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This application is a continuation of International application PCT/AT2005/000012, filed Jan. 24, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a support arm drive for cabinet lids comprising a support arm hinged to a lid, which support arm preferably is biased by at least one spring and can be pivoted through a pivotal range limited by two stop positions. The support arm drive further comprises at least one damper, which cushions the pivotal movement of the adjusting arm. 
     A support arm drive of this kind allows the controlled opening and closing of a lid. Lids of this kind are provided especially on high cupboards (cabinets). They can be designed as a single lid or also as a folding lid. An example of an item of furniture with a support arm drive of this kind is disclosed in DE 101 45 856 A1. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to improve a support arm drive of this kind. 
     The object of the invention is achieved in that the damper/dampers cushions/cushion the pivotal movement of the support arm before the two stop positions of the support arm. A neutral region, in which the movement of the support arm is not influenced by the damper/dampers, is provided between the two cushioned regions. 
     With the design of the support arm drive according to the invention, the lid is pushed into the open position by the support arm drive just before it reaches its uppermost stop position and is thereby cushioned. Just before it reaches the closed position in its lowest stop position, the movement of the lid is also cushioned. Between these positions, there is a neutral pivotal range, in which the support arm drive holds the lid constantly in equilibrium. 
     A single damper, which cushions the pivotal movement of the support arm before both stop positions of the support arm, is advantageously provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the figures in the attached drawings. The drawings are as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a vertical section view through a cupboard with the lid closed; 
         FIG. 2  is a vertical section view through the same cupboard with the lid open; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a support arm drive according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a chart of the front region of a support arm drive according to the invention, wherein the lid and the support arm have been omitted; 
         FIG. 5  is a chart of the front region of a support arm drive according to a further embodiment, wherein, once again, the lid has been omitted; 
         FIGS. 6 to 11  are plan views of the front region of a support arm drive with various positions of the lid, and 
         FIGS. 12 to 14  are various embodiments of an steering linkage for a lid in the closed and open positions of the lid respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The support arm drive  1  according to the invention is attached together with the support arm  2  to a side wall  3  of a high cupboard. 
     The free end of the support arm  2  is hinged to a lid  4 . The support arm  2  is connected in a pivotal manner to an axis  5  of the support arm drive  1 . Moreover, the support arm  2  is designed as a two-arm lever with a short lever arm  6 , to which a control element  7  is connected in an articulated manner via an axis  8 . 
     The control element  7  has a control curve (i.e., a curved control surface)  9  in the form of a convex curved web at the distal end with reference to the axis  8 . 
     Several, preferably three, compression springs  11 , which press via a pressure component  12  on the control curve  9  of the control element  7 , are mounted in the housing  10  of the support arm drive  1 . A height-adjustable metal plate  21 , which is disposed so as to contact the control curve  9 , is mounted in the pressure component  12 . There is no friction between the control element  7  and the metal plate  21  during the pivoting of the control element  7 , because the metal plate  21  is height adjustable. The metal plate  21  can be disposed in a sliding bearing. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the control element  7  is mounted in a pivotal manner via an axis  16  on a slider  15 , which is capable of linear movement. 
     In the embodiment according to  FIG. 5 , the control element  7  is mounted in a pivotal manner on the pressure component  12 , and in fact by means of an axis  13 , which projects through an oblong borehole  14  in the pressure component  12 . As a result of the axis  13  and the oblong borehole  14 , the control element  7  is mounted so that it can be pivoted and is also capable of linear movement relative to the pressure component  12 . 
     The control curve  9  is designed in such a manner that the support arm  2  is pushed by the springs  11  into the uppermost stop position just before reaching its uppermost end stop, and into its lowest closed position just before reaching the lowest stop position. Between these two positions, there is a neutral region, in which the lid  4  is held in equilibrium. 
     A damper  18 , which is designed in the embodiment as a linear damper, is arranged between the pressure component  12  or the slider  15 , which is capable of linear movement, and a stationary stop  17  formed on the housing  10  (see  FIG. 4 ). Furthermore, the support arm  2  has a stop  19  for the damper  18  (see  FIG. 3 ). If the lid  4  is raised, and the support arm  2  approaches the uppermost stop position, the slider  15 , which is capable of linear movement, presses on the damper  18 , which is supported on the other hand by the stop  17 . Therefore, the damper  18  cushions the pivotal movement of the support arm  2  within this range. 
     If the lid  4  is lowered, and the support arm  2  approaches its lowest stop position, the stop  19  of the support arm  2  presses on the damper  18 , of which the end disposed opposite to the stop  19  is supported by the slider  15 , and which is capable of linear movement. In this manner, the support arm  2  is cushioned before reaching the lower stop position (that is to say, before reaching the closed position of the lid  4 ). Accordingly, one damper  18  is sufficient to cushion the movement of the support arm  2  for the opening and also for the closing of the lid  4 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the support arm drive  1  is fitted with a single damper  18 , which brakes the support arm  2  just before it reaches the closed position and also before it reaches the most extreme open position. However, two dampers  18  could also have been provided, wherein one of the dampers  18  brakes the support arm  2  when it reaches the closed position, and the second damper  18  brakes the support arm  2  when it reaches the open position. The two dampers  18  can provide different damping characteristics. 
     The cushioning distance and the cushioning power of the damper  18  and/or dampers  18  are advantageously adjustable. 
     The support arm drive  1  according to the invention is designed so that it can be attached to the left-hand side wall or to the right-hand side wall  3  of an item of furniture. The support arm drive  1  is advantageously provided with a covering cap, which can be attached optionally to the mutually-opposing flat sides of the support arm drive  1  depending on whether the support arm drive  1  is to be attached to the right-hand or the left-hand side wall  3  of an item of furniture. 
     Moreover, a further stop  20 , which establishes the uppermost stop position of the support arm  2 , is provided in the housing  10 . 
     The damper  18  in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a linear damper and as a fluid damper. However, an air damper and also a hydraulic damper can also be used.

Summary:
An actuating-arm drive is provided for cupboard doors. The drive includes an actuating arm that is hinged to a door and is subjected to the action of a spring. The actuating arm can be tilted over a pivoting area that is delimited by two end positions. The actuating-arm drive is equipped with at least one damper that damps the tilting motion of the actuating arm before the arm reaches either of the two end positions.