U.S. patent application number 15/286995 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-26 for drive device for a movable furniture part.
The applicant listed for this patent is Julius Blum GmbH. Invention is credited to Christof GOETZ, Thomas SCHALLERT.
Application Number | 20170020285 15/286995 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52673652 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170020285 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHALLERT; Thomas ; et
al. |
January 26, 2017 |
DRIVE DEVICE FOR A MOVABLE FURNITURE PART
Abstract
The invention relates to a drive device for a movable furniture
part, comprising two ejecting devices arranged on opposite sides of
the movable furniture part for ejecting the movable furniture part
from a closed position to an open position. The ejecting devices
each comprise a spring-loaded locking element for locking the
ejecting device in a locking position, a guide track having an
angled end segment, wherein the locking element can be locked in
the locking position in the angled end segment, and a release
element separate from the locking element, by means of which
release element the locking element can be released from the angled
end segment into an overpressing position lying behind the closed
position when the movable furniture part is overpressed, and a
synchronizing device, by means of which the release elements of the
two ejecting devices can be synchronized.
Inventors: |
SCHALLERT; Thomas; (Hoechst,
AT) ; GOETZ; Christof; (Lustenau, AT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Julius Blum GmbH |
Hoechst |
|
AT |
|
|
Family ID: |
52673652 |
Appl. No.: |
15/286995 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/AT2015/000029 |
Feb 20, 2015 |
|
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15286995 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 88/47 20170101;
A47B 88/467 20170101; A47B 2210/0067 20130101; A47B 88/463
20170101; A47B 2210/0083 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/04 20060101
A47B088/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 7, 2014 |
AT |
256/2014 |
Claims
1. A drive device for a movable furniture part, comprising two
ejection devices for ejecting the movable furniture part from a
closed position into an open position, wherein the ejection devices
are arranged on opposite sides of the movable furniture part and
wherein each ejection device comprises a spring-loaded locking
element for locking the ejection device in a locking position, a
guide track comprising an angled end section, wherein in the
latching position the locking element can be locked in the angled
end section, and a release element being separate from the locking
element, wherein the locking element can be released from the
angled end section by the release element into an overpressing
position lying behind the closed position when the movable
furniture part is overpressed, and a synchronizing device, by means
of which the release element of the two ejection devices can be
synchronized.
2. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein each ejection
device comprises a housing.
3. The drive device according to claim 2, wherein the guide tracks
are each formed in the housing.
4. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein each guide track
comprises an ejection section.
5. The drive device according to claim 2, wherein the release
elements are each movably, preferably pivotally, supported at the
housing.
6. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein two bearing
positions are formed on each release element, wherein synchronizing
rods of the synchronizing device are rotationally supported at
these bearing positions.
7. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein the locking
elements are each supported slidably in the guide track via two
peg-shaped extensions.
8. The drive device according to claim 1, comprising a retraction
device for retracting, preferably in a damped manner, the movable
furniture part from an open position into the closed position.
9. An item of furniture comprising a furniture carcass, a movable
furniture part and a drive device according to claim 1.
10. The item of furniture according to claim 9, wherein the drive
device is arranged on the underside of the movable furniture
part.
11. The item of furniture according to claim 9, wherein each
ejection device can be coupled in sections via an ejection slider
with an engaging member being fixed to the furniture carcass.
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a drive device for a movable
furniture part, comprising two ejection devices for ejecting the
movable furniture part from a closed position into an open
position, wherein the ejection devices are arranged on opposite
sides of the movable furniture part and wherein each ejection
device comprises a spring-loaded locking element for locking the
ejection device in a locking position, a guide track comprising an
angled end section, wherein in the latching position the locking
element can be locked in the angled end section, and a release
element being separate from the locking element, wherein the
locking element can be released from the angled end section by the
release element into an overpressing position lying behind the
closed position when the movable furniture part is overpressed.
Moreover, the invention concerns an item of furniture with such a
drive device.
[0002] Such a drive device is disclosed in the DE 10 2010 061 482
A1. It concerns primarily the opening and closing operation of a
movable furniture part, wherein the locking of the ejection device
is effected in an angled end section of a guide path. It is
disadvantageous with this known opening and closing device and
drive device respectively that especially when being applied with
broad drawers, an oblique positioning and a one-sided unlocking can
occur by one-sided triggering or overpressing the drawer. This can
lead to an undesired jamming of the drawer in the furniture
carcass.
[0003] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to prevent
these problems. For this reason the present invention also concerns
a synchronizing device.
[0004] Generally, miscellaneous synchronizing devices are already
known from the prior art. A first example for synchronized ejection
devices is disclosed in the EP 1 314 842 B1, according to which the
disengaging levers are connected to each other synchronously and
free from play. Notching extensions--which form the locking
element--are arranged on these disengaging levers. These notching
extensions are locked in a latch which forms a kind of a guide path
for the notching extensions. An unlocking of the notching extension
from the latch takes place by a movement of these two parts
relative to each other when overpressing. There is no release
element which is separate from the latch or from the notching
extension.
[0005] A further lockable ejection device with a synchronizing unit
is disclosed in the WO 2009/114884 A2. Here, an extension formed on
a receiving element is movable and lockable in a heart curve-shaped
sliding guide track. Also in this example the unlocking is effected
by a movement of these two components relative to each other when
overpressing, whereupon an ejection force storage means can relax
and the movable furniture part is ejected into opening
direction.
[0006] Also according to the EP 2 429 339 B1 the locking is
effected via a heart curve-shape sliding guide track, wherein a
latching element supported on a movable slider engages with the
heart curve-shaped sliding guide track. Also here the unlocking is
effected by a relative movement of the latching element to the
heart curve-shaped sliding guide track. The synchronization is
carried out by coupled motions of the linearly movable sliders.
[0007] A further locking of this kind is disclosed in the WO
2013/059847 A1.
[0008] In contrary, the DE 20 2009 005 255 U1 discloses a
synchronizing without a specific mechanic synchronizing unit.
Rather, the synchronizing is effected by a power transmission via
the drawer to the other side, so that the not yet released locking
element is released by the double-acting force of the ejection
force storage means in pulling direction. Thus, also here the
unlocking is carried out by a movement of the switching element
relative to a switching curve.
[0009] Another synchronizing method is disclosed in the not
pre-published Austrian Patent Application A 785/2013. Here, a
synchronizing is conducted only after the overpressing movement, as
a part of the guide track of the not released ejection device is
moved via the synchronizing device when the ejection of the other
ejection device has already begun, whereby the latching peg locked
in a latching recess can be moved out of this latching recess of
the heart curve-shaped sliding guide track. Also here, thus, an
unlocking is carried out by a relative movement between the heart
curve-shaped sliding guide track and the latching peg.
[0010] If now a person skilled in the art has the object to
implement a known synchronizing device in the known DE 10 2010 061
482 A1, the person skilled in the art could take instructions from
the prior art in order to synchronize, for example, the movements
of the locking elements, the movements of the ejection devices or
the movements of parts of the guide track of the two ejection
devices.
[0011] The object--to prevent an oblique positioning of the drawer
in the case of a drive device according to the DE 10 2010 061 482
A1--according to the invention is attained in that the release
elements of the two ejection devices can by synchronized with the
synchronizing device. Thus, a possibility for a synchronization is
established which is not obvious from a combination of the
mentioned documents, especially as there is no release element
separate from the locking element and from the guide track in all
of the synchronizing devices known from the prior art.
[0012] Further preferred embodiments are indicated in the
sub-claims.
[0013] For example it is preferably provided that each ejection
device comprises a housing. For a simple construction it is
provided that the guide tracks are each formed in the housing. For
a more simple ejection movement the guide tracks each comprise
besides the angled end section also an ejection section.
[0014] Basically, the release elements can be movable linearly.
Particularly preferred, however, it is provided that the release
elements are each movably, preferably pivotally, supported at the
housing.
[0015] A synchronization of the release elements can be conducted
for example via a rotatable synchronizing rod which for example
engages via sprockets formed at the end of the rotatable
synchronizing rod with toothed rods formed at the release elements.
Preferably, however, it is provided that two bearing positions are
formed on each release element and synchronizing rods of the
synchronizing device are rotationally supported at these bearing
positions. Particularly preferred, these synchronizing rods are
arranged crossed over so that a rotational movement of one of the
release elements is transformed in a reverse rotational movement of
the other release element.
[0016] For an easy guiding of the locking elements it is provided
that the locking elements are each supported slidably in the guide
track via two peg-shaped extensions.
[0017] In principle, the drive device can only consist of the two
ejection devices and the synchronizing device. However, for still
more variegated applications a retraction device for retracting,
preferably in a damped manner, the movable furniture part form an
open position into the closing position is provided preferably
additional.
[0018] Moreover, protection is sought for an item of furniture with
a furniture carcass, a movable furniture part and a drive device
according to the invention. In such an item of furniture the drive
device can be associated to the furniture carcass. This means, the
two drive devices are mounted on opposite sides of the movable
furniture part, for example directly on the furniture carcass or on
a carcass rail of an extension guide. Preferably, however, it is
provided that the drive device is arranged on the underside of the
movable furniture part, wherein each ejection device can be coupled
in sections via an ejection slider with an engaging member being
fixed to the furniture carcass. This means, the drive device so to
speak pushes itself away from this engaging member being fixed to
the furniture carcass. In these embodiments the retraction device
can be integrated into the extension guide.
[0019] Further details and advantages of the present invention are
described more fully hereinafter by means of the specific
description with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the
drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1a shows an item of furniture with a movable furniture
part and a drive device,
[0021] FIG. 1b shows a movable furniture part with a drive
device,
[0022] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a drive device,
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a 3D-view of the assembled drive device and
[0024] FIGS. 4 to 14 each show in a top view the function sequence
of the movements of the drive device.
[0025] FIG. 1a shows an item of furniture with a furniture carcass
16 and two movable furniture parts 2 built as drawers. These
drawers each comprise a drawer box 22 and a front panel 21. The
movable furniture parts 2 are movably supported at the furniture
carcass 16 via extension guides. These extension guides comprise at
least one carcass rail 19 and one drawer rail 20. A drive device 1
is arranged on the bottom of the movable furniture part 2. The
drive device 1 comprises two ejection devices 3 arranged on
opposite sides of the movable furniture part 2 as well as a
synchronizing device 8. Engaging members 18 are arranged on the
carcass rails 19.
[0026] FIG. 1b shows the bottom of the movable furniture part 2
with the drive device 1 at least partly mounted to the movable
furniture part 2. This drive device 1 also comprises a retraction
device 14 for retracting the movable furniture part 2 from an open
position OS into a closed position SS, which retraction device 14
is arranged in or at the extension guide. In this embodiment the
retraction device 14 is mounted to the drawer rail 20 and can be
coupled with the engaging member 38 arranged at the carcass rail
19. Moreover, the attachment of the engaging member 18 at the
carcass rail 19 via a holding plate 37 is recognizable.
[0027] The drive device 1 in a partial exploded view is apparent in
FIG. 2. As already apparent in this FIG. 2, the two ejection
devices 3 are each formed mirror-symmetrically. Basically, however,
slight differences could of course exist between the two ejection
devices 3. For an easier production, however, the ejection devices
3 are formed identically or exactly mirror-symmetrically. Each of
the ejection devices 3 comprises a housing mountable to the movable
furniture part 2. The guide track 5 with the ejection section 10
and the angled end section 6 is formed in this housing 9. Moreover,
the guide track 30 for the extension 29 formed at the locking
element 4 and the guide track 25 for the ejection slider 17 are
formed in the housing 9. The ejection slider 17 is linearly movable
along this guide track 25. The ejection slider 17 comprises the
coupling extension 23 via which the ejection devices 3 can each be
coupled with the engaging member 18 being fixed to the furniture
carcass. The detents 27 are movably supported via pressure springs
28 at each ejection slider 17. The locking element 4 is movably
supported in the guide track 5 via the two extensions 13. The other
extension 29 of the ejection element 4 engages into the guide track
30. The ejection force storage means 24 formed as a tension spring
is kept on the one side at the extension 29 of the locking element
4 and on the other side at the spring base 33 formed at the housing
9. The release elements 7 are formed separately from the guide
tracks 5 and from the locking elements 4. The release elements 7
are also movable relative to the guide tracks 5 and to the locking
elements 4. The release elements 7 are rotationally supported via
rotary bearings 31 in the recesses 35 formed in the housing 9.
Further, bearing positions 11 are formed in each of the release
elements 7, in which bearing positions 11 the extensions 32 of the
synchronizing rods 12 engage. The synchronizing device 9 is built
by these synchronizing rods 12 with the extensions 32 formed
thereon in collaboration with the bearing positions 11 at the
release elements 7. The damping element 26 serves for a smooth
deceleration or damping of the ejection movement of the locking
element 4.
[0028] In FIG. 3 the drive device 1 is depicted in an assembled
condition in the case of a relaxed force storage means 24. As
apparent, the two synchronizing rods 12 are arranged crossed-over
in different heights.
[0029] The top view of the drive device 1 according to FIG. 4
corresponds to the 3D view according to FIG. 3. If this drive
device 1 is arranged on the underside of the movable furniture part
2, according to FIG. 4 still no contacts exists to the
schematically depicted engaging members 18 being fixed to the
furniture carcass. Thus, the movable furniture part 2 is situated
in the open position OS.
[0030] If the movable furniture part 2 is manually moved from the
position according to FIG. 4 into closing direction SR, the
coupling extensions 23 of the two ejection sliders 17 reach contact
with the engaging members 18. As these engaging members 18 are
stationary, the ejection sliders 17 are moved relative to the
housings 9. As also the locking elements 4 abut the detents 27
formed at the ejection sliders 17 via the noses 34, also the
locking elements 4 are moved relative to the housings 9 along the
guide tracks 5. As the force storage means 24 are held at the
extensions 29 of the locking elements 4, the force storage means 24
are tensioned in the case of this movement into closing direction
SR.
[0031] In FIG. 6 this tensioning process has further continued. The
movable furniture part 2 is still situated in an open position
OS.
[0032] According to FIG. 7 the movement of the movable furniture
part 2 into closing direction SR has further continued, so that the
locking elements 4 reach the angled end sections 6 of the guide
tracks. With reaching the angled end sections 6, the two locking
elements 4 each contact the release elements 7, so that these
release elements 7 correspondingly rotate about the rotary bearing
31. These rotational movements of the release elements 7 are
synchronized by the synchronizing device 8.
[0033] In FIG. 8 the locking elements 4 have reached the end of the
angled end sections 6 of the guide tracks 5. Thereby, the locking
elements 4 are kept in the guide track 5 because of the inclination
and the friction of the extensions 13. Thus, the force storage
means 24 cannot relax. In this position of the locking elements 4,
the two ejection devices 3 are each situated in the locking
position VS. According to FIG. 8, due to a retraction device 14
(not shown) the two ejection sliders 17 have already been moved
further into closing direction SR till the closing position SS of
the movable furniture part 2 is reached. In this closing position
SS the detents 27 each abut the extensions 36 of the release
elements 7.
[0034] If the movable furniture part 2 is overpressed into closing
direction SR starting from this closing position SS according to
FIG. 8, the movable furniture part 2 reaches an overpressing
position OS according to FIG. 9. In this overpressing position OS
the ejection sliders 17 are further moved relative to the housings
8 due to the collaboration with the engaging members 18 fixed to
the furniture carcass, so that via their extensions 36 the release
elements 7 are rotated by the detents 27 about the rotary bearings
31. Should here, in the event of this overpressing movement, the
movable furniture part 2 be pushed only one-sided, so only on this
side the release element 7 is actively moved or rotated by the
detent 27. But yet also a movement of the release element 7 is
effected each time on the opposite side, namely by the
synchronizing movement via the two synchronizing rods 12. With this
rotational movement of the two release elements triggered by the
overpressing movement, both locking elements 4 are moved or
released substantially at the same time and, thus, synchronously
from the angled end section 6. Therefore, the locking position VS
is unset, the locking elements 4 are not anymore kept in the angled
end sections 6 and the two ejection force storage means 24 can
begin to relax.
[0035] Due to this ejection process shown in FIG. 10, the locking
element 4 is moved along the ejection section 10 of the guide track
5. Also the ejection slider 17 is carried via the nose 34, so that
the ejection devices 3 are pushing themselves away from the
engaging member 18 fixed to the carcass. The movable furniture part
2 is thereby moved into opening direction OR, so that the movable
furniture part 2 again reaches an open position OS. Also a
retraction device 14 (not shown) can be loaded simultaneously with
this ejection process.
[0036] In FIG. 11, this ejection process has already further
progressed but is not yet finished.
[0037] In FIG. 12 the ejection process is completed and the force
storage means 24 are relaxed. At the end of the ejection movement
the locking elements 4 touch the damping elements 26. The ejection
sliders 17 are further moved along the guide track 25 by the
momentum or by a manual onward movement, whereby the detents 27
reach contact with the noses 34 of the locking elements 4.
[0038] Then, the detents 27 are moved relative to the ejection
sliders 17 against the force of the pressure spring 28 (see FIG.
13).
[0039] In FIG. 14 also the movements of the ejections sliders 17
are completed and the detents 27 have driven over the noses 34. The
ejection devices 3 do not anymore abut the engaging members 18
being fixed to the carcass via the coupling extensions 23, so that
the movable furniture part 2 is situated in an open position OS, in
which the movable furniture part 2 can be moved freely by hand. The
starting position according to FIG. 4 is reached again.
* * * * *