FR3097416A1 - FURNISHING ELEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a furnishing element (100) comprising a central metal ball (2) and a plurality of structural parts (1) arranged around said ball (2). Each structural part (1) comprises a connecting portion on which is mounted at least one magnet defining an internal space and comprising a contact portion, a portion of the ball (2) extending in said internal space and being magnetized on said contact portion in order to hold said structural part (1) on the ball (2). Abstract figure: Figure 2

Description

FURNISHING ELEMENT

The present invention relates to the field of furniture and relates more particularly to a furnishing element which can be utilitarian, decorative and/or playful.

Nowadays, many furnishing elements have multiple functions, including utilitarian and decorative. In particular, certain furnishing elements additionally have a fun function, such as for example tables whose surface is suitable for playing chess games, storage furniture comprising boxes assembled like a puzzle or brain teasers decorative wood. In particular, wooden puzzles are known, the pieces of which are forcefully interlocked with each other so as to be held together.

It is known in particular from document US 4,513,970, a puzzle comprising a central ball and a plurality of structural parts arranged around the central ball each by one of their corners which matches the shape of the ball. The parts are magnetized together by their faces so as to be held around the ball which performs a ball joint function. The puzzle is therefore both one-piece and removable by separating the structural parts from each other. However, the magnets being far from the central ball, the connections between the faces of the pieces can prove to be unstable when the pieces are driven in rotation around the ball, then causing an inopportune disassembly of the puzzle. In addition, this type of puzzle is not intended to fulfill a utilitarian furnishing function, for example of the stool type.

In another solution, document EP 1 833 579 describes a puzzle comprising a central metal core and a plurality of triangular or square structural parts. The core has as many metal components as there are structural parts. Thus, each structural part is magnetized, using a metal ball connected to a spring, to a metal core member so that the puzzle is both one-piece and removable by separating the structural parts from the core. The manufacture of such a puzzle is however complex and therefore expensive, in particular the manufacture of the core as well as the fixing of the metal balls and their springs on the structural parts. In addition, the use of metal balls fixed with springs makes the structural parts fragile, the springs being able to yield when the structural parts are removed. Furthermore, the structural parts are not intended to be driven in rotation. Finally, this type of puzzle is not intended to fulfill a utilitarian furnishing function, for example of the stool type.

There is therefore a need for a solution making it possible to at least partially remedy these drawbacks.

To this end, the invention relates to a furnishing element comprising a central metal ball and a plurality of structural parts arranged around said ball, said furnishing element being remarkable in that each structural part comprises a connecting portion on which is mounted at least one magnet delimiting an internal space and comprising a contact portion, a portion of the ball extending in said internal space and being magnetized on said contact portion in order to maintain said structural part on the ball.

By the term “piece of furniture”, we mean a piece of furniture as well as a decorative piece or a puzzle. Each structural part is fixed on said ball in direct contact by magnetization so that the furnishing element is both one-piece and removable by separating the structural parts from the ball. The contact surface between the magnet and the ball is large, which allows a solid fixing of each structural part on the ball and makes it possible to sit on the piece of furniture when this is a seat or manipulate the piece of furniture in order to rotate the structural parts around the ball while keeping them magnetized on the ball.

Advantageously, the magnet is of cylindrical shape, in particular of circular section, in order to allow effective fixing of each structural part on the ball.

Preferably, according to a first embodiment, the magnet is hollow, the internal space being through, and of annular shape with a square or circular section, in order to increase the volume of magnetization with the ball.

Preferably, according to a second embodiment, the magnet is solid and comprises a portion adapted to match the shape of the surface of the ball in order to improve the surface of the contact portion.

Preferably, each structural part is separated from the ball by a connecting distance in order to allow the structural parts to be easily rotated around the ball.

In one embodiment, the magnet is mounted so as to move relative to the connecting portion, preferably in translation, in order to confer a degree of freedom at least along one axis.

According to one aspect of the invention, the magnet is movable between a so-called "folded" position, in which the magnet is integrated into the structural part, and a so-called "extended" position, in which the contact portion of the The magnet is moved away from the connecting portion by a distance at least equal to the connecting distance, in order to facilitate the rotation of the structural parts around the ball when they are manipulated.

Preferably, the connecting portion extending along a plane, the magnet is mounted so as to be able to move in translation along an axis perpendicular to said plane.

Preferably, the magnet is mounted with at least one clearance on the connecting portion in order to confer a degree of freedom at least along one axis.

Preferably, the magnet is mounted with axial play and/or lateral play and/or offset play. The axial play, the lateral play and the misalignment play each confer an additional degree of freedom in order to improve the rotation of the structural parts around the ball while keeping them magnetized on said ball.

In another embodiment, the magnet is fixedly mounted on the connecting portion, for example by gluing, nailing or screwing in order to simplify the manufacture of the furnishing element.

Preferably again, the structural parts are identical to each other in order to simplify the manufacture of the furnishing element.

Preferably, the piece of furniture is cubic in shape, so that it can be easily used as a table or stool, for example.

Advantageously, the structural parts are cubic in shape, one of the corners of which is chamfered in order to form the connecting portion. For example, the piece of furniture comprises eight identical structural parts, each in the shape of a cube, one corner of which has been chamfered to form the connecting portion.

Preferably, the connecting portion comprises a hollow cylindrical recess in which the magnet is mounted.

Advantageously, each structural part comprises at least one retention member adapted to retain the magnet on the structural part in the extended position.

According to one aspect of the invention, each structural part is preferably made of a rigid and light material, for example wood and/or a composite material and/or a plastic material and/or any other suitable material, to allow simple manipulation of the structural parts around the ball.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and referring to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples, in which identical references are given to similar objects. and on which:
is in perspective view and in transparency of an embodiment of the furnishing element according to the invention;
is a partial perspective view of the furnishing element of Figure 1;
is a perspective view of a structural part of the furnishing element of Figure 2;
schematically illustrates an embodiment of the connecting portion of the structural part of Figure 3;
schematically illustrates another embodiment of the connecting portion of the structural part of Figure 3;
schematically illustrates a first embodiment of a magnet of the structural part of FIG. 3;
is another view of the first embodiment of the magnet of Figure 6;
schematically illustrates a second embodiment of the magnet of the structural part of FIG. 3;
schematically illustrates a third embodiment of the magnet of the structural part of FIG. 3;
schematically illustrates a first cross-sectional view of the magnet of Figures 6 and 7 mounted in the recess of the connecting portion of Figure 4 according to a first embodiment;
schematically illustrates a second cross-sectional view of the magnet of Figures 6 and 7 mounted in the recess of the connecting portion of Figure 4 according to the first embodiment;
schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the magnet of Figures 6 and 7, mounted on a flat surface of a connecting portion devoid of recess of the structural part of Figure 3, according to a second embodiment;
schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the magnet of Figures 6 and 7 mounted in the recess of the connecting portion of Figure 4, according to a third embodiment;
schematically illustrates a sectional view of a connection by magnetization between the ball and the magnet of FIGS. 6 and 7 mounted in the recess according to the first embodiment;
schematically illustrates a sectional view of a connection by magnetization between the ball and the magnet of FIG. 9 in the recess of the connection portion of FIG. 4;
schematically illustrates a sectional view of a connection by magnetization between the ball and three structural parts of the furnishing element of Figure 1.

It should be noted that the figures expose the invention in detail to implement the invention, said figures can of course be used to better define the invention if necessary.

General presentation

Examples of furnishing elements according to the invention have been shown in the figures. The furnishing element can be utilitarian, decorative and/or playful. The piece of furniture can be of variable dimensions and can be a piece of furniture, in particular a stool, a seat or a table, or be of small size, in order to be manipulated with two hands as in the case of a puzzle. head. In the following description, the piece of furniture is a cubic stool whose length of the sides is for example between 5 cm and 100 cm.

Referring to Figure 1, the furnishing element 100 comprises a central metal ball 2 and a plurality of structural parts 1. The structural parts 1 are fixed on said ball 2 by magnetization so that the element of furniture 100 is both one-piece and removable by separating the structural parts 1 from each other and from the ball 2.

The number of structural parts 1 may vary. However, in order to simplify the description, only one example will be described here, that of a furnishing element 100 comprising a ball 2 and eight structural parts 1, as shown in Figure 1.

Ball 2

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown the furnishing element 100, and in particular six of the structural parts 1 among the eight structural parts 1 in order to make the ball 2 and the internal structure of the structural parts 1 visible. In this example of a stool, the diameter of the ball 2 is between 20 and 100 mm, preferably between 27 and 50 mm.

Structural part 1

a- General presentation

With reference to FIG. 3, one of the structural parts 1 will be described, the structural parts 1 being identical to one another.

Each structural part 1 is cubic in shape and the length of the side of each structural part 1 is included in this non-limiting example between 2.5 cm and 50 cm. It will be noted that in another embodiment, the dimensions of the structural parts 1 could be smaller or larger. For example, for a puzzle, the length of the sides of the structural pieces 1 could be for example less than 2.5 cm and for a decorative or display element, the length of the sides of the structural pieces 1 could be for example greater than 100 cm.

In this example and preferably, each structural part 1 is hollow, in order to be light enough to be moved easily and to remain correctly fixed on the ball 2. However, as a variant, it will be noted that each structural part 1 could be solid .

Each structural part 1 can be made of wood and/or of composite material and/or of plastic material and/or of any other suitable material, preferably a rigid and light material in order to be moved easily and to remain correctly fixed on the ball 2.

Each structural part 1 has substantially the shape of a cube, one of the corners of which is chamfered in order to form a connecting portion 10 on which is mounted a magnet 3. In another embodiment, the connecting portion 10 could include more than one magnet 3. In this preferred example, the magnet 3 has a cylindrical shape as will be described more precisely below.

In yet another embodiment, the structural parts 1 could have another shape, for example tetrahedral or parallelepiped, or could include a spherical portion so that the piece of furniture has a spherical shape.

b- Connecting portion 10

The connecting portion 10 is triangular and formed by a chamfer preferably made at 45°, that is to say extending perpendicularly to the diagonal of the cubic structural part 1 which passes through it. The space freed up by the chamfered portion of each structural part 1 makes it possible to accommodate the ball 2.

Referring to Figure 4, the connecting portion 10 comprises a cylindrical recess 11 of circular section in which the magnet 3 is mounted. The depth of the recess 11 is in this example between 5 and 15 mm and a diameter between 15 and 27 mm.

Preferably, the recess 11 is located in the center of the triangular connecting portion 10.

According to another embodiment, with reference to FIG. 5, in order to improve the retention of the magnet 3 mounted in the recess 11, the connecting portion 10 comprises retention members in the form of abutment notches 12 adapted to retain the magnet 3 in the recess 11 of the structural part 1 and prevent said magnet 3 from detaching from the structural part 1 during the dismantling of the furnishing element 100.

In yet another embodiment, the recess 11 could be of square or rectangular section so as to accommodate a magnet of square or rectangular section.

In another embodiment, the connecting portion 10 could have no recess 11 and the magnet 3 would then be fixed directly to the surface of the connecting portion 10.

Magnet 3

A- General presentation

The magnet 3 has a cylindrical shape with a circular section and is mounted in the recess 11 of the connecting portion 10, in translation along an axis perpendicular to the plane in which the connecting portion 10 extends.

Referring to Figure 6, in a first embodiment, the magnet 3 is hollow and ring-shaped whose section in longitudinal section is rectangular. By way of example, the outside diameter D ₃ of the ring is between 15 and 30 mm and its height h ₃ is between 5 and 12 mm, in order in particular to be greater than the depth of the recess 11, which can for example be between 5 and 15 mm. In this example, the magnet 3 delimits in its hollow part an empty and cylindrical internal space E ₃ , of internal diameter d ₃ comprised between 5 and 20 mm, preferably between 6 and 16 mm. More precisely, the internal space E ₃ is dimensioned to receive a portion of the ball 2 so as to increase the volume of magnetization between the magnet 3 and the ball 2.

The magnet 3 comprises a portion P ₃ in contact with the ball 2 and a portion of the ball 2 therefore extends into said internal space E ₃ in order to hold the structural part 1 on the ball 2 by magnetization.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the magnet 3 also comprises in this example a circular support piece 31, of outer diameter D ₃₁ equal to the outer diameter D ₃ of said magnet 3, and of thickness e ₃₁ of between 5 and 15 mm. Said support piece 31 comprises in its center a through circular opening O ₃₁ with a diameter d ₃₁ of the order of 4 mm. The support part 31 is configured to be fixed under the magnet 3, for example using an adhesive material.

The support piece 31 may in particular be made of wood and/or a composite material and/or a plastic material and/or any other suitable material, preferably a rigid and light material.

According to a second embodiment, with reference to FIG. 8, the magnet 3 comprises a stack of two magnets 3_1, 3_2 in order to significantly increase the magnetizing force of the magnet 3, the structure of each of the two magnets 3_1, 3_2 is identical to that of the first embodiment of magnet 3, except that the total height h _{3_2} of the stack of the two magnets 3_1 and 3_2 is equal to the height h ₃ of magnet 3 according to the first embodiment. Preferably, the height of each of the two magnets 3_1 and 3_2 is equal to half the height h ₃ of the first embodiment of the magnet 3. In one embodiment, one could use for the magnet 3 a stack of more than two magnets 3_1 and 3_2.

Referring to Figure 9, in a third embodiment, the magnet 3 is cylindrical and solid and comprises a hollow part defining an empty internal space E ₃ . The magnet 3 comprises a portion P ₃ in contact with the ball 2, and the shape of said portion P ₃ in contact with the ball 2 is adapted to match the surface of the ball 2. The outer diameter of the third embodiment of the magnet 3 is equal to the outer diameter D ₃ of the first embodiment of the magnet 3.

B- Fixing the magnet 3 on the connecting portion 10

First embodiment : The magnet 3 according to the first or the second embodiment is placed in the recess 11 and is held in the recess 11 by a retention member 4. For this, with reference to FIG. 10, the retention member 4 comprises a head 41 and a rod 42 and can for example be a wood screw when the structural parts 1 are made of wood. In a first case, the rod 42 comprises an external thread, and said retention member 4 corresponds for example to a screw. In a second case, the rod 42 does not include any external thread and is for example in the form of a headed stud.

The rod 42 passes through the opening O ₃₁ and is fixed in the bottom of the recess 11. For this purpose, the rod 42 can be fixed in the bottom of the recess 11, for example, the rod 42 can be screwed or nailed in the bottom of the recess 11. Furthermore, said rod 42 can also be inserted in a hollow cylindrical zone, optionally threaded, included in the bottom of the recess 11 and cooperating with the rod 42. Preferably, there is a clearance between the diameter d ₃₁ of the opening O ₃₁ and the outer diameter of the rod 42 of the retention member 4 in order to allow movement of the magnet 3 relative to the retention member 4.

Thus, the magnet 3 is mounted in the recess 11 of the connecting portion 10 and is held in said recess 11 via the retention member 4 so that the magnet 3 is integral with the recess 11, but not stationary with respect to said recess 11. For this, the retention member 4 is not inserted as far as possible into the bottom of the recess 11 and a space is left free between the head 41 of the retention member 4 and the bottom of the recess 11. Consequently, the magnet 3 has an axial clearance J _A , that is to say, a clearance, of the order of a millimeter, between the bottom of the recess 11 and said part support 31 of magnet 3.

In this embodiment, the magnet 3 is also mounted in the recess 11 so that the magnet 3 has a lateral play J _L , in other words a play, of the order of a tenth of a millimeter, between the side wall inside of the recess 11 and the outer wall of the magnet 3.

With reference to FIG. 11, the magnet 3 also has an offset play J _D , in other words an angular play, of 0 to 5°, between the axis of revolution a _R3 of the magnet 3, and the axis of revolution to _R11 from recess 11.

The lateral play J _L , the axial play J _A and the misalignment play J _D each give an additional degree of freedom making it possible to improve the rotation of the structural parts 1 around the ball 2 while keeping them magnetized on said ball 2 .

According to the first embodiment, the magnet 3 is movable between two positions, between a so-called “folded” position and a so-called “extended” position. In the folded position, the magnet 3 is integrated at least partly in the structural part 1 and in the extended position, the portion P ₃ of the magnet 3 in contact with the ball 2 is remote from the surface of the portion link 10 of a so-called "link" distance d _{3_10} whose maximum value is of the order of 3 mm in order to facilitate the rotation of the structural parts 1 when they are handled. In other words, in the extended position, the magnet 3 is mounted in the recess 11 so that it slightly protrudes from the outer surface of the connecting portion 10, by the connecting distance d _{3_10} . Said connection distance d _{3_10} being small, this allows correct maintenance of the magnet 3 in the recess 11.

Second embodiment : With reference to FIG. 12, the magnet 3 according to the first or the second embodiment is held, in a movable manner, directly on the outer surface of a connecting portion 10 devoid of recess 11, by a retention means, and in particular via a retention member 4 as presented according to the first embodiment.

Third embodiment : With reference to FIG. 13, the magnet 3 according to the first or the second embodiment is placed in the recess 11 and is held in a fixed manner in the recess 11 by a retention means, and in particular via a retention member 4 as presented above.

The magnet 3 is mounted in the recess 11 of the connecting portion 10 via the retention means so that the magnet 3 is integral with the recess 11, and immobile with respect to the recess 11. For this, the rod 42 of the retention member 4 is inserted as far as possible into the bottom of the recess 11, as detailed previously, in order to immobilize the magnet 3 between the bottom of the recess 11 and the head 41.

In order to be kept immobile in the recess 11, the magnet 3 can also be fixed via an adhesive material.

Fourth embodiment (not shown): The magnet 3 according to the first or the second embodiment is held fixed directly on the surface of a connecting portion 10 devoid of recess 11, by a retention means, and in particular via a retention member 4 as presented according to the third embodiment. In this way, the magnet 3 is held immobile relative to the surface of the connecting portion 10.

In order to be kept immobile on the surface of the connecting portion 10, the magnet 3 can also be fixed via an adhesive material.

Other embodiments (not shown): The magnet 3 according to the third embodiment, is held fixed or mobile directly on the surface of a connecting portion 10 devoid of recess 11, by a retention means, and in particular via a retention member 4 as presented above or directly using an adhesive material. In the same way, thanks to an adhesive material or a retention means, the magnet 3 according to the third embodiment can be held in the recess 11 of a connecting portion 10 in a fixed or mobile manner.

Assembly of furnishing element 100

Referring to Figure 14, the magnet 3, according to the first or the second embodiment, is mounted in the recess 11 according to the first embodiment and is fixed by magnetization on the ball 2 to allow physical contact between portion P ₃ of magnet 3 and said ball 2.

Referring to Figure 15, the magnet 3, according to the third embodiment, is mounted in the recess 11 according to the first embodiment and is fixed by magnetization on the ball 2 to allow physical contact between the portion P ₃ of magnet 3 and said ball 2. In addition, with reference to Figure 16, there is shown the connection by magnetization between ball 2 and three structural parts 1.

The furnishing element 100, comprising the structural parts 1 connected to the ball 2 as detailed previously, each structural part 1, in the extended position, is distant from the ball 2 by a connecting distance d _{3_10} (figure 10), making it possible to create sufficient play to allow the structural parts 1 to rotate easily while keeping them magnetized on the ball 2.

When it is desired to separate the structural parts 1 from the ball 2, in particular to dismantle the furnishing element 100, it suffices to move the structural parts 1 far apart from each other and from the ball 2 to disconnect the magnets 3 of the ball 2.

Different decorations, colors or materials can be used for the 1 structural parts so that the user can put them together to form 100 different furnishing elements according to their tastes.

Claims (10)

Furnishing element (100) comprising a central metal ball (2) and a plurality of structural parts (1) arranged around said ball (2), said furnishing element (100) being characterized in that each piece of structure (1) comprises a connecting portion (10) on which is mounted at least one magnet (3) delimiting an internal space (E ₃ ) and comprising a contact portion (P ₃ ), a ball portion (2) extending in said internal space (E ₃ ) and being magnetized on said contact portion (P ₃ ) in order to hold said structural part (1) on the ball (2). Furniture element (100) according to claim 1, in which each structural part (1) is separated from the ball (2) by a connecting distance (d _{3_10} ). Furniture element (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the magnet (3) is movably mounted with respect to the connecting portion (10). Piece of furniture (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the magnet (3) is movable between a so-called "folded" position, in which the magnet (3) is integrated into the structural part, and a so-called "extended", in which the portion (P ₃ ) of the magnet (3) in contact with the ball (2) is distant from the connecting portion (10) by a distance less than the connecting distance (d _{3_10} ) maximum. Piece of furniture (100) according to either of Claims 3 and 4, in which, the connecting portion (10) extending along a plane, the magnet (3) is mounted so as to be able to move in translation along a axis perpendicular to said plane. Furniture element (100) according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, in which the magnet (3) is mounted with at least one play on the connecting portion (10). Furniture element (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the magnet (3) is mounted with an axial clearance (J _A ) and/or a lateral clearance (J _L ) and/or an offset clearance (J _D ). Furnishing element (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the structural parts (1) are of cubic shape, one of the corners of which is chamfered in order to form the connecting portion (10). Furniture element (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the connecting portion (10) comprises a hollow cylindrical recess (11) in which the magnet (3) is mounted. Furnishing element (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each structural part (1) comprises at least one retention member (12, 4) suitable for retaining the magnet (3) on the structure (1) in the extended position.