U.S. patent application number 11/217320 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-09 for drawer frame.
Invention is credited to Harald Sutterlutti.
Application Number | 20060049730 11/217320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34842216 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060049730 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sutterlutti; Harald |
March 9, 2006 |
Drawer frame
Abstract
A drawer frame having at least one opening, which enables access
to holding and adjusting devices respectively in the interior of
the frame, wherein it is possible to close off the opening by a
cover part, and wherein the cover part is mounted on the drawer
frame such that it is movable, wherein the cover part is
undetachably connected to the drawer frame in all operating
positions.
Inventors: |
Sutterlutti; Harald;
(Fussach, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
34842216 |
Appl. No.: |
11/217320 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/330.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 2210/02 20130101;
A47B 88/90 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/330.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/00 20060101
A47B088/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 3, 2004 |
AT |
GM 653/2004 |
Claims
1. A drawer frame having at least one opening, which enables access
to holding and adjusting devices respectively in the interior of
the frame, wherein it is possible to close off the opening by a
cover part, and wherein the cover part is mounted on the drawer
frame such that it is movable, wherein the cover part is
undetachably connected to the drawer frame in all operating
positions.
2. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part is
mounted on the drawer frame such that it is displaceable.
3. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover part is
displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the drawer frame.
4. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part is
mounted on the drawer frame such that it is rotatable.
5. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover part is
mounted such that it is movable along a slide track.
6. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slide track is
made or arranged on the drawer frame itself.
7. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slide track is
made or arranged within a border which may be attached to the
drawer frame as a separate part.
8. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 7, wherein the border
resembles a framework.
9. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one stop
is provided which delimits the path of movement of the cover part
with respect to the drawer frame, at least in one direction.
10. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 9, wherein the stop delimits
the path of movement of the cover part in both directions.
11. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening is
made or arranged in the front end region of the drawer frame.
12. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the open
condition, the cover part lies at least partly in the interior of
the drawer frame.
13. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one
spring device is provided which brings the cover part into a
position in which it substantially completely covers the opening of
the drawer frame.
14. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drawer frame
is a double-walled drawer frame.
15. A drawer frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening is
provided on the outside of the drawer frame.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a drawer frame, in
particular a double-walled drawer frame, having at least one
opening, which is preferably provided on its outside, and which
enables access to holding and adjusting devices respectively in the
interior of the frame, wherein it is possible to close off the
opening by a cover part.
[0002] Frames of this kind are used for example as side guides
and/or side delimiters for drawers and other pull-out systems. In
the interior of the frames--preferably at their distal end--holding
and adjusting devices for connection to a further frame, a drawer
panel, a drawer back wall, etc. may be provided. These devices that
are mounted in the interior of the frame must be freely accessible
during interventions, for example during a vertical or lateral
adjustment thereof. For this purpose, openings are provided in the
side wall of the frame which allow tools such as a screwdriver to
pass through. For reasons of appearance, these openings are
provided with a cover which may be placed over the openings, held
there in clamping manner and when necessary removed for the
performance of the desired interventions to the frame. The
disadvantage of covers of this kind is the fact that they can
easily become detached during the course of such adjustments or, as
a result of a loss of elasticity in the clamping device over time,
can no longer be held in the opening properly. Eventually, the
covers no longer end flush with the frame but hang partly out of
the openings and in the end are often lost completely.
[0003] The object of the invention to which the application relates
is therefore to propose a cover part of the type mentioned at the
outset which obviates the above-mentioned disadvantages.
[0004] In accordance with the invention, this is achieved in that
the cover part is undetachably connected to the drawer frame in all
operating positions.
[0005] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
it may be provided for the cover part to be mounted on the drawer
frame such that it is displaceable--preferably in the longitudinal
direction thereof. This means that the cover part can be displaced
in order to expose the openings and to enable tools to pass
through. Once the intervention has been performed, the cover part
can be put back into its closed position, in which it substantially
completely covers the opening, giving a visually attractive
appearance to the frame.
[0006] In relation to the movable mounting it may also be
advantageous if the cover part is mounted on the drawer frame such
that it is rotatable. If the structural conditions permit it, it
may also be advantageous to provide a combination of a displaceable
mounting with a rotary mounting of the cover part relative to the
drawer frame.
[0007] In accordance with a further example embodiment, it may be
provided for the cover part to be mounted such that it is movable
along a slide track. In this case, the cover part may be guided in
a defined track with little play and with guide pegs engaging in
the slide track. Here, it may be advantageous if the slide track is
made or arranged on the drawer frame itself, it being possible to
achieve this by appropriate bending processes or by cutting the
frame to the appropriate shape as early on as during the process of
manufacturing the frame. In just the same way, the embodiment may
be such that the slide track is made or arranged within a
border--which preferably resembles a framework--which may be
attached to the drawer frame as a separate part.
[0008] Advantageously, it is provided for at least one stop to be
provided which delimits the path of movement of the cover part with
respect to the drawer frame, at least in one and preferably in both
directions. As a result of this, the cover part has a defined range
of opening so that any overstretching of spring-loaded devices is
also prevented.
[0009] It is particularly favorable if, in the open condition, the
cover part lies at least partly in the interior of the drawer
frame. Here, during the opening procedure the cover part is
displaced gradually into the interior of the frame, which has the
effect that it can effectively be prevented from being sheared off
at the outer surface of the frame by objects exerting a force.
[0010] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is
produced by providing at least one spring device which brings the
cover part into a position in which it substantially completely
covers the opening of the drawer frame. Here, it may be
advantageous if a spring device acts on the cover part with a
closing force so that the cover part is not moved during opening
and closing of the drawer. Favorably, the spring device moves the
cover part into its closed position, in which it completely covers
the opening, from any position along the path of opening.
[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided for the cover part to be non-detachably connected to the
drawer frame in all operating positions.
[0012] Further details and advantages of the present invention will
be explained in more detail below with the aid of the description
of the figures, given with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0013] FIGS. 1 and 1b show a solution, which is known from the
prior art, of a cover part for covering openings in a drawer
frame,
[0014] FIGS. 2a-2c show an example embodiment of a drawer frame
having a cover part according to the invention, in various
views,
[0015] FIGS. 3a-3c show a chronological sequence of the position of
the cover part according to the invention during the opening
procedure, and
[0016] FIGS. 4a and 4b show an example of an embodiment of a cover
part according to the invention which is guided in a framework
within a slide track.
[0017] FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b show a solution, which is known from the
prior art, of a cover part 2. FIG. 1a shows a cover part 2 which is
covering one or more openings 4. The openings 4 in the drawer frame
1 are provided so that the holding and adjusting devices 5 which
are arranged in the interior of the drawer frame 1--but which are
not shown in this figure--can be reached and operated with the aid
of a suitable tool. Conventionally, the cover part 2 is made from
synthetic material and is provided on the rear side thereof with
holding lugs 3 which in the mounted condition project into at least
some of the openings 4 and secure the cover part 2 to the drawer
frame 1 by clamping. The disadvantage here is that the cover part 2
can easily be detached or that, as a result of wear, breakage or
loss of the resilient action of the holding lugs 3, reliable fixing
to the drawer frame 1 is no longer possible.
[0018] FIG. 2a shows a perspective illustration of a drawer frame 1
having a cover part 2 according to the invention which covers one
or more openings 4 on the outside of the drawer frame 1. FIG. 2b
shows a detail of a distal end of the drawer frame 1. FIG. 2c shows
a front view of the drawer frame 1 with holding and adjusting
devices 5, for example, indicated in the interior of the drawer
frame 1. No further details will be given about these holding and
adjusting devices 5 in the course of the present description, and
thus they may comprise any devices which are known from the prior
art. FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show the cover part 2 in a slightly open
position. A latching projection 9 of resilient construction may be
provided, to detachably fix the cover part 2 in the closed
position.
[0019] FIGS. 3a to 3c show a chronological sequence of various
positions of the cover part 2 during the opening procedure. FIG. 3a
shows the cover part 2 in the closed position, whereas FIG. 3c
shows the cover part 2 in the open position. The cover part 2 is
mounted on the drawer frame 1 such that it is displaceable in the
longitudinal direction thereof. It should be noted that in the open
position, shown in FIG. 3c, the cover part 2 lies for the most part
in the interior of the drawer frame 1, as a result of which the
cover part 2 can be protected from objects that move past. This
means that it can be effectively prevented from being sheared off.
In FIG. 3c, a spring device 6 which is in the form of a closing
spring is also shown by way of example. In this case, the
embodiment may be such that the cover part 2 is always drawn in the
direction of its closed position. If the cover part 2 is to be held
in the open position, locking devices--which are not
illustrated--may be provided for this purpose. This simplifies the
adjustment work on the drawer frame 2, since it is not necessary to
hold the cover part 2 in its open position, in opposition to the
force of the spring, with one hand.
[0020] FIG. 4a shows an example of an embodiment of a cover part 2
which is mounted such that it is displaceable within a
framework-like border 7 in non-detachable manner. The
framework-like border 7 may be formed from synthetic material and
may be attached to the drawer frame 1 as a separate part. For the
purpose of displaceably mounting the cover part 2, a slide track 8
is provided which is in the form of an S shape on the upper and
lower sides of the framework, with the result that the cover part 2
can be displaced into the interior of the frame 1 during the
opening procedure. FIG. 4b shows the framework-like border 7 and
the cover part 2 in an exploded illustration. For the purpose of
precise guidance and holding, pins 10 are provided, which in the
mounted position engage in the slide track 8 which is provided. The
cover part 2 may thus be guided along a predetermined defined
track. To delimit the path of movement, there may be provided a
stop 11 which in the example embodiment shown is formed by a side
wall of the framework-like border 7. In the completely open
position, the narrow end face of the cover part 2 cooperates with
the stop 11.
[0021] The invention is not restricted to the example embodiments
shown but includes or extends to all technical equivalents that
fall within the scope of the claims below. The specifications made
with regard to positions which have been selected in the
description, such as top, bottom, lateral, etc., moreover relate to
the figure which is directly described and presented, and in the
case of a change in position these should be transferred to the new
position appropriately. Although it is true that a preferred
example embodiment provides for the opening 4 which is to be
covered by the cover part 2 to be arranged at the distal ends of
the drawer frame 1, in principle the cover part 2 may be applied to
any positions on the drawer frame 1, including the upper side
thereof, to cover openings that are to be closed off.
* * * * *