Cabinet with pull-out shelf provided with articulated arm and guide means.

Abstract

 A cabinet (1) is described, comprising an opening (2) and a shelf (8) that can be pulled out from said opening to go from a retracted position inside the cabinet to an extracted position outside the cabinet, a column (C) disposed inside the cabinet in front central position of the cabinet, an L-shaped bracket (3) provided with a short arm (31) revolvingly mounted around said column (C) and a long arm (32), a crank (6) comprising a first end (65) hinged to the long arm (32) of the bracket and a second end (60) hinged to the pull-out shelf (8), first guide means (4) joined to the long arm (32) of the bracket, and second guide means (5) joined to the lower surface of the pull-out shelf (8), cooperating with said first guide means (4) joined to the long arm of the bracket.

Description

[0001] The present patent application relates to a cabinet with pull-out shelf.

[0002] As it is known, in interior decoration, some types of furniture, in particular modular furniture, comprise various modules shaped as shelves used to support object. Said modular furniture often develops on multiple walls. In this case the shelves of the modules disposed in corner position are difficult to access.

[0003] This results in the need to provide pull-out shelves that can be pulled out of the cabinet in order to make it easier for the user to collect and store objects on the shelves.

[0004] The German utility model DE 20 2007 010 283 U1 describes a shelf with curvilinear perimeter to use the largest surface possible. The shelf must make a roto-translation to be pulled-out of the cabinet. To that end a guide is obtained in the cabinet or under the shelf and a support arm is hinged in the cabinet, close to a lateral wall of the cabinet.

[0005] However, said actuation system causes jamming during the roto-translation of the shelf due to the configuration and disposition of guide and revolving arm.

[0006] Moreover, it must be considered that many cabinets are provided with upright disposed in the front central wall of the cabinet, in front of the column where the support of the pull-out shelf is hinged. Therefore, such upright hinders the rotation of the support of the pull-out shelf.

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the known art, by disclosing a corner cabinet with upright and pull-out shelf that is versatile, practical for the user and able to use the largest surface possible of the shelf.

[0008] Said purpose has been achieved according to the invention with the characteristics described in the enclosed independent claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0010] The cabinet of the invention comprises an opening and a shelf that can be pulled out of said opening to go from a retracted position inside the cabinet to an extracted position outside the cabinet.

[0011] The cabinet also comprises:

• a column disposed inside the cabinet in front central position,
• an L-shaped bracket that comprises a short arm mounted to revolve around said column and a long arm,
• a crank comprising a first end hinged to the long arm of the bracket and a second end hinged to the pull-out shelf,
• first guide means joined to the long arm of the bracket, and
• second guide means joined to the lower surface of the pull-out shelf, cooperating with said first guide means joined to the long arm of the bracket.

[0012] The advantages of the cabinet of the invention are evident, being provided with an actuation mechanism of the pull-out shelf characterized by total simplicity and reliability.

[0013] Additional characteristics of the invention will appear evident from the detailed description below, which refers to merely illustrative, not limiting embodiments, illustrated in the enclosed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1A is a diagrammatic top view that shows the cabinet of the invention with shelf inside the cabinet;

Fig. 1B is the same as Fig. 1A, with shelf being pulled-out;

Fig. 1C is the same as Fig. 1A, with shelf pulled-out completely;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view that shows the actuation mechanism and the pull-out shelf;

Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2 from a different angle;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the actuation mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view that shows a trolley of the actuation mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view that shows the pull-out shelf in overturned position;

Fig. 7 is a second embodiment of the actuation mechanism connected to the pull-out shelf of the cabinet of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the actuation mechanism of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a guide of the pull-out shelf of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a trolley of the actuation mechanism of Fig. 7.

[0014] Referring to the aforementioned figures, the cabinet of the invention is described, being generally indicated with reference numeral (1).

[0015] Referring to Fig. 1A, the cabinet (1) is preferably shaped as parallelepiped with rectangular perimeter, with length double than depth. Nevertheless, the cabinet (1) can have any type of perimeter.

[0016] An opening (2) is obtained in the front of the cabinet (1), preferably with length equal to approximately half of the length of the cabinet. The opening (2) is defined by the front border of a lateral wall (22) of the cabinet and an upright (21) extending in the front central part of the cabinet. The presence of the upright (21) is not mandatory. A back block (20) is disposed in contact with the front and lower part of the border of the lateral wall (22).

[0017] A door (23) is hinged along a vertical axis, in correspondence of the central upright (21). So the door (23) can close and open the opening (2).

[0018] A column (C) is mounted inside the cabinet (1), extending from the lower wall to the upper wall of the cabinet, behind the upright (21). Clearly, the column (C) may be only fixed to the lower wall or upper wall or lateral wall of the cabinet. An L-shaped bracket (3) is revolvingly supported by the column (C).

[0019] Also referring to Figs. 2 - 4, the bracket (3) comprises a collar (30) mounted to revolve around the column (C), a short arm (31) and a long arm (32). The collar (30) is fixed to one end of the short arm (31). The arms (31, 32) are tubular bars with rectangular cross-section. The length of the short arm (31) is chosen so as to allow 90° rotation of the bracket (3), preventing the long arm (32) from interfering with the upright (21).

[0020] A curved guide (4) is fixed to the long arm (32) of the bracket. The guide (4) is composed of a tubular bar with basically elliptical cross-section, wherein the major axis of the ellipsis is vertical. So an upper guide track (40) and a lower guide track (40) are defined. An end (41) of the guide is fixed to a side of the long arm (32) in central position, so that the guide protrudes laterally from the long arm, in opposite direction to the end of the short arm (31) where the collar (30) is fixed. The guide (4) is basically shaped as parabola or hyperbola and lies on a horizontal plane together with the bracket (3).

[0021] A trolley (5) is mounted to slide in the guide (4).

[0022] Referring to Fig. 5, the trolley (5) comprises a body (50) with a basically overturned U-shape. Two rolls (51) are hinged in the body (5), with horizontal pivoting axis. The two rolls (51) are suitably spaced in order to slide on the upper and lower tracks (40) of the guide (4), respectively. A sleeve (52) with hole (53) with vertical axis is fixed on one side of the body (50).

[0023] Referring to Fig. 4, a crank (6) is hinged to the long arm (32). To that end, a flange (33) with overturned-U shape is fixed on one side of the long arm (32), from the side opposite to the guide (4), at the end of the long arm opposite the one where the short arm is fixed (31). An end of the crank (6) is hinged to the flange (33), with vertical pivoting axis (65). The other end of the crank (6) is provided with a sleeve (60) with hole (61) with vertical axis.

[0024] A locking/unlocking device (7) is mounted at the end of the long arm (32) opposite the short arm. The locking/unlocking device (7) comprises a tooth (70) that protrudes externally from the end of the long arm (32). The tooth (70) is connected to a slide (71) mounted to slide on the upper surface of the long arm (32). The slide (71) is provided with an L-shaped bolt (72).

[0025] The slide (71) is also provided with a pawl (73) adapted to slide between two stop surfaces (34, 35) joined with the long arm (32) acting as stops.

[0026] The tooth (70) can go from an extracted position outside the long arm to a retracted position inside the long arm, moving the slide (71) and the bolt (72). A spring, not shown, urges the tooth (70) to the extracted position shown in Fig. 4.

[0027] The cabinet of the invention comprises a pull-out shelf (8).

[0028] Referring to Figs. 2 and 6, the shelf (8) has an irregular shape. Referring to Fig. 1A, when the shelf is inside the cabinet (1), the front linear border (80) is joined with a curved linear border (81) that continues with a back border with a bend (82). The back border continues with a curved lateral border (83) that is joined with the front border (80) with a bend (84). The rear bend (82) is designed to pass the corner (20) of the cabinet, whereas the front bend (84) of the shelf is designed to pass the upright (21).

[0029] A first pin (85), with downward-protruding vertical axis, is mounted on the lower surface of the shelf (8). The first pin (85) is disposed in central position of the shelf. The first pin (85) is revolvingly engaged inside the hole (61) of the sleeve of the crank (6). In this way, the crank (6) can go from a closing position in which it is basically parallel to the long arm (32) to an opening position in which it is basically orthogonal to the long arm (32).

[0030] A second pin (86), with downward-protruding vertical axis, is mounted on the lower surface of the shelf (8). The second pin (86) is disposed in proximity of the back surface (83) of the shelf. The second pin (86) is revolvingly engaged inside the hole (53) of the sleeve of the trolley (5).

[0031] A downward-protruding stop block (87) is mounted on the lower surface of the shelf (8). The stop block (87) is disposed in central position of the shelf (8) in proximity of the back bend (82). The stop block (87) is adapted to cooperate with the locking/unlocking device (7). In view of the above, the bolt (72) of the locking/unlocking device (7) is engaged into a housing (88) of the stop block (87), as shown in Fig. 1A.

[0032] Following is a description of the operating principle of the actuation mechanism of the pull-out shelf (8).

[0033] Referring to Fig. 1A, the pull-out shelf (8) is inside the cabinet (1). In such a situation the shelf (8) is constrained to the long arm (32) of the bracket, because the bolt (72) of the locking/unlocking device is engaged in the stop block (87).

[0034] The user grabs the front part (80) of the pull-out shelf and pulls in the direction of the arrow (F1). Accordingly, the bracket (3) revolves around the column (C) and the shelf (8) simultaneously revolves around the pins (85, 86) respectively mounted in the sleeves of crank (6) and trolley (5). Simultaneously, the trolley (5) makes a short translation on the guide (4).

[0035] Then the shelf (8) makes a revolution around the axis of the column (C) and a rotation around the axis of the pins (85, 86), with a roto-translation movement that makes it partially come out of the opening (2) of the cabinet, as shown in Fig. 1B. Nevertheless, in such a situation, part of the shelf (8) is still inside the cabinet, being inaccessible for the user.

[0036] When the shelf (8) is in the position of Fig. 1B, the tooth (70) of the locking/unlocking device is stopped against the back block (20) disposed in proximity of the front border of the lateral wall (22) of the cabinet. Accordingly, the tooth (70) is retracted inside the long arm (32) and moves the slide (71). Consequently, the bolt (72) of the locking is released from the housing (88) of the stop block and releases the shelf (8) from the long arm (32).

[0037] Therefore, the user pulls the lateral border (51) of the shelf in the direction of the arrow (F2). Accordingly, the trolley (5) that supports the second pin (86) slides in the curved guide (4) and simultaneously the crank (6) revolves around the pivoting axis (65) in such a way that the first pin (85) is moved away from the long arm (32). So the shelf (8) makes a roto-translation that brings it in the position shown in Fig. 1C. It must be noted that during said movement, the crank (6) makes a rotation of approximately 90°.

[0038] In such a position, the shelf (8) is pulled out of the cabinet completely and therefore perfectly accessible for the user.

[0039] In order to bring the shelf (8) inside the cabinet again, the user pushes the border of the shelf in the direction of the arrow (F3) and therefore the shelf (8) makes a roto-translation going back to the position of Fig. 1B. By continuing on pushing the shelf towards the cabinet, the shelf (8) revolves around the pins (85, 86) and the bracket (3) revolves around the column (C). As soon as the tooth (70) of the locking/unlocking device is detached from the back block (20), it returns to extracted position and the bolt (72) is engaged again in the housing of the stop block (87).

[0040] Referring to Figs. 7-10, a second embodiment of an actuation mechanism of a pull-out shelf of the invention is described, wherein identical elements or elements that correspond to the ones illustrated above are indicated with the same reference numerals, omitting a detailed description.

[0041] According to this embodiment a guide (104) is fixed to the lower surface of the trolley. The guide (104) is configured as an L-shaped plate with obtuse angle between the two portions of the "L". Referring to Fig. 9, the guide (104) is provided with two lateral tracks (140). Referring to Fig. 7, the guide (104) is provided with a first end (141) disposed on the back border (83) of the shelf and a second end (142) in proximity of the pin (85) engaged in the sleeve of the crank (6).

[0042] A saddle (105) is mounted on the long arm (32) of the bracket in intermediate position on the upper surface of the long arm. Referring to Fig. 10, the trolley (105) comprises a plate (150) where two rolls or wheels (151) with vertical axes are mounted. The rolls (151) are spaced in such a way to roll on the guide tracks (140) of the guide (104).

[0043] A pin (152) protrudes in lower position from the plate (150) in intermediate position with respect to the axes of the rolls (151). The pin (152) is hinged with a vertical axis on the long arm (32) of the bracket.

[0044] It must be considered that both embodiments use the same actuation system, that is first guide means (4; 105) joined to the long arm (32) of the bracket cooperating with second guide means (5; 104) joined with the trolley.

[0045] Numerous variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiments of the invention by an expert of the field, while still falling within the scope of the invention as claimed in the enclosed claims.

Claims

1. Cabinet (1) comprising an opening (2) and a shelf (8) that can be pulled out of the said opening to go from a retracted position inside the cabinet to an extracted position outside the cabinet,
characterized in that it also comprises:

- a column (C) arranged inside the cabinet in front central position of the cabinet,

- an L-shaped bracket (3) that comprises a short arm (31) mounted to revolve around said column (C) and a long arm (32),

- a crank (6) comprising a first end (65) hinged to the long arm (32) of the bracket and a second end (60) hinged to the pull-out shelf (8),

- first guide means (4; 105) joined to the long arm (32) of the bracket, and

- second guide means (5; 104) joined to the lower surface of the pull-out shelf (8), cooperating with said first guide means (4; 105) joined to the long arm of the bracket.

2. Cabinet (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first end (65) of the crank (6) is hinged to an end of the long arm in distal position with respect to the short arm (31), in such a way that the crank (6) can go from a closing position in which it is basically parallel to the long arm (32) to an opening position in which it is basically orthogonal to the long arm (32).

3. Cabinet (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a locking/unlocking device (7) disposed on said long arm (32) of the bracket cooperating with a stop block (87) fixed on the lower surface of the pull-out shelf (8).

4. Cabinet (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said locking/unlocking device (7) comprises a tooth (70) that protrudes from the end of said long arm (32) of the bracket, said tooth (70) being connected to a slide (71) provided with a bolt (72) that is engaged into a housing (88) of said stop block (87) fixed to the lower surface of the pull-out shelf (8); a back block (20) being disposed near the front border of a wall (22) of the cabinet that defines the opening (2) of the cabinet, in such a way that said tooth (70) comes in contact with said back block (20) to actuate the slide (71).

5. Cabinet (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first guide means (4) comprise a guide (4) that protrudes laterally from a central portion of one side of the long arm (32) of the bracket; and said second guide means (5) comprise a saddle (5) that slides on said curved guide (4), said saddle (5) being hinged to a vertical pin (86) that protrudes in lower position from the pull-out shelf (8).

6. Cabinet (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said curved guide (5) is a tubular profile with a basically elliptical section that forms an upper guide track (40) and a lower guide track (40); said saddle (5) comprising two rolls (51) with horizontal axes that roll on said guide tracks (40) of the curved guide (4).

7. Cabinet (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said first guide means (105) comprise a guide saddle (105) hinged to a central portion of the long arm (32) of the racket; and said second guide means (104) comprise an L-shaped guide (104) with obtuse angle fixed to the lower surface of the pull-out shelf (8), said guide (104) sliding in a guided way inside said saddle (105).

8. Cabinet (1) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said guide (104) is a section shaped as a plate with two lateral guide tracks (140); and said saddle (105) comprises two rolls (151) with vertical axes that roll on said guide tracks (140) of the guide (104).

Drawing