GB2202361A - Room planning system - Google Patents

Abstract

A scale model kit provides floor (3), wall (1) and furniture (5) and (6) units with locating, mutually attracting surfaces (4) and (9) in order to represent a room with the furniture arranged to choice. The mutually attracting suriaces could be magnetic, repeatable use adhesive, cling strips or statically charged surfaces. The whole, perhaps with folding of some components, can be neatly packed into and carried in a purpose built transporting case. Impressions of features, e.g. windows 7, can be 4 applied to the walls. The units can be reversible to present a selected finish. <IMAGE>

Description

PLANNING AID FOR INTERNAL FITTINGS OF BUILDINGS.

This invention relates to a system of three dimensional representation of fittings for the inside of buildings to a scale and with accuracy of disposition.

Planning, selling and teaching aids in many forms are well knows and vary from extremely simple to very complex. For example, what might be considered to be the simplest form of kitchen planning aid 'is a graph paper grid on which is drawn the kitchen outline and into which is drawn the perimeter of various of the units, sink, cooker, refrigerator and the like. Similarly, the expensive form could be the computer produced perspective image, but it follows that both the programme and the machine can be very costly.

According to this invention there is provided a portable three dimensional simplistic accurately scaled model kit. Such a kit could comprise floor, wall and internal fitment units arranged so as to fold where appropriate and pack into a purpose-built carrying case.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows in perspective the main elements in position.

Figure 2 shows in perspective typical floor/wall contacting unit furniture Figure 3 shows typical room outline formed by wall elements and locating means.

In this case a representation of a fitted kitchen is described but it follows that the system can equally well apply to any domestic rooms, offices or factories etc.

The carrying case for the kitchen aid would, it is suggested, contain a series of wall, floor and fitment units and for example, at l/lOth full size scale. Wall elements (1) could be in lengths representing a 5-10 and 15 feet with especially formed top and corner fittings (2) to interlock with each other, either in line or angularly disposed'to one another. If these wall units are also

located upon and secured to the floor section (3) it follows that any shape of room can be reproduced in wall outline form (10).

The proposed system provides for the wall elements to contain a location and attraction feature (4) so as to house the internal fitted furniture (5) at a height representative of the full size kitchen. Similarly, all other kitchen fitments can be displayed in their correct and expected positions.

Hidden attraction/retention (4) agents could include magnetic strips, low tack repeatable use adhesive, plastic to plastic cling strip or both floor and wall could be arranged as a plastic surfaced static charged retainer. Models representing the now standardised equipment, such as refrigerator, cooker, various sized cupboards including corner units and sink drainer for wall/floor mounting (6) together with their matching wall mounted units can be equipped with similar retention devices to enable them to remain temporarily attached to the wall and/or floor.

To assist in accurate representation windows, doors and other building features can be marked on to the walls, or more realistically thin laminate like impressions (7) of these features can be positioned by any suitable retention/attraction device.

It follows that the effect of realism may be enhanced by an ability to change wall or floor covering, and, for example, by having the models reversible showing laminate style on one face, and timber effect on the other.

In manufacture, the individual elements of the kit would be finished in an attractive and durable surface finish with all elements capable of rapid assembly and disassembly, and transport in the carrying case. Such a system would readily be adapted to suit other rooms, and other industries, and for planning, selling and teaching aids etc. A number of methods of locating wall to wall elements such as interlocking tee or channel sections or an internal/external angle forming the corners, may be used.

Similarly, the wall sections may be located upon and secured to the floor elements by pins into holes or again an external mutually attracting angle (8) could serve a similar purpose, as could the double location/retention device (9) in the wall to floor units without external fittings.

In order that the whole kit shall be lightweight and economical to produce it is suggested that it may be manufactured from light, cheap material as, for example, cardboard of an appropriate grade.

One method of production of the fitment models would be to clad them with photographs enhanced by a technique generally known as high definition line conversion, before cutting and folding etc.

Claims (7)

1. t. A system of representing internal Furniture o! a room cheap, lightweight easily transportable scale models folding where appropriate to stow into a purpose built carrying case.

   Vertical sections to form walls are secured to and located on floor sections by any of a number of means. Individual items of either wall, wall and floor mounted or free standing unit furniture representing such things as cookers, freezers, sink units etc. are caused to be attached to the wall or floor.

   In the case of those representing wall mounted equipment a built in feature of the model wall will act as both locator and attachment such that these wall mounted elements are secured at the correct height above the floor.

   2. A system as in Claim 1 wherein the wall elements have provided top and corner interlocking fasteners to enable the panels to be attached to each other either in line or angularly disposed in order to represent the internal perimeter of a room of any shape.

   3. A system as in Claims 1 and 2 wherein those elements representing individual items of unit furniture are so construoted as to be capable of: presenting two faces to give the impression of both laminate and wood finish, of being mutually attracted to and located on the wall and/or wall and floor elements, and of being manufactured from a variety of lightweight and cheap materials, including cardboard.

   4. A system as in any of the preceding Claims wherein the wall and floor elements may have self attracting enhancement features to represent, for example, windows and doors etc.

   Such self attracting means could include hidden magnetic strip, low tack repeatable use adhesive, plastic to plastic cling strip or plastic surfaced static charged retainer which means may also be utilized in the wall, floor and furniture as described.

   5. A system as described in Claims 1 to 4 and largely as shown in the accompanying drawings.

   Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A system of representing internal furniture of a room by cheap, lightweight easily transportable scale models folding where appropriate to stow into a purpose built carrying case.

   Vertical sections to form walls are secured to and located on floor sections by any of a number of means. Individual items of either wall, wall and floor mounted or free standing unit furniture representing such things as cookers, freezers, sink units etc. are caused to be attached to the wall or floor.

   In the case of those representing wall mounted equipment a built in feature of the model wall will act as both locator and attachment such that these wall mounted elements are secured at the correct height above the floor.
2. 2. A system as in Claim 1 wherein the wall elements have provided top and corner interlocking fasteners to enable the panels to be attached to each other either in line or angularly disposed in order to represent the internal perimeter of a room of any shape.
3. 3. A system as in Claims 1 and 2 wherein those elements representing individual items of unit furniture are so constructed as to be capable of: presenting two faces to give the impression of both laminate and wood finish, of being mutually attracted to and located on the wall and/or wall and floor elements, and of being manufactured from a variety of lightweight and cheap materials, including cardboard.
4. 4. A system as in any of the preceding Claims wherein the wall and floor elements may have self attracting enhancement features to represent, for example, windows and doors etc.

   Such self attracting means could include hidden magnetic strip, low tack repeatable use adhesive, plastic to plastic cling strip or plastic surfaced static charged retainer which means may also be utilized in the wall, floor and furniture as described.
5. 5. A system as in Claim 1 wherein the floor, wall and furniture elements are manufactured from magnetic or magnet containing material so that these elements may be mutually attracting, locating and detachably affixing one with another as appropriate.
6. 6. A system as in Claim 1 wherein the floor, wall and furniture elements are manufactured from any mutually attracting and detachably affixing material such as a plastic "cling film" or velcro etc.
7. 7. A system as described in Claims 1 to 6 and largely as shown in the accompanying drawings.