Abstract:
An adjustable wall cupboard holder group ( 10 ) for anchoring a cupboard ( 11 ) to the wall having a hook ( 15 ) situated at the free end of a hooking element ( 14 ) extending externally from the wall cupboard holder group. A regulation mechanism of the positions in depth and height of the hook ( 15 ) is associated with the hooking element ( 14 ). The wall cupboard holder group includes a central section or portion ( 16 ) containing the hooking element ( 14 ) and mechanism, and two side sections or flanges ( 18, 18 ′), at least one element ( 20, 20 ′) resistant to shear forces, protruding from at least one of said sections, where at least the other section includes at least one fixing device ( 19, 19 ′).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     INCORPORATION BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a visible wall cupboard holder group, adjustable for anchoring a cupboard to the wall. 
     In particular, the wall cupboard holder in question is defined as being visible as it is destined for being assembled inside a wall cupboard. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Wall cupboard holders in which a hook is situated at the free end of an arm which extends externally from a box-shaped body made of plastic material, are well known to experts in the field. 
     Said box-shaped body contains a mechanism for regulating the positions in depth and height of the hook, which is to be hooked to a wall support, a shaped metallic section, peg or other similar item. 
     The wall cupboard holder thus structured is fixed to the shoulder of the cupboard by means of self-threading screws, or pressure-yielding plugs made of a plastic material, with a saw-toothed profile, in correspondence with the upper edges of the cupboard, defined by the shoulder, cover or top. 
     The screws are pass-through, i.e. they pass through the box-shaped body and are screwed directly into the shoulder of the cupboard, whereas the plugs extend integrally and laterally from the box-shaped body made of plastic material and are pressure-inserted into a corresponding seat of the shoulder. 
     A wall cupboard holder of the type briefly described above is described and illustrated, for example, in patents EP 0033179 B1 and EP 0632979 A1. 
     There are also other types of wall cupboard holders which substantially differ in the supports with which they are fixed to the cupboards and also in the means with which it is possible to regulate the positions in depth and height (inclination) of the rear hook. 
     These wall cupboard holders, described for example in EP 1228720 B1, at present generally consist of a plate element equipped with a side flange which, in the assembly phase, is normally fixed by means of screws or expansion pegs in holes situated on the shoulder of the wall cupboard. 
     As mentioned above, the above known wall cupboard holders comprise a moveable hook element for fixing the cupboard to the wall which, as described in EP 1228720 B1, is driven by screw-female screw mechanisms, possibly equipped with angular countershafts, capable of allowing the regulation of the rear position of the supporting hook (see also EP 0033179 B1 and EP 0632979 A1). 
     Although these known wall cupboard holders are currently functional and satisfy the safety regulations in force in the field of hanging furniture items, in view of the present tendency to reduce the thicknesses of the panels forming wall cupboards and increasing diffusion of these pieces of furniture, which are also frequently overloaded, it can unfortunately happen that this cupboard/cupboard holder coupling is not always effective, long-lasting and above all safe. 
     As the stability of the wall cupboard depends on this constraint, unfortunately the wall cupboard frequently falls dangerously and/or breaks as a result of the shear forces acting in the wall cupboard holder coupling which are generated when the cupboard is loaded. 
     The above drawbacks mainly occur in the wall cupboard holders of EP 0033179 B1 and EP 0632979 A1, with a box-shaped body made of plastic material. 
     A general objective of the present invention is to solve the above drawbacks of the known art in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional manner. 
     A further objective is to provide a visible wall cupboard holder group for anchoring a wall cupboard to the wall, which ensures an easy and firm assembly on any type of wall cupboard. 
     Another objective is to provide a visible wall cupboard holder group for anchoring a wall cupboard to the wall, which is capable of resisting high shear forces which can be generated in the cupboard/wall cupboard holder coupling once the cupboard has been loaded. 
     In view of the above objectives, according to the present invention, a visible wall cupboard holder group has been conceived for anchoring a cupboard to the wall, having the characteristics specified in the main claim and enclosed subclaims. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides an adjustable wad cupboard holder group ( 10 ) for anchoring a cupboard ( 11 ) to the wall comprising a hook ( 15 ) situated at the free end of a hooking element ( 14 ) extending externally from said wall cupboard holder group, a regulation mechanism of the positions in depth and height of said hook ( 15 ) that is associated with said hooking element ( 14 ), characterized in that said wall cupboard holder group comprises a central section or portion ( 16 ) containing said hooking element ( 14 ) and mechanism, and two side sections or flanges ( 18 ,  18 ′), at least one element ( 20 ,  20 ′) resistant to shear forces, protruding from at least one of said sections, 
     The structural and functional characteristics of the of the present invention, and its advantages with respect to the known art, will appear more evident from the following description, referring to the enclosed schematic drawings, which illustrate examples of visible wall cupboard holder groups for anchoring a wall cupboard to the wall produced according to the innovative principles of the same invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a visible wall cupboard holder group for anchoring a wall cupboard to the wall according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIG. 1  assembled; 
         FIG. 2 b    is another perspective view of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 2 c    is an enlarged view of a detail of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIGS. 2-2   b  assembled on the relative wall cupboard; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another wall cupboard holder group according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 b    is another perspective view of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 3 c    is an enlarged view of a detail of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIGS. 3-3   b  assembled on the relative wall cupboard; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another wall cupboard holder group according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4 b    is another perspective view of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 4 c    is an enlarged view of a detail of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIGS. 4-4   b  assembled on the relative wall cupboard; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another wall cupboard holder group according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5 b    is another perspective view of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5 c    is an enlarged view of a detail of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIGS. 5-5   b  assembled on the relative wall cupboard; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another wall cupboard holder group according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6 b    is another perspective view of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6 c    is an enlarged view of a detail of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIGS. 6-6   b  assembled on the relative wall cupboard; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the wall cupboard holder group according to the present invention in the assembly phase on the relative wall cupboard; 
         FIG. 7 b    is a perspective view of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIG. 5  assembled on the relative wall cupboard; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another wall cupboard holder group according to the present invention in the assembly phase on the relative wall cupboard; 
         FIG. 8 b    is a perspective view of the wall cupboard holder group of  FIG. 8  assembled on the relative wall cupboard. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawings, a visible adjustable wall cupboard holder group for anchoring a cupboard to the wall in question is indicated as a whole with  10 . 
     Said wall cupboard holder group  10  visible in exploded form in  FIG. 1  and suitable for effecting the anchoring of a wall cupboard  11  to a wall, is fixed during use on one side to a internal side wall  12  of the relative wall cupboard  11  and on another, which at least partially protrudes externally from a hole  40  situated on a rear cover  13  of the same cupboard to a support (generally a metallic section) fixed to the wall (generally a metallic section). 
     An example of these assembly phases and relative couplings of the wall cupboard holder  10  in both the rear hole  40  and in the side holes  41  of the wall cupboard  11  are shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , whereas  FIGS. 7 b  and 8 b    illustrate the same wall cupboard holders  10  at the end of the assembly with the relative rear portions  15  protruding beyond the cover  13  of the wall cupboard  11 . 
     As can be easily seen, according to an embodiment of the invention, there is also a covering top  100 , generally made of plastic, of the wall cupboard holder  10 , which, however, has no structural function. 
     In particular, as clearly shown in  FIG. 1 , the wall cupboard holder  10  according to the invention comprises a hooking element  14  to a supporting element fixed to the wall, said hook  14  is coupled at a first end  15 ′ to a central portion  16  of a plate element whereas at a second end, which freely protrudes behind the central portion  16 , there is a hook-shaped fixing portion  15  to the above support. 
     In order to allow regulations of the position of the hook-shaped portion  15 , the connection of the hooking element  14  to the central portion  16  is of the adjustable type in depth F and inclination A. For this purpose, regulation means  17 ,  17 ′ of the depth F and inclination A of the hooking element  14  are envisaged, said means  17 ,  17 ′ are associated with and easily accessible in the front to the central portion  16 . 
     In this way, the user can proceed with all the regulations of the cupboard which he feels are necessary, in depth and height, as is well-known to experts in the field. 
     According to the invention, the wall cupboard holder  10  as described above, also comprises two side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ which extend from the central portion  16  from opposite parts, above and below the hooking element  14 , respectively, in which each of the two side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ comprising fixing means  19 ,  19 ′ of the wall cupboard holder group  10  to the inner side wall  12  (shoulder) of the wall cupboard  11 , in addition to at least one element resistant to the shear forces  20 ,  20 ′ which are generated when the wall cupboard holder  10  is assembled and when the wall cupboard is loaded. 
     Said at least one element resistant to shear forces  20 ,  20 ′ protrudes from the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ on the side facing the inner side wall  12  of the wall cupboard  11 , and collaborates with the previous fixing means  19 ,  19 ′ for a stable positioning of the wall cupboard holder  10  on an internal wall  12  of the wall cupboard  11 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the regulation means  17 ,  17 ′ of the depth F and inclination A of the hooking element  14 , which, as already mentioned, are associated with and easily accessible in the front to the central portion  16 , comprise two screw-female screw mechanisms. 
     In these mechanisms, there is a first regulation screw  30  which comprises a head which is firmly housed/entrapped in a counter-form  31 ′ situated in the central portion  16  and a threaded development which is longitudinally associated in an internal threaded seat of the hooking element  14  in correspondence with the end  15 ′ of the hooking element  14  opposite the hook  15 . 
     As can be deduced from what is stated above, said first regulation screw  30  is able to regulate the longitudinal movement (depth) of the hooking element  14 . 
     A second regulation screw  31  is also envisaged, which is associated with the first central portion  16  in a parallel and upper position with respect to the first regulation screw  30 . 
     Said second regulation screw  31  acts on a movable circular lunette  33  situated at the opposite side with respect to the head of the second regulation screw  31  and is driven by the second regulation screw  31  to enforce a rotation of the hooking element  14  around a riveted pin  34 . 
     According to an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-2   c , the elements resistant to shear forces  20 ,  20 ′ comprise at least one plug element  20 ,  20 ′ protruding from the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ which are coupled, not necessarily forcedly (i.e. not necessarily with interference), with holes  41  situated in the internal side wall  12  of the wall cupboard  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 c   , said plugs  20 ,  20 ′ collaborate with the previous fixing means  19 ,  19 ′, for example screws, for a stable positioning of the wall cupboard holder  10  on the internal side wall  12  of the wall cupboard  11 , preventing the misalignment of the wall cupboard holder  10  with respect to the relative wall cupboard  11 . 
     In the above embodiment, the plug elements  20 ,  20 ′ are integrally positioned directly on the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ during the production of the wall cupboard holder  10 , but alternatively they can also be produced separately and subsequently welded onto the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ as shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4-4   c.    
     The plug elements so far described are preferably hollow cylindrical plugs with a circular section but, alternatively, and in relation to the type of cupboard to be coupled with the wall cupboard holder  10 , they can be hollow cylindrical plugs having a circumferential arc section as shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 3-3   c.    
     As already specified, the fixing means  19 ,  19 ′ can comprise at least one fixing screw  19 ,  19 ′ of the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ to the internal side wall  12  of the wall cupboard  11  in which said at least one fixing screw  19 ,  19 ′ can be coupled with the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ in different positions with respect to the at least one plug element  20 ,  20 ′ through relative holes  44 . 
     Alternatively, the above screws  19 ,  19 ′ can be coupled with the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ inside the plug elements  20 ,  20 ′. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the wall cupboard holder group  10  can comprise, as fixing means  19 ,  19 ′, at least one expansion peg  21 ,  21 ′ which can be optionally, but not necessarily, activated (radially expandable) by means of the screws  19 ,  19 ′ and equipped with gripping teeth which, like the screws  19 ,  19 ′ of the previous examples, fix the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ to the internal side wall  12  of the wall cupboard  11 . 
     Said pegs  21 ,  21 ′ can be coupled with the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ either in different positions with respect to the at least one plug element  20 ,  20 ′, or, as shown in  FIGS. 5-5   c , coaxially with the relative screws  19 ,  19 ′ to the at least one plug element  20 ,  20 ′. 
     Finally, according to a last embodiment, the fixing means comprise at least one expansion peg  21 ,  21 ′ by means of cursors  22  with shaped heads which, like the previous pegs, fix the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ to the internal side wall  12  of the wall cupboard  11 . 
     These pegs  21 ,  21 ′ can also be coupled with the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ either in different positions or coaxially to the at least one plug element  20 ,  20 ′ as shown in  FIGS. 6-6   c.    
     From the above description with reference to the figures, it is evident how a visible wall cupboard holder group for anchoring a wall cupboard to the wall according to the invention is particularly useful and advantageous. The objective indicated in the preamble of the invention has therefore been achieved. 
     The visible adjustable wall cupboard holder  10  for the assembly of a wall cupboard to a wall according to the present invention, in fact, ensures an easy and firm assembly on any type of wall cupboard preventing any possible misalignment of the wall cupboard holder  10  itself with respect to the relative cupboard also when the latter is loaded. 
     This firm positioning can be obtained and maintained in any loading condition of the cupboard thanks to the presence of the elements resistant to shear forces  20 ,  20 ′ protruding from the side flanges  18 ,  18 ′ inserted in the holes  41  of the internal side wall  12  of the wall cupboard  11 . 
     In this condition, said elements resistant to shear forces  20 ,  20 ′, such as cylindrical plugs, collaborate with the fixing means  19 ,  19 ′, such as screws or expansion pegs and/or equipped with gripping teeth, to ensure a stable positioning of the wall cupboard holder group  10  on the internal wall  12  of the wall cupboard  11 . 
     The forms of the visible wall cupboard holder group for the fixing of a wall cupboard to a wall, of the invention, as also the materials, can differ from those shown for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes in the drawings. 
     The protection scope of the invention is therefore delimited by the enclosed claims.