Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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23305-882
The invention refers to a carcase, especially a
furniture carcase or framework which has columns, interconnecting
pieces attached to the columns, and clamps connecting the columns
to coupling members.
It is well-known that pieces of furniture are made
of different materials, such as metal, plastic or commonly of
wood. The different elements of furniture, made of wood, e.g.
legs and backs of sitting furniture, panel fillings of cupboards,
etc. are connected to each other mainly by permanent, rigid, non-
releasable joints, which can be detached only by destruction,because no rigid carcase can be made safely by applying present
fastenings. E.g. a nut and bolt - breech block joining. Also
such fasteners in practice are unacceptable in furniture
production from the point of view of aesthetics, and if released
result in collapsing of the building members.
The generally used scarf-glued joints provide a
stiff connection between the building members unless they have
not been used for a very long time, or under extreme loading
when they are broken or torn at the glued site. It is difficult
to mend them, and usually the entire piece of furniture is no
longer serviceable.
Metal or plastic auxiliary members, e.g. wood screws,
washers, tie plates, lag bolts, carriage bolts, etc., can be
applied to joining wooden building members. Such stiff,
practically unreleasable joints have the disadvantage that metal
fastenings seize in the wood, joints become unaesthetic and are
soon destroyed.
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42358-3892
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Present~day furniture, especially sitting furniture,
has some disadvantages, namely that much work and energy is
needed for its production which is time consuming. A
disproportionately large storage and delivery capacity is needed,
as compared to the value and actual quantity of the objects,
because the cupboards, sitting furniture and all pieces of
furniture are bulky. It is difficult to place big pieces of
furniture, e.g. carry them through narrow doorways, and often
professional cleaning and mending is needed as a consequence of
damage occurring in transportion.
The invention aims at providing a carcase,
particularly a furniture carcase which has releasable and refix-
able points of connection so that the carcase can be rapidly and
easily assembled and disassemblied. At the same time the carcase
is perfectly stiff and its members do not collapse even under
extreme conditions or extended use. The carcase should also
comply with the high level aesthetic requirements of furniture
production.
The invention provides a furniture framework
comprising: column members constituting elongated flat bars
having narrow sides, two end regions, and wherein each of said
column members has notches within a narrow side thereof remote
from said end regions; columns formed by respective pairs of said
column members attached to each other in a narrow side-by-side
arrangement, each of said column members including respective
through holes normal to flat faces thereof in at least said two
end regions; coupling members constituting elongated flat bars
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extending normal to said pairs of column members and overlapping
said end regions, said coupling members having respective through
holes; releasable clamps insertably carried by said through holes
of said coupling members and said column members, whereby said
pairs of column members are connected together in both end
regions in said side-by-side arrangement, said columns comprising
drift holes defined by said notches in the mutually facing narrow
sides of opposing column members, said drift holes being arranged
inwardly from and in proximity to said clamp connection of said
column members; and interconnecting pieces constituting flat bars
for interconnecting respective pairs of said columns, said inter-
connecting pieces comprising respective neck portions of said
flat bars fitting said drift holes, whereby said columns engage
and hold said interconnecting pieces.
The carcase has easily releasable joints. It is
perfectly stiff and provides perfect protection against collapsing.
Essentially, the columns are made of two joined
parallel members. Both columns members are joined at least at
two locations, favourably at the ends, by applying coupling
members to join the columns with at least two releasable fasteners
or clamps. Both column members are also joined to the inter-
connecting piece. The carcase has such interconnecting pieces
which have sections attached to drift holes formed by notches in
the opposed surfaces of the two column members. The interconnect-
ing pieces at the drift holes, have shoulders, edges or similar
figures, supported by the column surfaces which prevent their
displacement relative to the columns. The releasable clamps are
preferably threaded shanks passing through aligned holes and
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secured by nuts. They are applied to join the column members by
the coupling members and/or clamps.
In one favourable embodiment of the carcase, the
column members, interconnecting pieces and the coupling members
are oblong~like, of a width greater than their thickness and
length greater than their width. Only the column members and
coupling members have holes, the centres of which are on the
longitudinal geometrical axis of these members. Their diameter
is bigger than that of the threaded shanks and less than that of
the nuts. Favourably, the hole diameters correspond to those of
the screw shanks.
According to another embodiment the holes are located
inwardly from the ends of the members, by half of the mernber's
width. It is also favourable if the length of the coupling
members is double their width and if the column members have
intermediate through holes.
Another embodiment is characterized as having notches
on at least one side surface of the column mer~ers~ expediently
near the ends of the colurnn members. They create through drift
holes when the column members are joined side by side. Favourably
the notches are rectangular-like. The length of the notches is
bigger than their depth. Expedien-tly, the depth is equal to half
of the column member's thickness or the depth of the notches is
bigger than their length. Favourably, the notch length is equal
to the thickness of the column member. Naturally, there can be
other notch configurations, too. In another embodiment, there are
notches in the column members near to each other which are long
but not too deep, and some others which are not so long but deep.
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Another favourable embodiment is characterized in
having at least one interconnecting piece which joins two slab-
shaped columns perpendicularly to the larger side surfaces thereof.
Near the interconnecting piece's ends there are notches in the
narrow sides opposite to each other, defining collars adjusted to
fit the through drift holes of the columns, as well as heads
outside the columns' sides. Expediently, the width of the notches
must be the same as the thickness or very similar to it, and the
planes near to the member's ends are within a distance which is
not bigger than half of its width. The width of the collars must
be equal to the longer side of the columns' oblong drift holes.
According to another embodiment, the carcase has at
least one coupling member which joins two slab-shaped columns in
a plane parallel with their larger surfaces. Near its ends the
coupling member has two through holes. The one nearer to the end
is at a distance equal to half of the coupling memberis width.
Other holes are at a distance from the external holes equal to
the width of the member. From an aesthetic point of view, the
carcase seems to be favourable if the slab-shaped, expediently
oblong carcase members' ends are rounded-off. Favourably, the
round-off ends are semi-circular, and the radius of the semi-
circle is equal to the half of the width of the carcase members.
The invention is described in greater detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. They include some pieces
of furniture, made by applying the carcase, and preferred
embodiments of the points of junction and those of the carcase.
In the drawings:
Figures 1 and 2 show the profile of two column
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members;
Figure 3 shows the profile of the interconnecting
pieces which can be applied to the columns shown in Figures 1
and 2 without any clamp;
Figure 4 shows the profile of a coupling member;
Figure 5 shows such a coupling member which can be
attached to the columns by releasable clamps external.ly;
Figures 6 and 7 show other embodiments of column
members;
Figures 8 and 9 show the profile of embodiments of
clamps;
Figure lOa shows the upper end of two column members,
of the kind shown in Figures 1 and 2, positioned side by side;
Figure lOb shows the upper end of the column members
of Figures 6 and 7 positioned side by side;
Figure 11 is a vertical section along the line A-A
in Figure 12 of the carcase of an armchair, made of members shown
in Figures 1 - lOb;
Figure 12 is a horizontal section along the line B-B
indicated in Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a vertical section along the line C-C
indicated in Figure 11;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of a joint, to which
two cross sections of the same direction, perpendicular to one
another are attached;
Figure 15 shows a joint, similar to the one shown in
Figure 14, but instead of the long coupling member the column
members are joined by a short coupling member;
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Figures 16 and 17 show the side view of the column
members, used in the joint shown in Figure 14;
Figure 18 is a perspective view of the armchair
shown in Figures 11 - 13;
Figure 19 shows a smoking table; and
Figure 20 is a perspective view of a small seat.
The carcase members shown in Figures 1 - 7 are all
made of wood. The column members 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are
oblong, slab-shaped bodies, e.g. their length _ is 90 cm, width
s is 7 cm, thickness v is 16 cm. Their ends are rounded-off
semi-circularly at 2. In the centre of the round-offs there are
holes 3 with a diameter of D. Their centres are at distance r
from the ends, on the geometrical longitudinal axis x of the
members. On the same axis there are further through holes 4 near
the lower end of the column members 1. The radius of the round-
off r equals half the width s.
In the upper and lower ends of the column members 1
there are notches 5 on one of the longitudinal sides. The length
of notch 5 is a, and its depth is v/2 - where v is the thickness
of the members. The notches 5 are at a distance _ from the ends,
and the geometric dimensions are chosen so that _ >_.
When the column members 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2
are closely attached to each other in such a way that their
notches 5 could face each other, two confronting notches 5 will
form a through drift hole 9 as can be seen in Figure 10a. The
height of the drift hole 9 is a, width v and depth v. Two column
members 1 placed side by side will form a column 6 (Figure 10a).
Two column members 1 of each column 6 are attached to each other
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by the coupling member 7 (shown in Figure 4) of length 2, and
width s. There are two holes 3 in the geometrical longitudinal
axis x, which are at a distance s/2 = r from the round-off ends
of the member 7 and at the distance s from each other. The
appropriate geometrical relationship and dimensions have already
been given in relation to Fiyures 1 and 2. Where a coupling
member 7 shown in Figure 4 is attached to the upper ends of the
side by side column members 1 shown in Figure lOa the releasable
clamps are passed through the aligned holes 3 and a similar
connection is established between the lower ends of the column
members 1, to form a perfectly stiff column 6 from the column
members 1 connected to each other at two points. see the
description in connection with Figures 11 - 13, too.) A fastener
or clamp can be a device made of a wooden bolt 11 and a nut 12
as shown in Figure 8, or of a threaded pin 13 and nuts 12 as
shown in Figure 9. Their length s, the diameters of shanks and
holes d are chosen according to the geometric relationships of
the above details and the difference between d and D is minimal
but sufficient to allow the threaded shanks 11, 13 to be passed
?.0 through the holes 3.
The column members 14 seen in Figures 6 and 7 differ
from the ones shown in Figures 1 and 2, as they are shorter, and
the shapes of notches 15 in their upper ends differs from that
of the notches 5. However, the similar structural members and
dimensions have been marked with reference numbers and letters
as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The width of notch 15 is v, depth
is c, Y s/2. The width v is chosen so that an interconnecting
piece can be put into the drift hole 16 created by two notches
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15, (see Figure lOb). By attaching two column members 15 side
by side, as shown in Figure lOb and joining them with coupling
members 7 (Figure 4) and clamps as shown in Figures 8 and 9, a
stiff column 17 is obtained, (see Figures 11 - 13).
Two columns 6 and 17 which are placed at a distance
from each other, can be joined by the interconnecting pieces 8
shown in Figure 3 and/or by longer coupling members 18 shown in
Figure 5. The pieces 8 and 18 are rod-like plate members whose
width and thickness are the same as those of the column member 1
shown in Figures 1 and 2. The geometrical dimensions are marked
with reference letters. The interconnecting piece 8 shown in
Figure 3, which provides a rigid coupling perpendicularly to the
slab-shaped plane of the column 6 between columns at a distance
from each other. It is provided with notches 10 of width v at
its ends. The width of collar 8b is equal to the height of the
drift hole 9 shown in Figure lOa. The interconnecting piece 8
at its ends has heads 8a of width _. If the collar 8b of the
interconnecting piece 8 is adjusted to the dimension drift hole 9
of the column 6 and then the neighbouring column members 1 are
joined as previously described (Figure lOa) by means of coupling
members and clamps 11 and 12, there will be a perfectly safe
connection between the column members 1 and the interconnecting
piece 8 and between the column members and the coupling members,
i.e. a rigid "dry" coupling without the application of glue. The
bolts 11, 13 provide perfect protection against collapsing. The
shoulders of the drift holes 10 supported by the external planes
of the column 6 protect the interconnection piece 8 from
longitudinal displacement.
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A two-pointed, safe connection can be obtained by
applying longer coupling member 18 shown in Figure 5, which
provides a rigid coupling parallel with a slab-shaped plane of
the columns 6, between the two columns which are at a distance
from each other. Coupling member 18 is also slab-shaped, of
width _ and thickness v, and is as long as is required by the
carcase. There are two through holes 3 of diameter D near the
ends of the coup]ing member 18 on the geometric longitudinal
axis x. The holes 3 of each pair are at a distance s from each
other, the outermost ones being at a distance 20 cm = r from the
rounded-off ends. The spacing of the holes is the centre-to-
centre spacing. Where the coupling member 18 is applied in
joining two spaced slab-shaped columns 17 (Figure 11) at their
upper and/or lower ends, use of the coupling member 7 as shown
in Figure 4 is unnecessary as the ends of the coupling member 18
fulfill the role of the coupling member 7 (i.e. fixing at two
points) perfectly on insertion of the clamping members 11 to 13
shown in Figures 8 and 9. The slab-shaped interconnecting piece
8 is adjusted to the drift hole 9 of the column 6 set on edge, as
shown in Figure lOa. Its plane is perpendicular. The inter-
connecting piece 8 is adjusted to the drift hole formed by the
columns 15 as shown in Figure lOb, so that its plane is horizontal
in the carcase. Naturally, in the former case the interconnecting
piece has a bigger load capacity. The position of the inter-
connecting piece 8 in the carcase is decided by the conditions of
application. Statistical, aesthetic and functional aspects also
exert their influence on it.
An armchair carcase is shown in Figures 11 - 13, made
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from the members as shown in Figures 1 10b. The armchair has
two columns 6 (Figure 10a) and two columns 17 (Figure 10b) forming
the legs of the armchair. The upper sections of the columns 6 are
the vertical supports of the back. The shorter front columns 17
and the longer rear columns 6 are joined by two coupling members
18. They are always fixed by four clamp sets 11, 12 as shown in
Figure 12 (two-point clamping). The upper coupling members 18
serve as the elbow-rests of the armchair, the lower one is a
stiffener support - e.g. for the seating cushion -. The lower
section 14 of the columns 17 and the upper and lower sections of
the columns 6 are fixed by the coupling members 7 and clamps 11,
12.
Transverse joining of the columns 6, 17, perpendic-
ular to the plane of Figure 11 is done by two interconnecting
pieces 8 (Figure 3). The front upper interconnec-ting piece is
horizontal, the other three are vertical. This carcase can be
rapidly assembled and disassembled without special tools or
professional skill. Only the nuts 12 must be screwed or
unscrewed on the bolts 11. The cushion of the chair can be
supported by a web of canvas with edges folded and sewn to form a
channel through which the front lower and rear upper interconnect-
ing pieces 8 can be threaded. Interconnecting pieces 8 are then
fixed in the points of function. The supporting canvas web can
be attached to the carcase without glue or other members. It can
be pulled off the carcase simply by releasing the clamps at the
points of junction. The canvas web can be tightened additionally
so as to support the sitting cushion. Naturally, the web itself
of linen or leather can serve as accessories to the furniture.
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Figure 14 shows such a joint which includes the
carcase members shown in Figures 1 - 10, with the difference that
at the ends of the column members 19 as shown in Figures 16 and
17 there are adjacent notches 5, 15 which are identical with the
notches 5, 15 of the column members 14. This geometrical form
of -the column member allows for two interconnecting pieces 8 to
be attached to the end of column 20 shown in Figure 14, one of
which - the upper one - has a horizontal plane, and the other -
the lower one - has a vertical plane. A coupling member 18 is
also attached to the joint and functions as an auxiliary for the
two-point clamping of the column members 19. The coupling member
18 is perpendicular to the interconnecting pieces 8. The joint,
the positioning, and the rectangular retentivity can be provided
by accurate wood processing. Protection from sliding, and joining
of the member and pieces starting from the joint in three
directions are provided by the releasable clamps 11, 12 alone.
The collaboration of components, and the perfect stiffening of
the carcase are provided by the coupling member 18 fixed in two
points and adjusted overlappingly. As the loads occurring are
taken up in shear, stability is properly provided.
The joint shown in Figure 15 differs from the one
shown in Figure 14 because the interconnecting pieces 8 are
nearer to each other, and in accordance with this the notches
5, 15 of the column members 19, and the rigid, two-point junction
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of the column member 19 is provided by the coupling member 7
shown in Figure 5. Two-point junctions of the joints shown in
Figures 14 and 15 are provided by clamps 11, 12 as shown in
Figure 8.
Two interconnecting pieces 8 are applied to a carcase
under heavv load and of larger span as shown in Figures 14 and
15. Their application can be accounted for by applicational-
aesthetical reasons, too.
Other advantages of the invention are as follows:
It is not necessary to mount and clamp the carcase
members (tap, glue, screw, process, thread-cut, etc.) in the
factory. Expenditure of tools, labour and material is much
less. The carcase members for a furniture set can be gathered
into a solidl small sized packet. There is less space required
for storage and transport, in comparison to traditional pieces
of furniture. From a statistical point of view the carcase
needs no plate members as are usually required for stiffening
load bearing functions in present day furniture systems. They
can however be applied as auxiliary interlocks or additional
pieces e.g. in tables, shelves, cupboards, etc. No professional
skill is needed for assembly either. A customer can mount the
carcase from the members of the unit packet in little time without
specialized tools. No breaking or seizing of the joints occur,
even under extreme conditions of application, in contrast with
experience in the use of metal clamps. Wooden clamps threaded
pins) are able to take elastic deformation. Wood cracking
indicates high load before breaking. The two-point clamping
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joints are so stable that the increase in furniture dimensions
or span only require increased length of carcase members.
Bridging of a large span can be provided by adding accessory
interconnection pieces (preferably set on edge) see Figures 14
and 15. They are highly important. If a piece of furniture is
to be moved it can be disassembled very rapidly and transported
as a packet. Textile, leather, etc. accessories need not be
nailed or glued, but can be easily attached to the carcase
members. The furniture does not require any permanently
attached upholstery. Where necessary the upholstery can be
removed e.g. in for cleaning or changed. According to the
tastes and financial means of the customers different needs can
be met. The joints due to their rapid releasibility and
construction allow further building and transformation e.g. by
applying some auxiliary members an armchair can be transformed
into a table, etc. so that the flexibility of the set of
furniture can be increased. As a result of these factors, the
novel furniture is much more economical and less expensive than
the traditional ones, its use value is higher, and the aesthetic
level - because of the rustic form, simple design, etc. - is
also high.
Naturally, the invention is confined neither to the
building styles or embodiments described above nor to the
specific form of the carcase members, forms, clamps, etc. but
it can be carried out within the scope as defined by the claims.
Beyond doubt the application of lumber carcase members and
clamps seems to be the most expedient from the point of view of
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aesthetics and utilization, but other members, made of materials
other than wood e.g. plastic an also be used. Instead of the
oblong, slab-shaped column members with rounded-off ends and
coupling members, carcase can be made from bar-like members of
different cross-sections and shapes; bar cross sections can be
rectangular, e.g. square, and tabs of other bars can be adjusted
to their drift holes. It goes without sayirlg that the members
can differ from each other in length, width, thickness, shape,
number of holes, etc. The clamps need not always be threaded
shanks and nuts, and in certain cases clamping can be provided
by keys or cotter pins, too.
US
