Abstract:
A catching locking mechanism for pieces of furniture, including an adjustable wheel that has a catching structure in at least some areas, and a mating catch that cooperates with the catching structure of the adjustable wheel. The mating catch is made of a sheet metal part, and is designed to be resilient, preferably in the form of a springy tongue.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to a catching locking mechanism for pieces of furniture, comprising an adjustment wheel which has a catch structure at least in some regions, and a mating catch which cooperates with the catch structure of the adjustment wheel, wherein the mating catch essentially consists of a sheet-metal part. The invention further relates to a piece of furniture having a catching locking mechanism according to the invention. 
     Catching locking mechanisms are normally used to hold a component fast in a particular position by means of a force-fitting and/or form-fitting connection. In the case of pieces of furniture, catching locking mechanisms are used in various areas. 
     For example, the specification of German utility model DE 20 2004 006 648 U1 provides a catching locking mechanism in combination with a cam, which makes it possible to perform a stepwise vertical adjustment of a front fitting that holds the front wall of a drawer. The catching locking mechanism is arranged in one of the side walls of the drawer. The stepwise vertical adjustment is performed in that an adjustment wheel abuts flat against a base panel comprising protuberances. 
     The specification of German unexamined patent application DE 44 14 966 A1 discloses a catching locking mechanism which essentially consists of a U-shaped metal part, wherein a locking mechanism shaft is arranged between the limbs of this U shape. The mating catch is formed by teeth which are arranged along the inner flank of a circular depression. 
     It is disadvantageous that the catching locking mechanisms for pieces of furniture that form part of the state of the art have an overall height which, seen in cross section, is relatively large as a result of their often complex design. If it is desired to arrange a catching locking mechanism of this kind inside a side wall of a drawer, this circumstance has the further consequence that the drawer side wall has to be relatively thick. 
     However, in recent years there has been an increasing demand for furniture, for example in the kitchen sector, which is characterized by a material that is as elegant as possible and by a space-saving design. The catching locking mechanisms known hitherto have proved to be a hindrance to meeting this customer preference. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages described above and to specify a catching locking mechanism for pieces of furniture which improves on the state of the art and which is characterized in particular by a simple and space-saving design. 
     The term “sheet metal” is used to designate a finished rolling product which essentially consists of metal, preferably steel. Sheet metals are characterized, in the context of the invention, primarily in that they are formed flat and have a high degree of rigidity, for example by comparison with plastic. Moreover, they can be worked relatively easily. Therefore, from the point of view of manufacturing technology, it is also advantageous if the sheet-metal part, of which the mating catch essentially consists, is a punched sheet-metal part. 
     Because the mating catch is formed inherently resilient, the adjustment wheel can be adjusted relatively easily. This property can be realized from a technical viewpoint for example in that the mating catch is formed as a flexible (spring) tongue. If, for particular applications, it is desired to increase the spring constant of this spring, a flexible tongue mounted on both sides is advantageously used. 
     A particularly flat and space-saving design can be realized in that the catch structure is arranged on the periphery of the adjustment wheel. In the case of a wheel used for the purposes of an advancing movement, this region of the wheel would be designated as the rolling face. If the adjustment wheel is cylindrical, the catch structure is arranged on the outer casing. If the plane of the sheet-metal part forming the mating catch is moreover also oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the adjustment wheel, then the arrangement comprising the adjustment wheel and the mating catch has an overall height, as seen in cross section, which is substantially determined by the overall height of the adjustment wheel. 
     A very simple and hence inexpensive design of the catching locking mechanism is characterized in that the mount for the adjustment wheel is formed in the same sheet-metal part as the mating catch. 
     In addition to the possibilities mentioned above for varying the rigidity and/or, in the case of an embodiment in the form of a flexible tongue, the spring constant of the mating catch, these two properties can also be changed in that the mating catch has a tapering portion or thickened portion in the region in which the mating catch cooperates with the catch structure of the adjustment wheel. 
     Advantageously, the catch structure of the adjustment wheel has protuberances or grooves. If the catch structure is arranged on the periphery of the adjustment wheel, these protuberances or grooves thus stand out radially. 
     Cooperation between the mating catch and the catch structure of the adjustment wheel can be improved in that the mating catch has, at least in some regions, a latching structure that corresponds with the catch structure of the adjustment wheel. 
     In order to simplify the adjustment of the adjustment wheel, it can be provided that the adjustment wheel has, on one side, a depression for a tool, preferably in the form of a hexalobular socket. Naturally, a bulging shape which provides a contact surface for a tool is also conceivable. However, this would naturally protrude out of the plane of the adjustment wheel and in this way increase the overall height of the catching locking mechanism, as seen in cross section. 
     If it is desired to use the catching locking mechanism to adjust a first component of a piece of furniture in relation to a second component of the piece of furniture, the catching locking mechanism can be arranged between these two components, wherein advantageously the catching locking mechanism is secured to the first component and the second component is connected to the adjustment wheel. This connection can for example be realized from a technical viewpoint in that the adjustment wheel has, on one side, at least one eccentrically arranged pin or a spiral guide track or guiding groove, and on the second component of the piece of furniture there is provided a corresponding recess for the at least one eccentrically arranged pin or at least one guide element corresponding to the guide track or guiding groove. Overall, a rotary movement of the adjustment wheel is then manifested as a stepwise translational movement of the second component of the piece of furniture in relation to the first component of the piece of furniture, wherein the second component can be fixed, by interrupting the rotary movement, in any of the catch positions that it passes through stepwise. 
     As an example of an application there may be mentioned a drawer which comprises in particular a front wall and side walls, wherein the catching locking mechanism is arranged in at least one of the side walls for adjustment of a front fitting that holds the front wall. The catching locking mechanism preferably serves to perform a vertical adjustment of the front wall of the drawer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with the help of the description of the figures, with reference to the embodiment examples represented in the drawings. The figures show: 
         FIG. 1   a  a perspective view of a piece of furniture, with an open drawer, 
         FIG. 1   b  a further perspective view of the piece of furniture seen in  FIG. 1   a , wherein the front wall has been removed from the top drawer, 
         FIG. 2   a  a perspective view of a side wall of a drawer, 
         FIG. 2   b  a further perspective view of the side wall seen in  FIG. 2   a , wherein only part of the side wall is represented, in order to reveal a view of 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  two enlarged perspective views of the front fitting seen in  FIG. 2   b , from two different directions of view, 
         FIGS. 3   c  and  3   d  two further perspective views of the front fitting seen in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , wherein the front panel is omitted in  FIG. 3   c  and the securing panel is omitted in  FIG. 3   d,    
         FIGS. 3   e  and  3   f  two further perspective views of the front fitting seen in  FIGS. 3   c  and  3   d , wherein in each case only a cut-away part is represented, 
         FIG. 4  an exploded representation of the front fitting seen in  FIGS. 2   b  and  3   a  to  3   f , in which the individual components are shown, 
         FIG. 5  an exploded representation of a further preferred embodiment example of the front fitting, and 
         FIG. 6  a top view of the securing panel of the front fitting seen in  FIGS. 2   b  and  3   a  to  3   f , together with the rotatably mounted adjustment wheel of the catching locking mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  show two perspective views of a piece of furniture  1  in which the catching locking mechanism has been installed. The piece of furniture  1  comprises three drawers  13 , wherein the drawers  13  each essentially consist of a front wall  14 , two side walls  15  and a rear wall  17 , as well as a base panel  18 . In each of the side walls  15  of the drawer  13  there is arranged a catching locking mechanism for adjusting a front fitting (not shown in this figure) that holds the front wall  14 . The front wall  14  is releasably secured to the front fittings via a plurality of front securing means  19 .  FIG. 1   b  represents a situation in which the front wall  14  has been removed from the top drawer  13 . 
       FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  show a side wall  15  of a drawer (cf.  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ), wherein this side wall  15  is secured to a carrier rail  20  for the base panel of the drawer. In the rear part, top left, securing devices for the rear wall of the drawer  13 , which is connected perpendicularly to the side wall  15 , are indicated schematically. In the front part, bottom right, the above-mentioned front fitting  16  is arranged inside the side wall  15 , wherein this front fitting  16  is preferably welded to the carrier rail  20  for the base panel  18 . Pinned to the front fitting  16 , there is one of the front securing means  19 , which is normally screwed to the front wall. 
     The front fitting  16  and in particular the catching locking mechanism will be explained specifically in more detail with reference to the following figures.  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show the front fitting  16  from two different directions of view, wherein in  FIG. 3   a  the front fitting  16  is viewed from the side on which the front panel  21 , with which the front fitting  16  is secured to the carrier rail for the base panel of the drawer (cf.  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b ), is located. The opposite side of the front fitting  16  is viewed in  FIG. 3   b . Roughly speaking, the front fitting  16  can be divided into three different units: the above-mentioned front panel  21 , via which the front fitting  16  is connected to the carrier rail; a vertical adjustment panel  12  which is connected to the front wall of the drawer; and, finally, a securing panel  11 . The vertical adjustment panel  12  is arranged between the front panel  21  and the securing panel  11 . The front fitting  16  essentially fulfils three functions: first, it serves to provide a releasable way of securing the front wall of the drawer. To this end, a securing mechanism composed among other things of a plurality of levers  24 ,  24 ′,  25 ,  25 ′, a spring  29  and an unlocking screw  23  is attached to the vertical adjustment panel  12 . The second function of the front fitting  16  consists in providing the possibility of lateral adjustment. To this end there serves, essentially, the lateral adjustment screw  22  seen in  FIG. 3   b , wherein rotation of this lateral adjustment screw  22  results in the vertical adjustment panel  12  being moved closer to the securing panel  11  or the front panel  21 . Finally, the vertical adjustment panel  12  can also (as the third function of the front fitting  16 ) be moved upward or downward with the aid of the catching locking mechanism. Further details will not be given about the first two of these named functions, since these functions have nothing to do with the present invention. 
     The two groups of  FIGS. 3   c  and  3   d  as well as  3   e  and  3   f  each show two further views of the front fitting  16  seen in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , wherein the front panel  21  is omitted in  FIG. 3   c  and the securing panel  11  is omitted in  FIG. 3   d , in order to reveal a view of the vertical adjustment panel  12  behind them and the components arranged on it. In  FIGS. 3   e  and  3   f , a cut-away part of the front fitting  16  seen in  FIGS. 3   c  and  3   d  is represented in each case. The representation of this cut-away part in each case makes possible a relevant cross sectional view. 
     In the preferred embodiment example represented here, the catching locking mechanism comprises an adjustment wheel  2 , which has a catch structure on some regions of its periphery, and a mating catch  4  that cooperates with the catch structure of the adjustment wheel  2 . In this case, the mating catch  4  consists of a punched sheet-metal part and is formed as a flexible tongue. This flexible tongue is mounted on both sides and is formed in the same sheet-metal part in which the mount for the adjustment wheel  2  is located. The plane of the sheet-metal part forming the mating catch  4  is oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the adjustment wheel  2 . In this way, a very flat design of the catching locking mechanism is achieved. The sheet-metal part, which comprises both the mount for the adjustment wheel  2  and the mating catch  4 , is the securing panel  11 . On one side the adjustment wheel  2  has an eccentrically arranged pin  9  which projects into a corresponding recess  26  located in the vertical adjustment panel  12 . Thus, a rotary movement of the adjustment wheel  2  results in a stepwise translational movement of the vertical adjustment panel  12  in relation to the securing panel  11  and in relation to the front panel  21 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an exploded representation of the front fitting seen in  FIGS. 2   b  and  3   a  to  3   f . In the preferred embodiment represented, the front fitting specifically comprises (from top left to bottom right) the following components:
         a front panel  21  via which the entire front fitting is secured to the carrier rail for the base panel (cf.  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b );   a group of components which is needed for the securing or release safeguard mechanism for the front wall of the drawer. These include an adjustment lever, consisting of two parts,  24  and  24 ′; a tilt lever, consisting of two parts,  25  and  25 ′; an unlocking screw  23 ; a rivet  30  for securing the tilt lever  25 ,  25 ′ to the vertical adjustment panel  12 ; a pressure roller  30 ′ which is needed for controlled rotary movement of the adjustment lever  24 ,  24 ′ in relation to the vertical adjustment panel  12 ; and a spring-loaded device which consists of a spring receiver  28  and a spring  29 . To secure the front wall of the drawer, a front securing means  19  is first screwed to the front wall. This front securing means  19  comprises among other things a transverse pin  31 , and this pin  31  can be pushed into a suitably shaped slot  32  located in the vertical adjustment panel  12  and locked there (such that it can be unlocked again);   the adjustment wheel  2  of the catching locking mechanism;   the lateral adjustment screw  22  described above, for lateral adjustment of the vertical adjustment panel  12 ;   a plurality of spacers  30 ″ which serve to hold the entire construction together and/or to keep the front panel  21  and the securing panel  11  at a particular distance from one another; and finally   the securing panel  11 , which comprises among other things the mount  5  for the adjustment wheel  2  and the mating catch  4  (in the form of a flexible tongue mounted on both sides).       

     The components that have relevance for the catching locking mechanism are each represented enlarged in this  FIG. 4 . These include—as already mentioned—the corresponding recess  26 , arranged in the vertical adjustment panel  12 , for the pin  9  that is arranged eccentrically on one side of the adjustment wheel  2 ; the adjustment wheel  2 , which has a catch structure  3  on some regions of its periphery; and the inherently resilient mating catch  4 . In the preferred embodiment represented here, the adjustment wheel  2  has a hexalobular socket  8  on the opposite side to the side with the eccentrically arranged pin  9 , via which hexalobular socket  8  the adjustment wheel  2  can be adjusted with the aid of a suitable tool. The mating catch  4  has in the centre a latching structure  7  that corresponds with the catch structure  3  of the adjustment wheel  2 , and has a thickened portion  6  in those regions in which the mating catch  4  cooperates with the catch structure  3  of the adjustment wheel  2 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an exploded representation of a second preferred embodiment example of the front fitting. The difference from the embodiment example represented in  FIG. 4  is that the adjustment wheel  2  is not connected to the vertical adjustment panel  12  via an eccentrically arranged pin and a corresponding recess but via a spiral guide track  10 , which cooperates with three semicircular guide elements  27  that are arranged laterally on the vertical adjustment panel  12 . Rotation of the adjustment wheel  2  has the result that the adjustment wheel  2  moves stepwise up or down from one of these guide elements  27  to the next. 
     Finally,  FIG. 6  shows a top view of the securing panel  11  of the front fitting seen in  FIGS. 2   b  and  3   a  to  3   f , together with the rotatably mounted adjustment wheel  2  of the catching locking mechanism. In the enlarged section, it is clear that the catch structure  3  of the adjustment wheel  2  fits precisely into the corresponding latching structure  7  of the mating catch  4 , and thus cooperates therewith. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
         
           
               1  Piece of furniture 
               2  Adjustment wheel 
               3  Catch structure 
               4  Mating catch 
               5  Mount for the adjustment wheel 
               6  Thickened portion 
               7  Latching structure 
               8  Depression for a tool (hexalobular socket) 
               9  Eccentrically arranged pin 
               10  Spiral guide track 
               11  Securing panel 
               12  Vertical adjustment panel 
               13  Drawer 
               14  Front wall 
               15  Side wall 
               16  Front fitting 
               17  Rear wall 
               18  Base panel 
               19  Front securing means 
               20  Carrier rail for base panel 
               21  Front panel 
               22  Lateral adjustment screw 
               23  Unlocking screw 
               24  and  24 ′ Adjustment lever 
               25  and  25 ′ Tilt lever 
               26  Recess for eccentrically arranged pin 
               27  Guide elements for spiral guide track 
               28  Spring receiver 
               29  Spring 
               30  Rivet 
               30 ′ Pressure roller 
               30 ″ Spacers 
               31  Pin 
               32  Slot