Complex of modular elements for constructing modular furniture

Abstract

 A complex of modular elements for constructing modular furniture, comprising a plurality of panels (2) to be joined together along at least one edging (8) disposed perpendicular to the surface along which the assembled furniture item extends, a plurality of profiles (4) for securing said panels along said edging, and means for securing said panels to said profiles, characterised in that:

• each panel (2) is provided with a pair of opposing edgings (8) along those two sides intended to be secured to two of said profiles (4), both the ends of each edging comprising a notch (10) disposed parallel to the edging,
• each profile (4) comprising at least two longitudinal grooves (14) disposed at angles of n90° apart (n=1-4) and having a cross-section complementary to said edgings of said panels,
• fixable to each of the two ends of said profile (4), a pair of connection blocks (6) each comprising a rim (18) orientated parallel to the profile axis and engaging the corresponding notch (10) of said panel (2) when inserted via said edging into the groove (14) of said profile (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a complex of modular elements for constructing modular furniture.

[0002] Modular furniture is known constructed with modular elements variously fitted together to form the desired overall furniture configuration.

[0003] Given the vast variety of furniture, the various manufacturers have dedicated considerable energy to creating and producing modular elements with which to form furniture able to satisfy the different requirements of the manufacturer, distributor and final user.

[0004] In this respect, the requirement of the manufacturer is to simplify production to a maximum and then standardize it, while providing the distributor and user with wide scope to form furniture of the most varied configurations using a limited number of modular elements.

[0005] A requirement of the distributor is to hold in stock a limited range of different products which are however able to provide the final user with modular elements able to form the most varied furniture configurations.

[0006] The final user requires modular elements which can be easily and rapidly assembled not only to obtain any furniture configuration, but also to be able to vary this configuration if requirements change, by being able to enlarge or reduce a modular furniture item without having to disassemble the existing parts.

[0007] To satisfy these diverse and sometimes contrasting requirements, the present invention proposes a complex of modular elements for constructing modular furniture, as described in claim 1.

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1

is an exploded perspective view of a furniture portion in which four panels are connected to a single profile,

Figure 2

is a different exploded perspective view showing in detail the connection of four panels to the room end of the profile,

Figure 3

is a different perspective view showing in detail the connection of four panels to the wall end of the profile,

Figure 4

shows the connection in a detailed sectional view taken perpendicular to the axis of the profile,

Figure 5

shows the same view as Figure 4 but in the assembled state,

Figure 6

shows the detailed edging of a glass panel in the same view as Figure 5, and

Figure 7

is a section therethrough on the line VII-VII of Figure 5.

[0009] As can be seen from the figures, the complex of modular elements according to the invention comprises, in its minimum configuration, a plurality of panels indicated overall by the reference numeral 2, a plurality of profiles indicated overall by the reference numeral 4 and, for each profile, a pair of connection blocks indicated overall by the reference numeral 6.

[0010] Each panel 2 is of overall rectangular shape and comprises, on those two opposing sides to be secured to corresponding profiles 4, an edging 8 which at both ends comprises a notch 10 disposed parallel to the edge.

[0011] Each panel 2 can be constructed of homogeneous material, for example extruded aluminium or other metal, or of heterogeneous material, for example with the edging 8 of metal and the remaining part of glass, wood, plastic, etc.

[0012] In the case of a wooden or plastic panel 2 (see Figures-14), that edging to be secured to a corresponding profile 4 can be a metal blade incorporated into the wood or plastic; in the case of a glass panel 2 (see Figure 7), that edging to be secured to the profile 4 can consist of a profile 12 with a longitudinal bladed portion and with a grooved longitudinal portion which embraces the corresponding edge of the glass panel 2.

[0013] The profile 4 can comprise two, three or four grooves 14 disposed at 90° or 180° apart, according to the arrangement of the panels 2 to be secured to them.

[0014] For standardization reasons, it is suggested however that four grooves 14 be provided disposed at 90° apart.

[0015] The cross-section of the profile 4 can be circular or square, in this latter case the grooves 14 being disposed along the central line of the four faces or along the corners. Along those edgings to be secured to the profile 4, the panels should present a shape complementary to this latter, to ensure better connection stability.

[0016] At both ends of the profile 4 there is also provided a threaded axial hole 16 for fixing the corresponding connection block 6.

[0017] This connection block 6 has an overall tubular shape, with one end open to define a circumferential rim 18, and its other end closed and provided with an edge 20 projecting circumferentially outwards.

[0018] A screw portion 22 is rigid with the block 6 to engage in the threaded hole 16 of the profile, for which purpose the closed end of the connection block 6 is provided with a notch 24 to be engaged by a traditional tool to rotate said block 6 when assembling the furniture item.

[0019] Alternatively, the connection block 6 can be simply provided with an axial hole for passage of a traditional screw for connection to the profile 4.

[0020] As will be apparent hereinafter the furniture item formed from the complex of modular elements according to the invention can be either provided or not provided with rear closure panels 26 (backs).

[0021] In the first case, perpendicularity of the panels 2 is ensured by the back panels 26, whereas in the second case it is preferable to use a bracket element 28, which depending on is location within the furniture item can be of two, three or four arms 30 disposed at 90° apart.

[0022] This bracket 28 can be rigid with a connection block 6 or be simply fixed to it by the same screw 22 which secures it to the profile 4. In either case, each arm 30 of the bracket 28 is provided at its end with an appendix 32 engaging in a corresponding hole 34 provided in the relative panel 2.

[0023] The arms, by being mutually perpendicular, determine the perpendicularity of the panels 2 even if the furniture back panel is absent.

[0024] In the case of panels 2 in which their thickness or their type (for example glass) do not enable holes to be made, each arm 30 can comprise along its entire length or only a part thereof, a pair of appendices or a fork embracing the sides of the corresponding panel portion at both ends.

[0025] In either case the bracket 28 is best provided with holes 36 for the passage of screws for fixing the bracket to the wall. These holes can also be used to fix the back panels 26 to the bracket 28. As in either case the panel 2 is fixed to the profile 4 after the bracket 28 has been fixed to said profile 4, a reference mark is advantageously provided on the bracket 28 to ensure its correct angular position relative to the profile 4, i.e. that position which ensures perfect horizontality or verticality of the panels 2 which are then to be secured to the profile.

[0026] The construction of a furniture item with the complex of modular elements according to the invention starts with the base, by inserting the desired number (two or three) of panels 2 into one and the same connection profile 4. A connection block 6 with relative bracket 28 is applied to one end, namely the wall end, of the connection profile 4, whereas to the opposite end a connection block 6 without bracket is applied. The connection between each connection block 6 and the profile 4 determines the simultaneous engagement of the edge 18 of said block 6 in the notch 10 of all the panels 2, to stiffen the resultant structure by virtue of the nature of the connection.

[0027] To further improve this stabilization, the two mutually cooperating sides of the rim 18 of the connection block 6 and of the notch 10 in the panel 2 are preferably made slightly inclined, so that on fixing the connection block 6 to the profile 4 the panel 2 is pulled towards the profile 4.

[0028] From the aforegoing it is apparent that the complex of modular elements according to the invention is considerably advantageous, and in particular:

• it results in considerable ease of assembly and disassembly, with a limited number of components and a likewise limited number of operations.
• it enables the furniture configuration to be amplified or modified by working only on those parts thereof involved in the modification, with no action on the remaining part of the furniture,
• it enables large-dimension furniture to be constructed from small-dimension modular elements which are easily transportable, even by the final user.

Claims

1. A complex of modular elements for constructing modular furniture, comprising a plurality of panels (2) to be joined together along at least one edging (8) disposed perpendicular to the surface along which the assembled furniture item extends, a plurality of profiles (4) for securing said panels along said edging, and means for securing said panels to said profiles,
characterised in that:

- each panel (2) is provided with a pair of opposing edgings (8) along those two sides intended to be secured to two of said profiles (4), both the ends of each edging comprising a notch (10) disposed parallel to the edging,

- each profile (4) comprising at least two longitudinal grooves (14) disposed at angles of n90° apart (n=1-4) and having a cross-section complementary to said edgings of said panels,

- fixable to each of the two ends of said profile (4), a pair of connection blocks (6) each comprising a rim (18) orientated parallel to the profile axis and engaging the corresponding notch (10) of said panel (2) when inserted via said edging into the groove (14) of said profile (4).

2. A complex as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said edging (8) is formed of the same material as said panel.

3. A complex as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said edging (8) is formed within a profile formed of a different material from that forming the panel (2) and applied to it.

4. A complex as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the profile within which the edging (8) is formed consists of a blade embedded in the thickness of the panel (2).

5. A complex as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the profile within which the edging (8) is formed is provided, on the opposite side to said edging, with a grove into which the edge of the panel (2) is inserted.

6. A complex as claimed in claims 2, 4 and 5, characterised in that the panel edging presents a shape complementary to the shape of the profile (4).

7. A complex as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each connection block (6) is of overall tubular shape, with one end open to define a circumferential rim (18), and its opposite end closed by a cover.

8. A complex as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the closure cover of the connection block (6) extends beyond its cylindrical wall to form an outwardly projecting circumferential edge (20) forming an abutment for said panel (2).

9. A complex as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said connection block (6) is provided with screw portion (22) engaging in a threaded axial hole (16) provided in said profile (4).

10. A complex as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said screw portion (22) is rigid with said connection block (6).

11. A complex as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said connection block (6) is provided in said cover with a notch (24) for engagement by a tool for its rotation.

12. A complex as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the cooperating surfaces of the rim (18) of each connection block (6) and of the corresponding notch (10) are inclined in such a direction that, as the screw portion of the connection block (6) gradually engages in the threaded axial hole (16) of the profile (4), the panel (2) is pulled towards the profile (4).

13. A complex as claimed in claim 1, characterised by further comprising a bracket element (28) provided with a number of arms (30)) equal to the number of panels (2) to be secured to the same profile (4), and with means for its fixing to a end of said profile, with each arm there being associated means (32) for securing a panel (2) in its correct assembly position.

14. A complex as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that said bracket element (28) is provided on each arm (30) with an appendix (32) engaging in a hole (34) provided in the corresponding panel (2).

15. A complex as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that said bracket element (28) is provided on each arm (30) with a fork engaging both surfaces of the corresponding panel (2).

16. A complex as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that said bracket element (28) is provided with passage holes for screws which engage optionally, depending on the type of furniture and the operator requirements, in a wall or in a back panel (26) of the furniture item.

17. A complex as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that a connection block (6) is rigid with said bracket element (28).

Drawing