| Device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, and furniture part -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, and furniture partUSPTO Application #: 20070103041Title: Device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, and furniture part Abstract: The invention relates to a device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, in particular a drawer (1), door, leaf, or the like, whereby the movable furniture part (1) may be locked and released, and may be pressed in by a specified distance and then extended. According to the invention, the device has at least one locking element and at least one push-out element which is separated from the locking element. The invention further relates to a furniture part having such a device. (end of abstract) Agent: Kilpatrick Stockton LLP - Winston-salem, NC, US Inventors: Peter Kropf, Klaus Schneider, Dieter Seewald, Harald Hagen USPTO Applicaton #: 20070103041 - Class: 312333000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070103041. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The invention relates to a device for opening and closing a movable furniture part according to Claim 1, and a furniture part according to Claim 22. [0002] Devices for opening and closing drawers, doors, leaves, or other movable furniture parts are known. For example, for esthetic reasons it is possible that such furniture parts do not have handles and are provided with so-called touch latch fittings, whereby the drawer, door, or leaf is pressed in by a specified distance and is then pulled out or opened by means of a mechanism having energy storage. [0003] A disadvantage of the prior art is that these devices require a relatively large release path, and in particular cannot be released and locked from any given pressure point on a drawer front, door, or the like with overall consistently short release paths and using the same forces. [0004] It is also disadvantageous that the stored potential energy must be converted to kinetic energy for the movable furniture part over a relatively short acceleration path. To accomplish a desired wide swing-out of the movable furniture part, a high velocity must be reached over a short acceleration path. This requires a powerful energy storage element which, however, must be reloaded over a short path and with an unacceptably great force when closed by the user. [0005] The object of the invention is to provide a device for opening and closing a movable furniture part or the like which allows the movable furniture part to be opened and closed by manual activation at any given location on said furniture part, with a small opening and closing pressure and a short release path, whereby the opening path of the movable furniture part is relatively large. To this end, the approach is designed to be economical and retrofittable, and, if required by the furniture manufacturer, easily adaptable to the width of the furniture part or usable for various standard fittings. [0006] This object is achieved by claims 1 and 22. [0007] Practical refinements of the invention are stated in the dependent claims. [0008] The invention is first directed to a device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, in particular a drawer, door, leaf, or the like, it being possible to lock and release the movable furniture part and to push in and then extend the furniture part by a specified distance. An important aspect of the invention is that the device has at least one locking element, and at least one push-out element which is separated from the locking element. The push-out element is used in particular to move, i.e., push out or eject, the closed and unlocked movable furniture part in the opening direction. The movable furniture part may thereby be set in motion from a stationary position. In the closed position the movable furniture part may be locked or arrested with respect to a stationary furniture body, for example, it being possible to release the lock or the arrest by means of a release action, such as by hand directly on the movable furniture part or, for example, by activating an unlocking switch. A mechanical locking element in particular may be considered for the lock. However, other locking elements are also possible which may include, for example, a magnetic or electric lock. [0009] For narrow furniture parts a locking element having one push-out element may be sufficient. For larger dimensions of a movable furniture part, multiple locking elements and/or push-out elements are also possible. [0010] By use of the push-out element, the movable furniture part which has just previously been unlocked is to be moved from a closed position over a first partial distance of the entire possible opening path in the opening direction. The push-out element in particular imparts momentum to the movable furniture part by which the beginning, i.e., the first segment, of the opening motion of the movable furniture part is initiated. In particular, the push-out element should not be in contact with the movable furniture part over the entire opening motion or the entire opening path of the movable furniture part. Likewise, the extended push-out element may be in contact with the movable furniture part over the last segment of the closing motion, or has already returned to its starting position. [0011] A significant advantage of the system according to the invention is that installation may be improved as a result of the separation between the locking element and the push-out element, and in particular less space is sacrificed for the movable furniture part; i.e., an ejection path of the movable furniture part from a closed position to an open position is improved. [0012] In particular, it is possible to influence the release or unlocking action, i.e., the device, by external application of force indirectly or directly on the front panel of the movable furniture part, particularly by a user. [0013] It is particularly advantageous for the push-out element to comprise a cylinder and a piston rod which may be moved therein. In this manner, a component may advantageously be used as a push-out element which is insertable as a standard component in a comparatively advantageous manner. Thus, as the result of its conforming shape or external dimensions such a push-out element may be easily mounted in particular at locations on the furniture part or on fittings or guides present thereon, on which similarly shaped or other similar insertable components, such as pads, may be located for damping the motion of the movable furniture part. As a result of the piston rod moving while the cylinder remains stationary, or vice versa, contact of the piston rod or of the cylinder with a counterpart section moves the movable furniture part in the opening direction when the piston rod and cylinder move relative to one another by spring impingement, for example. This relative motion is generally not possible in the locked state. [0014] In principle, the push-out element may have an alternative design, having, for example, an ejecting or pushing element in a non-cylindrical guide. [0015] It is also advantageous for the push-out element to be mounted on a guide by means of which the movable furniture part is movably guided relative to a body. Thus, the push-out element may be positioned, for example, on a drawer guide for a drawer which is slidably accommodated on a furniture body. A guide may include one component or multiple components, for example. Drawer guides in particular may have a body rail that is fastened to the stationary furniture body, a drawer rail that is fastened to the movable drawers, and, optionally, a center rail which acts between same. [0016] By use of this system the push-out element may be accommodated in a particularly space-economizing manner or on existing components, for example within the external contour thereof. [0017] In one preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, the push-out element(s) together with a stop are integrated into a drawer guide. The push-out element(s) or the (at least one) locking element preferably act indirectly or directly between the movable furniture part and the stationary furniture part, for example the furniture body. The push-out element may, for example, be integrated into the drawer guide, such as indirectly or directly on the drawer rail, body rail, or center rail. [0018] It is particularly advantageous for the push-out element to be included in a component that is separated from the locking element. As an inherent, i.e., intrinsic, component which forms a functional part, the push-out element may advantageously be manufactured or independently installed on the device, or later removed. In its design as a separate part, the push-out element may also be easily removed from its attachment point at any time, which is advantageous for assembly, functional inspection, or repair or replacement of the element, for example. Furthermore, as a result of the separate push-out element the extent of the spatial separation of the locking element and the push-out element may be realized in a variable manner. [0019] The push-out element preferably is provided at a distance from the locking element. These elements may be accommodated in various ways as a result of the separation of the push-out element from the locking element. In particular, the two elements are positioned without contacting, or closely adjacent to one another. The distance may, for example, be within the range of a length of a guide rail for a drawer rail, or of a width, height, or length dimension of the movable furniture part. [0020] The push-out element is advantageously positioned at a distance from the locking element in the locked state of the movable furniture part. This is particularly advantageous with regard to a space-economizing arrangement of the device, in particular in the locked state of the movable furniture part. As the result of the closed position on the body, the furniture parts meet one another in a compact relative position, in which case in particular optimal use must be made of the available installation space. [0021] In a further embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, the push-out element is positioned at a distance from the locking element in the unlocked state of the movable furniture part. In this manner the attachment of the push-out element and of the locking element may be adapted to spatial requirements in a particularly flexible manner. For example, the push-out element may be advantageously attached to the movable furniture part or to a part that is mounted on the movable furniture part, whereas the locking element is positioned on stationary parts, for example a furniture body. Thus, for example, the push-out element may be advantageously mounted in the partially or completely open state of the movable furniture part, in particular to achieve spatial correction of the push-out element and locking element, or to make optimal use of the available space. [0022] It is further proposed that the device comprises a locking unit having at least two locking elements which are coupled to one another in a synchronous and essentially play-free manner by use of path- and/or force-transmitting means, and has at least one push-out element that is separated from the locking elements. The path- and/or force-transmitting means may be attached between the locking elements in a form-fit or friction-fit manner, for example, or in such a way that they are adjustable in width or length. A movable furniture part may be very precisely and reliably held locked in a closed position by means of two locking elements in a locking unit which are connected by means of a torsion rod, for example. Thus, for example, by use of the two locking elements a particularly secure locked position may be established, which may be advantageous for heavily loaded movable furniture parts, for example. [0023] In addition, double or, if needed, multiple security in the locked state may be provided by the (at least two) locking elements. Advantageously, one push-out element that is separated from the locking elements is generally sufficient to move the movable furniture part from the released closed position to the open position following the unlocking action. [0024] In a further embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, at least one locking element has a stop mechanism, such as a heart-shaped cam or ratchet. In particular, one locking element has a stop mechanism, and the other locking element or the other locking elements are provided without a stop mechanism. When, for example, one locking element has a stop mechanism and another locking element is provided without a stop mechanism, the entire system may have a design that is simple and unsusceptible to malfunction. A faulty release of the locking element can thus be avoided, according to which the locked state is specified only by the locking element together with the heart-shaped cam or ratchet. However, all locking elements may have, for example, a spring-loaded or gravity-actuated locking mechanism which is used in particular to automatically assist the actual unlocking process. Thus, a small force which is negligible compared to the actual ejecting force from the push-out element may act relatively briefly on the movable furniture part in the opening direction. In principle, many other locks or stop mechanisms are possible for the locking elements. For example, two locking elements may be connected via a connecting element or torsion rod in a friction-fit or form-fit manner, the width or length, for example, of the torsion rod being adjustable by use of a telescoping system, among others, for the adjustment. Continue reading... Full patent description for Device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, and furniture part Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, and furniture part patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, and furniture part or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Multi-functional security desk Next Patent Application: Method and apparatus for installing a sliding drawer within a cabinet Industry Class: Supports: cabinet structure ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Device for opening and closing a movable furniture part, and furniture part patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.38068 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , |
||
