CA1224185A - Panel section interconnecting member and a shelf structure using a plurality of the panel section interconnecting members - Google Patents
Panel section interconnecting member and a shelf structure using a plurality of the panel section interconnecting membersInfo
- Publication number
- CA1224185A CA1224185A CA000454970A CA454970A CA1224185A CA 1224185 A CA1224185 A CA 1224185A CA 000454970 A CA000454970 A CA 000454970A CA 454970 A CA454970 A CA 454970A CA 1224185 A CA1224185 A CA 1224185A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- members
- panel
- panel section
- side wall
- receiving
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The invention discloses a panel section interconnecting member adapted to be used in the construction of shelf structures or shelf-like furniture. It comprises a generally rectangular base plate member of essentially flat configuration, one surface thereof comprising four generally tetrahedrally shaped supporting members protruding therefrom. First side walls of the supporting members are arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to second side walls of an adjacent supporting member, defining therebetween receiving channels adapted to receive hori-zontal and vertical panel members of a shelf structure to be erected. The so-formed channels thereby have an essentially cross-like configuration and the base plate comprises a central opening provided in the center of said cross for receiving a mounting screw or the like mounting member to mount the intercon-necting member to a wall. The side walls of the channels are narrower in the region of their top side than at the bottom side to effect a clamping action on a panel member received therein.
The invention discloses a panel section interconnecting member adapted to be used in the construction of shelf structures or shelf-like furniture. It comprises a generally rectangular base plate member of essentially flat configuration, one surface thereof comprising four generally tetrahedrally shaped supporting members protruding therefrom. First side walls of the supporting members are arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to second side walls of an adjacent supporting member, defining therebetween receiving channels adapted to receive hori-zontal and vertical panel members of a shelf structure to be erected. The so-formed channels thereby have an essentially cross-like configuration and the base plate comprises a central opening provided in the center of said cross for receiving a mounting screw or the like mounting member to mount the intercon-necting member to a wall. The side walls of the channels are narrower in the region of their top side than at the bottom side to effect a clamping action on a panel member received therein.
Description
- ~L2~4~L8S
A PANEL SECTION INTERCONNECTING MEMBER AND A SHELF STRUCTURE
USING A PLURALITY OF THE PANEL SECTION INTERCONNECTING MEMBERS
------______ ', BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
______ ____________________ The present invention refers to a panel section interconnecting member useful in the art of construction of shelves or shelf-like furniture, either mounted to a wall or self standing. The panel section interconnecting members serve to interconnect a plurality of horizontally extending panel members and a plurality of verti-cally extending panel membersr being part of a shelf.
PRIOR ART
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Up to now shelf-like furniture like bookshelves or the like have been constructed by joining the vertically and horizontally ex-tending panel members together in a suitable way, either by glue-ing or by screwing. It is thereby cumbersome to erect a shelf exactly according to the wishes of a user with regard to si2e and appearance, and usually quite a lot of tools and experience will ~: `
be needed if the furniture piece has to be construc~ed by a user ~; which is not well qualifled in the art.
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Hitherto a number of interconnecting members useful in erecting a bookshelf have been proposed, but which are complicated to use and are not in a position to offer a freedom of creative design ` , .
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~2~4~5 of a furniture to be planned and realized by the user itself in sufficient manner.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
: ------------------__________ It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a panel section interconnecting member which can be universally used to erect a shelf or shelf-like furniture, ei~her to be con-nected to a wall or self-standing.
~t is a further object of the invention to provide a panel sec-tion interconnecting member for the construction of either a single-sided or a double-sided shelf structure with the help of a plurality o~ vertically extending and horizontally extending panel members.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a shelf structure of simple, but pleasant design which may be construc-ted according to the wishes of the user, which may easily be dismantled and erected again without any damage to any part of the structure.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a shelf structure which may be assembled without the use of any tools, but by merely inserting the horizontal and vertical panel members into the panel section interconnecting members, which may be mounted to a wall or pairwise mounted together for the construc-tion of a free-standing shelf structure.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
_ _ _ _ The present invention provide8 a panel section interconnecting member adapted to be used in the construction of shelf structures or shel-like furniture, which comprises a generally rectangular base plate member of essentially flat configuration having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges. First, second, third and fourth generally tetraedically shaped supporting members are rigidly mounted at said first surface of the base plate member and protrude there-froml each of said supporting members including a first and a second triangular side wall arranged essentially perpendicular to said first surface of said base plate member, and a third oblique triangular surface constituting the top surface of the supporting members.
Each of said first and said second triangular sidewall of each of said supporting members together include a right angle.
The first side wall of the first supporting member is arranged essentially parallel and with a~certain distance to the second side wall of the second supporting memberl thereby defining therebetween a first receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected. The first side wall of the second supporting member is arranged essentially parallel and ; with a certain distance to the second side wall of the third supporting member, thereby defining therebetween a second recei-ving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelE s~ruc-.~
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ture. The first side wall of the third ~upporting member is ar-ranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to the second side wall of the fourth supporting member, thereby defi-ning therebetween a third receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure, and the first side wall of the fourth supporting member is arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to the second side wall of the first supporting member, thereby defining therebetween a fourth re-ceiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure.
Thereby the four channels have an essentially cross-like configu-ration and the base plate comprises a central opening provided in the center of said cross for receiving a mounting screw or the like mounting member.
Usually it would be most convenient if all said four supporting members are integrally formed with said base plate member, where-by said first, second, third and fourth supporting members are hollow and having an open back side.
Usually all four channels will have identical width, but some-times it may be advantageous if said first and said third channel have a first width and said second and said fourth channel have a second width which is different from said first width.
' In order to ensure a reliable ~ixing of the panel members in the panel section interconnecting members, it may be advantageous if Z2~S
the width of said first, second, third and fourth channel decrea-ses from the ground adjacent to said base plate to the top there-of. According to a preferred embodiment, the width of said first, second, third and fourth channel at the top may be 1 to 5 %, preferably 1 to 3 % less than the width at the ground thereof In a further embodiment, there is provided a circumferential recess along the edges of the panel section interconnecting mem-ber adapted to receive the edges of background panel members.
Each of the hollow spaces of the protruding supporting members may be provided with a tube-like flange extending parallel to the central axis of the panel section interaonnecting member and extending essentially up to said second surface of said base plate member. Clamping members associated with each of said tube-like flanges may be provided, adapted to be received thereon for clampingly retaining said background panel members.
The second surface of said base plate member may comprise a centrally arranged base fixing member consisting of two protru-ding sectors in juxtaposition, each sector extending over an angle of 90 degrees and being arranged around said central ope-ning in said base plate member. Furthermore the second surface of said base plate member may comprise a first, second, third and fourth eccentrically arranged base fixing member, said first an~
said third base fixing member being diagonally arranged with regard to each other in the region of two opposed corners of said base plate member and said second and said forth base fixing ~.
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" ':' ~ZZ4185 member being diagonally arranged with regard to each other in the region of the other two opposed corners of said base plate mem-ber. The first and third base fixing members have cylindrical shape with a predetermined outer diameter, and the second and fourth base fixing members comprise a cylindrical recess, the diameter thereof corresponding to said predetermined outer diame-ter of said first and third base fixing members.
The invention further provides a shelf structure including a plurality of horizontally extending panel members, a plurality of vertically extending panel members and a plurality of panel section interconnecting members adapted to rigidly interconnect said vertically extending panel members and said horizontally extending panel members, each panel section interconnecting mem-ber comprising a generally rectangular base plate memb~r of es-sentially flat configuration having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges, first, second, third and fourth generally tetraedically shaped supporting members rigidly mounted at said fir~t surface of said base plate member and protruding therefrom, each of said first, second, third and fourth supporting members including a first triangular side wall arranged essentially perpendicular to said first surface of said base plate member, a second triangular side wall arranged essentially perpendicular to said first surface of said base plate member and a third oblique triangular sur-face constituting the top surface of said supporting members, each of said first and said second triangular sidewall of each of said first, second, third and fourth supporting members to-~ZZ~85 gether including a right angle.
`' The first side wall of said first supporting member is arrangedessentially parallel and with a certain distance to said second side wall of said second supporting member, thereby defining therebetween a first receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected, said first side wall of said second supporting member being arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to said second side wall of said third supporting member, thereby deining therebetween a second receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected, said first side wall of said third supporting member being arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to said second side wall of said fourth suppor-ting member, thereby defining therebetween a third receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected, and said first side wall of said fourth supporting member being arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to said second side wall of said first supporting mem-ber, thereby defining therebetween a fourth receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected.
The first, second, third and fourth channel thereby have an es-sentially cross-like configuration and said base plate comprises a central opening provided in the center of said cross for recei-ving a mounting screw or the like mounting member.
lZ;~ 35 The first channel of each of said panel section interconnecting members receives and supports a first vertically extending panel member, and said third channel of each of said panel section interconnecting members receives and supports a second vertically extending panel member, and said second and said fourth channels of each of said panel section interconnecting members together receive and support a horizontally extending panel member.
Finally the invention provides a shelf structure including a plurality of horizontally extending panel member , a plurality of vertically extending panel members and a plurality of pairs of panel section interconnecting members adapted to rigidly inter-connect said vertically extending panel members and said horizon-tally extending panel members, said plurality of pairs of panel section interconnecting members consisting of a first panel sec-tion interconnecting member, the back side thereof being connec-ted to a second panel section interconnecting member. Thereby the first and the second panel section interconnecting member may be of the same design as hereinbefore described and explained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
______________ __________________ In the following there will be described an embodiment of the panel section interconnecting member as well as several embo~i-ments of panels constructed by means of and incorporating a plu-rality of the panel section interconnecting members according to the invention. Thereby reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
~z~ s Fig.l shows a perspective view of a panel section inter-connecting member according to the invention;
Fig.2 shows a top view of the panel section interconnec ting member according to Fig.l;
Fig.3 shows a side view of the panel section interconnec-ting member according to Fig.l, seen in the direc-tion of arrow A in Fig.2;
Fig.4 shows a bottom view of the panel section intercon-necting member according to Fig.l;
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Fig,5 shows a sectional view of the panel section inter-connecting member according to Fig.l, taken along the line V - V in Fig. 4;
Fig.6 shows a schematic perspective representation of a part of a shelf incorporating a plurality of diffe-rent vertical and horizontal panel members as well as a plurality of panel sec~ion interconnecting members;
Fig.7 shows a detailled perspective partial view of a shelf to be erected, in a first phase of construc-~ tion, i.e~ a panel section interconnecting member ; and a single vertical panel member inserted therein;
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~Z2g~5 Fig.8 shows a detailled perspective partial view of a shelf to be erected, but in a second phase of con-struction;
:, Fig.9 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a shelf mounted to a wall and incorporating the panel section interconnecting member according to the in-ventionS and Fig.10 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a free standing shelf in a double-sided version, in-; corporating the panel section interconnecting mem-~ bers according to the invention.
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`` DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
______________ ____ __ _____ __.____ Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of a panel section interconnecting member according ~i :
to the present invention, generally designated with reference numeral 1. As can be seen from the drawing it comprises essen-tially a base plate member 2 of generally rectangular shape as ` well as a plurality of generally tetraedically shaped supporting i:
members in the form of pro~rusions 3 rigidly mounted on said base plate 2. The preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and further discussed hereinafter comprises four protrusions 3 arranged on one surface of the base plate 2 along the four edges thereo.
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Each of the protrusions 3 includes a first side wall 4a as well as a second side wall 4b, both of ~aid side walls 4a and 4b having a surface with the shape of a right-angled triangle. The planes of said surfaces 4a and 4b include essentially a right angle to each other. A further surface 4c of each of the protru-sions 3 has the shape of a triangle as well, is arranged oblique-ly with regard to the plane of the base plate 2 and constitutes the upper surface of the panel section interconnecting member 1.
As can be clearly seen from Fig. 1 the four protrusions 3 are arranged on the base plate 1 with a certain distance to each other in such a way that four channels are formed between two adjacent protrusions 3. These channels are designated by referen-ce numerals Sa, 5b, 5c, and 5d. The side walls of these channels 5 are constituted by the triangular surfaces 4a and 4b of the protrusions 3.
According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, all channels 5 have the same width, the channels 5a and 5c on the one hand and the channels 5b and 5d on the other hand being arranged along a straight line, respectively, these two straight lines being the diagonals of the base plate 2 and including a right angle with reference to each other. T30wever, it is understood that e.g. the channels 5a and 5b might have a smaller width ~han the channels 5b and 5d, or vice versa, if panel members of different thick-ness have to be received.
The channels 5a to 5d defined by the side walls 4a and 4b of the 22~113S
protrusions 3 are adapted to receive vertical and horizon~al panel members, as will be described hereinafter in more detail.
The panel section interconnecting member 1 shown in Fig. 1 may have a size of about 5 inches in square, the protrusions 3 pro-truding from the base plate 2 by about l.S to 2 inches. Of course the size depends on the ~helf to be erected with the help of these panel ~ection interconnecting members at will. Preferably the panel section interconnecting members are manufactured of a suitable plastic material and it is understood that the base plate 2 and the protrusions 3, respectively~ have not to be con-stituted by separate units, but merely may be formed integrally.
In the latter case the base plate 2 has not to be a real plate member as the protrusions 3 may be hollow and open at their back side, i.e. at the surface of the base plate 2 opposite to the surface on which the protrusions 3 are mounted.
Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings, there will be evident that the channels 5ar 5b, 5c, and 5d are in a sross-like configu-ration as seen from the top, the channels 5a and 5c defining a vertically arranged receiving channel for panel members of a shelf to be vertically mounted, and the channels Sb and 5d defi-ning a horizontally arranged receiving channel for panel members of a shelf to be horizontally mounted, i~ the panel section in-terconnecting member 1 is mounted, eOg. to a vertical wall in the orientation as shown in Fig. 2. To this purpose the base plate 2 comprises an opening 6 in i~s center, i.e. at the point of inter-section of the horizontally and the vertically arranged channels - ~2Z~5 5b, 5d and 5a, 5c~ respectively. It is understood that the panel section interconnecting member 1 thereby may be mounted to a wall or the like by means of a screw (not shown) or similar means which penetrates said opening 6.
Fig. 3 shows a side view of the panel section interconnecting member 1 of Figs. 1 and 2, seen in the direction of the arrow A
in Fig.2. It will be evident that the base plate member 2 compri-ses a circumferential recess 7, the puprose thereof being explai-ned hereinafter in more detail. It may be further seen from Fig~3 that the base plate member 2 is equipped with a plurality of base fixing members 8 and 9, respectively, protruding fiomewhat from the lower surface thereof. Particularly, there are provided a central fixing base member 8 arranged in the region of the cross point of the two channels 5 and four further base fixing members 9a to 9c arranged in the region of the four corners of the base plate member 2.
Fig. 4 being a bottom view of the panel section interconnecting member 1 clearly shows the arrangement of the base fixing members 8 and 9. The central base fixing member 8 consists of two protru-ding sectors 8a and 8b in juxtaposition, each sector extending over an angle of 90 degrees and being arranged around the central opening 6 in the base plate member 2. The two base fixing members 9a and 9c, which are diagonally arranged with regard to each other in the region of two opposed corners of the base plate 2, have a smaller outer diameter than the two remaining base fixing members 9b and 9d arranged in the region of the two remaining --` lZZ~85 diagonally opposed corners. The latter two base fixing members 9b and 9d comprise a circular recess lOb and lOd, the diameter thereof corresponding to the outer diameter of the two other base fixing members 9a and 9c. Of course the four base fixing members 9a to 9d are symmetrically arranged with regard to the central symmetry point, i.e. with regard to the central axis through the opening 6 of the base plate 2.
It is thereby possible to fix two panel section interconnecting members 1 together, the back side of the first panel section interconnecting member facing the back side of the second panel section interconnecting member. If the the second panel section interconnecting member is rotated by 90 degrees with regard to the first panel section interconnecting member, the protruding sectors 8a and 8b of the first panel section interconnecting member will engage the spac~ between the protruding sectors 8a and 8b of the second panel section interconnecting member, there-by preventing any possibility of a pivoting displacement of the first panel section interconnecting member with regard to the second panel section interconnecting member around the central axis through their central opening 6.
The first and the second panel sec~ion interconnecting members may be fixe~ together by means of a screw and a nut (not shown~
penetrating the two central, coincidentally arranged openings 6.
Moreover the base fixing members 9a and 9c of the first panel section interconnecting member will engage the circular recess provided in the base fixing members 9b and 9d of the second panel ~24~L8S
section interconnecting member, while, in turn, the base fixing members 9a and 9c of the second panel section interconnecting member will engage the base fixing members 9b and 9c of the first panel ~ection interconnecting member. Thus a very rigid and re-liable compound of two panel section interconnecting members may be realized, resulting in a strong and rigid structure of a dou-ble sided shelf as shown in Fig. 10 and which will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.
Fig. 5 ~hows a sectional view of the panel section interconnec-ting member 1 along the line V - V in Fig. 4. As already mentio-ned earlier the protrusions 3 may be hollow, the back side there-of being open. Within the hollow space there is provided a tube-like flange 11 extending parallelly to the central axis X-X of the panel section interconnecting member and haYing its free end approximately in the plane of the back surface of the base plate member 2, each of said hollow space of the protrusions 3 compri-sing its own tube-like flange 11. Said tube-like flanges 11 may serve to receive clamping means 12 to fix background panels 13 which engage with their edge the circumferential recess 10 along the edges of the panel section interconnecting members 1. The provision of such background panels may be particularly useful if a doublesided shelf according to Fig. 10 is to be erected.
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Although it may be not especially evident from the drawings, it must be emphazised that the pairs of surfaces, e.g. 4a or 4b, de-fining together the channels 5, run not exactly parallel with re-gard to each other, but merely merge somewhat towards their upper ~2Z4~8S
end. With other words, the distance dl at the top is somewhat less than ~he distance d2 at the ground of each channel 5. The difference might be in the region of a few percent, preferably in ~he region of 1 to 3 %. The reason is to provide a clamping effect excerted on a panel introduced into the channels 5, there-by avoiding an unintended slipping-out of any panel to be re-tained by ~he panel section interconnecting members 1. It is un-derstood that the material of which the panel section intercon-necting members are manufactured is somewhat elastically resili-ent such that the panels might be inserted into the channels 5 without difficulty. Of course the difference between the width dl and the width d2 may vary according to the material to be used for manufacturing the panel section interconnecting members 1 and the resilient properties thereof, respectively.
''-Fig. 6 shows a schematic per0pective representation of a part of a shelf constructed in accordance with the present invention. The shelf, generally designated with reference numeral 14, incorpora-tes a plurality of panel section interconnecting members 1, a plurality of horizontally extending panel members 15 of a relati-vely extended length and a plurality of vertically extending pa-nel members 16 of comparatively short dimension. While the hori-zontal panel members 15 are of continuous configuration and are received in the channels 5a and 5c or in the channels Sb and Sd (see Figs. 1 and 2), respectively, depending of the orientation of the panel section interconnecting member, the vertically ex-tending short panel members 16 are subdivided, extend only up to the upper surface and from the lower surface of a horizontal pa-~L2Z4~S
nel member 15 to the upper surface of an adjacent horizontal pa-nel member 15 etc.
In the right part of Fig. 5 there are shown a number of vertical panel members 16a of different height which could be used alter-natively instead of the panel members 16 shown in the shelf in the left part of the drawing, depending upon the desired distance between the horizontal panel members 15. Correspondingly an al-ternative horizontal panel member 15a of greater depth is shown at the bottom of Fig. 6; this panel member 15a might be used in-stead of one of the panel members 15 shown in Fig. 6.
Anyway it might be desirabl~ that the shelf shown in Fig. 6 or any similar shelf constructed in accordance with the present invention is supported by the floor. That means that the lower-most vertical panel member 16 rests with its lower edge against the floor and thereby supports the whole shelf structure. Fur-thermore, particularly in the case of comparatively narrow and simultaneously high shelf structures, e.g. as shown in Fig. 9, it might be desirable to f ix at least some of the panel section in-terconnecting members to the wall. This may be easily be accom-plished by means of screws or the like fixing member, penetra-ting the central opening 6 of sald panel section interconnecting members to be fixed, which may be anchored by known means in the wall.
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Fig. 7 shows a detailled perspective partial view of a shelf to ~ be erected in a first phase of construction. It may be cIearly :
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seen that a panel section interconnecting member 1 has been fixed to a wall 17 by means of a ~crew (not shown). The lowermost ver-tical panel member 16 has been inserted into the lower, vertical-ly oriented channel 5a and is clampingly retained therein due to the clamping action of the inclined side-walls of that channel Sa, as hereinbefore explained. ~he lower (not shown) edge of the panel member 16 rests against the floor, while the upper edge 16b of the panel member 16 is aligned with the lower side walls 4 of the horizontally extending channels 5b and 5d.
While Fig. 7 shows only a partial view of the shelf construction to be erected, it should be quite obvious that a plurality of lowermost panel section interconnecting members 1 as well as a plurality of lowermost panel members 16 may be provided, in a predetermined distance to each other, but all at the same height on the wall, depending of the size and width of the shelf to be erected. Anyway, the first phase according to Fig. 7 and as here-inbefore explained having completedr the panel section intercon-necting member 1 ~or the plurality of panel section interconnec-ting member 1) mounted to the wall and equipped with the lower-most vertical panel members now are ready to receive the lower-most horizontal panel member, as will be explained in connection with Fig. 8.
Turning now to Fig. 8, the panel section interconnecting member 1 mounted to the wall 17 as well as the lowermost vertical panel member 16 may be recogni2ed. Furthermore a horizontally extending panel member 15 has been inserted into the channels 5b and 5d 24~5 (cf. FigO 7~ and i5 clampingly retained therein. The lower sur-face of the horizontal panel member 15 rests on and i8 supported by the upper edge 16b (Fig. 7) of the lowermost vertical panel member 1~. Again the same situation as shown in Fig. 8 will be present at further lowermost panel section interconnecting members which miyht have been mounted to the wall and equipped with a lowermost vertical panel member (not shown) for the con-struction of a shelf fitructure with extended width.
As a next step, a further vertical panel member 16c is inserted into the channel 5c of the panel section interconnecting member 1 in such a way that its lower edge 16d rests on and is supported by the upper surface of the horizontal panel member 15. It i~
understood that side walls 4 terminating the channel 5c are some-what obliquely arranged as well, as hereinbefore described, and thereby firmly retain the inserted vertical panel member 16c by the clamping action excerted thereon.
Now the steps explained in connection with ~igs. 7 and 8 are re-peated, but at a greater height on the wall, i.e. further panel section interconnecting members 1 are mounted to the wall 17 in the region of the upper edge of the vertical panel members 16c, and further horizontally extending panel members ~not shown~ are inserted into the corresponding horizontally extending channels of said further panel section interconnecting members, until the desired height of the shelf structure is reached.
~2'~4~5 Turning now to Fig. 9 there is shown a perspective view of a first embodiment of a shelf mounted to a wall 17. It comprises a plurality of panel section interconnecting members 1 equidistan-tially mounted to the wall 17 along a straight, vertical line.
Furthermore there is provided a first vertically arranged, lower-most panel member 16e resting on the floor 18 and æupporting the whole shelf structure. A first, lowermost hori~on~al panel member 15 is clampingly retained by the first, lowexmost panel section interconnecting member 1 and rests with its lower surface on the upper edge of said lowermost vertical panel member 16e. The upper surface of said lowermost horizontal panel member 15 supports a second, vertically arranged panel member 16f which also i8 clam-pingly retained in the upper, vertically extending channel 5c of said lowermost panel section interconnecting member 1 in the region of its lower edge, but retained by the lowermost vertical-ly extending channel 5a of the next, upper panel section inter-connecting member 1. Thereby a plurality of succesive panel sec-tion interconnecting members 1 r a plurality of vertically exten-ding panel members 16f and a plurality of horizontally extending panel members 15 may be arranged to form a shelf structure with the desired height, the uppermost vertical panel members 16e preferably being of shorter dimension similar to the lowermost ones.
In a similar way there may be erected a shelf structure of grea-ter width by arranging a further plurality of panel section in-terconnecting members 1, again along a straigt vertical line pa-rallel to the panel section interconnecting members 1 shown in ~2~4~8S
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Fig. 9, but in certain distance thereof. Of course one would have to use horizontal panel members 15 of greater width and being supported and received by all the panel section interconnecting members 1 mounted to the wall at the same height.
Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of a free standing, double sided shelf structure incorporating a plurality of panel section inter-connecting members 1, a plurality of horizontally extending panel members 15 and a plurality of vertically extending panel members 16. To erect such a double sided shelf structure, there is used a plurality of double panel section interconnecting members 1, two thereof being connected back side to back side as explained here-inbefore. Furthermore a background panel 13 may be used, consis-ting of a plurality of individual background panel members enga-ging with their edges the recesses 10 arranged along the edges of the panel section interconnecting members 1 and being fixed thereto by means o~ clamping means 12, aa shown in Fig.5.
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A PANEL SECTION INTERCONNECTING MEMBER AND A SHELF STRUCTURE
USING A PLURALITY OF THE PANEL SECTION INTERCONNECTING MEMBERS
------______ ', BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
______ ____________________ The present invention refers to a panel section interconnecting member useful in the art of construction of shelves or shelf-like furniture, either mounted to a wall or self standing. The panel section interconnecting members serve to interconnect a plurality of horizontally extending panel members and a plurality of verti-cally extending panel membersr being part of a shelf.
PRIOR ART
_ _______ ~
Up to now shelf-like furniture like bookshelves or the like have been constructed by joining the vertically and horizontally ex-tending panel members together in a suitable way, either by glue-ing or by screwing. It is thereby cumbersome to erect a shelf exactly according to the wishes of a user with regard to si2e and appearance, and usually quite a lot of tools and experience will ~: `
be needed if the furniture piece has to be construc~ed by a user ~; which is not well qualifled in the art.
. ~
Hitherto a number of interconnecting members useful in erecting a bookshelf have been proposed, but which are complicated to use and are not in a position to offer a freedom of creative design ` , .
:`
~2~4~5 of a furniture to be planned and realized by the user itself in sufficient manner.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
: ------------------__________ It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a panel section interconnecting member which can be universally used to erect a shelf or shelf-like furniture, ei~her to be con-nected to a wall or self-standing.
~t is a further object of the invention to provide a panel sec-tion interconnecting member for the construction of either a single-sided or a double-sided shelf structure with the help of a plurality o~ vertically extending and horizontally extending panel members.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a shelf structure of simple, but pleasant design which may be construc-ted according to the wishes of the user, which may easily be dismantled and erected again without any damage to any part of the structure.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a shelf structure which may be assembled without the use of any tools, but by merely inserting the horizontal and vertical panel members into the panel section interconnecting members, which may be mounted to a wall or pairwise mounted together for the construc-tion of a free-standing shelf structure.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
_ _ _ _ The present invention provide8 a panel section interconnecting member adapted to be used in the construction of shelf structures or shel-like furniture, which comprises a generally rectangular base plate member of essentially flat configuration having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges. First, second, third and fourth generally tetraedically shaped supporting members are rigidly mounted at said first surface of the base plate member and protrude there-froml each of said supporting members including a first and a second triangular side wall arranged essentially perpendicular to said first surface of said base plate member, and a third oblique triangular surface constituting the top surface of the supporting members.
Each of said first and said second triangular sidewall of each of said supporting members together include a right angle.
The first side wall of the first supporting member is arranged essentially parallel and with a~certain distance to the second side wall of the second supporting memberl thereby defining therebetween a first receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected. The first side wall of the second supporting member is arranged essentially parallel and ; with a certain distance to the second side wall of the third supporting member, thereby defining therebetween a second recei-ving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelE s~ruc-.~
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ture. The first side wall of the third ~upporting member is ar-ranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to the second side wall of the fourth supporting member, thereby defi-ning therebetween a third receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure, and the first side wall of the fourth supporting member is arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to the second side wall of the first supporting member, thereby defining therebetween a fourth re-ceiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure.
Thereby the four channels have an essentially cross-like configu-ration and the base plate comprises a central opening provided in the center of said cross for receiving a mounting screw or the like mounting member.
Usually it would be most convenient if all said four supporting members are integrally formed with said base plate member, where-by said first, second, third and fourth supporting members are hollow and having an open back side.
Usually all four channels will have identical width, but some-times it may be advantageous if said first and said third channel have a first width and said second and said fourth channel have a second width which is different from said first width.
' In order to ensure a reliable ~ixing of the panel members in the panel section interconnecting members, it may be advantageous if Z2~S
the width of said first, second, third and fourth channel decrea-ses from the ground adjacent to said base plate to the top there-of. According to a preferred embodiment, the width of said first, second, third and fourth channel at the top may be 1 to 5 %, preferably 1 to 3 % less than the width at the ground thereof In a further embodiment, there is provided a circumferential recess along the edges of the panel section interconnecting mem-ber adapted to receive the edges of background panel members.
Each of the hollow spaces of the protruding supporting members may be provided with a tube-like flange extending parallel to the central axis of the panel section interaonnecting member and extending essentially up to said second surface of said base plate member. Clamping members associated with each of said tube-like flanges may be provided, adapted to be received thereon for clampingly retaining said background panel members.
The second surface of said base plate member may comprise a centrally arranged base fixing member consisting of two protru-ding sectors in juxtaposition, each sector extending over an angle of 90 degrees and being arranged around said central ope-ning in said base plate member. Furthermore the second surface of said base plate member may comprise a first, second, third and fourth eccentrically arranged base fixing member, said first an~
said third base fixing member being diagonally arranged with regard to each other in the region of two opposed corners of said base plate member and said second and said forth base fixing ~.
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" ':' ~ZZ4185 member being diagonally arranged with regard to each other in the region of the other two opposed corners of said base plate mem-ber. The first and third base fixing members have cylindrical shape with a predetermined outer diameter, and the second and fourth base fixing members comprise a cylindrical recess, the diameter thereof corresponding to said predetermined outer diame-ter of said first and third base fixing members.
The invention further provides a shelf structure including a plurality of horizontally extending panel members, a plurality of vertically extending panel members and a plurality of panel section interconnecting members adapted to rigidly interconnect said vertically extending panel members and said horizontally extending panel members, each panel section interconnecting mem-ber comprising a generally rectangular base plate memb~r of es-sentially flat configuration having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges, first, second, third and fourth generally tetraedically shaped supporting members rigidly mounted at said fir~t surface of said base plate member and protruding therefrom, each of said first, second, third and fourth supporting members including a first triangular side wall arranged essentially perpendicular to said first surface of said base plate member, a second triangular side wall arranged essentially perpendicular to said first surface of said base plate member and a third oblique triangular sur-face constituting the top surface of said supporting members, each of said first and said second triangular sidewall of each of said first, second, third and fourth supporting members to-~ZZ~85 gether including a right angle.
`' The first side wall of said first supporting member is arrangedessentially parallel and with a certain distance to said second side wall of said second supporting member, thereby defining therebetween a first receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected, said first side wall of said second supporting member being arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to said second side wall of said third supporting member, thereby deining therebetween a second receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected, said first side wall of said third supporting member being arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to said second side wall of said fourth suppor-ting member, thereby defining therebetween a third receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected, and said first side wall of said fourth supporting member being arranged essentially parallel and with a certain distance to said second side wall of said first supporting mem-ber, thereby defining therebetween a fourth receiving channel adapted to receive a panel member of a shelf structure to be erected.
The first, second, third and fourth channel thereby have an es-sentially cross-like configuration and said base plate comprises a central opening provided in the center of said cross for recei-ving a mounting screw or the like mounting member.
lZ;~ 35 The first channel of each of said panel section interconnecting members receives and supports a first vertically extending panel member, and said third channel of each of said panel section interconnecting members receives and supports a second vertically extending panel member, and said second and said fourth channels of each of said panel section interconnecting members together receive and support a horizontally extending panel member.
Finally the invention provides a shelf structure including a plurality of horizontally extending panel member , a plurality of vertically extending panel members and a plurality of pairs of panel section interconnecting members adapted to rigidly inter-connect said vertically extending panel members and said horizon-tally extending panel members, said plurality of pairs of panel section interconnecting members consisting of a first panel sec-tion interconnecting member, the back side thereof being connec-ted to a second panel section interconnecting member. Thereby the first and the second panel section interconnecting member may be of the same design as hereinbefore described and explained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
______________ __________________ In the following there will be described an embodiment of the panel section interconnecting member as well as several embo~i-ments of panels constructed by means of and incorporating a plu-rality of the panel section interconnecting members according to the invention. Thereby reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
~z~ s Fig.l shows a perspective view of a panel section inter-connecting member according to the invention;
Fig.2 shows a top view of the panel section interconnec ting member according to Fig.l;
Fig.3 shows a side view of the panel section interconnec-ting member according to Fig.l, seen in the direc-tion of arrow A in Fig.2;
Fig.4 shows a bottom view of the panel section intercon-necting member according to Fig.l;
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Fig,5 shows a sectional view of the panel section inter-connecting member according to Fig.l, taken along the line V - V in Fig. 4;
Fig.6 shows a schematic perspective representation of a part of a shelf incorporating a plurality of diffe-rent vertical and horizontal panel members as well as a plurality of panel sec~ion interconnecting members;
Fig.7 shows a detailled perspective partial view of a shelf to be erected, in a first phase of construc-~ tion, i.e~ a panel section interconnecting member ; and a single vertical panel member inserted therein;
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~Z2g~5 Fig.8 shows a detailled perspective partial view of a shelf to be erected, but in a second phase of con-struction;
:, Fig.9 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a shelf mounted to a wall and incorporating the panel section interconnecting member according to the in-ventionS and Fig.10 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a free standing shelf in a double-sided version, in-; corporating the panel section interconnecting mem-~ bers according to the invention.
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`` DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
______________ ____ __ _____ __.____ Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of a panel section interconnecting member according ~i :
to the present invention, generally designated with reference numeral 1. As can be seen from the drawing it comprises essen-tially a base plate member 2 of generally rectangular shape as ` well as a plurality of generally tetraedically shaped supporting i:
members in the form of pro~rusions 3 rigidly mounted on said base plate 2. The preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and further discussed hereinafter comprises four protrusions 3 arranged on one surface of the base plate 2 along the four edges thereo.
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Each of the protrusions 3 includes a first side wall 4a as well as a second side wall 4b, both of ~aid side walls 4a and 4b having a surface with the shape of a right-angled triangle. The planes of said surfaces 4a and 4b include essentially a right angle to each other. A further surface 4c of each of the protru-sions 3 has the shape of a triangle as well, is arranged oblique-ly with regard to the plane of the base plate 2 and constitutes the upper surface of the panel section interconnecting member 1.
As can be clearly seen from Fig. 1 the four protrusions 3 are arranged on the base plate 1 with a certain distance to each other in such a way that four channels are formed between two adjacent protrusions 3. These channels are designated by referen-ce numerals Sa, 5b, 5c, and 5d. The side walls of these channels 5 are constituted by the triangular surfaces 4a and 4b of the protrusions 3.
According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, all channels 5 have the same width, the channels 5a and 5c on the one hand and the channels 5b and 5d on the other hand being arranged along a straight line, respectively, these two straight lines being the diagonals of the base plate 2 and including a right angle with reference to each other. T30wever, it is understood that e.g. the channels 5a and 5b might have a smaller width ~han the channels 5b and 5d, or vice versa, if panel members of different thick-ness have to be received.
The channels 5a to 5d defined by the side walls 4a and 4b of the 22~113S
protrusions 3 are adapted to receive vertical and horizon~al panel members, as will be described hereinafter in more detail.
The panel section interconnecting member 1 shown in Fig. 1 may have a size of about 5 inches in square, the protrusions 3 pro-truding from the base plate 2 by about l.S to 2 inches. Of course the size depends on the ~helf to be erected with the help of these panel ~ection interconnecting members at will. Preferably the panel section interconnecting members are manufactured of a suitable plastic material and it is understood that the base plate 2 and the protrusions 3, respectively~ have not to be con-stituted by separate units, but merely may be formed integrally.
In the latter case the base plate 2 has not to be a real plate member as the protrusions 3 may be hollow and open at their back side, i.e. at the surface of the base plate 2 opposite to the surface on which the protrusions 3 are mounted.
Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings, there will be evident that the channels 5ar 5b, 5c, and 5d are in a sross-like configu-ration as seen from the top, the channels 5a and 5c defining a vertically arranged receiving channel for panel members of a shelf to be vertically mounted, and the channels Sb and 5d defi-ning a horizontally arranged receiving channel for panel members of a shelf to be horizontally mounted, i~ the panel section in-terconnecting member 1 is mounted, eOg. to a vertical wall in the orientation as shown in Fig. 2. To this purpose the base plate 2 comprises an opening 6 in i~s center, i.e. at the point of inter-section of the horizontally and the vertically arranged channels - ~2Z~5 5b, 5d and 5a, 5c~ respectively. It is understood that the panel section interconnecting member 1 thereby may be mounted to a wall or the like by means of a screw (not shown) or similar means which penetrates said opening 6.
Fig. 3 shows a side view of the panel section interconnecting member 1 of Figs. 1 and 2, seen in the direction of the arrow A
in Fig.2. It will be evident that the base plate member 2 compri-ses a circumferential recess 7, the puprose thereof being explai-ned hereinafter in more detail. It may be further seen from Fig~3 that the base plate member 2 is equipped with a plurality of base fixing members 8 and 9, respectively, protruding fiomewhat from the lower surface thereof. Particularly, there are provided a central fixing base member 8 arranged in the region of the cross point of the two channels 5 and four further base fixing members 9a to 9c arranged in the region of the four corners of the base plate member 2.
Fig. 4 being a bottom view of the panel section interconnecting member 1 clearly shows the arrangement of the base fixing members 8 and 9. The central base fixing member 8 consists of two protru-ding sectors 8a and 8b in juxtaposition, each sector extending over an angle of 90 degrees and being arranged around the central opening 6 in the base plate member 2. The two base fixing members 9a and 9c, which are diagonally arranged with regard to each other in the region of two opposed corners of the base plate 2, have a smaller outer diameter than the two remaining base fixing members 9b and 9d arranged in the region of the two remaining --` lZZ~85 diagonally opposed corners. The latter two base fixing members 9b and 9d comprise a circular recess lOb and lOd, the diameter thereof corresponding to the outer diameter of the two other base fixing members 9a and 9c. Of course the four base fixing members 9a to 9d are symmetrically arranged with regard to the central symmetry point, i.e. with regard to the central axis through the opening 6 of the base plate 2.
It is thereby possible to fix two panel section interconnecting members 1 together, the back side of the first panel section interconnecting member facing the back side of the second panel section interconnecting member. If the the second panel section interconnecting member is rotated by 90 degrees with regard to the first panel section interconnecting member, the protruding sectors 8a and 8b of the first panel section interconnecting member will engage the spac~ between the protruding sectors 8a and 8b of the second panel section interconnecting member, there-by preventing any possibility of a pivoting displacement of the first panel section interconnecting member with regard to the second panel section interconnecting member around the central axis through their central opening 6.
The first and the second panel sec~ion interconnecting members may be fixe~ together by means of a screw and a nut (not shown~
penetrating the two central, coincidentally arranged openings 6.
Moreover the base fixing members 9a and 9c of the first panel section interconnecting member will engage the circular recess provided in the base fixing members 9b and 9d of the second panel ~24~L8S
section interconnecting member, while, in turn, the base fixing members 9a and 9c of the second panel section interconnecting member will engage the base fixing members 9b and 9c of the first panel ~ection interconnecting member. Thus a very rigid and re-liable compound of two panel section interconnecting members may be realized, resulting in a strong and rigid structure of a dou-ble sided shelf as shown in Fig. 10 and which will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.
Fig. 5 ~hows a sectional view of the panel section interconnec-ting member 1 along the line V - V in Fig. 4. As already mentio-ned earlier the protrusions 3 may be hollow, the back side there-of being open. Within the hollow space there is provided a tube-like flange 11 extending parallelly to the central axis X-X of the panel section interconnecting member and haYing its free end approximately in the plane of the back surface of the base plate member 2, each of said hollow space of the protrusions 3 compri-sing its own tube-like flange 11. Said tube-like flanges 11 may serve to receive clamping means 12 to fix background panels 13 which engage with their edge the circumferential recess 10 along the edges of the panel section interconnecting members 1. The provision of such background panels may be particularly useful if a doublesided shelf according to Fig. 10 is to be erected.
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Although it may be not especially evident from the drawings, it must be emphazised that the pairs of surfaces, e.g. 4a or 4b, de-fining together the channels 5, run not exactly parallel with re-gard to each other, but merely merge somewhat towards their upper ~2Z4~8S
end. With other words, the distance dl at the top is somewhat less than ~he distance d2 at the ground of each channel 5. The difference might be in the region of a few percent, preferably in ~he region of 1 to 3 %. The reason is to provide a clamping effect excerted on a panel introduced into the channels 5, there-by avoiding an unintended slipping-out of any panel to be re-tained by ~he panel section interconnecting members 1. It is un-derstood that the material of which the panel section intercon-necting members are manufactured is somewhat elastically resili-ent such that the panels might be inserted into the channels 5 without difficulty. Of course the difference between the width dl and the width d2 may vary according to the material to be used for manufacturing the panel section interconnecting members 1 and the resilient properties thereof, respectively.
''-Fig. 6 shows a schematic per0pective representation of a part of a shelf constructed in accordance with the present invention. The shelf, generally designated with reference numeral 14, incorpora-tes a plurality of panel section interconnecting members 1, a plurality of horizontally extending panel members 15 of a relati-vely extended length and a plurality of vertically extending pa-nel members 16 of comparatively short dimension. While the hori-zontal panel members 15 are of continuous configuration and are received in the channels 5a and 5c or in the channels Sb and Sd (see Figs. 1 and 2), respectively, depending of the orientation of the panel section interconnecting member, the vertically ex-tending short panel members 16 are subdivided, extend only up to the upper surface and from the lower surface of a horizontal pa-~L2Z4~S
nel member 15 to the upper surface of an adjacent horizontal pa-nel member 15 etc.
In the right part of Fig. 5 there are shown a number of vertical panel members 16a of different height which could be used alter-natively instead of the panel members 16 shown in the shelf in the left part of the drawing, depending upon the desired distance between the horizontal panel members 15. Correspondingly an al-ternative horizontal panel member 15a of greater depth is shown at the bottom of Fig. 6; this panel member 15a might be used in-stead of one of the panel members 15 shown in Fig. 6.
Anyway it might be desirabl~ that the shelf shown in Fig. 6 or any similar shelf constructed in accordance with the present invention is supported by the floor. That means that the lower-most vertical panel member 16 rests with its lower edge against the floor and thereby supports the whole shelf structure. Fur-thermore, particularly in the case of comparatively narrow and simultaneously high shelf structures, e.g. as shown in Fig. 9, it might be desirable to f ix at least some of the panel section in-terconnecting members to the wall. This may be easily be accom-plished by means of screws or the like fixing member, penetra-ting the central opening 6 of sald panel section interconnecting members to be fixed, which may be anchored by known means in the wall.
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Fig. 7 shows a detailled perspective partial view of a shelf to ~ be erected in a first phase of construction. It may be cIearly :
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seen that a panel section interconnecting member 1 has been fixed to a wall 17 by means of a ~crew (not shown). The lowermost ver-tical panel member 16 has been inserted into the lower, vertical-ly oriented channel 5a and is clampingly retained therein due to the clamping action of the inclined side-walls of that channel Sa, as hereinbefore explained. ~he lower (not shown) edge of the panel member 16 rests against the floor, while the upper edge 16b of the panel member 16 is aligned with the lower side walls 4 of the horizontally extending channels 5b and 5d.
While Fig. 7 shows only a partial view of the shelf construction to be erected, it should be quite obvious that a plurality of lowermost panel section interconnecting members 1 as well as a plurality of lowermost panel members 16 may be provided, in a predetermined distance to each other, but all at the same height on the wall, depending of the size and width of the shelf to be erected. Anyway, the first phase according to Fig. 7 and as here-inbefore explained having completedr the panel section intercon-necting member 1 ~or the plurality of panel section interconnec-ting member 1) mounted to the wall and equipped with the lower-most vertical panel members now are ready to receive the lower-most horizontal panel member, as will be explained in connection with Fig. 8.
Turning now to Fig. 8, the panel section interconnecting member 1 mounted to the wall 17 as well as the lowermost vertical panel member 16 may be recogni2ed. Furthermore a horizontally extending panel member 15 has been inserted into the channels 5b and 5d 24~5 (cf. FigO 7~ and i5 clampingly retained therein. The lower sur-face of the horizontal panel member 15 rests on and i8 supported by the upper edge 16b (Fig. 7) of the lowermost vertical panel member 1~. Again the same situation as shown in Fig. 8 will be present at further lowermost panel section interconnecting members which miyht have been mounted to the wall and equipped with a lowermost vertical panel member (not shown) for the con-struction of a shelf fitructure with extended width.
As a next step, a further vertical panel member 16c is inserted into the channel 5c of the panel section interconnecting member 1 in such a way that its lower edge 16d rests on and is supported by the upper surface of the horizontal panel member 15. It i~
understood that side walls 4 terminating the channel 5c are some-what obliquely arranged as well, as hereinbefore described, and thereby firmly retain the inserted vertical panel member 16c by the clamping action excerted thereon.
Now the steps explained in connection with ~igs. 7 and 8 are re-peated, but at a greater height on the wall, i.e. further panel section interconnecting members 1 are mounted to the wall 17 in the region of the upper edge of the vertical panel members 16c, and further horizontally extending panel members ~not shown~ are inserted into the corresponding horizontally extending channels of said further panel section interconnecting members, until the desired height of the shelf structure is reached.
~2'~4~5 Turning now to Fig. 9 there is shown a perspective view of a first embodiment of a shelf mounted to a wall 17. It comprises a plurality of panel section interconnecting members 1 equidistan-tially mounted to the wall 17 along a straight, vertical line.
Furthermore there is provided a first vertically arranged, lower-most panel member 16e resting on the floor 18 and æupporting the whole shelf structure. A first, lowermost hori~on~al panel member 15 is clampingly retained by the first, lowexmost panel section interconnecting member 1 and rests with its lower surface on the upper edge of said lowermost vertical panel member 16e. The upper surface of said lowermost horizontal panel member 15 supports a second, vertically arranged panel member 16f which also i8 clam-pingly retained in the upper, vertically extending channel 5c of said lowermost panel section interconnecting member 1 in the region of its lower edge, but retained by the lowermost vertical-ly extending channel 5a of the next, upper panel section inter-connecting member 1. Thereby a plurality of succesive panel sec-tion interconnecting members 1 r a plurality of vertically exten-ding panel members 16f and a plurality of horizontally extending panel members 15 may be arranged to form a shelf structure with the desired height, the uppermost vertical panel members 16e preferably being of shorter dimension similar to the lowermost ones.
In a similar way there may be erected a shelf structure of grea-ter width by arranging a further plurality of panel section in-terconnecting members 1, again along a straigt vertical line pa-rallel to the panel section interconnecting members 1 shown in ~2~4~8S
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Fig. 9, but in certain distance thereof. Of course one would have to use horizontal panel members 15 of greater width and being supported and received by all the panel section interconnecting members 1 mounted to the wall at the same height.
Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of a free standing, double sided shelf structure incorporating a plurality of panel section inter-connecting members 1, a plurality of horizontally extending panel members 15 and a plurality of vertically extending panel members 16. To erect such a double sided shelf structure, there is used a plurality of double panel section interconnecting members 1, two thereof being connected back side to back side as explained here-inbefore. Furthermore a background panel 13 may be used, consis-ting of a plurality of individual background panel members enga-ging with their edges the recesses 10 arranged along the edges of the panel section interconnecting members 1 and being fixed thereto by means o~ clamping means 12, aa shown in Fig.5.
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Claims (14)
1. A panel section connector adapted to be used in the construction of shelf structures of shelf-like furniture, comprising:
a generally rectangular base member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges;
first, second, third and fourth generally tetrahedrally shaped supporting members extending from said first surface of said base member and each including a first triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member, a second triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member and to said first side wall, and a third triangular top surface oblique to said first surface;
said first side wall of said first supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said second supporting member to define therebetween a first receiving channel, said first side wall of said second supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart said second side wall of said third supporting member to define therebetween a second receiving channel, said first side wall of said third supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said fourth supporting member to define therebetween a third receiving channel, and said first side wall of said fourth supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said first supporting member to define therebetween a fourth receiving channel, each of said receiving channels being adapted to receive a panel member of the shelf structure to be erected;
said first, second, third and fourth receiving channels together forming an approximately cross-shaped channel configuration having a pair of continuous open receiving channels extending completely across said first surface of said base member and parallel to a diagonal of said base member; and said base member having a central opening therethrough adapted to receive mounting means for mounting said panel section connector to another structure.
a generally rectangular base member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges;
first, second, third and fourth generally tetrahedrally shaped supporting members extending from said first surface of said base member and each including a first triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member, a second triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member and to said first side wall, and a third triangular top surface oblique to said first surface;
said first side wall of said first supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said second supporting member to define therebetween a first receiving channel, said first side wall of said second supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart said second side wall of said third supporting member to define therebetween a second receiving channel, said first side wall of said third supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said fourth supporting member to define therebetween a third receiving channel, and said first side wall of said fourth supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said first supporting member to define therebetween a fourth receiving channel, each of said receiving channels being adapted to receive a panel member of the shelf structure to be erected;
said first, second, third and fourth receiving channels together forming an approximately cross-shaped channel configuration having a pair of continuous open receiving channels extending completely across said first surface of said base member and parallel to a diagonal of said base member; and said base member having a central opening therethrough adapted to receive mounting means for mounting said panel section connector to another structure.
2. A panel section connector as defined in claim 1, further comprising mating means located on said second surface of said base member, said mating means comprising at least one projecting member and at least one receiving means so constructed and arranged relative to each other that said first panel section connector may be joined in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted second panel section connector with said projecting member of said first connector being received in said receiving means of said inverted second connector and said projecting member of said second connector being received in said receiving means of said first connector, the central openings of said base members of said first and second connectors being substantially aligned with each other when said connectors are in mating relation with each other.
3. A panel section connector as defined in claim 2, wherein said mating means comprises a pair of said projecting members and a pair of said receiving means, said projecting members being located diagonally opposite each other and equally spaced about the central opening in said base member, each of said projecting members having an angular extent of approximately 90° about the central opening, said pair of said projecting members defining a pair of diagonally opposed spaces located angularly between said projecting members, and said pair of spaces constituting said pair of receiving means, whereby said first and second connectors may be joined in mating relation in a predetermined position of orientation and at least one other position of orientation 180° out-of-phase therefrom and are impeded from rotating relative to each other when in mating relation.
4. A panel section connector according to claim 3, further comprising first, second, third and fourth noncentrally located mating members, said first and third mating members being spaced diagonally opposed to each other adjacent opposite corners of said rectangular base member, said second and fourth mating members being spaced diagonally opposed to each other adjacent the other two opposite corners of said rectangular base member, said first and third mating members each comprising a cylindrical member with a predetermined outer diameter, said second and fourth mating members each comprising a cylindrical recess having a diameter corresponding to said predetermined outer diameter of said first and third mating members and adapted to matingly receive therein one of said cylindrical members.
A panel section connector as defined in one of claims 1 or 2 wherein said supporting members are integrally formed with said base member.
6. A panel section connector as defined in one of claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein said supporting members are hollow, and further comprising means defining a circumferential recess along the-edges of said panel section connector adapted to receive the edges of at least one background panel member and at least one tube means extending from one of said top surfaces within a hollow space of the supporting member parallel to the central axis of said panel section connector, and clamping means engaged with said tube means for clampingly retaining said at least one background member.
7. A panel section connector as. defined in one of claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein said first, second, third and fourth channels are of an identical width.
8. A panel section connector as defined in one of claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein said first and third channels have a first width and said second and said fourth channels have a second width which is different from said first width.
9. A panel section connector as defined in one of claims 1. 2 or 4 wherein the width of each of said first, second, third and fourth channels is less at a first location from said base member than at a second location closer to said base member.
10. A shelf structure including a plurality of horizontally extending panel members, a plurality of vertically extending panel members and a plurality of panel section connectors adapted to rigidly interconnect said vertically extending panel members and said horizontally extending panel members, each panel section connector comprising:
a generally rectangular base member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges;
first, second, third and fourth generally tetrahedrally shaped supporting members extending from said first surface of said base member and each including a first triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member, a second triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member and to said first side wall, and a third triangular top surface oblique to said first surface;
said first side wall of said first supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said second supporting member to define therebetween a first receiving channel, said first side wall of said second supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart said second side wall of said third supporting member to define therebetween a second receiving channel, said first side wall of said third supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said fourth supporting member to define therebetween a third receiving channel, and said first side wall of said fourth supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said first supporting member to define therebetween a fourth receiving channel, each of said receiving channels being adapted to receive a panel member of the shelf structure;
said first, second, third and fourth receiving channels together forming an approximately cross-shaped channel configuration having a pair of continuous open receiving channels extending completely across said first surface of said base member and parallel to a diagonal of said base member; and said first channel of each of said panel section connectors receiving and supporting a first vertically extending panel member, said third channel of each of said panel section connectors receiving and supporting a second vertically extending panel member, and said second and said fourth channels of each of said panel section connectors together receiving and supporting a horizontally extending panel member.
a generally rectangular base member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges;
first, second, third and fourth generally tetrahedrally shaped supporting members extending from said first surface of said base member and each including a first triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member, a second triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member and to said first side wall, and a third triangular top surface oblique to said first surface;
said first side wall of said first supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said second supporting member to define therebetween a first receiving channel, said first side wall of said second supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart said second side wall of said third supporting member to define therebetween a second receiving channel, said first side wall of said third supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said fourth supporting member to define therebetween a third receiving channel, and said first side wall of said fourth supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said first supporting member to define therebetween a fourth receiving channel, each of said receiving channels being adapted to receive a panel member of the shelf structure;
said first, second, third and fourth receiving channels together forming an approximately cross-shaped channel configuration having a pair of continuous open receiving channels extending completely across said first surface of said base member and parallel to a diagonal of said base member; and said first channel of each of said panel section connectors receiving and supporting a first vertically extending panel member, said third channel of each of said panel section connectors receiving and supporting a second vertically extending panel member, and said second and said fourth channels of each of said panel section connectors together receiving and supporting a horizontally extending panel member.
11. A shelf structure as defined in claim 10, wherein said panel section connector comprises making means located on said second surface of said base member, said mating means comprising at least one projecting member and at least one receiving means so constructed and arranged relative to each other that said first panel section connector may be joined in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted second panel section connector with said projecting member of said first connector being received in said receiving means of said inverted second connector and said projecting member of said second connector being received in said receiving means of said first connector, the central openings of said base members of said first and second connectors being substantially aligned with each other when said connectors are in mating relation with each other.
12. A shelf structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said panel section connector mating means comprises a pair of said projecting members and a pair of said receiving means, said projecting members being located diagonally opposite each other and equally spaced about the central opening in said base member, each of said projecting members having an angular extent of approximately 90° about the central opening, said pair of said projecting members defining a pair of diagonally opposed spaces located angularly between said projecting members, and said pair of spaces constituting said pair of receiving means, whereby said first and second connectors may be joined in mating relation in a predetermined position of orientation and at least one other position of orientation 180°
out-of-phase therefrom and are impeded from rotating relative to each other when in mating relation.
out-of-phase therefrom and are impeded from rotating relative to each other when in mating relation.
13. A shelf structure as defined in claim 12, wherein said panel section connector further comprises first, second, third and fourth noncentrally located mating. members, said first and member and to said first side wall, and a third triangular top surface oblique to said first surface;
said first side wall of said first supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said second supporting member to define therebetween a first receiving channel, said first side wall of said second supporting member being approximately parallel to third mating members being spaced diagonally opposed to each other adjacent opposite corners of said rectangular base member, said second and fourth mating members being spaced diagonally opposed to each other adjacent the other two opposite corners of said rectangular base member, said first and third mating members each comprising a cylindrical member with a predetermined outer diameter, said second and fourth mating members each comprising a cylindrical recess having a diameter corresponding to said predetermined outer diameter of said first and third mating members and adapted to matingly receive therein one of said cylindrical members.
said first side wall of said first supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said second supporting member to define therebetween a first receiving channel, said first side wall of said second supporting member being approximately parallel to third mating members being spaced diagonally opposed to each other adjacent opposite corners of said rectangular base member, said second and fourth mating members being spaced diagonally opposed to each other adjacent the other two opposite corners of said rectangular base member, said first and third mating members each comprising a cylindrical member with a predetermined outer diameter, said second and fourth mating members each comprising a cylindrical recess having a diameter corresponding to said predetermined outer diameter of said first and third mating members and adapted to matingly receive therein one of said cylindrical members.
14. A shelf structure including a plurality of horizontally extending panel members, a plurality of vertically extending panel members and a plurality of pairs of panel section connectors adapted to rigidly interconnect said vertically extending panel members and said horizontally extending panel members, each of said pairs of panel section connectors comprising a first panel section connector joined in mating relation to a second inverted panel section connector substantially identical to said first connector, each of said first and said second panel connectors comprising:
a generally rectangular base member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges; .
first, second, third and fourth generally tetrahedrally shaped supporting members extending from said first surface of said base member and each including a first triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member, a second triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base and spaced apart said second side wall of said third supporting member to define therebetween a second receiving channel, said first side wall of said third supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said fourth supporting member to define therebetween a third receiving channel, and said first side wall of said fourth supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said first supporting member to define therebetween a fourth receiving channel, each of said receiving channels being adapted to receive a panel member of the shelf structure;
said first, second, third and fourth receiving channels together forming an approximately cross-shaped channel configuration having a pair of continuous open receiving channels extending completely across said first surface of said base member and parallel to a diagonal of said base member; and said first channels of each of said first and second panel section connectors receiving and supporting first vertically extending panel members, said third channels of each of said first and second panel section connectors receiving and supporting second vertically extending panel members, and said second and fourth channels of each of said first and second panel section connectors together receiving and supporting horizontally extending panel members.
a generally rectangular base member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to said first surface and four side edges; .
first, second, third and fourth generally tetrahedrally shaped supporting members extending from said first surface of said base member and each including a first triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base member, a second triangular side wall arranged approximately perpendicular to said first surface of said base and spaced apart said second side wall of said third supporting member to define therebetween a second receiving channel, said first side wall of said third supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said fourth supporting member to define therebetween a third receiving channel, and said first side wall of said fourth supporting member being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from said second side wall of said first supporting member to define therebetween a fourth receiving channel, each of said receiving channels being adapted to receive a panel member of the shelf structure;
said first, second, third and fourth receiving channels together forming an approximately cross-shaped channel configuration having a pair of continuous open receiving channels extending completely across said first surface of said base member and parallel to a diagonal of said base member; and said first channels of each of said first and second panel section connectors receiving and supporting first vertically extending panel members, said third channels of each of said first and second panel section connectors receiving and supporting second vertically extending panel members, and said second and fourth channels of each of said first and second panel section connectors together receiving and supporting horizontally extending panel members.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000454970A CA1224185A (en) | 1984-05-23 | 1984-05-23 | Panel section interconnecting member and a shelf structure using a plurality of the panel section interconnecting members |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000454970A CA1224185A (en) | 1984-05-23 | 1984-05-23 | Panel section interconnecting member and a shelf structure using a plurality of the panel section interconnecting members |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1224185A true CA1224185A (en) | 1987-07-14 |
Family
ID=4127917
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000454970A Expired CA1224185A (en) | 1984-05-23 | 1984-05-23 | Panel section interconnecting member and a shelf structure using a plurality of the panel section interconnecting members |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1224185A (en) |
-
1984
- 1984-05-23 CA CA000454970A patent/CA1224185A/en not_active Expired
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| MKEX | Expiry |