Controlled closure system for sliding furniture elements

Abstract

A controlled closure system for a sliding element of a piece of furniture, comprises an elongated body provided in which is a rectilinear groove passing through the body and extended axially in the closure direction. An engagement element slides along the groove to move from a first idle position to a second closure position through the action of a spring. The engagement element comprises abutment surfaces to delimit, between them, a seat intended to accommodate a drawing projection integral with the sliding element. Suitable sliding surfaces between the engagement element and the groove cause the rotation of the engagement element when it is in the idle position in such a manner to lower the front abutment surface towards a groove and allow the passage of the drawing projection towards the closure until it pushes against the rear abutment surface and rotate the engagement element to raise the front abutment surface and draw the projection towards the closed position of the sliding element of a piece of furniture.

1 . Controlled closure system for a sliding element of a piece of furniture, comprising an elongated body provided in which is a rectilinear groove passing through the body and extended axially in the closure direction, an engagement element being arranged sliding in the groove to move from a first idle position to a second closure position through the action of a spring, the engagement element comprising a front abutment surface and a rear abutment surface projecting from the groove and mutually opposite along the extension direction of the groove to delimit, between them, a seat intended to accommodate a drawing projection integral with the sliding element, in said first position, the traction of the spring and the support of the engagement element in the groove being such to cause the rotation of the engagement element in the surface of the groove, in the direction of lowering the front abutment surface towards the groove, the engagement element coupling with such rotation a stop element to maintain the first position against the action of the spring, the lowering of the front abutment surface in said first position being such that the drawing projection pushed towards the closure can extend beyond the front abutment surface and push against the rear abutment surface, in such a manner to cause the opposite rotation of the engagement element, the raising of the front abutment surface above the drawing projection and the decoupling of the stop element, thus freeing the engagement element to allow its movement drawn by the spring towards the second position and dragging the drawing projection of the sliding element of a piece of furniture along towards the closure position. 
     
     
         2 . Closure system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that extended at the two sides of the groove, on the side of the abutment surface of the engagement element, are slots which define first surfaces, for sliding the engagement element, sliding on which are the corresponding lateral surfaces of the engagement element, the sliding surfaces having cavities close to the idle position of the engagement element inserted into which is a part of the said lateral surfaces of the engagement element to allow the said rotation, such part of the lateral surfaces being shaped to provide the said stop element which, upon rotation, is fitted into said cavity. 
     
     
         3 . Closure system according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the spring is arranged parallel to the groove and on the opposite part with respect to the abutment surfaces of the engagement element to generate a rotation torque on the engagement element. 
     
     
         4 . Closure system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a linear damping device which guides the movement of the engagement element towards the closure position. 
     
     
         5 . Closure system according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the damping device is arranged parallel to the groove on the side of the abutment surfaces of the engagement element. 
     
     
         6 . Closure system according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the body is extended rectilinear beyond the groove in the closure direction to define seats for accommodating the damping device and the spring on its opposite sides. 
     
     
         7 . Closure system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the front abutment surface is tooth-shaped, projecting from the engagement element, provided with a surface inclined with respect to the extension of the groove and opposite with respect to the front abutment surface, between the inclined surface and the front abutment surface the tooth being hollow to allow its elastic flexure towards the groove if the inclined surface is impacted by the drawing projection of the sliding element of a piece of furniture during its travel towards the closure position, in a way to allow extension beyond the front abutment surface from the drawing projection directed towards the closure position even when the engagement element is not rotated to have the front abutment surface retracted towards the groove. 
     
     
         8 . Closure system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that on the two sides of the groove, extended on the side opposite to the abutment surface of the engagement element, are second slots which define second sliding surfaces for the engagement element sliding on which are corresponding lateral surfaces of the engagement element. 
     
     
         9 . Closure system according to  claim 5 , characterized in that it comprises blocking means intended to fix the body against a sliding body of the sliding element of a piece of furniture.