EP0916772A1 - Technical support frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The technical support consists of one or more prefabricated frames (1,11) designed to stand on the floor and be held at a distance from the false wall. Couplings with inserts (20) fit into matching sockets (3a,4a) in the lower (3) and upper (4) members of the frames and spacers (30) of variable length which straddle the inserts. The inserts are in the form of rectangular-section tubes, and the spacers have a matching U-section and are fitted by force on the inserts. Adjacent frames are able to support different sanitary units, or one frame can be used to support a front trim panel or upright.

Description

The present invention relates to a technical bench to support through a false wall of sanitary appliances such as a hunting tank ' 5 of water, a toilet bowl, a sink or a bidet.

• un premier rail ou longeron est fixé sur le sol le long du mur et à une distance prédéterminée de celui-ci,
  un deuxième rail ou longeron est agencé à une certaine hauteur à la verticale du premier, avec les extrémités de ce second rail qui sont fixées sur le mur,
  une paire de montants verticaux reliés entre eux par une traverse horizontale, sont montés et fixés entre les rails, de façon à définir un bâti de support d'un appareil sanitaire,
• après installation des tubes et raccords adaptés à chaque appareil sanitaire, des panneaux d'habillage frontal prêt à carreler sont fixés sur la façade de la banquette technique pour dissimuler tous les tubes, raccords et fixations des appareils sanitaires,
• enfin, les appareils sanitaires sont montés sur la banquette technique ainsi habillée.

The technical benches currently known are produced in the following manner:

• a first rail or spar is fixed to the ground along the wall and at a predetermined distance from it,
  a second rail or spar is arranged at a certain height vertically from the first, with the ends of this second rail which are fixed to the wall,
  a pair of vertical uprights connected to each other by a horizontal crosspiece, are mounted and fixed between the rails, so as to define a support frame for a sanitary appliance,
• after installation of the tubes and fittings adapted to each sanitary appliance, front cladding panels ready to tile are fixed on the front of the technical bench to hide all the tubes, fittings and fixings of the sanitary appliances,
• finally, the sanitary fixtures are mounted on the technical bench thus dressed.

The technical benches for making false walls present the same advantages as false ceilings. In addition, arranging all pipes, fittings and fixtures for sanitary fixtures behind the false wall frees the space surrounding the sanitary appliance inside the bathroom thus equipped. Sanitary appliances that seem like this hanging from the false wall, can be easily maintained, which is particularly important from the point of view of hygiene. Indeed, in the traditional sanitary ware, it is often difficult to clean appliances level of their attachment to the floor or against the wall.

However, the known technical benches are difficult to install because they require cutting the longitudinal members on site according to the effective dimensions of the part to be equipped and numerous operations are required, which increases the time and cost of mounting.

The invention aims to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a technical bench that is simple and easy to build transport and mount on site.

To this end, the invention relates to a technical bench to support through a false wall of plumbing fixtures, characterized in that it comprises at least one prefabricated modular frame intended to support a sanitary appliance, each frame comprising a front frame intended for rest on the ground and be kept away from the wall, said chassis having its upper and lower parts adapted to be connected laterally and horizontally to another adjacent element of the bench by through separate connecting means of variable length, the entire front frame and connecting means serving as a surface support for front cladding panels of the false wall.

According to the invention, the abovementioned adjacent element is either a modular frame adapted to support another sanitary appliance, i.e. a modular frame suitable for simply supporting a front cladding panel, i.e. vertical upright for attachment to a side wall.

Advantageously, each connecting means comprises a pair of inserts intended to partially engage in joint housing and opposite of the aforementioned frame and adjacent element, and a spacer of variable length intended to be inserted between the frame and the element adjacent by overlapping said pair of inserts. For example, the insert is a section of tube with a substantially rectangular or square section and with straight or angular profile, and the spacer is a cross section profile inverted U shape which comes to adjust forcibly on the pair of inserts. Of preferably, the spacer and inserts are removable and the spacer is cut in length according to the desired spacing between the frame and the element adjacent.

According to another characteristic, the front chassis of a modular frame is consisting of a rectangular tubular frame whose side walls are open outward at their lower and upper ends for define the abovementioned combined dwellings.

According to yet another characteristic, the base of the chassis is provided with means for adjusting the height of the frame relative to the ground.

In a first embodiment, the technical bench is intended for be fixed on a load-bearing wall, and the upper part of the frame is connected by means of depth adjustment of the chassis relative to the wall, to a fixing angle on the wall.

In a second embodiment, the technical bench is intended to be fixed only on the ground, and the frame consists of a frame rectangular intended to rest on the ground without being fixed to the wall.

Preferably, for each embodiment, the different frames modular all have the same exterior dimensions.

• la f figure 1 est une vue éclatée et en perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation de la banquette technique selon l'invention; et
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un bâti modulaire isolé selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de la banquette technique selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, details, advantages and characteristics thereof will appear more clearly during the detailed explanatory description which follows of two currently preferred embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustrative and not limiting, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the technical seat according to the invention; and
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of an isolated modular frame according to a second embodiment of the technical seat according to the invention.

According to the particular example of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the technical bench here comprises a first modular frame 1 adapted by example to support a sink (not shown), and a second frame modular 11 adapted for example to support a bidet or a bowl WC with its flush tank (not shown).

The modular frame 1 consists of a rectangular tubular frame with square section comprising two vertical uprights 2 interconnected by a horizontal lower cross member 3 and a horizontal upper cross member 4. An intermediate cross 5 is provided substantially at two thirds of the height of the uprights 2 and fitted with fixing rods 5a for mounting by example a sink on said intermediate crosspiece 5.

The upper crosspiece 4 is connected to a right angle section angle 6 intended to be fixed to a load-bearing wall (not shown), by by means of two rods 7 making it possible to adjust the depth between the frame and wall. The rods 7 extend substantially perpendicularly in the plane of the chassis of the modular frame 1. Similarly, the cross member lower 3 is connected to a right angle section angle 8 intended for be fixed to the ground, by means of two rods 9 extending substantially vertically to adjust the height of the aforementioned chassis by report to the ground.

For example, one can provide a depth adjustment between 165 mm and 245 mm and a height adjustment between 1100 and 1300 mm. Being given that the technical bench only extends over a limited height relative to the ceiling height, the edge defined between the wall and the upper part of the bench can be covered over the entire depth of the false wall by tiling to serve as a repository. This repository extends over the surface defined between the angle 6 and the cross superior 4.

The front frame of modular frame 1 is also equipped with a panel front cover (not shown) intended for example to be fixed in points 10 and to be covered with tiling.

The upper cross member 4 and the lower cross member 3 have their ends respective sides 4a and 3a open towards the outside to define housing combined with connecting means which will be described later.

In the other modular frame 11 the same reference numbers are used to denote the same parts. This modular frame 11 differs from the first frame 1 essentially by the fact that the intermediate cross member 15 is located here substantially at the first third of the height of the chassis and connected by two vertical uprights 15b to the lower cross member 3. These vertical uprights 15b are provided with fixing rods 15a for mounting therein a bidet or a toilet bowl. The free window defined between the crosspiece intermediate 15 and the upper cross member 4 can be used to house a flush tank associated with a toilet bowl. The dimensions exterior of the frame and the different angles are identical to a frame to the other.

Although not shown, one could also provide a frame modular with no intermediate cross member and serving only to wear a front panel, when a length large wall must be dressed without providing a sanitary appliance.

A connection means here comprises a pair of inserts 20 constituted by example of a straight tube section with square section whose dimensions are suitable for partially engaging and frictionally in the housing 4a or 3a above. The connection means further comprises a spacer 30 which can be cut in length according to the spacing that one wishes between the modular frames 1 and 11. This spacer 30 has a inverted U-shaped section and is intended to overlap the pair of inserts 20 by friction fit on the parts of the inserts 20 which protrude laterally of each chassis. We see in Figure 1 that a means of connection is provided at the upper cross member 4 and the cross member lower 3 of each frame to ensure good rigidity to the panel front cladding between the two frames.

An angle iron 36 is also provided against the wall in alignment with the angles 6 above and opposite the upper connecting means 20.30 for serve as a support surface for the aforementioned repository.

Of course, the inserts 20 and the spacers 30 could be provided with an angle or curvature to allow the installation of a bench seat technique at the junction of two walls of the same room.

It will be noted that the spacers have a length preferably less than approx. 550 mm, to maintain good rigidity in the covering panel frontal which must be fixed there.

A modular frame according to the invention could also be connected to a element other than a modular frame, for example a vertical upright directly fixed on a wall, this vertical upright then presenting housing adapted to receive the inserts of the connecting means.

It is therefore understood that the modular frames according to the invention are easy to transport, install and pay locally because most of their parts are already pre-assembled.

When the walls of the pond are light partitions or walls whose solidity is uncertain, we use instead of frames 1 and 11, frames 101 of the type illustrated in Figure 2. Indeed, the frames can support for example a load of 400 Kg.

There is shown here simply a modular frame 101, intended for the same application as the modular frame 1, because the connection means remain identical.

In this second embodiment of modular frame 101, the same parts keep the same reference numbers. This frame 101 differs from frame 1 by the fact that the upper cross member 4 is connected at its ends, by tubular sections 107 extending perpendicular to the plane of the chassis, to another parallel cross member 106 whose ends are connected to two other vertical uprights 102 to define a second chassis tubular substantially parallel to the first. Amounts 102 are connected between them by another lower cross member 116 to ensure good rigidity to this second chassis. Two other tubular sections 117 Extend substantially perpendicularly between the two frames to connect them together in a lower position than the sections 107 above, in order to impart good overall rigidity to the parallelepiped that thus constitutes the modular frame 101. Of course, the sections 107 and 117 have the same length so that the depth of the modular frame 101 is fixed, for example of the order of 180 mm.

Base plates 108 are intended to be fixed to the ground and have four legs 109 extending substantially vertically towards the high to engage telescopically in the uprights 2 and 102 above to adjust the height of the modular frame 101 from the ground. we sees for this purpose adjustment knobs 110 on the uprights 2 and 102.

This modular parallelepiped frame 101 can therefore rest so stable on the ground, without being fixed to a wall.

It also includes the aforementioned housings 4a for connecting the modular frame 101 to another element or modular frame of the bench technical. Although not shown, housings 3a can also be provided at the cross member 3 on the frame 101 of the figure 2.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with two embodiments individuals, it is obvious that it is in no way limited to it and that it includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

Technical bench to support through a false wall sanitary appliances, comprising at least one prefabricated modular frame (1,11,101), each frame comprising a front frame intended to rest on the ground and to be kept away from the wall, said chassis being adapted for connect laterally and horizontally to another adjacent element of the bench, by means of separate connecting means (20,30) of variable length, the entire front chassis and connecting means serving as a bearing surface for front cladding panels of the false wall, characterized in that each connecting means comprises a pair inserts (20) intended to partially engage in housings conjugates (3a, 4a) provided in the upper (4) and lower (3) parts opposite the aforementioned frame and adjacent element, and a spacer (30) of variable length intended to be inserted between the frame and the element adjacent by overlapping said pair of inserts. Technical bench seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the abovementioned adjacent element is either a modular frame (1,11,101) suitable for support another sanitary appliance, a modular frame suitable for simply support a front cover panel, i.e. an upright vertical fixing on a side wall. Technical bench according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each insert is a section of tube (20) with a substantially section rectangular and with a straight or angular profile, and in that the spacer (30) is an inverted U-shaped section profile which fits forcibly on the pair of inserts. Technical bench seat according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the spacer (30) and the inserts (20) are removable and the spacer (30) is cut in length according to the desired spacing between the frame and the adjacent element. Technical bench seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front frame of the modular frame (1,11,101) is consisting of a rectangular tubular frame (2,3,4) whose side walls are open towards the outside at their lower ends (3a) and upper (4a) to define the aforementioned conjugate housings. Technical bench seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (3) of the chassis is provided with means (9,109) height adjustment of the frame from the ground. Technical bench seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is intended to be fixed to a load-bearing wall, the upper part (4) of the chassis being connected by means (7) of adjustment in depth of the frame relative to the wall, to a fixing angle (6) on the wall. Technical bench seat according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is intended to be fixed only on the ground, the frame consisting of a rectangular frame intended to rest on the floor without being attached to the wall. Technical bench seat according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the different modular frames all have the same external dimensions.

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