Patent Abstract:
The invention relates to a sliding arrangement, in particular a slide-out device for drawers, sliding doors, etc., having a sliding piece and a pulling arrangement which can be coupled together by means of a coupling piece, wherein the pulling arrangement can be placed in a resiliently pretensioned manner in a parking position and wherein the pulling arrangement can be blocked in the parking position by means of a locking element. In order to ensure a reliable movement of a drawer or the like into the closure position, there is provision according to the invention for the locking element to be locked in the parking position of the pulling arrangement by means of a bar.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a sliding arrangement, in particular a slide-out device for drawers, sliding doors, etcetera, having a sliding piece and a pulling arrangement which can be coupled together by means of a coupling piece, wherein the pulling arrangement can be placed in a resiliently pretensioned manner in a parking position. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Such a sliding arrangement is known from DE 10 2011 050 605 A1. In this instance, the sliding arrangements are used in order to enable comfortable operation in particular with handle-free drawers or sliding doors or the like. Accordingly, for example, the closed drawer can be pressed by the user at the front end thereof. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In this instance, a so-called “push-latch mechanism” of the sliding arrangement is triggered and the slide-out arrangement then pushes the drawer into a partially open position. In this partially open position, the drawer can be comfortably gripped by the user and completely pulled out. For a comfortable closing operation, a pull-in device is combined with the slide-out arrangement. This pulls the drawer in the last portion of the adjustment path into the closure position. At the same time, a damper is effective and prevents a harsh stoppage of the drawer in the closure position. The slide-out device uses a spring which, after the push-latch mechanism has been triggered, pushes the sliding piece into the partially open position. The pulling arrangement uses another spring, that is to say, a retraction spring which serves to pull the drawer in the last portion of its adjustment path into the closure position. Consequently, two springs are therefore used which introduce opposing resilient forces into the drawer. The slide-out spring is therefore preferably sized with a smaller spring constant than the retraction spring. During the closure operation of the drawer, the kinetic energy of the drawer is used in order to tension the pull-out spring in order to simulate the most “natural closure operation” possible without the drawer additionally having to be pushed by a user in the last portion of the closure path in order to tension the slide-out spring. Since the slide-out spring is tensioned, a switching operation has to take place, which then releases the pulling arrangement in order to place the drawer in the closure position. The kinetic energy of the drawer is also preferably used for the activation of the switching arrangement. When the drawer is now pushed closed very slowly, although the kinetic energy may be sufficient to tension the pushing-out arrangement, the switching arrangement is then no longer triggered so that a pulling-in action into the closure position is not brought about. 
         [0004]    An object of the invention is to provide a sliding arrangement of the type mentioned in the introduction which makes optimum use of the kinetic energy of the drawer in the closure path thereof. 
         [0005]    This object is achieved in that the locking element which blocks the pulling arrangement in the parking position is locked by means of a bar. In order to move the locking element into the release position, the bar has to be moved. The parking position may be structurally configured in such a manner that only little energy is required in order to move the locking element from the parking position. The actuation of the bar may be carried out with little application of force so that, for the switching operation, only a very small portion of the kinetic energy has to be used. Consequently, a very slowly running drawer is also pulled into the closure position without problems. 
         [0006]    In a particularly preferred manner, there is provision for the bar to be able to be actuated counter to the pretensioning of a spring. The spring may in this instance be provided with a small spring constant in order to enable a low-force actuation of the bar. A simple construction is produced when there is provision for the bar to have a switching piece which cooperates with a release portion in order to move the bar from the locking position (or locked position). Consequently, when the locking element is moved into the parking position, the bar is actuated by the locking element itself so that no additional component and assembly complexity is required. 
         [0007]    A sliding arrangement according to the invention may be configured in such a manner that the locking element has a retention member which carries a guiding element and that the guiding element is adjusted in a guide when the locking element is displaced with the pulling arrangement. 
         [0008]    A reliable condition of the locking element is possible in that it has a switching attachment which can be actuated indirectly or directly by the sliding piece. Consequently, the locking element can be clearly controlled on the switching attachment thereof by the sliding piece. 
         [0009]    If there is provision for the locking element to be pivotably supported on a bearing of the pulling arrangement, and for the locking element to form the retention member and/or the switching attachment as a lever arm, then a simple construction is brought about and, on the other hand, by means of the adjustment of the lever arms, the required forces for operating the locking element can be kept low. 
         [0010]    A particularly preferred variant of the invention involves the bar having an actuation piece which is acted on by means of a switch in order to actuate the bar when the locking element is blocked. The switch accordingly serves to move the bar out of its closure position and to release the locking element. Consequently, the switch can be sized in such a manner that it can be operated with little application of force in order to release the bar. 
         [0011]    In this instance, there may preferably be provision for the switch to be pivotably supported on a bearing of the pulling arrangement in order to form a uniform subassembly. In addition, a high level of switching precision is thereby achieved, in particular when the locking element is also retained on the pulling arrangement. 
         [0012]    A simple actuation of the switch may be achieved in that it can be switched indirectly or directly by means of the sliding piece. 
         [0013]    The switch may be constructed again as a lever, which can be moved into operational connection by means of a first lever arm with the sliding piece and a second lever arm with the bar. By means of the lever arms, the force relationships can be translated in an optimum manner. 
         [0014]    In order to make sliding arrangements usable with modern drawer systems, they must not exceed a specific structural size. In particular, the sliding arrangements must be flat and must not have an excessive longitudinal extent in the direction of the sliding movement of the drawers. 
         [0015]    In order to now provide a small sliding arrangement, which also has a minimized extent in the pushing direction of the drawer, there may be provision for the sliding piece to be connected, at the end region thereof facing the retraction position (a release end), indirectly or directly to a release piece, wherein the release piece can be moved between a release position and a locking position, and for the sliding piece to be connected, at the region thereof facing away from the retraction position (a coupler end), to the coupling piece (or coupler). By means of this construction of the sliding piece, a construction is possible in which the components of a sliding arrangement fitting may be arranged one above the other in order to achieve a small longitudinal extent in the pushing direction. 
         [0016]    It is also conceivable to provide a sliding arrangement which brings about a long slide-out path over the sliding piece. To this end, there may be provision for two springs to act on the sliding piece in order to move it into the slide-out position. In this instance, the springs preferably do not act together at least over a part-region of the displacement path but instead a stepped relaxation of the springs is brought about at least in part-regions. When the two springs which are responsible for the sliding-out movement are tensioned, these can consequently be tensioned one after the other, at least partially, which enables an optimum use of the kinetic energy of the drawer. 
         [0017]    Preferably, both springs act at least in a part-region of the slide-out path in a parallel manner on the sliding piece. Preferably, they act at the beginning of the slide-out path in a parallel manner in order to be able to introduce a strong slide-out impulse into the drawer. A possible configuration of the invention involves one spring acting as a pressure spring and the second spring acting as a draw spring on the sliding piece in order to be able to achieve a spatially optimized configuration of the sliding arrangement. 
         [0018]    The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings.  FIGS. 1 to 31  show different functional positions of a sliding arrangement according to the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an embodiment of the sliding arrangement in the basic, or retraction, position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  behind one of the covers. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as an excess travel is applied to the drawer front of the drawer. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 3  behind one of the covers. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as it begins to move in the opening direction due to at least one spring. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 5  behind one of the covers. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as the drawer is located in a partially open position in which it can be gripped by hand and pulled open. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 7  behind one of the covers. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as the drawer is pulled at least partially further open by a user. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 9  behind one of the covers. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  through the wall of the housing as the release piece begins to move to the tilted-away position in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as the drawer is pushed at least partially shut by a user. 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 12  behind one of the covers. 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as the drawer is moved farther shut and the release piece has moved to the securing position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 14  behind one of the covers. 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as the drawer is moved farther shut. 
           [0035]      FIG. 17  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 16  behind one of the covers. 
           [0036]      FIG. 18  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as changes occur in the internal mechanisms due to the closing movement of the sliding arrangement just after  FIG. 16 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 19  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 18  behind one of the covers. 
           [0038]      FIG. 20  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as the drawer closes farther due to at least one spring counter to at least one damper. 
           [0039]      FIG. 21  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 20  behind one of the covers. 
           [0040]      FIG. 22  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as the drawer closes even farther from the position shown in  FIG. 20 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 23  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 22  behind one of the covers. 
           [0042]      FIG. 24  shows a side view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  as the drawer closes farther still from the position shown in  FIG. 22 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 25  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 24  behind one of the covers. 
           [0044]      FIG. 26  shows the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  with the release piece in the folded-away position due to an opening force when the sliding arrangement does not move correctly due to, for instance, a defect in the sliding arrangement. 
           [0045]      FIG. 27  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 26  through the sliding piece. 
           [0046]      FIG. 28  shows the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  opened farther from the position in  FIG. 26 . 
           [0047]      FIG. 29  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 28  behind one of the covers. 
           [0048]      FIG. 30  shows the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 1  opened farther still from the position in  FIG. 28 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 31  shows a cross-sectional view of the sliding arrangement of  FIG. 30  behind one of the covers. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0050]    As  FIGS. 1 and 2  show, the sliding arrangement (or slide-out assembly) has a housing  10  which has a vertical wall  11 , from which side walls  17 . 1  rise peripherally. In the region of the corners of the housing  10 , screw receiving members  17 . 3  are provided. A cover can be placed on the side walls  17 . 1  and this can be screwed to the screw receiving members  17 . 3 . In order to make the inner workings of the sliding arrangement identifiable, the cover is removed in the Figures and the inner structure of the sliding arrangement is illustrated partially in section. The housing is provided centrally with a guide  12  which has two support portions [[ 17 . 1 ]]  12 . 1  which are spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, the housing  10  has a damper receiving member  13  and another guide  14 . The guide  14  is recessed from the wall  11 . The guide may also be referred to as a guide recess  14 . It has an expansion  14 . 1  which merges into a linear guiding portion  14 . 2 . The guiding portion  14 . 2  terminates in the region of a ramp portion  14 . 3 . The ramp portion  14 . 3  merges via a gate location  14 . 4  into a blocking portion  14 . 5 . 
         [0051]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , in the upper region of the housing there is provided a stop  15  which adjoins a guide  15 . 1 . In this guide, a guiding piece  15 . 3  extends and can be adjusted in a linear and guided manner in the guide  15 . 1 . In this instance, the adjustment can be carried out to the left from the basic position shown in  FIG. 2  after the guiding piece  15 . 3  comes to rest on the stop  15 . Below the guide  15 . 1 , a third guide  16  is formed. The guide  16  is constructed in the form of web-like projections which are formed integrally on the wall  11 . In this instance, these webs again form a linear guide  16 . It can further be seen in  FIG. 2  that the side  17 . 1  is provided with an opening  17 . 2  in the region of the left-hand vertical narrow side of the housing  10  in order to enable access to the inner space of the housing. Opposite, at the right-hand housing end, a resilient retention member  17 . 4  is formed integrally in the region of the side walls  17 . 1  which are adjacent at right angles. In the upper longitudinal region of the housing  10 , a slot  17 . 5  is recessed from the upper side wall  17 . 1 . The slot  17 . 5  is delimited by cover portions  17 . 6  of the side wall  17 . 1 . In the region of the slot  17 . 5  there is provided a guiding path  18  whose construction can be seen in greater detail in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a vertical section through the wall  11  of the housing  10 . As can be seen in this illustration, the guiding path  18  is introduced into the side wall  11  in the form of a recess. It has a linear guiding portion  18 . 1  which in the region of the two left-side ends opens into a parking portion  18 . 2 ,  18 . 3  in each case. It can further be seen in  FIG. 11  that a release piece  30  can be adjusted in the guiding path  18 . The release piece  30  has a carrier receiving member [[ 30 ]]  31  which is delimited by two stops  32 ,  33 . The release piece  30  is provided with two guiding elements  34 ,  35  which are constructed as attachments and which are guided in the guiding path  18 . In this instance, the guiding element  34  forms a longitudinal guide and in addition a pivot axis about which the release piece  30  can be pivoted.  FIG. 11  shows the release piece  30  in the pivoted-away release position.  FIG. 1  shows the release piece  30  in the tilted blocking position thereof in which the two guiding elements  34 ,  35  can be adjusted in the linear region of the guiding portion  18 . 1 . The detailed construction of the release piece  30  can be seen in  FIG. 27 . As shown in this illustration, the stop  32  is secured to a base portion of the release piece  30 , wherein this base portion [[ 32 ]] receives the guiding element  34 . The second stop  33  is formed integrally on a resilient portion  33 . 1 . The resilient portion  33 . 1  merges via a connection  33 . 2  into the base portion, wherein the connection  33 . 2  integrally connects the stop  33  to the base portion. Counter to the stop  33 , the resilient portion merges into an articulated region  36 . The articulated region  36  is formed on an extension arm  37  which again merges integrally into the base portion. The release piece  30  is pivotably coupled to a sliding piece  40 . The sliding piece may also be referred to as a slide piece  40 . In this instance, the pivotable coupling is advantageously carried out by means of the guiding element  34 . In this manner, the release piece  30  can be pivoted between the blocking position illustrated in  FIG. 2  and the release position shown in  FIG. 11 . To this end, the sliding piece  40  has an attachment  41  which receives the release piece  30  in a receiving member which is provided therefor. This receiving member may form stops which support the release piece  30  in the folded-away position thereof (see  FIG. 27 ). 
         [0052]    As further shown in  FIG. 2 , an activator cooperates with the release piece  30 . The activator has securing receiving members  21  on a securing plate. A carrier  22  is integrally formed on the securing plate. The carrier  22  can be received in the carrier receiving member  31  of the release piece  30 . Generally, the activator  20  is mounted at the body side, whilst the housing  10  is mounted with the sliding arrangement of the drawer which is intended to be operated. Of course, however, a transposed association can also be selected. 
         [0053]    The sliding piece merges from the attachment  41  with the bearing  42  for the guiding element  34  of the release piece  30  into a connection portion which terminates as a retention member  43 . The retention member  43  has a receiving member  44 .  FIG. 2  shows the retraction position of the drawer. The release piece is thus in the retraction position. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the sliding piece  40  is constructed in such a manner that the retention member  43  facing away from the retraction position has the receiving member  44 . The sliding piece  40  is constructed in such a manner that it can be adjusted in a linear manner in the guide  16  by means of attachments. In this instance, the adjustment movement is carried out in the drawing plane according to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0054]    In the region of the retention member  43 , a coupling piece  50  is associated with the sliding piece  40 . The coupling piece may also be referred to as a coupler  50 . The coupling piece  50  has a coupling head  51  with a connector  52  which is received in the receiving member  44  of the retention member [[ 33 ]]  43  and is secured at that location. The coupling piece [[ 51 ]]  50  is screwed with an adjustment thread onto a threaded attachment of a transfer piece. The transfer piece has a thread  53  at the end thereof facing away from the connector  52 . This thread is screwed into a retention member  54  of a switching arrangement. The retention member carries a carrier  55  opposite the thread  53 . The carrier  55  is provided with a support member  56 . Between the support member  56  and the delimitation edge of the retention member  55 , there is formed a bearing receiving member  57  for a catch ring  58  which can be twisted on the carrier  55 . Using the delimitation edge and the support member  56 , the catch ring  58  is retained in an axially non-releasable manner. The catch ring  58  has on the outer contour thereof a switching attachment which is guided in a control cam of a pulling arrangement  60 . The pulling arrangement may also be referred to as a pull assembly  60 . The catch ring and the control cam form in the form of a ball-point pen mechanism a releasable coupling connection between the pulling arrangement and the switching arrangement, and consequently finally therefore a releasable connection between the sliding piece  40  and the pulling arrangement  60 . In the pulling arrangement  60 , a spring  120  is retained in a spring receiving member. The spring  120  acts as an ejection spring and is retained in  FIG. 2  in the pretensioning position thereof, wherein the spring  120  is supported on the one hand at the right-hand end on the housing of the pulling arrangement  60  and, on the other hand, on the support member  56 . 
         [0055]    The pulling arrangement  60  has a bearing  61  in which the transfer piece of the coupling piece  50  is guided in a linear manner, as can be seen clearly in  FIG. 2 . In the region of the bearing  61 , the pulling arrangement  60  is a retention member  62 . The retention member  62  is provided with a spring receiving member  62 . 1  and a damper receiving member  62 . 2 . The pulling arrangement  60  is a covering portion  63  which is constructed in a cylindrical manner at the outer contour thereof. It is supported on the circle-segment-like support portions  12 . 1  of the guide  12  in such a manner that the outer contour of the covering portion  63  terminates in a planar manner with the outer contour of the wall  11  or at least substantially terminates with the outer contour of the wall  11  in order to be able to bring about a small structural width. An identical guide of the covering portion  63  may also be provided at the opposite side on the cover. As already explained above, the pulling arrangement has a spring receiving member  64  which is constructed in the manner of a housing, and receives the spring  120  in a manner which prevents it from buckling. 
         [0056]    In the region of the spring receiving member  64 , the pulling arrangement  60  has a stop portion [[ 60 ]]  65 . An end stop  67  is formed on the stop portion  65 . A securing portion  66  is further formed on the stop  65 . As already mentioned above, the pulling arrangement  60  can be adjusted in a linear manner in the guide  12  and in the leaf plane according to  FIG. 2 . A switch  70  and a locking element  80  are pivotably secured to the securing portion  66 . The locking element may also be referred to as a lock element  80 . The switch  70  is constructed as a dual lever and has two lever arms  71 ,  72 . The switch may also be referred to as an actuation switch  70 , and the two lever arms may also be referred to as a first switch lever arm  71  and a second switch lever arm  72 . It is secured to the securing portion  66  so as to be able to be pivoted about a bearing  73 . The bearing may also be referred to as an actuation switch bearing  73 . 
         [0057]    The locking element  80  is constructed as a dual lever. It has as a first lever arm a switching attachment [[ 24 ]]  84  and as a second lever arm a retention member  81 . The switching attachment may also be referred to as a lock switch member  84 . The locking element  80  is secured to the securing portion  66  so as to be able to be pivoted about a bearing  83 . The bearing may also be referred to as a lock bearing  83 . The pivoting movement of the locking element  80  and the switch  70  extends in the drawing plane according to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0058]    The retention member  81  carries in the form of a projection a guiding element  82  which engages in the guide  14 . At the link-side end, the retention member  81  has a release member  85 , for example, in the form of a shaped inclination. The release member may also be referred to as a lock release portion  85 . 
         [0059]    As can further be seen in  FIG. 2 , a damper  100  is coupled to the pulling arrangement  60 . The damper  100  has a damper housing  101  and a piston rod  102  which can be adjusted therein. In the present embodiment, the damper  100  is constructed as a linear air damper. It may also be constructed as a linear fluid, in particular a linear oil damper. The damper housing  101  is accommodated in the damper receiving member  13 . In this instance, for the purposes of a narrow structural width, the cylindrical damper housing is adjusted in the guide  14  in such a manner that it terminates with the outer contour thereof with the outer side of the wall  11  or substantially with the outer side of the wall  11 . The piston rod  102  is secured by means of a coupling piece  103  to the damper receiving member  62 . 2  of the pulling arrangement  60 . Below the damper  100  a spring, in this instance a helical spring, is arranged as a draw spring. The spring  90  is secured at the one long-side end thereof to the spring retention member  17 . 4  of the housing  10 , the other end of the spring  90  is secured to the spring receiving member  62 . 1  of the pulling arrangement  60 . 
         [0060]    Between the spring  90  and the sliding piece  40 , a bar  110  is arranged. The bar  110  is fixedly secured to the housing  10 . The bar  110  has an actuation piece on which a switching piece  113  is integrally formed. The switching piece may also be referred to as a bar switch portion  113 . The switching piece  113  may be constructed in the form of a shaped inclination. The bar  110  can be adjusted counter to the pretensioning of a spring  112  with a low spring constant in the housing  10  in a linear manner in the plane of the drawing according to  FIG. 2 . The spring may also be referred to as a bar spring  112 . 
         [0061]    The procedure for operating the slide-out arrangement which is illustrated in the drawings is described below. 
         [0062]      FIG. 1  shows, as already mentioned above, the retraction position, therefore the position in which the drawer is located in the retracted and secured position thereof. Starting from this position, an excess travel Ü, as indicated in  FIG. 3 , is applied to the drawer front of the drawer. As a result of this excess travel Ü, the housing  10  of the sliding arrangement is moved to the left in the plane of the drawing according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 4  illustrates how the component associations change in the event of excess travel Ü. Since the sliding piece  40  is fixedly blocked on the activator  20 , the housing  10  moves to the left with respect to the sliding piece  40 . The pulling arrangement  60  is also moved to the left with the housing  10 . The switching arrangement thereby moves with excess travel with the retention member  54  thereof. This means that the catch ring  58  is twisted with the catch attachment thereof in the slotted switching member of the pulling arrangement  60 . The excess travel adjustment is carried out counter to the pretensioning of the spring  120 . 
         [0063]    With the adjustment of the housing  10  to the left, the switch  70  and the locking element  80  are also moved against a stop edge of the sliding piece  40 . The switch  70  and the locking element  80  are thereby pivoted. The guiding element  82  is pivoted upward in the expansion  14 . 1  of the guide  14 . The guiding element may also be referred to as a guide element  82 . If the drawer is now balanced at the drawer front thereof, the spring  120  becomes effective as shown by the sequence of Figures according to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Since the carrier  55  via the retention member  54 , the coupling piece  50 , the sliding piece  40  and the release piece  30  are coupled in a fixed manner to the activator  20 , the spring  120  pushes the housing to the right in the opening direction Ö. This pushing-out movement controlled by the spring  120  is carried out in a forcibly guided manner on a part-path under the direct action of the spring  120 . Afterwards, the sliding piece moves into a free-running action in which it is displaced as a result of the energy introduced by the spring  120  only as a result of the kinetic energy thereof. This displacement movement then stops when the retention member  54  strikes a stop of the retention member  62 . The drawer is now located in a partially open position in which it can be gripped by hand and pulled open. This is shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . The drawer can be moved further in the opening direction Ö. During this pulling-out movement, the release piece  30  remains coupled to the activator  20 . Since the coupling piece  50  has stopped against the retention member  62 , the coupling piece  50  pulls the pulling arrangement [[ 62 ]]  60  as a result of the additional displacement of the housing  10  in the direction of the opening movement Ö. During this displacement, the piston rod  102  of the damper  100  is extended. At the same time, the spring  90  is tensioned. Since the pulling arrangement  60  is now coupled to the coupling piece  50 , the housing  10  is also displaced relative to the pulling arrangement  60 . This means that the locking element  80  is also adjusted in a relative manner with respect to the housing  10 . The guiding element  82  is displaced in the guide  14  of the housing. It first slides along the linear guiding portion  14 . 2 , then moves over the ramp portion  14 . 3 , wherein it is pivoted in the bearing  83  and reaches the top dead center  14 . 4 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this position, the release portion  85  of the locking element  80  strikes the switching piece  113  of the bar  110 . In this instance, the locking element  80  pushes the bar  110  in the plane of the drawing according to  FIG. 8  to the left counter to the pretensioning of the spring  112 . 
         [0064]    During this adjustment movement, the release piece  30  is adjusted with the sliding piece  40 , wherein the release piece  30  slides along in the guiding path  18  with the two guiding elements  34  and  35  thereof. If the drawer is now adjusted further in the opening direction, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the housing  10  is also displaced further in the opening direction. The locking lever  80  slides with the guiding element  82  thereof further in the guide [[ 40 ]]  14 , wherein the guiding element  82  is moved into the region of the blocking portion  14 . 5 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the locking element  80  pivots downward in the counter-clockwise direction and the bar  110  is pushed as a result of the action of the spring  112  over the locking element and blocks it in the region of the release member  85 . 
         [0065]    The sliding piece  40  is adjusted with the release piece  30  further in the guiding path  18  until it reaches the tilted-away position thereof which is shown in  FIG. 10 . In this instance, as can be seen in  FIG. 11 , the guiding element  35  is received in the parking portion  18 . 2  and the release piece  30  has been tilted about the pivot axis formed by the guiding element  34 . The release piece  30  releases the activator  20  and it blocks the sliding arrangement in the position shown in  FIG. 10 , wherein the damper  100  has been completely pulled out and the spring  90  has been completely tensioned. When the sliding piece  40  is displaced, the guiding piece  15 . 3  which is coupled to the sliding piece [[ 14 ]]  40  via the spring  15 . 4  is moved to the left in the guide  15 . 1 , wherein the spring  15 . 4  is then fully relaxed. 
         [0066]    The drawer can now be pulled completely and uninfluenced by the sliding arrangement into the opening position.  FIGS. 12 and 13  now show the closure movement S of the drawer, wherein the drawer can first be adjusted in an uninfluenced manner, until the release piece  30  strikes the activator  20 . In this instance, the carrier  22  strikes the stop  32 . Since this impact location is eccentric with respect to the bearing  42 , a tilting moment is applied and moves the release piece  30  from the pivoted position thereof shown in  FIG. 12  into the securing position, in which it blocks the carrier [[ 32 ]]  22  in the carrier receiving member  31 , as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The release piece  30  is now guided with its two guiding elements  34 ,  35  in the region of the guiding portion  18 . 1  of the guiding path  18 . Since the release piece  30  has therefore been moved out of the parking position thereof, the sliding piece  40  can again be adjusted relative to the housing  10 . In this instance, the sliding piece  40  moves into the housing, whilst the housing  10  is moved further in the closure direction. The sliding path arrangement  60  continues to be blocked with respect to the housing  10  (locking element  80 ). As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the sliding piece  40  strikes with the catch ring  58  thereof the slotted guiding member of the pulling arrangement  60 . At this location, the coupling piece  50  is then locked via the catch ring  58  to the pulling arrangement  60  in the slotted guiding member. Furthermore, the carrier  55  is moved with the support member  56  thereof counter to the spring  120  and it is tensioned as a result of the kinetic energy of the drawer. At the same time, the guiding piece  15 . 3  also moves against a stop of the guide  15 . 1  and the spring  15 . 4  is tensioned.  FIGS. 16 and 17  finally show that the sliding piece  40  strikes the switch  70  only when the catch ring  58  has already been engaged in the slotted guiding member of the pulling arrangement  60 . 
         [0067]    As can be seen from  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the sliding piece  40  now moves the switch  70  and rotates it about the bearing  73  in the clockwise direction. The lever arm  72  is thereby pressed against the actuation piece  111  of the bar  110 . The bar  110  is consequently adjusted counter to the pretensioning of the spring  112 , until it releases the locking element  80 . 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the sliding piece  40  now presses via the switch against the switch attachment  84  of the locking element  80 . The locking element  80  is thereby pivoted in the clockwise direction about the bearing  83 . The guiding element  82  thereby moves out of engagement with the blocking portion  14 . 5  and is guided as far as the top dead center  14 . 4 . In this position, the pulling arrangement  60  is released. The spring  90  is now effective and pulls the pulling arrangement  60  counter to the damping force of the damper  100 . Since the pulling arrangement is coupled to the sliding piece  40  via the coupling piece  50  and the release piece  30  is retained on the activator, the drawer is retracted in a forcibly guided manner and at the same time damped. As shown in  FIG. 23 , as a result of this retraction movement, the switch  70  is again moved a short distance away from the sliding piece  40 . 
         [0069]      FIGS. 24 and 25  now show the additional path of the retraction movement in the closure direction S, wherein the guiding element  82  is now moved in the guiding portion  14 . 2 . During this retraction movement, the spring  15 . 4  which is significantly weaker than the resilient force of the spring  90  and which is constructed as a draw spring is further tensioned. 
         [0070]    The closure movement in the closure direction S is now continued until the initial position shown in  FIG. 1  is reached. 
         [0071]    In this position, the spring  15 . 4  is fully tensioned, the spring  120  is also tensioned and the spring  90  is relaxed, wherein a degree of residual tension is maintained in this instance on the spring  90  in order to ensure play-free tensioning. 
         [0072]    In the sequence of Figures according to  FIGS. 26 to 31 , it is shown how the drawer can be opened if, for example, as a result of a defect of the sliding arrangement, it can no longer be moved correctly. The activator  20  then strikes the stop  33  of the release piece  30  with a carrier  22 . When the drawer is pulled as a result of the spacing of the stop  33  from the guiding element  34  (which brings about the pivotable support), a torque is thereby introduced into the release piece  30 . This torque which rotates to the right according to  FIG. 27  results in the release piece being folded away. In this instance, the guiding element  35  (see  FIG. 11 ) is introduced into the region of the parking portion  18 . 3 . The activator  20  is thereby released and the drawer can be pulled out in an unimpeded manner. As shown in  FIGS. 28 and 29 , after the activator has left the release piece  30 , it can tilt back into the initial position thereof and the sliding piece  40  which has been moved slightly to the left can again be pulled back by the spring  90 .  FIGS. 30 and 31  again show the fully retracted sliding piece with the raised release piece and the released activator. If the drawer is now closed again, the carrier  22  of the activator  20  strikes the spring portion  33 . 1  and bends it away, wherein the connection  33 . 2  yields in a resilient manner and a pivoting of the resilient portion takes place substantially in the articulation region  36 . The carrier  22  can then move into the carrier receiving member  31  and the drawer is secured in the closure position thereof again. 
         [0073]    As described above, the sliding piece  40  starting from the position according to  FIG. 4  is accelerated by means of both springs  15 . 4  and  120  after selection of the excess travel. In this instance, the spring  120  presses on the coupling piece and the spring  15 . 4  pulls the sliding piece  40  directly. To this end, as mentioned above, the spring  15 . 4  is connected to the sliding piece at one end thereof. The other end of the spring  15 . 4  is secured to the guiding piece  15 . 3 . The guiding piece  15 . 3  is fixedly blocked on the housing  10  in the position shown in  FIG. 4 . When the two springs  120  and  15 . 4  are relaxed, the spring  120  is first discharged. Subsequently, after the spring  120  has been completely discharged, the spring  15 . 4  continues to act on the sliding piece and moves it under the action of resilient force. The spring control is therefore selected in such a manner that both springs  120 ,  15 . 4  initially act on the sliding piece  40 . After the spring  120  has been discharged, only the spring  15 . 4  acts until the sliding piece has reached the position shown in  FIG. 6 . Then, both springs  120  and  15 . 4  are discharged. 
         [0074]    The charging of the two springs is carried out in the opposite direction, as shown in the image sequence according to  FIGS. 14 to 19 . First, when the sliding piece  40  is introduced, the spring  15 . 4  is tensioned, then the coupling piece  50  strikes the spring  120  and tensions it. In this operating state, both springs  15 . 4  and  120  are then charged by the sliding piece  40  as soon as the coupling piece  50  has engaged with the catch ring  58  thereof in the slotted switching member of the pulling arrangement  60 , the spring  120  and also the spring  15 . 4  is completely tensioned. 
         [0075]    The two springs  15 . 4  and  120  bring about a long resiliently controlled pushing-out path, wherein at the beginning both springs  15 . 4  and  120  act at the same time on the sliding piece in order to bring about a significant pushing-out force. After the drawer has been moved and the spring  120  has been discharged, the low resilient tension of the spring  15 . 4  is sufficient to maintain the movement of the drawer. It is consequently possible to produce a large displacement path of the drawer. Since the spring  15 . 4  has a low spring constant, it can be charged again with little energy so that the drawer is not noticeably prevented from being pushed closed. 
         [0076]    Of course, the pushing arrangement shown in the drawings can also be carried out simply with the spring  120 . The spring  15 . 4  is only optional and, as described above, serves to produce a larger pushing-out movement with improved operating comfort.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4