Connection device for parts of a furnishing element

Abstract

Connection device (10) for connecting a first part (11) and a second part (12) of a furnishing element, comprising an attachment element (13) attachable to the first part (11) and a tightening element (14) attachable to the second part (12), and provided with a seating (15) in which an eccentric ring (16) is housed which engages a head (17) of the attachment element (13) and is provided with a manually driven lever (18) which allows to rotate the eccentric ring (16), tighten the head (17) and connect the first part (11) and the second part (12).

Description

[0001] “CONNECTION DEVICE FOR PARTS OF A FURNISHING ELEMENT”

[0002] * * * * *

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention concerns a connection device for parts of a furnishing element, such as two panels or suchlike, for example made of wood or other, placed adjacent to each other, perpendicular or at various angles.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] As is known, there are connection devices for parts of a furnishing element which comprise a first component connected to a first part of a furnishing element, for example a first panel, and a second component connected to a second part of the furnishing element, for example an additional panel.

[0007] Among these connection devices, eccentric joints are widely used, which comprise a first component, namely an eccentric fitting, generally cylindrical in shape and provided with threads, which is inserted into a seating of the first part to be connected, and a second component, namely a peg, which engages the eccentric fitting for tightening. The peg is inserted into a seating of the second part and comprises a threaded part.

[0008] These eccentric joints require tools, such as screwdrivers or suchlike, to connect the two components and therefore the two parts of the furnishing element. In addition, these components are normally made of metal material, so they have a certain weight and require working to make the threaded screwing elements.

[0009] Moreover, the parts of the furnishing element to be connected require a lot of working to create the seatings that have to accommodate the eccentric fitting and the peg, so as to allow them to be, for example, reciprocally screwed.

[0010] In addition, known connection devices have proven to be, overall, not very stable; in fact, over time they can come loose and require the use of tools to tighten them again.

[0011] Furthermore, known connection devices do not allow to adequately assimilate possible and relative misalignments, both horizontal and also vertical, of the two parts of the furnishing element.

[0012] Known connection devices are disclosed for example in US2009 / 080969A1, W02021 / 116021A1, US2023 / 151838A1, EP0068236A1, US4549831A,

[0013] FR2638211A1. There is therefore the need to perfect a connection device for parts of a furnishing element that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

[0014] In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a connection device for parts of a furnishing element that is simple to make, precise and does not require the use of tools to tighten it.

[0015] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a connection device for parts of a furnishing element that is light, does not potentially require the use of metal material to manufacture it and excessive working in the parts of the furnishing element to be joined.

[0016] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a connection device that allows to simply and effectively join two parts of a connection element which are located on a same plane, reciprocally orthogonal or variously inclined.

[0017] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a connection device that allows to assimilate possible and relative misalignments, both horizontal and vertical, of the two parts of the furnishing element, facilitating their coupling.

[0018] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a furnishing element whose parts can be connected manually and in a simple and stable manner by means of a connection device.

[0019] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

[0020] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0022] In accordance with the above purposes and according to the present invention, a connection device for connecting a first part and second part of a furnishing element comprises an attachment element, attachable to the first part, and a tightening element, attachable to the second part. The tightening element is provided with a seating in which an eccentric ring is housed, which engages a head of the attachment element. The eccentric ring is provided with a manually driven lever which allows to rotate the eccentric ring, tighten the head and stably connect the first part and the second part. The attachment element is substantially T-shaped and provides a stem provided with longitudinally directed notches along its extension, the stem comprising the head at one end and a transverse element attachable to the first part at the opposite end.

[0023] Advantageously, the present connection device can be tightened manually for the reversible attachment of the two parts, without requiring the use of tools or suchlike. Moreover, the present connection device, compared to those described in the documents cited above, is simple to make, precise and stable. The parts to be joined can be panels or suchlike, located on a same plane, reciprocally orthogonal or variously inclined. Furthermore, advantageously, the present connection device allows to assimilate possible and relative misalignments, both horizontal and also vertical, of the two parts of the furnishing element, facilitating their coupling. The present connection device, in particular thanks to the notches, is also light and has good flexibility, which allows it, for example, to adapt very well to the position of the connection elements to be joined.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the attachment element and / or the tightening element comprise one or more pins for pressure connection in corresponding seatings of the first part and / or the second part.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, the attachment element and / or the tightening element comprise at least one pair of pins. This pair of pins gives the connection additional stability and hold.

[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, the pins or the screw attachment systems for connection in the seatings of the first part are substantially orthogonal to the head.

[0027] According to another aspect of the invention, the pins or the screw attachment systems for connection in the seatings of the second part are substantially parallel to the head.

[0028] According to another aspect of the invention, the pins or the screw attachment systems for connection in the seatings of the first part are substantially orthogonal to the pins or the screw attachment systems for connection in the seatings of the second part.

[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, the seating essentially has a circular shape, and an annular notch is created inside it configured to accommodate a corresponding annular protrusion of the eccentric ring.

[0030] According to another aspect of the invention, the seating and the eccentric ring have respective apertures which, during use, are initially substantially aligned to allow the lateral insertion of the head of the attachment element. The seating and the ring assume a substantially C-like shape.

[0031] According to another aspect of the invention, the lever is substantially radial with respect to the eccentric ring.

[0032] According to another aspect of the invention, the lever is made in a single piece with the eccentric ring.

[0033] According to another aspect of the invention, once assembly is completed, the attachment element and the tightening element have respective contact surfaces with the second part that are substantially coplanar.

[0034] According to another aspect of the invention, the eccentric ring comprises a first substantially truncated conical section which narrows toward a second substantially cylindrical section, in which the head is ultimately housed.

[0035] According to another aspect of the invention, the attachment element and the tightening element are made of plastic material or suchlike.

[0036] The present invention also concerns the production of a furnishing element, comprising at least two parts connected by means of at least one connection device as defined above.

[0037] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0039] - fig. 1 is a first three-dimensional view from one side of a connection device for parts of a furnishing element;

[0040] - fig. 2 is another three-dimensional view from the opposite side of the connection device of fig. 1;

[0041] - fig. 3 shows, schematically and in an exploded view, the elements of the present connection device for joining two parts of a furnishing element;

[0042] - figs. 4a-4e show, by way of example, a sequence for assembling two parts of a furnishing element by means of the connection device.

[0043] We must clarify that the phraseology and terminology used in the present description, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also in relation as to how described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their purpose being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0044] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

[0045] DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0046] We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings, by way of a nonlimiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0047] With reference to the attached drawings, figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a connection device 10 for connecting a first part 11 and a second part 12 of a furnishing element. The parts 11 and 12 can be for example panels or suchlike, made of wood or other. The connection device 10 comprises an attachment element 13 attachable to the first part 11 and a tightening element 14 attachable to the second part 12. The tightening element 14 comprises a seating 15, or sleeve, in which an eccentric ring 16 is housed that engages a head 17 of the attachment element 13. The eccentric ring 16 is provided with a manually driven lever 18, therefore without tools, which allows to rotate the eccentric ring 16, tighten the head 17 and therefore connect the two parts 11 and 12 together in a stable position. The head 17 is substantially a cylindrical peg or suchlike. The attachment element 13 is substantially T-shaped and the head 17 is located laterally or at one end thereof. In fig. 3, by way of example, the two parts 11 and 12 are located orthogonally to each other. It is possible to provide that the parts 11 and 12 lie on a same plane, or that they are variously inclined with respect to each other. The attachment element 13 and the tightening element 14 are also positioned on a same side with respect to the parts 11 and 12, see for example the sequence of figs. 4a-4e, making the attachment and adjustment operations more effective.

[0048] The attachment element 13 comprises one or more pins 19 by means of which it can be pressure inserted into corresponding seatings 20 of the first part 11, for example holes or suchlike. The pins 19 are preferably a plurality, in particular two, so as to guarantee further stability to the attachment. The pins 19 can have a sawtooth profile or suchlike. The attachment element 13, as an alternative to the pins 19, can comprise screw attachment elements.

[0049] The attachment element 13 comprises a stem 21 which provides the head 17 at one end. At the opposite end, the stem 21 comprises a transverse element 22 attachable to the first part 11. The pins 19 are positioned at the ends of the transverse element 22. The pins 19 or the screw attachment systems are substantially orthogonal to the head 17. Along its extension the stem 21 provides lightening notches 32 or suchlike, directed longitudinally. In addition to lightening, the notches give flexibility to the stem and therefore to the attachment element.

[0050] The seating 15 of the tightening element 14 comprises one or more pins 23 by means of which it can be pressure inserted into corresponding seatings 24 of the second part 12, for example holes or suchlike. The pins 23 are preferably a plurality, in particular two, so as to guarantee further stability to the attachment. The pins 23 can have a saw-tooth profile or suchlike. As an alternative to the pins 23, screw attachment elements can be used. The pins 23 or the screw attachment systems are substantially parallel to the head 17, see for example fig. 3. The pins 23, once the connection has taken place, face the side of the stem 21 opposite to the side where the head 17 is positioned. The pins 23 or the screw attachment systems for connection in the seatings 24 of the second part 12 are substantially orthogonal to the pins 19 or the screw attachment systems for connection in the seatings 20 of the first part 11, see for example fig. 3.

[0051] The seating 15 has substantially a circular shape and an annular notch 25 is created inside it, fig. 3, configured to stably accommodate a corresponding annular protrusion 26 of the eccentric ring 16. The annular notch 25 and the annular protrusion 26 can have a pointed shape or suchlike, as schematically shown, or even a rounded one. The insertion of the eccentric ring 16 into the seating 15 can therefore occur by pressure, snap-in or suchlike. The seating 15 can be supplied to the user with the eccentric ring 16 already inserted, rotatable with respect thereto by means of the lever 18.

[0052] The seating 15 and the eccentric ring 16 have an aperture 27 and an aperture 28, respectively, which during use are substantially initially aligned, see fig. 2 and fig. 4a, to allow the lateral insertion of the head 17 of the attachment element 13. The head 17 can also be inserted into the eccentric ring 16 from above, therefore not only laterally. By virtue of the presence of the apertures 27 and 28, the seating 15 and the eccentric ring 16 assume a substantially C-like shape.

[0053] The lever 18 is substantially radial with respect to the eccentric ring 16, so as to give better maneuverability on the eccentric ring 16 and create less effort for the rotation thereof. The lever 18 is made in a single piece with the eccentric ring 16. In cross section, the eccentric ring 16, see in particular fig. 3, comprises a first substantially truncated conical section 29 which narrows toward a second substantially cylindrical section 30. The first section 29 allows for an easier insertion of the head 17 into the second section 30 from above.

[0054] A groove 31 is created between the lever 18 and the eccentric ring 16 in which, once assembly is completed, see fig. 3, the lateral wall of the seating 15 is positioned substantially to measure. Once assembly is completed, the attachment element 13 and the tightening element 14 have respective contact surfaces 33 and 34 with the second part 12 which are substantially coplanar.

[0055] In the situation of fig. 3, the parts 11 and 12 are located orthogonally to each other. The attachment element 13 is attached to the first part 11 by pressure inserting the pins 19 into the seatings 20, or by means of screw systems. The seating 15, provided with the eccentric ring 16, is attached to the second part by pressure inserting the pins 23 into the seatings 24, or by means of screw systems. One insertion is completed, the pins 19 of the attachment element 13 and the pins 23 of the tightening element 14 are substantially orthogonal. To complete the tightening, the lever 18 is gripped and rotated manually, so that the eccentric ring 16 slightly pulls the attachment element 13 and tightens the corresponding head 17. The aperture 28 of the eccentric ring 16 is then rotated by means of such rotation, so that the head 17 is locked in position between the eccentric ring 16 and the seating 15.

[0056] A schematic and example sequence of assembling the connection device 10 and joining the two parts 11 and 12 of a furnishing element is shown in figs. 4a-4e.

[0057] In fig. 4a, the first attachment element 13 is in proximity to the first part 11, while the tightening element 14 is already inserted into the second part 12 by means of the pins 23. In fig. 4b, the pins 19 of the attachment element 13 are completely inserted into the first part 11. The second part 12 provided with the tightening element 14 is shown close to the attachment element 13.

[0058] By further bringing the parts 11 and 12 close to each other, fig. 4c, the head 17 of the attachment element 13 is inserted laterally into the eccentric ring 16. The head 17 is substantially positioned laterally with respect to the pins 19 and the transverse element 22 on which they are positioned. In this step, the apertures 27 and 28, of the seating 15 and of the eccentric ring 16 respectively, are aligned as in fig. 2 and fig. 4a.

[0059] Once the insertion of the head 17 into the eccentric ring 16 is completed, the lever 18 can be rotated manually and without the aid of tools in the direction R to allow the eccentric ring 16 to pass from the position of fig. 4c to the position of fig. 4e, through the intermediate position of fig. 4d, tightening the head 17 into position. During this rotation, the tightening element 14 moves slightly closer to the attachment element 13 so that the connection device 10, fig. 4e, stably connects the two parts 11 and 12. This rotation of the lever 18 can be comprised for example between about 120° and about 180°. This manual rotation of the lever 18 takes place substantially with respect to a plane where the seating 15 and the eccentric ring 16 lie. By rotating the lever 18 in reverse with relation to what is shown in figs. 4c-4e, it is possible to disengage the tightening element 14 from the attachment element 13 and then separate the parts 11 and 12.

[0060] The components of the present connection device 10, therefore in particular the attachment device 13 and the tightening element 14, comprising the seating 15 and the eccentric ring 16, are preferably made of plastic material or suchlike. These components can be made by means of additive manufacturing, such as 3D printing or suchlike.

[0061] Therefore the connection device 10 can be produced with precision, using structurally resistant and lightweight components made of plastic material or suchlike.

[0062] The connection device 10, moreover, advantageously does not require the use of tools for the stable and reversible connection of two parts of a furnishing element.

[0063] The present connection device 10 allows to assimilate possible and relative misalignments, both horizontal and also vertical, of the two parts 11 and 12 of the furnishing element, facilitating the coupling thereof.

[0064] A furnishing element according to the invention comprises at least one pair of parts 11 and 12 connected by means of at least one connection device 10. Clearly, depending on the shape, sizes and / or structural requirements of the furnishing element, the parts 11 and 12 can be connected by means of a plurality of suitably positioned connection devices 10.

[0065] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts may be made to the connection device for connecting parts of a furnishing element as described heretofore, without thereby departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0066] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of a connection device for connecting parts of a furnishing element, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

[0067] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Connection device (10) for connecting a first and second part (11, 12) of a furnishing element, characterized in that it comprises an attachment element (13) attachable to said first part (11), and a tightening element (14) attachable to said second part (12) and provided with a seating (15) in which an eccentric ring (16) is housed which engages a head (17) of said attachment element (13) and is provided with a manually driven lever (18) which allows to rotate said eccentric ring (16), tighten said head (17) and connect said first part (11) and said second part (12), wherein said attachment element (13) is substantially T-shaped and provides a stem (21) provided with longitudinally directed notches (32) along its extension, said stem (21) comprising said head (17) at one end and a transverse element (22) attachable to said first part (11) at the opposite end.

2. Connection device (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said attachment element (13) and / or said tightening element (14) comprise one or more pins (19, 23) or one or more screw connection systems for pressure or screwed connection in corresponding searings (20, 24) of said first part (11) and / or said second part (12).

3. Connection device (10) as in claim 2, characterized in that said attachment element (13) and / or said tightening element (14) comprise at least one pair of said pins (19, 23) or said screw connection systems.

4. Connection device (10) as in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said pins (19) or said screw attachment systems for connection in said searings (20) of said first part (11) are substantially orthogonal to said head (17).

5. Connection device (10) as in any previous claim from 2 to 4, characterized in that said pins (23) or said screw attachment systems for connection in said seatings (24) of said second part (12) are substantially parallel to said head (17).

6. Connection device (10) as in any previous claim from 2 to 5, characterized in that said pins (19) or said screw attachment systems for connection in said seatings (20) of said first part (11) are substantially orthogonal to said pins (23) or said screw attachment systems for connection in said seatings (24) of said second part (12).

7. Connection device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said seating (15) essentially has a circular shape inside which an annular notch (25) iscreated, configured to accommodate a corresponding annular protrusion (26) of the eccentric ring (16).

8. Connection device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said seating (15) and said eccentric ring (16) have respective apertures (27, 28) which during use are initially substantially aligned, to allow the lateral insertion of said head (17) of the attachment element (13), said seating (15) and said eccentric ring (16) assuming a substantially C-like shape.

9. Connection device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said lever (18) is substantially radial with respect to said eccentric ring (16).

10. Connection device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said lever (18) is made in a single piece with said eccentric ring (16).

11. Connection device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that once assembly is completed, said attachment element (13) and said tightening element (14) have respective contact surfaces (33, 34) with said second part (12) that are substantially coplanar.

12. Connection device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said eccentric ring (16) comprises a first substantially truncated conical section (29) which narrows toward a second substantially cylindrical section (30).

13. Connection device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said attachment element (13) and said tightening element (14) are made of plastic material or suchlike.

14. Furnishing element, comprising at least one pair of parts (11, 12) connected by means of at least one connection device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore.

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