Connecting fitting

• US 5,312,201 A
• Filed: 11/30/1992
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Julius BLUM GmbH (BLUM Verwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Brustle, Klaus, Tofferl, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, HARRY CHONG HYUN
• Application Number:
  US07/983,131
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 403/198-200, 403/192-193, 403/187-188, 403/230-231, 403/240, 403/245, 403/252-255, 403/262-264, 403/292-294, 403/296-298 , 403/315-316, 403/320-322, 403/306, 403/346, 403/375, 403/353, 403/409.1, 403/407.1, 403/406.1, 403/381, 403/383, 403/354, 403/331, 403/310, 403/311 , 403/345, 403/347, 312/330.1
• US Class Current: 403/199
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2088/94 to the back wall of a drawer
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/90 Constructional details of drawers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/931 Rails or rods mounted above the drawer walls, e.g. for stabilisation of the drawer or for suspension of the content
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/205 the hook being a separate retainer
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/406 Clamping parts being collars, bushings or wedges
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 9/052 the intermediate member having a radial flange secured to the flat surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 403/11 Furniture type having a snap fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/59 Manually releaseable latch type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7009 Rotary binding cam or wedge

Abstract

A connecting fitting for securing a rail of a drawer to a rear or side wall thereof. A supporting member supports a rear end of the rail. A securing element is screwed into the rear end of the rail and includes a locking device by which the securing element is suspended in the supporting member. The supporting member has an open slot which widens in the manner of a keyhole into a receiving opening. A spring ring is located in the receiving opening, or the securing element is lockable in the receiving opening by friction or by locking elements.

Claims

1. A connecting fitting for fastening a rear end of a rail of a drawer to a rear wall or side wall of the drawer, said fitting comprising:

a supporting member to be fastened to the rear wall or side wall of the drawer, said supporting member having therethrough a receiving opening and an open-ended slot, said slot opening into said receiving opening and having a width smaller than the size of said receiving opening, said supporting member having at least one projection extending into said slot, such that said slot widens into said receiving opening, said receiving opening having a non-circular cross section;

a securing element for connecting the rear end of the rail to said supporting member, said securing element including a first portion to be fastened to the rear end of the rail and a second portion dimensioned to fit in said slot, said second portion having therein at least one groove complementary to said projection, said groove being limited by opposite side protrusions, such that said second portion may be inserted in a direction transverse to axially of said receiving opening through said slot into said receiving opening with said projection sliding through said groove between said protrusions, to thereby suspend said securing element from said supporting member; and

said second portion of said securing element having a non-circular cross section complementary to that of said receiving opening, thereby forming means for releasably retaining said second portion of said securing element within said receiving opening.

2. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said non-circular cross sections are rectangular.

3. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein after said second portion is positioned within said receiving opening, said securing element is movable axially of said receiving opening, such that said groove then is out of alignment with said projection, at which position said second portion may not be removed from said receiving opening.

4. A fitting as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first portion of said securing element is threaded to mesh with threads of the rear end of the rail, such that rotation of the rail around the longitudinal axis thereof results in said movement of said securing element axially of said receiving opening.

5. A fitting as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second portion of said securing element has a lateral projection extending into said slot, thereby preventing rotation of said securing element upon rotation of the rail.

6. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion of said securing element is constructed to fit within the rear end of the rail.

7. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion of said securing element is threaded to mesh with threads of the rear end of the rail.

8. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot is positioned to open upwardly when said fitting is assembled to the drawer.

9. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot is positioned to open laterally when said fitting is assembled to the drawer.

10. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second portion of said securing element has a lateral projection extending into said slot.

11. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second portions of said securing element comprise an integral, one-piece structure.

12. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second portion of said securing element has therein plural grooves, and said supporting element has plural projections.