WO2001034987A1

WO2001034987A1 - Constructing system with complex joints and containers

Info

Publication number: WO2001034987A1
Application number: PCT/IT2000/000389
Authority: WO
Inventors: Niche Consoloni; Enrica Consoloni
Original assignee: Niche Consoloni; Enrica Consoloni
Priority date: 1999-11-12
Filing date: 2000-10-02
Publication date: 2001-05-17
Also published as: AU7945400A; ITPI990072A1; ITPI990072A0

Abstract

This invention consists of a manufacturing system using complex joints (3-12, 14, 15) and containers (24) inside which said joints are realized, in order to form solid junctions easy to be removed. The joint is locked by means of a closing element (22) fixed to the container (24). By removing it, all the structure is released and the object that has been realized can be easily dismantled.

Description

"CONSTRUCTING SYSTEM WITH COMPLEX JOINTS AND CONTAINERS"

Description Technical Field

The present invention concerns the technical sector relating the systems for constructing objects of different kind, from pieces of furniture to accessories for the building sector, to equipment and tools of different kind.

In particular, this system concerns the construction of the angular sectors that identify the most objects and represent their basic point. Every object, either a piece of furniture or a frame, the base of a table, an anchor or any other element, is composed by assembling more shafts or planes that are connected along the corners or however realizing an angular joint. Background Art

Technicians of this field know systems for the connection of shafts, planes or other elements in the joint zones, by sticking, stapling, welding, screwing or by means of other systems that often make the catch not much solid and furthermore they require much time and a high cost for their realization.

In addition, when the connection has been realized, it will be often impossible to move it (as in the case of sticking or welding) unless we damage the object, or it will be hard to take it apart (as in the case of planes fit together by means of numerous screws) . Disclosure of invention

The present invention principally aims at eliminating the above-mentioned and other drawbacks, supplying a solid and stable constructing system capable of realizing an angular connection between shafts or planes in a simple and fast manner and in such a way that it can be dismantled in a simple and fast manner as well.

We reached this result realizing a system with the characteristics described in the separate claims. Other characteristics of this invention are the object of dependent claims.

The advantages resulting from the present invention essentially consist of the fact that it's possible to realize objects of every kind and different material in a short period of time; that it has a lower cost and waste of material; that the resulted connection is solid and secure; that this connection can be rapidly and easily dismantled so that it's possible to take the object apart in a short period of time; that it's versatile and particularly useful for the realization of products that must be carried; that it's simple to realize and use.

These and further advantages and characteristics of the present invention can be better understood by every expert in this field by reading the following description and referring to the enclosed drawings, given as practical examples of the invention, but not to be considered restrictive. Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, a constructing system, according to the invention, comprises: supporting means with two or more carrying elements having at least one joint on one end, which connects with the corresponding joint on the end of another carrying element; means to hold the ending part of the carrying elements comprising the joint, with containers of variable shape into which said elements enter; - means to fix the elements together and make the joint solid, with a carrying element that, fitted with the previous one, forms the closing element and that, once fixed to the container, locks the connection that has been realized; - means to loosen the elements each other, by rapidly taking the joint apart from the closing element that, once detached from the container, unlocks the connection realized between the carrying elements.

Conveniently, this system enables the realization of structures of any kind, supported thanks to the solidity of the junctions that are realized in this way in the angular zones .

Conveniently, the shapes of the containers, as well as the number of the elements and the type of the joints, may vary according to the kind of connection we want to realize. Conveniently, the carrying elements permitting the realization of the objects, according to the present invention, are composed by shafts (1, 2, 3, 4), either simple or having, on the end opposite to the one where the joint has been realized, one or more ending elements (17, 18, 19, 20), of variable shape, which complete the object to be constructed. Conveniently, said carrying elements may be composed also by planes in order to construct pieces of furniture, car boxes or other structures where the joints are realized along the edges.

Conveniently, the connecting elements can be just two (28, 29) and have at each end a grooving (31) or tonguing (30) , which fits into the joint of the following element and one of which forms the closing element, locking the container (33) into which the two elements enter.

Conveniently, the carrying elements are more than two and each one has, on one end, a grooving and tonguing, so that the grooving of the first element fits into the tonguing of the following element that, on its turn, has a grooving fitting into the tonguing of the following element and so on, until the last element that forms the closing element and locks all the system.

Conveniently, the closing element locks the system after being on its turn fixed to the container into which the joints fit. Conveniently, the closing element is fixed by means of a hinge, a screw, a spring or other device making the closing reversible.

Conveniently, by removing the device that locks the closing element, the entire joint is released and the object can be easily dismantled.

Conveniently, with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the carrying elements are four and each one has on its end a double grooving and tonguing. Conveniently, with reference to the above Figures, the first element (1) has on one end a grooving (4) and tonguing (3) that fit respectively into the tonguing (5) and grooving (6) of the following element (2) that, on its turn, has a grooving (8) and tonguing (7) that fit respectively into the tonguing (9) and grooving (10) of the following element (3) that, has another grooving (12) and tonguing (11) that fit respectively into the tonguing (14) and grooving (15) of the following element (4) that forms the closing element. Conveniently, with reference to the above Figures, the closing element (4) has a blunt side (21) over which the spring (22) connected to the container (24) is fixed and by means of which the entire joint is locked, while pulling the lever (23) out and removing the spring, the element (4) comes off and the joint can be easily dismantled taking any carrying element apart. Conveniently, the container has the same shape as the type of joint we want to realize and comprises two or more arms into which the carrying elements enter.

Conveniently, the arms of the container may be perpendicular to each other, or differently angled, according to the particular type of angle we want to obtain.

Conveniently, the container may be free or incorporated into another structure (see for example Fig. 8) . Conveniently, the container may have the arms closed (Fig. 9) or open (52, 53), or even partly closed or open. The closed arm has the entire side surface covered, as it's shown in the enclosed Figures, except for Fig. 10. The open arm is shown in Fig. 10, in the practical examples that represent an "L" section (53) and a "T" section (52), such as to permit the insertion in that point of a carrying element having the shape of a plane rather than a shaft.

Conveniently, with reference to Fig. 3, the container has a cross shape (24) with four arms into which four carrying elements fit. Conveniently, with reference to Fig. 6, the container has a complex shape with two adjacent arms (39, 39A) and two perpendicular arms (40, 41) into which four carrying elements fit, three of them rest on the same plane while the last one is perpendicular to the others. Conveniently, with reference to Fig. 7, the container has a complex shape with a central arm (41) and two side arms (42, 43) that connect with the first one by a variable angle. Conveniently, with reference to Fig. 9, the container has a "T" shape (34), and with reference to Fig. 10, it has an "L" shape (51) with two open arms.

In practice, the constructing details may, however, vary as regards shape, size, position of elements, and type of materials used, but still remain within the range of the idea proposed as a solution and, consequently, within the limits of the protection granted by this patent for invention. Brief description of drawings

- Fig. 1 shows, as an example, an unreal complex object, composed by a vertical supporting shaft (16) with a hook for hanging it to the ceiling, and by a series of possible ending elements that may be a point upward (17) or downward

(18) for constructing a sort of anchor, a light (19) for realizing a chandelier, or a hook (20) for realizing an object for the building sector. These possible ending elements are given as practical examples, but they can be of other different kind. The basic part of this system consists of the cross container (24) into which the extremities of the four ending elements enter, realizing the joint inside it. The element (1) has, on one side, a female part (4) and a male part (3); the projection (5) of the element (2) fits into the groove (4) of the element (1), while the projection (3) of the element (1) fits into the groove (6) of the element (2). Said element (2) has another projection (7), on the other side, that fits into the frontal groove (10) of the element (3), and has a lateral groove (8) into which the frontal projection (9) of the same element (3) fits. Said element (3) has, on its turn, a male part (11) that lies on the surface (15) of the element (4) forming a line with the surface (13) of the element (1), while the projection (14) of the element (4) fits into the groove (12) of the element (3) . The element (4) has a blunt side (21) into which the spring (22) is inserted, in order to lock the joint. It can be removed by pulling the lever (23) out and so moving the spring (22), which will loosen firstly the element (4) and then the other elements (3, 2, 1) ; Fig. 2 shows the connection of the various elements (1, 2, 3, 4) completed. The parts that are highlighted are: the grooving and tonguing (5-4) and (3-6) between the element 1 and the element 2; the grooving and tonguing (7-10) and (9- 8) between the element 2 and the element 3; the grooving and tonguing (11-15) and (14-12) between the element 3 and the element 4; the rest of the surface (15) of the element 4 over the surface (13) of the element 1; Fig. 3 shows the container (24) with the spring (22) connected to the lever (23) in order to fix the closing element (4) ; - Fig. 4 shows the top view of perpendicular containers (25) , having a hole (26) on one of their arms; the elements (28) and (29) fit into the container (25), so that the tonguing (30) of the first one fits into the side grooving (31) of the second one, and the front (32) of the element (29) touches the surface (33) of the same container (25) . Once the connection between the element (29) and the element (28) is realized, the two elements are kept together by means of a screw or something similar inside the holes (26) and (27) that coincide perfectly when the joint is completed. The screw can be replaced by a hinge or other element;

- Fig. 5 shows the system composed by more elements connected each other by means of a "T" container (34), having a hole (35) on one of its arms in order to lock the connection between the various elements. The joint is realized between a series of elements, two of which are parallel (36, 36A) and one is perpendicular (37);

- Fig. 6 shows a container (38) composed by four arms, two of which are adjacent (39, 39A) and the other two (40, 41) are perpendicular to each other and to the first two;

- Fig. 7 shows a complex container formed by a central arm (41) and two side arms (42, 43) connected to the corners of the first one. - Fig. 8 shows a container composed by four arms (45, 46, 47, 48) applied over a surface (44); - Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a "T" container (34) formed by two perpendicular arms (49, 50);

- Fig. 10 shows an "L" container (51) proving, as an example, that the arms may be not only closed but also open. The arm (52) has a "U" section, with three side surfaces (54, 55, 56) and an open part (57), while the arm (53) has an "L" section, with two side surfaces (58, 59) .

Claims

1) Constructing system characterized by the fact that it comprises : supporting means with two or more carrying elements having at least one joint on one end, which connects with the corresponding joint on the end of another carrying element; means to hold the ending part of the carrying elements comprising the joint, with containers of variable shape into which said elements enter; - means to fix the elements together and make the joint solid, with a carrying element that, fitted with the previous one, forms the closing element and that, once fixed to the container, locks the connection that has been realized; - means to loosen the elements each other, by rapidly taking the joint apart from the closing element that, once detached from the container, unlocks the connection realized between the carrying elements.

2) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it enables the realization of structures of any kind, supported thanks to the solidity of the junctions that are realized in this way in the angular zones.

3) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the shapes of the containers, as well as the number of the elements and the type of the joints, may vary according to the kind of connection we want to realize. 4) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the carrying elements permitting the realization of the objects according to the present invention, are composed by shafts (1, 2, 3, 4), either simple or having, on the end opposite to the one where the joint has been realized, one or more ending elements (17, 18, 19, 20), of variable shape, which complete the object to be constructed, or by planes in order to construct pieces of furniture, car boxes or other structures where the joints are realized along the edges.

5) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the connecting elements can be just two (28, 29) and have at each end a grooving (31) or tonguing (30), which fits into the joint of the following element and one of which forms the closing element, locking the container (33) into which the two elements enter.

6) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the carrying elements are more than two and each one has, on one end, a grooving and tonguing, so that the grooving of the first element fits into the tonguing of the following element that, on its turn, has a grooving fitting into the tonguing of the following element and so on, until the last element that forms the closing element and locks all the system. 7) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the closing element locks the system after being on its turn fixed to the container into which the joints fit.

8) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the closing element is fixed by means of a hinge, a screw, a spring or other device making the closing solid but reversible, because removing the device that locks the closing element, the entire joint is released and the object can be easily dismantled. 9) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the carrying elements are four and each one has on its end a double grooving and tonguing. The first element (1) has on one end a grooving (4) and tonguing (3) that fit respectively into the tonguing (5) and grooving (6) of the following element (2) that, on its turn, has a grooving (8) and tonguing (7) that fit respectively into the tonguing (9) and grooving (10) of the following element (3) that, has another grooving (12) and tonguing (11) that fit respectively into the tonguing (14) and grooving (15) of the following element (4) that forms the closing element.

10) Invention according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the closing element (4) has a blunt side (21) over which the spring (22) connected to the container (24) is fixed and by means of which the entire joint is locked, while pulling the lever (23) out and removing the spring, the element (4) comes off and the joint can be easily dismantled taking any carrying element apart. 11) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the container has the same shape as the type of joint we want to realize and comprises two or more arms into which the carrying elements enter. The arms of the container may be perpendicular to each other, or differently angled, according to the particular type of angle we want to obtain. 12) Invention according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the arms of the container may be closed (Fig. 9) or open (52, 53) , or even partly closed or open.

13) Invention according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the container may be free or incorporated into another structure (Fig. 8) .