Base for a Drawer

The present application is a continuation of International Application PCT/AT2024/060039 filed on Feb. 8, 2024. Thus, all of the subject matter of International Application PCT/AT2024/060039 is incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to a drawer base for a drawer. Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement of two drawer side walls for a drawer, each comprising a fastening device for connecting a drawer base to the drawer side wall, and such a drawer base. Furthermore, the invention relates to a drawer with such an arrangement and a method for manufacturing such a drawer base, as well as a method for assembling such an arrangement.

In the furniture sector, it is usually necessary to define the drawer base according to the requirements profile—in particular load-bearing capacity for the selected material—and the drawer side wall—in particular with regard to the recess for the drawer base—according to the dimensions of the drawer base. This results in an undesirably wide range of types, both in terms of varying drawer bases and different drawer side walls.

A drawer base that differs from a drawer base conventionally used in the furniture industry is already known from document WO 2012/122575 A1, wherein the drawer base has a lower base plate and an upper base plate with a reduced thickness of the drawer base in the area of a side surface for bearing on a web of a drawer side wall.

The disadvantage of the current state of the art is that the resource requirements—both in terms of the necessary production lines and the material requirements—are very high.

The document EP 2 597 997 A1 discloses a drawer side wall that differs from a conventional drawer side wall in the furniture industry, wherein tabs connected to the frame via webs are provided in the fastening devices for the drawer base in order to compensate for tolerance variations in drawer bases with reduced thickness. However, for a given drawer base, the tab must be dimensioned specifically to the thickness of the drawer base, which does not reduce the range of types, whereby the dimensioning of the tab is limited by the sheet thickness of the drawer side wall. In addition, the tabs must be adapted to the thickness of the drawer base, which may not be known at the time of production of the drawer side wall, in an additional manufacturing step, whereby in particular no flexible retrofitting can be guaranteed. In addition, the dimensions of the tab must be precisely adapted to the thickness of the drawer base, whereby there is a risk of insufficient play compensation and undesirable deformation due to the clamping process, which makes disassembly difficult or prevents the drawer base from being reused.

The objective technical task of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved drawer base compared to the prior art, as well as an arrangement, a drawer, and methods for manufacturing or assembling them, in which the disadvantages of the prior art are at least partially eliminated and which are characterized in particular by a reduction in the resources required and the range of types required.

Accordingly, the invention provides that the drawer base comprises at least one spacer which is arranged on the drawer base, preferably by at least one fixing means, in such a way that a first thickness of the drawer base in the vertical direction when the drawer base is in use is increased by the at least one spacer in the region of at least two, in particular three or four, side surfaces of the drawer base in a central region, preferably in the region of a center point of the drawer base, and the second thickness is less than 16 mm, preferably less than 12 mm, and particularly preferably less than 8 mm.

This makes it possible to adjust the drawer base in the area of the side surfaces, which are intended for connection to the drawer side wall, to the dimensions of existing types with a specific internal spacing of fastening devices via the at least one spacer. This allows, for example, existing drawer side walls to be retrofitted with drawer bases that require less material in their manufacture. Thanks to the underlay, drawer bases can be continuously adapted to any drawer side walls by means of continuous thickening and flexibly adjusted by varying spacers, whereby conventional—possibly oversized—material thicknesses of 16 mm can be optimized as a second thickness to suit the respective requirements.

For example, the drawer base can be supplied with a set consisting of a plate-shaped material or the previous drawer base together with the at least one spacer in order to carry out the assembly of the drawer base on site. The at least one spacer can, for example, have the dual function of edge protection for the plate-shaped material of the drawer base in the transport position. Conventional drawer base thicknesses of 16 mm for the first and second thicknesses can be used variably where the drawer base has to withstand a high degree of stress, whereby a lower second thickness can be used for other requirements without having to provide a new drawer side wall or change the drawer side wall. The drawer base is particularly preferred for containers such as drawers with at least one side wall and/or rear wall and/or front wall.

Although the at least one spacer is part of the drawer base to be arranged on the drawer side wall, the at least one spacer does not have to be connected to a fixing means with a plate-shaped material of the drawer base, whereby a permanent connection or a connection that can be released with the aid of tools is not mandatory. For example, the at least one spacer—preferably as a clamping means—can rest on the plate-shaped material of the drawer base during the assembly process of the drawer, or vice versa. For example, the at least one spacer (or the plate-shaped material) can be arranged at least in some areas in a fastening device of the drawer side wall and then the plate-shaped material (or the at least one spacer) can be arranged at least in some areas within the fastening device below or above the at least one spacer.

Another positive feature is that less material is required for the drawer base, and the second thickness can be optimized in the center area. For example, a standard second thickness of 16 mm for fastening devices on drawer side walls with an internal spacing of 16 mm can be achieved with a second thickness of only 8 mm and a fold as a spacer in the side wall area to the previous 16 mm. In addition, by means of a further (alternating) fold in the area of the side surface, the drawer base can be used with internal distances of 24 mm. The internal distance of 24 mm can be achieved in a similar manner by folding a drawer base with a material thickness of 12 mm. This saves costs and material.

On the other hand, increasing the initial thickness in the area of the side surface ensures a more stable and secure attachment to the drawer side wall. In general, any deficits in the hardness or strength of the drawer base in the center area (without adjusting the connection point to the drawer side wall) can be compensated for, for example, by a decorative layer with different material characteristics or struts/reinforcements.

This means that the second thickness can be individually adjusted to the requirements of the drawer, and the first thickness can be variably adjusted by dimensioning the spacers or by the number of folds (generally a multiple of the material thickness). For example, adhesives (such as glue), screw connections, or plug connections (such as dowels) can be provided as fasteners for drawer base segments of any thickness—especially in the area of the side surfaces—whereby the edge thicknesses of the drawer base can be increased in steady or continuous steps by means of the material pieces. The advantage here is that the pieces of material can have a material thickness that differs from that of the (unfolded) drawer base, so that the first thickness is generally not limited to a multiple of the second thickness.

In addition, the drawer base can be stacked particularly efficiently for transport purposes, which reduces both the transport weight and the transport storage space required in relation to conventional drawer bases due to the compact transport position. Furthermore, packaging and assembly are made easier, with the drawer base offering both economic and ecological advantages over solutions known from the prior art.

Furthermore, the range of types can be reduced particularly favorably with regard to the drawer side walls, whereby, for example, only one type of drawer side wall is required to cover different load ranges or drawer weight classes.

Despite the thin material thickness in the center area, a sufficiently secure connection to the drawer side wall can be ensured with regard to fixation. The type of fastening of the drawer base is generally arbitrary, whereby, for example, screw connections, plastic deformations (such as necking, clinching, toxing, or the like) etc. can be used.

The drawer base is preferably made of wood-like materials or wood, although other materials—such as plastic or similar materials—can also be used. The drawer base may have various coatings or applied/bonded layers, although these are not essential.

The area of the side surface can be defined, for example, by the thickness and is preferably essentially twice the material material thickness. The relative difference in thickness between an edge area or peripheral area and a center of the drawer base in the state of use in a position installed in the drawer can be considered relevant, whereby the center point can be defined by symmetrical lines of the drawer base. In general, it is sufficient for the central area to be closer to the center of gravity of the drawer base than the peripheral area or for the area of the side surface to be closer to a front outer contour of the drawer base than the central area. For stability reasons, bracing or thickening may be provided at the center point, whereby the first thickness can be defined as the material thickness of the drawer base without the bracing or thickening or in the adjacent area.

As stated at the outset, protection is also sought for an arrangement comprising two drawer side walls for a drawer, preferably U-shaped and/or metal frames, each comprising a preferably U-shaped fastening device for connecting a drawer base to the drawer side panel and a drawer base which is arranged at least in part within the fastening devices.

The fastening devices can be formed, for example, by the drawer side wall itself or the frame as such (e.g., by means of a profile) or by a furniture fitting arranged on the drawer side wall (or at least integrated in some areas).

An internal distance of 16 mm has become established as the standard internal distance between the fastening devices for drawers. A second thickness of 8 mm with a first thickness of 16 mm has proven to provide sufficient stability. The drawer base according to the invention allows conventional drawer side walls to be equipped with a large number of different drawer bases. Drawer bases with a second thickness of 13 mm are also common, whereby the internal spacing essentially corresponds to the 13 mm of the drawer base. Preferably, a second thickness is a maximum of 10 mm or 8 mm, whereby a spacer can be, for example, 3 mm or 5 mm n order to be used with such a fastening device. Second thicknesses of a maximum of 5 mm are also possible. According to the invention, for example, in addition to the advantage of retrofitability, the stability of a 13 mm drawer base can be increased with a spacer for a fastening device with 16 mm, and material can be saved with a fastening device with 16 mm by reducing the second thickness. The second thickness is particularly preferred to be essentially 13 mm or essentially 10 mm or essentially 5 mm.

As stated at the outset, protection is also sought for a method for manufacturing such a drawer base, wherein the following method steps are carried out: A plate-shaped starting material is provided and the at least one spacer is arranged in the region of at least two side surfaces of the drawer base so that the drawer base becomes thicker in the region of the at least two side surfaces relative to a central region.

Manufacturing methods for drawer bases are also conceivable which have a thickening of the material thickness in the edge area on only one side, for example in order to reduce the range of drawer fronts or drawer rear walls. In general, increases in thickness in the peripheral area of different side surfaces may vary in order to combine different types of drawer side walls, drawer fronts, or drawer rear walls, for example.

As stated at the outset, protection is also sought for a method for assembling such an arrangement, wherein the following method steps are carried out:

It is particularly preferred that the at least one spacer:

It is preferred that the at least one spacer is in the form of at least two folds, with which the drawer base can be transferred or is transferred from a transport state to a state of use in such a way that, in the area of at least two, in particular three or four, side surfaces of the drawer base in the state of use of the drawer base, the first thickness in the vertical direction in the state of use of the drawer base is greater than the second thickness in the vertical direction in the state of use of the drawer base in the central region, preferably in the region of the center point, of the drawer base.

The state of use is defined by the folded position in which the drawer base can be mounted on a drawer side wall. An unfolded position (generally essentially a flat panel) can be defined as the transport state. If the folds are fixed to the drawer base, the drawer base has been transferred from the transport state to the state of use. If the folds are unfolded or can be unfolded, the transport state can be transferred to the state of use. This allows a particularly favorable transport position to be achieved.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least two folds are designed as 180° folds or as 90° folds, wherein preferably a plurality of alternating 180° folds are provided per side surface and/or the at least two folds are fixed to each other or to the drawer base by means of an adhesive bond.

A 180° fold can ensure a particularly secure connection to the drawer side wall. A 90° fold can be used to generate a large increase in the first thickness compared to the second thickness with a single fold, while also achieving consistent or continuous first thicknesses, regardless of the material thickness of the drawer base.

The adhesive bond prevents unwanted unfolding of the layers and also effectively inhibits movement between layers.

Advantageously, the at least two folds are designed as hinged connections, preferably without hinges, in the form of a film hinge, preferably an adhesive hinge or adhesive layer, particularly preferably a hot melt adhesive or PU-based hot melt adhesive, and/or in the form of a flexible layer, preferably an elastic film, and/or in the form of residual material of the drawer base formed by milling or recessing in the drawer base. Preferably, at least one articulated connection is arranged on the outside on the side surface of the drawer base or between layers of the drawer base formed by the fold.

In this context, the term “hingeless” means that no mechanical component such as a metal hinge is required, but rather that the articulated connection can be generated by the layer structure itself—via the film hinge, the flexible layer, or the milled joint as an articulated connection.

If there are several folds, one of the hinged connections can also be oriented toward the center point. With a 90° fold, the hinged connection can also be designed transversely—especially at 45°—away from the drawer base.

It has proven advantageous that the drawer base has a projection or a chamfer or a groove in the area of at least two folds, on which the hinged connection is arranged at least in some areas.

This makes it possible to achieve folds with the desired relative alignment of segments of the drawer base. It is also possible to ensure that layers of the drawer base lie flat, especially when in use. Alternatively, or in addition, projections, chamfers, or grooves can be used to securely connect or wedge the layers together, for example, using separate fixing devices such as T-nuts.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first thickness in a drawer base plane extending from the side surface toward the center of the drawer base extends at most 15%, preferably at most 10%, particularly preferably at most 5%, of a width of the drawer base and/or at most 10 cm, preferably a maximum of 5 cm, and particularly preferably a maximum of 2 cm.

The extension of the layers generated by the spacer toward the center point is generally arbitrary, whereby shorter layer lengths result in greater material savings and longer layer lengths ensure secure connection to the drawer side wall. For example, the width of the drawer base can be between 400 mm and 800 mm, whereby widths are usually adapted to the internal dimensions of 600 mm of a furniture carcass. The spacer can generally be designed as a single piece (across several side surfaces) or as multiple pieces (relative to one side surface).

The spacer can, for example, be a metal bracket or a wooden strip, whereby the drawer base is preferably made of hardboard, chipboard, or wood.

It is preferable that the increase in the first thickness relative to the second thickness is limited locally to the edge area—in the area of the side surface—whereby, for example, a folding of the drawer base into the middle area or over an extension at approximately the height of the drawer side wall preferably does not correspond to the edge area of the drawer base.

An advantageous variant of the present invention consists in the drawer base comprising a carrier layer and a decorative layer, preferably arranged in areas and/or glued on, and/or an adhesive layer or film layer, preferably arranged in areas.

The material thickness or second thickness of the drawer base does not generally include any decorative layer, adhesive layer or film layer that may be present, as these can be regarded as separate component parts. The thickness of these layers (in particular to enable the hingeless articulated connection) should preferably be many times thinner than the material thickness of the drawer base.

The decorative layer can be used to create an aesthetically appealing look in the interior of a drawer. The decorative layer can also have different material characteristics to the drawer base, such as hardness or strength, in order to increase the service life of the drawer through increased stability, for example.

It is particularly preferred that the first thickness is substantially 100%, preferably 200% or 300%, greater than the second thickness and/or the first thickness is between 10 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 15 mm and 20 mm, and/or the second thickness is between 5 mm and 16 mm, preferably between 8 mm and 12 mm.

However, thickness increases of less than 100% or, for example, between 100% and 200% are also possible, particularly with 90° folds or glued pieces of material.

A spacer can generally be used to increase the second thickness by 3 mm or 5 mm or between 30% and 60% of the material thickness.

In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one spacer or at least one of the at least two folds, preferably in the case of two adjacent folds or spacers of adjacent side surfaces in the region of a corner edge of the drawer base, extends only partially across a side surface of the drawer base.

This prevents spacers (such as folds) from colliding during use or with other components such as furniture fittings, coupling devices for guide mechanisms, etc.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first thickness is adapted via the at least one spacer to correspond to the drawer side walls in such a way that the drawer base essentially corresponds to a vertically oriented internal spacing of the fastening devices when the arrangement is in use.

The term “essentially” should be interpreted here as meaning that there is excess material for a force- or form-fitting connection (e.g., due to barbs for fixing) or play for user-friendly installation on the drawer side panel (e.g., compensatable by fastening means or plastic deformation). Preferably, excess or play shall not exceed 10% or 5% of the material thickness of the drawer base at the center point.