EP2247219B1

EP2247219B1 - Modular furnishing structure unlimitately composable in different forms for different uses

Info

Publication number: EP2247219B1
Application number: EP08751463.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Caporaso
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-05
Filing date: 2008-02-05
Publication date: 2015-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2028-02-05
Also published as: WO2009066333A1; EP2247219A1

Description

The present invention relates in general to furnishing structures that are modularly composable in different functional and/or decorative forms for interiors and/or exteriors.
Furnishing structures suitable to divide interior or exterior spaces, shelves, libraries, cupboards, equipped walls, sustaining structure for hanging objects, display structures, sitting structures and alike are furnishing elements of different utilities and traditionally they are made in correspondingly different forms for satisfying the specific function to which they are destined and with appearances expectedly pleasant for a potentially large sectors of users (customers).
For many of these purposes, specifically engineered modular systems are known that allow to compose a specific functional structure in forms and dimensions that may be adapted to the spaces they should fit. For example, a classical functional structure that is often made in a modularly expandable fashion is a open sight library or cupboard in order to permit to contour with a relative ease fixed architectural elements such as doors, windows, fireplaces, heating radiators and alikes.
Published Japanese patent application No. 2004 313251 A discloses a furniture usable for various purposes consisting of a pair of rectangular side frames with a plularity of vertical members, spaced apart by a back board 2 and one or several flat boards 3.
The elements being connected by bolts screwing into the end surfaces of the flat boards according to an ordinary multi tier shelving that may be extended sideways as needed.
Generally the modular systems for realizing furnishing structures of specific utility are based on the use of modules that may be juxtaposed or in any way associated one to another, the structure of which is dictated by the destination of use of the structure itself, be it a sitting structure rather than a library shelving; an equipped wall or a divider for delimiting spaces or for other needs.
Modularity is generally possible to a limited extent by availability of a necessarily limited inventory of prefabricated modules of certain dimensions or by a large number of different structural components, accessories and hardware the assembly of which generally is a complicated and a time consuming job.
An objective of the present applicant was to find a novel modular structure that could allow composability of different structures of varying shapes and dimensions capable of providing a variety of useful functions of the completed structures even multiple and different among them and that could be composable by employing an unlimited number of few standardized elements that could be easily assembled and disassembled without requiring the use of special or complicated tools and that could be manufactured at a relatively low cost.
These requisites of practicalness are met with other valuable advantages by the novel furnishing structure of the present invention that is modularly and unlimitedly composable in different and varied forms to suit different needs and uses based on the use of a unique basic element or module.
The structures of this invention are substantially composed of: a plurality of identical basic element or module in the form of a rectangular frame with either radiused or chamfered corners, the sides of which have a uniform cross section and front and rear surfaces substantially flat and parallel to each other and to the plane of the frame, with two or more holes uniformly spaced with parallel axes orthogonal to the frame plane; a plurality of rectilinear spacing listels of cross section identical to that of the sides of the rectangular frame modules, with two or more holes that can be aligned to the holes present along each side of the rectangular frame modules; and joining elements inserted in the aligned holes of two or more basic rectangular frame modules and/or spacing listels eventually interposed between adjacent frame modules.
Preferably, the joining elements are tie rods of length chosen among different pre-established lengths and eventually joined one to another to compose rods of a desired length, generally multiple and/or sum of one or of few different pre-established lengths.
A rod is passed through a succession of aligned holes, crossing a plurality of basic rectangular frame modules and eventually also of a plurality of spacing listels interposed between basic rectangular frame modules, and is blocked and optionally even tensioned by tightening threaded caps or blocking screws at the two ends of the rod, reaching the surface of a respective end element of the assembly.
A first or start assembly composed of a certain number of basic modules may be replicated or extended in identical form or even in different form, starting from one or more sides or corners of the start assembly, by interdigitating the sides of basic rectangular frame modules of the first or start assembly with the sides of basic rectangular frame modules of the replica or of the extension assembly, joining them together by either through-passing rods or alternatively by symmetrical elastic split pins introduced in the aligned holes of interdigitated sides of adjacent modules and/or listels of the two assembly that are thus solidly bound together.
In case of pass-through rods, the latter may preferably be in the form of slender tubes of steel or of a plastic material, provided with an inner thread at both ends in which either threaded joining sprigs or end blocking caps or screws are eventually tightened.
As mentioned, according to an alternative embodiment of the structure of this invention, the joining elements are symmetrical elastic split pins, provided with a median flange, the split tails of which are forcedly pushed into the aligned holes, respectively of a basic rectangular frame module or spacing listel and of an adjacent spacing listel or basic rectangular frame module.
The basic modules and the spacing listels are preferably made of the same material, for example of wood or of a substitute of wood or made in a hollow or box-like form, for example of molded plastic material.
The invention is defined in the annexed claims.

Figure 1 is a front prospect view of a basic rectangular frame module.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the basic rectangular frame module of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front prospect view of a spacing listel.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the listel of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a partial section of view showing an exemplary assembly scheme of basic rectangular frame modules and of interposed spacing listels.
Figure 6 is an exploded view of a tie rod and relative end blocking cap or screw and eventual joining sprig to another rod for doubling or increasing the total length.
Figure 7 is an exploded view showing the manner in which standardized elements are assembled for composing structures according to a first exemplary embodiment.
Figure 8 shows how a certain assembly may be replicated or extended from one or more sides of a start assembly by interdigitating among each other the sides of the basic modules that defines a start assembly with the basic modules that define an adjacent or extended assembly and so forth.
Figure 9 shows the constitution of a composable and expandable structure of several interdigitated subassemblies.
The series of Figure 10-16 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the basic rectangular frame modules and of the rectilinear spacing listels of plastic material in a hollow box-like form, for enhanced lightness, and the use of symmetrical elastic split pins to connect adjacent basic modules and/or spacing listels for composing functional assemblies.
Figure 17 is a detail cross section of a junction as established by a symmetric elastic split pin.
Figure 18 is an exploded view showing the way standardized elements of Figure 10-17 may be assembled for composing functional structures according to a second exemplary embodiment.
Figures 19, 20 and 21 are respectively a front, a cross sectional view of a basic rectangular frame module having chamfered corners instead of radiused corners and of a structure composed with these alternative basic rectangular frame modules and related spacing listels.
The series of Figures 22-26 show different functional structure made with standardized elements according to the present invention, employing accessories such as standing legs and/or blinding panels.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention that will now be described with reference to the above-mentioned drawings, must be intended as not limiting examples, being the invention practicable even in other forms and even using elements made of different materials though respondent to the basic characteristics of the structures of the present invention as defined in the annexed claims.
A first sample embodiment is shown in the series of figures from 1 to 9.
Figure 1 and 2 are respectively a front prospect view of a basic rectangular frame module 1 with radiused corners, along all four sides of which are present three through holes 2 of identical diameter and uniformly spaced along the rectilinear part of the each side, and a cross sectional view.
Figures 3 and 4 are a front view and a cross sectional view respectively of a rectilinear spacing listel 3 of identical cross section to that of the sides of the basic rectangular frame module of Figure 1 and 2. The listel 3 has a corresponding triad of through holes 2 uniformly spaced and that can be aligned to through holes present along anyone of the sides of the basic rectangular frame element.
According to this first embodiment, the basic element 1 as well as the spacing listels 3 are massive pieces of any material with characteristics suitable to the use and esthetical requisites of the furnishing structures modularly and unlimitedly composable, as for example massive pieces of wood or of a plastic material which may be homogenous or composite, laminated materials and alike.
Figure 5 is a partial cross sectional view showing a scheme of assembly of basic module 1 and spacing listels 3, employing a plurality of rods 4 used as tie rods that are passed through aligned holes of one or several elements, eventually blocked by caps or end screws 5.
Figure 6 shows in more detail a rod 4 made of a slender tube of a certain standardized length, preferably multiple of the height or thickness of basic module 1 and of the spacing listels 3, having inner threadings 4f at the two ends for receiving either a threaded cap or end stop screw 5 or even a threaded sprig 6 for joining together the ends of two tubular rods 4 in order to compose tie rods of the desired lengths for holding together a certain number of basic modules 1 and optionally also of interposed spacing listels 3.
Figure 7 is an exploded view showing the manner in which the standardized articles of manufacture are coordinately joined to form a structure that, as shown by way of example in Figure 8 and 9, results modularly and unlimitedly composable in different and varying shapes, even using eventually accessories such as for example an optional blinding panel A1 at one end of one or more assemblies or even introduced as a diaphragm in one or more of the joined assemblies, according to needs.
As may me observed, the expandability of a first or start assembly, starting from one or more sides or from on or more corners of the first assembly, is done by interdigitating sides of basic modules of a first assembly with the sides of basic modules of an adjacent or extension assembly, which in the shown example are all joined together by tie rods passing through aligned holes of the interdigitated sides of basic modules and of eventual spacing listels interposed between basic modules, belonging to contiguous assemblies that therefore are solidly held together to form a stable and robust structure.
The series of Figure from 10 to 18, illustrate an alternative embodiment of the basic rectangular frame modules and of the rectilinear spacing listels and even of alternative fastening elements that may be used for holding together adjacent elements of a modularly and unlimitedly composable structure.
According to this alternative embodiment, the elements are made of molded plastic material and have an hollow box-like structure instead of being massive, such to confer an enhanced lightness to the furnishing structures made therefrom.
Figure 10 shows the constitution of basic rectangular frame module 1 by joining together by common tonguing, welding, gluing or screws two preformed elements 1a and 1b, both of molded plastic.
The first element 1 a has a general cross section in the form of a channel while the second element 1b has a cross section that is generally flat and adapted to couple as a cover over the channel-shaped element in order to compose a basic rectangular frame module 1 that is geometrically and functionally equivalent to a basic module of massive structure of Figures 1 and 2.
A triad of holes 2 through the each side of the basic rectangular frame module 1 is created by the coordinated alignment of tubular protrusions 2a formed on the inner surface of the channel-like element 1a with similar protrusions 2b formed on the inner surface of the cover piece 1b, such to axially coincide with each other upon coupling together the two elements 1a and 1b, thus defining by pairs as many through holes 2, as well as will be later described, receptacles suited to accommodate and retain split tail portions of a symmetrical elastic split pin usable for fastening together two adjacent modules.
As shown in Figure 11, also the spacing listels 2 are structurally made in a box-like form joining together a hollow channel cross section base 3a and a cover or cap 3b, similarly provided with tubular protrusions 2a and 2b on the respective inner surfaces that coordinately align together to define cooperatively a triad of through holes 2 upon tonguing, welding, gluing or otherwise joining stably together the two elements 3a and 3b.
Figure 12 is a front view of a basic module 1 similar to the basic module of the embodiment of Figure 1, while in the cross sectional view of Figure 13, the constitution of the through holes 2 by alignment of the tubular protrusion 2a and 2b formed on the inner surfaces of the molded channel cross section element 1a and of the flat cover element 1b.
Figures 15 and 14 show a front view and a cross sectional view of a spacing listel 3, having a box-like structure as that of the basic rectangular frame module 1 of Figures 12 and 13.
Figure 16 is a partial section view showing an assembly scheme of basic modules 1 and spacing listels 3, wherein instead of tie rods 4 as in the previously described embodiment, symmetrical elastic split pins 7 having a medium flange portion are used, the two split tails of which being forcibly introduced in two aligned holes of a basic module or spacing listel and of an adjacent spacing listel or basic module of box-like structure, according to this alternative embodiment.
Figure 17 is a cross sectional detail of a pin 7 having a central or median flange 7f and symmetrical elastic split tails 7a and 7b, both terminating with a split beaded molding shaped in a way for establishing a secure anchoring of each elastic split tail upon pushing it completely into the relatively tubular protrusion 2a and 2b respectively formed in the channel-like cross section element and on the inner surface of the flat cover element of the basic module or of the spacing listel.
The encumbrance represented by the thickness of the central or median flange 7f of the symmetrical split pin is completely accommodated between opposed depressed zones 7r that are purposely formed on the outer surface around the opening of each hole 2 of the of the channel cross section element and of the flat cover element.
The enlarged detail view shows also the perimeter coupling of the flat cover element 1b onto the channel cross section element 1a, retentive coupling that may be stabilized either by spot hotwelding or by using an appropriate glue.
The mushroom-head molding at end of each symmetrical tail of the elastic split pin 7 and the profile of the rim of the opposing protrusions 2a and 2b, are such to allow disconnection of a module or listel from the module or listel to which it has been fastened by the plurality of split elastic pins, by exerting a deliberate diverging force sufficient to overcome the elastic resistance of the retentive coupling causing the split tail end of the pin to contract as far as being released from engagement and extracted out of the hole in which it had been stably engaged.
Figure 18 is an exploded view showing the manner in which the standardized components are coordinately joinable together for realizing structures equivalent to those illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, in connection to a first embodiment.
Further different embodiments are shown in Figures 19-21.
According to these alternative embodiments, the basic rectangular frame modules instead of radiused corners have chamfered corners and are used in association with rectilinear listels with triangle shaped ends of lengths equal to the lengths of the sides of the rectangular frame modules, as illustrated in the front view of Figure 20.
This alternative geometry of the modules and of the spacing listels permits interleaving of basic modules and of interposition of listels of same lengths of the sides of the basic modules such to permit to compose assemblies with inner corners devoid of empty spaces, as shown in Figure 21.
Of course, also this alternative embodiment may be realized with massive or box-like structured elements, using rod or symmetric elastic split pins for joining them in completely similar ways already described in relation to the use of radiused corner modules.
Figures 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 are photographic renderings of a number of furnishing structures different in form and with different utilities that may be composed using an inventory of standardized components according to present invention.
Of course, to a base inventory of standard components made of a material suited to the intended destination of the furnishing structure, may be associated a number of accessories, such as for example standing legs (as may be observed in the sample structures of Figures 24 and 25), blinding panels A1 (as observable in Figure 8) and other accessories suited to met specific needs or requirements. For example, an interior space of an assembly for the present invention, closed by a blinding panel A1 as shown in Figure 8, may be equipped at the front side with a door, designed to readily co-ordinate, similarly to the blinding panel A1, and be applied onto the rectangular frame of the first basic module of the front side of the assembly.

Claims

A furnishing structure modularly and unlimitedly composable in different and variable forms for different purposes, composed of
a plurality of basic rectangular frame modules (1) with radiused or chamfered corners, the four sides of which have uniform cross section and thickness and front and rear surfaces flat and parallel to each other and to the plane of the rectangular frame and at least two uniformly spaced holes (2) on each side of the frame with parallel axes orthogonal to the plane of the frame modules (1);
rectilinear spacing listels (3) of cross section and thickness identical to the cross section and thickness of the four sides of said rectangular frame modules (1) and having front and rear surfaces flat and parallel to each other and to said plane of the rectangular frame modules (1) against which said front and rear surfaces of two frame modules (1) abut when a listel is interposed between sides of two rectangular frame modules (1), said spacing listels (3) having at least two holes (2) with axes orthogonal to said front and rear surfaces of the listel and coordinately alignable with holes (2) present along any side of the rectangular frame modules (1);
fastening means (4) of length corresponding to the product of the thickness of the frame modules (1) and of the listels (3) by the total number of frames (1) and of any spacing listel (3) interposed between frame modules to be fastened, introduced in aligned holes (2) of two or more basic frame modules (1) and of any spacing listel (3) eventually interposed between two frame modules (1).
The structure according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means (4) are rods of a certain length chosen among a number of pre-established lengths and joinable one to another to constitute rods of a desired length multiple and/or sum of one or of several of said pre-established lengths, each rod (4) being passed through a succession of aligned holes (2) crossing a plurality of basic modules (1) and a plurality of spacing listels (3) eventually interposed between the modules and blocked by end screws or caps (5) at the two ends of the rod.
The structure according to claim 1, wherein replication or extension of a first assembly composed of a certain number of basic modules (1), starting from one or more sides or corners of the assembly, takes place by interleaving sides of basic modules (1) of the first assembly with the sides of basic modules (1) of an extension or replica assembly, fastened by rods (4) passing through aligned holes (2) of the interleaved sides of basic modules (1) of the two assemblies.
The structure according to claim 3, wherein between sides of basic modules (1) of an assembly that are not interleaved to sides of basic modules (1) constituting a replica or extension assembly, are interposed spacing listels (3)' crossed by said fastening rods (4).
The structure according to any of the claims from 2 to 4, wherein said rods (4) passed through the sequence of aligned holes (2) of the sides of basic modules (1) and of eventually interposed spacing listels (3) have threaded ends into which threaded junction sprigs (6) or end screw or caps (5) of the resulting rod are screwed for tightening a pack of basic modules and of eventually interposed spacing listels.
The structure according to claim 1, wherein said basic modules (1) and said spacing listels (3) have a massive structure of wood or a substitute material of wood and said joining means (4) are of solid steel or of steel tube.
The structure according to claim 1, wherein said basic modules (1) and said listels (3) have a box-like structure each composed by a channel cross section (1a, 3a) base element and a flat cover element (1b, 3b) joined together by tonguing, gluing or welding, on inner surfaces of each element tubular, protrusions (2a, 2b) axially coincident upon coupling the two elements together cooperatively define said holes (2).
The structure according to claim 7, wherein the fastening means (4) are symmetric elastic split pins (7) having a median or central flange (7f), symmetric split tails (7a, 7b) of the elastic pin are forcibly introduced in two aligned holes (2) of a basic module (1) or of a spacing listel (3) and of an adjacent spacing listel (3) or basic module (1) having said box-like structure.
An inventory of standardized articles of manufacture for composing furnishing structures modularly and unlimitedly composable according to any one of the preceding claims 1-8, including:
a) basic rectangular frame modules (1) with a radiused or chamfered corners and having front and rear surfaces flat and parallel to each other and to the plane of the frame and at least two uniformly spaced holes (2) on each side of the rectangular frame with parallel axes orthogonal to the plane of the frame;

b) rectilinear spacing listels (3) of cross section identical to the cross section of the sides of said rectangular frame modules (1), having front and rear surfaces flat and parallel to each other and to said plane of the frame modules (1) interposable between one or more sides of two rectangular frame modules (1) and having at least two holes (2) coordinately alignable to the holes (2) with parallel axes orthogonal to said front and rear surfaces present along each side of said rectangular frame modules (1);

c) rods (4) of a certain length chosen among a number of pre-established lengths and joinable one to another to constitute rods of a desired length multiple and/or sum of one or of several of said pre-established lengths, each rod (4) being insertable through a succession of aligned holes (2) crossing a plurality of basic modules (1) and a plurality of spacing listels (3) eventually interposed between basic modules (1) for holding together said pluralities;

d) end screws or caps (5) screwable at the two ends of a rod (4).
The inventory according to claim 9, wherein said basic modules (1) and said listels (3) have a box-like structure composed by a channel cross section (1a, 3a) base element and a flat cover element (1b, 3b) joined together by tonguing, gluing or welding, on inner surfaces of each element, tubular protrusions (2a, 2b) axially coincident upon coupling the two elements together cooperatively defining said holes (2); and comprising symmetric elastic split pins (7) having a median or central flange (7f), symmetric split tails (7a, 7b) of the elastic pin adapted to be forcibly introduced in two aligned holes (2) of a basic module (1) or of a spacing listel (3) and of an adjacent spacing listel (3) or basic module (1) having said box-like structure.