GB2049404A

GB2049404A - Sliding furniture fittings with electrical connections

Info

Publication number: GB2049404A
Application number: GB8009476A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HOERSTER V
Current assignee: HOERSTER V
Priority date: 1979-03-23
Filing date: 1980-03-20
Publication date: 1980-12-31
Also published as: BE882383A; IT8020805A0; FR2451987A1; DE2911442A1; IT1131015B

Abstract

A set of sliding furniture fittings includes a respective guide rail (3-6) to be mounted in a fixed manner in the upper and lower part of the article of furniture, and corresponding respective running rails (14-18) to be secured to the displaceable element, the running rails being displaceable and being guided [in vertical and/or in horizontal direction] along their respective guide rails by means of running rollers (7, 8, 11, 12, 13), the upper or the lower guide rail (3-6) being provided with an electric contact rail (19) with which a current collector (20), secured to the corresponding running rail (14-18) is in contact by sliding contact means (21). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Set of fittings for furniture with displaceable cupboard elements, shelf parts, doors and the like The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed economically producible set of fittings for furniture which will be easy to mount and with which displaceable cupboard elements, shelf parts, doors or the like are guided on the article of furniture in a stable and non-tiltable manner and with easy motion, and which at the same time provides, for the lighting of electrical apparatus orthe like installed in the cupboard element or shelf part or on the door, a simple and durable current supply and collection system in which electric cables will be largely avoided.

According to the present invention, this problem is solved by means of the features indicated in the characterizing part of appended claim 1, the constructional characteristics given in the appended subsidiary claims constituting advantageous further developments of the solution adopted and of the characteristics of the invention.

The subject of the invention extends not only to the characteristics of the appended individual claims but also to any combination thereof.

The invention provides the following advantages: 1. The set of fittings for the upper and lower displacement guide system for cupboard elements, shelf parts, doors and the like on the article of furniture is made up of a small number of simply constructed inexpensively producible and durable individual components which are easy to mount; 2.The set of fittings provides a stable and reliable guiding system for the cupboard elements, shelf parts and doors, takes up their weight and secures them in a non-titlable manner, thanks to the advantageous arrangement and functioning of the system; 3. an electric current supply and collection system is integrated into the fittings, enabling lighting to be provided and current to be supplied to electrical apparatus mounted on the cupboard element, shelf or door, thereby very largely dispensing with electric cables; 4. a contact rail is inserted in the upper guide rail and extends over the entire length of the guide rail, while a current collector is positioned on the upper running rail and is in contact with the contact rail by means of sliding contacts, enabling reliable collection of current to take place over the entire displacement stroke, without recourse to electric cables;; 5. the current is supplied to the contact rail by a simple current feed which can be inserted into the guide rail and secured therein; 6. the guide rails are formed from extruded aluminium sections with securing devices secured onto them for the contact rail and with running bars shaped onto them for the running rollers of the running rails, the running rollers having a rolling arrangement in the vertical and horizontal direction, to ensure stable and reliable guiding action; 7. simply constructed brake stops, which are easy to mount and reliable in operation, are inserted in the end part of the displacement stroke of the guide rail, and ensure gradual braking by interaction with the running rollers.

Some embodiments of the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a fitting situated in the upper part of an article of furniture, and consisting of a fixed guide rail, of a displaceable running rail, and of a contact rail situated in the guide rail; Figure 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, and in a form different from that of Figure 1, of the fitting situated in the upper part of the article of furniture; Figure 3 is a rear view of the upper guide rail; Figure 4 is a front view of a current collector situated on the running rail and interacting with the contact rail; Figure 5 is a plan view of the current collector; Figure 6 is a plan view of a current feed which can be secured to the guide rail; Figure 7 is a side view of the current feed;; Figure 8 is a front view of a travelling carriage displaceable along the guide rail; Figure 9 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a fitting situated in the lower part of the article of furniture and consisting of a guide rail and a running rail; Figure 10 is an end elevation, partly in section, and in a form different from that shown in Figure 9, of the fitting situated in the lower part of the article of furniture; Figures 11- 13 are three views of a brake stop insertable in the upper guide rail; Figures 14-16 are three views of a second brake stop insertable in the upper guide rail.

The set of fittings for furniture with displaceable elements (cupboard elements) 1 and doors 2 has guide rails 3/4, 5/6 to be mounted in a fixed position in the upper and in the lower part of the article respectively, and also a running rail 14to 18 which can be secured to the cupboard element 1 and door 2, and which is displaceable, guided in the vertical and/or horizontal direction, along the guide rail 3/4,5/6, with running rollers 7,8,11,12,13, the running rail 16 being constructed for the door 2 as a travelling carriage.

In the upper or lower, and preferably in the upper, guide rail 3/4 is an electrical contact rail 19, with which a current collector 20, secured to the upper or lower, and preferably the upper, running rail 14/15 is in contact by means of sliding contacts 21.

Reference will now be made to the first embodiment of the set of fittings, as shown in Figures 1 and 3: The guide rail 3 is formed of an aluminium rail of c-shaped cross-section and is secured to the top of the article of furniture 58 by screws or similar means, the "C" being open towards the top.

The "C" limb 22 farther away from the front of the article of furniture has two horizontal stems 23 projecting towards the inside and provided at their front ends with thickened beadings 23a. On the C web 24, a further detent beading 23a extends upwardly underneath the aforementioned detent beadings 23a. Between these stems 23 and beadings 23a, as well as the C-web 24, the two-pole contact rail 19 is secured in position and is preferably made in two parts, being in each case formed from a plastics section 25 with a current conductor 26 which is let into the said plastics profiled part and which is accessible from the outside by means of the sliding contact 21. This contact rail 19 extends over the entire length of the guide rail 3.

The running rail 14 is formed by a U-shaped section bar of which the "U" is open towards the bottom and which has a securing part 28 which can be fixed to the top of the displaceable cupboard element 1. At both longitudinal ends of the running rail 14 are sets of three running rollers 7 and 8, of which two running rollers 7, at a distance from each other, extend on the inside of the U-limb 29 engaging the guide rail 3 and are mounted in such a way as to be rotatable about horizontal axes 7a. Between these two running rollers 7, under the U-web 30, the third running roller 8 is mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis 8a, the U-limb 29 having a cutout 29a in the zone of the said horizontally situated running roller 8.

The running rollers 7 and 8 have a concave or prismatic bearing surface 31, and the two vertical running rollers 7 rest on a running bar 32 raised off the C-web 24, while the horizontal running roller 8 rests against a running bar 34 positioned at the upper end of the front C-limb 33 and directed towards the inside. Both running bars 32 and 43 are shaped onto the guide rail 3 and provided with bearing surfaces corresponding to the bearing surfaces 31 of the rollers.

The U-shaped running rail 14 extends by its U-opening over the C-limb 33, its U-limb 29 being situated at a certain distance from the contact rail 19, thus leaving, for the current collector 20, a free space between the contact rail 19 snd the U-limb 29.

The running bar 32 in the C-web side is a shorter distance from the C-web 33 than from the contact rail 19.

To the running rail 14the current collector 20 is affixed in the central zone in the longitudinal direction, e.g. by means of screws, and comes to rest against the outside of the U-limb 29, partly extending beyond the U-web 30. From this current collector 20 the two sliding contacts 21, situated one above the other, extend outwards to the side, engaging the contact bar 19, where they are in sliding contact with the two current collectors 26 and are preferably held against the said current collectors 26 by spring tension.

In a preferred version, the current collector 20 is constructed as a socket part and is provided at its front end with two socket apertures 35 into which a plug part 36, provided with an electric cable 37, can be inserted. This electric cable 37 leads to the lamp orto an electrical apparatus in the cupboard element 1, shelf part, on the door 2, or the like.

The current is fed into the contact rail 19 from a longitudinal end of the guide rail 14. This purpose is served by the current feed 38 which is shown in Figures 6 and 7 and which is mounted as a U-shaped attachment onto the guide rail 14 from the end, extending over the U-limb 22 on the outside and over the contact rail 19 on the inside in the process, so that one U-limb 38a rests against the outside of the U-limb 22 of the guide rail while the other U-limb 38b rests against the longitudinal side of the guide rail, which side is accessible to the current conductors 26, the U-web 38c abutting against the front end of the guide rail 14 and contact rail 19.

On the U-limb 38b of the current feed 38 there are two contacts 39 situated one above the other, extending into the space formed bythe"U" and coming into contact with the current conductors 26.

An electric cable 40 extends into the current feed 38 and is connected to the contacts 39 for the supply of the electric current. The current feed 38 attached is fixed in position by a clamp screw 41 passing through the limb 38a and acting on the U-limb 22 of the guide rail.

The further version of the set of fittings, as shown in Figures 2 and 8, will now be described. This version of the fittings very largely corresponds to that shown in Figures 1 and 3, the same reference numbers being retained for the same components, and the parts already described are therefore no longer described separately, the description being confined to the alterations or additions.

The constructional version of the fittings which is shown in Figures 2 and 8 is suitable for the displaceable mounting of the cupboard element 1 and the doors 2, so that in contra-distinction to the first version, which is only designed for displaceable cupboard elements 1, it is provided with an additional guide. In this case, the C-shaped aluminium section 4 is prolonged by its C-web 24 beyond the C-limb 33 and towards the cupboard element 1, this prolongation 24 being provided at the top with a running bar 42. The travelling carriage 16 for the displaceable door 2 is suspended on this running bar 42, so that the door is borne by the travelling carriage 16 in a suspended position.The travelling carriage 16 is formed by a plate 43, provided in its upper zone with two running rollers 11 situated side by side and at a distance apart and rotatable about horizontal axes 11 and resting by their concave bearing surface 31 on the corresponding constructed running bar 42. In the bottom zone the plate 43 is provided, on the side situated opposite to the rollers 11, with two or more dowels 44, while in the middle zone it is provided with insertion apertures 45 for screws or similar devices for securing the doors.

The running rail 15, by comparison with the running rail 14, has a U-web 30 lengthened in the cross-sectional width, since between the U-limbs 27,29 there is also the displaceable door 2.

The lower version of the fittings, which is shown in Figures 9 and 10, is designed for a one- or two-roller guiding system and is usable with either of the upper types of fitting.

According to Figure 9, the running rail 17 is formed from a rail extending over the entire width of the cupboard element or from a number of individual webs, while the rail 17 passing the whole way through bears a number of running rollers 12 and each individual web 17 has its own running roller 12.

The bar-shaped or web-shaped running rail 17 is preferably bent Z-wise and secured by means of screws or the like underneath the cupboard element 1. On a zone 17a, bent downwards and then proceeding in a horizontal plane, are the horizontally positioned running rollers 12, each mounted around a vertical rotation axis 12a. To the article of furniture 58 there is affixed, by means of screws or the like, the aluminium guide rail 5, which is formed by an angle section and of which the uppermost side of the angle, directed towards the cupboard element, forms a horizontal running bar 5a with a convex or prismatic bearing surface against which the running roller 12 rests by its own corresponding bearing surface.

The cupboard element 1 is thus supported in a horizontal plane by the running roller 12 and the guide rail 5. This lower guiding system according to Figure 9 is used in particularforthe upper guiding system according to Figure 1.

In Figure 10 the guide rail 6 is formed by a U-shaped aluminium section which is affixed to the article of furniture 58 by means of screws or the like, both limbs of the U, which are directed towards the cupboard element 1 and which rest one above the other in a horizontal plane, forming running bars 6a with a convex or prismatic bearing surface.

The running rail 18 continues the whole way in the form of a rail or is subdivided into a number of bars, a continuous rail having a number of running rollers, while individual bars will bear one roller 13 each.

This running rail 18 is likewise affixed underneath the cupboard element 1.

The running rail 18, constructed as a bar or formed by webs, is provided on its zone 18a, which is bent downwards and takes a horizontal course, with running rollers 13 which are each rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation 13a and which rest against the lower running bar 6a of the guide rail 6. As this guide system shown in Figure 10 is particularly suitable for the upper guide system shown in Figure 2, i.e. with a sliding door 2, the zone 18a of the running rail is prolonged from the bottom of the cupbard element 1 and passes under the door 2. To the door 2 is affixed a second running rail 46 of baror web-shape which is of angular construction and which, on the horizontal lower side 46a of the angle, bears one or more running rollers 13 each of which is rotable about a vertical axis 13a and which rest against the upper running bar 6a of the guide rail 6.

The cupboard element 1 and the door 2 are thus guided at the bottom by the double rollers 13.

By the weight of the cupboard element 1 the latter is supported in the horizontal direction by the lower rollers 12,13 and prevented from tilting.

If the zone 18a of the running rail is shortened and if the angular running rail 46 is secured to the cupboard element 1,the said cupboard element 1 will thus be provided at the bottom with a double guide system and can be used in the case of the upper guide system shown in Figure 1. It is also possible on the running rail 18, for two running rollers 13 to be situated one above the other and allowed to rest against the U-shaped guide rail 6.

The sliding rails 14,15,16,17,18 and 46 are preferably made of steel plate. The running rollers 7,8,11,12 and 13 are made of metal or plastics.

The brake stops 9 and 10 shown in Figures 11-16 serve to brake the displaceable cupboard element 1 and the sliding door 2.

The brake stop 9 is intended for the door 2 and is formed by a stop 47 of rectangular cross-section which is provided, on each of two opposite sides of the rectangle, with a channel 48 corresponding to the running bar 42. This stop 47 is mounted, in the end part of the sliding stroke of the door, and by means of a channel 48, on the running bar 42, after which it is affixed to the C-web, as shown in Figure 13, by means of screws 49 which pass through recesses 50 provided in the stop 47 so that the said stop 47 extends along in the zone of motion of the running rollers 11 and is secured to the guide rail 4.

At the end facing towards the door 2 the stop 47 has a resilient "brake web" 51 which is slightly convex and which, when the roller 11 runs in the opposite direction, along its lateral brake surface Sla, is pressed away in the direction of the C-web so that the door 2 is gradually braked until the running roller 11 encounters the stop 47.

The brake stop shown in Figures 14-16 serves to brake the cupboard element 1 and is inserted in the guide rail 3,4 in the direction of motion of the running rollers 7,8. This brake stop 10 likewise has a stop 52 of rectangular cross-section with two mutually opposite channels 53, one of which extends over the running bar 32 of the guide rail 3,4.

Screws 54 are inserted through apertures 55 and fix the stop 51 in position on the web 24 of the guide rail.

At one end, facing towards the cupboard element 1, the stop 52 has a resilient "brake web" 56 with a convex braking surface 56a which is encountered by the vertical running roller 7, pressing the web 56 away sideways in the direction of the contact rail 19, this process being accompanied by a gradual braking action, until the roller 7 likewise encounters the end surface of the stop 52, so that the cupboard element 1 is interrupted in its sliding action.

The stops 47,52, with brake webs 51,56, are preferably made of plastics and in one piece. In order to increase the resilience provided by the material, the brake web 51,56 can also be provided with a channel 57 which weakens it. As the stops 47,52 are provided on both sides with channels 48,53, the brake stops 9,10 can be used on the left and on the right.

The item marked 59 is a stop lug shaped onto the free end of the web prolongation 24a on the guide rail 4 and directed downwards.

Claims

1. A set of fittings, for furniture with displaceable furniture elements such as cupboard elements and doors, comprising a guide rail to be mounted in a fixed position respectively in the upper and in the lower part of the article of furniture, and a running rail to be secured to the displaceable element and which is itself displaceable and guided in the vertical and/or horizontal direction along the guide rail running rollers, the upper or lower guide rail being provided with an electric contact rail with which a current collector, secured to the running rail, is in contact through sliding contact means.

2. A set of fittings, in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electric contact rail is fixed in the upper guide rail in such a manner as to extend over the entire length of the upper guide rail, the current collector being positioned in a central longitudinal zone of the upper running rail.

3. A set of fittings, in accordance with either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the upper guide rail has a C-shaped cross-section and is of aluminium.

4. A set of fittings, in accordance with any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide rail, of which the "C" is open upwardly, is provided on that limb of the "C" which is further away from the displaceable furniture element with two stems which are directed inwardly and situated one above the other, and which are provided at their free end with a bead, whilst on the web of the "C" underneath said bead there is another bead directed upwardly, and wherein the contact bar is divided into two parts each consisting of a plastics section with a current conductor inserted in it and accessible from the opening of the "C", the contact bar being secured in position between the stems and beads, in the guide rail.

5. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein there is provided, at the upper end of the "C" limb adjacent to the displaceable furniture element, an inwardly directed running bar, an upwardly directed running bar being formed on the "C" web at a distance from the "C" limb, and both running bars having a convex or prismatic contact surface.

6. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the upper running rail has a U-shaped cross-section with the "U" opening downwards, and wherein the U-limb facing away from the article of furniture has on it a securing part which can be secured to the displaceable furniture element, the other U-limb engaging the guide rail and the U-web both being provided in the two longitudinal terminal zones of the guide rail with a respective set of rollers.

7. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein on a limb of the "U" in each of its terminal longitudinal zones there are provided two running rollers which are situated side by side and at a distance from each other and each of which is rotatable about a horizontal axis and which rest on the running bar which is situated on the guide web side, and wherein on the U-web between the two vertical running rollers there is a further running roller which is rotatable about a vertical axis and which rests against the running bar which is situated on the side corresponding to the aforementioned limb, the horizontal running roller being situated in the region of a recess provided in the limb.

8. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the C-web for the displaceable door guide is prolonged beyond the C-limb in the direction of the cupboard element, and wherein on this prolongation there projects a running bar with a convex or prismatic bearing surface, on which said bar there is supported by running rollers a running rail constructed as a travelling carriage and carrying the door.

9. A set of fittings, in accordance with claim 8, wherein the travelling carriage is formed by a plate, with two running rollers which are situated adjacent to each other in the upper zone and which are rotatable about a horizontal axis, and by a number of dowels which are provided in the lower zone and which project from the side opposite to the running rollers, and by passages for screws or like means for securing the door.

10. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the current collector is affixed to that side of the limb which faces towards the contact rail and to the web of the running rail, and is provided with two sliding contacts which are situated one above the other at a distance apart and which extend from the current collector and which are held against the current conductor of the contact rail under resilient force.

11. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the current collector is constructed as a socket element and is provided with two socket apertures provided on the end surface facing in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and is adapted to receive a plug part connected to an electric cable.

12. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein for the supply of current there is provided a U-shaped current feed which extends at one longitudinal end of the guide rail over the end of the C-limb of the rail and of the contact rail, and which is provided on the inside of the U-limb with two projecting contacts which provide contact with the current conductors, and with a current feed cable.

13. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the lower guide rail is formed by an aluminium element of angular crosssection which can be secured to the article of furniture and of which the horizontal side of the angle forms a running bar with a convex or prismatic surface, and wherein there is secured, by means of one or more running rollers each of which is rotatable about a vertical axis, on the lower side of the cupboard element, a web-like running rail which extends over the entire width of the cupboard element and which is bar-shaped or embraces separate zones of the width of the cupboard element, the cupboard element being secured against tilting and its weight being supported on the running bar.

14. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the lower guide rail is formed by an aluminium element which is U-shaped in cross-section and which can be secured to the article of furniture and of which the two limbs of the "U", which are situated one above the other and are horizontal and face toward the cupboard element, form running bars with a convex or prismatic bearing surface, and wherein on the lower side of the cupboard element there is secured a web-like running rail which extends for the entire width of the cupboard element and which is bar-shaped or which embraces separate zones of the width of the cupboard element, the rail being secured by one or more running rollers each of which is rotatable about a vertical axis and rests against the lower running bar, and wherein a bar-shaped or webshaped running rail is secured on the door with one or more running rollers each of which rests against the upper running bar and is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation.

15. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein there is provided a brake stop which can be secured in the terminal displacement zone of the cupboard element and on the door in the guide rail, and which is provided with a stop of plastics or like material, which is rectangular in cross-section and which has, on each of two mutually opposite sides of the rectangle, a channel to extend over the running bars of the guide rail and which can be used on the right or the left, and which has passages for securing screws or the like, a resilient braking web with a convex braking surface being formed on one end face of said stop.

16. A set of fittings, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the running rails are Z-shaped or angular, and are made of metal.

17. A set of fittings, for furniture with displaceable furniture elements, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.