This invention relates to a modular closet system according to the preamble of the first claim.

In the prior art, modular closet systems are known, which allows closet arrangements to be built based on wall elements and connection profiles, for example, from DE 40 22 432 C1 and DE 32 24 71 1 A1.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a closet system by means of which a greater variety of closet arrangements can be formed.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the modular closet system having all the features of the first claim.

The modular closet system according to the invention comprises:

- wall elements for forming the side and partition walls of a closet arrangement ;

- rear wall elements for forming rear walls of a closet arrangement ;

- a set of connection profiles for the connection of the wall elements and the rear wall elements with each other.

As used herein, the term "rear wall elements" refers to the elements of a closet arrangement forming the backside of the inner space of the closet, i.e. which extend in the width and height direction of the closet and generally substantially parallel with the front of the closet.

As used herein, the term "wall elements" refers to the elements of a closet arrangement forming the side and partition walls of the closet, i.e. which extend in the depth and height direction of the closet and generally substantially perpendicular to the front of the closet.

According to the invention, the set of connection profiles comprises the following profiles:

- wall coupling profiles, each of which comprise first holding means for holding the wall elements and first coupling means for the coupling of other connection profiles of the set; - rear wall functionalizing profiles, each of which comprise on both sides second holding means for holding the rear wall elements, second coupling means which are complementary to the first coupling means for coupling of the rear wall functionalizing profiles to the wall coupling profiles, and first suspension means provided for receiving the complementary second suspension means.

The closet system according to the invention further comprises functional elements exhibiting the second suspension means, and which are provided to be mounted to the rear walls of the closet arrangement through the rear wall functionalizing profiles.

By providing the rear wall functionalizing profiles and the functional elements, the rear wall of the closet arrangement, built up with the closet system according to the invention, can be functionalized. This means that the rear wall not only serves as a rear wall for the part of the closet arrangement which is mounted at the front side, but also as a rear wall for the functional elements of the closet arrangement which are provided to the rear side. In this way, a greater variety of closet arrangements can be built with the modular closet system according to the invention than the hitherto known modular closet systems.

The set of connection profiles comprises in addition rear wall coupling profiles, which differ from the rear wall functionalizing profiles and which also comprise on opposite sides the second holding means for holding the rear wall elements and the second coupling means that are complementary to the first coupling means, wherein the second coupling means are each time provided on both sides of the rear wall coupling profiles, such that a closet arrangement can be formed with wall elements on either side of the rear wall elements. By means of this rear wall coupling profiles closet arrangements may be constructed back to back against one another with a common rear panel. Consequently, this even increases the diversity of closet arrangements that may be obtained by means of the closet system according to the invention. Preferably, the wall coupling profiles are provided on either side of the wall elements as an integral part thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the first suspension means on the rear wall functionalizing profiles are designed as laterally-oriented slots, and the wall coupling profiles may also comprise such slots laterally-oriented slots, provided for suspending accessories in the inner space of the closet arrangement. Preferably, the slots on the rear wall functionalizing profiles have the same shape as the slots on the wall coupling profiles, such that the accessories and functional elements can be used both in the inner space of the closet arrangement and against the rear wall.

In a preferred embodiment, the rear wall functionalizing profiles each comprise a hollow space in which a fluorescent lighting is incorporated. Preferably, this hollow space is closed off by a transparent element, such that direct eye contact with the fluorescent lighting is avoided.

In a preferred embodiment, the rear wall functionalizing profiles comprise inclined parts on both sides, which are directed towards a rear wall element held by the second holding means and onto which a LED lighting is provided. The inclined orientation has the advantage that the LED lighting functions as an indirect lighting. The inclined parts are preferably at an angle of 0-60 °, more preferably 0-45 °, with respect to the rear wall element held by the second holding means.

In a preferred embodiment, the set of connection profiles further comprises front profiles, provided for finishing a front side of a closet arrangement, and coupling elements for coupling the front profiles to the first coupling means. Therefore, the coupling elements are complementary to the wall coupling profiles, which, in turn, may be used both in front of and to the back of the wall elements. Preferably, the wall coupling profiles are provided as an integral part of the wall profiles.

Preferably, the coupling elements provide a hollow space between the front wall profiles and the wall coupling profiles, in which a fluorescent lighting is incorporated and which is closed off by means of transparent elements on both sides of the coupling elements. In this way, lighting is integrated in the front of the closet.

Preferably, the second holding means of the rear wall functionaliztng profiles and the rear wall coupling profiles comprise resilient profiles for holding the rear panels by clamping.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the following description and the appended figures.

Figures 1 and 2 respectively show a sectional view and a perspective view of a portion of a first closet arrangement, mounted with a preferred embodiment of the modular closet system according to the invention.

Figures 3 and 4 respectively show a sectional view and a perspective view of a portion of a second closet arrangement, mounted with a preferred embodiment of the modular closet system according to the invention.

Figures 5 and 6 respectively show a sectional view and a perspective view of a part of a third closet arrangement, mounted with a preferred embodiment of the modular closet system according to the invention.

Figures 7 and 8 respectively show a sectional view and a perspective view of a portion of a fourth closet arrangement, mounted with a preferred embodiment of the modular closet system according to the invention.

Figure 9-12 show perspective views of preferred embodiments of the functional elements which are provided to be affixed onto the rear wall.

The first closet arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a wall element 1 , constructed from thin finishing boards 3 on both sides, in between an insulating material 4 is present, and onto which both left and right a wall coupling profile 0, 20 is arranged as an integral part by means of the first holding elements 1 1 , 21 which are attached (e.g., by gluing) against the inside of the finishing plates 3 and thus hold the wall elements 1 . This wall element 1 may be a side wall or a partition wall of the closet arrangement. The closet arrangement further comprises rear wall elements 2, formed as thin panels, which are the rear wall of the closet arrangement. The connection of the wall elements 1 and the rear wall elements 2 with each other is done by means of a rear wall functionalizing profile 30.

The wall coupling profiles 10, 20 each comprise first coupling means 12, 22, and the rear wall functionalizing profile 30 comprises second coupling means 32. The first and second coupling means are complementary to each other and engage in each other. The rear wall functionalizing profile 30 has on either side second holding means 31 for holding the rear wall elements 2. The shape of the rear wall functionalizing profile is thereby such, that the held rear wall elements 2 extend at an angle of substantially 90° with respect to the wall elements 1. The rear wall functionalizing profile 30 further comprises first suspension means, here designed as slots 33. These slots are provided for receiving second complementary suspension means, which in turn are provided on the functional elements 90 - 95 (see Figure 9 - 12), which are provided to be affixed to the rear walls 2 of the closet arrangement through the rear wall functionalizing profiles 30. By application of these functional elements 90- 95, the rear wall of the closet obtains a function in the interior of a home, e.g. as a desk, for suspending lighting, etc.

The wall coupling profiles 10, 20 have slots 13, 23 at the sides of the wall element 1 for suspending accessories in the inner space of the closet arrangement , such as shelves, drawers, etc. These slots 3, 23 have the same shape as the slots 33 on the rear wall functionalizing profile 30, such that the accessories and the functional elements may effectively be used at both sides, i.e. both in the inner space of the closet and against the rear wall. The second holding means 31 of the rear wall functionalizing profile 30, with which the rear wall elements 2 are being held, are constructed as slots with a resilient strip 37 on each opposite side. The rear wall elements 2 are sandwiched between these strips 37.

The rear wall functionalizing profile 30 comprises a hollow space in which a fluorescent lighting 35 is incorporated. This hollow space is closed off by a transparent element 80, which is fixed on the rear wall functionalizing profile 30 by means of sealing profiles 81 and by which direct eye contact with the fluorescent light 35 is avoided. The rear wall functionalizing profile 30 further comprises inclined portions 34 on both sides, on which an LED lighting 36 is provided. The inclined orientation has the advantage that the LED lighting 36 functions as an indirect lighting. The inclined portions 34 are preferably at an angle of 0-60°, more preferably 0-45°, relative to the second holding means 31 being held by the rear wall elements 2.

The first closet arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 further comprises a front profile 50, which finishes the front side of the closet arrangement. This front profile 50 is connected to one of the wall coupling profiles 10 of the wall element 1 by means of a coupling element 60. To this end, the coupling element has on both sides the second coupling means, which are also provided on the rear wall functionalizing profile 30 and which are complementary to the first coupling means 12, such that the coupling element 60 can be coupled complementary to the wall coupling profile 10. As shown, also the coupling between the front profile 50 and the coupling element 60 is carried out in this way.

The coupling element 60 provides a hollow space between the front profile wall 50 and the wall coupling profile 10, in which a fluorescent light 35 is incorporated and which is closed off by means of transparent elements 70 on both sides of the coupling element 60. In this way, lighting is integrated in the front of the closet. The transparent elements 70 are held between the sealing profiles 71 in exactly the same way as the transparent element 80 on the rear wall functionalizing profile 30.

The second closet arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 comprises twice the above-described wall element 1 with the integral wall coupling profiles 10, 20, each coupled to the front profile 50 by means of coupling elements 60. The two wall elements 1 are coupled to each other back to back by means of rear wall coupling profiles 40. These rear wall coupling profiles 40 comprise also the second holding means 41 with resilient strips 47 for holding the rear wall elements 2 under an angle of substantially 90° with respect to the wall elements 1 . The rear wall coupling profiles 40 each show on both sides the second coupling means 42 that are complementary to the first coupling means 22 of the wall coupling profiles 20. This results in a closet arrangement with a closet section on both side of the rear wall.

The third closet arrangement shown in Figure 5 and 6 comprises the above-described wall element 1 with the integral wall coupling profiles 10, 20, at the front side coupled to the front profile 50 by means of the coupling element 60 and at the rear side coupled with the rear wall coupling profiles 40, in which the rear wall elements 2 are being held. This third closet arrangement is positioned with the rear wall coupling profiles 40 against a wall 5. The closet arrangement may be fixed against this wall 5, for example by means of the second coupling means 42 of the rear wall coupling profiles 40 and a complementary profile (not shown) or other element which is attached on the wall 5.

The fourth closet arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8 comprises the above-described rear wall functionalizing profile 30, in which two rear wall elements 2 are being held, mounted against a wall 5. The closet arrangement may be fastened against this wall 5, for example by means of the second coupling means 32 of the rear wall functionalizing profile 30 and a complementary profile (not shown) or another element which is attached on the wall 5. This allows the functional wall of the closet arrangement of Figure 1 and 2 may to be mounted directly against a wall.

Figure 9-12 show examples of functional elements 90-95 which are provided to be mounted on the rear wall of the closet arrangement of Figures 1 and 2, more specifically each between two rear wall functionalizing profiles 30 by means of suspension means which are complementary to the slots 33 in the rear wall functionalizing profiles. The examples shown are a shelf 90, a stabilizing base 91 which serves to prevent tipping over of the closet arrangement, a rod for clothes hangers 92 with a shelf, a rod for clothes hangers 93, a desktop 94 and a drawer unit 95. Of course, many other functional elements may be suspended to the rear wall functionalizing profiles 30, in as far as they are provided with the suspension means complementary to the slots 33.

The combination of the closet arrangements of Figures 1 -12 shows the variety of closet arrangements which can be obtained with one and the same modular closet system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.