FURNITURE FITTING COMPRISING A MULTI-JOINT MECHANISM

Abstract

A furniture fitting for movably mounting a furniture flap, in particular a two-part furniture flap, on a furniture carcass includes a main part which is or can be connected to the furniture carcass; a mounting device which is or can be connected to the furniture flap; and at least one, in particular exactly one, actuating arm which is mounted or can be mounted on the main part at a first end so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation. The actuating arm is or can be connected to the mounting device at a second end opposite the first end via at least one multi-joint mechanism, and the multi-joint mechanism has at least three, preferably at least four, particularly preferably exactly four, joints each having an axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A furniture fitting for movably mounting an in particular two-part furniture flap on a furniture carcass, comprising: a main body which is or can be connected to the furniture carcass, a mounting device which is or can be connected to the furniture flap, and at least one, in particular exactly one, actuating arm which is or can be mounted on the main body at a first end pivotable about an axis of rotation, wherein the at least one actuating arm is or can be connected to the mounting device at a second end opposite the first end via at least one multi-joint mechanism, wherein the at least one multi-joint mechanism has at least three, preferably at least four, particularly preferably exactly four, joints each having one axis of rotation.

2. The furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein the axes of rotation of the at least three joints are aligned parallel to each other.

3. The furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein the at least one multi-joint mechanism has at least two, preferably exactly two, connecting linkages, wherein the at least one actuating arm is connected to the mounting device in an articulated manner by means of the at least two connecting linkages.

4. The furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein the at least one multi-joint mechanism has a first connecting linkage and a second connecting linkage, wherein: a first joint connects the at least one actuating arm to the first connecting linkage and/or a second joint connects the at least one actuating arm to the second connecting linkage and/or a third joint connects the mounting device to the first connecting linkage and/or a fourth joint connects the mounting device to the second connecting linkage.

5. The furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein: in the case of a first – preferably extended – position of the at least one multi-joint mechanism, in the reference system of a resting actuating arm, an instantaneous center of rotation of the movement of the mounting device lies outside the at least one multi-joint mechanism in the installed position of the at least one furniture fitting, in particular in the interior of the furniture carcass, preferably in the rear two-thirds of the furniture carcass, particularly preferably in the rear third of the furniture carcass, or behind the furniture carcass, and/or in the case of a second – preferably folded – position of the at least one multi-joint mechanism, in the reference system of a resting actuating arm, an instantaneous center of rotation of the movement of the mounting device lies in the region of the at least one multi-joint mechanism.

6. The furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuating arm comprises a connecting part, wherein the at least one multi-joint mechanism is connected to the at least one actuating arm via the connecting part.

7. The furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein the at least one multi-joint mechanism comprises at least two connecting linkages, wherein the at least two connecting linkages each comprise at least one – preferably exactly two – levers and wherein in particular the at least one lever has at least two drilled holes.

8. The furniture fitting according to claim 6, wherein: a first joint of the at least one multi-joint mechanism is formed as a drilled hole in the connecting part, a drilled hole in the at least one lever of the first connecting linkage and a pin, and/or a second joint of the at least one multi-joint mechanism is formed as a drilled hole in the connecting part, a drilled hole in the at least one lever of the second connecting linkage and a pin, and/or a third joint of the at least one multi-joint mechanism is formed as a drilled hole in the mounting device, a drilled hole in the at least one lever of the first connecting linkage and a pin, and/or a fourth joint of the at least one multi-joint mechanism is formed as a drilled hole in the mounting device, a drilled hole in the at least one lever of the second connecting linkage and a pin.

9. The furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuating arm has a connecting part and the at least one multi-joint mechanism has at least two connecting linkages, wherein the at least two connecting linkages comprise at least two – preferably exactly two –levers, wherein the connecting part and/or the mounting device is/are arranged between the two levers of the at least two connecting linkages, preferably between the two levers of the at least two connecting linkages in the direction of the axes of rotation.

10. The furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuating arm is adjustable in length, preferably wherein: the length of the at least one actuating arm is fixable in particular by a catch function and/or by a frictional part, in particular in combination with a spring element exerting pressure on the frictional part, and/or by locking, in particular by means of at least one screw, and/or the length of the at least one actuating arm is changeable during the opening and/or closing movement of the furniture flap, and/or the at least one actuating arm has a guide sleeve and a piston, wherein the piston is displaceable in the guide sleeve, and/or the at least one actuating arm has a connecting part, wherein the connecting part is displaceable relative to the rest of the at least one actuating arm.

11. The furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein a torque can be applied to the at least one actuating arm, preferably wherein: an electric drive unit, and/or a mechanical energy storage device, is provided in the main body for this purpose.

12. A piece of furniture with a furniture carcass, at least one in particular two-part furniture flap and the furniture fitting according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting device is installed on the at least one furniture flap, and wherein the at least one main body is connected to the furniture carcass and the at least one actuating arm is connected to the at least one mounting device by the at least one multi-joint mechanism.

13. The piece of furniture according to claim 12, wherein the at least one furniture flap comprises a first flap part – preferably arranged at the top in the installed position – and a second flap part – preferably arranged at the bottom in the installed position, wherein the first flap part is connected to the furniture carcass in an articulated manner and/or the first flap part is connected to the second flap part in an articulated manner.

14. The piece of furniture according to claim 13, wherein the at least one mounting device is installed on the second flap part, wherein the at least one actuating arm is connected to the second flap part by means of the at least one multi-joint mechanism, preferably leaving out the first flap part.

15. The piece of furniture according to claim 13, wherein: in a substantially closed position of the at least one furniture flap, the at least one actuating arm is substantially parallel to the first flap part and to the second flap part and/or in a substantially open position of the at least one furniture flap, the at least one actuating arm is at an angle of from 45° to 135° to the second flap part.

16. The piece of furniture according to claim 13, wherein the piece of furniture is formed such that: in a substantially closed position of the at least one furniture flap, in the reference system of a resting actuating arm, an instantaneous center of rotation of the opening movement of the second flap part lies in the interior of the furniture carcass, preferably in the rear two-thirds of the furniture carcass, particularly preferably in the rear third of the furniture carcass, or behind the furniture carcass, in particular lies outside the at least one multi-joint mechanism, and/or in a substantially open position of the furniture flap, in the reference system of a resting actuating arm, an instantaneous center of rotation of the closing movement of the second flap part lies in the region of the at least one multi-joint mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0076] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below by the description of the figures with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0077] FIGS. 1a, b show a piece of furniture with a closed furniture flap and furniture fitting according to the state of the art, a. side view, b. detailed view of the flap-to-flap joint,

[0078] FIGS. 2a, b show piece of furniture with an open furniture flap and furniture fitting according to the state of the art, a. side view, b. detailed view of the flap-to-flap joint,

[0079] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the engagement of the actuating arm on the furniture flap by means of a single-joint hinge according to the state of the art,

[0080] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the engagement of the actuating arm on the furniture flap by means of a multi-joint mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0081] FIG. 5 is a sectional representation of a piece of furniture with a furniture fitting,

[0082] FIG. 6 shows a furniture fitting in isolation,

[0083] FIGS. 7a-d show various positions of the multi-joint mechanism, a. extended position in the case of a closed furniture flap, b. and c. folded intermediate positions, d. folded position in the case of an open furniture flap,

[0084] FIGS. 8a, b are side views of the furniture fitting in a. an extended position and b. a folded position,

[0085] FIGS. 9a, b are perspective representations of the furniture fitting in a folded position, and

[0086] FIG. 10 is an exploded representation of the furniture fitting

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0087] The state of the art from FIGS. 1a, b and FIGS. 2a, b has already been discussed above in the introduction to the description.

[0088] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a piece of furniture with a furniture flap 2 having a first flap part 21 and a second flap part 22 with a realization of the engagement of the actuating arm 3 on the furniture flap 2 common in the state of the art.

[0089] The actuating arm 3 is rotatably connected to the furniture carcass 11 by means of an actuating arm joint 51 in a main body 5 (not represented here). Here, merely the axis of rotation of the hinge is indicated (in the projection). The axis of rotation of a single-joint actuating arm-to-flap hinge 8 is represented at the opposite end of the actuating arm 3. The actuating arm 3 is rotatably connected to the second flap part 22 via the actuating arm-to-flap hinge 8.

[0090] In a reference system with a resting actuating arm 3, the movement of the second flap part 22, for example during opening or closing of the furniture flap 2, is limited to a rotation about the axis of rotation of the actuating arm-to-flap hinge 8.

[0091] The axis of rotation is arranged at a distance X away from the second flap part 22. Because the axis of rotation is not arranged in the second flap part 22, in a reference system with a resting actuating arm 3, the movement of the second flap part 22 does not correspond to a pure rotational movement but also includes a translational component. The larger the distance X is, the greater the translational component is in relation to the rotational component. (For X tending towards infinity, the movement of the second flap part 22 would correspond to a translational movement with a vanishing rotational component).

[0092] In the case of a substantially closed furniture flap 2, the translational component of the movement of the second flap part 22 leads to a substantially vertical movement of the second flap part 22. A bending of the second flap part 22 in the region of the flap-to-flap hinge 7 corresponds to a rotational movement of the second flap part 22.

[0093] If the axis of rotation of the second flap part 22 is displaced further into the furniture carcass 11, thus if the distance X is increased, the tendency of the second flap part 22 to bend in the region of the flap-to-flap hinge 7 is also reduced.

[0094] In a design according to the state of the art in FIG. 3, the distance X cannot be increased at will.

[0095] For example, the distance X can be at most 40 millimetres or at most 50 millimetres.

[0096] That is to say an increase in the distance X necessarily leads to the actuating arm-to-flap hinge 8 also being spaced further apart from the second flap part 22. The actuating arm 3 is thus also arranged further in the interior of the furniture carcass 11. This reduces the space in the furniture carcass 11 and can result in a collision of the actuating arm-to-flap hinge 8 and/or the actuating arm 3 with intermediate shelves or other objects in the furniture carcass 11.

[0097] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the piece of furniture 1 according to the invention. Here, the single-joint actuating arm-to-flap hinge 8 is replaced by a multi-joint mechanism 6.

[0098] In the embodiment in FIG. 4, the multi-joint mechanism 6 has four joints.

[0099] Multi-joint mechanisms have a virtual axis of rotation, which typically does not coincide with one of the axes of rotation of the (four) joints. Depending on the position of the multi-joint mechanism 6, the virtual axis of rotation is arranged at a different position; in the case of a movement of the hinge, the virtual axis of rotation “moves” on a path predefined by the geometry of the multi-joint mechanism 6.

[0100] The virtual axis of rotation projected onto a plane that is orthogonal to the axis of rotation is called the instantaneous center of rotation 66 of the movement.

[0101] In FIG. 4, in a reference system with a resting actuating arm 3 and in the case of a closed furniture flap 2, the instantaneous center of rotation 66 of the movement of the second partial flap 22 is arranged at a distance Y from the second partial flap 22.

[0102] The geometric design of the instantaneous center of rotation 66 is effected by intersecting the two imaginary straight lines which run through the axes of rotation of the joints of the connecting linkages 61, 62.

[0103] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the distance Y can be changed by the geometric shape of the multi-joint mechanism 6. In particular, it is to be mentioned here that the instantaneous center of rotation 66 is arranged further in the interior of the furniture carcass 11 than the multi-joint mechanism 6 itself.

[0104] The distance Y and the distance of the multi-joint mechanism 6 from the second partial flap 22 can thus be designed independently of each other up to a certain degree. This possibility does not exist in the case of the state of the art in FIG. 3.

[0105] For example, the distance Y can be greater than 80 millimetres or greater than 70 millimetres.

[0106] The distance Y can be so large that the instantaneous center of rotation 66 is arranged within the rear two-thirds or in the rear third of the furniture carcass 11. The instantaneous center of rotation 66 can also be arranged behind the furniture carcass 11.

[0107] A large distance Y results in a large translational component in relation to the rotational component of the movement of the second flap part 22 in a reference system with a resting actuating arm 3. The tendency to bend is thus reduced kinematically through the design of a multi-joint mechanism.

[0108] FIG. 5 shows a sectional representation of a piece of furniture 1 with a furniture carcass 11, a two-part furniture flap 2 and a furniture fitting 10, wherein the mounting device 4 is installed on the at least one furniture flap 2, and wherein the main body 5 is connected to the furniture carcass 11 and an actuating arm 3 is connected to the at least one mounting device 4 by means of a multi-joint mechanism 6.

[0109] The furniture carcass 11 comprises a top panel 13 and a base 14. A furniture side wall 12, on which the main body 5 is installed, is also shown.

[0110] Typically, for the movable mounting of a furniture flap 2, two furniture fittings 10 are installed, as is also the case in the state of the art.

[0111] The furniture flap 2 comprises a first flap part 21 – arranged at the top in the installed position –and a second flap part 22 – arranged at the bottom in the installed position, wherein the first flap part 21 is connected to the furniture carcass 11 in an articulated manner and the first flap part 21 is connected to the second flap part 22 in an articulated manner.

[0112] The mounting device 4 of the furniture fitting 10 is installed on the second flap part 22, wherein the actuating arm 3 is connected to the second flap part 22 by means of the multi-joint mechanism 6, leaving out the first flap part 21.

[0113] In a substantially open position of the at least one furniture flap 2, the actuating arm 3 is at an angle of from 45° to 135° to the second flap part 22.

[0114] In a substantially closed position of the at least one furniture flap 2, the actuating arm 3 is substantially parallel to the first flap part 21 and to the second flap part 22. This is not shown in FIG. 5.

[0115] FIG. 6 shows the furniture fitting 10 from FIG. 5 in isolation. The furniture fitting for movably mounting an in particular two-part furniture flap 2 on a furniture carcass 11 comprises a main body 5 which is or can be connected to the furniture carcass 11, a mounting device 4 which is or can be connected to the furniture flap 2 and an actuating arm 3 which is or can be mounted on the main body 5 at a first end pivotable about an axis of rotation.

[0116] The actuating arm 3 is or can be connected to the mounting device 4 at a second end opposite the first end via at least one multi-joint mechanism 6, wherein the at least one multi-joint mechanism 6 has four joints 611, 612, 621, 622 each having one axis of rotation.

[0117] The actuating arm 3 has a guide sleeve 32 and a piston 33, wherein the piston 33 is displaceable in the guide sleeve 32. The actuating arm 3 is thus designed adjustable in length.

[0118] The length of the actuating arm 3 can be fixable by a catch function and/or by a frictional part 35, in particular in combination with a spring element 34 exerting pressure on the frictional part 35 (see FIG. 10), and/or by locking, in particular by at least one screw.

[0119] The length of the actuating arm 3 can be dynamically changeable during the opening and/or closing movement of the furniture flap 2. The actuating arm 3 can thus satisfy the constraints imposed, for example, by the kinematics of the assembly composed of furniture fitting 10 and piece of furniture 1.

[0120] A torque can be applicable to the actuating arm 3, preferably wherein: [0121] an electric drive unit and/or [0122] a mechanical energy storage device is provided in the main body 5 for this purpose.

[0123] The axes of rotation of the four joints are aligned parallel to each other.

[0124] FIGS. 7a-d show the multi-joint mechanism 6 in various positions.

[0125] The actuating arm 3 comprises a connecting part 31, wherein the multi-joint mechanism 6 is connected to the at least one actuating arm 3 via the connecting part 31.

[0126] The connecting part 31 can be designed displaceable relative to the rest of the actuating arm 3. The actuating arm 3 is thus adjustable in length.

[0127] The multi-joint mechanism 6 has at least two connecting linkages 61, 62, wherein the at least one actuating arm 3 is connected to the mounting device 4 in an articulated manner by means of the at least two connecting linkages 61, 62.

[0128] The multi-joint mechanism 6 has a first connecting linkage 61 and a second connecting linkage 62, wherein: [0129] a first joint 611 connects the actuating arm 3 to the first connecting linkage 61, and [0130] a second joint 612 connects the actuating arm 3 to the second connecting linkage 62, and [0131] a third joint 621 connects the mounting device 4 to the first connecting linkage 61, and [0132] a fourth joint 622 connects the mounting device 4 to the second connecting linkage 62.

[0133] The intersection of two imaginary straight lines, which run through the axes of rotation of the first joint 611 and the third joint 621 or of the second joint 612 and the fourth joint 622 and are orthogonal to these two axes of rotation, corresponds to the position of the instantaneous center of rotation 66 of the movement of the second flap part 22 and the mounting device 4, in a reference system with a resting actuating arm 3.

[0134] In FIG. 7a, the multi-joint mechanism 6 is shown in an “extended” position. The multi-joint mechanism 6 occupies this position in a substantially closed position of the furniture flap 2.

[0135] Here, the instantaneous center of rotation lies outside the multi-joint mechanism 6.

[0136] A bending of the furniture flap 2 in the case of a substantially closed furniture flap 2 is thus avoided.

[0137] In the installed state, the instantaneous center of rotation lies in the interior of the furniture carcass 11, preferably in the rear two-thirds of the furniture carcass 11, particularly preferably in the rear third of the furniture carcass 11, or behind the furniture carcass 11.

[0138] In FIGS. 7b, c, the multi-joint mechanism 6 is shown in intermediate positions. In the case of a substantially open furniture flap 2, the multi-joint mechanism 6 occupies the position shown in FIG. 7d.

[0139] In FIGS. 7b-d, the instantaneous center of rotation lies in the region of the multi-joint mechanism 6, in particular in the region of the second connecting linkage 62.

[0140] The multi-joint mechanism 6 thus behaves like a single-joint hinge in the intermediate positions and in the case of a substantially open furniture flap 2.

[0141] In all positions of FIGS. 7a-d, in the reference system of a resting actuating arm 3, the instantaneous center of rotation of the movement of the second flap part 22 and the mounting device 4 is arranged on a first side of an installation plane of the second flap part 22, wherein the at least one actuating arm 3 and the at least one multi-joint mechanism 6 are likewise arranged on the first side of the installation plane.

[0142] FIGS. 8a, b show the furniture fitting 10 without the main body 5. In FIG. 8a, the multi-joint mechanism 6 is shown in an “extended” position and in FIG. 8b the multi-joint mechanism 6 is shown in a folded position.

[0143] FIGS. 9a, b show the furniture fitting 10 without the main body 5 in a folded position in two different perspective representations.

[0144] FIG. 10 shows an exploded representation of the furniture fitting 10.

[0145] The multi-joint mechanism 6 comprises two connecting linkages 61, 62, wherein the two connecting linkages 61, 62 each comprise two levers 63 and wherein the levers 63 each have two drilled holes 64.

[0146] A first joint 611 of the multi-joint mechanism 6 is formed as a drilled hole 64 in the connecting part 31, a drilled hole 64 in the two levers 63 of the first connecting linkage 61 and a pin 65.

[0147] A second joint 612 of the multi-joint mechanism 6 is formed as a drilled hole 64 in the connecting part 31, a drilled hole 64 in the two levers 63 of the second connecting linkage 62 and a pin 65.

[0148] A third joint 621 of the multi-joint mechanism 6 is formed as a drilled hole 64 in the mounting device 4, a drilled hole 64 in the two levers 63 of the first connecting linkage 61 and a pin 65.

[0149] A fourth joint 622 of the multi-joint mechanism 6 is formed as a drilled hole 64 in the mounting device 4, a drilled hole 64 in the two levers 63 of the second connecting linkage 62 and a pin 65.

[0150] The connecting part 31 and the mounting device 4 are arranged between the two levers 63 of the two connecting linkages 61, 62, preferably between the two levers 63 of the two connecting linkages 61, 62 in the direction of the axes of rotation.

[0151] The multi-joint mechanism 6 is thus nested and stably constructed.

[0152] The frictional part 35, which fixes the guide sleeve 32 and the piston 33 of the actuating arm 3 in relation to each other can also be easily seen here. The fixing can be realized in combination with a spring element 34 exerting pressure on the frictional part 35.

[0153] The actuating arm 3 is detachably connected to the main body 5. For this, a main body connecting part 36 is provided, which can be connected to the guide sleeve 32 of the actuating arm 3 and can be locked to the main body 5. The actuating arm 3 can thus be easily connected to the main body 5, even if the main body 5 has already been pre-installed on the piece of furniture.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numbers: 1 piece of furniture 10 furniture fitting 11 furniture carcass 12 furniture side wall 13 top panel 14 base 2 furniture flap 21 first flap part 22 second flap part 23 lower edge of the second flap part 3 actuating arm 31 connecting part 32 guide sleeve 33 piston 34 spring element 35 frictional part 36 main body connecting part 4 mounting device 5 main body 51 actuating arm joint 6 multi-joint mechanism 60 joint 611 first joint 612 second joint 621 third joint 622 fourth joint 61 first connecting linkage 62 second connecting linkage 63 lever 64 drilled hole 65 pin 66 instantaneous center of rotation 7 flap-to-flap hinge 71 axis of rotation of the flap-to-flap hinge 72 hinge cup 73 hinge arm 74 socket 8 actuating arm-to-flap hinge 9 carcass-to-flap hinge