The invention refers to a furniture item with sliding and swinging leaves so as to be folded away, in particular equipped with a compartment closable by the leaves.
Many pieces of furniture are equipped with sliding and folding leafs to allow a reduction of the dimensions of the leaves themselves in the opening position, thus avoiding the disadvantages of hinged leafs.
The displacement of the leaves 12, 14 is manual and quite difficult to operate because it requires the user to make various movements on the leaves 12, 14: at least one to stack them and one to push them along the side of the compartment. Even if springs are introduced to let the leaves overcome the dead points of the kinematics and to reduce manual efforts, the complexity of the movement remains unchanged.
Improving this state of the art is the main object of the invention, which is defined in the attached claims, wherein the dependent ones define advantageous variants.
Another object is to provide a furniture item, having a compartment that can be closed by sliding and bellows-like folding leaves, which is easy to use, requires few movements for the user and is not tiring during use.
An item of furniture is proposed comprising:
a first segment is parallel to an edge of the opening, and
a lateral edge of the leaf is slidably coupled with the guide, and
the opposite lateral edge of the leaf is connected in swinging manner to the command member so that an alternate linear motion of the latter moves the leaf into a first position wherein it closes the opening or into a second position wherein the leaf clears the opening and is placed side by side with said outer side.
In other words, the command member is movable between two positions:
a rest position in which it is placed in front of the outer side (flank) and substantially does not protrude frontally therefrom, and
a position in which it is offset horizontally with respect to the outer side (and to the compartment) to protrude frontally from the outer side and from the compartment (the translatable command member is moved to the direction of the front opening of the compartment and is moved away from the back of the compartment).
According to a first variant, the furniture item comprises only one leaf. A side of the leaf is slidably coupled with the guide, and the opposite side of the leaf is hinged to the command member about an, e.g. vertical, axis.
According to a another variant, the furniture item comprises a first leaf as defined above and a second leaf connected in oscillating manner to the first leaf (e.g. hinged to each other).
The first leaf, at its side closest to the second segment, is slidingly coupled to the guide. A side of the first leaf is hinged to the translatable command member about a first axis. The opposite side of the first leaf is slidably coupled to the guide, in particular it can be hinged, about a second axis, to the second leaf.
When the first leaf is not coupled directly to the guide, it is through the second leaf. However, the translatable command member can thus operate the train of leaves by transmitting kinetic energy to them through an alternate translatory movement of its, a movement that occurs parallelly to the depth of the compartment.
It turns out, then, that in the second variant the leaves are foldable like a bellows about at least one axis, and are sliding between a closing position of the compartment, in which they are arranged coplanar to each other in front of the compartment, and an opening position of the compartment, in which they are folded one on the other and placed along said side or flank of the compartment.
The leaves are conveniently set in motion by means of an alternating displacement of the translatable command member.
In both variants, said outer side of the compartment mat be a side (flank) or a ceiling or a floor. Thus one or more leaves can be hidden next to the compartment, above the compartment or below it. In the first case the L-shaped guide has both segments arranged horizontally; while in the second case the first segment is horizontal and the second segment is vertical. That is to say, that the aforementioned variants with one or two leaves in turn can be implemented by using leaves fitted for moving horizontally or vertically. In the first case the aforementioned axes are vertical, in the second case they are horizontal. Below, for the sake of simplicity, reference will be made to the case of horizontally moving leaves, it being understood that the second case corresponds to the first one mutatis nutandis.
The first hinging axis is supported by the translatable command member so that it can rigidly move horizontally. Then such first axis is movable horizontally between two end-positions: a resting end-position and an advanced end-position (further from the compartment). To an alternative motion of the translatable command member there corresponds both a displacement of the first axis, which always starts from the first end-position, arrives at the second, and returns again to the first; and a movement of the second axis along the guide. This displacement of the second axis along the guide takes place in a direction and then in the opposite one during two successive alternative movements of the translatable command member. At the first end-position, the first axis is substantially arranged coplanar or close to the plane of the front opening: to this configuration there correspond the closing and opening positions of the leaves. In correspondence of the second end-position, the axis is spaced orthogonally from the plane of the front opening: to this configuration there corresponds an intermediate position of the leaves.
Preferably, the furniture item comprises means for rotating the second leaf with respect to the first leaf about the second hinging axis during the movement of the leaves toward the second position. In particular, the means are configured so that said rotation is gradual and synchronized with the translatory movement of one or each leaf. E.g. the furniture item comprises means for rotating the second leaf to/away from the first leaf about the second hinging axis during the movement of the leaves towards the second/first position.
Preferably, the translatable command member comprises a vertical wall mounted translatable on—and relative to—the compartment to slide substantially parallel to the direction that identifies the depth of the compartment. More preferably, the translatable command member comprises two vertical walls arranged orthogonally to each other and mounted movable on—and relative to—the compartment. In a first variant, the two vertical walls are arranged as an L and mounted movable on—and relative to—the compartment to delimit a second compartment or storage area in which the leaves, when packed, are stored. In a second variant, the two vertical walls are arranged like a T and mounted movable on—and relative to—the compartment to close a second compartment or storage area where the leaves, when packed, are stored. This allows covering the leaves when they are not in use, giving shelter to them from dust and avoiding accidental shocks for their mechanisms.
Preferably, the furniture item comprises a return element or means for exerting a force on the translatable command member. The return element or means acts to move the translatable command member towards the rest position, or the first end-position. Thus a user just needs to pull towards himself the translatable command member to move it from the first to the second end position, and the translatable command member will automatically return into position when released, pushed by the return element or means.
Preferably, the furniture item comprises a guide system for the translatable command member. In particular, the driving system comprises
a first guide, integral with the frame of the furniture item, which is arranged along the direction of the depth of the furniture item,
a second guide, integral with the command member, arranged along the direction of the height of the furniture item, and
a member that is mounted to be able to linearly slide simultaneously along the first guide and the second guide when the translatable command member is moved between the two said positions.
More specifically, the driving system comprises
as second guide, two parallel bars integral with the frame of the furniture item which are arranged along the direction of the depth of the furniture item,
two skids mounted linearly slidable along the guides and coupled slidingly to the translatable command member.
Even more particularly, the two parallel bars are inclined with respect on the horizon and the two skids are coupled to a vertical guide integral with the translatable command member, so as to be able to slide vertically relative to it.
Preferably, the skids comprise a, e.g. magnetic, brake or shock absorber, e.g. to generate a resistant force equivalent to a viscous friction when the skid moves.
To avoid shocks or vibrations, preferably the furniture item comprises a shock absorber to brake the translatable command member when it is ending its travel moving between said rest position and said position in which it is offset horizontally.
To facilitate assembly, a leaf is coupled to said guide by fastening it on a carriage that is mounted sliding on the guide.
Preferably the first segment and the second segment of the guide are connected by a curved junction, to favor the sliding of the carriage and/or the guide.
Preferably the first segment and the second segment of the guide comprise vertical walls, e.g. L-shaped, which delimit two tracks arranged side by side in which are slidable respective wheels rotatably pivoted on the carriage. In particular, the carriage comprises only two wheels, each one engaged in a respective track, which are mounted on the carriage so that the wheel slidable in the innermost track precedes, along the advancement direction, the other wheel. In this way the curve of the L is traveled by the carriage in a more fluid way, and the leaf carried by the carriage is moved outside of the furniture item with a rapid movement as soon as the L-shaped curve is engaged.
Preferably, the translatable command member is an aluminum frame.
A simple and robust construction preferably provides that a vertical wall of the furniture item, which constitutes said side or flank, comprises a recess or an inlet in which the connecting junction is placed and through which the carriage can pass to move from a segment to the other.
The advantages of the invention will be even clearer from the following description of preferred embodiments, referring to the attached drawing in which
In the figures, equal numbers indicate equal or conceptually similar parts, and the elements are described as in use.
A furniture item MC according to the invention comprises a module (
The compartment 20 forms a frontal span which can be stopped up by two leaves 30, 32 slidable in front of the compartment 20.
The leaves 30, 32 can move bellows-like in front of the compartment 20 to close it or to leave it accessible from the outside. During the movement, the leaves 30, 32 always remain vertical and vary their relative position and that with respect to the compartment 20. When the compartment 20 is closed, the leaves 30, 32 are adjacent to each other and coplanar (
We indicate conventionally by 30 the most distant leaf from the side of the compartment 20 in which the leaves 30, 32 can be stacked, while by 32 the leaf closest to such side.
The adjacent sides (the closest to each other) of the leaves 30, 32 are hinged together about a vertical hinging axis X. Or the leaf 32 may be hinged to the carriage 40.
The leaf 30 is supported only by a carriage 40 which is movable for sliding horizontally and sideways to the compartment 20.
The movable carriage 40 comprises e.g. (see enlargement of
The guide comprises two straight segments 52, 54 which are horizontal and orthogonal to each other.
The first segment 52 is parallel to—and flush with—the front edge of the compartment 20 (or, similarly, to the plane on which the leaves 30, 32 arrange themselves coplanar and side by side). The second segment 54 is orthogonal to the front edge of the compartment 20 (or, similarly, orthogonal to the plane on which the leaves 30, 32 are placed side by side). The segment 54 is mounted parallel, adjacent and externally to one of the two walls 26. The segment 52 and the segment 54 are connected by a junction 56, preferably curved or cranked.
The segment 52 is preferably fixed to the ceiling 24, and in such a way as to remain slightly inside the outer edge of the compartment 20. The second segment 54 is fixed to the outside of a side wall 26, which comprises a recess 26r to allow the assembly of the junction 56 and the passage of the carriage 40 from one linear segment to the other. If the L-shaped guide is mounted above the ceiling 24, the recess 26r may be omitted.
For greater stability, preferably also the base of the leaf 30 is guided by a carriage equal to the carriage 40, and the two carriages can be moved in a synchronized way. However, other variants are possible, wherein for example there is only or also one carriage similar to the carriage 40 placed at half height of the leaf 30.
The leaf 30 is coupled to the carriage 40 at its own vertical edge hinged to the other leaf 32, i.e. it is the edge of the leaf 30 facing the segment 54 which is fixed to the carriage 40.
By what has been mentioned above and with the convention used, the leaf 30 is the only one mounted on the carriage 40 and the leaf 32 is the one closest to the segment 54 when the leaves 30, 32 are coplanar.
To simplify the movement of the leaves 30, 32, the furniture item MC comprises a movable frame or flank or member 60 (see
In
The end of the leaf 32 opposite the axis X is hinged to the member 60 about a vertical axis X2 (
Thanks to the construction described above, the leaves 30, 32 can then be moved in front of the compartment 20 by actuation of the member 60, which avoids moving the leaves 30, 32 by hand in a difficult way or by other means.
The coupling between the leaf 32 and the member 60 is advantageous because the user just needs to move the member 60 back and forth (e.g. via a handle 66) to move together the leaves 30, 32, from being coplanar (
The member 60 is translatable back and forth (directions Din and Dout) parallelly to the vertical wall 26 which mounts the segment 54, so that the front wall 64 is laid on the front edge of the wall 26 (
Refer to the sequence of configurations shown in
In
To uncover the compartment 20, the member 60 is gradually extracted away from the compartment 20, that is, traction of the member 60 is sufficient to extract it (Dout direction) from the item MC (movement towards the user, i.e. recession from the rear wall 28). This displacement of the member 60 imparts to the leaf 30, through the leaf 32, an impulse. The leaf 30 then moves towards the segment 54 (on the right in
The initial motion impulse given by the member 60 not only sets the leaf 30 in motion along the guide but gives it enough kinetic energy to push the carriage 40, which carries the leaf 32, up to the junction 56 (
When the junction 56 is reached, the carriage 40 runs through it, passes it and starts to move on the segment 54 (
At this point (
The carriage 40 continues to travel on the segment 54 (
To cover the compartment, the member 60 is re-extracted and the movements of the leaves 30, 32 repeated with inverted order.
The aforementioned opening or closing operations are not tiring for the user, and the movement of the leaves 30, 32 takes place almost automatically. In both cases of opening or closing the compartment 20, to start the motion of the leaves 30, 32 just a pull of the member 60 is enough to extract it (Dout direction) from the item MC (shift towards the user, i.e. departure from the rear wall 28). This displacement of the member 60 imparts to the leaf 30, through the leaf 32, an impulse that not only sets it in motion along the guide but gives it enough kinetic energy to push the carriage 40 up to the junction 56 (
Therefore the accelerated mass of the leaf 30 constitutes a sort of flywheel which allows the carriage 40 to travel along the junction 56 avoiding a dead point (intermediate configuration between about
Preferably, the item MC comprises a return means for the member 60 (e.g. a spring or counterweight) to return the member 60 towards the wall 28 (direction Din). In this way the user is only required to pull towards himself the member 60 until the carriage 40 has passed or entered the junction 56; after which the member 60 can be released and it will end its run, together with the leaves 30, 32, driven by the return means.
Preferably, the item MC comprises a shock absorber for braking gently the member 60 when it is terminating its travel in the direction Din. In this way, collisions at the end-positions and too fast jerks are prevented.
The furniture MC may also comprise a third leaf, to be connected at the tail end of the leaf 30 to form a bellows such as the leaves 12, 14 of
A piece of furniture according to the invention may also have only one leaf, such as illustrated in the variant of item MC2 of
A compartment 80 has a front opening which can be closed by a single sliding leaf 82 (
To uncover the compartment 80, as before, first the member 60 is pulled so that the sliding edge of the leaf 82 runs along the segments 52, 54 (
A piece of furniture according to the invention e.g. may have means to pack automatically the leaves, as illustrated in the variant MC3 of
Here a compartment 90 has a front opening that can be closed by two sliding leaves 92, 94 (
Thus the leaves 92, 94 are already overlapped and coplanar (
This mechanism can be implemented e.g. with a synchronized hinge, (i.e. a hinge that synchronizes the angular opening of its rotating parts), or with a spring mounted on the X axis to generate the torque.
The mechanism preferably operates to rotate the leaf 90 in opposite direction during the closing phase of the compartment.
The mechanism and furniture items MC, MC2 or MC3 are open to many variants. The furniture item MC4 of
The leaf 30 is supported by a different carriage, indicated with 140, movable for sliding horizontally and sideways to the compartment 20. The connection between the leaf 30 and the leaf 32 is unaltered with respect to e.g.
The movable carriage 140 e.g. comprises (see enlargement of
The wheels 142a, b are—as before—engaged and sliding on an L-shaped planar guide that the carriage 140 can travel on back and forth. The guide comprises two straight sections 152, 154 which are horizontal, orthogonal to each other and connected by a curved elbow-shaped segment. Sections 152, 154 are functionally similar to the segments 52, 54.
The axes X7 of the wheels 142a, b are contained in parallel vertical planes which are slightly offset. Therefore one of the wheels 142a, b, the one that runs on the innermost track, is, with respect to the other wheel, closer to the rear wall 28 and closer to the section 154 too. The wheels 142a, b slide inside a respective track to move the leaves. The relative arrangement on the carriage 140 of the wheels 142a, b is advantageous because when they reach the curved junction of the sections 152, 154, the carriage 140 is rotated towards the outside carrying the leaf 30 with it.
In this variant, the sections 152, 154 consist of two tracks placed side by side, inside which the wheels 142a, b can be slide in guided manner. E.g. the tracks may be made up of three L-shaped vertical septa 199 arranged side by side.
Notice how another preferred variant, see
The frame or flank or movable member 60 (see
The coupling between the command member, e.g. like the one indicated with 60 or 160, and the rest of the furniture may vary, while maintaining the same general operation already described.
E.g.
The command member, made e.g. as the member 60 or 160, is integral with a vertical guide 200 in which two skids 210 are linearly slidable. E.g. the skids 210 comprise a, e.g. magnetic, damper to make the movement of the skid 210 on the guide 200 fluid.
Each skid 210 is rigidly bound to the other skid, e.g. through a bar 240, and is slidably constrained to a respective straight bar 230 integral with the frame of the piece of furniture and mounted on the outside of the sidewall 26. The two bars 230 are parallel, spaced from each other and preferably inclined with respect to the horizon.
The bar 240 is horizontally sliding without detachment along the bars 230, and simultaneously sliding vertically on the guide 200 thanks to the skids 210.
When the member 60 or 160 moves back and forth (motion Dout and Din) for moving the leaves 30, 32, the sliding skids 210 run along the bars 230, and as a consequence they go up or down in unison along the guide 200. In this way the movement of the member 60 or 160 is stabilized to avoid jamming or vibrations.
Preferably, there is an elastic element mounted between a skid 210 and a fixed point of the furniture frame, e.g. a spring. The elastic element is mounted so as to generate an elastic force to push or pull the skids 210 towards a rest position corresponding to one or each of the end-positions of the member 60 or 160 (i.e. inserted inside the frame of the furniture item or extracted completely from the frame). This elastic element serves to facilitate and/or assist the movement of the member 60 or 160.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102017000078326 | Jul 2017 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2018/055094 | 7/11/2018 | WO | 00 |