EP1407105A1

EP1407105A1 - A method for opening doors of a cupboard and a mechanism to be used for said method

Info

Publication number: EP1407105A1
Application number: EP20020740394
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Juul Kristiansen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Kristiansen John Juul
Priority date: 2001-06-11
Filing date: 2002-05-01
Publication date: 2004-04-14
Also published as: WO2003002838A1; WO2003002838A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a cupboard having doors or drawers, where opening and closing of the doors or drawers are effected automatically. In a preferred embodiment one or more sensors are mounted in a front part of the cupboard, and the sensors register a movement being made by a person wanting to open or close the drawers. Actuators open e.g. doors 10 of the cupboard by first displacing the doors outwards, substantially perpendicularly relative to the plane of the doors, and then by displacing the doors sideways parallel to the plane of the doors. Alternatively the doors of the cupboard are opened by initial combined displacement outwards and sideways and subsequent displacement sideways. The doors are thus in a projecting plane before the doors are displaced sideways. It is thus possible to open the doors even though there are other doors next to the doors to be opened.

Description

A METHOD FOR OPENING DOORS OF A CUPBOARD AND A MECHANISM TO BE USED FOR SAID METHOD

The present invention relates to a method for opening doors of a cupboard. The invention also relates to mechanisms for performing the opening.

There are several solutions for performing displacement of doors without using a handle, but where a sensor registers the presence of a person in front of the cupboard and automatically opens the doors without the user having to open the doors. EP 0 648 987 dis- closes a particular advantage where quick opening and closing of such doors as of a refrigerator are desired in order to avoid that the cold from the refrigerator flows out of the refrigerator. A mechanism for sideways displacement of a door of a cupboard is shown and disclosed in e.g. FR 2 476 193. However, this mechanism has a disadvantage in that it is impossible to open the door when an obstacle is placed next to the door to be opened, such as a second door of the same cupboard or of a cupboard next to the cupboard in question. This means that there has to be space without obstacles next to the cupboard in question with the door in question to make it possible to open the door by the sideways displacement of the door. The space without obstacles must correspond to the width of the door.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a method and a mechanism to be used for said method, where it is possible to open a door of a cupboard even though there is no obstacle-free space next to the door, e.g. by the door being flush with and being placed directly next to other doors not to be opened at the same time.

This object is achieved by a method characterised in that the door is opened in planes which are substantially parallel, and said method also comprising the door being initially opened from a first plane where the door is closed, and substantially perpendicularly to the first plane by displacement of the door outwards to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said method further comprising the door being subsequently opened parallel to the second plane by the door being displaced sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open, and said method comprising automatic outwards displacement and subsequent automatic sideways displacement of the door.

The object is also achieved by a method where the door is opened in planes which are substantially parallel, and said method comprising the door being opened from a first plane where the door is closed and where the door is initially opened by simultaneous displacement substantially perpendicularly and parallel to the first plane by combined displacement of the door outwards and sideways to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said method further comprising the door being subsequently opened parallel to the second plane by displacement of the door further sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open, and said method comprising automatic combined outwards and sideways displacement of the door and subsequent automatic sideways displacement of the door.

A mechanism to be used with the first mentioned method is characterised in that the mechanism comprises a first actuator designed to initially displace the door from a first plane where the door is closed, substantially perpendicularly to the first plane and outwards to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said mechanism comprising a second actuator designed to subsequently displace the door parallel to the second plane and sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open.

An alternative mechanism to be used with the first mentioned method is characterised in that the mechanism comprises a single actuator designed to initially displace the door from a first plane where the door is closed, substantially perpendicularly to the first plane and outwards to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said actuator being designed to subsequently displace the door parallel to the second plane and sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open.

A mechanism to be used with the second mentioned method is characterised in that the mechanism comprises a single actuator designed to initially displace the door from a first plane where the door is closed, and simultaneously substantially perpendicularly and parallel to the first plane by combined displacement outwards and sideways to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said actuator being designed to subsequently displace the door parallel to the second plane and further sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open.

By using one of the above-mentioned methods and optionally one of the above-mentioned associated mechanisms, it will be possible to open a door by sideways displacement even if there is an obstacle in the same first plane, such as a second door not to be opened. Whether one method or the other is applied, or whether the first, the second or the third mechanism is optionally applied, depends on an arbitrary choice or on considerations of space or costs as the mechanisms may be differentiated in terms of space and price based on the desired space, price, functionality, type of cupboard, type of doors, etc.

The cupboard with doors may be used for several purposes, both privately and commercially. Advantageously, the cupboard with doors may be used in kitchens and bathrooms, for clinical use, e.g. by doctors and dentists, at institutions and at hospitals as well as for disabled persons who cannot themselves or for whom it is at least difficult to handle doors of a cupboard. Based on the present invention, it will also be possible to manufacture chests of drawers where the drawers are opened and closed by means of one of the methods and optionally one of the mechanisms according to the invention.

The doors may be made of any type of material suitable for doors and drawers. The doors may e.g. be made of glass. By means of the invention it will be possible to avoid handles and hinges altogether. This means that the mechanism according to the invention contributes to improving the appearance of the doors and drawers, respectively, and if the doors are made of glass, fingerprints on the glass may be avoided, which may otherwise be a consequence of touching the glass when opening and closing the doors.

A possible function of methods and mechanisms according to the invention may be the following function, which is described on the basis of a cupboard with doors of which one or more is to be opened, but where adjacent doors of the same or other cupboards are not to be opened at the same time. The method must be able to effect opening of cupboards with double doors so that both doors open at the same time. Moreover, the method must alternatively be able to effect opening vertically towards the ceiling and/or towards the floor.

The cupboard may be provided with an electronic control means for steering the mechanism. The electronic control means is made on a printed circuit board and is built into the cupboard. Covering plates may cover the printed circuit board and the mechanism. The electronic control means and the mechanism are provided with an adapter which is plugged in. Internal voltages to motors and sensors are no higher than 24 V so that all current in the cupboard is weak current. The cupboard is provided with sensors, such as photocells, or an infrared sensor to register any movement in front of the doors of the cupboard. Alternatively, the cupboard may be provided with sensors in a finger-touch panel or in a panel having actual control buttons so that opening and possible closing of the doors will be effected by manual operation of the panel.

The sensors may register when a hand is moved in front of the door. The door is closed when movement has not been registered in e.g. between 4 and 30 seconds. When a door is opened, the following takes place: Control is performed to ensure that an adjacent cupboard is not open. First the door is displaced outwards. Then the door is displaced side- ways. Control is performed under operation to ensure that there is no resistance, as such resistance will stop the displacement. A stop is effected on the basis of time or position or as an end stop. When a door is closed, the following takes place: First the door is displaced sideways towards the middle of the cupboard. Then the door is displaced inwards. Control is performed under operation to ensure that there is no resistance, as such resistance will stop the displacement. A stop is effected on the basis of time or position or as an end stop. During displacement the power consumption of the actuators is metered to register if anything prevents displacement of the door. As above this method may also be used for drawers in a chest of drawers.

The invention will be described below with reference to the figures, where

Fig. 1 is an outline of a cupboard with a possible first embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention for opening and closing cupboard doors, Figs. 2A-2C are outlines of the cupboard with the first embodiment of the mechanism and seen in different view,

Fig. 2D is an outline of a cross section of a cupboard seen from above with a mechanism according to the invention and with doors shown in an open position, Fig. 3 is an outline of a chest of drawers with 5 drawers and with a mechanism according to the invention for opening and closing the drawers,

Figs. 4A-4C are outlines of the chest of drawers with the top drawer shown displaced outwards by means of the mechanism (not shown).

Figs. 5A-5B are outlines of a cupboard with a second possible embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention for opening and closing cupboard doors, Fig. 6 shows a detailed drawing of an embodiment of a frame for a cupboard, said frame comprising one or two drive mechanisms according to the invention, Fig. 7 is a detailed drawing of a third and preferred embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention, Figs. 8A-8B is an exploded view and an assembly drawing, respectively, of a carriage for the third embodiment of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7,

Figs. 9A-9B are detailed drawings of a possible embodiment of a mount to be used together with the carriage shown in Figs. 8A-8B and the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, Figs. 10A-10E are detailed drawings of different sections through the third embodiment of the mechanism according to the invention, and Fig. 11 shows successive outlines of the positions of a door when the door is being opened and closed, respectively, by using a third embodiment of the mechanism according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a cupboard 1 having doors 2. Inside the cupboard 1, two actuators 3, 4 are arranged, formed by two electromotors. The first electromotor 3 is designed to perform initial opening of the doors 2 of the cupboard, and the second electromotor 4 is designed to perform subsequent and final opening of the doors 2. As a contrast to this, the second electromotor 4 is also designed to perform initial closing of the doors 2, and the first electromotor 3 is also designed to perform subsequent and final closing of the doors 2. The initial opening of the doors 2 is effected by the doors 2 being displaced outwards, shown by an arrow, perpendicularly to a plane of the doors 2. In the figure, the plane of the doors 2 extends perpendicularly to the plane of the paper, displacement outwards per- pendicularly to the plane thus being displacement to the left in the plane of the paper as shown by the arrow. The displacement outwards is effected when a shaft 5 on the first motor 3 rotates. The shaft 5 of the motor is provided with a gear wheel 6 driving a second gear wheel 7 on a vertical shaft 8. Through an excenter mechanism 9, the vertical shaft 8 moves a connecting element 10 attached to a frame 11 of the doors 2. Through a second drive mechanism (see below), the doors 2 are attached to the frame 11. The first motor 3 is secured to the vertical shaft 8 by means of a mount 12 suspended on a bush 13 on the vertical shaft 8.

At the top and at the bottom, the frame 11 is provided with sliding rails 14, 15 retained in sliding grooves 16, 17. The sliding grooves 16, 17 are mounted at the top and at the bottom of the cupboard 1. When the excenter mechanism 9 displaces the frame 11, and thus the doors 2, outwards by means of the connecting element 10, this is effected by the sliding rails 14, 15 being displaced outwards in the sliding grooves 16, 17. The doors 2 are displaced adequately outwards to a position where the doors 2 may subsequently be dis- placed sideways parallel to the plane of the doors, i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of the paper. The displacement outwards must e.g. take into account any other cupboards having other doors placed next to the cupboard shown so that other cupboards having other doors will be placed perpendicularly to the plane of the paper relative to the cupboard shown.

The subsequent opening of the doors 2 is effected by the doors 2 being displaced sideways, parallel to the plane of the doors. The displacement sideways is effected when a shaft 18 on the second motor 4 rotates. The motor 4 is attached to the frame 11 and will thus follow the frame 11 by the initial displacement outwards as described above. The shaft 18 of the motor 4 is provided with a driving wheel 19 driving a chain, a belt, a wire or some other type of traction band in a traction system. In the figure, the driving wheel 19 is shown as a driving wheel for a ball chain 21. The driving wheel 19 may thus also be a driving wheel for a toothed belt, a wire or some other traction band. The chain 21 extends around a number of driving wheels 19, 20. In the view shown, a driving wheel is provided at each outer corner of the doors.

Through a shaft 22, 23, the driving wheels 19, 20 are connected to gear wheels 24, 25 caused to rotate by the driving wheels 19, 20. The shaft 22, 23 is mounted in the frame 11 by means of a bearing. The gear wheels 24, 25 drive a toothed rack 26, 27 shaped as a U turned upside down and attached to the inner side of the doors 2. The toothed rack 26, 27 is mounted on a sliding block 28, 29 by the arms of the U extending around the sliding block 28, 29 and the bottom of the U resting on the sliding block 28, 29. The sliding block 28, 29 is retained to the frame 11 by means of the shaft 22, 23. The toothed rack 26, 27 is provided with teeth (not shown) on the outside edge of the right arm of the U. The teeth are engaged with the gear 24, 25 caused to rotate by the driving wheels 19,20.

When the second electromotor 4 drives the driving wheels 19, 20, and the driving wheels 19, 20 drive the pull chain 21 and the wheels 24, 25, the toothed rack 26, 27, which is attached to the inner sides of the doors, will be displaced sideways in the plane of the doors, i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of the paper. The doors are thus also displaced sideways in the plane of the doors. As a starting point, the displacement is effected until complete sideways displacement of the doors has been performed so that full access to the inside of the cupboard is established. Alternatively, partial sideways displacement, and thus only partial opening, of the doors could be effected. Control of the sideways displace- ment may be performed by the user actively declaring when opening of the door may stop, e.g. by using a press button or by acting on a sensor. Alternatively, the doors may be provided with a sensor registering a given position of a user and that a given position determines that further opening of the doors may stop.

Figs. 2A-2C show the mechanism in double right-angled views seen from the side, from above and from the front, respectively. The mechanism is arranged in the cupboard along an inner side of the cupboard. Fig. 2D shows a cupboard having two doors, both initially being displaced outwards and subsequently being displaced sideways. It is shown in section how the doors are flush with the side panels of the cupboard when the doors are closed, and how the doors are displaced outwards and sideways relative to the side panels when the doors are open. The mechanism for opening the doors is mounted behind the side panels, and as a starting point a mechanism is provided for each door of the cupboard. Alternatively, the mechanism may be provided for a plurality of doors of the cupboard, and by means of suitable transmission mechanisms (not shown and not described), the actuators may drive the relevant plurality of doors.

In an alternative embodiment of the actuators it will be possible to omit the first actuator. If the second actuator is capable of performing axial displacement of the shaft besides also being capable of performing a rotation of the shaft, it will be possible to perform the initial opening in the form of the outwards displacement of the frame and thus of the doors by performing initial axial displacement of the shaft. Subsequently, it will be possible to perform the rotation of the shaft mentioned above in order to perform the subsequent opening of the door. In this alternative embodiment, it will be possible to omit altogether the first motor, the excenter mechanism, the vertical shaft and the connecting element. Not only will this make the construction more technically simple, it will also reduce the space requirement of the mechanism and reduce the price of the mechanism for providing the desired opening of the doors.

Fig. 3 and Figs. 4A-4C are schematic views of a chest of drawers and show how an actuator driving a traction band may be used for opening drawers in a chest of drawers. The actuator is mounted at the back of the chest of drawers, and in a manner similar to that in which the second actuator, described above in Fig. 1, performs sideways displacement of the doors, the actuator for the chest of drawers may perform outwards and inwards dis- placement of the drawers. Not all subelements necessary to perform the displacement are shown, but the elements will be the same as the elements for performing the sideways displacement of the doors of the cupboard, i.e. driving wheel, driving belt, gear wheel and toothed rack with sliding blocks, which means that the control of pulling out and closing the drawer is effected in a way which is fully comparable with the control of the doors de- scribed above.

In order to avoid that the drawers are pushed into a person standing in front of the drawers by the automatic displacement outwards by means of the mechanism according to the invention, the drawers may be provided with sensors registering if a person is within a distance shorter than the outwards displacement obtained by the drawers. In this case the sensor may send a signal to the actuator to suspend further displacement outwards to avoid that the drawer is pushed into the person standing in front of the drawer.

Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B are schematic views of a further alternative manner in which an initial outwards displacement and a subsequent sideways displacement of the doors of a cupboard may be performed. The figures show the cupboard 1 having doors 2 seen from above. Opening of the doors 2 is effected by the cupboard 1 being provided with a guide rail (not shown) having a guide groove 30 for each of the doors 2. The doors 2 are provided with guide mounts 31 and guide pins 32, 33. The guide pins 32, 33 on the guide mounts 31 are engaged with the guide grooves 30 in the guide rail. The guide grooves 30 determine partly the initial displacement and partly the subsequent displacement of the doors. A single actuator 34 is mounted inside the cupboard. The actuator 34 drives a traction band, a pull chain or a pull wire 35 (shown with a broken contour) running in the sideways direction of the entire cupboard.

When the doors are closed, the doors are in an inner plane PI of the doors as shown in Fig. 5A. Initial opening of the doors is effected by the doors being displaced sideways and the outer edges 36 of the doors are displaced outwards. Initial sideways displacement of the doors cause the guide pins 32, 33 in the guide mounts 31 to be moved successively from an inner path 37 of the guide groove 31 in an inclined path 38 to an outer path 39 of the guide grooves 31. As an outer guide pin 32 is displaced into the inclined path 38, while an inner guide pin 33 is still in the inner path 37, the outer edge 36 of the doors will be displaced outwards so that the doors are initially in an slide angle relative to the plane of the doors when the doors are closed. The outer edge 36 of the doors is thus moved outwards and sideways at the same time.

When the outer guide pin 32 is moved from the inclined path 38 to the outer path 39 of the guide groove 30 by means of further sideways displacement, the inner guide pin 33 will simultaneously be moved from the inner path 37 to the inclined path 38 of the guide groove 30. This causes the doors to remain in a slide angle relative to the plane of the doors when they are closed. By means of further displacement sideways, the inner guide pins 33 will also be moved from the inclined path 38 to the outer path 39. This causes both the inner guide pins 33 and the outer guide pins 32 to be in the outer path 39. The doors will then be in an outer plane P2 as shown in Fig. 5B, parallel to the inner plane PI, when the doors were closed. By means of final sideways displacement, this takes place in the outer plane P2 with the guide pins 32, 33 in the outer path 39. Complete opening of the doors is provided when the outer guide pin 32 is situated farthes out in the guide groove 30. Closing of the doors is effected in a manner opposite to the one described above.

In the figures the guide groove 30 is shown as an inner path 37, an inclined path 38 and an outer path 39, where the inclined path 38 forms a discontinuous transition between the inner path 37 and the outer path 39. The guide groove 30 may have other shapes and in particular the inclined path 38 may have another shape, e.g. in order to form a continuous transition between the inner path 37 and the outer path 39 to allow given desired simultaneous displacement of the doors outwards and sideways.

Figs. 6A-6B are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of a mechanism for opening and closing doors (not shown) of a cupboard (not shown). The drive mechanism is primarily designed for glass doors (not shown) but will also be useful for doors made of other materials, such as wood and metal. The drive mechanism comprises a frame 40 designed to form part of the cabinet of a cupboard. The drive mechanism is housed in a bottom frame 40B and a top frame 40T, except for the parts of the drive mechanism formed by an actuator 43. The bottom frame 40B and the top frame 40T, respectively, form a bottom and a top part of the overall frame 40.

The bottom frame 40B and the top frame 40T, respectively, are designed to be mounted on a body (not shown) of the cupboard in such a manner that the frame 40 with the bottom frame 40B and the top frame 40T forms the outer part of the body, and such that the frame 40 with the bottom frame 40B and the top frame 40T forms a natural elongation of the outwards extension of the body of the cupboard. As mentioned above, the figure shows a drive mechanism mounted in both a bottom frame 40B and in a top frame 40T for a cupboard. However, only the bottom frame 40B has an associated actuator 43 to drive 5 the mechanism. However, the drive mechanism in the top frame 40T is driven by the same actuator 43 such as described below.

As mentioned above, the drive mechanism itself for displacing the doors is housed in a top frame 40T and a bottom frame 40B, respectively, of the overall frame 40, and the actuator

10 43 together with the printed circuit board 44 for controlling opening and closing of the doors are housed in a side frame 40S of the overall frame 40. All components of the drive mechanism for driving the doors and for controlling the drive mechanism are thus housed in the frame 40 and will be concealed in the frame under daily use. In the embodiment shown, the printed circuit board 44 for controlling the actuator 43 is placed in a plane

15 parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the actuator 43. This has the advantage that the printed circuit board 44 does not take up more space than the actuator 43, except for in the direction along the actuator 43. Moreover, the side frame 40S is provided with grooves (not shown) for receiving edge areas of the printed circuit board. An advantage is then obtained in that the printed circuit board 44 is readily mounted in the side frame and may

20 e.g. readily be replaced if different control of the doors of the same cupboard is desired or if the side frame is to be used for different cupboards having different types of control of the doors.

Among the parts designed to displace the doors are mounts 45, 46 for retaining the doors 25 to the drive mechanism. In the embodiment shown, two mounts 45, 46 are shown for each drive mechanism, but actually each drive mechanism is only provided with one mount 45, 46. The two mounts shown are the same mount shown in an inner position (the position to the right) where the door is closed, and an outer position (the position to the left) where the door is open, respectively. The mounts 45, 46 are the only members of the drive 30 mechanism that are visible under daily use. The doors may be retained to the mounts 45, 46 in any appropriate manner, i.e. by gluing, by screwing on, by soldering, by welding or by yet other joining processes, depending on what material the doors are made of.

The frame 40 will not be described further as each of the parts 40S, 40B, 40T of the frame 35 has characteristics conditional on simple mechanical considerations, primarily containing the drive mechanism itself in the parts 40B and 40T of the frame and containing the actuator 43 and the printed circuit board 44 in the part 40S of the frame. However, the drive mechanism itself wili be described further below with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a drive mechanism for opening and closing a single door. The drive mechanism comprises a first profile 47 and a second profile 48, in the view shown illustrated separately from each other, but under use being designed to be joined at shown faces 47S, 48S in abutment against each other. When the two profiles 47, 48 are joined, they are designed to be housed in the bottom frame 40B (see Fig. 6A). In a preferred embodiment, the two profiles 47, 48 are mutually combined by means of a hinge mechanism (not shown) to make it easy to tip the two profiles 47, 48 from each other as shown, but without having to perform an actual separation of the two profiles 47, 48. When the two profiles 47, 48 are joined at the faces 47S, 48B in abutment against each other, the two profiles 47, 48 together have a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the profiles, said cross section corresponding to a corresponding inner cross section in the parts 40B, 40T of the frame 40 (see Figs. 10A-10E). Consequently, in a joined state the two profiles 47, 48 may readily and simply and without using tools be displaced in the longitudinal direction inwards into the parts 40B, 40T of the frame 40. The parts 40B, 40T of the frame are provided with guide rails (see Figs. 10A-10B) ensuring correct positioning of the two profiles 47, 48 inside the parts 40B, 40T of the frame 40.

The first profile 47 houses driving wheels 49, 50, 51 and driving belt 52, all of which are driven from the actuator 43 (see Fig. 6B) by means of the one the driving wheel 49. The second profile 48 is provided with a guide groove 53 designed to guide the outwards movement of the mounts 45, 46 relative to sideways displacement of the mounts 45, 46 performed by the driving wheels 49, 50, 51 and the driving belt 52. The guide groove 53 has a first section 54, which is the end of the groove guiding the mounts 45, 46 when the doors are closed, and a remaining second section 55, which is the end of the groove guid- ing the mounts 45, 46 when the doors are opened. Between the first section 54 and the second section 55, a small section 56 is formed, forming a transition between the first section 54 and the second section 55. The course of the curve of the guide groove 53 in the second section 55 of the guide groove is substantially the course which will be exhibited by the faces of the doors when the doors are opened and closed (see Fig. 11). The guide groove 53 is a little convex in a direction corresponding to outwards when the profile 48 is mounted in the frame 40. The mounts to which the doors are mounted are provided with guide pins (see Figs. 9A-9B) corresponding to the guide grooves and designed to be engaged with the guide grooves.

The first profile 47 has a first end 57 provided with the driving wheel 49 with an outer toothing. The outer toothing on the driving wheel 49 corresponds to similar inner toothing 58 on the driving belt 52. Driving wheel 49 has a square hole 59 capable of receiving a corresponding driving shaft (not shown) having a square cross section. The driving shaft is designed to drive a corresponding driving wheel in a corresponding profile mounted in an opposite top frame 40T (see Fig. 6A-6B) of the frame 40. The driving belt 52 extends around the driving wheel 49, further through a recess 60 in the first profile 47 to a second end 61 of the first profile 47.

As an alternative to a toothed driving belt, a driving chain as shown in Fig. 1 or an un- toothed driving belt may be provided. In the latter embodiment, engagement between the driving wheels and the driving belt must be established by sufficient friction between the driving wheels and the driving belt or by the driving wheels being provided with smaller toothing or a milling capable of forming a resilient engagement with the driving belt, such as a rubber band being driven by the driving wheel with a fine milling on the outer periphery of the driving wheel.

The second end 61 of the first profile 47 is provided with a second driving wheel 50, also having outer toothing (not shown). The outer teeth on the second driving wheel 50 also correspond to the corresponding inner toothing 58 on the driving belt 52. The second driving wheel 50 has a square hole 62 also being capable of receiving a corresponding second driving shaft 63 (see Fig. 6B) having a square cross section. The second driving shaft 63 is designed to drive a corresponding second driving wheel in a corresponding profile mounted in an opposite top frame 40T of the overall frame 40 (see Figs. 6A-6B).

Moreover, the drive mechanism has its own driving wheel 51, which is also provided with outer toothing (not shown). The outer toothing on the own driving wheel 51 also corresponds to the corresponding inner toothing 58 on the driving belt 52. The own driving wheel 51 has a hole 64 designed to receive a corresponding driving shaft (not shown) from the actuator 43 (see Fig. 6B) so that the actuator is designed to drive the own driving wheel 51. The corresponding drive mechanism in the opposite frame part 40T of the frame 40 (see Figs. 6A-6B) will either not be provided with its own driving wheel, or the own driving wheel in the corresponding drive mechanism will not be driven by an actuator. This is due to the fact that the corresponding mechanism in the top frame 40T is provided with no actuator at all to drive the driving belt, but is driven, as described, by the one driving wheel 49 or the other driving wheel 51 in the drive mechanism shown by means of a first driving shaft or a second driving shaft, of which the second driving shaft 63 is shown in Fig. 6B.

Finally, the drive mechanism is provided with a tensioning wheel 65 designed to retain a given tension of the driving belt 52. The tensioning wheel 65 may either be automatically controllable by being spring-loaded (not shown) so that the tensioning wheel exerts a substantially constant tensioning force on the driving belt. Alternatively, the tensioning wheel may be manually controllable (not shown) so that tensioning is to be performed manually at regular intervals in order to maintain sufficient tensioning of the driving belt. As yet another alternative, the tensioning wheel may be securely mounted as shown and may thus simply contribute to establishing the path followed by the driving belt in the first profile. On the driving belt a carriage 66 is mounted, designed to drive a mount 45 sideways 5 by means of the drive mechanism.

The drive mechanism functions in the following way. When the actuator 43 is actuated, either manually or automatically, depending on the cupboard in question, the actuator will drive the own driving wheel 51. The own driving wheel 51 will then drive the driving belt

10 52 so that the carriage 66 is displaced sideways parallel to the longitudinal direction of the profile 47. The carriage will drive the mount 45 sideways at the same time as the guide groove 53 will displace the mount 45 outwards from the first section 54 through the transition section 56 to the second section 55 of the guide groove. While the own driving wheel 51 drives the driving belt 52 and thus the carriage 66, the driving belt 52 will drive the one

15 driving wheel 49 and the other driving wheel 51. The one of these two driving wheels 49, 50 having a driving shaft mounted in the square wheel 59, 62, will then drive this driving shaft.

Whether the one driving wheel 49 or the other driving wheel 50 has a driving shaft

20 mounted in the square wheel 59, 62, depends on how the cupboard is built, i.e. whether the side profile is mounted as shown in Fig. 6A or mounted in the opposite side relative to the side shown in Fig. 6A. The driving shaft will drive the corresponding driving wheel in the corresponding drive mechanism in the top frame 40T. The corresponding driving wheel will drive a corresponding driving belt which will in turn drive a corresponding carriage (see

25 Fig. 6B). The corresponding carriage will displace a corresponding mount 46 sideways in the top frame 40T. A completely uniform and synchronous displacement of a mount 46 in the top frame 40T (see Figs. 6A-6B) of the frame 40 will thus be performed simply by using the one actuator 43 associated with one of the drive mechanisms, namely the drive mechanism mounted in the bottom frame 40B.

30

Figs. 8A-8B are a perspective view of an exploded drawing and an assembly drawing of a possible embodiment of a carriage 66 for sideways displacement of a mount 45, 46 (see Figs. 6A-6B and Figs. 9A-9B). The carriage 66 is retained to the driving belt (not shown) by means of gripping grooves 67, 68 retaining each of the free ends of the driving belt. In

35 the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the driving belt thus does not form an infinite driving belt, but forms a band joined in the two gripping grooves 67, 68 in the carriage 66. The gripping grooves 67, 68 are provided with teeth 69, 70 corresponding to the teeth 58 (see Fig. 7) on the driving belt. The carriage is thus retained to the driving belt without using actual fastening means at the same time as the free ends of the driving belt are joined without using actual means for joining a belt.

As an alternative to using a driving belt with free ends being joined in the gripping grooves 5 in the carriage as shown, the driving belt may be a infinite driving belt, and the carriage may be provided with a through-going groove provided with teeth corresponding to the teeth on the driving belt, in order to retain the carriage to a driving belt, which is infinite and has no free ends. The carriage is provided with a projection 71 designed to be engaged with a corresponding groove in a mount (see Figs. 9A-9B). The carriage is also pro- 10 vided with rolls 72, 73 designed to abut on a bottom profile of the bottom frame when the drive mechanism is housed in the frame profile (see Figs. 10A-10E). The rolls 72, 73 are mounted in the carriage by means of shafts 74, 75.

Figs. 9A-9B are perspective views of a possible embodiment of a mount 45, 46 to be used 15 in connection with the drive mechanism shown in Fig. 6B and Fig. 7. The mount consists of a part 76 being in engagement with the drive mechanism and a part 77 being designed to retain a door of the cupboard. The part 76 being in engagement with the drive mechanism is provided with guide projections 78 designed to be engaged with the guide groove 53 (see Fig. 7) in the second profile 48 for the drive mechanism. This part 76 of the mount is 20 also provided with a groove 79 designed to be engaged with the projection 71 (see Figs. 8A-8B) on the carriage.

Fig. 7 and Figs. 10A-10D show how the mount 45, 46 is displaced outwards relative to the carriage 66 and the remaining part of the drive mechanism when the carriage is displaced

25 sideways from the right to the left. In a closed position of the doors (the position to the right), the mount 45, 46 is in a retracted position. In this position, both guide projections 78 on the mount are in the first section 54 of the guide groove 53 (see Fig. 7), and the projection 71 on the carriage 66 is at the end of the groove 79 on the mount, facing the part 77 of the mounts designed to retain the door.

30

When the carriage 66 is displaced sideways to open the door, the mount 45, 46 will be moved sideways due to the projection 71 on the carriage 66 being engaged with the groove 79 in the mount 45, 46. When the mount 45, 46 is moved sideways, the guide projections 78 on the mount will be displaced from the first section 54 of the guide groove

35 53 (see Fig. 7) outwards in the second section 55 of the guide groove (see Fig. 7) through the transition section 56 (see Fig. 7). When the guide projections 78 are moved out into the second section 55 of the guide groove, the mount 45, 46 will be displaced outwards relative to the carriage 66 and the remainder of the drive mechanism. When the outwards displacement of the mount 45, 46 is effected, the groove 79 in the mount will also be moved outwards so that the projection 71 on the carriage 66 is at the end of the groove 76 in the mount, facing away from the part 77 of the mount 45, 46, retaining the door, but the carriage 66 will keep maintaining the sideways displacement of the mount by means of the projection 71 in the groove 79 in the mount 45, 46. This means that there is simultaneous displacement of the mount 45, 46, sideways by means of the projection 71 on the carriage 66, and outwards by means of the guide groove 53 (see Fig. 7) in the second profile 48. When the door is completely open, the mount 45, 46 is in a projecting position relative to the carriage 66 and the remainder of the drive mechanism (see Fig. 7 and Figs. 10A-10D).

If the cupboard is provided with a corresponding drive mechanism placed in the top frame 40T, this corresponding drive mechanism will perform the exact same displacement of the corresponding mount 46 in this corresponding drive mechanism by means of the driving wheels and the driving shafts. This means that there is no demand on corresponding control of a corresponding drive mechanism at the opposite side of the cupboard as any control is only effected by the one actuator 43 in the drive mechanism shown in the bottom frame 40B, and any corresponding displacement of the mount 46 in the top frame 40T is effected exclusively by means of mechanical elements. This ensures completely unique displacement of the corresponding mechanism in the top frame 40T.

Figs. 10A-10E show sections in different planes of a bottom frame 40B, where a first profile 47 and a second profile 48, which are joined, and the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 7 are housed. The bottom frame consists of two parts, a bottom profile 80 for housing the first profile 47, the second profile 48 and the drive mechanism, and a top profile 81 forming a top on the bottom frame, respectively. The bottom frame is provided with small guide rails 82 in engagement with corresponding guide grooves 83 in the first profile 47 and the second profile 48 for the drive mechanism. Between the bottom profile 80 and the top profile 81, a space 84 is formed, forming a groove in the bottom frame. The mount 45 extends out through this groove 84, and the mount 45 is displaced sideways and outwards and inwards, respectively, in the groove 84 when the door is opened and closed, as previously described.

The bottom frame is provided with a flange 85 being provided along the extension of the flange with screw holes 86 for attaching the bottom frame to the body of the cupboard by means of screws, i.e. for attaching the bottom frame to outer ends of a bottom of the cupboard. The top profile 81 has an extension causing the top profile to cover the screw holes when the bottom frame is attached to the outer ends of the bottom of the cupboard. By making suitable milled grooves in the bottom of the cupboard, it will be possible to attach the bottom frame such that an upper side 87 of the top profile 81 extends in the exact same plane as an upper side of the bottom of the cupboard. The bottom frame thus forms a very integrated part of the remainder of the cupboard and will not look like an element not forming an actual part of the body of the cupboard.

Fig. 11 shows a displacement pattern of a door by illustrating successive views of a door seen in the plane of the door during the combined sideways and outwards displacement of the door. It appears that using the two guide projections 78 (see Figs. 9A-9B) in the guide groove 53 (see Fig. 7) causes the outermost edge of the door to be displaced outwards and sideways at the same time when one of the guide projections is displaced out into the second section of the guide groove at the beginning of the displacement at the same time as the second guide projection is still in the first section of the guide groove at the beginning of the displacement. As the second guide projection is also displaced out into the second section of the guide groove, the initial outwards displacement of the door will be reduced at the same time as the sideways displacement is increased.

Depending on the exact course of the curve of the second section of the guide groove, the combined reduction of the initial displacement outwards and increase of the simultaneous displacement sideways could cause a slightly changed displacement pattern relative to the one shown. The course of the curve of the guide groove may be fixed so that a given displacement pattern is obtained, and the course of the curve shown in Fig. 7 and the corresponding displacement pattern shown in Fig. 11 thus merely form a possible course of the curve and a possible displacement pattern. It will be possible to establish other courses of the curve and other displacement patterns belonging thereto, depending on the desired displacement of the door.

Possible examples of cupboards based on one of the new methods for opening the doors and with one of the new mechanisms to be used with the methods may be the following: Top cupboard. A new type of top cupboard having an automatic glass door opening and also with a sensor system, which is capable of opening the doors automatically by movement of a hand in front of the doors at the same time as the light is turned on. And by removal of the hand, the doors will automatically reclose.

Bottom cupboard. A new type of bottom cupboard with automatic glass door opening and also with a sensor system, which is capable of opening the doors automatically by movement of a hand in front of a sensor at the same time as the drawer is automatically pulled out. By means of a push, the drawer will automatically drive back into place, and the glass door will also be able to move automatically back in front of the drawer. Corner/corridor cupboard. A new type of corner cupboard with automatic glass door opening and also with a sensor system, which is capable of opening the doors automatically by movement of a hand in front of a sensor at the same time as the light is turned on. And by removal of the hand, the doors will automatically reclose. The inside of the cupboard is equipped with glass shelves and a mirror on the inside back lining so that the light may be reflected through the shelves and fall on the mirror to make the whole cupboard light up. The cupboard may be mounted on a wall or placed on a base.

Furthermore, the system may be extended to be used within the medical or dental fields. A further extension to disabled persons, e.g. in their private homes or at institutions to help them in their everyday lives. Office furniture may also be an alternative.

Claims

1. A method for automatically opening a door of a cupboard, said method comprising the door being opened in planes which are substantially parallel, and said method also com- prising the door being opened from a first plane where the door is closed, and substantially perpendicularly to the first plane by displacement of the door outwards to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said method further comprising the door subsequently being opened parallel to the second plane by the door being displaced sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open, and said method comprising automatic outwards displacement and subsequent automatic sideways displacement of the door.

2. A method for automatically opening a door of a cupboard, said method comprising the door being opened in planes which are substantially parallel, and said method also comprising the door being opened from a first plane where the door is closed, and where the door is initially opened by simultaneous displacement substantially perpendicularly and parallel to the first plane by combined displacement of the door outwards and sideways to a second plane, whereupon the door is partly open, and said method further comprising the door being finally opened parallel to the second plane by the door being displaced further sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open, and said method comprising automatic combined displacement outwards and sideways and subsequent automatic sideways displacement of the door.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, said method comprising the outwards and sideways displacement of the door being actuated automatically by a number of actuators at the same time as outwards and sideways displacement of the door is effected by a number of projections on the door being moved in a number of grooves in the cupboard during displacement, and the outwards and sideways displacement of the door is controlled by the projections in the grooves.

4. A method according to claim 3, said method comprising the projections initially being moved from an inner groove, which is substantially parallel to the plane of the door, and outwards in a transition groove, which is inclined relative to the first plane and relative to the second plane of the door, and subsequently being moved from the transition groove to an outer groove, which is substantially parallel to the second plane of the door.

5. A method according to claim 3, said method comprising the projections being moved from an inner groove, which is substantially parallel to the first plane of the door, and to an outer groove, which converges from inclined relative to the first plane and the second plane of the door and towards parallel to the second plane of the door.

6. A method according to claim 5, said method comprising the projections being moved from the inner groove to the outer groove outwards in a transition groove, which is inclined relative to the first plane and relative to the second plane of the door, and subse- quently being moved from the transition groove to the outer groove.

7. A method according to claim 5 or claim 6, where the subsequent displacement sideways is effected by the projections in the outer groove being moved along a path of the outer groove, causing the projections to be moved outwards in a convex path along the outer groove.

8. A method according to claim 5 or claim 6, where the subsequent displacement sideways is effected by the projections in the outer groove being moved along a path of the outer groove, causing the projections to be moved outwards in a concave path along the outer groove.

9. A mechanism for automatically opening a door of a cupboard, said mechanism comprising a first actuator designed to initially displace the door from a first plane where the door is closed, substantially perpendicularly to the first plane and outwards to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said mechanism comprising a second actuator designed to subsequently displace the door parallel to the second plane and sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open.

10. A mechanism for automatically opening a door of a cupboard, said mechanism com- prising a single actuator designed to initially displace the door from a first plane where the door is closed, substantially perpendicularly to the first plane and outwards to a second plane where the door is partly open, and said same actuator being designed to subsequently displace the door parallel to the second plane and sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open.

11. A mechanism for automatically opening a door of a cupboard, said mechanism comprising an actuator designed to initially displace the door from a first plane where the door is closed, and simultaneously substantially perpendicularly and parallel to the first plane by combined displacement outwards and sideways to a second plane where the door is partly open and where an actuator is designed to subsequently displace the door parallel to the second plane and further sideways in the second plane until the door is completely open.

12. A mechanism according to any of the claims 9-11, said mechanism being designed to displace both a first mount and a second oppositely arranged mount on a door by the first mount being in direct connection with a first mechanism with a number of actuators and by the second mount being in connection with the first mechanism through a drive means, preferably a driving shaft, capable of driving a second mechanism of the second mount so that the first mount and the second mount are displaced synchronously by using the num- 5 ber of actuators in the first mechanism.

13. A mechanism according to any of the claims 9-12, said mechanism comprising a number of first sensors for opening the door, said first sensors being directed towards the exterior of the cupboard, said first sensors registering by actuation a changed condition such 10 as movement in close proximity to the cupboard, and said first sensors being designed to give by actuation a signal for actuation of the actuators, and where the actuators are designed to displace the door from a closed position to an open position upon receiving said signal.

15 14. A mechanism according to any of the claims 9-13, said mechanism comprising a number of second sensors for controlling closing of the door, said second sensors being directed towards an interior of the cupboard, said second sensors registering by actuation the presence of a changed condition, such as movement inside the cupboard, and said second sensors being designed to give by actuation a signal for actuation of the actuators,

20 and where the actuators are designed to displace the door from a partly closed position to an open position upon receiving said signal.