FR3073377A1 - DEVICE FOR THE REMOVABLE FASTENING OF A SHELF - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for removably attaching a shelf to one or more uprights (50) extending along a vertical axis Z and provided with a plurality of notches (51) aligned along the vertical axis Z, the device comprising at least one support (10) which consists of an arm (20) adapted to receive a shelf, a fork (30) fixed to one end (22) of the arm (20), and a mechanism fixing the fork (30) to the arm (20). The fork (30) has an upper leg (31) having only one upper tongue (311), a lower leg (32) having only a first lower tongue (321) and a second lower tongue (322), and a portion central (33) separating these two branches, the first upper tongue (311), the first lower tongue (321), and the second lower tongue (322) each pointing in the opposite direction of the central portion (33), so that in the fixing position of the device on the or the uprights (50), the upper tongue (311) is inserted into a first notch (51a) and only the first lower tongue (321) is inserted into a second notch (51b).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for the removable fixing of a shelf on one or more uprights extending along a vertical axis Z and provided with a plurality of notches aligned along the vertical axis Z, the device comprising at least one support which consists of an arm capable of at least partially supporting a shelf, a fork fixed to one end of this arm, and a mechanism for fixing the fork on this arm.

Removable fixing devices are known for shelves on uprights or rails fixed to a wall. In such devices, a shelf is supported in a horizontal position by a plurality of arms which have at their end an element provided with one or more hooks which are each able to be fixed in one of the notches of the uprights. This fixing is carried out by inserting the hooks into the notches and then translating downwards so that the hooks, oriented downwards, are held in position in the notches by the weight of the shelf.

An example of such a device is described in document WO 2014/181276.

These devices allow the shelf to be easily attached and detached from the uprights.

These devices have drawbacks, however.

Indeed, in the case where the wall is transported, because it is for example a wall of a truck, or of a container, the vibrations during transport or movement often lead to a separation of the hooks from the amounts.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

The invention aims to provide a device which allows a more stable and efficient fixing of a shelf on one or more uprights of a wall, while retaining the device its easily removable character.

This object is achieved thanks to the fact that the fork comprises an upper branch which comprises only an upper tongue, a lower branch which comprises only a first lower tongue and a second lower tongue, and a central part separating these two branches, the upper tongue, the first lower tab, and the second lower tab all pointing in the opposite direction from the central part, so that in the device fixing position on the upright (s), the upper tab is inserted in a first notch and only the first lower tab is inserted in a second notch.

Thanks to these provisions, it facilitates the fixing of a shelf on the uprights, the number of tabs to be inserted being reduced. In addition, the orientation of the tabs allows a more effective connection of the device with the uprights, even in the event of vibrations during transport / movement.

Advantageously, the central part includes a boss which, in the device's fixing position, bears on the intermediate portion of the upright separating the two notches.

Thus, the stability of the fixing of the device on the upright is improved.

Advantageously, the fork is fixed to the end of the arm by a hinge so that in the device's fixing position, the arm is able to pivot between a horizontal position and a vertical position along the vertical axis Z.

Thus, a shelf fixed on the arm is able to be raised in a vertical position, against the wall carrying the uprights, which saves space when the shelf is not used.

Advantageously, the device comprises at least two of the supports, a shelf being able to be supported by the supports.

Thus, the shelf is more stably supported by the device.

The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of a device according to the invention, and of a shelf supported by the support or supports of the device.

For example, the shelf of this assembly is integral with the support arm or arms.

The invention also relates to a method of detachably fixing a shelf to an upright provided with a plurality of notches.

According to the invention, this method comprises the following stages:

(a) A device is provided comprising at least one support which consists of an arm capable of at least partially supporting a shelf, of a fork fixed to one end of the arm, and of a mechanism for fixing the fork on this arm, the fork comprising an upper branch which comprises only an upper tongue, a lower branch which comprises only a first lower tongue and a second lower tongue, and a central part separating the two branches, the first upper tongue, the first lower tongue , and the second lower tab each pointing in the opposite direction from the central part;

(b) The upper tongue is inserted into a first notch until the upper tongue is slid behind the upper edge of a first notch;

(c) The fork is tilted so as to bring the first lower tongue closer to a second notch, and the upper tongue is pressed as far as possible into the first notch;

(d) The first lower tab is inserted alone into the second notch, then the fork is lowered until the bottom of the slot which separates the two lower tabs is in contact with the edge of the second notch.

(e) A shelf is placed on the device.

The invention will be well understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of an embodiment shown by way of non-limiting example. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the removable fixing device for a shelf according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the removable fixing device for a shelf according to the invention,

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fork of the device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows, according to the invention, a removable fixing device capable of supporting a shelf, and thus allowing the fixing of a shelf on a vertical wall. This device being removable, a shelf is thus able to be fixed and detached from this wall as many times as desired.

The shelf is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

The fixing device is intended to be fixed on one or more uprights 50 extending along a vertical axis Z and provided with a plurality of notches 51 aligned along said vertical axis Z. Each of the uprights 50 is fixed on a vertical wall (not shown) and has notches 51 aligned along the length of the upright 50. A portion of an upright 50 is shown in FIG. 1.

X designates the horizontal axis perpendicular to the wall and therefore perpendicular to the vertical axis Z, and called the first horizontal axis. The axis perpendicular to both the horizontal X axis and the vertical Z axis is a horizontal Y axis, called the second horizontal axis.

Thus, the wall on which the uprights 50 are fixed extends in the plane defined by the vertical axis Z is the second horizontal axis Y.

The device comprises at least one support 10 which consists of an arm 20 able to receive a shelf, a fork 30 fixed to one end 22 of this arm 20, and a mechanism for fixing the fork 30 on the arm 20.

If the device comprises only one support 10, the shelf is carried entirely by the arm 20 of this support 10. If the device comprises two or more supports 10, the shelf rests on, and is carried by, the arms 20 of these supports 10.

The shelf is secured either permanently or removably to the arm 20.

The fork 30 has a central part 33 (visible in the figure

3), an upper branch 31, and a lower branch 32, these two branches being separated by the central part 33. The terms “upper” and “lower” are defined relative to the direction “up / down” in the vertical direction ( vertical axis Z).

The fork 30 has a thickness, which extends along the second horizontal axis Y when the device is in the fixing position on an upright 50.

For example, this thickness is constant.

The width of the fork 30, which is measured in the direction of the horizontal axis X, is maximum on the central part 33. This width decreases progressively from the base of the upper branch 31 (that is to say at the junction between the central part 33 and the upper branch 31) up to the distal end of the upper tongue 311.

The upper branch 31 has a single tongue which is an upper tongue 311, and which points in the opposite direction from the central part 33. Thus, when the device is in the fixing position on the upright 50, the upper tongue 311 points upwards .

The lower branch 32 has only two tabs of non-zero length, namely a first lower tab 321 and a second lower tab 322. Thus, when the device is in the fixing position on the upright 50, the first lower tab 321 and the second lower tab 322 each point down.

These branches and tongues are visible in FIG. 3 which shows a fork according to the invention, oriented as it would be in the fixing position on an upright 50.

The second lower tab 322 is separated from the first lower tab 321 by a slot 325. When the device is in the fixing position on the upright 50, the slot 325 extends in depth along the vertical axis Z, and extends in length in the second direction Y, over the entire thickness of the fork 30.

The attachment of the device according to the invention to a post 50 will now be described according to the method according to the invention.

The amount 50 has at least two notches 51, namely a first notch 51a and a second notch 51b, the second notch 51b being located vertically below the first notch 51a. Each notch 51 (51a, 51b) has an upper edge 511 (511a, 511b) and a lower edge 512 (512a, 512b).

To allow such fixing, the thickness of the tongues (311, 321, 322) is less than the width of the upper edge 511 and of the lower edge 512 of a notch 51.

For example, each notch 51 has a substantially rectangular shape, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Any two adjacent notches 51 are separated by an intermediate portion 52.

The device of the upright 50 is approached so that the upper tongue 311 is opposite the first notch 51a. Then the upper tongue 311 is inserted into the first notch 51a so as to slide the upper tongue 311 behind the upper edge 511a of the first notch 51a.

Next, the fork 30 is tilted, in a rotational movement around the second horizontal axis Y, so as to bring the first lower tongue 321 closer to the second notch 51b.

At the same time, the upper tongue 311 is pressed as far as possible into the first notch 51a, so that when the end of the first lower tongue 321 is ready to penetrate the second notch 51b, the upper tongue 311 is pressed in maximum in the first notch 51a. In fact, the progressive widening of the fork 30 at the base of the upper branch 31 prevents the upper tongue 311 from being pushed further into the first notch 51a. The base of the upper branch 31 is then defined as the border between on the one hand the portion of the fork 30 which, in this position of the fork 30, has entered the first notch 51a, and on the other hand the portion of the fork 30 which has not entered the first notch 51a.

The fork 30 is dimensioned such that when the upper tongue 311 is pressed as far as possible into the first notch 51a, the end of the first lower tongue 321 is able to penetrate into the second notch 51b.

In other words, the length between the base of the upper tongue 311 (at the upper edge 511a) and the distal end of the first lower tongue 321 is less than the distance D between the upper edge 511a of the first notch 51a and the lower edge 512b of the second notch 51b (see FIG. 1).

Then the rotational movement is continued around the second horizontal axis Y to make the first lower tongue 321 penetrate into the second notch 51b while lowering the fork 30 until the bottom of the slot 325 is in contact with the lower edge 512b of the second notch 51b. Thus, only the first lower tab 321 is inserted into a second notch 51b, the second lower tab 322 being outside the second notch 51b.

The length between the distal end of the upper tongue 311 and the bottom of the slot 325 is greater than the distance D between the upper edge 511a of the first notch 51a and the lower edge 512b of the second notch 51b. Thus, when the bottom of the slot 325 in contact with the lower edge 512b of the second notch 51b, the upper tongue 311 is pressed against the upper edge 511a of the first notch 51a, and cannot come out of the first notch 51a.

In addition, gravity acting on the arm 20 tends to hold the bottom of the slot 325 against the lower edge 512b of the second notch 51b (fixing position).

Thus, the fixing device is maintained in the fixing position even in the event of a slight upward movement of the fork 30 under the effect of vibrations or jolts of the truck during road transport, if necessary. This maintenance is possible because the upper tongue 311 points upwards. In fact, if the upper tongue points downwards, a separation between the fork 30 and the notches 51 can occur more easily.

This maintenance is all the more effective as the length between the base of the upper tongue 311 and the distal end of the first lower tongue 321 is immediately less (in other words "just less") at distance D.

Advantageously, the length between the base of the upper tongue 311 and the distal end of the second lower tongue 322 is greater than the distance D. In fact, the gravity acting on the arm 20 tends to press the second lower tongue 322 against the external face of the portion of the upright 50 situated below against the lower edge 512b of the second notch 51b (fixing position). Thus, the fork 30 is held more stably in the notches 51, and the second lower tab 322 does not risk entering the second notch 51b.

Thus, in general, the method of fixing a shelf to one or more uprights is as follows:

(a) A device is provided comprising at least one support 10 which consists of an arm 20 capable of receiving a shelf, a fork 30 fixed to one end 22 of the arm 20, and a mechanism for fixing the fork 30 on the arm 20, the fork 30 comprising an upper branch 31 which comprises only an upper tongue 311, a lower branch 32 which comprises only a first lower tongue 321 and a second lower tongue 322, and a central part 33 separating the two branches, the first upper tab 311, the first lower tab 321, and the second lower tab 322 each pointing in the opposite direction from the central part 33;

(b) the upper tongue 311 is inserted into a first of the notches 51a until the upper tongue 311 is slid behind the upper edge 511a of a first notch 51a;

(c) the fork 30 is tilted so as to bring the first lower tongue 321 closer to a second notch 51b, and the upper tongue 311 is pushed in as far as possible into the first notch 51a;

(d) The first lower tongue 321 is inserted alone in the second notch 51b, then the fork 30 is lowered until the bottom of the slot 325 which separates the two lower tongues 321, 322 is in contact with the lower edge 512b of the second notch 51b.

(e) A shelf is placed on the device.

Step (e) can be carried out after step (d), or in step (a).

A shelf can be supported by a single support 10, ideally located in the middle of the shelf. In this case, the fixing device comprises a single support 10.

Alternatively, the fixing device comprises two, three or more supports 10, a shelf being supported by these supports distributed along the width of the shelf. In this case each fork 30 of a support 10 is fixed on a separate upright 50.

In all cases, if the uprights 50 have at least three notches 51, the shelf is able to be fixed at different heights on the uprights 50, by inserting each fork 30 with a pair of notches (51a, 51b) at the desired height.

We will now describe the separation of the device according to the invention from an amount 50.

The fork 30 is raised and at the same time it is rotated in the opposite direction to the preceding rocking movement until the distal end of the first lower tab 321 is able to cross the lower edge 512b of the second notch 51b to end up outside the second notch 51b. The fork 30 is then lowered while continuing to rotate the fork 30 until the upper tongue 311 is completely extracted from the first notch 51a.

Advantageously, the central part 33 includes a boss 335 which, in the device's fixing position, comes to bear on the intermediate portion 52 of the upright 50 separating the first notch 51a and the second notch 51b.

This boss 335, visible in FIG. 3, contributes to preventing a separation of the device according to the invention.

Advantageously, the fork 30 is fixed to the end 22 of the arm 20 by an articulation 40, so that in the device's fixing position on an upright 50, the arm 20 is able to pivot around the second horizontal axis Y between a horizontal position and a vertical position along the vertical axis Z. Thus, the mechanism for fixing the fork 30 on the arm 20 is a joint 40.

Thus, this articulation 40 comprises a male element which is aligned with the second horizontal axis Y and which is integral with the arm 20 (respectively of the fork 30), and a female element which is aligned with the second horizontal axis Y and which is integral of the fork 30 (respectively of the arm 20), the female element marrying the male element in a rotational movement.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, this male element is a circular rod 41 which connects an empty space between two plates 43 which are integral with the fork 30. For example these plates 43 are each fixed at two points spaced from the fork 30 by rivets passing through the fork 30. The female element is the end 22 of the arm 20 provided with a hole 42 which matches the rod 41. The plates 43 prevent translation of the rod 41 out of the hole 42. Thus, the end 22 is located in the empty space between the two plates.

Advantageously, the arm 20 forms a right angle bend joining the end 22, so that the arm 20 has the shape of an "L", the end 22 being the distal end of the short side of the L (short side 23 of the arm 20), and the long side of the L (long side 24 of the arm 20) being able to receive the shelf.

Thus, in the horizontal position of the arm 20 (represented in figure

1), the long side 24 (as well as the shelf) is horizontal, and the short side 23 is vertical and is supported at the elbow of the arm 20 on the fork 30, which prevents the long side 24 from pivoting towards the low under the action of its weight (and the weight of the shelf if applicable).

Thus, in the vertical position of the arm 20 (shown in Figure 2), the long side 24 (as well as the shelf) is substantially vertical and the short side 23 is horizontal.

Advantageously, the short side 23 is sufficiently long so that in the vertical position of the arm 20, the distal end of the long side 23 rests on the wall carrying the uprights 50, the long side 23 being inclined towards the wall. Thus, the long side 23 (as well as the shelf) is kept in abutment against the wall by the action of gravity.

The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of a fixing device as described above, and of a shelf supported by the support or supports 10 of said device. The shelf is then supported by (rests on) the arms 20 of the supports 10.

For example, the shelf is integral with the arm or arms 20 of the supports

10. Thus the shelf does not separate from the fixing device when the arms 20 are in the vertical position.

Claims (7)

1. Device for the removable fixing of a shelf on one or more uprights (50) extending along a vertical axis Z and provided with a plurality of notches (51) aligned along said vertical axis Z, said device comprising at at least one support (10) which consists of an arm (20) capable of receiving a shelf, a fork (30) fixed to one end (22) of said arm (20), and a mechanism for fixing said fork (30) on said arm (20), said fork (30) being characterized in that it comprises an upper branch (31) which comprises only an upper tongue (311), a lower branch (32) which comprises only a first lower tab (321) and a second lower tab (322), and a central part (33) separating said two branches, said first upper tab (311), said first lower tab (321), and said second lower tab ( 322) each pointing in the opposite direction of said central part (33), so that in the position for fixing said device to said upright (s) (50), said upper tab (311) is inserted into a first of said notches (51a) and only said first lower tab ( 321) is inserted in a second notch (51b). 2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said central part (33) comprises a boss (335) which, in the fixing position of said device, comes to bear on the intermediate portion (52) of said upright (50) separating said two notches (51a, 51b). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said fork (30) is fixed to said end of said arm (20) by a hinge (40) so that in the fixing position of said device, said arm (20 ) is able to pivot between a horizontal position and a vertical position along the vertical axis Z. 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that it comprises at least two of said supports (10), a shelf being able to be supported by said supports (10). 5. Assembly consisting of a device according to any one of the preceding claims, and of a shelf supported by the support or supports (10) of said device. 6. An assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that said shelf is integral with said arm or arms (20) of said supports (10). 7. A method of removable fixing of a shelf on an upright (50) provided with a plurality of notches (51), this method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: (a) A device is provided comprising at least one support (10) which consists of an arm (20) capable of receiving a shelf, of a fork (30) fixed to one end (22) of said arm (20) , and a mechanism for fixing said fork (30) to said arm (20), said fork (30) comprising an upper branch (31) which comprises only an upper tongue (311), a lower branch (32) which has only a first lower tab (321) and a second lower tab (322), and a central portion (33) separating said two legs, said first upper tab (311), said first lower tab (321), and said second tab lower (322) each pointing in the opposite direction from said central part (33); (b) inserting said upper tab (311) into a first of said notches (51a) until said upper tab (311) is slid behind the upper edge (511a) of a first notch (51a); (c) tilting said fork (30) so as to bring the first lower tongue (321) closer to a second notch (51b), and pressing said upper tongue (311) as far as possible into said first notch (51a); (d) insert said first lower tab (321) alone in said second notch (51b), then lower the fork (30) until the bottom of the slot (325) which separates said two lower tabs (321 , 322) is in contact with the lower edge (512b) of said second notch (51b). (e) A shelf is placed on said device.