EP0118943B1

EP0118943B1 - Structure which can be built-up by forced insertion, for constructing shelving in general

Info

Publication number: EP0118943B1
Application number: EP84200212A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alfredo Pressanto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-10
Filing date: 1984-02-17
Publication date: 1988-05-04
Also published as: IT8334839V0; ES277656Y; DE3470834D1; ES277656U; ATE33923T1; EP0118943A2; EP0118943A3

Abstract

A structure which can be builtup by forced insertion, for constructing shelving in general, comprises two uprights 1 and at least two shelves 2, all formed from electrically welded mesh sheets, the former having their vertical edges 10 bent inwards at a right angle and provided with an end rod 11, whereas the latter have their front and rear edges 20 doubly bent at a right angle towards the inactive face of the respective shelf 2 where they comprise a longitudinal end rod 21. The doubly bent edges 20 of the shelves 2 provide, at their ends, pairs of projectings forks which are able to be forcibly inserted between the flat part of the uprights 1 and the corresponding vertical end rods 11, with the respective shelf 2 simultaneously resting on the inner horizontal rods of the uprights 1.

Description

This invention relates to a knockdown shelving unit which can be variously built-up by fitting together its component elements by means of forced insertion, which is made possible by the slight deformation to which the parts concerned are subjected during their fitting.
A knockdown shelving unit according to the prior art portion of claim 1 is known from US-A-3 138 123.
The invention is characterised in that the uprights are provided with two opposing vertical right-angles bends pointing inwards where they comprise a vertical end rod and to which said horizontal rods of the uprights also extend, and in that the panels acting as shelves have their front and rear edges doubly bent at right angles about themselves towards the under-surface of the panel where they comprise a longitudinal end rodtothus form, on each of their end portions, two adjacent projecting forks able to be forcibly inserted between the inner face of the upright and the respective vertical end rod.
Said elements when assembled provide a sort of shelving which can be used in the most diverse ways, for example for housing objects or materials, tools, products or others, for example bottles or trays.
The shelving obtained in this manner can be of fixed type, or alternatively of trolley-mounted type by simply providing it with normal castors.
Moreover, the shelving of the invention has the advantage of being able to be assembled without the aid of bolts and their relative spanner or tool, and can thus be assembled by anybody, including persons of little skill.
Furthermore, when dismantled, the structure of the invention is of minimum bulk, which makes it extremely simple to package, store and transport.
According to the invention, the proposed structure is in the form of a series of electrically welded mesh panels of rectangular shape and of any dimensions, and of which the aperture and the diameters of the component rods depend on the use to which the invention is to be put.
It is important, for mounting the shelves, thatthe distance between the horizontal rods of the shoulders is such as to allow the insertion of the shelves when these latter are in an inclined position, so that before being fitted-in they lie between the bends of said shoulders.
A structure of this type, even if it comprises only the two shoulders and two shelves, namely an upper and a lower one, is very stable and particularly rigid, even with relatively large mesh apertures and relatively small rod diameters.
The constructional characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings given by way of example only, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a structure which can be built-up according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial side view to an enlarged scale showing the method of fitting one of the shelf panels;
Figure 3 is a plan projection showing a vertical corner of the structure according to the invention to an enlarged scale.

Said figures, and in particular Figure 1, show that the invention comprises two upright or shoulder panels 1, and a series of shelf panels 2, of which only two are shown in the figure in that only these are essential for the stability and adequacy of the shelving.
As clearly shown, all these panels are constituted by electrically welded mesh sheets with apertures of convenient dimensions and/or shape, and which can obviously be different from those shown.
The constituent metal rods can also be of any diameter suitable for the purpose, ie for the use to which the invention is to be put, and in accordance with the loads which it has to support.
Each upright or shoulder 1 comprises a series of vertical rods and a series of horizontal rods, these latter being disposed on that face of the panel which faces the structure.
The vertical edges of the shoulder 1, or ratherthe respective horizontal rods, are bent inwards at 10 so that the corresponding panel 1 assumes a channel configuration of small depth.
As clearly shown, the side walls of said channel are practically open, being intercepted only by the horizontal rods, to form longitudinal openings, the purpose of which will be more apparent hereinafter.
In addition, the free longitudinal edge of each bend 10 comprises an end rod 11.
The two straight side edges of each shelf panel 2 are designed to abut against the inner faces of the shoulders 1, more precisely against the vertical rods of these latter, whereas its front and rear edges 20 are doubly bent at right angles about themselves, namely downwards and then towards the inactive surface.
Said double bend 20 provides a succession of hooks or types of projecting forks, the two opposing pairs of which each have an overall width which is slightly greaterthan the distance between the rod 11 and the inner generating lines of the vertical rods of the upright 1 (Figure 3).
In addition, said double bend 20 terminates with a longitudinal end rod 21 which lies directly under the last rod 22 of the flat portion of the shelf 2.
The distance between the outer generating lines of the rods 21, 22 of the front bend 20 and the corresponding outer generating lines of the rear bend 20 is slightly greater than the distance between the generating lines of the respective two rods 11 of the shoulders 1 (Figure 2).
Furthermore, the spacing between the horizontal rods of these latter (Figure 2) is such as to enable a shelf 2 to be disposed in an inclined position as shown in Figure 2 between the two shoulders 1 and between the two corresponding opposing pairs of horizontal rods thereof, after which the two opposing pairs of forks of one of its longitudinal edges is forcibly inserted into the corresponding apertures defined by the rods 11, following which it is forced downwards so that it engages with the remaining two rods 11.
On termination of this operation, the panel 2 is supported by the corresponding horizontal rods of the shoulders 1.
The procedure is repeated for all the other required shelves, whereas the reverse procedure is carried out for dismantling.
The structure heretofore described has all the advantages stated in the initial part of the present description, and can be used in the most varied ways as heretofore stated.
If required, the invention can be trolley-mounted, for example by using normal castors, so that it can be used as a tool carrier, equipment carrier or as a mobile bar.
In this latter case it is necessary only to upperly provide a panel 2 having mesh apertures suitable for receiving bottles, and to lowerly provide a panel 2 with narrower mesh apertures.
This structure is also suitable for supporting trays, in which case shelves 2 are provided comprising only an outer rim, on which the perimetral projecting edges of said trays are rested.
Finally, it is apparent that the structure of the invention can be associated with any number of similar structures.

Claims

1. A knockdown shelving unit which can be built up by forced insertion for forming shelving comprising two equal panels acting as uprights (1), and at least two equal panels (2) acting as shelves resting in assembled position on two inner opposing horizontal rods of said two uprights (1), the uprights (1) and the panels (2) being formed from layers of electrically welded mesh, characterised in that the uprights (1) are provided with two opposing vertical right-angled bends (10) pointing inwards where they comprise a vertical end rod (11) and to which said horizontal rods of the uprights also extend, and in that the panels (2) acting as shelves have their front and rear edges (20) doubly bent at right angles about themselves towards the under-surface of the panel (2) where they comprise a longitudinal end rod (21) to thus form, on each of their end portions, two adjacent projecting forks able to be forcibly inserted between the inner face of the upright shoulder (1) and the respective vertical end rod (11).

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the overall distance between the longitudinal end rods (21) provided along the double bent front and rear edges (20) of the shelves (2) is slightly greater than the distance which separates the facing generating lines of the vertical end rods (11) of the uprights (1).

3. A unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the overall outer dimension of said at least two adjacent forks provided at the ends of said two bends (20) is slightly greater than the distance between the facing generating lines of the vertical end rod (11) and of the vertical rods pertaining to the flat portion of the uprights (1).

4. A unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the distance between the inner horizontal rods of the uprights (1) is at least slightly greater than the vertical dimension of the panels (2), so that these latter can be inclined in the direction of the depth between the two uprights (1) when being fitted or removed.