AU2007293950B2

AU2007293950B2 - Connecting device for a drawer

Info

Publication number: AU2007293950B2
Application number: AU2007293950A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andreas Stuffel
Original assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2006-09-08
Filing date: 2007-08-22
Publication date: 2013-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-22
Also published as: CN101511227A; RU2423901C2; TW200840512A; WO2008028808A1; EP2059147B1; ATE535171T1; DE202007001783U1; JP5309328B2; EP2059147A1; CN101511227B; ES2378335T3; RU2009112283A; JP2010502328A; AU2007293950A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device (6) for a drawer (1), said device comprising an adapter (7) arranged in the bottom (2) of the drawer and adjacently to the front panel (5) of the drawer (1), and a carrying holder (8) which is fixed in the adapter (7). The adapter (7) is provided for supporting a lateral panel (5), and the carrying holder (S) for fixing a front panel carrier (19) which is fixed to the front panel (4). The carrying holder (8) is produced from a plastic material as a single component and is fixed in the adapter (7) in a form-fitting manner.

Description

Connection device on a drawer The present disclosure relates to a connection device on a drawer, comprising an adapter situated in the bottom and adjacent to a front panel of a drawer, and a support retainer fixed in the adapter, the adapter being provided to support a lateral panel and the support retainer being provided to fix a front panel support fastened to the front panel. Connection devices of the above-mentioned type are used on the one hand for supporting a lateral panel and on the other hand for fixing a front panel, by which corresponding connection devices fulfill at least two functions. However, in a drawer it is additionally necessary beyond the claimed functions to produce a connection between the drawer and a running rail of a drawer guide, for example. In addition, it is necessary to be able to align the front panel support vertically and horizontally in relation to the support retainer, moreover, it must be possible to be able to tighten and fix the front panel support in relation to the connection device and a lateral panel supported thereon. The connection devices known up to this point may either only fulfill the two first mentioned functions and/or have a relatively complex, multipart construction, which may fulfill further functions, but causes the overall connection device to become comparatively expensive. In an aspect, there is provided a connection device having a drawer, comprising an adapter , situated in the area of a bottom and adjacent to a front panel of a drawer , and a support retainer fixed in the adapter, the adapter being provided for supporting a lateral panel and the support retainer being provided for fixing a front panel support fastened on the front panel, wherein the support retainer is produced in one piece from plastic and is fixed in a formfitting way in the adapter and wherein the support retainer is equipped on 4355287_1 (GHMatter) P80125 AU 2 its lower end facing toward the front panel with a coupling part in the form of a T-slot nut having a ramp bevel and having stop faces, and may be coupled to the forward end of a running rail. The present disclosure is thus based on providing a connection device of the type according to the species, which may be easily and comfortably assembled with an extremely simple and cost-effective construction. This object is solved according to the disclosure in that the support retainer is produced in one piece from plastic and is fixed in a formfitting way in the adapter. The connection device thus comprises two inexpensive and simply constructed parts, namely the adapter and the support retainer, which may be connected to one another in a formfitting way like a plug connection. Additional connectors or measures to prevent a relative motion of the two parts in relation to one another are thus superfluous. The support retainers may be refined without problems by appropriate design implementation in that the support retainer may also fulfill still further functions in the meaning of connection capabilities. It is advantageous for this purpose if the coupling part may be coupled to a plug fastened to the forward end of the running rail. The support retainer may thus also fulfill the function of connecting the forward area of a running rail of a drawer guide to the drawer. 4355287_1 (GHatters) P80125 AU 3 In addition, the support retainer may be equipped with a spring bolt, having a bolt step engaging in a recess of the running rail, on its bottom side and recessed in relation to the coupling part. In this way, an additional security against relative displacement in the longitudinal direction of the drawer in relation to the running rail is caused in the forward end area of the drawer. An especially advantageously embodiment provides that the spring bolt has a further bolt step which presses against a delimitation edge of a notch of the adapter. A relative displacement between adapter and support retainer may thus be prevented in at least one displacement direction of the entire drawer. Further features of the disclosure are the subject matter of further subclaims, which result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the Summary, specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective illustration of a drawer, provided with connection devices according to the disclosure, in a preinstallation position Figure 2 shows a perspective illustration of an adapter of a connection device according to the disclosure Figure 3 shows a perspective illustration of a support retainer insertable into the adapter according to Figure 2 4355287_1 (GHMattm) P80125AU 4 Figure 4 shows a perspective partial illustration of a connection device fastened on a bottom of a drawer and a front panel support connectable thereto Figure 5 shows a perspective illustration of the adapter of the connection device Figure 6 shows a perspective illustration of a connection device having preinstalled front panel support, shown before the coupling to a running rail of a drawer guide Figure 7 shows an illustration, corresponding to Figure 6, after the coupling of the connection device to the running rail Figure 8 shows a section through a connection device at the height of line VIII-VIII in Figure 4 Figure 9 shows a section corresponding to Figure 8 having clamping pins located in the active position Figure 10 shows a perspective illustration of a clamping pin integrally molded on a toggle A drawer having a bottom 2, rear wall 3, a front panel 4, and two lateral panels 5, is identified as a whole by the reference numeral 1 in Figure 1. Connection devices 6, which are the subject matter of the present disclosure and are described in greater detail hereafter with reference to Figures 2 through 7 in particular, are provided in the area of the lateral panels 5 on the forward side, facing toward the front panel 4. 4355287_1 (GHIaters) P80125AU 5 For the sake of simplicity, reference is always made in the following text to only one connection device 6, because the connection devices 6 in the area of the two lateral panels 5 are functionally identical to one another. The connection device essentially comprises an adapter 7, preferably implemented as a one-piece sheet-metal stamped part, and a support retainer 8, preferably produced as a one-piece plastic molded part. The support retainer 8 is inserted into the adapter 7, which has an insertion channel 9 open in the longitudinal direction (see Figure 5), and fixed in relation to the adapter 7. Adapter 7 and support retainer 8 are implemented in such a way that a connector-free, formfitting connection and latching results between the components 7 and 8. The support retainer 8 is provided with two bending springs 13, which load the support part 8 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the insertion channel 9 and ensure that a catch edge 14 of the support part 8 presses against an inner edge 14a of a cutout of the adapter 7 in the final inserted state. Furthermore, the support retainer 8 is equipped on its bottom edge with a spring bolt 10 having two catch steps I Oa and lOb. The catch step 1 Oa of the spring bolt 10 engages in the installed state in a recess 17a (see Figure 6) of the running rail 17 and thus causes a displacement lock between running rail and connection part 6. The catch step lOb rests in the installed state on the top side of the edge area of a cutout in the adapter 7 (see Figure 9). Additional fixations of the support retainer 8 inside the adapter 7 may be formed by tongues 15 bent out of the adapter 7, which are pressed onto the support retainer 8 after the insertion of the support retainer 8 into the insertion channel 9 of the adapter 7. 4355287_1 (GHNatters) P801 25AU 6 The above statements make it clear that the connection between the adapter 7 and the support retainer 8 is formfitting in the final analysis, no additional fasteners such as screws, rivets, or the like are necessary in any case. As may be seen from Figures 6 and 7 in particular, the support retainer 8 is provided on its forward, lower end with a coupling part in the form of a T-slot nut 16, this coupling part additionally being molded in one piece on the support retainer 8. This coupling part in the form of a T-slot nut 16 is equipped with ramp bevels 16a and with stop faces 16b and may be coupled to a correspondingly shaped plug 18 fastened on the forward end of a running rail 17 of a drawer guide (not shown in greater detail). A connection of the drawer 1 to the support rail 17 is thus caused in the forward area. Alternatively thereto, it is also conceivable to provide a coupling part in the form of a T slot nut 16 on the plug 18 and to design the support retainer 8 accordingly to accommodate this coupling part. The first catch step 1Oa of the spring bolt 10 already noted above engages in the installed state in a recess 17a (see Figure 6) of the running rail 17 and thus causes a displacement lock between running rail and connection part 6. As may be seen from Figure 1 in particular, the front panel 4 is connected on its interior side facing toward the lateral panels 5 to two front panel supports 19, which are aligned with the connection devices 6. Figure 4 clearly shows that the particular front panel support 19 may be inserted into the support retainer 8 in the direction of the arrow A and fixed therein. 43552871 (GHitters) PW0125AU 7 The front panel support is equipped with a vertical adjustment eccentric 20, comprising a baseplate 20a, mounted so it is rotatable in the front panel support 19, and an eccentric pin 20b, which is connected thereto or produced in one piece therewith. Furthermore, a lateral adjustment screw 21 is provided in a threaded hole of the front panel support 19 in the front panel support, finally the front panel support 19 also has a passage 22, which is penetrated by a key-like clamping pin 23 of a plate-like toggle 24 (see Figure 1). In the installed state, the eccentric pin 20b of the vertical adjustment eccentric 20 engages in a longitudinal slot 25, open viewed toward the front panel 4, of the support retainer 8, which is provided with an inlet area 25a constricted in relation to the diameter of the eccentric pin 20b. Upon insertion of the front panel support 19 into the support retainer 8, the eccentric pin 20b must thus first overcome the constricted inlet area 25a of the longitudinal slot 25 to reach a preinstallation position. A slight force application is necessary for this purpose, on the other hand, however, the front panel 4 is temporarily secured after the entry of the eccentric pin 20b in the area of the longitudinal slot 25, because the front panel 4 may not unintentionally detach from the support retainer 8 again in this preinstallation position. In this preinstallation position, a vertical and lateral adjustment of the front panel 4 may be performed by the vertical adjustment eccentric 20 and the lateral adjustment screw 21, before the front panel 4 is finally fixed having the front panel retainer 19 fastened thereon. This fixing is performed in a way known per se by the plate-like toggle 24 already noted using its key-like clamping pin 23, which may be inserted through a keyhole-like recess 26 of the adapter 7 using its exclusively cylindrical free end into a bearing hole 27 of the support retainer 8. A very good axial mounting of the key-like clamping pin 23 is ensured by this additional bearing hole 27 in the support retainer 8. After the completed alignment, the toggle 24, which lies in a position in which the access to the vertical adjustment eccentric 20 and to the lateral adjustment screw 21 is exposed 4355287_1 (GHMatters) P80125-AU 8 during the pre-alignment, is pivoted by 900, by which on the one hand the access to the vertical adjustment eccentric 20 and the lateral adjustment screw 21 is covered, and, on the other hand, the front panel support 4 is tightened fixed on the front side of the lateral panel 5 in the direction of the arrow A. The area of the support retainer 8 inserted into the adapter 7 or into its insertion channel 9 may advantageously itself be provided with a channel-type through opening in the longitudinal direction of the insertion channel 9, so that if needed electric cable or other functional parts may be led through this channel. The above statements make it clear that the connection device 6, comprising adapter 7 and support retainer 8, may fulfill a plurality of functions which are necessary during the assembly of a drawer and its connection to the drawer guide, without additional components having to be provided for this purpose. The multifunctional design of the connection device thus reduces both the production costs and also the assembly times for drawer. Figures 8 through 10 show that the clamping pin 23 is provided with a projection 23a like a key bit and may thus only be inserted through the keyhole-like recess 26 of the adapter 7 in a specific position. Furthermore, the cited figures show that the clamping pin 23 is provided on its free end with a radially rebounding catch tongue 23b, which causes axial securing of the clamping pin 23 after the insertion of the clamping pin 23 into the bearing hole 27 of the support retainer 8. As shown in Figure 8, the bearing hole 27 is provided with a small chamfer 27a, through which the catch lug 23b of the clamping pin 23 may be guided without obstruction, if the clamping pin 23 is in the insertion position in relation to the keyhole like recess 26. In other words, in this insertion position the clamping pin 23 including 4355287_1 (GHMatter) P80125 AU 9 catch lug 23b may not only be inserted without problems into the bearing hole 27, but rather also withdrawn from this bearing hole 27 again, if this becomes necessary for reasons of disassembly. The radially rebounding catch lug 23b is engaged in the chamfer 27a in the insertion position, so that a twist lock of the clamping pin 23 and thus also of the toggle 24 results in the cited insertion position. In other words, unintentional pivoting of the toggle 24 is effectively prevented after the insertion of the clamping pin 23. If necessary, the toggle 24 may be designed in such a way that it has a certain latching at least in the position in which the access to the vertical adjustment eccentric 20 and to the lateral adjustment screw 21 are covered, which prevents unintentional pivoting of the toggle 24. The projection 23a like a key bit is equipped with a flat external surface and presses against a linear inner edge 22a (see Figure 4) facing away from the front panel 4 under tension in the clamping position. A highly effective twist lock for the clamping pin 23 is already achieved solely by this design embodiment, so that if necessary an additional locking capability for the toggle 24 may be dispensed with. Both a large-area transmission of the forces which occur upon impact of the front panel on the body and also a very good position lock of the toggle 24, which is independent of the manufacturing tolerances on the panel sheet-metal, which must be considered when situating catch means between the panel and the toggle, are achieved by the contact of the flat exterior surface of the extension 23a on the linear inner edge 22a of the recess 22. The cross-sections of the adapter 7 and the lateral panels 3 may be designed in such a way that a continuous channel for the insertion of control lines, electric cables, or the like is formed in the upper end area of the lateral panels 3. 4355287_1 (GHMWter) P50125AU 9A It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the disclosure, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the disclosure. 4355287_1 (GHMattes) P80125AU

Claims

1. A connection device having a drawer, comprising an adapter, situated in the area of a bottom and adjacent to a front panel of a drawer , and a support retainer fixed in the adapter, the adapter being provided for supporting a lateral panel and the support retainer being provided for fixing a front panel support fastened on the front panel, wherein the support retainer is produced in one piece from plastic and is fixed in a formfitting way in the adapter and wherein the support retainer is equipped on its lower end facing toward the front panel with a coupling part in the form of a T-slot nut having a ramp bevel and having stop faces, and may be coupled to the forward end of a running rail.

2. The connection device according to Claim 1, wherein the coupling part may be coupled to a plug fastened on the forward end of the running rail.

3. The connection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support retainer is equipped with a spring bolt, having a bolt step engaging in a recess of the running rail, on the bottom side and situated recessed in relation to the coupling part.

4. The connection device according to Claim 3, wherein the spring bolt has a further bolt step, which rests on the edge area of a recess of the adapter.

5. The connection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support retainer is provided with bending springs, by which the support retainer is loaded transversely in relation to the insertion direction into the adapter, and, in the final insertion position, is disengaged with a catch edge on an inner edge of a recess of the adapter. 4355287_1 (GHMatters)P80125AU 11

6. The connection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter is equipped with tongues which are bent out and fix the inserted support retainer.

7. The connection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support retainer is equipped with a longitudinal slot, open viewed toward the front panel, for accommodating an eccentric pin of a vertical adjustment eccentric of the front panel support, the longitudinal slot being provided with an inlet area constricted in relation to the diameter of the eccentric pin.

8. The connection device according to one of preceding claims, wherein the support retainer is provided with a bearing hole opposite to a keyhole-like opening of the adapter, which is used for the additional radial and axial mounting of a key-like clamping eccentric of a plate-like toggle.

9. The connection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter is implemented as a whole in one piece as a sheet-metal stamped part.

10. The connection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support retainer is partially inserted into an insertion channel of the adapter, which is open in the longitudinal direction, and is also provided with a section open in the axial direction of the insertion channel.

11. The connection device according to Claim 8, wherein the key-like clamping eccentric is provided on its free end area with a radially rebounding catch lug and is secured in the axial direction by this catch lug. 43552871 (GHManers) P80125AU 12

12. The connection device according to Claim 8 or 11, wherein the plate-like toggle is secured by catch means at least in its installation position covering the vertical adjustment eccentric.

13. The connection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cross-sections of the adapter and a lateral panel are adapted to one another in such a way that a channel for electric cable, control lines, or the like is formed between the upper end area of the adapter and the upper edge of the lateral panel.

14. The connection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the radially rebounding catch lug engages in the insertion position in an appropriately shaped chamfer of the bearing hole and a twist lock against unintentional twisting of the clamping pin is thus formed.

15. The connection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the projection of the clamping pin , which is like a key bit, has a flat external face and this flat external face presses against a linear inner edge of the recess facing away from the front panel under tension in the clamping position.

16. A connection device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 4355287_1 (GHMatter) P80125AU