EP2695547A1

EP2695547A1 - Assembly for shelving device, comprising a support for displaying articles, a lighting device and a mounting element

Info

Publication number: EP2695547A1
Application number: EP12305981.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Philippe Berthaud
Original assignee: HMY Group SAS
Current assignee: HMY Group SAS
Priority date: 2012-08-07
Filing date: 2012-08-07
Publication date: 2014-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-07
Also published as: EP2695547B1; PT2695547E; ES2548694T3

Abstract

The invention provides an assembly for shelving device, comprising a support (5) for displaying articles, a lighting device (34) and a mounting element (33) which is configured to bear said lighting device (34) and to be mounted on said support (5), wherein said mounting element (33) comprises at least one guiding member and said lighting device (34) comprises at least one complementary guiding member configured to be movable in rotation relative to said at least one guiding member, said mounting element (33) further comprises at least one stop member and said lighting device (34) further comprises at least one complementary stop member configured to come into abutment against said at least one stop member; by virtue of which said lighting device (34) is adjustable in rotation between at least two positions defined by said at least one stop member of said mounting element (33).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to assemblies for shelving device, comprising a support for displaying articles, a lighting device and a mounting element.
The invention further relates to a shelving device comprising such assemblies.

BACKGROUND ART

Shelving devices, also named gondola, are well known and comprise a base, two vertical columns which extend from the base, a back panel directly mounted on and between the vertical columns, two spacers and a plurality of shelves, also named sales shelves, each mounted on the vertical columns.
The back panel comprises an upper edge and a lower edge opposite to the upper edge, which upper and lower edges come each into abutment against the respective spacers. The spacers are also disposed between the two vertical columns and are mounted, like the back panel, on respective interior lateral faces of the vertical columns.
Each shelf comprises an upper face, a lower face and two lateral sides. Each shelf further comprises a mounting element formed by a spring member and a lighting device formed by a neon strip both located under the lower face of the shelf.
The spring member comprises two longitudinal arms attached one to the other at one extremity and each arm comprises a bended portion.
The spring member is fastened to the lower face of the shelf in the vicinity of the extremity of each arm.
The neon strip is accommodated on the bended portions of the arms of the spring member and faces the lower face of the shelf.
In this position, the neon strip is pressed against the lower face of the shelf by the spring member.
The invention is directed to an assembly for shelving device, comprising a support for displaying articles, a lighting device and a mounting element, which assembly is convenient, simple and economic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention accordingly provides an assembly for shelving device, comprising a support for displaying articles, a lighting device and a mounting element which is configured to bear said lighting device and to be mounted on said support, wherein said mounting element comprises at least one guiding member and said lighting device comprises at least one complementary guiding member configured to be movable in rotation relative to said at least one guiding member, said mounting element further comprises at least one stop member and said lighting device further comprises at least one complementary stop member configured to come into abutment against said at least one stop member; by virtue of which said lighting device is adjustable in rotation between at least two positions defined by said at least one stop member of said mounting element.
Thanks to the invention, the lighting device is not fixed in a single and permanent position in which the light is diffused only in a direction. Contrarily, the assembly according to the invention allows adjusting in rotation the position of the lighting device relative to the mounting element and thus relative to the support. A user can adjust the lighting direction according to the need between at least two positions defined by the mounting member.
The mounting of the mounting element on the support and the mounting of the lighting device on the mounting element and further the adjustment in rotation of the lighting device relative to the mounting element is convenient, simple and economic.
According to features preferred as being very simple, convenient and economical for embodying the assembly according to the invention:

said at least one guiding member is formed by a first portion of said mounting element, said first portion having a semi-annular shape defining an internal space and being configured to receive at least partially said lighting device into said internal space;
said first portion further comprises a semi-annular rib protruding in said internal space;
said lighting device comprises a body and said at least one complementary guiding member is formed by a lip which protrudes from said body;
said body has a general U-shape defining two lateral walls which are opposite to each other, a bottom wall and two curved portions each joining said bottom wall to a respective lateral wall, and said lighting device comprises two complementary guiding members which are formed by said two curved portions;
said lighting device further comprises two lips which protrude from said two lateral walls which are opposite to each other;
said at least one stop member is formed by a second portion of said mounting element, said second portion being located in the vicinity of said at least one guiding member and said at least one complementary stop member is formed by a free edge of said lighting device, said free edge being configured to come into abutment against said second portion;
said second portion has a flat shape and is configured to close said internal space defined by said semi-annular shape of said first portion, and said body of said lighting device further comprises two free edges located at ends of said lateral walls, each free edge being at the opposite from a curved portion of said body;
said mounting element further comprises at least one fastening member configured to fasten said lighting device to said support;
said support has a face and said at least one fastening member is formed by a third portion of said mounting element, said third portion comprising at least one housing configured to face said face and to receive a fixation element;
said support comprises a flange and said at least one fastening member is formed by a fourth portion of said mounting element, said fourth portion comprising two clamping arms configured to clamp said flange; and/or
said mounting element is a single molded body made from plastic material.

The invention further provides a shelving device comprising at least one assembly as described above.
Like the assembly according to the invention, the shelving device comprising such an assembly is particularly simple, convenient and economic.
According to features preferred as being very simple, convenient and economical for embodying the shelving device according to the invention:

said shelving device comprises a back panel structure and at least one shelf mounted on said back panel structure, said at least one shelf forming said at least one support; and/or
said at least one shelf has an upper face and a lower face at the opposite from said upper face and said mounting element is fastened on said lower face so that said lighting device is located under said at least one shelf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description of the invention now continues with a detailed description of a preferred embodiment given hereinafter by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shelving device comprising an assembly according to the invention, the assembly being shown schematically;
Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the assembly schematically shown in Figure 1, respectively in an assembled configuration and in an exploded configuration;
Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views, taken from different angles of view, of a mounting element of the assembly of Figures 2 and 3; and
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are partial lateral views of the assembly shown in Figure 2, showing three different positions of a lighting device of the assembly, relative to the mounting element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a shelving device 1, also named gondola, which is used to display articles (not represented).
The shelving device 1 is configured to be disposed for instance in a supermarket and to receive articles to display for instance for sale.
The shelving device 1 comprises a base 2, two vertical columns 3 extending from the base 2, a back panel structure 4 also extending from the base 2 and disposed between the two vertical columns 3 and a plurality of shelves 5, also named support for displaying articles.
The base 2 is made from metal and comprises horizontal stringers (not represented) which form a frame, four side walls whose only two side walls 7 and 8 are visible on Figure 1 and a panel 9 which covers the frame.
The panel 9 is flat and comprises a ledge 10 extending in front of the side wall 8.
The base 2 further comprises feet 6 whose only three are visible on Figure 1.
The two vertical columns 3 are made from metal and have each a general shape of a rod having a rectangular section.
Each vertical column comprises an exterior lateral face 11, an interior lateral face 15 opposite to the exterior lateral face 11, a front face 12 and a back face 18.
A plurality of openings 13 are provided both in the front face 12 and in the back face 18.
Each opening 13 has a rectangular general shape whose corners are rounded.
The back panel structure 4 comprises a flat metal back panel module 14 which is sandwiched between the two vertical columns 3, and two spacers 16 and 17.
The back panel module 14 comprises a first lateral end and a second lateral end opposite to the first lateral end, which are each mounted on a respective interior lateral face 15 of a vertical column 3.
The back panel module 14 further comprises an upper edge and a lower edge opposite to the upper edge, which upper and lower edges come each into abutment against a respective spacer 16, 17.
The spacer 16 is disposed between the two vertical columns 3 and is mounted, like the back panel module 14, on the respective interior lateral faces 15 of the vertical columns 3.
This spacer 16 is situated in the vicinity of the respective free ends of the vertical columns 3, opposite to the panel 9 of the base 2.
The spacer 17 is also disposed between the two vertical columns 3 and is mounted, like the back panel module 14, on the respective interior lateral face 15 of the vertical columns 3.
The spacer 17 is thus situated at the opposite of the spacer 16, in other words in the vicinity of the respective ends of the vertical column, the ends being opposite to the free ends, and in the vicinity of the panel 9 of the base 2
As shown in Figure 1, the shelving device 1 comprises a plurality of shelves 5. Here, one shelf 5 is mounted on a front face of the shelving device 1 and five shelves 5 are mounted on the back of the shelving device 1.
Each shelf 5 is configured to be mounted facing the back panel structure 4 and in particular each shelf 5 is configured to be hung to the two vertical columns 3 thanks to hanging members like hooks (not represented), hooks which are configured to be mounted on respective openings 13 of the vertical columns 3.
Each shelf is thus mounted on and facing the back panel structure 4 so that each shelf 5 overhangs the base 2, and in particular the panel 9.
Each shelf 5 comprises an upper face 20, a lower face 28 (visible figure 2), two lateral faces 21 and 22 which are opposite to each other and a front face 23 linking both lateral faces 21 and 22.
The lateral faces 21 and 22 and the front face 23 are configured to form a roof-deck for the shelf 5.
The upper face 20, the lateral faces 21 and 22 and the front face 23 are made from a single metal sheet 30 which comprises two lateral edges 24 and 25 which are opposite to each other and a front edge 26, all these edges being folded to form the roof-deck.
The upper metal sheet 30 comprises two cut-outs provided respectively at a junction between the lateral edge 24 and the front edge 26 and at a junction between the lateral edge 25 and the front edge 26.
The shelving device 1 further comprises a lighting device 34 formed here by a strip of light emitting diodes (named LED thereafter).
The shelving device 1 further comprises a mounting element 33 (visible figure 2), also named strip LED holder, which is configured to bear the strip LED 34 on the shelf 5 and to be mounted on the lower face 28 of the shelf 5.
The shelf 5 together with the strip LED 34 and the strip LED holder 33 form an assembly 31 for the shelving device 1.
We will now describe in detail the assembly 31 in reference to figures 2 to 8.
The assembly 31 comprises a shelf 5 partially illustrated, two strip LED holders 33 mounted on the lower face 28 of the shelf 5 and a strip LED 34 which is bore by the two strip LED holders 33.
The shelf 5 shown on figures 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 is partially illustrated in that the lateral faces 21 and 22 are masked to see better the assembly 31.
Figures 2 and 3 show that the shelf 5 further comprises a rear face 19 which is opposite to the front face 23 and a rigid member 32 which extends longitudinally between the lateral faces 21 and 22.
The front face 23 and the rear face 19 each comprise a flange 27 which extends perpendicularly from the respective face 23, 19 and which faces the lower face 28.
Each flange 27 comprises a plurality of recesses 92.
It should be noted that other recesses 93 are provided on the lower face 28 of the shelf 5, the other recesses 93 facing the recesses 92 of the flange 27.
The strip LED 34 comprises a body 70 which extends longitudinally between two free extremities 78.
The body 70 has a general U-shape which defines two lateral walls 71 having each a free edge 75, also named complementary stop member (see below), a bottom wall 73 linked to the two lateral walls 71 (at the opposite of the free edges 75) by the intermediary of two curved portions 72.
The body 70 further comprises an upper wall 77 which closes an opening of the U-shape of the body 70 at the two free edges 75. The upper wall 77 is thus linked to the two lateral walls 71 at the level of the free edges 75.
The body 70 further comprises two lips 74 which each protrude from a lateral wall 71.
Each lip 74 comprises a straight portion linked to a lateral wall 71, a straight free edge linked to the straight portion and a curved portion opposite to the straight portion and linked both to the straight free edge and the lateral wall 71.
It will be noted that the curved portions 72 and the lips 74 form the complementary guiding members (see below).
The strip LED 34 further comprises an electrical plug provided in the body 70 at a free extremity 78.
We will now describe in detail the strip LED holder 33 in reference to figures 4 and 5.
The strip LED holder 33 comprises a body 35 which is a single moulded body made from transparent plastic material.
The body 35 comprises a first portion 40, also named guiding member, which has a semi-annular shape defining an internal space 42.
The first portion 40 comprises an internal wall 44 and an external wall 45.
The first portion 40 comprises a rib 43 which has a semi-annular shape and has two ends 53, also named stop member (see below).
The rib 43 protrudes from the internal wall 44 and thus forms a shoulder 41 formed on the internal wall 44.
The body 35 further comprises a second portion 50 which has a rectangular shape and which is located in the vicinity of the first portion 40.
The second portion 50 is flat and comprises an upper face 51 and a lower face 52 opposite to the upper face 51.
It will be noted that the second portion 50 forms a stop member (see below).
The second portion 50 is configured to close the internal space 42 defined by the semi-annular shape of the first portion 40.
Thus, the lower face 52 of the second portion 50 faces the internal wall 44 of the first portion 40.
The second portion 50 is further configured so that each end 53 of the rib 43 of the first portion 40 comes into abutment against the lower face 52 of the second portion 50, where the latter is linked to the first portion 40.
It will be noted that the second portion 50 is here of the same depth as the depth of the first portion 40.
The body 35 further comprises a third portion 60, also named first fastening member, which has a general rectangular shape.
The third portion 60 is linked to the second portion 50 and extends perpendicularly relative to this second portion 50.
The third portion 60 comprises an upper face 61, a lower face 62 opposite to the upper face 61, a first side 63, a second side 64 opposite to the first side 63, a third side 65 and a fourth side 66 opposite to the third side 65.
The first side 63 is located on the side of the second portion 50.
The third portion 60 comprises a gripping member 67 having a plurality of steps 68, here four steps, which each protrudes from the upper face 61.
The gripping member 67 extends centrally from the second side 64 to the first side 63 (toward the second portion 50).
The third portion 60 further comprises two housings 90 which are recessed in the upper face 61 and which are located on either sides of the gripping member and thus in the vicinity of the respective third side 65 and fourth side 66.
Each housing 90 has a general U-shape and has an opening formed on the respective third, fourth side 65, 66.
The third portion 60 further comprises two holes 91 formed both on the lower face 62 and on the housings 90.
The holes 91 have a general U-shape (smaller than the U-shape of the housings 90) and have openings which are formed respectively on the third side 65 and fourth side 66.
Here, the housings 90 are configured to receive each a fixation element formed by an adhesive bumper dome 69.
Each adhesive bumper dome 69 comprises a flat face (not represented) introduced in a housing 90 and a curved face which protrudes at least partially from the housing 90.
It should be noted that the second portion 50 and the third portion 60 form a part having a general T-shape.
The body 35 further comprises a fourth portion 80, also named second fastening member, which has a general shape of a clamp.
The fourth portion 80 comprises a first clamping arm 81 and a second clamping arm 82.
The first clamping arm 81 is linked to the first portion 40 and more precisely to the external wall 45 at the level of a first junction 46.
It will be noted that the first clamping arm 81 is here of the same depth as the depth of the first portion 40.
The first clamping arm 81 further comprises a flat wall 84 and a beveled wall (not represented) linked to the flat wall 84 and formed at the end of the first clamping arm 81.
The second clamping arm 82 is linked both to the first portion 40 and more precisely to the external wall 45 at a level of a junction 47 and to the third portion 60 and more precisely to the lower face 62 at a level of a base 87.
The second clamping arm 82 comprises a clamping part 94, a first leg 85 and a second leg 86, the first and second legs 85 and 86 being both linked to the clamping part 94 at a level of a junction 88.
The first leg 85 extends between the junction 47 and the junction 88.
The second leg 86 extends between the base 87 and the junction 88.
The clamping part 94 comprises a plurality of teeth 83 configured to face the flat wall 84 on the first clamping arm.
It will be noted that the first and second legs 85 and 86 are configured to have a general V-shape.
The fourth portion 80 further comprises two ribs 89 provided on each first and second clamping arms 81 and 82.
The ribs 89 are formed in a space (not represented) defined between the first clamping arm 81, the first leg 85 of the second clamping arm 82 and the external wall 45 of the first portion 40.
We will now describe in reference to figures 6 to 8 the cooperation between the strip LED holder 33, the strip LED 34 and the shelf 5 of the assembly 31.
The strip LED 34 is bore by the strip LED holders 33.
The body 70 of the strip LED 34 is partially introduced in the internal space 42 of the first portion 40 of each strip LED holder 33.
The upper wall 77 of the body 70 faces the lower face 52 of the second portion 50 of the strip LED holder 33 (figure 6).
The two free edges 75, the straight free edges of the two lips 74 and the two curved portions 72 are supported on the rib 43 of the first portion 40.
The two lateral walls 71 and the bottom wall 73 face the internal wall 44 of the first portion 40.
The strip LED holders 33 are each mounted and fastened on the lower face 28 of the shelf 5 and are each clamped to the flange 27 which extends from the front face 23.
The upper face 51 of the second portion 50 and the upper face 61 of the third portion 60 face the lower face 28 of the shelf 5.
The steps 68 of the gripping member 67 are partially introduced in some recesses 93 formed on the lower face 28 of the shelf 5.
The curved face of each adhesive bumper dome 69 are pressed against the lower face 28 of the shelf 5 to fasten each strip LED holder 33 on the lower face 28 of the shelf 5.
It will be noted that the second side 62 of the third portion 60 comes here into abutment against an internal wall (not represented) of the front face 23 of the shelf 5.
The first and second clamping arms 81 and 82 clamp the flange 27 of the front face 23 due to a relative elasticity of the fourth portion 80 (thanks to the first and second legs 85 and 86).
The flat wall 84 of the first clamping arm 81 comes into abutment against some recesses 92 formed on a lower face (not represented) of the flange 27; and one or a plurality of the teeth 83 are partially introduced in some recesses 92 formed on an upper face (not represented) of the flange 27 to clamp each strip LED holder 33 on the flange 27 of the shelf 5.
It will be noted that a free edge (not represented) of the clamping part 94 comes here into abutment against the internal wall (not represented) of the front face 23 of the shelf 5.
It will also be noted that the fourth portion 80 clamps the flange 27 so that a free end (not represented) of the flange 27 extends into the space where the ribs 89 are formed.
Figure 6 shows the strip LED 34 in a first position in rotation relative to the strip LED holder 33 and to the shelf 5.
Figure 7 shows the strip LED 34 in a second position in rotation relative to the strip LED holder 33 and to the shelf 5, the second position being named as maximum rear lighting direction.
Figure 8 shows the strip LED 34 in a third position in rotation relative to the strip LED holder 33 and to the shelf 5, the third position being named as maximum front lighting direction.
The strip LED 34 is adjustable in rotation between the second position and the third position.
For that matter, the two free edges 75, the straight free edges of the two lips 74 and the two curved portions 72 slide on the rib 43 (acting as a guiding member) of the first portion 40.
In the second position where the rear lighting direction is maximum, the free edge 75 of the body 70, which is the most remote to the front face 23 of the shelf 5, comes into abutment against the lower face 52 (acting as a stop member) of the second portion 50 at the end 53 (which is also the most remote to the front face 23 of the shelf 5).
In this second position, the light emitted by the strip LED 34 is diffused substantially toward the base 2 and the back panel module 14 of the shelving device 1.
In the third position where the front lighting direction is maximum, the other free edge 75 of the body 70, which is the most close to the front face 23 of the shelf 5, comes into abutment against the lower face 52 (acting as a stop member) of the second portion 50 at the other end 53 (which is also the most close to the front face 23 of the shelf 5).
In this third position, the light emitted by the strip LED 34 is diffused substantially toward the base 2 and the outside of the shelving device 1.
In variants that are not illustrated:

the assembly comprises more or less mounting elements, for instance only one or three;
the mounting element is not clamp on the flange of the shelf but is only fastened to the lower face of the shelf thanks to the fastening member and the body of the mounting element comprises or does not comprise the fourth portion;
the body of the mounting element comprises the clamping member and does not comprise the third portion;
the third portion of the mounting element comprises more or less housings, for instance only one or three;
the third portion of the mounting element comprises more or less holes, for instance only one or three;
the third portion is devoided of gripping member;
the second and third portions form a part having a X-shape rather than a T-shape;
the dumper domes are replaced by screws;
the shelf does not comprise recesses to receive partially the gripping member, the tooth and the flat wall of the clamping member of the mounting element;
the mounting element is not transparent but rather translucent or opaque;
the mounting element is not made from plastic material but rather in metal or steel;
the lighting device comprises more or less lips, for instance one or three; and/or
the lighting device is not a strip LED but rather another lighting device, for instance a neon strip.

It should be noted more generally that the invention is not limited to the examples described and represented.

Claims

Assembly for shelving device (1), comprising a support (5) for displaying articles, a lighting device (34) and a mounting element (33) which is configured to bear said lighting device (34) and to be mounted on said support (5), wherein said mounting element (33) comprises at least one guiding member (40) and said lighting device (34) comprises at least one complementary guiding member (72, 74) configured to be movable in rotation relative to said at least one guiding member (40), said mounting element (33) further comprises at least one stop member (50) and said lighting device (34) further comprises at least one complementary stop member (75) configured to come into abutment against said at least one stop member (50); by virtue of which said lighting device (34) is adjustable in rotation between at least two positions defined by said at least one stop member (50) of said mounting element (33).
Assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one guiding member is formed by a first portion (40) of said mounting element (33), said first portion (40) having a semi-annular shape defining an internal space (42) and being configured to receive at least partially said lighting device (34) into said internal space (42).
Assembly according to claim 2, wherein said first portion (40) further comprises a semi-annular rib (43) protruding in said internal space (42).
Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said lighting device (34) comprises a body (70) and said at least one complementary guiding member is formed by a lip (74) which protrudes from said body (70).
Assembly according to claim 4, wherein said body (70) has a general U-shape defining two lateral walls (71) which are opposite to each other, a bottom wall (73) and two curved portions (72) each joining said bottom wall (73) to a respective lateral wall (71), and said lighting device (34) comprises two complementary guiding members which are formed by said two curved portions (72).
Assembly according to claim 5, wherein said lighting device (34) further comprises two lips (74) which protrude from said two lateral walls (71) which are opposite to each other.
Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said at least one stop member is formed by a second portion (50) of said mounting element (33), said second portion (50) being located in the vicinity of said at least one guiding member (40) and said at least one complementary stop member is formed by a free edge (75) of said lighting device (34), said free edge (75) being configured to come into abutment against said second portion (50).
Assembly according to claims 2, 5 and 7, wherein said second portion (50) has a flat shape and is configured to close said internal space (42) defined by said semi-annular shape of said first portion (40), and said body (70) of said lighting device (34) further comprises two free edges (75) located at ends of said lateral walls (71), each free edge (75) being at the opposite from a curved portion (72) of said body (70).
Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said mounting element (33) further comprises at least one fastening member (60, 80) configured to fasten said lighting device (34) to said support (5).
Assembly according to claim 9, wherein said support (5) has a face (28) and said at least one fastening member is formed by a third portion (60) of said mounting element (33), said third portion (60) comprising at least one housing (90, 91) configured to face said face (28) and to receive a fixation element (69).
Assembly according to one of claims 9 and 10, wherein said support (5) comprises a flange (27) and said at least one fastening member is formed by a fourth portion (80) of said mounting element (33), said fourth portion (80) comprising two clamping arms (81, 82) configured to clamp said flange (27).
Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said mounting element (33) is a single molded body (35) made from plastic material.
Shelving device for displaying articles, comprising at least one assembly (31) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
Shelving device according to claim 13, wherein it comprises a back panel structure (4) and at least one shelf (5) mounted on said back panel structure (4), said at least one shelf (5) forming said at least one support.
Shelving device according to claim 14, wherein said at least one shelf (5) has an upper face (20) and a lower face (28) at the opposite from said upper face (20) and said mounting element (33) is fastened on said lower face (28) so that said lighting device (34) is located under said at least one shelf (5).