GB2209272A

GB2209272A - Rack of shelves

Info

Publication number: GB2209272A
Application number: GB8720709A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Roberjot; Christopher John Truman; Raymond John Fiddler
Original assignee: Syspal Ltd
Current assignee: Syspal Ltd
Priority date: 1987-09-03
Filing date: 1987-09-03
Publication date: 1989-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-03
Also published as: GB8720709D0; GB2209272B

Abstract

A rack of shelves, or a kit for assembly into a rack of shelves, comprises end frames, and shelves which are formed from sheet metal by cutting/stamping and bending have longitudinal strengthening ribs 1, 2 and at their ends downwardly directed hooks 5-10 adapted to hook onto horizontal formations of the end frames. The hooks are staggered so that the hooks at adjacent ends of two shelves arranged in line can interfit and hook on to the same horizontal formation of an end frame. At least some of the shelves may have slots in at least one longitudinal edge in which the hooks at one end of another shelf can be engaged to connect the shelves together in an L-shape. Whether hooked together in line or in the L-shape the connected shelves provide a substantially continuous supporting surface. <IMAGE>

Description

RACKS OF SHELVES This invention relates to racks of shelves particularly, but not exclusively, to shelving racks for use in food industries. The shelves of such racks are generally made of aluminium or stainless steel to comply with health regulations, and the use of these materials presents difficulties in manufacture. Often the shelves are constructed by welding together lengths of tubular bars, but the welding of such materials is costly.

An aim of the invention is to reduce the cost of manufacturing metal shelving suitable for hygienic uses.

The shelving will often be supplied as a kit of parts to be erected by the user rather than by somebody familiar with the shelving, so that it is desirable that the shelving can be readily erected without the need for studying lengthy instructions.

According to one aspect of the invention a rack of shelves, or a kit of parts for assembly into a rack of shelves, comprises at least two end frames, and at least one shelf which has been formed from sheet metal by cutting/stamping and bending, the shelf having integral downwardly directed hooks at its opposite ends adapted to hook on to respective elongate horizontal formations of the end frames, and the shelf being formed with at least one substantially longitudinally extending strengthening rib to assist in use in supporting loads resting on the shelf to reduce the downward deflection of the shelf.

Preferably there are two such ribs which extend along the longitudinal edges of the shelf.

In order to provide an unobstructed upper surface to the shelf, where this is required, the ribs are preferably formed by bending downwards the margins of the metal shelf blank along the longitudinal side edges of the blank.

Each margin is preferably folded about two parallel fold lines such that the corresponding edge of the shelf is of inturned channel-section.

The horizontal formations are preferably provided by rungs of the end frames.

The end hooks at one end of a first such shelf are preferably staggered transversely with respect to the end hooks at the opposite end of a second shelf and dimensioned such that, in order to construct a double length shelf by supporting the said ends of the two shelves on the same end frame formation, the end hooks of the adjacent shelf ends can interfit with one another.

In order to avoid any requirement to hand shelves, to permit the use of identical shelves, it is preferably arranged that, with reference to the longitudinal centre line of each shelf, the pattern of hooks at one end on one side of the centre line is complementary to the pattern of spaces adjacent to the hooks on the other side of the centre line at said one end, and these patterns are reversed at the opposite end of the shelf.

There are several advantages to this arrangement of hooks which are capable of interfitting when two shelves are arranged end to end. Firstly, the hooks can readily be formed by stamping and bending operations without the need for any welding. Secondly, the interfitting produces a substantially continuous upper surface to two mating shelves which extends across the supporting rung, thereby increasing the usable shelf area. Thirdly, the cutting/stamping operation to define the outline of the hooks in a shelf blank automatically defines the hook outlines at one end of the adjacent shelf blank produced from the strip. The nature of the cutting device/stamping tool will determine the working clearance between hooks when shelves are positioned. Fourthly, the interfitting gives a neat appearance.

The hooks are preferably of right angle shape in transverse cross-section, the horizontal limb of the hook being a continuation of the shelf surface, and the downward limbs of the hooks at one end of the shelf being formed simultaneously by bending all of the hook blanks about a line extending transversely of the shelf.

The shelves are preferably provided adjacent to each end with abutment means which, in conjunction with the down turned portion of the hooks determine the lengthwise position of the shelf relative to the end frame formation with which it is adapted to co-operate, such that when the shelf hooks are hooked on the formation slots are defined, when viewed in plan, between the rung and the panel of the shelf, of a width to receive the hook downturns on a further shelf to be hooked on that rung. Thus, it is possible simply to drop the hooks of a second shelf over the rung without any disturbance being caused to the first shelf, or without the need for any excessive force.

Preferably at least some shelves, and most preferably all shelves, are provided in at least one longitudinal edge of the shelf with slots which are dimensioned to receive the hooks on an adjacent shelf end which is thereby adapted to be connectable to said shelf edge by engagement between the end hooks at said adjacent shelf end in the slots of said shelf, such that those two shelves extend at substantially 90" to each other.

The slots are preferably formed in the sheet material prior to forming of the longitudinal strengthening ribs, and preferably substantially at the same time as the end hook shapes are produced in the shelf blank.

When the longitudinal rib comprises a downturned edge of the shelf blank, the slots are preferably produced substantially along the fold which is the connection between the rib and the shelf panel.

The dimensions of the slots are preferably such that the upper surfaces of two shelves which are interconnected by means of the slots to form an L-shape of shelving, are substantially co-planar, and such that there is a little play between the shelves in the horizontal direction. Minimising the play in the engagement between the slots and the tongues produces a relatively rigid L-shape of shelving, which can permit the omission of bracing in the shelving wing produced by that shelf which hooks into the slots.

With conventional shelving systems it is not generally possible to construct an L-shaped unit, except by standing two straight shelving units in L-configuration, which involves the use of two end frames for each unit and auxiliary connecting members between the shelving units. With the invented shelving an L-shaped unit is defined using only three end frames. Furthermore the absence of an end frame where the two shelves connect to make the L means that there is no vertical member in the angle where the shelves meet to obstruct the loading and unloading of the shelves in the angle.

Preferably slots are provided on opposite sides adjacent to one end of a shelf to enable a shelf wing to be connected to either side of the shelf.

The provision of such slots in some of the shelves provides flexibility to add wings as desired.

It will be appreciated that the provision of such slots enables more complicated layouts of shelving to be produced, such as an assembly of angular U-shape in plan.

Since the shelves can be produced entirely by a cutting/stamping and a bending operation the shelves can be produced in stainless steel as easily as in aluminium, the difference in overall cost then being solely due to the raw material costs.

The end frames are conveniently of ladder configuration, each comprising a pair of upright members connected by tubular rungs. The end frames need not be of the same material as the shelves.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be briefly described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a shelf; Figure 2 is a side view of the shelf of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the shelf blank prior to bending of the end hooks and sides; and Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 4-4 of Figure.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 the shelf is formed from a length of aluminium or stainless steel sheet, the side edges 1, 2 having been bent downwards and inturned to have a channel-section. The opposite ends 3, 4 are formed with, three in this case, hooks 5 to 10. The pattern of the recesses 5' to 10' defined adjacent to the tongues is such that two identical sheets can be placed end to end, whichever way round the ends are chosen, and with the tongues of one shelf fitting within the recesses at the adjacent end of the other shelf.

Figure 3 shows the shelf blank prior to bending of the sides and tongue blanks about the bend lines indicated.

Slots 14 and 14' are provided adjacent to the inboard foldlines along the edges of the blank for the purposes previously described, to permit the end of an identical shelf to be connected to the side of the illustrated shelf so as to form an L-shape.

It will be seen from Figure 3 that the edges 15, 16 are spaced longitudinally of the shelf blank from the edges 17 by the thickness of the shelf material so as to constitute abutment means for abutting with a rung of an end frame. This ensures that the edges 17 are spaced from the rung, as viewed in plan, to define a slot for receiving the downturned part of the corresponding hook on the adjacent shelf when two shelves are positioned end to end.

Figure 4 shows a section through one of the slots 14 showing how the slot has been positioned in relation to the fold so as to define in the bent sheet a slot portion 18 accessible from above to receive the downturned part of the co-operating hook, and to define an upwardly facing surface 19 to support the hook so that the co-operating shelves have flush upper surfaces, and to define a vertical abutment surface 20 to control horizontal movement of the wing shelf.

Claims

1. A rack of shelves, or a kit of parts for assembly into a rack of shelves, comprising at least two end frames, and at least one shelf which has been formed from sheet metal by cutting/stamping and bending, the shelf having integral downwardly directed hooks at its opposite ends adapted to hook on to respective elongate horizontal formations of the end frames, and the shelf being formed with at least one substantially longitudinally extending strengthening rib to assist in use in supporting loads resting on the shelf to reduce the downward deflection of the shelf.

2. The rack or rack kit of Claim 1 in which the end hooks at one end of a first such shelf are staggered transversely with respect to the end hooks at the opposite end of a second shelf and dimensioned such that, in order to construct a double length shelf by supporting the said ends of the two shelves on the same end frame formation, the end hooks of the adjacent shelf ends can interfit with one another.

3. The rack or rack kit of Claim 2 in which in order to avoid any requirement to hand shelves, to permit the use of identical shelves, it is arranged that, with reference to the longitudinal centre line of each shelf, the pattern of hooks at one end on one side of the centre line is complementary to the pattern of spaces adjacent to the hooks on the other side of the centre line at said one end, and these patterns are reversed at the opposite end of the shelf.

4. The rack or rack kit according to any of the preceding claims in which the hooks are of right angle shape in transverse cross-section, the horizontal limb of the hook being a continuation of the shelf surface, and the downward limbs of the hooks at one end of the shelf having been formed simultaneously by bending all of the hook blanks about a line extending transversely of the shelf.

5. The rack or rack kit according to any of the preceding claims in which at least some shelvesare provided in at least one longitudinal edge of the shelf with slots which are dimensioned to receive the hooks on an adjacent shelf end which is thereby adapted to be connectable to said shelf edge by engagement between the end hooks at said adjacent shelf end in the slots of said shelf, such that those two shelves extend at substantially 900 to each other.

6. The rack or rack kit according to Claim 5 in which the dimensions of the slots are such that the upper surfaces of two shelves which are interconnected by means of the slots to form an L-shape of shelving, are substantially co-planar, and such that there is a little play between the shelves in the horizontal direction.

7. The rack or rack kit according to any of the preceding claims in which the shelves are provided adjacent to each end with abutment means which, in conjunction with the down turned portion of the hooks determine the lengthwise position of the shelf relative to the end frame formation with which it is adapted to co-operate, such that when the shelf hooks are hooked on the formation slots are defined, when viewed in plan, between the rung and the panel of the shelf, of a width to receive the hook downturns on a further shelf to be hooked on that rung.

8. The rack or rack kit according to any of the preceding claims in there are two such ribs which extend along the longitudinal edges of the shelf.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A rack of shelves, or a kit of parts for assembly into a rack of shelves, comprising end frames, and at least two shelves which have been formed from sheet metal by cutting/stamping and bending, each shelf having integral downwardly directed hooks at its opposite ends adapted to hook on to respective elongate horizontal formations of the end frames and being formed with at least one substantially longitudinally extending strengthening rib to assist in use in supporting loads resting on the shelf to reduce the downward deflection of the shelf, and the shelves being adapted such that one shelf can be located by the hooks at its one end relative to the other shelf for the two shelves to provide a substantially continuous supporting surface.

2. The rack or rack kit of Claim 1 in which the end hooks at one end of a first such shelf are preferably staggered transversely with respect to the end hooks at the opposite end of a second such shelf and dimensioned such that, in order to construct a double length shelf by supporting the said ends of the two shelves on the same end frame formation, the end hooks of the adjacent shelf ends can interfit with one another and the two shelves thereby provide a substantially continuous longitudinal supporting surface containing the interfitted ends.

4. The rack or rack kit according to any of the preceding claims in which the hooks are of right angle shape in transverse cross-section, the horizontal limb of each hook being a continuation of the respective shelf surface, and the downward limbs of the hooks at one end of each shelf having been formed simultaneously by bending all of the hook blanks about a line extending transversely of the shelf.

5. The rack or rack kit according to any of the preceding claims in which at least some of the shelves are provided in at least one longitudinal edge of the shelf with slots which are dimensioned to receive the hooks on an adjacent shelf end which is thereby adapted to be connectable to said shelf edge by engagement between the end hooks at said adjacent shelf end in the slots of said shelf, such that those two shelves extend at substantially 900 to each other and provide a substantially continuous supporting surface of L-shape.

6. The rack or rack kit according to any of the preceding claims in which the shelves are provided adjacent to each end with abutment means which, in conjunction with the downturned portion of the hooks determine the lengthwise position of the shelf relative to the end frame formation with which it is adapted to co-operate, such that when the shelf hooks are hooked on the formation slots are defined, when viewed in plan, between the rung and the panel of the shelf, of a width to receive the hook downturns on a further shelf to be hooked on that formation.

7. The rack or rack kit according to any of the preceding claims in which there are two such ribs which extend along the longitudinal edges of the shelf.

8. The rack or rack kit according to any of the preceding claims in which the end frames are of ladder configuration, each comprising a pair of upright members connected by tubular rungs which constitute the horizontal formations.

9. A rack of shelves, or a kit of parts for assembly into a rack of shelves, including a shelf substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.