(en)The invention relates to a decoration module ( 10 ), especially for cupboards and cosmetic items, having a rectangular, box-type form and comprising a bottom ( 11 ), a rear wall ( 12 ), a cover ( 14 ), lateral flanges ( 13 ) and a device ( 27 ) for displacing a front plate ( 15 ) for opening and closing the decoration module ( 10 ). Said bottom ( 11 ) receives a retractable thrust plate ( 17 ) which is connected to the upper edge ( 25 ) of the front plate ( 15 ) by means of at least one traction/thrust element ( 28 ). The device ( 27 ) receives the front plate ( 15 ) in such a way that said plate can be displaced in a controlled manner beneath the cover ( 14 ) in relation to the thrust plate ( 17 ).

1.ApplicationNumber: US-46967603-A
1.PublishNumber: US-2004075374-A1
2.Date Publish: 20040422
3.Inventor: VON DER BURG BRUNO
BRINKMANN WOLFGANG

4.Inventor Harmonized: VON DER BURG BRUNO(DE)
BRINKMANN WOLFGANG(DE)

5.Country: US
6.Claims:
(en)The invention relates to a decoration module ( 10 ), especially for cupboards and cosmetic items, having a rectangular, box-type form and comprising a bottom ( 11 ), a rear wall ( 12 ), a cover ( 14 ), lateral flanges ( 13 ) and a device ( 27 ) for displacing a front plate ( 15 ) for opening and closing the decoration module ( 10 ). Said bottom ( 11 ) receives a retractable thrust plate ( 17 ) which is connected to the upper edge ( 25 ) of the front plate ( 15 ) by means of at least one traction/thrust element ( 28 ). The device ( 27 ) receives the front plate ( 15 ) in such a way that said plate can be displaced in a controlled manner beneath the cover ( 14 ) in relation to the thrust plate ( 17 ).

7.Description:
(en)DESCRIPTION
[0001] The invention relates to a decoration module in particular for cupboards and for cosmetic items. The module has a rectangular, box-like shape and is comprised of a bottom, a rear wall, a cover, lateral flanges and a device for displacing a front plate for opening and closing the decoration module.
[0002] Such decoration modules are known in many different forms. In the following, they are briefly referred to just as modules. Such modules serve in particular manufacturers of cosmetics as sales display items and/or as advertising carriers that are specially adapted to the product and used for offering the customers and final consumers, for example cosmetic items. Such modules are frequently required also because cosmetic articles such as, for example lipsticks, eye pencils, nail lacquers etc. have extremely small dimensions, and it is deemed desirable that such items are individually offered in a high-quality form because of their spiritual/actual value. Such articles had to be otherwise offered from large sales containers. In connection with cosmetic articles, a direct color comparison is often required as well, for example in connection with items such as lipsticks. This is easily possible with corresponding decoration modules that overtly display a number of variations of an item, one arranged next to the other, or also alternatives thereof. Furthermore, all kinds of different products of a cosmetic line are offered one next to the other via corresponding modules.
[0003] Such modules consequently serve the purpose of presenting in a high-quality manner products that are spiritually and also in fact valuable and of high quality; they permit a good overview of the entire collection or also of all kinds of different products from one or an alternative collection, and, furthermore, offer the availability of advertising surfaces that are located close to the products.
[0004] Even though such modules are employed in many different ways, for example in the displays of cosmetic sales outlets and pharmacies, they are used in the field of medical and pharmaceutical products as well, where, for example, a great number of medications have to be accessible for quick and targeted access.
[0005] Moreover, such modules are often designed in such a way that they can be closed in order to prevent, for example any soiling of their contents. They are often arranged also in multitudes next to each other, or one on top of the other in cupboards, and therefore offer the possibility of appropriate storage with easy access at the same time.
[0006] As the rule, the access is, in this connection, supported by a transparent front plate and a sliding plate, which permits a quick overview of the products of the module, and at the same time also access to their rear area.
[0007] This results in an effect that is desired particularly in the field of products in the form of highly valued cosmetic articles, and which also stimulating sales as well. Such an effect is obviously constituting a special inducement if a product is not readily accessible to a customer. This raises the interest in the product. It has been found that it is particularly useful if such modules are combined with a device that moves or opens and closes the front plate depending on the movement of the sliding plate. The front plate, which can be secured in the form of a flap or a door that is, however, displaceable vertically as well.
[0008] For example, a mechanism is known that pushes the front plate up when the thrust plate is pulled out, so that the contents of the module can be freely accessed. However, the drawback of this mechanism is that the module is extremely bulky when the front wall is open and can get easily damaged in particular if a plurality of modules stacked one on top of the other have to be coordinated with each other, because the front plate in the pushed-up position automatically blocks the access to the module arranged on top of if, which, under certain circumstances, has to be arranged also offset in relation to said module. Furthermore, thrust and lift movements are directly proportional to each other, which has a less attractive and rather simple effect.
[0009] Furthermore, these modules are constructed in a manner requiring technically expenditure, as a rule, in order to be stable and functional in a robust manner at the same time. Therefore, such modules of the type as known in the prior art are little suited to resolve the problem of the present invention in a satisfactory manner.
[0010] The problem of the present invention is to provide a decoration module in particular for cupboards and for cosmetic articles that is realized with a robust and simple construction; whose front plate can be opened in a superior manner, and which, in the opened condition, will not impair any neighboring modules, and which will also make available a decoration surface that can be accessed without any hindrance.
[0011] The present problem is resolved according to the invention in that the bottom supports a thrust plate that can be pulled out and is connected with the top edge of the front plate via one or more traction/thrust elements; and that the device receives the front plate in such a way that it can be displaced in a controlled manner beneath the cover in relation to the thrust plate.
[0012] It has been surprisingly found that the problem posed is completely resolved with the help of a combination of the simplest type of means. The front plate even may be structured in two parts with an upper section and a lower section, whereby the lower section is arranged on a thrust plate in a fixed manner that comprises a tray as the decoration surface that is cantilevered downwards and located in the front. Via the traction/thrust elements, which are guided in the module laterally in a manner similar to the door of a lamella-type cupboard, the thrust plate and the front plate are connected with each other, whereby the connection with the front plate is of the pivot-mounted type. Pulling out the thrust plate then causes the front plate to pivot via a bevel inwards beneath the cover of the decoration module in a simple and slow, nonlinear proportional manner, among other things. Even neighboring modules will not be obstructed in any way by such a movement.
[0013] Provision is made in a beneficial manner that the one or more traction/thrust elements are realized in the form of belts that quasi are not elongated/compressed in the direction of traction and direction of thrust. Such belts can be permanently bent in any desired way in the direction of their narrow edges. A guide covering the entire surface area, i.e. from one flange to the other, can be dispensed with in this way, so that one center traction/thrust element, or also two lateral traction/thrust elements suffice for assuring stable and safe guidance in particular also against any canting of the front plate. Furthermore, the front plate can be directly coupled with the thrust plate and, because of the extremely low elongation/compression, combined with the lowest possible space requirements at the same time, the traction/thrust elements can be reversed due to their good bending property.
[0014] Provision is advantageously made that the device comprises a guide groove on each of the inner surfaces of the flanges that is extending through in the form of a “U” from the upper via the rear edge to the lower edge of each flange, whereby the right-angled transitions to the rear wall are extending rounded off with a large radius. Owing to this displacement of the guidance of the traction/thrust elements to the outer edge of the flanges, if possible, the smooth mobility obtained because of large lever arms is supported, and the construction expenditure is reduced at the same time, because the walls etc., which are disposed adjacent to the rail-like sections of the guide groove, can be directly used, as it is explained in detail farther below. Only the reversals to the back wall are to be designed rounded off, if possible with a reasonably large radius that will further support smooth mobility.
[0015] According to a beneficial embodiment, provision is made that the guide grooves are formed by rail-like inner and outer molded components that are integrated in the flanges or mounted on the latter. These molded components receive the lateral edges of the traction/thrust elements of the thrust plate and the front plate in a movable, guiding manner, with stability versus tension and pressure. This permits the application of modern injection molding and casting methods, and single- or multi-component flanges, with molded components mounted thereon or integrated therein, can form the guide rails. The molded components that are disposed on the inside and outside with respect to the traction/thrust elements therefore, can be produced directly in one single production step, and even jointly with the flanges. In this way, the depth of the grooves can be beneficially adapted to the belt width of the traction/thrust elements, and also receive the corresponding lateral sections of the thrust and the front plates with the respective depth.
[0016] Furthermore, provision is preferably made that the traction/thrust elements are arranged with their one end section on the lateral edges of the thrust plate, and with their other end section on the upper edge of the front plate in a fixed manner, and horizontally secured there in a pivot-mounted manner, or correspondingly mounted there via a hinge section on the front plate. It is possible in this way to obtain a permanently fixed connection of the traction/thrust elements with the front plate and the thrust plate that is not subjected to any buckling movements, so that also no fatigue of the material has to be feared to occur in said area. This benefit is especially supported by the hinge section that can be directly connected with the upper edge of the front plate in a constructively simple, but also in a conventionally high-quality manner similar to a piano belt, or in a pivot-mounted manner via a separate hinge element.
[0017] Furthermore, provision is beneficially made that the guide grooves each are forming a gap between the rail-like molded components and the cover, the back wall and the bottom, and between the rounded inner and outer molded parts, and that the upper, front end sections of the rail-like molded components are extending with a downward inclination by a few degrees. As already stated above, in this way, it is possible to directly use in the area of the rail-like molded components the adjacent elements as the outer molded components. The space available in terms of construction is exploited in this way in the best possible manner, and smooth mobility is supported. In order to effect a lifting or threading-in movement of the front plate in the guide grooves, it was surprisingly found that an end section of the respective rail-like guide grooves that is extending in a beveled or rounded manner, is particularly advantageous and simple at the same time. This supports a smooth and nonlinear movement of the front plate. The width of the gap remains substantially the same.
[0018] It has been found that it is particularly beneficial if the traction/thrust elements have such a length between the thrust plate and the front plate that, with the thrust plate pushed in, the front plate will tilt down at a right angle and close the module. This ensures in a simple manner that the front plate will not protrude from the module even when it is in the tilted-down state and impair any functional units disposed adjacent to it.
[0019] According to another special embodiment, provision is beneficially made that the depth of the flanges is corresponding with the longitudinal expanse of the thrust plate and the radius of the outer, rounded molded components, and that the distance of the displacement of the thrust plate effects complete retraction of the front plate beneath the cover. In this way, it is assured that the front plate is completely retracted and the mobility of the thrust late is limited at the same time, which ensures a minimal depth of the flanges that is functionally appropriate.
[0020] Furthermore, provision is advantageously made that the thrust plate has a central surface with arresting elements for setting up decoration elements, and a groove-like, downwardly extending tray located on the outer front edge for receiving other decoration elements. The decoration elements located in the interior of the module are prevented from sliding out of place by the arresting elements. Thus even multi-level constructions can be realized that permit the cosmetic articles to be arranged in tiers. In this way, also an outer decoration surface is provided in a particularly beneficial manner that may receive, for example test articles without having to open the module.
[0021] Provision is beneficially made that the tray is molded in such a way that it is provided with a handle on its front edge, and that the front edge of the thrust plate supports a lower, fixed section of a divided front plate. In this way, it is possible to accommodate in the tray not only cosmetic articles with small vertical expanses, but even pencils with a high projection because the respective lower section of the front plate is not swiveling outwards and upwards, but remains in this position. The front edge of the tray is knurled in the form of a handle that is particularly simple and visually attractive. The dish protruding downwards, furthermore, offers the benefit that decoration modules as defined by the invention can be quasi inserted in any type of cupboards or the like, and cover at the same time the drawer-type bottoms of these shelves and convert these areas into decoration surfaces.
[0022] According to a special embodiment, furthermore, provision is made that the front plate is manufactured from a clear or transparent material, forming an advertising surface, and the components of the device that can be moved in relation to each other, are made of a material that is capable of sliding or has a surface that is capable of sliding. This assures a smooth movement, and the displayed cosmetic articles can be seen directly or indirectly. Particularly the eye-catching front plate may carry promotional inscriptions. The materials of all moving components can be selected in such a manner that they are capable of sliding particularly smoothly in relation to each other, and may be realized in the form of single-piece components or also multi-link components.
[0023] Other preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.



[0024] An exemplified embodiment is explained in the following with greater detail with the help of a drawing, in which:
[0025]FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective exploded representation of a decoration module as defined by the invention.
[0026]FIG. 2 is a schematic, sectional side view of a module as defined by the invention in the closed state; and
[0027]FIG. 3 is a side view according to FIG. 2, with the module being in the opened state.


[0028]FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective representation of a decoration module 10 as defined by the invention, in which the arrows “A” indicate how all of the individual components are assembled. The decoration module 10 has a rectangular, box-like shape and is comprised of a bottom 11 , a rear wall 1 , the lateral flanges 13 , a cover 14 as the upper limitation, and a front plate 15 that may be divided in two components, with a separate lower front plate section 16 . A thrust plate 17 is arranged in the interior of the decoration module 10 above the bottom 11 . This thrust plate can be pulled from the module 10 and pushed back into the module in the opposite direction as indicated by the double arrow “B”.
[0029] The thrust plate 17 is arranged directly above the bottom 11 and, on its central support surface 18 , has the arresting means 19 for the decoration elements 20 , which are thereby provided with a fixed support in the thrust directions indicated by the double arrow “B”. The part of the double arrow “B” pointing in the direction of extension is pointing toward the front and thus toward the viewer or user of the decoration module 10 . On the corresponding front edge 21 of the thrust plate 17 , a trough-like tray 22 is provided for this purpose that is arranged aligned in an orthogonal manner in relation thereto, with its bottom protruding downwards. Its frontal edge is flanged so as to form a handle 23 . This tray 22 , which is aligned downwards in relation to the bottom 11 , serves for receiving the other decoration elements 24 . In accordance with the intended purpose, smaller items such as, for example cosmetic articles can be displayed in the decoration elements 20 and 24 , which may be supports and stands.
[0030] Furthermore, the frontal arresting means 19 shown serves for retaining in a fixed manner the lower front plate section 16 through an upper slit-like notch, said lower front plate section having a maximal height corresponding with the articles in the decoration elements 24 .
[0031] The front plate 15 or, if it is divided in two components, the upper section of the divided plate closing the front, is permanently connected at its upper edge 25 —which is the rear edge in FIG. 1—with a hinge element 26 , or with a section of the latter, in a manner such that it is capable of pivoting by 90°.
[0032] According to a device 27 that is substantially comprised of the guide grooves 29 , the hinge element 26 and the traction/thrust elements 28 that are correspondingly secured thereon on both sides, such traction/thrust elements being held in the guide grooves 29 on the inner side of the flanges 13 , it is possible to retract the front plate 15 depending on the thrust.
[0033] The guide grooves 29 are first formed by the inner molded components 30 , 33 , with the upper front end sections of said components being bent off downwards by a few degrees. Owing to the outer molded components 32 in the corners between the rear wall 12 and the cover 14 , and between the rear wall 12 and the bottom 11 , it is now possible to guide the traction/thrust elements 28 in a U-shaped track in such a manner that a movement of the thrust plate 17 as indicated by the arrow “B” is directly transmitted to the front plate 15 or the hinge element 26 . If the thrust plate 17 is pushed in completely, the upper edge 25 of the front plate 15 will be positioned directly beneath the front edge of the cover 14 , so that the force of gravity causes the front plate 15 to tilt downwards and the latter will quasi automatically slowly close the decoration module 10 in a controlled manner. In the reversed direction, the front plate 15 is slowly lifted in a controlled manner by the end sections 31 and brought into the position shown.
[0034]FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional side view of a module 10 as defined by the invention and corresponding with the one of FIG. 1 in the closed state, thus with the thrust plate 17 pushed in, and with the front plate 15 tilted into the closing position. Reference is made therefore to the description of FIG. 1 in all other respects. Visible in a particularly clear manner is the supplementing cooperation between the lower front plate section 16 and the upper front plate section if the front plate 15 is divided in two components, said sections being butt-jointed with each other, whereby the front plate section 16 is retained on the thrust plate 17 in an arresting means 19 . It can be seen that the hinge element 26 is realized with two hinge sections in a manner similar to a piano belt, of which the one section is arranged inside on the front plate 15 and the other on the traction/thrust elements 28 . It is obvious that the cover 14 , the rear wall 12 and the bottom 11 have a special significance in the area of the straight-lined sections of the guide groove 29 . In said sections, the inner, rail-like molded components 33 , jointly with the outer edges of the bottom 11 , the rear wall 12 and the cover 14 , are forming the guide groove 29 , with the latter forming at the same time the outer molded components in said areas.
[0035] Within the area of the corners between the rear wall 12 and the cover 14 , as also the bottom 14 , the triangular outer molded components 32 , and the inner, accordingly adapted molded components 30 , are basically forming rounded-off sections of the guide groove 29 , so that the belt-like traction/thrust elements 28 guided therein in a sliding manner can be moved with particularly smooth mobility. The rail-like, inner molded components 33 , and the rounded, molded components 30 can be beneficially realized in the form of single-piece components with the rear wall 12 , and form a molded combination component 34 that, jointly with the other rail-like, molded components 33 , can be realized also as an integral component of the flanges 13 .
[0036] The tray 22 with the handle 23 and the decoration elements 24 is projecting downwards beyond the bottom 11 , preferably by a measure conforming to the bottom of a shelf or a cupboard. This section of a cupboard, therefore, can not only be covered by also employed as a useful section.
[0037]FIG. 3 shows a side view according to FIG. 2 in the opened condition, for which reason reference is made to the description of FIG. 2. By pulling out the thrust plate 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow “B”, for example by means of the handle 23 , the thrust plate 17 is first pulled—at the top—against the end section 31 of the rail-like molded component 33 as indicated by the arrow “C”, which, when it is pulled further, is exerting a torque—at the bottom sideways—for lifting the front plate 15 as indicated by the arrow “C”, so that the front plate 15 is finally displaced into the position beneath the cover 14 shown.
[0038] All elements and especially also the components of the device 27 can be preferably manufactured from plastic material. The front plate 15 , also with the section 16 , can be preferably made of a clear or also of a dyed transparent plastic, and may serve as an advertising carrier.
[0039] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , as well as in the claims 1 to 11 can be essential both individually and in any desired combination for the realization of the invention in its different embodiments.