EP2877056B1

EP2877056B1 - Furniture item with section bars

Info

Publication number: EP2877056B1
Application number: EP13773388.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eric FORSSELL
Original assignee: Uso Srl
Current assignee: Uso Srl
Priority date: 2012-07-27
Filing date: 2013-07-25
Publication date: 2019-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-25
Also published as: ITRM20120365A1; WO2014016792A1; EP2877056A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention has as object furniture items constructed with section bars.

STATE OF ART

Structures for furniture formed by section bar members are known to the state of art, such as for example the one illustrated in the International patent application WO 2006/089647 describing a base structure for furniture, in particular for furniture with large dimensions, comprising a frame consisting of uprights and cross members of metal section bars and connected therebetween by means of joints, each one thereof is able to connect an upright to an end of a cross member. If the mobile member has sliding wings, the section bar used to construct the cross members positioned on the front portion of the furniture item has a curved upper surface and at least one compartment, open on the lower side.
An additional example is represented by the patent application GB2156206 , describing a computer workstation comprising a work surface and a base supporting the work plane. The base comprises a framework of section bars joined at their ends by corner pieces and closed by panels. Each section bar has an undercut recess for receiving bolts or threaded bars in order to guarantee supporting the computer on the base. The base can be made with any size by simply cutting the extrusions to the wished length and the panels consequently.
CH 341 284 A describes a furniture element formed by the combination of several section bars. The section bar extends along a longitudinal direction and comprises a main body with a connection portion having a "C"-like cross section used to allow the assembly of accessories for furniture. In particular, the cross section of the connection portion is asymmetric having two small wings with different length.
GB 1 124 175 A describes constructional bars having longitudinal grooves for engagement of fastening means. In particular, this document concerns hollow bars with cut-back longitudinal grooves as constructional element of stands, shelves, free partitions and the like. Specifically, the longitudinal grooves are arranged eccentrically to the axis of the bar.
However, section bars for the construction of furniture having the possibility of modifying the final whole asset thereof in a simple way and without having to re-organize the structure of the furniture item itself are not known. Furthermore, section bars having a little complex structure, easy to assemble and to handle, are not known.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a furniture item according to the independent claim. In particular, the present invention provides a furniture item comprising at least two section bars for the construction of furniture, each section bar extending along a preferential longitudinal direction and comprising a main body wherein a first connection portion is defined, to allow the assembly of accessories for furniture, extending along said preferential longitudinal direction and having a substantially "C"-like shaped cross section which opens on a first outer surface of said main body and a first hooking portion developing, outwardly the main body, from a second outer surface of said main body opposite to said first outer surface, wherein said connection portion has a cross section of asymmetric type having two small wings with different length defining a tolerance window with a width, wherein the furniture item further comprises at least a nut with substantially rectangular shape, the tolerance window allowing to position inside thereof and to rotate the nut, wherein the nut comprises two holes the distance thereof is determined according to the type of accessories for furniture to be assembled and wherein said nut with substantially rectangular shape remains locked by means of a thickness compensating member.
The object of the present invention is to provide furniture comprising section bars whereon it is possible mounting guides or hinges available on the market in a planning phase subsequent to the first one, in this way being able to modify the furniture aspect without this intervention modifying the base structure, the strength or the finishing itself thereof. Furthermore, the furniture item according to the invention can be shelving with or without doors, which can be opened on one side or on both sides, for different uses, both domestic and office use.
Another object of the present invention is to obtain with such section bars a furniture item allowing to assemble accessories, such as shelves, chests of drawers or small doors both vertically and horizontally, inside the same structure.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide section bars to construct furniture being polyvalent and having reduced weight and overall dimensions so as to make easy the transportation and storage thereof.
Another object of the invention is to provide furniture items constructed with such section bars being at the same time polyvalent, economic, easy to assemble and disassemble, practical in use and with high modularity features.
Such objects are wholly obtained by the furniture constructed with at least two section bars as specified in the enclosed claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Features and advantages will result to be greatly highlighted from the following description of preferred but not exclusive illustrated embodiments, by way of example only and not with limitative purpose, in the enclosed drawing tables, wherein:

figure 1 is a plan view of a first section bar of a furniture item according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
figure 2 is a plan view of a second section bar in a first embodiment of the invention;
figure 3 is a plan view of the first section bar in a second embodiment;
figure 4 is a plan view of the second section bar in a second embodiment;
figure 5 is an axonometric view of a system composed of a pair of first section bars and a pair of second section bars in the respective second embodiment;
figure 6 is a plan view of a furniture item according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
figure 7 is a plan view of a variant of the furniture item of - figure 6;
figures 8a, 8b and 8c show three different possibilities of coupling a decorative coating component to the first section bar;
figure 9 is a plan view of a furniture item in a second embodiment of the invention;
figure 10 is a partial axonometric view of a furniture item according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
figure 11 is a plan view of the first section bar in a third embodiment.
figure 12 is a plan view of a frame, comprising two sections bars, whereon some accessories are assembled according to an additional embodiment of the present invention.
figure 13 is a plan view of the gasket section bars to be applied to the first section bar in the third embodiment.
figure 14 shows an exploded view of the frame comprising the section bars of the first type according to a third embodiment.
figure 15 is a plan view of the section bar of first and second type according to a third embodiment in the phase for assembling the side panel.
figure 16 is a plan view of the section bar of first and second type according to the third embodiment in the phase for assembling an additional side panel.
figure 17 shows a nut for assembling an accessory on the section bar in an embodiment of the present invention.

By referring to figure 1, a first section bar, preferably made of aluminium, is designated with 1, extending according to a longitudinal preferential direction substantially rectilinear and orthogonal to the plane of the same figure.
The first section bar 1 comprises a main body 2 in turn comprising a connection portion 3 with substantially "C"-like cross section, faced on a side of said first section bar 1 and apt to allow monitoring accessories for furniture items such as, for examples, shelves or hinges.
The first section bar 1 comprises a hooking portion 4, with substantially "L"-like cross section, for housing a peripheral portion of an infilling outer panel; said hooking portion 4 developing outwardly the main body 2, on the opposite side with respect to the one theretowards the connection portion 3 is faced, at an end area of the first section bar 1.
In the main body 2 a seat 5 is further defined with shaped cross section arranged adjacent to the hooking portion 4 and apt to fasten, by means of snap connection, a decorative coating member 6 preferably formed by rubber, or by aluminium with the portion destined to be inserted in the seat 5 in rubber.
Even a connection portion 7, with "C"-like cross section too, is preferably, but not necessarily defined in the main body 2, for the connection with another section bar by means of suitable connection organs.
The hooking portion 4, as well as the seat 5 and the connection portion 7, develops along the above-mentioned preferential direction.
In figure 3, a first section bar is designated with 1a differing from the one shown in figure 1 only for the fact of not providing a seat for fastening a decorative member. In this case, a decorative member can be however applied on the first section bar by means of glueing, as shown in figures 8b and 8c.
Figure 11 shows a third embodiment 1b of said first section bar which differs from the one shown in figure 1 for the fact of having the connection portion 3 with substantially "C"-like cross section of asymmetrical type, whose two small wings 33, 34 have different lengths. In particular the small wing 33, adjacent to the connection portion 7 is longer than the small wing 34 positioned on the opposite side, on the side of the seat 5. This particular shape of the connection portion 3 describes a tolerance window 35 and the width thereof allows the insertion and the rotation of a nut 36. Such nut 36 has rectangular shape and it specifically has been designed to be able to be positioned and rotate (figure 17) inside said tolerance window 35. Said nut on the surface has two holes 36', the distance thereof will be determined depending upon the specific application.
One of the advantages of such section bar 1b, once pre-arranged the furniture item, is to allow the positioning by means of the nut 36, of several standard accessories such as for example chests of drawers and guides available on the market, which normally should be already set up in a first phase for implementing the furniture item itself (for example at a specific distance of 28-35 mm from the final edge of the furniture item). The furniture item constructed with such section bars 1b has then the possibility of being set up with different accessories, which can be easily replaced or simply removed even after the assembling without having to arrange a new furniture item. The nut 36 remains locked inside the seat by means of a thickness compensating member 36" (figure 11) .
In figure 2, a second section bar, preferably made of aluminium too, is designated with 8, extending along said preferential direction and equipped with a main body 9 having substantially "L"-shaped cross section.
A first connection portion 10 and a second connection portion 11 are defined in the main body 9, both with substantially "C"-like cross section, having the function of allowing the assembly of accessories for furniture.
The first and the second connection portion 10 and 11 open on the same section bar of the main body 9, even if they are directed in mutually orthogonal directions.
The main body 9, preferably but not necessarily, comprises a connection portion 12, with "C"-like cross section too, for the connection with another section bar by means of suitable connection organs.
The second section bar 8, additionally, comprises a first and a second hooking portion 13, 14 for housing peripheral portions of infilling outer panels. In particular, such hooking portions 13, 14 develop as from an angle area of the section bar of the main body 9 opposite to the one therein the connection portions 10 and 11 open according to mutually orthogonal directions.
At the same angle area of the main body 9 a seat 15 with shaped cross section is obtained, destined to allow the fastening, by means of snap connection, of a decorative coating member 16 preferably made of rubber or aluminium with the portion destined to be inserted in the seat 15 made of rubber.
Figure 4 shows a second section bar 8a substantially identical to the one represented in figure 2, but lacking the seat 15.
Figures 15 and 16 show a second section bar 8e, substantially identical to what represented in figure 2, but having the connection portion 3 with substantially "C"-like cross section of asymmetrical type, exactly like in the first embodiment 1b of the third embodiment. Furthermore, said second section bar 8e, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, has a thread 50. Such thread can be present in any section bar of the invention.
As shown in figure 13, the coating member 6 can have a different shape 43, 44 to adapt to the different structures and uses or objects. A first shape 43 of the coating member 6 has the snap connection portion in the seat 5 of multiple shapes and sizes a, b, c, d, e, f. Such coating member 43 is used in the specific case for the structural section bar of first type 1, 1a, 1b. A second shape 44 of the coating member 6 comprises a snap connection portion in the seat 5, shaped so as to be used for the bookcases by using a structural section bar of standard type 45.
By now referring to figure 6, a furniture item is designated with 20 comprising a pair of first section bars 1a of the type illustrated in figure 3 and a pair of second section bars 8a of the type illustrated in figure 4.
The two pairs of section bars are kept joined by side joining bars 21 fastened to the section bars by means of connection organs formed by screws 22 and by threaded hollow members 23, such as for example square nuts, inserted inside the connection portions 3 of the first section bars 1a and of the connection portions 10, 11 of the second section bars 8a.
The furniture item 20 further comprises infilling panels 24 arranged on the outer portion of the furniture item at the hooking portions 4 of the first section bars 1a and of the hooking portions 13, 14 of the second section bars 8a.
As it is clear from figure 7, both the first section bars and the second section bars, in a particular variant thereof, can have also teeth 25 projecting from the corresponding hooking portions 4, 13, 14 and destined to favour the stability of the infilling panels inserted therein.
The infilling panels 24 have peripheral portions shaped so as to be wholly inserted inside the hooking portions 4, 13, 14, as illustrated in figures 6 and 8c. Alternatively, as shown in figures 8a and 8b, on such peripheral portions of the infilling panels 24 grooves 25 run longitudinally, apt to receive the hooking portions 4, 13, 14, so that the infilling panels 24 cover at least a portion of said hooking portions 3, 13, 14.
Preferably, the first section bars 1, 1a, on the same section bar wherein the hooking portions 3 open, have a levelling tooth 26 in order to favour the correct positioning and fastening of the joining bars 21.
By now making reference to figure 9, a furniture item according to the present invention is designated with 27, comprising four first section bars 1a of the type shown in figure 3 kept joined by joining bars 21 and by a joining and infilling panel 28 fastened to two of the first section bars 1a thanks to fastening means comprising "L"-like stirrups 29.
On the side of the furniture item 27 opposite to the joining and infilling panel 28 a door 30 is assembled, equipped with at least a hinge 31 fastened to a section bar 1a at the related connection portion 3.
In an alternative embodiment, the furniture item according to the invention comprises a pair of first section bars 1a of the type as illustrated in figure 3, used, for stability reasons, in combination with a wall or a similar vertical member.
The furniture item according to the invention can also comprise one or more shelves, not illustrated in the enclosed figures by sake of representation simplicity, assembled inside the furniture item itself by means of supporting organs fastened to the first and/or second section bars 1, 1a, 1b, 8, 8a, 8e at the related connection portions 3, 10, 11.
In additional embodiments and variants, the furniture item according to the present invention can provide different combinations of the above-described components; by way of example, it could comprise, by referring to figure 9, an additional door 30 replacing the joining and infilling panel 28.
Now by making reference to figure 12, a furniture item is designated with 37 comprising two section bars 1b of the type of figure 11, whereon some accessories are assembled: a hinge 38 of the type with a perforation of 28 mm from the front wire, a hinge 39 of the type with perforation of 35 mm from the front wire, a guide for built-in drawer 40 and a guide for a resting drawer 41.
Figure 14 shows an exploded view of a furniture item 37' comprising four section bars 1b of the first type as in figure 11, and an exploded view of a furniture item 37 comprising four section bars of the second type 8e, for assembling for example a bookcase, further allowing to assemble the accessories both in vertical and in horizontal position. A depth frame 42 can be further inserted both in horizontal and vertical position between said furniture items 37, 37' .
Figure 15 shows the possible and optional assembly of at least an infilling panel 24 which takes place after forming the furniture items 37, 37'. Such panel 24, in fact, is not necessary for implementing the furniture item, but it has the function of simple decoration. The infilling panel 24 is arranged on the outer portion of the furniture item at the hooking portions 4 of the first section bars 1, 1a and 1b and of the hooking portions 13, 14 of the second section bars 8, 8a and 8e.
Said panel 24, in a preferred embodiment, shown in figure 16, has millings 24' to house the structural section bars 1, 1a, 1b and 8, 8a, 8e inside thereof.
To the section bars for constructing furniture and to the furniture items constructed with such section bars a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy additional and contingent needs, can introduce several additional modifications and variants, all however within the protection scope of the present invention, as defined by the enclosed claims.

Claims

A furniture item comprising at least two section bars (lb, 8e) for the construction of furniture, each section bar (1b, 8e) extending along a preferential longitudinal direction and comprising a main body (2, 9) wherein a first connection portion (3, 11) is defined, to allow the assembly of accessories for furniture, extending along said preferential longitudinal direction and having a substantially "C"-like shaped cross section which opens on a first outer surface of said main body (2, 9) and a first hooking portion (4, 13) developing, outwardly the main body (2, 9), from a second outer surface of said main body (2, 9) opposite to said first outer surface, wherein said connection portion (3, 11) has a cross section of asymmetric type having two small wings (33, 34) with different length defining a tolerance window (35) with a width,
characterized in that
the furniture item further comprises at least a nut (36) with substantially rectangular shape, the tolerance window (35) allowing to position inside thereof and to rotate the nut (36), wherein the nut (36) comprises two holes (36') the distance thereof is determined according to the type of accessories for furniture to be assembled and wherein said nut (36) with substantially rectangular shape remains locked by means of a thickness compensating member (36").
The furniture item according to claim 1, wherein a seat (5) is defined in the main body (2), arranged adjacent to the first hooking portion (4) and having a cross section shaped to allow a snap connection.
The furniture item according to any one of the previous claims, comprising an additional connection portion (7, 12) with "C"-like cross section for the connection to another section bar.
The furniture item according to any one of the previous claims, comprising at least four section bars (1b, 8e).
The furniture item according to any one of the previous claims, comprising at least a decorative coating member (6, 16) fastened on a section bar by means of glueing or snap connection.
The furniture item according to any one of the previous claims , comprising at least a joining bar (21) fastened to two of said section bars at the connection portions (3, 10, 11) by means of mechanical connection means.
The furniture item according to any one of the previous claims, comprising at least an infilling panel (24) with peripheral portions connected to the hooking portions (4, 13, 14) of said section bars.
The furniture item according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a door (30) equipped with at least a hinge (31) fastened to one of said section bars at a connection portion (3) .