PIECE OF FURNITURE, GUIDE UNIT AND ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR FITTING A GUIDE UNIT ON A FURNITURE PART

Abstract

A piece of furniture, a guide unit and an arrangement and a method for fitting a guide unit on a furniture part including a receiving device for coupling to hook means on the guide unit prior to the guide unit being fitted on a first furniture part for the first time, the receiving device configured such that, when the guide unit, together with the receiving device coupled thereto, is being fitted, an automatic connection is able to be established between the receiving device and the first furniture part, when contact between the two is made for the first time, via attachment means that act between the first furniture part and the receiving device and are provided thereon.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/005032 filed Dec. 6, 2012, which designated the United States, and claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(a)-(d) of German Application No. 10 2011 122 264.6 filed Dec. 23, 2011, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture, a guide unit and arrangement, and a method for fitting a guide unit on a furniture part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Arrangements for holding a rear end of one of a running rail and a movement rail of a guide unit, configured as a pull-out guide, in an end region or a rear region, remote from a front side, of a furniture part, such as, for example, a drawer or some other furniture part that is mounted for pull-out action on a furniture carcass, are known.

A comparatively high degree of complexity has hitherto been involved with regard to provisions and/or procedures in connection with the mounting of such arrangements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against the background of the above-described problems, it is the object of the present invention to improve the abovementioned existing systems and to allow a more effective procedure for mounting the arrangement on the furniture main part or carcass.

The present invention first of all proceeds from an arrangement for fitting a guide unit on a first furniture part which is guidable in movement with respect to a second furniture part by way of the mounted guide unit, wherein the guide unit comprises a fixed rail that is arrangeable on the second furniture part and a movement rail that is arrangeable on the first furniture part, wherein the arrangement is configured for the movement rail which is equipped at its rear end with a hook means for fixing the first furniture part, wherein the hook means are configured, in a mounted state on the first furniture part, to engage in a receiving device of the arrangement, the receiving device being assignable to the furniture part. The first furniture part is one of held and fixed in one of the rear region of the first furniture part or on the end region of the first furniture part, the end region being located opposite a front side of the first furniture part in the longitudinal direction thereof.

A first essential aspect is that, for coupling to the hook means on the guide unit prior to the guide unit being fitted on the first furniture part for the first time, the receiving device is configured such that, when the guide unit, together with the receiving device coupled thereto, is being fitted, an automatic connection is able to be established between the receiving device and the first furniture part when contact between the two is made for the first time, via attachment means that act between the first furniture part and the receiving device and are provided thereon. The connection that is established automatically and fixes, in particular, the receiving device in a fixed position on the first furniture part, is preferably established permanently, or is reversible, or is able to be eliminated only by a predefinable action that overcomes the automatic connection.

Advantageously, the receiving device is transferable from a state in which it is assigned releasably to the guide unit, this state existing prior to the first furniture part being mounted on the guide unit for the first time, into a state in which it is assigned permanently, or non-releasably, to the first furniture part, following mounting.

The connection between the receiving device and the first furniture part is established in particular in a non-reversible manner when contact is made for the first time between mutually assigned sections on the receiving device and the first furniture part. The attachment means are advantageously provided either only on the first furniture part or only on the receiving device or both on the first furniture part and on the receiving device. Preferably, the attachment means are provided over the full extent of the mutually assigned sections on one or more of the receiving device and the first furniture part. An only partial extent of the attachment means over the mutually assigned sections can likewise be advantageous.

The mutually assigned sections may be designed identically on the first furniture part and on the receiving device, or designed differently with components that are coordinated with one another in order to form a firm connection that is effective in combination.

Preferably, the receiving device is designed as a separate component, in particular either as exactly one component or as a structural unit.

The hook means are advantageously designed integrally on one of the guide unit and movement rail, or alternatively is fitted one of firmly and releasably thereto. Advantageously, the hook means comprises, for example, a hook element having a hook nose, for example, having hook sections that are at angles to one another, in particular having a first hook section which projects perpendicularly from a supporting side of the movement rail for supporting the first furniture part in the state thereof fitted in the correct position, and a second hook section which comprises the hook nose and is at an angle to the first hook section, in particular, extending in the direction of the supporting side of the movement rail.

In the state in which the guide unit is fitted on the first furniture part, the hook nose can engage in a matching depression or opening, coordinated with the hook nose, in the receiving device. Thus, the first furniture part and the guide unit are connected together for at least one of correct functioning and so as to be oriented with respect to one another in a matching manner.

The procedure according to the invention is also advantageous because it is not possible for the receiving device to be mounted in the wrong position on the first furniture part, which repeatedly occurred previously, for example, on account of manufacturing tolerances. The plugging of the receiving device onto the guide unit rules out subsequent incorrect mounting on the first furniture part, since the correct mounting position of the receiving device on the first furniture part is established by force on account of the joining together in a necessarily correct position of the guide unit and the first furniture part.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the attachment means are configured such that, when the guide unit and the first furniture part are oriented in a correct position with respect to one another, the automatic connection between the receiving device and the first furniture part is able to be established. Advantageously, as a result, the automatic connection between the receiving device and the first furniture part takes place only when the relevant parts are oriented in a correct position with respect to one another, otherwise the automatic connection is not possible and the two parts remain unconnected. A fitter carrying out the mounting in any case receives direct feedback about a successful fitting when the receiving device remains on the first furniture part as desired, and when the first furniture part is removed from the guide unit again, for example, for testing, or otherwise remains coupled to the hook means.

It is furthermore advantageous that the attachment means comprises an adhesive. This is a particularly advantageous and simple attachment option. An adhesive surface can advantageously be provided on at least one of the first furniture part and the receiving device. An adhesive surface can be covered or protected by a pull-off, in particular, a thin protective film, until the protective film is pulled off before the guide unit is fitted on the first furniture part by a fitter. Alternatively, attachment can also take place via a combination of a hook tape on one side and a loop tape on the other side, the loop tape hooking together with the hook tape upon abutment, in particular, in order to form a releasable hook-and-loop fastening that can be re-established multiple times.

It is also advantageous that the receiving device has abutment sections that are designed in a manner coordinated with the first furniture part, the abutment sections being able to be brought into abutment in a matching manner against counterpart sections in the rear region of the first furniture part when the guide unit and the first furniture part are oriented in a correct position with respect to one another. In this way, a space-saving attachment that acts via mutually assigned surfaces can take place between the receiving device and the first furniture part.

In particular, the shaping of the mutually assigned sections on the first furniture part and the receiving device can advantageously be coordinated such that the automatic connection can be established in particular without canting. Advantageously, the mutually assigned sections are formed with an exact fit, in particular, by way of exactly one shoulder having planar sections that are oriented at an angle to one another, such that preferably at least two continuously planar abutment regions are provided on each of the mutually assigned sections on the first furniture part, on the one hand, and the receiving device, on the other hand, the abutment regions preferably being coordinated with one another in a form-fitting manner.

It is also advantageous that the receiving device has a recess that is designed in a manner coordinated with the guide unit, the recess being configured for the engagement of the hook means of the movement rail when the guide unit and the first furniture part are oriented in a correct position with respect to one another. As a result, precise fitting in the correct position can be achieved. Advantageously, in this way no recess or opening for the engagement of the hook means in the fitted state in the correct position has to be provided on the first furniture part itself.

It is also advantageous that the recess and the hook means are coordinated with one another such that, when the receiving device is in a state in which it is coupled to the guide unit, a retaining force that retains the hook means in the recess is less than a connecting force which is established between the receiving device and the first furniture part via the attachment means. Thus, when the first furniture part is removed from the guide unit, the first furniture part can be detached together with the receiving device from the hook means and subsequently be connected to the guide unit in the correct position again. The forces which keep the hook means in the recess in the connected state of the first furniture part may be realized, for example, by resilient or elastic clamping sections on at least one of the recess and the hook means.

Advantageously, the receiving device further comprises an adjustment device having a receiving element in which the hook means engage when the guide unit is in the state in which it is fitted on the first furniture part, wherein the receiving element on the adjustment device is adjustable in at least one spatial direction. Advantageously, the receiving element on the adjustment device is adjustable one of manually and without tools in the horizontal and vertical directions. Thus, if necessary, corresponding spatial positioning or fine adjustment of the first furniture part relative to the guide unit and thus to one of the second furniture part and a furniture carcass can be established.

Thus, for example, an appearance of the first furniture part relative to the second furniture part can be set, in particular, in order to obtain a uniform joint pattern between the front-side furniture edges of the first furniture part and other elements of the piece of furniture in question.

The invention furthermore relates to a guide unit for a first furniture part which is guidable in movement with respect to a second furniture part of a piece of furniture via the mounted guide unit, wherein the guide unit comprises a fixed rail that is arrangeable on the second furniture part and a movement rail that is arrangeable on the first furniture part, the movement rail being equipped at its rear end with hook means for fixing the first furniture part, wherein the hook means are configured, in a mounted state on the first furniture part, to engage in a receiving device of the arrangement, the receiving device being assignable to the first furniture part. According to the present invention, the guide unit has an arrangement for fitting a guide unit on a first furniture part in accordance with one of the embodiments explained above.

Thus, the abovementioned advantages can be achieved with the guide unit.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a piece of furniture having a first furniture part which is guidable in movement with respect to a second furniture part of the piece of furniture via a mounted guide unit, wherein a guide unit in accordance with the abovementioned configuration is provided. The piece of furniture comprises in particular at least one drawer which is guided in movement on a furniture carcass by way of a rail guide configured to be pulled out some or all of the way.

Furthermore, the present invention covers a method for fitting a first furniture part on a guide unit which is fitted on a second furniture part in order to guide the first furniture part in movement with respect to the second furniture part, wherein the guide unit comprises a fixed rail that is arrangeable on the second furniture part and a movement rail that is arrangeable on the first furniture part, wherein the movement rail is equipped at its rear end with hook means for fixing the first furniture part, and the hook means are configured, in a mounted state on the first furniture part, to engage in a receiving device of the arrangement, the receiving device being assignable to the first furniture part.

The essential concept of the method according to the invention is that, for coupling to the hook means on the guide unit prior to the guide unit being fitted on the first furniture part for the first time, the receiving device is fitted releasably, wherein when the guide unit, together with the receiving device coupled thereto, is being fitted, an automatic connection is established between the receiving device and the first furniture part, when contact between the two is made for the first time, via attachment means that act between the first furniture part and the receiving device and are provided thereon.

Thus, preparatory measures for mounting the guide unit on the first furniture part can advantageously take place and the mounting itself can be carried out effectively. In particular, the advantages indicated in connection with the arrangement according to the invention for fitting a guide unit on a first furniture part can be achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention are explained by way of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention that is illustrated in a highly schematic manner in the single figure.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a detail of a drawer in a fitted state on a partially shown drawer rail of a guide unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows in a simplified manner an end region, remote from a front region, of a furniture part configured as a drawer 1, wherein the drawer 1 is received on a furniture carcass (not shown) in the correct position for correct functioning, and for back and forth movement via a guide unit according to the present invention, which is configured as a rail guide.

The drawer 1 is fitted so as to be fixed releasably to a drawer rail 3 of the guide unit in the illustrated rear end region, which is bordered by a drawer rear side 2 or drawer rear wall. The drawer rail 3, which preferably has a multiple bent sheet-metal profile, is part of the guide unit according to the present invention, which has rails that are telescopic or movable with respect to one another. In particular, in addition to the drawer rail which is assignable to the drawer, a carcass rail that is assignable to the furniture carcass, and optionally a central rail that acts between the carcass rail and the drawer rail 3. The carcass rail and the central rail are not illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the end region 4 of the drawer rail 3, hook means, configured as a hook element 5, are provided on a supporting side 3a of the drawer rail 3. The hook element 5 is advantageously designed as a tongue-like element cut free, apart from a connecting section, via a U-shaped cut from the flat material of the supporting side 3a of the drawer rail 3, the tongue-like element being bent upwardly at a right angle to the supporting side 3a in the connecting section and forming a section 5a. The hook element 5 has, in addition to the section 5a, a further section 5b that is bent at a right angle to the section 5a.

The section 5b forms a free end of the hook means and extends horizontally, or preferably parallel to the supporting side 3a, in the state of the drawer rail 3 in which it is oriented in a mounted manner.

Provided in a correct position between the drawer rear side 2 and the hook element 5 is a receiving device 6, which is advantageously designed as an adjustment adapter. The receiving device 6 comprises a receiving region having a shoulder for abutment against angled counterpart sections of the drawer 1.

The shoulder of the receiving device 6 is formed, for example, by a supporting section 6a with a supporting surface 10 directed toward the underside 7 of the drawer 1, and a rear section 6b of a wall surface 11 directed inwardly toward the drawer rear side 2. The supporting surface 10 and the wall surface 11 are at right angles to one another. The supporting section 6a has, opposite to the supporting surface 10, an underside 12 which is oriented preferably parallel thereto and which, in the mounted state of the drawer 1 and one of the guide unit and the drawer rail 3, rests flat in a loose manner against the supporting side 3a of the drawer rail.

The receiving device 6 has a recess 6c that is coordinated with the section 5b, in particular, in terms of the retaining function thereof for the hook element 5 by its position on the receiving device 6 and the dimensions of the section 5b of the hook element 5. In the mounted state for correct functioning, the section 5b engages in the recess 6c so as to one of rest lightly therein and be retained in a clamping manner therein. The drawer 1 can be released or removed from the drawer rail 3, from the fitted or retained position on the drawer rail 3, shown in FIG. 1, by way of comparatively moderate forces which can be applied readily by a person, by pulling the drawer 1 forward, together with the receiving device 6, in the direction P1, optionally with a slight upward tilting movement of the drawer 1.

The attachment means 8 are configured here, for example, in the form of an adhesive layer 9, the thickness “a” of which is not illustrated to scale but in an enlarged manner in FIG. 2. The attachment means 8 can be provided in a prepared manner prior to the connection of the drawer rail 3 and the drawer 1 to one of the receiving device 6 and the drawer rear side 2.

Advantageously, the adhesive layer 9 is provided over the entire surface or in a closed manner over virtually the entire vertical height of the wall surface 11 on the rear section 6b of the receiving device 6 that is directed toward the drawer rear side 2, between the rear section 6b and the correspondingly opposite section of the drawer rear side 2.

The receiving device 6 is generally coordinated with the drawer rail 3 and the drawer 1 such that, when the drawer 1 is in the state in which it is fitted in the correct position on the drawer rail 3 according to FIG. 1, first all opposing surfaces of the receiving device 6 or more specifically of the rear section 6b, which in FIG. 1 is the wall surface 11 and the drawer 1, which is the drawer rear side 2, are oriented in a manner parallel to one another and, in addition, opposing outer sides or surfaces of the supporting section 6a, which in this case is the supporting surface 10, are oriented in a manner parallel to the underside 7 of the drawer 1. The supporting section 6a furthermore has an underside 12 which extends in a manner parallel to the supporting side 3a of the drawer rail 3 in the mounted state. Thus, one of the attachment means 8 and the adhesive layer 9 is configured in a regular manner with a uniform layer thickness “a” advantageously over the entire planar extent.

In an optionally provided deviation from the parallel arrangement of the surfaces in question, which in practice can never be ruled out or is optionally even deliberately established, the layer thickness of the adhesive layer 9 can compensate for this deviation from a parallel arrangement to a small degree on account of a certain flexibility or toughness of the adhesive material. Advantageously, the attachment function of the adhesive layer is retained here.

During the mounting for the first time, according to the present invention, of the guide unit on the drawer 1, the receiving device 6 is present on the drawer rail 3, via the section 5b that is retained in an engaging manner in the recess 6c and is fixed in the correct position.

When the drawer 1 is guided for the first time onto the drawer rail 3 together with the receiving device 6 plugged onto the drawer rail 3, on account of the attachment means 8 that acts in an automatically connecting manner, the receiving device 6 is firmly connected to the drawer 1, or the adhesive connection is formed with the adhesive layer 9 between the drawer rear side 2 and the wall surface 11 of the receiving device 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

• 1 Drawer
• 2 Drawer rear side
• 3 Drawer rail
• 3a Supporting side
• 4 End region of the drawer rail
• 5 Hook element
• 5a Section
• 5b Section
• 6 Receiving device
• 6a Supporting section
• 6b Rear section
• 6c Recess
• 7 Underside of the drawer
• 8 Attachment means
• 9 Adhesive layer
• 10 Supporting surface
• 11 Wall surface
• 12 Underside

Claims

1. An arrangement for fitting a guide unit on a first furniture part which is guidable in movement with respect to a second furniture part by way of the mounted guide unit, the guide unit comprising: a fixed rail that is arrangeable on the second furniture part, and a movement rail that is arrangeable on the first furniture part, wherein the movement rail is equipped at a rear end with hook means for fixing the first furniture part, the hook means are configured, in a mounted state on the first furniture part, to engage in a receiving device of the arrangement, the receiving device being assignable to the first furniture part for coupling to the hook means on the guide unit prior to the guide unit being fitted on the first furniture part for the first time, and the receiving device is configured such that, when the guide unit, together with the receiving device coupled thereto, is being fitted, an automatic connection is able to be established between the receiving device and the first furniture part, when contact between the receiving device and the first furniture part is made for the first time, via attachment means that act between the first furniture part and the receiving device and are provided thereon.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means are configured such that, when the guide unit and the first furniture part are oriented in a correct position with respect to one another, the automatic connection between the receiving device and the first furniture part is established.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises an adhesive layer.

4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving device has abutment sections that are designed in a manner coordinated with the first furniture part, said abutment sections being brought into abutment in a matching manner against counterpart sections in a rear region of the first furniture part when the guide unit and the first furniture part are oriented in a correct position with respect to one another.

5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving device has a recess that is designed in a manner coordinated with the guide unit, said recess being configured for engaging the hook means of the movement rail when the guide unit and the first furniture part are oriented in a correct position with respect to one another.

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess and the hook means are coordinated with one another such that, when the receiving device is in a coupled state to the guide unit, a retaining force that retains the hook means in the recess is less than a connecting force established between the receiving device and the first furniture part via the attachment means.

7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving device further comprises an adjustment device having a receiving element in which the hook means engages when the guide unit is in a fitted state on the first furniture part, and the receiving element on the adjustment device is adjustable in at least one spatial direction.

8. A guide unit for a first furniture part which is guidable in movement with respect to a second furniture part of a piece of furniture via the mounted guide unit, wherein the hook means, in a mounted state on the first furniture part, engages in a receiving device that is assignable to the first furniture part, in the arrangement as claimed in claim 1.

9. A piece of furniture having a first furniture part which is guidable in movement with respect to a second furniture part of the piece of furniture via a guide unit mounted on the piece of furniture, wherein the guide unit is configured as claimed in claim 8.

10. A method for fitting a guide unit on a first furniture part comprising: fitting the guide unit on a second furniture part in order to guide a movement of the first furniture part with respect to the second furniture part, wherein the guide unit comprises a fixed rail that is arrangeable on the second furniture part and a movement rail that is arrangeable on the first furniture part, wherein the movement rail is equipped at a rear end with hook means for fixing the first furniture part, and the hook means are configured, in a mounted state on the first furniture part, to engage in a receiving device, said receiving device being assignable to the first furniture part for coupling to the hook means on the guide unit prior to the guide unit being fitted on the first furniture part for the first time, and the receiving device is fitted releasably, and wherein when the guide unit, together with the receiving device coupled thereto, is being fitted, an automatic connection is established between the receiving device and the first furniture part, when contact is made for the first time, via attachment means that act between the first furniture part and the receiving device and are provided thereon.