EP2092851A1

EP2092851A1 - Mounting element for a wire basket or grate

Info

Publication number: EP2092851A1
Application number: EP09001860A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arne Ole Gudmand Madsen
Original assignee: Flex Home System AS
Current assignee: Flex Home System AS
Priority date: 2008-02-23
Filing date: 2009-02-10
Publication date: 2009-08-26
Also published as: DK200800031U3

Abstract

A mounting element (2) which comprises a first and a second part (2A,2B) that face each other and have indents (13) in one of or both parts to retain between them one or several wires (3) or bars (4), wherein the element (2) is adapted to having a guide rail (17) fixed thereto which extends along the wires (3) retained between the mounting element parts (2A,2B). The element parts have cooperating means for the parts to be tightened together and thus enclosing the wires (3) or bars (4). Also a basket comprised of two or more mounting elements (2) and wires (3) or bars (4) is part of the invention.

Description

This present invention relates to the field of wire baskets and grates; especially wire baskets to be pulled in and out of a cabinet.
Usually wire baskets are prepared in rather complex constructions with wires running in between and around other wires to lock the basket in the desired form. Baskets can also be provided by using flat steel bars. However, in both cases it is not possible to attach guide rails to the baskets, and they will have to slide having their wire edges bearing on projections extending from the enclosing cabinet walls.
It is the purpose of the invention to teach a simple and easy way to provide a basket by using wires and/or flat bars by means of mounting elements further allowing guide rails to be attached thereto.
A mounting element according to the invention is comprised of a first part and a second part facing each other and having openings in one or both parts to retain one or several wires or bars between them, wherein the element is adapted to having a guide rail extending along the wires and retained between the mounting element parts, and said element parts having cooperating means for tightening together the parts enclosing the wires or flat bars.
The mounting element according to the invention comprises openings adapted to enclose a wire and/or flat bar produced from primarily steel or iron, but also other applicable materials such as plastic or wood could be used. At present steel is the preferred material. Said openings can be provided in the one element part or can be complementary openings forming the preferred openings as first and second parts are connected.
The first and second parts of an element have interlocking means, e.g. a hook and a lug or a bolt and nut connection or both.
Optionally, an outer surface of the elements is adapted to receive a guide rail running on wheels or balls. Alternatively, a bottom plate for a drawer or basket could be attached to the mounting element, e.g. by a screw inserted from below such plate into the lower end of the element, whereby the bottom plate could be provided with said guide rails.
In order to make mounting easier and to obtain a nice appearance of the element, the first and second parts are produced from a plastic material and have a film hinge around which the two parts are folded against each other enclosing wires/bars.
In case a bolt and nut connection is selected, the bolt can either be inserted through a plain hole or a threaded hole in the first part, while in the second part there are threads or a plain hole, respectively.
A basket according to the invention comprises one or more wires bent to the desired form of the basket, preferably a rectangular form, retained in different heights by means of at least two, preferably four, mounting elements according to the invention.
In order to increase sturdiness of the basket at least one of the wires can be replaced by a vertical flat bar and provided with cross bars to form a bottom.
In order for the mounting element to maintain its final position relative to the wires, stops are provided by means of a pointed or a flat screw inserted from the side of the element, or there can be friction inserts adjacent to the wires within the element. Alternatively, at least one of the wires or bars is provided with a deformation matching a stop inside the mounting element.
By means of the invention it will become possible for the end-user to perform intuitive and easy assembling of a basket, a grate or a drawer, and the mounting elements are prepared for attaching guide rails if so desired.
A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is presented with reference to the enclosed drawings, showing in

Fig. 1 a basket assembled with mounting elements according to the invention,
Fig. 2 a male mounting element part according to one embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 3 a female mounting element part cooperating with the male part in fig. 2,
Fig. 4 a female mounting element part according to a second embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 5 a mounting element according to the invention adapted to receive a guide rail in an exterior slot, and
Fig. 6 examples of flat hollow bars or pipes to be mounted in mounting elements according to the invention.

Fig. 1 provides an overview of a basket 1 according to the invention and assembled with four mounting elements 2, which are retaining two rounds of wires 3 and a flat bar 4 between each another. The bottom of the basket consists of three crossbars 5, which serve to stiffen the whole basket 1 construction. A bottom in the form of e.g. a wooden, a plastic or a glass plate could also be provided.
In a first embodiment (Fig. 2-3) the mounting element 2 comprises a male first part 2A showing a base member 6 and an elongated tower member 7 wherein said tower has hooks 8 to be connected with interlocking lugs 11 in a female second part 2B of the same element 2. The second part 2B is showing a base member 9 and an elongated tower member 10.
When male and female parts 2A, 2B are assembled said hooks and said lugs interlock and maintain the interlocked position enclosing, in this case, two wires 3 and one flat bar 4 in position, one above the other in a vertical plane, resulting in a basket 1.
In fig. 2 and 3 the mounting element parts 2A, 2B further comprise a pin-and-hole connection at the top of tower parts 7, 10, while the base members 6, 9 shall be tightened together by means of a bolt/nut connection (not shown) going transversally through threaded or plain holes 12 in the base members 6, 9. Indents 13 are provided in either one or both of the mutually facing surfaces of the element parts 2A, 2B. The indents have formfitting openings 13' to receive wires 3 or bars 4.
In a preferred modification, friction pads or screws (not shown) are inserted adjacent a wire inside the element hindering sliding of the mounting element 2 along the wires 3 or bars 4. In yet another modification, at least one of the wires or bars is provided with a deformation (not shown) matching a stop (not shown) inside the element 2.
Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the female part 2B' of an element to enclose three wires, wherein the bolt/nut connection is provided longitudinally into the bottom of the base member 9' through a hole 12' and into the opening 13'. Thereby an almost invisible and appealing connection is provided.
Fig.5 shows another embodiment of the mounting element 2 provided with openings to retain two wires 3 and one flat bar 4, wherein the element 2 is folded over a film hinge 15, and the base members 6, 9 are formed so that there is a slot 16 pointing away from the element and wherein a guide rail 17 is easily received and retained in the slot 16.
Fig. 6 shows how a flat bar 4, more specifically a hollow flat bar, is fixedly attached to a mounting element 2 by means of pins 18 protruding from the mounting element 2 and corresponding openings 19, 20 in the flat bar 4. In the one example the bar 4 has a hole 19 in its upper surface and an indent 20 in its lower surface, and the mounting element 2 has corresponding pins 18 protruding from an upper and a lower interior surface. The bar 4 requires manipulation so that it is inserted sideways into connection between its hole 19 and the upper pin 18 in the mounting element 2, and next the bar 4 is swung into contact between its indent 20 and the lower pin 18 in the mounting element 2.
In the second example a hollow flat bar 4 provided with a hole 21 on each vertical surface facing the interior of a foldable mounting element 2A, 2B is fixedly retained therein by means of pins 18 protruding from the side surfaces of the mounting element 2A, 2B.

Claims

A mounting element (2) comprising a first and a second part (2A, 2B) facing each other and having indents (13) in one or both parts to retain between them one or several wires (3) or bars (4), wherein the element (2) is adapted to having a guide rail (17) fixed thereto extending along the wires (3) retained between the mounting element parts (2A, 2B), and said element parts having cooperating means for the parts to be tightened together enclosing the wires (3) or bars (4).
A mounting element (2) according to claim 1, comprising semi-circular openings (13) in each part (2A, 2B) thereof and facing each other for retaining a wire (3).
A mounting element (2) according to claim 1, comprising rectangular openings (13) in each part thereof and facing each other for retaining a flat bar (4).
A mounting element (2) according to claim 2 and 3 adapted to simultaneously mount wires (3) and flat bars (4).
A mounting element (2) according to any of previous claims, wherein the cooperating means in the two element parts (2A, 2B) are interlocking means (8, 11) such as a hook (8) and a corresponding lug (11) and/or a bolt and nut connection.
A mounting element (2) according to claim 1, wherein a guide rail (17) to be supported on wheels or balls, can be received (16) in or on the element (2).
A mounting element (2) according to claim 1 wherein the two parts (2A, 2B) are produced from a plastic material and have a film hinge (15) around which the two parts are folded against each other enclosing wires (3) or bars (4).
A mounting element (2) according to any of claims 5-7, wherein a first element part (2A) is provided with a hole, preferably a plain hole (12, 12'), for a bolt, and a second element part (2B) is provided with screw threads fitting said bolt.
A mounting element (2) according to any of claims 5-8, wherein a first element part (2A) is provided with a threaded hole for a bolt and a second element part (2B) is provided with a plain hole (12, 12') fitting the bolt.
A basket (1) comprising one or more wires (3) or bars (4) bent to the desired form of a basket; preferably a rectangular form, said wires or bars being retained in different heights by means of at least two mounting elements (2) according to any of claims 1-9.
A basket (1) according to claim 10, simultaneously comprising at least one wire (3) and at least one flat bar (4).
A basket (1) according to any of claims 10-11 comprising four mounting elements (2) according to any of claims 1-9 and wherein the bottom wire/bar has crossbars (5) providing a basket bottom.
A basket (1) according to any of claims 10-12 wherein at least one of the elements (2) has a friction pad or a protrusion (18) on the inner side of the element (2) interacting with a surface or a hole (19; 21) or an indentation (20) of a wire or bar (3, 4), preventing said element (2) from sliding along said wire (3) or bar (4).
A basket (1) according to any of claims 10-12 wherein at least one of the wires (3) or bars (4) is provided with a deformation cooperating with a stop on the inner side of a mounting element (2), preventing said element from sliding along said wire (3) or bar ( 4).
A basket (1) according to any of claims 10-14, comprising a bottom in the form of e.g. a wooden, a plastic or a glass plate attached to the mounting elements e.g. by means of screws inserted from below the bottom into the base part of the elements.