Supporting element and furniture

Abstract

Support element (20) for furniture, in particular furniture leg, comprising a first support element section, in particular support element section (21) and a second support element section, in particular support element section (22), connected to it, preferably via a weld seam (24) and extending to it at an angle (α), in particular an angle between 0° and 180°, wherein the support element sections (21, 22) are connected to each other in the area of ​​mutually facing ends, in particular welded, wherein a reinforcing element (4) is provided which extends with a first section (41) into the interior (21b) of the first support element section (21) and with a second section (42) into the interior (22b) of the second support element section (22) and comprises at least a first projection (41a) arranged on the first section (41) and at least a second projection (42a) arranged on the second section (42), wherein the first projection (41a) engages in a first recess (21a) in the wall (21c) of the first support element section (21) and the second projection (42a) engages in a second recess (22a) in the wall (22c) of the second support element section (22), preferably in a form-fitting manner.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a support element for furniture and to furniture equipped with such a support element.

[0002] When designing furniture bases, load-bearing elements are generally required to transfer forces into the floor on which the furniture stands. In particular, furniture components such as table legs, chair legs, or legs of cabinet bases, as well as wall shelf supports, are therefore designed as load-bearing elements and must be able to absorb the forces acting upon them. Fig. Figure 1 shows an example of a piece of furniture in the form of a chair with a seat shell 3 and a base 2. The base 2 has a plurality of supporting elements in the form of chair legs.

[0003] Depending on their design and external form, such load-bearing elements may be subject to high demands regarding continuous load-bearing capacity. For example, in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, there are, for example, chair legs or table legs that are made from support element sections, in particular pipe sections, angled relative to each other (see Detail A). The term pipe section will also be used for support element section in the following. Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. Figure 5 shows enlarged sections of detail A. Fig. 1. The pipe sections 21 and 22 are joined together in a butt joint 23 at their opposing ends. They form an angle α with each other. As can be seen in Fig. 3, these pipe sections 21, 22 are then welded together via a weld seam 24. After post-processing, in which the protruding, bulbous overhangs of the weld seam 24 are removed, the following results in Fig. 4 shown image.

[0004] Due to the angular position of the pipe sections 21, 22, external force F also causes stresses in the area of ​​the welded joints, see Fig. 5. This causes the weld joint 24 to break, creating a gap between the two pipe sections 21, 22, and the support element 20 to break at the end.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to avoid this situation if possible and to create a support element and a piece of furniture with such a support element which meet increased requirements for continuous load and also peak loads.

[0006] This problem is solved by a supporting element with the features of claim 1 and a piece of furniture with the features of claim 5. Advantageous embodiments are found in the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention proposes a support element for furniture, in particular a furniture leg, comprising a first support element section, in particular a tube section, and a second support element section, in particular a tube section, connected to the first support element section, preferably by a weld, and extending at an angle to the first support element section, in particular an angle between 0° and 180°. Preferably, the support element sections are tube sections, i.e., components that are hollow throughout. However, it is also possible to equip support element sections with a cavity, at least in the area where they are to be joined, for example, in the case of wooden support elements. The support element sections are connected to each other in the area of ​​their mutually facing ends, in particular by welding. In principle, however, angles greater than 180° are also conceivable.According to the invention, a reinforcing element is further provided, which extends with a first section into the interior of the first support element section and with a second section into the interior of the second support element section, and comprises at least a first projection arranged on the first section and at least a second projection arranged on the second section. The first projection engages in a first recess in the wall of the first support element section and the second projection engages in a second recess in the wall of the second support element section, preferably in a form-fitting manner.

[0008] The reinforcing element, by virtue of its placement inside the support element sections and its preferably positive engagement via projections into the wall, particularly the pipe wall, prevents the angular position of the two interconnected, especially welded, bonded, or bolted, support element sections from being maintained even under heavy loads on one of the support element sections, and in particular prevents damage to the connection, e.g., the weld seam. The reinforcing element thus stabilizes the aforementioned support element sections and therefore the support element in the area where the support element sections are connected, especially welded.Furthermore, the positive locking between the reinforcing element and the support element sections allows for a defined position of the two support element sections relative to each other, which particularly facilitates the joining process, especially the welding process, since the support element sections are held in a defined relative position relative to each other in the sense of a pre-fixation.

[0009] The supporting element is preferably manufactured using the following method: i) Providing two support element sections, in particular pipe sections; ii) Arranging a reinforcing element such that iii) it extends into the interior of the first support element section with a first section and into the interior of the second support element section with a second section, iv) and that at least a first projection arranged on the first section engages with a first recess in the wall of the first supporting element section, preferably in a form-fitting manner and v) that at least a second projection arranged on the second section is engaged with a second recess in the wall of the second supporting element section, preferably in a form-fitting manner, wherein vi) the support element sections are then connected to each other in the area of ​​their facing ends, in particular by welding, screwing or gluing.

[0010] Subsequently, the excess weld material on the outside can be removed by reworking the surface of the support element sections, resulting in a smooth outer surface on the support element.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the support element according to the invention, it is provided that it bears against the inner wall of the first support element section and / or the second support element section in a form-fitting manner, at least in sections. This contact provides additional support and, in particular, prevents instabilities arising from play in the reinforcing element inside the support element. The support element according to the invention can have a contact section that bears against the inner wall of the first support element section and / or the second support element section on a side facing away from the first and second recesses, preferably in a transition area between the first and second support element sections. This contact at the "kink" further stabilizes the reinforcing element inside in its position and supports it against the inner wall of the support element sections.

[0012] Regarding the material of the load-bearing element sections and / or the reinforcement element, these can be made of metal. Other materials, such as wood and / or plastic, are of course also conceivable for the load-bearing element sections and / or the reinforcement element, as long as they meet the required stability specifications. For example, it is possible to use a metal reinforcement element with two load-bearing element sections made of wood or plastic.

[0013] The invention further relates to a piece of furniture, in particular a chair, case furniture, wall shelf or table, which has a support element as described above. The support element is part of a base frame of the furniture and is designed in particular as a furniture leg, preferably a chair leg, a leg of a case furniture base, a wall shelf support or a table leg.

[0014] The invention is described below with reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. 7 explained in more detail: Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture according to the invention. The Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. Figure 5 shows a sequence of manufacturing steps for producing a load-bearing element according to the state of the art in the area of ​​detail A. Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of part of the supporting element. Fig. Figure 7 shows a close-up of detail A from Fig. 6. Fig. Figure 8 shows a non-transparent view of detail A. Fig. 6. Fig. Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional drawing through a support element according to the invention, in which the reinforcing element has been omitted for the sake of clarity. Fig. Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional drawing through a support element according to the invention with a reinforcing element according to the invention. The Fig. 11, Fig. 12, Fig. 13, Fig. 14, Fig. 15 to Fig. Figure 16 shows in perspective view or top view a sequence of manufacturing steps for the production of a support element according to the present invention.

[0015] The Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. Points 5 were already discussed in the introductory description; to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above statements.

[0016] Generally speaking, the following description refers to support element sections 21 and 22 that are joined by a weld. However, the description can also be interpreted as referring to other types of connection, such as gluing or bolting, so where a weld is mentioned, it could also refer to gluing or bolting.

[0017] The representations of Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 to Fig. Figure 10 shows a part of the support element 20 according to the invention, in particular a part that forms the cutout A from Fig. 1 contains.

[0018] The two support element sections 21 and 22 abut each other in the area of ​​the joint 23 and form the angle α (see in particular Fig. 9 and Fig. 10). 26 designates the inner side or inner wall in the area of ​​the joint 23. Recesses 22a and 21a are present in the walls 22c and 21c of the load-bearing element sections 22 and 21, respectively. 22b and 21b designate the interior of the load-bearing element sections 22 and 21, respectively. It follows that the load-bearing element sections are at least partially hollow on the inside so that the reinforcement element described below can be accommodated within them.

[0019] How to now in the Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 and also in Fig. 11, Fig. 12, Fig. 13, Fig. 14, Fig. 15 to Fig. As can be seen from Figure 16, a reinforcing element 4 is arranged inside 21b and 22b. This element has a section 41 that extends into the interior 21b of the support element section 21, and a section 42 that extends into the interior 22b of the other support element section 22. Section 41 has a projection 41a that engages in the recess 21a of the wall 21c of the support element section 21 and can be positively engaged therein. Section 42 also has a projection 42a that engages in the recess 22a in the wall 22c of the support element section 22 and can be positively engaged therein.

[0020] In this way, the reinforcing element 4 is fixed in a specific target position inside sections 21b and 22b of the support element sections 21 and 22. Additionally, a contact section 43 can be provided on the reinforcing element 4, which can be designed, in particular, to contact the inner wall 26 of one or more support element sections. In the example shown, section 43 rests against the inner wall of the support element sections 21 and 22 in the bending area 26, so that the reinforcing element 4 is accommodated inside the support element 20 with as little play as possible.

[0021] In the manufacture of a support element 20 according to the invention (see Fig. 11 - 16) First, the reinforcing element 4 is incorporated into a support element section 21 by pushing the section 41 into the area 21b and receiving the projection 41a in the recess 21a, Fig. 11 and Fig. 12. Subsequently, section 42 is introduced into area 22b of the support element section 22, Fig. 13, Fig. 14 and the projection 42a in the recess 22a, Fig. 15 and Fig. 16. Subsequently, the two ends of the support element sections 21, 22 that abut each other in the joint area 23 are welded together. If necessary, the resulting weld seam is then post-processed to create the most homogeneous surface possible on the outside of the support element 20.

[0022] The support element 20 according to the invention is particularly suitable for forming table and chair legs, wall shelf supports, or legs of case goods as part of base frames. Support elements 20 designed according to the invention are able to bear higher loads due to weight forces or other external influences without affecting the connection in the area of ​​the weld seam. Therefore, a significantly longer service life can be expected for furniture constructed with the support element 20 according to the invention.

Claims

[1] Support element (20) for furniture, in particular furniture leg, comprising a first support element section, in particular support element section (21) and a second support element section, in particular support element section (22), connected to it, preferably via a weld seam (24) and extending to it at an angle (α), in particular an angle between 0° and 180°, wherein the support element sections (21, 22) are connected to each other in the area of ​​mutually facing ends, in particular welded, wherein a reinforcing element (4) is provided which extends with a first section (41) into the interior (21b) of the first support element section (21) and with a second section (42) into the interior (22b) of the second support element section (22) and comprises at least a first projection (41a) arranged on the first section (41) and at least a second projection (42a) arranged on the second section (42), wherein the first projection (41a) engages in a first recess (21a) in the wall (21c) of the first support element section (21) and the second projection (42a) engages in a second recess (22a) in the wall (22c) of the second support element section (22), preferably in a form-fitting manner. [2] Support element (20) according to claim 1, characterized by , that it is at least partially in a form-fitting manner against the inner wall of the first support element section (21) and / or the second support element section (22). [3] Support element (20) according to claim 2, characterized by , that it has a section (43) which is located on the inner wall of the first support element section (21) and / or the second support element section (22) on the side facing away from the first and the second recess (21a, 22a), preferably in a transition area (26) between the first pipe section (21) and the second support element section (22). [4] Support element (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the load-bearing element sections (21, 22) and / or the reinforcing element (4) are made of a metal material and / or wood material and / or plastic material. [5] Furniture (1), in particular chair, case furniture, wall shelf, or table, which has a support element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support element (20) is part of a base (2) of the furniture (1) and is in particular designed as a furniture leg, preferably a chair leg or table leg.

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