Furniture fittings and methods for manufacturing furniture fittings

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a furniture fitting (1) for movably supporting at least one furniture part in a furniture cabinet, the method comprising the following method steps, preferably successive in chronological order in the stated order: in a first method step, providing at least one base body (2), preferably in the form of a plate; in a second method step, providing in the at least one base body (2) at least one opening (3), preferably in the form of a cylinder, with at least one collar (4) surrounding said opening (3), said at least one collar (4) protruding from said at least one base body (2); in a third method step, heating the at least one collar (4) at least in a predetermined area; and in a fourth method step, expanding the at least one collar (4) in the heated state by mechanical deformation at least in the radial direction to form a preferably ring-shaped protrusion (6).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a furniture fitting for movably supporting at least one furniture piece on a furniture cabinet.

[0002] The invention further relates to furniture fittings of the type described.

[0003] Pivotal connections between two components of a furniture fitting are often made by providing an opening in each of the components, inserting a pin into the openings in both components, and then swinging apart at least one end of the pin, so that the components are fixed relative to one another in the axial direction of the pin.

[0004] The disadvantage here is that the manufacturing costs of the furniture fitting increase, especially in the case of a large number of pins. Furthermore, cold deformation methods such as orbital machining carry the risk that cracks may occur in the pins. If such cracks are detected early by optical detection systems or random inspections, the pins can be replaced immediately. Small cracks in the pins, on the other hand, often remain unnoticed and may lead to failure of the connections between the components of the furniture fitting at a later time.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing furniture fittings as well as an improved furniture fitting which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 13.

[0007] The method for manufacturing a furniture fitting for movably supporting at least one furniture part in a furniture cabinet preferably comprises the following method steps, successively in chronological order in the stated order: - in a first method step, providing at least one substrate, preferably in the form of a plate, - in a second method step, providing at least one opening, preferably cylindrical, in the at least one substrate with at least one collar surrounding said opening, said at least one collar protruding from said at least one substrate, - in a third method step, heating at least one collar at least in a predetermined area, and - a fourth method step, expanding at least one collar in at least the radial direction by mechanical deformation under heating to form a preferably ring-shaped protrusion.

[0008] Thus, in a first method step, a substrate is provided, which can be produced by stamping out of a preferably flat sheet metal, preferably made of steel.

[0009] The material thickness of the flat substrate may preferably be from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.

[0010] In a second method step, an opening is provided in the base body, in which case the collar is stretched. The collar forms a rolling bearing with an enlarged bearing area. The collar can be produced, for example, by collar stretching. The opening in the base body can be produced, for example, by drilling.

[0011] In a third method step, the collar, preferably the free end of the collar, is locally heated. This may be brought about, for example, by a high-speed rotating tool that is pressed against the collar. Due to the friction that occurs, the material of the collar is plasticized, i.e. brought into a deformable or flowable state.

[0012] In a fourth method step, the collar is deformed under heat, forming an expanded protrusion. Due to the axial force applied to the collar and the high rotation speed of the rotary tool, the material of the collar is displaced in the radial direction, resulting in a characteristic protrusion, by means of which the components of the furniture fitting to be connected to one another can be fixed relative to one another in the axial direction of the collar.

[0013] The proposed method offers several advantages: firstly, it allows to dispense with additional attachment means (such as pins) for connecting both components of the furniture fitting, which allows to significantly reduce the manufacturing costs in mass production of furniture fittings; as a result, in the factory, it also allows to dispense with separate supply stations for preparing the additional attachment means, in particular the pins.

[0014] The heat treatment carried out results in a defined non-cutting deformation, a higher strength of the collar as well as a smooth surface of the produced protrusion, as a result of which a characteristic torus-shaped protrusion can be present at the free end of the collar.

[0015] In the course of the third method step, the application of heat can cause the color to change color (e.g. to black or blue) in the heated areas, which also results in special visual effects. For example, the base body of the furniture fitting may have a normal zinc color, whereas the axle of the furniture drive is heated and blackened at both ends.

[0016] The furniture fitting according to the invention has at least one base body, preferably in the form of a plate, which has at least one opening, preferably in the form of a cylinder, with at least one collar surrounding said opening, said at least one collar protruding from said at least one base body, said at least one collar having at least one radially extending, preferably ring-shaped, protrusion. It is preferably envisaged that said furniture fitting is manufactured by the method described above.

[0017] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1a] 1A-1D are schematic diagrams illustrating successive method steps of a method for manufacturing a furniture fitting; [Figure 1b] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a method for manufacturing a furniture fitting in the following method steps: [Figure 1c] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the method for manufacturing a furniture fitting in the further method steps; FIG. [Figure 1d] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the method for manufacturing a furniture fitting in the further method steps; FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary furniture hardware for removably attaching a drawer front to a drawer side wall. [Figure 3a] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the furniture fitting of FIG. 2. [Figure 3b] FIG. 3b is a detailed view of FIG. 3a. [Figure 3c] FIG. 3b is a detailed view of FIG. 3a. [Figure 4a] FIG. 2 shows the base of the furniture hardware with the collar in an undeformed state. [Figure 4b] FIG. 1 shows a furniture hardware base with a collar in a deformed state, the free end of the collar having an enlarged protrusion. [Figure 5a] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a slightly modified embodiment of the furniture fitting, in which the protrusion is only formed after the installation of the rotatable component. [Figure 5b] FIG. 5b is an enlarged detail of FIG. 5a. [Figure 5c] FIG. 5b is an enlarged detail of FIG. 5a.

[0019] 1a to 1d show a method for manufacturing a furniture fitting 1 in various method steps, namely: - in a first method step (A), at least one substrate 2, preferably in the form of a plate, is provided (Figure 1a), - in a second method step (B), at least one opening 3, preferably cylindrical, is provided in the at least one base body 2 with at least one collar 4 surrounding said opening 3, said at least one collar 4 protruding from said at least one base body 2, said collar 4 preferably having an end face 13 (Figure 1b), - in a third method step (C), at least one collar 4 is heated, at least in a predetermined area, preferably by a heat source 5, particularly preferably by a rotary tool 5a (Fig. 1c), In a fourth method step (D), at least one collar 4 is expanded in at least the radial direction by mechanical deformation, preferably by means of a rotating tool 5a, while in the heated state, to form a preferably ring-shaped protrusion 6 (Figure 1d).

[0020] According to Fig. 1d, the furniture fitting 1 forms a preferably cylindrical support point 7 in a defined area for a component 11 (Fig. 2) of the furniture fitting 1. In the assembled state, the component 11 of the furniture fitting 1 is received in a defined area between the base body 2 and the projection 6 in a hollow cylindrical section 16 of the collar 4 and is supported so as to be pivotable about an axis formed by the collar 4.

[0021] Thus, the additional arrangement of mounting means, in particular pins, can be dispensed with.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a furniture fitting 1 which, in the embodiment shown, is configured for releasably locking a drawer front to a drawer side wall.

[0023] In the assembled state, the furniture fitting 1 has a catch element 9 which is arranged at the front end of the drawer side wall and which is typically pivotable about an axis of rotation 8 and has a catch opening 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the catch element 9 corresponds to the base body 2.

[0024] A retaining part (not shown here) can be attached to the rear side of the drawer front. The catch element 9 can be actuated by the retention part entering into the catch opening 12, in which case the catch element 9 (together with the retention part connected to it) can be retracted by the force of the force accumulator 10. In this way the drawer front can be pressed against the front end face of the drawer side wall. The structure of such a furniture fitting 1 is basically known and does not need to be described in detail here.

[0025] A force accumulator 10, for example in the form of a coil spring configured as a compression spring, presses against a support point 7 of the furniture fitting 1 via a component 11. The component 11 is pivotably supported at the support point 7. It can be seen that the component 11 is received in a defined area between the base body 2 (i.e. the capture element 9) and the projection 6. In this way, the position of the component 11 is fixed in the axial direction of the support point 7.

[0026] However, it is not necessary for the component 11 to completely surround the support point 7, in particular the hollow cylindrical section 16 (FIG. 1 d), and thus to be irremovably connected to the support point 7. Instead, the component 11 can have a clamp-like section by means of which the component 11 can be removably connected to the support point 7. To release the connection between the component 11 and the support point 7, it is only necessary to move the component 11 against the force of the force accumulator 10 and separate the clamp-like section of the component 11 from the support point 7.

[0027] Figures 3a to 3c show the furniture fitting 1 of Figure 2 in a perspective view as well as in two different detailed views thereof.

[0028] 3a shows a furniture fitting 1, in which a collar 4 protruding laterally from a basic body 2 has already been produced in the course of the first and second method steps. The collar 4 is cylindrical in certain areas and has an end face 13 facing away from the basic body 2.

[0029] In the course of a third method step, the collar 4 is heated, at least at the end face 13, by a heat source 5, preferably by a rotary tool 5a.

[0030] Figure 3b shows an enlarged view of the circled area of ​​figure 3a. A rotating tool 5a has a central pin 15 and a ring-shaped raised portion 14. Such a tool 5a may for example have a so-called flow drill, which rotates at high speed and is introduced into at least one collar 4 and / or opening 3, at least in a predefined area.

[0031] A ring-shaped ridge 14 of the tool 5a is brought into contact with at least one collar 4, preferably with an end face 13 of the collar 4, in the course of a third method step.

[0032] Figure 3c shows a tool 5a introduced into the collar 4, by which a protrusion 6 (Figure 2) is formed in the course of a fourth method step. Pressure is applied by the tool 5a in the axial direction of the collar 4. In this way, the protrusion 6 is formed at the end of the collar 4 remote from the at least one base body 2 in the course of the fourth method step.

[0033] Between the projection 6 and the base 2, at least one circular hollow cylindrical section 16 (FIGS. 1d, 4b) is left in the collar 4, which has a smaller diameter than the projection 6. This hollow cylindrical section 16 of the collar 4 is used for the preferably pivotable support of the component 11 of the furniture fitting 1.

[0034] Figure 4a shows the substrate 2 (capture element 9) with a collar 4 in the undeformed state, protruding laterally from the substrate 2. The end face 13 of the collar 4 is heated by a rotating tool 5a so that the material of the collar 4 can be transferred to a plasticized state.

[0035] Figure 4b shows the base body 2 (capture element 9) with a collar 4 in the deformed state, which protrudes laterally from the base body 2. By pressing a tool 5a against the end face 13 of the collar 4 and by means of a high rotation speed of the tool 5a, the collar 4 is expanded radially and a preferably ring-shaped protrusion 6 is formed.

[0036] Between the protrusion 6 and the base 2 at least one hollow cylindrical section 16 is left, the section having a smaller diameter than the protrusion 6 .

[0037] The pivotable component 11 can be placed on the support point 7 immediately after the production of the collar 4, followed by the production of the projection 6. In the assembled state, the component 11 is received between the basic body 2 and the projection 6 in a defined area.

[0038] Alternatively, the component 11 can be placed on the support point 7 after production of the projection 6. This can be made possible, for example, by a clamp which only partially surrounds the hollow cylindrical section 16 of the component 11, in which case the component 11 can be removably connected to the support point 7 also after production of the projection 6.

[0039] FIG. 5a shows a perspective view of a slightly modified embodiment of the furniture fitting 1, in which the projection 6 of the support point 7 is only formed after the rotatable component 11 has been attached.

[0040] The energy accumulator 10 is pivotally connected via a joint shaft 17 to a component 11 which can be pivoted about a rotation axis 8 .

[0041] In the first and second method steps, firstly a basic body 2 with a collar 4 is provided. In a further method step, a component 11 is rotatably arranged on the collar 4.

[0042] FIG. 5 b shows in an enlarged view the circled area of ​​FIG. 5 a , with the component 11 prepositioned in the collar 4 of the support point 7 .

[0043] 5c shows the region of the support point 7 after the collar 4 has been heated in a third method step and radially deformed in a fourth method step to form the preferably ring-shaped projection 6. In the assembled state, a rotatable component 11 is supported rotatably about the axis of rotation 8 of the support point 7 and is received in a defined region between the basic body 2 and the projection 6.

[0044] The invention has been explained in the drawings on the basis of a furniture fitting 1 for removably attaching a drawer front to a drawer side wall. Of course, the furniture fitting 1 may also be configured as a furniture drive for moving a furniture flap, as a furniture hinge for movably supporting a furniture part or as a drawer guide for a drawer.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a furniture fitting (1) for movably supporting at least one furniture part in a furniture cabinet, comprising the steps of: A first step of providing at least one substrate (2); a second step of providing at least one opening (3) in said at least one base body (2), said opening (3) having at least one collar (4) surrounding said opening (3), said at least one collar (4) protruding from said at least one base body (2); a third step of heating said at least one collar (4) at least in a predetermined area; a fourth step of expanding said at least one collar (4) at least in the radial direction by mechanical deformation under heating to form protrusions (6); Including, The method, wherein said at least one collar (4) is caused to change color in the heated area during said third step.

2. The method described in claim 1, wherein the first step to the fourth step are consecutive in chronological order as described.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one substrate (2) is plate-shaped.

4. A method described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the openings (3) is cylindrical.

5. A method described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protrusion (6) is ring-shaped.

6. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one substrate (2) is prepared during the first step by stamping from a sheet metal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the thin plate is a flat thin plate.

8. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein the thin plate is made of steel.

9. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one collar (4) is formed during the second step by collar drawing and / or the at least one opening (3) is formed during the second step by drilling in the base body (2).

10. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one collar (4) has at least one end face (13), and the at least one collar (4) is heated at least at the at least one end face (13) during the third step.

11. 11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one collar (4) is heated during the third step by means of at least one rotating tool (5a).

12. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the rotary tool (5a) is introduced into the at least one collar (4) and / or into the at least one opening (3) at least in a predetermined area.

13. 13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the rotary tool (5a) has at least one ring-shaped raised portion (14), which is brought into contact with the at least one collar (4) during the third step.

14. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion (6) is formed during the fourth step by means of at least one tool (5a), and wherein pressure is applied at least in the axial direction of the at least one collar (4) by means of the at least one tool (5a).

15. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion (6) is formed during the fourth step at an end of the collar (4) remote from the at least one base body (2).

16. 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein during the fourth step, the collar (4) is left with at least one hollow cylindrical section (16) between the protrusion (6) and the base body (2), the section having a smaller diameter than the protrusion (6).

17. 17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one further component (11) of the furniture fitting (1) is supported on the at least one collar (4).

18. The method as described in claim 17, wherein at least one further component (11) of the furniture fitting (1) is rotatably supported on the at least one collar (4).

19. A furniture fitting (1) for movably supporting at least one furniture part in a furniture cabinet, the furniture fitting (1) having at least one base (2), the at least one base (2) having at least one opening (3) with at least one collar (4) surrounding the opening (3), the at least one collar (4) protruding from the at least one base (2), The at least one collar (4) has at least one protrusion (6) extending at least in a radial direction; The at least one protrusion (6) has a different coloring from the substrate (2). A furniture fitting (1) characterized in that

20. The furniture fitting (1) according to claim 19, wherein the at least one base (2) is plate-shaped.

21. Furniture fitting (1) as described in claim 19 or 20, wherein at least one of the openings (3) is cylindrical.

22. Furniture fitting (1) according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein at least one of the protrusions (6) is ring-shaped.

23. 23. The furniture fitting (1) according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the at least one base body (2) is formed as a stamped part.

24. 24. The furniture fitting (1) according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the at least one protrusion (6) is formed at an end of the collar (4) that is spaced apart from the at least one base body (2).

25. 25. The furniture fitting (1) according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the collar (4) has at least one hollow cylindrical section (16) arranged between the protrusion (6) and the base body (2) and having a smaller diameter than the protrusion (6).

26. 26. Furniture fitting (1) according to any one of claims 19 to 25, characterized in that at least one further component (11) is supported on the at least one collar (4).

27. ​​Furniture fitting (1) as described in claim 26, wherein at least one further component (11) is rotatably supported on the at least one collar (4).

28. The furniture fitting (1) according to any one of claims 19 to 27, wherein the furniture fitting (1) is formed as a furniture drive for moving a furniture flap, as a furniture hinge for movably supporting a furniture part, or as a drawer guide for a drawer.

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