WO2019171410A1

WO2019171410A1 - Furnishing component and production method

Info

Publication number: WO2019171410A1
Application number: PCT/IT2019/050051
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Iacuzzi; Mauro Busolini
Original assignee: Natisa S.R.L.
Priority date: 2018-03-08
Filing date: 2019-03-08
Publication date: 2019-09-12
Also published as: EP3761830A1; IT201800003386A1; CN112236052A

Abstract

A furnishing component comprises a support rod (12) with an oblong development along a longitudinal axis (X), and a plurality of slats (14) each provided with a through hole (13) configured to allow the insertion of the support rod (12) through it.

Description

FURNISHING COMPONENT AND PRODUCTION METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a furnishing component, for example defining a support base for a table, or a support base for a seat, a panel or a wall of a wardrobe, or other, which has a curvilinear development.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of furniture and furnishing accessories, it is known there is a need to produce furnishing components with a wavy or curved shape to obtain particular aesthetic effects and to modify the traditional geometric shapes, which are generally linear and square.

However, the production of furnishing components with a concave and convex shape, that is to say, undulating and curved, is expensive and requires complex processing, so they are normally confined solely to high-end furniture and furnishing accessories.

For example, shaped furnishing components are known with a concave and convex shape made as a single body made of wood or plastic material.

In the case of wooden furnishing components it is necessary to have raw materials with large sizes available, from which excess material can be removed to obtain the desired concavity. This requires specific processes that must be performed by specialized operators and, furthermore, entails a considerable waste of wood material.

This solution, although it allows to obtain the desired arched shapes, cannot be efficiently industrialized and therefore remains confined to the production of furnishing components of a very high price range.

In the field of furnishing components made of wood, these are known to be defined by the coupling, for example by gluing, of overlapping layers of wood, suitable to define a desired thickness of the starting product, from which material is then removed. This solution, however, is particularly complex and must be appropriately designed and sized, on each occasion, according to the specific final shape that the furnishing component has to have. This entails considerable investment of start-up time to begin the project and considerable production costs and times. Fumishing components made of plastic material are also known, for example made by molding or thermoforming. These methods have the disadvantage of requiring considerable economic investments to make the molds suitable to create the desired curve and, furthermore, they do not allow, with low economic investments, to modify the shape or size of the mold as desired, to produce a wide range of furnishing components.

The website https: www.instructables.com/id/2x4-Wave-Coffee-Table/ and the video“2x4 Wave coffee table” published on YouTube, disclosed a coffee table with a support base made with a plurality of slats positioned angularly offset with respect to each other. This solution provides to suitably cut the ends of the slats according to trigonometric calculations, and to make two holes on each of them, one close to the other and in specific positions which must be suitably calculated to ensure the angular offset between adjacent slats. The presence of the two adjacent holes, in addition to structurally weakening the slats, limits the angular positioning configurations thereof. Furthermore, this solution is complex and not very versatile, since it is not possible to modify the reciprocal angular offset of the slats and therefore the shape of the base during production.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide a furnishing component shaped to define one or more concavities and convexities and which can be made with limited investments.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a furnishing component that can be made in a wide range of shapes and sizes without requiring drastic modifications to the processing machines.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a furnishing component which is stable and robust.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method to make a furnishing component that is economical and can be performed simply and quickly.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a method to make a furnishing component by means of which it is possible to obtain a plurality of furnishing components with different shapes and sizes with minimal modifications to the processing steps and machinery.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

Embodiments described here concern a furnishing component comprising:

- a support rod with an oblong development along a longitudinal axis,

- a plurality of slats each provided with a through hole configured to allow the insertion of the support rod.

The slats are inserted, with their through hole, one in succession to the other on the support rod, are angularly offset from each other, with respect to said longitudinal axis, and are solidly connected and at least partly overlapping and resting on each other.

The particular disposition of the slats allows to define a suitably shaped furnishing component, with a concave and convex shape in order to satisfy particular aesthetic requirements required.

This technique for connecting and disposing the slats, inserted on the support rod, allows to considerably simplify the production operations of the furnishing component, and to be able to obtain, even with minor modifications, furnishing components with totally different shapes and aesthetic characteristics from each other.

According to some embodiments of the invention, each slat is provided with an upper end, and a lower end opposite the upper end, said ends in turn defining respective support surfaces. The support surfaces of the upper ends of the slats all lie on a common upper lying plane, and the support surfaces of the lower ends of the slats all lie on a common lower lying plane. Therefore, the upper ends and the lower ends of the slats define two base surfaces which can function as a support plane, for example, for the positioning on a lying plane, or for the support of the top of a table, or the surface of a seat.

The lower lying plane and the upper lying plane can be substantially parallel to each other in order to ensure a correct parallel positioning between the plane on which the furnishing component will lie and the surface thereof on which the top of a possible table or suchlike will be possibly disposed.

Embodiments described here also concern a method to make a furnishing component which comprises:

- making available a support rod with an oblong development along a longitudinal axis;

- making available a plurality of slats, each provided with a through hole;

- inserting the slats, with their through hole, one in succession to the other, on the support rod, positioning them angularly offset from each other with respect to the longitudinal axis, and solidly connecting them so that they are at least partly overlapping and resting on each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a perspective view of a famishing component according to embodiments described here used for example as a support base for a table;

- fig. 2 is a perspective view of a longitudinal section of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 3 is a front section view of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 4 is a perspective view of another furnishing component of the present invention.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments described here with reference to figs. 1-3 concern a furnishing component 10 which can advantageously be used as a support base for a table 20, or a seat, or also to make a wall, or a panel of a piece of furniture.

Fig. 1 shows by way of example a table 20 comprising a support plane 21 and a furnishing component 10 according to the invention which acts as a support base for the support plane 21.

According to some embodiments, the furnishing component 10 comprises a support rod 12 which develops along a longitudinal axis X, which also defines the longitudinal oblong axis of the furnishing component 10.

According to some embodiments, the support rod 12 can be defined by a bar with a solid cross section.

In some embodiments, the support rod 12 can have a circular cross-section shape, uniform along its longitudinal axis X.

According to some embodiments, the support rod 12 can be made of metal material or plastic material or other material suitable to confer mechanical resistance on the furnishing component 10.

The furnishing component 10 also comprises a plurality of slats 14 each provided with a through hole 13 configured to allow the insertion of the support rod 12 through it.

The presence of a single hole 13, and therefore of a single support rod 12, allows to simplify the assembly operations, as well as to ensure that the reciprocal angular positioning of adjacent slats 14 is highly precise. This configuration also allows to modify the reciprocal offset angle during the assembly operations, according to the desired shape to be obtained.

Providing a single hole 13 also allows the slats 14 to be drilled in the same way with respect to each other, making the drilling operations repeatable and precise, and therefore reducing the processing times.

According to one aspect of the invention, the slats 14 are inserted with their through hole 13, one in succession to the other, on the support rod 12, they are angularly offset from each other with respect to the longitudinal axis X, and they are solidly connected and at least partly overlapping and resting on each other.

The sizes of the through hole 13 can be correlated to the cross section of the support rod 12.

According to some embodiments, the diameter of the through hole 13 is substantially equal to the diameter of the support rod 12.

In particular, the diameter of the through hole 13 can allow a coupling by interference of the support rod 12 and the slats 14.

For example, the diameter of the through hole 13 can be slightly greater than the diameter of the support rod 12, so as to allow the slats 14 to be inserted on the support rod 12 and be rotated with respect thereto upon a force being applied, and at the same time prevent unwanted reciprocal movements of the slats 14 and the support rod 12 in the absence of stresses.

By way of example only, the furnishing component 10 can comprise a number of slats 14 comprised between about 40 and about 200. This number is chosen according to the final overall shape of the furnishing component 10 to be obtained.

According to one possible solution, the slats 14 can be made of wood or wood substitutes.

According to possible variants, the slats 14 can be made of plastic material.

According to possible solutions, the slats 14 have a predominantly oblong development along an oblong axis Y located, during use, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X.

According to some solutions, each through hole 13 is made in the thickness of the respective slat 14.

According to possible solutions, the slats 14 have a rectangular cross section, for example substantially flat in shape defined by a thickness S reduced with respect to the width W and length L.

For example, the width W can be comprised between 3% and 15% of the length L, and the thickness S can be less than 50% of the width W.

According to some embodiments, the slats 14 all have the same width W so as to simplify both the operations for making the individual slats 14 and their assembly on the support rod 12.

According to possible variant embodiments, the slats 14 can have different widths W, so as to confer particular aesthetic effects on the furnishing component 10.

According to a possible variant embodiment, the slats 14 can have a circular shaped cross section.

According to one possible solution of the present invention, the slats 14 can have a polygonal shaped cross section.

Each slat 14 is provided with an upper end 18 and a lower end 19, opposite the upper end 18. The upper ends 18 and lower ends 19 define, in turn, respective base surfaces 22.

According to one possible solution of the invention, the base surfaces 22 of the upper ends 18 all lie on a common upper lying plane p, and the base surfaces 22 of the lower ends 19 all lie on a common lower lying plane b.

This allows to obtain a furnishing component 10 provided with a lower lying plane b by means of which it can be positioned resting on a floor, or other lying plane, and with an upper lying plane p on which a top, or other furnishing element, can be positioned.

According to one possible solution, the upper lying plane p and the lower lying plane b are parallel to each other.

According to these embodiments, for example in the case of a furnishing component 10 which defines a support base for a table 20, the lower lying plane b can define a flat surface for positioning on the floor, and the upper lying plane p can define a flat surface for positioning the support plane 21 of the table 20.

This allows to ensure a correct parallelism between the plane on which the furnishing component 10 will rest and the upper lying plane p thereof on which the plane 21 or table 20, or suchlike, will possibly be disposed.

Furthermore, according to one possible solution of the present invention, the support rod 12 is located parallel to the lower lying plane b.

According to one possible solution of the invention (see fig. 3) the support rod 12 is located, with respect to the lower lying plane b, at a distance D comprised between 0.3 and 0.75 times the overall height H of the furnishing component 10.

According to some embodiments, the distance D is chosen so as to maintain the center of gravity of the furnishing component 10 below half of its overall height H, so as to give it stability and prevent unwanted inclinations due to the curved shape.

According to some embodiments, the through hole 13 is made in the respective slat 14 at a distance from a terminal end 18, 19, comprised between about 50% and about 75% of the overall length L of the slat 14.

According to some embodiments, the slats 14 can be offset by a positive or negative angle with respect to the respectively preceding and following slats 14, according to the aesthetic aspect of the furnishing component 10 to be obtained.

According to one possible solution, each slat 14 is angularly offset, around the longitudinal axis X, and with respect to the preceding slat 14, by an offset angle a comprised between 0° and 10°.

According to possible solutions, the slats 14 are partly overlapping each other along their entire longitudinal development.

For example, the oblong axes Y of the adjacent slats 14 can be offset with respect to each other so as to follow a single-wave or C-shaped curve (fig. 4), or a sinusoidal curve, for example S-shaped (fig. 1), with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

In particular, the terminal ends 18, 19 of the slats 14 are disposed on opposite sides to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis X along a plane transverse thereto, defining with their respective base surfaces 22 curvilinear developments with concavities opposite each other with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

In particular, in the case where the height H is located at about 50% of the length L of the slats 14, the projections of the terminal ends 18, 19 on a horizontal plane passing through the longitudinal axis X define symmetrical curvilinear developments opposite each with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

According to some embodiments, it is also possible for some slats 14 to be disposed with the respective terminal ends 18, 19 aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis X, for example in correspondence with the beginning or end of a curve or wave, or during the transition to one curve or wave and the following one.

According to some embodiments, for example in the case of slats 14 with a rectangular section, they each comprise a pair of large lateral walls 15, 16 parallel and opposite each other, joined together by respective opposite small lateral walls 17 and by the respective base surfaces 22 of the terminal ends 18, 19.

According to these embodiments, the slats 14 can be disposed in succession one after the other along the support rod 12 with their large lateral walls 15, 16 disposed in contact with the respective large lateral walls 16, 15 of the adjacent slats 14.

According to possible solutions, the respective large lateral walls 15, 16 of adjacent slats 14 are disposed reciprocally in contact with each other along most of their surface extension between the terminal ends 18, 19.

For example, it can be provided that the reciprocal overlapping zone between two adjacent slats 14 is equal to or greater than 50% of the overall surface extension of the large lateral walls 15, 16. According to variant embodiments, it can be provided that the reciprocal overlapping zone is greater than 70%, or even 80%.

In this way, empty spaces are not generated in the furnishing component 10, and the structural strength of the furnishing component 10 is guaranteed, which can therefore also be used as a support base for a table 20.

According to some embodiments, the offset angle a between the adjacent slats 14 is chosen so as to ensure their reciprocal overlapping along their longitudinal development.

According to possible solutions, the offset angle a can vary according to the length L and to the width W of the slats 14.

The offset angle a can be for example comprised between 0° and 10°.

According to some embodiments, the offset angle a can be less than 8°.

According to other embodiments, the offset angle a can be less than 7°.

According to some embodiments, the slats 14 are solidly connected to each other in the reciprocal overlapping zone.

According to some embodiments, the slats 14 are connected to one another by adhesive material.

According to possible variants, the slats 14 are connected to one another by means of removable, or non-removable, attachment members, such as nails, screws, pins, or suchlike.

The removable attachment elements, for example screws, guarantee a stable attachment over time, and also allow to modify the reciprocal positioning of the slats 14, and therefore the final shape of the furnishing component 10.

According to possible solutions, the furnishing component 10 can also comprise two end covering slats 24, attached respectively to the first and last slat 14, and configured to hide the respective ends of the support rod 12 and give an aesthetically refined appearance to the furnishing component 10.

The covering slats 24 can be attached to the respective slats 14 by means of glues or adhesive materials.

The covering slats 24 can have shape and sizes substantially equal to those of the slats 14, but be without through holes.

Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the covering slats 24 can be offset by respective offset angles a with respect to the slats 14 to which they are connected.

Embodiments described here also concern a method to make a furnishing component 10 which provides:

- to make available a support rod 12 with an oblong development along a longitudinal axis X;

- to make available a plurality of slats 14 each provided with a through hole 13;

- to insert the slats 14, with their through hole 13, one in succession to the other, on the support rod 12, positioning them angularly offset from each other with respect to the longitudinal axis X, and solidly connecting them so that they are at least partly overlapping and resting on each other.

According to some embodiments, the method provides to connect the slats 14 to each other in the reciprocal overlapping zone.

According to some embodiments, the method can also provide to cut or refine the ends 18, 19 of the slats 14 so that they together define a base surface 22, both on one side and on the other.

According to some embodiments, the method can provide to make or cut the ends 18, 19 of the slats 14 so that the base surfaces 22 of the upper ends 18 all lie on a common upper lying plane p, and the base surfaces 22 of the lower ends 19 all lie on a common lower lying plane b.

According to some embodiments, the method can comprise a step of cutting the ends 18, 19 of the slats 14 before they are inserted on the support rod 12.

For example, it is possible to provide that the slats 14 are first cut and disposed to be inserted according to a specific order and with a predefined offset angle a one with respect to the other. This allows to optimize the production of the slats 14 in order to obtain on each occasion a specific furnishing component 10, reducing the waste of material to a minimum.

According to possible variants, a cutting step can be provided after the step of inserting the slats 14 onto the support rod 12 and after the step of connecting the slats 14 together.

For example, it can be provided to make all the slats 14 with the same initial length, and dispose them on each occasion in the desired shape, possibly changing as desired the offset angle a between adjacent slats 14 to obtain particular aesthetic effects, and then subsequently cut them to the desired length L.

In this way, in the production step it is possible to obtain, on each occasion, a furnishing component 10 with the desired shape, that is, more or less arched, or with single or double wave, according to the reciprocal offsetting of the slats 14. This solution allows to obtain, with small production modifications, furnishing components 10 suitable to act as walls or panels of a piece of furniture, or respectively bases of a table 20, or other.

According to other embodiments, a first step can be provided to cut or make the slats 14 to size before the step of inserting the slats 14 onto the support rod 12, and a second cutting or refining step, at the end of the step of connecting the slats 14 together, to obtain respective flat and uniform base surfaces 22.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the furnishing component 10 and to the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of furnishing component 10 and method, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Furnishing component comprising a support rod (12) with an oblong development along a longitudinal axis (X), and a plurality of slats (14) each provided with a through hole (13) configured to allow the insertion of the support rod (12) therethrough, and wherein said slats (14) are inserted with their through hole (13), one in succession to the other, on the support rod (12), are angularly offset from each other with respect to said longitudinal axis (X), and are solidly connected and at least partly overlapping and resting on each other.

2. Furnishing component as in claim 1, characterized in that each slat (14) is provided with an upper end (18), and a lower end (19) opposite the upper end

(18), said upper ends (18) and lower ends (19) in turn defining respective base surfaces (22), and in that said base surfaces (22) of the upper ends (18) all lie on a common upper lying plane (p), and the base surfaces (22) of the lower ends

(19) all lie on a common lower lying plane (b).

3. Furnishing component as in claim 2, characterized in that said upper lying plane (p) and said lower lying plane (b) are parallel to each other.

4. Furnishing component as in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said support rod (12) is located parallel to said lower lying plane (b).

5. Furnishing component as in claim 4, characterized in that said support rod (12) is located, with respect to said lower lying plane (b), at a distance (D) comprised between 0.3 and 0.75 times the overall height (H) of said furnishing component.

6. Furnishing component as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said slats (14) have a mainly oblong development along an oblong axis (Y) located, during use, orthogonal to said longitudinal axis (X), and in that each of said through holes (13) is made in the thickness of the respective slat (14).

7. Furnishing component as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that each slat (14) is angularly offset, around said longitudinal axis (X) and with respect to the slat (14) preceding it, by an offset angle (a) comprised between 0° and 10°.

8. Furnishing component as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said slats ( 14) are partly overlapping with respect to each other along their whole longitudinal development.

9. Furnishing component as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said slats (14) are solidly connected to each other by means of removable attachment members.

10. Table comprising a furnishing component (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, and a resting top (21) positioned on said furnishing component (10).

11. Piece of furniture comprising a wall or a panel made with a furnishing component (10) as in any claim from 1 to 9.

12. Method to make a furnishing component (10), said method comprising:

- making available a support rod (12) with an oblong development along a longitudinal axis (X);

- making available a plurality of slats (14) each provided with a through hole

(13);

- inserting said slats (14), with their through hole (13), one in succession to the other, on the support rod (12), positioning them angularly offset from each other with respect to the longitudinal axis (X), and solidly connecting them so that they are at least partly overlapping and resting on each other.

13. Method as in claim 12, characterized in that it provides to connect said slats

(14) to each other by means of removable attachment members.