The invention concerns an arrangement comprising a first drive device for moving a moveable furniture part, wherein the first drive device has a lockable first ejection device for ejection of the moveable furniture part from a closed position into an open position and a first locking device for locking the first ejection device in a locking position. The first ejection device can be unlocked from the locking position by an overpressing movement of the moveable furniture part into an overpressing position which is beyond the closed position. The arrangement further includes a synchronizing device for synchronizing the first drive device with a second drive device, and the synchronizing device is moveable by the first drive device. In addition, the invention concerns an article of furniture comprising such an arrangement.
Drive devices—so-called touch-latch mechanisms—for moving or ejecting moveable furniture parts (drawers, furniture doors, flaps and so forth) have already been known for many years in the furniture fitment industry. With those devices, the opening movement is performed automatically, and a user only has to apply pressure to the moveable furniture part to activate the ejection mechanism.
Especially when dealing with wide drawers, two drive devices are often provided at mutually opposite side regions of the drawer or the furniture carcass in order to reliably detect pressure being applied to the drawer at any location. If now however only one of those two drive devices is triggered by that pressure applied to the drawer, problems can arise like inclined positioning of the drawer or jamming or wedging.
To resolve those problems, various methods involving synchronizing devices for synchronizing the two drive devices are already known from the state of the art. By virtue thereof, movements of the two mutually spaced drive devices are coordinated, in other words synchronized. That is intended to guarantee a set of movements which is of the same kind at both sides.
Examples of such drive or ejection devices with synchronization are to be found in EP 2 429 339 B1, WO 2009/114884 A1, EP 1 314 842 B1 and AT 008 882 U1. With those devices, the entire unlocking operation and also a part of the ejection operation are synchronized. Particularly in the overpressing movement, that has the disadvantage that pressure always has to be applied against the ejection force storage means of both ejection devices, thereby giving an impression of relatively stiff and sluggish unlocking. Another disadvantage is that a relatively large front panel gap is necessary to provide for unlocking at both sides by virtue of the large clearance between the many components.
Another example of synchronization is disclosed in WO 2013/059847 A1, which in particular involves locking—and not unlocking—occurring synchronously on both sides in order to guarantee reliable and trouble-free closure.
In addition, attention is also to be directed to DE 20 2009 005 255 U1 which, unlike the above-listed specifications, does not have an independent component of the ejection device, as a synchronization element. Rather, in this case the drawer itself so-to-speak forms a synchronization element as the force of a latching fitment which has just been unlocked is transmitted by way of the drawer to the other latching fitment whereby the force of both ejection force storage means provides for unlocking of the other latching fitment. A disadvantage here is that really high forces are acting in particular in the operation of unlocking the other latching fitment. In addition, by virtue of synchronization by way of the drawer itself, the structure involves a large clearance whereby a severely inclined position can already be involved in unlocking the other latching fitment. In addition, the triggering travel in particular for the other latching fitment is long.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an arrangement which is improved over the state of the art. In particular the invention seeks to provide that unlocking is to be smoothly and freely possible, there can be a small clearance, and the triggering travel can be short.
That object is achieved by an arrangement having the features described below. Accordingly, it is provided in accordance with the invention that the overpressing movement begins free from a movement transmission between the first drive device and the synchronizing device, and the synchronizing device is moveable upon a movement of the moveable furniture part in the opening direction by the first drive device. In other words, the overpressing movement begins without transmission of movement from the first drive device to the synchronizing device. Stated once again in other words, a transmission of movement from the drive device to the synchronizing device takes place only after unlocking.
Therefore, in performing unlocking, there is no need to press against both force storage members. By virtue of the fact that in the unlocking process—in contrast to the above-mentioned state of the art—there is no transmission of movement to the synchronizing device of whatever design configuration that may be, the tolerances in the region of the synchronizing device do not play any part and the triggering travel can remain short. As a result, the panel gap between the drawer front panel and the furniture carcass can also remain small. Accordingly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the panel gap is at a maximum 3 mm, particularly preferably at a maximum 2.5 mm. Ideally the panel gap is at a maximum 2 mm.
In principle, it is also possible for a transmission of movement to the synchronizing device to already occur shortly after unlocking—therefore still during the overpressing movement. Preferably, however, it is provided that the synchronizing device is moveable by the first drive device only upon a movement of the moveable furniture part in the opening direction. More specifically, the beginning of the ejection movement in the overpressing position can also be free from a movement transmission to the synchronizing device. It is only as soon as the ejection device of the drive device has again reached the position corresponding to the closed position, in the opening direction, that the transmission of movement to the synchronizing device begins.
Further, preferably the synchronizing device is provided separately from the moveable furniture part. In other words, movements of the first drive device can be transmitted by way of the synchronizing device independently of the moveable furniture part.
The apparatus can include only a drive device and the synchronizing device are embraced by the protection thereof. That is to be attributed to the fact that the advantages according to the invention can already be described by those two components alone. Preferably, however, the arrangement also has a lockable second drive device for moving the moveable furniture part. For that purpose it can particularly preferably be provided that the second drive device is of a mirror-image symmetrical configuration relative to the first drive device. By virtue of that second drive device it is also possible that, in the overpressing movement, by only one drive device by virtue of the movement of the ejection device of that drive device in the opening direction and by virtue of the movement transmission by means of the synchronizing device to the other drive device, the ejection device of the other drive device is unlockable from the locking position. In other words, preferably, in the movement triggered by the first drive device of the moveable furniture part from the overpressing position in the opening direction, the second drive device is unlockable by the synchronizing device which is moved by the first drive device.
The preferred embodiments by way of example which are described in greater detail hereinafter are always to be read in relation to both drive devices although the actual specific description is only ever set out on the basis of the first drive device and its components. Accordingly, all items of description also correspondingly apply to the second drive device.
In actual terms in a preferred embodiment by way of example of the present invention, the first ejection device has a housing, an ejection slider displaceable on the housing, an ejection force storage device acting on the ejection slider, and a control lever mounted moveably, preferably rotatably, to the ejection slider. The first locking device has a latching element arranged on the control lever and a locking element against which the latching element bears in the locking position.
Further preferably, the latching element is moveable in the overpressing movement from the locking position into an overpressing portion and is moveable in the opening movement by the ejection force storage means through an ejection portion, and the locking element is moveable by the latching element which is moved in the ejection portion in the opening direction. In other words, when the latching element is no longer in the locking position, the latching element can move the locking element.
In principle, locking can be effected by way of per se known touch latch mechanisms. Preferably, however, the first drive device has a cardioidal sliding track for the latching element, with a stressing portion provided in the housing for stressing the ejection force storage means, a locking portion, in which the locking element also forms the locking portion, the overpressing portion in the housing, and the ejection portion in the housing.
Further preferably, the locking element is connected to the synchronizing device. A particularly simple arrangement with few components is afforded if the locking element is formed in one piece with the synchronizing device or with at least a part of the synchronizing device. Here, the locking element can be mounted moveably, preferably rotatably, to the housing.
The particular advantages of the simple structure are enjoyed in particular when the locking element has a locking surface against which the latching element bears in the locking position, and a synchronizing surface against which the latching element bears in the movement through the ejection portion in the opening direction. In that case, the locking surface is oriented substantially tangentially relative to the direction of rotation of the locking element and the synchronizing surface is oriented substantially radially in relation to the axis of rotation of the locking element. In other words, no rotation of the locking element—and thus no synchronization—can be triggered by exerting force on the locking surface. It is only by exerting force on the synchronizing surface that the rotary movement and thus the synchronizing movement can take place.
Preferably, the synchronizing device has a coupling element for connecting the synchronizing device to the first drive device and a synchronizing bar which is connected preferably hingedly to the coupling element. Preferably, the locking element is part of the coupling element. Particularly preferably, the locking element is in one piece with the coupling element of the synchronizing device.
The drive device, however, can have not just an ejection device but also a retraction device for retracting the moveable furniture part from an open position into the closed position. That retraction movement can also be damped by a damper.
In accordance with the foregoing description, unlocking is effected by overpressing of the moveable furniture part into an overpressing position which is beyond the closed position. Opening by pulling, however, is also possible. In that case, however, no unlocking is effected—like for example in DE 20 2009 005 255 U1—but the moveable furniture part can be simply moved in the opening direction without releasing the locking action. By way of example in that respect, attention is directed to the Austrian patent application which is not a prior publication, bearing the application filing number A 296/2013.
Protection is also claimed for an article of furniture comprising a furniture carcass, a furniture part moveable on the furniture carcass, preferably by way of an extension guide, and an arrangement according to the invention. In principle, in that case the drive device can be fixed to the furniture carcass and can engage an entrainment member arranged on the moveable furniture part. Preferably, however, the housing of the drive device—like also the synchronizing device—is arranged on the moveable furniture part, preferably at the underside of a drawer, and engages an entrainment member which is fixed with respect to the furniture carcass. In either case, an attachment element of the drive device—in the form of the entrainment member or the housing—is always arranged or mounted on the moveable furniture part so as to therefore necessarily move with the moveable furniture part.
Further details and advantages of the present invention are described more fully hereinafter by means of the specific description with reference to the embodiments by way of example illustrated in the drawings in which:
a are plan views and perspective views of the movements of the arrangement shown in
The ejection force storage devices 10 which are in the form of tension springs are held on the one hand to the housing 8 and on the other hand to the ejection slider 9. The ejection slider 9 is displaceable along the guide track 32 in the housing 8. The housing 8, the ejection force storage devices 10, the ejection slider 9 and the control lever 23 together form the essential components of the first ejection device 4. In addition, however, the transmission element 20 can also be associated with the first ejection device 4. The transmission element 20 bears by way of the transmission abutment 25 against the abutment 33 on the control lever 23. The transmission element 20 is displaceable along the control track 24 in the housing 8. That control track 24 has an angled end portion 34. As soon as the catch lever 22 hingedly connected to the transmission element 20 passes into that angled end portion 34, the catch lever 22 pivots whereby the drive device 2 is released from the entrainment member 21 which is fixed with respect to the furniture carcass. When conversely the catch lever 22 leaves that angled end portion 34 the entrainment member 21 is caught or held between the catch lever 22 and the transmission element 20. In addition, the coupling element 16 of the synchronizing device 6 is mounted rotatably about the axis of rotation D on the housing 8. Also provided in one piece with that coupling element 16 is the locking element 12 which jointly with the latching element 11 disposed on the control lever 23 forms the locking device 5 for the first ejection device 4. In addition, the Figure shows the cardioidal sliding track 13 which is provided in the housing 8 and which has the stressing portion S, the pressing-through portion DR, the locking portion V, the overpressing portion Ü and the ejection portion A. The locking portion V is additionally also formed by the locking element 12.
An example of components of a synchronizing device 6 is shown in
This however is shown in
If now starting from
As soon as the moveable furniture part 3 is released, the ejection force storage devices 10 of the first ejection device 4 can be relieved of stress. As a result, the housing 8 together with the moveable furniture part 3 fixed thereto is ejected relative to the entrainment member 21 in the opening direction OR (see
By virtue of that orientation of the synchronizing surface 15, finally—when the ejection force storage device 10 moves the latching element 11 further through the ejection portion A in the opening direction into the position shown in
After further rotation of the two coupling elements 16 into the position shown in
Finally, as shown in
Then, due to momentum or by actively pulling on the moveable furniture part 3, the drive devices 2 and 7 pass into the position shown in
The closing process for the moveable furniture part 3 is shown as from
In that closing and stressing movement, both latching elements 11 as shown in
In
a again show the most important positions involved in the movements of the drive device 2 and 7 respectively and the synchronizing device 6. The rotary movement of the synchronizing bar 17 is most clearly shown in
The essential advantages of the present invention are:
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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A 785/2013 | Oct 2013 | AT | national |
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Number | Date | Country |
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008 882 | Feb 2007 | AT |
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514065 | Oct 2014 | AT |
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1 314 842 | May 2003 | EP |
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DE202009013733 Translated Description.pdf, 12 pages. |
WO2011003738 Translated Description, 14 pages. |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160206093 A1 | Jul 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/AT2014/000181 | Oct 2014 | US |
Child | 15085089 | US |