Abstract:
A gripping strip ( 20, 120 ) for a drawer ( 4 ) has a fixing part ( 21, 121 ), with which the gripping strip can be fixed to a drawer. The fixing part ( 21, 121 ) is provided with a visual part ( 32, 132 ), in which at least one information carrier, especially a marking strip, can be attached, and the gripping strip ( 20, 120 ) is provided with at least one snap connection for closing the visual part ( 32, 132 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a United States National Phase application of International Application PCT/CH2004/000082 and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Swiss Application CH 2003 0253/03 filed Feb. 19, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention pertains to a gripping strip for a drawer, which has a fixing part, with which the gripping strip can be fixed to a drawer, and which is provided with a visual part, in which information carriers can be attached.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Drawers for cabinets, especially for cabinets that are used as operating materials and bearing means in industry, crafts and manufacturing industry, must first of all meet high functional requirements. These include, for example, a high mechanical stability, even with an intensive use of the drawers. In addition, the drawers shall also be ergonomically favorable as well as simple and cost-favorable to manufacture.  
         [0004]     All these aspects must also be considered in the gripping part of the drawer, with which the drawer is pushed in and out by a user from a stand, such as, for example, a cabinet. A design solution has now proven to be advantageous, in which the drawer forms a front side made of sheet metal, which may also be a component part of the front side of a cabinet. This type of drawer has a fixing part, which is usually connected in one piece to a front side of the drawer and to which a gripping strip can be fixed. In the gripping strips used since then by the applicant in its products, a positive-locking connection between the gripping strip and the fixing part is provided for this.  
         [0005]     The prior-art gripping strip mentioned is essentially made of aluminum. In order to give the drawer front side a pleasant appearance and to prevent a risk for injury, caps, which lie more or less flush against the gripping strip, are pushed onto both front sides of the mounting part.  
         [0006]     Moreover, the gripping strip has a window, in which a marking strip can be arranged, on its visual side. The marking strip should contain information about the respective contents of the drawer. A transparent cellophane strip is pushed over this [marking strip] into the window for the protection of the marking strip.  
         [0007]     This prior-art gripping strip is not satisfactory in several respects. To achieve a more reliable fixing of the gripping strips, they usually sit rigidly on the mounting part in such a way that they can only be replaced with a quite considerable consumption of energy and by using special tools that are not commercially available. Moreover, the side plastic caps must be removed and then be put back on. The removal and mounting effort required for replacing the marking strips is also considerable. Finally, the cellophane strips additionally tend to turn yellow over time.  
         [0008]     The way marking strips have to be introduced into the visual part and removed has found especially low acceptance among users of drawers. The cellophane strips and marking strips must be pushed into the visual part of the gripping strip from the side for this. Since both strips are not stiff per se, this procedure causes difficulties and often proves to be time-consuming. Since the marking strips are oblong paper strips provided with a low height, up to now these always had to be marked by hand in a complicated way. This also leads to marking strips rarely being replaced and their marking often not portraying the actual contents of the respective drawer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Thus, the basic object of the present invention is to create a solution for a gripping strip of a drawer, which has a favorable design in relation to its use properties, especially regarding the visual part.  
         [0010]     The object is accomplished according to the present invention with a gripping strip of the type mentioned in the introduction in that the gripping strip is provided with at least one snap connection for closing the visual part.  
         [0011]     In gripping strips according to the present invention, an opening and closing of the visual part of the gripping strip based on a snap connection should thus be possible, expediently without the use of a tool. Moreover, the area behind the visual part should be accessible in no time at all, expediently only by loosening the snap connection. The snap connection also results in a defined closing end position of the visual part, which is easily recognizable as such by a user both visually and by touch.  
         [0012]     In a preferred embodiment, the snap connection may have an undercut, with which a projecting part meshes in the closing end position. A resistance, for example, a reversible restoring force building up in this case, must be overcome in order to lead the projecting part out of the undercut.  
         [0013]     In another preferred embodiment, the undercut may run parallel to a longitudinal extension of the gripping strip. A more reliable closing, which is simple in terms of design nevertheless, can also be achieved in that at least either the undercut or the projecting part essentially extends over the entire length of the visual part. However, it is preferred if both the undercut and the projecting part run over the entire length of the visual part.  
         [0014]     A transparent window of the gripping strip should be prevented from becoming lost; thus, it may be expedient to connect this [window] to the gripping strip in one piece. Additional advantages may be achieved in this case if the connection point is designed as flexible, so that the window can be swung open and closed by means of a pivoting movement about the connection point. This makes it possible, in an especially simple way, to insert and remove a marking strip from the front. In contrast to prior-art gripping strips, the marking strip does not have to be pushed in from the side. However, an insertion of the marking strip from the front may also be achieved by the at least one snap connection without a one-piece connection of the window to the gripping strip.  
         [0015]     Provided that the connection point extends at least essentially over the entire length of the window, the danger of dirt penetrating behind the closed window can, moreover, be markedly reduced. The connection point may therefore advantageously be located—in the mounted state of the gripping strip—above the snap connection. Passing from the fixing part into the visual part may be designed as smooth. Thus, even the dust always settling from above onto the gripping strip hardly has a chance of penetrating behind the window or of settling in depressions.  
         [0016]     All in all, the gripping strip preferably consists of plastic, whereby the fixing part and the visual part may comprise the same or different plastics. For example, PVC, which can be dyed in any color, is suitable for the fixing part. The visual part should have a window made of transparent plastic that contains, for example, PVC, Xylex™ (trademark of General Electric Company), polycarbonate and/or ABS plastic. If both parts of the gripping strip are connected to one another in one piece, it is thus possible to produce the gripping strip in a single continuous casting or extrusion process.  
         [0017]     An information carrier to be arranged in the visual part may be a part of a printable sheet, e.g., a sheet of paper. This may be segmented—for example, by a perforation, whereby one segment corresponds to a marking strip. As a result of this, the marking of a large number of drawers by printing marking strips can be carried out very quickly and yet in a visually attractive manner.  
         [0018]     The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The present invention is explained in detail based on exemplary embodiments schematically shown in the figures, in which:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cabinet of drawers;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a front part of a drawer of the cabinet from  FIG. 1  with mounted gripping strip;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a part of the gripping strip of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the gripping strip of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is another exemplary embodiment of a gripping strip in a view according to  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a lower part of the gripping strip from  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an upper part of the gripping strip from  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of another gripping strip according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     Referring to the drawings in particular, the cabinet of drawers  1  shown in  FIG. 1  has a housing  2 , which is closed on all sides except for a front side  3 . The front side  3  of the cabinet  1  is essentially formed by the entire front sides  4   a  of the drawers  4  arranged one above another in the cabinet. Both the housing  2  and the drawers  4  are made of metallic plates. The drawers can be pulled out of the housing  2  and pushed back in, in a manner known per se and not shown in detail.  
         [0029]     Each of the drawers  4  preferably has four walls  5 ,  6 ,  7 , which, together with a bottom plate  8 , form a rectangular bearing mount  9  accessible from above. In the view of  FIG. 1 , the rear wall of the bearing mount cannot be seen with the drawer pulled out. The bearing mount  9  is provided for the storage of bearing materials.  
         [0030]     The plate designated as  5  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  serves as the front wall of the drawer  4 . It is a one-piece plate bent part, which has a horizontal bottom-side section  10 . The latter is provided for connection, preferably for welding onto the bottom plate  8  of the drawer  4 . The bottom-side section  10  passes over a section  11  with several bends into a front section  12 , which has a sloped part  12   a  and an essentially vertically directed part  12   b.    
         [0031]     At its upper end viewed in cross section or in a lateral view, the front section  12  passes over into a profiled fixing section  12   c.  In relation to an outer side, the fixing section  12   c  forms a kink angle a at a first kink  15  with the vertical section  12   b.  As a result of this, the fixing section  12   c  runs from the first to a second kink diagonally downwards. At the second kink  16 , the fixing section  12   c  is provided with a kink angle β, as a result of which the fixing section is directed diagonally upwards up to a third kink  17 . At the third kink  17 , the front side forms a kink angle γ, as a result of which the fixing section slopes sharply downwards up to its free end  18  and is essentially flat.  
         [0032]     The gripping strip  20  shown in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4  has a cross-sectional shape, which is coordinated, in turn, with the cross-sectional shape of the fixing section  12   c  of the drawer  4 . This coordination is created by means of a predetermined geometric shaping of the gripping strip  20  and by means of a selection of material which makes possible a fixing of the gripping strip  20  by means of only one snap connection.  
         [0033]     For this, a fixing part  21  is formed at the gripping strip  20 , which [fixing part] essentially extends over the entire area of an inner side  22  of the gripping strip  20 , which inner side lies opposite the fixing section  12   c  of the drawer  4 . In other exemplary embodiments, the gripping strip can only extend over a part of the front side of the drawer as well.  
         [0034]     With a first end section  23  of the inner side  22  bent concavely in cross section, the gripping strip  20  here lies in the area of the first kink  15  against the fixing section  12   c  and grips it from behind. The gripping strip  20  in this case is in contact with the fixing section  12   c  at two points, the first one being located directly in front of the first kink  15  and the second one being located directly behind it. The first contact point is, moreover, located in the area of the upper longitudinal edge  24  of the gripping strip  20 .  
         [0035]     At the second end section  25 , a groove-shaped mount  26  is formed at the inner side. A lower longitudinal edge  27  of the fixing section  12   c  running over the entire width of the drawer  4  is arranged in this mount  26 . A leg  26   a  of the mount  26  thus grips the lower longitudinal edge  27  from behind.  
         [0036]     Moreover, the gripping strip  20  is supported at the fixing section with a third contact point  30  of its inner side between the second and third kinks  16 ,  17 . An outer side or outer surface  31  of the gripping strip  20  runs essentially level between the first and third contact points and is directed approximately horizontally in the mounted state.  
         [0037]     Between the third kink  17  and the mount  26 , the gripping strip  20  is bent concavely on its inner side  22  and convexly on its outer side  31 , whereby the radii of curvature are identical.  
         [0038]     The fixing part  21  of this exemplary embodiment of the gripping strip  20  is homogeneously produced from a certain plastic, namely PVC, and by means of an extrusion process.  
         [0039]     As a component part of a visual part  32 , a transparent window  33  is provided approximately starting from the level of the third contact point  30  in the area of the outer side of the gripping strip  20 . The window  33  is connected in a nondetachable manner to the gripping strip  20 , consists, for example, of Xylex™ (trademark of General Electric Company), polycarbonate or the like and has about the same curvature as the area of the fixing part  21 , which lies directly opposite it. Furthermore, the window  33  extends down to the mount  26  of the fixing part  21 .  
         [0040]     In the area, in which the window  33  is extruded in a co-extrusion process, the plastics of the fixing part  21  and of the window  33  are materially incorporated into one another. Based on the materials and/or a suitable thin cross section, a movable hinge  34 , a so-called film hinge, can be formed here. By means of the last-mentioned [hinge], the window  33  may be pivotable about the hinge  34  in the direction of the double arrow  35 . It may be advantageous to use a different plastic, distinguishing the fixing part from the window, for the embodiment of the hinge.  
         [0041]     Along its lower longitudinal edge  36  and pointing to the fixing part  21 , the window  33  is designed with a gripping-behind means  37 , which extends over the entire length of the window. The lower longitudinal edge  36  of the window  33  itself is thus arranged in the closing end position of the window at a distance from the fixing part  21 .  
         [0042]     The gripping-behind means is provided for meshing with a first undercut  38 , which is formed by a leg  40 , having an approximately T-like shape in cross section and likewise running over the entire length of the window. The first undercut  38  is turned towards the lower longitudinal edge of the gripping strip.  
         [0043]     On the other hand, a second undercut  41  is open towards the film hinge  34 . Thus, the fixing part  21  and the window  33  form a mount  42  between the film hinge  34  and the second undercut  41 , into which mount a marking strip, not shown in detail, can be inserted. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the mount  42  has a bent cross section. The marking strip is located here with its lower longitudinal edge in the second undercut  41 . This guarantees, on the one hand, a reliable and predefined position of the marking strip in the mount  42 . On the other hand, this prevents the marking strip from unintentionally falling out of the mount  42  when the window  33  is opened.  
         [0044]     Finally, on both of its front sides, the gripping strip  20  can have an impact protection means (not shown), which covers the front edges of the gripping strip  20  and of the fixing section  12   c.  This impact protection means, which is provided as a replacement for the up to now usual front caps, may be advantageously designed as being in one piece with the gripping strip.  
         [0045]     In order to mount the gripping strip  20  on the fixing section  12   c  of the drawer, first the leg  26   a  of the groove-shaped mount  26 , for example, can be arranged behind the lower longitudinal edge  27 . Then, the gripping strip  20  is pivoted towards the fixing section  12   c  in a pivoting movement according to the arrow  43 . In this case, the upper longitudinal edge  24  reaches the fixing section and should be guided over the first kink  15  by applying a force. The gripping strip  20  is, in this case, elastically deformed, until the upper longitudinal edge  24  comes to lie behind the first kink  15 . In this end position, the gripping strip  20  has a lower but still elastic pretensioning force, with which it is held on the drawer against an unintentional longitudinal movement or even an unintentional removal.  
         [0046]     To open the window  33 , it is possible, for example, to grip with a fingernail between the lower longitudinal edge of the window  33  and the fixing part  21 , and the gripping-behind means  37  can be led out from the undercut  38  by applying a force. An elastic deformation of the window  33  building up in this case in the area of the gripping-behind means  37  allows a springy force to build up, which disappears again as soon as the gripping-behind means  37  is removed from the leg  40 . The window  33  performs a pivoting movement about the hinge  34  in this case. After a marking strip is inserted into the mount  42 , the window  33  can be closed by an opposite pivoting movement. The gripping-behind means  37  comes to lie in the undercut  38  in this case. The last two elements mentioned are thus a component part of a snap connection, with which the window can be closed and opened.  
         [0047]     In another embodiment according to the present invention, the fixing part of the gripping strip may be made of aluminum. The material of the window may consist entirely or partially of Xylex™ (a trademark of General Electric Company), which is a transparent and highly resistant plastic. The geometric shape of the gripping strip may essentially correspond to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . However, unlike that one, the window does not absolutely have to be connected in one piece to the fixing part. Instead of the one-piece connection of the window to the gripping strip, a second snap connection, for example, may also be provided, whose type corresponds to the snap connection in the area of the lower longitudinal edge.  
         [0048]     Such another exemplary embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 . Unlike the gripping strip according to  FIGS. 2-4 , the window  133  is a separate component in this gripping strip  120 . A hinge  134 , which is approximately circular in cross section, of the window  133  is arranged in a circular bearing recess  128  provided in the fixing part  121 . Towards the window  133 , the bearing recess  128  has an opening width that is smaller than a diameter or a greatest width of the cross section of the hinge  134 . The hinge  134  is thus, on the one hand, rotatable about an axis, not shown in detail, in the bearing recess  128 , which axis runs vertically to the drawing plane of  FIG. 5 . On the other hand, the hinge  134  is fixed against movements in directions, which run in parallel to the drawing plane. For mounting the window  133 , the hinge  134  may be inserted into the bearing recess  128  from a front side of the gripping strip. As an alternative to this, provisions can be made to press the hinge  134  into the bearing recess from the front and against an elastic resistance.  
         [0049]     The window  133  is arched concavely at its upper longitudinal edge  139  and is also provided with a gripping-behind means  137  towards the fixing part ( FIG. 7 ). On the other hand, the fixing part  121  is provided with an approximately arc-shaped profiled section at a leg  140  running over its entire length. The leg  140  forms an undercut  138 , into which the gripping-behind means  137  can be pushed in a spring-elastic manner and from which it can be removed. For this, the window  133  performs a rotating movement according to the double arrow  143  about the hinge  134  ( FIG. 6 ). In this exemplary embodiment as well, the window  133  can thus be closed and opened by means of a snap connection.  
         [0050]     Moreover, in this embodiment as well, the visual part  132  has, in the area of the lower end of the window  133 , a groove-shaped mount  142 , into which the lower edge of a marking strip can be inserted  
         [0051]     Another exemplary embodiment of the gripping strip according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 8 . The gripping strip corresponds to the gripping strip explained in connection with  FIGS. 1 through 4  up to the connection between the visual part and the fixing part explained below. In the gripping strip of  FIG. 8 , the connection of the visual part  32  pivotable against the fixing part  21  is achieved via a third material, which is different from the material of the visual part and of the fixing part. The third material provided as the connecting part  44  is located in the area of an upper edge of the visual part. The connecting part  44  connects the visual part (or the window  33 ) and the fixing part to one another over essentially the entire length of the gripping strip.  
         [0052]     The materials of the entirely transparent visual part  32  and of the connecting part, on the one hand, and of the connecting part and of the fixing part, on the other hand, are materially incorporated in one another. The material incorporation can be achieved in an extrusion process. Also in this case, the connecting part forms a hinge  45 , via which the visual part can be opened with a pivoting movement about the hinge.  
         [0053]     For example, PVC materials can be used as materials for the fixing part and the visual part. For the connecting part, for example, a PVC material that is softer in comparison to the materials used for the fixing part and for the visual part is provided, with which the properties of the connecting part needed for an elastic deflection can be achieved. Instead of the PVC materials, any other materials may also be provided, with which the necessary properties regarding strength, elasticity and transparency can be achieved.  
         [0054]     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.