AU2014304738A1

AU2014304738A1 - Groove and tongue system for a shelving wall of a shelving system

Info

Publication number: AU2014304738A1
Application number: AU2014304738A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ulrich Bohnacker
Original assignee: Tegometall International AG
Current assignee: Tegometall International AG
Priority date: 2013-08-06
Filing date: 2014-07-25
Publication date: 2016-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-25
Also published as: WO2015018662A1; MY176784A; NZ716692A; JP2016532493A; AU2014304738B2; EP3030113B1; EP3030113A1; HK1219213A1; PH12016500206A1; TW201517848A; CN105491917A; DE202013007058U1; EA201690352A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a shelving rear wall 1 for a modular shelving system which prevents the shelving rear wall from bending in a mounted state and terminates a transition between two shelving rear walls 1 arranged one over the other so as to block light. This is achieved in that the rear wall 1 has an element 3 which extends from one of the two longitudinal sides of the shelving rear wall in the depth direction, said element having a depression 4 or an elevation 5 in the width direction, i.e. with respect to the base center of the respective element. In an advantageous embodiment, the shelving rear wall 1 has such an element 3 on both longitudinal sides and thereby acquires flexibility in that structurally identical rear walls 1 can be arranged above or below a rear wall 1 according to the invention and the aforementioned advantages are achieved. In another advantageous embodiment, the elevation 5 formed on one of the longitudinal edges has a shape such that the elevation interacts with the depression 4 formed on the other longitudinal edge in a groove-and-tongue manner.

Description

PCT/EP2014/066046 - Tegometall International AG - PCA-48730 TONGUE AND GROOVE SYSTEM FOR A RACK WALL OF A RACK SYSTEM Modular rack systems are characterised in that they can be easily assembled from and disassembled into their individual components, respectively. Thus, they can be set up in an uncomplicated manner at their place of destination and can be configured and/or modified according to local needs. In particular, they have proofed themselves in the field of shop equipment because, in this field, due to the permanent change of the range of goods, the capability of individual modification is desired. Further, its modular construction is also advantageous for the manufacturers of the rack systems since, in a disassembled state, the individual components are easy to store and to transport. Typically, a modular rack system consists of a plurality of punched rack columns which are set vertically on footrests and in the punched holes of which horizontally oriented brackets for the support of rack shelves are mounted. For optical reasons but also to prevent that goods fall down to the rear side, a rack wall between the rack columns is provided. In many cases an individual light concept is created that perfectly accentuates the goods in optimum light, to improve optical presentation of the goods arranged in the rack. In some cases, the light sources necessary therefor are arranged behind the rack rear wall in order to, for example, allow an indirect illumination of the goods or the sales room. Modular rack walls known from prior art comprise hooks with which the rack wall is mounted into the punched holes of two rack columns spaced apart from each other, thereby defining a rear end of the rack shelf surface on which goods are disposed. Further, by mounting the rack rear walls, the rack columns are stabilised against lateral tilting. However, the disadvantage of such a rack system is that if a plurality of rack rear walls are mounted above one another, the border area of two adjacent rack walls disposed above one another is not lightproof. That means that an observer looking at the transition of the two rack walls in a shelf is imparted an undesired optical impression due to a light source disposed behind the rack wall. This annoying optical effect is, on the one hand, the result of manufacturing tolerances which do not allow a lightproof sealing of rack walls disposed one above the other. On the other hand, also a deflection of the mounted rack rear walls which occurs over a certain period of time contributes to intensify this negative effect. In general, the deflection is based on the own weight of the rack wall. Further, a small amount of warpage may occur at the rack wall caused by -2 shear forces transferred from the rack column to the rack wall and occurring after a certain time of use. It is the problem of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies at least in part and to provide a rack wall for a modular rack system which is easy to produce, stable and, at the same time, allows a lightproof transition to a further rack wall disposed below or above. This problem is at least partly solved by the rack rear wall defined in present claim 1. The inventive rack rear wall according to claim 1 enables a lightproof transition to a further rack rear wall which is disposed above or below and, at the same time, serves to stabilise the rack wall against a deflection in an assembled status. In a corresponding manner, the invention may also be applied to the side walls of a rack. The dependent claims further describe advantageous modifications of the rack rear wall. An embodiment of the present invention is explained in detail by means of the figures. Fig. 1 shows a front view of two rack rear walls disposed one above the other, Fig. 2 shows a side view of two rack rear walls disposed one above the other, Fig. 3 shows the section indicated by auxiliary circle A in Fig. 2 in a magnified representation. To ease a clear description of the invention, a coordinate system which is fixed to the rack rear wall is introduced, the coordinate system being defined by means of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 as follows. The longitudinal direction (which corresponds to the horizontal direction in the mounted state of the rack rear wall) is the direction extending from one side of the rack rear wall being provided with connecting means for mounting into a rack column to the other side of the rack rear wall comprising connecting means. As width direction (corresponds to the vertical direction in the mounted state of the rack rear wall) the orthogonal direction to the longitudinal direction is defined lying in the plane formed by the rack rear wall. Thus, the width direction is defined as extending from one longitudinal edge of the rack rear wall to the other longitudinal edge of the rack rear wall. The depth direction is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the width direction, thus, describes the depth of the rack in a mounted state of the rack rear wall.

-3 The rack rear walls 1 depicted in Fig. 1 comprise a substantially rectangular base plate 2 and are mounted to vertical rack columns (not depicted) at its sides defining the width via connecting means 6. The transition area of the two rack walls 1 is sealed in a lightproof manner and additionally stabilises the two rack walls 1 against the deflection of the rack wall 1 occurring in the mounted condition. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the rack walls 1 which are disposed one above the other from Fig. 1. One can see the connecting means 6 formed as hooks which are adapted to engage into respective punch holes at the vertical rack column in the mounted state. Further, each rack wall comprises an element 3 on one of its longitudinal edges extending from the base plate plane 2 into the depth direction of the rack wall. The transition area indicated by the auxiliary circle A is described in more detail in the following. Fig. 3 shows the transition area A of the two rack walls 1 in detail. It shows the exact shape of the element 3 extending from the base plate plane into the depth direction. The rack wall has an element 3 at its longitudinal edges extending into the depth direction, the depth direction being perpendicular to the base plate plane of the base plate 2. Further, this element 3 comprises a recess 4 extending in width direction and/or a convexity 5 extending in width direction. The term recess describes an element descending in width direction from the longitudinal edge to its respective opposite longitudinal edge, the term convexity describes an element which protrudes in width direction from the longitudinal edge away from its respective opposite longitudinal edge. In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 3, the lower rack rear wall 2 shows the element 3 being in the shape of a convexity 5. The upper rack rear wall has an element 3 at its side adjacent thereto which is formed as a recess 4, so that it may accommodate the convexity 5 of the rack rear wall disposed below. The recess 4 and the convexity 5 interact with each other as groove 4 and tongue 5 of a groove and tongue system. By this, it is possible to provide a lightproof transition between two rack rear walls 1. An observer at the front side of the rack rear wall 1 receives an unaltered optical impression which may be designed as desired by a respective illumination irrespective of the light conditions behind the rack rear wall. Additionally, the convexity 5 and the recess 4 of the two rack rear walls disposed one above the other advantageously contribute to the stabilisation against a deflection of the mounted rack rear walls 1. It is thus possible to install the illumination necessary in the field of rack construction without additional working effort behind the rack rear walls 1, while, at the same time, the light source does not shine through the transition area of the -4 rack walls 1. Thus, the optical impression of an observer of the rack rear wall is not impaired by the light source arranged behind the rack rear wall. Further, the elastic support function for a rack rear wall disposed above which originates from element 3 is beneficial against the deflection of the rack rear wall which normally occurs over time.

Claims

1. Rack wall (1), in particular a rack rear wall or a rack side wall, for hanging in two rack columns, comprising: a base plate (2) comprising at least one straight longitudinal edge, and an element (3) extending from the longitudinal edge of the base plate (2) into the depth direction orthogonal to the base plate and comprising a recess (4) in width direction or a convexity (5) in width direction which extends in the longitudinal direction.

2. Rack wall (1) of claim 1, wherein the base plate comprises a substantially rectangular base shape.

3. Rack wall (1) of any preceding claim, wherein the element (3) is disposed along the complete longitudinal edge of the base plate (2).

4. Rack wall (1) of one of the claims 2 or 3, wherein the element (3) is provided at two opposite edges of the base plate (2).

5. Rack wall (1) of claim 4, wherein at one of the longitudinal edges the element (3) is a recess and at another longitudinal edge the element (3) is a convexity, and the recess (4) and the convexity (5) of the elements (3) is formed so that they have the shape of a groove and a matching tongue (5).

6. Rack wall (1) of any preceding claim, wherein the element (3) is formed by folding the base plate (2).

7. Rack wall (1) of any preceding claim, wherein the two other edges along the width direction of the base plate (2) are provided with connecting means (6) for mounting to a rack column.

8. Rack wall (1) of claim 6, wherein the connecting means (6) are hooks for hanging in respective punch holes of the rack columns.

9. Combination of two rack walls of any preceding claim, wherein the respective convexity (5) or the respective recess (4) for two rack walls disposed -6 one above the other interact with each other so that a transition of the two base plates between the two rack walls is sealed in a lightproof manner.

10. Combination of two rack walls of claim 9, wherein the recess (4) of the element (3) of one rack wall forms a groove (4) and the convexity (5) of an element (3) adjacent thereto of the other rack wall forms a matching tongue (5).