EP2120643A1

EP2120643A1 - Rack module and furniture having a rack module

Info

Publication number: EP2120643A1
Application number: EP08712439A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jin Ho Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-21
Filing date: 2008-02-11
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Also published as: JP2010528682A; US20100096351A1; KR20080073184A; EP2120643A4; AU2008217861A1; WO2008102958A1; CN101674752A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a DIY or a assemble furniture which has a containing room inside the furniture and connecting members on exterior surface of the furniture. According to the present invention, user is able to make many shapes of furniture by connecting at least one of rack modules.

Description

RACK MODULE AND FURNITURE HAVING A RACK

MODULE

Technical Field

[I] The invention relates to a DIY (Do It Yourself) or assemble furniture, and more particularly to a DIY or assemble furniture such that a plurality of rack modules (containing modules) can be assembled freely according to the user's intention. Background Art

[2] Conventional assemble furniture is such that the design and purpose cannot be changed since the furniture cannot be disassembled or reassembled once it was assembled. Moreover, the furniture cannot be assembled in various shapes according to the configuration of the space or the user's tastes.

[3]

[4] Also, the conventional ASSEMBLE furniture has a disadvantage that since the connecting grooves are formed only on the certain locations, the change of the shape of the furniture is limited. Because the furniture cannot be assembled unless the connecting grooves on one rack block is not adjacent to grooves on the other rack block, the shape cannot be changed differently from predetermined shape.

[5]

[6] Also, it is not easy to remove a connecting pin from a groove, or to insert a pin into a groove, and it is barely possible to disassemble and reassemble the furniture without using certain tools.

[7]

[8] Moreover, since the connecting grooves are formed on part of the rack block, the portion having grooves has strength much lesser than other portions and thus the durability of the furniture is weakened.

[9]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[10] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a rack module according to the invention.

[I I] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary front view of the auxiliary fixing member applied to the assemble furniture according to the invention.

[12] Fig. 3 shows a front view representing the assemble furniture having the rack modules piled up horizontally. [13] Fig. 4 shows a front view of another horizontal piling up according to the assemble furniture of the invention. [14] Fig. 5 shows a front view representing horizontal and slanted piling up according to the assemble furniture of the invention. [15] Fig. 6 shows a front view of longitudinally oblique piling up according to the assemble furniture of the invention. [16] Fig. 7 shows a front view of horizontally and longitudinally oblique piling up according to the assemble furniture of the invention.

[17] Fig. 8 shows a front view of human shaped furniture using a horizontally and longitudinally oblique piling up method according to the assemble furniture of the invention. [18] Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of an embodiment to fix two rack modules by means of an auxiliary fixing module. [19] Fig. 10 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the auxiliary fixing member applicable to the assemble furniture according to the invention. [20] Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment to fix two rack modules by means of the auxiliary fixing member. [21] Fig. 12 shows a front view of a third embodiment of the auxiliary fixing member applicable to the assemble furniture according to the invention. [22] Fig. 13 shows a perspective view that represents the connection of the first and second blocks of the rack modules.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [23] The rack module according to the invention has a containing room inside a frame of the rack module and having convex-concave elements on an exterior surface of the frame of the rack module. Also, preferably a cross section of the convex-concave element has a shape of triangle. [24] [25] It is preferable that a cross section of the rack module has a shape of rectangle, and the rack module comprises a first half block and a second half block. [26] [27] Ireferably, the first half block may be removable from the second half block, and a projection of the first half block combines with a groove of the second half block. [28] [29] Also, the assemble furniture comprising: a first containing module (a first rack module) having a containing room inside the frame and having convex-concave elements on an exterior surface of the frame of the contacting module, and a second containing module (a second rack module) having a containing room inside the frame and having convex-concave elements on an exterior surface of the frame of the contacting module.

[30]

[31] Also, it is preferable that cross sections of the first and the second modules have shapes of rectangle. Moreover, the convex-concave elements formed on an edge of the first containing module combine with the convex-concave elements formed on an edge of the first containing module, and the convex-concave elements formed on a face of the first containing module combine with the convex-concave elements formed on a face of the first containing module.

[32]

[33] Also, the assemble furniture may further comprise a fixing member, wherein the fixing member supports the convex-concave elements of the first and the second containing module to combine tightly, and the fixing member comprises: a first inserting part contacting an interior surface of the first containing module; a second inserting part contacting an interior surface of the second containing module; a connecting part connects the first inserting part and the second inserting part. The distance between the first inserting part and the second inserting part is variable. Mode for the Invention

[34] The purposes, features, and advantages described above will be more apparent through the detailed description below with reference to the attached figures. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be explained.

[35]

[36] The detailed embodiments of the invention are as follows.

[37]

[38] One example of a rack module according to the invention is shown as a perspective view. As shown in Fig. 1, for example, the rack module (1) may be formed in the shape of a parallelepiped (or a cube) having a containing room (20) therein. The rack module (1) can be made of wood, steel, etc., and more preferably of resin.

[39]

[40] To form a containing room (20), the rack module (1) has a containing room therein.

At least one of front and back sides is opened such that users can insert objects into the containing room or users can have an access to the inserted objects.

[41] [42] The rack module (1) can be formed integrally or consists of a first half block (10) and a half second block (30) of symmetrical shape. Exterior surfaces of the first and second blocks have a plurality of protrusions extending linearly from the front end to the back end of the rack module (1) to form convex-concave elements. Alternatively, the protrusions can be arranged to extend obliquely from the front end to the back end of the rack module to form convex-concave elements. The cross section of the protrusions is preferably in the shape of a triangle, and can be also a rectangle, a π shape, a τ= shape, a castle shape ( j _

),oratrapezoid.

[43]

[44] The interior surfaces (33) of the first and second blocks (10, 30) can be smooth without convex-concave elements, differently from the exterior surface (11).

[45]

[46] The cross section of the first and second blocks (10, 30) is in the shape of a τ= shape, so it can form a hollow rectangular shape when the ends of the first and second blocks are connected. For the connection for the blocks, both lower ends of the first block (10) have projections (15) and both upper ends of the second block (30) have grooves (35). Also, the first and second blocks can be fixed by means of connecting members (25) such as a pin or a screw while the projections (15) are inserted into the grooves (35). Alternatively, the projections (15) can be press-fitted into the grooves (35).

[47]

[48] An embodiment of Fig. 1 describes a rack module of a rectangular parallelepiped shape, but the shape of the rack module is not limited to the rectangular parallelepiped but comprises various shapes (e.g., a hemisphere, a hemi-oval sphere, a cylinder, a trigonal prism, a polygon column, etc.) having protrusions on exterior surfaces.

[49]

[50] The assemble furniture is formed by means of a plurality of rack modules having various geometrical shapes, and Figs. 3 to 8 shows an assemble furniture using rack module of the rectangular parallelepiped shape. Since load of the rack module is applied to a lower module through the convex-concave elements, the furniture can be formed in various shapes without other fixing members.

[51]

[52] When the assemble furniture is formed by piling a plurality of rack modules up, auxiliary fixing members (5) can be used to assemble each of rack module (1) strongly.

[53]

[54] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary front view of the auxiliary fixing member of the assemble furniture according to the invention.

[55]

[56] In the Fig. 2, the auxiliary fixing member (5) includes a cover part (51) and a fixing part (53). The fixing part (53) consists of two parallel inserting parts (53a) to be inserted into the containing room (20) of the rack module (1) and connecting parts (53b) connecting the inserting parts. The inserting parts (53a) are extended at the right angle from both ends of the connecting parts (53b). A cover part (51) is installed on the surface of the connecting parts (53b) at the opposite side of the inserting part (53a). The fixing part (53) is adapted for fixing the two rack modules (1) and for applying load to the lower convex-concave elements effectively when the assemble furniture is assembled. The cover part (51) decorates the fixing part (53) and reinforces the strength of the fixing part (53). The cover part (51) and the fixing part (53) may be made of various materials such as wood, steel, resin, etc., or may consist of different materials.

[57]

[58] When the rack modules are assembled, with the cover part (51) and the connecting part (53b) of the auxiliary fixing member (5) being held by the user, one of the inserting parts (53a) is inserted into the containing room (20) of the rack module (1) and the other of the inserting parts (53a) is inserted into the containing room (20) of another rack module (1). At this time, to connect the rack modules stably, it is preferable to ensure that there is no gap between interior surfaces of each rack module (1) connected by the connecting members (5).

[59]

[60] In the Fig. 2, the auxiliary fixing member is described comprising the cover part and the fixing part. Alternatively, the auxiliary fixing member can have only a fixing part. Otherwise, the fixing part may have two parallel plates or rods and the cover part may have a circular shape.

[61]

[62] As shown in the Figs. 3 to 8, the assemble furniture according to the invention can be assembled, disassembled, and reassembled in various manners. The assemble furniture can be formed in such a manner that a plurality of rack modules (1) can be piled up, and there is a static friction force between the exterior surface (11) of the rack module

(I) and the exterior surface (11) of another rack module (1) since the exterior surfaces

II 1) of the rack module (1) have convex-concave elements. Therefore, the rack modules can be held when they are piled up in various manners as shown in Figs. 3 to 8. Moreover, the rack modules (1) can be fixed more strongly by installing the auxiliary fixing member (5) between the two contacting rack modules (1).

[63]

[64] Fig. 3 shows a front view representing the assemble furniture having the rack modules piled up horizontally. As shown in the Fig. 3, the horizontal piling up is to pile up the rack modules after the rack modules are arranged in such a manner that the longitudinal sides of the rack modules (Ia, Ib, Ic) are parallel to each other. The rack modules can be fixed strongly against the outer force and/or the self-load since the convex-concave elements formed on the exterior surfaces (11) of the rack modules (1) are interlocked.

[65]

[66] Fig. 4 shows a front view of another horizontal piling up according to the assemble furniture of the invention. In this embodiment, rack modules (1) are used having the same dimension. The connecting member (25, Fig. 1) is removed from the rack module (1) and the projection (15) is pulled out from the groove (35), thereby the blocks (10, 30) being separated. The blocks (10, 30) are not interlocked one to one as shown in Fig. 1, but interlocked in such a manner that one projection (15) and the other projection (15) of one block are connected to each of the groove (35) of different blocks. Thus, blocks can be arranged continuously, not in the form of one closed rack module (1). Objects can be placed onto the upper surface (2) or the interior surface (33) of the furniture.

[67]

[68] Fig. 5 shows a front view representing horizontal and slanted piling up according to the assemble furniture of the invention. Some of the rack modules (1) are arranged in such a manner that the longitudinal side is in parallel with the ground, and the others are arranged in such a manner that the longitudinal side is at an angle to the ground. In this case, the static friction force by the connection of convex-concave elements formed on the exterior surfaces of the rack module (1) is sufficient to hold the shape of the assemble furniture. Also, the auxiliary fixing member (5) can be installed between the rack modules (1) to maintain the shape of the assemble furniture more fixedly. Meanwhile, even in case that the shape of the assemble furniture cannot be maintained only by the static friction force due to the connection of the convex-concave elements, the shape of the assemble furniture can be formed by the auxiliary fixing member in various manners.

[69]

[70] One inserting part (53a) of the auxiliary fixing member (5) sticks to the interior surface of one rack module (1), and the other inserting part (53a) sticks to the interior surface of another rack module (1) that is adjacent to the rack module (1). Therefore, the auxiliary fixing member (5) connects the two rack modules (1) more fixedly. In the embodiment of the Fig. 5, the rack modules are arranged to be connected in the form of a circle to form a hollow space (9) in the middle portion. Since objects like TV can be located in the space (9) and the other objects can be freely placed at the surroundings, the assemble furniture can be used as TV furnishings.

[71]

[72] Since the auxiliary fixing member (5) makes the assemble furniture fixed more strongly, the rack modules (1) can be piled up as shown in the Figs. 6 to 8. The books or CDs can be stored when the assemble furniture is set on the wall.

[73]

[74] Fig. 6 shows a front view of longitudinally oblique piling up according to the assemble furniture of the invention, Fig. 7 shows a front view of horizontally and longitudinally oblique piling up according to the assemble furniture of the invention, and Fig. 8 shows a front view of a human shaped furniture using a horizontally and longitudinally oblique piling up method according to the assemble furniture of the invention.

[75]

[76] Besides the above shapes, the shape of the assemble furniture can be changed according to the user s intention as to the size and the purpose by locating the rack modules (1) in various manners, and the assembling, dissembling, and reassembling can be achieved very simply, and also the assemble furniture can be fixedly maintained after the assembling.

[77]

[78] The structure of the rack module can be changed to have other shape, and the convex-concave elements on the exterior surface of the rack module (1) can be formed obliquely as well as straight, or the protrusions can be discontinuous in the form of a plurality of discrete points. [80] Also, the magnet can be installed inside the rack module (1) such that the rack modules can be fixed by the magnetic force without the convex-concave elements, and the exterior surface of the rack module (1) can be provided with a velcro tape to fix the rack module.

[81]

[82] The distance between two inserting part (53a) of the auxiliary fixing member (5) can be formed to be controlled.

[83]

[84] The rack module (1) can be formed in such a manner that back part is closed by the wall and the front part can be opened and closed by installing the door, not open-type as shown in Fig. 1.

[85]

[86] Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of an embodiment to fix two rack modules by means of an auxiliary fixing module.

[87]

[88] In the Fig. 9, fixing grooves (96a, 96b, 97a, 97b) are formed on the interior surfaces of a first containing module (a first rack module) (91) and a second containing module (a second rack module) (92). Also, as shown in the Fig. 9, fixing projections (101a, 102a) on the auxiliary fixing member (93) (the auxiliary fixing members according to the embodiment can be seen in Fig. 10) can be inserted into the grooves (96a, 97a). Therefore, when the first containing module (91) is connected to the second containing module (92), the rightward and leftward sliding can be prevented by the connection of the convex-concave elements (94, 95) on the exterior surface, and also the forward and backward sliding can be prevented by the connection of the auxiliary fixing member (93) with grooves (96a, 97a). Also, the use of the elastic fixing member (93) makes sure that there is no gap by the connection between the first containing module (91) and the second containing module (92), thereby the containing modules being fixed.

[89]

[90] When the objects are stored on the containing room (98) in the first containing module (91), the first containing module (91) can be slanted due to the load of the objects. In this case, the use of the fixing member (93) prevents the containing module from being slanted and prevents the connected containing modules from being separated.

[91]

[92] Fig. 10 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the auxiliary fixing member applicable to the assemble furniture according to the invention.

[93]

[94] In the Fig. 10, the auxiliary fixing member (93) of the assemble furniture comprises two parallel inserting parts (101, 102), connecting part (103) connecting two parallel inserting parts (101, 102), and projections (101a, 102a) formed on the two inserting parts (101, 102) and facing each other.

[95]

[96] The auxiliary fixing member (93) according to the second embodiment is preferably used to fix the rack module having grooves on the interior surface as shown in Fig. 9. The two containing modules (91, 92) can be connected more stably by connecting the projections (101a, 102a) with grooves (96a, 97a) formed on the interior surface of the containing module (91, 92).

[97]

[98] When the two containing modules (91, 92) are combined, connecting part (103) of the auxiliary fixing member (93) is preferably made of elastic material so that attractive force is applied in the direction such that the fixing projections (101a, 102a) are attractive to each other. Ireferably, the dimension of the projections (101a, 102a) is such that the projections can be press-fitted into the grooves (96a, 97a) formed on the interior surfaces of the containing module (91, 92).

[99]

[100] Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment to fix two rack modules by means of the auxiliary fixing member.

[101]

[102] In the Fig. 11, grooves (116a, 117a) are formed on the sectional plane of the first containing module (111) and the second containing module (112). Also, the grooves can be formed on the back sectional plane of the first containing module (111) and the second containing module (112).

[103]

[104] Also, the auxiliary fixing member (113) of the τ= shape is inserted into grooves

(116a, 117a) of the first and second containing modules (111, 112). Therefore, when the first containing module (111) is connected to the second containing module (112), the rightward and leftward sliding can be prevented by the connection of the convex- concave elements (114, 115) on the exterior surface. Also, the forward and backward sliding can be prevented by the connection of the auxiliary fixing member (113) with grooves (116a, 117a). Also, the use of the elastic fixing member (113) ensures that there is no gap by the connection between the first containing module (111) and the second containing module (112), thereby the containing modules being fixed.

[105]

[106] When the objects are stored on the containing room (118) in the first containing module (111), the first containing module (111) can be slanted due to the load of the objects. In this case, the use of the fixing member (113) prevents the containing module from being slanted and prevents the connected containing modules from being separated.

[107]

[108] Fig. 12 shows a front view of a third embodiment of the auxiliary fixing member applicable to the assemble furniture according to the invention.

[109]

[110] The auxiliary fixing member (113) according to the third embodiment is preferably used to fix the rack module having grooves on the sectional plane, similarly to the Fig. 11. The two rack modules can be connected more stably by inserting the inserting parts (121, 122) of the auxiliary member (113) into the grooves (1 l(a, 117a) formed on the sectional plane of the rack module.

[I l l]

[112] When the two rack modules are connected, the connecting part (123) of the auxiliary fixing member (113) is preferably made of elastic materials to apply attractive force in the direction such that the inserting parts (121, 122) are directed to each other, fteferably, the dimension of the inserting parts (121, 122) is such that the inserting parts can be press-fitted into the grooves formed on the sectional plane of the rack module.

[113]

[114] Fig. 13 shows a perspective view that represents the connection of the first and second blocks of the rack modules.

[115]

[116] In the Fig. 13, a first half block (131) and a second half block (132) have the shape of τ= , respectively, and they are connected to form one rack module (13). As shown in the Fig. 13, the ends of the first and second blocks (131, 132) are formed in such a manner that they have π shaped projections (131a, 131b) and L shaped projections (132a, 132b) and the projections are connected in a press-fitting manner, thereby the rack modules (13) can be formed without an additional connecting member such as a screw or a pin. [118] Elastic projections (133a, 133b) are formed on the first block (131), and grooves (134a, 134b) are formed on the second block (132), thus when the ends of the first block (131) and the second block (132) are connected, the forward and backward sliding can be prevented by connecting the projections (133a, 133b) to the grooves (134a, 134b). It is preferable that one projection and one groove are formed on the center of the connecting or combining surface. Alternatively, it is possible that the projection and the groove can be formed off the center of the combing surface, or a plurality of the projections and the grooves are formed.

[119]

[120] As shown in the Fig. 13, the convex-concave elements (135a, 135b) on the exterior surface of the rack module are formed along both edges of the exterior surface to have certain widths in the longitudinal direction, and a smooth surface is formed on the center of the exterior surface.

[121]

[122] Although not shown in the figures, both edges of the exterior surface have a smooth surface, not convex-concave elements, and convex-concave elements are formed on the center of the exterior surface to have certain widths in the longitudinal direction.

[123]

[124] According to the assemble furniture of the invention, the furniture can be reconstructed in accordance with the user's intention as to the shape and purpose.

Claims

[1] A rack module having a containing room inside a frame of the rack module and having convex-concave elements on an exterior surface of the frame of the rack module, wherein a cross section of the convex-concave element has a shape of triangle. [2] The rack module of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the rack module has a shape of rectangle. [3] The rack module of claim 1, wherein the rack module comprises a first half block and a second half block. [4] The rack module of claim 3, wherein the first half block is removable from the second half block. [5] The rack module of claim 4, wherein a projection of the first half block combines with a groove of the second half block. [6] The rack module of claim 3, wherein a projection part formed on the first half block has a shape of

I

" and a projection part formed on the second half block has a shape of "

L

", wherein the projection part of the first half block and the projection part of the second half block make interference fit each other. [7] The rack module of claim 6, wherein the first half block has a fixing projection on combining surface, the second half block has a fixing groove on a combining surface to combine with the fixing projection. [8] The rack module of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the rack module has a shape of triangle. [9] The rack module of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the rack module has a shape of circle. [10] An assemble furniture comprising: a first containing module having a containing room inside the frame and having convex-concave elements on an exterior surface of the frame of the contacting module, wherein a cross section of the convex-concave element has a shape of triangle; and a second containing module having a containing room inside the frame and having convex-concave elements on an exterior surface of the frame of the contacting module, wherein a cross section of the convex-concave element has a shape of triangle, wherein the first contacting module and the second containing module combine into the assemble furniture with each convex-concave elements. [11] The assemble furniture of claim 10, wherein cross sections of the first and the second modules have shapes of rectangle. [12] The assemble furniture of claim 11, wherein the convex-concave elements formed on a edge of the first containing module combine with the convex- concave elements formed on a edge of the first containing module. [13] The assemble furniture of claim 12, wherein the convex-concave elements formed on a face of the first containing module combine with the convex-conca ve elements formed on a face of the first containing module. [14] The assemble furniture of claim 10 further comprises a fixing member, wherein the fixing member supports the convex-concave elements of the first and the second containing module to combine tightly. [15] The assemble furniture of claim 10, the fixing member comprises: a first inserting part contacting an interior surface of the first containing module; a second inserting part contacting an interior surface of the second containing module; a connecting part connects the first inserting part and the second inserting part. [16] The assemble furniture of claim 15, wherein a distance between the first inserting part and the second inserting part is variable. [17] The assemble furniture of claim 10, wherein linear grooves are formed on interior surfaces of the first and the second containing module. [18] The assemble furniture of claim 17 further comprises a fixing member, wherein the fixing member includes: a pair of inserting parts formed in parallel each other; a connecting part connecting the pair of inserting parts; and a pair of projection parts formed on the each inserting part to face each other, wherein the projection parts are inserted into the each groove. [19] The assemble furniture of claim 10, wherein linear grooves are formed on surfaces of cross sections of the first and second containing modules. [20] The assemble furniture of claim 19 further comprises a fixing member, wherein the fixing member includes: a pair of inserting parts formed in parallel each other; and a connecting part connecting the pair of inserting parts, wherein the inserting parts are inserted into the each groove.