WO2001026511A1

WO2001026511A1 - Show-case with hollow columns

Info

Publication number: WO2001026511A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/002832
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chafik Gasmi; Fabrice Thierache; Guillaume Galloy
Original assignee: Sephora Holding
Priority date: 1999-10-11
Filing date: 2000-10-11
Publication date: 2001-04-19
Also published as: FR2799353B1; EP1221879A1; AU7798700A; PL354233A1; ATE257664T1; FR2799353A1; DE60007765D1; EP1221879B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a show-case comprising at least a support structure and shelves (21a, 21b, 21c; 22a, 22b, 22c) parallel to one another and supported by the support structure. The invention is characterised in that the support structure comprises hollow columns (3a, 3b, 3c) supporting the ends (211, 212, 221, 222) of the shelves, the latter partitioning each column (3a, 3b, 3c) into a plurality of elementary volumes to be used as display spaces.

Description

1. Exhibition furniture, comprising at least one supporting structure (1) and a first series (2a) of shelves (21a, 21b, 21c) parallel to each other, each of these shelves (21a, 21b, 21c) s 'extending, in a first direction (Tl) transverse to the furniture, between a rear edge (219) and a front edge (210), and having first and second ends (211, 212) distant from one other in a longitudinal direction (L) of the cabinet and supported by the support structure (1), characterized in that the support structure (1) comprises at least first and second hollow columns (3a, 3b) supporting the first and second respectively ends (211, 212) of each of the shelves (21a, 21b, 21c), the shelves (21a, 21b, 21c) at least partially partitioning each column (3a, 3b, 3c) into a plurality of elementary volumes, one of which at least is delimited by two shelves vertically from one another (21a, 21b) and of which at least one has at least one opening (30) through which it opens in the first transverse direction (Tl), and in that each column (3a, 3b, 3c) forms a box obtained by cutting and folding of a metal blank.

2. Exhibition furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that each column (3a, 3b, 3c) has a cross section comprising a base (40) connecting first and second lateral branches (41, 42), the lateral branches (41, 42) extending from the base (40) in a second transverse direction (T2) opposite to the first (Tl).

3. Exhibition furniture according to claim 2, characterized in that the box forming each column (3a, 3b, 3c) has at least a first series (31) of horizontal cutouts (311, 312, 313) each of which s extends from the base (40) to the first lateral branch (41) of the cross section of this column (3a, 3b, 3c) and receives one of the ends (212) of one of the shelves (21a, 21b , 21c) of the first series (2a).

4. Exhibition furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting structure (1) comprises a metal base (10) to which the first and second columns (3a, 3b) are attached.

5. Exhibition furniture according to claim 4 combined with any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the base (10) has vertical lights (105) and in that at least one side branch (41 ) of the cross section of each column has tabs (43), each of which is selectively inserted into one of the slots (105) to hang this column (3b) on the base (10). 6. Exhibition furniture according to claim 5, characterized in that the lateral branches (41, 42) of the cross sections of the first and second columns (3a, 3b) have recesses (44) which cooperate with the base (10) to form the housings (45), and in that the piece of furniture comprises at least one bottom plate (5) inserted and held in the housings (45).

7. Exhibition furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises covering niches (39) housed in a removable manner in the elementary volumes delimited in the columns (3a, 3b, 3c). 8. Exhibition furniture according to any one of the preceding claims combined with claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a first chest (6a), fixed to a lower part (100) of the base (10) and comprising at minus one drawer (61, 62, 63).

9. Exhibition furniture according to claim 8, characterized in that the first chest comprises at least two drawers.

10. Exhibition furniture according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the first chest (6a) has at least one upper face (610) horizontal in a first side (611) vertical.

1 1. Exhibition furniture according to claim 10, characterized in that the first side (611) is provided with slides (611a, 611b, 611c) supporting each sliding drawer (61, 62, 63).

12. Exhibition furniture according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the upper face (610) and the first side (611) consist of the same folded metal blank forming at least one dihedral. 13. Exhibition furniture according to any one of claims 8 to

12, characterized in that a drawer (61) of the first trunk has a front face (613) forming a front face for the trunk (6a).

14. Exhibition furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least a third hollow column (3c) and a second series (2b) of shelves (22a, 22b, 22c), each tablet (22a, 22b, 22c) of the second series (2b) having first and second ends (221, 222) respectively supported by the second and third hollow columns (3b, 3c).

15. Exhibition furniture according to claims 3 and 14, characterized in that the box forming the second column (3b) has a second series (32) of horizontal cutouts (321, 322, 323) each of which extends from the base (40) to the second lateral branch (42) of the cross section of this column (3b) and receives the first end (221) of one of the shelves (22a, 22b, 22c) of the second series (2b).

16. Exhibition furniture according to any one of claims 10 to 13, combined with any one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that it comprises a second chest (6b) having at least one upper face (620 ) horizontal and a first side (621) vertical, and in that the first side (621) of the second chest (6b) forms a second side for the first chest (6a), each drawer (61, 62, 63) of the first box (6a) being slidably mounted on a corresponding slide (611a, 611b, 611c; 621a, 621b, 621c) provided on the respective first sides (611, 621) of the first and second boxes (6a, 6b).

17. Exhibition furniture according to any one of the preceding claims combined with claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a panel (7a, 7b) forming a static or dynamic information medium, carried by the base (10) in its upper part.

"Exhibition furniture with hollow columns"

The present invention relates, in general, to a piece of furniture intended to display and enhance products offered for consumption, such as for example perfumes or beauty products.

More specifically, the invention relates to an exhibition cabinet, comprising at least one supporting structure and a first series of shelves parallel to each other, each of these shelves extending, in a first transverse direction relative to the cabinet, between a rear edge and a front edge, and having first and second ends remote from each other in a longitudinal direction of the furniture and supported by the supporting structure.

Furniture of this type is known today, including for the sale of cosmetic products, which constitutes the preferred application of the present invention. A permanent problem in the design of such furniture lies in the difficulty of producing economically, and in particular with a limited number of pieces, furniture which is both visually attractive and whose architecture is sufficiently modular to be able to adapt to different environments.

The object of the invention is precisely to propose a piece of furniture endowed with these qualities.

To this end, the furniture of the invention, moreover conforms to the generic definition given by the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that its supporting structure comprises at least first and second hollow columns supporting respectively the first and second ends of each of the shelves, the shelves at least partially partitioning each column into a plurality of elementary volumes, at least one of which is delimited by two shelves vertically from one another and of which at least one has at least one opening through which it opens in the first transverse direction, and in that each column forms a box obtained by cutting and folding a metal blank.

For example, each column has a cross section comprising a base connecting first and second lateral branches, the lateral branches extending from the base in a second reverse transverse direction from the first. In this case, the box forming each column may have at least a first series of horizontal cuts, each of which extends from the base to the first lateral branch of the cross section of this column and receives one of the ends of one of the shelves of the first series.

Furthermore, the supporting structure may include a metal base to which the first and second columns are attached. To this end, the base can have vertical lights, at least one of the lateral branches of the cross section of each column having tabs, each of which is selectively inserted in one of the lights to hang this column on the base.

The lateral branches of the cross sections of the first and second columns may also have recesses which cooperate with the base to form housings, the cabinet comprising at least one bottom plate inserted and held in these housings.

To perfect the finish of the furniture, dressing niches can be removably housed in the elementary volumes delimited in the columns.

The display cabinet of the invention may also include a first chest, fixed to a lower part of the base and comprising one or more drawers.

In this case, this first chest has at least, for example, a horizontal upper face and a first vertical side, the upper face and the first side can for example be constituted by the same folded metal blank forming at least one dihedral, the first side being advantageously provided with slides for supporting the sliding drawers, and the drawer or one of the drawers preferably having a front face forming a front face for the trunk. The piece of furniture of the invention can comprise at least a third hollow column and a second series of shelves, each tablet of the second series having first and second ends respectively supported by the second and third hollow columns.

In this case, the box forming the second column preferably has a second series of horizontal cutouts, each of which extends from the base to the second lateral branch of the cross section of this column and receives the first end of one of the second series tablets.

Likewise, the cabinet of the invention may comprise a second chest with one or more drawers having at least one horizontal upper face and a first vertical side, the first side of the second chest forming a second side for the first chest, and each drawer of the first box being slidably mounted on slides provided on the respective first sides of the first and second boxes.

Finally, the furniture of the invention advantageously comprises a panel carried by the upper part of the base and forming a static or dynamic information medium, this information being for example displayed or projected on this panel.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, for information and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a front view of the base furniture of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a side view corresponding to Figure 1;

- Figure 3 a front view of the base of the furniture of the invention, in particular equipped with two columns and elements of chests with drawers and a display panel or information projection; - Figure 4 is a side view corresponding to Figure 3;

- Figure 5 a front view similar to Figure 3, but in which the first trunk is equipped with drawers, the view being taken according to the incidence indicated by the arrows V-V of Figure 6;

- Figure 6 is a side view corresponding to Figure 5; - Figure 7 is a view of the left side of a column of the furniture of the invention;

- Figure 8 is a front view of the column illustrated in Figure 7;

- Figure 9 is a right side view of the column illustrated in Figures 7 and 8; - Figure 10 is a partial exploded perspective view of a column, two shelves and a trim niche;

- Ligure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view of a column, the base, and two bottom plates, the base and the bottom plates being shown only partially; - Figure 12 is a front view of a complete cabinet, formed of two modules;

- Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of elements of two adjacent boxes; and

- Figure 14 is a side view of the furniture of the invention fully assembled.

The invention relates, in general, to an exhibition unit essentially comprising a support structure 1 (FIGS. 3 and 5) and at least a first series 2a of shelves 21a, 21b, 21c (Figure 12), parallel to each other.

Each of these shelves 21a, 21b, 21c extends, in a transverse direction T1 relative to the furniture (Figures 2, 10 and 11), between a rear edge 219 (Figure 10) and a front edge 210, and extends , in a longitudinal direction L of the piece of furniture (Figures 1, 3, 5, 12), between two ends

211, 212 (Figure 12) supported by the supporting structure 1.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the supporting structure 1 comprises hollow columns, such as 3a, 3b, which support, by their ends 211, 212, the shelves such as 21a, 21b, 21c.

Under these conditions, the shelves such as 21a, 21b, 21c partition each column, such as 3a and 3b, into a plurality of elementary volumes each of which is delimited either by an extreme shelf, or by two shelves vertically one of the other 21a, 21b, each elementary volume having an opening 30 (FIG. 10) through which it opens in the transverse direction T1.

As best shown in Figures 10 and 11, each column such as 3a, 3b, 3c is shaped box and is obtained by cutting and folding a metal blank. More specifically, the cross section (FIG. 11) of each column such as 3a, 3b comprises a base 40 connecting lateral branches 41, 42, which extend, from base 40, in a transverse direction T2 opposite to the first direction transverse Tl.

As best shown in Figures 7 to 10, the box which constitutes each of the columns such as 3a, 3b has a series, or preferably two series, such as 31 and 32, of horizontal cutouts such as 311, 312, 313 and 321, 322, 323, each cutout extending from the base 40 of the cross section of the box to one of the lateral branches, such as 41 and 42, of this section, and each cutout receiving one of the ends , such as 212 or 221 (Figure 10), from one of the tablets such as 21a or 22a.

The supporting structure 1 further comprises (FIGS. 1 and 2) a metal base 10 to which the columns such as 3a, 3b are hung, this base itself being mainly constituted, for example, of a lower part 100 forming a foot, two vertical uprights 101 and 102, and two crosspieces 103 and 104.

The crosspieces 103 and 104 have vertical slots 105 (FIGS. 1 and 11) into which tongues 43 can be engaged (FIGS. 7, 9, and 11) carried by the lateral branches 41 and 42 of the cross section of the box constituting each column such as 3a, 3b, this column thus being able to be hooked in a removable manner on the base 10.

As shown in FIG. 11, the lateral branches 41, 42 for example have recesses 44 which cooperate with the base 10 to form housings 45, and in each of which can be inserted and maintained a bottom plate 5 making it possible to hide the base to an observer looking at the furniture in the transverse direction T2.

Likewise (FIG. 10), covering niches 39, for example made of a molded thermoplastic material, can be housed in a removable manner in the elementary volumes delimited by the shelves such as 21a, 21b, in the columns such as 3b, to change the aesthetic appearance of the furniture and to allow optimal use of these elementary volumes as presentation spaces. Thus designed, the furniture of the invention is not at all limited to comprising only two columns and a single series of shelves.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 12, this piece of furniture can in particular comprise at least a third column 3c and a second series 2b of shelves such as 22a, 22b, 22c, in which case the ends, such as 221 and 222, of each shelf of this second series 2b are respectively supported by the second and third columns 3b and 3c.

One or more safes, such as 6a, 6b, (Figures 1, 3, 5, 6, and 13) each comprising, for example, three drawers 61, 62, 63, can be fixed to the lower part 100 of the base 10. Each trunk is for example constituted by a folded metal blank forming a dihedral or a trihedron, and has for example a horizontal upper face such as 610 or 620, a vertical side such as 611 or 621, and a bottom such as 612 or 622.

At least one of the vertical sides, such as 611, 621, of each box 6a, 6b, is provided with slides such as 611a, 611b, 611c and 621a, 621b, 621c projecting on either side of this vertical side , and intended to support sliding drawers such as 61, 62, 63.

In the case illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, in which the piece of furniture comprises two boxes side by side, such as 6a, 6b, the side 621 of the second box 6b forms a second side for the first box 6a, the drawers 61, 62, 63 of the first box 6a can thus be slidably mounted on slides 611a, 611b, 611c and 621a, 621b, 621c provided on the respective sides 611, 621 of the first and second boxes 6a, 6b.

As best shown in Figures 6 and 12, one of the drawers, such as 61, of each trunk, may have a front face such as 613 or 623, which forms a front face for this trunk.

Each of the shelves such as 21a, 21b, 21c, 22a, 22b, 22c, can be made of a transparent material and be lit by an elongated light source 81a, 81b, 81c, 82a, 82b, 82c, placed in the vicinity of its anterior edge such as 210 (Figures 12 and 14). Finally, each base 10 can, in its upper part, support a panel such as 7a, 7b (Figures 3 to 6 and 12), allowing the presentation of any static or dynamic information, and for example the display or projection of advertising or other information.