Fittings are already part of the state of the art and the purpose thereof is to allow moveable furniture parts which come into abutment against a furniture carcass to have a defined abutment on the furniture carcass in the closed position. Those moveable furniture parts include doors, folding doors, folding-sliding doors or the like. With the lack of an abutment, the moveable furniture part can be pushed in to an excessive depth for example in the closed position. Furthermore, the moveable furniture part, for example, when in an unstable intermediate state can perform unwanted movements when subjected to a draft or similar influences on the furniture carcass, for example swaying or oscillating. If, in addition, there is a second moveable furniture part beside a first moveable furniture part, a different join gap alignment can occur because of the lack of abutments. Such abutments for moveable furniture parts like folding-sliding doors or sliding doors are usually rigid and are disposed on the rear side of the moveable furniture part. Accordingly, the abutments provided for supporting the moveable furniture part, in the closed position of the latter, are arranged between the moveable furniture part and the furniture carcass and are not visible. If the fitting which is in the form of an abutment is used in relation to a folding-sliding door there is the problem that, in the opened state of the folding-sliding door, the fitting has to find space to be accommodated between the folded-together leaves of the folding-sliding door. In the open position of a folding-sliding door, the two door leaves are oriented in mutually parallel relationship. The abutment must be disposed in the meager space between the door leaves. Accordingly, it is often not possible at all for the door leaves to be moved into a space-saving parallel position, unless the door leaves are moved sufficiently far away from each other in the open position, whereby once again this does not permit the article of furniture to be of a compact structure. In addition, there is the problem that the gap between the folding-sliding door or folding door and the furniture carcass in the closed position is often greater than the spacing between the individual door leaves in the parallel position thereof. Accordingly, in the closed position a larger gap in respect of the folding door or folding-sliding door and the furniture carcass has to be bridged over by the abutment on the folding door or folding-sliding door while in the parallel position or the open position of the folding or folding-sliding door that abutment would be in the way as the spacing of the two door leaves in the parallel position is substantially less than the required length of the abutment.
The object of the invention is to avoid the above-described disadvantages and to provide a fitting which is improved over the state of the art.
In addition, a folding door can have a fitting according to the invention, and an article of furniture can have such a folding door.
If the contact portion is arranged on the first or second door leaf moveably between a contact position and a rest position, wherein in a closed position of the folding door, the contact portion in the contact position can be brought into contact with the furniture carcass or a component of the furniture carcass, and in an open position of the folding door, the contact portion is moveable in a rest position into an intermediate space between the first and second door leaves, this provides a flexible abutment which in the open position of the folding door is disposed in space-saving fashion in the limited space between the folding doors, and in the closed position of the folding door acts in supporting relationship between the folding door and the furniture carcass or a part of the furniture carcass. The folding door is thus supported in the closed position. If a second folding door is arranged on the furniture carcass, then an acceptable gap configuration is maintained between the two folding doors. Therefore, a folding door cannot sink or pivot more deeply into the furniture carcass than the other one as both folding doors are supported by the fitting on the furniture carcass in the same fashion. That is also achieved by the abutment being adjustable in length in order to be able to bridge over tolerances which possibly occur at the different door leaves or folding doors. In general, it is to be stated that the term folding door is also used to include a folding-sliding door.
It has been found to be particularly advantageous in that respect that the contact portion for the movement between the contact position and the rest position is pivotably mounted hingedly about an axis of rotation on the first or second door leaf or on a base body fastened to the first or second door leaf. Assembling the fitting to one of the door leaves is considerably facilitated by the base body. The contact portion being mounted pivotably about the axis of rotation provides a space-saving fitting which in the parallel position of the door leaves, that corresponds to the open position of the folding door, takes up little space between the door leaves.
If the contact portion is moveable from the rest position into the contact position by a force storage member, then the pivotal movement between the rest position and the contact position takes place automatically upon the movement of the folding door between the closed position and the open position. That therefore provides that the contact portion is pushed or pulled for example into the contact position by the force storage member. The force storage member is overcome by a counteracting force in the displacement of the folding door into the closed position, whereby the contact portion is moved into the rest position. That is also effected by the force storage member being arranged between the contact portion and the base body or the first or second door leaf. The force storage member can be formed, for example, by a gas spring, an elastomer or preferably by a spring, particularly preferably a tension spring. In other words, the force storage member is provided by a spring, preferably a tension spring.
If the contact portion is mounted pivotably between the rest position and the contact position through between 0° and 90°, preferably 0° and 80°, particularly preferably 0° and 75°, that gives a contact portion which can be disposed in space-saving relationship between the door leaves.
If the contact portion, at a free end, has a contact part which can be brought into contact with the furniture carcass or a component of the furniture carcass, the contact support region of the contact portion is defined thereby. The contact part can, for example, have a plurality of properties. It can be, for example, of a damping configuration in order to minimize the generation of noise. In addition, it can be mounted in the form of a rotatable rolling body at the free end of the contact portion and the rolling body can be brought into contact with its peripheral surface with the furniture carcass or a component thereof. Thus, upon closure of the door leaves a rolling movement at the rolling body is generated thereby, which reduces noise and minimizes wear. If that rolling body is produced, for example, from a plastic then it additionally performs noise-reducing effects. Furthermore, by virtue of a suitably softer material on the contact part this arrangement prevents the furniture carcass being damaged at the contact region of the contact part.
It has been found to be advantageous if the contact part of the contact portion in the contact position projects further from the door leaf to which it is fixed than in the rest position. That provides that the generally larger gap between the door leaves and the furniture carcass is bridged over and the smaller gap between the two door leaves in the parallel position is compensated by the moveable contact portion.
It has additionally proven to be advantageous if the contact portion is adjustable in its length by way of an adjustment portion. In that way, for example, tolerances on the furniture carcass and/or the door leaves can be compensated by the adjustment portion.
If, for example, a plurality of door leaves or folding doors are installed on a furniture carcass, they can be adjusted in their position relative to the furniture carcass and in their position relative to each other. This, therefore, provides a uniform gap alignment between the furniture parts and the furniture carcass. In addition, by virtue of the adjustability the fitting can be used in a number of areas and not just on articles of furniture which are specifically tailored for that.
If the adjustment portion is formed by a slot and the length of the contact portion can be arrested by at least one arresting member—preferably in the form of a screw—and a corresponding fixing portion—preferably in the form of a counterpart thread—, that affords a simple possible option for adjustment. It is possible to carry out the adjustment with commercially usual tools. The configuration in the form of a slot makes it clear to the user that this involves an adjustment portion. Thus, when fitting the abutment, the attention of the user is drawn to the fact that he is capable of adjusting the spacing of the contact portion relative to the door leaf.
If the fitting is of a two-part structure, wherein an abutment portion is arranged on the first door leaf and a guide portion is arranged on the second door leaf, the counteracting force against the force storage member can be applied by the abutment portion. Upon displacement of the door leaves from the open position into the closed position, that abutment portion presses against the force storage member and moves the contact portion from the contact position into the rest position. In other words, it is advantageous that the contact portion arranged on the abutment portion, upon displacement of the door leaves between the open position and the closed position, is moved by the guide portion from the contact position into the rest position. That takes place against the force of the force storage member.
If the guide portion includes a ramp, along which the contact portion, preferably the contact part of the contact portion, is displaceable, that provides a simple guide portion which is arranged in space-saving relationship between the two door leaves. In that case, the ramp produces a necessary counteracting force for bridging over the force storage member and thus for displacement of the contact portion into the rest position. The ramp generates a noise-reduced displacement of the contact portion along the guide portion. It is advantageous in that respect if the ramp is made for example from a noise-damping plastic.
It has further proven to be advantageous if the ramp is of a curved configuration as a convex curve relative to the door leaf. That convex curvature provides that the ramp can be of a still more compact configuration and can thereby more easily find space in the limited space between the door leaves. The convex curvature additionally assists upon displacement of the contact portion against the force storage member.
If upon pivotal movement of the folding door with the at least one door leaf and the second door leaf hingedly connected thereto into the open position, the fitting is folded together and upon unfolding into the closed position the fitting is opened up with subsequent abutment against the furniture carcass, that provides that good positioning of the folding door is guaranteed in the closed position while in the open position the fitting is disposed in space-saving relationship between the two door leaves.
It has proven to be particularly advantageous in that respect that upon pivotal movement of the folding door with the at least one first door leaf and the second door leaf hingedly connected thereto into the open position, the fitting is folded together and the door leaves are arranged in substantially mutually parallel relationship, wherein the folding door or folding-sliding door in the open position can be inserted into a retraction compartment on the furniture carcass. In that way, it is possible for the overall arrangement of the door leaves to be stowed in a retraction compartment beside the furniture carcass. Accordingly, the door leaves are not disposed in the room in the open position. That gives a visually clean appearance even in the open position. The folding door is stowed in the opened state. The retraction compartment can be narrower by virtue of the fitting which can be folded together, and that is a further advantage of the invention.
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:
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
A 50387/2017 | May 2017 | AT | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4945972 | Takeuchi | Aug 1990 | A |
5282658 | Reeves, Jr. | Feb 1994 | A |
7240974 | Hirtsiefer | Jul 2007 | B2 |
8707517 | Hofer | Apr 2014 | B2 |
10316565 | Gabi | Jun 2019 | B2 |
10753133 | Kohlweiss | Aug 2020 | B2 |
11428034 | Rupp | Aug 2022 | B2 |
20030066164 | Domenig | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20040239213 | Hirtsiefer | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20060090295 | Hofer | May 2006 | A1 |
20150008811 | Ishii | Jan 2015 | A1 |
20170247924 | Gabi | Aug 2017 | A1 |
20180119470 | Kohlweiss | May 2018 | A1 |
20200018108 | Sperger | Jan 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1589360 | Mar 2005 | CN |
1766270 | May 2006 | CN |
297 10 854 | Oct 1997 | DE |
63-75281 | Apr 1988 | JP |
2-66279 | Mar 1990 | JP |
2002-13341 | Jan 2002 | JP |
2011-162994 | Aug 2011 | JP |
2011162994 | Aug 2011 | JP |
2016081960 | Jun 2016 | WO |
2017000006 | Jan 2017 | WO |
Entry |
---|
Chinese Search Report dated Oct. 22, 2020 in counterpart Chinese Patent Application No. 201880040233.0. |
International Search Report dated Aug. 20, 2018 in International (PCT) Application No. PCT/AT2018/000042. |
English translation of Search Report dated Nov. 23, 2018 in Taiwanese Application No. 107114853. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20200071980 A1 | Mar 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/AT2018/000042 | May 2018 | US |
Child | 16678099 | US |