Fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a pull-out, single-part shelf

A fitting for a corner cupboard, comprising a side wall and an access opening which borders the side wall and gives access to an interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, has at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally, two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes, a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of international patent application PCT/EP2008/003609 entitled “Fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a pull-out, single-part shelf”, filed on May 6, 2008 and claiming the priorities of European patent application no. EP 07 009 223.4, which latter is likewise entitled “Fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a pull-out, single-part shelf”, was filed on May 8, 2007 and is parallel pending, and is also a continuation of German patent application no. DE 10 2007 033 960.0, which is likewise entitled “Fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a pull-out, single-part shelf”, was filed on Jul. 19, 2007 and is now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general terms to a fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening which borders the side wall and gives access to an interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, the fitting having at least one pull-out, single-part shelf. More precisely, the present invention relates to such a fitting in which a single-part shelf extensible from such a corner cupboard fills as large a part as possible of the horizontal cross-sectional area of the interior of the corner cupboard in order to make the best possible use of the interior of the corner cupboard despite its limited accessibility over just a part of its width.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The simplest known fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a pull-out, single-part shelf has a supporting column, on which there is configured, for the semicircular shelf, a pivot bearing having a vertical pivot axis running in the direction of the supporting column. The shelf can be swiveled about this supporting column, through the access opening, roughly half out of the interior of the corner cupboard. Its other half remains constantly in the interior, however, and is thus only limitedly accessible.

In a refinement of the abovementioned fitting, the semicircular shelf is mounted in the pivot bearing on the supporting column via an additional pullout, so that, having been swiveled out about the supporting column, it can be pulled further out of the corner cupboard in a linear direction. On the one hand, however, it is difficult here to coordinate the transition from the swivel motion to the linear motion of the shelf and vice versa, in order, for example, to prevent the shelf from butting against the side wall of the corner cupboard and to realize a motional sequence which is harmonic for the user. On the other hand, the one-sided support of the pulled-out shelf on the supporting column, via the extended lever arm of the pullout, is unfavorable with respect to the large moments of force which are herein generated upon the pullout and the pivot bearing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,372 discloses a fitting for a corner cupboard, in which a single-part shelf is guided via a three-part pull-out rail and a curved track on the floor of the corner cupboard. The shelf is here, on one hand, mounted on the pull-out, free end of the pull-out rail pivotably about a vertical axis and, on the other hand, is displaceable, at a point distanced therefrom, along a J-shaped guide. The J-shaped guide runs initially perpendicularly up to the side wall and then veers off in a semicircle in the direction of the pull-out rail aligned parallel to the side wall. The drawback with this known fitting consists in the fact that it is not suitable for a shelf arranged at a distance above the floor, especially not for an upper one of two shelves disposed one above the other, without an intermediate floor being provided, to which the pull-out rail can be fastened and on which the J-shaped guide can be configured. Moreover, the access opening of the corner cupboard must be relatively wide to allow the shelf, without severe restriction of its surface area, to pass through it. Difficulties can also arise if a door which closes off the access opening and is fitted to that boundary of the access opening which lies opposite the side wall can be swung open by only less then 90°, since this can then result in a jamming collision between the shelf, which at the end moves in a straight line out of the corner cupboard, and the door.

A fitting for a corner cupboard having the features of the preamble to the independent patent claim 1 is known from German utility model DE 20 2004 011 200 U1 and from published US patent application 2006/012273 A1 belonging to the same family of patent. Here, the two supporting arms for the shelf are two connecting rods, the first of which is pivotable about a supporting column beside that boundary of the access opening which lies opposite the side wall and the second of which is pivotable about an axis of a support bearing running parallel to the pivot axis of the supporting column, which support bearing is fitted, close to the access opening, to the side wall delimiting said access opening. These two connecting rods guide the shelf, as it is pulled out of the corner cupboard, into a position situated in front of the access opening and protruding about half over the plane of the adjacent side wall. Advantageously, the shelf is supported here by the connecting rods solely against the supporting column and the support bearing, so that the shelf can be arranged without problem at a distance from the floor of the corner cupboard, or even a plurality of shelves can be mounted one above the other such that they can respectively be pulled out individually via their own connecting rods. A smooth running of the shelf as it is pulled out of the corner cupboard and pushed back into the corner cupboard is also achieved, since the rear part of the shelf follows the circular path, predefined by the connecting rod, around the supporting column more easily than a guideway known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,372. However, the shelf of the fitting known from DE 20 2004 011 200 U1 and US 2006/012273 A1, in its pulled-out position, projects far into the space beside the side wall bordering the access opening of the associated corner cupboard. It thus blocks, for example, access to a further cupboard adjoining the corner cupboard next to its side wall. Despite this increased spatial requirement, no better access is gained to the rearmost parts of the shelf.

There is thus a need for a corner cupboard fitting which avoids the high spatial requirement and the restricted accessibility of the shelf found in the fitting known from DE 20 2004 011 200 U1 and US 2006/012273 A1 and which, at the same time, preserves its benefit of the shelf supporting mechanism which is independent of the floor of the corner cupboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a more general aspect, the invention provides a fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, the fitting having: at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally, two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes, a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms.

In a more specific aspect, the invention provides a fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, the fitting having: at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally, two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes, a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, the alignment of one of the two supporting arms being fixed in relation to the pull-out direction and an angle between the pull-out direction and one of the two supporting arms ranging between 30° and 70°, and a pivot bearing on a supporting column for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms.

In a further more general aspect, the invention provides a corner cupboard comprising a side wall, an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, and a fitting, the fitting having: at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally, two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes, a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms, wherein the support bearing with the linear guide supports one supporting arm of the two supporting arms movably against the side wall and the pivot bearing defines the vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms beside a horizontal boundary, lying opposite the side wall, of the access opening.

In a further more specific aspect, the invention provides a corner cupboard comprising a side wall, an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, and a fitting, the fitting having: at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally, two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes, a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms; wherein the support bearing with the linear guide supports one supporting arm of the two supporting arms movably against the side wall, the pull-out direction runs at a shallow angle ranging between 1° and 10° to the side wall, the linear guide from the access opening into the interior moves away from the side wall, one supporting arm extends over more than half the width of the access opening between the side wall and a horizontal boundary, lying opposite the side wall, laterally away from the linear guide, and the pivot bearing defines the vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms beside the horizontal boundary, lying opposite the side wall, of the access opening.

In the case of the new fitting, the support bearing for movably supporting one supporting arm has at least one linear guide, which defines a horizontally running pull-out direction for one supporting arm. That is to say, in the case of the new corner cupboard, one supporting arm can be pulled out in a linear direction. Due to a lateral extent of the supporting arm from the linear guide to beneath the shelf, the linear guide can nevertheless be fitted to the side wall of the corner cupboard, so that the floor of the corner cupboard can remain free from all supporting functions. An attachment of the support bearing for one supporting arm to the side wall, which support bearing has the linear guide, does not necessarily mean, however, that the support bearing must be fastened directly to the side wall. In principle, a fastening to the floor and ceiling of the corner cupboard is also conceivable, in which case the support bearing is located only close to the side wall. By virtue of the lateral extent of the supporting arm from the linear guide to beneath the shelf, the vertical axis about which the shelf is pivotable in relation to one supporting arm can be chosen with respect to its position such that even a large shelf can pass out through a narrow access opening without collision, in that it is firstly more strongly pivoted and is then moved more strongly in a linear direction. Both a pivotal and a linear motional component are always present, however. The forward motion which is made in the pull-out direction upon the movement of one supporting arm brings the shelf in its pulled-out position to far in front of the access opening, whereupon it is easily accessible from the side. At the same time, in the case of the new fitting, a plurality of shelves can be provided one above the other, without these shelves having to be rigidly joined together. Each shelf can be separately supported by two supporting arms, one of which respectively has a support bearing with a linear guide. A coupling of the motion of two or more shelves disposed one above the other is likewise possible, however. A coupling of the linear guides, or even a joint linear guide for the one supporting arms thereof, lends itself to this purpose. A coupling of the linear guides can be realized such that the lowermost linear guide, as the associated shelf is pushed back into the corner cupboard, transports the one supporting arms of the above-situated shelves, which supporting arms are guided via the above-situated linear guides, so that these too can be jointly pushed in, without also being automatically pulled out with the lowermost shelf. This coupling of the linear guides can be combined with a catch, which is designed for fastening to the door of the corner cupboard and which, as the door is opened, pulls the lowermost shelf, directly or via its one supporting arm, out from the corner cupboard. By contrast, a joint linear guide for the one supporting arms of a plurality of shelves has a large vertical extent, which can be advantageous for the dispersion of the leverage forces acting upon the linear guide via the one supporting arms.

A fundamental advantage of the new fitting is the simple automatability of the movement of the shelf. The linear guide can thus be assigned a drive, which extends and retracts one supporting arm, and thus the whole of the shelf, upon request. A so-called self-retracting mechanism, if so desired also with a damper, can also be provided for the shelf on the linear guide.

With a coupling device which engages the shelf and is designed for attachment to the door of the corner cupboard, the motions of the shelf and door can be coupled, for example, such that the shelf can already be pulled partly out of the corner cupboard with the opening of the door, and such that the final part of the push-in motion of the shelf can likewise be induced via the door. In this case, a self-retracting mechanism, and/or damper, acting upon the shelf would also act indirectly upon the door. In the case of a plurality of shelves disposed one above the other, the coupling device sensibly engages the lowermost shelf.

The combination of such a coupling device with a drive for one supporting arm of the shelf is particularly advantageous, since the drive can then also be used to open and/or close the door. Self-evidently, the drive can be actuated, for example, via the door, i.e. via a sensor which detects the position of the door, or by a sensor which is disposed on the door and can be operated by the user directly or via an actuating element such as a handle of the door.

The support bearing for one supporting arm can also be supported against a crossbar, which is designed for fastening to the side wall and is provided on a center post of the corner cupboard. The extent of one supporting arm at right angles to the side wall can hence be shortened to zero. One supporting arm then consists only of the moving part of the linear guide. The leverage forces upon the support bearing about horizontal axes running parallel to the side wall are hereby minimized.

In order easily to support such leverage forces resulting from the length of the supporting arm, in the case of a support bearing, disposed directly on the side wall, for one supporting arm, a supporting roller running parallel to the linear guide and vertically offset thereto can be provided. The supporting roller, which is preferably ball bearing mounted, can here roll directly on the side wall of the corner cupboard. Preferably, however, a plate is provided for this purpose, which can be rigidly connected to that part of the linear guide which is situated on the side wall side. Particularly preferably, in the case of the new fitting, supporting rollers are provided, which run parallel to the linear guide at two different vertical heights.

In principle it is also possible to absorb the leverage forces on the support bearing located on the side wall by a solidly configured pull-out rail, or by two pull-out rails arranged parallel to each other and vertically offset. The combination of a linear guide, for example in the form of a pull-out rail, with one of more supporting rollers is, however, preferred.

If the linear guide has a pull-out rail having an outer rail of C-shaped profile and a therein running inner rail, corresponding to a standard construction of pull-out rails, the pull-out rail is preferably arranged such that the inner rail, in the event of vertical load from the shelf onto one supporting arm, is pressed into the C-shaped profile of the outer rail. This means that the outer rail must be turned to face the side wall of the corner cupboard with the opening in its C-shaped profile, when the pull-out rail is the upper of two pull-out rails or is disposed above a supporting roller. In the load direction which is described here, a simple pull-out rail with C-shaped profile of the outer rail can withstand extreme loads by lateral moments.

In the case of the new fitting, it is certainly in principle conceivable to provide an additional joint between the linear guide and one supporting arm. Preferably, however, the alignment of one supporting arm in relation to the pull-out direction is fixed, merely in order to define the position of the shelf in relation to the corner cupboard over the whole of the pull-out path.

In the case of the new fitting, one supporting arm runs typically at an acute angle to the linear guide, it being angled forward toward the access opening of the corner cupboard when viewed from the linear guide. Specifically, the acute angle can measure about 45°, i.e. between 30 and 70°.

As already indicated, one supporting arm can extend relatively far away from the linear guide on the side wall of the corner cupboard. Preferably, it extends here over more than half the width of the access opening away from the linear guide, so that the point at which one supporting arm supports the shelf lies closer to that boundary of the access opening which lies opposite the side wall than to the side wall itself.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the new fitting, the pull-out direction of the linear guide runs at a shallow angle to the side wall, the linear guide from the access opening into the interior moving away from the side wall. This means that one supporting arm, and, with it, the associated supporting point of the shelf, moves slightly sideways as the shelf is pulled out. This sideways movement can be used to evade a door of the corner cupboard, which door is fitted to that boundary of the access opening which lies opposite the side wall and, for whatever reasons, cannot be opened over the full 90°.

The shallow angle between the pull-out direction and the side wall typically measures just a few degrees and maximally about 10°.

In order for the shelf to be supported in a particularly stable manner in its position maximally pulled out from the access opening, in which its maximum loads are to be expected because of, for example, a user resting on the shelf, in this position it can be additionally supported against one supporting arm via a bearing. This bearing is in this case provided on the underside of the shelf; and one supporting arm, as a result of the pivot motion of the shelf made in relation to thereto, enters into the bearing. The bearing can here have the form of a laterally open receiving fixture, into which one supporting arm enters. On one supporting arm a pin can be provided, which enters into a bushing on the shelf (or vice versa); and on the supporting arm a supporting roller can be provided, which runs up onto a control path on the shelf (here too, a reverse arrangement of these parts is possible).

The other supporting arm of the new fitting, which is mounted pivotably both in relation to the shelf and about the vertical pivot axis beside that boundary of the access opening of the corner cupboard which lies opposite the side wall, can specifically be mounted on a supporting column.

The supporting column can here be pivotable, jointly with the supporting arm, in relation to swivels on the floor and ceiling or a center post of the corner cupboard, or else can be mounted in a rotationally secure manner and have a pivot bearing for the other supporting arm.

A corner cupboard according to the invention comprising the new fitting typically has a door fitted to that boundary of its access opening which lies opposite its side wall.

Advantageous refinements of the invention emerge from the dependent patent claims and the description as a whole. Further features can be derived from the drawings—in particular the represented geometries and the relative dimensions of a plurality of components one to another, as well as their relative arrangement and operative connection. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention, or of features of different patent claims differing from the chosen back-references, is likewise possible and is herewith encouraged. This relates also to those features which are represented in separate drawing figures or are mentioned in the description thereof. These features can also be combined with features of different patent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be better understood in consideration of the following drawings. The parts in the drawings are not necessarily represented to scale, but rather emphasis is placed on clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, the same reference symbols denote the same parts in the various views.

FIG. 1 shows a corner cupboard with a built-in fitting which supports in a pull-out manner two shelves, disposed one above the other, in the interior of the corner cupboard, in a view from above with shelves fully pushed into the corner cupboard.

FIG. 2 shows the fitting of the corner cupboard according to FIG. 1 without the corner cupboard, in the pushed-in position of the fitting according to FIG. 1, in a perspective view.

FIG. 3 shows the corner cupboard with the fitting in the pushed-in position according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a view from the front.

FIG. 4 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 1, of the corner cupboard with the fitting, at the start of the pull-out of the shelves.

FIG. 5 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 1, of the corner cupboard, with the pull-out of the shelves having advanced further.

FIG. 6 shows a view, corresponding to FIG. 1, of the corner cupboard with the shelves fully pulled out.

FIG. 7 shows a front view, corresponding to FIG. 3, of the corner cupboard with the fitting in the fully pulled-out position according to FIG. 6, the lower of the two shelves being omitted in the diagrammatic representation.

FIG. 8 shows the fitting in the operating position according to FIGS. 6 and 7 in a perspective view, again with the omission of the lower shelf.

FIG. 9 shows a support bearing with a linear guide for one of two supporting arms of one of the shelves, in a view from above.

FIG. 10 shows the fitting in the operating position according to FIGS. 1 to 3, with the direction of view onto the support bearings for the one supporting arms, respectively, of both shelves.

FIG. 11 shows the corner cupboard with the built-in fitting in the position and view according to FIG. 1, the door of the corner cupboard and a coupling device between the lower shelf of the fitting and the door additionally being schematically portrayed; and

FIG. 12 shows the corner cupboard with the fitting according to FIG. 11, the door of the corner cupboard being partly open and the lower shelf of the shelving, here represented alone, being partly pulled out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 3 show a corner cupboard 1 in which a fitting 2 is disposed. The fitting 2 supports two pull-out shelves 3, disposed one above the other, and is portrayed in FIG. 2 without the corner cupboard 1. In FIGS. 1 and 3, the shelves are shown in the state fully pushed into the corner cupboard 1. FIG. 2 portrays the fitting 2 in the same position. The corner cupboard 1 has a floor 4, a ceiling (here omitted), a rear wall 5, two side walls 6 and 7 and a center post 8. The center post 8 is disposed on the front side of the corner cupboard roughly midway between the side walls 6 and 7. Between the side wall 7 situated on the right in FIGS. 1 and 3 and the center post 8, the corner cupboard 1 has an access opening 9. In the use of the corner cupboard 1, the region between the center post 8 and the side wall 6 situated on the left in FIGS. 1 and 3 is concealed by an adjoining row of cupboards. The access opening 9 can be closed off by a door (not represented here) of the corner cupboard 1. In FIGS. 1 and 3, the cupboard-side part of a door hinge 10 is portrayed. The fitting 2 is designed such that the shelves 3, which, as shown by FIG. 1, respectively cover the substantially horizontal cross section of the interior 11 of the corner cupboard 1, can be pulled out through the access opening 9 and can be pushed back again into the corner cupboard 1 without resulting in collisions with the side wall 7, the rear wall 4, the center post 8 or the door hinge 10 disposed thereon. Each shelf 3 has a base plate 12 and a railing 14 running on the outer periphery thereof and elevated by means of spacers 13. For the support of each shelf 3, two supporting arms 15 and 16 are provided. For each of the one supporting arms 15, a support bearing 17 with a linear guide 18 is provided on the side wall 7 of the corner cupboard 1. The construction of the linear guide 18 is examined in yet greater detail in connection with FIGS. 9 and 10. The linear guide 18 guides the respective supporting arm 15 horizontally and parallel to the side wall 7, it being able to be pulled out linearly, in relation to its pushed-in position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the direction of the access opening 9 and out of the latter. The supporting arm 15 here reaches under the shelf from below and supports this at a point 19, at the point 19 a pivot bearing 20 with a vertical pivot axis being configured between the supporting arm 15 and the shelf 3. The leverage forces which act upon the support bearing 17 via the supporting arm 15, due to its load at the point 19, are here absorbed by supporting rollers 21 and 22, which run parallel to the linear guide 18 along a profiled plate 23 of the support bearing 17. At a second point 24 beneath each shelf 3, a further pivot bearing 25 with a vertical axis is configured, via which the shelf 3 is supported by the respective other supporting arm 16. The other supporting arm 16 is also mounted at its other end in a pivot bearing 26 with a vertical pivot axis, the pivot bearing 26 being configured in relation to a supporting column 27 fastened to the center post 8. The supporting column 27 is also supported on the floor 4 of the corner cupboard 1.

The following FIGS. 4 to 6 show how the shelves 3, as they are pulled out of the corner cupboard 1, as a result of their guidance by the supporting arms 15 and 16, move out through the access opening 9 until they are positioned substantially in front of this access opening 9. One supporting arm 15 here moves linearly forward. Due to the large lateral extent of the supporting arm 15 to below the shelf 3 and an angle of about 60° at which the supporting arm 15 runs to the linear guide 18, the point 19 at which it supports the shelf 3, in its positions according to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, lies relatively close to the center post 8. Since also the respective other supporting arm 16 is pivotably mounted close to the center post 8, the shelf 3, at the start of its pull-out motion, is pivoted out of the corner cupboard 1 substantially about the center post 8 and thus makes its way without collisions out of the access opening 9, in spite of its large dimensions compared to the horizontal cross section of the interior 11 of the corner cupboard 1. Next, as the supporting arm 15 continues to be pulled out along the linear guide 17, the shelf 3 is further pulled substantially linearly to in front of the access opening 9, until it reaches its maximally pulled-out position according to FIG. 6. De facto, over the entire path of the shelf 3 from its position according to FIG. 1 into its position according to FIG. 6, the linear motion of one supporting arm 15 and the pivot motion of the other supporting arm 16 are superimposed to provide the overall motion of the shelf 3, in which overall motion only the relative proportions of the linear motion and of the pivot motion are shifted. This gives rise to a motional sequence which is felt by the user to be very organic and which he senses from the hand with which he pulls the shelf 3 out of the corner cupboard 1. The same applies to the reinsertion of the shelf 3 into the corner cupboard 1. Although the two shelves 3 in FIGS. 4 to 6 always lie precisely one above the other, they can be pulled out of the corner cupboard 1 fully independently of each other.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the corner cupboard 1 with the fitting 2 in the operating position according to FIG. 6 in a front view, and the fitting 2 in the operating position according to FIG. 6 in a perspective view, the lower of the two shelves 3 being in each case omitted. It can be seen that the one supporting arms 15 have here reached their foremost position along the linear guides 18 of the support bearings 17.

Before the construction of the support bearings 17 is examined in greater detail with reference to the following figures, it should be pointed out that the pull-out directions of their linear guides 18 does not have to be aligned precisely parallel to that side wall 7 of the corner cupboard 1 which borders the access opening 9. Instead, it can be advantageous to provide a forward-tapered angle of just a few degrees between the linear guides 18 and this side wall 7. This results in the shelf 3, in its maximally pulled-out position in relation to its position shown in FIG. 6, being pivoted with its front part slightly to the right about the point 24, since the point 19 lies further to the right. In this way, a door of the corner cupboard 1 which cannot be opened by a full 90° because it, for example, butts with its handle against an adjacent front, or even a further handle which is disposed there, can be avoided. The shallow angle can be realized by a correspondingly configured support bearing 17 or by a wedge between the support bearing 17 and the side wall 7.

FIG. 9 shows a support bearing 17 for one of the one supporting arms 15 in a view from the front. It can be seen here that the supporting arm 15 is rigidly mounted on a carriage 28, which on the one hand is guided via the linear guide 18 in the form of a conventional pull-out rail in relation to the profiled plate 23 in which the pull-out rail 18 is disposed, and which on the other hand is supported via the supporting rollers 21 and 22 against vertical end members of the profiled plate 23. These supporting rollers 21 and 22 absorb the tilting moments about the horizontal direction running perpendicular to the drawing plane according to FIG. 9, while the linear guide disperses both vertical forces and the tilting moments generated about the horizontal direction running in the drawing plane according to FIG. 9. The profiled plate 23 encloses or covers all parts of the linear guide 17 and therefore ensures both protection against dirt and protection from injuries.

The side view according to FIG. 10 gives once again an overview of the entire fitting 2 in its pushed-in position, the lower supporting rollers 21 here too being visible.

In FIG. 11, substantially the same situation is shown as in FIG. 1. In addition, however, a door 29 of the corner cupboard 1 is portrayed schematically here. The portrayal is schematic, inter alia insofar as the attachment of the door 29 to the door hinge 10 is not portrayed in detail. Furthermore, a coupling device 30 is likewise shown schematically, which here engages on the one hand the lower shelf 3 and on the other hand the door 29. A drive 31 for the supporting arm 15 is likewise represented schematically, with which the supporting arm 15 can be transported along the linear guide 18 and can thus be extended out of its position shown in FIG. 11. In this way, the supporting arm 15 makes its way, for example, into the intermediate position, represented in FIG. 12, prior to its full extension. Here the shelf 3 has substantially concluded its pivot motion about the supporting column 27 and its remaining motion runs substantially linearly out of the corner cupboard 1. In the pivot motion of the shelf 3 about the supporting column 27, the shelf, via the coupling device 30, has taken the door 29 with it and transferred it out of its closed position according to FIG. 11 into its, in FIG. 12, already almost fully open position.

Conversely, the shelf 3, as it is moved back into the corner cupboard 1 by retraction of the supporting arm 15 with the drive 31 (not highlighted here), takes the door 29 back with it into its closed position according to FIG. 11.

Alternatively, only the swiveling-out of the floors, in the sense of a pusher acting only in one direction, can be electromechanically supported. In this case, a change of position of the door 29 not only in the opening but also in the closing direction (by pressing to the end side of the side wall 7 of the corner cupboard 1) can be translated via the coupling device 30 into a change of position of the lower shelf 3, which change of position is detected by a sensor, which in turn activates the electromechanical drive. Thus the lower shelf 3 swings out and the door 29 is simultaneously opened via the coupling device 30. Upon subsequent manual closing of the door 29, the coupling device 30 causes the lower shelf 3 to be swung in. In the case of all further shelves 3 which are present in the corner cupboard 1 and are located above the lower shelf 3 connected to the door 29 of the corner cupboard 1, the electromechanical drives which are assigned to them can likewise be activated by a change of position here effected by direct action and detected by a sensor. These shelves 3 are swung in manually.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

  • 1 Corner cupboard
  • 2 Fitting
  • 3 Shelf
  • 4 Floor
  • 5 Rear wall
  • 6 Side wall
  • 7 Side wall
  • 8 Center post
  • 9 Access opening
  • 10 Door hinge
  • 11 Interior
  • 12 Base plate
  • 13 Spacer
  • 14 Railing
  • 15 Supporting arm
  • 16 Supporting arm
  • 17 Support bearing
  • 18 Linear guide
  • 19 Point
  • 20 Pivot bearing
  • 21 Supporting roller
  • 22 Supporting roller
  • 23 Profiled plate
  • 24 Point
  • 25 Pivot bearing
  • 26 Pivot bearing
  • 27 Supporting column
  • 28 Carriage
  • 29 Door
  • 30 Coupling device
  • 31 Drive

Claims

1. A fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, the fitting having:

at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally,
two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes,
a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and
a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms.

2. The fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear guide is provided with a drive, which acts upon one of the two supporting arms.

3. The fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linear guide is provided with a self-retracting mechanism, which acts upon one of the two supporting arms.

4. The fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support bearing has at least one supporting roller running parallel to the at least one linear guide and vertically offset thereto.

5. The fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alignment of one of the two supporting arms is fixed in relation to the pull-out direction.

6. The fitting as claimed in claim 5, wherein an angle between the pull-out direction and one of the two supporting arms ranges between 30° and 70°.

7. The fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other of the two supporting arms is mounted on a supporting column pivotably about the vertical pivot axis.

8. A fitting for a corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, the fitting having:

at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally,
two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes,
a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, the alignment of one of the two supporting arms being fixed in relation to the pull-out direction, and an angle between the pull-out direction and one of the two supporting arms ranging between 30° and 70°, and
a pivot bearing on a supporting column for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms.

9. A corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, and comprising a fitting, the fitting having: wherein the support bearing with the linear guide supports one supporting arm of the two supporting arms movably against the side wall and the pivot bearing defines the vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms beside a horizontal boundary, lying opposite the side wall, of the access opening.

at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally,
two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes,
a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and
a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms,

10. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein a coupling device engages one of the two supporting arms and is designed for attachment to a door of the corner cupboard.

11. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein a coupling device engages the shelf and is designed for attachment to a door of the corner cupboard.

12. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein the linear guide is provided with a drive, which acts upon one of the two supporting arms, and wherein the drive is actuated via a sensor disposed on the door.

13. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein the linear guide is provided with a self-retracting mechanism, which acts upon one of the two supporting arms.

14. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support bearing is supported against a crossbar, which is fastened to the side wall and to a center post of the corner cupboard.

15. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support bearing is fastened to the side wall.

16. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein one supporting arm extends over more than half the width of the access opening laterally away from the linear guide.

17. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pull-out direction runs at a shallow angle to the side wall, the linear guide from the access opening into the interior moving away from the side wall.

18. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 17, wherein the shallow angle ranges between 1° and 10°.

19. The corner cupboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shelf, in its position pulled maximally out of the access opening, is supported against one of the two supporting arms additionally via a bearing, which is provided on the underside of the shelf and into which one of the two supporting arms enters by virtue of a pivot motion of the shelf.

20. A corner cupboard comprising a side wall and an access opening to an interior of the corner cupboard, which access opening borders the side wall and gives access to the interior of the corner cupboard over just a part of its width, and comprising a fitting, the fitting having: wherein

at least one single-part shelf, which in the work position of the fitting extends horizontally,
two supporting arms, which in the work position of the fitting extend horizontally and which are mounted on the underside of the shelf, at two mutually spaced points, pivotably about vertical axes,
a first support bearing for one of the two supporting arms, which has at least one linear guide defining a horizontally running pull-out direction for one of the two supporting arms, and
a pivot bearing for defining a vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms,
the support bearing with the linear guide supports one supporting arm of the two supporting arms movably against the side wall,
the pull-out direction runs at a shallow angle ranging between 1° and 10° to the side wall, the linear guide from the access opening into the interior moving away from the side wall,
one supporting arm extends over more than half the width of the access opening between the side wall and a horizontal boundary lying opposite the side wall, laterally away from the linear guide, and
the pivot bearing defines the vertical pivot axis for the other of the two supporting arms beside the horizontal boundary, lying opposite the side wall, of the access opening.
Patent History
Publication number: 20100084952
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 6, 2009
Publication Date: Apr 8, 2010
Applicant: Vauth-Sagel Holding GmbH & Co. KG (Brakel/ Erkeln)
Inventor: Claus Sagel (Bielefeld)
Application Number: 12/613,675
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Room Corner Type (312/238); Pivotal, Fixed Axis (e.g., Door) (312/326)
International Classification: A47B 96/00 (20060101);