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Title:
EASILY MOUNTABLE AND DEMOUNTABLE CHURCH BENCH
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/120899
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
An easily mountable and demountable church bench in a first embodiment of kneeler has a supporting surface (1), a support (4) mounted on the support plane (1), an upright (6) and step elements (13, 14) mounted on the support (4), and an elbow rests (9) mounted on the upright (6). In a second embodiment of kneeling and sitting, a front extension (3) of the support plane (1) is mounted on the supporting plate (1), an extension (5) of the support (4) is joined to the support (4) and mounted on the front extension (3) of the support plane (1), and a sitting plane (8) is mounted on the extension (5) of the support (4) and on the upright (6).

Inventors:
ROBERTO PULITANI (IT)
MARI MARIA (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IT2016/000018
Publication Date:
August 04, 2016
Filing Date:
January 26, 2016
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
ROBERTO PULITANI (IT)
MARI MARIA (IT)
International Classes:
A47C11/02; A47C3/16; A47C4/02; A47C7/58
Foreign References:
DE202005018802U12006-02-23
US2632498A1953-03-24
US20070169429A12007-07-26
US1265703A1918-05-07
US3788700A1974-01-29
US1265703A1918-05-07
US7044557B22006-05-16
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
CIONCOLONI Giuliana (Viale Castrense 21, ROMA, IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. An easily mountable and demountable church bench, characterized in that the bench consists of components engaged with interlocking couplings, comprising a supporting plate (1) for resting on the ground, a support (4) mounted on said supporting plate (1), an upright (6) and step elements (13, 14) the one and others being mounted on said support (4), and an elbow rest (9) mounted on said upright (6).

2. The church bench according to claim 1, characterized in that the bench further comprises a front base elongation (2; 3) of the supporting plate (1) engaged by interlocking couplings with said supporting plate (1).

3. The church bench according to claim 2, characterized in that the bench is constituted by additional components that are engaged with interlocking couplings and comprise a support extension (5) joined to the support (4) and mounted on said front base elongation (3) of the supporting plate (1), and a sitting plane (8) mounted on said support extension (5) and on said upright (6), sitting plane (8) that has extensions (66, 66) extending beyond the upright (6) in order to form two shelves.

4. The church bench according to claim 1 , wherein said upright (6) has a cutout (42), and said support (4) has a recess (35) and pairs of through holes (36), so that said cutout (42) engages said recess (35), and pins (7) are inserted in said pairs of through holes (36) in order to perfect an engagement with interlocking coupling of the upright (6) with the support (4).

5. The church bench according to claim 3, wherein said support extension (5) is joined to the support (4) by means of a groove (37, 61).

6. The church bench according to claim 3, wherein said supporting plate (1), front base elongation (3) of the supporting plate (1), support (4), support extension

(5), upright (6), sitting plane (8), step elements (13, 14), elbow rest (9) are manufactured from a material of reduced thickness, which extends in the other two directions of space.

7. The church bench according to claim 2, wherein said front base elongation (2; 3) of the supporting plate (1 ) is provided with connecting rings (27).

8. The church bench according to claim 7, wherein said connecting rings (27) of the front base elongation (2; 3) of the supporting plate (1) are joined together by joining means between a bench and the others.

9. The church bench according to claim 8, wherein said joining means (15, 16 and 17) are selected from the group consisting of articulated rods (15) with a wing screw (16) and bolts (17) inserted in said connecting rings (27).

Description:
EASILY MOUNTABLE AND DEMOUNTABLE CHURCH BENCH Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an easily mountable and demountable church bench. Prior art

The church bench is an essential piece of furniture for the conduct of religious services. Normally, a large number of benches equipped with seat and kneeler are preceded by a head bench with only kneeler.

Since the Middle Ages the church bench consists of a bench with a rear kneeler with a number of seats ranging from four to ten, wide in length between 2 m and 6 m, and with the consequent encumbrance of 1.2 m 3 to 4 m 3 and more.

The creation of church benches has so far been entrusted to woodworkers and cabinet makers with high implementation costs.

It is understood that each single bench occupies such a space to make particularly onerous the storage in the factory, the transport to the place of worship, the eventual movement from a place of worship to another, in the case of restoration of the location or all the times the arrangement in the place of worship has to be changed. The transport of only four or five benches requires the use of a truck. By way of example, a medium size church has no less than fifty benches. If each bench occupies 4 m 3 , it would be necessary for them a warehouse of 200 m 3 corresponding for example to a room with a surface area of 50 m 2 and a height of 4 m.

These dimensions create difficulties to make changes inside the place of worship, given the rigidity of the elements.

Among the patent documents, US 1,265,703 describes a piece of furniture shaped as a kneeler that can be used by a person to both kneel and sit. A plurality of such pieces of furniture can be flanked laterally to form prie-dieus in a place of worship.

The kneeler described in US 1,265,703 has two vertical sides joined together by means of a top transverse element acting as an elbow rest, a middle transverse element useful as a superior contrast for a seat resting laterally on lower cleats fixed to the sides, and lower transverse elements. The seat, which is pivoted to be rotatable, can be lifted and placed in an inclined position on a transverse bar against the lower cleats. Transverse guide elements are fixed inferiorly between the sides to slide a kneeling plane terminating with feet resting on the ground.

It is understood that the kneeler according to the cited patent is a typical article of artisan carpentry, rather than adapt to an industrial production. The components, having graceful forms, are numerous and require careful processing. In particular, the connections of the various components by means of rods, pins and cleats do not allow the kneeler to be mounted by common people. Furthermore, the overturning of seats or the extraction of elements that produce annoying noises, has to be prevented in places of worship. Since, in the above mentioned patent, a row of benches may be constituted by more kneelers joined together, the transport of that row can be facilitated because the kneelers can be moved individually. However, the problem of storage and encumbrance is not eliminated, since the kneelers are not easily demountable and mountable.

US 7,044,557 describes an article of furniture, completely upholstered, ready to be mounted, which can be ordered by a customer, sent to his/her address by courier and quickly and easily mounted by the same costumer. This article is obtained with flat elements embedded between them but joined together by means of threaded coupling. However, the use of these means makes the assembly work rather uncomfortable, as it requires a lot of time and the use of appropriate tools.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art with a church bench which can be sold in the individual components thereof and is easy to mount by the purchaser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bench for prayer connectable to other adjacent benches in a multi-purpose local, and demountable in order to create space in the room and allow activities other than those of worship.

A further object is to provide a church bench obtained by the combination of multiple components manufactured so as to occupy a little space when they are not assembled together.

An additional object is to provide a church bench in a version which permits to sit and to kneel or in a version as a simple kneeler depending on the necessity and on its position in the room with respect to the other benches.

Still another object is to enable the modular arrangement of multiple benches according to the present invention in horizontal arrays but also in a radial pattern in accordance with the architectural and furniture choices of the room in which the benches are used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bench to both kneel and sit from individual components produced in series and packed in small size and transportable boxes.

One object of the invention is to provide a church bench which is devoid of threaded coupling means.

These and other objects are achieved by means of an easily mountable and demountable church bench, which, in a first embodiment of kneeler, has a supporting plate, a support mounted on the supporting plate, an upright and step elements the one and the others being mounted on the support, and an elbow rest mounted on the upright; and in a second embodiment of the church bench that permits to both kneel and sit, the church bench has a front extension of the support surface mounted on the supporting plate, an extension of the support joined to the support and mounted on the front extension of the support surface, and a sitting plane, mounted on the extension of the support and on the upright, sitting plane which, extending beyond the upright, forms two breviary holder or console shelves. Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described by way of an indicative and not limiting example of an easily mountable and demountable church bench in a first embodiment of simple kneeler and in a second embodiment of kneeler and seat, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a church bench according to the present invention, assembled in its first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the components constituting the first embodiment of the church bench in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side view of a church bench according to the present invention, assembled in its second embodiment; Figure 4 is a plan view of the components which constitute the second embodiment of the church bench in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a front view of the church bench in Figure 3;

Figure 6 shows a rear view of the church bench in Figure 3;

Figure 7 shows a top plan view of the church bench in Figure 3;

Figure 8 shows a bottom plan view of the church bench in Figure 3;

Figure 9 shows a top plan view of a pack containing the components of the four church benches in the second embodiment, in order to show the overall dimensions thereof;

Figure 10 shows a top plan view of a plurality of church benches joined together in the first and second embodiment; and

Figures 1 1 and 12 are schematic plan views from above of two different arrays of rows of church benches, the first pertaining to the prior art, the second according to the present invention, respectively.

Description of embodiments of the invention

Reference is made initially to Figures 1 and 2, wherein are shown a side view of a church bench according to the present invention, assembled in its first form of realization of kneeler 10 and a plan view of the components which constitute it, respectively.

Indicated in Figures 1 and 2 are a supporting plate as 1 , a front base prolongation as 2, a support as 4, an upright as 6, pins as 7 for fastening the upright on the support, an elbow rests as 9, means as 1 1 and 12 for connecting the armrest to the upright, step elements as 13, 14 for kneeler in the form of a panel in inclined arrangement and horizontal plane, respectively, and joining means as 15, 16 and 17 (shown hereinafter) between a bench and other adjacent. All the components, with the exception of the pins 7, of the connecting means 1 1, 12 and of the joining means 15, 16, 17 have a reduced thickness, and they extend in the other two directions; they can be made from laminated wood and multilayer in general.

Starting from the bottom of the kneeler 10 in Figure 1, the supporting plate 1 is preferably shaped as an isosceles trapezoid having a minor base 18 facing towards the front of the kneeler 10, and a major base 19, opposite to the first one. Made in the minor base 18 are two recesses 21, 21 as interlocking coupling means, and in the major base 19 are two prismatic protrusions 22, as interlocking coupling means, which create between them a central lightening 23 and two side notches 24, 24. A central loop 25 is provided in a central position between the two minor and major bases 18, 19 of the supporting plate 1.

The recesses 21, 21 have a suitably rounded dovetail shape. It should be evident, and it will be more from the following description, that these and other details of the supporting plate 1 can be realized otherwise than as here illustrated and described. The front base prolongation 2 of the supporting plate 1 is substantially a rod 26, provided at the ends with connecting rings 27, whose function will be explained hereinafter. Laterally and in a central position, the stem 26 has two rounded dovetail projections 28, as matching means for interlocking coupling intended to be received in the recesses 21, 21 of the supporting plate 1.

The support 4 has a substantially L-shaped form, suitably connected in the area of the hypotenuse between its lower side 29 and its substantially vertical side 30, to increase mechanical resistance thereof.

The lower side 29 has at the bottom a prismatic protrusion 31 of a size such as to fit interlocking in the central slot 25 of the supporting plate 1. The lower side 29 terminates at its end with an upper projection 32 and a side projection 33.

The substantially vertical side 30 is slightly inclined backwards and terminates superiorly with a top profile 34, in which a recess 35 is provided. Made in the substantially vertical side 30 are two pairs of parallel through holes generically indicated with 36. Formed in front in the substantially vertical side 30 of the support 4 is a groove 37 for a front interlocking whose function will be explained hereinafter.

The upright 6 has a substantially rectangular shape having an upper side 38 and a lower side 39. Made in the vicinity of the upper side 38 are two slots 40, 40 with vertical development, two horizontally extending slots 41, 41, and an elongated cutout 42, which is open downwards, extends from the base 39 almost to the height of the two slots 41, 41. The lower side 39 has a central relief 43 of dimensions equal to those of the minor base 18 of the supporting plate 1. The upright 6 is assembled with the support 4 by inserting the elongated cutout 42 of the upright 6 in correspondence of the recess 35 of the support 4. Pins 7 are inserted in the pairs of through holes 36 of the support 4 for retaining in front and behind the upright 6 and refining the connection between the support 4 and the upright 6.

The armrest 9 is seen in front plan. It has a curved shape with a width preferably equal to that of the upright 6 and inferiorly has two small cutouts 44, 44 spaced apart between them by the distance existing between the vertical development slots 40, 40 of the upright 6. The small cutouts 44, 44 are intended to receive means for retaining the elbow rests 9 to the upright 6 in the form of perforated members 11. Pegs 12 passing through the holes of the perforated members 11, block the elbow rests 9 to the upright 6.

The step element 13 in inclined arrangement is substantially rectangular and has in its left side 45 in Figure 2, which is the lower one in its working position, recesses 46, 46, so as to create a central protrusion 47 and side protrusions 48, 48 as matching means for the interlocking engagement, respectively, with the prismatic protrusions 22, the central relief 23, and the two side notches 24, 24 of the larger base 19 of the supporting plate 1 of the kneeler 10.

The step element 13 in inclined arrangement has prismatic protrusions 50, 50 in the right side 49 in Figure 2, which is the upper side in its working position. Moreover, in the step element 13 in inclined arrangement there is a slot 51 intended to receive the projection 33 of the side 32 of the support 4 when being mounted.

The step element 14 for the support of the knees is a rectangular horizontal panel having two slots 52 for receiving the prismatic protrusions 50 of the step element 13 in inclined arrangement, and a slot 53 interposed between the slots 52 and intended to receive the upper projection 32 of the lower side 29 of the support 4.

It should be clear how to assemble the kneeler 10. Initially the supporting plate 1 is coupled with the front base elongation 2 by the interlocking engagement of the two rounded dovetail protrusions 28, 28 with the recesses 21 of the supporting plate 1. Then, the support 4 is mounted on the supporting plate 1 by inserting the prismatic protrusion 31 of the lower side 29 of the support 4 in the central slot 25 of the base plate 1. At this point the upright 6 can be inserted transversely on the support 4 matching its cutout 42 with the recess 35 of the support 4, and blocking the coupling with the pins 7 inserted in the through holes 36 of the support 4. Thereafter, on the rear of the support 4 can be applied the step element 13 in inclined arrangement thanks to the interlocking coupling elements indicated above, and then the horizontal step element 14 may be applied to the step element 13 in inclined arrangement always in virtue of the other elements of interlocking coupling described above. Finally, the armrest 9 can be mounted on the top side 38 of the upright 6 and stopped by perforated members 1 1 and pegs 12. Obviously the assembly stages may have a different order from that shown above.

Reference is made now to Figures 3 and 4 which show a side view of a church bench according to the present invention, assembled in its second embodiment of kneeling and sitting bench 20 and a plan view of the components thereof, respectively. In these figures the same reference numerals to represent parts identical to those of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 are used. For simplicity, the description is not repeated of equal parts where not necessary.

Therefore, in the following the components different from those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 are described. They, like the others already described, have a reduced thickness, and extend in the other two directions of the space.

It is the front extension 3 of the base plate 1 which is substantially an isosceles trapezoid shaped panel having a minor base 54 and a major base 55. The major base 55 is equipped at its ends with connecting rings 27, whose function will be clarified in the following. The minor base 54, in a central position, has two rounded dovetail projections 28, as matching means for the engagement of interlocking coupling intended to be received in the recesses 21, 21 of the supporting plate 1. In the central position in the front extension 3 there is a slot 56. It will be understood that the front base elongation 3 of the second embodiment has greater dimensions than the front base prolongation 2 of the first embodiment and is intended to support an extension 5 of the support 4. The support 4 is identical to that of the first embodiment.

The extension 5 of the support 4 is substantially inverted C-shaped and has a lower side 57, a core 58 and a upper side 59. The lower side 57 has a projection 60 downwards intended to be inserted in the slot 56 of the front base elongation 3 of the base plate 1 in the assembly.

The core 58 is slightly inclined as the slightly inclined side 30 of the support 4 in which the groove 37 is made for front interlocking cited above. The core 58 has in the side facing the side 30 of the support 4 a splined coupling 61 intended to engage with the groove 37 of the side 30 of the support 4 in the assembly.

The upper side 59 of the extension 5 has an upper prismatic protrusion 62 for a sitting plane 8 which is hereinafter described.

The sitting plane 8 is a substantially rectangular panel having a left side 63 (as seen in the figure), which is the front one after the assembly, provided with a cutout 64 intended to surround the upper prismatic protrusion 62 of the upper side 59 of the extension 5 of the support 4. The sitting plane 8 has a right side 65, i.e. the rear side after assembly, which is provided with two parallel extensions 66, 66 that can be inserted in the two slots 41, 41 of the upright 6. The upright 6 is identical to that of the first embodiment and, therefore, is not again described.

The elbow rests 9, the step element 13 in inclined arrangement and the horizontal step element 14 for supporting the knees are identical to those of the first embodiment and, therefore, are not described again.

Even in the case of the kneeling and sitting bench 20 the procedures for assembly are similar to those of the kneeler 10. Initially the supporting plate 1 is coupled with the front extension 3 by means of interlocking engagement of the two rounded dovetail projections 28, 28 with the recesses 21 of the base plate 1. Then, the support 4 is mounted on the supporting plate 1 by inserting the prismatic protrusion 31 of the lower side 29 of the support 4 in the central slot 25 of the supporting plate 1. At this point, as in the embodiment of the kneeler 10, the upright 6 can be inserted transversely on the support 4 by matching its cutout 42 with the recess 35 of the support 4 and blocking the coupling with the pins 7 inserted in the through holes 36 of the support 4. Thereafter, the extension 5 of the support 4 is mounted on the front extension 3 of the base plate 1 by inserting the projection 60 of the lower side 57 of the extension 5 in the slot 56 of the front base elongation 3 of the base plate 1. At this point, the sitting plane 8 can be applied by inserting its parallel extensions 66, 66 in the two slots 41, 41 of the upright 6 in a manner that the cutout 64 surrounds the upper prismatic protrusion 62 of the upper side 59 of the extension 5 of the support 4. Lastly, the kneeler and the elbow rest can be mounted exactly as described in the first embodiment.

The embodiment of kneeling and sitting bench 20, as assembled, is shown in Figures 5 to 8 which are respectively a front view, a rear view, a top plan view and a plan view from below of it. It does not seem to require further explanation.

Reference is made now to Figure 9 which is a top plan view of a pack containing the components of the four church benches in the second embodiment, in order to show the overall encumbrance. Figure 9 shows how the components of the kneeling and sitting bench have been studied so as to have the minimum encumbrance, as well as to have an industrial type manufacture.

In Figure 10, which is a top plan view of a plurality of church benches joined together, in the first and second embodiment, there is shown the possibility of orienting the benches in an inclined position with respect to each other. This is achieved by means of joining means 15, 16 and 17 between a kneeler and others adjacent as shown in figure 10. This allows a relative inclination between a bench and the benches adjacent to it. In three successive rows three kneeler and sitting benches 20 are joined side by side by a bolt 17 in the connecting rings 27, but also with joining means 15, 15 in the form of articulated rods joined by means of a wing screw 16 which allow a greater distancing between a kneeling and sitting bench and the adjacent ones.

Figures 1 1 and 12 are schematic top plan views of two different arrays of rows of church benches, i.e. the first of the prior art, and the second according to the present invention, respectively. In Figure 11, the benches 65 are of conventional type and allow only a parallel arrangement of the them. It is understood that this provision does not fit well to an oval room like the one shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Shown in Figure 12 is an arrangement of benches according to the present invention.

It is understood that the benches according to the present invention allow a greater number of seats, in addition to giving a greater sense of meeting to people assembled in the place of worship shown in Figure 12. Finally, the advantages conferred by the present invention are summarized.

The modularity allows a single counter to be connected to the other adjacent benches.

Since the benches according to the invention are dismountable, their transport, and storage and stacking are facilitated. In addition the possibility of their fast and quick industrial manufacture should be mentioned.