FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described here concern a modular seating element such as for example a sofa, an armchair or more generally a furnishing element intended to offer support to a person in a sitting or lying position.

In particular, the present modular seating element can be assembled with at least one other modular seating element to make a seating element having a larger useful support surface, for example a sofa with two, three, four or more seats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seating elements are known, which comprise a support body, at least one seat part connected to the support body where one or more people can sit or lie down, and a backrest suitable to support the back of the person in a sitting position.

It is also known that the support body is provided with numerous components, such as for example armrests, feet, crosspieces or others, made of wood or a wood substitute material, but also of metal, reciprocally coupled to each other by means of coupling devices.

Typically, the coupling devices used to join two or more components of the seating element form a substantially immovable coupling, that is, separating the components after being joined is substantially impossible or can only be done in a complicated, cumbersome and laborious, and very often destructive manner.

In fact, among coupling devices known for seating elements, it is possible to mention glues, angle brackets, interlocking joints that cannot be disassembled, and more, that is, coupling devices that do not allow a reversible connection to be made and therefore do not allow to quickly separate the components of the support body after coupling, if not in a destructive manner.

In addition to making the assembly of the seating element very complicated, this also makes the disassembly and separation of the components equally complicated in the event that, at the end of their life, their correct disposal is required, for example in a rubbish dump.

A further disadvantage of known seating elements is that they do not allow the lining or cover to be completely removed. This constitutes a limitation because in the event that the cover should become stained or, worse still, ruined or deteriorated, the replacement procedure may require the intervention of a specialized craftsman, for example an upholsterer, with costs that are often not economically sustainable given the real or residual value of the seating element.

Often, therefore, a protective sheet is spread over the seating element, at least in correspondence with the seat part, but just as often, it is not comfortable, because it is easily subject to the onset of wrinkles or folds, and is unsightly.

Furthermore, although modular seating elements that can be coupled together to make up a more complex and complete seating element are commercially available, coupling methods are often complex and laborious, discouraging the end user from purchasing these types of seats.

Documents US-A-3,866,976, ES-A-2.262.389 and ES-U-1.049.034 describe seating elements of a known type.

There is therefore a need to perfect a modular seating element which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a modular seating element which comprises components which can be completely separated from each other.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a modular seating element which consists of a limited number of components.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a modular seating element which is easy to assemble and disassemble and light to transport.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a modular seating element which is completely removable and which allows a simple application and removal of the cover when necessary.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea. In accordance with the above purposes, the modular seating element comprises a base body and removable covers configured to at least partly surround the base body.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the seating element is provided at the front with front grooves and at the rear with rear grooves, each configured to allow the guided passage of traction and attachment elements connected to the covers as above for their selective application to and removal from the base body.

According to some embodiments, the seating element comprises a pair of shaped lateral sides that can be selectively associated with the base body. The base body is provided with lateral walls that are opposite each other, one of the shaped lateral sides being associated with each of the lateral walls, in order to define the front grooves at the front and the rear grooves at the rear.

According to some embodiments, the lateral walls have front channels and rear channels. The shaped lateral sides have corresponding front grooves and corresponding rear grooves so as to define the front grooves and rear grooves when the shaped lateral sides are associated with the lateral walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 shows a front perspective view of a modular seating element according to the embodiments described here;

- fig. 2 shows a rear perspective view of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 3 shows a front perspective view of a seating unit defined by a pair of modular seating elements of figs. 1-2;

- fig. 4 shows a rear perspective view of fig. 3;

- fig. 5 shows an exploded view of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 6 shows an exploded view of fig. 2;

- fig. 7 shows a front view of a shaped cover to cover a rear portion of the modular seating element;

- fig. 8 shows a front view of a shaped cover to cover a front portion of the modular seating element; - fig. 9 shows a perspective and schematic view of the operation to apply the cover in fig. 7;

- fig. 10 shows an enlarged detail of fig. 9;

- fig. 11 shows a perspective view from below of a modular seating element according to the embodiments described here;

- fig. 12 shows an enlarged detail of fig. 11;

- fig. 13 shows a disassembled view of a traction and attachment device.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description using the attached drawings. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative.

Embodiments described using the attached drawings concern a modular seating element, indicated with the reference number 10 in the attached drawings.

The modular seating element 10, hereafter referred to for simplicity as seating element 10, comprises a base body 11 and removable covers 16, 17 configured to surround at least part of the base body 11.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the seating element 10 is provided at the front with front grooves 18, 19 and at the rear with rear grooves 20, 21, each configured to allow the guided passage of traction and attachment devices 22 connected to the covers 16, 17 for their selective application to, and removal from, the base body 11.

In accordance with some embodiments, the base body 11 comprises a front portion 11a suitable to support one or more people in a seated and/or lying position, and a rear portion 1 lb cooperating with the front portion 1 la to possibly support the back of the seated person.

The front portion 11 a is substantially parallel to the installation plane of the seating element 10 and the rear portion l ib is angled with respect to the installation plane of the seating element 10. In particular, the rear portion 1 lb is substantially orthogonal to the installation plane of the seating element 10 and therefore to the front portion 11a. Advantageously, the rear portion 1 lb can have an appropriate inclination, for example greater than 90°, in order to increase the comfort of the seating element 10.

In accordance with possible solutions, the front portion 11a and the rear portion l ib are made in a separate body and associated with each other, for example by means of coupling devices, known in the state of the art.

In accordance with the solution shown, the base body 11 is made in a single piece, therefore the front portion 11a and the rear portion 1 lb are a continuation of each other.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the base body 11 is made of plastic material with a rotomolding process, also called rotational molding. In this way, the seating element 10, and in particular the base body 11, has a shell structure having a thickness ranging from about 6mm to about 8mm and is hollow inside, and overall is thus very light and easy to transport.

In accordance with some embodiments, the seating element 10 comprises a pair of shaped lateral sides 27, 28 able to be selectively associated with the base body 11. In particular, the base body 11 is provided with lateral walls 23, 24, opposite each other, each of which lateral walls 23, 24 is associated with one of the shaped side panels 27, 28 to define the front grooves 18, 19 at the front and the rear grooves 20, 21 at the rear.

Each lateral wall 23, 24 is associated with a front wall 25 and a rear wall 26, opposite each other.

The lateral walls 23, 24 have front channels 18’, 19’ and rear channels 20’, 2 . The shaped side panels 27, 28 have corresponding front recesses 18”, 19” and corresponding rear recesses 20”, 21”' so as to define the front grooves 18, 19 and the rear grooves 20, 21 when the shaped lateral sides 27, 28 are associated with the lateral walls 23, 24.

In accordance with possible solutions, the shaped lateral sides 27 are associated with the lateral walls 23, 24 with mechanical coupling devices such as screws, rivets, press studs or other mechanical coupling devices known in the state of the art, advantageously of the releasable type.

Each of the front grooves 18, 19 and rear grooves 20, 21 is open in a longitudinal direction to allow the guided sliding of the traction and attachment devices 22. In particular, each of the front grooves 18, 19 and rear grooves 20, 21 is open in the longitudinal direction so as to define an undercut. By undercut we mean a recess of the external surface of the seating element 10 in which the walls form a dihedral smaller than a right dihedral angle. For example, as shown in fig. 1, the front groove 18 is open in the longitudinal direction so as to define an undercut.

The traction and attachment devices 22 are suitable to slide in the front grooves 18, 19 and in the rear grooves 20, 21 and to couple with connection and support portions 34 of the base body 11. In particular, the base body 11 is provided with a support base 36 provided with the connection and support portions 34 as above, suitable to hold the traction and attachment devices 22 and to support and position the seating element 10 with respect to the installation plane.

Each front groove 18, 19 and rear groove 20, 21 has a first end 32 positioned at the top and a second end 33, opposite the first end 32, positioned at the bottom in correspondence with the support base 36. Each front groove 18, 19 and rear groove 20, 21 is therefore configured to accommodate a respective traction and attachment device 22. The traction and attachment device 22 enters from the first end 32 and exits from the second end 33 when the cover 16, 17 is applied, and enters from the second end 33 and exits from the first end 32 when the cover 16, 17 is removed, as will be shown in more detail below. Each of the traction and attachment devices 22 is connected to the covers 16, 17 with respect to anchoring points of the covers 16, 17 suitably positioned to allow their perfect application so as to prevent the formation of wrinkles or creases that would be unsightly and would also reduce the level of comfort of the seating element 10 during use.

According to some embodiments, fig. 7 shows the cover 16 to be applied to the rear portion 1 lb and fig. 8 the cover 17 to be applied to the front portion 11a. Each cover 16, 17 is suitably shaped to adhere respectively to the rear portion 1 lb and to the front portion 11a.

To guarantee the correct and precise application of the covers 16, 17, these can be equipped with auxiliary retention devices 37 such as for example elastic bands, cords, retaining rings or suchlike.

The auxiliary retention devices 37 are configured to cooperate with the traction and attachment devices 22 so as to hold the covers 16, 17 in position. In particular, the auxiliary retention devices 37 are configured to couple with the connection and support portions 34 of the base body 11.

In accordance with some embodiments, shown for example in fig. 10 and figs. 12-13, each traction and attachment device 22 comprises a guide element 22a configured to slide in the front grooves 18, 19 and in the rear grooves 20, 21 and traction and attachment elements 22b suitable to be pulled in order to apply and remove the covers 16, 17, and attached to connection and support portions 34 so as to guarantee the correct tension of the covers 16, 17.

With particular reference to fig. 9, the operation to apply the cover 16 on the rear portion 1 lb is described by way of example.

As shown, the guide element 22a of the traction and attachment device 22 corresponding to the rear groove 20 is initially inserted into the rear groove 20 from the first end 32 while, simultaneously, the traction and attachment elements 22b are positioned outside the rear groove 20, which as described above, precisely for this purpose, is open in the longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the aperture in the longitudinal direction, as defined by the undercut, has a passage gap smaller than the size of the guide element 22a which is located inside the rear groove 20 inside which it can therefore only slide. In correspondence with the first end 32 and the second end 33 the aperture in the longitudinal direction of the rear groove 20 widens to allow respectively the easy insertion and extraction of the guide element 22a.

By exerting a downward traction, for example with one hand, the traction and attachment device 22 is made to slide inside the groove 20, that is toward the second end 33 of the rear groove 20, by means of the traction and attachment elements 22b. In the same way, the traction and attachment device 22 corresponding to the rear groove 20 is made to slide as far as the second end 33 of the rear groove 21.

When the two traction and attachment devices 22 are outside the rear grooves 20, 21 through the respective second ends 33, the traction and attachment elements 22b are attached to the corresponding connection and support portions 34 of the base body 11, see fig. 12.

The seating element 10 is also provided, on the external surface of the shaped lateral sides 27, 28, with an auxiliary groove 31 configured to allow the passage and pulling of the other ends of the cover 16, 17, which only have the auxiliary retention devices 37, toward the connection and support portions 34.

According to some embodiments, the base body 11 comprises seatings 29, 30 configured respectively to position and support a seat part 38 and a backrest 39. Advantageously, the seatings 29, 30 can be hollowed with respect to the overall external surface of the base body 11 so as to facilitate coupling with the seat part 38 and the backrest 39. In particular, the seat part 38 and the backrest 39 are constrained in position respectively by the walls of the seatings 29, 30.

By seat part 38 we mean the portion of the seating element 10 suitable to support, completely or almost, the weight of the person resting on it, while by backrest 39 we mean the portion of the seating element 10 suitable to support, for example, the back of the seated person.

According to the embodiment shown, the seatings 29, 30 can be independent and separate from each other. In this case the seat part 38 and the backrest 39 are separate bodies.

In accordance with possible construction solutions, the seating 29 and the seating 30 can be communicating with each other or can constitute a single seating. In this case, the seat part 38 and the backrest 39 can be separate bodies or they can be a single suitably shaped body. In accordance with possible construction solutions, the seat part 38 and the backrest 39 can comprise a multilayer support padding, for example consisting of a first layer with springs in bags and a second layer made of foam.

In accordance with some embodiments, the seating element 10 comprises support walls 35 able to be selectively associated with the shaped lateral sides 27, 28 by means of removable connectors 40. In particular, the support walls 35, which can also be covered, function as an armrest for the seating element 10.

The support walls 35 are provided with shaped recesses 41 in correspondence with the front grooves 18, 19 and with the rear grooves 20, 21, and the connectors 40 are provided with a first connection portion 40a and a second connection portion 40b.

The first connection portion 40a is configured to be associated with the shaped recess 41 and the second connection portion 40b is configured to be associated with one of the front grooves 18, 19 or the rear grooves 20, 21.

Embodiments described here, shown in figs. 3-4, also concern a seating unit 100 comprising at least two modular seating elements 10 adjacent to respective shaped lateral sides 27, 28 and connected to each other at the front and at the rear with connectors 40 configured to cooperate in a removable manner with respective front grooves 18, 19 and with respective rear grooves 20, 21 of the two adjacent modular seating elements.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the modular seating element as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of modular seating element, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.