Device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of said piece of furniture

Abstract

 A device for coupling the baseboard (11) of a piece of furniture (11a) to the foot (12) of the piece of furniture, particularly but not exclusively for kitchen furniture, comprising fixing means (13, 14) suitable to associate the baseboard (11) with the foot (12) of the piece of furniture by elastic coupling removable after installation, the fixing means comprising a first coupling body (13) that is fixed to the foot (12) and to which a second coupling body (14), fixed to the baseboard (11), is detachably coupled.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of the piece of furniture, particularly but not exclusively useful for kitchen furniture.

[0002] It is known that many kinds of furniture, such as for example units of modular kitchens, are closed at the front and in a lower region by baseboards made of extruded plastics or based on wood and aluminum, which are clad on the exposed surface and are frontally coupled to the supporting feet.

[0003] Various coupling devices are currently available to fix these baseboards.

[0004] A first device comprises a slider to be inserted in a longitudinal guide formed in the baseboard and one or more curved metal or plastic wings that protrude from the slider and are suitable to couple to the leg by surrounding it.

[0005] It is therefore necessary to first position and fix the coupling element to the baseboard at the intended positions of the feet, move the baseboard toward the legs, and apply a suitable pressure in order to deform the coupling elements and produce the coupling.

[0006] This operation is made difficult by the fact that the coupling elements are not visible to the operator and therefore a preliminary accurate operation for positioning the coupling elements exactly at the feet is necessary, and this operation increases in difficulty as the dimensions of the furniture to be closed increases.

[0007] Further, the structure of the guide on which the slider is inserted is particularly weak, and therefore while removing the baseboard from the piece of furniture, for example to clean the covered region, the structure may break irreparably.

[0008] A second known device for fixing the baseboard to the corresponding piece of furniture consists of a plurality of plates that are fixed by elastic deformation to the feet of the piece of furniture to which the baseboard is to be engaged.

[0009] Each one of said plates protrudes at right angles from each foot and has, on the protruding end, a hook-shaped tab that is suitable to grip a protrusion that is provided within a longitudinal channel formed in the baseboard.

[0010] This device also, although being commercially available for some time and being appreciated for its qualities, has drawbacks.

[0011] The plates, during the insertion of the baseboard, may in fact fail to engage the protrusion provided on the baseboard because they are arranged at an incorrect height.

[0012] Moreover, said device may not adapt in an optimum manner to any variations in the level of the floor.

[0013] Moreover, the operations for removing the baseboard from the piece of furniture for cleaning are not always easy.

[0014] The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of said piece of furniture that solves the above-mentioned problems of known types of coupling device; in particular, an important object of the invention is to provide an engagement device that is easy to use and does not require accurate preliminary assembly operations.

[0015] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of said piece of furniture that allows to couple the baseboard without particular attention to the position of the feet.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of said piece of furniture that adapts in an optimum manner to any variations in the level of the floor.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of said piece of furniture that allows easy separation of the baseboard for any cleaning operations.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of the piece of furniture that can be manufactured with known systems and technologies.

[0019] This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of said piece of furniture, which comprises fixing means that are suitable to associate said baseboard with said foot by means of an elastic coupling that can be removed after fitting, characterized in that the fixing means comprise a first coupling body that is fixed to the foot and to which a second coupling body, fixed to the baseboard, is detachably coupled.

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first detail of the device according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second detail of the device according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a side view of the device according to the invention.

[0021] With reference to the figures, a device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of said piece of furniture is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0022] The device 10 comprises fixing means that are suitable to associate a baseboard 11 with a foot 12 of the piece of furniture by means of an elastic coupling that can be removed after fitting or installation.

[0023] Such fixing means comprise a first coupling body 13, which is fixed to the foot 12 to which a second coupling body 14, fixed to the baseboard 11, is detachably coupled.

[0024] The first body 13 comprises a first portion 15, which has a through hole 16 and an opening 17 that is arranged laterally to said hole and is narrower than the hole 16.

[0025] The opening allows to insert a stem 12a of the foot 12 by elastic deformation of the portion 15.

[0026] The first body 13 can slide vertically with friction on the stem 12a of the foot 12.

[0027] Advantageously, protruding circular ribs 12b can be provided on the stem 12a in order to increase the friction between the body 13 and said stem.

[0028] Two perpendicular faces 18 protrude from the portion 15, and a tab 19 with a cambered head for the detachable coupling of the second coupling body 14 is arranged centrally on each one of the faces.

[0029] The fact that two perpendicular faces 18 protrude from the portion 15 allows to fix portions (not shown in the figures) of the baseboard 11 at right angles to each other in order to allow to form the corner of the piece of furniture 11a.

[0030] The second coupling body 14 comprises a plate 20 from which a plurality of parallel ridges 21 protrude at right angles to the plate 20.

[0031] Said ridges have an enlarged upper profile 22.

[0032] The tab 19 can be inserted between the ridges 21 by elastic deformation of such ridges, and its cambered head is wider than the distance between the enlarged upper profiles 22 of two contiguous ridges 21.

[0033] In this manner, the detachable coupling between the second body 14 and the first body 13 is ensured.

[0034] A hammer-shaped protrusion 23 protrudes centrally on the opposite side with respect to the ridges 21 of the plate 20.

[0035] The protrusion 23 mates within a channel 24 that is shaped complementarily to said protrusion and is formed longitudinally in the baseboard 11.

[0036] The coupling between the second body 14 and the baseboard 11 occurs by inserting the protrusion 23 "head on" within the channel 24 and then turning the second body 14 through 90°, so as to abut with the hammer-like portions under the protrusion 23 on the corresponding complementarily shaped edges within the channel 24, which accordingly prevent the extraction of the second body 14.

[0037] The plate 20 has, on opposite sides, two eyes 25 for inserting elements for fixing to the baseboard 11 (not shown in the figures), such as for example self-threading screws, if said baseboard is based on wooden material.

[0038] The operation of the invention is as follows.

[0039] A plurality of first bodies 13 is coupled by elastic deformation on the stems 12a of the feet of the piece of furniture 11a onto which the baseboard is to be fixed; all the bodies are arranged at the same height and so that one of the faces 18 is arranged parallel to the extension of said piece of furniture; the positioning of the first bodies 13 need not be precise, since the device is self-centering.

[0040] A number of second bodies 14 equal to the number of first bodies 13 is fixed, as explained, within the channel 24 of the baseboard, in positions that substantially correspond to the positions of the first bodies 13.

[0041] At this point, the baseboard is engaged with the feet by making the first bodies 13 match up with the second bodies 14, since the tab with cambered head 19 engages between the ridges 21.

[0042] The fact that there are a plurality of ridges 21 facilitates centering, since the tab 19 can fit between any pair of ridges 21.

[0043] After this insertion, since the first bodies can slide vertically, the baseboard is pushed toward the floor, so that the lower blade-trim (not shown in the figures) can produce a good seal on the floor.

[0044] In an alternative embodiment of the invention easily deducible for the skilled reader from the figures, the coupling between the first body and the second body is reversed.

[0045] In practice, on the faces 18 that protrude from the portion 15 for engaging the stem 12a of the foot 12, instead of the tab 19 with cambered head there are ridges 21, while the tab 19 is arranged on the part of the plate 20 where the ridges 21 were provided.

[0046] In practice it has been found that the invention thus described solves the problems highlighted in known types of coupling device for baseboards of pieces of furniture; in particular, the present invention provides an engagement element that is easy to use and does not require accurate preliminary assembly operations.

[0047] It should be noted in fact that having a plurality of possibilities of coupling seats that are mutually close and parallel allows one not to worry too much about height differences arising from the fixing of the various first bodies.

[0048] This also ensures easy adaptability to any variations in the level of the floor.

[0049] Finally, the present invention provides a device for coupling the baseboard of a piece of furniture to the foot of said piece of furniture that allows easy disengagement of the baseboard for any cleaning operations.

[0050] In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0051] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2002A000128 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0052] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A device for coupling the baseboard (11) of a piece of furniture (11a) to the foot (12) of said piece of furniture, comprising fixing means (13, 14) that are suitable to associate said baseboard (11) with said foot (12) through elastic coupling that is removable after installation, characterized in that said fixing means comprise a first coupling body (13) that is fixed to said foot (12) and to which a second coupling body (14), fixed to said baseboard (11), is detachably coupled.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first body (13) comprises a portion (15) provided with a through hole (16) and with a lateral opening (17) that is narrower than said hole (16), for the insertion of the stem (12a) of said foot (12) by elastic deformation of said portion (15), at least one face (18) protruding from said portion (15), at least one tab (19) being arranged on said face (18), said tab (19) having a cambered head for detachable coupling to said second coupling body (14).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that said second coupling body (14) comprises a plate (20) from which a plurality of parallel ridges (21) having an enlarged upper profile (22) protrude, said tab (19) being insertable between said ridges (21) by elastic deformation of said ridges, a contoured protrusion (23) protruding on the opposite side with respect to said ridges (21) of said plate (20) for insertion and coupling within a complementarily shaped channel (24) formed longitudinally in said baseboard (11).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first body (13) comprises a portion (15) provided with a through hole (16) and with a lateral opening (17) that is narrower than said hole (16), for the insertion of the stem (12a) of said foot (12) by elastic deformation of said portion (15), at least one face (18) protruding from said portion (15), said face (18) having in turn a plurality of parallel ridges (21) that have a cambered upper profile and between which it is possible to insert, by elastic deformation of said ridges (21), a tab (19) with a cambered head that protrudes from a plate (20) that constitutes said second coupling body (14), said plate (20) further having, on the opposite side with respect to said tab, a contoured protrusion (23) for insertion and coupling within a complementarily shaped channel (24) that is formed longitudinally in said baseboard (11).

5. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that two mutually perpendicular faces (18) protrude from said portion (15) of said first body (13) in order to be able to fix perpendicular portions of said baseboard (11) on the corner of said piece of furniture.

6. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said protrusion (23) is hammer-shaped.

7. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (20) has, on mutually opposite sides, at least two eyes (25) for the insertion of elements for fixing to said baseboard (11), if said baseboard (11) is based on wooden material.

8. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first body (13) is fitted on the stem (12a) of said foot (12) so as to be slidable thereon.

9. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said foot (12) has protruding circular ribs (12b) on its stem (12a).

Drawing