IMPROVED ROTOTRANSLATION MECHANISM OF A SHUTTER OF A CONTAINMENT ELEMENT

The present invention refers to an improved rototranslation mechanism of a shutter of a containment element, such as for example a domestic space or otherwise .

With the terms "domestic containment element" it is intended cupboards, wardrobes, divider wall systems etc. inside of which clothing such as jackets, coats, etc. is generally put back.

Nevertheless, the rototranslation mechanism according to the invention can also be applied to closure shutters of non-domestic spaces. Such containment elements usually comprise one or more holes, below called "openings", through which a user can access the inner volume of the element by means of the movement of a particular closure/opening element, called "shutter" below. As said, such shutters are thus movable and provided with a relative kinematic mechanism for connecting with the rest of the structure of the container element, so as to selectively assume a closed position in which the inner volume of the containment element is not accessible, and an open position in which it is possible to access the items contained in the container element itself.

One particular shutter type that is quite widespread today is that provided with a "rotational" kinematic opening mechanism corresponding with that normally used for the doors . According to such embodiment, the shutters are fixed to the side of the container opening by means of the vertical hinges, around which the shutter rotates. However, such rotatable shutters, while quite widespread, have the drawback of subjecting the aforesaid hinges to a high level of torsional stress which can cause frequent breaks of the shutter itself . In addition, such rotatable shutters disadvantageousIy require that a wide "manoeuvring" space is left free near the opening, so to allow the shutter to carry out its circular opening and closing trajectory without impediments .

In order to overcome such wide "manoeuvring" space problem, other shutter types are widespread today, called "sliding" shutters, in which the kinematic opening and closing mechanism is described with a rectilinear trajectory, parallel to the container. However, even this embodiment has several drawbacks, including that of requiring, on the ground or in raised position, the presence of guides for the movement of the shutters.

In such case, the opening of the related container is not totally accessible, since it could be hazardous and/or have obstacles for the users.

In addition, disadvantageousIy, generally in closed position the shutters are not found flush with the adjoining elements, such as the lateral walls or other shutters of the container, but are instead situated on offset planes.

Up to now, other shutter types are also used, called "book" shutters. DisadvantageousIy, in open position, due to their folding conformation, they partially occupy the opening of the container, creating an obstacle for the user.

In such embodiment, therefore, the complete accessibility to the inner volume of the container is jeopardised, along with the possibility of arranging further furniture parts, such as drawers and the like, in the portion of the container "hidden" by the shutter in open position. The general object of the present invention is that of resolving the drawbacks mentioned above of the prior art in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional manner.

Another object is that of making an improved rotatranslation mechanism of a shutter of a containment

- A -

element which ensures an optimal exploitation of the space close to the container.

Another object is that of making an improved rototranslation mechanism of a shutter of a domestic containment element which has a kinetic opening and closing mechanism that is continuous, stable and with little bulk.

Another object is that of making an improved rototranslation mechanism of a shutter of a domestic containment element comprising a group for locking the shutter itself in the closed position.

In view of the aforesaid objects, according to the present invention, it was thought to achieve an improved rototranslation mechanism of a shutter of a domestic containment element, preferably but not necessarily domestic, having the characteristics set forth in the attached claims.

The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with regard to the prior art will be clearer from an examination of the following description, referred to the attached drawings, which show an improved rototranslation mechanism of a shutter of a domestic containment element made according to the innovative principles of the invention itself. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a domestic containment element provided with an improved rototranslation mechanism of a shutter according to the present invention in a closed position; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the domestic containment element of figure 1 in an open position;

Figure 3 is a top view of another domestic containment element provided with an improved rototranslation mechanism of a shutter according to the present invention in a closed position;

- Figure 4 is a top view of the domestic containment element of figure 3 in an open position;

- Figure 5 is a top view of the domestic containment element of figure 3 in an intermediate position, between open and closed positions;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a component of the improved rototranslation mechanism according to the present invention;

- Figure 7 is a section view of the component of the improved rototranslation mechanism of figure 6, assembled;

- Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of another component of the improved rototranslation mechanism according to the present invention;

- Figure 9 is a section view of the component of the improved rototranslation mechanism of figure 8, assembled;

- Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of figure 1;

- Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view of another detail of the improved rototranslation mechanism according to the present invention;

- Figure 12 is a front view of the detail of figure 11; - Figures 13a- 13c are schematic views of the functioning of the detail of figure 11;

Figures 14 and 15 -15b are perspective views of several elements of the improved rototranslation mechanism according to the present invention; - Figure 16 is a section view of the elements of figures 14 and 15-15b, assembled;

- Figures 17 -17c are top views of the various mutual positions that can be assumed by the elements of figures 14 and 15-15b; and - Figures 18-18d are perspective views of the various mounting and fixing steps of the elements of figures 14 and 15 -15b.

With reference to the drawings, a domestic containment element 103 is shown, provided with an improved rototranslation mechanism of at least one shutter 102 according to the present invention.

With the terms "domestic containment element" , it is intended cupboards, wardrobes, dividing wall systems, divider element systems etc., in which generally clothes such as jackets, coats, etc. are put away. In the following description, reference will be made to a shutter 102 and to the related rototranslation mechanism, but, according to the present invention, containment elements can also be provided for comprising more than a single shutter 102 and, consequently, more than one rototranslation mechanism.

In particular, according to the present invention, the abovementioned rototranslation mechanism of the shutter 102 of the domestic containment element 103 comprises at least three connected elements pivoted at their ends and arranged between the movable shutter 102 and other fixed portions of the containment element 103, such as the upper wall 104 or a side wall 101.

According to the invention, the shutter 102 is movable in a rototranslating manner starting from a closed position, in which it is found flush with the lateral walls 101 of the containment element 103 and in which the rototranslation mechanism is entirely housed inside the containment element itself 103, up to an open position in which the shutter 102 is in a parallel and lateral position with respect to that assumed in closed

position, such to completely free the opening of the container 103.

In such final position, therefore, the opening occupied by the shutter 102 in closed position is totally freed, and the user is thus allowed to access the entire inner volume of the containment element 103 without any encumbrance or impediment, with complete security and ease.

The aforesaid open and closed configurations of the containment element 103 are respectively shown in the figures 2 and 1, in which the walls of the containment element 103 and the shutter 102 are shown transparent for reasons of clarity.

As can be easily noted in figure 1, in the closed configuration the rototranslation mechanism is advantageously fully housed inside the containment element 103.

In particular, the rototranslation mechanism according to the present invention comprises at least one shaped rod element 11 and at least a first and a second rectilinear rod element 33 and 34.

Both the at least one shaped rod 11 and the first and the second rectilinear element 33, 34 are rotatably bound to one end to the shutter 102 and at the other end to other fixed portions of the containment element

103.

As is visible in figure 6, the at least one rod element 11 is L- shaped and is bound on one side to a lateral wall 101 of the containment element 103 and on the other side to the shutter 102. Preferably, as is visible in figures 1 and 2, the rototranslation mechanism according to the present invention comprises two rod elements 11 respectively placed in a raised and lowered position of the container 103. The aforesaid rod elements 11 each comprise a first and a second end in which the first ends are rotatably constrained to the aforesaid lateral wall 101 by means of a vertical ball pin, while the second ends are coaxialIy and rotatably mounted on a common vertical shaft 20, in turn connected to the shutter 102 by means of two vertical sleeves.

During the opening and closing of the shutter 102, the shaped rods 11 realize a rotation around the abovementioned vertical ball pins. According to a preferred embodiment, such vertical ball pins each comprise a fixed constraint portion 15 from which, on the rear part, two pin elements 14, 14' are extended adapted to be coupled with related holes made on the lateral wall 101 of the containment element 103, and two vertical shafts 12, 12', partially inserted on

opposite sides both in the first end of the rod element 11 and in the fixed portion 15.

As is visible in figure 7, therefore, the shaped rods 11 are free to rotate around the aforesaid two vertical shafts 12, 12' .

In order to ensure such rotations without great forces being required, two balls 22, 23 are also provided for, arranged between the ends of the two vertical shafts 12, 12' and the fixed portion 15 inside the shaped rod 11. Between the two vertical shafts 12, 12' an elastic pin 21 is provided for which accomplishes the function of transmitting the load of the shaped rods 11 to the fixed portion 15 through the vertical shaft 12, 12' and the balls 22, 23. As said above, the second ends of the shaped rod elements 11 are mounted on a common shaft 20 which is in turn fixed to the shutter 102 by means of two vertical sleeves. As is visible in figure 8, such vertical sleeves comprise a first constraining portion 17 fixable to the inner wall of the shutter 102 and a second portion 16 that can be coupled to the aforesaid first portion 17 and provided with a housing, in which the shaft 20 is rotatably mounted. Each of these vertical sleeves also preferably comprises a tightening ring 18 and an abutment bushing

19 which is interposed between the second end of the rod 11 and the tightening ring 18.

A friction dowel of the shutter rotation acts on said bushing 19, such dowel screwed, as schematised by the arrow F, within a threaded seat S made in the aforesaid portion 16.

According to the invention, the rototranslation mechanism comprises a first and second rectilinear rod element 33, 34 which are extended parallel to each other from a substantially central portion of the upper wall 104 of the containment element 103, near the shutter 102, up to a substantially lateral peripheral portion of the shutter 102. In particular, the first and the second rectilinear rod element 33, 34 are connected in a rotatable manner to the upper wall 104 and to the shutter 102 of the containment element 103 around the different vertical rotation axes . As is visible in figure 10, according to the invention, the first ends of the aforesaid first and second rectilinear rod elements 33, 34 are rotatably constrained to the upper wall 104 at different points and at different heights with respect to the upper wall 104 itself. Analogously, the second ends of the aforesaid first and second rectilinear rod element 33, 34 are constrained

to the shutter 102 at different points and at different heights .

By virtue of such different connection points placed at different heights, it is achieved that during the rototranslational opening and closing movement of the shutter 102, the first and the second rectilinear rod element 33, 34 are superimposed at one point, mutually- exchanging their position. Such kinematic mechanism is schematised in figures 3-5, by means of the articulated quadrilateral 30, which is defined by a first side 31, constrained in a substantially central portion of an upper wall 104 of the containment element 103 near the shutter 102, a second side 32, bound to the shutter 102 in a substantially lateral peripheral portion of the same 102, a third 33 and a fourth 34 side rotatably constrained at a first end to the first side 31 and at a second end to the second side 32. According to that described above, therefore, the third 33 and fourth 34 sides coincide with the mentioned first and the second rectilinear rod element 33, 34. According to that described above, therefore, and as shown in figures 3-5 by the trajectories 43 and 44, during the opening of the shutter 102 the first and the second rectilinear rod element 33, 34 are superimposed at a point, mutually exchanging their position.

In fact, as is seen in figure 3, with the shutter 102 closed, the second rectilinear rod element 34 is found to the right of the first rectilinear rod element 33, while with the shutter 102 open, figure 5, the second rectilinear rod element 34 is found to the left of the first rectilinear rod element 33.

Such kinematic mechanism is allowed, as seen in the enlarged detail of figure 10, due to the fact that, as stated above, the first and the second rectilinear rod elements 33, 34 are constrained at different heights with respect to the wall 104 and to the shutter 102. Advantageously, in such a manner one confers considerably stability to the kinematic opening and closing mechanism of the shutter 102, even near positions of maximum opening and closing, where from time to time either the first or the second rectilinear rod element 33, 34 stably guides the rototranslating trajectory of the shutter 102. Finally, the rototranslation mechanism, subject of the present invention, advantageously comprises a group for locking the shutter 102 in the previously described closed position.

Such locking group, visible according to a preferred embodiment in the perspective figure 11 and in the front view 12, comprises a tooth element 50, associated with the at least one shaped rod element 11 near its

end bound to the lateral wall 101 on the side facing the side wall 101 itself, and a hook 51, sprung, it too constrained to the lateral wall 101 in a position such to collaborate, in closed shutter 102 position, with the aforesaid tooth element 50, in order to retain the shaped rod 11.

As is visible in figures 11-13C, the sprung hook 51 projects towards the shaped rod 11 from a case 54 fixed to the lateral wall 101 and is moreover rotatably connected to the lateral wall 101 itself by means of a vertical pin 52.

According to the invention, the presence is also provided of two preloaded springs 53 acting from the lateral surface 101 on the hook 51. As shown in figures 13a-13c, both the vertical pin 52 and the preloaded springs 53 are contained inside the case 54.

The functioning of such locking group of the shutter 102 rototranslation is schematically shown in the sequence of figures 13a-13c.

According to the invention, the sprung hook 51 is movable between a first rest position, figure 13a, in which the at least one shutter 102 is open and the hook 51 is thrust in abutment against a portion of the case 54 by the preloaded springs 53, and a second work position, figure 13c, in which the at least one shutter

102 is closed and the hook 51 is in a rotated position, with respect to the rest position, and in engagement with the tooth element 50 due to preloaded springs 53 so as to retain the shaped rod 11. In order to go from the first rest position, figure 13a, to the aforesaid second work position, figure 13c, due to the shape of the tooth 50 and the hook 51, the hook 51 itself undergoes a maximum excursion during an intermediate step, shown in figure 13b, in which the related vertices of the tooth 50 and the hook 51 come into contact.

By manually pushing the shutter 102 beyond such condition, still due to the shape of the tooth 50 and the hook 51, hook 51 retains the shaped rod 11, preventing its free return to the position of figure 13b, beyond which there is no closing force acting on the opening shutter 102.

Advantageously, such passage point, .shown in figure 13b and as described above beyond which the shutter 102 is stably maintained closed, can be easily surpassed by manually operating on the shutter 102 itself. It is clear, therefore, that such locking group of the shutter 102 in closed position does not require any additional force of the user during the movement of the shutter 102 itself and moreover maintains the domestic

containment element 103 on which it is installed firmly- closed.

The rototranslation mechanism, subject of the present invention, can also comprise adjustment precision means of the depth of the shutter 102 in closed position with respect to the rest of the containment element 103. In fact, it can happen that, with a containment element mounted and loaded, the shutter 102 can either result slightly open, i.e. outwardly tilted, or slightly closed, i.e. inwardly tilted, even if with unloaded furniture the same shutter 102 had assumed an optimal configuration, aligned with the rest of the containment element 103. In order to overcome such drawback, the aforesaid adjustment means are provided for in the present invention for adjusting the depth of the shutter 102. These are known as precision means since they allow an adjustment of several degrees of the shutter 102 position for the above-described problems. According to a preferred embodiment, these adjustment means of the shutter 102 depth comprise a first support element 61, fixable to the vertical shaft 20, and a second grip element 60 fixable to the shaped rod 11. In particular, the first and the second elements 60, 61 can be coupled together in a movable manner, so to impart, by means of a manual rotation of the second

grip element 60, a rotation of the vertical shaft 20 with respect to the shaped rod element 11 and then, consequently, a rotation to the shutter 102 in closed position with respect to the rest of the containment element 103.

As seen in figures 14 and 15-15b, the first support element 61 comprises a rear horizontal pin portion 62, associable with a hole 66 of the vertical shaft 20 in a position close to the shaped rod 11, and a front portion provided with a through slot 63.

The second grip element 60, on the other hand, comprises an upper vertical pin shaped portion 65, associable in a hole 66' of the shaped rod element 11, and a lower grip portion 64, possibly grooved in order to facilitate the manual rotation and movement of the second element 60 itself.

As is visible in figure 14, the circular base 67 shaped for being associated with the through slot 63 of the first support element 61 is shaped in an eccentric position with respect to the pin-shaped upper portion 65. In order to ensure the coupling of the first support element 61 to the second grip element 60, retaining means 70, 71 are provided for, such as a hook element 70 projecting from the first support element 61 capable of being engaged in a crescent- shaped hole 71 of the second grip element 60.

In such a manner, during the rotation of the second grip element 60 with respect to the first support element 61, also the crescent 71 will be able to rotate on the hook 70, constantly retaining the second grip element 60 constrained.

The mounting and functioning steps of such adjustment means of the shutter 102 depth can be clearly inferred from the figures 18-18d and 17 -17c, in which such means during mounting and the various positions that the same can assume once mounted for adjusting the depth of the shutter 102 are respectively shown.

The section of figure 16 shows the coupling of the first and second element 60, 61 in the position of figure 17b, in which the centre of the circular base 65 is aligned with the horizontal axis 80 of the second element 61 and the hook 70 is in middle position of the aforesaid crescent 71.

From such configuration, by rotating the grip 64, the eccentric circular base 67 of the pin 65 is rotated in the slot 63, hence the component 61 realizes the lateral movements .

In other words, during the possible rotations of the grip 64, the eccentric circular base 67 is displaced from the horizontal axis 80 identified in the rest position fig. 17b, figures 17 and 17c in which the hook 70 is in a peripheral position of the crescent 71, and

since the pin 65 itself is necessarily inserted in the shaped rod 11 during the aforesaid movements, a rotation is imparted to the tube 20 on its axis and consequently also a small rotation is also imparted to the shutter 102 with respect to the other elements of the container element 103.

The rotation sense uniquely derives from the rotation sense of the grip 64.

Consequently, by operating on the grip 64, it is possible to achieve precision adjustment of the depth of the shutter 102 in closed position with respect to the rest of the containment element 103.

Once the desired position is identified, locking means

73, 72 are provided for of the shaft 20 with respect to the shaped rod element 11, such as threaded elements

73, movable by means of suitable tools 72 such as an

Allen screw, operating on a slot 82 connected with the housing hole of the shaft 20.

Proceeding with the screwing of the threaded elements 73, the shaped arm 11 in made integral with the shaft

20 and then the adjustment is fixed in the desired position by constraining the shutter 102 in the achieved closure configuration.

From that described above and with reference to the figures, it is evident how the rototranslation mechanism of the shutter 102 of the domestic

containment element 103 according to the invention is useful and advantageous.

The object mentioned in the description preamble is thus achieved. Of course, the improved rototranslation mechanism of the shutter 102 of the domestic containment element 103 according to the invention can be different from that shown as a non- limiting example in the drawings, as the materials can also be different. The protective scope of the invention is therefore delimited by the attached claims.