Patent Application
20140191632
The present invention concerns a synchronization apparatus having at least two actuating devices for moving a moveable furniture part and a synchronization rod for synchronizing the movement of the at least two actuating devices, wherein a first end region of the synchronization rod can be connected to a first rotary portion of the first actuating device and a second end region of the synchronization rod can be connected to a second rotary portion of the second actuating device.
In addition the invention concerns an article of furniture having at least one synchronization apparatus of the kind to be described and a method of mounting a synchronization rod which is provided for synchronization of a movement of two actuating devices to be mounted in or to an article of furniture.
WO 2006/113953 A1 to the present applicant describes a synchronization apparatus of the general kind set forth, wherein two actuating devices each have a rotatably mounted portion, which portions can be non-rotatably connected together by way of a synchronization rod. In a first mounting step, the two actuating devices are pre-mounted in an article of furniture, in a subsequent mounting step the synchronization rod can be connected to the pre-mounted rotatable portions of the actuating devices. The synchronization rod can provide for a synchronous rotary movement of the two actuating devices and thus a harmonic movement of a moveable furniture part. For making the non-rotatable connection to the rotatable portions, the synchronization rod has a non-circular cross-section received in a corresponding recess in the rotatable portions. That requires additional machining of the synchronization rod.
An object of the present invention is to provide a synchronization apparatus of the general kind set forth in the opening part of the specification, while avoiding the above-mentioned disadvantage, while the aim is to permit easy assembly and play-free connection of the synchronization rod relative to the two rotary portions.
According to the invention, that is achieved by the features of claim 1. Further advantageous configurations of the invention are recited in the appendant claims.
According to the invention, it is therefore provided that at least one rotary portion of the actuating devices has a spring-loaded pressure portion bearing against the end of the synchronization rod.
The spring-loaded pressure portion produces a contact pressure force to hold the synchronization rod in a biased play-free condition between the two opposite rotary portions of the two actuating devices with a predetermined holding force in a direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the synchronization rod, wherein a comparatively weak spring being in principle sufficient for that purpose.
For transmission of the torque between the two rotary portions of the actuating devices disposed in opposite relationship on the article of furniture, it can be provided that the spring-loaded pressure portion engages in positively locking relationship into a recess deviating from a circular shape in the end of the synchronization rod. In that respect, it can be provided that at least one end region of the synchronization rod has a non-circular cross-section, and the rotary portion of the actuating device has a receiving sleeve adapted at least portion-wise to the outside contour of the end region of the synchronization rod.
In a possible configuration of the invention it can be provided that the receiving sleeve or at least the bottom of the receiving sleeve, that bears against the front face of the synchronization rod, is in the form of a spring-loaded pressure portion. In principle it can be sufficient if the spring-loaded pressure portion is formed in one piece by the end of a spring.
Arranging a spring-loaded pressure portion on a rotary portion of the actuating device has several advantages. More specifically, it can be provided that the synchronization rod is adapted to be invariable in length, wherein it is preferably provided that the synchronization rod is of the same cross-section over the entire length and wherein it is particularly preferably provided that the synchronization rod is in the form of a hollow profile member of the same inside diameter over the entire length.
In other words, the synchronization rod can be formed for example from a simple extruded profile member of metal—for example aluminum—which is individually cut to the appropriate length on site. In that way it is possible to provide for optimum compensation of the tolerances occurring. In that respect, it is possible to completely dispense with any additional machining of that profile member.
The article of furniture according to the invention is characterized by at least one synchronization apparatus of the kind in question. In that case, the two actuating devices can be provided for moving a furniture flap mounted moveably in respect of height relative to a furniture carcass. It can however also be possible for the two actuating devices to be adapted to move a drawer which is supported displaceably relative to a furniture carcass, for example for stabilizing the running characteristic thereof to prevent lateral tilting of the drawer relative to a furniture carcass.
In principle the synchronization apparatus can be used wherever a rotary movement of two actuating devices is to be synchronized, for example therefore also for synchronously triggering so-called Touch-Latch devices for ejecting moveable furniture parts from the closed end position. That Touch-Latch function makes it possible to eject moveable furniture parts by a manual pressing or pulling applied on the moveable furniture part.
The method according to the invention of mounting a synchronization rod which is provided for synchronization of a movement of two actuating devices to be mounted in or to an article of furniture and wherein the actuating devices respectively have a rotary portion for the movement of a moveable furniture part, is characterized in that
Further details and advantages of the invention will be described by reference to the specific description hereinafter. In the drawing:
a and 1b show perspective views of an article of furniture with a furniture flap moveable in respect of height and the synchronization apparatus to be mounted to the article of furniture,
a and 2b show a perspective view of an embodiment of a synchronization apparatus as well as a view of a pressure portion with an end region of the synchronization rod,
a-3c show various views of the rotary portion of an actuating device,
a-8d show diagrammatic views illustrating mounting of the synchronization rod relative to the rotary portions of the actuating devices, and
a-9d show mounting of the synchronization rod to rotary portions in a simplified embodiment.
a shows an article of furniture 1 having a furniture carcass 2 and a flap 3 which is mounted moveably in respect of height relative to the furniture carcass 2 by way of actuating devices 100, 200. The flap 3 is removed from the view in
a shows a perspective view of the synchronization apparatus 6, wherein the two actuating devices 100, 200 are to be fixed at mutually opposite sides in or to an article of furniture 1. The actuating devices 100, 200 respectively have spring devices (not visible here) which are provided to pressurize the actuating arms 101, 201 towards the opening direction and thus to compensate for the weight of the flap 3. At least one of the actuating devices 100, 200 can also have an electric motor for driving an actuating arm 101, 201, alternatively or supplemental to a spring device. The pivotal movement of the two actuating arms 101, 201 can be synchronized by the synchronization rod 5. Arranged on the actuating arms 101, 201 are respective fitment portions 103, 203 which are to be respectively connected to the flap 3.
a shows a perspective view of a spring-loaded pressure portion 107, 207 with an end region of the synchronization rod 5. In the assembled condition, the pressure portion 107, 207 engages with the projections 111, 211 into recesses 7, 8 differing from a circular shape in the front face of the synchronization rod 5. The illustrated construction makes it possible to provide a reliable positively locking connection for the transmission of torque.
a shows an exploded view of part of the actuating device 200 with the actuating arm 201 pivotably mounted thereto. Connected to the actuating arm 201 is a rotary portion 202, so the rotary portion 202 also rotates upon a pivotal movement of the actuating arm 201. The rotary portion 202 includes a receiving sleeve 204 with a non-circular opening 205 provided to receive a shaft 206 corresponding thereto of a spring-loaded pressure portion 207. The spring-loaded pressure portion 207 is biased with respect to the receiving sleeve 204 by a spring 208 so that the pressure portion 207 is limitedly displaceable between two end positions in a direction extending in the longitudinal direction of the synchronization rod 5. The pressure portion 207 projects beyond the receiving sleeve 204 in the rest position and can be pressed axially into the receiving sleeve 204 in opposition to the spring action. A holding element 209 is operative between the pressure portion 207 and the receiving sleeve 204, the holding element 209 limiting the outward extension movement of the pressure portion 207 relative to the receiving sleeve 204 so that the pressure portion 207 is not pressed completely out of the receiving sleeve 204 by the force of the spring 208. The holding element 209 is arranged in a groove 210 in the receiving sleeve 204 and at its end regions has projections which engage on the one hand between the actuating arm 201 and the receiving sleeve 204 and on the other hand on the spring-loaded pressure portion 207. The pressure portion 207 is provided with projections 211 which, in the assembled position, engage into a recess 7, 8 (
b shows another perspective view of the portion shown in
a-8c show highly diagrammatic views illustrating mounting of the synchronization rod 5 relative to the two rotary portions 102, 202 of the two oppositely disposed actuating devices 100, 200. As shown in
a-9d also show highly diagrammatic forms of a simplified embodiment of the rotary portions 201, 202 of the actuating devices 100, 200. The left-hand rotary portion 102 has an opening 105, preferably of non-circular cross-section, while a spring 208 is mounted in the opening 205 of the right-hand rotary portion 202. Referring to
The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments but includes or extends to all variants and technical equivalents which can fall within the scope of the appended claims. The positional references adopted in the description like for example up, down, left, right and so forth are also related to the directly described and illustrated Figure and are to be appropriately transferred to the new position upon a change in position. It is preferably provided that the pressure portion 207 is pre-mounted to or in the article of furniture 1 and is motionally coupled to the actuating arm 201 so that upon a pivotal movement of the actuating arm 201, the pressure portion 207 also rotates therewith, in which case then the synchronization rod 5 can be connected to the pressure portion 207 which is already pre-mounted. For easy mounting of the synchronization rod 5, it can be provided that the rotary portion 202 to which the pressure portion 207 is fitted is preferably mounted rotatably exclusively about an axis of rotation.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1356/2011 | Sep 2011 | AT | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/AT2012/000221 | Aug 2012 | US |
| Child | 14205515 | US |
