NO346106B1 - A furniture and shelving system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to room furniture and shelving systems, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a modular and wall-mounted or free standing furniture and shelving system.

There are today many types of storage and keeping devices available to facilitate the organization of clothes and other objects. A recent trend in storage and organization involves the use of prefabricated modular units that are assembled by the end user. Such prefabricated modular units include storage fixtures such as shelves and drawers that fit into a frame and may be free-standing or mounted on a wall.

Some modular units allow the user to assemble the shelves and drawers according to user preference, while other units are made to be assembled in one way only, therefore limiting its design and usefulness. Some units also require tools and/or mounting hardware to install the systems.

An alternative to a “wall unit” is a wall-mounted set of shelves supported from vertical posts or racks which are affixed to a supporting wall or pedestal. A set of support brackets are provided and these are designed so that one end of each bracket engages the rack, the other end extending under and supporting a shelf. Other wallmounted designs may include cabinets for interior storage of items, but support brackets are generally not used to support the cabinets. The shelves are a lightweight construction.

A popular type of shelving system includes vertical standards having a longitudinal series of slots, so that when the standards are mounted on a vertical wall surface they may receive outwardly projecting, horizontal blade-like brackets. The brackets are usually provided with hooks to permit the brackets to be engaged in selected slots of the standards. In this way, the brackets are adapted to support shelves at selected locations and at selected distances from one another.

Conventional brackets of the type described are often formed from sheet metal material with nose portions that project beyond the front edges of the shelves to keep the shelves from sliding off the brackets. Brackets of this type, while wholly efficient for their intended use, are designed primarily for ease of installation by the ordinary homeowner. In accomplishing ease of installation, however, they detract from the attractiveness of the overall shelving system because the unattractive brackets and standards are exposed.

Attempts have been made in the prior art to enhance the appearance of shelving systems of the general type described above. It has been proposed, for example, to embed hooks or support plates within wooden shelf brackets to facilitate the attachment of the brackets to a standard. Basically, however, this has been accomplished only by discarding the shelf brackets now in use and substituting completely new brackets or equivalent shelf mounts.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an easy assembled wall mounted or freestanding furniture and shelving systems providing shelf and cabinet locations which are readily interchangeable, and which satisfy space-saving and storage requirements.

EP 1.908.890 A2 relates to a device for building walls, shelves and the like, where the device consists of a construction of vertical beams and wall panels provided to it, wherein each wall panel of a built wall can be individually and separately removed and mounted.

US 5.601.038 A relates to a supplemental shelving system for removably mounting shelves in an existing shelving structure features a pair of supporting grids vertically suspended from a horizontal shelf in the existing shelving structure, at least one removable shelf and S-shaped hooks for supporting the removable shelf from the supporting grids. The supporting grids are formed of a plurality of vertical and horizontal grid rails rigidly secured to each other. The hooks are secured to the horizontal grid rails and support the removable shelf.

WO2011109868A1 relates to a bracket or support member including a body, at least one arm or hook extending away from the body that can be inserted through an aperture in a support means, the at least one arm or hook including an end portion which is adapted to be received into a recess on a rear surface of the support means. A support system is also disclosed which utilises the bracket or support member in combination with an apertured panel. The invention also relates to bracket systems and brackets.

The prior art solutions has not solved the problem of easily and decoratively covering conventional shelf brackets and standards in a manner which conceals both the unattractive horizontal blade-like arms and the unattractive vertical standards.

Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide an easy assembled wall-mounted shelf and furniture system providing shelf and cabinet locations which are readily interchangeable, and which satisfy space-saving and storage requirements.

There is thus a need for alternatives to today's furniture and shelving systems, or at least supplementary solutions for such furniture and shelving systems.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to overcome the problems associated with prior art wall unit designs and provide a modular wall shelf and furniture system in an attractive, space-saving design featuring increased storage and functional utility over conventional designs.

The object is achieved according to the present invention with a modular furniture and shelving system as defined in the independent claim 1. Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The present invention relates to a modular furniture and shelving system, where the modular furniture and shelving system comprises a wall element provided with a network or grid of a plurality of vertical sections and horizontal sections over at least a part of the wall element, where the vertical sections and horizontal sections define a plurality of receiving slots for a key element, and at least one key element provided with a vertical groove.

The wall element may be manufactured in a single piece, or the wall element may comprise a number of pieces, where the number of pieces, when assembled, will form the wall element.

According to one aspect, the vertical sections may be designed to all have the same length and/or width, but it should be understood that the vertical sections also may be designed with different length and/or width.

Furthermore, the vertical sections may, in one embodiment, have a rectilinear form. However, it could also be envisaged that the vertical sections may be designed to have a curved or angled form.

The vertical sections may be arranged to align with each other, or the vertical sections may be arranged offset relative each other.

The horizontal sections may also be designed to all have the same length and/or width, but it should be understood that the horizontal sections also may be designed with different length and/or width.

The vertical and horizontal sections form a plurality of vertical rows of slits along the length and height of the wall element, where the slits form the receiving slots for one or more key elements.

The vertical rows of slits may comprise the same number of slits, where the slits may have the same length and width, or the vertical rows of slits may comprise a different number of slits.

In one embodiment of the wall element, a first vertical row of slits, when viewing the wall element from left to right, may comprise five slits. An upper and lower slit in this first vertical row of slits has a shorter vertical extent that the three slits arranged between said upper and lower slit. A subsequent and second row of vertical slits may then comprise four slits, the slits having the same vertical extent. A third row of vertical slits may then comprise the same number of slits as the first vertical row of slits, while a fourth row of vertical slits may comprise the same number of slits as the second vertical row of slits.

The above arrangement of the vertical rows of slits, where the slits of two adjacent vertical rows of slits may differ in number and vertical extent, the slits in one vertical row of slits may be staggered or displaced relative the slits in an adjacent vertical rows of slits. The wall element may then be provided with a plurality of receiving slots for the key element, where the positioning or location of the receiving slots for the key element may be determined in relation to what is to be supported by the modular room furniture and shelving system according to the present invention.

However, it should also be understood that all the vertical rows of slits may comprise the same number and same form of the slits.

The wall element of the modular room furniture and shelving system according to the present invention may be mounted to a wall of a room or it may also be a separate and freestanding wall, such that the modular room furniture and shelving system may be used as a partition in a room or to close an opening in a room.

The key element is provided with a substantially vertical groove, where the groove may be located towards an end of the key element. The key element is fastened to the wall element in that the key element is hooked to one of the horizontal sections of the wall element through its substantially vertical groove, where two adjacent vertical sections of the wall element will aid in holding the key element in place.

The key element may also be provided with a substantially horizontal groove. This substantially horizontal groove may form a support for, for instance, a shelf. If a shelf is to be connected to the modular room furniture and shelving system, then two or more key elements may be used to support the shelf. When the two or more key element are connected to the wall element, the shelf may be pushed into the substantially horizontal grooves of the key elements.

In an alternative embodiment the key element may be provided with one or more additional groove(s), where this/these grooves is/are arranged to form an angle with the vertical groove.

In yet an alternative embodiment the key element may be provided with one or more throughgoing openings over its length.

In yet an alternative embodiment the key element may be with an additional vertical groove, where the additional vertical groove may be provided on an opposite side of the substantially vertical groove.

The different elements of the room furniture and shelving systems may be made from wood, metal, laminate and/or combinations thereof.

Further objects, structural embodiments and advantages of the present invention will be seen clearly from the following detailed description, the attached drawings and the claims below.

The invention will now be described with reference to the attached figures, wherein: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a modular furniture and shelving system according to the present invention,

Figure 2 shows a key element of the modular room furniture and shelving system which is used to support a shelf,

Figure 3 shows how the key element according to figure 2 is attached to a wall element of the modular room furniture and shelving system,

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the modular furniture and shelving system according to figure 1,

Figures 5A-5B show an alternative embodiment of the key element according to figure 2 which is used to support a shoe holder,

Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the key element according to figure 2 which is used as a clothes hanger,

Figures 7A-7C shows an alternative embodiment of the key element according to figure 2 which is used to support a drawer element, and

Figure 8 shows yet an embodiment of the modular furniture and shelving system according to figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a modular room furniture and shelving system S according to the present invention, where the modular room furniture and shelving system S comprises a wall element 1 and a number of key elements 4.

In this embodiment the wall element 1 is fixedly mounted to a wall W of a room.

The wall element 1 is provided with a number of vertical sections 2 and a number of horizontal sections 3, where the vertical and horizontal sections 2, 3 form a plurality of slits 11.

The wall element 1 is, over its length and height, provided with a number of vertical sections 2 and a number of horizontal sections 3, where the vertical and horizontal sections 2, 3 form a plurality of vertical rows of slits 11 in the wall element 1. Each slit 11 will form a receiving slot for a key element 4.

The vertical and horizontal sections 2, 3 will not extend over the entire length and height of the wall element 1, whereby this will provide an outer, decorative frame 1A around the wall element 1.

A first vertical row of slits 11 of the plurality of slits 11, when viewing the wall element 1 from left to right, comprises five slits 11. An upper and lower slit 11 of these five slits 11 has a shorter vertical extent than the three slits 11 arranged between the upper and lower slits 11. A following or subsequent second vertical row of slits 11 comprises four slits 11, where these four slits 11 have the same length and width.

A third vertical row of slits 11 comprise five slits, where the slits 11 of the third vertical row of slits 11 have the same form as the slits 11 of the first vertical row of slits 11. A fourth vertical row of slits 11 comprise four slits 11, where the slits 11 of the fourth vertical row of slits 11 have the same form as the slits of the second vertical row of slits 11.

Through the above arrangement of the vertical rows of slits 11, where the slits 11 of two adjacent vertical rows will differ in number and length, and where the slits 11 in one vertical row are staggered or displaced relative the slits 11 in the adjacent vertical row of slits 11, the wall element 1 will be provided with a plurality of different positioned receiving slots 11 for a key element 4 along a length and height of the wall element 1.

It can be seen that two shelves 9 is mounted to the modular room furniture and shelving system S, where each of the shelves 9, in this embodiment, is supported by four key element 4. Furthermore, a drawer element 10 is also mounted to the modular room furniture and shelving system S, where the drawer element 10 is supported by two key elements 4.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the key element 4 according to the present invention, where the key element 4 is provided with a substantially vertical groove 5 and a substantially horizontal groove 6. When the key element 4 is to be attached to the wall element 1, the key element 4 is guided into a slit 11 formed by the vertical sections 2 and the horizontal sections 3, such that the substantially vertical groove 5 of the key element 4 can be brought into contact or abutment with the horizontal section 3, see also figure 3.

A size of the slit 11, i.e. a width of the slit 11, is adapted to a width or thickness of the key element 4, such that the key element 4 is held in place into the slit 11 or receiving slot through a friction provided between the slit 11 and the key element 4. The width of the slit 11 is then somewhat larger that the width of the key element 4, such that a force must be used to press the key element 4 into the slit 11. A friction between the slit 11 and the key element 4 will then hold the key element 4 in place.

Similarly, a size of the substantially horizontal groove 6, i.e. a width of the horizontal groove 6, is adapted to a width or thickness of the element the key element 4 is to support, where such an element may be a shelf 9, as shown in figure 1, where four key elements 4 are used to support each shelf 9. The width of the horizontal groove 6 is then somewhat larger than a height (thickness) of the shelf 9, such that a force must be used to press the shelf 9 into the horizontal groove 6 in the key element 4, where the friction provided between the horizontal groove 6 and the shelf 9 will held the shelf 9 in place.

It is to be understood that a greater or lesser number of key element 4 may be used to support a shelf 9.

Figure 3 shows in greater detail how the key element 4 is inserted into a slit 11 or receiving slot provided in the wall element 1, and where the key element 4, through its substantially vertical groove 5, is connected to the slit 11. The friction provided between the slit 11 and the key element 4 will hold the key element 4 in place in the slit 11. The shelf 9 may then be pushed into the substantially horizontal groove 6 in order to secure and support the shelf 9.

The key element 4 may also be designed to support another element than a shelf 9, where the key element 4 in this embodiment is provided with the substantially vertical groove 5 and one or more additional grooves 7, see also figure 4. Such a key element 4 may, for instance, be used for support of a shoe holder 13.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the modular room furniture and shelving system according to figure 1, where the modular furniture and shelving system S comprises a wall element 1 and a number of key elements 4.

In this embodiment the wall element 1 is arranged in an opening O in a room, in order to “close” the opening O and/or to provide a partition between two rooms and the opening O, where the wall element 1 in suitable ways is connected to the ceiling and the floor of the room.

The wall element 1 is, over its length and height, provided with a number of vertical sections 2 and a number of horizontal sections 3, where the vertical and horizontal sections 2, 3 form a plurality of vertical rows of slits 11 in the wall element 1.

The vertical and horizontal sections 2, 3 will neither in this embodiment extend over the entire length and height of the wall element 1, such that an outer, decorative frame 1A is provided around the sides of the wall element 1. As can be seen from figure 4, a lower part of the decorative frame 1A will then be larger than part of the frame 1A provided at the two sides and the top of the wall element 1.

In this embodiment, a first vertical row of slits 11 of the plurality of slits 11, when viewing the wall element 1 from left to right, comprises four slits 11, where the slits 11 have the same length and width. A following or subsequent second vertical row of slits 11 comprises five slits 11, where an upper and lower slit 11 of these five slits 11 has a shorter vertical extent than the three slits 11 arranged between the upper and lower slits 11.

A third vertical row of slits 11 comprise four slits 11, where the slits 11 of the third vertical row of slits 11 have the same form as the slits 11 of the first row of slits 11. A fourth vertical row of slits 11 comprise five slits 11, where the slits 11 of the fourth vertical row of slits 11 have the same form as the slits of the second vertical row of slits 11.

Through the above arrangement of the vertical rows of slits 11, where the slits 11 of two adjacent vertical rows will differ in number and length, and where the slits 11 in one vertical row are staggered or displaced relative the slits 11 in the adjacent vertical row of slits 11, the wall element 1 will be provided with a plurality of different receiving slots for a key element 4 along a length and height of the wall element 1.

In this embodiment two different key elements 4 are shown, as one of the key elements 4 is designed as a cloth hanger 14, while the other key element 4 is designed to support a shoe holder 13.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the wall element 1 is designed with two decorative and throughgoing openings 15 or “holes”, where a plate element 16 is connected to a lower part of the throughgoing opening 15 or “hole”. The plate element 16 extends a certain distance out from the wall element 1.

The plate element 15 may be used to support one or more books B, flower pot P or the like, see also figure 8.

Figures 5A-5B show how a key element 4, when used as a support for a shoe holder 13, is designed, where it can be seen that the key element 4 is provided with the substantially vertical groove 5 and three additional and spaced apart grooves 7. The additional grooves 7 will form an angle relative the substantially vertical groove 5.

The angle between the additional groove(s) 7 and the substantially vertical groove 5 may be such that the water and/or the like from the shoes placed on the shoe holder will be allowed to drain away from the shoe holder 13.

The shoe holder 13 may, for instance, comprise one or more plate elements 9 or the like.

Also in this embodiment the key element 4 is connected to a slit 11 and held in place in the slit 11 through a friction provided between the slit 11 and the key element 4. The width of the slit 11 is then somewhat larger that the width of the key element 4, such that a force must be used to press the key element 4 into the slit 11.

Similarly, a size of each of the additional groove 7, i.e. a width of the additional groove 7, is adapted to a width or thickness of the shoe holder element the key element 4 is to support. The width of each additional groove 7 is then somewhat larger than a height (thickness) of the shoe holder element, such that a force must be used to press the shoe holder element into the additional groove 7 provided in the key element 4, where the friction provided between the additional groove 7 and the shoe holder element will hold the shoe holder element in place.

Figure 6 shows how a key element 4 may be designed when used as a cloth hanger 14, where it can be seen that the key element 4 is provided with the substantially vertical groove 5 and six spaced apart and throughgoing openings 8 or holes along its length. Each throughgoing opening 8 or hole may the support a clothes hanger.

Also in this embodiment the key element 4 is connected to a slit 11 and held in place in the slit 11 through a friction provided between the slit 11 and the key element 4. The width of the slit 11 is then somewhat larger that the width of the key element 4, such that a force must be used to press the key element 4 into the slit 11.

Figures 7A-7C show how a key element 4 may be designed when used to support a drawer element 10 or the like, see also figure 1.

In this embodiment the key element 4 is provided with the substantially vertical groove 5 and an additional vertical groove 12, where the vertical grooves 5, 12 are arranged such that they are extending towards each other and in opposite directions.

Also in this embodiment the key element 4 is connected to a slit 11 and held in place in the slit 11 through a friction provided between the slit 11 and the key element 4. The width of the slit 11 is then somewhat larger that the width of the key element 4, such that a force must be used to press the key element 4 into the slit 11.

Similarly, a size of the additional vertical groove 12, i.e. a width of the additional vertical groove 12, is adapted to a width or thickness of the drawer element 10 the key element 4 is to support. The width of the additional vertical groove 12 is then somewhat larger than a thickness of the drawer element 10, such that a force must be used to press the drawer element 10 into the additional vertical groove 12 provided in the key element 4, where the friction provided between the additional vertical groove 12 and the drawer element 10 will held the drawer element 10 in place.

Figure 7B shows how the key element 4 is connected to a slit 11 provided in the wall element 1, and where the drawer element 10 is provided with three throughgoing openings 18 at its back section, whereby the drawer element 10 can be connected to the key element 4 through the throughgoing openings 18 and the additional vertical groove 12 provided in the key element 4.

Figure 8 shows yet an alternative embodiment of the modular room furniture and shelving system according to figure 1, where the modular furniture and shelving system S comprises a wall element 1 and a number of key elements 4.

The wall element 1 is arranged in an opening O in a room, in order to “close” the opening O and/or to provide a partition between two rooms and the opening O, where the wall element 1 in suitable ways is connected to the ceiling and the floor of the room.

The wall element 1 is, over its length and height, provided with a number of vertical sections 2 and a number of horizontal sections 3, where the vertical and horizontal sections 2, 3 form a plurality of vertical rows of slits 11 in the wall element 1.

The vertical and horizontal sections 2, 3 will not extend over the entire length and height of the wall element 1, such that an outer, decorative frame 1A is provided around the sides of the wall element 1. As can be seen from figure 4, a lower part of the decorative frame 1A will then be larger than part of the frame 1A provided at the two sides and the top of the wall element 1.

In this embodiment, a first vertical row of slits 11 of the plurality of slits 11, when viewing the wall element 1 from left to right, comprises four slits 11, where the slits 11 have the same length and width. A following or subsequent second vertical row of slits 11 comprises five slits 11, where an upper and lower slit 11 of these five slits 11 has a shorter vertical extent than the three slits 11 arranged between the upper and lower slits 11.

A third vertical row of slits 11 comprise four slits 11, where the slits 11 of the third vertical row of slits 11 have the same form as the slits 11 of the first row of slits 11. A fourth vertical row of slits 11 comprise five slits 11, where the slits 11 of the fourth vertical row of slits 11 have the same form as the slits of the second vertical row of slits 11.

Through the above arrangement of the vertical rows of slits 11, where the slits 11 of two adjacent vertical rows will differ in number and length, and where the slits 11 in one vertical row are staggered or displaced relative the slits 11 in the adjacent vertical row of slits 11, the wall element 1 will be provided with a plurality of different receiving slots for a key element 4 along a length and height of the wall element 1.

In this embodiment two different key elements 4 are shown, as one of the key elements 4 is designed to support a shelf 9, while the other key element 4 is designed as a wine holder 17.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the wall element 1 is designed with two decorative and throughgoing openings 15 or “holes”, where a plate element 16 is connected to a lower part of the throughgoing opening 15 or “hole”. The plate element 16 extends a certain distance out from the wall element 1.

A number of books B are arranged in the first throughgoing opening 15 and supported by the corresponding plate element 16, while a flower pot P is arranged in the second throughgoing opening 15 and supported by the corresponding plate element 16.

The key element 4 may, when designed as a wine holder 17, be provided with a number of spaced apart and throughgoing openings 19. A neck of the bottle will then be inserted through one throughgoing opening 19 and is supported by the throughgoing opening 19.

The invention is now explained with several non-limiting exemplary embodiments. A person of skill in the art will appreciate that a variety of variations and modifications may be carried out of the modular room furniture and shelving system as described within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. A modular room furniture and shelving system (S), where the system (S) comprises a wall element (1) provided with a network or grid of a plurality of vertical sections (2) and horizontal sections (3) over at least a part of the wall element (1), the vertical sections (2) and horizontal sections (3) defining a plurality of vertical rows of receiving slits (11) for a key element (4), and at least one key element (4) provided with a substantially vertical groove (5),

characterized in that

the receiving slits (11) of two adjacent vertical rows differing in number and length and being staggered or displaced relative each other.

2. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical sections (2) have the same or different length and/or width.

3. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal sections (3) have the same or different length and/or width.

4. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the modular furniture and shelving system is wall- mounted or freestanding.

5. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the key element (4) further is provided with a substantially horizontal groove (6).

6. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the key element (4) further is provided with at least one additional groove (7) forming an angle with the vertical groove (5).

7. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the key element (4) is provided with a plurality of throughgoing openings (8, 19) over its length.

8. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the key element (4) is provided with an additional substantially vertical groove (12).

9. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the wall (1) is provided with a number of wheels.

10. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall element (1) is provided with at least one throughgoing opening (15).

11. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that a width of a slit (11) is marginally larger than a width of the substantially vertically groove (5), thereby providing a friction between the slit (11) and the key element (4).

12. The modular furniture and shelving system (S) according to any preceding claims, characterized in that the system (s) further comprises one or more of the following elements; shelf (9), drawer element (10), shoe holder (13), cloth hanger (14), plate element (16), wine holder (17) or the like.