OUTDOOR FURNITURE SET WITH CROSSED STRAPS AND INVISIBLE FIXING

Abstract

The invention relates to an outdoor furniture element (12), comprising at least a first tubular profile (14) forming an upright oriented in a first direction (Z), second and third tubular profiles (16, 18) forming crosspieces oriented in second and third directions (X, Y) perpendicular to the first direction (Z), the second and third profiles crossing in a crossing zone (28) and being fixed to the first profile (14) at the crossing zone (28), characterized in that: - the second and third profiles (16, 18) are assembled in the crossing zone (28) by a first half-timbered assembly, - the first profile (14) is fixed to a wall of the second profile (16) and / or of the third profile (18) by a fixing system (11) invisible from the outside of the profiles. Figure for abstract: Figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: OUTDOOR FURNITURE SET WITH CROSSED STRAPS AND INVISIBLE FIXING Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an element of outdoor furniture, in particular an element of outdoor garden furniture such as an arbor, a table, or any other similar structure. Technical background

[0002] Garden furniture made by assembling metal profiles has been known for a long time in the state of the art.

[0003] They mostly use lightweight aluminum-based metal profiles, which allow the transport of this furniture in separate parts to their site of use in a simple and easy manner due to their reduced weight, and guarantee satisfactory solidity of the furniture once assembled, as well as the resistance of this furniture to bad weather.

[0004] Conventionally, an outdoor furniture element in metal construction comprises a tubular upright oriented in a first direction, for example vertical, and two tubular crosspieces, for example horizontal, oriented in second and third directions perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the first direction. The uprights and crosspieces are generally made from tubular profiles. In the context of a metal construction, the profiles are generally joined at their ends, and the junction of the profiles is generally carried out either using an intermediate element whose members are inserted into each of the profiles, or using a fixing system interposed between the profiles, such as for example a bracket system, visible from the outside of the profiles.

[0005] The use of an intermediate element with members inserted into the profiles requires extremely precise adjustment of these members in the profiles in order to guarantee a rigid and play-free assembly, which complicates the assembly of this intermediate element relative to the profiles.

[0006] The use of a fixing system such as a system of brackets interposed between the profiles is simpler to use but nevertheless has the disadvantage of exposing this fixing system to the weather, thus making its dismantling potentially problematic in the future, once it has been subjected to corrosion.

[0007] Furthermore, it has not been considered to date to propose outdoor furniture elements in metal construction comprising crossed crosspieces, these being at best superimposed in parallel planes, as is commonly the case in conventional wooden constructions, for which the sleepers are assembled to each other by fixing systems visible from the outside.

[0008] However, it has been found that crossing the crosspieces would improve the rigidity of the assembly formed by these two crosspieces, and consequently the overall rigidity of the outdoor furniture element as a whole.

[0009] There is therefore a real need for an outdoor furniture element comprising such a crossing of crosspieces as well as a fixing system allowing these crosspieces to be fixed to the upright, while being free from the aforementioned defects of the fixing system known from the state of the art. Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention meets this need by proposing a set of outdoor furniture made of tubular metal construction comprising intersecting crosspieces, assembled invisibly to the upright.

[0011] For this purpose, the invention proposes an outdoor furniture element, comprising at least a first tubular profile forming an upright oriented in a first direction, second and third tubular profiles forming crosspieces oriented in second and third directions perpendicular to the first direction, the second and third profiles crossing in a crossing zone and being fixed to the first profile at the crossing zone, characterized in that:

[0012] - the second and third profiles are assembled in the crossing zone by a first half-timbered assembly,

[0013] - the first profile is fixed to a wall of the second profile and / or the third profile by a fixing system invisible from the outside of the profiles.

[0014] The assembly of the second and third profiles by a half-timbered assembly allows, in addition to its aesthetic appearance, to ensure rigidity of the assembly of these second and third profiles. The fixing of the first profile to the second and / or third profile by a fixing system invisible from the outside guarantees protection of this fixing system from bad weather, a guarantee of reliability in the event of subsequent dismantling of the furniture set.

[0015] According to various additional characteristics of the invention, which may be taken together or separately and which form as many embodiments of the invention:

[0016] - each of the first to third profiles is tubular with a square section or rectangular, with four side walls opposite each other two by two and extending in the direction of said profile,

[0017] - the invisible fixing system comprises an assembly composed of at least one fixing plate and at least one screw, said at least one screw passing through a single side wall, called the fixing wall of the second or third profile, said plate being housed inside the first profile and having at least one orifice for receiving the screw, in particular threaded,

[0018] - the fixing plate is arranged in contact with at least one side wall of the first profile,

[0019] - the plate comprises at least one so-called fixing plate applied in contact with a side wall, called the fixing wall, of the first profile, the screw successively passing through a side wall, called the fixing wall, of the second profile or the third profile, then the side fixing wall of the first profile, then the fixing plate via the receiving hole,

[0020] - the plate is shaped like a bracket comprising two branches each formed of a fixing plate, the plates being fixed applied in contact with two adjacent side walls of the first profile,

[0021] - the first profile is fixed to a side fixing wall of each of the second and third profiles by an invisible fixing system and in addition by at least one additional fixing system visible from the outside of the profiles, said additional fixing system comprising two intersecting plates extending over the side fixing walls of the first to third profiles and fixed to said first to third profiles,

[0022] - each plate of the additional fixing system comprises: • a first part, interposed between the vertical fixing wall of said second or third profile and the fixing wall of the first profile, being crossed by at least one fixing screw, • a second part comprising a complementary cutout of the other of the second or third profiles, said second part comprising under this cutout a lower portion assembled to a lower portion of the plate associated with the other of the second or third profiles by a second half-timbered assembly, • a third part extending over the vertical fixing wall of said second or third profile, and fixed to said vertical wall by first additional screws,

[0023] - each first part is further fixed to said fixing wall of the first profiled under the crossing area by additional second screws,

[0024] - the plate extends transversely with respect to the first direction and is fixed to the contact of at least two side walls of the first profile,

[0025] - at least one hole is arranged in each side wall opposite a wall lateral fixing of a second or third profile, coaxially with said at least one screw, said drilling being configured to allow the passage of said at least one screw,

[0026] - the drilling is closed with a plug.

[0027] The invention also relates to an arbor comprising four outdoor furniture elements of the type described above, associated in four uprights of first vertical directions and at least four crosspieces of second and third horizontal directions. Brief description of the figures

[0028] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the detailed explanatory description which follows, of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings among which:

[0029] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is an overall perspective view of an arbor comprising outdoor furniture elements according to the invention;

[0030] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a detailed perspective view of a first embodiment of an outdoor furniture element according to the invention;

[0031] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a detailed perspective view of the second and third profiles and the bracket of the outdoor furniture element of [Fig.2], the first profile having been removed;

[0032] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a detailed perspective view of the intersection of the second and third profiles of the outdoor furniture element of [Fig.2];

[0033] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a detailed perspective view of one of the second or third profiles;

[0034] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is another detailed perspective view of the first embodiment of the outdoor furniture element according to the invention;

[0035] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a detailed perspective view of a second embodiment of an outdoor furniture element according to the invention:

[0036] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a detailed perspective view of a third embodiment of an outdoor furniture element according to the invention;

[0037] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a detailed perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an outdoor furniture element according to the invention;

[0038] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a detailed perspective view of a fifth embodiment of an outdoor furniture element according to the invention;

[0039] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] is a detailed perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the outdoor furniture element of [Fig. 10], a cap of the first profile having been removed;

[0040] [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] is a detailed perspective view of the first profile and the plate of the outdoor furniture element of [Fig.l 1];

[0041] [Fig. 13] [Fig. 13] is a detailed perspective view of the plate of the outdoor furniture element of [Fig. 11];

[0042] [Fig. 14] [Fig. 14] is a detailed perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a reinforced outdoor furniture element according to the invention;

[0043] [Fig. 15] [Fig. 15] is a detailed perspective view of the intersecting plates of an additional fixing system for the reinforced outdoor furniture element of [Fig. 14];

[0044] [Fig. 16] [Fig. 16] is a detailed perspective view of the plate of the outdoor furniture element of [Fig. 14];

[0045] [Fig. 17] [Fig. 17] is a side view of one of the plates of the additional fastening system of the reinforced outdoor furniture element of [Fig.14]. Detailed description of the invention

[0046] In the following description, identical reference numerals designate identical parts or parts having similar functions.

[0047]

[0048] [Fig. 1] shows outdoor furniture 10 such as an arbour, and in Figures 2 to 17, different elements 12 of outdoor furniture for this outdoor furniture 10, as well as their constituents, produced in accordance with the invention. The outdoor furniture 10, the elements 12 of outdoor furniture, and their constituents will be described with reference to the directions of the trihedron “X”, “Y”, “Z”, where “X” designates the transverse direction, “Y” designates the longitudinal direction and “Z” designates the vertical direction.

[0049] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the outdoor furniture or arbor 10 is made up of the assembly of four elements 12 of outdoor furniture. Each element 12 of outdoor furniture comprises at least a first tubular profile 14 forming an upright oriented in a first direction, here the vertical direction Z, second tubular profiles 16 oriented in a second direction, here the longitudinal direction X, and third tubular profiles 18 oriented in a third direction, here the transverse direction Y. The second tubular profiles 16 and the third tubular profiles 18 form crosspieces delimiting an upper frame 20 of the arbor 10.

[0050] The example embodiment of outdoor furniture which has been shown here is an arbor 10, but it will be understood that this example embodiment is not limiting of the invention and that the latter could find application to other types of outdoor furniture, such as tables, awnings or any other structure which can be used outdoors.

[0051] In the frame of the arbor 10, the first tubular profiles 14 are received in feet 19 anchored to the ground. The arbor 10 comprises, for example, two longitudinal tubular profiles 16 and four transverse tubular profiles 18, the latter being assembled to each other. The second and third tubular profiles 16, which delimit the frame 20, are further joined by an additional longitudinal crosspiece 21 which divides the frame 20 into two sliding spaces for awnings 24 allowing the user to open or close the arbor 10 to the sun's rays at will. The awnings 24 are slidably mounted on cables 26 in a conventional manner, however, since this configuration is not the subject of the present invention, it will not be described more explicitly in the remainder of this description.

[0052] The second and third directions X, Y of the second and third profiles 16, 18 are preferably perpendicular to the first direction Z, so as to give the arbor 10 a structure of substantially parallelepipedal shape.

[0053] According to the invention, as illustrated in Figures 2, 6 to 11 and 14, the second and third profiles 16, 18 intersect in a crossing zone 28 and they are fixed to the first profile 14 at this crossing zone 28.

[0054] [Fig. 2] generally represents a furniture assembly 12 according to the invention in which the assembly of the second and third profiles 16, 18 is carried out in the crossing zone 28, and in which the first profile 14 is fixed to the second profile 16 and / or to the second profile 18 in this crossing zone 28. To guarantee the solidity of the furniture assembly 12, it is sufficient that the second and third profiles are assembled to each other and that the first profile 14 is fixed to at least one of these two profiles 16, 18.

[0055] However, preferably, in all the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be considered for the remainder of the present description of the invention that the first profile 14 is fixed both to the second profile 16 and to the third profile 18.

[0056] According to the invention, the second and third profiles 16, 18 are assembled in the crossing zone 28 by a first half-timbered assembly 23, which will be detailed in the remainder of this description. Furthermore, the first profile 14 is fixed to a wall 16a of the second profile 16 and / or a wall 18a of the third profile 18, and preferably to these two walls 16a, 18a, by an invisible fixing system 11 from the outside of the profiles 14, 16, 18, as illustrated in [Fig. 3].

[0057] The invention is applicable to all types of tubular profiles 14, 16, 18, whether they are cylindrical or polygonal profiles, such as rectangular or hexagonal profiles.

[0058] However, in the preferred embodiments of the invention, each of the first to third profiles 14, 16, 18 is tubular with a square or rectangular section, with four side walls opposite each other, extending in the direction X, Y, or Z of said profile. Thus, each of the first to third profiles 14, 16, 18 comprises two opposite side walls 14a, 14b, 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b and two other opposite side walls 14c, 14d, 16c, 16d, 18c, 18d. In the embodiments shown here in relation to the arbor 10, and in a non-limiting manner of the invention, the side walls 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b of the second and third profiles 16, 18 are vertical side walls, while the side walls of the second and third profiles 16c, 16d, 18c, 18d are horizontal side walls. The first profile 14 comprises four vertical side walls 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d.The first to third profiles 14, 16, 18 are for example made by extrusion of an aluminum alloy.

[0059] In the preferred embodiments of the invention, also, the vertical side walls 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b of the second and third profiles 16, 18 are of the same height, this in order to facilitate, as will be seen, the half-timbered assembly of the profiles 16, 18, and to confer an aesthetic appearance to the intersection of these profiles 16, 18. More particularly, the horizontal side walls 16c, 16d, 18c, 18d of the second and third profiles 16, 18 are also of the same dimensions, so that the second and third profiles are substantially of the same section.

[0060] Advantageously, each of the first to third profiles 14, 16, 18 is closed at its end by a plug 15, 17, 19, which conventionally makes it possible to prevent water infiltration inside the profiles.

[0061] Alternatively, each of the first to third profiles 14, 16, 18 could be closed at its end by a cap (not shown) fitted onto the profile, or by any other means of closing the profile.

[0062] Figures 3 and 8 illustrate in more detail the principle of an invisible fixing system 11 according to the invention. In [Fig.3], the first profile 14 has been shown in dotted lines.

[0063] According to the invention, the invisible fixing system 11 preferably comprises an assembly composed of at least one fixing plate 22 and at least one screw 34, the end of which can be seen in [Fig. 3]. The plate 22 is generally housed inside the first profile 14. The at least one screw 34 passes through a single side wall 16a, 18a, then called the fixing wall 16a, 18a, of the second or third profile 16, 18, and the plate 22 has at least one corresponding orifice 36 for receiving the screw 34.

[0064] Preferably, the plate 22 comprises at least two receiving orifices 36 dedicated to receiving two screws 34 for fixing one of the second and third profiles 16, 18. It will be understood that this configuration is not limiting of the invention, and that the plate 22 could comprise a number of upper receiving orifices associated with fixing one of the second and third profiles 16, 18.

[0065] Also preferably, the orifice 36 for receiving the screw 34 is a threaded orifice, which advantageously makes it possible to avoid using an additional nut for fixing the plate 22 to the corresponding second or third profile 16, 18.

[0066] Alternatively, the invisible fixing system could conventionally comprise self-drilling screws passing through the walls 16a, 18a of the first and second profile, and received in the first profile 14.

[0067] Still as a variant, the invisible fixing system could also conventionally comprise nuts passing through the walls 16a, 18a of the first and second profile, and received in sockets welded inside the first profile 14, or in captive nuts trapped in slides formed by extrusion in the external walls of the first profile 14.

[0068] In the above-mentioned preferred embodiments of the invention, there are mainly two types of plates 22.

[0069] In first, second and sixth embodiments of the invention which have been shown respectively in figures 1 to 7 and 14, the fixing plate 22 is arranged in contact with at least one side wall of the first profile 14. As illustrated in [Fig.3], the fixing plate 22 comprises at least one so-called fixing plate 27 applied in contact with a side wall 14a, 14d, called fixing, of the first profile 14, the screw 24 successively passing through a side wall 16a, 18a, called fixing, of the second profile 16 or of the third profile 18, then the side wall 14a, 14d of fixing of the first profile 14, then the fixing plate 27.Each fixing plate 27 preferably extends vertically substantially along the height of the fixing side wall 16a, 18a of the associated second or third profile 16, 18, so as to optimally distribute the pressure exerted by the fixing plate 27 on the corresponding fixing side wall 16a, 18a.

[0070] As seen, the first profile 14 could be fixed only to one of the second or third profiles 16, 18. However, it is preferably fixed to both the second profile 16 and the third profile 18. Therefore, two fixing plates 27 are necessary to ensure the fixing of each of the fixing walls 14a, 14d of the first profile 14 to the corresponding fixing walls 16a, 18a of the second profile 16 and the third profile 18. These fixing plates 27 could be independent and in this case the invisible fixing system 20 would comprise two plates 22 each comprising a single fixing plate 27.

[0071] However, in each of the first, second and sixth embodiments of the invention, the plate 22 is shaped as a bracket comprising two branches each formed from a fixing plate 27, the fixing plates 27 being applied in contact with two adjacent lateral fixing walls 14a, 14d of the first profile 14. This configuration advantageously makes it possible, during assembly, to arrange the plate 22 in abutment on the two lateral fixing walls 14a, 14d of the first profile 14 so that once a screw 34 has been introduced into one of the receiving orifices 36 of the plate 22, the latter can no longer escape inside the first profile 14. The assembly of the plate 22 is then greatly facilitated.

[0072] [Fig.4] illustrates the crossing of the second and third profiles 16, 18 according to the first half-timbered assembly.

[0073] [Fig. 5] only shows the third profile 18, since the second profile 16 is similar to the third profile and substantially complementary to it. As illustrated in [Fig. 5], the third profile 18 has an upper cutout 30 formed in the upper horizontal side wall 18c of the third profile 18, this cutout 30 being of a length L, along the Y direction of the third profile 18, equal to a width of the upper horizontal side wall 16a of the second profile 16 along this same Y direction. This cutout 30, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], receives a portion of the upper horizontal side wall 16a of the second profile 16 when the second profile 16 and third profile 18 are assembled together.

[0074] Similarly, the second profile 16 has a similar lower cutout (not shown) formed in its lower horizontal side wall 16d.

[0075] From this cutout 30 extend four vertical slots 32 up to mid-height of the third profile 18, each slot 32 being of a width equal to a thickness of one of the opposite vertical side walls 16a, 16b of the second profile 16. Each slot 32 is therefore capable of allowing the passage of one of the opposite vertical side walls 16a, 16b of the second profile 16 through said slot 32, and therefore through the third profile 18.

[0076] It will therefore be understood that the second profile 16 also comprises four similar vertical slots which extend from the cutout formed in its lower horizontal side wall 16d, which allow the passage of the vertical side walls 18a, 18b of the third profile 18 through the second profile 16.

[0077] Thus, the cutout 30 and the slots 32 of each of the second and third profiles 16, 18 are vertically opposite each other. It will therefore be understood that the half-timbered assembly 23 of the second and third profiles 16, 18 results from two half-timbered assemblies of each of the vertical walls 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b of the second and third profiles 16, 18.

[0078] Figures 4 and 5 will show holes 38 formed in the vertical side walls called fixing holes of the second and third profiles 16, 18. These holes 38 allow the passage of the fixing screws 34 and are coaxial with the receiving holes 36.

[0079] Advantageously, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, in each of the first, second and sixth embodiments of the invention, for each of the second or third profile 16, 18, at least one bore 40 is arranged in each vertical side wall 16b, 18b opposite a vertical fixing side wall 16a, 18a of this second or third profile, coaxially with the fixing screw 34. This bore 40 is configured to allow the passage of the screw 34 through the wall 16b, 18b opposite a fixing side wall 16a, 18a, so that the screw 34 only ensures tightening on the fixing side wall 16a, 18a.

[0080] This advantageously allows, on the one hand, for this screw 34 to be invisible, and on the other hand, to avoid any deformation of the second or third profile 16, 18 by crossing the second or third profile 16, 18 with the entire screw 34, which would risk deforming the profile 16, 18. The drilling 40 is for example closed by a plug 42.

[0081] In the first embodiment of the invention, the first profile 14 is assembled to the second and third profiles 16, 18 in the crossing zone 28 near their ends, that is to say that the vertical lateral walls for fixing the second and third profile 16, 18 are the external walls 16a, 18a.

[0082] However, the crossing zone 28 delimits four possible locations for the positioning of the first profile 14 and it is for example possible, as is the case in a second embodiment of the invention which has been shown in [Fig.7], to position the first profile 14 only at the end of one of the second or third profiles, here the second profile 16. Thus, in this second embodiment of the invention, the vertical lateral walls for fixing the second and third profile 16, 18 are the external vertical lateral wall 18a of the third profile 18 and the internal vertical lateral wall 16b of the second profile 16, the vertical lateral walls for fixing the first profile being the walls 14a and 14c.

[0083] In a similar manner, as a variant (not shown), the vertical lateral fixing walls of the second and third profile 16, 18 could be the inner vertical lateral wall 18b of the third profile 18 and the outer vertical lateral wall 16a of the second profile 16, the vertical lateral fixing walls of the first profile being the walls 14b, 14d.

[0084] Still as a variant (not shown), the vertical side walls for fixing the second and third profile 16, 18 could also be the interior vertical side walls 16b, 18b of the second and third profiles 16, 18, so that the first profile would be fixed inside the frame 20 by its walls 14b, 14c.

[0085] In third to fifth embodiments of the invention which have been shown respectively in Figures 7 to 13, the plate 22 of the invisible fixing system 11 extends transversely with respect to the first vertical direction Z and it is fixed in contact with at least two side walls of the first profile 14. In this configuration, the fixing side walls of the second and third profiles 16, 18 are the lower horizontal side walls 16d, 18d, which are fixed directly to the plate 22, without passing through a wall of the first profile 14. In this case, each invisible fixing system 11 comprises at least one screw, this at least one screw passing through a single side wall 16d, 18d, called the fixing side wall of the second or third profile 16, 18.

[0086] As previously, the plate 22 is housed inside the first profile 14 and has at least one receiving hole 36 for the screw 34, in particular a threaded hole. The plate 22 specific to these embodiments has been shown in detail in [Fig.13].

[0087] The third to fifth embodiments of the invention which have been shown respectively in figures 8, 9 and 10 to 11 are based on the same principle and differ from each other only in the positioning of the plate 22 in the first profile 14.

[0088] In the third embodiment of the invention which has been shown in [Fig. 8], the plate 22 is flush with the end 44 of the first profile 14. In this case, the second and third profiles 16, 18 rest substantially at the free end 44 of the first profile 14.

[0089] In the fourth embodiment of the invention which has been shown in [Fig.9], the plate (not visible in [Fig.9]) is arranged set back from the end 44 of the first profile 14, so that the second and third profiles 16, 18, which are received in the first profile 14, are flush with the free end 44 of this first profile.

[0090] In the fifth embodiment of the invention which has been shown in figures 10 to 12, the plate 22 is arranged even further back from the end of the first profile 14, and the second and third profiles 16, 18 are received in the first profile 14, which is closed by a plug 15.

[0091] In these three embodiments, the second and third profiles preferably intersect along the Z axis of the first profile 14.

[0092] In the fourth and fifth embodiments of the invention of Figures 9 to 12, at least one vertical wall of the first profile comprises a cutout 46 in U complementary to a section of a second or third profile 16, 18, said U-shaped cutout 46 opening at the end 44 of the first profile 14.

[0093] The ends of the second and third profiles can be contained indifferently in the first profile 14, as is the case of the fourth embodiment of the invention for which only the walls 14a and 14d of the first profile 14 comprise a cutout 42.

[0094] Alternatively, the ends of the second and third profiles may protrude from the profile 14, as is the case in the fifth embodiment of the invention which has been shown in Figures 10 to 12, for which each wall 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the first profile 14 comprises a U-shaped cutout 46.

[0095] Advantageously, in each of these third to fifth embodiments of the invention, as previously for each of the second or third profile 16, 18, at least one bore 40 is arranged in each horizontal side wall 16c, 18c opposite a horizontal fixing side wall 16c, 18d of this second or third profile, coaxially with the fixing screw 34. This bore 40 is configured to allow the passage of the screw 34 through the wall 16c, 18c opposite the fixing side wall 16d, 18d, so that the screw 34 only ensures tightening on the fixing side wall 16d, 18d. The bore 40 is for example also closed by a plug.

[0096] In [Fig.8], the second and third profiles 16, 18 have five holes 40 crossed by screws 34, only two of which have been shown, closed by corresponding plugs. The screws 34 are short screws, intended to allow tightening only on the side fixing wall 16d, 18d. It will be understood that, in variants, the screws 34 could be long screws carrying out the tightening on the walls 16c, 18c.

[0097] It will also be understood that the plugs 34 could be replaced by a cover (not shown) in the shape of a cross, masking the holes 40.

[0098] As seen, the plate 12 is fixed inside the first profile 14. This fixing could be, for example, ensured by welding. However, preferably as illustrated in [Fig. 13], the plate 42 comprises two wings 48 folded at 90 degrees which can be fixed by screwing to the side walls of the first profile 14. These wings 48 could be transversely opposed to each other. However, to ensure simplicity of mounting the plate 12 inside the first profile 14, the wings 48 are arranged in contact with two adjacent side walls of the first profile 14, for example the vertical side walls 14a and 14d. This makes it possible to use a plate 22 with a surface area slightly smaller than the section of the first profile 14, to facilitate its handling before fixing it to the first profile 14.

[0099] Figures 14 to 17 illustrate a sixth reinforced embodiment of the invention based on the principle of the first and second embodiments of the invention, with the difference that, in addition to the first profile 14 always being fixed to a side fixing wall 16a, 18a of each of the second and third profiles 16, 18 by an invisible fixing system of the type described previously, it is also by at least one additional fixing system 13 which is visible from the outside of the profiles 14, 16, 18.

[0100] The additional fixing system here completes the invisible fixing system 11 of figures 1 to 6, but it will be understood that it can be used to complete the invisible fixing system of [Fig.7] or the other variants previously mentioned.

[0101] As illustrated in [Fig. 14], the additional fixing system 13 comprises two intersecting plates 50, 52 extending respectively on the vertical fixing walls 16a, 18a of the second and third profiles 16, 18. The detail of the intersecting of the plates 50, 52 has been shown in [Fig. 15].

[0102] The plates 50 and 52 are substantially similar. For this reason, only the fixing plate 50 has been shown in [Fig. 17]. The description relating to the plate 50 nevertheless applies to the plate 52.

[0103] As illustrated in [Fig. 17], each plate 50 firstly comprises a first part 54, interposed between the vertical fixing wall 16a, 18a of the second or third profile 16, 18 and the fixing wall 14a, 14d of the first profile 14. This first part is crossed by at least one fixing screw which passes through a bore 66 formed in this first part 54. In particular, the bore 66 is coaxial with the bore 38 of the second and third profiles 16, 18, and with the receiving orifices 36 of the plate 22.

[0104] From this first part 54, the plate 50 comprises a second part 56 comprising a cutout 58 complementary to the other of the second or third profiles 16, 18. This second part 56 comprises under this cutout 58 a lower portion 60 which is assembled to a similar lower portion of the plate 52 associated with the other of the second or third profiles by a second half-timbered assembly 62, which has been shown in particular in [Fig. 15]. To produce such a second half-timbered assembly, the lower portion 60 comprises a slot 63 of a width corresponding to the thickness of the other plate 52.

[0105] It will be understood that the slots 63 are opposite from one plate to the other so that each slot 63 can receive the opposite plate 50, 52.

[0106] Finally, extending from this second part 56, the plate 50 comprises a third part 64 extending on the vertical wall 16a, 16b for fixing said second or third profile 16, 18, which is fixed to said vertical fixing wall by first additional screws (not shown) which pass through holes 66 formed in this third part 64.

[0107] Advantageously, each first part 54 is further fixed to the fixing wall 14a, 14d of the first profile 14 under the crossing zone 28 by second additional screws. For this, each first part 54 comprises holes 68 located under the crossing zone and which pass through holes (not shown) formed in the fixing walls of the first profile 14.

[0108] Advantageously, as illustrated in [Fig. 16], each plate 22 shaped as a right angle also extends under the crossing zone 28. It comprises under the crossing zone 28 additional receiving orifices 70 intended to receive the second additional screws of the plates 50, 52. This configuration guarantees an optimal distribution of the forces supported by the plates 50, 52.

[0109] The invention therefore proposes an outdoor furniture element 10 of great solidity which can be implemented in outdoor furniture 12 in an aesthetic manner and with great protection against bad weather.

Claims

Claims

1. Element (12) of outdoor furniture, comprising at least a first tubular profile (14) forming an upright oriented in a first direction (Z), second and third tubular profiles (16, 18) forming crosspieces oriented in second and third directions perpendicular (X, Y) to the first direction (Z), the second and third profiles crossing in a crossing zone (28) and being fixed to the first profile (14) at the crossing zone (28), characterized in that: - the second and third profiles (16, 18) are assembled in the crossing zone (28) by a first half-timbered assembly (23), - the first profile (14) is fixed to a wall of the second profile (16) and / or of the third profile (18) by a fixing system (11) invisible from the outside of the profiles.

2. Furniture element (12) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each of the first to third profiles (14, 16, 18) is tubular with a square or rectangular section, with four side walls (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) opposite each other two by two and extending in the direction (X, Y, Z) of said profile (14, 16, 18).

3. Furniture element (12) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the invisible fixing system (11) comprises an assembly composed of at least one fixing plate (22) and at least one screw (34), said at least one screw (34) passing through a single side wall (16a, 16b, 16d, 18a, 18b, 18d), called the fixing wall of the second or third profile (16, 18), said plate (22) being housed inside the first profile (14) and having at least one orifice (36) for receiving the screw (34), in particular threaded.

4. Furniture element (12) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fixing plate (22) is arranged in contact with at least one side wall (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) of the first profile (14).

5. Furniture element (12) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the plate (22) comprises at least one plate (27) called a fixing plate applied in contact with a side wall (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), called a fixing plate, of the first profile (14), the screw (34) successively passing through a side wall (16a, 16b, 18a, 18b) said fixing, of the second profile (16) or of the third profile (18), then the fixing side wall (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) of the first profile (14), then the fixing plate (27) via the receiving hole (36).

6. Furniture element (12) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the plate (22) is shaped as a bracket comprising two branches each formed from a fixing plate (27), the fixing plates (27) being applied in contact with two adjacent side walls (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) for fixing the first profile (14).

7. Furniture element (12) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the first profile (14) is fixed to a side wall (16a, 16b, 18a, 18b) for fixing each of the second and third profiles (16, 18) by an invisible fixing system (11), and in addition by at least one additional fixing system (62) visible from the outside of the profiles (14, 16, 18), said additional fixing system (62) comprising two intersecting plates (50, 52) extending over the side walls (14a, 14d, 16a, 18a) for fixing the first to third profiles (14, 16, 18) and fixed to said first to third profiles (14, 16, 18).

8. Furniture element (12) according to claim 7, characterized in that each plate (50, 52) comprises: - a first part (54), interposed between the side wall (16a, 18a) for fixing said second or third profile (16, 18) and the fixing wall (14a, 14d) of the first profile (14) being crossed by at least one fixing screw (34), - a second part (56) comprising a cutout (58) complementary to the other of the second or third profiles (16, 18), said second part (56) comprising under this cutout a lower portion (60) assembled to a lower portion (60) of the plate (50, 52) associated with the other of the second or third profiles (16, 18) by a second half-timbered assembly, - a third part (34) extending on the side wall (16a, 18a) for fixing said second or third profile, and fixed to said side wall (16a, 18a) by first additional screws.

9. Furniture element according to claim 4, characterized in that the plate (22) extends transversely relative to the first direction (X) and is fixed in contact with at least two side walls (14a, 14d) of the first profile (14).

10. Arbor (10) comprising four elements (12) of outdoor furniture according to one of the preceding claims, associated in four uprights (14) of first vertical directions (Z) and at least four crosspieces (16, 18) including two of second horizontal direction (X) and two of third horizontal direction (Y).

Images