Abstract:
An ejector for ejecting a movable furniture part from a closed end position in or on a furniture body includes an ejection lever that can be driven by an electrical drive unit, in particular an electric motor. The ejection lever has a first ejection lever part and a second ejection lever part that can be moved relative to the first ejection lever part. An adjusting device causes the length of the ejection lever to change during the ejection process as a result of the two ejection lever parts sliding relative to each other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns an ejector for ejecting a movable furniture part from a closed end position in or on a furniture carcass comprising an ejection lever drivable by an electric drive unit—in particular an electric motor. The ejection lever has a first ejection lever portion and a second ejection lever portion movable relative thereto. 
     The invention further concerns an article of furniture comprising a furniture carcass and a movably mounted furniture part and an ejector for ejecting the movable furniture part. 
     Such ejectors are already known from the state of the art. Primarily, either drawers or also flaps of an article of furniture are ejected with such ejectors, and that affords an article of furniture which is more operator-friendly. 
     Thus, for example, WO 2008/092176 A1 of Dec. 12, 2007 discloses an ejection lever for an ejector for ejecting a movable furniture part from a closed end position in or on a furniture carcass, comprising an elongate lever body, wherein the lever body is adapted to be variable in length. 
     In addition, WO 2010/015513 A1 of Jul. 22, 2009 discloses an ejection device which can be fitted into a furniture carcass and which comprises an ejection lever which has a contact surface and which is mounted in a carrier portion in such a way that it can be pivoted out of a non-use position into a use position. In its longitudinal extent, the ejection device includes a lever arm connected to a rotary mounting and an extension limb connected to the lever arm. The extension limb is pivotably mounted to the lever arm in such a way that it can be folded in, in the direction of outward pivotal movement of the ejection lever. 
     In addition, DE 20 2006 011039 U1 of Dec. 6, 2007 shows an ejection lever which is adapted to be adjustable in its length, in particular for adjusting the distance of the first furniture part, over which the first furniture part is movable, being driven with the pivotal movement of the ejection lever. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to provide an improved ejector for ejecting a movable furniture part. 
     On the ejector according to the invention, the object is attained by the features of an ejection lever which is varied in its length with the opening movement. Therefore, the ejection process can be influenced in respect of the ejection travel and the torque to be transmitted. 
     For various situations of use where hitherto different ejection levers had to be produced (shorter or longer), that result can now be attained with a single variable-length ejection lever. That, in total, leads to lower manufacturing costs. 
     The fact that the two ejection lever portions are displaced relative to each other to change the length of the ejection lever during the ejection process provides that bending of the ejection lever can be avoided. Thus, this configuration involves bending-free movement, which can lead to a more stable ejection lever. 
     It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the ejection lever increases its length during the ejection process. An ejection lever which ‘grows with’ the opening movement makes it possible to achieve an improved ejection process as the ejection lever becomes progressively longer. This ensures that the ejection lever is connected to the movable furniture part for a longer time and over a longer ejection travel, and this therefore leads to a preferred ejection process. 
     In the retracted condition, such an ejection lever takes up a small amount of space, and it has a good torque characteristic when starting its movement as the lever spacing is smaller at the beginning. 
     Even in the case of narrow furniture carcasses, the ejection lever can be used because it requires a small amount of space and an ejection lever which is variable in length in that way can be integrated into an ejector more easily than would be allowed by a large ejection lever. 
     It has further proven to be advantageous if the ejection lever reduces its length during the ejection process. An ejection lever which is reduced in its length during the ejection process also makes it possible to preferably influence the torque to be transmitted. 
     It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the adjusting device has a completely mechanical configuration and/or has a lever mechanism and/or a transmission as a purely mechanical design for the adjusting device can be inexpensively manufactured and/or it is possible to achieve a change in the length of the ejection lever by way of a lever mechanism and/or a transmission in a simple mechanical fashion. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the adjusting device can be located at least partially—preferably substantially completely—in the interior of the ejection lever. The adjusting device can be located substantially completely in the interior of the ejection lever specifically by the design configuration involving a transmission, and that can lead to small structural sizes and thus a compact ejector. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the ejection lever can have at least a first ejection lever portion and a second ejection lever portion. The second ejection lever portion is adapted to be movable relative to the first ejection lever portion—preferably substantially linearly. 
     In addition, the adjusting device can be located at least partially on the ejection lever and/or is arranged at least on the—preferably substantially linearly—movable second ejection lever portion of the ejection lever. 
     It has been found to be particularly advantageous if the lever mechanism has at least one—preferably two—levers. During the ejection process, the lever moves the movable second ejection lever portion substantially linearly relative to the first ejection lever portion. 
     Particularly preferably, the movable second ejection lever portion can bear loosely against the first ejection lever portion which is not moved by the lever mechanism of the ejection lever—preferably in the retracted condition, during the displacement and in the extended condition. Thus at any time the pivotal movement of the ejection lever can guarantee that the second ejection lever portion can move away from the first ejection lever portion. 
     In that respect, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the lever is provided on the movable second ejection lever portion of the ejection lever and on a part which is unmoved by the drive unit of the ejector. The provision of the lever on the movable second ejection lever portion and on an unmoved part of the ejector provides that the second ejection lever portion is automatically moved away from the first ejection lever portion by the pivotal movement of the ejection lever. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the linearly moved second ejection lever portion of the ejection lever can be guided by the first ejection lever portion of the ejection lever, that is driven by the drive unit. The fact that the second ejection lever portion is guided by the first ejection lever portion means that a permanently constant uniform movement can be achieved. 
     It has further proven to be advantageous if the ejection lever is adapted to be telescopic. Specifically, a design in the form of a telescopic ejection lever can lead to an ejection lever which is both compact and also robust and which is thus also long-lived, movable and variable in length. 
     Specifically, an article of furniture can include a furniture carcass and a movably mounted furniture part and an ejector for ejecting the movable furniture part as set forth herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details and advantages of the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter by means of the specific description with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1   a  shows a perspective view of an ejector having an adjusting device for changing the length of the ejection lever, 
         FIG. 1   b  shows an exploded view as in  FIG. 1   a,    
         FIGS. 2   a  through  2   c  show three plan views in different pivotal positions of the ejection lever with variation in length, 
         FIGS. 3   a  through  3   c  show various pivotal positions of a variant of a further ejector with an ejection lever which is variable in length, 
         FIG. 3   d  shows an exploded perspective view of an ejector, 
         FIGS. 4   a  through  4   c  show plan views of various pivotal positions in a variant of an ejector with a variable-length ejection lever with transmission, 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a section through a furniture carcass with an ejector and an extension guide, and 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a part of an article of furniture, furniture carcass, movable furniture part, ejector and extension guide. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1   a  shows a perspective view of an ejector  100  for ejecting a movable furniture part  102  (not shown) in a dosed end position in or on a furniture carcass  101  (not shown), the ejector  100  having a drive unit with which an ejection lever  1  can be driven. A lever mechanism  20  is arranged on the ejection lever  1 . That lever mechanism  20  is part of the adjusting device  2  with which a change in length of the ejection lever  1  can be achieved. 
       FIG. 1   b  shows an exploded view of an ejector  100  as just described in  FIG. 1   a . Here, the ejection lever  1  has a first ejection lever portion  11  and a second ejection lever portion  12 , wherein the second ejection lever portion  12  is arranged linearly movably relative to the first ejection lever portion  11 . In this embodiment, the second ejection lever portion  12  has a guide groove  13  by means of which the linear mobility on the first ejection lever portion  11  can be achieved. The movement of the second ejection lever  12  is effected by way of the lever mechanism  20 . In this case, the lever mechanism  20  has two levers  21  and  22  which are arranged on the one hand on the movable second ejection lever portion  12 —more precisely at the pin  23  thereof—and which on the other hand are arranged movably at the unmoved parts (stationary)  104  of the ejector  100 . During the outward pivotal movement of the ejection lever  1  by the drive unit, the second ejection lever portion  12  is extended by the lever mechanism  20  and thus provides that the ejection lever  1  increases its length during the ejection process. 
       FIGS. 2   a  through  2   c  show plan views of various pivotal positions of an ejector  100  with a variable-length ejection lever  1  which, during the ejection process, changes its length by displacement of the two ejection lever portions  11  and  12  relative to each other. 
       FIG. 2   a  shows an inwardly pivoted ejection lever  1  of the ejector  100 . In this case, the ejection lever  1  has a first ejection lever portion  11  and a second ejection lever portion  12  movable relative thereto. The lever mechanism  20  which is arranged on the one hand on a stationary part  104  of the ejector  100  and which on the other hand is arranged by way of the pin  23  on the second ejection lever portion  12  is part of the adjusting device  2 . 
     In  FIG. 2   b , the ejection lever  1  is already partially pivoted out by the drive unit. The second ejection lever portion  12  of the ejection lever  1  was extended by the lever mechanism  20  of the adjusting device  2 , which led to a change in length of the ejection lever  1  during the ejection process. That second ejection lever portion  12  was displaced by the lever  21  of the lever mechanism  20 , which is arranged at the pin  23  of the second ejection lever portion  12  and the stationary part  104  of the ejector  100 . 
       FIG. 2   c  shows a substantially completely extended ejection lever  1 , in which the second ejection lever portion  12  has reached its substantially maximum distance away from the first ejection lever portion  11 . 
       FIG. 3   a  shows a perspective view of a variant of an ejector  100  having a drivable ejection lever  1 , wherein the drivable ejection lever  1  is in its starting position at which no movement of a movable furniture part  102  (not shown) would yet occur. 
       FIG. 3   b  shows a perspective view of an ejector  100  with a variable-length ejection lever  1 , wherein pivotal movement of the ejection lever  1  by a drive has already taken place. The second ejection lever portion  12  of the ejection lever  1  is telescopically extended from the first ejection lever portion  11  of the ejection lever  1  by the adjusting device  2 —Inter alia consisting of the lever mechanism  20 . 
       FIG. 3   c  shows the ejector  100  on which the ejection lever  1  has been substantially completely pivoted out by the drive unit. During the outward pivotal process, the ejection lever  1  has changed its length—more precisely increased it—by the second ejection lever portion  12  being telescopically extended out of the first ejection lever portion  11  by the adjusting device  2  or its lever mechanism  20 . The lever mechanism  20 —comprising the two levers  21  and  22 —is pivotably mounted on the one hand to the second ejection lever portion  12  by way of the pin  23  and on the other hand to an unmoved part  104  of the ejector  100 . 
     It will be appreciated that the adjusting device  2  or its lever mechanism  20  could also be of such a configuration that during the outward pivotal process, the ejection lever  1  does not increase its length but reduces it. For example, the length of ejection lever  1  can be reduced if it should be desired that the torque to be transmitted is lower at the beginning and is greater towards the end of the outward pivotal movement. In addition, it would also be possible to imagine designing an adjusting device  2  in such a way that the change in length of the ejection lever  1  takes place in differing relationship (that is to say, the line for example initially increases and later decreases again or vice-versa). Thus, it can be imagined without any doubt that the change in length of the ejection lever  1  can be altered in accordance with a profile that is to be predetermined. 
       FIG. 3   d  shows the exploded view of the ejector  100  as just described in  FIGS. 3   a  through  3   c . Here, the parts of the ejection lever  1  comprise the second ejection lever portion  12  mounted telescopically in the first ejection lever portion  11 . That second ejection lever portion  12  is in this case adjustable by the adjusting device  2 . For that purpose, the adjusting device  2  has a lever mechanism  20  whose levers  21  and  22  are arranged hingedly on the second ejection lever portion  12  by way of a pin  23 . 
     The second ejection lever portion  12  is guided by the first ejection lever portion  11 . During the ejection process, the second ejection lever portion  12  bears against the first ejection lever portion  11  of the ejection lever  1  both in the retracted condition during the displacement and also in the extended condition. 
       FIGS. 4   a  through  4   c  show a further variant of an ejector  100  comprising an ejection lever  1  which changes its length during the ejection process by displacement of the two ejection lever portions  11  and  12  relative to each other. 
     In that respect, the adjusting device  2  which causes that change in length of the ejection lever  1  is formed both with a lever mechanism  20  and also with a transmission  30 . 
     In this specific embodiment, during the outward pivotal process, the length of the ejection lever  1  is not only increased or reduced, but at the beginning the ejection lever portion  12 , during the pivotal process, moves inwardly as far as an angle of about 120 degrees of the ejection lever  1 . The lever portion  12  only then moves outwardly—by virtue of the configuration of the lever mechanism  20  and the transmission  30  which interacts therewith—and thus increases the overall length of the ejection lever  1  until it reaches its maximum length when the ejection lever  1  is entirely extended. 
     Accordingly therefore, at the beginning—during the outward pivotal movement of the ejection lever  1 —there is no change in the length of the ejection lever  1 . It is only as from a predefined pivotal angle (in this embodiment at about 120°) that the ejection lever  1  changes its length by the displacement of the two ejection lever portions  11  and  12  relative to each other. 
       FIG. 4   a  shows a substantially inwardly pivoted ejection lever  1  of the ejector  100 . In this embodiment, the adjusting device  2  comprises the lever mechanism  20  which has the levers  41  and  42  and the transmission  30  which has a rack  31 , a gear  32  and an adjusting element  33 . The ejection lever portion  12  is still disposed entirely in the interior of the ejection lever portion  11 . 
     The transmission  30  is also disposed in the interior of the ejection lever  1 , which contributes to a compact configuration for the ejector  100 . 
     During the ejection process, the ejection lever portion  12  is now moved inwardly (not shown) as far as an angle of about 120° and only then—after continuation of the rotary movement of the ejection lever  1 —the ejection lever portion  12  is pushed outwardly by the adjusting device  2  (by its lever mechanism  20  or its transmission  30 ) and thus causes an increase in the length of the ejection lever  1  (see  FIG. 4   b ). 
       FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c  now show two different pivotal positions of the ejection lever  1  of the ejector  100 . In this case, displacement of the two ejection lever portions  11  and  12  relative to each other was effected by way of the levers  41  and  42  of the lever mechanism  20 , the lever  41  being arranged hingedly on an unmoved part  104  of the ejector  100 . By virtue of the outward pivotal movement of the ejection lever  1 , the rack  31  is displaced by the gear  32 , by way of the lever mechanism  20  and the transmission  30 , and the second ejection lever portion  12  is displaced relative to the first ejection lever portion  11  by way of the connecting element  33 . 
     By virtue of the design configuration of the lever mechanism  20  and the transmission  30 , it is possible for the length of the ejection lever  1  to be caused to change during the ejection process in accordance with criteria which are to be predetermined as desired. 
     A cover (not shown here) which is arranged on the ejection lever  1  serves as a guide for the gear  32  and the rack  31  and also as safety contact protection. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a section through a furniture carcass  101  with an ejector  100  and an extension guide  103  on which a movable furniture part  102  (not shown) can be arranged. In this view, the ejection lever  1  of the ejector  100  is in its starting position in which there would not yet be any movement of a movable furniture part  102 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an article of furniture  110  with a furniture carcass  101  in which there is arranged an extension guide  103  on which a movable furniture part  102 —in this case a drawer—is arranged. Disposed behind the movable furniture part  102  is the ejector  100  which can eject the drawer  102  by way of the variable-length ejection lever  1 . 
     In this arrangement, the adjusting device  2  (not shown) provides that the length of the ejection lever  1  changes during the ejection process while the ejection lever  1  bears against the movably mounted furniture part  102 . 
     Even if the invention has been specifically described by means of the illustrated embodiment, it will be self-evident that the subject-matter of the application is not limited to that embodiment but rather it is self-evident that measures and modifications which serve to implement the idea of the invention are certainly conceivable and desired.