FR2505153A1 - Modular assembly system for furniture or toys - consists of variously shaped sections with arrays of holes in into which fit resilient assembly pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit assembly system, for example for constructing furniture or toys consists of variously-shaped sections with arrays of regularly spaced holes (20). Assembly pieces (24) are snap-fitted into selected holes. The length of the protuberance fitting into the holes is such that it does not protrude on the other side. The holes in the sections are smooth walled and the lugs (8) extending from the assembly pieces are deformable.

Description

Combinatorial assembly to constitute furniture,
removable toys and the like
There are already known sets of removable parts which can be assembled by means of members such as bolts, screws, nuts, etc. which make it possible to produce more or less complex assemblies.

 We particularly know the game which includes perforated plates with regularly distributed holes and associated with various accessories allowing to realize parallel, perpendicular assemblies etc ... 'the plates and the accessories being joined to each other by means of small bolts and small nuts which pass through at least two elements placed one against the other.

 All these elements are obtained from thin sheets and only allow objects of small dimensions or, at least, on a reduced scale to be produced.

 One of the drawbacks of simple mounting involving only a bolt and a nut, resides in the fact that it is impossible to provide for the mounting of wheels or other rotating members without using more complex accessories such as sleeves with radial screws, washers and other supports associated with axes whose diameter is limited by that of standard holes.

 The present invention relates to a combinatorial assembly which also includes perforated plates, connecting members, accessories and assembly members ulais whose principle of cooperation is quite different so that it is possible to realize objects of much larger dimensions for quite different uses such as, in particular, garden furniture, furniture for children's rooms, games, toys, etc.

 The combinatorial assembly according to the invention is of the type comprising on the one hand elements of various shapes traversed by regularly distributed holes and, on the other hand, members, in particular of assembly, which have at least one active part in front be engaged in holes of the elements, and is characterized in that the thickness of the elements and the length of the active part of the members are such that a member can be fixed on one of the faces of an element without that the active part leads to the other side.

According to other characteristics of the invention - the holes of the elements are smooth and the active part
organs is deformable so that the assembly of one
in the other is obtained by elastic deformation of the
active part.

- The holes of the elements have a peripheral shoulder
that internal locates at mid-thickness of the element, the part
activates organs comprising at least one external relief
to be placed, by elastic reaction, beyond and con
be said shoulder.

- The shoulder has the shape of a helical ramp
possibly in at least two segments.

- The active part of the organs is formed by at least two
tabs.

- The tabs are separated by spaces
whose width is substantially equal to that of
tabs so that two active parts can cooperate
with the same hole of an element, by the two oppo faces
sees the said element, the tabs of one of the parts
active to be engaged in spaces, between
tabs of the other active part.

- The organs present a passage which crosses them from one side
in part and opens out between the tabs, a wedge being able
thus be engaged in the passage after subjugation
organs for blocking the tabs and opposing
their elastic withdrawal.

- The holes of the elements are provided with a thread on all
te the thickness of said elements, the active part of gold
ganes being threaded at the same pitch.

- Combinatorial kit includes bolts and nuts
having to cooperate with elements holes for their ace
semblage, the distance which separates the shoulder from the face of
the element being at least equal to the height of the head of
bolts and the thickness of the holes.

Elements include plates of various modules and
connecting bodies such as brackets, consoles,
hinges and the like, the assembly allowing, by means
of assembling organs, of constituting furniture, in particular
for children, toys, games and the like.

- The elements include solid plates, i.e.
without holes, provided on one of their faces with aces
semblance located at the location of holes of other elements
so that each organ can cooperate with one of the said
holes to secure the plate on the element and hide,
thus, the holes of said element.

- Elements include accessories with organs
of assembly and such as hooks, balls, elements
flexible elements, boxes, dishes, dishes
vehicle components such as wheels, steering wheels,
control buttons, indicator lights
and the like.

- The combination set includes at least one plate and
accessories must be placed on the same side of the
plate either to constitute sets such as letters
of the alphabet, numbers and other symbols, either for cons
play games such as puzzles, either to constitute a
decorative panel like a mozalque.

 The notice will be better understood by the detailed description below made with reference to the attached drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given only by way of an indicative and nonlimiting example.

 Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a small piece of furniture obtained with an assembly according to the invention.

 Figure 2 is a partial view showing an object obtained according to a particular de.realisation of the invention.

 Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the assembly of the various elements according to the invention to obtain a small children's desk.

 Figure 4 is a partial sectional view of a plate according to the invention showing a particular embodiment of the holes.

 Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the establishment of an accessory or connecting member.

 Figures 6 and 7 are partial sectional views showing two other embodiments of the holes provided in the elements.

 Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the assembly of two elements according to the invention by means of a bolt and a nut.

 Figure 9 is a partial schematic view showing the attachment of two accessories in the same hole of the same element.

 Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that a combinatorial assembly in accordance with the invention comprises, on the one hand, elements of various shapes, cross-sections of regularly distributed holes, and, on the other hand, assembly and connection members which can be associated and dissociated in the manner of a construction game.

 The elements include plates of different modules while the organs, in particular of assembly, have various shapes depending on the function for which they are intended.

 In Figure 1, we see a high chair for a small child comprising lateral uprights each composed of two plates of a first module 1, the two lower plates being joined by a plate of a second module 2 by means of brackets3 and bolt-nut assemblies 4 as well as by a cylindrical bar 5 with tapped ends for receiving bolts 6.

 The two upper plates 1 are joined by two plates 2 of the second module which respectively constitute a seat and a backrest.

 The object obtained is thus a high chair for small children.

 Note that the upper plates 1 are joined to the lower plates 1 by means of side rails 7 which constitute a kind of connecting rods by which the seat can pivot so that it is no longer superimposed on the base but juxtaposed at the same height as it that is to say that the lower edge of the upper plates 1 is placed on the same plane as the lower edge of the lower plates 1.

 In this second position, there is a small armchair associated with a small desk, the bar 5 constituting a support for the feet while the second module plate 2 fixed horizontally to the two lower plates 1 forms the plane of work of the office itself.

 For greater convenience, the longitudinal members 7 are connected to the plates 1 by bolts engaged in a central hole in the brackets 3 from the inside to the outside while being locked by means of nuts constituted by balls 8.

 The assembly which has just been described with bolts and nuts shows that it is possible to use elements in accordance with the invention with standard assembly members, but the fundamental characteristic of the invention consists in establishing the perforated elements. according to a thickness such that the assembly members or the accessories can be secured without passing through the elements themselves, which provides numerous advantages as will be seen below.

 Referring to FIG. 2, it can thus be seen that, in accordance with the invention, it is possible to use a plate 10 pierced with holes 11 regularly distributed and intended to receive accessories 12 on the same face of the plate 10, because each accessory 12 includes an active part capable of penetrating a hole 11 without crossing the thickness of the plate 10 while being held therein in a sufficiently robust manner so as not to fall at the slightest stress.

 The accessories 12 must constitute sets and can represent, for example, letters of the alphabet to allow a child to constitute words such as "I" or "you". The accessories 12 can also represent figures allowing a child to carry out operations or to constitute numbers, the plate 10 playing in a way the role "of a blackboard".

 However, the accessories may also have an exterior face of plain or variegated color or covered with various materials to constitute games such as puzzles or to constitute decorative panels in the manner of a mosaic.

 As, in accordance with the invention, the active part of the assembly members is shorter than the thickness of the plate 10, the latter can be used in a very free manner and, in particular, be fixed to a wall or constitute a separation such as a fencing in which case it is possible, thanks to the provisions of the invention, to provide decorations on the two faces of the same plate 10.

 One can, of course, provide for the use of certain holes 11 of the plate 10 and not of all the holes without exception so that the shape of the holes 11 can itself be chosen according to the desired decorative effects or the characteristics of the 'assembly that we are looking for.

 Here, we have chosen as an example to represent only circular holes but this is one possibility among many others.

 In Figure 3, we see another example of mounting a combinatorial assembly according to the invention.

 According to this example, a large horizontal plate 13 is used, two plates of the second module arranged vertically 14 whose length is equal to the width of the plate 13 and a fourth plate 15 of a different module whose length is equal to that of the plate 13 but whose height is equal to that of the plates 14.

 These four plates constitute a sort of desk for children and are assembled by means of brackets 16 provided with holes 17 in each of which are engaged assembly members which will be described later.

 So that the horizontal plate 13 can serve as a work surface without its holes being annoying, a solid plate 18 is provided, in accordance with the invention, provided on one of its faces with four assembly members 19 which must penetrate, each in one of the holes in the plate 13 in such a way that the plate 18 is effectively secured to the said plate 13 by constituting an extra thickness but without the members 19 being visible so that the user uses the assembly in accordance with the invention exactly as he would use a traditional desk, especially in wood.

 Referring now to Figure 4, we see how is made an assembly according to the invention.

 As indicated above, the thickness of the elements contributes to the function of the assembly and, therefore, must be sufficient so that the active part of the assembly members is properly maintained without having to pass through the element right through. .

Thus, according to one embodiment, the assembly members, accessories, etc. which must cooperate with the ele-
perforated parts have an active part liable to deform
elastically and whose external dimensions are
slightly higher than those of the holes so that the intriuc-
tion of this active part in the hole provides a subject
robust weaving.

According to a particular embodiment, as we
seen in Figures 4 and 5, each hole 20 of an element
21 has an internal peripheral shoulder 22 located at
mid-thickness of the element 21, the active part 23 of the orga
nes 24 having to cooperate with the shoulder 22.

According to an alternative embodiment, the active part 23
organs 24 is formed by tabs 25 which include
each have an external relief 26 which must be placed, for
elastic reaction, beyond and against the shoulder 22.

In Figure 4, we see the member 24 in the in position
production in the direction of arrow F and the dotted line
represents the tabs 25 which are elastically folded
towards the center so that the reliefs 26 can pass through
the central passage left by the shoulder 22.

By continuing to act on the member 24 according to arrow F,
the reliefs 26 are forced to pass beyond the shoulder 22
and as soon as this position is reached, the elasticity of
tabs 25 recalls these outward so
that the reliefs 26 are blocked by clipping beyond
shoulder 22.

This position is visible in Figure 5 where we see
that the reliefs 26 have a rounded profile thanks to which
can remove the member 24 by exerting a force pull on it
reasonable,
But when an imperative blocking of the member 24 is desired, provision is made, in accordance with the invention, and as shown in FIG. 5, that the member 24 is traversed right through by a passage 27 which opens out between the tongues 25 and which is intended to receive a wedge 28 constituted by a small part of the same section as that of the hole 27.

Thus, after subjugation of the members 24, that is to say after the reliefs 26 are blocked beyond the shoulder 22, the wedge 28 is engaged in the direction of the arrow
F so that the elastic withdrawal of the
tabs 25.

 To remove the member 24, it is then compulsory to first remove the wedge 28 and, for this, provision can be made for the latter to have a small gripping lug 29.

 To avoid, when the shim 28 is being put in place, that it is engaged too deeply, one can provide on each tab 25 a stop 30 against which the shim 28 stops automatically.

 Referring now to Figure 6, we see another alternative embodiment according to which each hole 30 of an element 31 has a shoulder 32 which in the form of a helical ramp possibly in several segments.

 With these arrangements, it is possible to use members 24, the active part of which may be either of the type of tongues 25 with reliefs 26 or of a type with screw threads.

 Referring to Figure 7, we see another alternative embodiment according to which the holes 40 of the elements 41 are provided with a thread 42 over the entire thickness of said elements 41, the active part of the members being threaded with the same e pes.

When it is a question, as has been shown so far, of securing a member to an element, the length of the active part 23 must be less than the thickness of a single element. But it goes without saying that if one has to use such an organ for
join two or more elements together, the length of the active part must be less than the thickness not of a single element but of two or more elements,
so that a combinatorial assembly in accordance with the invention must comprise members the active part of which is more or less long according to modules determined in the case where
you want to be able to combine two or more perforated elements together.

 This is particularly the case of the assembly members shown in FIG. 3.

 According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the assembly members include bolts 50 and nuts 51 as shown in FIG. 8.

 But in this case, elements of the type 21 must be used, that is to say the holes 20 each having a shoulder 22 so that the distance d which separates the shoulder 22 from the face of the element 21 is at less equal to the height h of the head 52 of the bolts 51 and the thickness e of the nuts 51.

 In this way, when two elements 21 are assembled one against the other, the head 52 of the bolts 50 and the nuts 51 are entirely situated inside the contour of the elements 21 and do not constitute reliefs or discomfort.

 The total length of the bolts 50 must correspond to the thickness of two or three or four etc ... elements 21 so that neither the head 52 nor the end of the threaded rod exceeds the contour of the elements 21 assembled.

 Here again, therefore, there is a bolt module depending on the number of elements 21 to be assembled.

 According to a characteristic of the invention, the elastic tongues 25 which constitute the active part 23, are separated by spaces 60 whose width is substantially equal to that of the tongues 25 so that two active parts 23 can cooperate with the same hole 20 d an element 21 as shown in FIG. 9.

 In fact, with provisions, one begins to engage in the hole 20 the part 23 of an element 24 and the latter is suitably in place when the reliefs 26 are blocked beyond the shoulder 22.

 In this position, the member 24 can no longer be removed, except voluntary effort, but can on the other hand easily rotate around the virtual axis of the hole 20.

 A second member 24 ′ can be provided exactly opposite the member 24 by engaging its active part 23 ′ in the same hole 20 but through the other face of the element 21 thanks to the fact that the elastic tabs 25 ′ of the active part 23 'have a width less than that of the spaces 60 which separate the tongues 25, which can easily engage in the spaces 60' which separate the tongues 25 'since these spaces 60' have a width greater than that of the 1 tongues 25.

 To find the exact alignment of the tongues and the corresponding spaces, it suffices to rotate the members 24 and 24 'relative to each other until the tongues are placed in the spaces, after which it is easy to press on the members 24 and / or 24 ′ so that their relief is blocked beyond the shoulder 22.

 As already mentioned above, it is possible to provide tongues 25 and 25 'of length greater than that which corresponds to the distance between one face of the element and the opposite face of the shoulder when by this means we want to assemble at least two elements 21.

 In Figure 9, there are shown three tabs 25 for each active part 23 but, in theory, two opposite tabs would suffice. In Dratique, experience has shown that two tongues are unsuitable because it suffices that one of them is broken for assembly to become impossible, which is not the case with three tongues. However, it is even better to provide four tongues whose width is substantially equal to the eighth of the circumference of an imaginary circle which circumscribes them, apart from the game.

 It can be seen that, thanks to the invention, it is possible to produce objects such as garden furniture, children's furniture, games, etc. which are easy to assemble and which present no danger since the elements have a thickness such that 'they are not sharp unlike what thin sheets would be.

 The securing of accessories and organs using only the thickness of the elements makes it possible in particular to fix on one side accessories and decorative objects even if the other face of the element is covered by a solid plate as shown. 'shown in Figure 3.

 When one of the elements has the cylindrical shape of the bar 5 shown in Figure 1, it can be expected that its ends are female and receive a bolt 6 or that its ends are male and have a threaded rod whose diameter is less than that hole in the ..

which it must be engaged with blocking being carried out by means of a nut 51 such as that which is shown in FIG. 8.

 However, it is also possible to provide a decorative or utility member such as a ball 8 shown in FIG. 1 which is provided with a sleeve the outside diameter of which corresponds substantially to the inside diameter of the hole and the inside part of which is provided with a no screw to cooperate with the male threaded end of the bar 5.

 In the description above, a shoulder 22 has been provided, but, by equivalent means, a female groove could be provided at the location of the shoulder 22 so that the reliefs 26 must penetrate this groove which implies that the tongues 25 are located on a virtual circle of the same diameter as that of the hole 20.

 This variant, which is more complex to produce in practice, has not been described since the elements of the assembly according to the invention are advantageously produced by molding of synthetic material and such a groove requires the use of more molds. complex than those necessary to obtain the shoulder 22.

 The embodiment of the assembly by elastic tongues 25 and reliefs 26, makes it possible to provide wheels for the constitution of small vehicles in particular because these wheels can rotate without their rotation tending to dislocate the assembly as would be the case. case with a bolt and nut system.

 We can thus make small vehicles and provide the corresponding accessories such as steering wheels, flashing lights, headlights, etc.

 One can also provide special decorations so that the solid plates of the type of plate 18 shown in Figure 3 gives the appearance of brick or house roofing, or riveted sheet metal etc ...

The members 24 can be of any useful type or simply decorative and in particular - bootmakers of which a part is translucent and which contain
batteries and an electric lamp, - items of tableware Either as toys, or as neck
real greens in particular for their use in aircraft, at
in which case the plate constitutes a tray, - hook for placing a satchel or children's clothes, - accessories such as vices for toy work benches, - etc.

 According to a particularly advantageous variant and shown in FIG. 1, the members 24 can comprise an external flexible part, in particular hemispherical, as shown, so that one can place such members on perforated plates and make them comfortable. when it comes to building seats and / or backrests.

 When making garden seats, you can then leave the seat itself outside and only remove, in the event of rain, the attached parts.

 We can also leave in place these added parts when they are not afraid of bad weather because their specific arrangement "prevents water from staying. Their arrangement in the form of a hemisphere or at least in relief, ensures rapid evaporation so that even if they have been wet by rain or dew, they are dry before the plate constituting the seat or the backrest proper.

 The assembly members can consist not only in brackets 16 but also in parts in the form of a T or a U. It is also possible to provide a hinged assembly by means of which two elements can be articulated to constitute a door or elements orientable.

 The semi-circular lights 17a visible in FIGS. 1 and 3 make it possible to fix a member 16 in an orientation other than orthogonal as is the case for the panels 2 constituting the seat and the back of the child's chair.

 It is also possible to provide for the association of assembly members with one another when this association leads to an interesting result, which may be the case for two brackets 16 by means of a bolt and a nut, since this then constitutes a kind of very simple vice with which children can hold other elements when building furniture or toys.

 The balls 8 represented in FIG. 1 can also be used as handles, hooks, gripping members, etc.

 It is understood, in any case, that the invention makes it possible to produce assemblies according to practically infinite configurations and that the examples of application cannot be exhaustive.

 It should be noted that the assembly members other than bolts and nuts, and in particular those shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, may have a head of height and diameter such that it can be housed in a hole d 'element, as shown in Figure 8 with a bolt-nut assembly.

 Thus, the assembly members do not protrude on any side. This allows, in particular, the solid plate 18 of FIG. 3 to be applied against the horizontal plate 13 despite the presence of members for assembling this plate 13 with brackets 16.

 The invention is therefore not limited to the embodiments described and shown but on the contrary embraces all variants.

Claims (13)

1 - Combinatorial assembly, of the type comprising on the one hand  elements of various shapes with regular holes  mentally distributed and, on the other hand, organs, in particular  assembly, which have at least one active part  to be engaged in holes in the elements, character  laughed in that the thickness of the elements (1-2-7-13-14-15  active tie (23) opens on the other side.  subject on one of the faces of an element without the par  nes are such that an organ (3- 16-19-24) can be as  21-31) and the length of the active part (23) of the organ 2 - Combination assembly according to claim 1, character  laughed in that the holes (20) of the elements (21) are  smooth and the active part (23) of the organs (24) is de  formable so that the assembly of one (23) in the other  (20) is obtained by elastic deformation of the part  active (23). 3 - Combinator assembly according to claim 2, character  laughed in that the holes (20) of the elements (21) present  tent an internal peripheral shoulder (22) located mid  thickness of the element (21), the active part (23) of the  organs (24) comprising at least one external relief (26)  to be placed, by elastic reaction, beyond and  against said shoulder (22). 4 - Combination assembly according to claim 3, character  laughed in that the shoulder (22) has the shape of a  helical ramp, possibly in at least two segments. 5 - Combination assembly according to claim 2, character  laughed in that the active part (23) of the members (24) is  formed by at least two tabs (25). 6 - Combination assembly according to claim 5, character  laughed in that the tabs (25) are separated by  spaces (60) whose width is substantially equal to  that of the tongues (25) so that two active parts  (23) can cooperate with the same hole (20) of an ele-  ment (21), by the two opposite faces of said element (21),  the tongues (25) of one of the active parts (23)  to be engaged in the spaces (60), between the  tabs (25) of the other active part (23).  7 - Combinator assembly according to claim 5, character  in that the members (24) have a passage (27)  which goes right through them and ends up between  tabs (25), a wedge (28) which can thus be engaged  in passage (27) after subjugation of the organs  (24) to block the tabs (25) and oppose  their clastic withdrawal.  8 - Combinator assembly according to claim 1, character  laughed in that the holes (40) of the elements (41) are  provided with a thread over the entire thickness of said elements  elements (41), the active part of the members being threaded  at the same pace.  9 - Combination assembly according to claim 3, character  laughed at in that it includes bolts (50) and nuts  (51) to cooperate with holes (20) elements  (21) for their assembly, the distance (d) which separates  the shoulder (22) of the face of the element (21) being  at least equal to the height (h) of the head (52) of  bolts (50) and the thickness (e) of the nuts (51). 10 - Combination assembly according to claim 1, character  ensure that the elements include plates of  various modules and connecting bodies such as  brackets, brackets, hinges and the like, the whole  allowing, by means of assembly members, to consti  kill children's furniture, toys,  games and the like. 11 - Combination assembly according to claim 10, character  laughed at that the elements include plates  solid (18) that is to say without holes, provided on one  of their faces of assembly members (19) located at the em  placing holes of other elements (13) so that each  that member (19) can cooperate with one of said holes  to secure the plate (18) on the element (13) and  thus mask the holes of said element (13). 12 - Combination assembly according to claim 1, character  laughed at in that the elements include accessories  provided with assembly members and such as hooks,  balls, flexible elements, cases,  elements of dishes, elements of vehicles like  wheels, steering wheels, control buttons,  indicator lights, light elements and the like. 13 - Combination assembly according to claim 1, character  laughed in that it comprises at least one plate (10) and  accessories (12) to be placed on the same side  of the plate (10) either to constitute sets  such as letters of the alphabet, numbers and other sym  boles, either to constitute games such as puzzles,  either to constitute a decorative panel at the r  of a mosafque.