Braking Device for Drawers

The invention relates to a braking device for braking movement of a drawer. The braking device is effective only in one predetermined position of the drawer, preferably a completely pushed in position thereof. Each side of the drawer is guided for sliding movement by a guide fitting including a drawer side pull-out rail, a body side support rail, and rollers or the like rolling between such rails. The braking device includes one or more brake shoes to engage with a part that is moved relative to the brake shoes when the drawer is pushed into the body.

A braking device of this type is disclosed in DE-A1-37 16 923. Its task is to prevent the drawer from being pushed too strongly into a furniture body when the action drawer movement is very easy, and in particular to prevent a drawer pushed into the furniture body from rolling out of the furniture body owing to the excess energy.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide an improved braking device of the type described above.

This object is achieved according to the invention in an advantageous manner by providing that the brake shoe(s), which engage(s) with at least one well-known rail brake attached to the furniture body or to the drawer, can be moved in the sliding direction of the drawer both relative to the drawer and also relative to the furniture body and is (are) connected directly or indirectly to the rail brake by way of a spring. A stop or roller at the drawer or at the furniture body moves the brake shoes counter to the force of the spring. An advantageous arrangement provides that two brake shoes are mounted on a U-shaped support to envelop a single brake rail flange or can be spread apart between two brake rail flanges. An especially good braking action is obtained by connecting the brake shoes by means of a toggle joint, where a spring-loaded ram which is braced against the U-shaped support is hinged to the toggle joint and where the stop strikes the ram.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transverse cross section through a furniture body and drawer schematically illustrating braking devices in accordance with the invention assembled on each of opposite sides of the drawer;

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal cross section of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, but schematically illustrating a different placement of braking devices;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, but schematically showing a braking device located beneath a bottom of a drawer;

FIG. 7A is a side view of a braking device in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7B is an end view of a rail of the braking device of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the braking device of FIGS. 7A-7B;

FIGS. 9A-10 are views similar to FIGS. 7A-8, respectively, but illustrating another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 12 are views similar to FIGS. 7A-8, respectively, but showing a yet further embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11C is a further side view similar to FIG. 11A but illustrating a clamped braking condition of the device thereof;

FIGS. 13A-14 are views similar to FIGS. 7A-8, respectively, but of a still further embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 15A-16 are views similar to FIGS. 7A-8, respectively, but of an even further embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 17A-18 are views similar to FIGS. 7A-8, respectively, but of a yet still further embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 19A-20 are views similar to FIGS. 7A-8, respectively, but of an even further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but of a still further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but of a still even further embodiment of the present invention.

As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 to 6, the braking device 1 according to the invention can be mounted both below a drawer bottom 2 (FIGS. 5 and 6) and on a body side wall 3. If the braking device 1 is situated on the body side wall 3, it can be attached either below (FIGS. 3 and 4) or above a body side support rail 4 connected directly to the body side wall 3, or it can also be integrated with the support rail 4, as is apparent in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear end of the support rail 4 forming a rail 5 of the braking device.

In the illustrated embodiments, the essential functional parts of the braking device, i.e. a brake rail 5 and brake shoes 6, are mounted on the side of the body, whereas an element such as a stop or projection 7 is attached to the drawer. However, a reverse mounting is possible.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 7A-8, a rear part of the support rail 4 forms the rail 5 of the braking device. A brake member is in the form of a U-shaped support 8, which supports the brake shoes 6, is movable longitudinally within the rail 5. The U-shaped support 8 is urged by a pressure spring 9 that pushes the U-shaped support 8 in a direction counter to the slide-in direction of the drawer. Free ends of arms 10 of the U-shaped support 8 that bear the brake shoes 6 have internally inclined surfaces 11, that converge in the direction of the interior of the U-shaped support 8. If the drawer is slid into the furniture body, a rear roller 12 of the drawer forming the stop or projection strikes the inclined surfaces 11 of the U-shaped support 8. The U-shaped support 8 thereby is moved to the rear against the pressure of the spring 9 and the arms 10 are simultaneously spread apart. Thus, the brake shoes 6 come to rest against inner surfaces of flanges 5' of the rail 5 and movement of the drawer thereby is braked.

The braking device 1 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 9A-10 is mounted advantageously on the body side wall 3 adjacent the support rail 4. The device again includes a U-shaped support 8 that is guided for longitudinal movement in a rail 5 having a U-shaped cross section. The U-shaped support 8 bears brake shoes 6 is connected to the rail 5 by means of a tension spring 13. Facing the drawer, one arm 10 of the U-shaped support includes a stop bracket 14 against which the stop 7 of the drawer strikes. A brake cam 15 is disposed between the two arms 10. A pendulous arm 16 with a swinging member or weight 17 is integral with the brake cam 15. The cam 15 is positioned between circular recesses 18 formed in the arms 10. If the stop 7 strikes the stop bracket 14, the U-shaped support 8 is tilted suddenly towards the bottom against the action of the spring 13. Thus, the pendulous arm 16 swings in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9A. Due to the swivelling motion of the lever 16, the cam 15 is rotated and the arms 10 are spread apart, with the result that the brake shoes 6 are pressed against the flanges 5' of the rail 5. Braking of the drawer thus commences.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 11A-12, a brake member is in the form of two wedge-shaped members 18 disposed for longitudinal movement in the rail 5. Members 18 support respective brake shoes 6. Members 18 have respective inclined wedge surfaces 19 that are aligned parallelly. The rear member 18 is stresses by a compression spring 20 that urges rear member 18 in a direction counter to the slide-in direction of the drawer. The front member 18 is suspended from rail 5 by a tension spring 21. The front member 18 is provided with an integral elastic tongue or projection 22 operable to put pressure on the wedge surface 19 of the other or rear member 18 during braking to increase a relative spreading action between the members. This spreading action can be increased further by arranging another compression spring 23 between the elastic tongue 22 and the front member 18, to which it can be molded. When the stop 7 of the drawer strikes the front member 18 during slide-in movement of the drawer, front member 18 moves to the rear until it strikes the rear member 18. This movement of the front member 18 is retarded by the spring 21. When the two members 18 strike, their wedge surfaces 19 are displaced alone each other, since the spring 20 lessens or decreases further rearward movement of the members 18. Due to the relative sliding apart of members 18 along the wedge surfaces 19, the brake linings 6 are forced against the rail flanges 5'. Thereby, braking starts.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 13A-14, the brake member includes a U-shaped support 8 and an expansion shoe 24 having inclined wedge surfaces 25 and situated between the arms 10 of the U-shaped support 8. The U-shaped support 8 is connected to the rail 5 by a spring 26. When the drawer is moved in the rear, the stop 7 strikes the expansion shoe 24 and, in particular, moves into a central recess 27 thereof. The expansion show 24 is moved inwardly relative to support 8, against the force of a compression spring 28 therebetween, such that movement is transferred to the U-shaped support 8. Such movement of the U-shaped support 8 is, however, impeded by the spring 26, so that the expansion shoe 24 continues to move inwardly relative to the U-shaped support 8. Thus, the arms 10 are spread apart and the brake shoes 6 push against the flanges 5' of the rail 5.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 15A-16, the brake member is a U-shaped support 8 the arms 10 of which are connected to a toggle joint-like bow 29. In this embodiment, the bow 29 is shaped as one piece with the U-shaped support 8. The U-shaped support 8 in turn is connected to the rail 5 by a spring 26. A center flange 8' of the U-shaped support has therein a recess 30. When the drawer is closed, the stop 7 moves through the recess 30 and strikes the center of bow 29. Since the inner part of the bow 29 is moved rearwardly, the toggle arms of bow 29 undergo toggle joint action and the arms 10 are pushed outwardly. The brake lines 6 thus strike the flanges 5'.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 17A-18, a true toggle joint 31 is arranged between the arms 10 of the U-shaped support 8. Two articulated levers 32 of the toggle joint 31 are pivoted, on the one hand, on bases 33 mounted on the arms 10 and, on the other hand, on a central ram 34. The ram 34 is stressed forwardly by a compression spring 35 that is braced against the U-shaped support 8. A tension spring 26 connects the U-shaped support 8 to the rail 5. When the drawer is closed, the stop 7 strikes the ram 34 and pushes it to the right counter to the pressure of the spring 35. Due to the spring action of the toggle joint 31, the arms 10 are forced outwardly and the brake shoes 6 push against the flanges 5' of the rail 5.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 19A-20, a toggle joint 31 also is arranged between the two arms 10. The action of the toggle joint in this case is, however, diminished, and braking action is inward. The central joint of the toggle joint 31 is mounted on ram 34, which is stressed by a spring 35 braced at the U-shaped support 8. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 17A-18 wherein the U-shaped support 8 is guided within a rail 5 having a U-shaped profile, the arms 10 in the embodiment according to FIGS. 18A-20 envelop with their brake shoes 6 a flange 5' of an L-shaped rail 5. When the stop 7 strikes the ram 34 during the slide-in movement of the drawer, the central joint of the toggle joint 31 moves rearwardly and the arms 10 are forced inwardly toward the flange 5' of the rail 5. In so doing, the action of the toggle joint 31 is diminished, i.e. the further the ram 34 is moved relative to the U-shaped support 8, the weaker will be the contact force of the brake shoes 6 at the flange 5'. The U-shaped support 8 is connected to the rail 5 by spring 26.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 21, the legs 10 of the U-shaped support 8 are connected together by a bow 38. When the stop 7, moving from the direction of arrow S, strikes the middle of bow 38, the brake shoes 6 are moved inwardly and clamp the flange 5' of the rail 5.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 22, the U-shaped support 8 is provided with an additional arm 40. A cam 36, which is connected to rotate with a lever 37, is mounted rotatably on arm 40. When the stop 7, moving from the direction of arrow S, strikes the lever 37, lever 37 pivots counter-clockwise as shown in FIG. 22. This causes the cam 36 to similarly pivot and to push the arm 10, against which cam 36 abuts, toward the other arm 10. The flange 5' of the rail 5 thereby is clamped.

In the last two described embodiments, the U-shaped supports are connected to the rails 5 by tension springs suspended from bearing point 39.