EP2441351B1

EP2441351B1 - Visible device for the assembly of a wall cupboard, with side regulation

Info

Publication number: EP2441351B1
Application number: EP11184671.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carlo Cattaneo
Original assignee: Leonardo SRL
Current assignee: Leonardo SRL
Priority date: 2010-10-15
Filing date: 2011-10-11
Publication date: 2016-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-11
Also published as: PL2441351T3; ITMI20101886A1; ES2617056T3; EP2441351A1; IT1402035B1

Description

The present invention relates to a visible device for the wall assembly of a wall cupboard, said device being commonly called in the field visible hanging brackets.
A visible hanging bracket of this type is described and illustrated for example in European patent EP 0033179 .
These devices also have the function of allowing regulations in height and depth of the wall cupboard assembled, with respect to the wall itself and adjacent pieces of furniture.
The assembly of the piece of furniture to the wall is effected by means of an arm which extends from the body of the device and is hooked to a support, for example a bar, peg, plate or similar item, fixed to the wall.
The above regulations in height and depth are effected by acting on said arm through various types of mechanisms, which are controlled (from outside the device) by means of a maneuvering tool (for example a screwdriver).
As is well known to experts in the field, and as is evident from the following description, these hanging brackets are fixed to the shoulder of a wall cupboard, in correspondence with the top and lining, the latter when envisaged. This means in correspondence with the upper edges of the cupboard opposite the opening-closing doors.
When the doors of the cupboard are hinged for a movement around a vertical axis, or are sliding, the axial access to the above regulation mechanisms with a screwdriver is allowed without any particular problems.
This is not the case when the door of the cupboard is hinged to move around a horizontal axis, i.e. to rotate upwards (opening) and vice versa (closing).
The articulation systems of the door around a horizontal axis are in fact generally quite encumbering, preventing access in an axial direction, by means of a screwdriver, to the regulation mechanisms in height and depth indicated above.
Visible hanging brackets should also satisfy the following main requisites.
Firstly, their general configuration must be such as to allow them to be easily and safely fixed to the shoulder of the cupboard, regardless of the possibility of a so-called rear lining.
Secondly, their structure must be such as to ensure a firm and safe fixing to the shoulder of the cupboard, even without a rear lining.
Thirdly, the above regulation mechanisms in height and depth must be easily accessible and maneuverable from the outside, regardless of the type and position of the articulation system (hinging) of the door to the cupboard itself.
A further requisite that must be satisfied by visible hanging brackets is that they must comprise regulation mechanisms of the cupboard in height and depth which are simple to produce and assemble and have a reliable functioning.
According to prior art patent document DE 2907970 it's disclosed a device for the wall assembly of a structural element of a piece of furniture of the type comprising a movable arm for the hooking of the device to a support fixed to the wall, and where the position of the arm with respect to the wall is regulated with respect to the height and depth by means of two different regulation mechanisms fully contained inside a box-shaped body. The box-shaped body is composed of two half-shells firmly intercoupled by fixing means disposed on the side of the box-shaped body, and there are provided further fixing means for fixing the body to the furniture.
Document WO2010/012504 A1 discloses an other fastening device.
The general objective of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the known art by providing a visible hanging bracket which can be used
indifferently with cupboards equipped with doors having both an opening with a movement around a vertical axis, and an opening with a movement around a horizontal axis.
This objective is achieved by a device, a so-called visible hanging bracket, having the characteristics specified in claim 1 and enclosed subclaims.
The structural and functional characteristics of the invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will appear more understandable from the following description, referring to the enclosed drawings, which show a possible practical embodiment of the invention itself.
In the drawings:

figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a device produced according to the invention;
figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of figure 1 assembled, but with the body open to illustrate the assembly arrangement of the regulation mechanisms of the cupboard in height and depth;
figures 3 and 4 are two perspective views respectively illustrating, from the front and behind, the assembly device of figures 1 and 2;
figure 5 is a raised side view of the device of figures 1-4;
figure 6 is a raised view according to the arrow F of figure 5;
figure 7 is a raised view according to the arrow F1 of figure 5;
figure 8 is a transversal section illustrating the device of figures 1-7 fixed to the shoulder of a wall cupboard equipped with a rear lining;
figure 9 is a vertical section of the device of figures 1-8 assembled;
figure 10 is a section taken according to the traced line X-X of figure 9;
figures 11-18 are views similar to figures 1-10, but illustrating a second possible embodiment of the invention;
figure 19 is a section taken according to the traced line XIX-XIX of figure 15;
figure 20 is a vertical section of the device of figures 11 and 12 assembled;
figure 21 is a perspective view, with an enlarged detail, illustrating a wall cupboard equipped with a visible hanging bracket of the known type; and
figure 22 is a perspective view, with an enlarged detail, illustrating a wall cupboard equipped with a visible hanging bracket produced according to the invention, in which the door of the wall cupboard is hinged to move around a horizontal axis, i.e. upwards (opening) and vice versa (closing).

Figures 1-10 of the drawings illustrate a first possible embodiment of the invention in which the assembly device is indicated as a whole with the numerical reference 30, and is of the so-called visible type.
As already specified, devices of this type are commonly called visible hanging brackets in the field.
The device 30 is structurally composed of a flat rectangular body 31, characteristically comprising two half- shells 32, 33, intercoupled, and partially containing a hooking arm 34.
The arm 34 can be rotated around a pin 35 in the directions of the arrow F, and can also be translated forwards and backwards in the directions of the arrow F1 (figure 9).
The rotation and translation of the arm 34 are controlled by means of two separate control mechanisms, which are indicated as a whole with the numerical references 36, 37, respectively.
The mechanism 36 serves to regulate the height (in vertical) of the position of the cupboard M, whereas the mechanism 37 serves to regulate the depth of the position (in horizontal).
More specifically, as can be clearly seen in the various illustrative figures, the hooking arm 34 is in a single fork-shaped piece, with interspaced branches 38, open behind and shaped in the front, defining a hook 39 protruding through an opening 40 of the body 31. The hook 39 is destined for being hooked to a B-shaped supporting bar fixed to a wall P (figure 5).
Said branches 38 of the arm 34, close to the open rear end, are perforated as in 41, so as to receive the pin 35 on which they can rotate.
As can be clearly seen in the drawings, the hooking arm 34 is guided in its rotation and translation movements by the internal surfaces of the body 31 (figure 10).
The mechanism 36, which controls the rotation of the arm 34 around the pin 35, comprises a screw 42 which is screwed onto a sliding hexagonal nut 43.
For this purpose, the head of the screw 42 is housed in a complementary seat 49' of the two half- shells 32, 33, whereas the hexagonal nut 43 translates on guides 48.
The screw 36 rotates inside the hexagonal nut 43 which, when translating, acts on the terminal edge 45 of a curved section 46 which slides inside a corresponding slit 47 of the body 31.
The end of said section 46 opposite to 45 is buffered against the branches 38 of the hooking arm 34.
The head of the screw 42 opposite to 44, comprises a toothed crown 49 with which a gear 50 is engaged, rotating on a pin 51 whose rotation axis is perpendicular to that of the screw 42.
The pin 51 is housed inside a hole 51' of the half-shell 32.
A seat 52 is situated in the gear 50 for a manoeuvring tool passing through a hole 44 of the half-shell 33.
The components 42, 43, 49, 50, 51 of the above control mechanism, as can be clearly seen in the drawings, are housed inside a corresponding seat defined by the coupling between the two half- shells 32, 33 and partially indicated with 53 in figure 1.
The mechanism 37, which controls the translation of the arm 34, comprises a screw 54 which is screwed through a threaded hole 55 of the pin 35 on which the arm 34 rotates.
As can be clearly seen in the drawings, in particular in figures 9 and 10, the translation of said screw 54 is blocked at the front end by a support 56 and at the rear end by a seat 57, on which the screw 54 itself is rotatingly assembled.
More specifically, the pointed front end 58 of the screw 54 is rotatingly housed in a seat 59 of the support 56, whereas the head at the opposite end comprises a toothed crown 60 whereby a gear 61 is engaged, which can rotate on a pin 62 whose rotation axis is perpendicular to that of the screw 54.
The pin 62 is housed in a hole 62' of the half-shell 32.
A seat 63 is situated in the gear 61 for a manoeuvring tool passing through a hole 64 of the half-shell 33.
The components of the above control mechanism 37, as can be clearly seen in the drawings, are housed inside a corresponding seat defined by the coupling between the two half- shells 32, 33, said seat being partially indicated with 65 in figure 1.
The half- shells 32, 33 are firmly intercoupled, containing the kinematic mechanisms described above, by means of a plurality of pins 66.
The front side of the half-shell 33 (from which the hook 39 extends) preferably has a flange 67 which is buffered against a lining 68 (if present) of the cupboard M (figure 18).
As can be clearly seen from figure 8 of the drawings, the hanging bracket 30 according to this embodiment of the invention is fixed to the shoulder 69 of the cupboard M by means of a plurality of screws 70 which pass through respective holes 71 in the half- shells 32, 33 of the body 30 (figure 8).
Figures 11-20 illustrate a second possible embodiment of the invention, in which elements, the same and/or equivalent to those illustrated in figures 1-10, are indicated with the same reference numbers, increased by 100, and are not further described.
This second embodiment of the invention, in fact, only differs from the first embodiment in the fixing means of the hanging bracket 130 to the shoulder 169 which instead of consisting of pass-through screws 70, are composed of pins 172.
As can be clearly seen in the drawings, said pins 172 protrude from the half-shell 132 of the body 131, in correspondence with the lower side of the latter.
Each pin 172 is axially perforated, as in 173, to receive a fixing screw 174 of the same pin 172 to the body 131 of the hanging bracket, whose half- shells 132, 133 are perforated for the purpose as in 175 (figure 19).
As can be clearly seen in figure 19 of the drawings, the screws 174 - together with other screws 174' - consequently also actuate the reciprocal fixing of the half- shells 132, 133, forming the body 131 of the hanging bracket.
More specifically, the pin 172 comprises a sawtooth section 176 equipped with a shank 177 housed inside a bush 178 integral with the half-sell 132 of the body 131.
In this way, the hanging bracket 130 can be firmly fixed to the shoulder 169 of the cupboard M by pressure-inserting (with interference) the pins 172 into holes 179 of the shoulder 169 itself (figures 18, 22).
The regulation in height and depth of the cupboard M with respect to the wall (and also possibly with respect to other adjacent pieces of furniture not shown) is effected by acting on the gears 50, 150 and 61, 161, respectively.
The rotation in one direction or another of the gear 50, 150 (and crown 49, 149), in fact, causes a rotation of the arm 34, 134 around the pin 35, 135, due to the rotation of the screw 42, 142 and the translation of the curved section 46, 146, pushed by the sliding of the nut 43, 143.
The arm 34, 134 is, in fact, always kept in contact with the section 46, 146 thanks to the weight of the cupboard of which the panel 69, 169 is a part.
The rotation in one direction or another of the gear 61, 161 (and crown 60, 160), on the other hand, causes a translation of the arm 34, 134, due to the tightening of the screw 54, 154 into the hole 55, 155 of the pin 35, 135, which is consequently induced to translate forwards and backwards integrally with the arm 34, 134.
The seats 52, 152 and 63, 163 of the gears 50, 150 and 61, 161 are accessible to a manoeuvring tool (for example a screwdriver) introduced through respective coaxial holes 44, 64 and 144, 164 situated in the half- shell 33, 133, in the side 80, 180 of the box-shaped body 31, 131.
The objectives indicated in the preamble of the description have therefore been achieved.
The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims

A visible device for the wall assembly of a structural element (69, 169) of a piece of furniture (M) of the type comprising: a movable arm (34, 134) for the hooking of said device to a support (B) fixed to the wall (P), the position of said arm (34, 134) with respect to said wall being regulated with respect to the height and depth by means of a first and second different regulation mechanisms (36, 37; 136, 137) respectively, said regulation mechanisms (36, 37; 136, 137) being fully contained inside a box-shaped body (31, 131), from a front side of which a hook-shaped end (39, 139) of said arm (34, 134) protrudes, said box-shaped body (31, 131) being composed of two half-shells (32, 33; 132, 133) which are firmly intercoupled by fixing means (66, 70, 71, 174, 174', 175), on the side (80,180) of said box-shaped body (31, 131), there also being respective access means (44, 64; 144, 164) to the side of said mechanisms (36, 37; 136, 137), and further fixing means (70, 172) to said component (69, 169),
said first regulation mechanism (36, 136) comprising, in combination a screw (42, 142) which is screwed onto a sliding nut (43, 143) which acts on the end edge (45, 145) of a curved section (46, 146)), the head of the screw (42, 142) comprises a toothed crown (49, 149) with which a gear (50, 150) is engaged, rotating on a pin (51,151) whose rotation axis is perpendicular to that of the screw (42, 142), the pin (51, 151) is housed inside a hole (51', 151') of the half-shell (32, 132), a seat (52, 152) being situated in the gear (50, 150) for a manoeuvring tool passing through a hole (44, 144) of the half-shell (33, 133),
the second regulation mechanism (37, 137) comprising, in combination: a screw (54, 154) which is screwed through a threaded hole (55, 155) of a pin (35, 135) on which the arm (34, 134) rotates, the translation of said screw (54, 154) being blocked at the rear end by a seat (57, 157) on which the screw (54, 154) itself is rotatingly assembled, whereas the head at the opposite end comprises a toothed crown (60, 160) whereby a gear (61, 161) is engaged, which can rotate on a pin (62, 162) whose rotation axis is perpendicular to that of the screw (54, 154), the pin (62, 162) is housed inside a hole (62', 162') of the half-shell (32, 132), a seat (63, 163) is situated in the gear (61, 161) for a manoeuvring tool passing through a hole (64, 164) of the half-shell (33, 133),
characterized in that
- the components (42, 142, 43, 143, 49, 149, 50, 150, 51, 151) of the above first control mechanism (36, 136), are housed inside a corresponding first seat (53, 153) defined by the coupling between the two half-shells (32, 132; 33, 133),
the nut of the first mechanism being hexagonal and translating on guides (48) provided on the same first seat (53),

the curved section of the first mechanism sliding inside a corresponding slit (47, 147) of the body (31, 131), the end of said section (46, 146) opposite to (45, 145) being buffered against the branches (38, 138) of the hooking arm (34, 134)

- the components of the above second regulation mechanism (37, 137) are housed inside a corresponding seat (65, 165) defined by the coupling between the two half-shells (32, 33; 132, 133), the translation of the screw (54,154) of the second mechanism being blocked at the front end by a support (56, 156), the front end (58, 158) of the screw (54, 154) being rotatingly housed inside a seat (59, 159) of the support (56, 156), said support (56) having opposite ends which are housed inside corresponding slots provided on the same second seat (65),said first (53) and second (65) seat being separated each other.
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said box-shaped body is flat and rectangular.
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (70) consist of a plurality of screws (70) which pass through respective holes (71) passing through the half-shells (32, 33) of the body (30).
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (172) consist of a plurality of pins (172) protruding from the half-shell (132) of the body (131).
The device according to claim 4, characterized in that said pins (172) protrude from the half-shell (132) of the body (131) in correspondence with the lower side of the latter.
The device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that each pin (172) is axially perforated as in (173) to receive a screw (174) for fixing the pin (172) to the body (131) of the cupboard-holder, of which the half-shells (132, 133) have holes (175) for this purpose, said pin (172) comprising a sawtooth section (176) equipped with a shank (177) housed inside a bush (178) integral with the half-sell (132) of the body (131).