EP0313970A1 - Rack - Google Patents

Abstract

The rack has a bottom part (1), a top part (2), which can be pushed onto said bottom part, and a resiliently mounted connection member (11) for connecting the two parts. An anti-theft safeguard against unauthorised removal of the top part (2) from the bottom part (1) provides for the connection member (11) to be fitted with a shoulder (31) which projects into a hollow (9) in the bottom part (1) and for a locking mechanism, which is likewise arranged in the hollow (9), to be assigned to the shoulder (31), which locking mechanism can be actuated from the outside only using a tool. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a storage of the type defined in the preamble of claim 1.

Trays of this type are known (DE-OS 25 35 894) and are used, for example, as soap dishes, toothed glass holders, ashtrays, multi-purpose trays or the like in a variety of ways, in particular in the household and sanitary sector. Depending on the intended use, these shelves are provided with connecting elements in the form of simple push buttons which can be pushed out of the latched position with a finger or the like if the upper part is to be removed from the lower part. When the shelves are used in public areas, on the other hand, the spring-mounted connecting elements are often additionally assigned an anti-theft device to largely prevent unauthorized removal of the upper part from the lower part. Such an anti-theft device consists, for example, in that the spring-mounted connecting element can only be disengaged in a very specific position to be produced beforehand and / or preferably only through a small opening formed in the upper part. To remove the upper part, either exact knowledge of the anti-theft device and / or a special tool is required.

A not inconsiderable disadvantage with such shelves is that the connecting members are formed on resilient tongues attached to the lower part or consist of such tongues. Since the lower parts are usually made of one piece and plastic by injection molding and the tongues as a thin and therefore resilient material strips are formed, the lower parts inevitably have a strongly jagged surface, that is to say provided with openings, cutouts, slots or the like. They are therefore difficult to clean without being removed from the wall or the like, which is unsustainable for hygienic reasons, especially when the shelves are used in hospitals or the like.

Finally, it is also already known in the case of trays (DE-OS 25 35 894) to provide thin connecting pins driven into aligned bores of the lower and upper parts and to assign locking elements formed on the lower part in the form of resilient tongues such that the pins to release the connection only after pushing the tongues away through small bores provided in the upper part into a space within the shelf. Such a construction not only does not eliminate the hygienic problems mentioned, but is also unsuitable for formal and other reasons, e.g. because the locking position always occurs during assembly, although this is not necessary at all in private areas and is often undesirable.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing the tray of the type described at the outset with a different type of anti-theft device, which also allows the production of lower parts with a smooth, uneven surface.

The characterizing features of claim 1 serve to achieve this object.

The invention has the advantage that the lower part can be provided with a smooth, easy-to-clean surface, from which only the connecting element cooperating with the upper part protrudes, because all the others Parts of the connecting member and the locking mechanism can be accommodated in the cavity and this can be hermetically sealed from the outside. In addition, the locking mechanism is only accessible with a tool when the shelf is installed, so that unauthorized persons cannot easily establish the unlocking position. Finally, it is advantageous that the unlocking and locking positions are optionally adjustable, so that the tray can be left permanently in the unlocking position, at least in the private area, without modifications.

Further advantageous features of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

• Fig. 1 in perspektivischer und auseinandergezogener Darstel­lung eine erfindungsgemäße, aus einem Oberteil und einem Unterteil bestehende Ablage;
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische und zum Teil weggebrochene und geschnittene Rückansicht der Ablage nach Fig. 1 mit Blick auf einen Verriegelungsmechanismus;
• Fig. 3 eine teilweise geschnittene Draufsicht der Ablage;
• Fig. 4 einen Schnitt längs der Linie IV-IV der Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 die teilweise geschnittene Rückansicht der Ablage;
• Fig. 6 die Vorderansicht des Unterteils;
• Fig. 7 eine teilweise geschnittene Draufsicht des Unterteils;
• Fig. 8 einen Schnitt längs der Linie VIII-VIII der Fig. 6;
• Fig. 9 die Rückansicht des Unterteils;
• Fig. 10 und 11 die Vorderansicht und Draufsicht des Ober­teils;
• Fig. 12 einen Schnitt längs der Linie XII-XII der Fig. 11;
• Fig. 13 bis 16 die Unter-, Vorder- und Seitenansicht sowie die Draufsicht eines Verbindungsorgans der Ablage nach Fig. 2 bis 5;
• Fig. 17 einen Schnitt längs der Linie XVII-XVII der Fig. 16;
• Fig. 18 und 19 die Vorderansicht und Draufsicht eines Ab­laufrohrs der Ablage nach Fig. 1 bis 5 in vergrößerter Dar­stellung; und
• Fig. 20 einen Schnitt längs der Linie XX-XX der Fig. 18.

The invention is explained in more detail below in connection with the accompanying drawing using an exemplary embodiment. Show it:

• Figure 1 is a perspective and exploded view of a tray according to the invention, consisting of an upper part and a lower part.
• FIG. 2 shows a perspective and partly broken away and cut rear view of the shelf according to FIG. 1 with a view of a locking mechanism;
• Figure 3 is a partially sectioned plan view of the tray.
• Fig. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;
• Figure 5 is a partially sectioned rear view of the tray.
• 6 shows the front view of the lower part;
• Fig. 7 is a partially sectioned plan view of the lower part;
• Fig. 8 is a section along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6;
• 9 shows the rear view of the lower part;
• 10 and 11 the front view and top view of the upper part;
• Fig. 12 is a section along the line XII-XII of Fig. 11;
• 13 to 16 the bottom, front and side view as well as the top view of a connecting member of the shelf according to FIGS. 2 to 5;
• Fig. 17 is a section along the line XVII-XVII of Fig. 16;
• 18 and 19 the front view and top view of a drain pipe of the shelf according to FIGS. 1 to 5 in an enlarged representation; and
• 20 shows a section along the line XX-XX of FIG. 18th

Fig. 1 shows schematically a tray according to the invention in the form of a soap dish. This consists of a lower part 1 and an upper part 2, which can be pushed onto the lower part as a whole. On its upper side the upper part 2 has e.g. a storage tray 3 and if necessary knobs 4 to put on a bar of soap. A drain opening 5 is provided in the middle of the storage tray 3. The lower part 1 consists of a solid body which has two screw holes 6 for fastening screws 7. The parts of the screw holes 6 which remain free after the fastening screws 7 have been screwed in are closed with plugs 8 which are flush with the rest of the surface of the lower part 1, so that they are smooth on all sides and can therefore be easily cleaned.

2, the lower part 1 has a cavity 9 in which a locking mechanism 10 is arranged. At the bottom is a connecting member 11 in the lower part 1 mounted, which in the assembled, pushed-on state of the upper part 2 engages in an opening 12 provided on its underside and thereby prevents the upper part 2 from being unintentionally pulled off the lower part 1 If it is desired to pull off the upper part 2, the connecting element 11 is pressed with a finger or the like deeper into the lower part 1 or the cavity 9 against the force of a spring 14 until it emerges from the opening 12 and releases the upper part 2 . However, this is only possible if the locking mechanism 10 is in an unlocked position.

Details of the storage according to the invention are shown in FIGS. 3 to 20.

In the assembled state according to FIGS. 3 to 5, the lower part 1 lies flat with its flat rear side 16 against a wall or the like, it being possible for a sealing ring or the like to be arranged between the two. The cap-like upper part 2 is pushed onto the lower part 1, covers it completely and, with its rear, annular end face 17, also abuts against the wall or the sealing ring or the like, so that its interior is hermetically sealed. 4 and 5, the connecting member 11 is normally pressed by the spring 14 into the opening 12, which expediently has a cross section which corresponds exactly to the cross section of the connecting member 11. This position is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 on the left of an axis 18 of the connecting member 11. To the right of the axis 18 is shown the state in which the connecting member 11 is pressed into the cavity 9 against the force of the spring 14 when the locking mechanism 10 is in the unlocked position. The connecting member 11 is disengaged from the opening 12 in this case, so that the upper part 2 can be removed from the lower part 1.

6 to 9, the cavity 9 is arranged in a central section of the lower part 1 and only to the rest thereof flat back 16 open, to which the screw holes 6 also border. The cavity 9 has a substantially rectangular cross section and is delimited in a front section by a wall 20 which is curved slightly inwards (FIGS. 8 and 9), because in its upper side there is a curvature 21 which is precisely adapted to the curvature of the storage recess 3 of the upper part 2 is provided to give this a firm seat. The substantially cylindrical screw holes 6 have a reduced cross-section in order to create a support shoulder 23 for the heads of the fastening screws 7 (FIG. 3). The parts of the sections of the screw holes 6 which are enlarged in cross section after the fastening screws have been tightened are used to hold the plugs 8.

An opening 24 for receiving the connecting member 11 is formed in the wall section delimiting the bottom of the cavity 9. The wall section opposite this is provided with a locking element 25 projecting into the cavity 9 in the form of a web-shaped projection which extends transversely over the opening 24, runs parallel to the screw holes 6 and preferably consists of one piece with the lower part 1.

The upper part 2 is formed like a cap according to FIGS. 10 to 12 and provided with a consistently smooth surface. It has a second drain opening 27 located below the drain opening 5, which is designed like the opening 12 in its underside. Otherwise, the upper part 2 delimits a cavity 28 which is only open towards its rear and has an inner contour in its rear section which essentially corresponds to the outer contour of the lower part 1, so that the upper part 2 is pushed onto the lower part 1 with a slight sliding fit can be, but otherwise comes to rest firmly and wobble-free on this.

The connecting member 11 is according to FIGS. 13 to 17 in its lower section 30 is cylindrical, its diameter corresponds exactly to the diameter of the opening 12 in the upper part 2 and the opening 24 in the lower part 1. The cylindrical section 30 is provided with a rear extension 31, which comes to lie completely in the cavity 9 and is designed like a sleeve. The extension 31 has at its transition to the section 30 a preferably annular undercut 32 projecting over its cross section and has an outer diameter which tapers conically towards the free end to form an insertion bevel.

In the center of the bottom of the extension 31 or at the bottom of a recess which extends into the section 30 there is a pin 33 projecting into the extension 31, on which one end of the spring 14 designed as a helical spring or compression spring (FIG. 2, 4,5) is attached.

The projection 31 has two U-shaped slots 34a, 34b at diametrically opposite locations, which have a width at least corresponding to the width of the blocking element 25 and can be extended on the one side into the section 30 and on the other side up to the free end face 41 of section 31 extends. At two further diametrically opposite points, the projection 31 has two further U-shaped recesses 35a, 35b bordering its free end face 41, which also have a width at least equal to the width of the locking element 25, but a much smaller depth than the slots 34a, b have. The slots 34a, b and recesses 35a, b are preferably distributed at 90 ° around the circumference of the extension 31.

The connecting member 11 has on its underside according to FIGS. 4,5,13 and 17 a receptacle 36 for a tool, which expediently consists of a polygonal hole, which is also known as Blind hole can be formed and is used to insert an Allen key.

18 to 20 show a small drain pipe 38 with a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the drain opening 27 of the upper part 2 (FIG. 12) and a small bead 39 at the lower end. The drain pipe 38 is inserted from below into the drain opening 27 until the projections 40 formed on its circumference snap behind the edge of the drain opening 27 (FIG. 4) and on the one hand its bulge 39 lies closely against the underside of the upper part 2, on the other hand an opposite end face of bumps inside against the top of the upper part 2. In addition, the drain pipe 38 can be glued to the upper part 2 or connected by ultrasonic welding if both parts consist of a weldable plastic. As a result, the cavity between the lower part 1 and the upper part 2 is hermetically sealed, despite the presence of a dripping possibility, against liquids which accumulate in the storage trough 3 and can then flow through the drain pipe 38, which is extremely important for hygienic reasons.

To assemble the described tray, the connecting member 11 with the spring 14 inserted is pressed with its extension 31 through the opening 24 into the cavity 9 of the lower part 1 until the undercut 32 snaps behind the inner edge of the opening 24 according to FIGS. 4 and 5. This process is facilitated by the fact that the wall sections of the extension 31 remaining next to the slots 34a, b can deflect radially inwards and elastically. The connecting member 11 is now non-detachably fastened in the lower part 1, but is mounted in the opening 24 so that it can rotate as well as parallel to its axis 18 (FIGS. 4 and 5). It is under the force of the spring 14, the other end of which is supported on the locking element 25 and which presses the undercut 32 against the wall section delimiting the bottom of the cavity 9. Furthermore, the arrangement is such that the cylindrical section 30 in this state is just that much out of the opening 24 protrudes outwards, as corresponds to the wall thickness on the underside of the upper part 2.

After the lower part 1 has been attached to a wall or the like, the plugs 8 are inserted. Finally, the upper part 2 is pushed on until its end face 17 strikes the wall or the like. In this position, its opening 12 is located exactly below the section 30 of the connecting member 11 so that it can snap into it. Because of the elastic properties, in the case of an upper part 2 made of plastic, it is essentially immaterial whether or not the connecting element 11 protrudes over the underside 1 when the upper part 2 is pushed onto the lower part 1.

The axial length of the extension 31 is selected so that when the undercut 32 of the connecting member 11 is in contact with the edge of the opening 24 of the lower part 1, three states can be set which depend on the respective rotational position of the connecting member 11.

If the connecting member 11 is in the rotational position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the left of the axis 18, which corresponds to an unlocking position, then the web-like locking element 25 is exactly opposite the recess formed by the slots 34a, b and the space between them. It is therefore possible to push the connecting member 11 against the force of the spring 14 at least as deep into the cavity 9 until the section 30 is completely removed from the opening 12 and disappears in the opening 24 (see FIGS. 4 and 5 in each case) to the right of axis 18). This movement is limited by the free end face 41 (FIGS. 14, 15) of the projection 31 abutting against the upper boundary wall of the cavity 9 in order to prevent the section 30 from being pushed completely out of the opening 24. When the connecting member 11 is released, the spring 14 automatically restores the position shown in FIG. 4 and 5 is shown to the left of axis 18. The same applies to a second unlocking position which can be reached by rotating the connecting member 11 through 180 °.

In private use, the connecting member 11 can remain in one of these unlocking positions, so that the upper part 2 can be separated from the lower part 1 by simply pressing in the connecting member 11.

When using the shelf in the public area, on the other hand, it is expedient to turn the connecting member 11 90 ° in one direction or the other with a tool inserted into the receptacle 36 until the locking element 25 into the recesses 35a, 35b (Fig. 15, 16) of the approach 31 engages. In this state, which corresponds to two selected locking positions, the connecting member 11 can only be pressed in so little that its section 30 still protrudes sufficiently far beyond the underside of the lower part 1 because the locking element 25 blocks a further displacement. The upper part 2 can now or the like without knowledge of the set security against theft. do not detach from lower part 1.

In the rotary positions achievable between these four selected rotational positions of the connecting member 11, which are also locking positions, the shoulder 31 abuts the locking element 25 with its end face 41. In these rotating positions, there is a firm press fit for the connecting member 11, but this occurs during its manufacture Plastic in the area of the end face 41 and the undercut 32 yields slightly elastically and can therefore also be rotated in this state. This training has two advantages. On the one hand, the locking element 25 snaps into the slots 34a, b or recesses 35a, b after the overflow of the upper end face 41 of the extension 31, so that the user notices that the desired rotational position he is enough. On the other hand, it is practically impossible for an unauthorized person without a suitable tool to turn the connecting member 11 from a locking position into an unlocking position because the frictional resistance between the locking and unlocking positions is very high. This applies in particular if, when the upper part 2 is pushed on, the section 30 of the connecting member 11 is flush with its underside. In this case, an attempt could be made to rotate the connecting member 11 by pressing firmly against the section 30 with a finger or the like. However, this would further increase the frictional resistance between the end face 41 and the locking element 25 and thereby make the transition of the locking member 25 from the recesses 35a, b to the end face 41 of the extension 31 even more difficult. When using a tool inserted into the receptacle 36, on the other hand, a pure rotary movement can be exerted, in which there is no increased friction. Unauthorized removal of the upper part 2 from the lower part 1 is therefore practically impossible. If an unauthorized person is in possession of the necessary tools, but is not aware of the opening mechanism, he may accidentally find an unlocked position.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment described, which can be modified in many ways. This applies in particular to the locking mechanism 10 which, in the described embodiment, essentially consists of the rigidly arranged locking element 25 and the projection 31, which can be rotated and displaced together with the connecting member 11, and has the slots 34a, b and recesses 35a, b. It would be possible, for example, to arrange the connecting element 11 in a non-rotatable manner and instead to arrange the locking element 25 rotatably or displaceably on the lower part 1. In this case, the receptacle 36 could pass through the shoulder 31 and face a corresponding receptacle in the blocking element 25. It would also be possible to have a special loading on the underside of the upper part 2 create job opening. Other types of locking mechanisms are also conceivable. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to shelves in the form of soap dishes, since the upper part 2 only needs to be adapted to the intended use desired in the individual case. In the case of comparatively large shelves, such as are often fitted under bathroom mirrors, two or more, comparatively small, lower parts can be provided instead of a single, correspondingly large lower part, at least one of which is provided with a locking mechanism in the sense of the above description.

The lower and upper parts are preferably made of plastic by injection molding. The same applies to the plugs 8, connecting members 11 and drain pipes 38.

Claims (17)

1) Tray with at least one lower part attachable to a wall or the like, an upper part that can be slid onto it and completely covers it when pushed open, and a connecting element that is resiliently mounted on one of the parts and that connects the lower part to the upper part in its pushed-on state in engages another part and thereby prevents unwanted pulling off of the upper part from the lower part, characterized in that the connecting member (11) has a projection (31) projecting into a cavity (9) of the lower part (1) and this also in the cavity (9 ) arranged locking mechanism (10) which can be actuated from the outside by means of a tool and which can optionally be adjusted in at least one unlocking and locking position, which in the unlocking position allows the connecting member (11) to snap out, but prevents it in the locking position. 2) Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity (9) only open to the rear of the lower part (1) and with one for mounting the connecting member (11) certain opening (24) is provided, which is formed in a wall section delimiting the underside of the cavity (9). 3) Tray according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking mechanism (10) has a locking element (25) preventing the engagement of the connecting member (11) in the locking position. 4) Tray according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking element (25) is movably mounted on the lower part (1). 5) Tray according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the connecting element (11) is under the force of a spring (14) supported in the cavity (9) and is slidably mounted in the lower part (1). 6) Tray according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking element (25) consists of a protrusion in the cavity (9) and the projection (31) of the connecting member (11) has a suitable recess for receiving the locking element (25) and that when the locking mechanism (10) is in the unlocking position, the locking element (25) faces the recess, while when the locking mechanism (10) is in the locking position, the locking element (25) rests against an edge portion of the extension (31) of the locking member (11) surrounding the recess. 7) Tray according to at least one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the locking element (25) is rotatably mounted on the lower part (1). 8) Tray according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connecting member (11) is rotatably mounted on the lower part (1). 9) Tray according to at least one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the locking element (25) consists of an elongated web. 10) Tray according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the extension (31) of the connecting member (11) is sleeve-like and has two diametrically opposed slots (34a, 34) for receiving the locking element (25) and forming the recess. b) is provided. 11) Tray according to claim 10, characterized in that the spring (14) is a compression spring arranged between the locking element (25) and the connecting member (11). 12) Tray according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the connecting member (11) has an undercut (32) which snaps behind the edge of the opening (24). 13) Tray according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the connecting member (11) has on its underside a receptacle (36) for the tool. 14) Storage device according to claim 13, characterized in that the receptacle (36) is a blind hole intended for inserting an Allen key. 15) Tray according to one of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that the lower part (1) consists of a solid body with a smooth surface, in which, in addition to the cavity (9) and the opening (24), only screw holes (6) are formed . 16) Tray according to claim 15, characterized in that the wall portions of the lower part (1) adjoining the screw holes (6) are provided with shoulders (23) intended for supporting screw heads and plugs for closing the free sections of the screw holes (6) are provided. 17) Storage device according to at least one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the upper part (2) has a storage trough (3) with a drain opening (5) on its upper side and in an area which projects above the lower part (1), which is connected via a drain pipe (38) to a drain opening (27) on the underside of the upper part (2).

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