CONTAINER CABINET

A container cabinet has a box-like structure and a door connected to the box-like structure by an articulated quadrilateral. The box-like structure has a first side shoulder and a second side shoulder, an upper panel, a lower panel, and a front part. The articulated quadrilateral, supporting and guiding the door from a door closing position to a door maximum opening position, has a crank having a first crank end and a second crank end, and a rocker arm. The crank is hinged with the first crank end to the door and with the second crank end to the upper or lower panel to rotate about a crank vertical rotation axis. The rocker arm is connected, on one side, to the door and, on an opposite side, to the first side shoulder and has a movable side panel having a movable side panel front end and a movable side panel rear end, respectively hinging the movable side panel to the door and to the first side shoulder.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container cabinet provided with a roto-translatable door.

In partiular, the present invention relates to a container cabinet provided with a door movable from a closing position in which the door is arranged on a front part of the container cabinet to an opening position in which the door is arranged on a side wall of the container cabinet.

Background Art

In the context of furnishing elements provided with doors roto-translating with respect to a containing box-like structure, a particularly felt need lies in the creation of resistant, highly durable, compact, easy to make and aesthetically elegant door opening and closing mechanisms.

A known solution, the Less piece of furniture, produced by Unifor since 1994, provides for the use of a mechanism with a cam path in which two pins, fixed to a plate for the connection to a door of the container cabinet, are guided. Such a solution allows the door to roto-translate from the closing position of a compartment of the box-like structure of the container cabinet to an opening position in which the door is arranged outside a side wall of the box-like structure of the container cabinet. Thereby, the door in the opening position does not obstruct the space in front of the opening of the compartment and therefore the peripheral space of the container cabinet may be used.

However, on the one hand, such a mechanism may be particularly noisy due to the mechanical interaction of the pins with the walls of the cammed or cam path and, on the other hand, it may incur a misalignment between the upper mechanism and the lower mechanism.

Document JP2000160921 discloses a solution for opening a roto-translating door of an exhibitor, in which two connection levers are provided between a side wall of the container cabinet and the roto-translating door, in which the two levers are in a vertically offset position. Therefore, such a solution is particularly bulky and takes up space inside the compartment, consequently preventing the use thereof as a container.

In this context, the need is therefore felt to create a container cabinet with a roto-translating door in which the door opening mechanism has a smooth and silent opening and closing movement.

Furthermore, the need is felt to create a container cabinet with a roto-translating door in which the opening and closing mechanism is as unbulkv as possible, while maintaining a high mechanical strength.

A further need lies in the construction of a container cabinet provided with an opening and closing mechanism of the roto-translating door which makes the container cabinet elegant from an aesthetic point of view.

A not least felt need is to create, in a simple manner and with a small number of hardware components, to allow a simple construction, a container cabinet in which the door in the maximum opening position does not obstruct the front area and occupies the least possible space in the side area of the cabinet.

Solution

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and to provide a solution to the need of providing a container cabinet as defined in the appended claims.

By virtue of a container cabinet according to claim1, it is possible to meet the aforementioned needs, and in particular to obtain a door opening and closing mechanism which is simple to construct and has a small number of components with respect to the prior art.

By virtue of the provision of a movable side panel as an element of the door opening and closing mechanism, in other words as an element of an articulated quadrilateral, it is possible to create a container cabinet which, with a single crank, allows a smooth and synchronized movement of the door, while maintaining a high mechanical resistance and reliability when opening and closing the door.

Some advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with a general embodiment, a container cabinet is indicated by reference numeral1.

Said container cabinet1comprises a box-like structure2and at least one door8connected to said box-like structure2by means of an articulated quadrilateral11.

Said box-like structure2comprises at least a first side shoulder4and a second side shoulder4a, an upper structural panel3and a lower panel38.

Said articulated quadrilateral11is configured to support and guide said door8from a door closing position to a door maximum opening position. In said door closing position, said door8is arranged in front of said front part5. In said door maximum opening position, said door8is externally arranged directly or indirectly facing said first side shoulder4.

Said articulated quadrilateral11comprises a crank12and a rocker arm14. Said crank12comprises a first crank end29and a second crank end31.

Said crank12is hinged with said first crank end29to said door6and with said second crank end31to said upper structural panel3, or to said lower panel38, so as to rotate about a crank vertical rotation axis A1. Said crank vertical rotation axis A1is fixed with respect to said box-like structure2.

Said rocker arm14is rotatably connected, or connected in an oscillating manner, on one side, to said door6and, on an opposite side, to said first side shoulder4.

Said rocker arm14comprises a movable side panel15which has a movable side panel front end13and a movable side panel rear end16. Said movable side panel15is hinged with said movable side panel front end13to said door8and said movable side panel15is connected with said movable side panel rear end16to said first side shoulder4so as to rotate about a rocker arm vertical rotation axis A2outside said first side shoulder4.

Within the present disclosure, the terms front, rear, side, upper, and lower refer to the box-like structure2and to the usual usage thereof by a user. Likewise, the terms inner and outer refer to the box-like structure2.

In accordance with an embodiment, said rocker arm vertical rotation axis A2is fixed with respect to said box-like structure2.

In accordance with an embodiment, said rocker arm vertical rotation axis A2is positioned outside said box-iike structure2, in particular outside said first side shoulder4.

In accordance with an embodiment, said upper panel3comprises an upper panel front side corner43.

In accordance with an embodiment, said lower panel38comprises a lower panel front side corner46.

In accordance with an embodiment, said first side shoulder4comprises a first side shoulder outer side corner44.

In accordance with an embodiment, said upper panel front side corner43and said first side shoulder outer side corner44belong to the same plane.

In accordance with an embodiment, said first door8from said door closing position to said door maximum opening position, and vice versa, roto-translates about said upper panel front side corner43without interfering with said box-like structure2.

In accordance with an embodiment, said first door8from said door closing position to said door maximum opening position, and vice versa, roto-translates about said lower panel front side corner46without interfering with said box-like structure2.

In accordance with an embodiment, said first door8from said closing position to said maximum opening position, and vice versa, roto-translates about said first side shoulder outer front corner44without interfering with said box-like structure2.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15is configured to synchronize in the vertical direction the movement of said door8between said door closing position and said door maximum opening position, and vice versa.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15is hinged with said movable side panel front end13to said door8in a plurality of hinging points spaced apart in the vertical direction.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15is connected with said movable side panel rear end16to said first side shoulder4in a plurality of connection points spaced apart in the vertical direction.

In accordance with an embodiment, said lower panel38comprises a lower panel front edge39. Said first side shoulder4comprises a first side shoulder front edge40. Said upper structural panel3comprises an upper structural panel front edge41.

In accordance with an embodiment, said upper structural panel front edge41, said lower panel front edge39and said first side shoulder front edge40are coplanar.

In accordance with an embodiment, said front part5comprises said upper structural panel front edge41, said lower structural panel front edge39, and said first side shoulder front edge40.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said closing position, said door8abuts against said front part5.

In accordance with an embodiment, said container cabinet1comprises a fixed side panel17constrained to said first side shoulder4, outside it with respect to said box-like structure2.

In accordance with an embodiment, said fixed side panel17comprises a fixed side panel outer side21facing in the opposite direction with respect to said box-like structure2and a fixed panel front side corner45.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15is hinged to said fixed side panel17so as to rotate about said front side corner of said fixed side panel45to face said fixed side panel outer side21in the door maximum opening position.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15, passing from said container cabinet closing position to said container cabinet opening position, rotates by 180° about said rocker arm vertical rotation axis16, and said door8in said door opening position is arranged at 90° with respect to the position of said door8when said door8is in the door closing position.

In accordance with an embodiment, said door4, said side shoulder4, said movable side panel15and said fixed side panel17are geometric structures having the shape of a parallelepiped which have a peripheral edge extending between an inner side or inner surface and an outer side or outer surface. In particular, said peripheral edge may comprise side and/or upper, lower, front, and rear portions. Furthermore, the intersection between edges and sides or surfaces define corners of said geometric structures.

In accordance with an embodiment, said door4, said movable side panel15, and said side panel and said fixed panel have a peripheral frame on which a thin covering panel is fixed externally and/or internally.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15and said fixed side panel17have the same length in the vertical direction.

In accordance with an embodiment, said door4has a length in the vertical direction which is not shorter than the length of said movable side panel15.

In accordance with an embodiment, said door8comprises at least one door side edge10opposite to another door side edge.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15is hinged to said door8close to said door side edge10.

In accordance with an embodiment, said door8comprises a door inner side9.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15is hinged to said first door8on said first door inner side9.

In accordance with an embodiment, said first side shoulder4comprises a first side shoulder front edge7and a side shoulder front edge40.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15has a movable side panel inner side19and a movable side panel outer side20facing in opposite directions.

in accordance with an embodiment, in said door closing position, said movable side panel inner side19is oriented in the direction of said box-like structure2and in said door maximum opening position, said movable side panel outer side20faces said first side shoulder outer side7.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said door closing position, said movable side panel inner side19faces said first side shoulder outer side7and in said door maximum opening posjton said movable side panel outer side20is oriented in the direction of said first side shoulder outer side7at a minimum distance D3from said first side shoulder outer side7.

In accordance with an embodiment, said minimum distance D3is not less than 5 mm.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said door closing position said movable side panel inner side19faces said first side shoulder outer side7and said door8is arranged in said front part5of said box-like structure2.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said door maximum opening position said movable side panel outer side20faces said fixed side panel outer side21at a minimum distance D1from said fixed side panel outer side21.

in accordance with an embodiment, said minimum distance D1is not less than 5 mm.

in accordance with an embodiment, in said door maximum opening position, said door8is arranged parallel to said frst side shoulder4at a distance from said first side shoulder4greater than the sum of the thickness of sad, fixed side panel17and of the thickness of said movable side panel15.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said maximum opening position said door inner side9faces at least said movable side panel inner side19at a minimum distance D2from said movable side panel inner side19. Such a minimum distance D2is not less than 5 mm.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel front end13comprises a movable side panel front edge22and said movable side panel rear end16comprises a movable side panel rear edge23.

In accordance with an embodiment, said fixed side panel17iAn comprises a fixed side panel front edge24.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said closing position said fixed side panel front edge24faces said movable side panel rear edge23, and said movable side panel front edge22faces said door inner side9.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said opening position said fixed side panel front edge24and said movable side panel rear edge22face towards the same direction, and said door side edge10and said movable side panel front edge21face towards the same direction.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said closing position said movable side panel15is arranged flush with said fixed side panel17and said door side edge10is flush with said movable side panel15.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said opening position said door8, said movable side panel15and said fixed side panel17are packed one on the other and arranged each parallel to the other, parallel to said first side shoulder4outside said first side shoulder4.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said closing pos tion said fixed side panel outer side21, said movable side panel outer side15and said door side edge10are coplanar.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15is hinged to said fixed side panel17by means of a first plurality of concealed hinges36and is hinged to said door8by means of a second plurality of concealed hinges37.

In accordance with an embodiment, each hinge of said first plurality of concealed hinges36is recessed and arranged on said fixed side panel front edge24and on said movable side panel rear edge23.

In accordance with an embodiment, said first plurality of concealed hinges36are configured to allow a rotation of 180 degrees between said movable side panel15and said fixed side panel17.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said maximum opening position, said first plurality of concealed hinges36is configured to maintain a minimum distance D1between said movable side panel outer side20and said fixed side panel outer side21.

In accordance with an embodiment, such a minimum distance D1is not less than 5 millimeters.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said closing position, said first plurality of concealed hinges36is configured to substantially place in abutment said fixed side panel front edge24and said movable side panel rear edge23.

In accordance with an embodiment, each hinge of said second plurality of concealed hinges37is recessed and arranged on said movable side panel front edge22and on said door inner side19.

In accordance with an embodiment, said second plurality of concealed hinges37is configured to allow a rotation of 90 degrees between said movable side panel15and said door8.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said maximum opening position, said second plurality of concealed hinges37is configured to maintain a minimum distance D2between said door inner side9and said movable side panel inner side19.

In accordance with an embodiment, such a minimum distance D2is not less than 5 millimeters.

In accordance with an embodiment, in said closing position, said first plurality of concealed hinges36are configured to substantially place in abutment said movable side panel front edge22and said door inner side9.

The term concealed hinge means that type of hinge which comprises a first part of hinge and a second part of hinge embedded inside suitable housing seats made on two components of a container cabinet configured to be movable with respect to each other.

In accordance with an embodiment, said crank12is indirectly connected to said rocker arm14only by means of said first door8.

In accordance with an embodiment, said crank12has a crank arm defined by the distance between said first crank end29and said second crank end31.

In accordance with an embodiment, said movable side panel15has a rocker arm defined by the distance between the movable side panel connection points between said door8and said box-like structure2.

In accordance with an embodiment, said rocker arm is defined by the distance between said first plurality of concealed hinges and said second plurality of concealed hinges.

In accordance with an embodiment, said rocker arm is defined by the distance between said movable side panel front edge22and said movable side panel rear edge23.

In accordance with an embodiment, said crank arm has a length not shorter than the length of said rocker arm.

In accordance with an embodiment, said crank arm as configured to rotate about said crank fixed vertical axis by a predefined crank rotation angle.

In accordance with an embodiment, said rocker arm is configured to rotate about said rocker arm fixed vertical axis by a predefined angle equal to 180 degrees.

In accordance with an embodiment, said predefined crank rotation angle is that angle which allows said movable side panel to rotate by 180 degrees with respect to said rocker arm fixed vertical axis16.

In accordance with an embodiment, the distance between said crank vertical rotation axis A1and said front part5is less than the distance between said rocker arm vertical rotation axis A2and said front part5.

In accordance with an embodiment, said door8comprises a door arm defined by the distance between said second crank end31hinged to said door6and said movable side panel front end16hinged to said door8.

In accordance with an embodiment, said door arm is not less than the distance between said first crank end29and said second crank end31.

In accordance with an embodiment, the distance between said first crank end29and said second crank end31is less than the distance between said crank vertical rotation axis A1and said rocker arm vertical rotation axis A2.

In accordance with an embodiment, said door8, said movable side panel15and said fixed side panel17form a foldable outer panel connected to said box-like structure2. In said closing posjton, said foldable outer panel has an L-shaped configuration in which said door8is arranged on said front part5of the box-iike structure2, and said movable side panel15and said fixed side panel are arranged on said first side shoulder4of the box-shaped structure2. In said maximum opening position, instead, said outer panel has a folded configuration outside the firsit side shoulder4of the box-like structure2in which said movable side panel15is rotated by 180° with respect to said fixed side panel17and said door8is rotated by 90° with respect to said movable side panel15.

As shown inFIG.9, during the opening of said door8, the maximum bulk of the door8in the side area of the container cabinet1depends on the length of the rocker arm, while the maximum bulk of the door8in the front area of the container cabinet1depends on the length of the crank arm and on the distance between the crank vertical rotation axis A1with respect to the front part5of the box-like structure2and the rocker arm vertical rotation axis A2.

Depending on the length of said crank arm and on the position of the crank vertical rotation axis A1with respect to the front part5and to the position of the rocker arm vertical rotation axis A2, on the length of said rocker arm and on the length of said door arm with respect to the extension of said door8between the side edges thereof, it is possible to determine the relative position of said door8with respect to said front part5in said maximum opening position. In other words, it is possible to determine whether in said maximum opening position, said door8protrudes or not with respect to said front part5of the box-like structure2.

Therefore, by varying the positions with respect to the box-like structure2of the crank vertical rotation axis A1and of the rocker arm vertical rotation axis A2, the crank arm, the rocker arm, and the door arm, it is possible to create container cabinets with different door opening and closing movement trajectories.

In accordance with an embodiment, said crank12is a rod27extending along a longitudinal rod direction between said first crank end29and said second crank end31, in which said first crank end29is rotatable about a crank pin30corresponding to said crank fixed vertical rotation axis13, and in which said second crank end31is hinged to said door8in a manner rotatable with respect to a door pin32.

In accordance with an emboddment, said rod is a metal rod.

In accordance with an embodiment, said rod development direction comprises at least one rectilinear direction.

In accordance with an embodiment, said rod development direction is rectilinear.

In accordance with an embodiment, said rod development direction has at least one curvilinear direction.

In accordance with an embodiment, said rod27has at least one U-shaped portion close to said second crank end31.

In accordance with an embodiment, said container cabinet comprises crank stopper means33configured to limit a rotation of said crank12between a first predefined crank position and a second predefined crank position corresponding to said door closing position and said door maximum opening position, respectively.

In accordance with an embodiment, said crank stopper means33comprise a stopper plate34against which said rod27abuts when said door27is in the closing position.

In accordance with an embodiment, said stopper plate34is positioned close to said crank pin30and extends about said crank pin30so as to hinder a rotation of said rod27.

In accordance with an embodiment, said crank stopper means33comprise a stopper wedge35configured to interfere between said rod27and said upper wall3when said door8is in said closing position.

In accordance with an embodiment, said crank stopper means33comprise a stopper wedge35configured to interfere between said rod27and said upper wall3when said door8is in said maximum opening position.

In accordance with an embodiment, said stopper wedge35is fixed to said upper wall3and has an inclined slide of the stopper wedge35against which said rod27abuts until it stops.

In accordance with an embodiment, said stopper wedge35is made of elastic material. Thereby, said stopper wedge35also acts as a damping element and clamping element for said door8.

in accordance with an embodiment, said crank pin30is constrained on said lower panel38by means of a support bracket. As shown, for example, inFIGS.11and12, said support bracket is connected to said lower panel38and is arranged outside said box-like structure2below said lower panel38. Said container cabinet1comprises said support bracket.

In accordance with an embodiment, as shown, for example, inFIGS.11and12, said support bracket has at least a first support plate and a second support plate spaced apart in the vertical direction, and said crank pin30is arranged between said first support plate and said second support plate.

In accordance with an embodiment, said crank12rotates about said crank pin30with said first crank end29, and said support bracket comprises said crank stopper means33.

In accordance with an embodiment, said container cabinet comprises a support frame fixed at least to said lower panel38.

In accordance with an embodiment, said support frame comprises said support bracket.

In accordance with an embodiment, said support frame is load-bearing.

In accordance with an embodiment, said container cabinet1comprises at least two support feet connected to said lower panel38. In accordance with an embodiment, said support frame comprses said support feet.

In accordance with an embodiment, said container cabinet1comprises only one door8, not shown in the Figures.

In accordance with an embodiment, as shown in the Figures, said container cabinet1comprises a second door8asimilar to said first door8and a second articulated quadrilateral lia similar to and mirroring said first articulated quadrilateral11.

In accordance with an embodiment, when said door8and said second door8aare in said door closing position, said second door8ais flush with said first door8.

In accordance with an embodiment, when said door8and said second door8aare in said door closing position, the outer side of the door8and the outer side of the second door8aare coplanar.

In accordance with an embodiment, said container cabinet1is a piece of furniture for home furnishing.

In accordance with an embodiment, said container cabinet1is a bar cabinet.

The container cabinet1according to the present invention, allows the door8to be moved from the closing position to the opening position with a single crank12to support and guide such a movement. Therefore, in the lower part of the front part5of the container cabinet1there are no obstructions due to connection elements between the box-like structure and the door.

The container cabinet1according to the present invention meets, in a simple and original manner, the need to use the front space of the cabinet1with a simple articulated quadrilateral opening mechanism in which one of the members of the articulated quadrilateral11is a movable side panel15which may act as a finishing and covering panel for the first side shoulder4, which may be finished, for example, with high quality surface finishes, responding to the need to create a container cabinet1which is functional and elegant from an aesthetic point of view.

The articulated quadrilateral11comprises, as quadrilateral members, the door8, the movable side panel15, and the crank12, in which only the crank12is a hardware element. Therefore, in the context of furniture production, the constructional simplicity and aesthetic elegance of the container cabinet1according to the present invention is apparent.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1Container cabinet2box-like structure3upper structural panel4first side shoulder4asecond side shoulder5front part7first side shoulder outer side8door8asecond door9door inner side10door side edge11articulated quadrilateral11asecond articulated quadrilateral12crank13movable side panel front end14rocker arm15movable side panel16movable side panel rear end17fixed side panel19movable side panel inner side20movable side panel outer side21fixed side panel outer side22movable side panel front edge23movable side panel rear edge24fixed side panel front edge27rod29first crank end30crank pin31second crank end32door pin33crank stopper means34stopper plate35stopper wedge36first plurality of concealed hinges37second plurality of concealed hinges38lower panel39lower panel front edge40first side shoulder front edge41upper structural panel front edge43upper panel front side corner44first side shoulder outer side corner45fixed panel front side corner46lower panel front side cornerA1crank vertical rotation axisA2rocker arm vertical rotation axis