Adjustable padding device

Abstract

Adjustable padding device for a piece of furniture used for sitting and/or lying has a flat elastically deformable padding element and an adjustable supporting device having a main body for supporting the padding element in a plane. Padding device also has an electric-motor adjusting device, on the supporting device for adjusting part of supporting device in its inclination and/or height of the part of supporting device, so padding element is connected to supporting device and to the adjusting device and forms a unit, and so padding element and the supporting device and the adjusting device are in a common casing. Common casing substantially completely surrounds the unit including the padding element and the supporting device together with the adjusting device. A charging/discharging device is provided for pressure loading/pressure relief of padding element, and loading/relief device is in the common casing.

1 . An adjustable padding device for seating and/or lounging furniture, the device comprising:
 a) at least one flat, elastically deformable padding element;   b) at least one support device with a base body for supporting the padding element in a planar manner;   c) the padding element together with the support device is joined to form a unit;   d) the padding element together with the support device is accommodated in a shared casing which essentially completely surrounds the unit comprising the padding element and the support device;   e) a charging/discharging device for achieving pressure loading or relief of the padding element is provided; and   f) the charging/discharging device is accommodated in the shared casing.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the charging/discharging device acts on at least one spring element to achieve pressure loading or relief.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) the charging/discharging device is an electromechanical loading/relief device.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 a) the charging/discharging device includes at least one electric motor, the at least one electric motor being in operative connection with a pressure exerting element, by which pressure is exerted or exhertable on at least one spring element effecting a pressure charging/discharging function.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 a) a control device for controlling the electric motor or the electric motors.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 a) the control device controls the electric motor or the electric motors in such a way that the pressure element or the pressure elements act(s) on at least two spring elements sequentially in time.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 a) the control device controls the electric motor or the electric motors in such a way that at least one pressure element acts on at least two spring elements sequentially in time.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 a) the pressure element loosely acts on the or each associated spring element.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 a) the at least one spring element is a bed frame.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 a) the at least one spring element is a springy slat.   
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 a) the charging/discharging device includes at least one slide being linearly movable in a longitudinal direction of the padding device by a linear actuator, the slide carrying at least one arm, a free end of which carries the pressure exerting element for charging/discharging interaction with the at least one spring element.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 a) the at least one slide carries at least two arms, each of the arms carrying a pressure exerting element, the pressure exerting elements being spaced apart from each other transverse to the longitudinal direction of the padding device.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 a) the at least one spring element is a slat, the slat being connected with a least one flexible strap, the at least one strap extending in the longitudinal direction of the padding device, the at least one pressure exerting element abutting against the strap for interaction with the strap for charging/discharging the slats.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 a) the pressure exerting element is a roll or a roller.   
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 a) the linear actuator including a spindle drive.   
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 a) the at least one slide includes a spindle nut or is connected with a spindle nut, the spindle nut being fixed against rotation and being movable in the axial direction of a spindle, the spindle being in drive connection with the at least one electric motor.   
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a) at least two charging/discharging devices are provided, the at least two charging/discharging devices being spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the padding device for interacting with different areas of the same.