FR3123933A1 - furniture set - Google Patents

Abstract

Furniture assembly Furniture assembly comprising: - a door, - a handle (114) fixed to the door, said handle comprising an internal surface (140a) facing the door, - an electrically controlled locking device, movable between a locked configuration, in which the locking device (116) is adapted to retain the door, and an unlocked configuration, in which the locking device is adapted to release the door, - an unlocking device (118) operable by touch, in particular by pressure, the unlocking device (118) being electrically connected to the locking device and adapted, when the unlocking device (118) is actuated, to cause the locking device to pass from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, the release device (118) extending over the inner surface (140a) of the handle (114). Figure for the abstract: Figure 2

Description

furniture set

The present invention relates to an assembly for furniture comprising a lockable door in a closed position and the unlocking of which can be actuated by touch, in particular by pressure. The invention also relates to a piece of furniture, in particular a refrigerated piece of furniture, comprising a set of pieces of furniture according to the invention. The invention finally relates to a transport vehicle, preferably railway, comprising a piece of furniture according to the invention.

Transport vehicles are generally equipped with furniture in which items, typically consumables intended for the comfort of users, are stored and/or preserved. The articles are, for example, food or beverages.

Due to the multiple accelerations, braking and inclinations undergone by the vehicle, there is a significant risk of unwanted opening of the furniture while the vehicle is moving. The unexpected opening of furniture is problematic for several reasons. First of all, the inadvertent opening of the doors of the furniture is likely to cause the spillage of the articles stored in the furniture towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The products are thus thrown out of the furniture, thus risking being destroyed, damaged or even deteriorated. Such products are then unusable or unsaleable. In addition, in the case of foodstuffs, the opening of refrigerated cabinets results in a break in the cold chain, making the foodstuffs unfit for consumption. Finally, the undesired opening of the cabinets presents a safety risk for the people present near the cabinet, users or flight crew, who may be injured by the door which opens suddenly and/or by the fall of the stored items. .

In order to prevent these problems, the furniture doors are permanently electrically locked. This locking is typically achieved by one or more mechanical locks, generally two locks per door, the activation/deactivation of which is electrically controlled.

In order for users, in particular passengers, to be able to use the cabinet, it is then necessary to allow them to temporarily unlock each door separately, in order to access the contents of the cabinet. For this, an unlocking device is integrated in each of the doors.

Currently, furniture doors are, for example, equipped with an unlocking device in the form of a press-stud located on the outer surface of the door handle, facing the user.

However, such devices are not entirely satisfactory, in particular from the point of view of their ergonomics and their ease of use.

The door is opened by pressing the snap button and simultaneously pulling the door outwards. Opening the door thus requires pressing the snap button in the direction of the cabinet, then, while keeping the snap button pressed, pulling the door outwards so as to make it pivot on its axis. The implementation of these two movements simultaneously and in opposite directions is however not natural for users. Such manipulation can even be complicated for the youngest or oldest users.

An object of the invention is to overcome this drawback by proposing an assembly for furniture comprising a door whose unlocking is easier for users.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an assembly for furniture comprising:

- a door intended to be movable around an axis of rotation,

- a handle fixed to the door, said handle comprising an internal surface facing the door,

- an electrically controlled locking device, movable between a locked configuration, in which the locking device is adapted to retain the door, and an unlocked configuration, in which the locking device is adapted to release the door,

- an unlocking device operable by touch, in particular by pressure, the unlocking device being electrically connected to the locking device and adapted, when the unlocking device is actuated, to cause the locking device to pass from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, the unlocking device extending over the inner surface of the handle.

According to particular embodiments, the set for furniture comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or according to any technically possible combination:

- the unlocking device comprises:

- a flexible and electrically insulating sheath comprising an internal surface,

- a first electrically conductive strip attached to the inner surface of the sheath, the first strip being intended to be powered by an electric current, and

- a second electrically conductive strip fixed on the internal surface of the sheath, facing the first electrically conductive strip, the second strip being electrically connected to the locking device,

the first band and the second band being movable with respect to each other between a rest configuration, in which the first band and the second band are spaced from each other in a spacing direction, and an active configuration, in which the first band is in electrical contact with the second band and the electric current is transmitted to the locking device, the first band and the second band being able to pass from the rest configuration to the active configuration when the sheath is compressed in the spacing direction;

- When the first strip and the second strip are in the active configuration, the locking device is capable of moving from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration;

- the is made of rubber;

- The first band and the second band are metallic;

- the handle extends along the end of the door opposite the axis of rotation;

- the door has a height in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and intended to be vertical, and in which the handle extends over at least two-thirds of the height, preferably over the entire height, of the door ; and

- the internal surface has a height in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the unlocking device extending over the entire height of the internal surface.

The invention also relates to a piece of furniture, in particular refrigerated, comprising:

- a box defining at least one opening, and

- at least one set as defined above and in detail below,

wherein the door is mounted on the box and is movable between a closed position in which said door obstructs said at least one opening and an open position.

The invention finally relates to a transport vehicle comprising at least one piece of furniture as defined above and in detail below.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, among which:

The is a schematic front view of a piece of furniture according to the invention.

The is a schematic sectional view along a plane perpendicular to the axis of elevation of the furniture handle shown in the .

With reference to the , a transport vehicle 10 according to the invention is described.

The transport vehicle 10 is schematized in the form of a rectangle.

Preferably, the transport vehicle 10 is a railway vehicle.

Alternatively, the transport vehicle 10 is a naval or aeronautical vehicle.

The railway vehicle 10 typically comprises two lead cars (not shown) and at least two intermediate cars (not shown) arranged one behind the other.

The transport vehicle 10 comprises at least one piece of furniture 100.

The piece of furniture 100 is for example located in the passenger compartment of the transport vehicle 10.

When the transport vehicle 10 is a railway vehicle, the piece of furniture 100 is preferably located in one of the intermediate cars of the vehicle, more preferably in a bar car of the railway vehicle 10.

The cabinet 100 extends in a direction Z, intended to be vertical when the cabinet 100 is in the operating position.

In the rest of the description, the expression “vertical direction Z” designates the direction Z, intended to be vertical when the cabinet 100 is in operation.

We also define a longitudinal direction X perpendicular to the vertical direction Z, as well as a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the vertical direction Z and to the longitudinal direction X. The longitudinal direction X, the transverse direction Y and the vertical direction Z together define an orthogonal frame.

Unit 100 includes:

- a box 110, and

- Three sets 111a, 111b, 111c.

In the example shown, the piece of furniture 100 also includes a lower part 120.

According to one embodiment, the cabinet 100 is a refrigerated cabinet. In this case, additional components such as a compressor, an evaporator, a fan, a refrigeration circuit or even a control-command device can be integrated into the lower part 120 of the cabinet 100. These components are well known to those skilled in the art. profession and will therefore not be described further in the following description.

The box 110 comprises two rectangular panels 122a, 122b parallel to each other and perpendicular to the vertical direction Z.

The panels 122a, 122b are connected to two rectangular panels 124a, 124b parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.

The panels 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b are connected to a front panel 126 and a rear panel (not shown) parallel to each other, the front panel 126 and the rear panel being perpendicular to the other four panels. The front panel 126 and the rear panel are thus perpendicular to the transverse direction Y.

The box 110 has a generally parallelepipedal shape.

The panels 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b, 126 and the rear panel together define an internal volume 128 for receiving articles.

Preferably, the internal volume 128 is equipped with shelves 130, preferably adjustable in height, to store the items.

The front panel 126 defines three openings 132 allowing access to the internal volume 128. The number of openings 132 in the front panel 126 is not limited.

Alternatively, the front panel 126 comprises a single opening 132 or a plurality of openings 132, for example at least four openings 132.

The openings 132 extend along the longitudinal direction X and the vertical direction Z.

In the example shown, the openings 132 have a rectangular shape. Openings 132 of various shapes can also be provided, for example of circular shape.

In the example shown, the openings 132 have the same dimensions and are aligned next to each other along the longitudinal direction X. Alternatively, the openings 132 may have different dimensions from each other and/or be juxtaposed along the direction vertical Z and/or longitudinal X.

The sets 111a, 111b, 111c being similar to each other, only the set 111a will be described below.

Set 111a includes:

- a door 112 mounted on the box 110,

- a handle 114, fixed on the door 112,

- a locking device 116, and

- an unlocking device 118,

the locking device 116 and the unlocking device 118 being capable of retaining or releasing the door 112.

Each door 112 is mounted on the box 110, at the level of the front panel 126 so as to obstruct at least one of the openings 132.

Each door 112 is movable around an axis of rotation D1 parallel to the direction Z between a closed position, in which the door 112 obstructs at least openings 132 and an open position, in which it is possible to access the internal volume 128 through said opening 132.

Each door 112 is fixed to the box 110 by means of one or more hinges (not shown) arranged in the direction Z.

Advantageously, there are as many doors 112 as openings 132 so that, when all of the doors 112 are in the closed position, the internal volume 128 of the box 110 is closed.

Each door 112 has an inner surface (not shown) directed towards the internal volume 128 of the box 110, as well as an outer surface 134 directed towards the outside of the cabinet 100.

Each door 112 has a height H in the direction Z.

Each door 112 comprises a frame 136 and a central part 138.

The central part 138 is glazed in order to allow the contents of the cabinet 100 to be observed when the door 112 is in the closed position.

A handle 114 is attached to the outer surface 134 of each of the doors 112.

Each of the handles 114 is fixed to the end of the door 112 opposite to the axis of rotation D1 of the door 112, at the level of the frame 136.

Each of the handles 114 extends in the vertical direction Z. Preferably, each of the handles 114 extends over at least two-thirds of the height H of the door 112 in the vertical direction Z, preferably over the entire height H from gate 112.

Each of the handles 114 comprises an internal surface 140a facing the external surface 134 of the door 112 and an external surface 140b directed towards the exterior of the cabinet 100.

The locking device 116 is electrically controlled and is movable between a locked configuration, in which it holds at least door 112 in the closed position, and an unlocked configuration, in which it releases said at least one door 112.

The locking device 116 consists of one or more mechanical locks 142, generally two locks 142 per door 112, the activation/deactivation of which is electrically controlled. Mechanical latches 142 are attached to the interior surface (not shown) of door 112.

In the example shown, each door 112 comprises two mechanical locks 142. One of the mechanical locks 142 is fixed to the upper part of the door 112 and the second mechanical lock is fixed to the lower part of the door 112. Such an arrangement is advantageous in that it makes it possible to prevent the door 112 from twisting.

The unlocking device 118 will now be described with reference to the .

The unlocking device 118 is electrically connected to the locking device 116, so that when the unlocking device 118 is actuated, it causes the locking device 116 to change from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, thus releasing the door 142 on which the release device 116 is fixed.

The unlocking device 118 is fixed on the internal surface 140a of the handle 114.

The unlocking device 118 comprises:

- a support 144,

- a flexible and electrically insulating sheath 146 comprising an internal surface 148,

- a first electrically conductive strip 150 fixed on the internal surface 1048 of the sheath 146 and in which flows an electric current, not shown,

- a second electrically conductive strip 152 fixed on the internal surface 148 of the sheath 146, facing the first strip 150 and electrically connected to the locking device 116.

The sheath 146 is rubber. Alternatively, sheath 146 is of any flexible, electrically insulating material.

The first band 150 and the second band 152 are metallic.

The first strip 150 and the second strip 152 are movable relative to each other between a rest configuration (left part of the ), in which the first strip 150 and the second strip 152 are spaced from each other in the transverse direction Y, and an active configuration (right part of the ), occupied when the sheath 146 is compressed in the transverse direction Y, in which the first strip 150 is in electrical contact with the second strip 152.

When the unlocking device 118 is in the active configuration, the first band 150 is adapted to transmit the electric current to the second band 152 then to the locking device 116. The reception by the locking device 116 of the electric current is adapted to cause its passage from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, so as to door 112.

The passage from the rest configuration A to the configuration B is intended to be initiated by actuating the unlocking device 118, for example by compressing the sheath 102 in the transverse direction Y.

Preferably, the unlocking device 118 extends over the entire height H of the handle 114. In this way, the unlocking device 118 is operable at any point of the handle 114.

The operation of the cabinet 100 follows from its structure and will now be described.

Initially, the door 112 of the cabinet 100 is kept closed by the locking device 116 which is in the locked configuration.

A user wishing to access the contents of the cabinet 100 grasps the handle 114 by placing his fingers at the level of the internal surface 140a of the handle 114, in particular on the sheath 146 of the unlocking device 118. The user then pulls on the handle 114 by direction from the outside of the cabinet 100 so as to rotate the door 112 around its axis of rotation.

Due to the tensile force exerted by the user, the sheath 146 is compressed in the Y direction. The first strip 150 and the second strip 152 approach each other until they come into contact so that the first band 150 and the second band 152 pass from the idle configuration to the active configuration. The electric current flowing in the first band 150 is then transmitted to the second band 152 then to the locking device 116 which, in response, switches from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration. The door 112, then released, then begins to rotate around its axis of rotation in response to the pulling force exerted by the user. The door 112 then opens, thus giving the user access to the internal volume 128 of the cabinet 100.

When the user no longer needs to access the internal volume 128 of the cabinet 100, he pushes the door 112 against the cabinet 100 so as to obstruct the opening 132 and releases the handle 114. By releasing the handle 114, the the user stops compressing the sheath 146 which then returns to its initial position. The first strip 150 and the second strip 152 move apart, thus causing the first strip 150 and the second strip 152 to switch from the active configuration to the rest configuration. The electric current flowing in the first band 150 is then no longer transmitted to the locking device 116 which, in response, automatically switches to its locked configuration.

Thanks to the characteristics described above, the assembly 111a according to the invention makes it possible to significantly improve the ergonomics of the furniture by making it easier for the user to open them. A single movement by the user is enough to unlock the door and open it. In addition, the associated movement is natural for the user, since it simply consists of pulling the handle outwards.

The invention is also advantageous in that it is suitable for all people, regardless of their size. The unlocking device extends over the entire height of the door, it can indeed be operated by grasping the handle at any height.

The invention also allows the production of furniture whose aesthetics and design are more refined thanks to an unlocking device located on the internal part of the handle, and therefore invisible to the user.

Claims (10)

Assembly (111a) for a piece of furniture (100) comprising:
- a door (112) intended to be movable around an axis of rotation (D1),
- a handle (114) fixed to the door (112), said handle comprising an internal surface (140a) facing the door (112),
- an electrically controlled locking device (116), movable between a locked configuration, in which the locking device (116) is adapted to retain the door (112), and an unlocked configuration, in which the locking device (116) is adapted to release the door (112),
- an unlocking device (118) operable by touch, in particular by pressure, the unlocking device (118) being electrically connected to the locking device (116) and adapted, when the unlocking device (118) is actuated, to changing the locking device (116) from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration, the unlocking device (118) extending over the inner surface (140a) of the handle (114). An assembly (111a) according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking device (118) comprises:
- a flexible and electrically insulating sheath (146) comprising an internal surface (148),
- a first electrically conductive strip (150) fixed to the internal surface (148) of the sheath (146), the first strip (150) being intended to be powered by an electric current, and
- a second electrically conductive strip (152) attached to the internal surface (148) of the sheath (146), facing the first electrically conductive strip (150), the second strip (152) being electrically connected to the locking device ( 116),
the first band (150) and the second band (152) being movable relative to each other between a rest configuration, in which the first band (150) and the second band (152) are spaced apart on the other in a spacing direction (Y), and an active configuration, in which the first strip (150) is in electrical contact with the second strip (152) and the electrical current is transmitted to the locking device (116 ), the first band and the second band being capable of changing from the rest configuration to the active configuration when the sheath (146) is compressed in the spacing direction (Y). Assembly (111a) according to claim 2, in which when the first band (150) and the second band (152) are in the active configuration, the locking device is able to pass from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration. An assembly (111a) according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the sheath (146) is rubber. An assembly (111a) according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first strip (150) and the second strip (152) are metallic. An assembly (111a) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the handle (114) extends along the end of the door (112) opposite the axis of rotation (D1). Assembly (111a) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the door (112) has a height (H) in a direction (Z) parallel to the axis of rotation (D1) and intended to be vertical, and wherein the handle (114) extends over at least two thirds of the height (H), preferably the full height (H), of the door (112). Assembly (111a) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the internal surface (140a) has a height (H1) in a direction (Z) parallel to the axis of rotation (D1), the unlocking device ( 118) extending over the entire height (H1) of the inner surface (140a). Cabinet (100), in particular refrigerated, comprising:
- a box (110) defining at least one opening (132), and
- at least one assembly (111a) according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
wherein the door (112) is mounted on the box (110) and is movable between a closed position in which said door (112) obstructs said at least one opening (132) and an open position. Transport vehicle (10) comprising at least one piece of furniture (100) according to claim 9.