The present invention relates to a release- preventing system for wall cupboards hooked to a fixed wall support, generally a suitably shaped metal bar or plate.

As is well known to experts in the field, a system for constraining a cupboard to the wall envisages the use of a cupboard holding device (wall brackets) comprising a hook which extends behind through the cover (if present) of the same cupboard, to be freely hooked to the above bar or plate fixed to the wall.

Cupboard holding devices of this kind are known for example from patents EP 0033179 Bl and EP 0632979 Al.

If direct forces are applied to the cupboard from the bottom upwards, the same can become unhooked from the support and fall, causing damage, at times serious, not only to objects but above all to people.

This possibility is currently even more probable as there is the increasingly frequent custom of also assem- bling wall cupboards at relatively low heights from the floor, which increases the above risk of accidental unhooking, especially on the part of children.

Furthermore, safety regulations have entered and are entering into force in various countries, which oblige the use of accidental release-preventing systems associ- ated with wall cupboards.

A general objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a release-preventing system for wall cupboards, hooked to a fixed wall support, for example a shaped metallic bar, which safely prevents the undesired unhooking of said cupboard from said bar.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a release-preventing system which is constructively simple and which does not complicate the assembly of the wall cupboard.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a release-preventing system which can be easily unlaced, i.e. which allows the cupboard to be easily and rapidly dissembled from the wall, in the case of necessity. The above objectives are achieved, according to the invention, by a release-preventing system as defined in the enclosed main claim and subclaims.

The structural and functional characteristics of the invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will appear more evident from the following description, referring to the enclosed drawings, which show different possible embodiments of release-preventing systems for wall cupboards according to the innovative principles of the same invention. In the drawings: figure 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of a release-preventing system according to the invention; figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the sys- tern of figure 1 assembled; figures 3 and 4 are two views illustrating the system of figures 1, 2 associated with a wall cupboard in the hooking phase of the cupboard to a bar fixed to the wall; figures 5-8 are views illustrating the system of figures 3, 4 in the activation phases of the release- preventing system in the blocking position of the cupboard to the wall; figures 9, 10 are two views similar to figures 1, 2 illustrating a second possible embodiment of a release- preventing system according to the invention; figures 11-14 are perspective views illustrating a third possible embodiment of a release-preventing system according to the invention; figures 15-20 are views illustrating a fourth possible embodiment of a release-preventing system according to the invention; figures 21-29 are views illustrating a fifth possible embodiment of a release-preventing system according to the invention; figures 30-32 are views illustrating a sixth possible embodiment of a release-preventing system according to the invention; and figures 33-35 are enlarged details of figures 30-32 respectively.

With reference first of all to figures 1, 2 of the drawings, 40 indicates as a whole a cupboard holding device of the type generally known, described for example in patents EP 0033179 Bl and EP 0632979 Al, to which ref- erence should be made for any possible explanations, and which should be considered an integrant part of the present invention, such as for example cupboard holding devices of the known type.

The cupboard holding device 40 comprises a moveable hook 41 which extends from a box-shaped body 42.

A regulation mechanism (known) of the position in depth and height of the hook 41, by means of respective screws 43, 44, is enclosed inside the box-shaped body 42.

The hook 41 ends at the front with a tooth 45 des- tined for being hooked to a corresponding section 46 of a metallic bar 47 (figures 3-8) fixed to a wall 48 by means of pegs 49. As can be clearly seed from the drawings, the section 46 of the bar 47 defines a channel 50 with the wall 48 where the tooth 45 is housed. The bar 47 has a "C" -shaped section, from whose upper wing the above sec- tion 46 extends vertically.

Characteristically, according to the invention, a release-preventing system co-operates with the tooth 45 of the hook 41, and with the bar 47, which, in the em- bodiment shown in figures 1-8, consists of a grain 51 comprising a threaded section 52, a tip 53, and a shaped head 54 for a manoeuvring tool, for example a screwdriver 55.

Said grain 51 is screwed inside a threaded seat 56, situated on a flange 57 which extends downwards from the hook 41. The flange 57 is opposed with respect to the tooth 45, at a suitable height below it.

The cupboard holding device 40, produced as described above, is fixed to a wall cupboard partially in- dicated with 58 and comprising shoulders 59, a head 60 and a possible cover 61. More specifically, two of said cupboard holding devices 40 are fixed in correspondence with the upper rear edges (right and left) of said cupboard 58, only one of which is shown. The functioning of the release-preventing system according to this first embodiment of the invention is clearly illustrated in the operative sequence of figures 3-8, and is briefly the following.

With the grain 51 in a rear non-operative position in figures 3-6, the cupboard 58 is hooked to the wall 48, by inserting the tooth 45 of the hook 41 into the channel

50. In this way, due to the weight of the cupboard 58, the tooth 45 is engaged with the section 46 of the bar 47 (figures 5, 6) . With the cupboard 58 thus positioned, the grain 51 is screwed, by means of the screwdriver 55, into the operative forward position of figures 7,8, thus causing the tip 53 to be inserted into the "C" -shaped section of the bar 47, becoming engaged with the undercut formed by the horizontal upper wing 62 of the same.

It is therefore evident how, in the case of accidental application of direct upward forces to the cupboard 58, the interference between the grain 51 and the bar 47, prevents the unhooking of the tooth 45 from the section 46 of the bar 47 itself.

In the case of necessity, on the other hand, the deliberate releasing of the tooth 45 of the section 46 of the bar 47, is obtained by simply unscrewing the grain

51, bringing it back into the non-operative rear position of figures 3, 4.

Figures 9, 10 show a second embodiment of the invention which is completely equivalent to that shown in figures 1-8, with the only difference that, whereas in the embodiment of figures 1-8, the flange 57 containing the threaded hole 56 is integral with the hook 41, in the em- bodiment of figures 9, 10, there is a staple 63 which is removably inserted astride of the hook 41, as shown in the drawings. Said staple 63 is provided with aligned threaded holes 64 on which the grain 51 is screwed, oper- ating in exactly the same way as that described with reference to figures 1-8.

Figures 13, 14 partially illustrate a wall cupboard, indicated as a whole with 70, comprising a shoulder 71, a head 72 and possibly a rear cover (not shown) . A cupboard holding device is fixed to each shoulder 71 of the cupboard 70, which, for example, can be of the type described and illustrated in patents EP 0033179 Bl and EP 0632979 Al.

Said cupboard holding device comprises a movable hook 73, which extends backwards from the cupboard and which is provided with a tooth 74.

The position of the hook 73 can be regulated in a known manner, in depth and height.

Said tooth 74 is destined for being hooked to a cor- responding section 75 of a metallic bar 76 which can be fixed to a wall 77 by means of pegs 78.

According to this third embodiment of the invention, a blocking device 79, preferably moulded in a single piece of plastic material (figure 12), is assembled on the bar 76, cooperating with the hook 73 in the sense of preventing its accidental unhooking from the bar 76 (figures 13, 14) .

More specifically, said blocking device 79 comprises a slider 80 and a manoeuvring handle 81, whereby the de- vice can slide along the bar 76 in the directions of the arrows 82, 83. The bar 76 has a substantially "C" -shaped section with wings 84, and the above hooking section 75 of the tooth 74 extends vertically from the upper wing 84. As can be clearly seen from the drawings, the above slider 80 is slidingly applied to the bar 76 by means of a lower section 85 and a pair of upper teeth 86, which are elastically yielding. The section 85 is applied to the lower wing 84 of the bar 76, whereas the teeth 86 are click-applied to the section 75.

The blocking device 79, at the base of the handle 81 - practically between the slider 80 and the same handle 81 - is equipped with opposing teeth 87, elastically yielding, situated above and parallel to the bar 76. As shown in the operative sequence of figures 13, 14, with the cupboard 70 hooked to the bar 76, by means of the tooth 74 of the right and left cupboard holding devices, the handle 81 of the blocking device is easily accessible, protruding from the head 72. In this way, the slider 80 can slide in either direction, until one of the two teeth 87 become click-engaged with the front annular end 88 of the hook 73, superimposing it.

It is evident how the accidental unhooking of the tooth 74 from the bar 76 is prevented. If necessary, the tooth 87 can be freed from the hook 73, by means of a reverse manoeuvre of the slider 80, thus allowing the cupboard to be released from the bar 76.

Figures 15-20 illustrate a fourth possible embodi- ment of the invention.

In said figures 15-20, 90 indicates as a whole a cupboard holding device of the type generally known, described for example in patents EP 033179 Bl and EP 0632979 Al, to which reference can be made in the case of neces- sity.

The cupboard holding device 90 comprises a hook 91 which extends from a box-shaped body 92.

The regulation mechanism of the position in depth and height of the hook 91, by means of the respective screws 93, 94, is enclosed inside the box-shaped body 92.

The hook 91 ends at the front with a tooth 95 destined for being hooked to a corresponding section 96 of a metallic bar 97 (figures 17-20) fixed to a wall 98 by means of pegs 99. As can be clearly seen from the drawings, the section 96 of the bar 97 defines a channel 100 with the wall 98 where the tooth 95 is housed. The bar 97 has a "C" -shaped section from whose upper wing the above section 96 extends vertically. Characteristically, according to this fourth embodiment of the invention, a blocking device, indicated as a whole with 101, cooperates with the bar 97 and with the front annular part of the hook 91.

Said device 101 comprises a plate 102, fixed to the wall behind the bar 97, where there are a series of elasti- cally yielding elements 103. As can be clearly seen from the drawings, said elements 103 are positioned above the section 96 of the bar, coplanar and at a certain distance from it, thus defining a passage 104 for the front end of the hook 91.

The blocking device 101 described above could also form part of the bar 97.

The functioning of this fourth embodiment of the invention is clear from what is described above and is briefly the following.

In the assembly phase of the cupboard to the wall, the elastic elements 103 are pushed from the front end of the hook 91, thus allowing the passage and engagement of the tooth 95 to the section 96 of the bar 97 (figures 17-20) . Once the tooth 95 is engaged with the section 96, the elastic elements 103 return automatically to their original rest position (figures 19, 20) , above the free end of the tooth 91, thus preventing its accidental unhooking, in the case of the application of upward forces to the cupboard 105. Said cupboard 105 comprises shoulders 106, a head 107 and a possible cover 108.

The flexibility of the elements 103, on the other hand, allows the intentional extraction of the hooks 91 through the passage 104, thus allowing the cupboard to be dismantled from the wall. For this purpose, it is sufficient to bend the elements 103 with a tool.

Figures 21-29 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the invention in which a cupboard 110, only partially shown, comprises shoulders 111, a head 112 and a possible cover 113. Said cupboard 110 is hung to a wall 114 by means of plates 115 fixed to the wall 114 itself by means of pegs 116.

As can be clearly seen from the drawings, said plates 115 comprise a central "C" -shaped section with a core 117 and wings 118.

Flanges 119 with holes 12O ¹ for fixing the plate 115 to the wall 114 by means of the pegs 116, extend from the wings 118.

The core 117 has at least one opening 120, in the ex- ample shown, there are two openings 120, partially closed - substantially in the upper half - by an elastically yielding metallic lamina 121.

The openings 120 and the lamina 121 define passages 122. Said flexible lamina 121 bends (to the right or left) around a central constraint 123 of the core 117.

The cupboard 110 is hooked to the plate 115 by means of a cupboard holding device 124 of the type generally known, as described for example in patents EP 0033179 Bl and EP 0632979 Al, to which reference should be made for further details.

The cupboard holding device 124 comprises a movable hook 125 which extends from a box-shaped body 126.

The regulation mechanism of the position in depth and height of the hook 125 by means of respective screws 127, 128, is enclosed inside the box-shaped body 126.

The hook 125 ends at the front with a tooth 129 suitable for being hooked to the plate 115, as is illustrated in the drawings .

More specifically, the front end of the hook 125 is inserted in the opening 120 by bending the flexible lamina 121 (figures 24-26) thus allowing the tooth 129 to be hooked to the core 117 of the plate 115. In this position of the tooth 129, the lamina 121 is no longer under stress and returns to the rest position of figures 27-28, above the hook 125, thus preventing an accidental disengagement of the plate 115.

In order to unhook the cupboard from the wall, it is sufficient to bend the flexible lamina 121 with a tool in the position of figures 24-26, allowing the tooth 129 to be disengaged from the core 117 of the plate 115.

Figures 30-32 are views illustrating a sixth embodiment of the invention in which a cupboard 150, only partially shown, comprises shoulders 151, a head 152 and a possible cover 153. Said cupboard 150 is hung to a wall 154 by means of a support 155 (bar or plate) fixed to the wall 154 by means of pegs 156.

As can be clearly seen from the drawings, said support

155 comprises a "C" -shaped section with a central core 157 and wings 158. A section 159 extends vertically from the upper wing 158 and ends with a flap 160 parallel to the wing itself 158.

The cupboard 150 is hooked to the support 155 by means of the cupboard holding device 161 of the type generally known, described for example in patents EP 0033179 Bl and

EP 0632979, to which reference should be made for further details.

The cupboard holding device 161 comprises a movable hook 162 which extends from a box-shaped body 163. The regulation mechanism of the position in depth and height of the hook 162 by means of respective screws 164, 165, is enclosed inside the box-shaped body 163.

The hook 162 ends at the front with a hooked tooth 167 substantially complementary to the flap 160 of the support 155.

In this way, after hanging the cupboard to the wall, as shown in figures 30, 31, the hook 162 is regulated in depth, and consequently the hooked flap 167 is firmly hooked to the flap 160 of the support 155, preventing the accidental unhooking of the cupboard from the wall.

To be able to unhook the cupboard from the wall, it is sufficient to act in the opposite direction to the depth regulation of the hook 162.

The objectives mentioned in the preamble of the de- scription are thus achieved.

The protection scope of the present invention is defined by the enclosed claims.