Patent Abstract:
A coplanar closure sliding mechanism to be applied to a two or three wing wardrobe and the like, characterized in that said sliding mechanism comprises a rail fixed to a top surface of said wardrobe and thereon a sliding carriage coupled to a support bracket fixed to the wardrobe wing to be driven is slidingly engaged, said bracket being supported by sliding blocks perpendicular to the plane of said wardrobe wing, said sliding blocks and bracket being driven by a rod leverage coupled to one of said sliding blocks, to said carriage and supporting bracket, and being driven by movable follower cam wheels engaged in a chamber formed by a plate fixed to said rail to space, as said wardrobe wing is opened, said wing from said wardrobe and bring said wing onto another laying plane parallel to and overlapping an adjoining wardrobe wing.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a coplanar closure sliding mechanism to be applied to a two or three wing wardrobe and the like. 
         [0002]    Slidable wing wardrobes provided with sliding wings which, in a closure condition thereof, are arranged in a mutual coplanar position are already known. 
         [0003]    In the above wardrobes, for operatively driving the wardrobe wings, very complex driving mechanisms are conventionally used. 
         [0004]    Another problem is that the movable wings are frequently locked, under the applied closing and opening forces, in a non baricentric position. 
         [0005]    A further problem of prior slidable wing wardrobes is that the wing driving mechanisms comprise a high number of component elements which are susceptible to frequent damages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a coplanar closure sliding mechanism to be applied to a two or three wing wardrobe and the like, assuring a harmonic and even driving and sliding movement of the wardrobe wings without jammings. 
         [0007]    Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a wing driving mechanism which is very simple construction wise and comprises few component elements adapted to be easily and quickly assembled. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide such a coplanar closure sliding mechanism to be applied to a two or three wing wardrobe and the like, which, owing to its specifically designed structural characteristics, is very reliable and safe in operation. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a coplanar closure sliding mechanism to be applied to a two or three wing wardrobe and the like, which may be easily made and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint. 
         [0010]    According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a coplanar closure sliding mechanism to be applied to a two or three wing wardrobe and the like, characterized in that said sliding mechanism comprises a rail fixed to a top surface of said wardrobe and thereon a sliding carriage coupled to a support bracket fixed to the wardrobe wing to be driven is slidingly engaged, said bracket being supported by sliding blocks perpendicular to the plane of said wardrobe wing, said sliding blocks and bracket being driven by a rod leverage coupled to one of said sliding blocks, to said carriage and supporting bracket, and being driven by movable follower cam wheels engaged in a chamber formed by a plate fixed to said rail to space, as said wardrobe wing is opened, said wing from said wardrobe and bring said wing onto another laying plane parallel to and overlapping an adjoining wardrobe wing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of a coplanar closure sliding mechanism to be applied to a two or three wing wardrobe and the like, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings, where: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded axonometric view showing a top carriage of the subject mechanism, being shown for the left door wing, the right door wing being a mirror-like one, at a closed wing position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic top plan view showing the positions of the left, central and right wardrobe wings at a closed wing condition; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a further partially exploded axonometric view showing the subject mechanism during a starting operating step of opening the wardrobe left wing; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows the mutual positions of the left, central and right wardrobe wings, the left wardrobe wing being shown in an opening starting condition thereof; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a further partially exploded axonometric view showing an intermediate operating step for sliding the wardrobe left wing; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view showing the mutual positions of the left, central and right wardrobe wing, the left wing being shown in a starting opening sliding step thereof; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a further partially exploded axonometric view showing the subject mechanism in an end operating step thereof for closing the left wardrobe wing; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a further top plan view showing the mutual positions of the left, central and right wardrobe wings during the left wardrobe wing starting operating step; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a further partially exploded axonometric view showing the top carriage of the subject mechanism, shown for the central door at a closed wing position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a schematic top plan view showing the mutual positions of the left, central and right wardrobe wings in a closed wing position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a further partially exploded axonometric view of the subject mechanism during the central wing opening starting operating step; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view showing the mutual positions of the left, central and right wardrobe wings, the central wardrobe wing being shown in an opening starting condition thereof. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the coplanar closure sliding mechanism to be applied to a two or three wing wardrobe and the like, according to the present invention, comprises, with respect to the wardrobe left wing, the wardrobe right wing being a mirror like one, a carriage  1  which is made starting from a tubular element  2  and a Z-shape bracket  3  which are rigidly coupled to one another. 
         [0025]    The carriage  1  may be longitudinally slidably driven with respect to the wardrobe body by four sheaves  4  which are engaged in an engagement rail  5  fixed to the top portion of the wardrobe. 
         [0026]    The tubular element  2  of the carriage  1  longitudinally projects from the bracket  3  so as to counteract, during the sliding movement, the lever effect generated by the cantilever wardrobe wing  14  weight. 
         [0027]    The two sheaves  4  clamped to said tubular element  2  are adapted to slide in a dedicated track  5 ′ formed in said rail  5  so as not to interfere against a corresponding tubular element  29  of the carriage  28  of the adjoining wing. 
         [0028]    On the sliding base are clamped, by clamping pins  6 , a first and second guide elements  7  and  8  engaging a first and second sliding blocks  9  and  10  which are designed for sliding on said guide elements by first wheels  11  engaging in cavities or hollows  12  defined by said guide elements. 
         [0029]    On said sliding blocks  9  and  10  a left wing supporting bracket  13 , for supporting the left wing  14 , is clamped. 
         [0030]    On the first sliding block  9  is clamped a coupling assembly  15 , said coupling assembly  15  having a bottom end portion therewith a first cam follower wheel  16  is associated engageable on a first cam  17  formed on a plate  18  fixed to said rail  5 . 
         [0031]    To the coupling assembly  15  a rod leverage or mechanism for driving the follower wheels  16  is connected, said leverage or mechanism comprising a first rod  19  at one end portion thereof a second rod  20  is hinged or pivoted. At the pivoting region between the first and second rods, a second follower wheel  21  engaging in said cam  17  is pivoted. 
         [0032]    At the other end portion thereof, said second rod is pivoted to an arm  22  which is rotatably driven about a rotary pin  23  clamped to the carriage  1  and including a vertical portion supporting a wheel  24  engaging in a slot  25  formed in the left wing  14  supporting bracket  13 . 
         [0033]    Thus, by applying an opening force to the handle  16 , arranged at the end portion of the left wing  14 , the wing supporting bracket  13  will project perpendicularly from the wardrobe while driving therewith the first sliding block  9  which, in turn, will entrain the wheel  16  which, by performing its movement depending on the cam  17  configuration, will entrain or drive the first rod  19 , the second follower wheel  21  arranged inside the cam  17 , the second rod  20 , the arm  22  which, in turn, by rotating about the rotary pin  23 , will drive the wheel  24  engaged in the slot  25  formed through the wing supporting bracket  13  thereby causing the latter to project. 
         [0034]    After having moved away the wardrobe wing from the wardrobe, while continuing to press on the handle  26 , the first sliding block  9  will be so driven as to further entrain the elements connected thereto while turning the arm  22  and pushing the wheel  24  into the bracket  13  slot  25 , thereby causing the left wing  14  to fully exit the wardrobe opposite side from the handle. 
         [0035]    In this connection it should be pointed out that the opening movement of the wardrobe wing  14  is an “harmonic” smooth and even one without jammings as typically occur as an opening force is applied to the wing at a non baricentric position. 
         [0036]    After having withdrawn the wing, it is possible to drive said wing by causing a sliding movement of the cam follower wheel in the cam  17  and by causing the left wing to be overlapped on the wardrobe central wing, thereby fully opening the wardrobe. 
         [0037]    More specifically, the tubular element  2  of the carriage  1 , sliding in a dedicated track  5 ′ formed in the rail  5 , will longitudinally cross the wardrobe central wing carriage  28 , thereby nullifying the lever effect generated by the wardrobe cantilever wing  14  weight. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the central wing  27  comprises a carriage  28  constituted by a tubular element  29  and a Z-shaped bracket  30  rigid with one another and longitudinally sliding with respect to the wardrobe by four sheaves  31  engaged on the rail  5  clamped to the wardrobe top portion. 
         [0039]    The tubular element  29  of the carriage  28  longitudinally projects from the bracket  30  thereby to counteract, during the sliding movement, the lever effect generated by the wardrobe cantilever wing  27  weight. 
         [0040]    The two sheaves  31  clamped to said tubular element  29  are slidable on a dedicated sliding track  5 ″ formed in the rail  5  thereby, during the sliding movement, the tubular element  29  of the carriage  28  will not interfere against the corresponding tubular element  2  of the adjoining wing carriage  1 . 
         [0041]    On said sliding base are clamped, by clamping pins.  32 , a first guide element  33  and a second guide element  34  engaging a first sliding block  35  and a second sliding block  36  which slide on said guide elements by sliding wheels  37  engaging in corresponding cavities or hollows  38 . 
         [0042]    On said sliding blocks  35  and  36  a supporting bracket  39  for supporting the central wing  27  is clamped. 
         [0043]    On the sliding block  35 , in turn, is clamped a coupling or connecting assembly  40  having a bottom end portion thereat is arranged a first cam follower wheel  41  engaged in a cam  17  formed on a plate  18  clamped on the rail  5 . 
         [0044]    To said coupling assembly  40  a rod mechanism for driving cam follower wheels is connected, said mechanism comprising a first rod  32  having an end portion to which is pivoted a second rod  43 . 
         [0045]    At the pivoting region of the first and second rod, a second cam follower wheel  44 , which engages in a portion of the cam  17  and then in a track  50  parallel to a cam  17  at a higher level from the first cam follower wheel  41  of the central wing is engaged. 
         [0046]    At the other end portion thereof, the second rod  43  is pivoted to an arm  45  turning about the pivot pin  46  clamped to the carriage  28  and including a vertical portion supporting a wheel  47  engaged in a slot  48  formed through the supporting bracket  39  to which the central wing  27  is connected. 
         [0047]    Thus, by applying an opening force on a handle  49 , at the end portion of the central wing  27 , the supporting bracket  39  will project perpendicularly from the wardrobe entraining therewith the first sliding block  35  which in turn will entrain or drive the wheel  41  which, by moving depending on the cam  17  contour, will entrain the first rod  42 , the second follower wheel  44 , also engaged in the cam  17 , the second rod  43  and arm  45  which, by turning about the rotary pin  46 , will drive the wheel  47  engaged in the slot  48  formed through the bracket  39  thereby causing the latter to project. 
         [0048]    By continuously operating the handle  49  of the wing  27 , the first sliding block  35  will further drive the elements coupled thereto while causing the arm  45  to rotate and the wheel  47  to be pushed through the slot  48  of the bracket  39 , and the central wing  27  to exit at the opposite side of the operating handle  49 . 
         [0049]    Differently from the above disclosed opening process for the left side wing  14 , the second follower wheel  44  does not fully follow the path defined by the cam  17  but, as it arrives at the point thereat the wing  27  is parallel to the wing  14 , will follow a track  50  parallel to the cam  17 . 
         [0050]    The opening movement of the central wing  27  is an harmonic one without jammings which would typically occur under the opening forces applied at a non baricentric position. 
         [0051]    With the central wing in a fully projected condition, it will be caused to parallel translate to the left wing laying plane with a full overlapping and consequently a full opening of the wardrobe space. 
         [0052]    In particular, the tubular element  29  of the carriage  28 , slidable in a dedicated sliding track  5 ″ formed on the rail  5 , will cross the carriage  1  of the wardrobe left wing thereby contributing to nullify the lever effect generated by the wardrobe cantilever wing  27  weight. 
         [0053]    From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects. 
         [0054]    In particular, the fact is to be pointed out that the invention has provided a sliding mechanism which is very safe and operatively reliable thereby allowing to optimize all the driving operation of the coplanar closure sliding wings. 
         [0055]    The invention, as disclosed, is susceptible of several modifications and variations all of which will come within the scope of the invention. 
         [0056]    Moreover, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. 
         [0057]    In practicing the invention, the used materials, provided that they are compatible to the intended application, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4