GB2182018A

GB2182018A - Cellular frameworks

Info

Publication number: GB2182018A
Application number: GB08520767A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Paul Tweddell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-20
Filing date: 1985-08-20
Publication date: 1987-05-07
Also published as: GB2182018B; GB8520767D0

Abstract

A progressively constructable cellular framework has tubular cells (9) formed from a multiplicity of planar wall elements connected together. Each cell has a longitudinal axis to which the planes defined by all the wall elements of the framework are parallel, the or each cell (9) having a base perimeter edge defined by base edges of the wall elements of the cells, the base perimeter edge of the cells lying in a plane at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the cells (9). The wall elements may be interconnected by interengaging slots (12-16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in frameworks The invention relates to frameworks and more particularly but not exclusively to frameworks for use as containers for material or articles.

According to the invention there is provided a progressively constructable cellular framework comprising at least one tubular cell formed from a multiplicity of planar wall elements connected together, the or each cell having a longitudinal axis to which the planes defined by all the wall elements of the framework are parallel, the or each cell having a base perimeter edge defined by base edges of the wall elements of the or each cell, the base perimeter edge of the or each cell lying in a plane at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the or each cell.

The framework may comprise a plurality or indeed a multiplicity of cells.

The wall elements are preferably trapezoidal in shape, the parallel edges of the wall elements lying parallel to the longitudinal axis of the or each cell.

The or each cell may have a plane of symmetry in which the longitudinal axis of the cell lies and which is perpendicular to the plane of the base perimeter edge.

The or each cell may be defined by four trapezoidal wall elements. All the wall elements may be of the same width between parallel edges and may have a base edge at the same angle to the parallel edges. The angle may be in the range 30-60 and may conveniently be 45".

One or more cells may be defined by six wall elements, the two further elements having base edges normal to the parallel edges.

There may be more than two such additional elements.

The wall elements may include slot means and the framework may be constructed by mutual engagement of the slot means of adjacent elements.

Each wall element may have one of two types of slot means, a first type having two spaced apart slots extending from the base edge and a second type having one slot extending from the base edge and two slots extending from the edge opposite said base edge.

Alternatively, the wall elements may comprise snap-fit connection means. The snap-fit connection means may comprise slots and tongues in the wall elements, the slots and tongues of adjacent wall elements engaging by corresponding nodules and recesses.

The framework may comprise hinge elements whereby the framework can be folded along a hinged line. The hinge line may be in the plane of the base perimeter.

The framework may further comprise a shelf arranged across one or more cells perpendicular to the plane of the base perimeter.

The invention further provides a framework according to the invention in combination with one or more individual containers for insertion into a cell, which container comprises side wall means and a base wall, the base wall lying parallel to the plane of the base perimeter of the cell containing the container.

By way of example, embodiments of a framework according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 includes a front and side elevation of a cellular framework; Figure 2 shows two wall elements which go to make up the framework of Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows two pairs of the elements of Fig. 2 assembled; Figure 4 illustrates the sequence of assembly of the elements of Fig. 2; Figure 5 shows alternative elements for constructing a framework according to the invention; Figure 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of wall elements for constructing a framework according to the invention; Figure 8 and 9 show alternative configurations of a framework according to the invention when needed to be free standing; Figure 10 shows a further configuration of a framework according to the invention arranged around a square;; Figure ii shows two views of a further embodiment of a cellular framework according to the invention; and Figure 12 is a perspective view of three examples of containers for use in a cellular framework according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a framework 8 is shown comprising cells 9 and is built up from trapezoidal elements of which there are two types, a male 10 and a female 11.

The male 10 has two slots 12 and 13 extending upwardly from base, angled edge 17 to half the depth of the element. The female 11 has two slots 14, 1 5 in perpendicular edge 18 of the element, the slots 14 and 15 likewise extending to half the depth of the element, and a third slot 16 extending from base, angled edge 19 slightly out of line from the slot 15 and equal in length to the slot 14.

Slots 12, 15 and 16 are of a width corresponding substantially to the thickness of the elements 10 and 11 while the slots 13 and 14 are twice as wide.

This arrangement of slots enables a continuous structure to be built up progressively, as shown in Fig. 4, from only two element shapes and a degree of rigidity is imparted.

Moreover, if the container is affixed to, for example, a wall, further cells can be added without disturbing the existing framework.

The elements 10, 11 may be made from any suitable sheet or board material, for example plastics, cardboard or plywood. It will be appreciated that the two types of trapezoidal element referred to as male and female need not share exactly the same external dimensions although in such a case, the individual cells of the framework would not be symmetrical.

Referring to Fig. 5, six different elements are shown, carrying reference numerals 20-25 inclusive. The element 20 is similar to the element 10 already described but has an additional slot 26 for fixing purposes. A bracket (not shown) would be engaged in the slot for allowing the framework to be affixed to, for example, a wall. It will be appreciated that many different types of fixing element or fixing means could be used. The element 21 is rectangular and allows formation of an additional face (as shown in Fig. 11) to provide a hexagonal cell. Elements 22 and 23, and element 25 are similar but longer than the elements 20 and 21 respectively to provide a deeper cell 9. The element 24 essentially acts as a combination of elements 20 and 22 so as to form a part of two cells, one cell being deeper than the other.

Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative arrangement for connecting wall elements, in this embodiment by means of tongues and slots. The elements may conveniently be made of plastics material, for example injection-moulded, with nodules and corresponding recesses to allow the elements to snap-fit together. Typical basic elements 30 and 31 are shown in Fig. 7.

Element 30 has four tongues 32, 33, 34 and 35 and slots 36 and 37. The element 31 has four tongues 38, 39, 40 and 41 and slots 42 and 43. The slot 43 has protruding nodules 45 which fit in corresponding recesses 46 in the ends of the tongue 32. The outward extent of the tongues 32, 35, 38 and 39 and the slots 42 and 43 are equal to the thickness of the elements while the tongues 33, 34 and 41 extend double the element thickness. The slot 36 is twice as deep as the element thickness. Thus, in combining these two elements, the tongues 33 and 34 protrude to interlock with a further tongue 35 of another element while the slots 36 and 42 are vacant to receive a tongue 41 of a fourth element.

As before, the framework is built up in this manner and deeper, larger or other elements can be made corresponding to the variations in the elements 20 to 25. It will be appreciated that other methods of snap-fitting may be used or the elements may, for example, be dove-tail jointed.

Fig. 7 also shows two triangular vertical pieces 50 and 51 which interlock by hinge pieces 52, 53 and 54 having nodules and holes similar to those described above.

Figs. 8 and 9 show how these vertical pieces 50, 51 can be arranged in the whole structure to allow a free-standing structure to be built. In transposing from the arrangement of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 9, the structure is merely folded along the centre through hinge 52. The framework of Fig. 9 with require a base of support it but could equally be hung from above.

Fig. 10 shows a framework arranged around a square by use of the vertical pieces 50, 51 and which is free standing without any special base. To make such structures, larger vertical pieces can be used as necessary for the longer sides of elements 30 and 31. It will be appreciated that a variety of different self supporting structures may be formed, either less elaborate or more elaborate than the structure shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 11 shows a framework having hexagonal cells. This arrangement merely requires additional rectangular wall elements 55 which may interlock by means similar to those described above. The rectangular elements 55 may have horizontal shelves mounted thereon for supporting articles.

Fig. 12 shows three examples 57, 58 and 59 of pots for sitting in the cells 9 and holding, for example, plants, paper clips, or, where provided with a lid, herbs. The pot 59 has four side walls 60 to 63 corresponding to the sides of the cell and a base 64 corresponding to the base perimeter edge of the cell. The pots 57 and 58 are similar but are of different depths, depending on the application required.

If the pot is to serve as a flower-pot, holes may be provided in it for drainage.

In the foregoing examples of cellular frameworks, the angle of the base edges of the wall elements to the parallel sides is 45". It will be appreciated that different angles, conveniently but not necessarily in the range 30 to 60 , may be used.

It will also be appreciated that the elements used to make up the framework may take different forms. For example, referring again to Fig. 1, a number of wall elements may form a continuous piece e.g. diagonally, 10' and 11" may be a continuous piece or horizontally, 10 and 11 or vertically 10, 11, 10' and 11'. Any number of such pieces may be continuous or whole modules may be made such as the complete array shown in Fig. 1.

The framework provided by the foregoing embodiments of the invention is adaptable to many purposes, for example for supporting plants either on a wall or in a structure on the ground, or for shelves, or in the kitchen for utensils, spices and the like. Further uses are in a cellar for supporting bottles, in a workshop for tools, components or the like or indeed in the office as storage compartments.

On a larger scale, the framework could be used as a base structure for an ornamental garden.

The framework can be free standing or hanging and can be arranged in two dimensions or three.

It will of course be understood that the pre sent invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A progressively constructable cellular framework comprising at least one tubular cell formed from a multiplicity of planar wall elements connected together, the or each cell having a longitudinal axis to which the planes defined by all the wall elements of the framework are parallel, the or each cell having a base perimeter edge defined by base edges of the wall element of the or each cell, the base perimeter edge of the or each cell lying in a plane at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the or each cell.

2. A framework as claimed in Claim 1 comprising a plurality of cells.

3. A framework as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 comprising wall elements which are trapezoidal in shape, the parallel edges of the elements lying parallel to the longitudinal axes of the cells.

4. A framework as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the or each cell has a plane of symmetry in which the longitudinal axis of the cell lies and which is perpendicular to the plane of the base perimeter edge.

5. A framework as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the or each cell is defined by four trapezoidal wall elements.

6. A framework as claimed in Claim 5 wherein all the wall elements are of the same width between parallel edges, and have a base edge at the same angle to the parallel edges.

7. A framework as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the angle is in the range 30" to 60 .

8. A framework as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the angle is 45 .

9. A framework as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8 wherein one or more cells are defined by six wall elements, the two additional elements having base edges normal to the parallel edges.

10. A framework as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the wall elements include slot means, and the framework is constructed by mutual engagement of the slot means of adjacent elements.

11. A framework as claimed in Claim 10 wherein each wall element has one of two types of slot means, a first type having two spaced apart slots extending from the base edge and a second type having one slot extending from the base edge and two slots extending from the edge opposite said base edge.

12. A framework as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the wall elements comprise snap-fit connection means.

13. A framework as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the connection means comprise slots and tongues on the wall elements, the slots and tongues of adjacent wall elements engaging by corresponding nodules and recesses.

14. A framework as claimed in any preceding Claim further comprising hinge elements whereby the framework can be folded along a hinged line.

15. A framework according to Claim 14 wherein the hinged line is in the plane of the base perimeter edge.

16. A framework as claimed in any preceding Claim further comprising a shelf arranged across one or more cells perpendicular to the plane of the base perimeter.

17. A framework as claimed in any preceding Claim in combination with one or more individual containers for insertion into a cell, which container or containers comprise side walls and a base wall, the base wall lying parallel to the plane of the base perimeter edge of the cell containing the container.

18. A framework substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in any one of Figs. 1 to 4, or in Figs.

1 to 4 as modified by Fig. 5, or in Figs. 1 and 6, or in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, or in Fig. 10 or in Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A framework as claimed in any preceding Claim in combination with a container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 12 of the accompanying drawings.