US20090218920A1

US20090218920A1 - Modular System for Realising Furnishing Elements

Info

Publication number: US20090218920A1
Application number: US12/226,366
Authority: US
Inventors: Sandro Venturini; Cristian Isopo
Original assignee: ITIESSE Srl
Current assignee: ITIESSE Srl
Priority date: 2006-04-19
Filing date: 2007-04-06
Publication date: 2009-09-03
Also published as: EP2007244A1; BRPI0710458A2; JP2009534086A; CN101448430A; ITRM20060069U1; WO2007119256A1; TNSN08403A1; ZA200808854B

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular system for realising furnishing elements characterised in that it comprised a plurality of different kind of modular elements, each kind of modular element providing at least a base module (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) and an upper cover element (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81), said base module (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) being provided above with a fixed joint coupling element, coupling with a corresponding fixed joint coupling element provided under the same base module or the upper cover element, said different king of modular elements providing at least straight modular elements (10; 20), 45° bent modular elements (30; 40), and modular elements with a round fixed joint (70; 80).

Description

The present invention relates a modular system for realising furnishing elements.
More specifically, the invention concerns a modular system preferably, but not exclusively, using pressed glass modular elements, for realising furnishing elements comprised of various modular elements for linear or curved structures, or various architectural inner or outside spaces with different colours, surface finishing and possible lighting inserts.
These and other results are obtained according to the invention, suggesting a modular system, particularly comprised of pressed glass, for realising furnishing elements or for various architectural inner or outside spaces with different colours, surface finishing and possible lighting inserts.
It is therefore specific object of the present invention a modular system for realising furnishing elements characterised in that it comprised a plurality of different kind of modular elements, each kind of modular element providing at least a base module and an upper cover element, said base module being provided above with a fixed joint coupling element, coupling with a corresponding fixed joint coupling element provided under the same base module or the upper cover element, said different king of modular elements providing at least straight modular elements, 45° bent modular elements, and modular elements with a round fixed joint.
Further features of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:
FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d, and 1 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of a first module of the system according to the invention;
FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, and 2 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the cover element of the module of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, 3 c and 3 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the base element of the module of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the three elements shown in FIGS. 1-3;
FIGS. 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, and 5 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of a second module of the system according to the invention;
FIGS. 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 d, and 6 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the cover element of the module of FIG. 5;
FIGS. 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, and 7 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the base element of the module of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the three elements shown in FIGS. 5-7;
FIGS. 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d, and 1 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of a third module of the system according to the invention;
FIGS. 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, and 10 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the cover element of the module of FIG. 9;
FIGS. 11 a, 11 b, 11 c, and 11 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the base element of the module of FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the three elements shown in FIGS. 9-11;
FIGS. 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, 13 d, and 13 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of a fourth module of the system according to the invention;
FIGS. 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, and 14 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the cover element of the module of FIG. 13;
FIGS. 15 a, 15 b, 15 c, and 15 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the base element of the module of FIG. 13;
FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the three elements shown in FIGS. 13-15;
FIGS. 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, 13 d, and 13 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of a fifth module of the system according to the invention;
FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d, and 18 e are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the cover element of the module of FIG. 13;
FIGS. 19 a, 19 b, 19 c and 19 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the base element of the module of FIG. 17;
FIG. 20 is an exploded view of the three elements shown in FIGS. 17-19;
FIGS. 21 a, 21 b, 21 c and 21 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of a sixth module of the system according to the invention;
FIGS. 22 a, 22 b, 22 c and 22 d are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the cover element of the module of FIG. 21;
FIGS. 23 a, 23 b, 23 c and 23 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the base element of the module of FIG. 21;
FIG. 24 is an exploded view of the three elements shown in FIGS. 21-23;
FIGS. 25 a, 25 b, 25 c and 25 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of a seventh module of the system according to the invention;
FIGS. 26 a, 26 b, 26 c and 26 d are perspective, front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the cover element of the module of FIG. 25;
FIGS. 27 a, 27 b, 27 c and 27 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of an eight module of the system according to the invention;
FIGS. 28 a, 28 b, 28 c and 28 d are front, lateral, top and perspective views, respectively, of the cover element of the module of FIG. 27;
FIGS. 29-33 show some possible uses of the modular system according to the invention;
FIG. 34 schematically shows an arrangement for lighting the elements of the system according to the invention; and
FIG. 35 is a general scheme of the system according to the invention.
Observing the enclosed figures, the modular system according to the invention comprises a series of modules that can be combined in such a way to obtain a large number of shapes and structures.
It should be noted that in the figures, single modules are shown with a specific coupling system, but it is well evident that the coupling system could be different, being it not possible using this feature to unduly limit the scope of the invention.
Modular system according to the invention is preferably comprised of pressed glass.
Different elements are shown in the figures, but it is possible providing other elements with a different shape, always based on the same technical principle.
Observing first FIGS. 1 a-e, 2 a-e, 3 a-d and 4, it is shown the half module 10, providing upper cover 1 and lower base 1 2, the combination of which is clearly shown in FIG. 4.
Observing now FIGS. 5 a-e, 6 a-e, 7 a-d and 8, it is shown the base module 20, providing upper cover 21 and lower base 22, the combination of which is clearly shown in FIG. 8.
45° bent module 30 is shown in FIGS. 9 a-e, 10 a-e, 11 a-d and 12 providing upper cover 31 and lower base 32, the combination of which is clearly shown in FIG. 12.
Coming now to observe FIGS. 13 a-e, 14 a-e, 15 a-d and 16, it is shown the 90° bent module 40, providing upper cover 41 and lower base 42, the combination of which is clearly shown in FIG. 16.
Leftward joint module 50 is shown in FIGS. 17 a-e, 18 a-e, 19 a-d and 20, providing upper cover 51 and lower base 52, the combination of which is clearly shown in FIG. 20.
Rightward joint module 60 is shown in FIGS. 21 a-e, 22 a-e, 23 a-d and 24, providing upper cover 61 and lower base 62, the combination of which is clearly shown in FIG. 24.
Finally, in FIGS. 25 a-e, 264 a-e, 27 a-d and 28, the circular fixed joint half module 70, providing upper cover 71, and the circular fixed joint base module 80, providing upper cover 81, are respectively shown.
Circular fixed joint base module 80 and circular fixed joint half module 70 permit, thanks to the circular fixed joint, realising angled joints without limitation within a 180° range, based on the hinge principle and perfectly integrating with all the other elements 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 of the system.
Some embodiments of structures that can be realised using and freely combining the elements shown in previous FIGS. 1-28 are shown in FIGS. 29-33.
In FIG. 34 it is shown that each one of the elements 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, if comprised of transparent material, such as pressed glass, can be provided with a lighting system, that in the figure is comprised of a lamp 90, but that could be comprised of any other system technically feasible.
Finally, FIG. 35 shows a scheme of combination of some elements according to the invention.
As it can be observed, modular system according to the invention, that, as already mentioned, can be comprised of pressed glass, is comprised of elements studied so as to permit, by a fixed joint, realising plane and/or curved surfaces, columns, pilaster strips, basements and pedestals, using the structural modularity of elements 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 both in the horizontal and in the vertical direction.
It is thus possible obtained infinite chromatic effects combining the structural elements, alternating modules with different colours in order to integrate the same in the architectonic space. Further, as already noted, elements 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 are hollow, this permitting housing different kinds of lighting sources, such as LEDs, incandescent lamps, low consumption lamps, in order to create lighting modules that can be integrated in the compositions or used singularly.
Modular system with pressed glass elements 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 with a big thickness permits to the elements 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 specifically withstanding to the atmospheric agents and to the sudden thermal variations.
In case they are comprised of pressed glass, single elements can be manufactured by press moulding, thus being able controlling dimension tolerances of each element 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, maintaining the same within very narrow ranges, in order to make the fixed joint system very precise and resistant.
It is thus obtained a system realised fulfilling the environmental protection rules both for the glass raw materials and the possibility of recycling.
It is further possible housing photovoltaic modules comprised of receiving and accumulator group autonomously supplying the lighting LED system. Lack of main supply permits providing the module thus realised in every point of the assembly.
Particular fixed joint system permits obtaining a stability of the figure realised even without a specific binder or adhesive, thus permitting modifying afterwards the structure, adding or removing modules on the basis of the new dimension and chromatic needing.
Further, pressed glass modular system according to the invention, thanks to the design and realisation methods, can be very easily packaged, stored and transported.
The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. Modular system for realising furnishing elements comprising a plurality of different kind of modular elements so that each kind of modular element comprises:

at least a base module (10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80) that is provided on its top side with two fixed joint coupling male elements each placed on an half part of the module, and on the bottom side with corresponding two fixed joint coupling female elements;

and said different kind of modular elements:

comprises at least straight modular elements (10,20), 45° bent modular elements (30,40), and modular elements with a round fixed joint (70,80);

are hollow inside;

the modular system being suitable to build furnishing elements in which the mutual coupling of any two vertically contacting modular elements having two fixed joint coupling male elements is realised using only one of said two fixed joint coupling male elements of one modular element with the corresponding female element of the other modular element, the furnishing elements resulting in a structure wherein each such modular element couple with one or two other such modular elements.

9. Modular system for realising furnishing elements according to claim 8, characterised in that further comprises modular elements provided on its top side with one fixed joint coupling male elements, and on the bottom side with corresponding one fixed joint coupling female element.

10. Modular system for realising furnishing elements according to claim 8, characterised in that it further comprises an upper cover element (11,21,31,41,51,61,71,81), said base module (10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80) coupling with said corresponding fixed joint coupling female element or the upper cover element.

11. Modular system for realising furnishing elements according to claim 8, characterised in that rightward and leftward joint modules are further provided.

12. Modular system for realising furnishing elements according to claim 8, characterised in that said modular elements are comprised of pressed glass.

13. Modular system for realising furnishing elements according to claim 8, characterised in that one or more of said modular elements are provided with an inner lighting system.

14. Modular system for realising furnishing elements according to claim 13, characterised in that inner lighting system is comprised of LEDs, incandescent lamps, low consumption lamps.

15. Modular system for realising furnishing elements according to claim 8, characterised in that said modular elements are realised with different colours.

16. Modular system for realising furnishing elements according to claim 8, characterised in that adhesive is provided, besides the fixed joint, for fixing each other the modular elements. elements is realised using only one of said two fixed joint coupling male elements on one modular element with the corresponding female element of the other modular element, the furnishing element thus having a structure wherein each modular element couple with one or two other modular elements.