EP3845395A1

EP3845395A1 - Efficient assembly for the realization of robust articles

Info

Publication number: EP3845395A1
Application number: EP20207093.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giulia Maran; Michele Fiorin; Armido Fiorin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-01-02
Filing date: 2020-11-12
Publication date: 2021-07-07
Also published as: IT202000000010A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an efficient assembly which allows the manufacturing of particularly robust and resistant articles, even if made of materials per se relatively soft, for example articles entirely made of cardboard, and even if said articles are of remarkable dimensions.As an example, the present assembly allows to assembly a series of flat elements, made of cardboard, such that creating a plant vase which house a plant, the latter also being made of several layers of cardboard, the whole being provided with particular robustness and resistance therefore obtaining a three-dimensional vase and plant of cardboard being absolutely well stable, the whole without using glue, adhesives, or other attachment means.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of assemblies, in particular, but not limited to, assemblies of elements preferably consisting of cardboard, which allows the manufacturing of particularly robust and resistant three-dimensional articles or objects.

State of the art

Nowadays, in order to reduce expenses related to object transportation it is convenient that these objects are made with removable pieces which can be packed with a reduced overall dimension and then being assembled in those Countries or places wherein they are marketed.
US2019297837 discloses a box group and, more particularly, a group of a paper box for pets, such as cats or similar.
FR1128129A discloses an assembly wherein on a support base (1), through four separated slots some attachment elements (2-4) of different dimensions are inserted so as to create an assembly allowing to place some illustrations on different half-curved planes on different half-curved planes (see figures 1 and 2 of such document).
"3D CARDBOARD APPLES - The Handmade Crafts", published on the web on October 21th, 2016 discloses a multilayer object of cardboard having the apple shape with an insert.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a suitable assembly which allows to easily assembly articles or objects and to provide them with particular robustness and resistance. In particular, a further problem is to manufacture particularly robust articles or objects even when they consist only of relatively soft materials such as cardboard and/or they are articles or objects of remarkable dimensions.
Additionally, it would be desirable to manufacture the article or object without using glues, adhesives, or other attachment means.
Moreover, a further problem is to manufacture three-dimensional articles or objects without using crossed-interlockings, which provide indeed the three-dimensionality but not, contextually, suitable robustness.
According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly should provide an article having the features of a flower or plant vase and three-dimensional plants or flowers, the whole being made of cardboard, without glues, adhesives or other attachment elements, and provided with robustness, resistance and environmentally-friendly sustainable
Therefore, a current problem is to have suitable assemblies, which allows to reduce the overall dimension of transport packaging.
Finally, it would be advantageous that the assembly is easily, rapidly and conveniently assembled.
Such problem is solved by the assembly of the present invention and the article or object comprising such assembly, as well as by the method for manufacturing thereof, as outlined by the attached claims, whose definitions are integral part of the present description.
Further characteristics and advantages of the assembly of the invention or and of the objects and articles comprising said assembly will be evident from the description of example embodiments of the invention, provided as an indication of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be described in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings of an embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded half-perspective view of the assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 shows a partially exploded half-perspective view of the assembly according to an embodiment as showed in Fig. 1, wherein the exploded assembly of Fig. 1 has been partially assembled.
Fig. 3 shows a front perspective view of the assembly (13) which is completely assembled, according to a preferred embodiment.
Fig. 4 shows a top view of the assembly (13) of Fig. 3, which is completely assembled, according to a preferred embodiment.
Fig. 5 shows a detail view of a flat assembly element (7) comprising the slot (10) which has a rectangular section (1) and two or more rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) where the dotted lines in Fig. 5 highlight the rectangular shape of the slots 1, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B. It should be noted that the place occupied by the dotted line is empty. Indeed, the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other on their longest side, remaining parallel and without overlappings. Furthermore, the rectangular sections 2-A and 2-B, in addition to be joined to rectangular sections 3-A and 3-B, respectively, they are also joined on their longest side, from opposite parts, to the longest side of rectangular section 1, remaining parallel and without overlappings with the rectangular section 1. The interlocking elements (1', 2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') occupy one by one such slots, respectively.
Fig. 6 shows a detail view of a flat assembly element (8) comprising the slot (11) which has the rectangular section (1).
Fig. 7 shows the assembly (13), in particular, a detail view of a flat assembly element (7) wherein the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side, they are parallel and not overlapping, and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14). In such case, it is evident that said straight line (14) is not perpendicular to the longest side of the rectangular section (1).
Fig. 8 shows the assembly (13), in particular, a detail view of a flat assembly element (7) wherein the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side, are parallel and not overlapping, and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14), where said straight line (14) is perpendicular to the longest side of the rectangular section (1).

Detailed description of the invention

For the scopes of the present document, the terms "higher", "lower", "right", "left", "rear", "forward", "vertical", "horizontal" and related derivatives refer to oriented concepts in Fig. 1.
However, it should be understood that the concepts can have various alternative orientations, unless expressly otherwise specified.
As used in the present document, the term "and / or", if used in the list of two or more articles, means that any one of the listed articles can be used alone, or in any combination of two or more of the listed articles.
For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B and / or C, the composition can contain only A; only B; only C; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B and C in combination.
The terms "comprises", "comprising" or any other variation thereof, intend to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, use, article or object comprising a list of elements does not include only those elements, but it can include other elements, not expressly listed or inherent to such process, use or apparatus.
An element followed by "comprises...a..." does not exclude, without further limitations, the presence of further identical elements in the process, use or apparatus comprising the element.
An object of the present invention is an assembly (13) comprising:

a base (12) where, said base (12) comprises
- optionally, a lower part (block 8) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (8) horizontally disposed on top of each other, where said elements have a slot (11) wherein said slot has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') vertically disposed within the slot (11);
- a higher part (block 7) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (7) horizontally disposed on top of each other, where said elements have a slot (10) wherein said slot has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') and two or more rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) adjacent and parallel to the rectangular section (1) adapted to house two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, where the number of the rectangular sections is numerically equal to the interlocking elements;
- optionally, an inner-hollow element (block 6) comprising one or more inner-hollow flat assembly elements (6) disposed over the higher part (block 7);
an interlocking element (1') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, optionally, within the slot (11);
and two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10).

In fact, it has been surprisingly found that the assembly (13) allows to manufacture articles or objects of particular robustness and resistance, even when these consist entirely of relatively-soft material such as cardboard, and, without using glues, adhesives and other attachment elements. In particular, the plurality of flat assembly elements (7) horizontally disposed on top of each other provides high robustness to the base which is capable of sustain well rigidly the interlocking element (1') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and optionally (11), and the interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B'), vertically disposed within the slot (10).
The term adjacent means that the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side, or they are joined to each other through or by their longest side remaining parallel from each other and not overlapping to each other. In particular, the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are sequentially joined to each other for their longest side, or they are joined to each other through or by their longest side remaining parallel from each other and not overlapping to each other. More in particular, the rectangular sections (2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 5-A), as well as rectangular sections (2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-B), are sequentially joined to each other for their longest side, or they are sequentially joined to each other through or by their longest side remaining parallel from each other and not overlapping to each other. The term sequentially means in sequence, or section 2-A is joined to section 3-A, which is joined to section 4-A, which is joined to section 5-A. Furthermore, section 2-A, as well as section 2-B, are also joined, by opposite parts, to section 1 for their longest side, or they are joined to each other through or by their longest side remaining parallel from each other and not overlapping with section 1 (see Fig. 5, 7 and 8).
It is to be noted that the higher part (block 7) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (7) horizontally disposed on top of each other, where said elements have a slot (10) wherein said slot has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1'), where the interlocking element (1') is vertically disposed within the slot (10).
In the part of the text relating to two or more rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) adjacent and parallel to the rectangular section (1) adapted to house two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, where the number of the rectangular sections is numerically equal to the interlocking elements; it is to be noted that number of the rectangular sections means that of the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) adjacent and parallel to the rectangular section (1).
In particular, due to the particular type of slot (10), the combination between the plurality of flat assembly elements (7) horizontally disposed on top of each other, interlocking element (1') vertically disposed within the slot (10), together with two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') which are also vertically disposed within the slot (10), is responsible for providing high robustness to the interlocking (see the combination of Fig. 1 and 2 of the invention). In particular, such effect is much more marked as more interlocking elements are present, since, due to the fact that the interlocking elements place and/or at least partially overlap between each other for their longest base side, sustaining each other, provide further robustness to the assembly. Such robustness effect is even more marked when the interlocking element (1') as well as being vertically disposed within the slot (10), is vertically disposed also within the slot (11).
Preferably, the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14) (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 8).
More preferably, the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14), where said straight line (14) is perpendicular to the longest side of the rectangular section (1) (see Fig. 8).
Furthermore, surprisingly, the interlocking element allows the manufacture of three-dimensional vertical structures, due to the overlapping of the various interlocking elements. The three-dimensionality is in fact obtained by overlapping the various interlocking elements and not by the interlocking of these with elements which are perpendicular to them, according to the so-called crossed-interlocking. Therefore, the interlocking of the invention, in an exemplary form, allows to manufacture, through the overlapping of various interlocking elements, three-dimensional objects, for example, three-dimensional plants or flowers (see, for example, Fig. 2). It should be observed that said three-dimensional objects are particularly robust not only at their base, but also at structures obtained by overlapping the interlocking elements since the multilayer obtained is well more robust with respect to structure obtained by the perpendicular interlocking of two interlocking elements.
According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly allows to manufacture an article, which is a flower vase with a plant of flowers, the whole made of completely recyclable and environmentally-friendly sustainable material such as, for example, the cardboard.
According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly comprises a lower part (block 8) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (8) horizontally disposed on top of each other, where said elements have a slot (11) wherein said slot has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') vertically disposed within the slot (11). In fact, in such configuration, the assembly (13) has the maximum robustness and the best ease of manufacturing.
The disclosure will be better understood an object different from those above-mentioned will be evident when considering the following detailed description of the same.
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular figures 1 to 4, an assembly incorporating the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure, which is generally designated by the reference number (13), will be disclosed.
As better illustrated in Fig. 1 to 4, the assembly generally comprises a base (12) where, said base (12) comprises a higher part (block 7) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (7) horizontally disposed on top of each other, where said elements have a slot (10) wherein said slot has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') and two or more rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) adjacent and parallel to the rectangular section (1) adapted to house two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, where the number of the rectangular sections is numerically equal to the interlocking elements. It should be intended that the rectangular sections named 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B are provided by way of example only, wherein only two of them (2-A and 2-B) to several dozen of said slots can be provided.
Furthermore, the assembly as well as the interlocking element (1') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and optionally within the slot (11) provides two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10). Also in this case, the interlocking elements named 2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B' are provided by way of example only, wherein only two of them (2-A' and 2-B') to several dozen of said slots can be provided of said interlocking elements.
According to an embodiment, optionally it is possible to attach and/or glue on one or more interlocking elements (1', 2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B'), at a height higher than block 8 and 7 of base 12, further elements, for example, flat or three-dimensional elements, for example, three-dimensional leafs of a plant.
With reference to Fig. 3, the assembly (13) comprise the support base (2) which comprises

optionally, a lower block (block 8) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (8) horizontally disposed on top of each other,
a higher block (block 7) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (7) horizontally disposed on top of each other, and,
optionally, an inner-hollow element (block 6) comprising one or more inner-hollow flat assembly elements (6) disposed over the higher block (block 7).

According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly (13) is manufactured without using glues, adhesive or other attachment elements.
According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly (13) comprises a plurality of flat assembly elements (7) horizontally disposed on top of each other, where said plurality consists of 3 to 100 elements of flat assemblies (7), preferably, from 5 to 50, more preferably from 6 to 30. The same applies to the optional plane plurality of flat assemblies (8).
According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly (13) provides that the slot (10) has 3 to 7 rectangular sections (1, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B) adjacent to each other or joined to each other for their longest side, remaining parallel to each other and not overlapping to each other.
The term adjacent means that the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side, or are joined through or by their longest side. Therefore, the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side and remaining parallel to each other and not overlapping to each other.
The rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are parallel to the rectangular section (1).
Therefore, the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side remaining parallel to each other, and not overlapping to each other, and also, parallel to the rectangular section (1).
Preferably, the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side, remaining parallel to each other and not overlapping to each other and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14) (see Fig. 7).
More preferably, the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side, remaining parallel to each other and not overlapping to each other and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14), where said straight line (14) is perpendicular to the longest side of the rectangular section (1) (see Fig. 8). In fact, this embodiment provides the maximum robustness, especially relating to the higher part of the assembly consists of attachment means.
The rectangular sections (2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 5-A) and the rectangular sections (2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-B) are therefore parallel, not overlapping and joined to each other by the longest side.
Preferably, the rectangular sections (2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 5-A) and the rectangular sections (2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-B) are therefore parallel, not overlapping and joined to each other by the longest side and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14) (see Fig. 7).
More preferably, the rectangular sections (2-A, 3-A, 4-A, 5-A) and the rectangular sections (2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-B) are therefore parallel, not overlapping and joined to each other by the longest side and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14), where said straight line (14) is perpendicular to the longest side of the rectangular section (1) (see Fig. 8). In fact, this embodiment provides the maximum robustness, especially relating to the higher part of the assembly, which consists of the attachment means.
The rectangular sections 2-A and 2-B, furthermore, are parallel, not overlapping and joined with the rectangular section 1, from opposite side, by their longest side.
The rectangular sections 2-A and 2-B, furthermore, are parallel, not overlapping and joined with the rectangular section 1, from opposite sides, by their longest side and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14), where said straight line (14) is perpendicular to the longest side of the rectangular section (1) (see Fig. 8).
In particular, section 2-A is joined for its longest side with the longest side of the section 3-A, the section 3-A is joined for its longest side with the longest side of the section 4-A, the section 4-A is joined for its longest side with the longest side of the section 5-A, remaining all parallel each other and not overlapping to each other.
Moreover, in particular, section 2-B is joined for its longest side with the longest side of the section 3-B, the section 3-B is joined for its longest side with the longest side of the section 4-B, the section 4-B is joined for its longest side with the longest side of the section 5-B, all remaining parallel each other and not overlapping to each other.
Sections 2-A, 2-B are also joined, from opposite parts, for their longest side with the longest side of section 1, remaining parallel to each other and with section 1 and not overlapping with section 1.
Therefore, accordingly, the two interlocking elements 2-A', 2-B', vertically disposed within the slot (10) place and/or overlap at least partially, from opposite sides, to the interlocking element (1'), the interlocking elements 3-A', 3-B' place and/or overlap at least partially, respectively, to the interlocking element 2-A' and 2-B', the interlocking elements 4-A', 4-B' place and/or overlap at least partially, respectively, to the interlocking element 3-A', 3-B', the interlocking elements 5-A', 5-B' place and/or overlap at least partially, respectively, to the interlocking element 4-A', 4-B' (see combination of figure 1 and figure 2). The interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') place and/or overlap therefore to each other for their longest base side.
The slot 10 is therefore a hole having a series of rectangular groovings or sections having various dimensions joined each other for their longest side.
According to a preferred embodiment, the slot (10) has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') and two or more rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) joined to each other by the longest side remaining parallel to each other, parallel to the rectangular section (1) and not overlapping to each other and adapted to house two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, where the number of the rectangular sections is numerically equal to the interlocking elements.
According to a more preferred embodiment, the slot (10) has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') and two or more rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) joined to each other by the longest side remaining parallel to each other, parallel to the rectangular section (1) and not overlapping to each other and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14), and adapted to house two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, where the number of the rectangular sections is numerically equal to the interlocking elements.
According to a more preferred embodiment, the slot (10) has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') and two or more rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) joined to each other by the longest side remaining parallel to each other, parallel to the rectangular section (1) and not overlapping to each other and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14), where said straight line (14) is perpendicular to the longest side of the rectangular section (1), and adapted to house two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, where the number of the rectangular sections is numerically equal to the interlocking elements.
According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly (13) provides from 3 to 7 interlocking elements (1', 2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B') adjacent to each other or joined to each other for their longest side, remaining parallel to each other and not overlapping to each other.
According to a preferred embodiment, all the rectangular sections (1, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) have the same width. Width of the rectangular section means the dimension of the shorter side of said rectangular section. Furthermore, preferably, said width is comprised from 0.3 to 4.0 cm, or, more preferably it is comprised from 0.5 to 2.0 cm, and even more preferably it is comprised from 1.0 to 1.2 cm.
According to a preferred embodiment, the rectangular section (1) has a length comprised from 1 to 100 cm, more preferably from 2 to 20 cm or from 5 to 10 cm. Length of the rectangular section means the dimension of the longest side of said rectangular section.
According to a preferred embodiment,

the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B) have the a length comprised between 70% and 90% with respect to the length of the rectangular section (1),
the rectangular sections (3-A, 3-B) have a length comprised between 60% and 80% with respect to the length of the rectangular section (1),
the rectangular sections (4-A, 4-B) have a length comprised between 50% and 70% with respect to the length of the rectangular section (1),
the rectangular sections (5-A, 5-B) have a length comprised between 40% and 60% with respect to the length of the rectangular section (1).

According to a more preferred embodiment,

the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B) have a length of 2 centimeters lower than the length of the rectangular section lower to the length of the rectangular section (1),
the rectangular sections (3-A, 3-B) have a length di 4 centimeters lower than the length of the rectangular section (1),
the rectangular sections (4-A, 4-B) have a length di 6 centimeters lower than the length of the rectangular section (1),
the rectangular sections (5-A, 5-B) have a length di 8 centimeters lower than the length of the rectangular section (1).

The elements of flat assemblies (7) and/or optionally (8) of the assembly (13) have a circular, ellipsoidal, square, rectangular shape or similar. According to a preferred embodiment, the flat assembly elements (7) and/or optionally (8) have a circular shape, since they allow to manufacture the assemblies whose base (12) has the shape, for example, of a flower or plant vase. Said flat assembly elements (7) and/or optionally (8) can each have shape and dimensions different from the others, thus allowing to make bases (12) having any shape, for example, but not limited to, vase, cylinder, inclined cylinder, cube, parallelepiped, inclined parallelepiped.
Also the interlocking elements (1', 2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') can have shapes and dimensions different from each other, thus manufacturing three-dimensional objects having suitable shapes, for example having a three-dimensional plant or flower shape.
According to a preferred embodiment, the interlocking elements (1', 2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') are flat interlocking elements.
According to a preferred embodiment, the interlocking elements (1', 2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') are typically provided with two roundings on at least one of the outer edges of the same, which form a coupling, which takes the partial V-shape. The rounding width is comprised from about 0.5 to about 3.0 cm, preferably from about 0.8 cm to about 2.0 cm, more preferably it is about 1.0 cm.
According to a preferred embodiment, in fact, the assembly (13) has the base (12) which takes the form of a plant or flower vase and wherein one or more interlocking elements are plant or flower-shaped.
The assembly (13) can be made of one or more types of materials among which paper material, such as the cardboard, or wood, plywood, glass, plexiglass, policarbonate, metal, stone, ceramic, for example tiles, MDF (medium-density fibreboard), HDF (high-density fibreboard), OSB (oriented strand board) or any other suitable material, and all combinations thereof.
According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly (13) can be entirely made of cardboard, plexiglass or policarbonate.
According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly (13) has the base (12) which takes the form of a plant or flower vase and wherein one or more interlocking elements are plant or flower-shaped, the whole being made of cardboard, without glues, adhesives or other attachment elements. In fact, it is provided with high robustness and resistance and it is environmentally-friendly sustainable.
Another object is a method for the manufacturing of an article or object comprising the assembly (13) as described above comprising the following steps:

a) optionally, inserting the interlocking element (1') having base with rectangular section (1) within the inner-hollow element (block 6);
b) inserting the interlocking element (1') within the rectangular section (1) of the plurality of the flat assembly elements (7) and optionally (8);
c) inserting, one by one, one or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') in the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) of the slot (10) of the entire plurality of the flat assembly elements (7).

According to a preferred embodiment, the method provides that in step b) the inserting of the interlocking element (1') within the rectangular section (1) of the plurality of the flat assembly elements (7) and optionally (8), is performed by inserting said interlocking element (1') within a flat assembly element (7) or optionally (8) one by one, until inserting all the flat assembly elements (7) and optionally (8).
According to an alternative manufacturing method of an article or object comprising the assembly (13) as described above, said method comprises the following steps:

A1) optionally, inserting all the interlocking elements as a whole (1', 2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') within the inner-hallow element (block 6);
B1) inserting all the interlocking elements as a whole (1', 2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') within the rectangular sections (1, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) of slot (10) of the entire plurality of the flat assembly elements (7) and, optionally, within the section (11) of the plurality of the flat assembly elements (8).

A further object is an article or object comprising the assembly (13) as described above, including the preferred embodiments, according to all the possible combinations thereof.
According to a preferred embodiment, the article or object provides a base having plant- or flower-vase shape having plant- or flower-vase shape and wherein one or more interlocking elements are flower- or plant-shaped.
According to a more preferred embodiment, the article or object provides a base having a plant- or flower-vase shape which is made of cardboard and wherein one or more interlocking elements having a plant or flower shape and which are made of in cardboard.
According to a preferred embodiment, the article or object comprising the assembly (13) has a height comprised between 0.5 and 5 meters, preferably between 1 and 3 meters. In fact, as the object dimensions increase, the robustness due to the assembly (13) become essential since objects of such dimensions and weights, is not sufficiently robust, collapse and break.
According to a more preferred embodiment, the article comprises the assembly (13) has the base (12) which takes the form of a plant or flower vase and wherein one or more interlocking elements are plant or flower-shaped, the whole being made of cardboard, without glues, adhesives or other attachment elements.
Therefore, with respect of the above description, it should be understood that dimensional relationships optimal for the parts of an embodiment of the invention, for including variations of dimensions, materials, shape, function and operating mode, assembly and use, are promptly considered as evident an obvious to one skilled in the art and all the relations equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings an described in the specifications are intended to be included in an embodiment of the invention.
In order to embody the invention, the skilled person can use pieces made of cardboard or other material available, for example by following the preferred embodiment reported in Fig. 1, and then manufacturing the assembly or the article according the above-described method.

Claims

An assembly (13) comprising:
a base (12) where, said base (12) comprises
- optionally, a lower part (block 8) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (8) horizontally disposed on top of each other, where said elements have a slot (11) wherein said slot has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') vertically disposed within the slot (11);

- a higher part (block 7) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (7) horizontally disposed on top of each other, where said elements have a slot (10) wherein said slot has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') and two or more rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) adjacent and parallel to the rectangular section (1) adapted to house two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, where the number of the rectangular sections is numerically equal to the interlocking elements;

- optionally, an inner-hollow element (block 6) comprising one or more inner-hollow flat assembly elements (6) disposed over the higher part (block 7);

an interlocking element (1') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, optionally, within the slot (11);

and two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10).
An assembly (13) according to claim 1, wherein the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side, remaining parallel to each other and not overlapping to each other.
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 a 2, wherein sections 2-A and 2-B are joined, from opposite parts, for their longest side with the longest side of section 1, remaining parallel to each other and with section 1 and not overlapping with section 1.
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side, remaining parallel to each other and not overlapping to each other and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14).
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) are joined to each other for their longest side, remaining parallel to each other and not overlapping to each other and such that the half of their longest side is disposed on a straight line (14), where said straight line (14) is perpendicular to the longest side of the rectangular section (1).
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 a 5, wherein the slot (10) has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') and two or more rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) joined to each other by the longest side, remaining parallel to each other, parallel to the rectangular sections (1) and not overlapping to each other and adapted to house two or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') vertically disposed within the slot (10) and, where the number of the rectangular sections is numerically equal to the interlocking elements.
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 a 6, comprising a lower part (block 8) comprising a plurality of flat assembly elements (8) horizontally disposed on top of each other, where said elements have a slot (11) wherein said slot has a rectangular section (1) adapted to house an interlocking element (1') vertically disposed within the slot (11).
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 a 7, wherein the two interlocking elements 2-A', 2-B', vertically disposed within the slot (10) place and/or overlap at least partially, from opposite sides, to the interlocking element (1'), the interlocking elements 3-A', 3-B' place and/or overlap at least partially, respectively, to the interlocking element 2-A' and 2-B', the interlocking elements 4-A', 4-B' place and/or overlap at least partially, respectively, to the interlocking element 3-A', 3-B', the interlocking elements 5-A', 5-B' place and/or overlap at least partially, respectively, to the interlocking element 4-A', 4-B'.
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 a 8, wherein the slot (10) has from 3 to 7 rectangular sections (1, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B) joined to each other for their longest side, remaining parallel to each other and not overlapping to each other.
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 a 9, wherein all the rectangular sections (1, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) have the same width.
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 a 10, wherein:
- the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B) have a length comprised between 70% and 90% with respect to the length of the rectangular section (1),

- the rectangular sections (3-A, 3-B) have a length comprised between 60% and 80% with respect to the length of the rectangular section (1),

- the rectangular sections (4-A, 4-B) have a length comprised between 50% and 70% with respect to the length of the rectangular section (1),

- the rectangular sections (5-A, 5-B) have a length comprised between 40% and 60% with respect to the length of the rectangular section (1).
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 a 11, wherein the flat assembly elements (7) and/or optional (8) have circular, ellipsoidal, square, or rectangular shape.
An assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 12, wherein the base (12) has the shape of a plant or flower vase and wherein one or more interlocking elements have the flower or plant shape.
Method for the manufacturing of an article or object comprising the assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 a 13, comprising the following steps:
a) optionally, inserting the interlocking element (1') having base with rectangular section (1) within the inner-hollow element (block 6);

b) inserting the interlocking element (1') within the rectangular section (1) of the plurality of the flat assembly elements (7) and optionally (8);

c) inserting, one by one, one or more interlocking elements (2-A', 2-B', 3-A', 3-B', 4-A', 4-B', 5-A', 5-B') in the rectangular sections (2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, 5-B) of the slot (10) of the entire plurality of the flat assembly elements (7).
An article or object comprising the assembly (13) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 13.