FR2881983A1 - Foldable support for use as e.g. three seater, has folding lines delimiting isosceles triangles arranged to form hexagons defining preset flat form, and sealing tape integrating lateral edges, so that support moves from flat to folded form - Google Patents

Abstract

The support has folding lines (14) delimiting identical isosceles triangles (15a-15f, 16a-16f, 17a-17f). The triangles are arranged such that the bases of all the triangles are parallel or common to each other, and so as to form three irregular adjacent hexagons (15-17) defining a preset flat form of the support. A sealing tape (13) integrates lateral edges (11a, 11b), so that the support moves from the flat form to a folded form. An independent claim is also included for a method for folding a foldable support.

Description

Foldable support and method of folding such a support

  TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a foldable support delimited by two lateral edges, a lower edge and an upper edge and having a predetermined flat shape, in an unfolded position.

  The invention also relates to a method of folding such a foldable support.

  STATE OF THE ART A foldable support is generally constituted by a sheet of flexible material, for example paper, of parallelepipedal shape making it possible, after various folding steps, to produce an object or packaging of ordinary geometry.

  OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks and its object is the production of a foldable support making it possible to easily produce by folding an object that can have various and varied shapes.

  The object of the invention is characterized in that the foldable support comprises: a plurality of fold lines delimiting at least eighteen identical isosceles triangles, each having a base equal to its associated height, said isosceles triangles being arranged on each other so that the bases of all the isosceles triangles are parallel or common to each other, and so as to form three adjacent non-regular hexes, with aligned centers, defining said predetermined shape of the foldable support, and means securing the side edges, so that the foldable support goes from said predetermined flat shape to a folded shape.

  The plurality of fold lines of such a foldable carrier provides a multitude of folding combinations.

  The invention also aims to develop a folding process using such a support and to easily achieve an object of any shape.

  The object of the invention is characterized in that the folding method comprises at least the following steps: cutting the foldable support from a strip of flat material, according to a predetermined predetermined shape, forming fold lines delimiting the geometric shapes defining the foldable support, connect the two lateral edges, by means of the securing means, so as to pass the support of said predetermined planar shape to said folded form.

Brief description of the drawings

  Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given as non-restrictive examples and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a first particular embodiment of realization of a foldable support according to the invention, before marking the fold lines.

  Figures 2 and 3 show the foldable support according to Figure 1 with its folding lines, respectively, in unfolded position and folded position, with its side edges joined.

  Figures 4 to 8 show different successive stages of folding of the support according to Figure 3.

  Figures 9 to 12 show different possible forms of an object obtained by folding the support according to Figure 3.

  FIGS. 13 to 16 illustrate examples of assemblies made by juxtaposing several objects obtained by folding the support according to FIG. 3. FIGS. 17 and 18 show an alternative embodiment of a foldable support according to the invention, respectively, in unfolded and folded position with its side edges joined.

  Figure 19 shows another possible form of an object made by folding the support.

  Figures 20 and 21 show other embodiments, in unfolded position, a foldable support according to the invention.

  FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate other examples of objects made by folding variant embodiments of a foldable support according to the invention.

  Figures 24 and 25 show other embodiments of a foldable support according to the invention.

  Description of particular embodiments

  In the various embodiments of the foldable support which will be described below, the foldable support according to the invention is delimited by two lateral edges 11a, 11b parallel in unfolded position, a lower edge 12a and an upper edge 12b. The foldable support has a particular shape determined beforehand and distinct according to the embodiments. The foldable support is precut in a strip of material, for example of the plastic or cardboard type, having characteristics of both flexibility and rigidity, to facilitate folding and withstand the stresses caused by folding.

  In FIGS. 1 and 2, the foldable support 10 is delimited by two vertical lateral edges 11a, 11b, a horizontal and rectilinear lower edge 12a serving as a base for the support 10 and an upper edge 12b, non-rectilinear having three identical peaks. . The lateral edge 11b preferably comprises a sticky strip 13 intended to cooperate with the other lateral edge 11a, to secure the two lateral edges 11a, 11b to one another. The two side edges 11a, 11b are preferably abutted against each other to form a foldable support 10, as shown in FIG. 3, with the two side edges 11a, 11b joined irreversibly. The adhesive tape 13 is constituted, for example, by a piece of sticky paper or any other means of bonding or welding.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the foldable support 10 comprises a plurality of fold lines 14 constituting articulating hinges of the various geometric shapes delimited by the fold lines 14.

  In FIGS. 1 to 3, the foldable support 10 comprises fold lines 14 extending vertically, and transversely inclined folding lines 14, so as to delimit three hexagons 15, 16, 17 arranged side by side and adjacent to the level of vertical fold lines 14.

  Each hexagon 15, 16, 17 is constituted, respectively, by six identical isosceles triangles 15a to 15f, 16a to 16f and 17a to 17f. The base L1 of each isosceles triangle of each hexagon 15, 16, 17 is identical to the height L2 associated with this base and the bases L1 of all the isosceles triangles 15a to 15f, 16a to 16f, 17a to 17f are parallel or common. between them.

  In FIG. 2, the base of the isosceles triangle 15d of the hexagon 15 is contiguous to the base of the isosceles triangle 16a of the hexagon 16 and the base of the isosceles triangle 16d of the hexagon 16 is contiguous to the base of the isosceles triangle. 17a of the hexagon 17. The centers A, B, C, respectively, of the hexagons 15, 16, 17 are aligned perpendicularly to the lateral edges 11a, 11b vertical. The vertical fold lines 14 pass through the centers A, B, C of the hexagons 15, 16, 17 and represent the bases of the isosceles triangles 15a to 15f, 16a to 16f, 17a to 17f. The adhesive strip 13 is arranged parallel to the vertical fold lines 14 at the side edge 11b.

  In FIGS. 1 to 3, the folding lines 14 also delimit a plurality of additional isosceles triangles 18, identical to the isosceles triangles 15a to 15f, 16a to 16f and 17a to 17f of the hexagons 15, 16, 17 and contiguous to the triangles 15e, 15f, 16e, 16f and 17e, 17f hexagons 15, 16, 17, so as to form a portion of the rectilinear side edges 11a, 11b of the foldable support 10. The vertical fold lines 14 represent the bases of the additional isosceles triangles 18.

  The fold lines 14 also delimit a plurality of right triangles 19, each corresponding to half of an additional isosceles triangle 18 and contiguous to the additional isosceles triangles 18, so as to form the rectilinear lower edge 12a of the foldable support 10. The lines 14 vertical folds represent the heights of the right triangles 19.

  The right triangles 19, the additional isosceles triangles 18 and the hexagons 15, 16, 17 thus define the predetermined shape of the foldable support 10, in the unfolded position (FIG. 1).

  In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the predetermined shape of the foldable support 10 can be defined solely by the three hexagons 15, 16, 17 and the additional isosceles triangles 18, the lower edge 12a being no longer rectilinear and having identical peaks. to those of the upper edge 12b.

  In another embodiment not shown, the predetermined shape of the foldable support 10 can be defined only by the three hexagons 15, 16, 17 and by the right triangles 19, contiguous to the hexagons 15, 16, 17, so as to form a lower edge 12a rectilinear.

  For example, as shown in Figure 2, the lower edge 12a of the foldable support 10 has a total length L3 equal to six times the height L2 of an isosceles triangle and the side edges 11a, 11b have a height total L4, from the lower edge 12a to the peaks of the upper edge 12b, equal to two and a half times the length L1 of the base of an isosceles triangle.

  In FIG. 3, the two lateral edges 11a, 11b of the foldable support 10 have been joined and secured by the sticky tape 13. This particular form of the foldable support 10, in the folded position, constitutes the starting configuration for various successive steps of folding, described below.

  Whatever the predetermined shape chosen beforehand, the method of folding a foldable support consists, firstly, in pre-cutting the foldable support according to this predetermined shape, forming the fold lines 14, according to the corresponding geometric shapes, and joining the two lateral edges 11a, 11b, preferably abutting, through the adhesive tape 13. The various successive folding steps then depend on the particular shape of the object to be produced.

  Various successive stages of folding will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 15, to illustrate the production of objects of the furniture, box, packaging, toy, etc. type. In FIG. 4, the support 10 is in its folded form shown in FIG. 3, with its two lateral edges 11a, 11b joined and the straight bottom edge 12a serving as a base for the support 10. The support 10 thus constitutes a particular form before folding.

  In Figure 5, the right triangles 19 (shown in dashed lines in Figure 5), forming the lower edge 12a of the support 10, are folded towards the inside of the container formed by the support 10, according to the arrows F1.

  In FIG. 6, the additional isosceles triangles 18 (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6) are then folded, according to the arrows F2, towards the inside of the container formed by the folded support 10 according to FIG. 5. This results in the formation of a background for the support 10. The support 10 can then serve as receiving object or container, for any type of application.

  In FIG. 7, the isosceles triangles 15b, 15c, 16b, 16c, 17b, 17c (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 7) of the hexagons 15, 16, 17, forming the upper edge 12b of the support 10, are folded towards the right. inside the container, according to the arrows F3, so as to form a lid for the object thus produced.

  In FIG. 8, the isosceles triangles 15f, 15e, 16f, 16e, 17f, 17e (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 8) of the hexagons 15, 16, 17 are then folded towards the inside of the container, according to the arrows F4. This results in the consolidation of the bottom being in contact with the cover of the support 10, previously formed (Figure 7). The support 10 then constitutes an element that can be used, for example, toy, because it has a playful geometric configuration allowing the rotation of the support 10 on itself.

  In Figure 9, a first example of an object made by folding the support 10 is shown. This particular configuration is obtained starting from the support 10, folded according to FIG. 8, and by unfolding the central triangles.

  In Figure 10, another example of an object made by folding the support 10 is shown. This particular configuration is obtained starting from the support 10, folded according to FIG. 9, and by unfolding the external triangles. The object thus formed can serve, for example, display, because it delimits several separate compartments.

  In Fig. 11, another folding configuration is shown, starting from the support 10, folded according to Fig. 8, and unfolding the appropriate triangles. This particular geometry illustrates another form of display.

  FIG. 12 represents another example of an object obtained by folding the support 10, according to FIG. 9. The object formed represents a seat with three places.

  It is possible to associate several foldable supports 10, according to Figures 1 to 3, to form objects of more complex geometry. FIG. 13 shows that two supports 10, folded according to FIG. 7, can fit stably and prevent relative sliding between the two supports 10.

  In FIG. 14, three supports 10, folded according to FIG. 7, are juxtaposed side by side.

  In Figure 15, three supports 10, folded according to Figure 10, are juxtaposed side by side, to form a display 20 with a large number of compartments.

  In Figure 16, four supports 10, folded according to Figure 8, are assembled to form an object 21, substantially ball-shaped. This particular geometry can in particular serve as a game.

  The alternative embodiment of the foldable support 100, shown in Figures 17 and 18, differs from the previous embodiment by its predetermined shape in the unfolded position (Figure 17). In this particular embodiment, the foldable support 100 is precut so as to have a rectangular shape, with its lateral edges 11a, 11b rectilinear and perpendicular to the lower edges 12a and 12b also rectilinear.

  The foldable support 100 comprises horizontal folding lines 14, and fold lines 14 transversely inclined, so that the bases of all the isosceles triangles of the hexagons 15, 16, 17 are parallel or common to each other, and in such a way that to delimit the three hexagons 15, 16 and i0 17, arranged side by side, with their centers A, B, C aligned along a horizontal fold line 14. The horizontal fold lines 14 represent the bases of the isosceles triangles and the hexagons 15, 16, 17 are contiguous top-to-top along a horizontal fold line 14.

  The fold lines 14 also delimit a plurality of additional triangles 18, identical to the isosceles triangles of the hexagons 15, 16, 17 and arranged to form the lower edges 12a and 12b rectilinear upper. The horizontal fold lines 14 represent the bases of the additional o isosceles triangles 18.

  The fold lines 14 also delimit a plurality of right triangles 19 forming the rectilinear lateral edges 11a, 11b of the support 100. The horizontal fold lines 14 represent the heights of the right triangles 19.

  The right triangles 19, the additional isosceles triangles 18 and the hexagons 15, 16, 17 thus define a foldable support 100 of rectangular shape.

  The foldable support 100 also comprises the adhesive tape 13, arranged on the lateral edge 11b and extending perpendicularly to the horizontal fold lines 14.

  In Fig. 17, the foldable support 100 is shown in its unfolded position and in Fig. 18 the foldable support 100 is shown in its folded position, with its side edges 11a, 11b joined to each other by the sticky tape 13.

  In FIG. 19, the support 100 is folded so that the height of the box obtained is greater than the height of the objects obtained with a foldable support 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  The alternative embodiment of the foldable support 200, shown in Figure 20, differs from the previous embodiments by its predetermined form in the unfolded position. The collapsible support 200 is pre-cut beforehand so that the lower edge 12a forms peaks arranged in staggered relation to the peaks of the upper edge 12b. Foldable support 200 comprises fold lines 14 delimiting the three hexagons 15, 16, 17 and a plurality of additional isosceles triangles 18, identical to the isosceles triangles of hexagons 15, 16, 17. Additional isosceles triangles 18 are arranged to form the lower edge 12a and part of the side edges 11a, 11b. The bases of all the isosceles triangles are parallel or common to each other and the vertical fold lines 14 represent the bases of the isosceles triangles. The sticky tape 13 is disposed at the side edge 11b. Such a collapsible support 200 makes it possible in particular to produce containers of large capacity.

  The alternative embodiment of the foldable support 300, shown in Figure 21, differs from the previous embodiments by its predetermined form in the unfolded position. The foldable support 300 is pre-cut beforehand so that the lower edge 12a forms peaks symmetrical with respect to the peaks of the upper edge 12b. The foldable support 300 comprises fold lines 14 defining six hexagons 15, 15 ', 16, 16', 17, 17 ', superimposed and contiguous, top-to-top, according to the vertical fold lines 14. The fold lines 14 also delimit a plurality of additional isosceles triangles 18, arranged between the six hexagons 15, 15 ', 16, 16', 17, 17 ', to form the rectilinear side edges 11a, 11b. The bases of all the isosceles triangles are parallel or common to each other and the vertical fold lines 14 represent the bases of the isosceles triangles. The sticky tape 13 is disposed at the side edge 11b. Such a foldable support 300 makes it possible in particular to produce objects of complex shape.

  In FIG. 22, an alternative embodiment of a foldable support 400 makes it possible to produce elements of particular non-symmetrical shape that can be used, for example, for furniture or decoration.

  In FIG. 23, another alternative embodiment of a foldable support 500 makes it possible to produce an object having a large height that can be used, for example, for packaging.

  In the alternative embodiment of the foldable support 600, shown in FIG. 24, the predetermined shape of the foldable support 600 is identical to that of the foldable support 10 shown in FIG. 2. The foldable support 600 has a perforated structure defined by FIG. crisscrossing fold lines 14 full, delineating the hollow geometrical shapes in hexagons 15, 16, 17, isosceles triangles 18 and right triangles 19.

  In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 25, the hollow geometrical shapes delimited by the full fold lines 14 are filled with any material, for example fabric, which can be used, for example, as an advertising medium.

  The foldable support 10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, according to the various embodiments described above, thus makes it possible to achieve objects reconfigurable at will, by folding and unfolding according to the folding lines 14 solicited. Moreover, the fold lines 14 are arranged so as to offer a multitude of folding combinations for the same support.

  The invention is not limited to the various embodiments described above. The length of the lower edge 12a, upper 12b and side 11a, 11b may vary depending on the application.

  Whatever the embodiment of the foldable support, it can take a completely different predetermined shape in the unfolded position, the fold lines 14 to delimit at least three contiguous hexagons.

  The adhesive strip 13 may be replaced by any other securing means for fixing the side edges 11a, 11b with each other.

Claims (8)

claims   1. foldable support (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) delimited by two lateral edges (11a, 11b), a lower edge (12a) and an upper edge (12b) and having a predetermined shape flat, in an unfolded position, foldable support characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of fold lines (14) delimiting at least eighteen identical isosceles triangles (15a to 15f, 16a to 16f, 17a to 17f), having each a base (L1) equal to its associated height (L2), said isosceles triangles (15a to 15f, 16a to 16f, 17a to 17f) being arranged relative to each other so that the bases of all the triangles isosceles (15a to 15f, 16a to 16f, 17a to 17f) are parallel or common to each other, and so as to form three adjacent non-regular hexagons (15, 16, 17) of aligned centers (A, B, C), defining said predetermined shape of the foldable support (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), and latching means (13) 11a, 11b), so that the foldable support (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) passes from said predetermined planar shape to a folded form.   2. collapsible support according to claim 1, characterized in that the fold lines (14) define a plurality of additional isosceles triangles (18), identical to the isosceles triangles (15a to 15f, 16a to 16f, 17a to 17f) of said hexagons (15, 16, 17), said additional isosceles triangles (18) completing said predetermined shape of the foldable support (200, 300, 400, 500).   3. foldable support according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the fold lines (14) define a plurality of right triangles (19), each corresponding to an isosceles triangle half (15a to 15f, 16a to 16f, 17a to 17f) of a hexagon (15, 16, 17), said right triangles (19) completing said predetermined shape of the foldable support (10, 100).   4. foldable support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fold lines (14) represent the bases of the isosceles triangles (15a to 15f, 16a to 16f, 17a to 17f, 18) and s' extend vertically from the upper edge (12b) to the lower edge (12a) of the foldable support (10, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), the securing means (13) being arranged parallel to the vertical fold lines (14) and the hexagons (15, 16, 17) being contiguous along the vertical fold lines (14), by a common base of their isosceles triangles (15d, 16a, 16d, 17a).   5. foldable support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fold lines (14) represent the bases of the isosceles triangles (15a to 15f, 16a to 16f, 17a to 17f, 18) and s' extend horizontally from one lateral edge (11 a) to the other lateral edge (11 b) of the foldable support (100), the securing means (13) being arranged perpendicularly to the horizontal fold lines (14) and the hexagons ( 15, 16, 17) being contiguous along a horizontal fold line (14), by a common vertex of their isosceles triangles (15c, 15d, 16a, 16f, 16c, 16d, 17a, 17f).   6. Collapsible support according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the foldable support (600) has a perforated structure defined by the intersection of the fold lines (14) full, delineating hollow geometric shapes in hexagons (15, 16, 17), in isosceles triangles (18) and in right triangles (19).   7. A method of folding a foldable support (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: cut the foldable support (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) from a strip of flat material, according to a pre-selected predetermined shape, forming fold lines (14) delimiting the geometric shapes ( 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) defining the foldable support (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), connecting the two lateral edges (11a, 11b), via the means of o securing (13), so as to pass the support (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) of said predetermined planar shape to said folded form.   8. A method of folding according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises, from said folded form of the support (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600), a plurality of successive steps of folding the support (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) along the appropriate fold lines (14).