GB2079584A

GB2079584A - Shelf constructions

Info

Publication number: GB2079584A
Application number: GB8120692A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Fritz Schaefer GmbH
Current assignee: Fritz Schaefer GmbH
Priority date: 1980-07-05
Filing date: 1981-07-03
Publication date: 1982-01-27
Also published as: GB2079584B; IT8122697A0; ATA279681A; FR2485899A1; IT8122248V0; CH651457A5; AT387702B; FR2485899B1; DE3124922A1; IT1167800B; DE3124922C3; DE8018148U1

Abstract

A shelf has reinforcing section members on its longitudinal and transverse edges. At least the reinforcing section member on the front longitudinal edge is formed by two parallel tubular sections held spaced from one another by a downwardly open channel section member. The reinforcing section member has an end flange outside the tube cross sections bearing against the underside of the shelf. The transverse edges have angular or C-shaped reinforcing sections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shelf having reinforcing section members The invention relates to a shelf with reinforcing section members on the longitudinal and transverse edges and formed by bent-out portions, at least the reinforcing section member on the front longitudinal edge being formed as a closed square, or more preferably having a rectangular tubular cross-section, and comprising an end flange provided outside the tube cross-section and bearing against the underside of the shelf, while the reinforcing sections of both transverse edges have an angular or C-shaped cross-section.

A shelf of this type is already known from German GM 7630741. Such shelves have the advantage that the connection thereof to the posts or uprights of the shelving unit can be effected without use of particular corner fittings, so that they can be fixed so as to be easily changeable and the advantage that they have a high design strength, particularly in the corner regions, which makes possible a direct connection from upright to upright by the shelf, because the latter acts as a flange.

However, experience in practice has shown that, in the event of relatively high loads occurring in the middle region of the shelves, torsional or warping effects in an outward direction can occur at therein- forcing section members of the longitudinal edges, which effects can lead to undesirable or displeasing deformations at those outer surfaces of the longitudinal edge reinforcing sections which extend transversely of the plane of the shelves, as a result of which in particular the attachment of labels is made difficult.

The invention seeks to provide a shelf of the type indicated above, of which the spatial form not only withstands the occurrence of torsional or warping deformations at the reinforcing sections on the longitudinal edges, but also achieves an increased load capacity.

In accordance with the invention, we provide a shelf with reinforcing section members on the longitudinal and transverse edges formed by bent-out portions, at least the reinforcing section member on the front longitudinal edge being formed as a closed square or rectangular tube cross-section and comprising an end flange provided outside the tube cross-section and bearing against the underside of the shelf, while the reinforcing sections for both transverse edges having an angular or C-shaped cross-section, wherein at least the forward reinforcing section of the longitudinal edges is formed by two parallel tubular sections which are held spaced from one another by a downwardly open channel section member, those walls of the tubular sections which face one another in spaced relation together forming the legs of the channel section member.

A further stabilisation of the shelf can be achieved in accordance with the invention by making the web of the channel section member bear with a supporting action against the underside of the shelf.

Preferably the two parallel tubular sections have the same cross-sectional height, but different crosssectional breadth with the outer tubular section having a larger breadth than the inner tubular section.

Preferably the cross-sectional breadth of the channel section is smaller than that ofthe outertubular sec tion but larger than that of the innertubular section.

The flange of the reinforcing sections for the transverse edges which extends parallel to the plane of the shelf preferably engages beneath both tubular sections of the reinforcing section or sections for the longitudinal edge or edges and is welded to the said section or sections.

A stable supporting connection of the shelves with the uprights of the shelving unit can also be obtained by providing that that flange of the reinforcing sections of the transverse edges which extends parallel to the plane of the shelf comprises a hole or a slot in the opening region of the channel section member and in the spacing region between the two tubular cross-sections.

The invention is illustrated by one constructional example in the drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatically simplified elevation of a shelving unit having shelves according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of a shelf according to the invention; Figure 3 is a section to a larger scale along the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in Figure 2.

The shelving unit as shown in Figure 1 consists of several, and in fact usually four shelving posts or uprights 1, which comprise tongues 2 stamped out as supports, at least on the inside of the uprights and equally spaced one above the other, and of several, for example three, shelves 3, which are held, spaced one above the other, between the shelving unit uprights by engaging with the supporting tongues.

It is to be seen from Figure 2 that the shelves 3 comprise reinforcing sections 4 formed by angle members at their longitudinal edges and reinforcing sections 5, likewise formed by angle members, at their transverse edges.

At least the reinforcing section 4 at the front lon g itudinal edge, but advantageously the reinforcing sections 4 at both longitudinal edges, is formed by two closed square or more preferably rectangular tube sections 6 and 7, which are held spaced from one another by a downwardly open channel section 8. Those walls 6' and 7' of the two tube sections 6 and 7 which face one another in spaced relation thus together form the legs of the channel section member 8, while the web 8' of the said member 8 bears in supporting manner against the underside of the shelf 3.

An end flange 9, bearing against the underside of the shelf 3, is also provided in the same plane as that of the web 8', said flange 9 being bent outwardly from the inner wall 7" of the inner tube section 7. At least this end flange 9 of the inner tube section 7 of the reinforcing sections 4 of the longitudinal edges, but advantageously also the web 8' of the channel section member 8, can be connected fast to the shelf 3 by spot-weldings 10.

It is to be seen from Figure 3 that the two tube sections 6 and 7 of the reinforcing sections for the longitudinal sides have the same cross-sectional height, but a different cross-sectional breadth. Thus, the outer tube section 6 of the said reinforcing section has the larger cross-sectional breadth and the inner tube section thereof has the smaller breadth.

However, it can also be seen from Figure 3 that the cross-sectional breadth of the channel section member 8 is smaller than the cross-sectional breadth of the outer tube section 6, but is made larger than the cross-sectional breadth ofthe inner tube section 7 of the reinforcing sections for the longitudinal edges.

It can be seen from Figure 2 and 3 that the reinforcing sections 5 of the transverse edges of the shelf 3 are formed of a web section 11 directed transversely to the plane of the shelf 3 and a flange section 12 extending parallel to the plane of the shelf 3. The flange 12 of the reinforcing sections 5 ofthetrans- verse edges and directed parallel to the plane of the shelf 3 engages beneath both tube sections 6 and 7 of the reinforcing sections 4for the longitudinal edges and is connected fast to the latter by spot weldings 13. By this means, a high design strength is produced for the shelf 3, more especially in the region of its corners. It is also to be seen from Figures 2 and 4 that that flange of the transverse edge reinforcing sections 5 which extends parallel to the plane of the shelf 3 has a slot 14 in the opening region of the channel section member 8 and in the spacing region between the two tube sections 6 and 7. By means of these slots 14, the shelf 3 can be hooked onto the supporting tongues on the uprights 1 of the shelving unit. Due to the position of the slots 14 between the two tubular section members 6 and 7, there is obtained a postional stabilisation, which guarantees a suspension of the shelf 3 on the tongues 2 of the uprights 1 which is safeguarded against distortion or warping.

Claims

1. Shelf with reinforcing section members on the longitudinal and transverse edges formed by bentout portions, at least the reinforcing section member on the front longitudinal edge being formed as a closed square or rectangular tube cross-section and comprising an end flange provided outside the tube cross-section and bearing against the underside of the shelf, while the reinforcing sections for both transverse edges have an angular or C-shaped cross-section, wherein at least the forward reinforcing section of the longitudinal edges is formed by two parallel tubular sections which are held spaced from one another by a downwardly open channel section member, those walls of the tubular sections which face one another in spaced relation together forming the legs of the channel section members

2.Shelf according to claim 1, wherein the web of the channel section member bears with a supporting action against the underside of the shelf.

3. Shelf according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two parallel tubular sections have the same crosssectional height, but a different cross-sectional breadth.

4. Shelf according to claim 3, wherein the outer of the two parallel tubular sections has a larger cross-sectionai breadth than the inner of the two tubular sections.

5. Shelf according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cross-sectional breadth of the channel section member is smaller than the cross-sectional breadth of the outer of the tubular sections, but is larger than the cross-sectional breadth of the inner of the tubular sections.

6. Shelf according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein that flange of the reinforcing sections for the transverse edges which extends parallel to the plane of the shelf engages beneath both tubular sections of the reinforcing section or sections for the longitudinal edge or edges and is welded to the said, section or sections.

7. . Shelf according to claim 6, wherein that flange of the reinforcing sections of the transverse edges which extends parallel to the plane of the shelf comprises a hole or a slot in the opening region of the channel section member and in the spacing region between the two tubular cross-sections.

8. Shelf substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings and described herein with reference thereto.