Method for the installation of a drawer element in a functional unit of a piece of furniture or a domestic appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a piece of furniture or a household appliance comprising a main body (2), at least one drawer element (3) which is slidably arranged in the main body (2) and has two side walls (4) between which and the side walls (21, 22) of the main body (2) there are arranged respective pull-out guides (5), each of which has at least one main body rail (51) which can be fastened to the side walls (21, 22) of the main body (2) and one sliding rail (52) which can be fastened to the side walls (4), and at least one functional unit (6) which is coupled with one of the pull-out guides (5), wherein in at least one of the side walls (4) there is detachably arranged at a distance from the pull-out guides (5) the functional unit (6) which is operatively connected with a counter-element (7, 15) which is fixedly mounted on the main body (2) or on the main body rail (51) in a predetermined position of the drawer element (3) relative to the main body (2). The invention also relates to a method for mounting a functional unit (6) of a drawer element (3) in a piece of furniture or a household appliance.

Description

[0001] The present application is a divisional application of patent application No. 201980015862.2, filed on February 08, 2019, having the title “Furniture or household appliance and method for installing a functional unit for a drawer element therein”. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to a furniture or household appliance according to the preamble of claim 1. The present application also relates to a method for installing a functional unit for a drawer element in such a furniture or household appliance. BACKGROUND

[0003] Such a furniture or household appliance is known in many variants of the prior art, in which at least one displaceably arranged drawer element (for example in the form of a drawer) is arranged in a main body of the furniture or household appliance.

[0004] In this case, the drawer element is displaceably held in the main body by means of a pull-out guide and can be pulled out of the main body or pushed into the main body by means of the pull-out guide.

[0005] In order to facilitate the handling of the at least one drawer element, the pull-out guide or at least one of the pull-out guides is coupled with a functional unit, for example in the form of a self-retractor or a pop-up device or a locking unit.

[0006] Such a system is known, for example, from DE 10 2010 000 279 A1 or DE 10 2011 052 564 A1.

[0007] A problem in the furniture or household appliances known from the prior art is that, due to the arrangement of various components, it is usually necessary to determine which type of functional unit is to be installed in the furniture or household appliance during assembly of the respective furniture or household appliance.

[0008] The respective functional unit has to be installed in the main body of the furniture together with other components in order to perform the desired function. SUMMARY

[0009] It is an object of the present application to provide a furniture or household appliance in which such a functional unit can also be installed in a simple manner at a later point in time.

[0010] It is a further object of the present application to provide a method for simplifying the installation of a functional unit for a drawer element in a furniture or household appliance.

[0011] The first object is achieved by a furniture or household appliance having the features of claim 1.

[0012] The second object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 14.

[0013] The furniture or household appliance according to the application comprises a main body. In the main body at least one displaceable drawer element having two side walls is arranged. Between the side walls of the drawer element and the side walls of the main body respective pull-out guides are arranged.

[0014] Each of the pull-out guides comprises at least one main body rail which can be fastened on the side wall of the main body and a slide rail which can be fastened on the side wall of the drawer element. The furniture or household appliance further comprises at least one functional unit which is coupled with one of the pull-out guides.

[0015] In this case, the at least one functional unit is detachably arranged in at least one of the side walls away from the pull-out guides and in a predetermined position of the drawer element relative to the main body is operatively connected with a positioning element which is attached fixedly in place on the main body or on the main body rail.

[0016] This thus makes it possible for the functional unit to be fastened in the side wall of the drawer element in a simple manner and also to be detached from the side wall of the drawer element in a simple manner.

[0017] The arrangement of the positioning element on the main body or on the main body rail also makes it possible to install such a corresponding element simply and in particular later.

[0018] The arrangement of the functional unit in the side wall of the drawer element has the further advantage that the structure of the pull-out guide on which the functional unit is attached in the above-mentioned prior art is made smaller.

[0019] The bottom of the drawer can thus protrude significantly deeper, in particular downwards to the lower edge of the pull-out guide, which is not possible in the case of the attachment of the functional unit to the pull-out guide. The drawer element can thus have an expanded storage space.

[0020] Advantageous embodiment variants of the application are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0021] According to one advantageous embodiment variant of the furniture or household appliance according to the application, the positioning element is arranged on the rear end of the main body rail in the opening direction of the drawer element or on a region of the main body close to the rear end of the main body rail.

[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, the positioning element is formed in at least two parts.

[0023] The time-offset installation of the components of the positioning element can thus be achieved in a simple manner.

[0024] For example, the base of the alignment element is attached in a standard manner on the body rail or on the body. During the final installation of the drawer element, depending on the function of the functional element to be included, a specific alignment element is connected to the base.

[0025] A further advantage of this variant is that, during transport of the pull-out guide, no damage to the alignment element can occur due to protruding parts of the alignment element.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, the functional unit is arranged in a double-wall region between two wall regions of one of the side walls, so that it is not visible from the outside.

[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, a receiving space is formed in the rear end of the side wall in the opening direction of the drawer element, which opens towards the rear open end face, for accommodating the functional unit, which makes it possible to insert the functional unit from the rear end of the side panel in a simple manner.

[0028] Alternatively, if the outer wall element is formed displaceably, the functional unit can also be inserted into the respective receiving space from below or from the side or from above, or can only be placed on the inner wall element at a later point in time.

[0029] Furthermore, at least one fastening element for detachably fixing the functional unit is arranged in this receiving space.

[0030] In this case, the at least one fastening element is preferably formed as a catch element for locking with at least one alignment catch element formed on the functional unit.

[0031] It is thus possible to install or remove such a functional unit in a simple manner.

[0032] In the case of a side panel with a plastic core as a side wall, it is also conceivable to form such a fastening element directly on the side panel.

[0033] The same applies to the housing or the like of the functional unit.

[0034] Other fastening options for the functional unit on the side wall are also conceivable.

[0035] According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, the alignment element is in contact with the functional unit via the rear open end face of the side wall in the closed position of the drawer element.

[0036] This thus makes it possible for the rear open end of the side wall to be used both for the installation of the functional unit and for the engagement of the alignment element with the functional unit installed in the side wall.

[0037] The functional unit itself comprises a self-retraction device according to one preferred embodiment variant.

[0038] According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, the functional unit comprises an ejection device.

[0039] The functional unit can also comprise a damping unit for damping the retraction movement.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment variant, the alignment element is designed as an actuator having a base for fastening on the body or the body rail and a head for engaging in the functional unit.

[0041] According to a further preferred embodiment variant, it is also conceivable that the functional unit comprises a locking unit for releasably locking the drawer element in its closed position.

[0042] In the method for installing a drawer element in a functional unit for furniture or household appliance according to the application as described above, at least one functional unit is inserted and fastened through the rear open end face of the side wall or through the lower, lateral or upper open hole of the side wall before the pull-out guide is installed on the side wall of the drawer element.

[0043] The alignment element is fastened on the body rail or the body.

[0044] In the installed state, the functional unit is arranged invisibly in the side wall, possibly after completion of the drawer element.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment variant of the method according to the application, a first part of the two-part alignment element is permanently fastened on the body rail or the body in advance, and a second part of the alignment element is fixed on the first part of the alignment element after the functional unit has been completely installed in the side panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0046] In the following, preferred exemplary embodiments of the application are explained in detail with the aid of the drawings.

[0047] In the drawings:

[0048] Figure 1 a perspective view of a body of a furniture or household appliance is shown, in which a drawer element is installed,

[0049] Figure 2 a perspective view of a drawer element with a pull-out guide installed therein and an angle for fixing on the furniture body fixed on the pull-out guide is shown,

[0050] Figure 3 a perspective view of a drawer element corresponding to Figure 2 before the pull-out guide and the functional unit are installed in the side wall of the drawer element is shown,

[0051] Figure 4a perspective view of the rear of the drawer element is shown,

[0052] Figure 5 a rear view of a detail of the drawer element is shown,

[0053] Figure 6 a perspective view of a detail of the drawer element in the closed position is shown,

[0054] Figure 7 a side view of the drawer element in the closed position is shown,

[0055] Figure 8 a side view of the drawer element in a position displaced in the opening direction is shown,

[0056] Figure 9 a perspective view of a drawer element with an alternative embodiment variant of the alignment element attached thereto, and

[0057] Figure 10 a rear view of a drawer element according to Figure 9 is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] In the following description of the drawings, terms such as upper, lower, left, right, front, rear, etc. relate only to the illustration and the position of the furniture or the domestic appliance, the main body, the drawer element, the side wall, the pull-out guide, the alignment element, etc. selected as an example in the respective drawing. These terms are not to be understood as limiting, i.e. these references can change due to different working positions or mirror-symmetrical designs, etc.

[0059] In Figure 1 an embodiment variant of a furniture according to the application is designated by the reference numeral 1.

[0060] The furniture 1 comprises a main body 2 in the interior of which at least one drawer element 3 in the form of a drawer here is installed. It is also conceivable that instead of a furniture 1, such a drawer element 3 is provided for a domestic appliance, for example a refrigerator or a freezer, which is installed in the main body of the domestic appliance.

[0061] Angular components 14 are fastened, preferably screwed, to the side walls 21, 22 of the main body 2 for the displaceable installation of the drawer element 3. As Figure 2 is shown, the main track 51 of the pull-out guide 5 is fastened on the legs of these angular components 14, which are aligned here horizontally.

[0062] As is shown in Figure 3 , the pull-out guide 5 is accommodated in an accommodation space 41 of the side wall 4 of the drawer element 3, which is formed as a side panel, which accommodation space 41 is open here to the bottom.

[0063] The side wall 4 is connected here to the slide rail 52 of the pull-out guide 5 by means of a fastening element 54. The drawer element 3 shown here additionally comprises a front wall 11, a rear wall 12 and a bottom 13.

[0064] The side wall of the drawer element 3 is preferably designed as a side panel having a double-wall construction.

[0065] In particular in the case of a drawer element in a household appliance, the double-wall structure does not extend over the entire height of the side wall, but only over a portion, for example, the upper third.

[0066] As shown in Figure 3 and Figure 7 , the pull-out guide 5 comprises, in addition to the main rail 51 and the slide rail 52, an intermediate rail 53 which is arranged between the main rail 51 and the slide rail 52.

[0067] As shown in Figure 2 , a functional unit 6 is arranged in the rear region of the side panel 4.

[0068] As shown in Figure 3 , the functional unit 6 is accommodated in a separate accommodation space 42 of the side panel 4 and is arranged detachably in the side panel 4 away from the pull-out guide 5.

[0069] As shown in Figure 4 , the functional unit 6 is preferably arranged in the double-wall region, so that it is not visible from the outside between the two wall regions of one of the side walls 4.

[0070] As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the accommodation space 42 in which the functional unit 6 is arranged is shielded towards the main side walls 21, 22 by an outer wall 47. In this case, the outer wall 47 preferably shields the entire side wall 4 towards the main side walls 21, 22.

[0071] The outer wall 47 is preferably curved in a U-shape at its upper end and in this case overlaps the outer wall 43 or the accommodation space 42 located therebelow.

[0072] Owing to the arrangement of the functional unit 6 in the side wall 4 of the drawer element 3, in particular in the case of a drawer which is designed as the drawer element 3, the bottom 13 of the drawer can protrude significantly downwards, in particular down to the lower edge of the pull-out guide 5, which makes it possible to enlarge the storage space of the drawer element 3.

[0073] In addition, in the embodiment variant shown in Figure 2 , a positioning element 7 in the form of an actuator is fastened to the main rail 51. The positioning element 7 is operatively connected here to the functional unit 6 in a predetermined position of the drawer element 3 relative to the main body 2.

[0074] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3 The alignment element 7, which is designed here as an actuator, comprises a base 71 which can be inserted into the front opening of the body rail 51.

[0075] A first arm 72 extends vertically upwards from this base 71 up to the outside of the slide rail 52. At the end of the first arm 72, a second arm 73 is formed which extends beyond the slide rail 52 by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the slide rail 52.

[0076] At the free end of the second arm 73, a head 74 extends upwards which engages in the functional unit 6 arranged above the pull-out guide 5.

[0077] In the embodiment variant shown, Figure 6 - Figure 8 The functional unit 6 is designed as a self-retracting device 8.

[0078] The self-retracting device 8 known per se comprises a housing 81 on which a damping unit 82 is fastened. At the front end of this damping unit 82, a lever 84 is arranged which comprises a recess for accommodating the head 74.

[0079] This lever 84 is mounted here in a guide housing 85 with a guide slot 86 and can be tilted about a pivot axis aligned perpendicular to the opening direction x.

[0080] When the drawer element 3 is displaced in the opening direction x, this enables the lever 84 to be moved in the guide slot 86 in the guide housing 85 extending in the opening direction x, wherein the guide housing 85 moves together with the drawer element 3 in the opening direction x and the lever 84 is fixed in its position by engagement with the head 74 of the alignment element 7.

[0081] At the end of this guide slot 86, the guide slot 86 is formed as a handgrip so that the lever 84 is pivoted into a locking position and at the same time the head 74 of the alignment element 7 is disengaged from the lever 84 of the self-retracting device 8.

[0082] The traction spring 83 fixed on the lever 84 and on the housing 81 is tensioned with the movement of the drawer element 3 in the opening direction x.

[0083] Subsequently, as soon as the drawer element 3 is moved again from the opening position to the closed position from the predetermined position, the head 74 of the alignment element 7 engages again with the lever 84, releases it from its locking position and is thus fixed with the head 74 with respect to the body 2.

[0084] Here, the drawer element 3 is pulled into the closed position by the spring force of the traction spring 83.

[0085] The damping unit 82 here generates a damping of the closing movement in order to prevent a strong impact of the drawer element 3 on the main body 2 and / or of the slide rail 52 on the main body rail 51.

[0086] In addition to the arrangement of such a self-retracting device 8 in the functional unit 6, it is also conceivable to integrate a pop-up device or a locking unit in the functional unit 6, additionally or alternatively.

[0087] The functional unit 6 is preferably substantially surrounded by the adapter housing 61 and can be mounted as a whole in the accommodation space 42 of the side panel 4.

[0088] As Figure 3 and Figure 6 to Figure 8 is shown, in order to simply secure the functional unit 6, at least one fastening element 44 is arranged for releasable securing of the functional unit 6.

[0089] In the embodiment variant shown here, a plurality of such fastening elements 44 are arranged in the accommodation space 42. Such fastening elements 44 are preferably designed here as catch elements for locking with at least one counter catch element formed on the functional unit 6.

[0090] As Figure 2 to Figure 8 is shown, in the closed position of the drawer element 3, the counter element 7 is in contact with the functional unit 6 via the rear open end face 45 of the side panel 4.

[0091] In Figure 9 and Figure 10 is shown, in the closed position of the drawer element 3, the counter element 15 is in contact with the functional unit 6 via an opening 46 in the outer wall 43 of the side panel 4 facing the side walls 21, 22 of the main body 2.

[0092] The opening 46 in the outer wall 43 of the side panel 4 is preferably embodied as a slot, so that the counter element 15 or the angled part 14 fastened on the main body rail 51 projects into the slot perpendicular to the opening direction x. Here, in addition to the opening 46 embodied as a slot for engagement with the corresponding element 15, the functional unit 6 is also completely concealed by the outer wall 43.

[0093] In the embodiment variant shown here, the counter elements 7, 15 are designed as actuators having a base 71, 151 for fastening on the main body 2 or the main body rail 51 and a head 74, 152 for engagement in the functional unit 6.

[0094] It is particularly advantageous if the counter elements 7, 15 are formed in at least two parts.

[0095] In this case, when installing the functional unit 6 of the drawer element 3 in a piece of furniture or a domestic appliance, after the pull-out guide 5 has been completely installed on the side panel 4 of the drawer element 3, the functional unit 6 can be inserted, for example through the rear open end face 44 of the side panel 4, and fastened, and the alignment elements 7, 15 are fastened on the main body rail 51 or the main body 2.

[0096] It is also conceivable to insert the functional unit 6 into the respective accommodation space 42 from below or from the side or from above. For this purpose, it is conceivable, for example, to design the outer wall element 47 to be displaceable or to place it on the outer wall 43 only later, in which case the outer wall 43 is the inner wall element.

[0097] By virtue of the multipart design of the alignment elements 7, 15, the base 71, 151 can be fastened on the main body rail 51, the angled component 14 or also on the main body 2 itself in advance, and the second part of the alignment elements 7, 15, including the head 74, 152, can be installed, in particular clamped, on the first part of the alignment elements 7, 15 after the installation of the functional unit 6 is complete.

[0098] This has the advantage that, in particular, the actuating arms 72, 73 are not damaged during the transport of the pull-out guide 5.

[0099] Overall, in particular in the context of a retrofitting of the functional unit, the use of a piece of furniture or a domestic appliance according to the application enables a further simplified installation, which can be achieved in particular simply by being installed in the openings of the side walls provided for this purpose.

[0100] Reference signs

[0101] 1 piece of furniture

[0102] 2 main body

[0103] 21 side wall

[0104] 22 side wall

[0105] 3 drawer element

[0106] 4 side panel

[0107] 41 accommodation space

[0108] 42 accommodation space

[0109] 43 outer wall

[0110] 44 fastening element

[0111] 45 end face

[0112] 46 opening

[0113] 47 outer wall

[0114] 5 pull-out guide

[0115] 51 main rail

[0116] 52 slide rail

[0117] 53 intermediate rail

[0118] 54 fastening element

[0119] 6 functional unit

[0120] 61 adapter housing

[0121] 7 alignment element

[0122] 71 base

[0123] 72 first arm

[0124] 73 second arm

[0125] 74 head

[0126] 8 self-retracting device

[0127] 81 housing

[0128] 82 damping unit

[0129] 83 traction spring

[0130] 84 rod

[0131] 85 guide housing

[0132] 86 guide slot

[0133] 11 front wall

[0134] 12 rear wall

[0135] 13 bottom

[0136] 14 angled part

[0137] 15 alignment element

[0138] 151 base

[0139] 152 head

[0140] X opening direction

Claims

1. Furniture or household appliance, comprising: - a main body (2), - at least one drawer element (3) having two side walls (4) arranged displaceably in the main body (2), - wherein between the side walls (4) of the drawer element (3) and the side walls (21, 22) of the main body (2) there are arranged respective pull-out guides (5), - wherein each of the pull-out guides (5) comprises at least one main body rail (51) fastenable on the side walls (21, 22) of the main body (2) and a slide rail (52) fastenable on the side walls (4) of the drawer element (3), - at least one functional unit (6) coupled with one of the pull-out guides (5), - the at least one functional unit (6) being arranged releasably in at least one of the side walls (4) away from the pull-out guides (5), - wherein in a predetermined position of the drawer element (3) relative to the main body (2) the functional unit (6) is operatively connected with a counter-element (7, 15) attached fixedly in place on the main body (2) or on the main body rail (51), characterized in that - the counter-element (15) in the closed position of the drawer element (3) is in contact with the functional unit (6) through an opening (46) in the outer wall (43) of the side wall (4) facing the side walls (21, 22) of the main body (2), - the functional unit (6) is arranged in a double-walled area so that it is not visible externally between the two wall areas of one of the side walls (4) of the drawer element (3).

2. Piece of furniture or household appliance according to the preamble of claim 1, characterised in that, - the counter-element (7, 15) is arranged on the rear end of the main body rail (51) or on the area of the main body (2) close to the rear end of the main body rail (51) in the opening direction (x) of the drawer element (3).

3. Furniture or household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that - the counter-element (7, 15) is formed in at least two parts.

4. The furniture or home appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, - in the rear end of the side wall (4) in the opening direction (x) of the drawer element (3) there is formed a receiving space (42) open to the rear opening end face (45) to accommodate the functional unit (6), in which receiving space (42) there is arranged at least one fastening element (44) for releasably fixing the functional unit (6).

5. Furniture or household appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that - the fastening element (44) is formed as a catch element for locking with at least one counter catch element formed on the functional unit (6).

6. The furniture or home appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, - the functional unit (6) comprises a self-retracting device (8).

7. The furniture or home appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, - the functional unit (6) comprises a pop-up device.

8. Furniture or household appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that - the functional unit (6) comprises a damping unit (82).

9. Furniture or household appliance according to any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that - the counter-element (7, 15) is designed as an actuator having a base (71, 151) for fastening on the main body (2) or the main body rail (51) and a head (74, 152) for engagement in the functional unit (6).

10. Furniture or household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that - the functional unit (6) comprises a locking unit.

11. A method for mounting a functional unit (6) of a drawer element (3) in a piece of furniture or a household appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Before mounting the pull-out guide (5) on the side wall (4) of the drawer element (3), the at least one functional unit (6) is inserted and fastened through a recess of the side wall (4) and the alignment element (7, 15) is fastened on the body rail (51) or on the body (2).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, Before mounting the pull-out guide (5) on the side wall (4) of the drawer element (3), the at least one functional unit (6) is inserted and fastened through a rear opening end face (45) of the side wall (4) and the alignment element (7, 15) is fastened on the body rail (51) or on the body (2).

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, A first part of a two-part alignment element (7, 15) is permanently fastened on the body rail (51) or on the body (2) and at least one second part of the alignment element (7, 15) is mounted on the first part of the alignment element (7, 15) after the installation of the functional unit (6) is completed.

Images