GB2241877A

GB2241877A - Shelving system and components therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2241877A
Application number: GB9005786A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Hubberstey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-15
Filing date: 1990-03-15
Publication date: 1991-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2010-03-15
Also published as: GB2241877B; GB9005786D0

Abstract

A shelving system 200 includes plastics retaining members 1a, 1b, 1c, 50a, 50b, 50c and 100. The retaining members are arranged to receive panels 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260 and 270. For example, cruciform retaining member 100 includes a passageway 106 through which panel 230 passes. Respective panels 240, 250 fit in sockets, perpendicular to the passageway 106, and abut against panel 230. <IMAGE>

Description

SHELVING SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR This invention relates to a shelving system and components therefor, and particularly, although not exclusively, to a shelving system including a plurality of vertical panels and a plurality of horizontal panels.

Many different ways of providing shelving systems are known. However, many such systems require accurate positioning of shelving brackets so that, for example, horizontal shelves, supported on brackets which project substantially perpendicularly from a wall, are supported correctly on the brackets. To this end, it is necessary to ensure that shelf support surfaces of support brackets are in the same plane. In addition, it is preferable that the shelf support surfaces are exactly horizontally disposed. If either of these requirements are not met, then an unsteady sloping shelf may ensue.

Thus, in order to construct a known shelving system satisfactorily, a high degree of accuracy by a person constructing the system may be required.

Embodiments of the present invention aim to alleviate these problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a retaining member for a shelving system or the like comprising: a first panel receiving member of channel form arranged to receive a panel which extends in a first direction; and a second panel receiving member of channel form arranged to receive a panel which extends in a second direction.

Preferably, said first and second directions are substantially perpendicular.

The retaining member may further comprise a third panel receiving member of channel form, arranged to receive a panel which extends in a third direction opposite to the first direction. Said retaining member may further comprise a fourth panel receiving member of channel form, arranged to receive a panel which extends in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction.

One or a plurality of the panel receiving member(s) may be directly attached to at least one other of the panel receiving members. Alternatively and/or additionally, one or a plurality of the panel receiving member(s) may be attached to at least one other respective panel receiving member by one or more intermediate support members.

Preferably, respective first and third and/or second and fourth panel receiving members are opposite each other. Preferably, opposing first and third and/or second and fourth panel receiving members provide a respective continuous passageway, the members thereby being arranged to receive a panel which passes through said passageway.

One or a plurality of said receiving members may be so arranged that a panel received in one respective panel receiving member provides an abutting surface against which a panel received in another one respective panel receiving member member may abut.

Preferably, one or a plurality of said receiving members is a closed structure, dimensioned so as to surround closely a panel retained by said panel receiving member(s). One or a plurality of said retaining members may be a socket.

The panel receiving members may be arranged so as to retain panels in use without the need for other retaining means. Alternatively and/or additionally, one or a plurality of said panel receiving members may be provided with further panel retaining means which may include one or more apertures provided in a part of the panel receiving member(s) through which apertures respective screws may pass to be received in a panel and secured therein.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shelving system comprising at least two of said panel retaining members according to the first aspect.

The system may include two substantially vertically extending spaced apart panels and, disposed therebetween, a substantially horizontally extending panel which is maintained in position by means of two of said panel retaining members each of which is provided at a respective intersection between a respective end of said substantially horizontally extending panel and the adjacent vertically extending panel. The horizontally extending panel may be provided at any position along the length of the vertically extending panels. One or a plurality of additional substantially horizontally extending panels may be provided at respective positions along the length of the vertically extending panels.Any number of substantially vertically extending spaced apart panels having any number of substantially horizontally extending panels disposed therebetween may be provided, which panels are maintained in position by means of panel receiving members provided at intersections between respective vertically extending and horizontally extending panels, as required.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a kit comprising a plurality of retaining members according to the first aspect. The kit may include a plurality of panels.

In the context of this specification, the terms "vertical" and "horizontal" and like terms should not be construed literally. It will be appreciated that the terms define relative positions and may be interchangeable depending upon which way a particular component is orientated.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figures la, 2a, 3a, and 4a are perspective views of retaining members; Figures Ib, 2b, 3b and 4b are respective sectional views taken along line A-A; Figures ic, 2c, 3c and 4c are respective sectional views taken along line C-C; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a connecting member in use; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a part of a shelving system; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further shelving system; and Figures 8 are cross-sectional views of components of a shelving system.

The panel retaining members shown in Figures 1 to 5, are for use in a shelving system as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The retaining member 1, shown in Figures 1, comprises rectangular members 2, 3 made of flat sheet plastics material, which are joined at right angles to one another along the line 4, so as to provide an Lsection member 8. Similar rectangular members 5, 6 are likewise joined at right angles to one another, in this case along the line 7, to provide a L-section member 9.

The L-section members 8, 9 are joined to one another by identical L-shaped end members 10, 11 in order to provide an L-section continuous passageway 12 through the retaining member 1. The passageway 12 is suitably dimensioned so as to snugly receive an end of a panel to be supported and retained by the retaining member.

The retaining member 1 includes a plurality of dimples 13 which are formed integrally on the rectangular members 2, 3 and project into the passageway 12. The dimples 13 include a screw aperture (not shown) through which a screw may be inserted so as to screw the retaining member to a panel in use. Alternatively, the provision of dimples 13 may serve to increase the frictional force between the panel and the retaining member so that the panel is more securely retained therein, without the need for screws.

The continuous passageway 12 may be divided into two closed sockets by forming, for example, a dividing wall (for example like 301, Figure 7) continuous with member 5 and disposed perpendicularly to the rectangular members 3 and 6.

A retaining member 50, shown in Figure 2, comprises rectangular member 51, of flat sheet plastics material, spaced apart from and disposed directly above a similar rectangular member 52. Members 51 and 52 have substantially the same dimensions. Attached to and disposed perpendicularly to the members 51, 52 is a rectangular members 53. Disposed directly opposite the rectangular member 53 and spaced apart therefrom, is a further rectangular member 54, having substantially the same dimensions as rectangular member 53. T-shaped end members 55, 56 are attached to respective opposite ends of the rectangular members 51, 52, 53 and 54 so as to define a continuous passageway 57 and a socket 58. The passageway is sized to allow a panel to be received therein and pass snugly through. The socket 58 is sized to receive and support a panel.

Dimples 13 may be provided as mentioned in relation to the Figure 1 embodiment.

A retaining member 100, shown in Figure 3, is of similar form to the Figures 1 and 2 embodiments except that it provides further passageways for receiving panels. Thus, it has four L-section members 101 each of which includes a relatively narrow rectangular member 102 and attached perpendicularly thereto, a relatively wide rectangular member 103.

Cruciform end members 104, 105 are located at respective opposite ends of the four L-section members 107, so as to define continuous passageways 106, 107.

The passageways are sized to allow a panel to be received therein and to pass snugly through. It will be appreciated that one panel can only pass through one of the passageways 106, 107 at any one time. If, for example, a panel is present in passageway 106, then this panel will provide an abutment against which a panel, pushed into passageway 103 from either end thereof will abut. In fact, when a panel is present in, for example, passageway 106, the passageway 103, and the panel will together constitute two sockets similar to socket 58 of Figure 2.

Dimples 13 may be provided as mentioned in relation to the Figure 1 embodiment.

A connector member 150, shown in Figures 4, comprises spaced apart rectangular members 151, 152 made of flat sheet plastics material, which are connected at respective ends to respective end members 153, 154, thereby to define a continuous rectangular cross-section passageway 155. The cross-section of the passageway 155 is such so as to receive, retain and support ends of panels. Ends of two panels may be received by the member 150 which maintains these ends in juxtaposition and the panels in substantially the same plane.

Dimples 13 may be provided as mentioned in relation to the aforementioned embodiments.

Modifications to the aforementioned embodiments may be made. For example, a retaining member 300 (Figure 7) is similar to that shown in Figures 1, except both of the L-shaped end members 10, 11 are omitted. As previously mentioned, optional dividing wall 301 may be provided.

A receiving member 340 is generally similar to that shown in Figures 3, except that both cruciform end members 104, 105 are omitted so that the member is in two similar parts 360. The parts 360 include walls 341 which define respective sockets. Clips 320 are provided to hold parts 360 in position.

Each clip 320 comprises a base plate 400 having arms 401 projecting therefrom. The arms preferably are angled at slightly less than 900 to the base plate and are resilient, so that when the clip is clipped in position between parts 311 and 312, the resilient arms bias the parts together. As an alternative to clips 320 a suitable shape end cap may be provided to give a neater finish.

A retaining member 310 (Figure 7) is generally similar to that shown in Figures 2, except both of the T-shaped members 55, 56 are omitted so that the member is in two parts comprising member 360 and member 312. Clips 320 may be provided to co-operate with parts 360 and 312 to hold them together, and in the correct position, in use.

The retaining members shown in the Figure 7 embodiment may be made of extruded plastics. This may be sold in lengths and cut to size according to the particular application. Assembly of a shelving system would then simply require placing the members in position and clipping clips 320 in position. A shelving system may be constructed using permutations of the extrusions shown in Figure 8.

A shelving system may be constructed using some or all of the aforementioned members in any combination.

For example, in Figure 6, a shelving system 200 includes retaining corner members 1, retaining intermediate side members 50 and a retaining intermediate interior member 100.

In the shelving system 200, a horizontal base panel 210 is retained at one end by a member la, an end of the panel abutting against rectangular member 3. The panel 210 also passes through passageway 58 of a member 50a.

A vertical panel 220 is received and retained in the upwardly open socket 12 of corner member la, the panel 220 abutting against a surface of panel 210. Panel 220 passes also through passageway 57 of a member 50b.

A vertical intermediate panel 230 is received and retained in the upwardly open socket 58 of member 50a, the panel abutting against a surface of panel 210. The vertical panel 230 also passes through passageway 106 of retaining member 100.

A horizontal panel 240 is supported in sockets defined in members 50b and 100. When in position, the panel 240 abuts at one end against a face of panel 220, and at the other end against a face of panel 230. A further horizontal panel 250 is retained at one end by retaining member 100.

A retaining member 50c is also provided on panel 230. This member 50c may retain an end of a horizontal panel 260.

Retaining members ib and ic are provided at the upper ends of respective vertical panels 220 and 230. A horizontal panel 270 is received in respective passageways 12 of members ib and ic and may abut against a face of respective panels 220 and 230.

Suitably, the retaining members disclosed herein are arranged to receive coated chipboard of standard size, i.e. 6 inches (152mm) or 9 inches (229mm) width and 0.6 inches (15 mm) thickness. Internal dimensions of retaining members will therefore be about 152mm or 229mm width and 15mm thickness.

Suitably the retaining members are made of material having a thickness of about 2mm so as to provide the strength required.

An infinite number of different shelving systems may be constructed similar to the system mentioned above using any number and combination of retaining members and panels, as required in a particular application.

If in a shelving system it is desired to provide a continuum between ends of two horizontally or vertically disposed panels, a connector member 150 may be provided between two panels, for example panels 280, 290 (Figure 6). Suitable fixing means (not shown) are provided1 if necessary, to maintain the panels in position within the connector member 150.

The members disclosed herein may be made substantially of plastics. At least part of each member may suitably be formed by an extrusion process.

Alternatively, the members may be made of fibre glass or any other suitable material.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification, and which are open to public inspection with this specification and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in the specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMB

1. A retaining member for a shelving system or the like comprises: a first panel receiving member of channel form arranged to receive a panel which extends in a first direction; and a second panel receiving member of channel form arranged to receive a panel which extends in a second direction.

2. A retaining member according to claim 1, said first and second directions being substantially perpendicular.

3. A retaining member according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the retaining member further comprises a third panel receiving member of channel form, arranged to receive a panel which extends in a third direction opposite to the first direction.

4. A retaining member according to any of the preceding claims, said retaining member further comprising a fourth panel receiving member of channel form, arranged to receive a panel which extends in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction.

5. A retaining member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or a plurality of the panel receiving member(s) is directly attached to at least one other of the panel receiving members.

6. A retaining member according to claim 4 when dependent upon claim 3 or according to claim 5 when dependent upon claim 3 and claim 4 wherein respective first and third and/or second and fourth panel receiving members are opposite each other.

7. A retaining member according to claim 6 wherein opposing first and third and/or second and fourth panel receiving members provide a respective continuous passageway, the members thereby being arranged to receive a panel which passes through said passageway.

8. A retaining member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or a plurality of said panel receiving member(s) is so arranged that a panel received in one respective panel receiving member provides an abutting surface against which a panel received in another one respective panel receiving member may abut, in use.

9. A retaining member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or a plurality of said panel receiving member(s) is a closed structure, dimensioned so as to surround closely a panel retained by respective panel receiving member(s).

10. A retaining member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or a plurality of said receiving member(s) is a socket.

11. A retaining member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the panel receiving members are arranged so as to retain panels in use without the need for other retaining means.

12. A retaining member according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or a plurality of said panel receiving members is provided with further panel retaining means which may include one or more apertures provided in a part of the panel receiving member(s) through which apertures respective screws may pass to be received in a panel and secured therein.

13. A shelving system comprising at least two of said panel retaining members according to any of claims 1 to 12.

14. A system according to claim 13, including two substantially vertically extending spaced apart panels and, disposed therebetween, a substantially horizontally extending panel which is maintained in position by means of two of said panel retaining members each of which is provided at a respective intersection between respective ends of said substantially horizontally extending panel and the adjacent vertically extending panel.

15. A kit comprising a plurality of retaining members according to any of claims 1 to 12.

16. A kit according to claim 15, including a plurality of panels.

17. A retaining member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, or with reference to Figures 3, or with reference to Figures 4, or with reference to Figures 5.

18. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6 or 7.

19. A kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.