ELECTRIFIED FURNISHING STRUCTURE Technical field

This invention relates to an electrified furnishing structure.

Purely by way of example, reference is made in the following specification, as the furnishing structure wherein the above-mentioned structure is integrated, to an electrified display unit.

Background art

The expression "electrified display units" means display units comprising a plurality of shelves, or supporting surfaces, and supports for the shelves which allow electrical devices to be powered, such as, for example, lighting systems, supported by the shelves themselves.

These display units are used increasingly frequently in commercial activities and, in particular, in shops for clothing accessories such as bags, shoes, etc.

There are prior art supports for making these display units which have electrified racks which are basically profiles extending vertically, fixed stably to the walls, which allow both the supporting of the shelves from the ground, in such a way that they can be positioned at a required height, and the conveying of electric current for each shelf installed, by means of dedicated electrical cables.

More specifically, the profiles have inner electric conducting elements through which is powered the lighting source positioned at each bracket. More specifically, at the attachment of each shelf to the respective profile there are connectors which allow the passage of the electrical current from the profile to the bracket.

The display units of the type just described, although they have the advantage of allowing many different vertical positions for the shelves, are not, however, free from drawbacks.

A first drawback is the unattractive appearance of the above-mentioned vertical metal profiles which are difficult to integrate, for example, in the coverings of a wooden type, such as the wood panelling which cover the walls of many shops selling articles of clothing.

A further drawback in the integration of the vertical electrified profiles with furnishings made of wood or its substitutes is given by the high risks of fire, for example due to overheating, which in some situations considerably limit the use of these furnishing solutions.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of this invention is provide an electrified furnishing structure which is able to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and which is at same time inexpensive to make, practical to use and simple to install.

A further aim of this invention is to provide an electrified furnishing structure which is compatible with wooden furniture and makes, at the same time, the display unit attractive in appearance.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the invention, with reference to the above aims, are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiments of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electrified display case comprising a structure made in accordance with this invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation view, with some parts in cross section, of the electrified display unit of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is an exploded view of the electrified display case structure according to this invention; - Figure 4 is a cross section view through the line IV-IV of Figure 2;

- Figure 5 is a cross section view similar to that of Figure 4, relative to an alternative installation.

- Figures 6, 7 and 8 are schematic elevation views of variant embodiments of a detail of the structure of the previous drawings.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

As illustrated in Figure 1 , the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety an electrified display unit comprising a structure 2 made according to this invention and designed for the display of products, not illustrated.

The electrified display unit 1 is expressly designed to be supported by and rested on a respective vertical wall, not illustrated, or, according to an alternative also not illustrated, to be supported by a base which is able to support it even if it does not lie against a respective supporting wall.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the electrified display unit 1 comprises a shelf 3 designed to receive products to be displayed, not illustrated.

Normally, the products are displayed resting on an upper surface 3a of the shelf 3.

On the shelf 3 are positioned two electrical lighting devices 4, designed to illuminate the products, not illustrated, rested on the shelf 3 itself and/or the surrounding environment.

Advantageously, the electrical lighting devices 4 comprise LEDs.

The electrified display unit 1 also comprises, for the support of the shelf 3, a bracket 5.

Variant embodiments of the invention, not illustrated, comprise, as an alternative to the shelf 3, different elements supported by the bracket 5, such as lamp structures, various furnishing accessories such as containers, mirrors etc.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the structure 2 comprises a vertical upright 6, this adjective meaning that the upright 6, in use, extends longitudinally along a direction D substantially at right angles to the ground.

The structure 2 comprises an electricity conductor rod 7 integrated in the upright 6, as described in more detail below.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated, the upright 6 comprises two side walls 8a, 8b and a bottom wall 9, all extending longitudinally according to the above-mentioned direction D.

The bottom wall 9 has a front face 9a and an opposite rear face 9b, the latter having a cavity 10 for housing the electricity conductor rod 7.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 4, in which it is shown in cross section, the conductor rod 7 comprises a body 1 1 made of insulating material and two conductor bars 12, 13 parallel to each other, each defining a respective electrical polarity.

The two bars 12, 13 are housed in respective longitudinal housings made in the body 1 1 of insulating material.

Advantageously, the two bars 12, 13 are made of a metal conductor.

A strip 14, shown in Figures 3 and 4, covers the rear and protects the conductor rod 7.

The upright 6 comprises a plurality of conductive plugs 15 interposed between the above-mentioned walls 8a, 8b, the plugs 15 being longitudinally spaced from each other along the direction D.

The plugs 15 perform the twofold task of mechanically supporting the shelf 3 and constitute an electrical connection between the conductor rod 7 and the electrical lighting devices 4 mounted on the shelf 3.

For this purpose, the above-mentioned bracket 5 integrates respective electrical conducting elements, not illustrated in detail nor described in further detail, designed to transmit electricity from the plugs 15 to the lighting devices 4.

Similarly, the connecting means of the conductor rod 7 to a relative electricity supply line are not illustrated in detail.

Each plug 15 has a substantially parallelepiped shape and a tooth designed to guarantee, in a manner not described in more detail this description, a grip for the above-mentioned bracket 5.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, each plug 15 is fixed, locked, to the side walls 8a, 8b, by means of a plurality of inserts 16.

Advantageously, the inserts 16 are cylindrical in shape and made of insulating material, such as plastic or similar materials.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, each insert 16 is designed to be inserted partially with one end in a hole 17 made in the plug 15 and partially, with an opposite end, in an equivalent hole 18 made on a side wall 8a, 8b.

The plug 15 is therefore supported bilaterally by the side walls 8a, 8b.

The bottom of Figure 3 shows the step of assembling the plug 15 on the side walls 8a, 8b.

Advantageously, the dimensions of the inserts 16 are such as to ensure, after assembling the upright 6, that the plug 15 remains spaced from the side walls 8a, 8b, that is to say, there is a gap 1 9 between the side walls 8a, 8b and the plug 15.

This gap 19 is advantageous in order to prevent contacts between the material of the side walls 8a, 8b and the plugs 15 which, as they can heat due to the passage of electricity, might also damage the walls 8a, 8b.

The inserts 16 together with the respective housing holes 17 made on the plugs 15 and 18 and made on the side walls 8a, 8b define means 20 for fixing the plug 15 to the upright 6.

The structure 2 also comprises means 21 for selective electrical connection of the plugs 15 to each of the two conductor bars 12, 13 defining the electrical polarities.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the above-mentioned means 21 for selective electrical connection comprise two blind holes 22, 23 made in each plug, the holes 22, 23 being designed to be positioned, in use, each facing one of the two conductor bars 12, 13.

The selective electrical connection means 21 also comprise a pin 24 made of conducting material inserted selectively in one of the above-mentioned holes 22, 23, to engage with electrical contact with only one of the conductor bars 12, 13.

Advantageously, with reference to Figure 4, inside the hole 23 which houses the pin 24, between the bottom of the hole and the pin 24 itself, there is an interposed an elastic element 25, for example a helical spring, which is able to push the pin 24 in contact with the conductor bar 13 to guarantee an effective electrical contact with the latter.

Again with reference to Figures 3 and 4, on the bottom wall 9 there are, at each plug 15, respective openings 26 designed to be passed through by the pins 24 made of conductive material to reach the contact with the conductor bars 12, 13.

Advantageously, the side walls 8a, 8b and bottom walls 9 are made of wood or its substitutes.

Advantageously, the plugs 15 are made of conductive metal material, for example brass or its alloys or aluminium.

Advantageously, the upright 6 is assembled connecting stably the side walls 8a, 8b to the bottom wall 9 which, once assembled, has its front face 9a facing towards the plugs 15.

The invention achieves the preset aims since, with the use of wooden materials, the conductive metal profiles are not on view; moreover, thanks to the particular assembly and layout of the conducting elements, it guarantees the making of electrified display units which is efficient in terms of safety.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the electrified furnishing structure 2 according to the invention is designed to be installed integrated in a masonry structure

27.

With reference to Figure 5, by way of example, the upright 6 is substantially surrounded by grout defining the above-mentioned masonry structure 27, appearing to the sight of the observer to be solely an outer wall of the plugs 15 as well as the longitudinal empty space between one plug 15 and the next, laterally delimited by the side walls 8a, 8b. Figures 6, 7 and 8 are respective variant embodiments of the bracket 5 described above, which are different to each other in terms of inclination and/or dimensions.

The electrified furnishing structure 2 according to the invention is also particularly versatile as the respective conductor plugs 15 are equal for each polarity and only at the time of assembly are they differentiated in terms of polarity with the insertion of the respective pin 24 made of conducting material in one of the two holes 22, 23 available.

The structural and functional features described above make the electrified furnishing element 1 made according to this invention particularly versatile and practical to use.

Reference is basically made in this description to a single bracket 5 for each shelf 3, but it must be understood that an embodiment having a greater number of brackets 5 supporting a same shelf 5, possibly long in length, clearly falls within the scope of this invention.