GB1596325A - Storage rack - Google Patents

Description

(54) A STORAGE RACK (71) We, M. MYERS & SON LIMITED, a British Company, of P.O. Box 16, Oldbury, Warley, West Midlands B68 8HF, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a storage rack assembly for papers, books, gramaphone records and the like.

The invention resides in a storage rack assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of base units, which each comprise a platform and an integrally connected rear wall which projects from the rear end of the associated platform, said base units being provided with means whereby they are connectible together in an arrangement in which the platforms are disposed in a common plane in a side-by-side relationship, each platform and its associated rear wall being formed with a plurality of spaced parallel slots, each of the rear wall slots extending in the same vertical plane as an associated platform slot; and at least one divider which is formed separately from said base units, the or each divider having a pair of projections which are adapted to be engaged respectively with one of the platform slots and its associated one of the rear wall slots whereby in use said divider will be disposed in a position in which it extends perpendicular to the plane of said platforms.

Preferably, the or each divider projection which is adapted to engage a platform slot is provided with a recess which is arranged so that when said projection is inserted into a platform slot then the divider can be moved along the slot to engage a part of the base unit in the recess and thereby releasably lock the associated divider against accidental removal from the slot.

The rear edge of the or each divider may be formed with a recess which is adapted to receive a part of the rear wall of a base unit when the divider is assembled to said base unit. Alternatively said rear edge of the or each divider may be formed with a pair of vertically spaced shoulders which are adapted to engage respectively the opposite ends of one of the rear wall slots of a base unit when the divider is assembled thereto.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is an "exploded" perspective view showing one example of a storage rack assembly in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a sectional fragmentary view showing the inter-connection of a divider and a base unit which form part of the assembly seen in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an "exploded" perspective view showing an alternative form of a storage rack assembly in accordance with the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, the storage rack assembly illustrated therein includes a plurality of base units 10 which each comprise a generally rectangular platform 11 which is integrally connected at the rear end to a rear wall 12, each base unit being conveniently moulded in a synthetic resin material. Formed in the platform 11 is a plurality of identical, spaced slots 13 which extend generally parallel with the longer sides of the platform and which are aligned with respective further slots 14 formed in said rear wall 12.Furthermore, each of the longer edges of said platform 11 of each base unit is provided with a pair of projections 15 and a pair of channels 16 which are of dovetail configuration and which are engageable with complementary formations provided in the adjacent edge of an adjacent base unit in order to secure the adjacent base units together in an arrangement in which said platforms are disposed in a common plane in a side-by-side relationship.

The assembly also includes at least one and preferably a plurality of dividers 17 which are also moulded in a synthetic resin material, but which are formed separately from said base units 10.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the or each divider 17 is provided along its bottom edge with an integral projection 18 which is adapted to be engaged in any one of the slots 13 of a base unit 10 and which further defines a recess 19 with the remainder of the divider. A further recess 20 is defined in the rear edge of the divider 17 said edge also being stepped so as to define with the recess 20 a locking portion 21 adapted to be received in any one of said further slots 14. As shown in Figure 2, the arrangement of the divider 17 is such that, when the projection 18 is inserted in one of the slots 13, the divider 17 can be moved along said one slot 13 so that a part of the surface of the platform 11 enters the recess 19. At the same time the locking portion 21 will be moved into one of the slots 14 and part of the rear wall 12 will become engaged in the recess 20.In this way, the divider 17 can be releasably locked in any one of a plurality of generally parallel, spaced positions in which it extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the platform 11.

Referring to Figure 3, the storage rack assembly shown therein is generally similar to that described above, except that a simplified arranged is provided for locating a divider 22 in a base unit 23. Thus, the recesses 19 and 20 are omitted so that location of the or each divider 22 merely involves pushing a projection 24 into one of the slots 25, although this of course means that there is no longer any positive locking of the divider against accidental disengagement from the base unit 23. However, the rear edge of the divider which, in use, is presented to the rear wall 26 of the base unit 23 is now stepped to define first and second spaced shoulders 27 and 28 respectively, which, when the projection 24 is engaged in one of the slots 25, abut against opposite ends respectively of an aligned slot 29 formed in said rear wall 26 of the base unit.Complementary projections 30 and channels 31 are provided on the longer edges of the platform of the base units 23 so that a plurality of base units can be connected together as before to make up an assembly of any desired length.

In addition, the assembly shown in Figure 3 includes an end wall 32 provided with formations (not shown) which are engageable with the projections 30 and channels 31 formed in the adjacent edge of the adjacent base unit, such an end wall being used at each end of the assembly when the desired number of base units have been connected together.

It will be appreciated that, in each of the examples described, an assembly of any desired length can be built up and the assembly can then be divided into any desired number of compartments of predetermined width by appropriately positioning the dividers 17 or 22.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A storage rack assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of base units, which each comprise a platform and an integrally connected rear wall which projects from the rear end of the associated platforms, said base units being provided with means whereby they are connectible together in an arrangement in which the platforms are disposed in a common plane in a side-by-side relationship, each platform and its associated rear wall being formed with a plurality of spaced parallel slots, each of the rear wall slots extending in the same vertical plane as an associated platform slot; and at least one divider which is formed separately from said base units, the or each divider having a pair of projections which are adapted to be engaged respectively with one of the platform slots and the associated one of the rear wall slots whereby in use said divider will be disposed in a position in which it extends perpendicular to the plane of said platforms.

2. A storage rack assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the or each divider projection which is adapted to be engaged with a platform slot is provided with a recess which is arranged so that, when said projection is inserted into a co-acting platform slot, the divider can be moved along the slot to engage a part of the base unit in the recess and thereby releasably lock the associated divider against accidental removal from the slot.

3. A storage rack assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the rear edge of the or each divider is formed with a recess which is adapted to receive a part of the rear wall of a base unit when the divider is assembled to said base unit.

4. A storage rack assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the rear edge of the or each divider is formed with a pair of vertically spaced shoulders which are adapted to engage respectively the opposite ends of one of the slots in the rear wall of a base unit when the divider is assembled thereto.

5. A storage rack assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. bottom edge with an integral projection 18 which is adapted to be engaged in any one of the slots 13 of a base unit 10 and which further defines a recess 19 with the remainder of the divider. A further recess 20 is defined in the rear edge of the divider 17 said edge also being stepped so as to define with the recess 20 a locking portion 21 adapted to be received in any one of said further slots 14. As shown in Figure 2, the arrangement of the divider 17 is such that, when the projection 18 is inserted in one of the slots 13, the divider 17 can be moved along said one slot 13 so that a part of the surface of the platform 11 enters the recess 19. At the same time the locking portion 21 will be moved into one of the slots 14 and part of the rear wall 12 will become engaged in the recess 20.In this way, the divider 17 can be releasably locked in any one of a plurality of generally parallel, spaced positions in which it extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the platform 11. Referring to Figure 3, the storage rack assembly shown therein is generally similar to that described above, except that a simplified arranged is provided for locating a divider 22 in a base unit 23. Thus, the recesses 19 and 20 are omitted so that location of the or each divider 22 merely involves pushing a projection 24 into one of the slots 25, although this of course means that there is no longer any positive locking of the divider against accidental disengagement from the base unit 23. However, the rear edge of the divider which, in use, is presented to the rear wall 26 of the base unit 23 is now stepped to define first and second spaced shoulders 27 and 28 respectively, which, when the projection 24 is engaged in one of the slots 25, abut against opposite ends respectively of an aligned slot 29 formed in said rear wall 26 of the base unit.Complementary projections 30 and channels 31 are provided on the longer edges of the platform of the base units 23 so that a plurality of base units can be connected together as before to make up an assembly of any desired length. In addition, the assembly shown in Figure 3 includes an end wall 32 provided with formations (not shown) which are engageable with the projections 30 and channels 31 formed in the adjacent edge of the adjacent base unit, such an end wall being used at each end of the assembly when the desired number of base units have been connected together. It will be appreciated that, in each of the examples described, an assembly of any desired length can be built up and the assembly can then be divided into any desired number of compartments of predetermined width by appropriately positioning the dividers 17 or 22. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A storage rack assembly comprising in combination: a plurality of base units, which each comprise a platform and an integrally connected rear wall which projects from the rear end of the associated platforms, said base units being provided with means whereby they are connectible together in an arrangement in which the platforms are disposed in a common plane in a side-by-side relationship, each platform and its associated rear wall being formed with a plurality of spaced parallel slots, each of the rear wall slots extending in the same vertical plane as an associated platform slot; and at least one divider which is formed separately from said base units, the or each divider having a pair of projections which are adapted to be engaged respectively with one of the platform slots and the associated one of the rear wall slots whereby in use said divider will be disposed in a position in which it extends perpendicular to the plane of said platforms.

2. A storage rack assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the or each divider projection which is adapted to be engaged with a platform slot is provided with a recess which is arranged so that, when said projection is inserted into a co-acting platform slot, the divider can be moved along the slot to engage a part of the base unit in the recess and thereby releasably lock the associated divider against accidental removal from the slot.

3. A storage rack assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the rear edge of the or each divider is formed with a recess which is adapted to receive a part of the rear wall of a base unit when the divider is assembled to said base unit.

4. A storage rack assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the rear edge of the or each divider is formed with a pair of vertically spaced shoulders which are adapted to engage respectively the opposite ends of one of the slots in the rear wall of a base unit when the divider is assembled thereto.

5. A storage rack assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.