Supports: cabinet structure – With movable components – Horizontally movable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-24
2001-05-22
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
With movable components
Horizontally movable
C312S263000, C312S348200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234596
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a fastening device that fastens a front panel to ZARGEN drawer slides/sides, according to the characterizing introductory clause of Claim
1
.
Modem drawers are built basically in a modular style and consist of several individual components, such as ZARGEN drawer slides/sides, a front panel, a bottom, and a back wall, which can be assembled in varying combinations to complete a drawer. The task is to connect the front panel, especially, to the ZARGEN drawer slides/sides easily and securely. The front panel should be able to be quickly mounted at the site; this enables the utilization of various decorative possibilities, depending on the cabinet/furniture pieces and the front panels.
A front panel fastener, for example, is made known by DE 92 13 683. A snap-in clip is provided that is anchored securely by a second dowel in the front panel. On the ZARGEN side an adjustment component is provided on which the front panel's snap-in clip can be engaged. A secure and quick assembly of the front panel to the drawer ZARGEN slide/side is the result. The disadvantage of this version is the relatively expensive mechanics, which offers a quick and secure mounting of the front panel, but which is costly and expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, a fastening device of this type requires, relatively speaking, a lot of space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present innovation is based on the task of developing a fastening device of the previously mentioned type, which allows a quick assembly of the front panel, requires less space, consists of fewer parts and is more economical to produce.
This task is solved by the characterizing features of Protection Claim
1
.
The core of the invention is that a front panel and a dowel component connected to a part of the respective ZARGEN drawer slide/side have one or more expansion dowels that can be guided into the corresponding bore holes of the front panel, and expansion screws that can be guided through openings in the dowel component of the corresponding expansion dowels and can be twisted into the expansion dowel by an operating lever; this results in the spreading of the expansion dowel.
According to a preferred embodiment, the expansion dowel is securely connected to the dowel component. Then, the expansion dowels insert together in the front panel's bore holes. Alternatively, it is naturally possible that the expansion dowels are not connected with the dowel component, but instead are already placed in the front panel's corresponding bore holes before the front panel is mounted.
In order to keep the fastening device small and to give it an ergonomic appearance, an operating lever in the spreading position of the expansion screw (that is, in the position in which the ZARGEN drawer slide/side is securely connected to the front panel) comes to lie in a corresponding notch of the dowel component. The operating levers of the expansion screws are retracted or folded down and are, therefore, close to the dowel component's notch, preventing an operating error or an unintentional twisting of the expansion screw. Preferably the ZARGEN drawer slide/side has a distance plate, which is placed between the front panel and the dowel component, and is connected securely with the front panel by means of the dowel component. The distance plate has elongated holes and/or slotted notches through which the expansion dowels and expansion screws are inserted.
The invention-related fastening device is exceptionally suitable to quickly assemble the front panel to the ZARGEN drawer slide/side, uses minimal space and is simple and economical to produce.
In another embodiment, the fastening device has on the dowel component an adjustment device for the front panel's height modification in relation to the ZARGEN drawer slide/side.
The height adjustment is achieved preferably by means of an eccentric piece, which is operated by a foldable (retractable) adjusting lever.
The distance plate has a guide section, which is guided in a notch of the dowel component. The eccentric piece engages in one of the corresponding slots on the guide section and when the adjusting lever is operated, activates a vertical shifting of the distance plate against the front panel (that is, the dowel component) so that the front panel's position can be adjusted very precisely and exactly in relation to the ZARGEN drawer slide/side.
It is advantageous that the height adjustment of the front panel and the fixing of the fastening device result alone from the respective position of the adjusting lever.
The invention at hand is more closely described by several embodiment examples in reference to several drawing figures in the following. Additional characteristics, features and advantages are found in these drawings and their descriptions. Shown:
REFERENCES:
patent: 4690469 (1987-09-01), Grass
patent: 4850659 (1989-07-01), Rock et al.
patent: 4902080 (1990-02-01), Berger
patent: 5002346 (1991-03-01), Gasser
patent: 5364181 (1994-11-01), Scheible
patent: 5611637 (1997-03-01), Brustle et al.
patent: 5895103 (1999-04-01), Huber
Cuomo Peter M.
Fisher Michael J.
Grass GmbH
Kilpatrick & Stockton
LandOfFree
Panel fastening device for drawers does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Panel fastening device for drawers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Panel fastening device for drawers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2554336