TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for displacing a support and containment element, such as a basket, a shelf or the like, usable in a corner piece of furniture having a decentered opening.

STATE OF THE ART

With reference to the furniture field, and in particular to the kitchen furniture, the use of shaped shelves or containers for the support and containment of products of various types is known, which are movable by means of displacement devices which include articulated mechanisms or drives to allow the displacing thereof from the inside of the piece of furniture to the outside of the same, and vice versa. In particular, these mechanisms are used in corner pieces of furniture, which, as is known, have a decentered opening for access to the inside of the piece of furniture itself, in which, in fact, an angle is not directly accessible.

The articulated mechanisms allow to guide the shelf or the container favouring the extraction/insertion through the decentered opening to make the products placed therein easily accessible, which could not be easily reached otherwise.

In order to be assembled inside the space delimited by the piece of furniture, an assembly accessory is provided comprising a vertical column around which the support and containment element is rotated during its displacement between an inner position and outer position with respect to the furniture, through the decentered opening.

There is a need to improve the characteristics of this type of displacement device with particular reference to the possibility of realizing a device that can be installed either in a corner piece of furniture, which has a decentered opening at a right portion of the piece of furniture, or alternatively at a left portion of the corner piece of furniture, in the context of a solution for a flexible use.

Nowadays, in fact, a left and a right version of the components constituting the displacement device must be realized according to the relative position of the decentered opening with respect to the corner piece of furniture, thus increasing the production costs of such a device, as well as requiring the manufacturer to store a large number of components in the warehouse.

This need inevitably leads to an increase in the production costs of the aforementioned displacement devices.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the present invention is therefore to improve the state of the art of a device for displacing a support and containment element for a piece of furniture.

Within the scope of this purpose, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for displacing a support and containment element of a piece of furniture that is easy to use and assemble.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for displacing a support and containment element of a piece of furniture that can be used in a corner piece of furniture which has a decentered opening, regardless of the relative position of said opening with respect to the piece of furniture itself.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for displacing and supporting a support and containment element of a piece of furniture, which makes it possible to exploit the free volume inside the corner piece of furniture in an optimal manner.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a device is provided for displacing a support and containment element according to claim 1.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for assembling a device for displacing a support and containment element in a corner piece of furniture according to claim 12.

The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a device for displacing a support and containment element in a corner piece of furniture, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, in the appended drawings, wherein

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a corner piece of furniture comprising a pair of displacement devices according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of some components of the displacement device according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the displacement device according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a top perspective view of some components of the displacement device according to the present invention;

Figures 5-7 and 9 are detailed perspective views of some components of the displacement device according to the present invention;

Figure 8 is a top perspective view of the displacement device according to the present invention;

Figure 10 is a schematic view of two possible assembly configurations of a displacement device according to the present invention;

Figure 11 is an assembly scheme of some components of the displacement device according to the present invention;

Figure 12 is a detailed perspective view of a component of the displacement device according to the present invention;

Figure 13 is an assembly sequence scheme of some components of the displacement device according to the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached figures, a device for displacing and supporting a support and containment element according to the present invention is generally indicated with the reference number 1.

The supporting and displacement device 1, indicated for the sake of brevity as a displacement device 1, can be operatively connected to a lower portion of a support and containment element 2, for example a shelf or a basket or a similar element, in order to support it and guide it during its displacing.

In particular, the displacement device 1 is provided for guiding the support and containment element 2 relative to an inner compartment of a corner piece of furniture 3, between a first position, or inner position I, and a second position, or outer position E, with respect to the corner piece of furniture 3 itself (see Figure 1), and vice versa.

The support and containment element 2 being able to be extracted almost completely outside the corner piece of furniture 3 facilitates access to the products positioned therein, which would be difficult to be reached otherwise, with particular reference to the products distal from the access opening within the corner piece of furniture 3.

With corner piece of furniture 3 is meant a piece of furniture provided with a decentered opening for accessing inside it. A corner piece of furniture 3 thus shaped is used at an angle present in a furniture composition, such as a kitchen, in order to exploit the available space in the best possible way.

A corner piece of furniture 3 comprising at least one displacement device 1 for a support and containment element 2 also forms the object of the present invention. With reference to the version illustrated in Figure 1, the corner piece of furniture 3 comprises two displacement devices 1 arranged therewithin, stacked in succession with each other, although it is intended that further versions of the corner piece of furniture 3 comprising a larger or lower number of displacement devices 1 are possible.

The corner piece of furniture 3 illustrated in Figure 1 is devoid of the upper portion to facilitate a better understanding of the characteristics of the displacement device 1.

According to an aspect of the present invention, it should be noted that the dimensions of the support and containment element 2, with reference to its overall dimensions in plan, are optimized as a function of the plan dimension of the inner space of the corner piece of furniture 3 and the position of decentered opening, in such a way as to create a supporting plan as wide as possible.

In the case where a number of support and containment element 2 are provided inside a corner piece of furniture 3, they can be configured to be moved simultaneously or independently of each other without any limitation.

A corner piece of furniture 3 can have a pair of side walls 4, 5 opposed to each other, a wall, which is placed frontally 6 in use, and a wall, which is placed posteriorly 7 in use, which rise from a base 8 and delimiting a compartment that is within the corner piece of furniture 3 itself.

As mentioned above, a corner piece of furniture 3 has a decentered opening 9 formed along the front wall 6.

The decentered opening 9 identifies a vertical access plane inside the corner piece of furniture 3. At the decentered opening 9 a door 10 can be associated movably for the selective closure thereof.

In the following description reference will be made, by way of example but not of limitation, to a corner piece of furniture 3 which has a decentered opening at the right portion of the front wall 6, provided that similar considerations apply in the case in which the opening decentralized is made at the left side of the front wall 6. In this regard, it is noted that the displacement device 1 illustrated in the attached figures from 1 to 8, is shown in its right assembly configuration D, i.e. configured for use in a corner piece of furniture 3, which has an opening decentralized to the right.

It is understood that the same displacement device 1 can also be used in a piece of furniture which has a decentered opening at the left portion, since it can have a left assembly configuration S without requiring the use of additional or different components for its assembly inside the corner piece of furniture 3, as will be better described in the following.

Figure 10 shows, by way of example, two plan views of the displacement device 1 in the right assembly configuration D and in the left assembly configuration S. The right assembly configuration D and the left assembly configuration S of the displacement device are mirrored images with respect to a vertical symmetry plane PV.

As mentioned above, the support and containment element 2 is supported and associated with a corner piece of furniture 3 by means of a displacement device 1. The displacement device 1 comprises a support column 11 to which at least one support and containment element 2 is operatively associated.

The support column 11 can be connected inside the corner piece of furniture 3 by fixing means 12 (see Figure 1).

According to a version of the present invention, the fixing means 12 may comprise a lower plate or bracket 13, for connecting the support column 11 to the base 8 of the corner piece of furniture 3 and at least one upper plate or bracket 14 connectable to at least one upper portion of corner piece of furniture 3 (see Figures 1 and 8).

It is understood that the fixing means 12 may in any case have another configuration suitable for ensuring a stable connection between the upper and lower ends of the support column 11 and the walls of the corner piece of furniture 3.

The support column 11 is aligned in a vertical direction and is positioned at the decentered opening 9 of the corner piece of furniture 3.

In practice, the support column 11 defines a first vertical axis 15.

Displacing means 16 can be associated to the support column 11, which can be rotated about the first vertical axis 15.

The displacing means 16 comprise guides 17 operatively associated with respective portions of a respective support and containment element 2 to guide the displacement between a first position or inner position I and a second position or outer position E relative to the support column 11 (see Figure 1).

In particular, the support and containment element 2 located in the inner position I is contained inside the corner piece of furniture 3, while in the outer position E it is at least partially extracted from the corner piece of furniture 3, through the decentered opening 9.

The guides 17 comprise a first guide 18 suitable for connecting a first portion of the support and containment element 2 to the support column 11 and a second guide 19 suitable for connecting a second portion of the support and containment element 2 to the support column 11 (see Figure 3).

More specifically, the first guide 18 has a first end 20, which is associated with the support column 11 rotating with respect to a vertical rotation axis, which corresponds, in use, to the first vertical rotation axis 15.

In particular, the first end 20 is associated with the support column 11 through a sleeve 21 (see Figures 4, 6-8).

According to a version of the present invention, the sleeve 21 can comprise suitable bearing means, of the rolling or sliding type, to facilitate the rotation, without appreciable play, between the sleeve 21 itself and the support column 11.

The displacement device 1 comprises a bracket 22 which can be associated to the support column 11 (see the detail of Figure 2) for defining the height to which a displacement device 1 can be positioned along the support column 11 itself.

The bracket 22 has a through opening 23 that can be engaged by the support column 11. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the through opening 23 is circularly shaped.

The support column 11 has a plurality of holes 24, which extend along the support column 11 itself, in the longitudinal direction (see Figures 2, 3 and 5).

The holes 24 can be individually engaged by a pin 25 suitable for defining an abutment for adjusting the positioning of the bracket 22 along the support column 11 (see Figure 2).

In particular, the pin 25 is suitable for engaging a corresponding shaped seat 26 formed in the bracket 22, such that as a result of the engagement between the pin 25 and the shaped seat 25' the relative rotation between the bracket 22 and the support column 11 is inhibited.

This ensures a stable connection between the bracket 22 and the support column 11.

By varying the position of the pin 25 along the support column 11, i.e. by means of the hole 24, which is engaged by the pin 25, the height at which the bracket 22 is positioned along the support column 11 is changed.

The bracket 22 acts as an abutment for the sleeve 21 along the support column 11. In fact, the height at which the bracket 22 is associated with the support column 11 determines the position of the sleeve 21 along the support column 11 and, consequently, of the displacement device 1 connected to the sleeve 21.

According to a relevant aspect of the present invention, it is noted that the bracket 22 is configured to allow the displacement device 1 to be assembled along the support column 11 both in a left assembly configuration S and in a right assembly configuration D.

The first guide 18 has a second end 26 rotatably connected to a first connection point 27 between the displacement device 1 and the support and containment element 2.

It is noted that the first guide 18 comprises a first part 28 and a second part 29, which can be rotatably connected to each other around a second vertical axis 30 by means of a rotating connection (see Figure 4).

More specifically, the first portion 28 is connected to a first end, which corresponds to the first end 20 of the first guide 18, to the support column 11 by means of the sleeve 21 and a second opposite end 31, which is connected to the second part 29 of the first guide 18.

The second part 29 of the first guide 18 has a first end 32 connected rotating at the second end 31 of the first part 28 by means of a rotating connection 33, and a second end, which corresponds to the second end 26 of the first guide 18.

As mentioned above, the second end 26 of the first guide 18 is rotatably connected to the support and containment element 2 in the first connection point 27.

The first connection point 27 can be made by pin means and, therefore, the relative rotation between the second part 29 of the first guide 18 and the support and containment element 2 is arranged around a third rotation axis 34, aligned along a vertical direction (see Figure 4).

It is noted that the displacement device 1 comprises a tie-rod 35 operatively associated with the first guide 18 and with the bracket 22 according to the purposes which will be better described in the following.

The tie-rod 35 has a first end 36, which is connected rotating to the bracket 22 and a second end 37, opposite to the first one, which is operatively associated with the first guide 18.

More specifically, the tie-rod 35 is connected to the first guide 18 by means of a leverage 38.

The first end 36 of the tie-rod 35 is connected rotatably to the bracket 22 about a fourth vertical rotation axis 39 and the second end 37 of the tie-rod 35 is connected rotatably to the leverage 38 about a fifth rotation axis 40 (see Figures 2 and 3).

As will be better described hereinafter, the tie-rod 35 acts as a further guide element for the relative displacement between the first guide 18 and the second guide 19 of the displacement device 1.

As regards the second guide 19, it has a first end 41 rotatably connected to the first end 20 of the first guide 18 by means of rotating connecting means 42 (Figure 4).

In fact, the second guide 19 is operatively connected to the sleeve 21, through the first part 28 of the first guide 18, thus simplifying the assembly of the displacement device 1 along the support column 11.

In fact, through a single assembly phase, both the first guide 18 and the second guide 19 are connected to the support column 11.

The rotating connecting means 42 are configured as a rotary joint with a single degree of freedom, so as to allow rotation of the second guide 19 around a sixth rotation axis 43.

The second guide 19 comprises a second end 44 opposite the first end 41.

The second end 44 identifies a second connection point 45 between the displacement device 1 and the support and containment element 2.

Similarly to what has been described with respect to the first connection point 27, the second connection point 45 is also configured to allow a relative rotation between the support and containment element 2 and the second guide 19.

According to a version of the present invention, the first connection point 27 and the second connection point 45 depart from a first flange 46 and from a second flange 47, respectively, which can be connected below to the support and containment element 2 according to respective pre-established positions.

According to this embodiment, the first flange 46 can comprise first pin means 46' defining said first connection point 27 and said second flange 47 can comprise second pin means 47' defining said second connection point 45.

In this regard, it is noted that in order to simplify the assembly between the first flange 46, the second flange 47 and the support and containment element 2 in the respective pre-established positions, a suitable template can be provided (see Figure 11), as better described in the following, for obtaining the connection according to a right D or left S assembly configurations of the displacement device 1.

According to a further version of the present invention, not illustrated in the attached figures, the first connection point 27 and the second connection point 45 can be made directly in the lower portion, in use, of the support and containment element 2.

During the displacement of the displacement device 1, starting from the inner position I inside the corner piece of furniture 3 towards the outer position E, a relative displacement takes place between the first part 28 and the second part 29 of the first guide 18.

During the extraction displacement of the support and containment element 2, the second end 44 of the second guide 19 travels a substantially circular trajectory, while the second end 26 of the first guide 18 performs a straight or substantially rectilinear trajectory.

More specifically, the first part 28 of the first guide 18 performs a clockwise rotation, while the second part 29 of the first guide 18 performs an anti-clockwise counter-rotation.

This counter-rotation is determined by the ratio between the sides of an articulated quadrilateral defined by the connection points of the first guide 18, of the second guide 19 to the support and containment element 2 and the bracket 22.

In particular, in the displacement device 1 according to the present invention the geometric points A, B, C, D can be identified.

Point A is defined along the first vertical rotation axis 15.

Point B is defined at the rotating connection between the first part 28 of the first guide 18 and the second part 29 of the first guide 18, at the second vertical axis 30.

Point C is defined by the rotating connection point between the first end 36 of the tie-rod 35 and the leverage 38 at the fourth rotation axis 39.

Finally, point D is defined by the rotating connection point between the second end 37 of the tie-rod 35 and the bracket 22 and coincides with the fourth rotation axis 39.

The points A, B, C and D form a so-called articulated quadrilateral, which imposes a pre-established trajectory to the first guide 18 and, consequently, to the supporting and containing element 2 associated therewith, during the displacement from the inner position I inside the corner piece of furniture 3 towards the outer position E.

The articulated quadrilateral A, B, C and D, during the displacement of the displacement device 1, determines a relative rotation of the first part 28 of the first guide 18 with respect to the bracket 22.

In particular, the first part 28, by displacing clockwise, causes the leverage 38 and the tie-rod 35 associated therewith to be moved in an anti -clockwise rotation about the point B, that is to say about the second vertical rotation axis 30. Consequently, also the second part 29 of the first guide 18 moves in the same anticlockwise direction. In this way, the relative displacement is determined between the first part 28 and the second part 29 of the first guide 18.

In particular, it is noted that the greater the distance between the point D with respect to the point A, that is, the greater the distance between the fourth rotation axis 39 and the first rotation axis 15, the greater is the rotary displacement of the leverage 38. In this way, depending on the distance set between point D and point A indicated above, the desired amplitude of counter-rotation of the second part 29 of the first guide 18 can be obtained.

The support and containment element 2, therefore, will perform a precise and guided displacement, regardless of the type of action applied to the support and containment element 2 itself.

Below is a brief description of the steps of displacement of a support and containment element 2 associated with a displacement device 1 in the right assembly configuration D, that is to say allowing the support element 2 to escape through a the decentered opening 9 formed in the right portion of the front wall 6 of the corner piece of furniture 3 itself.

It is understood that similar considerations apply to a displacement device 1 in the left assembly configuration S, in which the clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation directions are reversed with respect to those of a displacement device 1 in the right assembly configuration D.

During the exit displacement of the support and containment element 2 from the inner position I inside the corner piece of furniture 3 to its outer position E, the second guide 19 performs a semicircular or substantially semicircular displacement in a clockwise direction.

The displacement of the support and containment element 2 controlled by the first guide 18 and by the second guide 19, between the inner position I of the corner piece of furniture 3 and the outer position E comprises various steps.

With the support and containment element placed completely inside the corner piece of furniture 3, the inner position I, the first part 28 and the second part 29 of the first guide 18 are abutted against or brought together, while the second guide 19 is located in an end-of-travel position.

By continuing to move the support and containment element 2 through the decentered opening 9, the second guide 19 begins to rotate clockwise, and the first part 28 and the second part 29 of the first guide 18 start to rotate and move away from one another. In particular, the first part 28 starts displacing clockwise and the second part 29 in anti-clockwise direction.

When the first guide 18 is almost completely out of the plane of the decentered opening 9, the support and containment element 2 begins to move towards the right and the second guide 19 continues to approach the first part 28 of the first guide 18.

With the support and containment element 2 positioned outerly to the corner piece of furniture 3, the second guide 19 is placed near the first part 28 of the first guide 18, while the second part 29 of the first guide 18 completes its rotary displacement in an anti -clockwise direction allowing the complete exit of the support and containment element 2 beyond the plane of the decentered opening 9. The first guide 18 and the second guide 19 are shaped curves in order to overcome the front wall 6 of the corner piece of furniture 3 on which the door 10 is fixed and to be able to continue their travel until the complete or almost complete exit of the support and containment element 2. The same displacement is performed by the support and containment element 2 during its return to the inner position I inside the corner piece of furniture 3.

The support and containment element 2 has a plan extension such as to allow the surface of the support and containment element 2 to be maximized, as a function of the displacement to be performed during the transition from the inner position I to the outer position E with respect to the corner piece of furniture, and vice versa. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the displacement device 1 could comprise means for assisting the return of the displacement device 1 during the insertion of the support and containment element 2 inside the corner piece of furniture 3.

These assisted return means are generally indicated with 48 (see Figures 4 to 8). In particular, the return means 48 control the displacement of the displacement device 1 during the return phase of the support and containment element 2 inside the corner piece of furniture 3.

The return means 48 are provided for controlling, in particular the final step of displacing the support and containment element 2 during its insertion inside the corner piece of furniture 3, in order to avoid collisions following an abrupt reaching of the end-of-travel position, in which the support and containment element 2 is located completely inside the corner piece of furniture 3, i.e., inner position I.

The return means 48 comprises a jaw member which has a fixed portion 49 and a moveable portion 50 connected mutually rotating.

The fixed portion 49 can be connected to the bracket 22 in a removable manner, by means of suitable fastening means 51, for example screws.

The moveable portion 50 is connected rotating to the fixed portion 49 about a rotation axis 52, between an initial configuration and a final configuration, and vice versa.

According to a version of the present invention, the moveable portion 50 is configured as an elongated member, pivoted at one end thereof to the fixed portion 49.

The return means 48 comprise actuation means 53, interposed between the fixed portion 49 and the moveable portion 50 and operatively connected thereto.

The actuation means 53 are configured to control the displacement of the moveable portion 50 relative to the fixed portion 49 between a final configuration and an initial configuration.

According to a version of the present invention, the actuation means 53 can be of the single-acting type, of variable length, such as for example a gas spring.

According to a further version of the present invention, the actuation means 53 can be of the double-acting type.

The actuation means 53 have a substantially elongated shape and are connected at one of their first ends 54 to the fixed portion 49 and at a second end 55, opposite to the first one, to the moveable portion 50.

In particular, the actuation means 53 are connected rotatably both to the fixed portion 49 and to the moveable portion 50.

The return means 48 can be moved between an initial configuration (see Figure 5), wherein the moveable portion 50 is positioned away from the fixed portion 49, and a final configuration (see Figures 6 and 7), wherein the moveable portion 50 is placed at the fixed portion 49, and vice versa.

In the initial configuration, the return means 48 are ready to control the return of the support and containment element 2 inside the corner piece of furniture 3. The displacement of the moveable portion 50 with respect to the fixed portion 49 is controlled by the second guide 19, by means of an engagement element 56 suitable for selectively engaging a respective profiled seat 57 formed along the moveable portion 50 (with reference, for example, to Figure 5) .

More specifically, the engagement element 56, which by way of example can be configured as a pin having a rounded end, is associated with the second guide 19 so as to protrude below it.

The engagement between the engagement element 56 and the profiled seat 57 made in the moveable portion 50 occurs at least along a section of the angular stroke of the second guide 19.

In detail, it is noted that the displacement means 1 are configured in such a way that the second guide 19 performs a compound rotation motion, determined by the effects of a revolution displacement of the second guide 19 about the first rotation axis 15, and by the effects of a rotation motion of the second guide 19 about the sixth rotation axis 43.

In practice, during the displacement of the support and containment element 2 from the inner position I to the outer position E inside the corner piece of furniture, the sixth rotation axis 43 travels a path equal to a circumferential arc about the first axis of rotation 15 defined by the support column 11.

According to a version of the present invention, the profiled seat 57 has an open end 58, through which the engagement element 56 can enter or exit.

According to a version of the present invention, the second guide 19 interacts with the moveable portion 50 of the return means 48, through the engagement element 56, only during a pre-established section of its angular stroke.

For example, when the return means 48 are placed in the initial configuration, i.e., with the support and containment element 2 placed outside the corner piece of furniture 3 (see Figures 1, 3 and 8), the engagement element 56 begins to engage the profiled seat 56 of the moveable portion 49.

With the return means 48 placed in the final configuration, the mobile portion 50 is instead abutted on the fixed portion 49.

With the support and containment element 2 placed in the inner position I inside the corner piece of furniture 3, and by displacing it towards the outer position E, the rotation of the second guide 19 and, consequently, the displacement of the engagement element 56 associated therewith take place. The latter, during its displacement, determines the displacement of the moveable portion 50 away from the fixed portion 49, causing the rotation of the first one relative to second about the rotation axis 52.

Consequently, the actuation means 53 are loaded by displacing them from an initial rest configuration to a final configuration, in which the actuation means 53 are loaded.

Proceeding on the contrary, the engagement element 56 engages the profiled seat 57 along a portion of the angular stroke of the second guide 19, causing the moveable portion 50 to rotate towards the fixed portion 49 and, simultaneously, determining the activation of the actuation means 53, which control the displacement of the moveable portion 50, causing in fact the second guide 19 inside the corner piece of furniture 3 and, consequently, the support and containment element 2 associated therewith to be returned.

The actuation means 53, when they are operationally connected by the engagement element 56 to the second guide 19, determine the automatic displacement of the latter along a pre-established angular stroke section, in fact automatically returning the support element and containment 2 inside the corner piece of furniture 3.

The engagement element 56 can be engaged in the profiled seat 57 of the mobile portion 50 to determine a kinematic mechanism of the cam follower type or the like.

Therefore, through a suitable design of the profiled seat 57 it is possible to obtain a desired, possibly variable, displacement ratio between the rotation of the second guide 19, to which the engagement element 56 and the rotation of the moveable portion 50 are connected.

As mentioned above, the return means 48 are connected removably to the bracket 22.

More precisely, the return means 48 can be connected to a right side or to a left side of the bracket 22 according to the assembly configuration, respectively right D or left S configurations of the displacement device 1 to which they are associated.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the engagement element 56 is moveable relative to the second guide 19, along a vertical direction, so as to be able to at least partially re-enter inside it.

In this regard, the second guide 19 has a housing 58 for the engagement element 56.

According to this version, elastic means are provided, not illustrated in detail in the accompanying figures, suitable for maintaining the engagement element 56 in the extracted position outside the second guide 19.

The mobility of the engagement element 56 in the vertical direction allows to automatically reset the return means 48 in the context of a solution capable of guaranteeing a correct operation.

In practice, the elastic means maintain the engagement element 56 in a position at least partly extracted from the second guide 19 to allow the engagement with the profiled seat 57.

Nevertheless, given that the elastic means are resilient in nature, they allow the engagement element 56 to move in the vertical direction and, if necessary, to at least partially re-enter the second guide 19.

If during the actuation of the return means 48 the engagement element 56 accidentally comes out of the profiled seat 57, it is possible to bring the latter inside the profiled seat 57 simply by acting on the support and containment element 2 in order to move the second guide 19. In fact, it is possible to semi-automatically re-insert the engagement element 56 inside the profiled seat 57 by extracting the support and containment element 2 from the corner piece of furniture and, therefore, reinserting the support and containment element 2 inside the corner piece of furniture.

During the rotation of the second guide 19, at a predetermined section of the angular stroke of the second guide 19 itself, the engagement element 56 moves against the moveable portion 50.

The moveable portion 50 has at least one inclined portion 58' which substantially acts as a chute or ramp for the engagement element 56 (see the detail view of Figure 7).

In particular, the moveable portion 50 has two mutually opposite inclined portions 58', to allow the use on both sides (right assembly D or left S).

By continuing to rotate the second guide 19 towards the inside of the corner piece of furniture 3, the displacement of the engagement element 56 is determined along the at least one inclined portion 58', causing the relative sliding thereof.

During the sliding along the at least one inclined portion 58', the engagement element 56 is at least partially inside the second guide 19. The engagement member 56 maintains a contact against the at least one inclined portion 58' by the elastic means, which act in thrust against the engagement member 56.

As soon as the engagement element 56 is placed near the profiled seat 57, facing the same, the elastic means push the engagement element 56 inside the profiled seat 57, to engage the engagement element 56 with the mobile portion 50 of the return means 48.

As mentioned above, a relevant aspect of the displacement device 1 according to the present invention refers to the possibility of assembling said device both in a right assembly configuration D, to be used in a corner piece of furniture 3 which has a decentered opening at right, and in a left assembly configuration S, to be used in a corner piece of furniture which has an opening decentered leftwards, without any limitation.

In this regard, it is noted that the right D or left S assembly configurations of the displacement device 1 can be obtained by overturning some of the components of the device itself by 180° with respect to a horizontal plane PO.

In particular, the horizontal plane PO is transverse, or rather perpendicular, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the support column 11 (see Figure 5). In fact, the right assembly configuration D and the left assembly configuration S of the displacement device 1 are arranged mirror-like with respect to the central vertical plane PV identified by the support column 11 (see the scheme in Figure 10).

To allow the assembly of the displacement device 1 in a right D or left S assembly configuration, it is noted that the displacing means 16 have connections with the support column 11 and with the support and containment element 2 of symmetrical type.

As mentioned above, by reversing the connection between the displacing means 16 and the support column 11 by 180° with respect to the horizontal plane PO, it is possible to realize the right D or left S assembly configuration for the displacement device 1.

The installation of at least one displacement device 1 inside a corner piece of furniture 3 is practical and easy to carry out, regardless of the position of the decentered opening 9 in the corner piece of furniture 3.

The right D or left S assembly configurations of the displacement device 1 differ from each other, as well as for the orientation of the displacing means 16 also as regards the orientation of the surface of the support and containment element 2 on which the first connection point 27 and the second connection point 45 lie.

In particular, the first connection point 27 and the second connection point 45 can both be provided on a first surface 59 of the support and containment element 2 or on a second surface 60 thereof.

The first surface 59 and the second surface 60 are opposite to each other.

With the displacement device 1 in the right assembly configuration D, the first connection point 27 and the second connection point 45 are made in the first surface 59, which is lower, while the second surface 60 is oriented upwards and acts as a support surface (see Figure 3).

On the contrary, with the displacement device 1 in the left assembly configuration S, the first connection point 27 and the second connection point 45 are made along the second surface 60, which is lower, while the first surface 59 is upper and acts as a support surface (see Figure 10).

To allow the assembly of the displacement device 1 both in the right D and the left S assembly configurations, the guides 17 have respective ends 26 and 44 configured to be associable with the support and containment element 2 in the respective connection points 27 and 45 from both sides.

In other words, even by overturning the guides 17 by 180° with respect to a horizontal plane PO the ends 26, 44 can be associated with the support and containment element 2 at the connection points 27 and 45.

To allow the correct alignment of the displacing means 16 along the support column 11, it is noted that the displacing means 16 and more precisely the first guide 18 and the second guide 19 are associated with the sleeve 21, centrally located between the opposite ends of the sleeve 21 itself.

Therefore, even the rotating of the sleeve 21 by 180° with respect to the horizontal plane PO transverse to the support column 11 does not change the relative vertical distance between the guides 17 and the bracket 22 on which the sleeve 21 abuts against.

In this way, the correct operation of the displacement device 1 is ensured, both in the right D and in the left S assembly configurations, as part of a solution which is easy to use and assemble.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the support and containment element 2 can comprise a rail 61.

The rail 61 defines a side barrier near the perimeter edge of the at least one containment element 2 to prevent the articles resting on the containment element 2 from being fallen, in use, during its displacement between an inner position I and an outer position E, and vice versa.

The rail 61 is operatively associated with the support and containment element 2 by means of tiltable type connection means 62.

In particular, the tiltable connection means 62 are configured to allow the rail 61 to be connected both to the first surface 59 and to the second surface 60 of the support and containment element 2.

In practice, the rail 61 and the tiltable connection means 62 are configured to be used with the displacement device 1 in the right D or left S assembly configuration.

In fact, therefore, it is not necessary to make a specific rail 61 according to the assembly configuration used for the displacement device 1, in the context of a solution characterized by a high flexibility of use and an overall reduction of the number of components necessary to allow the assembly of the displacement device 1 in the right D or left S assembly configuration.

With reference to the accompanying figures, according to a version of the present invention, the rail 61 can be provided by at least one wire-like element 63.

The wire-like element 63 can be shaped in order to reproduce substantially the same plan configuration of the support and containment element 2 (see Figures 1, 3 and 8).

It is understood that the rail 61 could also comprise two or more wire-like elements 63 arranged in succession one above the other, in a spaced position, without limitation to the purposes of the present invention.

The at least one wire-like element 63 can be made of metal, such as aluminium or the like, or from a metal alloy.

With reference to Figure 12, the tiltable connection means 62 comprise at least one plurality of connection elements each comprising a body 64 provided with a lower appendix 65 for connecting the body 64 with the support and containment element 2.

The body 64 has at least one through seat 66 for housing a portion of the at least one wire-like element 63 to be associated with the support and containment element 2.

The lower appendix 65 is configured as a pin or the like to engage a respective through seat made in the support and containment element 2. In particular, it is noted that the support and containment element 2 has a plurality of through seats made at its perimetric edge.

Once the lower appendix 65 has been inserted inside a respective through seat made in the support and containment element 2, it can be fixed therein by means of a screw or a similar retention element suitable for mutually connecting the lower appendix 65 and the support and containment element 2.

The body 64 comprises a first portion 67 and a second portion 68, which can be connected to each other removably.

By way of example, the first portion 67 and the second portion 68 can be connected to each other by means of a shape coupling, an interlocking or a snap connection, or the like, without any limitation.

According to a version of the present invention, at least one of the first portion 67 and the second portion 68 comprises at least one relief suitable for delimit the through seat 66.

In practice, to connect the at least one wire-like element 63 of the rail 61 to the support and containment element 2, the one of the portions 67, 68 of the body 64 having at least one relief at a pre-established portion of the wire-like element 63 is placed.

In particular, a portion of the wire-like element 63 is placed inside the relief present in the first or second portion 67, 68 of the body 64 and, therefore, the wire-like element 63 is fastened to the body 64 itself mutually connecting the other between the first and second portions 67, 68, effectively closing the wirelike element 63 inside the body 64.

The tiltable connection means 62 can be used to connect the rail 61 to the support and containment member 2 in the right D or left S assembly configuration, without any limitation. The attached Figure 13 illustrates a scheme of the connection of the rail 61 to a support and containment element 2 in the right assembly configuration D.

In the attached Figure 13, the tiltable connection means 62 comprise six bodies 64, although it is intended that further versions with a greater or smaller number of bodies 64 are possible, without any limitation.

The displacement device 1 can comprise at least one reference element 69 to be applied on the guides 17, according to the right D or left S assembly configuration chosen for the displacement device 1.

According to a version of the present invention, the reference elements 69 can be configured to define the orientation of the displacement device 1 during its use. For example, the reference elements 69 may have writings or references to be applied at the ends 26 and 44 of the guides 17.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, at least one template 70 may be provided to allow the correct positioning of the first flange 46 and of the second flange 47 relative to the support and containment element 2 depending on whether the latter is used in a displacement device 1 assembled in the right D or left S assembly configuration.

Therefore, it is possible to realize support and containment element 2 that can potentially be used both in a displacement device 1 in the right assembly configuration D and in the left assembly configuration S, without requiring the production of specific components in a right and in a left version.

This leads to the possibility of realizing a single support and containment element 2, which can be used in corner pieces of furniture 3, which have a left, or opening decentered rightwards, without any limitation.

In practice, if the support and containment element 2 is used in a corner piece of furniture 3 which has an opening decentered rightwards, the at least one template 70 is applied to the first surface 60, providing a reference for the correct positioning the first flange 46 and the second flange 47 along said surface 60 of the support and containment element 2.

As mentioned above, the first flange 46 and the second flange 47 can respectively bear the first connection point 27 and the second connection point 45 between the guides 17 and the support and containment element 2.

The correct positioning of the first flange 46 and of the second flange 47 along the support and containment element 2 determines a correct operation of the displacement device 1, ensuring to meet the pre-established geometry of the articulated quadrilateral A, B, C, D.

According to a version of the present invention, the at least one template 70 has at least a reference portion 71 suitable for abutting against a portion of the side 72 of the support and containment element 2 and at least a first abutment pass-through opening 73 suitable for housing at least one between the first flange 46 and the second flange 47.

If the displacement device 1 comprises assisted return means 48, they can be of the tiltable type, in order to be used in a displacement device 1 both in the right D and in the left S assembly configurations, without any limitation.

In this regard, it is noted that the return means 48 placed in the right D or left S assembly configuration are arranged mirror-like with respect to the vertical plane PV.

In particular, the fixed portion 49 of the return means 48 has a connection portion configured for the connection to a left side or to a right side of the bracket 22 with connection positions that are arranged mirror-like (see Figure 10).

According to this embodiment, the moveable portion 50 can have a profiled seat 57 accessible from both the upper and lower sides in use of the moveable portion 50 itself.

According to this embodiment, the moveable portion 50 can have, along the profiled seat 57, a stiffening element, such as a horizontal partition 74, able to equally divide the space inside the profiled seat 57 and ensure the required mechanical resistance to the moveable portion 50 itself (see Figure 7).

The return means 48, having a moveable portion 50 in which the profiled seat 57 is accessible from both sides, can in fact be used in the displacement device 1 both in the right D or left S assembly configuration, without any limitation.

Likewise, by reversing the position of the return means 48 between a right D or left S assembly configuration, the relative connecting position of the engagement element 56 and the second guide 19 must be reversed, so as to allow the correct engagement between the engagement element 56 and the profiled seating 57 according to the selected assembly configuration.

The following is a brief description of the assembly of a device 1 for displacing a corner piece of furniture 3 which has an opening decentered rightwards 9.

Initially, a corner piece of furniture 3 is provided, which has a decentered opening 9.

Next, the displacement device in its right assembly configuration D (Figure 10) is configured.

In use, with the displacement device 1 placed in the right assembly configuration D, the leverage 38 is positioned to the right of the sleeve 21 fitted to the support column 11. On the contrary, in the left assembly configuration, the leverage 38 is positioned to the left of the support column 11.

Then at least one displacement device 1 is associated to the support column 11, fitting the sleeve 21 along the same.

Subsequently, the support column 11 is connected to the corner piece of furniture 3.

At least one support and containment element 2 is provided to be connected to the guides 17 of the displacement device 1.

In order to provide the connection points 27 and 45 along the support and containment element 2, a template 69 is provided, by which it is possible to correctly position the first flange 46 and the second flange 47 to be connected to the support and containment element 2 itself.

In the case of the displacement device 1 provided in the right assembly configuration D, the first flange 46 and the second flange 47 are associated with the first surface 59 of the support and containment element 2.

The rail 61 is then connected against the first surface 59.

After connecting the first flange 46 and the second flange 47 respectively to the support and containment element 2, the latter is connected to the guides 17.

If they are provided, return means 48 can be provided, connecting them to the flange 22. According to a further aspect of the present invention, it is noted that the displacement device 1 comprises guides 17, which have a reduced size with reference to their extension along the vertical direction in use.

In this way, it is possible to provide a number of displacement devices 1 subsequently stacked together along the support column 11.

From the foregoing it is clear that the displacement device 1 according to the present invention is able to achieve the intended purposes.

In particular, the displacement device 1 can be assembled in a the right D or left S assembly configuration, simply by reversing the positioning of the guides 17 with respect to a horizontal plane PO and providing respective connection points on the first surface 59 or on the second surface 60 of the support and containment element 2.

The displacement device 1 according to the present invention can therefore be used in corner pieces of furniture, which have a decentered opening on the right or on the left, within a flexible use solution capable of reducing the manufacturing costs.

Moreover, since specific components for the assembly in the right D or left configuration S are not to be produced, then the displacement device 1 is a solution capable of reducing the management costs by a manufacturer.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the inventive concept.

Further, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials employed, as well as the shapes and the dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of protection of the following claims.