[0001] The present invention relates to a hidden device for the wall assembly of a structural
component of a piece of furniture, with regulation from above.
[0002] These devices are commonly called hidden hanging brackets in the field.
[0003] As a non-limiting example, the invention is described hereunder with reference to
the wall assembly of a wall-cupboard, but it can also be equally used for the assembly
of uprights (shoulders) forming part of a bookcase or other piece of furniture.
[0004] 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
to adjacent furniture.
[0005] The assembly of the wall cupboard 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, dowel, plate
or similar product, fixed to the wall.
[0006] 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).
[0007] The present invention relates in particular to a so-called shoulder-centre hanging
bracket, i.e. a hanging bracket of the hidden type, which is destined for being wedge-inserted
in a seat formed inside a shoulder of a piece of furniture, for example a wall-cupboard,
or other furnishing component.
[0008] So-called shoulder-centre hanging brackets must satisfy the following main requirements.
[0009] First of all, their general configuration must be such as to allow their easy and
safe assembly inside the shoulder of the cupboard, even if the relative seat is not
perfectly complementary (perfectly fitting).
[0010] Secondly, their structure must be such as to ensure a stable and safe fixing to the
shoulder of the cupboard: i.e. when the hanging bracket is subjected to stress it
must not become disengaged from its seat, which would cause the cupboard to fall.
[0011] Thirdly, the above-mentioned regulation mechanisms of the cupboard in height and
depth must be easily accessible and manoeuvrable from the outside: i.e. even if the
hanging bracket is wedge-inserted inside the shoulder of a piece of furniture, and
regardless of the type and position of the articulation system (hinging) of the door
of the same piece of furniture.
[0012] A further requirement that shoulder-centre hanging brackets must satisfy is that
they must comprise regulation mechanisms of the cupboard in height and depth that
are easy to manufacture and assemble and with a reliable functioning.
[0013] The general objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a shoulder-centre
hanging bracket that is capable of satisfying the requirements indicated above, overcoming
the drawbacks of the known art.
[0014] This objective is achieved by a device, a so-called shoulder-centre hanging bracket,
having the characteristics specified in claim 1 and enclosed subclaims.
[0015] The structural and functional characteristics of the invention, and its advantages
with respect to the known art will appear more evident from the following description,
referring to the enclosed drawings, which show a possible practical embodiment of
the invention itself.
[0016] In the drawings:
- figures 1 and 2 are two perspective views illustrating, from the front and rear respectively,
an example of an assembly device according to the invention associated with a support
destined for being 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 for illustrating 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 line VI-VI of figure 5;
- figure 7 is a raised front view partially illustrating the shoulder of a piece of
furniture where a seat has been formed for the device of the invention;
- figure 8 is a raised view similar to figure 7, but with the device housed in said
seat;
- figure 9 is a section taken according to the line IX-IX of figure 8;
- figure 10 is a plan view according to the arrow F of figure 9;
- figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating a wall cupboard provided with the shoulder-centre
hanging bracket according to the invention illustrated in figures 1-10.
[0017] Figures 1-11 of the drawings illustrate a possible embodiment of the invention in
which the hanging bracket 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 (figures 7-10).
[0018] As already indicated, devices of this type are commonly called shoulder-centre hanging
brackets, in the field. The hanging bracket is structurally composed of a flat rectangular
body 22, characteristically comprising two intercoupled half-shells 23, 24 and partially
containing a hooking arm 25.
[0019] The arm 25 is rotatable around a hinge 26 in the directions of the arrow F (figure
5) and can also be moved forwards and backwards in the directions of the arrow F1
(figure 5).
[0020] The rotation and translation of the arm 25 are controlled by two distinct control
mechanisms, which are indicated as a whole with the reference numbers 27, 28, respectively.
[0021] The mechanism 27 serves for regulating the position of the panel 21 in height (vertical),
whereas the mechanism 28 serves for regulating the position in depth (horizontal).
[0022] 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
at the rear, and flattened and shaped in the front so as to form a hook 30 protruding
through an opening 31 of the body 22. The hook 30 is destined for being hooked inside
a window 19 of a support 18 fixed to a wall P (figures 1 and 2).
[0023] Said branches 29 of the arm 25, close to the open rear end, are perforated as in
32, so as to receive the hinge 26 on which they can rotate.
[0024] As can be clearly seen in the drawings, the hooking arm 25 in its rotation and translation
movements is guided by the opposite inner surfaces of the body 22 (figure 6).
[0025] The mechanism 27, which drives the rotation of the arm 25 around the hinge 26, comprises
a horizontal screw 33 which is screwed onto a nut 34 constrained to the body 22 against
the rotation, but with the possibility of translating axially.
[0026] For this purpose, the head 35 of the screw 33 comprises a toothed crown 35A, lying
on a vertical plane (perpendicular to the axis of the screw 33), with which a gear
17, lying on a horizontal plane, is engaged. Said gear 17 is rotatable on a hinge
16 whose rotation axis is perpendicular to that of the screw 33.
[0027] The above nut 34 acts on an end of a curved element 15 housed inside a corresponding
seat of the body 22, whose opposite end acts on the arm 25 to drive its rotation around
26.
[0028] Furthermore, a seat 38 is formed in the head of the gear 17, for a maneuvering tool
passing through a vertical hole 39 of the body 22.
[0029] The mechanism 28, which controls the translation of the arm 25, comprises a screw
40, (parallel to 33 and lying on the same plane) which is screwed through a threaded
hole 41 of the hinge 26 on which the same arm 25 rotates.
[0030] As can be clearly seen from the drawings, in particular from figures 5 and 6, the
translation of said screw 40 is blocked at the front end by a support 42 and at the
rear end by a support 43, on which the same screw 40 is rotatingly assembled.
[0031] More specifically, the front end of the screw 40 is rotatingly housed inside a seat
44 of the support 42, whereas the head 45 at the opposite end comprises a toothed
crown 46 lying on a vertical plane (as 35A) with which a gear 47 lying on a horizontal
plane (as in 17) is engaged, said gear being rotatable on a hinge 48 whose rotation
axis is perpendicular to that of the screw 40.
[0032] The gear 47 and relative hinge 48 are housed in a corresponding seat 49 of the body
22.
[0033] A seat 50 is formed in the gear 47 for a maneuvering tool, passing through a vertical
hole 51 of the body 22.
[0034] The screw 40 is rotatingly supported in correspondence with the toothed crown 46,
inside a slot 52 of the support 43, which, in turn, is firmly inserted inside a seat
53 defined by the coupling between the two half-shells 23, 24.
[0035] As can be clearly seen from the drawings, the components of the above control mechanisms
27,28 are housed inside a corresponding seat defined by the coupling between the two
half-shells 23,24, said seat being partially illustrated in figure 3, and indicated
as a whole with 54.
[0036] The half-shells 23,24 are firmly intercoupled, containing the kinematic mechanisms
described above, by means of a plurality of pins 55.
[0037] Characteristically, the body 22 described above, containing the mechanisms 27,28,
for respectively regulating the height and depth of the panel 21 (and consequently
of the cupboard of which said panel 21 can be a part), also comprises a box-shaped
upright 56 for fixing the shoulder-centre hanging bracket 20 to the panel 21, as explained
hereunder.
[0038] Said upright 56 is structurally composed of a core 57 reinforced by means of a perimetric
edge 58, connected at the ends, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.
[0039] The core 57 of the upright 56 has a window 59 in which the flat rectangular body
22 of the hanging bracket is assembled and fixed (figures 3 and 5).
[0040] For this purpose, a retention tooth 60 extends in correspondence with the edge of
the body 22, above the hook 30.
[0041] A fixing pin 62 extends in correspondence with the edge of the body 22, below the
hook 30.
[0042] In this way, the body 22 can be fixed to the upright 56, in correspondence with the
window 59, as illustrated in Figure 5, i.e. by passing first the tooth 60 through
the window 59, and then inserting the pin 62 inside a hole 63 of the core 57 itself.
[0043] Finally, the pin 62 is re-pressed onto the core 57, so as to obtain a solid, stable
and safe joint between the body 22 and the upright 56 (figure 5), the body 22 and
the upright 56 are thus firmly buffered against each other.
[0044] The shoulder-centre hanging bracket 20, structured as described above, is firmly
fixed to the panel 21 as follows, with particular reference to figures 7-11.
[0045] Seats 65, 66 are formed in the panel 21, in which the body 22 and the upright 56
for fixing the hanging bracket 20 are respectively housed - also with clearance (figures
7-11).
[0046] The hanging bracket 20 is firmly fixed in position by means of the box-shaped upright
56 which is screwed onto the panel 21 by means of a plurality of screws 67 passing
through holes 68 of the core 57 of the upright 56 itself.
[0047] Figure 11 illustrates, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the hidden shoulder-centre
hanging bracket according to the invention incorporated inside the shoulder 21 of
a wall cupboard M.
[0048] The wall cupboard M is provided 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 viceversa (for closing).
[0049] As can be clearly seen from the enlarged detail of figure 11, in spite of the cumbersome
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 produced according to the invention
is easily accessible, from above, by means of maneuvering screwdrivers C, which are
introduced through a hole 69 in the panel 21, in the holes 39, 51 in the upper side
L of the body 22, according to the axes X which lie on a plane substantially coplanar
to the sides 71 of the box-shaped body 22.
[0050] It is thus possible to have access to the regulation mechanisms 27,28 in height and
depth of the wall cupboard M, as previously explained.
[0051] The mechanisms 27,28 according to the invention have a particularly facilitated construction
and access from above thanks to the screws 33,40 parallel to each other and lying
on the same plane, thanks to the toothed crowns 35A,45 lying on vertical planes parallel
to each other, and thanks to the gears 17 and 47 which lie on horizontal planes parallel
to each other, with respective seats for maneuvering tools, facing upwards.
[0052] The objectives mentioned in the preamble of the description have therefore been achieved.
[0053] The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.
1. A hidden shoulder-centre hanging bracket (20) for the wall (P) assembly of a structural
component (21) of a piece of furniture (M) of the type comprising: a movable arm (25)
for the hooking of said device (20) to a support (18) fixed to the wall (P), the position
of said arm (25) with respect to said wall (P) being adjustable in height and depth,
by means of two respective separate regulation mechanisms (27,28), said regulation
mechanisms (27,28) being completely contained inside a box-shaped body (22), from
a front side of which a hook-shaped end (30) of said arm (25) protrudes, said body
(22) being produced in two half-shells (23,24) which, in correspondence with said
front side, comprise fixing means of the device (20) inside a seat (65,66) of said
component (21) of the piece of furniture (M), the hanging bracket (20) being embedded
in said seat (65,66), respective holes (39,51) also being envisaged on the upper side
(L) of said box-shaped body (22), for access from above to said regulation mechanisms
(27,28), according to axes X lying on a plane substantially co-planar to the sides
(71) of said box-shaped body (22), characterized in that said height regulation mechanism (27) comprises a screw (33) which is screwed onto
a nut (34) constrained to the body (22) against rotation, but with the possibility
of axially translating, said screw (33) being equipped with a head (35) comprising
a toothed crown (35A) lying on a vertical plane, perpendicular to the axis of the
screw (33), a gear (17) lying on a horizontal plane being engaged with said crown
(35A), said gear (17) rotating on a hinge (16) whose rotation axis is perpendicular
to that of the screw (33).
2. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that said nut (34) acts on an end of a curved element (15) housed inside a corresponding
seat of the body (22), whose opposite end acts on the arm (25) to drive its rotation
around (26).
3. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that a seat (38) is formed in the head of the gear (17), for a manoeuvring tool passing
through a vertical hole (39) of the body (22).
4. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that said mechanism (28), for the regulation in depth, which controls the translation
of the arm (25), comprises a screw (40), parallel to (33) and lying on the same plane,
which is screwed through a threaded hole (41) of the hinge (26) on which the same
arm (25) rotates.
5. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that the translation of said screw (40) is blocked at the front end by a support (42)
and at the rear end by a support (43), on which the same screw (40) is rotatingly
assembled.
6. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 4, characterized in that the front end of the screw (40) is rotatingly housed inside a seat (44) of the support
(42), whereas the head (45) at the opposite end comprises a toothed crown (46) lying
on a vertical plane with which a gear (47) lying on a horizontal plane, is engaged,
said gear being rotatable on a hinge (48) whose rotation axis is perpendicular to
that of the screw (40).
7. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 6, characterized in that the gear (47) and relative hinge (48) are housed in a corresponding seat (49) of
the body (22).
8. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that there is a seat (50) in the gear (47) for a manoeuvring tool passing through a vertical
hole (51) of the body (22).
9. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 6, characterized in that the screw (40) is rotatingly supported, in correspondence with the toothed crown
(46), inside a slot (52) of the support (43), which in turn is firmly inserted inside
a seat (53) defined by the coupling between the two half-shells (23, 24).
10. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the components of the above control mechanisms (27,28) are housed inside a corresponding
seat (54) defined by the coupling between the two half-shells (23,24).
11. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the half-shells (23,24) are firmly intercoupled, containing said mechanisms (27,28),
by means of a plurality of pins (55).
12. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the body (22), containing the mechanisms (27,28), for respectively regulating the
height and depth of the panel (21), also comprises a box-shaped upright (56) for fixing
the shoulder-centre hanging bracket (20) to the panel (21).
13. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 12, characterized in that said upright (56) is structurally composed of a core (57) reinforced by means of
a perimetric edge (58), connected at the ends.
14. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 12, characterized in that the core (57) of the upright (56) has a window (59) in which the flat rectangular
body (22) of the hanging bracket is assembled and fixed.
15. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to claim 14, characterized in that a retention tooth (60) extends in correspondence with the edge of the body (22),
above the hook (30), whereas a fixing pin (62) extends in correspondence with the
edge of the body (22), below the hook (30), whereby the body (22) can be fixed to
the upright (56), in correspondence with the window (59), by passing first the tooth
(60) through the window (59), and then inserting the pin (62) inside a hole (63) of
the core (57) itself, after which the pin (62) is re-pressed onto the core (57), so
as to obtain a solid, stable and safe joint between the body (22) and the upright
(56), which are thus firmly buffered against each other.
16. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said body (22) and said upright (56) are respectively housed inside seats (65,66)
of the panel (21).
17. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it is firmly fixed in position by means of the box-shaped upright (56) which is screwed
on to the panel (21) by means of a plurality of screws (67) passing through holes
(68) of the core (57) of the upright (56) itself.
18. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said mechanisms (27,28) are accessible through a hole (69) in the panel (21) in correspondence
with the holes (39,51) in the upper side (L) of the body (22).
19. The hidden hanging bracket (20) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said mechanisms (27,28) comprise screws (33,40) parallel to each other, and lying
on the same plane, whose toothed crowns (35A,45) lie on vertical planes parallel to
each other, coupled with the gears (17,47) which lie on horizontal planes parallel
to each other, said toothed crowns (35A,45) having respective seats for manoeuvring
tools, facing upwards.