EP3773076B1

EP3773076B1 - Support structure for a furnishing component and corresponding production method

Info

Publication number: EP3773076B1
Application number: EP19721863.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gabriele FONTANEL
Original assignee: Nadir Srl
Current assignee: Nadir Srl
Priority date: 2018-04-05
Filing date: 2019-04-05
Publication date: 2022-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-05
Also published as: WO2019193618A1; IT201800004252A1; EP3773076A1

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a versatile support structure to make a furnishing component, such as a door or a panel, for wardrobes, sideboards, furniture pieces, closets, or suchlike. It is not excluded, however, that the present invention can also be used to make partition walls, door or window frames, shutters, shower stalls, or other.
The present invention also concerns the corresponding method to make a furnishing component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Support structures to make furnishing components are known, such as panels or doors, generally defined by a frame, with a frame shape to which a panel is attached.
The frame is usually defined by the connection of profiled elements with oblong development and connected to each other.
Hinging and/or sliding elements are also associated with the support structure so the furnishing component can rotate around them and allow the panel to be opened/closed.
The panel is also provided with a gripping portion, which in some known solutions can be made along the entire longitudinal development of one edge of the panel. Solutions are known, for example, in which one of the profiled elements defining the support structure of the panel is suitably shaped so as to define the gripping portion.
It is also known that for different application requirements, the production of different panels which have the gripping portions positioned on a different edge is often required. By way of example only, a wardrobe with two panels is for example possible, in which in a first panel the gripping portion is positioned on the lower longitudinal edge of the panel itself, while in the second panel the gripping portion is positioned on the upper and/or lateral longitudinal edge of the panel itself.
There are also application requirements in which the gripping portion of a panel can be made protruding with respect to the support frame of the panel itself, or application requirements in which the gripping portion is completely retracted with respect to the support frame.
It is also a further need of a producer of furnishing components, such as panels, to make available gripping portions which have very different forms and shapes according to the specific applications required.
The different positioning possibility, and the different configuration of the gripping portion, therefore, require a manufacturer of panels to have available, on each occasion, a plurality of types of profiled elements that can be adapted, on each occasion, to the specific application requirements.
This entails considerable management and storage costs, as well as requiring large storage and classification spaces for the different profiled elements.
Furthermore, due to the different conformation of the gripping portions, different processes for assembling the profiled elements are demanded of operators, on each occasion, therefore requiring an increase in the assembly time of the panel.
It is also known that in field of the production of panels or doors, these can have different aesthetic configurations and therefore the panel that is associated with the support structure can be made with different materials, can have different surface finishings, as well as different colors.
One of the disadvantages that is often encountered is that, due to the different configuration of the panel, there is the need for a different method to connect it to the support structure, and sometimes also a different specific conformation of the profiled elements defining the support structure.
There is therefore the need to provide a support structure for a furnishing component, such as a panel or a door, which overcomes at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.
One purpose of the present invention is to provide a support structure for a furnishing component which is simple and economical to make.
It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide a support structure obtained from a reduced number of types of components which, when suitably combined with one another, allow to obtain furnishing components of different types.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a support structure for a furnishing component which can be adapted to a large number of configurations.
Another purpose is to perfect a method to produce a support structure that is easy and quick to carry out.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide support structures in which one or more flaps of the support structure are not visible following the application of the covering panel.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
IT UD20 130 048 A1 discloses a support structure for a furnishing component comprising a first frame, with a frame shape and defined by first profiled elements connected to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
According to the above purposes, a support structure for a furnishing component, according to the present invention, comprises a first frame, with a frame shape and defined by first profiled elements connected to each other. The first profiled elements are provided, in one of their walls that is internal during use, with at least a first longitudinal seating and with at least a second longitudinal seating distanced from each other in a direction transverse to the oblong development of the first profiled element.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the support structure comprises a second frame, connected to the first frame and comprising, in its turn, at least a second substantially plate-shaped profiled element and provided with a first surface positioned resting on at least part of the wall of the first profiled element and a second surface, opposite the first surface, on which a covering panel can be positioned.
At least a protruding portion is made in the first surface which can be positioned, alternatively, in a first position in which the protruding portion is disposed in the first longitudinal seating, or in a second position in which the protruding portion is disposed in the second longitudinal seating and part of the first surface defines a gripping portion for a user.
The second plate-shaped profiled element, thanks to its particular conformation and to the particular conformation of the longitudinal seatings of the first profiled elements, can perform, as well as a function of containing the covering panel, also a gripping function, on one or more of the lateral edges of the support structure. Furthermore, the positioning of the protruding portion of the second profiled element in the first seating or in the second longitudinal seating of the first profiled element allows to position the gripping portion in a more or less protruding condition with respect to the first frame, thus obtaining a different application configuration.
Furthermore, by means of the present invention it is possible to provide support structures which are interchangeable and can be adapted to various requirements of shape, color, and/or material, even during production. The support structures are also easy and quick to replace.
According to possible embodiments, the second profiled element can be provided with a folded flap intended to cover, at least partly, a perimeter edge of the covering panel.
Embodiments of the present invention also concern a furnishing component comprising a support structure as described above and a covering panel connected to the support structure and positioned resting on the first surface of the first profiled elements.
Embodiments of the present invention also concern a method to make a versatile support structure as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a section view of the support structure according to the present invention in a first configuration;
fig. 2 is a section view of the support structure according to the present invention in a second configuration;
fig. 3 is a variant of fig. 1;
fig. 4 is an exploded view of a first component of the present invention;
fig. 5 is an exploded view of a second component of the present invention;
fig. 6 is an exploded view of the first and second component of fig. 4 and fig. 5;
fig. 7 is a front view of a possible embodiment of the present invention;
figs. 8, 9 and 10 are section views respectively along section lines VIII-VIII, IX-IX and X-X of fig. 7;
fig. 11 is a front view of a second embodiment of the support structure of fig. 1;
figs. 12, 13 and 14 are section views respectively along the section lines XII-XII, XIII-XIII and XIV-XIV of fig. 11;
fig. 15 is an exploded view of part of fig. 11;
figs. 16-20 are variants of the support structure of figs. 1 and 2.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached drawings, a support structure for a furnishing component 100 according to the present invention is indicated with the reference number 10.
The support structure 10 comprises a first frame 11, with a frame shape and defined by first profiled elements 12 connected to each other.
Each of the first profiled elements 12 is provided, in one of their walls 13 that is internal during use, with at least a first longitudinal seating 14a and at least a second longitudinal seating 14b.
The first longitudinal seating 14a and the second longitudinal seating 14b are distanced from each other in a direction transverse to the oblong development of the first profiled element 12, that is, in the direction of the width of the first profiled element, as shown by way of example in fig. 4.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the support structure 10 comprises a second frame 15, connected to the first frame 11 and comprising, in its turn, at least a substantially plate-shaped second profiled element 16.
The second frame 15 is associated, during use, with a covering panel 30 to define the furnishing component 100.
According to possible solutions, the second frame 15 can be defined solely by the second profiled elements 16 which are reciprocally connected to each other (figs. 7-10).
Each second profiled element 16 is provided with a first surface 18 positioned, during use, resting on at least part of the wall 13 of the first profiled element 12 and a second surface 22, opposite the first surface 18, on which the covering panel 30 can be positioned.
According to one aspect of the present invention, at least a protruding portion 17 is made in the first surface 18 of the second profiled element 16, able to be positioned alternatively in a first position in which the protruding portion 17 is disposed in the first longitudinal seating 14a (figs. 1, 8, 10, 12, 18-20), or in a second position in which the protruding portion 17 is disposed in the second longitudinal seating 14b and part of the first surface 18 defines a gripping portion 18a (figs. 2, 9, 13, 16, 17).
According to possible embodiments, shown by way of example only in fig. 1, when the second profiled element 16 is in the first position, an external longitudinal edge 19 of the first profiled element 12 is substantially aligned with, that is, substantially flush with, a first external edge 20 of the second profiled element 16.
According to possible embodiments, the external longitudinal edge 19 and the first external edge 20, when the protruding portion 17 of the second profiled element 16 is positioned in the first longitudinal seating 14a, can lie on the same plane, that is, they can be coplanar.
According to a possible solution of the invention, when the second profiled element 16 is in its first position, there is a reciprocal and complete overlapping of the first profiled element 12 with the second profiled element 16.
Instead, when the second profiled element 16 is in the second position (fig. 2), the first external edge 20 is positioned offset with respect to the longitudinal edge 19 of the first profiled element 12.
In this second position, the second profiled element 16 is installed protruding with respect to the first profiled element 12, so as to define the gripping portion 18a which develops along the entire longitudinal extension of the first profiled element 12.
According to possible embodiments, the at least one protruding portion 17 of the second profiled element 16 can be made in correspondence with an external second edge 23, opposite the first external edge 20, of the second profiled element 16.
According to a possible solution, the protruding portion 17 can be defined by at least one rib which extends for the entire length of the second profiled element 16.
According to possible solutions, the protruding portion 17 can comprise a plurality of ribs, in the case shown two longitudinal ribs.
According to possible embodiments, shown for example in figs. 1 and 2, the first external edge 20 of the second profiled element 16 can be provided with a flap 21 which extends protruding transversally with respect to the second surface 22 of the second profiled element 16.
According to possible embodiments, the flap 21 of the second profiled element 16 can have different shapes as shown in figs. 16-19.
Alternatively, the second profiled element 16 can be without the flap 21 (fig. 20).
According to possible embodiments, the first profiled element 12 can be provided with an abutment protrusion 26, disposed in correspondence with a longitudinal edge opposite the longitudinal edge 19 and protruding with respect to the wall 13. When the second profiled element 16 is in its first position, the second edge 23, opposite the first external edge 20, of the second profiled element 16 is positioned in abutment with the abutment protrusion 26.
According to possible embodiments, the first profiled elements 12 or the second profiled elements 16 can be connected together to define respectively the first frame 11 and the second frame 15, in correspondence with respective ends. The ends can be suitably shaped so as to guarantee adequate reciprocal overlapping and such as to define a precise reciprocal positioning of the profiled elements. By way of example only, the ends can have interface surfaces inclined at an angle of 45° with respect to the oblong development of the profiled elements.
The interface surfaces can also be provided with curved shaped portions (figs. 4 and 5) to prevent reciprocal sliding.
As shown in fig. 4, the first profiled elements 12 can be connected to each other to make the first frame 11 by means of an attachment plate 32 (see fig. 4).
According to possible embodiments, the first profiled elements 12 are provided with a compartment 33 which extends for the entire length of the first profiled element and in which during use the attachment plate 32 is inserted.
The attachment plate 32 can be attached to the first profiled elements 12 by means of the connection elements 29, for example threaded.
Specifically, the attachment plate 32 is inserted into part of the compartment 33 of one of the first profiled elements 12 and into part of the compartment 33 of the first profiled element 12 adjacent to it.
According to possible solutions, the second profiled elements 16 are reciprocally connected by means of a connection bracket 25.
The connection bracket 25 can be attached to the second profiled elements 16 by means of connection elements 39, for example threaded.
According to possible embodiments, the second profiled elements 16 can be provided with two protruding portions 17 between which a seating 24 is defined.
The connection bracket 25 can be positioned and attached in the seating 24.
According to possible embodiments, the connection bracket 25 is L-shaped and has holes 34 made in each end in order to be attached to the second profiled elements 16.
The connection bracket 25 is also provided with a further hole 35 to install the first frame 11 to the second frame 15 as described below.
According to a possible solution, the second frame 15 can be connected to the first frame 11 by connection elements 40, for example threaded (figs. 6 and 15).
According to possible embodiments, the second frame 15 can first be attached to the first frame 11 and, subsequently, the covering panel 30 is attached to the second frame 15, in correspondence with the second surfaces 22 of the second profiled elements 16.
In this way, advantageously, the threaded elements 29 located on the second frame 15 will not be visible to a user located frontally, once the covering panel 30 has been installed.
According to variant embodiments, not shown, the second frame 15 can be connected to the first frame 11 by means of removable connection means.
According to this variant embodiment, it can be provided to first connect the panel 30 to the second frame 15 and subsequently, by means of the removable connection means, connect the second frame 15 to the first frame 11 with the panel 30 applied.
This allows to change the panel 30 simply by replacing the second frame 15.
By way of example, figs. 6-10 show a possible embodiment of the support structure 10 according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, the support structure 10 is configured so as to have a single gripping portion 18a in correspondence with an upper edge of the support structure 10 (figs. 7 and 9).
Instead, the second profiled elements 16 of the remaining sides of the support structure 10 (see figs. 8 and 10) are positioned with their protruding portion 17 in the first longitudinal groove 14a. For practical reasons, we have chosen not to represent a section view of the left edge of the structure 10 shown in fig. 7 as it is identical to fig. 10.
With reference to figs. 11-15, a further embodiment of the support structure 10 is shown.
In this case, the support structure 10 is configured so as to have a single gripping portion 18a in correspondence with a lateral edge of the support structure 10, during use, on the right in fig. 11. This is possible because, as shown in fig. 13, the second profiled element 16 is located in the second longitudinal groove 14b of the first profiled element 12.
The second profiled elements 16 of the remaining edges of the support structure 10 (see fig. 12) are positioned, instead, with their protruding portion 17 in the first longitudinal groove 14a. For practical reasons, we have chosen not to represent a section view of the lower side of the structure 10 shown in fig. 11 as it is identical to fig. 12.
According to possible embodiments, the second frame 15 can comprise at least a third profiled element 31, shown by way of example in figs. 11, 14 and 15.
In particular, the third profiled element 31 is substantially plate-shaped and is provided with a first surface 36 provided with protruding parts 37, and a second surface 38, opposite the first surface 36. In particular, the protruding parts 37 can have a conformation substantially the same as that of the protruding portions 17 described above.
The third profiled element 31 is connected to at least one of the second profiled elements 16 of the second frame 15 so that the second surface 22 of the second profiled element 16 is continuous and coplanar with the second surface 38 of the third profiled element 31. By doing so, it is possible to obtain a substantially flat and continuous surface, on which to position the covering panel 30.
The present invention therefore allows to make at least a gripping portion 18a on one or more sides of the support structure 10 by connecting one or more second profiled elements 16 which have their own protruding portions 17 located in the second longitudinal seating 14b.
By means of the present invention, therefore, it is possible to produce support structures 10 in which the gripping portion can be moved and/or modified easily and quickly.
Furthermore, with the same combination of first profiled elements 12 and of second profiled elements 16 it is possible to obtain furnishing components 100, or panels, even completely without gripping portions 18a, which can be possibly combined with other furnishing components 100, or panels, which are instead provided with gripping portions 18a.
According to possible embodiments, not shown, one or more stiffening cross-pieces can be associated with the first frame 11.
The stiffening cross-pieces can be used to install, for example, refrigerators, television sets, or other electrical appliances on the support structure.
Alternatively, the stiffening cross-pieces can be used to make drawers on the support structure 10.
According to possible embodiments, the first profiled elements 12 can be provided with holes 28 (fig. 4) to house hinging and/or sliding elements, not shown.
According to possible embodiments, the first frame 11 and the second frame 15 can be made with the same materials and/or colors.
According to variant embodiments, the first frame 11 and the second frame 15 can be made with different materials and/or colors.
According to possible embodiments, the first frame 11 and/or the second frame 15 can be made of metal material, for example aluminum, steel or its alloys or with polymeric material, for example polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or composite material.
Embodiments of the present invention also concern a method to make a support structure 10 for a furnishing component 100, which comprises making the first frame 11, with a frame shape and defined by the connection of the first profiled elements 12 provided, in their wall 13 that is internal during use, with the first longitudinal seating 14a and with at least the second longitudinal seating 14b distanced from each other in a direction transverse to the oblong development of the first profiled element 12.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the method also comprises making a second frame 15 provided with at least a second substantially plate-shaped profiled element 16 and provided with a first surface 18 having at least a protruding portion 17, and a second surface 22, opposite the first surface 18, on which a covering panel 30 can be positioned.
Furthermore, the method comprises the connection of the second frame 15 to the first frame 11, positioning the first surface 18 of the second profiled element 16 resting on at least part of the wall 13 of the first profiled element 12, and disposing the protruding portion 17, alternatively, in a first position in which the protruding portion 17 is disposed in the first longitudinal seating 14a, or in a second position in which the protruding portion 17 is disposed in the second longitudinal seating 14b and part of the first surface 18 defines a gripping portion 18a.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the furnishing component and to the corresponding production method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of furnishing component and corresponding production method, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.
In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

Support structure for a furnishing component (100) comprising a first frame (11), with a frame shape and defined by first profiled elements (12) connected to each other, wherein said first profiled elements (12) are provided, in one of their walls (13) that is internal during use, with a first longitudinal seating (14a) and with at least a second longitudinal seating (14b) distanced from each other in a direction transverse to the oblong development of said first profiled element (12), characterized in that it comprises a second frame (15), connected to said first frame (11) and comprising, in its turn, at least a second substantially plate-shaped profiled element (16) and provided with a first surface (18) positioned resting on at least part of said wall (13) of said first profiled element (12) and a second surface (22), opposite said first surface (18), on which a covering panel (30) can be positioned, and in that at least a protruding portion (17) is made in said first surface (18), able to be positioned alternatively in a first position in which said protruding portion (17) is disposed in said first longitudinal seating (14a), or in a second position in which said protruding portion (17) is disposed in said second longitudinal seating (14b) and part of said first surface (18) defines a gripping portion (18a).
Support structure as in claim 1, characterized in that when the second profiled element (16) is in its first position, there is a reciprocal and complete overlapping of the first profiled element (12) over the second profiled element (16).
Support structure as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in said first position, an external longitudinal edge (19) of said first profiled element (12) is aligned with a first external edge (20) of said second profiled element (16), and in said second position said first external edge (20) is positioned offset with respect to said longitudinal edge (19) of said first profiled element (12).
Support structure as in claim 3, characterized in that said first external edge (20) is provided with a flap (21) that extends protruding transversally with respect to said second surface (22) of said second profiled element (16).
Support structure as in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said protruding portion (17) of said second profiled element (16) is positioned in correspondence with an external second edge (23), opposite said first external edge (20) of said second profiled element (16).
Support structure as in claim 5, characterized in that said first profiled element (12) is provided with an abutment protrusion (26), disposed in correspondence with a longitudinal edge opposite said longitudinal edge (19) and protruding with respect to said wall (13), and in that when the second profiled element (16) is in the first position, said abutment protrusion (26) is positioned in abutment with said second edge (23), opposite said first external edge (20), of the second profiled element (16).
Support structure as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said second frame (15) comprises a third profiled element (31), substantially plate-shaped and provided with a first surface (36) provided with protruding parts (37) and a second surface (38) opposite said first surface (36), and in that said third profiled element (31) is connected to at least one of the second profiled elements (16) of the second frame (15) so that said second surface (22) of the second profiled element (16) is continuous and coplanar with said second surface (38) of the third profiled element (31).
Support structure as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said second frame (15) is removably connected to said first frame (11).
Furnishing component comprising a support structure (10) as in any claim hereinbefore and a covering panel (30) positioned on the second surface (22) of said second frame (15).
Method to make a support structure (10) for a furnishing component (100), comprising making a first frame (11) with a frame shape and defined by the connection of first profiled elements (12) provided, in one of their walls (13) that is internal during use, with a first longitudinal seating (14a) and with at least a second longitudinal seating (14b), distanced from each other in a direction transverse to the oblong development of said first profiled element (12), characterized in that it comprises making a second frame (15), provided with at least a second substantially plate-shaped profiled element (16) and provided with a first surface (18) having at least a protruding portion (17), and a second surface (22), opposite the first surface (18), on which a covering panel (30) can be positioned, and in that it comprises the connection of said second frame (15) to said first frame (11), positioning said first surface (18) of said second profiled element (16) resting on at least part of said wall (13) of said first profiled element (12), and disposing said protruding portion (17), alternatively, in a first position in which said protruding portion (17) is disposed in said first longitudinal seating (14a) or in a second position in which said protruding portion (17) is disposed in said second longitudinal seating (14b) and part of said first surface (18) defines a gripping portion (18a).