Patent Application
20100084952
The invention relates in general terms to a fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening which borders the side wall and gives access to an interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, the fitting having at least one pull-out, single-part shelf. More precisely, the present invention relates to such a fitting in which a single-part shelf extensible from such a corner cupboard fills as large a part as possible of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the interior of the corner cupboard in order to make the best possible use of the interior of the corner cupboard despite its limited accessibility over just a part of its width.
The simplest known fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a pull-out, single-part shelf has a supporting column, on which there is configured, for the semicircular shelf, a pivot bearing having a vertical pivot axis running in the direction of the supporting column. The shelf can be swiveled about this supporting column, through the access opening, roughly half out of the interior of the corner cupboard. Its other half remains constantly in the interior, however, and is thus only limitedly accessible.
In a refinement of the abovementioned fitting, the semicircular shelf is mounted in the pivot bearing on the supporting column via an additional pullout, so that, having been swiveled out about the supporting column, it can be pulled further out of the corner cupboard in a linear direction. On the one hand, however, it is difficult here to coordinate the transition from the swivel motion to the linear motion of the shelf and vice versa, in order, for example, to prevent the shelf from butting against the side wall of the corner cupboard and to realize a motional sequence which is harmonic for the user. On the other hand, the one-sided support of the pulled-out shelf on the supporting column, via the extended lever arm of the pullout, is unfavorable with respect to the large moments of force which are herein generated upon the pullout and the pivot bearing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,372 discloses a fitting for a corner cupboard, in which a single-part shelf is guided via a three-part pull-out rail and a curved track on the floor of the corner cupboard. The shelf is here, on one hand, mounted on the pull-out, free end of the pull-out rail pivotably about a vertical axis and, on the other hand, is displaceable, at a point distanced therefrom, along a J-shaped guide. The J-shaped guide runs initially perpendicularly up to the side wall and then veers off in a semicircle in the direction of the pull-out rail aligned parallel to the side wall. The drawback with this known fitting consists in the fact that it is not suitable for a shelf arranged at a distance above the floor, especially not for an upper one of two shelves disposed one above the other, without an intermediate floor being provided, to which the pull-out rail can be fastened and on which the J-shaped guide can be configured. Moreover, the access opening of the corner cupboard must be relatively wide to allow the shelf, without severe restriction of its surface area, to pass through it. Difficulties can also arise if a door which closes off the access opening and is fitted to that boundary of the access opening which lies opposite the side wall can be swung open by only less then 90°, since this can then result in a jamming collision between the shelf, which at the end moves in a straight line out of the corner cupboard, and the door.
A fitting for a corner cupboard having the features of the preamble to the independent patent claim 1 is known from German utility model DE 20 2004 011 200 U1 and from published US patent application 2006/012273 A1 belonging to the same family of patent. Here, the two supporting arms for the shelf are two connecting rods, the first of which is pivotable about a supporting column beside that boundary of the access opening which lies opposite the side wall and the second of which is pivotable about an axis of a support bearing running parallel to the pivot axis of the supporting column, which support bearing is fitted, close to the access opening, to the side wall delimiting said access opening. These two connecting rods guide the shelf, as it is pulled out of the corner cupboard, into a position situated in front of the access opening and protruding about half over the plane of the adjacent side wall. Advantageously, the shelf is supported here by the connecting rods solely against the supporting column and the support bearing, so that the shelf can be arranged without problem at a distance from the floor of the corner cupboard, or even a plurality of shelves can be mounted one above the other such that they can respectively be pulled out individually via their own connecting rods. A smooth running of the shelf as it is pulled out of the corner cupboard and pushed back into the corner cupboard is also achieved, since the rear part of the shelf follows the circular path, predefined by the connecting rod, around the supporting column more easily than a guideway known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,372. However, the shelf of the fitting known from DE 20 2004 011 200 U1 and US 2006/012273 A1, in its pulled-out position, projects far into the space beside the side wall bordering the access opening of the associated corner cupboard. It thus blocks, for example, access to a further cupboard adjoining the corner cupboard next to its side wall. Despite this increased spatial requirement, no better access is gained to the rearmost parts of the shelf.
There is thus a need for a corner cupboard fitting which avoids the high spatial requirement and the restricted accessibility of the shelf found in the fitting known from DE 20 2004 011 200 U1 and US 2006/012273 A1 and which, at the same time, preserves its benefit of the shelf supporting mechanism which is independent of the floor of the corner cupboard.
In a more general aspect, the invention provides a fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, the fitting having: at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally, two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes, a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms.
In a more specific aspect, the invention provides a fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, the fitting having: at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally, two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes, a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, the alignment of one of the two supporting arms being fixed in relation to the pull-out direction and an angle between the pull-out direction and one of the two supporting arms ranging between 30° and 70°, and a pivot bearing on a supporting column for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms.
In a further more general aspect, the invention provides a corner cupboard comprising a side wall, an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, and a fitting, the fitting having: at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally, two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes, a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms, wherein the support bearing with the linear guide supports one supporting arm of the two supporting arms movably against the side wall and the pivot bearing defines the vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms beside a horizontal boundary, lying opposite the side wall, of the access opening.
In a further more specific aspect, the invention provides a corner cupboard comprising a side wall, an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, and a fitting, the fitting having: at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally, two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes, a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms; wherein the support bearing with the linear guide supports one supporting arm of the two supporting arms movably against the side wall, the pull-out direction runs at a shallow angle ranging between 1° and 10° to the side wall, the linear guide from the access opening into the interior moves away from the side wall, one supporting arm extends over more than half the width of the access opening between the side wall and a horizontal boundary, lying opposite the side wall, laterally away from the linear guide, and the pivot bearing defines the vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms beside the horizontal boundary, lying opposite the side wall, of the access opening.
In the case of the new fitting, the support bearing for movably supporting one supporting arm has at least one linear guide, which defines a horizontally running pull-out direction for one supporting arm. That is to say, in the case of the new corner cupboard, one supporting arm can be pulled out in a linear direction. Due to a lateral extent of the supporting arm from the linear guide to beneath the shelf, the linear guide can nevertheless be fitted to the side wall of the corner cupboard, so that the floor of the corner cupboard can remain free from all supporting functions. An attachment of the support bearing for one supporting arm to the side wall, which support bearing has the linear guide, does not necessarily mean, however, that the support bearing must be fastened directly to the side wall. In principle, a fastening to the floor and ceiling of the corner cupboard is also conceivable, in which case the support bearing is located only close to the side wall. By virtue of the lateral extent of the supporting arm from the linear guide to beneath the shelf, the vertical axis about which the shelf is pivotable in relation to one supporting arm can be chosen with respect to its position such that even a large shelf can pass out through a narrow access opening without collision, in that it is firstly more strongly pivoted and is then moved more strongly in a linear direction. Both a pivotal and a linear motional component are always present, however. The forward motion which is made in the pull-out direction upon the movement of one supporting arm brings the shelf in its pulled-out position to far in front of the access opening, whereupon it is easily accessible from the side. At the same time, in the case of the new fitting, a plurality of shelves can be provided one above the other, without these shelves having to be rigidly joined together. Each shelf can be separately supported by two supporting arms, one of which respectively has a support bearing with a linear guide. A coupling of the motion of two or more shelves disposed one above the other is likewise possible, however. A coupling of the linear guides, or even a joint linear guide for the one supporting arms thereof, lends itself to this purpose. A coupling of the linear guides can be realized such that the lowermost linear guide, as the associated shelf is pushed back into the corner cupboard, transports the one supporting arms of the above-situated shelves, which supporting arms are guided via the above-situated linear guides, so that these too can be jointly pushed in, without also being automatically pulled out with the lowermost shelf. This coupling of the linear guides can be combined with a catch, which is designed for fastening to the door of the corner cupboard and which, as the door is opened, pulls the lowermost shelf, directly or via its one supporting arm, out from the corner cupboard. By contrast, a joint linear guide for the one supporting arms of a plurality of shelves has a large vertical extent, which can be advantageous for the dispersion of the leverage forces acting upon the linear guide via the one supporting arms.
A fundamental advantage of the new fitting is the simple automatability of the movement of the shelf. The linear guide can thus be assigned a drive, which extends and retracts one supporting arm, and thus the whole of the shelf, upon request. A so-called self-retracting mechanism, if so desired also with a damper, can also be provided for the shelf on the linear guide.
With a coupling device which engages the shelf and is designed for attachment to the door of the corner cupboard, the motions of the shelf and door can be coupled, for example, such that the shelf can already be pulled partly out of the corner cupboard with the opening of the door, and such that the final part of the push-in motion of the shelf can likewise be induced via the door. In this case, a self-retracting mechanism, and/or damper, acting upon the shelf would also act indirectly upon the door. In the case of a plurality of shelves disposed one above the other, the coupling device sensibly engages the lowermost shelf.
The combination of such a coupling device with a drive for one supporting arm of the shelf is particularly advantageous, since the drive can then also be used to open and/or close the door. Self-evidently, the drive can be actuated, for example, via the door, i.e. via a sensor which detects the position of the door, or by a sensor which is disposed on the door and can be operated by the user directly or via an actuating element such as a handle of the door.
The support bearing for one supporting arm can also be supported against a crossbar, which is designed for fastening to the side wall and is provided on a center post of the corner cupboard. The extent of one supporting arm at right angles to the side wall can hence be shortened to zero. One supporting arm then consists only of the moving part of the linear guide. The leverage forces upon the support bearing about horizontal axes running parallel to the side wall are hereby minimized.
In order easily to support such leverage forces resulting from the length of the supporting arm, in the case of a support bearing, disposed directly on the side wall, for one supporting arm, a supporting roller running parallel to the linear guide and vertically offset thereto can be provided. The supporting roller, which is preferably ball bearing mounted, can here roll directly on the side wall of the corner cupboard. Preferably, however, a plate is provided for this purpose, which can be rigidly connected to that part of the linear guide which is situated on the side wall side. Particularly preferably, in the case of the new fitting, supporting rollers are provided, which run parallel to the linear guide at two different vertical heights.
In principle it is also possible to absorb the leverage forces on the support bearing located on the side wall by a solidly configured pull-out rail, or by two pull-out rails arranged parallel to each other and vertically offset. The combination of a linear guide, for example in the form of a pull-out rail, with one of more supporting rollers is, however, preferred.
If the linear guide has a pull-out rail having an outer rail of C-shaped profile and a therein running inner rail, corresponding to a standard construction of pull-out rails, the pull-out rail is preferably arranged such that the inner rail, in the event of vertical load from the shelf onto one supporting arm, is pressed into the C-shaped profile of the outer rail. This means that the outer rail must be turned to face the side wall of the corner cupboard with the opening in its C-shaped profile, when the pull-out rail is the upper of two pull-out rails or is disposed above a supporting roller. In the load direction which is described here, a simple pull-out rail with C-shaped profile of the outer rail can withstand extreme loads by lateral moments.
In the case of the new fitting, it is certainly in principle conceivable to provide an additional joint between the linear guide and one supporting arm. Preferably, however, the alignment of one supporting arm in relation to the pull-out direction is fixed, merely in order to define the position of the shelf in relation to the corner cupboard over the whole of the pull-out path.
In the case of the new fitting, one supporting arm runs typically at an acute angle to the linear guide, it being angled forward toward the access opening of the corner cupboard when viewed from the linear guide. Specifically, the acute angle can measure about 45°, i.e. between 30 and 70°.
As already indicated, one supporting arm can extend relatively far away from the linear guide on the side wall of the corner cupboard. Preferably, it extends here over more than half the width of the access opening away from the linear guide, so that the point at which one supporting arm supports the shelf lies closer to that boundary of the access opening which lies opposite the side wall than to the side wall itself.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the new fitting, the pull-out direction of the linear guide runs at a shallow angle to the side wall, the linear guide from the access opening into the interior moving away from the side wall. This means that one supporting arm, and, with it, the associated supporting point of the shelf, moves slightly sideways as the shelf is pulled out. This sideways movement can be used to evade a door of the corner cupboard, which door is fitted to that boundary of the access opening which lies opposite the side wall and, for whatever reasons, cannot be opened over the full 90°.
The shallow angle between the pull-out direction and the side wall typically measures just a few degrees and maximally about 10°.
In order for the shelf to be supported in a particularly stable manner in its position maximally pulled out from the access opening, in which its maximum loads are to be expected because of, for example, a user resting on the shelf, in this position it can be additionally supported against one supporting arm via a bearing. This bearing is in this case provided on the underside of the shelf; and one supporting arm, as a result of the pivot motion of the shelf made in relation to thereto, enters into the bearing. The bearing can here have the form of a laterally open receiving fixture, into which one supporting arm enters. On one supporting arm a pin can be provided, which enters into a bushing on the shelf (or vice versa); and on the supporting arm a supporting roller can be provided, which runs up onto a control path on the shelf (here too, a reverse arrangement of these parts is possible).
The other supporting arm of the new fitting, which is mounted pivotably both in relation to the shelf and about the vertical pivot axis beside that boundary of the access opening of the corner cupboard which lies opposite the side wall, can specifically be mounted on a supporting column.
The supporting column can here be pivotable, jointly with the supporting arm, in relation to swivels on the floor and ceiling or a center post of the corner cupboard, or else can be mounted in a rotationally secure manner and have a pivot bearing for the other supporting arm.
A corner cupboard according to the invention comprising the new fitting typically has a door fitted to that boundary of its access opening which lies opposite its side wall.
Advantageous refinements of the invention emerge from the dependent patent claims and the description as a whole. Further features can be derived from the drawings—in particular the represented geometries and the relative dimensions of a plurality of components one to another, as well as their relative arrangement and operative connection. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention, or of features of different patent claims differing from the chosen back-references, is likewise possible and is herewith encouraged. This relates also to those features which are represented in separate drawing figures or are mentioned in the description thereof. These features can also be combined with features of different patent claims.
The invention will be better understood in consideration of the following drawings. The parts in the drawings are not necessarily represented to scale, but rather emphasis is placed on clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference symbols denote the same parts in the various views.
The following
Before the construction of the support bearings 17 is examined in greater detail with reference to the following figures, it should be pointed out that the pull-out directions of their linear guides 18 does not have to be aligned precisely parallel to that side wall 7 of the corner cupboard 1 which borders the access opening 9. Instead, it can be advantageous to provide a forward-tapered angle of just a few degrees between the linear guides 18 and this side wall 7. This results in the shelf 3, in its maximally pulled-out position in relation to its position shown in
The side view according to
In
Conversely, the shelf 3, as it is moved back into the corner cupboard 1 by retraction of the supporting arm 15 with the drive 31 (not highlighted here), takes the door 29 back with it into its closed position according to
Alternatively, only the swiveling-out of the floors, in the sense of a pusher acting only in one direction, can be electromechanically supported. In this case, a change of position of the door 29 not only in the opening but also in the closing direction (by pressing to the end side of the side wall 7 of the corner cupboard 1) can be translated via the coupling device 30 into a change of position of the lower shelf 3, which change of position is detected by a sensor, which in turn activates the electromechanical drive. Thus the lower shelf 3 swings out and the door 29 is simultaneously opened via the coupling device 30. Upon subsequent manual closing of the door 29, the coupling device 30 causes the lower shelf 3 to be swung in. In the case of all further shelves 3 which are present in the corner cupboard 1 and are located above the lower shelf 3 connected to the door 29 of the corner cupboard 1, the electromechanical drives which are assigned to them can likewise be activated by a change of position here effected by direct action and detected by a sensor. These shelves 3 are swung in manually.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07009223.4 | May 2007 | DE | national |
| 10 2007 033 960.9 | Jul 2007 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation of international patent application PCT/EP2008/003609 entitled “Fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a pull-out, single-part shelf”, filed on May 6, 2008 and claiming the priorities of European patent application no. EP 07 009 223.4, which latter is likewise entitled “Fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a pull-out, single-part shelf”, was filed on May 8, 2007 and is parallel pending, and is also a continuation of German patent application no. DE 10 2007 033 960.0, which is likewise entitled “Fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a pull-out, single-part shelf”, was filed on Jul. 19, 2007 and is now abandoned.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2008/003609 | May 2008 | US |
| Child | 12613675 | US |
