Rail assembly and sliding door fitting

Abstract

The invention relates to a rail assembly for a sliding door fitting, said rail assembly comprising a first rail part (10a) with at least two guide tracks (12, 15) for movable guide elements (13, 16, 13', 16') and a second rail part (10b) with at least two guide tracks (12, 15) for movable guide elements (13, 16, 13', 16'), wherein between the first and the second rail part (10a, 10b) there is arranged a connector (20) with two auxiliary running tracks (21, 22) which bridge a gap between the first and the second rail part (10a, 10b), wherein, between the two auxiliary running tracks (21, 22), an elastic spring element (24, 24') is provided, via which the distance between the auxiliary running tracks (21, 22) is changeable. Assembly tolerances are easily compensated for using the elastic spring element, and the auxiliary running tracks can be assembled, optionally with prestress.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a rail arrangement for a sliding door fitting comprising a first rail part with at least two guide tracks for movable guide elements and a second rail part with at least two guide tracks for movable guide elements, wherein a connector with two additional raceways is arranged between the first and the second rail part, bridging a gap between the first and the second rail part.

[0002] DE 10 2019 101 334 A1 discloses a rail arrangement for a sliding door fitting in which two rail sections are connected to each other in the joint area via a connecting element, the connecting element forming additional raceways for the raceways on the rail sections. This allows a roller to be guided along the additional raceway when traversing the joint area. A similar design is also shown in EP 3 653 821. Further examples of rail arrangements with connecting elements are known from DE 10 2019 121404 A1 and DE 10 2020 132044 A1. A disadvantage of these rail arrangements is that the rail sections are fixed with a certain tolerance during assembly, which makes the exact positioning of the connecting element difficult and thus complicates assembly. Furthermore, a slightly stepped arrangement of the rail sections can result in high mechanical stress on the connecting element.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a rail arrangement for a sliding door fitting that creates an improved connection between two rail parts.

[0004] This problem is solved by a rail arrangement having the features of claim 1.

[0005] In the rail arrangement according to the invention, a connector with two additional raceways is arranged between two rail sections. These raceways bridge a gap between the first and second rail sections. An elastic spring element or a guide is provided between the two additional raceways, allowing the distance between them to be adjusted. This enables optimized mounting of the connector between the rail sections, as any mounting tolerances and tolerances in the rail sections themselves can be compensated for by the elastic spring element. A slightly stepped mounting of the rail sections can thus be compensated for by the elastic spring element or the guide of the connector.

[0006] The spring element preferably comprises at least one flexible spring bar. Preferably, several flexible spring bars are provided, arranged, for example, in a V-shape or meander pattern to define a preferred direction of movement in which the auxiliary raceways can be adjusted relative to each other. The adjustment range achievable via the spring element can be, for example, between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, and in particular between 1 mm and 3 mm.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, at least one additional raceway is clamped to the first and / or second rail section. This reliably prevents any gap between the additional raceway and the raceway of a rail section. In its unassembled state, the at least one additional raceway can be designed as a curved bridge section, particularly as an upwardly curved bridge section, so that the connector has a certain preload in these bridge sections. During assembly, i.e., by clamping the additional raceways to the raceways of the rail sections, the curvature of these curved bridge sections is reduced or eliminated, so that the additional raceways form a substantially flat surface in the working position, and their free ends rest on the rail sections with a certain contact pressure. This prevents the formation of gaps in a vertical direction between bridge sections or...Additional track sections on the one hand and track sections or track sections on the other hand were safely avoided.

[0008] Preferably, each additional raceway has an integral insert that can be inserted into or onto a receptacle of a rail section. The insert can, for example, include a pin that is inserted into a hollow chamber of the rail section. Each insert can have pins on opposite sides, allowing insertion into a hollow chamber of one of the rail sections via these pins. The rail sections can be made of bent sheet metal or extruded material. The insert enables alignment of the connector and also ensures that a protruding section of an additional raceway bears against a rail section with contact pressure.

[0009] The connector is preferably designed as a single-piece molded part, for example, as an injection-molded plastic part. Alternatively, it can also consist of several individual parts that can be assembled into the finished connector as needed. One or more spacers, for example, designed as wall elements, can be molded onto the connector to define the distance between the two rail sections in the joint area. The rail sections can be mounted at a distance of, for example, between 0.5 mm and 5 mm from each other.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the connector can be designed as a multi-part molded component with an upper and a lower part. At least one linear guide can be provided for adjusting the upper part relative to the lower part, preferably with toothing on the upper part and at least one toothing on the lower part, which can be locked in different positions. The linear guide can optionally also be used without locking or be formed by a cam track or a hinge.

[0011] For a compact design, the two additional raceways on the connector can be arranged vertically, one above the other. The two additional raceways can be arranged either exactly vertically, or horizontally offset and vertically aligned. Alternatively, the additional raceways can be spaced only horizontally. Each additional raceway is preferably offset from a guide track on the rail section, so that a guide element contacts the additional raceway with a different contact surface than the guide tracks on the rail sections.

[0012] In a further embodiment, each additional raceway is connected to the spring element via a web. The web can be plate-shaped, with integrally formed spring bars provided between the two webs.

[0013] The track assembly is preferably used for sliding door hardware to guide sliding elements, such as sliding doors or room dividers. The track assembly can be used for both suspended sliding elements (for the running parts) and, in the lower section, for the guide elements for lateral guidance. Furthermore, the corresponding sliding door hardware is preferably used in furniture, especially cabinet furniture with one or more sliding elements.

[0014] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These show: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture with a rail arrangement according to the invention; Figure 2 is a detailed view of the furniture. Figure 1with the rail arrangement; Figure 3 a detailed view of a modified piece of furniture with the rail arrangement; Figures 4A to 4D several views of the rail arrangement in the joint area; Figures 5A to 5D several views of the connector for the rail arrangement; Figures 6A and 6B two views of the connector of the Figure 5 in different mounting positions; Figure 7 a perspective view of a modified connector for a rail assembly, and Figures 8A to 8C several views of a modified connector for a rail assembly in different positions.

[0015] A piece of furniture 1 comprises a cabinet 2 on which two sliding elements 3 and 4, in the form of sliding doors, are movably mounted. The cabinet 1 may optionally have more than two sliding elements 3 and 4. A guide rail 5 is fixed to a top panel 8 of the cabinet 2, so that the front sliding element 3 is held movably by first guide rails 6 and the rear sliding element 4 by second guide rails 7.

[0016] In Figure 2 A base 9 of the furniture carcass 2 is shown, to which a rail 10 for guiding the sliding elements 3 and 4 is fixed. The base 9 is supported on a plinth 11, and the rail 10 is arranged on a front face of the base 9 and the plinth 11.

[0017] The rail 10 has a first upper guide track 12, on which a guide element 13 of the rear sliding element 4 is guided. The guide element 13 has a roller 14 that rolls along the guide track 12. The front sliding element 3 is guided by a guide element 16 and a roller 17 on a guide track 15, with the roller 17 rolling along the guide track 15. The guide tracks 12 and 15 and the rollers 14 and 17 have a curved cross-section, thus providing lateral guidance for the sliding elements 3 and 4. In the joint area and the adjacent area, the rollers 14 and 17 do not roll on the guide tracks 12 and 15, but on the auxiliary raceways 21 and 22.

[0018] In Figure 3A modified embodiment is shown in which a guide element 13' is fixed to the rear sliding element 4, and a sliding element 14' is guided on the guide track 12 of the rail 10 instead of a roller. The front sliding element 3 is connected to a guide element 16', on which a sliding element 17' is provided for movement along the guide track 15 on the rail 10. The sliding elements 14' and 17' are U-shaped and engage the guide tracks 12 and 15 for lateral guidance. However, the geometry of the guide elements can also be different, for example, hook-shaped, groove-shaped, or with a different guide geometry. The guide tracks 12 and 15 are formed by the respective contact surfaces that come into contact with the guide elements 13, 13', 16, 16' or the rollers 14 and 17 and / or sliding elements 14' and 17'.

[0019] In the Figures 4A to 4DThe rail arrangement for guiding the sliding elements 3 and 4 is shown, which is fixed to the base 9 and the plinth 11. Alternatively, the rail arrangement can also be fixed to the top surface 8.

[0020] The rail assembly comprises a first rail section 10a and a second rail section 10b, which are connected to each other via a connector 20 that bridges a gap between the two rail sections 10a and 10b, which can, for example, have a length between 0.5 mm and 5 mm. The rail sections 10a and 10b are fixed to the base 9 or the plinth 11 by means of screws 18, with the guide rails 12 and 15 arranged one above the other in a vertical direction in the assembled position. The guideways 12 and 15 are designed as hollow profiles that taper towards the joint area, with a first wall element 23 of the connector 20 being arranged in the joint area of ​​the guideway 12 and a second wall element 25 of the connector 20 being arranged in the joint area between the guideways 15. The wall element 23 is adjacent to a first auxiliary raceway 21 and the wall element 25 is adjacent to a second auxiliary raceway 22.The two additional raceways 21 and 22 are contacted by the guide elements 13, 13', 16, 16' when passing over them and have a longitudinal extension of the rail 10 of between 0.5 cm and 10 cm, in particular 1 cm and 5 cm.

[0021] An elastic spring element 24 is provided between the first additional track 21 and the second additional track 22, by means of which a distance between the additional tracks 21 and 22 can be changed.

[0022] In the Figures 5A to 5DThe connector 20 is shown without the rail sections 10a and 10b. Elongated base sections 30 and 31 are formed at the top and bottom, respectively, and have a plate- or cuboid-shaped form and a spatial orientation inclined relative to the horizontal. The channel-shaped auxiliary raceways 21 and 22 are arranged laterally on one front side of the base sections 30 and 31. The wall thickness of the base sections 30 and 31 is significantly greater than that of the auxiliary raceways 21 and 22 in order to increase the stability of the connector 20 when placed on the rail sections 10a and 10b. Furthermore, it can be seen that the base sections 30 and 31, as well as the auxiliary raceways 21 and 22, are designed as web-shaped curved bridge sections with slightly downward-curved free end sections. The upper auxiliary track 21 is connected to the wall section 23, on which insertion parts 27 in the form of pins are formed on opposite sides.The lower wall element 25 on the auxiliary track 22 is also formed with plug-in parts 26 in the form of pins on opposite sides. Each plug-in part 26 and 27 can be inserted into a hollow chamber of a rail part 10a or 10b to align and clamp the connector 20 and the corresponding auxiliary track 21 and 22. The upper base part 30 and the upper auxiliary track 21 are connected to the spring element 24 via a plate-shaped web 28, which has two V-shaped, bendable webs. The lower base part 31 and the lower auxiliary track 22 are also connected to the spring element 24 via a plate-shaped web 29. The connector 20 is manufactured as a one-piece molded part made of plastic.

[0023] In Figure 6A The connector 20 is shown before assembly. It can be seen that the two additional tracks 21 and 22 form a curved bridge section. Figure 6BThe mounted position of the connector 20 is shown, with rail sections 10a and 10b not depicted. The mounting of the connector 20 has straightened the previously bent auxiliary raceways 21 and 22 almost completely. As a result, the free ends of the auxiliary raceways 21 and 22 bear a certain contact pressure on the rail sections 10a and 10b, preventing gaps from forming. Furthermore, mounting tolerances regarding the distance between the guideways 12 and 15 can be compensated for by the spring element 24.

[0024] In Figure 7 A modified embodiment of connector 20 is shown, which, as in Figure 6 is designed, but has a modified spring element 24'. The spring element 24' comprises two meanderingly curved spring bars that are connected to each other at a node.

[0025] The geometry of the spring elements 24 and 24' can be modified depending on the application, preferably using several flexible spring bars so that the raceways 21 and 22 can be elastically adjusted within a certain adjustment range, for example between 1 mm and 10 mm. The shape of the additional raceways 21 and 22 can also be adapted depending on which guide elements 13, 13', 16, 16' are used.

[0026] In the Figures 8A to 8C A modified embodiment of the connector 20' is shown. In contrast to the connector 20, the connector 20' is formed in two parts and consists of an upper part 33 and a lower part 34. A recess 32 open at the top is formed on a web 29' of the lower part 34, with a profile, in particular a toothed section, formed on each of the two opposite sides.

[0027] A web 35 adjoins a rib 28' of the upper part 33, on which two toothed sections are arranged on the outside. The respective toothed sections on the web 35 and the recess 32 form a linear guide that can be locked in various positions. The respective toothed sections on the web 35 and the recess 32 can deform elastically by being inserted. As the Figures 8A to 8C As can be clearly seen, the distance between the two additional raceways 21 and 22 can thus be changed. Optionally, the bridge 35 can also be guided linearly in the recess 32 without a detent to allow for adjustment. The linear guide can be clamped or have some play. Furthermore, instead of a linear guide, a curved guide or a swivel joint can be provided to allow the upper part 33 to move relative to the lower part 34. Reference symbol list

[0028] 1 Furniture 2 Furniture carcass 3 Sliding element 4 Sliding element 5 Running track 6 Running part 7 Running part 8 Top panel 9 Base 10 Rail 10a, 10b, Rail part 11 Base 12 Guide track 13, 13' Guide element 14 Roller 14' Sliding element 15 Guide track 16, 16' Guide element 17 Roller 17' Sliding element 18 Screw 20, 20' Connector 21 Additional track 22 Additional track 23 Wall element 24, 24' Spring element 25 Wall element 26 Insert part 27 Insert part 28, 28' Web 29, 29' Web 30 Base part 31 Base part 32 Section 33 Top part 34 Bottom part 35 Web

Claims

1. Rail arrangement for a sliding door fitting with a first rail part (10a) with at least two guide tracks (12, 15) for movable guide elements (13, 16, 13', 16') and a second rail part (10b) with at least two guide tracks (12, 15) for movable guide elements (13, 16, 13', 16'), wherein between the first and the second rail part (10a, 10b), a connector (20, 20') with two additional tracks (21, 22) being arranged, which bridge a gap between the first and the second rail part (10a, 10b), characterized in that an elastic spring element (24, 24') or a guide is provided between the two additional tracks (21, 22), by means of which the distance between the additional tracks (21, 22) can be varied.

2. Rail arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (24, 24') has at least one bendable spring web.

3. Rail arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one additional track (21, 22) is held in a clamping manner on the first or second rail part (10a, 10b).

4. Rail arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the additional tracks (21, 22) is designed as a curved bridge section.

5. Rail arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the curved bridge section has a greater curvature before assembly than in the assembled position.

6. Rail arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an insertion part (26, 27) is formed on each additional track (21, 22), which can be inserted on or into a receptacle of one of the rail parts (10a, 10b).

7. Rail arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the insertion part (26, 27) comprises a pin which is inserted into a hollow chamber of the first or second rail part (10a, 10b).

8. Rail arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector (20) is designed as a one-piece molded part.

9. Rail arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connector (20') is designed as a multi-piece shaped part with an upper part (33) and a lower part (34).

10. Rail arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one linear guide is provided with a toothing on the upper part (33) and with at least one toothing on the lower part (34), which can be latched in different positions.

11. Rail arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two additional tracks (21, 22) are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction.

12. Rail arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each additional track (21, 22) is connected to the spring element (24) via a web (28, 29).

13. Sliding door fitting with a rail arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, on which at least two sliding elements (3, 4) are movably guided.

14. Furniture (1) with a sliding door fitting according to claim 13.

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