EP1547487A1

EP1547487A1 - Shelving system

Info

Publication number: EP1547487A1
Application number: EP04258068A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandra Giovanna Maiolino Ajaykumar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-23
Filing date: 2004-12-22
Publication date: 2005-06-29
Also published as: GB0329978D0

Abstract

A self-assembly free standing shelving system includes horizontal shelves (1) and vertical supports or uprights (3) made by an assembly of one type of small modular linear elements (2). In the assembly, two of the linear elements, made of metal and forming an 'X', link two shelves, and are linked to the successive 'X'. This assembly is repeated for as many shelves as required to form the vertical supporting structure, thus allowing a different number of shelves, assembled horizontally and/or vertically, and a combination of different heights between shelves. The height between shelves can be varied by altering the position of the junction points between two elements (2) forming an 'X', and between the 'X' and the sides of the shelves (4).

The shelves can be re-assembled at any time in different horizontal and vertical combinations and new shelves and vertical supports can be added to the original ones.

Description

This invention relates to a self-assembly free standing shelving system.
Free standing shelving systems are common and are normally used for storing a variety of items such as books, folders, televisions, hi-fis, kitchen utensils, etc. They normally consist of two main elements: the horizontal shelves and the vertical supports. The vertical supports could be made of either solid elements, such as wood or plastic, or a lightweight metal structure. The shelves are supported by the structure at fixed or adjustable heights.
Although some modular systems already exist, the particular originality of this shelving system is that the vertical supports are made by an assembly of one type of small linear element. Such modular elements are easily assembled together and offer the possibility of making a shelving system with a variety of different heights. In fact, normally the vertical supports are made of elements as long as the height of the shelving system. This modular system offers also the possibility of re-assembling the shelves in different horizontal and vertical combinations and to add new shelves and vertical supports to the original ones, horizontally and vertically.
The shelves could be made of any material such as metal, timber, plywood, with a variety of finishes such as linoleum or varnish. The modular elements that form the supporting structure to the shelves are made of metal, such as stainless steel or aluminium.
The latter are linear flat metal elements, as shown in the drawings. They could also be made of tubular metal.
An embodiment of this invention will be described now with reference to the drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 shows a frontal view of a possible arrangement of these shelves.
FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the same arrangement of shelves, and in particular of the vertical supporting structure.
FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are, in order, a frontal view, a top view and a side view of a shelf.
FIGURE 6 is a side view of a modular element, which assembled together with other elements of the same length, size and shape, as previously stated, forms the supporting structure.
FIGURES 7 and 8 show diagrams of possible combinations of modular elements and horizontal shelves. (This is a diagram in which both modular elements and shelves are represented as lines).
The modular elements are assembled together in this way:

two modular elements (2) form a 'X' and link two successive shelves;
this assembly is repeated for as many shelves as required to form the vertical lightweight supporting structure (3).

Each modular element (2) has:

one hole (5a) at each end, to mechanically fix this element to the side of the shelf and to the successive modular element. (Fixings such as bolts are not shown in the drawings);
intermediate holes (5b) to mechanically fix together the two elements that form an 'X'. The various holes allow different heights for the 'X', therefore different heights between two successive shelves.

A metal angle (4) is fixed to the two short sides of each shelf to enable the fixing of the shelf to the modular elements (2). (Fixings such as bolts are not shown in the drawings).
Holes (5c) are cut in the horizontal side of this metal angle at different distances. This allows different heights for the 'X', therefore different heights between two successive shelves.
The position of the holes (5a, 5b, 5c) for the mechanical fixing (such as bolts) in both modular elements (2) and metal angles fixed to the shelves (4), is determined using a diagram (fig.7 and fig 8): this diagram shows how the horizontal angles of the shelves (4) and the modular elements (2) can be assembled together to achieve a combination of different heights between the shelves (1). The position of the holes is given by a chosen fixed length of the modular element, by a combination of chosen heights and by the length of the shelf (that limits the position of the holes 5c). The holes can be more than the ones described to allow more heights.
The supporting structures have feet (6) that allow the entire shelving system to rest on the floor.

Claims

A self-assembly free standing shelving system including horizontal shelves (1) and vertical supports or uprights (3) made by an assembly of one type of small modular linear elements (2), made of a metal such as steel, two of which, forming an 'X', link with a mechanical fixing, such as bolts, two successive shelves, via a metal angle (4) fixed to either side of the shelves, and are mechanically fixed to the successive 'X', said assembly repeated for as many shelves as required to form the vertical supporting structure, thus allowing a different number of shelves to be assembled, horizontally and/or vertically, characterized in that a combination of different heights between the shelves is achieved, where the height between shelves can be varied by altering the position of the junction point (5b) between two elements (2) forming an 'X', and by altering the position of the fixing points (5a, 5c) between the said 'X' assembly of elements (2) and the sides of the shelves, precisely the metal angles fixed to the sides (4).
A shelving system as claimed in Claim 1, where the bottom two elements (2) forming an 'X' are mechanically jointed to feet (6) that allow the entire shelving system to rest on the floor.
A shelving system as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, where the different heights between shelves can be determined by the use of a diagram (fig.7 and fig. 8) that facilitate choosing a useful combination of different heights between shelves.
A shelving system as claimed in any preceding claim, where the shelves can be re-assembled at any time in different horizontal and vertical combinations and new shelves and vertical supports can be added to the original ones, horizontally and vertically.