EP0073691B1 - Modular unit for use in interior and exterior architecture and structure made up of this unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to modular elements for interior or exterior architecture.

More specifically, it relates to a set of modular elements capable of being assembled with each other to produce wall panels, ceilings, storage spaces, shelves, office and exhibition store layouts, this list n 'being not limiting.

Each of these modular elements is constituted by a U-shaped profile, the length of which is a multiple of that of a basic modular element, said profile comprising perforations formed along its wings to allow its assembly with at least one other element. modular by fixing means engaged in the perforations of the corresponding profiles, these perforations being carried out in each modular element according to a repetitive and identical series and the widths and lengths of the wings of the profiles of each modular element can be variable from modular element to the other.

The means for fixing these sections to each other can be any, for example rivets, fixing angles, etc.

There are already elements of this kind. Thus the patent GB-A-1,013,373 describes building elements constituted by profiles having a section in the general shape of a U and which have rows of perforations making it possible to assemble them to each other, in various ways.

The object of the present invention is to further increase the possibilities of using such modular elements by making it possible to combine shelves with the other embodiments produced from them.

To this end the invention relates to a set of modular elements of the type recalled above, characterized in that in combination with these elements, there are provided shelves intended to be carried by the wings of certain modular elements arranged vertically at this effect and which include lateral edges projecting downwards and having notches adapted to receive assembly parts with the vertical wings of the corresponding modular elements, these shelves having a width equal to the interval separating the two vertical wings from each corresponding modular element, while the notches on their lateral edges are distributed between the ends thereof so that, preferably three vertical rows of perforations being provided in the vertical wings of the modular elements, the shelves can be assembled at these vertical wings by taking stepped inclinations between the horizontal and the vertical.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective de deux formes différentes d'éléments modulaires faisant partie du présent ensemble.
• La figure 2 est une vue en élévation en bout d'une série de tels éléments modulaires en U, dont les ailes, ainsi que la branche de liaison entre ces ailes, ont des largeurs multiples d'une largeur de base.
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un ensemble d'architecture d'intérieur comprenant des éléments modulaires dont l'un est muni de plusieurs tablettes.
• La figure 4 est une vue en élévation partielle avec arrachement d'une aile d'un élément en U, pourvue de plusieurs tablettes.
• La figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 4, montrant une variante de réalisation de l'aile verticale et des tablettes.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings and which represent several non-limiting embodiments.

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of two different shapes of modular elements forming part of the present assembly.
• Figure 2 is an end elevational view of a series of such modular U-shaped elements, the wings, as well as the connecting branch between these wings, have widths multiple of a base width.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of an interior architecture set comprising modular elements, one of which is provided with several shelves.
• Figure 4 is a partial elevational view with cutaway of a wing of a U-shaped element, provided with several shelves.
• Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing an alternative embodiment of the vertical wing and shelves.

There is shown in Figure 1 two possible embodiments of a modular element forming part of the assembly according to the invention.

The first element designated as a whole by the general reference 13 consists of a U-shaped profile comprising two wings 14 perpendicular to an intermediate connecting branch 10.

The length L of each wing 14 is a multiple of the length 1 of a basic modular element, each wing 14 having in this example a length L equal to twice the length 1. A set of holes or perforations 15 are provided on the along the wings 14, in order to allow the profile to be assembled with at least one other modular element of appropriate dimensions. Along the wings 14, the perforations 15 are executed in a repetitive series identical to the series of perforations 15 of the basic modular element of length I.

Thus in this example, six perforations 15 are performed on the base length I, namely two in the vicinity of each end, and other perforations 15 in the middle of the length I, at equal distance from the other pairs of perforations 15. This distribution perforations is repeated on the second half of length 1 of each wing 14. It is thus possible, from a determined basic module of perforations 15 on length I, to repeat this arrangement over the entire length of wings 14, so to reproduce it as many times as there are fractions of length 1 in the wing considered.

We also see in Figure 1 another embodiment constituted by a modular element 16, the intermediate branch 17 and the wings 18 have a length I, therefore equal to the length of the base element, but whose wings 18 have a width only equal to half the width of the wings 14. Under these conditions, each wing 18 is only pierced with three holes 19, one in the vicinity of each end, and a hole center 19 equidistant from the other two holes.

FIG. 2 shows three series of modular elements. In the first series A, the successive profiles 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 have wings 26 all having an equal width 11, pierced in width with a single hole symbolized by the broken lines 27. On the other hand, the intermediate branches connecting the wings 26 of the successive elements 21, 22 ... 25 have decreasing widths L1, L2, L3. L4, L5 from element 21 to element 25. The basic width of the connecting branches between the wings 26 being L5, it can be seen that the other branches have widths equal to multiples of the basic width L5. Thus, we have L4 = 2 L5 for element 24, L3 = 3 L5 for element 23, L2 = 4 L5 for element 23, L2 = 4 L5 for element 22, and L1 = 5 L5 for item 21.

In the second series of modular elements B, consisting of five elements 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, the intermediate branches of the elements have the same widths L1 ... L5 as in series A, but on the other hand the lateral wings 33, all identical to each other, have a width 12 equal to twice the base width l1. Correlatively, each wing 33 is pierced, in the direction of its width, with two perforations symbolized by the broken lines 34.

Finally, in the C series of modular elements 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, the widths of the intermediate branches vary according to the same sequence L1 ... L5 as before, but the wings 41 have a width 13 equal to three times the base width 11. In correlation, the wings 41 are pierced, in the direction of the width, of each of the three perforations 42.

These elements can be assembled together along their perforated wings by any suitable fixing means, such as those which have been given by way of nonlimiting example in FIG. 1.

We see in this figure an angle 46 crossed by two screws 47, one of which is engaged in a perforation 15 located at the base of the element 13, while the other screw 47, screwed for example in a floor or on a wall, has the function of contributing to the fixing of the element 13 to said floor or to said wall (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows a set of interior architecture comprising an assembly of modular U-shaped elements and shelves making it possible to produce shelves. The modular elements consist of vertical elements 100. 200, 300 400, joined together by angles such as 50. This set also includes a pair of vertical modular elements, generally designated by the reference 60, the two elements in U being nested one inside the other and assembled by means of plates 70 each pierced with two holes receiving screws or bolts not shown. We also see in Figure 3 a pair of horizontal modular elements 80 whose vertical wings are nested one inside the other and which are secured together as well as to the modular elements contiguous by parts not shown.

The vertical wings of the elements 100, 300, 400 are each pierced with two vertical rows of perforation 90, the modular element 100 being provided with two horizontal shelves 110. A horizontal shelf 120 is also disposed between one of the vertical wings of the element 200 and a vertical wing of element 300, the latter being housed between the two vertical wings of element 200 and fixed to one of said wings. The shelves 110 and 120 are held by screws or bolts, not shown, engaged in the holes 90 under the shelves 110, 120.

The modular element 300 is provided with several shelves 130, 140, 150, each provided with a front edge 160 bent upwards. The shelves 130, 140, 150 extend over the interval between the vertical wings 30a of the element 300, the upper shelf 130 being arranged vertically, while the lower shelves 140 and 150 are inclined.

We see in Figure 5, in which two shelves 140, 150 only have been shown; that each of these is equipped with two lateral edges 170 at its ends, projecting downwards at right angles to the plane of the corresponding shelf. In each folded edge 170 are arranged notches 180, four in number at a rate of two at each end in the example shown. Each of these notches 180 is adapted to receive an assembly piece for the wing 30a, such as a screw or bolt not shown, passing through a hole 90 corresponding to the notch 180. By engaging two screws in two notches 180 and in two corresponding perforations 90, and this for each of the folded edges 170 of a tablet, it can be assembled with the vertical wings 30a, either horizontally as illustrated for the tablet 150, or in an angular position intermediate between the horizontal and vertical, as shown for the tablet 40. Of course, the intervals between the perforations 90 and between the notches 180 are determined to allow such positioning of the tablets. It will be noted that the rear edges of the shelves 140, 150 are provided with folded projections or flanges 201 similar to the folded flanges 160, but folded in the opposite direction.

The tablet 130 can be held vertically in the same way, by choosing the two notches 180 which are separated by a distance equal to the interval between two contiguous perforations 90 and located one above the other. The screws or bolts pinch the bent edges 170 against the wings 30a which hold the shelf 130 in place, this vertical positioning obviously being able to also be achieved for any of the other shelves 14, 15.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the shelves and the corresponding vertical wings 30b, which are provided with three vertical rows of perforations 90. Correspondingly, each shelf 190 comprises two lateral edges 210 folded down, and each provided with a series of notches 220 suitably distributed between the ends of the folded edge 210. In the example described, these notches 220 are four in number, their positioning being determined by correspondence with the horizontal and vertical spacings between two consecutive perforations 90 to allow placing a shelf 190 in any angular position, between the vertical and the horizontal. In Figure 4 we thus see three possible angular positions of the shelf 190 between the horizontal and 45 °. In the horizontal (shelf 190 at the bottom), three notches 220 are used, in the intermediate position between the horizontal and 45 °, only the two terminal notches 220a are used, while in the position inclined at 45 °, only one middle notch 220 and upper notch are used.

Note that the middle notches 220 have a V-shaped section, while the terminal notches 220a have a different, flat-bottomed section, 230.

As in the previous embodiment, each shelf 190 is provided with a front edge folded upwards 240 and a rear edge folded downwards 250.

The shelves 130, 140, 150, 190 can receive various objects when they are placed horizontally or in an inclined position, for example books, shoes, or serve as information carriers when they are arranged vertically.

The modular elements can be formed as indicated above by any suitable material, capable of bending while retaining the necessary robustness, such as for example polyethylene plates coated with aluminum surfaces. The possible applications of these modular elements are extremely numerous: offices, living and working rooms, stores, exhibition halls, shopping centers, floors, podiums, furniture, etc.

Claims (2)

1. Modular elements to be assembled together for an interior or exterior structural system, each element comprising at least one U-section member (13, 16, 100, 200, 300), the length (L) of which is a multiple of that (I) of a basic modular element, said U-section member being provided with perforations (15, 19, 90) formed along its flanges (30a, 30b) in order to permit coupling of said member with at least one other modular element by attachment means engaged in the corresponding perforations and sectional members, the perforations being made in each modular element in a repetitive and identical series, the widths and lengths of the flanges of the sectional members of each modular element being variable from one modular element to the next, characterized in that provision is made in combination with these elements for support panels (140, 150, 160) which are intended to be carried by the flanges (30a. 30b) of certain modular elements placed vertically for this purpose and which have side-pieces (170, 210) forming downward projections and provided with notches (180, 220) adapted to receive members for coupling with the vertical flanges of the corresponding modular elements, the width of these support panels being equal to the distance between the two vertical flanges of each modular element whilst the notches (180, 220. 220a) of their side-pieces (170, 210) are located at intervals between the ends of these latter in such a manner as to ensure that, since three vertical rows of perforations (90) are preferably provided in the vertical flanges (30a. 30b) of the modular elements, the support panels (130, 140, 150, 190) can be joined to these vertical flanges (30a, 30b) while being set at variable angles of inclination between the horizontal and the vertical.

2. Modular elements in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the support panels (130, 140, 150, 190) are provided with longitudinal elbowed ledges (160, 240) for retaining objects placed on the support panels which are set in an inclined position.

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