Patent Application
20250052102
The invention relates to an assembly for guiding at least one movable furniture part, in particular a sliding door or folding sliding door, relative to a furniture body. The assembly comprises at least one guide system which is or can be fastened to the furniture body, at least one support on which the at least one movable furniture part is or can be mounted, in particular pivotally and/or hingedly, and by which the at least one movable furniture part can be moved relative to the at least one guide system between a retracted position and an extended position, at least one drive device, by which the at least one support can be moved relative to the at least one guide system, and which has at least one cable. The at least one cable comprises at least one coupling element, and at least one coupling device for coupling to the at least one coupling element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a piece of furniture with at least one such assembly and to a method for installing and coupling such an assembly.
Such an assembly is already known from document DE 20 2020 107 104 U1, in which a cable of a drive device is arranged via balls on the drive device in the delivery state of the drive device in such a way that a fitter has to manually remove the balls from the drive device in order to then arrange them—also manually—on a support so that the drive device can help the support move out of a receiving shaft.
A disadvantage of the prior art is that the manual connection of the cable of the drive device to the support is cumbersome and requires additional time for installing the assembly. In particular, if the receiving shaft has already been installed, the connection is difficult to obtain due to the drive device being concealed in the receiving shaft and requires the receiving shaft to be uninstalled. If, for example, the cable becomes undesirably detached from the assembly on the support during operation (e.g. due to vibrations and/or inadequate connection), there is no user-friendly way to ensure that the assembly functions properly. In practice, the coupling of the drive device to the support is often forgotten or not corrected properly, which means that an increased force is required to move the movable furniture part and, moreover, it is difficult to determine during operation what the cause of the increased effort Is.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an assembly, a piece of furniture, and a method which are improved compared to the prior art, in which the disadvantages of the prior art are at least partially eliminated, and which are characterized in particular by a particularly convenient, rapid and/or secure coupling of the cable of the drive device to a support or a movable furniture part, wherein the risk of a missing connection between the drive device and the support/movable furniture part is reduced—in a user-friendly and structurally simple manner.
Therefore, according to the invention, the at least one coupling element is arranged, in particular directly, on the at least one guide system, in particular on and/or in a first guide track of the at least one guide system, for automatic coupling with the at least one coupling device.
This makes it possible to ensure a defined position of the at least one coupling element relative to the at least one guide system in order to ensure a secure automatic fastening of the cable in the coupling between the at least one support and the at least one guide system.
A positioning of the at least one cable by a fitter during the coupling of the at least one support to the at least one guide system is therefore no longer necessary, since the coupling can be obtained automatically by the defined orientation of the at least one coupling element. The defined position of the at least one coupling element can be achieved, for example, via an adhesive connection, a stop, a positive connection, etc. Particularly preferably, the defined positioning is achieved via an arrangement within a guide, wherein in particular a static friction in the extended position can be reduced and/or a harmonious insertion and/or extension movement of the movable furniture part can be generated.
In addition, there is the positive feature that it can be ensured that ejection of the at least one support from the retracted position is facilitated by the at least one drive device—without undesirable decoupling between the at least one coupling element and the at least one coupling device. This makes installation easier and reduces maintenance work by specialized personnel.
It is also possible that after the at least one support has been installed on the at least one guide system, no additional manual couplings are required by the fitter, since the connection between the drive unit and the support can be provided by the relative movement itself.
Any release of the coupling after a renewed movement from an extended position (for example active position for subsequent covering of furnishings) towards a retracted position (for example a recessed position in a receiving shaft) of the at least one support or the at least one movable furniture part is effectively prevented, wherein the coupling can always be guaranteed during installation and operation of the assembly.
Accordingly, the fitter only has to arrange the at least one support on the at least one guide system. The at least one coupling device takes the at least one cable with it during a relative movement of the at least one support when the at least one movable furniture part is pushed into a receiving shaft and the at least one drive device absorbs energy by which a movement of the at least one movable furniture part in the direction of the extended position is supported and/or caused.
The first guide track can generally be designed in one piece or in multiple pieces. For example, a first part of the first guide track can be provided for guiding the movement of the at least one support, and a second part of the first guide track can be provided for guiding the movement of the at least one coupling element.
In general, the coupling can be maintained between a time of initial coupling and a dismantling of the assembly—for example by clamping the at least one cable in the at least one coupling device—or can be re-established upon movement of the at least one support from the extended position to the retracted position. Particularly preferably, after installation, contact between the at least one coupling element and the at least one coupling device remains until the assembly is dismantled.
The term cable is to be interpreted so broadly that it also comprises, in an analogous manner, a chain or other flexible components that can withstand tensile stress, such as cords, threads or wires.
As stated at the beginning, protection is also sought for a piece of furniture with at least one such assembly. For example, the piece of furniture can be in the form of a cupboard.
As stated at the outset, protection is also sought for a method for installing and coupling such an assembly, wherein the following method steps are carried out: In a preparatory step, the at least one coupling element is arranged on and/or in the at least one guide system, in a first installation step the at least one support is moved relative to the at least one guide system such that in a further installation step the at least one cable of the at least one drive device is automatically coupled to the at least one coupling device arranged on the movable furniture part and/or the at least one support.
The structural design both speeds up and simplifies the assembly process.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one coupling element is guided along the at least one guide system, in particular between the extended position of the at least one support and the retracted position of the at least one support, on and/or in the at least one guide system.
By permanently arranging the at least one coupling element on the at least one guide system, a defined positioning of the at least one coupling element can be maintained.
Advantageously, a preload of the at least one drive device can be transmitted to the at least one support in the direction of the extended position by the at least one drive device and via the at least one, preferably plastic-like, coupling element.
This can reduce the amount of force required to move the movable furniture part.
It has proven to be advantageous that the at least one guide system for the preferably form-fitting guidance of the at least one coupling element comprises a coupling element guide, preferably a groove, particularly preferably a T-groove, of the first guide track. Preferably, the coupling element guide has portions with a circular, elliptical, rectangular, or polygonal cross-section.
By means of a coupling element guide, a defined orientation of the at least one coupling element along the at least one guide system can be ensured in a particularly favorable and precise manner. For example, the connection between the at least one coupling element and the at least one guide system can be achieved via a positive connection in one or two—preferably bidirectional—spatial directions.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one coupling element is arranged continuously, preferably directly, on and/or at least partially in the at least one guide system between the extended position and the retracted position. This can ensure that an improper position of the at least one coupling element relative to the at least one coupling device is inhibited.
It has proven to be advantageous that the at least one coupling device, preferably a driver shoe, can be or is automatically coupled to the at least one cable, preferably the at least one coupling element, of the at least one drive device during a relative movement of the at least one support relative to the at least one guide system. Preferably, the at least one coupling element can be caught by the at least one coupling device and/or pushed along in the direction of the retracted position.
An automatic coupling can be achieved, for example, by accommodating the at least one coupling device and a corresponding geometry of the at least one coupling element for connecting the two component parts.
An advantageous variant of the invention consists in that the at least one coupling device is arranged on the at least one movable furniture part and/or the at least one support. The at least one coupling device is continuously arranged in a movement-coupled manner to the at least one cable and/or the at least one coupling element by a relative movement of the at least one support relative to the at least one guide system, preferably directly and/or at least in regions between the extended position and the retracted position. Preferably, the at least one coupling device is arranged, preferably continuously, in a position of use of the at least one drive device, below the at least one drive device and/or between the at least one drive device and the at least one coupling element.
Particularly preferably, the at least one drive device has at least one outlet opening through which the at least one cable of the at least one drive device, in a state of use of the at least one drive device, protrudes due to gravity essentially vertically downwards and/or transversely to the at least one outlet opening for coupling to the at least one coupling device. Preferably, the at least one cable can be moved along the at least one coupling element and/or essentially parallel to a coupling element guide that may be present.
Due to the at least one cable protruding from the at least one outlet opening due to gravity, no additional guides are required to accommodate the at least one cable in the extended position. The at least one cable can be automatically moved along the at least one guide system by a guide.
In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one coupling element has a longitudinal extension which is preferably larger than a width of the at least one coupling element. The longitudinal extension is guided substantially parallel to the at least one guide system and/or to a coupling element guide which may be present. This makes it possible to reduce a tendency of the at least one coupling element to cant and/or tilt along the at least one guide system and/or to achieve a harmonious movement of the at least one coupling element—for example in addition to favorable sliding friction properties between the at least one coupling element and the at least one guide system.
According to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the at least one coupling element comprises a guide portion, preferably with a guide indentation, and/or at least one bearing portion, preferably spatially spaced from the guide indentation, and/or a coupling portion, preferably spatially spaced from the guide portion and/or the at least one bearing portion. Preferably, the guide portion, the at least one bearing portion, and/or the coupling portion are arranged in a star shape and/or as at least three essentially orthogonally arranged, particularly preferably as exactly four mirror-symmetrical and/or symmetrically arranged, webs of the at least one coupling element.
The guide portion can, for example, engage in a coupling element guide and provide a linear guide. The at least one bearing portion can prevent undesirable canting or tilting of the at least one coupling element by a support. The coupling portion can be used for connection to the at least one coupling device.
If the webs are designed to be mirror-symmetrical or symmetrical, the at least one coupling element can be used in at least two positions and/or applied to two guide systems arranged on both sides of the furniture body without, for example, having to produce additional injection molding tools, which can save costs in production.
It has proven to be advantageous that the at least one coupling element comprises a contacting portion oriented substantially orthogonally to the guide portion, the at least one bearing portion and/or the coupling portion for coupling to the at least one coupling device. Preferably, the at least one coupling device is designed to correspond to the contacting portion.
The contacting with the at least one coupling device via the contacting portion can be point-like, linear or planar. If the at least one coupling device has, for example, a tapered receiving area, the contacting portion and/or the coupling portion can be clamped within the at least one coupling device for connection. In general, application on a side surface is also conceivable.
Furthermore, preferably the at least one coupling device comprises a base, preferably with at least one opening for fastening means, for connection to the at least one movable furniture part and/or the at least one support and a receptacle, preferably protruding transversely from the base, preferably with three substantially orthogonal side surfaces. Preferably, the receptacle comprises a tapered receptacle region, particularly preferably for coupling to a possibly present contacting portion of the at least one coupling element.
In a further embodiment, the at least one coupling element, preferably via a possibly present web, partially engages in the at least one guide system and partially protrudes from the at least one guide system, preferably substantially in an orthogonal direction from the at least one guide system, and/or can be received by the at least one coupling device substantially in an orthogonal direction to the at least one guide system for moving the at least one support along a longitudinal direction of the at least one guide system.
This particularly facilitates a safe and/or simple coupling of the components involved.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one guide system comprises at least one second guide track for guiding the at least one movable furniture part, wherein the at least one second guide track runs transversely relative to a longitudinal direction of the first guide track in a state of use of the assembly.
The second guide track can be used to conceal furnishings, for example in conjunction with a carriage. A carriage can generally also be used within a receiving slot of a piece of furniture.
Particularly preferably, during a first relative movement of the at least one support relative to the at least one guide system, the at least one coupling device can be automatically coupled to the at least one coupling element and/or the at least one cable is connected to the at least one coupling device in the extended position, in the retracted position, and/or between the extended position and the retracted position. This can prevent the at least one cable from detaching from the at least one coupling device and subsequently remaining in an uncoupled state.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one drive device comprises a cable drum for winding and unwinding the at least one cable and at least one force storage device for pretensioning the at least one cable drum. The at least one cable drum and/or the at least one force storage device is arranged, particularly preferably completely, within a housing of the at least one drive device.
In general, the at least one cable is wound on the at least one cable drum in the extended position for compact storage, with a free end protruding from the at least one drive device. If the at least one cable is pulled out of the at least one drive device by a relative movement of the at least one support in the direction of the retracted position, the at least one energy storage device is pretensioned. The stored energy is released to the at least one movable furniture part when the at least one movable furniture part moves in the direction of the extended position.
Advantageously, the at least one force storage device can be tensioned during a movement of the at least one support in the direction of the retracted position and/or is pretensioned or not tensioned in the extended position and/or wherein an ejection process of the at least one support, preferably together with the sliding door or a folding sliding door, can be supported and/or carried out by a movement coupling between the at least one coupling element and the at least one coupling device and/or via the at least one force storage device and/or at least one ejection device, preferably from a receiving shaft.
It has proven to be advantageous that the at least one support can be moved from the retracted position into an extended position, preferably automatically, via the at least one drive device.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one ejection device is provided, with which the at least one support can be ejected from the retracted position by the at least one ejection device at least in portions in the direction of the extended position. Preferably, the at least one support can be moved in the retracted position by exerting pressure on the at least one support into an overpressed position located behind the retracted position, whereby the ejection device can be triggered and/or can be locked in the retracted position by the at least one ejection device.
The at least one ejection device can initiate the movement of the at least one movable furniture part along the at least one guide system—for example in the sense of a touch-latch device—wherein a transition from a parking position to a relative movement in the direction of the extended position can be brought about automatically.
Particularly preferably, the assembly comprises at least one receiving shaft in which the at least one movable furniture part can be arranged in the retracted position, preferably completely. Preferably, the at least one movable piece of furniture in the extended position can be moved transversely to a longitudinal extension of the at least one receiving shaft for concealing a furnishing, particularly preferably via at least one optionally present second guide track.
The at least one receiving shaft results in an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture, and the assembly can be hidden within the at least one receiving shaft. If necessary, the at least one movable furniture part can be pulled out to conceal furnishings and moved in the direction transverse to the longitudinal extension.
Preferably, the piece of furniture has a furniture body and at least two furniture parts that are mounted so as to be movable relative to the furniture body. The furniture parts are hinged to one another via a vertically extending axis in a use state of the assembly, and the at least two furniture parts are movable by the assembly between the extended position in which the furniture parts are aligned substantially parallel to one another, and a second position in which the furniture parts are aligned substantially coplanar to one another. Preferably, the furniture body has at least one receiving shaft for receiving the furniture parts in the retracted position, and/or the furniture parts are movable from the retracted position towards the extended position via the at least one drive device.
Preferably, at least one force storage device of the at least one drive device is tensioned during a movement of the support from the extended position towards the retracted position, and/or a movement of the support from the retracted position towards the extended position is supported, preferably with the aid of at least one ejection device, and/or the at least one coupling element remains continuously motion-coupled with the at least one coupling device between the retracted position and the extended position.
Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:
The support 4 can be moved automatically from the retracted position 5 into the extended position 6 via the drive device 7 if there is sufficient preload. However, it is preferred to merely support manual operation of the support, which is additionally facilitated by the ejection device 33.
In
Before the support 4 is mounted on the guide system 3, the coupling element 9 is arranged directly on the guide system 3 in portions in the first guide track 11 for automatic coupling with a coupling device 10. In general, it is also conceivable that the coupling element is fixed on the outside of the guide system 3 in a defined position. The coupling device 10 is provided for coupling the movable furniture part 1 with the coupling element 9 of the drive device 7, which is mounted on the support 4. In general, the coupling device 10 can also be fastened to the movable furniture part 1.
When installing the support 4, the coupling device 10 is brought into contact with the coupling element 9 for the first time, wherein an improper connection between the coupling element 9 and the coupling device 10 is prevented. The coupling element 9 remains constantly arranged directly on and in portions in the guide system 3 between the extended position 6 and the retracted position 5.
During a first relative movement of the support 4 relative to the guide system 3, the coupling device 10 can be automatically coupled to the coupling element 9 and the cable 8 is connected or motion-coupled to the coupling device 10 via the coupling element 9 in the extended position 6, the retracted position 5 and between the extended position 6 and the retracted position 5.
A method for installing and coupling the assembly can be carried out as follows: in a preparatory step, the coupling element 9 is arranged on or in the guide system 3, in a subsequent first installation step the support 4 is moved relative to the guide system 3, whereby in a subsequent and automatic installation step the cable 8 of the drive device 7 is automatically coupled to the coupling device 10 arranged on the movable furniture part 1 or the support 4.
The coupling device 10 is arranged on the support 4, wherein the coupling device 10 is arranged in a motion-coupled manner on the coupling element 9 by a relative movement of the support 4 relative to the guide system 3, continuously and directly between the extended position 6 and the retracted position 5.
In the position of use of the drive device 7, the coupling device 10 is arranged continuously below the drive device 7 and in some regions between the drive device 7 and the coupling element 9.
The coupling element 9 remains continuously coupled to the coupling device 10 between the retracted position 5 and the extended position 6.
The coupling device 10 in the form of a driver shoe can be automatically coupled to the cable 8 and the coupling element 9 of the drive device 7 when the support 4 moves relative to the guide system 3. The coupling element 9 is captured by the coupling device 10 and pushed in the direction of the retracted position 5.
As can be seen in the views according to
In
The drive device 7 comprises a cable drum 30 (shown in dotted lines) for winding and unwinding the cable 8 and the energy storage device 31 for pretensioning the cable drum 30. The cable drum 30 and the energy storage device 31 are arranged completely within a housing 32 of the drive device 7.
The force storage device 31 can be tensioned when the support 4 moves in the direction of the retracted position 5 and is pretensioned or not tensioned in an extended position 6. An ejection process of the support 4 is supported together with the sliding door or the folding sliding door by a movement coupling between the coupling element 9 and the coupling device 10 as well as via the force storage device 31 and optionally in some regions via the ejection device 33 from a receiving shaft 34 (see
By means of the drive device 7 and via the plastic-like coupling element 9, a preload of the drive device 7 on the support 4 can be transmitted via the coupling device 10 in the direction of the extended position 6.
In the exploded view 6a of the component parts for the coupling between the support 4 and the guide system 3, it can be seen that the coupling element 9 has a longitudinal extension 14 which is larger than one (both) width(s) 15 of the coupling element 9 and wherein the longitudinal extension 14 is guided parallel to the guide system 3 and the coupling element guide 12.
The coupling element 9 comprises a guide portion 16 with two guide indentations 17, two bearing portions 18 spatially spaced from the guide indentation 17 and a coupling portion 19 spatially spaced from the guide portion 16 and the bearing portions 18.
The guide portion 16, the bearing portions 18 and the coupling portion 19 are star-shaped and arranged as four orthogonally arranged—mirror-symmetrical and symmetrically oriented—webs of the coupling element 9.
The coupling element 9 comprises a contacting portion 21 oriented orthogonally to the guide portion 16, the bearing portions 18 and the coupling portion 19 for coupling to the coupling device 10.
The coupling element 9 engages in portions in the guide system 3 via the guide portion 16 designed as a web and partially protrudes from the guide system 3 in the orthogonal direction 27. The coupling element 9 can be received by the coupling device in an orthogonal direction 27 to the guide system 3 for moving the support 4 along a longitudinal direction 28 of the guide system 3.
The coupling device 10 comprises a base 22 with two openings 23 for fastening means (see
The receptacle 24 comprises three orthogonal side surfaces 25, wherein the receptacle 24 has a tapered receiving region 26 for coupling with the contacting portion 21 of the coupling element 9.
The furniture body 2 comprises two receiving shafts 34 for receiving the furniture parts 1 in the retracted position 5 (indicated by an “x”), wherein the furniture parts 1 can be moved from the retracted position 5 towards the extended position 6 via the drive device 7 concealed by the receiving shaft 34.
The assembly according to this embodiment comprises the receiving shaft 34, in which the movable furniture part 1 can be completely arranged in the retracted position 5, wherein movable furniture 1 in the extended position 5 can be moved transversely to a longitudinal extension 36 [of the receiving shaft 34 for concealing furnishings 37 via a second guide track 29.
The second guide track 29 runs in the use state of the assembly relative to the longitudinal direction 28 of the first guide track 11 and for guiding the movable furniture part 1 in a further movement portion transversely to the first guide track 11.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 50295/2022 | Apr 2022 | AT | national |
The present application is a continuation of International Application PCT/AT2023/060115 filed on Apr. 5, 2023. Thus, all of the subject matter of International Application PCT/AT2023/060115 is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/AT2023/060115 | Apr 2023 | WO |
| Child | 18929127 | US |
