ES2817474T3 - Versatile cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

A motorized furniture (1), configured to adopt a series of different configurations, in which it becomes a stool, a chair, a sofa, a lounger or other, whose motorized furniture (1) comprises: - a main body (2 ), which has a lower wall (21) suitable for resting on the ground, and an upper support wall (20); - a first (31) and a second (32) mobile bodies, which can support the body of a user, and arranged side by side on said upper support wall (20) of said main body (2), according to a longitudinal direction (L), - in which said first mobile body (31) is rotatably connected to said main body (2) on a first end side (311) of said first mobile body (31) and along a first axis of horizontal rotation (11), and said second mobile body (32) is rotatably connected to said first mobile body (31) on a second end side (312) of said first mobile body (31) located opposite said first side end (311) thereof, according to a second horizontal axis of rotation (12) parallel to said first axis of rotation (11), - said first and second axes of rotation (11, 12) are perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (L) ; - actuating means (4) of said first (31) and second (32) mobile bodies, housed inside said main body (2) and / or said first (31) or second (32) mobile bodies; and - a removable table unit (5), configured so that it can adopt a first arrangement of minimum volume, in which it is housed inside said main body (2), and a second operating arrangement, in which is extracted from said main body (2) and provides a support surface (50), said furniture (1) comprising, an articulated support structure (40) arranged inside said first (31) and a second (32) movable bodies and actuated by said actuation means (4), wherein said articulated support structure (40) comprises a polygonal frame, having a first frame part (41), arranged inside the first movable body (31 ) and rotatably connected at a first end (411) to a support structure (200) of said main body (2), according to said first axis of rotation (11), and a second frame part (42), arranged inside said second mobile body (32) and connected rotatably at a distal end (421) to said first frame part (41), along said second axis of rotation (12).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Versatile cabinet

Invention sector

The present invention relates to a motorized cabinet, configured to adopt a number of different configurations.

Prior state of the art

Nowadays, the need for transformable and versatile furniture is perceived in an important way, because more and more people live or work in environments of limited size. For example, such an article is known from US2008028535 A1.

Said need is especially perceived when an environment is intended for various uses, for example, such as living room and dining room, and when a variable number of people must be received therein. In fact, it depends on the different destinations of use and the number of people, chairs, beds and sofas that must be alternately arranged and removed from the available environment. However, moving furniture can be difficult to handle in practice. In addition, it involves a significant loss of time and a significant risk of damaging the furniture or the surrounding environment.

Furthermore, even when only one or a few people occupy a certain environment, a complete furniture requires having a sofa, a bed, a chair and, eventually, a lounger as separate pieces.

Characteristics of the invention

The technical problem underlying the present invention is therefore that of overcoming the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the state of the art.

Said problem is solved by a motorized furniture according to claim 1. Preferred features of the invention are listed in the dependent claims.

The configuration of the furniture according to the present invention can be transformed and adjusted in a simple and effective way. In addition, it is conceived as a module of a set of furniture. When taken separately or in such a set, the piece of furniture or pieces of furniture are transformed, for example, from a chair or stool to a sofa, armchair, “triclinium” (triclinium), lounger or bed, depending on the specific requirements and needs.

Therefore, the furniture of the invention provides a series of functionalities in a single object. As will also be understood from the detailed description that follows, its intended use can be changed simply and quickly, even without the need for additional components.

Advantageously, the furniture according to the invention makes it possible to optimize the use of space.

Brief description of the drawings

Reference will be made to the figures of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a motorized piece of furniture, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a stool configuration;

figure 2 shows a perspective view of the furniture of figure 1 in a chair configuration;

figure 3 shows a perspective view of two pieces of furniture, according to the embodiment of figure 1, which are joined together to implement a bed configuration;

figure 4 shows a perspective view of the furniture of figure 3 in a lounger configuration; figure 5 shows a perspective view of the furniture of figure 3 in a "triclinium" configuration; Figures 6 and 7 each show a respective perspective view of two pieces of furniture, according to the embodiment of Figure 1, which are joined to implement a sofa configuration;

figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view, taken from above, of the internal components of the furniture of figure 1, according to a preferred implementation;

figure 8A shows a schematic front view of a detail of the furniture of figure 8;

figure 9 schematically shows a perspective view of the internal components of the furniture of figure 1, according to a preferred implementation;

figure 10 schematically shows a perspective view of a detail of the furniture of figure 9;

Figures 11 and 11A each show a schematic perspective view of a detail of a mechanism of the furniture of Figure 9, in a lowered and raised position, respectively; Y

- Figure 12 shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a furniture control scheme from figure 1.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference initially to Figures 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of a motorized furniture, according to the present invention, is indicated globally with 1.

As will be appreciated below, the cabinet 1 is capable of assuming a number of different configurations. In figure 1, a stool configuration of furniture 1 is shown. In figure 2, a chair configuration of furniture 1 is shown.

The furniture 1 comprises a main body 2 and first and second moving bodies, designated 31 and 32 respectively, which are capable of receiving and supporting the body of a user.

Preferably, the main body 2 has a substantially polyhedral shape, in particular a parallelepiped shape. The main body 2 has four lateral (vertical) sides, one of which is defined by a side wall 22. The main body 2 also has a lower horizontal wall 21, suitable for resting on the ground, and a horizontal wall upper support 20. Both walls 20 and 21 are substantially rectangular, seen in plan.

Preferably, (part of) the outer surfaces of the main body 2 are covered with natural wood and leather panels.

Furthermore, the main body 2 provides, between its bottom wall 21 and its supporting wall 22, a housing 100 for a removable table unit 5. The housing 100 is accessed from three sides of the main body 2, that is, the sides that do not have the side wall 2.

As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the table unit 5 may have a prismatic shape, in the present example with a rectangular base.

The table unit 5 comprises a first basic element 52, specifically in the form of a box, which telescopically or slidably houses a second element 53 that can be lifted. The upper element 53 that can be lifted, preferably has the same shape as the base element 52, but smaller overall dimensions, so that it can be housed therein.

The second element 53 has a support surface 50 that is suitable for supporting objects. Specifically, the support surface 50 is useful for reading, eating and, in general, for supporting the necessary objects during activities carried out while sitting or lying on the furniture 1.

The second element 53 can be selectively moved up or down. Specifically, the removable table unit 5 is configured so that it can adopt a first arrangement of minimum volume, in which it is housed inside the main body 2, and a second arrangement of operation, or of use, in which it is removed from main body 2.

In the stool configuration of Figure 1, the upper support wall 20 supports the weight of both movable bodies 31 and 32 and of the user seated thereon.

The first and second movable bodies 31 and 32 are arranged side by side on the upper face of the support wall 20, specifically, along the longitudinal direction L of main development of the furniture 1. The longitudinal direction L is also the direction in which a user rests on the furniture 1, corresponding to the height of the user's body.

In the described embodiment, the moving bodies 31 and 32 have a prismatic shape, with a rectangular base.

In the present embodiment, the movable bodies 31 and 32 have substantially the same overall shape and dimensions.

The first movable body 31 is rotatably connected, at a first end 311 thereof, to the main body 2 and, consequently, can rotate about a first horizontal axis of rotation 11.

The second movable body 32 is rotatably connected to the first movable body 31 at a second end side 312 of the latter, the second end side 312 of which faces the first end side 311. In this way, the second movable body 32 can rotate, consequently, around a second horizontal axis of rotation 12, parallel to the first axis of rotation 11.

Preferably, the lateral side of the main body 2 on which the removable table unit 5 is arranged is a side perpendicular to the axes of rotation 11 and 12, so that the table 5, in use, is arranged laterally with respect to the user .

Preferably, the extent of the surface of the movable bodies 31 and 32 is such that, when overlapped and positioned on the upper support wall 20 in the stool configuration, they cover substantially the entire upper support face 20.

Advantageously, each of the first and second movable bodies 31, 32 can have a cover in the form of a cushion or pad, to sit and rest more comfortably, preferably with a covering of fabric or leather.

The furniture 1 preferably comprises connection means 9 configured for a removable connection to one or more of the same other furniture, as shown by way of example in figure 3. The connection means 9 can be arranged on each lateral side of the main body 2, so that there is no limit on the number of elements that can be connected to each other. The connection means 9 can be of the electromagnetic type, specifically made by means of a system of electromagnetic plates. To connect or disconnect the elements, it is necessary to simply press a button, which reverses the polarity of the system module and causes the elements to join or separate by virtue of the electromagnetic attraction or repulsion force between the systems arranged in each article.

Specifically, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of two pieces of furniture, according to the described embodiment, joined according to a first fixing configuration that makes the bed configuration.

In the configuration shown, the furniture 1 is connected to another equal item 1 'in a contact plane parallel to the axes of rotation 11 and 12.

Furthermore, said fixing configuration allows the assembly to make a lounger configuration and a triclinium configuration, which are shown in Figures 4 and 5, by adjusting the inclination of the two mobile bodies 31 and 32 with respect to each other.

In Figures 4 and 5, the removable table unit 5 is also visible in the use arrangement. In the embodiment shown, an additional service surface 51 is provided, preferably having substantially the same width as the support surface 50, so that it can also overlap the latter. The additional service surface 51 is pivotally connected to the support surface 50 along a pivot axis 13, specifically, an axis perpendicular to the support surface 50, preferably a vertical axis. The additional service surface 51 is useful in providing support that can be moved away or closer to the user by simple rotation.

Figures 6 and 7 show a second fixing configuration of two pieces of furniture 1 and 1 ', according to the embodiment described in this document. As can be seen, the furniture can be fixed on lateral sides perpendicular to the rotation axes 11 and 12, thus realizing a sofa configuration.

To pass from one configuration to another, the first and second moving bodies 31 and 32 are driven to rotate around the first and second horizontal axes of rotation 11 and 12 by drive or drive, means 4 shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 12. Preferably, the drive means 4 includes a series of actuators or linear and / or rotary motors housed inside the main body 2 and, at least, in one of the moving bodies 31 and 32.

As shown schematically in Figure 12, the drive means 4 is controlled by a control unit 400, the latter being in communication with the user interface 444.

Specifically, the drive means 4 moves, directly or through the interposition of transmission or drive means, an articulated support structure 40 arranged inside the first and second moving bodies 31 and 32.

The general arrangement is such that it is possible to adjust the position of each mobile body 31, 32 with respect to each other and to the main body 2. Specifically, the inclination of the first mobile body 31 with respect to the main body 2 can be selected, according to specific needs.

Furthermore, regardless of the just-mentioned position or inclination of the first mobile body 31, the inclination of the second mobile body 32 with respect to the first mobile body 31 can also be selected and, consequently, the positioning can be chosen. global of the second mobile body 32 with respect to the main body 2.

Referring to figure 2, an example of adjusting the inclination of the second body can be seen movable 32 with respect to the first movable body 31 and the main body 2, to make a chair configuration. The articulated support structure 40 and the mode of operation of the drive means 4 will now be described in detail.

A preferred embodiment of an articulated support structure 40 is shown in Figure 9. The structure 40 comprises a polygonal frame, comprising first and second frame parts 41 and 42, each one following the (rectangular) perimeter of a respective moving body 31, 32 and joined on the second axis of rotation 12. The parts of frame 41, 42 may also comprise reinforcing rods, which extend perpendicularly to the axes of rotation 11 and 12 and which are generally inclined towards the axes of rotation 11 and 12, as seen in the Figure 9. The first frame part 41 is arranged inside the first movable body 31, and is rotatably connected at its proximal end 411 to a support structure 200 of the main body 2, along the axis of rotation 11.

The first frame part 41 is rotatably connected at its distal end 421 to the second frame part 42 along the second axis of rotation 12, in particular by pivotal connections, as shown in Figure 9.

The second frame part 42 is arranged inside the second moving body 32. The frame parts 41 and 42 rotate about the axes of rotation 11 and 12 in an integrated manner with the moving bodies 31 and 32.

As shown in Figure 8, the aforementioned support structure 200 of the main body 2 comprises a polygonal frame, having rods that run along the edges of the sides of the main body 2. The structure 200 is manufactured preferably made of metal, and comprises devices for accommodating the drive means 4 and the associated power supply means which will be briefly explained. With reference to Figure 10, the drive means 4 also comprises the rods of the moving bodies 31,32 and low voltage electric motors (or equivalent actuators), each one being located in a respective integrated housing on the support structure 200 and / or the first frame part 41 and / or the second frame part 42. The arrangement is such that the rotation of the motors determines a rotation of the movable bodies 31, 32 with respect to each other .

Furthermore, the motors are coordinated by means of an exclusive circuit that compensates for each change in position of the mobile part of the furniture 1. Specifically, the absolute and relative position of the mobile bodies 31 and 32 can be controlled directly by the user and / or , according to predetermined movement programs, previously stored in the control unit 400.

Preferably, the drive means 4 also comprises a means for moving the table unit 5 according to a sliding movement of insertion / extraction into / from the main body 2. In variant embodiments, said movement could also be carried out manually.

Said means preferably comprises hydraulic and / or pneumatic cylinders extending along the extraction direction of the table 5, having a first terminal end fixed to the support structure 200 and a second terminal end fixed to the basic element 52. In the configuration shown in Figure 10, a cylinder 14 is shown which is in a configuration of maximum extension and the table unit 5 is removed from the main body.

In Figures 11 and 11A, a mechanism 550 is shown housed inside the basic part 52 of the table unit 5. The mechanism 550 is, in particular, a lifting mechanism, preferably a pantograph line mechanism, configured to move the liftable element 53, according to a sliding movement along the vertical insertion / extraction direction in / from the base element 52. The mechanism 550 comprises a plate element 551 fixed on a lower part of the basic element 52, which has on two opposite sides a rectilinear slot 552 configured to allow the introduction of an arm 554, 555 at a first end thereof and the sliding of said arm.

Arms 554, 555 are pivotally connected at a second end thereof to respective support bars 556, 557, configured to support liftable top 53. To move from the first resting configuration of Figure 11 to the withdrawn configuration of Figure 11A, and vice versa, the first ends of the arms 554, 555 slide along the slots 552, and the second ends of the arms they rotate, pivotally, with respect to 556, 557, so that the bars and the liftable top 53 do not change their inclination during the extraction movement.

Both the insertion / extraction movement and the raising / lowering movement of the table unit 5 can be commanded by means of the user interface 444. Specifically, the cabinet 1 can be configured in such a way that, by pressing a single button , or operation control, both movements are activated in automatic sequence, either to extract and raise the table 5 or to store it back inside the body main 2.

Figure 8A shows one of a series of wheels 8 of the furniture 1, which are advantageously arranged to allow easy movement thereof. Preferably, each wheel 8 is housed inside the main body 2, in a lower part thereof. Each wheel 8 is associated with a respective spring or, on the contrary, with an element 81 to adopt an exposed position, shown in Figure 8A, in which the wheel is in contact with the ground, and a hidden position, in which the wheel is driven inside the body 2. The spring elements 81 can be calibrated so that the respective wheels come into contact with the ground only when a person, or, in general, a load, is not arranged on the cabinet 1.

The furniture 1 according to the present invention preferably comprises the aforementioned control unit 400 of the drive means 4, as shown in figure 12. The control unit 400 can be connected by connecting means or networks (for example, Bluetooth or Internet) to remote interface 444, which may be implemented as a fixed or mobile device (eg, a mobile phone or tablet or laptop). Through interface 444 it is possible to control the movements of element 1 and choose a specific configuration of the element. Through the interface 444 it is possible to enter preferred inclination values relative to the movable bodies 31, 32 and / or a preferential extraction position of the table 5, and / or choose particular preset positions or configurations previously stored in the storage means of the control unit 400.

Advantageously, the furniture 1 according to the invention can comprise a rechargeable supply means, such as a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery, which is easy to remove and to be charged in its charger, makes it possible for the article 1 to be moved or transported without moving or disconnecting the electrical cables.

The present invention has heretofore been described with reference to preferred embodiments. It is intended that other embodiments may exist which refer to the same concept of the invention and which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A motorized cabinet (1), configured to adopt a number of different configurations, in which it becomes a stool, a chair, a sofa, a lounger or other, whose motorized cabinet (1) comprises: ■ a main body (2), which has a lower wall (21) suitable for resting on the ground, and an upper support wall (20); ■ a first (31) and a second (32) mobile bodies, which can support the body of a user, and arranged side by side on said upper support wall (20) of said main body (2), according to a longitudinal direction (L), ■ wherein said first moving body (31) is rotatably connected to said main body (2) at a first end side (311) of said first moving body (31) and along a first horizontal rotation axis (11) , and said second mobile body (32) is rotatably connected to said first mobile body (31) at a second end side (312) of said first mobile body (31) located opposite said first end side (311) thereof , according to a second horizontal axis of rotation (12) parallel to said first axis of rotation (11), ■ said first and second axes of rotation (11, 12) are perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (L); ■ actuating means (4) of said first (31) and second (32) mobile bodies, housed inside said main body (2) and / or said first (31) or second (32) mobile bodies; Y ■ a removable table unit (5), configured so that it can adopt a first arrangement of minimum volume, in which it is housed inside said main body (2), and a second operating arrangement, in which it is extracted from said main body (2) and provides a support surface (50), said furniture (1) comprising, an articulated support structure (40) arranged inside said first (31) and a second (32) bodies movable and driven by said drive means (4), wherein said articulated support structure (40) comprises a polygonal frame, having a first frame part (41), arranged inside the first movable body (31) and rotatably connected at a first end (411) to a support structure (200) of said main body (2), according to said first axis of rotation (11), and a second frame part (42), arranged inside said second mobile body (32) and connected rotatably at a distal end (421) to said first frame part (41), along said second axis of rotation (12). Furniture (1) according to claim 1, wherein said main body (2) and / or each of said first (31) and second (32) movable bodies has a substantially polyhedral shape. Furniture (1) according to any of the preceding claims, in which each of said first (31) and second (32) movable bodies has a cover in the form of a cushion or pad. Furniture (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said drive means (4) comprises a series of linear and / or rotary actuators. Furniture (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising connection means configured for a removable connection to one or more other equal furniture (1 '), in which said connection means are preferably of the type electromagnetic. Furniture (1) according to any of the preceding claims, in which said removable table unit (5) comprises a basic element (52) and a removable upper element (53), and in which, preferably, said element Basic (52) houses a mechanism (550) configured to move said removable upper part (53), according to a sliding movement along a vertical insertion / extraction direction in / from the basic part (52). Furniture (1), according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (400), configured to command the movement of said first (31) and second (32) mobile bodies, so that the furniture (1 ) adopts a selected configuration, the control unit of which (400) is preferably configured to communicate with a remote control device (444), specifically, a smartphone or a tablet. Furniture, comprising a cabinet (1), according to claim 7, and said remote control device (444). Furniture set, comprising a series of furniture (1, 1 ') or products according to any of the preceding claims.