GB2109672A

GB2109672A - Fixture attachment arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2109672A
Application number: GB08232051A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Sainsbury
Original assignee: Sainsbury and Parkinson Ltd
Current assignee: Sainsbury and Parkinson Ltd
Priority date: 1981-11-10
Filing date: 1982-11-10
Publication date: 1983-06-08

Abstract

An attachment arrangement for a fixture such as a shelf 10, wherein the fixture has an elongated edge slot 13 to accept a flange of an L shaped or other attachment member 15 attachable to a wall or other structure, the flange being constituted by a horizontal or upwardly inclined element to extend into a similarly horizontal or inclined portion of the slot, to support the fixture. A screw 17 or clip may be used to secure the fixture to the attachment part, whereby the attachment part is hidden in use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fixture attachment arrangement This invention relates to an arrangement for attachment of a fixture, such as a shelf or similar support device therefor, to a wall or other structure. It has application particularly though not exclusively to corner shelves occupying a position in a right-angular corner between two walls. It is also however applicable to a straight shelf attached to a flat wall or to shelves fitted in an alcove.

For any type of shelf there is normally need to provide a support to carry the weight of the shelf and its contents. This may itself be secured to the wall and have additional attachment to the shelf to retain it in position. For a corner shelf there is usually provision for support at both edges against the adjacent walls and the provision of a separate support bracket can sometimes be dispensed with. A common way of supporting a corner shelf is to apply beading or battens to the walls and to rest the shelf on these, sometimes securing the shelf to the beading or battens.

With most arrangements for supporting corner as well as straight shelves the provisions for support and attachment such as screws, both to the wall and between any bracket or equivalent, and the shelf, are exposed.

A number of arrangements have been adopted to conceal the attachment arrangements but in some cases this has involved the use of additional components to cover or enclose screws or other fastenings, thus increasing the cost. In other examples such as the use of dowels entering the edges of the shelf, there is no positive fixing of the shelf other than by frictional engagement of the dowels in their sockets. Furthermore some of these arrangements which may be satisfactory for a straight shelf may be inappropriate for a corner shelf or vice versa.

it is the object of this invention to provide an attachment arrangement for a fixture which is secure in mounting the fixture to a wall or other structure, can be applied to straight or corner shelves as well as to alcove shelves or other fixtures and in which the attachment components such as screws are substantially concealed.

According to the invention there is provided an attachment arrangement for a fixture wherein the fixture has an elongated slot to accept an elongated attachment member arranged in use to extend generally horizontally, the attachment member including an element to extend in use, generally in the plane of a wall or structure to which the fixture is to be attached, said further element of the attachment member having means whereby it can be secured to a wall or other structure and the attachment mernber having a further element extending in use into the slot and on which the fixture rests.

The further element of the attachment part may be arranged to extend in the plane of the shelf.

References herein to the plane of the shelf are to be understood to refer to the general plane of the whole shelf, without regard to thickness or to the actual shape of the top or bottom surfaces of the shelf or parts thereof.

Conveniently a fastening which is engageable with the element of the attachment member which extends within the slot is provided in the form of a screw engaged in the shelf and accessible from the top or bottom surface thereof.

The fastening in the form of such a screw may be arranged to clamp onto a surface of the member. Alternatively positive engagement between the screw and the member may be provided for.

In an alternative arrangement the fas'iening may be a clip which is engageable to grip the element of the attachment member.

The fixture may be a shelf with the slot formed directly in the edge of the shelf. Alternatively the fixture may be a batten or other part for supporting a shelf or other device, the batten having the slot formed therein.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corner shelf with arrangements for securing it to two adjacent walls or other structures; Figure 2 shows the shelf secured in place; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 on Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an alternative form of fixture constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the construction in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further form of fixture; Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a still further alternative construction; and Figures 8 to 12 are similar views of yet further alternative constructions.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings a corner shelf indicated at 10 is to be secured in a horizontal position in the corner formed by two vertical walls disposed at right angles to each other.

The shelf is of triangular form though it may take other shapes and has flat parallel top and bottom surface. Conveniently it is made from wood.

In the two edges presented to the walls 11, 12 there are L-shaped elongated slots 1 3. As shown in Figure 3 the slot has an outer zone 1 3a which has top and bottom edges parallel to and spaced from the top and bottom surfaces of the shelf 10.

From the lower edge of the zone 1 3a extends a narrower zone 1 3b. This extends into the shelf and is substantially parallel with the top and bottom surfaces thereof. This zone 1 3b is generally therefore in the plane of the shelf as a whole and in this example it is nearer to the bottom surface of the shelf.

The slot 13 in each of the two edges of the shelf extends over most of the length of such edge but preferably terminates short of the inner corner as well as short of the front or exposed edge of the shelf when it is in place.

To support the shelf there are two attachment members 14, 1 5. Each is of right angular section and is preferably made from sheet metal. The angle section therefore defines an upright element and a horizontal element. The upright element has a pair of spaced holes to accept fixing screws indicated at 1 6 or other fastenings for securement to the wall or other structure. Preferably the holes in the upright element of the members 14 and 1 5 are large than the screw shanks which they will accept. This enables the attachment members 14, 1 5 to be adjusted on the respective walls to ensure correct alignment. Such adjustment takes place before final tightening of the screws 1 6.

Figure 1 shows the attachment member 14, 1 5 secured in place to the walls 11 and 12 respestively. The adjacent ends are close together though their spacing is not critical. The shelf 10 is shown in a position ready to engage on the members 14, 1 5 and Figure 2 shows it in full eng3gement. As shown in Figure 3 when in full engagement the horizontal element of each of the members 14, 1 5 occupies the horizontal zone 1 3b of each slot in the shelf edge.

Figure 3 also shows that the greater depth of the zone 5 3a of the slot accommodates not only the vertical element of the attachment member but also the heads of the fixings screws 1 6.

To secure the shelf in place there are two clamping screws 1 7. These are engaged in the shelf 10 passing through the top surface thereof.

The holes which they occupy open into the horizontal zone 1 3b of the slot intermediate the ends of that zone. As indicated in Figure 3 tightening of the screw 1 7 causes it to engage the horizontal element of the attachment member 14 or 1 5 and to clamp it against the bottom surface of the slot zone 1 3b. This retains the shelf relatively to the attachment members 14 and 1 5.

On a corner shelf such as that shown it is only necessary to provide one clamping screw 1 7 but a second screw is preferably used since this enables the attachment members 14, 1 5 to be attached to the bracket for transportation and packaging purposes.

The arrangement as described can be applied to a shelf fixed to a flat wall. Since it does not provide very much support for the shelf and any load which may be placed on it there may be applied to the wall a bracket on which the shelf can rest. There is no necessity to secure the shelf tu such bracket. It is normally necessary to provide at least two clamping screws for a shelf fitted to a flat wall or structure. It is furthermore preferred that the clamping screws 1 7 should enter holes in the horizontal element of the attachment member 14 or 1 5. In an alternative arrangement the extremity of the horizontal element of the attachment member 14 or 1 5 may be beaded or provided with a lip against which the screw 1 7 can engage.The latter arrangement avoids the necessity for location with individual holes for each of the clamping screws 17.

In a further alternative arrangement the slot in the shelf may be of T-shape with the horizontal portion approximately midway of the depth of the vertical portion. The slot in the shelf may contain at least one spring clip with barbs to engage and grip the horizontal element of the attachment member. Further barbs or other devices may be used for retaining the clips in the shelf.

The arrangement described is suitable for corner shelves as described and also for use along the two sides of a rectangular alcove. The provision for adjustment of the attachment members 14, 1 5 enables correct levelling of the shelf to be easily achieved in such an alcove and eisewhere. If required for extra strength a slot and attachment member may be provided along the back of the alcove shelf as well as along the two sides.

Instead of providing the slot in the edge of the shelf itself this may be provided in a separate component. Such an arrangement is shown for example in Figure 4 in which a shelf 1 8 is to be mounted in a corner between two walls.

Attachinent members 1 9, 20 are secured to the two walls in similar manner to that already described in relation to Figures 1 and 3. However the attachment members are shown with their horizontal portions at the top. A batten one of which is shown at 21 is rutted on to each attachment member 1 9 and 20. The batten has in one face a slot 22 to accept the attachment member. As shown in Figure 5 the narrow portion of the slot 22 extends out of the vertical portion which accommodates the vertical portion of the attachment member and also the head of the screw 23. In the section of the batten 21 above the horizontal portion of the attachment member there are provided spaced holes containing rubber inserts 24. Two of these are shown in the batten in Figure 4.The rubber inserts may have flanges (not shown) to assist in retention in tne batten and they are of a material which has substantiai frictional surface characteristics. A shelf 18 resting on the rubber inserts is retained in place by the frictional engagement with the rubber inserts and these are also pressed down only the horizontal portion of the attachment member 9 or 20 to grip this and hold it in the slot thus holding the batten 21 firmly in place relatively to the attachment member 19 or 20.

Figure 6 shows a similar arrangement except that the batten is made in two pieces 25, 26 as is the attachment member which is formed as two short sections 27, 28. A single rubber insert 24 is provided in each. The separate arrangement is convenient in that a single batten has to be cut to length to suit the shelf which it is to support.

Figure 7 shows an alternative arrangement in which the batten has a slot with a horizontal portion 30 of increased depth. The attachment member 31 has rubber inserts 32 secured to its horizontal portion top surface as by adhesive. To fit the batten on to the secured attachment member 31 the horizontal portion oF the attachment part 31 with the rubber insert 32 must be introduced into the slot 30 and then registered with holes 33 through which the rubber inserts 32 can be engaged. The rubber insert is deeper than the portion of the batten 29 in which the holes 33 are formed so that a shelf will rest on the rubber inserts 32.

Figure 8 shows a construction with a batten 34 mounted on an attachment member 35. A slot 36 is provided of similar proportions to that in Figure 5. Through the shelf extends a screw (not shown) to secure it onto the batten 34. Other fixing arrangements may be used. A grup screw 37 in the batten and accessible from the top of the batten engages, at its lower end the horizontal portion of the attachment member 35.

In Figure 9 there is shown a construction including a batten 38 with a slot 39 to accommodate a Z-shaped attachment member 40. The attachment member has a vertical portion through which the fixing screw 41 passes and a horizontal portion terminating in a vertical upwardly directed portion 42. This engages in a corresponding portion of the slot 39 and provides a register which prevents the batten 38 moving away from the wall. On the top of the batten 38 is provided a rubber insert 43 which may be attached by adhesive. On this rests the shelf 44.

Other forms of attachment or registration with the shelf, such as screws may be used.

In Figure 10 there is shown a construction similar to Figure 9 except that the horizontal portion of the attachment member 45 is longer.

The depth of the corresponding slot 46 is therefore greater than the slot 39 in the Figure construction. Passing through the shelf are screws or other fastenings (not shown) to secure the shelf to the batten. A grup screw 47 in the batten 48 and accessible from the top of the batten is provided to bear the horizontal portion of the attachment member 45. By this means, vertical adjustment can take place in a manner similar to that described in relation to Figure 8.

Figure 11 shows a batten 50 with a slot 51 shaped to accommodate an attachment member 52 having a vertical portion and an upwardly inclined portion. The upwardly inclined portion rests against a correspondingly inclined surface at 53 of the slot 51. This arrangement ensures close contact between the batten 40 and the wall. On the top of the batten 50 a rubber insert 54 is provided and on this in turn rests a shelf 55. Other shelf attachment or registration arrangements may be used.

In the Figure 12 construction a similar batten 56 is provided to that of Figure 11. A slot 57 accommodates an attachment member 58 of shape similar to the attachment member 52 of the Figure 11 construction. Through the shelf 59 passes a screw of other fastening (not shown) to secure the shelf to the batten. A grub screw 60 engaged in the batten 56 and accessible from the top engages the attachment member 58, by means of which vertical adjustment of the batten and therefore of the shelf can take place relatively to the attachment member 58.

It is to be understood that the fixtures described and illustrated herein are suitable for the support of shelves but where battens or individual pieces such as those shown in Figure 6 are provided other devices including towel rails, cupboards or other structures can be supported relatively to a wall.

Claims

1. An attachment arrangement for a fixture wherein the fixture has an elongated slot to accept an elongated attachment member arranged in use to extend generally horizontally, the attachment member including an element to extend in use, generally in the plane of a wall or structure to which the fixture is to be attached, said further element of the attachment member having means whereby it can be secured to a wall or other structure and the attachment member having a further element extending in use into the slot and on whcih the fixture rests.

2. An attachment arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which the further element of the attachment part is arranged to extend in the plane of the shelf.

3. An attachment arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a fastening which is engageable with the element of the attachment member which extends within the slot is provided in the form of a screw engaged in the shelf and accessible from the top or bottom surfaces thereof.

4: An attachment arrangement as claimed in claim 3 in which the fastening or in the form of a screw is arranged to clamp onto a surface of the said attachment member.

5. An attachment arrangement as claimed in claim 3 in which the fastening in the form of a screw is arranged to engage positively in said attachment member.

6. An attachment arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein a fastening which is engageable with the element of the attachment member which extends within the slot is provided in the form of a clip which is engageable to grip the element of the attachment member.

7. An attachment arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment member is of right angular section.

8. An attachment arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the attachment member is of obtuse angular section.

9. An attachment arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the attachment member is of generally Z-shaped section, having a portion engaging in use substantially upright and engage in a corresponding slot portion in the fixture.

10. An attachment arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the fixture is a shelf.

11. An attachment arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the fixture is a batten to accept and support a shelf or other component.

12. An attachment arrangement for a fixture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. An attachment arrangement for a fixture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

14. An attachment arrangement for a fixture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. An attachment arrangement for a fixture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

1 6. An attachment arrangement for a fixture substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.

17. An attachment arrangement for a fixture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. An attachment arrangement for a fixture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.

1 9. An attachment arrangement for a fixture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 1 of the accompanying drawings.

20. An attachment arrangement for a fixture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.