A multi-layered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furniture and architectural components and method of construction

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-layered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furniture and architectural components comprising a hollow structural frame that conforms to the design curvature or profile of the final product, said frame having spacedly disposed spacers mounted stably on a common connector bar; one or more layers of a plurality of juxtaposedly arranged interlocking rattan strips inlaid and fixedly secured on said frame by an attaching means in forms of nails and adhesive; and a surface finishing means being applied on the outermost layer of said layers in a form of coating, preferably varnish and paint resulting in a simulated product that is natural-rattan- pole- or desired-wood-finish-Iooking.

Description

A MULTI-LAYERED HOLLOW RATTAN STRUCTURE FOR STAIRCASE HANDRAILS, FURNITURE AND ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENTS AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTIONFIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention generally relates to structural elements and more particularly to a multi-layered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furniture and architectural components and method of construction,BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the furniture and construction industries, the use of rattan in forms of natural poles or simulated rattan poles made from multi-layered rattan strip inlays continuously retains its market niche locally and abroad. However, the supply of rattan material has eventually become scarce through the years as market demands steadily increase. This brings about a material limitation in the industry though simulated multi-layered rattan poles made from rattan strips, which are covered by my previous patents, are steadily gaining market share due to the adaptability and capability thereof to produce furniture and architectural products whose designs and forms are quite intricate that natural rattan poles are not capable of producing. This has been considered in the art as a workability limitation of natural rattan poles, especially when it comes to large or extra large poles which can easily be simulated by the multi-layered rattan strip inlays.Nevertheless, rattan inlays, though capable of producing large poles and intricate product designs, are still affected by the scarcity, not only of rattan material, but also of other materials such as wood and metal which are becoming more costly. The use of a solid core material in rattan inlays is becoming impractical and uneconomical especially for simulated large rattan pole applications due to the high core material cost involved. Thus, there is that necessity to resort to a pole structure that is hollow or has no core at all. Afterall, what is important is only the look and feel of acrattan finish as applied to staircase handrails, furniture, and architectural component. This would*                x --advance the state of the prior art to a level wt^ere rattan strips are^adopted as<T».mere surface layer inlays on a hollow structuraftframe thS is so constructed to ,                                                       o                     ..... U. t*conform with the desired design requirements as if a solid=pore exists.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention seeks to overcome the shortcomings, thus advancing the state of the prior art by providing a multi-layered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furniture and architectural components, that has its hollow structural frame capable of being formed into any desired design or forms just like the prior art which has a solid core, especially for large simulated rattan pole applications such as staircase handrails, furniture and other architectural components, e.g. decorative and display posts or columns. Covering completely the hollow frame with rattan strips inlays in layers would produce a final product that looks the same as that which has a solid core, resulting in a simulated rattan product that looks like natural rattan pole or the desired wood finish in overall appearance, colors and texture.It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a multilayered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furniture and architectural components that comprises of layers of rattan strips inlaid on a hollow structural frame, especially of a staircase handrail, and components of furniture, making them appear as if they are made of natural rattan or wood, or simulated multi-layered rattan pole having a solid core, characterized by a uniquely impressive and elegant appearance.Another object thereof is to provide a multi-layered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furniture and architectural components and method of construction therefor, that is very practical and easy to install, and yet capable of being made into rattan- or wood-looking furniture and architectural components of any designs, shapes and forms characterized by a peculiar elegance and high surface durability.Still another object thereof is to provide a multi-layered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furniture and architectural components and method of construction that is most economical and practical to commercially engage with as it only utilizes very simple components made from indigenous materials, and simple technology or craftsmanship.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThese and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing cut-away sections of the layers and structure thereof; andFIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 2-2 of FIG.1, with an inset view of an enlarged section thereof.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONBefore describing the preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the phraseologies and terminologies employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate the same parts or elements all throughout the succeeding description, there is shown in FIG. 1 a multi-layered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furniture and architectural components generally designated by reference numeral 10 comprising a hollow structural frame 11 substituting the solid core substrate (not shown) of the prior art, one or more layers 12 of a plurality of juxtaposedly arranged interlocking rattan strips 12a fixedly secured and inlaid on the frame 11 by an attaching means 13, and a surface finishing means 14 being applied on the outermost layer of the layers 12.The hollow structural frame 11 comprises of a plurality of spacedly disposed spacers 15 at sufficient intervals of about 50 mm apart, preferably made of wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic or any suitable material which is capable of facilitating the attachment of the layers 12. The spacers 15 are each mounted stably and perpendicularly on a common connector bar 16, preferably made of a steel bar, wood, fiberglass, plastic or any suitable material, through a notch 17 provided thereto that fits in securely into the connector bar 16 as shown in FIG. 1. Since these spacers 15 are substitutes for the solid core of the prior art, they adopt at least a uniform profile conforming to the desired shape or form of the final product such that when the rattan strips 12a are mounted or inlaid thereon, the latter likewise conform with the product’s desired shape or form as in the illustrative example shown in FIG. 1 depicting the profile of a staircase handrail. The connector bar 16 is made to conform with the design curvature or profile of the desired final product, e.g. staircase handrail, furniture frame component, to ensure design conformity of the resulting product.The rattan strips 12a are preferably segments taken from the inner part of rattan poles or canes using stripping machine or device resulting in slices or strips of about 1 / 4 inch thick by 3 / 8 inch wide in size. The first layer of the layers 12 has the strips 12a thereof, which are inlaid juxtaposedly and interlockingly, being nailed using tacks or nails 13a partially shown in FIG. 2, preferably with the use of a gun tucker (not shown), and gluedly or adhesively bonded, using glue with a high adhesive properties such as resin-based adhesive, onto the spacers 15. These are some of the preferred forms of the attaching means 13 adapted in the invention to ensure there isn’t any visible joints appearing on the outer surface of the product.Each of the strips 12a has an interlocking means 18 in a form of complementing distinctly-shaped side sections 19 provided thereto such that when the strips 12a are inlaid side by side, these complementing sections interlock with each other as shown in FIG. 2. The complementing side sections are preferably of a concavo-convex profile pattern as shown in the illustrative example described herein. Other profile patterns (not shown) for the side sections 19 are: concavo-concave and circular, chevron-shaped, tearlike-shaped, rhomboid-shaped, and any suitable shapes or forms that are capable of interlocking with each other when inlaid in a juxtaposed manner. The subsequent layers of the layers 12 are attached in the same manner as the first layer, with the nailing aspect optionally adapted depending on the size, shape or design complexity and application of the desired product.The surface finishing means 14 is preferably in a form of a coating such as varnish or paint being applied on the smoothened and sanded surface of the outermost layer of the layers 12, resulting in a perfectly naturalrattan-pole-looking appearance and surface texture, or other wood finishes like “Narra” or “Kamagong” finish coated with polyurethane paint. Finishes other than wood can also be adapted for design preference purposes, in which drying time takes not less than 24 hours before applying the surface finishing means 14.The present invention has embodied also a method of construction for the multi-layered hollow rattan structure 10, comprising the steps of:a) , constructing or installing the hollow structural frame 11 by forming the common connector bar 16 to conform with the desired design curvature or profile of the final product, e.g. a staircase handrail, and mounting stably and perpendicularly the spacedly disposed spacers 15 on the connector bar 16;b) . attaching the rattan strips 12a one by one and layer by layer in an interlocking manner and along the longitudinal direction on the spacers 15 by the attaching means 13 which is preferably in forms of nails 13a that are applied on the first layer and optionally on the subsequent layers of layers 12 using a gun tucker (not shown), and adhesive such as glue, epoxy or resinbased adhesives; andc) . applying the surface finishing means 14 preferably in a form of a coating such as varnish or paint on a smoothened and sanded surface of the outermost layer of the layer 12.For construction or architectural components or elements such as staircase handrails, it is preferred that the installation or construction of the present invention be undertaken on-site for practicality purposes.Before defining the scope of the following claims, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or structure of the components / elements set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. It is to be noted that the invention is capable of other embodiments and limitless applications not disclosed herein, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways falling within the teaching and scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMSCLAIMSWhat is claimed is;1.2.A multi-layered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furnituremindarchitectural components comprising a hollow structural11->east ; finesone layer of a plurality of juxtaposedly arranged interlocking rattan stripsinlaid and fixedly secured on said frame by an surface finishing means being applied on theattaching n^^ns^nd^ 25 pl outermost layer of saidlayers.A multi-layered hollow rattan structure accordingto claim 1          'vBidframe comprises of a plurality of spacedly disposed spacers, each mounted stably and perpendicularly on a common connector bar through a notch provided thereto that fits-in securely into said connector bar, each of said spacers adopting at least a uniform profile conforming to the desiredshape or form of the final product.

3. A multi-layered hollow rattan structure according to claim 2 wherein said spacers and connectors are made of materials selected from wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic and combination thereof.

4. A multi-layered hollow rattan structure according to claim 1 wherein said rattan strips are each provided with an interlocking means in a form of complementing distinctly-shaped side sections provided thereto.

5. A multi-layered hollow rattan structure according to claim 4 wherein said complementing distinctly-shaped side sections having profile patterns selected from the group comprising of concavo-convex, concavo-concave and circular, chevron-shaped, tearlike-shaped and rhomboid-shaped.

6. A multi-layered hollow rattan structure according to claim 1 wherein said attaching means is in forms of nails and adhesives.

7. A multi-layered hollow rattan structure according to claim 1 wherein said surface finishing means is in a form of a coating selected from the group of coatings comprising of varnish and paint.

8. A multi-layered rattan cladding according to claim 7 wherein said coating is wood finish coated with polyurethane paint.

9. A method of construction of a multi-layered hollow rattan structure for staircase handrails, furniture and architectural components of claim 1 comprising the steps of:a. constructing or installing a hollow structural frame by forming a common connector bar to conform with the desired design curvature or profile of the final product, and mounting stably and perpendicularly spacedly disposed spacers on said connector bar;b. attaching layers of juxtaposedly arranged rattan strips one by one and layer by layer in an interlocking manner and along the longitudinal direction on said spacers by an attaching means; andc. applying a surface finishing means on a smoothened and sanded surface of the outermost layer of said layers.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said attaching means is in forms of nails that are applied on said layers, and adhesive selected from glue, epoxy and resin-based adhesive11.  A method according to claim 9 wherein said rattan strips are each provided with interlocking means in a form of complementing distinctly-shaped side sections provided thereto.

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein said spacers and connectors are made of materials selected from wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic and combination thereof.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein said surface finishing means is in a form of a coating selected from the group of coatings comprising of varnish and paint.

14. A method according to claim 9 wherein said coating is wood finish coated with polyurethane paint.Eduardo R. YrezabalApplicant