DE20007817U1 - Substructure and furniture system - Google Patents

Description

OlöriCht· Sl' BUCHHOLD

Am Weinberg 15 D-35096 Weimar-Niederweimar Telephone: 06421 78627 Fax: 06421 7153

04.05.2000 G 1001 - Ot/kt

Christmann & Pfeifer GmbH & Co. KG, 35236 Breidenbach

Substructure and furniture system

Description

The invention relates to a substructure and a furniture system according to the preambles of claims 1 and 11.

The installation of furniture generally requires a stable substructure. For example, in the area of so-called social locker systems, robust steel furniture has become popular, as it is easy to manufacture, easy to transport and comfortable to use. It is common for wardrobe lockers to have a standing element at each corner. Bases with and without paneling are also used, as are prefabricated base structures and frame-like racks that can accommodate several cabinets, meaning fewer individual feet are needed. However, the disadvantage remains that the known arrangements leave little creative freedom and subsequent changes are only possible to a limited extent. In addition, cleaning around the support elements often requires a lot of effort.

Corrosion protection plays a major role, as does height adjustability. With this in mind, for example, DE 296 03 993 U1 proposed an advantageous modular system with plastic adapters that can be attached to the lower corners of a piece of furniture along with the screw feet held in them and to which a base or foot panel can be easily attached.

Furniture feet for cabinet furniture are also described in DE 93 17 452 U1 and in DE 93 17 453 U1. This furniture has a base part, e.g. triangular, that can be attached to the corner area on the underside of the cabinet and has openings for the positive reception of a base, a sleeve that overlaps it or a connecting piece.

ation plate, which can also be fixed to the base part of an adjacent box. The base itself is a slim, rod-shaped element with a height-adjustable base. Such a substructure is not suitable for larger loads that can be subject to tipping moments because of its very thin stilts.

Particularly with heavier units or larger assemblies, it is very important that they remain stable over the long term. However, it is not uncommon to encounter unfavourable local conditions. This makes planning and preparatory work difficult; reliable installation is often out of the question. Often, very laborious and very complex adjustments have to be made to rigidly mounted units on site, e.g. to compensate for uneven ground.

The aim of the invention is to remedy this situation by providing a substructure that can be manufactured and assembled as economically as possible, as well as a furniture system that allows for forward-looking planning and can be easily and quickly adapted to specific local conditions if necessary. The aim is also to keep the number of support elements to a minimum and to enable an open-plan design with convenient access for cleaning.

Main features of the invention are set out in independent claims 1, 11 and 12. Claims 2 to 10 and 13 to 18 relate to embodiments.

A substructure for furniture, in particular for steel furniture in the social locker area, is characterized according to claim 1 by at least one column that can be set up or anchored on the floor of a room and on the upper part of which a height-adjustable holder for the adjustable fixation of a horizontal longitudinal beam and/or a horizontal boom can be fixed. Even under unfavorable conditions, such a substructure allows a surprisingly simple clear planning for the furnishing of rooms of all kinds with furniture that can be set up quickly and reliably. A fixed column-floor connection is generally preferable; it can also be done without, for example if underfloor heating does not allow the insertion of deep anchors or dowels. In any case, the column offers integrated height and angle adjustment for the crossbars attached to the underside of the furniture. A preferred application of the invention is the safe, visually appealing

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partial arrangement of furniture groups. The fact that these appear to almost float, but are actually very stable, is a particular advantage of this substructure. It is also suitable for supporting a single piece of furniture, e.g. a round or square bedside table, by conveniently placing a single column centrally underneath, which accommodates longitudinal and transverse supports crosswise.

It is very advantageous, according to claim 2, to design the longitudinal beams and booms as profiled support elements that can be positively secured in a counter-profiled holder. This makes assembly extremely easy. It is also advantageous for them if, according to claim 3, the longitudinal beams and booms are preferably narrow polygonal tubes or beams that can be secured to the or a column with a positively enclosing holder designed as a polygonal sleeve. This results in an extremely stable structure.

Claim 4 provides that the or each column has at least one, in particular vertically slot-shaped, diametrically directed recess in the upper part, into which the holder can be inserted. It is therefore sufficient to fit the holder into the column recess in order to prepare a secure mounting of a support element inserted into the holder. It should be emphasized that according to the invention, different angular positions and radii can be realized on the substructure, i.e. not just straight or right-angled connections for furniture to be set up.

For fastening, the preferred method is to use mounting lugs according to claim 5, which can be screwed to the upper part of the column. The screw connection of the lugs is expediently height-adjustable and lockable in accordance with claim 6, so that the most varied conditions on site can be taken into account. This is particularly easy if the screw connection according to claim 7 has two pairs of threaded stud bolts that protrude parallel to the recess from the upper part of the column and carry adjusting nuts with which any height adjustment can be fixed.

According to claim 8, the booms can in particular be square tubular beams that have a mount for a longitudinal beam at their longitudinal center or at one end. Such a beam can therefore be optionally or additionally supported in the boom in order to reliably hold a wide variety of structures.

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It is of great advantage if, according to claim 9, the supports are sleeves with a generally rectangular cross-section, from which wing-like projections protrude transversely on both sides, in line with a narrow side. These sleeves or sliding shoes can be attached quickly and easily to the wall or to a column. They allow longitudinal beams or cantilevers inserted into them to be moved in their own main direction. Because the connection points can be freely selected in principle, dimension and assembly tolerances of the furniture can be easily compensated both lengthwise and crosswise, in contrast to conventional substructures with the usually high cost of special prefabrication. According to the invention, similar supports can be used for the longitudinal and cross beams, which can also be placed on these support elements as required, in a way that is most suitable for the substructure of a particular group of furniture.

According to claim 10, threaded holes and/or locking nuts for adjusting screws can be provided on an opposite narrow side and/or at least one broad side of the sleeve, so that a positional adjustment made with them can be fixed easily and permanently - e.g. by locking. In this way, fitters can easily compensate for uneven floors, slopes, etc. on site.

The invention provides in independent claim 11 a substructure, in particular for steel furniture in the social locker area, which combines the following features:

a) a number of columns which can be set up or anchored to the ground each have at least one diametrically directed horizontal recess in the upper part,

b) the recess of each column is designed for the positive, height-adjustable insertion of a profiled sliding shoe,

c) a longitudinal cross-member carries a number of cross-members fixed to sliding shoes with the same internal cross-section and the same cross-section as the longitudinal cross-member,

d) each sliding shoe or similar is provided with lateral attachments for adjustable fastening to the upper part of a column and/or with clamping means for the longitudinal and transverse cross members,

e) a beam structure consisting of a longitudinal cross-beam and at least one cross-beam or similar supported on the pillars supports the underside of the furniture or furniture group.

Such a substructure is ideally suited to be installed with exact height and angle compensation even under unfavourable conditions in order to stably support a group of furniture in a wall position or back to back freely in the room.

The invention further relates, according to independent claim 12, to a furniture system with a substructure of the type described above, in which a number of preferably parallel arms engage a common longitudinal beam to support large pieces of furniture or a row of furniture. This can, for example, extend over the entire width of a cupboard wall, so that its uniform support is ensured by an entire group of beams. The longitudinal beam does not have to be straight; it can, for example, be curved or bent if the spatial arrangement or geometry of the cupboards requires this.

According to claim 13, the longitudinal beam can advantageously be attached to columns that are arranged on the furniture or row of furniture in the middle of the cross and are therefore barely visible or not visible at all, which is why a group of furniture supported in this way appears to float. This is very useful, for example, for rows of cupboards arranged back to back. According to claim 14, at least selected arms can be supported by further columns arranged on both sides of the longitudinal beam, whereby great stability is achieved with extremely little effort.

Alternatively, it is also possible, in accordance with claim 15, to fasten at least one longitudinal beam to columns arranged at the edge of a piece of furniture or a row of furniture. This can be useful if an extreme load is to be absorbed. For better load distribution, according to claim 16, it can be provided that the boom ends are supported by associated columns.

According to claim 17, at least selected outriggers protrude in the form of a console over the columns that support them. This is particularly advantageous for holding benches, shelves, etc. that can bear greater loads, with the length of the crossbeams being adapted to the relevant cupboard or bench extension.

A high level of stability is achieved according to claim 18 in that the support columns are offset inwards and outwards along a longitudinal beam, in particular alternately, so that individual booms sit on the support columns with one end and others with their middle section. This results in very favorable statics with optimal load distribution.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the wording of the claims and from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings. In these:

an exploded oblique view of a column and a mount that can be attached to it,

a similar oblique view, additionally with a boom and a longitudinal beam,

an oblique view of a boom or a crossbeam,

an oblique top view of a column with inserted holder,

an exploded oblique view of a centrally arranged longitudinal beam with a group of columns, supports and outriggers or cross beams,

Fig. 4b a partial bottom view of a furniture group with the elements of Fig. 4a,

Fig. 4c is a general bottom view of a furniture group according to Fig. 4b,

Fig. 4d a partial bottom view similar to Fig. 4b, but with console outriggers for benches,

Fig. 5a is an exploded oblique view similar to Fig. 4a, but of a longitudinal beam arranged at the edge with alternating side-offset columns,

Fig. 5b is an overall bottom view of a furniture group corresponding to Fig. 5a and Fig. 6 is an oblique view of a double row of cupboards with a bench front.

In Fig. 1, one can see a column 12 which has a diametrically running, slot-shaped recess 15 in the upper part 14. A base plate (not visible here) enables the column to be screwed to the floor of a room. In the upper part 14 there is a cover plate 16 or a similar holder for stud bolts 18, onto which nuts 19 can be screwed up and down.

A holder 25 can be inserted into the recess 15, which is designed as a square tube section and has threaded holes 27 and nuts 28 on a lower narrow side for receiving adjusting screws 29. On the opposite, upper narrow side, the holder 25 has wing-shaped projections 26 on both sides, which also have threaded holes 27, which are assigned to the stud bolts 18. It can be seen that the fitted holder 25 can be fastened to the stud bolts 18 protruding from the cover plate 16 with nuts 17.

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The same arrangement can be seen in Fig. 2. It also shows a cross-member 30 which is provided at one end with a holder 35 which has the same profile as the holder 25. Here too, clamping screws 29 are provided with which a part inserted into the holder 35, namely a longitudinal member 20, can be fixed in a suitable position.

Fig. 2a shows a cross member 30 which is provided with a similar holder 35 in its middle part. The holder 35 can be plugged onto the longitudinal member 20; it can be fixed thereto by means of clamping screws 29.

The support column 12 is also illustrated schematically in Fig. 3. It can be seen here that a support part 22 can be fitted diametrically into the vertical slot 15, on which means for height adjustment 24 are provided.

Possibilities for attaching the aforementioned elements are shown in Fig. 4a to 4d. The exploded oblique view of Fig. 4a shows the longitudinal beam 20, onto which a number of crossbeams or outriggers 30 with their receptacles 35 designed as sliding shoes can be plugged and fixed at the desired location. The longitudinal beam 20 sits in the transverse center of a furniture group M on its underside (Fig. 4c). The crossbeams or outriggers 30 are arranged at selectable intervals and fixed to the underside U, e.g. screwed to receptacles 35. Some outriggers 30 are supported with their ends by receptacles 25 in the recesses 15 of uprights 12, which are arranged at a lateral distance from the longitudinal beam 20 closer to the edge of the furniture group M. By moving the columns 12 lengthwise and crosswise, it is possible to ensure a stable arrangement of the furniture group M even when local conditions - e.g. uneven floors, slopes, etc. - do not permit a regular arrangement.

Fig. 4b shows such an arrangement in an oblique view from below. It can be seen here that the column 12 has a base plate 13 for fastening to the floor of the room (not shown). The longitudinal beam 20 is accommodated in the upper part 14, whereby the height can be adjusted using the support part 22. The various mounts or sliding shoes 25 on the longitudinal beam 20 can be fixed at the desired location, for which it may be sufficient if the cross-beams 30 connected to them are fastened to the underside U of the furniture group M by their mounts or sliding shoes 35.

The distances to the columns 12 as well as between the cross members 30 and to the edge areas of the underside U can be selected and determined as required.

While Fig. 4b illustrates the central arrangement of columns 12, Fig. 4d shows that a lateral offset to the longitudinal beam 20 is also possible. This is used in particular when longer cross beams 32 protrude like a console over columns 12 arranged on both sides of the longitudinal beam 20 in order to support benches S which form a projection to the cabinet furniture group M. Here too, it can be seen that one and the same profile design of the receptacles 25, 35 can be used both for fitting in the upper part 14 of the columns 12 and for fastening to the underside U of the furniture group M.

In Fig. 5a and 5b, a further embodiment is shown in which the longitudinal beam 20 is arranged off-center on the underside U of a furniture group M. Stand columns 12 are arranged alternately close to the longitudinal beam 20 or close to the outer edge of the furniture group M, with some outriggers or crossbeams 30 each being supported at one end in the stand columns 12. Their lateral offset from one another ensures that the furniture group M is very stable.

During assembly, the longitudinal beam 20 can be guided alternately through a holder 25 on a column 12 and through a holder 35 on a boom 30. The holders 25, 35 designed as sliding shoes can be fixed at the desired location on the longitudinal beam 20 and also on the cross members 30 using adjusting or clamping screws 29.

Another possibility is to fit the outriggers or crossbeams 30 with their mounts 35 into the columns 12 and align them. The longitudinal beam 20 can then be inserted into the mounts 35 and into additional sliding shoes 25, which can be fixed to other columns 12. The position is again fixed using adjusting or clamping screws 29.

It can be seen in particular from Fig. 6 that generally only individual columns 12 can be seen. The furniture group M as a whole appears to be floating. This has the particular advantage that cleaning, which is particularly important in social rooms, is easier and more thorough. Furthermore, it can be seen that with a staggered arrangement at least

At least some of the columns 12 provide increased stability, so that screwing to the floor of the room is not necessary. High stability is then also guaranteed.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described; numerous modifications are possible. For example, it is intended to compensate for local unevenness by fitting suitably sized compensation plates or pieces (not shown) between the mounts or sliding shoes 25, 35. In this way, a smooth support surface can be achieved. Wedges can also be used optionally or additionally for clamping. While circular cylindrical columns 12 were shown in the examples explained, other shapes can also be considered in principle, namely polygonal columns.

In summary, it can be stated that in a preferred embodiment, a substructure 10, particularly for steel furniture in the social locker area, has at least one column 12, on the upper part 14 of which a height-adjustable holder 25; 35 can be fixed for the adjustable fixing of a horizontal boom 30. These are profiled support elements, e.g. narrow polygonal tubes, which can be positively fastened in a counter-profiled holder 25; 35 and can be fixed with this to the column 12. The latter has at least one diametrically directed vertical slot 15 in the upper part 14. In addition, lugs 26 of the holder 25 are fixed with a height-adjustable, lockable screw connection 18, 19. To support large pieces of furniture or a group of furniture (M), a number of mutually parallel arms (30) engage a common longitudinal beam 20, which is fastened to columns 12, which are arranged centrally or offset to the side of the furniture and can also support the ends of the arms. Console arms 32 can project over the columns 12, in particular for holding benches S, shelves and the like. Increased stability is achieved by the columns 12 being offset alternately inwards and outwards along the longitudinal beam 20, for example, so that individual arms 30 sit on the columns 12 with one end and others 32 with their middle part.

All features and advantages arising from the claims, the description and the drawings, including structural details and spatial arrangements, can be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of combinations.

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List of reference symbols

M Furniture (group) S Bench U Bottom (from M) 10 Substructure 12 Column 13 Base plate 14 Top 15 Recess / vertical slot 16 Cover plate 17 Nuts 18 Stud bolts 19 Nuts 20 Longitudinal beam / cross member 22 Support part 24 Height adjustment 25 Mounting/sliding shoe 26 approaches 27 Threaded holes 28 Nuts 29 Adjusting / clamping screws 30 Crossbeam / boom 32 Console boom 35 Mounting/sliding shoe

Claims (18)

1. Substructure ( 10 ) for furniture, in particular for steel furniture in the social locker area, characterized by at least one column ( 12 ) which can be set up or anchored on the floor of a room and on whose upper part ( 14 ) a height-adjustable holder ( 25 ; 35 ) for the adjustable fixing of a horizontal longitudinal support ( 20 ) and/or a horizontal boom ( 30 ) can be fixed. 2. Substructure according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal beams ( 20 ) and outriggers ( 30 ) are designed as profiled support elements which can be positively fastened in a counter-profiled receptacle ( 25 ; 35 ). 3. Substructure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the longitudinal beams ( 20 ) and outriggers ( 30 ) are in particular narrow polygonal tubes or beams which can be fixed to the or each support column ( 12 ) by means of a receptacle ( 25 ; 35 ) which surrounds them in a form-fitting manner and is designed as a polygonal sleeve. 4. Substructure according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the or each column ( 12 ) has in the upper part ( 14 ) at least one, in particular vertically slot-shaped, diametrically directed recess ( 15 ) into which the receptacle ( 25 ; 35 ) can be inserted. 5. Substructure according to claim 4, characterized in that the receptacle ( 25 ) has projections ( 26 ) which can be screwed to the upper part ( 14 ) of the column ( 12 ). 6. Substructure according to claim 5, characterized in that the screw connection ( 18 , 19 ) of the lugs ( 26 ) is height-adjustable and lockable. 7. Substructure according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the screw connection has two pairs of threaded stud bolts ( 18 ) which project parallel to the recess ( 15 ) from the upper part ( 14 ) of the column ( 12 ) and carry adjusting nuts ( 19 ). 8. Substructure according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the outriggers ( 30 ) are in particular square tubular beams which have a receptacle ( 35 ) for a longitudinal beam ( 20 ) at their longitudinal center or at the front. 9. Substructure according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the receptacles ( 25 ) are sleeves of generally rectangular cross-section, from which wing-like projections ( 26 ) protrude transversely on both sides in alignment with a narrow side. 10. Substructure according to claim 9, characterized in that the opposite narrow side and/or at least one broad side of the sleeve ( 26 ) has threaded holes ( 27 ) and/or locking nuts ( 28 ) for adjusting screws ( 29 ). 11. Substructure ( 10 ) for furniture, in particular for steel furniture in the social locker area, characterized by the following combination of features: a) a number of columns ( 12 ) which can be set up or anchored to the ground (B) each have at least one diametrically directed horizontal recess ( 15 ) in the upper part ( 14 ), b) the recess ( 15 ) of each column ( 12 ) is designed for the positive, height-adjustable insertion of a profiled sliding shoe ( 25 ; 35 ), c) a longitudinal cross member ( 20 ) carries, on sliding shoes ( 25 ; 35 ) having the same shape in the inner cross section, a number of cross members ( 30 ) fixed thereto, which have the same cross section as the longitudinal cross member ( 20 ). d) each sliding shoe ( 25 ; 35 ) is provided with lateral projections ( 26 ) for adjustable fastening to the upper part ( 14 ) of a column ( 12 ) and/or with clamping means ( 27 , 28 , 29 ) for the longitudinal ( 20 ) and transverse ( 30 ) cross members, e) a beam structure supported on the pillars ( 12 ) consisting of a longitudinal cross-member ( 20 ) and at least one transverse cross-member ( 30 ) or the like supports the underside of the furniture or a furniture group (M). 12. Furniture system with a substructure in particular according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that for supporting large pieces of furniture or a group of furniture (M) a number of cantilevers ( 30 ) preferably parallel to one another engage on a common longitudinal beam ( 20 ). 13. Furniture system according to claim 12, characterized in that the longitudinal support ( 20 ) is fastened in columns ( 12 ) which are arranged on the furniture or furniture group (M) in its transverse center. 14. Furniture system according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that at least selected booms ( 30 ) are supported by further columns ( 12 ) laterally offset from the longitudinal beam ( 20 ). 15. Furniture system according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that at least one longitudinal support ( 20 ) is fastened to the edge of uprights ( 12 ) arranged in or on a piece of furniture or a furniture group (M). 16. Furniture system according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the cantilever ends are supported by associated support columns ( 12 ). 17. Furniture system according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that at least selected outriggers ( 30 ) protrude in the shape of a console beyond the columns ( 12 ) supporting them, in particular for holding benches (S), storage surfaces and the like. 18. Furniture system according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the columns ( 12 ) are offset laterally along the longitudinal beam ( 20 ), in particular alternately inwards and outwards, so that individual arms ( 30 ) sit with one end and others ( 32 ) with their middle part on the columns ( 12 ).