Weave for furniture and the like

The invention relates to a weave suitable for furniture and the like, which is assembled in the manner of first and second strip-like weave elements combined with each other by weft and warp.

There exist numerous weaves for different applications. In the known weaves the first weave elements formed as warp consist for instance of canes. The canes are interwoven with strip-like second weave elements, wherein numerous weave patterns can be manufactured by applying different weaving techniques. The patterns are usually created here by different widths, colours and also materials of the weave elements, but also for instance by applying different weaving methods. Regular, or conversely irregular, patterns can thus be obtained by skipping one or more canes with the strip-like weave elements, having the weave elements run in different directions relative to each other, or by weaving in decorations. Other weaves consist only of strip-like first and second weave elements.

The known weaves generally run in a plane whose progression is defined substantially by the canes and strands. Through the forming of the weave elements, and also as a result of the weaving method, the planes themselves acquire a more or less relief-like state. This relief is visible on both sides of the plane of the weave, which in some cases may be undesirable.

It may for instance thus be desirable that at least one of the sides of the plane of the weave has a relatively smooth structure. This could in principle be achieved by giving the weave strips a very fine form and weaving the weave accurately and in fine mesh, although the manufacture of such weaves will result in very high costs, and has an adverse effect on production speed. Furthermore, the weave pattern will always still be visible on both sides.

The invention has for its object to provide a weave, at least one side of which has a relatively smooth structure.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the first weave elements comprise a central strip and edge strips folded over to one side of the weave, these edge strips being provided with openings, and wherein the second weave elements are arranged through the openings in the first weave elements. Because the second weave elements are connected to the first weave elements on only one side of the weave, a weave is created with a relief side and a relatively smooth structure (the smooth side) on the other side. Only that side of the weave where the second weave elements are situated will display the relief structure typical for weaves. The second weave elements are not visible on the other side of the weave. The weave thus acquires a smooth appearance on this side.

In a preferred embodiment the weave is characterized in that a second weave element is arranged alternately through an opening in an edge strip and over a following edge strip of a first weave element. Not only does this create a firm connection between first and second weave elements, a typical weave structure is moreover obtained on the relief side of the weave.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that in a first weave element the openings in an edge strip are positioned offset relative to the openings in the other edge strip. The above described preferred embodiment can hereby be realized in simple manner without the first weave elements being provided with an unnecessary number of openings in the edge strips thereof.

It is further advantageous that the weave according to the invention has the feature that the central strips of two successive first weave elements are mutually abutting. A closed structure is in this way created on the smooth side of the weave, thereby giving the illusion of one plane. This embodiment variant moreover has the great advantage that the weave hereby becomes relatively wind-tight and/or transmits relatively little light.

It will be apparent that the first and second weave elements can in principle run at any angle to each other. It is however advantageous, for production engineering and other reasons, that the second weave elements run substantially at a right angle to the first weave elements. In another preferred variant the second weave elements run substantially in diagonal direction to the first weave elements.

The weave according to the invention is preferably characterized in that at least one edge strip of the first weave elements is folded back onto the central strip and is attached thereto by means of a folded seam or the like. Such a preferred variant has a further improved strength.

In yet another preferred embodiment the weave comprises second weave strips, the width of which is equal to the intermediate distance between the openings. In this way a firmly connected weave is obtained wherein the relief side has a regular appearance.

The weave can in principle take any form. The weave according to the invention is preferably embodied as flat surface. It is also possible to embody the weave as a curved surface. In yet another embodiment the weave is characterized in that the intermediate space between a central strip and the edge strips of a first weave strip is filled with a shaping and/or functional body. The shaping body can for instance be a disc-shaped strip with an arched surface, whereby the weave acquires the appearance on the relief side of a number of parallel arched strips. A similar effect can be achieved on the smooth side by tightening the second weave bodies, whereby the central strips of the first weave bodies protrude outward on the smooth side. The functional body can for instance have a light-reflective, strengthening and/or radiation-blocking function.

The first and second weave strips can in principle be manufactured from any material suitable for the purpose. It is thus possible to manufacture the weave strips from natural materials such as for instance rattan, raffia, cord, straw and the like. The weave strips are preferably manufactured from plastic, in particular from a polyolefin and/or a polyvinyl chloride. Particularly suitable polyolefms comprise polypropylene and polyethylene, wherein high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is recommended.

Further details of the invention will now be elucidated in the following description of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, without otherwise being limited thereto. In the figures: figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a first weave element according to the invention in folded-open position;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in figure 1 in partially folded position from the smooth side; figure 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in figure 1 in partially folded position from the relief side; figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in figure 1 in the situation partially provided with second weave elements; figure 5 is a perspective view of a weave according to the invention from the relief side; figure 6 is a perspective view of a weave according to the invention from the smooth side; figure 7A is a top view of a second embodiment of a first weave element according to the invention in folded-open position; and finally figure 7B is a cross-section along line AA of the embodiment shown in figure 7A of a first weave element according to the invention.

Referring to figure 5, a weave 1 is shown which can for instance be applied as windbreak. Weave 1 comprises mutually combined first weave elements 10 and second strip- like weave elements 20. These elements (10, 20) can in principle be manufactured from any material, although a plastic such as high-density polyethylene is preferred. The first and second weave elements (10, 20) are combined such that first weave elements 10 run in the warp direction X and second weave elements 20 in the weft direction Y. This can be the other way around. A weave 1 is thus obtained wherein second weave elements 20 run substantially at a right angle to first weave elements 10.

Referring to figures 1, 2 and 3, first weave elements 10 comprise a central strip 11 and edge strips 12 folded over to one side of weave 1. Edge strips 12 are provided with openings 13. The openings 13 arranged in an edge strip 13 of a first weave element 10 are preferably positioned offset relative to openings 13 in the opposite edge strip of the same weave element 10. This is shown for instance in figure 1. The openings can be arranged in any manner in edge strips 12 of first weave elements 10. Openings 13 are preferably punched into the edge strips. This is particularly appropriate when the first (and optionally also the second) weave elements are manufactured from a plastic, such as preferably polyethylene.

Weave 1 is obtained by arranging a number of first weave elements 10 with folded edge strips 12 against each other such that the longitudinal edges of central strips 11 of two adjacently positioned first weave elements 10 lie substantially abutting each other. A number of second strip-like weave elements 20 are then arranged through the openings in the folded edge strips, as shown in figure 4. In the embodiment shown in this figure a second weave element 20a is here arranged alternately through an opening 13a of a first edge strip 12a of a first weave element 10a and over the second edge strip of the same weave element 10a. Or, in other words, a second weave element 20a is arranged only through openings (13a, 13b) of one edge strip (12a, 12b) of successive first weave elements (10a, 10b). As further shown in figure 4, a following second weave element 20b is arranged only through the openings in the other edge strip of first weave elements (10a, 10b). Created in this way is a weave which is combined according to warp X and weft Y and which provides sufficient strength. Edge strips 12 of first weave elements 10 are pressed against central strip 11 by the tensile force of second weave elements 20. If desired, weave 1 can be further strengthened by folding edge strips 20 of first weave elements 10 back onto central strip 11 and attaching them thereto by means of a folded seam or the like.

Weave 1 according to the invention has a side on which the structure formed by second weave elements 20 is visible (the 'woven' side), and another side displaying a much smoother appearance. This 'smooth' side is formed by the central strips 11 of first weave elements 10 positioned adjacently of and preferably abutting each other. This 'smooth' side is visible in figure 6, while the 'woven' side is shown in figure 5. The presence of the 'smooth' side not only imparts an aesthetic quality to the weave, but also provides more strength and properties such as imperviousness to for instance wind. It is important that this imperviousness can be achieved with a relatively coarse weave structure, which can have a cost-saving and other effects.

Although reference is made to strip-like weave elements, it will be apparent that the second weave elements can take any form as long as they can be arranged through openings 13. It is thus possible for the second weave elements to form for instance a fibre bundle or a twisted fibre bundle such as a cord. Strips have the advantage of creating a relatively closed entity. This closed nature is further enhanced when the width of second weave strips 20 in weave 1 is substantially equal to the intermediate

distance between openings 13. Although weave 1 is relatively flat in the shown examples, it will be apparent that weave 1 can also be embodied as a curved surface.

Referring to figure 7 A, a second embodiment of a first weave element 10 according to the invention is shown in folded-open position. In the shown variant edge strips (12a, 12b) are provided with respective openings (13a, 13b) having a substantially rectangular form with a length 15. The second weave elements 20 (not shown) preferably have a width equal to length 15. Openings 13a on the left-hand side are positioned offset relative to openings 13b on the right-hand side. The first weave element 10 has a central strip 11 with a width 14. Central strip 11 runs here between two fold lines 17. In the cross-section along line AA shown in figure 7B of the embodiment shown in figure 7 A it can be seen that fold lines 17 are formed by providing weave element 10 with local reductions in thickness. Hereby created at the position of fold lines 17 are local weakenings around which both edge strips (12a, 12b) can easily be folded.

The weave can be used for furniture, in particular for garden furniture, but also as for instance wind-break. Many other applications are also possible. Because one side of the weave has a closed character, it is also possible to provide the weave according to the invention with shaping and/or functional bodies. These are preferably arranged in the intermediate space between a central strip 11 and edge strips 12 of a first weave strip 10. Suitable shaping bodies can for instance be lath-like structures, one side of which is convex. The bodies can also have a functional purpose, such as for instance water- impermeability, UV-resistance, providing protection against for instance x-rays and so on.