Technical field
[0001] The present invention refers to the technical field of pieces of furniture, in particular
of design modular elements, suitable for satisfying different needs if used singularly
and to widen the number of possibilities of use if used in combination with other
identical elements.
Background art
[0002] In the current panorama of furniture solutions the need to have furniture capable
of having different functions on the basis of the circumstances is felt, so as to
reduce the number of the furnishings that are necessary in a room.
[0003] At the moment there are in the market many different objects, but there does not
exist a piece of furniture that can have different functions and that, at the same
time, constitutes the base item of an integrated furniture system.
Disclosure of invention
[0004] It is the aim of the present invention to provide, with a single element, a solution
for the seat of an adult, or a chair for children or also a piece of furniture that
is capable of having the function of a table.
[0005] Moreover, thanks to is advantageous and practical embodiment, the invention, used
in combination with other identical elements, permits to have the following further
functions:
- a combination of two elements permits to realize a cradle, that is a support for a
small mattress with borders;
- a combination of two elements, different from the preceding one, permits to realize
a deep cradle, that is a support for a small mattress with borders which is sufficiently
tall as to hold an unweaned baby in erect position;
- a combination of many elements permits to realize a shelving, both of the floor type
and of the type suspended to the wall.
- said elements can be piled.
[0006] Further aims of the invention can be obtained by positioning dedicated accessories
on the object of the invention; to this aim, the possibility of realizing specific
anchoring spots has been foreseen.
Brief description of drawings
[0007]
- Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of the object of the invention, positioned as a
chair for adults, in the configuration in which both flanks (2, 3) present lightening
openings.
- Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of the object of the invention, positioned upside-down
and constituting a chair for children, in the configuration in which both flanks (2,
3) present lightening openings, in the seatback (1) two holes (11, 12) are visible
to hang the piece of furniture to a wall or for the anchoring of accessories.
- Figure 3 shows an axonometric view of the object of the invention, resting on the
ground lain down with the external face of the seatback (1) that can be used as table
top.
- Figure 4 shows an axonometric view of two elements, arranged according to the positioning
for adults, reciprocally faced in such a way that both seats define a single plane
whose perimeter is entirely closed superiorly, thus configuring a cradle for unweaned
babies; the joining means necessary to guarantee the combination of the two elements
are not represented.
- Figure 5 shows an axonometric view of two elements, arranged according to the positioning
for children, reciprocally faced in such a way that both seats define a single plane
whose perimeter is entirely closed superiorly, thus configuring a cradle for standing
children; the joining means necessary to guarantee the combination of the two elements
are not represented.
- Figure 6 shows an axonometric view in which a plurality of elements are arranged on
many overlapping files, thus defining a shelving; the joining means necessary to guarantee
the maintenance in position of the elements are not represented; the holes (11, 12)
of which each element is provided with for the anchoring to the wall behind are however
visible.
- Figure 7 shows a composition having just an exemplifying and not limiting aim;
- Figure 8 shows graphically a piling of one or more elements;
- Figure 9 shows clearly an example in which the element is overturned to have the function
of top table, while the other elements are in a position of use as chair;
- Figure 10 shows schematically how, being the seat 4 placed at a height that is not
the half of the element itself, the piece of furniture results a particularly idoneous
chair for an adult or for a child according to the direction in which it is rotated;
- Figure 11 shows an example in which two pieces of furniture placed side by side form
a cradle.
Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention
[0008] The object of the present invention is a modular piece of furniture, in the form
of an armchair with rigid and flat seatback, arms and seat, comprising two flanks
(2, 3), each one of which has a substantially rectangular shape, placed in vertical
position, a seatback (1), of a substantially rectangular shape, placed in vertical
position, with each one of the two larger sides perpendicularly connected to one of
the larger sides of each of said two flanks (2, 3) and a seat (4), of substantially
rectangular shape, placed in horizontal position, whose posterior edge and whose lateral
edges are respectively connected perpendicularly to said seatback (1) and to said
two flanks (2).
[0009] In order to permit the upside-down use of the element the long sides of said flanks
(2, 3) and of said seatback (1) have the same length.
[0010] Advantageously, the length of the minor sides of said flanks (2, 3) is equal or superior
to the length of the lateral edges of said seat (4) added to the thickness of said
seatback (1); in this way the seat does not protrude with respect to the flanks and
this permits to arrange the piece of furniture lain down horizontally, in such a way
that the external face of the seatback can serve as table top (see for example also
figure 9 or figure 7).
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the external measure of said
flanks (2, 3), that is the width of the flanks, is equal or inferior to the internal
measure of said seatback (1), that is to the width of the seatback. In this way, after
a right angle vertical rotation it is possible to pile a piece of furniture inside
another one, as per figure 8.
[0012] In order to permit a further interesting possibility of use, said seat (4) can be
placed at a distance from the ground inferior to the distance between said seat and
the superior edge of said seatback (1) and of said flanks (2, 3), thus configuring
an armchair for adults; by overturning the piece of furniture a chair for children
is configured, with the seat plane conveniently placed at a minor height from the
ground.
[0013] Basically, with reference to figure 2 or figure 10, the seat (4) is placed at such
a height as not to be found at half of the overall height of the flanks and of the
seatback but it is rather placed at a different height from the half. In this way,
the element can become, on the basis of the direction in which it is rotated, a chair
for adults or for children but anyway in both cases provided with seatback and arms.
Basically, when rotated in a direction, the distance of the seat from the ground is
such as to render idoneous the chair for an adult, while when rotated in the opposite
direction it becomes idoneous for the use of a child.
[0014] Moreover, by facing between them two elements arranged both of them in the configuration
for adults, the two seats define a single horizontal plane, whose perimeter is completely
closed by the superior part of the seatback and of the flanks of the two faced elements;
in this way, the two elements together form a cradle for unweaned babies (see for
example figure 11); by overturning the assembly described above, constituted of the
two faced elements, the plane defined by the two seats is found at an inferior height
with respect to the ground, with the perimeter closed for an elevation superior to
that of the preceding case, thus configuring a cradle suitable also for standing children.
[0015] According to an advantageous and practical embodiment of the invention, lightening
openings can be made in the flanks, while in the seatback one or more holes can be
made, useful both for hanging the piece of furniture to a wall, and to form a shelving
by combining many elements, or comfortable and functional for the fixing of accessories,
such as toys for children or lamps, flower stands or other objects.
[0016] The lightening holes described above can be advantageously used also with the aim
of facilitating the grip of the element for moving it.
[0017] Just as a way of example, and not limiting, it is observed that the equilibrium of
the shapes of the object of the invention results more pleasant when said seat (4)
assumes substantially square shapes.
[0018] The present object of the invention can be further placed by overlapping two lain
down modules. The underlying one with the seatback (1) on top, in the manner of table
top, and the overlying one lain down and upside-down, that is with its own seatback
(1) directed downwards. In this further embodiment, the superior part of the seatback
of the overlying element can be used as seat, while the original seat (4) serves as
seatback.
1. Modular piece of furniture, in the form of an armchair with rigid and flat seatback,
arms and seat, comprising:
- two flanks (2, 3), each one of which has a substantially rectangular shape, placed
in vertical position;
- a seatback (1), of substantially rectangular shape, placed in vertical position,
each one of the two larger sides of said seatback (1) being perpendicularly connected
to one of the larger sides of each of said two flanks (2, 3);
- a seat (4), of substantially rectangular shape, placed in horizontal position, whose
posterior edge and whose lateral edges are respectively connected perpendicularly
to said seatback (1) and to said two flanks (2);
characterized in that the long sides of said flanks (2, 3) and of said seatback (1) have the same length.
2. Piece of furniture as per the preceding claim, characterized in that the length of the minor sides of said flanks (2, 3) is equal or superior to the length
of the lateral edges of said seat (4) added to the thickness of said seatback (1).
3. Piece of furniture as per one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external measure of said flanks (2, 3) is equal or inferior to the internal measure
of said seatback (1), such as to permit, after a right angle vertical rotation, to
pile a piece of furniture inside another one.
4. Piece of furniture as per one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said seat (4) is placed at a height different from that coinciding with the half
of the overall length of the long sides (2, 3).
5. Piece of furniture as per the preceding claim, characterized in that the superior edges of said seatback (1) and of both said flanks (2, 3) are also finished
off in such a way as to permit the resting on the ground upside-down.
6. Piece of furniture as per one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anterior edges of said flanks (2, 3) are finished off in such a way as to permit
their resting on the ground lain down and to allow the use of the external face of
said seatback (1) as table top.
7. Piece of furniture as per one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said seatback (1) presents one or more holes (11, 12) to hang the piece of furniture
to a wall or for the anchoring of accessories.
8. Piece of furniture as per one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said one or more holes (11, 12) are placed at a height coinciding with the half of
the overall length of the long sides.
9. Piece of furniture as per one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flanks (2, 3) present internal lightening openings, which can be used also for
the grip of the piece of furniture.
10. Piece of furniture as per one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises specific joining means to permit the reciprocal facing of two pieces
of furniture in such a way that both the seats define a single plane whose perimeter
is entirely closed superiorly.
11. Piece of furniture, as per claim 10, wherein said components rest on the ground in
such a way that the seat results at a height from the ground superior with respect
to the distance from the superior edge, defining a cradle for unweaned babies.
12. Piece of furniture, as per claim 10, wherein said components rest on the ground in
such a way that the seat results at a height from the ground minor with respect to
the distance of the superior edge, configuring a cradle suitable also for standing
children.