GB2236242A - Ventilated shelving - Google Patents

Abstract

A system of ventilated shelving for domestic use, and for industrial and commercial uses where stored goods require good ventilation, comprises profiled perforated steel or aluminium sheets with corrugations of varying depths, cut to size as required, and supplied with support blocks shaped to fit the sheet profile. <IMAGE>

Description

ERINSHELF This invention relates to ventilated shelving for domestic, industrial and commercial uses where stored goods require good ventilation.

The usual means of providing ventilated shelving are either by the use of slatted timber on cross battens or, for example in refrigerators, a grid of metal rods purpose made to fit specific spaces.

In the usual domestic applications, e.g. for linen cupboards, timber, a natural product, has to be sawn to produce long, knot-free battens of small dimensions. These must be planed and sanded with considerable waste. Cross battens must then be fixed to the underside. Other battens are then required to be cut to length, levelled and fixed to the side walls, before the grid can be placed in position, and then preferably painted or sealed.

This process involves a great waste of material and labour and results in a crude job, usually unpainted and with splinters and snags which catch in the linens. Furthermore, the conditions which inevitably prevail in an airing cupboard usually cause distortion of the battens and frequently splitting and cracking of the timber.

Similar labour-intensive operations are required in industrial or commercial shelving and racking.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple cost-effective means of providing ventilated shelving of varying dimensions during the construction of new homes, for DIY enthusiasts, and:for stores, warehouses and commercial shelving.

To achieve these criteria, the product must: (a) be easily handled and stored (b) be able to span up to say 1 metre without intermediate support and with varying loading (c) be capable of encouraging air circulation (d) be self-finished (e) be able to cater for differing cupboard depths & widths (f) be able to accommodate vertical service runs.

Erinshelf achieves these criteria in the following way: 1. Sheets of any length, but conveniently2m and 3m long, perforated steel or aluminium of appropriate guage with tn ofiled) corrugations of varying depths to cater for different spans and with or without a decorative finish Perforations may be uniformly distributed or only in the valley of the profile. They may be circular, slotted or any other shape (Fig. 1 - A) 2. Sheets of any convenient width, but say 300 mm wide to cater for any depth of cupboard or racking by overlapping corrugations where necessary.

3. Support blocks shaped to fit the chosen profile are supplied and fixed to the side walls. (Fig. 1 - B) Erinshelf sheets may be cut to length on site or pre formed and dropped on to the support blocks.

Ends of sheets can be angled or cut round services, etc.

4. The sheets may be supplied to and by builders merchants and DIY stores in bundles of economic lengths and weight with support blocks supplied separately.

5. By putting overlaps at the bottom of the profile, goods are protected from cut edges of the sheets 6. The sheets can be coated with a variety of finishes and colours.

7. If shelving is required to be adjustable the profiled sheets can be laid or fixed on any bracket system.

8. For industrial or commercial use or when longer spans are required, these can be achieved by a combination of Erinshelf sheets of a deeper profile, on brackets at appropriate intervals.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective sketch of Erinshelf and supporting blocks.

Referring to the drawing A illustrates one of many possible profiles with matching support block B indicates a block support C show a block support in position.

D shows an isometric projection of a section of shelving

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. Erinshelf would considerably reduce the labour involvement in providing shelving for a wide variety of applications
2. 2. Erinshelf would produce a much better looking shelf, free of splinters and natural defects, is easily cleaned and maintenance-free.
3. 3. Erinshelf would distribute air - warm or chilled - evenly
4. 4. Erinshelf would facilitate access and change of shelving by simple removal and replacement
5. 5. Erinshelf can adapt to any length ordepth of shelf by means of overlapping profiles.
6. 6. Erinshelf would reduce imports of a diminishing natural resource and create a demand for an under-used material
7. 7. Erinshelf can be used for domestic, commercial and industrial shelving by varying the guage of the metal and the depth of the profile.
8. 8. Erinshelf can be cut in situ to adapt to any angle at the ends and to accommodate service pipes, stanchions or other projections.
9. 9. Erinshelf can create shelves of any length in conjunction with intermediate support brackets.