A MODULE FOR A DISPLAY CASE OF OBJECTS AND A DISPLAY CASE COMPRISING THE MODULE

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a module for a modular display case of objects and a modular display case realised with one or with a combination of a plurality of the modules.

The prior art comprises modular display cases of objects, especially book-cases, formed by a plurality of straight bars which can be assembled using fixing accessories, such as brackets, screws, nuts and bolts.

These book-cases are expandable as desired but the need for a fastening between the components according to predetermined geometries causes on the one hand a not insignificant time commitment by an installer and on the other hand a final configuration that is not modifiable in order to adapt to a correct display of the extremely variable formats that books are made of. The technical task of the present invention is, therefore, to realise a module for display cases of objects that enables obviating the technical drawbacks existing in the prior art.

In the scope of this technical task an aim of the invention is to realise a module configured so as to make up a display case that is adaptable in a versatile way to the nature, shape and dimension of the objects to be displayed.

A further aim of the invention is to realise a module for a display case of objects that is structurally simple and easy to transport and assemble for easily and rapidly composing a display case.

A not less important aim of the invention is to realise a self-supporting module, also independently usable as a display case.

The technical task, as well as these and other aims, of the present invention are attained by realising a module for a display case of objects, characterised in that it is constituted by a self- supporting wire-shaped element formed by a reinforcing bar profiled into at least three different planes.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said reinforcing bar is ribbed,

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said reinforcing bar is made in a single piece without joints.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said reinforcing bar has a constant diameter for the whole longitudinal extension thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said reinforcing bar has a diameter of between 4 mm and 50 mm.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mechanical resistance of said reinforcing bar is 500 Nw/mm ² ±15%.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said profiled reinforcing bar has a plane of symmetry.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention said reinforcing bar is made up by a succession of straight sections wherein all the adjacent sections are bent by 90° with respect to one another. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing bar comprises a three-part sequence of successive sections, a first pair of successive sections having a first end which prolongs from a first end of the three-part sequence of successive sections, and a second pair of successive sections having a first end v/hich prolongs from a second end of the three-part sequence of successive sections, said three-part sequence of successive sections being U-shaped, said first pair of successive sections being L-shaped and arranged at a side of a plane identified by the three-part sequence of successive sections, said second pair of successive sections being L- configured and arranged at said side of the plane identified by the three-part sequence of successive sections.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said first and second pair of successive sections extend along planes parallel to one another and perpendicular to the plane identified by the three- part sequence of successive sections.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said three-part sequence of successive sections and said first and second pair of successive sides exhibit parallel sections of an equal length.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing bar comprises a third pair of successive sections having a first end which prolongs from a second end of the first pair of successive sections, and a fourth pair of successive sections having a first end which prolongs from a second end of the second pair of successive sections, said third pair of successive sections being identical and coplanar to said first pair of successive sections, said fourth pair of successive sections being identical and coplanar to said second pai of successive sections.

The present invention further relates to a modular display case of objects characterised in that it comprises one or more of said modules, with possibly one or more shelves resting on and/or interposed between said one or more modules.

The module of the invention advantageously has numerous functions concentrated in it.

The module, singly or in combination with other modules, is able to accommodate objects of various formats and dimensions, even at the same time.

The range of objects that can be displayed is augmented also because of the possibility of resting the module on a rest plane in different positions, the positions creating different accommodating compartments of the objects to be displayed. The module is in fact delimited by flat faces, each of which can be stably rested on a rest plane and, according to the face of the module rested on the rest plane, accommodating compartments of the objects to be displayed are defined,

The module has a self-supporting structure and therefore functions as a column in the construction of articulated display cases. Owing to this property a plurality of modules can be superposed and/or flanked to one another in order to build modular display cases as desired without there being any need for fixing or mounting. The single module adds the further function of acting as a column to its intrinsic function of accommodating.

The great flexibility of use of the module makes it possible to detail the construction of the display case as desired, including shelves of any shape and dimension or using the actual objects to be displayed as rest surfaces if they have a flat configuration such as for example is the case with books.

The modules can have different dimensions as well as different positioning so as to further increase the number of accommodating solutions.

Owing to the characteristics and functions described in the foregoing, it is possible to very simply assemble the display case as desired, as well as modifying it and transporting it without requiring any specific fixing or assembling tool. The display case can be expanded at different times, can be dismembered into smaller independent articulated systems and is transferable in a single solution or in parts even without the need to remove the objects on display. The module therefore also functions as a container for transport of the objects.

The module is obtained by an extremely simple process which includes bending a wire-shaped element without any need for joints or welding or fastening.

The nature and geometry of the modules enables easy storage as they can be stacked by inserting a module flanked to another in order to obtain a compact stack of modules that facilitates the logistics of storage, distribution and sale. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more clearly evident from the description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the module for a display case according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the appended drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the module;

figure 2 is a lateral elevation of the module of figure 1 ;

figure 3 is a front view of the module of figure 1 ;

figure 4 is a plan view of the module of figure 1 ;

figures from 5 to 8 illustrated display cases obtained from various possible combinations of the modules.

With reference to the above mentioned figures, a module is illustrated for composition of display cases of objects, denoted in its entirety by reference numeral 1.

The module 1 is constituted by a self-supporting wire-shaped element 2 formed by a reinforcing bar, pre ferably ribbed, of the type used in the construction industry as concrete reinforcing bars.

The wire-shaped element 2 is profiled in at least three different planes A, B, C.

In particular, the wire-shaped element 2 is profiled in two planes A, B parallel to one another and a third plane C perpendicular to the preceding planes A, B.

The profiled wire-shaped element 2 defines a module 1 having flat faces.

The wire-shaped element 2 has a symmetrical construction with respect to a plane of symmetry E which in this particular case is parallel to and equidistant from planes A and B.

The wire-shaped element 2 is advantageously constituted by a ribbed reinforcing bar made in a single piece without joints.

The ribbed reinforcing bar has a constant diameter for the whole longitudinal extension thereof. The ribbed reinforcing bar has a diameter comprised between 4 mm and 50 mm and a mechanical resistance of 500 Nw/mm ² ±15%.

The morphological and structural characteristics of the ribbed reinforcing bar give the module a high load capacity and at the same time anti-slip and anti-scratch properties thanks to which the objects are solidly retained in position without any risk of their getting damaged.

In the illustrated example the ribbed reinforcing bar has a succession of straight sections wherein ail the adjacent sections are bent by 90° with respect to one another.

In particular the ribbed reinforcing bar comprises a three-part sequence of successive straight sections 3, 4, 5 configured in a U-shape which extends in plane C, a first pair of successive straight sections 6, 7 configured in an L-shape in plane A and a second pair of successive straight sections 10, 11 configured in an L-shape which extends in plane B.

The first pair of successive straight sections 6, 7 has a first end 8 that prolongs from a first end 9 of the three-part sequence of successive sections 3, 4, 5.

The second pair of successive straight sections 10, 1 1 has a first end 12 that prolongs from a second end 13 of the three-part sequence of successive sections 3, 4, 5.

The first pair of successive sections 6, 7 and the second pair of successive sections 10, 1 1 are arranged on a same side of the plan identified by the three-part sequence of successive sections 3, 4, 5.

The parallel sections 3, 5, 7, 11 of the three-part sequence of successive sections 3, 4, 5 and of the first pair of successive sides 6, 7 and the second pair of successive sides 6. 7, 10, 1 1 have an equal length.

The ribbed reinforcing bar comprises a third pair of successive straight sections 14, 15, developing in plane A, and has a first end 16 which prolongs from a second end 17 of the first pair of successive sections 6, 7, and a fourth pair of successive straight sections 18, 19, developing in plane B, having a first end (20) which prolongs from a second end (21) of the second pair of successive sections (10, 1 1).

The third pair of successive sections 14, 15 is identical to the first pair of successive sections 6, 7, and the fourth pair of successive sections 18, 19 is identical to the second pair of successive sections 10, 1 1.

Lastly, the ribbed reinforcing bar comprises a fifth pair of successive straight sections 22, 23, developing in plane A, and has a first end 24 which prolongs from a second end 25 of the third pair of successive sections 14, 15, and a sixth pair of successive straight sections 26, 27, developing in plane B, having a first end 28 which prolongs from a second end 29 of the fourth pair of successive sections 18, 1 .

The fifth pair of successive sections 22, 23 is identical to the first and the third pair of successive sections 6, 7, and 14, 15.

The sixth pair of successive sections 26, 27 is identical to the second and the fourth pair of successive sections 10, 1 1, and 18, 19.

The ribbed reinforcing bar therefore forms a module 1 having six flat faces perpendicular to one another, of which a first face is delimited by the three-part sequence of successive sectionss 3, 4, 5, a second face is delimited by the first, third and fifth pair of successive sections, a third face is delimited by the second, fourth and sixth pair of successive sections, a fourth face is delimited by the sections 4, 14, 18 and by the free end of the sections 23, 27, a fifth face is delimited by the sections 6, 22. 10, 26, and a sixth face is delimited by the sections 23, 27.

The series of pairs of successive sections of the ribbed reinforcing bar which project from the opposite ends of the three-part sequence of successive sections 3, 4, 5 define two symmetrical serpentines with respect to the plane of symmetry E and having a series of bends that delimit the accommodating compartments 30 parallel to the flat face of the module 1 defied by the three-part sequence of successive sections 3. 4, 5.

The dimension of the accommodating compartments 30 is delimited by the length of the sections of the ribbed reinforcing bar and can therefore be planned.

In other embodiments of the invention not illustrated herein the ribbed reinforcing bar can be profiled with the straight sections parallel to plane C and having different respective lengths and/or with the straight sections perpendicular to plane C having different relative lengths and/or with one or more angles that are not right angles.

In other embodiments of the invention not illustrated herein the ribbed reinforcing bar can be profiled with the curved sections.

The module 1 can itself constitute the display case or can be used for the composition of a display case as illustrated in figures from 5 to 8. which represent only some of the infinite possible combinations.

The display case 31 is composed by modules 1 stacked on one another and/or flanked. The lower modules 1 are rested on a rest plane 32.

A flat shelf 33 is interposed between the stacked modules 1 which is arranged parallel to the rest plane 32.

With a display case 31 having a plurality of modules 1 , the shelves 33 can extend between two or more stacks of modules 1 so as to create a connecting bridge between them.

There is advantageously no obligation to maintain a predetermined orientation between the modules of different stacks of modules 1 and between modules 1 of the same stack of modules 1. This freedom of combination and orientation of the modules 1 result in an infinity of possible embodiments for the display case 31.

In particular, according to the face of the module 1 which rests on the rest plane 32 or the shelf 33, the accommodating compartments 30 can be used differently for the accommodation of the objects 34,

In this way it is always possible to find, for the display case 31 , a configuration which gives advantage to the array of identical or different objects 34 on one or also more levels of display. The module for a display case as conceived has a very broad versatility of use and can also be used for functions entirely different from those indicated up to now simply by adapting the dimensions thereof to the specific application. For example, the module can be used as a support element, in particular as a leg of a table or as a seat frame in which a seat element is specially inserted and retained horizontally between the bends of the reinforcing bar and in this last case the intrinsic elasticity of the constituting material gives the frame a damping property which increases comfort for the user.

The module of the present invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; further, all the details can be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to needs and the state of the art.