GB2125511A

GB2125511A - Support frame elements

Info

Publication number: GB2125511A
Application number: GB08320523A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernd Korth
Original assignee: Fehlbaum and Co
Current assignee: Fehlbaum and Co
Priority date: 1982-07-30
Filing date: 1983-07-29
Publication date: 1984-03-07
Also published as: FR2530937A1; CH657109A5; GB8320523D0; DE8318265U1; GB2125511B; FR2530937B1

Abstract

Transverse elements (8) releasably attached to support columns (1) of a support frame are provided at their ends with a clamping mechanism (12) to provide a connection therebetween. The lock (12) contains clamping arms (13) mounted in a plate-shaped open lock housing (15) symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the transverse element, these clamping arms being capable of being brought into a locking spread position by means of a locking rotor (17) which is rotatably mounted in the lock housing (15). At their head end (33) the clamping arms (13) comprise an inclined surface (32) which produces a keyed engagement with the edge of an opening (11) in the support column (1) when the locking rotor (17) urges the clamping arms (13) into their locking position. The lock (12) is removably retained in the transverse element 8 by a screw. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support frame element The invention relates to an element of a support frame e.g. for use in displaying and storing goods in retail outlets and warehouses.

Such a support frame may comprise transverse elements releasably attached to support columns, said transverse elements connecting two adjacent columns to form a frame element of the support frame, each transverse element being provided, at each of its two longitudinal ends, with connecting means in order to produce a connection, at a given point of a column, between such column and the associated end of the transverse element.

For rapid assembly and dismantling of support frames made from standard components, and for extending such support frames by building on additional support members and transverse, elements it is known to connect frame elements to one another by means of screws, clamps providing frictional connections, or suspending means to form stable constructions.

Support frames of this kind are also known wherein means cooperating by clamping engagement on support or carrier members and transverse elements are constructed in such a way that in the assembled state there are no parts projecting beyond the outer contours which do not perform a supporting or carrying function on the frame.

Whereas the use of conventional screwing and clamping members on support frames does not generally present any problems in terms of interchangeability if the connecting points are suitably constructed, connecting members which are built into end openings of transverse elements, for example, and which are thus "invisible" after assembly can generally only be exchanged or replaced by complicated and time-consuming operations if they are damaged or worn out as a result of use.

Thus, the problem which this invention sets out to solve is to provide a support frame element wherein the connecting means not only permit rapid assembly and dismantling of the frame elements but can also be replaced themselves rapidly and without difficulty at the point of assembly.

According to the invention there is provided a transverse element for a support frame, said transverse element being adapted to be releasably attached to and to connect two adjacent support colums to form a frame element of the support frame, the transverse element being provided, at each of its two longitudinal ends, with a clamping mechanism anchored inside the transverse element, in order to produce a frictional connection, at a given point of a column, between such column and the associated end of the transverse element, wherein the clamping mechanism is a lock provided with two clamping arms mounted symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the transverse element in an open, plate-shaped lock housing, a locking rotor being rotatably mounted in the lock housing and provided with a locking bar which urges the clamping arms out of an inwardly inclined release position outwards into a locking position, each clamping arm having on its rear side, a hook-like catch portion which is fixed, with some degree of play, in a cage formed by raised portions on the lock housing, such cage having support and abutment surfaces, each clamping arm having, on its front end, a head end provided with an outwardly directed inclined surface, this head end being adapted to engage in a support column at a given point in the column via an opening and, in the locking position, producing a clamping connection between the support column and the transverse element by means of the inclined surface.

An embodiment of the invention by way of example is described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a corner section in outline with a support column shown in section in the clamping plane of transverse elements located at the same height; Figure 2 shows a transverse connection viewed in the direction II on Fig. 1 in vertical section and with the transverse element bolted to the support column as in Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows a lock as a replaceable part of a transverse element, in side view, with the clamping arms in the released position, and Figure 4 shows a section on the line IV-IV in Fig 2.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 generally designates a support column in the form of a hollow polygonal profiled post with (in this case) four planar transverse element attachment areas 2 extending along the profiled post and each containing a centrally positioned groove 3. The base of each groove is the outside of a connecting strip 4 between adjacent polygonal profiled portions 5, which may, for example, be provided with exterior retaining lugs 6, between which it is possible to insert wood or plastics decorative strips 7 as decorative elements for the support column 1. On the inside of each connecting strip 4 there is a longitudinal channel 3' aligned with the groove 3. By partially breaking the connecting strip 4 away, slots 11 can be formed on the support column 1 for the insertion of transverse elements and/or crosspiece elements. (See Fig. 2).In Fig. 1, transverse elements 8 are connected to two adjacent transverse attachment areas 2 of the support column 1, as will be explained in detail hereinafter. A shelving board 10 is placed on abutment flaps 9 one at each end of each of four transverse elements 8 located at the same height in a support frame.

It should be pointed out that the support column which may be used is not restricted to the embodiment shown either in its basic shape or in the number and detailed configuration of the attachment points. Thus, for example, it is also possible in principle to use round columns with the corresponding transverse attachment areas 2 or polygonal columns with more than four sides.

Fig. 2 shows the details of the transverse attachment areas in cut-away view. Openings 11 are provided in the connecting strip 4 located inwardly of the groove 3, preferably in each of the attachment areas and at the same height. Movable clamping arms 1 3 of a lock which is generally designated 1 2 and is shown more clearly in Fig. 3 engage in such openings 11. Locks of this kind are located at each end of a transverse element and are inserted in a receiving aperture 1 4 of the element.

The lock 1 2 which is shown in its locking position in Fig. 2 and in its release position in Fig. 3 (separately) has a substantially plateshaped open lock housing 1 5 with a flat lock plate 1 6 in which a locking rotor 1 7 is rotatably mounted in a more or less central bore 1 8. The clamping arms 1 3 controlled by a locking bar 1 9 on the rotor 1 7 are provided, on their hook-shaped rear side (on the right in Figs. 2 and 3), with a catch portion 20 which is fixed with considerable play in a cage 21.

The cage 21, which is open in the direction of the front of the symmetrical clamping arms 13, is formed by a flat, step-shaped raised portion 22, shaped like the number 3 in outline, on the lock plate 1 6. The central portion 22' of the raised portion 22 and its extremities 22" each define a recess in which the catch portion 20 of the clamping arm 1 3 is held at inherently random points. The clamping arms 1 3 are inwardly biased by a round wire or flat spring 23 curved essentially in a U-shape. The spring 23 engages round the raised portion 22 and is held, at its base, in a groove 24 provided in the raised portion 22.The total height of the lock plate 1 6 and raised portion 22 are defined by the "thick ness' of the lock which is taken up, with a sliding fit, in the receiving aperture 14.

At the front end of the lock plate 16, on the same side of the plate as the raised portion 22, there are end stops 25 for the clamping arms 13, the height of which corresponds to that of the raised portion 22, these end stops preferably being provided for the rough centring of the clamping arms 1 3 when the lock 1 2 is locked. As a continuation of the end stops 25 and projecting beyond the front edge 26 of the lock plate 16, this plate has centring cams 25' the fronts of which are intended to engage for centring in the groove 3 of the support column 1. The rear 25' of the outwardly projecting cam portion serves as an abutment surface to limit the depth of penetration of the lock 1 2 into the receiving aperture 14 at the end of the transverse.The lock 1 2 is secured in the end of the transverse by means of a countersunk screw 27 which passes through one profiled wall of the transverse 8 and engages in a threaded bore 28 in the lock housing 1 5.

The locking rotor 1 7 which controls the clamping arms 1 3 essentially consists, according to Fig. 4, of a cylindrical mounting disc 29, a coaxial coverplate 30 which is also cylindrical and the above mentioned locking bar 1 9 which is mounted between the mounting disc 29 and coverplate 30. Its width exceeds the thickness of the clamping arms 1 3 located between the above mentioned discs 29, 30 during operation by an amount such that the locking rotor is able to rotate freely in the bore 18 of the lock plate 1 6. The locking bar 1 9 is formed by flattening a cylinder on both sides and has cylindrically curved narrow sides 19' which cooperate, in the locking position, with concave mating surfaces 31 on the clamping arms 13.The purpose of this positive engagement between the locking bar 1 9 and clamping arms 1 3 is to obtain a jolt-proof joint between the support column 1 and the transverse element 8.

In the present example, the locking rotor 1 7 is driven by means of the support flap 9 for the shelving board shown in Fig. 1, this flap 9 being integrally formed on the mounting disc 29 by flattening. In this case, the main (longitudinal) axes of the locking bar 1 9 and support flap 9 are at right angles to each other during operation, as shown in Fig. 4, since in the locking position the bar 1 9 is vertical and the support flap 19, being a shelving support, is horizontal. At the same time, the locking rotor 1 7 may also, for example, be brought into the locking position by means of a hollow key opening passing at least partially therethrough or by means of a key face drive, etc.

The positive and frictional clamping between the transverse element 8 and the support column 1 is effected by the engagement of the outwardly directed inclined surfaces 32 at the head end 33 of each clamping arm 1 3 on the abutment edges of the opening 11 when the arms 1 3 are spread apart, in the direction of the arrows K in Fig. 3, in the connecting strip 4 by means of the locking bar 1 9 in the rotor 1 7. As shown in Fig. 2, in particular, the centring cams 25' on the lock plate 1 6 are pressed against the connecting strip 4.

When the clamping connection between the support column 1 and the transverse element 8 is released, after the locking bar 1 9 has turned away, the clamping arms 1 3 are forced out of the region of the mating surfaces 31 by the free arms of the round wire or flat spring 23 into the inward position shown in Fig. 3, so that now the outer parts of the head ends 33 of the arms 1 3 are at a distance from one another which is less than the length of the openings 11 in the support column 1.

The particular advantage of the construction rests in the fact that the transverse 8 is already fixedly connected to the support col umn 1 by the engagement and clamping of the head ends 33 of the clamping arms to the rear of the connecting strip 4 after a 90 rotation of the locking bar 1 9. Moreover, the construction of the cage 21 inside the raised portion 22 and the catch portion 20 to the rear of the clamping arms, together with the relatively large clearances, mean that the initial engagement between the cage and the catch portion can always occur at a point from which the maximum possible clamping effect can be achieved. Finally, the built-in configu ration of the lock 1 2 and its screw mounting in the transverse recess 1 4 permits rapid and uncomplicated assembly and easily monitored replacement of a damaged or worn out lock.

Claims

1. A transverse element for a support frame said transverse element being adapted to be releasably attached to and to connect two adjacent support columns to form a frame element of the support frame, the transverse element being provided, at each of its two longitudinal ends, with a clamping mechanism anchored inside the transverse element, in order to produce a frictional connection, at a given point of a column, between such column and the associated end of the transverse element, wherein the clamping mechanism is a lock provided with two clamping arms mounted symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the transverse element in an open, plate-shaped lock housing, a locking rotor being rotatably mounted in the lock housing and provided with a locking bar which urges the clamping arms out of an inwardly inclined release position outwards into a locking position, each clamping arm having, on its rear side, a hook-like catch portion which is fixed, with some degree of play, in a cage formed by raised portions on the lock housing, such cage having support and abutment surfaces, each clamping arm having, on its front end, a head end provided with an outwardly directed inclined surface this head end being adapted to engage in a support column at a given point in the column via an opening and, in the locking position, producing a clamping connection between the support column and the transverse element by means of the inclined surface.

2. A transverse element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking rotor has a locking bar formed between a mounting disc which centres said rotor in the lock housing and a cover plate coaxial therewith, said locking bar spreading the clamping arms outwards in the locking position, the mounting disc and coverplate being formed as longitudinal guides for the clamping arms.

3. A transverse element as claimed in claim 2 wherein a support flap is formed on the mounting disc of the locking rotor as a support member for a shelf to be fitted in a support frame.

4. A transverse element as claimed the claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the lock housing is provided, on its side facing the end of the transverse element, with abutment members which roughly centre the outward movement of the clamping arms.

5. A transverse element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the clamping arms are biased inwardly by means of a spring mounted in the lock housing.

6. A transverse element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lock housing is releasably fixed in the end of the transverse element by a screw connection.

7. A transverse element for a support frame, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A support frame including a transverse element as claimed in any preceding claim, releasably attached to and connecting two adjacent support columns.

9. A support frame, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.