WO2010131211A2

WO2010131211A2 - A mechanism for the displacement of coplanar doors of a piece of furniture

Info

Publication number: WO2010131211A2
Application number: PCT/IB2010/052109
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro Cinetto
Original assignee: Cinetto F.Lli S.R.L.
Priority date: 2009-05-12
Filing date: 2010-05-12
Publication date: 2010-11-18
Also published as: WO2010131211A3; EP2430270B1; EP2430270A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanism (1) for the displacement of coplanar doors of a piece of furniture. The mechanism comprises a first and a second displacement shoe (10, 20) each connected to one of said doors. One of said shoes comprises a main carriage (11) with a first (11a) and a second axle (lib) connected rigidly to a frame. Said main carriage has wheels for displacement along a pair of parallel longitudinal guides (5a, 5b). Said shoe also comprises an attachment bracket (40) connectable to the corresponding door. The bracket (40) comprises a first and a second slider (51, 52) that enable its connection respectively to the first (Ha) and to the second axle (lib). Said sliders (51, 52) enable a translation and a rotation of the bracket (40) with respect to the main carriage (11). The displacement mechanism also comprises guide means (9, 81, 82) operatively connected to the bracket (40) to induce its translation and rotation during the displacement of the main carriage (11).

Description

i

A MECHANISM FOR THE DISPLACEMENT OF COPLANAR DOORS OF A PIECE OF FURNITURE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of mechanisms for displacing the doors of items of furniture, such as cupboards, shelves or the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a mechanism for displacing two coplanar doors of a piece of furniture. The invention also relates to a piece of furniture comprising a mechanism for the displacement of its doors according to the present invention. STATE OF THE ART In recent years, the market has seen an increase in the demand for items of furniture with coplanar doors, wherein the doors are opened slidingly rather than by rotation around hinges with a vertical axis. In the majority of cases, the doors are displaced by means of displacement mechanisms that enable the two doors to move mutually from a closed position to an open position coinciding with which one door occupies a position overlapping and parallel to the other door.

An example of such displacement mechanisms is described in the patent application FR2603939. In detail, the mechanism in this solution comprises a pair of lower guides and a pair of upper guides connected respectively to the floor and ceiling of the space inside a piece of furniture that is closed/opened by means of doors. The mechanism also comprises brackets sliding on said guides with suitable sliding means. The above-described pairs of guides each comprise a first straight front guide and a second rear guide consisting of a straight section, parallel to the front guide, terminating with a curved end diverging from the front guide. The mechanism also comprises transversal guide elements that serve the purpose of displacing the connection brackets transversally as the brackets slide along the guides.

This solution, like others that are conceptually similar, has the drawback of demanding a large number of components for the manufacture of the mechanism. This aspect becomes crucial both in terms of cost and in terms of reliability because the large number of components considerably increases the risk of breakages and consequently considerably complicates any maintenance procedures. Moreover, the use of an upper guide assembly and a lower guide assembly has the additional disadvantage of increasing the time it takes to install the mechanism and consequently to manufacture the piece of furniture.

Hence the need to design new displacement mechanisms that enable the limits and drawbacks of the known technical solutions to be overcome. In particular, there is an evident need to have displacement mechanisms consisting of a limited number of components that are reliable and easy to manufacture at relatively competitive costs. The main aim of the present invention is therefore to produce a mechanism for the displacement of coplanar doors that enables the drawbacks of the known art to be overcome. In particular, one object of the present invention is to produce a displacement mechanism that consists of a limited number of components that are easy to assemble. Another object is to produce a displacement mechanism that is reliable in use and easy to manufacture at competitive costs. SUMMARY The mechanism according to the present invention comprises a first and a second displacement shoe operatively connected respectively to a first door and to a second door of a piece of furniture. At least one, and preferably both of said shoes comprise a main carriage with at least a first axle and a second axle rigidly connected to a frame. Said main carriage comprises a plurality of wheels that enable its displacement along a first guide and a second guide designed to be connected to a connection surface of a piece of furniture.

Said at least one displacement shoe comprises an attachment bracket designed to be connected to a corresponding one on said doors. Said bracket is connected to the first axle and to the second axle of the main carriage by means of a first and a second slider, respectively, which enable a translation and a rotation of the bracket with respect to the main carriage. The displacement mechanism also comprises guide means operatively connected to said bracket to determine said translation and said rotation during the displacement of the main carriage.

According to the present invention, the movement of the attachment bracket, and therefore of the door connected thereto, is determined by the combination of the movements of the main carriage along the longitudinal guides, and by the movement of the attachment bracket with respect to said carriage (a movement permitted by the two sliders and governed by the guide means operatively connected to the bracket). Clearly, the mechanism according to the invention achieves the displacement of the doors by means of a rather limited number of components, with obvious advantages in terms of its reliability in use and final manufacturing costs.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the attachment bracket guide means comprise a guide element located between the two longitudinal displacement guides and comprising a first and a second shaped grooves. The guide means comprise a first and a second guide roller respectively connected to the first and second sliders of the attachment bracket . The first guide roller is inserted pivotally in the first guide groove, while the second guide roller is inserted pivotally in the second groove.

According to the above-described solution, the interaction between the guide rollers and the corresponding grooves in which they can slide determines the movement of the attachment bracket with respect to the main carriage. The movement of the bracket is then translated into the movement of the door attached thereto.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the displacement mechanism comprises elastic means operatively interposed between the main carriage and the attachment bracket so as to exert a contrasting force that opposes the displacement of the bracket with respect to the carriage. This solution advantageously enables the movement of the bracket to be stabilised with obvious advantages in terms of the practicality of the mechanism in use.

The present invention also relates to a piece of furniture with coplanar doors, this term being intended to mean any article of civil or industrial furniture normally used in the domestic or working environment. The piece of furniture according to the invention comprises a structure defining a containment space accessible through an opening that can be closed or opened by means of at least a first and a second door. The piece of furniture comprises at least one displacement mechanism according to the present invention for moving said doors from a closed configuration to an open configuration. The displacement mechanism according to the invention can be fixed to a connection surface of the piece of furniture coinciding, for instance, with the portion that serves as the ceiling of its interior. According to one possible embodiment, the piece of furniture advantageously comprises a further displacement mechanism according to the invention fixed to a connection surface defined by the floor of said interior. In both cases, the mechanism enables the stable displacement of both of the doors by means of the attachment brackets of the two shoes connected on the same side to the corresponding doors. LIST OF FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages will become evident from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the displacement mechanism according to the present invention, non-limiting examples of which are shown in the attached drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 is a perspective view relating to a first embodiment of a displacement mechanism according to the present invention in a first operative configuration; - figure 2 is a second view of the mechanism of figure 1 in a second operative configuration;

- figure 3 is a perspective view of the mechanism of figure 1 in a further operative configuration;

- figure 4 is a first view from above of the mechanism in figure 1 ; - figure 5 is a first view from above of the mechanism of figure 2;

- figure 6 is a first view from above of the mechanism in figure 3;

- figure 7 is a second view from above of the mechanism in figure 1 showing the components of the mechanism in detail;

- figure 8 is a second view from above of the mechanism in figure 2 showing the components of the mechanism in detail;

- figure 9 is a second view from above of the mechanism in figure 3 showing the components of the mechanism in detail;

- figure 10 is a first view from above of a shoe for a displacement mechanism according to the present invention; - figure 11 is a second view from above of the shoe of figure 10 showing the components of the shoe in detail; - figure 12 is a perspective view relating to an operative condition of the shoe of figure 10 corresponding to the operative configuration of the mechanism in figure

1 ;

- figure 13 is a perspective view relating to an operative condition of the shoe of figure 10 corresponding to the operative configuration of the mechanism in figure

2;

- figure 14 is a perspective view relating to an operative condition of the shoe of figure 10 corresponding to the operative configuration of the mechanism in figure 3; - figure 15 is a perspective view relating to a main carriage of the shoe of figures 10 and 11 ;

- figure 16 is a view from above of the carriage of figure 15;

- figure 17 is a side view of the carriage of figure 15;

- figure 18 is a side view of the mechanism of figure 1 ; - figure 19 is a perspective view of the body of an attachment bracket for a displacement mechanism according to the present invention;

- figure 20 is a view from above of the body of figure 19;

- figure 21 is a side view of the body of figure 19;

- figure 22 is another side view of the attachment bracket of figure 19; - figure 23 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a displacement mechanism according to the present invention in a first operative configuration;

- figure 24 is a second perspective view of the mechanism of figure 23 in a second operative configuration;

- figure 25 is a perspective view of a carriage of the mechanism of figure 23; - figure 26 is a view from above of the carriage of figure 25;

- figure 27 is a side view of the carriage of figure 25;

- figure 28 is a view from above of the mechanism in figure 23;

- figure 29 is a view from above of the mechanism in figure 24;

- figure 30 is a cross-sectional view along XXX-XXX of figure 28; - figure 31 is a perspective view of an attachment bracket of the mechanism in figure 23;

- figure 32 is a view from above of the bracket of figure 31 ; - figure 33 is a side view of the bracket of figure 31 ;

- figure 34 is a first perspective view of a displacement shoe for the mechanism of figure 23;

- figure 35 is a view from above of the shoe of figure 34; - figure 36 is a side view of the shoe of figure 34;

- figure 37 is a second perspective view of the shoe in figure 34;

- figure 38 is a view from above of the shoe in figure 37;

- figure 39 is a perspective view relating to another embodiment of a displacement mechanism according to the present invention; - figure 40 is a first view from above of the mechanism of figure 39;

- figure 41 is a second view from above of the mechanism of figure 39 in an operative configuration different from the one shown in figure 40;

- figure 42 is a cross-sectional view along XLII-XLII of figure 40.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, the displacement mechanism 1,1A,1B according to the invention can be used to move two doors of a cabinet or another similar item of furniture fitted with doors. The mechanism 1,1A,1B comprises a first displacement shoe 10 and a second displacement shoe 20 respectively for the displacement of a first door 201 and a second door 202, a portion of which is illustrated in the figures (see figure 1, for instance). In the solutions illustrated, each displacement shoe 10,20 comprises a main carriage 11 , which is defined by a frame with at least a first axle 11A (hereinafter also called the "front axle" 11A) and at least a second axle 11B (hereinafter also called the "rear axle 11 B", or "first rear axle 11 B"), which are parallel to one another. The carriage 11 also comprises a pair of longitudinal sides 13A,13B, that rigidly connect the two axles 11 A,11 B.

The main carriage 11 also comprises a plurality of wheels, which enable its displacement. In detail, the carriage 11 preferably comprises at least one pair of front wheels 31 and at least one pair of rear wheels 32 that enable its displacement in a longitudinal direction 101 defined by a first guide 5A and a second guide 5B, which are parallel to one another and connectable to a connection surface 300 of a piece of furniture. Said connection surface 300 may coincide, for instance, with the ceiling or top of a space inside a piece of furniture designed to be opened/closed by means of said doors. The connection surface 300 may also be the floor of a piece of furniture, or of any other space that can be closed by means of said doors.

The two guides 5A,5B thus define a longitudinal translation direction 101 for the carriage 11 (see figure 4, for instance). In other words, the two guides 5A.5B define a plane of displacement or translation for the main carriage 11. The two axles 11A.11B extend in a direction 102 (hereinafter also indicated as the "transversal direction 102") orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 101.

Each of the two shoes 10,20 comprises an attachment bracket 40 designed to be connected to one of the doors 201,202 to displace. More precisely, the bracket 40 of the first shoe 10 can be connected to a first door 201 of the piece od furniture, while the attachment bracket 40 of the second shoe 20 can be connected to a second door 202 (see figures 2 and 3, for instance). Conventional screw fixing means may advantageously be used for said connection, or other functionally equivalent means.

The attachment bracket 40 is connected operatively to the main carriage 11 by means of a first slider 51 and a second slider 52 designed to translate and rotate the bracket 40 with respect to the carriage 11. More precisely, the two sliders 51 ,52 enable a translation of the bracket 40 in the transversal direction 102 (see figure 2) parallel to the axes 103,103A of the axles 11A,11 B. At the same time, the two sliders 51,52 enable a rotation of the bracket 40 with respect to the carriage 11 around an axis substantially orthogonal to the plane of displacement of the carriage 11, said plane being defined by the guides 5A.5B. In practice, according to the invention, the attachment bracket 40 can rotate and translate with respect to the main carriage 11 by means of the two sliders 51 ,52. The latter substantially represent the kinematic interface between the attachment bracket 40 and the main carriage 11. The displacement mechanism 1, 1 A, 1 B according to the invention comprises guide means 9,81,82 that act on the attachment bracket 40 to induce its translation and rotation during the displacement of the main carriage 11 in the longitudinal direction 101. In the example illustrated, the guide means comprise a guide element 9 located operatively between the first guide 5A and the second guide 5B (see figure 18, for instance). The guide element 9 comprises a first shaped groove 61 and a second shaped groove 62, each with a guide roller 81,82 inserted therein and connected to one of the two sliders 51,52. More precisely, a first guide roller 81 is connected to the first slider 51 and pivotally inserted in the second groove 62, while a second guide roller 82 is connected to the second slider 52 and pivotally inserted in the first groove 61.

The position occupied by the guide rollers 81,82 inside the corresponding grooves 61,62 determines the position of the attachment bracket 40 with respect to the corresponding main carriage 11. In other words, the interaction between the rollers 81,82 and the corresponding grooves 61,62, by means of the two sliders 51,52, determines a rotation-translation of the attachment bracket 40 with respect to the main carriage 11 during the longitudinal displacement of the carriage in the longitudinal direction 101. As a consequence, the combination of the longitudinal displacement of the main carriage 11 with the rotation-translation of the attachment bracket 40 determines the displacement of the door 201,202 connected to said bracket.

Figures 1 to 3 are perspective views relating to a first possible embodiment of a displacement mechanism according to the invention indicated by the numerical reference 1. Each of these figures shows the mechanism 1 in a particular operative configuration. In detail, figure 1 shows the mechanism 1 in a configuration according to which the two doors 201,202 are coplanar so that, in practice, they close the space inside the piece of furniture on which they are fitted. Figure 2, on the other hand, shows the mechanism 1 during a first displacement phase in which the second door 202 is tilted with respect to the first door 201. Figure 3 shows the mechanism 1 in a second displacement phase, subsequent to the first, in which the second door 202 moves parallel to the first door 201. In practice, in this second phase of displacement the two doors 201,202 are arranged on parallel planes so that the second door 202 can translate until it faces the first door 201. In this way, the part of the space in the piece of furniture previously closed by the second door 202 is thus opened. Figures 4 and 7 are views from above relating to the configuration of the mechanism 1 shown in figure 1, while Figures 5 and 8 are views from above relating to the configuration in figure 2, and figures 6 and 9 are views from above relating to the configuration of the mechanism 1 in figure 3. In particular, figures 7 to 9 show the shape of the main guide body 9, i.e. the shape of the grooves 61,62 in which the guide rollers 81,82 connected to the two sliders 51,52 connected to the attachment bracket 40. The first groove 61 has a central portion 61A substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 101 and two shaped terminal portions 61 B that are symmetrical with respect to the central portion 61 A. Similarly, the second groove 62 also has a straight central portion 62A parallel to that of the first groove 61A and two shaped terminal portions 62B symmetrical with respect to the central portion 62A.

For the sake of simplicity, reference is now made only to the second shoe 20. The shape and length of the shaped terminal portions 61 B of the first groove 61 and of the shaped portions 62B of the second groove 62 are designed so that, following the displacement of the main carriage 11, the two rollers 81,82, by means of the corresponding sliders 51,52, determine the extent and duration of the rotation-translation of the attachment bracket 40 with respect to the main carriage 11. The lengths of the central portion 61 A of the first groove 61 and of the central portion 62A of the second groove 62 are defined so as to enable the second door 202 to translate, after completing the rotation-translation phase, until it overlaps with the first door 201.

Below is a description of how the mechanism 1 functions, starting from the configuration shown in figures 1, 4 and 7, wherein the two doors of the piece of furniture 201,202 are.in a coplanar position. With reference to the second shoe 20, an action (indicated by the arrow F in figure 1) in the longitudinal direction 101 exerted on the second door 202 determines a longitudinal movement of the main carriage 11, enabled by the displacement of the two guide rollers 81,82 in the two grooves 61,62 of the guide element 9. The interaction between the rollers 81,82 and the grooves 61,62 determines the corresponding displacement of the two sliders 51,52, which is translated into a translation and rotation of the attachment bracket 40 with respect to the carriage 11, as shown in figures 5 and 8. The rotation-translation of the bracket 40 comes to an end when the guide rollers 81,82 reach the central portions 61A.62A of the two grooves 61,62, which are parallel to one another. In this condition (figures 6 and 9), the subsequent longitudinal displacement of the main carriage 11 determines an overlapping of the second door 202 over the first door 201. In fact, when the guide rollers 81,82 move in the central portions 61A,62A, the attachment bracket 40 maintains a fixed position with respect to the main carriage 11.

To describe the structure and operation of the mechanism 1 , reference is again made below (only for the sake of simplicity) to the second shoe 20, but the technical solutions and the subsequent considerations are also applicable to the first shoe 10. As shown in figure 7, the mechanism 1 has a symmetrical structure with respect to an axis of symmetry X parallel to the transversal direction 102 and orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 101. In practice, the two shoes 10,20 are structurally and functionally equivalent, being operatively symmetrical with respect to said axis of symmetry.

Figures 10 and 12 are a view from above and a perspective view, respectively, of the second shoe 20 in the operative configuration of the mechanism also shown in figures 1, 4 and 7. Figures 13 and 14 are perspective views of the second shoe 20 in the operative configuration of the mechanism 1 shown in figures 2,5,8 and in figures 3,6,9, respectively. From a comparison between figure 13 and figure 12, it is clear that, when the displacement of the second shoe 20 begins, the range of transversal movement (i.e. the displacement in the direction 102) of the second slider 52 is greater than that of the first slider 51. This is due to the greater curvature of the shaped portion 61 B of the first groove 61 with respect to that of the shaped portion 62B of the second groove 62. From the operative standpoint, this is translated into a rapid tilting of the second door 202 as soon as the longitudinal displacement of the main carriage 10 of the second shoe 20 begins. As this displacement continues, the tilting of the second door 202 diminishes, following an increase in the range of transversal movement of the first slider 51 and a slowing of the transversal displacement of the second slider 52. When the condition shown in figure 14 is reached, this coincides with a position of the two guide rollers 81,82 inside the central portions 61A.62A of the respective grooves 61 ,62. This corresponds to a constant transversal position for both the sliders 51 ,52.

Figures from 15 to 17 are views from different observation points of a main carriage 11 of a displacement shoe 10,20 according to the present invention. As shown in the figures, the carriage 11 preferably has two pairs of front wheels 31, 31 A, two pairs of rear wheels 32,32B, and two pairs of intermediate wheels 33.33A located in a position midway between the front wheels 31, 31 A and the rear wheels 32.32A. These wheels (front, rear and intermediate) are preferably of the "grooved" type. As a consequence, the first guide 5A and the second guide 5B are in the shape of rails or tracks with a rounded cross-section (see figure 18) corresponding to the shape of the groove in the wheels 31,32 so that they are able to roll. The use of grooved wheels advantageously avoids any disengagement of the wheels 31,32, or loss of contact between said wheels and the guides/rails 5A,5B. It has been seen, moreover, that the number and position of the above- described wheels (front, rear, intermediate) advantageously enables the carriage to discharge the weight of the corresponding door 201,202 more evenly on the longitudinal guides 5A,5B. This aspect increases the versatility in use of the mechanism 1 in that it can be employed to move doors 201,202 with a broad range of weights. Again with reference to figures from 15 to 17, the main carriage 11 preferably comprises a further axle 11C (hereinafter also called the "second rear axle 11 C") in a position proximal to the first rear axle 11 B. More precisely, the second rear axle 11C extends along an axis 103B parallel to the axis 103 of the front axle 11A and to the axis 103A of the first rear axle 11B. The above-described axles 11A,11B and 11C preferably have a substantially cylindrical shape and advantageously have a cross-section of the same diameter so that they can be made starting from the same cylindrical bar, for instance.

As shown in figures 15 and 16, the main carriage 11 comprises two cross members 16A.16B that extend parallel to the first 11 A, second 11B and third axle 11 C. Said cross members 16A,16B, in the form of a pin for instance, connect the two longitudinal sides of the frame 13A,13B and, at the same time, they provide a seat for a helical spring 98A,98B, the purpose of which is described in detail later on. The side view of figure 17 shows another particular feature of the main carriage 11, according to which the front wheels 31, 31 A, rear wheels 32.32A and intermediate wheels 33,33A are pivotally attached to the longitudinal sides 13A,13B of the frame so that the corresponding rotation axis T1 comes to be lower than the plane identified by the axes 103,103A,103B of the axles 11A,11B with respect to a reference plane R defined by the guides/rails 5A.5B on which the wheels of the carriage 11 rest. Thanks to this solution, the frame of the carriage 11 is relatively high with respect to the reference plane R affording the advantage of containing the height of the guides/rails 5A,5B. Figure 18 is a side view of the displacement mechanism 1 in the configuration shown in figure 1. As shown in this figure, the mechanism 1 comprises a profiled body 5 that has a resting surface 55 designed to rest on a connection surface 300 of a piece of furniture, such as the portion forming the ceiling of the piece of furniture concerned, also called the top of the piece of furniture. The first guide 5A and the second guide 5B extend from a surface opposite to the resting surface 55 and from mutually opposite sides of a seat in which the guide element 9 is contained. Said seat is defined by a flat surface 55B opposite to the resting surface 55, delimited laterally by two opposite longitudinal lateral containment surfaces 57. A pair of portions of the containment edge 58 extend in a position opposite to the flat surface 55B, each extending from one of the lateral containment surfaces 57. The structure of this seat enables the guide element 9 to maintain its operative position unchanged with respect to the profiled body 5, which is to the advantage of the reliability of operation of the mechanism 1. In an alternative embodiment to the one described (not shown), the guide element 9 could be an integral part of the profiled body 5.

Again with reference to figure 18, the profiled body 5 comprises a first longitudinal side 41 from which a first edge 41 A extends that faces towards the resting surface 55. Said first edge 41 A defines a third guide 5C, which extends in a position parallel and opposite to the first guide 5A. The profiled body 5 also comprises a second longitudinal side 42, opposite to the first side 41, from which a second edge 42A extends that defines a fourth guide 5D parallel and opposite to the second guide 5B. In other words, according to this solution, the profiled body 5 comprises a first pair of opposite guides/rails (the first 5A and the third 5C) that guide the wheels keyed to a longitudinal side 13A of the carriage 11 and a second pair of guides/rails (the second 5B and the fourth 5D) that guide the wheels of the carriage 11 keyed to the other longitudinal side 13B. This solution further improves the operative stability of the main carriage 11 and ensures a better distribution and absorption of the loads to which said carriage is submitted.

As already explained above, the first slider 51 of the mechanism 1 is coupled to the first axle 11A so as to be slidable in a transversal direction 102 orthogonal to the direction in which the carriage 11 moves. At the same time, the first slider 51 is coupled to the first axle 11A so as that it can rotate around a rotation axis orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 101 and to the transversal direction 102. In other words, the first slider 51 can rotate around an axis orthogonal to the plane of translation of the carriage 1 1. The second slider 52 of the mechanism 1 is coupled to the second axle 11 B, and preferably also to the third axle 11 C, so as to be slidable in the transversal direction 102 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 101. In other words, unlike the first slider 51, the second slider 52 has only one degree of freedom of movement along the two rear axles 11 B,11C.

The attachment bracket 40 is integrally connected to the first slider 51 so as to strictly follow its movements, while it is connected to the second slider 52 so as to rotate with respect to the latter around a rotation axis 500 (see figure 21) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 101 and to the transversal direction 102. In practice, the attachment bracket 40 is connected to the second slider 52 by means of a turning kinematic coupling that defines said rotation axis 500. Figures from 19 to 22 are views of the attachment bracket 40 connected to the two sliders 51,52 of the mechanism 1 , while Figure 11 is another view from above of the second shoe 20, showing in more detail the structure of the various components. As illustrated, the attachment bracket 40 comprises a main body 4OB with a first terminal part 141 connected rigidly to the first slider 51 and a second terminal part 142 connected pivotally to the second slider 52. The first slider 51 consists of a first portion 51 A and a portion 51 B, with the first terminal part 141 of the attachment bracket 40 in between (see also figure 18)'. The first slider 51 comprises a first 91 and a second swivel bush 92, respectively inserted in the first portion 51 A and in the second portion 51 B (see figure 11). The two swivel bushes 91,92 comprise an external portion 91 A that is integral with the corresponding portion 51A,51B of the first slider 51 and an internal portion 91 B coupled to the external portion 91A by means of a substantially spherical coupling surface (see figure 19).

For each of these swivel bushes 91,92, the corresponding internal portion 91B is slidable along the first axle 11A in the transversal direction 102 defined by the axis 103A of said axle. The internal portion 91 B is also coupled with clearance to the first axle 11 A so that it also retains a degree of freedom of translation in the longitudinal direction 101 (orthogonal to the direction 102). By means of the corresponding parts 91A,91B, the two swivel bushes 91,92 substantially define a pair of ball joints that afford a freedom of rotation for the first slider 51 (and consequently for the attachment bracket 40) with respect to the main carriage 11 (see figure 11 ).

Again with reference to the view from above in figure 11 , the second slider 52 comprises a sliding body 52A slidably coupled to the second axle 11B and to the third axle 11C by means of a pair of bushings 53A.53B, preferably with recirculating ball bearings. More precisely, a first ball bushing 53A couples the sliding body 52A to the second axle 11B, while a second ball bushing 53B couples the sliding body 52A to the third axle 11 C. The coupling of the body 52A to both the rear axles 11B,11C according to the above-described solution enables the second slider 52 to slide stably in the transversal direction 102. Moreover, the use of the bushings 53A.53B facilitates the kinematic coupling between the parts to the advantage of the reliability and working life of the mechanism.

As explained above, the second slider 52 is coupled to the second terminal part 142B of the body 4OB of the bracket 40 by means of a kinematic coupling that defines a rotation axis 500 for said bracket 40 (see figure 21). For this purpose, the second terminal part 142 of the bracket 40 has a substantially fork-like structure comprising two connecting portions 142B between which the connecting portion 52B of the second slider 52 is inserted. The rotation axis 500 of the bracket 40 with respect to the second slider 52 is defined by a pin 145 (see figure 11) and by a pair of axial ball bearings 66, each inserted between a connecting portion 142B of the attachment bracket 40 and one side of the connecting portion 52B of the second slider 52. The pin 145 prevents any separation between the connecting portions 142B of the body 4OB and the part 52B of the second slider 52, while the axial bearings 66 define the kinematic interface between said parts. Clearly, the use of axial ball bearings (shown in figure 11 ) enables the displacement even of particularly heavy doors that could prove difficult to shift by means of conventional mechanisms.

As illustrated, the connecting portions 142B of the bracket 40 have a semicircular configuration geometrically conjugated with the shape of the sliding body 52A of the second slider 52 so as to make the connection particularly compact. In alternative embodiments, the two axial bearings 66 could be replaced by other, functionally equivalent connection means. Thus, included in the scope of the invention there is the opportunity to connect the attachment bracket 40 to the second slider 52 using different connection means from those described above, providing they can define an axis of mutual rotation 500 so as to be functionally equivalent to the one described above. In this regards, between the second terminal portion 142 of the bracket 40 and the second slider 52 there could be hinged connection means, for instance. With reference once again to figures 10 and 11 , the mechanism 1 according to the invention comprises elastic means for each of the two shoes 10,20 that are operatively interposed between the attachment bracket 40 and the main carriage 11. These elastic means serve the purpose of counteracting the movement of the bracket 40 so as to stabilise its movement and consequently also the operation of the mechanism 1. In the example illustrated, the elastic means comprise a first 98A and a second helical spring 98B, respectively arranged around the first cross member 16A and the second cross member 16B of the main carriage 11. With reference to figure 11 , a first end 97A of the helical springs 98A,98B abuts against the inside surface of the first longitudinal side 13A of the carriage 11 , while the opposite end 97B is designed to abut against a surface of the main body 4OB of the attachment bracket 40 when the latter moves closer to the first longitudinal side during the displacement of the corresponding shoe 10,20. It should be noted that the main body 4OB of the attachment bracket 40 comprises passages 77 respectively for the first 16A and the second cross member 16B. In particular, according to the embodiment shown in figure 21 , these passages 77 are substantially in the form of slots and are defined by a first portion (identified as L1 in figure 11 ) of wider cross-section and a second portion (identified as L2 in figure 11) of narrower cross-section. The space between the two portions L1 and L2 defines an abutment surface 45, as shown in figure 21 , against which the end 97B of one of the helical springs 98A.98B is designed to abut when the main body 4OB moves closer the first longitudinal side 13A, as in the operative configurations of the mechanism shown in figures 2,3,5 and 6.

From a comparison between the operative configuration of the mechanism in figure 12 and the one in figure 13, for instance, it is evident that, during the rotation-translation of the attachment bracket 40, the helical springs 98A,98B work under a compressive force and thus exert a compressive force on the body 4OB of the attachment bracket 40 in a direction that tends to restore the latter to the configuration of figure 12. The scope of the present invention naturally also includes the opportunity to provide the springs in a different operative position from the one illustrated in the figures so that they work, for instance, under a tensile force. With reference once again to figure 18, in addition to the main body 40B, the attachment bracket 40 also comprises a further substantially L-shaped body 4OC connecting the main body 4OB with the corresponding door 201 ,202. More precisely, said L-shaped body has a first portion connected to the main body 4OB of the attachment bracket and a second portion connected to the inside of said door. Both these connections can be made using conventional fixing means 205, such as screws or functionally equivalent means. The scope of the present invention nonetheless includes the opportunity to configure the main body 4OB of the attachment bracket 40 differently from the one described herein.

The scope of the present invention also includes the opportunity to configure the first slider 51 similarly to the second slider 52, i.e. a solution according to which the main body of the attachment bracket is also pivotally attached to the first slider 51. In this case, the latter would be obliged to move exclusively in the transversal direction in much the same way as explained for the second slider 52.

Further embodiments of the displacement mechanism according to the present invention are described below. It should be noted that, in the following descriptions and corresponding figures, the same or corresponding elements as those already described are indicated by means of the same numerical references and some of the details of the description are omitted.

Figures from 23 to 38 are perspective views relating to a second possible embodiment of a displacement mechanism according to the present invention identified below with the reference 1A. As in the first embodiment described above, the mechanism 1A also comprises a first 10 and a second shoe 20 for the displacement of a first 201 and second door 202, respectively (identified in figure 28). Figure 23 shows the mechanism 1A in the configuration according to which the two doors 201,202 are coplanar, while figure 24 shows the mechanism 1A during a displacement of the first shoe 10 intended to move the first door 201 into a position facing the second door 202 as described later on.

The mechanism 1A also comprises a main carriage 11, here again with a first axle 11A and a second axle 11 B, the axes 103.103A of which are parallel to one another. There are a first 5A and a second guide 5B, on which the main carriage 11 slides by means of a plurality of wheels 31,32. Said guides extend parallel in a longitudinal direction 101 and can be connected to the surface of a piece of furniture. Finally, as in the previous solution, each shoe 10,20 is fitted with an attachment bracket 40 connected to one of the doors 201,202 to move. Said bracket 40 is connected to a first 51 and a second slider 52 that enable its translation and rotation with respect to the main carriage 11. Moreover, in this solution too, the mechanism 1A comprises guide means that govern the rotation and translation of the bracket 40 during the displacement of the main carriage in the longitudinal direction.

Figures from 25 to 27 are views taken from different observation points of a main carriage 11 of one of the displacement shoes 10,20 of the mechanism 1A in figures 23 and 24. As illustrated, the carriage 11 comprises a first pair of main wheels 31 (front wheels 31) and a second pair of main wheels 32 (hereinafter also indicated as main rear wheels 32). The two front wheels 31 are each pivotally attached to one longitudinal side 13A.13B of the frame in a proximal to the first axle 11 A, while the rear wheels 32 are pivotally attached in a position proximal to the second axle 11 B. The front 31 and rear 32 main wheels are both pivotally attached to the sides 13A,13B of the frame so that they have a rotation axis T1 substantially parallel to the axis 103.103A of the axles 11 A, 11 B.

With reference to figures 25 and 26, the main carriage 11 also comprises a first pair of counteracting wheels 35 (hereinafter also called the front counteracting wheels 35) and a second pair of counteracting wheels 36 (hereinafter also called the rear counteracting wheels 36). The front counteracting wheels 35 and the rear counteracting wheels 36 are each pivotally attached to a longitudinal side 13A.13B of the frame so that they have a rotation axis T2 (figure 27) substantially orthogonal to the plane defined by the axes 103.103A of the two axles 11 A, 11 B, i.e. orthogonal to the axis T1 of the main wheels 31,32. As shown in the view from above in figure 26, the front counteracting wheels 35 are pivotally attached to the sides 13A.13B of the frame in a position proximal to the first axle 11 A, while the rear counteracting wheels 36 are in a position proximal to the second axle 11B.

With reference again to figures 25 and 26, as in the previous embodiment, so too in this solution the main carriage 11 comprises two cross members 16A.16B that extend parallel to the first axle 11A and to the second axle 11B. These members are preferably in the shape of a pin and connect the two sides 13A.13B of the frame, creating at the same time a seat for elastic means preferably in the form of helical springs 98A.98B.

The side view in figure 27 shows that the front wheels 31 and rear wheels 32 are pivotaily attached to the longitudinal sides 13A.13B of the frame a certain distance from the reference plane R1 (dotted line) identified by the axes 103,103A of the two axles 11 A,11 B. The frame (and consequently the two axles 11 A,11 B) is thus a certain distance from the plane of movement R on which the main wheels 31 ,32 rest. The front and rear counteracting wheels 35,36 are positioned instead so that they emerge laterally with respect to the longitudinal sides 13A,13B of the frame. More precisely, the counteracting wheels 35,36 are in a raised position with respect to the reference plane R (dotted line) on which the front wheels 31 and the rear wheels 32 are designed to rest.

Figures 28 and 29 are views from above of the mechanism 1A respectively in the operative configurations shown in figure 23 and in figure 24. In particular, figures 28 and 29 show the shape of the guide means of the mechanism. More in particular, they show the shape of the guide element 9 and of the corresponding grooves 61,62 in which the guide rollers 81,82 connected to the two sliders 51,52 of the attachment bracket 40 are inserted. With reference to figure 30, the guide element comprises a body with a prism-shaped structure that extends longitudinally and is defined by a base surface 9A, a pair of lateral surfaces 9B and a grooved surface 9C, from which the two grooves 61,62 extend towards the base surface 9A.

As in the case of the first embodiment, the first groove 61 has a central portion 61 A substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 101 and two shaped terminal portions 61 B, that are symmetrical with respect to the central portion 61 A. Similarly, the second groove 62 also has a central portion 62A that is straight and parallel to that of the first groove 61 A, as well as two sloping portions 62B that are symmetrical with respect to the central portion 62A. Here again, the shape and the length of the shaped portions of the first groove 61 B, and the tilting angle and length of the sloping portions 62B of the second groove 62 are designed so that the movement of the main carriage 11 of the first shoe 10 corresponds to a rotation-translation of the corresponding attachment bracket 40 so as to displace the first door 201. The first door 201 is displaced from the position shown in figure 28 (the doors 201,202 being coplanar) to a position where the two doors 201,202 are parallel, but not coplanar. After reaching this second position, i.e. at the end of the rotation of the bracket 40 with respect to the main carriage 11, the central portions 61A,62A of the two grooves 61,62 enable a further longitudinal translation (in the longitudinal direction 101) of the attachment bracket 40, i.e. of the first door 201, into a third position (not shown) where the two doors 201,202 will be facing one another.

With reference to the cross-sectional view of figure 30, in this second embodiment, the mechanism 1 comprises a first supporting profile 71 and a second supporting profile 72, which respectively configure the first displacement guide 5A and the second 5B. The two profiles 71 ,72 have a resting surface 55 designed to be connected to the connection surface 300 (indicated in figure 5 with a dotted line) of the piece of furniture, e.g. on the top that forms the upper end of the space that can be closed by the two doors 201 ,202. The profiles 71,72 can be connected to the connection surface 300 with the aid of connection means 70, such as screws or other functionally equivalent means.

As shown clearly in figure 30, the first guide 5A comprises a first surface 6A for supporting the main wheels 31 ,32 pivotally attached to a first longitudinal side 13A of the frame of the carriage 11 , while the second guide 5B comprises a second surface 6B for supporting the wheels 31 ,32 pivotally attached to the other longitudinal side 13B. The first guide 5A also comprises a first counteracting surface 17A supporting and enabling the rolling of the drive wheels 35,36 pivotally attached to the first longitudinal side 13A of the carriage 11 , while the second guide 5B comprises a second counteracting surface 17B supporting and enabling the rolling of the drive wheels 35,36 of the second longitudinal side 13B. The first counteracting surface 17A is substantially orthogonal to the first supporting surface 6A, so that the second counteracting surface 17B is substantially orthogonal to the second supporting surface 6B. According to the above-described solution, the main wheels 31 ,32 rolling on the supporting surfaces 6A,6B of the corresponding guides 5A.5B bear the weight of the displacement shoe and of the doors 201 ,202 connected thereto, as well as the vertical loads applied thereon. On the other hand, as the drive wheels 35,36 roll over the counteracting surfaces 17A.17B, they contrast the transversal loads coming to bear on the carriage 11 , making its displacement particularly stable. In other words, the drive wheels 35,36 keep the main carriage stably oriented in the longitudinal direction 101, preventing its rotation.

Again with reference to figure 30, the supporting profiles 71 ,72 are configured so that the longitudinal guides 5A,5B have a substantially C-shaped cross section (i.e. in the sense orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 101). In practice, in addition to having a supporting surface 6A,6B and a counteracting surface 17A.17B (orthogonal to the supporting surface), each guide 5A,5B also comprises an engaging surface 18 that is substantially orthogonal to the corresponding counteracting surface 17A.17B and substantially facing the corresponding supporting surface 6A,6B. The engaging surface 18 obliges the wheels 31,32 to remain constantly in contact with the corresponding counteracting surfaces 17B so as to contrast the stresses that tend to lift the carriage 11 off the supporting surfaces.

With reference again to figure 30, the two supporting profiles 71,72 preferably comprise a first upper portion 77 that configures the corresponding longitudinal guide 5A,5B and a second lower portion 78 that configures a seat for containing the lateral portion of the guide body 9 of the displacement mechanism 1. As illustrated, this seat has a substantially C-shaped structure and comprises at least an abutment surface 44 for a lateral surface 9B of the guide body 9. In practice, the two supporting profiles 71,72 are fixed to the connection surface 300 of the piece of furniture so as to longitudinally support and engage with the guide body 9 by means of the seats. Thanks to this solution, the guide body 9 remains stably in its operative position because it is retained along its whole length.

As shown in the figures, the two supporting profiles 71 ,72 have a substantially identical cross-section and are operatively connected to the item of furniture so as to occupy a position in which one faces the other. In practice, the profiles can advantageously be obtained by means of a crosswise cut, starting from the same profile. This is obviously extremely advantageous in terms of the final manufacturing costs.

Figures from 31 to 33, again relating to the mechanism 1A, show the attachment bracket 40 and the two sliders 51 ,52 connecting it to the main carriage 11. In this second embodiment, the attachment bracket 40 consists of a substantially L-shaped profile with a first leg 241 designed to be connected to a corresponding door 201,202 with the aid of connection means. Here again, fixing screws for attaching to the door, through suitable holes 241 B previously prepared in the door, could be used for this connection. The L-shaped profile constituting the attachment bracket 40 also has a second leg 242 substantially orthogonal to the first leg 241. As shown, the first slider 51 and the second slider 52 are rigidly connected to a surface 242B of the second leg 242 so as to occupy a position facing the first leg 241. The attachment bracket 40 also comprises a longitudinal supporting bar 243 facing towards the first leg 241 in the longitudinal portion coming between the two sliders 51 ,52. As explained later on, this longitudinal supporting bar 243 serves as an abutment surface for the elastic means interposed between the carriage 11 and the attachment bracket 40 so as to stabilise their relative displacement.

With reference to the view from above in figure 32, the two sliders 51 ,52 are connected to the second leg 242 each in the vicinity of a corner portion 249 of said second leg 242. Said connection can be achieved by using screw connection means or, alternatively, by means of a welding or other functionally equivalent technology.

With reference again to figures from 31 to 33, the first slider 51 and the second slider 52 each comprise a first portion 51A.52A and a second portion 51 B.52B that, in the example shown, are separated by the supporting bar 43. The first slider 51 and the second slider 52 each comprise a first swivel bush 91 contained in said first portion 51A.52A, and a second swivel bush 92 contained in said second portion 51 B,52B.

The two bushes 91,92 are structurally and functionally similar to those considered for the mechanism 1 relating to the figures from 1 to 22. The two bushes 91 ,92 of the first slider 51 are consequently free to slide along the first axle 11 B and they enable the rotation of said slider 51 with respect to the first axle 11 A. Similarly, the two bushes 91 ,92 of the second slider 52 are free to slide along the second axle 11 B, enabling the translation and rotation of said second slider 52 with respect to said second axle 11 B. For this purpose, the bushes 91 ,92 are coupled to the corresponding axle 11A,11 B with sufficient clearance to enable them to maintain a degree of freedom to translation in the direction 101 orthogonal to the direction 102 in which the axles extend. The sliding and rotation of the two sliders 51 ,52 is translated into the sliding and rotation of the attachment bracket 40 to which the sliders are rigidly connected. With reference to figure 32, the first guide roller 81 of said guide means is connected to the first portion 51A of the first slider 51 and pivotally inserted in the first groove 61 of the guide body 9 (figure 23). The second guide roller 82 is connected instead to the second portion 51 B of the second slider 52 and pivotally inserted in the second groove 62 of the guide body 9. The two guide rollers 81,82 can turn freely around an axis substantially orthogonal to a plane defined by the longitudinal direction 101 and the transversal direction 102. Figures 34 to 36 show the relative position occupied by the attachment bracket 40 with respect to the main carriage 11 respectively in the operative configuration of figure 23 and in the configuration of figure 24. It is clear that, in this second embodiment too, the mechanism 1A comprises elastic means for each of the two shoes 10,20 that are operatively interposed between the attachment bracket 40 and the main carriage 11. These elastic means contrast the movement of the attachment bracket 40, thereby stabilising said movement. The elastic means preferably comprise a first 98A and a second helical spring 98B positioned respectively around the first cross member 16A and the second cross member 16B of the main carriage 11. With reference to the view in figure 35 in particular, a first end of the helical springs 98A.98B abuts against the inside surface of the first longitudinal side 13A of the carriage 11, while the opposite end abuts against the inside surface of the bar 243 supporting the attachment bracket 40. For this purpose, the bar 243 comprises openings that provide a passage respectively for the first 16A and the second cross member 16B of the carriage 11. It is apparent from a comparison between figure 35 and figure 38 that, during the rotation- translation of the attachment bracket 40, the helical springs 98A,98B work under a compressive force, thus bringing a thrust force to bear on the attachment bracket 40 in a direction that tends to restore it to the position of figure 13. Here again, the helical springs 98A.98B could occupy a different operative position and work, for instance, under a tensile force.

The following is a description of the operation of the displacement mechanism 1A illustrated in the above-mentioned figures from 23 to 38, starting from the condition shown in figure 28 (where the doors 201,202 of piece of furniture are coplanar). With reference to the first shoe 10A, an action (indicated by the arrow F) in the longitudinal direction 101 on the first door 201 induces a longitudinal displacement of the main carriage 11 that consequently induces a movement of the two guide rollers 81,82 inserted in the two grooves 61,62 of the guide body 9. The interaction between the rollers 81,82 and the grooves 61,62 induces a translation and rotation of the attachment bracket 40 with respect to the carriage 11, as shown in figures 29 and 38. In particular, said rotation-translation comes to an end when the guide rollers 81,82 reach the central portions 61A.62A of the two grooves 61,62. In this condition (not shown), the two doors 201,202 are parallel but not coplanar. The subsequent longitudinal displacement of the main carriage 11 makes the first door 201 overlap with the second 202. In fact, when the guide rollers 81,82 move in the central portions 61A.62A, the attachment bracket 40 remains in a fixed position with respect to the main carriage 11. Figures from 39 to 42 relate to a third possible embodiment of a displacement mechanism according to the invention, indicated in this case with the reference 1B. In this third embodiment, there are several technical solutions relating to the first embodiment and others described for the second embodiment. In these figures (from 39 to 42), the same or functionally equivalent components as in the previously described embodiments are, here again, indicated using the same numerical references.

In this third solution, the displacement guides 5A,5B are configured in the form of longitudinal guides in much the same way as those of the above-described first embodiment (figures from 1 to 22). The main carriage 11 thus has wheels 31,32 on which it is supported and displaced of the grooved type in order to roll appropriately and stably along the longitudinal guides. The mechanism 1B comprises a profiled body 5 that configures a first pair of parallel and opposite longitudinal guides 55A,55C and a facing second pair of parallel and opposite longitudinal guides 55B,55D. The first pair of longitudinal guides 55A.55C serve to guide the wheels 31 pivotally attached to a first longitudinal side 13A of the carriage 11, while the second pair of longitudinal guides 55C.55D serves to guide the wheels 31,32 pivotally attached to the second longitudinal side 13B.

The profiled body 5 is an integral part of the longitudinal guides 55A,55B,55C,55D and it also has a surface 155 designed to abut against and connect with a connection surface 300 of a piece of furniture (see figure 42). The surface 155 forms a flat seat for containing the guide body 9, similar to the one described for the first embodiment. Said seat is laterally limited by two containment surfaces 57 from which there extends a containment edge 58 to keep the guide body 9 in a fixed position with respect to the profiled body 5.

With reference again to figure 42, in this third embodiment the first slider 51 and the second slider 52 have a structure substantially corresponding to that of the sliders described in the second embodiment (figures from 23 to 38). More precisely, these sliders 51 ,52 each comprise a first portion 51A.52A and a second portion 51B.52B connected on opposite sides of the supporting bar 43 that, in this case, is an integral part of the attachment bracket 40. In this third embodiment, the first portion 51 A.52A of the two sliders 51 ,52 is connected, by welding for instance, to the outside of the supporting bar 43, while the second portion 51 B.52B is connected to the inside, meaning a position in between the supporting bar 43 and the first side of the bracket 41. Here again in this third technical solution, inside the two sliders 51,52 there are swivel bushes 91 ,92 to enable the sliding and rotation of the bracket 40 with respect to the main carriage 10. The present invention also relates to a piece of furniture for use in the domestic, commercial or industrial setting. This piece of furniture comprises a structure that forms a containment space accessible by means of an opening. The piece of furniture comprises at least a first and a second door designed to close said opening. The piece of furniture according to the invention is characterised in that it comprises a displacement mechanism 1 ,1A,1 B as described above. In particular, according to the invention the longitudinal guide 5A,5B of the displacement mechanism 1 can be fixed on the top of the piece of furniture forming the ceiling of the space (as shown schematically in figure 5) or, alternatively, on the bottom of said space. The technical solutions described herein enable the previously stated technical aim and objects to be completely achieved. In particular, the displacement mechanism according to the invention enables an effective displacement of the doors by means of an extremely limited number of components. Moreover, the mechanism's operating principle affords it a greater reliability and a longer working life than those of the traditionally employed displacement mechanisms.

The displacement mechanism thus conceived may undergo numerous modifications and variants, all coming within the scope of the inventive concept; its component parts, moreover, may be replaced by others that are technically equivalent.

In practice, any materials may be used and in any suitable size and shape, according to need and the state of the art.

Claims

1) A mechanism (1) for displacing the doors of a piece of furniture, said mechanism being characterised in that it comprises a first displacement shoe (10) and a second displacement shoe (20), respectively for displacing a first door (201) and a second door (202), at least one of said displacement shoes (10,20) comprising: a main carriage (11) comprising a frame provided with a pair of longitudinal sides (13A.13B), and comprising a plurality of wheels (31,31A,32,32A,33,33A) that enable its displacement in a longitudinal direction (101) defined by a first (5A) and a second guide (5B) mutually parallel and connectable to a connection surface (300) of said piece of furniture, said main carriage (11 ) comprising a first (11A) and a second axle (11B) extending between said longitudinal sides (13A.13B) in a transversal direction (102); an attachment bracket (40) connected to one of said doors (201,202) and operatively connected to said main carriage (11) by means of a first slider (51) and a second slider (52) slidable respectively along said first (11A) and said second axle (11 B), said sliders (51 ,52) enabling a translation and a rotation of said attachment bracket (40) with respect to said main carriage (11);

- guide means (9,81 ,82) operatively connected to said attachment bracket (40) so as to induce said translation and said rotation during the displacement of said main carriage (11 ) along said longitudinal guides (5A.5B).

2) A mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein said guide means comprise a longitudinal guide body (9) located in a position coming between said longitudinal displacement guides (5A.5B) and comprising a first (61) and a second guide groove (62), said guide means comprising a first guide roller

(81) connected to said first slider (51) and slidably inserted in said first groove (61) and a second guide roller (82) connected to said second slider (52) and slidably inserted in said second guide groove (62).

3) A mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said mechanism (1) comprises elastic means (98A.98B) operatively interposed between said main carriage (11) and said attachment bracket (40) of said at least one of said displacement shoes (10,20).

4) A mechanism (1) according to any of the previous claims from 1 to 3, wherein said guides (5A.5B) are in the form of longitudinal guides and are an integral part of a profiled body (5) with an abutment surface (55) designed to be connected to a connection surface (300) of said piece of furniture.

5) A mechanism (1) according to claim 4, wherein said profiled body (5) comprises a third guide (5C) that extends in a position parallel and opposite to the first guide (5A) and a fourth guide (5D) that extends in a position parallel and opposite to the second guide (5B).

6) A mechanism (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said attachment bracket (40) of said at least one of said shoes (10,20) comprises a main body (40B) with a first terminal part (141) connected rigidly to said first slider (51 ) and a second terminal part (142) connected pivotally to said second slider (52), said first slider (51 ) being connected to said first axle (11A) so as to translate with respect to said axle and rotate around an axis substantially orthogonal to said transversal direction (102) and substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction (101 ), said second slider (52) being connected to said second axle (11 B) so as to maintain a degree of freedom that enables its translation in said transversal direction (102).

7) A mechanism (1) according to claim 6, wherein said main carriage (11) of said at least one of said shoes (10,20) comprises a third axle (11C) in a position proximal to said second axle (11 B)₁ said third axle (11 C) being parallel to said first (11 ) and said second axle (11B), said second slider (52) also being connected to the third axle (11C) so as to maintain a degree of freedom that enables its translation in said transversal direction (102).

8) A mechanism (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said first slider (51 ) comprises a first (51A) and a second portion (51B) connected on opposite sides of said first connection part (141) of said attachment bracket (40), said first slider comprising a first swivel bush (91) contained in said first portion (51A) and a second swivel bush (92) contained in said second portion (51B), said swivel bushes (91,92) enabling the translation of said first slider (51) with respect to the corresponding axle (11A,11 B) and enabling the rotation of said first slider (51) with respect to the axis orthogonal to said transversal direction (102) and to said longitudinal direction (101).

9) A mechanism (1) according to any of the previous claims from 6 to 8, wherein said second slider (52) comprises a body (52A) slidably coupled to said second (11 B) and said third axle (11 C) by means of a first ball bushing (53A) and a second ball bushing (53B), respectively.

10) A mechanism (1) according to any of the previous claims from 6 to 9, wherein said second slider (52) comprises a connection part (52B) coupled to said second connection part (142) of said main body (40B) of said bracket (40) by means of a pin (145) and at least one axial ball bearing (66) coaxial to said pin (145).

11) A mechanism (1 ) according to any of the previous claims from 3 to 10, wherein said main carriage (11) comprises a first (16A) and a second cross member (16B) parallel to said axles (11A.11 B), said elastic means comprising a first spring (98A) and a second spring (98B) arranged respectively around said first (16A) and a said second cross member (16B), a first end (97A) of said springs ( 98A, 98B) abutting against a longitudinal side (13A) of said carriage (11), a second end (97B) of said springs (98A.98B) being designed to abut against a surface of said attachment bracket (40) during the displacement of said at least one shoe (10,20).

12) A mechanism (1) according to any of the previous claims from 1 to 3, wherein said mechanism (1 ) comprises a first supporting profile (71 ) that defines said first displacement guide (5A) and a second supporting profile (72) that defines said second displacement guide (5B), said supporting profiles (71 ,72) being connectable to said connection surface (300) of said piece of furniture so as to fix the position of said longitudinal guides (5A.5B).

13) A mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein said and least one shoe comprises:

- a first pair of main wheels (31) each pivotally attached to one of said longitudinal sides (13A,13B) of said main carriage (11) in a position proximal to said first axle (11A);

- a second pair of main wheels (32) each pivotally attached to one of said longitudinal sides (13A.13B) of said main carriage (11 ) in a position proximal to said second axle (11B), and wherein said first guide (5A) comprises a first surface (6A) for supporting said main wheels (31 ,32) pivotally attached to a first longitudinal side (13A) of said frame, and wherein said second guide (5B) comprises a second surface (6B) for supporting said main wheels (31 ,32) pivotally attached to a second longitudinal side (13B) of said frame.

14) A mechanism (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said main carriage (11) comprises: a first pair of counteracting wheels (35) each pivotally attached to one of said longitudinal sides (13A.13B) of said frame in a position proximal to said first axle (11A); a second pair of counteracting wheels (36) each pivotally attached to one of said longitudinal sides (13A,13B) of said frame (13) in a position proximal to said second axle (11B), said counteracting wheels (35,36) having a rotation axis (T1) substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis (T2) of said main wheels (31,32), and wherein said first guide (5A) comprises a counteracting surface (17A), substantially orthogonal to said first surface (6A) for supporting and enabling the rolling of said counteracting wheels (35,36) pivotally attached to said first longitudinal side (13A), and wherein said second guide (5B) comprises a second counteracting surface (17B), substantially orthogonal to said second surface (6B) for supporting and enabling the rolling of said counteracting wheels (33,36) pivotally attached to said second longitudinal side (13B).

15) A mechanism (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said attachment bracket (40) consists of a substantially L-shaped profile comprising a first leg (241 ) designed to be connected to one of said doors (201 ,202) and a second leg

(242) substantially orthogonal to said first leg (241 ), said first (51) and said second slider (52) being rigidly connected to the surface (242B) of said second leg (242) so as to occupy a position facing said first leg (241 ).

16) A mechanism (1) according to claim 3, wherein said main carriage (11 ) comprises a first (16A) and a second cross member (16B) parallel to said axles (11A,11 B), said elastic means comprising a first spring (98A) arranged around the first cross member (16A) and a second spring (98B) arranged around the second cross member (16B), a first end of said springs (98A.98B) abutting against a longitudinal side (13A) of said frame (13) of said carriage (11), a second end of said springs (98A,98B) abutting against said attachment bracket (40). 17) A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said first (51) and said second slider (52) comprise a first portion (51A.52A) and a second portion (51 B, 52B), said sliders (51,52) comprising a first swivel bush (91) contained in said first portion (51A.52A) and a second swivel bush (92) contained in said second portion (51 B, 52B), said swivel bushes (91,92) of said first slider (51) being slidable along said first axle (11A) and enabling a rotation of said first slider (51) with respect to said first axle (11A), said swivel bushes (91,92) of said second slider (52) being slidable along said second axle (11 B) and enabling a rotation of said second slider (52) with respect to said second axle (11 B).

18) A piece of furniture for domestic or industrial use comprising:

- a supporting structure comprising a containment space accessible through . an opening;

- a pair of doors (201,202) designed to close/open said opening, characterised in that it comprises a displacement mechanism according to any of the previous claims from 1 to 17.