CN111713898A

CN111713898A - Connecting device

Info

Publication number: CN111713898A
Application number: CN201910211607.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈庚金; 苏芳成; 黄启宾; 汤岳桦; 王俊强
Original assignee: King Slide Works Co Ltd; King Slide Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: King Slide Works Co Ltd; King Slide Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-20
Filing date: 2019-03-20
Publication date: 2020-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-20
Also published as: CN111713898B

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting a first wall and a second wall of a piece of furniture to one another. The connecting device comprises a base and at least one clamping arm. The base is used for connecting to a first wall of the furniture; the at least one clamping arm is arranged on the base and can flexibly move around an imaginary axis direction. The at least one clamping arm is provided with a clamping part; wherein the imaginary axis direction is substantially parallel to the first wall; the second wall of the furniture can be arranged to the clamping part along an installation direction through an installation part; wherein the mounting direction is substantially perpendicular to the imaginary axis direction.

Description

Connecting device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a connecting mechanism, and more particularly, to a connecting device for connecting two walls of a furniture.

Background

For example, U.S. patent publication No. US 8,998,356B 2 discloses a fastening device for connecting two wall parts of a piece of furniture, in particular a rear wall and a side wall of a drawer. The fastening device has at least one locking projection on one wall part, which is sprung about an imaginary spring axis and which can be locked, preferably detachably, into a locking receptacle fastened to or formed on the other wall part. The imaginary pivot axis of the locking projection is formed transversely, preferably substantially perpendicularly, to the wall of the wall part. Wherein the locking receiver on the other wall part is designed as an opening, wherein an imaginary normal of the opening extends substantially parallel to an imaginary spring axis of the spring-loaded locking projection.

However, with the different market demands, how to develop a different related product, and let the market have more choices, becomes an issue that cannot be ignored. On the other hand, the fastening device disclosed in the above patent is configured to be exposed and protruded out of a plane (see fig. 3a of US 8,998,356B 2), and the connected corresponding wall panels are connected to each other by the corresponding bent fasteners, which is very inconvenient for solid wall panels (such as wood) to be installed and needs additional fasteners.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device for connecting one wall of a piece of furniture to another wall in a tool-free manner.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a connector adapted to interconnect a first wall and a second wall of a piece of furniture comprises a base and at least one latch arm. The base is used for connecting to a first wall of the furniture; the at least one clamping arm is arranged at the base part, the at least one clamping arm is flexibly movable around an imaginary axis direction, and the at least one clamping arm is provided with a clamping part; wherein the imaginary axis direction is substantially parallel to the first wall; the second wall of the furniture can be arranged to the clamping part along an installation direction through an installation part; wherein the mounting direction is substantially perpendicular to the imaginary axis direction.

Preferably, the connecting means comprises a plastics material.

Preferably, the first wall of the furniture comprises a first portion and a second portion located opposite the first portion, and the base portion is connected to the adjacent second portion.

Preferably, the mounting portion is disposed adjacent to an end portion of the second wall.

Preferably, the mounting portion is detachably mounted to the latching portion.

Preferably, the base includes a surface and a space adjacent to the surface, the at least one latch arm is located in the space, and the length of the at least one latch arm does not exceed the surface.

Preferably, the mounting portion protrudes from an end of the second wall, and an accommodating space is formed between the mounting portion and the end of the second wall to accommodate the engaging portion.

Preferably, the surface is substantially planar.

Preferably, the connecting device further comprises an auxiliary portion substantially vertically connected to the base portion, wherein the auxiliary portion has at least one locking feature for at least one locking member to penetrate.

Preferably, the connecting device further comprises a guiding portion, the guiding portion is one of an arc surface and an inclined surface, and when the second wall of the furniture has a deviation of an installation angle relative to the first wall, the guiding portion is used for guiding the second wall of the furniture so as to facilitate the installation of the installation portion to the clamping portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector for a first wall of a piece of furniture, the first wall being arranged longitudinally, the connector comprising a base, at least one latch arm, and the base being adapted to connect to the first wall of the piece of furniture, the base comprising a surface and a space adjacent to the surface; the at least one clamping arm is positioned in the space of the base part, the at least one clamping arm is substantially transversely arranged relative to the first wall, and the at least one clamping arm is provided with a clamping part; the auxiliary part is connected with the base part in a substantially vertical mode, and the auxiliary part exceeds the surface of the base part by a preset distance; wherein, a second wall of the furniture is detachably arranged on the clamping part through an installation part; the auxiliary part is provided with at least one locking feature, when the mounting part of the second wall of the furniture is detached from the clamping part, the end part of the other second wall of the furniture can be abutted to the surface of the base part, and the at least one locking feature can be used for providing at least one locking piece to penetrate through so as to fix the other second wall of the furniture to the auxiliary part.

Preferably, the mounting portion is a hole, and when the mounting portion is mounted to the latching portion, the latching portion passes through the hole and is latched at a mounting end of the hole.

Preferably, the at least one latch arm does not extend beyond the surface of the base.

Drawings

For further explanation of the above objects, structural features and effects of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a furniture unit capable of being mounted to a cabinet by a rail assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a slide rail of the slide rail assembly according to an embodiment of the invention for supporting the furniture.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a connecting device for interconnecting a first wall and a second wall of a piece of furniture mounted on a rail assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a first wall of a piece of furniture with a coupling device according to an embodiment of the invention attached to a rail assembly.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a second wall of a piece of furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention installed in a direction toward the first wall.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the second wall of the furniture of the present embodiment being displaced toward the first wall in the same direction.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the region a of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of the second wall of the furniture according to an embodiment of the invention being displaced further in this direction towards the first wall.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the region a of fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic view of a second wall of a piece of furniture according to an embodiment of the invention connected to a first wall by means of the connecting device.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of the region a of fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view of a furniture according to an embodiment of the present invention with a first wall and a second wall having an installation angle offset therebetween.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the region a of fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a schematic view showing that the deviation of the installation angle between the first wall and the second wall of the furniture according to the embodiment of the present invention can be corrected by a guide portion of the connecting device.

Fig. 15 shows a schematic view of another second wall of a piece of furniture according to another embodiment of the invention mountable to the first wall by means of the connecting device.

Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of a furniture piece according to another embodiment of the present invention, with a second wall mounted to the first wall.

Fig. 17 shows a schematic view of another perspective view of another second wall of a piece of furniture according to another embodiment of the invention mounted to the first wall.

Detailed Description

As shown in FIG. 1, a piece of furniture 20 may be mounted to a cabinet 23 by a pair of rail assemblies 22. The furniture 20 is, for example, a drawer, but is not limited to the embodiment.

As shown in fig. 2, each slide assembly 22 includes a fixed rail 24 and a movable rail 26 longitudinally displaceable relative to the fixed rail 24. The furniture 20 includes a plurality of walls, such as a first wall 20a and a second wall 20 b. The first wall 20a is carried by the movable rail 26 such that the furniture 20 can be displaced with the movable rail 26 relative to the stationary rail 24 via the first wall 20 a. In this embodiment, the first wall 20a is a side wall and is disposed longitudinally, and the second wall 20b is a rear wall and is disposed transversely, but the implementation is not limited thereto. The first wall 20a of the furniture 20 includes a first portion 27a and a second portion 27b opposite to the first portion 27 a. Wherein the first portion 27a is a front portion and the second portion 27b is a rear portion; the second wall 20b, on the other hand, has two oppositely located ends 28.

As shown in fig. 3, the second wall 20b is provided with at least one mounting portion 30. Preferably, the at least one mounting portion 30 is disposed adjacent the end 28 of the second wall 20 b. Preferably, the at least one mounting portion 30 projects relative to the end 28 of the second wall 20 b. For example, the at least one mounting portion 30 is a protruding structure having an arc-shaped profile, a receiving space 31 is formed between the inner side of the protruding structure and the end 28 of the second wall 20b, and the middle portion of the protruding structure is provided with at least one hole or slot communicating with the receiving space 31, which is exemplified by a plurality of holes, but is not limited in implementation.

Further, an embodiment of the present invention provides a connecting device 32 adapted to connect the first wall 20a and the second wall 20b of the furniture 20 to each other. Preferably, the connecting means 32 comprises a plastic material. Here, the connecting device 32 is made of plastic, but is not limited in implementation.

As can be seen from fig. 3 and 4, the connecting device 32 includes a base 34 and at least one latch arm 36. Preferably, an auxiliary portion 38 is further included.

The base 34 is adapted to be connected to a first wall 20a of the furniture 20. Preferably, the base 34 is connected to the second portion 27b of the first wall 20a adjacent the piece of furniture 20. Specifically, the base 34 includes at least one attachment feature. Here, a first side (e.g., back side) of the base portion 34 can be connected (fixedly or removably connected) to the second portion 27b of the first wall 20a of the furniture 20 via the at least one connection feature. For example, the base 34 is connected to a plate 42 (as shown in fig. 3) by at least one fastener 41 (e.g., a screw or a rivet), such that the plate 42 is attached to the first side of the base 34, and the plate 42 has at least one connecting feature, such as a first connecting feature 40a and a second connecting feature 40b, capable of being fixed to at least one corresponding feature, such as a first corresponding feature 44a and a second corresponding feature 44b (as shown in fig. 3), of the first wall 20a of the furniture 20 in a snap, plug or buckle manner. Alternatively, the base 34 may be fixed to the first wall 20a of the furniture 20 by at least one screw or rivet, and thus, the manner of implementing the connection is not limited. Further, the connecting features 40a, 40b and the corresponding features 44a, 44b may be male and female; alternatively, the protrusions and holes may be configured in a matched manner, but are not limited in implementation.

The at least one latch arm 36 is disposed on the base 34, and the at least one latch arm 36 is substantially transversely disposed relative to the first wall 20 a. Here, the at least one latch arm 36 is disposed on a second side (e.g., a front side) of the base 34 opposite to the first side. The at least one latch arm 36 is flexible about an imaginary axis direction X. The imaginary axial direction X is substantially parallel to the first wall 20a disposed in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, the at least one latching arm 36 is exemplified by three pairs of latching arms, but the number of the latching arms 36 is not limited in implementation. Each pair of the latch arms includes, for example, a first latch arm 36a and a second latch arm 36b, and the first latch arm 36a and the second latch arm 36b have substantially the same structural configuration. The first latch arm 36a and the second latch arm 36b are spaced apart from each other by a distance. Further, the first latch arm 36a and the second latch arm 36b are both configured with a latching portion. For example, the first latch arm 36a is configured with a first latch portion 46a, and the second latch arm 36b is configured with a second latch portion 46 b. Preferably, the first engaging portion 46a and the second engaging portion 46b are disposed symmetrically, and the first engaging portion 46a and the second engaging portion 46b have a guiding section 49, respectively, and the guiding section 49 is disposed as an inclined plane or an arc surface, for example. In addition, the first engaging portion 46a is an upward hook, and the second engaging portion 46b is a downward hook (this portion can be combined with fig. 5), but in practice, the directions of the first engaging portion 46a and the second engaging portion 46b are not limited thereto.

Preferably, the base 34 includes a surface 45 and a space 47 adjacent to the surface 45, wherein the surface 45 is substantially planar; the at least one latch arm 36 is located in the space 47, and the length of the at least one latch arm 36 does not exceed the surface 45. On the other hand, the auxiliary portion 38 is substantially vertically connected to the base portion 34, and the auxiliary portion 38 extends a predetermined distance beyond the surface 45 of the base portion 34. The auxiliary portion 38 has at least one locking feature 38a for allowing at least one locking member to pass through.

As shown in fig. 5, the second wall 20b of the furniture 20 can be mounted by the at least one mounting portion 30 along a mounting direction Y toward the at least one latch arm 36. The mounting direction Y is substantially perpendicular to the imaginary axis direction X, and the mounting direction Y is substantially parallel to the at least one latch arm 36 disposed transversely.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, when the second wall 20b of the furniture 20 is moved to a predetermined position in the installation direction Y to be close to the first wall 20a, the installation end 48 of the at least one installation portion 30 contacts the guide sections 49 of the first and

second latch portions

46a and 46b of the at least one latch arm 36 of the connection device 32.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, when the second wall 20b of the furniture 20 continues to move in the installation direction Y, the installation end 48 of the at least one installation portion 30 pushes against the guide section 49 of the first engaging portion 46a and the second engaging portion 46b of the at least one engaging arm 36 to respectively drive the first engaging arm 36a and the second engaging arm 36b to flexibly move around the imaginary axis direction X, so that the first engaging arm 36a and the second engaging arm 36b are relatively close to each other, and at this time, the first engaging arm 36a and the second engaging arm 36b are in a state of accumulating an elastic force, and the end portions of the first engaging arm 36a and the second engaging arm 36b slightly extend into the accommodation space 31.

As shown in fig. 10 and 11, when the second wall 20b of the furniture 20 is further displaced toward the mounting direction Y, the mounting end 48 of the at least one mounting portion 30 further goes beyond the first latching portion 46a and the second latching portion 46b of the at least one latching arm 36, so that the first latching portion 46a and the second latching portion 46b of the at least one latching arm 36 enter the accommodating space 31, wherein once the mounting end 48 of the at least one mounting portion 30 goes beyond the first latching portion 46a and the second latching portion 46b, the first latching portion 46a and the second latching portion 46b are restored to a state of being spaced apart from each other by releasing the elastic force from the first latching arm 36a and the second latching arm 36b, so that the first latching portion 46a and the second latching portion 46b are mutually latched with the mounting end 48 of the at least one mounting portion 30, and thus engage with the mounting end 48 of the at least one mounting portion 30 to form a wall surface of the mounting end 48 of the at least one mounting portion 30. Thus, the second wall 20b can be fixedly connected to the first wall 20a in a tool-free manner by means of the connecting device 32.

It should be noted that at least one mounting portion 30 of the connecting device 32 is detachably disengaged from the first and second

engaging portions

46a and 46 b. For example, once the user applies a force to deform the first latching arm 36a and the second latching arm 36b (as shown in fig. 9), the first latching portion 46a and the second latching portion 46b are no longer latched with the mounting end 48 of the at least one mounting portion 30, so that the second wall 20b can be separated from the first wall 20a in a detaching direction opposite to the mounting direction Y.

As shown in fig. 12 and 13, the connecting device 32 further includes a guiding portion 50, and the guiding portion 50 is an arc surface or an inclined surface. When the second wall 20B of the furniture 20 has an installation angle deviation B with respect to the first wall 20a, the guiding portion 50 can be used to guide the second wall 20B of the furniture 20 (as shown in fig. 14) so as to facilitate the at least one installation portion 30 to be clamped by the clamping portions of the clamping arms 36 (e.g., the first clamping portion 46a and the second clamping portion 46B) (this portion can be referred to in fig. 11).

For example, if the second wall 20B of the furniture 20 approaches the first wall 20a in the installation direction Y (as shown in fig. 12), if the second wall 20B of the furniture 20 has the installation angle deviation B with respect to the first wall 20a, the installation end 48 of the installation portion 30 contacts the guide portion 50 (as shown in fig. 13), so as to guide the second wall 20B of the furniture 20 (as shown in fig. 14), so that the installation end 48 of the at least one installation portion 30 can be smoothly clamped to the first clamping portion 46a and the second clamping portion 46B (as shown in fig. 11).

As shown in fig. 15, 16 and 17, after the second wall 20b of the furniture 20 is detached from the

latch portions

46a and 46b through the mounting portion 30, another specification of sheet material (such as wood or other solid sheet material) can be selected for mounting, for example, an end 202 of another second wall 200 of the furniture 20 can abut against the surface 45 of the base portion 34 of the connecting device 32, and the at least one locking feature 38a can be used to provide at least one locking member 52 to pass through and lock to at least one corresponding locking feature 204 of the another second wall 200, so as to fix the another second wall 200 to the auxiliary portion 38, so that the another second wall 200 can be connected to the first wall 20 a.

Therefore, the connecting device 32 can be used for connecting two different types of second walls (such as the second wall 20b and the other second wall 200) to the first wall 20a without depending on fittings, so as to meet different market requirements.

From the above description, it can be seen that the enhanced efficacy and advantages of the present invention are:

a. to provide a tool-free way of connecting the second wall 20b of the furniture 20 to the first wall 20a, and to facilitate easy assembly and disassembly.

b. The at least one latching arm 36 is substantially transversely disposed with respect to the longitudinally disposed first wall 20a, and the mounting direction Y of the second wall 20b is substantially parallel to the transversely disposed at least one latching arm 36, which facilitates the user to connect the second wall 20b to the first wall 20 a.

c. Without additional fittings, the connecting device 32 allows two different types of second walls (20b,200, see fig. 3 or 15) to be connected to the first wall 20a to meet different market requirements.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the present specific embodiments, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments are illustrative only, and various equivalent changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and therefore, it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A connection device adapted to interconnect a first wall and a second wall of a piece of furniture, comprising:

the connecting device comprises:

a base for connection to a first wall of the furniture; and

at least one clamping arm is arranged on the base, the at least one clamping arm is flexibly movable around an imaginary axis direction, and the at least one clamping arm is provided with a clamping part;

wherein the imaginary axis direction is substantially parallel to the first wall;

the second wall of the furniture can be arranged to the clamping part along an installation direction through an installation part;

wherein the mounting direction is substantially perpendicular to the imaginary axis direction.

2. The connecting device of claim 1 wherein the connecting device comprises a plastic material.

3. The connecting device of claim 1, wherein the first wall of the furniture piece includes a first portion and a second portion positioned opposite the first portion, and the base portion is connected adjacent the second portion.

4. The connecting device of claim 1 wherein the mounting portion is disposed adjacent an end of the second wall.

5. The coupling device of claim 4, wherein the mounting portion is removably mounted to the catch portion.

6. The connecting device of claim 5, wherein the base includes a surface and a space adjacent to the surface, the at least one latch arm being positioned within the space, and the at least one latch arm having a length that does not extend beyond the surface.

7. The connecting device of claim 6, wherein the mounting portion protrudes from an end of the second wall, and a receiving space is formed between the mounting portion and the end of the second wall for receiving the engaging portion.

8. A connection device according to claim 6, wherein the surface is substantially planar.

9. The connector of claim 6, further comprising an auxiliary portion substantially perpendicularly connected to the base portion, wherein the auxiliary portion has at least one locking feature for at least one locking member to pass through.

10. The connecting device of claim 5, further comprising a guide portion, wherein the guide portion is one of a curved surface and a sloped surface, and is used to guide the second wall of the furniture to facilitate the mounting of the mounting portion to the latching portion when the second wall of the furniture has a mounting angle deviation relative to the first wall.

11. A connection device for a first wall of a piece of furniture, the first wall being arranged longitudinally, characterized in that:

the connecting device comprises:

a base for attachment to a first wall of the furniture, the base comprising a surface and a space adjacent the surface;

at least one clamping arm is positioned in the space of the base part, the at least one clamping arm is substantially transversely arranged relative to the first wall, and a clamping part is arranged on the at least one clamping arm; and

an auxiliary part is connected with the base part in a substantially vertical mode, and the auxiliary part exceeds the surface of the base part by a preset distance;

wherein, a second wall of the furniture is detachably arranged on the clamping part through an installation part;

the auxiliary part is provided with at least one locking feature, when the mounting part of the second wall of the furniture is detached from the clamping part, the end part of the other second wall of the furniture can be abutted to the surface of the base part, and the at least one locking feature can be used for providing at least one locking piece to penetrate through so as to fix the other second wall of the furniture to the auxiliary part.

12. The connecting device of claim 11 wherein the connecting device comprises a plastic material.

13. The attachment device of claim 11 wherein the base is secured to the first wall of the furniture by at least one attachment feature.

14. The connecting device of claim 11, wherein the first wall of the furniture piece includes a first portion and a second portion positioned opposite the first portion, and the base portion is connected adjacent the second portion.

15. The connecting device of claim 11, further comprising a guide portion, wherein the guide portion is one of a curved surface and a sloped surface, and the guide portion is used to guide the second wall of the furniture to facilitate the mounting of the mounting portion to the latching portion when the second wall of the furniture has a mounting angle deviation relative to the first wall.

16. The connector of claim 11, wherein the mounting portion is disposed adjacent an end of the second wall.

17. The connecting device of claim 16, wherein the mounting portion is a hole, and the latching portion passes through the hole to latch at a mounting end of the hole when the mounting portion is mounted to the latching portion.

18. A connection device according to claim 11, wherein said surface is substantially planar.

19. The connector of claim 11, wherein the at least one latch arm does not extend beyond a surface of the base.

20. The connecting device of claim 19, wherein the mounting portion protrudes from an end of the second wall, and a receiving space is formed between the mounting portion and the end of the second wall for receiving the engaging portion.