PULL-OUT GUIDE AND DOMESTIC APPLIANCE

Abstract

A pull-out guide, in particular for domestic appliances, comprising a stationary guide rail and a running rail which is movably supported relative to the guide rail, on which a moving push element is supported, wherein at least one stop for limiting the movement of the push element relative to the running rail is provided on the running rail, wherein the at least one stop for the push element is designed in a resilient manner.

Description

The present invention relates to a pull-out guide, in particular for domestic appliances, comprising a stationary guide rail and a running rail which is movably mounted relative to the guide rail and on which a moving push element is supported, wherein at least one stop for limiting the movement of the push element relative to the running rail is provided on the running rail, and to a domestic appliance.

DE 20 2006 009 809 U1 discloses a pull-out guide comprising a running rail, to which a moulded part is securely clamped with a form fit, said moulded part protruding beyond the running rail on the upper side and forming a stop for a support for food to be cooked. With such stops, which can also be configured as plugs, the problem exists that, during opening and closing, loud impact noise may be generated by baking sheets resting thereon. This unsettles the user since it is not immediately apparent whether the noise is due to operator error.

DE 20 2008 006 755 U1 discloses a damper for decelerating the movement of a running rail relative to a centre rail. A bellows is used as the damper so that the displacement movement of the running rail is decelerated. Although such a deceleration of the movement of the running rail might avoid loud impact noise, the use of a bellows is nevertheless unsuitable due to the heat in ovens and possible soiling. In addition, impact noise may also occur if the running rail is decelerated too abruptly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pull-out guide and a domestic appliance which ensure more convenient handling with regard to the above problems.

This object is achieved by a pull-out guide having the features of claim 1 and by a domestic appliance having the features of claim 12.

In the pull-out guide according to the invention, the at least one stop for the push element is designed in a resilient manner. As a result, in the event of a rapid displacement movement of the running rail of the pull-out guide and abrupt stopping, a push element located on the running rail can be decelerated by way of the resilient stop without any loud impact noise being generated. This improves the handling of the pull-out guide and leads to a reduction in wear at the points of contact.

Preferably, the spring travel of a resilient stop element when struck by the push element is designed such that it lies in a range between 0.5 mm to 10 mm, in particular 1 mm to 8 mm. Depending on the intended use of the pull-out guide, it can be assumed that the push element in the loaded state has for example a weight between 1 kg to 6 kg and will be moved at a speed between 0.5 to 2 m/s in order then to be stopped abruptly. In this case, the resilient stop element should be moved to decelerate the push element over a certain distance of the spring travel.

Preferably, the stop is made of a metal sheet. As a result, the stop can also be used on domestic appliances, such as ovens.

In a further embodiment, the stop is fixed in place on an end face of the running rail. As a result, the stop can on the one hand perform the deceleration function for the push element and on the other hand can form a cover for the running rail in order to better protect the inner workings of the pull-out guide against soiling. Furthermore, the resilient stop can also be used as an elastic travel limiter for the relative movement of the running rail relative to the guide rail or centre rail in that, when moving the running rail into the domestic appliance for example, the stop comes to bear against the end face of the guide rail or centre rail when the end position is reached.

If the push element is to be decelerated both in the pull-out direction and in the push-in direction, a resilient stop may be provided in each case on opposite sides of the running rail.

The stop may be welded, latched or otherwise mechanically fastened to the running rail, or fastened thereto by means of an adhesive.

Preferably, one resilient stop of the pull-out guide is formed integrally with a latching mechanism for releasably fixing the running rail in a pulled-out position. As a result, the number of components for the pull-out guide can be kept small.

According to the invention, the pull-out guide is used on a domestic appliance, wherein preferably a pull-out guide is provided in each case on opposite sides of the push element and only one of the two pull-out guides has a resilient stop. It has been found that one resilient stop is already sufficient for decelerating the push element. Optionally, of course, both pull-out guides may each have one or two resilient stops.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pull-out guide according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the pull-out guide of FIG. 1 with a support for food to be cooked;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show two views of the pull-out guide of FIG. 2 in different load situations;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show two views of a pull-out guide according to the invention with a modified stop;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the stop of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a detail view of a pull-out guide with a further exemplary embodiment of a stop;

FIG. 8 shows a rear view of the pull-out guide of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the pull-out guide of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view of the pull-out guide of FIG. 7 in a flexed stop position;

FIG. 11 shows a detail view of the stop of the pull-out guide of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 shows a view of a modified stop for a pull-out guide;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a modified stop for a pull-out guide, and

FIGS. 14A and 14B show two views of a modified stop for a pull-out guide.

A pull-out guide 1 comprises a guide rail which can be fastened to a carcass of a piece of furniture or of a domestic appliance or to another component. A running rail 2 is mounted on the guide rail in a linearly movable manner, for example via rolling elements or sliding elements, wherein optionally one or more centre rails may be provided between the guide rail and the running rail 2. The pull-out guide 1 may thus be configured as a partial pull-out or as a full pull-out.

The pull-out guide 1 can be fastened to the stationary guide rail via a front fastening part 3 and a rear fastening part 4, for example to a bar of a side grating in an oven. Such fastening parts 3 and 4, which engage around a bar of a side grating in the manner of a clamp, are known and will therefore not be explained in detail.

On the running rail 2 of the pull-out guide 1, a stop 5 is arranged on the front end face, said stop having a panel-shaped cover 6 and a resilient stop element 8 in the form of a bendable web which protrudes beyond the upper side of the running rail 2. Also formed on the stop 5 is a retaining web 7 which can be fastened to the running rail 2, for example mechanically or by welding or gluing.

Provided at the rear side of the running rail 2 is a latching mechanism 9 which is secured to one side of the running rail 2 via a retaining section 10, for example by welding. The latching mechanism 9 comprises a protrusion 11 which engages in a cutout 12 on the running rail 2 and can be latched there between two rolling elements in a maximum pulled-out position. The latching mechanism 9 further comprises an integrally formed resilient stop element 13 which protrudes beyond the upper side of the running rail 2 and keeps in the desired position a push element which is positioned on the running rail 2. The push element is positioned between the resilient stop elements 8 and 13.

FIG. 2 shows the pull-out guide 1, on which there now rests a push element 14 in the form of a support for food to be cooked, said support comprising a dish-shaped trough 15 and a laterally protruding edge 16. The edge 16 is supported on the upper side of the running rail 2 and is arranged between the resilient stop elements 8 and 13.

In FIG. 3, the resilient stop element 8 of the stop 5 is shown in an unloaded position. The edge 16 bears against the resilient stop element 8, which is positioned at a distance L from an end face of the running rail 2.

If the push element is now moved rapidly in the opening direction as far as a maximum pulled-out position and then abruptly decelerated, the edge 16 of the push element is able to bend the resilient stop element 8, as illustrated in FIG. 4. As a result, the distance between the edge 16 and an end face of the running rail 2 is shortened to the dimension I, it being possible for the spring travel of the stop element 8 to lie in a range from 1 mm to 8 mm for example.

The stop 5 may be made of a bent metal sheet, and the stop element 8 may accordingly be resilient, wherein for the resilient design it is possible to use bending forces, torsional forces or other forces to provide a certain flexibility of the protruding stop element 8.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a modified stop 5′ which, in a manner similar to the preceding exemplary embodiment, is fastened to the running rail 2 by means of the retaining web 7. In addition, a hook 17 is integrally formed on the cover 6, which hook engages by means of a protrusion 18 in a cutout on one side of the running rail 2. The cutout is dimensioned to be so large that the protrusion 18 can move to a limited extent within the cutout. As in the preceding exemplary embodiment, the resilient stop element 8 can decelerate the push element 14. In doing so, the protrusion 18, upon maximum elastic deflection, comes to bear against an edge within the cutout of the running rail 2, so that plastic deformation of the stop 5′ is avoided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is also possible that the stop is latched onto the running rail in a form-fitting manner, so that there is no need for a further material or mechanical connection.

The stop 5′ is shown in detail in FIG. 6, the stop 5′ being made of a bent and stamped metal sheet. Manufacture from a bendable plastic is also possible.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a modified stop 20 which is fastened to a running rail 2. The stop 20 may be fastened both to a front end face and also to a rear end face of the running rail 2 or only to one of the two faces. The stop 20 comprises a panel-shaped cover 21 which closes an open end face of the running rail 2. The cover 21 may be welded or glued to the running rail 2 or fastened thereto via mechanical means. Projecting from the cover 21 is a web-shaped resilient stop element 22 which protrudes beyond an upper side of the running rail 2 and bears against an edge 16 of the push element 14. If the pull-out guide with the running rail 2 is then moved abruptly in the opening and/or closing direction, abrupt stopping of the running rail 2 may occur upon reaching the end position, and this is compensated by the resilient stop element 22 which can be deflected through a spring travel from the starting position in order to avoid loud impact noise.

In FIG. 10, the resilient stop element 22 is shown in a deflected position, in which the edge 16 bends the stop element 22. The resilient stop element 22 is designed here as a U-shaped web which can bear against the edge 16 at two contact areas 23.

The stop 20 is shown in detail in FIG. 11, said stop being made of a bent and stamped metal sheet. Protruding at an angle from the cover 21 is a retaining web 24 which is fastened to a side wall of the running rail 2, for example by welding.

FIG. 12 shows a modified stop 25 which can be fastened to a side wall of a running rail 2 via a retaining web 26. The stop 25 comprises a rear cover 27, which covers an opening of the running rail 2, and an upwardly protruding resilient stop element 28, which is designed as a flexible web. Otherwise, the functionality of the stop 25 is the same as in the preceding exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 13 shows a stop 30 having a retaining web 31 which can be fastened to a side wall of the running rail 2, for example by welding or gluing. Extending from the retaining web 31 is a rear cover 32 which covers an opening of the running rail 2 at an end face. Provided on the side opposite the retaining web 31 is a bend 33 which bends the metal sheet through approximately 180° and which is formed integrally with a panel-shaped resilient stop element 35 which is formed on a panel 34 and protrudes upwards beyond a running rail 2 to form a resilient stop for a push element 14. If the stop 30 is fastened at the retaining web 31, a particularly flexible resilient mounting of the stop element 35 is achieved due to the numerous bends on the metal sheet.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a further exemplary embodiment of a stop 40 which can be fastened to a side wall of a running rail 2 via a retaining web 41. The stop 40 comprises a rear cover 42 which can cover an opening on the end face of the running rail 2. In a manner similar to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 13, the cover 42 is connected via a bend 43 to a wall element 44 which has a resilient stop element 45 on the upper side. The stop element 45 is bent in the shape of a loop and has a front edge 46, against which an edge 16 of a push element 14 can bear. In this embodiment, too, particularly elastic spring conditions are achieved due to the elastic mounting of the resilient stop element 45 relative to the fixed retaining web 41.

A pull-out guide according to the invention may have one or two resilient stops, wherein, in the case of a piece of furniture or a domestic appliance, pull-out guides are preferably provided on opposite sides and a push element 14 is supported thereon. Optionally both pull-out guides or only one of the two pull-out guides may have one or more resilient stops in order to avoid loud impact noise when the running rail of the pull-out guide 1 is moved into an end position.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 pull-out guide

2 running rail

3 fastening part

4 fastening part

5, 5′ stop

6 cover

7 retaining web

8 stop element

9 latching mechanism

10 retaining section

11 protrusion

12 cutout

13 stop element

14 push element

15 trough

16 edge

17 hook

18 protrusion

20 stop

21 cover

22 stop element

23 contact area

24 retaining web

25 stop

26 retaining web

27 cover

28 stop element

30 stop

31 retaining web

32 cover

33 bend

34 panel

35 stop element

40 stop

41 retaining web

42 cover

43 bend

44 wall element

45 stop element

46 front edge

L distance

I dimension

Claims

1. A pull-out guide (1) for domestic appliances, comprising a stationary guide rail and a running rail (2) which is movably mounted relative to the guide rail and on which a moving push element (14) is supported, wherein at least one stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) for limiting the movement of the push element (14) relative to the running rail (2) is provided on the running rail (2), wherein the at least one stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) for the push element (14) is designed in a resilient manner.

2. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the spring travel of a resilient stop element (8, 13, 22, 28, 35, 46) when struck by the push element (14) lies in a range between 0.5 mm to 10 mm, in particular 1 mm to 8 mm.

3. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) is made of a metal sheet.

4. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) is fixed in place adjacent to an end face of the running rail (2).

5. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) is formed integrally with a cover (6, 21, 27, 32, 42) which covers an end face of the pull-out guide (1).

6. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the stop (5,5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) constitutes an elastic travel limiter for the relative movement of the running rail relative to the guide rail or centre rail.

7. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein a resilient stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) is provided in each case on opposite sides of the running rail (2).

8. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) is welded, screwed or fastened in some other way to the running rail (2).

9. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) has one or more cutouts or is locally weakened in order to increase the resilient effect.

10. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein the stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) is latched onto the running rail (2).

11. The pull-out guide according to claim 1, wherein a resilient stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40) on one side of the running rail (2) is provided integrally with a latching mechanism (9) for releasably fixing the running rail (2) in a pulled-out position.

12. A domestic appliance comprising at least one pull-out guide (1) according to claim 1.

13. The domestic appliance according to claim 12, wherein a pull-out guide (1) is provided on opposite sides of the push element (14) and at least one of the two pull-out guides (1) has a resilient stop (5, 5′, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40).

14. The domestic appliance according to claim 12, wherein the push element (14) is designed as a support for food to be cooked.