GB1563942A

GB1563942A - Corner forming element

Info

Publication number: GB1563942A
Application number: GB1195577A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: International Standard Electric Corp
Current assignee: International Standard Electric Corp
Priority date: 1976-07-24
Filing date: 1977-03-22
Publication date: 1980-04-02
Also published as: FR2359305A1; ES460969A1; DE2633349A1; PT66830B; CH625114A5; BE857079R; IT1077404B; PT66830A

Abstract

To produce rounded or rounded and mitred edges of walls for an outer surface of a housing produced by the folding construction method, panels (13, 14), which are separated by a joint (22) and are rounded and mitred at the separation edges, are connected to a glued-on film (6) and folded in such a way that the panel edges rest against one another. To achieve a completely smooth edge, any bonding agent is avoided in the region of the rounding or mitring. This is done by covering the relevant places when the layer of adhesive (9) is applied or by producing a step, in which case the layer of adhesive (9) is applied by means of a roller. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) CORNER FORMING ELEMENT (71) We, INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORPORATION, a Corporation oraniseed and existing under the Laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, of 320 Park Avenue, New York 22, State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to a corner forming element comprising plates or boards separated in the area of the corner by a gap, there being a foil stuck to the plates or boards serving to connect them, with the edges of the plates at the gap being rounded-off and/or bevelled towards the foil, as well as to a process of manufacturing such a corner forming element.

From the German Petty Patent 1,854,462 there is known an equipment cabinet, especially for radio receivers, consisting of individual, separated and substantially bending-resistant wall members which are joined to one another by at least one flexible surface coating and which, out of one plane, are capable of being folded to the shape of the final cabinet, and capable of being arrested in this position. For the purpose of forming rounded corners, inserts of a flexible material, such as leather, are arranged at the folding or bending points between the surface coating and on the wall members, with respect to the latter on both sides of the folding (bending) points.

These conventional cabinets having rounded corners suffer from the disadvantage that the investment and, consequently, the costs are considerably higher than in the case of cabinets not having such rounded corners.

In our copending British Application 30602/76 (Serial No. 1543645) A. Baier 3 it is shown how to round off individually the sides of the housing members facing the corner or the foil respectively, with the face side of the housing members lying within the bending area and forming one common rounded corner, together including a sawtooth shaped profile.

In such an arrangement the use of additional round bars is avoided in an advantageous manner, but both the manufacture and the embodiment are still relatively complicated.

For still further simplifying both the manufacture and the design, our copending application 52529/76 (Serial No. 1562306) A.

Baier 4 discloses rounding off each individual side of the housing members facing the corner or the foil respectively, and designing the consecutively following face sides of the housing members lying within the bending area and forming one common rounded corner, each to have a straight-lined profile, each extending symmetrically in relation to one another and applied to each other.

Both the investment and the costs of such a cabinet can be reduced to such an extent as to be almost equal to those of cabinets having no rounded corners.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of making a corner forming element comprising providing a sheet of rigid plate or board, forming a first transverse groove in one surface of the plate or board, sticking a flexible surface foil onto the one surface of the plate or board such that it extends over the groove and is not stuck to the plate or board in the area of the groove, and then forming a second groove in the opposite surface of the plate or board in order to separate the plate or board into separate wall members which can be folded to produce the corner with the foil on the outside.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a corner forming element comprising plates or boards separated in the area of the corner by a gap, there being a foil stuck to one surface of the plates or boards with adhesive and serving to connect them, at least first portions of the adjacent edges of the plates or boards at the gap being rounded-off and/or bevelled towards the foil to form corner surfaces, wherein no adhesive is applied to the area of the corner surfaces between the plates or boards and the foil, the plates or boards being foldable at the gap to make the corner with the foil on the outside.

Tn this way, in a quite simple manner, the foil is prevented from warping at the corner by becoming unintentionally stuck over the area of bending. In this way, moreover, it is also impossible for the adhesive to get into the area of bending and/or the bevel area between the plate (board) members and the foil, solidifying at these points and preventing the foil from being applied in an absolutely smooth manner to the plate or board members.

According to one feature of the invention it is proposed to keep the corner surfaces of the plates or boards free from adhesives within the area of the corner. The adhesive for sticking the foil is only applied to the one (plane) surfaces of the plates and not to the corner. Considering that the plate members themselves are only folded together after having provided for a long "open assembly time", the adhesive has already solidified before the parts are folded; the foil, however, will apply to the corner in a smooth and clean manner provided that this area is free from solidified adhesives.

According to another feature of the invention it is proposed that the plates or board are stepped where the sidewalls of the gap meet the one surface of the plates or boards.

This is a particularly simple way of keeping the corner area of the plate members free from layers of adhesive. When applying the adhesive layer by machine, there is preferably used a roll. Owing to differences in adhesive power of the employed adhesive material on the one plane surface of the plate or board members and on the roll, the adhesive layer will exactly tear off at the edges of the steps.

According to yet another aspect of the invention plates or boards are provided within the area of the corner with a covering not taking the adhesive matrial, and the one (plane) surface is provided with an adhesive layer for sticking the foil to the surface.

In the following the invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 14 of the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows rounded plate or board members prior to the folding.

Fig. 2 shows the rounded plate members after the folding, Figs. 3 and 5 show stepped and rounded plate members prior to the folding, Figs. 4 and 6 show stepped and rounded plate members after the folding, Fig. 7 shows rounded and bevelled plate members prior to the folding, P1g. 8 shows rounded and bevelled plate members after the folding, Fit. 9 to 13 show various stages in one method of manufacturing a corner in a plate or board, and Fig. 14 shows one stage in another method of manufacturing a corner in a plate or board.

In the drawings, identical parts are indicated by the same reference numerals; the dimensional proportions do not correspond to the actual ones; for the sake of enabling a better understanding, the drawings are not to scale.

According to Fig. 1, there is provided a plate or board 1 which is divided into two plates or boards 3 and 4 by a gap 2. The plate or board 1 may be of wood, chip board material, plywood, or any other suitable material. The plates 3 and 4 are joined to one another and retained by a foil 6 positioned on the outer surface 5 of the plate or board 1. The foil 6 may consist of paper, wood veneers, textile, of a plastics foil or metal foil or of any other suitable material. The edges of the plates or boards 3, 4 on either side of the gap 2 are, so that the edges 7 and 8 of the plates 3 and 4 are rounded off towards the foil 6.

Between the outer surfaces 5 and the foil 6 there is provided on the plates 3 and 4 an adhesive layer 9 for firmly retaining the foil 6 on the outer surfaces 5. The adhesive layer 9 consists of a dispersion adhesive, a condensation resin, or any other suitable adhesive.

The rounded off edges 7 and 8 of the plates 3 and 4 are kept free from the adhesive layer.

In order to form the desired rounded corner it is only necessary for the plate (boards) 3 and 4 to be folded inwardly, i.e. with the foil 6 pointing outwardly, around the gap 2 (Fig. 2). In this way, the foil 6 is automatically tensioned over the rounded edges 7 and 8 which, in combination, result in the desired rounded corner. The bottom surfaces 10 and 11 of the plates 3 and 4 abut one another and stick to one another in order thus to achieve a good stability.

In Fig. 3, the plate or board 1 is again shown to be separated by a gap 12 and thus divided into two plates (boards) 13 and 14 which are retained in position by the foil 6.

the edges of the plates 13 and 14 are so shaped that the edges 15 and 16 of the plates 13 and 14 are rounded off towards the foil 6.

At the beginning of these rounded portions, the plates 13 and 14 are each provided with a stepping 17 and 18. Each of the steps 17 and 18 is preferably designed to have a height amounting to fractions of millimeters only.

In this way, the surfaces which are not to be glued, are prevented from being coated with the adhesive layer 9. The edges 19 and 20 following the rounded edges 15 and 16 of the portions of the plates or boards lying within the bending area, are provided with interdigitated portions 21 (Fig. 4) engaging one another when in the folded state. Between the surfaces 5 and the foil 6 there is positioned on the plates or boards 13 and 14, the adhesive layer 9 for firmly retaining the foil 6 on the surface 5. The edges 15 and 16 within the stepping area 17 and 18 and the rounded portion are kept free from the adhesive layer.

Owing to the steppings 17 and 18 there is achieved a clearly defined separation between the portions of the plates or boards which are coated with the adhesive layer and those which are to remain free from the adhesive layer.

For the purpose of forming the desired rounded corner, the plates 13 and 14 together with the foil 6 are folded about the gap 12 by pointing in the outward direction. The foil 6 is thus tensioned over the rounded portions of the edges 15 and 16 which are free from the adhesive layer, and which together result in the desired rounded corner (Fig. 4). The interdigitations 21 of the edges 19 and 20 engage (abut) one another and are stuck to each other, for example, with the aid of a synthetic resin or thermoplastic adhesive, in urder thus to obtain a good stability. The bevel of the toothed edges 19 and 20 is determinative of the angle formed by the plates or boards 13 and 14 at the corner.

In modifying the example of embodiment ras shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a gap 22 separating the plate or board 1 into two plates or boards, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is so designed that the edges 19 and 20 of the plates 13 and 14 following the rounded edges 15 and 16, instead of having interdigitations engaging one another in the folded state, are each designed to have a straight bevelled profile 23 and 24.

In the folded condition, the profiles 23 and 24 meet upon one another (Fig. 6), and are stuck together, for example, with the aid of a synthetic resin (thermoplastic) adhesive, in order thus to obtain a good stability. The bevel of the edges 19 and 20 is determinative of the angle formed by the plates (boards) at the corner. Such a design has the advantage over the one shown in Figs. 3 and 4, of being substantially more simple and quicker to manufacture.

In Fig. 7 the plate or board 1 is again shown to be separated into two plates 26 and 27 by a gap 25 formed by milling. The plates 26 and 27 are retained in position by the foil 6. The gap 25 is so designed that the edges 28 and 29 of the plates 26 and 27 are first rounded off in direction towards the foil 6, and thereafter extend in a straight-line bevel. With in the area of both the rounding-off and the bevel of the edges 28 and 29 of the plates 26 and 27, there is provided a covering layer 30.

This layer 30 is made of a material which refuses to take on the adhesive of the adhesive layer 9, e.g. consists of a wax layer, a silicon layer, or of any other suitable material. Following the covering layer 30 therre is arranged on the plates 26 and 27 between the outer surface 5 and the foil 6, the adhesive layer 9 serving to retain the foil on the surface 5.

For the purpose of forming the desired rounded corners, the plates 26 and 27 together with the foil 6 are folded around the gap 25 by pointing in the outward direction (Fig. 8). The foil 6 is tensioned around the bevels and rounded portions of the edges 28 and 29 which are kept free from the adhesive layer, and which together result in the desired rounded corner. The bottom surfaces 31 and 32 of the plates 26 and 27 abut one an- other and are stuck to one another in order thus to obtain a good stability.

Instead of providing an adhesive layer 9 on the surface of the plate-shaped material 1, as is shown in the examples of embodiment according to Figs. I to 6, it is also possible to apply an adhesive layer to the foil. This adhesive layer on the foil is then interrupted within the areas of the rounding off or bevels at the plate edges and, if necessary, at the stepping of the plates, hence within the area of the rounded corner to be formed, i.e. on the base material.

The rounded portion of the desired rounded corner according to the examples of embodiment as described hereinbefore, does not absolutely have to be circular, but may also be eliptical or designed to have any other suitable shape, quite depending on the desired shape of the rounded corner.

Such rounded corners as described herein are manufactured in the way to be described hereinafter.

Into the plate or board 1 and as shown in Fig. 9, there is milled a groove 33 along the surface 5. The plate or board 1 may be of wood, chipboard material, plywood, or any other suitable material. The groove 33, extending from its centreline 34 is provided with convex or cusp-shaped side walls, so that the edges 35 and 36 of the board members 37 and 38 formed from the plate or board 1, are rounded off.

Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 10, on to the rounded edges 35 and 36 within the area of the rounded corner still to be formed, there is applied a covering 39 taking the adhesive layer which is still to be applied for the purpose of retaining the foil. This covering 39 may consist of one of the well known plastics adhesive tapes, or of any other suitable materials. Thereupon, the grooved surface 5 and the covering 39 are provided with an adhesive layer 9. This adhesive layer 9 may consist of a dispersion adhesive, a condensation adhesive, or of any other suitable adhesive: it may be applied by way of spraying, painting, rolling, or in any other way.

Following the application of the adhesive layer 9, the covering 39 is removed (Fig. 11).

In this way, within the area of the rounded edges 35 and 36, or within the are of the rounded corner still to be formed, there is provided a region free from adhesive layer.

Then the foil 6 is applied to the surface 5 provided with the adhesive layer 9. This foil 6 may consist of paper, wood veneers, textile, metal foil, plastics foil, or of any other suitable material.

After this, the plate or board members 37 and 38 are separated (Fig. 12) by forming a groove 331 extending therein from surface 40, having for example a straight, bevelled profile, which meets the groove 33. The grooves 33 and 331 together comprising the gap between the plates referred to above.

Finally, the separated board members 37 and 38 together with the foil 6, are folded for forming a rounded corner around the groove 33, until the bevelled profiles abut one another (Fig. 13). The angle included by the separated board members 37 and 38 in the folded condition, is determined by the profile bevel. The profiles abutting one another are stuck to one another, for example, with the aid of a synthetic resin adhesive, in order thus to obtain a good stability of the separated board members 37 and 38.

Instead of a covering 39 taking the adhesive layer 9, it is alternatively proposed to deposit on to the rounded edges within the area ofthe rounded corner to be formed, a covering not taking the adhesive layer. Such a covering not taking the adhesive layer, may consist of wax, silicon, or any other suitable materials.

There is then deposited the adhesive layer 9.

Thereafter, the foil 6 is applied to the surface 5 of the plate-shaped material 1 which is provided with the adhesive layer, and the further process is performed analogously as described hereinbefore. In this case, the covering is not removed prior to the application of the foil 6; it is possible, however, to remove it prior to the application of the foil 6 if deemed desirable.

According to a modification of the process described hereinbefore, the adhesive layer 9 on the outer surface 5 of the plate or board I may be replaced by an adhesive layer applied to the foil as described below.

Into the plate or board 1, and along the surface 5, there is milled a groove, so that rounded and/or bevelled edges of the plate or board members are formed by the groove, depending on the desired shape of the rounded corner to be obtained. Thereafter, within the area of the rounded corner to be formed, a covering not taking the adhesive layer to be applied, is deposited on to the foil Such a covering may consist of wax, silicon, or any other suitable material. Thereupon, the foil is provided with an adhesive layer. This adhesive layer may consist of a dispersion adhesive, a condensation adhesive, or of any other suitable adhesive materials.After this, the covering on the foil is removed, and thereafter the foil is stuck on to the outer surface of the plate or board This is followed by the further steps of the process in ana la,gonsly the same way as described hereinbefore.

According to a further modification and in accordance with Fig. 14 the groove 33 is replaced by a groove 41. The groove 41 is milled into the plate or board 1 along the top or outer surface 5, with this groove 41 comprising convex side walls extending from its centreline 42, so that the edges 43 and 44 of the plate or board members 45 and 46 as formed by the groove, are rounded off. At the beginning of this rounding-off, one step 47 and 48 each is cut out of the plate or board member 45 and 46 respectively. These steps are preferably designed to have a height amounting to fractions of a millimetre only.

The steps 47 and 48 may be produced simultaneously with the groove 41. Thereupon, the adhesive layer 9 is applied to the top or outer surface of the plate or board 1. This adhesive layer 9 is preferably applied with the aid of a roll 49. In the course of this, the plate or board, depending on the consistency of the employed adhesive material as used for the adhesive layer 9, may be previously heated to a temperature higher than room temperature (e.g. to a temperature of 30"C). Owing to the different adhesiveness of the adhesive material on the plane surface 5 of the plate or board and on the roll 49, the adhesive layer 9 will tear off exactly at the edges 40 and 51 of the steps 47 and 48. The rounded edges 43 and 44 of the plate or board members 45 and 46 are in this way kept free from adhesive-layer material.As a result, the foil 6 will be adhered only to the top or outer surface 5. The remainder of the process is continued in the same way as described hereinbefore.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A method of making a corner forming element comprising providing a sheet of rigid plate or boards, forming a first tranverse groove in one surface of the plate or board, sticking a flexible surface foil onto the one surface of the plate or beard such that it extends over the groove and is not stuck to the plate or board in the area of the groove, and then forming a second groove in the opposite surface of the plate or board in order to separate the plate or board into separate wall members which can be folded toproduce the corner with the foil on the out side.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plate or board is provided in the area of the corner with a covering taking the adhesive and said one surface is provided with an adhesive layer, and wherein prior to the sticking on of the foil, this covering is removed.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plate or board is provided within the area of the corner with a covering not taking the adhesive material, and wherein the one surface is provided with an adhesive layer for sticking the foil to the one surface.

4. A method according to claim l:, where

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. provided with the adhesive layer 9. This foil 6 may consist of paper, wood veneers, textile, metal foil, plastics foil, or of any other suitable material. After this, the plate or board members 37 and 38 are separated (Fig. 12) by forming a groove 331 extending therein from surface 40, having for example a straight, bevelled profile, which meets the groove 33. The grooves 33 and 331 together comprising the gap between the plates referred to above. Finally, the separated board members 37 and 38 together with the foil 6, are folded for forming a rounded corner around the groove 33, until the bevelled profiles abut one another (Fig. 13). The angle included by the separated board members 37 and 38 in the folded condition, is determined by the profile bevel. The profiles abutting one another are stuck to one another, for example, with the aid of a synthetic resin adhesive, in order thus to obtain a good stability of the separated board members 37 and 38. Instead of a covering 39 taking the adhesive layer 9, it is alternatively proposed to deposit on to the rounded edges within the area ofthe rounded corner to be formed, a covering not taking the adhesive layer. Such a covering not taking the adhesive layer, may consist of wax, silicon, or any other suitable materials. There is then deposited the adhesive layer 9. Thereafter, the foil 6 is applied to the surface 5 of the plate-shaped material 1 which is provided with the adhesive layer, and the further process is performed analogously as described hereinbefore. In this case, the covering is not removed prior to the application of the foil 6; it is possible, however, to remove it prior to the application of the foil 6 if deemed desirable. According to a modification of the process described hereinbefore, the adhesive layer 9 on the outer surface 5 of the plate or board I may be replaced by an adhesive layer applied to the foil as described below. Into the plate or board 1, and along the surface 5, there is milled a groove, so that rounded and/or bevelled edges of the plate or board members are formed by the groove, depending on the desired shape of the rounded corner to be obtained. Thereafter, within the area of the rounded corner to be formed, a covering not taking the adhesive layer to be applied, is deposited on to the foil Such a covering may consist of wax, silicon, or any other suitable material. Thereupon, the foil is provided with an adhesive layer. This adhesive layer may consist of a dispersion adhesive, a condensation adhesive, or of any other suitable adhesive materials.After this, the covering on the foil is removed, and thereafter the foil is stuck on to the outer surface of the plate or board This is followed by the further steps of the process in ana la,gonsly the same way as described hereinbefore. According to a further modification and in accordance with Fig. 14 the groove 33 is replaced by a groove 41. The groove 41 is milled into the plate or board 1 along the top or outer surface 5, with this groove 41 comprising convex side walls extending from its centreline 42, so that the edges 43 and 44 of the plate or board members 45 and 46 as formed by the groove, are rounded off. At the beginning of this rounding-off, one step 47 and 48 each is cut out of the plate or board member 45 and 46 respectively. These steps are preferably designed to have a height amounting to fractions of a millimetre only. The steps 47 and 48 may be produced simultaneously with the groove 41. Thereupon, the adhesive layer 9 is applied to the top or outer surface of the plate or board 1. This adhesive layer 9 is preferably applied with the aid of a roll 49. In the course of this, the plate or board, depending on the consistency of the employed adhesive material as used for the adhesive layer 9, may be previously heated to a temperature higher than room temperature (e.g. to a temperature of 30"C). Owing to the different adhesiveness of the adhesive material on the plane surface 5 of the plate or board and on the roll 49, the adhesive layer 9 will tear off exactly at the edges 40 and 51 of the steps 47 and 48. The rounded edges 43 and 44 of the plate or board members 45 and 46 are in this way kept free from adhesive-layer material.As a result, the foil 6 will be adhered only to the top or outer surface 5. The remainder of the process is continued in the same way as described hereinbefore. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A method of making a corner forming element comprising providing a sheet of rigid plate or boards, forming a first tranverse groove in one surface of the plate or board, sticking a flexible surface foil onto the one surface of the plate or beard such that it extends over the groove and is not stuck to the plate or board in the area of the groove, and then forming a second groove in the opposite surface of the plate or board in order to separate the plate or board into separate wall members which can be folded toproduce the corner with the foil on the out side.

4. A method according to claim l:, where

in the first transverse groove has sidewalls which each meet the one surface at a step, and the one surface is provided with an adhesive layer with the aid of a roller, the steps preventing the groove receiving adhesive.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the steps are produced simultaneously with the first groove.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein prior to the application of the foil, within the area of the corner, a covering not taking the adhesive, is applied to or deposited on the foil, wherein the foil itself is provided with an adhesive layer, and wherein prior to sticking the foil on the material, said covering is removed.

7. A method of making a corner forming element in a plate or board substantially as hereinbefore described, with referrence to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A corner forming element made by a method according to any of claims 1 to 6.

9. A corner forming element comprising plates or boards separated in the area of the corner by a gap, there being a foil stuck to one surface of the plates or boards with adhesive and serving to connect them, at least first portions of the adjacent edges of the plates or boards at the gap being rounded off and/or bevelled towards the foil to form corner surfaces, wherein no adhesive is applied to the area of the corner surfaces between the plates or boards and the foil, the plates or boards being foldable at the gap to make the corner with the foil on the outside.

10. A corner forming element according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the edges of the plates or boards are protected from adhesives within the area of the corner.

11. A corner forming element according to claim 10, wherein the plates or boards are stepped where the sidewalls of the gap meet the one surface of the plates or boards.

12. A corner forming element according to claim 10, wherein the plates or boards, within the area of the corner, are provided with a layer not taking the adhesive.

13. A corner forming element according to claim 9, wherein the foil is provided with an adhesive layer which is interrupted within the area of the corner.

14. A corner forming element according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein second portions of the edges of the plates or boards are intended to abut one another, when the plates or boards are angled to form the corner, and have a straight profile.

15. A corner forming element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A cabinet incorporating corner forming elements according to any of claim 8 to 15.