DE20114182U1 - Furniture handle comprises flexible leather or plastic strip fastened in place by studs with threaded bores which fit over bolts passed through furniture from inside - Google Patents

Abstract

The furniture handle comprises a flexible leather or plastic strip (2). This is fastened in place by studs (1) with threaded bores which fit over bolts passed through the furniture from the inside.

Description

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LOESENBECK · strackeVspecht

PATENT ATTORNEYS
EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

Dr. Otto Loesenbeck (1931-1980)

Union Knopf GmbH Dipi.-ing. A. stracke

Lilienthalstr. 2-4 Dipl.-Ing. K.-O. Loesenbeck

Dipl.-Phys. P. Specht

33689 Bielefeld ^Dipl - ^Ing - ^JDantz

Jollenbecker Strasse 164

D-33613 Bielefeld

Phone: +49(0521)98 618-0

^{Fax: +49 (0521) 890405}

_Email . _mail@pa . _loesenbeck . _de
Internet: www.pa-loesenbeck.de

27 August 2001

Handle, especially for furniture

The present invention relates to a handle, in particular for furniture, with at least one knob that can be fixed to a front panel.

There are furniture handles that are screwed onto a front panel and form a handle element via a protruding button element. The protruding part of the handle is usually several centimeters away from the front panel, which can be annoying in confined spaces and also poses a certain risk of injury. Especially in the area of children's furniture, it is desirable to keep the risk of injury from the handles to a minimum.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a handle, in particular for furniture, which is easy to handle and protrudes from a front panel and in which the risk of injury is minimized.

This object is achieved with a handle having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown in the subclaims.

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENT ATTORNEYS J- EIfUJP^AN J^TElJTiUJD TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

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Registration text dated 27.08.2001 Page 2

According to the invention, a section of a flexible band, which is formed integrally with a handle section, is clamped between the button and the front panel. This makes the handle easy to handle, since the handle section protrudes from the front panel and can be easily grasped, with the flexibility of the band largely eliminating the risk of injury.

Preferably, a threaded hole facing the front panel is provided in the at least one button, wherein in the assembled state a screw passes through an opening in the flexible band. If assembly is carried out from the front panel, the button can have a closed surface facing outwards.

According to a preferred embodiment, one or more projections are formed on the at least one button on the side facing the flexible band, which dig into the material of the flexible band. This prevents the flexible band from rotating around the button when it is actuated if the button is only fixed to the front plate with a single screw. In order to prevent the handle from becoming worn out or twisted from its original position when it is used frequently, two projections are preferably provided on the button, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the band. This locks the band in the immediate vicinity between the transition between the fixed section and the handle section. For cost-effective production of the button, it can be designed as a hollow profile, with the projections being arranged on webs between the wall of the threaded hole and the outer wall.

To further minimize the risk of injury, the button is preferably designed with a rounded, outward-curved surface and the edges of the flexible band are rounded. To ensure an elegant finish to the handle, the flexible band is provided with a semi-circular contour at the end, which is aligned with the

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENTANVA«!i«€ -«JROPEAN PATBNT AN9,TRA£)£irtARK ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 27.08.2001 Page 3

The peripheral contour of a button is aligned. The band therefore does not protrude beyond the button at the end.

The flexible band can be held in a loop shape by one or more buttons. The flexibility of the band allows a variety of variations that the user of the handle can freely choose when installing it.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

Figure 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a handle according to the invention;

Figures 2A
and 2B are views of the flexible band of the handle of Figure 1;

Figures 3A, 3B

and 3C views of a knob of the handle of Figure 1;

Figures 4A, 4B

and4C various modifications of the embodiment of the

Handle of Figure 1;

Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7

Figure 8 .

a flexible band according to another embodiment;
a flexible band according to another embodiment;

a handle according to another embodiment using the grip tape of Figure 5 and

another embodiment of a handle according to the invention.

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENTANWdJWE *££JR0P£a$ PÄTßNT ANlJ TRAD|1V1ARK ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 27.08.2001 Page 4

A handle according to the invention comprises a knob 1 made of a rigid material, for example metal or a hard plastic, and a flexible band 2 made of an elastic, flexible plastic. The flexible band 2 is clamped with a section 3 between a knob 1 and a front panel (not shown) of a piece of furniture. This section 3 is followed by a handle section 4 which protrudes from the front panel. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a flexible band 2 is stretched between two knobs 1 with a curvature.

As can be seen in Figures 2A and 2B, the flexible band 2 consists of an elongated central section, at the end of which openings 5 are provided for the passage of a screw. The end of the section 3 is rounded so that the contour of the section 3 is flush with the outer contour of a button 1. The edges of the flexible band 2 are preferably provided with a slight curve 6 in order to minimize the risk of injury from touching the band 2. It is also possible to design the button 1 differently, for example it can be rectangular or triangular, with an upwardly rounded surface preferably being provided in each case. Other shapes of buttons can also be used.

The knobs 1 provided for securing the handle are shown in Figures 3A to 3C. The knob 1 comprises a threaded hole 7 in the middle, which is surrounded by a wall 8. An outer wall 9 surrounds the threaded hole 7 and has the shape of a spherical section on the outside. On the side facing the front panel, the knob 1 is designed as a hollow profile and comprises two cavities 12, which are separated from one another by webs 11. The webs 11 connect the walls 8 of the threaded hole 7 to the outer wall 9 of the knob 1.

Projections 10 are formed on the webs 11, which dig into the material of the section 3 of the flexible band 2 when the button 1 is mounted.

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PA

ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 27.08.2001 Page 5

Projections 10 have the shape of a truncated cone, but can be designed in any tooth-shaped manner, etc.

For assembly, a screw is inserted into a front plate, which passes through the opening 5 in the flexible band 2 and is then screwed into the threaded hole 7. By tightening the thread, the projections 10 dig into the flexible band 2, wherein the projections 10 are preferably arranged in the longitudinal direction of the band 2, so that twisting of the band 2 adjacent to the button 1 is permanently avoided.

Figure 4A shows an alternative embodiment of a handle according to the invention, in which the flexible band 2 is held on a front plate by two buttons 1. The flexible band 2 surrounds the buttons 1 in a loop-like manner.

Figure 4B shows an embodiment in which only one button 1 is provided to fix the two sections 3 of a flexible band 2.

In Figure 4C, a flexible band 2 is held to a front panel via two buttons 1, the flexible band 2 being guided in a curve so that the inner region of the band curves away from the front panel.

The embodiments shown are only a small part of the possible variations in how the handle according to the invention can be designed. The fixing of the flexible band 2 via the buttons 1 can be varied as desired, since the flexible band 2 can take on different shapes due to its elasticity.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a flexible band 2' in which a plurality of openings 5' are cut out. By providing a plurality of openings 5', several buttons Γ can be provided for fixing the band 2', which can be fixed to a front panel as desired.

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENTANTvWCTe -^lJROPEAft PATBNT ANB*TRABEMARK ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 27.08.2001 Page 6

In addition, the perforated band 2' offers further variation possibilities, since the buttons Γ can be selected relatively freely both in terms of number and positioning on the band 2'. This enables a variety of new shapes for the formation of a handle, for example the end of the loop does not have to be fixed with a button.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a flexible band 2" in which an opening 5 is provided on one side and a slot 5" is cut out in the band 2" on the opposite side. This allows the user to vary the shape of the handle over a wide range and to be able to move the flexible band 2" continuously.

Figure 7 shows a handle according to the invention in which several buttons 1 are used to fix a flexible band 2. This handle corresponds to a handle with unlimited length.

Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of a handle according to the invention, in which a button 1 is guided in a slot 13. The slot 13 is recessed in a plate 14 and offers the possibility of changing the curvature of the handle section 4 by moving the button 1 along the slot 13. By means of a spring mechanism, for example housed in a front plate 14, the band 2 is pulled into the rest position in which the band 2 lies tightly against the front plate 14. To operate the handle, the handle section of the band 2 is pulled so that the band 2 moves into a curved position and can be gripped better in this handling position.

Claims (10)

1. Handle, in particular for furniture, with at least one button ( 1 ) which can be fixed to a front panel, characterized in that a section ( 3 ) of a flexible band ( 2 ) which is formed integrally with a handle section ( 4 ) is clamped between the button ( 1 ) and the front panel. 2. Handle according to claim 1, characterized in that a threaded bore ( 7 ) facing the front plate is provided in the at least one button ( 1 ) and, in the assembled state, a screw passes through an opening ( 5 ) in the flexible band ( 2 ). 3. Handle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the at least one button ( 1 ) on the side facing the flexible band ( 2 ) one or more projections ( 10 ) are formed, which dig into the material of the flexible band ( 2 ). 4. Handle according to claim 3, characterized in that two projections ( 10 ) are provided on the at least one button ( 1 ), which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the band ( 2 ). 5. Handle according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one button ( 1 ) is designed as a hollow profile and the projections ( 10 ) are provided on webs ( 11 ) between walls ( 8 ) of the threaded bore ( 7 ) and outer walls ( 9 ). 6. Handle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one button ( 1 ) has a rounded surface. 7. Handle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the edges ( 6 ) of the flexible band ( 2 ) are rounded. 8. Handle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the flexible band ( 2 ) has a semicircular contour at the end which is aligned with the peripheral contour of a button ( 1 ). 9. Handle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the flexible band ( 2 ) is held in a loop shape by one or more buttons ( 1 ). 10. Handle according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the flexible band ( 2 ) is made of plastic or leather.