WO2008051159A1

WO2008051159A1 - Sheet like element

Info

Publication number: WO2008051159A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/050771
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ingrid Stegs Nordell
Original assignee: Intentionelle Ab
Priority date: 2006-10-24
Filing date: 2007-10-24
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Also published as: SE532595C2; SE0602227L

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sheet-like element preferably intended for inclusion in a piece of furniture, wherein the sheet-like element includes a back piece (1) and a frame (7) and also means for achieving releasable connection between the back piece (1) and the frame (7). A characteristic feature of this sheet-like element according to the present invention resides in the provision of magnets (10) in the back piece (1) and/or in the frame (7) for detachable connection of the back piece (1) with the frame (7).

Description

SHEET LIKE ELEMENT

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a sheet-like element, preferably intended for inclusion in a piece of furniture, wherein the sheet-like element includes a back piece and a frame, and wherein the sheet-like element includes means for achieving a releasable connection between the back piece and the frame.

Technical background The need of being able to change the most dominating surface of a piece of furniture with the aid of thin decorative surfaces is well known in the art.

A sheet-like element intended for a piece of furniture is earlier known from

GB 1 445 862. This sheet-like element may, for instance, have the form of the door of a wardrobe or the front of a box. The sheet-like element includes a frame, a decor element and a back piece, wherewith the back piece described in GB 1445862 is fastened to the frame by means of screws.

The object and significant features of the present invention A primary object of the present invention is to provide a sheet-like element of the kind defined in the introduction, with which it shall be possible to mount or replace a decorative element in said sheet-like element in a particularly user- friendly manner.

A further object of the present invention is that the components of the sheet-like element shall be mutually connected in a secure fashion, by which is meant that the connection will remain safe in the normal sheet-like element.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the use of loose small components of the sheet-like element, such as screws for instance. Handling of small components shall not be necessary when fitting or replacing the decor element.

At least the primary object of the present invention is achieved with the aid of a sheet-like element that has the characteristic features set forth in the accompanying independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

RECORD COPY - TRANSLATION (Rule I2.4) Brief description of the drawings

A number of exemplifying embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a sheet-like element according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of a part of the sheet-like element that includes a guide peg;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the sheet-like element according to figure 1, although seen from a direction opposite to that shown in figure 1; Fig. 4 is a detailed view of part of the sheet-like element that includes magnets;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a sheet-like element according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 illustrates a detail of a part of the sheet-like element according to figure 5, said part including a guide peg;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the sheet-like element according to figure 5, although shown from the opposite direction to that shown in figure 5; and

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a part of the sheet-like element according to figure 5 and figure 7, said part including magnets.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention

The sheet-like element shown in figures 1-4 has the form of a door and includes a back piece 1 , a decorative layer 3, a transparent layer 5 and a frame 7. As evident from figure 3, the back piece 1 includes hinges 9 which are fastened to the bodywork of the furniture in which the sheet-like element 1 is included. The back piece 1 and the frame 7 are preferably comprised of a wood-based material, although the outer layers of the back piece 1 and the frame 7 may have the form of a laminate structure in, for instance, a plastic material. It will be obvious that the back piece 1 and the frame 7 may be comprised of an homogenous wooden material.

The back piece 1 may also include a member of magnets 10 in the form of cylindrical inserts accommodated in first recesses 11 in the back piece 1. The open ends of the first recesses Il in the back piece 1 face towards the frame 7. The frame 7 also includes magnets 10, which may be identical to the magnets 10 of the back piece 1. The magnets 10 belonging to the frame 7 are accommodated in second recesses 12 in the frame 7, the open ends of these recesses 12 facing towards the back piece 1. The magnets are preferably of the neodim type, i.e. magnets that are extremely strong in relation to their dimensions. By way of a non- limiting example the magnet inserts 10 may have a diameter in the range of 5-10 mm and a thickness in the range of 5-10 mm. The general dimensions of the magnet inserts 10 can be minimized by arranging magnetic inserts 10 in both the back piece 1 and in the frame 7.

The magnet inserts 10 are affixed in their respective recesses in some suitable fashion, preferably with the aid of glue. The outwardly facing surfaces of the magnetic inserts 10 are situated generally in plane with the surface in which the magnetic inserts 10 are recessed. The outwardly facing surfaces of the magnetic inserts 10 shall optionally be located slightly inwards of the surface in which the magnetic inserts 10 are recessed, although it will be understood that only very small measurements are concerned in this respect, i.e. only some 10ths of a millimetre. This is extremely important that only extremely small measurements are concerned so that strain on the means of fixation, normally glue joints, will not be excessively great. In the case of this arrangement, the back piece and the frame 7 will lie flush with one another. This prevents the occurrence of an undesirable gap between the back piece 1 and the frame 7.

The magnetic inserts 10 in the back piece 1 and in the frame 7 are mutually positioned so that when the back piece 1 and the frame 7 are joined together, see figure 4, a magnetic insert 10 in the back piece 1 will be located opposite a magnetic insert 10 in the frame 7. This applies preferably to all magnetic inserts 10 in the back piece 1 and in the frame 7. When assembling the back piece 1 and the frame 7, a magnetic insert 10 in the back piece 1 will thus co- act with a magnetic insert 10 in the frame 7.

As will best be seen from figures 1 and 2, the back piece 1 includes a number of guide pins 13; in the illustrated case two such guide pins are located in the region of the short sides of the back piece 1 between two mutually adjacent magnetic inserts 10. As will be seen from figure 2 and figure 3, the frame 7 includes a number of holes 14, said number being equal to the number of guide pins 13. The guide pins 13 and the holes 14 are mutually orientated so that when the back piece 1 and the frame 7 are joined together, one guide pin 13 of the back piece will be received in a hole 14 in the frame 7. The guide pin 13 is received in an associated hole 14 preferably as a result of a push fit. As will be understood the arrangement of guide pins 13 and co-acting holes 14 ensures that co-acting magnetic inserts 10 in the back piece 1 and in the frame 7 respectively are positioned centrally of one another with a high degree of precision. It is extremely important that the co-action between the magnetic inserts 10 is achieved in a fully satisfactory manner, so that under normal conditions there can be no separation of the back piece 1 and the frame 7 of a sheet-like element according to the present invention. Figure 2 and figure 4 illustrate parts of the back piece 1 and the frame 7 when these elements are assembled to form the sheet-like element according to the present invention. As will be evident from figure 4, the decorative layer 3 and the transparent layer 5 are affixed between the back piece 1 and the frame 7.

Figures 5-8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a sheet-like element according to the present invention. The sheet-like element according to figures 5-8 comprises a back piece 1 , a decorative layer 3, a transparent layer 5 and a frame 107. As illustrated in figure 3, the back piece 1 includes a hinge 9 which is fixed to the bodywork of the piece of furniture in which the sheet-like element 1 is included. All of the components of the sheet-like element with the exception of the frame 107 can, in principle, be identical to corresponding components of the embodiment described above. Because of this, only the frame 107 has been given a distinguishing reference sign. Correspondingly to the embodiment described above the back piece 1 is provided with magnets 10 and guide pins 13, and the frame 107 is provided with holes 14 for receiving the guide pins 13.

The frame 107 is provided with a strip 110 of magnetic material, preferably a metal strip mounted on that part of the frame 107 which faces towards the back piece 1. In the case of the illustrated embodiment the metal strip 110 extends around the whole frame 107. The metal strip 110 is accommodated in a second recess 112 which extends around the entire frame 107 in the case of the illustrated embodiment. The metal strip 110 is anchored in the second recess 112 in a suitable way, for instance with the aid of glue or screws.

With respect to the magnetic inserts 10 and the metal strip 110 the outwardly facing surfaces thereof are generally in plane with the surface in which the magnetic inserts 10 and the metal strip 110 are sunken. Optionally, the outwardly facing surfaces of the magnetic inserts 10 and the metal strip 110 may be located slightly inwards of the surface in which the magnetic inserts 10, the metal strip 110 are sunken, although it is pointed out that the measurements concerned are extremely small, i.e. measurements in the magnitude of only some tenths of a millimetre. When assembling together the back piece 1 and the frame 107 the guide pins 13 are inserted into to the holes 14 and the magnets 10 are caused to co-act with the metal strip 110. This results in a satisfactory connection between the back piece 1 and the frame 107.

In the case of both of the embodiments of a sheet-like element described above it will be noted that the sheet-like element can be stripped of its components normally without requiring the use of tools to this end. For instance, while applying a normal degree of care, one side of the frame 7; 107 can be forced directly out from the back piece 1 so as to break the ability of the magnets 10 to hold together the frame 7; 107 and the back piece 1 relatively quickly along the side concerned and then along remaining sides. The degree of care required is guided by the configuration and placement of the guide pins 13. In the case of the illustrated embodiments, the guide pins 13 are configured and positioned so that the guide pins 13 and the corresponding holes 14 in the back piece 1 will be subjected to the minimum of strain. The decorative layer 3 and/or the transparent layer 5 can now be replaced when necessary.

It is pointed out that by a sheet-like element is meant in this context an element which is not necessarily flat. For instance, the sheet-like element according to the present invention may have a curved, bent or arched shape.

Conceivable modifications to the present invention

In the case of the embodiment according to figures 1-4 described above, both the back piece 1 and the frame 7 are provided with magnetic inserts 10. However, it is possible within the scope of the present invention that solely the back piece 1 or the frame 7 is provided with magnetic inserts 10 while the frame 7 or the back piece 1 is provided with inserts comprised of magnetic material.

The magnetic inserts of the embodiments described above are cylindrical in shape. It will be obvious that within the concept of the invention the inserts may have different shapes although they will preferably have a planar outwardly facing surface. In the case of the embodiment described above with reference to figures 1-8, the magnets 10 are arranged in the back piece 1 while the metal strip 110 is provided on the frame 107. However, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention for the placements of the magnets 10 and the metal strip 110 to be reversed, in other words for the magnets 10 to be arranged in the frame 107 while placing the metal strip on the back piece 1.

In the case of the embodiment described above with reference to figures 5-8, a metal strip 110 is provided on the frame 107. It is conceivable within the concept of the invention for the metal strip 110 to be replaced with a magnetic strip. In the case of the embodiments described above, the back piece 1 includes two guide pins 13, which is considered an optimal number in this respect. However, the present invention may, conceivably, include more than two guide pins 13, in which case it is necessary to include more holes 14 opposite the intended additional guide pins 13 with a high degree of precision, such precision being extremely important with respect to joining the back piece 1 and the frame 7; 107 together, which must take place in the absence of any problems. The guide pins 13 and their corresponding holes 14 can thus be placed selectively along the edges of the back piece 1 and along the frame 7; 107 respectively.

In the case of the embodiments described above the guide pins 13 are placed on the back piece 1 while the holes 14 are disposed in the frame 7; 107. It is conceivable, however, within the scope of the invention that the guide pins are disposed on the frame 7; 107 while the holes are disposed in the back piece 1. In the case of the embodiments described above a sheet-like element according to the present invention includes a back piece 1, a decorative layer 3, a transparent layer 5 and a frame 7; 107. However, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention that the decorative layer 3 or the transparent layer 5 to be excluded. Alternatively, it is conceivable for both the decorative layer 3 and the transparent layer 5 to be excluded.

It has been assumed above that the back piece 1 and the frame 7 preferably comprise a wood-based material. It is however, conceivable within the concept of the invention for the back piece and the frame to be comprised of other material, which can consist of an appropriate plastic material by way of a non- limiting example, or possibly a combination of wood material and plastic material.

Claims

1. A sheet-like element, preferably for inclusion in a piece of furniture, wherein the sheet-like element includes a back piece (1), and a frame (7;107); wherein the sheet-like element includes means for obtaining a releasable connection between the back piece (1) and to the frame (7; 107), wherein the means for achieving a releasable connection between the back piece (1) and the frame (7; 107) include magnets (10) which are provided in the back piece (1) and/or in the frame (7; 107), characterized in that the element also includes guide means (13, 14) for mutually fixating the back piece (1) and the frame (7; 107) in the plane of the back piece (1) wherein said guide means (13, 14) include at least two guide pins (13) and a corresponding number of holes (14).

2. A sheet-like element according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the magnets (10) are disposed in recesses (11 , 12) in the back piece (1) and/or in the frame (7).

3. A sheet-like element according to claim 2, characterized in that the magnets (10) are glued firmly in the recesses (11 , 12).

4. A sheet-like element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the back piece (1) or the frame (107) carries a metal strip (110).

5. A sheet-like element according to clam 4, characterized in that the metal strip (110) is disposed in a recess (112).

6. A sheet-like element according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the back piece (1) or the frame (7; 107) is provided with metal inserts that are sunk into the back piece (1) or into the frame (7; 107).

7. A sheet-like element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said element includes a decorative layer (3).

8. A sheet-like element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said element includes a transparent layer (5).