Sliding element guide system

Abstract

A sliding element guide system for furniture is provided, including a cabinet unit rail, central rail, sliding element rail, and at least one carriage. The cabinet unit rail, central rail, and sliding element rail are mounted to be movable in relation to one another. The system also includes two identical synchronization wheels that synchronize movements of elements of the system. The two identical synchronization wheels are rotatably mounted on a vertically oriented central rail side wall and extend horizontally therefrom via a pin.

Claims

1. A sliding element linear guide system for a furniture item or a domestic appliance, the sliding element linear guide system comprising: a cabinet unit rail; a central rail; a sliding element rail; at least one carriage including bearing elements; and two identical synchronization wheels, each being spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the central rail, and each being rotatably mounted on a vertically oriented central rail side wall via a respective pin extending horizontally from the vertically oriented central rail side wall, so that the two identical synchronization wheels are present and mutually spaced apart on parallel side wall portions of the central rail, wherein the carriage comprises a first carriage associated with the cabinet unit rail and the central rail, and a second carriage associated with the sliding element rail, and wherein the cabinet unit rail, the central rail and the sliding element rail are movably mounted such that the cabinet unit rail, the central rail and the sliding element rail are moveable in relation to one another, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels synchronize a movement of the cabinet unit rail with a movement of the sliding element rail, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels are spaced apart on mutually opposite end sides of the central rail or on mutually opposite external sides of the central rail, wherein an internal angle α between a plane of extent of a central rail horizontal wall portion and a plane of extent of a central rail side wall portion is in a range of 30° to 70°, wherein a plane of extent of a raceway of a first sliding element rail side wall portion in relation to a plane of extent of a raceway of a second sliding element rail side wall portion encloses a sliding element rail angle δ, wherein the sliding element rail angle δ is in an angular range between 0° and 180°, and/or wherein a plane of extent of a raceway of a first cabinet unit rail side wall portion in relation to a plane of extent of a raceway of a second cabinet unit rail side wall portion encloses a cabinet unit rail angle β, wherein the cabinet unit rail angle β is in an angular range between 0° and 180°.

2. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels are gear wheels or friction wheels.

3. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels mounted on the central rail contact a raceway surface of a sliding element rail side wall portion and/or a raceway surface of a cabinet unit rail side wall portion.

4. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels have a curved shell face.

5. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels are pretensioned in a direction transverse to a direction of movement of the rails of the sliding element guide system.

6. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels are assembled to be movable on a rocker element disposed on a central rail side wall portion, whereby an equalization of tolerance is implemented.

7. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element rail side wall portion includes a raceway surface and/or the cabinet unit rail side wall portion includes a raceway surface.

8. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 7, wherein gear means comprising a rack is configured on the raceway surface of the sliding element rail side wall portion and/or on the raceway surface of the cabinet unit rail side wall portion.

9. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carriage comprises two carriages, and wherein the two identical synchronization wheels synchronize movement of the two carriages.

10. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels synchronize a movement of the central rail with a movement of the cabinet unit rail and/or a movement of the sliding element rail.

11. An item of furniture or domestic appliance having a sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1.

12. The sliding element linear guide system according to claim 1, wherein a first one of the respective pins extends from the central rail side wall in a first direction, and a second one of the respective pins extends from the central rail side wall portion in a second direction that is opposite with respect to the first direction and which is parallel therewith.

13. A sliding element linear guide system for a furniture item or a domestic appliance, the sliding element linear guide system comprising: a cabinet unit rail; a central rail; a sliding element rail; at least one carriage including bearing elements; and two identical synchronization wheels, each being spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the central rail, and each being rotatably mounted on a vertically oriented central rail side wall via a respective pin extending horizontally from the vertically oriented central rail side wall, so that the two identical synchronization wheels are present and mutually spaced apart on parallel side wall portions of the central rail, wherein the carriage comprises a first carriage associated with the cabinet unit rail and the central rail, and a second carriage associated with the sliding element rail, and wherein the cabinet unit rail, the central rail and the sliding element rail are movably mounted such that the cabinet unit rail, the central rail and the sliding element rail are moveable in relation to one another, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels synchronize a movement of the cabinet unit rail with a movement of the sliding element rail, wherein the two identical synchronization wheels are spaced apart on mutually opposite end sides of the central rail or on mutually opposite external sides of the central rail, wherein an internal angle α between a plane of extent of a central rail horizontal wall portion and a plane of extent of a central rail side wall portion is in a range of 30° to 70°, wherein a plane of extent of a raceway of a first sliding element rail side wall portion in relation to a plane of extent of a raceway of a second sliding element rail side wall portion encloses a sliding element rail angle δ, wherein the sliding element rail angle δ is in an angular range between 0° and 180°, and/or wherein a plane of extent of a raceway of a first cabinet unit rail side wall portion in relation to a plane of extent of a raceway of a second cabinet unit rail side wall portion encloses a cabinet unit rail angle β, wherein the cabinet unit rail angle β is in an angular range between 0° and 180°, and wherein the two identical synchronization wheels are gear wheels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail by means of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematically illustrated item of furniture according to the present invention in a perspective view from obliquely above, having a drawer received so as to be displaceable on the item of furniture;

(3) FIG. 2 shows in the cross section a perspective fragment of an item of furniture in the region of a drawer side, neighboring a furniture cabinet unit wall and a furniture cabinet unit base;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the fragment according to FIG. 2 in an end view;

(5) FIG. 4 shows an exploded illustration of a functional unit of a guide system;

(6) FIG. 5 shows an end portion of a central rail of the guide system according to FIG. 4, illustrated in a perspective manner;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a front view of parts of a guide system having a synchronization element;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view from the rear and obliquely from above of the guide system as per FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a perspective partial view from the rear and from obliquely above of parts of a guide system according to FIG. 6;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a front view of a further guide system having a further synchronization element;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a side view of the guide system as per FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a side view of the guide system as per FIG. 9, wherein the cabinet unit rail and the sliding element rail are shown to be transparent;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a front view of a further guide system having a further synchronization element;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a perspective partial view from the front and from obliquely above of the guide system according to FIG. 12;

(15) FIG. 14 shows a front view of a further variant of embodiment of a guide system;

(16) FIG. 15 shows a perspective partial view from the front and from obliquely above of the guide system according to FIG. 14; and

(17) FIG. 16 shows a perspective partial view from the front and from obliquely above of part of a further variant of a guide system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(18) The same reference signs are used to some extent hereunder for equivalent elements of different exemplary embodiments.

(19) FIG. 1 very schematically shows an item of furniture 1 according to the present invention in a use state, having a hollow cuboid furniture cabinet unit 2 and a sliding element configured as a drawer 3, wherein the drawer 3 is received so as to be displaceable on the furniture cabinet unit 2. The furniture cabinet unit 2 comprises two opposite vertical sidewalls 4 and 5, between which the drawer 3 by way of a guide system having telescopic guide means, for example, in an underfloor configuration, or a first rail full pullout 6 and a second rail full pullout 7, respectively, is capable of being pulled out from the furniture cabinet unit 2 in the horizontal direction according to P1 of a state accommodated in the interior of the furniture cabinet unit 2, and is capable of being pushed thereinto in the opposite direction according to P2. The drawer 3 in FIG. 1 is shown in the state in which the drawer 3 is pulled to a maximum, or completely, respectively, out of the interior of the furniture cabinet unit 2. The storage volume of the drawer 3 can thus be accessed in an almost unimpeded manner from above.

(20) When in each case, a rail part-pullout is used instead of the rail full pullouts 6, 7 on the drawer 3, the drawer 3, in the maximum pull-out state, cannot be pulled out of the interior of the furniture cabinet unit 2 in the direction P1 as far as is possible by way of the rail full pullouts 6, 7 according to the illustration in FIG. 1. The front element 12 in this case is closer to the open front side of the furniture cabinet unit 2 than is shown in the case of the drawer 3 according to FIG. 1.

(21) The rail full pullout 6 that is fastened to the inside on the side wall 4 is located opposite the rail full pullout 7 which is obscured in FIG. 1 and is indicated by dashed lines and which is fastened to the side wall 5 at the same vertical height as the rail full pullout 6.

(22) A further drawer which is not illustrated in FIG. 1 and which is guided in a corresponding manner by way of rail full pullouts 8 and 9 is capable of being accommodated in the furniture cabinet unit 2 above the drawer 3.

(23) The drawer 3 has opposite drawer side walls 10, 11 which in each case comprises a constructed cavity frame, for example. The drawer 3 moreover comprises a front element 12, a rear wall 13 that in the horizontal direction lies opposite the latter, and a horizontally extending drawer base 14 which reaches up to, or is connected to, respectively, the drawer side walls 10, 11, the front element 12, and the rear wall 13.

(24) FIGS. 2 and 3 in the region of a cabinet unit side wall 5 show a fragment of a drawer 3 which in this case of an embodiment has cavity frames, having a drawer base 14 and a drawer side wall 11 that is configured as a cavity frame 15, and a rear wall 13. The drawer 3 is received by way of two functional units of a guide system on the furniture cabinet unit 2, or by way of a rail full pullout 16 on the side wall 5, and in the same manner by way of a further cavity frame of the drawer 3 on the side wall 4 (not visible in FIG. 2). Receiving on the side wall 4 is performed by way of a further functional unit, or a further full pullout, by way of which the drawer 3 is displaceable in a linear horizontal manner in the directions P1 and P2.

(25) The cavity frame 15 from a preferably bent sheet metal material has an external housing 15a and an internal structure 15b such that the full pullout 16 is capable of being accommodated in a recess manner in the internal volume of the cavity frame 15. The cavity frame 15 on an internal side thereof in the lower portion of the cavity frame 15, the latter is configured for receiving a longitudinal periphery of the drawer base 14.

(26) The full pullout 16 that is formed as a functional unit of the guide system comprises three mutually telescopic guide rails, or a cabinet unit rail 17, a central rail 18, and a sliding element rail 19, respectively.

(27) The central rail 18 is configured as a hollow section.

(28) A sliding element to be moved, such as the drawer 3, is coupled or connected, respectively, to the sliding element rail 19, for example, is fixed to the cavity frame 15, whereas the cabinet unit rail 17 is connected to the stationary part of the item of furniture. When the full pullout 16 is used as an underfloor guide, a lower side of a sliding element, or the base thereof, respectively, is supported on an upper side 19a of the sliding element rail 19. A hook element 19b which at the rear end of the sliding element rail 19 projects upward forms a detent for a portion of a rearward external side of the sliding element, wherein for the exact positioning a portion of the hook element 19b that is angled so as to be parallel with the upper side 19a engages in a depression prepared in a matching manner in the rearward external side of the sliding element.

(29) The full pullout 16 moreover comprises a first, or lower, respectively, carriage 20 having bearing members 37 disposed thereon, wherein the carriage 20 between the cabinet unit rail 17 and the central rail 18 acts for a load-transmitting relative movement of the rails 17, 18.

(30) The full pullout 16 furthermore comprises a second, or upper, respectively, carriage 21 having bearing members 38 disposed thereon, wherein the carriage 21 between the central rail 18 and the sliding element rail 19 acts for a load-transmitting relative movement of the rails 18, 19.

(31) The carriages 20 and 21, respectively, comprise two carriage cages 20a, 20b, and 21a, 21b, respectively, and a connection element 39 and 40, respectively, for example.

(32) Pins 32, by way of which a motion mechanism 22 of the full pullout 16, for example, for injecting and/or retracting the drawer 3, is attachable, are present on a vertically standing, inwardly pointing narrower side of a rail member 31 of the cabinet unit rail 17.

(33) Two L-shaped fastening elements 33 and 34 are part of the cabinet unit rail 17, wherein the fastening elements 33 and 34 serve for fastening or fixing, respectively, the full pullout to an internal side of the side wall of a cabinet unit, such as the side wall 5 of the furniture cabinet unit 2 of the item of furniture 1.

(34) The guide rails 17, 18, 19 are preferably composed of a sheet metal material which, proceeding from the flat sheet metal material, is deformed, for example, by a punching and bending method, so as to form the final product of the respective guide rail.

(35) FIG. 5 shows the front end portion of the central rail 18 relating to the use state of the full pullout 16. The central rail 18 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated has an upper planar horizontal wall portion 23, a lower planar horizontal wall portion 24, two planar upper side wall portions 25, 26, two lower planar side wall portions 27, 28, and, in particular, vertically running central wall portions 29 and 30.

(36) The horizontal wall portion 23 forms a distal wall, or an upper side of the central rail 18, respectively, or of the corresponding hollow section, respectively. Accordingly, the horizontal wall portion 24 forms a distal wall, or a lower side of the central rail 18, respectively, or of the hollow section, respectively.

(37) The terminology top and bottom refers to the orientation of the full pullout 16 in the use state, or in the state attached to the item of furniture, respectively, shown, in particular, in FIGS. 2 and 3. The planes that are in each case defined by the mutually parallel horizontal wall portions 23 and 24, or the outboard or distal sides, respectively, herein are aligned so as to be at least almost horizontal.

(38) Upper detents 35 and lower detents 36 are present on the central rail 18 for delimiting a relative movement of the lower carriage 20 and of the upper carriage 21 in relation to the central rail 18 in the longitudinal extent of the central rail 18 according to a central longitudinal axis L (cf. FIG. 5).

(39) In the case of the fully assembled full pullout 16, the bearing members that are received on the carriages 20, 21 run on the outwardly directed sides of the central rail 18, or the horizontal wall portions 23, 24 and the side wall portions 25-28, respectively. The lower carriage 20 by way of the portions 20a and 20b thereof that support the bearing members externally encompasses the horizontal wall portion 24 and the side wall portions 27, 28. The upper carriage 21 by way of the portions 21a and 21b thereof that support the bearing members externally encompasses the horizontal wall portion 23 and the side wall portions 25, 26.

(40) An internal angle α between the plane according to an internal side 41 of the horizontal wall portion 23 of the central rail 18, and the plane according to an internal side 42 of the side wall portion 26, is preferably between 20 and 70 degrees, preferably between 35 and 55 degrees, preferably approximately 45 degrees.

(41) FIGS. 6 to 8 show a first variant of a guide system 43 according to the present invention. The guide system 43, apart from the elements already described above, i.e. the cabinet unit rail 17, the central rail 18, the sliding element rail 19, and the carriages 20, 21, comprises synchronization elements in the form of wheels 46, 47 which synchronization elements are present so as to be mutually opposite and mutually spaced apart on external sides 44, 45 of the central wall portions 29, 30 of the central rail 18 (the carriage 21 in FIG. 6 is transparent). The wheels 46, 47 are disposed so as to project on the central wall portions 29, 30 of the central rail 18 in such a manner that the wheels 46, 47 in the disposed state of the central rail 18 on the guide system 43 roll on raceways 48, 49 of the cabinet unit rail 17 and on raceways 50, 51 of the sliding element rail 19. On account thereof, the wheels 46, 47 synchronize a movement of the sliding element rail 19 in relation to the cabinet unit rail 17.

(42) Planes of extent of the raceways 48, 49 of the cabinet unit rail 17 advantageously enclose a cabinet unit rail angle β which forms an angle of the size between less than 180° and 0°. For example, the planes of extent of the raceways 50, 51 of the sliding element rail 19 enclose a sliding element rail angle δ which forms an angle of the size between less than 180° and 0°.

(43) The wheels 46, 47 have a curved shell face 52, 53, for example, in particular, a cambered shell face. The shell face 52, 53 of the wheels 46, 47 is advantageously configured in such a manner that the wheels 46, 47 in the disposed state of the guide system 43 are connected to the raceways 48-51 in a friction-force-fitting manner. The wheels 46, 47 on the shell face 52, 53 are rubberized, for example. Furthermore, the wheels 46, 47 are advantageously fastened to the central wall portions 29, 30 so as to be movable by means of rocker elements 54, 55.

(44) FIGS. 9 to 11 show a further variant of a guide system 56. The guide system 56, apart from the elements already described above, i.e. the cabinet unit rail 17, the central rail 18, the sliding element rail 19, and the carriages 20, 21, comprises a synchronization element in the form of a gear wheel 57 on the external side 45 of the central wall portion 30 of the central rail 18. The gear wheel 57 is fastened so as to be movable, in particular, rotatable, on the external side 45 of the central wall portion 30. It is moreover conceivable but not shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 for a further gear wheel to be present on that external side 46 of the central wall portion 29 of the central rail 18 which external side 46 is opposite the external side 45. The carriages 20, 21 of the guide system 56 furthermore advantageously comprise rack-like contours 70, 71 in which disposed state of the guide system 56 the gear wheel 57 engages, and on account thereof mutually synchronizes a movement of the carriages 20, 21. It would moreover be imaginable for the cabinet unit rail 17 and the sliding element rail 19 to have corresponding rack-like contours in which the gear wheel could engage, such that a movement of the cabinet unit rail 17 relative to the sliding element rail 19 is synchronized (not illustrated).

(45) A further variant of embodiment of a guide system 58 is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The guide system 58, apart from the elements already described above, i.e. the cabinet unit rail 17, the central rail 18, the sliding element rail 19, and the carriages 20, 21, comprises synchronization means in the form of deflection rollers 60 on mutually opposite end sides 59. Movements of the deflection rollers 60 are mutually synchronized by means of an encircling cable pull 61. The deflection rollers 60 under cable pull 61 advantageously form a cable pull system 64. A rotation axis of the deflection rollers 60 is advantageously configured so as to be transverse, in particular, perpendicular, to a direction of movement of the rail elements 17-19 of the guide system 58. For example, the deflection rollers 60 are mounted so as to be movable, in particular, rotatable, on the central rail 18. Two entrainment elements 62, 63 are advantageously configured on the cable pull 61. For example, the entrainment element 63 is fixedly, in particular, non-releasably, connected to the cabinet unit rail 17, and the entrainment element 62 is fixedly, in particular, non-releasably, connected to the sliding element rail 19, on account of which a movement of the cabinet unit rail 17 relative to the sliding element rail 19 is synchronized by way of the cable pull system 64.

(46) A further embodiment of a guide system 65 can be derived from FIGS. 14 and 15. The guide system 65 differs from the preceding described guide system 58 from FIGS. 12 and 13 in that the cable pull system 64 has coupling elements 66, 67 instead of, or e.g. additionally to, the entrainment elements 62, 63. The cable pull system 64 is, in particular, non-releasably, connected to the carriages 20, 21 by way of the coupling elements 66, 67. On account thereof, the cable pull system 64 of the guide system 65 mutually is synchronizes a movement of the carriages 20, 21.

(47) A further alternative embodiment of a guide system 68 is shown in FIG. 16. For improved clarity, only the central rail 18, the carriages 20, 21, as well as the cable pull system 64 are in FIG. 16. The cable pull system 64 of the relative embodiment of the guide system 68 of FIG. 16 comprises a coupling member 69 instead of, or additionally to, the entrainment element 62, and/or the coupling elements 66, 67. The coupling member 69 is fastened to the cable pull 61 of the cable pull system 64. The coupling member 69 is advantageously present on the guide system 68 in such a manner that a synchronization element, for example, in the form of a synchronization bar (not shown), is disposable on the coupling member 69, such that a movement of parts of the guide system 68 is capable of being synchronized with parts of a second guide system which in the disposed state on the item of furniture is present so as to be opposite the guide system 68 on the item of furniture.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(48) 1 Item of furniture 2 Furniture cabinet unit 3 Drawer 4-5 Side wall 6-9 Rail full pullout 10-11 Drawer side wall 12 Front element 13 Rear wall 14 Drawer base 15 Cavity frame 15a Housing 15b Internal structure 16 Full pullout 17 Cabinet unit rail 18 Central rail 19 Sliding element rail 19a Upper side 19b Hook element 20 Carriage 20a-20b Carriage cage 21 Carriage 21a-21b Carriage cage 22 Motion mechanism 23-24 Horizontal wall portion 25-28 Side wall portion 29-30 Central wall portion 31 Rail member 32 Pin 33-34 Fastening element 35-36 Detent 37-38 Bearing member 39-40 Connection element 41-42 Internal side 43 Guide system 44, 45 External side 46, 47 Wheel 48-51 Raceway 52, 53 Shell face 54, 55 Rocker element 56 Guide system 57 Gear wheel 58 Guide system 59 End side 60 Deflection roller 61 Cable pull 62, 63 Entrainment element 64 Cable pull system 65 Guide system 66, 67 Coupling element 68 Guide system 69 Coupling member 70, 71 Contour