Flap fitting and item of furniture

Abstract

Flap fitting (10) having a housing (12), on which there is rotatably mounted a support arm (11) which has a holding element (13) for fixing a flap (3), and having an energy store (30) by means of which a force can be applied to the support arm (11) via a pivotable articulation element (22). The support arm (11) is operatively connected, via a pressure roller (17) which runs on a control cam (16), to a deflection lever (18) which is mounted so as to be pivotable relative to the housing (12), and the energy store (30) is connected to the deflection lever (18) via the articulation element (22) by an adjustable connection (19).

Description

[0001] Flap fittings and furniture

[0002] The present invention relates to a flap fitting with a housing on which a support arm is rotatably mounted, which has a holding element for fixing a flap, and a force accumulator by means of which the support arm can be subjected to a force via a linkage element.

[0003] EP 2 607 590 A2 discloses a furniture fitting for driving a pivoting furniture flap, which can be mounted on a side panel of a furniture body. The furniture fitting comprises two support arms, each of which is rotatably mounted on a fitting part and to which a flap is fixed at the opposite end via a retaining part. Such a furniture fitting requires numerous individual parts and has a large installation volume.

[0004] For pivoting flaps, it is also known from US 2008 / 0238276 to provide a pivoting fitting with a pivoting support arm, which is pivotally mounted on the furniture body and connected to the flap at the free end. The support arm is preloaded in the opening direction by a spring to counteract the weight of the flap. However, the adjustment options for the spring are limited, preventing flexible use for flaps of different sizes and weights.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flap fitting which enables an improved adaptation of the effect of a force accumulator to the weight of a flap.

[0006] This object is achieved with a flap fitting having the features of claim 1.

[0007] In the flap fitting according to the invention, a support arm is rotatably mounted on a housing, said support arm having a holding element for fixing a flap, wherein a force can be applied to the support arm by means of an energy accumulator via a linkage element. The energy accumulator is operatively connected via a pressure roller which runs on a control cam to a bell crank which is pivotally mounted relative to the housing. The energy accumulator is connected to the bell crank via the linkage element with an adjustable connection such that the effect of the energy accumulator can be changed by adjusting the connection. The curved guide of the control cam enables precise adjustment of the force acting on the pressure roller during movement of the flap. By adjusting the connection, the working stroke of the energy accumulator and the force application point of the energy accumulator can be changed.This allows for increased flexibility in adjusting the energy storage mechanism, allowing for better adaptation to the weight of the flap. For example, a smaller control curve radius can allow the flap to close more easily than a larger one. At the same time, the working stroke of the energy storage mechanism can be adjusted via the adjustable connection so that the energy storage mechanism can optimally support the opening of the flap.

[0008] In one embodiment, the energy storage device can be arranged in a linear and / or non-pivotable manner, which enables low friction in the system, an improved service life and a space-saving design of the flap fitting.

[0009] In one embodiment, the energy accumulator can in particular be arranged substantially within the housing, whereby it can be protected from damage.

[0010] The control cam is preferably arranged on the support arm. The pressure roller is mounted on the deflection lever. To optimize the manufacture and / or assembly of the flap fitting, the support arm and the control cam can be designed in one piece or in two or more parts. In a further embodiment, the control cam can also be arranged on the deflection lever, and the pressure roller can be mounted on the support arm. In this case, the deflection lever and the control cam can be designed in one piece or in two or more parts to optimize the assembly of the flap fitting.

[0011] The connection is preferably held on an adjustment device, via which the position of the connection relative to the bell crank can be adjusted. This allows the point of force introduction of the energy accumulator to be changed, which changes the effective leverage when the support arm moves. The energy accumulator acts by means of the articulation element via the connection on the control cam or pressure roller or the bell crank, so that the effective lever length can be changed via the distance between the axis of rotation and the connection. The adjustment device for the connection preferably comprises a linear guide, although alternatively a curved guide, an eccentric or a pivoting lever can also be provided to change the position of the connection. When using a linear guide, for example, a rotatable spindle can be provided which can be adjusted using simple means and enables a compact design.Other linear guides can also be used, for example a rack and pinion or locking mechanism with different mounting positions.

[0012] Preferably, the adjustment device forms a unit with the reversing lever, which is operatively connected to the pressure roller on the one hand and pivotally connected to the housing on the other. The pressure roller is rotatably mounted on the reversing lever. As a result, the connection remains essentially adjacent to the housing, since the control cam or the pressure roller travels a greater distance via the support arm. The adjustment device can be fixed to the reversing lever or can be mounted together with the reversing lever for rotation about the two axes.

[0013] For a compact design, the adjustable connection in a closed position of the flap is arranged essentially between the holding element and an axis for the articulated arrangement of the bell crank on the housing.

[0014] When the support arm or the flap attached to the support arm is in a closed position, the linkage element acted upon by the energy storage device applies an opening force to the flap in the opening direction. The support arm is thus preferably preloaded in the opening direction across its entire pivoting range, with the weight of the flap being greater than the force acting on the support arm in the opening direction in the closed position. The energy storage device preferably reaches maximum energy storage preload when the support arm is closed.

[0015] The articulation element can be designed as at least one lever and preferably as two levers, for example as a rod or bar, which are articulated on the one hand to the adjustable connection and on the other hand to a linear guide element connected to the energy accumulator. The guide element can in particular be mounted on at least one guide pin along which it can be moved. This allows the energy accumulator to be guided linearly via the guide element, so that when the support arm is pivoted, only the levers pivot. A preferred design with at least two guide pins increases the stability of the flap fitting. In addition, the individual pins can be made thinner, which can lead to material savings.

[0016] With the flap fitting, the force exerted by the energy storage mechanism through the linkage element during a pivoting movement of the support arm can change the resulting force at the adjustable connection, allowing the force distribution to be optimized when pivoting the support arm. Furthermore, the transmission ratio changes with the adjustment of the connection, allowing the energy storage mechanism to be adjusted to suit both small, light and large, heavy flaps.

[0017] The linkage element preferably travels a working distance during the pivoting movement of the support arm, while the energy storage device travels a working stroke, with the maximum working distance being greater than the maximum working stroke. A particular advantage of this arrangement is the different speeds and travels of the energy storage device and the linkage element.

[0018] The arrangement with the linkage element achieves an optimized force distribution compared to a direct connection of the force accumulator. The control cam can also be designed for an optimized force distribution. Furthermore, there are the advantages of low friction and a smaller number of components.

[0019] To avoid harsh impact noises, a damper can preferably be provided, by means of which a movement of the support arm in the closing direction can be additionally braked shortly before the closed position is reached. This damper can optionally also be used for opening damping, wherein for this purpose an actuating element for moving the damper is preferably provided, by means of which the support arm can be braked when moving the support arm in the opening direction shortly before the maximum opening position is reached. This damper can be designed, for example, as a linear damper, in particular as a fluid damper. The damper can preferably run along and / or within the energy accumulator. By means of at least one return spring, the damper can be automatically moved to an initial position after actuation. The damper preferably counteracts the closing movement of the support arm in addition to the frictional force of the pressure roller.The return spring can be located inside and / or outside the damper.

[0020] The energy accumulator preferably comprises exactly one spring so that it can be manufactured cost-effectively and installed with little effort. The energy accumulator is designed in particular as a compression spring and is held at one end to a housing and at the opposite end to a spring holder, with the articulation element being fixed to the spring holder. This allows the flap fitting to be designed to be particularly compact and can provide high forces. However, the energy accumulator can also comprise several springs. For example, two to six springs can be arranged parallel to one another between the housing and the spring holder. The springs can be guided on pins to ensure linear movement. However, other energy accumulators can also be used, for example tension springs or other spring elements.

[0021] For improved handling, an opening limiter can be provided between two components that move relative to each other, such as the support arm and the bell crank. This limiter allows the maximum opening position of the support arm to be adjusted. This prevents the flap from being positioned too high when raised to the maximum opening position, making it difficult for the user to grasp. Furthermore, the maximum opening position can be adjusted depending on the installation position. For this purpose, the opening limiter can be adjusted using an adjusting element, such as a threaded pin.

[0022] The flap fitting according to the invention is preferably used in a piece of furniture having a furniture body on which a flap is held by at least one flap fitting. The piece of furniture can be designed, for example, as a wall unit in a kitchen. Preferably, the furniture body is equipped with a top panel. At least one flap fitting can be arranged above the upper side of the top panel. Preferably, the flap is held by several flap fittings, in particular on opposite sides. The flap fitting can be arranged concealed above the top panel, for example if the side walls are raised at least to the height of the flap fitting. In the case in which the side walls protrude beyond the top panel, the flap fitting can be attached to the top panel or, optionally, also to this projecting piece of the side wall.Alternatively, the flap fitting can also be attached to the top panel and the side panel.

[0023] Preferably, the adjustable connection is movable via a tool insert, and the tool insert is only accessible when the flap is open. In the open position of the support arm, the tool insert can be accessible from the front or from the side of the furniture.

[0024] In a further embodiment, the position of the flap can be adjusted in depth, side, height, and / or inclination. The adjustment device can be provided on the housing of the flap fitting and / or at the fastening interface between the retaining element and the flap. Eccentrics, worm gears, elongated holes, and / or pre-shaped parts with threads or screws can be used as adjustment means for adjusting the relative position of the flap in a spatial direction to the furniture.

[0025] In particular, the energy storage device is aligned essentially parallel to the top of the furniture and tenses or relaxes in this alignment during movement of the flap.

[0026] The invention will be explained in more detail below using several exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0027] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture with a

[0028] flap fitting;

[0029] Figures 2A and 2B show two rear views of the furniture of Figure 1 in the closed and open position of the flap;

[0030] Figure 3 shows a view of the flap fitting from Fig. 2A without

[0031] Furniture in different positions to represent a minimum working stroke;

[0032] Figure 4 shows a view of the flap fitting of Figure 4 in different positions to illustrate a maximum working stroke. A piece of furniture 1 comprises a furniture body 2, on which a flap 3 is pivotably held by two flap fittings 10. The piece of furniture 1 can be designed as a wall cabinet or other cabinet furniture. The flap 3 is essentially plate-shaped and is pivotably held by a support arm 11 of the flap fitting 10, as can be seen from Figure 2. The flap fitting 10 is arranged on a top panel 4 and in a free space 70 between two side walls of the furniture body, wherein the side walls project beyond the top panel 4, such that the flap fitting 10 is not visible in the horizontal direction. When the flap 3 is in the open position, a storage space 80 is accessible from a front side of the furniture body 2.

[0033] According to Figure 1, the furniture body 2 has a base 5 and the top panel 4, wherein one or more intermediate panels 6 can optionally be arranged in the furniture body 2. On an upper side of the top panel 4, a flap fitting 10 is fixed on opposite sides, comprising a housing 12 on which a support arm 11 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis 41. The housing 12 is arranged and fastened to the top panel 4 and / or at least one side wall of the furniture body 2.

[0034] Figure 2A shows a closed position of the flap fitting 10, wherein the flap 3 closes an opening in the furniture body 2. The support arm 11 is shown in a lowered state, which corresponds to the closed position of the flap 3, which is arranged, in particular screwed or plugged, on a holding element 13. The holding element 13 is plugged onto the support arm 11, screwed to the support arm 11, or formed integrally with the support arm 11, wherein the support arm 11 is articulated to the housing 12 of the flap fitting 10 on an axis 41. The flap 3 and / or the holding element 13 can alternatively or additionally be held fixedly to one another and / or to the support arm 11 by means of a rotary pawl or a locking slide, which can serve in particular for tool-free assembly of the flap 3.

[0035] A reversing lever 18 is pivotally connected to the housing 12 of the flap fitting 10 at an axis 21. The articulation element 22, which is designed as a lever, here optionally as two levers, which is fastened to an adjustable connection 19 on the reversing lever 18, is pivotally connected at its other end to a guide element 32 at an axis 44. The guide element 32 is slidably arranged on at least one guide pin 31, here two guide pins 31, and is connected to one end of at least one energy accumulator 30, which can in particular be a spring. The energy accumulator 30 is compressed in the closed position of the flap 3 and subjected to a force, in particular a closing force of the flap that is transmitted to the energy accumulator when the flap 3 is closed. The energy accumulator 30 therefore stores a force when the flap 3 is closed.The support arm 11 can be acted upon by the stored force so that the force supports an opening movement of the flap 3, or the flap can move automatically into the fully open position from a certain opening angle without external force.

[0036] Figure 2B shows an open position of the flap fitting 10, wherein the flap 3 is arranged with a lower edge below the top panel 4. The maximum opening position can be set via an adjustable opening limiter. The energy accumulator 30 can relax when the flap 3 is opened, causing a translational movement of the guide element 32, which causes the levers 22 to move. Figure 2B shows the energy accumulator in a more relaxed state than Figure 2A. The force stored in the energy accumulator 30 can be transferred by means of the levers 22 to the deflection lever 18, which is operatively connected to the support arm 11 by means of a pressure roller 17. As a result, the opening of the flap 3 is assisted by the force stored in the energy accumulator 30.

[0037] Figure 3 shows the flap fitting 10 without furniture, partially in section. The flap fitting 10 comprises the support arm 11, which is rotatably mounted on the housing 12 and to whose free end the retaining element 13 is fixed, which serves to secure the flap 3.

[0038] In a central region of the support arm 11, preferably in a region between 25% and 75% of the length of the support arm 11, there is a control cam 16 which is in contact with the pressure roller 17 which runs on the control cam 16. The support arm 11 is thus operatively connected to the deflection lever 18, which is mounted on the housing 12 so as to be rotatable about the axis 21. The support arm 11 is mounted on the housing 12 so as to be rotatable about the axis 41. The control cam 16 can be formed integrally with the support arm 11 or fixed to it as a further component. The flap fitting 10 comprises the energy accumulator 30 with in particular a spring, in particular a helical spring, which is arranged between a support 35 on the housing 12 and the guide element 32, which has a spring holder. The spring orAlternatively, several springs of the energy accumulator 30 are each arranged around at least one guide pin 31, which is telescopic and thus ensures axial alignment of the springs of the energy accumulator. The spring of the energy accumulator 30 is subjected to compression.

[0039] The guide element 32, which is pivotally connected to the articulation element 22 at the axis 44, is connected via the articulation element 22 to the connection 19 in the form of a slide. The slide comprises a threaded passage for a spindle 20, which is rotatably mounted on the bell crank 18 or a component connected thereto. The spindle is rotatable via a drive element in order to adjust the connection 19 in the longitudinal direction of the spindle. In this case, the adjustment can be carried out either from the front, with a view into the storage space 80, or from one of the two sides.

[0040] The force stored in the energy accumulator 30 is at least partially transferred to the pressure roller 17, so that the pressure roller 17 presses against the control cam 16, which can contribute to the closing damping of the flap 3.

[0041] In Figure 3, the flap fitting 10 is also shown in two different positions, namely once with the support arm 11 in a closed position and once in a maximum open position, in which the support arm 11 has been pivoted essentially by 90°. The movement of the support arm 11 also pivoted the bell crank 18 and the articulation element 22, so that the energy accumulator 30 could relax somewhat during the movement from the closed position to the maximum open position, as shown by the working stroke Amin. Due to the slight movement of the energy accumulator 30, only a small force acts in the opening direction during the entire pivoting path, which is advantageous for lightweight flaps 3. The effective lever length between the articulation element 22 and the bell crank 18 as well as the effective direction of the energy accumulator 30 is small.Optionally, a dead center can also be passed through when lowering the support arm 11, so that the energy storage device 30 ensures that the flap 3 is pulled against the furniture body 2. Figure 4 shows a modified setting in which the adjustment device of the connection 19 has been adjusted, for example by means of a spindle, so that the axis 45 for supporting the levers 22 is no longer arranged in a central area of ​​the reversing lever 18, but rather towards the end of the reversing lever 18, closer to the flap 3. This increases the effective lever length and also results in the working stroke Amax of the maximum stroke of the energy storage device 30 being significantly greater than in the setting according to Figure 3. Due to the pivoting arrangement of the levers 22 on the connection 19 and the energy storage device 30, the working travel Smax of the levers 22 is greater than the working stroke Amax of the energy storage device 30.The further the connection 19 is from the axis 21, the greater the difference between the working path S and the working stroke A. In the range of the minimum working stroke Amin, it can be provided that the working path S is smaller than the working stroke A. In the range of the minimum working stroke Amin, it can therefore also be provided that the working path S corresponds to the working stroke A in one setting.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment, the control cam 16 can also be arranged on the deflection lever 18 and formed as one or more parts. In this case, the pressure roller 17 can be mounted on the support arm 11.

[0043] List of reference symbols

[0044] 1 furniture

[0045] 2 furniture body

[0046] 3 flap

[0047] 4 Topsoil

[0048] 5 Floor

[0049] 6 shelves

[0050] 10 Flap fitting

[0051] 11 Support arm

[0052] 12 housings

[0053] 13 Holding element

[0054] 16 Control curve

[0055] 17 Pressure roller

[0056] 18 bell crankshaft

[0057] 19 Connection

[0058] 20 spindle

[0059] 21 Axis

[0060] 22 Linkage element

[0061] 30 energy storage units

[0062] 31 Guide pin

[0063] 32 guide element

[0064] 35 Support

[0065] 41 Axis

[0066] 44 Axis

[0067] 70 free space

[0068] 80 storage space

[0069] Amin working stroke

[0070] Amax working stroke

[0071] Smin commute

[0072] Smax commute

Claims

Claims 1. Flap fitting (10) with a housing (12) on which a support arm (11) is rotatably mounted, which has a holding element (13) for fixing a flap (3), and a force accumulator (30) by means of which the support arm (11) can be subjected to a force via a linkage element (22), characterized in that the support arm (11) is operatively connected to a deflection lever (18) which is pivotably mounted relative to the housing (12) via a pressure roller (17) which runs on a control cam (16), and the force accumulator (30) is connected to the deflection lever (18) via the linkage element (22) with an adjustable connection (19).

2. Flap fitting (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy accumulator (30) is guided linearly and / or non-pivotable.

3. Flap fitting according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection (19) is held on an adjusting device via which a position of the connection (19) relative to the deflection lever (18) can be changed.

4. Flap fitting according to claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting device has a linear guide.

5. Flap fitting according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the adjusting device for adjusting the connection (19) comprises a rotatable spindle.

6. Flap fitting according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the adjusting device forms a unit with the deflection lever (18) which is connected in an articulated manner to the housing (12).

7. Flap fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during a movement of the support arm (11) the control cam performs a pivoting movement on a rotatably mounted lever (11, 18) and that the pressure roller (17) acting on the control cam performs a pivoting movement on another rotatably mounted lever (11, 18).

8. Flap fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustable connection (19) is arranged between an axis (21) for the articulated mounting of the deflection lever (18) on the housing (12) and the end of the deflection lever (18) facing the flap (3).

9. Flap fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulation element (22) acted upon by the energy accumulator (30) applies an opening force to the support arm (11) in a closed position in the opening direction.

10. Flap fitting according to claim 9, characterized in that the energy accumulator (30) reaches a maximum energy accumulator preload in the closed state of the support arm (11). 11 . Flap fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulation element (22) is designed as at least one and preferably as two levers which are connected on the one hand in an articulated manner to the adjustable connection (19) and on the other hand in an articulated manner to a linear guide element (32) on which the energy accumulator (30) is supported.

12. Flap fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a force effect of the energy accumulator (30) through the articulation element (22) during a pivoting movement of the support arm (11) changes the resulting force on the adjustable connection (19).

13. Flap fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulation element (22) travels a working path (S) during the pivoting movement of the support arm (11), while the energy accumulator (30) travels a working stroke (A), wherein the maximum working path (Smax) is greater than the maximum working stroke (Amax).

14. Furniture (1) with a furniture body (2) on which a flap (3) is held by at least one flap fitting (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

15. Furniture according to claim 14, characterized in that the furniture body (2) has a top panel (4), above the top of which at least one flap fitting (10) is arranged.

16. Furniture according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the The energy accumulator (30) is aligned substantially parallel to the top panel (4) of the piece of furniture (1) and the energy accumulator (30) is tensioned or relaxed in this alignment during a movement of the flap (3).

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