Abstract:
An actuator for moving a flap of a piece of furniture includes a spring loaded actuating arm and a mechanical locking connection provided at each end of the actuating arm. The mechanical locking connections connect the arm in a detachable manner to a body of the piece of furniture and to the flap of the piece of furniture. By this arrangement the actuating arm can be hinged in a simple manner to the base body and removed again if necessary.

Description:
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/AT2005/000427, filed Oct. 28, 2005. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an actuator for moving a flap of a piece of furniture, comprising a base body mounted on the furniture body and on the flap and an actuating arm, which is provided for moving the flap. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Actuators of this kind are usually fixed onto a side wall of a furniture body and are used to move a flap hinged onto the actuating arm from an open to a closed position or in opposite direction. The actuating arm is usually loaded by a spring device, but there is the risk of injury if the flap of the piece of furniture is not connected to the actuating arm, as the latter which is relatively light-weight can shoot out like a bullet. The base body with the pivotably mounted actuating arm makes it more difficult to handle the actuator and for logistical reasons it also requires a large amount of packaging. 
     From DE 24 54 897 A1 a fitting is known for a flap of a piece of furniture that can pivot upwardly, in which a lever guiding member can be connected in a detachable manner to a hinge support mounted on the flap. However, the assembly and disassembly of the lever guiding member on the flap has proved to be elaborate in this case. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose an actuator of the aforementioned type avoiding the above disadvantages. 
     This is achieved according to the invention in that the actuating arm at both ends comprises fastening devices with a mechanical locking connection, wherein a first fastening device is provided for connecting the actuating arm in a detachable manner to a base body mounted on the furniture body and a second fastening device is provided for connecting the actuating arm in a detachable manner to a base body secured to the flap. 
     By means of the arrangement of such a fastening device the actuating arm can be hinged in a simple manner onto or into the base body (core) and removed again if necessary. For logistical reasons the amount of packaging is reduced, as each part—i.e. base body and actuating arm—can be packed separately. The handling of the actuator is thus considerably improved as there is no protruding part to make the handling of the actuator more difficult. The risk of the actuating arm shooting out if the flap of the piece of furniture is not connected by hinge can be largely avoided, as the actuating arm can simply be removed at critical moments when no flap is mounted on the actuating arm. A particular advantage lies in the fact that various different actuating arms corresponding to the size and the weight of the flap of the piece of furniture can be hinged onto the same base body with the same design of fastening device, which provides a high degree of variability in different assembly situations. 
     Preferably, the design can be such that the mechanical locking connection comprises two interlockable locking elements, whereby one locking element can be inserted into the other locking element and then locked together with the latter by a pivoting movement. In this way the actuating arm can be clipped onto the base body and/or the flap of the piece of furniture in a simple manner. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention one locking element of the mechanical locking connection comprises a preferably spring-loaded retainer which can be locked together with the other locking element. Alternatively or additionally, it may be advantageous if the mechanical locking connection comprises a spring-loaded retaining nose, which is provided for securing the actuating arm and which can be disengaged by pressure against its spring force. 
     In order to adjust the length of the actuating arm to various different flaps on pieces of furniture and/or with a different assembly position of the base body on a side wall of the piece of furniture, it can be advantageous if the actuating arm comprises at least two parts that can be moved relative to one another or can be secured to one another. These kinds of longitudinally-adjustable actuating arm levers are known from the prior art and can have various different designs. In order to fix the actuating arm at the adjusted length it is preferable if the relative position of the parts is secured by a clamping connection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail in the following by way of the description of the Figures with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of a piece of furniture with a mounted base body, 
         FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  show a partial cross sectional view of  FIG. 1  with a partially fixed actuating arm and an enlarged view of a detail, 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of an actuator with a secured actuating arm, 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of a piece of furniture with a mounted upper part flap, 
         FIG. 5  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with a hinged lower part flap, 
         FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b  show an embodiment of a flap-side fastening device and a cross section along the axis  6   b - 6   b,    
         FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  show a further embodiment of a flap-side fastening device and an enlarged view of a detail, 
         FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b  show the embodiment of  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and the embodiment of  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b,    
         FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b  show a side view of a flap-side fastening device and a vertical cross section of the fastening device, 
         FIG. 10  shows an example of a bi-fold flap with an actuating arm having fastening devices on both sides, 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective partial view of a base body which can be secured to a furniture body, 
         FIGS. 12   a - 12   c  show a further embodiment of the invention in various views, wherein the fastening device is in the form of a screw connection, and 
         FIGS. 13   a ,  13   b  show the embodiment of  FIGS. 12   a - 12   c  with a screwed on actuating arm. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of a furniture body  4 , on the side wall of which a base body  2  of an actuator  1  according to the invention is secured. In the embodiment shown the base body  2  comprises a locking element  7 , which is mounted on its centre of rotation  9  and is part of the fastening device  8 . An actuating arm  3 , which is not shown for reasons of clarity, can be locked mechanically to said locking element  7 . Said actuating arm  3  can thus be hinged at one end to the locking element  7  and to a flap  6  shown by way of example and moves the latter from a closed position to an open position. A base plate  10  is screwed onto the underside of the cabinet shelf  5 , on the base plate of which—as already known in the prior art—a hinge can be clipped in a simple manner thereon, so that the flap  6  can be pivoted about a horizontal axis in the region of cabinet shelf  5 . 
       FIG. 2   a  shows a section of  FIG. 1  with a partly fixed actuating arm  3 ,  FIG. 2   b  shows an enlarged detailed view of  FIG. 2   a . The base body  2  of the actuator  1  is secured to a side wall of the furniture body  4 . The locking element  7  mounted movably on the base body  2  comprises two or more channel-like grooves  11 ,  11 ′, which are provided for mounting corresponding parts of the locking element  7 ′ of the actuating arm  3 . The locking element  7 ′ is firstly inserted into the channel-like groove  11  of the locking element  7  and then pivoted so far until the retainer  12  of the locking element  7 ′ snaps fully into the second channel-like groove  11 ′ of the locking element  7 . The locking element  7 ′ can comprise a spring-loaded retainer  12  for example. For additional centring or stabilising of the actuating arm  3  an additional channel-like groove  13  can be provided for mounting a corresponding bolt element  22 ′ of the locking element  7 ′. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of a side wall of the furniture body  4 , on which the base body  2  of the actuator  1  is mounted. In the figure shown the actuating arm  3  is locked completely to the locking element  7  of the base body  2 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of the actuator  1 , the actuating arm  3  of which consists of at least two parts  3 ′,  3 ″ that can be moved relative to one another or secured to one another. In this way an optimum adjustment of length to various sizes of the flap is possible. The relative position of the two parts  3 ,  3 ′ can be fixed by a clamping connection  15 , preferably a tilting lever. A base plate  10 , onto which a hinge  14  can be clipped, is screwed onto the underside of the cabinet shelf  5 —as already shown in  FIG. 1 . An upper part flap  6 ′ is mounted onto the hinge  14 . Furthermore, a further base plate  10 ′ is provided on the upper part flap  6 ′ onto which a base plate of an additional part flap  6 ″ can be hinged. 
       FIG. 5  shows the embodiment from  FIG. 4  with an additionally hinged part flap  6 ″ which is connected to the upper part flap  6 ′ by a hinge  14 ′ clipped onto the base plate  10 ′. The actuating arm  3  comprises a second fastening device  8 ′ which is provided for detachably connecting the actuating arm  3  to a base body  2 ′ secured to the lower part flap  6 ″. 
       FIG. 6   a  shows the actuating arm  3  on the end section of which a fastening device  8 ′ is arranged for detachably connecting with a base body  2 ′ fixed to the flap  6 .  FIG. 6   b  shows a cross section along the axis  6   b - 6   b  of  FIG. 6   a . The base body  2 ′ comprises a securing flange  16  which is screwed to the flap  6  through openings  17 ,  17 ′. Furthermore, the base body  2 ′ comprises a riveted bolt  18  onto which a retaining element  19  of the actuating arm  3  is fitted. This mechanical locking connection comprises a spring-loaded retaining nose  20 , which is provided for fixing the actuating arm  3 , and which by pressure against its spring force in the direction of arrow A can be disengaged from the retaining element  19  of the actuating arm  3 . 
       FIG. 7   a  shows the flap-side end of the actuating arm  3 ,  FIG. 7   b  shows an enlarged view of a detail of the circle of  FIG. 7   a . According to a variant of the solution shown in  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b  a fastening device  8 ′ is provided, which, similar to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b , comprises a preferably spring-loaded retainer  12 . In a first assembly stage firstly the bolt  21  is inserted into a corresponding channel-like groove on the base body  2 ′—not shown—and then finally locked to the retainer  12  by pivoting. The bolt  22  is also used for centring or stabilising the actuating arm  3  secured to the base body  2 ′. 
       FIG. 8   a  shows the embodiment of  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b , wherein the flap-side fastening device  8 ′ has already been clipped onto a base plate  10 ″ mounted on the rear side of the lower part flap  6 ″. The two longitudinally-adjustable parts  3 ′,  3 ″ of the actuating arm  3  can thus be adjusted in an optimum manner to the required length and locked by means of the clamping connection  15 . 
       FIG. 8   b  shows the embodiment of  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b , wherein the flap-side fastening device  8 ′ with its retaining element  19  has been fitted onto a bolt  18 —as shown in  FIG. 6   b —and held by the retaining nose  20 . 
       FIG. 9   a  shows a side view of the flap-side fastening device  8 ′ for connection with a flap  6 ,  FIG. 9   b  a vertical cross section of  FIG. 9   a . With regard to  FIG. 7   b  the bolt  21  is inserted in a corresponding groove in the base plate  10 ″, then the fastening device  8 ′ is pivoted towards the base plate  2 ′ and the spring-loaded retainer  12  is completely locked onto the base plate  10 ″. For additional centring or stabilisation the middle centring bolt  22  is provided, which in the locked position is also mounted in a corresponding groove in the base plate  10 ″. 
       FIG. 10  shows an example of a bi-fold flap  6 ′,  6 ″, which is hinged horizontally onto the bottom side of the cabinet shelf  5 . The upper part flap  6 ′ is secured by way of a hinge  14  clipped onto a base plate  10 . The lower part flap  6 ″ is also secured to the upper part flap  6 ′ by way of a hinge  14 ′ which is clipped onto a base plate  10 ′. The base body  2  of the actuator  1  is secured onto a side of a furniture body  4 . At both ends the actuating arm  3  comprises fastening devices  8 ,  8 ′ which are provided for the detachable connection of the actuating arm  3  to the base body  2  and the not-shown base plate  10 ′ on the rear side of the lower part flap  6 ″. It is particularly advantageous if all of the parts to be secured, i.e. the actuating arm  3  and hinge  14 ,  14 ′ have the same fastening mechanism. In this way there can be a high degree of variability and replacement is straightforward whilst minimising the structural cost. 
       FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the base body  2  which can be secured to the side wall of a furniture body  4 . It comprises a pivotably-hinged locking element  7 , wherein two channel-shaped grooves  11  and  11 ′ are provided for mounting corresponding parts of the fastening device  8  of the actuating arm  3 . The centring groove  13  is used for mounting the bolt  22  of the fastening device  8 . 
       FIGS. 12   a - 12   c  show a further embodiment of the invention in various views.  FIG. 12   a  shows—as already known—an actuator  1  with a control cam  23  hinged onto the base body  2  pivotably on the point of rotation  25  and the associated actuating contour  24 . In the embodiment shown the fastening device  8  comprises a screw connection  29 . Said screw connection  29  comprises a screw  28  which is preferably pre-mounted on the actuating arm  3 . On mounting the actuating arm  3  onto the base body  2  firstly the retaining nose  27  formed or arranged on the actuating arm  3  is inserted into a corresponding recess  26  of the control cam  23  by pivoting the actuating arm  3  upwardly. 
     The recess  26  is designed so that the retaining nose  27  is mounted in an essentially play-free manner. At the end of the pivoting upwards procedure the pre-mounted screw  28 , which is in engagement with a thread nut  28 ′ located on the rear side of the actuating arm, locks together with a hook-shaped element  31  attached to the base body  2 . This is made possible by the interaction of a retainer  30 ′ in an opening  30 . Then the screw  28  is tightened by a screwdriver so that the hook-shaped element  31  is clamped between the actuating arm  3  and the rear thread nut  28 ′. The additional locking connection  30 ,  30 ′ prevents the actuating arm  3  from falling out, in case the screw  28  should become loose. 
       FIG. 12   b  shows a partial section of the rear side of  FIG. 12   a . This shows the retainer  30 ′ which is mounted in assembly position in the opening  30 . The screw  28  which is in engagement with the thread nut  28 ′ is inserted into the hook-shaped element  31  by pivoting the actuating arm  3  upwardly. Then by tightening the screw  28  the hook-shaped element  31  is clamped between the actuating arm  3  and thread nut  28 ′. 
       FIG. 12   c  shows a detailed view of  FIG. 12   b  in perspective view. 
       FIG. 13   a  and  FIG. 13   b  show the actuating arm  3  which is completely mounted on the base body  2  or on its control cam  23 .  FIG. 13   a  shows a side view, in which the retaining nose  27  of the actuating arm  3  is mounted by pivoting upwards in a play-free manner in the recess  26  of the control cam  23 . In the figure shown the retainer  30 ′ is located in the opening  30 , whereby for safety reasons in addition to the already described screw connection the actuating arm  3  is locked onto the base body  2 . 
       FIG. 13   b  shows the actuator  1  in perspective view. By tightening the screw  28  the actuating arm  3  can be secured onto the base body  2  in a friction-locked manner. 
     The present invention is not restricted to the embodiments shown but encompasses or extends to all variants and technical equivalents which fall within the scope of the following claims. Also the details on position chosen in the description, such as e.g. top, bottom, side etc. relate to the normal installation position of the actuator  1  or to the Figure being described or represented at the time, and if there is a change in position they should be transposed to the new position accordingly.