Patent Application
20120205333
The present invention generally relates to a rotary fitting for a corner cupboard having a bottom wall and a top wall. Particularly the present invention generally relates to a rotary fitting for a corner cupboard, which comprises a supporting column rotating about its longitudinal axis and carrying at least two pie cut-shaped shelves which are fixed for rotation with the supporting column. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such rotary fittings in which a cupboard corner door element is fixed to the rotary fitting for rotation with the shelves and the supporting column, so that the rotary fitting not only serves for supporting the shelves but also for movably mounting the door element.
The rotary fittings to which the present invention relates belong to a group of rotary fittings or rotary shelf assemblies of a so-called “Lazy Susan” type.
With a rotary fitting in which the door element of a corner cupboard is fixed to the supporting column for rotation therewith, aligning the door element with regard to the door opening of the corner cupboard has to be made via the rotary fitting. Adjusting the door element with regard to the door opening particularly includes adjusting the height of the door element within the door opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,686 discloses a rotary shelf assembly having shelves mounted on a vertical post. The rotary shelf assembly is connected to a cabinet frame by upper and lower mounting brackets interacting with bearing members to support the post. The assembly is adapted to be mounted in the corner of the cabinet frame. To adjust the vertical position of the cabinet frame, the lower bearing element is adjustable by means of a threaded shaft which raises and lowers the vertical post. The threaded shaft is raised and lowered by means of either a knurled cylindrical element or a toothed cylindrical element, accessible through the post by rectangular openings. By rotating the toothed or knurled elements, the shaft of the vertical adjustments means rotates within the mounting bracket, whereby adjusting the height of the rotary shelf assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,346 discloses an adjustable shelf assembly, wherein a vertical post rotably mounted in a cabinet supports a plurality of rotatable shelves which carry the cabinet door. To enable the post and the door to be adjusted vertically, a lower bearing element has a slide member affixed to and rotably movable with the post and having a downwardly inclined ramp on its upper end. A pivotally secured bearing member is positioned within and pivotally secured to the post and, when experiencing pivotal movement, moves back and forth relative to the inclined ramp. A screw is threadably received by the bearing member within the post and extends outside thereof to enable manual adjustment. The slide member, bearing member and screw are arranged so that the screw is adjustably accessible when a portion of the door is within the cabinet door opening to provide direct visual door adjustment within the door opening. The lower bearing element has a vertical slot extending transverse of its longitudinal axis to accommodate a locking pin, the slot having a sufficient vertical opening to enable the post to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the lower bearing element as the bearing member is pivotally displaced and is moved upwardly or downwardly to displace the post. A plurality of securing apertures are provided for locking the slide member in a fixed relationship with the vertical post.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,108 discloses a rotary shelf for use within a cabinet which has first and second mounting brackets spaced apart and opposing each other attached to the bottom and the top of the inside of the cabinet. The mechanism includes integrally formed shelves, a shelf and post securing mechanism, wherein a notched member affixed to a mounting bracket cooperatively receives an engaging member to secure the post and shelves in a stationary position. The mechanism also includes a shelf and cabinet opening adjustment mechanism to permit threadable adjustment of the post and carried shelves with respect to the cabinet opening.
US-Patent application publication 2005/0194873 A1 discloses a Lazy Susan device including a centralized support pole with an upper tube and a lower tube. A length adjustment mechanism includes an expansion nut and a threaded insert. Rotation of the upper tube causes the expansion nut to expand outwardly as the upper tube is rotated. The expansion nut moves away from the upper tube. In this way, the effective length of the support pole is lengthened providing for installation and adjustment of the Lazy Susan device in the absence of the need of any tooling.
US reissued patent RE39,917 E discloses a rotary shelf assembly mechanism having shelves mounted on a vertical post arrangement formed by a first lower post and a second upper post. The mechanism is connected to a cabinet by upper and lower mounting brackets interacting with the top and bottom of the cabinet to support the posts and shelves carried thereby. The mechanism is mounted in the corner of the cabinet. To fit the mechanism within the cabinet, a height adjustment device is formed by positioning the second upper post in the upper end of the first lower post for slidable movement therebetween. When securement of the two joined posts and mounted shelves is desired, the slidably movable second upper post is extended upwardly until it engages the upper mounting bracket mounted on the cabinet. An elongated recess in the second upper post aligns with an opening in the first lower post, and a threaded member extends into a casting positioned within the upper post. The threaded member is tightened to engage the casting and secure the two posts in a shelf-retaining and rotational mode. The height adjustment device enables quick and efficient installation of the mechanism within the cabinet interior. The mechanism also includes a one-piece shelf construction having a post-securing section and a shelf-retaining pin.
There still is a need for a rotary fitting which is easily handled and installed and which nevertheless allows for the positive and quick adjustment of the door element of a corner cupboard fixed to the rotary fitting within the door opening of the corner cupboard.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a rotary fitting for a corner cupboard having a bottom wall and a top wall. This rotary fitting comprises a lower mounting bracket comprising provisions for being fixed to the bottom wall of the corner cupboard; an upper mounting bracket comprising provisions for being fixed to the top wall of the corner cupboard; a supporting column having a main tube, a lower end and an upper end, and being designed to be rotary mounted to the lower mounting bracket with its lower end and to the upper mounting bracket with its upper end such that the supporting column is rotating about its longitudinal axis; and at least two pie cut-shaped shelves to be supported by the supporting column one above the other and to be fixed for rotation with the main tube about the longitudinal axis. The supporting column includes a lower length adjusting assembly comprising: an axial support element fixed in the main tube and comprising a recess; at least one actuation window cut in the main tube below the axial support element; a screw element having a head fitting in the recess, a cylindrical actuation part accessible through the at least one actuation window with the head in the recess, and a threaded shaft; a nut element arranged on the threaded shaft; and a lower end element fixed to the nut element and movable with regard to the main tube along the longitudinal axis but fixed for rotation with the main tube about the longitudinal axis. Further, the supporting column includes an upper length adjusting assembly comprising: a tube element partially arranged within the main tube but extending beyond the main tube at a variable extent; and a clamping element releasably clamping the tube element for fixing the variable extent at which it extends beyond the main tube.
In a more detailed aspect, the present invention provides a rotary fitting for a corner cupboard having a bottom wall and a top wall. This rotary fitting comprises: a lower mounting bracket comprising provisions for being fixed to the bottom wall of the corner cupboard; an upper mounting bracket comprising provisions for being fixed to the top wall of the corner cupboard; a supporting column having a metal main tube, a lower end and an upper end, and being designed to be rotary mounted to the lower mounting bracket with its lower end and to the upper mounting bracket with its upper end such that the supporting column is rotating about its longitudinal axis; and at least two pie-cut-shaped shelves to be supported by the supporting column one above the other and to be fixed for rotation with the main tube about the longitudinal axis. The supporting column includes a lower length adjusting assembly comprising: an axial support element of plastic fixed in the main tube and comprising an undercut recess; at least one actuation window cut in the main tube below the axial support element; a screw element of metal having a head snap-fitting in the recess, a cylindrical actuation part accessible through the at least one actuation window with the head in the recess, and a threaded shaft; a nut element of metal arranged on the threaded shaft; and a lower end element of plastic fixed to the nut element and movable with regard to the main tube along the longitudinal axis but fixed for rotation with the main tube about the longitudinal axis, the lower end element comprising a receptacle receiving the nut element and comprising a rigid cam engaging an aligning element resiliently supported at the lower mounting bracket. Further, the supporting column includes an upper length adjusting assembly comprising: an tube element partially arranged within the main tube but extending beyond the main tube at a variable extent; and a clamping element comprising a sleeve enclosing the tube element and partially extending into the main tube, and comprising a clamping lever supported at the sleeve and having a cam engaging the tube element for releasably clamping the tube element to fix the variable extent at which it extends beyond the main tube.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and the detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
In a rotary fitting for a corner cupboard according to the present invention, a supporting column of the rotary fitting includes a lower length adjusting assembly. This lower length adjusting assembly comprises an axial support element which is fixed in a main tube of the supporting column and comprises a recess in its lower end side. This recess receives a head of a screw element. The screw element further has a cylindrical actuation part and a threaded shaft. The cylindrical actuation part is accessible from outside the main tube through at least one actuation window cut in the main tube below the axial support element. Through this actuation window the cylindrical actuation part of the screw element may be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the supporting column such that a nut element screwed on the threaded shaft moves upwards downwards with regard to the axial support element. This nut element on the threaded shaft is fixed to a lower end element of the supporting column both with regard to movement with the lower end element in axial or longitudinal direction and in rotation direction about the longitudinal axis of the supporting column. Thus, moving the nut element upwards or downwards also means moving the lower end element which is movable with regard to the main tube along the longitudinal axis but fixed for rotation with the main tube about the longitudinal axis. As the end element of the supporting column is that part of the supporting column mounted to the lower mounting bracket, rotating the screw element results in raising or lowering the main tube with regard to the lower mounting bracket and thus any shelves of the rotary fitting supported by the supporting column and any cupboard corner door element directly mounted to the supporting column or to the shelves. Thus, height adjustment of the door element is very easy with the new rotary fitting. Further, assembly of the new rotary fitting is easy in that after fixing the nut to the lower end element, which may even be made in one part with the nut, one only has to screw the screw element in the nut and to insert the lower end element with the screw element into the lower end of the main tube, where the axial support element has been fixed previously. Even further, it proves to be unnecessary to provide any means for fixing the rotational position of the screw element with regard to the nut as no moments or forces on the screw element engaging the nut occur in normal operation of the new rotary fitting, which would cause an undesired rotational movement of the screw element with regard to the nut.
The axial support element may be fixed in the main tube by one, preferably two or even more rivets which are riveted into the axial support element through holes in the main tube.
The axial support element is preferably made of plastic, whereas the screw element is preferably made of metal, which provides for a noise avoiding material combination.
Preferably, the recess in the lower end side of the axial support element is undercut in such a way that the head of the screw element is snap-fitting in the recess. This snap-fitting holds the screw element plus the lower end element in the main tube once they have been assembled even during rough further handling and transport of the rotary fitting.
When the screw element made of metal with its head in the recess is contacting the axial support element made of plastic via at least one roughened surface, the resulting friction between these two components avoids any undesired rotation of the screw element with regard to the axial support element.
In a preferred embodiment of the new rotary fitting, the lower end element is a shaped plastic body comprising a receptacle receiving the nut element of metal. This shaped plastic body may comprise a web engaging at least one open longitudinal slot provided at the lower end of the main tube. The web in the slot ensures rotation of the lower end element with the main tube but allows for longitudinal relative movement.
Most preferably, the main tube comprises at least one pair of opposing holes receiving a cross-pin which extends through a longitudinally elongated opening in the lower end element and which supports the lowest one of the shelves of the new rotary fitting. This cross-pin also secures the lower end element in the main tube and additionally cares for rotation of the lower end element with the main tube. The extension of the longitudinally elongated opening in the lower end element defines the maximum extent of relative movement between the lower end element and the main tube in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
The cross-pin supporting the lowest of the shelves of the rotary fitting may simply snap-fit into an undercut bottom recess in the shelf. Such a cross-pin may also be provided for implementing the support of any other of the shelves on the main tube.
In principle, one could also provide the lower end element with an opening receiving a cross-pin, wherein the cross-pin extends through a pair of longitudinally elongated holes in the main tube. For stability reasons, however, it is preferred to have the elongated hole in the lower end element.
With all rotary fittings having pie cut-shaped shelves, one has to align the cut-outs of the shelves to the door opening for closing the respective corner cupboard. To this end, some aligning means are generally provided. In the new rotary fitting, such aligning means may be implemented in that the lower end element comprises a rigid cam engaging a aligning element resiliently supported at the lower mounting bracket. The aligning element may preferably be part of a shaped plastic body fixed to the lower mounting bracket made of metal.
The lower mounting bracket of the new rotary fitting preferably comprises two arms laterally extending from a column bearing surface which is engaged by the lower end element of the supporting column. These arms preferably enclose an angle of about 90° such that they may both be fixed to the bottom wall of the corner cupboard close to the door opening of the respective corner cupboard.
When elongated holes oriented in different directions are cut in the two arms of the lower mounting bracket, one may horizontally move the lower mounting bracket to a certain extent even without completely removing screws screwed through these holes into the bottom wall of the corner cupboard. This movement allows for fine adjustment of the horizontal position of the lower mounting bracket which directly affects the horizontal position of the lower end of any door element attached to the new rotary fitting.
A clamping element of an upper length adjusting assembly of the supporting column of the new rotary fitting, which clamps a tube element partially arranged within the main tube but extending beyond the main tube at a variable extent for fixing this variable extent, may comprise a sleeve enclosing the tube element and partially extending into the main tube, and a clamping lever supported at the sleeve and having a cam engaging the tube element. Such a clamping element is known from length adjusting assemblies of stationary parasols. It may not be suited for high axial loads between the tube element and the main tube but such high axial loads do not occur in use of the new rotary fitting even with high loads on its shelves.
An upper end element of plastic may be inserted in the tube element, and a upper mounting bracket of metal may comprise a column bearing surface matching the upper end element in the new rotary fitting. One again there is a noise reducing material combination of plastic, on the one hand, and metal, on the other hand, between moving components of the new rotary fitting.
The at least two pie-cut-shaped shelves of the new rotary fitting are preferably each a one piece-shaped body of plastic, which may be fixed to the main tube by a cross-pin extending through opposing holes in the main tube as already mentioned.
Further, each of the at least to pie cut-shaped shelves may comprise a pair of orthogonal vertical flanges as parts of its rim. These flanges are preferably accessible from a bottom side of the respective shelf for attaching them to a cupboard corner door element. This means that the flanges serve as mounting brackets for the cupboard corner door element in that the door element is directly attached to these flanges by simply screwing screws through the flanges into the backside of the door element.
Referring now in greater detail to the drawings,
Further, a rigid cam 34 which is best seen in
In the whole rotary fitting 1 described here, all components which are intended to move with regard to each other in installing and operating the rotary fitting 1 show a combination of two different materials, i.e. plastic and metal. This ensures easy operation and low noise as well as a long lifetime of the actual product.
Many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.
