EP2780524B1 - Device for moving a folding flap - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for moving a folding flap movably received on a furniture body and to a piece of furniture.

Folding flaps on furniture have the advantage that they require less free movement space, since two or more parts of the flap can be folded together, especially when opening. Therefore, devices for moving a folding flap in various designs are known from furniture construction. One or more control arms can engage a first flap element of a folding flap in order to guide its movements when opening and closing or to secure its position in a closed or open position. It is known that further flap elements that are connected to the first flap element via e.g. Hinges are connected, can be easily taken away from the first flap element. Furthermore, devices are also known in which a first and a next flap element are connected to one another by a coupling gear. The coupling gear is kinematically coupled to actuating arms which engage the first flap element such that movements of the next flap element are also controlled by the actuating arms on the first flap element.

The EP 1 835 107 A1 relates to a flap holder for a furniture flap which is adjustable between a closed position closing a cabinet compartment in a furniture body and an open position moved upwards: an upper flap element is acted upon by a toggle lever arrangement and a lower flap element by a control lever.

The WO 2006/111236 A1 relates to a holding element in particular for a lid of a cabinet.

The EP 1 148 200 A2 proposes a flap holder for a flap on a furniture body.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for moving folding flaps on furniture which is comparatively easier to adapt to a folding flap and at the same time increases its usability.

This task is accomplished by a device with the features of claim 1 solved.

Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the subclaims.

The invention is based on a device for moving a folding flap that is movably received on a furniture body of a piece of furniture. The folding flap comprises at least two hinged flap elements. The device has a force unit which at least supports the opening of the folding flap by the application of force via an actuating arm arranged in the assembled state on a first flap element. The essence of the invention is that a second actuating arm of a second force unit is provided for articulated attachment to the second flap element, via which a force can be applied to the folding flap.

Thus, according to the invention, a second power unit with its own actuating arm is attached to the furniture body, the second actuating arm having a joint, e.g. a hinge that is movably connected to the second flap element. Because drive forces can be applied to different flap elements of the folding flap with the first and the second force unit, the operability of the folding flap can advantageously be improved with the device according to the invention.

The device according to the invention can advantageously be used to provide a movement guide for the second flap element, which can be installed and adapted independently of an attachment of the first force unit and the first actuating arm. The device is therefore comparatively simple to use for different shapes of folding flaps, in particular with different sizes of flap elements.

Another advantage of the invention is that the second force unit, which acts on the second flap element with the second actuating arm, can be relieved of the load on the first force unit and its actuating arm. Likewise, this allows joint and fastening sections on the folding flap and, for example relieve on the furniture body.

A higher load-bearing capacity can be achieved with the second force unit on the second actuating arm, so that comparatively larger and heavier folding flaps can be used. Due to a higher load capacity, fittings can be saved if necessary. In contrast, it is possible in connection with previously used folding flaps to use a comparatively smaller and lighter first force unit for a device according to the invention.

The second force unit preferably provides forces for opening the folding flap, as a result of which, in particular, folding flaps, which have to be at least partially raised to open, are comparatively easier to operate. In an open position of the folding flap, a position of the second flap element can also be predefined comparatively precisely. The force units can also provide a force for closing the folding flap, in particular in a position shortly before the closed end position. This enables a comparatively better closing pattern to be achieved on furniture with a folding flap.

The second force unit comprises an energy store. The energy store can e.g. a spiral metal spring or e.g. be a gas spring. As a result, the device is advantageously independent of additional energy supplies.

In order to be able to use the device for different types of folding flaps, the energy accumulator is preferably anchored to an adjustable rest bearing. For a simple design, the rest bearing is preferably provided to maintain a predetermined position when the energy store is loaded and unloaded with an actuating element. The rest bearing thus forms a counter bearing for the actuating element, which can act indirectly on the rest bearing via the energy store.

One of the force units of the device, preferably the first one, can be a drive unit, e.g. have an electric drive unit. The electric drive unit can e.g. comprise an electric motor. Such an embodiment of the invention can also provide remote-controlled actuation of the folding flap.

For easy operation of the folding flap, an energy store, e.g. a spiral metal spring, according to the invention provided on the second actuating arm. This is a comparatively simple solution to move the second flap element synchronously with the first flap element.

In order to avoid relatively large actuation forces and relatively rapid movements, a force unit, in particular the second force unit, can also comprise a damping element.

The storage space of a piece of furniture that can be closed with the folding flap can be made comparatively easily accessible because the energy store is arranged according to the invention within the actuating arm. The energy store can advantageously either by motor driving forces of the other, e.g. the first, force unit or e.g. be charged by operating forces of a user.

The energy accumulator can interact eccentrically with a contour via a coupling element. The coupling element can, for example, be guided in a guide link which moves the coupling element in a predetermined manner when the folding flap, in particular one of the flap elements, moves, being displaced in relation to a position of a rest bearing of an energy accumulator, for example a spring. If, for example, the second actuating arm essentially pivots when the folding flap is actuated, an advantageously simple embodiment consists in that the contour is at least approximately in the form of a segment of a circle, in particular semicircular, the center of the circle being arranged eccentrically to the pivot axis of the actuating arm.

The coupling element can be provided with a cam, which the actuating arm guides along the contour during movements. In order to keep frictional forces and signs of wear low, the coupling element is preferably equipped with a roller for traversing the contour.

If e.g. the energy store or e.g. the coupling element is mounted or guided in the actuating arm, the actuating arm can be e.g. of a pivot bearing may be fork-shaped. As a result, the contour can advantageously be between e.g. Two fork sections of the actuating arm can be arranged so that opposing forces which the coupling element brings about by acting on the contour can be transmitted symmetrically and thus reducing wear to a pivot bearing of the actuating arm.

In order to increase the forces with which the actuating arm acts on the second flap element, the actuating arm can be bent in an area in which the coupling element interacts with the contour. As a result, a lever length between the pivot axis of the actuating arm near the furniture body and the locations of the support of the coupling element on the contour can be predetermined, with which the force transmission from the energy store to the folding flap can be improved.

The energy accumulator can advantageously also be charged in that the energy accumulator interacts according to the invention via a coupling element with a push lever which is provided for articulated attachment to the furniture body. If the position of the actuating arm changes, the push lever can move the coupling element. The pivot bearing of the push lever can be attached, for example, below the pivot bearing of the adjusting lever on the furniture body, the push lever reaching from there into or into the adjusting lever. Likewise, a pivot bearing of the thrust lever can be arranged above a pivot bearing of the actuating arm, the thrust lever being in this way on the actuating arm, in particular on

Coupling element can attack that the thrust lever mainly absorbs tensile forces from the actuating arm. Embodiments of the invention with the push lever offer the advantage that the e.g. second control arm not only has a support point on the axis of rotation but also on the pivot bearing of the push lever. As a result, comparatively larger forces can be transmitted to the second flap element.

The coupling element preferably comprises a sliding element arranged on the actuating arm in order to prevent frictional forces and wear, e.g. to keep low by friction. For this purpose, the coupling element can also have rollers that e.g. roll on the inside of the actuator arm.

The thrust lever is preferably connected in an articulated manner to the sliding element, so that a comparatively precise power transmission between the thrust lever and the energy accumulator is predetermined at different positions of the actuating arm. When the folding flap is closed, the slide element is preferably pushed back in its guide in the assembled state via the push lever and a spring is tensioned in the process.

A force unit is preferably designed for attachment to a side part of the furniture body. In particular, both the first and the second force unit can be designed for mounting on a side part of the furniture body. This advantageously favors a space-saving construction, in which e.g. individual device parts can be designed as flat plate-shaped components.

Figur 1

eine schematische Schnittansicht eines Ausschnitts eines Möbels in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Figur 2

schematische Seitenansicht in teilweise geschnittener Darstellung eines zweiten Stellarms einer Vorrichtung,

Figur 3

schematische perspektivische Darstellung in Explosionsansicht der Stelleinheit,

Figur 4

schematisch seitliche Schnittansicht eines Stellarms einer Vorrichtung,

Figur 5

schematische seitliche Schnittansicht eines Stellarms einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

Three exemplary embodiments are presented below with the aid of drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

1 shows a schematic sectional view of a section of a piece of furniture in perspective,

Figure 2

schematic side view in partially sectioned representation of a second actuating arm Contraption,

Figure 3

schematic perspective illustration in exploded view of the actuating unit,

Figure 4

schematically lateral sectional view of an actuator arm of a device,

Figure 5

schematic side sectional view of an actuating arm of a device according to the invention.

The Figures 1 . 2 and 3 show a first, not inventive embodiment of a device 1, which in Figure 1 is attached to a piece of furniture 9. A folding flap 91 is movably attached to the furniture body 95 of the furniture 9. The folding flap 91 consists of an upper flap element 92 and a lower flap element 93. The flap elements 92 and 93 are via two hinges 94, of which only one in the Figure 1 is shown pivotally connected.

The device 1 comprises a first actuating unit 2 and a second actuating unit 3, both actuating units 2 and 3 being attached to a side wall 97 of the furniture body 95 below a furniture ceiling 96. Adjustment units (not shown) are preferably designed with mirror symmetry for attachment to an opposite side wall (not shown) in order to avoid twisting on the folding flap 9 and on the furniture body 95 by means of an even distribution of force.

The upper flap element 92 is pivotally attached to the furniture body 95 with an adjusting arm 22 and a force unit 21 of the first adjusting unit 2. The force unit 21 can comprise a force accumulator (not shown), for example a spring. Preferably, the power unit comprises a drive unit (not shown), for example an electric motor, whereby the flap can be operated automatically, for example, remotely.

In the embodiment shown, the actuating unit 2 is designed such that the upper flap element 92 does not require any additional pivot hinges for attachment to the furniture body 95. The actuator 2 preferably limits movements of the upper flap to one degree of freedom, e.g. that of pivoting about a pivot axis of the actuating unit 2. This simplifies the kinematic structure of the control unit 2.

The lower flap element 93 is connected to the furniture body 95 by means of the second actuating unit 3. On the lower flap element 93, a flap bearing 33 is fastened, on which an actuating arm 32 of the actuating unit 3 is pivotably mounted. An attachment element 31, which is screwed onto the side wall 97, forms a second pivot bearing for the actuating arm 32.

Due to the suspension on the hinges 94, the lower flap element 93 is initially movable in two degrees of freedom after opening, a degree of pivoting freedom around the pivot axis of the actuating unit 2 and a further degree of pivoting freedom around the pivoting axis of the hinges 94 Both degrees of freedom can be achieved so that the lower flap element 93 can perform easily predictable movements. As a result, the risk of injury, which can arise from a folding flap when opening or in an open position, is considerably reduced.

In order to apply forces, in particular for opening and possibly also for closing the folding flap 91, to the lower flap element 93, a force unit is integrated in the actuating unit 3.

When the folding flap 91 is actuated, an upper region of the lower flap element 93 is guided indirectly by the actuating unit 2 via the upper flap element 92 and the hinge 94, while movements of a lower region of the flap element 93 are guided by the actuating unit 3. This offers the advantage that the course of a movement path of the lower flap element 93 depends on the positions of the flap bearing 33 lower flap element 93 and the attachment element 31 on the furniture body 95 can be influenced.

The Figures 2 and 3 show more details of the internal structure of the actuating unit 3. The actuating arm 32 is composed of a flat hollow profile tube 32a with an approximately oval cross section, a head piece 32b and a foot piece 32c. The head piece 32b is pushed onto the hollow profile tube 32a and fixed with the aid of a fastening pin 41 which penetrates the bores 32e and 32f.

The head piece 32b is divided into two essentially straight sections 32k and 32m by a kink 32n. The head piece is fork-shaped from the area of the bend 32n to the area of a bore 32d. As a result, a section of the attachment element 31 with a bore 38 can extend into the head piece 32b. A symmetrically supporting pivot bearing is formed by connecting bores 32d of the actuating arm 32 to the bore 38 of the attachment element 31 by means of a pivot bearing pin 40.

A pin 42 is attached in the hollow section tube 32a, e.g. riveted, which forms a rest bearing for springs 43. In a departure from the embodiment shown here, a rest bearing for the springs can also be designed as an adjustable counter bearing (not shown). The springs 43 are pressurized from an opposite side by a slider 34. The slider 34 has a roller 35 with which the slider 34 is supported on a control contour 36 of the attachment element 31.

The head piece 32b and the control contour 36 are coordinated with one another in such a way that a bearing point of the roller 35 on the control contour 36 moves such that the actuating arm can exert a closing force on the lower flap element 93 in a lower swivel range and an opening force in a higher swivel range ,

To transfer the forces of the second actuator 3 to the lower flap element 93, the foot piece 32c and the flap bearing 33 are provided. The flap bearing 33 is fork-shaped in the region of bores 33a. As a result, a bore 32 of the foot piece 32c can be mounted symmetrically on the bores 33a of the flap bearing with a pivot pin, not shown. This allows comparatively less wear on the swivel bearing points and better guidance of the opening and closing movements of the lower flap element. Due to a comparatively lower bearing friction, an improved functioning can be achieved with the parts 31, 32b, 34, 35, 40, 42, 43 that generate the actuating forces.

One or more rest positions 36a for a predetermined position of the actuating arm 32 can be formed on the control contour 36, with which the second actuating unit 3 can securely hold the lower flap element 93 in predetermined positions.

A disadvantage of that in the Figures 2 and 3 The embodiment shown is that comparatively large forces perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hollow section tube 32a can occur on a rotary bearing 32p of the roller 35, which increase wear, for example on the slide 34.

The Figure 4 shows a second actuating unit 3 of a second embodiment, not according to the invention, which also generates actuating forces by means of a control contour 36, a sliding element 41, a roller 35 and a spring 43, which is accommodated in a hollow profile tube 32a. A pin 46 is inserted into the hollow section tube 32a and forms a rest or counter bearing for a spring 43 in an actuating arm 32. In the area of a connection of the hollow profile tube 32a to a head piece 32b, a first sliding element 45 is arranged displaceably in the hollow profile tube 32a, the spring 43 exerting compressive forces on the sliding element 45 in the direction of the head piece 32b. The sliding element 41 is in an angled section of the head part 32b, which is guided straight to a pivot bearing of the actuating arm 32 about a pivot pin 40 of an attachment element 31 is.

A coupling element 44 is pivotally connected to pivot 44a at one end with the sliding element 45 and at an opposite end with the further sliding element 41. With the aid of the coupling element 44, movements of the sliding elements 41 and 45 are coupled to one another over a region of a kink in the head element 32b if, when the position of the actuating arm 32 changes, the sliding element 41 is displaced by the control contour 36 against a force of the spring 43 in the head piece 32b becomes.

The second exemplary embodiment offers the advantage that tensions on a bearing of the roller 35 on the sliding element 41 and in the actuating arm 32 can be reduced. This also advantageously reduces wear on the sliding element 41 and on a sliding section within the actuating arm 32.

In the Figure 5 A second actuating unit 3 of an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. The actuating forces of a second actuating arm 32 are controlled by a pivotable support element 48.

The actuating arm 32 comprises a hollow profile tube 32a, to which a head piece 32b is attached in the longitudinal direction at one end and a foot piece 32c at the opposite end. The head piece 32b is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 40 which is fastened to an attachment element 31. The attachment element 31 is provided with two bores 37, with which it is attached to a furniture body e.g. can be screwed on.

The foot piece is provided with a bore 32j for a pivotable connection with a flap bearing (in Figure 5 not shown) provided.

The attachment element 31 has a further pivot pin 49 on which the support element is pivotally mounted. The support element 38 extends from the pivot pin 49 through a Opening into the hollow profile tube 32a, where it is rotatably connected to a slide 47 via a hinge 47a. The hollow profile tube 32a serves as a guide rail of the slide 47. When changing the angular positions of the actuating arm 32, the position of the joint 47a changes, at which the support element 38 is movably coupled to the hollow profile tube 32a via the slide 47. The slider is moved against a force of a spring 43, which is installed in the hollow section tube 43.

The spring can e.g. be anchored in the hollow profile tube with a pin 46 which is pushed through the hollow profile tube 32a. The spring 43 can be a tension spring, whereby the actuating arm 32 can support closing movements of a folding flap (not shown). If the spring 43 is a compression spring, the actuating arm 32 can support opening movements. Nevertheless, the actuating arm 32 can also be held in a closed position with a compression spring if the pivot pins 40 and 49 are positioned on the attachment element in such a way that the support element 38 can overcome a bottom dead center when the downward pivoting movement, from which the slide 47 through the support element 38 is withdrawn in the hollow profile tube 32a in the direction of the head piece 32b.

In an embodiment of the invention, not shown, a rest bearing of an energy store, which is accommodated in particular in an actuating arm, can be designed as an adjustable counter bearing. The adjustable counter bearing can comprise, for example, a displaceable counter bearing element and a threaded rod, for example, the threaded rod being supported, for example, in a thread, for example on the foot piece. By turning the threaded rod in the thread, for example with a screwdriver, the threaded rod and with it the counter bearing element can be displaced in such a way that the forces provided by the energy accumulator can be matched to predetermined forces of different folding flaps, for example different sizes and different materials. In addition, operating forces for opening and closing a folding flap can be adapted to the wishes of users.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

contraption

2

actuator

3

actuator

9

Furniture

21

power unit

22

actuating arm

31

attaching member

32

actuating arm

32a

Hollow section tube

32b

headpiece

32c

footjoint

32d

drilling

32e

drilling

32f

drilling

32g

latching opening

32h

locking element

32j

drilling

32k

section

32m

section

32n

kink

32p

pivot bearing

33

flaps stock

33a

drilling

34

slide

35

role

36

control contour

36a

rest position

37

drilling

38

drilling

39

screw

40

Pivot bolt

41

fastening pin

42

pen

43

feather

44

coupling piece

44a

pivot

45

slide

46

pen

47

slide

47a

joint

48

support element

91

folding flap

92

flap element

93

flap element

94

hinge

95

furniture body

96

furniture ceiling

97

Side wall

Claims (7)

1. Device (1) for moving a folding flap (91) mounted to be movable on a furniture body (95) consisting of at least two articulated flap elements (92, 93) with a power unit (21), which by means of an adjusting arm (22) of the device (1) arranged in the mounted state on a first flap element (92) at least supports the opening of the folding flap (91) through the effect of force, and with a second adjusting arm (32) of a second power unit (31, 32) of the device (1) provided for articulated attachment to the second flap element (93) by means of which a force can be applied onto the folding flap (91), wherein the second power unit (31, 32) comprises an energy store (43) which is arranged on the second adjusting arm (32), characterised in that the energy store (43) is arranged inside a hollow profile tube (32a) of the adjusting arm (32), wherein the energy store (43) interacts via a coupling element with a thrust lever (48) which is provided for the articulated attachment to the furniture body (95).
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the second power unit (31, 32) provides a force for opening the folding flap (91).
3. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the energy store (43) cooperates eccentrically with a contour (36) via a coupling element (34, 44, 45).
4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling element comprises a sliding element (47) arranged in the adjusting arm (32).
5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the thrust lever (48) is connected in an articulated manner to the sliding element (47).
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a power unit (31, 32) is designed for attachment onto a side part (97) of the furniture body (95).
7. Item of furniture (9) with a device (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

Images