GB2054356A - Structural member for shelves etc. - Google Patents

Abstract

A structural column 1 is constructed of two elongate channel section metal elements 2 and 3 spot-welded together along flanges 6 and 7. The channel sides sides 4 and 5 are formed with slots 10 for engagement by other members such as brackets. A stiffener plate 13 may be welded into the channel of one of the elements 2, 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Structural member This invention relates to structural members, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to structural members for use in shop fitting equipment.

tithe invention provides an elongate structural member comprising a pair of elements secured together, each element being of channel section and having a securing flange extending outwardly from each free end of the channel section, the securing flanges of one element being secured to the securing flanges of the other element, and means for mounting one or more support elements on the member.

The mounting means may comprise a series of slots formed in the sides of the channel, which slots may be engaged by hooks or other suitable elements.

The securing flanges may be secured together by spot welding.

The two elements may be substantially identical in shape, and the two flanges of each element are preferably coplanar.

At least one stiffener plate may be secured to one of the elements, for example by welding, which plate preferably protrudes from one end of the member to allow mounting of the member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a structural column embodying the invention, and Figure 2 shows a reduced scale elevation of the column of Figure 1 mounted on a transverse leg, the cross-sectional plane of Figure 1 being indicated by the line l-l.

A structural column generally designated 1 is constructed of two similar elongate metal elements 2 and 3. The elements 2,3 are of channel section and have side walls 4 and 5 respectively. The side walls 4 and 5 have top portions bent outwardly through approximately 900 to form securing flanges 6 and 7 respectively. The elements 2,3 are secured together by spot welding associated pairs of securing flanges 6 and 7. Some spot-welds are shown exemplarily at 9 in Figure 2, being preferably D-shape. Each of the channel sides 4,5 is formed with a series of slots 10 in which may be located brackets for supporting other members, for example in a shop fitting assembly.

The elements 2 and 3 are made of steel and may be formed into the flanged channel shape by cold rolling. Alternatively, the shape may be formed on a press, one half of the channel being formed per stroke of the press. The slots 10 may be cut either before or afterthe spot welding together of the elements.

Figure 2 shows the column 1 mounted on a transverse leg 11 having feet 12. A stiffener plate 13, formed in two halves 14 and 15 spot-welded together, is welded to one element 2 at the open side of its channel to provide extra stiffening for the col umn 1. The plate 13 protrudes from the lower end of the column 1 for engagement with a hole in the leg 11, thus providing a rigid mounting for the column 1.

The column 1 is welded at A to the leg 11 at the upper end of the hole, and the plate 13 is welded at B to the leg 11 at the other end of the hole. It will be appreciated that when the two elements 2, 3 are welded together, the stiffener plate 13 is at the centre of the column so that the slots 10 adjacent to the stiffener plate may still receive brackets.

This embodiment of the invention has the advantage of providing a structural member which, since it consists of two similar elements spot welded together along the narrower sides, is straightforward in construction with welds that are not highly stressed and are unobtrusive.

Another advantage is that the flanges provide extra strength and rigidity, being located for example in an otherwise unoccupied space between brackets located in the slots 10 in the side wall 4 and 5.

1. An elongate structural member comprising a pair of elements secured together, each element being of channel section and having a securing flange extending outwardly from each free end of the channel section, the securing flanges of one element being secured to the securing flanges of the other element, and means for mounting one or more support elements on the member.

2. A member as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises a series of slots formed in the sides of each channel for engagement by support elements.

3. A member as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the securing flanges are secured together by spot welding.

4. A member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two elements are substantially identical in shape.

5. A member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two flanges of each element are generally coplanar.

6. A member as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising at least one stiffener plate secured to one ofthe elements.

7. A member as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the plate protrudes from one end of the memberto allow mounting of the member.

8. A structural member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as described in the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Structural member This invention relates to structural members, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to structural members for use in shop fitting equipment. tithe invention provides an elongate structural member comprising a pair of elements secured together, each element being of channel section and having a securing flange extending outwardly from each free end of the channel section, the securing flanges of one element being secured to the securing flanges of the other element, and means for mounting one or more support elements on the member. The mounting means may comprise a series of slots formed in the sides of the channel, which slots may be engaged by hooks or other suitable elements. The securing flanges may be secured together by spot welding. The two elements may be substantially identical in shape, and the two flanges of each element are preferably coplanar. At least one stiffener plate may be secured to one of the elements, for example by welding, which plate preferably protrudes from one end of the member to allow mounting of the member. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a structural column embodying the invention, and Figure 2 shows a reduced scale elevation of the column of Figure 1 mounted on a transverse leg, the cross-sectional plane of Figure 1 being indicated by the line l-l. A structural column generally designated 1 is constructed of two similar elongate metal elements 2 and 3. The elements 2,3 are of channel section and have side walls 4 and 5 respectively. The side walls 4 and 5 have top portions bent outwardly through approximately 900 to form securing flanges 6 and 7 respectively. The elements 2,3 are secured together by spot welding associated pairs of securing flanges 6 and 7. Some spot-welds are shown exemplarily at 9 in Figure 2, being preferably D-shape. Each of the channel sides 4,5 is formed with a series of slots 10 in which may be located brackets for supporting other members, for example in a shop fitting assembly. The elements 2 and 3 are made of steel and may be formed into the flanged channel shape by cold rolling. Alternatively, the shape may be formed on a press, one half of the channel being formed per stroke of the press. The slots 10 may be cut either before or afterthe spot welding together of the elements. Figure 2 shows the column 1 mounted on a transverse leg 11 having feet 12. A stiffener plate 13, formed in two halves 14 and 15 spot-welded together, is welded to one element 2 at the open side of its channel to provide extra stiffening for the col umn 1. The plate 13 protrudes from the lower end of the column 1 for engagement with a hole in the leg 11, thus providing a rigid mounting for the column 1. The column 1 is welded at A to the leg 11 at the upper end of the hole, and the plate 13 is welded at B to the leg 11 at the other end of the hole. It will be appreciated that when the two elements 2, 3 are welded together, the stiffener plate 13 is at the centre of the column so that the slots 10 adjacent to the stiffener plate may still receive brackets. This embodiment of the invention has the advantage of providing a structural member which, since it consists of two similar elements spot welded together along the narrower sides, is straightforward in construction with welds that are not highly stressed and are unobtrusive. Another advantage is that the flanges provide extra strength and rigidity, being located for example in an otherwise unoccupied space between brackets located in the slots 10 in the side wall 4 and 5. CLAIMS

1. An elongate structural member comprising a pair of elements secured together, each element being of channel section and having a securing flange extending outwardly from each free end of the channel section, the securing flanges of one element being secured to the securing flanges of the other element, and means for mounting one or more support elements on the member.

2. A member as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises a series of slots formed in the sides of each channel for engagement by support elements.

3. A member as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the securing flanges are secured together by spot welding.

4. A member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two elements are substantially identical in shape.

5. A member as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two flanges of each element are generally coplanar.

6. A member as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising at least one stiffener plate secured to one ofthe elements.

7. A member as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the plate protrudes from one end of the memberto allow mounting of the member.

8. A structural member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as described in the accompanying drawings.