ARRANGEMENT OF A FURNITURE DOOR AND A CAVITY

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a furniture door, in particular a folding-sliding door, and a cavity, in particular a shaft-shaped cavity, for receiving the furniture door.

[0002] Such arrangements are known, for example, from EP 0 433 726 B1 or DE 43 08 196 A1.

[0003] The problem with the arrangements known from the prior art is that, especially in the case of heavy furniture doors, e.g. folding-sliding doors which are composed of several door leaves, the handling of the furniture doors requires a great deal of effort from the user, especially when it comes to storing the furniture doors in the hollow space.

[0004] WO 2012 / 072738 A1 discloses a movement mechanism for a door that can be arranged in a cavity. DE 10 2004 037 120 A1 discloses a movement mechanism for a drawer that can be arranged in a furniture body.

[0005] The present invention has set itself the object of providing an arrangement which is improved over the prior art and which avoids the aforementioned problems.

[0006] This object is achieved by the features of independent claim 1. According to the invention, the arrangement comprises a mechanical drive device for moving the furniture door between a preferably completely retracted position within the cavity and a position outside the cavity. This significantly facilitates the movement of the furniture door into and out of the cavity.

[0007] Furthermore, it is provided that the drive device is designed to move the furniture door from the, preferably completely, retracted position in the cavity to the position outside the cavity. In this case, the furniture door is thus moved out of the cavity automatically.

[0008] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the furniture door can be driven by the drive device throughout the entire movement between the, preferably completely retracted, position in the cavity and the position outside the cavity. This means that the drive device is active over the entire distance traveled by the furniture door between the, preferably completely retracted, position and the position outside the cavity. The advantage of this is that, apart from initiating the movement, a user does not need to take any further action to move the furniture door between the aforementioned positions.

[0009] According to the invention, the drive device comprises a control cam for controlling the movement of the furniture door between the, preferably completely retracted, position in the cavity and the position outside the cavity. The provision of such a control cam has the advantage that the drive force exerted by the drive device can be metered and transmitted to the furniture door according to a predetermined movement pattern. In this way, particularly harmonious movement sequences can be realized, for example such that the furniture door, starting from the, preferably completely retracted, position in the cavity, is initially driven with high force, then decelerated, and finally reaches the position outside the cavity at a lower speed.This also prevents injuries to people in the vicinity of the cavity as well as damage to any damping device used to dampen the movement of the furniture door immediately before it reaches the position outside the cavity.

[0010] Furthermore, the invention provides for the control cam to be adaptable to different depths of the cavity, with the control cam preferably being constructed from at least two segments that can be adjusted relative to one another. In this case, the same control cam can always be used for cavities with different depths, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0011] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the drive device has an energy store, preferably in the form of at least one tension spring, and a control element acted upon by the energy store, which is supported on the control cam under the action of the energy store, wherein the control element is preferably designed as a roller.

[0012] Furthermore, two basic designs are possible in that the control element is supported on the top or bottom of the control cam in the mounting position of the drive device.

[0013] It has also proven advantageous that the control element occupies the highest point or the lowest point on the control curve in the mounting position of the drive device, when the furniture door is in the, preferably completely, retracted position in the cavity.

[0014] Advantageous developments of the invention include the drive device exerting a driving force on the furniture door when the furniture door is in the preferably fully retracted position within the cavity, and / or the drive device exerting a restraining force on the furniture door when the furniture door is in the position outside the cavity. In the first case, the furniture door can be particularly easily removed from the cavity when the furniture door is in the preferably fully retracted position within the cavity. In the second case, premature, unintentional insertion into the cavity can be prevented.

[0015] It can also be provided that the arrangement comprises a locking device for releasably locking the furniture door in the, preferably completely, retracted position in the cavity, wherein the locking device can preferably be unlocked by over-pressing the furniture door into an over-pressing position located behind the, preferably completely retracted position. Such locking devices are generally known from the prior art, but not in conjunction with the releasable locking of a furniture door in a cavity. The provision of such a locking device is particularly advantageous when the furniture door is to be securely stowed in the cavity and the drive device exerts at least one driving force on the furniture door in the direction of the position outside the cavity.

[0016] If the furniture door has at least two hingedly connected door leaves, which can assume a folded position and an open position, it is advantageous if the arrangement comprises an expanding device for expanding the at least two door leaves from the folded position into the open position. In this way, for example, a movement sequence can be realized in which the furniture door, in its folded state, is in the, preferably completely, retracted position in the cavity, then the drive device moves the furniture door out of the cavity into the position outside the cavity and subsequently the expanding device becomes effective, so that a user - in order to fully open the at least two door leaves, ieto move the two door leaves into a position in which they lie in the same plane or in planes parallel to each other - only a small force has to be exerted on the spread door leaves in the area of the bend, provided that the door leaves are mounted on a rail system or similar.

[0017] An advantageous movement sequence can further be realized in that the arrangement comprises a damping device for damping the movement of the furniture door immediately before reaching the, preferably completely, retracted position in the cavity and / or a damping device for damping the movement of the furniture door immediately before reaching the position outside the cavity.

[0018] Ideally, the arrangement finally comprises a piece of furniture, preferably a cupboard, with a furniture body, wherein the cavity is formed, preferably in an edge region, in the furniture body and the furniture is lockable by means of the furniture door.

[0019] Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the Fig. 1 bis 13 , where the Fig. 1 bis 8 a first embodiment not according to the invention and the Fig. 9 bis 13 show a second embodiment of the invention. More specifically, in Fig. 1 a cupboard. The sequence of Fig. 2 bis 6 illustrates the stowing of the furniture door in the cavity, wherein each of these figures comprises three sub-figures a), b) and c), and wherein sub-figures a) each show the essential components of the drive device from the viewpoint of the rear wall of the furniture, sub-figures b) each show a section of the drive device from the viewpoint of the front of the furniture, and sub-figures c) each show the entire furniture. Fig. 7a) bis 7e ) the opposite movement sequence, starting from the sunken position in the cavity to the position outside the cavity, is schematically indicated. Fig. 8 shows an exploded view of the drive device according to the first embodiment not according to the invention. Fig. 9 bis 11 show the stowing of a furniture door in the cavity according to the second embodiment, wherein Fig. 9a ) a perspective view of a section of a piece of furniture, the Fig. 9b ), 10a ) and 11a ) a side view and the Fig. 9c ), 10d) and 11b ) show the essential components of the drive device in an enlarged view. Fig. 12 contains an exploded view of the drive device according to the second embodiment. Fig. 13a) bis 13f ) serve to illustrate how the control cam according to the second embodiment can be adapted to different depths of the cavity. Fig. 13a ), c) and e) each show a side view of a section of the furniture and the Fig. 13b ), d) and f) an enlarged view of the control curve.

[0020] In detail, Fig. 1 a first piece of furniture 23 in the form of a cupboard, comprising a furniture body 25, which is composed of several side walls 29, 17 and 30 aligned essentially parallel to one another, a rear wall comprising a section 31, a cover plate 28 and a base plate 32 (cf. for example Fig. 2c )) and a furniture door 1, with which the furniture 23 can be closed. The spaced-apart side walls 17 and 30 as well as the partial section 31 of the rear wall represent boundary surfaces for defining a shaft-shaped cavity 2. The width of the side walls 17 and 30 or of the cabinet 23 defines the depth 5 of the cavity 2.

[0021] The furniture door 1 is attached to a base fastening element 18 via hinges 37, said base fastening element 18 being operatively connected to the drive device as shown in the following figures.

[0022] As can be seen particularly from the exploded view according to Fig. 8 As can be seen, the drive device essentially comprises the following components: A control cam 3 with an upper side 41, the control cam 3 in the present case being attached to the side surface 17 of the furniture body 25, i.e. to a boundary surface of the cavity 2. In the assembled position of the drive device, the control element 15 in the form of a roller is supported on the upper side 41 of the control cam 3, which is mounted on a carriage 42 by means of a bolt 40. The carriage 42 is in turn mounted so as to be linearly displaceable in a guide which is composed of the two guide elements 43 and 45 and a support element 44, via which the carriage guide is also attached to the basic fastening element 18 for the furniture door 1.The slide 42 and thus the control element 15 are acted upon by an energy storage device in the form of two tension springs 12 and 13, with a first end of each of these tension springs 12 and 13 being connected to the slide 42 and a second end being held by a spring tensioner 46. The spring tensioner 46 is adjustably arranged on a support element 47. Different spring tensions can be set by adjusting the spring tensioner 46 on the support element 47.

[0023] Let us now turn to the sequence of Fig. 2 bis 6 and let us assume that a user, after opening the furniture door 1, wants to store the furniture door in the cavity 2.

[0024] Fig. 2c ) shows the corresponding position of the furniture door 1 outside the cavity 2. In this position, the drive device exerts an inhibiting force on the furniture door 1, since the control element 15 is exposed to an incline on the control curve 3 in the direction of the fully retracted position in the cavity 2 and the tension springs 12 and 13 have a slight preload in this state and therefore strive to contract. This means that a user must first overcome the inhibiting force of the drive device in order to move the furniture door 1 into the cavity 2. This inhibiting force, which must be consciously overcome, prevents the furniture door 1 from being pushed in prematurely, for example when the furniture door 1 is not yet fully opened, i.e. is not yet fully aligned in the plane of the longitudinal extent of the cavity 2.

[0025] In the transition from the position shown in the Fig. 2 shown, into the position shown in the Fig. 3 As shown, the control element 15 is moved up along the slope on the control curve 3 and thus the energy storage device is slightly charged.

[0026] After overcoming the local maximum of the control curve 3, the control element 15 moves towards a minimum, which it holds in the position according to the Fig. 4 reached.

[0027] In the transition from the position according to Fig. 3 in the position according to Fig. 4 the energy stored in the energy storage device is released and thereby supports the acceleration of the base fastening element 18 and thus of the furniture door 1. In this way, the insertion of the furniture door 1 into the shaft 2 is facilitated.

[0028] In the position according to Fig. 4 The tension springs 12 and 13 of the energy storage device are at their lowest tension. Due to their inertia, the furniture door 1 moves further toward the subsequent charging process of the energy storage device, which is completed when the device reaches the fully retracted position in the cavity (see Fig. 6 ). Fig. 5 shows an intermediate position.

[0029] When the fully submerged position in the cavity is reached (see Fig. 6 ), on the one hand, the furniture door 1 is locked to prevent the furniture door 1 from immediately moving out of the cavity 2 again under the effect of the charged energy storage device. To implement this locking, the arrangement has a locking device formed from a first locking unit 19, which is arranged on the base fastening element 18, and a second locking unit 20, which cooperates with the first locking unit and is arranged on the body side.

[0030] In order to achieve a smooth reaching of the fully retracted position in the cavity 2, the arrangement further comprises a damping device 21 for damping the movement of the furniture door 1, said damping device 21 cooperating with a stop 39 arranged on the base fastening element 18.

[0031] It should also be noted that the slope which the control element 15 has when moving from the position according to the Fig. 4 into the position according to the Fig. 6 is designed in such a way that a user feels only a slight resistance at a natural speed which occurs due to the inertia of the furniture door 1.

[0032] The Fig. 7a) bis 7e ) show the opposite movement sequence, i.e. the movement of the furniture door 1 starting from the fully retracted position in the cavity 2 to the position outside the cavity 2. This movement is initiated by over-pressing the furniture door 1 into an over-press position located behind the fully retracted position. This unlocks the locking device 19, 20. The energy stored in the energy storage device is transferred to the base fastening element 18, to which the furniture door 1 is hinged, and accelerates it outwards. The gradient of the control curve 3 is selected such that the acceleration is very high at the beginning. In this way, a dynamic reaction of the system can be simulated.

[0033] During the acceleration phase (cf. Fig. 7b )) no further user intervention is required, and upon reaching the minimum of the control curve 3, the furniture door 1 has reached its maximum ejection speed, and the braking process is initiated. The braking process is necessary in order to reduce the speed of the system upon reaching the position outside the cavity 2. This prevents, on the one hand, damage to the damping device 22 for damping the movement of the furniture door 1 immediately before reaching the position outside the cavity 2, and, on the other hand, injury to a user who is in the area of the cavity 2.

[0034] Upon reaching the position according to Fig. 7d ) the braking process is completed and the damping device 22 becomes effective.

[0035] In Fig. 7e ) is the original position according to Fig. 2 reached. The furniture door 1 can now be closed by the user.

[0036] Based on the Fig. 9 bis 13 The second embodiment according to the invention will now be described, which differs from the first non-inventive embodiment essentially in that the control cam can be adapted to different depths of the cavity, wherein the control cam is constructed for this purpose from two segments that are adjustable relative to one another.

[0037] Fig. 9a ) shows a partial section of a second piece of furniture 24 in a perspective view. The basic structure of this piece of furniture 24 corresponds to that of the Fig. 1 The furniture 23 shown here. Shown are the cover plate 33, the base plate 34, the side wall 35, and the partial section 36 of the rear wall. The width of the side wall 35 defines the depth 6 of the cavity, which is formed by the boundary surfaces in the form of the side wall 35 of the partial section 36 of the rear wall and a further side wall oriented parallel to the side wall 35, which is not shown in this and the subsequent figures in order to allow a clear view of the inventive arrangement according to the second exemplary embodiment. The furniture body is designated by the reference numeral 26.

[0038] Guide elements 38 are arranged on the side wall 35 for guiding slides 48, which are connected to a base fastening element 27 on which a furniture door is pivotably arranged.

[0039] The essential elements of the drive device according to the second embodiment are shown in the exploded view according to the Fig. 12 Illustrated: The drive device comprises a first lever 51, the first end of which is intended to be pivotally mounted on the base fastening element 27. At the other end of the lever 51, a control cam 4 is arranged, which is constructed from two segments 10 and 11 that are adjustable relative to one another. The adjustment takes place rotationally about a common axis of rotation 60. To fix a specific position of the first segment 10 relative to the second segment 11, a series of fastening means are provided in the form of holes 59 and corresponding threaded bores for receiving screws.

[0040] Furthermore, a first end of a further lever 52 is pivotally arranged on the second end of the lever 51, the second end of which is designed to be pivotally fastened to the furniture body 26.

[0041] In general, it should be noted that wedge elements 49 and 50 are provided for pivotably fastening the levers 51 and 52 to the base fastening element 27 and to the furniture body 26, respectively.

[0042] During a movement of the drive device, the relative position of the control cam 4 with respect to the lever 51 does not change. However, the relative position of the control cam 4 with respect to the second lever 52 does change.

[0043] A housing 53 for accommodating an energy storage device in the form of a compression spring 14 is arranged on the second lever 52. A sliding element 54, acted upon by the energy storage device, is slidably mounted in the housing 53. A control element 16 in the form of a roller is arranged at the end of the sliding element by means of a bearing 55. This control element 16, acted upon by the energy storage device, rests on the control cam 4, more precisely, in the assembled position of the drive device, on the upper side of the control cam 4.

[0044] How the sequence of Fig. 9 , 10 and 11 shows, the control element 16 experiences essentially the same gradients and passes through essentially the same maxima and minima during a movement of the furniture door 1, starting from the position outside the cavity to the fully retracted position in the cavity, as in the first non-inventive embodiment. This means that, of course, the movement sequence during a movement starting from the retracted position in the cavity to the position outside the cavity also proceeds essentially in the same way as in the first non-inventive embodiment. The functionality of the locking mechanism and the damping of the movement of the furniture door immediately before reaching the fully retracted position in the cavity is also the same as in the first non-inventive embodiment.

[0045] As already explained, a significant difference is that the control curve 4 is adjustable to different depths. To illustrate this adjustment to different depths of the cavity and thus different depths of the furniture, the Fig. 13a) bis 13f ). In the Fig. 13a), 13c) und 13e ) are shown cavities with different depths 7, 8 and 9. To ensure that the starting position and the end position of the control element 16 on the control cam 4 are always the same, the relative angular position 56, 57 and 58 of the segments 10 and 11 is adjusted by means of the fastening elements 59, as shown in the Fig. 13b ), d) and f). Depths 7, 8 and 9, for example, correspond to shaft depths of 750, 650 and 550 mm, respectively.

Claims

1. An arrangement having a furniture door (1), in particular a fold-sliding-door, and a, in particular chamber-formed, cavity (2) for accommodating the furniture door (1), wherein the arrangement includes a mechanical drive device (4, 10, 11, 14, 16) for moving the furniture door (1) between a, preferably fully, countersunk position within the cavity (2) and a position outside of the cavity (2), wherein the drive device (4, 10, 11, 14, 16) has a control curve (4) for controlling the movement of the furniture door between the, preferably fully, countersunk position within the cavity (2) and the position outside of the cavity (2), characterized in that the control curve (4) is adaptable to different depths (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) of the cavity (2).

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the furniture door (1), during the entire movement between the, preferably fully, countersunk position within the cavity (2) and the position outside of the cavity (2), can be driven by way of the drive device (4, 10, 11, 14, 16).

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control curve (4) is substantially composed of at least two segments (10, 11) which can be adjusted relative to one another.

4. The arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive device (4, 10, 11, 14, 16) includes an energy storage member (14), preferably in the form of at least one tension spring, and a control element (16) which is acted upon by the energy storage member (14), the control element (16) is supported against the control curve (4) by the force of the energy storage member (14), wherein the control element (16) is preferably in the form of a roller.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the control element (16), in the mounting position of the drive device (4, 10, 11, 14, 16), is supported against the upper side or against the lower side of the control curve (4).

6. The arrangement according to one of the claims 4 or 5, wherein the control element (16), in the mounting position of the drive device (4, 10, 11, 14, 16), assumes the highest point or the lowest point of the control curve (4) when the furniture door (1) is located in the, preferably fully, countersunk position within the cavity (2).

7. The arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive device (4, 10, 11, 14, 16), when the furniture door (1) is located in the, preferably fully, countersunk position within the cavity (2), exerts a driving force to the furniture door (1).

8. The arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the drive device (4, 10, 11, 14, 16), when the furniture door (1) is located in the position outside of the cavity (2), exerts a restraining force to the furniture door (1).

9. The arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the arrangement includes a locking device (19, 20) for releasably locking the furniture door (1) in the, preferably fully, countersunk position within the cavity (2), wherein the locking device (19, 20) can be unlocked, preferably by overpressing the furniture door (1) towards an overpressing position which lies behind the, preferably fully, countersunk position.

10. The arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the furniture door (1) includes at least two door wings which are hingedly connected to one another and which can assume a folded position and a spread position, and wherein the arrangement includes a spreading device for spreading apart the at least two door wings starting from the folded position into the spread position.

11. The arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the arrangement includes a damping device (21) for dampening the movement of the furniture door (1) immediately before reaching the, preferably fully, countersunk position within the cavity (2) and / or a damping device (22) for dampening the movement of the furniture door (1) immediately before reaching the position outside of the cavity (2).

12. The arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the arrangement includes an item of furniture (24), preferably a cupboard, with a furniture carcass (26), wherein the cavity (2), preferably in an edge region, is formed in the furniture carcass (26) and that the item of furniture (24) can be closed by the furniture door (1).