Patent Application
20150068126
The present invention relates to a device for a movable furniture part and piece of furniture.
Pieces of furniture having a furniture part, for example, a door or flap, which is received movably on a furniture body and can be pivoted via a joint mechanism are known. Here, a first stop part is provided on the body and a second stop part of a guide device is provided on the movable furniture part. The guide device can comprise, for example, a hinge or a joint with a pivoting or joint mechanism, respectively.
The guide device can have a damping device for damping the relative movement of device or stop parts, whereby, in the installed state of the guide device, the movement of the movable furniture part can be damped or braked during pivoting of the movable furniture part. The movement damping of the movable furniture part takes place, in particular, on a last part section, for example, before a closed or open position of the movable furniture part relative to the body is reached. In this way, undesired stop noise and/or rebound movements of the furniture part or damage to the device and the furniture can be avoided, which is otherwise the case in a non-damped or non-braked contact of the movable furniture part with corresponding sections, for example, the body.
The damping device which comprises, for example, a fluid damper or a gas or liquid damper has, in particular, components such as a main body with a damper housing which is present thereon including inner part, it being possible for the damper housing and the inner part to be moved in a defined manner relative to one another with the action of a resistance during the pivoting or displacement of the furniture part during operation of the damping device. For example, the inner part can comprise a piston arrangement which can be displaced to and fro in a damper housing which is configured as a cylinder. Here, either the damper housing or the inner part can serve as a contact part which, for the damping action or a damping operation, comes into contact at least temporarily with a section of the device which can be moved during pivoting of the furniture part. When the contact begins, the damping operation of the movement of the relevant parts of the device and therefore of the movable furniture part is initiated.
It is an object of the present invention to improve pieces of furniture or devices of the type mentioned in the introduction with regard to the damping device.
The invention proceeds from a device for a movable furniture part, in particular, for a door or flap or specifically of a furniture part device, the device having a first stop part which can be attached to a body and is connected via a joint mechanism to a second stop part which can be attached to the movable furniture part for pivoting of the movable furniture part, and there being a damping device, for a damping operation of the relative movement of device parts of the device and therefore during pivoting of the movable furniture part in the mounted state of the device, the damping device comprising a damper housing and an inner part which is received on the damper housing, which damper housing and inner part can be moved with respect to one another, and the damper housing or the inner part serving as a contact part which, for the damping operation, comes at least temporarily into contact with a section of the device, which section can be moved during the pivoting of the furniture part, and setting means being provided, by way of which setting of the damping action which is provided by way of the damping device can be performed.
The device can be, in particular, a hinge or joint.
The core concept of the invention lies in the fact that the setting means comprise a setting arrangement for manual setting without a tool of an extent of the damping action which can be provided by way of the damping device. In the installed state of the device, the setting arrangement is advantageously present in a manner which is accessible for an operation by way of a person, a minimum extent of the damping action which is provided by the damping device during the relative movement of device parts being ensured in every setting.
A damping action can thus be adapted or modified without it being necessary to previously dismantle or disassemble elements on the piece of furniture. However, a damping action which is provided by means of the damping device is advantageously maintained in every setting which is possible by way of the setting arrangement, or at least a residual damping action or the maximum possible damping action is always provided.
The damping action of the device can therefore advantageously be set or defined in a manner which is adapted individually to customer requests or for the respective use. For example, in the case of movable furniture parts which are large and/or are loaded heavily, it is possible to adapt the damping action to the higher moving mass, in order to ensure a sufficient damping action for this case.
Here, the setting arrangement is advantageously configured to define a setting which can be selected from a great spectrum of different settings. In particular, a setting can be modified at any time without aids or without a tool in a manual manner, in particular by hand, which can advantageously take place in one simple step or in an operator-friendly manner.
By way of the setting possibility, the specific damping action can be defined in a variable manner, in particular, in the range between a maximum possible damping action and a minimum possible damping action. A maximum possible damping action can be realized by way of the setting arrangement, for example, via a “zero position” of the damping device.
One advantageous variant of the present invention is distinguished by the fact that the damper housing and the inner part which is received on the damper housing are adapted to one another in such a way that the extent of the damping action which can be provided by way of the damping device can be determined via a basic position of the contact part which is assumed by the contact part at the beginning of the damping operation. For example, the inner part and the damper housing can assume a relative position with respect to one another, the damper housing being situated with respect to the inner part, for example, in the basic position in such a way that the damper housing serves as a contact part and the damping action is provided during the damping operation by way of telescopic displacement with respect to the, in particular, positionally fixed inner part. Depending on the basic position, the displacement path of the damper housing can be greater or smaller, whereby a different damping action can be achieved. The damping characteristic which is realized in principle by way of the damping device is maintained in all possible settings. Merely a possible damping stroke of the damping device or a possible movement path of the contact part is set by way of the setting arrangement. The flow conditions which exist in the damping device within the fluid damper, which conditions bring about the damping action, remain uninfluenced by the setting via the setting arrangement.
After the damping operation with the telescoping of the inner part and the damper housing relative to one another, a return into the basic position is necessary, which is possible, for example, by way of one or more springs, for example by way of two helical springs which are clamped in and act in a tensioned manner between the inner part and the damper housing.
It is also advantageous that the setting arrangement is configured to define one of a plurality of possible different basic positions of the contact part. Thus, as explained above, an associated damping action can in each case be defined via the definition of a specific basic position of the contact part.
It is also advantageous that the setting arrangement is configured to fix a position of a movably mounted stop element, the stop element forming a mechanical stop for the contact part.
Furthermore, it is advantageous that the stop element is adapted so as to form a mechanical stop for the contact part in its basic position. The basic position and therefore the respectively desired damping action can thus be stipulated in a defined manner.
In a further advantageous modification of the subject matter of the present invention, the contact part and the stop element interact in such a way that the contact part can be moved out of the basic position in a direction away from the stop element for a damping operation. The position of the stop element can be modified via the setting arrangement, with the result that, in the basic position, a section of the contact part lies on the stop element and is fixed against a movement in the direction of the stop element, whereas a movement in the opposite direction of the contact part or away from the stop element is possible, whereby the displacement movement of the contact part for the damping action is provided. By way, for example, of the spring means which also bring about the return of the contact part and the inner part relative to one another into the basic position, the contact part can be pressed against the stop means and can thus be positioned in a defined manner in the basic position.
The setting arrangement advantageously comprises a rotational arrangement with an operating part which can be adjusted about a rotational axis. The damping action can thus be manually set in a comfortable manner, compactly and in a robust and simple way.
Furthermore, it is advantageous that the setting arrangement comprises a sliding arrangement with an operating part which can be adjusted along a sliding path.
A sliding movement by way of the operating part also makes it possible that the adjustment can take place reliably and simply and the corresponding damping action can be set as often as desired depending on the defined sliding position of the operating part.
Since the setting arrangement is reversible, that is to say can be actuated in both adjusting directions as often as desired, the damping action can be adapted at any time according to the situation.
In particular, it is advantageously set up that, for example, in the case of a hinge, on which a damping device is integrated, its movement or bearing function for the movable furniture part is maintained in a fully effective manner and without restriction at each possible setting of the damping action.
It is also advantageous that the damping device is positioned in a region of depressed configuration of a stop part, in particular, of a hinge or device cup, preferably in a replaceable manner. A compact and space-saving accommodation of the damping device is thus realized in the case of hinges for pivotably mounting movable furniture parts.
It is also advantageous if the device comprises a joint with precisely one joint axis, about which the pivoting of the movable furniture part takes place by means of the mounted joint. In particular, a single-axis or single-joint hinge can advantageously be used, which is, in particular, of robust and uncomplicated construction.
Finally, the invention relates to a piece of furniture having a body and a movable furniture part, in particular, a door or flap, which is attached to the body, one of the abovementioned devices being provided.
In this way, the abovementioned properties and advantages can be realized on the piece of furniture. The piece of furniture may be, in particular, a box-like furniture body with side walls, a bottom, an upper and a rear side, with at least one furniture part which is attached such that it can be displaced or moved in an articulated manner on the body; for example, a furniture body with a door or flap which is received movably on the body via at least one joint mechanism or, for example, a single-joint or single-axis hinge.
Further advantages and features of the invention are explained in greater detail using two exemplary embodiments which are shown in the figures.
In the two different exemplary embodiments, the same designations are used partially for corresponding elements of the two exemplary embodiments in the figures.
In the installed state of the hinge, the damping device 1 serves to dampen the movement of the furniture part which can be pivoted on the furniture body, a first stop part of the hinge being provided for attachment of the furniture part to the furniture body. In the mounted state of the hinge, a hinge arm of the hinge is connected to the first stop part which is connected to the hinge cup, with the result that the movable furniture part can be moved in a pivoted-back manner by way of the hinge from a closed position which is closed relative to the furniture body into an open position. Here, pivoting of the movable furniture part occurs about a pivot axis which belongs to a pivoting bearing of the hinge. The hinge arm is connected in an articulated manner via a pivoting bearing on the second stop part which can be fixed on the movable furniture part and comprises the hinge cup and a fastening flange.
The damping device 1 comprises a base plate 2 which can be supported in the hinge cup and on which a damper cylinder 3 and a damper housing 4 are received in a guided manner such that they can be moved to and fro. As
In addition, the damper cylinder 3 is held in the extended stop position according to
During a damping operation, the damper cylinder 3 can be pressed inward out of its protruding position on the base plate 2 (
The damping device 1 has setting means which are configured as a setting arrangement with a base plate 2 and an adjusting element 5 which is received thereon. For this purpose, the base plate 2 is configured in such a way that, in the case of a hinge cup which is inserted on the furniture part and in which the base plate 2 is inserted, the adjusting element 5 is accessible for manual or tool-less adjustment of the damping device 1. The adjusting element 5 which is held on the base plate 2 is articulated such that it can be rotated about an adjusting element axis S by from approximately 30 to approximately 90°, in particular from approximately 45 to 70°, and can be selectively adjusted in a manner which corresponds to the double arrow P2 in the clockwise direction and counter thereto.
By way of the rotation of the adjusting element 5 by hand in the clockwise direction (as viewed from above) about the axis S into further positions which differ from that according to
The setting pin 7 reaches into a recess 8 of the base plate 2, the recess 8 being adapted to a possible movement path of the setting pin 7. The recess 8 forms a slotted guide for the setting pin 7. The edge of the recess 8 has rounded edges and, for example, two latching depressions 9 and 10, in which in each case the setting pin 7 can bear in a manner which is secured in the associated rotary position of the adjusting element 5.
The adjusting action of the setting pin 7 becomes clear from
At its axially free end, the setting pin 7 which is cylindrical here by way of example has a downwardly directed end side which is segmented and has spatially inclined end face regions 7a, the end face regions 7a sloping outward, as viewed radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the setting pin 7. A further axially frontmost end face region 7b is flat or planar, with the result that, when the damper cylinder 3 is pressed back, the lug 12 lies on the outside of the setting pin 7, where the end face region 7b is present, and is blocked in terms of its forward movement. This is shown by
This means that the adjustment of the damping device takes place with an extended damper cylinder 3 according to
Accordingly, in the case of the setting according to
To this end, web-like elevations 20 which lie opposite one another are provided on the plug-in section 18, which elevations 20 can engage into grooves 21, 22 or 23, 24 or 25, 26 which lie opposite one another in pairs and are adapted correspondingly in a fitting manner to the elevations 20, and the sliding element 16 can therefore assume three sliding positions which are provided in a defined manner and, during the displacement of the sliding element 16, provide feedback by way of a discernible latching action to the person adjusting the sliding element 16, with the result that the person can detect that a latching position has been reached.
The effect of the three possible or predefined adjusting positions of the sliding element 16 corresponds, for example, to that of three possible rotary positions of the adjusting element 5 according to
Moreover, longitudinal ribs 27 and 28 which are triangular in section and protrude laterally for reliable latching in the plug opening 19 and for guiding the movement of the sliding element 16 are formed on the bottom of the plug-in section 18.
Depending on the displacement position of the sliding element 16, part of the plug-in section 18 on the underside of the base plate 2 does not come into contact with a lug 31 (cf.
A helical spring 32 which is clamped in between the receiving pins 6a, 6b is shown in a somewhat expanded form in
In principle, the functional sequence of the adjustment of the damping action in the second exemplary embodiment according to
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 2012 003 508.8 | Apr 2012 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/004885 filed Nov. 24, 2012, which designated the United States, and claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(a)-(d) of German Application No. 20 2012 003 508.8 filed Apr. 5, 2012, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2012/004885 | Nov 2012 | US |
| Child | 14504747 | US |
