GB2214414A

GB2214414A - Improvements relating to shelving

Info

Publication number: GB2214414A
Application number: GB8901545A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gruttis Costanzo De
Original assignee: BELLPLEX Ltd
Current assignee: BELLPLEX Ltd
Priority date: 1988-01-25
Filing date: 1989-01-25
Publication date: 1989-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2009-01-25
Also published as: GB2214414B; GB8901545D0; GB8801550D0

Abstract

A shelving assembly comprising a shelf 6, a recess 7 in one edge of the shelf, a single plate 1 narrower than the thickness of the shelf, said plate 1 being dimensioned so as to have an interference fit into the recess 7, means for attaching the plate to the wall, said attachment means and the plate being contained in the thickness of the shelf, and support members 4 which are rigidly attached to plate 1, these members being adapted to fit into additional recesses (5) extending from the said plate recess into the width of the shelf. For fitting a corner shelf, a right-angled plate is provided and the shelf has a mating recess in intersecting edges. In an alternative embodiment the shelf edge and the plate may have co-operating hook-like cross-sections which, during erection are rotated into position such that, on assembly, the shelf is locked at right-angles to the wall, and the shelf support hidden from view by the shelf. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SHELVING This invention relates to shelving of the kind suitable for securing to existing vertical walls to provide support for the shelf and to enable storage or the display of items such as ornaments, books or equipment.

Many known shelving systems or assemblies have forms of support which are visible, such as brackets, metal strips and visible fixing or screwheads. These forms of support gather dust, are difficult to clean, obstruct free access to the whole shelf area, create difficulties in re-decoration, particularly wall-papering, and impose difficulties for the handyman with regard to erection or dis-assembly.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages and to provide a shelving system which is particularly advantageous where space is at a premium, for example, on board ship or in caravans and particularly for radiator shelves in homes.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a shelving assembly comprising a mounting member attachable to a wall with a surface of the mounting member contacting the wall, and a shelf member having a mounting edge for co-operation with said mounting member, wherein the mounting edge of the shelf has an elongate recess and the mounting member comprises an elongate portion which is so dimensioned and shaped as to closely fit, and to be contained wholly within the recess, in use, thereby to provide support for the shelf member, and a further portion, projecting from said elongate portion, to provide additional support for the shelf member, whereby, in use, the shelf member is carried by the mounting member in flush-mounted relationship to the wall.

Said elongate portion of the mounting member may comprise a plate, preferably of a thickness at least 50% of the thickness of the shelf. The recess may be open-ended but is preferably closed at each end. However, the closed ends may be shaped or relieved so that there is a gap when the plate is fitted into the shelf edge enabling a tool to be inserted between the end of the recess and the edge of the plate and facilitate dis-assembly of the plate from the recess in circumstances where the shelf and the plate are nested together for packaging, or to facilitate dis-assembly or re-erection.

In one embodiment of the invention said further portion of the mounting member comprises two or more support members projecting from the elongate portion at spaced intervals therealong and received in correspondingly shaped portions of the elongate recess in the mounting edge and, preferably, these support members are rods (pins or metal dowels, for example) with chamfered ends to provide a lead-in to facilitate insertion of the pins or dowels into the shaped portions of the recess.

In another embodiment according to the present invention, particularly suitable for fitting a corner shelf, a right-angled plate is provided and the shelf has a mating recess in intersecting edges.

To that end the invention provides a shelving assembly for providing a shelf in a corner between two walls, the assembly comprising, a mounting member attachable to said walls and having two co-planar limbs inter-connected at respective ends thereof to provide two, angled wallcontacting surfaces, and a shelf member having two, correspondingly angled mounting edges provided with respective elongate recesses, each said limb of the mounting member being so shaped and dimensioned as to closely fit, and to be contained wholly within the respective recess, in use, thereby to provide support for the shelf member, whereby, in use, the shelf member is carried by the mounting member in flush-mounted relationship to the wall.

In another embodiment of the shelving system according to the present invention said mounting member comprises a first component part which is located in said elongate recess and has a hook-shaped cavity, and a second component part which has said wall-contacting surface and a projection of correspondingly hook-shaped cross-section, the shapes of said cavity and projection being such that the shelf and mounting member are inter-engageable by insertion of the hook-shaped projection into the hook-shaped cavity with said shelf member at an angle to the plane of said wall-contacting surface of the mounting member, and by rotation of said shelf member to a position in which the shelf is normal to said wall-contacting surface, said rotation being effective to engage the hook-shaped projection into said hook-shaped cavity.

In this embodiment the hook-shaped cross-sections are curved so as in erection the curved hook-shaped plate is entered into the co-operating curved recess in the shelf and rotated into a position such that it locks the shelf at right-angles to the wall in such a manner that the hook-shaped plate is hidden from view against the wall when assembly is completed.

The co-operating curved hook-shaped plate and co-operating recess in the shelf may be of a hellical cross-section so that the hook part tightens itself as it is entered into the recess and is locked therein and held rigid when the shelf is at right-angles to the wall.

Said first component part of the mounting member may be formed separately as an extrusion, the shelf being suitably recessed to receive this separate extrusion. In this form, the shelf recess member may have further pins or dowels attached to it, these being adapted to extend in bores extending into the width of the shelf.

Embodiments in accordance with the invention, whether they be hook-shaped in cross-section, right-angled in crosssection, or generally rectangular with pins extending across the shelf, may not extend along the full length of the shelf, and it may be sufficient to have shelf supports of any of the afore-mentioned kinds at spaced intervals along the length of the shelf.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a shelf edge recess, an insert for fitting in the recess having a re-entrant groove in it and a corresponding shelf plate having a part to co-operate and fit into the re-entrant groove. Preferably, in this form the re-entrant groove in the recess insert has straight sides with a projection formed in it while the plate has corresponding mating projections which are adapted to lock against the shelf insert projection after insertion of the shelf and insert into the plate.

A method of securing a shelf to a wall including the steps of: (a) taking a shelf with a recess in one edge thereof; (b) securing a plate to the wall with fixing means extending into the wall for at least 2 1/2 times the shelf thickness; (c) the fixing means penetrating into the brick/ timber/stone/concrete of the wall by at least half its length; (d) finally sliding the shelf into position in such a way that the plate and fixing means is within the space determined by the recess and the wall.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the shelving assembly in a partially assembled condition; Figure lb shows a side view of the shelving assembly shown in Figure la; Figures 2 and 3 show different embodiments of a shelving assembly providing a shelf in a corner between two walls; Figure 4a shows another embodiment of a shelving assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 4b shows a plan view of an extruded insert used in the embodiment of Figure 4a and; Figures 5a and 5b show cross-sectional views through respective parts of two further embodiments in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to Figures la and lb, there is shown a plain shelf unit for fixing to a flat wall. An elongate mounting member in the form of a plate 1 is fixed to the wall by a suitable means of attachment, in this case long countersunk screws 2 engaging in normal plastics expandable plugs 3 (the length of screws should be more than about 2.5 times the thickness of the shelf).

The plate is provided with at least one support member, in the form of a rod 4 rigidly joined to plate 1, and in the illustrated embodiment three such rods 4 are provided, the screws 2 being located above the rods, as shown. The support member engages in a hole 5 in shelf 6, the hole being slightly larger than the smallest cross-section of the support member, so as to allow air to escape from the hole as the shelf is slid into position into a recess 7 formed in a mounting edge 8 of the shelf. In this way, no air hole need appear on any surface of the shelf visible after assembly.

The plate width is less than the shelf thickness, so that no part of the plate stands proud of the shelf when it is assembled in position. Preferably, the plate width is 50-70% of the shelf thickness, so that it is hidden from view completely in a recess 7 in the shelf on assembly.

Depending on the material used for the shelf, a sufficient thickness of material is left surrounding the recess to ensure that it does not crack if loaded due to any irregularities in the components or the wall. The ends of recess 7 in the shelf slope inwardly, away from the mounting edge, so that, in the region of the mounting edge, the recess is longer than the plate allowing a tool to be inserted into the recess whereby the plate can be levered out of the shelf when the two components are delivered, nested together. The length of plate 1 and its recess are shorter than the length of the shelf so that when the whole is assembled, no part of the plate is visible externally. The plate may be of square crosssection, or of other cross-sections, providing that there is a sufficient transfer of force between the plate and the wall, and between the shelf and the plate.

If the support member 4 is attached to plate 1 by stud welding (e.g. in the case of a steel construction), mating bore 5 in the shelf may have to be rebated to accommodate the thickness around the stud weld.

In order to provide adequate support for the shelf the support members 4 would normally extend across at least one third of the shelf width, and preferably half-way across the shelf width.

The support member 4 should preferably be chamfered at the end inserted into the shelf, so as to provide a good lead-in and the support member may be of any cross-section suitable to support the shelf - e.g. an "I" girder shape.

For ease of manufacture and assembly, the corresponding hole in the shelf will usually be round, but this need not apply if the shelf is a plastic moulding.

The underside of the shelf contains a hole 9 positioned so that a screw through it engages with at least one of the pins, or the plate, preventing inadvertent sliding of the shelf after assembly.

Depending on the length of the shelf, there are at least two fixing screws 2 arranged on either side of the mid point of plate 1. The plate is provided with a number of countersunk fixing holes or slots (F), so that a suitable disposition for the screws may be chosen, in relation to irregularities or weak points in the supporting wall (e.g.

a screw should not engage in soft mortar).

The strength of the assembly has been demonstrated by testing a steel plate with welded support members, when a wooden shelf 400 mm long x 200 mm wide x 30 mm thick, attached by two three-inch long steel screws to a plastercovered brick wall, was able to support a load of 62kg., without any sign of movement.

Whatever the configurations of the plate and the support member, the geometrical relationship between them must be such that the shelf engages adequately against the wall and the plate, so that load is transferred from the shelf through to the plate assembly and to the wall.

The embodiment shown in Figure 2 provides a shelf in a corner between two walls and utilises a right-angled mounting plate 10 comprising two co-planar limbs (11,12), each limb 5 being of L-shaped cross-section.

If a sufficiently strong shelf member is used (such as a reinforced polymer), it may be possible to omit support members of the kind shown at 4 in Figure 1. In these circumstances the cross-section of the shelf material on the upper side of the recess should be sufficient to carry the load of the shelf and objects placed on it.

Figure 3 shows a corner shelf utilising a right-angled mounting plate 10 comprising two co-planar limbs (11,12), each limb being of rectangluar cross-section. The mounting plate has a single support rod 4 which is arranged at right angles to one of the limbs of the mounting plate. The other limb of right-angled plate 10 renders a second support rod 4 unnecessary.

The limbs of the plates shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be of equal or unequal length, to suit aesthetic and space considerations.

In both cases the right-angled mounting plate is conveniently of one-piece construction and can be made of a material that allows relative flexing movement between the limbs to allow the angle between the limbs to be adjusted to adapt the mounting member to fit corners of various corner angles. The corner at the intersection of the two limbs may be bevelled, as shown at B in Figures 2 and 3, to further facilitate fitting to non-right angled corners, and the shelf member would be similarly bevelled, as shown.

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 has a mounting plate in two parts, namely a plate 13 and an extrusion or moulding 14. Plate 13 does not engage directly in a recess in the shelf 6, but into a recess or cavity 15 in the extrusion or moulding 14, which is itself inserted into a matching recess 7 in the shelf 6. The rigidity of the assembly may be increased by incorporating support pins or dowels 16 into the extrusion or moulding 14.

Figure 5 shows, in cross-section, extrusions or mouldings 14 having two differently shaped cavities 15 therein, and the manner in which the shelf assembly, within which the extrusion or moulding 14 is fitted, is offered up to the co-operating plate 13 (shown in Figure 4) at angle "x", between the top surface of the shelf and the horizontal.

As the shelf assembly pivots around the plate, and the top surface of the shelf becomes horizontal, the recess 15 engages on the co-operating plate so that the two are engaged and held rigidly together by the cam action arising from the weight of the shelf acting on the surfaces of the plate and the recess.

In this case, the cross-section of the recess 15 and the co-operating plate may be curved (helical) as shown in Figure 5a or polygonal as shown in Figure 5b.

Where the extrusion or moulding 14 is made of a suitably compliant polyer (such as Nylon 6), and the co-operating plate is made of a similar polymer or a metal (such as steel or aluminium) the method of securing the shelf assembly against accidental movement may be by means of a raised, retaining lip 17 (shown in Figures 5a and 5b) in the extrusion or moulding, which engages in a matching groove in the co-operating plate. This method may be used instead of, or together with, a retaining screw passing through a hole 18 in shelf 6 and in the extrusion or moulding 14 (Figure 5a), and engaging with the co-operating plate.

The shelf assemblies described are advantageous in that they facilitate flush mounting in relation to the wall thereby alleviating many of the disadvantages of known shelving systems.

Claims

1. A shelving assembly comprising a mounting member attachable to a wall with a surface of the mounting member contacting the wall, and a shelf member having a mounting edge for co-operation with said mounting member, wherein the mounting edge of the shelf has an elongate recess and the mounting member comprises an elongate portion which is so dimensioned and shaped as to closely fit, and to be contained wholly within the recess, in use, thereby to provide support for the shelf member, and a further portion, projecting from said elongate portion, to Drovide additional support for the shelf member, whereby, in use, the shelf member is carried by the mounting member in flush-mounted relationship to the wall.

2. A shelving assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said further portion of the mounting member projects from said elongate portion in a direction normal to the wall-contacting surface.

3. A shelving assembly according to Claim 2 wherein said further portion of the mounting member comprises two or more support members projecting from said elongate portion at spaced intervals therealong and received in correspondingly shaped portions of the elongate recess in the mounting edge.

4. A shelving assembly according to Claim 3 wherein each support member is a rod received in a co-operating hole in the recess.

5. A shelving assembly according to Claim 4 wherein at least one of the rods is moveable relative to the elongate portion to required fixed positions to correct misalignment between the rods and the elongate portion.

6. A shelving assembly according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein an end of each rod remote from said elongate portion has a chamfer to facilitate insertion of the rod into said co-operating hole.

7. A shelving assembly according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein each rod tapers along the length thereof from the elongate portion and is received in a hole having a co-operating tapered shape.

8. A shelving assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said further portion comprises a plate of generally rectangular cross-section extending from one edge of said elongate portion, the larger sides of said rectangular cross-section extending in a direction normal to said wall-contacting surface.

9. A shelving assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 for providing a shelf in a corner between two walls wherein said elongate and further portions of the mounting member comprise two co-planar limbs inter-connected at respective ends thereof to provide two angled wall-contacting surfaces, and said shelf member has two correspondingly angled mounting edges provided with respective recesses, each limb of the mounting member being so shaped and dimensioned as to closely fit, and be contained wholly within the respective recess, in use.

10. A shelving assembly according to Claim 9 wherein said mounting member is a one-piece construction.

11. A shelving assembly according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the mounting member is made of a material that allows relative flexing movement between the limbs to allow the angle between the limbs to be adjusted to adapt the mounting member to fit corners of various corner angles.

12. A shelving assembly according to Claim 11 wherein the two limbs and the shelf member define bevelled corner formations to facilitate fitting to non-right angled wall surfaces.

13. A shelving assembly according to Claims 9 to 12 wherein each said limb of the mounting member is of rectangular cross-section.

14. A shelving assembly according to Claim 13 wherein the mounting member and the shelf have a projection and a correspondingly shaped recess which co-operate as the member and the shelf are fitted together to hold the member and shelf in place.

15. A shelving assembly according to Claim 14 wherein said projection is a rod extending from the mounting member in a direction normal to a wall-contacting surface thereof and the recess portion is a correspondingly shaped hole, in the respective mounting edge of the shelf member, for receiving the rod.

16. A shelving assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said mounting member comprises a first component part which is located in said elongate recess and has a hook-shaped cavity, and a second component part which has said wall-contacting surface and a projection of correspondingly hook-shaped cross-section, the shapes of said cavity and projection being such that the shelf and mounting member are inter-engageable by insertion of the hook-shaped projection into the hook-shaped cavity with said shelf member at an angle to the plane of said wall-contacting surface of the mounting member, and by rotation of said shelf member to a position in which the shelf is normal to said wall-contacting surface, said rotation being effective to engage the hook-shaped projection into said hook-shaped cavity.

17. A shelving assembly according to Claim 16 wherein the hook-shaped projection and the hook-shaped cavity have corresponding helical surface profiles in cross- section so that the hook-shaped projection is brought into tight engagement as the projection enters the recess and is locked therein when the shelf is normal to said wall-contacting surface.

18. A shelving assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 17 wherein said first component part is formed of a plastics material.

19. A shelving assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 13 wherein said mounting member is one of two or more such mounting members for supporting said shelf at spaced intervals along the said mounting edge.

20. A shelving assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 or Figure 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A shelving assembly for providing a shelf in a corner between two walls, the assembly comprising, a mounting member attachable to said walls and having two co-planar limbs inter-connected at respective ends thereof to provide two, angled wall-contacting surfaces, and a shelf member having two, correspondingly angled mounting edges provided with respective elongate recesses, each said limb of the mounting member being so shaped and dimensioned as to closely fit, and to be contained wholly within, the respective recess thereby to provide support for the shelf member whereby, in use, the mounting shelf member is carried by the mounting member in flush-mounted relationship to the wall.

22. A shelving assembly according to Claim 21 wherein the mounting member is made of a material that allows relative flexing movement between the limbs to allow the angle between the limbs to be adjusted to adapt the mounting member to fit corners of various corner angles.

23. A shelving assembly according to Claim 21 or Claim 22 wherein said mounting member is a one-piece construction.