Drawer guide

A drawer guide for guiding a drawer which is extendable out of a carcass in an extension direction is provided with a guidance unit configured as a vertical guidance unit and a guidance unit configured as a lateral guidance unit. The two guidance units each comprise a carcass-side guidance rail and a drawer-side guidance unit mounted on rolling bodies. The two guidance units are coupled to each other by a coupling device.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a drawer guide which is used, in particular, in furniture construction and mechanical engineering, as well as in the field of white goods. A drawer guide serves in particular for guiding a drawer which is extendable out of a carcass in an extension direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object underlying the present invention is to provide a drawer guide which is stably formed and enables the reliable guidance of drawers with an unfavorable width-depth ratio.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a drawer guide in accordance with Claim1.

The drawer guide in accordance with the invention is a drawer guide for guiding a drawer which is extendable out of a carcass in an extension direction.

The drawer guide preferably comprises a guidance unit configured as a vertical guidance unit and a guidance unit configured as a lateral guidance unit.

The two guidance units preferably each comprise a carcass-side guidance rail and a drawer-side guidance rail mounted on rolling bodies.

The two guidance units are preferably coupled to each other by means of a coupling device.

A vertical guidance unit is in particular a guidance unit of the kind such that a maximum force absorption for guiding the drawer in at least approximately vertical direction is possible.

The vertical guidance unit preferably serves in the usage state of the drawer guide for absorbing the weight force of the drawer and the contents located therein.

The lateral guidance unit preferably serves for directional stabilization and/or lateral stabilization and in the assembled state of the drawer guide preferably absorbs no or only small weight forces of the drawer and the contents located therein.

The vertical guidance unit and the lateral guidance unit of a drawer guide are preferably together associated with one of two sides of the drawer to be guided. In particular, associated with the further of the two sides of the drawer to be guided is a further drawer guide which in particular comprises a further vertical guidance unit and/or a further lateral guidance unit.

The at least one guidance unit preferably comprises at least one central rail which is arranged between the carcass-side guidance rail and the drawer-side guidance rail. The at least one central rail is in particular mounted on the carcass-side guidance rail by means of rolling bodies and is displaceable relative to the same. The drawer-side guidance rail is in particular mounted on the at least one central rail by means of rolling bodies and is displaceable relative to the same.

Each guidance unit preferably comprises at least one central rail.

In particular, the guidance units each comprise identical numbers of guidance rails, i.e. in each case one carcass-side guidance rail, one drawer-side guidance rail, and at least one central rail. However, different numbers of guidance rails may be provided for the guidance units.

The formulations selected in this description and the appended claims, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, “down”, etc., are in relation in particular to the assembled state of the drawer guide and/or a usage state of the drawer guide. In particular, the terms “up” and “down”, etc. are hereby preferably interchangeable with each other, depending on the installation situation of the drawer guide.

In one configuration of the invention, provision may be made for the carcass-side guidance rails of the two guidance units to be connected to each other by means of the coupling device so as to be immovable in relation to the extension direction.

Alternatively or in addition hereto, provision may be made for the drawer-side guidance rails of the two guidance units to be connected to each other by means of the coupling device so as to be immovable in relation to the extension direction.

As a result, the guidance units may in particular together be brought into an extended as well as an inserted state.

A relative movement of the carcass-side guidance rails relative to each other along the extension direction is hereby preferably effectively prevented.

Alternatively or in addition hereto, provision may be made for a relative movement of the drawer-side guidance rails relative to each other along the extension direction to be effectively prevented.

It may be favorable if the carcass-side guidance rails of the two guidance units are connected to each other by means of the coupling device so as to be immovable in relation to a spatial direction aligned perpendicular to the extension direction.

Alternatively or in addition hereto, provision may be made for the drawer-side guidance rails of the two guidance units to be connected to each other by means of the coupling device so as to be immovable in relation to a spatial direction aligned perpendicular the extension direction.

For this purpose, an optimized force transmission in a spatial direction aligned perpendicular to the extension direction is preferably possible in order to, for example, stabilize one of the guidance units, in particular the vertical guidance unit, in said spatial direction aligned perpendicular to the extension direction by means of the further guidance unit, in particular the lateral guidance unit.

Provision may be made for the carcass-side guidance rails of the two guidance units to be connected to each other by means of the coupling device so as to be immovable in relation to all spatial directions.

Alternatively or in addition hereto, provision may be made for the drawer-side guidance rails of the two guidance units to be connected to each other by means of the coupling device so as to be immovable in relation to all spatial directions.

However, it may be favorable if the carcass-side guidance rails of the two guidance units are connected to each other by means of the coupling device so as to be movable in relation to a spatial direction aligned perpendicular to the extension direction.

Alternatively or in addition hereto, provision may be made for the drawer-side guidance rails of the two guidance units to be connected to each other by means of the coupling device so as to be moveable in relation to a spatial direction aligned perpendicular the extension direction.

As a result, in particular a relative movement of the carcass-side guidance rails and the drawer-side guidance rails, respectively, of the two guidance units relative to each other in a spatial direction is made possible in which no stabilizing function is necessary.

In particular, provision may be made for the carcass-side guidance rails of the two guidance units to be connected to each other so as to be immovable in relation to all spatial directions, while the drawer-side guidance rails of the two guidance units are connected to each other so as to be immovable in only two spatial directions running perpendicular to each other. The one spatial direction in which the drawer-side guidance rails are moveably connected to each other is then in particular a vertical spatial direction, i.e. the direction of gravity.

Alternatively to the embodiment stated above, provision may be made for the drawer-side guidance rails of the guidance units to be connected to each other so as to be immovable in relation to all spatial directions. The carcass-side guidance rails of the guidance units are then preferably connected to each other so as to be immovable in only two spatial directions running perpendicular to each other. The one spatial direction in which the carcass-side guidance rails are moveably connected to each other is then preferably a vertical direction, in particular the direction of gravity.

One or multiple or all coupling elements may preferably be formed by the carcass.

Further, one or multiple or all coupling elements may be formed by the drawer.

The one or the multiple or all the coupling elements are preferably elements different from the carcass and/or the drawer.

It may be advantageous if the coupling device comprises one or more coupling elements which are fixed on both sides on rail backs of the carcass-side guidance rails.

Alternatively or in addition hereto, provision may be made for the coupling device to comprise one or more coupling elements which are fixed on both sides on rail backs of the drawer-side guidance rails.

The one or more coupling elements are hereby preferably each fixed at one end on a rail back of a carcass-side guidance rail of a guidance unit and at the other end on a rail back of the carcass-side guidance rail of the further guidance unit.

Alternatively or in addition hereto, provision may be made for one or more coupling elements to each be fixed, on the one hand, on a rail back of the drawer-side guidance rail of a guidance unit and, on the other hand, on a rail back of the drawer-side guidance rail of the further guidance unit.

The coupling device preferably comprises two or more than two coupling elements which are brought or able to be bought into engagement with each other for coupling two guidance rails. The two or more than two coupling elements are preferably moveable relative to each other in one or more spatial directions, in particular in exactly one spatial direction.

One of the coupling elements preferably comprises a pin or is configured as a pin.

A further one of the coupling elements preferably has a through-opening for accommodating and/or guiding the pin.

The pin and/or the through-opening may be provided, in particular protected, e.g., with an additional element. The additional element preferably comprises a plastics material or is formed therefrom and serves in particular for reducing friction and/or for reducing a development of noise upon a movement of the coupling elements relative to each other.

The additional element may, for example, be a guidance ring which surrounds the pin and prevents a direct contact of the pin with the coupling element having the through-opening. The guidance ring may hereby be immovably fixed on the pin or on the coupling element having the through-opening.

The two or more than two coupling elements preferably form a floating bearing connection for connecting two guidance rails of the two guidance units in such a way that the same are preferably moveable relative to each other in relation to only one spatial direction. This spatial direction is in particular the vertical spatial direction.

One or more coupling elements are preferably of substantially L-shaped configuration.

Preferably a section of one such coupling element, extending substantially vertically, is fixed on a guidance rail, in particular a rail back of a guidance rail, of the vertical guidance unit.

A horizontal section of one such coupling element is preferably fixed on a guidance rail, in particular a rail back of a guidance rail, of the lateral guidance unit.

One or more coupling elements are formed, e.g., of a metallic material and/or a plastics material or comprise a metallic material and/or a plastics material.

For example, the one or more coupling elements are sheet metal bending products.

For connecting two guidance rails of the two guidance units so as to be immovable in relation to all spatial directions, for example exactly two or exactly three coupling elements are provided.

For fixing two further guidance rails of the two guidance units so as to be moveable in only one spatial direction, in particular two coupling elements which are brought or able to be brought into engagement with each other are provided two or three times.

The coupling device preferably comprises one or more coupling elements which each have one or more stiffening ribs. As a result, in particular a stabilization of the respective coupling element may be achieved in order to ultimately stabilize the guidance rails relative to each other, which are connected to each other by means of said one or more coupling elements.

One or more coupling elements of the coupling device, by means of which the carcass-side guidance rails of the guidance units are connected to each other, are in particular mountable directly on a carcass. In the assembled state of the drawer guides, said one or more coupling elements preferably abut directly against the carcass.

The carcass-side guidance rails of the two guidance units are then preferably fixed or fixable indirectly on the carcass by means of said one or more coupling elements.

One or more coupling elements of the coupling device for coupling the drawer-side guidance rails of the two guidance units are preferably mountable directly on the drawer. For example, the drawer may be fixed, for example hung, latched, etc., directly on one or more coupling elements for coupling the drawer-side guidance rails of the two guidance units. In the assembled state of the drawer guide, the drawer is preferably fixed indirectly on the drawer-side guidance rails by means of said one or more coupling elements.

The guidance rails of the vertical guidance unit preferably have at least one rail back which each connects two legs of the respective guidance rail to each other. The rail backs of the guidance units of the vertical guidance unit are preferably aligned at least approximately vertical.

The legs of the guidance rails preferably comprise or form rolling body tracks for accommodating and guiding the rolling bodies.

The term “at least approximately” is to be understood in this description and the appended claims in particular as a deviation of at most about 20%, preferably at most about 10%, for example at most about 5%, of the specified value.

It may be favorable if the guidance rails of the lateral guidance unit each have at least one rail back which each connects two legs of the respective guidance rail to each other. The rail backs of the guidance rails of the lateral guidance unit are preferably aligned transverse to a vertical direction, in particular at least approximately horizontal.

The lateral guidance unit is preferably arranged entirely beneath or entirely above the vertical guidance unit.

In particular, the lateral guidance unit and the vertical guidance unit are preferably arranged entirely one above the other or one beneath the other.

The drawer guide in accordance with the invention is suited in particular for use in combination with a carcass, a drawer, and a further drawer guide.

The present invention therefore also relates to a combination which comprises the following:

a carcass, a drawer which is extendable out of the carcass in an extension direction, and two drawer guides, in particular drawer guides in accordance with the invention for accommodating and guiding the drawer.

The combination is in particular a cabinet-like piece of furniture or cabinet-like machine part or household appliance or a component of a piece of furniture or of a machine or of a household appliance.

The drawer guides together with the drawer form in particular full-extension drawers in which the drawer is at least approximately entirely extendable out of the carcass. Further, the drawer guides together with drawer may form a partial-extension drawer in which the drawer is only partially extendable out of the carcass and remains in the carcass at least at least in sections, even in the fully-extended state of the drawer guides.

Further, provision may be made for the drawer guides together with the drawer to form an over-extension drawer in which the drawer is extendable entirely out of the carcass and moreover is further removable from the carcass.

The combination in accordance with the invention preferably has individual or multiple of the features and/or advantages described in conjunction with the drawer guide in accordance with the invention.

It may be favorable if a width of the drawer corresponds to at least about 1.5 times, preferably at least about 2 times, a length of the drawer.

A width of the drawer is hereby in particular at least approximately a maximum horizontal distance between the two drawer guides. A length of the drawer is in particular a maximum extension thereof along the extension direction.

A maximum extension length and/or a maximum extension path of the two drawer guides preferably corresponds to at most about 0.8 times a width of the drawer.

The two drawer guides are preferably formed and/or arranged mirror-symmetrical to each other in relation to a vertical center plane of the drawer, running parallel to the extension direction.

The two drawer guides are preferably not forcibly coupled. Rather, the only connection between the two drawer guides is preferably produced by the drawer.

In particular, a toothed rod coupling which is typical in conventional drawer guides for wide drawers for uniform movement of the drawer guides is preferably expendable.

In particular, a load-related lowering of the drawer-side guidance rails of the vertical guidance units of the two drawer guides is preferably possible independently of a vertical load or a vertical deformation or movement of the drawer-side guidance rails of the lateral guidance units of the two drawer guides.

The lateral guidance units of the two drawer guides may thus preferably serve exclusively for the lateral stabilization and reliable guidance of the drawer and are thereby preferably not loaded by high weight forces which act on the drawer and are substantially entirely absorbed by the vertical guidance units.

Further preferred features and/or advantages of the invention are the subject matter of the subsequent description and the illustrative depiction of an exemplary embodiment.

The same or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment, depicted inFIGS. 1 to 6, of a drawer guide designated as a whole with100serves to guide a drawer102relative to a carcass104(seeFIG. 6).

The drawer102is hereby in particular able to be extended out of an inner space of the carcass104and inserted into the same.

The drawer guide100comprises multiple guidance rails which are moveable relative to each other.

In particular, the drawer guide100comprises two carcass-side guidance rails106which in the assembled state of the drawer guide100are fixed on the carcass104. Further, the drawer guide100comprises two drawer-side guidance rails108which in the assembled state of the drawer guide100are fixed on the drawer102.

In each case one central rail110is provided between in each case one carcass-side guidance rail106and one drawer-side guidance rail108. The drawer guide100thus preferably comprises two central rails110.

As may be gathered in particular fromFIG. 3, two groups of in each case one carcass-side guidance rail106, one drawer-side guidance rail108, and one central rail110are provided. Each of these groups is subsequently referred to as a guidance unit112.

The guidance rails106,108,110preferably each have a substantially C-shaped cross section at least in sections.

Each guidance rail106,108,110hereby preferably comprises a rail back114which each connects at least two legs116of the respective guidance rail106,108,110to each other.

The legs116serve in particular as rolling body tracks118of the guidance rails106,108,110and thus for accommodating rolling bodies120of the drawer guide100.

The rolling bodies120are in particular guided in rolling body cages (not depicted) and enable a simple movement of the guidance rails106,108,110relative to each other.

The rolling bodies120are in particular balls122or cylinders.

The two guidance units112of the drawer guide100differ in particular in their alignment and thus in the direction in which the maximum forces are able to be absorbed and/or transmitted.

A guidance unit112is preferably configured as a vertical guidance unit124.

In said vertical guidance unit124, provision in made in particular for the rail backs114of the guidance rails106,108,110of the vertical guidance unit124to run at least approximately along a plane126which is aligned at least approximately vertical.

All rolling bodies120of the vertical guidance unit124are thereby preferably arranged one above the other in vertical direction158.

High weight forces of the drawer102are preferably absorbable and/or transmittable by means of the vertical guidance unit124.

A further guidance unit112is preferably configured as a lateral guidance unit128.

The lateral guidance unit128comprises in particular guidance rails106,108,110, the rail backs114of which are aligned transverse to the vertical direction158, for example at least approximately in horizontal direction160.

In particular, a plane130in which a rail back114of the drawer-side guidance rail108of the lateral guidance unit128extends preferably runs at least approximately horizontal.

The rail backs114of the two guidance units112are thus preferably aligned transverse to each other, in particular at least approximately perpendicular to each other.

By means of the lateral guidance unit128, an optimal force absorption and/or force transmission in horizontal direction160may preferably be achieved as a result.

The two guidance units112may thus supplement each other in the usage state of the drawer guide100in order to enable an optimal guidance of the drawer102along an extension direction132.

For this purpose, the guidance units112are coupled to each other by means of a coupling device134.

The coupling device134comprises in particular multiple coupling elements136for coupling guidance rails106,108,110of mutually different guidance units112.

For example, the coupling device134comprises two coupling elements136kby means of which the carcass-side guidance rails106of the two guidance units112are coupled to each other.

For example, the two carcass-side guidance rails106of the two guidance units112are firmly connected to each other by means of the coupling elements136kso as to be immovable in relation to all spatial directions.

The two coupling elements136khereby preferably each have an L-shape.

An at least approximately vertical section138of each one coupling element136kis preferably arranged on a rail back114of the carcass-side guidance rail106of the vertical guidance unit124, in particular on the outer side thereof.

An at least approximately horizontal section140of each one coupling element136kis preferably fixed on a rail back114of the carcass-side guidance rail106of the lateral guidance unit128, in particular on the outer side thereof.

The lateral guidance unit128is in particular arranged on an, in relation to the vertical direction158, overhead upper side142of the at least one approximately horizontal section130of each one coupling element136k.

The coupling device134further preferably comprises multiple coupling elements136afor coupling the drawer-side guidance rail108of the vertical guidance unit124to the drawer-side guidance rail108of the lateral guidance unit128.

Hereby preferably in each case two coupling elements136aare provided which are brought or able to be brought into engagement with each other into order to couple the two drawer-side guidance rails108of the two guidance units112to each other.

The two coupling elements136aof each one pair of coupling elements136aare hereby preferably moveable relative to each other in exactly one spatial direction and simultaneously are fixed relative to each other in the two further spatial direction aligned perpendicular to said first spatial direction.

By means of each one pair of coupling elements136a, the drawer-side guidance rails108of the two guidance units112are thus preferably moveable relative to each other in relation to a spatial direction and simultaneously are fixed relative to each other in the two spatial directions running perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to said first spatial direction.

A coupling element136aof one pair of coupling elements136ais configured, e.g., as a pin144.

The further coupling element136aof a pair of coupling elements136apreferably comprises a receptacle146for accommodating said pin144.

The receptacle146is configured in particular as a through-opening148in an at least approximately horizontal section140of an L-shaped coupling element136a.

In the assembled state of the drawer guide100, the pin144extends in particular in or counter to a movement direction150into the receptacle146, in particular through the through-opening148.

The movement direction150is in particular that direction in relation to which the two coupling elements136aof a pair of coupling elements136aand consequently also the two drawer-side guidance rails108of the two guidance units112are moveable relative to each other.

The movement direction150is in particular aligned at least approximately vertical.

In the assembled state of the drawer guide100, the two carcass-side guidance rails106of the two guidance units112are fixed on the carcass104in particular by means of the coupling elements136kconnected said carcass-side guidance rails106to each other.

For fixing the drawer102on the drawer-side guidance rails108of the guidance units112, one or more drawer receptacles152are preferably provided.

The one or more drawer receptacles152are in particular hanging-in tabs for hanging in the drawer102.

The drawer receptacles152are preferably arranged on coupling elements136aof the coupling device134.

In particular, the drawer receptacles152are arranged on those coupling elements136awhich are immovably fixed on the drawer-side guidance rails108of the vertical guidance unit124.

The entire drawer102is thus preferably accommodated so as to be moveable relative to the lateral guidance unit128in the movement direction150.

As may be gathered in particular fromFIGS. 1 and 2, the one or more coupling elements136preferably each comprise one or more stiffening ribs154which in particular are aligned at least approximately vertical. As a result, a stable configuration of the coupling elements136may be ensured, even with low material thickness of the material for the production of the coupling elements136.

The functioning of the drawer guide100is subsequently described in particular with reference toFIG. 4.

In the fully extended state of the drawer guide100, depicted inFIG. 4, relatively high bending moments and/or torques may result from the weight force of the drawer102, which deflect an, in relation to the extension direction132, front end156of the drawer-side guidance rail108of the vertical guidance unit124in the movement direction150.

The front end156of the drawer-side guidance rail108of the vertical guidance unit124is hereby moved in particular downward in substantially vertical direction158.

If the two guidance units112were now tightly and immovably coupled to each other, then this movement of the front end156of the drawer-side guidance rail108of the vertical guidance unit124would be transmitted to the front end156of the drawer-side guidance rail108of the lateral guidance unit128.

Due to the different alignment of the lateral guidance unit128in relation to the vertical guidance unit124, this would lead to an undesired transverse load of the lateral guidance unit128which in turn could impair the function thereof.

It is therefore preferably ensured by means of the coupling device134that the front end156of the drawer-side guidance rail108of the lateral guidance unit128is not loaded in vertical direction158, even in the case of high load of the drawer102.

Rather, only an immovable fixing along the extension direction132as well as in at least approximately horizontal direction160is achieved by way of the two coupling elements136aof each one pair of coupling elements136a.

Thus in particular weight forces may be decoupled from lateral guidance forces by means of the coupling device134.

Even large weight loads can thus be reliably absorbed while preserving an optimal lateral guidance.

The drawer guide100is thus particularly suited for relatively wide drawers102in which the drawer guides100arranged on both sides on the same for guiding the drawer102are spaced relatively far apart from each other and comparatively have a small extension length and/or a small extension path. In drawers102of that kind, when using conventional drawer guides100, it could result in impairment of function, among other things in undesired movement blockages, due to tilting.

However, the described embodiment of a drawer guide100may preferably ensure a reliable, laterally-stable extension and insertion movement, even with such drawer102, as a result of the combination of vertical guidance unit124, lateral guidance unit128, and coupling device134.

In a concrete embodiment, the drawer guide100is used as a part of a combination162, for example.

The combination162preferably comprises two drawer guides100, one carcass104, as well as a drawer102which is moveable relative to the carcass104by means of the drawer guides100.

A width B of the drawer102is preferably at least about 1.5 times, for example at least about 2 times, a length L of the drawer102taken along the extension direction132.

The two drawer guides100are hereby preferably arranged and/or formed mirror-symmetrical to each other in relation to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the drawer102, running along the extension direction132.

In a further embodiment, however, provision may also be made for two identical drawer guides100to be provided, wherein one drawer guide100is then arranged, for example, in such a way that the vertical guidance unit124is arranged over the lateral guidance unit128, while the further drawer guide100is arranged such that the vertical guidance unit128is arranged under the lateral guidance unit128.

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