A FRAME FOR A PIECE OF FURNITURE, SET OF SHELVES, INSIDE FITTINGS OR SIMILAR CONSTRUCTIONS AND A METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING SUCH A FRAME

Abstract: In a frame for a piece of furniture, a set of shelves or a similar construction the legs or poles (1) are provided with through holes (4) for crosswise rods (2, 3). The interlocking between the legs or poles and the rods is carried out by the insertion of the rod ends in the through holes and by arranging lock rings (7) in two grooves (5, 6) formed in each end portion of the rods with such a distance therebetween that the rings tight abut opposite surfaces of the leg or pole around opposite hole edges.

Description: A FRAME FOR A PIECE OF FURNITURE, SET OF SHELVES, INSIDE FITTINGS OR SIMILAR CONSTRUCTIONS AND A METHOD FOR ASSEMB¬ LING SUCH A FRAME The present invention relates to a frame for a piece of furniture, a set of shelves, inside fittings or similar constructions consisting of legs or poles and rods exten¬ ding crosswise to the legs or poles, wherein through holes are made in the legs or poles for adapted insertion of the end portions of the rods therein, and wherein the rods at least, along these end portions have a cross dimension and shape corresponding to the cross section of the holes. The invention also relates to a method for assembling such a frame. Furniture- and shelves constructions are often sold and delivered with the parts dismounted in order to simplify and reduce the cost of transport and storing. The buyers must themselves assemble the construction. Such an assemb¬ ly has often necessitate some form of service instruction, special- armatures, often metal armatures, and tools, some- times tools particularly adapted for the construction. Which each makes the construction more expensive and often complicates the assembly. Time-consuming glueing is in certain constructions also necessary, which moreover renders a somtimes desired dismounting more difficult or makes it impossible. It is also in many connections pre¬ viously known to fasten a work piece or member for instance to a shaft by means of a fastener ring, which is mounted on one side of the member, while the opposite side abuts a shoulder portion or the like on the shaft, see for instance U.S. Patents Nos. 2,894,425 and 2,456,355. Such a construction involves an accurately machined manufacture of the abutment and such an interlocking should if used within the field of . the present invention mean a compara- ratively expensive frame construction, particularly in view of the manufacturing cost. The present invention has been made in order to' elimintate the above mentioned disadvantages and provide a frame construction which, besides simple and cheap transport, storing- and distribution in dismounted state, above all has the advantages of simple, rapid and cheap assembly (also dismounting) without the need of service instruc¬ tion and without the use of tools or special armatures but nevertheless provide a rigid construction. Moreover, the invention makes traditional furniture industry unnecessary by the act that the parts in ' the frame construction can directly be -manufactured in basic factories, for instance saw mills for frame constructions in wood. Moreover, the invention renders it possible to produce the rods in standard running meter. The characteristic ' s of the invention to achieve above men¬ tioned- advantages appear from the following claim. Some embodiments of the invention are in ' the following described more in detail " with reference to the accompanying drawings, in ' whichs Fig. 1a - .1d schematically illustrate in perspective views examples of different types of frame constructions to which the invention can be applied, Fig. 2 illustrates in perspective view and in larger scale : a frame construction in which the frame parts have been coupled together in accordance with the invention, and Figs. 3 and 4 show in plane view and a view along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3, resp., leg or pole couplted together, ± \ accordance with the invention, with two rods positioned adjacent each other in " vertical direction" and positioned perpendicular relative to each other. Figs. 1a and 1b illustrates schematically two different chair constructions. Fig. 1c illustrates schematically a table-like construction, for instance an inside fittings construction, and Fig ' . 1d illustrates schematically a set of shelves. These figures only illustrate some examples of constructions applicable for the invention. Fig. 2 illustrates more in detail one type of an armchair jsuitable to be put together in ' accordance with the inven¬ tion. Figs. 3. and 4 show in detail one example on an assembly : according to the invention, wherein ' a chair leg or a shelf pole 1 is ' coupled together with the terminal portion of two rods 2, 3 positioned adjacent each other in vertical direction and positioned perpendicular to each other and to the leg or pole. Holes 4 are made in the leg or pole 1 adapted to the shape of the rods 2, 3 and the rods are in the terminal portions formed with circumferential grooves 5, 6 having a distance between them substantially corres¬ ponding to the length of the hole 4. O-rings 7, for instan¬ ce made of rubber, are in the assembled state as shown arranged in the grooves 5, 6 such that the rings tight abut opposite surfaces of the leg or pole 1 around oppo¬ site hole edges of the hole 4 and thereby rigidly keep the leg or pole and the rods together. Thus, the frame construction as shown only consists of legs or poles provided with holes and rods provided with grooves, which elements can in a simple way and very cheap be produced and in standard running meter, and cheap O-rings of an appropriate material. As should be obvious, the -assembly and also dismounting is extremely simple without the need of service instruction, special armatu¬ res or tools. The material in ' legs or poles and rods can suitably be wood, but other materials such as plastic or metal can advantageously be used. Rods and holes having circular cross section are preferred from a manufacturing point of view, but obviously and particularly when rotation of the rods shall be prevented the invention is also applicable to other rod shape and corresponding hole cross section, for instance square and oval. Moreover, the rods do not need to be circumferentially grooved, but for instance when rods having a square cross sectio are used the grooves can be made only in ' the longitudinal edges of the rod. The ' use of O-rings, preferably of rubber, has been descri- bed above. However, also other lock rings or lock washers in the form of a ring can be used, for instance an open ring, preferably of metal, provided with interconnecting means, for instance holes, in the free end portions, which ring in compressed state act in " the same manner as an 0- ring. Moreover, the ring can be an integral part of a cap covering the free end portion of the rod.

Claims: ' CLAIMS ; 1. A frame, preferably of wood, for a piece of furniture, - a set of shelves, inside fittings or similar constructions consisting of legs or poles and rods extending crosswise relative to the legs or rods, wherein through holes are made in the legs or poles for adapted insertion of the • end portions of the rods therein, and wherein the rods at least along these end portions have a cross dimension and shape corresponding to the cross section of the holes, characterized in that the' end portions of each rod (2,3) • are,: each provided with two grooves (5,6) having a distance between, the groove edges facing each other substantially corresponding to the length of said holes (4) , and that lock rings (7)- are arranged i said grooves (5,6) for tight abutment against opposite surfaces of the leg or pole (1)- around opposite hole edges. 2. A frame, according to claim 1, characterized in that the rods (2,3). are round rods, that the grooves (5,6) extend all around and that the lock rings (7) are O-rings. 3. A method for assembling a frame, preferably of wood, for. a .piece of furniture, a set of shelves, inside fittings or similar constructions consisting of legs or poles and rods extending crosswise relative to the legs or poles, herein through holes are made in the legs or poles ha¬ ying a dimension and shape corresponding to the cross section dimension and form of the rods, characterized in that two grooves (5,6) are formed in the end portions of the rods (2,3) with a distance between the groove edges facing each other substantially equal to the width of the leg or pole (1) in the direction of the rod extension, that the rod is inserted through the through hole for abutment of a lock ring (7) arranged in the inner groove (5) relative to the free rod end against the surface of the leg or pole, around the hole edge, and that a lock ring is ' arranged in " the outer groove (6) for abutment against the opposite- surface of the leg or pole ( 1 ) around the opposite hole edge .

Inventors: DRANGER JAN, DRANGER, JAN
Applicants: DRANGER JAN, DRANGER, JAN
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A47B47
IPC codes: F16B12