WO2012048849A1

WO2012048849A1 - Hidden device for the wall assembly of a structural component of a piece of furniture, with side regulation

Info

Publication number: WO2012048849A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/005079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo Cattaneo
Original assignee: Leonardo S.R.L.
Priority date: 2010-10-15
Filing date: 2011-10-04
Publication date: 2012-04-19
Also published as: EP2627215B1; CN103153135A; RU2013114717A; RU2570368C2; ES2534420T3; ITMI20101884A1; CN103153135B; IT1402034B1; PL2627215T3; EP2627215A1

Abstract

A hidden device (20, 120) for the wall assembly (77) of a structural component (21) of a piece of furniture (M) of the type comprising: a movable arm (25, 125) for the hooking of said device to a support (76) fixed to the wall (77), the position of said arm (25, 125) being regulated with respect to the height and depth by means of two different regulation mechanisms (27, 127; 28, 128) respectively, wherein said regulation mechanisms (27, 127; 28, 128) are fully contained inside a box-shaped body (22, 122), from a front side of which a hook-shaped end (30, 130) of said arm (25, 125) protrudes, said body (22, 122) being composed of two half-shells (23, 123; 24, 124) which, comprise fixing means (60, 160) of the device (20, 120), on a side (78, 178) of said box-shaped body (22, 122) there also being relative access means (44, 144; 35, 135) to said mechanisms (27, 127; 28, 128).

Description

HIDDEN DEVICE FOR THE WALL ASSEMBLY OF A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF A PIECE OF FURNITURE, WITH SIDE REGULATION

The present invention relates to a hidden device for the wall assembly of a structural component of a piece of furniture, with side regulation.

These devices are commonly known in the field as hidden hanging brackets.

As a non-limiting example, the invention is de- scribed herein with reference to the wall assembly of a wall cupboard, but can also equally be used for the assembly of uprights (shoulders) forming part of a bookcase, or other pieces of furniture.

These devices also have the function of allowing regulations in height and depth of the piece of furniture assembled to the wall, 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 screwdriv- er) .

The present invention specifically relates to a so- called shoulder-centre bracket, i.e. a hanging bracket of the hidden type which is destined to be inserted inside a seat situated inside a shoulder of a piece of furniture, for example a wall cupboard or other furnishing component .

So-called shoulder-centre brackets must satisfy the following main requisites.

Firstly, their general configuration must be such as to allow an easy and safe assembly inside the shoulder of the piece of furniture, even if the relative seat is not perfectly complementary (fitting perfectly) .

Secondly, their structure must be such as to ensure a firm and safe fixing to the shoulder of the piece of furniture: i.e. the wall cupboard under stress must not become disengaged from its seat, causing the cupboard to fall.

Thirdly, the above regulation mechanisms in height and depth of the piece of furniture must be easily accessible and maneuverable from the outside: i.e. even if the hanging bracket is inserted inside the shoulder of a cupboard, this should be 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 shoulder-centre 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 func- tioning.

The general objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a shoulder-centre bracket which is capable of satisfying the above requisites, overcoming the drawbacks of the known art .

This objective is achieved by means of a device, a so-called shoulder-centre 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:

- figures 1 and 2 are two perspective views illustrating, from the front and behind respectively, an assembly device according to the invention abutted on a support destined to be fixed to a wall;

- figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device of figures 1, 2 ;

- figure 4 is a perspective view of the device of figure 3 assembled, but with the body open to illustrate the assembly arrangement of the regulation mechanisms of the cupboard in height and depth;

- figure 5 is a vertical section of the device of figures 1-4 assembled;

figure 6 is a section taken according to the traced line VI -VI of figure 5;

- figures 7 to 10 are views illustrating the assembly system between the body of the device and the fixing upright of the same inside a seat situated in the shoulder of a piece of furniture;

- figure 11 is a raised front view partially illu- strating the shoulder of a piece of furniture where there is a seat for the device of the invention;

- figure 12 is a raised view similar to figure 11, but with the device housed inside said seat;

figure 13 is a section taken according to the traced line XIII-XIII of figure 12;

- figure 14 is an enlarged view illustrating how, with the cupboard assembled to the wall, the forces act on the device according to the invention;

figure 15 is a perspective view illustrating a wall cupboard equipped with the shoulder-centre hanging bracket according to the invention illustrated in figures 1-14; and

- figures 16-21 are views corresponding to figures 1-6, illustrating a further possible embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1-13 of the drawings illustrate a possible embodiment of the invention in which the assembly device is indicated as a whole with the reference number 20, and is of the so-called hidden type, in particular destined for being incorporated in a component of a piece of furniture, for example an upright or panel 21.

As already specified, devices of this type are commonly known as shoulder-centre hanging brackets. The device 20 structurally consists of a flat rectangular body 22, characteristically comprising two half -shells 23, 24, intercoupled, and partially containing a hooking arm 25.

The arm 25 can be rotated around a pin 26 in the directions of the arrow F, and can also be translated forwards and backwards in the directions of the arrow Fl (figure 5) .

The rotation and translation of the arm 25 are controlled by means of two separate control mechanisms, which are indicated as a whole with the numerical references 27, 28, respectively.

The mechanism 27 serves to regulate the height (in vertical) of the position of the panel 21, whereas the mechanism 28 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 25 is in a single fork-shaped piece, with interspaced branches 29, open behind and flattened and shaped in the front, defining a hook 30 protruding through an opening 31 of the body 22. The hook 30 is destined for being hooked inside an opening 75 of a support 76 fixed to a wall 77. Said branches 29 of the arm 25, close to the open rear end, are perforated as in 32, so as to receive the pin 26 on which they can rotate.

As can be clearly seen in the drawings, the hooking arm 25 is guided in its rotation and translation movements by the internal surfaces of the body 22 (figure 6) .

The mechanism 27, which controls the rotation of the arm 25 around the pin 26, comprises a screw 33 which is screwed onto a sliding hexagonal nut 34.

For this purpose, the head of the screw is rotating- ly housed in a corresponding seat 40' of the two half- shells 23, 24, as also the hexagonal nut 34 which translates on guides 39.

The screw 33 rotates inside a hexagonal nut 34 which, when translating, acts on the terminal edge 36 of a curved section 37 which slides inside a corresponding slit 38 of the body 22.

The end of said section 37 opposite to 36 is buffered against the branches 29 of the hooking arm 25.

The head of the screw 33 comprises a toothed crown

40 with which a gear 41 is engaged, rotating on a pin 42 whose rotation axis is perpendicular to that of the screw 33. The pin 42 is housed inside a hole 42' of the half- sheli 23.

A seat 43 is situated in the gear 41 for a manoeuvring tool passing through a hole 44 of the half -shell 24.

The components 33, 34, 40, 41, 42 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 23, 24 and partially indicated with 45 in figure 3.

The mechanism 28, which controls the translation of the arm 25, comprises a screw 46 which is screwed through a threaded hole 47 of the pin 26 on which the arm 25 rotates .

As can be clearly seen in the drawings, in particular in figures 5 and 6, the translation of said screw 46 is blocked at the front end by a support 48 and at the rear end by a seat 49, on which the screw 46 itself is rotatingly assembled.

More specifically, the pointed front end 50 of the screw 46 is rotatingly housed in a seat 51 of the support 48, whereas the head at the opposite end comprises a toothed crown 52 whereby a gear 53 is engaged, which can rotate on a pin 54 whose rotation axis is perpendicular to that of the screw 46. The pin 54 is housed in a hole 54' of the half -shell 23.

A seat 55 is situated in the gear 53 for a manoeu- vring tool passing through a hole 35 of the half-shell 24.

The screw 46 is rotatingly supported, in correspondence with the toothed crown 52, inside a slit 56 of the support 49, which is in turn firmly inserted inside a seat 57 defined by the coupling between the two half- shells 23, 24.

The components of the above control mechanism 28, as can be clearly seen in the drawings, are housed inside a corresponding seat defined by the coupling between the two half -shells 23, 24, said seat being partially indicated with 58 in figure 3.

The half -shells 23, 24 are firmly intercoupled, containing the kinematic mechanisms described above, by means of a plurality of pins 59.

The body 22 described above, containing the mechan- isms 27, 28 for respectively regulating the height and depth of the panel 21 (and consequently the cupboard of which said panel 21 can be a part) , characteristically also comprises a box-shaped upright 60 for fixing the shoulder-centre hanging bracket 20 to the panel 21, as explained hereunder.

Said upright 60 is structurally composed of a core 61 reinforced by a perimetric edge 62, connected at the ends, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

The core 61 of the upright 60 has an opening 63 in which the flat rectangular body 22 of the hanging bracket is assembled and fixed (figures 7-10) .

For this purpose, a box- shaped withholding tooth 64 protrudes, in correspondence with the edge of the body 22 above the hook 30, which defines, with the same body 22, a slit 65.

A fixing pin 66 extends, in correspondence with the edge of the body 22, beneath the hook 30.

In this way, the body 22 can be fixed to the upright 60, in correspondence with the opening 63, as illustrated in the sequence of figures 7-10, i.e. by first passing the tooth 64 through the opening 63, and then inserting the slit 65 in the core 61 and pin 66 inside a hole 67 of the core 61 itself. Finally, the pin 66 is riveted, as in 68, onto the core 61 itself, so as to obtain a solid, stable and safe connection between the body 22 and the upright 60 (figures 5, 10, 13).

As can be clearly seen in the drawings, the opening 63 is eccentric, i.e. it is positioned closer to the up- per end of the upright 60, with respect to the lower end.

Two lever arms Bl and B2 , longer and shorter respectively, are thus defined in the fixing upright 60, whose important function will be described hereunder.

The arm Bl is situated under the body 22, whereas the arm B2 is above the body.

The shoulder-centre hanging bracket 20 structured as described above, is firmly fixed to the panel 21 in the following way, with particular reference to figures 11- 14.

Seats 69, 70 are situated in the panel 21, where the body 22 and fixing upright 60 of the hanging bracket 20 are housed - also with a clearance (figure 14 enlarged) .

The hanging bracket 20 is firmly fixed in place by means of the box-shaped upright 60 which is screwed onto the panel 21 by means of a plurality of screws 71 passing through holes 72 of the core 61 of the upright 60 itself.

Figure 15 illustrates, as a non- limiting example, the hidden shoulder-centre hanging bracket according to the invention incorporated inside the shoulder 21 of a wall cupboard M. The wall cupboard M is equipped with a door A hinged by means of an articulation system S of the known type, which allows its rotation (around a horizontal axis) upwards (for opening) and vice versa (for closing) .

As can be clearly seen from the enlarged detail of figure 15, in spite of the encumbering presence of the articulation system S of the door A - which in fact makes a hanging bracket of the visible type inaccessible from the front (see for example EP 0033179)-, the hidden shoulder-centre hanging bracket according to the invention, is easily accessible, from the side, by means of maneuvering screwdrivers C which are introduced through holes 73, 74 in the panel 21 coaxial to the holes 44, 35 in the half-shell 24 of the body 22 (figure 15) , accord- ing to axes X which lie on planes substantially perpendicular to the sides 78 of the box-shaped body 22.

It is thus possible to have access to the regulating mechanisms 27, 28 of the height and depth of the piece of furniture M, as previously explained.

The regulation in height and depth of the cupboard M with respect to the wall 77 (and also possibly with respect to other adjacent pieces of furniture not shown) is effected by acting on the gears 41, and 53, respectively.

The rotation in one direction or another of the gear 41 (and crown 40) , in fact, causes a rotation of the arm 25 around the pin 26, due to the rotation of the screw 33 and the translation of the curved section 37, pushed by the sliding nut 34.

The arm 25 is, in fact, always kept in contact with the section 37 thanks to the weight of the cupboard of which the panel 21 is a part.

The rotation in one direction or another of the gear 53 (and crown 52) , on the other hand, causes a translation of the arm 25, due to the tightening of the screw 46 into the hole 47 of the pin 26, which is consequently induced to translate forwards and backwards integrally with the arm 25.

The seats 43 and 55 of the gears 41 and 52 are accessible to a manoeuvring tool (for example a screw- driver) introduced through respective coaxial holes 73 and 74 situated in the panel 21 (figure 15) .

Figure 14 enlarged, shows how, thanks to the hidden shoulder-centre hanging bracket according to the invention, the serious problem of the disengagement of the body 22 of the hanging bracket from the respective seat 69, is solved, even if the latter is not perfectly sized.

The problem is solved by the fixing upright 60 with the lever arms Bl and B2 , longer and shorter respectively, which prevent a clockwise rotation of the panel 21 (under stress Fl) around the hinge point P, thanks to the action of the forces of the components Rl, R2 and R3 , and resulting moment Ml.

The collaboration between the core 61 and perimetric edge 62 of the box-shaped fixing upright 60 is significant for this purpose .

Figures 16-21 illustrate a further possible embodiment of the invention, wherein the components, the same, or substantially equivalent, to those illustrated in figures 1-15 are indicated with the same reference numbers increased by 100.

The difference between the first and second embodiment of the invention (illustrated in figures 16-21) is that in the second embodiment a fixing upright 160 of the device 120 to the panel 21 is envisaged, which is characteristically produced integrally with the half-shell 123 of the flat body 122. This embodiment is clearly illustrated with particular reference to figures 18, 19 and 20 of the drawings.

The production of the upright 160 integrally with the half-shell 123 defines a recess 200 in the latter where a flange 201 of the half-shell 124 is housed, which is thus firmly fixed to 123 by means of pins 159.

The objectives indicated in the preamble of the description have therefore been achieved.

The scope of the invention is defined by the follow- ing claims.

Claims

1. A hidden device (20, 120) for the wall assembly (77) of a structural component (21) of a piece of furni- ture (M) of the type comprising: a movable arm (25, 125) for the hooking of said device to a support (76) fixed to the wall (77) , the position of said arm (25, 125) with respect to said wall (77) being regulated with respect to the height and depth by means of two different regulation mechanisms (27, 127; 28, 128) respectively, characterized in that said regulation mechanisms (27, 127; 28, 128) are fully contained inside a box-shaped body (22,122), from a front side of which a hook- shaped end (30,130) of said arm (25, 125) protrudes, said box-shaped body (22,122) being composed of two half-shells (23,123; 24,124) which, in correspondence with said front side, comprise fixing means (60, 160) of the device (20, 120) inside a seat (69, 70) of said component (21) of the piece of furniture (M) , the device (20, 120) being inserted inside said seat (69, 70) , on a side (78, 178) of said box-shaped body (22, 122) there also being relative access means (44,144; 35, 135) to said mechanisms (27,127; 28,128), according to X axes lying on substantially perpendicular planes with respect to said side (78, 178) of said box-shaped body (22 , 122) .

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said box-shaped body (22, 122) is flat and rectangular.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (60, 160) comprise an upright to which said box-shaped body (22) is fixed by fixing means (64, 65, 66, 67, 68; 164, 165, 166, 167, 168).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in

(60) is box-shaped and comprises a core (61) and a reinforcing perimetric edge (62) .

5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that said body (22) is fixed to said upright (60) in an eccentric position so as to form two lever arms (Bl and B2), longer and shorter respectively, positioned below and above said body (22) respectively.

6. The device according to claim 3 and 4, characterized in that said fixing means comprise, in combination: a box-shaped withholding tooth (64) protruding in correspondence with the edge of the body (22) above the hook (30) , said tooth (64) defining, with the body (22) , a slit (65) ; a fixing pin (66) protruding in correspondence with the edge of the body (22) , below the hook (30) ; and an opening (63) obtained in the core (61) of the upright (60) , the body (22) being fixed to said opening (63) by coupling said slit (65) to said core (61) and said pin (66) to a hole (67) of the core (61) itself, on which hole the pin (66) is riveted as in (68) .

7. The device according to claim 3 and 4, characterized in that the core (61) of said upright (60) is equipped with a plurality of holes (72) for the passage of the fixing screws (71) for fixing the wall cupboard holder to said component (21) of the piece of furniture (M) .

S. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said regulation mechanism (27) comprises, in combination: a screw (33, 133) which is screwed onto a sliding hexagonal nut (34, 134) which acts on the end edge (36, 136) of a curved section (37, 137) which slides inside a corresponding slit (38, 138) of the body (22, 122), the end of said section (37, 137) opposite to (36, 136) is buffered against the branches (29, 129) of the hooking arm (25, 125), the head of the screw (33, 133) opposite to (35, 135) comprises a toothed crown (40, 140) with which a gear (41, 141) is engaged, rotating on a pin (42, 142) whose rotation axis is perpendicular to that of the screw (33, 133), the pin (42, 142) is housed inside a hole (42', 142') of the half-shell (23, 123), a seat (43,143) being obtained in the gear (41, 141) for a maneuvering tool passing through a hole (44,144) of the half-shell (24, 124), the components (33, 34, 40, 41, 42; 133, 134, 140, 141, 142) of the above control mechanism, are housed inside a corresponding seat (45, 145) defined by the coupling of the two half -shells (23, 123; 24, 124) .

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said regulation mechanism (28, 128) comprises, in combination: a screw (46, 146) which is screwed through a threaded hole (47, 147) of a pin (26, 126) on which the arm (25. 125) rotates, the translation of said screw (46, 146) being blocked at the front end by a support (48, 148) and at the rear end by a support (49, 149) on which the screw (46, 146) itself is rotatingly assembled, the front end (50, 150) of the screw (46, 146) is rotatingly housed inside a seat (51, 151) of the support (48, 148), whereas the head at the opposite end comprises a toothed crown (52, 152) whereby a gear (53, 153) is engaged, which can rotate on a pin (54, 154) whose rotation axis is perpendicular to that of the screw (46, 146), the pin (54, 154) is housed inside a hole (54', 154') of the half-shell (23, 123), a seat (55, 155) is obtained in the gear (53, 153) for a maneuvering tool passing through a hole (35, 135) of the half-shell (24, 124), in correspondence with the toothed crown (52, 152), the screw (46, 146) is rotatingly supported inside a slit (56, 156) of the support (49, 149) which, in turn, is firmly inserted in a seat (57, 157) defined by the coupling between the two half-shells (23, 123; 24, 124), the components of the above-mentioned command mechanism (28, 128) are housed in a corresponding seat (58, 158) , defined by the coupling between the two half-shells (23, 123; 24, 124), the half- shells (23, 123; 24, 124) are firmly intercoupled, containing the above kinematic mechanisms, by means of a plurality of pins (59, 159) .

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (160) is an upright integral with said half-shell (123) of the flat body (122) .

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (160) defines a recess (200) , with said half-shell (123) , where a flange (201) of the half-shell (124) is housed, which is thus firmly fixed to (123) by means of pins (159) .