Patent Publication Number: US-11641941-B2

Title: Concealed tear-resistant hanging-bracket group with precise depth adjustment

Description:
The present invention relates to a concealed tear-resistant hanging-bracket group with precise depth adjustment. 
     Various solutions have been developed in the field of concealed hanging brackets suitable for being assembled in an external rear position of a wall cupboard. 
     Some solutions provide a well-concealed hanging bracket, once coupled with a shoulder beneath the top and constrained to the wall. These hanging brackets can also be equipped with anti-disengagement means against an accidental detachment of the wall cupboard in the case of collisions. 
     These hanging brackets normally consist of a single plate element provided with protrusions or side pins coupled, during assembly, with a side shoulder of the piece of furniture. Furthermore, said hanging brackets have a movable hooking element articulated to the plate for fixing to the wall. Finally, as already mentioned, an anti-disengagement device is provided to prevent an accidental detachment of the wall cupboard from the wall. 
     Solutions have also been developed which, instead of providing access to adjustments in depth and height from holes formed in the rear part of the cupboard, also allow access from the front part, or even from both sides, depending on the specific requirement. 
     In some cases, the hanging brackets also provide separate elements produced from a mould, which are made integral with the base plate, these elements, however, are not suitable for providing threaded holes as they are subject to possible tear with poor thread resistance. 
     Holes formed directly in the sheet of the base plate, moreover, cannot guarantee a correct positioning of the same, even more so if they are guiding holes, where great precision is required. 
     And, as is known, the sheet may, in some cases, not be sufficiently rigid when exposed to stress by both blocking and adjustment threaded elements. 
     The general objective of the present invention is to solve all of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the known art, in an extremely simple, economical end particularly functional manner. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a concealed hanging-bracket group provided or not provided with an anti-disengagement device which guarantees a firm assembly, with the smallest number of component parts with possible tear resistance and with secure connection in the view of the most varied kinds of stress. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a concealed hanging-bracket group with as few components as possible even with the presence of security of the group. 
     A further objective of the present invention is to provide a concealed hanging-bracket group having sufficient rigidity when subjected to stress, precision in the guiding and positioning of the elements and tools for the assembly and resistance to various kinds of stress. 
     In view of the above objectives, according to the present invention, a concealed tear-resistant hanging-bracket group has been conceived, with a precise adjustment in depth, having the characteristics specified in the enclosed claim  1  and subordinate claims. 
     The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will be even more evident from the following description referring to the attached drawings which show a concealed and adjustable hanging bracket for the wall assembly of a wall cupboard produced according to the present invention. 
    
    
     
       In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    shows a front view of the concealed hanging-bracket group for the wall assembly of a wall cupboard in a first embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a sectional view of the concealed hanging-bracket group according to the line II-II of  FIG.  1    with the addition of furniture and wall; 
         FIG.  3    is a rear view of the concealed hanging-bracket group shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view of the hanging-bracket of  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  3   ; 
         FIGS.  5 ,  6  and  7    show a succession of views of the plate alone of the group of  FIG.  5    to which, in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the guiding element and other adjustment means are added, which clarify the reciprocal position of the parts; 
         FIG.  8    shows a front view of the concealed hanging-bracket group for the wall assembly of a wall cupboard in a second embodiment with anti-disengagement according to the present invention and  FIG.  8   a    shows a section of  FIG.  8    in a withdrawn position; 
         FIG.  9    is a sectional view of the concealed hanging-bracket group according to the line IX-IX of  FIG.  8    with the addition of furniture and wall; 
         FIG.  10    is a rear view of the concealed hanging-bracket group shown in  FIGS.  8  and  9   ; 
         FIG.  11    is an exploded perspective view of the hanging bracket of  FIGS.  8 ,  9  and  10   . 
     
    
    
     With reference to the figures, these show a concealed tear-resistant hanging-bracket group with precise depth adjustment with or without anti-disengagement according to the invention. 
     Said hanging-bracket group is of the adjustable type and is suitable for being assembled at the rear, in a concealed position, on a wall cupboard M provided with a shoulder SP and top C. 
     The hanging-bracket group comprises a plate element  11  provided with a plurality of fixing pins  12 ,  12 ′,  12 ″, which extend outwards from one side of the plate element  11  (and/or also from the other side), and a hooking element  14 . The hooking element  14  is coupled at the front with the plate element  11  to constrain the actual hanging-bracket with a supporting element SU fixed to a wall P. Again in a known way, the plurality of fixing pins  12 ,  12 ′,  12 ″, is coupled in holes formed on a shoulder SP of the wall cupboard M. Furthermore, the above-mentioned supporting element fixed to the wall P on which the hanging-bracket is constrained, can, for example, be a simple shaped bar B held on the wall P by dowels T. 
     It should also be pointed out that, also in the hanging bracket object of the invention, the hooking element  14  can be adjusted in depth according to the arrow K and height according to the arrow H with respect to the relative plate element  11  and is provided with an upper hook-shaped portion  15  for coupling with the above-mentioned bar B fixed to the wall P by the dowels T. 
     Horizontal and vertical movement means  16 ,  17 , such as, for example, a known screw-nut screw mechanism, possibly provided with angular transmissions and an adjustment grub screw, and anti-disengagement means  18 , if provided, are provided in order to effect said adjustment in depth and in height. Said movement means and anti-disengagement means are easily accessible for a user during both the assembly phases and with the hanging bracket assembled, from holes formed in a lining F at the rear of the furniture. In this case, a single hole  10  is provided for the passage of tips of a screwdriver  46 , as the maneuvering points of the adjustments in depth and in height are very close. 
     The plate  11  is formed from a single moulded sheet wherein a fixing arrangement is provided for the movement means  16  and  17  and horizontal and vertical adjustment, and for the anti-disengagement means  18 , when present. 
     The plate  11  has, in fact, through a deep-drawing operation, a deep-drawn protrusion  19 , provided centrally with an internally threaded hole  20  suitable for receiving an adjustment screw  21 , or grub screw, provided with a recessed head  22 . The recessed head  22  is inserted in a groove  23  provided in a box-shaped body of the hooking element  14 . 
     It should be pointed out that the hooking element  14 , at an opposite end with respect to the hook-shaped portion  15 , has slots  24  suitable for receiving pivot ends  25  of a platelet  26  which make it integral and articulated with respect to the plate  11 . 
     Supports for the movement means  16  and  17  of the horizontal and vertical adjustments are also provided and formed in the plate  11 . 
     In this respect, in the example, these supports in the plate  11  are represented by two appendices  27  and  28 , obtained by half-blanking of the plate  11 , vertically aligned beneath the deep-drawn protrusion  19 . The two appendices  27  and  28  are square-folded with respect to the surface of the plate  11 . 
     The first appendix  27  has a groove  29 , rounded and open outwardly. The second appendix  28 , on the other hand, has a pass-through hole  30 . 
     A screw  31  is provided at one end with a toothed crown  32  and at the other end with a narrow cylindrical section  33  and is positioned between the two appendices  27  and  28 . The screw  31  beneath the toothed crown  32  has a flange or collar  34  protruding outwardly, forming a seat  35  which is engaged in the groove  29 , rounded and open outwardly of the first appendix  27 . Furthermore, the narrow cylindrical section  33  of the screw  31  is engaged in the pass-through hole  30  of the second appendix  28 . The screw  31  is therefore free to rotate when actuated by the toothed crown  32 , allowing the adjustment operations. 
     It should also be pointed out that an intermediate section of the screw  31  is screwed into the threaded pass-through hole  36  of the platelet  26  which carries the hooking element  14  integrally and articulated. 
     Furthermore, in both examples of the figures shown for the two embodiments, a pass-through opening  37  is formed, beneath the deep-drawn protrusion  19 , in the sheet of the plate  11 , obtained above the appendix  27 , forming part of the supports of the movement means  17  of the vertical adjustment. Said opening  37  is suitable for receiving a guiding element  38  moulded in zamak (or in a plastic material) which forms a guide for the tip of a screwdriver. This guiding element  38 , in fact, provides, on opposite sides, two guiding seats  39  and  40  separated by an intermediate septum  41  which acts as a stop for the tip of the screwdriver. 
     Said guiding element  38  is also provided with a pair of plugs or extensions  42  to be inserted in holes  43  of the plate  11  and to be riveted on the sheet of the plate  11  from the rear as riveting and fixing points of the guiding element  38  to the plate  11 . 
     This arrangement allows a precise positioning of the guiding element  38  on the plate  11  and at the same time provides a secure guide for the tip of the screwdriver.  FIGS.  5  to  7    show in detail and with extreme clarity, the arrangement of the guiding element  38  in the hanging bracket of the present invention. 
     It can be noted how this guiding element  38  is arranged quite precisely in the space existing below the deep-drawn protrusion  19 . At the same time, this guiding element  38  is positioned in the pass-through opening  37  formed in the sheet of the plate  11  immediately above the appendix  27  which form a first part of the supports of the movement means  16  of the horizontal regulation. 
     This arrangement allows a stable and secure positioning of the guiding element  38 . 
     The positioning by means of pins  42  inserted and riveted in the sheet of the plate  11 , causes a stable positioning also in view of possible unforeseen stress. 
     These elements are provided for in both examples of the concealed tear-resistant hanging-bracket group, with precise depth adjustment according to the present invention. 
     It should also be pointed out that the concealed hanging-bracket group of  FIGS.  1  to  7    is a group that does not provide anti-disengagement means. The concealed hanging-bracket group of  FIGS.  8  to  11   , on the other hand, is a group which provides anti-disengagement means. 
     In the two examples of concealed hanging-bracket groups the same reference numbers have been used for the same elements. 
     Furthermore, it should be pointed out that a slot  44  is formed in the plate  11 , from which a tip of a screwdriver  47  passes, which actuates a grub screw  45  that is screwed into a hole  48  of the hooking element  14  and is abutted in an undercut  49  of the above-mentioned bar B which forms an anti-disengagement group  18 . 
     In this way, it is possible to actuate the anti-disengagement means  18 , for example by passing from a hole or opening  50  formed in the lining F of the furniture M and from a further opening or slot  44  produced in the plate  11 . 
     In conclusion, the rotation of the screw  21  by means of the tip of the screwdriver inserted either in the rear part of the deep-drawn protrusion  19  or in the head  22  of the screw  21 , causes a regulation in depth of the hanging bracket. 
     A tip of a screwdriver, when inserted in the pass-through opening  37  and in the guiding seat  40  of the guiding element  38  for a rear actuation or alternatively for a front actuation in the guiding seat  40  of the guiding element  38 , causes an engagement on the toothed crown  32  of the screw  31 . 
     A rotation of this screw  32  forces the platelet  26 , which carries the hooking element  14  integrally and articulated, to move in height, causing an adjustment in height of the hanging bracket according to the arrow H. 
     Finally, as already specified, a tip of a screwdriver, when inserted to pass into the slot  49  of the plate  11 , causes an engagement of the grub screw  45  in an undercut of the bar B on the wall P, forming an anti-disengagement group. 
     From what is described above with reference to the figures, it is evident that a concealed hanging bracket according to the present invention is particularly useful and advantageous. 
     The objectives mentioned in the preamble of the description have therefore been achieved. 
     The concealed and adjustable hanging-bracket group for the wall assembly of a wall cupboard according to the present invention guarantees, in fact, an easy and firm assembly on any type of wall cupboard. 
     The forms and materials of the concealed and adjustable hanging-bracket for the wall assembly of a wall cupboard according to the present invention can naturally differ from that shown for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes in the drawings. 
     The protection scope of the invention is therefore defined by the enclosed claims.