CA1146623A - Do-it-yourself assembly system - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE ENCLOSURE

The invention concerns a do-it-yourself system of assembling furniture and other objects.
This system comprises, for example, tubular frame members which may be interconnected at right angles at their ends with the aid of mechanical con-necting members. U-sections are secured to the flat sides of each of the frame members so that the ends of bars may be secured and engaged in the U-sections.
The invention permits the assembly of a wide variety of objects without the use of welding, bonding or perforations.

Description

6;~3 1~0-IT-Y0tlRSE~ tSSr`?mLY ~YST~f Th~ presel-!t ;nv~ntion relate~s to a do-it-yourself s~stein for ass~lnbllng, wLtt-!ollt ~e:l~l;ng, bond-ing or perforat;ng, ft-lrnl,ure or other objec.ts o~
~id~ly varying type~.
Systerns a~;e kno~rn which p-~rmit the ~o-it-yourself assm~1y of~ for exa~vnple, ~urnitureJ the various ~lements intend~cl for use in the as~embly of a given item of urniture tu~U~ ei~g sold in a ~.it~
~owever, fu~iture or othel objects thtlt can 'oe as~embled ~ith the aid of these known systems are generally devoid of an~ aesthetic character.
Effort.s have alretdy been made to extend the advantages ~f these lmo~m systems to the a~sernbl~ of furniture or ot21er ohjects h,~ir.g t~.n aesthetic character ~nd cornpri Si71g~ in pRrticular, l~rought iron parts which form, for examplel ornamental patterrls. T~e assembly of furniture or other objects with th~ al~ ~f thcse kn~wn systerr/s coml?~islng wrou~ht iron parts, neces~itatrs, however, OpQratiOnS J particu3~,~rly ~eldlng or possihi.v o perforttt;or~ hi.c~ cornplicate as~se~lbly~ cal.l for spec;~l and exp~nsiv~ tools, and a nnc.t.llu21 slci].l not al~lays possessed by the hand~man.
The ohject of the invention is to provlde an ilnpro~!ed x;~st~m O~r asse~lblir.g furni.tt.]re or lil;e ob,ects.
The irn~ro~ed dc,-;t-ycl,lrselC 51!~ct~!nf3r as~e~blin LurniturP or ~ c~bjc~cts corn.~r~sing a~ least t~o frn~e el.ements eaoh constit~lted by a seetional ~e~ber, w~lich ha~, or~ a l.at~ral exterior sllrfaoe, at least one ~t,.at exte~dir,g c~-er ?t l.~ast ci por'ion of t~.e l.en~th of the ,~ ~

t;Z3 sectlona~ e.lerrle1lt~ at least one Joint tnenn.L; ~or joining the m-?tuall~r a~j~cent ends of two ~rame eler~ent~, ~t ~ (?-~St t~ ~ s~?ct; oll e~en~etlts, C?~ctl of ~hi.ch can be fi~;ed? by i~s base a]or~g the fl.at of one of the fr~.e S elements by removable ~neans, ~nd ~ plura1ity o~ flat elements ead~h~ving a width approxirr1ating to the g~p bet~een t~.e ~vebs of each U-section, ~he arrangemerlt being such tllat the ~?nds of the f].at elements can be engaged between thL~? webs of the U-sections, when secured to the fLame elements.
The system in accord~nce w;th tlle present inven-tion offers the ;mport~nt advantage of enab].ing furniture or other objects of greatly v~rying t~Jpes to be assembled simpl~ by using a screwdriverf a spanner and, possi.bl~, a pai r of pliers.
In A preferred e~bodi.ment of the systern in accor~ance ~lth the present im~er1tion, the flat e1 ements, which mL?~ be straight bars or curved parts, when ~i,ted together, may be secured t~ each other, pref?rably hy spring cl ~s. ~ch joir.t means for joining t-~o fra.me . elements made up of t~tbi~ , havirtg for exam~le, a square crosLs-section, compri.ses ~ cubic p.~rt ancl ~t least or.e sleeve, which can be fi.tte~ i.nto the interior of ~
tu~1llar fra!ne el.e11fnt and c.~n be sect1red to on~ of thc f~ces of the cubic ,art wit:h the aid of re~1ov~ble fixi.n~ ne~.ns.
ThQ pre.sent iilventiot1 a1so cot-cL~?rns rectangul.a~-or square ~anel.s for~lec! with the aid of the system defill~'-?d ~?~Ve, accordin~ ~G the ~?resent in~rention, 3~ such ~ pan~ l is ~haracteri.~ed .n that lt ~G~prises at ~east one rcct~-?r~ul.ar or s{uare frame, forlr.ed by four ~4~623 .. 3 elen~ents, the ends of wllich, fitted together in palrs, are secul-ed t:o eac~l other by four jo;nt or. cormecting membersJ the flats o t~lc frame elements, on whic~! are removably fixed four U-sections, bei.ng turned towards the int~rior of the frame~ so th~lt the flat elcments, partially in the U-sections, are located substantial.ly in the plane of the fram~.
Xn accordance with a ~rther feature o the in vention~ at least one sheet of rigid material., such as ~la~s, wood, suitab~.e s~nt~etic material, or composlte material, is secured to t~.e panel by removahle means so as to cover the flat Qlements at least partially.
Finally,the present invention cc-~vers the uses of panels defined above in the production ~f doors, wlndows, table-topsS partitio-ls and various items oE furni.ture.
To help understanding of the inventi.on various specifie embodiments thereof will now be described, ~y way of e~ample, with reference to the accompanylng drawin~s, in which:-Figure 1 is an exploded perspecti~r2 vlew of c~ corT~er of a panel whi.ch can be made up with a s~stem in accord-ance with the present i.nvention;
Figure 2 is a l.ike~7ise ex~loded and perspective view ~r part of the jo nt means provided ~It the corner of the panel ill.~lstratecl in Fi~llre l;
Figure 3 is a view, ?artly in section in the direc t~i.on indic~ted by the arrow III, of the corner of the frame illustrated in Fi~ure 1 after assem~ly of its VaL-ioUs elemen~;
Fi~ures 4 and 5 lllustrate var-.an~s of thc joint ~6~;23 means shown .in F`igures 1 to 3;
Figures 6 and 7 are perspective illustration~ of joint means for connecting frame elemellts of a three~
dimensional item of furniture;
. Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line V~
VIII of Figure 1 and shows a clip in position for securing three flat elements of the panel shown in Figure l;
Figure 9 is a section~l view, similar to that Gf Figure 8, showing a modified form of the clip fitted to secure three flat elements;
Figure 10 shows a modified form of the c;ip of Figure 9 fitted to secure two fl~t elements prior to the fitting of a cap member;
Figure 11 illustrates a clip comprising two U-shaped parts;
Figure 12 illustrates the ciip of Figure 11 fitted to secure three flat elements;
Figure 13 illustrates a modified form of the clip of Figure 11;
Figure 14 shows the Figure 13 clip fitted to secure two flat elements;
Figure 15 is a perspective view OL a corner of a rectangular panel made up with a system in accordance with the invention, to which panel is secured a sheet of rigid material;
Figure 16 is a sectional view along the line XVl-XVl of Figure 15;
Figures 17 and 18 are diagrammatic perspective views of a hat-stand and a standard lamp, respectively~

- s producecl with tile a;.d of the system in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 19 is a perspective view of a sideboard produced with the aid of the system in accordance with the present inventîon;
Figure 20 illustrates a bed produced with the aid of the system in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 21 illustrates a table produced with the aid of the systern in accordance with the present inven-tion; and - Figures 22 to 24 illustratè methods of assembling frame elements to form right angles.
The system in accordance with the present invention shown in Figure 1 comprises at least two frame elements, each constituted, i.n the embodiment i.n q~estion, by a square hollow metal section Tl and T2, at least one joint me~ber 12 for mechanically connecting the adjacent ends of ~he two frame elements Tl and T2, at least two U-section~ ~1 and U2, each of which may be secured by 20 its base sl and s2 resl)ective].y a]ong one of the flat sides of one of the frame elel-nents Tl and T2, by rem-ovable means such a.s c].ips Cl, and flat elements, preferably wrought irori, i.tl the form of straight bars such as Bll, B~l and B22 at-ld ornamental parts, curved 25 to form, for exarllple, a circl.e 0 or a spiral S. Each of the flat e].ei[lents, cuch as B~l~ B2~ B22, 0 and S, has a width e approx:Lrrlating to '.he ga.p E between the flanges a and ~ of each sectio.lal ,nelnber Ul a~d U2 in thi.s way, at least one of the two ends of each bar, such 30 AS the bar Bll rnay be fitted into one of the U-sections, ~46623 for example the section ~T2, alld bet-~.7eell its two flallges a and b Similarly~ a portion 0 of ~.~ch curved flat:
eleMent, such eis the elements 0 or S, can be fitr;ed bet~
~een the two flanges o~ the corresponding sect:ional member Ul; the end of each bar, e.g. th~ bar Bll, or the portion l of each curved flat element, such as tne element 0, whi.ch is fitted between ~le two shanks of a sectional member Ul or U2, I-nay be secured to this sectional member by removable means which are well known ~nd therefore do not need to be described in detail;
however, ~his securing arrangement is optional.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, each joint member, such as the member 12 used for connecting the adjacent ends of t-~o frame elements Tl and T2 of square section tubing, compris~s a cubic part D, the six faces of whidh.contain a central screw-thread at t. Each such joint member also comprises two sleeves i] and M2, each of which is adapted to fit within a tubular frame member Tl and T2 and may be sec-ured to one of the faces of the cub;.c part D with theaid of rernovable fixing rneans. In the example illus-trated in Eigures 1 to 3, each sleeve M is a tubular element o~ rect:.angular secti.on, cornprising two square wa].ls cl aTId C~ (see Figure 2) havlng dimensions match-ing the ins:ide dimellsions of each tut)ul.ar frame memberTl and T2, alld two re-.tangul.~ wal.l.s rl and r2. Each of the square walls cl ancl c2 of each sleeve, such as the sleeve ~l, has l hole Pl and P2 extending through it, ~hich holes are o~ such size as to afford passage to the long shank of a screw V, and to permit its ~ti623 threaded end to be screwed into one of the screw~threads t of the cubic part D, the head of said screw V being re-tained, howeve;, by the periphery of the hole Pl in the square wall cl.
A rectangular nr square panel may be fo~ned with the aid of a system such as that illustrated in Figure 1 and described above. Such panel comprises four tubular frame elements, such as the elements Tl and T2, in pairs of equal length, four identical joint members, such as the membe~ 12~ and four U-sections, such as the sections Ul and U2, plus a suitable number of flat bars, such as the bars Bll, B21 and B22, and curved parts, .uch as the parts 0 and S, preferably made of wrought iron, together with a suitable number of the usual mechanical accessor-ies, such as clips, screws, various wasners~ etc. These elements permit the assembly of a rectangular or square panel, for use, for example, in doors, windows, fixed or movable partitions, etc. and the elements will prefer-ably be so]d in a kit. The assembly of such a panel, using its various elements, requires only the following operations which can be carried out with the aid of standard tools such as screwdrivers, spanners and various pliers 5 without the need for any perforating, bonding, welding or riveting operations:
First of all, with the aid of clips such as the Clip Cl, the sections Ul and U2 are secured to the sides of the tubular frame elements Tl and T2, as shown in Figure 1. lhe four joint or connecting members, such as the membe-r 12~ are then fitted by securing their two 3~ sleeves Ml and ~l2 on two faces, respectively, of the î14~6Z3 . g cubic. part D, these facc~s being at right angles to -each other ~tor example the faces fl and f2 shown in Figure 2), the arrangclrlent being s7~1ch tha~ the connec-ting member, i.e. the member 12~ forms a right angle.
Serrated washers, such as the washer G (see Figure 2) may be interposed between the square face c2 of the sleeve M and t'hat face fl of the CU71)iC part D on to which t~le sleeve M is to be flxed. Plu~s b (see Figures 1 and 2), made for example of syn~hetic material, may be fitted into the screw-threaded holes t in those faces of each cubic D on which no sleeve M is secllred, these plugs in,7proving the appeara.nce of the colmect-ing member. The two tubular frarne elements Tl and T2 (Figure 1) are then slid on to the s'leeves Ml and M2 respectively so that their ends abut the edges of the faces fl and f2 of the cubic part D, the length of the edges of which is preferably equal to the out-side dimensions of the square-se_tion tubes Tl and T2, so that said cubic part D unites th,e frame elements T
and T2 in a precise rnanner and wi.thout discontinuity, thus improvi,ng the aesthetic effect that is c-Lchieved..
Each of the sleeves Ml and M2 vf the right-angled connecting member 12 is then secured in the correspond-ing end of the tubular frarrle element Tl and T2 by means of a crucifortrl slot screw PC:L~ which is passed throllgh a hole pO formed in one of the side walls of the tub-ular element Tl or T2 and through a hole p3 in the rectangular wall rl and r2 of the sleeve M, as can be seen in E.articular from the partial. sect,ional view of Figure 3, ~7hich shows a corner of the rectangular frame .- 9 ~ 3 assembled b-y the above-described operations.
One of the ends of each of the bars, such as the bars B21 and B22, can then be engaged in the sectional member Ul~ and then one of the ends of each of the bars, such as the bars Bll, can-be fitted into the sectional member U2. In the form of construction illustrated in Figure 1, each bar, such as the bar B22, intended to be fitted parallel with one of the frame elements, for example the element T2, is provided with notches I2, having a depth approximately to or equal to e/2, and a width barely greater than the thickness of the rods, such as the bar Bll intended to ~e fitted parallel with the other frame member Tl; these notches I2, as well as similar notches Il, formed in the bars, such as the bar Bll, can be everlly spaced along the length of the bar concerned, but this arrangement is optional.
It does, however, permit the for~ation of a kind of grid having a uniform mesh which is r~ctangular, though it may be square. As the fitting of the various bars proceeds, ornamental parts such as O and S or other ornamental parts of varying complexity may be inserted in the preferably square mesh of this grid. In accord-ance with an optional characteristic of the invention, the various flat elements, such as the straight bars Bll, B21 and B22 or curved parts, such as the parts O
and S, may be fitted together and then connected to each other, preferably by spring clips such as the spring clip Pl (Figure 1). Figure 8 illustrates a form of the ~lip P~, constituted by a s,ring blade bent to a U shape, the ends of the two limbs of the ~:~4~23 U being bent towards the interior of the clip through an angleo~ whi~h is substantially less then 90 degrees.
All that is required for the fitting of this clip Pl for pressing together the three flat elements Bll, O and S, is to spread out the two limbs of the U to a sufficient extent to enable it to engage each side of the flat elements O and S; the clip then closes again because of its resilience, and the bent edges of its limbs hold it in position.
When all the flat elements, such as the bars, and - where present, the curved parts, of the panel have been placed in position~ one of the sleeves of the second connecting member, similar to 12 (not illustrated), is engaged, for example in the end of the tubular frame member Tl opposite the connecting member 12~ and one of the ends of the other tubular frarne member having the same length as the tubular element T2, is then slid over the exposed sleeve of the second connecting member, the two parts being fixed together by means of a cruci-form slot screw as shown at Pa for example. One of thesleeves of each third and fourth connecting member (not illustrated) is then fitted into the ends or the fourth tubular member (likewise not illustrated) in which ends said sleeves may likewise be secured by means of screws.
To complete assembly of the frame, all that is then needed is to prov-de the fourth tubular element with its U-section and to arrar.ge it in such a way that the un-covered sleeves of the third and fourth connecting members can be fitted, by means of a sirnple translatory movement, into the respective free ends of the frame member T? and of the frame member parailel therewith.

The method of asselllbly of the panel as just described is optional; the order of tlle assembly operation9 in particular, can be modifled.
The elernents of the systelrl in accordance with the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and as described above, can be vari.ed .in numerous ways, all of the variati.ons falling within the alnbit of the inven-tion.
As indicated above~ the various element , such as the elements Tl, T~, Ul, U2, D, Ml, and M2, are prefer-ably made of metal, not only for the purpose of provid-ing greater mechanical strength, but also for obtaining an improvecl appearance; in particular, use can be made of stainless steel or chromium-plated elements, or lS elements having a black glossy coating formed by a chemical process. I-lowever, for certain uses, these same elements of the system in accordance with the present invention rnay be made of any other suitahle material, fcr examp.l.e synthetic mal:erial.~ Similarly, the flat elements, such as the bars Bll, B2] and Bz2 and the curved parts S-lCh as the parts 0 ancl S, although preferably made of wrought iron ~or aesthetic reasons, may also be made of some other metallic material or of any other decorative materi.al of less weight.
Each of the fral~le membel-s, such as the members T
and T2, may consi.st of a meta.l.lic element of hollow polygonal cross-section, not necessarily square or rec-tangular; for certain constructions, particularly those of l.ight-weight material~ use may also be made of solid sections~ pro-~ided that each has, on its outer lateral surface, at least one flat, extending over the entire Icngtll of the seC.tiOIl, Eor the purl~ose of securing the corresponding U-sectioll e.g. Ul and U2.
For the purpose of forrnillg a ~rarne, the flats on the section constitutirlg the ~ran~e rncmbers~ i.e. the sides of the ~ame, obviously have to be turned towards the interior of the frame.
As can be seen from Figure 4, each sleeve, ~uch as the sleeve Ml, of each connecting member may be secured to the corresponding face of the cubic part D
by means of a short-stemmed screw V, the head of which bears directly on the squ..re wali c2 of the sleeve 1, provided, however, that: tlle hole Pl through the wall cl of the sleeve Ml is sufficien~ly large to afford passage to the head of the screw V, as ~7ell as to the lS tool that may be use~l for tightening the screw. In the arrangernents illustrated in Yigures 1 to 3~ the sleeves ! such as the sleeve Ml, rnust of course be closed on all sides, that is to say they must comprise two rectangular lateral walls in addition to the walls rl and r2; with such a.sleeve, the square partition cl is then not req-uired since clamping is achieved by means of a short-ste[llmed screw V, as in Figure 4.
On the other hand, in the variation illustrated in Figure 5, the two single rnutually parallel rectangular walls rl and r2 of each sleeve, sllch as the sleeve M~, are sufficiently thin and resilient to become curved towards ~he exterior of the sleeve when the head of the screw V is clam~ed against the sqllare wall ci, of the sleeve that is 'ocated remote from the cubic part D, so as to lock the sleeve Ml within the tubular square 1~9t66Z3 section frallle ITlelllber Tl. Oi~ cO~ Se with the locking action achicved, a screw such as the screw Pa shown in Figurew 1 to 4 is no longer re~uired. The locking action improves with the increase in the ratio of the length of the sleeve Ml to its transverse dimensions.
Figures 6 and 7 show how the same cubic part D, all of the faces oE which, for example, are tapped at their centres, and can be connected, be means of the screws V, to three sleeves (~igure 6), interconnected at three perpendicular faces, or even five sleeves (~igure 7). A connecting member having three sleeves Ml to M3, such as that shown in ~igure 6, obviously makes it possible, by means o its third sleeve M3~ to attach a further part to, for example, the corner of a rectangular panel forrned by the members Ml-D-M2, which further part may be, for example, an additiona.l frame member extending in a direction perpendicular to that of the said panel. ~urtherrnore, a connecting member such as that shown in Figure 7 oLfers fur-ther to -the same possibi].it~ as tha~ oE the ~i.c;ur~ 6 arrarl~ement, khe possibility of interconnecting, with the aid of the sleeves Ml, M l~ M2 and M'2 four tubular frame members located in the same pl.ane, and correspondi.ng, for example, to the common sides of four rectangu].ar panels located in the same plane. The frame member, slid over the sleeves M2 and M3 may,for example, form the sides of a fifth panel arran-~ed perpendicularly to the four above-mentioned panel.s. A sixth sleeve and possibls~ a sixtll frame eleme~ nay of course be secured to the tapped sixth face of the cubic part D. It will ~ 23 be seen that the systems in accordance with the present imrention and equipped with con~ ction members such as those illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and wi~h like members, not only enable panels to be fitted together in the same plane, but also make it possible to intercon-nect panels perpendicularly to each other to form, in particular, the various walls of a piece of furni.ture of parallelopiped shape.
~igure 9 illustrates an improved form of the spring cl p Pl of Figure 8, wherein the opening of the U-shaped clip, positioned to grip a number oE juxapos~d elements such as the elements s, Bll, 0 (Fi.gure 1), can be clos-ed off by a cap Ca, fitted on the bent-over ends of the limbs of the clip. A leaf spring L, is secured mid-way along its lengt';. to the inner face ~f the cap Cby a rivet and is of such size and curvature that it engages below the bent-over ends of the limbs of the U-shapeu clip Pl.
The clip P2 which, in Figure 1, performs the func-tion of holding together the two flat elements B21 and0 at their contact zone, may be replaced by the W-shap-ed resilient clip P~2 which is illustrated in Figure 10. A cap Ca, made of dished sheet metal and provided on its inner face with a leaf spring L, may be used, as illustrated in Figure 9, for closing off the opening of the clip P'2 positioned to clamp together the two flat elements B21 and 0.
Figure 11 is a perspective exploded view of a clip constitu'.ed by two pleces P3 and P4 of U-shaped heet metal formed by disnir~.~. Figure 12 is a sec-tional view, cimilar to that of Figu~es 8 and 9, which ~14tj6~3 ~ 15 shows ho~ the Glip P3 ~ of Figure ll may be used by replacing the clip Pl of F`i.gui-es l and 8, so that the tWQ piece~ gri.p three ~lat elen,ents such as the elements Bll, S and 0.
In the variant illustrated ;n ~igure 13, one of the two U-shaped parts, i.e. the pclrt P'4 has a flat intermediate element P5, which is secured at one end to the middle of the base of the U-shaped part P'4, e.g.
by welding or riveting, so that the flat element P5 extends almost paralle] with and at equal distances from, the two limbs of the U-shaped part P'4. In a sectional view simll.ar to that of Figure 10, Figure 14 shows how the clip P3 - P'4 of Fi.gure 13 may be used (instead of the clip P2 of Figure 1, for example) to connect and cl..~.mp together t~o flat elernents such as the elements B21 and 0.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a corner of a rectangular panel a.ssembled from a system of elements illustrated in Figure 1 as previollsly described. This panel also incl~ldes a sheet Pl of rigid material such as glass, wood or a suitabl.e syn!heti.c material. This rigid sheet PL is secured to tile patlel so as to cover at least its :~lat elements such as the bars Bll and B21. In the arrancrelTIent ill.-l.strated in Figure 15 and in the sectional. view of Flgure 1.~, the rigid sheet PLhas the san~rectangular shape as the fralne, but has dimensions which are slightly less, than the inner dimensions of tne frame, and Lhe edges of the sheet PL
are secured to the lilmbs ol U-.shal)ed members, such as the members Ul and U2, by removable means, in particular ~4~6Z3 double hoolis C , each formed hy I thin, preferably metallic,resilient blade bent l-o ~he shape of a letter S. Figure 16 clearly shows tha~ each hook C com-prises two flat elements with curved ends, which flat S elements are disposed one on ei.tl-ler side of an inter-mediate planar element inserted between a limb of the section U1 and the edge of the sheet PI. The curved ends each cover an edge of the sheet PL and the free edge of the corresponding ~ nb of the sectional member Ul. Hooks, such as the hook C , are fitted along each . edge of the rigid sheet PL' preferably at regular intervals selected to ensure that the sheet PL is reliably secured to the panel. Figure 16 also shows one of the clips Cl which enables the se~tior.al mernber Ul to be removably secured to that face of the tubular frame member Tl that is turned towards the interior of the panel, as well as the end of Lhe bar, B21, which is engaged in the sectional member Ul The method of securing the rigi.d sheet PL to the panel is of course a matter o~ choice; a ri.g;d panel, such as the panel PL~ could also be secured by its edges to, for example, the tubul.ar frame members, such as the members Tl, by USil-g suital~le re!llovable means.
A rigid sheet, such as the sheet 1'l' may, of course, have dimensions consiclerably le.sc tl~ those of the panel on which it is to be fi.tted, sf) that it covers only one portion of this panel, fo; e:~ample its lower half if a door is involved. Twc r:;gid ~heets may be fitted on the two faces of a rectangular panel;in this case, howe~er, if one of the two rigid sheets is opa~ue the other may be transparent, for ex~rnple made of glass~

6~3 to render visib]e the bars9 such as the bars Bll, B2], etc. and the ornamental parts, such as the parts 0 clnd S.
Figure 17 illustrates in perspective a decorative hat-stand formed with the aid of the system in accord-ance with the present invention. It mainly comprises frame elements Tl to T5, made of square section metal tubes preferably covered with a dull black coating.
When the four frame members T2 to T5, arranged in a single plane at right angles to each other, act as or carry feet, the substantial~y longer frarne member Tl is supported in the verti~al position by the cubic part (not seen in Figure 17) of the joint member 25 for connecting the four feet T2 to T5 as previously describ-ed and illustrated, ;n particular, in F-gure 2. As described before, U-shaped sectional members are secured to the upper faces of the four tubular elements T2 to T5 and cn the four lateral faces of the tubular element Tl. The U section members, secured by means of clips, for example? to the upper faces of the tubular elements T2 to T5, may be used for securing ornamental wrought iron parts S2, with the aid of suitable removable means.
The U-sections secured on the four sides of the frame member Tl are preferably provided only at the upper end of said frame member or the purpose of fixing, by the removable means already mentioned, four curved parts Sl from which items of clothing can be hung, while at the lower end of the frame member, several curved decor-ative wrought iron parts S3 and S4 can be secured The curved decorative parts S2~ S3 and S~ are preferably so arranged that certain portions of them are in contact 1~

with each other in the z.ones where the contacting pieces can then be held together by using clips of one of the types lllustrated in Figures 8 to 14.
Figure 1~ illustrates a standard lamp, the struc~
ture of which differs from the hat-stand of Figure 17 only as regards the following points: in one of the U-section mernbers (not visib].e) which is detachably sec-ured near the upper end of the frame member Tl and on one of its planar faces, are secllred,by suitable means, a ~--rought iron curved decorative p~rt 0 and, above this, an S-shaped wrought iron part S'l, one of thr curved ends of which carries a lantern La with the aid of a ring. The two curved parts 0 a.ild S'l can be held to-gether by a clip of one of the ty~es previously described.
Figure 19 illustrates a sideboard built up with the aid of the system in accordance with the present invent:ion. This sideboard CollSi.sts mainly of a parall-elopipe~ cup~oard, the lower and upper faccs and the rear face and two side faces of which are c~nstituted by rec-tangular panels such as thP panels C L . Each of these rectangular panels is preferably co~e~ed by a rigid sheet of decorative material.; :i~ the rigid materia]. used for forrning these p].ates is opaqlJe ~nd is located near the exterior of the piece of fl.lrni.ture, as is the case, for examp]ewith the latera1 walls, slch as the walls CL~
all that is needed to provide the ccrresponding rectangu-lar panel with a sheet rllade of wood, composi.te material or synthetic rnaterial to the e~:clusion of any curved decorative part~ these flat bars, mac~e of an inexpensive rigid material, slmply performing the function of rein-forcing the parlel. For the other panels of the piece of furniture that are visible and for which a dec.orat-ive effect is therefore required, for example the upper panel Cs and, in particular, the two rectangular panels C 1 and C 2 formi.ng the doors in the front of th~ side-board, it is possible to ~rovide wrought metal bars betweenwhich are fitted curved decorative parts (such as the parts 0 and S in Figure 11), likewise made of wrought iron and fitted to each other as well as to the bars by means of clips of one of the previously described types. For these decorative panels it is of course possible to provide a rigid sheet of opaque materi.al mounted on that face of the panel presented to the interior of the item of furniture, particularly for the upper panel Cs; and a glass sheet may be provided on the outwardly facîng panel of the item of furniture so as to reve~l the ornamental wrought iron elements; this glass sheet is, of course, optional for the door panels C land Cp2 The latter must obviously be provide~ with hinge elements Ch, co-operating with fixed elements. The movable hinge elements must obviously be inserted into the correspond-ing frame members of the door panels C 1 and C 2 which.
for this purpose, can consist of a plurality of elements to which the hinge elements can be attached with the aid of slee~es, and by using the previ.ously described means for the connecting members. Using the same means, the fixed hinge elements nmay be inserted in the vertical frame members Tl and T2 which constitute the two front corners of the cupboard. The latter may be supported by four feet ql ~o q4 made of square-se_tion tubes which can themselves be fixed, by the previously described ~4~3 _ 20 means, to the lower faces o~ the cubic parts of the four lower connecting members of the cupboard~ such as the members l' and 2 and 03 Figure 20 illustrates a bedstead which consists mainly of a rectangular foot panel formed by four frame members made of square-section tubes Tl to T4 between which are inserted vertical bars and S shaped decorative parts preferably made of wrought iron as are the said bars, the bedst~ad also comprising a rectangular head panel, of which ~an be seen only the frame members, likewise consisting of squaL~-section tubes T5 to T7. The vertical frame members T5 and T7 extend upwardly beyond the upper horizontal frame member T6, so that, because of the ùse of ~T-sections, it is possible to fit, above the head panel and in the manner previously described, curved decorative wrought iron parts 0 and S. The foot panels Tl to T4 and the head panels T5 to T7 are joined together along each side of the bed by hori-zontal tubular elements of square section, only the elements T8 and Tg being visible. Between these hori-zontal p~nels are fitted S-shaped decorative wrought iron parts which can be inserted and secured in the manner previously described. This bed is supported by four tubular feet, such as the feet ql~ q2 and q3, which are fitted in the same way as the feet of the side-board shown in Figure 19.
The table illustrated in Figure 21 comprises a base formed by two horizontal square-section tubular elements Tl and T2, which act as or carry feet. A
30 horizontal square-section tubular element T3 is con-' . .

nected to thc media~ ortions o~ tlle elements Tl and T2by means of mechanical connecting members l and 2~
The latter carry vertical frame members T4 and T5, the upper ends of which are themselves attached, by con-necting members such as the member 3s to the medianportion of the short sides of a rectangular table-top Ct. This table-top corlsists of a rectangular panel and o one of the types previously described, prefer-ably comprising bars and wrcught iron ornamental curved parts, the upper face of the table-top Ct being completely covered by a sheet of glass, the edges of which are exactly fitted between the four framc members of the table-top Ct so that the upper face of the table is perfectly smooth and contains no discontir:lities.
The lower face of the table-top Ct may also be provided with a rigid sheet, likewise made of glass or7 prefer-ably, of an opaque decorative ma_~rial. The base T~-T2-T3 as well as the uprights T4 and T50f the table may, of course, be providecl w;th circular or S-shaped decorative wrought iron parts, these curved parts being secured to the corresponding tubllLar elements as wel]
as to each other by the previo-lsly described means.
The present invention ;s not limited to the forms of furniture and other objects illustrated in Figures 17 to 21; it covers all furnitul-e and other widely differing objects which rnay be assembled with the aid of the system in accordance with the present invention.
Flgures 22 to 24 ill~lstrate particular methods o fitting a tubular frame member to a cublc part such as that previously mentioned in connection with Figures ~LlÆ~623 1 to 7 and having a tapped hole at the centre of each of its faces. As before 9 tlle purpose of these arrange-ments is to provide r:ight-allgled jo;nts which do not reveal the fi~lng method. Referring to Figure 22, the cubic part D is secured to two tubular frame members, perpendicular one to the other, these not carrying ref-erence numbers on the drawing. A third frame member Tl is fitted in the following manner: a sleeve Ml has a bore al through which is passed a screw vl with a hollow hexagonal head. By action on the head of thescrew vl, the slee~e is applied to and pressed against the corresponding face of the cubic part D. Then, the rod Tlis slid over the sleeve and is locked in posi-tion by tighte-ing a screw v2 which passes through an opening a2 to a tapped thread tl.
Referring to Figure 23, the assembly is achieved with the aid of a part M2 which forms a sleeve and which can be advantageously made of dished sheet metal. This sleeve is brought ~y a screwing action into engagement with the corresponding face of the cubic part D by passing its screw-threaded rod V3 i.nto the tapped hole in the part D. As can be seen from the Figure, the sleeve M2 has, in its side walls, castellations C2 in which engage the tabs ~ on a .sL.l.rrup E having a central tapped thread. At a first stage, following the screw-ing of the sl.eeve M2 on to the cubic part D, parts E, each carrying a screw, are fitted within the sleeve M2.
The frame member T2 is then slid on to the sleeve M2 and screws V4 are then tightened by way of the orifices l in the frame member T2. The screwing a.ction causes -~14~23 the tabs p to spread out and these are applied, exter-iorly of the castellations against the inner walls of the frame member T2. They thus hold this member firm-ly in position.
Referring to Figure 24, mechanical connection between the frame member Tl and the cubic part is achiev-ed with the aid of an intermediate part having a front wedge Mll and a rear wedge M12 within both of which pnsses a screw-threaded rod tl having two oppositely threaded threads on its forward ~ortion tll and its rear portion tl2 respectively. The front wedge Mll has a bore a3 simply for affording passage to the threaded rod tl, whereas the rear wedge M12 has a tapped thread t21 which is able to co-operate with the thread tl~ of the rod tl. The tapped portion of the rear wedge M12 may be replaced by a welded-on ntt as shown at the bottom of the Figure, In a first stage, the assembly consisting of the two wedges Mll and M12 is fitted into the frame member Tl, and the screw-thread on the rod tll is initi-ally engaged in the tapped thread of the cubic part Dand in the tapped thread t21 of the rear wedge M12 respectivel.y. Tightening then takes place by turning the frame member Tl relatively to the cubic part D SO
that the wedges slide one oVeL the other and thus come to bear against the inner wal].s of the tube Tl. Advan~
tageously, a screw, not illustrated, provided at the lower end of the tubular frame member Tl, enables the assembly to be iocked together in a suitable position.
It will be readily appreciated that modifications can be made to the arrangements that have been described,

2~i -in parti.cular by the substitutlon of equivalent technical means, without departin~ ,rom the ambit of the present invention.

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Claims (15)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A do-it-yourself system for assembling furniture or like objects comprising:
at least two frame elements each constituted by a sectional member, which has, on its lateral exterior surface, at least one flat extending over at least a portion of the length of the sectional elements;
at least one joint means for joining mutually adjacent ends of said two frame elements comprising a cubic part and at least one sleeve, which can be fitted in the inter-ior of one of said frame members and can be secured to one of the faces of said cubic part with the aid of removable fixing means;
at least two U-section elements, each of which can be fixed by its base along said flat of one of said frame elements by removable means and;
a plurality of flat elements having a width approxi-mating to the gap between the webs of each said U-section, the arrangement being such that the ends of said flat elements can be engaged between said webs of said U-sections, when secured to said frame elements.

2. A system according to Claim 1, including clips with which said elements, when fitted together are secured to each other, the elments being straight or curved.

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein each said clip is formed by a leaf spring bent to a U-shape or a W-shape, the ends of the two limbs of said clip being bent over towards the inside of said clip through an angle substan-tially less than 90 degrees.

4. A system according to Claim 3, wherein each said clip includes a cap fitted at said top of said bent over ends and of said limbs of said clip to close the opening of each said clip, when in position for clamping together juxtaposed flat elements, said cap having a leaf spring secured at its median portion on the inner face of said cap and being of such size and curvature as to engage below said bent-over ends of said limbs of said clip.

5. A system according to Claim 2, wherein each said clip comprises two U-shaped parts, which are made of dished sheet metal and are of such size as to be engageable one within the other while straddling juxtaposed portions of a plurality of said flat elements to provide a certain clamping effect.

6. A system according to Claim 5, wherein one of said two U-shaped parts of said clip for holding together two juxta-posed flat elements itself comprises an intermediate flat element fixed at one end to the middle of the base of said U-shaped part and extending substantially parallel with and at equal distances from its two limbs.

7. A system according to Claim 1, wherein at least some of the six faces of said cubic part are tapped at the centre for securing corresponding ones of said sleeves by means of screws, each of which extends through, and by its head bears against, a wall which closes off one of the ends of said sleeve.

8. A system according to Claim 7 wherein each said joint means includes at least one screw by which said sleeve is secured in said tubular frame member near one end of said members, said screw extending through the wall of said tubular member.

9. A system according to Claim 7 wherein each said joint means includes a screw; and each said sleeve is a rectangular-section tubular element comprising two square walls perforated to permit passage of the stem of said screw for securing said sleeve to said cubic part, and two rectangular walls which are sufficiently thin and resilient for them to bend towards the exterior of said sleeve when the head of said fixing screw is pressed against that square wall of said sleeve that is remote from said cubic part, so as to lock said sleeve within said tubular member.

10. A system according to Claim 1, wherein each said joint means is formed by a cubic part having a tapped hole at each of its faces, at least one fixing screw, at least one second screw and at least one sleeve having a central bore affording passage to a fixing screw, over which sleeve said tubular frame member is slid, said frame member being locked on to the sleeve by means of said second screw.

11. A system according to Claim 1, wherein said connect-ing sleeve between said cubic part and said frame member has at least two castellations, and said joint means includes two stirrups which extend into the castellations and a screw co-operating with each stirrup member, said tabs coming into contact with the inner walls of said tubular frame as the result of turning said screws.

12. A system according to Claim 1, wherein said connect-ing sleeve, adapted to be fitted within a tubular frame member, consists of a front wedge and a rear wedge, through which passes a threaded rod, whose thread at one end is handed oppositely from its thread at the other end.

13. A rectangular or square panel, made up of the system of Claim 1 comprising at least one rectangular frame, formed by four said frame members, whose paired adjacent ends are interconnected by four said joint members said flats of said frame elements on which are removably secured four said U-sections, facing the interior of said frame so that said flat elements, partially engaged in said U-sections, are substantially in the plane of the frame.

14. A panel according to Claim 13, wherein at least one sheet of rigid material such as glass, wood or a suitable synthetic material, is secured to said panel by removable means so as to cover its flat elements at least partially.

15. A panel according to Claim 14, wherein said rigid sheet has the same shape as said frame but has dimensions smaller than the inside dimensions of said frame, and in that the edges of said sheet are secured to said webs of the U-sections by removable means such as double hooks each formed by a thin resilient blade bent to the shape of a letter S.