# US 9,872,566 B2 · Electromotive furniture drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,566 B2 - Document ID: US9872566B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/208,218 - Filed: 2016-07-12 - Published: 2016-12-01 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-28 - Assignees: DewertOkin GmbH - Applicants: DewertOkin GmbH - Inventors: Klaus-Peter Flamme - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872566B2 ## CPC - A47C 1/0242: {by electric motors} - A47C 1/0246: {by means of screw-and-nut mechanism} - A47C 1/03211: {by electric motors} - A47C 1/034: the parts including a leg-rest or foot-rest (A47C1/037 takes precedence) - A47C 7/506: {of adjustable type} - A47C 7/5068: {actuated by linkages} - A47C 7/56: Parts or details of tipping-up chairs, e.g. of theatre chairs - F16H 2025/2037: {Actuator supports or means for fixing piston end, e.g. flanges} - Y10T 74/20: Control lever and linkage systems - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - F16H: GEARING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An electromotive furniture drive includes a drive unit and a power take-off unit which can be moved relative to the drive unit. At least one connecting element is arranged on each of the drive unit and the power take-off unit to respectively connect the drive unit and the power take-off unit to a furniture fitting. Each of the connecting elements provides at least two force application points in spaced apart relation for the connection to the furniture fitting in a direction transverse to the relative movement between the drive unit and the power take-off unit. The force application points are spaced apart from one another at least by a distance which is greater than approximately 50% of a displacement movement of the furniture drive. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electromotive furniture drive, comprising: a drive unit; a power take-off unit movable in relation to the drive unit; and connection elements respectively arranged on the drive unit and on the power take-off unit for connecting the drive unit and the power take-off unit to a furniture fitting, wherein the connection elements are configured for providing at least two spaced-apart force application points for connection with the furniture fitting in a direction transversely to a relative movement between the drive unit and the power take-off unit, said force application points being spaced apart from one another, wherein the electromotive furniture drive is operably connected to the furniture fitting for moving a furniture part, said electromotive furniture drive being configured, so that a force for a movement of the furniture fitting is not applied centrally to components of the furniture fitting, but it is distributed broadly over the furniture fitting and as a result the furniture fitting does not need to be modified for use with the furniture drive and a reinforcement of the components of the furniture drive fitting on which the furniture drive acts is not needed, and wherein the connection elements are configured for a releasable connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 1, wherein each of the connection elements is configured for providing at least two spaced-apart force application points for connection with the furniture fitting in a direction transversely to a relative movement between the drive unit and the power take-off unit, said force application points being spaced apart from one another at least by a distance which is greater than approximately 50% of a travel of the furniture drive. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 1, constructed for attachment to the furniture fitting of a seating furniture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 1, wherein the distance of the force application points is greater than 25% of a width of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 1, wherein the distance of the force application points is greater than 10 cm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 1, wherein the connection elements connect the drive unit and the power take-off unit to the furniture fitting in a frictionally engaged or interlocking manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 1, wherein the connection elements are configured for connection with a cross member and/or rotating cross member extending transversely in the furniture fitting between lateral lever mechanisms. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 7, wherein the power take-off unit has a cross-strut to form the connection element on the power take-off unit, said cross-strut being provided with spaced-apart half-shell-shaped clamps or clips and/or cable ties for connection with the cross member of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 7, wherein the connection elements are configured as two spaced-apart swivel levers for connection with the cross member of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 9, wherein the swivel levers are connectable in a torsion-proof manner to the rotating cross member of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 9, wherein the swivel levers are arranged via swivel joints on extension arms of the drive unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 9, wherein the swivel levers are arranged via swivel joints on a cross-strut of the power take-off unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises a motor which acts via a worm on a rotatably mounted spindle nut. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 13, wherein the power take-off unit has a housing and at least one bearing for rotatably mounting the spindle nut in the housing of the power take-off unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 14, wherein the power take-off unit comprises a torsion-proof spindle extending through the housing and operatively connected to the spindle nut. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 15, further comprising a cover configured to cover the spindle on at least two sides. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 16, wherein the cover surrounds the spindle at least on three sides in a U-shaped manner and is formed in one piece with integrated film hinges. ### Claim 18 An electromotive furniture drive, comprising: a drive unit; a power take-off unit movable in relation to the drive unit; and connection elements respectively arranged on the drive unit and on the power take-off unit for connecting the drive unit and the power take-off unit to a furniture fitting, wherein each of the connection elements is configured for providing at least two spaced-apart force application points for connection with the furniture fitting in a direction transversely to a relative movement between the drive unit and the power take-off, said force application points being spaced from one another, wherein the connection elements are configured for connection with a cross member and a rotating cross member extending transversely in the furniture fitting between lateral lever mechanisms, and wherein the furniture drive acts on the cross member on one hand and on the rotating cross member on the other hand without being fixed in a stationary manner with one of its components to or on a base frame of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 18, wherein the force application points are spaced apart from one another at least by a distance which is greater than approximately 50% of a travel of the furniture drive. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 18, constructed for attachment to the furniture fitting of a seating furniture. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 18, wherein the distance of the force application points is greater than 25% of a width of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 18, wherein the distance of the force application points is greater than 10 cm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 18, wherein the connection elements connect the drive unit and the power take-off unit to the furniture fitting in a frictionally engaged or interlocking manner. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 18, wherein the connection elements are configured for a releasable screwless connection. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 18, wherein the connection elements are configured for connection with a cross member and/or rotating cross member extending transversely in the furniture fitting between lateral lever mechanisms. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 25, wherein the power take-off unit has a cross-strut to form the connection element on the power take-off unit, said cross-strut being provided with spaced-apart half-shell-shaped clamps or clips and/or cable ties for connection with the cross member of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 25, wherein the connection elements are configured as two spaced-apart swivel levers for connection with the cross member of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 27, wherein the swivel levers are connectable in a torsion-proof manner to the rotating cross member of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 27, wherein the swivel levers are arranged via swivel joints on extension arms of the drive unit. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 27, wherein the swivel levers are arranged via swivel joints on a cross-strut of the power take-off unit. ### Claim 31 (depends on 18) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 18, wherein the drive unit comprises a motor which acts via a worm on a rotatably mounted spindle nut. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 31, wherein the power take-off unit has a housing and at least one bearing for rotatably mounting the spindle nut in the housing of the power take-off unit. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 32, wherein the power take-off unit comprises a torsion-proof spindle extending through the housing and operatively connected to the spindle nut. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 33, further comprising a cover configured to cover the spindle on at least two sides. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The electromotive furniture drive of claim 34, wherein the cover surrounds the spindle at least on three sides in a U-shaped manner and is formed in one piece with integrated film hinges. ### Claim 36 A piece of seating furniture, comprising: a furniture fitting; a furniture part fixed to the furniture fitting; and an electromotive furniture drive operably connected to the furniture fitting for moving the furniture part, said electromotive furniture drive including a drive unit, a power take-off unit movable in relation to the drive unit, and connection elements respectively arranged on the drive unit and on the power take-off unit for connecting the drive unit and the power take-off unit to the furniture fitting, each of the connection elements providing at least two spaced-apart force application points for connection with the furniture fitting in a direction transversely to a relative movement between the drive unit and the power take-off unit, wherein the connection elements are connected with a cross-member and a rotating cross member extending transversely in the furniture fitting between lateral lever mechanisms of the furniture fitting, and wherein the furniture drive is only carried via the cross member and the rotating cross member. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The piece of seating furniture of claim 36, wherein said force application points are spaced apart from one another at least by a distance which is greater than approximately 50% of a travel of the furniture. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The piece of seating furniture of claim 36, constructed in the form of a seating furniture or a relaxation chair. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The seating piece of seating furniture of claim 36, wherein the distance of the force application points is greater than 25% of the seating furniture fitting. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The piece of seating furniture of claim 36, wherein the distance of the force application points is greater than 10 cm. ### Claim 41 (depends on 36) The piece of seating furniture of claim 36, wherein the connection elements connect the drive unit and the power take-off unit to the furniture fitting in a frictionally engaged or interlocking manner. ### Claim 42 (depends on 36) The piece of seating furniture of claim 36, wherein the connection elements are configured for a releasable connection. ### Claim 43 (depends on 36) The piece of seating furniture of claim 36, wherein the connection elements are configured for connection with a cross member and/or rotating cross member extending transversely in the furniture fitting between lateral lever mechanisms. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The piece of seating furniture of claim 43, wherein the power take-off unit has a cross-strut to form the connection element on the power take-off unit, said cross-strut being provided with spaced-apart half-shell-shaped clamps or clips and/or cable ties for connection with the cross member of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The piece of seating furniture of claim 43, wherein the connection elements are configured as two spaced-apart swivel levers for connection with the cross member of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The piece of seating furniture of claim 45, wherein the swivel levers are connectable in a torsion-proof manner to the rotating cross member of the furniture fitting. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The piece of seating furniture of claim 45, wherein the swivel levers are arranged via swivel joints on extension arms of the drive unit. ### Claim 48 (depends on 45) The piece of seating furniture of claim 45, wherein the swivel levers are arranged via swivel joints on a cross-strut of the power take-off unit. ### Claim 49 (depends on 36) The piece of seating furniture of claim 36, wherein the drive unit comprises a motor which acts via a worm on a rotatably mounted spindle nut. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The piece of seating furniture of claim 49, wherein the power take-off unit has a housing and at least one bearing for rotatably mounting the spindle nut in the housing of the power take-off unit. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The piece of seating furniture of claim 50, wherein the power take-off unit comprises a torsion-proof spindle extending through the housing and operatively connected to the spindle nut. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The piece of seating furniture of claim 51, wherein the electromotive furniture drive includes a cover configured to cover the spindle on at least two sides. ### Claim 53 (depends on 51) The piece of seating furniture of claim 51, wherein the cover surrounds the spindle at least on three sides in a U-shaped manner and is formed in one piece with integrated film hinges.