Modular architectural element

Abstract

The invention relates to an architectural element particularly intended to be utilized as a furnishing or decorative element, preferably but not exclusively associated with mosaic surfaces.

1 . An architectural element comprising a frame formed by contour walls defining at least several side walls of the architectural element, said architectural element defining an inner cavity and said frame permitting at least one access to such inner cavity, wherein two or more architectural elements are adapted to be fit with each other at a contour wall of the frame, and to be coupled to each other with a removable coupling element which cross the respective fit contour walls of two adjacent architectural elements.  
   
   
       2 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , wherein the positioning of the removable coupling element is permitted through the inner cavity of the architectural element, through the frame access.  
   
   
       3 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , wherein the access to the inner cavity is ensured by the absence of at least on of a front or rear wall of the architectural element itself, which together with the frame  12  delimits the inner cavity.  
   
   
       4 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame has a parallelepiped shape defined by two-by-two parallel and opposite contour walls defining a closed perimeter, the access to the inner cavity being ensured by the absence of at least one of the front or rear wall.  
   
   
       5 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , wherein said modular architectural element is adapted to realize a terminal curvilinear element and wherein the frame is defined by three contour walls defining an open perimeter, the shape of the contour walls arranged at the end being realized so that the inner cavity of the modular element may be delimited by a single, appropriately shaped front wall, the absence of such front wall ensuring the access to the inner cavity defined by the architectural element.  
   
   
       6 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , wherein said modular architectural element comprises a terminal or connection curvilinear element and wherein the frame is defined by four contour walls of which two contour walls are parallel and opposite while the remaining two contour walls intersect each other, the shape of the opposite contour walls being realized so that the inner cavity of the modular element may be delimited by a single, appropriately shaped front wall, the absence of the front wall ensuring the access to the inner cavity defined by the architectural element.  
   
   
       7 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable coupling element comprises a coupling element or key which extends in a longitudinal direction so to cross two fit contour walls, belonging respectively to adjacent architectural elements, at a respective slot of the respective contour wall adapted to receive the key.  
   
   
       8 . The architectural element according to  claim 7 , wherein the slot and the key have respective transverse sections adapted to define at least two mutual positions of the key and slot corresponding with an insertion position and a coupling position.  
   
   
       9 . The architectural element according to  claim 8 , wherein the mutual insertion and coupling positions of the key and slot are obtained by rotation of the key itself.  
   
   
       10 . The architectural element according to  claim 7 , wherein the slot has a transverse section or shape which predominantly extends in a transverse direction with reference to the longitudinal direction of the key, to form at least one lobe.  
   
   
       11 . The architectural element according to  claim 10 , wherein the slot defines at least two opposite lobes.  
   
   
       12 . The architectural element according to  claim 10 , wherein the key has a transverse section which predominantly extends in a transverse direction with reference to the longitudinal direction of the key itself, forming at least one transverse lug.  
   
   
       13 . The architectural element according to  claim 12 , wherein the key defines at least two opposite transverse lugs.  
   
   
       14 . The architectural element according to  claim 12 , wherein the key comprises a central pin from which at least one transverse lug radially extends.  
   
   
       15 . The architectural element according to  claim 14 , wherein the key comprises a central pin from which two diametrically-opposed transverse lugs extend.  
   
   
       16 . The architectural element according to  claim 12 , wherein the length of the key or central pin is such that the transverse lugs are inserted in the slot of the adjacent architectural element and abut against the inner surface of the respective contour wall.  
   
   
       17 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , wherein the contour walls of the frame comprise an edge which is raised outside the frame itself, delimiting a hollow space.  
   
   
       18 . The architectural element according to  claim 17 , wherein the key comprises at least one, additional transverse lug adapted to be arranged between two fit contour walls of two adjacent architectural elements, at the hollow spaces  36 .  
   
   
       19 . The architectural element according to  claim 18 , wherein said at least one additional transverse lug is arranged at an intermediate section of the key along the longitudinal direction.  
   
   
       20 . The architectural element according to  claim 18 , wherein said at least one additional transverse lug is arranged between a grip element and the at least one transverse lug and extends along the same transverse direction.  
   
   
       21 . The architectural element according to  claim 18 , wherein said at least one additional transverse lug extends from a central pin of the key in the same radial direction of the at least one transverse lug.  
   
   
       22 . The architectural element according  claim 7 , wherein the key comprises a grip element arranged at one end of the key.  
   
   
       23 . The architectural element according to  claim 22 , arranged on the opposite side with respect to the at least one transverse lug.  
   
   
       24 . The architectural element according to  claim 22 , wherein said grip element is provided with a flange adapted to abut against the contour wall through which the key is inserted.  
   
   
       25 . The architectural element according to  claim 22 , wherein said key comprises stopping elements, adapted to define the coupling position of the key itself, associated with the grip element.  
   
   
       26 . The architectural element according to  claim 24 , wherein said key comprises stopping elements adapted to define the coupling position of the key itself, said stopping elements comprising teeth of the flange adapted to abut against notches made in the inner surface of the respective contour wall when the key is in coupled position.  
   
   
       27 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , wherein the access to the inner cavity of the architectural element is adapted to be closed by at least one closure panel adapted to be removably mounted on the frame.  
   
   
       28 . Architectural element according to  claim 27 , wherein the closure panel defines at least one of a front or rear wall of the architectural element.  
   
   
       29 . The architectural element according to  claim 27 , wherein the closure panel comprises a curvilinear wall which is adapted to the shape of the contour walls arranged at the end of the frame.  
   
   
       30 . The architectural element according to  claim 27 , wherein the closure panel comprises a curvilinear wall which is adapted to the shape of the parallel and opposite contour walls of the frame.  
   
   
       31 . The architectural element according to  claim 27 , wherein the closure panel is mounted on the frame with a snap coupling.  
   
   
       32 . The architectural element according to  claim 31 , wherein said snap coupling comprises respective teeth and hollow spaces.  
   
   
       33 . The architectural element according to  claim 32 , wherein the teeth are made in correspondence with an elastic or deformable structure which permits the snap coupling between the closure panel and the frame.  
   
   
       34 . The architectural element according to  claim 32 , wherein the teeth are associated with the closure panel while the hollow spaces are made in the frame.  
   
   
       35 . The architectural element according to  claim 32 , wherein the hollow spaces extend for the entire thickness of the respective contour wall, leading to the opposite side in order to permit access to the tooth and to simplify the dismantling.  
   
   
       36 . The architectural element according to  claim 27 , wherein the coupling between the closure panel and frame is further improved due to the presence of a form coupling which extends along the edges of the closure panel and frame, which are adapted to be mutually fit.  
   
   
       37 . The architectural element according to  claim 36 , wherein the form coupling is realized by at least one rib adapted to be inserted in a corresponding seat which is adapted to receive the closure panel.  
   
   
       38 . The architectural element according to  claim 35 , comprising a release accessory comprising an elongated body from which at least one tab extends, adapted to be inserted in the respective hollow space.  
   
   
       39 . The architectural element according to  claim 27 , wherein the closure panel comprises a raised outside border which defines a hollow space.  
   
   
       40 . The architectural element according to  claim 39 , wherein said hollow space is adapted to receive a mosaic decoration having the same thickness as the raised outside edge so that the surface of the architectural element is flat.  
   
   
       41 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cover panel, adapted to be mounted on the outer surface of contour walls of frames which, in the overall structure generated by the coupling of a plurality of architectural elements, are arranged with free ends and are therefore visible.  
   
   
       42 . The architectural element according to  claim 41 , wherein the cover panel has a shape adapted to be inserted in a hollow space of the contour wall, said hollow space being defined by a raised edge.  
   
   
       43 . The architectural element according to  claim 41 , wherein said snap release comprises additional teeth and additional hollow spaces, in order to mount the cover panel on the frame.  
   
   
       44 . The architectural element according to  claim 43 , wherein the additional teeth extend from the cover panel, while the additional hollow spaces are made in the frame.  
   
   
       45 . The architectural element according to  claim 43 , wherein the additional hollow spaces cross the entire thickness of the related wall, leading to the opposite side in order to facilitate the dismantling of the cover panel.  
   
   
       46 . The architectural element according to  claim 45 , comprising a release accessory comprising an elongated body from which at least one tab extends, adapted to be inserted in the respective hollow space.  
   
   
       47 . An architectural element comprising a frame formed by contour walls defining at least several side walls of the architectural element, wherein at least one of a closure panel or a cover panel is adapted to be removably mounted on the frame.  
   
   
       48 . The architectural element according to the  claim 47 , wherein said closure panel is adapted to define a side wall of said architectural element.  
   
   
       49 . The architectural element according to  claim 47 , wherein said cover panel is adapted to cover a contour wall of said frame.  
   
   
       50 . The architectural element according to the  claim 47 , wherein at least one of said closure panel and said cover panel is snap mounted on said frame.  
   
   
       51 . The architectural element according to the  claim 47 , wherein said at least one said closure panel and said cover panel comprises a hollow space to receive a decoration.  
   
   
       52 . The architectural element according to  claim 1 , wherein the contour walls of the frame comprise slots which are arranged so as to permit realizing a wall, wherein the architectural elements are arranged in at least one of a grid pattern or a pattern that is alternated and staggered by half a length between two rows of contiguous architectural elements.