GB2067887A - Dismountable shelving - Google Patents

Abstract

As described shelving structure comprises uprights, beams and cladding. The uprights (6) are hollow, elongate, being formed by rolling from metal strip to provide a longitudinal flange extending generally outwardly from the area bounded by the strut, tang-receiving apertures (not shown in Fig. 11) being provided both along the flange and adjacent coplanar portions. The beams (20) are also formed from sheet metal by pressing and folding operations, each beam comprising a supporting member which affords at least one, preferably two, upwardly directed channels, and two mounting arms each being provided with uniformly spaced tangs. When the beams are secured to the struts, edges of shelving units (38) may be inserted into the channels. Cladding for the shelving structure comprises first cladding components (54) afforded with tangs (56) and providing outwardly extending channels and second cladding components (52) which are not provided with tangs, side edges of the second cladding components being capable of being received into the facing channels of a pair of mounted, spaced first cladding components. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to shelving systems Shelving systems conventionally comprise a plurality of struts and a plurality of beams, adapted to be assembled together in the erection of a shelving structure, in which the struts extend vertically, and the beams, being connected to an extending between adjacent struts, extending horizontally. The struts may be of box-like crosssection, being provided on two or more their sides with a number of uniformly spaced apertures. The beams, which may also be of rectangular crosssection, are provided at their ends with cranked tangs, the spacing of which is equal to the spacing between the apertures, said tangs being capable of being inserted downwardly into the apertures of a pair of adjacent struts, whereby the beam is supported between the struts to afford stability to the struts.By the use of the apertures provided in one side face of a strut, such a beam may be connected to the strut, extending therefrom in a first direction (e.g. longitudinally of the shelf structure) or by the use of the aperture provided in an adjacent side face of the strut, such a beam may be connected to the strut, extending therefrom in a second direction extending at right angles to said first direction (e.g. transversely of the shelf structure).

A shelving structure may be built up from a number of such struts and beams, and shelves may be mounted on a number of beams. Cladding may be secured to the struts to enclose the area behind the shelf, and/or to the sides thereof.

It is a desirable feature that shelving systems be versatile to enable a structure to be erected to suit particular requirements: it is another desirable feature that the shelf structure be capable of being erected simply and quickly. It is a further desirable feature to provide components for the erection of a shelf structure which, when erected, will provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance, with smooth balanced lines. However, the meeting of the first two desiderata generally provide difficulties in meeting the third, and it is one of the various objects of this invention to provide a shelving system which is versatile in its capabilities, simple to erect and which can be used to erect a shelf structure of pleasing appearance.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a strut for a shelf structure, the strut being hollow, elongate and having a flange extending generally outwardly from the area bounded by the strut, portions of the strut on opposite sides of the flange lying generally in a common plane with the flange extending at right angles to said plane, the said portions and the flange being provided with uniformly spaced, tang-receiving apertures.

Conveniently, the strut is formed from a strip of rolled metal stock, the walls of the strut being of single thickness with one side edge of the strip affording an exterior edge of the flange, and the other side edge of the strip terminating adjacent to the root of the flange. Conveniently a small gap is afforded, between the said other side edge of the strip and the root of the flange.

In the assembly of a shelf structure by the use of struts of the kind set out in the last preceding paragraph, the struts will be erected vertically with beams, provided at their end portions with tangs, connected to and extending between adjacent pairs of struts. In this manner a length of shelving structure may be erected with the flanges of the struts extending inwardly, transversely to the length of the shelf structure, the tangs of the longitudinally extending beams being located in the apertures in the said portions of the strut, and the tangs of the transversely extending beams being located in the apertures of a pair of mutually facing flanges. Thus, the centre faces of the strut will be interiorly presented and the opposite, exteriorly presented face may provide a smooth, pleasing appearance.

Preferably, a longitudinal centreline of the apertures in the portion of the strut on one side of the flange is closer to the flange than a longitudinal centreline of the apertures in the portion of the strut on the other side of the flange.

Preferably, the flange is located to one side of a medial plane of the strut with the rows of apertures in the two said portions of the strut being located equal distances from the medial plane. In this manner, components of the shelf structure connected to and extending between a pair of mutually facing transversely extending flanges, may, when connected to said flanges be located generally coincidentally with the medial plane. The closeness of the apertures on one of said portions with the flange will render it difficult to mount such components from the "wrong side" of the flange, without impeding the connection of other components to said aperture close to the flange.

Thus, and in particular where a small gap is provided between the inner edge of the strut and the root of the flange, which provides a visual indication of the "correct side" of the flange for the mounting of components transversely of the shelf structure, the components may be erected to afford a shelf structure of balanced form relatively simply.

Additionally, beams as are at present used in the erection of shelving structure are generally unsatisfactory, either being unnecessarily heavy, or being complicated and therefore expensive in their construction.

Thus, according to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a beam for a shelf structure and which comprises an elongate supporting member affording an upwardlydirected channel, and mounting arms extending downwardly from the supporting member in spaced, generally parallel relationship, the mounting arms each being provided with a plurality of cranked tangs adapted to be inserted into the tang-receiving apertures of a shelving strut.

Thus, a beam of the kind set out in the last preceding paragraph may be secured to, to extend between, a pair of adjacent struts, particularly struts of the kind according to the first aspect of this invention. The upwardly directed channel may receive the downwardly turned lip along one side of a conventional box-shaped shelf member, providing support for said lip over an elongate region.

The beam may be manufactured in one piece, conveniently from sheet metal by a pressing and forming operation, or may be afforded by a plurality of parts secured together. For example, the supporting member may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal and each of the mounting arms may be formed from one piece of sheet metal, the supporting member and mounting arms being secured together by riveting or welding.

Where the beam is to be used in a position within a shelving structure (for example where it is possible that it will be necessary for the beam to support two shelf units on opposite sides thereof) the supporting member affords two upwardly directed channels on opposite sides thereof.

However, where the beam is to support a shelf unit on one side only, for example where the beam extends lengthwise of the shelf structure and is visible from a position in front of the shelf structure, desirably the side of the supporting member is formed to blend in with the exteriorlypresented surfaces of adjacent struts.

Further, problems are encountered in the erection of shelving structures as are presently available, in the application thereto of cladding, particularly as is used to enclose a desired space, or to partition one part of the shelving structure from another part.

Presently available cladding is either expensive in its construction, or is generally insufficiently versatile. For example, it is necessary to provide cladding of a large number of different lengths (e.g. extending generally heightwise of the shelving structure) and this requires a large number of components, all of which are necessarily provided with cranked tangs to enable the cladding to be secured to the upright struts.

Thus, according to a third aspect of this invention there is provided cladding for a shelving structure comprising a first generally rectangular cladding component, afforded on its opposite sides with respective rows of cranked tangs, and along one edge portion (extending between said slides) with an outwardly-extending channel, and a second cladding component which is not provided with tangs, and which is adapted to be inserted into said channel.

Preferably the second cladding component is used in conjunction with two of said first cladding components, said first cladding components being secured to and between a pair of spaced struts, with the second cladding component being located in and extending between the two channels provided by the first cladding components.

Conveniently the first cladding components are afforded along both edge portions extending between said sides with an outwardly-extending channel, whereby said component may function either as a lower or as an upper cladding component.

In this manner, it is necessary to provide only the second cladding component, which is not afforded with cranked tangs, in a number of different lengths. In the provision of cladding on a shelf structure, it will be necessary to utilise two first cladding components, and an appropriate second cladding component of the required length.

Conveniently the outwardly-extending channels of the first cladding components are formed from sheet metal, and are provided with said outwardly-extending channels by a double-folding operation.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a shelving system for use in the erection of a shelving structure, which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, and which has been selected to illustrate the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: - FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view of a strut of the shelving system; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the strut shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 2A is a plan view, corresponding to Figure 2, of a modified form of strut; FIGURE 3 is a schematic perspective view of part of a beam of the preferred embodiment; FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of the beam shown in Figure 3; FIGURE 5 is an end elevation of a modified beam; FIGURE 6 is a schematic perspective view of part of a shelf unit of the preferred embodiment; FIGURE 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating cladding of the preferred embodiment; FIGURE 8 is a perspective view illustrating a clip of the shelving system; FIGURE 9 is a schematic view illustrating part of a shelving structure erected from the system which is the preferred embodiment of this invention; ; FIGURE 10 is an enlarged view illustrating part of the shelving structure illustrated in Figure 9; and FIGURE 11 is another enlarged view illustrating part of said shelving structure, and FIGURE 12 is a view of a clip utilised in the shelving structure.

A shelving system which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a plurality of struts 6 (Figures 1 and 2), a plurality of beams 20 of the kind illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, and a lesser plurality of beams 30 of the modified kind illustrated in Figure 5, a number of shelf units 38 as illustrated in Figure 6, cladding 50 as illustrated in Figure 7, and a plurality of clips 64 as illustrated in Figure 8.

The struts 6 are hollow, elongate, having a flange 14 extending generally outwardly from the area A bounded by the strut. Portions 8 and 9 of the strut on opposite sides of the flange 14 lie generally in a common plane B-B (Figure 2) with the flange 14 extending at right angles to said plane.

The portions 8, 9 are each provided with respective rows of uniformly spaced tangreceiving apertures 10, and the flange 14 is provided with a similar row of uniformly spaced tang-receiving apertures 16, the positioning of the apertures 10 in a direction longitudinally of the strut 6 corresponding to the positioning of the apertures 16 (Figure 1).

The longitudinal centreline C-C of the row of tang-receiving apertures 10 of the portion 8 is spaced from the medial plane E-E of the strut, as the longitudinal centreline D-D of the row of apertures 10 in the portion 9. However, the flange 14 is located closer to the centreline C-C, and a small gap is provided between the inner side edge 7 of the strut and the root 1 5 of the flange (see Figure 2).

The shelving structure which is the preferred embodiment of this invention also comprises a plurality of beams 20 (see Figures 3 and 4).

Each beam 20 comprises an elongate supporting member 21 formed from sheet metal by a pressing operation, to provide a saddle portion 22 and two upwardly directed supporting channels 23, one on either side of the saddle portion 22.

The beam also comprises two mounting arms 24, each also being formed from sheet metal by a pressing operation, each mounting arm comprising a supporting portion 25 adapted to be inserted into the saddle portion 22 at one end of the supporting member 21, and a limb 26 provided with a row of cranked tangs 27, said row extending generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the supporting member 21, said tangs 27 being uniformly spaced in a manner similar to the spacing of the apertures 10 and 1 6 of the struts 6, and adapted to be inserted into said apertures.

In the preferred embodiment, the limbs 26 are secured to the supporting member 21 as shown in Figure 3, by a riveting operation. However, alternatively the components of the beam may be secured together by welding, or may be formed in one piece from sheet metal by a pressing operation.

The shelving system which is the preferred embodiment of this invention also comprises beams 30, similar to the beams 20, but which are provided with a supporting member 31 afforded with an upwardly directed supporting channel 33 on one side of the beam only, the channel 33 being wider than the channel 23 of the beam 20.

On the side of the supporting member 31 opposite to the channel 33, the beam 30 is provided with a downwardly extending cover plate 34, provided at its underside with an inwardly turned lip 35 (see Figure 5).

The shelving system also comprises a plurality of shelf units 38 which are shown in Figure 6, are conventional, comprising ageneraliy rectangular supporting surface 40, and four downardly turned lips 42 extending from the supporting surface 40 on each of its four sides, gaps 44 being provided between adjacents lips 42 at the corner portions of the shelf unit. As will be seen in Figure 6, each of the lips 42 is at its lower end portion folded backwardly, taking the raw edges of the lips towards the interior of the shelf unit.

The shelving system which is the preferred embodiment of this invention also comprises cladding (shown in Figure 7) which is itself illustrative of certain aspects of this invention, said cladding comprising first and second cladding components 52 and 54 respectively.

The first cladding component 50 is provided on each of its sides with a row of cranked tangs 56, similar to the tangs 27 of the beams hereinbefore described. At its upper and lower sides, the component 52 is provided with a double-folded lip 57, which affords at opposite sides of the components respective upwardly and downwardly facing slots 58.

The thickness of the lip 57 is such that it may be inserted in the supporting channel 23 of a beam 20.

The second cladding component 54 is of a width similar to the first cladding component 52, but is flat, and is provided with no tangs.

Both the first and second cladding components are provided at inwardly located positions, with respective rows 60, 62 of tang-receiving apertures 60, 62.

In the use of the system hereinbefore described in the erection of a shelving structure, the struts 6 are positioned vertically, and secured together in adjacent pairs by the use of beams 20 or 30. In general, where the shelf structure is to be elongate, beams 20 will be used to connect adjacent struts 6 in a direction transversely of the shelf structure, the tangs at the opposite ends of the beam being inserted into the tang-receiving apertures 1 6 of the flanges 14, which will be generally inwardly directed (as is shown in Figure 10). However, longitudinally of the shelf structure, beams 30 will be used, with the tangs located in the apertures 10 of the struts, with the cover plate 34 extending outwardly.

In this manner, extending into the space defined by four struts at the corners of a rectangle, there are provided four upwardly directed supporting channels, two channels (those extending transversely of the shelf structure)-being provided by beams 20 and two (those extending longitudinally of the shelf structure) being provided by beams 30.

A shelf unit 38 may be positioned in the space, with the lips 42 thereof extending into these upwardly directed supporting channels.

Cladding may be secured to the struts 6, to enclose the space at the sides, and/or the rear, of some at least of the shelf units. Thus, a first cladding component 52 may be secured to, extending between, two adjacent struts and adjacent to the shelf unit 38 (Figure 9) and a second cladding component 54 may be inserted into the slot 58 provided by the component 52.

Another component 52 may be secured to said struts, either at an upper end of the strut, or at portions of the struts to which further beams 20 or 30 are secured.

Thus, the component 54 being planar, may be cut or used to whatever length is appropriate, is inexpensive and light in weight, and may be secured to the struts 6 by the use of clips 76 (shown in Figure 8). The clips 76 are pressed from spring steel and comprise a body portion 78, afforded with a cranked limb 79 projecting from the body portion in one direction, and a T-portion 80 projecting from the body portion in the other direction.

The T-portion 80 may be inserted through one of the apertures 62 of the component 54, and into an aligned aperture 10 or 16 of the strut 6. The clip may then be resiliently deformed, and the cranked limb 79 may be inserted into the adjacent aperture 60, and into the corresponding aperture 10 or 16 of the strut, to hold the component 54 flatly against the corresponding surface of the strut 6.

By the use of the strut illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the other components of the shelf structure may be connected to the portions 8 and 9, and to the flange 14, extending in front of the plane B-B. In this manner, the surface of the strut behind the plane B-B, and which do not provide any mounting function, may be formed and coated to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Components will be mounted on the flange 14, by the insertion of the tangs into the apertures 16, from the direction, right to left (Figure 2). In this manner, the components connected to the flange 14 will lie generally along the medial plane E-E of Figure 2, providing the shelf structure with a generally balanced appearance.

Additionally, since the flange 14 is closer to the apertures 10 of the flanges portion 14, difficulty will be encountered in any attempt to mount components on the flange 14 from the wrong (e.g.

left-hand) side.

Alternatively, the outer edge portion of the flange 14 may be curled around towards the plane C' C, as is illustrated in Figure 2, physically to prevent the mounting of components on the wrong side of the flange 14.

The shelf structure also comprises a plurality of clips 64, illustrated in Figure 12. Such clips allow a shelf 40 to be mounted in position, other than by the use of beams 20. The clip 64 comprises a lower, cranked T-portion 65, which may be inserted into a lower tang-receiving aperture, prior to the insertion of the cranked tang 66 into a higher-positioned aperture, a cranked central portion 67 of the clip presenting a slot 68, into which a lip 42 of the shelf may be received. The use of the clip 64 allows a shelf to be supported between two pairs of adjacent struts, where the tang-receiving apertures of the struts are occupied by, or are covered by, cladding components 52 or 54. The clips 64 may thus be inserted into appropriate apertures 60 or 62 of the cladding components, allowing the shelf to be supported directly from the cladding components.

Of course, if desired, a shelf may be supported by two laterally spaced beams 20, extending from front to rear of the shelf structure and at the rear of the shelf structure, by clips 64 mounted on the cladding components.

Claims (22)

1. A strut for a shelf structure, the strut being hollow, elongate and having a flange extending generally outwardly from the area bounded by the strut, portions of the strut on opposite sides of the flange lying generally in a common plane with the flange extending at right angles to said plane, the said portions and the flange being provided with uniformly spaced, tang-receiving apertures.

2. A strut according to Claim 1 wherein a longitudinal centreline of the apertures in the portion of the strut on one side of the flange is closer to the flange than a longitudinal centreline of the apertures in the portion of the strut on the other side of the flange.

3. A strut according to one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the flange is located to one side of a longitudinal medial plane of the strut with the rows of apertures in the two said portions of the strut being located equal distances from the medial plane.

4. A strut according to any one of the preceding claims having been formed of strip metal, the walls of the strut being of single thickness with one side edge of the strip affording an exterior edge of the flange, the other side edge of the strip terminating adjacent to the root of the flange.

5. A strut according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there is an elongate gap on one side of the flange, between the root of the flange and the adjacent portion of the strut.

6. A strut for a shelf structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 2a and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A beam for a shelf structure and comprising an elongate supporting member affording an upwardly-directed channel, and mounting arms extending downwardly from the supporting member in spaced relationship, the mounting arms each being provided with a plurality of tangs adapted to be inserted into the tang-receiving apertures of a shelf strut.

8. A beam according to Claim 7 wherein the mounting arms lie generally in a common plane and the channel extends generally parallel to said plane on one side thereof.

9. A beam according to Claim 8 wherein the supporting member affords a second upwardly directed channel on the side of said plane opposite to the first said channel.

10. A beam according to Claim 7 wherein the supporting member comprises a central portion providing a slot into which the mounting arms extend, and two outer portions on either side of the central portion, each providing an upwardly directed channel.

11. A beam according to any one of Claims 7 to 10 wherein the supporting member is formed separately from the mounting arms and is secured thereto.

12. A beam according to Claim 11 wherein the mounting arms are formed separately and are both secured to the supporting member at opposite end portions thereof.

13. A beam according to one of Claims 11 and 12 wherein the supporting member and the mounting arms are formed from sheet metal.

14. A beam according to any one of Claims 7 to 10 wherein the supporting member and the mounting arms are manufactured in one piece from sheet metal.

1 5. A beam according to one of Claims 13 and 14 wherein the beam is manufactured from sheet metal by pressing and forming operations.

1 6. A beam for a shelf structure constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. Cladding for a shelving structure comprising a first generally rectangular cladding component, afforded on opposite sides with respective rows of tangs, and along one edge portion extending between said sides with an outwardly-extending channel, and a second cladding component which is not provided with tangs, and having an edge which is adapted to be inserted into said channel.

18. Cladding according to Claim 1 7 wherein the second cladding component is adapted to be used in conjunction with two of said first cladding components, said first cladding components being secured to and between a pair of spaced struts, and the second cladding component being located in and extending between the two channels provided by the first cladding components.

19. Cladding according to one of Claims 17 and 18 wherein the first cladding components are.

afforded along both edge portions extending between said sides with an outwardly-extending channel.

20. Cladding according to any one of Claims 17 to 1 9 wherein the first and/or second cladding components are formed from sheet metal by pressing and/or metal folding operations.

21. Cladding for a shelving structure constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 7 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

22. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.