DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field concerning the moving fitments
in a piece of furniture, e.g. an angle-shaped element.
[0002] The document
EP 0 441 919 describes a piece of furniture, aimed at being installed in a corner of a room and
having two horizontally sliding, built-in fitments, inner and outer, situated one
beside the other in a basic unit.
[0003] The outer and inner fitments are connected by levers, which allow the inner built-in
fitment to be moved toward or away from the free space, while the outer fitment, mounted
on a rotating guide, is removed from the basic unit in a position corresponding to
its front face and rotated by at least 90° with respect to a vertical axis.
[0004] The outer and inner fitment include: a flat sliding frame, arranged vertically; a
plurality of baskets, suspended on one side on respective flat sliding frames, extending
horizontally from the frames.
[0005] Moreover, the sliding frame of the inner fitment is removably mounted on a flat,
stationary guide frame.
[0006] The piece of furniture described in the above document has disadvantages deriving
from the assembling of its parts.
[0007] The positioning of the flat and stationary guide frame, of the inner fitment and
the connecting of the two fitments by levers, must be performed precisely by skilled
operators, so as not to put at risk the correct motion, which affects negatively the
assembling time and costs.
[0008] The object of the present invention is to propose a system for moving fitments in
an angle-shaped piece of furniture, which allows its easy and rapid assembling.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to propose a system obtained by elements,
which can be assembled also by not particularly skilled operators.
[0010] A further object of the present invention is to propose a system of a simple concept
and obtained at low cost.
[0011] The above mentioned objects are obtained by the present invention, as it is understood
from the claims.
[0012] The characteristic features of the invention are pointed out with reference to the
enclosed Figures, in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic, top view of a first embodiment of a system for moving fitments
in a piece of furniture, proposed by the present invention, with a first position
of the fitment of said piece of furniture pointed out;
- Figure 2 is an enlarged section view, taken along the II - II of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is an enlarged section view, taken along the III - III of Figure1;
- Figure 4 is the same view as Figure 1, with an intermediate position of the fitments
of the piece of furniture pointed out;
- Figure 5 is the same view as Figure 1, with a second position of the fitments of the
piece of furniture pointed out;
- Figure 6 is a schematic, top view of a second embodiment of the system for moving
fitments in a piece of furniture, with a first position of the fitments of said piece
of furniture pointed out;
- Figure 7 is the same view as Figure 6, with an initial movement of a fitment of the
piece of furniture pointed out;
- Figure 8 is the same view as Figure 6, with a second position of the fitment of the
piece of furniture pointed out;
- Figure 9 is an enlarged, schematic and prospective view of the detail Y of Figure
7, pointing out a subsequent position, with respect to Figure 7.
[0013] The enclosed Figures show a system for moving fitments in a piece of furniture, e.g.
angle shaped.
[0014] According to a first embodiment, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, the system includes:
a base body 1, whose inner, rear, vertical wall P carries, longitudinally fastened
thereto, known guiding means, e.g. a lower track 23 and an upper track 24, to whose
inner, transverse, vertical wall Pt, the lower part of a guiding arm B is articulated,
rotating with respect to a vertical axis Z.
[0015] A stationary guide 300 is fastened to the upper part of the wall Pt, as shown in
Figure 3.
[0016] The base body 1 has a first space S1, delimited thereinside, near its opening A,
and a second inner space S2, adjacent to the first space S1.
[0017] There are two built-in fitments, an outer fitment Ue and an inner fitment Ui.
[0018] The outer fitment Ue (Figure 3) includes a vertical frame T, on which baskets 3,
e.g. two, are suspended.
[0019] The vertical frame T has guiding elements 30 of known type, whose lower part couple
telescopically with the rotating guiding arm B and whose upper part couples with the
stationary guide 300.
[0020] The inner fitment Ui (Figure 2) includes containers 2, e.g. two, mutually connected
by vertical uprights 22 and carrying known guiding and/or rolling means R, R*.
[0021] For example, the first guiding means R are defined by a roll having a horizontal
axis and the second guiding means R* include rolls having vertical axis, guided respectively
in the lower track 23 and the upper track 24.
[0022] The inner fitment Ui carries, fastened thereto, connecting elements 200, e.g. as
shown in Figure 2, brackets fixed to the lower container 2.
[0023] The outer fitment Ue and the inner fitment Ui are connected by connecting means F,
including a cable 4, which is set loop-like on three idle elements 5a, 5b, 5c (e.g.
pulleys), fastened e.g. to the bottom of the base body 1.
[0024] The cable 4 is fastened to the connecting elements 200 of the inner fitment Ui and
fixed in a point K to the rotating guiding arm B, to define an upstream branch 40
and a downstream branch 49.
[0025] The connecting means F include also tension means 6 of known type, e.g. coaxial springs
or outer tension devices, fastened to the base body 1, so as to act on the cable 4
in order to keep it taut.
[0026] The outer fitment Ue and the inner fitment Ui take:
a first, closing position I (Figure 1), in which the outer fitment Ue is situated
within the first space S1 and the inner fitment Ui within the second space S2;
an intermediate position M (Figure 4), in which the inner fitment Ui remains in the
second space S2 and the outer fitment Ue is removed from the base body 1, to let the
first space S1 free;
a second position O (Figure 5), in which the outer fitment Ue is rotated on the vertical
axis Z outwards and the inner fitment Ui is moved longitudinally to occupy the first
space S1 and let the second space S2 free.
[0027] If a user is going to use only the outer fitment Ue, to remove or place things in
the baskets 3, he/she must determine the passage from the first position I to the
intermediate position M.
[0028] The user pulls the outer fitment Ue outwards, in the direction indicated with the
arrow J (Figure 4), making the guiding elements 30 slide in the guiding arm B and
in the stationary guide 300, until the outer fitment Ue is removed from the first
space S1, thus making the baskets 3 accessible.
[0029] If the user needs to use the containers 2 of the inner fitment Ui, he/she must first
place the outer fitment Ue in the intermediate position M, and then rotate it in the
direction of the arrow W (Figure 5).
[0030] Before the above rotation, the guiding elements 30, sliding in the stationary guide
300, are removed from the latter and the guiding arm B rotates on the vertical axis
Z, which consequently draws the upstream branch 40 of the cable 4 to make the inner
fitment Ui move longitudinally, so as to free the second space S2 and occupy the first
space S1, thus making the containers 2 accessible.
[0031] After having used the containers 2, the user must restore the first closing position
I, therefore he/she must make the guiding arm B rotate in the direction opposite to
the arrow W, bring the outer fitment Ue back to the intermediate position M and then
push it inwards, in the direction opposite to the arrow J.
[0032] The above movements make the lower part of the guiding elements 30 slide in the guiding
arm B and the upper part thereof enter and slide in the stationary guide 300, which
causes the pulling of the downstream branch 49 of the cable 4, thus making the inner
fitment Ui move longitudinally, so as to let the first space S1 free and occupy the
second space S2, to allow the outer fitment Ue enter again the first space S1.
[0033] According to a second embodiment, shown in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, the upper part of
the inner, transverse, vertical wall Pt of the base body 1 (Figure 9), carries fastened
thereto, a stationary guide 39, in which a shaped path G is made, and the lower part
of the same wall Pt carries, articulated thereto, a guiding arm B1, rotating on a
vertical axis Z1.
[0034] The axis Z1 is contained in a vertical upright V, which is integral with the guiding
arm B1 and which extends upwards up to the stationary guide 39.
[0035] The outer fitment Ue*, obtained according to the second embodiment (Figure 9), includes
a vertical frame T1, whose outer upright carries, fastened thereto, a door 10 of the
piece of furniture.
[0036] The baskets, not shown, are suspended on the frame T1, which has first and second
guiding elements 38, 37 of known type: the first guiding elements 38 couple telescopically
with the rotating guiding arm B1 and the second guiding elements 37 couple with the
stationary guide 39, so as to enter the shaped guiding path G.
[0037] The inner fitment Ui, like the one described in the first embodiment, and the outer
fitment Ue* are connected by the same connecting means F (Figure 6), as described
previously, with reference to the first embodiment.
[0038] The outer fitment Ue* and the inner fitment Ui take: a first closing position I*
(Figure 6), in which the outer fitment Ue* is situated in the first space S1 and the
inner fitment Ui in the second space S2; a second position O* (Figure 8), in which
the outer fitment Ue* is rotated outwards on the vertical axis Z1, to free the first
space S1 and the inner fitment Ui is moved longitudinally to occupy the first space
S1 and to free the second space S2.
[0039] If a user wants to use the outer fitment Ue* and/or the inner fitment Ui to take
or place things from or in the baskets 3 and/or containers 2, he/she must pull the
outer fitment Ue* outwards, in the direction of the arrow J1 (Figure 6), which causes
the sliding of the first guiding elements 38 in the guiding arm B and of the second
guiding elements 37 in the shaped path G of the stationary guide 39, so as to define
initially the oblique movement outwards of the outer fitment Ue* (Figure 7).
[0040] The guiding arm B1 rotates, in step relation with the sliding of the first and second
guiding elements 38, 37, with respect to the vertical axis Z1 (Figures 7, 9), which
causes the rotation of the outer fitment Ue* in the direction of the arrow W1 (Figure
7), until the outer fitment Ue* is removed laterally from the first space S1.
[0041] The rotation of the guiding arm B1 causes the subsequent activation, as already described
with reference to the first embodiment, of the connecting means F, which make the
inner fitment Ui move longitudinally, to free the second space S2 and occupy the first
space S1.
[0042] After having used the baskets 3 and/or the containers 2, the user must resume the
first closing position I*, therefore he/she must make the guiding arm B1 rotate in
the direction opposite to the arrow W1 and push the outer fitment Ue* inwards, in
the direction opposite to the arrow J1.
[0043] The above movements make the first and second guiding elements 38, 37 slide in the
guiding arm B1 and in the shaped path G of the stationary guide 39, which causes the
pulling of the downstream branch of the cable 4, thus making the inner fitment Ui
move longitudinally, so as to free the first space S1 and occupy the second space
S2, and to allow the outer fitment Ue* enter again the first space S1.
[0044] The system for moving fitments in a piece of furniture proposed by the present invention
includes advantageously the connecting means F, including a cable 4, which is mounted
loop-like on the pulleys 5a, 5b, 5c and which can be easily positioned on the bottom,
or on the top of the base body 1 by any operator, which results in a considerable
reduction of assembling time and costs.
[0045] The tension means 6, associated to the connecting means F, allow the cable 4 to maintain
the initial tautness in all the intermediate positions of the passage of the outer
fitments Ue, Ue* and the inner fitment Ui from the first position I, I*, to the second
position O, O*, and vice versa.
[0046] The combination of the guiding means 23, 24, the guiding arm B, B1, the stationary
guide 300, 39 and the connecting means F, increases the operation safety of the system
for moving the outer and inner fitments Ue, Ue*, Ui, that is prevention of the movement
jamming and locking in the positions assumed by the outer and inner fitments Ue, Ue*,
Ui.
[0047] In case of damage of the cable and/or wear of the pulleys, the simplicity of the
connecting means F facilitates the rapid and cheap substitution of the cable and/or
the pulleys.
[0048] The above described system for moving fitments is particularly advantageous because
of its adaptability to pieces of furniture of different dimensions, since the pulleys
5a, 5b, 5c, the tension means 6 are suitably placed, and the used guiding means 23,
23 and the cable 4 have suitable dimensions, in relation to the length of the base
body 1.
[0049] In the second embodiment (Figures 6 - 9), the oblique movement of the door 10 avoids
interference with parts of elements adjacent to the piece of furniture involved.
1. System for moving fitments in a piece of furniture including: a base body (1), having
guiding means (23, 24), fastened to the rear, vertical, inner wall (P) of the base
body (1), and at least one guiding arm (B), rotating with respect to a vertical axis
(Z) and articulated to the transverse, vertical, inner wall (Pt) of said base body
(1); two built-in units, outer (Ue) and inner (Ui), sliding respectively in said guiding
arm (B) in said guiding means (23, 24), said units being mutually connected by connecting
means (F), so as to take: a first, closing position (I), in which said outer and inner
fitments (Ue, Ui) are situated inside said base body (1), respectively in a first
space (S1) and in a second space (S2); an intermediate position (M), in which said
inner fitment (Ui) remains in said second space (S2) and said outer fitment (Ue) is
removed from base body (1), to free said first space (S1); a second position (O),
in which said outer fitment (Ue) is rotated outwards and said inner fitment (Ui) is
moved longitudinally to occupy said first space (S1) and free said second space (S2),
characterized in that said connecting means (F) include a cable (4), mounted loop-like on at least three
idle elements (5a, 5b, 5c) and fastened to connecting elements (200), situated in
said inner fitment (Ui), and fixed to said guiding arm (B) in an anchoring point (K),
to define, on said cable, an upstream branch (40) and a downstream branch (49), with
said upstream branch (40) being pulled, so as to move said inner fitment (Ui), during
the passage from the intermediate position (M) to said second position (O), forward
in order to occupy said first space (S1), and with said downstream branch (49) being
pulled, so as to move back said inner fitment (Ui), during the passage from said second
position (O) to said intermediate position (M), toward the second space (S2) and to
free said first space (S1).
2. System for moving fitments in a piece of furniture including: a base body (1), having
guiding means (23, 24), fastened to the rear, vertical, inner wall (P) of the base
body (1), and a guiding arm (B1), rotating with respect to a vertical axis (Z1) and
articulated to the transverse, vertical, inner wall (Pt) of said base body (1) and
a stationary guide (39), fastened to said vertical, inner wall (Pt); an outer built-in
unit (Ue), sliding in said guiding arm (B1) and said stationary guide (39), and a
built-in inner fitment (Ui), sliding in said guiding means (23, 24), said units being
mutually connected by connecting means (F), so as to assume: a first, closing position
(I*), in which said outer and inner fitments (Ue*, Ui) are situated inside said base
body (1), respectively in a first space (S1) and in a second space (S2); a second
position (O*), in which said outer fitment (Ue*) is removed from the first space (S1)
and rotated outwards and said inner fitment (Ui) is moved longitudinally to occupy
said first space (S1) and free said second space (S2), characterized in that said connecting means (F) include a cable (4), mounted loop-like on at least three
idle elements (5a, 5b, 5c) and fastened to connecting means, situated in said inner
fitment (Ui), and fixed to said guiding arm (B1) in an anchoring point (K), to define,
on said cable, an upstream branch and a downstream branch, with said upstream branch
being pulled, so as to move said inner fitment (Ui), during the passage from the first
position (I*) to the second position (O*), forward in order to occupy said first space
(S1), and with said downstream branch being pulled, so as to move back said inner
fitment (Ui), during the passage from the second position (O*) to the first position
(I*), toward the second space (S2) and to free said first space (S1).
3. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes tension means (6), connected to the base body (1), so as to act on the
cable (4) in order to keep it taut in all the intermediate positions, during the passage
of said outer and inner fitments (Ue, Ui) from the intermediate position (M) to the
second position (O), and vice-versa.
4. System, according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes tension means, connected to the base body (1), so as to act on the cable
(4) in order to keep it taut in all the intermediate positions, during the passage
of said outer and inner fitments (Ue*, Ui) from the first position (I*) to the second
position (O*), and vice-versa.
5. System, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least said inner fitment (Ui) includes containers (2), mutually connected by vertical
uprights (22), carrying guiding and/or rolling means (R, R*), coupled with said guiding
means (23, 24).
6. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said outer fitment (Ue) includes a vertical frame (T), which carries, suspended thereon,
baskets (3), and which has guiding means (30), coupling telescopically with said guiding
arm (B).
7. System, according to claim 1, characterized in that said outer fitment (Ue) includes a vertical frame (T), which carries stable baskets
(3), suspended thereon, and which has guiding means (30), whose lower part couple
telescopically with said guiding arm (B) and whose upper part couple with a stationary
guide (300), fastened to the transverse, vertical, inner wall (Pt) of said base body
(1), above the position of said guiding arm (B), and in that, in the second position (O), said guiding elements (30), connected to the stationary
guide (300) are removed from the latter.
8. System, according to claim 2, characterized in that said outer fitment (Ue*) includes a vertical frame (T1), which carries stable baskets,
suspended thereon, and which has first guiding means (38), which couple telescopically
with said guiding arm (B1); second guiding means (37), guided in a shaped path (G),
made in said stationary guide (39), and in that said shaped path (G) determines initially the oblique outward movement of said outer
fitment (Ue*), during the passage from the second position (I*) to the second position
(O*).
9. System, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said connecting elements (200) of the inner fitment (Ui) include brackets fixed to
the lower container (2).
10. System, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said connecting elements (F) are situated on the bottom of said base body (1).
11. System, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said connecting elements (F) are situated on the top of said base body (1).
12. System for moving fitments in a piece of furniture including: a base body (1), having
guiding means (23, 24), fastened to the rear, vertical, inner wall (P) of the base
body (1), and at least one guiding arm (B), rotating with respect to a vertical axis
(Z) and articulated to the transverse, vertical, inner wall (Pt) of said base body
(1); two built-in units, outer (Ue) and inner (Ui), sliding respectively in said guiding
arm (B) in said guiding means (23, 24), said units being mutually connected by connecting
means (F), so as to assume: a first, closing position (I), in which said outer and
inner fitments (Ue, Ui) are situated inside said base body (1), respectively in a
first space (S1) and in a second space (S2); an intermediate position (M), in which
said inner fitment (Ui) remains in said second space (S2) and said outer fitment (Ue)
is removed from base body (1), to free said first space (S1); a second position (O),
in which said outer fitment (Ue) is rotated outwards and said inner fitment (Ui) is
moved longitudinally to occupy said first space (S1) and free said second space (S2),
characterized in that at least said inner fitment (Ui) includes containers (2), mutually connected by vertical
uprights (22), and carrying guiding and/or rolling means (R, R*), coupled with said
guiding means (23, 24).