EP2468137B1

EP2468137B1 - Suspension arrangement for wall cupboards

Info

Publication number: EP2468137B1
Application number: EP20110191356
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carlo Cattaneo
Original assignee: Leonardo SRL
Current assignee: Leonardo SRL
Priority date: 2010-12-21
Filing date: 2011-11-30
Publication date: 2013-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-30
Also published as: ITMI20102337A1; ES2446376T3; IT1403594B1; EP2468137A1

Description

The present invention relates to a suspension group for wall cupboards which must be hooked to a wall.
These groups currently comprise a hanging bracket comprising an adjustable hook which extends behind the cupboard in the direction of the wall, said hook cooperating with a bar- or plaque-support fixed to the wall.
In order to allow the regulation in depth and height of the cupboard on the wall, the hook can be regulated in at least two directions perpendicular to each other, in particular so as to vary the distance of the hook from the case of the device (and consequently move the cupboard horizontally towards or away from the wall) and so as to vary the vertical height (and therefore move the cupboard vertically towards or away from the floor).
For this purpose, a plurality of regulation organs are housed in the device, each suitable for moving the hook in a certain direction and being actuated by a user, for example by means of screwdrivers or hexagonal keys, Allen keys or similar items.
Examples of these embodiments are provided in European patent EP0555924 and in the Italian utility model MI92U000134 in the name of CAMAR SpA.
These regulation organs can vary in relation to the embodiment, and can generally comprise slides, beads, screws, springs, countershafts and similar items.
Although functional, these regulation organs, however, make the device quite cumbersome.
According to German patent document DE 3041144 A1 , it's also known a suspension group comprising a hanging bracket device to be fixed to one of said wall cupboards and a wall support destined for being fixed to a vertical wall and cooperating with said hanging bracket device for the support of the wall cupboard (M). Such a group is also equipped with a first and second regulation organ for the regulation in depth and in height, respectively, according to two directions perpendicular to each other of said cupboard (M), one of said first and said second regulation organs being associated with cited hanging bracket device and the other regulation organ is associated with the wall support.
As these devices are usually housed inside the cupboard, fixed to the shoulder of the latter (in this case, the hook protrudes through a hole situated in the lining or rear wall of the cupboard), or inserted in a seat situated in the shoulder itself, their significant encumbrance is consequently a characteristic which is particularly undesired.
This is even more so in all cases in which the cupboard is equipped with drawers, which occupy almost all the space available inside the cupboard itself.
In this situation, in fact, the side edge of the drawer could easily interfere with the suspension group, with obvious consequences.
Another case in which this encumbrance creates problems is when the cupboard is equipped with a door which can be opened or closed with the action of a hinge comprising controlled arms, which occupies a certain amount of space on the shoulder of the cupboard and requires a considerable operative space (to allow the movement of the arms) and which often coincides with the position that should be occupied by the hanging bracket, causing great inconvenience for assembly.
Another problem that has been observed in the groups known in the state of the art relates to the fact that the regulation organs in height and depth, associated with the device, are not independent of each other, in the sense that the amplitude of the vertical run influences the amplitude of the horizontal run and vice versa.
Consequently in certain cases, it is not possible to effect optimum regulations for both positions (horizontal and vertical) of the cupboard, but comprises must be adopted, for the installation, which, as such, may not be acceptable.
It should also be pointed out that during the installation phase, the regulation of one of the two positions (horizontal or vertical) for this reason, greatly influences the other, compelling the user to effect numerous small adjustments in order to calibrate the correct position of the cupboard, making the overall assembly operation relatively lengthy.
From what is specified above, it is consequently particularly desirable to avail of a suspension group for wall cupboards which is less cumbersome, but at the same time maintaining the possibility of being regulated, in depth and height.
A general objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a suspension group for wall cupboards which reaches this objective.
This objective is achieved by a suspension group for wall cupboards having the characteristics specified in claim 1 and enclosed subclaims.
In short, the applicant has conceived the idea of separating the two regulations, the vertical regulation (or in height) and the horizontal regulation (or in depth), associating one of the two with the device and the other with the wall support.
The horizontal regulation is preferably associated with the device and the vertical regulation is associated with the wall support; generically, however, an opposite solution could also be adopted, in which the horizontal regulation is associated with the wall support and the vertical regulation with the device.
More specifically, the group according to the present invention comprises a hanging bracket device equipped with an adjustable hook which extends behind the cupboard itself in the direction of the wall and a wall support destined for being fixed to a vertical wall and cooperating with the hook for supporting the cupboard.
The group is equipped with at least a first regulation organ associated with the hanging bracket for the regulation of the cupboard in depth in a first direction with respect to the wall, and a second regulation organ for the regulation of the cupboard in height in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, the second regulation organ being associated with the wall support.
In this way, the encumbrance of the device inside the cupboard is advantageously reduced and its assembly is relatively simple and rapid, as possible encumbrance verifications are reduced or even eliminated.
Furthermore, in this way, the regulations in height and depth become completely independent, favouring the positioning flexibility and assembly simplicity.
Another advantageous characteristic is the presence of an anti-disengagement device comprising a threaded bead associated with the hanging bracket and destined for being engaged in a cursor of the wall support.
The structural and functional characteristics of the invention, and its advantages with respect to the known art, will appear more evident from the following description, referring to the enclosed drawings which show a possible practical embodiment of the invention itself.
In the drawings:

figure 1 illustrates a side section of a suspension group according to the present invention in an assembled condition;
figure 2 illustrates a section from above of the suspension group of figure 1;

figures 3-6 illustrate different views of a hanging bracket device, part of the group of the previous figures;
figure 7 illustrates the hanging bracket of figures 3-6 during assembly;
figure 8 illustrates the hanging bracket of the previous figures in an assembled condition;
figure 9 illustrates a wall support, part of the group of the previous figures;
figure 10 illustrates an exploded view of the wall support of the previous figure;
figures 11 and 12 illustrate two views of part of the wall support of figures 9 and 10;
figure 13 illustrates a mechanical actuator included in the wall support of figures 9 and 10;
figure 14 illustrates an exploded view of the mechanical actuator of figure 13;
figure 15 illustrates a partially sectional exploded view of the mechanical actuator of figure 14;
figures 16 and 17 illustrate sections of the mechanical actuator of figure 13 in two different operative conditions;
figures 18 and 19 illustrate two variants of the wall support of the previous figures.

With reference to figures 1-8, these indicate with reference number 20 a suspension group in a condition assembled on a wall cupboard M.
The group 20 comprises a hanging bracket device 21, assembled on the cupboard M, and a wall support 22, fixed to the wall by means of screws and pegs T.
The hanging bracket 21 cooperates with the wall support 22 for hanging the cupboard M.
In the example illustrated, the hanging bracket 21 is fixed to a side wall, or shoulder S, of the cupboard M, by means of suitable pins 24 which are housed in corresponding seats situated in the panel forming the shoulder S, below the upper wall, or top C, of the cupboard M.
The hanging bracket 21 comprises a flat body 25, similar to a plate, from which the pins 24 protrude, which can be integral with it or, as in the case illustrated, screwed to it.
It should be noted that instead of the pins 24, alternative and equivalent solutions can be envisaged, for example with simple screws or pass-through bolts or other similar items.
In the case of pins 24, these extend from the flat body 25 so as to protrude from the latter in a direction parallel to that coinciding with the smaller extension of the flat body 25 itself, i.e. substantially perpendicular to it, so that one of the sides having a larger surface than the latter rests on the shoulder S.
A terminal extension 26 on which a hook 27 is screwed, destined for cooperating with the support 22 for the suspension of the cupboard M, is associated, preferably integrally, with the flat body 25.
The terminal extension 26 develops perpendicularly to the larger surface of the flat body 25, so that in a sectional view such as that of figure 2, the device 21 generically seems to have an "L" configuration.
The threaded hole which houses the hook 27 has a longitudinal axis Z substantially perpendicular to that of the terminal extension 26 and substantially parallel to the plane on which the larger surface of the flat body 25 lies and perpendicular to the axes of the pins 24.
The hook 27 has a mushroom-shaped form, with a threaded stem 27B having smaller dimensions with respect to the enlarged head 27A.
The horizontal regulation of the group 20 is effected by rotating the hook 27, therefore causing the dislocation of its free hooking end with respect to the flat body 25, with the consequent horizontal dislocation of the cupboard M fixed thereto.
A stoppage bead 28 is associated with the terminal extension 26 parallel to the hook 27: it is screw-inserted into a corresponding threaded seat situated on the terminal extension 26, so that it can be extracted or withdrawn.
The axis of the bead 28 and that of the hook 27 are substantially parallel and the function of the hook 27 will be better explained hereunder, when describing the functioning of the group 20.
A regulation window 29 is situated on the terminal extension 26, through which access is given for regulating the support 22, as explained in more detail hereunder.
The axis of the regulation window 29 is substantially parallel to both that of the hook 27 and that of the bead 28.
In order to reinforce the coupling area between the flat body 25 and terminal extension 26, tilted reinforcement flaps 26A, 26B can be envisaged.
In an assembled condition, the hanging bracket 21, as shown in figures 1, 2, 7 and 8, is arranged as follows: the flat body 25 is fixed to the shoulder S of the cupboard M, and the rear wall, or the lining F, of the latter extends above the flat body 25 immediately before the terminal extension 26 or tilted flaps 26A, 26B, so that the flat body 25 of the device 21 remains housed inside the cupboard M, whereas the terminal extension 26 remains outside the cupboard M, in its rear part.
It should be noted that this guarantees a minimum encumbrance of the device 21 inside the cupboard, as the part of it which remains housed inside is strictly buffered close to the shoulder S, so that the encumbrance is extremely reduced (at the most, a few millimeters); drawers and/or movable hinge arms can therefore be easily housed in the cupboard M, as it does not occupy a significant part of its internal volume.
From what is specified above, it can be immediately seen how the first regulation organ substantially comprises the hook 27 which can be progressively screwed into a corresponding threaded seat of the terminal extension 26 which causes a corresponding horizontal dislocation of the head 27A of the hook.
With respect to the wall support 22, in addition to figures 1 and 2, this is shown in detail in figures 9-17.
The wall support comprises at least one anchoring wing 30 equipped with suitable holes 33 in which the screws for fixing the pegs T into the wall, can be found.
The anchoring wing 30 is associated with a tubular sliding seat 31 for a cursor 40 moved by an actuator 32 for vertically dislocating the engagement point of the hook 27, thus allowing a vertical regulation.
It should be noted that the seat 31 in the example has a box-shaped form, but more generically it can have any form; in this example it is substantially a box, like a parallelepiped, but can be cylindrical or similar, it could also not have a closed form but be completely open or partly open on at least one side.
The seat 31 has a looped window 35, having an elongated form which comprises a central broadened portion 35A and the opposite terminal ends 35B and 35C are narrowed.
More specifically, the dimensions of the central broadened portion 35A are such as to allow the passage of the enlarged head 27A of the hook 27.
The seat 31 comprises side walls and one of the bottom ends is blank and provided with a counter-section 36 whose utility is explained hereunder.
The wall support 22 also comprises the actuator 32, shown in detail in figures 13-17.
The example shows an actuator 32 such as that described in the utility model MI95U000211, but it should be noted that this example is non-limiting as linear actuators and also different types of actuators can be envisaged.
In short, the actuator 32 comprises a pair of elongated half- shells 320, 321, substantially cylindrical, which house in their interior a tubular foot 322 which, on one side, ends with an enlarged base 323 and on the opposite side, with a threaded hole 324, or female screw.
A screw stem 325 which ends, at the opposite end, with a toothed crown 326, is screwed into the threaded hole 324.
The screw stem 325 has a collar 327 which is housed in a corresponding annular throat 328 of the half- shells 320, 321, which also define a seat 330 for the toothed crown 326.
In this way, the screw stem 325 can rotate inside the half- shells 320, 321, but is constrained to them for the translation.
The rotation of the toothed crown 326, and therefore of the stem 325, is controlled by a toothed pinion 331 situated at the end of a leg 332.
The pinion 331 and leg 332 are supported for rotation inside respective seats of the half- shells 320, 321.
The rotation of the pinion 331 can be controlled by means of a tool such as a hexagonal key, a screwdriver or similar item which is inserted into a corresponding cavity situated therein; for this purpose, one of the two half-shells 320 is equipped with a hole to allow access to the pinion 331, for its activation.
The assembly envisages that the two half- shells 320, 321 be joined by means of an internal pin 340 and an external annular collar 341.
The two half- shells 320, 321 terminate in correspondence with the end facing the enlarged base 323 of the tubular foot 322, with a buffer edge 342, whose function is explained hereunder, and which extends substantially perpendicularly from the outer surface of the half- shells 320, 321.
The functioning of the actuator 32 is intuitive: by actuating the pinion 331, the screw stem 325 is rotated, which in turn causes an axial movement of the tubular foot 322, causing it to protrude or withdraw with respect to the two half- shells 320, 321.
Further characteristics of the actuator 32 are described (even if for a different function) in the description of the utility model MI95U000211, whose disclosures should be considered as being incorporated in this invention.
With reference to figures 10, 13 and 14, the actuator 32 described above cooperates with a cursor 40 which comprises a box-shaped body 41 and optionally with a spacer 42.
The box-shaped body 41 has a tubular form and comprises on a side wall, an enlarged seat 410 and two holes 411, 412.
The enlarged seat 410 has slightly greater dimensions with respect to the head 27A of the hook 27, so as to allow its insertion; the lower edge of the enlarged seat 410, on the other hand, has a form which is such as to interfere with the head 27A of the hook when the latter is inserted in the seat 410, to effect the hooking between the two.
The holes 411 and 412 are respectively positioned above and below the enlarged seat 410, with reference to the assembled position.
The upper hole 411 is used for coupling with the bead 28, whereas the lower hole 412 for allowing the passage of the activating tool of the pinion 331 of the actuator 32.
The distances between the centres of the holes 411, 412 from the centre of the enlarged seat 410 therefore substantially correspond to the distances between the centre of the bead 28, that of the regulation window 29 from the centre of the hook 27, so that, in an assembled condition, i.e. when the hook 27 is inserted in the enlarged seat 410, the bead 28 is inserted in the upper hole 411 and contemporaneously, the regulation window 29 is facing the lower hole 412.
The box-shaped body 41 is then opened above and below, thus taking on said tubular form, in which the sliding spacer 42 (if envisaged), part of the cursor 40 itself and the actuator 32, are housed.
The sliding spacer 42 is optional, in the sense that its main function is to adapt and correctly interface the internal form of the box-shaped body 41 (in this example substantially with a square section) with the outside form of the actuator 32 (in this example with a substantially circular section), so as to keep the actuator in a correct functioning position.
Said spacer 42 can obviously be absent, for example should other expedients be adopted for keeping the actuator 32 in a correct functioning position or it could also have other forms suitable for the purpose.
In the non-limiting example shown, the spacer 42 has a tubular form and the actuator 32 is housed in its interior; the sliding spacer 42 also comprises a notch 420 for allowing the passage of the activation tool of the pinion 331 of the actuator 32.
As already indicated, in a functioning or assembled condition, the actuator 32 is housed inside the sliding spacer 42 which in turn is housed in the box-shaped body 41; the latter is inserted inside the seat 31, so that the foot 323 of the actuator is buffered against the counter-section 36.
The buffer edge 342 of the actuator contemporaneously rests on the perimetric edge of the box-shaped body 41: for this purpose, the plan dimensions of the buffer edge 342 are slightly greater than those of the internal cavity of the box-shaped body 41; the sliding spacer 42 also rests on the buffer edge 342.
When the hanging bracket 21 is coupled with the wall support 22 (as shown in figure 1), the head 27A of the hook 27 extends inside and beyond the central enlarged portion 35A and the enlarged seat 410, until it is prevented from becoming disengaged from the lower edge of the enlarged seat 410 itself; contemporaneously the bead 28 exceeds the narrowed terminal end 35B of the window 35, and is engaged in the upper hole 411 of the box-shaped body 41; at the same time, the regulation window 29, the narrowed terminal end 35C of the window 35 and the notch 420 of the sliding spacer 42 are aligned with the cavity of the pinion 331, to allow the passage of a regulation tool of the latter.
As far as the vertical regulation of the device 20 is concerned, the functioning is as follows: after engaging the hanging bracket 21 with the wall support 22 by means of the hook 27 and bead 28, the height is regulated by acting with the tool on the pinion 331.
When the latter is activated in the extraction direction of the tubular foot 332, its enlarged base 323 is pushed against the counter-section 36 and, by reaction, a movement of the cursor 40 inside the seat 31 is obtained in an opposite direction to that of the end of the seat 31 provided with the counter-section 36: with reference to figure 1, an upward movement can be seen.
This movement causes a coinciding movement of the hook 27 and ultimately a regulation of the vertical position of the cupboard with respect to the wall.
From what is specified above, it can be immediately seen that the second regulation organ of the group comprises the actuator 32 and cursor 40 provided with at least one enlarged engagement seat 410 of the hook 27, wherein the actuator 32 is suitable for actuating a linear movement of the cursor 40 for a corresponding vertical dislocation of the enlarged seat 410 itself.
The horizontal regulation of the group, previously introduced, is effected as follows: by acting on the threaded stem 27B of the hook 27, the head of the hook 27A is moved away from the flat body 25, therefore ultimately obtaining a regulation of the horizontal position of the cupboard with respect to the wall.
The bead 28 advantageously exerts an anti-disengagement function: by coupling first the hook 27 with the enlarged seat 410 of the box-shaped body 41, the bead 28 is then fixed in the upper hole 411; this operation fixes the position of the hook 27 with respect to the edge of the enlarged seat 410 and each of their reciprocal movements (also the lifting of the hook) is constrained by the bead which engages the box-shaped body 41 and consequently also the cursor 40.
As can be seen in figures 1 and 2 enclosed, the wall support 22 is advantageously housed in the part of the cupboard behind the lining F, so that the shoulder and top C of the cupboard can be buffered against the wall obtaining a pleasant optical effect and an optimum positioning of the cupboard M.
In the light of the disclosures provided herein, an expert in the field can apply possible modifications or alternative variations, all considered as being included in the scope of the present invention.
Two of these modifications are shown in figures 18 and 19 and relate to different embodiments containing different supports 22' and 22" in which different arrangements of the anchoring wing, respectively indicated with 30' and 30", and the sliding seat 31, can be observed.
In figures 18 and 19, the same parts are indicated with the same reference numbers as the previous figures and consequently no further reference will be made to these for the sake of concision.
It should be noted, however that, whereas in figure 9, the wing 30 extends to the left of the seat 31, in figure 18, the wing 30' extends to the right of said seat 31.
The variant of figure 19, on the other hand, envisages that the wing 30" extends both to the right and left of the seat 31.
These variants are particularly suitable for the assembly of the support 22,22',22" in different positions with respect to the angles of the cupboard M.
As indicated above, an embodiment has so far been described in which the regulation organs in horizontal (or depth) are associated with the device (or part of it), whereas the regulation organs in vertical (or height) are associated with the wall support (or part of it).
In the light of the disclosures provided herein, an expert in the field can apply, without any inventive effort and substantially equivalently, a solution in which the regulation organs in vertical (or height) are associated with the device (or part of it), whereas the regulation organs in horizontal (or depth) are associated with the wall support (or part of it); this solution is therefore an integral part of the present invention.
The objectives mentioned in the preamble of the description have therefore been achieved.
The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims

A suspension group (20) for wall cupboards (M) of the
type comprising a hanging bracket device (21) fixable to
a wall cupboard (M) and a wall support (22,22',22") destined for being fixed to a vertical wall and cooperating with said hanging bracket device (21) for the support of a wall cupboard (M), said group (20) being equipped with a first and second regulation organ for the regulation of a cupboard (M) in depth and in height, respectively, according to two directions perpendicular to each other,
one of said first and said second regulation organs being associated with said hanging bracket device (21) and the other regulation organ is associated with said wall support (22,22',22"); the group (20) being characterized in that said second regulation organ comprises an actuator (32) and a cursor (40) comprising a box-shaped body (41) provided with at least one enlarged engagement seat (410) of a hook (27), said actuator (32) being suitable for actuating a linear movement of said cursor (40) for a corresponding vertical dislocation of said enlarged seat (410).
The group (20) according to the previous claim, wherein
said hanging bracket device (21) comprises:
a portion of flat body (25) from which pins (24) protrude, in a direction parallel to that coinciding with the lesser extension of the flat portion (25), for the coupling with said cupboard (M),
a terminal extension (26) which extends substantially perpendicular to said portion of flat body (25) and on which said hook (27) is screwed.
The group (20) according to the previous claim, wherein said first regulation organ comprises the hook (27) equipped with a head (27A) and a leg with a threaded stem (27B) which can be progressively screwed into a corresponding threaded seat of said terminal extension (26) for a corresponding horizontal dislocation of the head (27A) of the hook.
The group (20) according to claim 1, wherein said wall support (22,22',22") comprises a sliding seat (31) for said cursor (40) and at least one anchoring wing (30) associated with said sliding seat (31), which has a substantially tubular form, said anchoring wing (30) being substantially flat and equipped with holes (33) for fixing to the wall.
The group (20) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said actuator (32) comprises a tubular foot (322) equipped with at least one end having an enlarged base (323) and a threaded hole (324) in which a screw stem (325) is engaged, terminating with a toothed crown (326) engaged with a toothed pinion (331) which can be activated in rotation by a user for consequently effecting a linear movement of said tubular foot (322).
The group (20) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said cursor (40) also comprises a spacer (42), and wherein said sliding seat (31) movably houses said cursor (40) in its interior, said seat (31) being provided with a blank end equipped with a counter-section (36) destined for being buffered with said enlarged base (323) of said tubular foot (322) for activating said cursor (40) in a linear movement inside said seat (31).
The group (20) according to
claim 4 or 5, including an anti-disengagement device which comprises a threaded bead (28) associated with said hanging bracket device (21) and destined for being engaged in said cursor (40).