PIECE OF FURNITURE WITH A CORNER CONNECTOR

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a piece of furniture with a supporting structure and at least one leg, having the features of the preamble of the first claim.

[0002] A variety of pieces of furniture, such as chairs, tables, beds, cabinets, and the like, are known that incorporate a supporting structure, for example, in the form of a seat, tabletop, bed frame, or carcass. This supporting structure is connected to one or more, typically four, legs, which transfer the weight of the piece of furniture, as well as additional external forces generated during use, to the floor on which the piece of furniture is placed. The connection between the supporting structure and the legs must be suitable for safely absorbing and dissipating the resulting forces and must meet the aesthetic requirements of the user.

[0003] Particularly for use in public facilities such as schools or kindergartens, high demands are placed on the stability and long-term stability of furniture. In these applications, it is also advantageous if the furniture can be stored as space-efficiently as possible and if the connection between the legs and the supporting structure is protected from external access.

[0004] GB 1 455 295 discloses a piece of furniture of the aforementioned type, in which the connection is realized by a screw and a nut, wherein the nut is held in a slot of a connecting body in a manner that prevents rotation. This connecting body additionally has a hole through which the screw extends so that it can engage with the nut. The barrel-shaped connecting body is held in a round hole in a tabletop. The screw extends through respective holes in the table leg and the tabletop as well as through the connecting body and is firmly screwed into the nut. The table leg is pressed laterally from the outside onto the tabletop.

[0005] EP 1 310 683 discloses a shelf in which barrel-shaped nut elements with a threaded hole are inserted into a cover plate. The legs are attached laterally to the cover plate from the outside. For this purpose, a screw extends from the outside through a hole in the leg, then through a hole in the cover plate into the nut element, creating a force-fit connection between a lateral surface of the cover plate and a lateral surface of the leg.

[0006] In these two documents, the leg is tightened laterally to the tabletop or seat with a screw, so that the force is transmitted via friction acting in the direction of the contact surfaces between the pressed contact surfaces. The legs are connected directly to one side of the tabletop or seat, requiring a lateral hole in the tabletop or seat.

[0007] WO 2014 / 135919 discloses a pivoting connection for a furniture leg. A spherical segment-shaped base part is screwed to a plate from below. A screw protruding from one leg is screwed into the base part through a slotted hole in the base part, thus establishing the connection between the chair leg and the base part. By moving the screw within the slotted hole, the angle of the leg relative to the plate can be adjusted. To ensure the secure stability of the piece of furniture, the alignment of the legs must be individually coordinated.

[0008] DE GM 77 07 415 discloses a chair in which internal threads are provided in corresponding holes under the four corners of a seat, into which screws protruding from the chair legs are screwed from below.

[0009] Further prior art is disclosed in FR 2 753 241 A1, CN 201 526 570 U, US 3 765 541 A and US 2 477 997 A.

[0010] The present invention is based on the object of improving a piece of furniture of the above type in such a way that the tipping resistance, stability and aesthetics of the connection between the legs and the supporting structure of a piece of furniture are increased, wherein the connection should be able to safely transmit sufficiently large loads and the supporting structure-leg connection should be protected from external access.

[0011] The object is achieved according to the invention with a piece of furniture according to claim 1.

[0012] The invention relates to a piece of furniture with a supporting structure and at least one leg, wherein the leg is coupled to the supporting structure via a connection and an additional corner connector is provided, wherein the connection of the leg to the supporting structure is at least partially carried out within the corner connector.

[0013] The corner connector improves the coupling of the leg to the supporting structure, as well as the force transmission and positioning of these elements. This results in stabilization of the overall structure while ensuring a sufficiently high level of tipping resistance. By integrating the leg and supporting structure connection within the corner connector, the connection can be concealed both visually and mechanically. This obstructs external access to the connection and, at the same time, improves the aesthetic appearance of the piece of furniture and the connection.

[0014] According to the invention, the connecting element and the leg are in direct contact with each other within the corner connector, whereby forces transmitted from the supporting structure to the leg for dissipation into the ground are transmitted at least almost entirely via this contact. Such a design relieves the load on the corner connector, since it transmits comparatively lower forces with an almost complete force transmission via the contact between the connecting element and the leg.

[0015] According to the invention, a connecting element protrudes from the support structure, connecting the support structure to the leg. By forming a connecting element, the connection between the support structure and the leg can be designed more freely depending on the intended geometry of the structural element, and a better functional separation between the support structure and the support structure-leg connection can be achieved. This allows for great freedom in both the design of the support structure and the connection between the support structure and the leg, while minimizing interference between the support structure and the connection between the support structure and the leg.

[0016] Advantageously, the corner connector can have a supporting structure receptacle in which the connecting element is at least partially received, in particular with a positive fit. This enables a good coupling between the connecting element and the corner connector, as well as a favorable force transmission between the corner connector and the connecting element. A positive fit between the two elements ensures their good positioning relative to one another and a predictable transmission of forces. This increases the resistance of the corner connector to twisting and tilting relative to the connecting element and the supporting structure. The receptacle in the corner connector saves installation space and improves the aesthetic design.

[0017] According to one variant, the corner connector can have a leg receptacle in which the leg is at least partially accommodated, in particular in a form-fitting manner. This ensures favorable force transmission between the corner connector and the leg. The form-fitting connection between the leg and the corner connector allows for clearly defined positioning of these components relative to each other and improved force transmission. This increases the resistance of the leg to twisting and tilting relative to the corner connector. At the same time, accommodating part of the leg in the corner connector allows for space savings in the structure.

[0018] In a further development of the invention, the end face of the corner connector can be supported on a surface of the supporting structure. Such support ensures a good position of the corner connector relative to the supporting structure, regardless of the actual forces acting between these components. The support allows for effective force transmission from the supporting structure to the leg.

[0019] In particular, the leg can have a shoulder, with an outer peripheral surface of the corner connector being approximately flush with the shoulder. This can create the impression of a continuous and smooth surface. The flush contour of the surface of the corner connector with a shoulder of the leg can thus improve the aesthetics of the structure.

[0020] Particularly advantageously, an outer end face of the corner connector can be supported on a surface of the leg, especially on the heel. This enables good positioning of the leg relative to the corner connector. Furthermore, the position of these components relative to each other is maintained, even when forces occur between them, thus ensuring the stability and tipping resistance of the piece of furniture. Supporting the end face of the corner connector on a heel of the leg allows for the simplest possible design while simultaneously reducing manufacturing and assembly costs for the connection.

[0021] In one design, the corner connector can be designed like an angle piece, comprising two tube sections, with the supporting structure receptacle being formed in one of the tube sections and the leg receptacle being formed in the other. This improves the rigidity of the corner connector against twisting or bending. The rounded surfaces of the tube sections make the corner connector less susceptible to damage. An angle piece-like design with two sections allows for simple construction and cost-effective manufacturing of the corner connector. The angle between the leg receptacle and the supporting structure receptacle can be selected as desired during production of the corner connector.

[0022] According to a further development, the leg can have a tenon-like section which, at least in part, is in contact with an inner surface of the leg receptacle. Designing the leg with a tenon-like section facilitates the connection of the leg in the corner connector, especially when the leg is accommodated in a receptacle in the corner connector. The contact of the tenon-like section with an inner surface allows the tenon-like end and consequently the entire leg to be guided relative to the corner connector in order to position the corner connector. Furthermore, the contact can ensure favorable force transmission between the corner connector and the leg.

[0023] It is conceivable that the connecting element and the leg could be detachably connected within the corner connector. The force-transmitting connection between the leg and the connecting element ensures the stability and sturdiness of the piece of furniture. The implementation of this connection within the corner connector contributes to the aesthetics of the piece of furniture and secures the connection against external access, further increasing its security. A detachable connection allows for disassembly and reassembly of the piece of furniture, making it easier to store and transport.

[0024] Advantageously, the connecting element can have at least one flattened side, which is in contact with a retaining surface of the corner connector and, in particular, can limit the rotatability of the connecting element. The contact of the flattened side of the connecting element with the retaining surface of the corner connector easily defines the relative position of these components. In particular, by limiting the rotatability, the angular position of the two components relative to each other can be clearly defined, thus subsequently orienting the angular position between the supporting structure and the corner connector, as well as between the supporting structure and the leg.

[0025] In one variant, a connecting element can extend through the leg, the corner connector, and the connecting element. This type of connecting element allows these three elements to be connected together with minimal design effort and a few additional components.

[0026] The connecting element can possibly be held in position by a fixing part, wherein the fixing part can be accommodated, in particular in a form-fitting manner, in a receiving space in the corner connector. By holding the connecting element in position, the fixing part secures the connection between the legs, corner connector, and connecting element. Furthermore, the fixing part is protected from external interference. The form-fitting reception of the fixing part in the receiving space enables good positioning of the fixing part, which can be maintained during assembly and use of the piece of furniture. If the fixing part is designed as a polygonal nut, for example, its holding is made easier, since only the corner connector needs to be held.

[0027] According to one embodiment, a partition wall can extend at least partially between the support structure receptacle and the receiving space, against which, in particular, the connecting element and / or the fixing part can rest. The partition wall allows a spatial separation between the connecting element and the fixing part within the corner connector, allowing these two components to be positioned independently of each other. By resting against the partition wall, the mobility of the fixing part and the connecting element in the corner connector can be restricted in order to clearly position both components.

[0028] In a favorable development, the fixing part can rest against at least one guide surface of the corner connector, which limits the mobility of the fixing part. The resting of the fixing part against a guide surface is a favorable measure for securing the fixing part against displacement and / or twisting while ensuring its function of holding the connecting element.

[0029] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment.

[0030] They show: Figure 1 shows a perspective external view of a chair according to the invention with four chair legs, four corner connectors and a seat, Figure 2 shows a perspective exploded view of a connection of a chair leg from Figure 1 with the seat, Figure 3 a perspective external view of a corner connector made of Figure 1 , and Figure 4 a sectional view of a connection of a chair leg from Figure 1 with the seat surface, whereby the cutting plane is spanned by the central axes of the two pipe sections of the angle-piece-like corner connector.

[0031] The same reference symbols are used in the figures for identical features.

[0032] In the embodiment shown, the piece of furniture according to the invention is represented by a chair, wherein a supporting structure has a front frame 28, which is attached from below to a seat 1 and stabilizes the seat 1. In alternative embodiments, the piece of furniture can be, for example, a table or chair, wherein the supporting structure can be designed in the form of a self-supporting seat or table top. Furthermore, a bed with a bed frame as the supporting structure or a piece of furniture with a frame or carcass as the supporting structure is also conceivable, wherein a seat or table top can be attached to this frame or carcass. The supporting structure can also be designed as part of a carcass, frame, or frame. A second rear frame 29, corresponding in form and function to the front frame 28, is located in the rear area of ​​the chair and is in Figure 1 mostly hidden by the seat.

[0033] A chair backrest 2 is attached to a rear side of the seat 1. At each of the four outer corners of the approximately rectangular seat 1, a chair leg 3 is connected to one of the frames 28, 29, with this connection being implemented within a respective corner connector 4. The corner connector is designed as an additional corner connector, i.e., separate from the other elements of the piece of furniture. Figure 2 shows the connection of the seat 1 with the front left leg 3 in an exploded view. Laterally, and when the chair is standing on level ground, approximately horizontally, a connecting element 5 protrudes from the front frame 28. The connecting element 5 has on its upper side, which is Figure 2 facing the viewer, has a flattened side 24.

[0034] This connecting element 5 is accommodated in a supporting structure receptacle 6 of the corner connector 4. The outer surfaces of the connecting element 5 are shaped to match the inner surfaces of the supporting structure receptacle 6, creating a positive fit between the connecting element 5 and the supporting structure receptacle 6.

[0035] Above the support structure holder 6, the corner connector 4 has a receiving space 7, wherein the receiving space 7 and the support structure holder 6 are separated from each other by a partition wall 8.

[0036] A polygonal nut 9, which acts as a fixing element, is accommodated in the receiving space 7. Within the receiving space 7, the square nut 9 is guided between opposing guide surfaces 10. Its mobility is restricted by the guide surfaces 10, preventing it from rotating within the receiving space 7.

[0037] In the embodiment shown, the connecting element is a hanger bolt 11, one end of which is screwed into a front face 12 of the chair leg 3, and the other end of which extends through the corner connector 4 and through a hole 13 in the connecting element 5 and is firmly screwed to the square nut 9. This screw connection holds the hanger bolt 11 in its position.

[0038] An outer end face 14 of the corner connector 4 lies flat against an outer side of the front frame 28, so that the connecting element 5 is completely surrounded by the adjacent end face 14, so that the connecting element 5 is completely received in the support structure receptacle 6 and is thus completely hidden in the corner connector 4.

[0039] The chair leg 3 is rotationally symmetrical and has a circumferential shoulder 15. Below the shoulder 15, the leg tapers approximately like a truncated cone, with its diameter decreasing downwards. The shoulder 15 forms a horizontal surface that runs perpendicular to a central axis of the leg, with the chair leg 3 having a smaller diameter above the shoulder than below the shoulder and being cylindrical. This cylindrical part with the smaller diameter forms a peg-like section 16.

[0040] The corner connector 4 has a first pipe section 17 and a second pipe section 18, which are arranged approximately at right angles to one another. In alternative embodiments, the angle between the two pipe sections 17, 18 could also have a different value. The two pipe sections 17, 18 have a cylindrical shape. The support structure receptacle 6 is formed in the first pipe section 17. The two pipe sections each have a circular cross-section, wherein the center point of the respective cross-section defines a central axis of the first pipe section 26 for the first pipe section 17 and a central axis of the second pipe section 27 for the second pipe section 18. Figure 3 shows the corner connector 4 in perspective top view from a different direction than Figure 2, the other parts being omitted. The support structure receptacle 6 and the receptacle space 7 formed in the first tube section 17 are separated from one another by the partition wall 8. In this embodiment, the partition wall 8 has a through-hole 19 through which the hanger bolt 11 extends in order to establish the connection between the connecting element 5 and the corner connector 4, on the one hand, and between the connecting element 5 and the chair leg 3, on the other hand. On the side facing the connecting element 5, a holding surface 23 is formed on the partition wall 8. This holding surface 23 is in surface contact with the flattened side 24 of the connecting element 5, the mobility and rotatability of the connecting element 5 within the support structure receptacle 6 being restricted.

[0041] A leg receptacle 20 is formed in the second tube section 18, into which the tenon-like section 16 of the chair leg 3 extends. The inner surface 21 of the leg receptacle 20 is in surface contact with the outer surface of the tenon-like section 16, resulting in a positive connection between the chair leg 3 and the leg receptacle 20. On the second tube section 18, an outer end face 22 is formed around the opening of the leg receptacle 20, which is in surface contact with the shoulder 15 of the chair leg 3 and supports the corner connector 4 on the shoulder 15.

[0042] Figure 4 shows a vertical section through the Figure 2shown connection of the front left chair leg 3 with the front frame 28. The position of the cutting plane is chosen so that the longitudinal axes of the two cylindrical tube sections 17, 18 lie in the cutting plane. Within the corner connector 4, the connecting element 5 and the chair leg 3 are connected to one another in a force-transmitting manner, whereby the force occurring between these two components is transmitted directly via their surface contact with one another, so that none or only a very small amount of the resulting load is transmitted through the corner connector 4. Since this connection is made by means of a screw connection, it is detachable. Alternatively, this screw connection can also be designed to be non-detachable, for example by using a locking varnish.

[0043] To ensure the largest and most uniform contact surface possible between connecting element 5 and chair leg 3, the two contacting surfaces of these components are designed to match each other. For this purpose, the front side of chair leg 3 is flat. Similarly, the underside of connecting element 5, which is in contact with the flat front side 12 of chair leg 3, is also flattened.

[0044] The present design can be assembled and disassembled without tools. For assembly of the parts, as in Figure 2As shown, the square nut 9 is first inserted into the receiving space 7, being guided between the opposing guide surfaces 10 in a rotationally secure manner and finally remaining in the rear area of ​​the receptacle 7. The threaded bore of the square nut 9 is aligned with the through hole 19 in the partition wall 8. In a next step, the connecting element 5 is inserted in a form-fitting manner into the supporting structure receptacle 6 until the end face 14 of the corner connector 4 abuts the lateral surface of the seat surface. The bore 13 in the connecting element 5 is aligned with the through hole 19 in the partition wall 8 and the threaded bore in the square nut 9.The individual components can be designed such that the through hole 19 and the bore 13 have a sufficiently large diameter to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and, for example, to ensure alignment of the bore 13 with the through hole 19, the square nut 9 and the connecting element 5.

[0045] Subsequently, the tenon-like section 16 of the chair leg 3 is inserted into the leg receptacle 20 of the corner connector 4. Due to the concentric alignment of the outer surface of the tenon-like section 16 and the inner surface of the leg receptacle 20, the hanger bolt 11 can be easily guided through the bore 13 in the connecting element 5 and the through-hole 19 of the partition 8 into the square nut 9. By subsequently turning the entire leg by hand, the hanger bolt 11 is screwed to the square nut 9, which in turn is securely held on the guide surfaces 10 in the receiving space 7.Possible manufacturing tolerances in the length of the tenon-like section 16 of the chair leg 3 can be compensated for by a slight clearance between the end face 22 in the second tube section 18 and the shoulder 15 of the chair leg 3, thus ensuring a flat contact suitable for force transmission between the end face 12 of the chair leg 3 and the underside 25 of the connecting element 5. A large part, or even all, of the force transmitted from the supporting structure to the leg can thus be transmitted directly. The corner connector can thus be relieved of load and supports the force transmission, stabilizing the connection and securing it against tipping.

[0046] To disassemble the connection, start by unscrewing the chair leg 3 and then perform the assembly steps in reverse order. The anti-twist mounting of the square nut 9 in the mounting space 7 is advantageous for simple, tool-free assembly and disassembly.

[0047] In the present example, the connection of the chair leg 3 to the front frame 28 is made entirely to the side of the seat and essentially via the connecting element 5. This enables a functional separation of the connection by means of the connecting element 5 and the seat 1. The seat 1 can be designed to be less dependent on the requirements placed on the connection to the chair leg 3, whereby the present embodiment of the invention allows greater design freedom in the design of the chair or other similar piece of furniture.

[0048] The chair legs 3 extend completely next to, and not below, the seat 1. The chair legs 3 are positioned as far outside as possible in relation to the center of gravity of the chair or the chair with the person sitting on it, and which in turn divert the static and dynamic forces into the floor when the chair is in use, thus achieving a high level of stability against tipping of the chair.

[0049] Another advantageous effect of this arrangement is that the chairs, as well as other similarly designed pieces of furniture, are easily stackable, thus allowing for space-saving storage. To stack several of the chairs shown as an example, the seats 1 can be placed on top of each other, keeping the protruding legs 3 out of the way.

[0050] The invention is not limited to the use of a hanger bolt or a screw connection in general to create the connection. Alternatively, plug-in connections, adhesive connections, snap connections, bayonet connections or the like are also conceivable. Alternative screw connections can be selected so that they are visible and / or accessible from the outside. Different materials for the supporting structure, the leg and the corner connector are also conceivable. For example, it would be advantageous to use wood for the supporting structure and the legs as a proven material for furniture and a plastic or polymer for the corner connector in order to be able to manufacture its comparatively complex structure easily, for example during a pressure die-casting or injection molding process. The frames or other supporting structures can also be made of metal, plastic or polymer materials.Fiber-reinforced materials can be used for the supporting structure and legs as well as for the corner connectors.

[0051] The corner connector 4 shown as an example can be adapted to differently dimensioned support structures and legs, in addition to the example of the chair leg 3 and the seat 1 shown. As long as the corresponding legs and support structures have appropriately shaped tenon-like sections 16 or connecting elements 5, larger and smaller seats or shorter and longer chair legs can also be connected to one another. This also simplifies inventory management when manufacturing numerous versions of differently dimensioned chairs, as an identically dimensioned corner connector is used for each of the differently dimensioned chairs. Similarly, differently dimensioned corner connectors are suitable for connecting, for example, standardized legs to different support structures.

Claims

1. A piece of furniture with a supporting structure (28) and at least one leg (3), wherein the leg (3) is coupled to the supporting structure (28) via a connection, characterized in that an additional corner connector (4) is provided, wherein the connection of the leg (3) to the supporting structure (28) is at least partially implemented within the corner connector (4), wherein a connecting element (5) projects from the supporting structure (28), via which the connection of the supporting structure (28) to the leg is established, and wherein the connecting element (5) and the leg (3) are in direct contact with each other within the corner connector (4), and forces transmitted from the supporting structure (28) to the leg (3) for dissipating into the ground are at least almost completely transmitted via this contact.

2. The piece of furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the corner connector (4) has a supporting structure receptacle (6) in which the connecting element (5) is at least partially received, in particular in a form-fitting manner.

3. The piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the corner connector (4) has a leg receptacle (20) in which the leg (3) is at least partially received, in particular in a form-fitting manner.

4. The piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an outer end face (14) of the corner connector is supported on a surface of the supporting structure (28).

5. The piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the leg (3) has a shoulder (15), wherein an outer peripheral surface of the corner connector (4) is aligned approximately flush with the shoulder (15).

6. The piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an outer end face (22) of the corner connector (4) is supported on a surface of the leg (3), in particular on the shoulder (15).

7. The piece of furniture according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the corner connector has two pipe sections (17, 18) in the manner of an angle piece, wherein the supporting structure receptacle (6) is formed in one of the pipe sections (17) and the leg receptacle is formed in the other of the pipe sections (18).

8. The piece of furniture according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the leg has a pin-like section (16) which is in contact, at least in some regions, with an inner surface (21) of the leg receptacle.

9. The piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (5) and the leg (3) are connected to one another within the corner connector (4) in a releasable manner.

10. The piece of furniture according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (5) has at least one flattened side (7) which is in contact with a holding surface (23) of the comer connector (4) and in particular limits the rotatability of the connecting element (5) and / or wherein a connecting means (11) extends at least in some regions through the leg (3), the corner connector (4) and the connecting element (5).

11. The piece of furniture according to claim 10, characterized in that the connecting means (11) is held in position by a fixing part (9), wherein the fixing part (9) is received in a receiving space (7) in the corner connector, in particular in a form-fitting manner.

12. The piece of furniture according to claim 11, characterized in that a partition wall (8), against which in particular the connecting element (5) and / or the fixing part rest / rests, extends between the supporting structure receptacle and the receiving space (7) at least in some regions.

13. The piece of furniture according to one of the claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the fixing part (9) rests against at least one guide surface (10) of the corner connector (4) which limits the movability of the fixing part.