EP0738485B1 - Adaptable modular shelving - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to shelving comprising at minus a shelf supported by support elements such as uprights and crosspieces, and intended to be fitted against a wall such as a building wall or a commercial vehicle wall.

Document FR-A-2 578 298 describes shelving with shelves rectangular supported at the four corners by stackable uprights end to end. The same amount can hold two successive shelves in one same plan. This constitutes a storage unit formed of modules parallelepipedic juxtaposed in height and length.

Document US-A-4 428 304 describes a rack made up of shelves held in a rectangular frame formed of uprights side, side rails and rear crosspieces. Each shelf is adjustable in depth, formed by a telescopic assembly of several U-shaped panels sliding one inside the other in the direction of the shelving depth, to occupy all or part of the surface of each floor between the uprights.

Document FR-A-2 683 128 describes a storage cabinet with frame parallelepiped with lateral uprights, side members and crosspieces, holding tablets. The beams and shelves are simultaneously adjustable in depth, to globally adjust the depth of the cabinet.

In all these known structures, the tablets are contained inside a parallelepiped frame, and the posterior sections shelves are located in the vertical plane of the rear uprights.

These shelving structures are well suited for a adaptation against a vertical plane wall, since we can then apply all posterior slices of shelves against the wall.

But these structures are not suitable when the wall is not not planar, having either one or more curvatures in the plane horizontal and / or one or more curvatures in the vertical plane. In indeed, it is not possible to have all of the posterior slices of shelves against the wall, so that there a void between certain portions of shelves and the rear wall, vacuum through which objects placed on the tablet can fall. That also leads to reducing the available surface of the shelves, or to not use all possible storage space between the edge front of the shelves and the wall against which the shelving.

The problem arises in particular for the adaptation of shelving in commercial vehicles because the shape of the bodywork is rarely flat and vertical.

The object of the present invention is to provide shelving modular whose structure allows rapid and inexpensive adaptation to any form of rear wall, without the need to machine the shelves and / or uprights.

The shelving structure must simultaneously present the mechanical strength properties suitable for use considered.

To achieve these and other goals, shelving modular according to the invention comprises at least one adjustable shelf in depth and supported by supporting elements such as uprights and sleepers; the shelf is made up of a modular assembly shelf elements arranged side by side lengthwise the tablet and each comprising depth adjustment means independent; shelf elements may protrude overhang towards the rear of the shelving beyond the uprights and the cross-member posterior which supports them.

According to a preferred embodiment, each shelf element includes an anterior main body into which an extension slides posterior in the direction of the depth of the shelf element.

Preferably, the main body is a housing flat parallelepiped, closed along its anterior edge to form the visible front edge of the shelf, closed on the sides lateral to guide the extension in sliding, and open according to its rear edge to allow adjustable extension of the extension towards the back of the tablet.

The extension can for example be a board, of shape flat parallelepiped whose section is slightly smaller than that of the main body, to slide with little play in the body main.

According to a particular embodiment, the elements of support include end posts connected by at least anterior and posterior sleepers, each body main front of shelf element being supported by a cross member anterior, and by a posterior crosspiece on which the portion rests back of the main body of the shelf element.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the amounts each include a main upright body into which slide horizontally independent modular extensions arranged side by side side in the height of the upright, so as to adapt the posterior shape from the upright to the wall shape of a vehicle.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un rayonnage modulaire selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un élément de tablette selon l'invention, vu de trois-quarts de dessus ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective de trois-quarts de la face inférieure d'un élément de tablette similaire de celui de la figure 2, ayant une épaisseur relative accrue ;
• la figure 4 illustre, en vue de dessus, une tablette de rayonnage modulaire selon l'invention, adaptée à une paroi postérieure présentant une courbure dans le plan horizontal ;
• la figure 5 illustre la succession des tablettes d'un rayonnage modulaire selon l'invention, montrant l'adaptation des longueurs selon la forme d'une paroi postérieure à courbure verticale ; et
• la figure 6 illustre un mode de réalisation des montants à rallonges modulaires indépendantes pour adaptation à une paroi postérieure à courbure verticale.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given in relation to the attached figures, among which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a modular shelving according to an embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a shelf element according to the invention, seen from three-quarters of a top;
• Figure 3 is a three-quarter perspective view of the underside of a shelf member similar to that of Figure 2, having increased relative thickness;
• Figure 4 illustrates, in top view, a modular shelving shelf according to the invention, adapted to a rear wall having a curvature in the horizontal plane;
• FIG. 5 illustrates the succession of shelves of modular shelving according to the invention, showing the adaptation of the lengths according to the shape of a rear wall with vertical curvature; and
• FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the uprights with independent modular extensions for adaptation to a rear wall with vertical curvature.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the modular shelving according to the invention comprises four shelves 1, 2, 3 and 4, each arranged in a substantially horizontal plane and offset the one above the other. The shelves are supported by elements support comprising two vertical uprights 5 and 6 connected by sleepers such as the front sleepers 7, 8, 9 and 10 and the rear cross member 11.

Each of the tablets 1, 2, 3 and 4, such as for example the shelf 2, is composed of a modular assembly of shelf elements 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 arranged side by side lengthwise of the tablet and each comprising depth adjustment means independent.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, each element of tablet such as the element 12 comprises a main body 18 in which slides an extension 19 in the direction of the depth of the element shelf 12, as illustrated by the double arrows 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, the main body 18 is a flat parallelepipedic case, for example of sheet metal or any other folded sheet material, with flat upper face, closed on its edge anterior 21 to constitute the apparent anterior section of the element shelf 12, closed on the lateral sides 22 and 23 to guide the extension 19 sliding, and open along its rear edge for allow the adjustable movement of the extension 19 towards the rear of the shelf element 12. The extension 19 can be a board, for example example of wood or any other suitable material, in shape flat parallelepiped, with flat upper face, the section of which is slightly lower than that of the main body case 18, for slide with little play in the main body 18.

As seen in Figure 3, the lateral sides of the body main 18 such as side 23 are folded back to form a return lower 24 or 25, parallel to the upper face 126 of the main body 18, to guide and support the extension 19. It is thus possible to make the main body 18 in folded sheet.

As seen in Figure 1, each tablet such as the shelf 2 is supported by an anterior cross member 8 on which rests the anterior portion or an intermediate portion of the main bodies elements 12-17 of the shelf, and by a rear cross member 11 on which rests the posterior portion of the main bodies of the elements 12-17 of the tablet.

Fastening elements, such as screws 26, nails or rivets, simultaneously cross the rear cross member 11 and the bottom wall 24 or 25 of the main body 18, by entering the extension 19. The fixing element secures each shelf element 12 and blocking the extension 19.

As illustrated in Figure 4 in top view, a shelf 2 may be arranged against a rear wall 27 having a curvature in the horizontal plane. The shelf 2 is arranged so that the bodies main bodies such as main body 18 are all aligned, their previous sections 21 being in the same vertical plane, the sections posterior away from the posterior wall 27. Each extension shelf elements 12-17, such as the extension 19, is pushed back in support against the rear wall 27, then locked in position by the fasteners 26 visible in Figure 1. As seen in the Figure 1, each extension 19 may protrude overhang backwards shelving beyond the uprights 5, 6 and the rear cross member 11 which supports the corresponding extension element 12. In Figure 4, we sees that the shelf 2 can thus adapt to the curved shape of the wall posterior 27, in the horizontal plane.

Similarly, as seen in Figure 5 in side view, the shelving is disposed against the rear wall 27 which has also a curvature in the vertical direction. All tablets are arranged so that their previous sections are in the same plane vertical. Extensions such as extension 19 are slid up to come to bear against the rear wall 27, thus adapting the shelf depth as a function of the shape of the rear wall 27.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the uprights 5 and 6 are metal plates pierced with vertical rows of holes 30, 31, 32 and / or 33, for the adjustable height adjustment of the crosspieces anterior 7-10 and / or posterior 11. It is thus possible to adjust the inclination anteroposterior of each tablet 1-4.

Preferably, the metal plates forming the uprights 5, 6 have anterior vertical edges bent at right angles inward and posterior vertical edges bent at right angles outwards, to provide satisfactory rigidity at low cost.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, with a view to side, the amount 6 also includes means for adapting its depth to the curved shape of the posterior wall 27. For this, the upright 6 includes a main upright body 28 in which slide horizontally independent modular extensions such as the extension 29, arranged side by side in the height of the upright 6, so to adapt the posterior shape of the upright to the shape of the posterior wall 27 curve.

The invention is particularly applicable to the production of shelving in a utility vehicle, the extensions 29 can each come in support against a wall 27 of the vehicle.

In the embodiments which have been described, the bodies 18 all have the same depth. It is however possible, to adapt to very curved conformations of the posterior wall 27, to provide several depths of main bodies 18, receiving extensions of suitable depths. Likewise, it is possible to predict other main body structures 18, in closed casing or in casing open. We can also plan to fit the front crosspieces 8 in the shelf elements, to prevent the front crosspieces 8 are apparent.

Claims (10)

1. Modular shelving, comprising at least one shelf (1, 2, 3, 4) adjustable in depth and supported by support members such as uprights (5, 6) and crossmembers (7-11), characterized in that :

   the shelf (2) is made up of a modular assembly of shelf elements (12-17) disposed side by side in the lengthwise direction of the shelf (2),

   each shelf element (12-17) includes independent depthwise adjustment means (19),

   the shelf elements (12-17) can project cantilever fashion to the rear of the shelving beyond the uprights (5, 6) and the posterior crossmember (11) supporting them.
2. Shelving according to claim 1, characterized in that each shelf element (12) comprises an anterior main body (18) in which a posterior extension (19) slides in the depthwise direction (20) of the shelf element (12).
3. Shelving according to claim 2, characterized in that the main body (18) is a flat parallelepipedal box, which is closed at its anterior edge (21) to constitute the visible anterior edge of the shelf, closed at its lateral sides (22, 23) to guide the extension (19) as it slides, and open at its posterior edge to enable the extension (19) to project to an adjustable degree to the rear of the shelf.
4. Shelving according to claim 3, characterized in that the extension (19) is a flat parallelepipedal panel whose section is slightly smaller than that of the main body casing (18), so that it can slide with a small clearance inside the main body (18).
5. Shelving according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the supporting members comprise end uprights (5, 6) joined by at least anterior crossmembers (7, 8, 9, 10) and posterior crossmembers (11), each anterior main body (18) of a shelf element (12) being supported by an anterior crossmember (8) and by a posterior crossmember (11) on which the posterior portion of the main body (18) of the shelf element (12) rests.
6. Shelving according to claim 5, characterized in that fixing members, such as screws (26), nails or rivets, pass simultaneously through the posterior crossmember (11) and the bottom wall (24, 25) of the main body (18) and penetrate the extension (19), to fix each shelf element (12) and to immobilize the extension (19).
7. Shelving according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the uprights (5, 6) are metal plates pierced with vertical rows of holes (30-33), for fixing the anterior crossmembers (7-10) and/or the posterior crossmembers (11) in a manner which is adjustable in the heightwise direction to adjust the anterior-posterior inclination of the shelves (1-4).
8. Shelving according to claim 7, characterized in that the metal plates forming the uprights (5, 6) have vertical anterior edges bent inwards at a right angle, and vertical posterior edges bent outwards at a right angle.
9. Shelving according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the uprights (6) comprise a main upright body (28) in which independent modular extensions (29) disposed side by side in the heightwise direction of the upright (6) slide horizontally, to adapt the posterior shape of the upright (6) to the shape of the posterior wall (27) of a vehicle.
10. A utility vehicle provided with a shelving according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the shelf elements (12-17) each bear against a wall (27) of the vehicle.

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