Wall assembly group for a piece of furniture

Abstract

 A wall assembly group (1A, 1B, 1C) of a wall cupboard of the type comprises:
- a plaque (3A, 3B, 3C) to be fixed to a wall;
- hooking means (2A, 2B, 2C) which can be coupled with said plaque;
- anti-disengagement means (30A, 30B, 30C) which can be moved at least in a first stable position wherein, in a hooking condition, said means (2A, 2B, 2C) are engaged with the plaque (3A, 3B, 3C) and intercept said anti-disengagement means (30A, 30B, 30C) to prevent the decoupling of the same hooking means from the plaque (3A, 3B, 3C).
According to the invention, said anti-disengagement means (30A, 30B, 30C) can be moved in a second stable position in which they release said hooking means (2A, 2B, 2C) to allow the decoupling of the same from the plaque (3A, 3B, 3C).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a wall assembly group for a cantilevered piece of furniture, whether it be a wall cupboard or a so-called base, forming part for example of furniture for kitchens, bathrooms or living rooms.

[0002] Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, the term wall cupboard will be used in general.

[0003] The type of groups to which the present invention relates is that provided with a plaque which is fixed to the wall or onto a bar (in turn fixed to the wall) and equipped with a hooking device fixed to the wall cupboard (so-called hanging bracket) which is engaged on the plaque for hanging the cupboard.

[0004] The fixing of cupboards to the wall is currently more widely used in household furnishing solutions, also for hanging furniture which is close to the floor.

[0005] The necessity is therefore increasingly felt for assembly groups which are equipped with an anti-disengagement system, suitable for preventing an undesired disengagement of the hooking means from the plaque, due to a force from below which tends to raise the cupboard; this situation could arise for example when the cupboard is unexpectedly pushed upwards from below.

[0006] A known solution, described in patent application MI2009A000699, of April 24, 2009, envisages that the anti-disengagement system "automatically" enters into function when the hooking means of the hanging bracket are inserted into the plaque.

[0007] This "automatic" anti-disengagement system exerts this function by means of an elastic element, such as a metallic lamina or spring, which moves, under thrust, to allow the hooking means to pass into an engagement seat and then returns (elastically) to its initial position to prevent the hooking means from becoming disengaged from their seat.

[0008] These "automatic" anti-disengagement systems, however, have the common drawback that, during a dismantling phase of the cupboard, it is necessary to act continuously and individually on each plaque to disable the "automatic" anti-disengagement system; this is normally effected by an operator who acts with a tool on the elastic element, first moving it and then keeping it in its position of non-engagement with the above hooking means.

[0009] It should be noted that wall cupboards are often provided with a plurality of hooking means and plaques: this requires the need for an operator for each plaque, who acts on the "automatic" anti-disengagement system of the same.

[0010] In short, if a wall cupboard is provided (for example) with four plaques, four operators are required, who must simultaneously act on the anti-disengagement system of each plaque to allow the non-engagement of the wall cupboard.

[0011] As can be understood, this solution is not practical and should be avoided, without however renouncing the safety provided by the presence of anti-disengagement systems.

[0012] Another drawback is linked to the autonomous intervention of these "automatic" anti-disengagement systems: when using them, in fact, the control the operator indirectly has in the assembly is lost: if the activation of the anti-disengagement system is automatic, a malfunctioning can arise deriving from an incorrect hooking, whereby the assembler is unaware of the unsuccessful intervention of the anti-disengagement system.

[0013] In this case, even if the wall cupboard can remain suspended to the wall, it is neither fixed correctly, nor is the anti-disengagement system functioning, with the result that due to an upward force from below, it can easily become unhooked from the wall with consequences that can be easily predicted.

[0014] The objective of the present invention is to provide an assembly group for wall cupboards which can overcome these drawbacks.

[0015] This objective is achieved by an assembly group according to the first claim and optionally provided with the advantageous characteristics of the enclosed sub-claims, which are an integrant part of the present description.

[0016] The idea at the basis of the present invention is to provide a wall assembly group of a wall cupboard, of the type comprising: a plaque to be fixed to a wall, a hanging bracket that can be coupled with said plaque and anti-disengagement means that can be moved to a first stable position in which, when the hanging bracket is fixed to the plaque, they intercept the hooking means to prevent the decoupling of the latter from the plaque, and wherein the anti-disengagement means can also be moved to a second stable position, in which, when the hanging bracket is fixed to the plaque, they release the hooking means to allow the decoupling of the latter from the same plaque.

[0017] In this way, as can be seen, the drawbacks of the known systems discussed above are overcome: a single operator, in fact, when the wall cupboard is being dismantled, can act at different times on all the anti-disengagement means to bring them to a condition of non-engagement, subsequently decoupling the hooks from the plaques, thus removing the cupboard.

[0018] According to other advantageous characteristics, during the assembly phase, the operator can act positively (i.e. effect a real action) to activate the anti-disengagement means, thus being able to verify the correct activation and assembly.

[0019] The structural and functional characteristics of the invention, as also its advantages with respect to the known art, will appear more evident from the following description, referring to the enclosed drawings, which show possible practical embodiments of the invention itself.

[0020] In the drawings:

• figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the group according to the present invention, with the anti-disengagement means respectively in a first stable interception position of the hooking means and in a second stable position in which said hooking means are free;
• figures 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of a group according to the present invention, with the anti-disengagement means respectively in a first stable interception position of the hooking means and in a second stable position in which said hooking means are free;
• figures 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of a group according to the present invention, with the anti-disengagement means respectively in a first stable interception position of the hooking means and in a second stable position in which said hooking means are free.

[0021] With reference to the enclosed figures 1 and 2, these illustrate a first embodiment of an assembly group 1A of wall cupboards.

[0022] The group 1A comprises a hanging bracket 2A which can be fixed to the wall cupboard and a plaque 3A which can be alternatively fixed to the wall or a bar (not shown) in turn fixed to the wall.

[0023] The hanging bracket 2A is of the known type and can comprise a simple hook (not shown) or hooking means (such as those shown) wherein the position of the hooking end 20A can be regulated, for example in a horizontal direction (or depth) and/or vertical direction (or height).

[0024] Hooking devices 2A or hanging brackets of the type described above are known in themselves and are consequently not described in greater detail.

[0025] The plaque 3A, in the example described hereunder, is of the type suitable for being applied to a wall by means of screws or pegs: for this purpose, it is provided with fixing holes 31A in which the screws V screwed to the wall, are engaged.

[0026] The plaque 3A is also provided with at least one seat 32A in which the hooking end 20A of the hanging bracket 2A is inserted: in this embodiment, the seat 32A is a window into which the hooking end 20A passes, subsequently resting on its lower edge.

[0027] The plaque 2A comprises anti-disengagement means 30A which in this solution comprise a lamina 34A provided, at least on part of one side, with actuating means, which in this case are consecutive saw-toothed notches 35A.

[0028] The functioning of the anti-disengagement means 30A is evident from simply observing figures 1 and 2: the lamina 34A can be moved from a first stabile position (that of figure 1) in which it intercepts part of the passage span of the window 32A and therefore prevents disengagement of the hooking ends 20A from their engagement with the edge of the window 32A.

[0029] The lamina 34A can also be moved to a second stable position (that of figure 2) in which it substantially frees the whole passage span of the window 32A consequently freeing the hooking end 20A which, free to move upwards, can be disengaged from the edge of the window 32A.

[0030] The activation of the lamina 34A, in order to cause its movement between the first and second position, is obtained in this example by means of a tool U, for example a screw-driver, which acts on the consecutive saw-toothed notches 35A: the rotation of the screw-driver in one direction or another causes the linear translation of the lamina 34A in a sliding seat 36A situated on the plaque 3A.

[0031] In this way, the second position (figure 2) is stable, in the sense that it can be maintained without any force applied to the anti-hooking means 30A, and also the actuation of the anti-disengagement means 30A (both in the movement from the first to the second position, and vice versa) undergoes a positive action on the part of the operator, who must act with the tool U to move the lamina 34A.

[0032] A second embodiment of the group 1B is shown in the enclosed figures 3 and 4.

[0033] In this embodiment, the same parts as the first embodiment are indicated with the same numbers followed by the letter B, and consequently, for the sake of brevity, no further mention will be made thereof.

[0034] The difference between the first embodiment 1A and the second embodiment 1B relates to the different embodiment of the anti-disengagement means 30A and 30B.

[0035] In this second embodiment, in fact, the anti-disengagement means 30B comprise an elastic lamina 34B which can be activated in a direction towards or away from the edges of the window 32B by means of the actuation means 35B which, in this case, are beads screwed onto the plaque 3B.

[0036] The lamina 34B is engaged on one side with an engagement seat 36B of the plaque 3B, whereas the free end extending towards the window 32B is free to bend.

[0037] The bead 35B, when screwed or unscrewed, acts on the lamina 34B to cause the bending of its free end which moves so as to intercept (as in figure 1) or free (as in figure 2) the hooking end 20B, which is therefore respectively blocked in the window 32B or free to become disengaged from the latter.

[0038] As can be immediately observed, also in this case, both the first and second position that can be acquired by the lamina 34B, are stable, in the sense that the presence of an operator for holding it in the second position is not necessary, as for this purpose, it is sufficient for the bead 35B to be screwed.

[0039] Finally, a third embodiment of the group 1C is illustrate in figures 5 and 6.

[0040] In this third embodiment, the same parts as the first and second embodiment are indicated with the same numbers followed by the letter C, and consequently, for the sake of brevity, no further mention will be made thereof.

[0041] The difference between the other embodiments and the third embodiment 1C relates to the different embodiment of the anti-disengagement means 30C of the latter.

[0042] In this, in fact, the anti-disengagement means 30C comprise a lamina 34C which, analogously to that of the first embodiment, can be moved from a first stable position (that of figure 5) in which it intercepts part of the passage span of the window 32C and therefore prevents disengagement of the hooking end 20C from engagement with the lower edge of the window 32C, and a second stable position (that of figure 6) in which it substantially frees the whole passage span of the window 32C thus freeing the hooking end 20C from which, free to move upwards, it can become disengaged from the edge of the window 32C.

[0043] For this purpose, the lamina 34C slides with respect to the plaque 3B inside the engagement seat 36B of the plaque 3B.

[0044] In this example, the actuation means 35C comprise gripping flaps which extend perpendicularly to the body of the lamina 34C and which can be manually held to cause the movement of the lamina 34C itself, thus avoiding the use of tools.

[0045] As can be immediately observed, also in this case, both the first and second position that can be acquired by the lamina 34C, are stable, in the sense that the presence of an operator for holding it in the second position is not necessary.

[0046] A further advantageous characteristic which is common with all the variants 1A, 1B, 1C, can also be noted: the plaque 3A, 3B and 3C comprises two windows 32A, 32'A or 32B, 32'B or 32C, 32'C adjacent to each other, so that the end 20A, 20B, 20C of the hanging bracket can be housed in one or other depending on the assembly requirements.

[0047] In the first and third variant, the laminas 34A and 34C can be moved in the respective seats 36A and 36C and have an extension which is such that they are alternatively in the first position with respect to one window 32A and 32C and in the second position for the other window 32'A and 32'C.

[0048] The objectives mentioned in the preamble of the description have therefore been achieved.

[0049] Numerous variants to what has so far been described are also possible, all to be considered as being an integral part of the present invention.

[0050] For example, even if anti-disengagement means which intercept at least part of the passage span of a window in which the hook is housed have been described so far, they could comprise different forms, all available to experts in the field in the light of what has been described so far.

[0051] The protection scope of the present invention is defined by the enclosed claims.

Claims

1. A wall assembly group (1A, 1B, 1C) of a wall cupboard of the type comprising:

- a plaque (3A, 3B, 3C) to be fixed to a wall;

- hooking means (2A, 2B, 2C) which can be coupled with said plaque;

- anti-disengagement means (30A, 30B, 30C) which can be moved at least in a first stable position wherein, in a hooking condition, said hooking means (2A, 2B, 2C) are engaged with the plaque (3A, 3B, 3C) and intercept said anti-disengagement means (30A, 30B, 30C) to prevent the decoupling of the same hooking means from the plaque (3A, 3B, 3C), characterized in that said anti-disengagement means (30A, 30B, 30C) can be moved in a second stable position in which they release said hooking means (2A, 2B, 2C) to allow the decoupling of the same from the plaque (3A, 3B, 3C).

2. The group (1A, 1B, 1C) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plaque (3A, 3B, 3C) comprises at least a first opening (32A, 32B, 32C) destined for receiving a hooking end (20A, 20B, 20C) of said hooking means (2A, 2B, 2C) and wherein said anti-disengagement means (30A, 30B, 30C) comprise at least one lamina (34A, 34B, 34C) suitable for intercepting said hooking end (20A, 20B, 20C).

3. The group (1A, 1B, 1C) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said lamina (34A, 34B, 34C) can be moved to a non-interference condition with said hooking end (20A, 20B, 20C) of said means (2A, 2B, 2C) by actuation means (35A, 35B) which can be activated by an operator.

4. The group (1A, 1B, 1C) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said plaque also comprises a second opening (32'A, 32'B, 32'C) adjacent to the first opening (32A, 32B, 32C).

5. The group (1A, 1C) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that said lamina (34A, 34C) can be moved linearly, sliding in a seat (36A, 36C) of said plaque (3A, 3B, 3C).

6. The group (1A) according to the previous claim, characterized in that said actuation means (35A) comprise at least one edge of said lamina (34A) shaped with consecutive sawtooth notches.

7. The group (1C) according to claim 5, characterized in that said actuation means (35C) comprise gripping flaps perpendicular to the body of the lamina (34C).

8. The group (1B) according to one or more of the claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that said lamina (34B) is an elastic lamina extending from a seat (36B) of said plaque (3B) and movable towards or away from the edges of said opening (32B), said actuation means (32B) comprising a threaded bead (35B) acting on said lamina (34B).

Drawing