TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support and/or containment element for articles, such as a basket or a drawer or a similar element, to be used in the furniture sector to organize the space inside a compartment delimited by the walls of a furniture piece, as well as a furniture piece comprising at least one pair of said support and / or containment elements stacked one above the other and movable relative to the aforementioned internal space.

STATE OF THE ART

Furniture pieces comprising at least one drawer or one basket or a similar extractable element are known. Said furniture pieces also comprise guide means of the sliding type for supporting and moving the drawers.

With reference to drawers or baskets of the extractable type, it can be observed that they can comprise a plurality of plates mutually coupled to define a base and lateral walls which, after being connected to each other, delimit a space for housing objects or articles in general.

The realization of these drawers requires the production of the individual parts that make up the drawer and, subsequently, their assembly.

Generally, said drawers are made from plates of wooden chipboard material, which are suitably cut until the individual portions to be mutually assembled are obtained. In order to contain the overall weight of such a drawer, generally, the base can be made starting from a plate of different material with respect to that of the lateral walls.

With the same material, the mechanical strength of the single portions of the drawer depends mainly on the thickness of the starting plates from which the individual components are obtained.

There is a need in the sector for the availability of a support and containment element for articles, such as a drawer, a basket or a similar element, which has a reduced weight compared to that of traditional solutions, even in the context of a solution characterized by a high mechanical resistance.

In the furniture sector, the use of drawers made of metallic material rather than of plates of wooden chipboard material is known.

However, these drawers have a higher weight compared to a high mechanical strength, as well as being affected by oxidation / corrosion phenomena that make them unsuitable for use in environments subject to humidity, such as a kitchen.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is therefore to improve the state of the art in the furniture sector, in particular with reference to a support and containment element for articles, configured for example as a drawer or a basket or a similar element, of the type which can be extracted from a furniture piece.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a support and containment element for articles which has a high mechanical strength even in the case of a solution with a reduced overall weight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support and containment element for articles which is easy to manufacture, and requires shorter production times than those of conventional solutions.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a support and containment element for articles usable in the furniture sector is provided for the realization of a drawer or a basket or a similar element of the type which can be extracted from a furniture piece, according to claim 1.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a furniture piece is provided comprising at least one pair of said extractable support and containment elements, stacked together, according to claim 7.

The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the detailed description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a support and containment element for articles, such as for example a drawer or a basket or a similar element, as well as a furniture piece comprising at least one pair of such support and containment elements, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a top view of a support and containment element for articles according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a front and top perspective view of a furniture piece comprising a pair of support and containment elements stacked together, positioned inside the furniture piece;

figure 3 is a rear and bottom perspective view of some components of the furniture piece of figure 2;

figure 4 is a perspective front, top and exploded view of some components of the furniture piece according to the present invention;

figure 5 is a rear, bottom and exploded view of the components of the furniture piece of figure 4.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached figures, a support and containment element for articles is indicated as a whole with 1.

In the accompanying figures and in the following description, reference will be made to a support and containment element 1 for articles configured as a drawer or basket, which has an elongated shape.

It is understood that the support and containment element 1, hereinafter referred to for the sake of brevity as a containment element 1, can be produced in a different manner and have, for example, a square or substantially square plan or a width dimension also double the size of the depth, without any limitation.

The invention also relates to a furniture piece comprising at least one pair of containment elements 1 of extractable type stacked one on top of the other in a mutually spaced position, as will be better described in the following.

With reference to the containment element 1 illustrated in the attached figure 1, it has a base 2, lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"' for containment connected to the base 2 to delimit a space 4.

The lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"' delimit at least one upper opening 5 for access to the interior of the space 4.

It is observed that the base 2 and the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"' are made in a single body.

For example, the base 2 and the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"' can be made by means of a single mould forming process.

The containment element 1 has an upper portion 6 at which a stiffening element 7 is comprised.

The stiffening element 7 is associated with at least one pair between the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"' in order to give greater mechanical resistance to the containment element 1 near its upper portion 6.

The at least one stiffening element 7 increases the overall mechanical strength of the containment element 1 within a solution with a low overall weight.

The at least one stiffening element 7, in fact, can be configured as a rod-like element or as a frame or as an open frame lacking at least one section.

With reference to what is illustrated in the accompanying figures, the at least one stiffening element 7 is configured as a frame, the vertices of which are connected to the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"'.

The at least one stiffening element 7 therefore cooperates with the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"' to give a high mechanical resistance to the containment element 1 and to avoid that the same, in use, is subjected to unwanted deformations.

In particular, it is observed that the at least one stiffening element 7 and at least one pair of the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"' are mutually constrained permanently. More precisely, according to a preferred version of the present invention, the at least one stiffening element 7 is at least partially incorporated in at least two of the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"'. With reference to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the at least one stiffening element 7 is partially incorporated at its vertices inside the upper portion 6 of the containment element and, therefore, of the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"'.

It is intended that further embodiments of the present invention are possible, in which further portions of the at least one stiffening element 7 can be incorporated into one or more of the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"'.

The at least one stiffening element 7 can be made of a material having a greater mechanical strength than that of the material with which the walls 3, 3', 3", 3"' are made.

According to a version of the present invention, the at least one stiffening element 7 can be made of metal or a metal alloy.

According to a further version of the present invention, the at least one stiffening element can be made of a composite material having a high mechanical strength, at least to bending.

According to yet another version of the present invention, not illustrated in detail in the accompanying figures, the containment element 1 can comprise a plurality of stiffening elements configured as rod-like elements, which are connected at both ends to a respective lateral wall 3, 3', 3", 3"'.

It is observed that a containment element 1 according to the present invention is able to fulfil the intended purposes, with particular reference to the possibility of realizing a resistant structure, with a low weight compared to that of extractable drawers or baskets of conventional type.

The containment element 1, in fact, is a single body which, at its upper portion 6, comprises at least one stiffening element 7 designed to confer a high mechanical strength to the overall structure of the containment element 1 itself, although without causing an excessive increase in weight of the same.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the support and containment element 1 can have at least one opening 8 along at least one of the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"'. The at least one opening 8 can be delimited at the top by the at least one stiffening element 7.

The at least one opening 8 may be shaped so as to allow lateral access to the interior of the space 4.

This aspect is particularly useful if the support and containment element 1 is used as an extractable element inside a column furniture piece, thus facilitating access inside the space 4 even in the case where the support and containment element 1 is positioned at the top with respect to the base of the furniture piece itself.

As said, another object of the present invention is a furniture piece comprising at least one pair of support and containment elements 1, indicated as a whole with 9 (see figure 2).

With reference to figure 2, the furniture piece 9 is partially shown, to facilitate viewing of the support and containment elements placed therein.

The furniture piece 9 is shown as a column-type furniture piece, which has a reduced width dimension with respect to the height dimension.

According to this version, the support and containment elements 1 have an elongated shape so as to be able to be housed inside said furniture piece 9.

It is understood that the furniture piece 9, and consequently the support and containment elements 1 associated thereto, may be shaped differently, even though they fall within the same inventive concept of the present invention.

The furniture piece 9 comprises a base portion 10, two opposite vertical lateral walls 11, a rear wall 12 in use, a front wall 13, in use, and an upper wall 14 associated with each other to delimit an internal volume 9'.

The front wall 13, which in figure 2 is illustrated by a discontinuous line, is movable with respect to the other walls 11, 12, 14 and the base 10, to allow the extraction of the support and containment elements 1 associated therewith.

As said, the furniture piece 9 comprises at least two support and containment elements 1 arranged one above the other, in a spaced position, and connection means 15 for connecting each of said support and containment elements 1 with the front wall 13. The furniture piece 9 further comprises guide means 16 for the sliding connection of each of the support and containment elements 1 with at least one of the vertical lateral walls 11.

The guide means 16 are configured to allow the sliding of the support and containment elements 1 along a horizontal direction H, so as to allow it to be extracted / inserted with respect to the furniture piece 9 (see figure 2).

The connection means 15 can comprise at least one plate element 17 which has a first portion 18 for connection to an inner surface of the front wall 13 of the furniture piece 9 and a second portion 19 opposite to the first portion 18, configured for the engagement of at least one section of a respective one among the support and containment elements 1.

More in detail, the first portion 18 has through openings 18', engageable by screws, not shown in detail in the accompanying figures, to determine the connection of the plate element 17 to the internal surface of the front wall 13. The through openings 18' are configured to allow a certain degree of adjustment in the positioning and in the connection of the plate element 17 to the front wall 13.

According to a version of the present invention, the through openings 18' can be configured as slots that extend along a vertical direction or along a horizontal direction.

According to a further version of the present invention, the through openings 18' can have a circular configuration.

The second portion 19 of the plate element 17 can be shaped as a hook or substantially as a hook and has a seat 20 for engaging at least one section of a portion of a respective one among the support and containment elements 1.

In practice, to connect the plate element 17 to a respective support and containment element 1, the second portion 19 engages with one of the lateral walls 3, 3', 3", 3"'.

Preferably, the second portion 19 engages at least a portion of the front wall 3' in use of the support and containment element 1. According to a further aspect of the present invention, the furniture piece 9 comprises a rod-like element 21 which mutually connects the support and containment elements 1 present inside the furniture piece 9.

In this regard, each of the support and containment elements 1 comprises, in correspondence with a wall 3"' in rear use, clamping means 22 suitable for housing and securely retaining at least one section of the rod-like element 21. According to a version of the present invention, the clamping means 22 can comprise a pair of brackets 23 which depart from the lateral wall 3"' in the rear use of the support and containment element 1 as well as bolts 24 or similar elements suitable for connecting each other at least one section of the rod-like element 21 and the brackets 23.

The brackets 23 are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart at a distance such as to allow the introduction, between them, of at least one section of the rodlike element 21.

According to a version of the present invention, the screws of the bolts included in the clamping means 22 are through-associated by means of special openings made along the brackets 23 and along the rod-like element 21, for their mutual connection.

According to a further version of the present invention, the screws of the bolts included in the clamping means 22 engage only the respective through openings provided along the brackets 23. According to this version, the screws allow the brackets 23 to be mutually connected, deforming them during movement towards each other so as to determine a clamping action of the brackets 23 against the rodlike element 21.

According to a version of the present invention, the rod-like element 21 is configured as a flat bar.

The rod-like element 21 allows to mutually connect the support and containment elements 1 provided in the furniture piece 9, keeping them aligned to each other. Furthermore, it is observed that the rod-like element 21 facilitates the assembly of the individual support and containment elements 1 in the furniture piece 9 since it allows them to be kept at a predefined distance, with a correct alignment.

In this regard, it is noted that the individual support and containment elements 1 are aligned perpendicular to the rod-like element 21 and, consequently, parallel to each other.

The guide means 16 comprise a fixed element 24, which can be associated with the internal surface of a vertical lateral wall 11 of the furniture piece, and a movable element 25 which can be associated with a lower portion of a respective support and containment element 1 present in the furniture piece 9.

The fixed element 24 and the movable element 25 are reciprocally associated in a sliding manner along the horizontal direction H.

It is understood that the number of guide means 16 corresponds to the number of support and containment elements 1 present in the furniture piece 9.

Each support and containment element 1 can have a housing 27 at the bottom of the base 2 for retaining at least a portion of the movable element 26 of the guide means 16.

According to a version of the present invention, the housing 27 can be configured to allow a shape fit with the movable element 26 of the guide means 16.

The fixed element 25 has suitable through openings 28 to allow connection with the internal surface of at least one of the vertical lateral walls 11 of the furniture piece 9.

It is intended that further embodiments of the furniture piece 9 are possible, comprising a pair of guide means 16 associated with opposite sides of each support and containment element 1.

This embodiment is used in the case where the support and containment element 1 is configured as a drawer and has a large width dimension, therefore requiring a support near both opposite lateral sides.

To realize the assembly of the support and containment elements 1 in the furniture piece 9, the individual support and containment elements 1 are joined together by means of the rod-like element 21, thus placing the individual support and containment elements 1 at the desired distance and aligned parallel to each other. Then, the movable portion 26 of each of the guide means 16 is associated with a respective lower housing 27 of a support and containment element 1.

Then, the individual fixed elements 25 of the guide means 16 are connected to the internal surface of a vertical lateral wall 11 of the furniture piece.

Then, to connect the front wall 13 to the individual support and containment elements 1, the plate elements 17 are connected against the internal surface of the front wall 13 of the furniture piece, positioning the individual plate elements 17 substantially at the same distance at which the support and containment elements 1 are positioned.

To connect the front wall 13 to the support and containment elements 1 it is sufficient to face the individual seats 20 of the plate elements 17 on respective front walls 3' in use of the support and containment elements 1, mutually engaging them.

With reference to the foregoing, it can be observed that the furniture piece 9 according to the present invention can comprise a greater number of support and containment elements 1 with respect to what is illustrated in the accompanying figures, without departing from the inventive concept of the present invention. The presence of a rod-like element 21 for the mutual connection of the individual support and containment elements 1 allows to keep the same aligned during their actuation in extraction / insertion with respect to the furniture piece.

Moreover, by previously connecting the individual support and containment elements 1 by means of the rod-like element 21, it is possible to accurately establish the connection points to which the guide means 16 must be positioned, in the context of an easy assembly solution.

A furniture piece 9 according to the present invention therefore appears to be a solution of flexible use.

The support and containment element as well as the furniture piece comprising a pair of said support and containment elements according to the present invention described above are susceptible of numerous modifications and variations within the scope of the protection of the following claims.