BASE FOR A DRAWER

Abstract

A drawer base for a drawer includes a spacer arranged on the drawer base, preferably via a fixing means, such that a first thickness of the drawer base in the vertical direction in the state of use of the drawer base through the spacer in the region of at least two, in particular three or four, side surfaces of the drawer base is greater than a second thickness in the vertical direction in the state of use of the drawer base in a central region, preferably in the region of a center point, of the drawer base by the spacer in the region of at least two, in particular three or four, side surfaces of the drawer base, and the second thickness is less than 16 mm, preferably less than 12 mm, particularly preferably less than 8 mm.

Claims

1. A drawer base for a drawer, comprising: a spacer arranged on the drawer base, preferably by at least one fixing means, such that a first thickness of the drawer base in the vertical direction in the state of use of the drawer base through the spacer in the region of at least two, in particular three or four, side surfaces of the drawer base is greater than a second thickness in the vertical direction in the state of use of the drawer base in a central region, preferably in the region of a center point, of the drawer base, wherein the second thickness is less than 16 mm, preferably less than 12 mm, particularly preferably less than 8 mm, wherein the spacer has at least one of the following configurations: is formed as a strip, and is formed separately from the drawer base, and is formed of at least two folds of the drawer base such that two side surfaces of the drawer base have a greater thickness than a central region of the drawer base.

2. The drawer base according to claim 1, wherein the spacer: is made of wood-like or plastic-like or metal-like material, and/or has essentially a cuboid shape or a U-shape or an L-shape or a T-shape or an X-shape, and/or has at least one chamfer on a surface facing or turning away from the drawer base, and/or is hollow, preferably with at least one stiffening strut, and/or is a molded part or is formed by machining, and/or has a third thickness, wherein the third thickness is at least one third, preferably at least one half, and particularly preferably at least the material thickness of the second thickness.

3. The drawer base according to claim 1, wherein the drawer base is transferable from a transport state into a state of use such that in the region of at least two, in particular three or four, side surfaces of the drawer base in the state of use of the drawer base, the first thickness in the vertical direction in the state of use of the drawer base is greater than the second thickness in the vertical direction in the state of use of the drawer base in the central region, preferably in the region of the center point, of the drawer base.

4. The drawer base according to claim 3, wherein the at least two folds are designed as 180 folds or as 90 folds, wherein preferably a plurality of alternating 180 folds are provided per side surface and/or the at least two folds are fixed to each other or to the drawer base by an adhesive bond.

5. The drawer base according to claim 3, wherein the at least two folds are designed as, preferably hingeless, articulated connections in the form of a film hinge, preferably an adhesive hinge or adhesive layer, particularly preferably hot melt adhesive or PU-based hot melt adhesive, and/or in the form of a flexible layer, preferably an elastic film, and/or in the form of a residual material of the drawer base formed by a milled recess or a recess in the drawer base, wherein it is preferably provided that at least one articulated connection is arranged on the outside of the side surface of the drawer base or between layers of the drawer base formed by the fold.

6. The drawer base according to claim 5, wherein the drawer base has a projection or a chamfer or a groove in the region of each of the at least two folds, on which the articulated connection is arranged at least in some areas.

7. The drawer base according to claim 1, wherein the first thickness in a drawer base plane extending from the side surface in the direction of the center point of the drawer base extends over a maximum of 15%, preferably a maximum of 10%, particularly preferably a maximum of 5%, of a width of the drawer base and/or over a maximum of 10 cm, preferably a maximum of 5 cm, particularly preferably a maximum of 2 cm.

8. The drawer base according to claim 1, wherein the drawer base comprises a carrier layer and a, preferably arranged in areas and/or glued on, decorative layer and/or an, preferably arranged in areas, adhesive layer or a film layer.

9. The drawer base according to claim 1, wherein the first thickness is substantially 100%, preferably 200% or 300%, greater than the second thickness and/or the first thickness is between 10 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 15 mm and 20 mm, and/or the second thickness is between 5 mm and 16 mm, preferably between 8 mm and 12 mm.

10. The drawer base according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer or at least one of the at least two folds that may be present, preferably in the case of two folds or spacers of adjacent side surfaces located adjacent to a corner edge of the drawer base, only extends in areas across a side surface of the drawer base.

11. An arrangement of two drawer side walls for a drawer, preferably U-shaped and/or metallic frames, each comprising a preferably U-shaped fastening device for connecting a drawer base to the drawer side wall and the drawer base according to claim 1, which is arranged at least in some areas within the fastening devices.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the first thickness is adapted over the at least one spacer to correspond to the drawer side walls in such a way that the drawer base essentially corresponds to a vertically oriented inner distance of the fastening devices in the state of use of the arrangement.

13. The arrangement according to claim 11, further comprising a drawer front and/or a drawer rear wall, and a, preferably U-shaped, fastening device, wherein the drawer base is arranged at least in part within the further fastening device.

14. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the drawer base is fixed to the drawer side walls by at least one fastening means and/or is connected to the drawer side walls in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner by at least one plastic deformation, wherein it is preferably provided that the at least one fastening means and/or the at least one plastic deformation: either partially or completely penetrates at least one layer of the drawer base formed by the at least one spacer or the fold that may be present, and/or presses the drawer base against one of the two fastening devices, particularly preferably in the vertical direction in the state of use of the arrangement, and/or in the vertical direction in the state of use of the arrangement, is arranged completely laterally adjacent to the layer formed by the at least one spacer or the fold that may be present.

15. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the at least one spacer can be locked into the fastening devices, preferably by elastic deformation and/or form-fitting, and/or preferably by a force-fitting connection, in the fastening devices and/or the drawer side walls have at least one retaining device, which is pivotable relative to the fastening devices and/or is arranged or can be arranged detachably on the fastening devices, with which the at least one spacer can be secured within the fastening devices.

16. A drawer comprising the arrangement according to claim 11.

17. A method of manufacturing the drawer base according to claim 1, the method comprising: providing a plate-shaped starting material and arranging the at least one spacer in the region of at least two side surfaces of the drawer base so that the drawer base becomes thicker in the region of the at least two side surfaces relative to a central region.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein: the drawer base is provided from a plate-shaped starting material by cutting, the drawer base is hingedly connected by a film hinge or a flexible layer or a milled recess, and the drawer base is folded via the hinged connection to a multiple of its material thickness in the central region, preferably in the region of the center point, or a plate-shaped starting material is provided with a film hinge or a flexible layer, the plate-shaped starting material is machined in areas, in particular up to the film hinge or the flexible layer, to form the hinged connection and the drawer base, and the drawer base is folded to a multiple of its material thickness in the central region, preferably in the region of the center point.

19. A method for assembling an arrangement, the method comprising the following carried out in chronological order: providing the drawer base, preferably by using the method according to claim 17, providing each of the two drawer side walls with a fastening device, and arranging the drawer base at least in some areas within the fastening devices.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein in a preparatory method step, preferably computer-assisted, the first thickness is adapted to an internal distance of the fastening devices and/or an internal distance of the fastening devices is adapted to the first thickness and/or the second thickness is adapted to a minimum load threshold value and/or a maximum load threshold value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] Further details and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0079] FIG. 1a, 1b show a piece of furniture with drawers comprising a drawer base and an arrangement according to a preferred embodiment in perspective views with an isolated drawer,

[0080] FIG. 2 shows the drawer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1b in a perspective view with a view of the underside of the drawer base with an enlarged detail section,

[0081] FIG. 3a-3d show a drawer with preferred embodiments of a drawer base in sectional view and with enlarged detailed views in the area of the connection between the drawer base and the drawer side wall,

[0082] FIG. 4a-4c show the drawer base according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a in perspective views and in exploded view,

[0083] FIG. 5a-5d show preferred embodiments of spacers for a drawer base in perspective view with enlarged detailed views,

[0084] FIG. 6a-6c show a further preferred embodiment of a drawer base with folds as spacers in two perspective views looking from above and from below, as well as in two orthogonal views with enlarged detail section in the area of the folds, and

[0085] FIG. 7a-7d show enlarged detail sections of further preferred embodiments of drawer bases in sectional view with varying embodiments of articulated connections of the drawer base for use in a piece of furniture according to FIG. 1a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0086] FIG. 1a shows a piece of furniture with a large number of drawers 2. The drawers 2 can be moved relative to a furniture carcass by means of a guide device. Each drawer 2 has a drawer base 1, whereby the drawer base 1 can generally also be used in other containers.

[0087] FIG. 1b shows a drawer 2 in isolation, wherein the drawer 2 comprises an arrangement of two drawer side walls 25 for the drawer 2 in the form of U-shaped and metallic frames. The drawer 2 comprises a drawer front 28 and a drawer rear wall 29.

[0088] FIG. 2 differs from FIG. 1b only in that the drawer 2 is shown with a view of the underside of the drawer base 1. The drawer side walls 25 comprise coupling devices for connection to the guide device, wherein in general one of the drawer side walls 25 may comprise container rails for supporting the drawer base 1 and/or for connection to drawer rails of the guide device, or may be designed without container rails, wherein the drawer base 1 can be arranged in profiles of the drawer side walls 25 and/or a coupling with the drawer rails can be effected via a furniture fitting (which can be inserted into the drawer side wall 25).

[0089] The drawer side walls 25 comprise openings for inserting fastening means 31, which are not absolutely necessary, whereby, for example, an opening can be made in the course of a fixing process step of the drawer base 1 with the drawer side wall 25.

[0090] The drawer side walls 25 each comprise a U-shaped fastening device 26 (see FIG. 9a) for connecting the drawer base 1 to the drawer side wall 25, wherein the drawer base 1 is arranged within the fastening device 26.

[0091] The drawer front 28 and the drawer rear wall 29 each comprise a further U-shaped fastening device 30, wherein the drawer base 1 is arranged within the further fastening devices 30. However, the further fastening devices are generally not absolutely necessary.

[0092] FIG. 3a shows a drawer 2 in sectional view, wherein the enlarged detail section in the area where the drawer base 1 is connected to a drawer side wall 25 shows that the drawer base 1 comprises a spacer 33 which is arranged on the drawer base 1 by means of a fixing means 34 in the form of gluing or bonding. A further spacer 33 is arranged in mirror symmetry on the opposite side of the drawer base 1, whereby in general at least one further spacer 33 may be provided on the adjacent side surfaces 4.

[0093] The dotted line indicates that it may be provided that the spacer 33 can be snapped into the fastening devices 36 by elastic deformation and form-fitting. The drawer side wall 25 can have one (preferably two or three) retaining devices 37 that can be pivoted relative to the fastening devices 26 or can be detached from the fastening devices 26, with which the spacer 33 can be secured within the fastening device 26. In this embodiment, the retaining device 37 is designed as an inclined plane for snapping in and securing the spacer 33. Alternatively, or in addition, the spacer 33 can be clamped in the fastening devices 36 in a force-fitting manner if the holding device 37 in the form of the inclined plane extends, for example, into the area of the positioning of the spacer 33.

[0094] The spacer 33 is arranged on the drawer base 1 in such a way that a first thickness 5 of the drawer base 1 in the vertical direction 6 in the state of use 7 of the drawer base 1 through the spacer 33 in the region of the side surface 4 of the drawer base 1 is greater than a second thickness 8 in the vertical direction 6 in the state of use 7 of the drawer base 1 in a central region in the region of a center point 9 of the drawer base 1.

[0095] The second thickness 8 is less than the usual 16 mm of standard drawer base designs, whereby the second thickness 8 can be reduced to below 8 mm, for example.

[0096] With two spacers 33 or one spacer 33 extending across at least two side surfaces 4, the thickening or underlaying of the drawer base 1 in the area of connection to the drawer side wall 25 is carried out across at least two side surfaces 4 of the drawer base 1.

[0097] In this embodiment, the drawer base 1 is precisely adapted to an internal distance 27 of the fastening device 26, whereby in general a clearance (compensatable via fastening means 31) may be provided for easier assembly. It is also conceivable to provide a (slight) oversize in order to ensure a secure fit.

[0098] The spacer 33 is designed as a wooden strip with a rectangular shape and is separate from the plate-shaped material of the drawer base 1.

[0099] FIGS. 3b, 3c, and 3d differ from FIG. 3a only in that different spacers 33 are provided in the area of the side surface 4 of the drawer base 1 for connection to the drawer side wall 25. Featuressuch as geometry or materialof one of the spacers 33 may be provided alternatively or in addition to other spacers 33.

[0100] The spacer 33 in FIG. 3b is made of metal and has a U-shape. Other geometries such as T-shape or X-shape are generally possible.

[0101] The spacer 33 in FIG. 3c is formed from wood-like material by cutting and has a chamfer 35 on the surface facing away from the drawer base 1, which can generally be provided on the side facing the drawer base 1.

[0102] The spacer 33 in FIG. 3d is formed as a molded plastic part, has an L-shape, and is hollow with a plurality of stiffening struts 36.

[0103] A third thickness 38 of the spacer 33 is greater than the material thickness 32 of the second thickness 8, wherein the third thickness 38 of the spacer 33 may also be less than the material thickness 32.

[0104] FIG. 4a shows spacers 33 extending in areas across side surfaces 4, whereby spacers 33 extending across the entire extent of side surface 4 may also be provided in general.

[0105] FIG. 4b shows four spacers 33 before being attached to the plate-shaped material of the drawer base 1 by means of fixing means 34 in the form of screws. In general, the fixing means 34 can be designed to have a dual function as fastening means 31 for connecting the drawer base 1 to the drawer side wall 25. The drill holes in the spacers for the fixing means 34 are not absolutely necessary.

[0106] FIG. 4c differs from FIG. 4b only in that the drawer base 1 is shown from below when installed.

[0107] FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d show the spacers 33 according to FIGS. 3a to 3d in perspective view with enlarged detail section to illustrate the geometry, wherein the respective spacer 33 can be snapped into the fastening devices 36 by elastic deformation or form-fitting, or can be clamped into the fastening devices 36 by a force-fitting connection, or can be secured by a retaining device 37 of the drawer side wall 25 or the drawer base 1.

[0108] A method for manufacturing the drawer base 1 by means of a spacer may be based on providing a plate-shaped starting material and arranging a spacer 33 in the area of at least two side surfaces 4 of the drawer base 1 so that the drawer base 1 becomes thicker in the area of the at least two side surfaces 4 relative to a central area.

[0109] The following figures show spacers 33 based on folds 3, whereby the folds 3 can generally be replaced by a spacer 33 as shown in FIGS. 5a-5d, for example.

[0110] FIG. 6a shows the drawer base 1 of drawer 2 in isolation, viewed from above. The drawer base 1 comprises two folds 3 on each of the four side surfaces 4 as spacers 33, so that, in the area of the side surfaces 4 of the drawer base 1, a first thickness 5 in the vertical direction 6 in the state of use 7 of the drawer base 1 is greater than a second thickness 8 in the vertical direction 6 in the state of use 7 of the drawer base 1 in the central area (in the area of the center point 9) of the drawer base 1. The number of folds 3 per side surface 4 is generally arbitrary. In general, folds 3 can also be arranged on only two opposite side surfaces 4.

[0111] Below are four schematic illustrations of possible sub-areas of the drawer bottom 1:

[0112] On the left, the drawer base 1 has a carrier layer 20 and a decorative layer 21, which can generally be arranged in areas between the drawer side walls 25 and can be positioned securely on the drawer base 1, for example by gluing. A decorative layer 21 completely covering the carrier layer 20 on one side is also possible, whereby the decorative layer 21 can be folded together with the carrier layer 21. As a separate material layer, the decorative layer 21 does not refer to the second thickness 8 with a lateral extension of a material thickness 32. However, the decorative layer 21 is not absolutely necessary.

[0113] On the center left, a film layer 23 is applied to the drawer base 1, which acts as an articulated connection 13 in the form of a flexible layer 15. The flexible layer 15 can, for example, be an elastic film.

[0114] On the center right, a layer of adhesive 22 is arranged on the drawer base 1, which acts as a hinged connection 13 in the form of a film hinge 14. The film hinge 14 can, for example, be an adhesive hinge or an adhesive layerpreferably a PU-based hot melt adhesive.

[0115] On the right, the drawer base 1 has an articulated connection 13 in the form of a milled recess 16 and residual material 17. Alternatively, or in addition to the milled recess 16, a recess may be provided in drawer base 1.

[0116] The four schematic examples of layer structures of the drawer base 1 can be used alternatively or in combination to generate the at least two folds 3 of the carrier layer 21.

[0117] An example of a method for manufacturing the drawer base 1 can be explained as follows: The drawer base 1 is prepared from a plate-shaped starting material by machining, the drawer base 1 is connected in an articulated manner by the film hinge 14 or the flexible layer 15 or the milled recess 16, and the drawer base 1 is folded via the articulated connection 13 to a multiple of its material thickness 32 in the area of the center point 9. If the film hinge 14 or the flexible layer 15 is used, segments of the drawer base 1 can be hinged to the foldable drawer bottom 1 at a later stage.

[0118] Alternatively, or in addition, a plate-shaped starting material can be provided with a film hinge 14 or a flexible layer 15, the plate-shaped starting material can be machined in areas, in particular up to the film hinge 14 or the flexible layer 15, to form the hinged connection 13 and the drawer base 1, and the drawer base 1 is folded to a multiple of its material thickness 32 in the area of the center point 9. In this case, the hinged connection is generated by the machining process step, for example sawing or milling. If residual material 17 is used for the hinge connection 13, the film hinge 14 or the flexible layer 15 can be omitted.

[0119] FIG. 6b shows that an articulated connection 13 is arranged on the outside of the side surface 4 of the drawer base 1 and that a further articulated connection 13 is arranged oriented toward the center point 9. Alternatively, or in addition, it is possible to arrange the articulated connection between the layers 18 formed by the fold 3.

[0120] The folds 3 are designed as 180 folds 10, with two alternating 180 folds 10 provided per side surface 4.

[0121] In general, a fold 3 can be fixed to the drawer base 1 or a fold 3 can be fixed to an adjacent fold 3 by means of an adhesive bond.

[0122] In the area of a corner edge 24, the second thickness 8 is equal to the first thickness 5, as there is a recess in the folds 3 in the corner area. The two adjacent folds 3 of neighboring side surfaces 4 extend only partially across the side surfaces 4. In general, this arrangement can only be provided for one side surface 4 or for folds 3 of opposite side surfaces 4.

[0123] FIG. 6c shows the drawer base 1 in an enlarged sectional view, wherein two folds 3 are provided on the side surface 4 so that three layers 18 of the drawer base 1 are formed.

[0124] It may generally be provided that the drawer base 1 has a projection or a chamfer or a groove in the area of a fold 3, on which the articulated connection 13 is arranged in areas or completely.

[0125] In a drawer base plane 19, the first thickness 5 extends from the side surface 4 toward the center point 9 of the drawer base 1 between 2% and 15% and over a maximum of 5 cm.

[0126] The first thickness 5 isapart from a slight spacing generated by the articulated connection200% greater than the second thickness 8, since the material thickness 32 of the drawer base 1 is folded twice at the center point 9.

[0127] In this embodiment, the first thickness 5 is 24 mm and/or the second thickness 8 is 8 mm.

[0128] FIG. 7a shows the drawer 2 with the drawer base 1 in the assembled state as shown in FIG. 3c in sectional view, where the first thickness 5 is adjusted over the folds 3 in such a way that it corresponds to the drawer side walls 25 so that the drawer base 1 essentially corresponds to a vertically oriented inner distance 27 of the fastening devices 26 in the arrangement's state of use 7.

[0129] There may be a clearance (for example, a maximum of 10% or 5% of the internal distance 27) between the internal distance 27 and the first thickness 5, which facilitates mounting of the drawer base 1 on the drawer side wall 25 and can be compensated for by a fastening means 31. The inner distance 27 can be regarded as the minimum distance between opposite contours of the fastening device 26.

[0130] FIG. 7b differs from FIG. 7a only in that the intersection line is guided by a fastening means 31 for secure fixing of the drawer base 1 to the drawer side wall 35. The drawer base 1 is fixed to the drawer side walls 25 via the fastening means 31 (the number of which is generally arbitrary and can be predefined depending on the load-bearing requirements of the drawer 2). Alternatively, or in addition to the fastening means 31, a plastic deformation (for example, a neck-in or indentation of metal material of the drawer side wall 25 into wood-like material of the drawer base 1) can be used to connect the drawer base 1 to the drawer side walls 25 in a force-fitting or form-fitting manner.

[0131] The fastening means 31 penetrates two of the three layers 18 of the drawer base 1 formed by the fold 3 completely and the third layer 18 in some areas. In general, the uppermost layer 18 in the vertical direction 6 can be pressed against the fastening device 26 by the fastening means. In the state of use 7, pressing can take place in the vertical direction 6 upwards or by tensile forces in the vertical direction 6 downwards (see FIG. 7d).

[0132] FIG. 7c shows an example of an arrangement with a drawer base 1 comprising 90 folds 11ensured by the articulated connection 13. A front edge of the side surface 4 can be used here for support on the fastening device 26.

[0133] In the state of use 7 of the arrangement, the fastening means 31 is arranged completely laterally adjacent to the layer 18 formed by the fold 3 in the vertical direction 6.

[0134] FIG. 7d shows an arrangement with a drawer base 1 folded once on the side surface 4, wherein two layers 18 are formed by the fold 3, which are securely connected to the fastening device 26 via the fastening means 31.

[0135] An exemplary method for assembling the arrangement can be carried out as follows: The drawer base 1 is provided by a method for manufacturing the drawer base 1, the two drawer side walls 25 are each provided with a fastening device 26 during the manufacturing process, and the drawer base 1 is then arranged within the fastening devices 26.

[0136] The drawer base 1 can be fixed within the fastening device 26 by means of the fastening means 31. Alternatively, or in addition, fixation can be ensured by a force fit or form fit between the drawer base 1 and the fastening device 26, wherein the fastening device 26 can, for example, have a geometry that tapers toward the drawer base 1. A shape tapering towards the center point 9 of the drawer base 1 can also help to press the drawer base 1 against the drawer side wall 25.

[0137] In a preparatory process step, for example using an algorithm of a computing unit, the first thickness 5 can be adjusted to an inner distance 27 of the fastening devices 26, or an inner distance 27 of the fastening devices 26 can be adjusted to the first thickness 5, or the second thickness 8 can be adjusted to a minimum load threshold value or a maximum load threshold value.