GLUELESS CARCASE

Abstract

A glueless carcase and method for glueless connection of wall elements of a carcase, in particular a furniture item are disclosed. The carcase includes at least three wall elements, which can be connected via coupling means arranged at their end faces and thereby form a closed frame. A groove and a tongue are arranged as coupling means in the region of the end faces which can be brought into engagement with each other in the interconnected state of the wall elements. The tongues, which extend in longitudinal direction of the end faces can be divided comb-like into individual tinge sections which are arranged at a distance to each other. The method for connection provides for a relative movement of the engaged wall elements, wherein the wall elements are displaced in opposite direction in a locking direction, which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the end faces.

Description

The invention relates to a glueless carcase, in particular for a furniture item according to the features in the preamble of patent claim 1, and a method for glueless connection of at least two wall elements of a carcase according to the features of patent claim 28.

Pieces of furniture predominantly form a part of the Interior design of mostly closed rooms within which they serve as interior furnishings. Besides seating furniture and tables in particular so-called container furniture items have an open carcase which can be closed by a door when needed.

The carcase forms the mostly self-supporting basic element of such a furniture item, which as basic structure is assembled from individual wall elements. The individual wall elements include the side parts and also for example the floor and the lid. In order to stabilize the mostly instable form of the carcase the carcase is provided on the rear side with a rear wall, which in form of a pane defines the position of the individual wall elements relative to each other.

Depending on the requirement, the carcase is either placed directly onto a floor surface or is fixed for example on a wall region. Hereby the carcase serves mostly for storing and receiving items, wherein the carcase can for example be closed via a door fixed on the carcase.

It is known in the state-of-the-art to join the individual wall elements for example by gluing or in a manner allowing disassembly. The end faces of the wall elements are connected by an appropriate adhesive connection in most cases with a border-side region of the side surfaces of further wall elements. This is mostly accomplished by using wooden dowels. Similarly, the end faces can also be connected via a miter.

On the other hand demountable constructions are realized in that the individual wall elements are coupled with each other via furniture connectors. Besides connecting fittings, which are used in the internal region of the carcase, invisible carcase connectors have become established. These have a threaded bolt which is screwed into an end face or a side surface of the respective wall elements via its threading. A threadless section of the threaded bolt has a bolt head, which corresponds with a flat cylindrical eccentric connector.

The eccentric connector is rotatably received in a further wall element where it serves for receiving the bolt head. For this purpose a bore, which traverses the wall element from its end face, has to be arranged in a region of the wall element surrounding the eccentric connector through which bore the threaded bolt is inserted. Via a corresponding recess and a circumferential groove of the eccentric connector the bolt head is engaged when the eccentric connector is rotated, whereby the threaded bolt together with the wall element coupled to the bolt is clamped against the wall element, which carries the eccentric connector. If needed this connection can be released again by rotating the eccentric connector in order to disassemble the carcase.

Glued connections offer a very durable possibility to interconnect individual wall elements. Due to the required arrangement of wooden dowels for positional fixing and transmission of thrusting forces and the required drying time, such connections require a correspondingly long production time. In addition a very thorough working is required in order to obtain a durable connection without undesired contaminations of the visible surfaces of the carcase with an adhesive for example glue. Moreover, the carcase has to be destroyed when it becomes necessary to disassemble the carcase.

On the other hand the use of furniture connectors offers a simple possibility for the glueless production of such a carcase. If needed the carcase can simply be disassembled via the releasable connectors and can for example be assembled again at a different location. However, such furniture connectors place corresponding requirements on the confectioning of the wall elements and also the additional effort during assembly of the carcase. In particular the time required for assembly increases the costs for production. Thus, an economic production of furniture items is hard to achieve. In addition there is the risk of possible over-twisting of connectors, which for example leads to stripping of an internal threading within a wall element.

DE 20 2009 008 825 U1 discloses a possibility for assembling two panel-shaped elements which can be interconnected via couplers which are arranged at the end faces of the elements. One of the elements includes a tongue arranged on the end face, which tongue corresponds with a groove, which is arranged in the opposing end face of an element to be connected.

In order to create a self-locking connection it is provided to configure the tongue with a recess, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the tongue so that at least a partial region of the tongue can move elastically. The thus elastically configured region of the tongue also has a coupling rail, which in a connected state of the two elements engages in a channel, which is arranged in the groove. The thus formed undercut prevents that the two mated elements detach from each other.

This creates a glueless furniture plate connection, which enables a fast mounting of elements to be interconnected. A possible release of the connection, however, is only possible with considerable effort, wherein the risk of destruction of the spring elastic portion of the tongue cannot be excluded. Further, the elements to be interconnected have to be configured with corresponding effort and precision in order to create the necessary tension between the elements to be connected, to realize a gap-free connection as much as possible. In addition the respective end faces have different connectors so that a defined order and a coupling of predetermined elements must occur.

In light of the above, the glueless connection of elements for producing a carcase leaves room for improvements.

The present invention is based on the object to set forth a glueless carcase and a method for glueless connection of its parts, wherein the carcase is to enable a simple production of its parts, which can be connected in a very short time and can also be disassembled easily if needed.

According to the Invention, the solution of this object is a glueless carcase, in particular a furniture item with the features of patent claim 1, and a method for the glueless connection of at least two wall elements of a carcase with the features of patent claim 28.

Accordingly, the glueless carcase includes at least three wall elements, which can be interconnected via coupling means which are arranged in the region of their end faces. In their interconnected state, the wall elements form a closed frame.

According to the invention a groove and a tongue are arranged as coupling means in the region of the end faces of the wall elements. The groove and tongue which are thus arranged in the region of a respective end face of each wall element are provided to be connected with a groove and tongue arranged in the region of the end face of a further wall element. The respective grooves and tongues in the connected sate of the wall elements can be brought in engagement with each other.

The coupling elements present in the region of the end faces can for example be arranged directly on the end faces. As an alternative thereto at least one of the coupling elements can be formed on the end face or a side surface of the wall element in the region of the end face. In a further embodiment, the coupling means of at least one wall element can be arranged on a side surface of the wall element in the region of its end face.

The particular advantage is a simple and robust construction of the coupling means arranged on the wall elements. The coupling means can be formed on the respective wall elements themselves. Thus, advantageously the respective tongue can form a one-piece integral component of the wall element, which is formed from the wall element itself. In this context the groove can also be formed by a corresponding material removal from the respective wall element itself.

In an alternative embodiment, the coupling means can also be formed by a material which is different from that of the wall elements.

The term different material within the context of the invention also means a same material, which however has different material properties. Thus the material properties can for example manifest themselves in different strength values. The wall elements can also be formed for example from wood or a wood material while the coupling elements arranged at the end faces of the wall elements are made for example from plastic.

Of course it is also possible that only a portion of the coupling means is formed from a material different from that of the wall elements. Thus the tongue can for example be made of a different material, which is subsequently connected with the end face of the wall element, while the groove is worked out of the wall element itself.

In particular in the case when the coupling means are formed partially from the wall elements themselves, this creates a very economic possibility of the glueless connection of wall elements to a carcase.

A further advantage is that the wall elements are configured mutually compatible. In other words, no attention has to be paid during assembly that only certain end faces of different wall elements can be interconnected. Thus advantageously all wall elements have a unitary contour of their coupling elements in the region of their end faces, which contour respectively is formed by a groove and a tongue. Beside a very simple and economical production, different wall elements can thus be interconnected in the region of their end faces, wherein the respective grooves and tongues come into engagement with each other.

The coupling means, which are arranged in the region of each one of the end faces can have dimensions which are different from each other. In other words, for example the groove can have a depth, which is greater or smaller than the length of the tongue. The length and the depth hereby depend in each case on the greatest distance of the region of the coupling means to the plane of the end face.

The same applies to the extent of the coupling means, which extends perpendicular thereto. Thus the width of the groove arranged in the region of the end face can be smaller or greater than the height of the tongue arranged on the same end face.

The particular advantage of the different configuration of depth and height and/or height and width of the coupling means is that this allows precisely adjusting the coupling means to the existing space conditions in the region of the end faces of the wall elements. In particular in the case of an end face, which is slanted relative to the side surface of the wall element, the wall element extends wedge-shaped on its end side whereby the region available for arranging the coupling element is reduced. In this context only little material in which the groove can be formed, remains for a groove, which is arranged close to the thus wedge-shaped end region of the wall element. Here the depth of the groove can be correspondingly adjusted to the space conditions in order to enable an optimal use of the material strength of the wall element.

Of course the length and depth and/or height and width of the coupling means can correspond to each other if needed.

Wall elements within the context of the invention relate to plate-shaped components, which in the interconnected state are suited to form a closed frame for a carcase. Of course these plate-shaped components can also have recesses and openings if needed so that the component itself is limited to only some regions of the wall element. Thus the wall elements can for example be sidewalls and a bottom or a lid. In the case of a polygonal carcase, which for example has five or more corners, correspondingly more wall elements are interconnected so that they enclose an angle of less than 180° between themselves. In this case multiple wall elements form a sidewall which is angled in itself.

Of course as plate-shaped components the wall elements can have a straight but also curved and stepped cross-sections. The individual wall elements can also have at least one cross-sectional thickness change, wherein the different cross-sectional thicknesses can transition abruptly or via corresponding rounded portions into each other.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims 2 to 27.

According to this at least one of the end faces of the wall elements is inclined relative to the side surface of the wall element at an angle different from 90°. The advantage is that in this way two interconnected wall elements can enclose any desired angle between themselves in that at least one has a miter at its end face. Generally, both end faces of two wall elements to be connected can have a miter, so that both end faces are inclined at different angles relative to the side surfaces of the respective wall element.

In the case of an incline of the end face relative to the site surface of the wall element, the coupling means are preferably arranged on the end face itself at an angle different from 90°.

As an alternative thereto at least one of the end faces of one of the wall elements can be inclined at an angle of 90° relative to the side surface of the wall element. In other words in this case the end face and the side surface of the corresponding wall element extend perpendicular to each other.

The required coupling means can either be arranged on the end face or on a side surface of a wall element. Preferably the wall elements to be interconnected differ regarding the arrangement of their coupling means. Thus the coupling means of a first wall element can be arranged on the end face of the wall element, whereas the second wall element to be coupled with the first wall element has corresponding coupling means on one of its side surfaces.

As a result of the perpendicular configuration between end face and side surface of at least one of the wall elements to be coupled, the end face of the wall element, which has the coupling means can thus abut one of the side surfaces or on one of the end faces of a further wall element. This depends on the arrangement of the coupling means on the wall elements to be coupled. The end face of the wall element to be coupled can also be inclined relative to one of its side surfaces.

One of the wall elements can also have a perpendicular configuration between at least one of its end faces and one of its side services, wherein the required coupling means are arranged on one of the side surfaces in the region of an end face. In this case the wall element to be coupled would preferably abut with its end face on the side surface of the thus configured wall element, wherein it has corresponding coupling means on one of its end faces.

Depending on the configuration of the coupling means these can of course also be distributed to one of the interfaces and one of the side surfaces of the wall element. In this case the coupling means thus extend in the region of one of its end faces over two of its surfaces, more particularly between an end face and a side surface.

Further at least one of the coupling means can have a recess, which corresponds with a projection of another coupling means. It is provided that in the interconnected state of the wall elements the projection advantageously can engage at least in regions in the recess.

In an alternative configuration it is proposed that the respective tongues each have a projection. The projection can for example be a thickening of a region of the tongue. In this region the respective tongue then has a greater height relative to the surrounding regions which height can be configured as stepped for continuous incline of the projection. On the other hand, the respective projection can also extend over the entire length of the tongue in particular over the entire length of the individual sections of the tongue along their longitudinal extent, for example in the form of a rail.

In this context it is further provided that the respective grooves can have a corresponding recess. This recess can for example extend over the entire length of the groove, which extends in longitudinal direction of the end faces or it can also be only formed in regions of the grooves.

The projections of the tongues are provided so as to correspond with the recesses formed in the respective grooves. In the Interconnected state of individual wall elements the respective projection engages hereby at least in regions in the recesses formed in the grove.

The invention provides that the tongues of the wall elements can extend in the longitudinal direction of the end faces. Beside the continuous configuration of the tongues the tongues are advantageously divided into individual tongue sections, which are arranged at a distance to each other. In other words a continuous tongue is interrupted at even distances so that the respectively remaining regions of the respective tongue remain in the form of individual tongue sections.

The particular advantage is that the carcase, which is to be completed from individual wall elements, can be assembled easier and faster because for example the lid does not have to be inserted over the entire depth of the respective wall element into their coupling means. Thus the interrupted tongues which are thus divided into individual tongue sections enable a comb-like joining of the coupling means of the individual end faces which subsequently are locked with each other by a displacement in longitudinal direction of the end faces.

In this context it is particularly advantageous that the distance of the tongue sections to each other corresponds at least to a length of the tongue sections measured in longitudinal direction. In other words a length of the tongue sections measured in longitudinal direction of the end faces corresponds at most to the distance of the tongue sections to each other. As a result the respective tongue sections of a wall element can be passed between the tongue sections of a further wall element without problems and can be inserted into the groove of the further wall element. Of course individual tongue sections can also have a smaller length compared to their distances so that the tongue sections can be passed through between the tongue sections of a neighboring wall element without tension.

Generally the individual distances of the tongue elements to each other and also the respective lengths of the tongue sections themselves can differ from each other. Thus the length of the individual tongue sections of a wall element can be adjusted to the expected loads. The same applies to the distances of the tongue sections to each other, which can differ from each other along the end faces of the individual wall elements.

Besides the different configuration of the distances of the individual tongue elements to each other and the respective lengths of the tongue sections of an individual wall element, the tongue sections may also only be configured differently per wall element. In other words the coupling elements of two wall elements that are to be brought into engagement with each other can differ from each other so that for example the one wall element has long tongue sections with respective small distances between the individual tongue sections, while the other wall element has correspondingly shorter lengths of its tongue sections, wile at the same time the tongue sections have large distances to each other.

Thus the tongue sections, which for example are arranged in the region of the border sides of the wall elements, can have a different length compared to a length of the tongue elements that lie between them. For example the outer tongue sections can be configured longer while the remaining tongue sections have a smaller length. In this way regions of the cross-section of the tongue sections, which serve for force transmission between the interconnected wall elements, can be adjusted to the expected loads.

When the projection and also the recess extend out of the plane of the individual coupling elements these come into a securing contact with each other via a corresponding undercut. As a result unintended pulling out of the tongue from the respective grooves is effectively prevented or at least made more difficult. When the tongues are interrupted into individual tongue sections, the recesses preferably have such an undercut, which is only formed in the region of the tongue sections in the grooves.

Because each of the wall elements has a groove and also a tongue in the region of its end faces, this undercut is thus limited to the sections of the grooves in the region of the tongue sections. This allows for example moving the end faces of two wall elements toward each other so that initially the respective tongue sections are guided past each other comb-like and are introduced into the groove of the respective opposite wall element. As a result of the subsequent locking movement in the longitudinal direction of the end faces, the individual tongue sections of the wall elements to be interconnected come to be situated above each other, wherein their projections respectively engage into the recesses of the grooves and thus behind the undercut.

Depending on the configuration, the undercut can of course also not be formed in the region of the tongue sections but instead between the individual tongue sections within the grooves. As a result, the assembly of the individual wall elements to a closed frame of the carcase would occur such that the regions of the end faces of two wall elements are moved toward each other so that their respective tongue sections slide past each other. As a result of the subsequent locking movement which occurs in longitudinal direction of the end faces, the individual tongue sections are displaced, wherein their projections engage respectively in the recesses which are arranged between the tongue sections of the opposite wall element and thereby behind the undercut of the recesses.

The individual tongues are delimited by at least two opposing flanks. Preferably one of the flanks has an even extent, while the flank opposing the even flank has a slant. The resulting advantage is predominantly a facilitated insertion of the respective tongue into the groove provided therefore. The slant which is preferably arranged head-side of the tongue, causes a reduction of the cross sectional height of the tongue. As soon as the tongue is at least partially inserted into the groove, the slant serves as lead-in chamfer, which facilitates the overall assembly of the carcase. The slant itself can for example have a straight cross section or rounded cross section.

The flanks, which delimit each of the tongues, can extend parallel to each other. As an alternative the opposing flanks of the individual tongues can enclose an angle between each other. In principle the respective configuration of the individual flank does not have to extend evenly over the entire width of the tongue but may also be limited to individual regions. In other words the respective tongue can be configured to have a cross-section with only a region of one of its flanks being straight, while the remaining regions on the same side of the straight flank can for example have round portions or steps. The round portions and steps can for example be thickenings of the tongue, but may also cause a thinning of the tongue in the opposite direction.

In order to enable a glueless connection of the wall elements to each other which is as invisible as possible, the coupling means arranged in the region of the end faces of the wall elements are preferably configured so that they do not extend up to the respective border sides of the individual wall elements. Thus it is provided within the scope of the invention that the grooves and tongues are spaced apart from border sides of the wall elements, which border sides extend between the end faces of the Individual wall elements. Thus the individual tongues and tongue sections do not fully extend up to the border of the wall elements so that the tongues and tongue sections are situated within the region of the separating plane between the wall elements so as to be invisible also in the assembled state of the carcase. In other words the respective border region of the individual wall elements, which remains standing in the region of the border sides of the wall elements, serves for shielding the individual coupling elements and with this the glueless connection from view, thereby concealing it.

In order to cover the coupling means of the wall elements at their respective opposing border regions in this manner, the respective tongues are preferably divided into individual tongue sections. The underlying reason is that for example a lid, which completes the frame of the carcase, which is closed in itself, cannot be inserted over the entire depth of the individual wall elements into the wall elements, because for example the respective groove is covered and with this does not reach up to the border sides of the wall elements.

When the furniture pieces to be produced are not intended to be freestanding, the covering of the coupling means in the aforementioned manner may also be limited to a visible side of the respective carcase. Hereby the coupling means in the form of grooves and tongues are only spaced apart from one border side of the individual wall elements, while they extend past the opposing border side. This enables the complete insertion for example of a lid from this side into the already interconnected wall elements.

The locking movement mentioned in the context of the invention means generally a movement of at least two wall elements relative to each other which are in contact with each other via their end faces and whose coupling means engage with each other at least in regions. In the relative movement at least one of the wall elements is displaced in longitudinal direction of its end face or side surface which is in contact with the other wall element so that the coupling means of the two wall elements which are in engagement with each other slide past each other in longitudinal direction of the end faces.

In order to facilitate the engagement of wall elements to be connected to each other it is provided that the respected widths of the individual grooves is adjusted at least sectionally to the geometry of the tongues. Thus the grooves have preferably a width between the tongue sections, which exceeds a width of the grooves in the region of the tongue sections.

The width of a groove means in the present case the distance, which lies between the flanks of the groove, which delimit the groove.

In other words the width of the respective groove can advantageously be widened between the tongue sections so as to facilitate the reception of the tongue in particular the tongue sections of a further wall element. The thus widened width of the grooves between the tongue sections can correspond to at least a height of the opposing wall element which height is composed of the tongue sections and their projections. This ensures that also the tongue sections that have a projection, which necessarily leads to a thickening of the respective tongue section, can be introduced into the groove of the opposing wall element without problems.

Because this widening of the groove relates only to a subsection, the groove between these widenings has a correspondingly smaller width. In exactly this subsection of the groove, which is provided with a smaller width, the tongue section, which has the projection is displaced via the locking movement of the wall elements to be interconnected. Hereby the projection engages behind the undercut, which is formed by the recess in the groove, as already explained above.

As an alternative the width of the groove can of course also be widened in the region of the tongue sections, whereas the groove between the tongue sections has a smaller width. This is in particular the case when the wall elements to be interconnected are moved towards each other with their end faces so that their respective tongue sections slide past each other when entering the opposing groove. Also in this case the actual connection is caused by the locking movement of the wall elements. Hereby the insertion of the tongue sections, which have at least one projection, into the groove of the opposing wall element is facilitated in the same manner.

While the individual wall elements initially form the closed frame of the carcase, the carcase can be closed at at least one of its still open sides. In a conventional manner the carcase can in this case have at least one rear wall, which besides fulfilling functional tasks also improves the aesthetic properties of the carcase. The purely functional tasks include predominantly the protection of a wall region in front of which or onto which the carcase, in particular the furniture item, is arranged at its site of destination. Thus the wall region is prevented from being damaged or contaminated when retrieving or introducing items or for example clothing items.

Further the rear wall can be configured so that it serves as esthetic element, which enables the freestanding installation of the carcase, in particular the finished furniture item, in the room. Hereby the rear wall also serves as visible surface when looking at the rear side of the carcase, which visible surface has to satisfy corresponding requirements.

In any case the rear wall serves for stabilizing the closed frame of the carcase, which without the rear wall has an instable, because pivotal, connection between the individual wall elements. Use of the rear wall causes the individual wall elements to be fixed in their position relative to each other. The rear wall functions as a pane, which stabilizes and stiffens the otherwise pivotal frame.

Thus the rear wall can for example be placed at least onto regions of the border sides of the dosed frame of the carcase and be connected via the border sides with the wall elements. Besides an adhesive connection, the rear wall can for example also be connected with the wall elements via pin-like connection means such as nails or screws. Of course a combination of the mentioned items is also possible.

Preferably the wall elements have a groove, which in each case extends within the frame and within which the rear wall can be arranged. The width of the groove is adjusted to the respective thickness of the rear wall in order to receive the rear wall without play as far as possible. The groove can extend as far as into the corner regions of the dosed frame, so that a circumferential groove is formed inside the carcase. Hereby it is required that the rear wall is inserted into the present grooves of the individual wall elements prior to closing of the frame, prior to closing of the frame for example by a lid. The underlying reason is that a retroactive insertion of the rear wall into this groove would not be possible.

Of course the respective grooves can be spaced apart at least in regions from the corner regions of the dosed frame on the inner sides of the carcase, i.e., of the wall elements. Hereby the rear wall to be used has at least one set back and with this not fully formed, corner region, whose size depends on the portion of the wall elements remaining between the grooves and the corner region. This configuration enables to retain a corresponding opening in the corner regions in the rear wall in which no esthetically interfering groove is arranged in the wall elements.

Principally the rear wall can be configured so that its dimensions correspond to the inner dimensions of the carcase plus the respective depth of the grooves introduced into the individual wall elements. As a result, after closing the frame the rear wall is guided almost without play with regard to a movement of the rear wall within its plane.

As an alternative in the mounted state the rear wall can be spaced apart from at least one wall element, i.e., it's side surface. In this case at least one wedge element is provided which can then be arranged between this side surface of the wall element and the rear wall. The wedge element bridges the gap resulting between the rear wall and the side surface of a wall element, wherein the wedge element fixes the rear wall in its position which is otherwise movable within the remaining grooves. In other words the otherwise movable rear wall is fixed in position by the wedge element and thereby spaced apart from the one side surface of the wall element.

The at least one wedge element allows building up a corresponding tension between the rear wall and at least two opposing wall elements, which tension is transmitted into the Individual corner regions and with this to the coupling means of the interconnected wall elements. In particular the slanted configuration of the coupling means relative to the end faces strengthens the connection between the coupling means.

Principally at least one of the wall elements can be configured shorter in the region of the groove provided for the rear wall. Hereby this one wall element springs back behind the plane of the groove of neighboring wall elements. The advantage is that the rear wall can still be inserted into its provided position inside the carcase even when the carcase has already been completed to form a closed frame. The portion of the one wall element, which springs back hereby provides access to the grooves introduced into the remaining wall elements into which grooves the rear wall can be retroactively inserted. In combination with the wedge element the rear wall can then be fixed in its provided position within the carcase.

When using such a wedge element it is considered particularly advantageous that the wedge element has a latching nose. The latching nose is provided for securing the wedge element in its provided position against unintended falling out or pulling out. The latching nose in the arranged state of the wedge element engages behind the rear wall, while it is arranged between a sidewall of one of the wall elements and the rear wall. Of course the latching nose can also engage behind a region of the wall element for example into a recess in order to be fixed in its position. Depending on the configuration this recess can also be the groove in the wall elements, which anyway serves for receiving the rear wall.

Regarding the coupling means arranged on the wall elements it is provided that in particular the even flanks of the tongues can respectively transition into even flanks of the grooves. In this way the groove and tongue arranged in the region of a respective end face of the wall elements form a seamless transition into each other, wherein the even flank of the tongue evenly transitions into an even flank of the groove. Hereby the even flanks and the even flanks of the caulking means extend in the same plane relative to the end faces. Although the even flanks of the tongues may be offset relative to the even flanks of the grooves, the previously described even transition requires only a small construction height of the respective coupling means and thus simplifies production.

The grooves or the tongues can be slanted relative to the end faces or the side surfaces of the wall elements. In other words the respective groove and/or the respective tongue on the end face or the side surface of at least one of the wall elements does not extend in the direction of a normal of the end face or the side surface, but are/is slanted relative to this normal. Hereby the groove as well as the tongue extend respectively in a slanted plane, wherein the groove and the tongue extend in a common slanted plane. The groove and/or the tongues enclose between their respective slanted plane and the end face or the site surface an angle which is different from 90°.

The slanted plane of the coupling means on one of the interfaces or the side surfaces is defined by the surfaces which transition from the respective tongue, in particular their tongue sections into the groove, i.e., by the plane in which they extend.

In particular the slanted configuration of the coupling means relative to the respective end faces or the side surfaces results in the fact that the wall elements which are interconnected to form a dosed frame are coupled with each other so that the frame has a connection which is in itself dosed. Thus for example a carcase, which is formed from four wall elements, can be produced so that initially a bottom is connected with two sides. In order to now complete of the latter to form a closed frame, a corresponding lid is attached to the already interconnected wall elements in that the lid is inserted from a border side with its coupling means into the coupling means of the sides. Hereby the lid is placed with its coupling means border side onto the already connected wall elements, wherein it's coupling means are aligned with the coupling means of the already connected wall elements. Subsequently the lid can be inserted with its coupling means over its entire depth into the coupling means of the already connected wall elements, wherein all groves and tongues come into engagement with each other.

As a result of the slant of at least one of the coupling means relative to an end face of a side surface, an economic and durable use of the material strength of the wall element is possible. In other words in particular as a result of a targeted combination of slant and length as well as depth and/or width and height of at least one of the coupling means the available space on one of the end faces or site surfaces can be optimally used. In particular an end face, which is slanted relative to a side surface of the wall element, under certain circumstances only provides a small wall thickness in regions.

As a consequence the targeted adjustment of the possible configurations discussed above a durable and sufficient arrangement of the coupling means can occur in spite of the small dimensions.

Besides the slanted configuration of the coupling means relative to the respective end faces or side surfaces of the wall elements, the coupling means can have further features in order to improve the coupling of the individual wall elements to each other.

As already explained the respective slanted planes of the coupling means can enclose an angle different from 90° between them and the end faces of the wall elements. In particular when the coupling means are for example arranged centered on the respective end faces, their slanted plane on both sides of the coupling means encloses an angle between themselves and the end faces. Because this angle is in each case different from 90°, this angle towards one of the sides has to be between 0° and 90°, while towards the other side of the slanted plane the angle is between 90° and 180°.

Preferably it is provided that the angle enclosed between the slanted planes of the coupling means and the end faces is in each case smaller or greater than the angle which corresponds to the slant of one of the end faces relative to the side surface of the wall element. In other words it is provided that this slant of the end faces relative to the side surfaces of the wall elements is different from the slanted plane relative to the end faces.

As result advantageously a dependence is shown between the slant of the end faces and the coupling means arranged on the end faces, which dependence enables an ideal connection between the wall elements that have been completed to form a frame.

An advantageous refinement provides that the angle enclosed between the slanted planes of the coupling means and the end faces is smaller or greater than twice the angle which corresponds to the slant of one of the end faces relative to the side surface of the wall element. In other words the slant of the respective slanted plane is thus different from twice the slant of the end faces relative to a side surface.

The advantage is a further improvement of the connection between the wall elements that have been completed to form a frame, which thus as a glueless carcase results in an easy assembly, while at the same time providing the greatest possible holding forces relative to each other.

In particular the slanted configuration of the coupling means relative to the side surfaces results in the fact that a corresponding tension between the side surfaces to be connected is created, which leads to a most durable and almost gap free connection of the individual wall elements.

In an alternative embodiment it is provided that the tongue sections of two interconnected end faces are slanted relative to each other. Thus their respective slanted planes enclose an angle of smaller than 180° between themselves. The slant of the tongue sections relative to each other comes to bear when the end faces of the wall elements to be connected are oriented parallel to each other and lie above each other. In the thus coupled state of the wall elements to be connected the tongue sections of the respective wall elements have a slant relative to each other, wherein the respective slanted plane of the tongue sections of the one wall element encloses an angle between itself and a slanted plane of the other tongue sections of the opposing wall element which is different from 180°.

Of course the orientation of the slanted planes different from each other so as to enclose an angle different from 180° is not limited to a connection on the end face of the wall elements. Thus the mentioned different slant of the coupling means, which are in engagement with each other can generally be present independent of the position of the coupling means on the respective wall elements. If needed the coupling elements of two wall elements to be brought into engagement with each other only have to be differently oriented.

As a result the coupling means have already within one of the corner regions of the carcase a different and with this nonparallel displacement plane on which the respective tongue sections can be introduced into the respective grooves. Of course the grooves orient themselves so as to be oriented in correspondence with the irritation of the respective tongue sections.

The particular advantage is that the tongue sections of neighboring wall elements, which are slanted in such a manner relative to each other, engage behind each other already after the locking movement so that when assembling the carcase a self-holding coupling is established already when producing a single corner connection. As a result of the orientation of the grooves in correspondence with the tongue sections, the grooves are also slanted relative to each other. As a result the grooves have undercuts at least in regions, which correspond with the also slanted tongue sections.

In an alternative embodiment of the general inventive idea it is provided that the coupling means, which are situated in different corner regions of the closed frame, enclose an angle between their respective slanted planes. In other words none of the coupling means has an orientation in the individual corner regions of the carcase, which extends parallel to the orientation of the coupling means in another corner region. Thus the respective slanted planes of the individual coupling means have a nonparallel extent relative to the coupling means situated in other corner regions of the closed frame.

As a result none of the coupling means has a possible direction of displacement for releasing the connection of the wall elements, which corresponds to the possible direction of displacement of the coupling means in other corner regions. Due to the respectively slanted orientation of the individual coupling means relative to the individual end faces in connection with the respectively nonparallel orientation relative to each other a connection of the wall elements is created which prevents an unintended disassembly of the carcase after closing the frame.

Because each individual wall element has a predetermined direction of displacement of its coupling means in order to engage with the coupling means of another wall element, which direction of displacement, however, does not correspond with the direction of displacement of the other wall elements, consequently even a combination of two or more wall elements cannot occur at the same time out of the remaining frame which is composed of further wall elements.

In an advantageous embodiment the respective coupling means can have at least one recess which transitions into a projection, which is arranged immediately adjacent to this recess. The recess as well as the indentation in this case correspond with a further recess and indentation of another coupling means. As a result of this arrangement of projection and Indentation on the respective coupling means, at least one projection engages in the interconnected state of the wall elements at least in regions of a recess. Preferably both projections of the coupling means to be interconnected engage in respectively one of the two recesses.

The recess and the projection are respectively arranged together on the respective coupling means. In this way the recess and/or the projection can either be arranged on the tongue or in the groove. Of course the indentation and/or the recess can also be situated in a transition region between a groove and a tongue.

The arrangement of the recess and the projection immediately adjacent each other are to be understood within the context of the invention that these are not spaced apart by a web or an otherwise configured region of the respective coupling means but rather directly border each other and with this directly oppose each other.

The particular advantage is a locking contour, which is formed by a recess and a projection, and can be coupled with a locking contour of a further coupling means which is also formed by a recess and an indentation.

As a result of the coupling of the locking contours, which are thereby in engagement with each other, the wall elements to be interconnected are coupled with each other in the form of groove and tongue so that an unintended release of this connection is effectively prevented. Thus the recess has at least one undercut behind which the respective projection engages at least regionally.

Preferably the respective locking contours are configured identical.

Particularly preferably the respective locking contours in the assembled state of the wall elements are configured point symmetric relative to each other. As a result the projection and the recess of a locking contour arranged on a first coupling means can be reflected via a point reflection by hundred 180° onto the locking contour of a second coupling means which is in engagement with the first coupling means.

The locking contours, which are formed by a recess and a projection, can be configured so that they already come into a holding engagement by insertion of the coupling means into each other in the direction of extent of the tongues, in particular of the tongue sections. Hereby the wall elements can be connected with each other against a resistance resulting from the locking contours, which have been moved close to each other, which resistance has to be overcome with a corresponding force. For this for example a region of the respective projection for the recess can be configured elastic or spring elastic in order to enable mutual engagement of the locking contours. In this case plastic deformation between the locking contours, which may lower or even destroy the durability of this connection, should be avoided.

Preferably the locking contours from a projection and a recess are configured so that they are connected to form a durable connection by a relative displacement of the engaged coupling means in the direction of the end faces of the wall elements. This applies in particular to the configuration in which the tongues are divided into individual tongue sections. Hereby the respective projection of the coupling means is first brought into alignment with the recess assigned to it by inserting the coupling means into each other so that a relative sliding movement of the wall elements in a locking direction, which extends parallel to the end faces of the wall elements, is sufficient to laterally displace the projection into the recess.

In a further embodiment the projection and/or the recess can also have a slanted or wedge-shaped configuration. Hereby the recess and/or the projection have at least one region with an extent that is not parallel to the end face or the side surface of the respective wall element. The advantage is that this results in an increasing tensioning of the locking contours with increasing insertion of projection and recess into each other, as a consequence of which at least one end face of the wall elements to be connected to each other is pressed against another end face or side surface.

In an advantageous refinement of the locking contour the recess and the projection can have a contour, which in cross-section is S-shaped. The S-shaped extent has the advantage that the rounded configuration of the locking contour resulting therefrom does not pose increased demands on the materials used for producing the wall elements. This applies to the manufacturing of the locking controller triangular as well as to their intended purpose because the loads resulting therefrom can in each case be absorbed and transmitted over a large surface without tension peaks which may overload or damage the locking contour.

As an alternative thereto the recess and the projection can also form a contour with each other, which has a Z-shaped cross-section. In other words the locking contour is in this case configured triangular, wherein the projection and the recess have a common slanted surface which transitions into each other. In contrast to the S-shaped configuration, pointed tapered regions of the locking contour result in this case, the advantage of which can is a surface, which is preferably level and as large as possible for forming an undercut. This places increased demands on the material used for producing the wall elements to enable a durable locking contour.

Of course the wall elements can have regions with increased density and/or strength, which are preferably formed on the coupling means in order to enable a most durable and if needed finely structured configuration of the locking contours.

The locking contour, which is formed by a recess and a projection, can be arranged on one side of the tongue or deeply in the base of the groove. Preferably, the locking contour is configured centered relative to the coupling means. In this configuration a transitional region of the locking contour, which extends between a high point of the project and a low point of the recess, intersects the respective plane of the end faces of the wall elements.

The advantage is a complete point symmetry of the coupling means to be interconnected together with the locking contours. The required point reflection corresponds to a rotation by 180° about a center of symmetry which lies in an intersecting point between the end faces of the Interconnected wall elements and the mutually facing abutting flanks of the tongues of the coupling means.

The transitional region between the high point and the low point of a locking contour can have a level surface section. The surface section can in particular in the Z-shaped locking contour reach exactly from the low point of the locking contour to the high point thereof. On the other hand the even surface section in the S-shaped locking contour may be limited to only the region between its high point and Its low point.

The advantage of the even surface section is a plane contact surface, which is as large as possible between the locking contours, whereby the holding force to be transmitted can be transmitted over a large surface and results in low surface tensions. Also for the production of the locking contours the even surface section offers a clearly defined region, which is associated with high precision during manufacture.

Preferably the even surface section and the slanted plane of the coupling means of a wall element can enclose an angle between themselves. This ensures that the even surface section and the slanted plane of the coupling means do not extend parallel to each other.

The advantage is a correspondingly great undercut within the engaged locking contours, which overall has a positive effect on the durability and the load bearing capacity of the connection between the wall element.

With regard to a cross section, the locking contour, which has in each case one projection and one recess, is delimited by the coupling means toward one of its respective sides by a flank of the tongue and toward the other side by a groove flank of the groove. In an advantageous embodiment the flank and the groove flank are both configured even, wherein they extend relative to the slanted plane of the coupling means in planes that extend in different directions. Thus the flank and the grove flank extend on different planes, which lie respectively on different sides of the slanted plane.

The advantage in this case is that the respective locking contour, which extends between the flank and the groove flank, which respectively extend on different planes, is configured as large as possible. Thus in particular the respective recess can have a corresponding depth of its low point without weakening the coupling means in an undesired manner. For this purpose the plane adjacent the locking contour, which adjoins the recess, is preferably elevated relative to the other plane.

The present invention discloses a very simple possibility for producing a glueless carcase and it's required wall elements, which can be produced and assembled and disassembled again in a very short time.

In particular the configuration of the coupling means in the region of the end faces of the wall elements, which remains the same along the circumference, results in the fact that besides a simplified production, the coupling elements do not require attention to a particular sequence of assembly in particular when completing the carcase. Thus the end faces of the individual wall elements can be connected with all further wall elements provided that these have the required dimensions for forming a dosed frame.

The “mother-father-elements” known in the state-of-the-art, which respectively have different configurations of their coupling means on the individual end faces, have the disadvantage that during their assembly generally the orientation of the respective coupling means has to be taken into account. Wall elements that may be held in the wrong orientation consequently first have to be rotated into the right orientation in order to be able to be connected with other wall elements. Beside the time required therefore, production efforts are also increased.

The orientation of the individual coupling elements shown in the invention in addition creates a simple connection, which is produced during completion of the closed frame.

In the following a solution according to the invention for glueless connection of at least two wall elements of the carcase is shown.

The solution is a method for glueless connection of at least two wall elements of a carcase, in particular for a furniture item. Hereby the wall elements to be interconnected are initially moved towards each other for example via their end faces until the coupling means in the form of grooves and tongues, which are arranged in the region of the end faces of the wall elements, engage in each other. The wall elements that are in engagement with each other are then displaced in a locking direction, which extends parallel to a longitudinal direction of the end faces, via a limited relative movement in opposite directions.

The advantage is that the wall elements to be interconnected in this case do not have to be connected with each other via a movement that is directed toward a slanted plane of the coupling means. This measure known from the state of the art requires in most cases overcoming a holding force, which subsequently secures the interconnected wall elements against unintended release. In other words a resistance has to be overcome first in this case in which for example a region of the coupling means is elastically displaced in order to correspond with an undercut after reverting to its original shape in the connected state of the wall elements. In order to release such a connection again correspondingly high forces are required which regularly lead to the destruction or at least weakening of the further connection possibility of the thus disconnected wall elements.

In this context it is provided that during the movement of the wall elements relative to each other in locking direction a projection, which is respectively arranged on the coupling means, engages in a recess which is also arranged on the coupling means.

The particular advantage is hereby that the wall elements are first moved in close proximity to each other without significant resistance, whereupon the actual, in particular durable connection between the wall elements occurs via the locking movement in the locking direction. In this way the parts of the coupling means, which have an undercut, in particular the respective projection, only come into engagement with a corresponding recess when the wall elements are moved relative to each other. In this way initially no resistance has to be overcome which overall enables a material saving type of connection.

On the other hand, the release of such a connection also occurs via a movement of the interconnected wall elements relative to each other against the locking direction, whereby the engagement of the projection and the recess is terminated, whereupon the grooves and tongues, which are in engagement with each other can be pulled apart without problems.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way of exemplary embodiments schematically shown in the Figures. It is shown in:

FIG. 1 a carcase according to the invention in a perspective view;

FIG. 2 a partial section of a wall element with coupling means according to the invention in a sectioned view.

FIG. 3 the wall element of FIG. 2 in the coupled state with a further wall element in the same view;

FIG. 4 the wall element of FIG. 1 in a greater partial section in a perspective view;

FIG. 5 the wall element of the preceding Figures in an alternative configuration of its coupling elements in the same view;

FIG. 6 a further configuration of a corner region of the carcase according to the invention in a sectional view;

FIG. 7 a refinement of the wall elements of FIG. 6 in the same view;

FIG. 8 an alternative configuration of a corner region of the carcase according to the invention in a sectional view;

FIG. 9 a refinement of a corner region of the carcase according to the invention in the same view;

FIG. 10 an alternative configuration of the corner region of FIG. 9 in the same view;

FIG. 11 a further alternative configuration of the wall elements of FIG. 3 in the same view;

FIG. 12 a detail of the configuration of the wall elements of FIG. 11 in a perspective view;

FIG. 14 a further configuration of a corner region of the carcase according to the invention in a sectional view;

FIG. 14 a variation of a corner region of the carcase according to the invention in a sectional view;

FIG. 15 a section through a carcase according to the invention;

FIG. 16 a schematic representation of an alternative configuration of the wall elements in a perspective view;

FIG. 17 a further alternative configuration of the wall elements in the region of the coupling means in a sectional view;

FIG. 18 a modified configuration of the partial section of a wall elements of FIG. 17 in the same view;

FIG. 19 a section of the wall element shown in FIG. 18 in connection with other wall elements in the same view;

FIG. 20 a further embodiment of the wall elements in a sectional view and

FIG. 21 a variant of the connection region of the wall elements of FIG. 20 in the same view.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a carcase 1 according to the invention. The carcase 1 includes four wall elements 2, which in the form of two sides as well as a bottom and a lid form a closed frame. For reasons of clarity coupling means 3 which connect the wall elements 2 in the corner region 1a of the carcase 1 are shown, wherein the coupling means reach up to the border sides 2a of the wall elements 2.

The wall elements 2 are in contact with each other in the corner regions 1a of the carcase 1 via their end faces 2b. The coupling means 2 extend in each case in a longitudinal direction x of the end faces 2b, in a here not shown manner, so that the end faces 2b as well as the coupling means 3 arranged thereon extend between the border sides 2a of the wall elements 2. The predominant visible portion of the carcase 1, which in the instant case is open, is formed by the respective side surfaces 2c of the wall elements 2.

FIG. 2 shows a border region of a wall element 2. This view illustrates that the coupling means 3, which are arranged on the end face 2b, are formed by a groove 4 and a tongue 5. The end face 2b itself is in this case slanted relative to it's side surfaces 2c in the form of a miter at an angle which is different from 90°. In the present case the angle is 45°.

The tongue 5 and has an even flank 5a which faces the groove 4, and which seamlessly transitions into a groove flank 4a of the groove 4, which groove flank 4a also extends in the same plane.

The tongue 5 is delimited by the even flank 5a and a further flank 5b. The flank 5b, which opposes the even flank 5a of the tongue 5, has a chamfer 6. In the present case the chamfer 6 is configured rounded so that the flank 5b, which has the chamfer 6 has overall an arched extent. The chamfer 6 in particular facilitates the sliding into each other of two wall elements 2 to be connected because the slant 6 causes a thinning of the tongue 5 towards its end 7.

FIG. 3 shows the border side section of the wall element 2 shown in FIG. 2 in connection with a further wall element 2 which together form one of the corner regions 1a already shown in FIG. 1 of the here not further shown carcase 1. The coupling means 3 of both interconnected wall elements 2 have the same configuration. The difference between the coupling means 3 of the interconnected wall elements 2 is that they are configured rotated by 180° about an intersecting point S of the respective plane of the touching end faces 2b and even flanks 5a of the tongues 5. In the present case the planes of the end faces 2b and the planes of the even flanks 5a, which cross each other in the interesting point S, form a right angle with each other.

In this view and when considering FIG. 2 it becomes clear that the wall elements 2 can be interconnected so that their coupling means 3, i.e., the respective groove 4 and tongue 5 of a wall element 2, are in engagement with the respective other groove 4 and tongue 5 of the neighboring wall element 2. The shape of the grooves 4 is fitted to the shape of the tongues 5.

FIG. 4 shows a greater section of a wall element 2 of FIG. 1 in a perspective view. This makes clear that the tongue 5 extends in longitudinal direction x of the end face 2b. In contrast to the simplified representation of FIG. 1 the here visible coupling means 3 are configured to be concealed when the wall elements 2 are completed into a finished carcase 1. This is achieved in that the groove 4 as well as the tongue 5 are spaced apart from the border sides 2a of the individual wall elements 2, which respectively extend between the end faces 2b of the individual wall elements 2. As a result the coupling means 3 do not reach up to the border sides 2a of the wall elements 2, wherein in particular the groove 4 does not break through the border sides.

With reference to the representation of FIG. 4, there is shown a further groove 8 arranged on the upper side surface 2c, which in the present case forms the inner side of the wall element 2, which further groove 8 extends along the right hand border side 2a of the wall element 2 and is spaced apart from the border side 2a. The groove 8 is already indicated in FIG. 1 in the rear region. In the assembled state of the individual wall elements 2 the groove 8 extends within the carcase 1, within which a rear wall 9 is arranged which in the present case is only outlined.

FIG. 5 represents an alternative embodiment of the wall element 2 already shown in the preceding Figures in the form of a further wall element 10. In contrast to the preceding wall elements 2 the tongue 5 of the here shown wall element 10 has a modified configuration. Here, the tongue 5 is divided into individual tongue sections 11. The individual tongue sections 11 are arranged at a distance x1 to each other. In order to obtain the tongue sections 11 the tongue is interrupted comb-like. A length x2 of the tongue sections 11 measured in the longitudinal direction x of the end face 2c corresponds maximally to the distance x1 of the tongue sections 11 to each other. Preferably the length x2 of the tongue sections 11 is smaller than the distance x1 between the tongue sections.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of wall elements 12 in a sectional view. The present wall elements 12 only show their sections in the corner region 1za of a carcase 1. The coupling means 3 of the wall elements 12 for purposes of showing their configuration, do not engage in each other. Each of the coupling means 3 of the wall elements 12 includes a groove 4 and a tongue 5, wherein with reference to the representation of FIG. 6 the upper wall element 12, which extends horizontally, has a recess 13 which is formed inside the groove 4.

On the other hand, the tongue 5 of the wall element 12, which with reference to FIG. 6 extends vertically, has a corresponding projection 14 in the region of its end 7. The recess 13 and the projection 14 are configured so that they correspond with each other in the joined state of the wall elements 12.

In the interconnected state of the two wall elements 12, the projection 14 engages in a not further shown manner at least regionally in the recess 13. For this purpose the recess 13 has an undercut 15 behind which the projection 14 can engage with a partial region 16. Preferably the undercut 15 is in a not further shown manner formed in the groove 4 only in the region of the tongue sections 11 shown in FIG. 5. Depending on the configuration of the coupling means 3 in combination with the recess 13 and the projection 14, a bending-stiff corner can thus be generated in the corner region 1a.

FIG. 7 shows a refinement of the wall elements 12 shown in FIG. 6, wherein the respective coupling elements 3 are configured identical. Thus grooves 4 arranged on the respective end faces 2b each have a recess 13 with a corresponding undercut 15, whereas the tongues arranged on the opposite end faces 2b each have a projection 14. When the two wall elements 12 are joined together the projections 14 engage with their sub-regions 16 behind the respective undercut 15 of the recess 13.

Of course the recesses 13 as well as the projection 14 can also be arranged in all coupling means 3, which in particular have a continuous tongue 5 or individual tongue sections 11.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a corner region 1a compared to the corner region 1a already shown in FIG. 6. In contrast to the representation of FIG. 6, in the present case the two wall elements 12 are not shown in an exploded view but in a state in which they are interconnected via their coupling means 3. Further the coupling means 3, which are respectively arranged on the end faces 2b of the wall elements 12, point into each other in the form of grooves 4 and tongues 5, wherein the representation of FIG. 8 differs with regard to the arrangement of the projection 14.

With reference to the representation of FIG. 8, only the tongue 5 of the upper horizontally extending wall element 12 has a projection 14. In contrast to the representation of FIG. 6 the latter is not arranged on the end 7 of the tongue 5 but spaced apart from the same.

In the present case the projection 14 is formed between the end 7 of the tongue 5 and the plane of the end faces 2b of the interconnected wall elements 12. The corresponding other wall element 12 has for this purpose a corresponding recess 13 inside its groove 4 into which the projection 14 engages. As can be seen the recess 13 as well as the projection 14 are form fitted to each other, wherein they have an angular, in particular rectangular cross section.

FIG. 9 shows a refinement of the corner region 1a of FIG. 8. Hereby both tongues 5 of the engaging coupling means 3 of the thus interconnected wall elements 12 each have a projection 14 which extends into the corresponding recesses 13 inside the grooves 4. With reference to the flanks 5a of the tongues 5, which flanks contact each other in a plane, the projections 14 which are arranged on the tongues face away from each other. The same applies to the corresponding recesses 13 inside the grooves 4 into which the projections 14 engage. As already shown in FIG. 8, the recesses 13 and the projections 14 are form fitted to each other.

Generally the contact between the projection 14 and the recess 13 can also be limited in a not further shown manner to a sub-region 16 of the projection 14, which has a corresponding contact to a undercut 16 inside the recess 13 as can be seen the recesses 13 and projections are in the present case configured angular, wherein their opposing sides are slanted toward each other. As a result of the slant of the sides, the respective cross section of the recesses 13 and projections 14 increases toward the touching even flanks 5a of the tongues 5.

FIG. 10 shows a refinement of the corner region 1a of FIG. 9. While otherwise arranged in the same way, the projections 14 in this case have no angled cross section but a dome-like rounded cross section. The cross sectional contour of the recesses 13 is form fitted to the rounded cross section of the projections in that the contour is configured correspondingly rounded.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative configuration of the wall elements 2 of FIG. 3 in an exploded view. Hereby the respective end faces 2b of the wall elements 2 are shown spaced apart from each other so that the latter are not yet connected to the corner region 1a. In contrast to the wall element 2 of FIGS. 2 and 3, the grooves 4 and the tongues 5 have in this case no transition into each other, which extends in the same plane. In the contrary, the tongues 5, in particular their tongue sections 11, of one of the wall elements 2 are in this case slanted so that their slanted planes B enclose an angle c3 between themselves and the plane of the even flank 5a of the tongue 5 of the neighboring wall element 2, which is different from 180°. In the present case the angle c3 is 160°.

Further the groove 4 of one of the wall element 2 and the tongue 5 of the neighboring wall element 2 corresponding therewith are slanted relative to their respective end faces 2b of the wall elements 2. Hereby an even flank 5a of the tongue 5 defines a slanted plane B of the tongue 5. The flank 5a of the tongue 5 extends within the slanted plane B, wherein the flank 5a transitions into a groove flank 4a of the groove 4, which groove flank is not slanted relative to the end face 2b and does thus not extend in the same slanted plane B.

In the present case the slanted plane B is thus determined by the flank 5a, wherein the slanted plane B and the end face 2b of the wall element 2 respectively enclose an angle c1, c2 on both sides, which is different from 90°. In the shown embodiment the smaller angle c1 between the slanted plane B and the end face 2b is 75°. On the other hand the thus greater angle c2 between the slanted plane B and the end face 2b is correspondingly 105°.

The angles c1, c2 enclosed between the slanted plane B and the end face 2b differ from the angle a enclosed between the end face 2b and the side surface 2c of the wall element 2.

Further the relation according to the invention between the respective slants of the slanted plane B relative to the end face 2b and the end face 2 itself relative to the side face 2c of the wall element 2 is maintained. According to this, both angles c1, c2 of the slanted plane B are to be greater or smaller relative to the angle a enclosed between the side surface 2c of the wall element 2 and its end face 2b. In the present case the angle a between the end face 2b and the side surface 2c of the wall element 2 is 45°, so that 90° corresponds to twice of this angle a. The respective angles c1, c2 which are enclosed by the slanted plane B and the end face 2b of the wall element 2 are 75° and 105°. In the present case these angles c1, c2 are thus smaller or greater, i.e., different from 90°, which is twice the angle a between the end face 2b and the side surface 2c.

The groove flanks 4a of the groove 4, which are inclined toward each other, and the even flanks 5a of the tongue in particular its tongue sections 11 of the wall elements 2 transition into each other by forming a wedge surface 17.

The slant of at least one of the coupling means 3 relative to its end face 2b of the wall element 2 has the effect that the wall element 2 after its completion with further wall elements 2 into a dosed frame cannot be separated without more from the further wall elements. Thus due to the slanted plane B, within which the coupling means 3 extend, the wall elements 2 can no longer be separated form each other in the direction of the normal N to the respective side surfaces 2c.

In principal the embodiment of the coupling means 3, i.e., their grooves 4 and tongues 5, shown in the FIGS. 1 to 12 is not limited to the shown shapes and positions. These are merely exemplary embodiments, which enable an effective connection of the individual wall elements 2, 10, 12 to each other. Thus the coupling means 3 can for example also be arranged so as to be reflected about their respective plane, in particular the slanted plane B. In combination with their respective position in the region of the end faces 2b thus an optimal use of the available cross section is possible in the corner region 1a of the wall elements 2, 10, 12 so that in spite of the presence of recesses 13 and grooves 4, the wall elements 2 still provide sufficient material toward their side surfaces 2c and end faces 2b to create a durable connection.

FIG. 12 illustrates in a schematic diagram the configuration of the end face 2b of one of the wall elements 2 of FIG. 11, i.e., the wall element 2, which in this representation extends on the right hand side. In this perspective view, which is rotated relative to FIG. 11, the configuration of the respective coupling means 3 becomes clear. Within the part of the wall element 2, which is here shown as sub section in the region of is end face 2b, the groove 4 which faces into the wall element 2 extends along the longitudinal direction x of the end face 2b. The ramp-shaped wedge surfaces 17 which were already indicated in FIG. 11, are in this case only arranged in the region of the Individual tongue sections 11 of the tongue 5 within the groove 4, as a result of which the respective cross section of the groove 4 changes over its extent in longitudinal direction x.

Thus the groove 4 has a width b1 between the tongue sections 11, which due to the wedge surfaces 17 in the region between the tongue sections 11 springs back to a smaller width b2 of the groove 4.

It is provided that the width b1 of the groove 4 between the tongue sections 11 corresponds to a height of the tongue sections 11 of the opposing wall element, in order to be able to insert the tongue sections 11 easily into the groove 4. The height of the tongue sections 11 is hereby mostly determined by their slant relative to the end face 2b. In other, the mentioned height is not determined by the purely structural height of the tongue sections 11 but rather by the regions between the opposing flanks 5a, 5b of the slanted tongue 5, which are spaced apart the widest as measured parallel to the end face 2b.

Also in the case of tongues 5 that are slanted relative to each other, i.e., their tongue sections 11 of two wall elements 2, it is provided that the width b1 of the groove between the tongue sections 11 is configured so that tongue sections 11 of the neighboring wall element 2 can also be inserted into the groove 4 when their slanted plane B deviates from the Insertion direction defined by the direction in which the wall elements 2 are joined. In other words the respective end of the tongue 5, in particular its tongue sections 11, would impinge in front of the otherwise present border region of the groove 4, if the groove 4 had a continuous small width b2 as in the region of the tongue sections 11.

The tongues 5 which are slanted relative to each other, in particular their tongue sections 11, have the effect that the respective corner region 1a of the carcase 1 is already durably coupled after connection of the end faces 2b of two wall elements 2.

Tongues 5 which are slanted relative to each other are also present within the framework of the invention when only one of the tongues 5 is slanted relative to the end face 2b of the wall element 2 on which it is arranged.

With regard to FIG. 12 it becomes clear that two wall elements 2 are first inserted into each other so that their respective tongue sections 11 extend in longitudinal direction x offset to each other so that the respective tongue sections 11 of one of the wall elements 2 can be passed through between the tongue sections 11 of the neighboring wall element 2 and the wedge surfaces 17 situated there behind into the groove 4. Subsequent thereto the wall elements 2 whose end faces 2b abut each other are moved relative to each other, wherein the wall elements 2 are displaced in opposite direction relative to each other in a locking direction x1 which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction x.

Hereby the respective tongue sections 11 are displaced onto the wedge surfaces 17 within the groove 4 of the neighboring wall element 2, which form an undercut for the same. The tongue sections 11, which now rest on the wedge surfaces 17 with their flanks 5a, are thus fixed within the groove 4 of the respectively neighboring wall element 2.

FIG. 13 shows an alternative configuration of the coupling means 3 on the end faces 2b of the wall elements 2 already known from FIGS. 2 to 5. The predominantly rectangular configured grooves 4 and tongues 5 differ from the preceding configurations in so far as they do not have identical dimensions. In other words the tongues 5 which oppose each other on the end faces 2b of the wall elements 2 and the grooves 4 corresponding therewith are of different sizes.

As a result the coupling means 3 respectively arranged on one of the end faces 2b are dimensioned different from each other. Thus the vertically extending wall element 2 shown on the right hand side with reference to FIG. 13, has a tongue 5 whose height b3 is below the width b2 of the groove 4 which is also arranged on the same wall element 2. As a consequence the width b2 and height b3 of the coupling means arranged on one end face 2b differ from each other.

The same applies to their respective extents perpendicular to the extent of the coupling means along the end face 2b. Thus the tongue 5 has a significantly longer length l1 than a depth l2 of the groove 4, which is arranged on the same wall element 2.

This different configuration of the grooves 4 and tongues results in an optimal adjustment of the respective size of the coupling means 3 to the cross section of the wall elements 2, which remains in the region of the end faces 2b.

FIG. 14 shows a further variant of the wall elements 2 already shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, whose coupling means 3 have at least one recess 13 and a projection 14 corresponding therewith. In the present case the projection 14 and the recess 13 are both arranged in a transitional region between the flank 5a of the one tongue 5 and the groove flank 4a of the groove 4 arranged on the same wall element 2.

As already shown in FIG. 13, the length l1 and the depth l2 of the tongue and groove 4 also differ in this case. In contrast to this the height b3 of the tongue 5 and the width b2 of the groove 4 are identical.

Of course the respective dimensions of the coupling means 3 can also differ from each other in ways that are different from the ones shown here. Thus for example the length l1 and the depth l2 of tongue 5 and groove 4 can be identical, while the height b3 of the tongue 5 differs from the width b2 of the groove 4. On the other hand the height b3 of the tongue 5 and the width b2 of the groove 4 can be identical, whereas the length l1 of the tongue 5 and the depth l2 of the groove differ from each other.

FIG. 15 shows a section through a carcase 1 according to the invention. As already illustrated in FIG. 1, the carcase is formed from individual wall elements 2, which thereby form a closed frame. In order to obtain a particularly durable connection of the wall elements 2 to each other, their coupling means 3 which are situated in the respective different corner regions 1a of the carcase 1 form an angle between their slanted planes B.

For clarification the respective slanted planes B of the coupling means 3, which are situated in the corner regions 1a, are displaced parallel into the center of the representation of the carcase 1 in FIG. 10. This makes clear that all slanted surfaces B encloses an angle c4 between themselves. In other words no slanted plane B of the coupling means 3 located in the corner regions 1a of the carcase 1 extends parallel to each other. In this way the diagonally opposing corner regions 1a also form no common displacement plane of their coupling elements 3 in the carcase 1, because their respective slanted planes B are inclined against each other.

FIG. 16 illustrates the position of the recess 13 in the plane of the end face 2b of the wall element 12 as already shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. This view makes clear that the required widening of the groove 4 for receiving the tongue 5, which is provided with the projection 14, only has to be limited to the region of the plane of the end face 2b, when the corresponding projection 13 of the neighboring wall element 12 is also situated in this plane.

FIG. 17 illustrates a further alternative configuration of the already previously shown wall elements 12. In contrast to the arrangement of dome-like projections 14 on the tongues 5 and recesses 13 in the grooves 4, which recesses are form fitted to the dome-like projections 14 the latter are now arranged in closer proximity to each other. These form a common locking contour 18 in the form of a recess 13a and a projection 14a, which is directly adjacent the recess 13a.

In contrast to the representations in FIGS. 2 to 10, the slanted plane B of the coupling means 3 is rotated clockwise so that the groove 4 and the tongue 5 have a slight slant relative to the side surface 2c of the wall element 12. This causes the tongue 5 to be oriented more in the longitudinal direction of a further here not shown wall element 12 to be coupled.

When considering the locking contour 18 it becomes clear that it's recess 13a and the projection 14a arranged immediately neighboring the recess together form an S-shaped contour in cross section of the coupling means 3. The recess 13a of the S-shaped contour is located in the region of the groove 4, whereas the projection 14a is arranged in the region of the tongue 5. The projection 14a has at its highest point a high point O, while the recess 13a has at its base a low point U. between the high point O and the low point U a transitional region 19 extends, which intersects the plane of the end face 2b in an intersecting point S1.

The transitional region 19 further has a surface section 19a, which is located between the high point O and the low point U, and which is configured even. This even surface section 19a and the slanted plane B of the coupling means 3 enclose an angle a1 between them. This angle a1 corresponds in the present case to about half the angle a of the slant of the end face 2b relative to the end face 2c.

The projection 14a and the recess 13a of the locking contour 18 are delimited toward one side by an even flank 5c of the tongue 5 and toward the other side by an even grove flank 4b of the groove 4. In contrast to the configurations above the groove 4 and the tongue 5 are offset relative to each other. The even flank 5c of the tongue 5 and the even groove flank 4b of the groove 4 extend in different planes which extend in different directions relative to the slanted plane B of the coupling means 3. As a result the groove flank 4b of the groove 4 and the flank 5c of the tongue 5 do not extend along the slanted plane B but rather in planes which are parallel to and spaced apart from the slanted plane B and which are located on respective opposing sides of the slanted plane B.

FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment of the locking contour 18 shown in FIG. 17. Here, a recess 13b and a projection 14b arranged immediately adjacent to the recess 13b together form a locking contour, which is Z-shaped in cross section of the coupling means 3. The Z-shaped contour is composed of the triangularly configured recess 13b and the also triangularly configured projection 14b. The even surface section 19a, which extends between the high point O and the low point U of the locking contour 18, thereby occupies the entire length of the transitional region 19.

FIG. 19 shows the wall element 2 of FIG. 18 in a corner region 1a and with this in an already coupled state with a further wall element 12. As can be seen, the respective grooves 4 and tongues 5 are not completely contour fitted so that in particular a slight play remains in the depth of the grooves 4. In contrast the respective end faces 2b of the wall element 12 are situated above each other in order to obtain a gap size, which is as small as possible. The pressure force required therefore is generated by the interlocking locking contours 18a whose transitional regions 19, i.e., their surface sections 19a, are pressed against each other. The tension between the surface sections 19a results from their slant of the angle a1 relative to the slanted surface B of the coupling means 3. The surface sections 19a, which are thus positioned slanted relative to the slanted plane B, prevent that the coupling means 3 are released from each other in the direction of their slanted surface B.

FIG. 20 shows an alternative embodiment of two wall elements 20 to be interconnected. Both wall elements 20 have the same S-shaped locking contour 18 as already shown in FIG. 17. In contrast to the previous embodiments the present wall elements 20 have end faces 2b, which are slanted relative to their side surfaces 2c at an angle a different from 90° but rather are configured overall rectangular. The side surfaces 2c and the end faces 2b enclose an angle a of 90°.

In order to enable a connection between the wall elements 20, the wall elements 20 have coupling means 3 which are arranged in the region of their end faces 2b. Considering the illustration of FIG. 20, the coupling means 3 of the upper horizontally extending wall element 20 are formed in the region of the end face 2b in the side surface 2c. Between the end face 2b and the tongue 5 of this wall element 20 a notch 21 is further located which is provided for receiving a part of the end face 2b of the lower vertically extending wall element 20.

In order to enable the coupling between the wall elements 20, in this case the lower vertically arranged wall element 20 also has a notch 21a between its tongue 5 and its side surface 2c. This notch 21a is configured significantly smaller relative to the notch 21 of the horizontally shown wall element 20.

FIG. 21 shows the wall elements 20 of the FIG. 20 to be interconnected in the configuration of the locking contour 18a as they are already shown in the FIGS. 18 and 19. Thus the coupling means 3 can of course also have a contour with a Z-shaped cross section in the variant with side surfaces 2c and end faces 2b which are arranged perpendicular to each other.

REFERENCE SIGNS

• 1—carcase
• 1a—corner region of 1
• 2—wall element of 1
• 2a—border side of 2
• 2b—end face of 2
• 2c—side surface of 2
• 3—coupling means
• 4—groove of 3
• 4a—groove flank of 4
• 4b—groove flank of 4
• 5—tongue of 3
• 5a—flank of 5
• 5b—flank of 5
• 5c—flank of 5
• 6—slant on 5b
• 7—end of 5
• 8—groove in 2
• 9—rear wall
• 10—wall element of 1
• 11—tongue section
• 12—wall element of 1
• 13—recess in 4
• 13a—recess in 4
• 13b—recess in 4
• 14—projection on 5
• 14a—projection on 5
• 14b—projection on 5
• 15—undercut of 13
• 16—partial region of 14
• 17—wedge surface in 4
• 18—locking contour
• 18a—locking contour
• 19—transitional region
• 19a—surface section of 19
• 20—wall element of 1
• 21—notch
• 21a—notch
• a—angle
• A—distance
• b1—width of 4
• b2—width of 4
• b3—height of 5
• B—slanted plane
• c1—angle
• c2—angle
• c3—angle
• c4—angle
• l1—length of 5
• l2—depth of 4
• O—high point of 14a
• U—low point of 13a
• N—normal
• S—intersecting point between 2b and 5a
• x—longitudinal direction
• x1—locking direction

Claims

1-27. (canceled)

28. A glueless carcase, in particular for a furniture item, comprising:

at least three wall elements each having end faces and coupling means arranged in a region of each of the end faces, said coupling means being configured as tongue and groove, said wall elements being interconnectable via the coupling means to thereby form a closed frame,

wherein a connected state of the wall elements the respective tongue and groove of one of the wall elements is in engagement with the tongue and groove of a neighboring one of the wall elements, and the tongues extend in longitudinal direction of the end faces,

wherein the tongues are each divided into individual tongue sections which are arranged at a distance to each other, said distance corresponding to at least a length of the tongue sections measured in the longitudinal direction, said groves each having recesses.

29. The carcase of claim 28, wherein at least one of the end faces of one of the wall elements is slanted relative to a side surface of the one of the wall elements at an angle, said angle being different from 90°.

30. The carcase of claim 28, wherein at least one of the end faces of another one of the wall elements is slanted relative to a side surface of the other wall element at an angle of 90°.

31. The carcase of claim 28, wherein at least one of the coupling means has a recess which corresponds with a projection of another one of the coupling means so that in the interconnected state of the wall elements the projection at least partially engages in the recess.

32. The carcase of claim 31, wherein the projection is arranged on the tongue, and wherein the recess is formed in the groove.

33. The carcase of claim 28, wherein the recess has a undercut, which is formed inside the grooves only in a region of the tongue sections.

34. The carcase of claim 28, wherein the tongues are delimited by opposing flanks, wherein one of the flanks has an even extent, and wherein the other flank opposing the even flank has a slant.

35. The carcase of claim 28, wherein the grooves and tongues are spaced apart from respective border sides of the wall elements, said border sides extending between the end faces of the individual wall elements.

36. The carcase of claim 28, wherein the grooves have a first width between the tongue sections which exceeds a second width of the grooves in a region of the tongue sections, wherein the first width of the grooves between the tongue sections corresponds at least to a height formed by the tongue sections and the projections.

37. The carcase of claim 28, wherein the wall elements have another groove (8), which respectively extends on an inside of the assembled frame, said other groove being constructed for receiving a rear wall.

38. The carcase of claim 37, further comprising a wedge element, wherein the wedge element is arrangeable between a side surface of one of the wall elements and the rear wall.

39. The carcase of claim 38, wherein the wedge element has a latching nose which in an arranged state of the wedge element engages behind the rear wall between the side surface of the one of the wall elements and the rear wall.

40. The carcase of claim 34, wherein the even flanks of the tongues respectively transition into even groove flanks of the grooves, and wherein the even flanks and the even groove flanks extend in a same plane.

41. The carcase of claim 28, wherein the grooves and/or the tongues are inclined relative to the end faces to define respective slanted planes, wherein a respective angle enclosed between the respective slanted planes and the end faces is different from 90°.

42. The carcase of claim 41, wherein the respective angle between the slanted planes and the end faces is smaller or greater than an angle of a slant of one of the end faces relative to a side surface of one of the wall elements.

43. The carcase of claim 42, wherein the respective angle between the slanted planes and the end faces is greater or smaller than twice the angle of the slant of the one of the end faces relative to the side surface of the one of the wall elements.

44. The carcase of claim 41, wherein the respective angle enclosed between the respective slanted planes and the end faces is smaller or greater than an angle of the slant of one of the end faces relative to a side surface of one of the wall elements.

45. The carcase of claim 28, wherein the tongue sections of two of the end faces in an interconnected state of the two end faces are inclined relative to each other, so that slanted planes respectively defined by the tongue sections enclose an angle different from 180°.

46. The carcase of claim 28, wherein the coupling means are situated in different corner regions of the closed frame and define respective sinated planes, said respective slanted planes enclosing an angle between each other.

47. The carcase of claim 28, wherein the coupling means have a recess and a projection arranged immediately adjacent the recess, said recess transitioning into the projection, wherein the recess and the projection of one of the coupling means correspond with the projection and the recess of another one of the coupling means so that in the interconnected state of the wall elements the projection of the one of the coupling means engages at least in regions of the recess of the other one of the coupling means.

48. The carcase of claim 47, wherein the recess and the projection arranged immediately adjacent to the recess together form a contour with an S-shaped cross section.

49. The carcase of claim 47, wherein the recess and the projection (14b) arranged immediately adjacent to the recess together form a contour with a Z-shaped cross section.

50. The carcase of claim 47, wherein a transitional region which extends between a high point of the projection and a low point of the recess intersects a respective plane of the end faces in an intersecting point.

51. The carcase of claim 50, wherein the transitional region has an even surface section, and wherein the even surface section and a slanted plane defined by the coupling means enclose an angle between themselves.

52. The carcase of claim 47, wherein even flanks of the tongues which delimit the projection and even groove flanks of the grooves which delimit the recess extend in respective planes, said respective planes extending in different directions relative to a slanted plane defined by the coupling means.

53. A method for the glueless connection of at least two wall elements of a carcase, in particular a furniture item, comprising:

moving the at least two wall elements toward one another until coupling means in the form of grooves and tongues arranged in a region of end faces of each of the wall elements engage in one another; and

moving the engaged wall elements relative to each other in a locking direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the end faces via a limited relative movement in opposite directions, thereby connecting the at least two wall elements.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein during the moving of the wall elements relative to each other in the locking direction a projection arranged on one of the coupling means engages in a recess arranged on another one of the coupling means and a projection arranged on the other coupling means engages in a recess arranged on the one of the coupling means.