WO2014083415A9

WO2014083415A9 - Support and actuation device for sliding doors, in particular for wardrobes

Info

Publication number: WO2014083415A9
Application number: PCT/IB2013/002675
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Fornasari
Original assignee: Intechse Innovation & Technology Service Di Fornasari Paolo & C. S.A.S.
Priority date: 2012-11-30
Filing date: 2013-11-27
Publication date: 2015-09-11
Also published as: WO2014083415A1; EP2925946A1; ITPN20120071A1

Abstract

Support and actuation device for sliding doors, in particular for wardrobes, the doors of which (6) are made of a type slidable in an alternate longitudinal direction along upper and lower rectilinear guides members, that are applied respectively in the ceiling (10) and the bottom (11) of the related wardrobe, and such doors (6) are actuated in alternate longitudinal sliding directions, in position which are coplanar to each other, from the opened position to closed position thereof, and vice- versa. Device comprising a first unit of upper component parts (14), a second unit of upper component parts (15), both applied on to the ceiling (10) and arranged approached to each other; and lower component parts (16), applied on to the flat bottom (11), wherein said second unit (15) is constituted by a sliding truck (45), and that is movable in the direction of the wardrobe depth, with movements in synchronism with the movements of the lower component parts (16), for shifting the doors (6) in the re-entering closing position to the extracted opening position thereof, and vice- versa, wherein the doors (6) may be slide in the alternate longitudinal direction.

Description

"SUPPORT AND ACTUATION DEVICE FOR SLIDING DOORS, IN PARTICULAR FOR WARDROBES"

The invention relates to a support and actuation device for sliding doors for wardrobes, the doors of which are made of a type slidable in an alternate longitudinal direction along upper and lower rectilinear guide members, that are applied respectively in the ceiling and the bottom of the related wardrobe, and such doors are actuated in alternate longitudinal sliding directions, in position which are coplanar to each other, from the opened position to the closed position thereof, and vice- versa. There are known support and actuation devices for slidable doors for wardrobes, the doors of which are provided with wheels slidable in an alternate longitudinal direction along two relative rectilinear guide members, that are applied onto the bottom and the ceiling of each wardrobe, respectively, in a parallel arrangement relative to each other, and are adequately spaced from each other in the depth direction of the same wardrobe, so that each door may slide along the corresponding guide members, in a direction parallel to that of the other door and the front face of the wardrobe, independently from the other door.

This system for opening and closing the doors for wardrobes is widely used, however it has the disadvantage that, still being practical and not cumbersome, owing to the fact that the doors do not rotate around the hinges but slide in the alternate longitudinal direction in positions parallel to each other, does not allow to form a planar and uniform front wall of the doors, thereby determining a scarcely agreeable aesthetical outer appearance.

Also known in the art are some devices for supporting and actuating the sliding doors of wardrobes, the doors of which are also slidable in an alternate direction, not more in positions parallel to each other, but rather in positions that are co-planar with each other, so that, when such doors are in the closed position thereof, an uniform and planar front wall of the wardrobe is obtained, which is very agreeable and appreciated from the aesthetical point of view. In these systems for opening and closing the doors of wardrobes, the doors are moved from a closed position thereof, in which they found themselves in a slightly recessed position in the direction of the wardrobe depth, to an opened position thereof, in which they are first moved forwards with a short stroke, and then are let to slide sidewise into the desired position, in a direction parallel to the plane of the front face of the wardrobe, along rectilinear guide members running parallel to each other and applied onto the bottom and the ceiling of the wardrobe, respectively. To this purpose, the devices for supporting and actuating such doors are designed so as to ensure that the doors right side be displaced always together with with the left side of the same doors, and that such synchronism of movement should be ensured even between the upper side and the lower side of such doors. The currently existing support and actuation devices are made with leverages and tension rods systems acting on to carriages which, with the aid of particular section bars, support the doors and provides for the guide members for sliding the door displaced forwards and arranged for sliding sidewise in an alternate manner.

The object of the present invention is to provide for a support and actuation device for slidable doors, in particular for wardrobes, which, still adapted to provide for the actuation of the doors with a forward movement and a sidewise alternate sliding, as it occurs at the present time, however by using some construction and assembling mechanisms that are different than the devices that are currently used.

This support and actuation device is realized with the constructive characteristics substantially described, with particular reference to the attached patent claims.

The invention will be better understood from the following description, that is given by way of non- limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective front view of a wardrobe provided with two doors and incorporating the support and actuation device according to the present invention, in which one door is moved in the open position thereof;

- Figure 2 shows a perspective rear exploded view of the two doors aligned from each other of the wardrobe shown in Figure 1, with the relative upper and lower component parts of the wardrobe ;

- Figure 3 shows a perspective front exploded view of a first and a second groups of upper component parts disassembled to each other, to be applied against the rear wall of a relative wardrobe door ;

- Figure 4 shows a perspective front view with an angle of view different than that of the Fig 3, of the first group of upper component parts of the Fig. 3, assembled to each other ;

- Figure 5 shows a perspective rear view of the first group of component parts of the Fig. 4, disassembled to each other ;

- Figure 6 shows, with the same view of the Fig. 3, the first and second groups of component parts of the same Fig. 3 assembled to each other ;

- Figure 7 shows a perspective rear view of the second group of component parts of the Fig. 3, disassembled to each other ;

- Figure 8 shows, with the same view of the Fig. 7, the second group of such Fig. 7 with its component parts assembled to each other ;

- Figure 9 shows a perspective front view of the second group of assembled component parts of the Fig. 8 ;

- Figure 10 shows a perspective rear view of the second group of Fig. 7, with its component parts displaced in the operative position thereof in which the door is opened ;

- Figure 1 1 shows, with the same view of Fig. 10, the component parts of the second group of the Fig. 7 displaced in the operative position thereof in which the door is closed ;

- Figure 12 shows an perspective side view of a portion of the component parts of the first and second groups assembled to each other and applied against the wardrobe rear wall ;

- Figure 13 shows a cutaway view in the wardrobe transversal direction, and illustrating the component parts of the first and second upper groups, together with a third group of lower component parts, with the relative door displaced in the opened position thereof ; - Figure 14 shows, with the same view, the same upper and lower component parts of Fig. 13, with the relative door displaced in the closed position thereof.

In the above-mentioned figures, it is represented a support and actuation device for sliding doors, in particular for wardrobes, according to the present invention, which is realized and operates in the manner which will be described, and adapted to determine the support and actuation and sliding of the doors in alternate longitudinal directions in positions thereof coplanar to each other, wherein the doors are actuated for being displaced from a closed position thereof, in which the doors are approached and aligned to each other and with respect to the wardrobe front plane, to an opened position thereof in which such doors are at first slightly shifted forward with a limited stroke and then are let to slide laterally into the desired position, parallel to the plane of the wardrobe front face.

In particular, the Fig. 1 shows a wardrobe 5 provided with two flat front doors 6 identical to each other, each one provided with the present support and actuation device for doors, and two side handles 7 and 8 for shifting and sliding the door in the alternate longitudinal direction as it will be described, and into the present case the right door 6 is shifted in the closed position thereof, while the left door 6 is shifted in the opened position thereof, and is partially overlapped to the previous door and slightly spaced away therefrom in the direction of the wardrobe depth. Furthermore, each wardrobe 5 is delimited by a rear wall 9, parallel to the doors 6, by an upper flat ceiling 10, by a lower flat bottom 11 and by two side walls 12 and 13.

Now, it is described in detail the support and actuation device for doors of the present wardrobe, that is substantially constituted by a first group of upper component parts 14 (see Figs. 1-6) ; by a second group of upper component parts 15 (see Figs. 1-3, 6-9), both applied to the flat ceiling 10 of the wardrobe, and arranged approached to each other ; and by a third group of lower component parts 16 (see Figs. 13 and 14), applied onto the flat bottom 11 of the wardrobe.

The first group of upper component parts 14 is substantially constituted by a thin rectilinear metallic section bar 17, having a length slightly smaller than the width of each door 6, and shaped and applied to the door as it will be described, by at least two support and reinforcing arms 18 opportunely shaped and bent, and supported at the end parts of such section bar 17 in positions parallel and spaced away to each other, as well as by a section bar 19 for joining the support arms 18. The rectilinear section bar 17 is provided at its end parts with two through holes 20 and 21 aligned and slightly spaced away to each other in the longitudinal direction of the same section bar, for inserting and supporting the correspondent horizontal studs 22 and 23 of a respective sliding wheel 24 and 25, which wheels are identical and both provided with a groove 26 and 27 for the sliding of the wheels as it will be described. In turn, each support arms 18 is shaped with an upper stepped profile 28, an end portion of which is bent downward in a manner to define a front and lower plate 29, and the other end portion of which is bent upward for defining a short vertical upper and rear portion 30. The plate 29 is bored for the passage of per se known elements for fitting and fixing the same plate to the rear wall of the relative door 6, in the upper portion of this latter, and such plate 29 is also provided with suitable joints 31 for applying and supporting the section bar 19 for joining the support and reinforcing arms 18. In turn, the upper portion 30 is provided with two through holes 32 and 33 in positions correspondent to those ones of the above-mentioned through holes 20 and 21, for inserting and supporting the studs 22 and 23, and therefore the sliding wheels 24 and 25. Finally, the upper stepped profile 28 is shaped with a set of horizontal flat steps joined to each other, having a profile increasing from the front end part to the rear end part of the relative support arm 18, the lower step of which defines a portion of flat surface 34, into which two vertical through slots 35 and 36 are provided for inserting the correspondent vertical teeth 37 and 38 of a bridge 39 made of plastic material, formed also by a short horizontal bar 40 joined integrally with such teeth and provided for the function that will be described.

In the Fig. 4 there are shown the various components of the first group of upper component parts 14, assembled to each other as above described, and ready for being applied to the rear wall of the door 6, and with the relative bridges 39 completely slidably in their application positions. The second group of upper component parts 15 is substantially constituted (see Fig. 3, 7 and 8) by a load bearing and sliding front section bar 41 with horizontal extent, by a further rear and horizontal section bar 42, of the same length of the front section bar 41 and arranged parallel to and spaced away from this latter in the direction of the wardrobe depth, and by two flat side and vertical supports 43 and 44, identical and symmetrical to each other and applied to the relative side end parts of both section bars 41 and 42, thereby forming a fixed box-like structure, that is applied and secured onto the upper flat ceiling 10 of the wardrobe, in a pre-established fixed position thereof and correspondent to the position of a relative door 6 of the wardrobe, when such door is shifted in its closed position. Preferably, into the wardrobe with two doors 6 here described, the group of upper component parts 15 is joined to and aligned in the wardrobe longitudinal direction with an adjacent and identical group of upper component parts 15, in a manner that each group is applied in correspondence of the relative door, when the same is shifted in its closed position, aligned with the other door.

The second group of upper component parts 15 is also constituted by a sliding truck 45, movable in the wardrobe depth direction and formed by two side arched sectors 46, identical and symmetrical to each other, of a semi-circular shape and extended in the wardrobe depth direction, which sectors are shaped as will be described, and further constituted by a rectilinear horizontal torsion bar 47, that is assembled removable into the arched sectors 46, in a parallel position to the section bars 41 and 42, while in turn the arched sectors 46 are assembled and supported into the relative side supports 43 and 44 as it will be described. Such rectilinear torsion bar 47 is supported by and articulated into the arched sectors 46, in a manner to be able to rotate with a limited stroke around its own horizontal symmetry axis during the shifting of the truck 45 from the one to the other one of its end-of-stroke positions, with the movement transmission mechanisms that will be described hereinafter. In particular, the horizontal front section bar 41 is shaped with a lower portion 48 of quadrangular shape, or of another suitable shape, acting as reinforcing support structure, and defining a short horizontal flat edge 49 to laid and support of a correspondent end part of the relative side support 43 and 44, and a narrow and short vertical upper portion 50, into which two notches 51 identical to each other are provided in positions coinciding with the positions of the support arms 18 of the first group 14, for allowing the sliding of this latter in the wardrobe longitudinal direction as it will be described.

In turn, the above-mentioned side and vertical flat supports 43 and 44 of the second group of upper component parts 15 are realized each (see Fig. 7) with a vertical flat portion 52, and with an horizontal flat portion 53 joined to each other, of which the vertical flat portion 52 has an external side provided with a set of reinforcement thin ribs 54 inclined and intersected to each other, and an internal side shaped on its front and lower part with two short vertical supports 55 and 56, joined to each other by a narrow surface 57 shaped as an arc of circumference or as a cam, and provided for the function that will be described, which internal side is also shaped on its back and lower part with a short horizontal stud 58, projected inward the relative support and supporting the corresponding end portion of said torsion bar 47, as it will be described, both with two short horizontal guide members 59 and 60 parallel and slightly spaced away to each other, forming a seat to house a short block 61 which will be described later on, and with a short horizontal box-like shaped seat 62, projected inward of the relative support and provided for housing and supporting the correspondent end portion of said horizontal back section bar 42, as above described. The upper flat part 63 of the internal side of each vertical flat portion 52 is free and allows to house the relative side arched sector 46 of the sliding truck 45, that therefore can slide without difficulties for the entire length of such flat portion 52, for shifting itself into the end-of-stroke positions that will be described later on.

As visible particularly in the Figs. 7 and 8, into each end part of the torsion bar 47 there are inserted in succession a circular bearing 64, in which the correspondent projected stud 58 is inserted, a cam 65 performing the function that will be described, a sprocket wheel 66 as well as a collar 67, integrated with the cam 65 and the sprocket wheel 66. In turn, the side arched sectors 46 are each shaped with a thin semi-circular arched portion 68, having a lower convex-shaped curvature, into which a toothing 69 is provided for the entire extension of the relative sector, the teeth 70 of which are adapted to mesh the correspondent teeth 71 of the relative sprocket wheel 66, see also Figs. 10, 11 and 13, 14.

Moreover, each arched sector 46 is made integral with a box-like part 72, in a manner that in the assembled position such box-like part 72 be arranged in the front part and such arched sector 46 be arranged in the rear part in the wardrobe depth direction. In turn, the box-like part 72 is shaped with a re-entering seat 73 turned inward and is bent orthogonally with its lower end portion, thereby defining a short horizontal stem 74 turned toward the door 6.

In the re-entering seat 73 of each arched sector 46 it is inserted the correspondent end portion of a horizontal rectilinear section bar 75, supporting both the arched sectors 46 and made integral with a back projection 76 directed upward, which is inserted into the correspondent grooves 26 and 27 of said sliding wheels (24 and 25), when the door 6 is displaced in the closed or opened position thereof, and isn't let to slide in the wardrobe longitudinal direction. In this way, thanks to the engagement of the back projection 76 into the grooves 26 and 27 of the wheels 24 and 25, the displacement of the truck 45 from the one to the other one of its end-of-stroke positions, in the wardrobe depth direction, provides for contemporaneously the displacement in the same position also of the wheels 24 and 25. In turn, in the horizontal stem 74 of each arched sector 46 an idle wheel 77 with horizontal rotation axis is pivoted, in such a position that, when all the component parts of the first and the second group 14 and 15 are assembled, it comes into contact with the surface 57 shaped as an arc of circumference or as a cam of the relative support 43 and 44, and may slide along the entire extension of this latter when the truck 45 is displaced from the one to the other one of its end-of-stroke positions. Now, it is described the assembly formed by the block 61 and other component parts, and the arrangement and the function performed by the same assembly. To this aim, such block 61 is made of quadrangular shape and is inserted into its housing seat delimited by the horizontal guide members 59 and 60, thereby acting as a sliding saddle with a limited stroke into the same guide members. The block 61 is shaped with a front projected head 78, slightly hollowed for receiving a short projection 79 provided in the cam 65, and the block 61 is urged to keep the head 78 into contact with the projection 79 by a compression spring 80, the end portions of which are abutting respectively on the flat bottom 81 of the block 61, and on the flat surface of a circular disc 82, secured to the end portion of the threaded shank 83 of a regulating knob 84, which shank is screwed and unscrewed in a corresponding threaded hole (not indicated) of a nut (85), inserted into and fixed to a correspondent vertical notch 86 provided between the horizontal guide members 59 and 60, near the side edge of the vertical flat portion 52 of the relative side support 43 and 44. In this manner, the rotation in either one direction of such regulating knob 84 provides for screwing on or unscrewing the shank 83 in the threaded hole of the nut 85, with consequent greater or smaller compression of the spring 80 against the head 78 of the block 61, which, by acting against the cam 65, provides for consequently rotating thereof, and therefore also a correspondent rotation in the same direction and with the same extent of the torsion bar 47 and the sprocket wheel 66, and in turn this latter by meshing with the toothing 69 of the relative arched sector 46 provides for displacing the same sector of the same extent, and this causes some forces with different intensities to be developed on to the truck with the wheels 24 and 25, which forces are able to balance the forces exerted for manoevring the doors 6 in the opened and closed position thereof, and vice versa. Obviously, the compression of the spring 80 may be adjusted even with regulating means different than the regulating knob 84, thus without departing from the protection sphere of the present invention. By referring to the Figs 3-5 and the Figs. 6 and 9 again, it is noted that each bridge made of plastic 39 of the relative support arms 18 is made with the same shape and a size slightly smaller than the sizes of the notches 51 of the front section bar 41, as well as is situated in the position coinciding with that of the same notches. In this way, when the slidable truck 45 of a door (in the Fig. 6, the left side door) is displaced in the back end-of-stroke position, in the wardrobe depth direction, in which the door 6 is closed, each pair of support arms 18 arranges itself through the relative above notches 51 (see also the Fig. 6, the left side door, and the Fig. 9), and the bridges 39 are inserted through the same notches, and aligned with the vertical upper portion 50 of the front section bar 41, thereby forming a continuous sliding path, through which the wheels 24 and 25 of the remaining door may then slide, when the same is opened (as still visible from the Fig. 6), and is let to slide in the longitudinal direction in a manner to be overlapped to the preceding door. On the contrary, when the truck 45 is displaced in the front end-of-stroke position in the wardrobe depth direction, in which the door 6 is opened, each pair of support arms 18 is displaced in front of the relative notches 51, and the bridges 39 are moved away in front of the same notches (see also Fig. 6, right side door). Then, under this condition, the back projections 76 of the horizontal section bar 75 of the slidable truck 45 are inserted in the correspondent notches 51 as above described, and aligned with the same notches, thereby forming a continuous sliding path, through which the wheels 24 and 25 of such opened door may then slide, so as to permit this latter to slide in the wardrobe longitudinal direction, and to be overlapped on to the other door, which is displaced in the closed position. Thanks to the fact to realize these continuous sliding paths as described, it is so possible to achieve an agreeable aesthetical appearance of the doors upper component parts. Turning now to the Figs. 2, 3, 6, 13 and 14, there are shown the different lower component parts 16 of the present support and actuation device for sliding doors.

As visible, these lower component parts 16 are substantially constituted by a guide arm 87 which is secured to the back wall of each door 6, on the lower and central position of the same door, for performing the function which will be described, by a horizontal rectilinear sliding section bar 88 having almost the same length of the two doors and limited thickness, and by two guide section bars 89 identical to each other and shaped as it will be described and applied along the rectilinear section bar 88, in correspondence of the respective door and guide arm 87, said sliding section bar 88 and guide section bars 89 being applied to and fixed below the lower flat bottom 11 of the wardrobe, and interacting with the guide arms 87 for performing the functions which will be described later on. In particular, each guide arm 87 is formed by a vertical flat quadrangular portion 90, orthogonally bent in the front to define a horizontal flat quadrangular portion 91, said vertical flat portion 90 being provided with through holes for inserting screws or the like (these elements aren't indicated) for fixing against the back wall of the door 6, and said horizontal flat portion 91 being refolded with its end portion upward in the front, to form two cylindrical heads 92 identical and spaced away to each other. In turn, the rectilinear sliding section bar 88 is shaped with two flat wings 93 and 94 orthogonal to each other, and oriented respectively in the vertical and horizontal direction, which wings are secured the one to the opposite front peripheral frame 95 of the wardrobe, and the other one below the flat lower bottom 11 of the wardrobe, for the entire length of the same wardrobe. Moreover, the vertical flat wing 93 of the section bar 88 is joined to an overlying inclined edge 96, projected inward the wardrobe, and which is joined with the free end portion of a correspondent guide section bar 97, shaped with two curved walls 98 and 99 parallel and joined to each other by a side curved wall 100, which curved walls are are spaced away to each other in the vertical direction, by delimiting an internal hollow seat 101 forming a curved path for the alternate sliding of the two cylindrical heads 92 of each guide arm 87, and the lower wall 98 of these curved walls has the same extension in the depth direction and the same curving of the surface 57 shaped as an arc of circumference or as a cam and, in the assembling position of the guide section bar, such lower wall 98 is oriented in the same manner, but not necessarily, and is arranged in the same position of such shaped surface 57, and aligned vertically but not necessarily with the same shaped wall. Besides, from the Figs. 13 and 14 it is noted that the flat bottom 11 of the wardrobe is supported on to the floor by a vertical support (foot) 102, while the upper wall 99 of each guide section bar 97 is adequately bent upward, by forming a flat horizontal plate 105 which is secured below the same flat bottom 1 1 of the wardrobe. In this way, the sliding path of each guide section bar 97 so assembled in the wardrobe lower position, is opened and arranged in coincidence of the two cylindrical heads 92 of each guide arm 87, to allow for the insertion of these heads through the same sliding path. Each door 6 of the wardrobe is assembled into its application position on a position parallel to and slightly spaced away from the other door, by inserting the cylindrical heads 92 of its lower guide arms 87 into the sliding paths 101 of the guide section bars 97, which are secured to the wardrobe, and by inserting the rounded top point of the back projection 76 of the first group of upper component parts 14 into the grooves 26 and 27 of all the respective idle rotating wheels 24 and 25 of the truck, and under this condition such door may be supported in its upper part and guided in its lower part, and may be displaced, with the aid of the truck, into the re-entering closing position and the extracted opening position thereof, and vice versa, by staying always supported in a perfect vertical position thereof. Furthermore, during the displacement of the door from the closing re-entering position to the closing extracted position thereof, and vice versa, the truck is let to slide in an alternate direction with its idle wheels 77 along the external surface 57 shaped as an arc of circumference or as a cam of the side supports 43 and 44.

Then, under this condition the movement of the truck provides for a rotation of the torsion bar 47, which provides for keeping both the truck idle wheels 77 always parallel to each other and always into slidable contact with the above shaped surface 57, thanks to the door weight, and during the truck sliding the wheels 77 are raised and lowered by following the profile of the shaped surface 57, thereby pushing on the one hand the truck forward or rearward, depending on the position in which the wheels 77 found themselves with respect to the same shaped surface, and on the other hand a succession of compressions and releasings of the spring 80, which exert some forces with variable intensities on to the truck during its displacement between its end-of-stroke positions, with its wheels 77 being sliding into contact with said external surface 57, which forces tend to balance the forces exerted on to the same truck by the weight of the door which is displaced from the re- entering position to the extracted position thereof, and vice versa. In turn, during the sliding of the idle wheels 77 of the truck along the curved external surface 57, it is determined a slight raising and lowering of the door by following the profile of the same curved surface, and this succession of raisings and lowerings of the door is achieved contemporaneously also in the lower part of the door, thanks to the sliding of the cylindrical heads 92 of the guide arms 87 along the sliding path 101 of the guide section bars 97, which occurs in synchronism of the truck sliding, and thanks to the fact that the lower walls 98 and upper walls 99 of the guide section bars 97 are curved and oriented in a manner identical to said curved surface 57, and under this condition the door weight is supported by the truck, thereby keeping such door always in a perfect vertical position.

During the displacement of the door exerted manually, from the retracted to the extracted position thereof, and vice versa, also the truck is displaced from the one to the other one of its end-of-stroke positions, and in particular in the retracted position of the door (visible in the Fig. 14, in which the closed door is marked with 6, while the other opened door is marked with 6'), also the truck founds itself in the same position, in which the door is supported by the wheels 24 and 25 of the truck, while the idle wheels 77 of the truck are laid on to the back end portion of the shaped surface 57, and the arched sectors 46 are displaced toward the wardrobe back part, so that the toothings 69 of such arched sectors engage the sprocket wheels 66 in their initial front portion.

Then, on this closed position, the door cannot be displaced in the wardrobe longitudinal direction. When the door is pulled manually outward the wardrobe, for being displaced from its just described re-entering position to its extracted position, visible in the Fig. 13 in which the opened door is marked with 6, while the other closed door is marked with 6', the support arms 18 are pulled outward and, thanks to their back projections 76 engaging the grooves 26 and 27 of the guide wheels 24 and 25 of the truck, provide for a consequent traction of the same truck toward its front end-of-stroke position, and under this condition the idle wheels 77 of the truck slide on to the entire curved shaped external surface 57, by staying always into contact to the same surface thanks to the door weight, while also the cylindrical heads 92 slide in synchronism in the same direction along the sliding path 101 of the guide section bars 97, and such sliding occurs until the wheels 77 of the truck arrive in the front end-of-stroke position, in which they are laid on to the front end portion of the shaped surface 57, and the cylindrical heads 92 are arranged on to the opened end portion of the relative sliding path, while the arched sectors 46 are displaced toward the front part of the wardrobe, so that the toothings 69 of such arched sectors engage the sprocket wheels 66 in their terminal back portion. Contemporaneously to this, all the wheels 24 and 25 of the truck are displaced in the front position, in which all the back projections 76 of the support arms 18 are aligned (see Figs. 3 and 6) with the vertical upper portion 50 of the horizontal front section bar 41, thereby forming a continuous and longitudinal sliding path, for permitting the wheels 24 and 25 of the extracted door to slide along such path, thereby making it accessible the interior of the wardrobe. Such longitudinal continuous sliding of the door may be continued also in correspondence of the other door, thanks to the fact that in this position a further longitudinal continuous sliding path is provided, which is aligned with the previous sliding path and formed by the additional vertical upper portion 50 (left side in the Figs. 3 and 6), and by all the bridges made of plastic 39, which are slidable in the relative notches 51 of said vertical upper portion 50 and aligned with this latter in its longitudinal direction. In this manner, the opened door 6' may be slided in the longitudinal direction up to be arranged in the position overlapped on and parallel and slightly spaced away from remaining closed door 6, and under this condition the weight of the door overlapped on to the closed door exerts a compression downward of the bridges 39 made of adequate plastics, so that this weight is discharged exclusively on to the underlying load bearing section bar 41, which is adequately dimensioned for supporting such weight, thereby obtaining the important advantage that the weight of the overlapped door isn't more discharged on to the closed door, as hitherto happens with the known wardrobes, which fact required the need to oversize each door for supporting the weight of each door which was from time to time overlapped. Moreover, each opened door 6' being overlapped to the closed door 6' slightly compresses downward said bridges 39, the lower end portion of which is shaped (see Fig. 14 a) with a short locking tooth 106, which therefore enters a correspondent thin hollow 107 provided in the correspondent notch 51 of the horizontal -load bearing section bar 41, with consequent locking in position of all these component parts in a safe and reliable manner, thereby preventing any displacement of both the doors. Besides, in this overlapped position of the two doors, it is possible to dampen any noise produced during this overlapping operation, by applying adequate dampening means such as for example an anti-noise pad or wheel (not indicated) into the space comprised between the lower flat wing 93 of the sliding section bar 88 and the cylindrical heads 92 of the guide arms 87 (see Fig. 13). Furthermore, such opened door 6' may be also brought back into its initial position not overlapped on to the closed door 6, by sliding it at first in the longitudinal direction with a movement opposite to the previous one, so as to disengage the locking tooth 106 from the hollow 107, and thereafter such door may be closed by pushing it in the wardrobe depth direction, with a movement opposite to the previous one. Then, under this condition the force requested for raising the door along the shaped surface 57, for bringing it back in the back end-of- stroke position, is produced by the adjustable spring 80 which pushes the block 61 and the head with roller 78 against the cam 65 which, by rotating owing to its particular shaping, rotates the torsion bar 47 and the sprocket wheel 46, which engages the toothing 69 and pulls all the truck 45 toward the wardrobe back part, namely in the closing position of the door 6.

Claims

1. Support and actuation device for sliding doors, in particular for wardrobes, adapted to determine the support and the actuation and sliding of the doors in alternate longitudinal directions in positions coplanar to each other, wherein the doors are displaced from a closing position thereof in which they are aligned with respect to the wardrobe front face, to an opened position thereof in which they are at first displaced forward and then are let to slide laterally in the desired position thereof, parallel to the plane of the wardrobe front face, the wardrobe (5) comprising at least two flat front doors (6), a rear wall (9), an upper flat ceiling (10), a flat lower bottom (11) and two side walls (12, 13), the device being substantially constituted by a first unit of upper component parts (14), by a second unit of upper component parts (15), both applied on to said flat ceiling (10) and arranged approached to each other, and by a third unit of lower component parts (16), applied on to said flat bottom (11), said first unit of upper component parts (14) being constituted by a metallic rectilinear section bar (17) which is applied to the door (6), by support means (18) supported by said section bar (17) for the length thereof, as well as by joining means (19) for said support means (18) in to positions parallel to each other along said rectilinear section bar (17), characterized in that said rectilinear section bar (17) is adapted to support, together with said support means (18), a set of idle sliding wheels (24,25) provided with a respective groove (26,27), that said second unit of upper component parts (15) is substantially constituted by a load bearing and sliding front section bar (41) with horizontal extension, by a further back and horizontal section bar (42), arranged parallel to and spaced away from said load bearing section bar (41) in the depth direction of the wardrobe, and by two side, flat and vertical supports (43, 44), identical and symmetrical to each other and applied against the relative side ends of both section bars (41, 42), thereby forming a stationary box-like structure, which is applied and fixed above the upper flat ceiling (10) of the wardrobe, in a pre- established stationary position and correspondent to the position of a relative wardrobe door (6), when such door is displaced in its closed position, said second unit (15) of a door (6) being preferably joined to and aligned in the longitudinal direction of the wardrobe with an adjacent and identical second unit (15) of another door (6), said second unit (15) being also constituted by a sliding truck (45), movable in the direction of the wardrobe depth, and characterized in that said third unit of lower component parts (16) is constituted by an arm with guide (87) fixed against the back wall of each door (6), in the lower and central position of the same door, by a rectilinear horizontal sliding section bar (88) and by two section bars with guide (89) identical to each other and applied on and fixed below the flat lower bottom (11) of the wardrobe.

2. Support and actuation device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support means (18) comprise a set of support arms (18) supported to the ends of said section bar (17), in position parallel and spaced away to each other, each support arm (18) being shaped with a stepped upper profile (28), one end of which is bent downward in a manner to define a front and lower plate (29), and the other end of which is bent upward to define a short upper and back vertical portion (30), said plate (29) being drilled for passage of per se known elements for the adaptation and the fixing of the same plate against the back wall of the relative door (6), in the upper part of this latter, and also being jointed with said support and reinforcement arms (18), said upper portion (30) being adapted to support the studs (22, 23) of said sliding wheels (24, 25) ; and characterized in that said stepped upper profile (28) is shaped with a set of horizontal flat steps joined to each other, with a profile increasing from the front end portion to the back end portion of the relative support arm (18), the step of which defines a flat surface portion (34), in which two vertical through slots (35, 36) are provided for the sliding of the correspondent vertical teeth (37, 38) of a bridge made of plastic material (39), also formed by a short horizontal bar (40) joined integral with the same teeth.

3. Support and actuation device according to claim 2, characterized in that said sliding truck (45) is formed by two side arched sectors (46), identical and symmetrical to each other, of semi-circular shape and extended in the direction of the wardrobe depth, and by a rectilinear and horizontal torsion bar (47), which is removably assembled in said arched sectors (46), in a position parallel to said section bars (41, 42), while in turn said arched sectors (46) are assembled on and supported by the relative side supports (43, 44), said rectilinear torsion bar (47) being supported on and articulated in said arched sectors (46), in a manner to be able to rotate with a limited stroke around its own horizontal axis of symmetry, during the displacement of the truck (45) by means of movement transmission mechanisms (66, 69).

4. Support and actuation device according to claim 3, characterized in that said horizontal front section bar (41) is shaped with a lower portion (48) of quadrangular shape, or of another suitable shape, acting as load bearing structure of reinforcement, and defining a short horizontal flat plane (49) to laid and support a correspondent end portion of the relative side support (43, 44), and a narrow and short vertical upper portion (50), into which two notches (51) identical to each other are provided in positions coinciding with that of said support arms (18), to allow for the sliding of said first unit (14) in the wardrobe longitudinal direction.

5. Support and actuation device according to claim 4, characterized in that said side and vertical flat supports (43, 44) are realized each with a vertical flat portion (52), and an horizontal flat portion (53) joined to each other, the vertical flat portion (52) of which has an external side provided with a set of reinforcement thin ribs (54) inclined and intersected to each other, and an internal side shaped on its front and lower part with two short vertical supports (55, 56), joined to each other by a narrow surface (57) shaped as an arc of circumference or as a cam, which internal side is also shaped on its back and lower part with a short horizontal stud (58), projected inward the relative support and supporting the corresponding end portion of said torsion bar (47), through a circular bearing (64) and a rotating cam (65) provided with a protruded projection (79), and with two short horizontal guide members (59, 60) parallel and slightly spaced away to each other, forming a seat to house a short block (61), as well as with a short horizontal box-like shaped seat (62), projected inward of the relative support and provided for housing and supporting the correspondent end portion of said horizontal back section bar (42), the upper flat part (63) of the internal side of each said vertical flat portion (52) being free to house the relative said side arched sector (46), which therefore can slide without difficulties for the entire length of such flat portion (52).

6. Support and actuation device according to claim 5, characterized in that each movement transmission mechanism comprises a sprocket wheel (66) integral in rotation with said cam (65) as well as a toothing (69), the teeth of which engage those ones of said sprocket wheel (66), which is provided into the lower convex curvature of the relative said side arched sectors (46), for the entire extension of the relative sector, each arched sector (46) being also made integral with a box-like part (72), shaped with a re-entering seat (73) defining a short horizontal stem (74) turned toward the door (6), and supporting a relative idle wheel (77) with horizontal rotation axis, adapted to slide on to said shaped surface (57), said re-entering seat (73) of each arched sector (46) being adapted to house the correspondent end portion of a horizontal rectilinear section bar (75), supporting both said arched sectors (46) and made integral with a back projection (76) directed upward, that is inserted into the correspondent grooves (26, 27) of said sliding wheels (24, 25), when the door (6) is displaced in the closed or opened position thereof, and isn't let to slide in the wardrobe longitudinal direction, the arrangement being such that, under the condition of assembling of all the component parts of said first and second unit (14, 15), said idle wheel (77) comes into contact with said surface (57) as arc of circumference or as a cam of the relative support (43, 44) and may slide along the entire extension of this latter when said truck (45) is displaced from the one to other one of its end- of-stroke positions.

7. Support and actuation device according to claim 6, characterized in that said block (61) is inserted into its housing seat delimited by said horizontal guide members (59, 60), so as to act as a saddle sliding with a limited stroke into the same guide members, said block (61) being shaped with a projected front head with roller (78), slightly hollowed to receive said projection (79) of the cam (65) and being urged by elastic means (compression spring 80), the force of which is adjustable by regulating means (knob 84), to keep said head with roller (78) into contact with said projection (79), with consequent higher or lower compression of said elastic means (80) against said head with roller (78) which, acting against said cam (65), determines a consequent rotation thereof, and therefore also a correspondent rotation in the same direction and with the same extent of said torsion bar (47) and sprocket wheel (66), which latter by engaging said toothing (69) of the relative said arched sector (46) determines a displacement of the same sector for the same extent, which fact determines a developing of forces with different intensities on to said truck (45), which forces are able to balance the forces exerted to maneuver the doors (6) in the opened and closed position thereof.

8. Support and actuation device according to claim 7, characterized in that each bridge made of plastic material (39) is made with the same shape and size slightly smaller than the dimensions of the notches (51) of said front section bar (41), as well as is situated in the position coinciding with that of the same notches, in such a manner that when the sliding truck (45) of a door is displaced in the back end-of-stroke position in the wardrobe depth direction, in which the door (6) is closed, each pair of said support arms (18) is arranged through the relative said notches (51), and said bridges (39) are sliding through the same notches, and aligned with the upper vertical portion (50) of the front section bar (41), thus forming a continuous sliding path, through which the wheels (24, 25) of the remaining door can slide, when the same is opened and is let to slide in the longitudinal direction in a manner to be overlapped to the previous door, under the condition in which the weight of the overlapped door is supported by said loading section bar (41), through said bridges (39), and on the contrary when the truck (45) of a door is displaced in the front end-of-stroke position in the wardrobe depth direction, in which the door (6) is opened, each pair of said support arms (18) is displaced in front of the relative notches (51), and said bridges (39) are moved away in front of the same notches (51), under the condition in which said back projections (76) are inserted in the corresponding said notches (51) and aligned therewith, thus forming a continuous sliding path, through which the wheels (24, 25) of such opened door can therefore slide, so as to allow this latter to slide in the wardrobe longitudinal direction, and to be overlapped to the other door, which is displaced in the closed position thereof, thereby achieving a pleasant aesthetical appearance of the upper component parts of the doors.

9. Support and actuation device according to claim 8, characterized in that each guide arm (87) is formed by a vertical flat quadrangular portion (90), orthogonally bent in the front to define a horizontal flat quadrangular portion (91), said vertical flat portion (90) being provided with through hollows for inserting elements for fixing against the back wall of the door (6), and said horizontal flat portion (91) being re-folded with its end portion upward and in the front, to form two cylindrical heads (92) identical and spaced away to each other, that said rectilinear sliding section bar (88) is shaped with two flat wings (93, 94) orthogonal to each other, and oriented respectively in the vertical and horizontal direction, which wings are secured the one to the opposite front peripheral frame (95) of the wardrobe, and the other one below the flat lower bottom (11) of the wardrobe, for the entire length of the same wardrobe, the flat vertical wing (93) of the section bar (88) being joined to an overlying inclined edge (96), projected inward the wardrobe, and which is joined with the free end portion of a correspondent guide section bar (97), shaped with two curved walls (98, 99) parallel and joined to each other by a side curved wall (100), which curved walls are spaced away to each other in the vertical direction, by delimiting an internal hollow seat (101) forming a curved path for the alternate sliding of said two cylindrical heads (92) of each guide arm (87), the lower wall of which (98) has the same extension in the depth direction and the same curving of said surface (57) shaped as an arc of circumference or as a cam, and, in the assembling position of the guide section bar (97), such lower wall (98) is oriented in the same manner, but not necessarily, and is arranged in the same position of the shaped surface (57), and aligned vertically but not necessarily with the same shaped wall, and characterized in that the upper wall (99) of each guide section bar (97) is adequately bent upward, by forming a flat horizontal plate (105) which is secured below the lower flat bottom (11) of the wardrobe, in a manner that the sliding path (101) of each guide bar section (97) be opened and arranged in coincidence of the two cylindrical heads (92) of each guide arm (87), to allow for the insertion of these heads through the same sliding path, under the condition in which the door is supported in its upper part and guided in the lower one, and may be shifted, with the assistance of the truck (45), in the re-entering closing position and the extracted opening position thereof, and vice versa, by staying always supported in a perfect vertical position thereof.

10. Support and actuation device according to claim 9, characterized in that when each opened door is let to slide in the longitudinal direction, until to be arranged in the overlapped and parallel and slightly spaced away position from the remaining closed door, the weight of the door overlapped to the closed door exerts a compression downward of said bridges (39) made of adequate plastic material, so that this weight is discharged exclusively on to the underlying said loading section bar (41), which is dimensioned to support such weight, and in this way the weight of the overlapped door isn't more discharged on to the closed door, as it happens hitherto with the known wardrobes, and each opened door which is overlapped to the closed door slightly presses downward said bridges (39), the lower end portion of which is shaped with a short locking tooth (106) entering a correspondent thin hollow (107), provided in the correspondent notches (51) of the horizontal loading section bar (41), with consequent locking in position of all these component parts in a safe and reliable manner, thereby preventing any displacement of both the doors, and by applying damping means such as for example a slider or an anti-noise wheel in the space comprised between the lower flat wing (93) of the sliding section bar (88) and the cylindrical heads (92) of the guide arms (87), the noise dampening is achieved.