The invention concerns a drawer side wall having a cover profile and a fixing device for releasably fixing a front panel to the drawer side wall, and the fixing device is at least predominantly arranged in the interior of the cover profile. The invention further concerns a drawer comprising at least one such drawer side wall.
Drawer side walls having a cover profile and an integrated fixing device are already known from the state of the art. However, they suffer from a number of disadvantages.
In general, the fixing device is spaced from the inner walls of the cover profile. That means that the cover profile has a play at least in the front region relative to the fixing device. That results in instability of the drawer side wall. In addition, insertion of a furniture fitment to be mounted to the front panel into the fixing device is found to be difficult for a user as the furniture fitment has to be introduced at a given location of the fixing device, but that only succeeds on the second or third attempt precisely when dealing with heavy front panels.
In addition, the fixing device generally includes a plurality of screws or the like which have to be actuated by a user and which have to be accessible from the exterior. In many cases that results in an aesthetically unattractive appearance. In addition a user is frequently not certain how he has to actuate the fixing screws. And finally the fixing device generally includes movable components, in respect of which there is the risk of the user suffering finger injuries.
A further disadvantage is also that the drawer side wall is to be enlarged upwardly by attachment elements. Such attachment elements, for example in the form of glass or metal walls, have to be joined in some way to the drawer side wall. That also results in an aesthetically unattractive appearance.
The object of the present invention is to avoid at least some of those disadvantages in the state of the art and to provide a drawer side wall which is improved in relation thereto or a drawer including at least one such improved drawer side wall, which are distinguished in particular by high stability, enhanced operating comfort for a user and/or an attractive appearance.
In the drawer side wall according to the invention, the cover profile has an inner wall and the drawer side wall has a multi-function component which is separate from the cover profile and the fixing device and which is at least region-wise arranged between the inner wall of the cover profile and the fixing device. The fixing device forms a self-contained functional unit so that a furniture fitment to be mounted to the front panel can be releasably fixed independently of the multi-function component by means of the fixing device. Moreover, at least two properties selected from the following group are implemented:
An essential feature of the invention therefore is a multi-function component which is separate from the cover profile and the fixing device and which is arranged at least region-wise between the inner wall of the cover profile and the fixing device, preferably wherein the multi-function component at least region-wise encloses the fixing device. By means of that multi-function component, it is possible to implement at least two functions which improve stability, operating comfort and/or the appearance of the drawer side wall. According to the invention, a group comprising a total of six such functions is provided, and at least two of those functions or properties have to be fulfilled. More advantageously, all functions or properties are implemented.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least the property is implemented that the cover profile has an opening which can be covered by a cover portion, and the multi-function component includes a support structure at which the cover portion can be supported when covering the opening, and the cover profile has at least one interface for connecting an attachment element. The interface includes an opening in the cover profile, and the multi-function component includes a movably mounted cover portion which closes the opening in a first position and exposes the opening in a second position.
The property that the multi-function component has at least support contours which are spaced from each other transversely relative to a longitudinal direction of the drawer side wall and at which the cover profile is supported makes it possible to achieve stabilization of the cover profile in particular in the front region of the drawer side wall, that is towards the front panel.
In this connection, it should be mentioned that an advantageous development is a spring element at which one of the two support contours is arranged and which acts with a force on that support contour in the direction of an inner wall of the cover profile. That spring element ensures, on the one hand, that the cover profile can be mounted without damage to the multi-function component and on the other hand, the support contour arranged on the spring element always bears in the mounted state against an inner wall of the cover profile.
By virtue of the property that the multi-function component has a joining device facing in the direction of the front panel to be fixed for facilitating insertion into the fixing device of a furniture fitment to be mounted to the front panel, it is possible to guide the user when inserting the furniture fitment to the correct position at which the furniture fitment has to be inserted into the fixing device without involving hooking or tilting of the furniture fitment on the fixing device or the cover profile.
Insertion in that way can be further facilitated by the joining device including at least one deflection contour arranged inclinedly relative to a longitudinal extent of the drawer side wall.
By virtue of the property that the cover profile has an opening which can be covered by a cover portion, wherein the multi-function component includes a support structure at which the cover portion can be supported when covering the opening it is possible to provide thin and thus visually attractive cover portions as the cover portion can be supported directly at the support structure of the multi-function component and there is no need for a separate fixing device for the cover portion.
In this connection, it has proven to be advantageous that the multi-function component has at least one spring element, by way of which the multi-function component is supported at a stationary part of the drawer side wall and can be acted upon with a force in the direction of the opening of the cover profile. In that way, the multi-function component is urged in the direction of the opening of the cover profile, with the aim of minimizing the play between the support structure of the multi-function component and the wall portion of the cover profile, in which the opening is disposed, so that the cover portion is securely supported without slipping in relation to the cover profile.
By virtue of the property that the fixing device has at least one adjustment device for adjusting the position of the front panel with respect to the drawer side wall and/or a device for locking and/or releasing the front panel to or from the fixing device, wherein the multi-function component includes operating instructions consisting of lines for facilitating operation of the at least one adjustment device or device for locking and/or releasing the front panel by a user, it is possible to give the user assistance in terms of operating the adjustment device or the device for locking and/or releasing the front panel to or from the fixing device. That enhances the user operating comfort.
In this connection, it has proven to be advantageous that the lines are in the form of recesses or raised portions in relation to the surrounding material and/or are engraved or embossed into the multi-function component.
By virtue of the property that the fixing device has at least one component movable relative to the drawer side wall and the multi-function component includes a cover means for at least region-wise shielding of the movable component upon a movement relative to the drawer side wall it is possible to reduce the risk of injury, for example to fingers, for the user. That affords an increased level of operating comfort.
It is therefore appropriate for the cover means to have at least one actuating opening of a maximum width of 10 mm, preferably 8 mm, for actuation of the movable component. That ensures that even fingers of a small diameter, for example of children, cannot be injured by a relative movement of the movable component relative to the drawer side wall.
By virtue of the property that the cover profile has at least one interface for joining an attachment element, the interface includes an opening in the cover profile and the multi-function component includes a movably mounted cover portion which closes the opening in a first position and exposes the opening in a second position it is possible to always provide for an attractive appearance for the drawer side wall, irrespective of whether an attachment element is or is not fitted on to the drawer side wall.
That effect can be enhanced by the provision of a spring element, by which the cover portion is prestressed in an operative position of the spring element in the direction of the first position. In that way the opening is automatically covered in the situation where there is no attachment element.
For fixing the multi-function component, a preferred embodiment provides that the multi-function component is connected to the fixing device, preferably by way of at least one snap-engagement and/or latching connection.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention provide that the drawer side wall has a carrier profile, at which the cover profile, the fixing device and/or the multi-function component are arranged and/or the multi-function component substantially comprises plastic.
Further details and advantages of the invention will be described more fully hereinafter by means of the specific description with reference to the drawings in which:
The fixing device 3 is arranged in a front region of the drawer side wall 1, that faces towards the front panel. In addition, the drawer side wall 11 also includes a rearward end having a rear wall holder 36, to which a rear wall can be fixed. The longitudinal extent of the drawer side wall 1 is denoted by reference 7.
As can be seen from the enlarged view of the portion of the front end of the drawer side wall 1 the drawer side wall 1 also includes a multi-function component 6 provided separately from the cover profile 2 and the fixing device 3. The multi-function component 6 can be seen on the one hand from the front which is towards the front panel and on the other hand through an opening 12 in a side wall of the cover profile 2. The details of the multi-function component 6 are described more specifically by means of the following Figures.
The drawer side wall 1 further includes a carrier profile 35, at which the cover profile 2, the fixing device 3 and the multi-function component 6 are disposed.
As can be seen from
One of the two support contours, denoted by reference number 8, has a flat configuration and bears against an inner wall 5 (see for example
At the same time, the multi-function component 6 is connected on the one hand to a mounting plate 40 of the fixing device 3 (see the description of
It should be noted that the spring element 25, at which the support contour 9 is arranged, acts with a force on the support contour 9 in the direction 25 of the inner wall 27 of the cover profile 2.
The fixing device 3 includes, inter alia, a movable component 19 in the form of a spring-loaded and rotatably mounted catch lever which catches the pin 38 of the furniture fitment 11 and pulls it in the direction of the rear end of the drawer side wall 1. The pin 38 and therewith the furniture fitment 11 are then locked. If there should be a wish to release the furniture fitment 11 from the fixing device 3 again, then for that purpose the catch lever 19 has to be pivoted in opposition to the catch direction of rotation by a screwdriver or the like. Overall, the fixing device 3 thus includes a device 17 for locking and releasing the front panel 4 to and from the fixing device 3.
For locking the front panel 4 or the furniture fitment 11 mounted thereto, it is necessary to move the furniture fitment 11 into a predetermined position relative to the fixing device 3. That is not always successful at the first attempt. In other words, the furniture fitment 11 assumes the wrong position relative to the fixing device 3, whereby in the state of the art that can involve clamping or hooking engagement of the furniture fitment 11 on the fixing device 3 and/or the cover profile 2. To prevent that and to move the furniture fitment 11 or the front panel 4 in the direction of the predetermined position, the multi-function component 6 includes a joining device 10 having a deflection contour 28 arranged inclinedly relative to the longitudinal extent 7 of the drawer side wall 1. That joining device 10 therefore enhances the operating comfort from the point of view of the user.
The cover portion 13 serves to cover the opening 12 in the cover profile 2, by way of which the user is permitted to have access to the device 17 for locking and releasing the front panel 4 to and from the fixing device 3 and to adjusting devices 15, 16 for adjusting the position of the front panel 4 with respect to the drawer side wall 1 (see also
To comply with those requirements it is appropriate for the cover portion 13 to be made very thin and to be releasably fixed to the drawer side wall 1 as follows: the cover portion 13 has on the one hand in the mounting position at the lower edge two attachment tabs 41 which on the one hand bear against an inner wall 5 of the cover profile 2 and on the other hand against the support structure 14 of the multi-function component 6 (see the enlarged portion B of
As already stated in connection with
The cover portion 13 can be removed from the opening 12 again by way of a slot 43 into which a tool or the fingernail of a user can be inserted.
Besides the device 17 already mentioned hereinbefore for locking and releasing the front panel 4 to or from the fixing device 3, the fixing device 3 also includes two adjustment devices 15 and 16 for adjustment of the position of the front panel 4 with respect to the drawer side wall 1 (see also
As already stated in relation to
At the same time, however, there would also be the wish to have the option of actuating the movable part 19 from the exterior. In many cases, therefore, an actuating opening 31 is needed. As a compromise between those demands, the cover means 20 has at least one actuating opening 31 of a maximum width 32 of 10 mm, preferably 8 mm, for actuation of the movable component 19.
Finally,
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Entry |
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International Search Report dated Feb. 28, 2019 in International (PCT) Application No. PCT/AT2018/060296. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20200315348 A1 | Oct 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/AT2018/060296 | Dec 2018 | US |
Child | 16904871 | US |