GB2180741A - Set of modular parts for the construction of furniture structures - Google Patents

Abstract

A set of modular parts for the construction of furniture structures and similar articles comprises a plurality of main parts see e.g. Figs. 15 and 16, made up of tubular members, the cross-section of which defines a series of faces, at least one of these faces comprising coupling means for fitting to a corresponding accessory member chosen from a plurality of associated members see e.g. Fig. 23. The set is completed by a plurality of locking pieces see e.g. Fig 21, which are connectable by fitting to the ends of the main parts in order to improve their finish to connect two or more main parts. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Set of modular parts for the construction of furniture structures and similar articles The present invention relates to a set of modular parts for the construction of furniture structures and similar articles.

In the construction of furniture structures and similar articles, for example, tables, shelvings, closets, display windows, and others, certain sections and parts have been used hitherto to couple laminated bodies, such as panels, to form walls, shelves, doors, and other components of the structures. These sections and parts require the additional use of screws and equivalent fastening means,the use of which certainly is very disadvantageous due to the time and the annoyance required to fit these parts, as well as to remove them when disassembling the structures, when necessary, as it is the case with some pieces of furniture, such as shelvings. The use of screws and similar items is labourious and time consuming and, because they are visible, do not improve the appearance of the structure.

The above mentioned problems are eliminated in a very satisfactory manner using the modular parts for the construction of furnture structures and similar articles, the subject of the present invention, which provide an easy and quick coupling and de-coupling between components of the structures without requiring screws and similar fasteners, the absence of which also improves the finish of the structures.

The invention provides a set of modular parts comprising a plurality of main parts made up of tubular members, the cross-section of which defines a series of faces, at least one of these comprising coupling means for fitting to a corresponding accessory member chosen from a plurality of associated members made up of preferably laminated sections provided with coupling means for the fixation to the coupling means of the main parts, and having support means in order to keep in a stationary position and eventually movable in a sliding way laminated pieces that allow to extend and to form the desired structure, the set being completed by a plurality of locking pieces, which are connectable by fitting to the ends of the main parts in order to improve their finish and, if required, in order to allow for the extension connection of the main parts in order to increase the length of the same.

Preferably the coupling means of the main parts and the coupling means of the accessory members are coupled for mutual connection by longitudinal sliding.

Preferably, the coupling means of the accessory members comprise a longitudinal projecting collar provided with drilled holes in order for it to be fastened to the adjacent surface of the face of the main part. Preferably, the coupling means of the accessories comprise longitudinal projecting collars, whose half connection span is applied against the face of the main part and said collars are fitted under pressure into the adjacent surfaces of said face.

Preferably the locking parts are finishing plates acting as an entrance stop for the section of the main part and from at least one of its faces there projects a rib connectable inside said part.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure A is a perspective view of a furniture structure using some of the elements of the present set; Figure 1 is a cross-section view of the profile of an elongate angled tubular part 1 as shown by Figure A; Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the profile of an elongate flat tubular part 2; Figure 3 is a cross-section view of the profile of an elongate angled tubular part 3 similar to part 1, but provided with channels for inserting sliding laminer elements; Figure 4 is a cross-section view of the profile of an elongate tubular part 4 similar to part 2; Figure 5 is an underside perspective view of a joining connector 5 for four elongate tubular coplanar elements and a fifth perpendicular one;; Figure 6 is a cross-section view of the cross-like hollow elongate tubular member 6; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a corner piece 7 for connecting three perpendicular elements; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a supporting piece 8; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a supporting piece 9; Figure 10 is an underside perspective view of a closing element 10 for finishing an elongate angled member; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a joining connector 11 for connecting four perpendicular tubular elements (three of them coplanar); Figure 12 is a perspective view of another type of joining connector 12 for five tubular elements; all the following figures are views of different elements to be used for assembling furniture structures which are not shown in Figure A but the functions of which are similar and easily understood:: Figure 13 is a diagrammatic cross-section view of the profile of a cross-like solid elongate-tubular element; Figure 14 is a cross-section view of the profile of an elongate angled tubular element similar to the element of Figure 1 but having sharply intersecting walls; Figure 15 is a cross-section view of the elongate flat tubular element of Figure 4 in a vertical position; Figure 16 is a cross-section view of the profile of an elongate angled tubular element similar to the element of Figure 3 but having sharply intersecting walls; Figure 17 is a cross-section view of the profile of an elongate angled tubular element having a longitudinal spigot along the end of one leg; Figure 18 is a cross-section of an elongate angled tubular element, the legs of which are set at 135 ;; Figure 19 is a perspective view of a finishing plate for the elongate angled elements of Figures 1, 3, 14, 16 or 17; Figure 20 is an underside perspective view of a finishing plate for the elongate element of Figure 13; Figure 21 is an underside perspective view of a joining connector similar to that of Figure 5 specially intended to fit the elongate member of Figure 13; Figures 22 to 30 are cross-section views of sliding laminar elements to be inserted into the channels of elongate elements as shown by Figures 3, 4, 6, 15, 16 or 18; Figures 31 to 40 are partial schematic perspective views involving different elements of this set; Figures 41 to 46 are assembling schemes of some examples furniture structures using the illustrated elements; and Figures 47 and 48 are views of fitting and fixing means for the elements.

A set of modular parts are disclosed for the construction of structures including main parts which consist of L-section tube-shaped sections having on their end faces, specially on their ends, longitudinal grooves with respective openings which also are longitudinal and have T-shaped cross-section slits into which slide in projecting portions of the corresponding laminated sections. The cross-sections of these accessories are U-shaped channel sections and are opposite to projecting portions in order to allow the sliding coupling connection of the laminated members or panels forming walls, shelves, doors and similar items in the structure.

When assembling the modular parts, the main tube-shaped sections may have an oblong section or otherwise a substantially cross configuration, the first ones of which in at least one of their faces and the second ones of which in at least one of their end faces can be provided with T-section slits into which the portions of the corresponding section of the accessories where the laminated members are inserted. The mentioned oblong L-shaped or cross-shaped tubular sections may have otherwise shaped slits such as swallowtail, ring, rectangular or otherwise shaped slits. In association with the grooves of the main sections, the set of modular parts include accessories which are provided with outwardly projecting shoulders having slits which correspond to the slits of the grooves having longitudinal openings which are T-shaped, or swallowtail, ring or otherwise shaped slits.The tubular members may have overhangs instead of slits and, in such a case, the accessories will be provided with correspondingly configured recesses instead of the projecting parts. The accessories consist of laminated sections and comprise one or two ribs opposed to the projecting parts that may be fixed to main sections and allow the fixation of the laminated bodies or panels in order to construct the desired structure.

The set of modular parts is completed by the locking pieces which consist of several Lshaped rectangular plates and of cross rectangular plates in accordance with the cross-section configuration of the tubular sections, plates that on one of their faces have a shaped rib with a section corresponding to that of the tubular section for inserting into the ends of the mentioned section. The plates are parts which improve the finish of the structures.

The locking pieces comprise plates having the above mentioned shapes corresponding to those of the cross-sections of the tubular sections and are provided with ribs or intorsions on both faces and fit to the extreme edges of the respective tubular sections; thus, these tubular sections are coupled as above mentioned in order to increase the length of the sections.

With the main tubular parts, the accessory parts and the locking parts both for finishing and for extending the section, it is possible to form articles of furniture, display windows, and similar articles, of whatsoever type one may wish to construct and comprising all the main parts, the accessories and the locking parts that the modular pieces may need.

Claims (6)

1. A set of modular parts for the construction of furniture structures and similar articles comprising a plurality of main parts made up of tubular members, the cross-section of which defines a series of faces, at least one of these faces comprising coupling members for fitting to a corresponding accessory member chosen from a plurality of associated members made up of preferably laminated sections provided with coupling members for their fixation to the coupling means of the main parts and haying support means in order to keep in a stationary position and eventually movable in a sliding way laminated parts that allow to extend and to form the desired structure, the set being completed by a plurality of locking pieces, which are connectable by fitting to the ends of the main parts in order to improve their finish, in extension of the main parts in order to increase the length of the same.

2. A set of modular parts as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the coupling members of the main parts and the coupling means of the accessory members are coupled for mutual connection by longitudinal sliding.

3. A set of modular parts as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling means of the accessory members comprise a longitudinal projecting collar provided with drilled holes in order for it to be fastened to the adjacent surface of the face of the main part.

4. A set of modular parts as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the coupling means of the accessories comprise longitudinal projecting collars, the half connection span of which is applied against the face of the main part and the collars are fitted under pressure into the adjacent surfaces of said face.

5. A set of modular parts as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locking parts are finishing plates acting as an entrance stop for the section of the main part and from at least one of its faces there projects a rib connectable inside said part.

6. A set of modular parts substantialiy as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.