IT201800001817A1 - Modular piece of furniture - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture, preferably for outdoor use, of the type comprising a plurality of juxtaposed panels to define a perimetric profile.

The invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to a planter or vase for containing plants or flowers.

The invention may in particular find useful use in the furnishing of gardens, terraces, parks or in general public and private outdoor spaces, and the following description is made with non-limiting reference to its use in the context of this application.

Known art

On the market there are furnishing elements defined by a plurality of juxtaposed side panels to define a perimetric profile.

The aforementioned furnishing elements generally have a polygonal profile, in particular rectangular, and are completed by a bottom plate. They can thus represent containers open at the top such as flower boxes or vases; or containers that can be closed by means of a lid.

The panels used for the manufacture of these pieces of furniture are usually made of metal sheets.

Since these pieces of furniture are essentially designed for outdoor use, the panels are often made of stainless steel. It is in fact a ductile and resistant material over time which allows the creation of complex shapes, and which above all presents a remarkable resistance to corrosion, especially in humid air or fresh water. The metal sheets are usually assembled during the production of the piece of furniture by means of continuous welding made on the sides of the structure.

The piece of furniture is subsequently supplied to the end user already assembled and ready for use.

Although advantageous under various aspects, and substantially responding to the current needs of the sector, the furniture elements known in the art nevertheless have some drawbacks that have not yet been solved.

An important drawback is related to the size of the piece of furniture.

Once assembled, the piece of furniture can be very bulky. It is clear that a large footprint causes an increase in costs related to packaging, storage and transport of the object in the subsequent stages of assembly.

This drawback is all the more evident considering that the furnishing elements of the type discussed are currently offered to the public preferably with electronic commerce methods.

The assembled piece of furniture must therefore be stored by the manufacturer waiting to be sent to the buyer via a shipping carrier. It is evident how the volume of the product affects both the size of the warehouse and the transport costs, whereas on-line sales would allow a streamlining of business assets and a reduction in the unit price.

A further drawback is related to the assembly during the production phase by means of welding. The welding operation, whether automated or manual, also contributes to increasing overall production costs.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is therefore that of devising a piece of furniture which solves at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks with reference to the prior art, and which guarantees in particular a reduced bulk during transport and easy assembly. , also achievable directly by a final buyer without specific technical skills.

Summary of the invention

The solution idea underlying the present invention is to provide a modular piece of furniture, where the panels are connected to each other by means of insertion assembly joints.

Based on this solution idea, the technical problem is solved by a piece of furniture comprising: a plurality of panels that can be assembled together at respective side edges to define a configuration mounted with a perimeter profile; and a plurality of assembly joints adapted to connect the contiguous panels together in said mounted configuration; each of the panels comprising, at the side edges, respective side flanges equipped with at least one contact portion and at least one guide portion, the contiguous side flanges of two panels assembled together, presenting, in the assembled configuration, the coupled contact portions along a contact plane, the guide portions projecting away from the contact plane, a respective assembly joint being arranged to embrace both guide portions of the contiguous side flanges so as to be slidingly constrained to them along a parallel sliding direction to the contact plane, connecting the respective panels together.

In other words, the coupling between the assembly joints and the guide portions of the side flanges in contact with adjacent panels creates a simple skid constraint that allows only one degree of freedom of movement of the assembly joint with respect to the lateral flanges in contact. Since the assembly joint embraces both guiding portions of the side flanges in contact, when the joint is inserted by sliding, it also ensures the connection between adjacent panels.

As a person skilled in the art will easily understand, the connection mechanism of the adjacent panels by means of a sliding coupling guarantees a simple and quick assembly of the furniture element panels without the use of special technical skills.

In a preferred embodiment, the perimeter profile defined by the panels is a polygonal profile, for example a rectangular or square profile. The panels preferably have a rectangular or square planar conformation.

In the assembled configuration, the panels are generally designed to rise in a vertical configuration. The contact plane and the sliding direction of the assembly joint are consequently also vertical

The coupling between the joint and the guide portions can be interference or free. The first allows for a more stable connection, while the second guarantees greater ease of insertion and removal of the joint.

In a substantially known way, the panels consist of metal sheets and the side flanges are defined by foldings of said metal sheets.

Advantageously, the assembly joints are removable to disassemble the panels from each other.

The disassembly of the adjacent panels is guaranteed by the type of coupling between the joints and the respective flanges in contact, in fact the joint can be removed from the guide portions by simply sliding it in a direction opposite to that of insertion. It is therefore clear that the panels can be just as easily disassembled without the use of special technical skills.

Preferably, the contact portion and the guide portion define an "L" profile of the side flange; in such a way that, in the assembled configuration, the contiguous side flanges of two panels assembled together define a "T" profile given by the 'juxtaposition of two side flanges with “L” profile.

Furthermore, the assembly joints advantageously have a substantially "C" profile that is counter-shaped with respect to the "T" profile defined by the contiguous side flanges.

The sliding constraint between the assembly joint and the contact flanges is therefore guaranteed by the coupling of respective counter-shaped profiles. Other forms of profiles or ways of implementing the aforementioned constraint can alternatively be used.

The assembly joint described above, embracing only the guiding portions of the side flanges, naturally exhibits a weak resistance to a relative rotation between the panels which spreads the contact portions by leveraging the end of these away from the panel. On the other hand, the perimeter profile of the assembled panels constrains the assembled product to a specific closed shape, ensuring the structural stability of the assembly.

Preferably, the assembly joints have a prevalent development direction parallel to the sliding direction; similarly, the side flanges of the panels are also continuously profiled along the entire lateral extension of the panel.

In this way, the assembly joint can be coupled to the contact flanges along its entire extension, ensuring greater sealing of the connection between adjacent panels.

The panels can have respective lower edges at which respective lower flanges are formed; the piece of furniture can also comprise a bottom which, in the assembled configuration, is perimeter supported above the lower flanges of the panels.

Advantageously, the assembly joints, in the assembled configuration, abut above the bottom holding it in contact with the lower flanges.

In other words, the assembly joints are inserted on the guiding portions of the contacting flanges until they come into contact with the bottom. In this way, the joints perform a double function: to connect two contiguous panels and to keep the bottom pressed in contact with the lower flanges of the panels.

The piece of furniture can also comprise a striker plate formed by a first portion placed in abutment below the lower flanges of two panels assembled together, and by a second portion constrained below the bottom in such a way as to rigidly constrain the bottom to the lower flanges.

As a person skilled in the art will easily understand, the abutment plates make it possible to keep the bottom firmly fixed to the side panels even in the case in which spacer elements with respect to the ground such as wheels or feet are applied beneath said bottom.

Preferably, the piece of furniture is a planter or vase. However, the invention does not exclude different conformations and uses: for example, it is possible to make a closed box, a bench, a table or other support surface, provided that they are at least partially defined by a plurality of panels assembled together by means of assembly joints of the type described above.

The characteristics and advantages of the piece of furniture according to the present invention will result from the description, made below, of an example of implementation given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the furniture element in accordance with the present invention, in this case a planter, in a mounted configuration; Figure 2 shows a top view of the furniture element of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail A of the view of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 shows a side view of the furniture element of Figure 1;

- Figure 5 shows a front view of the piece of furniture in Figure 1;

- Figure 6 shows a sectional side view along the plane B-B of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows an enlarged detail C of the view of Figure 6;

- Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the piece of furniture, sectioned along an intermediate transverse plane;

- Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a variant of the furniture element in accordance with the present invention, in this case a planter, in a mounted configuration;

- Figure 10 shows an enlarged detail C of the view of Figure 9;

- Figure 1 1 shows a top view of the piece of furniture in Figure 1;

- Figure 12 shows an enlarged detail A of the view of Figure 11.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments With reference to the accompanying figures, the numeral 1 globally and schematically indicates a piece of furniture that can be easily transported and assembled without the use of welding.

The piece of furniture 1 of the present invention is particularly suitable, although not exclusively, for use in furnishing outdoor environments, such as terraces or gardens, as a planter or vase for containing flowers or plants. The following description is made with non-limiting reference to use in the context of this application.

The piece of furniture according to the present invention consists of elements that can be assembled directly by the end user.

In the accompanying figures, the furniture element 1 is represented in a mounted configuration in which four panels 3, 3 'are assembled with each other by means of as many assembly joints 13 to define a perimeter structure that delimits a volume inside the furniture element 1.

Any positional references used in this description and including indications such as lower or upper, below or above, or similar phrases, will always refer to the orientation of the piece of furniture 1 corresponding to what is illustrated in Figure 1.

In the present embodiment, the furniture element 1 is delimited below by a bottom 16, also mounted to the aforementioned panels 3, 3 'and raised from the ground by means of wheels 18.

Panels 3, 3 'are made from metal sheets. Since the piece of furniture 1 is essentially conceived for outdoor use, the panels 3, 3 ', the assembly joints 13 and the bottom 16, are made of stainless steel for its properties of ductility, rigidity and resistance to corrosion. This does not exclude the use of other types of steel or other metallic or non-metallic materials, or the combination of several materials.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in figures 1-8, the panels 3, 3 ', two by two equal (two major panels 3 and two minor panels 3), have a flat rectangular shape with constant thickness. They are delimited by a lower edge 14 opposite to an upper edge 19 and by two lateral edges 7 opposite to each other.

The panels 3, 3 'have an internal surface 20 facing the internal space defined by the furniture element 1 mounted and an opposing external surface 21.

In the mounted configuration, panels 3, 3 'define a rectangular perimeter, in which the major panels 3 define the long sides and the minor panels 3' define the short sides.

In alternative embodiments, the panels 3, 3 'may be present in a number greater or less than four, take on other forms in plan and have a non-planar course, for example be rounded or curved.

At said lower 14, upper 19 and side 7 edges of each panel 3, 3 ', lower 15, upper 22 and side 9 flanges respectively are made by local profiling. All the flanges develop internally with respect to the element furniture 1 in assembled configuration.

The lower flange 15 consists of a first orthogonal portion 15a orthogonal to the panel or horizontal, and of a second portion 15b parallel to the plane of the panel 3, 3 'and which goes up towards the upper edge 19 of this.

Its conformation, as better described below, serves to cooperate with the aforementioned bottom 16 supporting it peripherally.

The upper flange 22, of considerably smaller extension than the others, has only a reinforcing function.

The two side flanges 7 placed on the opposite sides of each panel 3, 3 ', are specularly shaped. They are L-shaped and consist in particular of a contact portion 10 inclined with an inclination angle of 45 ° with respect to the internal surface 20 of the panel 3, 3 'and of a subsequent guide portion 11 orthogonal to said portion of contact 10 and directed towards the aforementioned internal surface 20.

In the assembled configuration, the panels 3, 3 'are placed side by side along their side edges 7 which are mutually approached by placing the contact portions 10 of the respective side flanges 9 in contact.

In the preferred embodiment described, the panels 3, 3 'are placed side by side by alternating a major panel 3 with a minor panel 3' to respectively define the long and short sides of the rectangular perimeter. The reciprocal 45 ° angle ensures that the contact portions 10 of the side flanges 9 of contiguous panels 3, 3 'are placed in contact along a contact plane P at the corners of the structure.

Figure 3 shows a detail of a top view of the angular contact area between two side flanges 9 of two contiguous panels 3, 3 '.

As can be seen from the aforementioned figure 3, the lateral flanges 9 have specular shapes with respect to the contact plane P with the respective guide portions 11 which lie on a common plane orthogonal to the contact plane P. When they are in contact in the assembled configuration , the side flanges 9 define a "T" profile given by the juxtaposition of the respective "L" profiles.

The actual assembly of the panels 3, 3 'is achieved by inserting an assembly joint 13 in correspondence with each pair of side flanges 9 in contact thus defining an angular joint that connects the adjacent panels 3, 3'.

Figures 1-3 show the assembly joint 13 in the assembled configuration of the furniture element 1. As can be seen from Figure 1, this joint 13 has an elongated shape, i.e. a direction of development that prevails over the others, with a constant section .

The cross section of the joint 13 has a peculiar substantially "C" profile, counter-shaped with respect to the end portion of the "T" profile of the side flanges 9 in contact. The "C" profile allows the assembly joint 13, in the assembled configuration, to embrace the guide portions 11 of the side flanges 9 in contact and be constrained to slide with respect to the guide portions 11 in a single vertical sliding direction, contained in the contact plan P.

Each assembly joint 13 is inserted from top to bottom at the guide portions 11 of each pair of side flanges 9 in contact until it is completely inserted or coupled to the guide portions 11 for its entire extension. Figures 1-3 show the assembly joints 13 completely inserted in the assembled configuration of the furniture element 1. The arrow S shown in figure 1 indicates the direction and the direction of insertion of the assembly joint 13.

In order to disassemble the panels 3, 3 'from each other, the corner joints can be removed by removing the assembly joints 13, making them slide with respect to the guide portions 1 1 in the opposite direction to that of insertion, i.e. from the bottom towards the top.

In the preferred embodiment described, the bottom 16 is constituted by a flat panel, again made of steel, of rectangular shape in plan delimited along its perimeter by an abutment flange 23 obtained by folding the edges of the panel downwards. The abutment flange 23 is, at each edge of the bottom 16, orthogonal to the plane of the bottom 16 itself.

In the assembled configuration of the piece of furniture 1, the bottom 16 is perimeter supported above the second portions 15b of the lower flanges 15 with the abutment flanges 23 parallel and facing on one side the second portions 15b of the lower flanges 15 and on the other the internal surfaces 20 of the panels 3, 3 '.

As can be seen in the detail of figure 7, at the corner joints of the structure, the abutment flanges 23 of the bottom 16 extend close to the guide portions 11 of the side flanges 9 in contact, so that the bottom 16 is inserted to size between the base of the side flanges 9 and the second portion 15b of the lower flanges 15.

In view of what has just been described, the plane of lying of the bottom panel 16 is raised with respect to the first portion 15a of the lower flanges 15, as is evident in Figures 6-8.

The bottom 16 is also held in contact with the lower flanges 15 by the assembly joints 13 which, when fully inserted, in the assembled configuration, abut above the bottom 16 (Figures 6-8). In other words, each joint 13 is inserted and made to slide on the corresponding guide portions 11 until its lower end abuts against the bottom 16 resting on the lower flanges 15.

The preferred embodiment described also has four abutment plates 17 to rigidly constrain the bottom 16 to the panels 3, 3 '.

In the views of the furniture element 1 of figures 7 and 8, the check plates 17 are visible in the assembled configuration. Each abutment plate 17 is placed at the corner joints between the panels 3, 3 '.

In particular, an abutment plate 17 has an angular shape comprising a first portion 17a with an "L" shaped profile to replicate the "L" profile of the lower flanges 15 of contiguous panels 3, 3 ', and a second flat portion 17b. The first portion 17a is placed in abutment below the lower flanges 15 of the contiguous panels 3, 3 'making the two "L" profiles match, while the second portion 17b is rigidly constrained under the bottom 16 by means of a fastening element 24.

The preferred embodiment described above also has means for lifting and transporting the furniture element 1. These means take the form of wheels 18 with brakes 18a fixed, by means of the same fixing element 24 previously identified, below the second flat portion 17b of the abutment plates 17 and having a height such as to keep both the bottom 16 and the lower flanges 15 of the panels 3,3 'raised from the ground.

This does not exclude the use of wheels without brakes or other similar means to facilitate the mobilization of the piece of furniture 1.

In an alternative embodiment, the aforementioned lifting means can also be fixed feet adjustable in height.

As a person skilled in the art will be able to understand, the presence of the mounting plates 17 prevents the detachment of the bottom 16 from the lower flanges 15 of the panels 3, 3 'when the side flanges 15 are raised from the ground when used. of wheels 18 or feet applied on the bottom 16.

It is evident that in a possible alternative embodiment that does not provide for the use of wheels 18 or feet and in which the piece of furniture 1 is directly placed on the ground, the striker plates 17 may not even be used; especially if the mobile element 1 does not even have the bottom 16.

In any case, the piece of furniture 1 can be easily disassembled by removing the wheels 18 and the striker plates 17 before removing the assembly joints 13 and the bottom 16.

As is clear from the above, the furniture element 1 can be in two different configurations: an assembled configuration, illustrated in figures 1-8, or in a disassembled configuration (not shown) in which the set of disassembled components of the The piece of furniture 1 obviously has a smaller footprint than the assembled configuration.

In the preferred embodiment described, the furniture element 1, in the assembled configuration, defines a container that identifies an internal space open at the top, delimited below by the bottom 16 and laterally by the assembled panels 3, 3 '. The piece of furniture 1 is preferably used for containing plants or flowers; this does not exclude the possibility of containing other objects such as gardening tools.

In an alternative embodiment, the furniture element 1 can be provided with a lid to close the container at the top or with a support surface in order to use the furniture element 1 as a bench, stool or chair.

An assembly variant 1 'of the previously described furniture element, specifically illustrated in Figures 9-12, is described below.

The assembly variant 1 'uses the same modular elements that make up the furniture item variant 1 previously described, or in particular the same panels 3, 3', the assembly joints 13 and bottom 16.

The variant l 'also uses lateral joints 25, which allow the attachment of panels 3, 3' in linear continuity with each other and not only in angled configuration as allowed by the assembly joints 13.

The variant l 'also uses spacers 26 which are advantageously associated with two opposite lateral joints 25 with reinforcement and dividing functions.

As can be seen from the detail in Figure 12, the side joints 25 have a symmetrical conformation with a central portion 25a shaped like a V with two end portions 25b.

The central portion 25a has two planar plates angled to each other by 90 °, designed to approach the contact portions 10 of two side flanges 9 of panels 3, 3 'joined together in linear continuity.

The end portions 25b are instead configured to embrace the respective guide portions 11 of the side flanges 9, so as to define an integral coupling.

By vertically inserting the side joints 25 in position, in a completely analogous way to what was done with the assembly joints 13 in correspondence with the corners of the product, the stable assembly of two panels 3, 4 'placed side by side on the same plane is achieved to define a long edge of the planter or other piece of furniture.

The lateral joints also comprise cross-member elements 25c, which connect the two planar plates of the central portion 25a to each other at an intermediate height of the V. These cross-member elements are provided with slots 25d intended to accommodate the ends of the spacers 26, so as to allow stable docking.

Advantageously, the lateral joints 25 and the crosspieces 26 described above thus allow to modify the basic structure of the furniture element 1 by modularly coupling multiple panels 3, 3 'to define a long side.

Advantageously, the furniture element described above has assembly joints that are easy to insert and remove for assembly and disassembly of the furniture element by an ordinary person.

Advantageously, the piece of furniture does not have welds while ensuring in the assembled configuration a structural stability sufficient for its use.

The piece of furniture according to the invention solves the technical problem and achieves numerous advantages, including that of being able to be shipped and stored in a disassembled configuration of the individual components which guarantees a smaller footprint than an assembled configuration.

In particular, it can be observed that the elements with greater bulk all have a planar conformation, so that they can be stacked and then packaged in a package of reduced thickness.

The reduced size of the disassembled configuration allows to reduce the space occupied in the warehouse and to reduce the shipping costs of the piece of furniture.

The absence of welds also allows to reduce production costs since the manufacturing company does not have to incur costs for the assembly of the piece of furniture that can be easily assembled by the end user.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Furniture element (1; 1 ') comprising: a plurality of panels (3, 3') assembled one to the other at their respective side edges (7) to define a configuration mounted with perimeter profile; and a plurality of assembly joints (13) adapted to connect the adjacent panels (3, 3 ') together in said mounted configuration; each of said panels (3, 3 ') comprising, at said side edges (7), respective side flanges (9) equipped with at least one contact portion (10) and at least one guide portion (11), the contiguous side flanges (9) of two panels (3, 3 ') assembled together presenting, in said mounted configuration, said contact portions (10) coupled along a contact plane (P), the guide portions (11) projecting away from said contact plane (P), a respective assembly joint (13) being arranged to embrace both guide portions (11) of the contiguous side flanges (9) so as to be slidingly constrained to them along a direction of sliding parallel to said contact plane (P), connecting the respective panels (3, 3 ') together. 2. Furniture element (1; 1 ') according to claim 1, where said panels (3, 3') consist of metal sheets; the side flanges (9) being defined by folding of said metal sheets. 3. Furniture element (1; 1 ') according to claim 1 or 2, where said assembly joints (13) are removable to disassemble the panels (3, 3') from each other. Furniture element (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said contact portion (10) and said guide portion (11) define an "L" -shaped profile of said lateral flange (9); in said mounted configuration, said side flanges (9) contiguous of two panels (3, 3 ') assembled together defining a "T" profile given by the juxtaposition of two side flanges (9) with "L" profile. 5. Furniture element (1; 1 ') according to claim 4, where said assembly joints (13) have a substantially counter-shaped "C" profile with respect to the "T" profile defined by the contiguous side flanges (9). 6. Furniture element (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said assembly joints (13) have a prevalent direction of development parallel to said sliding direction. 7. Furniture element (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, where said panels (3, 3') have respective lower edges (14) in correspondence of which respective lower flanges (15) are formed; said piece of furniture (1) also comprising a bottom (16) which, in said mounted configuration, is perimeter supported above said lower flanges (15) of said panels (3, 3 '). 8. Furniture element (1; 1 ') according to claim 7, wherein said assembly joints (13), in said mounted configuration, abut above said bottom (16) retaining it in contact with said lower flanges (15 ). Furnishing element (1; 1 ') according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein said furnishing element (1) further comprises at least one abutment plate (17) formed by a first portion (17a) placed in abutment beyond under said lower flanges (15) of said two panels (3, 3 ') assembled together, and by a second portion (17b) constrained under said bottom (16) in such a way as to rigidly constrain said bottom (16 ) to said lower flanges (15). Furnishing element (1; 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said furnishing element is a planter or a vase.