EP1355554B1 - Connecting device and a piece of furniture fitted with one such device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hinge-type connecting device, particularly suitable for assembling ready-to-assemble furniture, delivered in the form of a small package. Said device comprises at least two elements (4, 5), one of which comprises at least one hinge element and takes the form of a case (4) that can be embedded in a first item to be assembled, such as a panel (2). The inventive device is characterised in that the other element (5) of the device, which can be fixed to a second item (3) to be assembled, can be mounted on the first element (4) of the device, particularly during assembly of the items to be assembled, such as panels (2, 3), in order to form an auto-lock hinge in a predetermined angular position, the lock element (7A, 8A) being irreversible. Application: connector for ready-to-assemble furniture.

Description

The present invention relates to an assembly device hinge type, applicable in particular to the assembly of ready-to-mount furniture delivered as a low package space and a furniture furnished with such assembly device, this furniture piece being constituted from at least two stackable flat panels for the transport and assembled according to a predetermined angle for mounting.

The hinge is defined as an assembly device of elements, such as panels, to be assembled consisting of least two elements respectively solidarisables to a element to assemble. These hinge elements are articulated between them in order to be animated by a relative angular displacement. This angular displacement is generally used to allow opening and closure of elements, such as panels, to be assembled at means of said hinge. As a result, the hinges, in particular in the field of furniture, are used especially for the connection of a door to the furniture frame.

Attempts to make polyfunctional such hinges have been described in patents FR-A-2,618,178 and DE-A-2,432,143. The objective in these documents is to equip the hinge with a device for maintaining the hinge in a closed position of the fitted door of said hinge, this holding device allowing avoid the use of interlocking pawls or magnetic attraction between the door and the wall of the furniture to hold the door closed. So, in the German patent DE-A-2,432,143, the holding device of the door in the closed position equipping the hinge is consisting of a pivoting lever under the action of displacement angular of the hinge to come, in the closed position of the door, behind a stationary element of the party of hinge secured to the frame. Such a system does not ensure restraint only because one of the elements of the hinge is secured to a rigid and stationary piece of furniture. This holding device is also perfectly reversible to allow reopening of the door. It is likewise the device described in the French patent FR-A-2.618.178 where a lug loaded by spring of the element stationary hinge extends forward of a protrusion carried by the other movable hinge member in position closed door to hold said door in position closed. Again, the device is perfectly reversible to allow reopening of the door.

At the same time, the design of furniture in form ready to assemble, delivered flat, developed these last years. To allow a non-professional mounting these furniture, the panels are connected between them by hinges and are kept in the assembled state by stiffening elements such as sleepers or other. Generally, however, the fixation of the elements stiffening the rest of the furniture requires the use of tools that increase the assembly time. In other embodiments, the panels are immobilized relative to one another by means of studs / eccentric or simply by screws.

US 5,468,061 discloses a modular structure consisting of panels articulated to each other and deploying simultaneously while moving in a way parallel to themselves. The joint used is a reversible type joint. This articulation must be blocked by means of pieces represented in (9, 9 'and 10) FIGS. These parts, which consist of fixing pins lock, are capable of rotating 90 ° between two positions, one of free movement of the hinge, the other locking the hinge. For this purpose, each piece lock is provided with a projection intended to cooperate with a notch or equivalent on the moving part articulated joint. This principle is more particularly visible in Figure 6 in which the piece (9, 9 ') represents the locking piece. It can be seen that locked position, the edges (35, 36) of this piece come to bear on a shoulder portion of the room mobile of the joint.

International application WO 99/22150 describes a hinge-type assembly device consisting of a first lever (47) pivotally mounted pivotally on a first element (45) intended to be engaged by recessing to inside a panel (50) to be assembled. This organ (47) has two locking elements represented in (47 ') and (47 ") to the figures: One of the elements constitutes an organ to remember when assembling two panels together. In this Indeed, this member (47 ') consists of a cooperating hook with a retainer (48). The other part of the hook is provided with a locking member (47 ") which cooperates with latching with an element (46, 49) housed inside the other panel member (51) to be assembled. In such a assembly device, the two elements of the device constituted respectively by parts (45) and (49) are each: attached to a panel to assemble but these elements are not interconnected by a joint.

An object of the present invention is to propose a device assembly of the aforementioned type whose design allows a deploying elements to be assembled to a mounted position in which the stiffening of the construction as well performed instantly operates automatically and irreversible, without the addition of stiffening elements and without tool.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a assembly device whose design allows a factory pre-assembly of the device on the elements to be to assemble.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a assembly device of the aforementioned type whose design allows obtaining a cost-effective device without impair its reliability.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a furniture furniture provided with an assembly device of the type mentioned above, the design of which allows for quick mounting without tools and without requiring added stiffening elements.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device hinge type assembly, applicable in particular to assembly of ready-to-assemble furniture delivered in the form of package of small size, this device being constituted of at least two elements, one, so-called first element, affecting the form of a box built in a first element to assemble, such as a panel, and containing at least one element hinge, the other, said second element of the device, solidarisable to a second element to assemble, this first and this second elements of the device that carry respectively one of the elements of a joint allowing a displacement angular of said elements between them being assembled between them to form in particular, when assembling the elements to assemble, such as panels, a self-locking hinge in a predetermined angular position, the locking member consisting of a retaining member and of an organ to be retained, such as a tongue, being of type irreversible, characterized in that the housing comprises internally a room with two guideways concaves arranged substantially orthogonally to one another, and in that a tongue, elastically deformable, forming the member to be retained equipping the second element of the device, is formed as a convex surface passing from a first guide path of the housing to the second path of guiding the housing during an angular displacement of elements of the device, this second guide path forming a housing, provided with locking catches, in which the tongue is immobilized to ensure a locking of the hinge.

Thanks to the design of the assembly device, each element is provided with means cooperating with each other in one position predetermined angle to ensure self-locking of the hinge irreversibly, it is possible to immobilize, in a predetermined angular position, elements to be assembled by means of said hinge without intervention of tools and stiffening elements additional.

The invention also relates to a furniture piece consisting of from at least two elements, such as two panels plans or a stackable panel and pedestal for transportation and assembled at an angle predetermined for the assembly, characterized in that each piece of furniture, such as a panel or base, is provided with an element of the assembly device of the aforementioned type, said elements of the assembly device forming, when furniture assembly, a hinge locked in a way irreversible in a predetermined angular position corresponding to the mounting position of the furniture

you get a piece of furniture instantly lockable to the assembled state of the constituent elements without intervention additional tools and stiffening elements.

la figure 1 représente une vue en perspective d'un dispositif d'assemblage conforme à l'état de la technique, chaque élément du dispositif ayant été représenté de manière agrandie ;

la figure 2 représente en parallèle d'une part une vue schématique en perspective d'un dispositif d'assemblage conforme à l'état de la technique, d'autre part une demi-coupe en position éclatée des éléments le constituant ;

la figure 3 représente en parallèle une vue en perspective d'un mode de réalisation d'un dispositif d'assemblage conforme à l'invention et une vue en coupe de ce dispositif en position non verrouillée du dispositif :

la figure 4 représente en parallèle une vue en perspective et une vue en coupe du dispositif d'assemblage conforme à la figure 3 au cours du verrouillage de ce dispositif ;

la figure 5 représente en parallèle une vue en perspective et une vue en coupe du dispositif d'assemblage des figures 3 et 4 en position verrouillée du dispositif ;

la figure 6 représente une demi-coupe schématique d'un autre mode de réalisation d'un dispositif d'assemblage conforme à l'invention en position non assemblée des éléments la constituant ;

la figure 7 représente une vue schématique en perspective et en transparence d'un meuble équipé d'un dispositif d'assemblage conforme à l'invention, des dispositifs d'assemblage ayant été représentés de manière agrandie;

la figure 8 représente une demi-coupe schématique d'un autre mode de réalisation d'un dispositif d'assemblage conforme à l'invention en position non assemblée des éléments le constituant :

la figure 9 représente une vue schématique en perspective et en transparence d'un meuble équipé d'un dispositif d'assemblage conforme à la figure 8, certains des dispositifs d'assemblage ayant été représentés de manière agrandie et

la figure 10 représente une vue schématique en perspective d'un meuble muni de dispositifs d'assemblage conforme à l'invention en position partiellement déployée.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembly device according to the state of the art, each element of the device having been shown in an enlarged manner;

2 shows in parallel on the one hand a schematic perspective view of an assembly device according to the state of the art, on the other hand a half-cut in the exploded position of the constituent elements;

FIG. 3 shows in parallel a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembly device according to the invention and a sectional view of this device in the unlocked position of the device:

Figure 4 shows in parallel a perspective view and a sectional view of the assembly device according to Figure 3 during the locking of this device;

Figure 5 shows in parallel a perspective view and a sectional view of the assembly device of Figures 3 and 4 in the locked position of the device;

FIG. 6 represents a schematic half-section of another embodiment of an assembly device according to the invention in the unassembled position of the elements constituting it;

FIG. 7 represents a schematic view in perspective and in transparency of a piece of furniture equipped with an assembly device according to the invention, assembly devices having been represented in an enlarged manner;

FIG. 8 represents a schematic half-section of another embodiment of an assembly device according to the invention in the unassembled position of the elements constituting it:

FIG. 9 represents a schematic view in perspective and in transparency of a piece of furniture equipped with an assembly device according to FIG. 8, some of the assembly devices having been represented in an enlarged manner and

Figure 10 shows a schematic perspective view of a piece of furniture provided with assembly devices according to the invention in the partially deployed position.

The hinge type assembly device, object of the invention, represented by the general reference 1, is more particularly intended to equip buildings ready to assemble and especially furniture delivered under form of small package, these furniture construction being made especially from stackable flat panels for transportation and assemblables at a predetermined angle for mounting. It suits to point out that in everything that will be described below, the word "furniture" must be understood in its widest sense and includes cabinets, desks, furniture box type, tables with legs and modular constructions, such as verandahs, light buildings, office partitions, transport crates.

The hinge type assembly device, object of the invention consists of at least two elements, one affecting the shape of a housing 4 flush in a first element 2 to be assembled, such as a panel, the other, represents in 5 to the figures, solidarisable to a second element to be assembled, such as a second panel 3. Each element 4, 5 of the device has at least one hinge element generally formed at least a portion of the hinge 9 of said hinge.

Characteristically to the invention, these elements 4 and 5 of assembly device form, in the assembled state, a self-locking hinge in angular position predetermined position generally corresponding to the position of assembly of the elements to be assembled. The locking member, represented in 6 in the figures, is irreversible type of such so that elements, in particular panels 2, 3 to assemble, are held by the assembly device in a definitive position corresponding to their position of mounting. By irreversible locking member is meant a locking member whose unlocking can not be obtained only through intervention of specific tools allowing to act on said locking member simply limited to panels 2 and 3 assembled using the device is not enough to generate an unlocking of all.

In addition, in the predetermined lock position of the device, the locking member 6 is arranged so as to to be inaccessible. This inaccessibility is obtained either by between the elements 4, 5 of the device between them, either by cooperation of an element of the device with an element assemble these two modes of realization will be described below.

In general, the locking member 6 is consisting of a holding member 7C and a member 8C to retain, the holding member 7C being housed inside the housing 4 built-in, while the organ 8C to remember equip the other element 5 of the device.

In Figure 1, two panels 2, 3 are shown assembled by means of elements 4 and 5 of a device assembly according to the state of the art. Each element of this device was also represented at the enlarged state in this figure 1. The element of the device affecting the form of a housing 4 insert is provided internally of a bearing 9B consisting of a housing circular at the end of inclined ramps for receive an axis 9A of the element 5. Axis 9A and bearing 9B cooperate entered them to form the articulation 9 of the device. The box 4 still has an organ of lock consisting of a groove 7A, in the form of clamp elastically deformable, receiving by clipping an organ, in this case an axis 8A, suitable for housing in a manner irreversible in said groove 7A. Axis 8A equips the other element 5 of the assembly device. So, this other element 5 of the assembly device is simply presented in the form of a stirrup between the branches of which extend two axes, one corresponding to the articulation axis 9A of the hinge, allowing angular displacement of the elements 4 and 5 of the device between them, the other corresponding to the axis 8A constituting the organ of the locking member, this axis 8A cooperating with the 7A groove of the housing 4. This stirrup is still provided with neighborhood of his soul, a fastener to the panel 3 to assemble.

In the example shown in FIG. the state of the art, the housing 4 was made in two parts, generally in terms of synthesis, which form, in the assembled state, the groove 7A constituting the retaining the locking member. Each half-box further comprises an inclined ramp opening into a semicircular bearing housing 9B for the receiving the articulation axis 9A of the other element 5 of the device. The housing 4 could, in a similar way, be made in the form of a monoblock piece in terms of synthesis or cast metal. It is noted that in this state of the technique, the articulation 9, between the elements 4 and 5 of the assembly device and which is formed of at least two elements carried respectively by an element of device, is carried out in such a way that the elements of the articulation, namely the bearing 9B and the axis 9A are fully dissociable and assemble by simple nesting. As a result, panels 2 and 3 can, before assembly, be fully dissociated. Conversely, during the mounting panels 2 and 3, the hinge pin 9A is introduced into the bearing 9B of the housing 4 and the panels are moved relative to allow during a pivotal displacement of the axis 9A to inside the bearing 9B, the engagement of the axis 8A in the groove 7A of the housing 4. As soon as the clipping is operated, the assembly device then occupies a position locked. The panels 2 and 3 can not then be disassembled and are permanently maintained in mounting position.

In the assembly device, according to the state of the technique, shown in Figure 2, the articulation 9 is here consists of a set of links 9C which allow, when deploying the panels 2, 3, a motion complex of these to come to position one of the panels on singing against the face of the other sign. We find, in a similar way to the example above, in the housing 4 of the assembly device, a bearing for receiving articulation 9 here constituted by the links 9C, this housing 4 being directly built into the face of a panel. Of analogously, the other element 5 of the device comprises a fastener or fastener to another panel 3 to assemble, connection means to the links 9C and a pin 8B for cooperating with a hook 7B housed inside the housing 4 flush.

The preceding embodiments are cited for the purpose describe self-locking hinges known to state of the art and to present articulations between elements usable with the assembly device according to the invention which will be described below.

In a first embodiment of the device assembly shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the articulation 9 between elements 4 and 5 of the assembly device is constituted by a cam path 9E intended to cooperate with a 9D finger. In the example shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the cam path 9E is formed in a room housed at the inside of the 4 built-in housing while the 9D finger intended to cooperate with the cam path 9E is disposed to the free end of the element 5 of the device assembly. The locking member of this device assembly consists of a tab 8C, preferably elastically deformable, arranged for cooperate with a housing 7C provided with notches 7C1 of locking ensuring irreversible locking.

In the example shown, the housing 4 comprises internally a room with two guideways concaves arranged substantially orthogonally one to the other. One of the guide paths is intended for constitute the housing 7C provided with notches 7C1 of locking. The tongue 8C elastically deformable as for it the shape of a convex plate intended to be housed inside any of the guideways in the assembled state of elements 4 and 5 of the device. During the angular displacement of the elements 4 and 5 of the device, this tab 8C is capable of to pass a first concave guide path of the housing 4 to a second guide path which forms the housing 7C provided 7C1 locking notches. Due to the presence of locking notches 7C1, tab 8C is immobilized, locking the entire hinge.

FIG. 7 illustrates this assembly device in the state pre-assembled on panels 2 and 3 of furniture.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment an assembly device similar to that shown in Figures 2 to 6. This assembly device is distinguished of that shown in Figures 2 to 6 by the articulation 9 again made of a cam path 9E and a 9D finger. However, in the example of embodiment shown, the cam path 9E is carried by the element 5 of the assembly device while the finger 9D is carried by the housing 4 built-in device assembly. As a result, the element 5 of the device assembly includes both a tab 8C elastically deformable and a cam path 9E.

It is noted that, in the embodiments described above, the first and the second elements of the device are systematically connected to each other by an articulation permitting an angular displacement of said elements between them. This articulation 9 can be constituted indifferently of an axis 9A of articulation adapted to be housed in a bearing 9B axis, a set of rods 9C or of a 9E cam path and a 9D finger moving in said cam path.

Of course, other types of joints, such as those already used on the hinges classics, could also be incorporated into the present assembly device.

This assembly device can consist of two elements connected together by a way hinge permanent or not. Thus, FIG. 1 illustrates in particular the case where the assembly device consists of two elements 4 and 5 fully separable because of the articulation design 9. As illustrated in particularly in FIG. 9, the locking member is assembled and assembled, elements to be assembled at the means of the assembly device, inaccessible. This inaccessibility can be obtained either by cooperation of elements of the arrangement between them, either by cooperation of a element of the device with an element to be assembled.

As mentioned above, such an assembly device may apply to any assembly of elements, in particular of stackable flat panels for transport and assemblable at a predetermined angle to the mounting, these flat panels being intended for the production of furniture whose term must be taken in its wide acceptance and includes cabinets, desks, box-type furniture, tables with as well as modular constructions, such as that verandahs, light buildings, office partitions, transport crates.

Obviously, the furniture thus constituted can affect a lot of forms. In the example shown in Figure 9, the furniture consists of least four panels articulated to each other by hinge type links to form a parallelogram deformable from a flattened position, to a deployed position. At least some of the hinges are irreversibly locked in accordance with assembly device described above, in a position predetermined angle of the panels corresponding to the extended position of the parallelogram to form a frame of furniture, such as kitchen or office furniture or cabinet, ready to use. These panel elements can also constitute, in the assembled state, the elements of a veranda.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the furniture may consist of a floor 20 and a on top 21 interconnected by articulated partitions 22 respectively at floor 20 and above 21, these partitions 22 delimiting with the floor 20 and the top 21 a succession of deformable parallelograms arranged side by side coast and deployable simultaneously to come to occupy a predetermined angular position corresponding to the state mounted furniture, the parallelograms being locked in this position through at least one part of the joints constituted respectively of a assembly device of the aforementioned type. In the example represented, the top 21 of the furniture is simply constituted two sleepers but could similarly have been consisting of a solid panel.

Claims (9)

1. A hinge-type assembly device, applicable in particular to the erection of pieces of furniture that are ready to be erected and that are delivered in the form of packages of small bulk, said device being constituted by at least two elements (4, 5), the one element (4), the so-called first element, taking the form of a casing that is capable of being fitted into a first element (2) to be assembled, such as a panel, and containing at least one hinge element, the other element (5), the so-called second element of the device, being capable of being positively connected to a second element (3) to be assembled, said first element (4) and said second element (5) of the device, which respectively bear one of the elements of an articulation (9) permitting an angular displacement of said elements (4, 5) relative to each other, being capable of being assembled to each other so as to form, in particular, when the elements (2, 3) to be assembled - such as panels - are being erected, a hinge that is self-lockable in a predetermined angular position, the locking component (6) constituted by a retaining component (7C, 7C1) and by a component (8C) to be retained, such as a tongue, being of irreversible type,
   characterised in that the casing (4) includes internally a part providing two concave guidance paths which are disposed approximately orthogonally to one another, and in that an elastically deformable tongue (8C), forming the component to be retained with which the second element (5) of the device is fitted, is realised in the form of a convex surface passing from a first guidance path of the casing (4) to the second guidance path of the casing in the course of an angular displacement of the elements (4 and 5) of the device, said second guidance path forming a housing (7C), provided with locking notches (7C1), in which the tongue (8C) is immobilised so as to ensure a locking of the hinge.
2. Assembly device according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that in the predetermined locking position of the device the locking component (6) is inaccessible either by co-operation of the elements (4, 5) of the device with each other or by co-operation of an element (4, 5) of the device with an element (2, 3) to be assembled.
3. Assembly device according to one of Claims 1 and 2,
   characterised in that the articulation (9) is constituted equally by an axis (9A) of articulation that is capable of being housed in an axis bearing (9B), by a set of rods or by a cam groove (9E) or by a finger (9D) which is displaced in said cam groove.
4. Furniture constituted by at least two elements, such as two flat panels or a panel and a base element, that are capable of being stacked for transportation and capable of being assembled in accordance with a predetermined angle for the erection,
   characterised in that each furniture element, such as a panel or a base, is provided with an element of the assembly device according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   said elements of the assembly device forming, in the course of assembly of the piece of furniture, a hinge that is locked in irreversible manner in a predetermined angular position corresponding to the erection position of the piece of furniture.
5. Furniture according to Claim 4,
   characterised in that the locking component is inaccessible in the assembled and erected state.
6. Furniture according to one of Claims 4 and 5,
   characterised in that it is constituted by at least four panels which are articulated to one another by hinge-type links so as to form a parallelogram that is capable of being deformed from a flattened position to an opened-out position, at least some of the hinges being lockable in irreversible manner in a predetermined angular position of the panels corresponding to the opened-out position of the parallelogram so as to form a frame of a piece of furniture, such as a piece of kitchen furniture or a piece of office furniture or a cupboard, that is ready for use.
7. Furniture according to one of Claims 4 to 6,
   characterised in that in the erected state it constitutes a desk.
8. Furniture according to one of Claims 4 to 6,
   characterised in that in the erected state it constitutes the elements of a veranda.
9. Furniture according to one of Claims 4 to 6,
   characterised in that it is constituted by a floor (20) and by a top (21) which are linked to one another by partitions (22) which are articulated respectively to the floor (20) and to the top (21), said partitions (22) delimiting with the floor (20) and the top (21) a succession of deformable parallelograms disposed side by side and capable of being opened out simultaneously so as to come to occupy a predetermined angular position corresponding to the erected state of the piece of furniture, the parallelograms being locked in this position by means of at least some of the articulations which are respectively constituted by an assembly device according to one of Claims 1 to 3.

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