Apparatus for Controlling the Movement of a Rail Guide, Rail Guide, and Furniture

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2024/060227 filed Apr. 16, 2024, which designated the United States, and claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119 (a)-(d) of German Application No. 10 2023 110 428.4 filed Apr. 24, 2023, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the movement of a rail guide, rail guide and furniture.

Apparatuses for controlling the movement of a rail guide for furniture parts are known. This applies to rail guides such as a partial-extension runner or a full-extension runner. Movement control apparatuses are used for force-assisted and/or damped movement of a moving rail of the partial-or full-extension runner, for example. In this case, the apparatus serves to influence the movement of the furniture part relative to a furniture carcass on which the furniture part is mounted via the rail guide. For example, furniture parts of this kind are linearly movable furniture parts such as drawers, which are movably mounted on the furniture carcass, generally via two rail guides of the same type.

It is the object of the present invention to provide alternatives for controlling the movement of rail guides in the furniture sector, in particular, an alternative apparatus for controlling the movement of a rail guide.

The present invention proceeds from an apparatus for controlling the movement of a rail guide which comprises a fixed rail, connectable to a furniture carcass, and a moving rail, couplable to a furniture part, wherein the moving rail is linearly movable in an opening direction and in a closing direction relative to the fixed rail, wherein the apparatus is designed, when arranged on the rail guide, for force-assisted movement of the moving rail out of a closed position of the moving rail in the opening direction, wherein the apparatus has an energy accumulator, a main component and a slide that is movable with respect to the main component, wherein the slide is movable in the opening direction under the effect of the loaded energy accumulator and, when the apparatus is mounted on the rail guide, takes the moving rail along in the opening direction, and wherein the apparatus has a locking arrangement with a cardioid and a locking member that can be brought into contact along the cardioid, so that, when the energy accumulator is loaded, movement of the slide in the opening direction is blocked in a locking position of the apparatus. The movement of the moving rail in the closing direction is opposite to the movement in the opening direction.

By way of example, the locking member is a component mounted on the main component. By way of example, the locking member is designed as a control pin. By way of example, the locking member is an end portion of an elongate component. By way of example, the component which comprises the locking member is an elongate component which is bent, e.g. multiple times. By way of example, the component which comprises the locking member is a bent wire component. By way of example, the locking member is an end portion of a wire component which is bent at an angle. By way of example, the locking member is mounted on the main body in a manner that allows elastic deflection. By way of example, the locking member is movable in an elastically deflectable manner, e.g. out of a basic position on the main component into a deflected position and can return automatically to the basic position. By way of example, the elastically achievable positions of the locking member are defined by contact of the locking member with the cardioid, e.g. in the case of a movement or of a position of the slide relative to the main component.

By way of example, the cardioid is a guide track. By way of example, the cardioid is a guide track, wherein mechanical guidance of the locking member along the guide track is set up. By way of example, the locking member is held fast at a retaining point on the guide track, wherein the locking member is held fast in a blocking position of the slide. By way of example, the slide is secured in the blocking position against further movement in the opening direction of the slide relative to the main component or the moving rail. A slight movement of the slide to cancel the blocking is possible in the closing direction to give the touch-latch function.

By way of example, the main component is secured in a fixed position on a rail of the rail guide in the assembled state.

By way of example, the blocking position is held by the action of the loaded energy accumulator on the slide. It is only by external movement of the slide in a closing direction that the blocking position of the locking member can be canceled. During this process, the locking member comes out of the retaining point, with the result that the locking member moves further along the guide track. The movement in the closing direction of the slide in the locking position is accomplished, for example, by a user pressing on the furniture part, wherein the moving rail takes the slide along in the closing direction.

By way of example, the cardioid is designed for sliding guidance of the locking member along the cardioid. By way of example, the cardioid is designed as a guide. By way of example, the cardioid is designed as a guide track. By way of example, the cardioid is designed as a slotted guide. By way of example, the cardioid is designed as a cardioid slotted guide. By way of example, the cardioid is designed in such a way as to be raised or lowered relative to adjacent portions. By way of example, the cardioid is designed as a raised or lowered contour relative to adjacent portions. By way of example, the cardioid has a width which is matched to the width of the locking member. By way of example, the cardioid has a depth which is matched to the longitudinal extent of the locking member.

By way of example, the apparatus is designed as an opening apparatus and/or as an ejection apparatus for a furniture part, e.g. as a drawer opening apparatus or as a drawer ejection apparatus.

By way of example, the apparatus comprises the main component, the slide, the energy accumulator, the locking member and a pawl member. By way of example, these elements are each in one piece, for example, e.g. capable of releasable assembly with respect to the apparatus.

By way of example, the main component comprises an attachment housing, which is releasably connectable to the rest of the main component, for example. By way of example, the attachment housing comprises an attachment portion for a gear element. By way of example, the locking member is received, e.g. mounted, on the attachment housing. By way of example, a bent wire component is received on the attachment housing or on the rest of the main component. By way of example, the wire component comprises the locking member, e.g. as a bent-over end of the wire component. By way of example, another bent-over end of the wire component is attached firmly but, for example, releasably to a mounting location on the main component.

By way of example, the position of the attachment housing is adjustable relative to the main component. By way of example, the position of the attachment housing is adjustable in the closing direction and/or in the opening direction relative to the main component. By way of example, the position of the attachment housing is adjustable in a continuously variable manner, e.g. in the closing direction and/or in the opening direction, relative to the main component. By way of example, the position of the attachment housing relative to the main component can be adjusted manually or without a tool, e.g. by turning a knurled screw, which is rotatably mounted on the main component, for example.

By way of example, the locking member is designed as an end portion of a wire component. By way of example, the locking member is designed as a portion of an elastically deformable wire element. By way of example, the locking member is designed as a portion of a wire element, wherein the wire element comprises a straight portion and a bent portion, which are connected to one another, e.g. integrally.

A rail guide which is designed as a partial-extension runner comprises a fixed rail, connectable to a furniture carcass, and a moving rail, couplable to the furniture part. By way of example, the fixed rail and the moving rail can be moved in a telescopic fashion relative to one another.

In the case of a full-extension runner, there is a middle rail between the fixed rail and the moving rail. By way of example, the fixed rail, the middle rail and the moving rail can be moved in a telescopic fashion relative to one another.

In general, the rails of a rail guide, of a partial-extension runner or of a full-extension runner, are movable relative to one another by way of bearing assemblies, e.g. comprising rolling-element bearing mechanisms, such as ball and/or roller bearing elements. The bearing assemblies act between adjacent rails of the rail guide.

In the case, for example, of items of furniture with relatively large frontal areas, such as relatively wide drawers, which are guided on a furniture carcass via two rail guides, and which are opened by way of a touch-latch functionality, a synchronous touch-latch release is set up, for example. Accordingly, the locking position of the apparatus can be canceled by a movement of the slide in the closing direction.

The heart of the present invention consists in that the slide comprises the cardioid.

An alternative apparatus is thereby made available. By way of example, the cardioid is moved together with the slide. By way of example, the slide is integral, wherein the cardioid is designed as a material depression in the slide. By way of example, the cardioid is formed on a face side of the slide. By way of example, the cardioid is formed on an upper side or a lower side of the slide, based on an orientation in the mounted state of the apparatus on the rail guide mounted on the item of furniture.

By way of example, the cardioid is designed as a curve in the form of a closed loop. One side of the cardioid is open for the engagement of the locking member in the cardioid. By way of example, the cardioid is of recessed design, e.g. in the form of a track. By way of example, the cardioid is in the form of a groove. By way of example, a depth and/or a width of the cardioid is matched to the dimension of the locking member. By way of example, the locking member engages with little play in the cardioid. By way of example, the locking member engages with little play in the cardioid and is movably guided when the cardioid and the locking member move relative to one another.

By way of example, a bearing location of the locking member or of a locking component on which the locking member is present remains in a fixed position on the main component. In this case, the locking member remains in a fixed position. By way of example, the position of the locking member relative to the cardioid is adjustable. By way of example, the locking member has a portion which is guided along the cardioid, which is movable with the slide. By way of example, the portion of the locking member adopts a retained position when the energy accumulator is loaded. By way of example, the cardioid has a retention location for engagement of the locking member in the locking position. By way of example, the locking member is held in the locking position by a force. By way of example, the force which holds the locking member in the locking position is supplied by the loaded energy accumulator. By way of example, the force which holds the locking member in the locking position is a compression force or a tensile force.

By way of example, the energy accumulator comprises a compression or tension spring, e.g. a helical spring.

By way of example, the apparatus is formed from plastics material. By way of example, the locking member is formed from a metal material, and the rest of the apparatus is formed from a plastics material.

By way of example, the apparatus is formed as an elongate component.

By way of example, the gear element has a mating gear contour which is formed on the outer circumference of the gear element, for example. By way of example, the gear element has a mating gear contour which is present on the outer circumference of the gear element. By way of example, the mating gear contour is present as an enveloping form of an external cylinder shape on the gear element. By way of example, the gear element has a mating gear contour which is designed, for example, as an external toothed contour, such as an external pinion contour.

By way of example, the gear element has a mating gear contour which is formed over at least approximately half the width of the gear element, based on an axis of rotation about which the gear element is rotatable relative to the main component when the slide moves linearly on the main component.

By way of example, a synchronization device having a connecting element is provided, wherein the connecting element is designed to connect the apparatus to another, corresponding apparatus, wherein the two apparatuses are present in such a way as to be spaced apart, wherein the two apparatuses are designed, when connected, for controlling the movement of two rail guides for a shared furniture part, and wherein the connecting element connects the two slides of the two apparatuses to one another in such a way that synchronized cancellation of the blocked position of the slide of one apparatus and of a slide of the other apparatus is enabled, wherein a linear movement of the slide and a rotary movement of the connecting element about its longitudinal axis take place in a mechanically coupled manner.

By way of example, there is joint movement control of the two spaced apparatuses via the synchronization device.

By way of example, the two apparatuses are designed for arrangement on respective associated rail guides, wherein the two rail guides serve for the movement of the same furniture part.

By way of example, the connecting element is releasably connectable to a gear element. By way of example, the gear element is rotatably mounted on the apparatus, e.g. over a partial circumference in the manner of a sliding bearing arrangement. By way of example, the connecting element is connectable to the respective gear element for conjoint rotation therewith, or is connected to the gear element in the synchronized state of use of the two apparatuses. By way of example, the gear element has a mating gear contour which is designed in such a way as to be matched to the gear contour on the slide.

By way of example, the gear element is designed as a separate component which has the mating gear contour on the outside. By way of example, the mating gear contour is designed as a pinion. By way of example, the mating gear contour meshes with the gear contour on the slide or of the slide. By way of example, the gear element has the mating gear contour which is in geared connection with the gear contour on the slide. By way of example, the gear element is mounted on the main component and is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the gear element.

By way of example, the connecting element, e.g. a longitudinal end such as a longitudinal end portion of the connecting element, is releasably connectable to the gear element.

By way of example, the mating gear contour on the gear element is a toothed contour, e.g. an external cylindrical toothed contour, e.g. a pinion contour. By way of example, the gear element comprises a pinion, e.g. a circumferential external toothed contour.

By way of example, the connecting element is a rigid shaft, such as a rotating shaft, e.g. a rod element. By way of example, the connecting element has a substantially cylindrical external shape with two contours extending in the longitudinal direction, e.g. two bead-type, e.g. identical, raised portions, which are diametrically opposite.

By way of example, a first longitudinal end of the connecting element is releasably connectable to a gear element which is present on one apparatus, wherein a second longitudinal end of the connecting element is releasably connectable to the other apparatus, e.g. releasably connectable to a corresponding gear element on the other apparatus. Accordingly, such an arrangement has precisely two apparatuses with the same action. By way of example, each of the two apparatuses is present on an associated rail guide. By way of example, precisely two rail guides for the displaceable movement of the furniture part relative to a furniture carcass are provided in this case on a furniture part.

By way of example, the gear element is mounted on the main component, e.g. on an attachment housing of the main component. By way of example, the attachment housing is releasably connectable to the rest of the main component.

By way of example, the gear element is mounted on the main component in such a way as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation of the gear element. By way of example, the mounted gear element rotates about an axis of rotation which coincides with the axis of rotation of the connecting element connected to the gear element. By way of example, the axis of rotation of the connecting element coincides with its longitudinal axis.

By way of example, the gear element has the mating gear contour which is in geared connection with the gear contour, such as a toothed contour, on the slide. By way of example, the mating gear contour of the gear element meshes with the gear contour on the slide. By way of example, a pinion contour of the gear element meshes with a rack contour on the slide. The gear contour, e.g. the rack contour, can be connected integrally to the remaining part of the slide, or the gear contour, e.g. the rack contour, is formed by a component connected to the remaining part of the slide.

In principle, other gear mechanisms are also conceivable, e.g. a friction-surface gear.

By way of example, the gear element with the mating gear contour is positively coupled in terms of gearing to the gear contour, e.g. the rack contour of the slide. By way of example, the geared coupling acts in both directions of movement of the rotating gear element and of the movable slide.

By way of example, when the slide moves linearly in a first direction, e.g. in the opening direction, the gear element of the associated apparatus and thus the connecting element connected to the gear element rotates in a first direction of rotation. In this case, the other gear element on the other apparatus is also rotated correspondingly.

By way of example, when the slide moves linearly in a second direction, e.g. in the closing direction, which is opposite to the first direction of linear movement of the slide, the gear element of the associated apparatus and thus the connecting element connected to the gear element rotates in a second direction of rotation, which is opposite to the first direction of rotation.

Thus, both apparatuses or both slides are moved linearly in a corresponding manner and thus in synchronism for the simultaneous cancellation of the locking position of both apparatuses, even if the pressure force applied from the outside acts in the region of a frontal area of the furniture part which is closer to one of the two apparatuses.

By way of example, the slide comprises a gear contour, wherein the gear contour is designed for the geared movement coupling of the linear movement of the slide and of a rotary movement of the connecting element about its longitudinal axis.

The gear element is present between the gear contour and the connecting element, e.g. for the purpose of movement transmission of the linear movement of the slide and the rotary movement of the connecting element.

By way of example, the gear contour is present in a fixed manner on the slide, e.g. present in a rigid manner, e.g. integrally.

By way of example, the slide is designed as an integral component comprising the gear contour. By way of example, the gear contour can be moved linearly together with the-or on the-slide. By way of example, the gear contour can be moved linearly backward and forward together with the slide, for example. By way of example, the slide and thus the gear contour, e.g. a rack portion, is capable of being moved linearly backward and forward or is linearly movable backward and forward relative to the main component.

By way of example, the slide is capable of being moved linearly backward and forward while being guided on the main component. By way of example, the slide has a length which is less than a length of the main component. By way of example, the longitudinal direction of the slide and the longitudinal direction of the main component coincide. By way of example, the direction of movement of the slide is in the longitudinal direction of the slide or in the longitudinal direction of the main component. By way of example, the longitudinal direction of the slide coincides with the longitudinal direction of the apparatus, with the opening direction and with the closing direction of the moving rail.