FR2904519A1 - Furniture facade unit e.g. door, for e.g. kitchen, has central panel with element having internal edges that are adjacent to side of insert, where edges have gripping unit is located on edges of panel and insert is made of rigid material - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit (1) has an orifice (6) closed by an insert (7) with a space (E) arranged in the thickness of the unit between the insert and a front face (1a) of the unit, where the space is built up in the vicinity of a side (7a) of the insert. Inner edges (4a, 5a) of an element (4) of a central panel (3) are adjacent to the side of the insert, and include a gripping unit (8). The gripping unit is located on the edges of the panel. The insert is made of a rigid material such as massive wood or aluminum.

Description

 The present invention relates to a furniture facade element, door or drawer, for closing a furniture opening face.

Furniture facade elements, doors or drawers are known, which generally comprise a planar or panel element and whose gripping is ensured by means of a handle or a button projecting from the front face of the element. furniture facade.

Such gripping means, by their protruding disposition on the front face of the furniture facade element, can be annoying or even dangerous for a user who can strike or inadvertently hang on to it.

In addition, such projecting gripping means, during manufacture in the factory, do not allow the easy storage of furniture facade elements provided with their gripping means. These can not indeed rest according to their front face on a plane. Stacking of these furniture facade elements is therefore impossible, and it is then necessary to report the gripping means at the time of assembly of the furniture, that is to say generally on the site of use . Most often, the customer must himself assemble the gripping means at home, or the mounting of the gripping means must be performed by a technician who moves to the customer. This results in inconvenience to the customer, or an additional cost, with the risk of a faulty assembly.

The generally known gripping means using handles or knobs protruding on the front face of a furniture facade element may further contribute to the veiling of the furniture facade element during its use by repeated openings at the front. by means of traction exerted on a very local part of the front face of the furniture facade element.

Already known furniture facade elements, doors or drawers, comprising on one of the outer edges of the lower or upper panel their section section "H". The user is thus maneuvering the furniture facade element by inserting the ends of his fingers in the slice provided with the section section "H".

Such gripping means are not very accessible, because arranged on the upper or lower outer edge of the furniture facade element, which edge is often arranged in front of a worktop or a cornice. This significantly limits the accessibility of these gripping means by the fingers of the user. In all known furniture facade elements with gripping means arranged projecting on the front face or arranged on the outer edge, there is also the appearance of dirt areas around and on the gripping means, dirt areas that do not can be easily cleaned by the user. This is all the more critical when it comes to facade elements for kitchen or bathroom furniture that users are often forced to open with their hands soiled or wet.

A first problem proposed by the invention is to allow the easy gripping of a furniture facade element (door or drawer) for opening / closing, by a gripping device easily prehensile and having no overtaking on the front face of the furniture facade element. The gripping device must be easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Simultaneously, the invention also seeks to provide a furniture facade element with easily cleanable gripping device. According to another aspect, the invention aims to provide a furniture front element with gripping device of great accessibility and for ergonomic and easy grip.

Preferably, the gripping device must prevent the curtaining of the furniture facade element during its use. To achieve these objects, as well as others, the invention proposes a furniture facade element, intended to close the opening face of a piece of furniture, comprising first and second longitudinal beams holding between them a central panel, with a front face and a rear face, in which: the central panel comprises a first central panel element and a second central panel element, kept at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction, defining a light opening on the front and rear faces of the furniture facade element,

- The light is closed by an insert, with a space in the thickness of the furniture facade element between the insert and the front of the furniture facade element in the vicinity of a first side of the patch,

- The inner edge of said central panel member or longitudinal spar adjacent to said first side of the insert comprises gripping means.

The gripping means of the furniture facade element are thus arranged on the inner edge of a central panel element or a spar, while being easily accessible for the fingers of the user since located on the central panel of the facade element.

No element coming protruding on the front face of the furniture facade element, it may be stacked according to its front face as on its back side to allow storage in a minimum space, without risk of degradation of the furniture facade element or gripping means.

The insert extends along a large length, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. By providing an insert of rigid material, it can then strengthen the rigidity of the furniture facade element to prevent its fogging during use.

The insert can be easily removed by the user to be cleaned and / or to allow the user to come clean the gripping means and their surroundings.

Preferably, the gripping means may comprise streaks.

Such gripping means are discrete, of small thickness, and small size but may be present along the entire width of the furniture facade element to facilitate gripping.

Advantageously, the gripping means may comprise a recess provided in said inner edge away from the front face, preferably opening on the rear face of the furniture facade element.

Such gripping means allow the user to engage radially the end of his fingers in the recess to maneuver the furniture facade element with a good grip. The fact that the recess opens on the rear face of the furniture facade element allows the user, once after removing the insert, to easily access the gripping means to clean them.

In addition, such a recess opening on the rear face of the furniture facade element is easily achievable by means of a machining tool for wood, because of the good accessibility.

Preferably, the recess may be a quarter round.

The quarter-round configuration of the recess makes it possible to produce ergonomic gripping means because of a shape substantially complementary to that of the end of a user's finger. Advantageously, the gripping means may be arranged in the inner edge of the first central panel element.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that: the insert comprises a plate fastened to the rear face of the furniture facade element,

the insert has a protuberance penetrating the light from the plate towards the front face of the furniture facade element; the insert has, in the zone occupied by the protuberance, in the vicinity of a second side; of the insert opposite to the first side of the insert, a thickness substantially equal to that of the central panel member or spar which is adjacent said second side.

This provides a progressive guide of the end of the fingers of the user by the insert, the fingers being slid in the direction of the gripping means.

Advantageously, the insert may comprise a transverse rib extending radially from the protrusion, away from the second side of the insert, and penetrating into a groove of the inner edge of the central panel member or the spar adjacent to the second side of the patch.

Preferably, it can be provided that:

the plate of the insert simultaneously overlaps the first and second central panel elements in the longitudinal direction; the insert is fixed on the first and second central panel elements by means of screws passing through the plate and penetrating the first and second central panel members from the rear face of the furniture facade element.

Advantageously, it can be provided that: the plate of the insert is fixed on the first and second central panel elements in peripheral rebates in the vicinity of the light along the rear faces of the first and second central panel elements,

- The peripheral rabbets have a thickness of greater or equal value, preferably equal to the thickness of the plate of the insert. Advantageously, the central panel member or spar adjacent to the first side of the insert may have a thickness greater than that of the central panel member or spar adjacent to the second side of the insert.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the insert may be a solid wood profile.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the insert may be a metal profile, preferably aluminum. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

- Figure 1 is a front view of a furniture facade element according to one embodiment of the invention;

- Figures 2, 3 and 4 are longitudinal partial sections of different embodiments of a furniture facade element according to the invention; and

- Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of inserts of different embodiments of furniture facade element according to the invention. The furniture facing element 1 shown in FIG. 1 is intended to close off the opening face of a piece of furniture, and comprises a first longitudinal spar 2a and a second longitudinal spar 2b holding between them a central panel 3, with a front face 1a and a rear face 1b (Figures 2 to 4).

The central panel 3 comprises a first central panel element 4 and a second central panel element 5, held at a distance D from each other in the longitudinal direction defined by the elongation direction of the first and second longitudinal longitudinal members 2a. and 2b. This produces a light 6 opening on the front faces 1a and rear 1b of the furniture front element 1 (Figures 2 to 4). Although Figures 1 to 4 represent only a cabinet front element 1 of the closet door type, it is conceivable to similarly achieve a drawer front with the same concept. In this case, the first and second beams 2a and 2b have a length L smaller than the width I of the first and second panel elements 4 and 5. As is best shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the light 6 is closed off by an insert 7, with a space E formed in the thickness of the furniture facade element 1 between the insert 7 and the front face 1a of the furniture facade element 1. The space E develops at least in the vicinity of a first side 7a of the insert 7. The inner edge 4a of said first central panel member 4 is adjacent to said first side 7a of the insert 7 and comprises gripping means 8.

The gripping means 8 thus have no projecting portion on the front face 1a of the furniture facade element 1, which allows easy stacking of several furniture facade elements 1.

In addition, the insert 7 extends along the entire width of the facade element 1 and stiffens it to prevent warping during its use. In addition, the gripping means 8 may be provided along the entire width I of the first panel member 4 and / or the second panel member 5. The gripping means 8 are thus widely accessible to the fingers of the user. It is more particularly seen in Figures 2 to 4 that the gripping means 8 can be easily cleaned by the user once the insert 7 has been removed. Indeed, the user then has free access to the gripping means 8, in particular by the rear face 1b for the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3. In addition, the user can more effectively clean the room reported 7 after having withdrawn it.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the gripping means 8 comprise grooves 9 made in the inner edge 4a of the first central panel element 4.

Such gripping means 8 are discrete, of small thickness, of small size. These can be easily made by machining the edge 4a of the first central panel element 4.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate another embodiment of the invention, wherein the gripping means 8 comprise a recess 10 provided in the inner edge 4a away from the front face 1a, and opening on the rear face 1 b of the furniture front element 1.

Such gripping means 8 allow a safe and effective gripping of the furniture front element 1, by radial engagement of the fingers of the user in the recess 10, and can be easily achieved by machining the inner edge 4a of the first central panel element 4. The recess 10 can be made all the more easily as it opens onto the rear face 1b of the furniture front element 1. In this case indeed, the machining tool has greater accessibility to achieve the recess 10. In addition, the user wanting to clean the recess 10 will access it more easily when said recess 10 opens on the back 1b of the cabinet front element 1.

In Figures 2 and 3, the recess 10 is a quarter round. Such a form is particularly suitable for the engagement of the end of the fingers of a user's hand to maneuver the furniture facade element 1. The quarter-round configuration of the recess 10 is substantially identical to the profile from the end of a user's finger. This quarter-round configuration is ergonomic and allows a comfortable and secure grip of the furniture front element 1 to maneuver. When facing the furniture facing element 1 from the front, as in FIG. 1, the recess 10 is invisible because it is undercut in the thickness of the first central panel element 4. Thus, even if the gripping means 8 were to get dirty or degrade during their use, their condition will not degrade the visual appearance of the furniture facade element 1.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the gripping means 8 are arranged in the inner edge 4a of the first central panel element 4.

However, other embodiments are possible. The gripping means 8 may for example be provided in the inner edge 5a of the second central panel member 5, or in the inner edges 21a or 21b of the first or second longitudinal longitudinal members 2a and 2b.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the insert 7 comprises a plate 71 fixed to the rear face 1b of the furniture facade element 1. The insert 7 further comprises a protuberance 72 penetrating the light 6 from the plate 71 towards the front face 1a of the furniture front element 1. In Figures 3 and 4, the insert 7 has, in the area occupied by the protuberance 72, in the vicinity of a second side 7b of the insert 7 opposite the first side 7a of the insert 7, a thickness substantially e equal to the thickness e1 of the second central panel member 5 which is adjacent to said second side 7b.

The insert 7, in its thickness which varies from the second side 7b towards the first side 7a, allows an effective and progressive guidance of the end of the fingers of the user towards the gripping means 8. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the insert 7 comprises a transverse rib 7c extending radially from the protuberance 72 away from the second side 7b of the insert 7, and penetrating into a groove 51 provided in the inner edge 5a of the second central panel element 5. Thus, the attachment of the insert 7 is made according to its second side

7b in a simple and safe way. One or more screws 1 1 can come fix the insert 7 according to its first side 7a as shown in Figure 2.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plate 71 of the insert 7 simultaneously overlaps the first and second central panel elements 4 and 5 in the longitudinal direction. The insert 7 is then fixed on the first and second central panel elements 4 and 5 by means of screws 12 passing through the plate 71 and penetrating the first and second central panel elements 4 and 5 from the rear face 1b of the furniture front element 1.

Whether the insert 7 is fixed in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 or in the manner illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, it remains easily removable by the user to proceed to the cleaning of the insert 7 and / or or gripping means 8.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the plate 71 of the insert is fixed on the first and second central panel elements 4 and 5 in peripheral rabbets 4b and 5b bordering the slot 6 along the rear faces of the first and second central panel elements 4 and 5. The peripheral rabbets 4b and 5b have a thickness e2 and e3 substantially equal to the thickness e4 of the plate 71 of the insert 7.

The insert 7 is thus flush with its rear face the rear face 1b of the furniture front element 1. It can thus ensure perfect flatness of the rear face 1b of the furniture front element 1, flatness which does not induce any constraint for the installation of the frame elements such as hinges for example.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the first central panel element 4 adjacent the first side 7a of the insert 7 has a thickness e5 greater than the thickness e1 of the second central panel element 5 adjacent to the second side 7b of the patch 7.

This difference between the thicknesses e5 and e1 of the first and second central panel elements 4 and 5 makes it possible to produce gripping means with a greater thickness e6. This facilitates the accessibility of the gripping means 8 for the end of the fingers of a user. In addition, a user provided with big fingers can still use the gripping means 8 in a comfortable and ergonomic manner.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the insert 7 is a solid wood profile. This same insert 7 is shown in FIG. 6. It is thus possible, in the case where the central panel elements 4 and 5 and the longitudinal longitudinal members 2a and 2b are made of solid wood, to stiffen these with the aid of the patch 7.

However, for reasons of mechanical strength, the insert 7 of the embodiment of Figure 2 has a thickness e4 greater than the thickness e4 of the insert 7 of the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4.

This insert 7 is a metal section, and is shown in more detail in Figure 5. The insert 7 of Figure 5 can be advantageously made of aluminum. The insert 7 is thus lightweight, resistant to corrosion and aggressive atmospheres that can prevail in places such as a kitchen or bathroom. The embodiment of the insert 7 with a metal profile provides an insert 7 of high strength. This insert 7 thus effectively increases the rigidity of the furniture front element 1.

Finally, in the case of an insert obtained from a metal section as in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the thickness e4 of the plate 71 of the insert 7 can be very small, which allows increase the thickness e6 of the gripping means 8 without having to increase too much the thickness e5 of the first panel element 4, which saves raw material.

In the case where we would still like to match the visual appearance of the insert 7 when it is obtained from a metal profile, it is also possible to add a plating 13 glued on the front side of the insert 7, as shown in Figure 4.

Although in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 the panel elements 4 and 5 are solid, they may also include a composite structure, for example consisting of a frame surrounding a glazing or panel of smaller thickness held in a rabbet. In this case, it may be advantageous to adapt the thickness of the frame, for example by giving it a thickness equal to e1, to facilitate the holding of the glazing or the panel.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (5)

1 - Furniture facade element (1), intended to close the opening face of a piece of furniture, comprising first (2a) and second (2b) longitudinal longitudinal members holding between them a central panel (3), with one side before (1 a) and a rear face (1 b), characterized in that: the central panel (3) comprises a first central panel element (4) and a second central panel element (5), held at a distance (D) from one another in the longitudinal direction, defining a light ( 6) opening on the front (1 a) and rear (1 b) sides of the furniture facade element (1), the light (6) is closed by an insert (7), with a space (E) formed in the thickness of the furniture facing element (1) between the insert (7) and the front face ( 1 a) of the furniture facade element (1) in the vicinity of a first side (7a) of the insert (7), - the inner edge (4a, 5a, 21a, 21b) of said panel element central (4, 5) or longitudinal spar (2a, 2b) which is adjacent to said first side (7a) of the insert (7) comprises gripping means (8). 2 - Furniture facade element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping means (8) comprise ridges (9). 3 - Furniture facade element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping means (8) comprise a recess (10) provided in said inner edge (4a, 5a, 21a, 21b) to the distance from the front face (1 a), preferably opening on the rear face (1 b) of the furniture facing element (1). 4 - Furniture facade element (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the recess (10) is a quarter round. 5 - Furniture facade element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gripping means (8) are arranged in the inner edge (4a) of the first central panel member (4) 6 - Furniture facade element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: the insert (7) comprises a plate (71) fastened to the rear face (1b) of the furniture facade element (1), the insert (7) comprises a protuberance (72) penetrating into the lumen (6) from the plate (71) in the direction of the front face (1a) of the furniture facade element (1), - the insert (7) has, in the area occupied by the protuberance (72), in the vicinity of a second side (7b) of the insert (7) opposite the first side (7a) of the insert (7). ), a thickness (e) substantially equal to that of the central panel member (4, 5) or spar (2a, 2b) which is adjacent to said second side (7b). 7 - Furniture facade element (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the insert (7) comprises a transverse rib (7c) extending radially from the protuberance (72), away from the second side (7b) of the insert (7), and penetrating into a groove (51) of the inner edge (4a, 5a, 21a, 21b) of the central panel member (4, 5) or the adjacent spar (2a). , 2b) at the second side (7b) of the insert (7). 8 - Furniture facade element (1) according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that: the plate (71) of the insert (7) simultaneously overlaps the first (4) and second (5) central panel elements in the longitudinal direction, the insert (7) is fixed on the first (4) and second (5) central panel elements by means of screws (12) passing through the plate (71) and penetrating into the first (4) and second (5) central panel elements from the back side (1b) of the furniture facade element (1). 9 - Furniture facade element (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that: - the plate (71) of the insert (7) is fixed on the first (4) and second (5) central panel elements in peripheral rabbets (4b, 5b) in the vicinity of the light (6) according to the faces rear of the first (4) and second (5) central panel elements, - The peripheral rabbets (4b, 5b) have a thickness (e2, e3) of greater or equal value, preferably equal to the thickness (e4) of the plate (71) of the insert (7). 10 - Furniture facade element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the central panel element (4, 5) or the spar (2a, 2b) adjacent to the first side (7a ) of the insert (7) has a thickness (e5) greater than that of the central panel member (4, 5) or spar (2a, 2b) adjacent to the second side (7b) of the insert (7) . 11 - Furniture facade element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the insert (7) is a solid wood profile. 12 - Furniture facade element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the insert (7) is a metal profile, preferably aluminum.