GUIDE SYSTEM FOR GUIDING AT LEAST ONE MOVABLE FURNITURE PART

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a guide system for guiding at least one movably mounted furniture part with a furniture hinge, comprising a first fitting part for fastening to a furniture part or for fastening to a support which is mounted so as to be movable relative to a furniture body, a second fitting part for fastening to a movably mounted furniture part, an articulated mechanism which connects the first fitting part and the second fitting part to one another in an articulated manner, wherein the articulated mechanism has at least five, preferably at least seven, articulated axes, wherein the articulated mechanism has at least one support lever which directly connects the first fitting part and the second fitting part to one another, wherein the articulated mechanism has a control mechanism which is separate from the at least one support lever for controlling a movement sequence between the first fitting part and the second fitting part, wherein the control mechanism has at least three control levers which are articulated to one another.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a piece of furniture with a furniture body and at least one furniture part movable relative to the furniture body, and with a furniture hinge or with a guide system for moving the at least one furniture part.

[0003] WO 2006 / 053364 A1, filed by the applicant, shows a furniture hinge designed as a wide-angle hinge, which requires a relatively complex construction to achieve a maximum opening angle of approximately 170°. Using an intermediate piece coupled to the hinge movement—which serves as an extension of the hinge arm—it is possible not only to pivot the two furniture parts relative to each other, but also to increase their distance from each other during pivoting.

[0004] US 2,674,761 A shows a hinge for refrigerator doors, wherein the hinge has a first fitting part in the form of a first mounting plate and a second fitting part in the form of a second mounting plate that is articulated thereto. The hinge is designed as a multi-joint hinge with seven joint axes and has a support lever (reference numeral 8) that directly connects the fitting parts to be attached to the furniture parts. The support lever is reinforced and is formed by a stack of eight adjacent plates. In addition to the support lever, further levers are provided that articulate the fitting parts to one another. The disadvantage is that the design requires a relatively large installation space and that the hinge can only be used for applications where the maximum opening angle of the door is limited to approximately 90°.

[0005] GB 758,932 A shows a multi-joint hinge with seven joint axes, wherein a support lever (reference numeral 3) directly connects a fitting part to be fastened to a body and a joint axis arranged within a wall thickness of the door.

[0006] WO 2007 / 148366 A1 shows a piece of furniture with two movable door leaves that are hinged together along a vertical axis. A guide system allows the door leaves to be moved relative to each other between a coplanar position and a parallel position. In the parallel position, the door leaves can be stored in a lateral compartment of the furniture body.

[0007] The coupling of the two fitting parts in furniture hinges with five or more joint axes to increase the maximum opening angle of the furniture hinge is usually achieved via two or more levers that are pivotally connected to both the first and second fitting parts. Two of these levers are pivotally connected to each other via a separate joint axis. When the furniture hinge is subjected to high loads, the fitting parts are lowered relative to each other, which increases friction and adversely affects the movement behavior of the movable furniture part.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a furniture hinge of the type mentioned at the outset while avoiding the disadvantages discussed above.

[0009] This is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0010] According to the invention, it is therefore provided that a first control lever is connected to the first fitting part via a joint axis and a second control lever is connected to the second fitting part via a joint axis, and wherein a third control lever connects the first control lever and the second control lever to one another.

[0011] According to the invention, a furniture hinge with five or more joint axes is provided with at least one pivotable support lever, which directly connects the first fitting part and the second fitting part of the furniture hinge in an articulated manner (i.e., without the interposition of another articulated lever). In this way, the load-bearing capacity of a furniture hinge can be increased, the stability improved, and the maximum opening angle increased.

[0012] In addition to improved rigidity and reduced sagging of the furniture hinge, a further advantage of the invention is that the at least one support lever assumes the main load of the furniture hinge, and consequently, a control mechanism separate from the support lever for controlling a movement sequence between the first fitting part and the second fitting part practically does not need to assume any supporting function. This control mechanism, separate from the support lever, can therefore be designed with a much more delicate design while maintaining stability. The control levers of the control mechanism can, for example, be made of a thinner material, which makes the furniture hinge more compact and, due to the delicate design of the control mechanism, also more cost-effective to manufacture.

[0013] According to the invention, the control mechanism for controlling a movement sequence between the first fitting part and the second fitting part comprises at least three control levers connected to one another in an articulated manner. The first control lever is connected to the first fitting part via a hinge axis, and a second control lever is connected to the second fitting part via a hinge axis. The third control lever, which connects the first control lever and the second control lever, can be pivotally connected to the at least one support lever via a hinge axis.

[0014] Preferably, all hinge axes of the furniture hinge are arranged outside the wall thickness of the movable furniture part when the furniture hinge is mounted on the movable furniture part, preferably in all operating positions of the furniture hinge. This has the particular advantage that the second fitting part can be easily attached to the movable furniture part without the need for complex recesses or bores in the movable furniture part to accommodate the second fitting part.

[0015] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the figures. Fig. 1a, 1b show a perspective view of a piece of furniture with a furniture body and furniture parts movable relative thereto, Fig. 2a, 2b the furniture according to the Figuren 1a, 1b in further positions of the furniture parts relative to one another, Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the furniture hinge, wherein the furniture part is aligned parallel to a side wall of the furniture body, Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the furniture hinge, wherein the furniture part assumes an angular position relative to the side wall of the furniture body, Fig. 5 shows a cross section of the furniture hinge, wherein the furniture part is aligned at right angles to a side wall of the furniture body, Fig. 6 shows the furniture hinge in a perspective view, Fig. 7 shows the furniture hinge in an exploded view, Figs. 8a, 8b show a furniture hinge according to a further embodiment in a plan view and in a perspective view.

[0016] Fig. 1a shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture 1 with a furniture body 2 and furniture parts 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b in the form of plate-shaped door leaves that are movable relative thereto. The furniture parts 3a, 3b and the furniture parts 4a, 4b are each movably mounted by a guide system 5 between a first position, in which the furniture parts 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b are aligned substantially coplanar to one another, and a second position, in which the furniture parts 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b are aligned substantially parallel to one another. In a second (parallel) position, the furniture parts 3a, 3b can be inserted into a lateral receiving compartment 8a of the furniture body 2, while the furniture parts 4a, 4b can be inserted into a further receiving compartment 8b in a parallel position to one another. The functionality is explained below using furniture parts 3a and 3b, whereby the same explanations apply to furniture parts 4a, 4b.The guide system 5 comprises a first guide rail 7a with a longitudinal direction (L), wherein a guide carriage 6 connectable to the second furniture part 3b is mounted so as to be movable along the first guide rail 7a.

[0017] Fig. 1b shows the furniture 1, where the furniture parts 3a, 3b starting from the Fig. 1a shown coplanar position into an angular position to one another. The first furniture part 3a is mounted via two or more furniture hinges 10 on a support 11, which can be inserted into the receiving compartment 8a in a depth direction (Z). In the figure shown, the support 11 is in a transfer position, in which the support 11 adjoins the first guide rail 7a in the longitudinal direction (L), so that the guide carriage 6 can be transferred back and forth between the first guide rail 7a and the support 11. In the transfer position shown, the support 11 is releasably locked to the first guide rail 7a, wherein the locking between the first guide rail 7a and the support 11 can be released by the guide carriage 6 entering or onto the support 11. The support 11 is designed in the form of an elongated column, the length of which corresponds to at least half the height of the furniture parts 3a, 3b.The two furniture parts 3a, 3b are connected to each other in an articulated manner about a vertically extending axis via at least one hinge fitting 9. The second furniture part 3b is mounted on the guide carriage 6 for movement along the first guide rail 7a.

[0018] Fig. 2a shows the piece of furniture 1 with the furniture parts 3a and 3b, which are now aligned parallel to each other. The support 11 has been unlocked by the entry of the guide carriage 6 from the first guide rail 7a, so that the support 11 (together with the guide carriage 6 and the furniture parts 3a, 3b) can be inserted into the receiving compartment 8a in the depth direction (Z), for example, along a second guide rail (not shown) of the guide system 5 running transversely to the longitudinal direction (L).

[0019] Fig. 2b shows the furniture 1 with the furniture parts 3a, 3b, which are now in a fully inserted state in the receiving compartment 8a. The furniture parts 3a, 3b are thus guided by the guide system 5 from a first position according to Fig. 1a , in which the furniture parts 3a, 3b are aligned substantially coplanar to each other, and a second position according to Fig. 2b , in which the furniture parts 3a, 3b are aligned essentially parallel to each other and are accommodated within the receiving compartment 8a. In this way, for example, a Figuren 2a, 2b The kitchen 12 shown can be completely covered, so that the kitchen 12 can be visually separated from the remaining area of ​​a living space. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage compartment 8a is formed by a side wall 13a and a partition wall 13b spaced parallel to the side wall 13a, wherein the furniture parts 3a, 3b can be inserted in a parallel position to one another between the side wall 13a and the partition wall 13b.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows the support 11 arranged between the side wall 13a and the partition wall 13b in a cross section, this representation of the Fig. 2a shown position of the furniture parts 3a, 3b. The support 11 can be inserted into the receiving compartment 8a in the depth direction (Z). In the figure shown, the support 11 is formed by an elongated hollow profile. For the pivotable connection between the support 11 and the first furniture part 3a, at least one furniture hinge 10 is provided, which has a first fitting part 14 for attachment to the support 11 and a second fitting part 15 for attachment to the furniture part 3a. The first fitting part 14 can be attached either to the support 11 shown or alternatively to another furniture part (for example, to the side wall 13a or to the partition wall 13b). For attachment, the first fitting part 14 and / or the second fitting part 15 can have at least one attachment point 18, which can be designed, for example, as a hole for receiving screws 21 ( Fig. 7 ) or as a dowel, preferably expandable.

[0021] The first fitting part 14 has a flat first contact surface 14a for contact with the support 11 or with a furniture part (for example, with the side wall 13a or with the partition wall 13b), while the second fitting part 15 is provided with a flat second contact surface 15a. The two fitting parts 14, 15 are movable relative to each other between a first position in which the contact surfaces 14a, 15a are arranged substantially at right angles to each other ( Fig. 3 ), and a second position in which the contact surfaces 14a, 15a are arranged substantially parallel to each other ( Fig. 5 ), mounted movably.

[0022] The furniture hinge 10 has a joint mechanism 19 which connects the first fitting part 14 and the second fitting part 15 in an articulated manner and which has at least five, preferably at least seven, joint axes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). Furthermore, the joint mechanism 19 has at least one support lever 16 which directly connects the first fitting part 14 and the second fitting part 15. The support lever 16 is thus connected to the first fitting part 14 via a first joint axis (A) and directly to the second fitting part 15 via a second joint axis (B), with the support lever 16 bearing the main load of the furniture hinge 10. A control mechanism 17 separate from the support lever 16 controls the movement sequence between the first fitting part 14 and the second fitting part 15. The control mechanism 17 has at least three pivotable control levers 17a, 17b, 17c.A first control lever 17a is connected to the first fitting part 14 via a third joint axis (C) and to a third control lever 17c via a fourth joint axis (D). The third control lever 17c is pivotally mounted on the support lever 16 about a seventh joint axis (G). A second control lever 17b is pivotally connected to the second fitting part 15 via a fifth joint axis (E) and to the third control lever 17c via a sixth joint axis (F).

[0023] It is preferably provided that all joint axes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) of the furniture hinge 10 are arranged outside a wall thickness of the movable furniture part 3a in an assembled state of the furniture hinge 10 on the movable furniture part 3a, preferably in all operating positions of the furniture hinge 10.

[0024] Fig. 4 shows a further movement of the first fitting part 14 and the second fitting part 15 to each other, whereby the position of the first furniture part 3a corresponds approximately to the Figur 1b The support lever 16 can be clearly seen; it is connected directly to the first fitting part 14 via the first joint axis (A) and directly to the second fitting part 15 via the second joint axis (B). The third control lever 17c is connected to the support lever 16 about the seventh joint axis (G), with a first lever end of the third control lever 17c being connected to the first control lever 17a by the fourth joint axis (D) and a second lever end of the third control lever 17c being connected to the second control lever 17b by the sixth joint axis (F). According to one exemplary embodiment, the support lever 16 can be curved at least in sections along a longitudinal extent of the support lever 16. It can be seen that the at least one support lever 16 is mounted jointly on the second fitting part 15 via the joint axis (B) and the second control lever 17b is mounted jointly on the second fitting part 15 via the joint axis (E).

[0025] Fig. 5 shows a further movement of the first fitting part 14 and the second fitting part 15 relative to each other, whereby the position of the first furniture part 3a of the Figur 1b , wherein the furniture parts 3a, 3b are aligned substantially coplanar with one another. It can be seen that the control mechanism 17 of the furniture hinge 10 is designed such that the first furniture part 3a covers an end face 20 of the side wall 13a at least partially, preferably substantially completely. In this way, when the furniture 1 is viewed from the front, a smooth surface is present overall—without the formation of a step or gap visible from the front between the side wall 13a and the movable furniture part 3a.

[0026] Fig. 6 shows the furniture hinge 10 in a perspective view. According to one exemplary embodiment, the at least one support lever 16 can have at least two partial levers 16a, 16b, which are spaced apart from one another along the joint axes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). This allows for a stable construction to be realized, which is particularly suitable for supporting heavy furniture parts 3a.

[0027] According to a further embodiment, it can be provided that at least one of the control levers 17a, 17b, 17c, preferably all control levers 17a, 17b, 17c, is or are arranged at least partially between the partial levers 16a, 16b of the support lever 16, and / or that at least one of the control levers 17a, 17b, 17c, preferably all control levers 17a, 17b, 17c, has or have at least two partial levers which are spaced apart from one another along the joint axes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G).

[0028] Fig. 7 shows the furniture hinge 10 in an exploded view. To improve the stability of the furniture hinge 10, as shown in the figure, the support lever 16 and / or at least one control lever 17a, 17b, 17c, preferably all control levers 17a, 17b, 17c, can have at least two pivot bearings spaced apart along a joint axis (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) for receiving the joint axes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). Provision can be made for the joint axes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) to be mounted in these pivot bearings so that they can rotate and / or be displaced to a limited extent.

[0029] The second fitting part 15 has at least one web 22a, 22b, which projects transversely, preferably substantially at right angles, from the contact surface 15a of the second fitting part 15 and which is provided for supporting the support lever 16 (in the present case for supporting the two partial levers 16a, 16b of the support lever 16 on the two joint axes (B, E)).

[0030] Fig. 8a shows a plan view of a furniture hinge 10 according to a further embodiment. This is also a furniture hinge 10 with seven joint axes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), wherein the support lever 19 of the joint mechanism 19 is directly connected both to the first fitting part 14 by the joint axis (A) and to the second fitting part 15 by the joint axis (B). The first fitting part 14 is designed for attachment to the support 11, while the second fitting part 15 is to be fixed to the furniture part 3a. This embodiment differs from the previous exemplary embodiment in a different position of the joint axes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) and in a different shape of the support lever 10 and the control levers 17a, 17b, 17c. The support lever 10 is essentially straight, while the control lever 17a has an angular shape. Fig. 8b shows the embodiment according to Fig. 8ain a perspective view. This embodiment is particularly suitable for moving a single furniture part 3a relative to the furniture body 2.

Claims

1. A guide system (5) for guiding at least one movably-supported furniture part (3a) relative to a sidewall (13a) of a furniture carcass (2), comprising: - a carrier (11) configured to be displaceably supported, in a mounted condition, relative to the furniture carcass (2) in a depth direction (Z) of the sidewall (13a), - at least one furniture hinge (10) for movably supporting the at least one furniture part (3a) relative to the furniture carcass (2), the at least one furniture hinge (10) including: - a first fitting portion (14) configured to be fixed to the movably-supported carrier (11), - a second fitting portion (15) configured to be fixed to the movably-supported furniture part (3a), - wherein the first fitting portion (14) and the second fitting portion (15) of the furniture hinge (10) are movably supported relative to one another between a first position, in which the at least one furniture part (3a), in the mounted condition, is aligned substantial parallel to the sidewall (13a) and is displaceable, jointly with the carrier (11), in the depth direction (Z) of the furniture carcass (2), and a second position, in which the at least one furniture part (3a), in the mounted condition, covers at least partially, preferably substantially entirely, a front face (20) of the sidewall (13a), - a hinge mechanism (19) hingedly connecting the first fitting portion (14) and the second fitting portion (15) to one another, the hinge mechanism (19) having a least five, preferably at least seven, hinge axis members (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), - wherein the hinge mechanism (19) includes at least one supporting lever (16) directly connecting, that is to say without the interposition of a further hinge lever, the first fitting portion (14) and the second fitting portion (15) to one another, - wherein the hinge mechanism (19) includes a control mechanism (17) for controlling a motion sequence between the first fitting portion (14) and the second fitting portion (15), the control mechanism (17) being separate from the at least one supporting lever (16) and having at least three control levers (17a, 17b, 17c) hingedly connected to one another, - wherein a first control lever (17a) is connected to the first fitting portion (14) via a hinge axis member (C), a second control lever (17b) is connected to the second fitting portion (15) via a hinge axis member (E), and wherein a third control lever (17c) connects the first control lever (17a) and the second control lever (17b) to one another.

2. The guide system (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one supporting lever (16) is pivotally connected to the first fitting portion (14) via a first hinge axis member (A), and is pivotally connected to the second fitting portion (15) via a second hinge axis member (B).

3. The guide system (5) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one supporting lever (16) is at least partially curved-shaped along a longitudinal extension of the supporting lever (16).

4. The guide system (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one supporting lever (16) includes at least two pivot bearings for receiving the hinge axis members (A, B), the at least two pivot bearings being spaced from one another along a hinge axis member (A, B).

5. The guide system (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first fitting portion (14) and / or the second fitting portion (15) includes or include at least one fastening location (18) for fixing to a furniture part (3a) .

6. The guide system (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hinge axis members (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), in a mounted condition of the furniture hinge (10), extend substantially vertically.

7. The guide system (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the third control lever (17b) is pivotally connected to the at least one supporting lever (16) via a hinge axis member (G).

8. The guide system (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that all hinge axis members (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) of the furniture hinge (10), in a mounted condition of the furniture hinge (10) on the movable furniture part (3a), preferably in all operating positions of the furniture hinge (10), are arranged outside a material thickness of the movable furniture part (3a).

9. The guide system (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least one supporting lever (16), via the hinge axis member (B), and the second control lever (17b), via the hinge axis member (E), are jointly supported on the second fitting portion (15).

10. The guide system (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one supporting lever (16) includes at least two partial levers (16a, 16b) which are spaced apart from one another along the hinge axis members (A, B, C, D, E, F, G), preferably wherein at least one of the control levers (17a, 17b, 17c), preferably all control levers (17a, 17b, 17c), is or are at least partially arranged between the partial levers (16a, 16b) of the supporting lever (16), and / or at least one of the control levers (17a, 17b, 17c), preferably all control levers (17a, 17b, 17c), includes or include at least two partial levers spaced apart from one another along the hinge axis members (A, B, C, D, E, F, G).

11. An item of furniture (1) comprising a furniture carcass (2), at least one furniture part (3a) movable relative to the furniture carcass (2), and at least one guide system (5) according to one of the claims 1 to 10 for moving the movable furniture part (3a) relative to the furniture carcass (2).

12. The item of furniture (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the control mechanism (17) of the furniture hinge (10) is configured such that the at least one furniture part (3a) is movably supported between a first position, in which the furniture part (3a) is aligned substantially parallel to the sidewall (13a) of the furniture carcass (2), and a second position, in which the furniture part (3a) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the sidewall (13a) of the furniture carcass (2), preferably wherein the at least one furniture part (3a), in the second position in which the furniture part (3a) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the sidewall (13a) of the furniture carcass (2), covers at least partially, preferably substantially entirely, the front face (20) of the sidewall (13a).

13. The item of furniture (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the item of furniture (1) includes at least two furniture parts (3a, 3b) which are hingedly connected to one another by at least one hinge fitting (9), and each of the two furniture parts (3a, 3b) are movably supported relative to the furniture carcass (2).

14. The item of furniture (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the first furniture part (3a) and the second furniture part (3b) are movably supported between a first position, in which the first furniture part (3a) and the second furniture part (3b) are aligned substantially coplanar to one another, and a second position, in which the first furniture part (3a) and the second furniture part (3b) are aligned substantially parallel to one another.