Patent Publication Number: US-2003226478-A1

Title: Modular structure for furniture

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a modular structure for furniture.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] It is known that typical current furniture, such as, in particular, office furniture, should be made with modular characteristics, such that they can be mounted in accordance with the need of the buyer.  
       [0003] In the specific case of office furniture, there is in particular the necessity of forming individual and multiple work stations inside the same room. The work stations in this way formed must obviously be provided with power plugs and similar devices, in order to allow easy use of the conventional apparatuses.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] The object of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problem, by providing a modular structure capable of forming easily modular furniture, in particular for offices and the like.  
       [0005] Within the scope of the above mentioned task, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a modular structure allowing formation of modular custom-designed furniture.  
       [0006] A further object of the present invention is that of providing a modular structure which is simple, functional to use and versatile.  
       [0007] The above mentioned objects are achieved, in accordance with the contents of the claims, by a modular structure for furniture, including:  
       [0008] at least one tubular post, with a top and a bottom;  
       [0009] at least one cross-bar fastened, in the regions corresponding to its extremities, at the top of said at least one post;  
       [0010] with said post formed by a pair of channel-bars, with a series of longitudinal grooves made in said channel-bars;  
       [0011] with joining means engaging said longitudinal grooves at the top and at the bottom of the post, to hold said channel bars secured to each other and disposed so that one faces the other; and  
       [0012] with said cross-bar forming one of said joining means and being fastened at the top of said post by engaging said grooves of said post. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to particular, non-limiting embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0014]FIG. 1 shows a partial front view of a modular structure for furniture subject of the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 2 shows a side view corresponding to the structure shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0016]FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the detail L of FIG. 2;  
     [0017]FIGS. 4 and 5 show corresponding views along lines IV-IV and V-V of FIG. 3;  
     [0018]FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view as seen along the line VI-VI of FIG. 2;  
     [0019]FIG. 7 shows a front enlarged view of a portion of the modular structure;  
     [0020]FIGS. 8A and 8B show an enlarged view of the detail M of FIG. 2 as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 7;  
     [0021]FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of the same detail M;  
     [0022]FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view according to line X-X of FIG. 1;  
     [0023]FIG. 11 shows the same enlarged view of the detail M of FIG. 2, in a different employ configuration;  
     [0024]FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view according to line XII-XII of FIG. 8B;  
     [0025]FIG. 13 shows a schematic plan view of a different construction of an element of the modular structure;  
     [0026]FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture obtained by means of the structure subject of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0027] Having reference to the above mentioned Figures, the modular structure includes a tubular support post  1 , with a top and a bottom, formed by a pair of channel-bars  2  disposed so that one faces the other and joined by joining means  7 , 15  better described below.  
     [0028] A pair of sides  3 , which faces each other, are fastened to the post to close the resulting longitudinal openings. For this purpose, the sides  3  of the post  1  have, along their longitudinal borders, respective flanges  8  folded and suitably shaped, which have the task of elastically snap-engage the inner corners of the channel bars  2  (see FIG. 4).  
     [0029] The sides  3  may also feature a pair of longitudinal ribs, facing outwards, as illustrated with sketched line  9  in FIG.  4 , so as to form a kind of guide, within which a wall  11  can fit.  
     [0030] The channel-bars  2  have a flat shape with a substantially rectangular outline and are preferably obtained from suitably shaped metallic tubular elements (see FIG. 4). The channel bars  2  have, in the wall facing the inside of the post  1 , a pair of longitudinal grooves  4 , situated symmetrical with reference to the middle axis, while in the wall facing outwards they have a further longitudinal groove  5  situated along the midline.  
     [0031] The grooves  4  and  5  have a substantially circular cross section.  
     [0032] The inner groove  4  can be engaged at the bottom of the post by respective connection pegs  6 , with a suitable interference fit, secured to a base plate  7 . The base plate  7  includes a substantially squared plate having holes  8  for press-fitting the pegs  6  thereinto (see FIGS. 3 and 5).  
     [0033] A support leg  12  can be connected to the post  1 . The leg  12  extends diagonally starting from an upper part and has a resting base  14 . The leg  12  is firmly connected to the post  1  by means of an expansion connection member  13 , which fits into the external groove  5  of the post  1  and is operated by means of suitable tools (FIG. 6).  
     [0034] The modular structure include also a cross-bar  15 , which, at the ends, can be connected to the top of the post  1 (see FIG. 7). The cross-bar  15  is fastened to the post  1  by means of further pegs  6 , which fit into the inner grooves  4  of the post  1  and into corresponding holes  16  made in the cross-bar  15  (FIG. 9). Thus, the base plate  7  and the cross-bar  15  form the above mentioned joining means.  
     [0035] The cross-bar  15  is formed by a “U”-shaped bar with the open side turned upwards, so as to form a kind of channel (FIG.  8 A). This “U”-shaped bar is preferably obtained from a tubular metallic element, which is suitably shaped.  
     [0036] The cross-bar  15  has a first pair of longitudinal grooves  17 , made symmetrically in the outer surfaces, a second pair of longitudinal grooves  18  made along the inner corners of the upper edges, and a third pair of longitudinal grooves  19  made in the lower outer surface. The grooves  17  and  18  have a substantially circular cross-section, whereas the grooves  19  have a, elongated cross-section and are arranged at an angle with reference to the lower outer surface.  
     [0037] The kind of channel formed by the cross-bar  15  is closed at top by means of a cover element  20 , preferably with a trapezoidal cross-section (see FIG. 10). The cover element  20  has longitudinal ribs  21  made along the longitudinal edges, which ribs are so shaped as to fit respectively into the upper grooves  18  of the cross-bar  15 .  
     [0038] A joint member  22 , formed by a kind of cap having trapezoidal cross-section similar to the cross-section of the cover element  20 , is fastened to the top part of the cross-bar  15 , in the regions corresponding to the extremities (see FIG. 8B). This cap  22  has ribs  23 , which are capable of fitting into the upper grooves  18  of the cross-bar  15 , and a pair of extensions  24 , so arranged as to face each other, which are aimed at inserting into the recess delimited by the cross-bar  15  and at being secured to the surfaces of the cross-bar  15 , by means of suitable screw means  25 .  
     [0039] The joint member  22  defines a receiving seat for inserting therein a grooved upright  26 , which has the task of forming a guide for insertion of a wall  27 .  
     [0040] The upright  26  is formed, for example, by a channel “C”-shaped bar (see FIG. 12). It is anyway possible the provision of a “H”-shaped bar or a bar shaped in other way, in case two adjacent walls, for example, are to be associated to the structure.  
     [0041] The cross-bar  15  and the joint member  22 , connected to each other, are closed at the side by means of a cover plate  28 , whose profile is shaped as the outline of these elements.  
     [0042] As an alternative, another similar support post  1  can be joined to the cross-bar  15 , right above the lower support post  1 , by means of a joint member  29  having suitable shape, which permits fitting the above mentioned connection pegs  6  therein (FIG. 11).  
     [0043] A bracket  30  can also be connected to the cross-bar  15 , for supporting a surface  31 , which is part of the piece of furniture. In order to allow the connection with the cross-bar  15 , the bracket  30  has projections  32 , 33  which are aimed at entering the grooves  17 ,  19  respectively (see again FIG. 8B). To lock the bracket  30 , a clamp  34  is provided, which also engages with the groove  19  opposite to the one in which the projection  33  of the bracket enters. The clamp  34  is operated by means of a screw  35 .  
     [0044] Obviously, the cross-bar connected to the post  1  can be produced with a different configuration in accordance with the different necessities of use. For example, in FIG. 13, the numeral reference  36  indicates a square-angled cross-bar.  
     [0045] The modular structure herein described allows a wide variety of modular furniture to be assembled.  
     [0046]FIG. 14 shows an example of work station  10  obtained by means of a pair of posts  1 , connected at top to each other by means of a cross-bar  15 . In this case, the cross-bar  15  bears a working surface  31  by means of a pair of brackets  30 .  
     [0047] Respective grooved uprights  26  extend vertically from the posts, to which they are connected by means of respective joint members  22 . An upper wall  27  is inserted into the grooves of the uprights.  
     [0048] A lower closing wall  11  is directly fastened to the posts  1 .  
     [0049] Obviously, the modular structure subject of the present invention allows variations of the configuration of the pieces of furniture, for instance by adding fittings and elements so as to form modular custom-designed furniture, as much as possible. In particular, square-angled work stations or double-angled work stations with a separation wall can be assembled, as well as isolated stations or the like. It is also possible the arrangement of many work stations disposed in a series.  
     [0050] A particular characteristic of the structure subject of the present invention is that the posts  1  and the cross-bars  15  have tubular shape, and their inside spaces can be set into communication with one another.  
     [0051] Therefore, conventional power cords  40  necessary for operation of electrical devices can be placed inside the posts  1  and the cross-bars  15 , thus obtaining the advantage of a tidy and clean work station. The power cords  40  may exit from the cover element  20  at any desired position of the cross-bars  15  (see FIG. 10). Possibly, suitable holes can be made in the same cover element.  
     [0052] Another advantage deriving from the modular structure subject of the present invention derives from the fact that it results to be very easy to assemble. The various components are, in fact, easily connected to one another, mainly by snap fitting or matching parts thereof, using the grooves made in the posts  1  and in the cross-bars  15  and with a limited number of screw means.