Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) to Application No. DE 202015006279.2 filed on Sep. 4, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a damping device for the damping of the opening movement of a movable furniture part having a fixed base unit with a furniture body of a piece of furniture and a movable base unit having the movable furniture part, whereby the movable base unit is arranged movably relative to the fixed based unit, and having a damping unit comprising a first and a second damping component which are movable relative to one another when carrying out a damping function, of which the first damping component is arranged on the one base unit and as it approaches the movable base unit an impact takes place in the final position of said base unit between the second damping component and the other base unit, thereby triggering the damping function. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Damping devices for damping the opening and/or closing movement of movable furniture parts, for example drawers, doors or lids, have already been known for a long time. Damping the closing movement of a drawer into the closed position is for example known. During this process, a component that moves with the drawer comes into contact with a damping component, such as a displaceable damping housing or a displaceable damping piston, thereby triggering a damping function. When damping the opening movement of the drawer into the open position, the same principle is generally used. 
         [0004]    The damping devices used for this always have damping components that can move relative to one another, for example as mentioned a movable damping piston which is guided movably into a damping housing or a moving damping housing which is guided movably to a damping piston. This means a moving damping component and a damping component which is fixed relative to the furniture body are used. 
         [0005]    Given the narrow spatial conditions, however, it is often difficult to accommodate suitable damping devices. In particular, in the final position damping of a draw, during the opening movement there is a requirement for the damping device to be in the region of the drawer opening so the damping function is only triggered when the drawer is being opened into its open position. However, in this instance there is the problem of accommodating the damping devices due to the lack of space. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The object of the invention is to create a damping device of the type mentioned at the start, the area of application of which is larger than conventional damping devices, in particular which can also be used functionally when there is only a small amount of space. 
         [0007]    The damping device according to the invention is characterized in that the first damping component is movably mounted on the allocated base unit such that it can be displaced on impact from a standby position into a working position supported by slings, in which working position the damping function can be carried out. The relevant damping component is therefore initially displaced from the standby position into the working position before the damping function is carried out. It is for example conceivable that the movable base unit of the damping device is initially part of the movement of the drawer until slightly before the open position when it is being used for damping the opening movement of a movable part of furniture in the form of a drawer without a damping function being triggered, and this then being triggered once the working position is reached shortly before the fully extended open position of the drawer is reached. For example, the damping unit of the damping device can initially be displaced from the standby position into the working position, whereby in the working position the second damping component is moved relative to the first damping component in order to commence the damping function. It is for example possible for the damping unit of the damping device to extend at least in part from the drawer recess, as a result of which during the subsequent damping a relatively large damping stroke is available and the drawer can nevertheless still be almost completely extended from the drawer recess. 
         [0008]    It is possible for the damping unit of the damping device to be arranged on the fixed base unit or alternatively on the movable base unit. Preferably, however, the damping unit is arranged on the fixed base unit, for example on a rail of the body on a guiding unit or on the furniture body of a piece of furniture. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the invention the first damping component is movably mounted on a holder fixed to the allocated base unit. 
         [0010]    Particularly preferably, the holder has the sling. In this case, the holder is multifunctional and is used on the one hand to guide the first damping component between the standby position and the working position and on the other hand the working position is defined as a stop by means of this holder. 
         [0011]    As mentioned, it is particularly preferable for the first damping component to be arranged on the fixed base unit. Alternatively, however, it would be possible to arrange the first damping component on the movable base unit. In this case, the first damping component is also moved when the movable furniture part is moved. 
         [0012]    In a further embodiment of the invention, the base unit not allocated to the first damping component, in particular a movable base unit, which has a carrying element, is the one which displaces the first damping component from the standby position into the working position on opening. In this case, the carrying element therefore comes into contact with the damping element during opening of the movable furniture part and causes the movement of the damping component from the standby position into the working position. 
         [0013]    Particularly preferably, the carrying element triggers the damping function. It is therefore possible for the carrying element in the working position of the first damping component to cause a displacement of the first damping component relative to the second damping component, triggering a damping function. 
         [0014]    It is possible that the carrying element will impact the second damping component and displace this together with the first damping component, whereby the latter is displaced from the standby position into the working position. Alternatively, however, it is possible for the carrying element to come into contact with the first damping component but for this not to cause a displacement of the first damping component relative to the second damping component, thereby triggering a damping function, but rather initially a displacement of the entire damping unit, so in particular the first damping component, from the standby position into the working position. Only once the working position has been reached is the first damping component displaced relative to the second damping component as a result of the further movement of the movable furniture part and the damping function triggered. 
         [0015]    It is therefore possible for the carrying element to move the second damping component opposite the first damping component in the working position of the first damping component in order to trigger the damping function. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment of the invention the damping unit is formed as a linear damper with damping components which are movable in a linear relative to one another in order to trigger the damping function or as a rotation damper with damping components which are movable in a rotatable manner relative to one another in order to trigger the damping function. 
         [0017]    In a further embodiment of the invention, a resetting mechanism is provided to reset the first damping component from the working position into the standby position. 
         [0018]    It is possible for the resetting mechanism to have at least a spring element, the spring force of which resets the first damping component into the standby position as soon as the base unit which is not allocated to the first damping component is no longer in contact with the first damping component. 
         [0019]    Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the resetting mechanism to comprise a functional section of the base unit which is not allocated to the first damping component, which displaces the first damping component into the standby position on closing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and explained in greater detail below. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the damping device according to the invention with the first damping component in the standby position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the damping device shown in  FIG. 1 , whereby the first damping component is displaced into the working position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the damping device according to  FIG. 1  in which a damping function has been initiated. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the damping device shown in  FIG. 1 , whereby the second damping component has completed the maximum damping stroke. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIGS. 1 to 4  show a preferred embodiment of the damping device  11  according to the invention. The damping device is shown and described here by way of an example during use for damping the opening movement of a movable furniture part  12  in the form of a drawer. 
         [0026]    The drawer is displaceably mounted relative to a furniture body (not shown) by means of a guiding device (not shown). The guiding device comprises several guiding units (not shown), of which two guiding units are allocated to opposite edges of the drawer. 
         [0027]    The guiding units each have a body rail, which for example can be designed as a curved sheet metal part. The body rail is fastened in a fixed position to an allocated side wall of a drawer recess formed in the furniture body by appropriate fastening elements. A central rail (not shown) is displaceably mounted on the body rail, to which in turn a pull-out rail or a sliding rail is displaceably guided by a bearing mechanism. The pull-out rail is allocated to the drawer and runs in a downwards direction underneath the bottom of the drawer. The combination of a body rail, central rail and pull-out rail is known as full extension. It is conceivable, however, to use guide units without a central rail. 
         [0028]    The damping device  11  comprises a fixed base unit  13  having the furniture body of the furniture. The damping device  11  further comprises a movable base unit  14  having the drawer, whereby the movable base unit  14  is arranged in a movable manner relative to the fixed base unit  13 . 
         [0029]    The fixed base unit  13  has an accessory carrier  15  having at least a mounting interface  16  for tool-free fastening to the furniture component and at least a fastening interface for the fastening of accessory parts to the accessory carrier  15 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the accessory carrier  15  is formed as a flat body, for example in the form of a carrier plate. The accessory carrier  15  is preferably made of plastics material. It is advantageous for the accessory carrier  15  to be a plastics material injection molded part, which means it can be reproduced many times over and manufactured in a simple and cost-effective manner. 
         [0031]    In the example 2 shown, the mounting interface  16  is on an upper face  18  of the accessory carrier  15 . The mounting interface  16  has first and second holding mechanisms  19   a ,  19   b , by which the accessory carrier  15  can be detachably fixed to a mounting section of an allocated mounting bracket of the body rail. 
         [0032]    The first and second holding mechanisms  19   a ,  19   b  overlap the mounting section on the mounting bracken when the accessory carrier  15  is mounted. 
         [0033]    The accessory carrier  15  has a slit  20  running transverse to its longitudinal direction, which is open in the direction of a longitudinal side of the accessory carrier  15 . The slit  20  is also formed by appropriate demolding during the manufacture of the accessory carrier  15 , which is made of plastics material. The slit  20  diverges on the longitudinal side of the accessory carrier  15 . In other words, the width of the slit  20  increases towards the longitudinal side of the accessory carrier  15 . 
         [0034]    The slit  20  separates the accessory carrier  15  into a first and a second carrier part  21   a ,  21   b . The two carrier parts  21   a ,  21   b  are movable relative to one another such that the distance between the two holding mechanisms  19   a ,  19   b  for the mounting of the accessory carrier  15  on the allocated mounting section of the mounting bracket of the body rail can be increased using the slit. The two carrier parts  21   a ,  21   b  are connected to one another at the base of the slit  20  via a flexure bearing. 
         [0035]    Springs  23  are arranged in the slit  20 , the spring force of which works against the expansion of the slit  20 . The springs  23  are connected in one piece to the two carrier parts  21   a ,  21   b . In the example, the springs  23  comprise two loop-shaped leaf springs  24   a ,  24   b , each of which is shaped at one end on one carrier part  21   a  and on the other end on the other carrier part  21   b . The leaf springs  24   a ,  24   b  each have a loop section  25  which is in the slit width direction, approximately in the center of the slit  20 . The loop sections  25  of the leaf springs  24   a ,  24   b  face one another. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the accessory carrier  15  has several fastening interfaces  17 , one of which is formed on the longitudinal side of the accessory carrier  15 , which is opposite the longitudinal side which also opens the slit  20 . The fastening interface  17  on the longitudinal side of the accessory carrier  15  has a holder which essentially extends over the entire length of the accessory carrier  15  in the form of a guide rail  26  on which a damping unit  27  of the damping device  11  is guided in a linear, movable manner. The guide rail  26  forms a slide guide to guide the damping unit  27  on the accessory carrier  15 . The guide rail  26  has a guard rail  28  which forms the outer longitudinal side termination of the accessory carrier  15 . In the direction of the center of the accessory carried  15 , there is a guide groove  29  on the upper and lower sides of the accessory carrier running in parallel to the guard rail  28 . 
         [0037]    As shown in particular by the Figures, the damping unit  27  has a first damping component  30  and a second damping component  31  which are movable relative to one another. 
         [0038]    In the example shown, the first damping component is displaceably guided between a standby position  32  and a working position  33  on the guide rail  26  of the accessory carrier  15 . 
         [0039]    In order to do this, the first damping component  30  has a slit-like guide element  34  which encompasses the guard rail  28  on its upper and lower sides and penetrates the guide grooves  29  arranged behind this on the upper and lower sides of the accessory carrier  15 . As the overview of  FIGS. 1 to 4  shows, the slit-like guide element is guided between the standby position  32  and the working position  33  in a linear movable manner on the guide rail  26  of the accessory carrier  15 . 
         [0040]    The first damping component  30  further has an elongated base unit  35 , the sides of which come into contact with the slit-like guide element  34 , and in particular are connected in one piece with this. The base unit  35  is therefore also moved when the guide element  34  is moved. The longitudinal extension of the base unit  35  is significantly greater than that of the guide element  34 . 
         [0041]    The base unit  35  has a semi-cylindrical damping recess  36  extending in a longitudinal direction of the base unit  35  in order to receive and guide the second damping component  31 . The damping recess  36  has an end stop  37  oriented in a transverse direction to the longitudinal extension of the damping recess, which is formed by a terminal wall  38 . 
         [0042]    As shown in particular in  FIG. 1 , the guide rail  26  has slings  39  which define the working position  33  of the first damping component  30 . The slings  39  on the guard rail  28  include the notches  40  on the upper and lower edges, which in particular are arranged in pairs, in other words on the upper edge of the guard rail  28  two notches are arranged which are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the guard rail and of which one is arranged in the region of the front and one in the region of the rear end of the guard rail, and to which corresponding notches  40  on the lower edge of the guard rail  28  are allocated. The notches  40  correspond to the protrusions formed on the slit-like guide element  34  (not shown). 
         [0043]    The first damping component  30  further comprises components of a linear damper  41 , namely a damper piston arrangement  42  having a piston rod  43  which is fastened on one side to the terminal wall  38  of the base unit  35  and formed in a fixed manner relative to the base unit. There is a damping piston  44  at the other end of the piston rod  43 . The damping piston  44  is taken into a damping housing  45 , which forms the main part of the second damping component  31 . The damping housing  45  is movably guided in a linear manner in the damping recess  36  relative to the damping piston arrangement  42  using the piston rods  43  and the damping pistons  44 . 
         [0044]    As shown in particular in  FIG. 1 , the movable base unit  14  has a drawer, on the rear wall of which a carrier element  46  protruding over the base of the drawer is arranged. 
         [0045]    On opening the drawer, the carrier element  46  comes into contact with the damping housing  45  of the second damping component  31  on the fixed base unit  13 . This situation is set out in  FIG. 1 . When the carrier element  46  comes into contact with the rear front face of the damping housing  45 , the full damping unit  27  and therefore the first damping component  30  which is in the standby position  32  ( FIG. 1 ) is displaced with the base unit  35  and the damping piston arrangement  42  by the slit-like guide element  34  on the allocated guard rail  29  of the guide rail  26  being displaced in a linear manner. The force which has to be used for the displacement of the entire damping unit  27  is less than that which is required to displace the damping housing  45  relative to the damping piston arrangement  42 . On impact of the carrier element  46  on the rear front face of the damping housing  45  no damping function is therefore triggered, but rather the damping housing  45  and the damping piston arrangement  42  and the base unit  35  of the first damping component  30 . 
         [0046]    The first damping component  30  together with the base unit  35  and the damping piston arrangement  42  is displaced from the standby position  32  into the working position  33  which is specified by the rear pair of notches in the direction of displacement. 
         [0047]    It is characteristic for the base unit  35  to be moved out of the drawer recess in the working position  33  of the first damping component  30  by the damping piston arrangement  42 . A damping function has therefore not yet taken place and the drawer can be opened to almost the open position before the damping function is initiated. 
         [0048]    If the working position  33  of the first damping component  30  is reached, the damping housing  45  is then moved relative to the damping piston arrangement  42 , in other words a damping function is triggered. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in this process the damping housing  45  moves into the damping recess, whereby the damping piston  44  taken into the damping housing generates a damping function by the displacement of damping medium, in particular hydraulic oil or air, such that the moving of the drawer into the open position is braked and dampened. 
         [0049]    When opening the drawer, the rear side of the drawer front comes into contact with the first damping component  30 , as a result of which this is reset by the slide guide of the slit-like guide element  34  on the guard rail  28  from the working position  33  into the standby position  32 . Prior to this, the damping housing  45  was reset by means of the loss of contact with the carrier element  46 .

Technology Category: 1