Abstract:
A furniture accessory includes a bracket having first and second retaining elements, a basket having first and second fastening elements that fasten the basket to the bracket by the retaining elements, wherein the basket is swivelable about a first and second axes, a slider movably mounted on the bracket for locking the first and second fastening elements with the first and second retaining elements, wherein the slider locks the first and second fastening elements with the first and second retaining elements, the slider locks the second fastening element with the second retaining element when in a first release position such that the basket may be swivelled about the second swivel axis, and wherein the slider locks the first fastening element with the first retaining element when in a second release position such that the basket may be swivelled about the first swivel axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a furniture accessory in the form of a cable basket. 
     For furniture in the form of a table or a wall cupboard, electric cables and electric multiple socket outlets are preferably positioned under a table top or under a baseplate of the wall cupboard and are retained there by a cable basket so that the electric cables and electric multiple socket outlets do not lie on the floor where they would present a tripping hazard and, moreover, are disadvantageous from an aesthetic point of view. 
     In the case of conventional tables, in particular desks, which are known from the prior art, cable baskets are provided which are mounted under the table top. These cable baskets are fastened rigidly under the table top, i.e. in a manner such that they cannot tilt and cannot be varied in angle, so that the accommodation space thereof is always accessible. However, a disadvantage of these cable baskets is that the accommodation space or storage volume cannot be closed, and therefore cables or multiple socket outlets which are stored therein can fall out thereof relatively easily. Furthermore, the cables or multiple socket outlets stored in the accommodation space are visible from outside, which is disadvantageous from an aesthetic point of view. 
     DE 41 03 708 A1 discloses a cable duct for receiving cables. The cable duct comprises two side walls which enclose an angle of approximately 90° and on the respective end regions of which a respective retaining element is provided in the form of a retaining groove provided with an undercut. The two side walls form a bracket which can be connected, for example in the corner region of a room, to two walls or in the corner region of a table to a table top and to a rear wall of the table. The cable duct further comprises a lid, on the end regions of which fastening elements in the form of thickenings which are circular in cross section are respectively arranged. The fastening elements of the lid can be pressed into the retaining grooves through insertion openings, thereby making it possible to close an accommodation space of the cable duct. The accommodation space can be accessed by pulling a fastening element out of a retaining element, said retaining element being deformed at least temporarily in so doing. In this state, the lid can be swivelled relative to the bracket about a swivel axis, which is defined by the other retaining element. The cable duct can thereby be opened on two sides and can be loaded from two sides. 
     However, a disadvantage of this cable duct is that in order to connect the fastening elements to the retaining elements and to separate them, the retaining elements have to be at least temporarily deformed, and therefore the material of the retaining elements inevitably becomes fatigued, and the retaining elements can be damaged. Furthermore, the opening and closing procedures of the cable duct are very awkward, because the catch between the retaining elements and fastening elements has to be released or produced with a relatively great amount of force. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to provide an improved and more reliable furniture accessory of the type mentioned at the outset, for which the opening and closing procedures are easy and can be carried out as often as desired, without the retaining elements and fastening elements being damaged. 
     The furniture accessory according to the invention comprises a slider which is displaceably mounted on the bracket and is provided for locking the first fastening element in/on the first retaining element and for locking the second fastening element in/on the second retaining element. The first and second retaining elements can be configured, for example, as retaining grooves, as retaining pins or as retaining beads. The first and second fastening elements can be configured in particular as fastening pins or alternatively as fastening grooves. In a locking position, the slider locks the first fastening element in/on the first retaining element and locks the second fastening element in/on the second retaining element. Therefore, in the locking position, a basket comprising the first fastening element and the second fastening element is rigidly connected to the bracket such that the angle thereof cannot be changed. Neither the first fastening element nor the second fastening element can be released from the corresponding first and second retaining elements. In a first release position, the slider locks the second fastening element in/on the second retaining element, the first retaining element being unlocked so that the first fastening element can be released from/out of the first retaining element and the basket can be swivelled about the second swivel axis. When the furniture accessory is correspondingly mounted on a table, the basket can then be opened towards the front of the table. In a second release position, the slider locks the first fastening element in/on the first retaining element, the second retaining element being unlocked so that the second fastening element can be released from/out of the second retaining element and the basket can be swivelled about the first swivel axis. When the furniture accessory is correspondingly mounted on a table, the basket can then be opened backwards towards the rear of the table. The slider  30  can be moved out of the locking position into the first release position by movement in a first direction. In this case, the first direction is the direction towards the second retaining element. Furthermore, the slider can be moved out of the locking position into the second release position by movement in a second direction which is opposite the first direction. In this case, the second direction is the direction towards the first retaining element. 
     The basket described above can be a cable basket. When the first and second retaining elements are in the form of retaining grooves, they have receiving openings or are designed as receiving openings. They can also be called receiving grooves. When the first and second fastening elements are in the form of fastening pins, they can be U-shaped or L-shaped fastening means and are connected in each case to the basket. Since the slider is used both for locking and unlocking the fastening elements in/on the retaining elements, the slider can also be called a locking/unlocking means. 
     By providing the slider which is mounted such that it can move in the first direction and in the second direction, it is thus possible to selectively achieve either locking of the first fastening element with the first retaining element and/or locking of the second fastening element in/on the first retaining element so that the basket can be opened on two sides of the bracket. In order to open or close the basket, the retaining elements and fastening elements do not have to be deformed, and therefore they are not subject to wear or are subject to greatly reduced wear. Furthermore, the opening and closing operations of the basket towards the front or towards the rear are designed to be very easy, since the slider merely has to be moved in the appropriate direction to unlock one of the fastening elements. Only a small amount of force needs to be exerted to move the slider. Since the basket can be opened towards the front and towards the rear, it can be filled, for example with cables or with multiple socket outlets or with other accessories, subject to the given conditions. 
     The furniture accessory preferably comprises two energy storage means which are respectively arranged between the slider and the bracket. In this case, a first energy storage means is designed to apply force to the slider in the second direction. A second energy storage means is designed to apply force to the slider in the first direction. In the locking position of the slider, the force applied to the slider by the first energy storage means balances out the force applied to the slider by the second energy storage means, and therefore, without the effect of an external force, the slider remains in the locked position. Consequently, it is also possible that in the locking position, neither the first energy storage means nor the second energy storage means exerts force on the slider. In the first release position, the first energy storage means exerts a greater force on the slider than the second energy storage means, and therefore the slider is moved into the locking position without the effect of an external force. By contrast, in the second release position, the second energy storage means exerts a greater force on the slider than the first energy storage means, and therefore the slider is moved into the locking position without the effect of an external force. 
     Consequently, by providing the first and second energy storage means, the slider is always moved into the locking position without the effect of an external force, and therefore the basket can be fastened reliably on the bracket. The energy storage means can preferably each be in the form of spring means and are supported on the bracket and on the slider respectively. The energy storage means are preferably connected to the slider. 
     Preferably, the first retaining element and the second retaining element are each in the form of retaining grooves in the bracket, and the first fastening element and the second fastening element are each in the form of fastening pins which are connected to the basket. The first fastening pin can be received in the first retaining groove and the second fastening pin can be received in the second retaining groove. The slider comprises a first locking arm and a second locking arm and in the locking position, the first locking arm locks the first fastening pin in the first retaining groove and the second locking arm locks the second fastening pin in the second retaining groove. By contrast, in the first release position, the second locking arm locks the second fastening pin in the second retaining groove, the first locking arm not locking the first fastening pin in the first retaining groove so that the first fastening pin can be removed from the first retaining groove and the basket can be swivelled about the second swivel axis. However, in the second release position, the first locking arm locks the first fastening pin in the first retaining groove, the second locking arm not locking the second fastening pin in the second retaining groove so that the second fastening pin can be removed from the second retaining groove and the basket can be swivelled about the first swivel axis. 
     In a corresponding embodiment of the first and second retaining elements and of the first and second fastening elements, locking and unlocking the fastening elements in the retaining elements is particularly simple. 
     The first locking arm preferably has a side which faces an opening in the first retaining groove and is bevelled such that by inserting the first fastening pin into the first retaining groove, the slider is moved out of the locking position towards the first release position. The second locking arm preferably has a side which faces an opening in the second retaining groove and is bevelled such that by inserting the second fastening pin into the second retaining groove, the slider is moved out of the locking position towards the second release position. 
     In a corresponding embodiment of the furniture accessory, it is not necessary to move the slider before inserting the fastening pins into the retaining grooves provided for this purpose, since, due to a force being applied to the slider by means of the fastening pins, the slider is automatically moved into the necessary open position. 
     The bracket preferably comprises a clamping means, which can be used to fasten the bracket to a cross member of a table, which cross member connects two table leg structures. Consequently, the furniture accessory can be fastened to the table without providing mounting holes for example in the table top. Furthermore, the furniture accessory can thereby be moved along the axial extent of the table cross member and can be positioned as desired. 
     It is of course also possible for the bracket to be fastened to the top of a table by means of screws. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to embodiments, in which: 
         FIG. 1 a   : is a three-dimensional view of a furniture accessory according to the invention, comprising two brackets and a basket which is held by means of two sliders which are arranged in the brackets, the sliders being located in a locking position in the brackets and holding the basket in a closed position; 
         FIG. 1 b   : is a side view of a cross section through the furniture accessory shown in  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2 a   : is a three-dimensional view of the furniture accessory, the basket being swung open towards the front; 
         FIG. 2 b   : is a side view of the furniture accessory shown in  FIG. 2   a;    
         FIG. 3 a   : is a three-dimensional view of the furniture accessory according to the invention, the basket being swung open towards the rear; 
         FIG. 3 b   : is a side view of the furniture accessory shown in  FIG. 3   a;    
         FIG. 4 : is a side view of a bracket, shown in cross section, together with a slider and with energy storage means which are arranged between the slider and the bracket; 
         FIG. 5 : is a side view of the slider together with energy storage means; 
         FIG. 6 : is a three-dimensional view of the furniture accessory according to the invention which is fastened to the underside of a table top and is in a position which is open towards the rear; and 
         FIG. 7 : is a three-dimensional view of a piece of furniture in table form, comprising a furniture accessory according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, the same reference signs denote the same components or the same features, and therefore a description of a component in respect of one drawing also applies to the other drawings, thus avoiding a repeated description. 
       FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    show a furniture accessory  1  according to the invention in the form of a cable basket in a closed state. The furniture accessory  1 , which is shown in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b   , can be fastened for example to a piece of furniture  100  in the form of a table shown in  FIG. 7 . The table  100  shown in  FIG. 7  comprises two table leg structures  110  which are interconnected by means of a cross member  120 . A table top  130  is connected to the table leg structures  110 . The furniture accessory  1  is fastened to the cross member  120  by clamping means  15  which will be described later. The longitudinal side of the table shown in  FIG. 7  is the front, and the side which is opposite the front is the rear. However, the present invention is not restricted to the furniture accessory  1  being able to be fastened to an appropriate table  100 . The furniture accessory  1  can also be fastened for example to a floor cupboard which can be arranged for example under a table and can be connected thereto. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 a    to  6 , the furniture accessory  1  according to the invention comprises two brackets  10  which can be fastened to the cross member  120  of a table  100  by the clamping means  15 . However, the brackets  10  can also alternatively be fastened to the table top  130  by means of screws or by other fastening means. Each bracket  10  comprises a first retaining element  11  in the form of a first retaining groove and a second retaining element  12  in the form of a second retaining groove. The first retaining groove can be seen more clearly in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   , and the second retaining groove can be seen more clearly in  FIGS. 3 a    and  3   b.    
     The furniture accessory  1  also comprises a basket  20  in the form of a cable basket  20 , at the two lateral end regions of which are arranged a first fastening element  21  and a second fastening element  22  respectively. The basket  20  thus comprises two first fastening elements  21  and two second fastening elements  22 . The first and second fastening elements  21 ,  22  are each in the form of fastening pins  21 ,  22  which can be inserted into the corresponding first retaining grooves  11  and second retaining grooves  12  in the brackets  10 . The basket  20  has an accommodation space in which cables, multiple socket outlets or other equipment can be accommodated. In  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b   , the basket  20  is shown in a closed position in which the first fastening pins  21  have been inserted into the retaining grooves  11  in the brackets  10  and the second fastening pins  22  have been inserted into the second retaining grooves  12  in the brackets  10 . The first fastening pins  21  and the second fastening pins  22  are locked by means of sliders  30  which are provided in the brackets  10 . 
     The sliders  30  are each movably mounted in guide channels  16  in the corresponding brackets  10 . A slider  30  can be moved between a locking position, a first release position and a second release position. In  FIG. 1 b   , the slider  30  is shown in the locking position. 
       FIG. 4  shows a bracket  10  in cross section, comprising a slider  30  which is provided in the bracket  10 , an actuating element  36  of the slider  30  not being shown.  FIG. 5  shows the slider  30 , which is shown in  FIG. 4 , on its own. 
     The slider  30  comprises a first locking arm  34  and a second locking arm  35  which is arranged opposite said first arm  34 . The first locking arm  34  is connected to a first supporting arm  31  of the slider. The first supporting arm encloses an angle of approximately 90° with the first locking arm. The second locking arm  35  is connected to a second supporting arm  32 , and the second locking arm and the second supporting arm together enclose an angle of approximately 90°. The slider  30  further comprises a connecting arm  33  which connects the first supporting arm  31  to the second supporting arm  32 . The slider  30  also comprises the actuating element  36  which is connected to the connecting arm  33 . 
     In the locking position, the first locking arm  34  locks the first fastening pin  11  in the first retaining groove  11 , and the second locking arm  35  locks the second fastening pin  22  in the second retaining groove  12 . Thus, in the locking position, the basket  20  cannot be released from the bracket  10  or brackets  10 , and therefore cables or multiple socket outlets which are located in the accommodation space of the basket  20  cannot fall out and are hidden from view. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show that the furniture accessory  1  according to the invention further comprises a first energy storage means  37  in the form of a first spring means  37  or in the form of a first spring  37  and comprises a second energy storage means  38  in the form of a second spring means  38  or in the form of a second spring  38 .  FIG. 5  shows that the first spring  37  is connected to the first supporting arm  31 , and the second spring  38  is connected to the second supporting arm  32  of the slider  30 . However, the first spring  37  and the second spring  38  are not necessarily connected to the slider  38 , but in alternative embodiments they can be merely supported on the supporting arms. 
       FIG. 4  shows that the bracket  10  comprises a first supporting wall  13  and a second supporting wall  14 . The first spring  37  is arranged between the first supporting arm  31  of the slider  30  and the first supporting wall  30  of the bracket  10 , and the second spring  38  is arranged between the second supporting arm  32  of the slider  30  and the second supporting wall  14  of the bracket  10 . The actuating element  36  is arranged between the first supporting wall  13  and the second supporting wall  14 . 
     The slider  30  can be moved by means of the actuating element  36  out of the locking position into the first release position by the slider  30  being moved in a first direction R 1 . In this case, the first direction R 1  is the direction towards the second retaining groove  12 . In the first release position, the second locking arm  35  locks the second fastening pin  22  in the second retaining groove  12 , the first locking arm  34  of the slider  30  being moved towards the second retaining groove  12  to such an extent that the first locking arm  34  no longer locks the first retaining groove  11  so that a fastening pin  21  which is located in the first retaining groove  11  can be swivelled out. The first fastening pin  21  is thus no longer locked in the first retaining groove  11 , and therefore the basket  20  can be swivelled about a second swivel axis which is defined by the second fastening pins  22 . In  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   , the furniture accessory  1  according to the invention is shown in a state in which the basket  20  has been swivelled about the second swivel axis so that the basket  20  is open towards the front of the table shown in  FIG. 7 . It is thus possible for the basket  20  to be loaded from the front of the table  100 . 
     The slider  30  can also be moved from the locking position into a second release position by the slider  30  being moved in a second direction R 2  which is opposite the first direction R 1 . In this case, the second direction R 2  is the direction towards the first retaining groove  11 . 
     In the second release position, the first locking arm  34  of the slider  30  locks the first fastening pin  21  in the first retaining groove  11 , the slider  30  being moved towards the first retaining groove  11  to such an extent that the second locking arm  35  of the slider  30  no longer locks the second retaining groove  12  so that the second fastening pin  22  can be swivelled out of the second retaining groove  12 . In this case, the basket  20  can be swivelled about a first swivel axis which is defined by the first fastening pin  22 . When the basket  20  is swivelled about the first swivel axis, the basket  20  can be swung open towards the rear of the table  100  when the furniture accessory  1  is fastened to the table  100  shown in  FIG. 7 , so that the accommodation space of the furniture accessory  1  can be accessed from the rear of the table  100 . A furniture accessory  1  which is swung open towards the rear of the table  100  is shown in  FIGS. 3 a    and  3   b.    
       FIG. 4  shows that in the locking position of the slider  30 , the first spring  37  exerts the same force on the slider  30  as is exerted by the second spring  38  on the slider  30 . Therefore, without the effect of an external force, the slider  30  remains in the locking position. 
     In the first locking position which would be reached if the slider  30  shown in  FIG. 4  is moved to the right towards the second retaining groove  12 , the first spring  37  is compressed to a greater extent than the second spring  38 , since the first spring  37  is moved by the first supporting arm  31  of the slider  30  towards the first supporting wall  13 . Consequently, in the release position, the first spring  37  exerts a greater force on the slider  30  than the second spring  38 , and therefore the slider  30  is moved into the locking position without the effect of an external force. In the first locking position, the second spring  38  is either no longer in contact with the second supporting wall  14  or it exerts a reduced pressure on the slider  30  towards the locking position. 
     By moving the slider  30 , which is shown in  FIG. 4 , to the left towards the first retaining groove  11 , the slider  10  is moved into the second release position. In said second release position, the second spring  38 , which is arranged between the second supporting arm  32  and the second supporting wall  14 , is further compressed. The first spring  37 , which is arranged between the first supporting arm  31  and the first supporting wall  13 , can be removed from the first supporting wall  12  by moving the slider  30  towards the second release position, so that in the second release position, the first spring  37  does not exert any force or exerts a reduced force on the slider  30 . Consequently, the force exerted on the slider  30  by the second spring  38  is greater than the force exerted on the slider  30  by the first spring  37 , and therefore the slider  30  is moved into the locking position without the effect of an external force. 
     It can be seen from  FIGS. 4 and 5  that the first locking arm  34  has a side  34 ′ which faces an opening in the first retaining groove  11  and is bevelled such that by inserting the first fastening pin  21  into the first retaining groove  11 , the slider  30  is moved out of the locking position towards the first release position. The second locking arm  35  also has a side  35 ′ which faces an opening in the second retaining groove  12  and is also bevelled such that by inserting the second fastening pin  22  into the second retaining groove  12 , the slider  30  is moved out of the locking position towards the second release position. 
     Consequently, it is possible to swivel a basket  20  which has been swivelled to one side back into the closed position so that the corresponding fastening pins  21 ,  22  are received in the corresponding retaining grooves  11 ,  12  again, without it being necessary for the slider/sliders  30  to be moved manually into the corresponding release position beforehand, because, by pressing the corresponding fastening pins  21 ,  22  into the retaining grooves  11 ,  12 , the slider  30  is automatically pressed in the appropriate direction due to the bevelled sides  34 ′,  35 ′ of the slider  30 . 
     It should be noted that the furniture accessory  1  according to the invention does not necessarily require two brackets  10 ; in fact, the functionality described above can also be achieved with only one bracket  10 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           1  furniture accessory 
           10  bracket 
           11  first retaining element/first retaining groove 
           11 ′ opening in the first retaining groove 
           12  second retaining element/second retaining groove 
           12 ′ opening in the second retaining groove 
           13  first supporting wall 
           14  second supporting wall 
           15  clamping means (of the bracket) 
           16  guide channel (for slider) 
           20  basket/cable basket/lid 
           21  first fastening element/first fastening pin 
           22  second fastening element/second fastening pin 
           30  slider 
           31  first supporting arm (of the slider) 
           32  second supporting arm (of the slider) 
           33  connecting arm (of the slider) 
           34  first locking arm (of the slider) 
           34 ′ side of the first locking arm 
           35  second locking arm (of the slider) 
           35 ′ side of the second locking arm 
           36  actuating element (of the slider) 
           37  first energy storage means/first spring means/first spring 
           38  second energy storage means/second spring means/second spring 
           100  piece of furniture 
           110  table leg structure 
           120  cross member 
           130  table top 
         R 1  first direction 
         R 2  second direction