EP1353033A1

EP1353033A1 - Cupboard with sliding door system

Info

Publication number: EP1353033A1
Application number: EP02447059A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Axel Enthoven
Original assignee: Enthoven Associates Design Consultants
Current assignee: Enthoven Associates Design Consultants
Priority date: 2002-04-10
Filing date: 2002-04-10
Publication date: 2003-10-15

Abstract

The present invention relates to a furniture piece (1) comprising a central storage space and a sliding door (10), part of the storage space being closed off by the sliding door (10), the storage space having a width. The sliding door (10) comprises at least two door panels (10a ; 10b ; 10c), whereby the door panels (10a ; 10b ; 10c) are provided with means (11 ; 12a; 12b) for removably connecting the door panels (10a ; 10b ; 10c) to each other. The width of the door (10) is smaller than the width of the storage space, and each door panel (10a ; 10b ; 10c) is slideable in width direction of the furniture piece (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a furniture piece according to the preamble of the first claim.
Such a furniture piece is known from FR-A-2337527. The furniture piece disclosed in FR-A-2337527 comprises a plurality of adjacent compartments in the heigth and width direction of the furniture piece, and a door which is slidably mounted in front of these compartments and which is movable between at least two positions. The door comprises a plurality of apertures and full planes which are ordened in such a way that each compartment is accessible in at least one of the positions of the door. Consequently, the opening of one compartment in one position of the sliding door will result in the closing of another compartment in another position of the sliding door. The disadvantage of such a furniture piece having a door as described above, is that if a certain compartment has to be accessed, the door has to be slided in such a way that the desired compartment faces an aperture in the door. Thereby, one has to look carefully to the ordening of the apertures in the door to know to which position the door has to be slided in order to open then compartment. Another disadvantage is that in order to acces some compartments, the door has to be slided such that a part of the door is situated outside the frame enclosing the compartments of the furniture piece. Thus, additional space in the room at the left and right of the furniture piece is required in order to acces some compartments, and thus constituting a disadvantage in small rooms.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a furniture piece with which the enclosed space within the furniture piece is accessible in an easier way.
This can be achieved with the technical features of the first claim.
The furniture piece of the present invention has a door comprising at least two door panels which are provided with means for removably connecting the door panels, the width of the door being smaller than the width of the central storage space.
Because the width of the door is smaller than the width of the central storage space, the opening of one part of the central storage space will entrain the closing of another part. With the furniture piece according to the invention, the accessibility of a part of the central storage space is provided through sliding one or more door panels in width direction of the furniture piece in one or the other direction, depending on which part of the central storage space has to be accessed. Thus, the desired part of the central storage space can be accessed in a much more easy way as compared with the furniture piece known from the state of the art, where one really needs to puzzle in order to get access to the desired compartment. Moreover, with the furniture piece of this invention, the central part of the storage space is as easily accessible as the outer parts of the storage space are. In addition, each door panel can be slid separately or when connected to one or more further door panels, and separate panels are slideable in the same or in the opposite direction. Because adjacent door panels are removably connectable to each other, door panels can be grouped together and when needed separated again, thereby contributing to the ease with which a certain part of the central storage space can be accessed.
Preferably, adjacent door panels comprise facing side edges extending in height direction of the door panel, and the means for removably connecting adjacent door panels are mounted in the vicinty of or on said side edges.
These means for removably connecting adjacent door panels comprise a magnetic connection, mounted on facing side edges of adjacent door panels in such a way that at least part of the contact faces of the magnetic connection overlap each other when the door panels are connected to each other. Thus, adjacent door panels are kept together by means of a magnetic effect between the two parts of the magnetic connection in the facing side edges of the adjacent door panels. Consequently, the use of magnets eliminates the need of mounting a complicated locking mechanism for removably connecting adjacent door panels. However, any other means allowing a removable connection of the door panels known to the person skilled in the art may also be used.
To allow separating the door panels, the means for removably connecting adjacent door panels also comprise a grip. The grip comprises a first part mounted on a first door panel and a second part mounted on an adjacent second door panel. The first and second part of the grip are mounted in the vicinity of or on the facing side edges of the first and second door panel, at different heights of the side edges and at such a distance from each other that they can be operated by one hand to exert a torsion, which facilitates separation of the parts of the magnetic connection. The grip thus allows to exert a torsion, thereby facilitating the separation of the magnets, and thus of the door panels, from each other.
The distance over which one or more of the door panels may be slid, is limited to the dimensions of the furniture piece, in particular to the width of the furniture piece or central storage space. It is therefore required that the furniture piece over a width, equal to the width of a door panel, is not covered by a door panel to allow the sliding of the door panels either separately or when connected to each other. Thus, in the preferred embodiment where the compartments and panels all have the same width, the number of door panels is smaller by at least one unit than the number of adjacent compartments in one row.
Preferably, the furniture piece comprises a top wall and a part of the door panel extending in height direction above the edge of the top wall, whereby the top wall and the part of the door panel extending in height direction above the edge of the top wall comprise co-operating means to allow the slideability of the door panels.
Preferably, the top wall comprises an upper surface and the part of the door panel extending in height direction above the edge of the top wall comprises a back side, whereby the co-operating means for allowing the slideability of the door panel comprise at least one groove in said upper surface of the top wall in width direction of the furniture piece, and a profile with a projection, the profile being mounted on the back side of the part of the door panel, the projection being slideable within the groove.
Preferably, the furniture piece comprises a bottom wall and a part of the door panel extending in height direction below the edge of the bottom wall, whereby the top wall and the part of the door panel extending in height direction above the edge of the top wall comprise co-operating means to allow the slideability of the door panels.
Preferably, the bottom wall comprises a lower surface and the part of the door panel extending in height direction below the edge of the bottom wall comprises a back side, whereby the co-operating means for allowing the slideability of the door panel comprise at least one groove in said lower surface of the bottom wall in width direction of the furniture piece, and a profile with a projection, the profile being mounted on the back side of the part of the door panel, the projection being slideable within the groove.
The invention is further elucidated in the figures and description of the figures.
Figures 1-5 show a view to the front of the furniture piece of a preferred embodiment of the furniture piece according to the invention, the door panels of the furniture piece being in various possible positions.
Figure 6 shows a detailed view to the front of door panel and the surrounding part of the furniture piece.
Figure 7 shows a top view of figure 6.
Figure 8 is a cross section of the furniture piece along line A-A of Figure 6.
Figure 9 shows a side view of a different embodiment according to the invention, having a glass door.
The furniture piece shown in Figure 1 comprises a bottom 2 and top horizontal wall 3 extending in width direction of the furniture piece 1, a first 4 and a second 5 side wall at opposite sides of the furniture piece extending in depth direction of the furniture piece 1, and a vertical back wall 6 extending in width direction of the furniture piece 1.
The top 3, bottom 2, back 6 and side 4,5 walls enclose a central space which may be one big compartment or may be divided in a plurality of adjacent compartments 7. These compartments may all have the same size or they may be of varying sizes. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-5, compartments 7 of the same size are present which are separated from each other by means of a horizontal panel 8 parallel to the top 3 and bottom 2 wall and extending in width direction of the furniture piece 1, and by vertical panels 9 parallel to each other and to the outer left 4 and outer right 5 wall and extending in depth direction of the furniture piece 1.
The furniture piece 1 comprises a front side 22 that is partly covered by a vertically mounted door 10 that is slideably mounted in width direction of the furniture piece 1. The door 10 comprises three door panels 10a, 10b, 10c, parallel to the vertical back wall 6, that can slide in front of these compartments in width direction of the furniture piece 1. The number of door panels may also be lower or higher, provided, however, that at least a part of the front side 22 remains uncovered. The height of each door panel 10a-10c shown in Figures 1-5 is slightly larger than, but may also be equal to or smaller than, the distance between the top 3 and bottom 2 horizontal wall.
In the furniture piece shown in Figures 1-5, the door panels 10a-10c all have the same width, being equal to the width of a single compartment. The widths of the door panels may however also differ from each other or differ from the width of the compartments 7.
The door panels 10a-10c are removably connectable to each other. Thereto, means are provided which comprise co-operating locking means, e.g. a magnet connection 11 mounted on facing side edges 23, 24 of adjacent door panels 10a-10c, as shown in figure 8. The magnetic connection 11 is mounted in such a way that the two parts of the magnetic connection 11 in side edges of adjacent door panels (e.g. 10a and 10b) facing each other overlap over at least a part of their surface when the door panels are connected to each other. Thus, adjacent door panels are kept together by means of a magnetic effect between the two parts of the magnetic connection 11 in facing side edges of adjacent door panels 10a-10c. These two parts can either be two magnets, or a magnet on the one hand and a metallic plate on the other hand. However, any other means allowing a removable connection of the door panels known to the person skilled in the art may also be used.
The means for removably connecting adjacent door panels also comprise a grip 12. The grip 12 comprises a first part 12a, mounted on a first side edge 23 of a first door panel, e. g. 10c, parallel to this side edge and extending away from the door panel in depth direction of the furniture piece 1, as shown in figures 6-8. The grip 12 comprises a second part 12b, mounted on a second side edge 24 of a second door panel 10b facing the first side edge 23. Both parts 12a and 12b are mounted at a different height with respect to each other at such a distance that, when the door panels 10a and 10b are connected to each other, both grip parts 12a and 12b can be operated by one hand to exert a torsion to separate the two parts of the magnetic connection 11 in the facing edges 23 and 24. In the embodiment according to the invention shown in figure 6, preferably the thumb has to be placed at the left side of the first grip part 12a, whereas preferably the forefinger of the same hand has to be placed at the right side of the second grip part 12b. In this position of the fingers, the first 12a and second 12b grip parts can be pushed apart, thereby separating the adjacent door panels 10b and 10c. The distance over which first and second grip parts at facing side edges of adjacent door panels are spaced, can be smaller, or somewhat larger, as long as these grip parts 12a and 12b can be pushed apart by the simple movement of forefinger and thumb of the same hand.
Each panel can be moved separately. Alternatively, each panel can be connected to at least one other panel and be moved together with this panel. Thus, according to the needs, panels can be connected to each other or separated from each other. Some of the possible different positions of the door panels 10a-10c are shown in the figures 1 to 5.
Since the distance over which one or more of the door panels may be slid, is limited to the dimensions of the furniture piece, in particular to the width of the furniture piece or central storage space, it is required that at least one column of compartments 7 is not covered by a door panel 10a-10c to allow the sliding of the door panels 10a-10c either separately or when connected to each other. In the furniture piece 1 shown in figures 1-5, two columns of compartments 7 are not covered by a door panel 10a-10c.
To allow the sliding of the door panels 10a-10c, separately or when connected to each other, in width direction of the furniture piece 1, on the one hand, a groove 13 is present in the upper face of the top wall 3 which extends along the entire length of the top wall 3 in width direction of the furniture piece 1, as shown in figure 7. On the back side of each door panel 10a-10c, on the part of the panel that extends in height direction above the edge of the top wall 3, a profile 14 is mounted extending over nearly the entire width of the door panel 10a-10c (see figs 8-9). At the bottom of this profile 14, an opening 15 is present which extends over the entire length of the profile 14 and in which a slidable element 16, for example a wheel or a ball bearing, is mounted at two positions, one at each end of the profile 14. These slidable elements 16 fit in and can slide, or in the case a wheel is present, roll in the groove 13. Depending on which type of slidable element 16 is used, this element is fixed or removably mounted to the profile 14. A top 25 (see fig. 7) is present at both edges of the groove 13, corresponding to the edges of the top wall 3, to prevent the door panel 10a-10c from sliding out of the groove 13. This top may be made of any suitable material known to the man skilled in the art, such as for example rubber. On the other hand, a groove 17 is present (see figs 8-9) in the lower face of the bottom wall 2 which extends along the entire length of this wall 2 in width direction of the furniture piece 1. On the back side of each door panel 10a-10c, on the part of the panel that extends in height direction below the edge of the bottom wall 2, a profile 18 is mounted extending over nearly the entire width of the door panel 10a-10c. On this profile 18, a slidable element 19, for example a wheel or a ball bearing, is fastened at two positions, one at each end of the profile 18. These slidable elements 19 fit in and can slide, or in the case the slideable element 19 is a wheel, roll in the groove 17. A rubber ring 19a follows the contour of this slidable element 19 such that the contact between the groove 17 and the slidable element 19 upon sliding is smoothened.
The door panels 10a-10c can be made of any suitable material, such as plastics, wood, metal, glass, etc. These door panels 10a-10c can be made of one piece, as shown in figure 8. In figure 9, the door panel 10b is built up of a frame 20 in which a glass plate 21 is held.

Claims

Furniture piece (1) comprising a central storage space and a sliding door (10), part of the storage space being closed off by the sliding door (10), the storage space having a width, characterized in that the sliding door (10) comprises at least two door panels (10a ; 10b ; 10c), the door panels (10a ; 10b ; 10c) being provided with means (11 ; 12a; 12b) for removably connecting the door panels (10a ; 10b ; 10c) to each other, the width of the door (10) being smaller than the width of the storage space, each door panel (10a; 10b; 10c) being slideable in width direction of the furniture piece (1).
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that adjacent door panels (e.g. 10a and 10b) comprise facing side edges (23 ; 24) extending in height direction of the door panel (10a ; 10b) and in that the means for removably connecting adjacent door panels (10a ; 10b) are mounted in the vicinity of said side edges (23 ; 24).
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the means for removably connecting adjacent door panels (e.g. 10a and 10b) comprise a magnetic connection (11) mounted on side edges (23, 24) of both door panels in such a way that at least part of the contact faces of the magnetic connection (11) overlap each other when the door panels (e.g. 10a and 10b) are connected to each other.
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the means for removably connecting adjacent door panels (e.g. 10a and 10b) also comprise a grip, the grip comprising a first part (12a) mounted on a first door panel (e.g. 10c) and a second part (12b) mounted on an adjacent second door panel (e.g. 10b), the first (12a) and second (12b) part respectively being mounted in the vicinity of side edges (23, 24) of the first (10c) and second (10b) door panel facing each other, and at different heights of the side edges (23, 24) at such a distance from each other that they can be operated by one hand to exert a torsion for separating the magnets (11) on the facing side edges (23, 24) when the door panels (10c, 10b) are connected to each other.
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in claims 1-4, characterized in that the sliding door comprises a plurality of door panels (10a ; 10b ; 10c), all door panels having approximately the same width.
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in claims 1-5, characterized in that the central storage space is divided in a plurality of compartments (7), each compartment (7) having a width substantially equal to the width of a door panel (10a ; 10b ; 10c).
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in claims 1-6, characterized in that the number of door panels (10a ; 10b ; 10c) is smaller by at least one unit than the number of adjacent compartments (7) in one row.
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in claims 1-7, characterized in that it comprises a top wall (3) and a part of the door panel (10a-10c) extending in height direction above the edge of the top wall (3), the top wall (3) and said part of the door panel (10a-10c) extending in height direction above the edge of the top wall (3) comprising co-operating means (13, 14, 16) to allow the slideability of the door panel (10a-10c).
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the top wall (3) comprises an upper surface and in that the part of the door panel (10a-10c) extending in height direction above the edge of the top wall (3) comprises a back side, and in that the co-operating means (13, 14, 16) for allowing the slideability of the door panel comprise at least one groove (13) in said upper surface of the top wall (3) in width direction of the furniture piece (1) and a profile (14) with a projection (16), the profile (14) being mounted on said back side of the part of the door panel (10a-10c), the projection being slideable within the groove (13).
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in claims 1-9, characterized in that it comprises a bottom wall (2) and a part of the door panel (10a-10c) extending in height direction below the edge of the bottom wall (2), the bottom wall (2) and the part of the door panel (10a-10c) extending in height direction below the edge of the bottom wall (2) comprising co-operating means (17, 18, 19) to allow the slideability of the door panel (10a-10c).
Furniture piece (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the bottom wall (2) comprises a lower surface and in that the part of the door panel (10a-10c) extending in height direction below the edge of the bottom wall (2) comprises a back side, and in that the co-operating means (17, 18, 19) for allowing the slideability of the door panel comprise at least one groove (17) in said lower surface of the bottom wall (2) in width direction of the furniture piece (1) and a profile (18) with a projection (19), the profile (18) being mounted on said back side of the part of the door panel (10a-10c), the projection being slideable within the groove (17).