EP2284352B1 - Storage unit with deformable closing shutter(s) - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a storage unit, of the type comprising a bottom wall and an upper wall, two side walls, a bottom back wall and an open front face, and a deformable closing curtain, in one or two parts, sliding in sliding rails vis-à-vis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The term "deformable curtain" currently used must be understood in its broadest acceptance, naturally encompassing curtain or hinged curtains, but also all types of curtains flexible or flexible, able to deform so that their profile follows a particular curve, while having sufficient stiffness so that their edges follow the associated sliding paths and defined by the slides in vis-à-vis.

Known curtain (x) storage cabinets (s) extending in a vertical plane or in a horizontal plane are known.

For example, we can refer to documents EP-1 975 366 A1 , EP-1,426,547 A1 , and EP-1 275 812 A1 of the plaintiff.

We can also refer to the document DE-10 2004 005 781 A1 which describes a storage cabinet having an upper rack in which is housed a functional block incorporating a curtain. This functional block is laid flat on a horizontal shelf forming the bottom wall of the rack, and it is locked in place by vertical profiles which are screwed to the front edges of the side walls of the cabinet.

For the technological background, we can finally refer to the documents US-2,094,940 A , US-5,823,645 A , US-3,135,544 A , FR-2 926 193 A1 , FR-422 623 A , GB-885,999A , GB-877 222 A , DE-21 21 216 B1 , and DE-802,528 ° C .

Over time, the materials used to form such storage furniture are changing more and more, with a progressive replacement of metal components by less expensive and lighter plastic components.

In addition, there is now a need for storage furniture that is available on the market in the form of kit to assemble yourself in situ.

However, in the case of storage cabinets with curtain (s) closure, it must be recognized that the assembly is difficult and tedious, requiring in general two people, and the use of tools for screwing and / or tightening .

Thus, the skilled person is faced with a first type of disadvantage consisting of the long, tedious and delicate assembly if one wants to avoid the jamming of a closing curtain, combined with the need to use means tightening or tightening, requiring the use of adequate tools. In addition, it has also been found that mounting operations are not free from the risk of injury by pinching or cutting.

Alternatively, the design of known storage furniture has a second type of disadvantage when it is desired to organize a stack of at least two storage modules one on the other. Indeed, when a user wants to overlay two storage units already mounted to avoid the congestion constraints inherent in a single piece of furniture double height, it is obliged to arrange the attachment of the upper module on the lower module, and this at detriment to the total height of the furniture in relation to the storage space.

The skilled person is thus also faced with a second type of disadvantage constituted by the difficulty of organizing the superposition of at least two modules of storage, without complicating the assembly, and without generating an excess height unusable for storage.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to design a storage cabinet whose structure avoids the aforementioned first disadvantage, facilitating assembly by the user in situ, without risk of misplacement and / or or jamming of the curtain or curtains closing, and avoiding the aforementioned risks of injury during assembly.

The invention also aims to design a storage cabinet whose structure allows mounting by a single person, without the use of tools for screwing or tightening, the storage cabinet obtained having the rigidity essential to its use as well as the usual shelf or hanging file capabilities.

GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned technical problem is solved according to the invention by means of a kit storage unit to be assembled, of the type comprising a bottom wall and an upper wall, two side walls, a bottom back wall and an open front face, as well as a deformable closure curtain, in one or two parts, slidable in slides facing each other, said storage unit being remarkable in that at least one of the side walls of said piece of furniture is arranged in the form of a non-dismountable provided cassette previously assembled at the factory and enclosing the deformable curtain, the cassette comprising two opposite end walls each having a slide inwardly for sliding of the deformable curtain, and a slot through which said deformable curtain is drawn from the cassette or retracted into it, each of the two opposite end walls of the cassette having further

externally means for quick attachment to the lower and upper walls of said furniture which are adjacent to said cassette, said cassette then being mounted as a simple ordinary wall between the lower and upper walls, the cassette further having on its side facing the interior of the furniture, a plate provided with a plurality of openings and / or cutouts for receiving an end of transverse elements of shelving and / or stiffening.

As can be easily understood, the embodiment in cassette form greatly simplifies the assembly, because this cassette is mounted as a simple ordinary wall, without causing any difficulty for the proper positioning and sliding of the associated curtain.

Preferably, the quick fastening means are latching means requiring no particular tool.

Advantageously, the lower and upper walls have on the front face a continuous groove forming a slide for the or each curtain, each groove connecting to the slide of the corresponding end wall of the cassette concerned, and said lower and upper walls have in addition to the rear face a continuous groove for receiving an end edge of the bottom back wall.

The or each cassette has, on its side facing the interior of the furniture, a plate provided with a plurality of openings and / or cutouts for receiving an end of transverse members of shelving and / or stiffening.

Preferably then, the or each cassette is internally equipped, behind its plate facing the interior of the cabinet, vertical angles having holes opposite the openings of said plate, each angle being embedded at its ends on the columns in protruding which are one-piece with the end walls.

Advantageously again, the walls are all interconnected by quick fastening means, in particular latching means requiring no particular tool.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly in the light of the following description and the accompanying drawings, relating to a particular embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 illustre en perspective un meuble de rangement conforme à l'invention, comportant un double rideau déformable de fermeture, ici en position fermée ;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont deux vues en perspective d'une paroi latérale du meuble précité qui est agencée sous la forme d'une cassette renfermant un rideau déformable, ceci étant en l'espèce valable pour les deux parois latérales dudit meuble, ladite cassette étant illustrée à l'état pré-assemblé, et prête à être montée dans le cadre d'un montage dudit meuble fourni en kit ;
• les figures 4 et 5 sont deux vues éclatées de la cassette précitée, permettant de mieux distinguer les composants de la cassette des figures 2 et 3;
• les figures 6 et 7 illustrent en perspective l'agencement des parois inférieure et supérieure de la cassette précitée ;
• les figures 8 et 9 illustrent une vue de dessus et de dessous la paroi inférieure ou supérieure du meuble concerné ;
• la figure 10 illustre en vue éclatée le meuble de rangement complet, dans le cas d'une utilisation en un module unique ;
• la figure 11 illustre en perspective le montage d'un meuble de rangement du type précité, en cas d'utilisation dudit meuble en deux modules superposés, la paroi supérieure du module inférieur constituant en même temps la paroi inférieure du module supérieur ;
• la figure 12 illustre un détail à plus grande échelle de la figure 11, permettant de mieux distinguer l'empreinte de la face externe de la paroi supérieure du meuble ; et
• la figure 13 illustre en perspective un meuble de rangement à deux modules superposés, prêt à l'utilisation.

Reference will be made to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which _:

• the figure 1 illustrates in perspective a storage unit according to the invention, comprising a double deformable closure curtain, here in the closed position;
• the Figures 2 and 3 are two perspective views of a side wall of the aforementioned piece of furniture which is arranged in the form of a cassette enclosing a deformable curtain, this being in this case valid for the two side walls of said piece of furniture, said cassette being illustrated in FIG. pre-assembled state, and ready to be mounted as part of an assembly of said furniture provided kit;
• the figures 4 and 5 are two exploded views of the above-mentioned cassette, making it possible to better distinguish the components of the cassette from the Figures 2 and 3 ;
• the Figures 6 and 7 illustrate in perspective the arrangement of the lower and upper walls of the aforementioned cassette;
• the Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a view from above and from below the upper or lower wall of the piece of furniture concerned;
• the figure 10 illustrates in exploded view the complete storage cabinet, in the case of use in a single module;
• the figure 11 illustrates in perspective the mounting of a storage cabinet of the aforementioned type, in case of use of said furniture in two superimposed modules, the upper wall of the lower module at the same time constituting the lower wall of the upper module;
• the figure 12 illustrates a larger-scale detail of the figure 11 , making it possible to better distinguish the impression of the external face of the upper wall of the piece of furniture; and
• the figure 13 illustrates in perspective a storage cabinet with two superposed modules, ready for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

On the figure 1 , there is a storage unit according to the invention, referenced 1, which is of the type comprising a bottom wall 2 and an upper wall 3, two side walls 10, a bottom rear wall 7 and an open front face (referenced 4 on the figure 10 ), and a deformable closing curtain 5, in one or two parts (in this case in two parts), sliding in sliding rails vis-à-vis.

Each deformable closing curtain 5 terminates in a rigid edge profile 6 which is associated with its opening or closing manipulations, with lock members 6.1 of traditional type lock.

Each deformable closure curtain 5 is actually taken from a cassette 10 constituting in this case each of the side walls 10 of the storage unit 1.

Indeed, and according to a first feature of the invention, it is provided that at least one of the side walls of the storage unit 1 is arranged in the form of a cassette 10 enclosing a deformable curtain 5, the cassette 10 having two opposed end walls each having a slide inwardly for sliding of the deformable curtain 5, and a slot 15 through which said deformable curtain can be pulled from the cassette 10 or retracted therein.

In this case, it is the two side walls 10 of the storage cabinet that are made in the form of a cassette enclosing a deformable curtain 5, but it is obvious that we can provide another variant in which a single side walls is in the form of a curtain cassette, the other side wall being a simple plate of traditional type.

We will now describe in more detail the main components that constitute the above storage cabinet, namely its side walls in the form of cassette 10, and its lower walls 2 and upper 3. The rear wall of bottom 7 is itself a simple plate of traditional type, which is implemented during the assembly of the furniture, as will be explained in more detail below.

The Figures 2 to 5 illustrate a cassette 10 constituting at least one of the side walls (here both) of the storage cabinet.

Each cassette 10 has an outer wall 11, an inner wall 12, and opposite end walls 13.

The particular geometry of the end walls 13 will be better understood by referring to the Figures 6 and 7 which show its components on an enlarged scale.

According to a second characteristic of the invention, each of the two opposite end walls 13 of the cassette 10 furthermore has, on the outside, rapid fastening means to the lower walls 2 and upper 3 of the furniture which are adjacent to the cassette, said cassette then being mounted as a simple wall ordinary.

On the figure 6 , thus distinguishes the upper face of the lower end wall 13 of the cassette 10, with its slide 13.1 in which passes the lower edge of the associated deformable curtain 5 (not shown). Female latching means 13.2 are provided, here at six points, for receiving male mating detent means 2.2 provided on the upper face of the bottom wall 2 to secure the cassette 10 on said bottom wall. Notches 13.3 are also provided for the latching of homologous lugs 11.2 arranged in the lower part of the outer wall 11 of the cassette 10. There are also two columns 13.5 on which are embedded two brackets 14 (not visible here, but shown on the exploded views of figures 4 and 5 ) which are vertical angles having a succession of holes 14.1 opposite homologous openings 12.1 provided in two vertical rows on the inner wall 12.

The figure 7 makes it possible to distinguish the upper face of the lower end wall 13, which is the mirror image of the lower face of the upper end wall, with its footprint of the slide 13.1 which is associated with the curtain 5, its notches 13.3 associated with homologous tabs 11.2 of the outer wall 11, as well as centering wells 13.4 whose function will be explained hereinafter, and notches 13.8 for receiving transverse stiffening elements such as the two elements 8 which have been shown on the figure 10 .

For a rational manufacture, it will naturally be advantageous to provide that the upper face of the lower end wall is identical to the lower face of the upper end wall, and vice versa, as is the case here.

The inner wall 12 is in the form of a plate, preferably made of plastic material by injection, being constituted by a unitary plate provided with a plurality of openings and / or cutouts 12.1, 12.8 which are intended to receiving an end of transverse members respectively racking and / or stiffening 8. The openings 12.1 allow to pass pairs of angles of traditional type (not shown) on which we have a shelf, or by means of which we organize a storage in hanging folders.

In the perspective of marketing kit storage cabinet to assemble, it is very advantageous to provide that the or each cassette 10 which contains a deformable curtain 5 is assembled in the factory, and provided not removable for assembly of said furniture.

We will now describe the arrangement of the lower walls 2 and upper 3 of the above storage cabinet.

On the Figures 8 and 9 the bottom wall 2 is respectively illustrated in top view and in bottom view. For reasons of rationalization, it will be advantageous to provide that the top wall 3 is made with the same structure, which facilitates the management of the components. As a result, it will be sufficient to describe the bottom wall 2 with reference to the Figures 8 and 9 , the components of the upper wall 3 homologous to those of the bottom wall 2 are assigned the same references 3.i.

The lower wall 2 has on the upper face a flat central zone 2.6, and two end zones 2.3 which correspond to implantation sites of the cassettes 10 constituting the side walls of the storage cabinet. Each cassette implantation site 2.3 has snap tabs 2.2 which cooperate with the corresponding female locking means 13.2 provided on the lower end plate 13, as well as centering studs 2.4 with which the associated cylindrical wells 13.4 of the lower end plate 13 can cooperate during the assembly of the corresponding cassette 10 this to avoid any risk of damaging the latching means during assembly, as a result of improper positioning of the cassette.

It can also be seen that the lower wall 2 has on the front face a continuous groove 2.1 which constitutes a slide for the or each curtain 5, this groove connecting, at its two ends, to the slide 13.1 of the corresponding end wall 13 of each cassette 10 concerned. Thus, when a curtain 5 is extracted from the corresponding cassette 10, its lower edge can only pass into the continuous groove 2.1 where it is guided. Of course, the upper wall 3 will have a similar continuous groove 3.1 in which the upper edge of each curtain 5 slides when it is extracted from the corresponding cassette 10.

It can be seen that the lower wall 2 further has, on the rear face, a continuous groove 2.5 which is in fact intended to receive the lower end edge of the rear bottom wall 7. Naturally, the upper wall 3 will also have rear face an identical continuous groove 3.5 for receiving the upper end edge of the bottom back wall 7.

The figure 10 illustrates in exploded view the above storage cabinet, and allows to understand the particularly simple steps of mounting said furniture in situ.

The user begins by laying down the bottom wall 2, on both ends of which he plugs the two cassettes 10 constituting the side walls of the cabinet, realizing the latching of the associated counterpart latching means. Then, the user has one or two stiffening elements 8, to ensure the good rigidity of the U-shaped assembly thus formed, the hook-shaped ends of these stiffening elements 8 being received in the notches 13.8 formed on the upper face of the upper end wall 13 of each cassette 10. It is then sufficient to come to set up the upper wall 3, realizing the snap of the corresponding detent means respectively provided on the upper face of the end wall upper 13 of each cassette 10 and lower face of the upper wall 3.

If the storage unit is used in a single module, it is sufficient to then place a finishing plate 9 on the upper wall 3, which makes it possible to arrive at the storage unit illustrated in FIG. figure 1 who is ready for use.

For this purpose, and in accordance with a feature which is not part of the invention, the outer face of the upper wall 3 has a cavity 3.3, 3.6 which is intended either to receive a finishing plate in case of use of said furniture in a single module, as just mentioned, or alternatively for constituting the bottom wall 2 of a similar piece of furniture 1 disposed directly on the first in case of use of said furniture in at least two superposed modules.

The above feature avoids the second type of disadvantage mentioned above.

Such an embodiment in superimposed modules, here two in number, will now be described with reference to Figures 11 to 13 .

On the figure 11 , the two side walls under cassette form 10 have already been put in place on the bottom wall 2, and two stiffening elements 8 have also been implemented by clinging to the upper part of the cassettes 10. The upper wall 3 of the lower module is on the point to be put in place, but no finishing plate 9 has been placed on the imprint of the outer face of this upper wall 3. On the contrary, there is available a similar module, whose side walls are also made in the form of cassettes 10, which snap into place at the associated implantation sites 3.3 of the impression, the closing curtains 5 of the upper module being able to pass into the continuous groove 3.1 associated with the upper wall 3, and the edge bottom end of the bottom 7 of the upper module being received in the associated rear groove 3.5.

Once the second module is in place, if it is desired to use only two modules, then it suffices to have a finishing plate 9 which is received in the cavity 3.3, 3.6 of the external face of the upper wall 3 of the module higher, as illustrated on the figure 11 . If it is desired alternatively to use a third module to be superimposed, then there is no finishing plate 9 on this upper wall 3, but we continue to raise the building, by snapping the side cassettes 10 of the new upper module as was done for the second module.

In all cases, the finishing plate 9 rests on the central flat area 3.6 of the cavity, and is secured thereto, for example by a double-sided adhesive.

It will be understood that for the assembling of the furniture only rapid fastening means are used, which are here latching means, which means do not require any particular tool.

The storage cabinet thus produced can be mounted by a single person and in a few minutes, very easily, of course without the need to use any particular tool, and also without risk for the editor to get injured during operations mounting. The cassette assembly always guarantees a perfect positioning and a good sliding of the associated closing curtain.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments that have just been described, but on the contrary covers any variant using, with equivalent means, the essential characteristics mentioned above.

Claims (6)

1. A storage cabinet as a kit for assembling, the cabinet being of the type comprising a bottom wall (2) and a top wall (3), two side walls (10), a rear wall (7), and an open front face (4), together with a deformable closure curtain (5) in one or two portions, which curtain is slidable in facing slideways (13.1), the cabinet being characterized in that at least one of the side walls of said cabinet is arranged in the form of a cassette (10) that is supplied in non-dismountable manner, being previously factory-assembled and containing the deformable curtain (5), the cassette (10) having two opposite end walls (13), each presenting internally a slideway (13.1) for guiding the deformable curtain (5) in sliding, together with a slot (15) through which said deformable curtain is pulled out from the cassette (10) or returned into it, each of the two opposite end walls (13) of the cassette (10) also presenting, externally, rapid fastener means (13.2) for fastening to the bottom and top walls (2, 3) of said cabinet that are adjacent to said cassette, said cassette then being assembled like a single ordinary wall between the bottom and top walls, the cassette (10) also presenting, on its face facing towards the inside of the cabinet, a plate (12) that is provided with a plurality of openings (12.1) and/or cutouts (12.8) for receiving one end of each of a plurality of transverse shelving and/or stiffener elements (8).
2. A storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the rapid fastener means (13.2) are snap-fastener means, not requiring any particular tool.
3. A storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom and top walls (2, 3) present in their front faces respective continuous grooves (2.1, 3.1) forming slideways for the or each curtain (5), each groove being connected to the groove (13.1) of the corresponding end wall (13) of the cassette (10) in question.
4. A storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom and top walls (2, 3) present respective continuous grooves (2.5, 3.5) in their rear faces for receiving respective end edges of the rear wall (7).
5. A storage cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that the or each cassette (10) is fitted internally, at the rear of its plate (12) facing towards the inside of the cabinet, with vertical angle bars (14) presenting holes (14.1) facing openings (12.1) of said plate, each angle bar (14) being engaged at its ends on projecting studs (13.5) that are formed integrally with the end walls (13).
6. A storage cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that all of the walls (2, 3, 7, 10) are connected together by rapid fastener means, in particular by snap-fastener means, not requiring any particular tool.

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