US20070236115A1

US20070236115A1 - Versatile furniture and assembly method

Info

Publication number: US20070236115A1
Application number: US11/783,085
Authority: US
Inventors: Jorge Casanova Arevalo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-05
Filing date: 2007-04-05
Publication date: 2007-10-11
Also published as: MXPA06003796A

Abstract

A method for versatile furniture construction and a versatile furniture, that comprises at least one panel or side, at least one rail fixed to the panel, the rail containing different walls, wherein the front walls do not make contact, a groove per rail that runs from the upper end to the lower end of said panel or side where the rail is inserted, a square constituted by two different fragments, each one of said fragments contains a threaded hole, wherein said square is placed in the ends of the rails to join two different panels or sides by means of a screw, and said screws join said rail with the square with the panel or side, elements to fix that contain one or more threaded holes and is fixed to said rails by means of a screw by the threaded hole and a bore with internal windings by said threaded hole, one or more special squares constituted by two different sections, wherein each one of the two sections contains two different widths and a threaded hole, wherein said special square is fixed in any point of the rail giving support to different types of union by means of a screw and a bore in its different width section.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers in general to the automated construction of furniture or the same, and particularly to a method and apparatus for producing furniture that is conveniently assembled in the final destination, in furniture units of different types.

PRIOR ART SPECIFICATION

The production of furniture, such as desks, closets, boards, bookshelves, kitchens and similar, has been in the past, a task that requires manual labor. The material pieces as are laminated wood, agglomerates, MDF, solid wood, or other similar materials, should be cut in the particular size configurated, perforated and elaborated in other manners to form several parts, which are later assembled, regularly in a manual manner, to create the finished product. Said production results in a product relatively expensive which is later transported from the factory in an assembled and finished manner to its final destination. Not only the transportation is expensive, but also the furniture product has to be packaged and handled carefully to avoid damage.
To avoid the high cost of the afore mentioned process a furniture category has been developed known as furniture ready to assemble. This type of furniture is usually sold in a non-assembled manner comprising components that are designed for the consumer, which may be assembled without the necessity of special tools of any type. In fact, many of the furniture articles, such as the desks, shelves, drawers, bookshelves and similar are found in a dismountable manner, being an easy manner to transport, comprising measured cut components and special fasteners that may be assembled easily with a screw driver. The components are typically perforated in the factory to make the assembly an easy task.
Another system used for the construction of furniture is the so-called System 32. System 32 refers to holes made in the panel of the furniture, with a space of 1.26 inches (32 millimeters) between holes and a depth of approximately 0.197 inches (5 millimeters). The axial distance between the hole line and the frontal edge is approximately 1.46 inches (37 millimeters), where the seals, bumps and others, are part of the edge and are included in the measure of 1.46 inches (37 millimeters), and should be taken into account when the furniture panel is being cut and perforated.
The distance between the vertical hole lines should be divisible between 32. It is advantageous for the distance between the first and last perforation of the holes in the hole line, that the upper and lower edge be the same. System 32 has economical advantages due to its technology. However said system does not allow a versatile placement of the furniture, since the holes are fixed at certain points and thus the components of the furniture can only be placed in certain parts of the furniture.
Several patents in the prior art disclose furniture ready to assemble. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,328 a modular furniture system is disclosed which consists of functional modules that can be oriented, stacked and interlocked to create different furniture assemblies. The modules include identical rectangular enclosures, one of which contains drawers and another a cupboard and retractable writing surface. The enclosures can be stacked one on top of the other with a portion of the uppermost enclosure supporting one end of an upper bunk bed module. A disadvantage of the afore-mentioned patent is that the furniture cannot be assembled in a quick manner, that is a part of the furniture is not fastened in a quick manner to another part of the furniture. A further disadvantage is that a single type of furniture can be assembled with a system of the above-mentioned patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,113 discloses a modular piece of furniture such as a room divider, with a compartmented skeletal structure forming shelves and cabinets, has its horizontal and vertical wall members interconnected by moldings extending along orthogonally adjoining edges thereof with ribs fitting into longitudinal grooves of these edges. Other profiles, of generally trapezoidal cross-section, have exposed longitudinal slots accommodating inserts which carry hinge elements for the connection of swing doors to certain of these wall members. Similar profiles along the free edges of door leaves are fitted with bumper or sealing strips. Again, one of the disadvantages of the above technology is that a single type of furniture may be assembled with it.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,988, discloses mobile furniture modules can be releasably installed under a work surface structure, such as provided by a countertop or table top, with convenient rearrangement enabled by providing each module with roller structures, such as typical casters, which are releasably anchored in wheel mounts which receive the caster wheels in a depression seat at a level elevated from the floor in the installed position. In addition the work surface structure is provided with a retainer which prevents movement of installed modules from beneath the work surface structure, preferably by engaging the top of the module with adjustable elevation which levels the module following releasable anchoring of the wheels in the elevated depression seat. A disadvantage with the afore-mentioned patent is that the furniture cannot be assembled in a quick manner. Another disadvantage is that a single type of furniture can be assembled with the above-mentioned patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,550 discloses a plurality of side rails, cross rails, side and corner legs are prefabricated from a square, tubular, 12 gauge steel material. Separable side and corner connecting members formed of substantially the same tubular steel material include projecting arms and bridging members that are inserted into the open ends of the side rails, cross rails, side and corner members to assemble the table. The connections are secured by bolting the structural frame members to the connecting members. Tubular rectangular side tracks are secured to the upper surface of the side rails in certain installations to provided support for wheeled carriages that are adapted to move longitudinally of the table. The side connectors and corner connectors are, in general, fabricated identically, then utilized in the assembly by slightly different orientation, hole patterns, and the use of the different bridging members. A disadvantage of the afore-mentioned patent is the difficult assembly of the rails to the furniture, even though this type of rails may allow different types of assembly for different types of furniture.
A structure for furniture pieces of variable configuration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,060. A plurality of different types of assembling elements, which are coupled with one another, in a stable and removable way, to support a desktop at a predetermined distance from the ground. The types of assembling elements include a sleeve, hollow inside and equipped, in its lateral wall, with male quick connection joint means, formed by a pair of pins. Another element is a bar for coupling with a pair of the sleeves, and being equipped, at both extremities, with female quick connectors, which include a pair of blocks featuring a longitudinal hole, which receives the pins, and a through hole containing a dowel for locking the pins. The desktop is supported by desktop bearing brackets. Moreover, legs are fastened to the sleeves to support the bar and the sleeves at a predetermined distance from the ground. Other elements of the structure include extension uprights, fixing into the sleeves, in a position orthogonal with respect to the desktop, to support other shelves, which form a bookcase over the desk. The above patent is a furniture that is assembled in a quick manner, that is, one part of the furniture is fastened to another part of the furniture quickly. However one of the disadvantages of the above furniture is that it is destined to create a single type of furniture with the assembly of the afore-mentioned patent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One of the problems found in current furniture, is that they are designed for in situ elaboration or in the factory, without having a broad versatility for future changes, without visibly affecting the parts that are made by it. Another problem found in the current furniture, is that, even though they are not designed for their elaboration in situ or in the factory, the furniture do not have a broad versatility for future changes, without affecting the parts that are made by it.
Therefore, one object of the present invention, is disclosing furniture which gives relatively easy changing options outside the factory, without altering the elements comprised by the same.
Another of the object of the present invention is disclosing a furniture that does not need to be assembled in situ or in the factory, wherein the assembly is sufficiently easy, with everyday tools, such as a simple screwdriver.
Thus, a further object of the invention is disclosing furniture that is assembled in a quick manner, that is, that one part of the furniture is assembled to another part quickly.
Another object of the invention is disclosing an assembly method for furniture that gives the option of relatively easy changing to be made outside the factory, without altering the elements comprised by it.
A further object of the invention, is disclosing an assembly method for furniture that does not need to be done in situ or in a factory, where the assembly is sufficiently easy with ordinary tools, such as a simple screwdriver.
Additionally, another object of the invention, is disclosing an assembly method for furniture which may be assembled in a quick manner that is, fastening one part of the furniture to another in a quick manner.
A further object of the invention is using panels normally used in the fabrication of conventional furniture, obtaining the same appearance in the design, tone and texture of the furniture assembled in a factory.
Yet another object of the invention is the use of simple adapters to use all type of metalwork available in the furniture market. Additionally another object is the non-use of adapters, using without them all types of metalwork available in the furniture market.
The afore-mentioned objects are obtained according to the content of the claims, by means of a structure to obtain furniture pieces of variable configuration, which include a plurality of different types of assembly elements, which are placed together, in a stable and removable manner, to support all type of structures above them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front transversal cross-section view of a joint in border to bump of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a lateral transversal cross-section view of a joint in border to bump of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front transversal cross-section view of the joint in border at 45° of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a conventional view of the joint in border at 45° of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a conventional view of the joint to bump and a joint in border at 45° of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploited view of a border to bump of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a joint to bore of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a lateral view of a joint to bore of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a front longitudinal cross-section view of a joint with bore of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a lateral transversal cross-section view of a joint with bore of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a conventional perspective view of a joint with bore.

FIG. 12 is an exploited view of a joint with bore.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the special square of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a lateral view of the special square of the invention.

FIG. 15 is an inferior perspective view of the special square of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a superior perspective view of the special square of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view of the universal joint of the invention.

FIG. 18 is a lateral cross-section view of the universal joint of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a front longitudinal cut view of the universal joint of the invention.

FIG. 20 is a second lateral cross-section view of the universal joint of the invention.

FIG. 21 is a conventional perspective view of the universal joint of the invention.

FIG. 22 is an exploited view of the universal joint of the invention.

FIG. 23 is a superior view of the drawer joint of the invention.

FIG. 24 is a lateral cross-section view of the drawer joint of the invention.

FIG. 25 is a second superior view of the drawer joint of the invention.

FIG. 26 is a second lateral cross-section view of the drawer joint of the invention.

FIG. 27 is a conventional perspective view of the drawer joint of the invention.

FIG. 28 is an exploited view of the drawer joint of the invention.

FIG. 29 is a superior view of the door joint of the invention.

FIG. 30 is a lateral cross-section view of the door joint of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a conventional perspective view of the door joint of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is an exploited view of the door joint of the invention.

FIG. 33 is a superior view of the panel joint of the invention.

FIG. 34 is a lateral cross-section view of the panel joint of the invention.

FIG. 35 is a second superior view of the panel joint of the invention.

FIG. 36 is a second lateral cross-section view of the panel joint of the invention.

FIG. 37 is a conventional perspective view of the panel joint of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is an exploited view of the panel joint of the invention.

FIG. 39 is a front view of a first furniture embodiment built by the method of the invention.

FIG. 40 is a conventional perspective view of the first furniture embodiment built by the method of the invention.

FIG. 41 is a conventional perspective view of a second furniture embodiment built by the method of the invention, including doors.

FIG. 42 is a conventional perspective view of a second furniture embodiment built by the method of the invention, including doors, where the doors are closed.

FIG. 43 is a front view of a third furniture embodiment built by the method of the invention.

FIG. 44 is a conventional perspective view of a third furniture embodiment built by the method of the invention.

FIG. 45 is a conventional perspective view of a fourth furniture embodiment built by the method of the invention, including doors.

FIG. 46 is a conventional perspective view of a fourth furniture embodiment built by the method of the invention, including doors, where the doors are closed.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION OF THE INVENTION

In relation to the afore-mentioned figures, FIGS. 1 and 3 show a front view of a panel or side (1) of the method of furniture construction of the invention, made of commonly used materials in the practice of furniture construction, such as wood agglomerate, MDF, wood sheets (triplay), solid wood, crystal, etc, in which a rail (2) is fixed. The rail is made out of commonly used materials in rail (2) constructions, preferently a resistant matter, such as aluminum, steel, plastic, PVC, etc. The panel or side (1) used in the invention, man be a panel or side (1) used commonly in furniture construction, that is a pre-made panel or side (1) may be used in the method of the invention.
The rail (2) is fixed to the panel or side (1) by a conventional method, such as screws. Said rail (2) is placed at an adequate distance of the edge of the panel or side (1), running lengthwise of the panel or side (1). That is, the rails (2) are placed in positions from 0° or 180° in regard to the edge of the panels or sides (1).
The panels or sides (1) are later placed, depending on the purpose of the panel or side (1), next to walls or floors (3), to form spaces to mount the furniture.
As may be observed in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6, so that the rail (2) may be inserted in the panel or side (1), a groove (4) is formed in the internal part of the panel or side (1), where the groove (4) is done at an adequate distance of the edge of the panel or side (1), running lengthwise of the panel or side (1), in positions of 0° to 180° in regard to the edges of the panel or sides (1). The rails (2) are inserted in the grooves (4) by conventional methods, such as pressure or fixed by screws. Therefore, the rails (2) are found in the internal part of the panel or side (1).
The rails (2) are in form of a “C”, with five different walls, where the walls contain a 90° angle between each one of them. That is, the rail (2) contains a lower wall, which will be joined to the panel or side (1) in the groove (4), further containing two lateral walls, which will be joined to the panel or side (1) in the lateral parts of the groove (4) of the panel or side (1), and two opposed front walls, which do not meet, that is, a square or rectangle is not completely formed if a transversal cut of the rail (2) is made, since the front walls of the rail (2) do not have contact between them, thus the rail (2) has an aperture in its front part.
The groove (4) runs from side to side in a longitudinal manner of the panel or side (1). That is, there is no separation between the edge of the panel or side (1) with the groove (4), rather the groove runs from side to side. In the same manner, when the rail (2) is inserted, the rail (2) runs from side to side or edge to edge, in a longitudinal manner of the panel or side (1), according to the groove (4).
Likewise, the above mentioned figures show a square (5) which joins the panels or sides (1). In FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 it may be seen that said square (5) contains two fragments (6, 7), which form a “V”, with an angle between the two fragments of 0° to 179°, depending on the type of mount that will be needed between the panels or sides (1) to be joined. In the central part of the fragments (6, 7) of the square (5), two threaded holes (8) are found to receive a screw (9).
Once said rail (2) is mounted in said panel or side (1), by the afore-mentioned means, a first fragment (6) of the square (5) is inserted in the interior part (29) of the rail (2). Since the front walls of the rail (2) enclose the inserted first fragment (6) of the square (5), every time the square (5) has a width which is less that the total width of the rail (2) and the square (5) has a greater width than the width of the aperture of the front walls of the rail (2), the square (5) is fixed of lateral movements in regard to the rail (2) and the panel or side (1). So as to fix the square (5) of upper/lower and front/back movements in regard to the rail (2) and the panel or side (1), a screw (9) is threaded by the threaded holes (8) of the square (5) to said panel or side (1), fixing the square (5) and said rail (2) to said panel or side (1).
Furthermore, so as to join the panel or side (1) with a second panel or side (10), the second fragment (7) is inserted within the rail (2) of said second panel or side (10). The walls of the second rail (2) enclose the second fragment (7) inserted in the square (5), the second fragment (7) of the square is fixed of lateral movements with regard to the second rail (2) and the second panel or side (10). So as to fix the square (5) of upper/lower and front/back movements in regard to the rail (2) and said second panel or side (10), a screw (9) is threaded by means of the threaded hole (8) of the square (5) to said second panel or side (10), fixing the square (5) and the second rail (2), with the second panel or side (10).
As may be seen in FIG. 4, when threading the screw (9), said screw (9) reaches the back wall of the rail (2), thus the square (5) is fixed with the rail (2) and the panel or side (1, 10), as was stated before.
Therefore, a single square (5) works for two different panels or sides (1, 10) and two different rails (2). The above described is for joining two different panels or sides (1, 10) in a 90° position. Logically, the angle that the sections or fragments of the square (5) have, will be reflected on the angle between the two panels or sides (1, 10).
Since the groove (4) runs from side to side of the panel or side (1) in a longitudinal manner, the groove (4) will be visible in the lower edge of the exterior part of the panel or side (1). The afore-mentioned only affects the physical aspect of furniture, and not the technical character of the same. Furthermore, the hole left by the groove (4) may be filled with a filler, such as a plaster or lid among other. This may be observed in FIG. 5.
FIGS. 7 and 12 show joints with other elements to fix (12) of the furniture construction method of the invention. Specifically FIG. 12 shows the components of said joint, such as panels or sides (1), rails (2), bores (11) with interior threading, the element to be fixed (12) and screws (9). The rail (2), is fixed to the panel or side (1) by a conventional method as may be pressure or screws. The rail (2) is placed at an adequate distance of the edge of the panel or side (1) throughout the lateral border of said panel or side (1). That is, the rails (2) are positioned in a 0° or 180° angle in regard to the edges of the panels or sides (1).
The rail (2) maintains the same characteristics as was above mentioned, such as may be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12. The element to fix (12) contains a threaded hole (13) through which a screw will be threaded (9). A bore (11) with internal windings is placed in the interior of the rail (2). The bore (11) with internal windings has two different longitudes, thus allowing with the first longitude, which is smaller than the second longitude, entering the rail (2). Once said bore (11) with internal windings is in the internal part of the rail (2), said bore (11) with internal windings is rotated 90° so that it is fixed with the rail (2). Likewise, said bore (11) with internal windings has a threaded hole (14) in its central part. The threaded hole (13) of the fixed element (12) is centered according to the threaded hole (14) of the bore (11) with internal windings so that they are in the same point relative to a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.
Since the front walls of the rail (2) enclose the bore (11) with internal windings, said bore (11) with internal windings is fixed of lateral movements in regard to the rail (2) and the panel or side (1). So that the bore (11) with internal windings and the element to fix (12) is fixed of upper/lower and front/back movements, a screw (9) is threaded by means of the threaded hole (13) of the element to fix (12) and the threaded hole (14) of the bore (11) with internal windings to said panel or side (1), fixing said element to fix (12), to said bore (11) with internal windings and said rail (2), with said panel or side (1) and said element to fix (12). That is, the moment that the threaded screw (9) is threaded and passed by the element to fix (12) and the bore (11) with internal winding, the bore (11) with internal winding hits or is fixed against the internal part of the exterior wall (28) of said rail (2).
The manner in which the bore (11) with internal winding is fixed to the rail (2) by means of the threaded hole (14), will apply to all the components in the furniture construction method of the invention, that use said bore (11) with internal windings.
The afore-mentioned may be seen in the transversal cut of FIG. 10, as well as the lateral view of FIG. 8. In the external part the element to fix (12) is found. In the intermediate part the rail (2) and the bore (11) with internal windings may be seen. Said element to fix (12) and said bore with internal windings, are threaded by a screw (9).
FIG. 7 is a front view of how the element to fix (12) will be in regard to the rail (2). FIG. 8 is a lateral view of how the element to fix (12) will be in regard to the panel or side (1).
The elements to fix (12) may be selected from fixed or extractable tie racks, extractable pant racks, valet, moon mirror, cloth baskets, multi-use tray, extractable shoe racks, lamps, belt racks, jewelry racks, hanging racks, shirt pull-outs, fan perch, dirty cloth baskets, among other elements for closets. The elements to fix (12) may be selected between baskets, spice racks, pull-out systems, slidable towels, corners, illuminations, molds or corners, hiding system for cutting boards, ironing boards, towel carrier, bottle racks, supports for paper towels, supports for 190 knives, support for cooking books, extractable dispensers, rotating dispensers, edgers, metallic panels, metallic magic edgers, extractable doors, garbage cans, devices for drying tableware, vegetable baskets, hooks, among other elements for kitchen. The elements to fix (12) may be selected from televisions, CD accessories, folder fixers, speaker fixers, magazine fixers, rotating base, rotating arm for monitors, desk organizers and keyboard fixers, among other elements for bookcases and others.
FIGS. 13 and 16 are different types of view of the special square (15) of the furniture construction method of the invention. As the square (5), the special square (15) contains two different sections (16, 17). However, the special square (15) contains two different widths (18, 19) in one of the two sections (16, 17). The first width (18) in the first section (16) of the special square (15), is less than the total width of the rail (2). The second width (19) of the first section (16) of the special square (15), is less than the total width of the rail (2), however greater than the first width (18) of the first section (16) of the special square (15). The second width (19) of the first section (16) of the special square (15), is seen with a threaded hole (20), so that a threaded screw (9) may be threaded through said hole (20). The afore-mentioned may be seen in FIGS. 15 and 16.
The different widths (18, 19) of the first section (16) of the special square (15), allow that the special square (15) may be placed at any height of the rail, thus giving support to all type of joint. As was mentioned before, the advantage that the special square (15) has over an normal square (5), is that the special square (15) may be placed at any height of a vertical axis of a rail (2), whereas the square (5) may only be placed in the ends of the rail (2). This may be seen in FIGS. 17 through 22.
Specifically, FIGS. 18, 20 and 22 show the placement of the panels or sides (1) in the furniture construction method of the invention, by means of the special square (15). Since the first section (16) of the special square (15) has two different widths, where a width is inferior to the width of the rail (2), said first section (16) of the special square (15), may run throughout the rail (2) without being stuck in the upper or lower end of the rail (2). The second section (17) of greater width of the special square (15) is stuck as the square (5), that is, is stuck in the upper or lower end of the rail (2). Once a selected position of the rail has been obtained by means of the first section (17) of different widths of the special square (15), a bore (11) with windings, as was shown in FIGS. 7 through 12, is fixed to the first section (16) of different widths of the special square (15) against the panel, division or shelf (21) or against the element to fix (12) by means of a threaded screw (9), as is seen in FIGS. 18 and 20. On the other hand, the second section (17) of superior width of the special square (15) is stuck by means of a screw, since as was stated above, the special square (15) has a threaded hole (20) so that the threaded screw (9) may penetrate it.
Specifically, FIGS. 17, 18, 19 and 20 show the function of the bore (11) with internal windings and its respective screw (9), and the manner in which the bore (11) with internal windings and the screw (9) of the bore (11) with internal windings tighten the first section (16) of different widths of the special square (15). As may be seen in the longitudinal cut of FIG. 19, the bore (11) with internal windings has superior dimensions to the width of the rail (2), thus not allowing the exit of the first section (16) of different widths from the special square (15). Specifically, the transversal cuts of FIGS. 18 and 20 show the manner in which the bore (11) with internal windings and its respective screw (9), tighten the first section (16) of different widths of the special square (15) against the rail (2), thus sticking the side.
FIGS. 23 through 28 show the manner in which the drawers are integrated in the furniture construction method of the invention. Said drawers may be a first element to fix (12). As may be seen in the exploited view of FIG. 28, the method for mounting the drawers (23) in the furniture is provided of several integral parts, such as the drawer (23), a first and second slides (24, 25), rails (2) which are subject to the sides or panels (1), one or more screws (9) and a bore (11) with internal windings by a screw (9).
FIGS. 23 and 25 show from an upper view, two different embodiments of how to mount said drawers (23). In the first embodiment of FIG. 23, a rise (26) may be seen so to give space between the drawer (23) and the panel or side (1). Said raise (26) may be a second element to fix (12). In the second embodiment of FIG. 25, a drawer (23) next to the panel or side (1) is shown, without the space between the panel or side (1) and the drawer (23), except for the slide (24, 25).
The drawers (23) are mounted in rails (2), which are found, as was stated above, in the grooves (4) made in the panels or sides (1), where the grooves (4) in the panels or sides (1) are specifically made to sustain the rails (2). In each one of the lateral edges (27) of the drawers (23), first slides (24) are found, which are preferably of a smaller longitude than the longitude of the drawers (23). The first slides (24) are preferably found centered in regard to the vertical axis of the drawers (23). The first slides (24) may be fixed by conventional methods to the lateral edges (27) of the drawers (23). A second slide (25) is placed against the rise (26) or directly against the rail (2), as is seen in the transversal views of FIGS. 24 and 26.
In a first embodiment of the rise (26), according to FIG. 24, the second slide (25) is placed against the rise (26), by any conventional method of gluing, as will be disclosed below.
In a second embodiment without a rise (26), according to FIG. 26, the second slide (25) is positioned by means of a threaded screw (9) with a bore (11) with internal windings, where the bore (11) with internal windings is fixed against the exterior walls (28) of the rail (2), fixing the second slide (25).
In the first embodiment of the drawers (23), a threaded screw (9) is passed through the rise (26), and when penetrating the rail (2), said bore (11) with internal windings is fixed against the exterior walls (28) of the rail (2), fixing the rise (26). FIG. 27 shows the final result of how the drawer (23) should be fixed against the panel or side (1). The drawers are fixed in a vertical axis in regard to the panel or side (1), since the threaded screw (9) is pressured against the interior wall (29) of the rail (2), as may be seen in FIGS. 23 and 25.
FIGS. 29 through 32 show the manner in which the doors (30) are integrated into the furniture construction method of the invention. The method, as may be seen in FIG. 32, is constituted by several pieces, such as a panel or side (1), a door (30), hinges (31), two threaded screws (9) for each hinge (31), rail (2) and consequently to bores (11) with internal winding for each hinge (31).
As may be seen in the superior view of FIG. 29, the hinge (31) is constituted by two different parts (32, 33), a first part (32) that is fixed to the panel or side (1) of the furniture, and a second part (33) that is fixed to the door (30) of the furniture. The first part (32) contains the first flange (34) in the upper end and a second flange (35) in the lower end. The second part (33) also has a first flange (34) in the upper end and a second flange (35) in the lower end. Both flanges (34, 35), the upper and the lower, in both parts, are found in the same vertical axis. Furthermore, both flanges (34, 35) have a threaded hole (49) so that a threaded screw (9) may penetrate them. The panels or sides (1), are mounted in rails (2), which are found in the grooves (4) made in the panels or sides (1), where the grooves (4) in the panels or sides (1) are specifically made to sustain the rails (2). The first part of the hinge (31) is joined to the rail (2), where said flanges (34, 35) of the first part (32) of the hinges (31) are found in the same vertical axis in regard to the rail (2). The above may be seen in FIGS. 29 and 32. A threaded screw (9) penetrates the threaded hole (49) of the flanges, where finally the threaded screw (9) is fixed by the bore (11) with internal winding. The bore (11) with internal winding as may be seen in the transversal cut of FIG. 30, is fixed against the wall (28) of the rail (2). Therefore, the first part (32) of said hinge (31) is fixed against the panel or side (1).
The second part (33) of the hinge (31) is fixed to the door by conventional methods, such as gluing, as is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, or by means of threaded screws (9) as is shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, in which case, and as was above-mentioned, the second part (33) of the hinge (31) also needs a pair of flanges (34, 35), one in the upper part and a second in the lower part, in a the same vertical axis, where in each one of the flanges a threaded hole (49) is found so that a threaded screw (9) may penetrate said hole (49) and fix the door (30) of the furniture construction method of the invention.
FIGS. 33 through 38 show the manner in which the panel, division or shelf (21) are integrated in the furniture construction method of the invention. Said panel, division or shelf (21) may be a third element to fix (12). The method, as may be seen in FIGS. 37 and 38, is constituted by several pieces, such as a panel or side (1), a panel, division or shelf (21), two threaded screws (9) for each panel, division or shelf (21), and consequently to bores (11) with interior winding per panel, division or shelf (21) and a support square (36) or a crystal support (37). The panel, division or shelf (21) may be made out of wood agglomerate, MDF, triplay, solid wood, crystal, etc. In the specification, a first embodiment will be specified for the panel, division or shelf (21) made out of wood agglomerate, MDF, triplay, solid wood or similar, whereas a second embodiment of panel, division or shelf (21) is done with crystal.
Initially, to mount said panel, division or shelf (21) in the panels or sides (1), rails are mounted in the panels or sides (1), where the rails (2) are found, as was afore-mentioned, in grooves (4) of the panels or sides (1), wherein said grooves (1) in the panels or sides (1) are specifically made to sustain the rails (2). The first embodiment of the panel, division or shelf (21) may be observed in FIGS. 33, 34 and 38. A support square (36) in an “L” form contains in its vertical axis a threaded hole (50) so that it may be penetrated by a threaded screw (9). Once a desired height has been selected for the panel, division or shelf (21), with regard to the panel or side (1), a support square (36) is placed in a horizontal axis in regard to the first rail (2) of the panel or side (1), where said threaded screw (9) penetrates the threaded hole (50) of the vertical axis of the square support (36). A bore (11) with interior windings fixes in the interior wall (29) of the rail (2) the threaded screw (9), where said bore (11) with interior winding is fixed against the interior part of the exterior wall (28) of the rail (2). The same happens with the second rail (2) of the panel or side (1) at the same height, thus the panel or side (1) has to support squares (36). The position in the vertical axis is further assured since the threaded screw (9) bumps against the interior wall (29) of the rail (2), as may be seen in the superior view of FIG. 33. The transversal cut of FIG. 34 shows that the panel, division or shelf (21) is placed above the support square (36). The lateral ends (38) of the panel, division or shelf (21) may be made in such a manner that it couples to the support square (36). In a preferred manner, the lateral ends (38) of the panel, division or shelf (21) contain a specific point to couple to each one of the support squares (36), so that the panel, division or shelf (21) does not move in the horizontal axis and can only be placed or lifted in a vertical axis.
A second embodiment of the panel, division or shelf (21) may be seen in FIGS. 35, 36 and 37. A crystal square (37) in a “C” form, with three walls in an angle of 90° may be seen in greater detail in FIG. 36. Said crystal square (37) contain in its interior wall (39) a threaded hole (51) to be penetrated by a threaded screw (9). Once the desired height has been selected for the panel, division or shelf (21), a crystal square (37) is placed in the horizontal axis in regard to the first rail of the panel or side (1), where said threaded screw (9) penetrates the treaded hole (51) of the interior wall of the crystal square (37). A bore (11) with interior winding is fixed in the interior wall (29) of the rail (2) to the threaded screw (9), where said bore (11) with interior winding is fixed against the interior part of the exterior wall (28) of said rail (2). The same happens with the second rail (2) of the panel or side (1) at the same height, thus two crystal squares (37) are contained in the panel or side (1). The vertical axis position is further assured since the threaded screw (9) bumps against the interior wall (29) of the rail (2), such as may be seen in the superior view of FIG. 35. The transversal cut of FIG. 36 shows that the crystal panel, division or shelf (21) is placed between the upper wall and the lower wall of the crystal support (37). The crystal support (37) has to have a longitude between the upper wall and the inferior wall of the same width that the crystal will have, thus not allowing movements in a vertical axis, only in a horizontal axis. The afore-mentioned may be seen in the conventional perspective view of FIG. 37.
FIG. 39 shows a furniture (40), in this case a closet, built by the afore-mentioned method. In said figure, a combination of parts of the closet may be seen, such as a suitcase area (41) in the upper part, a hanging area (42) in the superior right part, a blind drawer (43) in the lower right part, a tie rack (45) in the central inferior part, a drawer area (46) in the left central part, a shoe rack (47) in the lower left part, and crystal panels, divisions or shelves (21) as may be seen in the upper left part. A perspective conventional view of the furniture may be seen in FIG. 40. Additionally, FIG. 40 shows the rails (2) in the lateral ends of the panels or sides (1) of the closet. In FIGS. 41 and 42 a furniture may be seen, specifically a closet with a similar constitution as above, in which doors (30) have been integrated to the closet.
FIGS. 43 and 44 show the versatility of the method of the invention. Said figures show a furniture (40), specifically a closet, wherein said closet contains the same cover than the closet of FIGS. 39 and 40, as well as the same cover than the closet of FIGS. 41 and 42, where the constitution of the closet is similar to the afore-mentioned. However, the components have been moved, since the method of rails (2) allows such versatility in the furniture. For example, FIG. 43 shows that the suitcase area (41) is found in the upper right part of the furniture, the open drawers (48) in the central right part of the furniture, blind drawers (43) in the lower right part of the furniture, the show rack (47) in the central portion of the furniture, second blind drawers (43) in the lower left part of the furniture, and four different hanging areas (42) in the left part of the furniture. The conventional perspective view of FIG. 44 allows the see the method of the invention, where said rails (2) in the lateral ends of the panels or sides (1) of the closet are seen. In FIGS. 45 and 46 show a furniture, specifically a closet with a similar constitution of the above-mentioned, in which doors (30) have been integrated in the closet.
In view of the afore-mentioned specification, the method of the invention allows the use of simple adapters of all type of metalwork existing in the furniture market.
The furniture construction method comprises fixing a rail to a panel or side by means of a groove that runs from the upper border to the lower border of the panel or side, said rail is placed in a vertical or horizontal position regarding the panel or side; placing a square in the ends of the rails, said squares containing two different fragments, each one of the fragments contains a threaded hole; joining two different panels or sides by means of screws; joining said rail to the square and consequently to the panel or side; fixing to said rails one or more elements to fix that contain one or more threaded holes by means of a threaded hole and a bore with internal winding by the threaded hole; wherein said bore with internal winding is fixed against the inferior part of the exterior wall of said rail; fixing one or more special squares in any point of the rail, wherein said special squares are constituted by two different sections, one of the two sections contains two different widths and a threaded hole, wherein support is given to different type of joints by means of a screw and a bore with interior windings in said section of different widths and wherein said different widths are defined as a first width which is less that the total width of the rail and a second width which is less than the total width of the rail and greater than the first width.
In a first embodiment, the fixed element is a drawer with a slide in each lateral end of the drawer. In another embodiment the fixed element is a rise with a slide to mount a drawer.
Therefore, the method can additionally comprise the step of sustaining in said rails said drawers and wherein the counterpart of the lateral end of the drawers, contains slides.
A further embodiment of the method is mounting to the furniture one or more doors, wherein the doors comprise one or more hinges and wherein the hinges are constituted by two different parts, and wherein each part comprises two or more flanges, and where each flange comprises a threaded hole.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the fixed element is a support square to sustain a panel, division or shelf, where the support square contains a hole in its vertical axis. Yet in another embodiment of the invention, the fixed element is a crystal support to sustain a crystal panel, division or shelf, where the support square contains a hole in its interior wall.
Therefore, additionally the step of forming by means of a fixing element and said panel, division or shelf a suitcase area or a hanging area or accessory area or tie-rack or shoe-rack, whereas the element to fix and said drawers may form a blind drawer or a drawer area or an open drawer area.
Even though the afore-mentioned detailed specification has shown, specified and pointed the novel fundamental characteristics of the invention according to different embodiments, one skilled in the art will understand that different omissions may be made and substitutions in the form and details of the furniture referred to and illustrated, without distancing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. An article of furniture, comprising:

at least one panel or side;

at least one rail fixed to the panel, the rail is placed in a substantially vertical or horizontal position regarding the panel or side, the rail containing a plurality of walls and the front walls do not contact each other;

a groove in each rail that runs from the upper end to the lower end of the panel or side where the rail is inserted;

a first square having two fragments, each of the fragments having a threaded hole, where the first square is placed in the ends of the rails to join two different panels or sides by fasteners received by the threaded holes and the fasteners secure the rail with the first square to the respective panel or side;

at least one element to fix that has one or more threaded holes and is fixed to the rails by a fastener received by the threaded hole;

a bore with internal windings disposed adjacent the threaded hole; wherein the bore with internal windings is fixed against the internal part of the external wall of the rail;

at least one second square having two different sections, wherein one of the two sections has two different widths and a threaded hole therein, wherein the second square is fixed at any position of the rail to support different types of joints by a fastener and a bore with internal windings in the different width section;

wherein the different widths are defined as a first width that is less than the total width of the rail and a second width that is less than the total width of the rail and greater than the first width; and

wherein said second width contains a threaded hole.

2. The article of furniture according to claim 1, wherein

the element to fix is a drawer with a slide in each one of the lateral ends of the drawer or a rise with a slide to mount a drawer.

3. The article of furniture according to claim 1, wherein

the element to fix is a drawer with a slide in each one of the lateral ends of the drawer, wherein the drawer is fixed to the rails and wherein the counterpart of the lateral end of the drawers has slides.

4. The article of furniture according to claim 1, wherein

the article of furniture has at least one door, wherein the at least one door has at least one hinge, wherein the at least one hinge has two different parts and each part has two or more flanges and each flange has a threaded hole.

5. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein

the element to fix is a support square to sustain a panel, division or shelf, wherein the support square has a hole in its vertical axis.

6. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein

the element to fix is a crystal support to sustain a crystal panel, division or shelf, wherein the support square has a hole in its interior wall.

7. The article of furniture of claim 1, wherein

an angle of the square fragments is between approximately 0° and approximately 179°.

8. A method for the construction of furniture, comprising the steps of:

fixing a rail to a panel or side by inserting rail in a groove running from an upper end to a lower end of the panel or side, the rail being disposed in a vertical or horizontal position in regard to the panel or side;

disposing a first square in the ends of the rail, said the first square having two different fragments, each of the fragments having a threaded hole;

joining two different panels with fasteners;

joining the rail with the square to the panel or side;

fixing to the rail at least one element having at least one threaded hole with a fastener received by the threaded hole and a bore with internal windings disposed adjacent to the threaded hole;

wherein the bore with internal windings is fixed against the interior part of the exterior wall of the rail;

fixing at least one second square at any point of the rail, wherein the second square has two different sections, one of the two sections has two different widths and a threaded hole, wherein support is given to different type of joints by a fastener and a bore with interior windings in the different width section, and wherein the different widths are defined as a first width that is less than the total width of the rail and a second width that is less than the total width of the rail and greater than the first width.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the element is a drawer with a slide in each one of the lateral ends of the drawer or a rise with a slide to mount a drawer.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of

securing the drawer in the rail, wherein the counterpart of the lateral end of the drawer has a slide.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the furniture has at least one door.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein

said the at least one door has at least one hinge and wherein each hinge has two different parts, and wherein each part has two or more flanges and wherein each flange has a threaded hole.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein

each element has a support square secured to a panel, division or shelf, wherein the support square has a hole in its vertical axis.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the element is a crystal support secured to a crystal panel, division or shelf, wherein the support square has a hole in its interior wall.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of

forming by means of the element and a panel, division or shelf, one of the group consisting of a suitcase area, a hanging area, an accessory area, a tie rack, and a shoe rack.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of

forming by means of the element and the drawer, one of the group consisting of a blind drawer, a drawer area, and an open drawer area.