EP4687584A1

EP4687584A1 - Shelf and shelf systems with closed profile

Info

Publication number: EP4687584A1
Application number: EP24917530.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ali DERE; German LABAZIN
Original assignee: Zenith Tanzim Sergileme Uretim Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Zenith Tanzim Sergileme Uretim Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2024-05-29
Filing date: 2024-05-29
Publication date: 2026-02-11
Also published as: WO2025151098A1

Abstract

The invention relates to new shelves for store shelf systems developed for the storage or display of products, which are more versatile, environmentally friendly and produced with a lean manufacturing process compared to existing technology shelves according to the state-of-the-art shelf, shelf systems and/or shelf units, allowing to reduce the thickness while increasing the capacity load.

Description

SHELF AND SHELF SYSTEMS WITH CLOSED PROFILE

Technical Field

The invention relates to new shelves for store shelf systems developed for the storage or display of products, which are more versatile, environmentally friendly, and produced with a lean manufacturing process compared to existing technology shelves according to the state-of-the-art shelf, shelf systems and/or shelf units, allowing to reduce the thickness while increasing the capacity load.

State of the Art

Shelf, shelf systems and/or shelf units, such as grocery shelves, are an important tool for displaying and organizing products while shopping. Shelves and shelf systems are manufactured from materials such as metal and are widely used as marketing and sales tools to present the products to the buyer for sale, rental, and display purposes.

The organization and easy accessibility of shelves, shelf systems and/or shelf units have a positive impact on customers' shopping experience. In addition, the proper display of products on the shelves allows customers to make comparisons between products easily. Thus, it is ensured that customers would make shopping more consciously.

The organization of shelves, shelf systems, and/or shelf units positively affects sales by increasing the visibility of the products. It also ensures that products are stored and presented to the consumer in an appropriate manner. Properly organized shelves and shelf systems in supermarkets offer customers the opportunity to shop more easily and quickly.

Shelf, shelf systems, and/or shelf units also have an important place to promote brands and products. The packaging of the products on the shelves offers a visual feast to customers along with the logo, colors, and designs of the brands and increases brand awareness.

T o summarize, shelf, shelf systems, and/or shelf units have an important place in daily life because organized and impressively designed shelf, shelf systems, and/or shelf units provide customers with shopping pleasure while also contributing significantly to the promotion of brands and products. Current technology shelves used as part of a shelf system in store areas can be fitted with a price holder, which is a profiled element, usually made of PVC, on which price tags can be placed to display product prices. Current state-of-the-art shelves have a profile to which price holders can be attached, and these price holders are only attached from one side. This makes the shelf onesided, making it impossible to use the shelves on both sides. This makes the store area less effective and prevents it from being used to its maximum efficiency.

Current technology has several disadvantages in terms of handling capacity and raw material utilization. Low or insufficient transportation capacity leads to the need to increase the use of excessive raw materials for production (thicker sheet metal or reinforcement), increasing the cost of the product. These are also labor-intensive and energy-intensive, and the increased use of raw materials and energy for production of the existing technology shelf leads to additional carbon emissions and pollution of the environment.

As a result, it was considered necessary to make improvements in the existing shelf, shelf systems, and/or shelf unit solutions due to the disadvantages described above and the inadequacy of the existing solutions on the subject. A new shelf, shelf systems, and/or shelf unit solutions are needed that are more durable, more versatile, with increased carrying capacity, lower raw material consumption, and produced with a leaner production process in comparison to the products in the state of the art.

Brief Description of Invention

The present invention relates to shelf, shelf systems, and/or shelf unit solutions that meet the above-mentioned requirements, eliminate all disadvantages, and bring additional advantages to shelf in the present technology. The subject of invention closed profile shelf (1) and shelf systems (R) are inspired by the problems in the state of the art and are designed to solve the above- mentioned problems, eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages, and bring a significant improvement to the shelves in the existing technology.

One object of the invention is to make closed profile shelf (1) and shelf systems (R) more versatile, regardless of the specific orientation and mounting system. Thus, it is possible to mount the visual content device (10) in the front and back directions (2,3) in closed profile shelves (1) with closed profile . In this way, the production of the closed profile shelf (1) has been made more functional than the shelf in the current technology by making it double-sided and free from the two-sided (2,3) directions and definitions. The subject of invention shelves (1) have different profiles (2,3) on both sides for mounting various visual content devices (10) and price holders. For this reason, with at least two different types of visual content devices (10) that can be applied on both sides, it is intended to make a significant contribution to the display of brands and products by providing the consumer/customerwith the opportunity to visually design the area to be used in the shopping presentation as they wish without restricting their movement.

Another object of the invention is to develop closed profile shelves (1) and shelf systems (R) for storage, safe storage, display of, and access to products. The subject of invention closed profile shelf (1) and shelf systems (R) have a panel, usually rectangular and/or suitable for the area to be used, made of sheet metal using cutting, bending, forming, and welding processes. It is obtained by attaching one or more elements containing sheet metal to each other by welding and/or assembly joint elements/materials, and in order to increase the rigidity and capacity load, the reinforcement (4) is made suitable for use in stores, markets, home use, and similar sales or exhibition points.

Another object of the invention is to increase the capacity load by obtaining a closed profile shelf (1). Through invention, shelves in the known state of the art are produced without leaving any openings in the product closing points by using a single piece of material, and thus, the inadequacy caused by open profile, excessive material usage, production cost, production errors, production efficiency, carrying capacity and durability is improved and a closed profile shelf (1) is revealed. Accordingly, in the production of the subject of the invention shelf (or closed profile shelf, 1) and shelf system (R), both the required material usage was minimized and the load carrying capacity of the shelf was increased.

Within the scope of the invention, the term "closed profile shelf (1)" refers to a shelf (1) comprising a front edge (2) in closed profile form with at least one assembly joint point and a back edge (3) in closed profile form with at least one welding point, wherein the front edge (2) and the shelf (1) in closed profile form are joined by at least one assembly joint point (8a), wherein the back edge (3) and the shelf (1 ) in closed profile form are joined by at least one assembly joint point (8b), and wherein the side edges (9) are bent inwardly so as to close the shelf (1). In the context of the invention, the terms shelf (1) or closed profile shelf (1) are used interchangeably to refer to the subject of invention shelves (1). Another object of the invention is to provide a more resistant closed profile shelf design system by forming multiple layers through single bending operation without using extra material/product with the structure of the side edge (9) shelves in the subject of invention shelf (or closed profile shelf) (1). The side edges (9) of subject of invention shelf (1), which are bent inwardly, are joined with the front and back edges (2,3) of the closed profile shelf (1) at the assembly joint points (8a, 8b) by resistance spot welding to form more than one layer (8a), thus providing a stronger shelf (1). It preferably has triple thickness. Through to this feature, it has a more rigid structure.

Shelves (or closed profile shelves) (1), preferably developed using sheet thicknesses from 0.8 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters, have been successfully realized using less material and thickness without changing the targeted loading capacities.

The side edges (9) on which the shelf is mounted to the bracket are bent and curved, resulting in multiple layers being formed on the vertical part (9a) of the side edge and on the horizontal part (9b) of the side edge adjacent to the bracket. The vertical part (9a) and/or the horizontal part (9b) of the side edge preferably have a double thickness. This solution increases the carrying capacity and durability of the shelf (1). As an example; when 0.3 mm sheet metal is used for the production of the subject of invention shelf (1), the thickness of the shelf reaches a double thickness of 0.6 mm; it reaches a double thickness of 1.6 mm when 0.8 mm sheet metal is used. For subject of invention shelf (1) described in the example, the metal sheet thickness is produced between 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm and the double thickness feature is 0.6 mm and 1.6 mm.

There are protrusions fitting against the surface of the bracket when attached to the ends of the reinforcement. When the load is applied to the shelf, the end of the reinforcement interlocks between the surfaces of the shelf and the bracket, which increases the security of the reinforcement by fixing it to the shelf. In addition, the reinforcements from the specified endpoints are joined to the double-thickness side edges (9) by spot resistance welding to form multiple layers (7). Preferably with triple thickness. To explain as an example; when 0.3 mm sheet metal is used for the production of a closed profile shelf (1), the thickness of the shelf reaches double thickness of 0.9 mm; when 0.8 mm sheet metal is used, it reaches triple thickness of 2.4 mm. For the shelf (1) of the invention described in the example, the metal sheet thickness is produced between 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm and the triple thickness feature is 0.9 mm and 2.4 mm. As a result of the technical and design stages of the subject of invention shelves (1) and shelf systems (R) described above, as well as the visual design, usability and suitability of the system subject to production and the single-stage production process applied to the system, the rigidity and capacity load of the shelf is increased and raw material consumption is reduced through the double thickness and triple thickness features of the subject of invention shelf (1). In this way, the storage space is maximized, durability and lifetime is extended and the capacity to carry more load by using less material is increased. As a result of the tests carried out as an example of this capacity increase, it was determined that the carrying capacity of the 1 (one) kilogram (kg) closed profile shelf was increased by 50 kg and above with the load rate per kg shelf in shelves produced up to a width of 1250 millimeters (mm). In some tests; it was seen that such carrying capacity load rate per kg exceeded 100 kg. In these tests, TS 15635 standards are taken as reference and the production is carried out in accordance with the limits determined by the standard with the specified data.

It is intended to reduce energy and carbon emissions by reducing raw material consumption and applying lean production methods for the production of the subject of the invention shelf (1) and shelf systems/solutions (R) described above. In this way, environmentally friendly production processes are adopted with a nature-protective perspective.

A further object of the invention is to provide shelves (1) and shelf systems and/or shelf units (R) having two different designs. Preferably, the subject of invention shelves (or closed profile shelves) (1) can be a normal closed profile shelf or a closed profile shelf with increased depth. Such increased-depth shelf is preferably 40 mm deeper than the normal shelf according to the invention and it is suitable for the use of a single back panel (13a). In this way, the single back panel (13a) is positioned between the two supporting back uprights (12a), and the double back panel (13b) is positioned at the front and/or back of the two back supporting uprights (12a). These different types of shelves (normal shelves or shelves with increased depth) can be produced in single back panel (13a) or double back panel (13b) arrangement to increase the display area of the products on the shelf surface or to be used in a suitable order to each other without leaving a gap between the shelf and the back panel in accordance with the design of the back upright (12a).

Another object of the invention is to produce the reinforcement (4) on the subject of invention shelf (1) with cutouts for wiring and fixing the power cables of the lighting elements (lamps). Within such lower reinforcement (4), a closed structure is formed without compromising the visual appeal of materials and presentations requiring an electrical and/or wiring system. On the shelf (1), it is ensured that the cables of the lighting system can be hidden when necessary, and it is ensured that they can be made available for use by being hidden in a covered manner within the lower reinforcements (4) without disturbing the visual demandability. The space (16) between the closed profile shelf (1) and the reinforcement (4) provides this.

Another object of the invention is to fix the shelves to the brackets with the closed profile shelf (1) and to increase customer and product safety by preventing the shelf (1) from sliding with the antislip forms (6). The closed profile shelf (1) is prepared for installation by fitting into the relevant grooves of the brackets during assembly with the forms (6) located at the front and back corners underneath. Different types of shelf assembly can be used in single back panel (13a) or double back panel (13b) arrangement increased product efficiency without requiring additional reinforcement sheet production and production method, a fully closed shelf with safety was obtained with the anti-slip form (6) design.

Another object of the invention is that the reinforcements (4) can be welded and produced in a single operation and machine line without additional labor. By performing the assembly of the lower reinforcements (4) in the subject of the invention closed profile shelf (1) in desired quantity, distances, and dimensions in accordance with the supply and demand, movement and demandability have been ensured in accordance with the demand without any restrictions.

The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be more clearly understood by means of the figures given below and the detailed description written with references to these figures.

Description of the Figures

Figure 1 . The subject of invention bottom perspective view of the shelf

Figure 2. The subject of invention side view of the shelf

Figure 3. The subject of invention bottom view of the front edge of the closed profile shelf Figure 4. The subject of invention bottom view of the back edge of the closed profile shelf Figure 5. The subject of invention after forming operations of the shelf

Figure 6. The subject of invention visual device mountable for front and back parts of the shelf Figure 7. The subject of invention of the shelf system with front and back uprights and double back panels Figure 8. The subject of the invention of the shelf system with a back upright and double back panels.

Figure 9. The subject of invention of the shelf system with front and back uprights and without back panel

Figure 10. The subject of invention of the shelf system with back uprights and without back panel Figure 11 . The subject of invention of the shelf system with back uprights and single back panels

Description of references in figures

R. Shelf System

1 . Shelf or Closed Profile Shelf

2. Front edge in closed profile form

3. Back edge in closed profile form

4. Reinforcement

5. The assembly joint point of reinforcement and the shelf

6. Anti-slip form

7. The assembly joint point of reinforcement, and bended side edge

8a. The assembly joint point of front edge and the side edge in closed profile shelf

8b. The assembly joint point of back edge and the shelf in closed profile shelf

9. The bended side edge providing to ensure closed profile shelf

9a. Vertical part of the side edge

9b. Horizontal part of the side edge

10. Visual content device

11. Bracket

12a. Back upright

12b. Front upright

13a. Single back panel

13b. Double back panel

14. Base

15. Adjustable foot

16. The gap between the reinforcement and the shelf Detailed Description of the Invention

In the detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the subject of invention shelf (or closed profile shelf) (1) and shelf systems (R) are described only for a better understanding of the subject matter.

Various configurations of the subject of invention shelf (1) are shown in Figures 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The shelf (1), an embodiment of the invention, incorporates a front edge (2) in closed profile form, a back edge (3) in closed profile form, side edges (9) having a vertical part (9a), and a horizontal part (9b) bent inwards. The front edge (2) in closed profile form, the shelf (1) and the horizontal part of the side edges (9b) are joined by at least one assembly joint point (8a). In closed profile form, the back edge (3), the shelf (1) and the horizontal part of the side edges (9b) are joined by at least one assembly joint point (8b). In this way, a triple layer is formed at the indicated assembly joint points (8a, 8b) and the loading capacity of the shelf (1) is significantly increased.

Within the scope of the invention, the fact that the horizontal part (9b) of the side edge of the shelf (1) is bent inwards means that the horizontal part (9b) of the side edge of the shelf (1) contacts the bottom floor of the shelf (1). The fact that the front edge (2) and the back edge (3) of the shelf (1) are in the form of a closed profile means that the front edge (2) and the back edge (3) are closed in such a way that they contact the bottom floor of the shelf (1).

As described above, the subject of the invention is a shelf (1) that has increased load carrying capacity and minimized the use of materials required.

The vertical part (9a) of the side edges of the shelf (1) according to the invention preferably has multiple layers. More preferably it has a double layer. The horizontal part (9b) of the side edges of the subject of the invention shelf (1) preferably has multiple layers. More preferably, it has a double layer. In this way, the carrying capacity of the shelf (1) is increased.

The shelf (1) according to the invention preferably includes at least one reinforcement (4). The reinforcement (4) and the shelf (1) are joined by at least one assembly joint point (5). Thus, a double-layer structure is provided. By adding the reinforcement (4), the carrying capacity of the shelf (1) can be significantly increased if required. There is preferably a gap (16) between the shelf (1) and the reinforcement (4). The space (16) between the shelf (1) and the reinforcement (4) and the space (16) between the shelf (1) and the reinforcement (4) are produced in a structural form that will allow electrical wiring so that the materials and presentations that require electrical and/or wiring systems can be hidden in the lower reinforcements (4) without disturbing the visual demandability.

The shelf (1), the reinforcement (1), and the horizontal part of the side edges (9b) can be joined by at least one assembly joint point (7). In this case, the carrying capacity of the shelf (1) is significantly increased by creating a triple layer structure.

The front and back edges (2,3) of the shelf (1) can have anti-slip forms (6) to prevent the shelf (1) from slipping.

The front and back edge (2,3) of the shelf (1) of the invention preferably incorporates a visual content device (10). The visual content device (10) may preferably comprise labels, promotional materials, or other similar materials.

Preferably the front and back edge (2,3) of the shelf (1) of the invention can be used bidirectionally. Thus, the shelf (1) can be freed from direction definitions and made double-sided.

Various configurations of the subject of the invention shelf system (R) are shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. In another embodiment of the invention, The subject of the invention shelf system (R) incorporates at least one shelf (1). The subject of the invention shelf system (R) preferably incorporates at least one bracket (11), at least one back upright (12a), base (14), and adjustable foot (15).

The shelf system (R) preferably incorporates at least one front upright (12b). The shelf system (R) preferably incorporates at least one single back panel (13a).

The shelf system (R) preferably incorporates at least one pair of double back panel (13b).

The shelf system (R) illustrated in Figure 7 incorporates at least one shelf (1), back and front uprights (12a, 12b), bracket (11), double back panel (13b), base (14) and adjustable foot (15). In another embodiment of the invention, the shelf system (R) may preferably also comprise a single back panel (13a). In the shelf system (R) shown in Figure 7, normal shelves may preferably be used.

The shelf system (R) illustrated in Figure 8 incorporates at least one shelf (1), a back uprights (12a), a bracket (11), a double back panel (13b), a base (14), and an adjustable foot (15). In another embodiment of the invention, the shelf system (R) may preferably also comprise a single back panel (13a). In the shelf system (R) shown in Figure 8, normal shelves may preferably be used.

The shelf system (R) shown in Figure 9 incorporates at least one shelf (1), back and front uprights (12a, 12b), bracket (11), base (14), and adjustable foot (15). It does not include a back panel (13a or 13b). In the rack system (R) shown in Figure 9, normal shelves can preferably be used.

The shelf system (R) shown in Figure 10 incorporates at least one shelf (1), a back uprights (12a), a bracket (11), a base (14), and an adjustable foot (15). It does not include a back panel (13a or 13b). Preferably, normal shelves can be used in the shelf system (R) shown in Figure 10.

The shelf system (R) shown in Figure 11 incorporates at least one shelf (1), a back uprights (12a), a bracket (11), a single back panel (13a), a base (14), and an adjustable foot (15). In the shelf system (R) shown in Figure 11 , preferably shelves which are deeper than normal shelves can be used.

In cases where a single back panel (13a) is used in shelving systems (R), it may be preferable to use deeper shelves compared to regular shelves. This allows for increased carrying capacity and display area without expanding the footprint of the shelving system (R), as well as closing the gap between the back panel and the shelf, providing a more stable product display. Additionally, when back panels are desired in shelving systems (R), the need for using double back panels (13a) is eliminated, providing a cost advantage.

Claims

1 . A shelf (1), characterized in that

• comprising a front edge (2) in closed profile form and a back edge (3) in closed profile form, side edges (9) with a vertical part (9a) and an inwardly curved horizontal part (9b) ,

• wherein the front edge (2) in a closed profile form, the shelf (1) and the horizontal part of the side edges (9b) being joined with at least one joint point (8a),

• wherein the back edge (3) in a closed profile form, the shelf (1) and the horizontal part of the side edges (9b) being joined with at least one joint point (8b).

2. A shelf (1) according to claim 1 , characterized by the vertical part (9a) of the side edges of the shelf (1) having multiple layers.

3. A shelf (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized by the horizontal part (9b) of the side edge of the shelf (1) having multiple layers.

4. A shelf (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising at least one reinforcement and that the reinforcement and the shelf are joined with at least one joint point (5).

5. A shelf (1) according to claim 4, characterized by having a gap (16) between the shelf (1) and the reinforcement (4).

6. A shelf (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by the shelf (1), the reinforcement (4), and the horizontal part (9b) of the side edge of the shelf are joined by at least one assembly joint point (7).

7. A shelf (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising an antislip form (6) on the front and rear edges (2,3) to prevent the shelf (1) from sliding.

8. A shelf (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a visual content device (10) on the front and rear edges (2,3).

9. A shelf (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by being reversible and can be used in two directions on the front and rear edges (2,3).

10. Shelf system (R) comprising at least one shelf (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises at least one bracket (11), at least one back upright (12a), base (14), and adjustable foot (15).

11. A shelf system (R) according to claim 10, characterized by comprising at least one front upright (12b).

12. A shelf system (R) according to claims 10 or 11 , characterized by comprising at least one single back panel (13a).

13. A shelf system (R) according to claims 10 or 11 , characterized by comprising at least one double back panel (13b).