WO1990011456A1

WO1990011456A1 - Fittings

Info

Publication number: WO1990011456A1
Application number: PCT/SE1990/000187
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sven KÄLL; Seved KÄLL
Original assignee: Kaell Sven; Kaell Seved
Priority date: 1989-03-23
Filing date: 1990-03-23
Publication date: 1990-10-04
Also published as: SE8901039D0; SE8901039L

Abstract

The present invention relates to fittings for joining two furniture members (3, 5) of square or rectangular cross section, whereby said fittings have an anchoring portion (1, 4) for each furniture member to be joined. In order to provide fittings permitting easy and reliable mounting of the furniture members and thereby reduce the costs for the manufacture of the furniture as well as the transport and storage thereof, said fittings have a first anchoring portion (1) which is formed as an angular profile (1) clampable onto an edge portion (2) of a first furniture member (3), and a second anchoring portion (4) which, when said fittings are provided on a second furniture member (5), is designed to hold said second furniture member (5) relative to said first furniture member (3) such that the side (32, 35) thereof facing said first furniture member (3) extends substantially parallel and on level with but without direct engagement with the end surface (6) of that edge portion (2) of said first furniture member (3) onto which the angular profile (1) is clamped.

Description

Fittings.

The present invention relates to fittings for joining two furnitvjre members of square or rectangular cross section, whereby said fittings have an anchoring portion for each furniture member to be joined.

Joining of members of wood for furniture, preferably parts of drawers for a chest of drawers, has previously been carried out by means of dovetail joints, gluing with wooden plugs or other time and cost consuming methods. In order to make the product less expensive and reduce the costs for storage and transport thereof, attempts have been made to let the costumers assemble the furniture by themselves. This, however, has caused such problems, especially wih regard to drawers, that the response from the customers is negligible.

The object of the present invention is therefore, to eliminate the above problems and provide fittings permitting easy and reliable assembly of preferably drawers, by the customers themselves, thereby reducing the costs for the

manufacture of the furniture to which the drawers belong as well as the transport and storage thereof. Furthermore, the fittings are simple in construction and cheap to manufacture and no other tools than a hammer are required for their mounting.

The fittings according to the invention are hereby characterized by the fact that a first anchoring portion thereof is formed as an angular profile which is clampable onto an edge portion of a first furniture member, and that a second anchoring portion, when said fittings are provided on a second furniture member, is designed to hold said second furniture member relative to said first furniture member such that the side thereof facing said first furniture member extends substantially parallel and on level with but without direct engagement with the end surface of that edge portion of said first furniture member onto which the angular profile is clamped.

The above and other characterising features will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

fig. 1 is a side view of one type of fittings according to the present invention;

fig. 2 is a front view of the fittings of fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a side view of another type of fittings according to the invention;

fig. 4 is a front view of the fittings of fig. 3; and fig. 5 is an exploded view of how a drawer is assembled with fittings of both types according to figs. 1-4.

Thus, the present invention relates to fittings for joining two furniture members of square or rectangular cross section. These members, preferably made of wood, may be members of a drawer for e.g. a chest of drawers, members of a bookcase or members of other types of boxes, cases, chests, etc. Said fittings comprise an anchoring portion for each of the two members to be joined thereby.

Thus, said fittings have a first anchoring portion 1 which is formed as an angular profile to be clamped onto an edge portion 2 of a first furniture member 3. A second

anchoring portion 4 is designed such that it, when said fittings are provided on a second furniture member 5, holds said second furniture member relative to said first furniture member 3 such that the side thereof facing said first furniture member extends substantially parallel and on level with but without direct engagement with the end surface 6 of that edge portion 2 of said first furniture member onto which the angular profile 1 is clamped.

Preferably, the furniture members 3, 5 are joined such that the first furniture member 3 lies within the longitudinal extension of the second furniture member 5. This is applicable on all types of boxes, cases, etc., while bookcases and shelves for other purposes may be designed differently. With regard to e.g. a drawer (see fig. 5), the furniture members (i.e. front member, rear member and side members) 3, 5 are joined such that the end surface 6 to that edge portion 2 of the first furniture member 3 onto which the angular profile 1 is clamped, via said angular profile engages an edge portion 7 of the second furniture member 5. Preferably, the side 8 of the first furniture member 3 facing away from the second furniture member 5 lies thus substantially on level with the end surface 9 of the edge portion 7 of said second furniture member 5.

The angular profile 1 of the first anchoring portion is substantially U-shaped with a first shank 10 and a second shank 11 engaging side surfaces 12 and 13 respectively, on the edge portion 2 of the first furniture member 3, and with a web 14 interconnecting said shanks and engaging the end surface 6 of said edge portion 2.

According to one embodiment of the fittings of the invention (see figs. 1 and 2), the second anchoring portion 4 also consists of a substantially U-shaped angular profile 24. This angular profile 24 is thus clamped onto the edge portion 7 of the second furniture member 5 and provided with first and second shanks 14 and 15 respectively, for engagement with the side surfaces 16 and 17 respectively, of the edge portion, and a web 18 interconnecting said shanks and engaging the end surface 9 of said edge portion 7. The opening of the U is, on the second angular profile 24, directed perpendicular to the opening of the first angular profile 1.

In order to simplify the manufacture of the fittings and thus, make the fittings cheaper, the first shank of the second angular profile 24 is defined by the web 14 of the first angular profile 1 and the web 18 of the second angular profile 24 is an extension of the second shank 11 of said first angular profile 1. The second shanks 11, 15 of the angular profiles 1, 24 are prestressed against the respective

furniture member 3, 5 for increasing the clamping effect against said furniture members. In order to further improve the assembly of the furniture members 3, 5 by means of the fittings, the second shanks 11, 15 of the angular profiles 1, 24 preferably also comprises anchoring means in the shape of angular edge portions 21 and 22 respectively, and insertable into fastening means in the shape of grooves 19 and 20 respectively, in the edge portions 2, 7 of said furniture members 3, 5, and said angular edge portions 21, 22 are also provided with fixation means 23 for fixing the fittings in the

respective grooves 19, 20, The fixation means 23 may have any for the purpose suitable shape, e.g. have the shape of a knife. As an alternative to the angular edge portions 21, 22, it is possible instead to provide said shanks 11, 15 with pins (not shown) with protrude perpendicularly from said shanks and which during assembly are inserted into holes (not shown) provided therefor in the edge portions 2, 7 of the furniture members 3, 5 and thus, replacing the grooves 19, 20.

As is apparent from fig, 3 and 4, the second anchoring portion 4 comprises, according to another eiπbodiment of the fittings of the invention, a dowel 26 for insertion into a hole 27 in the second furniture member 5, which dowel

protrudes perpendicularly from the web 14 of the angular profile 1 of the first anchoring portion and is provided with locking means 25. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, said locking means consists of peripheral flutes 25, but may of course have another suitable shape for fixing the dowel 26 in the hole 27. For this purpose, the dowel 26 is also provided with a slit 28 extending in the longitudinal direction of said dowel and separating the end portion of the dowel into two parts 30 and 31. When mounting the fittings on the second furniture member 5, a wedge 29 provided at the inlet portion of said slit and extending up and above the end surface of the end portion of said dowel is insertable into said slit. During insertion into the slit 28, the wedge 29 will strive for separating the dowel parts 30, 31 defining the slit and press said parts against the sides of the hole 27.

Assembly of a drawer according to fig. 5 with fittings according to the present invention is carried out as follows:

Initially, fittings with dowels 26 are mounted on the front piece or front member of the drawer. The dowels 26 are hammered into holes 27 in the inner side 32 of the front member, said holes being predrilled at the factory at or close to the edge portions 7 at the short sides of said front member. Preferably, two fittings are used at each short side. Hammering of the dowels 26 into the holes 27 is carried out by means of a guide plate (not shown) which engages the web 14 of the first angular profile 1, whereafter the guide plate is hammered onto until the opposite side of the web 14 engages the inner side of the front member. The fittings are mounted with the first shank 10 of the first angular profile 1 facing inwards and with the second shank 11 turned outwards. Thus, the front member of the drawer constitutes here what is above designated as "the second furniture member 5".

The next step in the process of assembly is to mount the side members of the drawer, constituting "the first furniture member 3", in the first angular profile 1 of the fittings on the front member. This is done with a guide plate placed in a groove 33 for the bottom (not shown) of the drawer at the inner side 32 of the front member, such that corresponding grooves 34 at the inner sides 35 of the side members are arranged opposite to said groove 33, and by pressing one short side of the side members into the angular profiles 1 until the angular edge portion 21 of the outer, second shanks 11 thereof "snap" into the groove 19 in the here outer side surface 13 of the edge portion 2 of one short side of the side members (the first furniture member 3), whereby the angular profiles grip the edge portion 2 and its side and end surfaces 12, 13 and 6 respectively. The side members (3) are now positioned such that their respective end surface 6 at said one short side is substantially parallel and on level with the inner side 32 of the front member (5), and such that the respective outer side

8 thereof is essentially on level with one of the end surfaces

9 of the front member.

The bottom of the drawer is now put in position in the grooves 33 and 34.

Two fittings of the type according to figs. 1 and 2 are thereafter mounted on the respective short side of the rear member. This is carried out in such a way that the first angular profiles 1 of the fittings are snapped in position, engaging the side and end surfaces 12, 13 and 6 respectively, of the edge portion 2 at the respective short side of the rear member, and with the angular edge portion 21 of the second and here outer shank 11 projecting into the groove 19 in the outer side surface 13 of the edge portion 2. The rear member functions here as "the first furniture member 3".

With the fittings in position on the rear member, said rear member is arranged such that the groove 36 on its inner side 37 is situated just opposite to the bottom of the drawer and the .rear member is now pressed against the side members such that the second angular profile 24 on the fittings is brought to grip the edge portion 7 on the short side of each side member opposite to the short side with the edge portion 2 and to engage the side and end surfaces 16, 17 and 9 respectively, of said edge portion until the angular edge portion 22 of the second and here outer shank 15 of the second angular profile 24 snaps into the groove 20 in the outer side surface 17 of said edge portion 7. Thus, the side members here constitute "the second furniture member 5", and the rear member (3) is now situated such that the end surfaces 6 thereof parallel and on level with the inner side 35 of the respective side member (5) and such that the outer side 8 of the rear member is substantially in level with the end surface 9 of said other short side of the respective side member.

The drawer is not assembled by means of in total eight fittings, four of each type, which hold the drawer members together in a tight grip. A soft stroke with the hammer on the outer shanks 11, 15 of the angular profiles 1, 24 such that the fixation means 23 on the angular edge portions 21, 22 thereof protrude further into the grooves 19 and 20 respectively, further increases the strenght of the drawer. The only tool required for the assembly is a hammer. No glue or size is needed and neither are any screw joints. The side members of the drawer may be used on the right as well as on the left hand side of the drawer; they need only to be turned, and both types of fittings are constructed to be used on either side of the drawer. The number of fittings used may vary as required or desired and purpose of the assembled furniture members. The fittings are preferably made of plastics, but other materials can be used. The manufacture is simple and carried out in one step.

It is obvious for a skilled person that the present invention may be modified or altered within the scope of the following claims without departing from the idea and purpose of the invention.

Claims

Claims:

1. Fittings for joining two furniture members of square or rectangular cross section, whereby said fittings have an anchoring portion for each furniture member to be joined, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a first anchoring portion (1) is formed as an angular profile which is clampable onto an edge portion (2) of a first furniture member (3), and that a second anchoring portion (4), when said fittings are provided on a second furniture member (5), is designed to hold said second furniture member (5) relative to said first furniture member (3) such that the side (32, 35) thereof facing said first furniture member (3) extends substantially parallel and on level with but without direct engagement with the end surface (6) of that edge portion (2) of said first furniture member (3) onto which the angular profile (1) is clamped.

2. Fittings according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second anchoring portion (4) is designed such that the end surface (6) of that edge portion (2) of the first furniture member (3) onto which the angular profile (1) is clamped, engages through said angular profile an edge portion (7) of the second furniture member (5).

3. Fittings according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second anchoring portion (4) is designed such that the side (8) of the first furniture member (3) facing away from the second furniture member (5) is substantially on level with the end surface (9) of the edge portion (7) of said second furniture member (5).

4. Fittings according to any of claims 1-3, c h a r a ct e r i z e d i n that the angular profile (1) of the first anchoring portion is substantially U-shaped with a first and a second shank (10 and 11 respectively) engaging the respective side surfaces (12, 13) of said edge portion (2) of said first furniture member (3) and with a web (14) interconnecting said shanks and engaging the end surface (6) of said edge portion (2).

5. Fittings according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second anchoring portion (4) consists of a substantially ϋ-shaped angular profile (24) which is

clampable onto said edge portion (7) of said second furniture member (5) and which comprises first and second shanks (14, 15) and a web (18) interconnecting said shanks, whereby the opening of the ϋ is directed perpendicular to the opening of the first angular profile (1).

6. Fittings according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the first shank (10) of the second angular profile (24) is formed by the web (14) of the first angular profile (1) and that the web (18) of the second angular profile is formed by an extension of said second shank (11) of said first angular profile.

7. Fittings according to any of claims 4-6, c h a r a ct e r i z e d i n that the second shanks (11, 15) of said angular profiles (1, 24) are prestressed against the

respective furniture member (3, 5) and that said second shanks further comprise anchoring means in the shape of angular edge portions (21, 22), pins etc., and insertable into fastening means in the shape of grooves (19, 20), holes, etc., in the edge portions (2, 7) of the furniture members.

8. Fittings according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the angular edge portions (21, 22) on said second shanks (11, 15) of said angular profiles (1, 24) are provided with fixation means (23) for fixing the fittings in the respective groove (19, 20).

9. Fittings according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second anchoring portion (4) comprises dowel (26) for insertion into a hole (27) in the second furniture member (5) and that said dowel protrudes perpendicularly from the web (14) of the angular profile (1) of the first anchoring portion and is provided with locking means (25) for the insertion thereof in said hole (27).

10. Fittings according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the dowel (26) is provided with a slit (28) extending in the longitudinal direction of the dowel and separating the end portion thereof into two parts (30, 31), and that a wedge (29), provided at the inlet portion of said slit (28) and extending up above the end surface of the end portion of said dowel, is insertable into said slit when the fittings are mounted on the second furniture member (5).