Guide device

Abstract

Guide device (5, 6) for parts (12, 36) movable along the guide device (5, 6) for a sliding door fitting, comprising a first strip-shaped adapter (10, 30) and at least one further second strip-shaped adapter (10', 30') which can be mounted in extension of the first strip-shaped adapter (10, 30), wherein at least one continuous guide element (11, 11', 40) is fixed to the first adapter (10, 30) and the second adapter (10', 30') which is made of a bendable material, characterized in that the at least one guide element (11, 11', 40) can be locked onto the first and second adapter (10, 10', 30, 30').

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a guide device for parts movable along the guide device, in particular for a sliding door fitting, comprising a first strip-shaped adapter and at least one further second strip-shaped adapter which can be mounted in extension of the first strip-shaped adapter, wherein at least one continuous guide element is fixed to the first adapter and the second adapter which is made of a bendable material, and furthermore a method for mounting a guide device.

[0002] GB 1 046 950 A discloses a guide rail for a sliding door fitting in which two rail sections are joined together. Projecting grooves are fixed to one rail section, against which the other rail section is received at its end.

[0003] GB 239 379 A discloses two rail sections connected to each other on an upper flat side via a connecting piece.

[0004] WO 2009 / 026 634 A1 discloses a sliding door or window with several sliding panels that can be moved along a threshold and are held at the top in a guide profile. A similar sliding door is also shown in GB 2 171 134 A.

[0005] WO 2010 / 049 172 A1 discloses a device for suspending a sliding door via a running element with support rollers.

[0006] GB 542 097 A discloses a multi-part guide rail in which a rod is inserted into a raceway on which guide rollers can roll.

[0007] AT 002 802 U1 reveals a suspension guide for sliding doors.

[0008] EP 1 273 749 A2 discloses a sliding element device for a sliding wall with rolling elements that engage in a lower profile.

[0009] German patent application DE 10 2012 101 216 A1 discloses an assembly arrangement with two profiles joined at a butt joint and fixed to each other via a profile connection. The profile connection engages with two spring bars in a receptacle of the profiles.

[0010] EP 1 705 327 A2 discloses a guide for sliding doors with two rail parts, which have a groove-shaped receptacle for a profile connector on one underside.

[0011] EP 2 444 577 A2 discloses a system for the snap-fit ​​connection of guides for sliding doors.

[0012] DE 75 28 036 discloses a sliding door fitting in which several guide rail profiles are connected to each other via a butt connector. This allows the guide rail profiles to be transported in shorter lengths and then joined together at the furniture assembly site using the butt connectors. While dividing the guide rail profiles into individual shorter sections has proven effective in itself, the use of a butt connector requires a certain amount of additional installation space. Furthermore, there is the disadvantage that the butt connectors and guide rail profiles must be manufactured with high precision to ensure a perfectly flat guide rail. Minor changes in angle or steps are noticeable to the user when a carriage moves along the connection point.

[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a guide device for parts movable along the guide device, which can be transported in a compact form and allows for tolerance compensation during assembly.

[0014] This problem is solved with a guide device having the features of claim 1.

[0015] According to the invention, at least one continuous guide element, made of a flexible material, is fixed to the first and second adapters. This allows the at least one continuous guide element to be bent for transport, thus reducing the required installation space. After assembly, the continuous guide element has the advantage of being free of steps or kinks at any connection point. The at least one continuous guide element is made of a flexible material, allowing certain tolerances between the strip-shaped adapters to be compensated for by a slightly curved, continuous path of the guide element.Such a slightly curved profile is hardly noticeable to the user when moving a part along the guide, as any step or angle is distributed over a certain bending range and the angle changes or steps are only minor, for example, less than 1 mm or less than 2°. The material of the continuous guide element is selected so that, after assembly, the guide element exhibits sufficient rigidity under load to reliably guide moving parts. Furthermore, the bending radii of the continuous guide element are selected during transport to prevent any plastic deformation after assembly.

[0016] Preferably, the first and / or second adapter is made of a dimensionally stable material, in particular plastic or metal. This allows the at least one continuous guide element to be stably fixed to the adapters.

[0017] For a particularly compact design, the flexible guide element can be wound onto a roll and then transported in this rolled form. For assembly of the guide device, the flexible guide element can then be unwound from the roll and attached to the adapters. The flexible guide element can be designed as a lamella or a rod profile and, according to the invention, is snapped onto the first and second adapters. Multiple continuous guide elements can also be attached to the first and second adapters.

[0018] To reduce the accuracy requirements for the adapters, they can be fixed to a cabinet with a gap. The gap between two adapters can be at least 1 mm, and in particular 5 to 50 mm, allowing for flexible length adjustment of the guide mechanism by mounting the adapters. The choice of gap depends on the cabinet geometry and the sliding door geometry or weight.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the continuous guide elements are designed as lamellae, between which a groove is formed for receiving a sliding element. Several lamellae can be fixed parallel to each other on the adapters.

[0020] Preferably, the at least one guide element is provided with a sliding coating, which is particularly advantageous in the case of a sliding guide.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the guide element is designed as a rod profile that is inserted into a trough-shaped receptacle of the adapter and fixed there. The rod profile can then form a raceway, particularly for rollers.

[0022] To prevent longitudinal movement of the guide element in the adapter's receptacles, it is conceivable to equip the contact surfaces with longitudinally arranged locking elements, for example in the form of toothed elements.

[0023] Furthermore, it is possible to arrange locking elements in the cross-section of the contact surfaces to allow the guide element to pivot for easier assembly or disassembly.

[0024] The guide device according to the invention is used in particular as a sliding guide or roller guide for a sliding door fitting for furniture. Other uses are also possible.

[0025] In an inventive method for mounting a guide device, a first strip-shaped adapter is first attached to a body, and then at least one second strip-shaped adapter is attached to the body as an extension of the first adapter. Subsequently, at least one flexible, continuous guide element is attached to the first and second adapters to provide a continuous guide device. In an alternative method, the guide element is first attached to the first strip-shaped adapter and then to the second strip-shaped adapter as an extension of the first adapter. Finally, the completed guide device is then attached to the body.

[0026] The guide element can be cut to the desired length before or after mounting the adapters, allowing for length adjustment to make the guide device usable for furniture bodies of different widths.

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a furniture body with two guide devices according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the lower guide device of the furniture Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a perspective view of the guide device of the Fig. 2 with two adapters; Fig. 4 a perspective view of a guide device of the Fig. 2 with three adapters; Fig. 5 a side view of the guide device of the Fig. 2 during assembly, Fig. 6 a side view of the guide device of the Fig. 2 after assembly; Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B two views of different embodiments of lamellae; Fig. 8A and Fig. 8B two views of the slats of the Fig. 7A in a transport position; Fig. 9 a perspective view of the upper guide device of the Fig. 1; Fig. 10 a detailed view of the guide device of the Fig. 9; Fig. 11 a perspective detail view of the guide device of the Fig. 9, and Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B two views of a guide element of the guide device of the Fig. 9 in the transport position.

[0028] A piece of furniture 1 comprises a carcass 2 on which a rear sliding door 3 and a front sliding door 4 are slidably mounted. For this purpose, a first guide device 5 in the form of a sliding guide is mounted on the bottom of the carcass 2, and a second guide device 6 in the form of a roller guide of a sliding door fitting is mounted on the top. Instead of two sliding doors 3 and 4, three or more doors can also be slidably mounted on a carcass 2. In addition, the sliding doors can be arranged flush with the surface instead of in an offset arrangement.

[0029] In Fig. Figure 2 shows the guide device 5 for guiding the rear sliding door 3 and the front sliding door 4 in detail. Each sliding door 3 and 4 is connected at its lower end to at least one U-shaped bracket 13, which is fixed to the inside of a sliding door 3 or 4 by a first leg 15. The opposite leg 14 comprises a sliding element 12, which is guided longitudinally on the guide device 5. For this purpose, the sliding element 12 engages between two lamellae 11, which form a groove between them to minimize movement of the sliding element 12 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The lamellae 11 are fixed to a strip-shaped adapter 10, which is screwed to the bottom of the cabinet 2, with corresponding openings 16 provided in the adapter 10 for this purpose. It is also possible, of course, to fix the adapter 10 to the bottom of the cabinet using other connection methods, such as clips or adhesive.

[0030] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of the guide device 5, in which a first adapter 10 and a second adapter 10' are provided. The length of the adapters 10 and 10' is selected depending on the width of the cabinet and can, for example, be between 0.5 m and 1 m to allow for easy transport. To provide the guide device 5 in a longer length, the adapters 10 and 10' are mounted longitudinally one behind the other, with a gap 23 between the adapters 10 and 10', which can be, for example, larger than 1 mm, and in particular between 5 mm and 50 mm. The adapters 10 and 10' are made of a dimensionally stable material, for example, plastic or metal, in particular aluminum.The lamellae 11, on the other hand, consist of a flexible material of sufficient strength, for example plastic, a thin metal strip or another material which is flexible but can perform a certain guiding function for the sliding element 12.

[0031] In Fig. Figure 4 shows a modified guide device 5 in which three adapters 10, 10' and 10'' are provided. These adapters can be identical in construction and can be mounted longitudinally one behind the other on the body 2. The distance between the adapters 10, 10' and 10'' is greater here, so that gaps 23 are provided between the adapters 10, 10' and 10'', which are bridged by the slats 11. Since the slats 11 are made of flexible material, no steps or kinks occur, even if the adapters 10, 10', 10'' are mounted on the body 2 with a slight offset. This causes the slats 11 to bend slightly, but this is hardly noticeable when the sliding doors 3 and 4 are moved.

[0032] In Fig. Figure 5 shows the guide device 5 during assembly. The adapter 10, made of dimensionally stable material, is essentially strip-shaped and has a rib-shaped holder 17 in which openings 16 are provided for attachment to the body 2. Furthermore, the adapter 10 includes a mounting section 18 in which several grooves 19 are formed between projecting ribs 22. The grooves 19 have a widened section 20 at the bottom of the groove to allow the slats 11 to be engaged positively and / or non-positively. For this purpose, the ribs 22 are slightly flexible, and the slats 11 have a thickened head section 21 on one side, but are otherwise essentially rectangular in cross-section.

[0033] In Fig. 6. The slats 11 were mounted on the adapter 10 by inserting the ends with the thickened head section 21 into the grooves 19 and then snapping them into place in the areas with the widened sections 20. The slats 11 are fixed by the projecting webs 22 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the grooves 19. The projecting part of the slats 11 has a height H, which is, for example, in a range between 5 mm and 30 mm, in particular 10 mm to 15 mm. The width B between the slats 11 can, for example, be in a range between 4 mm and 30 mm, in particular 4 mm to 20 mm. The slats 11 can have a thickness between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, in particular 1 to 3 mm.

[0034] In Fig. Figure 7A shows a cross-section of a lamella 11. The thickened head section 21 protrudes circularly from one end section. Alternatively, it is shown according to Fig. 7B It is possible, instead of a thickened head section 21 for locking, to provide one or more grooves 21' on a lamella 11' into which corresponding locking projections on the webs 22 engage. Of course, other cross-sectional shapes on a head section of the lamella for locking to the adapters are also conceivable.

[0035] In Fig. Figure 8A shows a lamella 11 in a transport position. The lamella 11 is wound onto a roller or arranged in a spiral and can then be bent into a linear position for assembly. Alternatively, according to Fig. 8B It is possible to form the lamella 11 in a loop shape, whereby the minimum bending radius R of the lamella 11 can be greater than 10 cm, for example greater than 20 cm. Preferably, the bending radius R should be chosen to be so small that the lamella 11 does not undergo any permanent plastic deformation after assembly.

[0036] In Fig. Figure 9 shows a second guide device 6, which is mounted on the top of the body 2. The guide device 6 comprises a first strip-shaped adapter 30 and a second identical strip-shaped adapter 30', both of which are made of a dimensionally stable material, for example metal or reinforced plastic.

[0037] As seen in the enlarged view of the Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the second adapter 30' is arranged as an extension of the first adapter 30, and both adapters 30 and 30' have a leg 32 that rests on the top surface of the body 2 and is secured by fasteners, for example screws, through the openings 31. Each adapter 30 and 30' also has a vertical web 33 and a horizontally oriented holder 34, on which trough-shaped receptacles are provided for inserting at least one rod-shaped guide element 40. In the illustrated embodiment, two rod-shaped guide elements 40 are provided, although of course only one or more than two guide elements 40 can also be held on the adapters 30 and 30'.

[0038] A gap 35 is formed between the adapters 30 and 30', which is bridged by the guide elements 40.

[0039] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 11, the guide elements 40 serve as a track for a roller 36 of a sliding door fitting, on which the sliding doors 3 and 4 are suspended. The rollers 36 roll on the upper surface of the guide elements 40, while the underside of the guide elements 40 is held in the receptacles on the holder 34. The adapters 30 and 30' are preferably made of bent sheet steel, but can also be made of a steel or aluminum profile. The flexible guide elements 40 are made of another flexible material, preferably a metal with sufficient strength, for example, a metal wire, to be bent for transport and to bridge the transition between two adapters 30 and 30'.

[0040] In Fig. 12A is a rod-shaped guide element 40 wound into a roll, bundle, or spiral to reduce volume during transport. In Fig.12B is the guide element in transport form arranged in a loop shape or, in the case of longer lengths, in a meandering shape. Reference symbol list 1 piece of furniture 2 bodies 3 sliding doors 4 sliding doors 5 Guide device 6 Guide device 10, 10', 10'' adapter 11, 11' lamella 12 sliding elements 13 holders 14 thighs 15 thighs 16 Opening 17 holders 18 Fastening section 19 Nut Section 20 21 Head section 21' groove 22 Bridge 23 gap 30, 30' adapter 31 Opening 32 thighs 33 Bridge 34 holders 35 gap 36 roller 40 guide element H height B Width R bending radius

Claims

[1] Guide device (5, 6) for parts (12, 36) movable along the guide device (5, 6) for a sliding door fitting, comprising a first strip-shaped adapter (10, 30) and at least one further second strip-shaped adapter (10', 30') which can be mounted in extension of the first strip-shaped adapter (10, 30), wherein at least one continuous guide element (11, 11', 40) is fixed to the first adapter (10, 30) and the second adapter (10', 30') which is made of a bendable material, characterized by , that the at least one guide element (11, 11', 40) can be locked onto the first and second adapter (10, 10', 30, 30'). [2] Guide device (5, 6) according to claim 1, characterized by that the first and / or second adapter (10, 10', 30, 30') is made of a dimensionally stable material made of plastic or metal. [3] Guide device (5, 6) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the flexible guide element (11, 11', 40) can be wound onto a roll. [4] Guide device (5, 6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the flexible guide element (11, 11', 40) is designed as a lamella or bar profile. [5] Guide device (5, 6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that several continuous guide elements (11, 11', 40) are fixed on the first and second adapters (10, 10', 30, 30). [6] Guide device (5, 6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a gap (23, 35) between the first and the second adapter (10, 10', 30, 30') is at least 1 mm. [7] Guide device (5, 6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the continuous guide elements (11, 11') are designed as lamellae, between which a groove is formed for receiving a sliding element (12). [8] Guide device (5, 6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the at least one guide element (11, 11', 40) is provided with a sliding coating. [9] Guide device (5, 6) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the guide element (40) is designed as a rod profile which is inserted into a trough-shaped receptacle of the adapter (30, 30') and fixed there. [10] Guide device (5, 6) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the guide device (5, 6) is a sliding guide or a roller guide of a sliding door fitting. [11] Method for assembling a guide device (5, 6) comprising the following steps: - Attaching a first strip-shaped adapter (10, 30) to a body (2); - Establishing at least one second strip-shaped adapter (10', 30') extending from the first adapter (10, 30) to the body (2), and - Establishing at least one flexible continuous guide element (11, 40) on the first and second adapters (10, 10', 30, 30'), - characterized by , that at least one guide element (11, 11', 40) is locked onto the first and second adapter (10, 10', 30, 30'). [12] Method for assembling a guide device (5, 6) comprising the following steps: - Establishing at least one flexible continuous guide element (11, 11', 40) on a first strip-shaped adapter (10, 30); - Attaching at least one flexible continuous guide element (11, 11', 40) to at least one second adapter (10', 30') extending from the first adapter (10, 30), and - Fixing the guide device (5, 6) to a body (2), - characterized by , that the at least one guide element (11, 11', 40) is locked onto the first and second adapter (10, 10', 30, 30').

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