EP0429339B1 - Fastening device made of cables or rods - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the removable and adjustable fastening of shelves (P1) or similar, comprising cables (C11) whose upper end is firmly attached to a wall (M) by an upper anchoring part (AM) and whose lower end is firmly attached to the wall or to the floor (S) by a lower anchoring part (AS). The cable bears on a cross piece (E) extending from the wall, below which it is stretched vertically in order to receive attachment parts (QP) for the shelves, and above which it extends in an oblique direction towards the upper anchoring part. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a device for the removable and adjustable fixing of shelves or other objects, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a device is described for example in FR-A-2 272 627, the elongated elements being cables, and in FR-A-2 407 691, the elongated elements being rods. In these known devices, the elongated elements are anchored by their two ends respectively to the ceiling and to the ground, and extend vertically between the ceiling and the ground.

It is desirable in some cases to get rid of the ceiling anchor or the ground anchor, for example because the ceiling is not solid enough, or the ceiling or the floor is congested or distant from the place where shelves or other objects should be hung.

The object of the invention is to provide a solution to this problem.

FR-A-2 458 246 and EP-A-0 004 517 describe devices hung on a wall and comprising cables having vertical regions on which shelves can be mounted at an adjustable height. In the first document, the height adjustment is no longer possible after the cables have been laid. In the second document, the vertical regions of the cables and the shelves are only suspended and are not fixed stably.

The invention relates to a device as defined in claim 1.

Optional features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

• les figures 1, 2 et 3 sont des vues schématiques en perspective de dispositifs selon l'invention, comportant des câbles, auxquels sont accrochés des tablettes et d'autres objets;
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle en coupe montrant une extrémité, ancrée au mur, d'un premier câble d'un dispositif selon les figures 1 à 3;
• la figure 5 est une vue partielle d'un tel dispositif montrant une entretoise, partiellement en coupe, par le plan contenant les deux câbles qui y sont fixés; et
• la figure 6 est une vue partielle, partiellement en coupe, d'un dispositif à tiges.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description below, and from the appended drawings in which the same reference signs designate similar elements, and in which:

• Figures 1, 2 and 3 are schematic perspective views of devices according to the invention, comprising cables, to which are hung tablets and other objects;
• Figure 4 is a partial sectional view showing one end, anchored to the wall, of a first cable of a device according to Figures 1 to 3;
• Figure 5 is a partial view of such a device showing a spacer, partially in section, by the plane containing the two cables which are attached thereto; and
• Figure 6 is a partial view, partially in section, of a rod device.

Figure 1 shows a cable device allowing the attachment of several shelves P1 in superimposed positions. It comprises two first cables C11, the upper end of which is anchored in a vertical wall M by means of anchoring parts AM and the lower end of which is anchored to the ground S by means of anchoring parts AS. At a level between that of the anchoring pieces AM and that of the shelves P1, the cables C11 are supported at the free ends of bars or spacers E fixed to the wall by their opposite ends and extending substantially perpendicular to the wall. Each first cable C11 extends vertically between its bearing area on the end of the corresponding spacer and the anchoring piece AS, and obliquely, at an angle to the vertical which does not exceed 45 °, between this support area and the AM anchor.

Two second cables C21 extend vertically downwards from the two spacers E respectively, between the wall and the bearing area of the first cables C11, to the ground where their lower end is anchored by means of anchoring pieces AS identical to those of the first C11 cables.

The cables C11 and C21 are tensioned by means of springs integrated into the anchoring parts AS, which can be as described in FR-A-2 272 627.

Each pair of cables C11-C21 is situated in a vertical plane perpendicular to the wall M, the two planes respectively containing the two pairs of cables being spaced in the longitudinal direction of the wall by a distance corresponding substantially to the length of the shelves P1. Each shelf is fixed at each of its ends by two hanging pieces QP removably and adjustable mounted on cables C11 and C21 respectively. In the example illustrated, the parts QP are as described in FR-A-2 627 241 in relation to FIG. 4 of this document. Of course, other types of attachment pieces can be used depending on the thickness and the material of the shelves.

FIG. 2 illustrates a device on which are hung a shelf P1 similar to those of FIG. 1 and a box R1 having on its front face pivoting doors 1. This device comprises two first cables C12 whose upper ends are anchored to the wall M by means of anchoring pieces AM similar to those of FIG. 1, and resting on upper spacers E also similar to those of FIG. 1. The lower ends of the cables C12, unlike those of the cables C11 of the figure 1, are also anchored to the wall by means of AM anchoring pieces similar to the preceding ones, and these cables are supported, at an intermediate level between the objects hooked P1 and R1 on the one hand, and the lower anchoring pieces AM on the other hand, on the free ends of lower spacers E similar to the previous ones. Each cable C12 extends vertically between the ends of the upper and lower spacers, and obliquely, at angles to the vertical not exceeding 45 °, between the spacers and the corresponding anchoring parts.

Each of the first two cables C12 is associated with a second cable C22 stretched vertically between the upper and lower spacers E, to which it is linked at intermediate points between the wall and the bearing area of the first cable.

The tension of each of the cables C12 and C22 is provided by a tensioner TC. The cable tensioners C22 are interposed between objects P1 and R1 on the one hand, and the lower spacer on the other hand. Those of the cables C12 are interposed, in the example illustrated, between the lower spacer and the lower anchoring part. They could also be between the hanging objects and the lower spacer.

The shelf P1 is arranged with respect to the cables in the same way as those of FIG. 1, and is hung thereon by pieces QP also similar to those of FIG. 1. The two pairs of cables C12-C22 pass opposite the two end faces of the box R1 respectively. The latter is linked to each of the four cables, in a removable and adjustable manner, by two QR hooking pieces, superimposed in the direction of the cable, which are as described in FR-A-2 272 627 in relation to FIGS. 4 to 6 of this document, and which receive in their blind hole a cylindrical stud projecting from the end face of the box.

FIG. 3 represents a mixed device comprising both cables with lower anchoring to the ground and cables with lower anchoring to the wall. We see from left to right two pairs of cables C12-C22 similar to those in Figure 2, with their upper and lower anchors to the wall and their upper and lower spacers, then two pairs of cables C11-C21 similar to those of Figure 1, with their wall anchors M and upper spacers and their lower ground anchors S, and finally again a pair of cables C12-C22 similar to those of Figure 2. Between two pairs of consecutive cables are mounted each time a series of superimposed shelves P1, as described above. In addition, a box R2 provided with drawers 2 is mounted between the two pairs of cables C11-C21, in the manner described above with regard to the box R1.

Figure 4 shows an AM wall anchor and the upper end of the cable C11 or C12 attached to it. The anchoring piece comprises an inner sleeve 3 externally threaded, having an end wall 4 pierced, applied against the wall M by the head of a screw 5 passing through the bore of the wall 4 and screwed into the wall. On the external thread of the sleeve 3 is screwed an external sleeve 6 internally threaded, one open end 7 of which rests against the wall while its opposite end is partially closed by a wall 8 trapping a ball joint 9. The cable passes through a bore 10 of variable diameter formed in the ball 9, which retains the bulged end 11 of the cable. The ball 9 is oriented as a function of the direction of the cable in the vicinity of the anchoring piece, and prevents it from being subjected to lateral forces.

As shown in Figure 5, each spacer E is fixed to the wall M by means of a base 12 itself applied against the wall by a screw 13 screwed therein. The base has a threaded hole 14 opening into its face turned away from the wall, and extended to its face in contact with the wall by a hole of smaller diameter housing the head of the screw. At its end facing the wall, the spacer E has an externally threaded portion 15 which cooperates with the thread of the hole 14, and which is connected to a shoulder 16 which abuts against the base. Opposite this part 15, the spacer is split along a vertical plane perpendicular to the wall, from its end face 17 and up to a certain distance therefrom. A threaded hole 18 is also made from the face 17, to a depth equal to that of the slot, and a grub screw 19, screwed into the hole 18, applies the cable C11 or C12, engaged in the slot, against the bottom of it. The longitudinal immobilization of the cable relative to the spacer, produced by the screw 19, makes it possible to perfect the horizontality of the spacer when the wall is not perfectly flat and vertical.

The bulged end of the cable C21 or C22 is engaged in a bore 20 of variable diameter formed vertically in the spacer, and retained by a shoulder thereof.

Figures 4 and 5 which have just been described relate equally to the wall anchoring parts and the upper and lower spacers.

FIG. 6 partially illustrates a first elongated element in the form of a rod and a corresponding spacer.

The rod T1 is formed of rigid rectilinear elements 31 and flexible elements 38, suitable for being assembled either one after the other. Each element 31 comprises an elongated cylindrical body 32 having at one of its ends a threaded axial blind hole 33 and extended at its opposite end by a threaded axial stud 34. Each flexible element 32 comprises a helical spring 35 at one end of which a cylindrical threaded pin 36 is internally screwed by cooperation with the turns of the spring so as to protrude beyond the latter. A flexible tubular sheath 37, for example made of heat-shrinkable plastic, is fitted onto the spring 35. Preferably, the external diameter of the sheath 37 is equal to that of the body 32 of the rigid elements 31, and it has a similar surface appearance. to that of this same body.

Two elements 31 or 38, or an element 31 and an element 38, can be assembled by screwing the stud 34 or the protruding part 36 of one of the elements in the hole 33 or in the turns of the spring 35, at the opposite of the ankle, of the other element.

The upper end of the rod T1 of FIG. 6 is formed by a flexible element 38 whose pin 36 is screwed into an anchor piece 39 fixed to the wall M, the axis of the pin 36 being oriented perpendicular to the wall and therefore horizontally. The anchoring part 39 can be similar to the ceiling anchoring part described in FR-A-2 407 691. The flexible end element is followed by one or more rigid elements 31 which extend obliquely downwards, the spring 35 of the terminal element being flexed elastically to take a curved configuration to connect the horizontal direction of the axis of the pin 36 to the oblique direction of the elements 31.

A second flexible element 38 connects the rigid oblique element or elements to another rigid element 31 oriented vertically and engaging in a vertical end notch of a spacer 40. At its free end, this spacer has a projection 41 externally threaded, s 'extending beyond the rod, and suitable for receiving a cap (not shown internally threaded), for pressing the rod element against the bottom of the notch and immobilizing it with respect to the spacer, as described in FR- A-2 423 186. The opposite end of the spacer, not shown, is fixed to the wall M, for example as described above for the spacers E.

The rigid rod element thus fixed to the spacer can be extended downwards by other rigid elements, the vertical region thus formed receiving hooking parts which can be as described in FR-A-2 423 186 or in FR-A-2 627 241 for example. This vertical region can extend to a ground anchoring piece such as that described in FR-A-2 407 691, which includes a tension spring. Alternatively, the rod can rest on a lower spacer, then extend obliquely between it and an anchor piece below the wall similar to piece 39, the changes of direction being ensured by flexible elements as at the top part. In this case, it is advisable to interpose between two rod elements a spring tensioner which can cooperate with one of these elements in the manner described in FR-A-2 407 691 with regard to the ground anchoring part, the stud 34 or the pin 36 of the other element that can be screwed into the body of the tensioner.

A second rod, not shown, formed of one or more rigid elements such as 31, is screwed by an upper terminal stud 36 into a threaded hole in the spacer 40. The lower end of the second rod can be anchored to the ground of the same way as that of the first rod, or fixed to the lower spacer by screwing a terminal threaded hole 33 on a threaded stud presented by the spacer, or by cooperation of a dowel such as 36 with this same hole threaded 33 and with the threaded hole of the lower spacer, which is then identical to the upper spacer 40.

Of course, the position of the elements 31 and 38 forming the rods can be reversed, the pins 34 and the pins 36 projecting downwards and not upwards.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown. In particular, the device according to the invention may comprise first cables or first rods anchored to the ceiling by their upper end and to the wall by their lower end, possibly combined with cables or rods with wall-to-ground anchoring and / or wall-to-wall anchored cables or rods as described in the examples. The device can receive indifferently, in combination with the various anchoring modes, shelves, boxes and all other objects, by means of appropriate attachment pieces, in particular, without limitation, as described in FR- A-2 627 241.

Claims (11)

1. Device for the removable and adjustable fixing of objects, comprising at least one first elongate element (C11) in the form of a cable or of a rod, an upper end of which and a lower end of which are intended to be solidly connected to at least one support wall (M,S) via respective anchoring parts (AM,AS), and removable attachment parts (QP), each of which can be mounted at an adjustable height on a first elongate element, in an intermediate region of the latter, which region is stretched in a substantially vertical direction, in order to support one or more objects (P1), characterized in that at least a first of the said ends is intended to be anchored in a wall (M), in that the said intermediate region is held away from the said wall by at least a first strut (E) extending approximately horizontally between the wall and the elongate element, the latter bearing on the strut via a zone which bounds the said intermediate region and a first end region extending obliquely as far as the corresponding anchoring part (AM) fixed to the wall, and in that a second elongate element (C21) is associated with the first elongate element (C11) or with each first elongate element, which second elongate element is stretched substantially vertically between an upper end and a lower end in order to receive attachment parts (QP) for the object or objects (P1) to be supported, a first end of the second elongate element being solidly attached to the first strut (E), between the wall and the zone for bearing of the first elongate element on this strut.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second end of a first elongate element (C11) and, if appropriate, that end of the second elongate element (C21) which is associated with it are anchored to the ceiling or to the floor (S), the first elongate element being stretched vertically between its second end and its zone for bearing on the strut.
3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two ends of a first elongate element (C12) are anchored to the wall, this elongate element furthermore bearing on a second strut (E) which extends from the wall, via a zone which bounds the said intermediate region and a second end region extending obliquely as far as the corresponding anchoring part (AM) fixed to the wall (M).
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the two ends of a second elongate element (C22) are solidly attached respectively to the struts on which the first associated elongate element bears, between the wall (M) and the zone for bearing of the first elongate element (C12) on these struts.
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each first elongate element is located substantially in a vertical plane.
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each first elongate element and the second associated elongate element are located substantially in a vertical plane.
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the struts are bars, one end of which is intended to be fixed to the wall and the other end of which serves as a support for a first elongate element.
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the struts (E) comprise means (18,19) for immobilizing the elongate elements in the longitudinal direction of the latter.
9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elongate elements are cables and in that the part or parts for anchoring to the wall comprise means (9) making it possible to vary the orientation of the end of the cable without exerting transverse force on the latter.
10. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the elongate elements are rods which are rigid and straight in their intermediate region and in at least part of their end regions, these rigid and straight pieces (31) being connected together by flexible and curved pieces (38).
11. Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the rods furthermore comprise flexible and curved parts (38) adjacent to the parts (39) for anchoring to the wall.

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