EP1314842B1 - Device for opening and closing a movable furniture part - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, in particular a drawer, a furniture door, a flap, or the like.

Such devices are used to allow the opening and closing of drawers, doors, flaps and any other movable furniture parts that have no handle, for example, for aesthetic reasons. Opening and closing such movable furniture parts, for example by lateral actuation of the front panel or other accessible part, is impractical and does not allow safe operation.

There are fittings for opening drawers are known, which are actuated by the drawer is pressed by a predetermined distance and then extended by a spring mechanism. This function is achieved in a known manner via so-called touch-latch fittings.
Such, based on the touch-latch principle fittings are eg in the writings DE 100 08 350 A1 . DE 198 21 014 A1 or DE 295 07 917 1 disclosed.

Similar closure mechanisms, such as in the DE 197 53 319 A1 described use a lock mechanism based on a cam or slotted guide. These mechanisms are relatively expensive to manufacture.

In the case of fittings known from the prior art, it is disadvantageous that an increased resistance for tensioning the spring mechanism must be applied for inserting the drawer.
Furthermore, the devices require a relatively large trip path and in particular can not from any pressure point on a Drawer panel or a door, etc. are triggered and locked with exactly the same short trip paths and with the same forces.

With the publication EP-A-1 183 963 discloses an adapter for drawers and / or doors of furniture, with at least two functional elements by which the opening and closing operation of the drawer or door can be influenced. For the opening and closing process, a self-closing mechanism is arranged, which moves it into an almost closed position. Subordinate damping elements cause a muted closing of the drawer / door. The drawer has a parallel guide having arranged on an axis gears, which mesh with a rack on the body and form an exact guidance of the drawer.

With the publication EP-A-0 760 309 A1 discloses a device for locking and unlocking in a space retractable and extendable or on and executable system for receiving objects, wherein rotatably mounted on a plate levers are arranged. The two levers are non-positively and positively connected to each other and have a pin or pin which engages in a rotatably mounted link. At least one of the two levers is connected by a spring to the plate. The plate is connected via arranged guides with the system for receiving objects, wherein the two levers engage synchronously in the guides and lock the system or unlock when swinging.

The two aforementioned inventions have the disadvantage that, for insertion of the drawer, an increased resistance for tensioning the spring mechanism is necessary and the devices have a relatively large triggering path. Furthermore, in particular, the devices can not be triggered and locked from any pressure point on a drawer panel or door, etc. with exactly the same short trip paths and forces.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows opening and closing of a movable furniture part by manual operation at any point of this furniture part with low opening and closing pressure and low trip path.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the invention by the features specified in the independent claim 1.

According to the invention, the device comprises two triggering and drive units, each of which has a triggering element that can be influenced by an external force and a drive element that is coupled to the triggering element for moving the furniture part. There is at least one locking element for locking the furniture part in the closed position and release of the furniture part depending on an external force acting on at least one trigger element, wherein the two tripping / drive units are synchronously and substantially free of play coupled by way and force transmitting means.

The two tripping and drive units are arranged at a distance from each other on opposite sides of the movable furniture part.

Each release and drive unit comprises a directly or indirectly on the movable furniture part rotatably mounted and acted upon by a spring release lever in the Cooperation with a fixedly arranged on the furniture body stop determines the closed and open position of the movable furniture part. In this case, one end of the release lever is in the closed state of the movable furniture part to the stop of the furniture body.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

To improve the synchronism and the triggering and driving behavior of the device can be provided that the free end of the release lever is fork-shaped and cooperates with a designed as a stationary pin stop.

The force exerted on the release lever force of the spring, that is, the bias of the spring is preferably adjustable to determine the desired opening path of the drawer in dependence on the drawer size and the drawer mass.

The release lever itself is preferably designed as a bar having at least two legs, the first leg of which forms the trigger element and the second leg is coupled via at least one weg- and force-transmitting connecting element with the second leg of the respective other release lever of the opposite trigger and drive element.

The locking element preferably comprises a temporarily in operative connection with one of the two tripping / drive units, spring-loaded pawl, which operates in the manner of a known touch-latch locking. It can also be provided two pawls, each acting on one of the tripping and drive units.

Advantageously, the trigger / drive unit and the locking element are arranged on a common, to be attached to the movable furniture part mounting plate, which covered with a lid can be. The mounting plate and / or the lid is firmly connected to the movable furniture part.

On the release lever, an adjusting device may be provided, by which the position of the first leg relative to the position of the second leg is variable. As a result, a fine adjustment of the stop position of the first leg of the release lever with respect to the stop on the furniture body is possible.

In order to achieve a controlled and reproducible opening process, means for limiting the movement of the furniture part caused by the drive unit can be provided according to the invention.

As a means for displacement and power transmission between the release levers of the two trigger and drive elements may be provided mechanical, electro-mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic means. For example, the mechanical connecting elements may be designed as rigid, inherently rigid elements, as flexible elements or as rope-shaped elements, depending on whether they must be loadable only on train or even on pressure.

The device according to the invention offers significant advantages over the devices known from the prior art.

The movable furniture part opens and closes safely and reliably, regardless of where in the moving furniture part of the opening and closing pressure is applied. The triggering of the opening movement is possible at any point of the movable furniture part with almost constant, very short trip path. Tilting or unilateral opening or locking of the movable furniture part does not occur.

By the device according to the invention is also the momentum effect of the movable furniture part, ie the impact when hitting the furniture part mass

By the device according to the invention is further the momentum effect of the movable furniture part, i. the shock absorbed by the furniture part mass on the furniture body in the closed position without damaging the furniture body, the movable furniture part or the mechanism. It is also prevented that the catch between the pawl and the release lever by the impact and the resulting change in direction of the movable furniture part (rebound) is unintentionally solved.

Further advantages of the device are:

Suitable for heavy drawers
Especially suitable for very wide drawers-
For drawers that are not too wide, a touch-latch locking and unlocking element is only required on one side.
The front gap in drawers can be adjusted by length-adjustable connecting elements.
Absolutely synchronous tripping and locking
Release forces selectable by different springs or adjustable spring forces
Emergency release given, the drawer is always manually extendable retrofit given
Few and easy to produce parts. The parts can be used left and right.
low height for mounting under the shop floor and between the drawers.

When used in drawers, the best mode of operation of the device according to the invention results in conjunction with a so-called collection device, which is present in almost all drawer guides modern drawers and is therefore not described in detail. The release force of the release lever is selected to be greater than the pull-in force of the collection device.

Due to the force of the feed device, the sensor ends of the release lever are pulled with latched touch-latch handle against the two-sided stops of the furniture body and the drawer securely held in the closed position.

Hereinafter, several embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing figures are described in detail. Reference to the embodiments, further features, advantages and applications of the invention.

Figur 1:

eine Ansicht von unten auf eine Schublade in geschlossener Stellung mit einer ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Figur 2:

die Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 1 bei mittels der Vorrichtung geöffneter Stellung der Schublade;

Figur 3:

eine gegenüber den Figuren 1 und 2 leicht abgewandelte Ausführungsform mit Zugfeder als Kraftspeicher;

Figur 4:

eine vergrößerte Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung gemäß den Figuren 1 und 2;

Figur 5:

eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung gemäß den Figuren 1, 2 und 3;

Figur 6:

eine weitere, abgewandelte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit Zugfeder als Kraftspeicher und gabelförmigem Ausrückhebel, bei geschlossener Schublade;

Figur 7:

die Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 6 mit Torsionsfeder als Kraftspeicher, bei geöffneter Schublade;

Figur 8:

eine Ansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 4, jedoch mit zweiteiligem, in sich verstellbarem Ausrückhebel;

Figur 9:

die Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 8, bei geschlossenem Deckel, mit Rastvorrichtung zur Einstellung der Federspannung;

Figur 10:

eine gegenüber der Figur 8 abgewandelte Ausführungsform mit zweiteiligem, in sich verstellbarem Ausrückhebel in verriegelter Stellung;

Figur 11:

die Ausführungsform gemäß Figur 10 mit zweiteiligem, in sich verstellbarem Ausrückhebel in geöffneter Stellung;

Figur 12:

eine Kopplung der Auslöse- und Antriebseinheiten mittels zwei über Kreuz geführten Verbindungselementen;

Figur 13:

eine Kopplung der Auslöse- und Antriebseinheiten mittels einem auf Zug und Druck belastbaren Verbindungselement;

Figur 14:

eine Kopplung der Auslöse- und Antriebseinheiten mittels einem kurzen, mittleren Verbindungselement;

Figur 15:

eine direkte Kopplung der Auslöse- und Antriebseinheiten mittels Langlochführung;

Figur 16:

eine Kopplung der Auslöse- und Antriebseinheiten mittels Zahnstangengetriebe;

Figur 17:

eine Kopplung der Auslöse- und Antriebseinheiten mittels Zahnriemengetriebe;

Figur 18:

eine Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit Mitteln zur Begrenzung des Öffnungsweges.

It shows:

FIG. 1:

a bottom view of a drawer in the closed position with a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2:

the embodiment according to FIG. 1 when opened by means of the device position of the drawer;

FIG. 3:

one opposite the FIGS. 1 and 2 slightly modified embodiment with tension spring as energy storage;

FIG. 4:

an enlarged view of the device according to the invention according to the FIGS. 1 and 2 ;

FIG. 5:

a perspective view of the device according to the invention according to the FIGS. 1 . 2 and 3 ;

FIG. 6:

a further modified embodiment of the device according to the invention with tension spring as power storage and fork-shaped release lever, with the drawer closed;

FIG. 7:

the embodiment according to FIG. 6 with torsion spring as energy storage, with open drawer;

FIG. 8:

a view of the device according to FIG. 4 , but with two-part, self-adjusting release lever;

FIG. 9:

the embodiment according to FIG. 8 , with the lid closed, with locking device for adjusting the spring tension;

FIG. 10:

one opposite the FIG. 8 modified embodiment with two-part, self-adjusting release lever in the locked position;

FIG. 11:

the embodiment according to FIG. 10 with two-piece, self-adjusting release lever in the open position;

FIG. 12:

a coupling of the tripping and drive units by means of two cross-guided connecting elements;

FIG. 13:

a coupling of the tripping and drive units by means of a loadable on train and pressure connection element;

FIG. 14:

a coupling of the tripping and drive units by means of a short, central connecting element;

FIG. 15:

a direct coupling of the tripping and drive units by slot guide;

FIG. 16:

a coupling of the tripping and drive units by means of rack and pinion gear;

FIG. 17:

a coupling of the tripping and drive units by means of toothed belt transmission;

FIG. 18:

a representation of the device according to the invention with means for limiting the opening path.

The described embodiments relate exclusively to a movable furniture part in the form of a drawer, which is arranged extendable in a known manner in a furniture body. Of course, the embodiments can be transferred in the same or modified form to other movable furniture parts, such as furniture doors, flaps, etc.

The FIGS. 1 and 2 show a view from below of a drawer 3, which is held in a known manner, for example by means of slide rails in a furniture body 1. From the drawer 3 of the drawer bottom 4 and the drawer front 5 is visible.

According to the invention, tripping and drive units 6 are arranged on the side edges of the drawer bottom 4, close to the drawer front 5. The triggering and drive units 6 comprise a mounting plate 7, on which an approximately T-shaped release lever 8 is rotatably arranged in a pivot bearing 9. In the region of the pivot bearing 9, a torsion spring 10 is arranged, which exerts a spring force on the release lever 8, so that its trigger element forming a leg 11 rests with its feeler roller 12 against a stop 2 of the furniture body 1. On the leg 11, a latching projection 13 is further provided, in which a spring-loaded, pivotable pawl 17 engages, which forms a known touch-latch fitting as a single element and holds the release lever 8 in a cocked position. At the ends of the leg 14 of the release lever 8 connecting elements 16 are articulated. The connecting elements 16 connect the leg 14 in each case with the leg 14 of the release lever 8 of the opposite, other tripping and drive unit 6. That is the two opposing release lever 8 are connected without play and synchronously with each other, so that the movement of a release lever 8 is transmitted in the same way to the other release lever 8.

Now, the drawer 3 starting from the in FIG. 1 shown initial state slightly inserted manually in the direction of arrow 18, the release lever 8 are slightly pivoted, since the feeler rollers 12 abut the stops 2 of the furniture body 1. Due to the movement of the release lever 8, the pawl 17 releases from the locking projection 3 and releases the release lever 8, which press on the stop 2 of the furniture body 1 due to the force of the spring 10, wherein the drawer 3 due to the spring force to the end position of the release lever in Arrow direction 19 extends, as it is in FIG. 2 is shown. In this position, the drawer is freely movable and can be fully opened by the user. It is important that the manual pressing of the drawer to trigger the device can be done anywhere on the front panel, since any movement of the drawer is transmitted due to the connecting elements 16 to the same extent on both tripping and drive units 6, so that the pawl 17 always safely responds and the associated release lever 8 releases or arrested.

When closing the drawer, the feeler rollers 12 of the release lever 8 hit the stops 2 on the furniture body 1. The release lever 8 are pivoted in further movement of the drawer with the spring 10 is tensioned. In the release position, ie in almost fully inserted position, the pawl 17 catches the one release lever 8 and locks in, wherein the other release lever 8 is locked via the connecting elements 16. In this position, the drawer is preferably held closed by (not shown) provided in the drawer guides, known feed devices.

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of the device according to the FIGS. 1 and 2 However, wherein the torsion spring 10 of the release lever 8 is replaced by a tension spring 22, which performs the same function.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a tripping and drive unit 6 according to the FIGS. 1 and 2 , One recognizes the mounting plate 7 on which the release lever 8 is rotatably mounted in the pivot bearing 9 and is biased by the torsion spring 10. The leg 11 of the release lever is supported on the feeler roller 12 on the stop 2 of the furniture body 1. The spring-loaded pawl 17 is rotatably mounted in the pivot bearing 20 and also biased by a torsion spring 23. The pawl 17 engages in the latching projection 13 of the release lever 8. On the leg 14 of the release lever 8, the connecting elements 16 are rotatably articulated in a pivot bearing 21.

FIG. 5 shows the triggering and drive unit 6 in a perspective view, it being understood that the entire device is preferably covered by a lid 15 which is fastened together with the mounting plate 17 on the bottom 4 of the drawer 3.

The design of the FIGS. 6 and 7 corresponds in principle to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 Here, however, the release lever 8 are in turn biased by a tension spring 22 and have a fork-shaped leg 24 which engages in a stop pin 25 on the furniture body 1. By the fork-like legs 24 and the associated stop pins 25, an even better synchronous movement of the release lever 8 can be achieved.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the triggering and drive unit 6 with a two-part release lever 26. The release lever comprises a sensor part 27, on which the feeler roller 12 is arranged, and a control part 28 to which the connecting elements 16 are articulated. The control part 28 has a rotary bearing 29, by means of which the sensor part 27 is pivotally mounted is. At a distance from the pivot bearing 29, the sensor part 27 has a slot 30 into which an adjusting screw arranged on the control part engages with an eccentric pin. If the adjusting screw 31 is rotated, the sensor part 27 pivots about the pivot bearing 29, wherein the feeler roller 12 can be adjusted in the direction of arrow 32. As a result, the gap distance of the drawer front 5 to the furniture body 1 can be determined. Furthermore, the stop position of the one release lever 8 can be adjusted to the stop position of the opposite release lever 8.

FIG. 9 shows that in FIG. 8 shown control part 28 of the release lever 26 which is pivotally mounted on the mounting plate 7. The release lever 26 is biased by a torsion spring 33, which in this embodiment has an extended lever, by means of which the spring force, ie the bias of the spring 33 is adjustable. For this purpose, the cover 15 has a toothing 34, which makes it possible to engage the adjusting lever of the spring 33 in different positions of the toothing 34, Each position corresponds to a specific bias of the spring 33. Thus, the force exerted on the release lever 8 total force can be adjusted. The toothing 34 with adjustable spring 33 is also in FIG. 18 clearly visible.

In FIG. 9 Furthermore, one recognizes the bearings for the connecting elements 16 on the leg 28, which may have an eccentric bush 35, whereby the differences in length of the connecting elements can be compensated.

The Figures 10 and 11 show a further embodiment of the triggering and drive unit 6 with two-part release lever 36. There are each the two possible end positions of the release lever 36 are shown. The release lever 36 includes a sensor portion 37 with a feeler stop 38 instead of a feeler roller. The sensor stop 38 is preferably made of a noise-damping, soft plastic or rubber material. The control part 40, on which the connecting elements 16 are articulated, has at the front end a pivot bearing 39, in which the sensor part 37 is rotatable is stored. The sensor part 37 is connected by means of a latching connection 43 with the control part 40. A slot 41 is arranged in the control part 40, wherein in the slot 41 an eccentric pin of an adjusting screw 42 engages, which is held in the sensor part 37. As already in connection with FIG. 8 has been described, by adjusting the adjusting screw 42, an adjustment of the position of the sensor stop 38 with respect to the stop 2 of the furniture body 1 is possible. It also recognizes the formed with an adjusting lever torsion spring 33, which allows an adjustment of the spring force of the spring 33. FIG. 10 shows the release lever in the engaged position of the pawl 17 with the drawer closed, whereas FIG. 11 shows the release lever in its end position with the drawer open.

In the FIGS. 12 to 17 Different variants and embodiments of the connecting elements 16 are shown. FIG. 12 shows the T-shaped release lever 8 shown in the preceding figures with connecting elements in the form of a double cross-connection crosswise, wherein each connecting element 16 is charged only to train. The connecting elements 16 may be designed as a ribbon or rod-shaped elements or as a cable pull or Bowden cables.

FIG. 13 shows approximately L-shaped release lever 44 with a simple cross-connection by means of a tensile and compressive loaded connecting element 16, which is formed in this embodiment, for example, as a rigid profile element.

In FIG. 14 are just about halfway in the bearings 9 bearing release lever 45 shown, which are connected to each other via a designed as a short, middle link connecting element 16.

In FIG. 15 are similar to in FIG. 14 designed, straight release lever, wherein the one release lever 46 has a pin in a Long hole of the other release lever 47 engages and the two release levers 46 and 47 weg- and force-transmitting coupled together.

FIG. 16 shows the possibility of coupling the release lever by means of a rack 49, wherein both release lever 48 have a fixedly arranged on the lever gear and are rotatable about the axis of rotation 9.

FIG. 17 shows a cross-connection by means of chain, timing belt or the like, wherein a release lever 50 is provided with gear, which is connected via a toothed belt or a chain 51 with a gear 52. The gear 52 meshes with another gear of the opposite release lever 50 and thus provides the necessary direction reversal for a synchronous movement of the release lever 50th

FIG. 18 shows a way to limit the automatic opening movement of the drawer by the spring-loaded release lever 8. It recognizes the pullout guide 53 of the drawer and a drawer bottom (not shown) attached tripping and drive unit 6. On the lid 15 of the tripping and drive unit 6 is an approximately aligned parallel to the pullout guide 53 aligned leaf spring 54. This leaf spring 54 moves together with the drawer and the trigger and drive element 6 parallel to the pullout guide 53. The automatic opening movement of the drawer is now stopped by the leaf spring after a certain opening path by a stop bevel 55 of the leaf spring to a fixed to the pullout guide 53 or abuts the furniture body arranged stop 56. The drawer can now be manually pulled out by overcoming the spring tension of the leaf spring 54, wherein the stop slope 55 slides over the stop 56 and releases the drawer. When inserting the drawer slides an inlet slope 57 of the leaf spring 54 with little resistance on the stop 56. The leaf spring 54 is now able to stop the opening movement of the drawer.

Zeichungslegende

1

furniture body

2

attack

3

drawer

4

drawer base

5

drawer front

6

Tripping and drive unit

7

mounting plate

8th

Release lever (T-shaped)

9

pivot bearing

10

torsion spring

11

Leg (trigger element)

12

Feeler roller (trigger element)

13

catch projection

14

leg

15

cover

16

fasteners

17

pawl

18

arrow

19

arrow

20

pivot bearing

21

pivot bearing

22

mainspring

23

torsion spring

24

fork legs

25

stop pin

26

Release lever (two-piece)

27

sensor part

28

control part

29

pivot bearing

30

Long hole

31

Adjusting screw with eccentric pin

32

arrow

33

Torsion spring with lever

34

gearing

35

Exztenterbuchse

36

Release lever (two-piece)

37

sensor part

38

probe stop

39

pivot bearing

40

control part

41

Long hole

42

Adjusting screw with eccentric

43

locking connection

44

Release lever (L-shaped)

45

Release lever (straight)

46

Release lever (with pin)

47

Release lever (with slot)

48

Release lever (with gear)

49

rack

50

Release lever (with gear)

51

toothed belt

52

gear

53

pull-out guide

54

leaf spring

55

stop bevel

56

attack

57

run-in slope

Claims (10)

1. Device for opening and closing a movable furniture part (3), in particular a drawer (3), door or flap, the device comprising two trigger and drive units (6) which are arranged on the movable furniture part (3), which in each case have a trigger element, which can be influenced by the external action of force, and a drive element coupled to the trigger element to move the movable furniture part (3), and comprising at least one locking element to lock the furniture part (3) in the closed position and release the furniture part (3) as a function of an outer action of force on at least one trigger element, the two trigger and drive units (6) being coupled to one another by path and force transmitting connecting elements (16), in a synchronous and substantially play-free manner, characterised in that the two trigger and drive units (6) are arranged on opposing sides of the movable furniture part (3) and in that each trigger and drive unit (6) comprises a disengagement lever (8) which is rotatably mounted, directly or indirectly, on the movable furniture part (3) and loaded by a respective spring (10, 22), which disengagement lever, in cooperation with a stop (2) stationarily arranged on the furniture cabinet (1), determines the closing and open position of the movable furniture part (3).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that one end of the disengagement lever (8) rests on the stop (2) of the furniture cabinet (1) when the movable furniture part (3) is in the closed state.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the preloading of the spring (10, 22) can be adjusted.
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the disengagement lever (8) is configured as a connecting piece having at least two legs (11; 14), the first leg (11) of which forms the trigger element and the second leg (14) of which is coupled by means of at least one path and force transmitting connecting element (16) to the second leg (14) of the other respective disengagement lever.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking element (17) comprises a spring-loaded latch (17) which is temporarily in operative connection with one of the two trigger/drive units (6).
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the end of the first leg (24) of the disengagement lever (8) is fork-like and cooperates with a stop formed as a stationary pin (25).
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the trigger/drive unit (6) and the locking element (17) are arranged on a common assembly plate (7) to be fastened on the movable furniture part (3).
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an adjustment device (30, 31; 41, 42) is provided on the disengagement lever (8), by means of which adjustment device the position of the first leg (27; 37) can be varied relative to the position of the second leg (28; 40).
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that means (54, 56) are provided to limit the movement of the furniture part (3) caused by the trigger and drive unit (6).
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting element (16) for path and force transmission is a mechanical, electromechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic means.

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