Edge strip for pieces of furniture

Abstract

The invention relates to an edge strip for pieces of furniture, comprising a basic-body element (1) with an underside (2), which can be positioned against a piece of furniture, and with a top side (3, 4), which is directed away from the underside, wherein the top side has at least one transition portion (3) which slopes down in the direction of a periphery of the underside. In order to improve the visual and aesthetic appearance of the edge strip in relation to a conventional edge strip, it is provided according to the invention that the transition portion exhibits, at least in part, a decoration (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a piece of furniture with an edge strip.

[0002] Such edge strips are known, for example, from DE 34 02 923 A1, EP 1 080 854 B1 or DE 199 40 329 A1.

[0003] EP 1 479 524 B1 discloses a pressed chipboard panel with a plastic edge banding. EP 0125336 A1 further discloses a profile or edge strip for cladding furniture panels or the like. A rigid body of this profile or edge strip has a partially flexible outer zone forming the visible side, which is covered with a decorative foil. The body of the strip includes two recesses running lengthwise along its length, extending from the inside of the strip into the body to such an extent that the width of the profile strip can be reduced by compressing the recesses. The recesses are slot-shaped with a wedge-shaped cross-section and taper towards the outer zone. DE 87 00 536 U1 discloses an edge strip for the furniture industry.

[0004] Conventional edgebanding is manufactured to be approximately 2 to 4 mm wider than the thickness of a furniture panel. For example, the furniture panel might be 25 mm thick, while the edgebanding is approximately 28 mm wide. After the edgebanding is glued to the end of the furniture panel, the protruding edge is flush-milled using various standard machining tools. This process removes approximately 10 to 20% of the edgebanding during finishing.

[0005] A further disadvantage is that the processing machine has a large machine length and high investment costs due to the extensive post-processing.

[0006] The milling process also disrupts the visual impression, as the base material of the edge strip creates a kind of frame between the decor of the edge strip and the decor of the furniture panel (so-called picture frame effect), on which no decor is visible.

[0007] The invention is based on the objective of eliminating the disadvantages of the prior art and providing a correspondingly improved piece of furniture.

[0008] To solve this problem, the invention provides the piece of furniture according to the features of claim 1.

[0009] The edge trim is manufactured to the thickness of the furniture piece and is provided with a decorative finish in the transition area, which creates a smooth transition between the top surface of the edge trim and the top surface of the furniture. No material-removing post-processing of the narrow sides of the edge trim is required to adapt it to a specific application, so the decorative finish in the transition section is not removed, and the objectives and tasks defined at the outset of the invention are achieved or solved.

[0010] Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are claimed in the dependent claims.

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a piece of furniture according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the transition section has a curvature, preferably a curvature with a constant radius of curvature. This measure has the advantage that such a curvature is easy to produce due to its geometric regularity, and that the decoration can be applied conveniently and economically.

[0012] Another preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a piece of furniture according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the transition section has a surface inclined relative to the underside. This measure has the advantage that such an edge trim achieves a particularly high-quality visual impression, e.g., due to light reflections on the inclined surface, and the surface can be easily decorated using conventional methods.

[0013] According to the invention, the transition area borders directly on an edge of the base body, i.e., an edge of the top of the base body and / or an edge of the bottom of the base body.

[0014] This measure has the advantage that a smooth transition to a surface adjacent to the edge strip of a piece of furniture can be achieved.

[0015] According to the invention, the decorative element covers the entire transition section. This measure has the advantage that the transition section can be provided with a decorative element extending to the edge of the edge trim, thus creating a correspondingly high-quality appearance.

[0016] According to the invention, the decorative layer completely covers the top surface of the edge trim. This measure has the advantage that the surface of the base body can be sealed simultaneously by the decorative layer.

[0017] The invention relates to a piece of furniture in which the decoration is printed. This measure has the advantage that the printing technology, in particular inkjet printing technology, but also so-called digital printing for round surfaces, is particularly suitable for mass production.

[0018] According to the invention, the base body is made of plastic. This has the advantage that such materials are easy to shape and are particularly suitable for use as edge trim for high-quality furniture.

[0019] According to the invention, the base body is an extruded plastic profile. This measure has the advantage that such an extruded profile can be produced particularly economically as a strand-shaped extrudate in a continuous process.

[0020] The intended cross-sectional shape of the edge strip is produced particularly advantageously with high dimensional accuracy using the extrusion process or the co-extrusion process.

[0021] According to the invention, the base body comprises polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), styrene butadiene (SB), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and / or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This has the advantage that such materials are particularly economical and easy to process, especially by extrusion and / or co-extrusion.

[0022] Another preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a piece of furniture according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the edge strip has a width of 10 mm to 150 mm, preferably 15 mm to 50 mm, more preferably 20 mm to 30 mm. This measure has the advantage that the most common applications for furniture are covered by edge strips with such widths.

[0023] The invention relates to a piece of furniture with an edge strip according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the edge strip is applied to an edge of the piece of furniture. This measure has the advantage that the edge strip visually covers and protects the edge of the furniture, particularly if it is a cut edge of the piece of furniture, thereby preventing, for example, moisture from entering the piece of furniture via the covered edge.

[0024] The top of the piece of furniture is usually more visible to a viewer than, for example, the underside of the piece of furniture.

[0025] The invention relates to a piece of furniture according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein an edge of the edge trim lies flush against at least one edge of the furniture. This measure has the advantage that the edge trim achieves a smooth transition between the edge trim and the furniture without requiring any further processing of a visible upper edge, so that the visual appearance or the decoration of the edge trim is not impaired. Brief description of the enclosed drawings

[0026] Figures 1 to 4 show preferred cross-sectional shapes of the edge strip in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal or extension direction of the edge strip. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a furniture panel with the edge strip applied to one edge of the panel. Figure 6shows a cross-sectional view of the furniture panel with the edge strip applied to the panel edge, to illustrate a post-processing of the applied edge strip. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0027] The invention relates to a piece of furniture with an edge strip. The edge strip comprises a base body 1 with a bottom surface 2 that can be placed against a piece of furniture 6 and a top surface 3, 4 facing away from the bottom surface 2, wherein the top surface 3, 4 has at least one transition section 3 sloping down towards an edge UR, OR of the base body 1, wherein the transition section 3 has a decorative finish 5 at least partially. In this description, the term "transition section" is to be understood as referring to the surface section of a portion of the base body 1 in which the thickness of the base body 1 changes in the direction of a width. The term "sloping down towards an edge" in this context means that the thickness of the base body 1 decreases towards a lateral edge UR, OR. The transition section 3 can have a curve or an inclined plane towards the bottom surface 2 or the top surface 3.to form an investment level defined by the underside 2.

[0028] The distance between the lateral edges of the base body 1 (i.e., the distance between the upper edges OR and the lower edges UR) is referred to as the width of the base body 1 or the width of the edge strip. The extension of the base body 1 perpendicular to a mounting plane defined by the underside 2 is referred to as the thickness of the base body 1 or the thickness of the edge strip.

[0029] The Figures 1 to 4 preferred cross-sectional shapes of the edge strip are shown in a cross-section perpendicular to the respective longitudinal direction L of the edge strip.

[0030] The base body 1 of the edge strip is made of plastic.

[0031] In the embodiments described below, the base body 1 of the edge strip is an extruded profile made of a plastic (mixture) consisting of the materials polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), alkylnitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and / or styrene butadiene (SB). The edge strip is extruded in an extrusion device with a width between 10 mm and 150 mm, preferably 15 mm to 50 mm, more preferably 20 mm to 30 mm, calibrated and cooled.

[0032] The underside 2 of the base body 1 defines a contact plane and is preferably flat so that it can be brought into contact with an edge 7 of a piece of furniture 6. The underside 2 is bounded laterally by the lower edges UR. The top surface 3, 4 is bounded laterally by the upper edges OR.

[0033] The decoration 5 is preferably a color print applied using an inkjet process. Any color print pattern can be reproduced. The color printing device preferably operates using digital technology, i.e., image files can be provided from a computer system for printing on the base body 1.

[0034] To improve the adhesion of the decorative element 5 to the base body 1 of the edge trim, suitable measures are preferably taken, such as corona treatment and / or the application of an adhesion promoter to the base body 1 before applying the decorative element 5. To protect the decorative element 5, it can subsequently be coated with a clear lacquer. Multi-layered decorative elements or lacquers used to create a three-dimensional effect are also considered decorative elements 5 within the meaning of this invention.

[0035] A first embodiment of the edge trim is described below with reference to Figure 1 described.

[0036] The base body 1 of the edge trim comprises the underside 2, which can be placed against the piece of furniture 6, and the upper side 3, 4, which faces away from the underside 2. The upper side 3, 4 has two transition sections 3 and a flat section 4. The underside 2 of the base body 1 is flat. In this embodiment, each upper edge OR coincides with each lower edge UR.

[0037] The transition sections 3 each have a curvature with a constant radius of curvature and extend from an edge OR of the base body 1 over a width A to the flat section 4, which extends parallel to the underside 2. The flat section 4 spans a width B and extends between the two transition sections 3. The transition sections 3 thus slope downwards from the flat section 4 to an edge OR. The thickness of the edge strip in the region of the flat section 4 is between 1 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm. The radius of curvature of the transition section 3 preferably corresponds to the thickness of the base body 1 in the region of the flat section 4, i.e., the distance of the flat section 4 from the underside 2 of the base body 1. The ratio A / B is preferably approximately 0.2 to 1.0.

[0038] The decor 5 covers and conceals the entire top surface 3, 4 of the edge strip, i.e. both the flat section 4 and the two transition sections 3. The edge strip has a mirror-symmetrical structure.

[0039] A second embodiment of the edge trim is described below with reference to Figure 2 described. In Figure 2 The base body 1' of the edge strip has a substantially lenticular shape. The underside 2' is flat, and the upper surface 3' of the base body 1', opposite the underside 2', is curved continuously between the upper left edge OR and the upper right edge OR. The radius of curvature of the curved upper surface 3' corresponds approximately to the width of the edge strip. A decorative layer 5' is applied to the entire surface of the upper surface 3'. In contrast to the first embodiment according to Figure 1There is no flat section 4. The transition sections 3' slope downwards from the center of the edge strip 1 (half the distance between the upper edges OR) towards the upper edges OR. In this embodiment, each upper edge OR coincides with each lower edge UR.

[0040] Another embodiment of the edge trim is described below with reference to Figure 3 described. According to Figure 3The edge trim has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. The base body 1" comprises the underside 2", which is to be brought into contact with the piece of furniture 6; the transition sections 3" immediately adjacent to the lower edges UR and upper edges OR, each with a sloping surface inclined at an acute angle of approximately 45° to the underside 2"; and the flat section 4" located between the two transition sections 3" and extending parallel to the underside 2" of the edge trim. Each transition section 3" extends from the upper edge OR and lower edge UR over a width A. The flat section 4" extends between the two transition sections 3" over a width B. The ratio A / B is preferably approximately 0.2 to 1.0.

[0041] A fourth embodiment of the edge trim is described below with reference to Figure 4 described. According to Figure 4The edge strip has an essentially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, as in Figure 3 on, however, the upper edges OR are spaced away from the lower edges UR, so that a narrow side is formed between each upper edge OR and a lower edge UR of the edge strip.

[0042] Fig. 5 Figure 6 shows a piece of furniture 6 according to the invention with an edge strip applied to an edge 7 of the piece of furniture 6. The piece of furniture 6 is a chipboard / MDF / wood panel. The edge strip is preferably manufactured with an oversize of less than 0.7 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, preferably less than 0.3 mm across the panel width and is brought to the edge 7 of the piece of furniture 6 such that it is flush with an edge, i.e., flush with the top surface 8 of the furniture panel 6.

[0043] The assembly status of the edge trim is clearly shown in the sectional view of the Figure 6 depicted.

[0044] The installed edge trim is flush with the upper edge OR, i.e., flush with the top surface 8 of the furniture piece 6, and completely covers edge 7. A smooth transition is thus achieved at the upper edge between the top surface 8 of the furniture piece 6 and the top surface 3, 4 of the edge trim.

[0045] Due to the excess of the edge strip, a slight protrusion may occur at the lower edge or on the underside 9 of the piece of furniture 6, which is removed by means of a subtractive machining process.

[0046] The outline of the mounted edge strip before subsequent machining for adaptation to the specific application is shown with the dashed line. The outline of the mounted and machined edge strip is shown with the solid line.

[0047] By means of machining, the lower, longitudinal edge-side visible edge of the edge trim is subsequently profiled and, for example, rounded, so that the edge trim is also flush with the lower edge, i.e., flush with the underside 9 of the furniture piece 6. During machining, the decor 5 in the transition section 3 is removed from the lower visible edge of the edge trim. Particularly when the edge trim is used to cover table edges or kitchen worktop edges, the underside of the respective tabletop or worktop is difficult to see.

[0048] Therefore, it does not detract from the visual appearance of the edge trim if only the bottom visible edge of the edge trim is reworked to be flush with the underside 9 of the panel 6. It goes without saying that the edge trims must be installed according to the specifications. Figures 2 to 4in the same way as the edge strip according to Figure 1 be assembled, although in Figure 6 only the application and installation of the edge strip according to Figure 1 shown.

[0049] The preferred manufacturing and application of the edge trim is described below.

[0050] To manufacture the edge strip, a base body 1 is used according to the Figures 1 to 4 For example, it is produced as an extruded plastic profile. For this, a plastic material is melted and extruded. The shaping takes place in an extrusion die and downstream, preferably water-filled, calibration units to give the base body 1 its intended cross-sectional shape with high dimensional accuracy. In a downstream decoration application unit with, for example, a digital color printing unit, the top surface 3, 4 of the edge strip is first pretreated to improve the adhesion and receptivity for the decoration 5.

[0051] For this purpose, the top surface 3, 4 of the base body 1 is subjected to corona treatment or plasma treatment and / or coated with an adhesion promoter. Subsequently, a decorative layer 5 is applied over the entire top surface 3, 4 of the base body 1, so that the decorative layer 5 completely covers and conceals the top surface 3, 4 of the base body 1. In particular, the decorative layer 5 extends directly to both upper edges OR of the edge trim. The base body 1 is thereby sealed. To protect the decorative layer 5 against scratches or other mechanical damage, a clear lacquer can be applied after the decorative layer 5 has been printed and cured, for example, by ultraviolet radiation. The edge trim is then attached to the edge 7 of the furniture piece 6 with its underside 2, for example, by gluing or welding, and is positioned so that an edge OR, UR of the base body 1 of the edge trim is flush with the upper edge of the furniture piece 6, i.e.,with the top surface 8 of the furniture piece 6. On the underside 9 of the furniture piece 6, a slight overhang may occur due to an excess of the edge strip, which is subsequently removed by machining so that the edge strip is also flush with the underside 9 of the furniture panel 6.

[0052] In this process, the decorative layer 5 is removed from the lower, longitudinal visible edge of the edge trim, particularly in the area of ​​transition section 3. As a rule, the underside 9 of the furniture piece 6 is not visible, so the removal of material or decorative layer from the edge trim in transition section 3, which adjoins the underside 9 of the furniture piece 6, is not perceived as a disadvantage.

[0053] In particular, the decor 5 in the transition section 3 remains unaffected on the upper, longitudinal edge visible edge of the edge strip.

Claims

1. Piece of furniture (6) having an edge moulding, wherein the edge moulding comprises a base body (1) with a lower side (2) that can be placed against a piece of furniture (6) and an upper side (3, 4) facing away from the lower side (2), wherein the upper side (3, 4) has at least one transition section (3) sloping down towards an edge (UR, OR) of the base body (1),in which a thickness of the base body (1) changes in the direction of a width, wherein the transition section (3) directly adjoins an edge (UR, OR) of the base body (1) and has a decoration (5) at least in sections, wherein the decoration (5) is printed on the base body (1) of the edge moulding and the upper side (3, 4) of the base body (1) completely covers the edge moulding, wherein the base body (1) is an extrusion profile made of plastic, wherein the base body (1) is made of polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), alcrynitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), styrene-butadiene (SB), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and / or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), wherein this previously printed edge moulding is applied with its lower side (2) to an edge (7) of the piece of furniture (6) formed as a furniture panel, wherein at least one edge (OR, UR) of the base body (1) of the edge moulding lies flush against an edge of the edge (7) of the piece of furniture (6), so that the mounted edge moulding is flush with the upper edge (OR), i.e. flush with the upper side (8) of the piece of furniture (6) and completely covers the edge (7), wherein an overhang is created at the lower edge (UR) or on the lower side (9) of the piece of furniture (6) due to an oversize of the edge moulding, wherein a maximum overhang of the edge moulding over a rim of the edge (7) of the piece of furniture (6) is approximately 0.7 mm, wherein the lower visible edge of the edge moulding on the longitudinal edge side is subsequently profiled and rounded by means of machining, so that the edge moulding is also flush with the lower edge (UR), i.e. flush with the lower side (9) of the piece of furniture (6).

2. Piece of furniture according to claim 1, characterised in that the transition section (3) has a curvature, preferably a curvature with a constant radius of curvature.

3. Piece of furniture (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transition section has a surface inclined in relation to the lower side (2).

4. Piece of furniture (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base body (1) of the edge moulding has a width of 10 to 150 mm, preferably 15 to 50 mm, more preferably 20 to 30 mm.

Images