GB2344281A

GB2344281A - Self standing frame for mounting fitted type furniture

Info

Publication number: GB2344281A
Application number: GB9824985A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Theokritoff
Original assignee: PWS Distributors Ltd
Current assignee: PWS Distributors Ltd
Priority date: 1998-11-13
Filing date: 1998-11-13
Publication date: 2000-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-13
Also published as: GB2344281B; GB9824985D0; IE990951A1

Abstract

A frame in which fitted type furniture (eg kitchen units) can be mounted has standard sized end panels 6 between which extend rails 7,9,11 which can be cut to the required length during frame assembly. The rails are square steel tubes connected to each panel by a transverse end plate 13 secured to the rail by a screw 2 engaged in barrel nut 19 located in a hole 17 which is bored after the rail has been cut. A work top 18 is fitted over the completed assembly.

Description

SELF STANDING FITTED TYPE FURNITURE This invention relates to self standing fitted type furniture.

In present day rooms, particularly kitchens and bedrooms, there is a demand for so called fitted furniture rather than the old style self standing furniture. Such furniture was in the nature of kitchen cabinets, cupboards, wardrobes and dressing tables. Fitted furniture usually comes in flat packs for assembly by the user and a considerable degree of stability is achieved by fastening the assembled units to walls or other suitable structure present in the location in which the units are to be used.

These two types of furniture suffer from significant disadvantages. A first is a lack of dimensional flexibility. In both cases the units concerned have a rigid size and thus suppliers need to keep a large stock of different sizes in order to accommodate the various different sites at which the units are required for use. This matter is eased somewhat in fitted furniture in that, although required in a large number of sizes, it will have certain standard parts which will apply to a number of different sizes. Such parts include the sides of fitted kitchen units, cupboards etc. In the case of self standing units, these take up considerable storage space, much more than the space required to store the so called "flat packs"of fitted furniture. The necessary stock levels have financial consequences keeping the cash flow requirement high.

The present invention seeks to provide a self standing fitted type furniture in which the advantages of fitted furniture can be combined with the advantages of self standing furniture without the need to keep the high diversity stock levels.

According to the invention, there is provided a self standing type fitted furniture unit comprising a framework including standard size end elements connected together by a plurality of lateral base rail members which can be cut to size to provide the required width of unit for insertion of storage modules adapted to sit on the rail members.

Preferably a base and an upper rail elements are provided for the back of the unit and a base rail element is provided for the front of the unit but, if greater stability is required, a further rail element may be provided at the upper front of the unit frame.

The end members may be of timber or steel construction while the base rails are preferably of tubular steel construction and the rear upper rail is preferably a steel strip.

Attachment of the base rail elements to the end members may be carried out by the use of flat steel plates connected across the tubular end of the base rail elements to provide flanges on opposite sides of the rail elements, these flanges being screwed onto the end members. Suitably the connection of the plates to the rail elements may be achieved by the use of a bolt projecting into the end of the rail element and cooperating with a transverse barrel bolt located in a through bore in the rail element.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of framework for a unit of self standing furniture according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partly exploded view showing the assembly of one base rail member with one end member of the framework of figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the frame work of figure 1 showing the assembly of two module carcasses to the frame and the attachment of the rear upper rail.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a completed unit and Figure 5 is an exploded view of an alternative end member.

In the embodiment of the invention about to be described, the furniture unit comprises a base framework in which can be housed one or more modules of the normally built in type so that the modules are"built into"the base framework. A suitable work top can then be placed onto the framework over the modules and attached to the framework.

The particular set up described here is intended for use by professional kitchen installers but it will be appreciated that they are assemblable by a reasonably skilled DIY person.

Referring now to figure 1. there is shown a perspective view of a framework used in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The frame shown comprises two end members 3 and 5 connected together by means of a front base rail 9, a rear base rail 7 and an rear upper rail 11. The end members 3 and 5 in the unit 1 shown are timber but an alternative construction uses stainless steel or other metal frame end members as will be considered hereafter. As shown, the end members are of a rectangular shape and have two sides extended to form legs 6 so that modules mounted therein will stand free of the floor surface.

The two base rails 7 and 9 are made of tubular steel having a rectangular cross section. To provide sufficient rigidity as well as adjustability (provided by cutting the base rails to the required length) a suitable rail would be 50.8 x 25.4 x 2.2 cold rolled steel, although it will be appreciated that these figures are given only as a rough guide. They are attached to the insides of the end members 3 and 5 by end plates 13. The rear upper rail 11 is a steel bar, suitably of mild steel 2.5 mm. thick and is attached to the outside edges of the end members 3 and 5. The front base rail, which is the only rail which would normally be visible, is suitably covered by a timber cover strip 15. The positioning of modules in the framework 1 are indicated by broken lines 16 and of a work top on the framework by broken lines 18.

The method of connecting the base rails 7 and 9 to the end members 3 and 5 by means of the end plates 13 will now be considered with reference to figure 2. As can be seen clearly from this figure, the end plates 13 are flat steel plates which are secured end on to the ends of the rails. To this end, when the rail 7 or 9 has been cut to the required length, it is bored transversely a short distance from the end to provide a through bore 17 into which a barrel nut 19 is inserted. The end plate 13 has an aperture 21 for receiving a bolt 23, suitably countersunk, the bolt 23 passing through the end plate 13 into the end of the rail 7,9 and is screwed into the barrel nut 19 to secure the end plate tightly to the end of the rail 7,9. The end plate 13 can then be screwed onto the end members 3, 5 using, in the case shown, six screws 25. The end plate 13 is provided with appropriate apertures 27 for these screws and the end members 3,5 are provided with pilot holes 29 to ensure exact location of the rails 7,9 with the end members 3,5. It will be noted that the end plates 13 are mounted off-centre on the rails 7,9 to increase stability while avoiding the plates 13 sticking out from the unit 1.

The assembly of a unit of furniture using the above described framework will now be described.

The framework 1 comes as two end members 3 and 5, two lengths of base rail 7 and 9, a length of upper rail 11, four end plates 13 and barrel nuts, bolts and screws.

Tools needed for assembly are a hacksaw, a square, a rule, a drill and a screwdriver.

It is first necessary to measure or have the measurements of the modules to be fitted so that the correct lengths of rails 7,9 and 11 can be used. The rails may suitably be supplied in two different lengths to fit units up to 1500 mm. and up to 2500 mm. although, of course, any desired lengths could be used. supplied in two different lengths to fit units up to 1500 mm. and up to 2500 mm. although, of course, any desired lengths could be used.

The rails are then cut to the required length if necessary and the base rails 7,9 are redrilled at their cut ends to receive the barrel nuts 19. The end plates 13 are then fitted to the ends of the rails 7 and 9 as described above in relation to figure 2 and the end plates 13, with the rails attached, are securely screwed to the end members 3 and 5 using the pilot holes 29 provided. Next, the modules 31 to be built into the framework 1 (figure 3) are placed between the end members 3,5 and seated on the base rails 7 and 9. These modules may be supplied ready for insertion or may themselves require to be assembled from a"flat pack"If necessary, the modules may be packed up from the rails to ensure their alignment with the top of the end members 3 and 5.

The modules 31 are connected to each other by connecting bolts 33 and to the end members 3,5 by screws 35. Once this connection has been completed, the rear upper rail 11, cut to length and redrilled if necessary, is attached along the back of the framework 1 to the two end members 3,5. Now that the framework 1 is complete, additional security can be provided by screwing the modules 31 to the base and upper rails 7,9 and 11.

Following the assembly of the modules 31 to the framework, the top of the framework is suitably covered with a work top 39 as shown in the view of the completed unit shown in figure 4. This work top 39 can be attached to the framework 1 and/or modules 31 in any suitable known way, such as by the use of brackets.

As mentioned above, instead of the use of timber end members 3 and 5, stainless steel end members 41 could be used and such an end member is shown on figure 5. As shown, the member 41 comprises an open framework comprising two uprights 43, an upper cross member 45 and a base or intermediate cross member 47. The connection of the end members 41 to the rails 7,9 and 11 is the same as for the timber end members 3 and 5. However, since this end member 41 is an open framework, it will need to be filled by a suitable panel 51 which can lie between the uprights 43 and be fastened to the cross members 45 and 47 by screws 49 as shown.

It will be appreciated that while the above described embodiment has related to the construction of a kitchen base unit, the same principles apply to other items of furniture such as wall type units which would be supported by, for example a base unit. An alternative to this would be a dresser like construction. Cupboards and wardrobes could be built using the same principles.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for assembly of a self standing type fitted furniture unit comprising : a plurality of standard sized elements a plurality of lateral rail members connectable to the end elements to define a frame work for receiving storage modules, the lateral rail members being adjustable in length so as to be adaptable to receive storage modules of different width.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein the lateral rail members can be adjusted in length by cutting the rail member to an appropriate length at an appropriate point at an angle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rail member
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the lateral rail members are connectable to the end elements by means of flat plates fixable across the ends of the rail members to provide flanges extending perpendicularly therefrom the flanges being fixable to the end elements.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the flat plate is fixable to the rail members and/or end elements by mechanical fastening devices.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rail members are of tubular metal construction.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the metal is a steel.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the end elements are of timber construction.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims I to 6 wherein the end elements comprise a metal frame carrying a timber panel.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising base rail elements for fitting to the front and rear of the base of the assembled framework and an upper rail member for fitting to the rear and upper side of the assembled framework.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the base rail members are of tubular construction and the upper rail member is of sheet steel construction.
11. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 5.