FITTING FOR A FOLDING DOOR

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a piece of furniture having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Furniture of the type mentioned above is already state of the art and has the purpose of ensuring that movable furniture parts attached to a furniture body have a defined stop on the furniture body in the closed position.

[0003] Such furniture is shown, for example, in US 4 945 972 A, DE 297 10 854 U1 and JP 2011 162994 A.

[0004] These movable furniture parts include doors, folding doors, folding sliding doors, and similar items. If a stop is missing, the movable furniture part can be pushed in too deeply, for example, in the closed position. Furthermore, the movable furniture part can perform undesired movements, such as swinging or swaying, in an unstable intermediate state, for example due to drafts or similar influences on the furniture body. If a second movable furniture part is located next to a first movable furniture part, a different joint pattern can occur due to the missing stops. Such stops for movable furniture parts, such as folding sliding doors or sliding doors, are usually rigid and located on the back of the movable furniture part.This means that the fittings intended to support the movable furniture part are arranged between the movable furniture part and the furniture body when the movable furniture part is in the closed position and are not visible. If the fitting designed as a stop is used on a folding sliding door, the problem arises that when the folding sliding door is open, the fitting has to find space between the folded door leaves. When a folding sliding door is in the open position, the two door leaves are aligned parallel to each other. The stop must be located in the limited space between the door leaves. This means that it is often not possible to bring the door leaves into a space-saving parallel position unless the door leaves are far enough apart in the open position, which in turn does not allow for a compact furniture design.Another problem is that the gap between the folding or sliding door and the furniture body in the closed position is often larger than the distance between the individual door leaves when parallel. Thus, in the closed position, the stop on the folding or sliding door must bridge a larger gap between the folding or sliding door and the furniture body. In the parallel or open position, this stop would be in the way, as the distance between the two door leaves in the parallel position is significantly smaller than the required length of the stop.

[0005] The object of the invention is to avoid the disadvantages described above and to provide a fitting that is improved compared to the prior art.

[0006] This is achieved by the features of claim 1.

[0007] Tolerances on the furniture body and / or the door leaves can be compensated for by the adjustment section.

[0008] If the contact part is arranged on the first or second door leaf so that it can move between a contact position and a rest position, whereby when the folding door is in the closed position the contact part can be brought into contact with the furniture carcass or a component of the furniture carcass, and when the folding door is in the open position the contact part can be moved into a space between the first and second door leaves, a flexible stop is created which, when the folding door is open, saves space in the limited space between the folding doors, and when the folding door is closed acts as a support between the folding door and the furniture carcass or a part of the furniture carcass. The folding door is thus supported in the closed position. If a second folding door is arranged on the furniture carcass, an attractive gap is maintained between the two folding doors.This prevents one folding door from sinking or swinging deeper into the furniture body than the other, as both folding doors are equally supported by the furniture body's hardware. This is further achieved by the adjustable length of the stop, which can accommodate any tolerances that may occur on the different door leaves or folding doors.

[0009] In general, the term folding door also refers to a folding-sliding door.

[0010] It has proven particularly advantageous that the contact part, for movement between the contact position and the rest position, is pivotally mounted around a pivot axis on the first or second door leaf or on a base body attached to the first or second door leaf. The base body significantly simplifies the installation of the fitting on one of the door leaves. The contact part, which pivots around the pivot axis, creates a space-saving fitting that requires little space between the door leaves when the door leaves are in the parallel position, which corresponds to the open position of the folding door.

[0011] If the contact part can be moved from the rest position into the contact position by means of an energy accumulator, the pivoting between the rest position and the contact position occurs automatically when the folding door moves between the closed position and the open position. This means that the contact part is pushed or pulled into the contact position by the energy accumulator, for example. When the folding door is moved into the open position, the energy accumulator is overcome by a counterforce, whereby the contact part moves into the rest position. This is also achieved by arranging the energy accumulator between the contact part and the base body or the first or second door leaf. The energy accumulator can be formed, for example, by a gas spring, an elastomer or preferably by a spring, particularly preferably by a tension spring. In other words, the energy accumulator is formed by a spring, preferably a tension spring.

[0012] If the contact part is mounted so that it can be pivoted from the contact position between the rest position and the contact position by between 0° and 90°, preferably between 0° and 80°, particularly preferably between 0° and 75°, the result is a contact part that can be located between the door leaves in a space-saving manner.

[0013] If the contact part has a contact section at a free end which can be brought into contact with the furniture body or a component of the furniture body, the support area of ​​the contact part is defined. The contact section can, for example, have a number of properties. For example, it can be designed to be dampening in order to minimize noise development. Furthermore, it can be mounted as a rotatable rolling element at the free end of the contact part and the rolling element can be brought into contact with the furniture body or a component of the furniture body with its outer surface. Thus, when the door leaf is closed, the rolling element generates a rolling movement on the rolling element, which reduces noise and minimizes wear. If this rolling element is made of plastic, for example, it also performs noise-reducing measures.Furthermore, a correspondingly softer material on the contact section prevents the furniture body from being damaged at the contact area of ​​the contact section.

[0014] It has proven advantageous for the contact section of the contact part to protrude further from the door leaf to which it is attached in the contact position than in the rest position. This ensures that the usually larger gap between the door leaves and the furniture body is bridged, and the smaller gap between the two door leaves in the parallel position is compensated for by the movable contact part.

[0015] For example, if multiple door leaves or folding doors are attached to a furniture body, their position relative to the body and their position relative to each other can be adjusted. This creates a uniform gap between the furniture parts and the body. Furthermore, the adjustability of the fitting allows it to be used in a variety of applications, not just for specially designed furniture.

[0016] If the adjustment section is formed by an elongated hole and the length of the contact part can be locked by means of at least one locking device – preferably in the form of a screw – and a corresponding fastening section – preferably in the form of a counter-thread – this provides a simple adjustment option. The adjustment can be carried out using commercially available tools. The formation of an elongated hole makes it clear to the user that this is an adjustment section. This informs the user during installation of the fitting that they are able to adjust the distance of the contact section relative to the door leaf.

[0017] If the fitting is designed in two parts, with a stop part on the first door leaf and a guide part on the second door leaf, the stop part can apply the counterforce against the energy accumulator. When the door leaf is moved from the closed position to the open position, this stop part presses against the energy accumulator and moves the contact part from the contact position to the rest position. In other words, it is advantageous if the contact part arranged on the stop part is moved by the guide part from the contact position to the rest position when the door leaf is moved from the closed position between the open position and the closed position. This occurs counter to the force of the energy accumulator.

[0018] If the guide part includes a ramp along which the contact part, preferably the contact section of the contact part, can be moved, a simple guide part is realized, which is arranged between the two door leaves in a space-saving manner. The ramp generates the necessary counterforce to bridge the energy storage device and thus to move the contact part to the rest position. The ramp generates a noise-reduced movement of the contact section along the guide part. It is advantageous if the ramp is made of a noise-insulating plastic, for example.

[0019] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to design the ramp as a curve that curves convexly toward the door leaf. This convex curve allows the ramp to be even more compact, allowing it to fit more easily into the limited space between the door leaves. The convex curve also assists in moving the contact part against the force accumulator.

[0020] If, when the folding door with at least one first door leaf and the second door leaf connected to it in an articulated manner is pivoted into the open position, the fitting folds together and, when it is folded out into the closed position, the fitting opens up and then strikes the furniture body, this ensures that the folding door is well positioned in the closed position and that the fitting is accommodated in a space-saving manner between the two door leaves in the open position.

[0021] It has proven particularly advantageous that when the folding door with the at least one first door leaf and the second door leaf connected thereto is pivoted into the open position, the fitting folds together and the door leaves are arranged essentially parallel to one another, wherein the folding or folding sliding door in the open position can be pushed into a retraction shaft located on the furniture body. This makes it possible to stow the entire assembly of door leaves in a retraction shaft next to the furniture body. Thus, the door leaves do not protrude from the room when in the open position. This creates a visually clean appearance even in the open position. The folding door is stowed away when open. The retraction shaft can be made narrower thanks to the foldable stops, which is a further advantage of the invention.

[0022] Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. Fig. 1Furniture with folding doors in the closed position in a perspective view, Fig. 2Furniture with folding doors in the closed position in a top view, Fig. 3Fitting in contact position, Fig. 4Furniture in open position, Fig. 5Fitting in rest position, Fig. 6Fitting in the open position of the folding door, Fig. 7Fitting in the closed position of the folding door, Fig. 8Adjustability of the fitting, Fig. 9Exploded view of components of the fitting, and Fig. 10Variant with damping device.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a piece of furniture 100 with a furniture body 40, in which at least one folding door 3, consisting of a first door leaf 3a and a second door leaf 3b, is mounted. The door leaves 3a, 3b are mounted movably along a guide 50. In Fig. 1 the closed position S is shown, in which at least one folding door 3 is closed and thus the door leaves 3a, 3b have a coplanar position.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows the furniture 100 in plan view. At least one intake shaft 41 is arranged on the side of the furniture 100 or on the furniture body 40. This serves to accommodate the folding door 3 when brought into the open position O. Folding doors 3 are also referred to as folding-sliding doors, since these not only fold but also slide along the Fig. 1 shown guides 50. In the area between the furniture body 40 and the at least one folding door 3 there is at least one fitting 1 with a contact part 2. The contact part 2 of the fitting 1 contacts a component of the furniture body 40 or the furniture body 40 itself in the closed position S of the at least one folding door 3. This ensures that the folding door 3 is positioned relative to the furniture body 40 in the closed position S. The gap between the individual door leaves 3a, 3b and / or the folding doors 3 is thus correctly adjusted.It can be seen that the gap X between the folding door 3 and the furniture body 40 is bridged by the fitting 1, wherein in the closed position S of the folding door 3 the contact part 2 in contact position K can be brought into contact with the furniture body 40 or a component of the furniture body 40 in a rigid manner, and in an open position O of the folding door 3 the contact part 2 in a rest position R can be moved flexibly into a space Z between the first and the second door leaf 3a, 3b. The positioning of the folding doors 3 is therefore not only taken over by the folding hinges 42, but also by the fitting 1. For the sake of simplicity, in the . Fig. 2 The guides 50 in the upper area of ​​the furniture 100 are omitted from the drawing. Since, in addition to the fittings 1, an opening aid is arranged at the gap between the door leaves 3a, 3b, which is triggered when the door leaves 3a, 3b are overpressed and supports the pivoting of the folding doors 3 from the closed position S towards the open position O, the contact part 2 must also be slightly flexible in order to be able to compensate for this overpressure. This is achieved, for example, by a force accumulator arranged in or on the fitting 1. When overpressing from the coplanar position into an overpress position of the folding door 3, the contact part 2 on the fitting 1 can thus give way slightly in order to ensure the triggering of the ejection aids. The ejection aids are in the Fig. 2 not made visible, these are located in an area above or below the fitting 1 at the door gap between the door leaves 3a, 3b.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows the door leaves 3a, 3b in the closed position S. The door leaves 3a, 3b are connected to each other via a hinge 43 with a hinge axis SX. The hinge 43 can also Fig. 2 include an extended ejection aid to assist in opening the door leaves 3a, 3b from the closed position S into the open position O. This ejection aid can, however, also be implemented by a separate component located along the door gap between the door leaves 3a, 3b. Next to the hinge 43, the fitting 1 with a stop part 1a is located on the door leaf 3a. On the door leaf 3b, there is the corresponding guide part 1b of the fitting 1, which can be engaged with the stop part 1a and interacts with the contact part 2 in a certain position of the door leaves 3a, 3b. Fig. 3 The closed position S is shown; the contact part 2 is supported by the contact section 5 on a part of the furniture body 40 and thus serves as a stop. The contact part 2 is attached to the base body 6 of the fitting 1 so that it can rotate or pivot about a rotation axis D. The interaction between the guide part 1b and the stop part 1a or the contact section 5 of the contact part 2 takes place via a ramp 7. This ramp 7 is designed as a single piece with the guide part 1b.

[0026] Fig. 4 shows the furniture 100 in the open position O, wherein the fitting 1 with its contact part 2 is in the folded state in the intermediate area Z between the door leaves 3a, 3b. The almost parallel or essentially parallel door leaves 3a, 3b do not allow such a large distance from each other that the fitting 1, as in Fig. 2 shown, can retain its dimensions. The fitting 1 must be flexible in order to be able to move the door leaves 3a, 3b into the open position O in order to subsequently position them, for example, in the intake shaft 41. The Fig. 4 thus shows the rest position of the fitting 1. Through a guide 50, the arrangement of the door leaves 3a, 3b can be inserted into the intake shaft 41 in the open position O. The furniture 100 is thus opened to the front, with the intake shaft 41 being occupied by the folding door 3.

[0027] Fig. 5 shows how the door leaves 3a, 3b of the folding door 3 have been pivoted towards each other and are in the open position O. The pivoting takes place via the pivot axis SX. The contact section 5 of the contact part 2 moves along the ramp 7 of the guide part 1b into the rest position R. This movement takes place against a force accumulator 4. The force accumulator 4 is arranged between the stop part 1a and the contact part 2 and supports a return of the contact part 2 from the rest position R into the contact position K. Instead of a force accumulator 4, for example, the force of gravity could also be used to support the positioning of the contact part 2 in the contact position K. The ramp 7 would have to act against the force of gravity in order to move the contact part 2 into the rest position R. In the preferred embodiment, as in Fig. 5 shown, however, the contact part 2 is moved about the rotation axis D against the ramp 7 via the energy accumulator 4.

[0028] Fig. 6 shows the fitting 1 without the door leaves 3a, 3b for simplification. The fitting 1 is in the rest position R. This corresponds to the open position O of the door leaves 3a, 3b (not shown). The components forming the fitting 1, consisting of the stop part 1a and the guide part 1b, are connected to the door leaves 3a, 3b via fastening means 8. The energy accumulator 4, designed as a tension spring, is under tension in the rest position and tends to move the contact part 2 together with the contact section 5 into the contact position K (see Fig. 7 ). However, due to the fact that the door leaves 3a, 3b are in the open position, this movement cannot occur and is blocked. Only when the door leaves 3a, 3b are brought into the closed position S can the energy storage device 4 pull or bring the contact part 2 together with the contact section 5 into the contact position K. As can be seen in Fig. 6 is also that the contact part 2 is rotatably attached to the base body 6 via a rotation axis D, consisting of a pin or a screw. The contact section 5 is designed as a rolling element, which is rotatably located at the free end of the contact part 2 and with the circumference of which the contact to the Fig. 6 can be manufactured as a component of the furniture body 40 (not shown). The ramp 7 is adapted to the geometry of the contact section 5. Thus, the contact section 5, designed as a rolling element, can move along the ramp 7. The ramp 7, which is curved convexly toward the door leaf 3b, facilitates the movement of the contact part 2 from the rest position R into the contact position K and vice versa.

[0029] Fig. 7 shows the fitting 1 in the contact position K, which corresponds to the closed position S of the door leaves 3a, 3b. Here, too, the door leaves 3a, 3b have been removed from the drawing for simplicity. The energy accumulator 4 has thus pulled or moved the contact part 2 into the contact position K.

[0030] Fig. 8 shows that the contact part 2 consists of two elements that are movable relative to each other. The contact part 2 has a support part 9, which is rotatable about the rotation axis D (see Fig. 7 ) is connectable to the base body 6. The carrier part 9 has an adjustment section 10, along which the sliding part of the contact part 2 is mounted for longitudinal movement. The adjustment section 10 is designed as an elongated hole which extends along the carrier part 9. The adjustment part 21 is fixed in its position to the carrier part 9 via at least one locking means 12 or a corresponding fastening section 12'. The receptacle for the contact section 5 is also located on the adjustment part 21. In this case, it is designed as an opening for receiving a pivot pin or bolt, against which the rolling element forming the contact section 5 is attached. For simplification, the contact section 5 was Fig. 8 Not shown. The relative position between the folding door 3 and the furniture body 40 can be adjusted via the adjustment section 10.

[0031] Fig. 9 shows the exploded view of the stop part 1a of the fitting part 1. This consists of the base body 6 and the fastening means 8, with which the base body 6 can be fastened to a door leaf 3a, 3b. Furthermore, the base body 6 has the receptacles for the rotation axis D, designed as a pivot pin 11. The support part 9 is then movably attached to this. The energy accumulator 4 is fastened between the base body 6 and the support part 9. This is done via the stop means 13 or 13'. These can be designed as pins, screws, or bolts. The contact section 5 is attached to the adjustment part 21 of the contact part 2 via a further stop means 14. The locking means 12 with the corresponding fastening sections 12' arranged in the adjustment part 21 are designed as screws with a corresponding counter thread. It is also possible to use just one screw with a corresponding counter thread here.Instead of a tension spring forming the force accumulator 4, an elastomer, a pneumatic or hydraulic damper or something similar could also be used to cause the restoring movement of the contact part 2.

[0032] Fig. 10 shows a schematic representation of a contact part 2, which has a damping device 55. This damping device 55 ensures damping when contacting the contact part 2 and the furniture body 40 or a part of the furniture body 40, such as a worktop, a floor plate, a shelf compartment or a ceiling plate. The damping device 55 can be formed by a spring, a hydraulic or pneumatic damper or an elastic element, the spring force or restoring force of which is less than the closing force of the door leaves 3a, 3b into the closed position S. The damping device 55 therefore has no influence on the distance La between the door leaves 3a, 3b and the furniture body 40, since the damping device 55 is fully pressed through in the closed position of the door leaves 3a, 3b. The damping device 55 supports the contact section 5, which in the Fig. 10 as a roller that sits on a spring plunger. Instead of a roller, a simple, spring-loaded pin or a simple elastic element can be arranged on the contact part 2. In the closed position S, the total length Ld of the contact part 2 changes to the distance La, which corresponds to the gap X between the furniture body 40 and the folding door 3 (see Fig. 2 ) since the entire damping device 55 is overcompressed by the closing force. Despite the damping device 55, an unyielding, hard, and firm impact of the contact part 2 against the furniture body 40 or a part thereof is achieved, thereby precisely defining the relevant distance La.

Claims

1. An article of furniture (100) comprising at least one furniture carcass (40) and at least one folding door (3) and at least one fitting (1) for the folding door (3) arranged on the furniture carcass (40) having at least one first door leaf (3a) and a second door leaf (3b) hingedly connected thereto, wherein the fitting (1) has a contact portion (2) arranged at the first or second door leaf (3a, 3b), wherein the contact portion (2) is arranged on the first or second door leaf (3a, 3b) moveably between a contact position (K) and a rest position (R), wherein in a closed position (S) of the folding door (3), the contact portion (2) in the contact position (K) can be brought into contact with the furniture carcass (40) or a component of the furniture carcass (40), and in an open position (O) of the folding door (3), the contact portion (2) in a rest position (R) is moveable into an intermediate space (Z) between the first and second door leaf (3a, 3b), characterized in that the contact part (2) is adjustable in length by means of an adjustment section (10) and in that the contact part (2) in the contact position (K) protrudes substantially perpendicularly form the first or second door leaf (3a, 3b).

2. The article of furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact portion (2), for the movement between the contact position (K) and the rest position (R), is pivotably mounted hingedly about an axis of rotation on the first or second door leaf (3a, 3b) or on a base body fastened to the first or second door leaf (3a, 3b).

3. The article of furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact portion (2) is moveable from the rest position (R) into the contact position (K) by a force storage member (4), wherein the force storage member (4) is arranged between the contact portion (2) and the base body (6) or the first or second door leaf (3a, 3b).

4. The article of furniture according to claim 3, characterized in that the force storage member (4) is provided by a spring, preferably a tension spring.

5. The article of furniture according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact portion (2) is mounted pivotably between the rest position (R) and the contact position (K) through between 0° and 90°, preferably 0° and 80°, particularly preferably 0° and 75°.

6. The article of furniture according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the contact portion (2), at a free end, has a contact part (5) which can be brought into contact with the furniture carcass (40) or a component of the furniture carcass (40).

7. The article of furniture according to claim 6, characterized in that the contact part (5) of the contact portion (2) in the contact position (K) projects further from the door leaf (3a, 3b) to which it is fixed than in the rest position (R).

8. The article of furniture according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the contact part (5) is mounted as a rotatable rolling body at the free end of the contact portion (2) and the rolling body can be brought into contact with its peripheral surface with the furniture carcass (40) or a component of the furniture carcass (40).

9. The article of furniture according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the adjustment portion (10) is formed by a slot and the length of the contact portion (2) can be arrested by means of at least one arresting means (12) - preferably in the form of a screw - and a corresponding fixing portion (12') - preferably in the form of a counterpart thread.

10. The article of furniture according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the fitting (1) is of a two-part structure, wherein an abutment portion (1a) is arranged on the first door leaf (3a) and a guide portion (1b) is arranged on the second door leaf (3b).

11. The article of furniture according to claim 10, characterized in that the contact portion (2) arranged on the abutment portion (1a) is moved from the contact position (K) into the rest position (R) upon a displacement of the door leaves (3a, 3b) between the open position (O) and the closed position (S) by the guide portion (1b).

12. The article of furniture according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the guide portion (1b) includes a ramp (7) along which the contact portion (2) - preferably the contact part (5) of the contact portion (2) - is displaceable, wherein preferably the ramp (7)is of a curved configuration in the form of a curving convex relationship with the door leaf (3b).

13. The article of furniture according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that upon pivotal movement of the folding door (3) with the at least one door leaf (3a) and the second door leaf (3b) hingedly connected thereto into the open position (O), the fitting (1) is folded together and upon unfolding into the closed position (S), the fitting (1) is opened up with subsequent abutment against the furniture carcass (40).

14. The article of furniture according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that upon pivotal movement of the folding door (3) with the at least one first door leaf (3a) and the second door leaf (3b) hingedly connected thereto into the open position (O), the fitting (1) is folded together and the door leaves (3a, 3b) are arranged in substantially mutually parallel relationship, wherein the folding door (3) in the open position (O) can be inserted into a retraction compartment (41) on the furniture carcass (40).

15. The article of furniture according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the contact portion (2) in the contact position (K) establishes a spacing (La) between the folding door (3) and the furniture carcass (40) at a fixed value defined by the length of the contact portion.