|
(11) | EP 2 737 827 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Modular system for making furniture and the like |
| (57) The present invention refers to a modular system for making furniture objects and
the like, such system comprising a rather limited number of types of pieces, whose
shape is such as to be able to make a wide variety of shapes. This modular system
is of the type providing for the use of a limited number of modules having different
shapes, means being provided which are adapted to mutually connect these modules;
the modules (A, B, C, D, E) have their plan shaped as a right parallelogram and have,
on the four sides of their perimeter, a groove whose sides are parallel to the bases
of the modules (A, B, C, D, E). In particular: module (A) has its four sides perpendicular
to its bases; module (B) has three perpendicular sides and a side slanted by 45° with
respect to the bases; module (C) has two contiguous perpendicular sides and other
two contiguous sides slanted by 45° with respect to the bases; module (D) has three
sides slanted by 45° with respect to the bases; module (E) has all its sides slanted
by 45° with respect to the bases.
|
[0001] The present invention relates to a modular system for making furniture objects and the like, said system comprising a rather limited number of types of pieces whose shape is such that a wide variety of shapes can be obtained.
[0002] In the field of furniture, it frequently happens that objects having various shapes have to be made, that usually cannot be found in the market, so that it is necessary to produce them on size. It often happens that, once the object has been made and inserted with its real sizes in the environment for which it is aimed, needs occurs, which have not previously been evaluated sufficiently accurately, such as to imply modifications that, if not performed due to necessary costs and times, bring about a not optimum result.
[0003] Numerous modular system for making furniture are available on the market, but each one of them is such as to allow making only pieces of furniture of a certain style and with a rather limited number of shapes. A typical case are kitchen furniture wherein, with a not very large number of mutually different parts, a quite wide amount of compositions can be assembled. Said prior art modular systems, which can be well used to compose pieces of furniture depending on one's needs, however, are not efficient in supporting a creative design action, since they can only obtain a limited number of shapes, with a very well degined style.
[0004] Object of the present invention is providing a creative designed with means for making a practically unlimited range of objects, with various shapes and sizes, using an exthreemely reduced number of mutually different pieces.
[0005] This object is obtained through a modular system, complying with claim 1, which provides for the use of a limited number of modules with different shapes, means being provided which are adapted to mutually connect said modules. Said system is characterised in that said modules have their plan with the shape of a right parallelogram and have, on the four sides of the perimeter, a groove whose sides are parallel to the bases of said modules. In particular:
- a first module has its four sides perpendicular to the bases;
- a second module has three perpendicular sides and a side slanted by 45° with respect to the bases;
- a third module has two contiguous perpendicular sides and other two contiguous sides slanted by 45° with respect to the bases;
- a fourth module has three sides slanted by 45° with respect to the bases;
- a fifth module has all sides slanted by 45° with respect to the bases.
[0006] Said modules are assembled through tabs and keys, with a suitable section, which are inserted in the grooves of contiguous modules.
[0007] As will clearly appear in the following description, the various elements composing the modular system according to the invention are suitable to be mutually connected through removable daps, through a manual operation or with the help of a simple mallet to enable restraining and/or removal. This peculiarity is particularly relevant, since it allows a designer to create his work directly, by assembling and re-assembling, if necessary, the various pieces, without an artisan as intermediary, to whom executive drawings have to be delivered. In other words, a work creation occurs according to an interactive process of making and re-making, which allows the designer to progressively reach an optimum solution, this being impossible to obtain when one operates according to the normal sequence which provides for the preparation of drawings and their delivery to the person responsible for realising them, supplying the finished manufactured product, which, generally, cannot be modified any more.
[0008] The modular system according to the invention can also be used to create new shapes. Namely, the designer uses the modules to define and optimise shape and sizes of a furniture object or the like, then gives an artisan the task of making the final object. It is obvious that, since shapes and sizes have already previously experimented, the final result will not be subjected to changes any more.
[0009] The invention will now be described, as a non-limiting example, according to a preferred embodiment thereof and with reference to the enclosed figures, in which:
- figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 show the five major modules of the modular system of the invention;
- figure 8 shows the assembly to obtain a plane element;
- figures 9 and 10 show connecting elements;
- figures 11 and 12 show the possible connection modes of the modules to obtain three-dimensional shapes;
- figures 13, 14 and 15 show other connecting elements.
[0010] With reference to figures 1 to 7, (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) designate the five major modules of the modular system of the invention.
[0011] All modules (A, B, C, D, E) have their plan shaped as a right parallelogram, in particular a square, and have a groove on the four sides of their perimeter, having a width which is, preferably, equal to one third of their thickness. The sides of said groove are parallel to the bases of said modules (A, B, C, D, E).
[0012] In particular:
- module (A) has its sides perpendicular to its bases;
- module (B) has a side slanted by 45°;
- module (C) has two consecutive sides slanted by 45°;
- module (D) has three sides slanted by 45°;
- module (E) has all sides slanted by 45°.
[0014] In particular in module (A), said first tabs (L) are inserted in the grooves of two consecutive sides, in order to compose the element (1) of fig. 1, or of a single side, in order to compose the element (1a) of fig. 4.
[0015] In modules (B) and (C), a tab (L) is inserted in one of the sides perpendicular to the bases, in order to compose, respectively, the elements (2) and (3).
[0016] Modules (D) and (AND), without inserted tabs, respectively compose the elements (4) and (5), while by inserting a tab (L) in the single side perpendicular to the bases of the module (D), the element (4a) is obtained.
[0017] Fig. 8 shows the assembly of various elements (1) and (1a) to compose a plane element. As can be seen in the drawing of fig. 8, elements with type (1) are used in the lower part, which allow assembling along two directions, while in the upper part, elements with type (1a) are used, which, being equipped with a single tab (L), allow obtaining an edge free of projections. An assembly of the type shown in fig. 8 is advantageously completed with tabs (L1), to be made on size, which are inserted in the grooves of modules (A) which can be found on the external perimeter of the assembly. In this way, a better assembly sturdiness and a better finishing are obtained.
[0018] Fig. 9 and 10 show, in five orthogonal (a) and perspective (b) views, other two connecting elements, namely a first angular long key (M) and a second angular short key (N), whose purpose is mutually connecting the various elements when they are interfaced with the sides slanted by 45°.
[0019] Fig. 11a shows an assembly performed with modules with type (B) and type (C). As can be seen in the drawing, modules with type (B) are used to make the long sides of the shown assembly, while modules with type (C) are used to make the angles. Fig. 11b shows the two assemblies of fig. 11a which are joined in turn to form a more complex assembly, said assembly being performed by means of said first keys with type (M). For a better junction stability, in the area immediately next to the apex, a second key (N) is also used, suitable to fill the space left empty by said first keys (M).
[0020] Figg. 12 (a, b) show an assembly performed only with modules with type (C), mutually connected by means of said first and seconde keys (M) (N), as shown in fig. 11 (a, b).
[0021] Fig. 13 shows in three orthogonal views and a perspective view, a second tab (O), having its section as a right trapezoid. Said second tab (0) is inserted in the grooves obtained in the slanted edges of elements (2, 3, 4, 5) when they are not joined to other edges. In this way, a better finishing of the edges themselves is obtained. When there are many side-by-side elements in order to obtain a single slanted edge, an on-size tab can be obtained (not shown) in order to reinforce the connection, similarly to what is described for the tab (L1) shown in fig. 8.
[0022] Fig. 14 and 15 show a third key (P) and a fourth key (Q). Function of the third key (P), having a U-shaped section, is joining two modules which are mutually flanked with their bases, said junction being performed by inserting the wings of said U into the adjacent grooves (S1) and (S2) of said flanked modules. Instead, function of the fourth key (Q), having a cross-shaped section, is making connections in order to obtain mutually perpendicular planes. Said connection is performed by inserting the wings of said cross into the grooves (S3, S4, S5, S6), obtained on the sides, perpendicular to the bases, of the modules which are facing a junction line shown by the axis of said fourth key (Q).
[0023] Also in this case, an on-size key (not shown) can advantageously be made, whose function is simultaneously connecting many aligned modules.
[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the modular system of the invention can be implemented through modules having a rectangular shape, with their longer side of a whole multiple length with respect to the length of their shorter side. In this way, compared with an increase of the number of modules having mutually different shape, the same objects can be composed with a smaller number of pieces. Obviously, tabs and keys having an adequate length will also have to be made.
[0025] Both modules (A, B, C, D, E), and tabs (L, 0) and keys (M, N, P, Q) can be made of various materials, for example wood, plastic material, glass, metal, stone, marble or the like. If tabs (L, O) and keys (M, N, P, Q) are made of wood, since they are stressed mainly along a transverse direction to their fibres, they will preferably be made with hard essences, for example beech, ash and the like, while modules (A, B, C, D, E) can be made both of soft essences, and with hard essences.
[0026] According to an embodiment of the invention, the various pieces (1), (1a), (2), (3) and (4a) are made in a single piece, namely by integrating the tabs (L) in the respective modules. In such case, it is preferable to use strong essences.
1. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like, of a type providing for
a use of a limited number of modules having different shapes, means being provided
which are adapted to mutually connect said modules, characterised in that said modules (A, B, C, D, E) have their plan shaped as a right parallelogram and
have, on the four sides of their perimeter, a groove whose sides are parallel to the
bases of said modules (A, B, C, D, E).
2. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to claim 1, characterised in that:
• said module (A) has its four sides perpendicular to its bases;
• said module (B) has three perpendicular sides and a side slanted by 45° with respect to the bases;
• said module (C) has two contiguous perpendicular sides and other two contiguous sides slanted by 45° with respect to the bases;
• said module (D) has three sides slanted by 45° with respect to the bases;
• said module (E) has all its sides slanted by 45° with respect to the bases.
3. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to claim 1 or 2,
characterised in that said means adapted to mutually connect said modules (A, B, C, D) comprise a first
tab (L), which is inserted into the grooves obtained in the right-angle sides of said
modules (A, B, C, D), in order to be able to mutually connect many modules (A, B,
C, D) to obtain plane assemblies.
4. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to claim 3, characterised in that said first tabs (L) are inserted, two for each module (A) and on contiguous sides,
in order to make pieces (1) suitable to obtain plane assemblies.
5. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to claim 3, characterised in that a single first tab (L) is inserted into a groove of each module (A), in order to
obtain pieces (1a) suitable to make the free sides of sand plane assemblies.
6. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to any one of claims
1 to 5, characterised in that it provides for an insertion of a tab (L1) into the aligned grooves of contiguous modules (A), placed along the free sides
of said plane assemblies.
7. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to any one of claims
1 to 5, characterised in that it provides for an insertion of a second tab (O) into the aligned grooves of contiguous
modules (B, C, D), said grooves being obtained on the sides slanted by 45° with respect
to the bases of said modules (B, C, D).
8. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to claim 1, characterised in that said means adapted to mutually connect said modules (B, C, D, E) comprise a first
squared key (M), whose wings are inserted into the grooves obtained on the sides slanted
by 45° of said modules (B, C, D, E), in order to make right-angle junctions.
9. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to claim 1 or 8,
characterised in that said means adapted to mutually connect said modules (B, C, D, E) comprise a second
squared key (N), whose wings are inserted into the grooves obtained on the sides slanted
by 45° of said modules (C), in order to fill the space left empty by said first keys
(M).
10. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to claim 1, characterised in that said means adapted to mutually connect said modules (A, B, C, D, E) comprise a third
key (P), having a U-shaped section, adapted to join two modules which are mutually
flanked with their bases, said junction being performed by inserting the wings of
said U into the adjacent grooves (S1) and (S2) of said flanked modules.
11. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to claim 1, characterised in that said means adapted to mutually connect said modules (A, B, C, D) comprise a fourth
key (Q), having a cross-shaped section, adapted to make a connection in order to obtain
mutually perpendicular planes, said connection being performed by inserting the wings
of said cross into the grooves (S3, S4, S5, S6), obtained on the sides, perpendicular to the bases, of the modules that are flanked
to a junction line given by the axis of said fourth key (Q).
12. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to any one of claims
1 to 11, characterised in that said modules (A, B, C, D, E), said tabs (L, O) and said keys (M, N, P, Q) are made
of wood.
13. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to any one of claims
1 to 12, characterised in that said tabs (L, O) and said keys (M, N, P, Q) are made of a strong essence, such as
beech, ash and the like.
14. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to any one of claims
1 to 12, characterised in that said pieces (1, 1a, 2, 3, 4a) are made in a single piece.
15. Modular system for making furniture objects and the like according to any one of claims
1 to 14, characterised in that said modules (A, B, C, D, E), said tabs (L,O) and said keys (M, N, P, Q) are made
of plastic material, glass, metal, stone, marble or the like.