A component, such as a handle or a control knob, intended to be fixed to an element, such as a piece of furniture.

Abstract

A hardware component (12), intended to be fixed to a support element, which includes a threaded hole (22) to cooperate with a screw (16) for fixing the component (12) to the element. This threaded hole (22) is provided in the component (12) to open into an end face (FE) of the component (12) cooperating with a bearing face (FA) of the element, the end face (FE) of the component (12) having a locking projection (26) to cooperate, by pressing, with the bearing face (FA) of the element to participate in locking the component (12) against rotation about the screw axis (X), when the end face (FE) and bearing face (FA) are joined. The locking projection (26) has a cross-section converging towards a driving edge designed to penetrate the bearing face (FA) of the support element, this edge extending along a linear path distinct from a circular radius centered on the screw axis (X). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: A device, such as a handle or a control knob, intended to be fixed to an element, such as a piece of furniture.

[0001] The present invention relates to a hardware component intended to be fixed to a support element. Thus, the invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to a grasping component intended to be fixed to an element that is maneuverable by means of this grasping component.

[0002] In the prior art, a graspable organ, such as a handle or a control knob, fixed on an element, such as a furniture opening, is already known so that it can be grasped by a user who wishes to operate this element.

[0003] The handle or operating knob of a piece of furniture contributes significantly to the aesthetics of the furniture. It is therefore important that the handle or operating knob be correctly positioned on the opening so as not to detract from the overall aesthetic appearance.

[0004] In particular, prior art provides a graspable member, for example a control knob, fixed to the operable element, for example a furniture opening, by means of a fixing screw cooperating by screwing with a thread provided in the control knob.

[0005] The thread is provided in the operating knob so as to open into an end face of this knob intended to bear against a bearing face of the furniture door. Typically, the fixing screw is mounted through a through hole provided in the door panel. The screw through hole extends between the bearing face of the door panel against which the end face of the operating knob is intended to bear and a face forming a bearing seat for the screw head. This bearing seat forms part of an internal face of the door panel that is generally not visible when the door panel is closed.

[0006] To fix the operating button to the sash, the body of the fixing screw is inserted into the opening provided through the sash wall, then the threaded portion of the screw body is engaged in the threaded hole in the operating button. Finally, the screw is turned until it is screwed into the threaded hole, which has the effect of pressing the end face of the operating button against the bearing surface of the sash and securing the operating button to the sash by tightening.

[0007] In what follows, the screw axis is defined as the axis of the thread in the gripper, for example the operating knob, which coincides with the axis of the screw. fixing of this grasping member on the movable element, for example the wall of the opening, when the grasping member is fixed on the movable element.

[0008] To achieve a particular aesthetic effect, the operating knob sometimes has an asymmetry with respect to the screw axis. In this case, the operating knob does not have a general shape of revolution around the screw axis, and the final angular position of the operating knob on the opening part around this axis must be consistent with the desired aesthetic effect. Thus, when an operating knob of this type is correctly fixed to the wall of the opening part, that is to say, correctly positioned angularly around the screw axis, it is important that this knob remain permanently fixed in this position, despite the user's actions which tend to cause it to rotate unintentionally around the screw axis.

[0009] To prevent as far as possible an inopportune angular displacement of the operating button, which is detrimental to the aesthetics of the assembly formed by the opening and the operating button, it is known to provide the end face of the operating button with at least one immobilizing projection intended to cooperate, by pressing, with the support face of the wall of the opening to participate in blocking the operating button from rotating around the screw axis, when the end and support faces are joined.

[0010] For this purpose, the locking projection is made of a harder material than the material of the bearing face of the opening wall to allow the locking projection to be pushed into the bearing face of the opening when the fixing screw is tightened.

[0011] The locking protrusion, which is generally attached to the end face of the operating button, usually has a pointed shape so that it can be pressed into the bearing surface of the sash wall. Thus, after tightening the fixing screw, the locking protrusion is pressed into the bearing surface of the sash wall, deforming it by forming a recess complementary to the pointed shape of the locking protrusion.

[0012] However, it sometimes happens that after tightening the fixing screw, the operating knob, which is asymmetrical with respect to the screw axis, is incorrectly positioned angularly around this axis. A slight angular deviation from the desired position can lead to a noticeable degradation of the aesthetic effect. It is then necessary to loosen the fixing screw to allow the angular position of the operating knob to be corrected by rotating it slightly around the screw axis.

[0013] Unfortunately, it is observed, especially when the angular deviation to be corrected is limited, that, due to its pointed shape, the locking protrusion tends to become embedded again in the hollow already formed in the bearing face of the opening wall, which tends to reposition the operating button in the wrong angular position when tightening the fixing screw. Thus, the pointed shape of the locking protrusion sometimes prevents correction of an angular position deviation of the operating button, especially when this deviation is limited.

[0014] The invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing a hardware component, possibly graspable, such as an operating knob or a door handle, which can be effectively repositioned angularly around its screw axis, in particular after tightening the fixing screw leading to an angular positioning error of the hardware component degrading the aesthetic effect.

[0015] To this end, the invention relates to a hardware component intended to be fixed to a support element, of the type comprising a threaded hole intended to cooperate with a screw for fixing the hardware component to the support element. This threaded hole is formed in the hardware component so as to open into an end face of the hardware component intended to cooperate with a bearing face of the support element, the end face of the hardware component having at least one locking projection intended to cooperate, by pressing, with the bearing face of the support element to help lock the hardware component from rotation about the axis of the threaded hole, referred to as the screw axis, when the end and bearing faces are in contact. The locking projection has a cross-section converging from the end face towards a driving edge designed to penetrate the bearing face of the supporting element. This driving edge extends along a linear path distinct from a circular radius centered on the axis of the tapped hole.

[0016] It is observed that, because the driving edge extends along a linear path distinct from a radius of a circle centered on the screw axis, it is possible, after tightening the fixing screw leading to an angular positioning error of the hardware member around the screw axis, to reposition this hardware member angularly around its screw axis, even when the angular deviation to be corrected is limited.

[0017] Indeed, the linear path drive edge tends, when tightening the fixing screw, to deform the bearing face of the supporting element by forming a hollow complementary to the shape of the drive edge which, like this edge, extends along a linear path distinct from a radius of a circle centered on the screwing axis.

[0018] If, after incorrect angular positioning of the hardware component which has led to deformation of the bearing face of the support element by indentation of the locking protrusion, it is necessary to reposition the hardware component angularly, it is observed that the linear paths of the indentation edge and the hollow complementary formed in the bearing face of the supporting element lose all tendency to re-engage as soon as the angular position of the hardware component is very slightly modified around the screw axis.

[0019] Thus, despite successive tightening and loosening of the fixing screw, the hardware component can be repositioned angularly around its screwing axis, even when the angular deviation to be corrected is limited.

[0020] Depending on other optional features of the hardware component, taken alone or in combination:

[0021] - The immobilizing protrusion is made of material with the end face of the hardware store.

[0022] - The section of the immobilizing projection has a generally triangular shape, of which one The vertices are formed by the edge of penetration.

[0023] - The indentation edge extends along a curvilinear linear path.

[0024] - The hardware component includes two locking projections extending each symmetrically with respect to the other with respect to a plane passing through the screw axis.

[0025] - The end face of the hardware component has a general sector shape disc, extending for example over 180°, the tapping being provided approximately in the middle of a median radius of this sector of the disc.

[0026] - The indentation edge extends along a curvilinear linear path with a radius of The curvature coincides approximately with a radius on the end face of the hardware component, which is generally shaped like a sector of a disc. Such a hardware component is easily manufactured by turning. Alternatively, it could be manufactured by other processes, particularly milling.

[0027] - The hardware component comprises two adjoining parts respectively Proximal and distal parts, each having a general shape of a circular-based cylindrical sector such that the radius of the proximal part is greater than the radius of the distal part and the proximal and distal parts are coaxial, the distal part being delimited by the end face of the hardware component, which is generally shaped like a disc sector, the hardware component being delimited by at least one axial face delimiting the proximal and distal parts. Because the radius of the proximal part is greater than the radius of the distal part, grasping the graspable component is facilitated.

[0028] - The hardware component is made of metallic material. Thus, if the material of the face The support element is made of a material less hard than metal, for example a wood-based material, this allows the immobilizing protrusion to be driven into the support face.

[0029] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a quin organ The fixing protrusion, as defined above, is fixed to a supporting element. The fixing protrusion is made of a harder material than the bearing face of the supporting element to allow the fixing protrusion to be driven into the bearing face of the supporting element.

[0030] Optionally, the assembly defined above preferably forms a furniture component, for example a furniture opening, in which the hardware component forms a graspable component, for example a handle or a control knob, fixed on the supporting element so as to make this assembly operable by means of the graspable component. Brief description of the figures

[0031] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0032] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a movable element, forming in this example a furniture drawer, comprising a grasping member according to the invention;

[0033] [Fig.2] is a front view of the grasping organ, forming in this example a operating button;

[0034] [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view along line III-III of [Fig.2] further showing a wall of the movable element on which the grasping organ is fixed;

[0035] [Fig.4] is a top view of the grasping organ of [Fig.2];

[0036] [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view along line VV of [Fig.4]. Detailed description

[0037] Figure 1 shows a drawer forming a furniture component, designated by the general reference numeral 10. This drawer 10 forms an assembly that is operable by means of a graspable component formed, in the example described, by an operating knob 12. This operating knob 12 is fixed to a wall 14 of the drawer 10, this wall 14 being intended to remain visible regardless of whether the drawer 10 is open or closed. The operating knob 12 therefore forms a hardware component that is fixed to the wall 14, forming a support element, so as to make the assembly formed by the drawer 10 operable by means of the graspable operating knob 12.

[0038] Referring to Figures 2 to 5, it can be seen that the operating button 12 comprises two contiguous parts, respectively proximal 12P and distal 12D, each having a general shape of a sector of a cylinder with a circular base. The proximal 12P and distal 12D parts extend axially in line with each other, being coaxial.

[0039] To facilitate gripping the operating button 12, the radius of the proximal part 12P is greater than the radius of the distal part 12D.

[0040] As can be seen in [Fig. 3], the operating button 12 is fixed to the wall 14 of the drawer 10 by means of a conventional fixing screw 16 having a body 18, at least partly threaded, and a head 20.

[0041] The operating button 12 includes a threaded hole 22 for engaging by screwing with the threaded portion of the body 18 of the fixing screw. The threaded hole 22 is formed in the distal portion 12D of the operating button 12 so as to open into an end face FE of the operating button 12, defining the distal portion 12D of this button 12.

[0042] The end face FE of the operating button 12 is intended to cooperate with a bearing face FA of the wall 14 of the drawer 10 when the fixing screw 16 is tightened so as to immobilize the operating button 12 on the wall 14 of the drawer 10.

[0043] It will be noted that, in the illustrated example, the proximal 12P and distal 12D parts of the operating button 12 each have a general shape of a cylindrical sector extending over 180°.

[0044] Thus, the end face FE of the operating button 12 has a general shape of a disk sector extending, in the illustrated example, over 180°.

[0045] Referring to [Fig.3], it can be seen that the fixing screw 16 is mounted through a through hole 24 provided in the wall 14 of the drawer 10. The through hole 24 extends between the bearing face FA of the wall 14 and a face FS forming a bearing seat for the head 20 of the screw 16. It should be noted that this bearing seat FS is part of an internal face of the wall 14 which is not visible when the drawer 10 is closed.

[0046] Figure 3 also shows a screw axis X which is the axis of the tapped hole 22 of the operating button 12 which, when the operating button 12 is fixed to the wall 14 of the drawer 10, coincides with the axis of the fixing screw 16.

[0047] Preferably, as can be seen in [Fig.4], the tapped hole 22 is provided substantially in the middle of a median radius of the end face FE forming the 180° disk sector.

[0048] It will be noted that the operating button 12 is axially delimited by an axial face FX delimiting the proximal part 12P and distal part 12D. Each of the parts 12P, 12D having a general shape of a sector of a cylinder with a circular base and a common axis of sector of a cylinder between them, the axial face FX passes through this axis which is common to the proximal part 12P and distal part 12D.

[0049] Alternatively, the proximal 12P and distal 12D portions of the operating button 12 may each have a general cylindrical sector shape extending over less than 180°. In this case, the operating button 12 is axially delimited by two axial faces forming an angle of less than 180° with each of these axial faces delimiting the proximal 12P and distal 12D portions.

[0050] The operating button 12, according to the illustrated example, exhibits an asymmetry with respect to the screw axis X. Indeed, the operating button 12 does not have a shape general rotation around the screw axis X, so that, after fixing the knob 12 on the wall 14 of the drawer 10, the angular position of the knob 12 around this axis X must be consistent with the desired aesthetic effect.

[0051] To prevent as far as possible an unwelcome angular displacement of the operating button 12, which is detrimental to aesthetics, the end face FE of the button 12 has at least one locking projection 26. As shown in [Fig.3], the projection 26 is intended to cooperate with the bearing face FA of the wall 14 of the drawer 10, by pressing into this bearing face FA, when the end faces FE and the bearing face FA are joined.

[0052] As can be seen in particular in figures 2 and 4, preferably, two locking projections 26 are arranged on the end face FE of the operating button 12. These two projections 26 each extend symmetrically with respect to each other with respect to a plane P passing through the screw axis X.

[0053] As can be seen in particular in figures 2, 4 and 5, each immobilizing projection 26 has a cross section converging from the end face FE towards a drive edge 26A intended to drive into the bearing face FA of the wall 14 of the drawer 10.

[0054] Preferably, as in the illustrated example, the section of each immobilizing projection 26 has a general triangular shape, one of whose vertices is formed by the indentation edge 26A.

[0055] The indentation edge 26A of each projection 26 extends along a linear path distinct from a radius of a circle centered on the screw axis X.

[0056] To allow it to be pressed into the bearing face FA of the wall 14 of the drawer 10, each locking protrusion 26 is made of a harder material than the material of the bearing face FA. Thus, in the example described, on the one hand, the operating knob 12 is made of a metallic material and the two locking protrusions 26 are made of the same material as the end face FE of the distal part 12D of the operating knob 12. On the other hand, the wall 14 of the drawer 10 is made of a wood-based material, for example solid or reconstituted wood, possibly veneered with a material less hard than that of the locking protrusions 26.

[0057] Alternatively, at least one locking projection 26, preferably both, could be brought onto the end face FE of the operating button 12 by being fixed in a manner known per se to this end face FE.

[0058] It will be noted that, in the context of the invention, an edge 26A is not necessarily straight, but can extend along a linear path at least partly curved.

[0059] Thus, in the example described, the indentation edge 26A of each immobilizing projection 26 extends along a curvilinear linear path, as can be seen. see on [Fig.4].

[0060] With particular reference to [Fig.4], it will be noted that, in the example described, the recess edge 26A of each locking protrusion 26 has a radius of curvature coinciding substantially with a radius of the end face FE of the operating button 12 in the general shape of a disk sector.

[0061] Thus, the operating button 12 of the described example, which includes, on the one hand, metallic proximal parts 12P and distal parts 12D having general shapes of sectors of cylinders and, on the other hand, curvilinear immobilization projections 26, is easy to manufacture by turning.

[0062] The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. In particular, it applies to other types of hardware besides a control knob, notably to hardware with various shapes and functions such as handles, hooks, doorstops, etc. Furthermore, the hardware can be fixed to supports other than a piece of furniture. Thus, the hardware according to the invention can be fixed to a non-operable support element, notably to create a component that, together with the non-operable support element, contributes to an overall aesthetic. Finally, it should be noted that, depending on the case, the support element carrying the bearing face FA can be made of various materials, in particular elastomer, this support element being able to be attached to a wall made of various materials, for example metal, glass or wood. List of references

[0063] 10: movable element 12: graspable organ 12P: proximal part of the grasping organ 12D: distal part of the grasping organ 14: wall of the movable element 16: fixing screw 18: body of the fixing screw 20: head of the fixing screw 22: tapping of the grasping organ 24: opening in the wall of the movable element 26: Immobilization projection 26A: Indentation edge FE: end face of the grasping organ FA: bearing face of the movable element FS: face forming the support seat FX: axial face of the grasping organ X: screw axis P: plane passing through the screw axis

Claims

Claims

1. Hardware member (12) intended to be fixed on a support element (14), of the type comprising a thread (22) intended to cooperate with a screw (16) for fixing the hardware member (12) on the support element (14), this thread (22) being arranged in the hardware member (12) so as to open into an end face (FE) of the hardware member (12) intended to cooperate with a bearing face (FA) of the support element (14), the end face (FE) of the hardware member (12) comprising at least one immobilizing projection (26) intended to cooperate, by pressing, with the bearing face (FA) of the support element (14) to participate in blocking the hardware member (12) in rotation around the axis of the tapping (22), called the screw axis (X), when the end faces (FE) and support faces (FA) are joined,characterized in that the immobilizing projection (26) has a cross-section converging from the end face (FE) towards a driving edge (26A) intended to be driven into the bearing face (FA) of the support-forming element (14), this driving edge (26A) extending along a linear path distinct from a circle radius centered on the screwing axis (X), and in that the driving edge (26A) extends along a curvilinear linear path.,

2. A hardware member (12) according to claim 1, wherein the immobilizing projection (26) is integral with the end face (FE) of the hardware member (12).

3. Hardware member (12) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the section of the immobilizing projection (26) has a generally triangular shape, one of the vertices of which is formed by the driving edge (26A).

4. Hardware member (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising two immobilizing projections (26) each extending symmetrically with respect to each other with respect to a plane passing through the screwing axis (X).

5. A hardware member (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the end face (FE) of the hardware member (12) has a general shape of a disc sector, extending for example over 180°, the tapping (22) being arranged substantially in the middle of a median radius of this disc sector.

6. A hardware member (12) according to claim 5, wherein the driving edge (26A) extending along a curvilinear linear path has a radius of curvature substantially coinciding with a radius of the end face (FE) of the generally disc-sector-shaped hardware member (12).

7. Hardware member (12) according to claim 5 or 6, comprising two adjoining parts, respectively proximal (12P) and distal (12D), each having the general shape of a sector of a cylinder with a circular base so that the radius of the proximal part (12P) is greater than the radius of the distal part (12D) and the proximal (12P) and distal (12D) parts are coaxial, the distal part (12D) being delimited by the end face (FE) of the hardware member (12) in the general shape of a disc sector, the hardware member (12) being delimited by at least one axial face (FX) delimiting the proximal (12P) and distal (12D) parts.

8. A hardware member (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is made of metallic material.

9. Assembly (10) characterized in that it comprises a hardware member (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, fixed on an element (14) forming a support, the immobilizing projection (26) being made of a harder material than the material of the bearing face (FA) of the element (14) forming a support to allow the immobilizing projection (26) to be driven into the bearing face (FA) of the element (14) forming a support.

10. Assembly (10) according to claim 9, preferably forming a piece of furniture, for example a piece of furniture opening, in which the hardware member (12) forms a gripping member, for example a handle or a maneuvering button, fixed on the element (14) forming a support so as to make this assembly (10) maneuverable thanks to the gripping member (12).

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