Patent Description:
In particular, the invention refers to a piece of furniture comprising a channel profile made of plastic material and finished on the surface (for example with an imitation aluminium covering) so as to be aesthetically pleasing.

At present, the production of channel profiles for opening and closing a door or a drawer of a piece of furniture, in addition to covering the gap between two portions of a piece of furniture, i.e. the unattractive empty space present between two furniture modules (or between two drawers/doors thereof) which would allow the entry of dust or other things inside the piece of furniture, is known. Some examples are described in documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

In other words, therefore, channel profiles perform both an aesthetic function and a dual practical function: to allow the opening or closing of a door/drawer and, moreover, to fill up any access openings in order to prevent the entry of dust or other elements inside the piece of furniture.

Generally, channel profiles comprise a main body that is substantially flat or slightly curved.

The front face, i.e. the exposed one that is in view during use, is preferably smooth for aesthetic reasons. The rear face, by contrast, has a track for a sliding block that cooperates in the connection to a fixed part that is connected to the piece of furniture. The rear face thus comprises a series of plates, also defined as bridges, which project from the main structure and have the technical purpose of creating grooves and/or projections adapted to enable coupling with specific support elements constrained beforehand to the piece of furniture where the gap is located.

Therefore, in addition to covering the empty space between the furniture modules, the profiles also serve to cover the aforesaid support elements, thus concealing them from the user's eyes.

When the profiles are made of plastic material, they show multiple surface defects on the front face where the plates or projections or bridges disposed on the rear face are located. Profiles made of plastic material, in fact, are generally produced by extrusion, a process that increases the temperature of the plastic so as to render it mouldable.

However, during cooling of the extruded profile, the different thicknesses of the plastic (the thicknesses are in fact larger where the plates are located) tend to cool and shrink differently, thereby creating optical and surface defects on the front face as well.

Therefore, in order to conceal these defects, it is necessary to carry out a veneering step that consists in applying a covering layer, which must be applied with precision, preferably with special machinery, and only at a later time after extrusion, that is, when the profile has cooled completely. All this obviously increases production times and also production costs.

Therefore, to date and above all because of the high quality demanded, manufacturers of kitchen furniture accessories avoid producing channels with plastic material for the reasons described above.

In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to propose a piece of furniture comprising a channel profile for covering the gap between two portions of said piece of furniture which overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide a piece of furniture comprising a channel profile made of plastic material for opening/closing a door or a drawer and, moreover, for covering the gap between two portions of said piece of furniture that is substantially free of surface defects, at least on the front face, i.e. the face that is visible during use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a piece of furniture comprising a channel profile for covering the gap between two portions of said piece of furniture that is easily constrainable to at least a portion of the aforesaid piece of furniture. Therefore, specifically, the invention has the object of proposing a kit for covering the gap between two portions of a piece of furniture that comprises the aforesaid channel profile and at least one support element constrainable to the piece of furniture.

The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a piece of furniture with a channel profile for covering the gap between two portions of said piece of furniture. The dependent claims correspond to further advantageous aspects of the invention.

It should be understood that this summary introduces a selection of concepts in simplified form, which will be further expanded on in the detailed description given below.

The invention relates to a piece of furniture comprising a channel profile for covering the gap between two portions of said piece of furniture, for example two doors of a piece of furniture or two front elements of two adjacent drawers.

The profile extends along a longitudinal direction and is preferably a laminar element (similar to a lamina) that comprises a flat portion and at least one curved portion. The flat portion has an exposed front face and a rear face turned towards the gap and, moreover, has a width, measured transversely to the longitudinal direction, that is substantially commensurate with the gap between the two portions of the piece of furniture. The curved portion is disposed laterally to the flat portion relative to the longitudinal direction and, moreover, has a curvature such as to define an engagement seat, and, during use, is facing towards the piece of furniture. In addition, the engagement seat is couplable with a support element constrainable to a portion of the piece of furniture.

According to the invention, the profile is a single body made of plastic material and is moreover devoid of projecting elements, at least ones projecting from the rear face of the flat portion.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the approximate and hence non-limiting description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a piece of furniture comprising a channel profile and an associated kit for covering the gap between two portions of said piece of furniture, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:.

With reference to the drawings, they serve solely to illustrate embodiments of the invention for the purpose of better clarifying, in combination with the description, the inventive principles at the basis of the invention.

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture comprising a channel profile for covering the gap between two portions of said piece of furniture which, with reference to the figures, has generically been indicated by the number <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a channel profile <NUM> for covering the gap between two portions of a piece of furniture <NUM>. In particular, the gap that the channel profile <NUM> is capable of concealing could be the free space between two components of a piece of furniture, or between two adjacent ones, or else, as may be seen in <FIG>, the free space between the front panels of two drawers, one above the other.

In other words, the channel profile <NUM> could be applied horizontally.

The profile <NUM> extends mainly along a longitudinal direction L and is a laminar element that comprises a flat portion <NUM> and at least one curved portion <NUM>, <NUM>.

The flat portion <NUM> has an exposed front face and a rear face. In addition, the flat portion <NUM> has a width, measured transversely to the longitudinal direction L, that is substantially commensurate with the gap between the two portions of the piece of furniture <NUM> or the recess fashioned on the side of the piece of furniture.

The curved portion <NUM>, <NUM>, by contrast, is disposed laterally/adjacent to the flat portion <NUM> relative to the longitudinal direction L. In addition, the curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> has a curvature such as to define an engagement seat, and, during use, is facing towards the piece of furniture <NUM>, and is couplable with a support element <NUM> constrainable to a portion of the piece of furniture <NUM>.

Each curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> (at least one) is shaped so as to define said respective engagement seat having a shape that is elongated according to a direction orthogonal to the plane in which the flat portion <NUM> lies.

Preferably, the two inner surfaces, defined by at least one of said curved portions <NUM>, <NUM> having a shape folded back on itself, are parallel to each other.

In particular, the profile <NUM> is a single body made of plastic material and, moreover, is devoid of projecting elements, at least ones projecting from the rear face of the flat portion <NUM>. According to the invention, the profile <NUM>, in cross-section, has a curved and flat shape, but without the presence of projecting elements, at least ones projecting from the rear face of the flat portion <NUM>.

In other words, the channel profile <NUM> made of plastic material is made substantially smooth, devoid of any projecting element such as, for example, the so-called bridges useful for enabling fastening to the piece of furniture <NUM>. The particular shape it is moulded into, and in particular the shape of each curved portion <NUM>, <NUM>, nonetheless assures the presence of coupling elements for fastening to the piece of furniture <NUM>. In this manner, therefore, the channel profile <NUM> is easily couplable with a support element <NUM> constrained beforehand to the piece of furniture <NUM> and, at the same time, has an aesthetically smooth line devoid of projections either on the front face (i.e. the exposed one) or the rear one.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the flat portion <NUM> and the at least one curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> have a substantially equal thickness.

In other words, the profile <NUM> may be considered a single lamina having its own thickness and extending along the longitudinal direction L for a pre-established length that is generally equivalent to the length of the gap it has to cover. In particular, the aforesaid lamina can be divided into a flat portion, i.e. the main portion substantially defining the entire front face of the profile, and at least one curved section <NUM>, <NUM> which, precisely by virtue of its curvature, is capable of assuring the coupling with a support element <NUM> installed beforehand on the piece of furniture <NUM>.

According to the invention, the at least one curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> extends laterally to the flat portion <NUM>, i.e. along one side of the flat portion <NUM> considering the longitudinal direction L along which it extends. In fact, both the flat portion <NUM> and the at least one curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> extend parallel to the longitudinal direction L.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the profile <NUM> comprises two curved portions <NUM>, <NUM> that are opposite each other relative to the flat portion <NUM> so that the profile <NUM> itself has a substantially "C" shape. In particular, each curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> defines a respective engagement seat for a support element <NUM> or at least a part of the latter.

In other words, the profile <NUM> has a substantially symmetrical shape in which the flat portion <NUM> is interposed between two curved portions <NUM>, <NUM>. Therefore, the flat portion <NUM> defines the central body of the profile <NUM> and substantially the entire front face which is exposed during use of the profile <NUM>, whereas the curved portions <NUM>, <NUM> have smaller dimensions according to a front view and also define the engagement seats with which to couple the profile <NUM> to the support element <NUM> constrained beforehand to the piece of furniture <NUM>.

In accordance with the invention, each curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> has a shape folded back on itself so that it has two mutually facing inner surfaces together defining a respective engagement seat.

Advantageously, therefore, each curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> is moulded in such a way as to define an engagement seat capable of receiving, preferably by snap fitting, the support element <NUM> or at least a part thereof. In other words, the curved portions have a clamping or gripping effect for the coupling with the support element <NUM>.

Preferably, at least one inner face of the mutually facing surfaces of each curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> has set of teeth <NUM> adapted to create mechanical interference with the support element <NUM>, or at least a part thereof, to which it can be connected.

In this manner, advantageously, the insertion of the support element <NUM> (or at least a part thereof) is stable, since the teeth <NUM> are capable of increasing the holding force and thus the coupling between the aforesaid components.

<FIG> and <FIG>, which illustrate both the channel profile <NUM> and the support element <NUM>, also show a kit for covering the gap between two portions of a piece of furniture <NUM>, in particular between two front panels of two drawers, one above the other, or between two doors.

In particular, <FIG> illustrates the kit in a disassembled configuration, whilst <FIG> shows the kit when it is assembled. More precisely, <FIG> illustrates the kit according to an exploded perspective view, whilst <FIG> shows a side view in which the section of the portion of the piece of furniture <NUM> on which it is installed is also present.

Therefore, the kit comprises a channel profile <NUM> having any combination of the features described previously and, moreover, at least one support element <NUM> constrainable to a portion of the piece of furniture <NUM>, preferably in a recess <NUM> of a panel of the piece of furniture <NUM>.

Advantageously, the support element <NUM> has a shape couplable with that of the channel profile <NUM>.

According to the invention, the support element <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM> constrainable to a portion of the piece of furniture <NUM> and at least one projecting element <NUM>, <NUM> that projects from the main body <NUM> and is advantageously couplable to at least one curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> of the profile <NUM>.

In other words, therefore, the support element <NUM> has at least one projecting element that can be used to support the channel profile <NUM> which, as described previously, is advantageously smooth (from an aesthetic and technical viewpoint, being devoid of projections such as bridges) but shaped so as to create at least one engagement seat for the aforesaid support element <NUM>. More precisely, as already explained, the at least one curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> is shaped so as to receive a corresponding projecting element <NUM>, <NUM> of the support element <NUM>.

In other words, the projecting element <NUM>, <NUM> of the support element <NUM> is shaped so as to be fitted inside the engagement seat. Preferably, the engagement seat and the projecting element <NUM>, <NUM> are complementarily shaped.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the main body <NUM> of the support element <NUM> has a substantially flat shape and, during use, is parallel to the flat portion <NUM> of the profile <NUM>. In particular, the projecting element <NUM>, <NUM> extends transversely relative to the main body <NUM> and to the longitudinal direction L.

In this manner, therefore, the at least one projecting element <NUM>, <NUM> extends transversely, substantially orthogonally, to the main body <NUM> so as to enable a mating connection with the profile <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> also illustrate a further aspect of the support element <NUM>.

In particular, the support element <NUM> has front openings <NUM> (<FIG>) obtained on the main body <NUM> and side openings <NUM> (<FIG>) obtained on a side appendage <NUM> extending transversely and projectingly relative to the main body <NUM> (preferably, on the opposite side relative to each projecting element <NUM>, <NUM>).

The front openings <NUM> and side openings <NUM> are advantageously capable of accommodating respective fastening elements (not illustrated), for example screws, to enable fastening to the piece of furniture <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the support element <NUM> is fastened in a recess <NUM> of the piece of furniture <NUM> so that the channel profile <NUM> is positioned over the gap present between the front panels (not illustrated in <FIG> in order to make the positioning of the profile <NUM> clearer) of two adjacent drawers. Therefore, the support element <NUM> is constrained to the piece of furniture <NUM> by fastening to a lateral shoulder <NUM> thereof and, therefore, with the use of the lateral openings <NUM>.

According to the invention, as may be seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the size of the recess <NUM> (depth, understood as orthogonally to the direction of extension L, and height according to a vertical direction) of the piece of furniture <NUM> enables the insertion of both the support element <NUM> and the profile <NUM>.

Preferably, the support element <NUM> extends longitudinally along the direction L, extending along only a part (not all, but only the part in proximity to the recess <NUM>) of said profile <NUM>.

Advantageously, as may be seen in <FIG>, the lateral appendage <NUM> has an extent such as to be able to maintain some free space between the main body <NUM> of the support element <NUM> and the recess <NUM> of the piece of furniture <NUM>. In other words, there is some play useful for adjusting the positioning of the support element <NUM> relative to the recess <NUM> and thus to the positioning of the profile <NUM> relative to the piece of furniture <NUM>.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the main body <NUM> of the support element <NUM> is divided into three sections. The lateral sections lie substantially in the same fictitious plane and have front openings <NUM> for positioning the fastening elements, whilst the central section is not aligned with the lateral ones and lies in a plane parallel to the previous one. Preferably, the central section projects along a direction opposite that of each projecting element <NUM>. In this manner, the particular shape of the main body <NUM> of the support element <NUM> has the function of an alignment template useful for correctly positioning the support element <NUM> between the two adjacent modules of the piece of furniture.

Preferably, the lateral sections have a width comparable to the classic widths of the lateral shoulders of a piece of furniture to enable their correct placement one above the other and thus the correct interposition of the fastening elements.

Even more preferably (but not necessarily), as may be seen in <FIG>, the extent in width of each support element <NUM> exceeds the usual thickness dimensions of the lateral shoulders <NUM> of a piece of furniture, so as to provide a larger surface for coupling with the profile <NUM>.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the support element <NUM> comprises a pair of projecting elements <NUM>, <NUM> which are opposite each other relative to main body <NUM> so as to lend the support element <NUM> a substantially "C" shape.

In other words, similarly to the profile <NUM>, the support element <NUM> has a substantially symmetrical shape in which the main body <NUM> is interposed between a pair of projecting elements <NUM>, <NUM> so as to obtain a substantially "C" shape, complementary to the shape of the profile <NUM> in order to enable the coupling and, therefore, the fastening of the profile <NUM> to the piece of furniture <NUM>.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, each of the projecting elements <NUM>, <NUM> has at least one respective set of teeth <NUM> adapted to cooperate mechanically with a respective curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> of the profile <NUM>.

The teeth <NUM> are advantageously capable of increasing the holding force that the projecting element <NUM>, <NUM> causes inside the engagement seat defined by the respective curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> and, therefore, of assuring the coupling between the aforesaid components.

Even more advantageously, the teeth <NUM> of each projecting element <NUM>, <NUM> and the teeth <NUM> of the respective curved portion <NUM>, <NUM> are substantially complementarily shaped so as to define a mating connection and thus make the components of the kit more solidly joined when coupled. In other words, the mechanical interference that is established between the teeth <NUM>, <NUM> is such as to make the positioning of the profile <NUM> relative to each support element <NUM> very stable.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, which may be better seen in <FIG>, the support element <NUM> has at least one steplike part <NUM> protruding from the main body <NUM>. The steplike part <NUM> is configured to define a rear support for the flat portion <NUM> of the profile <NUM> when the profile <NUM> itself and the support element <NUM> are coupled (precisely as is illustrated in <FIG> in accordance with one possible embodiment of the invention).

Preferably, the support element <NUM> has a pair of steplike parts <NUM> symmetrically disposed relative to a fictitious centre line of the main body <NUM> of the support element <NUM>.

In this manner, when the profile <NUM> is coupled to the support element <NUM>, each steplike part <NUM> is capable of defining a resting point which, advantageously, prevents the flat portion <NUM> of the profile <NUM> from bending towards the inside of the piece of furniture <NUM>, i.e. towards the support element <NUM>.

Also disclosed is a process for producing a channel profile <NUM>, preferably a channel profile <NUM> having any combination of the features described previously.

In particular, the process comprises the following steps:.

wherein veneering step is carried out simultaneously with or in immediate succession after said extrusion step in order to exploit the surface heat of the profile <NUM> produced during the extrusion step to fix the finishing film applied during the veneering step.

In other words, the particular shape of the channel profile <NUM>, devoid of projections (for example bridges) is advantageously capable of enabling the extrusion and veneering steps to be carried out simultaneously or in immediate succession, since the aforesaid lack of projections considerably reduces the possibility of the appearance of surface defects (above all on the front face, the one that is exposed during use) during cooling of the profile <NUM>.

In the plastic profiles known in the prior art, in fact, the different thicknesses due to the presence of bridges give rise (during the cooling step following extrusion) to a different shrinkage of the plastic material and the consequent formation of shadows and changes in tone (i.e. aesthetic defects), also on the face opposite the one on which the bridges are present, i.e. the front face of the profile.

In the profile <NUM> of the piece of furniture in accordance with the present invention, the removal of any projecting element eliminates the problem at its basis and thus renders the process of cooling and shrinkage of the plastic homogeneous over the whole surface of the profile. In other words, the possibility of the appearance of surface defects making it necessary to postpone the veneering step is considerably reduced, if not completely eliminated. In the prior art, in fact, the veneering step must necessarily be carried out after extrusion and, moreover, when the profile has completely cooled. Veneering is in fact the only way to cover the surface defects that form during the cooling step.

Thanks to the profile <NUM> of the piece of furniture in accordance with the present invention, by contrast, it is possible to carry out the veneering step substantially simultaneously with the extrusion step in order to exploit the surface heat of the extruded profile <NUM> to improve the adherence of the finishing film.

Claim 1:
A piece of furniture (<NUM>), comprising:
- at least one side panel defining a side shoulder (<NUM>) having a recess (<NUM>);
- a channel profile (<NUM>) for covering the gap between two portions of the piece of furniture (<NUM>) and extending along a longitudinal direction (L);
- at least one support element (<NUM>) constrainable to a portion of the piece of furniture (<NUM>) and having a shape such as to be couplable to said profile (<NUM>), wherein said support element (<NUM>) comprises a main body (<NUM>) constrainable to a portion of the piece of furniture (<NUM>) and at least one projecting element (<NUM>, <NUM>) that projects from said main body (<NUM>) and is couplable to said at least one curved portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) of said profile (<NUM>); said support element (<NUM>) being fastened in said recess (<NUM>) and the size of the recess (<NUM>) is such as to allow the insertion therein of both the support element (<NUM>) and the profile (<NUM>),
said profile (<NUM>) being an element shaped like a lamina and comprising:
- a flat portion (<NUM>) having an exposed front face and a rear face; said flat portion (<NUM>) having a width, measured transversely to the longitudinal direction (L), that is substantially commensurate with the gap between the two portions of the piece of furniture (<NUM>);
- at least one curved portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed laterally to said flat portion (<NUM>) relative to said longitudinal direction (L) and having a curvature such as to define an engagement seat, which, during use, is facing towards said piece of furniture (<NUM>), and is couplable with said support element (<NUM>) constrainable to a portion of the piece of furniture (<NUM>);
wherein said profile (<NUM>) is a single body made of plastic material and is moreover devoid of projecting elements, at least ones projecting from said rear face; said curved portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) has a shape folded back on itself so that it has two mutually facing inner surfaces together defining a respective engagement seat.