GB2153205A

GB2153205A - Adjustable shelves

Info

Publication number: GB2153205A
Application number: GB08501609A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jari Suominen
Original assignee: Elopak Oy
Current assignee: Elopak Oy
Priority date: 1984-01-25
Filing date: 1985-01-23
Publication date: 1985-08-21
Also published as: FI840297A0; FI74243B; FI840297A; NL192513C; NL192513B; FI74243C; NL8500192A; GB8501609D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a shelf for a wheeled rack. The shelf comprises e.g. three wire gratings (1, 2, 3), the front portion (1) of which is slidably attached to the middle portion (2) which is in turn pivotally attached to the rear portion (3) about an axis (10). The longitudinal wires (4) of the front portion pass over a forward transverse support (9) of the middle portion and a backward transverse support (8) of the front portion passes under the longitudinal wires (5) of the middle portion. The longitudinal wires (4, 5) provide a sideward guiding, maintaining of the front portion level with the middle portion being preferably achieved by means of guide wires (15, 16) fastened under the transversal supports (7, 8; 9, 10). The object is to provide a shelf for a wheeled rack, wherein the front portion after having been left empty can be pushed inside the middle portion under the products thereon so that the remaining products on the shelf as well as the products on a lower shelf can be reached without hindrance. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A shelf for a wheeled rack This invention relates to a shelf for a wheeled rack, which shelf comprises at least two portions.

Known shelves comprise three portions which can be turned with respect to each other in the vertical plane so that the shelves can be folded close to the back of the wheeled rack. A disadvantage of this structure is that when the front portion of the shelf is empty, the products on a lower shelf can be picked up from above only by turning up the front portion, whereby the products further back can be picked up only after the front portion of the shelf has been turned back down.

The object of the invention is to provide a new shelf, which eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantage.

In order to achieve said object, a shelf is suggested which is mainly characterised in that a front portion of the shelf is slidably attached to a portion further back.

When the shelf in a manner known per se is made of longitudinal wires and transversal supports to a grate comprising at least two portions, the front portion is made slidable with respect to the portion further back preferably in such a manner that said transversal supports are fitted in the forward and backward edges of the front portion and the portion further back, that the longitudinal wires of the front portion are conducted over a forward edge support of the portion further back and that a backward edge support of the front portion is fitted under the longitudinal wires of the portion further back. With regard to a shelf having three portions, said portion further back means the middle portion of the shelf.

When there are no products left on the front position of the shelf according to the invention, the front portion can be pushed inside the portion further back under the products thereon so that both the remaining products on the shelf and the products on a lower shelf can be reached without any hindrance.

In the following the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawing.

Figure 1 is a top view of a shelf when the front portion is drawn out.

Figure 2 is a side view of the shelf when the front portion is drawn out.

Figure 3 is a top view of the shelf when the front portion is retracted.

Figure 4 illustrates the shelf when folded.

The front portion of the shelf is indicated by the reference numeral 1, the middle portion by the numeral 2 and the back portion by the numeral 3. The supporting planes of the different portions of the shelf for product packages are in a manner mainly known per se formed as grates, wherein longitudinal metal wires 4, 5 and 6 are joined together by means of lower transversal bars 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 1 2. The wires 6 of the back portion 3 of the shelf are at the front bent into hooks 1 3 around the backward transversal support 10 of the middle portion 2 and at the back bent into loops 14, through which a transversal axis is intended to be fitted.

In the known shelves, the front portion and the middle portion are turnably joined together in a manner corresponding to the arrangement 10, 1 3 mentioned above. As distinct therefrom, the front portion 1 of the shelf according to the invention is slidable with respect to the middle portion 2. In order to achieve this, the backward edge of the front portion 1 is provided with a transversal support 8 and the forward edge of the middle portion 2 with a transversal support 9, whereby the longitudinal wires 4 of the front portion are conducted over the transversal support 9 of the middle portion and the transversal support 8 of the front portion is fitted under the longitudinal wires 5 of the middle portion.The wires 4 and 5 are in the same plane, so the product packages on the middle portion of the shelf do not hinder the sliding movement of the front portion 1.

The sliding movement of the front portion 1 of the shelf is restricted in a position according to Figs. 1 and 2 by stoppers 8a which hit the transversal support 9 and in a position according to Fig. 3 by stoppers 7a which hit the transversal support 9. Besides, the stoppers 7a are preferably fitted to slide supported by angle irons fastened on the side walls of the wheeled rack.

In the embodiment example shown in the drawing, the sideward stability between the front portion 1 and the middle portion 2 is secured by fitting the wires 4 on each side of the middle wire 4a of the front portion so as to in each case extend outside the adjacent wire 5 of the middle portion 2, the same result would naturally be achieved also by means of a reversed arrangement.

The mutual stability of the portions 1 and 2 in the vertical direction is secured by means of lower longitudinal wires 1 5 (the portion 1) and 1 6 (the portion 2). The wires 1 5 prevent raising of the forward end of the portion 1 and the wires 1 6 prevent lowering of the rear end of the portion with respect to the plane of the middle portion 2, especially when the front portion 1 is retracted according to Fig.

3.

In the example of the drawing, there are two of the wires 1 5 and 1 6 on each side of the shelf, though one would suffice, too.

In view of the sliding of the front portion 1 of the shelf, the actual operation situation does not necessarily require the above-men tioned stabilizing or guiding solutions, because the angle irons of the side walls of the wheeled rack, not shown in the drawing, can in principle provide the required guiding. Instead, said solutions are of great advantage when the shelf is folded close to the back of the wheeled rack from the position shown in Fig. 3, whereby the front portion of the shelf follows with the middle portion while its transversal support 10 turns in the bearing 1 3. The loops 14 of the back portion 3 of the shelf for their part enable a so called slidable bearing, by virtue of which the back portion 3 is reliably maintained in the lifted position.By narrowing the distance between the wires 4 and 1 5 and/or the wires 5 and 1 6 in the forward end of the front portion 1. the reference numeral 1 7, and correspondingly in the backward end of the middle portion 2, the reference numeral 1 8, so that the transversal supports 9 and 8 are exposed to a slight pressure in the position shown in Fig. 3, the front portion can be maintained in place when the shelf is folded and the side walls of the wheeled rack are turned outwards. It can be further secured that the front portion remains in place by means of a separate stop attached to the wheeled rack.

When the shelf, as in the drawing, comprises three parts, the back part 3 can be made proportionally shorter than shown, whereat the shelf rises less in the position of Fig. 4 and the vertical distance between two shelves can be shorter, correspondingly.

The wheeled rack for which the shelf according to the invention is intended can in other parts be more or less conventional, on account of which it has not been regarded as necessary to show it in the drawing.

Claims

1. A shelf for a wheeled rack, which shelf comprises at least two portions, characterized in that a front portion (1) of the shelf is slidably attached to a portion (2) further back.

2. A shelf according to claim 1, whereby at least said two portions (1, 2) are made of longitudinal wires (4, 5) and lower transversal supports connecting said wires, characterized in that said transversal supports (7, 8; 9, 10) are fitted in the forward and backward edes of the front portion (1) and the portion (2) further back, that the longitudinal wires (4) of the front portion (1) are conducted over a forward edge support (9) of the portion (2) further back and that a backward edge support (8) of the front portion (1) is fitted so as to extend under the longitudinal wires (5) of the portion further back.

3. A shelf according to claim 1, characterized in that said front portion (1) is slidable with respect to the portion (2) further back, with mutual sideward guiding of the longitudinal wires (4, 5).

4. A shelf according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that in order to maintain the front portion (1) at least essentially in level with the portion (2) further back, each portion (1, 2) is provided with longitudinal guides (15, 1 6) fastened under said transversal supports (7, 8; 9, 10).

5. A shelf according to claim 4, whereby the shelf comprises three portions, said portion (2) further back forming the middle portion (2) of the shelf and being turnably mounted from the backward edge (10) thereof to the third portion (3), characterized in that the distance between the longitudinal wires (4, 5) of the front portion (1) and of the middle portion (2) and the lower longitudinal guides (1 5. 16) is narrowed at points (17, 18) adjacent the forward edge of the front portion (1) and the backward edge of the middle portion so that the transversal supports (9. 8) of the portions (1, 2) are exposed to a light pressure.

6. A shelf for a wheeled rack substantially as hereinbefore decribed. with reference to the accompanying drawings.