EP3592929B1 - Mounting unit and method for mounting a guide rail on a top panel or bottom panel of a furniture item - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an assembly unit, in particular for a furniture cabinet, according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for assembling a guide rail on a top panel or floor of a piece of furniture.

The EP 2 444 577 A2 discloses a system for fixing guide rails in which a plurality of clips are inserted into openings on an upper floor, on which a guide rail can be fixed in a latching manner. When assembling the guide rail it is disadvantageous that the fitter first has to drill holes to fix the clips and the holes have to be precisely aligned accordingly. In addition, the guide rail is only fixed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and can be moved in the longitudinal direction along the clips. A damping unit must be installed independently of the guide rail.

The US 2012/0066978 A1 discloses a cabinet in which holders are screwed to a top shelf, on which a guide rail can be fixed in a latching manner. In order to fix the guide rail in the longitudinal direction, additional fastening means are provided, which makes the assembly complex.

The WO 2016/083217 discloses a damping device for a sliding door fitting which is fixed to a rail fixed to a top panel. US2004107646 discloses a method for assembling a guide rail on a top panel or floor of a piece of furniture.

It is the object of the present invention to create an assembly unit and a method for assembling a guide rail on a top panel or floor of a piece of furniture, which enable simple assembly and effective fixing of a guide rail.

This object is achieved with an assembly unit with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 13.

In the assembly unit according to the invention, a fixing device is pushed onto the end of the guide rail and then fixed to the assembly element by means of locking means. As a result, the guide rail can be fixed via the mounting element, so that several components can be fixed with a single fastening process.

The fixing device preferably comprises a damping unit for braking the running part before an end position on the guide rail or a stop. As an alternative or in addition, the fixing device can have a cap which encompasses a wall which closes the guide rail at the end. The fixing of the damping unit on the fixing device has the advantage that damping forces, which arise, for example, when a sliding door is slid shut, can be introduced directly into the furniture body. Even when a stop is fixed, impact forces can also be introduced directly into the furniture body. The stop can specify an end position for a running part. Alternatively, the stop can also be used for a damping unit that is mounted on the running part, so that the stop serves as an activator of the damping unit when the running part moves in the direction of the end position and the damping unit is activated to brake the running part.

A plurality of assembly elements are preferably provided along the guide rail, for example between three and five assembly elements depending on the length of the guide rail. A fixation perpendicular to the longitudinal direction on a floor or top floor is preferably ensured via the mounting elements, for example by means of latching or clamping connections.

In a further embodiment, a fixing device is attached to the guide rail on opposite end sides. The guide rail is fixed in the longitudinal direction only via the two fixing devices, and fixed in position perpendicular to this longitudinal direction via the mounting elements. Thus, the guide rail is only indirectly fixed by being in contact with the assembly elements and the fixing devices on a floor or top floor, and direct fixing of the rail via screws or other fastening means is possible, but not necessary.

A mounting element preferably has a groove-shaped or channel-shaped receptacle into which an arm of the fixing device is inserted. The direction of insertion of the boom is preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail. To lock the boom on the mounting element, a locking means, for example a pin, can be provided which can be inserted into an opening in the boom, for example by a linear movement or a rotary movement of the pin. The pin can then be fixed on the mounting element in a clamping or locking manner, so that tool-free mounting of the guide rail is made possible. Alternatively can a bracket that engages in a receptacle on the fixing device can also be provided on the mounting element.

In a further embodiment, a receptacle is formed on a housing of the mounting element, into which the guide rail engages at least partially in order to ensure a fixation of a web of the guide rail and thus restrict movement perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

According to the invention, a pivotable lever is provided on the mounting element for aligning the mounting element on a top panel or floor of a piece of furniture. In order to align the assembly element, the lever can then first be placed against an end edge of the top panel or floor in order to then fix the assembly element using one or more screws or other fastening means. The pivotable lever can then be brought out of engagement with the front edge of the floor or top floor by a pivoting movement, for example by 180 °, in order to create space for placing the guide rail in this area.

For effective damping, the fixing device can have a damper unit with at least one linear damper, which is guided by a driver that can be moved along a guide track. The driver can be brought into engagement with an activator in a manner known per se in order to brake a sliding element coupled to the running parts, for example a sliding door, before reaching the end position. Alternatively, the damper unit can be replaced by a stopper element or a stop for a running part. In addition, a stop can also be provided on the fixing device as an activator for a damper unit on a running part.

The invention is preferably used in a piece of furniture, in particular a cabinet with sliding doors, but it can also be used in room dividers or folding sliding doors.

In the method according to the invention for mounting a guide rail on a top panel or floor, a plurality of assembly elements are first aligned and screwed to the top panel or floor. A first fixing device is then attached to a first end of the guide rail and a second fixing device is attached to a second end of the guide rail before the first fixing device is then fixed to a first mounting element and the second fixing device is fixed to a second mounting element. As a result, the guide rail can be securely mounted on a top panel or floor by means of the fixing of the fixing devices. To fix the fixing device on the mounting element, a pin can preferably be shifted or pivoted from a release position into a locking position.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Möbels mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Montageeinheit;

Figuren 2A bis 2C

mehrere Ansichten des Möbels der Figur 1 bei der Montage von einem Montageelement;

Figuren 3A und 3B

zwei Ansichten des Möbels der Figur 2 nach der Montage des Montageelementes;

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Fixiereinrichtung mit einer Dämpfungseinheit für ein Möbel der Figur 1;

Figuren 5A und 5B

zwei Ansichten der Führungsschiene bei der Montage der Fixiereinrichtungen;

Figuren 6A und 6B

zwei Ansichten des Möbels der Figur 2 bei der Montage der Führungsschiene;

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Möbels der Figur 6 nach vormontierter Führungsschiene;

Figuren 8A bis 8C

mehrere Ansichten eines Montageelementes in der vormontierten Position;

Figur 9

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Möbels der Figur 7 mit arretierter Führungsschiene;

Figur 10

eine Schnittansicht durch ein Montageelement in der arretierten Position;

Figur 11

eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung eines Montageelementes;

Figur 12

eine Schnittansicht durch das Montageelement der Figur 11 in der vorfixierten Position;

Figuren 13A und 13B

zwei Ansichten des Montageelementes der Figur 11 in der arretierten Position;

Figuren 14A bis 14C

drei Ansichten eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Fixiereinrichtung für eine Montageeinheit;

Figuren 15A bis 15C

drei Ansichten eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Fixiereinrichtung für eine Montageeinheit, und

Figuren 16A bis 16C

drei Ansichten eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Fixiereinrichtung für eine Montageeinheit.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of several exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

a perspective view of a piece of furniture with an assembly unit according to the invention;

Figures 2A to 2C

several views of the furniture of the Figure 1 when assembling a mounting element;

Figures 3A and 3B

two views of the furniture of the Figure 2 after the assembly of the mounting element;

Figure 4

a perspective view of a fixing device with a damping unit for a piece of furniture Figure 1 ;

Figures 5A and 5B

two views of the guide rail during the assembly of the fixing devices;

Figures 6A and 6B

two views of the furniture of the Figure 2 when assembling the guide rail;

Figure 7

a perspective view of the furniture of Figure 6 after pre-assembled guide rail;

Figures 8A to 8C

several views of a mounting element in the preassembled position;

Figure 9

a perspective view of the furniture of Figure 7 with locked guide rail;

Figure 10

a sectional view through a mounting element in the locked position;

Figure 11

a perspective exploded view of a mounting element;

Figure 12

a sectional view through the mounting element of Figure 11 in the pre-fixed position;

Figures 13A and 13B

two views of the mounting element of Figure 11 in the locked position;

Figures 14A to 14C

three views of a further exemplary embodiment of a fixing device for an assembly unit;

Figures 15A to 15C

three views of a further exemplary embodiment of a fixing device for an assembly unit, and

Figures 16A to 16C

three views of a further embodiment of a fixing device for an assembly unit.

A piece of furniture 1 comprises a cabinet-shaped furniture body 2 with two side walls 4 and a top floor 3 on which a guide rail 5 is fixed. Running parts 60 of a rear sliding door 6 and running parts 70 of a front sliding door 7 can be moved on the guide rail 5 in order to move the sliding doors 6 and 7 from an open position to a closed position and vice versa.

As in the Figures 2A to 2C is shown, the furniture body 2 has a central partition 9 between the two side walls 4, which is supported on a floor 8. The side walls 4 protrude laterally beyond the upper floors 3. In this example, the furniture body 2 has two upper floors 3 separated by a partition 9. The furniture body 2 can also have only one continuous top floor 3.

In order to fix the guide rail 5, several assembly elements 10 are provided across the width of the furniture body 2, which according to FIG Figure 2B first be aligned on the top 3. Each mounting element 10 comprises a housing 11 on which a lever 12 is rotatably mounted. On the lever 12 is a marking or edge 13 is provided, which can be placed on an end edge of the top panel 3 ( Figure 2 ). The distance between the housing 11 and an end edge of the top floor 3, perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 5, can be specified by the lever 12. In the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 5, the mounting elements 10 facing the side walls 4 are each positioned against the stop on the side wall 4 and then fixed by means of screws 15 which are screwed into corresponding openings on the housing 11. The number of assembly elements 10 to be positioned in the middle area of the base 8 or top base 3 and their positioning in the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 5 can be freely selected by the end user depending on requirements and needs. In this exemplary embodiment, the middle mounting element 10 is arranged in such a way that it fixes the two upper floors 3 to one another. A pin 14, which acts as a locking means and is held in a pre-fixed position in the protruding position, also protrudes from the housing 11.

In the Figures 3A and 3B the top floor 3 of the furniture body 2 is shown, on which several assembly elements 10 are fixed. After the housing 11 has been mounted on the top panel 3, the lever 12 is folded over so that the lever 12 is no longer aligned with the front of the furniture body 2, but with the rear.

In Figure 4 a fixing device 20 is shown with a damping unit 28 which is used for damping the sliding doors 6 and 7. The fixing device 20 comprises a housing 21, from which a bracket 22 protrudes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, which is essentially web-shaped and has an opening 23. A plate-shaped stop 24 in the form of a wall is provided on one side of the housing 21, and on the side opposite to the stop 24 a receptacle 25 for two linear dampers 26 is formed, in which the two linear dampers 26 rest in a corresponding recess. Here, the linear dampers 26 can be designed, for example, as fluid dampers or air dampers. Each linear damper 26 is connected via a piston rod to a driver 27 which is guided along a guide track in order to be coupled with an activator in order to brake a sliding door 6 or 7 shortly before reaching a closed position or a maximum open position.

In the Figures 5A and 5B the guide rail 5 is shown, which is connected to a fixing device 20 on opposite sides. This is done at on each side of the guide rail 5 a fixing device 20 is plugged or pushed into the guide rail 5 until the stop 24 rests on one end face of the guide rail 5. This unit of guide rail 5 and two fixing devices 20 with damping units 28 is then placed on the top floor 3, as shown in FIG Figures 6A and 6B is shown. The arms 22 protrude to the rear, perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 5, in the direction of the mounting elements 10, which are arranged adjacent to the side walls 4. Each mounting element 10 comprises a receptacle 16 which is open towards the front and into which the bracket 22 can be inserted.

In Figure 7 the cantilevers 22 are inserted into the assembly elements 10, with the result that the guide rail 5 is prepositioned in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal extension on the top panel 3, adjacent to an end face of the top panel 3. This pre-fixed position of the guide rail is in the Figures 8A to 8C shown in detail in the area of a mounting element 10. The boom 22 engages in the receptacle 16 on the housing 11 of the mounting element 10. The guide rail 5 has a first upwardly protruding web with a track 51 for the running parts 60 and a second web with a running track 52 for the running parts 70. In addition to the raceway 52, a section of the guide rail 5 is designed as a web 55 which engages in a receptacle on the housing 11 of the mounting element 10. A latching hook 19 is formed on the receptacle, on which the web 55 is latched when the guide rail 5 is pushed into the mounting elements 10, perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 5. The guide rail 5 has a vertical web 53 on the front, which protrudes upwards and offers a view protection so that the assembly elements 10 are not visible to people in front of the furniture 1. The web 53 has a downwardly protruding bar 54, which rests on one end face of the upper floor 3 and is used for additional alignment of the guide rail 5. The guide rail 5 is made from a bent sheet steel, although other materials and shapes can also be used for the guide rail 5.

If the guide rail 5 is now to be brought from the pre-fixed position into a final fixed position, at least one of the pins 14 is pressed from the protruding position into the mounting element 10, as shown in FIG Figures 9 and 10 is shown. When pressed into the housing 11 of the mounting element 10, the pin 14 moves into a lowered position in which the pin 14 reaches through the opening 23 on the bracket 22. As a result, the boom 22 can no longer be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 5, a movement in a height direction by the housing 11 and a lateral movement by the pin 14 being prevented. Movement in the longitudinal direction is likewise prevented by the pin 14, possibly also by the side walls 4.

In Figure 11 the mounting element 10 is shown in an exploded view. It can be seen that the lever 12 is pivotably mounted on the housing 11, the lever 12 having a protruding edge 13 for aligning the mounting element 10 on the top panel 3. On the housing 11, locking webs 18 are also provided, which surround an opening for inserting the pin 14. The pin 14 has, adjacent to an upper head section 30, a latching projection 17 which can be brought into engagement with the latching webs 18. A further latching projection 31 is also provided on the pin 14 at a distance from the latching projection 17 and holds the pin 14 in a raised position in which the receptacle 16 is free for the extension arm 22 to be pushed in. If the boom 22 is retracted, the pin 14 can be lowered, as shown in FIG Figures 13A and 13B is shown (boom 22 not shown). By lowering the pin 14, the channel-shaped receptacle 16 is penetrated, the pin being locked in a clamping manner in the lowered position by the locking projection 17 and the locking webs 18. As a result, the guide rail 5 can be supported without tools after the assembly elements 10 have been fixed on the top panel 3.

In the method according to the invention, the assembly elements 10 are thus initially aligned on the top panel 3 or bottom 8 by placing the lever 12 on an end edge of the top panel 3 for positioning perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 5. The mounting elements 10 facing the side walls 4 are each brought into contact with the corresponding side wall 4 in the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 5. The number of assembly elements 10 to be fixed in a central area on the floor 8 or top floor 3 and their positioning in the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 5 can be freely selected by the end user depending on the requirements and needs. After each mounting element 10 has been fixed by means of screws 15, the lever 12 can be pivoted away from the front edge of the base 8 or top base 3, for example approximately by 180 °, in order to free up space for the guide rail 5. The guide rail 5 is each provided with a fixing device 20 on opposite sides, these being pushed onto the guide rail 5 in order to then be arranged as an assembly unit on the top 3 or bottom 8 to become like this in Figure 7 is shown. In order to now mount the guide rail 5, only the pins 14 acting as locking means are pressed in in order to fix the arm 22 on each fixing device 20. The central assembly elements 10 between the fixing devices 20 do not have to be actuated, since the pins 14 cannot provide a locking there. The central mounting elements 10, however, cause the guide rail 5 to be guided in a height direction and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 5. This effectively prevents the guide rail 5 from bending.

In the illustrated embodiment, the guide rail 5 is used to move two sliding doors 6 and 7. It is of course also possible to use the guide rail 5 for only one sliding door or more than two sliding doors 6 and 7. In addition, the guide rail 5 can also be fixed on the floor 8 of a furniture body 2 instead of on the upper floor 3. In addition, the guide rail can also be fixed to another component instead of to a furniture body.

In the Figures 14A to 14C a fixing device 20 is shown for fixing a guide rail 5 in which, instead of a housing 21 with a damping unit 28, at least one stop 40 is provided, on which a running part 60 or 70 strikes and can be held in an end position. For this purpose, two spring arms 41 are formed on each stop 40, which grip around a component coupled to the running part 60 or 70, for example a bolt, and lock in the end position. The two stops 40 shown are fixed on a profile section 29 of the fixing device 20.

To fix the guide rail 5, the profile sections 29 are plugged into or around the guide rail 5 on opposite sides ( Figures 14B and C ), wherein the profile section 29, which is U-shaped in cross section, rests positively on the guide rail 5 and, as a result, the guide rail 5 is likewise fixed to a piece of furniture after the fixing device 20 has been fixed.

In the Figures 15A to 15C a modified embodiment of a fixing device 20 is shown in which, unlike in FIGS Figures 14 instead of a stop, at least one activator 42 is provided, which protrudes as a projection from the profile section 29 of the fixing device 20. The activator 42 can be brought into engagement with a driver of a damping unit which is held on a running part 60 or 70. Instead of the two activators shown 42, only one activator 42 or more than two activators can be provided on the fixing device 20.

The Figures 16A to 16C show a further exemplary embodiment of a fixing device 20 in which no stops or activators are provided. All that is provided is a molded body with a profile section 29 that can be plugged into or onto the guide rail 5, on which a bracket 22 with an opening 23 is formed. In addition, a wall-shaped stop 24 is provided so that the fixing device can only be understood as a cap that can be slipped onto the guide rail 5 and is used to fix the guide rail 5.

List of reference symbols

1

Furniture

2

Furniture body

3

Topsoil

4th

Side wall

5

Guide rail

6

sliding door

7th

sliding door

8th

ground

9

partition wall

10

Mounting element

11

casing

12th

lever

13

Edge

14th

Pin, locking means

15th

screw

16

admission

17th

Locking projection

18th

Locking bar

19th

Locking hook

20th

Fixing device

21st

casing

22nd

boom

23

opening

24

attack

25th

admission

26th

Linear damper

27

Carrier

28

Damping unit

29

Profile section

30th

Head section

40

attack

41

Spring arm

42

Activator

31

Locking projection

51

career

52

career

53

web

54

strip

55

web

60

Running part

70

Running part

Claims (15)

1. A mounting unit, in particular for a cabinet furniture item, having:

   a) a guide rail (5), along which a runner (60, 70) is held so it is movable;

   b) at least one fixing device (20) for fixing the guide rail (5);

   c) a mounting element (10), which is fixable on a top panel (3) or bottom panel (8) of a furniture body (2),

   whereby the fixing device (20) is plugged onto the end side of the guide rail (5) and is fixed via locking means (14) on the mounting element (10), characterized in that a pivotable lever (12) is provided on the mounting element (10) for aligning the mounting element (10) on a top panel (3) or bottom panel (8) of a furniture body (2).
2. The mounting unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that multiple mounting elements (10) are provided along the guide rail (5).
3. The mounting unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a fixing device (20) is plugged onto each of opposing end sides on the guide rail (5).
4. The mounting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rail (5) is only fixed in the longitudinal direction by the two end-side fixing devices (20).
5. The mounting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting element (10) has a grooved or channel-shaped receptacle (16), into which a cantilever (22) of the fixing device (20) is plugged.
6. The mounting unit according to Claim 5, characterized in that the locking means has a pin (14), which is plugged into an opening (23) of the cantilever (22), wherein the pin (14) is fixed in a clamped or latched manner on the mounting element (10).
7. The mounting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing device (20) comprises a damping unit (28) for decelerating the runner (60, 70) before an end position on the guide rail (5) or a stop.
8. The mounting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing device (20) has a cap, which comprises a wall closing the guide rail (5) on the end face.
9. The mounting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting element (10) has a housing (11) having a contact surface, against which the guide rail (5) presses.
10. The mounting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting element (10) has a receptacle on a housing (11), on which a section (55) of the guide rail (5) is fixed in a clamped or latched manner.
11. The mounting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damping unit (28) has at least one linear damper (26), which is guided using a driver (27) movable along a guide path.
12. A cabinet furniture item having a mounting unit fixed on a top panel (3) or a bottom panel (8) according to any one of the preceding claims.
13. A method for mounting a guide rail (5) on a top panel (3) or bottom panel (8) of a furniture item having the following steps:

    - aligning multiple mounting elements (10) on a top panel (3) or a bottom panel (8);

    - screwing the mounting elements (10) onto the top panel (3) or bottom panel (8);

    - initially plugging a first fixing device (20) onto a first end of a guide rail (5) and plugging a second fixing device (20) onto a second end of the guide rail (5), and

    - subsequently fixing the first fixing device (20) on a first mounting element (10) and a second fixing device (20) on a second mounting element (10).
14. The method according to Claim 13, characterized in that, to fix a fixing device (20) on the mounting element (10), a locking means (14) is adjusted from a release position into a locking position, preferably displaced.
15. The method according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that after the plugging of the two fixing devices (20) onto the guide rail (5), the guide rail (5) is latched on at least one mounting element (10) for preliminary fixing.

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