EP2632295A1

EP2632295A1 - Cube connection

Info

Publication number: EP2632295A1
Application number: EP11808131.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter A. Müller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-27
Filing date: 2011-10-27
Publication date: 2013-09-04
Also published as: US20130220958A1; WO2012055061A1; CH703984A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a cube (4) that connects straight pipes (2) or bent pipes (2a) with a minimum number of threaded holes (5) to a node (3) by means of connecting means (1) and/or a joint (1a), and the bent pipes (2a) are connected to the corresponding nodes (3) by means of threaded holes (5) that are bored at an angle and a flexible bend-clamping device (10) or bend-expanding means (14) or a joint (1a).

Description

cube connection

Technical area

The invention is based on a connection between a pipe to a distribution node, in particular for furniture elements, according to the preamble of the first claim.

State of the art

Lanyards for cubic pieces of furniture are known and allow a diverse combination of such blocks upright or lying and also easily combined with various intermediate elements. This allows a wide range of furniture from the cabinet, up to the table, kept open or closed, be it for the living room, as well as for the office area create.

The company USM is known, which connects a correspondingly cut tube with a ball by means of clamping connection means, the latter can accommodate further tubes, so that finally a cube is formed, which can be designed open or with side panels and also door means can be attached thereto.

On the one hand, such modular systems should look good, be stable and quickly build up resp. subsequently possibly also be expandable. Most are rectangular in construction, as described in the patent DE 2644370, EP 1116457, EP 1030066 or EP 628736, angled forms are unusual but known, for example, described in the patent EP 686363.

Presentation of the invention

The invention has for its object to design a modular furniture with a minimum of threaded holes and to provide the opportunity to implement such a modular system with curved tubes.

The concept of modular elements is interesting because it saved costs in manufacturing and warehousing, as well as in the management of production and even in assembly. Just connecting pipes are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, handling and thus have their raison d'être.

In today's time where on modern CNC machines fast and also complex

Geometries can be produced extremely efficiently and by means of the use of modern computers can, with little programming effort, even a large number of diverse fasteners, node elements, pipe lengths - which have been stored in advance in a library - the CNC machine electronically transferred directly. This allows parts to be produced just in time and stored fully automatically for assembly (pick and place), and an object to be optimally designed according to the customer's request

Construction plan can be created with the right assembly and sequence for assembly, so that by means of intelligent structuring, a modular piece of furniture can still be regarded as modular. The economic production, so the software-based provision of various components is meant, which represents a higher initial work effort but only once incurred, then the system automatically the optimal node elements - variable number of tapped holes and Verbindungsart - and pipes produced, so also for the viewer a homogeneous modular piece of furniture is provided. A central criterion is that until now, due to a single or partially of a single alternative node, so that a myriad of tapped holes were at the disposal, which would never be used. The advertisement suggests that in case of later need for additional furniture to be attached, Such a threaded hole for such a further piece of furniture already exists and with little effort an additional component could be grown.

Calculations have shown that the replacement of a terminal node by an expandable node is far less expensive than stubbornly equipping all nodes with tapped holes for the rare eventuality of retrofitting. It is also an object of the invention that an object should be realized with the least possible use of energy, while the aesthetics still gains. As an example, a modular object is called which is joined with four modules to form a carcass. For this purpose, today 108 threaded holes are required, i. First, a hole is drilled and the corresponding thread is made in a further operation. By optimizing the system, only 36 tapped holes are needed, i. two-thirds fewer tapped holes, plus 36 holes to prepare the modules as a mounting frame. This can save around 50% energy for parts production. Such knots, with innumerable open, unused tapped holes, are not only no longer aesthetically pleasing in the long run, but can house dust and other unwelcome material in the respective open holes. Tapped holes which are needed for a lateral expansion of a mobile should be covered in the meantime, at least by means of a cover with evt. A logo to increase the recognition value, elegant.

Due to the fact that modern CNC machines and smart software make it possible to realize no more costly thread outside of the right-angled design and thus to give the customer added value by not only continuing the pipes rectilinearly or angularly at each knot, but together with a novel bonding agent to bring a soft wave shape into the modular furniture world.

For this purpose, a new connection means has been developed, which also connects curved pipes frictionally and positively, resp. connects by means of joint connection. Where a detachable connection is required, the arcuate tube is clamped to the node by means of a flexible clamping device and where a detachable connection is not mandatory, this is achieved by a joint connection. In addition, the assembly in a passed new direction of pre-assembly, which also helps reduce manufacturing costs and costs

The invention aims at an economical solution of modular systems in the furniture sector, by means of targeted use of software and intelligent machine control, to produce non-sterotyped nodes with a maximum number of possible threaded holes, but on the contrary, where it is not essential, There are no tapped holes, resulting in lower manufacturing costs and a better look benefits. The possible variety of angular positions of threaded holes, without generating additional costs, allows using a smart connection also bent tubes and thus set the look in the office or in the living area to set new accents.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of the first claim.

The core of the invention is, by means of a connecting means, which can be both frictional and positive and to produce by means of software a minimum of threaded holes, so as to reduce the energy consumption for the production of the parts massively, at the same time to increase the module variety, up to arcuate pipe connection, which can be solved as a furniture module at any time and optionally expandable.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The same elements are provided in the various figures with the same reference numerals.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic overhead supervision of elements for rational production and

their assembly into a furniture cube consisting of pipes and knots connected by means as well as a three-dimensional view of such furniture.

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of a node with three pipe sockets, one is not at right angles to the other two tubes and the tube is bent and configured with a flexible clamping device, which is accessible from the node side

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a node with three pipe sockets, one is not at right angles to the other two tubes and the tube is bent and configured with an arcuate, expandable clamping device, which is accessible on the side of the curved tube

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of a node with three pipe sockets, one is not at right angles to the other two tubes and not to

Center of the node is directed and the tube is bent and configured with a flexible clamping device, which is accessible from the side of the curved tube

Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of a node with three pipe sockets, one is not at right angles to the other two tubes, fixed to a rigid guide member with a positioning and the pipe is mounted by means of a joint on the guide member Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of a straight pipe socket with a screw inserted therein, which is screwed to a node and therebetween are cut open expansion elements with conical intermediate elements, as well as a threaded hole with a

Cover.

Only the elements essential for the immediate understanding of the invention are shown schematically.

Way to carry out the invention

Fig. 1 shows a schematic top supervision of elements for rational production and

Assembly of a connection means 1 between pipe 2 and node 3 on a part of a cube 4 for furniture and the threaded holes 5, wherein the elements can be as closed or open, rectangular or curved or partially curved frame 6,7,8,9.

The cube 4 is not considered as a stringent mathematical cuboid geometry, but refers to the 8 vertices of a cuboid or 6 corners of a cube

Triangular body and is thus synonymous with a solid.

Modular provided furniture are characterized by a connection means 1 is screwed to a node 3, over which pushed the tube 2 and by means of a locking screw, the tube 2 with the connecting means 1 frictionally or positively connected. Thus, each tube 2 with each attached to each side node 3, in which the connecting means 1 is screwed together. By default, knots have 6 threaded holes 5, so you can attach more tubes 2 at a 90 ° angle.

The inventive step is based on an entirely different principle, namely, where recurring compound functions arise, one at a time

To produce a basic frame, which represents a firmly connected unit. This frame 6 also serves as a lateral expansion element which may be replaced by other elements, e.g. U-shaped elements, is ensured. The frame 6 is a one-piece element, i. the node 3 is connected to the pipe 2 by means of a joint connection 1a. The joint connection 1a can advantageously by means of

Welding, soldering, gluing or shrinking done. The advantage for this is that the node 3 has a guide stub 20 as described in Figures 4 and 5, whereby the joint connection can be optimally applied.

The vast majority of modules are never used as cornerstones to continue a row of modules at right angles, but you can find most on the market

Node 3 at the front corresponding threaded holes 5, which are completely unnecessary. Also, the customer will not want to complement his furniture vertically in both directions, so that the above-visible node 3 need not have unnecessary tapped holes 5 and at least on one side of a such cube 4 also no unnecessary tapped holes 5 must be appropriate. The back of such a cube 4 corresponds to the front and all unnecessary tapped holes 5 also fall away there. This allows a very simple, efficient modular cube 4 for furniture to be built, namely with a frame 6 to start, which has no threaded holes 5 on top and on one side, as shown by arrow B, at its node 3 each a threaded holes 5 as expansion offer , The underlying frame 6a has for it on the side B also threaded holes 5 and in the vertical line per node 3 each a threaded holes 5. Thus, a modular tower as a cabinet or container or side table and the like can be built. If there is a desire laterally expand, so it only requires a U-shaped half-frame 7, which is the same structure with respect to the node 3 as the frame 6, except that the two longitudinal tubes 2 have no own node 3, but this with the node 3 of the frame 6 are connected. The underlying half frames 7a are handled the same as the frame

6a. With this assembly technique and with the afterwards described

Connecting means 1 and joint connection 1a, it is also possible, cost and best quality curved tubes 2a use as a sheet frame 9 or half-arch frame 8, which may be convex or concave and with the underlying arch frame 9a or half-arch frame 8a, which thus like the frame 6,6a, 7,7a are mounted to the cube 4.

In particular, the sheet frame 9 and half frame 8 result in a completely new appearance of modular furniture in private as well as in business premises and can be combined so that they seen from above and obliquely from the side, represent a wave or can also be built in a circular shape.

It is also conceivable that not only the horizontal tubes 2 are fixedly connected to each other, but where larger recurring volumes, e.g. in bookshelves and the like, and the vertical tubes 2 are fixedly connected to the node 3 or can be pre-produced as a complete cubic elements and only need to be screwed together with the connecting means 1 to each other.

By means of software, not only is the correct number of tubes (2,2a) or number of nodes (3) calculated quickly, but at the same time the nodes (3) are selected which have the least possible number of visible threaded bores 5 and the customer can determine whether such a piece of furniture should or should not be removable, which in turn has an influence on the number of threaded holes 5 and the software calculates the optimum blueprint, such as whether to start with the central curved part first or later, and which parts a detachable connection 1 or a fast, but rigid joint connection

1a, which at the same time also the production and storage can be mitgesteuert.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a node 3 with three tubes 2,2a, one is not at right angles to the other two straight tubes 2 and this tube 2a is bent and configured with a flexible sheet clamping device 10 as described in Figure 6, which is accessible from the node 3 and the other two tubes 2 have a straight clamping device 11.

The two mutually perpendicular tubes 2 which are connected by means of the clamping device 11 to the node 3, corresponds to the state of

Technique, by means of a screw 12 which engages in a threaded hole 5 in the node 3, so that the clamping device 11 is spread and a frictional connection is made. There are also clamping devices which engage laterally by means of a screw 12 in a pin attached to the node 3 and the pipe 2 is threaded and thus a frictional or positive connection between the pipe 2 and the node 3 is formed.

It is different with a bent tube 2a, which u.U. Different radii, depending on the tube length, may have and just as quickly be clamped securely with the respective node 3. The bent tube 2a has its origin at

Node 3 with a freely selectable angle outside the standard 90 ° angle by means of the threaded hole 5, so that a solid, constant radius of a bent pipe 2a from one node 3 to the other arises. In the patent EP 686363 is based on a separate angular threaded holes 5 from the existing 6 threaded holes 5, while in this case the production is based on no case of a 6-fold tapped holes 5, because a querab module is not provided for arcuate module, for it corresponding service holes 13 are present, so that the screws 12 can be tightened or loosened in a short way, so that the Clamping to activate resp. to disable. To clamp the bent tube 2a at the node 3, a flexible sheet clamping device 10, which is described in detail in Fig. 6, embedded, which allows access to the screw 12 in various ways. In this case, service holes 13 are provided, which are applied at an angle such that on the one hand by means of a

Ball screw headed wrench, which by default allows up to 30 ° angular misalignment when screwing, shown here as a dot-dash line, and on the other hand, that the service hole 13 is covered by the tubes 2 either or not covered under any circumstances. This allows access to the screw 12 of the clamping device 11 and the sheet clamping device 10 on a short path. The horizontal one

Aligning the bent tube 2a is described in Fig. 4.5, otherwise a separate gauge ensures the alignment.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of a node 3 with three tubes 2.2a, wherein a bent tube 2a is not at right angles to the other two straight

Tubes 2 is and is designed with a Bogenspreizvorrichtung 14 which on the side of the bent tube 2a has a service opening 15 and by means of a screwdriver, shown here as a dot-dash line, easily accessible or the Bogenspreizvorrichtung 14 in advance in the bent tube 2a already is placed and fixed there and thereafter obliquely by means of the service opening 15a by means of the Allen wrench, indicated here as a dot-dash line, the screw 12 is reached in order to connect the bent pipe 2a with the node 3.

In order to protect the bent tube 2a from punctual pressures and to leave the tube 2a thin-walled, firstly the arc spreading device 14 is dimensioned so large that the spreading load per mm ^{2 is} always compatible, and that the expansion body 14a and the inside of the bent tube 2a is advantageously processed kömig, for example by means of sandblasting, so that when spreading a microforming connection is formed and thus a lower spreading force is required than in a frictional connection with identical Zugbelastungsvorgaben, as well as that the thread 16 for spreading the Bogenspreizvorrichtung 14, which itself is located in a part of the spreading body 14a, which is designed with a slot 17, by screwing in the grub screw 18, which is mounted virtually at right angles to the arch spreading device 14 is, this presses against the inner wall 19, so that a spread of the

Spreader 14a generated so that the Bogenspreizvomchtung 14 fully fulfills its function.

It is not mandatory that the Bogenspreizvomchtung 14 must be fastened by means of the screw 12 to the node 3, it is also conceivable that the Bogenspreizvomchtung 14 by means of the screw 12 or rivet or by means of joint connection 1a, has been previously attached, the bent pipe 2a is pushed over the Bogenspreizvomchtung 14 and clamped by means of the grub screw 18. The horizontal alignment of the bent pipe 2a is described in Fig. 4.5.

The Bogenspreizvomchtung 14 is also suitable for straight tubes 2, this part is cylindrical.

If the grub screw 18 projects out of the tube 2, 2 a, then even a separate form-fitting connection is ensured.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of a node 3 with three tubes 2.2a, wherein a bent tube 2a is not at right angles to the other two straight tubes 2 and is configured with a sheet clamping device 10 which on the side of the bent tube 2a by means the service opening 15, as a dot-dash line, accessible, wherein the rotation of the screw 12, which is in the threaded hole 5 and "off center", so that is facilitated, ie the threaded hole 5 not to the center Z of the node. 3 A bent guide stub 20, similar to a horn, ensures that the bent tube 2a is automatically placed at the correct angle to the knot 3, and by means of a locating pin 21, the bent tube 2a is provided as

Sheet frame 9 or half sheet frame 8 is horizontal. This ensures a quick assembly of the bent pipe 2a to the node 3, also by means of the service opening 15a, which allows a common Allen key to pass through and enables a secure turning of the screw 12 with a smaller screw-in angle.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic side view of a node 3 with three tubes 2.2a, wherein a bent tube 2a is not at right angles to the other two straight tubes 2 and with a guide stub 20 and possibly a positioning pin 21 is configured and has a screw 2 and the bent tube 2a is attached by means of the joint connection 1a on the guide stub 20.

This connection technique has three types of connection possibilities, namely one in which the guide stub 20 is attached to the node 3, be it screwed by means of the screw 12 and correctly positioned by means of the

Positioning pin 21 and then the bent tube 2a on the guide stub 20 with the joint connection 1a, i. advantageously glued or shrunk. Shrinkage is a process in which e.g. the bent tube 2a is heated, the guide stub 20, however, cooled and by means of the material expansion, respectively. of material gathering, the parts can be joined.

Instead of screws, a modern riveting method can be used, which connects the parts quickly and safely with setting machines, so that the guide stub 20 is riveted to the node 3 and then the bent tube 2a is shrunk onto the guide stub 20, or that the bent tube 2a and the guide stub 20 are first shrunk by means of a jig and by means of a service opening 15a, not shown here, the screw 12 is connected to the node 3.

Optimal is the joint connection 1a in which the node 3, the guide stub 20 and the tube 2,2a is joined in one operation, which is additionally performed without a screw 12 and instead of a threaded bore 5 only with a corresponding position hole. This connection technique is also suitable for the connection of a straight pipe 2 with a node. 3

FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of an arc clamping device 10, which also serves as a clamping device 10 and shows a straight tube 2 with a screw 12 inserted therein, which is screwed in at a node 3 and spreading elements 22 separated therebetween with cone-shaped intermediate elements 23, as well as a non-screwed cover on the threaded holes. 5

Shown is a tube 2, wherein this construction is ideally suited for a bent tube 2a by the form or frictional spreading elements 22 and intermediate elements 23 are mounted as segment parts on a screw 12 and by means of oversized holes 24 thus a displacement of the respective element in allow a bent pipe 2a at any time. to Assembly simplification, the segment parts, spreading elements 22 and

Intermediate elements 23 by means of a flexible material, e.g. a rubber compound, be connected so that they can be captively wound on the screw 12 and at the same time flexible enough to adapt to the curvature of a bent tube 2a.

By screwing the screw 12 into the threaded holes 5 of the knot 3, the spreading elements 22 are pressed against the conical intermediate elements 23 and due to a cut in the respective expansion element 22, this can be widened, i. it slips up on the conical intermediate elements 23 and ultimately to the inner wall of the tube 2, respectively.

bent pipe 2a is pressed and in this way a holding force is achieved. Such spreading elements 22 can be mounted multiple times on the screw 12 and have various shapes, such as e.g. with a substantially flat shape, so that the largest possible surface presses against the tube 2,2a and produce a frictional shape or a pointed shape to engrave in the

To press pipe 2,2a and thus produce a positive connection or the tube has already been treated in advance 2.2a and this has a groove 25 or a thread into which a round wire as a snap ring. as spreading elements 22 pushes outwards and finds place in the groove 25 and thus also a positive connection is made.

It is not possible to assume that a modular furniture system should not one day be used for further modules. Therefore, one can for safety's sake, the last page B with threaded holes 5 run in order to have a guarantee but still grow quickly and easily. In the

Meanwhile, the threaded holes 5 should be closed for visual and hygienic reasons, but not with machine-like screws 12, but with caps 26, which have no screwdriver-compliant slots, but only pressed and correspond to the color of the node 3 or have a logo as an optimal recognition feature ,

This applies in principle only for single-row furniture, which want to be enlarged with a second row. All multi-row furniture can be enlarged accordingly by means of intermediate pipes without tapped holes on the sides need to be. A correspondingly shaped cover cap can also be offered for the service opening 15,15.

As standard, the tubes 2 and 3 are made of chromed steel or silver anodised aluminum. For reasons of corrosion and wear, the tubes 2.2a are made by means of black chromium plating or even better DLC

Coating in the PE-PVD process is additionally hardened and the corrosion resistance is further improved and at the same time obtains a different, namely black color or and applied by powder coating another safety layer applied and thus not only the color black to have as corrosion protection.

Furthermore, it makes little sense in damp areas, especially near the sea, to produce clamping devices 11 in aluminum and to have the tubes 2,2a in steel, as this can lead to excessive corrosion of the clamping device 1, therefore, a clamping device 11 or Bogenklemmvornchtung 10 as a steel element or even better corrosion protection and manufacturing price, in Nibral, ie be made of a nickel, aluminum, copper alloy.

Of course, the invention is not limited to those shown and described

Embodiments limited.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 connecting means

1a joint connection

2 pipe straight

2a tube bent

3 knots

4 cube

5 threaded hole

6 frames

7 shark frame

8 half-arch frames

9 sheet frames

10 sheet clamping device

11 clamping device

12 screw

13 service hole

14 arc spreading device

14a spreader

15, 15a service opening

16 threads

17 slot

18 grub screw

19 inner wall

20 guide stub

21 positioning pin

22 expansion element

23 intermediate element

24 hole

25 groove

26 cap

Claims

claims

Cube (4)

characterized,

in that the cube (4) has straight tubes (2) or curved tubes (2) which are attached to nodes (3) with the least possible number of visible threaded bores (5) and by means of connection means (1) or joint connection (1a ) form a planar or cuboidal or round a Mobilie and the connecting means (1) a sheet clamping device (10) or a clamping device (11) or a Bogenspreizvorrichtung (14) may be.

Cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

in that the node (3) has an obliquely drilled threaded bore (5) opposite the right-angled threaded bore (5) which extends to the center (Z) and has one or more service holes (13) or a knot (3) which has an externally threaded hole (5).

Cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

in that the knot (3) is connected to a sheet clamping device (10) consisting of an expansion body (14a) with a slot (17), a thread (16) running transversely, which carries a grub screw (18) and a pipe (2 , 2a) is guided over the sheet clamping device (10) and positively or frictionally clamped.

Cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

the node (3) has a connecting means (1) or a guide stub (20) and is held by means of a screw (12) or rivet or joint (1a).

5. cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

that the tube (2,2a) has a connecting means (1) or a guide stub (20) and by means of screw (12) or grub screw (18) or

Joint (1a) is held and fastened to the node (3).

6. cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

that the node (3) and the guide stub (20) and the tube (2,2a) are connected in one operation by means of the joint connection (1).

7. cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

in that the guide stub (20) serves as a joint connection (1a) for the tube (2, 2a) and can also be attached asymmetrically to the node (3).

8. cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

in that a positioning pin (21) is mounted between the node (3) and the guide stub (20) for mounting a curved tube (2a) or a gauge is used for the assembly.

9. cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

in that the sheet clamping device (0) comprises a screw (12) with one or more spreading elements (22) attached thereto and a conical

Has intermediate elements (23) and that the expansion element (22) and the conical intermediate element (23) has a bore (24), which allows the arc of the bent pipe (2a) to follow and on straight tubes (2) fits.

10. cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized, in that the spreader element (22) has a flat or a pointed or a rounded outside surface or the tube (2, 2a) has a groove (25).

Cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

in that the connecting means (1) or the arc spreading device (14) and the inside of the tube (2, 2a) have a grain which forms a microform-proof connection.

12. cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

in that the tube (2) is straight or the tube (2a) is bent and can be closed or open and rectangular or curved with the nodes (3), and a cube (4) is formed by means of vertical tubes (2).

13. cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

that the position of the nodes (3) and the connection of the Mobilie the number of tapped holes (5) per node (3) or determined and untapped threaded holes (5) or service openings (15,15a) by means of a cover (26) can close and the joint (1 a) makes the threaded hole (5) obsolete.

14. cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

that a software calculates the optimum number of tapped holes (5) per node (3) and specifies the optimum type of connection as well as the installation procedure for the movables.

Cube (4) according to claim 1

characterized,

that the nodes (3) or pipes and (2,2a) black chrome plated or by DLC coating or by powder coating or other paint application to increase the corrosion resistance.