(19)
(11) EP 3 064 088 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
07.09.2016 Bulletin 2016/36

(21) Application number: 16157293.8

(22) Date of filing: 25.02.2016
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A47B 95/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME
Designated Validation States:
MA MD

(30) Priority: 05.03.2015 IT MI20150327

(71) Applicant: Leonardo S.r.L.
22060 Figino Serenza - Como - (IT)

(72) Inventor:
  • CATTANEO, Carlo
    22060 Figino Serenza (IT)

(74) Representative: Martegani, Franco et al
via Carlo Alberto, 41
20900 Monza
20900 Monza (IT)

   


(54) HIDDEN HANGING BRACKET FOR THE WALL ASSEMBLY OF A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF A PIECE OF FURNITURE, WITH REGULATION FROM ABOVE


(57) 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 hooking 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, respectively, by means of two separate regulation mechanisms (27,28). According to the invention, the regulation mechanisms (27,28) are completely contained inside a box-shaped body (22), 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).




Description


[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.


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.
 




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Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description