Abstract:
An arrangement for moving a movable furniture part, in particular a furniture part which is mounted pivotably about an axis, includes at least one ejection device for ejecting the movable furniture part from a closed position into an open position, and the at least one ejection device includes at least one force accumulator. The arrangement further includes a loading device for loading the at least one force accumulator by an opening or closing movement of the movable furniture part. At least one Bowden cable for transmitting force during the loading of the at least one force accumulator is arranged between the at least one ejection device and the loading device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns an arrangement for moving a moveable furniture part, in particular a furniture part mounted pivotably about an axis. The arrangement includes at least one ejection device for ejecting the moveable furniture part from a closed position into an open position, and the at least one ejection device includes at least one force storage element. A loading device loads the at least one force storage element by an opening or closing movement of the moveable furniture part. 
     Such arrangements are known from application number A 322/2012 to the present applicant which is of an earlier priority date but which has not yet been published. They have relatively complicated and expensive transmission mechanisms disposed between the at least one ejection device and the loading device for the transmission of force upon loading of the at least one force storage element. Thus, for example, direction-changing devices or intermediate panels are required, which take up a very great deal of space. That is also disadvantageous from esthetic points of view. 
     Further specifications defining the general state of the art are represented by WO 2012/000656, WO 2008/022673 and DE 20 2010 008 134. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to avoid the above-described disadvantages and to provide an improved arrangement for moving a moveable furniture part. 
     To attain that object, the arrangement provides that at least one Bowden cable for transmitting force upon loading of the at least one force storage element is arranged between the at least one ejection device and the loading device. 
     The term “Bowden cable” is an established term defined for example by DIN 71986. A man skilled in the art interprets that as meaning a moveable machine element for the transmission of a mechanical movement or a tensile force. Essentially, a Bowden cable comprises a so-called Bowden cable core (for example a steel wire or wire cable) surrounded by a casing which is flexible but which is compression-resistant in the tensile direction. The casing acts as a mechanical guide and as a support for the tensile forces to be transmitted so that the Bowden cable can transmit forces even by way of bends. 
     What is advantageous in regard to the use of a Bowden cable in connection with the subject of the present invention is that it takes up relatively little space and can be flexibly laid. It is also possible for it to be “concealed”, for example, in a groove or the like in relation to the exterior. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the loading device includes at least one adjusting body and at least one adjusting contour. The at least one adjusting body runs against the at least one adjusting contour at least during a part of the opening or closing movement. Different kinematic conditions can be achieved by the interplay of the at least one adjusting body and the at least one adjusting contour. In particular, it is also possible to implement a neutral region in which the at least one adjusting body and the at least one adjusting contour move relative to each other in such a way that the at least one force storage element is not loaded. A further great advantage arising out of the interplay of the at least one adjusting body and the at least one adjusting contour is the fact that the transitions between loading and non-loading of the force storage element can be of a very smooth and gentle nature. 
     In addition, the at least one ejection device includes at least one moveable—preferably linearly displaceable—ejection element which can be acted upon by the at least one force storage element. In that respect, it is advantageous if the at least one ejection device includes at least one locking device for releasably locking the at least one ejection element against action thereon by the at least one force storage element. The locking device can be embodied in that case for example by means of a tilting lever. An alternative embodiment of the locking device not excluded from the concept of the invention can, for example, also be based on a locking contour which has a cardioid configuration. 
     Protection is also claimed for an article of furniture comprising a furniture carcass, at least one furniture part mounted moveably in or on the furniture carcass, and at least one arrangement according to the invention for moving the at least one furniture part. The at least one furniture part can be either a furniture part which performs a rotational movement (that is the case for example with a furniture door or a furniture flap), or a furniture part which is moveable with a translatory movement (for example a drawer). 
     The use of the arrangement according to the invention presents itself in particular in relation to upper cupboards which have an external support structure and an inner carcass which can be moved up and down in relation to that support structure. Here, the at least one Bowden cable, when the inner carcass is moved up, can be disposed substantially between the inner carcass and the furniture carcass so that it is not visible outwardly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the appendant claims and are described more fully together with further details and advantages of the invention in the context of the specific description hereinafter with reference to the Figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic exploded view of an embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, 
         FIGS. 2-6  are a succession of diagrammatic side views of the embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention for illustration of the ejection process of a furniture flap and the loading process subsequently thereto for loading the force storage means of the ejection device, and 
         FIGS. 7 a -7 e    are a succession of diagrammatic cross-sectional views of the ejection device to illustrate their mode of operation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the exploded view shown in  FIG. 1  it can be seen that the ejection device  3  of the arrangement  1  includes an ejection element  12  which is moveable, more precisely linearly displaceable, and which can be acted upon by a force storage element  4  in the form of a spring. The ejection element  12  has two parts  15  and  16  which are moveable relative to each other over a limited distance  14  (see  FIGS. 7 a  through 7 e   ), and a compression spring  17  is arranged between the two parts  15  and  16 . The ejection element  12  is arranged linearly displaceably in a parallelepipedic housing  33 . A further substantial component of the ejection device  3  is a locking device  18  for releasably locking the ejection element  12  in relation to being acted upon by the force storage element  4 , and the locking device  18  is releasable by over-pressing in opposition to the ejection direction. The core element of the locking device  18  is a tilting lever  19 . On one arm, the tilting lever  19  has a latching projection  20 , and on the other arm, it has an inclined surface  21  (see  FIGS. 7 a  through 7 e   ) and it is acted upon by a compression spring  22 . The precise mode of operation of the ejection device  3  will be described in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 7 a    through  7   e.    
     Substantial components of the loading device  5  for loading the force storage element  4  of the ejection device  3  are a base plate  29  on which an adjusting contour  8  and a double-armed lever  10  are rotatably mounted. The corresponding axes of rotation are denoted by references  30  and  32 , respectively. Provided on a first arm of the lever  10  is an adjusting body  7  in the form of a pressure roller, the adjusting body  7  running against the adjusting contour  8 . A characteristic feature of the adjusting contour  8  is a neutral portion  9  in which the adjusting body  7  and the adjusting contour  8  move relative to each other in such a way that the force storage element  4  of the ejection device  3  is not loaded (see also  FIG. 6 ). 
     A Bowden cable  6  is arranged between the ejection device  3  and the loading device  5  for the transmission of force upon loading of the force storage element  4  of the ejection device  3 . The Bowden cable  6  includes a Bowden cable core  34  guided moveably in a flexible outer casing  35 . A first end  11  of the Bowden cable core  34  of the Bowden cable is operatively connected to the second arm of the double-armed lever  10  that does not have the adjusting body  7 . The second end  13  of the Bowden cable core of the Bowden cable is connected to the rear (second) part  16  of the ejection element of the ejection device  3 . 
     And finally, the arrangement  1  includes an adjusting drive  23  for holding a furniture flap  2  (see for example  FIG. 2 ), in which that adjusting drive  23  is connected on the one hand to the furniture flap by an adjusting arm  26  and on the other hand is operatively connected to the loading device  5 . For that purpose, the base plate  29  is mounted laterally to the adjusting drive  23 . A motional coupling between the adjusting arm  26  of the adjusting drive  23 —and thus the furniture flap which is connected to the adjusting arm  26 —and the adjusting contour  8  of the loading device  5  is afforded by a pin  31 . The pin  31  is guided in guide tracks  27  and  28 . 
     The mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the further Figures. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of a diagrammatically illustrated article of furniture  24 , the article of furniture  24  comprising a furniture carcass  25  and a furniture part  2  mounted moveably thereto in the form of a furniture flap  2  mounted pivotably about a horizontal axis. The furniture flap  2  is made up of two mutually superposed flap portions connected together by way of hinges (not shown). The upper flap portion is pivotably connected on the one hand by hinges (not shown) to the furniture carcass and on the other hand is connected to the adjusting arm  26  of the adjusting drive  23 . In the closed condition of the furniture flap  2 , the lower flap portion bears loosely against a contact surface of the front (first) part  15  of the ejection element  12 , wherein in that condition the ejection element  12  is releasably locked against actuation by the force storage element  4  by the above-described locking device. 
     A further great advantage of the present invention is that, by means of the arrangement according to the invention, it is possible for the moveable furniture part  2  to be provided without a handle. For opening purposes, a user merely has to apply a light pressure to the front of the furniture part  2 , in this case to the lower flap portion of the folding flap, whereby the ejection element of the ejection device is unlocked and ejects the furniture part  2  to such an extent that the user can comfortably engage behind the furniture flap  2  for further opening thereof. Initiation of that ejection movement is shown in  FIG. 3 . Due to the light pressure exerted on the lower flap portion (indicated by means of an arrow), the ejection element  12  is over-pressed, that is to say moved in the direction opposite to the direction in which is acted upon by the force storage element  4 . As a result, the tilting lever  19  of the locking device is unlocked (see  FIG. 7 b   ). 
     As a further consequence (see  FIG. 4 ) the energy stored in the force storage element  4  is liberated and, as a result, the front part  15  of the ejection element  12  of the ejection device  3  is ejected. As the front part  15  of the ejection element bears against the folding flap, it moves the flap  2  from the closed position into an open position. 
     As already stated in the course of the description of  FIG. 1 , the second end of the Bowden cable core  34  of the Bowden cable  6  is connected to the rear part  16  of the ejection element. As a result, in the ejection movement, the Bowden cable core  34  is drawn a distance through the flexible outer casing  35  by the energy of the force storage element  4 . That will be seen, for example, from the fact that the first end  11  of the Bowden cable core  34  of the Bowden cable has moved downwardly. 
     In the course of the ejection movement, the folding flap  2  was moved away from the furniture carcass  25  to such an extent (typically 5-10 cm) that the user can now engage behind the folding flap without any problem and can further manually open the same (see  FIG. 5 ). The adjusting drive  23  connected to the flap  2  serves in that case for the purpose of compensating for the force due to the weight of the furniture flap  2  in any position. This means that the folding flap  2  can be held in any position without it falling closed again. 
     It will be apparent from a comparison of  FIG. 4  with  FIG. 5  that the adjusting contour  8  rotates in the clockwise direction during the pivotal movement of the folding flap  2  in the opening direction. Due to its specific shape, the adjusting contour  8  forces the double-armed lever  10  to perform a deflecting rotary movement in the opposite direction of rotation (counter clockwise). As a result, as a further consequence, the first end  11  of the Bowden cable core  34  of the Bowden cable  6  is pulled upwardly. In addition, attention is to be directed to the fact that the two arms of the double-armed lever  10  are of differing lengths, thereby giving an advantageous force ratio. 
     Because a pulling force is applied to the first end  11  of the Bowden cable core  34  of the Bowden cable, the second end  13  of the Bowden cable core  34  of the Bowden cable and thus the ejection element  15 ,  16  of the ejection device  3  moves back in the direction of the original position (see  FIG. 2 ). At the same time the force storage element  4  which is fixedly held between the rear part  16  of the ejection element and the housing  33  is loaded. Considered overall, therefore, a part of the force applied by the user for opening the folding flap  2  is used for loading the force storage element  4  of the ejection device  3 . In that case, transmission of that part of the force is effected by the Bowden cable  6 . It is also clear from the above explanation of the Bowden cable  6  that the force transmitted by the Bowden cable to the force storage element  4  is performed without the Bowden cable  6  transmitting any force to the moveable furniture part  2 . 
     The loading process for the force storage element  4  takes place until the ejection element has again reached its locking position. At that moment, the pressure roller  7  is at the location  36  on the control contour  8  (see  FIG. 6 ). At the same time, the folding flap  2  assumes a central position between the closed position (see  FIG. 2 ) and the completely opened position (see  FIG. 6 ). In the further opening movement of the folding flap  2  the force storage element  4  is not further loaded. That is achieved by the arrangement on the control contour  8  of a neutral portion  9  which is adapted so that the spacing of the peripheral surface relative to the point of rotation  30  does not further increase between the points  36  and  37 . Upon a further rotary movement of the control contour  8 , therefore, the position of the double-armed lever  10  does not change. 
     When the folding flap  2  is closed, the control contour  8  and the lever  10  perform the oppositely directed movements—in comparison with opening of the flap. The first end  11  of the Bowden cable core  34  of the Bowden cable  6  however remains in its position as the ejection element is locked. 
       FIGS. 7 a  through 7 e    show a succession of diagrammatically illustrated cross-sectional views of the ejection device  3 . In this respect,  FIGS. 7 a  and 7 e    show that condition of the ejection device  3 , in which the ejection element is locked.  FIGS. 7 b  through 7 d    show those conditions of the ejection device  3 , that it assumes in  FIGS. 3 through 5 . 
     Locking of the ejection element of the ejection device  3  is effected in that (see  FIGS. 7 a  through 7 e   ) the right-hand arm of the tilting lever  19  mounted rotatably about the axis of rotation  38  on the rear part  16  of the ejection element is pressed by the compression spring  22  with the latching projection  20  in positively locking relationship against a corresponding edge  39  on the housing  33  of the ejection device  3 . 
     Unlocking is effected in that (see  FIG. 7 b   ) the front part  15  of the ejection element is moved towards the rear part  16  over the distance  14  in opposition to the direction of action of the compression spring  17  arranged between the two parts  15  and  16 . Arranged on the front part  15  of the ejection element is an inclined surface (see also  FIG. 1 ) which in the course of the unlocking movement bears against a corresponding inclined surface  21  arranged on the second arm of the tilting lever  19 , which arm does not have the latching projection  20 . As a result, the arm of the tilting lever  19  having the inclined surface  21  is moved downwardly, and the opposite arm is moved upwardly against the direction of action of the compression spring  22  (more specifically, until the latching projection  20  has moved beyond the edge  39  on the housing  33 ). The ejection element can now move unimpededly in the ejection direction under the energy which is liberated from the force storage element  4  (see  FIG. 7 c   ). 
     During the loading operation (see  FIG. 7 a   ), the ejection element is again pulled in the direction of its original position by the Bowden cable  6 , more specifically until the arm of the tilting lever  19  having the latching projection  20  can move back into the locking position again under the action of the compression spring  22 .