EP1314376A1 - Shelf supporting bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

The shelf support, designed to be inserted into a hole in an upright so that a shelf can rest on it, consists of two walls (2, 3) connected by a cross-piece (4), giving it an H-shaped section with upper (6, 8) and lower (5, 7) arms. The lower arms are of different lengths, the inner one being shorter than the outer one, and the two upper arms have turned-over tips (13, 17) to provide a thrust surface (19) and a supporting surface (14) for the self. The outer tip is also supported by a triangular buttress (16). The support can be made from materials such as metal wood or plastic.

Description

The invention relates to the technical field of shelves and shelves.

The invention relates more particularly to a new cleat shelf or shelf support.

We already know in the prior art, a wide variety of structures of such cleats.

• une saillie formant tourillon de montage dans un trou non traversant ou une réservation ménagée dans les montants ou les joues de l'étagère ;
• une partie extrême sur laquelle les tablettes d'étagères sont posées en appui simple.

In a first type of conventional embodiment, the cleat extends substantially in a main direction and comprises:

• a projection forming a mounting pin in a non-through hole or a reservation made in the uprights or the cheeks of the shelf;
• an extreme part on which the shelves are placed with simple support.

In a particular previous embodiment, the cleat is a cylindrical journal or not. As a variant, the end support part of the shelves includes a flat support face, and is for example shaped square.

For this first type of embodiment, one can refer for example to the following documents: US patents issued under the numbers 6,012,400, 3,826,207, 2,104,831, 1,829,009, 1,393,012, published English patent under number 705 983.

This first type of cleat is of simple structure but presents many disadvantages. In particular, the shelves being in simple support on these cleats, there is a risk of malicious or accidental disassembly shelves, by lifting or sliding. To limit the risk of disassembly by sliding, it has been proposed to make grooves in the shelves, grooves in which the end parts are housed support of the cleats. The realization of these grooves presents significant disadvantages. In particular, the distance between stops becomes imposed just like the orientation of the shelves, except when making several grooves on both sides of the shelves, which would be costly and would harm shelving aesthetics.

In a second type of conventional embodiment, the cleat is formed of a band of folded wire or metal.

For this second type of embodiment, one can refer, for example, to the following documents: US patents issued under numbers 1 984 473, 4 542 702, English patents published under the numbers 924 824, 923 345 792 253, 954 943, published patent application in France under the number 2 539 284.

In a third type of conventional embodiment, the cleat includes a first mounting part through a through hole or of a light of a support upright, and a second support part shelves.

For this third type of realization, one can refer, by example, to the following publications: US patents granted under numbers 4 744 612, 3 150 617, 2 905 425, English patent published under the number 966 618, patent application in France published under number 1 520,924.

The second and third types of realization cited above are few elegant and often turn out to be fairly tedious. Through elsewhere, they do not always ensure good safety when dismantling tablets, by accident or malice.

The invention aims to provide a new cleat structure without disadvantages of those known in the prior art and which is quite the easy to manufacture, inexpensive, difficult to disassemble malicious, discreet when set up and of great resistance mechanical, this cleat can be used interchangeably for warehouse, store, or office shelves.

For these purposes, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a shelf support cleat, comprising two walls connected by a cross member support, defining a general profile in H.

• il comprend une première gorge, à ouverture vers le bas, délimitée par la face inférieure de la traverse d'appui et des premiers bras desdites parois, ces premiers bras étant sensiblement parallèles et s'étendant, par rapport à la face inférieure de traverse, sur deux hauteurs différentes ;
• il comprend une deuxième gorge, à ouverture vers le haut, délimitée par la face supérieure de la traverse d'appui et des deuxièmes bras desdites parois, ces deuxièmes bras étant sensiblement parallèles, le deuxième bras d'une des deux parois, dite paroi interne, étant pourvu en partie supérieure d'une corniche d'appui dont la face supérieure est apte et destinée à recevoir une tablette d'étagère ;
• les deux gorges sont placées à l'aplomb l'une de l'autre et sont de largeurs sensiblement identiques ;
• les deux parois s'étendent sur une largeur supérieure à leur épaisseur;
• il est pourvu d'une surépaisseur telle qu'une nervure formant console de renfort à la corniche d'appui ;
• l'une desdites parois, dite externe, comprend un bras supérieur et un bras inférieur, s'étendant en saillie de part et d'autre de la traverse d'appui, l'épaisseur du bras inférieur étant plus faible qu celle du bras supérieur, le bras inférieur étant pourvu d'une face externe inclinée apte à guider le mouvement du taquet lors de son montage ;
• l'ouverture de la deuxième gorge est délimitée par :
• o un rebord d'appui en saillie sur le deuxième bras de la paroi externe et
• o une surface en biseau disposée en regard, en dessous de la face supérieure de la corniche ;
• que le rebord d'appui est pourvu d'une face extrême de butée sensiblement perpendiculaire au plan d'ouverture de la deuxième gorge.

According to various embodiments, the cleat has the following characters, possibly combined:

• it comprises a first groove, opening downwards, delimited by the lower face of the support crossmember and of the first arms of said walls, these first arms being substantially parallel and extending, with respect to the lower face of crossmember, on two different heights;
• it comprises a second groove, opening upwards, delimited by the upper face of the support crossmember and of the second arms of said walls, these second arms being substantially parallel, the second arm of one of the two walls, called internal wall , being provided in the upper part with a support cornice whose upper face is suitable and intended to receive a shelf shelf;
• the two grooves are placed perpendicular to each other and are of substantially identical widths;
• the two walls extend over a width greater than their thickness;
• it is provided with an additional thickness such as a rib forming a reinforcement console at the support cornice;
• one of said walls, called the outer wall, comprises an upper arm and a lower arm, projecting on either side of the support cross-member, the thickness of the lower arm being less than that of the upper arm , the lower arm being provided with an inclined external face capable of guiding the movement of the cleat during its assembly;
• the opening of the second groove is delimited by:
• o a projecting support rim on the second arm of the external wall and
• o a bevel surface arranged opposite, below the upper face of the cornice;
• that the support flange is provided with an end stop surface substantially perpendicular to the opening plane of the second groove.

The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to a set formed by a cleat as presented above and a shelf upright provided with at least one through hole capable of forming a mounting light for a shelf support cleat, the cleat having a total height external and internal greater than the opening of said lumen, the edge lower of said lumen being at least partially disposed in the first groove of the cleat, opening downwards, the upper edge of said lumen being at least partially disposed in the second groove of the cleat, opening upwards.

In one embodiment, the support crosspiece is applied against the edge lower of said light.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un taquet selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe du taquet de la figure 1, lors de sa mise en place dans un montant d'étagère ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'une étagère pourvue de taquets tels que représentés en figures 1 et 2, cette étagère étant représentée en cours de montage d'une tablette.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear during the following description of embodiments, which description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleat according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view of the cleat of Figure 1, when placed in a shelf upright;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a shelf provided with tabs as shown in Figures 1 and 2, this shelf being shown during assembly of a shelf.

We first refer to Figure 1.

The cleat 1 comprises two thick walls 2,3 substantially parallel to each other and extending in a first direction D1 called vertical.

These walls 2,3 are of thickness e2, e3 substantially equal, these thicknesses being measured in a second direction D2 called longitudinal.
A third direction D3, called transverse, forms a direct trihedron with the directions D1 and D2.

A wall forming a support crosspiece 4 connects the walls 2,3. The height h4 of this support cross member 4, measured along D1 is greater than its thickness e4 measured according to D2.

With reference to the position of use of the stopper 1 shown in Figures 2 and 3, the wall 2 will be called the outer wall, the wall 3 being designated inner wall.

The internal wall 3 comprises a first, lower arm 5 and a second arm, upper 6, the terms "lower", "upper" being used here with reference to the position of use of the cleat. Likewise, the external wall 2 comprises a first arm, lower 7, and a second arm, higher 8.

The arms 5, 6, 7, 8 and the support cross-member 4 define an H-profile, the four branches of this H, formed by the arms 5,6,7,8 each having a specific form and function.

A first groove 10 is defined by the first arms 5,7 and the face lower 9 of the support crosspiece 4. This first groove 10 is of section substantially U-shaped, the underside 9 of the support cross member extending substantially in the plane of directions D2, D3.

The first arm 5 of the internal wall 3 extends over a height h5 greater than that h7 of the first arm 7 of the external wall 2.

A second groove 11 is defined by the second arms 6.8 and the face upper 12 of the support crosspiece 4. This second groove 11 is of substantially U-shaped section, the upper face 12 of the support cross member 4 extending substantially in the plane of directions D2, D3.

The second arm 6 of the internal wall 3 is provided, on its edge upper, a support cornice 13 with an upper face 14 substantially plane. This support cornice 13 projects beyond the internal face 15 of the internal wall 3. A rib forming an additional thickness 16, extending along the direction D1, half-width I1 of the console-shaped cleat for the cornice support 13.

The second arms 6,8 extend over heights h6, h8 substantially identical. The second arm 6 of the outer wall 2 is provided, in part upper end of a support rim 17. This support rim 17 projects at the beyond the face 18 of the external wall 2 delimiting the second groove 11.

The support rim 17 comprises an abutment face 19 extending substantially along a plane defined by the directions D1 and D3, this abutment face 19 coming opposite a bevel 20 of the second arm 6 of the internal wall 3.
This bevel 20 connects the upper face 14 of the cornice 13 to the face 21 of the second arm 6 of the internal wall 3, face 21 which is arranged opposite the face 18 of the second arm 8 of the external wall 2.

• le biseau 20 ;
• la face 21 du bras 6 ;
• la face supérieure 12 de la traverse d'appui 4, cette face supérieure 12 formant paroi de fond de la deuxième gorge 11 ;
• la face 18 du bras 8, sensiblement en regard et parallèle à la face 21 du bras 6 ;
• le rebord d'appui 17 et sa face de butée 19.

So that, starting from the upper face 14 of the support cornice 13 and going towards the outside of the cleat 1, one successively meets:

• the bevel 20;
• the face 21 of the arm 6;
• the upper face 12 of the support cross member 4, this upper face 12 forming the bottom wall of the second groove 11;
• the face 18 of the arm 8, substantially facing and parallel to the face 21 of the arm 6;
• the support rim 17 and its abutment face 19.

We now refer to Figure 2 which illustrates the implementation a stopper 1 as just described, through a light or a through hole 30 of a shelf upright 31.

As it appears in Figure 2, the cleat 1 is introduced inclined to through light 30, so that the second groove 11 of the cleat 1 houses the extreme high edge 32 of this light 30. The inclined position of introduction of the cleat 1 appears in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

The total external height of the cleat, equal to the sum of the heights h7, h4 and h8 defined above is greater than the aperture of the light 30, measured according to D1.

As has been said before, the heights h6 and h8 are substantially equal and the height h5 is greater than h7. As a result, the total internal height of the cleat 1, equal to the sum of the heights h5, h4 and h6 defined previously is also greater than the aperture of the light 30, measured according to D1.

In order to facilitate the introduction of the stopper 1 into the lumen 30, the external wall 2 of the cleat is provided with an external lower face bevelled 33, this face 33 being able to slide against the lower edge 34 of the light 30 and thus guide the operator during the mounting of the cleat 1.

When the first arm 7 of the outer wall 2 has passed over the lower edge 34 of light 30, the stopper 1 naturally tends to place itself, by its own weight, in the configuration shown in solid lines in Figure 2.

• la face de butée 19 est en regard voire en léger appui contre la face externe 35 du montant 31 ;
• la face inférieure 9 de la traverse d'appui 4 est posée contre le bord inférieur 34 de la lumière 30 ;
• la face externe 36 du premier bras 5, délimitant la première gorge 10, est en regard voire en léger appui contre la face interne 37 du montant 31, en dessous de la lumière 30.

This configuration is substantially as follows:

• the abutment face 19 is facing or even slightly pressing against the external face 35 of the upright 31;
• the lower face 9 of the support cross member 4 is placed against the lower edge 34 of the slot 30;
• the external face 36 of the first arm 5, delimiting the first groove 10, is facing or even slightly pressing against the internal face 37 of the upright 31, below the light 30.

• l'épaisseur du montant 31 doit être inférieure voire sensiblement égale aux ouvertures des première et deuxième gorges 10,11 du taquet 1 ;
• en fonction de la hauteur de la lumière 30, le bord supérieur 32 de cette lumière pourra être, comme sur la figure 2, au droit de la face de butée 19, ou plus à l'intérieur de la deuxième gorge 11.

As the skilled person will understand:

• the thickness of the upright 31 must be less or even substantially equal to the openings of the first and second grooves 10, 11 of the cleat 1;
• as a function of the height of the opening 30, the upper edge 32 of this opening may be, as in FIG. 2, in line with the abutment face 19, or more inside the second groove 11.

In an advantageous embodiment, after introduction of the cleat 1 in the light 30, the functional clearances are not sufficient to allow the cleat 1 to take support in its configuration in solid lines in FIG. 2. This cleat 1 is then pressed against, by force, according to the embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3.

The placement of the tablet 40 exerts pressure on the bearing face 14 of the cornice 13, thus blocking the cleat 1 in support.

In a particular embodiment, the tablet 40 is provided with a profile complementary to that formed by the bevel 20 and the bearing face 14 ledge 13.

The upright 31 can be a rigid profile, as shown in Figure 3, or even a perforated sheet.

The stopper 1 described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 is particularly suitable for installation in 30 rectangular lights or oblong.

• de la forme de la face inférieure 9 de la traverse d'appui 4;
• de la largeur I1 du taquet 1,

il sera possible d'employer un taquet selon l'invention pour une mise en place dans des lumières 30 d'autres formes, par exemple circulaires ou polygonales.As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, by the choice:

• the shape of the lower face 9 of the support cross member 4;
• of the width I1 of the cleat 1,

it will be possible to use a cleat according to the invention for installation in openings 30 of other shapes, for example circular or polygonal.

The cleat can be made of a material chosen from the group including metal alloys, wood, polymeric materials, if necessary reinforced with fibers.

In a particular embodiment, the cleats are made in glass fiber reinforced polyamide.

The use of a cleat according to the invention, solid, resistant, in profile adaptable to different light geometries, allows more mounting easier and safer shelves, compared to known devices previously.

Claims (8)

Cleat (1) shelf support, including two walls (2,3) connected by a support crosspiece (4), defining a general profile in H; a first groove (10), opening downwards, delimited by the lower face (9) of the support crosspiece (4) and of the first arms (5,7) of said walls (2,3), these first arms (5,7) being substantially parallel and extending, with respect to the lower face (9) of the support crosspiece (4), over two different heights h5, h7; a second groove (11), opening upwards, delimited by the upper face (12) of the support crosspiece (4) and of the second arms (6,8) of said walls (2,3), these second arms (6,8) being substantially parallel, the second arm (6) of one of the two walls (3), called the internal wall, being provided in the upper part with a support cornice (13) whose upper face (14 ) is suitable and intended to receive a shelf shelf (40), characterized in that the opening of the second groove (11) is delimited by: a support flange (17) projecting from the second arm (8) of the external wall (2) and a bevelled surface (20) arranged opposite, below the upper face (14) of the cornice (13). Cleat (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two grooves (10,11) are placed perpendicular to each other and are of substantially identical widths. Cleat (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that its two walls (2,3) extend over a width 11 greater than their thickness e2, e3. Cleat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is provided with an additional thickness such as a rib forming a console (16) reinforcing the support cornice (13). Cleat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one of said walls (2), called external, comprises an upper arm (8) and a lower arm (7), extending in projection on either side of the support crosspiece (4), the thickness of the lower arm (7) being less than that of the upper arm (8), the lower arm (7) being provided with a face inclined external (33) capable of guiding the movement of the cleat (1) during its assembly. Cleat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support flange (17) is provided with an end stop face (19) substantially perpendicular to the opening plane of the second groove (11). Assembly formed by a cleat (1) as presented in any one of claims 1 to 6 and a shelf upright (31) provided with at least one through hole capable of forming mounting light (30) for a cleat shelf support, characterized in that the cleat (1) at a total external and internal height greater than the opening of said light (30), the lower edge (34) of said light (30) being at least partially arranged in the first groove (10) of the cleat (1), opening downwards, the upper edge (32) of said lumen (30) being at least partially disposed in the second groove (11) of the cleat (1), opening up. Assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the support cross-member (4) is applied against the lower edge (34) of said lumen (30).

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