WO2012042450A2

WO2012042450A2 - Modular element for making up furniture accessories

Info

Publication number: WO2012042450A2
Application number: PCT/IB2011/054196
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Dona'; Massimo Marton; Roberto Zago
Original assignee: Oficina Srl
Priority date: 2010-09-29
Filing date: 2011-09-23
Publication date: 2012-04-05
Also published as: ITPD20100288A1; WO2012042450A3

Abstract

The invention is a modular element or module (1) for making up furniture accessories, comprising at least four walls (11, 12, 13, 14) facing and parallel to each other in pairs so as to define a substantially parallelepiped box-shaped structure, and wherein each one of said walls (11, 12, 13, 14) comprises one or more fastening areas (2) for connection with other modules (1). Each one of said fastening areas (2) in turn comprises two through openings (21, 22) for the insertion of fixing means (3) substantially elongated in shape and flexible, suited to be inserted so as to form a U between said openings (21, 22) and knotted or looped in order to carry out the connection with another module (1) at the level of its corresponding openings (21, 22).

Description

MODULAR ELEMENT FOR MAKING UP FURNITURE

ACCESSORIES

DESCRIPTION

The present patent concerns modular furniture accessories and in particular it concerns a new modular element for making up modular furniture accessories with a quick assembly process as well as furniture accessories obtained from the combination of two or more modular elements.

Modular furniture accessories are known which are made up of a plurality of modular elements or modules suited to be mutually combined and constrained to one another.

Furniture accessories like bookcases, wardrobes or containers in general are known which are comprised of substantially parallelepiped or cubic modules. Said modules generally comprise two facing and parallel walls, a bottom and a top, a closed back and a front opening which if necessary can be closed with one or more doors.

Said modules are constrained to one another, for example side by side or superimposed, and fixed to one another and/or to a fixed support by means of dowels, screws, brackets etc.

Modular furniture accessories are also known in which each module is made integral to the adjacent module by sharing one of the side walls or the bottom or the top, to which the other walls forming each module are directly constrained. A drawback of the known furniture accessories lies in that once the modular elements have been arranged and then constrained to one another they are difficult to reposition, thus requiring disassembly operations that may even damage the module and affect its stability.

Another drawback posed by the known furniture accessories lies in that the assembly operations require the use of apposite fixing means like screws, dowels, brackets and special tools like drills, screwers etc that also require connection to an electricity grid in order to be powered and/or recharged.

The fixing means to be used are often specifically structured and sized for a given module, are expensive and in case of breakage and need for replacement they must be purchased at specialized centres.

Even during disassembly the user or operator must use special tools to remove the fixing means, taking care to avoid damaging the modules.

The modular elements must often be assembled according to a specific sequence, meaning that they are not interchangeable.

In order to overcome all the drawbacks described above, a new type of modular element for making up modular furniture accessories with a quick assembly process, as well as the furniture accessories obtained from the combination of two or more modular elements, have been designed and produced.

The main object of the present invention is to allow completely modular furniture accessories to be assembled by means of quick fixing means that are economic and easily available on the market, with no need to use any additional tool.

Another object of the present invention is to guarantee absolute modularity, since the modules are all identical and therefore interchangeable.

It is another object of the present invention to guarantee not only a quick assembly but also a quick disassembly, operations that can be carried out with no need to use special tools.

It is another object of the present invention to allow the modules to be assembled, disassembled and repositioned as desired an indefinite number of times, as these operations don't affect the soundness and the stability of the module. These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new modular element for making up furniture accessories with a quick assembly process and by the furniture accessory obtained from the combination of two or more of said modular elements.

The new modular element or module comprises in its main parts a three- dimensional, substantially box-shaped element with at least four walls that are facing and parallel in pairs, arranged so as to respectively define at least two vertical side walls, the bottom and the top.

Each one of said walls is provided with at least two through openings or holes for the insertion of means for quick fixing to other modules, said openings or holes being arranged in homologous positions, on all of said walls.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said module defines a three- dimensional solid structure substantially cubic in shape, meaning that said four walls are substantially square and have the same size.

Since said walls are substantially identical to each other, two modules can be joined by facing any two walls, oriented in any way in relation to each other. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each wall of said module comprises at least one fastening area provided with at least two through openings or holes for the insertion of the means for fixing to the adjacent module, said openings or holes being connected to each other by at least one bridge element.

Said fixing means comprise an elongated and flexible element, for example a lace or a clamp, more conveniently a self-locking clamp which, once inserted and passed between the openings of two correspondingly facing walls of two adjacent modules, rests on the bridge elements, is closed and looped, thus carrying out the connection between two modules.

The self-locking clamp thus performs a quick fixing operation, without requiring the aid of any tool.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of said fastening areas is arranged at the level of each of the four sides of each wall, preferably in an intermediate point, and comprises a through hole at a given distance from the perimeter edge of the wall and a through slot opening on the perimeter edge of the hole, in order to facilitate the insertion of the clamp, so that the clamp is recessed with respect to the edge of the wall and therefore does not occupy any external space.

According to the invention, said module may comprise also one or two closing elements to be applied in order to create the bottom or the back and cover of the module itself.

Said closing element substantially comprises a wall whose shape and size are homologous to the walls of the module and at least one pair of preferably opposing edges, folded in the same direction, useful for fixing the closing element to the module itself.

Said wall and said edges are provided with said through holes or openings for the insertion of means for quick fixing to the module, said openings or holes being arranged in homologous positions with respect to the openings or holes made in the module itself.

According to the invention, said closing element serving as a bottom can be conveniently provided with feet and/or castors for resting and moving it on a plane surface.

According to the invention, said closing element serving as the back of the module can be provided with dowels for fastening to a vertical support like a wall, in order to obtain a hanging furniture accessory.

Said modules are preferably made with metal plate, for example steel or aluminium or another type of plate and/or with a plastic material. Said clamps are preferably of the type commonly used and easily available on the market, sold at low cost, quick to close and easily removed with common cutting tools like scissors.

Combining two or more of said modules it is thus possible to assemble furniture accessories like bookcases, wardrobes, chests, stairs, containers in general.

The characteristics of the new modular element for furniture accessories will be highlighted in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the drawings attached as non-limiting examples.

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a module (1), while Figures 2a-2e show five views of the same, including a front view and the view of the four side walls (11, 12, 13, 14).

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of an example of application of a furniture accessory (4) consisting of three modules (1, la, lb) constrained to one another by means of self-locking clamps (3) or laces, while Figures 3a and 3b show in detail a view and a cross section of the fastening area (2) with self-locking clamp (3).

Figure 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a furniture accessory consisting of one module (1) and two closing elements respectively serving as a bottom (6) with castors (61) applied thereto and as a cover (7).

Figure 5 schematically shows an embodiment of a furniture accessory consisting of one module (1) and one closing element serving as a back (8) suitable for fixing to the wall by means of dowels (81).

The invention is a new modular element (1) for making up furniture accessories. The new modular element (1) is a three-dimensional element, as schematically shown in Figure 1, substantially box-shaped with at least four walls (11, 12, 13, 14) facing and parallel in pairs so as to define a substantially parallelepiped, preferably cubic shape. Said four walls (11, 12, 13, 14) are preferably square and are identical in shape and size.

Said walls (11, 12, 13, 14) are arranged in such a way as to respectively define, according to the orientation of the module (1) in space, two opposing vertical side walls (12, 14), the bottom (13) and the top (11) of the module (1).

According to a first possible solution shown in Figure 1, the module (1) can be oriented with two horizontal walls (1 1, 13) and two vertical walls (12, 14), having therefore open back (16) and front (15).

Each one of said walls (11, 12, 13, 14) comprises one or preferably several fastening areas (2) to be used for connection to other modules (1), wherein each fastening area (2) in turn comprises at least two through openings (21, 22), connected to each other by at least one bridge element (23), for the insertion of fixing means (3) constituted by an elongated element like a lace or, more conveniently, a self-locking clamp.

Said openings (21, 22) of said fastening areas (2) are arranged in homologous positions on all the walls (11, 12, 13, 14), so that two or more modules (1, la, lb, ...) to be constrained can be arranged side by side by juxtaposing any two walls mutually oriented in any way.

The fixing means inserted so as to form a U between said openings (21, 22) of two facing and juxtaposed walls (11, 13a) of two adjacent modules (1, la) to be constrained is suited to be knotted or looped, resting on said bridge elements (23) and fixing the modules (1, la).

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, each wall (11, 12, 13, 14) preferably comprises four of said fastening areas (2), each one at the level of each of the four sides of each wall (11, 12, 13, 14), preferably in an intermediate point.

Each fastening area (2) comprises a through hole (21) made at a certain distance from the perimeter edge (17, 18) of the wall (11, 12, 13, 14) and a through slot (22) opening on the same perimeter edge (17, 18) to facilitate the insertion of the clamp (3).

Said slot (22) is preferably orthogonal to the edge (17, 18) itself.

As shown in detail in Figure 3a, the clamp (3) is looped between said holes (21) and said slots (22) of the two facing walls (11, 13a) of two adjacent modules (1, la) to be constrained and is recessed with respect to the edge (17) of the walls (11, 13a), so that it doesn't occupy any external space.

As shown in Figure 3b, a groove (231) can be provided between said hole (21) and said slot (22) in order to accommodate said clamp (3) in its thickness, so that it is completely recessed in the walls of the modules to be constrained.

According to the invention, said slots (22) made in the connection edge (18) between pairs of adjacent pairs are continuous and communicating, as shown in Figure 1.

As schematically shown in Figure 3, therefore, each module (1) can be constrained to a module (la, lb, ...) with each one of the four walls (11, 12, 13, 14), thus making up furniture accessories in various shapes, depending on the user's needs.

The furniture accessory (4) obtained in thi way comprises two or more modules (1, la, lb, ...) placed side by side by juxtaposing pairs of walls, and fastening means (3) comprising self-locking clamps inserted in said through holes and slots, made in homologous positions on said walls to be constrained and looped so as to join the same walls.

According to the invention, said module (1) may comprise one or two closing elements (6, 7, 8) to be applied to the walls (11, 12, 13, 14) of the module (1) in order to create the two missing walls, that is, the bottom or the back and cover. Said closing element (6, 7, 8) substantially comprises a wall (5) whose shape and size are homologous to the walls (11, 12, 13, 14) of the module (1) and at least one pair of preferably opposing edges (51, 52), bent in the same direction, useful for fixing the closing element to the module (1) itself.

Said wall (5) and said edges (51, 52) are provided with said through holes or openings (21, 22) for the insertion of means for quick fixing to the module (1), said openings or holes (21, 22) being arranged in homologous positions with respect to the openings or holes made in the module itself.

For example, Figure 4 shows a module (1) oriented with vertical walls (11, 12, 13, 14) and comprising one of said closing elements applied on its lower part and serving as a bottom (6), and one of said closing elements applied on its upper side and serving as a cover (7).

Said closing element serving as a bottom (6) can be provided with feet or castors (61) suited to rest and move it on a plane surface.

The furniture accessory obtained in this way is suited to be rested on a horizontal plane in general, for example on the floor.

In the example shown in Figure 5 said module (1) is oriented with two vertical walls (12, 14) and two horizontal walls (11 , 13), and a closing element (8) is applied at the rear of the module (1) and serves as a back.

The furniture accessory obtained in this way can be constrained to the wall, for example by means of dowels inserted in said through fastening openings or holes (21, 22).

Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.

Claims

1. Modular element or module (1) for making up furniture accessories, comprising at least four walls (11, 12, 13, 14) facing and parallel to each other in pairs so as to define a substantially parallelepiped box-shaped structure, and wherein each one of said walls (11, 12, 13, 14) comprises one or more fastening areas (2) for connection with other modules (1), characterized in that each one of said fastening areas (2) in turn comprises at least two through openings (21, 22), connected to each other by at least one bridge element (23), for the insertion of at least one fixing means (3), substantially elongated in shape and flexible, suited to be inserted so as to form a U between said openings (21, 22) and knotted or looped in order to carry out the connection with another module (1) at the level of its corresponding openings (21, 22).

2. Modular element or module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (3) comprises a lace or a self-locking clamp.

3. Modular element or module (1) according to claims 1, 2, characterized in that said four walls (11, 12, 13, 14) are substantially square, with identical shape and size, and wherein said openings (21, 22) of said fastening areas (2) are arranged in homologous positions on all the walls (11, 12, 13, 14) of the module (1).

4. Modular element or module (1) according to claims 1, 2, 3, characterized in that each one of said walls (11, 12, 13, 14) comprises four of said fastening areas (2), each at the level of each one of the four sides of each wall (11, 12, 13, 14), in an intermediate point, and wherein each fastening area (2) comprises a through hole (21) made at a certain distance from the perimeter edge (17, 18) of the wall (11, 12, 13, 14) and a through slot (22) made in the perimeter edge (17, 18) itself in order to facilitate the insertion of the clamp (3), which is recessed with respect to the edge (17, 18).

5. Modular element or module (1) according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, characterized in that between said through openings (21, 22) said bridge element (23) is provided with a groove (231) for housing part of said clamp (3) within its thickness, said groove having such width and depth that said part of said clamp (3) is completely recessed in it.

6. Modular element or module (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises one or two closing elements (6, 7, 8) to be applied to the walls (1 1, 12, 13, 14) of the module (1) itself in order to create the two missing walls, said closing element (6, 7, 8) comprising a wall (5) with shape and size homologous to those of the walls (11, 12, 13, 14) of the module (1) and at least one pair of preferably opposing edges (51, 52) bent in the same direction and useful to fasten the closing element to the module (1), and wherein in said wall (5) and in said edges (51, 52) there are said openings or through holes (21, 22) for the insertion of means for rapid fastening to the module (1), said openings or holes (21, 22) being arranged in positions homologous to those of the openings or holes (21, 22) made in the other walls (11, 12, 13, 14).

7. Modular element or module (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it is completely or partially made of a metallic and/or plastic material.

8. Modular furniture accessory (4) comprising one or more modules (1, la, lb, ...) according to one or more of the claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that said module (1) is oriented with two vertical walls (12, 14) and two horizontal walls (12, 14) so as to respectively form two opposing vertical side walls (12, 14), the bottom (13) and the top (11) of the module (1), and wherein at least one of said closing elements (8) is applied to the rear of the module (1) so as to form the back of the module (1) itself.

9. Modular furniture accessory (4) comprising one or more modules (1, la, lb, ...) according to one or more of the claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that the walls (11, 12, 13, 14) of said module (1) are all vertical, and wherein at least one of said closing elements (6) is applied to the bottom of the module (1) so as to form the bottom of the module (1) and at least one further closing element (7) is applied to the top of the module (1) to form the cover of the module itself.

10. Furniture accessory (4) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises supporting feet and/or castors applied to the bottom of said closing element serving as a supporting plane.

11. Modular furniture accessory (4) comprising two or more modules (1, la, lb, ...) according to one or more of the claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that each one of said modules (1) is joined to the adjacent module (la, lb, ...) by facing any pair of corresponding walls (11, 12, 13, 14) mutually oriented in any way, and wherein one or more self-locking clamps (3) are inserted between said homologous openings (21, 22) in said facing walls, and loop-knotted in order to keep said walls united.