AU2008340578B2

AU2008340578B2 - Front-adjustment means for drawers, and drawer

Info

Publication number: AU2008340578B2
Application number: AU2008340578A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Schubert
Original assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2007-12-22
Filing date: 2008-11-10
Publication date: 2014-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-10
Also published as: DE202007017999U1; KR20100093071A; RU2585522C2; WO2009080403A1; JP5515052B2; EP2222202B1; ES2612541T3; CN101877979A; KR101525382B1; EP2222202A1; JP2011507565A; RU2010128739A; AU2008340578A1; CN101877979B

Abstract

A front-adjustment means for drawers comprises a slide (4) which can be secured on a side frame (3) and is mounted in a displaceable manner on a guide (5) which can be connected to a front panel (2), wherein the guide (5) and slide (4) have arranged between them a rotatable worm wheel (6) which moves along the guide (5) as the slide (4) rotates. This makes it possible to have an easy-to-install adjustment means having only a small number of components.

Description

1 Front-adjustment means for drawers, and drawer The present invention relates to a front adjuster for drawers, having a slide which can be fixed on a side frame, and which is mounted so it is displaceable on a guide connectable to a front panel, and a drawer. DE 100 21 033 discloses an adjustment device for the front panel of a drawer, in which numerous adjustment means are provided in a housing in the form of pinions, levers, and toothed racks, using which a relative adjustment of the front panel in relation to the draw er frame is possible. The adjustment mechanism requires a plurality of components and is comparatively complex to produce. DE 39 30 662 discloses an adjustment apparatus for the front panel of a drawer, in which a screw which can be actuated from the side meshes with a gearwheel, which has an ec centric pin, which is guided in a recess for the longitudinal adjustment. Such a geared construction allows a corresponding adjustment, but is also comparatively complex to produce and install. Finally, US 3,041,657 discloses a furniture fitting for hanging doors, in which an adjust ment capability is provided in the vertical direction. A rotatable curve guide is mounted on a housing, using which a holder, which is movable on a rail, is adjustable. In the case of such hanging doors, the adjustment device can be locked by the occurring high weight forces after the adjustment, the fitting parts typically comprising metal because of strength requirements. The present invention seeks to provide a front adjuster for drawers, which has a simple construction and allows an adjustment of a front panel relative to a side frame. In one aspect there is provided a drawer, comprising a side frame on which a front panel is retained so it is adjustable, wherein a front adjuster is provided between the side frame 5065833 (GHMatter) P83857AU 2 and the front panel, the front adjuster being installed on a frame attachment and having a slide, which can be fixed on the side frame, and which is mounted so it is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the side frame on a guide connectable to the front panel, wherein a rotatable worm wheel is situated between the guide and slide, which moves the slide along the guide in the event of a rotation wherein the front panel is retained so it is pivotable on the lower section of the side frame. According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotatable worm wheel is situated on the guide, which can be fixed on the front panel, and a rail, which can be fixed on a side frame, which moves the slide along the guide in the event of a rotation. An adjustment capability for front panels of drawers can thus be provided, which is only produced from a few components and may be installed easily. In addition, this front adjuster can be im plemented in a compact construction and is also suitable for use in tight space conditions. For an exact adjustment, the worm wheel is engaged with a slide using at least one pro jection. Multiple projections may be engaged with the worm wheel simultaneously, so that particularly good guiding is provided between worm wheel and slide. According to an embodiment of the invention, the slide and the guide are implemented as strip-shaped, and may be guided relatively exactly on one another by corresponding guide surfaces. In addition, a strip-shaped implementation allows a flat construction, positive interlocking being possible through a corresponding cross-sectional design. The guide may be implemented as U-shaped in cross-section and laterally encompasses the slide. The worm wheel may be mounted so it is rotatable in an opening on the guide. The worm wheel can thus be inserted using a circular projection into the opening, the worm wheel having a spiral projection, which is engaged with at least one projection on the slide. The projection can accordingly be moved linearly in the event of rotation of the worm wheel. The worm wheel can be situated in a cavity between slide and guide, so that no additional retention or bearing means are necessary. The front adjuster thus formed may additional ly be removed easily and nondestructively. 5056583_3 (GHMatters) P83857.AU 3 The guide may be fixed on the front panel on a front side via fastening means. The guide can have at least one opening or one slot, for example, on which a screw can be fixed. In addition, another fastening via adhesives or mechanical fasteners is also possible. In order to be able to fix the slide and the guide on one another after an adjustment ac tion, they can be fixed clamped on one another, for example. A locking screw can be provided on the slide and/or the guide for this purpose. Other fixing elements may also be used in order to avoid unintentional adjustment of slide and guide. According to an embodiment of the invention, the front adjuster may be installed on a frame attachment and the front panel is retained so it is pivotable on a lower section of the side frame. Because the frame attachment extends from the drawer rear wall up to the front panel, force can be relayed directly via the frame attachment from the front panel to the rear wall using the front adjuster, which allows a small distance adjustment in the longitudinal direction of the side panel. Furthermore, the inclination of the front panel relative to the drawer can be set as a result of the longitudinal adjustment capability. The problem often results in particular in the case of taller drawers that the front panels are not entirely surface-flush, but rather stick out from one another somewhat at the upper edge or press too closely against the body. An inclination adjustment is possible for the correction. The invention is explained in greater detail hereafter on the basis of multiple exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended drawings. In the figures: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a front adjuster for drawers in the installed state; Figure 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the front adjuster of Figure 1; 50565833 (GHMatters) P83857.AU 4 Figures 3A through 3C show multiple views of the front adjuster of Figure I without drawers; Figures 4A and 4B show two views of the front adjuster of Figure 3 in different positions; Figures 5A through 5C show multiple views of the front adjuster of Figure 3 during the installation, and Figures 6A and 6B show two views of a front adjuster according to a modified embodiment. A front adjuster 1 for a drawer is installed between a front panel 2 and a side frame 3. The side frame 3 has a lower section 30 and a frame attachment 31. The front adjuster 1 is installed on the frame attachment 31 and allows an adjustment in the longitudinal di rection of the side frame. The front panel 2 can thus be pivoted, a pivot axis 32 being im plemented in the area between the lower section 30 and the front panel 2. The frame at tachment 31 can be implemented as a plate, in particular a glass plate, or as a railing bar or profile. The front panel 2 can be fixed in the area of the pivot axis 32 using front fastening fit tings, which may also have vertical and lateral adjustment mechanisms, and also depth adjustment means. As shown in Figure 2, the front adjuster 1 comprises a slide 4, which is situated so it is displaceable along a guide 5. Slide 4 and guide 5 are implemented as strip-shaped and may be produced from plastic and/or metal. The guide 5 has a circular opening 14 in a floor area, on which a worm wheel 6 is mounted so it is rotatable.

5 The slide 4 is fixedly connected via a screw 7 to a side frame 3 of a drawer, the screw 7 being guided in a sleeve 8 made of plastic, for example, which is inserted into an opening 9 of the side frame 3. The screw 7 is fixed using a threaded section in a threaded hole 10 on the slide 4. Other fastening means may also be provided for fixing the slide 4 on the side frame 3, for example, the slide 4 can also be glued onto the attachment 31, in par ticular if it is implemented as a glass plate. At least one screw 11 is provided for fixing the guide 5 on the front panel 2, which is in sertable into a slot or an opening 13 on the front wall of the guide 5. The screw I1 is screwed into a hole 12 on the front panel 2 using a threaded section. As shown in Figure 3, the strip-shaped guide 5 has a U-shaped cross-section having side walls 15, which have an inwardly directed web 16 on their end. A strip-shaped projection 17 of the slide 4 is thus encompassed in each case, so that slide 4 and guide 5 may be linearly displaced in the longitudinal direction. To adjust the position of the slide 4 relative to the guide 5, projections 19, which may be engaged with a spiral projection 18 of the worm wheel 6, are implemented on the slide 4 on the side facing toward the guide 5. The spiral projection 18 is rotatable around the axis formed by the opening 14 and ensures that the projections 19 and thus the slide 4 are dis placed linearly upon a rotation of the worm wheel 6. The user must only rotate the worm wheel 6 using a screwdriver 20, the strip-shaped projection 18 also being able to be en gaged with multiple projections 19. A position of the front adjuster is shown in Figure 4A, in which the slide 4 is completely received in the guide 5 (maximally retracted position). The guide 5 is fixed on the front panel via a fastening screw 11 and the worm wheel 6 has been rotated into a position in which the slide 4 is retracted. In order to adjust the slide 4 and thus the length of the at tachment 31 of the side frame 3, the worm wheel 6 is rotated until the extended position shown in Figure 4B is reached. The strip-shaped projection 18 of the worm wheel has 6 pressed the particular projections 19 out of the guide 5 in one direction and thus caused a corresponding adjustment. The installation of the front adjuster is shown in detail in Figures 5A through 5C. Firstly, the slide 4 is fastened on the side frame 3, the screw 7 not yet having been completely tightened. On the other side, the guide 5 is fixed on the front panel 2 via one or more screws 11, the worm wheel 6 being placed on the guide 5. Subsequently, the slide 4 is in serted into the guide 5 and the worm wheel 6 is additionally rotated, so that the spiral pro jection 18 engages with one of the projections 19. In this pre-fixed position, an adjustment of the front panel 2 relative to the side frame 3 can be performed in the above-described way. After the setting, the screw 7 can be screwed in further, in order to fix the slide 4 relative to the guide 5. A front side of the screw 7 can be moved on the base of the guide 5 for clamped fixing. Alternatively, it is also possible that the screw 7 is moved against a section of the worm wheel 6. Slide 4 and guide 5 are thus fixed on one another and an unintentional adjustment is avoided. In Figures 5A-C, the fixing is performed by clamping the guide 5 against the plate 31 of the frame attachment, in that the slide 4 tightens the legs of the guide 5 against the plate by tightening the screw. In Figure 5A, a small gap can be seen between the guide 5 and the frame attachment 31, this gap is gone in Figure 5B. A modified embodiment of a front adjuster is shown in Figures 6A and 6B, in which an additional locking screw 21 is provided on the side of the guide 5, using which slide 4 and guide 5 may be fixed on one another. The remaining parts are implemented as in the preceding exemplary embodiment and are accordingly provided with the same reference numerals. The locking screw 21 is fixed on a thread in a threaded hole of the guide 5 and can be screwed in via a screwdriver 20 until it rests on the slide 4 and fixes it by clamp ing.

7 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the inclination of the front panel 2 is adjusted by the front adjuster 1. Of course, it is also possible to use the front adjuster for a vertical or lateral adjustment of the front panel 2. In particular, of course, it is possible to attach the slide 4 on the front panel 2 and the guide 5 on the side frame 3. Furthermore, instead of the guide 5, the slide 4 can have a circular opening, on which a worm wheel 6 is mounted so it is rotatable. Moreover, it is possible to implement slide 4 and guide 5 integrally with the side frame 3 or the front panel 2, for example, if the side frame 3 and/or the front panel 2 are produced from plastic or from bent sheet metal. The part which is held so it is adjustable on the front panel 2, such as the frame attach ment 31, can also be formed in a further design so that the gap resulting during the ad justment between frame attachment 31 and front panel 2 is concealed. For this purpose, the frame attachment 31 can also plunge into a groove on the front panel 2. The side frame 3 can also be implemented in one piece as a side wall, instead of having the lower section 30 and a frame attachment 31. It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an in clusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 5056583_3 (GHMatters) P83857.AU

Claims

1. A drawer, comprising a side frame on which a front panel is retained so it is ad justable, wherein a front adjuster is provided between the side frame and the front panel, the front adjuster being installed on a frame attachment and having a slide, which can be fixed on the side frame, and which is mounted so it is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the side frame on a guide connectable to the front panel, wherein a rotatable worm wheel is situated between the guide and slide, which moves the slide along the guide in the event of a rotation wherein the front panel is retained so it is pivotable on the lower section of the side frame.

2. The drawer according to Claim 1, wherein the worm wheel is engaged with at least one projection on the slide.

3. The drawer according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the slide and the guide are imple mented as strip-shaped.

4. The drawer according to any one of Claims 1 through 3, wherein the guide has a U-shaped cross-section and laterally encompasses the slide.

5. The drawer according to any one of Claims 1 through 4, wherein the worm wheel is mounted so it is rotatable in an opening on the guide.

6. The drawer according to any one of Claims 1 through 5, wherein the worm wheel has a spiral projection, which is engaged with the at least one projection on the slide.

7. The drawer according to any one of Claims 1 through 6, wherein the worm wheel is situated in a cavity between slide and guide. 5056583_3 (GHMatter) P83857.AU 9

8. The drawer according to any one of Claims 1 through 7, wherein the guide can be fixed on a front side via fastening means to the front panel.

9. The drawer according to any one of Claims 1 through 8, wherein the guide has at least one opening or one slot on the front side.

10. The drawer according to any one of Claims 1 through 9, wherein the slide and the guide can be fixed to one another.

11. The drawer according to any one of Claims 1 through 10, wherein a locking screw is provided on the slide and/or the guide for fixing the slide and the guide to one another.

12. The drawer according to any one of Claims 1 through 11 wherein the frame at tachment is implemented as a plate.

13. The drawer according to claim 12 wherein the plate is a glass plate. 50565833 (GHMatters) P83857AU