Cabinet with pull-out shelves and related pull-out mechanism

Abstract

A cabinet (1) with a containment space (2), shelves (9) contained in the containment space (2), an access opening (3) to the containment space (2) and a moving mechanism (4) for moving the shelves (9) through the opening (3); wherein the moving mechanism (4) comprises a first arm (5) and a second arm (6), which are sustained by the cabinet (1), cantilever-style, inside the containment space (2), and rotatably about a vertical line (V), said first arm (5) and second arm (6) in turn sustaining a related shelf (9) in a condition rotatable with a turning motion about at least one vertical line (V). At least the second arm (6) of said arms (5, 6) is provided with two component segments (10, 11), converging at an interposed articulated joint (12). Control means (13) for coordination of the motion of the first arm (5) and the second arm (6) which are designed to allow the shelf (9) to travel along a horizontal trajectory with variable orientation of its positioning, in such a way as to pass through the access opening (3) of the cabinet (1). The control means (13) comprise a slider (14) and a track (16) relative to which the slider (14) is movable. The slider (14) and the track (16) are as one, constantly coupled to one another, and operatively positioned between said first arm (5) and second arm (6).

Claims

1. A cabinet with a containment space (2), shelves (9) contained in the containment space (2), an access opening (3) to the containment space (2) and a moving mechanism (4) for moving the shelves (9) through said opening (3); wherein said moving mechanism (4) comprises a fixed member (21) joined to a side (7) of the cabinet (1) and bearing fixed hinges (22, 23) for rotation about a vertical line (V), a first arm (5) and a second arm (6), which are sustained by the side of the cabinet (1), cantilever-style, inside the containment space (2), and rotatably about the vertical line (V), said first arm (5) and second arm (6) in turn sustaining a related shelf (9) in a condition in which it can rotate, turning about at least the vertical line (V); at least the second arm (6) of said arms (5, 6) being provided with two component segments (10, 11), converging at an interposed articulated joint (12); and control and guiding means (13) for coordination of the movement of said first arm (5) and second arm (6) which are designed to allow the shelf (9) to travel along a horizontal trajectory with variable orientation of its positioning, in such a way that as to pass through the access opening (3) of said cabinet (1); the cabinet (1) being characterised in that said control and guiding means (13) comprise a slider (14) and a track (16) with substantially sinuous extension comprising three arcs (16a, 16b, 16c) arranged facing in opposite directions to one another, relative to which said slider (14) is movable, said slider (14) and said track (16) being as one, constantly coupled to one another, and operatively positioned between said first arm (5) and second arm (6).

2. The cabinet according to claim 1, characterised in that said track (16) is equipped with closed ends (18, 19), forming the ends of stroke of the relative motion of said slider (14) and said track (16).

3. The cabinet according to claim 1, characterised in that said arcs (16a, 16b, 16c) have different lengths.

4. The cabinet according to claim 1, characterised in that said arcs (16a, 16b, 16c) have curvatures that may vary from one to the next.

5. The cabinet according to claim 1, comprising at least one said pull-out shelf (9), characterised in that said shelf (9) is provided with a two-lobe structure (9a, 9b) with a mixtilinear, sinuous outline, one end of which has a multi-sided shape (9f, 9g) with at least two straight stretches.

6. A moving mechanism for moving shelves (9) that can be pulled out of a cabinet (1), comprising a fixed member (21), bearing fixed hinges (22, 23) for rotation about a vertical line (V); a first arm (5) and a second arm (6), which are sustained by the fixed member (21), cantilever-style, inside a containment space (2), and rotatably about a vertical line (V), said first arm (5) and second arm (6) in turn sustaining a related shelf (9) in a condition rotatable with a turning motion about at least one vertical line (V); at least the second arm (6) of said arms being provided with two component segments (10, 11), converging at an interposed articulated joint (12); and control and guiding means (13) for coordination of the movement of said first arm (5) and second arm (6) which are designed to allow said shelf (9) to translate along a trajectory with variable orientation of its positioning, in such a way as to allow the shelf (9) to freely pass through the access opening (3) of the cabinet (1); the mechanism (4) being characterised in that said control and guiding means (13) comprise a slider (14) and a track (16) having a substantially sinuous shape, comprising three arcs (16a, 16b, 16c) facing in different directions to one another, relative to which said slider (14) is movable, said slider (14) and said track (16) being as one, constantly coupled to one another and operatively positioned between said first arm (5) and second arm (6).

7. The mechanism according to claim 6, characterised in that said slider (14) is supported by the structure of the articulated joint (12) and said track (16) is supported by said first arm (5).

8. The mechanism according to claim 7, characterised in that said track (16) is equipped with closed ends (18, 19), forming the ends of stroke of the motion of the slider (14) relative to the track (16), where the transition takes place between the outward motion and the return motion, and vice versa, of the shelf (9) through the access opening (3) of the cabinet (1).

9. The mechanism according to claim 6, characterised in that it is made in the form of a pre-assembled set that can be fitted as a whole inside a cabinet (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The advantages of the invention are more apparent in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an example, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top plan assembly view of the invention, illustrated with a pull-out shelf completely contained in the containment space of a generic cabinet;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of the invention of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, showing the cabinet, the shelf and the related pull-out mechanism in the state of FIGS. 1 and 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of a detail of FIG. 3, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others;

(6) FIGS. 5 and 6 are views corresponding to the views of FIGS. 3 and 4, which show the invention in a condition in which the shelf is practically completely pulled out of the containment space of the cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(7) With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in FIG. 1 the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a generic cabinet provided with a containment space 2 equipped with horizontal shelves 9 for supporting objects.

(8) The shelves 9 can be pulled out of the containment space 2 through an access opening 3, to be positioned outside the cabinet 1, in a location near a user of the cabinet 1 where access to the usable surface of the shelf 9 is more convenient, and vice versa, can be put back into the containment space 2 of the cabinet 1 when operations are complete.

(9) More particularly, FIG. 1 shows how the shelf 9 has an oblong, two-lobe, basically sinuous shape, which comprises two lobes 9a, 9b in a monolithic structure, consisting of two flat parts having the shape of irregular circular sectors, with mixtilinear outlines, which comprise curved edge stretches with curvatures in opposite directions. The lobes 9a, 9b are monolithically joined to one another, in a zone between the two, by curved connections 9c, 9d.

(10) The shelf 9 has end edges 9e; 9f, 9g, one 9e of which is basically straight, the other in contrast being multi-sided, composed of at least two consecutive straight sides 9f, 9g.

(11) In the figures reference will be made to a cabinet 1 layout having only one shelf 9. That is purely to keep the description simple, it being obvious that the cabinet 1 may be equipped with a more or less numerous set of shelves 9, stacked vertically and appropriately spaced from each other.

(12) Regarding the access opening 3 to the containment space 2, hereinafter in the description generic reference will be made to a door opening, it being understood that—as will be clarified below—the physical presence or absence of a door is of no importance to the invention described.

(13) FIG. 2, and FIGS. 3 to 6 even more so, show how, for moving the shelf 9, the cabinet 1 is provided with a moving mechanism, labelled 4 as a whole.

(14) That mechanism 4 basically comprises (FIG. 3) a first arm 5 and a second arm 6, sustained by the same vertical side 7 of the cabinet 1, cantilever-style and horizontally, in the containment space 2.

(15) The arms 5 and 6 are rotatable together, in a horizontal plane, about a vertical line V of free movement, allowed by respective fixed cylindrical hinges 23 and 22, constraining the arms 6 and 7 and supported by an anchoring member 21 that anchors the mechanism 4 to the side 7 of the cabinet 1.

(16) FIG. 3 shows that the first arm 5 and the second arm 6 in turn sustain, at their free ends, a related shelf 9 in a condition in which it can rotate, freely turning about the vertical line V. In particular, it should be noticed in FIG. 3 that the shelf 9 is provided with pins 25 supported jutting vertically, cantilever-style, which axially engage in cylindrical seats 8 supported at one end of the arms 5, 6.

(17) More particularly, the first arm 5 comprises a monolithic tubular rod, which at its opposite ends is connected: on one side to the fixed hinge 23; and which on the opposite side sustains the shelf 9.

(18) In contrast, the second arm 6 has a composite, articulated structure, in the horizontal plane, comprising two straight segments 10, 11 that converge and are joined to each other at an interposed articulated joint 12. One end of the first segment 10 is rotatably interconnected to one 22 of the two fixed cylindrical hinges of the anchoring member 21. In contrast, the free end of the second segment 11 supports the other seat 8 for the corresponding pin 25 of the shelf 9.

(19) Operatively positioned between the first arm 5 and the second arm 6, the mechanism 4 comprises control and guiding means 13 for controlling and guiding the synchronised coordinated movement of the two arms 5 and 6 and of the pull-out shelf 9.

(20) Thanks to those control and guiding means 13, the shelf is movable horizontally and along a translating trajectory. Moreover, it has an angularly variable positioning in terms of its orientation about the vertical line V, which allows the above-mentioned shelf 9 to pass without interference through the access opening 3 to the containment space 2 of the cabinet 1.

(21) More particularly, FIG. 4 shows how the control means 13 comprise a single slider 14 supported by an arm 11b of the second segment 11 of the jointed arm 6, and a track 16, made in a plate 15 that is supported by and fixed to the first arm 5.

(22) In the track 16 the slider 14 is constantly engaged and constrained, with relative rotating and translating freedom of movement.

(23) As is clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the track 16 has closed ends 18 and 19 and has a substantially sinuous shape which, in particular comprises a sequence, preferably of three consecutive sinusoid arcs 16a, 16b, 16c having different lengths and curvatures: which are different and arranged in opposite directions from one arc 16a, 16b, 16c to the next.

(24) In use, as may be inferred by comparing FIGS. 3 and 5, in the relative movement of the slider 14 along the track 16 and in the outward stroke from one end 19 to the other 18 of the track 16, due to activation of the pull-out mechanism 4, the shelf 9 describes—with a law of motion implemented within the geometry of the track 16—rotating and translating kinematics which gradually make it pass through the access opening 3 and practically entirely come out of the containment space 2 of the cabinet 1, without creating any interference with physical parts of the cabinet 1.

(25) During the return stroke, with which the slider 14 travels along the track 16 again with a backward motion, the rotating and translating motion of the shelf 9 is inverted and the shelf 9 goes back into the containment space 2 of the cabinet 1.

(26) In other words, starting from the positioning shown in FIG. 2, in the transition that makes the shelf 9 gradually rotate, initially clockwise and gradually be moved through the access opening 3 (compare FIGS. 3 and 5), the vertex angle between the segments 10 and 11 of the second arm 6 (facing the inside of the cabinet 1) tends to gradually be reduced. Correspondingly, the articulated joint 12 advances, approaching the access opening 3 until it passes through it (FIG. 5). The slider 14 simultaneously approaches the opposite end 18 to that initially affected in FIG. 4.

(27) During continuation of the motion, the shelf 9 itself begins to rotate in the opposite direction to previously, adopting the anti-clockwise direction clearly visible in a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 5. The shelf 9 pulling out movement is completed when the slider 14 reaches the end of stroke of the track 16.

(28) In that final configuration the mechanism 4 has the first arm 5 substantially in contact against the side 7 of the cabinet 1, whilst the jointed second arm 6 is in a condition close to having its component segments 10 and 11 orthogonal to each other.

(29) A comparison of FIGS. 2 and 5 reveals that the mechanism 4 allows the shelf 9 to be placed, by travelling along a horizontal trajectory, with practically identical starting and final positioning for the two end conditions of said trajectory in which the shelf 9 is completely contained in the containment compartment 2 of the cabinet 1, or is pulled out of and so outside the cabinet 1.

(30) It should be noticed, from FIG. 5, that when the shelf 9 is outside the containment space 2, the lobe 9b is in reality partly inside and partly outside the access opening 3.

(31) In this state, a benefit is obtained from the dual advantage of allowing the user to have full access to the lobe 9b, or to the entire usable surface of the shelf 9, but without having to pay the price of excessive dimensions outside the containment compartment 2, since the extent of the part of the shelf 9 actually projecting outside the cabinet 1 remains less than that of the whole surface of the shelf 9. This is undoubtedly an advantage for modern living spaces which are known to be smaller than those in the past.

(32) However, a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 5 also reveals that the particular shape of the multi-sided edge 9f, 9g of the outline of the lobe 9b allows a greater extent of the usable surface of the lobe 9b to be made available. This is at least equal to the mixed-line triangle formed by the edges 9f and 9g with the dashed line segment 30 shown in FIG. 1.

(33) Therefore, the invention fully achieves the results of the aims previously indicated, bringing multiple advantages such as: a simplified mechanical design, less expensive to produce and highly reliable and long-lasting even with intensive use; reduced dimensions outside the cabinet, but without in any way limiting user access to the whole usable surface of the shelf;

(34) and, all conditions being equal, also providing an extent of the usable surface which is greater than that permitted by similar applications, or a better ratio between the actual usable surface of the pull-out shelf and the theoretical surface of a corresponding, hypothetical, fixed shelf of the receiving cabinet 1. The following are other, equally important advantages of the invention.

(35) The mechanism 4 can be prepared as a modular assembly “kit”, which can be mounted quickly and easily, as a whole, on the side 7 of an existing cabinet 1, meaning that a cabinet can be retrofitted with the mechanism in order to accept a movable shelf 9.

(36) The mechanism 4 is also highly versatile in terms of use, with the possibility of specialising depending on the various geometries of the receiving cabinets 1 practically by simply customising the plate 20 with the related track 16.

(37) Moreover, again with reference to versatile use, considering that the mechanism and the related shelf 9 movement induced are irrespective of the width of the access opening 3 of the piece of furniture, it should be noticed that the same mechanism 4 is practically usable for almost the whole range of standard furniture in which, as is known, the width of the access opening usually varies from 450 to 600 mm.

(38) In other words, the horizontal trajectory (which remains invariable) being equal, and the dimensions of the mechanism being equal, in order to switch from one size of furniture to another, only the shape of the shelf 9 needs to be changed.

(39) The invention described above is susceptible of evident industrial application. It may also be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the following claims.

(40) Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.