GB2082047A - A support standard - Google Patents

Abstract

An upright (eg for shelves, racks, etc.) has a square section tubular member 10 which is slotted at 14 along one or both of two opposed faces 13. Side plates 11, 12 are secured each of a pair of opposed unslotted side walls 15 of the member 10 and extend beyond the member 10 to form a channel of which the slotted face 13 is the base. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support standard This invention relates to support standards for supporting brackets and shelves, display units and the like.

It is well-known to provide upright standards which are slotted to allow adjustable mounting of a bracket or shelf on the standard. Some standards are formed from strips which have a series of longitudinal slots or from square section tubes at least one face of which is so slotted.

Other standards are formed from pairs of opposed plates between which there is an arrangement which forms the slots. In U.S. Patent 2684224 the arrangement comprises stamped portions of the webs of opposed U-section side plates; these stampings nest together to form, in effect, a continuous longitudinal castellated configuration. In U.K. Patent 1076906 the arrangement comprises a solid rod or bay which is castellated and runs between the opposed side plates, abutting alternately one plate and then the other and being secured to the plates.

The provision of the side plates is advantageous in forming a channel which the support bracket enters to engage the slot(s), thereby restricting lateral movement of the support bracket.

An object of the present invention is to apply the aforesaid advantage to square section tubular support standards.

According to the present invention there is provided a support standard comprising a square section tubular support standard member slotted along at least one of two opposed faces, and a pair of elongate side plates each attached to one of the other two opposed faces of the tubular support standard, the longitudinal edge of the side plates extending beyond the or each slotted face to provide a channel of which said slotted face is the inner end.

Preferably, each elongate side plate has a central longitudinal channel.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view from the front and to one side of a portion of a support standard according to the invention, but with the parts separated for clarity.

The support standard comprises a square section tubular standard 10 sandwiched between two elongate side plates 11, 12.

The tubular standard 10 has one slotted face 13 although the opposed face may also be slotted. The slots 14 are short and run longitudinally at short spaced intervals.

Each side plate 11, 12 is secured to a side wall 15 of the tubular standard, i.e. to a face of the tube adjacent to the slotted face 13. The side plates are broader than the tubular standard so that the lon gitudinal side 16 of the plates 11, 12 extend beyond the tube 10, thus forming a channel the inner end of which is the slotted face.

In order to narrow said channel, the side plates have a central longitudinal channel or depression 17 of a width such that the tubular standard is accommodated therein.

Thus, a support standard as hereinbefore has a strong central core formed by a square section slotted tube and side plates which form a channel at the slotted face. When a bracket is mounted on the tubular standard the channel formed by the side plates confines the bracket and reduces possible lateral movement thereof.

1. A support standard comprising a square section tubular support standard member slotted along at least one oftwo opposed faces, and a pair of elongate side plates each attached to one of the other two opposed faces ofthe tubular support standard member, the longitudinal edge of the side plates extending beyond the or each slotted face to provide a channel of which said slotted face is the inner end.

2. A support standard as claimed in claim 1, in which each elongate side plate has a central longitudinal channel.

3. A support standard as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which both said opposed faces of the square section member are slotted.

4. A support standard as claimed in any one of claims 1,2 or 3 in which the slots extend longitudinally of the or each face.

5. A support standard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to 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 **. SPECIFICATION Support standard This invention relates to support standards for supporting brackets and shelves, display units and the like. It is well-known to provide upright standards which are slotted to allow adjustable mounting of a bracket or shelf on the standard. Some standards are formed from strips which have a series of longitudinal slots or from square section tubes at least one face of which is so slotted. Other standards are formed from pairs of opposed plates between which there is an arrangement which forms the slots. In U.S. Patent 2684224 the arrangement comprises stamped portions of the webs of opposed U-section side plates; these stampings nest together to form, in effect, a continuous longitudinal castellated configuration. In U.K. Patent 1076906 the arrangement comprises a solid rod or bay which is castellated and runs between the opposed side plates, abutting alternately one plate and then the other and being secured to the plates. The provision of the side plates is advantageous in forming a channel which the support bracket enters to engage the slot(s), thereby restricting lateral movement of the support bracket. An object of the present invention is to apply the aforesaid advantage to square section tubular support standards. According to the present invention there is provided a support standard comprising a square section tubular support standard member slotted along at least one of two opposed faces, and a pair of elongate side plates each attached to one of the other two opposed faces of the tubular support standard, the longitudinal edge of the side plates extending beyond the or each slotted face to provide a channel of which said slotted face is the inner end. Preferably, each elongate side plate has a central longitudinal channel. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view from the front and to one side of a portion of a support standard according to the invention, but with the parts separated for clarity. The support standard comprises a square section tubular standard 10 sandwiched between two elongate side plates 11, 12. The tubular standard 10 has one slotted face 13 although the opposed face may also be slotted. The slots 14 are short and run longitudinally at short spaced intervals. Each side plate 11, 12 is secured to a side wall 15 of the tubular standard, i.e. to a face of the tube adjacent to the slotted face 13. The side plates are broader than the tubular standard so that the lon gitudinal side 16 of the plates 11, 12 extend beyond the tube 10, thus forming a channel the inner end of which is the slotted face. In order to narrow said channel, the side plates have a central longitudinal channel or depression 17 of a width such that the tubular standard is accommodated therein. Thus, a support standard as hereinbefore has a strong central core formed by a square section slotted tube and side plates which form a channel at the slotted face. When a bracket is mounted on the tubular standard the channel formed by the side plates confines the bracket and reduces possible lateral movement thereof. CLAIMS

1. A support standard comprising a square section tubular support standard member slotted along at least one oftwo opposed faces, and a pair of elongate side plates each attached to one of the other two opposed faces ofthe tubular support standard member, the longitudinal edge of the side plates extending beyond the or each slotted face to provide a channel of which said slotted face is the inner end.

2. A support standard as claimed in claim 1, in which each elongate side plate has a central longitudinal channel.

3. A support standard as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which both said opposed faces of the square section member are slotted.

4. A support standard as claimed in any one of claims 1,2 or 3 in which the slots extend longitudinally of the or each face.

5. A support standard substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.