Electrically adjustable furniture unit and method for assembling an electrically adjustable furniture unit

Abstract

An electrically adjustable furniture unit, such as a sofa bed or recliner, comprises a static frame having a plurality of frame elements comprising side frame elements. At least two of the frame elements are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The furniture unit further comprises a plurality of kinematics modules comprising electrically adjustable arms, wherein the kinematics modules are contained in the at least two frame elements that are arranged substantially parallel to each other. A control unit is electrically coupled to each of the kinematics modules, wherein the control unit is adjusted to combine backrest arms of the adjustable arms to a first adjustment group and to combine legrest arms of the adjustable arms to a second adjustment group, and wherein for a backrest adjustment the control unit controls the backrest arms in the first adjustment group in parallel or synchronously and wherein for a legrest adjustment the control unit controls the legrest arms in the second adjustment group in parallel or synchronously.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An electrically adjustable furniture unit, such as a sofa bed or recliner, comprising:
 a static frame having a plurality of frame elements comprising side frame elements, at least two of the frame elements being arranged substantially parallel to each other;   a plurality of kinematics modules comprising electrically adjustable arms, wherein the kinematics modules are contained in the at least two frame elements that are arranged substantially parallel to each other; and   a control unit electrically coupled to each of the kinematics modules, wherein the control unit is adjusted to combine backrest arms of the adjustable arms to a first adjustment group and to combine legrest arms of the adjustable arms to a second adjustment group;   wherein for a backrest adjustment the control unit controls the backrest arms in the first adjustment group in parallel or synchronously and wherein for a legrest adjustment the control unit controls the legrest arms in the second adjustment group in parallel or synchronously.   
     
     
         2 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of kinematics modules comprises one of the legrest arms and one of the backrest arms. 
     
     
         3 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of kinematics modules comprises complete electric parts required for an adjustment of the adjustable arms of the respective one of the plurality of kinematics modules. 
     
     
         4 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the legrest arms are adjustable to a substantially vertical position with respect to a main extension plane of the static frame. 
     
     
         5 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the kinematics modules further comprise a mechanism, in particular a carriage with rollers, such that a position of the kinematics modules within the at least two frame elements is adjustable with respect to the main extension axis of the at least two frame elements. 
     
     
         6 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 5 , wherein during the backrest adjustment the control unit is further configured to adjust the position of the kinematics modules within the at least two frame elements, such that a constant protrusion of a backrest of the furniture unit with respect to a rearmost part of the static frame or of the rearmost part of the static frame with respect to the backrest is maintained. 
     
     
         7 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to perform the backrest adjustment and the legrest adjustment based on a set of predefined adjustments. 
     
     
         8 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit further comprises a programmable memory comprising the set of predefined adjustments. 
     
     
         9 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pinch detection mechanism comprising sensors, with the sensors being configured to detect whether an object, in particular a limb of a user, is positioned within a path of motion of the adjustable arms, wherein the control unit is further configured to terminate the backrest adjustment and/or the legrest adjustment based on the sensor values. 
     
     
         10 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the kinematics modules is further configured to
 compare an actual adjustment of the adjustable arms of the first and the second adjustment group to an intended adjustment, in particular with respect to momentary position and/or adjustment speed; and   report to the control unit a discrepancy between the actual adjustment and the intended adjustment; and   wherein the control unit is further configured to   generate a first and a second error flag for the first and the second adjustment group based on the discrepancy; and   adjust the backrest adjustment and/or the legrest adjustment based on the first and the second error flag.   
     
     
         11 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising vibration motors in a support surface of the furniture, wherein the control unit is further configured to control the vibration motors. 
     
     
         12 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a body sensor in a support surface, wherein the control unit is further configured to generate user-specific data based on a body sensor value received from the body sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a bidirectional connection interface for connecting to a home network, in particular to a wireless home network. 
     
     
         14 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the control unit is configured to be controlled via a smart home hub of a smart home environment. 
     
     
         15 . The electrically adjustable furniture unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is coupled to each of the kinematics modules by means of a wireless connection. 
     
     
         16 . A method for assembling an electrically adjustable furniture unit, the method comprising
 providing a plurality of frame elements of a static frame, the plurality of frame elements comprising side frame elements;   arranging a plurality of kinematics modules within at least two frame elements, the kinematics modules comprising electrically adjustable arms;   providing a control unit electrically coupled to each of the kinematics modules, wherein the control unit is adjusted to combine backrest arms of the adjustable arms to a first adjustment group and to combine legrest arms of the adjustable arms to a second adjustment group;   wherein for delivery of the furniture to a customer the plurality of frame elements and the control unit are packaged individually with packaging materials.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising
 using at least part of the packaging materials as support for the frame elements;   forming the static frame by interconnecting side frame elements and cross frame elements;   attaching foot elements to the static frame;   removing the support;   establishing an electrical connection between the kinematics modules; and   attaching a backrest support surface to the backrest arms and a legrest support surface to the legrest arms.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the kinematics modules are configured such that a position of the kinematics modules within the at least two frame elements is electrically adjustable with respect to the main extension axis of the at least two frame elements.