U.S. patent application number 13/850574 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for unknown.
This patent application is currently assigned to Grass GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is Grass GmbH. Invention is credited to Peter LANGGUTH, Franz REISCHL, Klaus SCHNEIDER.
Application Number | 20130328468 13/850574 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48050389 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130328468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHNEIDER; Klaus ; et
al. |
December 12, 2013 |
Unknown
Abstract
An apparatus for moving a first furniture part in relation to a
second furniture part, having two spaced-apart guide devices in
which switching devices are provided. A closed position of the
first furniture part is predefinable by way of the switching
devices. Furthermore, connecting means for a coupled switching
movement of the switching devices are provided between the guide
devices. According to the present invention, in each case one
carry-along element is provided on the guide devices and catching
elements for the carry-along elements are present, wherein
movements of the catching elements are coupled, wherein one
carry-along element interacts with in each case with one catching
element at least along one switching path of the switching device
and wherein the carry-along elements are separated from the
catching elements at least via a movement of the guide devices.
Inventors: |
SCHNEIDER; Klaus; (Hochst,
AT) ; LANGGUTH; Peter; (Wangen, DE) ; REISCHL;
Franz; (Schwarzenberg, AT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Grass GmbH; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Grass GmbH
Hochst
AT
|
Family ID: |
48050389 |
Appl. No.: |
13/850574 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/319.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/463 20170101;
A47B 2210/0078 20130101; A47B 88/467 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/319.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/04 20060101
A47B088/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 26, 2012 |
DE |
20 2012 003 004.3 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for moving a first furniture part in relation to a
second furniture part comprising: two spaced-apart guide devices in
which switching devices are provided, wherein a closed position of
the first furniture part is predefinable by way of the switching
devices, wherein connecting means for a coupled switching movement
of the switching devices are provided between the two guide devices
wherein in each case one carry-along element is provided on the
guide devices and catching elements for the carry-along elements
are present, wherein movements of the catching elements are
coupled, wherein one carry-along element interacts with in each
case one catching element at least along one switching path of the
switching device, and wherein the carry-along elements are
separated from the catching elements at least via a movement of the
guide devices.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising bearing
means for the catching element comprising an attachment element for
attaching to one of the two guide devices.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the attachment
element is fixable to a positionable part of the switching
device.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the positionable
part of the switching device is a housing.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the attachment
element is attachable in a detachable manner.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catching element
comprises a rotary disk.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a catching slot for
the carry-along element is formed on the catching element.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the catching slot
has, in a catching position of the catching element, a section
which extends parallel to the movement of the carry-along
element.
9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein first
movement-limiting stops, by way of which a catching position of the
catching element is predefined, are formed on the catching element
and on the bearing means.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the catching
element is subjected to a spring force which can hold the catching
element in a catching position.
11. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one
movement-limiting stop, by way of which a movement of the catching
element is limitable when the carry-along element carries the
catching element during a switching movement, is formed on the
catching element and on the bearing means.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a switching
position of at least one of the switching devices is settable
parallel to the traveling movements of the first furniture
part.
13. A piece of furniture having an apparatus according to claim 1.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for moving a first
furniture part in relation to a second furniture part, and a piece
of furniture having such an apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A large number of apparatuses, by way of which furniture
parts can be moved in relation to one another on a predefined
track, are already known from the field of furniture construction.
For example, many are provided for guiding the movement of drawers
and similar pull-out furniture components on a basic furniture
structure. In order that, for example, a drawer can easily be moved
into a closed position or moved out of such a position, such guide
apparatuses are frequently equipped with pushing-out or retraction
devices. Because these usually also comprise a switching mechanism
for locking a closed position, they are designated switching
devices in the following text.
[0003] Depending on the height/width ratios of a movable furniture
part, for example of a drawer, there is a more or less great risk
of the piece of furniture jamming in the guide devices, as a result
of which movement can be hindered and a guide system may be
damaged. For uniform distribution of driving and closing forces,
such devices are preferably provided on two sides of movable
furniture elements. For a uniform pull-out movement of opposite
sides of, for example, a drawer, a plurality of racks attached, for
example, to the base can be synchronized via toothed wheels, which
are coupled to a common rotary shaft. However, such synchronization
devices require a certain amount of installation space and possibly
even occasional cleaning and maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus which enables reliable opening and closing of a movable
furniture part while having a comparatively small space
requirement.
[0005] The present invention proceeds from an apparatus for moving
a first furniture part in relation to a second furniture part,
wherein the apparatus has two spaced-apart guide devices in which
switching devices are provided. A closed position of the furniture
part is predefinable in this case by way of the switching devices.
In addition, connecting means for a coupled switching movement of
the switching device are provided between the guide devices.
[0006] The core of the present invention consists in that in each
case one carry-along element is provided on the guide devices, in
that catching elements for the carry-along elements are present,
wherein movements of the catching elements are coupled, wherein one
carry-along element interacts with, in each case, one catching
element at least along one switching path of the switching device
and wherein the carry-along elements are separated from the
catching elements at least via a movement, in particular a pull-out
movement, of the guide devices.
[0007] During the installation of guide devices, care is generally
taken to ensure that, for example, left-hand-side and
right-hand-side guide devices and the switching devices thereof are
attached and set symmetrically. In use, forces can act
asymmetrically on the furniture part and can lead to an offset
between switching elements. The present invention is based on the
finding that synchronization between switching devices, for
example, of a left-hand and right-hand guide device of, for
example, a drawer is in many cases necessary only in the region of
the switching path of the switching devices, in particular for
switching operations for locking and unlocking the closed position.
In this case, it is sufficient for interaction between the
carry-along elements and the catching elements to be limited
substantially to the region of the switching path and for the
synchronization elements, such as the carry-along elements and the
coupled-together catching elements, to have no influence on
movements of the furniture parts with respect to one another in the
region of a pull-out movement away from the switching path.
[0008] This affords the advantage that the first furniture part can
be moved over a usually longer path of a pull-out movement without
being influenced by synchronizing elements and thus without the
frictional contribution thereof, while movements are coupled on
both sides of interacting switching elements over a comparatively
short switching path. Because a synchronizing coupling is provided
substantially in the region of a switching path, the catching
elements and the carry-along elements can be formed in a
comparatively space-saving manner.
[0009] The guide devices may comprise two or more rails and can be
configured as, for example, a full-extension mechanism. The
switching devices may be opening devices, in particular pushing-out
devices, for example, touch-latch units. Furthermore it is possible
for the switching devices to be closing devices, in particular
automatic retraction units. In this case, the switching devices can
support switching operations by way of which the first furniture
part can be unlocked from a predefined closed position. Similarly,
the first furniture part can be lockable in a predefined closed
position of the switching operations by way of the switching
devices.
[0010] Preferably, the switching device is formed such that the
switching path for a switching operation is comparatively short
compared with the path of a pull-out movement. As a result, a
comparatively compact construction of the carry-along and catching
elements is advantageously possible.
[0011] Bearing means for at least one of the catching elements
preferably comprise an attachment element for attaching to a guide
device, in particular on a switching device. This advantageously
makes it easier to mount and adjust the apparatus according to the
present invention.
[0012] On account of manufacturing tolerances, by attaching the
guide devices to the furniture parts it is also possible for the
switching devices on both sides of a movable furniture part to be
offset with respect to one another in relation to the movement
direction of a pull-out movement. In order to be able to compensate
for positional deviations, for example, with respect to
movement-limiting stops, the switching devices preferably have one
or more positionable parts. In order to transfer positional
corrections to synchronizing elements, too, in particular to at
least one of the catching elements, it is preferred for the
attachment element to be fixable on a positionable part of the
switching device. By way of the positionable part, a closed
position can be set on the switching device. Furthermore, a
positionable part can be used for adaptation to, for example, a
switching path and, for example, to a switching position of the
switching device.
[0013] Since a housing, which is provided, for example, for
protecting movable parts, is comparatively stable and usually
provides a plurality of attachment positions, the positionable part
of the switching device is preferably a housing, which surrounds in
particular at least a part of the switching device.
[0014] Furthermore, it is preferable for the attachment element to
be attachable in a detachable manner. In this case, for example, a
basic-furniture-structure rail may be provided for attaching the
attachment element. In particular, the attachment element is
attachable without tools, as a result of which subsequent
installation of the catching elements is more easily possible.
[0015] The catching element can have, for example, a lever, which
can be folded over by a carry-along member. In a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the catching element comprises
a rotary disk because a comparatively reliable and stable catching
region for a carry-along element can be formed thereon.
[0016] Preferably, a catching slot for the carry-along element is
provided in the catching element, such that the carry-along element
is producible and attachable in a comparatively simple manner, for
example, as a hook or, for example, as a carry-along pin.
[0017] In order that comparatively strongly offset movements of the
carry-along elements between, for example, two sides can be
synchronized, it is preferred for the catching slot to have in a
catching position of the catching element, a section which extends
parallel to the movement of the carry-along element. As a result,
it can be ensured that, when a catching element is activated by a
carry-along element, the carry-along element on the other side is
likewise already located in the respective catching element.
[0018] Preferably, first movement-limiting stops, by way of which a
catching position of the catching element is predefined, are formed
on the catching element and on the bearing means. In this case, the
catching element may be subjected to a spring force which can hold
the catching element in a catching position. Preferably, spring
elements and the first movement-limiting stops are present on
catching elements of a plurality of guide devices, for example, on
both sides of, for example, a drawer, in order to increase the
reliability of synchronization.
[0019] Furthermore, it is preferred for at least one
movement-limiting stop, by way of which a movement of the catching
element is limitable when the carry-along element carries the
catching elements during a switching movement, to be formed on the
catching element and on the bearing means. As a result, in
particular when the catching element is under spring force, it is
possible to avoid the situation in which the carry-along element is
able to leave the catching element in a position which makes it
impossible for the carry-along element to be received in the
catching element again.
[0020] Preferably, a switching position of at least one of the
switching devices is settable parallel to the traveling movement of
the first furniture part. Likewise, it is preferred for a closed
position and/or a switching path of at least one switching device
to be settable parallel to the traveling movement of the first
furniture part. As a result, the switching devices can be adapted
to, for example, movement-limiting elements, for example, stops,
and positional differences, for example, of the guide devices on
account of manufacturing tolerances can advantageously be
compensated.
[0021] A piece of furniture having an apparatus according to the
present invention in at least one of the abovementioned embodiments
can be operated in a comparatively reliable manner and as a result
advantageously increases the reliability in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The present invention is explained in the following text by
way of a plurality of exemplary embodiments with the aid of
drawings, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture
having a guide system according to one embodiment of the present
invention,
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the synchronization
device of a guide system according to one embodiment of the present
invention,
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a catching unit of one
embodiment of the present invention,
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of a guide
system according to the present invention,
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a detail of a guide
system according to the present invention,
[0028] FIG. 6 shows a schematic, perspective view of a detail of a
further embodiment of a guide system of the present invention,
[0029] FIG. 7 shows a schematic, perspective view of a bearing
block of the further embodiment of the present invention,
[0030] FIG. 8 shows a schematic, perspective view of a guide device
having a catching unit in another embodiment of the present
invention, and
[0031] FIG. 9 shows a schematic, perspective view of a catching
unit and a switching device in the another embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a detail of a piece of furniture 1 in the form
of a drawer compartment. A rear wall element 2a, and a left-hand
and a right-hand side wall element 2b and 2c, a base panel element
2d and also two transverse struts 2e and 2f attached in the region
of a top edge of the side wall elements 2b and 2c surround a space
which is provided for a drawer (not shown).
[0033] The compartment bounded by the panel elements 2a to 2f is
equipped with a guide system 3 according to the present invention,
which consists of a left-hand side guide device 4a, a right-hand
side guide device 4b and also a synchronization device 5.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of parts of the
synchronization device 5 in detail. A left-hand side catching unit
6a and a right-hand side catching unit 6b are connected together
via a coupling shaft 7. Each of the catching units 6a, 6b comprises
a catching element 12, which is rotatably mounted in a bearing
block 11 by way of a pivot pin 15. The pivot pin 15 is connected in
a rotationally fixed manner to the coupling shaft 7 via a coupling
piece 9, such that rotary movements of the, for example, left-hand
side catching unit 6a or the catching element 12 thereof can be
transferred without delay to the catching element 12 of the, for
example, right-hand side catching unit 6b.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows a left-hand side catching unit 6a of a guide
system 3 according to the present invention. The catching unit has
a bearing block 11 which is fastened to a mounting plate 14. In
order to attach the mounting plate to a left-hand side guide device
4a, the mounting plate 14 has two bores 14a by way of which the
mounting plate 14 can be fastened to a guide device 4a. By way of
the bearing block 11, a catching element 12 is rotatably mounted by
way of a pivot pin 15. The catching element 12 is in the form of a
cylindrical circular disk, from the lateral surface of which
catching slots 13 have been cut out. The pivot pin 15 has an
asymmetrical section 15a, by way of which the pivot pin 15 can be
coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to a coupling shaft.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a detail of a guide system 3 according to the
present invention having a right-hand side guide device 4b and a
right-hand side catching unit 6b. A bearing block 11 of the
right-hand side catching unit 6b is fastened by way of a mounting
plate 14 on a basic-furniture-structure rail 16a of the guide
device 4b. A catching element 12 is rotatably mounted in the
bearing block 11 by way of a pivot pin 15 and is connected in a
rotationally fixed manner to a coupling shaft 7 via a coupling
piece 9. A drawer rail 16c is displaceably mounted and guided on
the basic-furniture-structure rail 16a. Fastened to the drawer rail
16c is a carry-along member 8 in the form of a cylindrical pin,
which can act on the catching element 12 in a catching slot 13.
[0037] A left-hand side guide device 4a of a guide system 3
according to the present invention having a left-hand side catching
unit 6a is shown in FIG. 5. The left-hand side guide device 4a
comprises a basic-furniture-structure rail 16a on which a drawer
rail 16c is displaceably mounted and guided in a displaceable
manner via an intermediate rail 16b, which is movable with respect
to both rails. In a rear region of the basic-furniture-structure
rail 16a, a switching unit 20, which may be, for example, a
pushing-out unit, and the catching unit 6a are fastened to the
basic-furniture-structure rail 16a.
[0038] A left-hand side guide device 4a of a guide apparatus 3
according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 in an
extended state, in which the intermediate rail 16b and the drawer
rail 16c have been extended telescopically. Accordingly, a
carry-along member 8, for example, a cylindrical pin attached to
the drawer rail 16c, is located at an appropriate distance from the
catching unit 6a. As a result it can be seen that the catching unit
6a is fastened to the basic-furniture-structure rail 16a.
[0039] FIGS. 6 and 7 show details of a left-hand side guide device
4a of a further embodiment of a guide system 3 according to the
present invention. In this case, a left-hand side catching unit 6a
is fastened together with a switching device 20 on a
basic-furniture-structure rail 16a with the aid of a mounting plate
14. As seen from the basic-furniture-structure rail 16a, the
catching unit 6a and the switching device are offset further into
the interior of a basic furniture structure (not shown) than a
drawer rail 16c. As a result the switching device 20 and the
catching unit 6a can be arranged in the immediate vicinity of one
other.
[0040] The catching unit 6a comprises a catching element 12 and a
bearing block 11, on which the catching element 12 is mounted
rotatably by way of a pivot pin 15 in a cylindrical recess in the
bearing block 11. By way of a coupling piece 9, the pivot pin 15 is
connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a rotary shaft 10 which
is provided for coupling to a further catching unit (not
shown).
[0041] Formed on the bearing block 11 are stops 18 which, together
with stops 17 of the catching element 12, limit the rotary
movements thereof. Arranged between the bearing block 11 and the
catching element 12 is a spring 19 which can be clamped between the
two parts 11, 12 in order to hold the catching element 12 in a
catching position, at least as long as a carry-along member 8,
which is in the form of a cylindrical pin here, does not engage in
the catching element.
[0042] The switching device 20 comprises a carrier element 25 in
which a cylindrical housing 23 of the switching unit 20 is
embedded. The position of the housing 23 is settable parallel to
the movement directions of the drawer rail 16c.
[0043] Formed on the bearing block 11 is a plate-like section 21,
at the end of which there is a bore 21a. With the aid of a
connecting element 22, for example, a pin or, for example, a screw,
the plate-like section 21 of the left-hand-side-catching unit 6a
can be fixed to the housing 23 and thus be coupled to a position of
a settable element of the switching unit 20.
[0044] A further way of attaching a left-hand-side catching unit 6a
to a left-hand-side guide device 4a is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
which correspond to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates the view of an underside of the left-hand side
guide device 4a, which comprises a basic-furniture-structure rail
16a and a drawer rail 16c. Attached to the
basic-furniture-structure rail 16a is a switching device 20 having
a housing 23 which is accessible through a recess 26 in the
underside of the basic-furniture-structure rail 16a.
[0045] FIGS. 8 and 9 show only a view of an underside of the
catching unit 6a, and so only a pivot pin 15 and a mounting plate
14 of the catching unit 6a are discernible. Two brackets 14c
located in a parallel direction in succession are punched out of
the mounting plate 14, wherein the brackets 14c curve out towards
the top side of the mounting plate. The brackets 14c are provided
to engage in slots 27 on the underside of the
basic-furniture-structure rail 16a, wherein the brackets 14c are
formed such that they engage through the slots 27 and in the
process can engage behind the basic-furniture-structure rail
16a.
[0046] Formed on the mounting plate 14 are two bars 14b and 14d,
which are provided to engage in the recess 26 on the underside of
the basic-furniture-structure rail 16a. The bar 14d is bent twice
and at opposite angles at its end. As a result it is designed to
engage behind the recess 26 in the basic-furniture-structure rail
16a in order, for example, to prevent the mounting plate 14 from
being removed from the basic-furniture-structure rail 16a.
[0047] The bar 14b of the mounting plate 14 is provided to fix the
mounting plate 14 to the housing 23 of the switching device 20. For
this purpose, two stops 23a are formed on the housing 23. The bar
14b and the stops 23a are matched to one another such that the bar
14b can engage with negligible or no play between the stops 23a.
The housing 23 has a threaded section 23b. A screw cap 24 having an
internal thread (not shown) is screwed onto the threaded section
23b. By way of a screw cap 24, a position of the housing 23 on the
basic-furniture-structure rail 16a is settable along the
longitudinal axis of the housing in the attachment (not shown)
thereof and parallel to the direction of movement of the drawer
rail 16c. By engagement of the bar 14b, settings of the position of
the housing 23 on the mounting plate 14 and thus on the catching
unit 6a can be assigned.
[0048] A coupling rod 28 is movably mounted in the housing 23 and
can be pushed out or retracted by an energy store, for example, a
spring, accommodated, for example, in the housing 23. A switching
mechanism (not shown), which predefines, for example, a closed
position or switching position, can be accommodated in the housing.
As a result of the engagement of the bar 14b in the housing 23, the
position of the catching unit 6a is coupled directly to the
respective position of the closed position or switching
position.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0049] 1 Piece of furniture [0050] 2a Rear wall element [0051] 2b
Side wall element [0052] 2c Side wall element [0053] 2d Base panel
element [0054] 2e Transverse strut [0055] 2f Transverse strut
[0056] 3 Left-hand side Guide system [0057] 4a Right-hand side
Guide device [0058] 4b Guide device [0059] 5 Synchronization device
[0060] 6a Left-hand side Catching unit [0061] 6b Right-hand side
Catching unit [0062] 7 Coupling shaft [0063] 8 Carry-along member
[0064] 9 Coupling piece [0065] 10 Rotary shaft [0066] 11 Bearing
block [0067] 12 Catching element [0068] 13 Catching slot [0069] 14
Mounting plate [0070] 14a Bore [0071] 14b Bar [0072] 14c Bracket
[0073] 14d Bar [0074] 15 Pivot pin [0075] 15a Asymmetrical section
[0076] 16a Basic-furniture-structure rail [0077] 16b Intermediate
rail [0078] 16c Drawer rail [0079] 17 Stop [0080] 18 Stop [0081] 19
Spring [0082] 20 Switching device [0083] 21 Plate-like section
[0084] 21a Bore [0085] 22 Connecting element [0086] 23 Housing
[0087] 23a Stop [0088] 23b Threaded section [0089] 24 Screw cap
[0090] 25 Carrier element [0091] 26 Recess [0092] 27 Slot [0093] 28
Coupling rod
* * * * *