Guide device with a shock-absorbing activator for self-closing.

Abstract

In a guide device (1) comprising a first part (2) and a second part (4) which are guided to be linearly displaceable relative to each other, an activator (7) arranged on the first part (2) and a self-retracting mechanism (5) arranged on the second part (4) with a coupling element (8) which cooperates with the activator (7) to retract the two parts (2, 4) into an end position on an end section of their displacement movement, the activator (7) according to the invention has a base body (10) provided on the first part (2) and a damping element (11) mounted on the base body (10) which cooperates with the coupling element (8) and is made of a more elastic material than the base body (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a guide device comprising a first part and a second part, which are guided to be linearly displaceable relative to each other, an activator arranged on the first part, and a self-retracting mechanism arranged on the second part with a coupling element that interacts with the activator to retract the two parts into a final position at the end of their displacement movement. The invention further relates to a piece of furniture with such a guide device.

[0002] Such guide devices are well known, for example in the form of drawer slides or sliding door fittings. Generally, when a coupling element (swivel hook) of the self-closing mechanism strikes the activator (coupling process), a noise is generated that becomes louder with increasing impact speed. To reduce this noise, it is known to manufacture the coupling element as a two-component injection-molded part (hard / soft part), with the softer component interacting with the activator to provide damping. However, such "2K" injection-molded parts are complex to manufacture and therefore very expensive.

[0003] In contrast, the present invention is based on the objective of providing an alternative for reducing noise generation in a guide device of the type mentioned at the outset.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by the fact that the activator has a base body provided on the first part and a damping body mounted on the base body, which interacts with the coupling element and is made of a more elastic material than the base body.

[0005] According to the invention, the activator is formed by combining a hard component (e.g., metal, plastic) and a mounted soft tissue component to dampen the impact acting between the activator and a coupling element of the self-retracting mechanism, thereby reducing the resulting noise. The damping element can be mounted cost-effectively, and in particular without tools, on the base body of the activator.

[0006] Preferably, the coupling element in a self-retracting housing is initially guided in a linearly displaceable manner from a retracted end position against a retraction direction and against the action of a restoring force, until it then pivots into a detent position.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the coupling element has a coupling opening with two opposing inner surfaces. When the coupling element is linearly displaceable, the activator is arranged between the two inner surfaces for bidirectional motion coupling with the coupling element. When the coupling element is locked in place, one of the two inner surfaces pivots out of the activator's effective range, so that the activator interacts only with the other, second inner surface for unidirectional motion coupling with the coupling element. At least the activator side that interacts with the second inner surface of the coupling element should be formed by the damping element, since larger impact forces must be dampened here. Additionally, the other activator side that interacts with the first inner surface of the coupling element can also be formed by the damping element.

[0008] In another preferred embodiment, the coupling element has a coupling projection with two opposing projection sides. When the coupling element is guided linearly, the coupling projection engages in an activator opening of the activator for bidirectional interaction with the activator. When the coupling element is locked, one of the two projection sides pivots out of the activator's effective range, so that the activator interacts only with the other, second projection side for unidirectional motion coupling with the coupling element. At least the opening side of the activator opening that interacts with the second projection side should be formed by the damping element, since larger impact forces must be dampened here. Additionally, the opening side of the activator opening that interacts with the first projection side can also be formed by the damping element.

[0009] Preferably, the damping element is made of rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Thermoplastic elastomers combine the dynamic processing properties of thermoplastic polymers with the softness and flexibility of elastomers.

[0010] The activator's base body can be formed or molded as a single piece with the first part, or, preferably, it can be a separate part attached to the first part. In the latter case, the base body can, for example, be a sheet metal part joined to the first part, e.g., by welding, clinching, or riveting.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the base body of the activator is formed by a sheet metal part attached to the first part with a flared tab on which the damping element is mounted.

[0012] Preferably, the damping element is clamped or clipped onto the base body. Alternatively, the damping element can also be glued to the base body.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the guide device is designed as a drawer slide, wherein one of the two parts of the guide device is formed by a cabinet rail of the drawer slide and the other part of the guide device is formed by a drawer slide of the drawer slide. Preferably, the activator is arranged on a side of the guide device opposite a mounting bracket of the cabinet rail and is thus located internally. The mounting bracket serves to attach the cabinet rail to a cabinet. When the drawer slide is mounted on the drawer, the internal activator is not visible from the outside and, because it does not protrude outwards beyond the drawer, poses no risk of injury.

[0014] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the guide device is designed as a sliding door guide, wherein one of the two parts of the guide device is formed by a body-side guide rail of the sliding door guide and the other part of the guide device by a door-side guide fitting.

[0015] The invention further relates to a piece of furniture comprising a furniture body and a movable furniture part, as well as a guide device designed as described above, wherein either the first part of the guide device is arranged on the movable furniture part and the second part of the guide device is arranged on the furniture body, or the second part of the guide device is arranged on the movable furniture part and the first part of the guide device is arranged on the furniture body.

[0016] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the claims, and the drawing. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as an exhaustive list, but rather serve as examples for illustrating the invention.

[0017] They show: Fig. 1 a guide device according to the invention in the form of an extension guide, which has a body rail with an activator and an extension rail with a self-closing mechanism, in a perspective view obliquely from above, wherein the extension rail is retracted by the self-closing mechanism into a retracted end position; Fig. 2a, Fig. 2b the activator and a coupling element of the self-retracting mechanism in a side view ( Fig. 2a) and in a perspective view ( Fig. 2b); Fig. 3a-3d the extension of the extension rail from the retracted end position ( Fig. 3a) into an extended position released by the self-retracting mechanism in the direction of exit ( Fig. 3d), in a side view with both sides broken off; Fig. 4. A perspective view obliquely from below onto the underside of the cabinet rail and onto the inside of the drawer rail in the Fig. 3D shown, extended position of the extension rail; Fig. 5 a further embodiment of an extractor guide according to the invention in one of the Fig. 4 corresponding perspective views; Fig. 6 a piece of furniture with a guide device according to the invention.

[0018] Fig. Figure 1 shows a guide device, here in the form of a drawer slide 1, for a drawer, at an angle from above, to move the drawer on a body between a closed and an open position.

[0019] The drawer slide 1 comprises a cabinet rail (first part) 2 with a mounting bracket 3, which can be permanently attached to a cabinet side panel, and a drawer slide (second part) 4, which runs below the corresponding drawer side and is attached to the drawer. The two rails 2 and 4 are guided so as to be linearly displaceable relative to each other in the direction of the double arrow. To retract the open drawer into its closed position, the drawer slide 4 has a self-closing mechanism 5 with a self-closing housing 6 on its inner side facing away from the mounting bracket 3. The self-closing housing 6 is attached to the drawer slide 4, preferably by clipping it on, for example, by inserting flared tabs of the drawer slide 4 into the self-closing housing 6.Alternatively, the self-closing housing 6 could also be attached to the extension rail 4 by other connection types, such as rivets, screws, adhesives, etc. The self-closing mechanism 5 works together with an activator 7 of the cabinet rail 2 to move the extension rail 4 relative to the cabinet rail 2 into the Fig. The self-closing mechanism 5, which moves with the extension rail 4, can be protected from dirt from above by a cover cap. The cabinet rail 2 and the mounting bracket 3 can be designed as a single piece. Alternatively, the cabinet rail 2 and the mounting bracket 3 can be two components that are permanently or connectably connected.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the activator 7 can be attached to the extension rail 4 and the self-closing mechanism 5 can be attached to the cabinet rail 2.

[0021] As in Fig. 2a, Fig. As shown in Figure 2b, the self-closing mechanism 5 has a coupling element (swivel hook) 8 that interacts with the activator 7 to retract the extension rail 4 into the retracted end position at the end of its sliding movement. The coupling element 8 has a downward-facing coupling opening 9 with two facing inner surfaces 9a, 9b. The activator 7 has a base body 10 attached to the cabinet rail 2 and a damping element 11 mounted on the base body 10, which interacts with the coupling element 8 and is made of a more elastic material than the base body 10. For example, the base body 10 can be made of metal and the damping element 11 of rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

[0022] As in Fig. 2b and in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the base body 10 can be designed as a sheet metal part that is connected to the horizontal underside 12 of the cabinet rail 2 (in the installed state), for example by welding, clinching, or riveting, and projects laterally beyond the cabinet rail 2 on the inner side of the drawer slide 1 opposite the mounting bracket 3. A tab 13 extends upwards from the projecting section of the base body 10, and the damping element 11 is mounted on the free end of this tab. The free end of the tab can, for example, be bent over to form a vertical opening in which the damping element 11 is clamped or inserted. Because it is located inside the drawer slide 1, the activator 5 is not visible from the outside and, unlike externally mounted activators, does not pose a risk of injury.

[0023] Fig. Figures 3a-3d show the extension of the extension rail 4 from the retracted end position ( Fig. 3a), in which the extension rail 4 is retracted by the self-closing mechanism 5. Fig. Figure 3d shows an extended position in which the extension rail 4 is released from the self-closing mechanism 5 for further extension.

[0024] The coupling element 8 is in the self-retracting housing 6 from its in Fig. The end position shown in 3a, drawn in direction A, is initially guided linearly displaceable against the direction of draw-in A against the action of a return spring 14 and then pivots into a position shown in Fig. 3D shown detent position. With linearly displaceable coupling element 8, i.e., in Fig. 3a-3c, the activator 7 is arranged between the two inner sides 9a, 9b of the coupling opening 9 for a two-sided coupling with the coupling element 8. When the coupling element 8 is latched, i.e., in Fig. 3d, the left inner side of the opening 9a is swung out of the effective area of ​​the activator 7.

[0025] With the drawer closed, the extension rail 4 is in its retracted, here left, end position ( Fig. 3a). The coupling element 8 is located in the self-retracting housing 6 in its retracted, here right-hand position, and the stationary activator 7 is arranged in the coupling opening 9 of the coupling element 8 between the two inner sides of the opening 9a, 9b.

[0026] When the drawer is pulled to the right to open, the extension rail 4, together with the self-closing housing 6, is extended to the right in the opening direction B, while the coupling element 8 remains stationary on the activator 7. From the perspective of the extending self-closing housing 6, this causes the coupling element 8 to be linearly displaced against the action of the return spring 14, in the opposite direction to the retraction direction A, i.e., to the left. Fig. 3b).

[0027] If the drawer is pulled further to the right, thus extending the extension rail 4 further in the opening direction B, the coupling element 8 in the self-closing housing 6 begins to tilt clockwise ( Fig. 3c), until it is locked in the detent position ( Fig. 3d). In this detent position, the left inner opening 9a of the coupling element 8 is pivoted out of the effective range of the activator 7, and the extension rail 4 together with the drawer is released for further extension in opening direction B.

[0028] When the extended drawer is pushed to the left to close, the extension rail 4 together with the self-closing housing 6 is moved to the left in closing direction C until the tilted coupling element 8 with its right opening inner side 9b meets the activator 5 ( Fig. 3d) and is thereby released from the detent position. More precisely, the coupling element 8 with its right inner opening 9b contacts the damping body 11, thereby dampening the impact and thus also the noise upon impact.

[0029] Driven by the kinetic energy of the drawer, the coupling element 8 tilts counterclockwise ( Fig. 3c), whereby, viewed against the direction of closure C, the coupling opening 9 with its left inner side 9a begins to engage behind the activator 7 and finally the coupling element 8 is held fixedly on the activator 7 again ( Fig. 3b).

[0030] Driven by the return spring 10, from the perspective of the retracting self-closing housing 6, the now linearly guided coupling element 8 is retracted in the retraction direction A, i.e. to the right, whereby the extension rail 4 is retracted to the left into the retracted position.

[0031] The right side of the activator 7, which interacts with the second inner opening 9b of the coupling element 8, is thus formed by the damping element 11 in order to dampen the shock and impact noise when the extension rail 4 is retracted. Alternatively or additionally, the left side of the activator 7, which interacts with the first inner opening 9a of the coupling element 8, can also be formed by the damping element 11 or by another, separate damping component to reduce noise occurring during coupling. Optionally, the two sides of the damping element 11 can be made of different (secondary) materials.

[0032] From the into the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. The 4 shown extract guide 1 differs from the one in Fig. The drawer guide 101 shown in Figure 5 differs only in that the coupling element 108 has a coupling projection 115 and the activator 107 has an activator opening 116 for the coupling projection 115. The activator 107 comprises a base body 110 attached to the underside of the cabinet rail 2, which has the upwardly open activator opening 116, and a damping element 111 mounted on the base body 110 in the activator opening 116. The damping element 111, which may be one or more parts, is made of a more elastic material than the base body 110. When the coupling element 108 is guided in a linearly displaceable manner, the coupling projection 115 engages in the activator opening 116 for bilateral interaction with the activator 107. As shown in Figure 5, the coupling element 108 has a coupling projection 115 and the activator 107 has a coupling projection 115. Fig. As shown in Figure 5, with the coupling element 108 locked in place, the left projection 115a is pivoted out of the activator opening 116. The right projection 115b continues to engage in the activator opening 116 for one-sided interaction with the activator 107.

[0033] The right side of the activator 107, which interacts with the right projecting side 115b of the coupling element 108, is thus formed by the damping element 111 in order to dampen the shock and impact noise when the extension rail 4 is retracted. Alternatively or additionally, the left side of the activator 7, which interacts with the left projecting side 115a of the coupling element 8, can also be formed by the damping element 111 or by another, separate damping component to reduce noise occurring during coupling. Optionally, the two sides of the damping element 111 can be made of different (secondary) materials.

[0034] Instead of being used on a drawer slide as described above, the guide device 1; 101 can also be used, for example, on a sliding door slide. In this case, one of the two parts of the guide device 1; 101 is formed by a cabinet-side guide rail of the sliding door slide, and the other part of the guide device is formed by a door-side guide fitting of the sliding door slide.

[0035] Fig.Figure 6 shows a piece of furniture 200 with a cabinet body 201 and a movable furniture part 202, here using the example of a chest of drawers with a cabinet body and several drawers, the top drawer not being shown. Each drawer 202 is guided on the cabinet body 201 by means of a left and a right guide device 1, 101 in the form of a drawer slide. The first part 2 of the drawer slide 1, 101, which includes the activator 7, is attached to the inside of the cabinet body 201 and thus forms the cabinet rail. The second part 4 of the drawer slide 1, 101, which includes the self-closing mechanism 5, is attached to the drawer 202 and thus forms the drawer slide.

[0036] Alternatively, conversely, the second part 4 of the extension guide 1, 101, which has the self-closing mechanism 5, can be attached to the inside of the cabinet body 201 and thus form the cabinet rail, and the first part 2 of the extension guide 1, 101, which has the activator 7, can be attached to the drawer 202 and thus form the extension rail.

Claims

[1] Guide device (1; 101) comprising a first part (2) and a second part (4) which are guided linearly displaceable relative to each other, an activator (7; 107) arranged on the first part (2), and a self-retracting mechanism (5) arranged on the second part (4) with a coupling element (8; 108) which interacts with the activator (7; 107) to retract the two parts (2, 4) into a final position on an end section of their displacement movement, wherein the activator (7; 107) has a base body (10; 110) provided on the first part (2) and a damping body (11; 111) mounted on the base body (10; 110), which interacts with the coupling element (8; 108) and is made of a more elastic material than the base body (10; 110). [2] Guide device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling element (8; 108) is initially guided linearly displaceable from a retracted end position against a retraction direction (A) against the action of a restoring force in a self-retracting housing (6) and then pivoted into a detent position. [3] Guide device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element (8) has a coupling opening (9) with two mutually facing inner sides of the opening (9a, 9b), wherein, in the case of a linearly displaceable coupling element (8), the activator (7) is arranged between the two inner sides of the opening (9a, 9b) for a two-sided movement coupling with the coupling element (8), and wherein, in the case of a latched coupling element (8), a first of the two inner sides of the opening (9a, 9b) is pivoted out of the effective area of ​​the activator (7), and the activator (7) only interacts with the other, second inner side of the opening (9b) for a one-sided movement coupling with the coupling element (8). [4] Guide device according to claim 3, wherein at least the side of the activator (7) that interacts with the second inner opening (9b) of the coupling element (8) is formed by the damping body (11). [5] Guide device according to claim 4, wherein the damping body (5b) also forms the side of the activator (7) that interacts with the first inner opening (9a) of the coupling element (8). [6] Guide device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element (108) has a coupling projection (115) with two projection sides (115a, 115b) facing away from each other, wherein, when the coupling element (108) is guided linearly displaceably, the coupling projection (115) engages in an activator opening (116) of the activator (107) for a two-sided movement coupling with the activator (5), and wherein, when the coupling element (108) is locked, a first of the two projection sides (115a, 115b) is pivoted out of the effective area of ​​the activator (107), and the activator (107) only interacts with the other, second projection side (115b) for a one-sided movement coupling with the coupling element (108). [7] Guide device according to claim 6, wherein at least the opening side of the activator opening (116) which interacts with the second projection side (115b) is formed by the damping body (111). [8] Guide device according to claim 7, wherein the opening side of the activator opening (116), which interacts with the first projection side (115a), is also formed by the damping body (111). [9] Guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the damping element (11; 111) is made of rubber or of a thermoplastic elastomer. [10] Guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the base body (10; 110) of the activator (7; 107) is formed integrally with or attached to the first part (2). [11] Guide device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the base body (10) of the activator (7) is formed by a sheet metal part attached to the first part (2) with a flared tab (13) and the damping body (12) of the activator (7) is mounted on the tab (13). [12] Guide device according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the damping element (11, 111) is clamped or held in place on the base body (10; 110). [13] Guide device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the guide device (1; 101) is designed as a drawer guide and wherein one of the two parts (2, 4) of the guide device (1) is formed by a body rail of the drawer guide and the other part of the guide device (1) is formed by a drawer rail of the drawer guide. [14] Guide device according to claim 13, wherein the body rail (2) has a mounting bracket (3) for attachment to a body and wherein the activator (7; 107) is arranged on a side of the guide device (1; 101) opposite the mounting bracket (3). [15] Guide device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the guide device is designed as a sliding door guide and wherein one of the two parts (2, 4) of the guide device (1) is formed by a body-side guide rail of the sliding door guide and the other part of the guide device (1) is formed by a door-side guide fitting. [16] Furniture (200) comprising a furniture body (201) and a movable furniture part (202), further comprising a guide device (1; 101) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein either the first part (2) of the guide device (1; 101) is arranged on the movable furniture part (202) and the second part (4) of the guide device (1; 101) is arranged on the furniture body (201) or the second part (4) of the guide device (1; 101) is arranged on the movable furniture part (202) and the first part (2) of the guide device (1; 101) is arranged on the furniture body (201).

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