Object of the present invention is a furniture element according to the pre-characterizing part of the main claim. In many situations furniture elements are required to be shaped and have technical features which guarantee simple and rapid cleaning and not to include parts in which dirt can accumulate and / or which can be polluted by unwanted substances.

This is, for example, the case of furniture elements used in a medical or hospital environment, but also of furniture elements which include parts that can come into contact with food, and / or suitable for processing, and / or cooking, and / or storing and / or distributing food, and / or containing furnishings for preparing, and / or processing and / or consuming food (cutlery, pans, pots, dishes in general).

There are also specific rules in the various States that regulate the characteristics furniture elements must have to be used in certain environments, for example in the USA there are very strict rules (contained in the regulations issued by the United States Public Health Service USPHS), for furnishing items that can come into contact with food; these regulations must be complied with, for example, by all cruise or cargo ships, in order to be allowed to land in ports on the US territory.

CN 211 380 356 U describes a stove with two drawers moved by moving means connected to the drawers with motion transmission means which comprise magnetic elements for connection between the drawers and the moving means. The prior art document describes housing the moving means, the drawers and the relevant magnetic connecting elements, in an open space of the kitchen, in which all these components are housed without any separation.

CN 110 857 612 A describes a cabinet whose four cases are separated from each other and can be selectively opened thanks to a motor and a series of mechanical gears provided in the rear wall of the cabinet and separated from the cases themselves.

The door manufactured by the company De Lama S.p.A. identified as "De Lama Magnetic Door Equipment" visible at the You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DodJD- y32Kg describes a door with a magnetic movement.

The object of the present invention is to provide a furniture element of the type described above which is simple and easy to manufacture and clean, and which, in particular, guarantees an effective, simple and safe cleaning of its parts, where these parts are in contact with or must contain food, trays with food or furnishings or utensils to be used with food.

A further object is to provide a furniture element that eliminates or at least limits, and more preferably prevents, the contamination between a first part thereof which houses a device for moving a device component, and a second part for said device component, in which said component comes into contact with or may contain food, trays with food or furnishings or utensils to be used with food.

These and other objects that will be evident to one skilled in the art are achieved by a furniture element according to the characterizing part of the main claim.

For a better understanding of the present invention there are attached, by way of non-limiting example, the following drawings, wherein:

Figures 1A-C show schematic perspective views of a first embodiment of a furniture element according to the invention, in three different positions of use, Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the system for commanding and controlling the movement of the furniture element according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a simplified and schematic perspective view of the furniture element referred to in Figures 1A-C;

Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view, taken along line III of Figure 3, of a detail of a component for the transmission of motion, of the furniture element;

Figures 5A, 5B and 6 show schematic perspective views taken from two different angles of a second embodiment of a furniture element according to the invention, in different positions of use (Figs. 5A, 5B);

Figures 7A-D show schematic perspective views and side views of a third embodiment of a furniture element according to the invention, in different positions of use. With reference to Figures 1-4, they show a first embodiment of a furniture element according to the invention, indicated as a whole with 1, of the type comprising:

- at least one first component 3 design to delimit a seat 4,

- in which said seat 4 comprises and is delimited by at least one first wall 4A,

- at least one second component 2, which in figures 1-4 has the shape of a drawer, which is movable with respect to said first component 3 between: at least one first position P1, P2 (Figs. 1A, IB) in which said second component 2 at least partially closes (Fig. 1A) an opening 4B of said seat 4 or is partially housed in said seat for a first section thereof T1 (as shown in Fig. 1B), and at least one second position P3 in which said second component closes said opening 4B less than said first position P1, and / or is partially housed in said seat 4 for a second section T2 thereof (Fig. 1C) having smaller dimensions than those of said first section T1,

- and a device 5 for the automatic movement of said second component 2 between said first P1, P2 and second position P3, comprising means 6 for the transmission of motion from said device 5 to said second movable component 2, in which the means 6 for the transmission of motion comprise (Fig. 4) at least one first magnetic type member 8 able to magnetically couple with a second magnetic or ferromagnetic member 9.

According to the invention, the furniture element comprises a second seat 7 (in dotted lines in Figs. 1A-C) which is distinct from the said first seat 4:

- in which the first wall 4A of said first seat 4 is common to said first 4 and second 7 seat and at least partially separates said two seats 4, 7, so as to avoid or at least limit, and more preferably prevent the possibility of any substances present in said second seat 7 passing into said first seat 4,

- and in which said second seat 7 houses the device 5 for moving the second component 2. Again, according to the invention, the first 8 and the second 9 member of the means 6 for the transmission of motion are separated from each other by the wall 4A separating the first 4 and second 7 seat, so that said members 8 and 9 are separated from each other during the movement of the second component 2.

It should be noted that if one of the coupling members is of the ferromagnetic type, this is preferably provided in the second seat 7 which houses the moving device 5 so as to prevent this ferromagnetic material from polluting the first seat 4A in which the second component is housed, or alternatively as also discussed below, the ferromagnetic member is completely coated with a protective layer of plastic material.

In this context, the term seat is to be understood as a space delimited by one or more walls; preferably, but not necessarily, the seat is a closed space having one or more openings for accessing the seat itself. Therefore, in this context, as is also evident from the embodiments discussed below, the term seat is also to be understood only as a wall which forms the base for another component or on which said other component rests and / or moves (as in the embodiment of Figures 7A-D), the term seat is therefore not limited to a part that delimits an at least partially closed space able to house therein at least one section of another component (as in the embodiment of the Figures 1A- C), or to a part that delimits a space at least partially closed and having an opening closed, at least partially, by another component (as in the embodiment of Figures 5A-B). More in detail, according to a first embodiment shown in Figures 1A-C, the first component 3 able to delimit the seat 4, is preferably shaped, and is of the type usually used to house a drawer 2, for example it has a parallelepiped shape with a front opening 4B, for example rectangular and comprises, for example, an upper wall 4C (Fig. 1C) and a lower wall 4D, parallel to each other, two side walls 4E, 4A, parallel to each other, and a bottom wall 4F, which delimit the seat 4 able to house the second component 2 and having the opening 4B opposite to the bottom wall 4F. Advantageously, one of the side walls 4A of the first component 3 is the wall which separates the first 8 and the second member (where said first member 8 is the one of the magnetic type, able to magnetically couple with a second magnetic or ferromagnetic member 9).

Advantageously, in order to reduce the distance between the first 8 and the second 9 coupling member, and consequently not to excessively reduce the magnetic attraction force between the two members 8 and 9, the wall 4A which separates the first 8 and the second member has a reduced thickness, for example this thickness is between 0.1 mm and 1 cm, more preferably between 1 mm and 0.5 cm, in any case such as not to excessively weaken the magnetic attraction force between the members 8, 9 so as to allow the magnet/s of the members 8 and 9 to keep said members coupled to each other, and for example the magnetic traction force is reduced by the distance between the two coupling members 8 and 9, by a value between 5% and 30%.

To reduce the distance between the coupling members 8 and 9, the thickness of the wall 4A is preferably less than that of the other walls of the first component 3 so as not to significantly weaken (for example by a value between 5% and 30%) the magnetic attraction force of the coupling members 8 and 9.

According to a variant not shown, the wall 4A could have a part with reduced thickness even only at the zone thereof in which the members 8 and 9 move and slide and have a greater thickness in the remaining parts of the wall 4A. The first component 3 also preferably provides guide members 10A (Fig. 1C) of a conventional type for one skilled in the art, to guide the movement of the second component 2, for example these guide members are associated with the internal faces of the side walls 4A and 4E of the first component 3 and are able to cooperate with usual guide members 10B, also of a conventional type for one skilled in the art, constrained to side walls 2A, 2B of the second member 2.

According to the first embodiment and Figures 1-4, the second component 2 has the shape of a drawer and is preferably of the conventional type for one skilled in the art; it has, therefore, a bottom wall 2C (Figures 1C and 3), and four side walls 2B, 2A, 2E, 2F which are perpendicular to the bottom wall and form angles of 90°. The drawer has an upper opening delimited by the upper edges of the side walls. The drawer can also have a head wall 2D. The drawer 2 can have any conventional shape for one skilled in the art.

It should be noted that the second component 2 can in any case also have a shape different from that of a drawer, and provide for example, as usual for furniture elements for kitchens and / or catering, and / or restaurants, in which the second furniture element only provides a movable support element (for example a top) shaped in such a way as to be able to house one or more containers and / or trays (for example of the type marketed by the company Gastronorm) that are removable and interchangeable with respect to said top, so that the container can be periodically removed and washed.

Laterally along the walls 2A, 2B the drawer can have usual guide members 10B adapted to cooperate with the corresponding guide members 10A (Fig. 1C) provided in the first component 4.

The drawer provides, at the side wall 2A which faces and is parallel to the wall 4A of the first component 3, a support element 11 (Fig. 4), for example of the type having a seat for housing the magnetic coupling member 9, for example a frame-shaped seat able to firmly house the member 9. The support element 11 is for example fixed to the wall 2A (or to any movable support element for containers, for example of the Gastronorm type) by means of usual fixing members, for example screws (not shown).

According to a variant not shown, the seat for housing the magnetic coupling member 9 could also be provided directly in the wall 2A of the drawer, which for this purpose could provide, in the external face thereof facing the internal face 12A of the wall 4A, a pocket where said member 9 can be housed.

In order to improve the contact of the magnetic coupling member 9 with the internal face 12A of the wall 4A, the support member 11 could provide usual elastic elements 11C, in any case in compliance with sanitary regulations regarding geometry and cleanability (schematically represented with in dashed lines in Fig. 4), for example of the spring type, able to push and keep the magnetic coupling member 9 in constant contact with said internal face 12A.

The second seat 7 (in dashed lines in Figs. 1A-C) of the furniture element has the function of keeping the device 5 for the automatic movement of the second component 2 (that is of the drawer) and the relative magnetic coupling member 8 distinct and separate from the first seat 4, and preferably also to house and protect said device 5. The seat 7 comprises the wall 4A, which is also common to the seat 4, and preferably also provides a usual box-like body 13 (Fig. 1B), removable and constrained to the wall 4A, designed to protect and contain the moving device 5.

It should be noted that provision of the box-like body 13 is not essential since the seat 4 and the seat 7 can also be effectively separated for example by means of other parts, for example the decorative parts which are usual in furnishing elements, of a conventional type for one skilled in the art, such as tops, decorative fronts, shoulders and technical capping.

Advantageously, the box-like body 13 and / or the parts for separating the two seats 4 and 7, provide an inspection element, for example an inspection door, and / or slides for extracting the mechanical parts or other technical solutions, able to allow access to the components housed in the seat 7.

The device 5 for the automatic movement of the second component 2 (that is of the drawer) comprises the means 6 for the transmission of motion from said device 5 to the drawer, which in turn comprise the magnetic coupling members 8 and 9 separated from each other by the wall 4A. More in detail, the moving device 5 comprises, for example, a usual worm screw 5B, connected and moved by a usual motor member 5C and supported by usual elements 5A, 5D. A slide 5E which carries the magnetic coupling member 8 is movable on the worm screw 5B.

The motor member 5C is of the conventional type and will not be described in detail as well as the worm screw 5B and its connection with the motor member. The worm screw substantially extends along the entire length L1 (Fig. 3) of the wall 4A and thanks to the support elements 5A, D it is positioned at the longitudinal axis M of this wall and parallel to this axis. The slide 5E comprises two wings 5F which engage with the worm screw so as to translate the slide along the screw itself when this is moved in rotation by the motor member 5C. The slide 5E also comprises a flat wall 5H, from which the two wings 5F, G branch off, which carries the magnetic coupling member 8 on the face thereof facing the wall 4A. The slide 5E provides an element 5I (Fig. 4) having a seat for housing the magnetic coupling member 8, for example a frame-shaped seat able to stably house the member 8.

According to a variant not shown, the magnetic coupling member could also magnetically adhere directly to the slide.

In order to improve the contact of the magnetic coupling member 8 with the outer face 12B of the wall 4A, the element 5I could provide usual elastic elements 5H (schematically represented in dashed lines in Fig. 4), for example of the spring type, able to push and keep the coupling member 8 and / or the member 5I which supports it in constant contact with said outer face 12B.

According to a further variant (partially represented in Fig. 4) the element 5I could also provide an adjustment member 5M (schematically represented in dashed lines in Fig. 4), for example of the type comprising an adjustment screw 5N, able to adjust the distance of the outer face 12B of the coupling member 8 with the outer face 12B of the wall 4A. Thanks to this adjustment member 5M, by acting for example on the screw 5N it is possible to modify the distance of the coupling member 8 with respect to the wall 4A, and consequently it is also possible to vary the magnetic attraction force between the coupling members 8 and 9, so that the desired attraction force between these members can be selected. The adjustment member 5M is, for example, able to vary the distance of the coupling member 8 with respect to the wall 4A, by a value between 0 mm and 5 mm.

It should be emphasized that the moving device 5 can also be of any other type, however conventional for one skilled in the art, which is able to move the coupling member 8 with a rectilinear motion along a direction coincident or parallel to that of the longitudinal axis M (Fig. 3) of the wall 4A. The moving device could therefore also provide, as an alternative to the worm screw, for example usual moving members of the chain or belt type, or of the piston type, which will not be described in detail below.

The moving device can, therefore, comprise any element movable along a rectilinear guide, and any member for the movement of said movable element along said rectilinear guide, one of the magnetic coupling members being rigidly constrained to said movable element so as to also be moved along the rectilinear direction defined by said guide.

The magnetic coupling members 8 and 9 comprise at least one magnetic member, for example: the member 8 may comprise one or more permanent magnets, or an electromagnet and other member 9 may comprise one or more permanent magnets, or an electromagnet (of the type able to magnetically couple with the magnets of the member 8) or a ferromagnetic material able to magnetically couple with the magnet of the member 8. Advantageously, at least the surface of the coupling members that slides on the faces 12A, B of the wall 4A provides a coating in a plastic material able to limit friction and wear of the faces themselves; advantageously, for hygiene and ease of cleaning reasons, the magnets are entirely coated with a plastic material.

Preferably, as previously discussed, if one of the coupling members is of the ferromagnetic type, this is preferably provided in the second seat 7 which houses the moving device 5 so as to prevent this ferromagnetic material from polluting the first seat 4A in which the second component is housed, or alternatively the ferromagnetic member is completely covered with a protective layer of plastic material.

Thanks to these magnetic coupling members, the second component 2 of the furniture element, that is the drawer, is connected to the moving device 5 even if the latter is provided outside the seat 4 in which the drawer is housed, and again it is separated from this moving device 5 at least by the wall 4A, along the two faces 12 A, B of which the two magnetic coupling members 8 and 9 move.

By appropriately controlling the moving device 5, the magnetic coupling members 8, 9 can slide along the wall 4A, thus also moving the drawer in the seat 4, and moving it for example from a first limit position in which it is entirely housed in the seat 4 and closes it (as shown in Fig. 1A), and in which the coupling members 8 and 9 are in a position Z1 (Fig. 1A) in which they are near the bottom wall 4F of the seat 4, up to a second limit position in which it protrudes completely from the seat 4 (as shown in Fig. 1C), and in which the coupling members 8 and 9 are in a position Z2 (Fig. 1C) in which they are near the front opening of the seat 4, and also in any other desired position between said limit positions (as for example shown in Fig. 1B).

To improve the movement of the drawer, two identical moving devices can also be used, one on the wall 4A and one on the opposite and parallel wall 4C (Fig. 1C).

Preferably the attraction force between the members 8 and 9 must be such as to support the movement of the drawer on the relative guides. The guides offer almost zero, however negligible resistance. Depending on the intended use and its capacity in litres, the drawer can have a mass ranging from 3 kg to 70 kg. This mass, together with the movement on guides on a horizontal plane, requires a traction force ranging from 0.5 kg to 10 kg.

It should be noted that a further advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the drawer can be easily completely removed from the seat in which it is inserted simply by applying to the drawer itself a force sufficient to overcome the magnetic force that keeps the coupling members 8 and 9 together, so as to make the complete cleaning of the drawer and its seat easier.

The moving device 5 is preferably commanded and controlled by a usual command and control unit 30 (Fig. 2), for example of the microprocessor type, which controls the actuation of the motor member 5, according to signals received from a control device 31A which can be provided on the furniture element itself (Fig. 1C), or in a remote position near the furniture itself, or which can be a remote control 31B, a proximity sensor, a photocell or via a magnetic sensor worn by the user (card or other device) or through an app or control software provided on a mobile phone or a computer. The command and control unit also preferably receives control signals from sensors 5L able to detect the position of the slide 5E, that is of the magnetic members 8 and 9, and consequently also the position of the drawer, and limit switch sensors 5M, N of the movement of the slide 5E, that is of the magnetic members 8 and 9. The command and control unit can also preferably receive control signals from a sensor 5P (Fig. 1C) adapted to detect the drawer position.

Figures 5-6 show a second embodiment of the invention, the components in common with the previously described embodiment will not be further illustrated and will be indicated in Figures 5-6 with the same references used in Figures 1-4 but increased by 100. Figures 5-6 show a furniture element according to the invention, indicated as a whole with 101, of the type comprising:

- at least one first component 103 designed to delimit a seat 104,

- at least one second component 102, that in Figures 5-6 has the shape of a door, which is movable with respect to said first component 103 between: at least one first position Pl', in which the door 102 at least partially closes (as shown in Fig. 5A) an opening 104B of said seat 104, and at least one second position P3' in which the door 102 leaves said opening 104B free, preferably with an opening angle K greater than or equal to 91°,

- in which said seat 104 is delimited by at least one first wall 104A,

- and a device 105 for the automatic movement of said second component 102 between said first P1' and second position P3', comprising means 106 for the transmission of motion from said device 105 to said second movable component 102.

According to the invention, the furniture element comprises a second seat 107 (in dotted lines in Figs. 5-6) distinct from said first seat 104:

- in which the first wall 104A of said first seat 104 is common to said first 104 and second 107 seat and at least partially separates said two seats 104, 107, so as to avoid or at least limit, and more preferably prevent the possibility of any substances present in said second seat

107 passing into said first seat 104,

- and in which said second seat 107 houses the device 105 for moving the second component 102. Again according to the invention, the means 6 for the transmission of motion comprise (Fig. 5B) at least one first magnetic type member

108 able to magnetically couple with a second magnetic or ferromagnetic member 109 (Fig. 6), and in which said first 108 and second 109 member are separated from each other by the separation wall 104A of the first 104 and second seat 107, so that said members 108 and 109 are separated from each other during the movement of the second component 102. In this variant, the first component 103 has the shape of a box-like body open frontally and closed by the second component 102 which has the shape of a usual door hinged to one of the front edges of the first component by means of usual connection members 20 of the hinged type.

The door provides, for its movement, an element 21 for supporting and transmitting the motion from the magnetic coupling member 109 to the door itself, which comprises, for example, an arm 21C, having a first end 21A hinged to a support element 22 rigidly constrained to an internal face of the door 102, and the other end 21B hinged to the magnetic coupling member 109 (as shown in Fig. 6).

By suitably controlling the moving device 105, the magnetic coupling members 108,109 can slide along the wall 104A, thus also moving the door 102, and moving it for example from a first limit position in which it is in abutment and closing the opening of the seat 104 of the first component 103 (Fig. 5A) and in which the coupling members 108 and 109 are in a position Z1' (Fig. 5A), up to a second limit position in which the door is moved away from said opening of the seat 104 (as shown in Fig. 5B), and in which the coupling members 108 and 109 are in a position Z2' (Fig. 5B) in which they are near the front opening of the seat 104, and also in any other desired position between said limit positions. The arm 21C and the support element 22 are shaped and sized in such a way to be able to move the door between the aforementioned two limit positions Z1' and Z2' and also in any other desired position between said two limit positions.

In this second embodiment, the magnetic coupling member 109 is constrained to the door through the arm 21C and slides and is in contact with the internal face 112A (Fig. 6) of the wall 104A, thanks to the magnetic coupling with the another member 108 which in turn slides and is in contact with the outer face 112B (Fig. 5B) of the wall 104A.

The moving device 105, too, is preferably commanded and controlled by a usual command and control unit of the type substantially identical to the aforementioned described unit 30.

Figures 7A-D show a third embodiment of the invention, the components in common with the previously described embodiment will not be further illustrated and will be indicated in Figures 7A-D with the same references used in Figures 1-4 but increased by 200.

Figures 7A-D show a furniture element according to the invention, indicated as a whole with 201, of the type comprising:

- at least one first component 203 designed to delimit a seat 204, which in the embodiment in question has a flat shape,

- in which said seat 204 comprises and is delimited by at least one first wall 204A,

- at least one second component 202, that in Figures 7A-D has the shape of a flat element, which is movable with respect to said first component 203 between: at least one first position P1'' (Fig. 7A) in which said second component 202 is at least partially housed on said seat 204 (that is resting on the upper face of the first wall 204A) for a first section T1 thereof (as shown in Fig. 7A), and at least one second position P3'' in which said second component is partially housed on said seat 204 (that is resting on the upper face of the first wall 204A) for a second section T2 thereof (Fig. 7B) having smaller dimensions than those of said first section T1,

- and a device 105 for the automatic movement of said second component 102 between said first P1'' and second P3'' position, comprising means 206 for the transmission of motion from said device 205 to said second movable component 202, in which the means 206 for transmitting the motion comprise at least one first magnetic type member 208 able to magnetically couple with a second magnetic or ferromagnetic member 209.

According to the invention, the furniture element comprises a second seat 207 (in dotted lines in Figs. 7A-D) distinct from said first seat 204:

- in which the first wall 204A of said first seat 204 is common to said first 204 and second 207 seat and separates at least partially said two seats 204, 207, so as to avoid or at least limit, and more preferably prevent the possibility of any substances present in said second seat 207 passing into said first seat 204,

- and in which said second seat 207 houses the device 205 for moving the second component 202. Again according to the invention, the first 208 and second 209 member of the means 206 for the transmission of motion are separated from each other by the separation wall 204A of the first 204 and second seat 207, so that said members 208 and 209 are separated from each other during the movement of the second component 202.

In this variant, the first component 203 has the shape of a flat body and the second component 202 also has the shape of a flat body, and this second component is able to move above and resting on the first component, preferably to translate in a rectilinear way as shown in figures 7A-D (preferably guided by guide members 210A which engage with guide counter-members not shown), or even with a different type of motion.

As for the previous embodiments, by suitably controlling the moving device 205, the magnetic coupling members 208, 209 can slide along the wall 204A, thus also moving the plane 202, and moving it for example from a first limit position in which it is completely overlapped to the seat 204 (Fig.7A) and in which the coupling members 208 and 209 are in a position Z1'' (Fig. 7C), up to a second limit position in which the plane 202 protrudes from said seat 204 (as shown in Fig. 7B), and in which the coupling members 208 and 209 are in a position Z2'' (Fig. 7D) in which they are also in a limit position Z2'', and also in any other desired position between said limit positions.

The moving device 205 is also preferably controlled and commanded by a usual command and control unit of a type substantially identical to the unit 30 described above.

The moving device 205 can for example be of the same type as the one previously described and provide a worm screw 205B, a slide 205E and a motor member 5C, and will not be therefore further described. According to the invention, two or more identical moving devices arranged parallel to each other can be provided to improve the movement of the second component 202.

Finally, it is stated again that the embodiments shown so far are given purely by way of non-limiting example and that numerous variants are possible, all falling within the same scope of protection defined by the attached claims. Thus, for example, the seat of the first component and / or the shape of the second component could be different from those described so far and represented in the attached figures. The components of the furniture element described so far could also be of a type different from a drawer and a door and the relative seats, and could be of another type, however usual for one skilled in the art, for example the second component could be a shelf or worktop that can be moved in and out of its seat.

Finally, it should be pointed out that the coupling members 8 and 9 could also be moved and guided along a non- rectilinear path, for example along an arc of a circle, by varying in a way usual for one skilled in the art the conformation of the guide element along which the slide 6, 106 and the device 5, 105 moving the slide itself, move.