WO2020200497A1

WO2020200497A1 - Damping or return device for door leaves or for drawers

Info

Publication number: WO2020200497A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/075390
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo Irrera; Marco PIANCA; Adriano Girotto
Original assignee: Bortoluzzi Sistemi S.P.A.
Priority date: 2019-04-05
Filing date: 2019-09-20
Publication date: 2020-10-08
Also published as: IT201900005144A1; EP3947878A1

Abstract

A damping or return device (1) for door leaves or for drawers (2) that constitute a moveable part which operates in contrast with a fixed part (3). The device is constituted by a pin (4), provided with a magnet (6), associated so that it can pivot, with friction control, with a support (12) which can be associated with the moveable part (2) or fixed part (3). Also present is a damper (16) which in turn is associated with the fixed part (3) or moveable part (2). The pin (4) can selectively and temporarily be associated with the damper (16).

Description

DAMPING OR RETURN DEVICE FOR DOOR LEAVES OR FOR DRAWERS

The present application relates to a damping or return device for a moveable part, such as a door leaf or a drawer, which can be brought up against a fixed part, such as the structure of an item of furniture to which the door leaf is articulated or with which the drawer is slideably associated.

Nowadays, for example for the normal hinged door leaves of a wall cupboard, it is known to use a support, provided with magnets, which is associated proximate to the open end of the fixed part of the wall cupboard, with which a metal plate associated with the moveable part, i.e. the door leaf, interacts in abutment.

A drawback that can be ascribed to such known art consists in that closing the door leaf occurs by way of the temporary connection of the plate to the magnets, which is sudden and the door leaf slams on the item of furniture; furthermore, the subsequent decoupling requires the user to defeat the force of attraction of the magnets, therefore having to apply a high- traction force that suddenly ceases once the plate breaks free from the magnets.

Similar observations can be made for drawers.

A partial solution to such drawback is known from US2003/0141638A1 relating to an air-powered damper for drawers or doors which is constituted substantially by a cylinder, which is open at one end, and by a sealed piston which can move longitudinally in the cylinder and which is connected to a piston.

Although such solution is adapted to dampen the moment of closing, for example when bringing a door leaf up against the item of furniture, it does however exhibit some drawbacks: the possibility should be noted in fact that over time malfunctions occur which are caused by the structural architecture of the damper which, irrespective of the fact that there is a piston of the mechanical or fluid-dynamic type, can have a diminishing of the elastic constant of the spring or a loss of fluid, both of which would reduce or frustrate its operation.

Furthermore such solution is structurally complex in that it is constituted by a plurality of elements that need to be assembled in advance, taking care to take account of the levels of mechanical play between them.

Finally, the spring (if any) does not have a constant force along its stroke and it is possible that bothersome noises are generated during the operation.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the above mentioned technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks in the cited known art, by providing a device which can be applied to door leaves or drawers, which has a simple structure, which is free from sticking and which makes it possible to achieve the optimal closing and opening of the door leaf or of the drawer while preventing the moveable part from slamming against the fixed part.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a device that is easily applied to door leaves or drawers of conventional furniture.

Another object is to provide a device that enables the user to achieve, easily and without excessive effort, the opening of the door leaf or of the drawer.

Another object of the invention is to make it possible to contain the friction and levels of mechanical play in the various movements, thereby optimizing the movement of the door leaf and the sliding of the drawer when being closed and opened.

Another object is to provide a device that is free from bothersome noises during its operation.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a damping or return device for door leaves or for drawers that constitute a moveable part which operates in contrast with a fixed part, characterized in that it is constituted by a pin, provided with a magnet, associated so that it can pivot, with friction control, with a support which can be associated with said moveable part or fixed part, and by a damper, which in turn is associated with said fixed part or moveable part, said pin being selectively and temporarily associable with said damper.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a particular, but not exclusive, embodiment, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Figure 1 is a first perspective view of the device applied to a door leaf of an item of furniture with the door leaf open;

- Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the device with the door leaf open;

- Figure 3 is a partially cross-sectional view from above of the device with the door leaf open;

- Figure 4 is a partially cross-sectional view from above of the device with the door leaf closed;

- Figure 5 is a detail of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is an exploded view of the pin;

- Figure 7 is a front elevation view of the pin;

- Figure 8 is a view from above of the pin;

- Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in Figure 7;

- Figure 10 is an exploded view of the components with which the pin is associated;

- Figure 11 is a front elevation view of the toroid;

- Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the toroid;

- Figure 13 is a partially cross-sectional view of the device in a condition in which the pin is partially inserted; - Figure 14 is a partially cross-sectional view of the device in a condition in which the pin is fully inserted;

- Figures 15, 16 and 17 show another embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiments illustrated below, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

Moreover, it should be noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a damping or return device for door leaves or drawers 2 of the type that comprise a moveable part, i.e. the aforementioned door leaf or drawer 2, and a fixed part 3, i.e. the structure of an item of furniture with which the door leaf or the drawer 2 are associated.

The accompanying figures graphically indicate the solution for a door leaf, but the solution can also be carried out on a drawer.

The device 1 is constituted by a pin 4, which has an axial cavity 5 for accommodating a magnet 6.

The latter is axially subdivided into two distinct polarities, N (North) and S (South).

The pin 4 has a closed front end 7 and an open rear end 8, at the rear end there being a substantially spherical enlarged portion 50 which is accommodated, so that it can pivot, between a first shell portion 9a and a second shell portion 9b, which can both be fastened onto the enlarged portion 50 by way of a retention ring 10 which can be arranged in complementarily-shaped annular seats 11a, l ib which are provided externally to the first shell portion and the second shell portion 9a, 9b.

The shape of the first shell portion and the second shell portion 9a, 9b and the rear end 8 are such as to allow a friction-controlled connection.

The first shell portion and the second shell portion 9a, 9b, once coupled to each other and to the pin 4, are lockable in a support 12 which is made up of a pair of containment shoulders 13a, 13b, which can be arranged coaxially to the ring 10, and of a perforated plate 14.

The support 12 can then be associated, for example by way of adapted screws 51 that pass through adapted holes 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e, 15f, 15g and 15h which are provided in the first shell portion and the second shell portion 9a, 9b and the support 12, with the door leaf or with the drawer 2.

A damper 16 contributes to constituting the device 1 and in turn is associated with the fixed part 3, for example within an adapted seat.

Conversely, the support 12 can be fixed to the moveable part 3 and the damper 16 to the door leaf or to the drawer 2.

The damper 16 is composed of a toroid 52 which is cylindrical and has a first axial seat 17, with an elliptical (as shown in Figures 11 and 12) or circular shape on the major ellipse diameter, which is directed, during use, toward the front end 7 of the pin 4 and which has a minor diameter that is slightly larger than that of the pin 4; in addition, the major axis of the first axial seat 17 is arranged along a plane that substantially coincides with the plane subdividing the poles of the magnet 6.

The first axial seat 17 is followed by a second axial seat 18 which in plan is substantially circular, generally with a diameter that is smaller than the smaller of the axes of the elliptical cross-section of the first axial seat 17 or with the diameter, in the case of a circular cross-section, of the first axial seat 17.

If the first axial seat 17 is elliptical, there is a portion to guide the insertion of the front end 7 of the pin 4 into the damper 16.

A device (not shown) contributes to constituting the damper 16, and is adapted to elastically contrast the penetration of the pin 4 within the toroid 52; such device is conventional, for example it can be of the air or fluid- dynamic type such as for example the one disclosed in US2003/0141638A1.

In the solution, as the pin 4, and therefore the magnet 6, approaches the toroid 52, the device seeks its equilibrium toward the point of lowest energy, in this case magnetic energy.

More simply, the magnet 6 is attracted by the toroid 52 and vice versa, right to its end, until it encounters a mechanical abutment.

In a different embodiment, the pin 4, and therefore the magnet 6, can move with a friction-controlled movement on at least two axes; in this case the plate 14 is T-shaped, and on its head 53 openings of chosen shape 54a, 54b are provided within which pins 55a, 55b are arranged which protrude at right angles from a base 56, which is U-shaped so as to define a receptacle 57 which can be associated for example with the door leaf or with the drawer 2.

In this case the pin 4 is accommodated within the stem 58 of the T- shaped plate 14, the stem 58 acting, with the possibility of moving, within the receptacle 57.

In practice it has been found that the invention has fully achieved the intended aim and objects, a device being obtained that can be applied to door leaves or sliding drawers, including existing door leaves or sliding drawers, and which is provided with a simple structure that makes it possible to achieve the optimal and gentle closing and opening of the door leaf or of the drawer while preventing the same from slamming on the wall of the item of furniture.

The particular shape structure of the rear end 8 of the pin 4 and that of the first shell portion and of the second shell portion 9a, 9b make it possible to achieve both an assembly in several operations, even at the premises of the end customer, who may for aesthetic reasons have to provide a pocket in the item of furniture and then apply the pin 4, and also a friction-controlled rotation of the pin about three axes x, y, z.

Furthermore, the weight, dimensions and cost of the device are low, and at the same time it makes it possible to limit the friction and levels of mechanical play in the various movements, so as to optimize the movement and the sliding of the door leaf or of the drawer and thus preventing possible sticking.

The device furthermore also enables the user to achieve, easily and without excessive effort, the opening of the door leaf or of the drawer.

Finally, the device is free from bothersome noises during its operation.

Naturally the materials used as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the invention may be more relevant according to specific requirements.

The various means of achieving certain different functions certainly need not coexist only in the embodiment shown, but may be present in many embodiments, even if they are not shown.

The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102019000005144 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A damping or return device (1) for door leaves or for drawers (2) that constitute a moveable part which operates in contrast with a fixed part (3), characterized in that it is constituted by a pin (4), provided with a magnet (6), associated so that it can pivot, with friction control, with a support (12) which can be associated with said moveable part (2) or fixed part (3), and by a damper (16), which in turn is associated with said fixed part (3) or moveable part (2), said pin (4) being selectively and temporarily associable with said damper (16).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said magnet (6) can move with a friction-controlled movement on at least two axes.

3. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said magnet (6) can move with a friction-controlled movement on three axes.

4. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pin (4) has an axial cavity (5) for accommodating said magnet (6) which is divided axially into two distinct poles, N (North) and S (South), said pin (4) having a closed front end (7) and an open rear end (8), at said rear end there being a substantially spherical enlarged portion (50) which is accommodated, so that it can pivot, between a first shell portion (9 a) and a second shell portion (9b), which can both be fastened onto said enlarged portion (50) by way of a retention ring (10) which can be arranged in complementarily-shaped annular seats (11a, l ib) which are provided externally to said first shell portion and said second shell portion (9a, 9b).

5. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shape of said first shell portion and said second shell portion (9a, 9b) and of said rear end (8) are such as to allow a friction- controlled connection, said first shell portion and said second shell portion (9a, 9b), once coupled to each other and to said pin (4), being lockable in a support (12) which is made up of a pair of containment shoulders (13a, 13b), which can be arranged coaxially to said ring (10), and of a perforated plate (14).

6. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support (12) can then be associated with said door leaf or drawer (2) by way of adapted screws (51) that pass through adapted holes (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e, 15f, 15g, 15h) which are provided in said first shell portion and said second shell portion (9a, 9b) and said support (12).

7. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said damper (16) is composed of a toroid (52) which is cylindrical and has a first axial seat (17), with an elliptical or circular shape on the major ellipse diameter, which is directed, during use, toward said front end (7) of said pin (4) and which has a minor diameter that is slightly larger than that of said pin (4), the major axis of said first axial seat (17) being arranged along a plane that substantially coincides with the plane subdividing the poles of said magnet (6).

8. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first axial seat (17) is followed by a second axial seat (18) which in plan is substantially circular, substantially with a diameter that is smaller than the smaller of the axes of the elliptical cross-section of said first axial seat (17) or with the diameter, in the case of a circular cross- section, of said first axial seat (17).

9. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said damper (16) contains a conventional device that is adapted to elastically contrast the penetration of said pin (4) within said toroid (52).

10. The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pin (4), and therefore said magnet (6), can move with a friction-controlled movement on at least two axes, said plate (14) being T-shaped, on the head (53) of which openings of chosen shape (54a, 54b) are provided within which pins (55a, 55b) are arranged which protrude at right angles from a base (56), which is U-shaped so as to define a receptacle (57) which can be associated with said door leaf or drawer (2), said pin (4) being accommodated within the stem (58) of said T-shaped plate (14), said stem (58) acting, with the possibility of moving, within said receptacle (57).