GB2078098A - Support system - Google Patents

Abstract

A support system for clamping in a channel of an upright member e.g. a greenhouse glazing bar, or around the edges of an upright strut e.g. an I-beam, has two support elements. Each has respective first portions to engage opposed surfaces of the upright member and respective second portions which, when the first portions are so engaged provide mutually inclined support surfaces. The attachment of a member with divergent or convergent surfaces, respectively, clamp the support elements to the upright. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support system This invention relates to support systems, for example for shelves and domestic articles.

The invention has many applications, but can be illustrated in relation to greenhouses. Many domed tic greenhouses are manufactured using metal, usually aluminium, for the framework. The erection of shelves within the greenhouse is often a problem, because the frame is metal and it is necessary to obtain special brackets and fixing bolts designed specifically for that particular framework.

What most greenhouses have in common, however, is a framework which includes an inwardly facing channel in each of its members. It is normally this channel which is engaged by the specific fixing means designed for the greenhouse. The invention exploits the existence of these channels in greenhouses, or can be used elsewhere with a vertical channel member provided specifically as part of the support system.

According to the invention, there is provided a support element of a support system, e.g. for shelves, adapted to engage an upright channel member, wherein the element has a first portion or portions adapted to engage within opposed arms of the channel, and a second portion or portions arranged such that, in use with two such elements of opposite hand so engaged, the respective second portions define a downwardly tapered support space for receiving a support member.

From a rather broader viewpoint, the invention also provides support means for mounting on an upright member and comprising two support elements, the elements having respective first portions which are arranged to engage opposed surfaces of the upright member, and respective second portions which, when the first portions are so engaged, provide mutually inclined support surfaces. Such support means, it will be appreciated, can engage within a channel as mentioned for a greenhouse, or may clamp on the external edges of a member such as an I- or T-beam.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to a number of embodiments. These are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a support system in use; Figure 2 shows a well-known form of shelf bracket; Figure 3 shows two, oppositely handed support elements; Figure 4 shows a different embodiment of a support system; and Figure 5 shows a support member for engagement in the support system shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows the cross-section 10 of a vertical glazing bar of an aluminium-framed greenhouse.

The cross-section includes an undercut channel 11 and opposed lips 12 defining the opening to the channel. It is desired to support a shelf bracket as shown in Fig. 2 at any point along the vertical channel.

Two metal support elements 13 are used for this purpose. The elements 13 are of opposite hand, as shown in Fig. 3, but identical in function. Each element has a lip 14turned backwards along one edge to form a channel 15 which can engage a lip 12 of the channel of the upright member. A further lip 16 is turned forward on the opposite edge of each element, also forming a channel 17. The channels 15 and 17 are mutually inclined, so that when two elements 13 are mounted as shown in Fig. 1, the channels 17 converge downwardly, thus forming a downwardly tapered support space for receiving a support member.

In this case, the support member is the required shelf bracket, which itself has a vertical member 20 which is downwardly tapered. This member 20 can be inserted in the support space and pushed downwards until it is firmly held within the two channels 17. This has the effect that the further downwards the bracket is pushed, the greater is the outward pressure on the support elements 13. This tends to firmly wedge the elements so that they grip effectively within the channel 11.

In order to further ensure that the elements cannot slip downwardly under pressure, for example on a shelf mounted on brackets, the channels 15 may be roughened or otherwise provided with frictionenhancing surfaces so as to prevent sliding on the lips 12. In particular, it has been found particularly effective if burrs formed automatically by a punching operation on the edges of the support elements are arranged to lie on the inner surfaces of the channel 15. This is found to be entirely adequate to prevent slipping.

For the purpose of facilitating erection of a support member, a small resilient retention member may be used to hold the two support elements in place. This is illustrated in Figure 1, where a short length of rubbertubing 21 is shown in dotted outline between the two support elements. Having positioned the support elements at the desired height, the rubber tubing is pressed between them to hold them in position while a support member is slid downwardly into the support space. The same function might be fulfilled by a small compression spring.

In order to support discrete objects, for example a wooden box, a support member as shown in Figure 5 may be used. This has tapered outside surfaces 23 and screw holes 24 enabling it to be attached to the back of a box. The support member is shaped along portions 25 so as to form a slight channel on the back surface. When attached by screws with their heads within that channel, the two convergent edges 23 stand away from the rear surface of the box to which the member is attached.

This member can then be slipped from above into a support space as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Figure 4, this shows an inverse arrangement. In this case, the support elements 30 are arranged to grip the outwardly facing edges 31 of an upright post 32. Mutually inclined support surfaces 33 are formed on the elements 30, but in this case taper upwardly. A support member having complementary formed surfaces is then required to fit over the support elements. Downward pressure draws them together to clamp on the post. Similar friction enhancement may be employed.

It will be clearthat although described with support elements made of bent sheet metal the support elements may be formed from plastics or any other suitable material. However, the support system does not require an under-cut channel, but will also function using a channel having opposed surfaces without a lip. A channel member may be fixed to any surface e.g. a flat wall, where articles or shelves are to be supported.

Claims (15)

1. A support element of a support system, e.g.

for shelves, adapted to engage an upright channel member, wherein the element has a first portion or portions adapted to engage within opposed arms of the channel, and a second portion or portions arranged such that, in use with two such elements of opposite hand so engaged, the respective second portions define a downwardly tapered support space for receiving a support member.

2. A support element as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plate having first and second edges which converge, said first portion or portions projecting rearwardly on the first edge, and said second portion or portions projecting forwardly on the second edge.

3. A support element as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first portion or portions form a first channel along the first edge, and said channel is adapted to engage an inturned lip on one arm of the channel member.

4. A support element as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second portion or portions form a second channel along the second edge.

5. A support element as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said first portion or portions have enhanced frictional properties at a surface adapted to engage the channel member

6. Suppport means for a support system comprising two independent support elements as claimed in any preceding claim.

7. Support means are claimed in claim 6together with a resilient retention member adapted to fit in a compressed state between the two elements when engaged in the channel member.

8. Support means as claimed in claim 6 or 7 together with a support memberwhich is tapered to fit into said support space and has fixing means for attachment to an article to be supported.

9. Support means for mounting on an upright member, comprising two support elements, the elements having respective first portions which are arranged to engage opposed surface of the upright member, and respective second portions which, when the first portions are so engaged, provide mutually inclined support surfaces.

10. A support system comprising a channel member having opposed arms together with support means as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9.

11. A support system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the opposed arms of the channel member have inturned lips to form an undercut channel.

12. A method of retaining a support member in a substantially vertical channel member employing support means as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, comprising the steps of engaging the first portions, of the support elements with the opposing arms of the channel member so that the mutually inclined support surfaces are nearer at the bottom than at the top, and inserting from above the support member between the facing surfaces, whereby the elements are urged against the arms of the channel member to retain the support member therein.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein between the two steps the elements are temporarily retained in the channel member by inserting a resilient retention member between the elements.

14. Asupportelementofa support system substantially as herein described with reference to the attached drawings.

15. Support means substantially as herein described with reference to the attached drawings.