Operating mechanism for a furniture part including a shape memory element

Abstract

In an operating mechanism for a moving a furniture part via a drive arrangement including a shape memory element, the shape memory element is connected between a stationary support point and a part to be moved via a force- or form-locking coupling structure having a limited holding force to prevent over-stressing the shape memory element.

1 . An operating mechanism for moving a movable furniture part ( 21 ) relative to a stationary furniture part ( 11 ), comprising: a drive arrangement ( 230 ) including a shape memory element ( 91 ) for initiating movement of the movable furniture part ( 21 ), said drive arrangement ( 230 ) being fixed to one of the furniture parts ( 11 ,  21 ) and abutting the other furniture part ( 21 ,  11 ) via a coupling element ( 270 ) and including the shape memory element ( 91 ) as drive element arranged between the coupling element ( 270 ) and a stationary support point ( 237 ), the shape memory element ( 91 ) being connected to at least one of the coupling element ( 270 ) and the stationary support point ( 237 ) via at least one of a force-locking coupling structure and a form-locking coupling structure ( 30 ,  130 ,  330 ). 
     
     
         2 . The operating mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory element ( 91 ) is one which becomes shorter upon heating and, reversibly, becomes longer upon cooling. 
     
     
         3 . The operating mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory element ( 91 ) is heatable by electric energization. 
     
     
         4 . The operating mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory element ( 91 ) consists of at least one wire or a bundle of wires of any desired cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         5 . The operating mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling element ( 270 ) is connected to the shape memory element ( 91 ) via a joined structure of an operating carriage ( 250 ) and a guide carriage ( 260 ) wherein the two carriages ( 250 ,  260 ) are joined by one of a magnetic coupling ( 30 ,  130 ) and a mechanical engagement coupling ( 330 ). 
     
     
         6 . The operating mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling structure ( 30 ,  130 ) is a magnetic coupling including a first coupling element ( 28 ,  131 ) and a second coupling element ( 32 ,  132 ) and at least one of the coupling elements ( 31 ,  131 ,  32 ,  132 ) is one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. 
     
     
         7 . The operating mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein means are provided for damping the coupling movement of the magnetic coupling ( 30 ,  130 ) by way of one of a rubber-elastic and a pneumatic damper ( 36 ,  236 ,  131 ). 
     
     
         8 . The operating mechanism according to  claim 5 , wherein the engagement coupling ( 330 ) includes an engagement lock structure ( 331 ) comprising an engagement pin ( 331 ) and a blocking structure ( 336 ) with a limited retaining force. 
     
     
         9 . The operating mechanism according to  claim 8 , wherein the engagement pin ( 331 ) comprises at least a double-flank hook which has a locking flank ( 339 ) and an installation flank ( 333 ), with the locking flank ( 339 ) being oriented in locking direction and having a locking flank ( 332 ) that is arranged, with respect to the locking direction, at a greater angle than the installation flank ( 333 ). 
     
     
         10 . The operating mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive arrangement ( 230 ) is fixed to one of the furniture parts ( 11 ,  21 ) and abuts the other furniture part ( 12 ,  11 ) via the coupling element ( 270 ) only at times.