EP3390752B1

EP3390752B1 - Piece of furniture with improved handle

Info

Publication number: EP3390752B1
Application number: EP17835474.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paolo Cioni
Original assignee: Polo SRL
Current assignee: Polo SRL
Priority date: 2016-12-30
Filing date: 2017-12-21
Publication date: 2019-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-21
Also published as: WO2018122114A1; EP3390752A1; IT201600132690A1

Description

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a piece of furniture with an improved handle.
The present invention has been devised based on the observation of the drawbacks of cabinets provided with a tilting front door that is hinged in upper position to the frame of the cabinet along a horizontal axis, on one side, and protrudes in lower position from the frame of the cabinet, on the other side.
The door of this type of cabinets needs to be firmly locked to the frame when the door is in closed position. For this reason, these cabinets comprise locking/unlocking devices that are able to firmly stop the door as soon as it is positioned in closed position; said locking/unlocking devices consist in handles with a translating or rotating striker that cooperates with a housing wherein the striker is inserted or fastened.
The tilting door of the aforementioned cabinets comprises a main portion suitable for covering the front opening of the frame of the cabinet, which is made of a pair of lateral edges, a bottom wall and an upper wall, and comprises a free ending portion that protrudes in lower position under the bottom wall of the frame of the cabinet when the door is in closed position.
The handle is positioned on the back of said ending portion of the door, so that the handle is not visible when the door is in closed position; on the contrary, the housing that cooperates with the striker of the handle is provided on the frame of the cabinet, normally under the bottom wall of the frame.
This type of handles comprises a fixed frame suitable for being fixed on the back of the ending portion of the door, and a mobile frame supported by said fixed frame. The actuation of the mobile frame by a user moves the striker from a first position to a second position.
These handles are mostly produced in three sizes, i.e. a short size, a medium size and a long size, in order to use the same type of handles on door with different dimensions.
More precisely, given that said handle is not visible for the user when frontally approaching the piece of furniture, it is recommended to use the longest handle possible, in such a way to help the user find the handle. Otherwise said, the longer the length of the handle, the easier it is for the user to find the handle, even if it is concealed.
For this reason and also for an aesthetic purpose, without forgetting that in any case said handle is visible when the door is opened, the users would like to install a handle with length equal to the width of the door on the back of said door. However, this is only possible if the width of the door corresponds to the three aforementioned sizes, i.e. short, medium and long handle.
Although the aforementioned description refers to a cabinet, the same drawbacks are also found in a floor-standing piece of furniture with a similar structural configuration.
FR2336859 discloses a closure device for a door, such as for example the door of a freezer compartment of a fridge. Such a closure device comprises a revolving handle suitable for being fixed in the proximity of a frond edge of the door and provided with an elastic retention member.
The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by devising a piece of furniture with a tilting door that comprises a lower ending portion, on the back of which a handle is provided, with a suitable configuration to permit the handle manufacturers to produce different sizes of handles at a low cost.
A piece of furniture according to the invention comprises a plurality of walls comprising a free edge and a compartment defined by the walls.
The piece of furniture according to the invention comprises an opening that gives access to the compartment. The opening is defined by the free edge of the walls.
The piece of furniture according to the invention comprises a door connected to at least one of the walls to permit/prohibit the access to the compartment. The door comprises a main portion that is suitable for covering the opening, and an ending portion that protrudes from at least one of the walls.
The piece of furniture according to the invention comprises a handle to lock/unlock the door in closed position. The handle comprises a fixed frame, which is connected to the door, and a mobile frame, which is revolvingly supported by the fixed frame.
The piece of furniture according to the invention comprises fastening means suitable for locking/unlocking the door, which is in closed position. The fastening means comprise a striker and a corresponding housing, which are disposed on the handle and on one of the walls of the piece of furniture, respectively.
The peculiarity of the piece of furniture according to the invention consists in the fact that the fixed frame of the handle is formed of two identical lateral brackets, between which the mobile frame is disposed. The mobile frame comprises a rocker arm provided with a power arm suitable for being actuated by a user, and a resistance arm with one end that coincides with the striker of the fastening means used to lock the door in closed position.
The handle comprises an elastic member connected to the fixed frame and to the mobile frame in order to push the handle in closing position.
Such a configuration makes it possible to obtain the fixed frame of the handle of the invention starting from an extruded bar that is cut to measure according to the requirements of the user, who can choose the desired length, including a length equal to the width of the door.
For the sake of clarity, the description of the piece of furniture according to the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which have a merely illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of the piece of furniture according to the invention, with a door closed;
Fig. 2 is an axonometric view of the piece of furniture of Fig. 1, with the door open;
Fig. 3 is an axonometric view of the handle of the piece of furniture according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is an exploded axonometric view of the handle of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a section of the piece of furniture of Fig. 1 along a plane IV-IV; in said figure the handle is in closed position;
Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 5; in said figure the handle is in open position.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a piece of furniture according to the invention is disclosed, which is generally indicated with reference numeral 1.
The piece of furniture (1) comprises a plurality of walls (10). In particular, the piece of furniture (1) comprises two lateral walls (10a), one upper wall (10b), one bottom wall (10c) and one back wall (10d) that are mutually connected to form a container. The lateral walls (10a), the upper wall (10b) and the bottom wall (10c) comprise a free edge (10e).
The piece of furniture (1) comprises a compartment (11) defined by the walls (10) and an opening (12) that gives access to the compartment (11). The opening (12) is defined by the free edge (10e) of the lateral walls (10a), of the upper wall (10b) and of the bottom wall (10c).
The piece of furniture (1) comprises a door (2) connected to one of said walls (2) to permit/prohibit the access to the compartment (11). In particular, the door (2) comprises a main portion (20) intended to cover the opening (12) and an ending portion (21) that protrudes downwards relative to the bottom wall (10c) of the piece of furniture (1).
Optionally, the ending portion (21) of the door (2) protrudes relative to one of the lateral walls (10a) or to the upper wall (10b).
The piece of furniture (1) comprises a handle (3) used to lock/unlock the door (2) in closed position. The handle (3) is fixed to a back surface of the ending portion (21) of the door (2), in such a way to be concealed when the door (2) is closed.
As shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the handle (3) comprises a fixed frame (30) connected to the ending portion (21) of the door (2). In particular, the fixed frame (30) of the handle (3) is formed of two identical lateral brackets (31).
The handle (3) comprises a mobile frame (35) disposed between the lateral brackets (31) of the fixed frame (30) and revolvingly supported by said lateral brackets (31).
The mobile frame (35) comprises a rocker arm (36) pivoted at the lateral brackets (31) of the fixed frame (30). The rocker arm (36) comprises a power arm (36a), which is suitable for being actuated by a user, and a resistance arm (36b).
The power arm (36a) is disposed on a lower edge of the ending portion (21) of the door (2) in such a way to be easily intercepted by a user.
The resistance arm (36b) is positioned above the power arm (36a) and is shorter than the power arm (36a), in such a way to make the movement of the rocker arm (36) easier.
With reference to Fig. 4, the handle (3) comprises a pair of coaxial pins (39), each of them being joined to one of the two lateral brackets (31). The coaxial pins (39) pivot the rocker arm (36) to the lateral brackets (31). In particular, the rocker arm (36) comprises two housings (36d) in coaxial position; each of said housings (36d) revolvingly housing one of said coaxial pins (39).
With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the handle (3) advantageously comprises a connection plate (5) that connects the resistance arm (36b) of the rocker lever (36) to a lower surface of the bottom wall (10c). The connection plate (5) comprises two slots (50) in parallel position. The rocker arm (36) comprises two pegs (not shown in the figures) disposed in the slots (50) of the connection plate (5), in such a way to slide in the slots (50) during the actuation of the rocker arm (36).
The rocker arm (36) is obtained by means of extrusion and is cut in such a way to have the desired height according to the user's requirements. Moreover, the lateral brackets (31) are separate and therefore said lateral brackets (31) can be disposed at any distance.
For example, as shown in Fig. 2, each lateral bracket (31) is disposed in one of the two lateral edges of the ending portion (21) of the door (2) and the rocker arm (36) is cut in such a way to be disposed between the two lateral brackets (31). In view of the above, the handle (3) has the same length as the ending portion (21) of the door (2) whereto it is fixed. Therefore a user can grab the door (2) in lower position in any point, being sure to intercept the rocker arm (36) in order to open the door (2).
With reference to Figs. 4 to 6, the handle (3) comprises an elastic member (37) connected to the fixed frame (30) and to the mobile frame (35) in order to push the rocker arm (36) to the closing position. In particular, the elastic member (37) comprises a spring.
With reference to Fig. 4, each lateral bracket (31) comprises a main body (32) connected to the door (2) by means of a screw that is inserted in a fixing hole (33) obtained on the main body (32); Each lateral bracket (31) comprises a shelf (34) that protrudes from the main body (32) towards the rocker arm (36). As shown in Figs. 5, and 6, the shelf (34) is disposed between the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36) and the door (2).
The spring of the elastic member (37) is disposed between the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36) and the shelf (34), in such a way to be compressed when a user moves the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36) towards the back surface of the ending portion (21) of the door (2) in order to unlock the door (2).
The spring of the elastic member (37) moves the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36) away from the back surface of the ending portion (21) of the door (2) when the user releases the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36), bringing the handle (3) back to its closing position.
Alternatively, the spring of the elastic member (37) is disposed between the resistance arm (36b) and the fixed frame (30), in such a way to be extended when a user moves the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36) towards the back surface of the ending portion (21) of the door (2).
The piece of furniture (1) comprises fastening means (4) suitable for locking/unlocking the door (2), which is in closed position. The fastening means (4) are disposed under the bottom wall (10c) of the piece of furniture.
In particular, the fastening means (4) comprise a striker (45) and a housing (46), which are disposed on the handle (3) and on one of the walls (10) of the piece of furniture (100), respectively;
In particular, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, according to a preferred embodiment, one end of the resistance arm (36b) coincides with the striker (45) of the fastening means (4); the fastening means (4) also comprise a plate (40), whereon the housing (46) is obtained. The plate (40) is fixed to the lower surface of the lower wall (10c). The length of the plate (40) is shorter than the length of the handle (3).
The reason why the handle (3) should substantially have the same length as the door (2), on one side, and the plate (40) should have the shortest length possible, on the other side, is that a handle (3) that extends for the entire width of the door (2) is easy to use because a user is not forced to remember the position in which it is placed, being sure that the handle (3) extends for the entire back of the door (2); on the contrary, said plate (40) can be advantageously very small, given that its function exclusively consists in offering a point for fastening the striker (45) of the handle (3), which extends for the entire length of the handle.
Although it is not shown in the attached figures, the housing (46) can be obtained on the rocker arm (36) and the striker (45) can protrude from the plate (40).
The plate (40) has an appendage (42) that defines the housing (46) wherein the striker (45) is inserted when the door (2) is in closed position and the handle (3) is in such a position to lock the door (2). The appendage (42) has a suitable configuration in order to be automatically overcome by the striker (45) when the door (2) is moved from the opening position to the closing position. In particular, the appendage (42) has an inclined surface that faces the free edge (10e) of the lower wall (10c). The resistance arm (36b) intercepts said inclined surface and is moved in such a way to get closer to the door (2) and overcome the appendage.
In order to open the door (2), the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36) needs to be pushed towards the door (2), compressing the elastic member (37). The resistance arm (36b) is moved away from the door (2) and the striker (45) comes out of the housing (46). In view of the above, the door (2) is no longer locked to the bottom wall (10c) and can be opened.
When the handle (3) is released, the elastic member (37) moves the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36) away from the back surface of the ending portion (21) of the door (2).
In order to close the door (2), it is simply necessary to push the door (2) towards the opening (12). When the resistance arm (36b) is stopped against the appendage (42) of the plate (40), the resistance arm (36b) is moved closer to the door (2), extending the elastic member (37). Because of such a movement of the resistance arm (36b), the resistance arm (36b) can overcome the appendage (42) from below and can be disposed in the housing (46) in order to lock the door (2).

Claims

Piece of furniture (1) comprising:
- a plurality of walls (10) comprising a free edge;

- a compartment (11) defined by said walls (10);

- an opening (12) that gives access to said compartment (11); said opening (12) being defined by said free edge of said walls;

- a door (2) connected to at least one of said walls (10) to permit/prohibit the access to said compartment (11); said door (2) comprising a main portion (20) intended to cover said opening (12) and an ending portion (21) that protrudes with respect to at least one of said walls (10);

- a handle (3) used to lock/unlock said door (2) in closing position; said handle (3) comprising a fixed frame (30) connected to said door (2), and a mobile frame (35) revolvingly supported by said fixed frame (30);

- fastening means (4) intended to lock/unlock the door (2) that is in closed position; said fastening means (4) comprising a striker (45) and a housing (46), the one disposed on the handle (3) and the other disposed on one of the walls (10) of the piece of furniture (1), alternately;
wherein said fixed frame (30) of the handle (3) is formed of two identical lateral brackets (31), among which the mobile frame (35) is disposed; said mobile frame (35) comprising a rocker arm (36), with a power arm (36a) intended to be actuated by a user, and a resistance arm (36b) with an end that coincides with the striker (45) of said fastening means (4) to lock the door (2) in closed position; said handle (3) comprising an elastic member (37) connected to said fixed frame (30) and to said mobile frame (35) in order to push the handle (3) in closed position;
characterized in that
each lateral bracket (31) comprises:
- a main body (32) connected to the door (2) by means of a screw inserted in a fixing hole (33) obtained on said main body (32);

- a shelf (34) protruding from said main body (32) towards the rocker arm (36); said bracket (31) being disposed between the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36) and the door (2);
said elastic member (37) comprising a spring disposed between the power arm (36a) of the rocker arm (36) and said shelf (34).
The piece of furniture (1) of claim 1, wherein said handle (3) has the same length as the ending portion (21) of the door (2) whereto it is fixed.
The piece of furniture (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said rocker arm (36) is extruded.
The piece of furniture (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said handle (3) comprises a pair of coaxial pins (39), each of them being joined to one of the two lateral brackets (31); said rocker arm (36) comprising a housing (36d) for each of said coaxial pins (39), wherein the coaxial pin (39) is revolvingly inserted.
The piece of furniture (1) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means (4) comprise a plate (40) that is fixed to one of the walls (10) and whereon said housing (46) is obtained.
The piece of furniture (1) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a lower wall (10c) that defines the compartment (12) on the bottom; said ending portion (21) of the door (2) protruding downwards with respect to the lower wall (10c) of the piece of furniture (1); said fastening means (4) being disposed under the lower wall (10c).
The piece of furniture (1) of claim 5 or 6, wherein the plate (40) has an appendage (42) that defines the housing (46) wherein the striker (45) is inserted when the door (2) is in closed position and the handle (3) is in such a position to lock the door (2); said appendage (42) having a suitable configuration for being automatically overcome by the striker (45) when the door (2) is moved from the open position to the closed position.
The piece of furniture (1) of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the length of the plate (40) of the fastening means (4) is shorter than the length of the handle (3).