Adjusting device which is provided for pivoting a pivotal element of a piece of furniture in relation to a fixed element of the same

{
  "publication_number": "US6687932B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Adjusting device which is provided for pivoting a pivotal element of a piece of furniture in relation to a fixed element of the same",
  "abstract": "The invention relates to an adjusting device which is provided for pivoting a pivotal element of a piece of furniture in relation to a fixed element of the same, said furniture being used in households, work areas and in health care fields. The inventive device comprises a retaining arm (16), an actuating drive (24) held on said retaining arm (16), and an actuating arm (26), whereby the retaining arm (16) and the actuating arm (26) can be moved in relation to one another by the actuating drive (24). The adjusting device (10) is held on the fixed element (18) via a free end of the retaining arm (16) and is held on the pivotal element (12) via a free end of the actuating arm (26). The actuating arm (26) is pivotally connected, via the end thereof situated opposite the free end, to the retaining arm (16).",
  "claims": [
    "1. An adjustment device for pivoting a pivotal element of a piece of furniture in relation to a fixed element of the same, said furniture being used in living and working areas or in the field of health care, with a retaining arm (16), an actuating drive (24) held on said retaining arm (16) and with an actuating arm (26), wherein the retaining arm (16) and the actuating arm (26) are relatively movable, wherein the adjusting device (10) is held on the fixed element (18) via a free end of the retaining arm (16) and on the pivotal element (12) via a free end of the actuating arm (26) and wherein the actuating arm (26) is pivotally connected, via the end thereof situated opposite the free end, to the retaining arm (16).",
    "2. The adjusting deice according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining arm (16) and the actuating arm (26) are arranged in one plane so as to be pivotal relative to one another in such a manner that the retaining arm (16) and the actuating arm (26) are inclined to one another at an angle ranging from 0° through 180° depending on their position.",
    "3. The adjusting device according to claim 1 characterized in that the retaining arm (16) is rigidly held on the fixed element (18) and that the actuating arm (26) is pivotally held on the pivotal element (12).",
    "4. The adjusting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the actuating arm (26) is held on the pivotal element (12) by length compensating structure (24, 26, 32).",
    "5. The adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining arm (16) and the actuating arm (26) are pivotally held on the fixed element (18) and on the pivotal element (12) respectively.",
    "6. The adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining arm (26) is arranged across the main direction of movement of the pivotal element (12).",
    "7. The adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating drive (24) is held pivotally in relation to the retaining arm (16) or to the piece of furniture by way of a holding device (58).",
    "8. The adjusting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding device (58) comprises at least one jib (52) provided with a spherical or cylindrical end (54) that engages with a corresponding recess (56) arranged on the actuating drive (24).",
    "9. The adjusting device according to claim 8, characterized in that the recess (56) extends radially away from the axis of the spindle.",
    "10. The adjusting device according to claim 9, characterized in that the recess (56) surrounds more than 180° of a spherical or cylindrical end (54) of the jib (52).",
    "11. The adjusting device according to claim 8, characterized in that the recess (56) surrounds more than 180° of a spherical or cylindrical end (54) of the jib (52).",
    "12. The adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized in that there is provided a friction clutch (45) between the actuating arm (26) and the retaining arm (16).",
    "13. The adjusting device according to claims 12, characterized in that the friction clutch (45) comprises a catch (28) that is guided on a spindle (30) and rotatably receives the actuating arm (26), the front side (46) thereof, which is turned away from the housing (68), being undulated and said undulated front side (46) being engageable in a correspondingly undulated buffer (48) provided at the end of the spindle (30).",
    "14. The adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized by said actuating drive including a driving motor (62) whose driven shaft is configured as a worm (62), with a spindle (30) that is held in a worm wheel (66) in such a manner that it is axially movable, the worm (64) meshing with the worm wheel (66), and including a housing (68) that carries the driving motor (62) and rotatably accommodates the worm wheel (66), and wherein, between said worm wheel (66) and said housing (68), there is provided at least one needle bearing (70) for absorbing the axial forces and at least one sliding bearing (72, 74) for absorbing the radial forces.",
    "15. The adjusting device according to claim 14, characterized in that two spaced apart sliding bearings (72, 74) are provided on said worm wheel (66).",
    "16. The adjusting device according to claim 15, characterized in that there are provided on the housing (68) two opposite recesses (56) that radially extend away from the axis of the spindle and serve one jib (52) of a holding device (58) each.",
    "17. The adjusting device according to claim 16, characterized in that the recess (56) surrounds more than 180° of the spherical or cylindrical end (54) of the jib (52).",
    "18. The adjusting device according to claim 14, characterized in that there are provided on the housing (68) two opposite recesses (56) that radially extend away from the axis of the spindle and serve one jib (52) of a holding device (58) each.",
    "19. The adjusting device according to claim 18, characterized in that the recess (56) surrounds more than 180° of the spherical or cylindrical end (54) of the jib (52)."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "A47C 20/041",
    "A61G 7/015"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "LINATOR GMBH"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2000-05-08",
  "publication_date": "2004-02-10",
  "grant_date": "2004-02-10",
  "priority_date": "2000-05-08",
  "application_number": "US-994201-A",
  "family_id": "30774706",
  "citations": [
    "DE2326709A1",
    "DE29512054U1",
    "DE4211352A1",
    "DE4433934A1",
    "DE9307322U1",
    "EP0315438A1",
    "EP0518446A1",
    "US5542744A"
  ]
}