DK2946692T3 - COMBINATION OF A HIDDEN HANGING CONSOLE AND WALL CABINET - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a combination of a hidden hanging bracket and a wall cupboard wherein said hidden hanging-bracket is used for the assembly of said cupboard to a wall, equipped with perfected means for fixing it automatically to the cupboard, by means of a robot.

[0002] Hidden hanging brackets consisting of a base, having a substantially elongated rectangular form, are known, on which two regulation mechanisms are assembled, in vertical (height) and in depth, respectively, for regulating the position of the cupboard with respect to the wall on which the same is assembled, and consequently with respect to other possible adjacent wall units.

[0003] As is known to skilled persons in the field, hanging brackets of this type are fixed to the shoulder of the wall cupboard, and possibly also to the top, behind the lining, in correspondence with the upper corner of the cupboard, consisting of the combination between shoulder, top and lining.

[0004] The fixing of the hanging bracket to the shoulder and to the top is effected using fixing means such as pins and/or screws envisaged on the base.

[0005] A hidden hanging bracket of this type is described and illustrated, for example, in European patent EP 2219495. The hanging brackets in question can be fixed to the cupboard in the two following different assembly phases of the cupboard: on the shoulder of the cupboard, before its assembly, or on the same shoulder, but after the assembly of the cupboard.

[0006] It is currently highly desirable to be able to automatically fix a hanging bracket to the shoulder, by means of a robot, for evident reasons of producing large quantities of cupboards.

[0007] Another requirement to be satisfied by said hidden hanging brackets is their safe fixing to the cupboard, also in the presence of considerable stress due to shear and torsion.

[0008] For this reason, it is preferable for the hanging bracket to be fixed to both the shoulder and to the top. For this purpose, hanging brackets of the known type are provided with oblique fixing screws, which pass through holes on flanges, also oblique, extending from the base of the hanging bracket. Such a combination of a hidden hanging-bracket and a wall cupboard is known from DE 3839931 A1, which discloses the preamble of claim 1. The presence of these oblique flanges and screws, however, makes the automatic fixing of the hanging brackets, by means of a robot, practically impossible, as, on contrary, is highly desirable.

[0009] In order to be able to automate the fixing of the hanging bracket to the shoulder of the cupboard, hanging brackets are known, without fixing means to the top, and are provided with pins and screws, or "doubles", only, for fixing them to the shoulder, which extend coplanar to the base. This however jeopardizes the resistance of the hanging bracket to relevant stress, mainly torsional.

[0010] The general objective of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known art, by providing a combination wherein the hanging bracket that can be automatically fixed to the shoulder and to the top of the cupboard, by means of a robot, and which, at the same time, also has the required resistance to both shear and torsional stress.

[0011] The above objective is achieved by a combination comprising a hidden hanging bracket with perfected means for fixing it to the wall-cupboard having the characteristics specified in the main claim and enclosed dependent claims.

[0012] The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will appear even more evident from the following description referring to the enclosed drawings which show a combination with a hanging bracket produced according to the innovative principles of the invention.

[0013] In the drawings: • Figures 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views illustrating two different hidden hanging brackets of the known type, not being part of the present invention, wherein said hanging-brackets are provided with two different fixing systems or means to the cupboard; • Figures 4 and 5 are two perspective views from the two opposite sides, front and rear side, respectively, showing a hidden hanging bracket produced wherein said brackets are used in the combination according to the invention; • Figures 6 and 7 are two raised views respectively illustrating the two opposite sides of the hanging bracket as in figures 4 and 5; • Figure 8 is a raised view according to the arrow F1 of figure 6; • Figure 9 is a raised view according to the arrow F2 of figure 7; • Figure 10 is a plan view from above; • Figure 11 is a plan view from below; • Figure 12 is a section taken according to the line A-A of figure 6; • Figure 13 is a (partial) perspective view illustrating the fixing phase of the hanging bracket of the combinaiton according to the invention, to a shoulder of a cupboard already assembled; • Figure 14 is a perspective view illustrating the fixing phase of the hanging bracket of the combination" according to the invention, to a shoulder of a cupboard not yet assembled. • Figure 15 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly phase of a cupboard to the shoulder of figure 14, already equipped with a hanging bracket; • Figure 16 is a raised view partially illustrating the combination according to the invention with a cupboard equipped with a hanging bracket • Figure 17 is a section taken according to the line B-B of figure 16; and • Figures 18 and 19 are two views similar to figures 16 and 17 showing a second possible embodiment of the invention.

[0014] With reference first of all to figures 1-3 of the drawings, these partially illustrate a wall cupboard M comprising a shoulder S, a top C, a lining F and a base B.

[0015] The cupboard M of figure 1 is equipped with a hanging bracket R fixed to the shoulder S alone and not to the top C. For this purpose, a plurality of pins 20 extend outwardly from a long side LL of the hanging bracket, together with a "double" dowel 21, which are inserted with interference (hammered) into corresponding holes 22 of the shoulder S. A hanging bracket of this type can be also be fixed automatically to the shoulder S but, as it does not comprise fixing means to the top C, it has a limited resistance to torsional stress.

[0016] The wall-cupboard M of figures 2 and 3 is equipped with a hanging bracket R1 fixed to both the shoulder S and to the top C. For this purpose, pins 20A and oblique screws V are envisaged, which pass through holes in flanges 23A, 24A, extending, also obliquely, from the base of the hanging bracket.

[0017] This type of hanging bracket has the advantage of also adequately resisting significant shear and torsional stress, but has the serious drawback of not being able to be fixed automatically, by means of a robot, to the shoulder S of the cupboard M, due to the presence of oblique fixing means to both the shoulder and to the top.

[0018] A hanging bracket 30 of the combinaiton according to the invention, shown in figures 4-19, overcomes the above drawbacks of the known art, as it can be fixed automatically to both the shoulder S and to the top C of the cupboard.

[0019] For this purpose, the hanging bracket 30, according to a first embodiment of the invention, has a generally rectangular and elongated, box-like, structure comprising a base 31, with long stiffening edges 32, which extend perpendicularly from the base.

[0020] A plurality of pins 33 extend from a long side of said base 31 and below a "double" dowel 34, destined for being inserted with interference (hammered) into corresponding holes 35, 36 of the shoulder S of a wall-cupboard M. Said pins 33 and said dowel 34 form first fixing means. The dowel 34 is of the expansion type and can be expanded by hammering the pin 34A.

[0021] According to the invention, a connection I characteristically extends from the upper end (short side LC) of said base 31, consists of a flat tongue 37 freely inserted into a corresponding seat 38 (milling) of the top C, in contact with the lining F (figure 17). Said seat 38 consists, in this embodiment of the invention, of an enlargement of the seat (milling) 41 of the top C wherein the lining F is housed.

[0022] Said connection I forms second fixing means.

[0023] Thanks to the combination of said pins 33 and "double" dowel 34 with said flat tongue 37, which extends as an extension of the base 31, the hanging bracket 30 can be fixed automatically, by means of a robot, to the shoulder S or to the cupboard M already assembled (figure 13) or before the assembly of the cupboard M (figures 14 and 15). The pins 33, the "double" tassel 34 and the tongue 37, in fact, are all elements which substantially lie on the same plane as the base 31.

[0024] Figures 14 and 15 show the assembly sequence (well-known to skilled persons in the field), wherein the hanging bracket 30 is first fixed to the shoulder S, on which the top C, the base B and the lining F, are subsequently fixed (by means of pins and glue) so as to form the assembled cupboard M.

[0025] The hanging bracket 30 is also equipped with two regulation mechanisms 39, 40, for the regulation of the height and depth respectively, of the position of the cupboard with respect to the wall P on which the same is assembled.

[0026] Said devices (even if illustrated) are not described in detail as they can be of any known type, for example that described in European patent EP 2219495.

[0027] As is evident to skilled persons in the field, the combination of the first and second fixing means according to the invention ensures a fixing of the hanging bracket to the shoulder with adequate resistance to shear and torsional stress.

[0028] Figures 18 and 19 show a possible second embodiment of the invention, wherein a tongue 137 extends from the base 131 not coplanar to the same base 131 but offset on a different plane. In this way, said tongue 137 can be engaged inside the non-modified (not enlarged) milling 141 of the top C where the lining F is housed. For this purpose, as can be clearly seen in figure 19, the lining F has a lowered section SR in correspondence with the upper edge, where said tongue 137, offset with respect to the base 131, is housed and rests.

[0029] This solution can be appropriate for wall-cupboards having a lining F of a certain thickness.

[0030] The objective mentioned in the preamble of the description has therefore been achieved.

[0031] The protection scope of the invention is defined by the enclosed claims.

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description • EP2219495A [00051 [00261 • DF3P,39931 At f00081

Claims (4)

A combination of a concealed hanging bracket (30,130) and a wall cabinet (M), comprising a top (C), shoulders (S) and trim (F) and seat (38,141) provided at the top (C), wherein the concealed suspension bracket (30,130) is provided with first (33,34,133,134) and second (I) fasteners for attaching it to the shoulder (S) and to the top (C) of the wall cabinet (M), respectively, the concealed hanging bracket (30,130) further comprising: a base (31,131) having a substantially elongated rectangular shape, on which two control mechanisms (39,40) are installed, to control the position of the cabinet (M), in vertical or height, and in depth relative to a wall (respectively). P) on which the wall cabinet (M) is mounted, the first (33,34,133,134) and second (I) fastening means being provided, respectively, on a long side (LL) and on a short side (LC) of the base (31,131), second fastener (I) consists of engaging means (37,137) of the base (31,131) freely inserted into the corresponding e seat (38,141) of the top (C), characterized in that the engagement means (I) consist of a flat tongue (37,137) extending from the suspension bracket (30,130) as an extension of the base (31, 131). The combination of claim 1, in which the seat (38,141) is an extension of a milling (41) of the top (C), wherein the casing (F) is the housing. The combination of claim 1, in which the tongue (37,137) contacts the cover (F) and extends coplanarly with the base (31). The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongue (137) is not coplanar with the base (131) but offset on another plane, the tongue (137) being housed in the same milling (141) as the top (C) of the casing (F) being the housing, the casing (F) having a recessed portion (SR), in accordance with its upper edge, the tongue (137), displaced relative to the base (131), being the housing and resting.