GB2163342A

GB2163342A - Shelving support structures

Info

Publication number: GB2163342A
Application number: GB08421189A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allan Clive Grainger
Original assignee: Rack Engineering 91 Ltd
Current assignee: Rack Engineering 91 Ltd
Priority date: 1984-08-21
Filing date: 1984-08-21
Publication date: 1986-02-26
Also published as: GB2163342B; GB8421189D0

Abstract

An adjustable shelf structure for stationary shelving or a movable pallet (seen in plan view in Fig 1) has four vertical columns 15,16 each of channel section with one flange 31 notched and the other flange 32 plain. The notched flanges receive projecting bars from horizontal shelves and each notch has a stepped upper edge (27, Fig 9) to prevent unintentional displacement. All the channels face forwards in the same direction and after removing the shelves and a back panel the columns and side panels can be dismantled. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shelving support structures This invention relates to supporting structures for removableshelving and is particularly,though not exclusively, applicable to portable structures such as roll palletsthough it may also be applied to stationary shelving.

When applied to a portable "roll pallet" as used for transport of articles by motor vehicles, it is an object of the invention to reduce some ofthe existing problems and wastage which arise from pallets having fixed vertical shelving heights and nofacilityto collapse or reducethedeadvolumewhen being returned empty.

Other objects and advantages of the invention wilt become apparent.

Broadly stated, the invention consists in a support structure for removable shelves or trays comprising a plurality of spaced upright columns each provided with vertically spaced notches or projections to engage and locate parts ofthe trays when introduced into position.

According to a preferred feature of the invention each column is of channel shape and all the channels face in the same direction, and preferably each channel has one notched flange and one plain flange.

The plain flange preferably projects forwards in front of the noticed flange.

According to another preferred feature the interval between two columns at the rear ofthe structure is narrowerthan the interval between the two columns at the front of the structu re and in a preferred construction each ofthe columns is formed with a downwardly inclined notch having a sloping or stepped upper edge.

To match the structure each of the trays is preferably provided with lateral projections, front and rear, to engage with corresponding front and rear columns, and some of the projections may be hooked to engage behind one oftheflanges of the columns.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic plan view of a portable roller-mounted trolley according to the invention for supporting multiple shelves, Figure 2 is a front elevation and Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the support columns forthetrolley, Figure 4 is a plan view of the trolley base, Figure 5 is a front elevation of the supporting structure mounted on the trolley base and Figure 6 is a side elevation thereof, Figure 7 is a partial plan view of the supporting structure, Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating how shelves can be positioned on inclines, Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary side and front elevations on an enlarged scale illustrating one the notched channel columns, Figures 11 (at to 11(d) illustrate various possible designs of channel, Figure 12 is a plan view of one ofthe shelves, and Figures 13 and 14 are front elevations showing two different designs of the support rods on a shelf.

In this embodimentthe trolley comprises a base having four rectangular corner sockets, the front two 10 being square and the rear pair 11 rectangular, the sockets being rigidly interconnected by angle bars 12 and supported on fourwheels orcastors 13. On each side of the trolley is a removable structure comprising front and rear columns 1 5,1 6 designed to fit snugly into the sockets 10,11 and interconnected by a rigid wire grid system 17. The two side frames are rigidly cross-connected at the rear of the trolley by a removable grid frame 18 and are interconnected at the front of the trolley by the removable shelves as will be described.Each of the channel-shaped columns 15 hasa narrowerinnerflange 20 and a slightlywider outerflange2l,theinnerflangebeing provided with spaced notches 25 as shown in Figure 9. Each of these notches has a straight inclined lower edge 26 and a stepped upper edge27 with a shallower portion adjacent the bottom of each notch. The rear columns 16 are rectangular in profile and each has a somewhat wider outerflange 32 and a narrower innerflange 31, the innerflanges being notched also as shown in Figure 9.

The construction includes a number of removable trays 40 as shown in Figure 12, each with two short projecting rods 41 at the rear end and two longer rods 42 atthefront end. The front rods 42 are hooked at their ends 43 as shown in Figure 13 orthere may be double hooks as shown in Figure 14. To install a shelf it is introduced horizontally between thetwofront columns 15which are spaced apartto allow the rear rods 41 to pass between and on full insertion the rods 41 and 42 are caused to engage simultaneously in the notches on the front and rear columns. If required, the shelves can be inserted on an incline, as shown in Figure 8 and the number of shelves and their vertical spacing can be adjusted readilyto suit needs.

After use the whole trolley can be dismantled for return to the starting pointwith minimum dead volume. Forthisthe shelves are first removed and then the rear grid 18. The two side frames can then be lifted out ofthe sockets, after which the trolley bottoms can be stacked neatly one on the other.

1. A support structure for removable shelves or trays comprising a plurality of spaced upright columns each provided with vertically spaced notches or projections to engage and locate parts of the shelves when introduced into position.

2. A structure according to claim 1, in which each column is of channel shape and all the channels face in the same direction.

3. A structure according to claim 2, in which each

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Shelving support structures This invention relates to supporting structures for removableshelving and is particularly,though not exclusively, applicable to portable structures such as roll palletsthough it may also be applied to stationary shelving. When applied to a portable "roll pallet" as used for transport of articles by motor vehicles, it is an object of the invention to reduce some ofthe existing problems and wastage which arise from pallets having fixed vertical shelving heights and nofacilityto collapse or reducethedeadvolumewhen being returned empty. Other objects and advantages of the invention wilt become apparent. Broadly stated, the invention consists in a support structure for removable shelves or trays comprising a plurality of spaced upright columns each provided with vertically spaced notches or projections to engage and locate parts ofthe trays when introduced into position. According to a preferred feature of the invention each column is of channel shape and all the channels face in the same direction, and preferably each channel has one notched flange and one plain flange. The plain flange preferably projects forwards in front of the noticed flange. According to another preferred feature the interval between two columns at the rear ofthe structure is narrowerthan the interval between the two columns at the front of the structu re and in a preferred construction each ofthe columns is formed with a downwardly inclined notch having a sloping or stepped upper edge. To match the structure each of the trays is preferably provided with lateral projections, front and rear, to engage with corresponding front and rear columns, and some of the projections may be hooked to engage behind one oftheflanges of the columns. The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic plan view of a portable roller-mounted trolley according to the invention for supporting multiple shelves, Figure 2 is a front elevation and Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the support columns forthetrolley, Figure 4 is a plan view of the trolley base, Figure 5 is a front elevation of the supporting structure mounted on the trolley base and Figure 6 is a side elevation thereof, Figure 7 is a partial plan view of the supporting structure, Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating how shelves can be positioned on inclines, Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary side and front elevations on an enlarged scale illustrating one the notched channel columns, Figures 11 (at to 11(d) illustrate various possible designs of channel, Figure 12 is a plan view of one ofthe shelves, and Figures 13 and 14 are front elevations showing two different designs of the support rods on a shelf. In this embodimentthe trolley comprises a base having four rectangular corner sockets, the front two 10 being square and the rear pair 11 rectangular, the sockets being rigidly interconnected by angle bars 12 and supported on fourwheels orcastors 13. On each side of the trolley is a removable structure comprising front and rear columns 1 5,1 6 designed to fit snugly into the sockets 10,11 and interconnected by a rigid wire grid system 17. The two side frames are rigidly cross-connected at the rear of the trolley by a removable grid frame 18 and are interconnected at the front of the trolley by the removable shelves as will be described.Each of the channel-shaped columns 15 hasa narrowerinnerflange 20 and a slightlywider outerflange2l,theinnerflangebeing provided with spaced notches 25 as shown in Figure 9. Each of these notches has a straight inclined lower edge 26 and a stepped upper edge27 with a shallower portion adjacent the bottom of each notch. The rear columns 16 are rectangular in profile and each has a somewhat wider outerflange 32 and a narrower innerflange 31, the innerflanges being notched also as shown in Figure 9. The construction includes a number of removable trays 40 as shown in Figure 12, each with two short projecting rods 41 at the rear end and two longer rods 42 atthefront end. The front rods 42 are hooked at their ends 43 as shown in Figure 13 orthere may be double hooks as shown in Figure 14. To install a shelf it is introduced horizontally between thetwofront columns 15which are spaced apartto allow the rear rods 41 to pass between and on full insertion the rods 41 and 42 are caused to engage simultaneously in the notches on the front and rear columns. If required, the shelves can be inserted on an incline, as shown in Figure 8 and the number of shelves and their vertical spacing can be adjusted readilyto suit needs. After use the whole trolley can be dismantled for return to the starting pointwith minimum dead volume. Forthisthe shelves are first removed and then the rear grid 18. The two side frames can then be lifted out ofthe sockets, after which the trolley bottoms can be stacked neatly one on the other. CLAIMS

3. A structure according to claim 2, in which each channel has one notched flange and one plain flange.

4. A structure accordingto claim 2, in which the plain flange projects forwards in front of the notched flange.

5. A structure according to any of the previous claims, in which the interval between two columns at the rear of the structure is narrowerthan the interval between the two columns atthefront of the structure.

6. A structure according to anyofthepreceding claims, in which each of the columns is formed with a downwardly inclined notch having a sloping or stepped upper edge.

7. A structure according to any ofthe preceding claims, in which each of the trays is provided with lateral projections, front and rear,to engage with corresponding front and rearcolumns.

8. A structure according to claim 7, in which some of the projections are hooked to engage behind one of theflanges ofthe columns.

9. A structure according to claim 8, in which some of the projections haveformationsto engage both sides ofthe adjacent flange of a column.

10. Asupportstructure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which one flange projects forwards further than the other flange.

11. A support structure for removable shelving substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.