Patent Publication Number: US-10765204-B2

Title: Assemblable modular wardrobe made of plastic material

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2017/082243, filed Dec. 11, 2017, which claims priority of Italian Patent Application No. 202016000128813, filed Dec. 20, 2016. The entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to an assemblable modular wardrobe made of plastic material. Assemblable wardrobes are known to be formed by a body formed by an upper panel, a lower panel, side panels and a rear panel which are closable by means of front doors. 
     The wardrobes internally include one or more horizontal shelves, where said shelves are supported by fixed or removable supports positioned on the internal surface of the rear panel and/or the side panels. 
     A problem of such embodiments comes from the fact that the weight of the items placed on the shelves tends to be discharged onto the supports of the shelf itself and therefore on the wardrobe panels which, in some cases, can be deformed or bent under this effect. 
     An object of the invention is to provide an assemblable modular wardrobe structured in such a way as to prevent the deformation of the panel due to the forces acting on the internal shelves of the wardrobe itself. 
     Another object of the invention is to obtain the aforementioned results in a practical and cost-effective way. 
     These aims are attained by an assemblable wardrobe made of a plastic material, comprising a first and at least a second module positioned one above the other, where each module comprises two side panels, a rear panel, at least a shelf and a reinforcing structure, characterized in that said reinforcing structure comprises an upper cross-member and respectively a lower cross-member arranged along upper and respectively lower sides of the rear panel and a connecting upright joining said cross-members, each module further comprising an L-shaped support having a vertical wing connected along said upright and a horizontal wing supporting the shelf, the L-shaped support having clamping means of the upper cross-member for clamping the lower cross-member of the overlying module. 
     The present invention also describes a kit for realising an assemblable wardrobe made of a plastic material, comprising a first and at least a second module superposable, where for the construction of each module a separate and independent plurality of components is included, comprising a rear panel, two side panels couplable to the rear panel at least a shelf, and an L-shaped support for the shelf, characterized in that a reinforcing structure is integrated in said panel comprising an upper cross-member and respectively a lower cross-member arranged along upper and respectively lower sides of the rear panel, and a connecting upright joining said cross-members, said L-shaped support having a vertical wing of the shelf that is connectable along said upright and a horizontal wing having clamping means of the upper cross-member to the lower cross-member of the overlying module. 
     An advantage of this embodiment comes from the fact that the weight supported by the shelves sustained by the L-shaped support is discharged on the reinforcing structure so as to prevent the deformation of the rear panels of the wardrobe. 
     Further characteristics of the invention can be inferred from the dependent claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages will be evident from reading the following description by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the figures illustrated in the appended drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  is a partly-exploded view of an embodiment of the assemblable wardrobe with a reinforced structure according to the invention, in which the shelves are not illustrated; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a module of the assemblable wardrobe of  FIG. 1  in which the shelves are not illustrated; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates two assembled modules of the assemblable wardrobe of  FIG. 1  before reciprocal connection; 
         FIG. 4  is a lateral elevation view of the connection node between the L-shaped support and the adjacent cross-members of the superposed rear panels of the assemblable wardrobe of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates, in plan view, the module and some details in large scale of the assemblable wardrobe of  FIG. 1  in larger scale; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the rear panel and the L-shaped support of a module of the assemblable wardrobe of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the rear panel and some parts in larger scale of a module of the assemblable wardrobe of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the rear panel and the side panels of a module of the assemblable wardrobe of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the join zone of the right and left corner between the rear panel and the side panels of a module of the assemblable wardrobe of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the rear panel and the side panels and some parts in larger scale in a different perspective of a module of the assemblable wardrobe of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 11  shows the wardrobe of  FIG. 1  completely assembled. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the description that follows the term vertical is taken to mean a perpendicular direction to the support plane of the wardrobe, and the term horizontal is taken to mean a parallel direction to the support plane of the wardrobe. 
     With particular reference to the appended figures, an assemblable wardrobe is highlighted, indicated overall with reference number  1 , and made of plastic material. 
     The wardrobe  1  is formed by a plurality of two or more modules  2  stacked one above the other, where each module  2  comprises two side panels  3 , a rear panel  4 , one or more shelves  5  and a reinforcing structure. 
     The number of the modules  2  that can stack one above the other so as to determine the height of the wardrobe  1  can be chosen as desired according to needs and space available. 
     A base  6  is applied to the lower module  2 , which base  6  is provided with feet  7 , preferably adjustable, while a top  8  is applied to the upper module. 
     The modules  2  may or may not include closing doors of the compartment delimited by the rear panels  4 , the side panels  3 , the top  8  and the base  6 . 
     The reinforcing structure comprises an upper cross-member  9  and respectively a lower cross-member  10  arranged along the upper and respectively lower side of the rear panel  4  and a connecting upright  11  joining said cross-members  9 ,  10 . 
     Each module  2  further comprises an L-shaped support  12  having a vertical wing  13  connected along the connecting upright  11  and a horizontal wing  14  for supporting each shelf  5  associated to the module  2 . 
     The L-shaped support  12  advantageously has clamping means of the upper cross-member  9  to the lower cross-member  10  of the overlying module  2 . 
     The upper and lower cross-members  9 ,  10  of each module  2  are formed in a single piece with the rear panel  4 , and in particular project from the internal side of the rear panel  4 . 
     In the same way the connecting upright  11  is also formed in a single piece with the rear panel  4 , and in particular is formed in an intermediate position in the rear panel  4  and projects from the internal side thereof. 
     Side uprights  15  are provided along the lateral sides of the rear panel  4 . 
     The side uprights  15  are also formed in a single piece with the rear panel  4 , and in particular project from the internal side of the rear panel  4 . 
     The upper and lower cross-members  9 ,  10  and the side uprights  15  form a frame of the rear panel  4 . 
     The side panel  3  also has a frame comprising a front upright  16 , a rear upright  17 , a lower cross-member  18  and an upper cross-member  19  formed in a single piece with the side panel  3  and projecting from the internal side thereof. 
     The rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  has a transversal section that is elongate in a perpendicular direction to the side panel  3  and is juxtaposed at the side upright  15  of the rear panel  4 . 
     The vertical wing  13  of the L-shaped support  12  is connected along the connecting upright  11  by means of engagement of grooved couplings  20  with corresponding grooved couplings  21  of the connecting upright  11 . 
     The grooved couplings  20  are fashioned on a flat rear side of the vertical wing  13  of the L-shaped support  12  and are vertically spaced at regular pitches while the corresponding grooved couplings  21  are fashioned on a flat front side of the connecting upright  11 . 
     The clamping means comprises at least a grooved coupling  22  engaged with a corresponding grooved coupling  23  of the lower cross-member  10  of the rear panel  4  of the overlying module  2 . 
     In particular a single grooved coupling  22  positioned at the upper end of the flat rear side of the vertical wing  13  of the L-shaped support  12 . 
     Such grooved coupling  22  extends over the whole width of the L-shaped support  12 . 
     The clamping means advantageously also comprises at least a locking bolt  24  of the L-shaped support  12  for locking the lower cross-member  10  of the rear panel  4  of the overlying module  2 . 
     The locking bolt  24  is in particular inserted to pass through the aligned horizontal holes  26 ,  25  of the L-shaped support  12  and the lower cross-member  10  of the rear panel  4  of the overlying module  2 . 
     The side upright  15  of the rear panel  4  and the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  advantageously have upper couplings  27 ,  28  and lower couplings  29 ,  30  for reciprocal connection. 
     The upper coupling  27  of the side upright  15  of the rear panel  4  is formed by a tapered engaging tooth  31  which vertically extends below a shoulder  32  of the side upright  15  of the rear panel  4 , while the corresponding upper coupling  28  of the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  is formed by a cavity  33  which vertically extends inside a shoulder  34  of the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3 . 
     The upper block between the side upright  15  of the rear panel  4  and the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  is consolidated by a snap-fitting organ  35  provided projectingly on the tooth  31  and engaged in a snap-fitting seating  36  included along the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  which delimits the cavity  33 . 
     The lower coupling  29  of the side upright  15  of the rear panel  4  is formed by a groove  37  which faces a window  38  which, starting from the lower end of the lateral side of the side upright  15  of the rear panel  4  extends vertically along the lateral side of the side upright  15  of the rear panel  4 . 
     The lower coupling  30  of the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  is in the form of a vertical protrusion  39  which extends outside the lateral side of the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3 . 
     The vertical protrusion  39  is connected only at the lower end thereof to the lateral side of the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  in order to be able to slide in the groove  37 . 
     The lower block between the side upright  15  of the rear panel  4  and the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  is consolidated by a snap-fitting organ  40  provided projectingly on the vertical protrusion  39  and engaged in a snap-fitting seating  41  included along the part of the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  which delimits the groove  37 . 
     For the interconnection at corners between adjacent modules  2  special dowels  42 ,  52  are provided. 
     Each interconnecting dowel  42  connects the side upright  15  of the rear panel  4  and the rear upright  17  of the side panel  3  of a module  2  to the homologous members of the overlying module  2 . 
     Each interconnecting dowel  52 , on the other hand, connects the front uprights  16  of the side panels  3 . 
     The interconnecting dowel  42  in particular has two upper vertical sections  42   a ,  42   b  each engaged in a corresponding housing  43   a ,  43   b  and two lower vertical sections  42   c ,  42   d  each engaged in a corresponding housing  43   c ,  43   d.    
     The interconnecting dowel  42  has in turn teeth  44 ,  45 ,  46  inserted in snap-fitting blocking seatings  47 ,  48 ,  49  of the connection. 
     The interconnecting dowel  52  in particular has an upper vertical section  52   a , and a lower vertical section  52   b  each engaged in a corresponding housing  53   a ,  53   b.    
     Connecting plugs  50  are formed in a single piece with the upper rear cross-member  9  of the rear panel  4 , for connection to the lower cross-member  10  of the rear panel  4  of the overlying module  2 . 
     The plugs  50  are distributed in a regular pitch along the upper rear cross-member  9  of the rear panel  4  and are engaged in corresponding seatings (not illustrated) so as to create, between the modules  2 , a series of anchoring points uniformly distributed along the direction of the width of the wardrobe  1 . 
     In order to increase the mechanical resistance of the wardrobe  1  preferably at least the L-shaped support  12 , the connecting upright  11 , the cross-members  9 ,  10  and the cross-members  18 ,  19  of the side panels  3  are formed by reticular structures. 
     For the assembly of each module  2  the side panels  3  are connected to the rear panel  4  by means of the joint between the couplings  27 ,  29  of the rear wall  4  and the corresponding couplings  28 ,  30  of each lateral wall  3 . 
     At this point, for each module  2  with the exception of the lower module, the L-shaped support  12  is connected to the lower cross-member  10  of the rear panel  4  by means of the joint between the coupling  22  included on the L-shaped support  12  and the coupling  23  included on the lower cross-member of the module  2 . 
     Then the interconnecting dowels  42 ,  52  are applied at the upper corners of each module  1  by means of engagement of the lower sections  42   c ,  42   d  of the interconnecting dowels  42  in the corresponding housings  43   b ,  43   c , and of the lower section  52   b  of the interconnecting dowel  52  in the relative housing  53   b , and finally the modules  2  are aligned and joined to one another in succession by means of the joint of the upper sections  42   a ,  42   b  of the interconnecting dowels  42  in the corresponding housings  43   a ,  43   b , the joint of the upper section  52   a  of the interconnecting dowel  52  in the relative housing  53   a , the joint of the plugs  50  in the relative housings, and the joint between the couplings  20  included on the L-shaped support  12  and the couplings  21  included on the connecting upright  11  by effect of which the L-shaped support  12  fixes to the connecting upright  11  of the underlying module, and the bolt  24  is tightened only at this point. The wardrobe  1  is completed by applying the base  6 , the top  8  and the shelves  5  which engage to special supports  54 ,  55 ,  56  provided on the sides of the L-shaped support  12  and on the internal side of the lower cross-member  18  of the side panels  3 . 
     Note that from the above description it emerges that the invention enables being able to support a shelf without having to use a dedicated support upright and optimizes the exploitability of the compartment of the wardrobe. 
     Obviously, changes or improvements could be made to the invention as described, dictated by incidental or special reasons, but without deviating from the scope of the invention as claimed below.