Patent ID: 12245694

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

A first example of embodiment of the invention is represented inFIGS.1to28. The self-retracting device is integrated into an extracting guide, which in the example of embodiment shown comprises a carcass rail1, a middle rail2and an extraction rail3. The extracting guide is constituted here in the manner of a differential extracting guide, in which middle rail2travels respectively half the path of extraction rail3during the extraction and insertion. As represented, all the runner rollers can be arranged on middle rail2. The extracting guide can be constituted in a conventional manner and the arrangement of the runner rollers and their of functioning does not need to be explained in greater detail here.

A self-retracting device according to the invention can also be integrated into different kinds of telescopic driver slides, for example also into a telescopic driver slide which comprises only a carcass rail and an extraction rail.

The extraction of extraction rail3from the completely inserted state takes place in an extraction direction4, insertion of extraction rail3opposite the extraction direction4.

Parts of a furniture carcass50, in which the carcass rail1is to be assembled, and of an extractable furniture part51, on which extraction rail3is to be assembled, are only indicated with a dashed line inFIG.2.

The self-retracting device comprises a base body5, by which carriage6is slidably loaded parallel to extraction direction4between a basic position (FIGS.7,9,13,17,21and25) and a standby position (FIGS.8,10,16,20,24and28).

For the slidable guidance of carriage6, the latter comprises grooves7on each side, into which webs8of base body5directed towards one another and running parallel to extraction direction4engage. For example carriage6could also comprise projecting guide pins for the slidable guidance on base body5, which engage in slotted links in the base body constituted for example in the form of elongated holes.

A tilting part9is mounted pivotably (=rotatably) about a tilting axis10(which could also be referred to as a pivot or rotation axis). In the basic position of carriage6, tilting part9occupies an engagement position relative to its pivoting about the tilting axis10, in the standby position of carriage6a release position. Tilting axis10can be constituted for example by means of axle pins11of tilting part9, which engage in axle recesses12of carriage6.

Tilting axis10runs perpendicular to extraction device4and preferably lies horizontal.

A retraction spring13engages with a spring lever. Spring lever14can be pivoted relative to base body5about a first pivot axis15and relative to carriage6about a second pivot axis16. First pivot axis15can be slidably moved relative to base body5and is immovable relative to the spring body. Second pivot axis16is immovable relative to carriage6and relative to the spring lever. For the sliding movement of first pivot axis15relative to base body5, provision can be made for example such that spring lever14comprises an axle pin17, which engages in a spring-lever slotted link18of base body5formed here by a curved elongated hole. Retraction spring13engages with a fastening pin19of spring lever14, which lies between first and second pivot axes15,16.

Second pivot axis16is formed for example by axle pins20of spring lever14, which engage in axle recesses21of tilting part9.

First and second pivot axes15,16lying parallel to one another run perpendicular to extraction device4and preferably lie horizontal.

As a result of the engagement of the retraction spring with spring lever14in connection with the sliding movement of the first pivot axis in a corresponding direction (which in addition can also change depending on the position of the carriage), the change in the transmission of the spring force acting on the carriage is achieved depending on the position of the carriage. Over a portion of the path of the sliding movement of the carriage following the basic position of the carriage, a greater change in the length of the spring takes place than over the same portion of the path of the sliding movement of the carriage when the latter is closer to the standby position. Over the last portion of the retraction path before the carriage reaches the basic position, the spring force acting on the carriage can thus be increased compared to a direct engagement of the retraction spring on the carriage.

A damping unit22is used to damp the sliding movement of carriage6from the standby position into the basic position. As a damper, the latter comprises, for example, a hydraulically pneumatically-acting piston-cylinder unit22a. The cylinder is immovably connected to base body5. The piston rod is connected to a movable part22bof the damping unit, which is guided with a sliding movement from base body5parallel to extraction direction4. Only the movement of the movable part22bagainst extraction direction is damped by piston-cylinder unit22a, whilst the movement of movable part22bis undamped in the opposite direction. Such in particular pneumatically acting dampers having a free-run in the movement direction are known.

A kinematically reversed arrangement of the piston-cylinder unit is also conceivable and possible, so that the piston rod is immovable relative to base body5and the cylinder can be slidably moved and is connected immovably to a movable part of the damping unit.

Movable part22bof damping unit22is coupled with carriage6by way of an arm23. Arm23is pivoted (=rotated) relative to carriage6about a first pivot axis24and relative to movable part22bof damping unit22about a second pivot axis25. Second pivot axis5can for example, as represented, be formed by an axle pin26of movable part22bof damping unit22, which engages in an axle recess27of arm23. First pivot axis24can be formed for example, as representated, by an axle pin28of carriage6, which engages in an elongated hole29of arm23.

First pivot axis24can be moved slidably relative to arm23and is immovable relative to carriage6, whereas second pivot axis25is immovable relative to arm23and relative to movable part22bof damping unit22.

First and second pivot axes24,25lying parallel to one another run perpendicular to extraction direction4and preferably lie horizontal.

Arm23is supported movably by base body5between a rear end position and a front end position. The rear end position is occupied by arm23in the basic position of carriage6. The front end position is occupied by arm23in the standby position of carriage6. In the front end position, arm23is moved slidably in the extraction direction relative to the rear end position and is pivoted, in the example of embodiment, about a horizontal axis running perpendicular to extraction direction4. This axis, about which arm23is pivoted in the front end position relative to the rear end position, is formed by second pivot axis25in the example of embodiment.

To guide arm23, base body5has a slotted link30, into which first and second guide pins31,32of arm23engage.

In a rear end portion of slotted link30, slotted link30comprises protrusions towards the bottom and towards the top, in which guide pins31,32lie in the rear end position of arm23.

In the example of embodiment shown, slotted link30comprises protrusions towards the bottom and towards the top also in a front end portion, in which guide pins31,32lie in the front end position of arm23.

Driver33, which cooperates via tilting part9with carriage6, is formed in the example of embodiment by a portion of extraction rail3, seeFIG.5. A web3aof the profile projecting downwards, which forms extraction rail3, comprises a projection forming driver33in the region of a rear end for this purpose.

In the basic position of carriage6, in which tilting part9is in its engagement position, driver33engages in a recess9aof the tilting part. Extraction rail3is in its completely insertion position here.

If extraction rail3is extracted from its completely inserted position in extraction direction4, driver33pulls, by way of tilting part9, carriage6from its basic position in extraction direction4against the force of retraction spring13, which is transmitted via spring lever14to carriage6, in the direction of its standby position. In the last portion of the sliding movement of carriage6, until the latter reaches the standby position, tilting part9pivots about tilting axis10from its engagement position into the release position. In the release position, driver33can travel out of recess9aof tilting part9.

In the release position of tilting part9, a retention section9bof tilting part9abuts against a retention surface5aof the base body. As a result of the abutment of retention section9bagainst retention surface5a, a sliding movement of the carriage out of the standby position in the direction of the basic position is blocked by the force of retraction spring13. Carriage6thus remains in the standby position.

During the sliding movement of the carriage from the basic position in the direction of the standby position, the tilting part is first blocked by the base body against tilting about tilting axis10, in particular by a slidable guidance of the tilting part parallel to extraction direction4by the base body. In the example of embodiment, grooves9don both sides of tilting part9engage into webs8of the base body. In the last portion of the sliding movement of carriage6, before the latter reaches the standby position, grooves9dtravel out of the front ends of webs8, so that the pivoting of tilting part9from the engagement position into the release position is enabled.

When, during the sliding-in of extraction rail3, driver33runs up against stop surface9cat the rear end of recess9a, tilting part9is pivoted from the release position into the engagement position, in which driver33engages into recess9aof tilting part9. The sliding movement of carriage6in the direction of its basic position is thus released and retraction spring13pulls carriage6and with it driver3against extraction direction4, until carriage6reaches the basic position. This movement of the carriage over the retraction path extending from the standby position to the basic position is damped by damping unit22.

During the sliding movement of carriage6on the standby position in the direction of the basic position, in a first portion of the retraction path a rotation of arm23first takes place about an axis running perpendicular to the extraction direction, in the example of embodiment about second pivot axis25. A transmission of the movement of carriage6to movable part22bof damping unit22can thus be achieved. The distance of the sliding movement of carriage6against extraction direction4is thus greater than the distance of the sliding movement of movable part22bof the damping unit. The onset of the damping effect of damping unit22thus takes place less abruptly.

This rotation of arm23in the initial portion of the retraction path could also be dispensed with. The protrusions of the slotted link in its front end portion could also be dispensed with.

A middle portion of the retraction path follows, over which arm23is slidably moved by carriage6against extraction direction4without rotation of arm23. In this middle portion, a 1:1 transmission of the movement of carriage6to movable part22bof the damping unit takes place.

In an end portion of the retraction path (=end portion of the movement of the carriage before it reaches its basic position) and therefore in an end portion of the movement of the arm before it reaches its rear end position, a further rotation of arm23(in the same direction of rotation is in the initial portion) takes place about the axis running perpendicular to the extraction direction, in the example of embodiment about second pivot axis25. In the end portion of the retraction path, therefore, a reduction of the movement of carriage6to the movement of movable part22bof damping unit22can thus be achieved. Over this end portion of the retraction path, the distance of the slidable movement of the carriage is thus greater than the distance of the slidable movement of movable part22bof damping unit22, preferably at least twice as great.

The rotation of arm23about the axis running perpendicular to extraction direction4(which is formed by second pivot axis25in the example of embodiment) is brought about by the force which is exerted on arm23in the region of its first pivot axis24by retraction spring13via the spring lever14and carriage6.

The guidance of movable part22bof the damping unit takes place in the example of embodiment by the engagement of axle pin26and a further guide pin34of movable part22bin slotted link30of base body5. Other types of slidable guidance can be provided, for example by way of a separate slotted link in the base body or by way of a strip on one of the two parts, which engages in a groove in the other of the two parts.

FIGS.29to31show very diagrammatically variants of embodiment of the coupling of carriage6with damping unit22via arm23.

The movable and pivotable mounting of the arm on the base body is not represented inFIGS.29to31. This can be constituted as described before.

According toFIG.29, first pivot axis24can be moved slidably relative to carriage6(and is immovable with respect to arm23), whilst second pivot axis25is immovable with respect to movable part22bof damping unit22and arm23. For the sliding movement of first pivot axis24with respect to carriage6, the latter comprises for example an elongated hole35, into which an axle pin of arm23engages.

According toFIG.30, first pivot axis24is immovable with respect to carriage6and with respect to arm23, whilst second pivot axis25can be moved slidably with respect to arm23and is immovable with respect to movable part22b. For the sliding movement of second pivot axis25with respect to arm23, the latter comprises for example an elongated hole36, into which an axle pin of movable part22bof damping unit22engages.

According toFIG.31, first pivot axis24is immovable with respect to arm23and with respect to carriage6, whilst second pivot axis25can be moved slidably with respect to movable part22bof damping unit22and is immovable with respect to arm23. For the sliding movement of second pivot axis25with respect to movable part22bof damping unit22, the latter comprises for example an elongated hole37, into which an axle bolt of arm23engages.

In the variant of embodiment fromFIG.29, the rotation of arm23again takes place about second pivot axis25, whilst in the variants of embodiment according toFIGS.30and31the rotation of arm23takes place about first pivot axis24.

FIG.32shows in a very diagrammatic manner a modified embodiment of the transmission of the retraction force of retraction spring13to carriage6. Spring lever14can be pivoted with respect to base body5again about a first pivot axis15and with respect to carriage6about a second pivot axis16. First pivot axis15is immovable with respect to base body5and and can be moved slidably with respect to spring lever14. For this purpose, spring lever14comprises for example a spring-lever slotted link38, into which an axle pin of base body5engages.

Further modifications of the example of embodiment shown are conceivable and possible, without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the claims. For example, both first pivot axis24and second pivot axis25can be moved slidably relative to one of the two parts, which are connected to one another via respective pivot axis24,25. The pivoting of arm23during its rotation would then take place about an imaginary axis running perpendicular to extraction direction4defined by the guidance of arm23on base body5, which axis would again preferably lie horizontal.

The sliding movement of the carriage between the basic position and the standby position could also take place along a curved path. An overall tilting of the carriage could take place here, so that a separate tilting part could be dispensed with.