EP2965657A1 - Item of furniture comprising a casing and at least two drawers - Google Patents

Abstract

The piece of furniture (1) comprises: - a box (2) having an open front face; - a first and a second drawers (12, 13) slidably mounted in the box between an open position and a closed position, each of said drawers having a peripheral body and a front (20), the first drawer (12) being disposed above the second drawer (13), the front of the first drawer being substantially adjacent to the front of the second drawer, in the closed position of the drawers. The first drawer (12) has a bottom wall (14) that is removably mounted on the peripheral body, and a suspended file receiving device. The cabinet also comprises reversible assembly means (50) of the first and second drawers (12, 13) in a position such that their facades (20) are located substantially in the same plane.

Description

The present invention relates to a cabinet comprising a box and at least two drawers.

Such furniture can typically be used in an office to store various files and supplies.

There are at present several types of this type of furniture, in particular on the one hand a piece of furniture having three drawers, for example of similar dimensions, and on the other hand a piece of furniture comprising a large drawer that can receive suspended files, and a small drawer. In practice, when a user acquires a piece of furniture, he chooses the one with the configuration corresponding to his needs. If his needs change over time, the user must then buy a second piece of furniture with another configuration that suits him better, to replace the first piece of furniture. This approach is not optimal because it is expensive. There is also the question of storage of the first piece of furniture.

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.

• un caisson sensiblement parallélépipédique comportant une face avant ouverte ;
• au moins un premier et un deuxième tiroirs montés dans le caisson de façon coulissante le long d'une direction longitudinale entre une position ouverte et une position fermée, chacun desdits tiroirs comportant un corps périphérique et une façade qui est apte à obturer partiellement la face avant du caisson lorsque le tiroir est en position fermée, le premier tiroir étant disposé au-dessus du deuxième tiroir, la façade du premier tiroir étant sensiblement adjacente à la façade du deuxième tiroir, en position fermée des tiroirs.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a piece of furniture comprising:

• a substantially parallelepipedic box having an open front face;
• at least first and second drawers mounted in the casing slidably along a longitudinal direction between an open position and a closed position, each of said drawers having a peripheral body and a facade which is adapted to partially close the front face of the box when the drawer is in the closed position, the first drawer being disposed above the second drawer, the front of the first drawer being substantially adjacent to the front of the second drawer, in the closed position of the drawers.

• le premier tiroir comporte une paroi de fond qui est montée de façon amovible sur le corps périphérique du premier tiroir ;
• le meuble comprend des moyens d'assemblage réversible des premier et deuxième tiroirs dans une position telle que leurs façades sont situées sensiblement dans un même plan ;
• et le premier tiroir comporte un dispositif de réception d'au moins un dossier suspendu, ledit dispositif de réception d'au moins un dossier suspendu comprenant deux supports latéraux sur lesquels peuvent reposer des crochets latéraux d'un dossier suspendu.

According to a general definition of the invention:

• the first drawer has a bottom wall which is removably mounted on the peripheral body of the first drawer;
• the furniture comprises reversible assembly means of the first and second drawers in a position such that their facades are located substantially in the same plane;
• and the first drawer comprises a device for receiving at least one suspended file, said device for receiving at least one suspended file comprising two lateral supports on which lateral hooks of a suspended file can rest.

• une première configuration avec deux tiroirs indépendants, permettant de stocker des objets de dimensions relativement faibles ;
• ou une deuxième configuration avec deux tiroirs associés l'un à l'autre, pour former un unique tiroir de plus grande hauteur pouvant recevoir des dossiers suspendus qui ont une hauteur relativement importante en position de stockage.

Thus, the invention provides a piece of furniture that can be easily converted from one configuration to another. In particular, the furniture can adopt:

• a first configuration with two independent drawers, for storing objects of relatively small size;
• or a second configuration with two drawers associated with each other, to form a single drawer of greater height that can receive hanging files that have a relatively large height in the storage position.

The change from the first configuration to the second is done by removing the bottom wall of the first drawer and then combining the two drawers. Conversely, the passage from the second configuration to the first is effected by dissociating the two drawers and replacing the bottom wall of the first drawer. This change is very easy to make by any user.

One of the advantages of the invention is to allow a user to retain most of the components of his furniture, or even all components, and particularly the box and drawers, which occupy significant places, while adapting the furniture configuration to his present needs and allowing him to adapt them to his future needs.

The facades of the first and second drawers may have substantially the same height. We can go from two drawers of the same capacity to a single drawer double capacity.

The furniture may have more than two drawers. Thus, for example, the cabinet comprises at least three drawers, namely an upper drawer, a middle drawer constituted by the first drawer, and a lower drawer constituted by the second drawer. In particular, it can be provided that the drawer fronts all have substantially the same height.

However, this embodiment is not limiting, the furniture may have more than three drawers.

• quatre tiroirs indépendants ;
• deux tiroirs assemblés (par exemple les deux tiroirs les plus bas) et deux tiroirs indépendants ;
• les deux tiroirs les plus hauts assemblés, et les deux tiroirs les plus bas assemblés.

One can thus consider a cabinet with four drawers, which can adopt one of the following three configurations, reversibly:

• four independent drawers;
• two drawers assembled (for example the two lowest drawers) and two independent drawers;
• the two highest drawers assembled, and the two lowest drawers assembled.

• une position saillante dans laquelle ledit organe coopère avec l'autre des premier et deuxième tiroirs, les premier et deuxième tiroirs étant alors assemblés ;
• et une position escamotée dans laquelle les premier et deuxième tiroirs sont séparés.

According to one possible embodiment, the reversible assembly means comprise at least one member mounted permanently on one of the first and second drawers, movably between:

• a protruding position in which said member cooperates with the other of the first and second drawers, the first and second drawers being then assembled;
• and a retracted position in which the first and second drawers are separated.

By "indwelling" is meant that the member can not be separated from the drawer on which it is mounted, under normal conditions of use, that is to say without disassembling or breaking the drawer. Thus, the organ can not be lost, which guarantees the possibility of switching from one configuration to another without any problem even several years apart.

It can be provided that the reversible assembly means are designed to allow the assembly of the facades of the first and second drawers together. In other words, the reversible assembly means are preferably located at the level of said facades, or even preferably only at the level of said facades, the cabinet can thus be devoid of other assembly means located in other places of drawers. This makes it easier to assemble and separate the drawers without the user having to pull the drawers out of the box.

According to one possible embodiment, the front of each of the first and second drawers comprises a front face and a rear face defining an interior space, the reversible assembly means comprising a portion located in said interior space and a portion projecting inwards. box, so that it can be maneuvered by a person. The fact of housing a portion of the reversible assembly means - and for example most of these means - in a substantially closed and non-accessible space has advantages in terms of aesthetics but also safety and robustness: indeed, these means are more protected from shocks and dust, they can more easily be operated inadvertently, and are not likely to hang various surrounding elements.

• ledit organe possède une forme en L et comprend un bras de verrouillage sensiblement vertical apte à être engagé dans un premier orifice ménagé dans une paroi horizontale du premier tiroir et dans un deuxième orifice ménagé dans une paroi horizontale du deuxième tiroir, et un bras d'actionnement sensiblement horizontal apte à être saisi par une personne ;
• et celui du premier et du deuxième tiroirs sur lequel est monté l'organe comprend une paroi verticale dans laquelle est ménagée une lumière en forme de L possédant une branche sensiblement horizontale dans laquelle est situé le bras d'actionnement de l'organe lorsque l'organe est en position escamotée, et une branche sensiblement verticale qui s'étend vers le bas depuis la branche sensiblement horizontale et dans laquelle est situé le bras d'actionnement de l'organe lorsque l'organe est en position saillante.

According to one possible realization:

• said member has an L shape and comprises a substantially vertical locking arm adapted to be engaged in a first orifice formed in a horizontal wall of the first drawer and in a second orifice in a horizontal wall of the second drawer, and a substantially horizontal actuating arm capable of being grasped by a person;
• and that of the first and second drawers on which the member is mounted comprises a vertical wall in which is formed an L-shaped light having a substantially horizontal branch in which is located the actuating arm of the body when the member is in the retracted position, and a substantially vertical branch which extends downwardly from the substantially horizontal branch and wherein is located the actuating arm of the member when the member is in the projecting position.

In other words, the cabinet is provided with a bayonet type locking mechanism for reversible assembly of the first and second drawers. The first port may be formed in the lower face of the front of the first drawer and the second port in the upper face of the front of the second drawer.

It can further be provided that the furniture comprises means for guiding the displacement of the member between its projecting and retracted positions. Said guide means may be located in said interior space, this inaccessibility having the advantages mentioned above. These guide means comprise for example at least one plate having a hole receiving a part of the body regardless of its position, and in particular two plates having coaxial holes.

Typically, the cabinet may comprise two sets as previously described, each consisting of an L-shaped member and a light located at the front facades of the first and second drawers.

According to one possible embodiment, the bottom wall of the lower drawer of the box is spaced vertically from the bottom wall of the box, so that there is formed between said walls a housing adapted to receive the bottom wall of the first drawer. Thus, in the configuration where the two drawers are assembled, the bottom wall does not constitute an inconvenience since the user has a place where to store it and where it can be protected. In addition, the user can easily return to the configuration where the two drawers are dissociated, because this achievement considerably limits the risk of loss of this bottom wall.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un meuble selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, comprenant trois tiroirs en position fermée ;
• La figure 2 est une vue similaire à la figure 1, montrant certains éléments situés à l'intérieur du meuble ;
• Les figures 3 et 4 illustrent le meuble de la figure 1, dans une première configuration où les tiroirs médian et inférieur sont dissociés, respectivement avec le tiroir médian ouvert et avec le tiroir inférieur ouvert ;
• Les figures 5 et 6 montrent respectivement une première et une deuxième étapes permettant le passage de la première configuration à une deuxième configuration où les tiroirs médian et inférieur sont assemblés ;
• La figure 7a est une vue partielle de détail du meuble montrant les moyens d'assemblage réversible des deux tiroirs ;
• Les figures 7b à 7d montrent des étapes successives permettant le passage de la première à la deuxième configuration ;
• La figure 8 illustre le meuble de la figure 1, dans la première configuration où les tiroirs médian et inférieur sont assemblés.
• La figure 1 représente un meuble 1 destiné par exemple à être utilisé dans un bureau.

We will now describe, by way of nonlimiting example, a possible embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figures:

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising three drawers in the closed position;
• The figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 showing some elements inside the furniture;
• The Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the furniture of the figure 1 in a first configuration where the median and lower drawers are separated, respectively with the open middle drawer and with the lower drawer open;
• The Figures 5 and 6 respectively show first and second steps allowing the passage of the first configuration to a second configuration where the median and lower drawers are assembled;
• The figure 7a is a partial detail of the furniture showing the reversible assembly means of the two drawers;
• The Figures 7b to 7d show successive steps allowing the passage of the first to the second configuration;
• The figure 8 illustrates the furniture of the figure 1 in the first configuration where the median and lower drawers are assembled.
• The figure 1 represents a piece of furniture 1 intended for example to be used in an office.

The cabinet 1 comprises firstly a substantially parallelepipedal box 2. The casing 2 thus comprises a substantially horizontal upper wall 3 and a bottom wall 4, two lateral walls 5 and a substantially vertical rear wall 6, and an open front face 7.

• la direction longitudinale X comme la direction orthogonale à la paroi arrière 6, et par rapport à laquelle seront employés les termes « avant » et « arrière » ;
• la direction transversale Y comme la direction orthogonale aux parois latérales 4, 5, et par rapport à laquelle sera employé le terme « latéral » ;
• et la direction verticale Z, orthogonale aux parois supérieure 3 et inférieure 4, et par rapport à laquelle seront employés les termes « supérieur », « inférieur », « hauteur » et analogue.

As illustrated on the figure 1 , we define :

• the longitudinal direction X as the direction orthogonal to the rear wall 6, and with respect to which will be used the terms "before" and "back";
• the transverse direction Y as the direction orthogonal to the side walls 4, 5, and with respect to which will be used the term "lateral";
• and the vertical direction Z, orthogonal to the upper and lower walls 4 and 4, and with respect to which will be used the terms "upper", "lower", "height" and the like.

The box 2 may be provided with wheels 8 to facilitate its movement.

The furniture 1 also includes several drawers. In the embodiment shown, the cabinet 1 comprises an upper drawer 11, a middle drawer 12 and a lower drawer 13.

Each drawer comprises a peripheral body formed of two lateral walls 15, a rear wall 16 and possibly a front wall 17, and a facade 20 fixed on the peripheral body. The facade 20 may be mounted on the front wall 17 of the peripheral body, when present. Alternatively, the front ends of the side walls 15 can be fixed directly to the facade 20.

Each of the drawers 11, 12, 13 is mounted in the casing 2 slidably along the longitudinal direction X, between an open position and a closed position in which the facade 20 is located substantially in the plane of the front face 7 of the box 2 and partially closes this front face 7. In the closed position of all the drawers ( figure 1 ), the facades 20 are substantially adjacent along the vertical direction, and form an assembly substantially completely closing the front face 7 of the box 2.

The frontages of the median 12 and lower 13 drawers here have substantially the same height, which may for example be of the order of 15 to 20 cm. The front of the upper drawer 11 may also have the same height, this is not limiting.

The sliding assembly of a slide 11, 12, 13 in the casing 2 is obtained by first guiding means provided on the outer faces of the lateral walls 15 of the slide and second - complementary - guide means arranged on the inner faces of the side walls 5 of the box 2. For example, the first guide means may comprise rails 18 and the second guide means of the rails 19 and / or rollers.

In addition, the middle spool 12 comprises a bottom wall 14 which is removably mounted on the peripheral body. For example, this bottom wall 14 can simply rest on a rim - continuous or unmounted in the vicinity of the lower edge of the peripheral body, and protruding inwardly of the middle spool 12.

The upper drawer 11 and the lower drawer 13 also comprise a bottom wall 14, which can be fixed permanently on the drawer 11, 13.

The bottom wall 14 of the lower drawer 13 is preferably spaced vertically from the bottom wall 4 of the box 2, so that a housing 21 is formed between said walls 14, 4, as shown in FIG. figure 4 especially. The function of this housing 21 will be explained later. The lower drawer 13 may also be provided with a roller 28, for example fixed in the lower part of the front 20, substantially centrally between the side walls 15. The wheel 28 facilitates the opening and closing of the drawer lower 13 when the latter contains heavy objects, especially in the second configuration that will be described later. The wheel 28 further avoids the deterioration of the guide means of the lower drawer 13 due to the weight of this drawer, and the generated torque in the open position.

In addition, the median drawer 12 comprises a device for receiving at least one suspended file 22. As illustrated on the figure 8 , a suspended file 22 is intended to receive documents and generally comprises a front sheet 23 and a rear sheet 24 whose lower edges are fixed to one another and whose upper edges are provided with lateral hooks 25. The receiving device provided in the median drawer 12 comprises two lateral supports 26 on which the lateral hooks 25 of one or more suspended backrests 22 can rest and slide. These lateral supports 26 may consist of the upper edge of the side walls 15. the peripheral body, or a longitudinal rod or the like mounted in the middle spool 12, near the side walls 15.

Furthermore, the upper drawer may comprise a locking system 27 actuated by a key.

The furniture 1 can adopt a first configuration, as illustrated on the Figures 3 and 4 in which the middle spool 12 and the lower spool 13 are separated, and can be opened or closed independently of one another. So, on the figure 3 , only the middle spool 12 is open while on the figure 4 only the lower drawer 13 is open. Each of these drawers 12, 13 can receive objects whose dimension in the Z direction does not exceed the distance between the bottom wall 14 and the upper edge of the facade 20.

Furniture 1 can also adopt a second configuration, as illustrated in FIG. figure 8 . In this configuration, the median drawer 12 and the lower drawer 13 are assembled to one another, with their facades 20 located substantially in the same plane. In addition, the median spool 12 has no bottom wall 14, the two drawers 12, 13 thus forming a single spool of greater capacity, which can typically receive suspended files 22, and slidable in the casing 2.

According to the invention, the assembly means of the middle spool 12 and the lower spool 13 allow a reversible assembly, so that the user of the furniture 1 can easily move from the first to the second configuration, according to the evolution of its needs.

The steps for the transition from the first to the second configuration will now be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7d .

During a first step, the user, after opening the median drawer 12, removes the bottom wall 14, for example simply by pushing it from below up, as shown on the figure 5 . The bottom wall 14 can be placed in the housing 21 so as not to be lost and not to interfere with the operation of the furniture 1.

Then the user places the middle spool 12 and the lower spool 13 both in the open position, as shown in FIG. figure 6 . The user will then assemble the median drawers 12 and lower 13.

The reversible assembly means of the median 12 and lower 13 drawers will be described with reference to the figure 7a . They are here designed to allow the assembly of the median fronts 12 and lower 12 between them.

The front 20 of each of the drawers 12 and 13 comprises a front face 31, a rear face 32, an upper face 33 and a lower face 34 defining an interior space.

In the embodiment shown, the reversible assembly means comprise two identical assemblies each disposed in the vicinity of a side wall 15 of the drawers 12, 13, and one of these will now be described.

The lower face 34 of the front 20 of the middle spool 12 has a first orifice 41 and the upper face 33 of the front 20 of the lower spool 13 has a second orifice 42. These two orifices 41, 42 have substantially the same axis 43 vertical - when the facades 20 are in the same plane.

In the rear face 32 of the middle spool 12 is formed an L-shaped aperture 35. The aperture 35 has a substantially horizontal arm 36 and a substantially vertical arm 37 which extends downwardly from the substantially horizontal arm 36. The lower edge of the branch 36 may comprise a lug 38, substantially at the angle between the two branches 36, 37.

In the interior space of the front wall 20 of the median drawer 12 is fixed a U-shaped profile 44. The profile 44 has a base 45 located in a plane (Y, Z) and which can be fixed against the rear face 32 of the facade 20. The profile 44 also has two wings extending in a horizontal plane towards the front face 31, namely an upper wing 46 and a lower wing 47. In each of the wings 46, 47 is formed a hole 48, the holes 48 having substantially the same axis 43 vertical as the orifice 41.

A member 50 is permanently mounted on the middle spool 12. The member 50 has an L shape and comprises a substantially vertical locking arm 51 which is permanently engaged in the holes 48 of the flanges 46, 47 of the profile 44, and a substantially horizontal actuating arm 52 which protrudes inwardly of the middle spool 12 by the light 35.

The member 50 can occupy a retracted position, illustrated on the figure 7b . In this position, the actuating arm 52 of the member 50 is located in the substantially horizontal branch 36 of the lumen 35, and the locking arm 51 is not engaged in the second orifice 42 of the drawer front 20 lower 13. The median drawers 12 and lower 13 are separated. The member 50 is held in this position because the actuating arm 52 abuts against the lower edge of the substantially horizontal branch 36 of the slot 35, and is in abutment with the pin 38 preventing an inadvertent movement of the organ 50.

Most of the reversible assembly means of the drawers 12, 13 is located in the interior space of the frontage 20 of the middle spool 12, with the exception of at least a portion of the actuating arm 52 of the body 50 which protrudes inwardly of the casing 2, and can thus be grasped and manipulated by a person.

A person can thus slightly raise the actuating arm 52 to be able to turn the member 50 past the lug 38, until the actuating arm 52 is located substantially in a vertical plane containing the branch 37 substantially vertical light 35. The member 50 is then in the position illustrated on the Figure 7c .

The member 50 will then move vertically until the actuating arm 52 bears against the lower edge of the substantially vertical branch 37 of the slot 35, as shown in FIG. figure 7d . The member 50 is guided in this movement by the holes 48 in which the locking arm 51 is engaged. figure 7d corresponds to a protruding position of the member 50: the locking arm 51 is then engaged in the orifices 41, 42, the median 12 and lower 13 drawers being then assembled.

Thus, the invention provides a decisive improvement to the prior art, providing a piece of furniture that can be easily and quickly customizable according to the needs of the user.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example but that it includes all the technical equivalents and variants of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims (9)

Furniture comprising: - a box substantially parallelepipedic (2) having a front face (7) open; at least first and second drawers (12, 13) mounted in the casing (2) slidably along a longitudinal direction (X) between an open position and a closed position, each of said drawers (12, 13); ) having a peripheral body and a facade (20) which is able to partially close the front face (7) of the box (2) when the slide (12, 13) is in the closed position, the first slide (12) being disposed at the above the second drawer (13), the front (20) of the first drawer (12) being substantially adjacent to the front (20) of the second drawer (13), in the closed position of the drawers (12, 13);
characterized in that - the first drawer (12) has a bottom wall (14) which is removably mounted on the peripheral body of the first drawer (12); - The cabinet (1) comprises reversible assembly means (50, 41, 42) of the first and second drawers (12, 13) in a position such that their facades (20) are located substantially in the same plane; - and the first drawer (12) comprises a receiving device (26) of at least one suspended file (22), said receiving device (26) of at least one suspended file (22) comprising two lateral supports on which can rest lateral hooks (25) of a suspended file (2). Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the facades (20) of the first and second drawers (12, 13) have substantially the same height. Furniture according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least three drawers, namely an upper drawer (11), a median drawer constituted by the first drawer (12), and a lower drawer constituted by the second drawer (13). Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reversible assembly means comprise at least one member (50) permanently mounted on one of the first and second drawers (12, 13), movably enter : a protruding position in which said member (50) cooperates with the other of the first and second drawers (13, 12), the first and second drawers (12, 13) being then assembled; - And a retracted position in which the first and second drawers (12, 13) are separated. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the reversible assembly means (50, 41, 42) are designed to allow the assembly of the facades (20) of the first and second drawers (12, 13). between them. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the front (20) of each of the first and second drawers (12, 13) comprises a front face (31) and a rear face (32) defining an interior space , the reversible assembly means comprising a portion located in said inner space and a portion projecting inwardly of the box (2), so as to be maneuvered by a person. Furniture according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that : said member (50) has an L shape and comprises a substantially vertical locking arm (51) capable of being engaged in a first orifice (41) formed in a horizontal wall (33) of the first slide (12) and in a second orifice (42) formed in a horizontal wall (34) of the second slide (13), and a substantially horizontal actuating arm (52) adapted to be grasped by a person; - and that of the first and second drawers (12, 13) on which is mounted the member (50) comprises a vertical wall (32) in which is formed an L-shaped lumen (35) having a substantially horizontal branch ( 36) in which is located the actuating arm (52) of the member (50) when the member (50) is in the retracted position, and a substantially vertical branch (37) which extends downwards from the substantially horizontal branch (36) and wherein is located the actuating arm (52) of the member (50) when the member (50) is in the projecting position. Furniture according to one of claims 4 to 7, when dependent on claim 6, characterized in that it comprises means (44, 48) for guiding the movement of the member (50) between its projecting positions. and retracted, said guide means being located in said interior space. Furniture according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the bottom wall (14) of the lowest drawer (13) of the box (2) is spaced vertically from the bottom wall (4) of the box (2) , so that there is formed between said walls (14, 4) a housing (21) adapted to receive the bottom wall (14) of the first drawer (12).

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