GB2183456A

GB2183456A - A shelf end-stop

Info

Publication number: GB2183456A
Application number: GB08627951A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Millett
Original assignee: TOP SECRET DESIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: TOP SECRET DESIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 1985-11-27
Filing date: 1986-11-21
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: GB8529172D0; GB8627951D0

Abstract

An end-stop or partitioning device detachably securable to a shelf constitutes a book end and comprises a plate adapted and intended for disposition upstanding from a shelf; and attached to said plate, a generally C-shaped sidewall means defining an underhang and a recess for receiving a shelf end; said underhang having at or near its outer extremity, and movable along an axis parallel to but spaced from that of the plate in the direction outwardly of the recess, screwthreaded means movable into or out of the recess to adjust the clearance available for the shelf. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A shelf end-stop This invention is principally concerned with a book-end for detachable securement to the end of an open ended shelf. Thus the invention relates to a shelf-mounted end-stop device, which may be an end-stop ora partition, and which end-stop device is detachablysecurabletoshelvesofa rangeofthicknesses. In particularthe invention is concerned with an end-stop device suited for fitment to shelves which may be of any thickness of more than say 14mm and of less than say 28mum and which within this range, affords secure semi-rigid attachment.

The invention provides an end-stop device for detachable securementto a shelf end, which comprises a plate constituting an end-stop and which is adapted and intended for disposition upstanding from a shelf; and attached to said plate, a generally C-shaped side wall means defining an underhang and a recess for receiving a shelf end; said underhang having at or near its outer extremity, and moving along an axis parallel to but spaced from that ofthe plate in the direction outwardly of the recess, screwthreaded means movable into or out of the recess to adjust the clearance avaiiableforthe shelf.

Preferably, the region ofthe plate adapted to make contact with the shelf is constituted as a narrow straight edge, and wherein when a force is exerted against the plate causing the device to tend to rotate aboutthe region ofthe plate adapted to make contact with the uppersurface ofthe shelf, this causes said screwthreaded means on the underhang of of the device to be urged tighter againstthe underside ofthe shelf and also causes said contacting region to be urged tighter against said upper surface, all whereby a clamping action ofthe device is achieved.

The underhang may define a recess about 25mm to 35mm wide, and preferably say 28mm wide, for receiving the shelf end.The screwthreaded means suitably engages the shelf, when the latter isfully received in the recess, at a location about 35mm to 45mm, and preferably say 40mm from the shelf end.

Thescrewthreaded means may be movable to close the mouth ofthe recess by upto 1 2mm to 15mum.

Preferably the C-shaped side walls defining the recess make two point contact at the inner end ofthe recess with a shelfwhenfully inserted into the recess, this contact being with locations on the shelf end which are suitable at least45mm to 55mm apart, the screwthreaded means at its point of engagement with the underside of the shelf, having a flat head for engagement with the underside ofthe shelf.

One embodiment of the invention as applied to a shelf mounted book-end is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

The book-end illustrated comprises a plate 1 in which this example is rectangular. Extending rearwardly and downwardly from the opposite sides ofthe plate 1 aretwo C-shaped side panels 2 which define an underhang and a recess 11 for receiving the end portion 12 ofa shelf 13.

The C-shaped panels are spaced apartfirstly by the plate 1, secondly by an intermediate cross-bar 3 at the inner end ofthe recess 11, and thirdly bya lower cross-bar4 atthe extremity of the underhang formed by the lower parts ofthe side panels 2.

The lower edge of the plate 1 is afforded a straight edge 5, which may be a knife edge, to obtain engagement with the upper surface ofthe shelf 13 over a narrow elongate area thereof.

For engaging the lower surfaces of the shelf 13 the lower cross-bar at the outer extremity of the underhang 4 is provided with a manually operable screw threaded stem 15 rotatable in a threaded hole. This hole 16may be formed by a stepped threaded part sleeve which is push fitted in a re-entrant cut-back portion 14 of the cross-bar 4. Or, the thread may be formed, in the moulding process, on the rear ofthe cross-bar 4 and on the front, the cut-back portion 14 of the cross-bar.

The depth ofthe recess defined by the C-shaped side panels 2 may be say 28mm and the stem is manually operable to reduce the clearance available to the shelf by upto say 14mm. Itwill be noted thatthe stem 15 is movable over an axis parallel and significantly spaced from the plane occupied by the plate 1.

For example the stem 15 may be located some 50mm from the inner end of the recess. The stem 15 is formed with a flat head 17 adapted to engage the underside of the shelf 13.

Itwill be recalledthatthe loweredge ofthe plate is a straight edge therefore makes straight end contact with the upper surface of the shelf 14. Accordingly and as will be appreciated from an examination ofthe drawings, when the plate 1 is loaded, for example, when it supports a book leaning against it, ittends to rotate about its lower straight edge 5.This tendency to turn when loaded produces an effect whereby the straight edge is pressed harder against the upper surface of the shelf 13 and wherebythe outer extremity ofthe underhang and in particular, the stem 15 is pressed into tighter engagement with the undersideoftheshelf 13.Thusaclamping action can be achieved when the device is loaded and supporting items leaning against it; while in the absence of such loading he device may be slidden out of engagement with the shelf. The stem 15 is adjustable so that this clamping action can be achieved with shelves of a wide range of thicknesses.

It will be noted that when the clamping action is in operation the straight edge 5 will make especially appropriate contact, over a thin elongate area, with the shelf so as to provide good resistance against unwanted movement. In addition to preventing generally linear movementalong theshelf,the clamping action afforded by the straightedge 5 as described above is effective as a counter to any forces which tend to cause the end-stop device to swivel on the shelf end, about a vertical axis. This anti-swivel effect is augmented if the shelf 13 is entered fully home in the recess defined by the C-shaped side panels with their underhang, so that the shelf end makes contact with the inner wend ofthe recess. Such two point contact is particularly effective if it is accomplished over a wide spacing of say 50mm or more.

Preferably, the device (as shown in the drawings, butapartfromthestem 15 and anyseparate push fitted or inserted threaded sleeve provided forthe stem), is a unitary moulding of synthetic plastics material. The stem 15 with its flat head may be a separate moulding ofthe same material. Instead of providing a separate threaded insert for receiving the stem 15, the thread may be formed, in the moulding process, on the rear ofthe cross-bar4 and on the front the cut-back portion 14 of the cross-bar.

It will be readily understood thatthe plate 1 may be of any desired shape; and that the device may be suited to a variety of purposes. For example the side panels may include cut-outs defining hooks from which articles may be suspended.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An end-stop device for detachable securement to a shelf end, which comprises a plate constituting an end-stop and which is adapted and intended for disposition upstanding from a shelf; and attached to said plate, a generally C-shaped side wall means defining an underhang and recess for receiving a shelf end; Said underhang having at or near its outer extremity, and movable along an axis parallel to butspaced from that ofthe plate in the direction outwardly of the recess,screwthreaded means movable into oroutof the recess to adjust the clearance availableforthe shelf.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the region of the plate adapted to make contact with the shelf is constituted as a narrow straight edge, and wherein when a force is exerted againstthe plate causing the device to tend to rotate aboutthe region of the plate adapted to make contact with the upper surface ofthe shelf, this causes said screwthreaded means on the underhang of ofthe device to be urged tighteragainstthe underside ofthe shelf and also causes said contacting region to be urged tighter against said upper surface, all whereby a clamping action ofthe device is achieved.

3. An end-stop according to either preceding claim, wherein the underhang defines a recess about say 25mm to 30mm wide for receiving the shelf end, the screwthreaded means suitably engages the shelf, when the latter is fully received in the recess, at a location about say 35mm to 45mm from the shelf end, thescrewthreaded means being movable to close the mouth ofthe recess by upto say 12mmto 15mm

4. An end-stop device according to any preceding claim, and wherein the C-shaped side walls means comprise two C-shaped planar elements which are spaced apart and extend laterallyfrom the plate constituting the end-stop.

5. An end-stop device according to claim 4, and wherein the said plate constituting the end-stop is rectangular.

6. An end-stop device according to claim 4, and wherein the said plate constituting the end-stop and the said C-shaped side walls are of metal.

7. An end-stop device according to claim 6, and wherein the side walls are welded to the plate.

8. An end-stop accordingto any of the preceding claims 4to7,wherein the C-shaped side walls defining the recess make two point contact at the inner end of the recess with a shelfwhich isfully inserted into the recess, this contact being with locations on the shelf end which are suitable at least 45m m to 55mm apart, the screwthreaded means at its point of engagement with the underside of the shelf, having a flat head for engagement with the underside of the shelf.

9. An end-stop device according to claim 5, and wherein the said plate constituting the end-stop and the said C-shaped side walls are a unitary moulding of synthetic plastics material.

10. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.