EP0399894A1 - Seating furniture made of plastics - Google Patents

Abstract

The furniture comprising several components including at least two sides (3) and at least one shell (1), the connection of the two components with each other is provided, at the front and at the rear, by an assembly stud (15, 16) which is integral with one of the components and protruding laterally such that it faces upwards and engages by fitting with an assembly socket (17, 18) of the other component which opens in the downward direction for the penetration, by sliding in a vertical plane, of the front (15) and rear (16) assembly studs, a screw (41, 42) traversing each stud from bottom to top and screwing into a hole (45, 46) in the said other component. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a plastic furniture for sitting of the type of those which have two sides and at least one shell assembled and fixed together.

The means for assembling and fixing these known pieces of furniture are constituted by pins projecting perpendicularly to the internal face of the sides and penetrating horizontally into holes in the shell which open onto the edge thereof, this interlocking being completed by a fixing carried out from the inside of the hull by means of a screw.

This connection mode has the disadvantage of not being rigid enough and of taking play in use so that the furniture becomes rickety very quickly.

Furthermore, it is not suitable for joining two adjoining shells when the piece of furniture is a bench seat. Therefore, it is necessary to provide longitudinal bars completing the structure, bars which weigh down the piece of furniture, increase its cost price and detract from the aesthetics.

In addition, the mold provided for the manufacture of the shell is relatively complicated, since it must include moving parts to provide the holes in the edges.

The assembly is also awkward because the screws are difficult to access and maneuver.

Finally, the shell cannot be used independently of the sidewalls as a fireside chair, without the addition of moldings on the edges to hide the holes.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks, by proposing a particular connection method by which the rigidity of the piece of furniture is considerably improved between the shell and the sidewall, as well as between two adjoining shells without the addition of bars; thanks to which also the manufacturing molds are simplified, the fixing screws are easily accessible, the shells have a finished appearance and the piece of furniture is truly modular in the sense that the same modules are suitable whatever the length of this piece of furniture.

For this purpose and in accordance with the invention, the connection of two components (sidewalls, shells, etc.) to one another is ensured, at the front as at the rear, by an assembly stud forming one body components, extending in lateral projection to point upwards and cooperating by interlocking with a mounting housing of the other component which opens downwards for the penetration, by sliding in a substantially vertical plane, of the front and rear studs assembly, a screw passing through each stud from bottom to top and screwing into a hole of said other component.

Advantageously, if we consider the direction of demoulding of the or each shell which extends obliquely with respect to the seat and the backrest, the front and rear housing for mounting this shell have walls inclined substantially in the direction of release to allow the nesting in this direction of the mating assembly pads forming a body with the component to be attached.

According to a first embodiment, the anterior and posterior assembly pads have come from molding on each flank and protrude from the inner lateral face thereof.

According to a second embodiment, each assembly stud protrudes from a molded part also projecting, in a perpendicular direction, a positioning stud intended to be fitted into a housing for receiving the component to be fitted and to be fixed to it by means of a screw, these studs being oriented relative to each other so that, the two components to be joined being suitably arranged, the assembly stud is located opposite the corresponding mounting housing.

Whatever the embodiment chosen, two twin assembly pads form a body with each of two posterior and anterior intermediate feet, these twin pads being intended to be nested and fixed in the mounting housings of two contiguous shells.

Furthermore, to improve rigidity, each assembly stud is connected to its support (sidewall or insert or intermediate leg) by a shoulder intended to bear against the component delimiting the mounting housing conjugated to this stud; each positioning pad is connected to the insert by a shoulder intended to rest on the component delimiting the reception housing conjugated to this pad; the studs have sloping faces to get stuck in their housings.

Various other characteristics and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the detailed description which follows.

Embodiments of the object of the invention are shown, by way of nonlimiting examples, in the accompanying drawing.

• - les figures 1 et 2 sont des perspectives illustrant un fauteuil et respectivement une banquette dont les composants sont réunis par le dispositif de montage conforme à l'invention
• - la figure 3 est une vue de dessous de la banquette selon la figure 2
• - la figure 4 est une coupe-élévation verticale prise suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 1 et montrant en vue synoptique le montage d'une coque sur un flanc avant emboîtement.
• - la figure 5 est une coupe analogue à la figure 4 mais à plus grande échelle, montrant la fixation de la coque sur le flanc après emboîtement.
• - les figures 6 et 7, sont des coupes prises suivant les lignes VI-VI et VII-VII respectivement de la figure 5.
• - les figures 8 et 9 sont des perspectives partielles illustrant pour la même direction d'emboîtement les pièces rapportées sur le flanc précité en vue de monter celui-ci sur une coque.
• - la figure 10 est une coupe-élévation schématique représentant le montage de deux pieds intermédiaires antérieur et postérieur, assurant l'assemblage de deux coques jointives
• - la figure 11 est une élévation partielle d'un pied postérieur prise suivant la flèche F de la figure 10.

On this drawing :

• - Figures 1 and 2 are perspectives illustrating an armchair and a bench respectively, the components of which are joined by the mounting device according to the invention
• - Figure 3 is a bottom view of the seat according to Figure 2
• - Figure 4 is a vertical sectional elevation taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 1 and showing in block diagram the mounting of a shell on a side before interlocking.
• - Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 4 but on a larger scale, showing the fixing of the hull on the side after fitting.
• - Figures 6 and 7 are sections taken along lines VI-VI and VII-VII respectively of Figure 5.
• - Figures 8 and 9 are partial perspectives illustrating for the same direction of fitting the parts added to the aforementioned flank in order to mount it on a hull.
• - Figure 10 is a schematic sectional elevation showing the mounting of two intermediate feet front and rear, ensuring the assembly of two contiguous shells
• FIG. 11 is a partial elevation of a rear foot taken along arrow F in FIG. 10.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the furniture for sitting, whether an armchair or a bench, is an assembly of several modular plastic components injection molded. Also, the armchair (FIG. 1) has a shell 1 joined with two symmetrical sides 2 and 3. The bench seat (FIGS. 2 and 3) has two identical shells 1 joined together by a rear intermediate leg 4 and a front intermediate leg 5, as well as with two symmetrical sides 2 and 3.

The hull 1 is monolithic and has members 6, 7 which are lateral profiles between which extend substantially horizontal slats 8 to form the seat, as well as cross members 9 connected by rising slats 10 to form the backrest.

The sides 2 and 3 have the shape of an arch, the branches of which constitute a right front foot 11 and a curved rear foot 12 connected to each other, above the level of the seat, by a rounded 13 extended towards the rear by an armrest 14. Of course, the sides 2 and 3 can review any other form appropriate to the chosen aesthetic, as long as the connecting means recommended in the following, can be implemented.

As is clear from FIGS. 4 to 6, the connection of each shell 1 with a side wall 2 or 3 is ensured by means of assembly pads 15 and 16 cooperating with mounting housings 17 and 18.

The assembly pads 15 and 16 are integral with the feet 11 and 12 respectively, being spaced therefrom and extending pointed upward projecting from their internal face. The mounting housings 17 and 18 are delimited by partitions of the corresponding frame 6 or 7 of the hull.

Advantageously and as shown in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the axes 19 and 20 of the housings 17 and 18 are parallel to the direction F of demoulding of the shell, that is to say to the direction in which the two parts of the mold are spaced from each other to release said shell from the imprint bounded by said parts. Thus, the longitudinal partitions 21, 22 and 23, 24 of the housings 17 and 18 which are then substantially parallel (to the demoulding clearance or to the near wedge slope which are mentioned in the following) in the direction F, are demolded very easily.

In the example shown, the assembly pads 15 and 16 are U-shaped profiles whose section can be written in a square for the rear legs 12 and in a rectangle for the front legs 11, a section which corresponds substantially to that of the housings. 17 and 18.

The longitudinal partitions 21 to 24 are therefore in plan contact parallel to the axes 19, 20 and perpendicular to the plane defined by these. A slope slightly greater than the demoulding draft may be provided on these partitions which, therefore, by cooperating with the wings of the studs 15, 16 with a conjugate slope, generate their jamming.

Since the sides are relatively large molded parts and geometrically deformable, the relative positioning of the pads 15 and 16 is not strictly the same for all the sides. Under these conditions, the partitions 21 to 24 are situated in such a way that only two of these partitions can bear against the wings of the studs 15 and 16 when these studs are completely embossed in the housings 17 and 18, a slight play then appearing between the two other partitions and said studs.

The housings are also delimited by antero posterior partitions 25 to 28 extending parallel to the plane defined by the axes 19 and 20. They are sloping and separated so as to all bear against the studs 15 and 16.

According to a first embodiment not shown in the drawing, the studs 15 and 16 have come from molding with the sides. The mold must then include moving parts to allow demolding.

According to a second embodiment illustrated by Figures 4 to 9, the studs 15 and 16 protrude from parts molded 29 and 30 respectively. These parts also comprise projecting, in a perpendicular direction, positioning pads 31 and 32. These have a tubular shape of rectangular section complementary to that of receiving housings 33 and 34 respectively delimited by the corresponding flank 2 or 3. These housings are very easy to obtain, given that the sides can be removed from the mold perpendicularly to their lateral faces and that the housings can be removed from the mold in the same direction, the mold half simply having fixed projections at their location.

Of course, the pads 15 and 31 are oriented relative to each other so that, taking into account the location of the receiving housing 33 in which the conjugate positioning pad 31 must be fitted, the assembly pad 15 is perfectly aligned with the mounting housing 17. In a similar manner, the studs 16 and 32 are oriented to take account of the locations of the housings 34 and 18.

To fix the parts 29 and 30 on the corresponding side 2 or 3, screws 35 and 36 pass through holes 37 and 38 formed in the bottoms of the positioning pads 31 and 32 and are screwed into holes 39 and 40 of the bottoms of the housings 33 and 34 of the corresponding frame 6 or 7 of the hull 1. Consequently, parts 29 and 30 are integral with the sides 2 and 3, the parts of one side being symmetrical with the parts of the other side as are besides the flanks relative to each other. Thus, these sides 2 and 3 have projecting assembly pads 15 and 16 suitably oriented.

For the assembly of the piece of furniture (Figures 1 to 3), the assembly pads 15 and 16 of each of the sides 1 and 2 are fitted into the mounting housings 17 and 18 of the corresponding frame 6 or 7 of a shell 1. Then, screws 41 and 42 pass through holes 43 and 44 formed in the bottoms of the assembly pads 15 and 16 and are screwed into sleeves 45 and 46 of the shell projecting in the housings 17 and 18.

To improve the rigidity of the connection of the sides 2 and 3 with the shell 1, the assembly pads 15 and 16 are connected to parts 29 and 30 or to said flanks when these form a molding body with these studs, by shoulders 47 and 48 (FIGS. 8 and 9) ensuring a wide reach against the frames 6 and 7 of the hull and thus improving the embedding . The same means can be used to improve the fixing of the parts 29 and 30 on the sides 2 and 3 and, for this purpose, the positioning pads 31 and 32 are connected to said parts 29 and 30 by shoulders 49 and 50 ( Figures 8 and 9) ensuring a wide range against the sides and thus improving the embedding.

Now considering the bench illustrated in FIG. 2, it is important to remember that the two shells 1 are interconnected and supported by a rear intermediate foot 4 and a front intermediate foot 5.

To ensure the connection and as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the mounting slots 17 and 18 of the frame 6 of the right hull in Figure 2 and those of the frame 7 of the left hull are used to receive two assembly pads 16 forming a body with a marquee 51 surmounting the foot 4 and respectively two assembly pads 15 forming a body with a marquee 52 surmounting the foot 5, fixing screws being put in place as before.

The means described in the foregoing ensure the rigid connection of the sides 2 and 3, possibly of the intermediate legs 4 and 5, with the seat 8 of the shell 1.

It may also be advantageous to attach the armrests 14 of these sides to the backrest 9, 10 of the shell 1. To this end, various means can be used, and in particular a stud and housing system of the aforementioned type.

Claims (9)

1. Plastic furniture for sitting comprising several components including two sides (2, 3) and at least one shell (1) extending between them,
characterized in that the connection of two components between them is ensured, at the front as at the rear, by an assembly stud (15, 16) integral with one of the components (2 to 5), s extending in lateral projection to point upwards and cooperating by interlocking with a mounting housing (17, 18) of the other component which opens downwards for the penetration, by sliding in a substantially vertical plane, of the anterior studs ( 15) and rear (16) assembly, a screw (41, 42) passing through each stud from bottom to top and screwing into a hole (45, 46) of said other component. 2. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that, considering the release direction (F) of the or each shell (1) which extends obliquely with respect to the seat (7, 8) and the backrest ( 9, 10), the front (17) and rear (18) housing for mounting this shell have walls (21 to 24) inclined substantially in the demolding direction to allow the interlocking of the mating assembly pads in this direction (15, 16) integral with the component to be attached. 3. Furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front (15) and rear (16) assembly pads have come from molding on each side (2 or 3) and protrude on the inner lateral face of that -this. 4. Furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each assembly stud (15, 16) protrudes from a molded part (29, 30) also projecting, in a perpendicular direction, a positioning stud ( 31, 32) intended to be embedded in a housing (33, 34) for receiving the component to be fitted and to be fixed there by means of a screw (35, 36), these studs being oriented one relative to the other so that, the two components to be joined being suitably arranged, the stud assembly (15, 16) is located opposite the corresponding mounting housing (16, 17). 5. Furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two twin studs (15, 16) for assembly form a body with each of two posterior (4) and anterior (5) intermediate feet, these twin studs being intended to be nested and fixed in the mounting housings (17, 18) of two adjacent shells (1). 6. Furniture according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that each assembly stud (15, 16) is connected to its side support: (2, 3) or insert (29, 30) or foot intermediate (4, 5), by a shoulder (47, 48) intended to bear against the component delimiting the conjugate mounting housing (17, 18) to this stud. 7. Furniture according to claim 4, characterized in that each positioning stud (31, 32) is connected to the insert (29, 30) by a shoulder (49, 50) intended to rest on the component delimiting the reception housing (33, 34) combined with this stud. 8. Furniture according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that each stud fits into a square or rectangular section. 9. Furniture according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the studs have sloping faces to get caught in their housings.

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