EP4111066A1

EP4111066A1 - Furniture attachment member as well as a furniture system, drawer, and a piece of furniture comprising such an attachment member

Info

Publication number: EP4111066A1
Application number: EP21761876.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Börje LINDGREN; Anders Eriksson; Jan-Åke LINDVALL
Original assignee: Ikea Supply AG
Current assignee: Inter Ikea Systems BV
Priority date: 2020-02-25
Filing date: 2021-02-24
Publication date: 2023-01-04
Also published as: SE544882C2; WO2021173063A1; SE2050209A1; CN115151736A; EP4111066A4

Abstract

A furniture attachment element (100; 400) for attaching a furniture sheet (302) to another furniture component as part of a piece of furniture, the furniture attachment element (100; 400) being designed for being snapped onto the sheet (302) at an edge (308) of the sheet (302), and comprising a first arm (104) having a first surface (108) for extending adjacent to a first face of the sheet (302); a second arm (106) having a second surface (110), facing the first surface (108), for extending adjacent to a second face of the sheet (302); a snap element (114) extending from the first arm (104) for snapping into an opening (304) in the sheet (302); and attachment means (116) located at an end of the attachment element (100; 400) opposite to the first arm (104) and the second arm (104) for attaching the furniture attachment element (100; 400) to the said another furniture component. A furniture system (300) comprises the furniture attachment element (100; 400) and a said sheet (302) having a said opening (304) for the snap element (114).

Description

FURNITURE ATTACHMENT MEMBER AS WELL AS A FURNITURE SYSTEM, DRAWER, AND A PIECE OF FURNITURE COMPRISING SUCH AN ATTACHMENT MEMBER

Field of the invention

The present disclosure relates to a furniture attachment element. Background

Pieces of furniture need to have components attached to each other. Such components may, for example, comprise sheets, in particular sheets made of HDF board, an MDF board, wood particle board, or the like. Pre attached sheets, or sheets with pre-installed attachment elements tend to be bulky in transport.

Summary

Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a furniture attachment element for connecting furniture components, of which at least one is a sheet, that can be assembled by a consumer at the point of use, while still providing a strong and reliable connection between the at least one sheet and another furniture element.

To this end, there is provided a furniture attachment element for attaching a furniture sheet to another furniture component as part of a piece of furniture, the furniture attachment element being designed for being snapped onto the sheet at an edge of the sheet, and comprising a first arm having a first surface for extending adjacent to a first face of the sheet, a second arm having a second surface, facing the first surface, for extending adjacent to a second face of the sheet; a snap element extending from the first arm for snapping into an opening in the sheet; and attachment means located at an end of the furniture attachment element opposite to the first arm and the second arm for attaching the furniture attachment element to the said another furniture component.

Flereby, strong and safe attachment may be achieved also for relatively thin sheets, which thereby may be made thinner, saving on material cost. internal The furniture attachment element may further comprise a guiding section located between the first surface and the second surface for insertion into, and matching, a slot extending from the edge of the sheet into the sheet.

This makes the furniture attachment element easier to install.

The furniture attachment element may comprise a slanted surface.

This may make it easier to insert the furniture attachment element onto the sheet and further may make it easier to snap the snap element into the opening of the sheet, making the furniture attachment element easier to install. The slanted surface may be arranged on the snap element. This makes the installment of the attachment element very easy.

The snap element may be located at an extremity of the first arm, with the extremity extending beyond the second arm. This makes it easier to release the snap element from the sheet, as the snap element can be accessed without the second arm being in the way, thereby making it easier to uninstall the furniture attachment element.

The attachment means may comprise a male part provided with first circumferential extensions, the male part being designed to interact with corresponding grooves of a female part of the said another component. This provides for particularly strong attaching to the another furniture component.

The attachment means may be a dowel.

Alternatively, the attachment means may be a threaded element.

The guiding section may be co-linear with the snap element in the direction of insertion of the furniture attachment element onto the sheet. This helps the snap element with cooperating with the guiding section during insertion of the furniture attachment element onto the sheet, making the furniture attachment element easier to install.

The furniture attachment element may have a width substantially larger than a shortest distance between the first surface and the second surface. As substantially larger may be understood, for example, being at least twice as large, three times as large, four times as large, or five times as large.

The resulting relatively large contact surface between the sheet and the furniture attachment element improves the stability of the joint between internal the furniture attachment element and the sheet, allowing the sheet to be made thinner than otherwise possible, saving on weight and/or material cost.

Further, there is provided a furniture system, comprising the furniture attachment element according to the above and a said sheet having a said opening for the snap element.

Further, there is provided a furniture system, comprising the furniture attachment element according to the above and a said sheet having a said opening for said snap element and a said slot.

Flereby, the furniture attachment element and the sheet may be provided separately for the consumer to attach at the point of use. Flereby, the sheets may be more tightly packed, saving transport volume.

The opening in the sheet for the snap element may be separate from the slot.

The slot in the sheet may lead into the opening for the snap element.

Alternatively, the opening in the sheet for the snap element may be closed, i.e. , not extending all the way to the edge of the sheet. A closed opening provides for a very small reduction of the mechanical strength of the sheet in which the opening is formed.

The opening in the sheet for the snap element may be a through hole. This allows, with the furniture attachment element in installed position, the snap element to be accessed via the through hole, at an opposite face of the sheet, so that the snap element may be pushed out of the opening. This makes it easier to remove, i.e., dismount, the furniture attachment element from the sheet.

The sheet may comprise a wood-based material, such as an FIDF board, an MDF board, a solid wood sheet, i.e. a plank wood sheet, a plywood board, or a wood particle board. According to further alternative embodiments the sheet may be made of metal, such as steel, or plastic. The sheet may be covered by, e.g., a foil, a laquer, or a veneer.

The thickness of the sheet may be less than 7 mm, such as less than 5 mm, or even 3 mm or less. Such thin sheets have the benefit of reducing the weight and cost of the piece of furniture manufactured therefrom, and by means of the present furniture attachment element a stable and secure internal connection also to such thin sheets can be obtained. The thickness of the sheet may be 0.5 mm or more, such as 1 mm or more. Such thicknesses of the sheet provide a sufficient mechanical strength of the sheet.

Further, there is provided a drawer comprising the furniture system according to the above.

The slot in the sheet may have a length at least as large as a smallest distance between the snap element of the furniture attachment element and the guiding section of the furniture attachment element. Hereby, as the furniture attachment element is inserted onto the sheet, at least one of the snap element and the guiding section will always engage with the slot, guiding the furniture attachment element and making it easier to install.

The planar sheet may be a side of the drawer and the another furniture component may be a front of the drawer.

Further, there is provided a piece of furniture comprising the furniture system or the drawer according to the above.

Brief description of the drawings

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present inventive concept, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein:

Figs 1a, 1b, and 1c are perspective drawings of a furniture attachment element according to a first configuration,

Figs 2a and 2b, and 2c are planar views of the furniture attachment element according to the first configuration,

Figs 2d and 2e are cross-sectional views of the furniture attachment element according to the first configuration,

Fig. 3a is a planar view illustrating a furniture attachment element according to the first configuration snapped onto a sheet,

Fig. 3b is a perspective view of the sheet,

Fig. 3c is a cross-sectional view illustrating a furniture attachment element according to the first configuration snapped onto the sheet, internal Fig. 3d is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of the sheet,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a drawer component,

Figs 5a and 5b are perspective views of a furniture attachment element according to a second configuration,

Fig. 5c is a planar view illustrating a furniture attachment element according to the second configuration about to be snapped onto a sheet, and

Fig. 5d is a cross-sectional view illustrating a furniture attachment element according to the second configuration snapped onto a sheet.

Figs. 6a and 6b are respective cross-sectional views of portions of alternative attachment elements.

Detailed description

Figs 1a-1c and 2a-2e show a furniture attachment element 100 according to a first configuration.

The furniture attachment element 100 comprises a first arm 104 having a first surface 108 and a second arm 106 having a second surface 110, parallel to and facing the first surface 108. The first 108 and second 110 surfaces thus define between them a space 112 for receiving a sheet 302 (cf. Figs 3a and 3b), as will be explained below, where the first surface 108 extends along, and possibly, but not necessarily, abuts, a first face of the sheet and the second surface 110 extends along, and possibly, but not necessarily, abuts, a second, opposite, face of the sheet.

As is evident at least from Figs 1a-1c and 2a-2e, the furniture attachment element may have a width W (Fig. 2c) substantially larger than a shortest distance D (Fig. 2c) between the first surface 108 and the second surface 110. For example, in the shown furniture attachment element 100, the width W is about five times as large as the distance D. Ratios between W and D, such as twice a large, three times as large, four times as large, or five times as large, or larger, are equally possible. Thereby, the ratio may be, respectively, at least twice a large, three times as large, four times as large, or five times as large. As the skilled person will readily understand, the internal present disclosure is by no means limited to the example ratios given above, which, naturally, may be integer, fractional, or generally any real number.

The furniture attachment element 100 may preferably be made from any suitable form of plastic. Examples of suitable plastic materials include PA6 (polycaprolactam), optionally with some glass fiber content mixed into the PA6 polymer, polypropylene and others. Also, other materials are possible, including metals, such as aluminum.

The first arm 104 and the second arm 106 are connected at a connecting section 121 (Fig 2b and 2e).

Further, the furniture attachment element 100 comprises a snap element 114, extending from the first arm 104. The snap element is designed for snapping into an opening of the sheet 302 (cf. Figs 3a and 3b), as will be explained below. The snap element 114 may, as shown, be located at an extremity 115 of the first arm 104, where the extremity 115 extends beyond the end 107 of the second arm 106. The snap element 114 may, as shown, be circular-cylindrical. Further, the snap element 114 may, as shown, comprise a slanted surface 118, which may have an upward slant in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the furniture attachment element 100 onto the sheet 302 (cf. arrow in upper part of Fig. 3a).

The furniture attachment element 100 comprises attachment means 116, connected to the connecting section 121 opposite to the first 104 and the second 106 arm, for attaching the attachment element 100 to another furniture component as part of a piece of furniture (not shown).

The attachment means 116 may, as shown, comprise a male part provided with circumferential extensions, the male part being designed to interact with corresponding grooves of a female part of another furniture component, for example as described in document WO2013104422 and shown in Fig. 4 therein.

The attachment means 116 may generally be any kind of dowel.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 6a, the attachment means 116 may be a threaded element such as a screw part 602, or, as shown in Fig. 6b, an internal thread 604, such screw part or internal thread being adapted for internal connection to a nut or bolt, respectively, for fixing another furniture component to the attachment means 116.

Other attachment means 116 than those explicitly disclosed herein, as generally known in the art, are equally possible.

As shown, the furniture attachment element 100 may further comprise an optional guiding section 120 located at the connecting section 121, between the first surface 108 and the second surface 110, and connecting the same, so that the connecting section 121 has a cross-section formed as a capital Ή” (Fig. 2e). When inserting the furniture attachment element 100 in a sheet 302 (cf. Figs 3a and 3b), the guiding section 120 may be inserted into, and match, a slot 306 extending from an edge 308 of the sheet and into the sheet 302. Thereby, the arms 104, 106 will completely embrace the sheet 302, and the attachment means 116 will come immediately adjacent to the edge 308, as illustrated at the lower part of Fig. 3a. The guiding section 120 and the slot 306 into which it may extend increases the strength of the attachment element 100 and reduces the risk that the arms 104, 106 are broken off from it.

Fig. 3a illustrates a furniture attachment element 100 about to be snapped onto a sheet 302 (top), and a furniture attachment element 100 snapped onto the sheet 302 (bottom). Fig. 3b is a perspective view of part of the sheet 302.

The sheet 302 comprises, adjacent to the edge 308 of the sheet 302, an opening 304. Still with reference to Figs 3a and 3b, the opening 304 may be, as shown, a through hole. Alternatively (not shown), the opening 304 may be formed as a groove on one face of the sheet 302. The opening 304 may, as shown, be closed, i.e. , not extending all the way to an edge 308 of the sheet 302.

Further, and optionally, the sheet 302 may, as shown, comprise a slot 306 extending into the sheet 302 from the edge 308 of the sheet 302.

As shown in Fig. 3b, the opening 304 may be separate from the slot 306. Alternatively - as shown in Fig. 3d - the slot 306 may lead into the opening 304, resulting in a keyhole shape of the combined slot 306 and opening 304. internal As shown by an arrow in the top part of Fig. 3a, the furniture attachment element 100 may be inserted onto the sheet 302.

As the furniture attachment element 100 is inserted onto the sheet 302, the snap element 114 may be laterally guided by the slot 306.

Later, as the guiding section 120 reaches the slot 306, the guiding section 120 may be guided by the slot 306.

Thus, the snap element 114 and the guiding section 120 may cooperate to guide the attachment element 100 onto the sheet 302 and into its intended position throughout the insertion. In particular, as is evident at least from Figs 1a-1c, 2a-2d, and 3a, to help with such guiding, the guiding section 120 may be aligned with the snap element 114, in the sense that the guiding section 120 is co-linear with the snap element 114 in the direction of insertion of the furniture attachment element onto the sheet 302.

To further aid with such guiding, slot 306 in the sheet 302 may, as is evident at least from, e.g., Figs 2b, 3a, and 3c have a length L (of. Fig. 3c) slightly larger than the smallest distance d between the snap element 114 of the attachment element 100 and the guiding section 120 of the attachment element 100. Hereby, with the length L being at least as large as the distance d, as the furniture attachment element 100 is inserted onto the sheet 302, it is ensured that the above-mentioned phases of, firstly, the snap element 114 being be laterally guided by the slot 306, and, secondly, the guiding section 120 being guided by the slot 306, are overlapping, as when the snap element 114 is about to leave the slot 306 at the innermost end of the slot 306, the outermost end of the guiding section 120 has already reached the slot 306.

Eventually, the snap element 114 reaches the opening 304 and snaps into the opening 304, attaching the furniture attachment element 100 to the sheet 302, the two forming a furniture system 300, with the furniture attachment element 100 thus being snapped onto the sheet 302 at an edge 308 of the sheet 302. Such a configuration is shown in the bottom part of Fig. 3a and in Fig. 3c. The extension, or height, of the snap element 114 from the surface 108 of the first arm 104 may correspond to the thickness of the sheet 302, as is illustrated in Fig. 3c in which the outer face, which is internal facing downwards in the illustration of Fig. 3c, of the snap element 114 is flush with the lower side of the sheet 302. According to alternative embodiments the height of the snap element 114 may be larger than the thickness of the sheet 302. This may beneficial for secure attachment when the sheet 302 is relatively thin, such as 2.5 mm thick or less. On the other hand, when the sheet 302 is comparably thick, such as 5 mm thick, a secure attachment may be achieved also with a snap element 114 having a height which is lower than the thickness of the sheet 302.

The sheet 302 may be planar, as shown, but may also be bent according to need.

The sheet 302 may be made from and/or comprise a wood based material, such as an HDF board, an MDF board, a solid wood sheet, i.e. a plank wood sheet, a plywood board, or a wood particle board. According to further alternative embodiments the sheet may be made of metal, such as steel, or plastic. The sheet 302 may be covered by, e.g., a foil, a laquer, or a veneer.

The thickness of the sheet 302 may be less than 7 mm, such as less than 5 mm, or even 3 mm or less.

The thickness of the sheet 302 may be 0.5 mm or more, such as 1 mm or more.

Fig. 4 shows a drawer component 400, which, together with a drawer front 402, illustrated schematically in Fig, 4, may form a drawer. The drawer component 400 comprises four furniture systems 300, each comprising a furniture attachment element 100 and the sheet 302, as per the above.

The drawer front may be attached to the drawer component 400 using the attachment means 116 (cf. , e.g., Figs 1a-1c) of each of the furniture attachment elements 100 of the furniture systems 300. A drawer thus formed may form part of a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, a table, a bed-side table, or another piece of furniture comprising a drawer (not shown).

Figs 5a-5d show a furniture attachment element 500 according to a second configuration. Fig. 5d further shows a sheet 302 to which the furniture attachment element 500 is attached. internal Just as for the furniture attachment element according to the first configuration 100, the furniture attachment element 500 according to the second configuration comprises a first arm 104 having a first surface 108 and a second arm 106 having a second surface 110, parallel to and facing the first surface 108, with the first 108 and second 110 surfaces defining a space 112 for receiving a sheet 302, where the first surface 108 extends along, and possibly, but not necessarily, abuts, a first face of the sheet and the second surface 110 extends along, and possibly, but not necessarily, abuts, a second face of the sheet.

The first arm 104 and the second arm 106 are connected at a short connecting section 121 (Fig 2b and 2e), presenting a front surface 117 (Figs 5b and 5c). The front surface 117 allows attachment means 116 to be laterally disposed according to need.

Further, the furniture attachment element 500 comprises a pair of snap elements 114, each extending from the first arm 104. The snap elements 114 are designed for snapping into respective openings 304 of the sheet 302.

Still with reference to Figs 5a-5d, the snap elements 114 may, as shown, both be located at an extremity 115 of the first arm 104, where the extremity 115 extends beyond the end 107 of the second arm 106. The snap element 114 may, as shown, be circular. Further, the snap element 144 may, as shown, comprise a slanted surface 118, which may have an upward slant in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the furniture attachment element 100 onto the sheet 302. The sheet 302 may, as shown, as openings 304, comprise two circular through holes matching the pair of snap elements 114 of the furniture attachment element 500.

The furniture attachment element 500 further comprises attachment means 116, disposed on the front surface 117. For example, as shown, there may be two attachment means 116. The attachment means 116 may have the same features as described above in conjunction with the furniture attachment element 100 according to the first configuration. In the embodiment of Figs. 5a-c the attachment element is provided with two attachment means 116, while the attachment element 100 is provided with a single attachment means 116. It will be appreciated that both the attachment internal element 100 and the attachment element 500 may be provided with any number of attachment means 116.

Contrary to the furniture attachment element 100 according to the first configuration, the furniture attachment element 500 according to the second configuration does not comprise a guiding section 120.

The furniture attachment element 500 according to the second configuration may replace one or more of the furniture attachment elements 100 according to the first configuration in the drawer component 400, the drawer, and the chest of drawers as described above. The inventive concept has mainly been described above with reference to example embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended patent claims. Hence, for example, the furniture attachment element can be used in drawers but also in other pieces of furniture, such as shelves, boxes etc. internal

Claims

1. A furniture attachment element (100; 500) for attaching a furniture sheet (302) to another furniture component as part of a piece of furniture, said furniture attachment element (100; 500) being designed for being snapped onto said sheet (302) at an edge (308) of said sheet (302), and comprising: a first arm (104) having a first surface (108) for extending adjacent to a first face of said sheet (302); a second arm (106) having a second surface (110), facing said first surface (108), for extending adjacent to a second face of said sheet (302); a snap element (114) extending from said first arm (104) for snapping into an opening (304) in said sheet (302); and attachment means (116) located at an end of said furniture attachment element (100) opposite to said first arm (104) and said second arm (106) for attaching said furniture attachment element (100; 500) to said another furniture component.

2. The furniture attachment element of claim 1 , further comprising a guiding section (120) located between said first surface (108) and said second surface (110) for insertion into, and matching, a slot (306) extending from said edge (308) of said sheet (302) and into said sheet (302).

3. The furniture attachment element of any one of claims 1-2, wherein said snap element comprises a slanted surface.

4. The furniture attachment element of any one of claims 1-3, wherein said snap element is located at an extremity (115) of said first arm (104), said extremity extending beyond said second arm (106).

5. The furniture attachment element of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the attachment element comprises at least two snap elements (114), optionally such at least two snap elements (114) being arranged on different positions internal as seen along the edge (308) of the sheet (302), and/or wherein the attachment element comprises at least two attachment means (116), optionally such at least two attachment means (116) being arranged on different position as seen along the edge (308) of the sheet (302).

6. The furniture attachment element of any one of claims 1-5, wherein said attachment means (116) comprises a male part provided with circumferential extensions, said male part being designed to interact with corresponding grooves of a female part of said another component.

7. The furniture attachment element of any one of claims 1-6, wherein said attachment means (116) is a dowel.

8. The furniture attachment element of any one of claims 1-7, wherein said attachment means (116) is a threaded element.

9. The furniture attachment element of any one of claims 2-8, wherein said guiding section (120) is co-linear with said snap element (114) in a direction of insertion of said furniture attachment element (100) onto said sheet (302).

10. The furniture attachment element of any one of claims 1-9, wherein said attachment element has a width (W) substantially larger than a shortest distance (D) between said first surface (108) and said second surface (110), preferably said width (W) being at least two times, more preferably at least three times, said shortest distance (D) between said first surface (108) and said second surface (110).

11. A furniture system, comprising: the furniture attachment element (100; 500) of any one of claims

1-10; and a said sheet (302) having a said opening (304) for said snap element (114). internal

12. A furniture system (300), comprising: the furniture attachment element of any one of claims 2-10; and a said sheet (302) having a said opening (304) for said snap element (114) and a said slot (306).

13. The furniture system of claim 12, wherein said opening (304) in said sheet (302) for said snap element (114) is separate from said slot (306).

14. The furniture system of claim 12, wherein said slot (306) in said sheet (302) leads into said opening (304) in said sheet (302) for said snap element (114).

15. The furniture system of any one of claims 11-13, wherein said opening (304) in said sheet (302) for said snap element (114) is closed by not extending all the way to the edge (308) of the sheet (302).

16. The furniture system of any one of claims 11-15 wherein said opening (304) of said sheet (302) is a through hole, preferably the snap element (114) being accessible via said through hole for enabling dismounting said furniture attachment element from said sheet (302).

17. The furniture system of any one of claims 11-16, wherein said sheet (302) comprises a wood-based material, such as a solid wood sheet, an HDF board, an MDF board, a plywood board, or a wood particle board, or a metal sheet, such as a steel sheet, or a plastic sheet, and/or wherein the thickness of the sheet is less than 7 mm, such as less than 5 mm, or even 3 mm or less, and/or the thickness of the sheet is 0.5 mm or more, such as 1 mm or more.

18. The furniture system of any one of claims 12-17, wherein said slot (306) in said sheet (302) has a length (L) at least as large as a smallest distance (d) between said snap element (114) of said furniture attachment interns! element (100) and said guiding section (120) of said furniture attachment element (100).

19. A drawer comprising the furniture system of any one of claims 11-18.

20. The drawer of claim 19, wherein said planar sheet (302) is a side of said drawer and said another furniture component is a front of said drawer.

21. A piece of furniture comprising the furniture system of any one of claims 11 -18 or the drawer of any one of claims 19-20. internal