also provided that the braking effect without an adjustment to the brake bearing block by one of outset structurally specified sliding friction between the bearing surfaces of is realized slide and brake bearing block (DE - U - 85 34 420).

The braking force applied may even impede, possibly even in a positive Blocking lead (DE - U - 86 09 844).

One problem with all previously known braking devices of the subject Such that the braking force can not be adjusted sufficiently sensitive and, in particular, that at the beginning of an adjustment, a considerable resistance to is overcome when namely stiction in sliding transitions (starting jerk). also can be the setting often make difficult.

Just for seating furniture components with a coupled backrest and seat adjustment, which are on the easy to change by shifting weight body position arrives, ask the aforementioned problems of known braking devices a considerable comfort disadvantage.

The invention is based on the object of the braking device of the subject improve type to solve the above problems.

The aforementioned object is in a first alternative, in a braking device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 by the features of characterizing part of claim 1.. According to the invention with a systematic worked other braking device, namely with a braking device with brake rollers. Here sliding friction is replaced by rolling friction. This leads to a much more sensitive adjustability of the braking force. In particular, however, this leads to the fact that the starting jerk is sustainably reduced. Only the in the storage of Brake roller remaining static friction, but are reduced to a minimum can is to be overcome in order to subsequently realize only rolling friction.

The aforementioned object is in a second alternative at a braking device dissolved, in the present invention although having a similar principle braking device working with braking surfaces, this is especially adept in the crosspiece be integrated on the frame (or the movable member).

Preferred embodiments and developments of the teaching of the present application are the subject matter of the subordinate to the respective independent claim Subclaims.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the Drawing explained. In the drawings<dl tsize="7"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>an embodiment of a known from the prior art Seating furniture component in the sitting position,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>the seating element of FIG. 1 in upright positions,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>in enlarged scale, schematically the braking device of the seating element of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in the embodiment with between Brake roller guided sliding rails.</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>schematically, a crosspiece for a furniture element with another Alternative a braking device,</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>the braking device in the cross-beam of Fig. 4 partially sectioned.</dd></dl>

The braking devices shown in the drawings are intended and suitable for a movable component of a furniture element, in particular for a movable Part of a seating element and very particularly, as here namely shown, for the movable seat of upholstered furniture element, in which a coupled Rückenlehen- and Seat adjustment is realized.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is initially on the frame 1 of here as a armchair seating element, a backrest 2 and a seat 3. The backrest 2 is on the frame 1 at a pivot bearing 4 pivotally mounted. The backrest 2 is provided with the seat 3 at an angle a Pivot 5 pivotally connected. located at the front edge of the seat 3 located under the seat 3 in the support frame 1 is a cross-beam 6, which supports the seat 3 there. At the bottom of the seat 3 in the area of ​​the cross-beam 6 a slide 7. Specifically, located at the front edge of the seat 3 in the area of Cross-beam 6 on each side of the support frame 1 in each case a slide rail 7. In the Representation has to be seen only a slide 7, due to the direction of the view shown.

The seat 3 is a movable component of a furniture element, here just an upholstered armchair . At the supporting frame 1, on the cross-beam 6, a brake bearing block 8 is attached. The brake bearing block 8 forms a sliding guide for the slide 7. The Slide 7 therefore slides in the transition from the sitting position to the reclining position in Brake bearing block 8 with a predetermined friction. The illustrated and so far preferred embodiment shows to the brake bearing block 8 dashed indicated a gag, the setting means 9 for setting the forms brake bearing block 8 applied to the slide 7 braking force. With this Knebel is the plain stronger in brake bearing block 8 for the slide 7 or less tense, so that the sliding resistance changes accordingly. On This test permits the movable component of the kitchen unit, so the seat 3 of the Upholstered chair, adjust to a preselected force action and with appropriate Design of the braking means of slide rail 7 and brake bearing block 8 also fix or lock in certain positions.

Fig. 3 shows a braking device for such a moving part 3 a Furniture element, in which the brake-bearing block 8 two mutually opposite Braking surfaces 10 of the slide 7 rolling brake rollers 11. braking the slide 7 with brake rollers 11 has the general part of the description explained advantages over the braking surface with superimposed Realized braking surfaces as in the prior art. Not only is the adjustability of the Braking force is particularly sensitive, but also and especially the Startruck greatly reduced. This insures high standards of comfort when using a kitchen unit met with such a braking device.

This brake device can be used not only in seating furniture elements, although they used there with special expediency in particular for the seat becomes. Such braking device can also be for other movable components For furniture, for example, a deck with a movable headboard use or a mobile footboard.

The exemplary embodiment shows that the brake rollers 11, the guide rail 7 between to lead. The brake rollers 11 serve not only as flat rollers, but for example, rotating as wedge rollers, that is, with a wedge-shaped or U-shaped Groove to be executed, then with a correspondingly shaped slide rail 7 cooperate. As an alternative, which is not shown here, one could Also imagine that the slide 7 is U-shaped and the brake rollers 11 to the inside of the U-legs are employable.

The embodiment further shows that the brake rollers 11 in the brake-bearing block 8 Ball bearing. A ball bearing of the brake rollers 11 has the advantage of lower Frictional resistance, which leads to an optimization of the starting jerk.

It is further provided in the present embodiment that the brake rollers 11 with an elastomer layer beschi-nates or of elastomeric material, in particular as Solid rubber wheels, are designed. By the pressing force of the brake rollers 11 on the Slide 7 are elastically deformed in the contact area - pressed - what the rolling resistance of the brake roll 11 on the slide bar 7 depending on the pressing force increased or ver-reduces. This is a particularly convenient, sensitive ensures setting the braking effect.

Previously, it has been already indicated that it is particularly advantageous when the bias voltage the brake rollers 11 is adjustable with respect to the slide. 7 These may include the brake rollers 11 preferably in brake bearing block 8 with respect to the slide 7 be adjustable. This is indicated by the setting shown in dashed lines 9, with the lower brake roller 11 in the brake-bearing block 8 relative to the top, above the slide 7 posted brake roller 11 are moved can. Not shown here is the possibility of the setting means 9 with a to provide own spring element, in turn, an elastic coupling within the setting means 9 implemented.

Also possible adjustability of the rolling resistance of brake rollers 11, for example, by corresponding bracing of the bearing.

A second embodiment of a braking device will now reference to FIG. 1, 2, 4 and 5 explained. The notes on Fig. 1 and 2 may be referred first will.

This is the braking device on the frame 1 (or the movable member) Inappropriate, designed as a hollow profile or as a tubular crosspiece 6 to integrate the braking device used. These 4 is, here in Fig. Particularly clearly, initially provided that the cross-beam 6 through openings 12 for the guide rail 7 has, so the cross-beam 6 passes through. Fig. 4 shows the right two mutually aligned passage openings 12, of which here for the presentation Of course only the front passage opening 12 can be seen, for the right lying Slide 7 and left corresponding passage openings 12 for the left side of the Supporting frame 1 lying slide 7. The slide rails 7 itself are not shown here.

Fig. 5 shows in connection with Fig. 4, that here the brake-bearing block 8 in the cross-beam 6 is integrated. He is not placed on the crossbeam 6 as in Fig. 1 and 2 of the prior art, but disappears in the cross-beam 6. For this purpose the brake bearing block 8 is arranged in the crosspiece 6 and up out in the region of the passage openings 12 for the guide rail 7th Is in Fig. 5 for the right-most slide 7 which can be left un-speaking be provided. The adjustment means 9 is also at the Cross T Raver se 6 arranged and pressed to adjust the braking force to the brake bearing block 8 inside the crosspiece 6 to the slide 7 zoom.

The brake bearing block 8 is displaced inside the crosspiece 6, this displacement is realized by the setting means 9th The embodiment distinguishes itself further by the fact that on the side remote from the brake bearing block 8 Side of the slide 7 in the cross-beam 6, a thrust bearing block 13 fixed is arranged, against which the slide 7 is of the brake bearing block 8 pressed. at Tightening the adjusting means 9, the slide 7 is practically between the braking surfaces of brake bearing block 8 and thrust bearing block 13 clamped. ever by friction coefficient is then given the desired braking effect.

In principle the guide rail could 7 designed as a flat rail and a sense be "on edge" arranged. Then relatively large braking surfaces would at the slide 7 result. A finer setting is however possible if the construction of the illustrated embodiment is designed so that the slide 7 designed as a flat rail and with its plane parallel to the longitudinal axis the cross-beam 6 is arranged so that the brake-bearing block 8 and, as here yet, the anvil block 13 attack on the narrow sides of the slide. 7 One recognizes the well in FIG. 5 on the upper sides and lower sides of the slide rail 7, the slide 7 free of the brake bearing block 8, are on the narrow sides the braking surfaces effectively.

It has been stated anything yet about how the force of the setting device 9 is at the brake bearing block. 8 There are a variety of Possibilities. The embodiment shows that the adjustment in 9 the cross-beam 6 having a coupled with the brake bearing block 8 spline gear 14, the mounted with an outside of the crossbar 6 operating toggle 15 is actuated. It is seen that in the cross-beam 8 an opening 16 is provided in which the threaded rod of the spline gear 14, the wall of the crosspiece 6 interspersed, so that can be screwed from outside the operating toggle 15th To allow the movement of the spline gear 14, is on the opposite Side of the cross-beam 6, a further opening 16 'is provided, which is shown in FIG. 5 is particularly significantly. Fig. 5 can also recognize that at the end of the crossbeam 6 a Insert body is internally threaded 17, the attachment of the crossbar 6 serves on the frame. 1 Inwardly toward the thrust bearing block 13 is connected thereto.

Fig. 5 shows the adjustment means 9 associated with the one end of the cross-beam 6 with the local rail 7. A corresponding adjustment 9 could also be assigned to the other end of the other guide rail. 7 A uniform Brake force adjustment, however, can more be realized by at two slide rails 7 and brake-bearing blocks 8 only a setting 9 on the cross-beam 6 is arranged to be actuated from which then both brake-bearing blocks. 8 This is a preferred embodiment.