Cabinet furniture and door element for a cabinet
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ARREDA SYST GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical environment
[0001] The invention relates to a cabinet furniture with a body consisting of two vertical side walls, a horizontal bottom wall, a horizontal top wall and a vertical back wall, forming a usable space, and a door element articulated to the body by at least one hinge, which closes the open front of the cabinet furniture when closed.
[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a door element for a cabinet furniture with a body consisting of two vertical side walls, a horizontal bottom wall, a horizontal top wall and a vertical back wall, forming a usable space, which is articulated to the body by at least one hinge, and which closes the open front of the cabinet furniture in the closed state. State of the art
[0003] Cabinet furniture and door elements of the type described above are known in a wide variety of designs from the state of the art.
[0004] The design of cabinet furniture and door elements depends primarily on aesthetic preferences and the associated budget constraints. This applies to kitchen furniture as well as other applications in residential and commercial settings.
[0005] In addition, particularly in the higher-priced furniture sector, there is a desire for individual features in both aesthetic and technical terms.
[0006] A particular area of furniture design has recently emerged with regard to various lighting concepts. It is noteworthy that, in addition to the usual opaque furniture fronts and door elements, transparent elements made of glass or plastic are increasingly being used in furniture front design. In these cases, the glass or plastic element is enclosed by a frame to which hinges are attached, allowing the door to be moved relative to the cabinet body. The use of these transparent elements makes the objects inside the cabinet visible to the viewer. This visibility can be further enhanced by a suitable lighting fixture positioned appropriately inside the cabinet.
[0007] Despite the fact that the use of modern lighting technology, for example through the use of LED light sources, allows light emission sources to become ever smaller while maintaining or even increasing light intensity, the problem remains of making the illumination inside the cabinet furniture as uniform as possible without shadows and, moreover, of making the light source as invisible as possible inside the cabinet despite its manageable size.
[0008] The state-of-the-art solutions for the two problems mentioned above generally require considerable design effort in the cabinet furniture, which negatively impacts assembly effort and ultimately the costs incurred. Nevertheless, the known solutions often remain unsatisfactory with regard to the desired aesthetic requirements. Object of the invention
[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop, starting from the known solutions of the prior art, a cabinet and a door element for such a cabinet in such a way that the lighting situation in the cabinet body ensures optimally uniform illumination, while at the same time the light source used for this purpose is invisible from all angles when the cabinet is closed.
[0010] Furthermore, the solution according to the invention should be designed in such a way that the necessary preparatory manufacturing effort and assembly effort are kept as low as possible in order to be able to offer the solution according to the invention cost-effectively on the market. Solution to the task
[0011] The problem posed with regard to the cabinet furniture is solved by the technical teaching described in claim 1.
[0012] The essential feature of the invention is that the cabinet furniture is equipped with a body forming a usable space, consisting of two vertical side walls, a horizontal bottom wall, a horizontal top wall, and a vertical back wall, and a door element articulated to the body by at least one hinge, which closes the open front of the cabinet furniture when closed. The door element consists of a transparent door surface element and a closed, surrounding door frame enclosing the door surface element, to which the hinge is detachably attached. The door frame consists of four interconnected aluminum profiles arranged at right angles to each other. On the inner side of at least one aluminum profile facing the body, an elongated receiving groove is recessed, extending in the longitudinal direction over at least a portion of the total length of the aluminum profile, into which a strip-shaped,A light strip consisting of a plurality of LEDs, emitting light into the interior of the body, is inserted, which is electrically connected to a door contact switch arranged in the aluminium profile, which has pole surface pairs arranged on the inside of the aluminium profile and on the front edge of the body, which are connected to each other for the positive and negative voltage supply of the light strip when the door element is closed.
[0013] The described design allows the light strip located on the inside of the door element to be completely invisible from the front, while at the same time the completely inward-directed light emission enables even illumination.
[0014] The use of an LED light strip enables the use of low-voltage technology, which in turn allows the use of electrical components such as the door contact switch described above, which, due to their simple and cost-effective design, have a positive impact on the overall cost structure.
[0015] Furthermore, the special design of the door element allows for a simple concealed power supply for the light strip used and the installation of the necessary door contact switch, and enables the necessary manufacturing and assembly work to be carried out in preparatory steps if necessary, so that only the assembly of the door element takes place in the usual way during the assembly of the cabinet furniture.
[0016] With regard to the door element according to the invention, the problem is solved by the technical teaching described in claim 10.
[0017] The essential feature of the invention is that the door element for a cabinet, comprising a body consisting of two vertical side walls, a horizontal bottom wall, a horizontal top wall, and a vertical back wall, forming a usable space, is pivotally connected to the body by at least one hinge, closing the open front of the cabinet when closed. The door element consists of a transparent door surface element and a closed, surrounding door frame enclosing the door surface element, to which the hinge is detachably attached. The frame comprises four interconnected aluminum profiles arranged at right angles to each other. On the inner side of at least one aluminum profile facing the body, an elongated receiving groove is recessed, extending in the longitudinal direction over at least a portion of the total length of the aluminum profile. A strip-shapedA light strip consisting of a plurality of LEDs, emitting light into the interior of the body, is inserted, which is electrically connected to a door contact switch arranged in the aluminium profile, which has pole surface pairs arranged on the inside of the aluminium profile and on the front edge of the body, which are connected to each other for the positive and negative voltage supply of the light strip when the door element is closed.
[0018] The design advantages described above for the cabinet furniture naturally also apply to the structural design of the door element. Therefore, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the passage described above, which expressly also applies to the design of the door element according to the invention.
[0019] Special embodiments of the cabinet furniture and the door element result in conjunction with claim 1 and claim 10 from subclaims 2 to 9 for the cabinet furniture and 11 to 18 for the door element, which refer back to these two claims.
[0020] For even illumination of the cabinet interior, it has proven additionally advantageous if all the closed, surrounding aluminum profiles forming the door frame have an elongated groove extending along at least a portion of the profile's total length. To further intensify light emission, the groove can extend to the full length of the aluminum profile.
[0021] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the light-emitting strip, consisting of a plurality of LEDs and inserted into the receiving groove, is provided on its outer side facing the open side of the receiving groove with a cover which causes the emitted light to be scattered for better illumination of the interior of the body.
[0022] The described measure results in a homogenization and at the same time a diffusion of the light emitted by the light strip.
[0023] Additionally, it may be advantageous if the aluminium profiles used have a retaining groove on the side opposite the receiving groove for receiving the edge area of the door surface element and, if necessary, a protruding handle strip running in the longitudinal direction of the aluminium profile on the same outer side.
[0024] The retaining groove allows the door panel element in the form of a glass pane to be inserted into the door frame and increases the overall positive aesthetic effect, while at the same time enabling easier bonding of the door frame and door panel element.
[0025] The described handle strip eliminates the need for additional mounting of handling aids to open the cabinet furniture.
[0026] With regard to the constructive design of the door contact switch, it had proven advantageous that the pole surface pairs of the door contact switch each consist of a fixed plate-shaped contact element and a spring-loaded pin-shaped elongated contact element, wherein the spring-loaded contact element is pressed onto the plate-shaped contact element with its front free end by a compression spring in the closed state of the door element.
[0027] The special configurations described in subclaims 2 to 8 relating to claim 1 also apply in the same way to the special configurations of the door element described in subclaims 11 to 18 relating to claim 10. Character description
[0028] The invention, namely the cabinet furniture and the door element, is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached figures: Fig. 1. Sectional view through an aluminum profile for the construction of the door frame of a door element according to the invention for a cabinet furniture, Fig. 2 the sectional view through a second embodiment of an aluminum profile for the construction of the door frame of a door element according to the invention for a cabinet furniture and Fig. 3 a perspective view of the upper part of a cabinet furniture according to the invention with attached door element.
[0029] The one in Fig. 1 The aluminium profile 1 shown in cross-section is part of a door frame 2, which in turn is part of a door element 3.
[0030] Door element 3 belongs to a cabinet unit, such as those used in kitchens in a variety of designs and dimensions.
[0031] The cabinet furniture typically comprises two vertical side walls, a horizontal bottom wall, a horizontal top wall, and a vertical back wall, forming a rectangular or square body that encloses a storage compartment. The open front of the body can be closed by a door element 3. The door element 3 and the body 4 are hinged together, allowing the door to be opened for accessing items from the storage compartment. The described design represents the state of the art, so a more detailed illustration is omitted.
[0032] In the present embodiment, the door element 3 consists of a continuous closed door frame 2, which is composed of four aluminum profiles 1 that are connected to each other at right angles at their free ends. These aluminum profiles 1 have the features shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. The cross-sections shown in Figure 2 are described below and their features according to the invention are explained below. It should be noted that the aluminum profiles 1, which form the door frame 2, are designed in the same way.
[0033] As from the Fig. As can be clearly seen in Figure 1, the aluminum profile 1 has an essentially rectangular shape with two short transverse walls 5 and 6 and two longitudinal walls 7 and 8. The longitudinal wall 8 is arranged in such a way that, when the door element 3 is closed, it is directed towards the body 4 of the cabinet furniture.
[0034] The transverse wall sides of the aluminum profile 1 and the body 4 form, as shown from the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, there is a line of alignment whereby a portion of the longitudinal wall 8 covers the body 4, while the remaining portion of the longitudinal wall 8 faces into the interior of the body. Within this area is a receiving groove 9, which extends over the entire length of the aluminum profile 1 and has a rectangular cross-section with an opening 10 to the interior of the body.
[0035] A light strip 11, consisting of a plurality of LEDs and emitting light into the interior of the body, is inserted into the mounting groove 9. The light strip 11 is located at the bottom of the mounting groove 9 and is preferably glued there.
[0036] The LEDs of the light strip 11 are therefore also arranged around the perimeter due to the surrounding design of the door frame with the aluminium profiles 1 in question, are not visible from the outside of the cabinet furniture and thus radiate the interior of the cabinet furniture evenly without glare.
[0037] On the longitudinal wall 7 opposite the longitudinal wall 8, as indicated by the Fig. Figure 1 also shows a retaining groove 12 on the outer edge in the area of the transverse wall 6, which in the present embodiment is almost square and has an opening 14 into which a glass pane is inserted as a door surface element 13. The door surface element 13 can be fixed within the retaining groove 12 by means of adhesive for additional stabilization.
[0038] The power supply for the light strip 11 is located inside the cavity of the aluminum profile 1, making it invisible to the outside observer.
[0039] In the Fig. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional embodiment of the aluminium profile 1, in which the arrangement of the receiving groove 9 is the same as that shown in the Fig. Figure 1 shows. However, the receiving groove 9 is closed at its opening 10 by a cover 15. The cover 15 serves, firstly, to protect the light strip 11, but also simultaneously fulfills the function of diffusing the light emerging from the light strip 11, thus achieving even better illumination of the interior of the body 4.
[0040] With regard to the designation of the glass pane as door surface element 13, the aluminum profile 1 of the Fig. 2. differently designed. The retaining groove 16 for fastening the door surface element 13 is located differently from the version of the Fig. 1 in the area of the transverse wall 5, is also almost rectangular in shape, with the opening 17 serving to insert the door surface element 13.
[0041] On the outside of the longitudinal wall 7, in the area of the retaining groove 16, there is an outwardly projecting handle strip 18, which serves as a handling aid for opening the door element 3.
[0042] Due to the different arrangement of the retaining grooves 12 and 16 of the two design variants according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Joint use is neither intended nor possible.
[0043] For the construction of a door frame 2 with a handle strip 18, an additional aluminum profile is required in which there is no outwardly protruding handle strip.
[0044] Due to the fact that the power supply of the light strip 11 used according to the invention is in the low-voltage range, the power supply can be provided directly between the door frame 2 and the body 4 via a door contact switch 19 without additional electrical components.
[0045] The solution is illustrated by the following: Fig. 3. The electrical low-voltage connection between body 4 and door frame 2 is made at the outer edge 20 of the top wall, the bottom wall or the side walls.
[0046] The door contact switch 19 used for this purpose is double-pole with two plate-shaped contact elements 21 and 22, one contact element having the necessary positive polarity for supplying power to the light strip 11 and the other contact element having the necessary negative polarity. Such a design is only possible due to the low-voltage operation of the light strip.
[0047] Again Fig.As can be seen in Figure 3, the door contact switch 19 consists, in addition to the contact elements 21 and 22, of corresponding pin-shaped contact elements 23 and 24, which protrude slightly beyond the surface of the outer edge 20 of the cabinet front when the door element 3 is open. The pin-shaped contact elements 23 and 24 are spring-mounted, with a compression spring pushing the contact elements 23 and 24 outwards from the cabinet.
[0048] When the door element 3 is closed, the contact element 23 comes into contact with the contact element 22 and the contact element 24 with the contact element 21, so that the power supply to the light strip 11 is established and the interior of the cabinet furniture is illuminated.
[0049] The described use of the door contact switch 19 in conjunction with the low-voltage technology eliminates the need for separate cable routing in the area of the door hinges in conjunction with a normal, conventional push-button switch, as is known from the usual state of the art. Reference symbol list: 1 aluminum profile 2 door frames 3 door elements 4 Body 5 transverse wall 6 transverse wall 7 Longitudinal wall 8 Longitudinal wall 9 recordings 10 Opening 11 Light strip 12 retaining groove 13 Door surface element 14 Opening page 15 Cover 16 Holding groove 17 Opening 18 Handle strip 19 door contact switches 20 outer edge 21 Contact element (plate-shaped) 22 Contact element (plate-shaped) 23 contact element (pin-shaped) 24 Contact element (pin-shaped)
Claims
Cabinet furniture with a body (4) forming a usable space, consisting of two vertical side walls, a horizontal bottom wall, a horizontal top wall and a vertical back wall, and a door element (3) articulated to the body (4) by at least one hinge, which closes the open front of the cabinet furniture when closed, the door element (3) consisting of a transparent door surface element (13) and a closed, surrounding door frame (2) enclosing the door surface element (13), to which the hinge is detachably attached, the frame consisting of four mutually connected aluminum profiles (1) arranged at right angles to each other, wherein on the inner side of at least one aluminum profile (1) facing the body (4) an elongated receiving groove (9) extending in the longitudinal direction over at least a partial region of the total length of the aluminum profile (1) is recessed, into which a strip-shaped,a light strip (11) consisting of a plurality of LEDs, emitting light into the interior of the body (4), which is electrically connected to a door contact switch (19) arranged in the aluminum profile (1), which has pole surface pairs arranged on the inside of the aluminum profile (1) and on the front edge of the body (4), which are connected to each other for the positive and negative voltage supply of the light strip (11) when the door element (3) is closed. Cabinet furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that all aluminium profiles (1) forming the closed, surrounding door frame (2) have an elongated receiving groove (9) extending in the longitudinal direction over at least a partial area of the total length of the aluminium profile (1). Cabinet furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light-emitting strip (11) consisting of a plurality of LEDs and inserted into the receiving groove (9) is provided on its outer side facing the open side of the receiving groove (9) with a cover (15) which causes a scattering of the emitted light for better illumination of the interior of the body (4). Cabinet furniture according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the length of the receiving groove (9) in the aluminium profile (1) comprises its entire length. Cabinet furniture according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a retaining groove (12, 16) for receiving the edge area of the door surface element (13) is arranged on the side of the aluminium profile (1) opposite the receiving groove (9). Cabinet furniture according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a protruding handle strip (18) extending in the longitudinal direction of the aluminum profile (1) is arranged on the side of the (1) aluminium profile opposite the receiving groove (9). Cabinet furniture according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the door surface element (13) is made of glass. Cabinet furniture according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pole surface pairs of the door contact switch (19) each consist of a fixed plate-shaped contact element (21, 22) and a resilient, pin-shaped, elongated contact element (23, 24), wherein the resilient contact element (23, 24) is pressed onto the plate-shaped contact element (21, 22) with its front free end by a compression spring in the closed state of the door element (3). Cabinet furniture according to claim 8, characterized in that the positive and negative polarity of the supply voltage necessary for the operation of the light strip (11) are applied to each pair of pole surfaces. Door element for a cabinet furniture with a body (4) consisting of two vertical side walls, a horizontal bottom wall, a horizontal top wall and a vertical back wall, forming a usable space, which is articulated to the body (4) by at least one hinge, and which closes the open front of the cabinet furniture in the closed state, wherein the door element (3) consists of a transparent door surface element (13) and a closed, surrounding door frame (2) enclosing the door surface element (13), to which the hinge is detachably attached, which consists of four mutually connected aluminum profiles (1) arranged at right angles to each other, wherein on the inner side of at least one aluminum profile (1) facing the body (4) an elongated receiving groove (9) extending in the longitudinal direction over at least a partial region of the total length of the aluminum profile (1) is recessed, into which a strip-shaped,a light strip (11) consisting of a plurality of LEDs, emitting light into the interior of the body (4), which is electrically connected to a door contact switch (19) arranged in the aluminum profile (1), which has pole surface pairs arranged on the inside of the aluminum profile (1) and on the front edge of the body (4), which are connected to each other for the positive and negative voltage supply of the light strip (11) when the door element (2) is closed. Door element according to claim 10, characterized in that all aluminium profiles (1) forming the closed circumferential door frame (3) have an elongated receiving groove (9) extending in the longitudinal direction over at least a partial area of the total length of the aluminium profile (1). Door element according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the light-emitting light strip (11) consisting of a plurality of LEDs and inserted into the receiving groove (9) is provided on its outer side facing the open side of the receiving groove (9) with a cover (15) which causes a scattering of the emitted light for better illumination of the interior of the body (4). Cabinet furniture according to one or more of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the length of the receiving groove (9) in the aluminium profile (1) comprises its entire length. Cabinet furniture according to one or more of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that a retaining groove (12, 16) for receiving the edge area of the door surface element (13) is arranged on the side of the aluminium profile (1) opposite the receiving groove (9). Door element according to one or more of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that a protruding handle strip (18) extending in the longitudinal direction of the aluminum profile (1) is arranged on the side of the aluminium profile (1) opposite the receiving groove (9). Door element according to one or more of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the door surface element (3) consists of glass. Door element according to one or more of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the pole surface pairs of the door contact switch (19) each consist of a fixed plate-shaped contact element (21, 22) and a resilient, pin-shaped, elongated contact element (23, 24), wherein the resilient contact element (23, 24) is pressed onto the plate-shaped (21, 22) contact element with its front free end by a compression spring in the closed state of the door element (3). Door element according to claim 17, characterized in that the positive and negative polarity of the supply voltage necessary for the operation of the light strip (11) are applied to each pair of pole surfaces.