WO2024186283A1

WO2024186283A1 - Closure device and stationary structure

Info

Publication number: WO2024186283A1
Application number: PCT/TR2023/050236
Authority: WO
Inventors: Artur Hirtsiefer; Himmet TANRIVERDİ; Evren Urak
Original assignee: Samet Kalip Ve Madeni̇ Eşya San Ve Ti̇c. A.Ş
Priority date: 2023-03-09
Filing date: 2023-03-09
Publication date: 2024-09-12

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure device (10) for movable attachment of at least one movable furniture part to a stationary structure, comprising a cabinet mount (26) and a door mount (30), further comprising a first arm (11) and a second arm (19) pivotably connected to the cabinet mount (26) about a first pivot axis (13.4) and a second pivot axis (13.4), respectively, and further pivotably connected to the door mount (30) about a third pivot axis (32.5) and a fourth pivot axis (32.5'), respectively. Mechanically stable guidance during opening and closing of a door while maintaining very small gaps between adjacent doors is achieved in that, in the closed position, a first straight line (L1) intersecting the first and third pivot axes (13.4, 32.5) and a second straight line (L2) intersecting the second and fourth pivot axes (13.4', 32.5') converge at an acute first angle (A).

Description

CLOSURE DEVICE AND STATIONARY STRUCTURE

The invention relates to a closure device for movable attachment of at least one movable furniture part, such as a door or a flap, to a stationary structure, such as a cabinet, wherein the closure device is configured to enable movement of the movable furniture part from a closed to an open state, comprising at least one cabinet mount for mounting to the stationary structure, and at least one door mount for mounting to the movable furniture part, further comprising a first arm and a second arm pivotably connected to the cabinet mount about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis, respectively, wherein the first arm and the second arm are further pivotably connected to the door mount about a third pivot axis and a fourth pivot axis, respectively, wherein the arms are pivotable between a closed and an open position configured to correspond to the closed and the open state of the movable furniture part, respectively.

A closure device is known from US 10,407,961 B2. The closure device comprises a cabinet attachment member attached to a cabinet frame and a door attachment member attached to a door. Further, two arms are provided that are coupled to the cabinet attachment member in a manner pivotable about respective first pivot axes and that are coupled to the door attachment member in a manner pivotable about respective second pivot axes. The arms are arranged parallel to one another. In other words, a straight line intersecting a respective first pivot axis and a respective second pivot axis of one arm is parallel to another straight line intersecting a respective first pivot axis and a respective second pivot axis of the other arm.

A problem with known closure devices of the type mentioned in the beginning is that, due to parallel alignment of the arms, there is a trade-off between the stability of the movable furniture part to be guided by the closure device and the achievable minimum width of a gap between the movable furniture part (for instance, a door) and an adjacent furniture part (for instance, an adjacent door). For aesthetic reasons, a gap as small as possible may be desirable. In this case, to avoid collisions during opening, the first part of the opening motion should be oriented to a significant degree in a direction facing away from the cabinet, and only to a lesser degree toward the adjacent door. With parallel arms, this can only be achieved if the arms are arranged at a very small angle to the door. However, this small angle leads to the disadvantage that tilting forces acting on the door about an axis parallel to the pivot axes cannot be effectively absorbed by the arms, as they will result in forces having large components perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the arms. In other words, the door is vulnerable to tilting. Such tilting of the door may, for instance, be due to the placement of a handle on which a user acts relative to the position of the bearings of the arms on the door, which may provide a lever arm for the forces imposed by the user. During use, such a door may thus feel unstable and wobbly to a user.

The technical problem solved by the invention is to provide a closure device which provides mechanically stable guidance during opening and closing of a door even when very small gaps are to be maintained between adjacent doors and/or furniture parts.

Another technical problem solved by the invention is to provide a stationary structure with a closure device which provides mechanically stable guidance during opening and closing of a door even when very small gaps are to be maintained between adjacent doors and/or furniture parts.

The problem concerning the closure device is solved in that in the closed position, viewed from the first and second pivot axes in a direction toward the third and fourth pivot axes, a first straight line intersecting the first and third pivot axes and a second straight line intersecting the second and fourth pivot axes converge at an acute first angle.

When the arms are moved from the closed position, the pivot axes follow arcuate first and second paths, respectively, centered around the respective pivot axes. Due to the abovedescribed first angle, in vicinity of the closed position, the second path may have a larger directional component facing away from the cabinet compared to the first path. This leads to a certain degree of tilting of the door, which allows the door to reliably bypass an adjacent door without collision. Importantly, this advantage is achieved without having to arrange the arms, and/or the respective straight lines, at a very small angle to the door, hence overcoming the disadvantages of the known closure devices. Therefore, an angular arrangement of the arms that is significantly better suited to counteract tilting forces on the door may be provided. Hence, thanks to the invention, small gaps and enhanced stability can be achieved at the same time.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention may be characterized in that the first angle is at least 1°, preferably at least 2°, more preferably at least 3°, even more preferably at least 4°, in particular is 5°. Larger angles may result in larger degrees of tilting, and thus may be desirable for smaller gaps.

With smaller angles, however, it may be easier to achieve a closed state of a door in which it is parallel to a further furniture part. In particular, it may be easier to achieve that the door is, in the open state, parallel to itself if it was in its closed state. Therefore, it may be conceivable that, additionally or alternatively, the first angle is at most 10°, preferably at most 9°, further preferably at most 8°, more preferably at most 7°, even more preferably at most 6°.

The inventors have found that angles of about 5° may provide an optimal compromise between parallelism of the door and avoidance of collisions.

It may be provided that, in the open position, viewed from the first and second pivot axes in a direction toward the third and fourth pivot axes, the first straight line and the second straight line converge at an angle that is smaller than the first angle. Alternatively, it may be provided that that the first straight line and the second straight line are parallel. Converging and/or parallel arrangements in the open position may provide for enhanced stability against tilting of the door in the open position.

Alternatively, a preferred variant of the invention may be characterized in that, in the open position, viewed from the first and second pivot axes in a direction toward the third and fourth pivot axes, the first straight line and the second straight line diverge at second angle. Depending on the choice of the first angle, a divergent second angle may allow for a larger angular displacement along the arcuate first and second paths. Thus, with adjusting the second angle, the closure device may be designed for use with different widths of doors.

In this context, it may in particular be provided that the angle is larger than 0.5°, preferably larger than 1°, more preferably larger than 1.5°, even more preferably larger than 2°, most preferably larger than 2.5°.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that, in the closed and/or in the open position, a third straight line intersecting the first and second pivot axes and a fourth straight line intersecting the third and fourth pivot axes enclose a finite third angle with respect to each other. This may, depending on the installation situation, for example depending on the available space on top or at a side face of a cabinet, be a preferred possibility to adjust the first angle. The third angle may further, together with the first angle, define the distances between the first and second pivot axes to the third and fourth pivot axes. It may be desired to adapt these lengths for different purposes, for instance, for different desired open positions of the door (e.g. in front of the cabinet, on top, or at a side face), as is also described further below. For example, it may be desired for the door to be positioned in front of the cabinet in the closed position and on the side or top of the cabinet in the open position. In this case, the door may be desired to be aligned with a side or top of the cabinet at least to some degree.

Further, it may be provided that, viewed from the first and third pivot axes in the direction of the second and fourth pivot axes, the third and fourth straight line converge at the third angle, wherein, viewed along a resulting opening direction defined to point along the displacement of the third and/or fourth pivot axis in the closed relative to the open position, the fourth pivot axis preferably follows the third pivot axis and the second pivot axis preferably follows the first pivot axis. A converging arrangement may, compared with a diverging arrangement, provide for a longer first arm. This may be desirable depending on the installation situation, in particular, it may be desirable for a door that is not designed to be parallel between closed and open state, but that is desired to be in a rotated state when in the open state.

It may be desired that, in the open state, the movable furniture part is parallel to an adjacent furniture part, and/or parallel to the orientation it has in the closed state. Accordingly, according to a preferred variant of the invention, it is proposed that that the orientation of the fourth straight line in the open position is parallel to the orientation of the fourth straight line in the closed position.

An additional degree of freedom in the design of the closure device to avoid collisions and simultaneously provide enhanced stability may be achieved if the distance between the first and the third pivot axis differs from the distance between the second and the fourth pivot axis.

In this context, viewed along a resulting opening direction defined to point along the displacement of the third and/or fourth pivot axis in the closed relative to the open state, the fourth pivot axis may follow the third pivot axis and the second pivot axis may follow the first pivot axis.

As already discussed, when the arms are moved from the closed position, the pivot axes follow arcuate first and second paths, respectively, centered around the respective pivot axes. If said distances are designed differing to one another, the length and/or the radii of the arcuate paths may differ from one another. With the design of the different arc lengths and/or radii, a tilt angle of the door in the closed and/or open state may be adjusted.

In particular, it may be provided that that the distance between the first and the third pivot axis is longer than the distance between the second and the fourth pivot axis. This may be particularly desirable for a door that is not meant to be parallel in the open and closed state, but is, for example, to be guided from a front face of a cabinet (in the closed state), to a side face or above the top of the cabinet. The door may then, in the closed state, even be parallel or near-parallel to the side face or the top face of the cabinet. This may be desirable, for instance, for kitchen cabinets mounted above a kitchen worktop.

To cater for different dimensions of stationary structures and/or movable furniture parts, and/or to allow for an initial adjustment of dimensions and/or a re-adjustment after a certain period of use, it may be envisaged that the distance between the first and the third pivot axis and/or the distance between the second and the fourth pivot axis is/are adjustable, in particular in that the first arm and/or the second arm comprise(s) at least two segments, wherein the at least two segments can be secured to one another in different relative positions to one another in a longitudinal direction, in particular in a direction along the first straight line and/or the second straight line.

According to a preferred variant of the invention, it may be provided that the distance between the first and the second pivot axis differs from, and preferably is larger than the distance between the third and the fourth pivot axis. This may, depending on the installation situation, be a preferred possibility to adjust the first angle.

The problem concerning the stationary structure is solved by a stationary structure, in particular a cabinet, comprising at least one movable furniture part, in particular a door or a flap, movably attached to the stationary structure by means of a closure device according to any of claims 1 to 12. Reference is made to the above discussion about the advantages of such an arrangement.

According to a preferred variant of the invention it may be provided that, adjacent to the movable furniture part, in particular the door, the stationary structure comprises a further furniture part, in particular a second door, and in that, in the closed state of the movable furniture part and/or the further furniture part, a front face of the movable furniture part and a front face of the further furniture part lie in one plane. In this way, an aesthetically pleasing stationary structure is achieved.

A preferred embodiment of the invention may be characterized in that the fourth straight line is parallel to the front face and/or to a rear face of the movable furniture part. Alternatively, it may be provided that the fourth straight line is at an angle to the front face and/or to a rear face of the movable furniture part. In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the figures. The figures show:

Figure 1 : a schematic perspective view of a cabinet 1 with a closure device 10 in a closed position,

Figure 2: a schematic perspective view of a cabinet 1 with a closure device 10 in an open position,

Figure 3: a schematic perspective view of a closure device 10 in a closed position,

Figure 4: a schematic perspective view of a closure device 10 in an open position,

Figure 5: a schematic exploded view of a closure device 10,

Figure 6: a schematic perspective view of a first bearing segment 12,

Figure 7: a schematic exploded view of a first bearing segment 12,

Figure 8: a schematic exploded view of a damping device 50,

Figure 9: a schematic perspective view of a damping device 50,

Figure 10: a schematic perspective view of a door mount 30 mounted to a door 6,

Figure 11 : a schematic exploded view of a door mount 30,

Figure 12a: a schematic top view of a cabinet 1 with a closure device 10 in a closed position,

Figure 12b: a view of a detail marked with XI lb in Figure 12a,

Figure 13: a schematic top view of a cabinet 1 with a closure device 10 in an open position,

Figure 14a: a schematic top view of a cabinet 101 with a closure device in a closed position,

Figure 14b: a view of a detail marked with XI Vb in Figure 14a,

Figure 15a: a schematic top view of a cabinet 101 with another closure device in a closed position,

Figure 15b: a view of a detail marked with XVb in Figure 15a.

In the figures, there is shown an embodiment where a closure device 10 is mounted on a stationary structure embodied by a cabinet 1 . However, the stationary structure need not be restricted to be a cabinet. Rather, a stationary structure could be any kind of furniture or nonfurniture item. Stationary need not be understood in a strict sense, but may rather mean stationary relative to the opening movement of the movable furniture part. In this sense, a cabinet 1 that may be configured to be movable, for instance a cabinet 1 that comprises wheels so that it may easily be moved around, may be considered a stationary structure. Further, the closure device 10 in the embodiment of the figures serves to move a door 6 in a substantially horizontal way between a closed and an open state. In such an embodiment, the/a closure device 10 may be mounted in the region of a top wall 2 and/or a bottom wall 4 of a stationary structure. However, it is also conceivable that the closure device 10 is used to move a movable furniture part between a closed and an open state in a different direction. For instance, the closure device 10 may be used and/or may be designed for moving a flap between a closed and an open state in a vertical direction. In such an embodiment, the/a closure device 10 may be mounted in the region of a one or more side walls 3 of a stationary structure.

Figures 1 and 2 show a cabinet 1 with a door 6 and a second door 7. In Figure 1 , the doors 6, 7 are in a closed state. In the closed state, the door 6 and the second door 7 may be within one plane, i.e. there may be no offset between front faces 6.1 , 7.1 of the doors 6, 7 in a first direction D1 normal to one of and/or both front faces 6.1 , 7.1 , preferably a front face in the closed state, and the facing away from the cabinet 1 .

In Figure 2, the door 6 is in the open state. In the open state, the door 6 may be located at least partially in front of the second door 7 with respect to the first direction D1 . Compared to the closed state, in the open state the door 6 may be displaced at least partially in a second direction D2. The second direction D2 may be perpendicular to first direction D1 and parallel to one of and/or both front faces 6.1 , 7.1 , preferably a front face in the closed state, and/or substantially horizontal.

In order to ensure movability of the door 6 between the open and the closed state, the cabinet 1 may be provided with a closure device 10. As shown in the Figures, the closure device 10 may be mounted on a top wall 2 of the cabinet 1. Alternatively, the closure device 10 may be mounted to the bottom of the top wall 2.

Preferably, a cabinet mount 26 is provided for mounting the closure device 10 to the cabinet 1.

It is conceivable that a further closure device 10 may be mounted to another part of the cabinet 1. For instance, a further closure device 10 may be mounted on top of or below a bottom wall 4 of the cabinet.

The closure device 10 may comprise a first arm 11 and a second arm 19 that may each be pivotable about pivot axes 13.4, 13.4’ of a first cabinet mount pivot bearing 13 and a second cabinet mount pivot bearing 13’, respectively. The arms 11, 19 may be coupled to a door mount 30 which may be secured to the door 6. In particular, the door mount 30 may be secured to a rear face 6.2 of the door 6 (cf. Figure 10).

As shown in the Figures, the arms 11 , 19 may be coupled to the door mount 30 in a manner pivotable about pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’, respectively. The cabinet 1 may, in its top wall 2, comprise a recess 2.1 that may at least partially receive the door mount 30 when the door 6 is in the closed state.

Figures 3 and 4 show the closure device 10 in more detail. For better visibility of the other components, a cover plate 27 (cf. Figure 5) of a cabinet mount 26 of the closure device 10 is not shown in Figures 3 and 4. The cabinet mount 26 of the closure device 10 may comprise a mounting plate 26.3, that may be adapted for mounting to a part of the cabinet 1 , in particular to the top wall 2. As shown in the embodiment of the Figures, the mounting plate

26.3 may comprise a number of attachment bores 26.2. Suitable fixing means, such as bolts or screws, may be passed through the attachment bores 26.2 and may engage with the cabinet 1 . Of course, other means of securing the mounting plate 26.3 to the cabinet 1 are conceivable, such as gluing and/or clamping the mounting plate 26.3 down on the cabinet 1 by suitable clamping means.

The cover plate 27 of the cabinet mount 26 may be secured to the mounting plate 26.3 at a distance such that mounting plate 26.3 and cover plate 27 are substantially parallel to one another and provide a mounting space in between them. Preferably, a number of spacers 29 may be provided to keep the mounting plate 26.3 and the cover plate 27 at a distance to one another. The cover plate 27 may be secured to the mounting plate 26.3 by means of suitable fixing means 29.3, for example, by bolts of screws.

As in the embodiment shown in the Figures, the spacers 29 may comprise bores 29.4 through which the fixing means 29.3 may be guided. The cover plate 27 may comprise mounting bores 27.1 through which the fixing means 29.3 may be guided. The fixing means

29.3 may be screwed into corresponding mounting bores 26.1 of the mounting plate 26.3 which may be provided with a thread.

The arms 11 , 19 may be pivotably connected to the mounting plate 26.3 and/or the cover plate 27 in the region of the cabinet mount pivot bearings 13, 13’. The cabinet mount pivot bearings 13, 13’ may enable pivoting of the arms 11 , 19 about respective pivot axes 13.4, 13.4’. The arms 11, 19 may each comprise a bearing segments 12, 12’, comprising elements of the cabinet mount pivot bearings 13, 13’. Further, the arms 11 , 19 may each comprise a connecting segment 18, 18’ that may be detachably connected to a respective bearing segment 12, 12’.

The arms 11, 19 may, at an end opposite to the cabinet mount pivot bearings 13, 13’, be coupled to the door mount 30. The arms 11 , 19 may be pivotable relative to the door mount 30 about pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’. In particular, the arms 11, 19 may be comprise two holding segments 35, that may be detachably connected to a respective connecting segment 18, 18’, wherein the holding segments 35 may be pivotable about said pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’.

Figures 6 and 7 show a more detailed view of the first bearing segment 12. The second bearing segment 12’ may be designed in the same way as the first bearing segment 12. It may, however, as in the embodiment shown, there may be some deviations between the first and the second bearing element 12, 12’. For now, the first bearing segment 12 will be described in more detail as a representative for both bearing segments 12, 12’, such that the description is analogously transferable to the second bearing segment 12.

In the region of the cabinet mount pivot bearing 13, the first bearing segment 12 may comprise a bearing bore 13.1 , in which a bearing pin 13.3 may be at least partially received. The bearing pin 13.3 may be further received in an attachment bore 26.2 of the mounting plate 26.3 and/or an attachment bore 27.2 of the cover plate 27. To provide pivotability of the first arm 11 about the first cabinet mount pivot bearing 13, the bearing pin 13.3 may be held rotatably in the bearing bore 13.1 and/or one or both of the attachment bores 26.2, 27.2.

In the region of the first cabinet mount pivot bearing 13 (cf. Figure 3), the first bearing segment 12 may have a spacing protrusion 13.2. The spacing protrusion 13.2 may have an extension along the pivot axis 13.4 that is less than the distance between the mounting plate 26.3 and the cover plate 27. However, this extension may be only slightly less than the distance between the mounting plate 26.3 and the cover plate 27, for example less than 1 mm or less than 0.5 mm.

Opposite the region of the first cabinet mount pivot bearing 13, the first bearing segment 12 may comprise a mounting attachment 17. The mounting attachment 17 may have a polygonal cross section. Mounting bores 17.1 , which may comprise an internal thread, may be provided on the mounting attachment 17. The mounting attachment 17 may be receivable in a receiving space 18.3 of the connecting segment 18. Preferably, the connecting segment 18 may be a hollow profile encompassing the receiving space 18.3. In the region to receive the mounting attachment 17 of the first bearing segment 12, the connecting segment 18 may comprise mounting bores 18.1 (cf. Fig. 5). Through the mounting bores 18.1 of the connecting segment 18 and the mounting bores 17.1 of the mounting attachment 17, suitable fixing means, such as mounting bolts 17.2 (cf. Figure 7) may be guided. For example, the mounting attachment 17 and the connecting segment 18 may be secured to one another by screws or bolts guided through the mounting bores 17.1 , 18.1.

Turning back to the first bearing segment 12, as seen in Figures 6 and 7, there may be a guiding means 16 provided in between the region of the first cabinet mount pivot bearing 13 and the mounting attachment 17. The guiding means 16 may be spaced apart and separate from the first cabinet mount pivot bearing 13 along a longitudinal direction of the first bearing segment 12. The guiding means 16 may serve to guide the first bearing segment 12 on the mounting plate 26.3. At least partially by means of the guiding means 16, a load, for example at least part of the weight of the door 6, may be transferred to the cabinet 1 . The load may be transmitted in a load transmission direction (LD), which may be essentially parallel to the pivot axis 13.4, 13.4’. In particular, in the case of a cabinet 1 with a horizontally movable door 6, the load transmission direction LD may be aligned with the force vector of the weight of the door 6 and thus be essentially vertical. In Figures 6 and 7, the first bearing segment 12 is shown rotated upside down for visibility purposes, such that the load transmission direction LD is pointing upwards in these Figures.

Spacing of the guiding means 16 from the pivot axis and/or the cabinet mount pivot bearing may be such that a lever arm resulting in between the guiding means 16 and the pivot axis 13.4 and/or the cabinet mount pivot bearing 13 is sufficiently long to reduce bending forces on the cabinet mount pivot bearing 13. Said lever arm may introduce a torque into the first bearing segment 12 that may need to be balanced by corresponding force in the opposite direction of the load transmission direction LD. As seen in the Figures, for this purpose, the first bearing segment 12 may comprise a contact surface 13.5 that may be in loadtransmitting contact with the mounting plate 26.3 and/or the cover plate 27 of the cabinet mount 26. The contact surface 13.5 may be adapted to provide for reduced friction. The contact surface 13.5 may be arranged in the area of the cabinet mount pivot bearing 13, in particular arranged at the pivot axis 13.4.

As seen in Figure 5, it may be designed as a washer 13.6, which may be made from a low friction material. Referring back to the guiding means 16, preferably, the guiding means 16 may comprise a roller 16.1 that may roll on the mounting plate 26.3 during movement of the arms 11 , 19 between the open and closed state of the closure device 10. In this context, it is preferred that the roller 16.1 is rotatable about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal extension of the arm 11. The roller 16.1 may be received in a roller receptacle 16.4, that may be designed as an opening in the first bearing segment 12. Preferably, this opening is open at least in the direction toward the mounting plate 26.3, in particular is open at least in the load transmission direction LD. As in the embodiment shown, however, it may be open towards both the mounting plate 26.3 and the cover plate 27.

The roller 16.1 may be mounted to the first bearing segment 12 by means of an axle 16.2. The axle 16.2 may be rotatably held at the first bearing segment 12 and/or the roller 16.1 may be rotatably held on the axle 16.2. Preferably, the axle 16.2 is received in an axle receptacle 16.5 of the first bearing segment 12. The axle receptacle 16.5 may be open in the load transmission direction LD, but may preferably be closed in the opposite direction.

It is conceivable that the axle 16.2 and the roller 16.1 may be inserted together into the axle receptacle 16.5 and the roller receptacle 16.4, respectively. Afterwards, the axle 16.2 may be clamped down by clamping bolts 16.3. For the clamping bolts 16.3, bolt receptacles 16.6 may be provided adjacent to the axle receptacle 16.5, which bolt receptacles 16.6 may be threaded.

Figures 6 and 7 further show that a disk 14.1 may be provided in a disk receptacle 14.3 of the first bearing segment 12. The disk 14.1 may be rotatably held at least partially within the disk receptacle 14.3 by means of a second connecting element 45.2 guided through a connecting bore 14.4 of the first bearing segment 12. The disk 14.1 may be rotatable about the second connecting element 45.2 and/or the second connecting element 45.2 may be rotatably held in the connecting bore 14.4. Preferably, the disk 14.1 is rotatable about an axis that is parallel to the pivot axes 13.4, 13.4’ and/or perpendicular to the rotational axis of the roller 16.1. It is further preferable that the disk 14.1 protrudes over a surface of the first bearing segment 12 with its outer circumference. The disk 14.1 may, on its outer circumferential surface, provide a counter-stop surface 14.5 to engage with a stop surface 52.2 of a damping device 50 described further below.

It is conceivable, but not mandatory, that the second bearing segment 12’ associated with the second arm 19 does not comprise a disk 14.1 and/or a disk receptacle 14.3 (cf. Figure 5). Otherwise, as stated above, the aspects discussed for the first bearing segment 12 are analogously applicable to the second bearing segment 12’.

As best seen in Figure 5, the receiving space 18.3 of the connecting segments 18 may be provided on both the ends facing the bearing segments 12, 12’ as well as the ends facing the holding segments 35. In the region of the ends facing the holding segments 35, the connecting segments 18 may comprise an adjustment means 18.2. The adjustment means 18.2 may enable an adjustment of the overall length of the arms 11 , 19 by adjusting the lengthwise position of the connecting segments 18 and the holding segments 35 to one another. The adjustment means 18.2 may be designed as elongated slots oriented in the lengthwise direction of the connecting segments 18.

Referring to Figure 11 , the holding segments 35 may comprise an arm portion 35.1 that may be partially receivable in the receiving space 18.3 of the connecting segments 18. Within the arm portion 35.1 , mounting bores 35.3 may be provided that may comprise a thread. When the arm portion 35.1 is received in the receiving space 18.3, the lengthwise position of the holding segments 35 relative to the connecting segment 18 may be secured by fixing means 35.4, for example screws or bolts, guided through the adjustment means 18.2 into the mounting bores 35.3.

The holding segments 35 may further comprise a bearing attachment 35.2 that may be oriented at an angle, preferably at a right angle, to the arm portion 35.1. Preferably, the bearing attachment 35.2 may be cylindrical. The bearing attachment 35.2 may be connected to the arm portion 35.1 in an end region opposite the that to be connected to the connecting segment 18.

By means of the bearing attachment 35.2, the holding segments 35 may be rotatably attached to a mounting body 31 of the door mount 30. In particular, the mounting body 31 may comprise bearing receptacles 32.1 , in which the bearing attachments 35.2 of the holding segments 35 may be at least partially received. The bearing receptacles 32.1 and/or the bearing attachments 35.2 may be oriented along the respective pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’. The bearing attachments 35.2 together with the bearing receptacles 32.1 may provide first and second door mount pivot bearings 32, 32’ (cf. Figure 10) for the first and the second arm 11, 19, respectively. To provide a spacing between the mounting body 31 and the arm portion 35.1 and/or to support rotatability, a washer 32.2 may be placed between the mounting body 31 and the arm portion 35.1 . The bearing receptacles 32.1 may be designed as through holes through the mounting body 31. In this way, the holding segments 35 can be secured to the mounting body 31 by bolts 32.4 inserted into the bearing receptacle 32.1 from the side opposing the side from which the bearing attachments 35.2 are inserted. The bearing attachments 35.2 may comprise threaded bores partially receive the bolts 32.4. For added mechanical stability, a bottom plate 34 may be provided between the heads of the bolts 32.4 and the mounting body 31 . Further, for rotatability and/or adjustment and/or spacing purposes, washers 32.3 may be provided in between the heads of the bolts 32.4 and the bottom plate 34.

The mounting body 31 may comprise mounting bores 31.1 , through which suitable fixing means 31.2, for example screws or bolts may be guided to engage with the door 6, in order to secure the mounting body 31 to the door 6.

As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, at least one damping device 50 may be provided. The damping device 50 may be fixed to the mounting plate 26.3. For example, the damping device 50 may be fixed to the mounting plate 26.3 by fixing means 51 .3, for example bolts, guided through mounting bores 51.2 of a damping housing 51 and engaged with attachment bores 26.2 of the mounting plate 26.3.

An embodiment of a damping device 50 is shown in more detail in Figures 8 and 9. The damping device 50 may comprise a damper 52, which may be a fluid type damper. The damper 52 may comprise a cylinder 52.1 , in which a piston is received. The piston may be coupled to a piston rod 52.3. It will be appreciated that the damper 52 may damp a movement of the cylinder 52.1 relative to the piston and/or the piston rod 52.3.

The damper 52 may be at least partially received in a damper receptacle 51.1 of a damping housing 51 . For example, the damper receptacle 51 .1 may be a cylindrical bore. The damper 52 may be received in the damper receptacle 51 .1 such that a stop surface 52.2, which may be an end surface of the cylinder 52.1 protrudes from the damper receptacle 51 .1 .

Further, the damping device 50 may comprise adjustment means 53. In the embodiments shown, the adjustment means 53 is designed as a bolt that is guided through a threaded bore aligned with the damper receptacle 51 .1 . The bolt may be in contact with the piston rod 52.3 of the damper 52. By adjusting the relative lengthwise position of the bolt to the damper receptacle 51 .1 , a position of the damper 52 may thus be adjusted. As can be seen in Figure 3, the one damping device 50 may be arranged such that, in the closed position, the first arm 11 may engage with a damper 52. In particular, the counter-stop surface 14.5 of the first arm 11 may engage with the stop surface 52.2 of the damping device 50. In the closed position, as shown in Figure 3, the damping device 50 may be held in a compressed state by a force acting from the counter-stop surface 14.5 on the stop surface 52.2.

When the first arm 11 is moved from the closed position towards the open position, the damper 52 may leave the compressed state and move towards an extended state. For instance, the damping device 50 may comprise a spring that may bias the cylinder 52.1 and the piston and/or the piston rod 52.3 relative to one another into the extended state. When the first arm 11 is moved back toward the closed position from the open or a partially open position, the movement may then be damped by interaction with the damper 52.

Similarly, as seen in Figure 4, another damping device 50 may be arranged such that, in the open position, the first arm 11 may also engage with a damper 52. In particular, the counterstop surface 14.5 of the first arm 11 may engage with the stop surface 52.2 of the damping device 50. The damping device 50 may be held in a compressed state by a force acting from the counter-stop surface 14.5 on the stop surface 52.2. When the first arm 11 is moved toward the open position from the closed or a partially open position, the movement may be damped by interaction with the damper 52.

Further, Figures 3 and 4 show that stops 29.1 , 29.2 may be provided to limit movement of the arms 11 , 19. In particular, a first stop 29.1 may be provided to limit the movement of the first arm 11 in the closing direction. When the first arm 11 reaches the fully closed position, a closing counterstop surface 14 provided on the first arm 11 may come into contact with the first stop 29.1. Preferably, the first stop 29.1 is provided on a spacer 29. Similarly, a second stop 29.2 may be provided to limit the movement of the second arm 19 in the opening position. When the second arm 19 reaches the fully open position, an opening counterstop surface 22 of the second arm 19 may come into contact with the second stop 29.2. Preferably, the second stop 29.2 is provided on a spacer 29.

Opening and/or closing movement of the arms 11 , 19 may be supported by an opening and/or closing device 40. The opening and/or closing device 40 may bias the first arm 11 toward the closed position as seen in Figure 3. Further, the opening and/or closing device 40 may bias the first arm 11 toward the open position as seen in Figure 4. The opening and/or closing device 40 may comprise a spring 41 that may be held at a spring mount 44 at one end and that may be connected to the first arm 11 at the other end. For instance, as best seen in Figure 5, the spring mount 44 may comprise a holding section 44.1 that may serve as an abutment for a second attachment section 41.2 of the spring 41. Preferably, the spring 41 is a tension spring.

The spring mount 44 may further comprise a fastening section 44.2 enabling securing the spring mount 44 to the cabinet 1 , preferably to the rear wall of the cabinet 1 . For instance, the fastening section 44.2 may comprise mounting bores 44.3 through which suitable fixing means such as screws or bolts may be guided to engage with the cabinet 1 .

With a first attachment section 41 .1 opposing the second attachment section 41 .2, the spring 41 may be connected to the first arm 11. It is conceivable, however, that alternatively or additionally, the spring 41 is connected to the second arm 19 and/or that a plurality of springs 41 is provided to be connected to the first arm 11 and or the second arm 19.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the second attachment section 41.2 is held at a first connecting element 45.1 that is secured to a connector 45, which connector 45 is in turn connected to the first arm 11 by means of a second connecting element 45.2. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second connecting element 45.2 may be a bolt. The second connecting element 45.2 may be partially receivable in a corresponding receptacle of the first arm 11 . For instance, the receptacle may be aligned with the connecting bore 14.4 of the first bearing segment 12 (cf. Fig. 6).

In any case, it is preferable that the spring 41 is coupled to the first arm 11 spaced away from the first cabinet mount pivot bearing 13, in particular from the first pivot axis 13.4. Preferably, the coupling of the spring 41 to the first arm 11 is spaced from the first cabinet mount pivot bearing 13 and/or the first pivot axis 13.4 in a direction toward the door mount pivot bearing 32.

To enable both a force in the opening and the closing direction of the first arm 11 , it may be provided that, during movement between the open and the closed position, a reversal point of the spring force is crossed. With the spring 41 being connected to the first arm 11 spaced from the first pivot axis 13.4, a reversal point is naturally achieved because the connection point of the spring 41 and the first arm 11 is guided on a circular arc around the first pivot axis 13.4. It will be appreciated that in this way, during the first part of the pivoting from the closed to the open position, the spring is lengthened, and during the second part of the pivoting, the spring is shortened.

As discussed above, in the embodiment of the drawings, the spring 41 is coupled to the first arm 11 by means of the second connecting element 45.2. Hence, during opening and closing, the second connecting element 45.2 is moved on a circular arc.

In order to accommodate for the movement of the second connecting element 45.2, guide means 28 may be provided on the cover plate 27. For instance, the guide means 28 may be an arc-shaped slot in the cover plate 27. The guide means 28, in particular the arc-shaped slot, may comprise a first end region 28.1 and a second end region 28.2. Moving from the closed position of the first arm 11 , the second connecting element 45.2 may be moved from the first end region 28.1 along the arc-shaped slot toward the second end region 28.2. In the open position, the second connecting element 45.2 may be located in the second end region 28.2. The guide means 28 may provide for additional mechanical stability of the opening and/or closing device 40 and/or to provide enhanced guidance of the opening and/or closing device 40, in particular enhanced guidance for the second connecting element 45.2.

As already visible in Figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4, the arms 11 , 19 of the closure device 10 may not be parallel to one another in the open and/or in the closed position. Based on Figures 12 and 13, a more detailed explanation of a preferred geometric and kinematic arrangement of the closure device 10 will be given in the following.

Figure 12 shows a schematic top view of a cabinet 1 equipped with a closure device 10 according to the invention, where the closure device 10 is in the closed position. In Figure 13, the cabinet 1 of Figure 12 is shown with the closure device 10 in the open position.

As discussed previously, the first arm 11 and the second arm 19 may be pivotably connected to the cabinet mount 26 about a first pivot axis 13.4 and a second pivot axis 13.4, respectively. Further, the first arm 11 and the second arm 19 may be pivotably connected to the door mount 30 about a third pivot axis 32.5 and a fourth pivot axis 32.5’, respectively. The arms 11 , 19 may pivotable between the closed and the open position, corresponding to the closed (cf. Figure 12a) and the open state (cf. Figure 13) of the door 6, respectively.

In Figure 12a, the closed position of the arms 11 , 19 and the closed state of the door 6 are shown in solid lines, in Figure 13 the open position and the open state are shown in solid lines. In Figure 12a, an intermediate position of the arms 11 , 19 and an intermediate state of the door 6 are shown in dashed lines, in Figure 13 the closed position and the closed state are shown in dashed lines.

As can be seen in Figure 12a, viewed from the first and second pivot axes 13.4, 13.4’ in the direction of the third and fourth pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’, a first straight line L1 intersecting the first and third pivot axes 13.4, 32.5 and a second straight line L2 intersecting the second and fourth pivot axes 13.4’, 32.5’ may converge at an acute first angle A.

An embodiment in which, viewed from the first and second pivot axes 13.4, 13.4’ in the direction of the third and fourth pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’, a first straight line L1 intersecting the first and third pivot axes 13.4, 32.5 and a second straight line L2 intersecting the second and fourth pivot axes 13.4’, 32.5’ converge at an acute first angle A, such as shown in Figures 12 and 13, will henceforth be called a converging arrangement of the arms.

When the arms 11 , 19 are moved from the closed position, the pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’ may follow arcuate first and second paths P1 , P2, respectively, centered around the respective pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’. Due to the above-described first angle A, in vicinity of the closed position, the second path P2 may have a larger directional component facing away from the cabinet 1 compared to the first path P1 . This may lead to a certain degree of tilting of the door 6 in a counter-clockwise direction about an axis perpendicular to the drawing plane. The first angle A may thus allow a third path P3 to bypass an edge of the second door 7 without a collision between the door 6 and the second door 7, as can be seen more clearly in the detail shown in Figure 12b. The third path P3 may be the motion path of an edge of the door 6.

The advantage of the described arrangement over known arrangements can be more clearly understood by comparison with the arrangements according to Figures 14 and 15, which are not in agreement with the converging arrangement of the arms. Figures 14 and 15 show parallel arrangements of arms 111 , 119, more particularly parallel arrangements of first and second straight lines L100, L200 corresponding to the first and second straight lines L1 , L2 described above.

Referring first to Figure 14a, and to the detail shown in Figure 14b, it is obvious that, with the parallel arrangement, the above-described advantages cannot be achieved. In particular, as seen in Figure 14b, the first door 106 will collide with the second door 107 upon opening. This means that, compared to converging arrangement of the arms, a larger gap must be provided between the doors 106, 107 in order to prevent collision. However, a larger gap may be impractical and/or undesirable for aesthetic reasons. However, even with a parallel arrangement, a smaller gap between the doors 106, 107 may be achieved. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 15a. This arrangement achieves a larger directional component facing away from the cabinet 101 compared the arrangement of Figure 14a by moving the pivot axes 113.4, 113.4’ associated with the cabinet 101 closer to the front edge (lower edge in the drawing plane). As can be seen in the detail shown in Figure 15b, the door 106 may now be opened without collision.

However, as evident from Figure 15a, the arms 111 , 119 need to be at a very small angle to a front plane of the door 106. This small angle leads to the disadvantage that tilting forces acting on the door 106 about an axis perpendicular to the drawing plane cannot be effectively absorbed by the arms 111 , 119, as they comprise large components perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the arms 111 , 119 and thus result in bending of the arms 111 , 119. In other words, a configuration as shown in Figure 15 is vulnerable to tilting of the door 106. Tilting of the door 106 may be due to the placement of a handle on which a user acts relative to the position of the bearings of the arms 111 , 119 on the door. During use, in particular during opening and/or closing, such a door 106 may feel unstable and wobbly to a user.

By comparison with the converging arrangement of the arms as shown in Figure 12a, it is evident that the arms 11 , 19 are much better positioned to absorb such forces. Nevertheless, a small gap between the door 6 and the second door 7 may achieved at the same time.

Referring back to Figure 13, it can further be seen that, in the open position, viewed from the first and second pivot axes 13.4, 13.4’ in the direction of the third and fourth pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’, the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 may diverge at a second angle B.

Further, in the closed and/or in the open position, a third straight line L3 intersecting the first and second pivot axes 13.4, 13.4’ and a fourth straight line L4 intersecting the third and fourth pivot axes 32.5, 32.5’ may enclose a finite third angle C with respect to each other.

In particular, as shown in the drawings, the pivot axes (13.4, 13.4’, 32.5, 32.5’) may be arranged such that viewed along a resulting opening direction (D3) defined to point along the displacement of the third and/or fourth pivot axis (32.5, 32.5’) in the closed relative to the open position, the fourth pivot axis (32.5’) preferably follows the third pivot axis (32.5) and the second pivot axis (13.4’) preferably follows the first pivot axis (13.4). The resulting opening direction D3 as illustrated in Figure 13 points from the location of the pivot axis 32.5 in the closed position to the location of the pivot axis 32.5 in the open position.

As can be further seen in Figure 13, preferably in the orientation of the fourth straight line L4 in the open position is parallel to the orientation of the fourth straight line L4 in the closed position. In this case, the door 6 may, in the open state, be parallel to the second door 7, and/or be in an orientation parallel to that of the closed state.

In Figure 12a, it is further illustrated that, in the closed state of the door 6 and/or the second door 7, a front face 6.1 of the door 6 and a front face 7.1 of the second door 7 may lie in one plane.

Claims

1. Closure device (10) for movable attachment of at least one movable furniture part, such as a door (6) or a flap, to a stationary structure, such as a cabinet (1), wherein the closure device (10) is configured to enable movement of the movable furniture part from a closed to an open state, comprising at least one cabinet mount (26) for mounting to the stationary structure, and at least one door mount (30) for mounting to the movable furniture part, further comprising a first arm (11) and a second arm (19) pivotably connected to the cabinet mount (26) about a first pivot axis (13.4) and a second pivot axis (13.4), respectively, wherein the first arm (11) and the second arm (19) are further pivotably connected to the door mount (30) about a third pivot axis (32.5) and a fourth pivot axis (32.5’), respectively, wherein the arms (11 , 19) are pivotable between a closed and an open position configured to correspond to the closed and the open state of the movable furniture part, respectively, characterized in that, in the closed position, viewed from the first and second pivot axes (13.4, 13.4’) in a direction toward the third and fourth pivot axes (32.5, 32.5’), a first straight line (L1 ) intersecting the first and third pivot axes (13.4, 32.5) and a second straight line (L2) intersecting the second and fourth pivot axes (13.4’, 32.5’) converge at an acute first angle (A).

2. Closure device (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first angle (A) is at least 1°, preferably at least 2°, more preferably at least 3°, even more preferably at least 4°, in particular is 5°.

3. Closure device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first angle (A) is at most 10°, preferably at most 9°, further preferably at most 8°, more preferably at most 7°, even more preferably at most 6°.

4. Closure device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the open position, viewed from the first and second pivot axes (13.4, 13.4’) in a direction toward the third and fourth pivot axes (32.5, 32.5’), the first straight line (L1) and the second straight line (L2) converge at an angle that is smaller than the first angle (A), or that the first straight line (L1) and the second straight line (L2) are parallel.

5. Closure device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the open position, viewed from the first and second pivot axes (13.4, 13.4’) in a direction toward the third and fourth pivot axes (32.5, 32.5’), the first straight line (L1) and the second straight line (L2) diverge at second angle (B).

6. Closure device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the angle (B) is larger than 0.5°, preferably larger than 1°, more preferably larger than 1.5°, even more preferably larger than 2°, in particular larger than 2.5°.

7. Closure device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in the closed and/or in the open position, a third straight line (L3) intersecting the first and second pivot axes (13.4, 13.4’) and a fourth straight line (L4) intersecting the third and fourth pivot axes (32.5, 32.5’) enclose a finite third angle (C) with respect to each other.

8. Closure device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that, viewed from the first and third pivot axes (13.4, 32.5) in a direction toward the second and fourth pivot axes (13.4’, 32.5’), the third and fourth straight line (L3, L4) converge at the third angle (C), wherein, viewed along a resulting opening direction (D3) defined to point along the displacement of the third and/or fourth pivot axis (32.5, 32.5’) in the closed relative to the open position, the fourth pivot axis (32.5’) preferably follows the third pivot axis (32.5) and the second pivot axis (13.4’) preferably follows the first pivot axis (13.4).

9. Closure device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the orientation of the fourth straight line (L4) in the open position is parallel to the orientation of the fourth straight line (L4) in the closed position.

10. Closure device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the distance between the first and the third pivot axis (13.4, 32.5) is longer than the distance between the second and the fourth pivot axis (13.4’, 32.5’), wherein, viewed along a resulting opening direction (D3) defined to point along the displacement of the third and/or fourth pivot axis (32.5, 32.5’) in the closed relative to the open state, the fourth pivot axis (32.5’) preferably follows the third pivot axis (32.5) and the second pivot axis (13.4’) preferably follows the first pivot axis (13.4).

11 . Closure device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the distance between the first and the third pivot axis (13.4, 32.5) and/or the distance between the second and the fourth pivot axis (13.4’, 32.5’) is/are adjustable, in particular in that the first arm (11) and/or the second arm (19) comprise(s) at least two segments (12, 12’, 18, 35), wherein the at least two segments (12, 12’, 18, 35) can be secured to one another in different relative positions to one another in a longitudinal direction, in particular in a direction along the first straight line (L1 ) and/or the second straight line (L2).

12. Closure device (10) according any of claims 1 to 11 , characterized in that the distance between the first and the second pivot axis (13.4, 13.4’) differs from, and preferably is larger than the distance between the third and the fourth pivot axis (32.5, 32.5’).

13. Stationary structure, in particular a cabinet (1), comprising at least one movable furniture part, in particular a door (6) or a flap, movably attached to the stationary structure by means of a closure device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 10.

14. Stationary structure according to claim 13, characterized in that, adjacent to the movable furniture part, in particular the door (6), the stationary structure comprises a further furniture part, in particular a second door (7), and in that, in the closed state of the movable furniture part and/or the further furniture part, a front face (6.1) of the movable furniture part and a front face (7.1) of the further furniture part lie in one plane.

15. Stationary structure according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the fourth straight line (L4) is parallel to the front face (6.1) and/or to a rear face (6.2) of the movable furniture part, or in that the fourth straight line (L4) is at an angle to the front face (6.1) and/or to a rear face (6.2) of the movable furniture part.