ES2392242T3 - Storage furniture with superimposable module (s) - Google Patents

Abstract

Storage furniture, of the type comprising a lower wall (2) and an upper wall (3), two side walls (10), a rear bottom wall (7) and an open front face (4), characterized in that the furniture The storage comprises a finishing plate (9) and because at least one of the side walls (10) is conditioned in the form of a box enclosing a deformable curtain (5) that can be stretched from the box or entered there by sliding in guides (13.1 ) associated overlays arranged inside said box, and because the outer face of the upper wall (3) has a fingerprint (3.3,3.6) intended to receive the finished plate (9), in case of using said furniture in a module single, or to constitute the lower wall (2) of an analogous furniture (1) arranged directly on the first, in case of using said furniture in at least two superimposed modules, the upper wall (3) of said furniture presenting a lower first God (3.2) of fast fastening to the side walls (10) and, superiorly a second identical means (3.2) of quick fastening to the side walls (10) of the furniture eventually superimposed, said second identical means being part of the fingerprint (3.3. ) of the outer face of said upper wall.

Description

Storage furniture with superimposable module (s)

The present invention relates to a storage cabinet, of the type comprising a lower wall and an upper wall, two side walls, a back bottom wall and an open front face, as well as a deformable closing curtain, in one or two parts, sliding in guides facing each other.

SECOND PLANE OF THE INVENTION

The term "deformable" curtain used here should be understood in its broadest acceptance, naturally encompassing articulated or laminated curtains, but also any type of flexible curtains, capable of deforming so that its profile follows a particular curve, while presenting a sufficient rigidity so that its edges follow the associated sliding paths and defined by the guides face to face.

Storage furniture with deformable curtain (s) that extend in a vertical plane or in a horizontal plane are known.

For example, reference may be made to documents EP-1 975 366A1, EP 1 426 547 A1 and EP-1 275 812 A1 of the applicant.

Reference may also be made to various documents that illustrate the superposition of storage elements, namely documents FR-2 873 272 A1, W0-92 / 05724 A1, US-2004/164653 A1, GB-1 201 500 A and GB- 2 203 631 A. It is worth mentioning that it is not about curtains but about sets of drawers.

For the technological background, you can also refer to documents US-2 094 940 A, US- 5 823 645 A, US- 3 135 544A, FR- 2 926 193 A1, Fr-422 623 A, GB-877 222 A and DE-802 528 C.

Over time, the materials used to constitute these storage furniture evolve more and more, with a progressive replacement of metal components with less expensive and lighter plastic components.

In addition, there is now a need to have storage furniture that is available in the market in the form of a "kit" to be assembled by itself on site.

The conception of known storage furniture seems compelling when it is desired to organize a stack of at least two storage modules on top of each other. In fact, when a user wants to superimpose two storage furniture already assembled to avoid the inconvenience of volume inherent to a single double height furniture, he is obliged to organize the fixation of the upper module on the lower module, and this to the detriment of the total height of the furniture in front of the storage space.

The specialist is thus confronted with a first type of inconvenience constituted by the difficulty in organizing the superposition of at least two storage modules, without complicating the assembly, and without generating an unusable excessive height for storage.

Subsidiarly, in the framework of storage furniture with closing curtain (s), it must be recognized that the assembly is otherwise delicate and annoying, generally requiring two people, and the use of screwing and / or fastening tools.

The specialist is thus confronted with a second type of inconvenience constituted by the long, annoying and delicate assembly if you want to avoid catching a closing curtain, allied to the need to use screwing or clamping means requiring the use of appropriate tools . In addition, it has been observed that assembly operations are not exempt from risk of damage due to pinching or cutting.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to conceive a storage unit whose structure allows the first mentioned inconvenience to be remedied, that is, to favor the use of said multipurpose unit in a single module or in a plurality of overlapping modules.

The object of the invention is also to conceive a storage unit whose structure is perfectly compatible with a kit embodiment, with the possibility of simple and quick assembly on site by a single person, and this without requiring the use of screwing or clamping tools .

GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned technical problem is solved according to the invention thanks to a storage unit of the type comprising a lower wall and an upper wall, two side walls, a bottom back wall, an open front face and a finishing plate, said furniture of storage is characterized in that at least one of the side walls is arranged in the form of a box enclosing a deformable curtain that can be run from the box or entered by sliding in associated overlapping guides arranged inside said box, and because the external face of the upper wall has a footprint intended to receive the finishing plate, in case of using said furniture in a single module, or to constitute the lower wall of an analogous furniture arranged directly on the first, in case of use of said furniture in at least two modules

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superimposed, the upper wall of said furniture presenting lower first fastening means to the side walls, and superiorly second identical means of quick fixation to the side walls of the furniture eventually superimposed, said second identical means being part of the footprint of the outer face of said upper wall.

Thus, the versatile conception of the upper wall of the storage unit allows to adapt immediately to the situation depending on the number of modules desired by the user. This versatile conception considerably simplifies assembly, and also avoids generating a useless excessive height.

Advantageously, the quick fixation means are ratchet means that do not need a particular tool.

Preferably also, the footprint of the outer face of the upper wall has a flat central area. In particular, the finishing plate rests on the flat central area of the footprint, and is supported by a double-sided adhesive.

Finally, advantageously, in case of using said furniture in at least two superimposed modules, the upper wall of the highest module is equipped with the finishing plate.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear clearly in the light of the description below and the accompanying drawings, referring to a particular mode of execution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will be made to the figures in the accompanying drawings where:

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 Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a storage cabinet according to the invention, comprising a double deformable closing curtain, here in the closed position;

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 Figures 2 and 3 are two perspective views of a side wall of the aforementioned furniture that is arranged in a box form enclosing a deformable curtain, this being valid here for the two side walls of said furniture, said box being illustrated in pre-assembled state, and ready to be mounted within the framework of an assembly of said furniture provided in kit;

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Figures 4 and 5 are two views in expiration of the aforementioned box, which make it possible to better distinguish the components of the box from Figures 2 and 3;

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 Figures 6 and 7 illustrate in perspective the arrangement of the lower and upper walls of the aforementioned box;

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 Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a top and bottom view of the lower or upper wall of the furniture concerned;

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 Figure 10 illustrates in detail the complete storage unit, in the case of a use according to the invention in a single module;

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 Figure 11 illustrates in perspective the assembly of a storage furniture of the aforementioned type, in case of use according to the invention in two superimposed modules, the upper wall of the lower module constituting at the same time the lower wall of the upper module;

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 Figure 12 illustrates a larger-scale detail of Figure 11, allowing the footprint of the outer face of the upper wall of the furniture to be better distinguished; Y

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 Figure 13 illustrates in perspective a storage cabinet of two superimposed modules, ready for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In Fig. 1, a storage furniture according to the invention, referenced 1, is distinguished, which is of the type comprising a lower wall 2 and an upper wall 3, two side walls 10, a bottom rear wall 7 and an open front face ( referenced 4 in figure 10), as well as a deformable closing curtain 5, in one or two parts (in this case in two parts), sliding in guides facing each other.

Each deformable closure curtain 5 is terminated by a rigid edge profile 6 that is associated with its opening or closing manipulations, with lock elements 6.1 of traditional type lock.

Each deformable closing curtain 5 is actually taken out of a box 10, in this case constituting each of the side walls 10 of the storage unit 1.

Indeed, and according to a first feature of the invention, it is provided that at least one of the side walls of the storage unit 1 is fitted in the form of a box 10 enclosing a deformable curtain 5, the box 10 comprising two walls of opposite extremities each internally presenting a guide for sliding the deformable curtain 5, as well as a groove 15 through which said deformable curtain can be removed from the box 10 or entered into it.

The above feature avoids the second type of inconvenience mentioned.

In this case, it is the two side walls 10 of the storage unit that are made in the form of a box enclosing a deformable curtain 5, but it is evident that another variant may be provided in which only one of the

Side walls are made in the form of a curtain box, the other side wall being a simple traditional type plate.

The main components that constitute the aforementioned storage furniture will now be described in detail, namely its box-shaped side walls 10, as well as its lower walls 2 and upper 3. The bottom rear wall 7 is as a simple traditional type plate, which is placed during the assembly of the furniture, as will be explained in detail later.

Figures 2 to 5 illustrate a box 10 constituting at least one of the side walls (here both) of the storage furniture.

Each box 10 comprises an external wall 11, an internal wall 12 and opposite end walls 13.

The particular geometry of the end walls 13 will be better understood by referring to Figures 6 and 7 showing their components on an enlarged scale.

In figure 6, the upper face of the lower end wall 13 of the box 10 is thus distinguished, with its guide 13.1 in which the lower edge of the associated deformable curtain 5 (not shown) passes. Female ratchet means 13.2 are provided, here at six points, intended to receive homologated male ratchet means 2.2 provided on the upper face of the lower wall 2 in order to fix the box 10 on said lower wall. Notches 13.3 are also provided for the homologous leg ratchet device 11.2 arranged in the lower part of the outer wall 11 of the box 10. Two columns 13.5 are also distinguished on which two angular bars 14 (not visible here, but embedded here) are embedded. represented in the expired views of Figures 4 and 5) which are vertical angles presenting a succession of perforations 14.1 coming in front of homologous openings 12.1 provided in two vertical rows on the inner wall 12.

Figure 7 makes it possible to distinguish the upper face of the lower extremity wall 13, which is the mirror image of the lower face of the upper extremity wall, with its fingerprint of the guide 13.1 that is associated with the curtain 5, its notches 13.3 associated to the homologous legs 11.2 of the external wall 11, as well as centering wells

13.4 whose function will be explained later, and notches 13.3 associated with the homologous legs 11.2 of the external wall 11, as well as centering wells 13.4 whose function will be explained later, and notches 13.8 intended to receive such transverse elements as the two elements 8 that have been represented in figure 10.

For rational manufacturing, it will be naturally advantageous to provide that the upper face of the lower extremity wall is identical to the lower face of the upper extremity wall, and reciprocally, as is the case here.

The inner wall 12 is presented in the form of a plate, preferably made of plastic material by injection, being constituted by a unitary plate provided with a plurality of openings and / or cutouts 12.1,12.8 that are intended to receive a limb of elements respectively of shelving and / or cable tie 8. The openings 12.1 allow to pass a pair of angles of traditional type (not shown) on which a shelf is arranged, or by means of which a storage of suspended folders is organized.

In the perspective of a commercialization of the storage furniture in kit to be assembled, it is very advantageous to provide that the or each box 10 that encloses a deformable curtain 5 is factory assembled, and provided not removable for the assembly of said furniture.

The arrangement of the lower walls 2 and upper 3 of the aforementioned storage furniture will now be described in detail, in relation to a possible overlapping of storage furniture.

In figures 8 and 9, the bottom wall 2 is illustrated in top and bottom view respectively. With a rationalization concern, it will be advantageous to provide that the top wall 3 is made with the same structure, which facilitates the management of the components. Next, the lower wall 2 will be described referring to Figures 8 and 9, the components of the upper wall 3 being homologous to those of the lower wall 2 affected by the same references in 3.i.

The lower wall 2 has a flat central zone 2.6 on the upper face, and two extremity zones 2.3 corresponding to the implantation sites of the boxes 10 constituting the side walls of the storage furniture.

Each site of implantation of boxes 2.3 comprises legs of ratchet system 2.2. cooperating with the homologous ratchet mechanism female means 13.2 provided on the lower extremity plate 13, as well as centering pawns 2.4 with which the associated cylindrical wells 13.4 of the lower extremity plate 13 may cooperate during assembly of the corresponding box 10, this to avoid any risk of deterioration of the ratchet means during assembly, due to a bad positioning of the box.

It is also observed that the lower wall 2 has a continuous groove 2.1 on the front face which constitutes a guide for the or each curtain 5, this groove is connected at its two ends, to the guide 13.1 of the corresponding end wall 13 of each box 10 concerned. Thus, when a curtain 5 is removed from the corresponding box 10, its lower edge can only pass in the continuous groove 2.1 where it is guided. Obviously, the

upper wall 3 will have an analogous continuous groove 3.1 in which the upper edge of each curtain 5 slides when it is removed from the corresponding box 10.

It is noted that the lower wall 2 also has, on the rear face, a continuous groove 2.5 which is in fact intended to receive the lower end edge of the back bottom wall 7. Obviously, the upper wall 3 will also present on the face At the rear a slot continues 3.5 identical to receive the upper end edge of the back wall 7.

Figure 10 illustrates in view of the above-mentioned storage furniture, and allows to understand well the particularly simple stages of assembly of said furniture in situ.

The user begins by flatly arranging the lower wall 2, on the two extremities of which interlocks the two boxes 10 constituting the side walls of the furniture, making the coupling of the associated homolog ratchet means. Then, the user has one or two cable tie elements 8 in order to guarantee the good rigidity of the U-assembly thus made, the hook-shaped ends of these cable tie elements 8 are received in the notches 13.8 arranged in the upper face of the upper extremity wall 13 of each box 10. It is enough then to place the upper wall 3, by crimping the ratchet counterparts provided on the upper face of the upper extremity wall 13 of each box 10 and on the lower face of the upper wall 3 respectively.

In case of use of the storage furniture in a single model, it is enough to place a finishing plate 9 on the upper wall 3, which allows obtaining the storage furniture illustrated in Figure 1, which is ready for use.

To this end, and in accordance with a second feature of the invention, the outer face of the upper wall 3 has a fingerprint 3.3, 3.6 that is intended to receive a finishing plate in case of using said furniture in a single module, as just mentioned, it is in a variant intended to constitute the lower wall 2 of an analog furniture 1 arranged directly on the first in case of using said furniture in at least two superimposed modules. In addition, and in accordance with a third feature of the invention, the upper wall 3 has lower first fastening means 3.2 to the side walls 10 of the referenced furniture inferiorly, and secondly identical second means 3.2 quick fastening means to the side walls 10 of the furniture eventually superimposed, said second identical means being part of the footprint 3.3. of the outer face of said upper wall.

Such an embodiment in superimposed modules, here two, will now be described with reference to Figures 11 to 13.

In Figure 11, the two side walls 10 here in the form of boxes, have already been placed on the lower wall 2, and two cable elements 8 have also been placed, hooking themselves in the upper part of the boxes 10. The upper wall 3 of the lower module is about to be placed, but no finishing plate 9 has been arranged on the footprint of the outer face of this upper wall 3. On the contrary, an analogous module has just been arranged, whose side walls are also here made in the form of boxes 10, which are crimped at the level of the associated implantation sites 3.3 of the footprint, the closing curtains 5 of the upper module being able to pass in the groove continues 3.1, and the lower end edge of the bottom 7 of the module upper is received in the associated rear slot 3.5.

Once the second module has been placed, if only two modules are to be used, it is sufficient to have a finishing plate 9 that is received in the footprint 3.3., 3.6 of the outer face of the upper wall 3 of the upper module, as illustrated to figure 11. If it is desired in a variant to use a third module to be superimposed, then a finishing plate 9 is not placed on this upper part 3, but the building is still being lifted, hooking the side boxes 10 of the new upper module, as It has been done for the second module.

In all cases, the finishing plate 9 rests on the flat central zone 3.6 of the fingerprint, and is in solidarity therewith, for example by a double-sided adhesive.

It will be understood that only quick fixation means are used for assembling the furniture, which are here means with ratchet system, said means not needing any particular tool.

The storage furniture thus made, either in a single module or in several superimposed modules, can be assembled by a single person and in a few minutes, very easily, without having to use any particular tool, and also without risk to the assembler of being damaged during assembly operations.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but instead covers any variant by collecting, with equivalent means, the characteristics set forth above.

In particular, a simplified and more traditional embodiment of the side walls of the storage unit may be provided, no longer using side walls made in the form of a box enclosing a curtain, but side walls made in the form of single-wall plates, whose upper and lower edges are embedded under the upper wall and on the lower wall respectively.

Claims (4)

1. Storage furniture, of the type comprising a lower wall (2) and an upper wall (3), two side walls (10), a rear bottom wall (7) and an open front face (4), characterized by that the storage furniture comprises a finishing plate (9) and because at least one of the side walls (10) is arranged in the form of a box enclosing a deformable curtain (5) that can be stretched from the box or entered into it by sliding on associated overlapping guides (13.1) arranged inside said box, and because the outer face of the upper wall (3) has a fingerprint (3.3,3.6) intended to receive the finishing plate (9), in case of using said furniture in a single module, or to constitute the lower wall (2) of an analogous furniture (1) arranged directly on the first, in case of using said furniture in the 10 minus two superimposed modules, the upper wall (3) of said furniture having a first means (3.2) for quick fastening to the side walls (10) and, secondly, identical second means (3.2) for quick fastening to the side walls. (10) of the furniture possibly superimposed, said second identical means being part of the footprint (3.3.) Of the outer face of said upper wall. 2. Storage unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the quick-fastening means (3.2) are ratchet system means that do not need any particular tool.

3.

 Storage furniture according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the footprint of the outer face of the upper wall (3) has a flat central area (3.6).

Four.

 Storage furniture according to claim 3, characterized in that the finishing plate (9) rests on the flat central area (3.6) of the fingerprint and is supported by a double-sided adhesive.

A storage cabinet according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in case of using said furniture in at least two superimposed modules, the upper wall (3) of the highest module is equipped with the finishing plate (9 ).