Patent Grant
10638838
This application is the United States National Phase of Patent Application No. PCT/EP2017/073469 filed 18 Sep. 2017, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 16191873.5 filed 30 Sep. 2016, each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a retraction device for a drawer mechanism, having a spring-loaded slide movable in the retraction/extension direction for temporarily coupling to an inner rail of the drawer mechanism, wherein the slide is capable of being blocked in a retraction position by a blocking latch bolt that in a guide is movable transversely to the retraction/extension direction, wherein the slide for coupling to the inner rail has at least one pivot element which is pivotable about an axis that is oriented so as to be perpendicular to the retraction/extension direction and perpendicular to the movement direction of the blocking latch bolt.
Drawer mechanisms which comprise a fixed rail element for attaching to a furniture cabinet and at least one movable rail element mounted on said fixed rail element are known. The innermost movable rail element, the inner rail, is fastened to an extendable part of the furniture. Depending on the length of the drawer mechanism and on the extension length, further movable rail elements can be disposed between the fixed rail element and the inner rail, said further movable rail elements interacting in a telescopic manner. The rail elements are mounted on one another by way of ball or roller guides, for example.
Drawer mechanisms are in general suitable for mounting extendable furniture parts; for the sake of simplicity the term “drawer” will in each case be used hereunder. However, the retraction devices described are in principle suitable for various extendable furniture parts. One mechanism is in each case typically disposed on one drawer.
Retraction devices for drawer mechanisms automatically guide the drawer to the terminal position thereof when said drawer is inserted. On account thereof, the ease of operation of the drawer is improved and the generation of noise when closing can be minimized. Known retraction devices acquire the inner rail and guide the latter along a part-distance of the closing movement, from a standby position of the retraction device to the closed state.
For example, a retraction device which comprises a movable slide on which a latch for interacting with the inner rail is rotatably disposed is known from DE 11 2008 001 880 T5 (Accuride International Inc.).
In the case of items of furniture having a plurality of drawers that are disposed below one another, a simultaneous extraction of a plurality of drawers is often to be prevented, specifically so as to avoid any risk of tilting by way of a plurality of heavy extracted drawers as well as a risk of injury by way of body parts of the users being jammed. In this context it is known for blocking latch bolts to be provided, said blocking latch bolts being coupled to the drawer mechanisms and preventing an extraction of a further drawer when one drawer has already been fully or partially extracted.
DE 10 2012 109 751 A1 (Paul Hettich GmbH & Co. KG) describes a drawer mechanism having a self-retracting or ejecting device which has a repositionably mounted entrainment element by way of which the retraction or ejection device, respectively, can be activated. To this end, an activator which is disposed on a closure stopper that is plug-fitted onto the front end of the inner rail interacts with the entrainment element. The entrainment element moreover has a pin for engaging in a locking strip for locking and unlocking a plurality of drawers that are disposed on top of one another.
This mechanism has a complex construction having many parts. In the case of predefined mechanical requirements set for the mechanism, correspondingly high production costs result. The construction is not expedient for an embodiment without an ejection function.
It is an object of the invention to achieve a retraction device which is associated to the technical field mentioned at the outset and which is constructed in a simple manner and is mechanically robust.
The achievement of the object is defined by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the pivot element and the guide are disposed in such a manner that the blocking latch bolt in a blocking position blocks a pivoting movement of the pivot element.
Besides the elements that are present anyway, specifically the blocking latch bolt and the pivot element, no further components are required. A simple construction results on account thereof. Low costs and a high mechanical stability result therefrom.
The retraction device is in particular attached to the fixed rail element. The spring means coupled to the slide can be a single coil spring that runs in a linear manner, a coil spring that is deflected by 180° along an arc, or a plurality of coil springs disposed in parallel. Other spring means, for example helical springs or torsion springs, are also conceivable.
The interaction between the inner rail and the pivot element is in particular performed by way of elements such as protrusions, pins, or clearances that are disposed in the region of the free end of the inner rail, wherein the geometry of the pivot element is adapted to the geometry of said elements. The elements on the inner rail can be configured so as to be integral to said inner rail or be fixedly or releasably fastened to said inner rail.
As has been mentioned, the pivot element is pivotable about an axis that is oriented so as to be perpendicular to the retraction/extension direction and perpendicular to the movement direction of the blocking latch bolt, that is to say that said pivot axis is also perpendicular to a main plane of the rails of the drawer mechanism.
The blocking latch bolt in a manner known per se is in particular fastened to a blocking bar. A further blocking latch bolt which interacts with the neighboring drawer is fastened to the other end of the blocking bar. When one drawer is opened the blocking latch bolts that interact with the retraction device of said drawer are pressed out of the retraction device and thus into the retraction devices of the neighboring drawers such that the extraction of the latter is prevented.
The pivot element preferably has a holding portion that in an extension movement interacts with the inner rail. The pivot element herein is mounted on the slide in such a manner that the holding portion in a release position in relation to a holding position is pivoted in the direction of a longitudinal central axis of the slide. The holding portion during the retraction procedure and along a part-distance in the subsequent extension of the drawer causes a form-fitting coupling between the inner rail and the slide in the retraction/extension direction. The spring force that acts on the slide for the automatic retraction can thus be transmitted to the inner rail, and the opening force exerted on the drawer in the renewed opening is transmitted to the slide such that the spring means can be tensioned again. The part-distance ends where the pivot element has reached the release position. The slide in this position in a manner known per se is locked to a stationary element by means of the pivot element. Said slide can only move in the retraction direction again once the pivot element in the insertion of the drawer is in turn contacted by the inner rail.
The mentioned mounting of the pivot element on the slide enables a simple interaction of the blocking latch bolt with the pivot element in that the blocking latch bolt can in particular interact with the region of the pivot element which is located on the opposite side of the holding portion in relation to the pivot axis. The individual lever portions of the pivot element on both sides of the pivot axis can thus be configured so as to be relatively short, this benefiting the mechanical stability.
Alternatively, the pivot element can be mounted on the slide in such a manner that the holding portion in the release position is pivoted outward, that is to say away from the longitudinal central axis of the slide. The interaction between the pivot element and the blocking latch bolt in this case takes place either on the lever side of the holding portion or by way of a corresponding mechanism for deflecting a movement of the blocking latch bolt.
The pivot element advantageously has an eccentrically disposed (that is to say spaced apart therefrom) cam pin which for controlling the pivoting movement in a movement of the slide in the retraction/extension direction interacts with a stationary curve. “Stationary” in this context means that the curve is not conjointly moved with the slide. The interaction between the cam pin and the curve ensures in particular that the pivot element reaches the release position in the correct position. Said interaction can furthermore also serve for the afore-mentioned locking on the stationary element. The curve, proceeding from the retracted position, has in particular an axial portion in which the pivot element without rotation is conjointly moved with the slide in the extension direction, an oblique portion in which the rotation of the pivot element to a release position is performed, as well as a locking portion which runs in particular perpendicularly to the retraction/extension direction and forms a portion on which the cam pin is supported for locking the slide.
Controlling the movement of the pivot element can in principle also be performed in another manner, for example by way of a (stationary) rack and a pinion that is coupled to the pivot element.
The stationary curve in a part-portion preferably has an elastic delimitation wall such that the inner rail in a retracted position of the retraction device is capable, by overcoming an insertion force, of being coupled to the slide in that the holding portion of the pivot element is temporarily pivoted, wherein the cam pin temporarily deforms the elastic delimitation wall. This function is required when the retraction device for any reason is located in the retracted position, but the drawer having the inner rail is initially open. This may be the case in the context of the assembly or after an erroneous manipulation. On account of the procedure mentioned, it is possible for the inner rail to again be coupled to the retraction device in the envisaged manner by simply inserting the drawer.
The retraction device preferably comprises a guide receptacle in which the slide is mounted so as to be movable in a linear manner in the retraction/extension direction. The guide receptacle can be an integral part of the fixed rail element. However, said guide receptacle is advantageously an additional component which is capable of being fastened to the fixed rail element, for example by way of a latching connection. The fixed rail element has in particular a U-shaped cross section, and the guide receptacle is received within the space defined between the two legs at the base of the fixed rail element.
The stationary curve is preferably configured on the guide receptacle. A simple and mechanically stable construction results on account thereof.
The pivot element advantageously has an activation portion that in a retraction movement interacts with the inner rail. Said activation portion when inserting the drawer is contacted by the inner rail (or contact elements disposed on said inner rail, respectively), such that the slide is released from the axial locking thereof. The holding portion of the pivot element simultaneously engages with the inner rail (or contact elements disposed on said inner rail, respectively), such that the inner rail (conjointly with the drawer) by virtue of the spring action conjointly with the slide is entrained in the retraction direction and up to the retracted position. The activation portion and the holding portion thus form a receptacle, the element of the inner rail that interacts with the pivot element being received therebetween during the retraction movement and along the mentioned part-distance when extending.
Alternatively, no activation portion of this type is present. In this case, the release is caused by way of direct contact between the inner rail and the slide, for example.
The pivot element preferably has a blocking portion which in the blocking position interacts with the blocking latch bolt. This blocking portion is dimensioned in such a manner that a secure and mechanically reliable interaction with the blocking latch bolt results.
The blocking portion advantageously comprises a lug which in the blocking position engages behind a free end of the blocking latch bolt. The lug avoids a pivoting movement of the pivot element even when the blocking latch bolt is slightly displaced outward, for example by virtue of material tolerances in the blocking mechanism such as can arise, for example, by virtue of a thermal contraction of the blocking bars that connect the blocking latch bolts. Pivoting during a first movement portion, proceeding from the closed position, is thus reliably prevented even in the case of a not completely inserted blocking latch bolt. This is in particular important when the pivot element in the closed position, by virtue of an elastic delimitation wall of the curve (or for other reasons), is pivotable so as to enable an introduction of an inner rail that initially is not coupled. If the pivot movement is not prevented, it would otherwise be possible in this case for the inner rail in the case of a blocked retraction device, again by overcoming a specific force, to be released from the slide and for the drawer thus nevertheless be opened.
The slide advantageously has a blocking face which in the blocking position interacts with the blocking latch bolt. The slide, by inserting the blocking latch bolt, is thus prevented from moving in the opening direction.
The blocking portion and the blocking face in the retracted state of the slide preferably conjointly form a receptacle for the blocking latch bolt, said receptacle tapering in the direction of a longitudinal central axis of the slide. The receptacle is in particular configured so as to be substantially triangular or trapezoidal. This enables a conversion of the extension force that acts on the slide (and the pivot element) to an ejection force that is directed transversely to the retraction/extension direction and acts on the blocking latch bolt.
The holding portion of the pivot element is advantageously disposed on a first side of the slide that faces the inner rail, and the blocking portion of the pivot element is disposed on a second side of the slide that is opposite the first side. The slide comprises in particular a base plate on the which the further components of said slide are disposed and optionally mounted. The base plate in the region of the pivot element comprises a breakout, portions of the pivot element protruding through the latter. Besides the blocking portion, also the cam pin is thus in particular located on the second side that faces the stationary curve.
Alternatively, both the holding portion as well as the blocking portion are on the same side, in particular on the side of the slide that faces the inner rail.
Two pivot elements are preferably disposed so as to be symmetrical to the longitudinal central axis of the slide. On account thereof, and more uniform transmission of force can be achieved, and the transmitted forces are moreover distributed to two spaced-apart contact faces. Torques, by virtue of eccentrically acting forces from the inner rail that act on the slide and thus the retraction device, substantially cancel out one another by virtue of the symmetrical arrangement.
Alternatively, only one pivot element is present. It is also possible for more than two pivot elements to be provided.
The retraction device advantageously has a damping element that is received in the slide. The damping element is in particular configured as a fluid damper. Said damping element preferably has a spring which moves the damping to an axially elongated position.
The damping element enables a relatively slow retraction movement. A hard impact upon complete closing and the noise generation associated therewith are prevented. The risk of injury on account of jammed hands of fingers is likewise minimized.
A damper rod of the damping element preferably interacts with a stationary element of the retraction device. This enables a simple construction. The stationary element can in particular be the guide receptacle for the slide.
The stationary element is advantageously disposed in the retraction direction of the slide. The damper thus interacts with the stationary element in a region, said stationary element lying opposite the interaction region with the inner rail. The respective interactions thus do not hamper one another.
In one preferred embodiment, the retraction device comprises the following:
The slide herein is capable of being blocked in a retraction position by a blocking latch bolt that is repositionable transversely to the retraction/extension direction, in that the blocking latch bolt in the blocking position blocks a pivoting movement of the pivot element.
Further advantageous embodiments and combinations of features of the invention are derived from the detailed description hereunder and the entirety of patent claims.
In the drawings used for explaining the exemplary embodiment:
Identical parts in the figures are in principle provided with the same reference signs.
The retraction device 10 according to the invention is disposed on the free end of the outer rail 2.
Said retraction device 10 is described in detail in the context of the further
As is described in detail further below, the blocking latch bolts 21, 22, in the retracted position of the retraction device 10, by way of the free ends thereof engage in the retraction device 10 and interact with the latter. The blocking latch bolts 21, 22 at the opposite end are fixedly connected to a blocking bar which at the other end is connected to a further blocking latch bolt which interacts with the retraction device of a neighboring drawer. The uppermost or lowermost drawer, respectively, interacts in each case only with one blocking latch bolt on the side that faces the next lower or next upper drawer, respectively. The blocking bars having the blocking latching bolts are vertically oriented and freely movable along a linear guide. In as far as the respective lower retraction device is located in the retracted position, the blocking latch bolt that is connected to the blocking bar, by virtue of the influence of gravity, will move into the retraction device, while the upper blocking latch bolt that is attached to the same blocking bar is moved out of the respective upper retraction device.
The second cross section according to
The retraction device 10 comprises a housing 30 which forms a guide receptacle and which is received between the legs of the U-shaped outer rail 2 (cf.
The housing 30 likewise has a substantially U-shaped cross section. Longitudinal grooves are configured at the transition between the base and the two legs that project orthogonally from said base. Guide portions of a slide 40 are mounted so as to be movable in a linear manner in said longitudinal grooves. The slide 40 can thus be moved relative to the housing 30 in the retraction/extension direction.
The slide 40 comprises a receptacle 41 for a damping element 50 (cf.
The damping element 50 is a fluid damper known per se, the damper rod 52 thereof by way of a spring being pretensioned to the extended position. The damper rod 52 in the assembled position contacts a detent 33 on the housing 30. Said detent 33 is configured on the internal side of an arcuate deflection element 34. A coil spring 60 (cf.
Two pivot elements 45, 46 are mounted on a base plate of the slide 40 so as to be pivotable about axes that are oriented so as to be perpendicular to the main plane of the retraction device 10 and disposed so as to be symmetrical to the central longitudinal axis of the retraction device 10 (cf.
The rear part 45b, 46b of the pivot element 45, 46 in the plane illustrated in
The pivot elements 45, 46 on the rear side, in the region of the front part 45a, 46a, have a guide pin 45e, 46e. Said guide pin 45e, 46e interacts with a guide curve 35, 36 which is configured in the housing 30 of the retraction device 10. The guide curve 35, 36, in a manner analogous to that of the pivot elements 45, 46 and of the guide pins 45e, 46e, is configured so as to be symmetrical in relation to the central longitudinal axis of the retraction device 10. Said guide curve 35, 36 has a rear portion 35a, 36a that runs so as to be substantially axial (thus in the retraction/extension direction), a portion 35b, 36b which adjoins said guide curve 35, 36 at the front (thus in the direction of the inner rail 4) and tapers obliquely toward the central longitudinal axis, as well as a portion 35c, 36c which again adjoins at the front and runs transversely to the central longitudinal axis. The inner lateral delimitation of the rear portion 35a, 36a, thus the lateral delimitation that is closer to the central longitudinal axis of the retraction device 10, is formed by a resilient tongue 35d, 36d on the internal side.
The blocking latch bolts 21, 22 have a substantially rectangular cross section. The width of the blocking latch bolts 21, 22 in the region of the free end is reduced in the plane that interacts with the pivot elements 45, 46 such that a symmetrical trapezoidal shape results in said region. The blocking latch bolts in a plane behind the pivot elements 45, 46 extend farther inward, said blocking latch bolts on the free end thereof having a step-type shaping such that forces acting along the blocking latch bolts and blocking bars can be transmitted from one side of the retraction device 10 to the other (cf.
The pivot elements 45, 46 in a plane ahead of the main body of the slide 40 have a receptacle 45f, 46f (cf.
The two pivot elements 45, 46 in the retracted position according to
As soon as the guide pins 45e, 46e have left the rear portion 35a, 36a and are guided in the central portion 35b, 36g, a pivoting movement of the pivot elements 45, 46 results by virtue of the tapered geometry of said guide pins 45e, 46e. The holding portions 45g, 46g are steadily pivoted inward, toward the central longitudinal axis of the retraction device 10. A release of the holding cams 7a, 7b of the inner rail 4 is however performed only once the guide pins 45e, 46e are transferred into the portions 35c, 36c that run transversely to the central longitudinal axis. The inner rail is separated from the retraction device 10 by way of the release of the holding cams 7a, 7b. The guide pins 45e, 46e in the standby position thus reached are held on the rearward face of the transversely running portions 35c, 36c. The coil spring 60 thus remains tensioned, and the slide 40 remains in the position reached. The damper rod 52 of the damping element 50 is located in the elongated position, the free end of said damper rod 52 contacting the detent 33 on the housing 30 of the retraction device 10.
The standby position as established in
Should the retraction device 10 in the context of the assembly procedure or following an erroneous manipulation be located in the retracted position but the inner real not be coupled to the retraction device 10, the initial state according to
The blocking latch bolts 21, 22 in the retracted position according to
The coupling in the effective direction of the blocking latch bolts 21, 22 and the blocking bars by way of the step-type shaping thus leads to only one of a plurality of drawers disposed on top of one another being able to be opened at all times. The retraction devices of the further drawers are blocked by way of the blocking latch bolts and blocking bars such that the corresponding further draw mechanisms can no longer be extended.
When one of the blocking latch bolts 21, 22 by virtue of a further drawer that has already been opened is now located in a blocking position, said blocking latch bolt 21, 22 cannot be moved in the linear movement direction of the blocking latch bolt 21, 22. An extraction movement of the retraction device 10 and thus a release of the holding cams 7a, 7b is thus prevented by virtue of the interaction between the blocking latch bolt 21, 22 and the corresponding pivot element 45, 46. By virtue of the shaping of the pivot element 45, 46 by way of the lug 45d, 46d this is also ensured when the blocking blocking latch bolt 21, 22 by virtue of production tolerances or thermal effects does not reach completely up to the end of the receptacle. The tapered region of the blocking latch bolt 21, 22 also in this case, optionally after a minimal axial movement of the slide 40, will interact across a large area with the face that delimits the lug 45d, 46d and prevent any pivoting movement (which otherwise would in principle be possible by virtue of the resilient tongue of the guide curve).
The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment illustrated. Specifically the geometry of the individual elements of the retraction device can also be designed differently.
Summarizing, it is to be stated that the invention achieves a retraction device which is simply constructed and mechanically robust.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16191873 | Sep 2016 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/073469 | 9/18/2017 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2018/059987 | 4/5/2018 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6296332 | Lammens | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| 8939525 | Chen | Jan 2015 | B1 |
| 20050023941 | Chiu | Feb 2005 | A1 |
| 20050104485 | Chiu | May 2005 | A1 |
| 20050104492 | Chiu | May 2005 | A1 |
| 20070040484 | Huang | Feb 2007 | A1 |
| 20070159038 | Huang | Jul 2007 | A1 |
| 20070182292 | Huang | Aug 2007 | A1 |
| 20070284976 | Huang | Dec 2007 | A1 |
| 20080061663 | Wu | Mar 2008 | A1 |
| 20080074017 | Ruan | Mar 2008 | A1 |
| 20120013234 | Huang | Jan 2012 | A1 |
| 20120144622 | Juan | Jun 2012 | A1 |
| 20130182978 | Huang | Jul 2013 | A1 |
| 20140079347 | Huang | Mar 2014 | A1 |
| 20160296015 | Zhu | Oct 2016 | A1 |
| 20170020285 | Schallert | Jan 2017 | A1 |
| 20180132615 | Kim | May 2018 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 112008001880 | May 2010 | DE |
| 202009000050 | Jun 2010 | DE |
| 102010037826 | Mar 2012 | DE |
| 102011000493 | Aug 2012 | DE |
| 102012109751 | Apr 2014 | DE |
| 1500763 | Jan 2005 | EP |
| Entry |
|---|
| Machine translation for DE102010037826, (Year: 2012). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190239645 A1 | Aug 2019 | US |
