Kit and method for assembling a piece of furniture and furniture component

Abstract

The invention relates to a kit for assembling a piece of furniture, such as a stool or a chair. According to the invention, this kit comprises: - at least one first elongated piece (1) and a second elongated piece (4), each having a longitudinal axis (X) and at least one longitudinal groove (2) parallel to this longitudinal axis (X); the two longitudinal grooves (2) having the same cross-section; the first elongated piece (1) having at one longitudinal end a tenon (3) adapted to fit into the longitudinal groove (2) of the second elongated piece (4); a first hole (5), longitudinal, being provided in the tenon (3) and a second hole (6), transverse, being provided in the first elongated piece (1) and opening into the first longitudinal hole (5); a third hole (9), transverse, being provided in the longitudinal groove (2) of the second elongated piece (4);- a first fastening element (7) adapted to penetrate partially into the first hole (5) and partially into the third hole (9); and - a second fastening element (8) adapted to penetrate at least partially into the second hole (6); the first and second fastening elements (7, 8) being adapted to cooperate with each other to hold together the first and second elongated pieces (1, 4). The invention also relates to a method for assembling a piece of furniture as well as to a piece of furniture assembled using at least one kit according to the invention. Figure for the abstract: Figure 4;

Description

Title of the invention: Kit and method for assembling a piece of furniture and furniture element

[0001] The invention relates to a kit for assembling a piece of furniture, such as a stool or a chair.

[0002] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a piece of furniture as well as to a piece of furniture assembled using at least one kit according to the invention. Background of the invention

[0003] Nowadays, modular and modular furniture is very popular because it allows for a great deal of freedom in dimensions and shapes, making it easy to integrate into a home.

[0004] In addition, they give the user the opportunity to participate in the creation of a piece of furniture and the pleasure of creating an object according to their own tastes.

[0005] Many systems exist for manufacturing this type of furniture industrially.

[0006] One example is that described in the French patent application published under number FR 2 569 543, which uses cleats or stringers with mortises into which tenons located at the ends of small boards are inserted. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the invention is to offer a user more creative possibilities, so that he can obtain more shapes, and this in a simple and quick way and using, on the one hand, a limited number of assembly elements and, on the other hand, few tools for the assembly of a furniture element.

[0008] According to the invention, this goal is achieved by a kit conforming to point 1 below:

[0009] L- Kit for assembling a furniture element comprising:

[0010] - at least one first elongated piece and a second elongated piece having each a longitudinal axis and at least one longitudinal groove parallel to this longitudinal axis; the two longitudinal grooves having the same cross-section; the first elongated piece having at one longitudinal end a tenon suitable for inserting into the longitudinal groove of the second elongated piece; a first hole, longitudinal, being provided in the tenon and a second hole, transverse, being provided in the first elongated piece and opening into the first longitudinal hole; a third hole, transverse, being provided in the longitudinal groove of the second elongated piece;

[0011] - a first fastening element capable of partially penetrating the first hole and partially in the third hole; and

[0012] - a second fastening element capable of penetrating at least partially into the second hole; the first and second fixing elements being able to cooperate with each other to hold together the first and second elongated pieces.

[0013] Advantageous features of the device of point 1 above are indicated in points 2 to 7 below:

[0014] 2.- Kit according to point 1, in which each longitudinal groove extends over the entire respective length of the elongated piece.

[0015] 3.- Kit according to point 1 or 2, further comprising means for reinforcing the assembly of the first and second elongated pieces.

[0016] 4.- Kit according to point 3, in which the reinforcement means comprise two brackets, suitable for inserting at least partially into said two longitudinal grooves when superimposed on one another, and a means for separating the two brackets from each other when they are inserted superimposed on each other in said two longitudinal grooves.

[0017] 4bis.- Kit according to point 4, in which the faces of the brackets intended to be turned towards the walls of the longitudinal grooves are provided with mini-pins to increase the friction between the brackets and these walls.

[0018] 5.- Kit according to one of points 1 to 4bis, in which at least one of the first and second elongated pieces have at least one additional longitudinal groove and the kit also includes at least one slat whose thickness is substantially equal to that of the width of the additional longitudinal groove.

[0019] 5bis.- Kit according to point 5, in which the longitudinal groove(s) and the additional longitudinal groove(s) have the same dimensions.

[0020] 6.- Kit according to one of points 1 to 5bis, further comprising at least one element of parallelepiped filling whose cross-section has the same area as the cross-section of at least one of the longitudinal grooves or, where applicable, in one of the additional longitudinal grooves.

[0021] 7.- Kit according to any one of points 1 to 6, in which the elongated parts have a cross-section cross-section chosen from the following:

[0022] - a cross-section corresponding to a square whose side has an equal length to (3a+2b) and from which eight squares of side a have been removed, at the level of the angles and in the middle of the sides;

[0023] - a cross-section corresponding to a rectangle of length (3a + 2b) and of width (2a + 2b) from which five squares of side a have been removed, two at the level of the two corners of the same length, one in the middle of the same length, then two in the middle of the two remaining widths;

[0024] - a cross-section corresponding to a square with side length (2a + 2b) to which we have removed three squares of side a, two in the middle of two adjacent sides, then at the angle formed by these two sides; and

[0025] - a cross-section corresponding to a rectangle of length (3a + 2b) to which We removed two squares of side a, in the middle of two widths.

[0026] 7bis.- Kit according to point 7, in which the values ​​a and b are equal.

[0027] 7ter.- Kit according to one of points 1 to 7bis, in which the surface of the end of the elongated piece, from which each tenon protrudes, is perpendicular on all sides to the longitudinal axis of the elongated piece.

[0028] 7quater.- Kit according to one of the points 1 to 7ter, in which the cross-section of each elongated piece is substantially constant over the entire axial length of that piece.

[0029] According to another aspect, the invention relates to an assembly method according to the following point:

[0030] 8.- Method for assembling a piece of furniture comprising the steps consisting has :

[0031] - procure a kit according to one of points 1 to 7quater;

[0032] - partially insert and fix the first fixing element into the third transverse hole of the second elongated piece;

[0033] - insert the free end of the first fastening element into the first hole gitudinal of the tenon of the first elongated piece;

[0034] - insert the second fastening element into the second transverse hole of the first elongated piece;

[0035] - to make the first and second fastening elements cooperate so that they maintain together the first and second elongated pieces.

[0036] 9.- Method according to point 8, in which a kit is used according to a point dependent on the point 3, which also includes a reinforcement of the assembly of the first and second elongated pieces.

[0037] 10.- Method according to point 9, in which a kit according to a dependent point is used from point 4 at least, in which the reinforcement includes the following steps:

[0038] - insertion of the two brackets superimposed on each other in the two perpendicular longitudinal grooves;

[0039] - actuation of the spreading means in order to separate the first and second brackets and thus reinforce the assembly of the first and second elongated pieces.

[0040] 11. A method according to any one of points 8 to 10, wherein a kit according to a point is used dependent on point 5 at least, further including the step of partially inserting the slat into an additional longitudinal groove.

[0041] 12.- A method according to any one of points 8 to 11, in which a kit according to a point is used dependent on point 6 at least, further including the step of introducing to fit the parallelepiped filling element into one of the longitudinal grooves or, where applicable, into one of the additional longitudinal grooves.

[0042] According to yet another aspect, the invention relates to a piece of furniture assembled using at least one copy of the aforementioned kit, in particular, by implementing the assembly process which has just been presented.

[0043] Such a piece of furniture offers in particular the advantage of being able to be assembled and disassembled an unlimited number of times, and of being able to be easily completed or lightened by removing some of its constituent parts.

[0044] Other features and advantages of the invention will now be described in detail in the following exposition, which is given with reference to the accompanying figures, which schematically represent:

[0045] [Fig-1]: an elongated part of a kit according to the invention, in perspective front view;

[0046] [Fig.2]: a cross-section of the part of [Fig.1];

[0047] [Fig.3]: another elongated part of a kit according to the invention, in front view perspective ;

[0048] [Fig.4]: a kit according to the invention about to be assembled, front view perspective ;

[0049] [Fig.5]: the kit of [Fig.4], in the assembled state with the fastening elements of the [Fig.5], front view in section;

[0050] [Fig.6]: a double bracket of a preferred embodiment of the kit according to the invention, front view in perspective;

[0051] [Fig.7]: the double bracket of [Fig.7], being fitted onto parts extended from a kit according to the invention, in front view in perspective;

[0052] [Fig.8]: a stool according to the invention, in perspective front view;

[0053] [Fig. 9], [Fig. 10], [Fig. 11] and [Fig. 12]: variants of an elongated part of a kit according to the invention, in cross-section; and

[0054] [Fig. 13] and [Fig. 14]: assemblies according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0055] The invention makes it possible to assemble modular, adaptable, scalable furniture made of sufficiently rigid solid materials such as solid wood, plywood, certain plastics, metals, etc.

[0056] For this purpose, the kit according to the invention must first include elongated parts. These are generally polygonal-based parts extending regularly along a longitudinal axis.

[0057] Such an elongated piece 1 is shown in figures 1 to 3.

[0058] It has a longitudinal axis X and, as can be seen in particular in [Fig. 2], its cross-section, which is substantially constant along its entire axial length, corresponds to a square whose side has a length equal to (3a+2b) to which we have Remove 8 squares of side a, at the corners and in the middle of the sides. This gives 4 identical longitudinal grooves of depth a.

[0059] On [Fig.3], a parallelepiped-shaped tenon 3 can be seen projecting parallel to the longitudinal axis X from a longitudinal end of the elongated piece 1. This tenon 3 has a rectangular base of length (a + 2b) and width a and a thickness 18 equal to a.

[0060] The values ​​of a and b are preferably equal in order to simplify the manufacture of elongated parts.

[0061] The tenon 3 is able to fit into a longitudinal groove 2 of a second elongated piece 4 identical or similar to the elongated piece 1.

[0062] As can be seen in [Fig.3], the elongated piece 1 has a first longitudinal hole 5 in the tenon 3, preferably in the middle, and a second transverse hole 6, preferably made in the transverse groove 2, which opens into the first longitudinal hole 5.

[0063] As can be seen in [Fig.4], the second elongated piece 4 has a third hole 9, transverse, in its longitudinal groove 2, that is to say perpendicular to its longitudinal axis X.

[0064] Thus, a first fixing element 7 can partially penetrate the first hole 5 of the first elongated piece 1 and partially penetrate the third hole 9 of the second elongated piece 4.

[0065] A second fastening element 8 can partially penetrate the second hole 6.

[0066] Figure 5 shows in detail examples of the first 7 and second 8 fixing elements and Figure 6 shows their cooperation for holding the first and second elongated pieces 1,4 together.

[0067] The first fastening element 7 can be a dowel, one end of which is threaded and screwed into the third threaded transverse hole 9 provided at the bottom of the groove 2 of the second elongated element 4. The other end of the first fastening element 7 is inside the first longitudinal hole 5 of the first elongated piece 1.

[0068] The second fixing element 8 can be a conical-pointed screw screwed into the second transverse tapped hole 6 of the first elongated piece 1 until its conical point exerts a force on the first fixing element 7 aimed at bringing the two elongated pieces 1 and 4 together and immobilizing them, thanks to a longitudinal section 17 of reduced diameter of the fixing element 7.

[0069] Thus, once the elongated parts 1 and 4 are assembled, their respective grooves 2 are perpendicular.

[0070] Preferably, means are provided to reinforce the assembly of the first and second elongated pieces 1.4.

[0071] These reinforcement means can consist of two brackets 10 visible in [Fig.6], which are preferably identical and whose sum of thicknesses is slightly less than the width of the grooves 2, which allows the brackets to be inserted into these grooves and into an angle formed by them, as can be seen in [Fig.7],

[0072] In addition, circular, tapped holes are provided, with one axial cylindrical half in one bracket and the other axial cylindrical half in the other bracket. These holes are preferably inclined at 45 or 135 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the bracket arms in which they are located. Furthermore, their entrances are chamfered to receive the slotted conical heads 11 of slotted conical head screws 12. Thus, as can be deduced from [Fig. 7], by screwing the screws 12 deeply into the holes, the conicity of the heads 11 exerts a spreading force on the two brackets 10 located in the two perpendicularly arranged grooves.

[0073] Advantageously, the faces of the brackets 10 intended to be turned towards the walls of the longitudinal grooves 2 are provided with mini-pins to increase the friction between the brackets and these walls.

[0074] When the brackets are made of certain materials, such as plastics, the screws 12 can be self-drilling. With other materials, it is necessary that the holes in the brackets be threaded.

[0075] The elongated parts 1 and 4 are intended to be used for assembling other parts such as stringers or slats 15 visible in [Fig. 8]. The elongated parts 1 and 4 are therefore preferably provided with additional longitudinal grooves 13, 14, visible in particular in [Fig. 1], to accommodate the ends of these slats 15.

[0076] The thickness of the slats 15 is therefore substantially equal to the width of the longitudinal grooves 13,14 intended to house them.

[0077] Advantageously, the longitudinal grooves 2 and the additional longitudinal grooves 13,14 have the same dimensions so that they can be used interchangeably with a tenon or a slat.

[0078] As can also be seen in [Fig.8], the kit according to the invention can also be provided with parallelepiped filling elements or bars 16 whose cross-section has the same surface area as the cross-section of a longitudinal groove 2 or an additional longitudinal groove 13,14.

[0079] These parallelepiped filling elements 16 have at least two functions: an aesthetic function, because they can provide a different tint or shade, and a technical function since by filling a groove they prevent the edges of it from injuring a user, catching clothing, harboring dirt, etc.

[0080] Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 show variants of an elongated part in cross-section. The section was cut at the tenon 3 to highlight this one in hatching.

[0081] As can be seen, the tenons always have a width a, a length (a + 2b) and a thickness a.

[0082] Their width a allows them to fit between the parallel walls of a longitudinal groove, their thickness a allows them to penetrate to the bottom of the groove, while their length (a + 2b) is less important because it is much less than the length of a longitudinal groove.

[0083] Each cross-section is substantially constant over the entire axial length of the corresponding elongated part.

[0084] The cross-section of the elongated piece of [Fig.9] corresponds to a rectangle of length (3a + 2b) and width (2a + 2b) from which 5 squares of side a have been removed, two at the level of two angles of the same length (in the sense of longitudinal side), one in the middle of this same length, then two in the middle of the two remaining widths (in the sense of transverse side).

[0085] The cross-section of the elongated piece of [Fig. 10] is identical to that of the elongated piece of [Fig. 9], but the tenon 3 is perpendicular to that of [Fig. 9].

[0086] The cross-section of the elongated piece of [Fig.1 1] corresponds to a square of side (2a + 2b) from which 3 squares of side a have been removed, two in the middle of two adjacent sides, and then one at the angle formed by these two sides.

[0087] The cross-section of the elongated piece of [Fig. 12] corresponds to a rectangle of length (3a + 2b) and width (a + 2b) from which 2 squares of side a have been removed, in the middle of the two widths (transverse sides).

[0088] Of course, some elongated pieces do not have a tenon (their longitudinal ends are therefore flat), others have one and still others have one at each longitudinal end.

[0089] The elongated pieces have lengths that depend on the dimensions of the furniture that one intends to manufacture.

[0090] The second fastener 8 can be a headless screw. For certain materials such as wood, it can also be self-tapping when screwed into the hole 6. For other materials, the hole 6 must be tapped. Alternatively, a threaded insert with a central hollow can be inserted into the hole 6.

[0091] Other assembly systems can be used, for example with an eccentric piece instead of the screw, as described in particular in the US patent issued under number US 4,518,278. In this case, obviously, the diameter of the second transverse hole 6 must be larger than with a screw. Method according to the invention

[0092] The assembly of a piece of furniture can be carried out using a process comprising the steps of:

[0093] - to obtain a kit according to the invention;

[0094] - partially insert and fix the first fixing element 7 into the third transverse hole 9 of the second elongated piece 4;

[0095] - insert the free end of the first fastening element 7 into the first hole gitudinal 5 of the tenon 3 of the first elongated piece 1;

[0096] - insert the second fastening element 8 into the second transverse hole 6 of the first elongated piece 1;

[0097] - to make the first and second fastening elements 7,8 cooperate so that they hand hold together the first and second elongated pieces 1.4.

[0098] The method may further include reinforcing the assembly of the first and second elongated pieces, which reinforcement may include the following steps:

[0099] - inserting the two brackets 10 in a superimposed manner into the two 2 perpendicular longitudinal grooves;

[0100] - actuation of the spreading means in order to separate the brackets 10 from each other and thus reinforce the assembly of the first and second elongated pieces 1.4.

[0101] In addition, it is advantageous to provide for the step of partially inserting a slat 15 into an additional longitudinal groove 13,14.

[0102] Moreover, it is possible to add the step of total introduction of a parallelepiped filling element 16 into one of the grooves 2,13,14.

[0103] It is preferable to provide several types of slats, in particular three, of different widths but the same length, the narrower slats being intended to be placed at the ends of the panels to be manufactured. By varying the number of slats of each type, the desired width can easily be obtained.

[0104] The manufacture of the narrower slats can be carried out simply by longitudinally cutting the wider slats.

[0105] However, care must be taken to ensure that the surface of the end of the elongated piece, from which each tenon protrudes, is perfectly perpendicular on all sides to the longitudinal axis X of the elongated piece. Indeed, when the tenon is inserted into a longitudinal groove, it is this base that is in contact with the edges of the longitudinal groove. It is therefore imperative that the base be perfectly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X so that the elongated pieces are perfectly perpendicular to each other at all angles.

[0106] An incalculable number of furniture of different shapes and sizes can be created by assembling elongated pieces according to the invention having cross-sections such as those shown in Figures 2, 10, 11 and 12 and slats of various widths.

[0107] By way of example, [Fig. 13] shows an assembly consisting of a vertical piece 1 according to [Fig.1] and two horizontal pieces 1 according to [Fig.3].

[0108] The assembly of [Fig.14] consists of a vertical part 1 conforming to [Fig.1] and a vertical part 1 conforming to [Fig.3]. Rods 16 have been inserted vertically and horizontally into certain grooves of these parts.

[0109] The stool in [Fig. 8] was made with elongated pieces, the length of which was 11 mm on side a and 8 mm on side b. Four elongated pieces from [Fig. 2], four from [Fig. 11] and four from [Fig. 12] were used, as well as slats 15 and bars 16.

[0110] Generally, the bars 16 received in the longitudinal grooves 2,13,14 can be fixed by gluing, by tight fit or by any other suitable means.

[0111] The invention therefore makes it possible to personalize furniture and is particularly suitable for the manufacture of solid wood furniture from profiles which can be easily manufactured in series, then cut to the correct length before machining the longitudinal grooves as well as, where appropriate, the longitudinal clearances 17 in the shape of L or angle (see [Fig.2]) in the corners.

[0112] Since the operations are similar for all parts, the manufacturing process can be very fast. Wooden furniture, with a = b = 10 mm, a first longitudinal hole of 8 mm, a second and a third transverse hole of 5 mm, commercial dowels with 6.2 mm thread and 6.2 mm type headless screws, very robust and functional, can be easily constructed.

[0113] In addition, the formed objects can be assembled and disassembled an unlimited number of times, completed and certain parts can be easily removed.

Claims

Demands

1. Kit for assembling a furniture element comprising: - at least one first elongated piece (1) and a second elongated piece (4), each having a longitudinal axis (X) and at least one longitudinal groove (2) parallel to this longitudinal axis (X); the two longitudinal grooves (2) having the same cross-section; the first elongated piece (1) having at one longitudinal end a tenon (3) adapted to fit into the longitudinal groove (2) of the second elongated piece (4); a first hole (5), longitudinal, being provided in the tenon (3) and a second hole (6), transverse, being provided in the first elongated piece (1) and opening into the first longitudinal hole (5); a third hole (9), transverse, being provided in the longitudinal groove (2) of the second elongated piece (4); - a first fixing element (7) adapted to fit partially into the first hole (5) and partially into the third hole (9);and - a second fastening element (8) adapted to penetrate at least partially into the second hole (6); the first and second fastening elements (7,8) being adapted to cooperate with each other to hold together the first and second elongated pieces (1,4); characterized in that it further comprises means for reinforcing (10,11) the assembly of the first and second elongated pieces (1,4), these reinforcing means comprising two brackets (10), adapted to insert at least partially into said two longitudinal grooves (2) when superimposed on each other, as well as a means for spacing (11) the two brackets (10) from each other, when they are inserted superimposed on each other in said two longitudinal grooves (2).;

2. Kit according to claim 1, wherein each longitudinal groove (2) extends over the entire length of the respective elongated part (1,4).

3. Kit according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein at least one of the first and second elongated pieces (1,4) has at least one additional longitudinal groove (13,14) and the kit further comprises at least one slat (15) whose thickness is substantially equal to that of the width of the additional longitudinal groove (13,14).

4. Kit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one parallelepiped-shaped filling element (16) having a cross-section transverse has the same surface area as the cross-section of at least one of the longitudinal grooves (2) or, where applicable, in one of the additional longitudinal grooves (13,14).

5. Kit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elongated parts (1,4) have a cross-section selected from the following: - a cross-section corresponding to a square whose side has a length equal to (3a+2b) and from which eight squares of side (a) have been removed, at the corners and in the middle of the sides; - a cross-section corresponding to a rectangle of length (3a + 2b) and width (2a + 2b) from which five squares of side (a) have been removed, two at the level of the two angles of the same length, one in the middle of the same length, then two in the middle of the two remaining widths; - a cross-section corresponding to a square with side length (2a + 2b) from which three squares with side length (a) have been removed: two in the midpoints of two adjacent sides, and then the angle formed by these two sides; and - a cross-section corresponding to a rectangle of length (3a + 2b) from which two squares of side (a) have been removed, in the middle of two widths.

6. A method for assembling a piece of furniture comprising the steps of: - to procure a kit according to one of claims 1 to 5; - partially insert and fix the first fixing element (7) into the third transverse hole (9) of the second elongated piece (4); - insert the free end of the first fixing element (7) into the first longitudinal hole (5) of the tenon (3) of the first elongated piece (1); - insert the second fixing element (8) into the second transverse hole (6) of the first elongated piece (1); - to make the first and second fixing elements (7,8) cooperate so that they hold the first and second elongated pieces (1,4) together; - Reinforce the assembly of the first and second elongated pieces (1,4) by: • insertion of the two brackets (10) in a superimposed manner in the two perpendicular longitudinal grooves (2); • actuation of the spreading means (11) in order to spread one apart on the other side the first and second brackets (10) and thus reinforce the assembly of the first and second elongated pieces (1,4).

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a kit according to at least one dependent claim of claim 3 is used, further comprising the step of partially inserting the slat (15) into an additional longitudinal groove (13,14).

8. A method according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein a kit according to at least one dependent claim of claim 4 is used, further comprising the step of fully introducing the parallelepiped filling element (16) into one of the longitudinal grooves (2) or, where appropriate, into one of the additional longitudinal grooves (13,14).

9. Furniture item assembled using at least one kit according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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