PIVOT DRIVE AND PIECE OF FURNITURE

Abstract

A pivot drive for a movable piece of furniture has an actuating arm which is mounted so that it can be pivoted about an axis of rotation, a spring assembly having at least one spring guided linearly in one working direction and a pressure-exerting component connected to the spring assembly and movable along a control curve, and a housing on or in which the pivot drive is mounted and a piece of furniture.

Claims

1. A pivot drive (30) for a movable furniture part (3, 25, 25), having: an actuating arm (32) mounted so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation (31); a spring assembly (33) having at least one spring guided linearly in one operating direction, a pressure-exerting component (34, 34) connected to the spring assembly (33) and movable along a control curve (35, 35), a housing (21) on or in which the pivot drive is mounted, wherein the actuating arm (32) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the spring assembly (33) and is pivotable therewith about the axis of rotation (31), wherein the actuating arm (32) is connected to the movable furniture part via a multi-joint connection and the control curve (35, 35) is adjustable relative to the axis of rotation (31) for adjusting a spring force of the spring assembly (33) and/or the a force action of the spring assembly (33) on the control curve is adjustable.

2. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the control curve (35, 35) is infinitely variable via actuating means.

3. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the control curve (35) is held adjustably on or in the housing (21).

4. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the control curve (35, 35) is mounted rotatably and/or displaceably relative to the axis of rotation (31) of the actuating arm (32).

5. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the control curve (35, 35) is adjustable in the direction of action of the spring assembly (33) and/or the spring assembly (33) is compressed or expanded by corresponding adjusting means in relation to the force action on the control curve (35, 35).

6. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the spring assembly (33) pretensions the actuating arm (32) in a closing region in a closing direction, and in an opening region next to the closing region, the spring assembly (33) pretensions the actuating arm (32) in the opening direction.

7. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the actuating arm (32) is connected to a flap (3) or a door via a multi-joint connection.

8. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the control curve (35, 35) has a guide track consisting of metal.

9. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the movable furniture part is kept in balance at least over part of the opening region by the spring assembly (33) and the control curve (35, 41).

10. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-exerting component (34, 34) is designed as a roller.

11. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the spring assembly (30) comprises a plurality of springs which are arranged next to one another and which are guided linearly in a direction of action of the spring assembly.

12. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the pivot drive is designed as a flap fitting.

13. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the pivot drive has a damper for braking the actuating arm (32) before a closed position and/or a maximum opening position.

14. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the control curve (35) is immovable relative to the housing (21) during an opening and/or closing movement of the movable furniture part.

15. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation (31) about which the spring assembly (33) rotates with the actuating arm (32) is arranged in a fixed manner in the housing (21), so that the spring assembly (33) with the actuating arm (32) pivots about the axis of rotation (31).

16. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein a lever (37) of the multi-joint connection has two axes of rotation (A1, A3) for moving the movable furniture part and has a further joint (40) or a curve guide (41) for indirect coupling to the actuating arm (32).

17. The pivot drive according to claim 16, wherein the actuating arm (32) is connected to the lever (37) of the multi-joint connection by a joint lever (36).

18. The pivot drive according to claim 16, wherein a pressure-exerting component (45) is arranged on the actuating arm (32) and cooperates with the curve guide of the lever (37).

19. The pivot drive according to claim 1, wherein the total pivot angle of the spring assembly (33) about the axis of rotation (31) from the closed position into the fully open position of the movable furniture part is greater than 10.

20. A piece of furniture (1) having a pivot drive (30) according to claim 1.

21. The piece of furniture according to claim 20, wherein the pivot drive (30) is arranged in a side wall (10) of the piece of furniture (1).

22. The piece of furniture according to claim 21, wherein the side wall (10) has a plate-shaped core (11) which has a first end face and further end faces, and wherein a recess (12) is arranged in the core (11), which recess extends at least along a section of the first end face of the side wall and serves to receive a flap fitting (4) which guides a movable furniture part.

23. The piece of furniture according to claim 22, wherein the plate-shaped core (11) of the side wall (10) is arranged between two laterally applied cover layers (13).

24. The piece of furniture according to claim 23, wherein the core (11) has two core halves which lie one on top of the other with their side faces opposite the respective cover layers (13) and have recesses which complement one another to form the recess (12).

25. The piece of furniture according to claim 20, wherein the pivot drive (30) is arranged on a side wall (10) of the furniture (1).

Description

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below using several examples with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0021] FIGS. 1 to 3 show several views of furniture with different flap fittings;

[0022] FIGS. 4A to 4H show several views of the assembly of a piece of furniture with the arrangement of a pivot drive in a side wall of the furniture;

[0023] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a modified piece of furniture with a pivot drive in the side walls;

[0024] FIGS. 6A to 6G show several views of a pivot drive in different positions according to a first embodiment example;

[0025] FIGS. 7A to 7D show several views of a pivot drive in different positions according to a second embodiment example;

[0026] FIGS. 8A to 8D show several views of a pivot drive in different positions according to a third embodiment example;

[0027] FIGS. 9A to 9D show several views of a pivot drive in different positions according to a fourth embodiment example, and

[0028] FIGS. 10A to 10C show several views of a pivot drive in different positions according to a fifth embodiment example.

[0029] A piece of furniture 1 comprises a cabinet-shaped furniture body 2, having side walls 10, an upper panel 15 and a base 14, on which a flap 3 is pivotably mounted. A flap fitting 4 is provided for this purpose, by means of which flap 3 can be pivoted upwards, as shown schematically by the arrow. The flap fitting 4 is preloaded via a pivot drive not shown here, wherein the spring force is dependent on the opening position of flap 3.

[0030] In FIG. 1, the flap fitting 4 is designed, for example, as a multi-joint connection, in particular as a seven-joint connection. It is also possible to design the flap fitting as a four-joint connection, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A flap 3 is pivotably mounted on the furniture body 2 and can be moved by two parallel levers 5 and 6, which are held by a connection 7 or 7 on the levers 5 and 6. In FIG. 2 the flap 3 is essentially pivoted forward and upwards, while in FIG. 3 levers 5 and 6 are provided with a modified connection 7, by means of which the flap 3 can be pivoted along another curved path at least partially over the upper panel 15.

[0031] The flap fittings 4 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 can be fixed either on the inside of the side walls 10 or also in the side walls 10.

[0032] In order to provide a fitting in a side wall 10, a corresponding assembly procedure is described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4H. A side wall 10 comprises an inner core 11, for example made of an MDF or HDF or lightweight panel, in which a recess 12 is introduced, for example by milling. The core 11 is covered on opposite sides by cover layers 13, which also cover the recess 12 so that a pocket-shaped receptacle is formed, which is only open at one front end face.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4C, a fitting 20 with a housing 21 can be inserted into recess 12. The housing 21 has a width which corresponds to the width of the core 11 and can, for example, be between 12 mm and 22 mm, in particular between 12 mm and 17 mm. Housing 21 can also be narrower than the width of the core if housing 21 is inserted into the side in a different way. Housing 21 comprises two plates spaced apart from each other, between which levers of a multi-joint connection are provided, the axes of rotation of which are at least partially fixed to the housing 21. In the embodiment example shown, the lower arm 22 is rotatably mounted on an axis of rotation 23 of the housing 21. Furthermore, an upper arm 24 is arranged at a distance from the lower arm 22, which is provided by a hollow chamber of the housing 21 arranged in a receptacle 27.

[0034] FIG. 4D shows the side walls without cover layers 13, and it can be seen that the fitting 20 with the housing is essentially positively inserted into the recess 12 of core 11. On the fitting 20, the arms 22 and 24 have flap parts 25 and 26 mounted on the arms, wherein an upper flap part 25 is held on the arm 24 and a lower flap part 26 is held on the lower arm 22, and the two flap parts 25 and 26 are connected to each other via a hinge connection, wherein the flap formed from the flap parts 25 and 26 folds open during opening.

[0035] FIGS. 4E and 4F show two positions of furniture 1, wherein the side walls 10 are closed by the cover layers 13 so that the housing 21 of the fitting 20 is no longer visible. When the flap consisting of the flap parts 25 and 26 is opened, the arms 22 and 24 protrude forward out of the housing 21 of the fitting.

[0036] In FIGS. 4G and 4H, the furniture with fitting 20 is shown in one opening position, and it can be seen that fitting 20 with housing 21 is accommodated in side wall 10.

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a modified piece of furniture in which one furniture body has several adjacent interior spaces and one or more central partition walls are provided between the two outer side walls. A fitting 20 is also provided on each central partition wall so that a flap with flap parts 25 and 26 is considerably wider than in the previous embodiment example. The flap parts 25 and 26 are held to the furniture body by several fittings 20. The number of partition walls can be freely selected depending on the width of the furniture.

[0038] FIG. 6A shows a schematic representation of the fitting with a pivot drive 30 according to the invention which is arranged in the housing 21. The fitting 20 is designed as a seven-joint hinge and comprises two axes of rotation A1 and A2 arranged stationary on the housing 21, which form a joint connection via joints with five further axes of rotation A3 to A7, to which the flap 3 is fixed at a connection 38. Such multiple-joint connections are known by different variations and thus are shown only schematically.

[0039] The pivot drive 30 comprises an actuating arm 32 which is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation 31 which is arranged stationary on the housing 21. The actuating arm 32 is connected via a movable joint 39 to a joint lever 36, which is connected via a further joint 40 to a lever 37 of the multi-joint arrangement. The lever 37 is designed as a double lever so that the pivot point A3 and the joint 40 are always pivoted at the same distance around the axis of rotation A1.

[0040] The actuating arm 32 is non-rotatably connected to a spring assembly 33, which comprises one or more springs that are linearly movable and can be compressed and expanded on a linear guide, e.g. by rods, sleeves or other linear guide elements. The spring assembly 33 is mounted on one side of an axis of rotation 31. On the other side of the spring assembly 33, the spring assembly 33 acts on a pressure-exerting component 34. The pressure-exerting component 34 is designed as a roller, especially made of metal, and can be moved along a control curve 35. The control curve 35 is adjustable in the housing 21 and is preferably also made of metal, for example steel.

[0041] The control curve 35 can be adjusted relative to the axis of rotation 31, as indicated by the two arrows. The control curve 35 can first be compressed or expanded in the direction of action of the spring assembly 33, i.e. in the direction of a line between the axis of rotation 31 and an axis of the pressure-exerting component 34, by adjusting the control curve 35 accordingly. For this purpose, appropriate adjustment means, in particular thread adjustments, eccentrics or screws, can be provided on the control curve, which are supported on the housing 21 and thus enable adjustment of the control curve 35. To achieve the same effect, it is also possible to compress or expand the spring assembly 33 by means of appropriate adjustment means, in particular thread adjustments, eccentrics or screws.

[0042] In addition to the linear adjustment, the control curve 35 can also be pivotable, preferably around a pivot point which in a closed position of the fitting lies adjacent to the pressure-exerting component 34. This allows the force exerted by the spring assembly 33 on the actuating arm 32 to be adjusted for different opening positions of flap 3 without having to replace the control curve 35. Since in the case of differently wide flaps different weights act on the actuating arm 32 depending on the opening position, the spring force for different opening positions can be changed by such a pivot adjustment. Preferably, the pivot drive 30 according to the invention comprises both a linear adjustment and a pivot adjustment for the control curve 35, wherein further adjustment options can be optionally provided, for example, individual sections of the control curve 35 can be adjusted relative to each other.

[0043] FIG. 6A shows the closed position of flap 3, in which it essentially vertically covers an opening in furniture body 2. When flap 3 is pivoted in the opening direction as shown in FIG. 6B, the multi-joint arrangement with lever 37 moves counterclockwise about the axis of rotation A1 and a compressive force is transmitted to the joint lever 36, causing the actuating arm 32 to rotate clockwise through the axis of rotation 31. As a result, the pressure-exerting component 34 also moves clockwise along the control curve, which extends in a curved manner towards the spring assembly 33, so that when the spring assembly 33 moves clockwise, the pressure-exerting component 34 is pressed against the spring assembly 33, so that when the flap 3 is opened, the forces act in the closing direction and must be overcome by the user when opening the flap 3. Flap 3 is moved further in the opening direction according to FIG. 6C, and in a predetermined opening position, for example at an angle of flap 3 between 20 to 30 to the closing position, a dead center is passed through. In the area of the dead center, the joint 40 is located on a line that runs through the axis of rotation A1 and the joint lever 36. The pressure-exerting component 34 was moved along the control curve 35 to a maximum position. If flap 3 is moved further in the opening direction from the dead center position shown in FIG. 6C, as shown in FIG. 6D, the joint lever 36 is pulled over the joint 40 by turning the double lever 37 counterclockwise, so that the actuating arm 32 is now turned counterclockwise around the axis of rotation 31. This causes the pressure-exerting component 34 to move back again along the control curve 35, and the spring assembly 33 is relaxed during this movement so that the movement of the flap 3 is supported by the spring assembly 33.

[0044] Flap 3 can now be moved further in the opening direction as shown in FIGS. 6E, 6F and 6G, for example up to a maximum opening position of 100 to 120 relative to the closing position. During this rotation, the actuating arm 32 is pivoted counterclockwise and the pressure-exerting component 34 moves accordingly along the control curve 35, which is designed so that the spring assembly 33 relaxes during this rotation. Thus the weight force applied to the fitting by the flap 3 is at least partially compensated by the spring assembly 33, wherein it is possible to adjust the spring assembly 33 with the actuating arm 32 in such a way that the weight force of the flap 3 is completely compensated and the user essentially only has to apply the forces for moving the flap 3. The forces of the spring assembly 33 can also be adjusted so that the flap opens automatically from a certain opening angle. The control curve can also be designed, independently of the spring assembly 33, in such a way that the flap opens automatically from a certain opening angle.

[0045] The flap 3 is positively guided relative to the pivot drive 30 so that the counter-rotating movements are carried out during a closing movement. First, when closing from the position shown in FIG. 6G to the position shown in FIG. 6C, forces must be applied by the user to compress the spring assembly 33 again, which is pivoted about the axis of rotation 31 and compressed by the pressure-exerting component 34 and the control curve 35. When the dead center is reached, no force is transmitted to the actuating arm 32 via the spring assembly 33, and the spring assembly 33 does not act in the closing direction until a further closing movement. Flap 3 can be pretensioned in a closing range of 0 to 20 or 0 to 30, for example, in the closing direction via the pivot drive 30 and is pretensioned in an opening range adjacent to this closing range via the pivot drive 30 in the opening direction.

[0046] Optionally, the pivot drive 30 can have a damper, for example a linear damper, which ensures that the flap 3 is braked before reaching the closing position and/or the maximum opening position so that no loud stop noises occur. Such a damper can, for example, be attached to the spring assembly 33 or the actuating arm 32 or to the housing 21 to dampen the pivoting movement of the spring assembly.

[0047] In the following embodiment examples, further pivot drives are shown, wherein identical components are designated with the same reference numerals as in the embodiment example in FIG. 6. Therefore only the differences to the embodiment example shown in FIG. 6 are discussed in detail.

[0048] In the embodiment example shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, the spring assembly 33 in the closing position of flap 3 is no longer arranged essentially vertically with the direction of action, but diagonally. This allows the pressure-exerting component 34 and the control curve 35 to be positioned closer to the flap 3, making it easier to operate an adjustment mechanism from a front side of the furniture body. The actuating arm 32 is otherwise coupled to the multi-joint connection, which also holds flap 3, via a joint lever 36, as in the previous example. In addition, the function of the pivot drive with the spring assembly 33, which acts on the pressure-exerting component 34, which can be moved along the control curve 35, is the same as in the previous embodiment examples.

[0049] FIGS. 8A to 8D show another embodiment example of a pivot drive in which the actuating arm 32 is connected to the flap 3 again via a joint lever 36 having a multi-joint connection. Compared with the other embodiment examples, the spring assembly 33 is arranged rotated in the housing 21 of the fitting 20, with the pressure-exerting component 34 and the control curve 35 facing the rear of the furniture body. The axis of rotation 31 of the actuating arm 32, on the other hand, is adjacent to the flap 3.

[0050] FIGS. 9A to 9D show another embodiment example of a pivot fitting in which a modified control curve 35 is provided to guide a modified pressure-exerting component 34. The control curve 35 is designed as a linear guide which is inclined to the direction of action of the spring assembly 33 so that when the pressure-exerting component 34 moves relative to the control curve 35, the spring assembly 33 is relaxed or tensioned.

[0051] In the embodiment example of FIGS. 9A to 9D, no dead center is passed when the flap 3 is opened, but the pressure-exerting component 34 moves linearly along the control curve 35 over the entire pivot range, so that the spring assembly 33 moves only in one direction during the opening movement. The arrangement of the actuating arm 32 and the connection between the actuating arm 32 and the lever 37 can generate a change in direction of the closing and opening force.

[0052] In addition, in the embodiment example shown in FIGS. 9A to 9D, the pivot drive 30 is not coupled via a joint 40, but a further pressure-exerting component 45 is provided on the actuating arm 32, for example a roller that can be moved along a curve guide 41. The curve guide 41 is non-rotationally connected to a lever 37 of the multi-joint arrangement, and by turning the curve guide 41 around the axis of rotation A1, the pressure-exerting component 45 and thus the actuating arm 32 is pivoted. When flap 3 is opened, the curve guide 41 pivots counterclockwise and the actuating arm 32 thus also pivots counterclockwise.

[0053] FIGS. 10A to 10C show another embodiment example in which a spring assembly 33 is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to an actuating arm 32, to which a pressure-exerting component 45 is fixed. The pressure-exerting component 45 can again be moved along a curve guide 41, which is pivoted counterclockwise when the flap is opened. The position of the spring assembly 33 and the dimensioning are different from the embodiment example shown in FIG. 9.

[0054] The embodiment examples shown can be combined as required to modify the transmission mechanism from flap 3 or another movable furniture part to the control curve 35 or 35.

List of Reference Numerals

[0055] 1 Furniture [0056] 2 Furniture body [0057] 3 Flap [0058] 4 Flap fitting [0059] 5, 5 Levers [0060] 6, 6 Levers [0061] 7, 7 Connection [0062] 10 Side wall [0063] 11 Core [0064] 12 Recess [0065] 13 Cover layer [0066] 14 Base [0067] 15 Upper panel [0068] 20 Fitting [0069] 21 Housing [0070] 22 Arm [0071] 23 Axis of rotation [0072] 24 Arm [0073] 25, 25 Flap part [0074] 26, 26 Flap part [0075] 27 Receptacle [0076] 30 Pivot drive [0077] 31 Axis of rotation [0078] 32 Actuating arm [0079] 33 Spring assembly [0080] 34, 34 Pressure-exerting component [0081] 35, 35 Control curve [0082] 36 Joint lever [0083] 37 Lever/double lever [0084] 38 Connection [0085] 39 Joint [0086] 40 Joint [0087] 41 Curve guide [0088] 45 Pressure-exerting component [0089] A1 Axis of rotation [0090] A2 Axis of rotation [0091] A3 Axis of rotation [0092] A4 Axis of rotation [0093] A5 Axis of rotation [0094] A6 Axis of rotation [0095] A7 Axis of rotation