HK1157593B - Device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit comprises a body (108), associated with a fixed part of the furniture unit (116), for supporting a slider (3) reversibly sliding along a sliding axis (100) in contrast and due to the action of first elastic means (5), the slider being engageable with drawing means provided on a drawing element (105) slidable in the direction of the sliding axis with an integral or reversibly couplable connection to the movable part (103) of the furniture unit, the supporting body comprising first displacement means suitable for moving the drawing means so as to release said drawing means and the slider from their mutual engagement, an elastically yielding stop element against which the drawing element abuts directly or indirectly before engaging with the drawing means in the first displacement means.

Description

Device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit. It is known that devices have appeared on the market for some time recently which enable the almost automatic opening and/or closing of movable parts of furniture units, such as doors or drawers in furniture units.

Background

For example, to open a drawer in a furniture unit, a device known as a ratchet (ratchet) is generally used, which generally comprises thrust means which are released by applying a slight pressure to the drawer and which, when released, subject the drawer to a thrust under the action of the elastic force which determines a controlled displacement of the drawer, allowing the user to grip the drawer and fully open it, in particular when the drawer has no handle.

Conversely, for closing the drawer, self-closing devices are used, which are generally associated with fixed drawer guides (guides) and comprise a body for supporting a slider (slider) which is movable within a groove (groove) provided in said body and between two constant end positions.

The slider normally moves within the channel due to and in opposition to the action of a spring driven by a drawing means integrally attached to the extractable drawer guide.

The opening of the drawer determines the actuation of the self-closing device which, in the final phase of the drawer travel, takes over the drawer when it is closed again, for example by means of a pin, returning it to the fully closed position due to the action of a spring.

Usually, in cooperation with the self-closing device there is also a reducer which slows down the closing force of the drawer, attenuating the impact which would occur due to the action of the closing spring of the self-closing device.

In light of the above considerations, it is easy to recognize the complexity inherent to the need to be able to combine an automatic opening system and a self-closing system to control the movable part of a furniture unit, since the forces associated with the ratchet and with the self-closing device generally tend to oppose each other, either hindering the opening action or hindering the closing action.

For these reasons, for this reason, extremely complex systems have sometimes been envisaged which also employ components driven by electric motors, to be able to compensate for the forces involved and to enable an almost automatic (even if only partial) opening and closing of the movable components of the furniture unit. However, such solutions are sometimes almost ineffective, because, in addition to making the device extremely complex, they tend to be unable to guarantee continuous effectiveness over time, require regular maintenance and result in high costs, making them unsuitable for application to certain types of furniture. When the movable part comprises a drawer, the self-closing device can be arranged in various positions with respect to the furniture unit, for example in line with a guide enabling its movement. On the other hand, in the case of a door rotated by means of a hinge, the device should preferably be located on the part of the furniture unit opposite to the position where the hinge is located, i.e. in a position in which: in this position, a displacement of the door sufficient to activate the device is obtained by means of a pressure applied by the user from the outside. The door is opened by completely separating the edge of the door from the side of the furniture unit that bears against the door and therefore due to the more complex interaction between the drawer and the slider of the self-closing system.

In addition, various different types of hinges are commercially available, particularly hinges that: in these hinges, elastic means for providing a thrust in the door closing direction, possibly assisted by deceleration means, are incorporated, or elastic means for inducing a thrust in the door opening direction, possibly associated with the aforementioned ratchet means, are installed. DE 19935120 discloses a device for opening and closing a movable part of a piece of furniture according to the preamble of claim 1.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical aim of the present invention is therefore to produce a device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit that makes it possible to overcome the technical drawbacks of the prior art. Within the scope of this technical aim, an object of the present invention is to produce a device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit that is reliable and has an extremely straightforward functional design, ensuring its long-term effectiveness, and that does not require any type of ordinary or extraordinary maintenance for this purpose. Another object of the present invention is to produce a device for opening and closing the movable part of a furniture unit that can be installed without difficulty even by non-specialists and that therefore also allows the user to replace or adjust it when required and that has, among other things, limited costs, which can promote its popularity in the market.

Another but not last object of the present invention is to produce a device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit that can be mounted on any type of furniture unit and that occupies a limited amount of space.

The above technical aim, as well as these and other objects, according to the present invention, are achieved by a device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit according to the following claim 1.

The device according to the invention can be attached to a movable part of a furniture unit in general, including for example a drawer, but is particularly suitable for opening doors that rotate about a vertical or horizontal axis. The closing of the movable parts of the furniture unit is preferably instead assisted or delegated to be performed by known closing devices incorporated into conventional guides or hinges, due to which these parts effect their movement.

Further, other features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a device for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture unit according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a view from above of the device according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, with the drawer in the initial position, with the door closed;

figure 2 shows the device of figure 1, in which the drawing pin is disengaged from the rear cavity of the slider;

figure 3 shows the device in figure 1, in which the drawing pin abuts against the front edge of the slider and is in a position to open the door sufficiently to enable the user to grasp the door;

fig. 4 shows the device of fig. 1, in which the drawer means are moved transversely to their sliding axis, due to the pulling action exerted by the user on the door from the outside, until they release the door;

fig. 5 shows the device of fig. 1 in a position: wherein, during retraction of the drawing element, the drawing pin abuts against an edge of the rear cavity of the slider;

fig. 6 shows the device of fig. 1, with the door open and the drawing element again in the initial position;

figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the device of figure 1 along the line 7-7;

figure 8 shows a view from above of the body for supporting the device shown in figure 1;

figure 9 shows a view from above the inside of the lid of the box-like body for the device in figure 1;

fig. 10 shows a view from above of the drawing element of the device in fig. 1;

figure 11 shows a side view of the second slide of the device in figure 1;

figure 12 shows a view from above of the device according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, with the drawing element in the initial position, with the door closed; and

fig. 13 shows a view from above of the drawing element of the device in fig. 12.

Detailed Description

In various embodiments, identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

With reference to the above figures, a device for opening and closing the movable part of a furniture unit according to the invention is shown, the device being generally indicated with reference number 1.

In this particular preferred embodiment, the movable part 103 of the furniture unit in question here is a door that rotates with respect to the body of the furniture unit, but more generally it may correspond to the front of a drawer or other such part.

The device 1 comprises a body 208 associated with a fixed part of the furniture unit 116 for supporting a slider 3 which slides bidirectionally (reversibly) along the sliding axis 100, in contrast to and as a result of the action of the first elastic means (and in particular of the spring 5). More precisely, slider 3 is slidingly engaged in a groove 204 in a supporting body 208, which extends in the direction of sliding axis 100 and is engageable with a drawing device mounted on a drawing element 205, which slides in the direction of sliding axis 100 and is engageable, either integrally or reversibly, with a movable part 103 of the furniture unit. In particular, the drawing element 205 is slidingly supported within a guide element 114 provided in a cover element 215 on the support body 208.

The drawing element 205 extends longitudinally in the direction of the sliding axis 100 and has a "C" shaped cross section.

The supporting body 208 comprises first displacement means adapted to move the drawer to release said drawer and the slide 3 from their mutual engagement.

Advantageously, the drawing means are supported by the drawing elements 205 so that they can move transversely to the direction of the sliding axis 100.

In particular, the drawing device comprises a drawing pin 206 attached to a lever (lever)43 hinged at 44 to a drawing element 205, so as to achieve the rotating action.

With reference to the embodiment shown in fig. 1-11, on the arm opposite to the drawing pin 206, the lever 43 carries an element 42 for mechanically hooking the movable part 103, for example by means of an element 41 attached to the movable part 103 and provided with two flanges that hold the latch 40 hooked on by the hooking element 42.

Fig. 12 and 13 show a second embodiment of the invention, which differs from the first embodiment mainly in that the system for hooking the movable part 103 is of the magnet type, only as far as the structure of the drawing element 205 is concerned.

In this case, the lever 43 is a single lever (simple lever) with a pull pin 206 mounted at its free end. The magnetic element 300 can be carried by the movable part 103 or by the front end of the drawing element 205.

From now on, reference is again made to these two preferred embodiments of the invention.

The support 208 includes a track 45 along which the free end of the pull pin 206 is guided. The first displacement means, which comprise at least one first section 151 and one second section 152 of the track 45, extend transversely to the direction of the sliding axis 100 in an inclined manner, and are connected by third and fourth sections 153, 154 of said track which extend parallel to the direction of the sliding axis 100.

In particular, the track 45 comprises two adjacent parallel rails (rails) extending along a closed path of quadrilateral shape.

The first embodiment of the invention enables the use of the track 45 for the drawing pin 206 for the mechanical control of the engagement and disengagement of the device 1 with the movable part 103 of the furniture unit and it is superior to the second embodiment of the invention in that it avoids the need to use magnetic couplings that are less reliable and more noisy.

The groove 204 comprises, in its front end portion, second means for moving the slider 3 transversely to the sliding axis 100, and adapted to engage in a releasable manner with the means for guiding the slider 3.

The second displacement means comprise a front curve 155 located in the groove 204, while the guide means comprise a front guide pin 156 and a rear guide pin 157 permanently carried by the slider 3 and sliding in the groove 204.

The slider 3 further comprises a concave surface 158 defined by a leading edge 159 and a trailing edge 160 for blocking the drawing pin 206, the drawing pin 206 being releasably engaged in the rear cavity 161.

In this embodiment of the invention, the device 1 is attached to a furniture unit fitted with hinges exerting a thrust in the direction for closing the movable part 103, and with a second slider 101 supported by the support body 208 and movable bidirectionally in the direction of the sliding axis 100, in opposition to and due to the action of the second elastic means (and in particular of the second spring 102). The second slider 101 can engage with a second pull-out device provided on the pull-out element 205.

The second drawing device comprises a fin (fin)207 which extends laterally from the drawing element 205 and is slidingly engaged in a guide slot 108 provided in the second slider 101.

The device 1 further comprises an elastically yielding stop element 209 against which the drawing element 205 directly or indirectly abuts before the drawing element is engaged with the drawing device in the first displacement device, and which can be fitted with a thrust device that pushes the drawing element in the opening direction.

These thrust means preferably push the drawing element 205 only over a displacement stroke of the drawing element.

The thrust means comprise an ejector (ejector) contained in the support body 208 against the rear of the drawing element 205. The ejector comprises a member 20 for housing a rod (stem)20b which is movable in the direction of the sliding axis 100, in opposition to and due to the action of a spring (not shown), and is designed to produce an initial opening stroke of the movable part 103 acting on the rear seat of the drawing element 205 with a force greater than the force exerted thereon by any independent closing means (such as, for example, those incorporated in hinges).

In any case, the ejection force of the ejector is weaker than the elastic force of the first elastic means, so that when the slider 3 slides freely, the elastic force of the first elastic means is able to bring the drawing element 205 engaged with the slider 3 into a position corresponding to the closed position of the movable part 103 (fig. 6).

In the embodiment shown, the drawing element 205 therefore indirectly abuts against the stop element 209, i.e. with the interposition of the ejector, whose rod 20b is completely retracted inside the part 20 when in the closed position, thus forming a rigid unit.

The elastically yielding stop element 209 pushes the part 20 of the ejector against the fixed stop element 50 on the support body 208 with a force greater than the force exerted by the first elastic means, so as to enable the retraction of the same in the direction of the sliding axis 100 under the action of an external action opposite to the elastically yielding stop element 209, which in this case is a spring interposed between the rear seat of the part 20 and the bottom wall of the fixed guide 162 along which the part 20 moves. The operation of the apparatus according to the invention is apparent from the above description and illustrations, and in particular when referring to the first preferred embodiment, the operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows.

In a first phase of closure of the movable part 103 and abutment against the drawing element 205, the drawing pin 206 is engaged in the rear cavity 161 of the slider 3, which is held in the rest position, with the drawing element 205 abutting against the stem 20b of the ejector, which in turn abuts against the elastically yielding stop element 209 which is not compressed but is only preloaded to hold the ejector in position against the fixed stop element 15. Since the force of ejector 20 is weaker than the force of spring 5, rod 20b is in the retracted position.

As shown in fig. 2, after displacement of the drawing element 205, a force applied from the outside to the movable part 103 of the furniture unit causes the containing part 20 of the ejector to retract in opposition to the elastically yielding stop element 209. This displacement causes the drawing pin 206 to slide transversely along the inclined wall 152 of the track 45, releasing the drawing pin 206 from its seat 161 (where it engages with the slider 3), while at the same time engaging the hooking element 42 with the pin 40 of the movable part 103 of the furniture unit. When the pressure applied by the user from the outside is released, the spring 5 keeps the slider 3 in a position at the bottom of the groove 204, while the containing part 20 of the ejector returns to the initial position against the fixed stop element 50, and the rod 20b is extracted and therefore pushes the drawing element 205 and the drawing pin 206 into the position shown in fig. 3, in which the movable part 103 can be grasped and pulled to open it completely.

During this opening displacement, the drawing pin 206 meets and pushes the front edge 159 of the slider 3, drawing the slider 3 along the groove 204 into the position shown in fig. 4, in which the drawing pin 206 slides along the inclined front wall 151 of the track 45. In this position, the slider 3 engages with the guide pin 156 in the front bend 155 in the groove 204 and is therefore kept locked in this position by the loaded spring 5, the hooking element 42 is disengaged from the pin 40 and the drawing element 205 and the drawing pin 206 are pulled back due to the action of the drawing fin 207 engaged with the slider 101, which is retracted (recall) due to the spring 102 previously loaded during the extraction of the drawing element 205.

In the position shown in fig. 5, the drawing pin 206 hits and pushes the rear edge 160 of the slider 3, thus releasing the slider from its current position and returning, together with the drawing element 205, to the initial position shown in fig. 6, but with the movable part 103 open. As the position of the hooking element 42 is raised, the movable part 103 can be normally closed again by means of a general closing device of known type, to which it is fitted. In addition, the movable part 103 can also be opened from its closed position accidentally by pulling the movable part, in case the device is not operated in an abnormal manner, and therefore in case the device is not damaged. The device shown in fig. 12 and 13, which comprises a magnetic hooking system, is also suitable for movable parts of furniture units fitted with guides or hinges and already comprising a separate thrust device in the opening direction, but with the main difference that the rotation of the lever 43 is only used to disengage the drawing pin 206 from the slider, while when the pulling force exerted by the user exceeds the magnetic coupling force, the drawing element 205 is released from the movable part 103 of the furniture unit and the drawing element 205 is kept at the end of its travel by the front stop on the slider 101.

In practice, the device according to the invention has proved particularly advantageous for achieving a simple and practical opening and closing of the door or drawer, making it easy for the user to grasp and ensuring a controlled closing action.

It is therefore contemplated that the present invention may take on numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the constituent elements may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, any material may be used, and any dimensions may be used, according to the needs and the state of the art.

Claims (22)

1. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a piece of furniture, characterized in that it comprises a body (208) for supporting a slider (3) associated with a fixed part of said piece of furniture (116), said slider sliding bilaterally along a sliding axis (100) in opposition to and thanks to the action of first elastic means, said slider (3) being engageable with a drawing means present on a drawing element sliding in the direction of said sliding axis (100) and integral or bilaterally engaged with said movable part (103) of said piece of furniture, said body (208) for supporting comprising first displacement means suitable for moving said drawing means in such a way as to release said drawing means and said slider (3) from their mutual engagement, said means for opening and closing the movable part of a piece of furniture are further provided with an elastically yielding stop element (209) against which said drawing element (205) directly or indirectly abuts before said drawing element is engaged with said drawing device in said first displacement means, said means for opening and closing the movable part of a piece of furniture comprising thrust means adapted to directly or indirectly push said drawing element (205) in the opposite direction with a force that is less with respect to the pushing of said first elastic means.

2. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said thrust means push said drawing element (205) only over a certain displacement of said drawing element.

3. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said drawing device is supported by said drawing element (205) in a movable manner transversally to the direction of said sliding axis (100).

4. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 2, characterized in that said drawing means are supported by said drawing element (205) in a movable manner transversally to the direction of said sliding axis (100).

5. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said drawing means comprise a drawing pin (206) fixed on a lever (43) pivoted in an oscillating manner on said drawing element (205).

6. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 4, characterized in that said drawing means comprise a drawing pin (206) fixed on a lever (43) pivoted in an oscillating manner on said drawing element (205).

7. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that in a track (45) provided in said body (208) for supporting and along which the free end of said drawing pin (206) is guided, said first displacement means comprise at least one first segment (151) and one second segment (152) of said track (45) transversal to the direction of said sliding axis (100) and connected to a third segment (153) and to a fourth segment (154) of said track (45) extending parallel to the direction of said sliding axis (100).

8. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of an article of furniture according to claim 7, characterised in that said track (45) comprises two adjacent tracks parallel to each other.

9. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that on the arm opposite to said drawing pin (206) said lever (43) bears an element (42) for mechanically engaging with said movable part (103).

10. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of an article of furniture according to claim 8, characterised in that on the arm opposite to said drawing pin (206) said lever (43) bears an element (42) for mechanical engagement with said movable part (103).

11. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a magnetic element (300) for engaging said drawing element (205) and said movable part (103).

12. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a magnetic element (300) for engaging said drawing element (205) and said movable part (103).

13. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said body (208) for supporting has a groove (204) extending in the direction of said sliding axis (100) and in that said groove (204) comprises, in its front end region, second displacement means for moving said slider (3) in a manner transversal to said sliding axis (100), said second displacement means being adapted to be engaged in a releasable manner with guide means of said slider (3).

14. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 12, characterized in that said body (208) for supporting has a groove (204) extending in the direction of said sliding axis (100) and in that said groove (204) comprises, in its front end region, second displacement means for moving said slider (3) in a manner transversal to said sliding axis (100), said second displacement means being adapted to be engaged in a releasable manner with guide means of said slider (3).

15. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 14, characterized in that said second displacement means comprise a front curve (155) of said groove (204) and said guide means comprise a front guide pin (156) and a rear guide pin (157) fixedly supported by said slider (3) and sliding in said groove (204).

16. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said slider (3) comprises a sunken surface (158) defined by a front side (159) and a rear side (160) for retaining said drawing pin (206), said sunken surface (158) further having a rear cavity in which said drawing pin (206) is releasably engageable.

17. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 15, characterized in that said slider (3) comprises a sunken surface (158) defined by a front side (159) and a rear side (160) for retaining said drawing pin (206), said sunken surface (158) further having a rear cavity in which said drawing pin (206) is releasably engageable.

18. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a second slider (101) supported by said body (208) for supporting and sliding bidirectionally in the direction of said sliding axis (100) in opposition to and due to the action of second elastic means, said second slider (101) being engageable with second drawing means present on said drawing element (205).

19. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises a second slider (101) supported by said body (208) for supporting and sliding bidirectionally in the direction of said sliding axis (100) in opposition to and due to the action of second elastic means, said second slider (101) being engageable with second drawing means present on said drawing element (205).

20. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that said thrust means comprise an ejector comprising a member (20) for housing a rod (20 b) movable in the direction of said sliding axis (100), wherein the component (20) for accommodation is moved by the elastically yielding stop element (209) in such a way as to abut against a fixed stop element (50) of the body (208) for support, i.e. such that the component for accommodation can be retracted in the direction of the sliding axis (100) opposite the elastically yielding stop element (209), and wherein said lever (20 b) is adapted to operate against a rear seat of said drawing element (205) to produce an initial stroke for opening said movable part (103).

21. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 19, characterized in that said thrust means comprise an ejector comprising a member (20) for housing a rod (20 b) movable in the direction of said sliding axis (100), wherein the component (20) for accommodation is moved by the elastically yielding stop element (209) in such a way as to abut against a fixed stop element (50) of the body (208) for support, i.e. such that the component for accommodation can be retracted in the direction of the sliding axis (100) opposite the elastically yielding stop element (209), and wherein said lever (20 b) is adapted to operate against a rear seat of said drawing element (205) to produce an initial stroke for opening said movable part (103).

22. Device (1) for opening and closing a movable part of a furniture according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that said elastically yielding stop element (209) is a spring interposed between a rear seat of said part for housing (20) and a bottom wall of a fixed guide (162) along which said part for housing (20) is movable.