EP3727092B1 - Railing strut for a drawer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a railing strut for a drawer, the railing strut having at least one end region for connection to a wall element of the drawer, the railing strut having at least one end region a locking device with at least one locking element, which engages with the railing strut for locking can be brought to the wall element, wherein the railing strut has at least one movably mounted actuating element in addition to the at least one locking element, the at least one locking element being movable into a release position by exerting force on the actuating element, in which, in a state of the railing strut locked to the wall element, the locking between the railing strut and the wall element can be detached.

The invention further relates to an arrangement with at least one railing strut of the type to be described and with at least one wall element, in particular a front panel or a rear wall, a drawer, the end region of the railing strut being releasably connectable to the wall element by the locking device.

The invention further relates to a drawer with at least one railing strut of the type to be described and to a method for assembling and dismantling a railing strut on a drawer.

Railing struts are used to increase the storage volume of a drawer, to stiffen the drawer and, in the case of a length-adjustable design, also to adjust the inclination of drawer front panels. Typically, the railing struts are positioned at a predetermined distance above the drawer side walls, with the longitudinal direction of the railing strut running essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the drawer side wall.

An example of a railing strut is in the EP 2 323 518 B1 shown to the applicant. The rear end area of the railing strut is connected via a snap connection element can be connected to the back wall of the drawer. The snap connection element can have one or more plastic tabs, which engage in corresponding openings in the rear wall when the railing strut is locked. The disadvantage of this is that dismantling the railing strut from the rear wall is relatively difficult and requires a lot of force.

In the US 2007/159039 A1 a drawer is shown with a railing strut, which is provided in a rear end area with a clip for releasable connection to a drawer rear wall. The clip has a resilient web with a tab arranged on it, which engages in a corresponding receiving opening in the rear wall during assembly of the railing strut. To release the lock, a screwdriver is inserted into an access opening in the back wall so that the lock between the tab and the receiving opening in the drawer back wall can be released. By lifting the resilient web using the screwdriver, the tab can be moved out of the receiving opening in the rear wall against its resilient effect, whereby the railing strut can be separated from the drawer rear wall. The disadvantage of this is that the view of the flap is restricted and access to the flap is difficult, and a tool is also essential to release the lock.

Further detachable fastening options for a railing strut on a drawer are included CN 2627916 Y , in the WO 2017/001610 A1 , in the DE 10 2009 025 792 A1 , in the US 5,284,399 A and in the EP 0 723 752 A2 shown.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a railing strut of the type mentioned at the beginning while avoiding the disadvantages discussed above.

This is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention it is provided that the at least one actuating element is accessible to a user for manual operation and can be actuated directly when the railing strut is locked to the wall element, so that the locking between the railing strut and the wall element can be released by manual operation of the actuating element.

In other words, the railing strut has at least one movably mounted actuating element, through which the locking between the railing strut and a wall element of the drawer can be released in a mounted state of the railing strut on the wall element. The actuating element of the railing strut in the assembled position is accessible to a user and can be actuated directly, so that the railing strut can be easily dismantled (for example for cleaning purposes).

The actuating element can be designed separately from the at least one locking element. Alternatively, it is possible for the actuating element and the at least one locking element to be designed on a common component, but as components that can be clearly distinguished from one another. According to one exemplary embodiment, the actuating element and the locking element are coupled to one another in terms of movement, so that a corresponding application of force to the actuating element leads to a (non-destructive) movement of the locking element into the release position.

The actuating element can be slidably mounted on the railing strut, preferably in a longitudinal direction of the railing strut, or can be tilted or bent about an axis running transversely to a longitudinal direction of the railing strut.

The actuating element can be movably arranged on an end face of the railing strut and/or on a lateral surface of the railing strut. For example, the actuating element can be essentially flush with an end face of the railing strut and/or with a lateral surface of the railing strut, so that accidental application of force to the actuating element is prevented and an attractive visual appearance is provided.

The actuating element is designed for manual operation, wherein the actuating element can be provided with a corrugation that increases the static friction.

The at least one end region of the railing strut can have at least two locking elements, wherein the at least two locking elements can be moved together into the release position by exerting force on the actuating element. By arranging two or more locking elements, which can be moved together into a release position that releases the wall element by exerting force on the actuating element, a particularly tilt-proof connection between the railing strut and the wall element as well as a comfortable unlocking of the locking elements from the wall element of the drawer can be achieved in the locked state become.

The railing strut can be connected directly to a wall element of the drawer, for example by a pin arranged on the railing strut, which can be inserted into a hole in the wall element and is thus held in position. Alternatively, it is possible for the railing strut to be connected to the wall element via at least one furniture fitting arranged or formed on the wall element.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Möbels mit Schubladen, welche über Schubladenausziehführungen relativ zu einem Möbelkorpus verfahrbar gelagert sind,

Fig. 2a-2c

die Montage der Relingstrebe in zeitlich aufeinanderfolgenden Schritten,

Fig. 3a-3c

perspektivische Ansichten des hinteren Endbereiches der Schublade in teilweise aufgebrochener Darstellung, wobei die Verriegelung und die Entriegelung der Relingstrebe gezeigt ist,

Fig. 4a, 4b

die Relingstrebe in einer Explosionsansicht sowie einen Querschnitt der mit einem Möbelbeschlag verriegelten Relingstrebe.

Further details and advantages of the invention result from the following description of the figures. This shows or shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a piece of furniture with drawers, which are mounted so that they can move relative to a furniture body via drawer pull-out guides,

Figs. 2a-2c

the assembly of the railing strut in successive steps,

Figs. 3a-3c

perspective views of the rear end area of the drawer in a partially broken view, showing the locking and unlocking of the railing strut,

Fig. 4a, 4b

The railing strut in an exploded view as well as a cross section of the railing strut locked with a furniture fitting.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture 1 with a furniture body 2 and drawers 3, which are mounted movably relative to the furniture body 2 via drawer pull-out guides 4. The drawer pull-out guides 4 have a body rail 5 to be attached to the furniture body 2 by fastening sections 6a, 6b and at least one drawer rail 8 to be connected to the drawer 3, which is mounted movably relative to the body rail 5. In order to fully extend the drawer 3, an additional middle rail 7 can be provided, which is movably mounted between the body rail 5 and the drawer rail 8. The drawers 3 each have wall elements 9 and 11 (preferably in the form of a front panel 9a and a rear wall 11a), a drawer base 10 and a drawer side wall 12, which is connected or detachably connectable to the drawer rail 8 of the drawer pull-out guide 4. In addition, at least one railing strut 13 is provided, which extends at least over a partial area between the front panel 9a and the rear wall 11a and which is arranged at a predetermined distance above the drawer side wall 12 and whose longitudinal direction (L) in an assembled state is essentially parallel to the Drawer side wall 12 runs. At least a second decorative plate 14b ( Fig. 2b ) be arranged.

Figs. 2a-2c show the assembly of the railing strut 13 on the drawer 3 in chronological sequences. The drawer 3 comprises a first wall element 9 and a further wall element 3a for receiving a first decorative panel 14a, which - like the second decorative panel 14b - can be made of glass, stone, wood, plastic or metal. On the first wall element 9, a furniture fitting 15 is arranged or designed in the form of a connecting pin, which can be connected to a first end region of the railing strut 13. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first end region of the railing strut 13 has a cavity 18 for receiving the furniture fitting 15. At the second end region of the railing strut 13, a recess 16 is arranged, which is essentially rectangular or L-shaped in a plan view and which, when the railing strut 13 is in the assembled state, is intended to partially accommodate the second wall element 11. The railing strut 13 is provided with a support part 17, which can be inserted into a, preferably horizontal, opening 19 of the second wall element 11. At least one movably mounted locking element 23a is arranged in the recess 16 of the railing strut 13, which with a first recess 20 of the second wall element 11 can be locked. The locking between the railing strut 13 and the second wall element 11 can be released by an actuating element 21 when the railing strut 13 is mounted. An imaginary connecting line 22 ( Fig. 2b ) is arranged normal to the first and second wall elements 9, 11.

• die Relingstrebe 13 wird mit einem ersten Endbereich in Verbindung mit dem ersten Wandelement 9 oder mit dem am ersten Wandelement 9 montierten Möbelbeschlag 15 gebracht (Fig. 2b), wobei die Relingstrebe 13 gegenüber der gedachten Verbindungslinie 22, welche normal zu den Wandelementen 9, 11 angeordnet ist, einen spitzen Winkel einschließt,
• der spitze Winkel wird durch Verschwenken der Relingstrebe 13 gegenüber der gedachten Verbindungslinie 22 verkleinert (Fig. 2c), bis die Relingstrebe 13 im Wesentlichen parallel zur gedachten Verbindungslinie 22 ausgerichtet ist, wobei vorzugsweise vorgesehen ist, dass der Stützteil 17 der Relingstrebe 13 in die Öffnung 19 des zweiten Wandelementes 11 eingeführt wird,
• die Relingstrebe 13 wird anschließend um eine in Längsrichtung (L) der Relingstrebe verlaufende Achse manuell verkippt, bis das zumindest eine Verriegelungselement 23a der Relingstrebe 13 mit dem zweiten Wandelement 11 verriegelt wird, wobei vorzugsweise vorgesehen ist, dass das zumindest eine Verriegelungselement 23a in eine erste Ausnehmung 20 des zweiten Wandelementes 11 eingreift.

To assemble the railing strut 13, proceed as follows:

• The railing strut 13 is brought into connection with a first end region with the first wall element 9 or with the furniture fitting 15 mounted on the first wall element 9 ( Fig. 2b ), whereby the railing strut 13 forms an acute angle relative to the imaginary connecting line 22, which is arranged normal to the wall elements 9, 11,
• The acute angle is reduced by pivoting the railing strut 13 relative to the imaginary connecting line 22 ( Fig. 2c ), until the railing strut 13 is aligned essentially parallel to the imaginary connecting line 22, it being preferably provided that the supporting part 17 of the railing strut 13 is inserted into the opening 19 of the second wall element 11,
• The railing strut 13 is then manually tilted about an axis running in the longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut until the at least one locking element 23a of the railing strut 13 is locked with the second wall element 11, it being preferably provided that the at least one locking element 23a is in a first Recess 20 of the second wall element 11 engages.

The railing strut 13 is dismantled from the second wall element 11 by moving the actuating element 21 into a release position by applying force (for example by exerting pressure on the actuating element 21 in the longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut 13), in which the locking between the railing strut 13 and the wall element 11 or the furniture fitting 15 mounted on the wall element 9 is solved.

Fig. 3a shows the rear end area of the drawer 3 in a perspective and partially broken view from above. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the railing strut 13 has at least two movably mounted locking elements 23a, 23b on, wherein the first locking element 23a can be releasably locked with the first recess 20 of the wall element 11 and the second locking element 23b with a second recess 20a of the wall element 11. The imaginary longitudinal axes of the recesses 20, 20a of the wall element 11 can run at right angles to one another, which enables a particularly tip-proof connection between the railing strut 13 and the wall element 11. The locking elements 23a, 23b are prestressed by at least one spring element 24, wherein the locking elements 23a, 23b can be moved together into the release position by exerting force on the actuating element 21 against the force of the spring element 24. The spring element 24 is formed here by a resilient plastic part, which is supported on a stationary stop 25 of the railing strut 13. Mechanical spring elements such as compression springs, tension springs or torsion springs can also be used as the spring element 24.

The railing strut 13 is pre-positioned on the wall element 11 by pushing the railing strut 13 with its front end region onto the furniture fitting 15 and inserting the support part 17 of the rear end region into the opening 19 of the wall element 11. The prepositioned position of the railing strut 13 is in Fig. 3a shown. By subsequently manually tilting the railing strut 13 about an axis running in the longitudinal direction (L), the locking elements 23a, 23b are moved against the force of the spring element 24, whereupon the two locking elements 23a, 23b engage in the recesses 20, 20a of the wall element 11, preferably snap into place ( Fig. 3b ). In this way, the railing strut 13 is arranged without play in the longitudinal direction (L) relative to the drawer 3 and a particularly tilt-proof connection is produced between the railing strut 13 and the wall element 11 because the railing strut 13 with the at least one end region in three positions on the wall element that differ from one another 11 is fastened (support part 17 in opening 19, first locking element 23a in first recess 20, second locking element 23b in second recess 20a of the wall element 11). By exerting force on the actuating element 21 in the longitudinal direction (L), the locking between the locking elements 23a, 23b and the recesses 20, 20a of the wall element 11 can be released again ( Fig. 3c ), whereby the spring element 24 in Fig. 3c is maximally compressed. Like in the Figures 3a-3c shown, The spring element 24, the locking elements 23a, 23b and the actuating element 21 can be formed in one piece.

Preferably, it can be provided that the first locking element 23a and/or the second locking element 23b is or are movable in a longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut 13) by exerting force on the actuating element 21.

Fig. 4a shows the railing strut 13 in an exploded view, with a movably mounted actuating element 21, 21a for releasing the lock between the front wall element 9 (for example with the furniture fitting 15 arranged on the wall element) and the rear wall element 11 being provided at both end regions of the railing strut 13. The support part 17 provided for pre-positioning the railing strut 13 is designed in the form of a tab on a bearing part 30, the support part 17 being insertable into the opening 19 of the wall element 11. The common structural unit, consisting of spring element 24, the locking elements 23a, 23b and the actuating element 21, is mounted in the assembled position so as to be displaceable relative to the bearing part 30 in the longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut 13.

At the front end region of the railing strut 13 there is a length compensation element 26, preferably designed to be resilient in the longitudinal direction (L), which serves to, in the locked state of the railing strut 13 with the wall elements 9, 11, between the front end of the railing strut 13 and the wall element 9 to cover any gap that occurs. The cavity 18 for receiving the furniture fitting 15 is formed in a receiving part 31, the furniture fitting 15 being releasably lockable by movably mounted locking elements 23c, 23d of the receiving part 31. The head part 33 ( Fig. 4b ) of the furniture fitting 15 can be releasably locked with the locking elements 23c, 23d and by a locking element 23e connected to the second actuating element 21a. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second actuating element 21a is arranged on a lateral surface of the railing strut 13 (for example on the underside 29 of the railing strut 13), the second actuating element 21a being mounted so that it can be tilted or bent about an axis 27 which runs horizontally in the installed position. Inclined surfaces 28a, 28b are connected to the actuating element 21a, which when the second one moves Actuating element 21a about the axis 27 expands the locking elements 23c, 23d of the receiving part 31 elastically, whereby the furniture fitting 15 (and thus the wall element 9) is released from the locking elements 23c, 23d, 23e.

Fig. 4b shows a cross section of the front wall element 9, with the railing strut 13 being locked to the furniture fitting 15 arranged on the wall element 9. The furniture fitting 15 can have a dowel 32 for attachment to the wall element 9 and a head part 33 spaced therefrom, which is locked with the locking elements 23c, 23d of the receiving part 31 and the locking element 23e of the second actuating element 21a. The second actuating element 21a is arranged on the underside 29 of the railing strut 13 and is essentially flush with the underside 29 of the railing strut 13. The second actuating element 21a can, as in the Figure 4b shown, be provided with a corrugation or with a tool holder. The second actuating element 21a can be bent or tilted about the axis 27 by applying pressure in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (L), so that the locking elements 23c, 23d can be expanded by the inclined surfaces 28a, 28b and the head part 33 of the furniture fitting 15 can thereby be detached. Those areas of the head part 33 and/or the locking element 23e, which come into contact with one another in a locked state, can have an inclined surface, whereby the head part 33 emerges from the front cavity 18 of the railing strut 13 by a movement of the second actuating element 21a about the axis 27 can be actively ejected and the railing strut 13 can therefore be dismantled quickly and conveniently.

A particular advantage of the railing strut 13 is that it forms a prefabricated structural unit together with the locking device and that there are no additional functional elements on the drawer 3, on which the railing strut 13 is to be mounted, for the purpose of locking (with the exception of the opening 19 and the Recesses 20, 20a of the wall element 11) must be provided. If appropriate, the railing strut 13 can also be designed to be adjustable in length, which is possible, for example, by at least two partial struts of the railing strut 13 that can be moved telescopically relative to one another in the longitudinal direction (L).

Claims (14)

1. A railing strut (13) for a drawer (3), the railing strut (13) having at least one end region configured to be connected to a wall element (9, 11) of the drawer (3), wherein the railing strut (13), on the at least one end region, includes a locking device having at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) configured to be engaged with the wall element (9, 11) for locking the railing strut (13), wherein the railing strut (13) includes, in addition to the at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d), at least one movably mounted actuating element (21, 21a), wherein the at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) is movable, by applying a force to the actuating element (21, 21a), into a release position in which the locking between the railing strut (13) and the wall element (7, 11) is releasable when the railing strut (13) is in a locked condition with the wall element (7, 11), wherein the at least one actuating element (21, 21a), in a condition in which the railing strut (13) is locked to the wall element (7, 11), is accessible for manual actuation for an operator and can be directly actuated, so that the locking between the railing strut (13) and the wall element (7, 11) is releasable by the manual actuation of the actuating element (21, 21a), wherein

   - the at least one actuating element (21, 21a) is displaceably mounted on the railing strut (13), preferably in a longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut (13), wherein the at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) is pre-stressed by at least one spring element (24), wherein the locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) is movable into the release position by applying a force to the actuating element (21, 21a) against the force of the spring element (24),

   or wherein

   - the at least one actuating element (21, 21a) is tiltably or bendably mounted about an axis (27) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut (13).
2. The railing strut according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one end region of the railing strut (13) includes at least two locking elements (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d), wherein the at least two locking elements (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) are configured to be jointly moved into the release position by applying a force to the actuating element (21, 21a), wherein it is preferably provided that a first locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) and/or at least one second locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) is or are movable in a longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut (13) by applying a force to the actuating element (21, 21a).
3. The railing strut according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least two locking elements (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut (13).
4. The railing strut according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one actuating element (21, 21a) is tiltably or bendably mounted about an axis (27) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut (13), and the at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) is pre-stressed by at least one spring element (24), wherein the locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) is movable into the release position by applying a force to the actuating element (21, 21a) against the force of the spring element (24).
5. The railing strut according to claim one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one spring element (24) and the at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) are formed together so as to have a one-piece configuration.
6. The railing strut according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one spring element (24), the at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d), and the at least one actuating element (21, 21a) are formed together so as to have a one-piece configuration.
7. The railing strut according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one end region of the railing strut (13) includes a supporting portion (17) which, for pre-positioning the railing strut (13) on the wall element (9, 11), is configured to be introduced into a corresponding opening (19) of the wall element (9, 11) or into a corresponding opening (19) of the furniture fitting (15) fixed to the wall element (9, 11).
8. The railing strut according to claim 7, characterized in that the railing strut (13) is configured to be manually tilted about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut (13) from a position in which the supporting portion (17) is introduced into the corresponding opening (19), whereby the at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) is lockable to the wall element (9, 11) or to the furniture fitting (15) fixed to the wall element (9, 11).
9. The railing strut according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the railing strut (13) has a second end region having a second movably-mounted actuating element (21, 21a) for releasing the locking between the railing strut (13) and the wall element (9, 11) or between the railing strut (13) and a furniture fitting (15) arranged or formed on the wall element (9, 11).
10. An arrangement comprising at least one railing strut (13) according to one of the claims 1 to 9 and at least one wall element (9, 11), in particular a front panel (9a) or a rear wall (11a), of a drawer (3), wherein the end region of the railing strut (13) is configured to be releasably connected to the wall element (9, 11) by the locking device.
11. The arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a drawer sidewall (12), and that the railing strut (13) is arranged, preferably with a predefined distance, above the drawer sidewall (12).
12. A drawer (3) comprising at least one railing strut (13) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, or comprising an arrangement according to claim 10 or 11.
13. A method for mounting a railing strut (13) according to one of the claims 1 to 9 to a drawer (3), the drawer (3) having at least two wall elements (9, 11) arranged substantially parallel to each other, in particular a front panel (9a) and a rear wall (11a), characterized by the following steps:

    - connecting a first end region of the railing strut (13) to the first wall element (9) or to a furniture fitting (15) mounted to the first wall element (9), wherein the railing strut (13) encloses an acute angle relative to a notional connecting line (22) extending perpendicular to the wall elements (9, 11),

    - decreasing the acute angle relative to the notional connecting line (22) by pivoting the railing strut (13), until the railing strut (13) is aligned substantially parallel to the notional connecting line (22), wherein it is preferably provided that a supporting portion (17) of the railing strut (13) is introduced into an opening (19) of the second wall element (11),

    - subsequently, tilting the railing strut (13) about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the railing strut (13), until the at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) of the railing strut (13) is locked with the second wall element (11), wherein it is preferably provided that the at least one locking element (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) engages into a recess (20) of the second wall element (11).
14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the actuating element (21, 21a) is moved, by applying a force, into a release position in which the locking between the railing strut (13) and the wall element (9, 11) or the furniture fitting (15) arranged or formed on the wall element (9, 11) is released.

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