Flap drive system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9624709-B2
Application number	US-201113274615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2011
Priority date	May 13, 2009
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a flap drive system for a flap which is movably mounted on a furniture carcass. The flap drive system is arranged on a sidewall of the furniture carcass. The flap drive system includes a mechanical actuating unit having an actuating arm that can be connected to the flap and an accumulator acting upon the actuating arm, and an electric drive, fastened on the mechanical actuating unit for driving the flap. The electric drive has at least one electric motor, and a gear stage which allows the transmission of force from the electric drive onto the mechanical actuating unit. The gear stage is designed as a separate component, and has a housing that is independent from the mechanical actuating unit and the electric drive or an independent mounting plate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flap drive device comprising:
a mechanical actuating unit including an actuating arm to be connected to a movable flap of an article of furniture, and a force storage member acting on said actuating arm, said mechanical actuating unit having a planar mounting surface;
an electric drive linked to said mechanical actuating unit for driving said actuating arm to move the flap, said electric drive having an electric motor and a planar mounting surface; and
a plate-shaped transmission stage for transmitting force from said electric drive to said mechanical actuating unit, said transmission stage comprising a self-contained housing independent of said mechanical actuating unit and said electric drive, said transmission stage having a first planar mounting surface mounted to said planar mounting surface of said mechanical actuating unit so that said first planar mounting surface and said planar mounting surface of said mechanical actuating unit bear flat against each other, and having a second planar mounting surface mounted to said planar mounting surface of said electric drive so that said second planar mounting surface and said planar mounting surface of said electric drive bear flat against each other, said first planar mounting surface and said second planar mounting surface being substantially parallel.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission stage comprises a first transmission stage, said electric drive including a second transmission stage.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission stage includes a transmission configured to locally displace transmission of force from said electric drive to said mechanical actuating unit.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission stage includes a transmission configured to cause an increase or a reduction in a length of a travel path defined by a projection of said transmission stage.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission stage includes a transmission configured to cause an increase or reduction in torque from said electric motor to said mechanical actuating unit.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission stage has at least one drive mounting, said electric drive being mounted to said at least one drive mounting.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission stage is fixed to said mechanical actuating unit.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission stage is fixed to said electric drive.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said transmission stage is configured to be fixed to said mechanical actuating unit even if said mechanical actuating unit is already mounted to a furniture carcass of the article of furniture.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said mechanical actuating unit, said transmission stage, and said electric drive are configured to be connected together so that flat side surfaces of said mechanical actuating unit, said transmission stage, and said electric drive lie against each other.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said mechanical actuating unit, said transmission stage, and said electric drive are configured to be releasably assembled together.

12. An article of furniture comprising:
a furniture carcass;
a flap movably mounted to said furniture carcass; and
a flap drive device including:
a mechanical actuating unit including an actuating arm connected to said movable flap, and a force storage member acting on said actuating arm, said mechanical actuating unit having a planar mounting surface;
an electric drive linked to said mechanical actuating unit for driving said actuating arm to move said flap, said electric drive having an electric motor and a planar mounting surface; and
a plate-shaped transmission stage for transmitting force from said electric drive to said mechanical actuating unit, said transmission stage comprising a self-contained housing independent of said mechanical actuating unit and said electric drive, said transmission stage having a first planar mounting surface mounted to said planar mounting surface of said mechanical actuating unit so that said first planar mounting surface and said planar mounting surface of said mechanical actuating unit bear flat against each other, and having a second planar mounting surface mounted to said planar mounting surface of said electric drive so that said second planar mounting surface and said planar mounting surface of said electric drive bear flat against each other, said first planar mounting surface and said second planar mounting surface being substantially parallel.

13. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said transmission stage comprises a first transmission stage, said electric drive including a second transmission stage.

14. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said transmission stage includes a transmission configured to locally displace transmission of force from said electric drive to said mechanical actuating unit.

15. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said transmission stage includes a transmission configured to cause an increase or a reduction in a length of a travel path defined by a projection of said transmission stage.

16. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said transmission stage includes a transmission configured to cause an increase or reduction in torque from said electric motor to said mechanical actuating unit.

17. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said transmission stage has at least one drive mounting, said electric drive being mounted to said at least one drive mounting.

18. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said transmission stage is fixed to said mechanical actuating unit.

19. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said transmission stage is fixed to said electric drive.

20. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said transmission stage is configured to be fixed to said mechanical actuating unit even if said mechanical actuating unit is already mounted to said furniture carcass.

21. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said mechanical actuating unit, said transmission stage, and said electric drive are configured to be connected together so that flat side surfaces of said mechanical actuating unit, said transmission stage, and said electric drive lie against each other.

22. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said mechanical actuating unit, said transmission stage, and said electric drive are configured to be releasably assembled together.

23. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said transmission stage is fixed to the furniture carcass.

24. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said electric drive has a pin projecting into a receiving section of said second planar mounting surface of said transmission stage so as to transmit force from said electric drive to said transmission stage.

25. The article of furniture according to claim 12 , wherein said electric drive has a pin projecting into a receiving section of said second planar mounting surface of said transmission stage so as to transmit force from said electric drive to said transmission stage.

Assignees

• Friesenecker Gerald
• Bohle Wolfgang
• Blum Gmbh Julius

Inventors

• Friesenecker Gerald
• Bohle Wolfgang

Classifications

• E05Y2800/26

  Form or shape · CPC title

• E05Y2600/522

  Axial stacking · CPC title

• E05Y2900/20

  for furniture, e.g. cabinets · CPC title

• E05Y2800/72

  Sets of mutually exchangeable elements, e.g. modular · CPC title

• E05Y2800/264

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic