AU674559B2 - Shelf unit with crosspieces capable of being positioned to hold interchangeable supports - Google Patents

Description

1 SHELF UNIT WITH CROSSPIECES CAPABLE OF BEING POSITIONED TO HOLD INTERCHANGEABLE SUPPORTS

DESCRIPTION

The object of this invention is a shelf unit comprising at least one Ssubstantially vertical upright and at least one supporting crosspiecp capable of being reversibly clamped to such upright at preset heitis, to such crosspiece there being capable of being attached supporting surfaces and the like qvhich may be interchanged and assembled as required.

\O It is known that in the design of shelves, bookcases and shelf units o o there is always required high versatility of adaptation of the individual components of the structure to the various particular requirements of the user, in particular with regard to the need for adaptations "tailored" to the specific dimensions of the various 1, locations in v:hich the structure is to be installed.

*0•0 Such requirement is even more marked in business premises such as shops, supermarkets and the like, where the multiplicity of goods to be displayed and the great difference in dimensions and weight of the various items make it necessary to be able to provide shelf units 0 and/or display units with shelves of specific sizes and spaced between one another strictly in accordance with the item to be displayed.

There is therefore posed the technical problem of providing a structure for shelf units and/or display units which will make it possible to alter in a very easy manner both their overall extent in a longitudinal as' and transverse sense and the distance in a vertical sense between one shelf and another so as to optimize the relationship between the dimensions and quantity of the goods displayed.

Such structure should furthermore make it possible to change in an easy manner the type of display support according to the different types of packaging of the products displayed, while also making easily readable by the customer both the identification data of the required product and the selling price.

Such results are obtained by a shelf unit comprising at least one substantially vertical upright and at least one horizontal supporting piece, in which such vertical upright has flanks provided with horizontal guides capable of being attached to corresponding seats of \O a crosspiece which may be inserted into such upright and reversibly joined thereto using appropriate means of clamping in conjunction with longitudinal seats provided on such flanks of the upright. To such crosspiece there may furthermore be applied product supporting components using suitable fixing devices capable of being secured to 19 the respective seats provided in the said crosspiece, such supporting components being preselected to match the type of packaging of the product.

According to the invention, such crosspiece has a seat of substantially horizontal shape on the flanks of which are provided such seats, aO the front surface of such seat constituting the end stop for the insertion of the crosspiece into the upright.

In greater detail, provision is made for such means of clamping of the crosspiece to the upright to be comprised of locking components, one of the ends of which is capable of being inserted into such longitudinal d seats under the pushing action of flexible means reacting against fixed seat of the crosspiece.

In one method of implementation, such supporting components are comprised of shelves and such shelf fixing devices are comprised of rods made integral by means of screw fasteners and acting in -conjunction with seats of the shelf in order to hold the same.

In a further method of implementation, such supporting components a'e comprised of a shaped bar provided wiith its own clamping devices capable of being inserted into corresponding seats in the crosspiece.

Provision is also made for such shelves to be provided with means for identifying the features and price of the product, consisting of a section provided with seats to accommodate tabs containing alphanumeric characters and seats for guiding and holding a transparent protective piece.

Further details may be obtained from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, which show: *0 In figure 1 a structure 1s In figure 2 invention; In figure 3 In figure 4 2; QO In figure 5 a perspective view of the inside of a room equipped with according to the invention; an upright column fitted with shelves according to the an enlarged detail of a shelf fitted to a column; a cross-section according to plotting plane IV-IV of fig.

a cross-section according to plotting plane V-V of fig.

*o 4; In figure 6 a cross-section according to plotting plane VI-VI of fig.

4; In figure 7 a cross-section according to plotting plane VI-VI of fig.

s 4; In figure 8 an example of implementation of the structure according to the invention for the construction of movable dividers; In figure 9 an example of a holder for packs of the so-called "biister" type; In figures 10a; lOb; 11 further examples of designs of different shelves and/or supports according to the invention.

As illustrated in the figures, the structure according to the invention Sis essentially comprised of an upright column 1, represented in the example by an aluminium section, on flanks la of which are provided transverse guides Ib interspaced at regular intervals according to a preset pitch; on such flanks la are furthermore provided longitudinal seats ic located between each pair of transverse guides, the purpose of K) which will become more clearly apparent hereinafter.

In the vicinity of the rear part of flanks la of upright 1 are also provided grooves ld capable of accommodating the edge of panels 2 for the connection between one upright and another in order to provide rear walls.

To such upright 1 is fitted a crosspiece 3 having a seat 4 of substantially shape, on flanks 4a of which are provided recesses 4b capable of mating with corresponding projections Ib from flanks la of upright 1 during the insertion of crosspiece 3 into upright 1 up to 0* :o the stop against the front surface of the upright.

o In the vicinity of the flanks of such "C"-shaped seat of crosspiece 3 are also provided locks 5 accessible from the upper external surface of crosspiece 3. Such locks 5 are held in the outer position by the action of flexible components 5a reacting against a stop 5b of crosspiece 3, outer tip 5d of the lock engaging such seats Id of the flanks of .29 upright 1 to prevent the detachment of crosspiece 3 from the said upright.

Ir this manner, crosspiece 3 is reversibly clamped in a preset position on upright 1.

To such crosspiece 3 may be attached a supporting component consisting for example of a shelf 6 (fig. in this case the attachment between crosspiece 3 and surface 6 is obtained by means of pins 7 projecting outwardly from crosspiece 3 via through-holes 7a and made integral Stherewith by means of a nut 7b capable of engaging a threaded end 7c of pin 7, the other end 7d of the pin being located in a corresponding seat 6d of the shelf to which it thereby imparts stable support.

However, where the packaging of the product to be displayed is of "blister" type 8 (fig. the supporting component is comprised of a \O bar 106 capable of being attached to crosspiece 3 by means of a folded piece 106a capable of being inserted into corresponding seats 103a of crosspiece 3.

In both cases it is possible to apply to supporting component 6 or 106 means for indicating the features of the product and/or the price.

In the first case, such means consist of a section 10 capable of accommodating tabs 11 containing alphanumeric characters which may be m: .protected by the insertion of a transparent piece 12 in corresponding guides 10a of section In the second case there is instead provided a piece 110 located above a-o support 106.

In figures 10a, O10b and 11 are illustrated some alternative methods of implementation of the shelf unit according to the invention which are clearly apparent from the said figures and therefore not described in detail.

Claims (8)

1. A shelf unit comprising at least one substantially vertical upright and at least one horizontal supporting piece, wherein the vertical upright has flanks provided with horizontal guides capable of being attached to corresponding seats of a crosspiece which may be inserted into such upright and reversibly clamped thereto using at least one locking component, one of the ends of which is capable of being inserted into longitudinal seats provided on the said flanks of the upright under the pushing action of flexible means reacting against a fixed seat of the said crosspiece; to such crosspiece there may be furthermore applied supporting components affixed using appropriate fixing devices capable of being secured to further appropriate seats provided in the crosspiece, such supporting components be.r-g preselected to match the type of packaging of the products to be supported by the said shelf unit.

2. A shelf unit according to claim 1, wherein the crosspiece has a seat of substantially horizontal shape on flanks of which are provided seats capable of being attached to corresponding horizontal guides on the said upright, the front surface of such seat constituting the end stop for the insertion of the crosspiece into the upright.

3. A shelf unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear part of the flank of the said upright is provided with means to accommodate the edge of a panel constituting an accessory wall for connection between the uprights. S. 20

4. A shelf unit according to claims 1-3, wherein the said supporting components comprise shelves.

5. A shelf unit according to claim 4, wherein the said fixing devices comprise 0: 0 rods coupled to the crosspiece which act in conjunction with seats adapted to receive the said rods formed in the shelf in order to provide support for the said shelf. 25

6. A shelf unit according to claims 1-4, wherein the said supporting components comprise a shaped bar provided with clamping devices capable of clamping the said bar to the crosspiece.

7. A shelf unit according to claims 1-7, wherein the said supporting components are provided with means for identifying the features and price of the product, comprising a portion having seats to accommodate tabs containing alphanumeric characters and optionally further seats for guiding and holding a transparent protective piece.

8. A shelf unit substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 29 October, 1996 Nobili S.r.l. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [N:\LIBA]00400:TCW SHELF UNIT WITH CROSSPIECES CAPABLE OF BEING POSITIONED TO HOLD INTERCHANGEABLE SUPPORTS Abstract A shelf unit comprising at least one substantially vertical upright attached to at least one crosspiece for supporting shelves (6) and the like, such attachment being obtained by means of combined transverse guides (Ib) and means (1c) for restraining sliding movement in a direction perpendicular to the upright. Figure 2. o *oo 0 0 *o *ooo KMH/0804W