Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a fitting primarily for assembling upright furniture, the furniture having at least a first and a second side interconnected by at least one back plate, the sides containing fittings for securing the back plate.

Background of the Invention

DE 79241 1 1 Ul describes a wall fastening for fastening a closet/cupboard to a wall after assembling the closet/cupboard. A screw/worm device is provided behind a backing and by turning a screw through a hole in the backing a pawl can be turned to engage a wall-mounted fitting.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the invention to provide assembly of large self-assembly pieces of furniture in the space to be occupied by the furniture after assembling.

Description of the Invention

The object can be achieved with a fitting as described in the introduction which is adapted in that the sides include at least one blind hole disposed at a first defined distance from the rear edges of the sides, the blind hole receiving and fixing a first projection which is an integrated part of the fitting, the fitting containing a first spring lock for preliminary fixing of the back plate, the fitting interacting with a back plate lock which is fastened to the fitting with at least one screw, where the screw simultaneously fixes the back plate.

Hereby it is possible to fasten a back plate of a piece of self-assembly furniture in a very simple way. Compared with traditional fastening in which the back plate is to be inserted in slots in the sides and in top and bottom, respectively, requiring that a large closet/cupboard e.g. is lying down during mounting of the back plate or as by previous older types of closets where the back plate is fitted with nails, it is possible by the invention to mount the back plate from the inside. This means in principle that a self- assembly closet/cupboard can be assembled exactly at the spot where the cupboard is eventually to be located. Thus there is no need for any extra- area for assembling the cupboard/closet which is often a problem, e.g. in bedrooms, and where the closets maybe have a size making it difficult to move the closei

a great help for those assembling the closets if one can begin with a bottom, then erect the sides, lock the sides together with e.g. a top, after which e.g. a back plate can be clicked into position in the fittings by simple deflection. Afterwards, the back plate may thus by means of the back plate locks be secured in the wanted position, and the locks can then be fastened by a screw such that the screw goes through the back plate lock, through the back plate and finally screwed into the fitting itself. Hereby is achieved a very efficient back plate fastening. Correspondingly, if a large closet/cupboard is to be dismounted because of moving to another place, disassembly of the closet/cupboard will be just as simple as the assembly. In principle it makes no difference if the closet/cupboard consists of one, two, three or more sections as even large closets are typically provided with a back plate for each section. The invention does not necessarily have to be delimited to large upright self-assembly furniture, but the invention can also be used by a number of smaller types of cabinets, for example cupboards in kitchens where a back plate is to be fitted as well, and where it would be very expedient if this back plate could be mounted after assembly of the cupboards. The invention can in reality be used in any place where a back plate is applied in connection with furniture. The fitting can be developed such that different fittings are used for different back plate thicknesses.

The fitting may advantageously interact with wall-mounted fastening means. In particular in connection with assembly of closets is it expedient if support of a sidewall against a back wall can be achieved so that fastening to a wall is possible. Not only during assembly it is suitable that this fastening takes place but during use as well as a wall fastening is the only way by which it is prevented that the furniture overturns and falls on a person by untoward handling of a large piece of furniture, e.g. by attempting to stand on one of the shelves or an open drawer. This securing is therefore necessary in any case and has to be established in order to reduce the risk of domestic accidents. Therefore it can be expedient that in connection with the fitting securing the back plate there is also provided a wall fixation of the entire large piece of furniture. It will thus be possible to mount a wall fitting on the wall before erecting a side of a closet, after which the fitting can be mounted in the side and later be fastened for wall mounting. It can be a great help in erecting relatively large sides if the latter are automatically fixed to a wall behind the furniture, and since fixation at the same time is a great advantage in connection wi

against the wall is of course to remain during use.

The fitting can contain a slot accommodating the fastening means. A possible embodiment of a wall fitting will consist of a relatively flat, flexible connecting piece disposed in the slot in the fitting. The slot itself in the fitting is to have a size providing that the fastening means has a reasonable degree of freedom in order to move, enabling fine adjustment during erection of a furniture side. Thus it becomes possible to dispose the fastening means in the fitting at first and then mount the fitting in a hole arranged for the purpose in a side plate, after which the fastening means can be fastened to the wall by means of screws. The back plate ca then be mounted in the spring lock system, and the back plate lock can subsequently be mounted and a screw can finally fix the back plate lock and the back plate, and subsequently the screw can fix the fastening means. Hereby is ensured a rigid and stable fastening of a closet side relative to a wall fitting and simultaneously a stable fastening of a back plate.

The first projection may advantageously contain an opening for receiving another projection disposed at the first end of the back plate lock. By providing the back plate lock with a projection which can interact with an opening in the first projection, it may thus be possible to achieve a preliminary fixation of the back plate lock such that as soon as a back plate is mounted in the spring locks, the back plate lock can be mounted and thereby further secure the position of the back plate. Together with the screw connection is achieved at the same time that the back plate is further fixed, and turning of the back plate lock is rendered impossible by the projection.

The first end of the back plate lock can be designed with a depression, the depression interacting with the spring lock and ensuring stable fastening of the back plate lock. Additional fixation of the back plate lock in relation to the fitting can hereby be achieved. By means of internal and external guidance of the back plate lock is achieved a very secure disposition of this lock when mounted. At the same time it is ensured by means of projections located inside the first projection and by the depression of the back plate lock adapted to the spring lock, respectively, that the spring lock is completely hidden under the back plate lock after mounting the back plate lock. The fitting can be designed with a third projection which interacts with the rear edges of the sides. By a projection disposed behind the sides against a wall it is possible to secure the fitting such that the fitting is safeguarded against any kind of turning. Thereby the fitting is secured in the correct position in relation to mounting of the back plate.

Description of the Drawing

Figure 1 shows a fitting as seen from the side.

Figure 2 shows the same fitting but from a different angle.

Figure 3 shows a fitting interacting with a wall fastening.

Figure 4 shows the same fitting as previously but with the wall fastening in mounted condition.

Figure 5 shows the invention used in connection with a closet.

Figure 6 shows the invention mounted on a wall with the fitting engaging a sidewall. Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

Figure 1 show a fitting 2 consisting of a fixed part of the fitting 3 and a back plate lock 22. The fixed part 3 of the fitting contains a ruffled projection 18 for mounting in a hole in a side face where the fixed part 3 of the fitting also contains a spring lock 20 which can interact with a back plate and thereby provide a preliminary retention until the back plate lock 22 is mounted. The fixed part 3 of the fitting contains a slot 26 interacting with wall-mounted fastening means 10. The slot 26 is also designed with two cutouts 40 and 48. The back plate lock 22 contains a projection 30 interacting with an opening 28 which is designed in the first projection 18. The back plate lock 22 also contains a depression 34 such that the back plate lock can receive the spring lock 20 when the back plate lock 22 is mounted. The back plate lock 22 also contains a screw hole 42 disposed immediately opposite a screw hole 44 which in turn is disposed opposite a screw hole 46 when the fitting 2 has been mounted and is to be finally assembled by means of a screw 24. The fixed part of the fitting 2 having the designation 3 also contains a projection 36 which is disposed behind a rear edge of a sidewall 4, 6, the sidewall 4, 6 at the same time having a hole for receiving the projection 18. Figure 2 shows the same embodiment of a fitting 2 as

seen from a different angle. The fixed part 3 of the fitting is shown, and after possible mounting of a side plate, this fixed fitting part 3 interacts with the side plate lock 22. Fig. 2 also shows the projection 18 which is to be disposed in a hole in a sidewall 4, 6. Also, the spring lock 20 for preliminary mounting of a side plate 4, 6 is shown. It is also shown that the fixed part of the fitting 3 contains the slot 26 and that the slot 26 is designed with circular cutouts 40 and 48, and wherein the back plate lock 22 contains a screw hole 42 and where the fixed part of the fitting 3 contains a screw hole 44.

Figure 3 shows the fitting 2 together with fastening means 10 for wall mounting. The fitting 2 thus consists of the fixed part 3 of the fitting which is designed with the spring lock 20, the spring lock 20 mounted immediately above the projection 18 which is provided with grooves by which the projection 18 can be fastened in a hole in a sidewall 4, 6. The spring lock 20 contains a cutout 28 which can be a through-going cutout for accommodating a projection 30 disposed on the side plate lock 22. The fixed part of the fitting 3 also contains a projection 36 interacting with the rear edge of a side plate 4, 6. The fixed part 3 of the fitting also contains a slot 26 for accommodating the wall fitting 10, the slot 26 designed with circular cutouts 40 and 48. A screw 24 is shown which interacts with screw hole 42 in the side plate lock, and by screwing together the screw 24 fits in the hole 44 in the fixed part of the fitting 3 as well. If the wall fastening 10 is mounted in the slot 26, the screw 24 will pass through this wall fitting and fix the wall fitting relative to the slot 26, after which the screw 24 continues into the fixed part 3 of the fitting 2. The wall fastening 10 is designed with fastening holes 50 and 52, and the wall fastening 10 itself consists of reinforcements 54 and 58 and a flat section 56 in between the round reinforcements. The round reinforcements 54 and 58 interact with the round cutouts 40 and 48 during mounting of the wall fastening 10.

Figure 4 shows the fitting 2 with the wall fastening 10 mounted in the fitting. The first projection 18 on the spring lock 20 is also shown as well as the four-sided cutout 28 for receiving the projection 30 which is provided on the side plate lock 22. Also are shown holes 42 and 44 in the side plate lock and the fixed part of the fitting 3, respectively. The wall fastening 10 is shown with the reinforcements 54, 58 and the flat intermediate piece 56. Also the holes 50 and 52 are shown. Figure 5 shows a closet with sides 4 and 6, a top 5 and a bottom 7 wherein the fitting 2 is mounted at the top with wall fastening and below without wall fastening, only for securing a back wall.

Figure 6 shows the fitting 2, e.g. like the fittings shown at the top of the previous Figure, where this fitting is fastened to wall by the screws 60 and 62 and where the back plate lock 20 is ready for receiving a back plate which then temporarily can be secured until a back plate lock is mounted. A screw hole 44 is shown as well. The wall fastening 10 contains the reinforcements 54 and 58 separated by the intermediate piece 56.

Based on the fact that the first projection 18 is now disposed in a hole in the sidewall 4 it is thus not possible to see this projection. Based on the fact that the spring lock 20 is disposed at a level providing that a back plate comes into to complete contact with the back plate 4, the fitting 3 which is the fixed part of the fitting will be completely hidden by the back plate whereas only the back plate lock 22 not shown on Fig. 6 will be visible inside a completely assembled closet or cupboard.

By means of the invention it is thus possible to mount a large closet as the one shown on Fig. 5 as a bottom 7 can be placed at the eventual location for the closet, after which the sides 4 and 6 can be erected; at the same time the top 5 can possibly be mounted, after which the fittings 2 are mounted at a number of positions and subsequently it is ready for mounting a back plate 8 which by a slight deflection can be brought to engage the spring connections 20 such that the back plate 8 is automatically secured. Subsequently, in use it is just to fit the screws 24 whereafter the assembly and wall fastening of a large closet is finished, largely within the area which the closet eventually will occupy.

The invention can be applied anywhere where cupboards/closets are to be mounted along a wall, and does not in any way be limited to large closets. Fastening of back plates 8 can be realised with many other types of furniture, or e.g. also be applied in actual kitchen cupboards; even though suspension of wall cupboards in kitchens will probably be performed in other ways the present invention can still be of interest with regard to fastening the back plate 8. Also for low furni

along a wall, the wall fastening provided by the present system could perform a large number of tasks which today are to be dealt with by means of angle braces which are to be screwed into the wall. The fitting according to the invention may here be applied instead and secure furniture, also small pieces of furniture, against overturning by improper loading.

The present invention thereby provides a wide range of various applications, and more applications than indicated here will probably be possible.