EP0645512A2

EP0645512A2 - Securing device for cupboards or the like

Info

Publication number: EP0645512A2
Application number: EP94306769A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Herbert Philipp Hauser; Giselher Sieg
Original assignee: Dom Sicherheitstechnik GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Dom Sicherheitstechnik GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1993-09-27
Filing date: 1994-09-15
Publication date: 1995-03-29
Also published as: EP0645512A3; DE4332650A1; CA2132781A1

Abstract

A securing device (6) for cupboards (1) or the like with several superimposed drawers (3) which may be pulled out horizontally, having a vertically extending movable locking element co-operating with catch members (S) controlled by the drawers (3) such that, after a drawer has been pulled out, the locking element enters a blocking position in which the pulling out of a further drawer is prevented, in which the locking element is designed as an outwardly bendable line (7) and the catching operation is achieved by bulging (B) of the line (7) by means of one of the catch member (5) into a taut position. This results in a securing device of increased utility, whilst being less complicated in construction and installation than known designs.

Description

The invention relates to a securing device for cupboards or the like with several superimposed drawers which may be pulled out horizontally, which securing device has a vertically extending movable locking element co-operating with catch members controlled by the drawers such that, after a drawer has been pulled out, the locking element enters a blocking position in which the pulling out of a further drawer is prevented.
Such securing devices embody a so-called tilting catch. This tilting catch prevents all drawers from being pulled out and therefore prevents excess weight from being produced in front of the cupboard body. Therefore the cupboard cannot tip over forwardly, particularly when the drawers are full.
DE-PS 20 44 365 proposes that the locking element be produced in the form of a vertically movable locking rod having blocking pegs which co-operate with a link block resting on the drawer. When a drawer is pulled, the blocking pegs place themselves in a catching manner in front of the link blocks of the other drawers. According to a further proposal, the locking element is formed by push elements lined up in the manner of strings of pearls (Ronis). The joint between the push elements which are the same lengths as one another allows a catch member to enter an escape space thus formed, which catch member displaces the push elements such that the catch members of the other drawers do not find the appropriate escape space, which holds the other catch members in the intended securing position. However, this securing device demands precision which can only be produced with extreme effort.
An object of the present invention is to design a generic securing device which is simple to produce but is reliable.
This object is achieved by the invention described in Claim 1.
The other claims provide preferred designs.
A design of this type results in a generic securing device with increased usefulness, the design at the same time being simplified in terms of construction and installation. In concrete terms, the locking element is designed as an outwardly bendable line and the catching operation is achieved by bulging of the line by means of one of the catch members into the taut position. During the bulging operation, the restricted supply for movement of the locking element is used up. The taut position has a catching effect on the other drawers. It is understandable that a locking element of this type does not require precision exceeding the normal amount with corresponding installation costs. Some remains for the tolerance range. If a user intentionally pulls another drawer, the corresponding load has a decelerating effect. It is advantageous that the line is designed as a link chain which is fixed at both ends. Such link chains, also known as so-called bicycle chains, are commercially available. Furthermore, special guidance is not required. Due to gravity, a locking element of this type adopts the natural vertical orientation relative to the drawers located transversely thereto. In a development having independent significance, one fastening end is arranged so as to be vertically movable by means of a lock cylinder which determines the taut position. A closable securing device which locks all drawers is therefore produced using the simplest means. The length portion which is otherwise capable of bulging is neutralised by movement of the end point via an eccentrically operating lock cylinder. A solution which is particularly constructionally advantageous is produced in that the catch members are designed as pivot levers which are controlled by pegs on the drawer and are formed with two arms such that one arm is controlled by the drawer and the other arm causes the line to bulge. It has also proven advantageous that the arm causing the line to bulge acts upon the line by means of an intermediate element mounted with clearance. A relatively short arm therefore suffices on the bulge side. The protrusion movement may also be restricted to a plane located substantially transversely to the taut position of the locking element. To prevent the tautening forces passing into a change-over when a different drawer is pulled out, the intermediate element is supported in a beyond-dead centre position in a bay in the other arm in the catching position. The above-mentioned pulling forces therefore tend to secure the open position of the pivoted-out pivot lever. It is beneficial that the intermediate element is designed as a ring which rests with clearance on a peg extending adjacently to the axial peg of the catch member. It is also proposed that the drawer-controlled arm be fork-shaped and that the peg of the drawer travel out of the fork opening and back into it. In this way, the fork-shaped arm is given a receiving function during closure. A useful solution is achieved by means of supporting portions located on both sides of the bulge. This has, in particular, the further advantage of a defined bulge. In order to remain within favourable radii and to achieve good guidance, a further design feature resides in the fact that the catch member passes between the narrow sides of the link plates and the diameter of the ring corresponds substantially to the length of a link plate. The supporting portions themselves are advantageously designed as strips passing between the link plates. The convex curvature of such strips preferably corresponds to the wheel of curvature or the circular periphery of said ring. Finally, it is also proposed that the line be designed as a cable which is fixed at both ends and the ring be designed as a marginally grooved annular disk. An easily twisted wire cable which is adequately bendable and is also commercially available is intended.
The subject of the invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to two embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings.

Figure 1: shows a cupboard equipped with the securing device according to the invention and having a drawer which is pulled forwardly at the front, the other drawers being caught, according to a first embodiment.
Figure 2: shows the securing device in a side view in readiness for operation.
Figure 3: shows a substantially schematic view toward the end of the line carrying a lock cylinder, in the closed position.
Figure 4: shows a partially sectional detail of the securing device in a front view.
Figure 5: is a plan view thereof with the line omitted.
Figure 6: is a view corresponding to Figure 2, illustrating the bulge of the line in the region of a drawer, the other drawers being caught.
Figure 7: shows a view of the securing device as in Figure 2 but according to a second embodiment.

The cupboard 1 illustrated in Figure 1 contains, beneath its cover 2, several superimposed drawers 3 which can be pulled out horizontally. The drawers 3 each have a handle 4 on their front. Telescopically extending guide rail members 5 permit a pull-out length which corresponds substantially to the length of the drawer 3.
The cupboard 1 is allocated a securing device 6 in the region of the front right-hand corner. A constituent of this securing device 6 is a locking element which is orientated vertically, that is perpendicularly to the pull-out direction of the drawer 3, and which co-operates with catch members controlled by the drawers 3 such that, after a drawer 3 has been pulled out, the locking element enters a blocking position in which the pulling out of further drawers 3 is prevented. This prevents the build-up of an excess weight at the front of the cupboard 1 which would help it to tip forwardly.
The vertically orientated locking element of the securing device 6 is produced as an outwardly bendable line 7. The two ends 7', 7'' thereof are fixed, while allowing for the portion required for outward bending.
According to a first embodiment, the line 7 is a link chain 8.
In the second embodiment, the line 7 is a cable 9 fixed at both ends.
The link chain 8 is a so-called bicycle chain so it does not require further explanation. The cable is preferably a steel cable of which the bundle of filaments is easily twisted and, in this respect, has adequate flexibility for the above-mentioned outward bending. The outward bending used for catching the other drawers 3 or the corresponding bulging B of the line 7 holds drawer catch members S while attaining a taut position of the line 7 in the catching position (cf. Figures 6 and 7). The catch member S of the pulled out drawer 3' is located in the release position, i.e. the catch member S is pivoted out in the frontal direction of the cupboard 1. The line 7 fixed at the upper end 7' and at the lower end 7'' does not leave any play for the corresponding outward pivoting of one or other catch member S. The supply V shown in Figure 2 is used up.
The securing device 6 is also lockable, i.e. the play otherwise allowing the bulging B of the line is eliminated. This is only possible if all catch members S are located in the catching position, i.e. the drawers 3 are pushed in. For this purpose, the upper fastening end 7' is arranged so as to be vertically movable by means of a lock cylinder 10 determining the taut position of the line 7. The lock cylinder 10 continues into a horizontally orientated eccentric pin 11. The eccentric pin 11 penetrates an eyelet 12 in the upper end 7'. By means of this eccentric pin 11, the cylinder core rotating round a horizontal axis x-x may be positioned such that, at the peak, the taut position is caught and, in diametral opposition thereto, the line contains the bulge portion in the form of the above-mentioned supply V for action of the drawer pull-out catch. At least the locked position is a key removal position.
The catch members S are produced as pivot levers 13. They are designed with two arms and are pivotally mounted on a horizontal journal 14 of the catch member S orientated transversely to the pull-out direction of the drawers 3.
The two-arm feature is selected such that one arm, which is designated by a and is longer in design, is controlled by the drawer and the other shorter dimensioned arm b causes the line 7 to bulge. The control resulting from the movement of the drawer is effected by means of a peg 15. The peg 15 rests on the longitudinal side 16 of the drawer 3 and intersects the plane of the pivot lever 13 designed as a flat punched part. As can be inferred from the drawings, the drawer-controlled longer arm a is fork-shaped in design such that the above-mentioned peg 15 of the drawer 3 travels out of the fork opening designated by 17 when the drawer 3 is pulled forwardly and enters when the drawer 3 enters. The fork opening 17 continues into a slot-like fork base 18. In the catching position, the receiving slot consisting of fork opening 17 and fork base 18 is directed upwardly, and is therefore directed transversely to the horizontal pull-out direction of the drawer. The fork base 18 ends substantially at the height of the journal 14. The prongs of the fork are of different lengths. The outer prong is longer and, in the release position, is located deeper than the cupboard-side shorter prongs of the fork. The pivot angle of the catch member S is 60°.
The shorter arm b producing the bulge B acts indirectly on the line 7, more specifically via an intermediate element in the form of a ring 19 installed with clearance. In the catching position, the ring 19 rests positively in a bay 20, directed horizontally toward the interior of the cupboard, in the arm b. The ring 19 is supported therein with matching contours. This supporting position is produced as a simple beyond-dead-centre position so that forces on the caught drawers cannot lead to a movement of the pivot lever 13 of the opened drawer.
A pin supporting the ring 19 with clearance is designated by 21. It rests adjacently to the journal 14 of the catch member S or of the pivot lever 13. A glance at Figure 6 illustrates the operation of the ring 19 which is supported in a floating manner in practice; it acts as a substantially horizontally movable thrust-transmitting member so it does not require a correspondingly long arm b. Rather, a relatively short control cam 22 of the arm b or catch member S originating from the contour of the formation of the bay 20 suffices.
An upwardly directed projection, of which the contour is comparable to the control cam 22, forms an abutment 23 for the snugly supported ring 19. In the release direction, the respective catch member S or the corresponding pivot lever 13 passes through the pivot angle so that the cam 22, in its carrying or controlling peripheral region, finally travels beyond the dead-centre line designated by T-T in Figure 6 and located between the centre of the journal 14 and the centre of the pin 21 and the peripheral support of the interior of the bulge B of the line lying in this direction.
The bulge B is also defined by supporting portions 24 located on both sides thereof. The supporting portions 24 are formed by strips 26 of a respective housing 27 passing between the link plates 25. The strips 26 are convexly curved in the region of the supporting portions 24 formed so as to receive an appropriate deflection region for the link chain 8. The correspondingly arcuate curvature substantially corresponds to the arcuate periphery of the ring 19. According to a formula which leads to optimum guidance, the catch member S passes between the narrow sides of the link plates 25 via chain pins, and the diameter of the ring 19 substantially corresponds to the length of a link plate 25. The clearance in the ring 19 is sufficiently great to allow a horizontal movement in the interior of the cupboard without the control cam 22 entering a jamming situation.
As can be inferred from the drawings, the convexly rounded strips 26 can extend over the complete rounding of the recess 28 in the housing 27 allowing the desired bulge B. Consequently, the concave projections of the strips 26 having a much greater radius act upon the link chain 8 in a guiding and supporting manner as the strip passes between the link plates 25, as in the case of the ring 19, the chain pins sliding over the strips 26 in a guided and supported manner.
As a stop on the internal wall of the cupboard 1, each housing 27 has a hole 29 bearing an internal thread for a fastening screw 30. Fixing pins 31 located adjacent thereto prevent rotation in that they enter corresponding recesses 32 in the wall. Fixing pins 31 etc. rest on both broad faces of the housing 27 which is otherwise completely symmetrical in design. The securing device 6 can therefore be arranged selectively in the right-hand or left-hand stop.
The securing device 6 according to the second embodiment is basically of identical construction. Similar reference numerals are adopted without repetitions of text. The difference resides in the fact that the line 7 designed here as a cable 9 fixed at both ends is guided by rollers in the core of the housing 27. For this purpose, the intermediate element designed as a ring 19 in the first embodiment is simply marginally grooved, i.e. designed as an annular disc or guide roller with peripheral installation guidance for the cable 9. Corresponding grooves are provided in the region of the supporting portions 24. However, guide rollers can also be mounted there.
The upper and lower end 7' and 7'' of the line 7 carry an eyelet connected to a shoe which is clamped onto the cable in the conventional manner.
With the link chain version, the bearing holes in the chain pins can be used as eyelets. In particular, the lower end 7' may be fixed on the housing 27 which, for this purpose, has a receiver 33 which is undercut to correspond to the bone-shaped contour of the link plates 27.
To sum up, operation is as follows:
A drawer may be pulled forward selectively after removing the central lock of the securing device 6. The pivot lever 13 is moved round the journal 14 by means of the pegs 15 of the drawer. This is converted via ring 19 into a bulge B of the line 7. The corresponding taut position prevents the corresponding release of another catch member S when another drawer 3 is pulled. The term taut position denotes a functional taut position or tension position as there is already a partial bulge in the region of the other catch members S. The catch members S act as guides for the otherwise freely hanging line 7. A pull on other drawers is not converted into an opposing movement of the released pivot lever 13 owing to the inherent catching described at the outset. The choice can only be made when the forwardly pulled drawer has been pushed right in.
The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, drawings and claims may be significant individually and also in any combination for carrying out the invention. The disclosure of the application includes the content of the associated priority documents in their entirety.

Claims

A securing device (6) for cupboards (1) or the like with several superimposed drawers (3) which may be pulled out horizontally, which securing device (6) has a vertically extending movable locking element co-operating with catch members (S) controlled by the drawers (3) such that, after a drawer (3) has been pulled out, the locking element enters a blocking position in which the pulling out of a further drawer (3) is prevented, characterised in that the locking element is designed as an outwardly bendable line (7) and the catching operation is achieved by bulging (B) of the line (7) by means of one of the catch members (S) into a taut position.
A securing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the line (7) is designed as a link chain (8) which is fixed at both ends.
A securing device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that one fastening end (7') is arranged so as to be vertically movable by a lock cylinder (10) determining the taut position.
A securing device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the locking members (S) are designed as pivot levers (13) which are controlled by pegs (15) of the drawer (3) and are designed with two arms such that one arm (a) is controlled by the drawer and the other arm (b) causes the line (7) to bulge (bulge B).
A securing device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the arm (b) causing the line (7) to bulge acts on the line (7) by means of an intermediate element mounted with clearance.
A securing device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the intermediate element is supported in the beyond-dead-centre position (T-T) in a bay (20) in the other arm (b) in the catching position.
A securing device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the intermediate element is designed as a ring (19) which rests with clearance on a pin (21) extending adjacently to the journal (14) of the catch member (S).
A securing device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the drawer-controlled arm (a) is fork-shaped in design and the peg (15) of the drawer (3) travels out of the fork opening (17) and into the fork opening.
A securing device according to any preceding claim, characterised by supporting portions (24) located on both sides of the bulge (B).
A securing device according to one or more of the preceding claim, characterised in that the catch member (S) passes between the narrow sides of the link plates (25) and the diameter of the ring (19) substantially corresponds to the length of one link plate (25).
A securing device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the supporting portions (24) are designed as a strip passing between the link plate (25).
A securing device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the line (7) is designed as a cable (9) fixed at both ends and the ring (19) is designed as a marginally grooved annular disc.