EP1872684A1

EP1872684A1 - Shelving

Info

Publication number: EP1872684A1
Application number: EP06743440A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alberto Lievore
Original assignee: SELLEX SA
Current assignee: SELLEX SA
Priority date: 2005-04-14
Filing date: 2006-04-12
Publication date: 2008-01-02
Also published as: EP1872684A4; WO2006108900A1; ES2244357B1; ES2244357A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a shelving having a group of rectangular shelves (1) supported by intermediate bars. Each intermediate bar is divided into a group of sections (5) with a length equal to the gap between the shelves (1), attached to one another by a threaded rod (7), through a plurality of through holes (3) made in each shelf (1). A support (9) is located under the lower shelf (1) to stabilize the shelving.

Each shelf (1) is formed from a profile that has two horizontal walls joined by partition walls, a horizontal groove (4) in a longitudinal edge and a slot (2) in each larger surface, which can be used to assemble sliding doors.

The upper shelf (1) is fixed to a support wall through two brackets (10) which carry out leveling functions so as to correct the uneven ground.

Description

Field of the Invention

As expressed in the title of this specification, the present invention relates to modular shelving, with a variable number of horizontal shelves and using support bars as separators of the content of the shelves.

Background of the Invention

The field of the art which this invention belongs to is the field of the construction of modular shelving and, by extension, the construction of furniture.
Modular shelving incorporating a relatively reduced number of components is known. In this sense, the described shelving in document ES 2015790 describes modular shelving, having a method of fixing both to the wall and between the different parts of the shelving which requires a reduced number of parts but has the drawback of requiring sizeable support structures
The shelving having the structure disclosed in document ES 2011712 has an even smaller number of elements, requiring smaller support structures, but requiring large pieces that reduce the useful space of the shelving.
The applicant is not aware of modular shelving which achieves the flexibility of configurations offered by the shelving object of the present invention, by means of a structure as simple as the one described, and which allows such good use of the surface of the shelving.

Description of the Invention

The object of the present invention is a shelving, adjustable in relation to the number of shelves, width and height of the assembly.
This shelving makes a simple assembly possible in the place in which it will be used, and the implementation of different configurations using a limited number of elements, these being standard, and offering a shelving in which the surface of the shelves is optimally used since it requires a very small number of intermediate support bars.
The shelving is made up of a variable group of shelves, usually with a rectangular shape, supported by at least two intermediate bars which also carry out functions of separating the content of the shelving in columns.
The shelves are made up of an profile with a considerably rectangular shape, with two larger horizontal walls joined to one another by means of a series of partition walls, the first of them being shifted a few centimeters from the longitudinal edge of the profile, forming a longitudinal groove on said edge. Two partition walls are located in a more or less centered position of the profile, between which partition walls a series of longitudinally aligned through holes are made between both larger surfaces of the shelf, there being a fixed distance between two consecutive through holes of 1 meter.
The last partition wall arranged between the two larger horizontal walls incorporates a projection defining two coinciding and parallel longitudinally arranged slots, one on each larger surface of the shelf and close to the corresponding longitudinal edge. Said slots can be used for the installation of sliding doors between two adjacent or non-adjacent shelves.
Each sliding door is made of a generally rectangular plate the width of which is about the distance between the lower larger surface of the lower support shelf for supporting the door and the upper larger surface of the upper support shelf.
Close to the upper longitudinal edge of the door, two or more projections are arranged on its inner face, the corresponding shaft of a wheel being fixed to each one. This wheel has a width that is slightly less than the width of the slot of the lower larger surface of the upper support shelf in which it is introduced. Two or more similar wheels are introduced in the upper slot of the lower support shelf.
The projections supporting the wheels of the door have a length so as to allow the presence of intermediate shelves between the upper support shelf and the lower support shelf.
The bars supporting the shelves are formed by sections having a length equal to the gap between the shelves. These sections are provided with hollow portions at their ends which an inner threading is applied to, such that a threaded rod can be partially inserted, which rod is introduced through the through hole of the shelf and is screwed into the next bar section, the body of the shelving thus being formed by means of repeating this process.
A flat-head screw is used in the upper shelf instead of the threaded rod given that no section is installed above the upper shelf.
In the case of the lower shelf, an elongated support is arranged under said shelf, which support has a threaded hole on the upper part for a first connecting point of the corresponding threaded rod. This threaded rod is then introduced through the through hole of the lower shelf and screwed into the lower section of the bar of the shelving.
Each support has at least two support bases which are arranged transversely to the shelf so as to increase stability of the assembly.
The shelving is fixed to a support wall by means of a group of brackets connected to the wall, the vertical section of each bracket being fixed to the wall, and the horizontal section, orthogonal to the wall, introduced in the longitudinal groove of at least the upper shelf, which it is fixed to by means of a stud.
The transverse edges of the shelves are protected by means of edge protectors which have portions that are complementary to the section of the profile, such that they can be partially coupled thereon, being fixed in place by pressure or another equivalent means.

Description of the Drawings

For the purpose of clarifying the detailed description of an embodiment, the drawings which allow understanding the basis of the present invention are described.

Figure 1 shows a general view of the shelving carried according to the present invention.
Figure 2 shows the AA cross section marked in Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the edge protector which is coupled to the transverse edges of the shelves.

Description of an Embodiment

Figure 1 shows a general view of the shelving object of the invention, in which the arrangement of the shelves (1) and the intermediate support bars can be seen, which bars are formed by a group of sections (5) having equal length, which are intercalated between each pair of consecutive shelves (1).
The shelving is fixed to a support wall by means of a group of brackets (10). The brackets (10) supporting the upper shelf (1) have their branches joined to the wall above said shelf (1), whereas the other brackets (10) are assembled with the branch fixed to the wall under the corresponding shelf (1).
An edge protector (6) for protecting the edge and for concealing the profile of the shelves (1) is located on the transverse edges of each shelf (1), increasing the aesthetic level of the shelving.
A plurality of supports (9) is arranged in the base of the shelving, each of such supports aligned with an intermediate bar and connected to its lower section (5) by means of a threaded rod (7). These supports (9) have an elongated configuration and are arranged transversely so as to increase the stability of the shelving.
Figure 2 shows the AA cross-section indicated in Figure 1, in which only the upper and lower shelves (1) as they are of most interest. A longitudinal groove (4) in one of the longitudinal edges, and two slots (2), one in each larger surface of the shelf (1), close to the opposite longitudinal edge, can be seen in each of these shelves (1). These slots (2) can be used to assemble sliding doors.
A plurality of through holes (3) is located in an approximately transversely centered position of the shelf (1) between both larger surfaces, arranged according to a longitudinal line. Each through hole (3) has a portion with a larger width close to its upper mouth, this width being equivalent to the outer diameter of the intermediate bars.
The intermediate bars are formed from a group of sections (5) formed by rods the end portions of which are hollow and internally threaded. These rods can be hollow throughout the entire length, or only in their end portions.
The sections (5) have an outer diameter that is greater than the diameter of the through holes (3) so as to prevent the shelf (1) from sliding through section (5).
A threaded rod (7) is introduced through each through hole (3) of the shelf (1), the ends of which rod are screwed to the sections (5) which will be used as separation between the shelf (1) and adjacent shelves. The shelving is assembled by means of repeating this process, the through holes (3) of the upper shelf (1) being closed by means of introducing flat head screws (8) from the upper part instead of the corresponding threaded rods (7).
Since the diameter of the sections (5) is equal to that of the upper mouths of the through holes (3), once the connection of the two consecutive sections (5) is secured through the through hole (3), the upper section (5) fits into said mouth, causing the sections (5) to be immobilized in relation to the shelf (1).
The support of the shelving on the ground is done by means of supports (9) having an elongated shaped having on their upper face a threaded hole such that a threaded rod (7) can be introduced, carrying out the connection with the immediately upper section (5), the threaded rod (7) passing through a through hole (3) of the lower shelf (1) of the shelving.
This support has bases (11) on its lower face, arranged transversely to the shelf (1) so as to increase the stability of the structure. These bases (11) are provided with leveling devices so as to compensate the unevenness of the ground.
The shelving is attached to the support wall by means of brackets (10) fixed to the wall by their vertical branch by means of screws or other suitable methods, and the horizontal section of which is introduced in the longitudinal groove (4) of the corresponding shelf, being fixed in place by means of threaded studs (12) which are generally introduced from the lower larger surface of the shelf (1).
The profile of the shelf (1) can be seen in this figure, in which it can be seen that it is formed by two horizontal larger walls connected by:

two partition walls in the longitudinal edges, one of them forming the longitudinal groove (4) and the two slots (2) being coupled to the other edge
two reinforcement partition walls in their central area where the longitudinal line of through holes (3) is made
two partition walls in intermediate positions between these four already mentioned.

Figure 3 shows the edge protector (6) which is coupled to the transverse edges of the shelf (1) so as to prevent the deformation due to blows on the edges of the shelf (1) and to further carry out aesthetic functions.
The edge protector (6) is connected to the transverse edges of the shelf (1) by means of portions that can be coupled which are introduced in the holes of the profile of the shelf (1) on its transverse edge and held in place by pressure or another equivalent means.
Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention as well as a manner of carrying it out to practice, it is hereby stated that the arrangements discussed above and represented in the attached drawings are susceptible to modifications of details insofar as they do not alter its essential nature.

Claims

A shelving of the type comprising a plurality of shelves having a reduced thickness supported by intermediate bars, characterized in that each shelf (1) comprises along its larger surface respective slots (2) which are coincident, parallel and close to one of the longitudinal edges; a longitudinal groove (4) along the opposite longitudinal edge; and a plurality of longitudinally aligned through holes (3) between both larger surfaces; and in that the intermediate bars comprise independent sections (5) with a length equal to the gap between two consecutive shelves (1), with internally threaded hollow end portions, and connectable threaded rods (7); the sections (5) of which are aligned with the through holes (3) of the shelves (1) for the passage of the mentioned threaded rods (7).
A shelving according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two brackets (10), one of the branches of which is to be fixed to a support wall while the other branch is introduced in the longitudinal groove (4) of the corresponding shelves (1) to which they are fixed by means of studs (12).
A shelving according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises one or more sliding doors assembled in the slots (2) of two shelves (1), and in that the doors comprise a substantially rectangular plate which has, close to the ends of the lower longitudinal edge of the inner face and aligned parallel to the edge, two or more means of fixing wheels configured to roll through the upper slot (2) of the lower support shelf (1) for supporting the door.
A shelving according to claim 3, characterized in that the doors comprise, close to the ends of the upper longitudinal edge of the inner face of the plate, and aligned parallel to the edge, two or more sliding means which are introduced in the lower slot (2) of the upper support shelf (1) for supporting the door.
A shelving according to claim 3, characterized in that the doors comprise, close to the ends of the upper longitudinal edge of the inner face of the plate, and aligned parallel to the edge, two or more means of fixing wheels configured to roll along the lower slot (2) of the upper support shelf (1) for supporting the door.
A shelving according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of supports (9) under the lower shelf (1), each support (9) being connected to the section (5) immediately above the lower shelf (1), and each of the supports (9) having a threaded rod (7) traversing the through hole (3) of the shelf (1) and screws onto the opposite section (5).
A shelving according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shelves (1) are formed by a profile comprising two larger, horizontal and parallel walls, and a plurality of intermediate partition walls.
A shelving according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises on the transverse edges of each shelf (1) an edge protector (6) that can be partially coupled on the profile of the shelf (1).
A shelving according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each upper section (5) is fixed to the upper shelf (1) by means of a flat head screw (8) introduced through the through holes (3).