PIECE OF SEATING FURNITURE AND FURNITURE FITTING THEREFOR

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND PRIOR ART

[0001]The invention relates to a piece of seating furniture, in particular an upholstered piece of seating furniture in the manner of an armchair or sofa, and to a seating furniture fitting therefor.

[0002]Pieces of seating furniture of the generic type are distinguished in that they possess a leg rest which for the purpose of usage can be placed in front of the seat base and thereby enables a particularly comfortable seating position with raised legs.

[0003]It is provided in pieces of seating furniture of the generic type that this leg rest is displaceable between a stowed position and a usage position. In the usage position, the leg rest is deployed and able to be used. In the stowed position, the leg rest is displaced relative to the usage position and in particular disposed below the seat-base segment.

[0004]In order for the leg rest to be able to be displaced into the stowed position, the piece of seating furniture has to provide a sufficiently large receptacle space below the seat base. This makes it difficult to provide flat, and thus elegant, pieces of seating furniture, as this reduces the receptacle space below the seat base. Moreover, this represents a problem for designing the leg rest and a drive gear mechanism provided for moving the latter in such a manner that nothing, or only little, can be seen of the leg rest and the drive gear mechanism in the stowed position and when viewed from the usual angle.

Object and Achievement

[0005]It is an object of the invention to make available a piece of seating furniture and a fitting that can be used therefor, which represent an advantage in terms of longevity, production complexity and/or flexibility in terms of the potential use in flat pieces of seating furniture in comparison to the prior art.

[0006]Proposed according to the invention is a piece of seating furniture which is designed in the manner described hereunder.

[0007]The piece of seating furniture has a seat-base segment having a seat base on which the user is seated as intended. Usually, the piece of seating furniture additionally has a backrest segment disposed therebehind. When the piece of seating furniture is designed as an armchair or a sofa, the seat-base segment and the backrest segment are usually provided with an upholstery.

[0008]Additionally, a piece of seating furniture according to the invention has a leg rest which in a usage position is disposed in front of the seat-base segment and the upper sides of which in a manner pointing upward conjointly with the seat base of the seat-base segment form a common approximately flat or slightly curved support face. When not in use, the leg rest can be moved to a stowed position in which said leg rest is disposed below the seat-base segment in such a way that upright sitting on the seat-base segment is enabled.

[0009]The displacement of the leg rest between the usage position and the stowed position takes place by means of a drive gear mechanism which preferably is part of a fitting. In addition to the piece of seating furniture per se, which is described hereunder, such a fitting and a piece of seating furniture having such a fitting are also the subject matter of the invention.

[0010]In the context of the invention and this description, the terms “in front of” or “front” denote a horizontal direction which points from the seat-base segment in the direction of the leg rest in the usage position of the latter. “Behind” and “rear” point in the opposite direction, thus in the direction of the backrest. “Top”, “over” and “above” as well as “bottom”, “under” and “below” are to be understood to relate to a usual usage position of the piece of seating furniture having a seat base pointing upward.

[0011]In a piece of seating furniture according to the invention, the leg rest comprises at least two, and preferably exactly two, leg-rest segments which are displaceable relative to the seat-base segment and relative to one another, in order to be able to be converted from the stowed position to the usage position.

[0012]The preferably two leg-rest segments are hereunder referred to as upper-leg segment and lower-leg segment without these terms being understood to be limiting. In terms of a usage position, the upper-leg segment is disposed in front of the seat-base segment, and the lower-leg segment is disposed in front of the upper-leg segment. In terms of the usage position, the at least two leg-rest segments preferably have an approximately identical length in the furniture longitudinal direction, for example a length of in each case approximately 20 cm to 30 cm. An approximately identical length of the leg-rest segments is understood to mean that the length of the shorter of the two leg-rest segments in the furniture longitudinal direction is at least 70% of the length of the longer of the two leg-rest segments. Such a design permits an overall particularly long leg rest and meets high esthetic requirements.

[0013]In the stowed position, the two leg-rest segments are disposed below the seat-base segment. It is provided according to the invention that the leg-rest segments in the stowed position assume a position and alignment enabling a very compact stowed position, in that the leg-rest segments are disposed below the seat-base segment in such a manner that in this stowed position a lower side which lies opposite the respective upper side of the leg-rest segments points upward in the direction of the seat-base segment. In the stowed position, the leg-rest segments are thus in a reversed position so that they can be moved particularly close to the seat-base segment.

[0014]This is particularly very valuable in the case of pieces of seating furniture which possess individual furniture feet at the corners of the piece of furniture and in which the region below the seat-base segment is visible during normal operation because the leg-rest segments are in this way not, or only partially, visible from the outside in the stowed position.

[0015]The upper sides of the leg-rest segments, which point downward, do not have to be completely horizontally aligned in the stowed position. A compact stowed position can also already be achieved when the upper side of the upper-leg segment and/or of the lower-leg segment, conjointly with a horizontal plane such as in particular the floor on which the piece of furniture stands, enclose an angle of less than 30°, preferably of less than 15°. In the stowed position, the upper sides of the lower-leg segment and of the upper-leg segment are preferably aligned in parallel or conjointly enclose an angle of less than 30°, preferably of less than 10°.

[0016]In the stowed position, the leg-rest segments are preferably disposed behind one another, wherein the upper-leg segment is disposed in front of the lower-leg segment.

[0017]In a piece of seating furniture according to the invention, the upper-leg segment and the lower-leg segment in the stowed position and in the usage position are preferably aligned with one another in the same relative arrangement, specifically flush with one another.

[0018]However, the drive gear mechanism is configured, for converting the piece of seating furniture from the stowed position to the usage position, to convert the movement of a preferably motorized drive member into a motion sequence of the leg rest, in which the leg-rest segments during the movement to the usage position are first angled relative to one another, or an angular arrangement already existing in the stowed position is enlarged, respectively, before the leg-rest segments are subsequently moved back to the flush arrangement of the usage position.

[0019]This temporary angular arrangement of the upper-leg segment and the lower-leg segment serves the purpose of temporarily reducing the overall extent of the unit consisting of the upper-leg segment and the lower-leg segment, so as to be able to convert both from the stowed position to the usage position even when the intermediate space between the floor and the lower side of the seat-base segment is limited. As a result, rather flat structures of pieces of seating furniture also become possible. In a preferred design of a piece of seating furniture, the spacing between a lower side of the seat-base segment and the floor on which the piece of seating furniture stands is less than 35 cm, preferably less than 30 cm. Therefore, the leg-rest segments at least temporarily conjointly achieve a vertical extent of less than 35 cm.

[0020]The seat-base segment preferably has an encircling frame, for example a wooden frame. Preferably, the fitting of the drive gear mechanism, and in particular also an electric motor, are attached to this frame. In particular, a transverse tube, which extends in the furniture transverse direction and to which basic supports of the drive gear mechanism are in turn fastened, in particular welded, can be fastened to the frame. Alternatively, the attachment of the basic supports can however also take place directly on the frame, in particular on a wooden constituent part of the frame. The frame preferably has two wooden supports which extend in the transverse direction and to which the basic supports are in each case attached.

[0021]The drive gear mechanism is preferably formed by a furniture fitting which is attached to the seat-base segment, in particular by means of the transverse tube mentioned. The seating furniture fitting is preferably designed in such a manner that it has a basic support for attaching to a seat-base segment of the piece of seating furniture. Provided so as to be movable relative thereto are an upper-leg segment support and a lower-leg segment support for supporting and for indirectly or directly attaching an upholstery element of the upper-leg segment, or of the lower-leg segment, respectively.

[0022]The seating furniture fitting has the drive gear mechanism which is already mentioned and on which a drive member, which serves in particular for coupling to an electric motor, is provided. This electric motor can be a direct part of the seating furniture fitting. However, in another variant, the drive gear mechanism can also be provided for impingement by a manual force. In this case, a handle is provided preferably in the region of an armrest, which acts on the drive gear mechanism in particular by a pivoting movement and displaces said drive gear mechanism between the stowed position and the usage position.

[0023]The seating furniture fitting is configured to displace the two segment supports, thus the upper-leg segment support and the lower-leg segment support, in the way explained above in the context of the piece of seating furniture. Thus, the upper-leg segment support and a lower-leg segment support can be converted, in a manner conjointly driven by the drive gear mechanism, between a stowed position, in which they are located below the seat-base segment or the basic support, respectively, and are preferably disposed in a mutually flush arrangement, into a usage position, in which they are located in front of the seat-base segment or the basic support, respectively. In a manner corresponding to the leg-rest segments, the segment supports of the fitting are also configured for converting the segment supports from the substantially flush arrangement of the stowed position into the angled arrangement and onward into the flush arrangement of the usage position.

[0024]In preferred design embodiments which are explained hereunder, the drive gear mechanism and the seating furniture fitting have a multiplicity of mechanical sub-elements such as supports, levers and links which are described hereunder and which are at least largely pivotably on one another articulated on one another by way of pivot axes extending horizontally in the furniture transverse direction. These different mechanical sub-elements are preferably in each case provided twice, specifically on the left-hand side and the right-hand side of the seat base. The reference to the sub-elements in the singular, which is made in the context of the description of the invention, thus always comprises also designs having a plurality of sub-elements which are of the same type and always move conjointly about the same pivot axes.

[0025]The sub-elements movably attached to both sides, such as supports, levers and links, can thus in each case form part of the drive gear mechanism. The two gear mechanism parts forming the drive gear mechanism are preferably spaced apart from one another by a dimension which is smaller than the width of the seat-base segment and of the leg-rest segments. Preferably, the spacing of the drive gear mechanism parts on both sides is less than 80% of the segments mentioned, in particular preferably less than 608. The drive gear mechanism parts on both sides are preferably attached to the leg-rest segments so as to be centered in terms of a furniture transverse direction, so that the two drive gear mechanism parts are in each case recessed toward the inside relative to the sides of the leg-rest segments by the same dimension.

[0026]On the lower side, the seat-base segment preferably has at least one depression which is open toward the bottom, wherein this depression serves for receiving at least part of the electric motor and/or part of the drive gear mechanism in the stowed position. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the leg-rest segments, in particular the upper-leg segment, has a depression which is open toward the bottom in the usage position and which in the stowed position is open toward the top due to the alignment of the leg-rest segments described. In the stowed position, at least part of the electric motor and/or at least part of the drive gear mechanism is preferably disposed in the depression of the at least one leg-rest segment.

[0027]On a front end which in terms of the usage position points in the direction of the leg-rest segments, the seat-base segment is preferably designed with a forward-pointing end face which is preferably upholstered or is at least covered with cloth. In the stowed position, the upper-leg segment is preferably disposed in such a manner that its rear end face in the usage state, points forward in the stowed state and is disposed below the end face of the seat-base segment mentioned, wherein a spacing between the end faces in the vertical direction preferably does not exceed 2 cm. The end face of the upper-leg segment in the stowed state, in terms of a horizontal direction, is preferably recessed between 1 cm and 5 cm relative to the end face of the seat-base segment. Conjointly, the end faces of the seat-base segment and of the upper-leg segment mentioned produce an esthetically appealing impression.

[0028]The piece of seating furniture as a whole is provided to be set up on a firm floor. Therefore, said piece of seating furniture preferably has at least one floor-proximal furniture foot. A single furniture foot is usually used in a design in which the seat per se is rotatable. In a stationary and non-rotatable piece of seating furniture, four or more furniture feet are preferably provided.

[0029]The seat-base segment can be stationary in relation to the at least one furniture foot. However, a design in which the seat-base segment as a whole is slightly tiltable, preferably by an angle of at least 4° and at most 14°, is preferable. Particularly preferable, the leg rest, consisting of the at least two leg-rest segments, is tiltable conjointly with the seat-base segment, in particular in that the seating furniture fitting including the drive gear mechanism is attached to the seat-base segment. This leads to a piece of furniture which, in addition to the stowed position, can have two usage position, wherein in the first usage position only the leg rest segments have reached their usage position relative to the seat-base segment, while the seat-base segment per se is not tilted, and wherein in the second usage position additionally the seat-base segment including the leg rest and preferably additionally including the backrest segment as a whole is tilted relative to the at least one furniture foot.

[0030]The drive gear mechanism is configured in such a manner that the latter, on the drive member, driven by way of intermediate elements, pivots the upper-leg segment as well as the lower-leg segment, or for this purpose the two assigned segment supports, respectively. The temporary angular arrangement of the leg-rest segments already described and the compact size of the two leg-rest segments caused as a result is preferably generated in that these intermediate elements are conceived in such a manner that pivoting of the upper-leg segment primarily takes place first, while the lower-leg segment in this first phase is pivoted relative to the seat-base segment only to a lesser degree or preferably even in the opposite direction.

[0031]The drive gear mechanism is preferably configured to establish an intermediate position in which the lower-leg segment and the upper-leg segment are angled relative to one another in such a manner that their upper sides enclose an angle of at least 90°. However, in the case of flat pieces of seating furniture, this is not sufficient in order to convert the lower-leg segment from the stowed position into the usage position without touching the floor, so that an even more pronounced angular arrangement is preferred in which the upper sides conjointly enclose an angle of at least 100°, particularly preferably of at least 110°.

[0032]In principle, construction modes of the fitting and of the piece of seating furniture are possible in which the upper-leg segment and the lower-leg segment are not connected to one another directly, but are held separately from one another by way of sub-elements of the drive gear mechanism.

[0033]It is thus however considered advantageously when the seat-base segment, the upper-leg segment and the lower-leg segment are pivotably connected to one another in a manner of a chain.

[0034]In particular, the segments can be connected to one another by way of pivot axes which are in each case stationary in relation to both segments connected thereby. Thus, in the simplest case, two pivot axes, which are stationary relative to the upper-leg segment and by means of which the upper-leg segment is articulated pivotably on the seat-base segment, on the one hand, and on the lower-leg segment, on the other hand, are provided.

[0035]However, it is also possible that at least one intermediate element is provided in the form of a link or preferably a double link between the seat-base segment, on the one hand, and the upper-leg segment, on the other hand, or between the upper-leg segment, on the one hand, and the lower-leg segment, on the other hand. The desired pivoting movability of the segments connected thereby can also be implemented in this way. However, the above-mentioned direct connection is preferable due to the simpler construction.

[0036]The upper-leg segment and the lower-leg segment preferably have in each case one segment support which is part of the fitting. These segment supports are preferably joined together in the manner of a chain in the way described above and are attached to the basic support of the seat-base segment. The upper sides of the leg-rest segment, on which the legs rest and which are preferably formed by upholstery elements, are preferably stationary relative to the respective segment supports.

[0037]However, a construction mode, in particular relating to the upper-leg segment, in which the upper side and the segment support, in particular thus the upper side or the upholstery element of the upper-leg segment and the associated upper-leg segment support, respectively, are movable relative to one another, can also be provided.

[0038]This mobility permits the upper side, and in particular the upholstery element of the upper-leg segment, to be spaced apart in the horizontal direction from the seat-base segment when the former is displaced from the stowed position to the usage position, so as to prevent that a body part of the user is jammed between the seat-base segment and the upper-leg segment during the conversion into the usage position. The mobility can be implemented in various ways, for example also by translatory guiding between the upper side and the upper-leg segment support. However, a design in which the upper side, in particular the upholstery element which forms the upper side, is connected to the upper-leg segment support by way of two displacement links is preferable. Each of these displacement links is in each case attached to the upper-leg segment support so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis and in each case to the upholstery element or another sub-element of the upper-leg segment forming the upper side, in particular to a wooden frame of the upholstery element, so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis. The spacing of the pivot axes is in each case preferably substantially identical, so that the movement of the upholstery element relative to the segment support takes place in the form of a parallel displacement. The spacing of the pivot axes on the two displacement links is preferably less than 40 mm, in particular less than 30 mm.

[0039]The movement of the upper side of the upper-leg segment, in particular of the upholstery element, relative to the upper-leg segment support is preferably coupled to the displacement of the upper-leg segment relative to the seat-base segment. The coupling herein is preferably of such a type that the spacing of the upper-leg segment from the seat-base segment is enlarged when the upper-leg segment is moved to the usage position.

[0040]A preferred design for achieving this provides that a control link for controlling the displacement of the upholstery element relative to the upper-leg segment support is provided. This control link is preferably articulated on the seat-base segment so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis and on one of the displacement links so as to be pivotable about another pivot axis. The pivot axis of the control link on the displacement link here is preferably provided opposite the pivot axis by means of which the displacement link is pivotably attached to the upholstery element.

[0041]It is preferably additionally provided that the pivot axis by means of which the control link is pivotably attached to the seat-base segment is disposed behind the pivot axis by means of which the upper-leg segment is attached to the seat-base segment and in particular to the basic support there. This configuration leads to the mentioned control link exerting a tensile force on the displacement link for controlling the relative movement of the upholstery element in relation to the segment support when displacing the upper-leg segment to the usage position and the tensile force, due to the opposite arrangement of the pivot axes on the displacement link described, pushes the upholstery element forward and away from the seat-base segment in such a way that the jamming effect described is avoided.

[0042]The drive gear mechanism already mentioned serves the purpose of converting the movement of a drive member into the movement of the two leg-rest segments. The drive member herein is in turn preferably driven by means of an electric motor, but may also be driven otherwise, for example manually or by means of the weight force of a person sitting on the seat-base segment. The electric motor is preferably part of the fitting, so that the entire fitting including the electric motor can be handled as a whole prior to assembling and in particular prior to attaching to the seat-base segment and the leg-rest segments.

[0043]The electric motor is preferably an electric motor having a linearly displaceable motor rod. The latter can act directly on the drive member of the drive gear mechanism. In order to be able to dispose the motor far forward, and preferably in a lower-side depression of the seat-base segment and/or of the upper-leg segment, it can however be advantageous to allow the drive rod to act on the drive gear mechanism by way of an intermediate link. In this case, for conversion from the stowed position into the usage position, the motor rod is retracted toward the front and causes a forward-directed thrust movement optionally by way of the intermediate link, which acts on the drive member of the drive gear mechanism.

[0044]In a preferred design, the drive gear mechanism has a displacement structure which is assembled from a plurality of, and in particular four, sub-elements which are movable relative to one another. The elements of this displacement structure are a basic support, which is particularly preferably fixedly attached to the seat-base segment, and a counter support, which is displaceable relative to the basic support and to which control links are pivotably attached preferably directly or indirectly, respectively, which in turn are pivotably articulated on the leg-rest segments, or the segment supports thereof, respectively, and are explained hereunder.

[0045]The counter support is movable relative to the basic support along a non-linear path. It is particularly preferably provided that the counter support is displaceable relative to the basic support along a circular path. The counter support is preferably provided below the basic support and connected to the latter by way of a double-link system consisting of two drive links. Each of the two drive links is articulated on the basic support so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis and on the counter support so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis. The spacing between the pivot axes in terms of both drive links and in terms of the basic support and the counter support is in each case preferably identical or almost identical, which means that the spacings deviate from one another at most by 10%, so that the displacement of the counter support relative to the basic support takes place in the form of a circular parallel displacement. The length of the drive links, thus the spacing between the respective rotation axes on the basic support, on the one hand, and on the counter support, on the other hand, is preferably between 5 cm and 20 cm, particularly preferably between 8 cm and 15 cm.

[0046]In the course of the conversion of the piece of seating furniture from the stowed position into the usage position the drive links pivot while being driven by means of the drive member. The swept angle relative to the basic carrier is preferably in the range between 80° and 140°, particularly preferably in the range between 90° and 120°. In particular, during the conversion from the stowed position into the usage position, the drive links are moved beyond a vertical alignment of the drive links. The basic support, the counter support and the drive links are thus sized in such a manner and connected to one another in such a manner that the second pivot axes on the counter support, and conjointly therewith the counter support as a whole, are first lowered and subsequently raised again during the conversion of the leg rest from the stowed state into the usage state. In the stowed position, this facilitates the at least partial arrangement of the drive gear mechanism directly below the seat segment, so that said drive gear mechanism is well hidden. On the other hand, this facilitates that the leg-rest segments in the usage position can be moved to the height of the seat segment, in particular when the leg-rest segments are thinner than the seat segment.

[0047]While the upper-leg segment during the conversion from the stowed position into the usage position is pivoted by almost 180°, however at least by 150°, relative to the seat-base segment, the displacement structure provided for driving the latter, or the counter support, respectively, is pivoted by means of drive links only by at most 140°, and preferably significantly less than 140°, on the circular path mentioned. This small pivot angle is advantageous because a drive by way of a linear motor as an electric motor can thus act on the displacement structure far away from the dead points of the latter. A motor rod moved by the motor, or the intermediate link provided for transmitting the motive force, is preferably pivotably attached to one or both displacement links, in order to transmit the motor force to the displacement structure.

[0048]The mentioned elements of the displacement structure, thus the basic support, the counter support and the two drive links for guaranteeing a guided movement of the counter support relative to the basic support in a preferably parallel alignment, are preferably part of the standard seating furniture fitting. The same also applies to the control links, which are described hereunder and by means of which the displacement structure acts on the segment supports of the leg-rest segments.

[0049]Attached to the displacement structure, and in particular to the counter support mentioned, is preferably a first control link which extends to one of the leg-rest segments and is pivotably attached to the latter. It is achieved by this type of attachment of the control link that the control axis of the first control link on the side of the displacement structure moves conjointly with the counter support and in particular describes the above-mentioned circular path. As a result, it is made possible to displace the leg-rest segment driven thereby by a comparatively large angle of at least 150° relative to its stowed position, without the angles coming too close to a mechanically problematic dead point. The displacement of the counter support guarantees that the control axis of the first control link, provided for transmitting force, is always appropriately disposed on the counter support in order to exert the required force on the leg-rest segment driven thereby and to dissipate the load acting thereon, in particular to dissipate said load into the seat-base segment.

[0050]It is preferably the lower-leg segment, the control link of which is connected directly to the displacement structure in such a manner. In the stowed position, the control link is preferably aligned in a position which descends toward the rear. The control axis about which the first control link is pivotably attached to the displacement structure and in particular to the counter support of the latter, in terms of a vertical direction is thus disposed above, and in terms of a horizontal direction is disposed in front of, the counter control axis about which the lower-leg segment support is attached to the first control link.

[0051]During the movement of the displacement structure into its end position assigned to the usage position, the first control link is preferably pivoted by approximately 180° relative to the basic support, so that the first control link ascends toward the front in the usage position of the piece of seating furniture. In this instance, the control axis in the usage position is disposed behind the counter control axis and below the latter.

[0052]In the stowed position, a straight line which intersects the control axis of the first control link and the counter control axis on the side of the segment support, conjointly with a horizontal plane preferably encloses an angle of less than 40°. This angle is particularly preferably between 20° and 30°, ideally between 22° and 26°. The length of the first control link, measured by means of the spacing of the control axis and the counter control axis of the first control link, is between 180 mm and 240 mm.

[0053]The control axis about which the first control link is pivotably attached to the counter support or to one of the drive links, in the stowed position in terms of a horizontal direction is disposed behind the end face, and in terms of a vertical direction is preferably disposed above a lower end of the above-mentioned end face of the seat-base segment. In this way, the structural elements of the drive gear mechanism for implementing this control axis are preferably hidden behind the mentioned end face in the stowed position.

[0054]In the usage position, the control axis of the first control link in terms of a vertical direction is disposed at least by 10% of the height of the end face and/or at most by 40% of the height of the mentioned end face above the lower end of the end face. Moreover, in the usage state, this control axis in terms of a horizontal direction is disposed in front of the end face and preferably below the upper-leg segment, so that said control axis is hidden by the upper-leg segment.

[0055]Provided for controlling the other leg-rest segment is preferably a second control link which is attached to the displacement structure or to the first control link so as to be pivotable about a control axis and which by way of an opposite end is attached to the other leg-rest segment, preferably the upper-leg segment, so as to be pivotable about a counter control axis.

[0056]Like the first control link, this second control link serves the purpose of displacing one of the leg-rest segments by a total of approximately 180°, in particular by more than 150°, wherein the control axis of the second control link is displaced by the interconnected displacement structure during the movement so that, as in the case of the first control axis, there is no proximity between the second control link and a mechanically critical dead point occurring during the entire conversion.

[0057]The second control link can also be provided directly on the displacement structure so as to be pivotable about the control axis, for example likewise on the counter support or on one of the drive links. However, it is particularly advantageous when the control axis of the second control link is provided on the first control link. As a result, a positive gearing can be advantageously achieved, which has the effect that, proceeding from the stowed position, intense pivoting of the upper-leg segment first takes place while the pivoting movement of the lower-leg segment takes place to a significantly lesser degree. In turn, the angled arrangement can be achieved as a result, by means of which the lower-leg segment can be converted from the stowed position into the usage position without touching the floor.

[0058]In the stowed position, the first control link and the second control link preferably enclose an angle between 105° and 125°, wherein the respective alignment of the control links is defined by a connecting line between their respective end-side axes. In the stowed state, the first control link preferably extends from the front and the top toward the rear and further below, while the second control link extends from the rear and the top toward the front and further down.

[0059]In the usage position, the first control link and the second control link preferably also enclose an angle between 105° and 125°. In the stowed state, the first control link preferably extends from the rear and the bottom toward the front and further up, while the second control link extends from the front and the bottom toward the rear and further up.

[0060]The relative position of the control links with one another in the stowed position and in the usage position is accordingly preferably largely identical. Particularly preferably, said control links in the usage position are pivoted with respect to one another relative to one another by not more than 20° in relation to the relative position in the stowed position. The second control link is preferably attached to the elements connected thereby, thus in particular the first control link and the upper-leg segment support, in such a manner that a straight line which intersects the control axis and the counter control axis of the second control link, conjointly with a straight line which intersects the counter control axis of the second control link and the pivot axis of the upper-leg segment, at any point in time during the conversion is always more than 25°, preferably always more than 30°. In this way, a significant spacing from the dead point, which could entail failure of the mechanical system, is adhered to.

[0061]Furthermore preferably, the second control link is attached to the elements connected thereby in such a manner that in the stowed position the control axis of the second control link in terms of a vertical direction is disposed above the counter control axis, and in terms of a horizontal direction is disposed behind the counter control axis. In the stowed position, a straight line which intersects the control axis and the counter control axis, conjointly with a horizontal plane, preferably encloses an angle between 30° and 50°. It is furthermore preferably provided that the straight line which intersects the control axis and the counter control axis of the second control link, conjointly with a straight line which intersects the first pivot axes and the second pivot axis of the first drive link and thus the direction of extent of the drive link, encloses an angle which in the stowed position is at least 45°, preferably between 50° and 70°. This has the effect that an intense moving effect is exerted on the upper-leg segment as the movement of the displacement structure and thus of the counter support begins.

[0062]Toward the end of the pivoting movement of the second control link, thus when reaching the usage position of the piece of seating furniture, the second control link is preferably disposed in such a manner that the control axis of the second control link in terms of a vertical direction is disposed below the counter control axis, and in terms of a horizontal direction is disposed in front of the counter control axis. Also in the usage position, a straight line which intersects the control axis and the counter control axis of the second control link, conjointly with a horizontal plane encloses an angle of preferably between 30° and 50°. In the end position, the straight line which intersects the control axis and the counter control axis of the second control link, conjointly with a straight line which intersects the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis of the first drive link and thus the direction of extent of the drive link, preferably encloses an angle which in the usage position is at most 30°, preferably at most 15°.

[0063]The alignment mentioned and the angles mentioned toward the end of the movement in the direction of the usage position facilitate that a movement of the upper-leg segment arises only to a minor extent toward the end of the movement. This is advantageous because a preferred motion sequence can be implemented as a result, according to which the movement of the upper-leg segment and of the lower-leg segment takes place sequentially, so to speak, at the beginning of the conversion, proceeding from the stowed position, the upper-leg segment is tilted above all, while the lower-leg segment changes its alignment only to a minor degree. Toward the end of the conversion, the upper-leg segment already reaches its usage position, while the lower-leg segment is still widely spaced apart from the usage position of the lower-leg segment. During the conversion, the upper-leg segment is thus rapidly moved to a position which enables subsequent collision-free displacement of the lower-leg segment in the direction of the usage position of the latter.

[0064]It is thus advantageously provided that the second control link during the conversion of the piece of seating furniture from the stowed position into the usage position is intensely pivoted, preferably by an angle of at least 150°, particularly preferably by an angle of at least 170°. This results in that the direction of extent of the second control link preferably in the stowed position and in the usage position is approximately identical, while the alignment has however changed.

[0065]The design of the drive gear mechanism having the four-part displacement structure mentioned and the two control links mentioned represents a possibility of implementing the drive gear mechanism, while not taking into account the electric motor per se, exclusively using mutually pivotable parts and to thus dispense with a sliding guide. This represents a significant advantage in manufacturing, in terms of the production costs and during operation, because sliding guides are fundamentally more complex and often have a shorter service life in comparison to pivoting guides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066]Further advantages and aspects of the invention are derived from the claims and from the description hereunder of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained hereunder by means of the figures.

[0067]FIGS. 1 and 2 show two pieces of seating furniture of different types, specifically an armchair and a sofa, which are equipped with a leg rest in a manner according to the invention.

[0068]FIG. 3 shows the armchair from below.

[0069]FIG. 4 shows a fragment of the armchair, or of the sofa, respectively, in a lateral view and, conjointly with an exploded illustration of the seating furniture fitting of the piece of seating furniture, serves for explaining the mechanical components.

[0070]FIGS. 6A to 12B highlight the conversion of the leg rest of the piece of seating furniture from a position of FIGS. 6A and 6B into a first usage position of FIGS. 11A and 11B, and a second usage position of FIGS. 12A and 12B.

[0071]FIGS. 13 and 14 highlight an alternative construction mode of an upper-leg segment of the leg rest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0072]The figures highlight exemplary embodiments of the invention in the form of different pieces of seating furniture and their fittings.

[0073]FIGS. 1 and 2 show the design embodiment of the piece of seating furniture 10 as an armchair having a leg rest 12, as well as a sofa having two leg rests 12. The pieces of seating furniture 10 possess in each case upholstered seat-base segments 40 and the preferably likewise upholstered leg-rest segments 50, 60. The thickness of the leg-rest segments 50, 60 is not much less than that of the seat-base segment 40. The thickness of the leg-rest segments 50, 60 is preferably at least 50% of the thickness of the seat-base segment 40.

[0074]The leg rests 12 of the pieces of seating furniture 10 are displaceable between a stowed position, in which the leg-rest segments 50, 60 are located below the seat-base segment 40 and are not in use, and a usage position, in which the leg-rest segments 50, 60 are disposed in front of the seat-base segment 40 and can be used.

[0075]As can be seen by means of FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg rests 12 of the pieces of seating furniture 10 are assembled from the two leg-rest segments 50, 60 mentioned, specifically an upper-leg segment 50 and a lower-leg segment 60, which in the usage position are located in this sequence in front of the seat-base segment 40. They conjointly form the leg rest 12 and, corresponding to the naming, usually make available those faces which serve primarily for supporting the upper legs, on the one hand, and primarily for supporting the lower legs, on the other hand. However, the terms of upper-leg segment 50 and lower-leg segment 60 used in the context of the invention are not to be understood as being limiting. Designs in which, for example, the upper-leg segment 50 is significantly larger than the lower-leg segment 60 and also supports part of the lower legs are also included.

[0076]FIG. 3 shows the armchair 10 from below, including a seating furniture fitting 100 which connects the parts of the piece of seating furniture to one another and enables the motion sequences explained hereunder. It can be seen that the leg-rest segments 50, 60 are attached to the seat-base segment 40 in the manner of a chain. This means that the upper-leg segment 50 by way of upper-leg segment supports 150 is articulated on the seat-base segment 40 and basic supports 140 there so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis G, and that the lower-leg segment 60 by way of a lower-leg segment support 160 is attached to the upper-leg segment 50 and its upper-leg segment support 150 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis H.

[0077]In the present design, these are in each case defined pivot axes G, H which are stationary relative to the two segments 40, 50, 60, which are pivotably coupled as a result, or in the case of the leg-rest segments 50, 60 relative to their respective segment supports 150, 160 of the seating furniture fitting 100, respectively. However, designs in which the connection takes place while using an intermediate link, in particular while using an intermediate double link, are also possible, so that a quasi-virtual pivot axis is formed as a result which is movable relative to the connected segments to a limited degree. Also possible is a design in which the upper-leg segment 50 and/or the lower-leg segment 60 has two sub-elements, specifically the illustrated segment support 150, 160 and an upholstery element which is movable relative to the latter. This will be explained hereunder by means of FIGS. 13 and 14. In such a case, it is the segment support 150 that is pivotably connected to the adjacent segment or segments 40, 60.

[0078]It can also be derived from FIG. 3 that the seat-base segment 40 has an encircling frame which is preferably designed as a wooden frame. The fastening of the seating furniture fitting 100 here is performed by way of a transverse tube 48 which is attached to this frame 46 on the inside. However, the seating furniture fitting 100 can also be attached directly to the frame without a transverse tube 48. Provided in the case of the leg-rest segments 50, 60 is preferably in each case one plate to which the respective segment supports 150, 160 are attached. The frame of the seat-base segment 40, and upholstery which protrudes downward beyond the plates of the leg-rest segments 50, 60, form lower-side depressions which serve for receiving components of the seating furniture fitting 100 and of the motor 190.

[0079]The functioning mode of the pieces of seating furniture 10 in terms of the variable position of the leg rest 12 and in particular of the drive gear mechanism 102 formed by the seating furniture fitting 100 will be highlighted by means of FIGS. 4 to 12B.

[0080]As is derived from FIGS. 4 and 5, in particular from the exploded illustration of FIG. 5, a multiplicity of elements of the seating furniture fitting 100 are provided twice on a left-hand side and a right hand side below the seat-base segment 40, wherein motion sequences of the right-hand-side and the left-hand-side elements are connected to one another by way of at least one transverse connection, preferably by way of at least one torsion tube 176, so that said motion sequences are performed identically on the right-hand side and the left-hand side. In the context of this description, these elements are typically mentioned in the singular, wherein the elements of the same type on the other side are also included concomitantly thereby.

[0081]The substantial elements of the seating furniture fitting 100 will first be highlighted by means of FIGS. 4 and 5. The seating furniture fitting 100 is provided to be fixedly assembled on the seat-base segment 40. Provided for this purpose are the two basic supports 140 which have already been mentioned and are fixedly attached to the transverse tube 48 of the seat-base segment 40, for example are welded to the latter. The transverse tube 48 for its part in turn is attached to the frame 46 of the seat-base segment 40 in such a way that the basic supports 140 are provided so as to be stationary relative to the seat-base segment 40.

[0082]A rear drive link 172 and a front drive link 174 are in each case articulated on the basic supports 140 so as to be pivotable about pivot axes A, B. Furthermore, the two drive links 172, 174 are articulated on a counter support 170 so as to be pivotable about pivot axes C, D. This results overall in a displacement structure which consists of the four elements 140, 172, 170, 174 and which provides a defined displacement path of the counter support 170 relative to the basic support 140. Presently, the pivot axes A and B are spaced apart from one another to the same extent as the pivot axes C and D. Furthermore, the pivot axes A and C are spaced apart from one another to the same extent as the pivot axes B and D. In this way, the displacement structure defines a path which is in the form of a segment of a circular path and along which the counter support 170 is displaced parallel relative to the basic support 140, wherein said counter support meanwhile does not vary its angle relative to the basic support 140 due to the parallel displacement.

[0083]In the variant of a seating furniture fitting 100 presented here, the pivot axis A mentioned coincides with the pivot axis G about which the upper-leg segment 50 is pivotably attached to the seat-base segment 40. However, this is not mandatory. Instead, the pivot axes A and G may also be disposed so as to be mutually offset.

[0084]The displacement structure consisting of the elements 140, 172, 170, 174 is provided between an electric motor 190 and further control elements by means of which the displacement structure acts on the leg-rest segments 50, 60, or the segment supports 150, 160 thereof, respectively.

[0085]The electric motor 190 is attached to the seating furniture fitting 100 and possesses a motor rod 192 which is linearly deployable toward the rear and is pivotably attached to an intermediate link 194, which in turn is pivotably attached to the drive links 172, 174. For this purpose, the drive links 172, 174 possess cantilevers 172A, 174A which however, due to the asymmetrical arrangement of the electric motor 190, are provided only on one side of the fitting. The intermediate link 194 is in each case pivotably attached to these cantilevers 172A, 174A.

[0086]Retracting and deploying the motor rod 192 of the electric motor 190 acts on the intermediate link 194 and by way of the latter indirectly on the displacement structure which consists of the elements 140, 172, 170, 174 and is configured for the parallel displacement. As a result, it becomes possible to displace the counter support by means of the motor approximately over an angle of approx. 100° along a circular motion path and as a result to keep the angle in which the elements explained hereunder act on the upper-leg segment 50 and the lower-leg segment 60 in an optimal range.

[0087]The connection between the displacement structure consisting of the elements 140, 172, 170, 174, on the one hand, and the upper-leg segment support 150 and the lower-leg segment support 160, on the other hand, is performed by way of a first control link 162 and a second control link 152.

[0088]The first control link 162 for controlling and supporting the lower-leg segment 60 is attached to the counter support 170 so as to be pivotable about a control axis E. In terms of the stowed position, the control axis E herein is not provided between the pivot axes C, D of the counter support 170, but further above relative to the latter. In the present example, this is achieved by way of an angled shaping of the counter support 170. The first control link 162, by way of its opposite end, is attached to the lower-leg segment support 160 so as to be pivotable about a counter control axis J.

[0089]In the stowed position, which is illustrated in the exploded illustration of FIG. 5, the first control link 162 extends from the counter support 170 and the control axis E there obliquely toward the rear and downward to the counter control axis J. A connecting line between the control axis E and the counter control axis J, conjointly with a horizontal plane, encloses an angle of approximately 20° to 25°.

[0090]The second control link 152 for controlling and supporting the upper-leg segment 50 is attached to the first control link 162 so as to be pivotable about a control axis F. This second control link 152 and its motion sequence is of particular importance in the context of the invention and of the specific design embodiment of the seating furniture fitting 100 presented here.

[0091]The sequence of the deployment of the leg rest 12 from the stowed position to the usage position is highlighted by means of FIGS. 6A to 12B. The figures with the suffix A show in each case the seating furniture fitting 100. The figures with the suffix B show the piece of seating furniture in a lateral view, wherein the elements of the seating furniture fitting 100 shown here have been made visible by partially removing upholstery parts. To the extent that reference is made to a pivoting direction in the clockwise direction or counter to the clockwise direction hereunder, this refers to the perspective onto the piece of furniture from a right-hand side, which is derived from FIGS. 4 and 6B to 12B.

[0092]FIGS. 6A to 11B highlight a main phase in the context of which the leg rest 12 reaches a first usage position. The following phase of the transition to the state of FIGS. 12A and 12B represents an additional phase during which the seat-base segment 40, conjointly with the leg-rest segments 50, 60, is slightly tilted so that a second usage position is achieved as a result. To the extent that reference is made to angles relative to a horizontal plane, or the floor, in the context of the invention, these are to be understood with a view to the alignment of the seat segment in the main phase.

[0093]During the conversion from the stowed position of FIGS. 5A and 5B into the usage position of FIGS. 11A and 11B and onward into the usage position of FIGS. 12A and 12B, the legs of the user can rest on the leg rest 12. The mechanism described hereunder is sufficiently robust in order to raise the legs conjointly with the leg rest 12.

[0094]In the stowed position of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the leg-rest segments 50, 60 are disposed below the seat-base segment. In the process, said leg-rest segments are aligned flush with respect to one another and are located in an overhead position, thus in an alignment having an upper side pointing downward.

[0095]This position is guaranteed by the drive gear mechanism 102, in that the electric motor 190 in this state is in the maximum deployed position of the motor rod 192. As a result, the intermediate link 194 is also in its position displaced to the maximum toward the rear and holds the parallelogram arrangement 140, 172, 174, 170 and in particular the counter support 170 in a rear end position. The drive links 172, 174 and conjointly therewith the counter support 170, as a result of this rear end position, are simultaneously in a position which is displaced relatively far to the top. The pivot axes C, D, about which the counter support 170 is pivotably connected to the drive links, are raised to the extent that they are disposed in a depression 45 of the seat-base segment and/or in a depression 55 of the upper-leg segment 50 and as a result enable the illustrated position in which the leg-rest segments 50, 60 almost bear on the seat-base segment. As can be seen in particular by means of FIG. 6B, all mechanical sub-elements of the seating furniture fitting 100 and of the drive gear mechanism 102, which may disturb the esthetic impression of the piece of furniture, are hidden in the stowed position between the leg-rest segments 50, 60, which are in the rotated position, and the seat-base segment 40, and in the depressions 45, 55 mentioned. However, the leg-rest segments 50, 60 as a whole can also be barely seen from the outside in the stowed position. A rear end face 51 of the upper-leg segment can be seen only on the front side, which is disposed below a front end face 44 of the seat-base segment 40 but in the stowed position does not make the presence of a leg rest visible.

[0096]For converting the piece of seating furniture 10 into the usage position, the motor rod 192 is retracted by means of the electric motor 190. This initially leads to the counter support 170 as part of the displacement structure 140, 172, 174, 170 being displaced toward the front and to be lowered at least to begin with. The piece of seating furniture 10 and its seating furniture fitting 100 as a result are subjected to the states of FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B and 9A, 9B. The counter support 170 reaches the lowest position shortly after passing the intermediate position of FIGS. 9A and 9B.

[0097]During this movement of the counter support 170 from the stowed position of FIGS. 6A and 6B to the position of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the displacement of the leg-rest segments 50, 60, which can be derived from FIGS. 7B, 8B and 9B, takes place. This movement begins in that the leg-rest segments 50, 60, which are still aligned flush with one another at the beginning of the movement, are angled relative to one another as can be seen from FIGS. 7A and 7B. This angled arrangement is the result of the upper-leg segment 50 being from the beginning pivoted quite intensely in the counter-clockwise direction, while the lower-leg segment 60 is initially slightly pivoted or, as can be seen in FIG. 7B, even slightly pivoted in the clockwise direction and thus counter to the upper-leg segment 50.

[0098]The fact that this movement proceeds in such a manner is caused by the articulation and initial alignment of the control links 152, 162. In the stowed position, the control link 162 has an alignment which approximately corresponds to the direction in which the counter support 170, proceeding from the stowed position of FIGS. 6A, 6B, is initially displaced. This results in an intense pivoting movement of the upper-leg segment 50. In contrast, the control link 162 and its counter control axis J are initially displaced toward the front relative to the pivot axis H, so that the described pivoting in the clockwise direction is the result.

[0099]This angled arrangement of the leg-rest segments 50, 60 is significant in order to be able to deploy the lower-leg segment 60 toward the front without any collision.

[0100]The continued retraction of the motor rod 192 moves the leg-rest segments 50, 60 to the intermediate position of FIGS. 8A and 8B. In this position, the upper-leg segment 50 has already passed its position closest to the floor and has started to move upward again. As a result, the pivot axis H is also raised, about which the lower-leg segment 60 is pivotably articulated on the upper-leg segment 50. Raising the upper-leg segment 50 therefore facilitates a collision-free movement of the lower-leg segment 60 in the direction of its usage position.

[0101]In the state of FIGS. 8A, 8B, the second control link 152 has already been pivoted by approximately 70° relative to the initial alignment of FIGS. 6A and 6B. Therefore, the transmission of force to the upper-leg segment 50 in this phase takes place in a direction which, conjointly with a straight line intersecting the pivot axis G, I, encloses an angle of approx. 40° to 45°. This angle is still sufficient for the robust transmission of force to the leg-rest segment 50 and is still sufficiently spaced apart from a dead point. The angle of the lower-leg segment 60 relative to the upper-leg segment 50 in this phase of the transition from FIGS. 7A and 7B to FIGS. 8A and 8B has become somewhat more acute again.

[0102]The continuation of the movement leads to the continuation of the displacement of the counter support 170 and thus further to the intermediate state of FIGS. 9A and 9B. The upper-leg segment 50 has now already almost reached its end position relative to the seat-base segment 40. The control link 152 is now pivoted relative to its initial position of FIGS. 6A and 6B about approximately by 90° in the counter-clockwise direction.

[0103]Therefore, the second control link 152 is now located approximately parallel to the two drive links 172, 174, which at this point in time are pivoted relative to their initial position approximately by 60° in the counter-clockwise direction. Owing to the fact that the upper-leg segment 50 in the position of FIGS. 9A and 9B has almost already reached its end position, there is now sufficient space for displacing the lower-leg segment 60 relative to the upper-leg segment 50 in such a way that the former is moved to a position in front of the upper-leg segment 50.

[0104]This movement takes place in particular when transitioning from the state of FIGS. 9A and 9B to the state of FIGS. 10A and 10B. Due to the previously achieved alignment of the control links 152, 162, the continued displacement of the counter support 170 as part of the displacement structure consisting of the elements 140, 172, 170, 174 leads to an intense displacement of the lower-leg segment.

[0105]This is facilitated in that the control link 152 is now aligned almost parallel to the drive links 172, 174 and therefore the displacement of the control link 152 by way of the control link 162 only causes a slight movement of the upper-leg segment 50, while the control link 162, owing to its almost horizontal alignment in this phase and its almost horizontal displacement toward the front, exerts an intense effect of movement on the lower-leg segment 60.

[0106]The further displacement structure consisting of the elements 140, 172, 170, 174 therefore has the effect of a continued intense displacement of the lower-leg segment 60 to its position of FIG. 11A, while the upper-leg segment 50, due to the alignment of the control link 152, is raised relative to the seat-base segment 40 only to a minor extent and is even slightly lowered just prior to reaching the state of FIGS. 11A and 11B.

[0107]The state of FIGS. 11A and 11B represents a first usage position. The seat-base segment 40 and the leg-rest segments 50, 60 are now in a flush position, thus in a position in which the seat base 42 is in each case adjoined by the upper sides 52, 62 of the leg-rest segments in such a manner that the faces 42, 52, 62 describe a common, approximately flat or slightly curved overall face.

[0108]In this usage position, the legs of the user rest on the leg rest 12. The elements of the seating furniture fitting 100 herein permit a high load without there being the risk of one of the elements making its way to an undesirable over-dead-center position as a result of the weight force of the legs.

[0109]The piece of furniture can also be converted from the first usage state of FIGS. 11A and 11B into a second usage state which is illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B. In this second usage state, the mentioned segments 40, 50, 60 as well as the backrest segment 30 are in a relative position unchanged in comparison to FIGS. 11A and 11B, but are as a whole pivoted slightly in the counter-clockwise direction relative thereto, so that the seat base 42 lies even somewhat deeper relative to the leg-rest segments 50, 60.

[0110]In the described exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 12B, the upholstery elements of the seat-base segment 40 and of the leg-rest segments 50, 60 are in each case fixedly attached to their respective fitting elements 140, 150 and 160. With a view to the leg-rest segments it can however also be expedient to enable a displacement between the respective segment supports 150, 160, by way of which the weight is transmitted to the seat-base segment 40, and the respective upholstery elements.

[0111]FIGS. 12 and 13 show such a design, wherein FIG. 12 highlights the usage position and FIG. 13 highlights the stowed position. Those elements of the piece of seating furniture which are not illustrated here remain unchanged in comparison to the designs of FIGS. 1 to 11B. Deviating from the preceding designs, the upholstery element 158 of the upper-leg segment 50 here is not fixedly connected to the upper-leg segment support 150, but is movable in a guided manner relative to the latter. The mobility herein is presently implemented by way of a double-link design having two displacement links 156, 157. The two displacement links 156, 157 are in each case articulated on the upper-leg segment support 150 so as to be pivotable about pivot axes O, Q and are articulated on the upholstery element 158, or on a support structure on the upholstery element 158, which is not illustrated in more detail, respectively, so as to be pivotable about pivot axes P, R. As a result, the upholstery element 158 is displaceable by a few centimeters toward the front and the rear relative to the upper-leg segment support 150.

[0112]The displacement, here preferably and also in the design illustrated, takes place as a function of the position of the upper-leg segment 50 relative to the seat-base segment 40. Provided for this purpose is a further pivot axis T on the displacement link opposite to the pivot axis P in terms of the pivot axis O, to which displacement link a control link 155 is attached. This control link 155 is in turn attached to the seat-base segment 40, and in particular to the basic support 140 of the latter, about a pivot axis S.

[0113]This design has the effect that the upholstery element 158, during the conversion from the stowed position of FIG. 13 into the usage position of FIG. 12, is displaced relative to the upper-leg segment support 150, and the spacing from the seat-base segment 40 is increased when the upper-leg segment comes close to its usage position end position. It is prevented as a result that jamming between the seat-base segment and the upper-leg segment can occur.