Pull out guide assembly for drawers

Abstract

A pull-out guide assembly for drawers, having on both sides of the drawer a support rail on the carcass and a pull-out rail on the drawer. The load of the drawer is transmitted between the rails by rollers that are borne in running carriages. The running carriages may be moved between a front end position and a rear end position in differential manner. Locking means are provided for the running carriages and, in the event of a deviation from the differential running between the rails, they lock the running carriage on one of the rails at predetermined points between the two end positions. This locking is releasable by the movement of the rails with respect to one another.

Description

BACKGORUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a pull-out guide assembly for drawers, having on both sides of the drawer a support rail on the carcass, and a pull-out rail on the drawer with the load of the drawer being transmitted between the rails by rollers that are borne in running carriages running between the rails between a front end position and a rear end position in differential manner, with the running carriages being provided with locking means.

As a result of the slip between the rollers and the guide profiled sections of the rails, it is not always guaranteed that, when the drawer is pulled or and pushed in, the running carriages will cover exactly half the distance of the pull-out rails. This gives rise to so-called carriage running errors, in other words the position of the running carriages in relation to the support rails and pull-out rails is not correct. Carriage running errors of this kind can in some cases result in the drawer staying open in normal use.

Carriage running errors are not new; they occur repeatedly with pull-out guide assemblies in which the load of the drawer is transmitted by rollers which are not borne on the rails but in separate running carriages. If the drawer is only moved manually, these errors are in many cases not noticed. If the drawer is pulled into the final closed position by a conventional closing system having springs, in most cases there is sufficient momentum for the carriage running error to be corrected by the dynamic of the drawer and for the drawer always to close.

In modern pull-out guides for drawers, closing devices are provided that are additionally equipped with a damping means so that the drawer is not pulled into the furniture carcass with too much force. However, these damping means reduce the closing dynamic of the drawer such that a carriage running error occurring while the drawer is moving can no longer be compensated because there is insufficient momentum at the movement.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to improve the pull-out guide assembly of the type mentioned at the outset such that the carriage running errors are corrected and hence correct closing of the drawer is achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object according to the invention is achieved in that, in the event of a deviation from the differential running between the rails and the running carriages, the locking means lock the running carriages on one of the rails at predetermined points between their two end positions, with this locking being releasable by the movement of the rails with respect to one another.

An example embodiment of the invention provides for each running carriage to be provided with two locking means that lock the running carriage in opposing directions.

Advantageously, in this case it is provided for the locking means to be formed by levers that are mounted rotatably on the running carriages. The levers are preferably constructed as double-arm levers.

A further example embodiment of the invention provides for the locking means to be formed by resilient arms that project horizontally from the running carriages in the direction of movement, for the arm of a running carriage to abut against a stop of a rail on locking, and for in each case a second rail to be provided with a counter-stop that abuts against the projecting arm of the running carriage on locking and so prevents deflection of the arm with respect to the stop on the first rail.

A further example embodiment of the invention provides for the locking means to be formed by rockers that are borne tiltably on the running carriages and have two stop faces that abut against a stop of one of the rails in the event of a running carriage deviating from the differential running between the rails.

In a further embodiment of the invention a central a central rail is arranged between said support rail and said pull-out rail with a running carriage running between said support rail and said central rail and another running carriage running between said central rail and said pull-out rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a view of a cabinet-like piece of furniture that is equipped with pull-out guide assemblies according to the invention;

FIG. 2 a shows diagrammatically one side of a pull-out guide assembly having a pull-out rail, a running carriage and a support rail, in which the pull-out guide assembly is shown in the closed position;

FIGS. 2 b to 2d show side views of the pull-out guide assembly in which the pull-out rail is shown in various intermediate positions, with a leading running carriage shown;

FIG. 2 e shows a side view of the pull-out guide assembly, in which the pull-out rail is shown in the fully extended position of the draw;

FIGS. 3 a to 3e show the same side views as FIGS. 2a to 2e, with a lagging running carriage shown;

FIGS. 4 a to 4e show side views of the pull-out guide assembly in various positions, with the running carriage shown with two levers,

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through an example embodiment of a pull-out guide assembly,

FIGS. 6 a to 6f show side views of a further example embodiment of a pull-out guide assembly according to the invention, in various positions,

FIG. 7 shows an end view of a further example embodiment of a pull-out guide assembly according to the invention,

FIG. 8 shows a view of a further example embodiment of a running carriage according to the invention,

FIG. 9 shows a cut-away diagram of a rocker,

FIG. 10 shows a view of a running carriage according to the invention, in which one wall has been cut away to show the rocker,

FIG. 11 shows a view of a rocker,

FIG. 12 shows a further view of a rocker,

FIGS. 13 a to 13e show diagrammatic side views of a pull-out guide assembly according to the invention in the region of the running carriage, in which the pull-out rail is moved to the right and an ideal movement sequence with no carriage running errors is shown,

FIGS. 14 a to 14e show a purely diagrammatic side view of a pull-out guide fitting according to the invention in the region of the running carriage, in which the pull-out rail is moved to the left and once again an ideal movement sequence with no running carriage errors is shown,

FIGS. 15 a to 15e show a purely diagrammatic side view of a pull-out guide assembly according to the invention in the region of the running carriage, in which the pull-out rail is moved to the right and a movement sequence with carriage running errors is shown,

FIGS. 16 a to 16e show a purely diagrammatic side view of a further example embodiment of a pull-out guide fitting according to the invention in the region of the running carriage, in which the pull-out rail is moved to the left and a movement sequence with carriage running errors is shown,

FIGS. 17 a to 17e show a diagrammatic side view of a pull-out guide assembly according to the invention in the region of the running carriage, in which the pull-out rail is moved to the left and a movement sequence with carriage running errors is shown.

FIG. 18 shows a diagrammatic side view of a pull-out guide assembly according to the invention in which a central rail is provided, the rails being shown in their rearmost position, and

FIG. 19 shows a diagrammatic vie of the pull-out guide assembly of FIG. 18, the rails being shown in their foremost position.

DESCRIPITON OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Only one side of a pull-out guide fitting will be described each time, as arranged on one side of the drawer. The opposite side is of analogous construction.

The pull-out guide assembly according to the invention may be constructed as a simple pull-out guide assembly having on each side of the drawer a support rail 1 on the carcass and a pull-out rail 2 on the drawer, but may also be constructed as a differential pull-out means, in which case a central rail 27 is arranged on each side of the drawer between the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 17, the pull-out guide assembly comprises on each side of the drawer a support rail 1 on the carcass and a pull-out rail 2 on the drawer, with a running carriage 3 arranged between the rails 1, 2 serving as a cage for rollers 4.

In the example embodiments, the rollers 4 are constructed as cylindrical rolls. However, they may equally be constructed as balls, and equally a running carriage 3 may be equipped with a combination of balls and rolls.

In the example embodiment according to FIGS. 2 to 5, the running carriage 3 is provided in its center with two double-arm levers 6 that are tiltable about a horizontal axis pin 5 and serve as locking means. The levers 6 are acted upon by pressure springs 7.

In FIGS. 2a to 2d and 3a to 3d, for the sake of better clarity, only one of the levers 6 coming into operation in one direction on locking is shown on the running carriage 3 in each case.

FIGS. 2 a to 2e show the situation with a leading running carriage 3. That is the running carriage 3 is too far in front with respect to the rails 1, 2. When the pull-out rail 2 is moved into the furniture carcass (from left to right; figures in the order 2e to 2a), the leading running carriage 3 runs along with the pull-out rail 2 until the lever 6 abuts against the stop 8 of the support rail 1 by means of its hook, which is constructed on the free end, and is caught there. The running carriage 3 is locked at this point, while the pull-out rail 2 continues to move into the furniture carcass, in relation to the running carriage 3 and the support rail 1.

A stop 9 is constructed on the pull-out rail 2. When the stop 9 comes up against the upper end of the lever 6, the pull-out rail 2 is in the correct position relative to the running carriage 3. The lever 6 is tilted clockwise and locking of the running carriage 3 against the stop 8 is released, whereupon the running carriage 3 moves into the end position with precise differential movement between the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1.

In cases in which the pull-out rail 2 is moved into its final end position by a relatively weak pull-in device, such as a pull-in device having a damping means, the running carriage 3 does not constitute any obstacle.

FIGS. 3 a to 3e show the situation with a lagging running carriage 3. That is the running carriage 3 is too far behind with respect to the movement of the pull-out rail 2. Once the pull-out rail 2 has been brought into the position shown in FIG. 3d when the drawer is pushed in, the running carriage 3 is so far behind that the pull-out rail 2 latches into the hook-like end of the lever 6 by means of the hook 10 thereof. When the pull-out rail 2 is moved into the position shown in FIG. 3c, it carries the running carriage 3 along with it, in other words the running carriage 3 does not travel in differential manner between the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1 but is moved on at the same speed as the pull-out rail 2.

As soon as the pull-out rail 2 and the running carriage 3 have reached the position shown in FIG. 3b, the lever 6 abuts by means of its lower end against the stop 11 of the support rail 1 and is uncoupled from the stop 10 of the pull-out rail 2. In the next section of the push-in travel, the running carriage 3 runs correct by differential between the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1. Once again, there is no braking action acting on the pull-out rail 2.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the two levers 6 are arranged on one side of the running carriage 3. The stops 8, 9, 10 and 11 are constructed on horizontal webs 2′, 1′ of the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1, and are laterally offset with respect to the rollers 4. Both when the running carriage 3 is leading and when the running carriage 3 is lagging the position of the running carriage 3 is corrected before it reaches the end region of the push-in travel. At this point, the pull-out rail 2 is still being pushed into the carcass, or moved with momentum, by the person using the drawer. The relatively weak pull-in device is not yet engaged at this time. The pull-in device is only engaged in the end region of the pull-in travel, and the running carriage 3 is then in the correct position.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 6a to 6f, the locking means for the running carriage 3 is formed by a horizontal arm 12 projecting in the direction of displacement of the running carriage 3. The arm 12 is provided with a lug 13 at its free end.

The support rail 1 has a stop 14 at the front and the pull-out rail 2 has a stop 15. If the drawer and hence the pull-out rail 2 are pushed out of the extended position shown in FIG. 6f into the furniture carcass, the running carriage 3 runs at first differentially between the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1. If the running carriage 3 leads, as shown in FIGS. 6a to 6f, the lug 13 abuts against the stop 14 while the stop 15 of the pull-out rail 2 is still above the arm 12. The stop 15 thus prevents the resilient arm 12 from being able to be deflected by the stop 14.

While the pull-out rail 2 is being pushed further into the furniture carcass, the running carriage 3 is locked by the stop 14 and remains stationary on the support rail 1.

As soon as the stop 15 of the pull-out rail 2 is moved out over the arm 12, as shown in FIG. 6c, the arm 12 can be deflected by the stop 14 by means of the lug 13, whereupon the running carriage 3, which is now in the correct position in relation to the pull-out rail 2, is moved on differentially between the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1.

In the example embodiments according to FIGS. 7 to 17, the running carriage 3 is provided in its center with a rocker 17 that can tilt about a horizontal axis pin 18 and serves as a locking means for the running carriage 3.

The pull-out rail 2 is provided in the upper horizontal web 2′ with an opening 50 that serves as a deflection means. The support rail 1 has a tab 19 that projects laterally from a vertical web 1′ and forms a stop for the rocker 17.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 9 to 16, the rocker 17 is constructed in two parts and has a part 20 that is borne directly on the axis pin 18, preferably snapped onto the latter, and a part 21 that is borne on the part 20 such that it can tilt about an axis pin 24. The parts 20, 21 each have a stop face 22, 23. A spring 16, preferably a leg spring, is borne in the rocker 17 and tilts the part 21 upward in relation to the part 20.

FIGS. 13 a to 13e show an ideal movement sequence with no carriage running errors, in which the pull-out rail 2 is moved to the right. The running carriage 3 is also moved to the right, and the rocker 17 abuts against the stop of the support rail 1, this stop being formed by the tab 19. This movement turns the rocker 17 clockwise. During this the upper part 21 of the rocker 17 comes into the opening 50 in the pull-out rail 2, and as the pull-out rail 2 is moved further to the right the rocker 17 is turned clockwise until the upper part 21 of the rocker 17 moves down out of the opening 50 (FIGS. 13d, 13e). The interaction between the tab 19, the opening 50 and the rocker 17 is ideal. No correction of the running carriage 3 is performed, in other words there is no correction of the position of the running carriage 3 in relation to the rails 1, 2.

FIGS. 14 a to 14e also show a movement sequence with no running carriage errors, in which the pull-out rail 2 is moved to the left. The rocker 17 of the running carriage 3 once again comes up against the tab 19, and the rocker 17 is turned counterclockwise, with the upper part 21 of the rocker 17 turned to come into the opening 50 of the pull-out rail 2. The interaction of the tab 19, the opening 50 and the rocker 17 is once again ideal. No correction of the movement of the running carriage 3 is performed. The running carriage 3 runs precise differentially between the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1.

FIGS. 15 a to 15e show a movement sequence with a carriage running error, in which the pull-out rail 2 is moved to the right. The edge 26 of the opening 50 comes up against the stop face 22 of the rocker 17. The rocker 7 cannot, however, tilt away downward because of the tab 19 on the support rail 1. This has the result that the running carriage 3 is fixed to the pull-out rail 2 and moves with the pull-out rail 2 at the same speed until the rocker 17 can tilt down over the end of the tab 19 (FIG. 15c). FIGS. 15d and 15e show the running carriage 3 in the corrected position.

FIGS. 16 a to 16e show a movement sequence with a carriage running error, in which the pull-out rail 2 is moved to the left.

In FIG. 16b, the rocker 17 is in contact with the tab 19 forming the stop of the support rail 1, and the rocker 7 begins to turn counterclockwise. This rotation is possible, despite the incorrect position of the running carriage 3, since the rocker 17 is constructed in two parts and the upper part 21 of the rocker 17 can tilt with respect to the lower part 20 of the rocker 17. There is no correction of the movement of the running carriage 3.

With this construction, it is possible to choose whether a correction of the running position of the carriage 3, when a carriage running error occurs (error in the position of the running carriage 3 in relation to the rails 1, 2), is to be performed only when the drawer is opened or only when the drawer is closed. Generally, it is desirable for the correction of the running carriage 3 to be performed when the drawer is opened, since on opening the drawer is moved manually at full force and the resistance of the running carriage 3 when the correction is made is not noticeable.

FIGS. 17 a to 17e show a one-part rocker 17 that is constructed in one piece and is not acted upon by a spring. In the example embodiment shown, the pull-out rail 2 moves to the left. A movement sequence with a running carriage 3 error is shown.

The rocker 17 meets the tab 19 (FIG. 17b). Because it is rigid and cannot fold together, and because it abuts against the horizontal web 2′ of the pull-out rail 2, the rocker 17 cannot rotate. The running carriage 3 is therefore coupled to the support rail 1 and remains stationary until the pull-out rail 2 has been moved far enough to the left for the opening 50 to make it possible for the rocker 17 to pivot. This happens at the moment when the running carriage 3 is in the correct running position in relation to the rails 1, 2.

It is an essential part of the invention that the position of the running carriage 3 in relation to the rails 1, 2 is always corrected between the two end positions of the pull-out rail 2, in other words not directly as the drawer is finally closed and the latter is pulled into the furniture carcass by a pull-in device.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show an embodiment where a central rail 27 is provided between the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1. One running carriage 3 is positioned between the pull-out rail 2 and the central rail 27 and one running carriage 3 between the central rail 27 and the support rail 1. Correction of the position of the running carriages 3 is achieved in the same way as in the embodiments described before. The only difference is that the interaction takes place between the pull-out rail 2 and the central rail 27, and the central rail 27 and the support rail 1 respectively and not between the pull-out rail 2 and the support rail 1.

Claims

1. A pull-out guide assembly for drawers, having on both sides of the drawer a support rail on the carcass and a pull-out rail on the drawer, with the load of the drawer being transmitted between the rails by rollers that are borne in running carriages running between the rails between a front end position and a rear end position in differential manner, with the running carriages being provided with locking means, wherein, in the event of a deviation from the differential running between the rails and the running carriages, the locking means lock the running carriages on one of the rails at predetermined points between their two end positions, with this locking being releasable by the movement of the rails with respect to one another.

2. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each running carriage is provided with two locking means that lock said running carriage in opposing directions.

3. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means are formed by levers that are mounted rotatably on the running carriages.

4. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the levers are constructed as double-arm levers.

5. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the levers abut against projections on the rails.

6. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the levers are acted upon by springs.

7. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the levers are arranged laterally offset with respect to the rollers in the direction in which the respective running carriage runs.

8. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the levers have angled ends.

9. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the levers are rotatable about horizontal axis pins.

10. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means are formed by resilient arms that project horizontally from the running carriages in the direction of movement, the arm of a running carriage abuts against a stop of a rail on locking, and a second rail is provided with a counter-stop that abuts against the projecting arm of the running carriage on locking and so prevents deflection of the arm with respect to the stop on the first rail.

11. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the arms are provided at their free ends with lugs that abut against the stops of the first rails on locking.

12. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a locking means is active in each case between two rails, with one of the rails having a stop and the other rail having a deflection means for the locking means.

13. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the deflection means is formed by an opening in a horizontal web of the rail.

14. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the stop on one of the rails is formed by a horizontal tab.

15. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking means are formed by rockers that are borne tiltably on the running carriages and have two stop faces that abut against a stop of one of the rails in the event of a running carriage deviating from the differential running between the rails.

16. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the stop on one of the rails is formed by an edge of the opening.

17. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tiltable rockers are deformable.

18. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tiltable rockers are formed by two parts connected to one another in articulated manner, in which a stop face is constructed on each of the parts.

19. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein a first part is tiltably borne on the running carriage by means of an axis pin and the second part is tiltably borne on the first part by means of an axis pin.

20. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of the stop faces of the rocker is constructed to be concave and one stop face is constructed to be convex.

21. A pull-out guide assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a central rail is arranged between said support rail and said pull-out rail with a running carriage running between said support rail and said central rail and another running carriage running between said central rail and said pull-out rail.