FR2708132A1 - Furniture with shelves, especially adapted for HIFI and VIDEO equipment and intended to reduce or absorb the unwanted vibrations when listening - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to furniture with shelves, intended to reduce or absorb the unwanted vibrations when listening to HIFI and VIDEO equipment. It includes a metal chassis (1) comprising solid vertical cylinders turned at the bottom into a cone (2). Sockets (3) made from metal and a sticky substance (9) are placed on the ground and receive the cones (2) of the chassis (1). Marble or granite slabs ((4) and (5)) and columns (6) of the same material are alternately fitted into the chassis (1); all these elements are fully uncoupled from one another by polyurethane ((7), (8), (11) and (12)), the whole remaining fully dismantleable. The furniture according to the invention is particularly intended for carrying top of the range HIFI and VIDEO apparatus.

Description

 The present invention relates to shelving units specially adapted for HIFI and VIDEO devices and intended to reduce or absorb unwanted vibrations during hearing.

 The reduction or absorption of these vibrations is traditionally carried out by shelving units with a metallic structure with spikes at the base which are screwed into the feet and which cannot be placed directly on the floor at the risk of ablmer it.

The principle of screwing does not promote good flow of vibrations. In addition, the trays are often light and do not benefit from a good anti-vibration mass effect. When these trays are made of stone, they are simply placed on a metal support or on points; the mass effect is therefore limited by the thickness of the stone, often less than or equal to two centimeters. The best acoustic results are obtained with granite or marble slabs ten centimeters or more thick when used according to the traditional device. Using such plates in shelving units would have several drawbacks: the weight of the plates, a consequent metallic structure therefore very heavy, the difficulty in installing or moving the assembly, the bulk and finally the lack of aesthetics.

 The furniture according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks. According to a first characteristic, they in fact comprise a metal chassis comprising solid cylinders turned in the mass, at their base, in a cone. A horizontal metal structure is welded to the base of each cylinder, above the cones, making the cylinders integral and directing them vertically. The cones, constituting the legs of the chassis, are housed in bases placed on the ground. These bases are made of metal and a gummy material. Marble or granite plates and columns are alternately embossed in the metal frame. The frame, the plates, the columns - all these elements are completely decoupled from each other by polyurethane. Thus, the plates and columns are stacked on top of each other while being decoupled from each other by the polyurethane. This sandwiching process associated with decoupling by polyurethane gives the plates a multiplied mass effect although having a thickness of only two centimeters as a non-limiting example, the last internal micro-vibrations of the plates being absorbed by the polyurethane. The acoustic results are equivalent to those usually obtained with plates ten centimeters thick.

 The cones channel the vibrations of the chassis which are finally absorbed by the bases. These same bases decouple the cones from the ground. Bad exterior conditions, such as wooden floors, cannot affect the quality of hearing; moreover the bases preserve this parquet. The furniture remains fully removable so easy to install, disassemble and move.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention
Figure 1 shows an example of a metal chassis seen from above.

Figure 2 shows the same metal frame seen from the front with
its bases.

FIG. 3 represents the upper granite plate seen from above.

FIG. 4 represents the same upper granite plate seen from
profile.

FIG. 5 represents a granite intermediate plate seen from
above.

Figure 6 shows the same intermediate granite plate seen
in profile.

FIG. 7 represents a hollow granite column seen in profile
and from above.

FIG. 8 represents a polyurethane sheath seen in profile and
On top.

Figure 9 shows a polyurethane strip viewed from the front.

Figure 10 shows the same polyurethane strip seen from above.

Figure 11 shows a base seen in profile and from above.

FIG. 12 represents a polyurethane ring seen in profile and
On top.

FIG. 13 represents a polyurethane tablet viewed in profile
and above.

Figure 14 shows the fully assembled piece of furniture seen from above.

Figure 15 shows the fully assembled piece of furniture seen from the front.

Figure 16 shows in section along AA, a foot of the mounted furniture
according to the invention.

 With reference to these drawings, the piece of furniture comprises a metallic frame (1) of triangular shape in drawn steel comprising three vertical cylinders turned into a cone (2) at their lower end.

 Welded drawn steel bars to drawn steel rings which are themselves welded to the cylinders, at their base, above the cone (2), make the three cylinders integral and ensure perfect squaring by directing them vertically.

 The cones (2) are housed in cylindrical bases (3) in drawn steel which are independent of the chassis (1). The upper surface of each base (3) is provided with a small cavity (10) into which the tip of the cone (2) is inserted. The underside of each base (3) is provided with a cavity (9) filled with a gummy material intended to absorb the internal micro-vibrations of the base (3). The three cones (2), constituting the legs of the chassis (1), allow a perfect balance of the chassis (1) whatever the irregularities of the ground and therefore favor an excellent channeling of vibrations towards each base (3).

 The upper part of the chassis bars (1) is covered with a polyurethane strip (8). The upper part of the frame rings (1) is covered with a polyurethane ring (11).

Each cylinder of the chassis (1) is wrapped in a polyurethane sheath (7).

 An intermediate plate (5) made of granite then fits into the chassis (1) to rest on the polyurethane, thus being perfectly decoupled from the bars, rings and cylinders of the chassis (1); it constitutes the bottom plate of the furniture. A polyurethane ring (11), a granite column (6) and then another polyurethane ring (11) are successively fitted into each cylinder of the chassis (1). Again, an intermediate plate (5) of granite is fitted into the frame (1); then, successively, a polyurethane ring (11), a granite column (6) and another polyurethane ring (11) are fitted into each cylinder of the chassis (1). The operation is repeated as many times as there are intermediate plates (5) in granite.

 The upper granite plate (4) is provided with blind holes at the bottom of each of these blind holes is received a polyurethane pad (12). This granite upper plate (4) finally fits into the frame (1) to rest on the polyurethane rings (11) which cover the upper granite columns (6).

 The height of the chassis cylinders (1) is such that their vertices are embedded in the blind holes of the upper plate (4) in granite so as to be in contact with the polyurethane pellets (12) housed at the bottom of each hole blind, but it is the granite columns (6) which support the granite top plate (4) and not the cylinders; these only serve to direct, as axes, the different elements of the whole. The furniture remains entirely removable.

 According to a variant not illustrated, the frame may have four feet forming a trapezoid to receive marble or granite plates that are longer. The isosceles trapezoid shape allows a very good balance of the chassis on the ground and therefore promotes a good channeling of vibrations towards each base.

 By way of nonlimiting example, the piece of furniture will have dimensions of the order of 80 cm for the height, 60 cm for the width and 60 cm for the depth.

 The furniture according to the invention is particularly intended to serve as a support for high-end HIFI and VIDE0 equipment to reduce or absorb unwanted hearing vibrations.

Claims (1)

 CLAIM  Shelving units specially adapted for HIFI and VIDEO devices and intended to reduce or absorb unwanted hearing vibrations, characterized in that they comprise a metal chassis (1) comprising vertical solid cylinders turned into cones (2) at their lower end, cones (2) which are housed in bases (3) composed of metal and a gummy material (9); plates ((4) and (5)) of marble or granite and columns (6) of the same material are alternately fitted into the metal frame (1); the metal frame (1), the plates ((4) and (5)) in marble or granite, the columns (6) of the same material - all these elements are fully decoupled from each other by polyurethane ((7) , (8), (11) and (12)), the assembly remaining entirely removable.