EP3712494B1

EP3712494B1 - Module for making a structure, such as a frame, a support structure, a false ceiling, a lamp structure and the like

Info

Publication number: EP3712494B1
Application number: EP20164708.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miguel Carlos GOMES ARRUDA
Original assignee: Slamp SpA
Current assignee: Slamp SpA
Priority date: 2019-03-21
Filing date: 2020-03-20
Publication date: 2022-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-20
Also published as: IT201900004137A1; EP3712494A1

Description

The present invention relates to a module for making a structure for use in various applications.
As is known, there is an increasing growth in the design and furnishing field which means more design furniture and decor items are created and increasingly innovative solutions are sought.
There is also large growth in the field of structures, in which there is an increasing request for innovative solutions which are highly efficient according to various criteria.
In particular, solutions are sought which allow making increasingly efficient structures, obtaining optimal compromises between weight and mechanical features and adaptability to the specific solutions.
Likewise, solutions are increasingly desired which allow obtaining structures which can be used in any field, are easy to assemble from simple modules, and substantially are unique.
Moreover, it is also known how it is increasingly difficult to please the desires/tastes of the clients or of the architects/interior designers while offering functional and non-functional design and structural elements which harmoniously adapt both to the room wherein they are and to needs, and which also allow an adaptation to the specific furnishing needs in design step and at the design site.
Another problem to be dealt with and resolved in making structures which can be appreciated from an aesthetical and functional viewpoint is also the one of making them in such a manner as not to be cumbersome, and therefore be easily transported, for subsequent assembly on site.
Modular elements for making furnishing structures are known in the prior art, such as those described in patent documents US 2010/0261402 A1 , US 2012/0270463 A1 , US 2016/0031592 A1 and KR 2009 0005671 U . However, such modular elements of known type have the disadvantage of creating structures with fragile and non-lasting couplings which may be involuntarily disassembled, or they are not able to create three-dimensional structures with large surface extension.
The main task of the present invention consists in making a module for making a structure which deals with and solves the above-mentioned technical problems and overcomes the limits of the background art, making it possible to create an innovative structure that is easy to assemble, highly functional, able to be adapted to the specific project and design needs.
Another aim of the present invention consists in making a module which allows easily making complex structures which may have significant sizes and in any case be adapted to the sizes of the room wherein they are positioned and to the furnishing needs and not to the specific case.
A further aim of the invention consists in providing a module for making a structure which is able to provide the broadest assurances in terms of robustness, reliability and safety when being used.
Another aim of the invention consists in providing a module for making a structure which is easy to assembly and economically affordable when compared to the background art.
These and other results are obtained according to the present invention, by a module as described in claim 1.
Other features of the module are described in the dependent claims.
The object of the present invention in particular is a module for making a structure, such as for example a frame, a support structure, a secondary frame, a lamp, and the like, characterised in that it provides a pre-cut body comprising a plurality of flaps, which are substantially equal to one another, each flap being connected to the adjacent flaps by means of primary fold lines, each flap providing coupling means which are complementary with corresponding coupling means of a further module and at least one secondary fold line, the combination of said fold lines making it possible for said module to pass from a substantially flat resting configuration to an upright configuration by the coupling with one or more further modules.
Again according to the invention, said pre-cut body may be polygon-shaped, preferably substantially hexagon-shaped.
Again according to the invention, the outer edges of said pre-cut body, and of said flaps in particular, may have any finishing, for example round, square, diagonal and the like; said edges may all be equal to or different from one another.
Furthermore according to the invention, said coupling means provided on said flaps comprise a slot and opening system, which couple with corresponding coupling means provided on one or more modules to be coupled.
According to the invention, each flap provides a small slot and a large slot, in that said small slot has a smaller extension than the large slot and includes a gap between the small slot itself a corresponding notch on the pre-cut body, and in that the notch is of the same size as a corresponding notch of the large slot.
More specifically according to the invention, said large slot may include the opening, in that said opening substantially may be at the secondary fold line and substantially corresponding to the width of the small slot.
According to the invention, preferably each slot may have a protuberance.
Alternatively according to the invention, said coupling means provided on said flaps may comprise hooks, clamps, slot-button coupling, and the like, which is coupled with corresponding coupling means provided on one or more modules to be coupled.
Again according to the invention, said coupling means provided on said flaps may be equal to all the flaps forming the module (or they may be of different type on different flaps forming the module).
Again according to the invention, said module may be made of foldable material, preferably of plastic material, having a given elasticity.
Moreover according to the invention, said primary fold lines may start at a first end from the middle of the pre-cut body, dividing it into said plurality of flaps, and in that the other end of each primary fold line may end at a junction point from which two secondary fold lines start, as well as a continuation of such primary fold line adapted to be folded in opposite direction thereto, and in that said secondary fold lines in turn may extend to the edge of the pre-cut body.
Preferably according to the invention, said pre-cut body may be substantially hexagon-shaped and may comprise three primary fold lines which divide the pre-cut body into three flaps, and for each flap may have two secondary fold lines which are substantially parallel to each other.
According to the invention in particular, said module may be configured so as to pass from said substantially flat configuration to said upright position by folding said pre-cut body along said primary and secondary fold lines, and by folding said pre-cut body along said continuation lines of said primary fold lines in opposite direction to that done for said primary and secondary fold lines.
Again according to the invention, the small slot in each flap may be arranged over a secondary fold line and the large slot may be arranged over the other secondary fold line.
Moreover, the object of the present invention is a structure comprising a plurality of modules, as described, each module being coupled to another module through said coupling means and in that each module is folded in the vertical direction opposite to how the other module to which it is coupled is folded, so as to couple said coupling means in complementary manner.
According to the invention in particular, said structure may provide, on the peripheral modules, coupling means with similar structures formed by a plurality of modules.
Again according to the invention, each module may be coupled to another module when they are in said upright configuration, thus being coupled to each other at a respective flap along the axis of said secondary fold lines.
Finally according to the invention, said structure may provide suspension means connected to said plurality of modules to make the coupling thereof possible with a ceiling or another suspension means.
The invention also relates to a structure comprising one or more modules according to the invention.
The invention is now described, by way of example and without limiting the scope of the invention, according to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view from above of a first embodiment of a module according to the invention, in flat configuration;
Figure 2 is a view from below of the module of Figure 1, in an upright configuration;
Figure 3 is a view from above of the modules in the configuration of Figure 2, coupled to each other;
Figures 4a and 4b are two views from above, of a detail of the coupling of two modules according to the invention;
Figure 5 is a view from above of a second embodiment of a module according to the invention, in substantially flat configuration;
Figure 6 is a view from above of two modules in the configuration of Figure 5, coupled to each other; and
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views from above of various configurations of coupled modules according to the invention.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the module, indicated as a whole with reference numeral 10, consists of a pre-cut body 1, divided into a plurality of flaps 7, having a plurality of fold lines 2 and 3 and coupling means 4, 5, 8, and 9.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 11, said pre-cut body 1 is polygon-shaped, in particular hexagon-shaped.
Although in the accompanying drawings the edges of the pre-cut body 1 are rounded, they may have any finishing, for example round, square, diagonal and the like, and they may all be equal to or different from one another.
Such module 10 provides a pre-cut body 1 comprising a plurality of flaps 7, which are substantially equal to one another, each flap 7 being connected to the adjacent flaps 7 by means of primary fold lines 2,each flap 7 providing coupling means 4, 5, 8, 9 which are complementary with corresponding coupling means 4, 5, 8, 9 of a further module 10 and at least one secondary fold line 3.
The combination of said primary 2 and secondary 3 fold lines makes it possible for the module 10 to pass from a substantially flat resting configuration (as shown in Figure 1) to an upright configuration (shown Figure 2) by the coupling with one or more further modules 10.
In particular, it is to be noted how said flaps 7 are provided in a number equal to half the sides of the module 10, and in the embodiment illustrated, said module 10 has six sides and three substantially identical flaps 7 are provided.
In the embodiments illustrated, said primary fold lines 2 start from the middle C of the pre-cut body 1, dividing it into said substantially equal flaps 7, as illustrated in Figure 1.
The other end of each primary fold line 2 ends at a junction point 6, from which two secondary fold lines 3 start, as well as a continuation 2' of such primary fold line 2 adapted to be folded in opposite direction. In other words, the primary fold line 2 is folded downstream or upstream, of a face of said pre-cut body 1 and the continuation 2' thereof is correspondingly folded upstream, or downstream, of the same face.
Such secondary fold lines 3 in turn extend up to the edge of the pre-cut body 1.
Such secondary fold lines 3 substantially extend into the two modules 10 adjacent to the fold line 2 containing the junction point 6 from which they originate.
Thereby, each module 10 comprises therein two of such secondary fold lines 3, which substantially are parallel to each other.
Furthermore, such secondary fold lines 3 define the axis from which the coupling means 4, 5 are obtained which thus can be tilted compared to the pre-cut body 1, to adopt the upright configuration.
In the first embodiment of the module 10 according to the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the coupling means provided on such flaps 7 comprise a slot 4, 5 and opening 8 system, which are coupled with corresponding coupling means 4, 5; 8 provided on one or more modules 10 to be coupled; i.e. the slot 4, 5 is coupled with the opening 8 so as to create a solid coupling.
Advantageously in this embodiment, such slots 4 and 5 contained in an individual flap 7 are different: the small slot 5 having a smaller extension than the large slot 4 and including a gap between the small slot 5 itself and the corresponding notch 5' on the pre-cut body 1, and the notch 5' is of the same sizes as the one 4' of the large solid slot 4.
Furthermore, the large solid slot 4 includes the opening 8, which substantially corresponds to the secondary fold line 3 and substantially corresponds to the width of the slot 5. In other words, the opening 8 is on the same coinciding axis as the secondary fold line 3.
The large slot 4 has an extension which substantially is equivalent to the corresponding notch 4' thereof obtained on the pre-cut body 1.
The small slot 5 and hole or opening 8 coupling forms the coupling means between two modules 10.
Such coupling is strengthened by the presence of protuberances 4, 5 at the edges of the slots 4, 5 which require force during the insertion and ensure great resistance once coupled; a detail of such coupling is illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B.
As noted, each flap 7 has a small protuberance 5 and a large protuberance 4, each arranged over a respective secondary fold line 3. Said large protuberance 4 has an opening 8 on the same axis as the respective secondary fold line 3.
Thus, in the coupling of two modules10, said small protuberance 5 of one flap 7 of a first module 10 is inserted into the opening 8 of the large protuberance 4 of the flap 7 of a second module 10, and vice versa.
In this embodiment, the module 10 is adapted to be coupled with one or more modules 10 which are similar but are adapted to fold in opposite vertical direction, in other words compared to the face opposite to the one with respect to which the other module is folded, so as to couple the slots 4, 5 of the flaps 7 and the openings 8 in complementary manner.
The module 10 in folded configuration is illustrated in Figure 2 (where the module 10 is shown from the opposite outer face of the inner face shown in Figure 1), wherein the pre-cut body 1 is folded over the secondary fold lines 3 and the primary fold lines 2.
In particular, Figure 2 shows how the pre-cut body 1 is folded:

Downstream, or according to a valley fold, compared to the inner face of the module 10 shown in Figure 1, along said primary 2 and secondary 3 fold lines; and
Upstream, or according a mountain fold, compared to said inner face of the module, along said continuation lines 2' of said primary lines 2.

Figures 5 and 6 show the coupling means provided on said flaps 7 comprise hooks, clamps, slot-button coupling, and the like 9, which are coupled with the corresponding coupling means provided on one or more modules 10 to be coupled.
Advantageously, the coupling means provided on the flaps 7 are equal on all the flaps 7 forming the module 10 and may be of different type on the flaps 7 forming the module 10.
Such module 10 is made of foldable material, preferably of plastic material, having a given elasticity.
The module 10 may be coupled to a number of modules 10 through each of the flaps 7 it comprises, thus forming a structure of any size.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate structures obtained by coupling various quantities of modules 10.
Such structures may provide, on the peripheral modules, coupling means with similar structures.
Moreover, further components may be added to such structures, such as for example suspension means for making possible the coupling to a ceiling or to another suspension means.
And on the basis of the features of the material used, it may have a broad range of applications; from simple aesthetical suspended element, suspended ceiling, support element, structural element, frame.
The module 10 is also of any size, material and colour. Figure 3 shows the coupling of two handles made of different materials, one white and the other clear.
The operation of the module is clear and apparent from what is described. It is also clear that a structure of any size may be obtained through the assembly of a plurality of modules 10.
It has been found in practice how module 10 for making a structure, according to the present invention, absolves the preset task and also the aims because it makes it possible to obtain a modular structure with sizes that can be adapted to the place wherein it is positioned, due to the possibility of assembling the quantity of modules required at the site.
Another advantage of the module according to the invention consists in making possible the construction of large structures without significant transport difficulties.
A further advantage of the module according to the invention consists in the fact that due to the possibility of being assembled on-site, it does not require increased accuracy in the design or forecasts given that it adapts easily.
A further advantage of the module according to the invention consists in the significant versatility thereof: according to the material thereof, it may be used for structures in many applications.
The module thus conceived is susceptible to several modifications and variants all falling within the scope of the inventive concept.
Further, all the details can be replaced by other technically-equivalent elements.
In practice, any materials may be used, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, and also any sizes and the contingent shapes, according to the needs.
Advantageously, said modules according to the invention may be coupled to one another, also manually, expanding in all directions, for personalizing the rooms with ever different design and adding a strong artistic connotation to private homes and accommodations.
Even more advantageously, the decorative element formed by the modules according to the invention, and as shown in Figure 10, may be connected to suspension means, such as wires or cables. In this manner, it is able to adopt different shapes according to the ends which are pulled, to give rise to a floating "ceiling".
The present invention is described by way of example only, without limiting the scope of application, according to its preferred embodiments, but it shall be understood that the invention may be modified and/or adapted by an expert in the field without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept, as defined in the claims herein.

Claims

A module (10) for making a structure, such as for example a frame, a support structure, a secondary frame, a lamp, and the like, wherein said module (10) provides a pre-cut body (1) comprising a plurality of flaps (7), which are substantially equal to one another, each flap (7) being connected to the adjacent flaps (7) by means of primary fold lines (2), each flap (7) providing coupling means (4, 5, 8, 9, 9') which are complementary with corresponding coupling means (4, 5, 8, 9, 9') of a further module (10) and at least one secondary fold line (3), the combination of said fold lines (2; 3) making it possible for said module (10) to pass from a substantially flat resting configuration to an upright configuration by the coupling with one or more further modules (10), wherein said coupling means provided on said flaps (7) comprise a slot (4, 5) and opening (8) system, which couple with corresponding coupling means (4, 5; 8) provided on one or more modules (10) to be coupled, said module (10) being characterised in that each flap (7) provides a small slot (5) and a large slot (4), in that said small slot (5) has a smaller extension than the large slot (4) and includes a gap between the small slot (5) itself and a corresponding notch (5') on the pre-cut body (1), and in that the notch (5') is of the same size as a corresponding notch (4') of the large slot (4).
A module (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said pre-cut body (1) is polygon-shaped, preferably substantially hexagon-shaped.
A module (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said large slot (4) includes the opening (8), in that said opening (8) substantially is at the secondary fold line (3) and substantially corresponding to the width of the small slot (5).
A module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each slot (4, 5) has a protuberance (4, 5).
A module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is made of foldable material, preferably of plastic material, having a given elasticity.
A module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said primary fold lines (2) start at a first end from the middle (C) of the pre-cut body (1), dividing it into said plurality of flaps (7), and in that the other end of each primary fold line (2) ends at a junction point (6) from which two secondary fold lines (3) start, as well as a continuation (2') of such primary fold line (2) adapted to be folded in opposite direction thereto, and in that said secondary fold lines (3) in turn extend to the edge of the pre-cut body (1).
A module (10) according to claim 2 and 6, characterised in that said pre-cut body (1) is substantially hexagon-shaped and comprises three primary fold lines (2) which divide the pre-cut body (1) into three flaps (7) and in that for each flap (7) it has two secondary fold lines (3) which are substantially parallel to one another.
A module (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that it is configured so as to pass from said substantially flat configuration to said upright position by folding said pre-cut body (1) along said primary and secondary fold lines (2, 3), and by folding said pre-cut body (1) along said continuation lines (2') of said primary fold lines (2) in opposite direction to that done for said primary and secondary fold lines (2, 3).
A module (10) according to any one of the preceding claim 7 or 8, when dependent on claim 7, characterised in that the small slot (5) in each flap (7) is arranged over a secondary fold line (3) and the large slot (4) is arranged over the other secondary fold line (3).
A structure comprising a plurality of modules (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, each module (10) being coupled to another module (10) through said coupling means (3, 4, 8, 9, 9') and in that each module (10) is folded in the vertical direction opposite to how the other module (10) to which it is coupled is folded, so as to couple said coupling means (3, 4, 8, 9, 9') in complementary manner.
A structure according to the preceding claim, characterised in that each module (10) is coupled to another module (10) when they are in said upright configuration, thus being coupled to each other at a respective flap (7) along the axis of said secondary fold lines (3).
A structure according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that it provides suspension means connected to said plurality of modules (10) to make the coupling thereof possible with a ceiling or another suspension means.