EP3342967B1

EP3342967B1 - Sliding and positioning device for doors

Info

Publication number: EP3342967B1
Application number: EP17211209.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Paffumi
Original assignee: DEAL Srl
Current assignee: DEAL Srl
Priority date: 2017-01-02
Filing date: 2017-12-29
Publication date: 2020-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-29
Also published as: IT201700000248A1; EP3342967A1

Description

The present invention refers to the field of latches for furniture, furnishings, doors and windows, and the like, and it relates to a sliding and positioning device for doors, especially suitable for pairs or triplets of coplanar doors in their closed condition in the respective piece of furniture, piece of furnishings or door or window.
Sliding devices for doors that are always staggered, i.e., arranged and sliding on respective parallel, spaced apart geometric planes, are known in the art. These known devices are simple and reliable, but have the drawback that apart from being unaesthetic and unpleasant to potential users, the staggering of the doors leaves gaps and leaks that do not allow to isolate and divide the spaces separated by the closed doors, with the resulting risk of a passage of insects, odours, light, and so on.
Devices suitable for allowing the doors to be manually moved from a closed condition, where the doors are coplanar, to a condition where one of the doors is moved laterally until it overlaps an adjacent door such that the moved door opens the respective passage, are also known in the art. A drawback of such kind of known doors is that in order to open a passage adjacent to the open one, one needs to get back to the completely closed initial condition, and this makes such kind of known device uncomfortable and unpleasant, so that potential users often give up the purchase.
Other drawbacks of these known devices as well as of any further devices for moving doors from a closed condition, where said doors are coplanar, to a condition where a door is opened, wherein the latter overlaps an adjacent door consists in the fact they have too large sizes, especially in the vertical direction, and that they are complex and expensive and often noisy and prone to malfunction.
An object of the present invention is to provide a sliding and positioning device for doors that is simple, reliable and cost-effective.
Another object is to provide a noiseless device.
A further object is to provide a device easy and intuitive to operate manually.
Another object is to provide a device that allows, starting from a condition in which one first door is open, to open another door without having to close the first door preliminarily.
A further object is to provide a device suitable for as many as three doors or more.
Another object is to provide a device that may be used also in pieces of furniture having accessible tops, such as kitchen sideboards, dressers and the like, where the space for upper guides and members is reduced.
Document EP 1 001 125 belongs to the general state of the art of the invention.
The features of the invention are illustrated below, with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first opening device of the sliding and positioning device for doors subject-matter of the present invention, in a condition where the corresponding three doors are closed, and where some parts have been either removed or broken away in order to better highlight other ones, where the faces of the doors connected with the devices are indicated as being internal;
Figure 2 shows a view of one first opening device where further parts have been removed;
Figure 3 is a section view along line III - III of Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows a partial plan view of one guide means and of two transmission means of Figure 1;
Figure 5 shows a section view along plane V-V of Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a partial, axonometric view of the guide means of Figure 5 to which a respective cover means is fixed;
Figure 7 shows a partial, axonometric view of the guide means of Figure 6 where some parts have been either removed or broken away in order to better highlight other ones;
Figures 8-10 show section views along planes VIII-VIII, IX-IX and X-X of Figure 2, respectively;
Figure 11 shows a plan view of the first opening device of Figure 1 in an initial condition where one first side door is open, and where some parts have been either removed or broken away in order to better highlight other ones;
Figure 12 shows a view of the first opening device of Figure 11 where further parts have been removed;
Figures 13-15 show section views along planes XIII-XIII, XIV-XIV and XV-XV of Figure 12, respectively;
Figures 16-20 show a possible opening sequence subsequent to the condition of Figure 12, comprising the steps of complete opening the first side door, initial and complete opening the second side door and initial and complete opening the middle door, respectively;
Figure 21 shows a first step of opening the middle door starting from the closed condition of Figure 1;
Figure 22 shows a partial, axonometric view of the internal face of the first door, i.e., of the door shown on the right in the previous figures, equipped with respective rolling means and with one first member of the detachable connection means of Figure 1;
Figure 23 shows a partial, axonometric view of the internal face of the middle door, equipped with a secondary carriage means for the moving means of Figure 1;
Figure 24 shows an axonometric, exploded view of the moving means of Figure 1 comprising the secondary carriage means and a primary carriage means;
Figure 25 shows an axonometric assembly view of the moving means of Figure 24;
Figures 26 and 27 show plan views, from respective opposite sides, of the moving means of Figure 25, where in Figure 26 one part has been partially removed to better highlight another one;
Figures 28 and 29 show side views of the moving means of Figure 24 in the bent-outward and bent-inward conditions, respectively;
Figures 30 and 31 show views of the moving means of Figures 28 and 29 where some parts have been removed for better highlighting other ones;
Figure 32 shows a plan view, from the opposite side of Figure 1, of an attachment for a second opening device of the sliding and positioning device for doors subject-matter of the present invention;
Figure 33 shows a view of the second opening device of the sliding and positioning device for doors subject-matter [of the present invention];
Figure 34 shows an enlarged section view of a detail of Figure 33;
Figures 35 and 36 show section views along planes XXXV-XXXV and XXXVI-XXXVI of Figure 34, respectively;
Figures 37 and 38 show a possible opening sequence subsequent to the condition of Figure 33, comprising the steps of initial and complete opening of a side door, respectively;
Figure 39 shows an enlarged section view of a detail of Figure 37;
Figures 40 and 41 show section views along planes XXXX-XXXX and XXXXI-XXXXI of Figure 37, respectively;
Figures 42-46 show possible opening sequences comprising the steps of initial and complete opening of the opposite middle door starting from the condition of Figure 38 and, consecutively, of partial and complete opening of the middle door, and, starting from the condition of Figure 33, the step of partial opening of the middle door;
Figure 47 shows an enlarged section view of a detail of Figure 46.

Referring to Figures 1-31, the numeral 1 indicates one first opening device, which is comprised in the sliding and positioning device for doors, according to the present invention. Said sliding and positioning device may comprise, but not necessarily, a second opening device 101, shown in Figures 32-47 and described hereinafter. The sliding and positioning device for doors is assigned to connect a piece of furniture or a furnishings, or a window or a door or a door frame or the like, hereinfter collectively referred to only as "piece of furniture", to a plurality of doors, three in this case, and to allow said doors to move so as to open their respective passages or gaps that are occluded by the same when they are closed. According to the preferred embodiment of the sliding and positioning device for doors, it is provided that the first opening device 1 is fixed, on one side, to the upper portion of the piece of furniture, and, on the other side, to the upper portion of the internal face of each door, and it is provided that the possible second opening device 101 is connected to the lower portions of the piece of furniture and of the doors. Yet, alternatively, for example for kitchen sideboards and dressers or other pieces of furniture having accessible tops suitable for use, the invention provides that the positions of the first and second opening devices are inverted because the reduced size of the second opening device lends itself well to the little space available under the tops of said sideboards and/or to sideboards having tops high enough to be used.
Here and below, reference is made to the sliding and positioning device for three doors, with the first opening device located on the upper part, and with the possible second opening device located on the bottom part, unless otherwise indicated.
It is to note that in the case of doors that are not excessively high, such as those found in pieces of furniture of the kind of, or similar to, kitchen cabinets, it is enough to have only the first opening device fixed to the upper edge alone without any second opening device. The invention also provides the possibility of furniture or furnishings comprising only the first opening device associated only with the lower edges of the doors.
The sliding and positioning device subject-matter of the invention is for at least two doors, one main door AC and one secondary door AL of a piece of furniture or the like, and is illustrated and described in its preferred embodiment for a main door AC (located in the middle in the closed condition) and for two secondary doors AL (located sideways with respect to the main one in the closed condition).
The device comprises at least one first opening device 1 which is fixed, on one side, to the piece of furniture and, on the other side, to the internal face of each door AC, AL, as already seen.
Said first opening device 1 comprises at least one first elongated guide means 5 having a longitudinal extension nearly equal to the overall width of the doors AC, AL in the condition of complete closing of the piece of furniture and parallel to the geometric plane defined by such doors AC, AL in said condition and parallel to the main opening and closing direction of the doors AC, AL.
The first guide means 5 may consist of a profile in metal, for example in aluminium or its alloys, having a squared U-shaped cross-section, in which several elements of the device are obtained. A longitudinal upper edge of the profile of the first guide means 5 may comprise an attachment for a longitudinal cover edge, clearly apparent from Figure 6, assigned to protect and enclose the elements inside the profile. The longitudinal edges of the cover and the profile, respectively, opposed to the corresponding edges connected by means of said attachment, are mutually spaced apart and form a longitudinal slot assigned to the passage and slide of the door connection elements or arms.
The main door AC is fixed to a respective moving means 7 having a primary carriage means 11 sliding along first rail means 13 which extend along the first guide means 5, parallel to it 5, with which they form a single body or, alternatively, to which they are firmly fixed.
This moving means 7 for the main door AC further has a secondary carriage means 17 connected to the primary carriage means 11 in a sliding way in a leaving and approaching direction perpendicular to the first rail means 13 and to said closing geometrical plane.
Each secondary door AL is fixed to respective rolling means 21 sliding along second rail means 23 which extend along the first guide means 5 parallel to it 5, with which they form a single body or, alternatively, to which they are firmly fixed.
For each secondary door AL, the device 1 comprises a respective elongated transmission means 27 sliding in a respective longitudinal seat 29 obtained in or fixed to the first guide means 5. The transmission means 27 consists of a straight metal rod or bar preferably with a rectangular or square cross-section, and with flat lateral faces.
The transmission means 27 is connected, at one of its ends, to the respective secondary door AL by means of a corresponding detachable connection 31 and, at the other end, to operation means 33 of the secondary carriage means 17.
The detachable connection 31 is of a kind that is detachable by applying a limited manual force to the secondary door AL, and that is attachable by means of the transmission means 27 approaching and/or mutually matching the respective secondary door AL in operation.
Starting from the total closing condition, the sliding of a secondary door AL towards the adjacent main door AC causes the detachable connection means 31 to trail the transmission means 27 of such secondary door AL, where the resulting sliding of the transmission means 27 drives the operation means 33 of the secondary carriage means 17 which displace the main door AC moving it away from said closing geometric plane, allowing the lateral sliding of the secondary door and the overlapping of such main door AC with the open secondary door AL (or, in other words, the mutual facing of such main door AC and open secondary door AL). In other words, the operation means 33 deviate orthogonally and transmit the portion of the sliding motion of the transmission means 27, resulting from the initial opening stroke of the respective secondary door AL, to the secondary carriage means 17; in this way the opening of the secondary door causes it to move away from the rail means and from the piece of furniture. The vertical, i.e., lateral edges of the doors are bevelled, for example at 45°, to allow the initial opening movement without any collisions or creeping between the edges of the doors.
Each detachable connection 31 comprises a first element 37 fixed to the portion of the internal face of the respective secondary door AL opposed to the main door AC in the condition of complete closing of the doors.
Each detachable connection 31 further comprises a second element 39 fixed to the corresponding end of the respective transmission means 27.
Such first 37 and second 39 elements consist of one among complementary connection clips, detachable connection ratchet gears, male and/or female, Velcro complementary elements, or one of them is preferably a permanent magnet, for example of the neodymium type, and the other one is a permanent magnet or an element made of ferromagnetic material. Obviously, the first 37 and second 39 elements also comprise brackets, arms or connections for supporting and fixing said magnetic elements.
In the closed condition, such first 37 and second 39 elements are mutually engaged, and when the respective secondary door AL opens, they connect the latter to the respective transmission means 27 and trails the latter until it goes along a slide length sufficient at least to drive the operation means 33.
At the end of said slide length, which is a fraction of the lateral length of the door, such transmission means 27 is stopped by a respective stopping means, for example consisting of an end stroke ridge or pin or of the other transmission means 27, and the first 37 and second 39 elements mutually separate each other as a result of the opening force, allowing such secondary door AL to open completely, whereby they end their lateral stroke and overlap the main door AC.
According to the invention, the operation means 33 of the secondary carriage means 17 comprise first inclined planes 47, each one fixed to the end of a transmission means 27 opposed to the respective detachable connections 31 and acting on a wheel means 49 fixed to the secondary carriage means 17; the initial opening sliding of a secondary door AL translates the respective transmission means 27 whose first inclined plane 47 acts on the wheel means 49 and translates said main door AC perpendicular to itself and to said closing geometrical plane. In case of transmission means 27 consisting of solid bars, the first inclined planes 47 may be obtained by means of corresponding bar cuts appropriately inclined. In case of transmission means 27 consisting of tubular rods, the first inclined planes 47 may consist of corresponding inclined faces of end plugs applied to the corresponding ends of such tubular rods.
Alternatively, according to the invention, the operation means 33 of the secondary carriage means 17 comprise a pantograph means fixed to the primary carriage means 11 and having an end which matches with the ends of the transmission means 27 of the secondary doors AL opposed to the respective detachable connections 31, and the other end which matches with the secondary carriage means 17 and pushes it as a result of the movement of the first end. Alternatively, according to the invention, the operation means 33 of the secondary carriage means 17 comprise rocker arm means hinged on the primary carriage means 11, and each one having its own ends interacting between the secondary carriage means 17 and the end of the corresponding transmission means 27.
The secondary carriage means 17 is equipped with an attachment 51 for the internal face of the main door AC which, in the event of having a device for three doors, is measured for the passage of the side secondary doors AL. The attachment 51 is in the shape of a squared "U" and asymmetrical, and has a thickness which is lower than the width of the slot between the profile of the first guide means 5 and the respective cover, so as to slide without creeping therebetween.
The secondary carriage means 17 is also equipped with a plurality of first rolling members 53, consisting of small wheels, for example, with a rotation axis parallel to the first guide means 5.
The first small wheel rolling means 53 are assigned to roll along track means 55.
Such track means 55, consisting of pairs of planes and/or sheets, for example, of the primary carriage means 11, parallel and mutually spaced apart at a distance that is slightly greater than the diameter of the interposed first rolling means 53, are perpendicular to said closing geometrical plane.
The rotation axis of each of said wheel means 49 is parallel to the closing geometrical plane and perpendicular to the first guide means 5.
The axles of the wheel means 49 cross respective passing slots 57 parallel to the direction of leaving and approaching, and obtained in the primary carriage means 11.
The primary carriage means 11 comprises at least one elongated guiding slot 59, parallel to and interposed between the passing slots 57, and is assigned to the sliding of a guiding slider 61, made of anti-friction plastic material, for example, fixed to secondary carriage means 17.
The secondary carriage means 17 is connected to the primary carriage means 11 by means of a set of elastic springs 63, for example a pair of helical springs, which apply to the secondary carriage means 17 a force directed in the approaching direction.
Said primary carriage means 11 also comprises a plurality of second rolling members 65, tied to roll along first rail means 13, for example. The second rolling members 65, for example in a number of four, may consist of wheels with perimetral grooves having a cross-section complementary in shape with the cross-section of the first rail means 13.
In the event of having only two doors, one in the middle and only one on the side, the first rail means 13 may coincide with the second rail means 23.
Each transmission means 27 has a longitudinal face assigned to the rolling of the wheel means 49 during the sliding of the corresponding main door AC. Obviously, such longitudinal face is joined to the corresponding first inclined plane 47 so that the respective wheel means 49 may roll along and between them in a smooth manner, without jamming.
The first opening device 1 further comprises a plurality of pairs of magnetic positioning elements 69 fixed, one of each pair, to the first guide means 5, and the other of each pair to the primary carriage means 11 or to each secondary door AL where the elements of each pair face each other in the closed condition to stably and yet reversibly maintain such condition of the doors.
The first opening device 1 is fixed to a portion of the internal face of each door AC, AL, close to an edge of such face, whereas a possible second opening device 101 of the sliding and positioning device for doors is fixed, on one side, to the piece of furniture, and on the other side, to a portion of the internal face of each door AC, AL close to the edge of such face which is opposite to the connecting edge of the first opening device 1.
Such second opening device 101 comprises at least one second elongated guide means 105 consisting of a metal profile in the shape of a squared "C", for example, with longitudinal edges folded towards each other. The second guide means 105 has a longitudinal extension nearly equal to that of the first opening device 1 and parallel to the latter 1.
The second guide means 105 is equipped with a respective longitudinal seat 129 for the sliding of elongated rod means 127 parallel to the second guide means 105. Each rod means 127 may consist of a straight metal bar, rectangular in section for example, having a longitudinal portion which is complementary in shape with the cavity of the seat 129 of the second guide means 105 to slide along the latter 105. Each rod means 127 is connected to a respective secondary door AL and the main door AC is fixed to a respective translation means 111 that is movable, starting from the closed condition, in a leaving and approaching direction perpendicular to the second guide means 105 and to said geometric plane, and movable along said rod means 127.
Each secondary door AL is fixed to respective sliding means 121 which slide parallel to the second guide means 105 or along the same 105.
The connection between each rod means 127 and the respective secondary door AL is made by means of a corresponding detachable connection 131.
The end of each rod means 127 opposed to the detachable connection 131, bears pushing means 133 assigned to cause the translation of the translation means 111 in said leaving direction.
Starting from the total closing condition, the sliding of a secondary door AL towards and adjacent main door AC causes the detachable connection 131 to trail the rod means 127 of such secondary door AL; the sliding of the road means 127 translates the pushing means 133 which push the translation means 111 and move the main door AC away from said closing geometric plane and allow the overlapping of such main door AC with the open secondary door AL.
Each detachable connection 131 comprises a first component 137 fixed to the respective secondary door AL or to the corresponding sliding means 121 and it comprises a second component 139 fixed to the corresponding end of the respective transmission means 27 where such first 137 and second 139 components consist of one among complementary connection clips, detachable connection ratchet gears, male and/or female, Velcro complementary elements, or one of them is preferably a permanent magnet and the other one is a permanent magnet or an element made of ferromagnetic material.
In the closed condition, such first 137 and second 139 components are mutually engaged, and when the respective secondary door AL opens, they connect the latter to the respective rod means 127 trailing it until it goes along a slide length at least sufficient to drive the pushing means 133. At the end of such slide length, the rod means 127 is stopped by a respective stop means, and the first 137 and second 139 components separate each other as a result of the opening force, allowing such secondary door AL to open completely and overlap the main door AC.
Each pushing means 133 of the translation means 111 consists of, or comprises, at least a respective second inclined plane obtained from or fixed to the end of a rod means 127 opposite to the respective detachable connections 131.
Such inclined plane of the pushing means 133 acts on a respective small wheel means 149 fixed to the translation means 111.
The initial opening sliding of a secondary door AL translates the respective rod means 127 whose second inclined plane 133 acts on the small wheel means 149 and pushes said main door AC perpendicular to itself in said leaving direction.
Each sliding means 121 is equipped with a set of slipping means 171, of a rolling type or of a sliding type with low friction, assigned to match with respective longitudinal surfaces of the corresponding rod means 127, and to slide along them. The small wheel means 149 of the translation means 111 roll along at least one of said longitudinal surfaces of the rod means 127.
Such translation means 111 is optionally equipped with second slipping means 173 of the sliding type with low friction, assigned to match with respective longitudinal surfaces of the rod means 127 and to slide along them.
Preferably, the primary carriage means 11, the secondary carriage means 17, the translation means 111 and the sliding means 121 are made of a ferrous metal sheet which is cut, bent and possibly welded.

Claims

A sliding and positioning device for a piece of furniture or the like comprising at least one main door (AC) and at least one secondary door (AL), the sliding and positioning device comprising at least one first opening device (1) which can be fixed, on one side, to the piece of furniture and on the other side to the internal face of each door (AC, AL), wherein said first opening device (1) comprises at least one first guide means (5), which is elongated, having longitudinal extension nearly equal to the overall width of the doors (AC, AL) in the condition of complete closing of the piece of furniture and parallel to the geometric plane defined by such doors (AC, AL) in said condition and parallel to the main opening and closing direction of the doors (AC, AL); said sliding and positioning device further comprising for each main door (AC) a respective moving means (7) of the at least one first opening device (1) for fixing the corresponding main door (AC) to said at least one first opening device (1), each moving means (7) having a primary carriage means (11) which slides along first rail means (13) which extend along the first guide means (5) parallel with it and carrying a secondary carriage means (17) slidably connected to the primary carriage means (11) in a leaving and approaching direction of the respective main door (AC) from and to the first rail means (13), said leaving and approaching direction being perpendicular to the first rail means (13) and to said closing geometric plane; wherein said sliding and positioning device comprises for each secondary door (AL) a respective rolling means (21) of the at least one first opening device (1) for fixing the corresponding secondary door (AL) to said at least one first opening device (1), each rolling means (21) slides along second rail means (23) which extend along the first guide means (5) parallel with it; characterized in that said device comprises, for each secondary door (AL), a respective enlongated transmission means (27) which slides in a respective longitudinal seat (29) of the first guide means (5), and which can be connected,
at one of its ends, to the respective secondary door (AL) by means of a corresponding detachable connection (31) of a kind that is detachable in operation and, at the other end to operation means (33) of the secondary carriage means (17), wherein the operation means (33) transmit an orthogonally deviated portion of the sliding motion of the transmission means (27) to the secondary carriage means (17); starting from the total closing condition, the sliding of the secondary door (AL) towards the air adjacent main door (AC) causes the detachable connection (31) to trail the transmission means (27), wherein the sliding of the transmission means (27) drives the operation means (33) of the secondary carriage means (17) which displace the main door (AC) moving it away from said closing geometric plane allowing the overlapping of the main door (AC) with the secondary door (AL) and allowing to open the secondary door (AL); wherein the operation means (33) of the secondary carriage means (17) comprise first inclined planes (47) each one fixed to the end of the transmission means (27) such end opposed to the respective detachable connections (31) and acting on a respective wheel means (49) fixed to the secondary carriage means (17); the initial opening sliding of a secondary door (AL) translates the respective transmission means (27) whose first inclined plane (47) acts on the wheel means (49) translating said main door (AC) perpendicular to itself and to said closing geometric plane.
A sliding and positioning device for a piece of furniture or the like comprising at least one main door (AC) and at least one secondary door (AL), the sliding and positioning device comprising at least one first opening device (1) which can be fixed, on one side, to the piece of furniture and on the other side to the internal face of each door (AC, AL), wherein said first opening device (1) comprises at least one first guide means (5), which is elongated, having longitudinal extension nearly equal to the overall width of the doors (AC, AL) in the condition of complete closing of the piece of furniture and parallel to the geometric plane defined by such doors (AC, AL) in said condition and parallel to the main opening and closing direction of the doors (AC, AL); said sliding and positioning device further comprising for each main door (AC) a respective moving means (7) of the at least one first opening device (1) for fixing the corresponding main door (AC) to said at least one first opening device (1), each moving means (7) having a primary carriage means (11) which slides along first rail means (13) which extend along the first guide means (5) parallel with it and carrying a secondary carriage means (17) slidably connected to the primary carriage means (11) in a leaving and approaching direction of the respective main door (AC) from and to the first rail means (13), said leaving and approaching direction being perpendicular to the first rail means (13) and to said closing geometric plane; wherein said sliding and positioning device comprises for each secondary door (AL) a respective rolling means (21) of the at least one first opening device (1) for fixing the corresponding secondary door (AL) to said at least one first opening device (1), each rolling means (21) slides along second rail means (23) which extend along the first guide means (5) parallel with it; characterized in that said device comprises, for each secondary door (AL), a respective enlongated transmission means (27) which slides in a respective longitudinal seat (29) of the first guide means (5), and which can be connected, at one of its ends, to the respective secondary door (AL) by means of a corresponding detachable connection (31) of a kind that is detachable in operation and, at the other end to operation means (33) of the secondary carriage means (17), wherein the operation means (33) transmit an orthogonally deviated portion of the sliding motion of the transmission means (27) to the secondary carriage means (17); starting from the total closing condition, the sliding of the secondary door (AL) towards the adjacent main door (AC) causes the detachable connection (31) to trail the transmission means (27), wherein the sliding of the transmission means (27) drives the operation means (33) of the secondary carriage means (17) which displace the main door (AC) moving it away from said closing geometric plane allowing the overlapping with the secondary door (AL) and allowing to open the secondary door (AL); wherein the operation means (33) of the secondary carriage means (17) comprise at least one pantograph means fixed to the primary carriage means (11) and having an end which matches with the end of the transmission means (27) adjacent and opposed to the respective detachable connections (31).
A sliding and positioning device for a piece of furniture or the like comprising at least one main door (AC) and at least one secondary door (AL), the sliding and positioning device comprising at least one first opening device (1) which can be fixed, on one side, to the piece of furniture and on the other side to the internal face of each door (AC, AL), wherein said first opening device (1) comprises at least one first guide means (5), which is elongated, having longitudinal extension nearly equal to the overall width of the doors (AC, AL) in the condition of complete closing of the piece of furniture and parallel to the geometric plane defined by such doors (AC, AL) in said condition and parallel to the main opening and closing direction of the doors (AC, AL); said sliding and positioning device further comprising for each main door (AC) a respective moving means (7) of the at least one first opening device (1) for fixing the corresponding main door (AC) to said at least one first opening device (1), each moving means (7) having a primary carriage means (11) which slides along first rail means (13) which extend along the first guide means (5) parallel with it and carrying a secondary carriage means (17) slidably connected to the primary carriage means (11) in a leaving and approaching direction of the respective main door (AC) from and to the first rail means (13), said leaving and approaching direction being perpendicular to the first rail means (13) and to said closing geometric plane; wherein said sliding and positioning device comprises for each secondary door (AL) a respective rolling means (21) of the at least one first opening device (1) for fixing the corresponding secondary door (AL) to said at least one first opening device (1), each rolling means (21) slides along second rail means (23) which extend along the first guide means (5) parallel with it; characterized in that said device comprises, for each secondary door (AL), a respective enlongated transmission means (27) which slides in a respective longitudinal seat (29) of the first guide means (5), and which can be connected, at one of its ends, to the respective secondary door (AL) by means of a corresponding detachable connection (31) of a kind that is detachable in operation and, at the other end to operation means (33) of the secondary carriage means (17), wherein the operation means (33) transmit an orthogonally deviated portion of the sliding motion of the transmission means (27) to the secondary carriage means (17); starting from the total closing condition, the sliding of the secondary door (AL) towards the adjacent main door (AC) causes the detachable connection (31) to trail the transmission means (27), wherein the sliding of the transmission means (27) drives the operation means (33) of the secondary carriage means (17) which displace the main door (AC) moving it away from said closing geometric plane allowing the overlapping with the secondary door (AL) and allowing to open the secondary door (AL); wherein the operation means (33) of the secondary carriage means (17) comprise at least one rocker arm means which are hinged on the primary carriage means (11) and each one having its own ends interacting between the secondary carriage means (17) and the end of the corresponding transmission means (27).
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that each detachable connection (31) comprises a first element (37) which can be fixed to the portion of the internal face of the respective secondary door (AL) opposed to the main door (AC) in the condition of complete closing of the doors and comprises a second element (39) fixed to the corresponding end of the respective transmission means (27), wherein the first element (37) and the second element (39) consist of one among complementary connection clips, detachable connection ratchet gears male and/or female, Velcro complementary elements or one of them is preferably a permanent magnet and the other one is a permanent magnet or an element made of ferromagnetic material, wherein in the closed condition the first element (37) and the second element (39) are mutually engaged and when the respective secondary door (AL) opens, they connect this latter to the respective transmission means (27) trailing it until it goes along a slide length sufficient at least to drive the operation means (33); at the end of said slide length the transmission means (27) is stopped by a respective stopping means and the first element (37) and the second element (39) separate each other as a result of the opening force, allowing the secondary door (AL) to open completely whereby it overlaps the main door (AC).
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the secondary carriage means (17) is equipped with an attachment (51) for the internal face of the main door (AC) which, in the event of having a device for three doors, is measured for the passage of the side secondary doors (AL), the secondary carriage means (17) is also equipped with a plurality of first rolling members (53) with rotation axes parallel to the first guide means (5) and assigned to roll along track means (55), perpendicular to said closing geometric plane; the rotation axes of said wheel means (49) are parallel to the closing geometric plane and perpendicular to the first guide means (5), wherein the axles of the wheel means (49) pass through respective passing slots (57) parallel to the leaving and approaching direction and obtained in the primary carriage means (11) which comprises at least one guiding slot (59) which is elongated and parallel to the passing slots (57) and assigned to the slide of a guiding slider (61) fixed to the secondary carriage means (17) which is connected to the primary carriage means (11) by means of a set of elastic springs (63) which apply to the secondary carriage means (17) a force oriented towards the approaching direction .
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said primary carriage means (11) comprises a plurality of second rolling members (65) bound to roll along first rail means (13) which, in the event of having two doors, can coincide with the second rail means (23).
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that each transmission means (27) has a longitudinal face assigned to the rolling of the wheel means (49) during the sliding of the corresponding main door (AC); and it comprises a plurality of pairs of magnetic positioning elements (69) which are fixed, one of each pair, to the first guide means (5) and the other one to the primary carriage means (11) and one to each secondary door (AL) where the elements of each pair face each other in the closed condition.
Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the first opening device (1) can be fixed to a portion of the internal face of each door (AC,AL) close to an edge of such face and it comprises a second opening device (101) which can be fixed, on one side, to the piece of furniture, and on the other side to a portion of the internal face of each door (AC, AL) close to the opposite edge of such face; such second opening device (101) comprises at least one second guide means (105) such second guide means (105) being elongated, having a longitudinal extension nearly equal to the one of the first opening device (1) and parallel to this latter (1) and equipped with a respective seat (129) which is longitudinal for the sliding of rod means (127) which are elongated and parallel to the second guide means (105) wherein each rod means (127) can be connected to a respective secondary door (AL), each main door (AC) can be fixed to a respective translation means (111) of the second opening device (101) which is movable, starting from the closed condition, in a leaving and approaching direction perpendicular to the second guide means (105) and to said closing geometric plane and movable along said rod means (127); each secondary door (AL) can be fixed to respective sliding means (121) of the second opening device (101) which slide parallel to the second guide means (105).
Device according to claim 8 characterized in that each rod means (127) can be connected, at one of its ends, to the respective secondary door (AL) by means of a corresponding detachable connection (131) and at the other end has pushing means (133) of the translation means (111) in said leaving direction; starting from the total closing condition, the sliding of a secondary door (AL) towards the adjacent main door (AC) causes the detachable connection (131) to trail the rod means (127), wherein the sliding of the rod means (127) translates the pushing means (133) which push the translation means (111) moving the main door (AC) and distancing it from said closing geometric plane allowing the main door (AC) to overlap the open secondary (AL) doors.
Device according to claim 9 characterized in that each detachable connection (131) comprises a first component (137) that can be fixed to the respective secondary door (AL) or to the corresponding sliding means (121) and it comprises a second component (139) fixed to the corresponding end of the respective transmission means (27) wherein the first component (137) and the second component (139) consist of one among complementary connection clips, detachable connection ratchet gears male and/or female, Velcro complementary elements or one of them is preferably a permanent magnet and the other one is a permanent magnet or an element made of ferromagnetic material, wherein in the closed condition the first component (137) and the second component (139) are mutually engaged and when the respective secondary door (AL) opens, they connect this latter to the respective rod means (127) trailing it until it goes along a slide length at least sufficient to drive the pushing means (133), at the end of such slide length the rod means (127) is stopped by a respective stop means and the first component (137) and the second component (139) separate each other because of the opening force allowing the secondary door (AL) to open completely, thus overlapping the main door (AC).
Device according to claim 9 or 10 characterized in that each pushing means (133) of the translation means (111) comprises at least a respective second inclined plane obtained from or fixed to the end of the rod means (127) opposite to the respective detachable connections (131) and acting on a respective small wheel means (149) fixed to the translation means (111); the initial opening sliding of the secondary door (AL) translates the respective rod means (127) whose second inclined plane (133) acts on the small wheel means (149) pushing the main door (AC) perpendicular to itself in said leaving direction.
Device according to any of claims 9 - 11 characterized in that each sliding means (121) is equipped with a collection of slipping means (171), of a rolling type or sliding type with low friction, assigned to match with respective longitudinal surfaces of the corresponding rod means (127) and assigned to slide along them.
Device according to claims 11 and 12 characterized in that the small wheel means (149) of the translation means (111) roll along at least one of said longitudinal surfaces of the rod means (127) and such translation means (111) is optionally equipped with second slipping means (173) of sliding type with low friction, assigned to match with respective longitudinal surfaces of the rod means (127) and assigned to slide along them.