EP0376783B1 - Carrying structure for producing pieces of furniture - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a supporting structure intended for the production of pieces of furniture.

Although not exclusively, it is particularly suitable for the production of display stands or shelves for objects, although other applications of the invention could be envisaged, such as those relating to the production of tables, desks, libraries, etc. ..

The present invention will be more particularly described below in connection with its preferred application concerning display stands for objects.

There are known displays for objects, in particular intended for mass distribution and traditional shops and businesses, which mainly comprise a plate provided with a plurality of holes in which are, for example, introduced supports for the maintenance and presentation of 'objects as varied as clothing, industrial or food products, gadgets, etc ... The plate which acts as a supporting structure is usually mounted on a base. This type of display, although very widely used, nevertheless has drawbacks.

Indeed, said plate, especially when it has a large dimension, tends to deform, which is not desirable both from the point of view of the security of said display, as from the aesthetic point of view. Furthermore, the maintenance in position of the supports, generally constituted by cylindrical rods, which are introduced respectively into the perforations of the plate, proves to be uncertain in use.

In addition, the aesthetic aspect of this type of display is questionable, which is not recommended when you know the capital importance of the aesthetic nature of a display for the appeal of customers.

By document GB-A-1 092 261 which serves as a basis for the preamble of claim 1, corrugated exhibition panels are already known, intended to be fixed to a wall, a column, an object, etc., the raised undulations of said panels having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings intended to receive hooks.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above and relates to a supporting structure in particular intended for the production of a display, having increased rigidity, a new and harmonious aesthetic, and improving the holding in position of the supports of objects.

To this end, according to the invention, the supporting structure intended for the production of pieces of furniture, such as display stands or shelves, of the type comprising at least one plate provided with a plurality of perforations for holding objects, said perforations being oblong and being arranged in a column, is characterized in that said plate is zigzag shaped and has flat flaps, folded alternately in one direction and in the other around fold lines and forming between them an angle substantially equal to 90 °, said fold lines being substantially parallel to said columns of perforations and passing transversely through said oblong perforations of at least some of said columns.

Thus, the cross section of said plate having a zigzag shape at the locations of said fold lines, the rigidity of the plate is increased so that any deformation is avoided.

Furthermore, since the perforations intended to receive supports for said objects are oblong in shape, the contact surfaces delimited by them are larger, improving the retention of the supports therein. In addition, when a fold line passes transversely through a column of perforations, these then have a V-shaped section, the contact surfaces which delimit the perforations then defining a support plane for the object supports.

In a preferred embodiment of said supporting structure, a fold line is provided at each column of perforations. In this way, the entire section of the structure is zigzag shaped, which further increases its rigidity.

Advantageously, the transverse fold lines pass through the middle of the oblong perforations of said columns. Thus, the contact surfaces offered by the oblong perforations for the object supports are symmetrical on either side of the fold line.

Furthermore, said columns of oblong perforations are preferably regularly and parallel to one another. The aesthetic aspect of said zigzag folded structure is then harmonious.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said oblong perforations formed in said plate are staggered. These perforations are preferably rectangular.

The invention also relates to a display for objects, of the type comprising at least one bearing structure associated with a base. The display for objects is remarkable in that said bearing surface is of the type of that defined above.

• La figure 1 représente une vue en plan d'un exemple de réalisation de la structure portante selon l'invention destinée à la réalisation d'un présentoir pour objets.
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe de la structure portante selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1.
• La figure 3 représente, en perspective, un détail de la structure portante montrant l'agencement d'un premier type de support pour objets dans une des perforations prévues dans ladite structure.
• La figure 4 représente, en perspective, le montage d'un second type de support dans une pluralité de perforations.
• La figure 5 montre, en perspective, un exemple particulier de réalisation d'un présentoir à partir de deux structures portantes associées.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

• FIG. 1 represents a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the supporting structure according to the invention intended for the production of a display stand for objects.
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the bearing structure along the line II-II of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 represents, in perspective, a detail of the bearing structure showing the arrangement of a first type of support for objects in one of the perforations provided in said structure.
• Figure 4 shows, in perspective, the mounting of a second type of support in a plurality of perforations.
• Figure 5 shows, in perspective, a particular example of embodiment of a display from two associated supporting structures.

In its preferred application, the supporting structure according to the invention is intended for the production of display stands for objects.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the supporting structure 1 is in the form of a plate 2, provided with a plurality of perforations 3, the purpose of which is to maintain supports for said objects, as will be seen more particularly with regard to Figures 3 and 4.

The perforations 3 are oblong and are arranged in columns which are regularly and parallel spaced from each other. These oblong perforations 3 are staggered and are, for example, identical between them. The staggered arrangement of the perforations 3 thus makes it possible to avoid areas of less mechanical resistance between the perforations and to increase their number.

Furthermore, the plate 2 comprises fold lines 4 parallel to the columns of perforations 3 and passing perpendicular to the oblong perforations 3. These fold lines 4 also pass through the middle of said oblong perforations 3.

Thus, the plate 2 is folded, alternately in one direction and in the other, around each fold line by forming flaps 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the plate 2, defining the bearing structure 1, then has a zigzag section, the fold lines 4 of which pass through the middle of the oblong perforations 3 respectively of said columns.

In this exemplary embodiment, the flaps 5 produced by means of the fold lines 4, form between them an angle substantially equal to 90 °. The oblong perforations 3 then have a V-shaped section, the points of the Vs corresponding to the fold lines.

This bearing structure 1, shaped in a zigzag, gives it a high rigidity thus preventing it from being deformed.

There is shown in Figure 3 a first type of support 7 intended to cooperate with one of the oblong perforations 3 of the plate 2, to be maintained there.

This support 7 comprises a cylindrical rod 8 whose ends 8A and 8B are bent substantially perpendicular to the general direction of the rod 8 while being directed in the opposite direction from one another. Furthermore, at near the angle formed by the bent end 8A and the rod 8 is fixed a cylindrical bar 9 orthogonally to the plane defined by the bent rod.

The mounting of the support 7 is carried out by inserting the bar 9 in the oblong perforation 3 whose section has a V shape. The bar 9, the length of which is greater than that of the oblong perforation 3 and the diameter of which is substantially equal to the width of said perforation, is thus maintained by virtue of the lower 3A and upper 3B retaining surfaces delimiting the perforation, while the bent end 8A of the rod 8, directed downwards, comes to bear against the folding zone 4 forming the flaps 5, thereby avoiding the tilting of the rod 8.

The support 7 is then suitably held in the oblong perforation. Objects 10 can thus be arranged on the rod 8, orthogonal to the plate 2, by engaging them by the bent end 8B.

One could also have supports 7 on the other face of said bearing structure.

These oblong perforations 3 can, moreover, receive different supports. Thus, there is shown in Figure 4, a second type of support consisting of a shelf 12 whose thickness corresponds substantially to the height of said perforations 3. One of the longitudinal edges 12A of the shelf 12 is then introduced into a series of horizontal oblong perforations 3, the lower 3A and upper 3B holding surfaces of which ensure the good hold of the shelf 12.

In Figure 5, there is shown an embodiment of a display 15 for objects, obtained from two similar supporting structures 1 and 1A assembled one against the other.

The two structures 1 and 1A are linked together by any known fixing means. The assembly constituted by the two structures 1 and 1A is mounted on two legs 16, in the form of an inverted T, respectively at its ends, as shown in FIG. 5.

Such a display 15, in addition to its original and harmonious aesthetic appearance, makes it possible to have supports 7 (rods, shelves or other) of objects on each of its faces, by arranging them appropriately. Of course, other embodiments of displays could be envisaged from the structure according to the invention. Thus, one could design displays comprising a plurality of load-bearing structures assembled end to end one after the other forming a linear continuity.

The supporting structure can be metallic, possibly being covered with an appropriate coating (paint or other) to notably enhance its aesthetics. In addition, the production of the supporting structure according to the invention does not raise any difficulties, which implies low manufacturing costs.

Although a preferred application of the supporting structure to the production of display stands for objects has been described above, it goes without saying that said supporting structure could be used for the production of desks, shelves and the like, or else as decorative element.

Claims (7)

1. Carrying structure intended for producing pieces of furniture, such as display units or shelves, of the type comprising at least one plate (2) provided with a plurality of perforations (3) for holding objects, the said perforations (3) being oblong and being arranged in columns, characterized in that the said plate (2) is shaped in a zigzag and has flat sections (5), folded alternately in one direction and in the other along fold lines, and forming between them an angle substantially equal to 90°, the said fold lines (4) being substantially parallel to the said columns of perforations (3) and passing transversely through the said oblong perforations of at least some of the said columns.
2. Structure according to Claim 1, characterized in that one fold line (4) is made at each column of perforations (3).
3. Structure according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transverse fold lines (4) pass through the middle of the perforations (3) of the said columns.
4. Structure according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said columns of oblong perforations (3) are spaced evenly and parallel to each other.
5. Structure according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the said oblong perforations (3) made in the said plate (2) are staggered.
6. Structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the said oblong perforations (3) are rectangular.
7. Display unit for objects, of the type comprising at least one carrying structure combined with a support (16), characterized in that the said carrying structure is of the type defined in one of the preceding Claims 1 to 6.

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