Furniture assembly and mounting device and mounting method thereof

A mounting device is configured to mount a panel to a wall of an object. The mounting device includes a mounting member and an auxiliary member. The mounting member is configured to be mounted to the panel, and the mounting member is arranged with at least one coupling device. The at least one coupling device is configured to connect the panel to the wall. The auxiliary member is configured to cover at least one predetermined portion of the mounting member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mounting device, and more particularly, to a mounting device and a mounting method for furniture assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 9,943,167B2 discloses a side covering element for a drawer panel. The drawer panel includes at least one holding bracket17, one holding rail23and two mounting locations32a,32b. On the other hand, the side covering element21has a base section41and a rail section42substantially perpendicularly connected to each other, and two mounting projections43a,43b. The base section41of the side covering element21has a push-in tongue50configured to be inserted into the holding rail23, and another push-in tongue51configured to be inserted into the holding bracket17. Each mounting projection has two clamping jaws44a,44bor45a,45b. In addition, the two mounting locations32a,32bof the drawer panel are configured to receive and install the two mounting projections43a,43b. Two fixing screws57a,57bare screwed into a space between the two clamping jaws44a,44bor45a,45b, such that the two clamping jaws44a,44bor45a,45bare relatively moved to abut against inner sides of the two mounting locations32a,32brespectively, so as to achieve clamping installation. However, such installation may directly expose the fixing screws57a,57b(as shown inFIG. 1of the case) on the inner surface of the drawer panel, which is not good for appearance and easy to damp. On the other hand, if the fixing screws57a,57bare not tightly fastened or are loosened, the two clamping jaws44a,44bor45a,45bmay not provide sufficient clamping force, such that the stability of the side covering element21being installed on the side of the drawer panel is affected.

Therefore, for different market requirements, it is important to develop various products which are more reliable in installation operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting device, and more particularly, to a mounting device and a mounting method for furniture assembly.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a furniture assembly comprises a panel, a mounting member and at least one fastening member. The panel comprises a first predetermined part and a second predetermined part. The first predetermined part comprises an extended section and a supporting section. The extended section is extended from the panel. The supporting section is located adjacent to the extended section. The mounting member is configured to be mounted to the panel. The mounting member comprises a first supporting part and a second supporting part. The first supporting part is configured to abut against the supporting section of the first predetermined part of the panel. The second predetermined part of the panel has a supporting surface configured to support the second supporting part. The at least one fastening member is configured to connect the mounting member to the panel.

Preferably, the at least one fastening member comprises a first fastening member, and the extended section of the first predetermined part of the panel is arranged with a first corresponding feature configured to fasten the first fastening member to one side of the panel.

Preferably, the at least one fastening member further comprises a second fastening member. The second predetermined part of the panel is arranged with a second corresponding feature configured to fasten the second fastening member to the side of the panel.

Preferably, the first fastening member is transversely fastened to the first corresponding feature.

Preferably, the second fastening member is transversely fastened to the second corresponding feature.

Preferably, the furniture assembly further comprises a furniture side wall and at least one coupling device longitudinally connected to the mounting member. The at least one coupling device is configured to connect the panel to the furniture side wall.

Preferably, the supporting surface of the second predetermined part is transversely arranged on the panel.

Preferably, the furniture assembly further comprises an auxiliary member configured to be connected to at least one of the mounting member and the panel. The auxiliary member and the mounting member form a mounting device. The auxiliary member comprises at least one flexible part having a first surface, and the first surface is arranged with a buckling section configured to buckle the mounting member.

Preferably, the at least one flexible part further has a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the second surface is arranged with a holding section configured to abut against the panel.

Preferably, the auxiliary member is formed with a mounting space configured to accommodate at least one predetermined portion of the mounting member.

Preferably, the auxiliary member comprises a plurality of walls defining the mounting space. The at lease one flexible part is arranged on one of the walls.

Preferably, the panel further comprises at least one mounting part, and the auxiliary member further comprises at least one connecting part configured to be correspondingly connected to the at least one mounting part.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a mounting device comprises a mounting member and an auxiliary member. The mounting member configured to be mounted to one side of a panel. The mounting member as arranged with at least one coupling device configured to connect the panel to a wall of an object. The auxiliary member is configured to cover at least one predetermined portion of the mounting member

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a mounting method for furniture assembly comprises providing a mounting member mounted to one side of a panel of a furniture assembly, wherein the mounting member is arranged with at least one coupling device; providing an auxiliary member configured to cover the mounting member and the side of the panel; and mounting the panel to a wall of the furniture assembly through the at least one coupling device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1andFIG. 2are diagrams showing an object20, such as a piece of furniture, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the object20is a drawer, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Specifically, the object20comprises a panel22(such as a front plate, but the present invention is not limited thereto), a rear plate24, a first side wall26(such as a left wall), a second side wall28(such as a right wall) and a bottom plate30together defining an accommodating space S. The panel22and the first side wall26(or the second side wall28) form a furniture assembly. Furthermore, the panel22is configured to be connected to the first side wall26(or the second side wall28) through at least one coupling device. In the present embodiment, the panel22is connected to the first side wall26and the second side wall28through a first coupling device32and a second coupling device34respectively. The first coupling device32and the second coupling device34are respectively arranged on a first side S1and a second side S2of the panel22, and the first coupling device32and the second coupling device34are configured to be mounted to portions adjacent to front parts f of the first side wall26and the second side wall28respectively. For example, the second coupling device34is configured to be connected to a structural component (not shown in figures) adjacent to the front part f of the second side wall28. Such configuration is well known to those skilled in the art. For simplification, no further illustration is provided. Moreover, the panel22is arranged with a supporting base33(as shown inFIG. 2) configured to be supported by a bottom surface of the bottom plate30. Preferably, the supporting base33has a fixing member35configured to be fixed to the bottom surface of the bottom plate30.

As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, a first mounting device36is arranged adjacent to the first side S1of the panel22, and a second mounting device38is arranged adjacent to the second side S2of the panel22. The first mounting device36and the second mounting device38have substantially identical structural arrangement, and configuration of mounting the first mounting device36to the panel22is substantially identical to configuration of mounting the second mounting device38to the panel22.

As shown inFIG. 4,FIG. 5andFIG. 6, the panel22comprises a first predetermined part40and a second predetermined part42extended transversely. The first predetermined part40comprises an extended section40aand a supporting section40b. The extended section40ais extended from the panel22. The supporting section40bis located adjacent to the extended section40a.

Preferably, the extended section40ais substantially perpendicularly connected to the panel22, and the supporting section40bis substantially perpendicularly connected to the extended section40ato form a lower wall extended toward the second predetermined part42.

Preferably, the second predetermined part42is provided with a transversely-extended supporting surface42acorresponding to the first predetermined part40.

Preferably, the extended section40aof the first predetermined part40of the panel22is arranged with a first corresponding feature48located adjacent to the second side S2of the panel22, and the second predetermined part42of the panel22is arranged with a second corresponding feature50located adjacent to the second side S2of the panel22.

Preferably, the panel22further comprises at least one mounting part, such as a first mounting part52a, a second mounting part52band a third mounting part52carranged from a top portion to a bottom portion of the panel22. In the present invention, the mounting parts52a,52b,52care formed with grooves defined by a plurality of bending sections of the panel22, and the grooves is communicated with the first side S1and the second side S2of the panel22, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Furthermore, each of the mounting devices36,38comprises a mounting member and an auxiliary member. For example, the second mounting device38comprises a mounting member54and an auxiliary member56in the present embodiment. Preferably, the mounting member54and the auxiliary member56are configured to be mounted to the panel22in sequence.

For example, the mounting member54is configured to be mounted to the second side S2of the panel22along a direction D. The mounting member54is arranged with the second coupling device34, and the second coupling device34is longitudinally fixedly connected to the mounting member54through at least one connecting feature57(such as a rivet or a screw, but the present invention is not limited thereto). The mounting member54comprises a first supporting part58and a second supporting part60. The first supporting part58is configured to abut against the first predetermined part40of the panel22. In the present embodiment, the first supporting part58is configured to abut against the supporting section40bof the panel22(as shown inFIG. 6), but the present invention is not limited thereto. On the other hand, the supporting surface42aof the second predetermined part42of the panel22is configured to support the second supporting part60(as shown inFIG. 6). According to such arrangement, the mounting member54is configured to be supported on the second side S2of the panel22in advance (as shown inFIG. 6), such that the mounting member54can be temporarily held on the second side S2of the panel22.

As shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7, after the mounting member54is supported on the second side S2of the panel22in advance, at least one fastening member, such as a first fastening member62aand a second fastening member62b, are configured to pass through at least one predetermined portion65of the mounting member54to fixedly connect the mounting member54to the second side S2of the panel22. Moreover, the first fastening member62ais configured to fasten the mounting member54to the first corresponding feature48of the first predetermined part40of the panel22. Similarly, the second fastening member62bis configured to fasten the mounting member54to the second corresponding feature50of the second predetermined part42of the panel22.

Preferably, the first fastening member62ais transversely fastened to the first corresponding feature48, and the second fastening member62bis transversely fastened to the second corresponding feature50.

Preferably, the mounting member54has at least one notch, such as a first notch64aand a second notch64b.

As shown inFIG. 7,FIG. 8andFIG. 9, after the mounting member54is mounted to the panel22, the auxiliary member56is configured to be connected to at least one of the mounting member54and the panel22along the direction D, and the auxiliary member56is configured to cover the at least one predetermined portion65of the mounting member54. In the present embodiment, after the mounting member54is mounted to the panel22, the auxiliary member56can cover the at least one predetermined portion65of the mounting member54and shield the first fastening member62aand the second fastening member62b, and the auxiliary member56can also cover the entire second side S2of the panel22(please refer toFIG. 2), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The auxiliary member56comprises at least one flexible part, such as a first flexible part66aand a second flexible part66b. The first flexible part66aand the second flexible part66bhave substantially identical structural arrangement. In the present embodiment, the first flexible part66ais illustrated as an example. Moreover, the first flexible part66ahas a first surface and a second surface K2opposite to the first surface K1. The first surface K1is arranged a buckling section68(such as being located at one side of a protruding structure), and the second surface K2is arranged with at least one holding section70(such as a protruding rib, but the present invention is not limited thereto). After the first flexible part66ais inserted into the first notch64aof the mounting member54along the direction D (as shown inFIG. 8andFIG. 9), the buckling section68of the first surface K1is configured to buckle (or hook) a wall surface69of the mounting member54, in order to prevent the auxiliary member56from being detached from the mounting member54along a direction opposite to the direction D, and the at least one holding section70on the second surface K2of the first flexible part66ais configured to abut against (or contact) a surface of the panel22, so as to push and press the auxiliary member56to attach tightly between the mounting member54and the panel22(as shown inFIG. 9). Similarly, the second flexible part66bis configured to be inserted into the second notch64bof the mounting member54. For simplification, no further illustration is provided.

Preferably, a guiding feature71is arranged at the other side of the protruding structure adjacent to the buckling section68, in order to guide the wall surface69of the mounting member54to cross the protruding structure to allow the buckling section68to buckle the wall surface69of the mounting member54(as shown inFIG. 9). The guiding feature71can be an inclined surface or an arc surface. Preferably, the buckling section68and the guiding feature71are located at two opposite sides of the protruding structure.

Preferably, the auxiliary member56is formed with a mounting space72(as shown inFIG. 7) configured to accommodate the at least one predetermined portion65of the mounting member54. For example, the auxiliary member56comprises a first wall74a, a second wall74band a third wall74cconnected between the first wall74aand the second wall74b, and the mounting space72is defined by the first wall74a, the second wall74band the third wall74c. The first flexible part66aand the second flexible part66bare arranged on the third wall74c.

Preferably, the auxiliary member56further comprises at least one connecting part, such as a first connecting part76a, a second connecting part76band a third connecting part76cwhich are arranged from a top portion to a bottom portion of the auxiliary member56. In the present embodiment, the first connecting part76a, the second connecting part76band the third connecting part76care protrusions, and are arranged on the third wall74cto be correspondingly connected to the first mounting part52a, the second mounting part52band the third mounting part52cof the panel22.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mounting method for furniture assembly comprises the following steps: providing the mounting member54mounted to one side (such as the second side S2) of the panel22, and the mounting member54being arranged with at least one coupling device (such as the second coupling device34); providing the auxiliary member56configured to cover the mounting member54and the side of the panel22; and mounting the panel22to a wall (such as the second side wall28) through the at least one coupling device (such as the second coupling device34). Such steps in the mounting method have been illustrated above. For simplification, no further illustration is provided.

Therefore, the mounting device and mounting method for furniture assembly according to the embodiments of the present invention is characterized in that:

1. The first supporting part58of the mounting member54is configured to abut against the first predetermined part40of the panel22, and the second supporting part60of the mounting member54is configured to be supported by the second predetermined part42of the panel22. According to such arrangement, the mounting member54can be temporarily held on one side (such as the first side S1or the second side S2) of the panel22, so as to assist in connecting (such as fixedly connecting) the mounting member54to the panel22through the at least one fastening member (such as the first fastening member62a).

2. The auxiliary member56is configured to be connected to at least one of the mounting member54and the panel22, and the auxiliary member56is configured to cover the at least one predetermined portion65of the mounting member54. Preferably, the auxiliary member56can also cover the side (such as the first side S1or the second side S2) of the panel22. Accordingly, the auxiliary member56can provide protecting effect to the mounting member54, and the auxiliary member56can also be used as a decorative cover for the side of the panel22.

3. The mounting member54is transversely connected to the side (such as the first side S1or the second side S2) of the panel22through the at least one fastening member.

4. The first fastening member62aand the second fastening member62bare not exposed from an inner side of the panel22of the drawer.