Storage furniture item

Abstract

A module of furniture item is described for supporting objects comprising (in use) a first pair of vertical uprights which are parallel to each other and lying in an imaginary first vertical plane, a second pair of vertical uprights which are parallel to each other and lying in a second imaginary vertical plane which is parallel and offset with respect to the first vertical plane, and one or more horizontal shelves mounted vertically offset between, and supported by, the first and second pairs of vertical uprights. To reinforce the module, there is a flat member coupled to and between the vertical uprights of at least one of said pairs.

Description

[0001] STORAGE FURNITURE ITEM

[0002] The present invention relates to a storage furniture item, e.g. a bookcase or a shelf, in particular a modular storage furniture item.

[0003] The well-known bookcases, taken here as an example, comprise a frame formed of parallel vertical uprights connected by horizontal elements (the number of which can vary). On the horizontal elements are arranged shelves on which objects can be stored.

[0004] The stability of the uprights is important, so much so that they are often fixed to the ceiling and often also to the floor, so that together with the horizontal elements they form a very solid structure. However, especially for very large or capacious structures, their stability and rigidity is still a problem.

[0005] The main object of the present invention is to improve this state of the art.

[0006] In particular, it is the object of the invention to provide a storage furniture item that is more rigid and stable.

[0007] A module of furniture item is then proposed to support objects comprising (in use): a first pair of vertical uprights that are parallel to each other and lying in a first (imaginary) vertical plane,

[0008] • a second pair of vertical uprights that are parallel to each other and lie in a second (imaginary) vertical plane that is parallel to and offset from the first vertical plane, and

[0009] • one or more horizontal shelves mounted vertically staggered between, and supported by, the first and second pair of vertical uprights.

[0010] To reinforce the module, there is a flat member, e.g. a plate, coupled to and between the vertical uprights of at least one of said pairs.

[0011] The flat member provides strength and rigidity to the structure of the vertical uprights, so that, for example, they do not wobble.

[0012] The flat member is coupled between the vertical uprights of at least one of said pairs, preferably both, lying substantially on, or having a lying plane parallel to, said first or second plane. In particular for each said pair there is a flat member so arranged.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, said one or more horizontal shelves each have two opposite horizontal edges that are parallel to the first and second vertical planes, said one or more horizontal shelves being mounted to be supported by, and / or coupled to, said first and second pair of vertical uprights, respectively, at one of such horizontal edges.

[0014] More preferably said horizontal edge has a length, and said one or more horizontal shelves are mounted so as to be supported by, and / or coupled to, respectively, the first and second pair of vertical uprights at the center of said horizontal edge, namely at the midpoint of such length. According to a preferred embodiment, the flat member is a rectangular or square or polygonal board or slab.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the flat member is transparent to improve the diffusion of light in the module.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the flat member is made of polymethyl methacrylate (plexiglass), glass, wood or metal, which are durable and convenient for the application. Polymethyl methacrylate is both durable and transparent.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the vertical uprights of one pair are aligned two by two with the vertical uprights of the other pair. That is, each vertical upright of one pair is coplanar with a vertical upright of the other pair with respect to a plane orthogonal to the first vertical plane and the second vertical plane.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, simple but effective (no mounting means), the vertical uprights of one pair each comprise a first surface linear groove, wherein the first linear groove of one vertical upright is directed and faces the other linear groove of the other vertical upright, the opposite edges of the flat member being inserted respectively into one linear groove.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the first linear groove extends as long as the length of the respective upright, to maximize the size of the flat member.

[0020] To maximize the reinforcing capacity of the flat member, according to a preferred embodiment each vertical upright rests on the ground by means of a foot, and the flat member is mounted so as to rest with one edge on the foot, said edge being comprises between said edges inserted in the first linear grooves.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, at least the vertical uprights of one pair each comprise two second surface linear grooves that run on diametrically opposed zones of the vertical upright, in each second linear groove being installed a linear member provided with a row of pass-through holes, preferably with a constant pitch. The two said linear grooves are useful and advantageous for attaching the shelves thereto.

[0022] To reinforce the structure of the module, according to a preferred embodiment, the module comprises a connecting member arranged between, and connected to, said two pairs, the connecting member comprising two opposite ends provided with hooking means for attaching respectively to the two vertical uprights of the first and second pair.

[0023] According to a preferred simple embodiment, the hooking means comprise hooks, e.g. protruding from the ends, which can be fitted into pass-through holes provided in the linear member. According to a preferred embodiment, the vertical uprights of the first and second pair are all parallel to each other and arranged reciprocally like the vertices of a rectangle.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the module comprises a connecting member that rigidly connects all four vertical uprights of the first and second pair, wherein the connecting member comprises two bars parallel to each other which at the ends are provided with a row (vertical in use) of hooked hooks, the pitch of which is equal to that of said pass-through holes, the hooks being arranged symmetrically on the two bars and symmetrically with respect to the center of one bar.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting member comprises at least one spacer member cantilevered between the two bars to keep them at a predefined distance.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the two bars and / or the spacer member are flat plates of rigid material, e.g. metal.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting member comprises two corner brackets configured to receive a lower edge of one shelf, the corner brackets being provided with two spaced grooves into which the upper profiles of the two bars can be respectively inserted to fit.

[0028] Another aspect of the invention is a furniture item comprising two modules as defined above which are adjacent and integrally connected to each other, wherein the first module comprises at least one shelf supported at its ends by two pairs of vertical uprights as said first pair and second pair; the second module comprises at least one shelf supported at its ends by two pairs of vertical uprights as said first pair and second pair; and at the center of this composite furniture item there are only two vertical uprights shared by the two modules (the modules have a pair of vertical uprights in common, those of a pair only).

[0029] The following description regards a preferred embodiment of the module and furniture item, referring to the attached drawings in which:

[0030] • Fig. 1 shows a front view of a modular furniture item with enlargements relating to parts contained in the dashed circles and illustrated in transparency or vertical crosssection with respect to a vertical cross-section plane passing through a vertical upright;

[0031] • Fig. 2 shows a side view of the modular furniture item; • Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the Ill-Ill plane;

[0032] • Fig. 4 shows an enlargement of some components contained in the dotted circle in Fig. 3;

[0033] • Fig. 5 shows an enlargement of some components contained in the isolated dashed circle of fig. 1 illustrated in transparency or cross-section with respect to a vertical cross-section plane passing through a vertical upright;

[0034] • Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of a component of the furniture item;

[0035] • Fig. 7 shows a view of the component of fig. 6 as assembled.

[0036] In the figures, equal numbers indicate equal or similar parts, and the furniture item is described as in use. In order not to crowd the drawings, not all equal elements are marked.

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a modular furniture item 10 for supporting objects, e.g. books. The item 10 is composed of four modules 20 connected together, of which for simplicity only one will be described in detail. It is understood that the item 10 may have one, two or more modules 20 connected to each other.

[0038] The module 20 rests on a plane T via four vertical uprights 22, 24, 26 and 28, preferably via feet 98.

[0039] The vertical uprights 22, 24, 26, 28 are linear members that extend along a respective Y axis and in the structure of the module 20 they can be subdivided into: a first pair of vertical uprights 22, 24 which are parallel to each other, slightly separated, and lying in a first vertical (imaginary) plane P1 and a second pair of vertical uprights 26, 28 which are parallel to each other, slightly separated and lying in a second vertical (imaginary) plane P2 which is parallel, and offset with respect, to the plane P1 (fig. 3 ).

[0040] Essentially the vertical uprights 22, 24, 26, 28 are all parallel to each other and arranged reciprocally like the vertices of a rectangle (see also fig. 3).

[0041] One or more horizontal shelves 96 are mounted vertically offset between, and supported by, the first and second pair of vertical uprights 22, 24, 26, 28.

[0042] In the case of two modules 20 placed side by side, they share the pair of central vertical uprights.

[0043] Each vertical upright 22, 24, 26, 28 has a linear groove 30 that runs axially along its external surface (parallel to the Y-axis), preferably along the entire length of the vertical upright. When seen in cross-section (see fig. 4) the linear groove 30 appears as a notch. It is understood that the cross-section of each vertical upright 22, 24, 26, 28 may be not only round or circular as illustrated but any, e g. polygonal.

[0044] The grooves 30 in each pair of uprights face each other and are coplanar.

[0045] A flat member such as a plate 40 is arranged between the uprights of at least one pair. The opposite sides of the plate 40 are inserted into the linear groove 30 of the two uprights of the pair respectively. Preferably the thickness of the plate 40 is complementary to the width of the linear groove 30, so that no fastening means are required between the two. It is however possible to implement fastening means between a linear groove 30 and an edge of the plate 40, e.g. adhesive, glue, clamps, screws or rivets.

[0046] Preferably, the plate 40 extends along the entire length of the linear groove 30, and more preferably, the plate 40 rests on the foot 98 which closes each pair of vertical uprights at the bottom. In this way, the plate 40 and the relative pair of vertical uprights form a sort of composite panel.

[0047] Advantageously, the plate 40 provides resistance and rigidity to the structure of the vertical uprights, so that for example they do not oscillate, and counteracts the torsion of the pair of uprights in which it is installed.

[0048] Furthermore, the plate 40 acts as a separation partition between the compartments delimited by the shelves 96 and the vertical uprights 22, 24, 26, 28 of a module 20.

[0049] Preferably the plate 40 is made of methacrylate, glass, wood or metal.

[0050] Preferably the vertical uprights 22, 24, 26, 28 also act as a direct support for the shelves 96. In particular, each vertical upright 22, 24, 26, 28 further comprises two linear grooves 50, preferably equal to each other, which extend parallel to the Y axis on diametrically opposed surface zones of the vertical upright.

[0051] Considering that the linear groove 30 extends radially in the body of the vertical upright 22, 24, 26, 28 along a first direction, the linear grooves 50 extend radially in the body of the vertical upright 22, 24, 26, 28 along a second direction orthogonal to the first (and to the planes P1 , P2).

[0052] In the linear grooves 40, there is installed a rack 92 provided with a row of pass- through holes 52 preferably having a constant pitch.

[0053] The shelves 96 are mounted on, and supported at their ends by, a pair of corner brackets 62 (one for each end) which in turn are equipped with a pair of hooked hooks 60 which protrude cantilevered from one side of the corner bracket 62 (fig. 1 and 5). The hooks 60 of each pair of corner brackets 62 are inserted into a corresponding pass- through hole 52 of the rack 50 belonging to the first or second pair of adjacent vertical uprights 22, 24, 26, 28. Thus, overall the shelf 96 is fixed between two pairs of adjacent vertical uprights and the height of the shelf 96 can be adjusted with respect to the plane T by choosing a height for the pass-through holes 52 in which to insert the hooks 60.

[0054] To improve the stability of the module 20 and that of a furniture item 10 composed of several modules 20, preferably between two adjacent pairs of vertical uprights 22, 24, 26, 28 there is mounted a different member, indicated by 70 (see fig. 6 and 7), for a shelf 96, preferably the lower one.

[0055] The connecting member 70 is provided with two parallel bars 74, preferably equal, which preferably mount at their opposite ends two corner brackets 72, which (like the corner brackets 62) serve to receive one lower edge of a shelf 96 respectively.

[0056] The angle brackets 72 are preferably provided with two spaced grooves 76 into which the upper profile of a bar 74 is respectively inserted. This constraints the relative distance of the bars 74. To provide additional rigidity, preferably one or more plates 78 are fixed between the two bars 74, as wide as the distance between the grooves 76. The plates 78 may also replace the grooves 76.

[0057] From each end of the bars 74, a row (vertical in use) of hooked hooks 80 protrudes in a cantilevered manner, the pitch of which is equal to that of the pass-through holes 52.

[0058] The hooks 80 are arranged symmetrically on the two bars 74 and symmetrically about the center of one bar 74.

[0059] The hooks 80 are inserted into corresponding pass-through holes 52 of racks 92 belonging to a respective pair of vertical uprights 22, 24, 26, 28 which are adjacent and separated by a shelf 96. Then such two pairs of vertical uprights are rigidly constrained by the bars 74, which prevent the four vertical uprights from moving away, which keeps them mutually in position and stiffens the resulting structure.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Module of furniture item for supporting objects comprising (in use):- a first pair of vertical uprights which are parallel to each other and lying in an imaginary first vertical plane,- a second pair of vertical uprights which are parallel to each other and lying in a second imaginary vertical plane which is parallel and offset with respect to the first vertical plane,- one or more horizontal shelves mounted vertically offset between, and supported by, the first and second pairs of vertical uprights,- a flat member coupled to and between the vertical uprights of at least one of said pairs.

2. Module according to claim 1 , wherein the flat member is made of a material chosen from: polymethylmethacrylate (plexiglass), glass, wood or metal.

3. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical uprights of one pair are aligned two by two with the vertical uprights of the other pair.

4. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical uprights of at least one pair each comprise a first surface linear groove, wherein the first linear groove of one vertical upright is directed and faces towards the other linear groove of the other vertical upright, the opposite edges of the flat member being respectively inserted into one of said linear grooves.

5. The module according to claim 4, wherein the first linear groove extends as long as the length of the respective upright.

6. Module according to any of the previous claims, wherein each vertical upright rests on the ground via a foot, and the flat element is mounted so as to rest with one edge on the foot, said edge being comprised between said edges inserted in the first linear grooves.

7. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical uprights of a pair each comprise two second superficial linear grooves running on diametrically opposite zones of the vertical upright, in each second linear groove being installed a linear member provided with a row of pass-through holes configured for attaching one or more shelves thereto.

8. Module according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a connecting member arranged between, and connected to, two said pairs, the connecting member comprising two opposite ends equipped with hooking means for hooking respectivelythe two vertical uprights of the first and second couple, the connecting element comprising two bars parallel to each other which at their ends are provided with a row of curved hooks, the pitch of which is equal to that of said pass-through holes.

9. Module according to claim 8, wherein the two bars are flat plates of rigid material.

10. Furniture item comprising two modules, made according to any one of the previous claims, which are adjacent and integrally connected to each other, wherein the first module comprises at least one shelf supported at its ends by two pairs of vertical uprights made like said first pair and second pair; the second module comprises at least one shelf supported at its ends by two pairs of vertical uprights made like said first pair and second pair; and in the center of the resulting composite furniture item there are only two of said vertical uprights which are shared by the two modules.

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