Method and convertible structure for the movement of a component

Abstract

A method is described for moving a component relative to a compartment by an upper support arm and a lower support arm. Each arm comprises or consists of a chain of N elongated swinging members, N >= 3, which are two by two hinged at their ends about parallel and vertical axes so that each swinging member can move relative to the swinging member to which it is connected only by rotating in a horizontal plane.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND CONVERTIBLE STRUCTURE

[0002] FOR THE MOVEMENT OF A COMPONENT

[0003] The present invention relates to a method and a convertible structure for the movement of a component, particularly of furniture items and the like.

[0004] There are well-known furniture items, taken as examples here, that have sliding leaves as an alternative to standard hinged leaves. These types of leaves are generally translatable on carriages slidable in guides or tracks mounted on the top and bottom edges of the furniture item, see for example EP4245954.

[0005] Installing the guides complicates the construction of the furniture item and increases its cost. Furthermore, the leaves often require a complicated and expensive extraction mechanism that allows the leaf not only to slide but also to shift slightly to end up in front of or behind the adjacent leaf.

[0006] Therefore a system would be needed to move leaves or furniture components without these defects.

[0007] The main object of the invention is to improve this state of the art.

[0008] A particular object is to create a structure for opening leaves that is economical and / or simple to build.

[0009] The invention is defined in the attached claims where the dependent claims define advantageous variants, and refers to a method for moving a component with respect to a compartment, with the step of providing an upper support arm for the component and a lower support arm for the component placed at a certain vertical distance from the upper arm; wherein each arm consists of a chain of N elongated swinging members, N >= 3, which are hinged two by two at their ends about parallel, vertical axes so that each swinging member can move, relative to the swinging member to which it is connected, only by rotating in a horizontal plane.

[0010] One end of the arms is connected to the component, and the opposite end of the arms is connected to a portion of the compartment. the method allows moving the component in space while keeping the ends connected to the component always on the same vertical line and at the same relative distance, in order to linearly translate the component along a displacement horizontal axis or plane.

[0011] Another aspect of the invention is a convertible structure, capable of implementing the method, for moving a component of furniture item, comprising: a compartment; a component (e.g. of a furniture item) movable with respect to the compartment; an upper support arm for the component; a lower support arm for the component placed at a certain vertical distance from the upper arm; wherein each arm comprises or consists of a chain of N elongated swinging members, N >- 3, which are two by two hinged at their ends about parallel, vertical axes so that each swinging member can move relative to the swinging member to which it is connected only by rotating in a horizontal plane, one end of the arms being connected to the component, and the opposite end being connected to a portion of the compartment, the two arms being configured to be able to move in space while keeping the ends connected to the component always on the same vertical line and at the same relative distance, and to linearly translate the component along a horizontal axis or plane.

[0012] By the method and this articulated structure effectively one eliminates any type of linear guide for the component, allowing moving the component within a horizontal plane. Furthermore, it is possible to completely eliminate from a furniture item and its leaves the upper or lower bulks caused by the known slidable carriages.

[0013] In the method preferably: a swinging member of the lower arm is integrally connected to a swinging member of the lower arm; and / or the end of the arms connected to the component is fixed integrally to the component without degrees of freedom, or the end of the arms connected to the component is made rotatable with respect to the component by hinging such end to the component, preferably about a horizontal axis or a vertical axis parallel to the hinging axes of the swinging members; and / or said opposite end is fixed integrally to the portion of the compartment or said opposite end is made rotatable with respect to the portion of the compartment by hinging said end about a horizontal axis or a vertical axis parallel to the hinging axes of the swinging members; and / or the component is moved linearly from a position wherein it is contained in the compartment toward a position wherein it is extracted from the compartment; and / or the component is moved from a position wherein it plugs an opening of the compartment toward a position wherein it leaves the opening of the compartment clear for access to the compartment; and / or. the component is moved by means of the arms always keeping it outside the compartment and / or vertical, and / or a second leaf is moved with respect to a first leaf, wherein the second leaf is connected to a first leaf by means of arms made as said two arms, and the first leaf is connected to the compartment via arms made as said two arms.

[0014] For improved stability, in a variant the structure comprises a rigid vertical member mounted to integrally connect a swinging member of the upper arm with a swinging member of the lower arm.

[0015] As a simple embodiment, the rigid member is preferably a bar and / or has a rectilinear shape.

[0016] For simplicity of construction, the swinging members of one arm are preferably all of equal length. For the same reason, the swinging members of the two arms preferably are all of equal length.

[0017] In a simple construction variant, the swinging members are plates or blocks hinged together at their ends.

[0018] In a variant, the end of the arms connected to the component is fixed integrally to the component without degrees of freedom. More preferably, to add degrees of freedom to the component and make it movable relative to the arms, preferably the end of the arms connected to the component is hinged to the component.

[0019] In particular, the end of the arms connected to the component is hinged to the component about a vertical axis parallel to the hinging axes of the swinging members.

[0020] Preferably the end of the arms connected to the component is hinged to the component about a horizontal axis.

[0021] In a variant of simpler construction, said opposite end is integrally fixed to the portion of the compartment. To add degrees of freedom to the component and make it movable with respect to the arms, preferably said opposite end is hinged to the portion of the compartment about a vertical axis parallel to the hinging axes of the swinging members. Specifically, said opposite end is hinged to the portion of the compartment about a horizontal axis.

[0022] In a variant of moving the component, one end of the arms is connected to an internal surface of the compartment and an opposite end of the arms is connected to the component, the arms being configured to linearly move the component from a position wherein it is contained in the compartment toward a position wherein it is extracted from the compartment.

[0023] To enhance the stability of the component, preferably the structure comprises a second upper support arm; and a second lower support arm; wherein the second upper arm and the second lower arm are made as the upper arm and the lower arm defined above, and one end of the second lower arm is connected to a first internal surface of the compartment; one end of the second upper arm is connected to a second internal surface of the compartment opposite the first, and the opposite end of the second lower arm and the opposite end of the second upper arm are connected to the component (preferably on opposite sides of the component), said four arms being configured to linearly move the component from a position wherein it is contained in the compartment toward a position wherein it is extracted from the compartment.

[0024] In a variant, said component is a shelving or a leaf.

[0025] In a variant, which exploits a pre-existing compartment, the structure comprises a niche in a wall, for example of a building, wherein the niche delimits said compartment and said compartment portion is a surface of the niche.

[0026] In particular, the arms are configured to move the leaf from a position wherein it plugs an opening of the compartment toward a position wherein it uncovers the opening of the compartment to provide access to the compartment.

[0027] To equip a furniture item with a leaf movable by means of the arms, the structure comprises a furniture item that delimits said compartment.

[0028] In particular, said compartment portion is a panel, preferably fixed, of the furniture item.

[0029] Preferably, to create few bulks and privilege aesthetics, the two arms are mounted inside the furniture item. Specifically, the arms are configured to move the leaf while always keeping it outside the furniture item.

[0030] The structure may comprise more than one leaf movable by the same means. In particular, said leaf is a first leaf and the structure comprises a second leaf, a second upper support arm for the second leaf, and a second lower support arm for the second leaf, wherein the second upper arm and the second lower arm are made as the upper arm and the lower arm defined above and one end of the second lower arm and the second upper arm is connected to a surface, facing towards the inside of the compartment, of the first leaf and the opposite end of the second lower arm and the second upper arm is connected to the second leaf (and preferably connected to a surface of the second leaf that is facing towards the compartment), and the second lower arm and the second upper arm are configured to move the second leaf from a position wherein it is placed side-by-side to and coplanar with the first leaf to plug an opening of the compartment, towards a position wherein it is superimposed to the first leaf to uncover the opening of the compartment.

[0031] For greater application flexibility, preferably the two arms are configured to translate the component also along a direction orthogonal to said displacement axis, i.e. the two arms are configured to translate the component also to bring the component closer to or further away from the front of the compartment.

[0032] In a variant, said furniture item is a parallelepiped furniture item which comprises a front wall, two side walls, a bottom, a top and a back which together delimit said compartment, the compartment being provided with an access opening to the compartment, and for example the opening is placed next to the front wall.

[0033] The advantages of the invention will be even more evident by the following description of an exemplary embodiment of a convertible structure, illustrated in the attached drawing wherein:

[0034] • fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional front view of a furniture item;

[0035] • fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional view from behind of the furniture item in fig. 1 ;

[0036] • fig. 3 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 1 ;

[0037] • fig. 4 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item in fig. 1 in a second configuration;

[0038] • fig. 5 shows a three-dimensional view from behind of the furniture item in fig. 4;

[0039] • fig. 6 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 4;

[0040] • fig. 7 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item in fig. 1 in a third configuration;

[0041] • fig. 8 shows a three-dimensional view from behind of the furniture item in fig. 7; fig. 9 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 7;

[0042] • fig. 10 shows a top view of a variant of the furniture item in a first configuration;

[0043] • fig. 11 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item in fig. 10;

[0044] • fig. 12 shows a top view of the furniture item of fig. 10 in a second configuration;

[0045] • fig. 13 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item in fig. 12;

[0046] • fig. 14 shows a top view of the furniture item of fig. 10 in a third configuration;

[0047] • fig. 15 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item in fig. 14;

[0048] • fig. 16 shows a three-dimensional front view of a furniture item in a first configuration;

[0049] • fig. 17 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 16;

[0050] • fig. 18 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item in fig. 16 in a second configuration;

[0051] • fig. 19 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 18;

[0052] • fig. 20 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item in fig. 16 in a third configuration;

[0053] • fig. 21 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 20;

[0054] • fig. 22 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item of fig. 16 in a fourth configuration;

[0055] • fig. 23 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 22;

[0056] • fig. 24 shows a three-dimensional front view of a furniture item in a first configuration;

[0057] • fig. 25 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 24;

[0058] • fig. 26 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item in fig. 24 in a second configuration;

[0059] • fig. 27 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 26;

[0060] • fig. 28 shows a three-dimensional front view of the furniture item in fig. 24 in a third configuration;

[0061] • fig. 29 shows a top view of the furniture item in fig. 28.

[0062] A convertible structure according to the invention preferably serves to move a component of furniture item relative to a compartment, e.g. a compartment of furniture item or of a wall.

[0063] The furniture item is optional, as the structure may comprise a compartment or a niche in a wall, in which case the convertible structure works to move a furnishing component, an object or said component with respect to the niche.

[0064] The component may be a leaf or a furnishing component, an object or something else, e.g. a shelf.

[0065] Figs. 1-9 show a parallelepiped furniture item 10 lying on a support surface T. The furniture item 10 comprises, for example, a front wall 12, two side walls 14, a bottom 16, a top 18 and a back 20 which together delimit a compartment 22 provided with an opening 24 for access to the compartment 22. The opening 24 is positioned next to the front wall 12. In all the figures a Z-axis indicates a vertical direction going from the support plane T towards the top 18; an X-axis indicates a horizontal direction going from one side wall 14 to the other; and a Y-axis indicates a horizontal direction going from the front wall 12 to the back 20.

[0066] The compartment 22 and the opening 24 can be closed by a leaf 90 which is mounted on, and supported by, a device 30 for horizontal guiding and support of the leaf 90.

[0067] The device 30 comprises an upper arm 32 composed of N swinging members 40, N >=3, and a lower arm 34, mounted at a certain vertical distance from the upper arm 32, composed of N swinging members 40 (only some are indicated for graphic convenience).

[0068] The swinging members 40 of each arm 32, 34 are hinged two-by-two at their ends about vertical axes Z1 parallel to Z (only one is indicated for simplicity, see Fig. 5), and have no other degrees of freedom. Therefore, each swinging member 40 can move with respect to the swinging member to which it is connected only by rotating in a horizontal plane (plane parallel to the XY plane), i.e. a plane orthogonal to Z.

[0069] One end of the arms 32, 34 is connected to the leaf 90, while the opposite ends of the arms 32, 34 are connected to the front wall 12. In general, one or each of such ends may be fixed to and integral with the body to which it is connected, or also hinged about an axis parallel to Z.

[0070] The swinging members 40 of the arms 32, 34 preferably have all the same length, defined as the distance between their hinged ends. Therefore, the two arms 32, 34 can move in space while maintaining their ends connected to the leaf 90 always on the same vertical line and at the same relative distance. That is, the arms 32, 34 can bend while both always maintaining the same curved profile, identical in shape and replicated along Z. Then the leaf 90 can move with respect to the compartment while remaining suspended only on - and only supported by - the arms 32, 34, which together act as an articulated support arm for the leaf 90. Therefore, the leaf 90 can be displaced between two positions. In the first position, the leaf 90 closes the opening 24 and is coplanar with the front wall 12; and the arms 32, 34 are straight (figures 1-3). In the second position, the arms 32, 34 are bent into a U-shape and have brought the leaf 90 in front of the front wall 12 and to the side of the opening 24, leaving the latter clear (figures 7-9).

[0071] During the conversion and translation (figures 4-6) between the two positions, the leaf 90 is supported only by the arms 32, 34 and always remains parallel to the Z axis, i.e. vertical.

[0072] Note that preferably the transformation of the arms 32, 34 from straight to U-curved not only causes the leaf 90 to translate laterally parallel to X, but also moves the leaf 90 parallel to Y.

[0073] To improve the synchronized movement of the arms 32, 34 and to prevent the leaf 90 from tilting while moving, a vertical torsion bar 50 is preferably connected between a swinging member 40 of the upper arm 32 and a swinging member located vertically below it in the lower arm 34.

[0074] Preferably, all the swinging members 40 of the upper arm 32 are made integral with the corresponding swinging members 40 of the lower arm 34, i.e. the device 30 comprises N torsion bars 50, one for each pair of swinging members 40.

[0075] In a variant, see figures 10-15, in the convertible structure it is possible to move two leaves of the furniture item simultaneously with two devices 30.

[0076] A furniture item 100 is made like the furniture item 10 except for another leaf 92 which remains adjacent and coplanar to the leaf 90 when the leaf 92 is closed (figures 10-11).

[0077] The leaf 92 is supported only by one end of a second pair of arms 32, 34, the opposite end of which this time is fixed, inside the compartment 22, only to the internal vertical surface of the leaf 90. That is, it is only the leaf 90 that supports the second pair of arms 32, 34, and it is the second pair of arms 32, 34 that supports the leaf 92.

[0078] With this configuration, the leaves 90, 92 can move telescopically and independently.

[0079] The leaf 90 can be opened as already explained above transporting the leaf 92 with it. The leaf 92 thus carried can in turn simultaneously

[0080] - remain closed, i.e. coplanar with the leaf 90, if the arms 32, 34 of the second pair remain straight;

[0081] - or be open (figures 12-13), if the arms 32, 34 that support the leaf 92 are bent into a II- shape. In this way the leaf 92, with a displacement equal to that explained above for the leaf 90, can move back with respect to the leaf 90 and can be placed superimposed on the leaf 90 in front of the furniture item 100 (figs. 14-15).

[0082] So, it is understood that both the leaf 92 and the leaf 90 can remain closed or open regardless of the position of the other leaf.

[0083] In this variant, the arms 32, 34 of the leaf 90 simultaneously support: the leaf 90, the arms 32, 34 of the leaf 92 and the leaf 92. The arms 32, 34 of the leaf 92 support only the leaf 92.

[0084] Figures 12-13 show, for example, the conversion of the leaves 90, 92 from both closed to both open.

[0085] In a variant, see figures 16-23, the convertible structure comprises a leaf that can be extracted from a furniture item by means of a device 30.

[0086] A furniture item 200 is made like the furniture item 10 with the addition of a second compartment 202 in which a leaf 290 can be hidden.

[0087] The second compartment 202 is, for example, a lateral compartment of the furniture item 100 and comprises two opposite side walls 204 which define the horizontal width of the second compartment 202 and delimit an opening 240 of the second compartment 202 towards the front of the furniture item 200.

[0088] A wall 240 may coincide with a wall 14.

[0089] The compartment 22 and the second compartment 202 are set side by side, and the opening 24 is placed next to the opening 240. In the second compartment 202 a device 30 is mounted.

[0090] One end of the arms 32, 34 is fixed to the wall 204 furthest from the compartment 22, the other end of the arms 32, 34 is fixed to an edge of the leaf 290 about an axis parallel to Z. At rest (figures 16-17) the arms 32, 34 are folded into a J- shape inside the second compartment 202; and the leaf 290 is hidden inside the second compartment 202.

[0091] In this configuration most of the length of the arms 32, 34 extends parallel to a wall 204 from the end connected to the compartment 202 to a U-bend of the arms 32, 34 in the proximity of said edge of the leaf 92.

[0092] By pulling the leaf 290 along Y to extract it from the second compartment 202 (figures 18-21 ) the end of the arms 32, 34 connected to the leaf 290 moves from the back of the second compartment 202 up to the edges of the opening 240. As can be seen, the arms 32, 34 retain the J-shape but now it is specular with respect to fig. 17.

[0093] Furthermore now in this configuration most of the length of the arms 32, 34 extends parallel to a wall 204 from said edge of the leaf 92 up to a U-bend of the arms 32, 34 in proximity of the end connected to the compartment 202. Now the leaf 290 is completely extracted from the second compartment 202 and is parallel to Y (and to the walls 204).

[0094] It is thus possible to rotate the leaf 290 towards the compartment 202 about the hinge between its edge and the arms 32, 34. The rotation brings the leaf 290 parallel to X and coplanar to the front wall 12 (figures 22-23), and the opening 24 is closed.

[0095] In a variant, the convertible structure comprises a shelving 310 as a movable component. In the illustrated example, the shelving 310 belongs to a furniture item 300 which comprises the compartment 22 and a second compartment 302 like the second compartment 202. The shelving 310, moving parallel to the Y axis, can be inserted and hidden in the compartment 302 or can be extracted from the compartment 302 to protrude from the furniture item 200.

[0096] The compartment 22 and the second compartment 302 are built and placed side by side as before.

[0097] The second compartment 302 has a front opening 304 and is made like the second compartment 202, and is not repeated.

[0098] The furniture item 300 may have leaves or front walls, or not.

[0099] To each wall 204 is fixed respectively the end of an upper arm 32 and a lower arm 34. The other ends of the arms 32, 34 are connected to the rear of the shelving 310. Thus the shelving 310 is supported by four arms, i.e. a pair of upper arms 32 and a pair of lower arms 34.

[0100] At rest (figures 24-25) the arms 32, 34 are folded into a J-shape within the second compartment 302; and the shelving 310 is retracted and concealed within the second compartment 302. In this configuration the main part of the length of the arms 32, 34 extends parallel to a wall 204 from the end connected to the compartment 202 up to a

[0101] U-bend of the arms 32, 34 in proximity of said rear of the shelving 310.

[0102] By pulling the shelving 310 along Y to extract it from the second compartment 302 (figures 26-29) the end of the arms 32, 34 connected to the shelving 310 moves from the back of the second compartment 302 up to and beyond the edges of the opening 340. As can be seen, the arms 32, 34 retain the J-shape but it is now specular with respect to fig. 25.

[0103] Furthermore in this configuration most of the length of the arms 32, 34 extends parallel to a wall 204 from said rear of the shelving 310 to a U-bend of the arms 32, 34 in proximity of the end connected to the compartment 302.

[0104] The shelving 310 is now completely extracted from the second compartment 302 and protrudes from it, so much so that it is possible to easily access the interior of the shelving 310, which, for example, has shelves.

[0105] In a different version, the shelving 310 is supported only by a pair of arms 32, 34 connected to the same side of the shelving 310. In a variant, the device 30 comprises a mechanism for imposing a predetermined trajectory on the leaf 90, 92 as it moves between the two positions. For example, arms or levers, an electric motor, or a cam / slider system can be used for this purpose.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Method for moving a component relative to a compartment, with the step of providing an upper support arm for the component and a lower support arm for the component placed at a certain vertical distance from the upper arm; wherein each arm comprises or consists of a chain of N elongated swinging members, N >= 3, which are two by two hinged at their ends about parallel and vertical axes so that each swinging member can move relative to the swinging member to which it is connected only by rotating in a horizontal plane, so as to be able to move the component in space while keeping the ends connected to the component always on a same vertical line and at the same relative distance, in order to linearly translate the component along a horizontal axis or plane.

2. Convertible structure for implementing the method and moving a component, comprising: a compartment; a furniture component movable relative to the compartment; an upper support arm for the component; a lower support arm for the component placed at a certain vertical distance from the upper arm; wherein each arm comprises or consists of a chain of N elongated swinging members, N >= 3, which are two by two hinged at their ends about parallel and vertical axes so that each swinging element can move with respect to the swinging member to which it is connected only by rotating in a horizontal plane, one end of the arms being connected to the component, and and the opposite end being connected to a portion of the compartment, and the two arms being configured for being able to move in space while keeping the ends connected to the component always on a same vertical line and at the same relative distance, and linearly translating the component along a horizontal axis or plane.

3. Structure according to claim 2, comprising a rigid vertical member mounted to connect integrally one swinging member of the upper arm with one swinging member of the lower arm.

4. Structure according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the swinging members of an arm are all of equal length.

5. Structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the end of the arms connected to the component is hinged to the component about a vertical axis parallel to the hinging axes of the swinging members.

6. Structure according to any preceding claim, wherein said opposite end is hinged to the portion of the compartment about a vertical axis parallel to the hinging axes of the swinging members.

7. Structure according to any preceding claim, wherein one end of the arms is connected to an inner surface of the compartment, an opposite end of the arms is connected to the component, the arms being configured to linearly move the component from a position where it is contained in the compartment toward a position where it is extracted from the compartment.

8. Structure according to any preceding claim, comprising a second upper support arm; a second lower support arm; wherein the second upper arm and the second lower arm are constructed as the upper arm and the lower arm of any one of claims 2 to 7, and wherein one end of the second lower arm is connected to a first inner surface of the compartment; one end of the second upper arm is connected to a second inner surface of the compartment opposite to the first inner surface, and the opposite end of the second lower arm and the opposite end of the second upper arm are connected to the component, said four arms being configured to linearly move the component from a position where it is contained in the compartment toward a position where it is extracted from the compartment.

9. Structure according to any preceding claim, comprising a furniture item delimiting said compartment, and wherein said component is a leaf, and the arms are configured to move the leaf from a position where it plugs an opening of the compartment to a position where it uncovers the opening of the compartment.

10. Structure according to claim 9, wherein said leaf is a first leaf and the structure comprises a second leaf;a second upper support arm for the second leaf; and a second lower support arm for the second leaf; wherein the second upper arm and the second lower arm are made like the upper arm and the lower arm of any one of claims 2 to 9, and one end of the second lower arm and of the second upper arm is connected to a surface, facing the inside of the compartment, of the first leaf and the opposite end of the second lower arm and of the second upper arm is connected to the second leaf, and the second lower arm and the second upper arm are configured to move the second leaf from a position where it is adjacent and coplanar to the first leaf to plug an opening of the compartment, toward a position where it is superimposed on the first leaf to uncover the opening of the compartment.

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