Supporting structure for partitions, shelves and similar items

Abstract: Summary The present invention relates to a supporting structure for partitions, shelves and similar items that comprises a special upright column with longitudinal grooves capable of housing appropriate means designed to ensure fixing and support of the above items; in particular, in case of partitions, the rear wing of a strip is inserted in one of the grooves and fixed by means of a longitudinal pin, with the front part of the strip shaped so that it can securely tighten the lateral border of the partition.

Description: The present patent application relates to a supporting structure for partitions and other furniture items, such as shelves, tops and similar items. In particular, the structure according to the present invention is designed to provide better support for the partitions that are often used to separate areas or working stations. Currently, similar panels are often mounted using metal perimeter frames (that is mouldings); in other cases the different sections of the panels are simply connected one next to the other. To that end, a metal profile with a longitudinal dove-tail groove is mounted on the lateral border of each panel section. To join two consecutive sections of the partition panels, two metal profiles mounted on the entire height of the lateral borders are placed one against the other one. The two metal profiles are joined together by means of a special metal strip having the same height as the metal profiles mounted on the lateral borders of the panels to be connected, which features a transversal double dove-tail section. The dove-tail section allows the strip to penetrate half way into the longitudinal groove of the metal profile mounted on the right side panel and half way into the groove of the metal profile on the left side, thus preventing disassembling. The two technologies used to support partitions as illustrated above, however, have some disadvantages: apart from being quite expensive, the metal perimeter frames weigh down the partition wall obtained with multiple wooden panels. As regards the "self-standing" panels, it must be said that, apart from being precarious, the main limitation derives from the difficulties involved in assembling them, particularly when inserting the double dove-tail connection strip between two consecutive sections. The difficulties are increased by the fact that these panels are usually mounted directly in the destination place and the available space is sometimes not sufficient to insert the connection strip comfortably. It is also obvious that the difficulties in handling the connection strip get even bigger when using panels with considerable height, and therefore longer connection strips. DE-A-2 100 874 discloses a structure primarily for use as a building framework and comprising the features of the preamble of appended claim 1. The shaped strips of this structure can only be removed by sliding them out of one of the ends of the tubular column. In view of the inconveniences of the prior art, the supporting structure according to the present invention has been designed, which features great functional efficacy, together with an extremely pleasant look characterised by light, clean shapes. The main element of the structure according to the present invention is a special tubular column with circular section, along which four deep longitudinal grooves are located in radial position at 90° intervals, whose rear part is connected with a duct with circular section centrally located along the entire height of the column. Each longitudinal groove is laterally bordered by two separators with irregular profile; it being provided that one of the separators has a curvilinear direction delimiting a sort of semicircular niche with the concavity facing the centre of the corresponding groove. Each groove can exactly house the suitably shaped rear wing of a strip designed to couple the partition border. The rear wing of the strip presents has a section with curvilinear direction delimiting a sort of semicircular niche that - when the rear wing has been completely inserted inside the corresponding groove - is located exactly in front of the semicircular niche inside the groove, thus forming a duct with circular section along the entire height of the upright column. It is easy to understand that the stable fitting of the rear wing of the strip with its corresponding destination groove can be obtained by means of two short pins with circular section inserted into the upper and lower end of the duct with circular section formed by them along the entire height of the column, as illustrated above. As it appears clear from the following description, the insertion of the two pins prevents the uncoupling (that is the occasional release) of the strip designed to support the furniture items from the corresponding groove of the upright column. Moreover, the two connection pins can be of reduced height and therefore easy to handle and install also in the case of limited space. Only in case of upright columns with reduced height in order to avoid the same inconveniences as the prior technique, the strip can be coupled with the corresponding groove of the upright column with a pin having the same height as the column, so as to entirely occupy from one end to the other the duct formed between the rear wing of the strip and the groove containing it. For major clarity the description of the invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are intended for purposes of illustration and not in a limiting sense, whereby: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the structure according to the present invention used to support a partition having the same height as the upright column; Fig. 2 is the section of Fig. 1 with the plane II-II; Fig. 3 is the section of the upright column and of two different profiles capable of being coupled and attached to the column; Fig. 4 is a view of the support base of the column. With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the main element of the structure according to the present invention is a tubular column (1) with circular section, which internally features longitudinal profiles delimiting a central duct (2) with circular section, connected with four regularly spaced radial grooves (3). In particular, each groove (3) is laterally bordered by two shaped separators (4 and 5) and dosed in the back by a small wall (6) connecting the lateral separators (4 and 5). On the back of the opening (3a) of the groove (3), the separators (4 and 5) form a sort of box-shaped track (7) with rectangular section. A semicircular niche (8) is located in deeper position with the concavity facing the inside, obtained thanks to the special shape of the separator (4) that, in Fig. 2, delimits each groove (3) on the left side (looking from the outside towards the inside). As mentioned earlier, each groove (3) of the column is designed to exactly house the rear wing (10) of a shaped strip (11) whose front part features attachment means for partitions. With particular reference to Fig. 3, the rear wing (10) has an appendix with crescent-shaped section, with the internal horn (10a) longer than the external horn (10b). Thanks to this configuration, also the rear wing (10) has a semicircular niche (12) along its entire length. With reference to Fig. 3, the rear wing (10) of the strip (11) is inserted into one of the grooves (3) of the column until its external horn (10b) exactly engages against the bottom wall (6). The shape of the rear wing (10) is such that, once it has been completely inserted, the semicircular niche (12) is exactly located in front of the corresponding semicircular niche (8) delimited by the separator (4) of the groove (3), co-operating with it in order to create an additional circular duct (13) extending along the entire height of the column (1). The duct (13) can be used to exactly insert one or more pins (20) with circular section that, once inserted, make it impossible to disengage the rear wing (10) of the strip (11) from the corresponding groove (3) of the column (1 ). In case of a section of column (1) with limited height, a single pin (20) having the same length as its height can be used to fix each strip (11). In the case of very tall columns, two different pins (20) will be used, the first one inserted in the bottom section of the duct (13) and the second one (suitably provided with enlarged head) inserted in the top section of the duct (13). The strip (11) can be made in different versions, all of them provided with the rear wing (10), but with different shape in the front part, that is the part designed to remain on the outside of the upright column (1). The version illustrated in Fig. 2 has a front profile (14) with C-shaped section. The first of a series of parallel stakes of the partition (P) is exactly inserted and engaged in the compartment inside the profile (14). The version illustrated in Fig. 3 has a front profile (15) with trident section, with a shorter central horn (15a) shaped like a hook. The border of the partition is inserted with pressure in the compartment delimited by the two lateral sections (15b) of the trident, so that the central horn (15a) can be inserted and fitted. It must be said that the section of the column (1) of the structure according to the present invention is large enough to stand even when directly laid on the floor in vertical position. However, in order to guarantee better stability, a stand (30) with larger diameter may be used, from which a central pin (31) with circular section protrudes vertically. In this case the column (1) must be vertically laid on the stand (30), so that the central pin (31) of the stand (30) is exactly inserted into the bottom section of the central duct (2) of the column (1). The stand (30) can advantageously feature four pins (20) capable of being exactly inserted into the bottom sections of the four ducts (13) formed inside the column (1). Also, the structure according to the present invention has a lid (32) used to exactly close the upright column (1) on top. The lid (31) has a central pin and four peripheral pins, like the stand (30). Finally, it must be noted that the back of the opening (3a) has a box-shaped track (7) in order to create a fixing housing for plates of known type capable to support brackets, pins or other traditional means used to support shelves, tops and similar items along the upright column (1).

Claims: A supporting structure for partitions, shelves and similar items, comprising the following basic components: a tubular column (1) with circular section, which internally features longitudinal profiles delimiting a central duct (2) with circular section, connected with four regularly spaced radial grooves (3) open to the exterior of the column (1), each of them laterally bordered by two separators (4 and 5), connected in the back by a small wall (6), forming a sort of box-shaped track (7) with rectangular section on the back of the opening (3a) of the groove (3); - a shaped strip (11) whose rear part features a wing (10) capable of exactly engaging with one of the grooves (3) of the column (1) and whose front part features attachment means for partitions; characterised in that each of said grooves (3) features, in deeper position than the box-shaped track (7), a semicircular niche (8) with the concavity facing the inside of the groove (3), obtained thanks to the special shape of the separator (4) that delimits each groove (3) on the left side when viewed, in use, in elevation; it being provided that the rear wing (10) of the strip (11) has an appendix with crescent-shaped section, which section has an internal horn (10a) longer than an external horn (10b) in order to form a sort of semicircular niche (12) along the entire length of the strip (11); it being furthermore provided that the shape and size of the rear wing (10) are such that, when the external horn (10b) touches the small bottom wall (6) of the corresponding groove (3), the semicircular niche (12) is exactly located in front of the corresponding semicircular niche (8) delimited by the separator (4) of the groove (3), creating with it a longitudinal circular duct (13); a pin (20) with circular section capable of being exactly inserted into the longitudinal duct (13) formed inside each groove (3) of the column (1), thanks to the co-operation between the circular niche (8) on the separator (4) of the groove (3) and the semicircular niche (12) on the rear wing (10) of the strip (11). A structure according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the strip (11) frontally features a profile (14) with C-shaped section, intended to exactly house and hold the longitudinal border of partitions. A structure according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the strip (11) frontally features a profile (15) with trident section, with a shorter central horn (15a) shaped like a hook; it being provided that the profile (15) can house the longitudinal border of a partition so that the central horn (15a) can be inserted and fitted in it. A structure according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it features a large stand (30) to guarantee the stable vertical position of the column (1), from which stand (30) a central pin (31) with circular section protrudes vertically, capable of being exactly inserted into the bottom section of the central circular duct (2) of the column (1). A structure according to claims 1 and 4, characterised by the fact that four vertical pins (20) with reduced height relative to the central pin (31) protrude from the stand (30), capable of being exactly inserted into the bottom sections of the four ducts (13) formed inside the four grooves (3) of the column (1). A structure according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it has a lid (32) used to exactly close the upright column (1) on top, provided in its lower part with a central pin capable of being exactly inserted into the top section of the central duct (2) of the column (1) and with four peripheral pins, capable of being exactly inserted into the four ducts (13) formed inside the four grooves (3) of the column (1). A structure according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the box-shaped tracks (7) located in the back of the opening (3a) of the four grooves (3) of the column (1) can exactly house and securely fix plates of known type capable to support brackets, pins or other traditional means used to support shelves, tops and similar items along the upright column (1).

Inventors: VILARDI PASQUALE, VILARDI, PASQUALE
Applicants: VILARDI MARKETING SAS DI VILAR, VILARDI MARKETING SAS DI VILARDI PASQUALE & C.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E04B2
IPC codes: E04B2, F16B12, A47B96