DE20308217U1 - Damping and retraction device - Google Patents

Description

Damping and retraction device

The present invention relates to a damping and retraction device for sliding elements in the form of high-extension drawers with a force accumulator which is tensioned during the opening process of a sliding element and whose stored force is used during the closing process as a retraction aid into the final closed position, and with a damper by means of which a counterforce is applied shortly before the final closed position is reached, counteracting the direction of the closing forces and dampening the closing movement, and in which the force accumulator and the damper are arranged in a common, elongated housing which is attached to a movable element.

The damping and retraction device in question is known in many designs. The sliding elements are, for example, drawers in cabinets, sliding doors for cabinets or sliding doors as room dividers.

The damping and retraction device in question is also referred to as a self-retraction device, as it is intended to ensure that the sliding element is reliably pulled into the closed position, whereby the damper is intended to ensure that

LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENT ATTORNEY^ 4fi&ROPE^N iAfSHT ANb TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 2

the sliding element is pulled into the closed position at low speed so that no disturbing noise is generated when the sliding element hits a stop.

The damping and closing devices known to date are designed for drawers, such as those used in tall furniture arranged one above the other. The height and mass of these drawers, including the objects stored in them, are relatively small.

However, there are also so-called high-extension drawers, which are used for kitchen furniture and pharmacy equipment.

The masses of these sliding elements are significantly larger, so that the damping and retraction devices used to date are not able to pull the sliding element into the closed position.

The present invention is based on the object of designing a damping and retraction device of the type described in more detail at the outset in a structurally simple manner so that it can also be used for high extensions with a relatively high mass, while ensuring that it operates without disruption.

The stated object is achieved in that a driver is arranged in the housing so as to be pivotable and displaceable and which is connected to the energy accumulator, and in that the driver is provided with an arm which penetrates a slot in the housing and has a guide web at its free end, and in that the driver has a locking web and an unlocking web parallel to and at a distance from the guide web on the side opposite the guide web.

The energy storage device and the damper are now aligned for the masses to be moved. The housing is designed so that the forces to be applied can be safely dissipated.

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 3

The damping and retraction device is a unit that can be mounted at a suitable location in the area of the guide rails.

The boom in conjunction with the guide bar ensures that the driver is guided safely when the energy accumulator is tensioned when the sliding element is extended and also when it pulls the sliding element into the closed position when the tension is released. The locking bar ensures that when the energy accumulator is tensioned, the driver is locked in position, while the unlocking bar removes this locking so that the energy accumulator pulls the sliding element into the closed position.

The locking of the driver is achieved in a structurally simple manner when, in the tensioned state of the energy accumulator, the locking web of the driver pulls into a recess in the housing, and that during the extension movement of the sliding element the webs opposite the guide web slide on the housing.

The guide bar and the locking recess are located on the opposite narrow sides of the housing.
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In a further embodiment, it is also provided that a fixed control cam for the driver is arranged on a stationary component of the sliding element or the fitting.

When the sliding element is extended, this control cam causes the energy storage device to be tensioned. The control cam engages in the space between the locking bar and the unlocking bar.

As soon as the locking recess reaches the area of the locking bar, the driver is pivoted so that the control cam then comes out of engagement with the driver. When the sliding element is retracted, the unlocking bar hits the control cam in a certain position of the housing, whereby the driver is pivoted in the opposite direction and the control cam comes back into engagement with the driver. The energy storage can then

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LOESENBECK · STRACKE · SPECHT · DANTZ - PATENTANW^LT^-JSO^OyEjiN &zgr;&Agr;&Idigr;&Igr;&idiagr;&EEgr;&Tgr; ANjD TjADEl^ARK ATTORNEYS

Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 4

to pull the sliding element into the end position. The movement is slowed down by the damper.

For mounting the damping and retraction device, it is advantageous if the housing consists of two housing halves that are connected to each other by a film hinge or locked together.

The components can then be inserted into one half of the housing and the second half of the housing can then be locked into the first half. Alternatively, the housing can be made up of two halves that are only connected by locking. However, the connection via a film hinge offers the advantage that the halves of the housing are connected to each other in a way that prevents them from being lost.

The installation space for the damping and retraction devices is extremely small. It is therefore intended that at least one housing half has a triangular or trapezoidal cross-section, so that the housing as a whole has a conical cross-section. The second part, which can be considered to be component-free, is then expediently the housing half with the triangular or trapezoidal cross-section.

The housing would be visible, especially in the case of plate-shaped sliding elements such as sliding doors. Since it has openings, dirt would also get into the interior of the housing.

Even in furniture where containers are arranged on an extendable support frame, the housing would be visible, at least in the extended position. It is therefore intended that an apron that surrounds the housing is attached to the sliding part and/or the extendable guide rail. This apron is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the housing or the housing is adapted to the cross-sectional shape and consequently it contacts the walls.

Since the sliding elements in question often have guide rails on both sides of the sliding element, this apron is designed as a double

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 5

pel apron, whereby the two housing spaces are connected to each other via a central bridge. In practice, only one apron is ever required.

The driver is provided with a connection surface for a tab or a head of the damper so that a tab of the damper can be connected to the driver by a connecting element.

The driver is also equipped with a hook so that one end of the energy accumulator can be hooked into it when it is designed as a tension spring.

The housing is provided with a pin on the inside to hook the other end of the tension spring into.

This pin is conveniently arranged in the housing half which rests on the sliding element or the extendable guide rail.

The housing is also provided with a screw pin to connect the end of the damper facing away from the driver to it by means of a screw.

According to another embodiment, the housing is designed in one piece and is provided with openings on the broad sides so that the components of the damping and retraction device can be inserted. These openings can be provided at least in the area of the energy accumulator and the damper on the opposite broad sides of the housing, so that this area has an S-shaped cross section.

In this case, the area assigned to the driver could have a C-shaped cross-section in the basic profile.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 6

Show it:

Figure 1 shows a cupboard in the form of a high-extension drawer in perspective view with the sliding element extended,
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Figure 2 is a representation corresponding to Figure 1, but without aperture,

Figure 3 is a representation corresponding to Figure 2, but in a further

embodiment,
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Figure 4 shows the embodiment according to Figure 2 in a sectional view,

Figure 5 shows the design according to Figure 2, but with a section through the

Damping and retraction device,
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Figure 6 shows the damping and retraction device in an exploded view,

Figure 7 shows the damping and retraction device in the assembled state in a perspective view,

Figure 8 shows the damping and retraction device in a perspective view, but in a position rotated by 180°,

Figure 9 is a section along the line IX-IX in Figure 7,

characters

10-13 the driver of the damping and retraction device in four different positions,
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Figure 14 the guide rail and the damping and retraction device in an exploded view,

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 7

Figure 15 the damping and retraction device in an exploded view,

Figure 16 the damping and retraction device in a side view with the housing opened in the closed position of the sliding element,

Figure 17 is a view corresponding to Figure 16, but showing the damping and retraction device in the extended position of the sliding element,
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characters

18 and 19 the damping and retraction device in two different positions,

Figure 20 showing a section along the line XX-XX in Figure 19,

Figure 21 the guide rail with an apron and the damping and retraction device in a perspective view,

Figure 22 showing the housing of the damping and retraction device,

Figure 23 is a section along the line XXIII-XXIII in Figure 22,

Figure 24 is a section along the line XXIV-XXIV in Figure 22.

Figure 1 shows a cabinet 10 with a sliding element 11 that can be moved in and out, whereby the cabinet 10 is designed as a high extension, i.e. the height is relatively high. The upper floor 12 and the lower floor 13 are provided with generally known guide rails 14, 15 on the surfaces facing each other, which are not explained in more detail.

The sliding element 11 is also equipped with corresponding guide rails so that the sliding element 11 can be moved.

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 8

The sliding element 11 is provided with a support frame which has two vertical support rods 16 which are spaced apart from one another and are provided with rows of holes for hanging containers.
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The front side of the sliding element 11 is equipped with a cover 17 so that the cabinet 11 is also completely closed on the front side when the sliding element 11 is pushed in.

Figure 2 shows the cabinet 10 according to Figure 1, but with the panel 17 removed so that the rows of holes are visible.

Figure 2 shows that the holes in the rows of holes can be designed in the shape of a keyhole so that corresponding bolts with a head can be hooked into the vertical support rails. Figure 2 also shows that two double aprons 18, 19 are assigned to the upper and lower sides of the support frame 16, which serve to protect a damping and retraction device which will be explained in more detail below.

In the embodiment according to Figure 2, the double aprons are positioned so that the upper double apron 18 has two chambers opening upwards and the lower double apron 19 has two chambers opening downwards.

In the embodiment according to Figure 3, the double aprons 18, 19 are mounted in an arrangement rotated by 90° compared to the embodiment according to Figure 2, so that the two chambers are open to the side.

Figure 4 shows that a damping and retraction device, which will be explained in more detail later, is inserted into the right-hand chamber of the double apron 18. The damping and retraction device is mounted in a housing 20 which consists of the two housing halves 20a and 20b.

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 9

The housing half 20a facing the support rods 16 has a square cross-section, while the housing half 20b facing away from the support frame 16 has a triangular cross-section.

The two chambers of the double apron 18 are connected by a central web 21. The housing halves 20a, 20b and the double aprons 18, 19 are made of a plastic.

A driver 22, which is explained in more detail with reference to Figures 10-13, is slidably guided in the housing 20.

A force accumulator in the form of a tension spring 23 is attached to the driver 22. The other end of the tension spring 23 is attached to a projection of the housing half 20a. The driver 22 protrudes from the upper surface of the housing 20 because it is equipped on this side with a locking web 24 running transversely to the direction of displacement and with an unlocking web 25 running parallel and at a distance from it. The housing is provided with a slot on the upper side to allow the driver 22 to move.

The housing 20 is also provided with a slot on the lower side, since the driver 22 also penetrates the lower side of the housing 20.

On the lower side, the driver 22 is equipped with a guide web 26 which is at right angles to the plane of the driver 22 so that it engages behind the edge delimiting the lower slot.

Figure 6 shows that the two housing halves 20a and 20b of the housing 20 are connected to each other by a film hinge, so that the two housing parts are captively connected to each other.
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Furthermore, Figure 6 shows that the tension spring 23 is inserted into the housing 20.

Furthermore, the figure shows that the damping and retraction device is also equipped with a damper 27, for example in the form of a gas spring,

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 10

in order to pull the sliding element 11 into the end position by means of the action of the tensioned tension spring 23. The tension spring 23 is hooked onto a pin 28 with the end opposite the driver 22.

The damper 27 is connected to the driver 22, for example by a screw. The opposite end is pushed onto another pin 29, whereby the position of the damper 27 is secured by a screw (not shown).

Figures 7 and 8 show the damping and retraction device in the assembled state.

Figure 7 is directed towards the housing half 20b facing away from the support rods 16. The figure shows that the housing half 20b has a longitudinal slot which, in the assembled state, is covered by the adjacent wall of the double apron 18 or 19.

Figure 8 is directed towards the rear side, i.e. the side facing the support rods 16. In the side wall facing the support rods 16, a slot is provided through which the guide web 26 of the driver 22 passes.

Figure 9 shows that the guide web 26 of the driver 22 can also engage behind an inwardly directed web or the lower walls of the housing 20.

Figures 10-13 show the driver 22 in four different positions. The driver has the locking bar 24 and the unlocking bar 25 on the side associated with the guide rails 14, 15.
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Directly below the unlocking bar 25, a hole 30 is provided to connect the damper 27. Below this, the driver 22 is designed in the shape of a hook to hook the tension spring 23. From the locking bar 24,

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 11

a central web onto which the guide web 26 is formed. The driver 22 is made of a plastic by injection molding.

Figure 14 shows the upper fitting 14, which in the embodiment shown consists of three guide rails. As the figure also shows, the double apron 18 is connected to the guide rail 14 by screws.

The damping and retraction device 31 is then located in a chamber of the double apron 18.

Figure 15 shows the housing 20, the driver 22, the tension spring 23 and the damper 27 in an exploded view. It can be clearly seen from the figure that the driver 22 is provided with a semicircular recess into which the head of the extendable rod of the damper 27 engages. It is secured by a screw.

At the opposite end, the damper 27 is provided with a foot that is identical to the head, so that it can be pushed onto the pin 29. It is then secured by screwing in a screw.
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Figure 16 shows the damping and retraction device with the folded-down housing part 20b.

A slot 32 is provided in the upper wall of the housing half 20a, into which the driver 22 slides. A stationary control cam 33 is attached to the upper base 12 or to a guide rail, which could also be referred to as an activator since it engages in the space between the locking web 24 and the unlocking web 25.

Figure 16 shows the damping and retraction device 31 in the closed position of the sliding element 11. In this position, the tension spring 23 is not tensioned or only slightly tensioned. If the housing 20 is moved to the right as shown by the extension movement of the sliding element 11, the tension spring 23 is tensioned. In addition, the piston rod of the damper 27 extends.

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 12

A recess 34 is provided in the upper wall of the housing half 20a, into which the slot 32 opens. The recess 34 is designed so that the locking web 24 is inserted into it, as shown in Figure 17. In this position, the housing or the damping and retraction device 31 can be moved further without the tension spring 23 being tensioned. The driver 22 then comes out of the area of the control cam 33.

The extension movement of the sliding element 11 is indicated by the arrow A.

Figure 17 shows that when the sliding element 11 is retracted in the direction of arrow B, in a certain position the unlocking web 25 of the driver 22 strikes the control cam 33, whereby the locking web 24 is pivoted out of the recess 34, so that the tensioned tension spring 23 now relaxes and thereby pulls the sliding element 11 into the end position.

Figures 18 and 19 show the damping and retraction device 31 from the upper side, but in a rotated position.
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In particular, Figure 19 shows the recess 34 into which the locking web 24 is pressed when the sliding element 11 is extended.

Figure 20 shows that the lower sides of the housing halves 20a, 20b partially offset inwards and that the guide web 26 of the driver 22 is arranged in this offset region.

Figure 21 shows that the damping and retraction device 31 rests against the web of the double apron 18.
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Figures 22-24 show a housing 35 which is made in one piece. It must be designed in such a way that it is open at the sides in order to be able to insert the driver 22, the tension spring 23 and the damper 27 into it.

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Registration text dated 22.05.2003 Page 13

Figure 23 shows that the housing 35 outside the range of movement of the driver 22 is C-shaped in its basic cross-section.

The housing is S-shaped in the movement area of the driver 23. This housing is also made of plastic using the injection molding process.

The function of the damping and retraction device 31 corresponds to the previous solution.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

It is important that the guide of the driver 22 is extremely precise to ensure that it functions properly. It is also important that the driver 22 is guided on the upper and lower sides. This is achieved according to the embodiment by the locking bar 24 and the unlocking bar 25 as well as by the guide bar 26.

Claims (13)

1. Damping and retraction device ( 31 ) for sliding elements ( 11 ) which are guided in guide rails ( 14 , 15 ), with a force accumulator ( 23 ) which is tensioned during the opening process of a sliding element ( 11 ) and whose stored force is used during the closing process as a retraction aid into the final closed position, and with a damper ( 27 ) by means of which, shortly before the final closed position is reached, a counterforce is applied which counteracts the direction of the closing forces and dampens the closing movement, and the force accumulator ( 23 ) and the damper ( 27 ) are arranged in a common, elongated housing ( 20 ) which is fastened to a movable element, characterized in that a driver ( 22) is arranged in the housing (20 ) so as to be pivotable and displaceable and which is connected to the force accumulator ( 23 ), and that the driver is connected to an arm ( 22 ) which penetrates a slot in the housing ( 20 ) and has a guide web ( 26 ) at its free end, and that the driver ( 22 ) has a locking web ( 24 ) and an unlocking web ( 25 ) parallel to and at a distance from the guide web ( 26 ) on the side opposite the guide web ( 26 ). 2. Damping and retraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the tensioned state the energy accumulator ( 23 ) pulls the locking web ( 24 ) of the driver ( 22 ) into a recess ( 34 ) of the housing ( 20 ) and that during the extension movement of the sliding element the webs ( 24 , 25 ) opposite the guide web ( 26 ) slide on the housing ( 20 ). 3. Damping and retraction device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a fixed control cam ( 33 ) for the driver ( 22 ) is provided on a stationary component of the sliding element or the fitting. 4. Damping and retraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing ( 20 ) consists of two housing halves ( 20 a, 20 b) which are connected to one another by a film hinge and locked together. 5. Damping and retraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing ( 20 ) consists of two housing halves ( 20 a, 20 b) which are exclusively locked together. 6. Damping and retraction device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1-5, characterized in that the housing ( 20 ) has a conical cross-section and that at least one housing half has a triangular or trapezoidal cross-section. 7. Damping and retraction device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that an apron ( 18 , 19 ) surrounding the damping and retraction device ( 31 ) is fixed to the sliding part ( 11 ) and/or to an extendable guide rail ( 14 , 15 ). 8. Damping and retraction device according to claim 7, characterized in that each apron is designed as a double apron ( 18 , 19 ) and that the two chambers are connected to one another by a central web. 9. Damping and retraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the driver ( 22 ) is equipped with a connection surface for a tab or a head of the damper ( 27 ). 10. Damping and retraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the driver ( 22 ) has a hook for hanging the energy accumulator ( 23 ). 11. Damping and retraction device according to one or more of the preceding claims 1-10, characterized in that the housing ( 22 ) is equipped on the inside with pins ( 28 , 29 ) for fixing the energy accumulator ( 23 ) and the damper ( 27 ). 12. Damping and retraction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing ( 35 ) is formed in one piece and that openings are provided on the broad sides. 13. Damping and retraction device according to claim 12, characterized in that the housing has an S-shaped basic cross-section in the movement range of the driver and a C-shaped basic cross-section in the area outside the movement range of the driver ( 22 ).