The invention relates to a modular furniture system, which is built up mainly of panels which may or may not be of different sizes, the panels being provided with holes into which fastening means can engage to connect the panels to each other, all in conformity with the wishes of the user. The furniture thus formed can be cupboards, with or without doors, such as clothes cupboards and bookcases, but possibly even seating furniture.

Such systems are available in many different designs. The panels are provided with holes according to a fixed pat¬ tern, so that the user or the installer has the freedom to choose the location of connection between the component panels of the piece of furniture to be made.

A first example is shown in US patent specification 3,389,666, from which a modular furniture system is known, of which the panels are provided in a number of their end edges with a series of holes, and moreover with series of holes along the edges, the holes being situated at a distance from the edge of half a thickness of the panel in question, the holes being situated within a series at a distance from each other which corresponds to the panel thickness or a multiplication thereof. The panels are connected to each other by means of pins and studs.

Another modular furniture system is known from Dutch patent application 76.10960. The furniture system disclosed in this document comprises panels, which are also provided with series of holes along the edges, the

holes being situated at a distance from each other which is equal to the thickness of the panel in question, the last holes of each series being situated at a distance from the connecting edges which also corresponds to the thickness of the panel . The furniture system according to Dutch patent application 76.10960 is commercially available under the name ip20 (registered trademark) . This furniture system comprises angular fastening hooks, which hooks comprise two legs that are mutually perpendicular, the legs having an unequal length in one design and equal length in another design.

In the design with legs of equal length, both legs comprise a series of screw holes, situated in the centre, which holes are situated at distances of ^d, d, l^d and 2d from the outer edge of the corner of the hook in question and two so-called inserting or hanging holes on the lon¬ gitudinal edges, which holes are situated at distances of d and 2d from the outer edge of the corner. The hanging holes are commonly used together with screws that have been placed beforehand in the panels in question that have to be fastened. As a consequence, assembling two panels can be effected by means of a translation movement. The hanging holes can, however, also be used as screw holes per opposedly opening pair. The screw holes are used when the fastening must take place after the panels have been joined in the desired position.

The hook with legs of unequal length is provided in the short leg with screw holes at distances of d and d, and with hanging holes at a distance of %d from the outer edge. In the long leg, screw holes are situated at distan¬ ces of d, l^d and 2d and hanging holes at distances of and 2d from the outer edge, d being 20 mm.

Yet another system is known from European patent ap¬ plication 0,644,338. The panels in this system are

provided with series of holes, situated at a distance of l ³ Ad from the longitudinal edge of the panel, the holes being situated at a centre-to-centre distance of d and the end holes of each series being situated at a distance of id from the nearest transverse edge of the panel which is perpendicular to the line of the series. The widths of the panels is given with the equation B = n.3d - d, in which n is an arbitrary integral. An angular connecting hook is part of the system as described, having two legs that are positioned mutually perpendicular, both legs being provided with series of screw holes, situated in the middle, said screw holes being situated at distances of bi , d, l^d and 2d from the outer edge of the corner. One leg is furthermore provided on both longitudinal edges with hanging holes, situated at distances of %d and l^d from the said outer edge of the corner. The other leg is provided on both longitudinal edges with hanging holes at distances of ³ A, l ^x Ad and l d from the outer edge of the corner. The furniture system described in European patent application 0,644,338 constitutes an improvement over the system according to, in particular, Dutch patent ap¬ plication 76.10960 due to the increased possibilities of application. Nevertheless, there is a demand for an even greater versatility of the furniture system, in particular with regard to the possibility of accommodating shelves and improving the (possibilities of) connections between the panels.

It is now an object of the invention to provide such a modular furniture system, for which purpose a furniture system according to claim 1 is provided.

Determining the width of the panels as it is done accor¬ ding to the invention results in the subsequent steps differing l d in width. This means that, when a panel must be connected in a horizontal position to a panel in a vertical position, for instance a shelf to a side wall

panel in a cupboard with shelves, and if the shelf is chosen one width measure smaller than that of the side wall panel with the position of the rear edges of shelf and side wall panel being the same, the front edge of the side wall panel projects 1% . d from the front edge of the shelf. The series of holes in the side wall panel is, however, situated at a distance of 2d from the front edge of the side wall panel. A supporting means, in particular a connecting element can therefore be secured on one of the series of holes in the side wall panel, so that the shelf can not only be supported at the back but also at the front, without the necessity of using special, ad¬ ditional means.

The chosen relation for the width can also be advantageous from other perspectives. This is for instance the case if the series of holes in the panels end at d from the short or width side of the panel in question and wherein the connecting elements comprise parts for supporting the lower side of a horizontally arranged panel on panels that are arranged upright at a height of n ₂ . d from the lower short side, wherein n ₂ e N. In this case, the width of the panel within the given relation can be chosen such, that in a piece of furniture the space below the bottom panel, which serves for instance as a shelf, and the floor can at least be almost entirely closed off by means of a skirting board placed between the floor and the lower surface of the lower panel, the width (then the height) of the skir¬ ting board satisfying the said width relation. As a result of the closing off of the space behind the skirting board which is thus obtained, this space is prevented from becoming a gathering-place for dust and other undesirable matter. It moreover improves the aspect of the lower area of the piece of furniture in question.

Another advantage of the given relation according to the invention is obtained in a modular furniture system,

assembled to be a cupboard, comprising a rear panel, at least two side wall panels and a front wall made up of two panels, which two front wall panels are placed against the front end edges of the side wall panels and wherein the rear panel is placed between faces defined by the inner surfaces of the side wall panels, the front wall panels with their outer end edges facing away from each other being situated in a plane, which plane divides the side wall panel in question in half and is perpendicular to the front end edge of the side wall panel in question. When, for the rear panel, n is a odd number and when for both front wall panels for n half of (n-1) of the rear panel is chosen, then the total width of the front wall panels will be 2 d - l^d more than that of the rear panel, resulting in a difference of Id, which can be settled on both side edges of the front wall panels, so that the outer end edges of the front wall panels can end up in the centre of the front end edges of the side wall panels. An advantage of this is that a central covering is obtained as yet of the front end edges of the side wall panels, while both front wall panels can connect almost exactly onto each other. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a cupboard, wherein the doors can then provide an almost perfect closure of the inner space of the cupboard, in particular against dust. The central location of the outer end edges of both front wall panels is moreover ad¬ vantageous with an eye to further lateral connections of extensions of the cupboard in question. One could think in particular of a double cupboard, with a central panel, which serves as side wall panel for both cupboard spaces located on either side. The neighbouring front wall panels of both cupboards can then connect onto each other with their neighbouring end edges.

The furniture system according to the invention is, to increase the number of mutual connecting options of the panels, provided with connecting elements, which are

formed as angular hooks, with a flat first leg and a flat second leg perpendicular thereto, wherein both legs are provided with screw holes arranged in a series situated in the middle of the leg in question, which series is perpen- dicular to the meeting line of both legs, and wherein both legs are further provided with hanging holes, which are arranged in series situated on the edges of the legs in question, which series extend parallel to the series of screw holes, wherein the hanging holes are accessible from the side for receiving a screw already placed on a panel, and wherein the hanging holes in the first leg are situated at a distance of n ₃ . %d from the outer edge of the corner and the hanging holes in the second leg are situated at a distance of V _* d + n ₄ . d from the outer edge of the corner, wherein n ₃ and n ₄ e N ₀ .

The screw holes in both legs are preferably situated at n ₅ . d from the outer edge of the corner, wherein n ₅ e N. Herein, it may be that n ₃ = 1, 2, 3, 4 and n ₅ = 1, 2, 3, 4. Preferably, moreover, n ₄ = 1, 2, 3 and n ₅ = 1, 2, 3, 4.

Further advantages and particulars of the furniture system according to the invention will appear from the following description of a number of exemplary embodiments of the furniture system according to the invention. The following is shown in:

figure 1 : a perspective view of a furniture panel accor¬ ding to the invention,

figures 2A and 2B: views of respective legs of an example of the connecting hook according to the invention;

figure 3 : an example of a number of possible connections between panels in the furniture system according to the invention, in vertical cross-section;

figure 4: a number of possible connections in the fur¬ niture system according to the invention, in horizontal cross-section;

figures 5 and 5A: a number of horizontal, cut-away views in a cupboard made with the furniture system according to the invention, wherein figure 5A shows an alternative skirting board solution;

figures 6 and 6A; alternative solutions to the lower portion of the furniture system according to the invention shown in figures 5 and 5A; and

figure 7: a schematic top view of a cupboard made with the furniture system according to the invention.

The furniture panel 1 according to the invention shown in figure 1 has a width B and a length or height L. The width and height can vary to offer the installer or user greater choice when assembling a piece of furniture.

The panel 1 has two longitudinal edges 2 and two cross edges 3 and is provided with fastening holes 4, which are arranged in two series and extend right through the thick- ness of d of the panel 1 to be accessible from both sides. Both series of holes 4 are situated at a distance of twice the thickness d of the adjacent longitudinal edges 2 and end at a distance of half a thickness d from the cross edges 3.

Figures 2A and 2B show the connecting hook 5 according to the invention, wherein in figure 2A the first leg 6 and in figure 2B the second leg 7 is shown, the legs 6 and 7 being arranged perpendicular to each other. The first leg 6 is provided with a number of screw holes 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d, arranged according to centre line M and with their centres at distances of bid, d, l^d and 2d, respectively

from the line Rl, representing the outer edge of the corner of the hook 5 and lying in one plane with the bearing surface of the second leg 7. The first leg 6 is furthermore provided on both edges with hanging holes 10a, 10b, lOca and 10d, accessible from aside, which are situated with their centre at a distance of bid, d, Ibid and 2d, respectively, from the afore-mentioned line Rl. In the first leg 6, therefore, the screw holes and hanging holes are always at a similar system distance from the line Rl.

The second leg is also provided with a series of screw holes with reference numerals 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, which are located at distances of bid, d, Ibid and 2d, respectively, from the line R2, which represents the outer edge of the corner of the hook 5, related to the second leg 7, and coincides with the bearing surface of the first leg 6. Contrary to the first leg 6, the second leg 7 is provided on both edges with hanging holes which are situated at distances of ³ Ad, Ibid and l?id, respectively, from the line R2. In both legs, the hanging holes are situated at a mutual distance of d, measured in the directions R ₁₇ R ₂ .

The screw holes 8a-8d in the first leg 6 and the screw holes 9a-9d in the second leg thus offer various as- sembling options with steps of bid . The hanging holes lOa-d in the first leg 6 and the hanging holes lla-llc in the second leg 7 furthermore offer many different assembling options, due to the combination of various bi sizes in the second leg 7 with various half d-sizes in the first leg 6.

Figures 3 and 4 show some of the assembling possibilities feasible with the furniture system according to the inven¬ tion.

Figure 3 herein shows a vertically arranged panel la, provided with a series of holes 4. These holes are situated at a centre-to-centre distance of d from each

other. By way of illustration, four panels lb, lc, Id and le have been shown at various heights, the panels being arranged horizontally and each being attached to the vertical panel la by means of connecting hooks 5.

The panel lb is situated with its lower surface at bid above the nearest hole 4 in panel la. The hook 5 is placed with the first leg 6 against the lower surface of panel lb and with the second leg 7 against the panel la. The first leg 6 is fastened to the panel lb by means of screws in the hanging or inserting holes 10a and 10c and the second leg 7 is fastened to the panel la by means of screws in hanging or inserting holes lib. Herein each time use has been made of the hanging holes on one side of the hook.

The panel lc is situated with its surface at a distance of ³ Λd from the nearest lower hole 4 in panel la. The first leg 6 is fastened to panel lc by means of screws in holes 10a and 10c and the second leg 7 is fastened to panel la by means of screws in hanging holes 11a and lie. Here, too, the hanging holes on one edge of the hook can be used.

The panel id is situated with its lower surface at a distance of bid from the nearest hole 4 in panel la. The first leg 6 of the hook 5 is now fastened to panel Id by means of screws through holes 8a and 8c and the second leg 7 fastened to panel la by means of screws in holes 9a and 9c.

Finally, panel le is situated with its lower surface at distance d from the next hole 4 located below it in panel la and is fastened with the first leg 6 to panel le by means of screws in holes 8a and 8c and fastened with the second leg 7 to panel la by means of screws through holes

9b and 9d.

The panels lb-e can thus be horizontally supported on a vertical panel in a stable manner and on four different sizes, namely bid , bid, ³ Ad and d with respect to the holes in the vertical panel.

When making horizontal corner connections, the hook of figures 2A and 2B also offers many possibilities. By way of illustration, seven different corner connections be¬ tween panels 1 have been shown here, which panels each have a thickness d and are provided at a distance of 2d from their (vertical) longitudinal edges with a series of holes 4, all as discussed in connection with figure 1. In connection A, the panel lp bears with the entire lon¬ gitudinal edge against the lateral face of panel lq. The panels lp and lq are connected to each other by means of a screw which is led through screw hole 8d in the first leg 6 of the hook 5, and by means of a screw which is led through screw hole 9b in the second leg 7. In the connec¬ tion B, the panel lr is situated at a distance of bid from the longitudinal edge 2 of the panel lq. The first leg 6 of the hook 5 is fastened to panel lr by means of a screw through one or both hanging holes lOd and the second leg 7 is fastened to panel lq by means of a screw through one or both hanging holes 11a.

In connection C, the panel Is is situated with the outer surface at a distance of ³ Λd from the longitudinal edge 2 of panel lq. Here, the first leg 6 of the hook 5 is fas¬ tened to panel Is by means of one or both hanging holes 10b and the second leg 7 is fastened to panel lq by means of a screw through one or both hanging holes lie. In connection D, the panel it is situated with the outer surface at a distance of ^d outside the longitudinal edge 2 of panel lq. The hook 5 is here fastened with first leg 6 to panel It by means of a screw through one or both hanging holes lOd and with the second leg 7 to panel lq by means of a screw through one or both hanging holes lib.

At the location of the connection E, the panel lu is situated with its outer surface at bid outside the lon¬ gitudinal edge 2 of panel Is. The hook 5 is here connected with the first leg 6 to the panel Is by means of a screw through screw hole 8c and connected with its second leg 7 to panel lu by means of a screw through screw hole 9d. At the location of connection F, the panel lv is situated with its outer surface at ^d below the longitudinal edge 2 of the panel It . The hook 5 is here connected with the first leg 6 to panel It by means of a screw through screw hole 8a and connected with the second leg 7 to panel lv by means of a screw through screw hole 9d. In connection G, the longitudinal edges 2 of the panels lu and lw meet and the hook 5 is connected with the first leg 6 to panel lu by means of a screw through screw hole 8d and the second leg 7 is connected to panel lw by means of a screw through screw hole 9d.

In the cupboard construction represented in figures 5, 5A, 6 and 6A, a number of details of the furniture system according to the invention are shown.

In figure 5, a number of horizontal panels can be seen, bearing reference numerals If, lg and lx. The panel lx is a shelf but is designed in a manner similar to that of panels If and lg and other panels according to the system. The width of panel lx therefore meets the relation B = Ibid + n ₂ . Ibid, as do panels If and lg. For panel lx, however, the number n is chosen 1 smaller than for the panels If and lg. Consequently, the longitudinal edge 2 of panel lx is situated at a distance of Ibid inside the longitudinal edge 2 of the side wall panel le. The row of holes 4 in side wall panel le, however, is situated at a distance of 2d from the longitudinal edge 2 of that panel. Conse- quently, screwed or inserted connecting supports 12 can still support the panel lx near the longitudinal edge 2 thereof, so that the panel lx can still be stably sup-

ported without additional means.

For a number of connections of the various component panels, the hooks 5 according to the invention used for this purpose have been shown, wherein it is also indicated which leg thereof is shown and through which holes screws have been led. It can be clearly seen that the hanging holes can also be used as screw holes, since the centre- to-centre distance of the hanging holes in a direction parallel to the lines Rl and R2 thereof, is equal to d.

At the lower side, the cupboard represented in figure 5 is provided with a skirting board lh, which is also a panel of which the width meets the relation according to the invention. In this case n is 1, so that the width, or more accurately the height, is 4d. There are two possible arrangements of the skirting board lh. One arrangement is shown in figure 5 and the other as cut-out in figure 5A. In figure 5, the skirting board lh is fastened such, that a small slit of bid remains open towards the floor. The skirting board lh is herein located in front of and pos¬ sibly at least partly onto the longitudinal edges 2 of the side wall panels (i.a. le) . The skirting board lh is fastened to the lower horizontal panel lg by means of another fastening hook 5, wherein the leg 7 of the hook 5 is fastened to the skirting board lh by means of a screw through one or both hanging holes lie and the leg 6 is fastened to the lower side of panel lg by means of screws in one or both hanging holes lOd.

In figure 5A, an almost dustproof construction is shown, wherein the skirting board lh is situated entirely between the lower surface of panel lg and the floor. For, the array of holes in side wall panel le and the design of the hook 5 results in the panel lg being supported with the lower surface at a distance which can be equal to the pattern measure B according to the invention. The skirting

board lh is now fastened to the leg 6 of the hook 5, that is by means of screws in one or both hanging holes 10b, while the second leg 7 of the hook is fastened to the lower side of panel lg by means of screws in one or both hanging holes 11a.

By way of further illustration, a skirting board lj with the smallest pattern measure wherein n = 0 is shown in figures 6 and 6A. The width or the height of the panel lj is therefore 2bid . The hole 4 is therefore situated at bid distance from the lower longitudinal edge and at a dis¬ tance of 2d from the upper longitudinal edge of the skir¬ ting board lj . The skirting board lj is fastened to lower panel lg in a manner which is similar to that of skirting board lh in figures 5A and 5, respectively.

Figure 7 shows a top view of a construction of a cupboard possible with the invention. The double cupboard in figure 7 is assembled from rear wall panels Ik, side wall panels 11 and front wall panels or doors lm. All panels have a width satisfying the relation B = 2bid + n . Ibid . This equation according to the invention allows for the doors to be placed in the manner as indicated, in other words with their longitudinal edge near the hinge, at bid from the outer surface of the side wall panel ll in question and at the opening with their longitudinal edges nearly touching, wherein at the location of the centre side wall panel, the neighbouring doors of the adjoining cupboards can thus also at least almost touch with their lon- gitudinal edges. When it is assumed that the width of panel Ik is 2^d + N _x . l^d and Nj is odd, then, when N2 = bi (Nl-1) is applied for the doors, the total width of the doors would be Id more than the width of the panel Ik.