EP2785935B1

EP2785935B1 - A closing system for furniture drawers

Info

Publication number: EP2785935B1
Application number: EP11805980.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enrico Ciacchini; Fiorenzo Bandecchi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-11-28
Filing date: 2011-11-28
Publication date: 2016-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-28
Also published as: WO2013080230A1; EP2785935A1

Description

Technical field

The present invention refers to the technical field relative to closing systems for drawers in general.
In particular, the invention refers to an innovative closing system that is particularly suitable for furniture destined to means of transport, and in particular to watercraft furnishings, in such a way as to impede the accidental opening of the furniture also in case of wavy motion.

Background art

Drawers that are part of furniture destined to store clothes or objects in general have long been known. There exists, for example, specific kitchen furniture provided with drawers into which to store dishes or furniture and chests of drawers for work tools or clothes.
The same furniture is used on watercrafts, of course adapted in its dimensions and appropriately stylised.
A technical problem relative to the chests of drawers destined to watercrafts is that the ship can be subject to a wavy motion and therefore the rolling of the same can cause the accidental opening of the drawer and the fall of its contents. In the case of chests of drawers for kitchens, the accidental opening of the drawer could cause the breaking of dishes and provisions in general. US5769517 discloses a drawer safety lock.
In order to solve said technical problem, several solutions have been proposed which, however, result inefficient in case of particularly wavy motion.
For example, one of these solutions includes the application of a magnet that enters in contact with a piece of metal placed on the drawer when the same is made to slide until a stop to get closed.
Nevertheless, the magnet is not capable of exerting such a force as to impede the accidental opening in case of very wavy sea and, even if more potent magnets can be selected, it is not possible to overcome a certain threshold beyond which the opening of the drawer by the user would become difficult under normal use conditions.
Recently, sliding guides for drawers have been developed formed by binaries on which rollers fixed to bars integral to the drawer rotate. In this manner, it is as if the drawer were furnished with rotatable shoes on a track. The terminal part of the sliding guide is inclined in such a way that when the rollers arrive to said inclined part by the effect of gravity, the rollers roll along the inclined plane and the drawer slips in closing position. Consequently, it is necessary to apply a minimum force to extract the drawer and overcome said inclined stroke.
Nevertheless, also in this case this solution is not idoneous to guarantee a safe closing in case of wavy motion.
Obviously, the same problem exists in other means of transport, such as planes, caravans or trains, in which the action of the motion itself (for example the air pockets during a flight) can cause the accidental opening of the drawer.

Disclosure of invention

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide a new type of closing for a drawer applicable in means of transport in general, preferably destined to watercrafts, which solves at least in part said technical inconveniences.
In particular, it is the aim of the present invention to provide a new type of closing for a drawer that results safe, impeding the accidental opening of it also in case of wavy motion or shakes in general.
These and other aims are therefore obtained with the present closing device 1 for a drawer in accordance with claim 1.
The closing device (1) comprising a superior plate (3) and a block appendix (4) connected in a rotatable manner to the superior plate (3) in such a way as to be able to rotate between a lifted position and a lowered position in which it protrudes towards the exterior of the perimeter of the superior plate (3).
An inferior plate (2) is also included, comprising a block element (21).
The two plates (2, 3), through appropriate holes, are applicable one (2, 3) to the drawer and the other one (2, 3) to the sliding seat of the drawer in such a way that the superior plate (3) results overlapped to the inferior plate (2) during the opening and closing motion of the drawer and with the appendix (4) facing towards the inferior plate (2) rotated in lowered position due to gravity.
Preferably, the superior plate (3) is connected to the fixed sliding seat of the drawer, while, at the same time, the inferior plate (2) is connected directly to the drawer that is sliding in the seat, but the positions can also be inverted.
In accordance with the invention, the inferior plate (2) is configured in such a way that, during an approach motion between the two plates that takes place during the closing of the drawer, the inferior plate (2) intercepts the block appendix (4) of the superior plate (3), whose appendix (4) is initially rotated by gravity in its lowered position. Such an interception causes its progressive rotation towards the lifted position, allowing the reciprocal approach and the overlapping between the two plates until when, following the approach between the two plates (2, 3) in its closing motion of the drawer, the appendix (4) climbs over the block element (21) and rotates again by gravity in the lowered position that puts it in contrast against said block element (21). In this manner, the block element (21), placed in contrast against the block appendix (4), impedes the opposite opening translation of the drawer. The opposite translation, in fact, would force the appendix, which is bound in its fixed lowered position.
In this manner, such a block avoids the accidental opening also in conditions of wavy motion of the watercraft on which, for example, such a drawer is used. The same technical block effect exists in the case of use on planes or other means of transport.
In order to operate the opening of the drawer, it is enough that the inferior plate (2) is lifted against the superior plate (3) acting on a lifting of the drawer in its seat. In fact, the inferior plate (2) is further configured in such a way that, when it is lifted towards the superior plate in said block position of the drawer, the inferior plate (2) contacts, in at least part of it (23), the appendix (4), causing a rotation of it in the lifted position in which it is not in contrast against the block element (21), thus allowing the sliding in said opposite direction of the inferior plate (2) for the opening of the drawer.
The unblock and opening operation of the drawer is therefore very quick and simple. The distance between the two overlapped plates can therefore be minimal and such as to exploit the vertical clearance of the sliding drawer into the seat in case the device wants to be applied, for example, to pre-existing drawers. Alternatively, an "ex novo" drawer can be thought of, provided integrally with such a closing system. In such case, a certain configuration can be chosen that allows the lifting of the drawer with respect to its sliding guide of a pre-fixed quantity, and consequently fixing between them the two plates at least at an equal or smaller distance.
Advantageously, the block element (21) can be in the shape of a seat (21) obtained in the inferior plate (2).
This has the advantage that such a block can be easily obtained, for example by realizing it by moulding of the plate or by shaping it appropriately to the machine tools.
In particular, advantageously, the external profile of the inferior plate (2) is such as to form said seat (21).
Advantageously, the seat (21) forms a shoulder (22) against which the appendix (4) goes in contrast when the appendix (4) is rotated into the seat (21) to operate the block.
Advantageously, the block appendix (4) is rotatable around its rotation axis (10), orthogonal to the plane of the superior plate (3).
Advantageously, the block appendix (4) comprises a block shank (4') and a head provided with a rotation stop appendix (4'').
Advantageously, the head is arranged in a rotatable manner into a seat (15) obtained in the superior plate (3), the seat (15) being configured in such a way as to form a stop for the rotation stop appendix (4'') between said two extreme positions.
To that aim, advantageously, the seat forms an inlet (15') into which the rotation stop appendix (4'') lodges and that limits the angular rotation between said two extreme positions.
Advantageously, the block appendix (4) includes a pivot (7) that connects in a rotatable manner the appendix (4) to the superior plate (3).
Advantageously, the block appendix (4) is connected to the superior plate (3) with such a mechanical interference degree that the appendix can rotate from said lifted position to said lowered position by the effect of its weight when in use the superior plate is correctly connected to the sliding seat or to the drawer.
Advantageously, the superior plate (3) forms a seat (20) into which the appendix (4) is lodged when it is rotated in lifted position.
Advantageously, the form of the seat (20) is such that the appendix (4) completes the profile of the superior plate (3) when rotated in lifted position.
Advantageously, the inferior plate (2) comprises a part of it (23) configured in such a way as to cause said rotation of the appendix (4) when the inferior plate (2) is lifted against the superior plate (3), in the position in which the appendix is in contrast against the block element (21).
Advantageously, the two plates (2, 3) can be of a plastic material and realized, for example, by moulding or die-casting.
Advantageously, the two plates (2, 3) include holes (5, 6) for their fixing.
It is also described here a chest of drawers comprising:

A drawer;
A sliding seat of the drawer and;
Block means (2, 3) to maintain the drawer in the closing position into its sliding seat and wherein, further, the block means (2, 3) are in the shape of the device (1) as described.

In particular, the inferior plate is connected preferably to the drawer, while, consequently, the superior plate is connected to the sliding seat of the drawer.

Brief description of drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will result clearer with the description that follows of some preferred embodiments, made to illustrate but not to limit, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 describes the device in accordance with the invention in which the appendix 4 of the superior plate 3 is in block position for the underlying plate 2;
Figure 2 separates, for clarity purposes, the three components of the invention (superior plate 3, inferior plate 2 and appendix 4);
Figure 3 portrays just the appendix 4 and highlights its rotation pivot 7;
Figure 4 portrays the two plates in a block configuration;
Figure 5 simulates the unhook configuration in which the appendix is rotated in the lifted position;
Figure 6 shows the sliding of the plate 2 with respect to the plate 3 that allows the opening of the drawer;
Figure 7 extrapolates the two plates ideally applied to frame and drawer with the drawer in open position;
Figure 8 shows the sliding phase for reaching the closing position of the drawer and that causes the progressive lifting of the appendix 4;
Figure 9 shows the terminal lifting phase of the appendix in which the appendix is about to climb over the shoulder 22 of the block seat 21;
Figure 10 shows the fall by gravity of the appendix into the seat 21 of the inferior plate once the shoulder 22 has been climbed over;
Figure 11 highlights the block realized.
Figure 12 and figure 13 show the application of the inferior plate 2 to the drawer and of the superior plate 3 applied to the sliding frame of the drawer.

Description of some preferred embodiments

Figure 1 shows in a front view the closing device 1 in accordance with the invention. Figure 1 portrays an operative position of the device and it can therefore be intended as applied to a chest of drawers.
The device is formed by two plates appropriately shaped, or an inferior plate 2 and a superior plate 3. The inferior plate 2 is destined to be connected to the sliding drawer in a pre-determined point of its side. The holes 5 obtained on the inferior plate 2 are indicative, in the sense that they can also be arranged differently, and serve to fix such a plate to the side of the drawer through, for example, appropriate common wooden screws (see also figure 12, for example).
The superior plate 3, as also shown in figure 13, is instead destined, always through its appropriate holes 6, to be connected to the frame into the sliding seat of the drawer in such a position that, during the sliding of the drawer, the inferior plate 2 can be positioned below the superior plate, allowing an overlapping of the two plates (2, 3) as per figure 1.
The connection of the two plates must be such that, in closing position of the drawer when it is entirely arranged into its seat, the two plates result overlapped between them as per figure 1 and distanced between them of a few millimetres and therefore not in direct contact (for example 3 or 4 mm of distance), as better described in detail below.
Going on with the description, always figure 1 shows a block appendix 4 which is connected in a rotatable manner to the superior plate 3.
The rotation takes place around an axis 10, orthogonal to the plane of the plate 3, and the appendix is therefore rotatable between a lifted position, in which it is brought close to the plate 3 (see figure 5, for example), and a lowered position, in which it protrudes towards the exterior from the profile of the plate 3 (see figure 4, for example).
As shown in figure 1, the block appendix 4 includes a block shank 4' and a head containing the rotation axis 10 and having, in turn, an appendix 4" that serves as rotation stop 4".
As shown in figure 2 and figure 3, the rotation fulcrum is obtained through a pivot 7, integral to the block appendix 4, and inserted idle, therefore with a certain mechanical clearance, into an appropriate receiving hole 7' obtained in an appropriate seat 15 of the plate 3. The seat 15 is therefore configured with such a shape as to hold the head of the block appendix 4, allowing a rotation of it around the axis 10. The same seat 15 forms a sort of inlet 15' into which the rotation stop 4" appendix lodges with clearance. In this manner, the inlet 15' functions as stop, therefore limiting the maximum angular excursion for the appendix 4 between said lifted and lowered positions.
It is clear that, for example, the block appendix 4 can be realized in plastic by moulding, injection or die-casting and therefore having integrated the pivot 7 as well.
Also the two plates (2, 3) can in the same way be easily realized in plastic by moulding, injection or die-casting.
The coupling between the pivot 7 and the receiving hole 7' foreseen in the seat 15 is such that the appendix 4 rotates idle. In substance, the degree of mechanical interference in the coupling is absent or minimal and is anyway such as to allow a free rotation of the appendix 4 from the lifted position to the lowered one due to the weight of the appendix itself and therefore to gravity.
As shown in figure 2, and as better highlighted in figure 4, the superior plate 3 is conformed in such a way as to foresee a seat 20 into which to hold the block shank 4' when it is rotated in lifted position, in such a way that it goes right next to the profile of the plate itself. The seat 20 traces such a shape as to couple perfectly with the shape of the shank 4' in such a way that, when the block appendix 4 rotates in the anti-clockwise sense in said lifted position, the rotation is such as to bring the shank 4' into the seat 20 right next to the profile of the plate. In this configuration, as shown in figure 5, the plate 3 assumes a substantially rectangular shape.
As highlighted in figure 1 and figure 4, the inferior plate 2 is cut out in such a way as to have a profile that forms a receiving seat 21 into which the block appendix 4 falls when it rotates in the clockwise sense due to gravity (see figure 1, for example).
The seat 21 forms a shoulder 22 that creates a block against the end of the shank 4' such as to impede the retroaction motion of the plate 2 with respect to the superior one 3 (therefore the opening motion of the drawer is impeded). In substance, the motion from right to left of the plate 2 is impeded in the configuration of figure 4. The shank 4 in fact blocks this translation which cannot be forced to the extreme since the pivot, in lowered position, is impeded from rotating further because the appendix 4" reaches, in turn, the mechanical stop against the wall of the inlet 15'.
The inferior plate 2 has always such a profile that, as shown in figure 5, by simply lifting the plate 2 in contact against the plate 3, the plate 2 contacts the terminal part of the shank 4' in the area of connection to the head, thus causing an anti-clockwise rotation of the appendix 4 that makes it go back into its seat 20 (rotation motion from the lowered position to the lifted one).
Figure 5 shows the section 23 that causes such an opposite rotation of the pivot and that allows the opening motion of the drawer from right to left.
It is important to note that, in accordance with the configuration described, there must be a certain relation between the length of the seat 21 and the length of the section 23. In particular, the section 23 must have such a length as to contact a part of the appendix 4, causing its rotation, when the two plates are overlapped with the appendix 4 into the seat 21 and the plate 2 is lifted towards the other one. The length of the section 23 must be such that, contextually, such a section continues to maintain the contact with the appendix 4 during the sliding until the end 22' of the seat 21 does not arrive below the point of the shank 4'. In this manner, blocks to accidental openings are avoided.
Figure 13 particularly extrapolates just the superior plate 3, which is just partially visible in figure 12 since the drawer is inserted slidingly in the seat. Figure 13 shows the appendix rotated downwards by gravity waiting to be intercepted by the inferior plate and in both figures 12 and 13 the direction of insertion for closing the drawer is highlighted with an arrow. The fixing positions can be any to operate the closing of the drawer. In this case, in an absolutely non-limiting manner, figure 12 and figure 13 show the plate 2 applied on top of the drawer and, therefore, the plate 3 applied on top of the seat. We could have chosen different positions with a plate 2 applied at the bottom of the drawer and therefore a plate 3 applied at the bottom of the sliding seat.
Having described the basic technical elements of the invention we now pass onto a description of its functioning, for more clarity.
In use, therefore, the superior plate 3 must be fixed in a point of the frame forming the sliding seat of the drawer. The plate 3 is therefore furnished with its appendix 4 that rotates freely under the action of its own weight downwards or is lifted in the opposite direction when an adequate push is applied.
Figure 7 therefore simulates the superior plate 3 with the appendix rotated in lowered position, exactly as applied in figure 13, and the inferior plate 2 applied to the drawer as in figure 12 and placed at a certain distance because the closing phase is being simulated, starting from the open drawer.
At the moment of the insertion of the drawer the inferior plate 2 translates until when, progressively, its front part intercepts the appendix 4 in its motion of insertion from left to right, causing the progressive lifting of it (see figure 8 and figure 9).
When the plate 2 is substantially placed entirely below the plate 3 the pivot is free to fall into the underlying seat 21. This is possible in virtue of the space of some millimetres between the superior plate and the inferior one, as per figure 1 and figure 10, and that allows the free rotation of the appendix 4.
In this configuration the drawer is blocked and therefore in very wavy sea conditions the accidental opening is impeded (see figure 11). The appendix gets blocked against the shoulder 22, impeding a retroaction motion.
To operate the voluntary opening of the drawer, it is enough to operate a light lifting of the drawer (of some millimetres) so that, as per figure 5, the section 23 enters in contact with the appendix 4 and causes a new rotation of it that brings the same into its seat 20.
By maintaining this configuration it is enough to operate an extraction of a few millimetres from right to left to unblock the mechanism and thus make the extraction of the drawer possible.
From the present description it is clear that it is possible to modify the two plates in the shape, still obtaining the same technical effect.
The appendix 4 has been in fact described as placed into the seat 15 which has such a depth that the appendix results right next to the level of the plate 3. Nevertheless, nothing would impede to overlap the appendix 4 directly on the surface of the plate 3 and obtain the block of the rotation between said two extreme positions (lifted and lowered) with adequate protuberances appropriately placed in the place of the inlet 15'.
In the same way, the block of the pivot is obtained through the shoulder 22 of the seat 21 obtained in the inferior plate 2. However, nothing would impede to avoid the realization of the seat and make a shoulder 22 appropriately placed on the surface of the plate 2. In this manner, the appendix would rotate to climb over the shoulder and then fall in contrast against it.
Also the section 23 that causes the lifting of the appendix could be in turn constituted by a fixed appendix that protrudes towards the exterior from the plate 2.
The shape of the two plates (2, 3), although preferably rectangular, could also be square or else different.
Even if the preferred embodiment of the invention foresees that the superior plate is connected to the sliding seat of the drawer and the inferior plate is connected to the drawer itself, nothing would impede to invert the positions. In this case, for example, the superior plate 3 could be applied to the drawer by turning it over specularly at 180° and foreseeing an inferior plate 2 fixed to the sliding seat and with a seat 21 appropriately placed and configured.
Even if the present invention has been described in relation to the naval field, it is clear that the same serves well to an application to chests of drawers destined to means of transport in general, such as planes, caravans, trains and others.
Moreover, it is clear that the same invention can be used without problems not only in mobile means of transport but also in ordinary houses.

Claims

A closing device (1) for a drawer comprising:
- A superior plate (3);

- A block appendix (4) connected in a rotatable manner to the superior plate (3) between a lifted position and a lowered position in which it protrudes towards the outside of the perimeter of the superior plate (3);

- An inferior plate (2) comprising a block element (21);

- The two plates (2, 3) being applicable one (2,3) to the drawer and the other one (2, 3) to the sliding seat of the drawer in such a way that the superior plate (3) results overlapped to the inferior plate (2) during the opening and closing motion of the drawer and with the appendix (4) facing towards the inferior plate (2);

- and wherein the inferior plate (2) is configured in such a way that, during an approach motion of a plate (2, 3) towards the other one (2, 3) during the closing of the drawer, the inferior plate (2) intercepts the block appendix (4) in lowered position, causing its progressive rotation towards the lifted position and, subsequently, allows its further rotation by gravity in the lowered position in which it goes in contrast against the block element (21) in such a way that the appendix placed in contrast against the block element (21) impedes a translation in the opposite direction and, from said position when the inferior plate (2) is lifted against the superior plate (3), the inferior plate (2) contacts the appendix (4), causing a rotation of it from the lowered position to the lifted position in such a way that the appendix (4) gets unbound from the block element (21), thus allowing the sliding in the opening direction of the drawer.
A device (1), according to claim 1, wherein the block element (21) is in the shape of a seat (21) obtained in the inferior plate (2).
A device (1), according to claim 2, wherein the external profile of the inferior plate (2) is such as to form said seat (21).
A device (1), according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the seat (21) forms a shoulder (22) against which the appendix (4) goes in contrast when the appendix (4) is rotated into the seat (21).
A device (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims from 1 to 4, wherein the block appendix (4) is rotatable around its rotation axis (10), orthogonal to the plane of the superior plate (3).
A device (1), according to one or more of claims from 1 to 5, wherein the block appendix (4) comprises a block shank (4') and a head provided with a rotation stop appendix (4'').
A device (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims from 1 to 6, wherein the head of the block appendix (4) is arranged in a rotatable manner into a seat (15) obtained in the superior plate (3), the seat (15) being configured in such a way as to form a stop for the rotation stop appendix (4") between said two extreme positions.
A device (1), according to claim 7, wherein the seat forms an inlet (15') into which the rotation stop appendix (4") is lodged and that limits the angular rotation between said two extreme positions.
A device (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims from 1 to 8, wherein the block appendix (4) includes a pivot (7) that connects in a rotatable manner the appendix (4) to the superior plate (3).
A device (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims from 1 to 9, wherein the block appendix (4) is connected with such a mechanical interference degree that the appendix can rotate from said lifted position to said lowered position by the effect of its weight.
A device (1), according to claim 1, wherein the superior plate (3) forms a seat (20) into which the appendix (4) is lodged when it is rotated in lifted position.
A device (1), according to claim 11, wherein the form of the seat (20) is such that the appendix (4) completes the profile of the superior plate (3) when rotated in lifted position.
A device (1), according to claim 1, wherein the inferior plate (2) comprises a part of it (23) configured in such a way as to cause said rotation of the appendix (4) when the inferior plate (2) is lifted against the superior plate (3) in the position in which the appendix goes in contrast against the block element (21).
A device (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the two plates (2, 3) are of a plastic material and/or the two plates (2, 3) are realized by moulding or die-casting.
A chest of drawers comprising:
- A drawer;

- A sliding seat of the drawer and;

- Block means (2, 3) to maintain the drawer in the closing position into its sliding seat and characterized in that said block means (2, 3) comprise a device (1) as per one or more of the preceding claims.