GB2507241A - A cabinet with outer frame panels with integral supports for inner panels - Google Patents

Abstract

A piece of furniture with a frame consisting of two side panels, a base panel 4 and a top panel 5 wherein at least one of the panels has an integrally formed protrusion or groove such that further panels can be supported without exposed internal fixtures or fittings. The device may further have front and back panels, shelves, 8, drawers 13, hinged panels 15, drop down panels or rails. Means may be provided to reduce the accumulation of dust and bacteria through movement of joint lines away from corners and the use of thermoplastic antibacterial coatings. Panels may be provided with a live hinge between them, may have configurations designed to reduce their weight, may have concealed magnets and may be made of wood, such as MDF or plywood, or foam. The device is designed so that it is easier to clean for use in a hospital or care environment.

Description

Title Furniture Construction Method 18ickgrcund Wooden or wooden-composite furniture is generally well established and widely used in various establishments for its appealing appearance. However in recent years there has been an increasing demand for furniture which is easy to dean due to the rising cases of cross infections and the traditional methods with which furniture is constructed demands internal frtments to join and support various parts of the furniture.

The invention relates to a method of constructing furniture with smooth internal surfaces which are used to support other panels, drawers, shelves, racks and rails without the need for additional exposed internal fitments, such as metal fillings, screws, metal rods, tubes or drawer runners. The advantages of not using such exposed internal fitments and fittings will depend on which environment the furniture is used in.

In the Healthcare environment, the advantage of this method of construction means that Healthcare-acquired infections (HCAIs) such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) which are a major concern for hospitals can be tackled by restricting the number of joins, edges, holes and crevices where germs can hide and breed by making the panel surfaces smooth, easy to clean and free from fitments.

Furniture in these febrile environments are surrounded by a large number of people, which means bacteria can easily spread through direct contact with other patients, staff or contaminated surfaces. To reduce the risk of cross infection the entire area is regularly cleaned including the furniture. However, most wooden furniture produced for these environments is produced from wooden components with wipe clean laminated surfaces, but they have a large number of places which are difficult to clean thoroughly, such as joints between panels and in the fitments which may help the furniture function, such as drawer runners, screws or knock-down fixings.

Furniture made by this new method of construction allows drawers and shelves to be easily removed allowing the furniture to be quickly and more thoroughly cleaned due to the uncomplicated surfaces and by making things easier to clean, the risk of cross infection is reduced. Indeed, this invention allows for damaged internal parts that would aid the growth of bacteria to be easily replaced to reduce risk instead of replacing the complete unit.

The marketplace has reacted to this demand by either producing furniture which has plastic panels which can line the internal surfaces of the furniture unit or the complete unit can be made of plastic.

In the State Institutions such as mental health or prisons where security is important the lack of exposed internal fltments inside furniture is advantageous. This is due in particular to the misuse of such exposed internal fitments, such as drawer runners as either a weapon and, or as a device for suspending a ligature. This new method of construction also allows lock fitments to be concealed beneath the surface of the furniture so making abuse more difficult.

Furthermore this type of furniture can also be applied to medical, laboratory and food preparation environments where a high degree of cleanliness is a requirement.

This invention utilises new technology using new processes and materials to replace drawer runners which are notoriously difficult to clean with surface wrapped frames due to the robust physical properties of the wrapping material.

Staterneiriit of fnveritonn A method of constructing a furniture unit wherein: the frame consisting of two side panels, at least one base panel and at least one top panel; and where panels are formed in three dimensions so when used together can support further panels without exposed internal fitments or fixings.

Athiantaiges I The furniture unit will be easier to clean than traditional bedside furniture. Traditional bedside furniture having complex internal spaces, inaccessible surfaces, angular joints and rough, absorbent materials can harbour liquids, dirt and bacteria. See Figure II 2 The furniture unit's lack of sharp internal corners, edges and fitments provides much fewer places for bacteria and dirt to accumulate, and removable components allow much better access to the harder to reach areas of the unit.

3 The furniture unit will preferably have more rounded edges and fewer component parts than typical bedside furniture which further reduces dirt traps.

4 Advantageously the removable sections/components are easier to clean whilst not in the unit.

Advantageously the removable panels can be re-arranged or removed to provide a more versatile furniture unit.

6 Advantageously the surface of the plastic sheet is more robust than typical laminated wood panels thereby additional parts to reduce wear and tear are not necessary, such as drawer runners.

7 Advantageously the lack of exposed internal fitments and fixings provide significantly fewer ligature points.

8 Advantageously, the furniture unit can be fitted with a drawer or drawers that do not require internal fitments such as drawer runners which could be used as a weapon in some environments.

9 Advantageously, the wrapping material can replicate a wood material in many shades something that cannot be replicated in plastic.

The advantages of this new invention over the lined version are as follows: 1 Increased versatility as there are no fixed sizes due to the moulded liners.

2 Seals which can deteriorate are not required.

3 There are no gaps between the liners and the frame.

The advantages of this new invention over the plastic unit are as follows: I Increased versatility as there are no fixed sizes due to the moulded liners.

2 Split lines on the plastic version are still difficult to clean.

3 Plastic lockers are lightweight and are not perceived as robust or appealing.

4 Wooden furniture is still preferred as it is less clinical I institutional. a

CII edUv It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method of making conventional furniture fulfil the changing needs of the hospital and institutional environments.

This is achieved by constructing furniture which will reduce the risk of cross infection by producing furniture consisting of panels with smooth, easy to clean surfaces. Each panel can be individually formed and when they are assembled together can form fumiture frames without exposed internal fitments or fixings to support other dividing panels, drawers, shelves, racks and rails.

The combination of this process and new materials is to produce furniture panels with features previously only achievable through internal fitments or plastic mouldings, but without the requirement of these additional parts.

The patent relates to a method of constructing furniture consisting of formed panels which when used in combination can form furniture frames without exposed internal fitments and fixings.

This is achieved using a combination of process and materials to produce furniture panels with support or retaining features previously only achievable through internal fitments or plastic mouldings, but without the requirement of these additional parts.

Preferably the furniture unit or frame will comprise of a plurality of panels, the number of which will depend upon the versatility required.

Preferably the furniture unit or frame will have the versatility to receive further smaller frames

for example drawers.

Preferably each furniture unit or frame will have the versatility to comprise of a plurality of panels.

Preferably the furniture unit or frame will comprise of a plurality of panels made of solid wood, medium density fibreboard (MOF), light density fibreboard (LOF), melamine faced chipboard (MFC), solid wood, plywood and other wood and foam composites.

Advantageously the frame panels will be formed to include all the features necessary to reduce dirt traps, support further frames and or panels.

Advantageously the top, bottom, internal and side panels may comprise of a solid panel or may alternatively have part of the panel removed.

Advantageously the panels may have more than one void.

Advantageously the panel can be made of a transparent material such as Perspex.

Advantageously the furniture frame can have a back panel which can provide additional support or retention for other panels.

The width of the furniture unit or frame is selected by using preselected length bottom panels The height of the furniture unit or frame is selected by using preselected length side panels.

Advantageously the furniture unit or usia; which include holes for hinge axles to be mounted thereto for hanging further panels or doors.

Advantageously the furniture frame may have panels which include forms that can retain shelves or drawers such as angular, round or the dovetail form in Figure 4.

Advantageously the wrapping sheet can be used as a live hinge eliminating the external join line and adding further strength to the joint, see Figure 14 and Figure 15.

Advantageously the base panel base material can be pre-formed in such away as that when it is folded the external edges have a radius rather than a sharp edge thereby providing easier to clean smooth edges, see Figure 14 and Figure 15.

Advantageously the furniture unit or frame can receive further frames, such as drawer frames that have formed panels such that they can be retained within the furniture unit or frame.

Advantageously when the formed panels are assembled, their combined form can make areas susceptible for collecting detriment easier to clean by moving the joint line away from the corner. See Figure 16.

Advantageously the furniture unit or frame panels may include depressions which when used in conjunction with panels with protrusions can provide retention features.

Advantageously the furniture unit or frame panels can include a fitment or fitments within the panel such that when covered by the wrapping material is unseen but still function, for example magnets or metal plates for connecting with such magnets.

Advantageously the furniture unit or frame internal panels can be easily removed for ease of cleaning the panels and the frame internal surfaces.

Advantageously the furniture frame internal panels can be replaced when worn or damaged without detriment to the remaining Frame.

Advantageously support feet can be fitted to the bottom panel of the frame. Such feet keep the furniture unit off the floor.

Advantageously castors can be fitted to the bottom panel of the frame. Such castors can aid the moving of the furniture unit and security by using braked castors.

Advantageously the furniture unit may be attached securely to a wall by known fixings such as screw fittings.

Advantageously legs can be fitted to the bottom panel of the furniture unit. Such legs are advantageously adjustable in height to allow for variations in furniture unit level.

Advantageously legs which can be adjusted in height can be fitted to the bottom panel of the furniture unit. Such legs are in height to allow for variations in floor level.

For use in a medical environment the wrapping material can advantageously include anti-bacterial materials.

IDetailled description

The invention Will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the furniture frame 1 constructed from formed panels.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the furniture frame 1 illustrating a different shaped side panel.

Figure 3 is an illustration showing the wrapping sheet covering a variety of forms in the panel.

Figure 4 illustrates a cross section of a panel with an added protrusion to form a typical dovetail form which is then wrapped.

FigureS illustrates a standard drawer slider with a gap between the runners.

Figure 6 illustrates how internal panels 11 and 12 can be slid into place.

Figure 7 illustrates a populated furniture unit.

Figure 8 illustrates how fitments can be hidden beneath the wrapping material.

Figure 9 iUustrates the underneath of drawer frame 11 with the depression for the drawer retainer.

Figure 10 illustrates how a typical drawer can be prevented from being removed in normal use.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of traditional bedside furniture.

Figure 12 illustrates a typical hinged panel.

Figure 13 illustrates how depressions and protrusions can be used to provide features to steady cups and ridges to contain spillages without any joins or exposed edges.

Figure 14 and 15 illustrate how the wrapping sheet can be used as a live hinge eliminating the external join line and adding further strength to the joint.

Figure 16, 17 and 18 illustrate how different profiles can be formed by a combination of formed panels.

Figure 17 illustrates how a panel can be supported As shown in Figure 1 the frame of the furniture unit 1 accordIng to the Invention comprises two side panels 2, 3 a base panel 4, a top panel 5 and maybe a back panel 6 and further top panel 7 to ensure the rigidity of the frame. The panels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and or 7 are made of typically medium density fibreboard (MDF). Tight density fibreboard (LOF), solid wood, plywood and or other wood and foam composites. These panels will be formed to the desired requirements and wrapped in a plastic sheet providing a smooth robust impermeable surface. This is achieved by either removing or adding material from or to any one of the panels' surfaces. Panel 2a in Figure 2 illustrates a side panel of a different shape to provide easy access to the inside of the frame.. . reduce the weight of the frame.

It is important to note that the protrusions on the panels in the illustrations appear to have sharp edges; however in reality the edges will have radiuses. It is difficult to illustrate the profiles of the protrusions and depressions without shading so for the purposes of ease of understanding the protrusions and depressions in the illustrations are shown with sharp edges. Figure 3 tries to illustrate what the profile of a protrusion or depression on a panel would look like when wrapped and the variety of forms that can be achieved by this method of construction and used in this example.

It is also important to note that when material is removed or added afl radii along the perimeters of the depressions and or protrusions are of sufficient size to allow the plastic wrapping material to sufficiently match that radii and therefore allowing the panel to be wrapped with a smooth finish with no joins. The panel can be further worked afterwards if design specifications require it. This method of wrapping is a proven process.

Figure 4 and 5 illustrate the materials used in the construction of the panel, where S is the base wood or foam composite material, 9 is the plastic wrapping sheet, and 10 is an added protrusion to the panel. For example, Figure 13 illustrates how depressions and protrusions can be used to provide features to steady cups and ridges to contain spillages without any joins or exposed edges. Furthermore, when the panels are prepared, the furniture frame can be assembled using standard furniture assembly techniques such as doweling thereby leaving smooth uncomplicated internal surfaces and when the panels are formed as in Figure 16, 17 and 18 can make areas susceptible for collecting detriment easier to clean by. removing the panel, fixing a panel by dowel 25 or moving the joint line away from the corner respectively.

Figure 6 illustrates that when further panels are required such as panel 11, then it can be slid into place using the formed panels 2 and 3 for location and retention. Panel 11 can be of various depths to meet the design requirements. There can be a plurality of such panels depending upon the design requirements. Figure 6 also illustrates how further panels, such as 12, can also be slid in to place and be retained by panels 5 and 11. This can be achieved by a depression in panel 11 and protrusions in panel 5 or by combination of these features.

There can a plurality of such panels depending upon the design requirements.

Figure 7 illustrates how furniture frame I can be populated with shelves such as 8a and 8b, a hinged panel 15 and a drawer frame 13.

In some cases hinged doors can be used to conceal and secure the contents inside of the furniture. This would be essential for furniture which is used in public places or for places to store medication.

Figure 8 illustrates how the hinged panel 15 can be held shut by forming a depression in panel 15 to suit the size of the fitment such as a magnet 20 so that when the panel is wrapped the fitnient is hidden. A similar depression can be made in panel 5 at 18 to accept a fitment such as a piece of metal 19 so that when the panel is wrapped the fitment is hidden.

These two panels can then be retained by the magnetic force when the two panels are in close proximity without the need of fitments or locks.

The drawer frame 13 can be retained and supported without typical fitments by making benefit of the robust low friction surfaces of drawer frame 13 and the surface sheet wrapping of the protrusions of the side panels 2 and 3. These runners can be dovetail shaped as in Figure 4 to provide more retention or as a standard square shape as in Figure 5 depending upon the application.

The drawer frame 13 can be retained by a combination of a depression 23 formed into the bottom panel 24 of drawer frame 13 as illustrated in Figure 9 and a protrusion 21 on base panel 4 as illustrated in Figure 10. The drawer can only be withdrawn by lifting the drawer frame 13 vertically In the Furniture unit 1 sufficiently to take up any slack in the gap between the sliders as illustrated in Figure 5. The drawer frame 13 will be inserted by the same method but in reverse.

Figure 11 illustrates the advantages of the invention when compared with a typical construction method of traditional furniture used in a medical environment.

Figure 12 illustrates the hinge panel 15 in the example. This has two pins 16 and 17 inserted which in turn locate in holes 14 in side panels 3 and 2 respectively.

Holes 14 are in panels 2 and 3 and are shown in Figure 2 and 7.

The furniture unit can also be moved via castors 22 as illustrated in Figure 2 or if fitted to the wall can be fitted with adjustable legs or feet. a

Claims (1)

1. PCbãrns I A method of constructing a furniture unit wherein; the frame consisting of two side panels, at least one base panel and at least one top panel; and where panels are formed in three dimensions so when used together can support further panels without exposed internal fitments or fixings.

   2 A furniture unit according to claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises at least one back panel.

   3 A furniture unit according to claim 1 wherein the frame comprises of one or more front panels.

   4 A furniture unit according to claim 2 wherein the frame comprises of one or more front panels.

   A furniture unit according to claims 3 and 4 wherein the frame further comprises of one or more panels.

   6 A furniture unit according to claim 3 and 4 wherein the frame further comprises of one or more drawer frames.

   7 A furniture unit according to claim 3 and 4 wherein the frame further comprise of one or more hinged panels.

   8 A furniture unit according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the frame further comprises of at feast one internal panel.

   9 A furniture unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the panels are made from solely or a mixture of solid wood or medium density fibreboard (MOF), light density fibreboard (LDF), melamine faced chipboard (MFC), solid wood, plywood and or other wood and foam panels wrapped in a plastic sheet.

   A furniture unit or frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the Mien the formed panels are assembled form no sharp corners.

   11 A furniture unit or frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the panels formed provide a combination, though not exclusively a multiple of profiles, shapes, patterns and / or be configurations which may form the necessary supporting surfaces.

   12 A furniture unit or frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each panel may consist of additional parts made of MOF, LDF, MFC, wood, metal or plastic proud of the panel surface to provide profiles, shapes, patterns and, or be configurations which may form the necessary supporting surfaces.

   13 A furniture unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each panel may be formed to provide profiles, shapes, patterns and, or be configurations which may be used to reduce the weight of the panels without detriment to its strength and rigidity for the task intended.

   14 A furniture unit according to any of the preceding claims wherein when the panels are assembled their combined form can make areas susceptible for collecting detritus easier to clean by moving the joint line away from the corner.

   A furniture unit according to any of the preceding claims wherein each panel may be formed to provide a combination, though not exclusively a multiple of profiles, shapes, patterns and, or be configurations which may provide locations for parts such as magnets to be concealed beneath the thermoplastic surface material.

   18 A furniture unit according to any one of the preceding claims wherein folded panels may be formed to provide profiles and shapes which when used as a live hinge eliminates the external join line.

   17 A furniture arrangement comprising a plurality of panels as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

   18 A furniture arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the vertical panels can be fitted at any angle between 10 and 90 degrees.

   19 A furniture arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the horizontal panels can be fitted at any angle between 90 and 180 degrees.

   Each panel will be covered with a thermoplastic sheet to cover the surface of the panel and all its protrusions and indentations.

   21 Each panel will be covered with a thermoplastic sheet that may include an anti-bacterial material to cover the surface of the panel and all its protrusions and indentations.

   22 A furniture arrangement according to claim 8 wherein a combination of these panels may be assembled to provide a furniture carcass which can support further panels with or without exposed internal fitrnents.

   23 A furniture arrangement according to claim 8 wherein a combination of these panels may be assembled to provide a furniture carcass which can support shelves supported without exposed internal fltments.

   24 A furniture arrangement according to claim 8 wherein a combination of these panels may be assembled to provide a furniture carcass which can support hinged drop down panels with or without fitments.

   A furniture arrangement according to claim 8 wherein a combination of these panels may be assembled to provide a furniture carcass which can support drawers without exposed internal fitments.

   28 A furniture arrangement according to claim 8 wherein a combination of these panels may be assembled to provide a furniture carcass which can support rails without exposed internal fitments.

   27 A furniture arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the furniture can free standing, wall or floor mounted.

   28 A furniture arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the furniture units can be supported by legs to provide various height work surfaces.