Locking mechanism, especially for cabinet furniture

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure arrangement 1 for, in particular, cabinet furniture 2, comprising a blind with slats 4, in particular slats made of a glass material, which is arranged in the area of ​​an opening of a cabinet furniture 2 and is movable from a closed position to an open position and back, and has slats 4 arranged parallel to each other, which are attached to sliding holders 5 that are movably provided in lateral guides 3 during their opening and closing movements. To improve such a closure arrangement, it is provided that the sliding holders 5 have a mounting surface for a slat 4 to be arranged thereon, which is surrounded by a laterally projecting edge 5.1 is limited in that two adjacent sliding holders 5, pivotally fixed to one another, of two adjacent lamellae 4 are connected to each other in a relatively pivotable manner over a limited pivot angle range, that the projecting edges 5.1 of two adjacent sliding holders 5, pivotally connected to each other, together form a stop to limit the relative pivot angle range in one direction away from each other, and that opposite to the projecting edges 5.1, a projecting edge extension 5.2 is provided on each of the adjacent sliding holders 5, pivotally connected to each other, which together limit the relative pivot angle range in the other direction of the adjacent sliding holders 5.

Description

[0001] Regarding patent application 10 2017 000 215.0, the 11th Senate (Technical Appeal Senate) of the Federal Patent Court decided on 28 May 2024: Following the applicant's appeal, the decision of the Examination Section for Class A47B of the German Patent and Trademark Office of 6 December 2019 is set aside and the patent is granted with the following documents:

[0002] The invention relates to a locking arrangement, in particular for cabinet furniture, with a blind having slats, in particular slats made of a glass material, which is arranged in the region of an opening of a cabinet furniture so as to be movable from a closed position to an open position and back and has slats arranged parallel to one another, which are fastened to sliding holders provided so as to be movable along lateral guides in the course of their opening and closing movement.

[0003] Locking arrangements of the aforementioned type are known from DE 20 2014 100 381 U1 and have vertically or horizontally oriented blind arrangements consisting of interconnected slats. If such slats are horizontally designed and can be moved vertically, they often close the openings of cabinets and, in their open position, are located inside the cabinet. For this purpose, guides are provided within the cabinet in which the sliding supports of the slats are slidably guided.

[0004] If slats are made of plastic, they often have a profile and contour, so that they are connected to each other via ball joint socket connections, so that the sliding holders also extend with or on these ball joint socket connections.

[0005] In many cases, however, there is a desire to manufacture the slats from a single glass material. In this case, ball-and-socket joints for the pivoting connection of the individual slats are not readily feasible. For this purpose, special sliding skids or sliding bracket elements must be provided, which are connected to the glass slats. This, however, poses problems, as such sliding brackets are usually firmly attached to the glass slats, for example, via adhesive bonds, making them difficult to disassemble in the event of a slat breakage.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to create a locking arrangement, particularly for cabinet furniture, in which the slats can be designed with significantly greater freedom of movement and, in particular, can also be made of a glass material. To this end, the locking arrangement should also be designed in such a way that individual slats can be mounted and dismounted with significantly greater freedom of movement.

[0007] To achieve this object, the closure arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset is characterized in that the sliding holders have a fastening surface for a slat to be arranged thereon, which is delimited by a lateral upstanding edge, that two adjacent, pivotally fixed sliding holders of two adjacent slats to be arranged are connected to each other so as to be pivotable relative to each other over a limited pivot angle range, that the upstanding edges of two adjacently arranged, pivotally connected sliding holders together form a stop for limiting the relative pivot angle range of the two sliding holders away from each other, and that a projecting edge projection is provided on each of the adjacent, pivotally connected sliding holders in the opposite direction to the upstanding edges,which together limit the relative pivoting angle range in the other direction of the adjacently arranged, pivotally connected sliding holders.

[0008] This creates the prerequisite that the slats can be attached to the mounting surfaces via the two stops on the sliding brackets, for example by gluing. However, the adjacent sliding brackets can be pivoted relative to each other within a pivot angle range defined by the stops when the slats are installed. This creates the prerequisite that the sliding brackets can be easily assembled to each other in a position pivoted inwards towards each other, and that the adjacent sliding brackets can no longer be disassembled from each other in the other position limited by the other stops. This is structurally simple to accomplish and therefore does not require complex manufacturing steps during assembly and disassembly.

[0009] This also makes it possible, for example, to replace slats made of a single glass material, especially painted or tinted glass slats, if the colors of neighboring slats don't match perfectly. It also makes it easy to replace individual slats in the event of a slat breakage.

[0010] It is particularly preferred if the pivoting wing area is limited to a range between 0° and 110° by two adjacent sliding holders that are pivotally connected to one another. This limitation is limited by the interacting edge projections and the two interacting upwardly projecting edges, which form stops, namely the two interacting edge projections in one direction of a pivoting movement and the upwardly projecting edges as stops in the other, opposite pivoting direction. In this case, it can be the case that when the pivoting is limited to approximately 0°, i.e. when the sliding holders or the two adjacent slats are aligned with one another, the sliding holders are brought into a position in which they can no longer be separated from one another and thus can no longer accidentally move into a disassembly position.However, if they are positioned at approximately right angles, i.e., at approximately 90° to 110° to each other, they can be removed and easily attached to the mounting surfaces of the glass slats. This significantly simplifies the disassembly and assembly process.

[0011] Preferably, the adjacently arranged sliding holders, i.e. two sliding holders on the left and right for each slat, are pivotally connected to one another via a hinge pin. For this purpose, the respective sliding holders can have respective hinge eyes that are arranged laterally offset from one another with a positional distance. For this purpose, one sliding holder has a recess into which a hinge eye of another adjacently arranged sliding holder can insert. In addition, a locking formation is to be provided laterally next to the hinge eye of one sliding holder, so that this hinge holder and this locking formation jointly fill the recess when the glass slats are arranged approximately in alignment, so that with the help of this locking formation, a lateral disassembly movement of one sliding holder relative to the other sliding holder is prevented. However, if the sliding holders orWhen the adjacent slats are pivoted toward each other, for example, to a position of approximately 90° to 110°, the locking projection emerges from the recess, allowing one slide bracket to be moved laterally relative to the adjacent slide bracket and thus removed along with the hinge pin. This can be done in just a few simple steps.

[0012] The individual slats are preferably attached to the respective slide brackets via an adhesive connection. For this purpose, an adhesive that is cured using UV light is preferably used. If colored slats are provided, UV light curing can take place via the side of the slide brackets. For this purpose, the slide brackets are then made of a transparent material, in particular a transparent plastic material. It is also possible to provide a spring element on the last slat in the closing direction, which exerts a closing force on the last slat in the closed position in order to press the blind extension consisting of the slats securely into the respective guides and thus against the cabinet body. This spring element can be arranged in a guide attachment.

[0013] For further explanation of the invention, reference is made to further subclaims, the following description, and the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 In a sectional side view, an embodiment of a closure arrangement according to the invention at the beginning of a closing process; Fig. 2 one to Fig. 1 analog representation during the further closing movement; Fig. 3 one to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 analog representation at the end of the closing movement; Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of a closure arrangement according to the invention with a guide projection provided with a spring element during the closing movement; Fig. 5 one to Fig. 4 analog representation of the embodiment according to Fig. 4 at the end of the closing movement; Fig. 6 a plan view of a slat mounted on two sliding supports; Fig. 7 in perspective view two adjacent slats with adjacent sliding holders in the position pivoted towards each other (approx. 110 degrees); Fig. 8 in a perspective side view the embodiment according to Fig. 7, at the beginning of an assembly process; Fig. 9 the embodiment according to Fig. 8 in the state in which two adjacent slats are pivoted towards each other in the assembled state, but unlocked; Fig. 10 the embodiment according to Fig. 9 in the state in which the adjacent slats are pivoted towards each other, viewed from another side (perspective); Fig. 11 which in the Fig. 7 to 10 illustrated slats with sliding holders in the pivoted state in an approximately aligned arrangement (0 degree position), viewed from the outside of the slats; Fig. 12 the embodiment according to Fig. 11, viewed from the inside of the slats, and Fig. 13 the embodiment according to the Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 in a side view.

[0014] In the drawing, matching parts are provided with matching reference numbers.

[0015] Generally with 1 is in Fig. 1 denotes a locking arrangement arranged in a furniture body 2 and having lateral guides 3. This locking arrangement has individual slats 4, which are attached to sliding brackets 5, which slide in lateral guides 3.

[0016] At the end of the locking arrangement 1, i.e. at the last element, a guide projection 6 is provided, which interacts with a contact body 7 of the cabinet. This guide projection can, as shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, rest against the contact body 7 in the end position to ensure a secure contact of the last slat 4 against the cabinet body 2. This can be supported by a corresponding spring element 8, as shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 shown.

[0017] As further from the Fig. 6 to 12, the sliding holders 5 each have a fastening surface to which the slat 4 is glued. The fastening surfaces are limited by projecting edges 5.1, which, in the swung-out state, i.e., when the sliding holder 5 is in an approximately 0-degree position, lie on one another as stops, as shown in the Fig. 11, Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. Thus, these projecting edges 5.1 limit the relative pivoting angle of the adjacent sliding holders 5, which can be pivoted together, in one pivoting direction, namely in the pivoting direction away from each other. Opposite, i.e. on the other side of the respective sliding holders, projecting edge projections 5.2 are also provided, wherein the edge projections 5.2 of two adjacently arranged sliding holders 5 in turn cooperate as stops, as shown in Fig. 7 is shown, ie that they limit the pivoting angle range of the adjacently arranged sliding holders 5 in the other direction, namely in the direction in which the sliding holders or the slats 4 are pivoted towards each other, as shown in the Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 illustrate.

[0018] As further from the Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the Fig. 8 lower slide holders 5 have a joint eye 5.3 with a joint pin 5.4 and a recess 5.5. The other slide holder 5 also has, but offset, a joint eye 5.6 with an opening into which the joint pin 5.4 is inserted in the assembled position. Furthermore, it has a locking projection 5.7 that engages the recess 5.8 of the other slide holder 5.

[0019] In the position pivoted apart, as Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the parts can be assembled together. For this purpose, one sliding holder 5 is placed on the pivot pin 5.4 of the other joint holder and pushed onto it. The locking projection 5.7 is inserted into the recess 5.8 of the other sliding holder 5. However, this is only possible in the pivoted position according to the Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. If the joint eyes 5.3 and 5.7 are pushed towards each other, the assembly position is as shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. If a pivoting movement is now carried out away from each other, as shown in Fig. 11, Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, the locking projection 5.7 is located in the recess 5.8 and is held by a lateral projection 5.9 on the edge projection 5.2, namely the edge projection 5.9 ( Fig. 7) so that in this position the two sliding holders 5 can no longer be pushed laterally away from each other, so that they can no longer be dismantled in this position pivoted away from each other, i.e. in the aligned arrangement.

Claims

[1] Locking arrangement (1) for in particular cupboard furniture (2) with a blind having slats (4), in particular slats made of a glass material, which is arranged in the region of an opening of a cupboard furniture (2) so as to be movable from a closed position to an open position and back and has slats (4) arranged parallel to one another, which are fastened to sliding holders (5) provided so as to be movable along lateral guides (3) in the course of their opening and closing movement, characterized bythat the sliding holders (5) have a fastening surface for a slat (4) to be arranged thereon, which is delimited by a lateral, upwardly projecting edge (5.1), that two adjacent, pivotally fixed sliding holders (5) of two adjacent slats (4) to be arranged are connected to one another so as to be pivotable relative to one another over a limited pivoting angle range, that the upwardly projecting edges (5.1) of two adjacently arranged, pivotally connected sliding holders (5) together form a stop for limiting the relative pivoting angle range of the two sliding holders (5) away from one another, and that, opposite to the upwardly projecting edges (5.1), a respective upwardly projecting edge projection (5.2) is provided, which together limit the relative pivoting angle range in the other direction of the adjacently arranged, pivotally connected sliding holders (5). [2] Closure arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the pivoting angle range of two adjacently arranged sliding holders (5) which are pivotally connected to one another is limited in a range between 0 ° and 110 ° by the edge projections (5.1) and the projecting edges (5.2) as stops of the adjacently arranged sliding holders (5). [3] Closure arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the two adjacently arranged sliding holders (5) are pivotally connected to one another via a hinge pin (5.4) and a hinge eye (5.3, 5.6) formed on one sliding holder (5) is located in a recess (5.5, 5.8) of the other, adjacently provided sliding holder (5) in the assembled state and, in this position located in the recess (5.8), can be pivoted via the hinge pin (5.9) relative to the other sliding holder (5) within the limited pivot angle range. [4] Closure arrangement (1) according to claim 3, characterized byin that a locking formation (5.7) is provided laterally next to the joint eye (5.6) of one sliding holder (5), which, in a position in which adjacent slats (4) are pivoted approximately in alignment with one another in the mounted position, this locking formation (5.7) dips into the recess (5.8) of the other sliding holder (5) and locks one sliding holder (5) to the other sliding holder (5) with regard to a lateral disassembly movement, wherein the locking formation (5.7) in a pivoted position in the pivot angle range in which the edge formations (5.1) abut one another as stops of the two adjacently arranged sliding holders (5), one sliding holder (5) is unlocked from the other with regard to a lateral movement, so that the sliding holders (5) can be mounted and disassembled. [5] Closure arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat one sliding holder (5) has a joint eye formation (5.3) laterally next to the recess (5.8) with an inner hole recess into which the joint pin (5.4) of the other sliding holder (5) can be inserted. [6] Closure arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the slats (4) are designed as glass slats. [7] Closure arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the slats (4) are connected to the sliding holders (5) via an adhesive connection. [8] Closure arrangement (1) according to claim 7, characterized by that the adhesive bond is formed by an adhesive that cures with UV light. [9] Closure arrangement (1) according to claim 8, characterized by that the sliding holder (5) is made of a transparent plastic material. [10] Closure arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the first sliding holder (5) in the closing direction has a guide projection (6) which interacts with a contact body (7) of the cabinet in the closed position of the slat (4). [11] Closure arrangement (1) according to claim 10, characterized by that the guide projection (6) has a spring element (8) which exerts a closing force on a last slat element (4) in the closing direction.

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