EP1296011B1 - Bi-fold lid - Google Patents

Abstract

The folding door (8) for a kitchen cupboard has a first panel (9) which can be fastened to a cover (2) for pivoting around a horizontal axis (10) and a second (11) horizontally pivoted panel (11) connected to the first. A cover positioning strut has an arm (13) pivoted to the cupboard sidewall. the support strut allows the cover to be held in intermediate positions.

Description

The invention relates to a folding lid for a cabinet, in particular a wall unit for a kitchen, wherein the folding lid is arranged to open up and is adjustable for closing a body of the cabinet between an open position and a closed position. The folding lid comprises a first lid element which can be fastened to a cabinet lid of the carcass in a pivotable manner about a horizontally arranged first axis. Further, the folding lid on a second cover member which is pivotally connected to a first axis parallel to the second axis with the first cover member. Further, a cover plate is provided with a spring-loaded actuator arm which is pivotally mounted about a third axis parallel to the first axis on a side wall of the body and which is connected to a horizontally arranged fourth axis pivotally connected to the second cover element.

The DE 201 00 662 U shows such a folding lid, which is held in an open position of the folding lid by a cover plate in this position. The cover plate comprises a lever which is pivotally mounted near a cabinet lid of the body on a side wall of the body. A first arm of the lever is pivotally attached to the second lid member near a hinge between the first lid member and the second lid member. A second arm, which is arranged approximately at right angles to the first arm, is pivotally connected to a compression spring element, which is supported against the body. In the closed position of the folding lid of the lever by means of the compression spring element is acted upon with force such that a torque is generated, which is the folding lid toward its closed position applied. When transferring the folding lid from the closed position in the direction of the open position, a dead center is exceeded, so that, starting from an intermediate position of the folding lid, it is acted upon by the pressure spring element into the open position. In the open position of the folding lid an upper dead center is exceeded, so that the folding lid can not fall from the open position to the closed position. Due to the articulation of the first arm of the lever near the upper edge of the second lid member, ie near the hinge axis of the hinge between the first lid member and the second lid member, a handle for opening the folding lid is also to be located near the upper edge of the second lid member. This is necessary to be able to lift the lid from the carcass. In the open position of the folding lid, however, the handle is then in a very high position, so that it is difficult for people to reach. Furthermore, the folding flap is not held in any intermediate position of the folding lid between the open position and the closed position.

In addition, a folding lid mentioned above also show FR-A-2 089 842 such as EP-A-1 055 381 A2.

The US-A-2 483 947 shows a lid plate for a lid of a piece of furniture. On the body of the furniture, an actuating arm is pivotally mounted with one end, which is connected to the lid. At the end of the actuator arm, which is attached to the body, the actuating arm has a control contour, against which a lock slider is acted upon by a spring with force. The distance of the control contour to the pivot axis of the actuating arm decreases starting from the closed position of the lid to the open position down, wherein in the closed position, a flattening is formed. The cover is thereby held in two positions, namely the closed position and the open position.

The EP-A-1 148 200 discloses a lid plate for a lid hinged to a body. The lid plate comprises a first and a second arm, which are pivotally connected to each other. The first arm is also pivotally attached at its free end to the body and the second arm with its free end pivotally attached to the lid. In the first arm are two control devices provided that act independently of each other. The first control unit comprises a spring-loaded lock slider, which is supported via a roller against a control contour of a control disk attached to the body. The setting contour is designed such that in the last angular range shortly before the closed position, a tightening torque is exerted on the first arm. The second control device also includes a spring-loaded lock slider, which is supported via a roller against a setting contour of the second arm. The adjusting contour of the second arm is designed such that the second arm is acted upon by force to assume a position corresponding to the open position of the lid. In this case, the control units can be designed such that the cover is held in intermediate positions over a large angular range. To achieve this, the radial distance of the control contour on the second arm is designed such that it decreases continuously in the direction of the open position.

The object of the present invention is to provide a folding lid mentioned above, which has an articulation of the lid elements and the cover plate to each other, in which a handle for opening and closing the folding lid can be provided as close to the lower edge of the lower lid member and which makes it possible to provide means that are able to hold the folding lid in any position.

The object is achieved in that a spring-loaded setting contour is provided on the actuating arm for the spring-loaded actuating arm, which is shown in the form of a curve about the third axis, wherein the radial distance of the adjusting contour to the third axis at least partially starting from an intermediate position of the actuating arm, the corresponds to a position of the folding lid between the open position and the closed position, via an angular travel of the actuating arm to a second pivot position corresponding to the open position of the folding lid, decreases, and the adjusting contour is formed in this area such that the torque generated in each pivotal position of the actuating arm corresponds to that counter-torque which is generated by the weight of the folding lid, so that the lid plate is acted upon at least over the pivoting path from the intermediate position to the open position of the folding lid in the direction of the open position with a torque which in each panning Position between the intermediate position and the open position is sized so large that the folding lid is held.

It is preferable to provide that the distance between the first axis and the second axis is greater than the distance between the second axis and the fourth axis and that in the closed position of the folding lid, the third axis is arranged above an imaginary horizontal center axis of the folding lid.

Further, the distance between the first axis and the second axis may be greater than the distance between the second axis and a lower edge of the second lid member disposed away from the first lid member.

Preferably, it is provided that, in the open position of the folding lid, the fourth axis is arranged offset to a plane containing the second axis and the third axis in the direction of the first lid element. Thus, the second lid member and the actuator arm are in the open position of the folding lid in an extended position to each other. The imaginary connecting lines between the second Axis and the fourth axis and between the third axis and the fourth axis may be arranged approximately on a straight line, but should preferably take an obtuse angle to each other, in which the top dead center is exceeded. This causes the weight forces of the two cover elements cause the actuating arm is further acted upon upwards and the second cover member is acted upon in the direction of the first cover member, so that the folding lid can not move independently from the open position to the closed position. This slight deviating from a straight angle position is considered an extended position in the context of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the folding lid, it is provided that the first lid element has a first panel and the second lid element has a second panel, the first panel and the second panel being the same height in the closed position of the folding lid that at least one hinge arm is provided, fixed to a body facing the body inner surface of the first lid member which projects downwardly over a lower edge of the first lid member and which is pivotally attached at a lower end about the second axis to a body facing the inner surface of the second lid member, wherein the distance between the lower edge of the first cover element and the second axis corresponds approximately to the distance between an upper edge of the second cover element and the second axis.

Thus, it is possible that the second axis, by which the first cover element and the second cover element are pivoted relative to each other, deviates from the optical division between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm. This is of particular interest when optically the first cover element should have the same height as the second cover element and the second axis should be arranged eccentrically as a pivot axis between the first cover element and the second cover element.

In a specific embodiment it can be provided that the cover plate has a housing which is connectable to the side wall of the body and in which the actuating arm is pivotally mounted about the third axis and in that a locking slide is provided which is guided linearly displaceable in the housing and which is acted upon by means of spring means radially in contact with the control contour of the actuating arm.

Thus, by means of the control contour and the lock slider, a torque can be generated for each position of the folding lid, which torque is matched to the counter torque that is caused by the weight force of the folding lid.

In order to generate a tightening torque over a small pivoting path in the direction of the pivoting position of the actuating arm, which corresponds to the closed position of the folding lid, by which the folding lid is used on the body, it can be provided that the radial distance of the actuating contour to the third axis in the contact area between the control slide and the control contour starting from a first pivot position of Stellarmes that corresponds to the closed position of the folding lid, is constant or increases over an angular travel of the actuating arm to an intermediate position between the first pivot position and the second pivot position.

The locking slide can be supported against the setting contour with a roller which is rotatably mounted on the adjusting slide. This ensures that only slight frictional forces between the control slide and the control contour occur. However, it is also conceivable that the control slide is slidably in contact with the control contour.

In order to vary the torque and to be able to adapt the cover plate to different Faltdeckel, it should be provided that a support bearing is provided, which is held at a variable distance from the third axis in the housing, and that the spring means on the one hand against the lock slider and on the other hand against the support bearing are supported.

Simple means which hold the support bearing in a variable distance from the axis in the housing, are provided by the support bearing is supported against a bearing surface of an abutment which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation in the housing, wherein the bearing surface in the circumferential direction a variable distance from the axis of rotation having. In this case, the bearing surface can be helical.

Lids are usually pivotally mounted with adjustable hinges on the cabinet lid. The adjustable hinges can compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies. In the case of a folding cover according to the invention, however, this would mean that the articulation point of the actuating arm on the second cover element is set in accordance with the adjustable hinge would have to be. In order to avoid such a manual adjustment, a length compensation element may be provided which comprises a base element which is fixedly connected to the second cover element and which comprises a sliding element, which in the closed position of the folding lid viewed in the vertical direction between a first position, the close the second axis is arranged, and a second position, which is arranged away from the second axis, is guided relative to the base member slidably in this and is acted upon by spring means to the first position.

By the length compensation element, a vertically downward force is exerted on the second cover element in the closed position of the folding lid by the spring means, so that a torque is generated which attracts the folding lid to the body.

Figur 1

einen Querschnitt durch einen Schrank mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Faltdeckel, wobei der Faltdeckel zum einen in ihrer Offenstellung und zum anderen in ihrer Schließstellung dargestellt ist;

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Deckelstellers;

Figur 3

eine Ansicht der Stellkontur am Stellarm und

Figur 4

eine Teilschnittdarstellung eines Längenausgleichselements.

A preferred embodiment will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Herein shows

FIG. 1

a cross section through a cabinet with a folding lid according to the invention, wherein the folding lid is shown on the one hand in its open position and the other in its closed position;

FIG. 2

a perspective view of the Deckelstellers;

FIG. 3

a view of the control contour on the actuator arm and

FIG. 4

a partial sectional view of a length compensation element.

FIG. 1 shows a body 1 of a cabinet comprising a cabinet cover 2, a side wall 3, a cabinet bottom 4, a rear wall 5 and a shelf 6. The body 1 also has an opening 7 which is closable with a folding lid 8.

The folding lid 8 comprises a first cover element 9, which is fastened to the cabinet lid 2 so as to be pivotable about a horizontally arranged first axis 10. Furthermore, the folding lid 8 comprises a second lid element 11, which is pivotally connected to the first lid element 9 about a horizontally arranged second axis 12. The folding lid 8 is adjustable between a closed position in which the first lid member 9 and the second lid member is denoted by 11, and an open position in which the first lid member with 9 'and the second lid member with 11' are designated. All other movable components are characterized in the following in the closed position of the folding flap 8 with reference numerals without addition and in the open position of the folding flap 8 with reference numerals with a dash.

An actuator arm 13 of a lid actuator 14 is pivotally mounted to the side wall 3 about a horizontally disposed third axis 15. The actuator arm 13 is further pivotally connected to the second cover element 11 about a horizontally arranged fourth axis. The operation of the Deckelstellers 14 is in detail FIG. 2 explained.

In the pivot position of the actuating arm 13, which corresponds to the closed position of the folding lid 8, close the effective lever arm 17 between the first axis 10 and the second axis 12 and the effective lever arm 18 between the second axis 12 and the fourth axis 16 a directed to the body angle 19 a, which is slightly smaller than 180 °, so that the dead center position in this position is not is exceeded. Thus, by means of a handle 20, which is arranged only slightly above the fourth axis 16, the folding lid 8 can be lifted off the body 1 and transferred to the open position.

In that pivotal position of the actuating arm 13 ', which corresponds to the open position of the folding lid 8, close the effective lever arm 18' between the second axis 12 'and the fourth axis 16' and the effective lever arm 21 'between the fourth axis 16' and the third axis 15 a of the first cover member 9 'directed away angle 22 a, which is slightly smaller than 180 °. In this position, the actuating arm 13 'and the second cover member 11' are arranged in an extended position to each other and have exceeded the top dead center of the rotary joint mechanism formed by the effective lever arms. Thus, the gravity of the folding lid 8, that the actuating arm 13 'is acted upon in that pivotal position corresponding to the open position of the folding lid 8, so that the folding lid 8 can not move independently in the closed position. For this purpose, it is necessary that is pulled on the handle 20 'to move the folding lid 8 from the top dead center out.

In order to ensure that the first cover element 9 'in the open position of the folding cover 8 does not protrude too far above the cabinet lid 2 and to ensure that the second lid element 11' is folded up as close as possible to the first lid element 9 ', the first axis 10, the second axis 12 (12 ') and the fourth axis 16 (16') are arranged relative to one another such that the effective lever arm 17 (17 ') between the first axis 10 and the second axis 12 (12 ') is longer than the effective lever arm 18 (18') between the second axis 12 (12 ') and the fourth axis 16 (16').

In addition, it should be ensured that the shelf 6 can be mounted approximately at the level of an imaginary horizontally extending center plane 23 of the body 1. For this purpose, the third axis 15 is arranged above the center plane 23.

Since the handle 20 should be considered in the closed position of the folding lid 8 as far down on the second cover member 11 should be provided so that frame cover elements can be used, which consist of a frame member which encloses a glass pane, and the fourth axis 16 as far as possible on the bottom second cover element 11 may be provided. For this purpose, it should be provided that the effective lever arm 17 between the first axis 10 and the second axis 12 is longer than the distance between the second axis 12 and a lower edge 52 of the second cover element 11, which is arranged away from the first cover element 9.

In order to ensure optically symmetrical division of the folding lid 8 despite the different lengths of the effective levers 17, 18, the first lid member has a first panel 24 and the second lid member 11 a second panel 25, both considered in the closed position of the folding flap the same Have height. On an inner surface 26 of the cover element 9 facing the body 1, a hinge arm 27 is fixed, which projects downwards over a lower edge 28 of the first panel 24 and articulates on a lower end 29 about the second axis 12 on an inner surface 46 of the body 1 second aperture 25 is fixed. The distance between the lower edge 28 and the second axis 12 corresponds approximately to the distance of an upper edge 30 of the second aperture 25 to the second Axis 12.

At a standard height of the body of 720 mm, the third axis 15 is preferably located about 289 mm from the inner surface of the cabinet lid 2 and, with the fold door closed, about 78 mm from the inner surface 26 of the first lid member 9. At a standard height of 600 mm, these values are about 223 mm from the cupboard lid 2 and 63 mm from the first lid member 9.

At both standard heights, the second aperture 12 is offset at identical heights of the first panel 24 and the second panel 25 with the folding flap closed about 52 mm from the lower edge 28 of the first panel 24 down. The fourth axis 16 is 30 mm from the inner surface 46 of the second cover element and about 22 mm from the surface of the cabinet bottom 4.

The cover plate 14 is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 . 2 and 3 described together, wherein matching components are provided with the same reference numerals.

The actuator arm 13 is pivotally mounted about the third axis 15 in a housing 31 of the cover plate 14, wherein the housing 31 is fixedly connected to the side wall 3 of the body 1. The actuating arm 13 has a control contour 32, which is shown in the form of a curve about the third axis 15.

In the housing 31, a lock slider 33 is guided linearly displaceable. The lock slider 33 has a roller 34 which is rotatably mounted on the lock slider 33 about a rotation axis 35, which is arranged parallel to the third axis 15. With an outer peripheral surface, the roller 34 is in contact with the control contour 32. Springs 50 act on the lock slider 33 and thus the roller 34 against the control contour 32. The spring means are based on the one hand against the lock slider 33 and on the other hand against a support bearing 36 which is linearly displaceably mounted in the housing 31. The support bearing 36 is supported against a bearing surface 37 of an abutment 38, wherein the abutment 38 is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis 39 in the housing 31 and wherein the bearing surface 37 has a variable distance from the axis of rotation 39 of the abutment 38, so that the support bearing 36 in a variable distance to the third axis 15 is held in the housing 31. The bearing surface 37 is helical and has radial locking recesses into which a latching lug 41 of the support bearing 36 engages in order to prevent the abutment 38 is rotated unintentionally.

The control contour 32 of the actuating arm 13 is designed such that the radial distance of the control contour 32 to the third axis 15 in the contact region between the lock slider 33, ie the roller 34, and the control contour 32 via a pivoting path starting from a first pivot position of the actuating arm 13, the the open position of the folding lid 8 corresponds, via an angular travel of the actuating arm 13 to an intermediate position of the actuating arm 13, which corresponds to a position of the folding lid 8 near the closed position between the open position and the closed position, increases. Thus, it is ensured that the actuating arm 13 is acted upon over the largest Winkelweg with a force that generates a moment to the upper position corresponding to the open position of the folding lid 8. About the Winkelweg starting from the intermediate position to the pivot position, which corresponds to the closed position of the folding lid 8, the control contour has a flattening over the course in which the radial distance to the third axis 15 decreases. Thus, a torque is generated via this pivoting, which the actuating arm 13 to that pivot position acted upon, which corresponds to the closed position of the folding lid 8. The adjusting contour 32 is designed such that the torque generated in each pivot position of the actuating arm 13 corresponds to that counter-moment, which is generated by the weight of the folding lid 8 total, so that the folding lid 8 is held in any position between the open position and the intermediate position.

FIG. 4 shows a length compensation element, which is provided for the pivotable attachment of the actuating arm 13 on the second cover element 11. The length compensation element 43 comprises a base element 44 and a sliding element 45. The base element 44 is fixedly mounted on the inner surface 46 of the second aperture 25 in the region of the lower edge of the second aperture 25. The base member 44 has a guide groove 47 which, viewed in the closed position of the folding lid 8 is arranged vertically and in which the sliding element 45 is guided linearly displaceable by means of a guide lug 48 between a first and a second position. In the adjustment of the sliding element 45, a spring 49 is supported on the one hand at one end of the guide groove 47 against the base member 44 and on the other hand against the guide lug 48 of the sliding member 45, so that the sliding element 45 is acted upon in the direction of the first position.

The length compensation element 43 serves to compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies, as well as to compensate for changes in the distance of the fourth axis 16 to the first axis 10. Changes may result from the fact that the first cover element 9 is pivotally attached to the cabinet lid 2 by means of an adjustable hinge 51. Thus, it is avoided that when setting the hinge 51 and an adjustment of the articulation point of the actuating arm 13 on the second cover member 11 is required.

In addition, due to the spring 49, a spring force acts vertically downward on the second lid member 11 when the folding lid 8 is in its closed position. As a result, a moment is generated by which the folding lid 8 is attracted to the body 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

corpus

2

cabinet cover

3

Side wall

4

cabinet base

5

rear wall

6

shelf

7

opening

8th

folding cover

9, 9 '

first cover element

10

first axis

11, 11 '

second cover element

12, 12 '

second axis

13, 13 '

actuating arm

14

cover plate

15

third axis

16, 16 '

fourth axis

17, 17 '

lever arm

18, 18 '

lever arm

19

angle

20, 20 '

Handle

21, 21 '

lever arm

22

angle

23

midplane

24, 24 '

first aperture

25, 25 '

Second aperture

26, 26 '

palm

27, 27 '

hinge

28, 28 '

Lower edge.

29

lower end

30

top edge

31

casing

32

setting contour

33

lock slider

34

role

35

axis of rotation

36

support bearings

37

storage area

38

abutment

39

axis of rotation

40

locking recesses

41

locking lug

42

flattening

43

Length compensation element

44

base element

45

sliding element

46

palm

47

guide

48

leadership approach

49

feather

50

feather

51

hinge

52, 52 '

lower edge

Claims (12)

1. Folding lid for a cabinet, especially a wall-mounted cabinet, e.g. for kitchen furniture or office furniture, which is arranged opening upwards and is displaceable between an open position and a closed position,
   comprising
   a first lid element (9), which is attachable on a cabinet lid (2) of the corpus (1) pivotably around a horizontally arranged first axis (10),
   a second lid element (11), which is connected to the first lid element (9) pivotably around a second axis (12) arranged parallel to the first axis (10),
   a lid stay (14) with a spring-loaded positioning arm (13),
   which is attachable on a side wall (3) of the corpus (1) pivotably around a third axis (15) arranged parallel to the first axis (10) and
   which is connected to the second lid element (11) pivotably around a horizontally arranged fourth axis (16),
   characterised in
   that for the spring-loaded positioning arm (13) a spring-loaded setting contour (32), which is represented in the form of a curve around the third axis, is provided on the positioning arm (13), wherein the radial distance of the setting contour (32) relative to the third axis (15) decreases at least partially, starting from an intermediate position of the positioning arm (13), which corresponds to a position of the folding lid (8) between the open position and the closed position, over an angular path of the positioning arm (13) to a second pivot position, which corresponds to the open position of the folding lid (8), and the setting contour (32) is formed in this area such, that the produced torque in any pivot position of the positioning arm (13) corresponds to the counter torque, which is produced by the gravity force of the folding lid (8), so that the lid stay (14) is loaded at least over the pivot path from the intermediate position towards the open position of the folding lid (8) in the direction towards the open position by a torque, which is designed that large in any pivot position between the intermediate position and the open position, that the folding lid (8) is held.
2. Folding lid according to claim 1,
   characterised in
   that the distance between the first axis (10) and the second axis (12) is larger than the distance between the second axis (12) and the fourth axis (16) and
   that in the closed position of the folding lid (8) the third axis (15) is arranged above an imaginary horizontal centre axis (23) of the folding lid (8).
3. Folding lid according to claim 2,
   characterised in
   that the distance between the first axis (10) and the second axis (12) is larger than the distance between the second axis (12) and a lower edge (52) of the second lid element (11), which is arranged distanced from the first lid element (9).
4. Folding lid according to one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in
   that in the open position of the folding lid (8') the fourth axis (16') is arranged off-set in a direction towards the first lid element (9') from a plane, which contains the second axis (12') and the third axis (15).
5. Folding lid according to one of claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in
   that the first lid element (9) has a first panel (24) and the second lid element (11) has a second panel (25), wherein the first panel (24) and the second panel (25) have the same height, when seen in the closed position of the folding lid (8),
   that at least one hinge arm (27) is provided, which is attached on an inner face (26) of the first lid element (9) directed towards the corpus (1) and which projects beyond a lower edge (28) of the first lid element (9) downwards and is attached at a lower end (29) pivotably around the second axis (12) on an inner face (46) of the second lid element (11) facing towards the corpus (1),
   wherein the distance between the lower edge (28) of the first lid element (9) and the second axis (12) corresponds more or less to the distance between the upper edge (3) of the second lid element (11) and the second axis (12).
6. Folding lid according to one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in
   that the lid stay (14) has a housing (31), which is connectable to the side wall (3) of the corpus (1) and in which the positioning arm (13) is supported pivotably around the third axis (15),
   that a setting slider (33) is provided, which is guided linearly displaceable in the housing (31) and which is acted upon by the spring means radially into abutment with the setting contour (32) of the positioning arm (13).
7. Folding lid according to claim 6,
   characterised in
   that the radial distance of the setting contour (32) to the third axis (15) is constant or increases in the contact area between the setting slider (33) and the setting contour (32), starting from a first pivoting position of the positioning arm (13), which corresponds to the closed position of the folding lid (8), over an angular path of the positioning arm (13) towards an intermediate position between the first pivoting position and the second pivoting position.
8. Folding lid according to one of claims 6 or 7,
   characterised in
   that the setting slider (33) is supported with a roller (34), which is supported rotatably on the setting slider (33), on the setting contour (32).
9. Folding lid according to one of claims 6 to 8,
   characterised in
   that a support bearing (36) is provided, which is held with a variable distance to the third axis (15) in the housing (31), and
   that the spring means are supported on the setting slider (33) and on the support bearing (36).
10. Folding lid according to claim 9,
    characterised in
    that the support bearing (36) is supported on a bearing face (37) of an abutment (38), which is supported rotatably around a rotational axis (39) in the housing (31), wherein the bearing face (37) has in circumferential direction a variable distance to the rotational axis (39).
11. Folding lid according to claim 10,
    characterised in
    that the bearing face (37) is formed worm-like.
12. Folding lid according to one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterised in
    that a length compensation element (43) is provided, which comprises a base element (44), which is connected rigidly to the second lid element (11) and which comprises a sliding element (45), which, when seen in vertical direction, is guided displaceably in the closed position of the folding lid (8) between a first position, arranged close to the second axis (12), and a second position, which is arranged distanced from the second axis (12), relative to the base element (44) and guided in the same and is acted upon by spring means (49) towards the first position.

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