U.S. patent number 3,848,942 [Application Number 05/343,860] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-19 for module for furniture development.
Invention is credited to Luigi Fanini.
United States Patent |
3,848,942 |
Fanini |
November 19, 1974 |
MODULE FOR FURNITURE DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
A module for integration with related modules for developing a
substantial variety of articles of furniture. The module,
fabricated of a synthetic material, contains side walls each of
which is comprised of two mating shells; said side walls having
spaced series of vertically aligned openings; bottom and top walls
having laterally disposed tongues for engagement within the side
wall openings, and a rear wall maintaining said walls against
displacement. By the tongues and cooperating openings and like
means each module may be adapted for engagement to adjacent
modules, both in vertical and horizontal relationship, as well as
to receive internally shelves, drawer guides, and the like, and to
mount swingable front closures, whereby said modules are endowed
with the capacity for presenting a multiplicity of preselected
functional characteristics.
Inventors: |
Fanini; Luigi (Loreto,
IT) |
Family
ID: |
23348000 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/343,860 |
Filed: |
March 22, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/265.5;
312/111; 312/263; 312/198 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
47/042 (20130101); A47B 87/02 (20130101); A47B
88/43 (20170101); A47B 67/04 (20130101); A47B
2210/0059 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
87/02 (20060101); A47B 87/00 (20060101); A47B
47/04 (20060101); A47B 47/00 (20060101); A47B
88/04 (20060101); A47b 043/00 (); A47b 087/00 ();
A47f 005/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/107,108,111,198,257R,257SK,263,214 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kalish; Ralph W.
Claims
Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by
Letters Patent is:
1. A module fabricated of synthetic material for integration with
similar modules to develop articles of furniture and the like
comprising a pair of side walls, each of said side walls being
comprised of inner and outer components, each of said components
having a main planar portion with inward and outward surfaces, said
components having a plurality of flange-like projections on their
inner confronting surfaces in mutual abutting relation, means
fixedly uniting such abutting projections integrating said
components into said unitary side walls, said side walls being
hollow in the zones between said projections, a top wall, a bottom
wall, a rear wall, cooperative means provided on said top and
bottom walls and said side walls for detachably engaging said top
and bottom walls to said side walls, and means securing said rear
wall to said side walls.
2. A module as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said
side walls having upper and lower margins, there being at least one
upwardly opening recess in said top margin, at least one projection
extending from said lower margin for acceptance into the recess of
a module located therebeneath whereby said modules may be
interengaged in vertical relationship.
3. A module as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by a
front wall, and means for pivotally mounting said front wall on
said top and bottom walls to provide a swingable closure.
4. A module as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by at
least one shelf and means for detachably mounting said shelf upon
said side walls in planar parallel relationship to said top and
bottom walls.
5. A module as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by a
drawer having runners, a guideway for said drawer runners and means
for detachably mounting said guideways on said side walls.
6. A module fabricated of synthetic material as defined in claim 5
and further characterized by said means for detachably mounting
said guideways comprising tongue-like elements carried upon the
outer surfaces of said guideways and being dimensioned for
reception within the openings in said side walls.
7. A module fabricated of synthetic material as defined in claim 1
and further characterized by said inner components having openings
between adjacent projections, said cooperative means comprising
said side wall openings and tongue-like elements provided on said
top and bottom walls receivable within said openings for
maintaining said side walls, top wall and bottom wall in integrated
relationship.
8. A module as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by said
side wall openings being arranged in at least two vertical,
horizontally spaced apart series, and said top and bottom walls
having spaced apart hook like tongues for reception within one
opening of each vertical series.
9. A module as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by said
means securing said rear wall to said side walls further comprising
said rear wall having lateral margins with laterally outwardly
opening coextensive grooves, one of said components of each of said
side walls having an end flange-like projection abutting on its
forward surface against the cooperating flange-like projection on
the other of said components, said end flange having an inwardly
projecting tenon for extension into the proximate groove of said
rear wall, said rear wall abutting on its forwardly presented face
against the rearwardly presented edges of said top and bottom walls
for maintaining same in operative position.
10. A module fabricated of synthetic material as defined in claim 7
and further characterized by each of said side wall openings being
of less transverse extent than the distance between the proximate
projections thereby providing an entry into the adjacent hollow
zone limited by said adjacent projections, said openings being of
substantially the same length as said tongue-like elements so that
the latter will lockingly project into said hollow zone upon
shifting of the related top and bottom walls.
11. A module fabricated of synthetic material as defined in claim 7
and further characterized by said tongue-like elements being
axially parallel with the adjacent side margin of the respective
top and bottom walls, each of said tongue-like elements having a
major portion displaced outwardly from the adjacent side margin of
the said top and bottom walls, the extent of said offset being
slightly greater than the thickness of the side wall component.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to furniture and, more
particularly, to a module adapted for integration with like modules
into an infinite variety of assemblies for display, storage, and
other like utilitarian purposes.
Heretofore, efforts have been made to develop modules for
integration into various articles of furniture; however, all such
prior efforts for the most part have been directed to the
fabrication of such modules from wood or sheet metal. Efforts at
producing such modules from synthetic materials, such as suitable
resins, have been restricted to articles of relatively small
dimensions in view of the difficulties caused by the particular
mechanical characteristics inherent in such materials. Efforts to
produce relatively larger articles of furniture from modules of
snythetics have not, to the present time, proved satisfactory,
whether viewed from an economic, aesthetic, or serviceable
standpoint.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a
module of synthetic material for integration with like modules into
articles of furniture of varying dimensions so that relatively
large articles may be produced having the serviceability and the
reliability heretofore associated only with natural materials of
construction.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a module
of the character stated, being of knock-down character and adapted
for ready assembly as well as for ease of integration with like
modules without requiring the use of tools and other auxiliary
means conventionally considered requisite for assembly work of this
character.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a module
of the character stated which is adapted for incorporating a
variety of components for rendering the module capable of a
multiplicity of usages.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a module
of the character stated which is uniquely constructed for readily
effecting interengagement of its constituents and being peculiarly
adapted for maintenance of same in stable relationship.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a module
of the character stated which is economic in production; durable
and reliable in usage; and adapted for ease of assembly into myriad
forms of furniture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of furniture constituted
of integrated modules constructed in accordance with and embodying
the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a module being equipped with drawer
and door.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the side wall of the
module.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken on
the line IV--IV of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal transverse sectional view taken on
the line V--V of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken
substantially on the line V--V of FIG. 3 but illustrating adjacent
side walls engaged to a common rear wall.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now by reference numerals to the drawings which
illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A
generally designates an article of furniture comprised of a
plurality of modules B assembled to demonstrate the versatility of
said modules wherein the same may be, optionally, fitted with
drawers; provided with doors for cabinet formation; provided with
shelves; and/or presented in open condition to provide maximum
storage volume. Thus, article of furniture A does not form a part
of the present invention but merely illustrates the potential of
modules B for developing a multiplicity of furniture forms.
Module B is fabricated of synthetic material, such as, for example,
acrylic resin or the like, and basically comprises a pair of side
walls 1, a bottom wall 2, a top wall or cover 3, and a rear wall 4.
Each side wall 1 is provided on its inwardly directed face with
vertically arranged series of openings 5 for reception therein of
hook-like tongues 6 provided on the lateral edges of bottom and top
walls 2,3, respectively. Thus, said tongues 6 are presented for
selected engagement within the openings 5 of the confronting series
so that as shown in FIG. 2 each top and bottom wall 3,2 is engaged
in its forward and rearward portions. As will be developed
hereinbelow, openings 5 integrally contain off-set portions for
accepting tongue 6 in a secure manner. Rear wall 4 serves to urge
said top and bottom walls 3,2 forwardly so as to maintain tongues 6
in locked condition within the respective openings 5.
Modules B, as indicated in FIG. 1, may be equipped with drawers 7
by means of guides or tracks 8 having on their outer faces tongues
6' , structurally similar to tongue 6, for engagement within
openings 5 of the adjacent side wall 1 thereby securing said guides
in position for receiving the customary runners provided on the
drawer 7. Thus, based upon spatial considerations, modules B are
adapted to receive a plurality of drawers.
Top and bottom walls 3,2, respectively, may be provided in a
forward corner portion with aligned openings 11 for bearingly
receiving pivots 10 provided on a door or front closure 9 whereby
module B may be fully enclosed as in the character of a
cabinet.
Accordingly, from the foregoing, it will be seen that module B is
uniquely adapted for a multiplicity of arrangements, whether as an
opened or closed unit, or whether with or without drawers, or with
shelves which would correspond in all respects to bottom and top
walls 2,3, respectively. In order to permit the assembly of modules
B in a vertical arrangement, one above the other, side walls 1 are
provided at their upper ends with forward and rearward upwardly
opening recesses 12 for extension thereinto of complementarily
formed projections 13 provided on the bottom edge of each side wall
1. It is, of course, understood that recesses 12 and projections 13
are provided only on such side walls 1 as would be used in a
vertically integrated structure so that with a two-unit arrangement
the side walls of the bottom unit would obviously be devoid of
projections 13 and the side walls of the top unit would be devoid
of recesses 12 for aesthetic purposes. Recesses 12 and, hence,
projections 13 are of such extent and inter-relationship to provide
a sturdy connection between the interengaged modules B.
In order to produce modules B from synthetic materials, such as
suitable plastics, and yet provide the rigidity desired, but
relative lightness in weight, the components of module B are of
two-part construction. Exemplary of such construction are the side
walls 1, each of which is comprised of two cooperating components
or so-called half shells 14, 15; said components having a plurlity
of mating flanges 16, 17, respectively, for face to face abutment
for joint development; with such confronting face portions being
suitably glued or sealed together. Said flanges 16,17 also maintain
the respective components 14,15 in desired relationship as well as
reinforcing the related wall 1. As shown in FIG. 4, component 15 is
provided with an opening for registering with a recess in the
adjacent flange 16 of component 14 for defining
projection-receiving recess 12 of the module B thereabove. As also
illustrated in FIG. 4, openings 5 in side walls 1 may be created by
aligned openings in components 14,15 so as to develop a through
aperture, as it were, useful when the related side wall 1 is used
as a partition or common wall between a pair of modules B in side
by side relationship so that tongue 6 may be introduced from either
side of said side wall 1. In the event the particular side wall is
used as an end wall, the opening 5 may be closed to the outside as
by the elimination of an aligned opening in component 14 so that
tongue 6 may be inserted only from the inner side and with the
exterior being thus unbroken for appearance purposes.
Referring now to FIG. 5, it will be seen that openings 5 comprehend
an off-set chamber 5a for accepting the free end extremity of the
associated tongue 6 for retaining same against displacement. It
will thus be seen that tongues 6 have an extent effectively the
same as openings 5 so that they may move freely thereinto. However,
in order to assure of locking of said tongues 6, the same are moved
horizontally (see phantom lines in FIG. 5) so that the end
extremities are introduced into chambers 5a. As thus positioned,
tongues 6 are locked and thereby conduce to the stability and
rigidity of the assembled module B. Accidental displacement of
tongues 6 from such condition is inhibited by rear wall 4 which
interengages with side walls 1 as by means of a mortise and tenon
arrangement (see FIG. 5) which thus prevents rearward or unlocking
movement of shelves 7, drawer guides 8, and top and bottom walls
3,2.
Referring now to FIG. 6, there is disclosed end walls 1 of adjacent
modules B in end to end relationship so that as it were, the
related modules B might open in opposite directions. Common rear
wall members 4 are provided which at their ends have relatively
enlarged vertically extending grooves or mortises for receiving the
abutting tenons formed along the inner and outer end lateral
portions of said side walls 1,1' .
Thus, the foregoing merely demonstrates but limited forms of the
present invention since it is obvious that with the aforesaid
teaching in mind others could readily recognize equally suitable
interengaging means which would not require the utilization of
extrinsic tools or other implements to bring about assembly or
disassembly. It is also indeed obvious that modules B could be
provided with rollers for rendering the article of furniture
mobile.
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