CA1107340A - Construction of articles of furniture - Google Patents
Construction of articles of furnitureInfo
- Publication number
- CA1107340A CA1107340A CA275,776A CA275776A CA1107340A CA 1107340 A CA1107340 A CA 1107340A CA 275776 A CA275776 A CA 275776A CA 1107340 A CA1107340 A CA 1107340A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- socket
- panel member
- panel
- end portion
- drawer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B88/00—Drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture; Guides for drawers
- A47B88/90—Constructional details of drawers
- A47B88/941—Drawers being constructed from two or more parts
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B88/00—Drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture; Guides for drawers
- A47B88/90—Constructional details of drawers
- A47B2088/902—Corner connectors for drawers
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A set of parts for use in the contruction of an article of furniture such as a drawer includes a connecting device and two panel members, to which, in use, the connecting device is attached. The connecting device has a socket the cross-section of which corresponds to at least a major part of the cross-section of one of the panel members so that an end portion of the panel member can be fitted in the socket. It is then held within the socket by resiliently interengageable locking elements on the end portion and within the socket.
A set of parts for use in the contruction of an article of furniture such as a drawer includes a connecting device and two panel members, to which, in use, the connecting device is attached. The connecting device has a socket the cross-section of which corresponds to at least a major part of the cross-section of one of the panel members so that an end portion of the panel member can be fitted in the socket. It is then held within the socket by resiliently interengageable locking elements on the end portion and within the socket.
Description
3~
This invention relates to the construction of arkicles of furniture and particularly, but not exclusively, to sets of parts for use in forming drawers.
In generl.ll known drawers have either been made of solid back and side panel members which are connected together by mitred or dove-tailed joints, or have been made of back and side panel members which are extruded hollow sections of plastics material connected together by connec-ting members having spigots which fit into the hollow ends of the panel members, which are provided near their ends with recesses to receive the spigots.
According to the invention there is provided a set of parts for use in the construction of an article of furniture com-prising a first panel member of substantially constant external cross-section; a second panel member of substantially constant external cross-section; a first connecting device for attachment to the panel members respectively in a manner to secure them together at an angle to one another, a first socket on the con-necting device having an internal cross-section which substantially conforms with at least.a major part of the cross-- 20 section of the first panel member whereby an end portion of the ~ first panel member may be received in the first socket; retention means for retaining the end portion within the first socket and comprising resiliently inter-engageable locking elements on the `:: end portion and within the first socket respectively; a second socket on the connecting device set at an angle to the flrst socket, the:in~ternal cros.s-section of the second socket substantially co:nforming With at least a major part of the cross- ~ :
:~ ~ . section of the s~econd panel member so that an end portion of the : second panel me~ber ma~ be received in the second socket, and :
:~ 30 resiliently inter-engageable:locking elements on the end portion and~within the~second :ocket respectively, these elements being arranged in similar manner to the locking elements on the first ~73~L~
socket and the end portion of the first panel member.
The above set may further comprise a third panel member and a second connecting device, similar to the first con-necting device, or attachment to the third panel member and to the second panel member to secure the second and third panel members together at an angle to one another. It may also com-prise a fourth panel member and third and fourth connecting devices for connecting the fourth panel member at an angle to said first and third panel members respectively.
Preferably, the third connecting device comprises a socket having an internal cross-section which substantially conforms with at leas-t a major part of -the cross-section of the first panel member so that an end portion of the first panel member may be received in the socket, there being provided retention means for retaining the end portion within the socket and comprising resiliently inter-engageable locking elements on the end portion and within the socket respectively and a-surface disposed at an angle to the axis of the socket and for attach-ment of the fourth panel member,-and wherein the fourth co~-necting device is similar to the third connecting device, having a socket of internaI cross-section which substantially conforms with at least a major part of the internal cross-section of the third panel member so that an end portion of the third panel member may be received and retained in said socket and a surface disposed at an angle to the axis of the socket and for attachment to the fourth panel member.
;
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This invention relates to the construction of arkicles of furniture and particularly, but not exclusively, to sets of parts for use in forming drawers.
In generl.ll known drawers have either been made of solid back and side panel members which are connected together by mitred or dove-tailed joints, or have been made of back and side panel members which are extruded hollow sections of plastics material connected together by connec-ting members having spigots which fit into the hollow ends of the panel members, which are provided near their ends with recesses to receive the spigots.
According to the invention there is provided a set of parts for use in the construction of an article of furniture com-prising a first panel member of substantially constant external cross-section; a second panel member of substantially constant external cross-section; a first connecting device for attachment to the panel members respectively in a manner to secure them together at an angle to one another, a first socket on the con-necting device having an internal cross-section which substantially conforms with at least.a major part of the cross-- 20 section of the first panel member whereby an end portion of the ~ first panel member may be received in the first socket; retention means for retaining the end portion within the first socket and comprising resiliently inter-engageable locking elements on the `:: end portion and within the first socket respectively; a second socket on the connecting device set at an angle to the flrst socket, the:in~ternal cros.s-section of the second socket substantially co:nforming With at least a major part of the cross- ~ :
:~ ~ . section of the s~econd panel member so that an end portion of the : second panel me~ber ma~ be received in the second socket, and :
:~ 30 resiliently inter-engageable:locking elements on the end portion and~within the~second :ocket respectively, these elements being arranged in similar manner to the locking elements on the first ~73~L~
socket and the end portion of the first panel member.
The above set may further comprise a third panel member and a second connecting device, similar to the first con-necting device, or attachment to the third panel member and to the second panel member to secure the second and third panel members together at an angle to one another. It may also com-prise a fourth panel member and third and fourth connecting devices for connecting the fourth panel member at an angle to said first and third panel members respectively.
Preferably, the third connecting device comprises a socket having an internal cross-section which substantially conforms with at leas-t a major part of -the cross-section of the first panel member so that an end portion of the first panel member may be received in the socket, there being provided retention means for retaining the end portion within the socket and comprising resiliently inter-engageable locking elements on the end portion and within the socket respectively and a-surface disposed at an angle to the axis of the socket and for attach-ment of the fourth panel member,-and wherein the fourth co~-necting device is similar to the third connecting device, having a socket of internaI cross-section which substantially conforms with at least a major part of the internal cross-section of the third panel member so that an end portion of the third panel member may be received and retained in said socket and a surface disposed at an angle to the axis of the socket and for attachment to the fourth panel member.
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2 -4~
The invention includes wit~n its scope a set of parts, o~ any of the kinds re~erred to above7 when assembled together to form a-t least a part of an article o~ furniture, such as a drawer.
The :Invention is applicable to the construction of any article of ~urniture in which panels o~ substantially constant cross-section are to be connected toge-ther at an angle to one another, such as drawers, cabinets, boxes, and shelf-assemblies. However, the invention is particul arly applicable to drawers, and the ~ollowing description will relate to the construction o~ drawers although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such articles.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connecting de~ice for connecting a side panel member of a drawer to a back panel member;
Figure 2 is another perspective view of the connecting device o~ Figure 1;
; 20 Figures 3 and 4 are perspecti~e views of connecting devices ~or connecti~g side panel members o~ a drawer to a front panel member, Figure 5 is a perspective view of parts for use in ; formlng a drawer and comprising the devices shown in Figure 1 to 4 together with drawer side, back, front and floor members befo.re assembly;
Fi.gure 6 is a~perspectiYe ~iew o~ a modi~led form of the part;s of Figure 5;
F~.gure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative ~.
form o~ co~necting device for connecting a side panel . ~ -~ member o~ a drawer to a~back panel member; and :
~ Fi.gure 8 is a perspective ~iew o~ a ~urther form o~
~ P
>
'7340 connecting device.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the connecting device 10 comprises side walls 11 and 12, a top wall 13, and a bottom wall 14 which de~ine a generally hollow struc-ture, the ends oi` the walls 11 to 14 defining two sockets 15 and 15a set at right angles to one another. Each socket also has an end stop wall 16. ~he connecting device 10 is rounded through 90 between the two sockets 15 and 15a.
As will be described later, the connecting device 10 is used for connecting together at right angles to one another, two panel members o~ a drawer, each panel member being of substantially constant external cross-section.
Each of the sockets 15, 15a has an internal cross-section which substantially conforms with the major part of the cross-section of one of the panel members so that an end por-tion of said one panel member may be received within the socket, in a manner to be described.
The side wall 11 of the device 10, which in use will face inwardly of the drawer, is provided near its lower edge with a slot 17 for recei~ing a drawer bottom panel 42 (Figure 5), and the side wall 12, which in use will face outwardly o~ the drawer, is di~ided by a central lateral slot 18. The portions of the wall 12 above and below the slot i8 are interrupted at 19 so that the wall 12 comprises four portions 20 each of which defines part of one of the sockets 15, 15~. ~he top wall 13 and bottom wall 14 are formed, internally o~ the sockets 15 and 15a respectively, with projections 27 which snap into corresponding circular recesses in the drawer panel members, in a manner to be : , described, to retain the ends of the panel members in the socketsO Alternati~ely, the~proJections 22 may be formed, 73 9~ ~
internally of the sockets 15, 15a, on the side walls 11 or 12 thereof. Each projection 22 is forrned with a chamfer facing in the direction o~ engagement bet~een the panel member and socket, so as to facilitate engagement o~ the projection into the corresponding recess in the panel member.
The s~ot 18 is prov:ided ~or receiving a runner on which the assembled drawer is to slide and a strengthening rib 24 extends between the portions 20 above the slot 18.
In some forms of drawer construction the slots 18 and 17 may not be required, and in this case the walls defining the sockets 15 and 15a will be continuous and will surround the entire cross-section of each o~ the panel members, The connecting devices 30 shown in Figures 3 and 4 are for connecting the side panel members of a drawer to a drawer front panel member and have a portion generally indicated by 31 o~ the same general ~orm as in the connec-ting device 10, having side wall sections 20, slots 17 and 18, a socket defined by side walls 11 and 12, top waIl 13~
bottom wall 14, and end wall 16, and projections 22 within the socket. The devices 30 also each have a portion generally indicated by 32 extendlng at right angles to the -;
portion 31, but in this case the portion 32 simply comprises a single wall portion 33 providing a surface which is~to abut the ~ron~ panel member. The end wall 16 has holes 34 for rece.iving screws. As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4 the portion 32 extends ~rom portion~31 only`above the slot 17 and the~outward facing corner ie a right angle and the . 30 inward~facing corner is~`rounded.
The set~of parts shown in Flgure 5 comprises a drawer back panel member 40,~ two side panel members 41 ~only a ~ , .
39~(~
part of one of which is sho~n), the dra~rer bottom panel 42, the front panel member 43, two connecting devices 10, and two connecting devices 30. Only parts of the panel members 21 and 43, and bo-ttom panel 42, are shown.
In the upper and lower edges o~ each of -the dra~er side and back panel members there are provided circular recesses 44 to receive the projectio~ 22 respectively wit.hin the sockets on the connecting devices 10 and 30~ The drawer side, front and back pane:L members are further each provided, on their inwardly facing sur~aces, with a groove 45, aligned with the slots 17, ~or receiving the edges of the drawer bottom panel 42~ The ou-~wardly facing sur~aces of the dra~er side panel members are each pro~ided with grooves 46, aligned with the slots 18, for receiving the runners on which the assembled drawer is to slide.
The parts illustrated in Figure 5 are assembled by first sGrewing the front connecting devices 30 to the drawer .;- front panel member 43 through the holes ~4, followed by : : insertion of the end portions of the drawer side and back : 20 panel members 41 and 40 in the sockets.15, 15a of the back connecting de~ices: 10 where they are retained by the resil-ient engagement of the projections 22 within the recesses 44.
The drawer bottom panel is then inserted in the slots 17 and grooves 45 of the assembled drawer panel members. The : 25 assembly is then fastened to the drawer ~ront panel member ;: 43 by insertion~of the front end portions of~the drawer s1de panlel memb~ers 41 in ~he sockets of the front connec-:
ting dev.ices 30, where they are retained by the~resilient engagement of the projections 22 wlthin the recesses 44.
~ : In the alternative and pre~erred~embodiment shown in Figure 6,~the drawer components are:generally slmilar to those~described~with reference to Figures 1 to 5, but in .. ~. , ,. . . . ... , - , .. . ..
~ 3 ~ ~
this case rectangular holes 51 are provided in the top and bo-ttom walls~ or in the side walls, of the connecting devices, and rectan~ular projections 52 are provided ln the top ancL bottom edge faces of the drawer panel members, or (not shown) in the side faces thereof, for fastening the connecting devices to the drawer panel members~ In addition slots 53 are provided in the side walls of the connecting devices to allow the top and bottom walls thereof to de-~lect more ~reely.
Each projection 52 comprises a separately formed plug having a chamfered rectangular head and inserted in a-hole in the upper or lower edge of the panel member so that the head of the plug projects ~rom the surface o~ the panel member edge with the chamfer on the head facing the end o~ the panel member~ The connecting devices are then fastened to the drawer panel members by pushing the end portions of the drawer panel members into the sockets of - the connecting devices so that the projecting cham~^ered heads of the plugs first de~lect the top and bottom walls (or the side walls if the holes are so positioned) of the connecting devices and then snap-~it into the holes 51 o~
the connecting devices. The plugs 52 and holes 51 are preferably so disposed that they snap into engagement at the point where the end face o~ the panel member abuts thè stop wall 16 of the socket.
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Ins-tead of the heads of the plugs 52 being cham~ered to ~acilitate entry of the ends of the panel members into the sockets, the~heads may be flQt and the ~outh o~ each ocket may be chamfered at the point where the head of a ; 30 plug 52~will pàss into the socket.
Alternatively, each plug~may have~a flat head and be ;~ ~ inserted in the panel~member at an angle~ so that the flat ::: ~ :: : :
.,, ~ : ~ . .
39~0 head is inclined towards the end of the panel member thereby facilitating entry of the end of the panel member into the socket.
In thls above examples the slots 18 in the connecting de~ices are of substantially the same width as the grooves 46 in the side panel members 41. As a result of this 7 it will be apparent that each connecting device can only be . used with a side panel member having a groove the position of which coincides exactly with the slot in the connecting device. In practice, there is no single standard position for the groove in a drawer side panel member since drawers for di~.~erent purposes may require to have the grooves in different locations~ This means, therefore, that for each drawer side panel member having its slot or groove in a : 15 different position it is necessary to manufacture a diffe-rent connecting device having its slot 18 i~ a corresponding . position. This may be inconvenient and expensiveO
Figures 7 and 8 show modified forms of the connecting device which may be used with a variety of drawer side 0 ; . panel members having ~heir grooves in different positions.
: The connecting device 60 shown in Figure 7 comprises side walls 61 and 62, a top wall 63, and a bottom wall 64, which define a generally hollow structure, the ends of the walls 61, 623 6~, 64 de~ining sockets 65 and 65a, set at right angles to each other, which receive respectively the . end por-tions-~o-f the drawer side panel member 41 and ~he~
~: :drawer back panel member:40, both indicated in chain lines.
The side ~wall 61 which, in use, will face inwardly o~ the ~ : drawer,~is provided with a slot~67 extending all the~way~ -~ 30 round the wall ne;ar the bottom of~the device for receiving he drawer bottom:panel:~42~ ~:The:side wall:62 which, in use, will-:~ace outwardly of the drawerj is divided b~ a central 4~
lateral slot 68 for receiving the runners on which the assembled drawer will slide. At the top and bo-ttom edge of the slot 68 there are provided generally square strengthen-ing ribs 66 connecting -the side walls 61 and 62.
The outwardly facing side wall 62 is formed with square holes 69 on opposite sides o~ the slot 68 for recei-ving projections (not shown) provided on the panel members or for receiving pins to assist in securing the connecting device to the-drawer wall members in the case where other projections and recesses (also not sh~wn) are provided ln similar fashion to the projections and recesses o~ Figure 5 or Figure 6. The holes 69 could also be round or of any othe~suitable shape.
As in the arrangements of Figure 5 and 6, the drawer side panel member 41 is ~ormed with an outwardly facing -~
groove 46 into which a runner, on which the drawer is to slide, will project. As will be seen from Figure 7, the slot 68 in the,co~necting device is, in this case~ conside-rably wider than the groove 46 so that the groove will be - 20 unobstructed by the connecting device despi~e variations in - - .
the locatio~ o~ the groove 46 in dl~ferent side~panel mem- ' bers. Thus the same Gonnecting device is suitable ~or use -' with~a variety o~ side panel members. Although the device can be o~ any required- overall height, this will in praotice generall~ be in a range of 85 ~m to 1~0 mm. Within this range the upper and lower~portions may each have a constant he-ight o~ ~3 mm-regardless of the overall height o~-the`-~
, device~
In the alternative construction shown in Figure 8, the~cor~eeting~devloe i-s formed in~two~ separate parts~The~
;de~ice ma~y be~reg ~ded~as belng similar to the one-piece device of' Figure~79~ but with a~central portlon o~ the inner ~ ~ 7 3 ~ ~
wall 61 removed opposite -the slot 68 in the ou-ter wall 62.
The spacing apart of the -~o parts o~ the device, when fi-tted to a dra~er side panel mernber, is greater than the width of the groove 46 so that, again,the groove will be unobstruc-te~d by the connecting device despite variations in the location of the groove 46 in different side panel members. In the arrangement of Figure 8, the interengaging projections and recesses .for retaining the ends of the panel members.in the sockets of the connecting device are provided on the side faces of the panel mernbers and sockets.
Instead of the two parts of the connecting device being completely separate, as shown in Figure 8, they may be connected by a bridging element, not sho~m, which main-tains the parts in a fixed spaced relationship. It will be appreciated that the bridging element must not obscure any part of the groove 46 in the side panel member of the drawer when the device is in use. The bridging element .
may be permanently connected to the two parts of the device or may be arranged to be detachable therefrom.
~; ~ 20 In -the above described embodiments, the connecting devices may be mculdings of~thermoplastics material and the drawer panel members may be solid chipboard covered wi-~h:a thin coating of P.V.C. The embodiments thus:give : the advantages that the drawer panel members are cheap to ~:~ 25 manu~acture and a robust assembly is provided which has no weak points at which the drawer panel members and~connecting devices c:an break befor~e, during~or after assembly.~In alternati.ve constructions, the.drawer panel members may be of wood or entireIy~of plastics material, for example they ; 30~ may comprise hollow extrusions o~:plastios::material.~ The connecting~de~ices may~be o~ material other than plastics,~
for example:~the~may be formed~from metal. However9~wha*- :
The invention includes wit~n its scope a set of parts, o~ any of the kinds re~erred to above7 when assembled together to form a-t least a part of an article o~ furniture, such as a drawer.
The :Invention is applicable to the construction of any article of ~urniture in which panels o~ substantially constant cross-section are to be connected toge-ther at an angle to one another, such as drawers, cabinets, boxes, and shelf-assemblies. However, the invention is particul arly applicable to drawers, and the ~ollowing description will relate to the construction o~ drawers although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such articles.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connecting de~ice for connecting a side panel member of a drawer to a back panel member;
Figure 2 is another perspective view of the connecting device o~ Figure 1;
; 20 Figures 3 and 4 are perspecti~e views of connecting devices ~or connecti~g side panel members o~ a drawer to a front panel member, Figure 5 is a perspective view of parts for use in ; formlng a drawer and comprising the devices shown in Figure 1 to 4 together with drawer side, back, front and floor members befo.re assembly;
Fi.gure 6 is a~perspectiYe ~iew o~ a modi~led form of the part;s of Figure 5;
F~.gure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative ~.
form o~ co~necting device for connecting a side panel . ~ -~ member o~ a drawer to a~back panel member; and :
~ Fi.gure 8 is a perspective ~iew o~ a ~urther form o~
~ P
>
'7340 connecting device.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the connecting device 10 comprises side walls 11 and 12, a top wall 13, and a bottom wall 14 which de~ine a generally hollow struc-ture, the ends oi` the walls 11 to 14 defining two sockets 15 and 15a set at right angles to one another. Each socket also has an end stop wall 16. ~he connecting device 10 is rounded through 90 between the two sockets 15 and 15a.
As will be described later, the connecting device 10 is used for connecting together at right angles to one another, two panel members o~ a drawer, each panel member being of substantially constant external cross-section.
Each of the sockets 15, 15a has an internal cross-section which substantially conforms with the major part of the cross-section of one of the panel members so that an end por-tion of said one panel member may be received within the socket, in a manner to be described.
The side wall 11 of the device 10, which in use will face inwardly of the drawer, is provided near its lower edge with a slot 17 for recei~ing a drawer bottom panel 42 (Figure 5), and the side wall 12, which in use will face outwardly o~ the drawer, is di~ided by a central lateral slot 18. The portions of the wall 12 above and below the slot i8 are interrupted at 19 so that the wall 12 comprises four portions 20 each of which defines part of one of the sockets 15, 15~. ~he top wall 13 and bottom wall 14 are formed, internally o~ the sockets 15 and 15a respectively, with projections 27 which snap into corresponding circular recesses in the drawer panel members, in a manner to be : , described, to retain the ends of the panel members in the socketsO Alternati~ely, the~proJections 22 may be formed, 73 9~ ~
internally of the sockets 15, 15a, on the side walls 11 or 12 thereof. Each projection 22 is forrned with a chamfer facing in the direction o~ engagement bet~een the panel member and socket, so as to facilitate engagement o~ the projection into the corresponding recess in the panel member.
The s~ot 18 is prov:ided ~or receiving a runner on which the assembled drawer is to slide and a strengthening rib 24 extends between the portions 20 above the slot 18.
In some forms of drawer construction the slots 18 and 17 may not be required, and in this case the walls defining the sockets 15 and 15a will be continuous and will surround the entire cross-section of each o~ the panel members, The connecting devices 30 shown in Figures 3 and 4 are for connecting the side panel members of a drawer to a drawer front panel member and have a portion generally indicated by 31 o~ the same general ~orm as in the connec-ting device 10, having side wall sections 20, slots 17 and 18, a socket defined by side walls 11 and 12, top waIl 13~
bottom wall 14, and end wall 16, and projections 22 within the socket. The devices 30 also each have a portion generally indicated by 32 extendlng at right angles to the -;
portion 31, but in this case the portion 32 simply comprises a single wall portion 33 providing a surface which is~to abut the ~ron~ panel member. The end wall 16 has holes 34 for rece.iving screws. As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4 the portion 32 extends ~rom portion~31 only`above the slot 17 and the~outward facing corner ie a right angle and the . 30 inward~facing corner is~`rounded.
The set~of parts shown in Flgure 5 comprises a drawer back panel member 40,~ two side panel members 41 ~only a ~ , .
39~(~
part of one of which is sho~n), the dra~rer bottom panel 42, the front panel member 43, two connecting devices 10, and two connecting devices 30. Only parts of the panel members 21 and 43, and bo-ttom panel 42, are shown.
In the upper and lower edges o~ each of -the dra~er side and back panel members there are provided circular recesses 44 to receive the projectio~ 22 respectively wit.hin the sockets on the connecting devices 10 and 30~ The drawer side, front and back pane:L members are further each provided, on their inwardly facing sur~aces, with a groove 45, aligned with the slots 17, ~or receiving the edges of the drawer bottom panel 42~ The ou-~wardly facing sur~aces of the dra~er side panel members are each pro~ided with grooves 46, aligned with the slots 18, for receiving the runners on which the assembled drawer is to slide.
The parts illustrated in Figure 5 are assembled by first sGrewing the front connecting devices 30 to the drawer .;- front panel member 43 through the holes ~4, followed by : : insertion of the end portions of the drawer side and back : 20 panel members 41 and 40 in the sockets.15, 15a of the back connecting de~ices: 10 where they are retained by the resil-ient engagement of the projections 22 within the recesses 44.
The drawer bottom panel is then inserted in the slots 17 and grooves 45 of the assembled drawer panel members. The : 25 assembly is then fastened to the drawer ~ront panel member ;: 43 by insertion~of the front end portions of~the drawer s1de panlel memb~ers 41 in ~he sockets of the front connec-:
ting dev.ices 30, where they are retained by the~resilient engagement of the projections 22 wlthin the recesses 44.
~ : In the alternative and pre~erred~embodiment shown in Figure 6,~the drawer components are:generally slmilar to those~described~with reference to Figures 1 to 5, but in .. ~. , ,. . . . ... , - , .. . ..
~ 3 ~ ~
this case rectangular holes 51 are provided in the top and bo-ttom walls~ or in the side walls, of the connecting devices, and rectan~ular projections 52 are provided ln the top ancL bottom edge faces of the drawer panel members, or (not shown) in the side faces thereof, for fastening the connecting devices to the drawer panel members~ In addition slots 53 are provided in the side walls of the connecting devices to allow the top and bottom walls thereof to de-~lect more ~reely.
Each projection 52 comprises a separately formed plug having a chamfered rectangular head and inserted in a-hole in the upper or lower edge of the panel member so that the head of the plug projects ~rom the surface o~ the panel member edge with the chamfer on the head facing the end o~ the panel member~ The connecting devices are then fastened to the drawer panel members by pushing the end portions of the drawer panel members into the sockets of - the connecting devices so that the projecting cham~^ered heads of the plugs first de~lect the top and bottom walls (or the side walls if the holes are so positioned) of the connecting devices and then snap-~it into the holes 51 o~
the connecting devices. The plugs 52 and holes 51 are preferably so disposed that they snap into engagement at the point where the end face o~ the panel member abuts thè stop wall 16 of the socket.
: : :
Ins-tead of the heads of the plugs 52 being cham~ered to ~acilitate entry of the ends of the panel members into the sockets, the~heads may be flQt and the ~outh o~ each ocket may be chamfered at the point where the head of a ; 30 plug 52~will pàss into the socket.
Alternatively, each plug~may have~a flat head and be ;~ ~ inserted in the panel~member at an angle~ so that the flat ::: ~ :: : :
.,, ~ : ~ . .
39~0 head is inclined towards the end of the panel member thereby facilitating entry of the end of the panel member into the socket.
In thls above examples the slots 18 in the connecting de~ices are of substantially the same width as the grooves 46 in the side panel members 41. As a result of this 7 it will be apparent that each connecting device can only be . used with a side panel member having a groove the position of which coincides exactly with the slot in the connecting device. In practice, there is no single standard position for the groove in a drawer side panel member since drawers for di~.~erent purposes may require to have the grooves in different locations~ This means, therefore, that for each drawer side panel member having its slot or groove in a : 15 different position it is necessary to manufacture a diffe-rent connecting device having its slot 18 i~ a corresponding . position. This may be inconvenient and expensiveO
Figures 7 and 8 show modified forms of the connecting device which may be used with a variety of drawer side 0 ; . panel members having ~heir grooves in different positions.
: The connecting device 60 shown in Figure 7 comprises side walls 61 and 62, a top wall 63, and a bottom wall 64, which define a generally hollow structure, the ends of the walls 61, 623 6~, 64 de~ining sockets 65 and 65a, set at right angles to each other, which receive respectively the . end por-tions-~o-f the drawer side panel member 41 and ~he~
~: :drawer back panel member:40, both indicated in chain lines.
The side ~wall 61 which, in use, will face inwardly o~ the ~ : drawer,~is provided with a slot~67 extending all the~way~ -~ 30 round the wall ne;ar the bottom of~the device for receiving he drawer bottom:panel:~42~ ~:The:side wall:62 which, in use, will-:~ace outwardly of the drawerj is divided b~ a central 4~
lateral slot 68 for receiving the runners on which the assembled drawer will slide. At the top and bo-ttom edge of the slot 68 there are provided generally square strengthen-ing ribs 66 connecting -the side walls 61 and 62.
The outwardly facing side wall 62 is formed with square holes 69 on opposite sides o~ the slot 68 for recei-ving projections (not shown) provided on the panel members or for receiving pins to assist in securing the connecting device to the-drawer wall members in the case where other projections and recesses (also not sh~wn) are provided ln similar fashion to the projections and recesses o~ Figure 5 or Figure 6. The holes 69 could also be round or of any othe~suitable shape.
As in the arrangements of Figure 5 and 6, the drawer side panel member 41 is ~ormed with an outwardly facing -~
groove 46 into which a runner, on which the drawer is to slide, will project. As will be seen from Figure 7, the slot 68 in the,co~necting device is, in this case~ conside-rably wider than the groove 46 so that the groove will be - 20 unobstructed by the connecting device despi~e variations in - - .
the locatio~ o~ the groove 46 in dl~ferent side~panel mem- ' bers. Thus the same Gonnecting device is suitable ~or use -' with~a variety o~ side panel members. Although the device can be o~ any required- overall height, this will in praotice generall~ be in a range of 85 ~m to 1~0 mm. Within this range the upper and lower~portions may each have a constant he-ight o~ ~3 mm-regardless of the overall height o~-the`-~
, device~
In the alternative construction shown in Figure 8, the~cor~eeting~devloe i-s formed in~two~ separate parts~The~
;de~ice ma~y be~reg ~ded~as belng similar to the one-piece device of' Figure~79~ but with a~central portlon o~ the inner ~ ~ 7 3 ~ ~
wall 61 removed opposite -the slot 68 in the ou-ter wall 62.
The spacing apart of the -~o parts o~ the device, when fi-tted to a dra~er side panel mernber, is greater than the width of the groove 46 so that, again,the groove will be unobstruc-te~d by the connecting device despite variations in the location of the groove 46 in different side panel members. In the arrangement of Figure 8, the interengaging projections and recesses .for retaining the ends of the panel members.in the sockets of the connecting device are provided on the side faces of the panel mernbers and sockets.
Instead of the two parts of the connecting device being completely separate, as shown in Figure 8, they may be connected by a bridging element, not sho~m, which main-tains the parts in a fixed spaced relationship. It will be appreciated that the bridging element must not obscure any part of the groove 46 in the side panel member of the drawer when the device is in use. The bridging element .
may be permanently connected to the two parts of the device or may be arranged to be detachable therefrom.
~; ~ 20 In -the above described embodiments, the connecting devices may be mculdings of~thermoplastics material and the drawer panel members may be solid chipboard covered wi-~h:a thin coating of P.V.C. The embodiments thus:give : the advantages that the drawer panel members are cheap to ~:~ 25 manu~acture and a robust assembly is provided which has no weak points at which the drawer panel members and~connecting devices c:an break befor~e, during~or after assembly.~In alternati.ve constructions, the.drawer panel members may be of wood or entireIy~of plastics material, for example they ; 30~ may comprise hollow extrusions o~:plastios::material.~ The connecting~de~ices may~be o~ material other than plastics,~
for example:~the~may be formed~from metal. However9~wha*- :
3~
ever materials are used, the arrange~ent ~ust be such as to permit resilient inter-engagement of the projec-tions and recesses which retain the parts together.
Additional fastening between the connect~ng devices and drawer panel members may be provided by screws, nails, staples or the like, or by an adhesive.
The projections on the panel members or within the sockets on the connectlng devices may be of any sui-table shape and may be provided by various means. l~here thepanel members or connecting devices are formed from plastics material, the projections may be integrally moulded there-with, or may be formed subsequently by deforming the plastics material. Alternatively the projections may be separate elements secured to the panel members or sockets by any suitable means such as by welding or by an adhesive, depen-ding on the materials used. I~hen the projections are provided on the panel members they may also be attached to the panel members by screws or pins, or they may be wedged in holes in the panel members, as described earlier~ For example, each projection may comprise a head having an integral spike which is driven into the surface of the ; panel member.
In an alternative const~uction to those described earlier, the front pan2l member may be similar to the back panel member and connected to the side panel members by ,~
connecting devices similar to the devices 10, instead o~
by the connecting devices 30.
In addition the corners of the connecting devices ; ~ may be angular rather than rounded and the ends of the drawer~p~nel members to be received-by the sockets in the connecting devices may be haunched by~the thickness of the socket-de~ining walls of the devices9 so that thè connecting ~ .
~73~(~
devices do not proJect beyond the surfaces of the drawer panel members. Since the depth of such haunching is very slight, the drawer panel rnembers may still be regarded as being of substartially constant cross-section.
, ::
: ~ :
ever materials are used, the arrange~ent ~ust be such as to permit resilient inter-engagement of the projec-tions and recesses which retain the parts together.
Additional fastening between the connect~ng devices and drawer panel members may be provided by screws, nails, staples or the like, or by an adhesive.
The projections on the panel members or within the sockets on the connectlng devices may be of any sui-table shape and may be provided by various means. l~here thepanel members or connecting devices are formed from plastics material, the projections may be integrally moulded there-with, or may be formed subsequently by deforming the plastics material. Alternatively the projections may be separate elements secured to the panel members or sockets by any suitable means such as by welding or by an adhesive, depen-ding on the materials used. I~hen the projections are provided on the panel members they may also be attached to the panel members by screws or pins, or they may be wedged in holes in the panel members, as described earlier~ For example, each projection may comprise a head having an integral spike which is driven into the surface of the ; panel member.
In an alternative const~uction to those described earlier, the front pan2l member may be similar to the back panel member and connected to the side panel members by ,~
connecting devices similar to the devices 10, instead o~
by the connecting devices 30.
In addition the corners of the connecting devices ; ~ may be angular rather than rounded and the ends of the drawer~p~nel members to be received-by the sockets in the connecting devices may be haunched by~the thickness of the socket-de~ining walls of the devices9 so that thè connecting ~ .
~73~(~
devices do not proJect beyond the surfaces of the drawer panel members. Since the depth of such haunching is very slight, the drawer panel rnembers may still be regarded as being of substartially constant cross-section.
, ::
: ~ :
Claims (8)
1. A set of parts for use in the construction of an article of furniture comprising: a first panel member of substantially constant external cross-section: a second panel member of substantially constant external cross-section: a first connecting device for attachment to said panel members respectively in a manner to secure said panel members together at an angle to one another; a first socket on the connecting device having an internal cross-section which substantially conforms with at least a major part of the cross-section of the first panel member whereby an end portion of said first panel member may be snuggly received in said first socket with the socket closely embracing all sides of said end portion; retention means for retaining said end portion within said first socket and comprising resilient-ly inter-engageable locking elements on said end portion and within said first socket respectively; a second socket on the connecting device set at an angle to said first socket, the internal cross-seetion of the second socket substantially conforming with at least a major part of the cross-section of said second panel member so that an end portion of said second pane]. member may be received in said second socket, and resiliently inter-engageable locking elements on said end portion and within said second socket respectively, said:
elements being arranged in similar manner to the locking elements on said first socket and said end portion of the first panel member.
elements being arranged in similar manner to the locking elements on said first socket and said end portion of the first panel member.
2, A set of parts according to claim 1 and further comprising a third panel member and a second connecting device, similar to said first connecting device, for attachment to said third panel member and to said second panel member to secure said second and third panel members together at an angle to one another,
3. A set of parts according to claim 2 and further comprising a fourth panel member and third and fourth connecting devices for connecting said fourth panel member at an angle to said first and third panel members respect-ively.
4. A set of parts according to claim 3 wherein said third connecting device comprises a socket having an internal cross-section which substantially conforms with at least a major part of the cross-section of the first panel member so that an end portion of said first panel member may be received in said socket, there being provided retention means for retaining said end portion within said socket and comprising resiliently inter-engageable locking elements on said end portion and within said socket respect-ively and a surface disposed at an angle to the axis of said socket and for attachment of said fourth panel member and wherein the fourth connecting device is similar to the third connecting device, having a socket of internal cross-section which substantially conforms with at least a major part of the internal cross-section of said third panel member so that an end portion of said third panel member may be received and retained in said socket and a surface disposed at an angle to the axis of said socket and for attachment to said fourth panel member.
5, A set of parts according to claim 2, and for use in constructing a drawer, wherein each of said first and third panel members is provided, on that surface thereof which faces externally of the assembled drawer, with a slot for receiving a runner for the drawer, and each of said connecting devices is also provided with a slot for receiving said runner.
6. A set of parts according to claim 5 wherein the slot in each connecting device is wider than the slot in each of said first and third panel members.
7. A set of parts according to claim 2, and for use in constructing a drawer, wherein each of said first and second connecting devices comprises two separate elements which co-operate to define two sockets set at right angles to one another, each element forming a portion of each socket.
8. A set of parts according to claim 7 wherein each of said first and third panel members is provided, on that surface which faces externally of the assembled drawer, with a slot for receiving à runner for the drawer, and wherein said two separate elements of each of said first and second connecting devices are so dimensioned that, when co-operating to define said sockets, they are spaced apart by a distance greater than the slot in each panel member.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB14675/76A GB1587722A (en) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-04-09 | Drawers |
| GB14675/76 | 1976-04-09 | ||
| GB39780/76 | 1976-09-24 | ||
| GB3978076 | 1976-09-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1107340A true CA1107340A (en) | 1981-08-18 |
Family
ID=26250713
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA275,776A Expired CA1107340A (en) | 1976-04-09 | 1977-04-06 | Construction of articles of furniture |
Country Status (13)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS52125061A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU514291B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1107340A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH604617A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2715830A1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK159477A (en) |
| ES (1) | ES457672A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2360781A1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL51790A0 (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1104565B (en) |
| NO (1) | NO771248L (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ183750A (en) |
| SE (1) | SE7704133L (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9033435B2 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2015-05-19 | Julius Blum Gmbh | Connecting apparatus for connecting two drawer wall parts which are intended to be arranged at a right angle |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2040386B (en) * | 1978-12-02 | 1982-12-01 | Lb Plastics Ltd | Connecting device |
| DE3044471C2 (en) * | 1980-11-26 | 1986-10-30 | Düpree, Hans-Werner, 4830 Gütersloh | Plastic drawer |
| DE8417057U1 (en) * | 1984-06-05 | 1984-08-30 | Paul Hettich GmbH & Co, 4983 Kirchlengern | DRAWER |
| DE4021927A1 (en) * | 1990-07-10 | 1992-01-16 | Goettfert Juergen | FITTING FOR CONNECTING SKIRTING BOARDS |
| AT196U1 (en) * | 1994-08-17 | 1995-05-26 | Julius Blum Ges M B H Julius B | FITTING FOR FASTENING THE BACK OF A DRAWER ON DRAWER FRAMES |
| AT413320B (en) * | 2001-09-17 | 2006-02-15 | Alfit Ag | DRAWER |
| DE202022104613U1 (en) * | 2022-08-15 | 2022-08-25 | Plocher Möbelelemente GmbH | corner connector |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR77478E (en) * | 1959-03-19 | 1962-03-09 | Metal base for tables and similar furniture | |
| FR1311988A (en) * | 1961-10-31 | 1962-12-14 | Furniture in prefabricated elements | |
| FR1514102A (en) * | 1965-04-27 | 1968-02-23 | Assembly members for assembling elements of synthetic material, in particular hollow profiles | |
| GB1190650A (en) * | 1967-11-08 | 1970-05-06 | Leslie William Llwellyn Alston | Improvements in or relating to Drawers for Furniture. |
| GB1314894A (en) * | 1970-07-17 | 1973-04-26 | Carr Fastener Co Ltd | Securing two members to one another |
| GB1358047A (en) * | 1971-05-11 | 1974-06-26 | Mackenzie King Plastics Ltd | Articles of furniture and the construction thereof |
| GB1410377A (en) * | 1972-12-08 | 1975-10-15 | Lb Plastics Ltd | Drawers |
-
1977
- 1977-03-30 IL IL7751790A patent/IL51790A0/en unknown
- 1977-03-30 AU AU23773/77A patent/AU514291B2/en not_active Expired
- 1977-03-31 NZ NZ183750A patent/NZ183750A/en unknown
- 1977-04-06 CA CA275,776A patent/CA1107340A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-04-06 ES ES77457672A patent/ES457672A1/en not_active Expired
- 1977-04-06 DK DK159477A patent/DK159477A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1977-04-06 NO NO771248A patent/NO771248L/en unknown
- 1977-04-07 CH CH442277A patent/CH604617A5/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1977-04-07 FR FR7710598A patent/FR2360781A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1977-04-07 SE SE7704133A patent/SE7704133L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1977-04-07 DE DE19772715830 patent/DE2715830A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1977-04-08 IT IT7722273A patent/IT1104565B/en active
- 1977-04-09 JP JP4089277A patent/JPS52125061A/en active Pending
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9033435B2 (en) | 2011-10-17 | 2015-05-19 | Julius Blum Gmbh | Connecting apparatus for connecting two drawer wall parts which are intended to be arranged at a right angle |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO771248L (en) | 1977-10-11 |
| DE2715830A1 (en) | 1977-10-20 |
| SE7704133L (en) | 1977-10-10 |
| ES457672A1 (en) | 1978-07-16 |
| AU514291B2 (en) | 1981-02-05 |
| NZ183750A (en) | 1981-05-15 |
| DK159477A (en) | 1977-10-10 |
| JPS52125061A (en) | 1977-10-20 |
| IT1104565B (en) | 1985-10-21 |
| CH604617A5 (en) | 1978-09-15 |
| FR2360781A1 (en) | 1978-03-03 |
| AU2377377A (en) | 1978-10-05 |
| IL51790A0 (en) | 1977-05-31 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |