MXPA97007135A - Multi-direction union device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multidirectional joining device for the assembly and joining of furniture pieces of the type of decorative bureau or tables, composed essentially of horizontal work planes, crossbars and panels or vertical elements that can be accommodate according to multiple configurations, including a central platen having at least one horizontal flat surface located on at least one work plane, characterized in that said central platen is provided with vertical faces from which project the tenons provided to cooperate with other support elements of the working plane, and on the other hand at least one arm that is terminated in a raised platform intended to support at least one vertical element, said device being located in the vicinity of an angle of a locking plane

Description

MULTIDIRECTIONAL UNION DEVICE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multidirectional joining device for the assembly and joining of pieces of furniture of the type of decorative tables or bureaus, composed mainly of horizontal work planes, of crosspieces and of vertical panels or elements that can be arranged according to multiple combinations that give configurations of varied tables. One of the difficulties of making assemblies qualified as "decorative" lies in the large number of elements to assemble, which leads to multiple mounting and fixing solutions that can complicate the work of the people in charge of assembly. Above the actual assembly operations, the management or placement of the fixing systems, which depends on the narrowing of the configuration to be made, is also an important problem. In the recent past, the paid trend has been reduced by the number of modules proposed in said decorative assemblies, in order to simplify the REF: 25 * 33 distributions and their treatment. The problems encountered by the assemblers in proceeding with the assembly of said modules, which involve unions in several directions, have not been simplified, however. It is still necessary to handle the horizontal joints in several planes, different depending on the modules to be connected, and the vertical connections that also depend on the type of module to be installed, and where the fixing methods are not yet well defined, which may be the origin of errors, or that complicate at least the management of mounts e. These problems are mainly generated by the usual conceptions of the modules of decorative tables or bureaus, confiured in the form of complete blocks that can be isolated or joined together, and which comprise at least one horizontal platform and crossbars, to which elements are eventually added. verticals of the type of separation panels. In classic assemblies, these panels are otherwise fixed directly on the useful surface of said horizontal platform. This type of traditional design multiplies the areas of fixation, ends sometimes in structurally round elements, prevents having a clear and simplified view of the assembly, and does not finally allow exploiting the available spaces and surfaces in the best way. In this way, the system disclosed in the French patent document called FR-A-2, 192, 784 presents numerous parts that allow, according to the usable options, to reach several assembly configurations. For example, it is possible to obtain crosspieces in the form of C, U and J by means of particular joints and a specific choice among the numerous elements that are part of the system. In this example, there is typically a number of different elements incompatible with a simplified management of the materials and assembly, and the assembly organization itself suffers from a lack of unity at least for certain base parts. Each assembly requires an excellent knowledge of the parts for the layout by the assembler, and an excellent management of the materials above. In addition, the assembler must have specific tools and not be wrong in the order of assembly. The present invention eliminates these drawbacks thanks to the use of a piece that ensures several functions in relation to the modules of the decorative assemblies with which it cooperates, mainly but not exclusively the functions of joining said modules between them. The first objective of the piece or of the device of the invention, is consequently the joining / fixing of the modules with one another, in several directions corresponding substantially to the planes in which said modules are developed. Another object of the invention is to propose a connection device of this type that can cooperate with a crossbar placed either under the rim of a single horizontal platform, or distributed between two contiguous platforms, said device nevertheless being placed in both cases in the same manner relative to the horizontal platform. Another additional objective of the invention is to allow the positioning and fixing of the vertical elements of the type of separation barriers, in order to avoid any direct connection between the useful surface of the platforms and the vertical elements. The device of the invention allows secondly also the attachment to a profile joining two joining devices according to the invention, extending in a longitudinal direction relative to the platform forming the working plane, and forming the stabilizer for the mounting.

This joining device thus presents several decisive advantages in the framework of the assembly of decorative furniture elements, simplifying its assembly, improving the modularity, notably making possible the division of the spar and finally allowing the installation of heavy vertical elements under mechanical stress. These latter elements are for example classified storage boxes that protrude from the work plan or shelves. For this purpose, the multidirectional connection device has a central plate that has at least one horizontal flat surface located below a work plane, vertical faces of which are projected on one hand the pins provided to cooperate with other support elements of the platform, and on the other hand at least one arm that ends in a raised platform to support at least one vertical element, said device being located near an angle of a working plane. One of the pins takes the form of a beam of rectangular shape, intended to cooperate with a profile that fits in said beam. It is the above profile, which acts as a stabilizer. According to a preferential configuration, said profile can be fixed on the spar with the help of a fixing means that allows to regulate the relative position of the two ments. This fastening means includes, for example, at least one screw that can be inserted into a strut hole after having passed through a hole in the profile, one or the other of said holes being elongated so as to allow the adjustment of the relative position before the fixation One of the pins projecting from the central plate of the multidirectional joining element according to the invention is double, each of the two arms being able to cooperate with an identical profile, in which it is inserted. The profile in question is for example located in the upper part of a crosspiece that supports a horizontal platform, forming the base on which said platform rests. The two arms can be of different length, and provided with holes intended to cooperate with the fixing means of the horizontal platform to be fixed. One of the arms or the two assembled are adjusted in the profile that supports a horizontal platform provided with at least one fixing lug that cooperates simultaneously with said profile and the orifices of the or of the arms. The third element attached to the central stage, that is to say the arm terminated by a raised stage, is positioned in such a way that the upper surface of said stage is substantially at the level of the upper surface of the work planes. The upper surface of the plate is provided with reliefs, and more particularly with holes that allow the installation of vertical elements of the type of vertical panels or support columns of the positioning devices in order. According to one possibility, the arm that borders the raised stage is double, and unfolds symmetrically on one side and on the other side of a medium vertical plane. Preferably, each arm that joins the raised stage to the central stage is curved. As it was said preferably, the advantages provided by this multidirectional joining piece are considerable, since this concentrates the functions previously, spread over the different elements to be assembled, and this simplifies the assembly operations.

The invention will be described in a more detailed manner, with reference to the appended Figures, which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a joining device according to the present invention; - Figure 2 is an elevation view of the face of the same device; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a diagonal variant of the angle device shown in Figures 1 and 2; - Figure 4 is an elevation view of the device of Figure 3; - Figure 5 shows an application of two variants of the preceding figures; - Figure 6 represents a sectional view of a complete assembly using an angle device, in the process of being assembled; - Figure 7 represents the same view, with the finished assembly; - Figure 8 gives a perspective view; Y - Figure 9 shows this same view with a horizontal platform and without vertical separation.

The different figures defined above represent a preferred configuration of the invention, which mainly comprises a central stage 1 from which spikes 2, 3 and one arm depart 4. The central plate 1 is of prismatic appearance, as well as the pins 2 and 3. The angled version of the device, represented in Figures I and 2, includes a double pin 3a and 3b, intended to cooperate with the upper base 5 of a crossbar (Figures 5, 8). The holes 6a, 6b, ßc made in said pins 3a and 3b are provided to cooperate with the lugs of the horizontal platform forming the working plane, as will be described in detail later. There are two different angled views, one right version and one left version.

The plate 7, raised in relation to the elements already described, ends in a curved arm 4, which allows, on the one hand, to move the vertical elements relative to the working plane, and on the other hand, to allow the passage to the electric cables simply placed. In this way, even when the horizontal platform partially surrounds the plate 7, the cables can pass between said platform and the arm 4, since there is a passage due to the curvature. This plate 7 also includes the holes 8a, 8b, 8c intended to receive the vertical elements of the column type, panels, etc. (see Figure 8), spliced for example by conical handle. Figures 3 and 4 show a variant to the angle version, intended to equip the diagonal support zones. This diagonal version includes a single spike 3, but a double arm 4a, 4b and a double spigot 2a, 2b intended to join two perpendicular profiles. The uniqueness of the spigot 3 is explained by the fact that in a diagonal zone of this type, said spigot cooperates only with a base 5 overcoming a single cross member. Conversely, as will be observed in the following, the double spigot 3a, 3b allows cooperating with a base "5", longitudinally separated with another multidirectional joining device according to the present invention. Figure 5 shows better the articulation of various mounting elements: this view from above shows the upper parts of the crosspieces, namely the bases 5, which otherwise give the directions of said crosspieces. An angle device a according to the invention and a diagonal device d frame a profile 9 provided with holes 10a, 10b which cooperate with the oblong holes of the pins 2, 2b, so as to be able to operate a position adjustment moment of fixing the profile 9 to the pins 2, 2b. This fixing can be done with the help of a bolted imple. The bases 5 are such that they are butted against the corresponding vertical face of the platen 1 of the joining device of the invention, their end holes at the lid being centered with the holes ßa through 6c or 6d of said device. The lugs 12 (see Figure 6), placed under the horizontal platforms 13, are housed in the holes thus created, and can be fixed by means of an internal locking device to the base, device that is not the object of the present invention .

Figures 6 and 7 show the assembly of the upper elements, namely the platform 13 and a vertical barrier 14, the centering / fi xation of the platform being done via the lugs 12. The white arrows, in all the figures where they appear , point out the sense of montage. When the assembly or frame is mounted on the crosspieces 15, the platform 13 and the raised plates 7 of the joining positions of the present invention are substantially at the same level. The vertical barriers 14 descend consequently to a level of the upper surface of the platforms 13. The latter rest on the central plates 1 of the joining devices of the invention, on the profiles 9 plugged onto the pins 2, and on the bases 5 of the crossbars. Figure 8 shows in perspective an installation phase indicating the respective positions of the aforementioned elements. Only the horizontal platform 13, not shown, is needed to facilitate the visualization of the elements most directly linked to the objective of the invention. This is however present in Figure 9, also causing the outcropping of the platens 7, partially surrounded by said platform 13.

It should be noted that the angle devices include, of course, two different configurations, symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the profile 9. Figure 8 shows well the considerable advantage provided by the invention, in the manner of the union of various elements. In effect, each device of the invention includes a number of possible joints, easy to count at the time of conception of the table or decorative bureau, and using easy means to put into operation, such as the plug in the spikes, the placement by gravity, under tension, etc. The assembly of the preceding description also demonstrates the modularity allowed by the device, which allows the distribution of the crosspieces between two platforms, the use of vertical panels in various possible directions, etc. However, this description is intended only to present a preferred example of the multidirectional joining device according to the invention. • In fact, it can not be considered as limiting the invention, and it mainly includes the variants included in the general protection domain by the appended claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (11)

1. A multidirectional joining device for the assembly and joining of furniture pieces of the type of bur? S or decorative, modular tables, composed essentially of horizontal work planes, of crossbars and of vertical panels or elements that can be accommodated in accordance to multiple configurations, including a central platen having at least one flat horizontal surface located on at least one working plane, characterized in that said central platen is provided with vertical faces from which the tenons intended to cooperate with other projects are projected. support elements of the work plane, and on the other hand at least one arm that is terminated in a raised stage intended to support at least one vertical element, said device is located in the vicinity of an angle of a work plane. %

2 . The multidirectional joining device according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the pins takes the form of a prism-like beam or beam, provided to cooperate with a profile that fits on said beam.

3. The multidirectional joining device according to claim 2, characterized in that the profile is fixed on the beam, via a fixing means that allows to regulate the relative position of the two elements.

4. The multidirectional joining device according to claim 3, characterized in that the fixing means includes at least one screw pernable in a hole of the beam, after having passed through a hole in the profile, one or the other of the holes being elongated. in a way to allow the regulation of the relative position before fixing.

5. The multidirectional joining device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the pins is double, each of the two pins being able to cooperate with an identical profile, in which they are inserted.

6. The multidirectional joining device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the two pins are of different length, and are provided with holes intended to cooperate with the fixing means of the horizontal platform to be fixed.

7. The multidirectional joining device according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one of the pins is fitted in a profile, which supports a horizontal platform provided with at least one fixing lug, which simultaneously cooperates with the profile and the holes .

8. The multidirectional joining device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm terminated by a raised platform is positioned in such a way that the upper surface of the stage is substantially at the level of the upper surface of the horizontal platforms.

9. The multidirectional joining device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper surface of the plate 7 is provided with reliefs, and more particularly with holes that allow the installation of vertical elements of the type of vertical panels or supporting columns of the placement devices in order.

10. The multidirectional joining device according to any of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the arm that borders the raised stage is double and unfolds symmetrically on one side and on the other side of a vertical median plane.

11. The multidirectional joining device according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that each arm that joins the raised stage to the central stage is curved, providing a passage between the horizontal platform and the arms.