GB2245821A - Shelving system - Google Patents

Abstract

A shelving system comprises first and second elongate structural members 11 and 12 having respective first and second substantially flat surface portions 13 and 31 provided respectively with apertures 21, 22 and tongues 47, 48. The two members may be fixed together without the use of separate fixing devices by bringing the flat surface portions 13 and 31 of the two members into abutment with the tongues 47, 48 engaging in the apertures 21, 22 respectively. When so fixed together the two members extend substantially a<+> right angles to one another generally in or close to the plane containing the abutting surfaces. <IMAGE>

Description

A SHELVING SYSTEM This invention relates to a shelving system.

In particular, it relates to a free standing shelving system capable of being assembled without the use of nuts and bolts.

A shelving system comprising first and second elongate structural members having respective first and second substantially flat surface portions provided with respective first and second interengagable formations, the arrangement being such that the two members may be fixed together without the use of separate fixing devices by bringing the flat surface portions of the two members into abutment with the said formations engaging one another, the two members when so fixed together extending substantially at right angles to one another generally in or close to the plane containing the abutting surfaces.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of part of a first embodiment of a shelving system according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of other components of the shelving system of Figure 1 of the drawings; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the components of Figure 2 of the drawings joined together; Figure 4 is an exploded view of part of a second embodiment of a shelving system according to the invention; Figure 5 is a further exploded view of the shelving system of Figure 4 of the drawings; Figure 5A is a rear elevation of part of the shelving system of Figure 5 of the drawings;; Figure 6 is a perspective view of part of the shelving system of Figure 4 of the drawings joined together; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a shelving system according to the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of an expanded shelving system according to the invention; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a shelf support element for use with the shelving System according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawings epa in particular to Figures 1-3 thereof, there is shown a shelving system 10 according to the invention which comprises a first elongate member 11 and a second elongate member 12, each formed from sheet material.

The first member 11 is intended to function as an upright post and comprises a first surface 13, a second surface 14 and a third surface 15, all said surfaces being substantially flat. In cross-section, the upright member 11 is substantially u-shaped having opposing side legs 16, 18 integral with a connecting base element 17. The legs 16, 18 terminate in respective inwardly directed free ends 19, 20. The first, second and third surfaces 13, 14, 15 are essentially the outward facing surfaces of the leg 16, the base element 17, and the leg 18 respectively. The first leg 16 has a series of apertures located one above the other, substantially centrally of the width of the leg 16 and spaced at intervals along the length thereof.

Only two such apertures 21 and 22 are shown. Preferably, the spacing is at equal intervals of 25 mm pitch. Each of the series of apertures such as 21, 22 is u-shaped.

The leg 18 has a similar series of apertures (not shown) in register with respective apertures 21, 22.

The base element 17 has two pairs of apertures 23, 24, 23a, 24a having the same shape as the apertures 21, 22. The apertures 23, 24 are located one above the other; the apertures 23a, 24a are located one above the other. Each pair of apertures 23, 24; 23a, 24a is located in side by side relationship.

A similar arrangement of apertures 23, 24, 23a, 24a would be evident at the other end of the upright member 11.

Another arrangement of the member 11 has the apertures 23, 24, 23a, 24a continuous along the length of the leg 17 spaced at intervals of about 25 mm pitch.

The second member 12 is intended to function as a cross-member connecting two posts 11 and comprises a first surface 31, a second surface 32 and a third surface (not shown), all said surfaces being substantially flat. The cross-member 12 is substantially u-shaped comprising a first side leg 42, a connecting base element 41 and a second side leg (not shown). The base element 41 has a flat extension element 43 at each end thereof. The first leg 42 terminates in a downwardly directed free end 44 respectively. The second leg terminates in an upwardly directed free end (not shown). The first and second surfaces 31, 32 and the third surface are essentially the outward facing surfaces of the element 41, leg 42 and the second leg respectively. The first surface 31 extends to and comprises the outwardly facing surface of the extension element 43.The inside surface 31' of the extension element 43, i.e. the surface opposite the outside surface 31, is likewise substantially flat and parallel to the surface 31.

Each extension element 43 has a pair of openings 45, 46 having the same shape and configuration as the apertures 21, 22. In manufacturing each aperture 21, 22 (and the other apertures 23, 23a, 24, 24a) a suitable stamping machine presses out a suitably shaped piece of material so as to form the relevant apertures.

The material thus pressed out is discarded. However, in the case of the openings 45, 46 the material is not discarded. Instead, although a u-shaped opening 45, 46 is generated, the material 47, 48 of each opening is still integral with the extension elements 43. In addition, during the stamping process the material is provided with a centrally located projection 49. The thus displaced material 47, 48 constitutes tongues 47, 48.

To mount the second member 12 onto the first member 11, the inside surface 31' of the extension element 43 is offered to the surface 13 so that the tongue 47 passes through the aperture 21 and the tongue 48 passes through the aperture 22. A downward movement of the second member 12 relative to the first member 11 causes the tongues 47, 48 to interengage with the leg 16. When the first and second members 11 and 12 are connected together in this way, the two members extend substantially at right angles to one another, and lie generally in or close to the plane containing the abutting surfaces 13 and 31'.

A further cross-member 12a similar to the second member 12 having openings 55, 56; 55a, 56a with respective tongues 57, 58, 57, 58a may be mounted relative to the first member 11 so that the tongues 57, 58, 57a, 58a interengage with the apertures 23, 24, 23a, 24a respectively.

The centrally located projections 49 enable the tongues 47, 48; 57, 58, 57a, 58a to be in positive interengagement with the leg 41, and element 17.

Referring now to Figures 4-6 of the drawings, there is shown a shelving system 10a according to the invention which comprises a first member 11b and a second member 12b.

The first member 1lb and the second member 12b are essentially the same as and function in a manner similar to the members 11, 12 respectively except with respect to the manner of interengagement.

With respect to the member 12b when compared with the member 12, the essential difference is that the tongues 47, 48 do not have projections 49. Positive interengagement is achieved as follows.

The member 11 has the apertures 23, 24, 23a, 24a. However, located below each aperture 23, 24, 23a, 24a and associated therewith is a slot 40, 41, 40a, 41a respectively.

The material which is pressed out to make the slots 40, 41, 40a, 41a is not discarded. Thus, for example, in the case of the slot 40, the material pressed out is denoted by the numeral 440.

The material 440 has ends 222, 223 still joined to and integral with the member 1lib. However, the material 440 forms a bridge which projects rearwardly thereby enabling the tongue 47 to interengage therewith. Essentially, the tongue 47 when in engagement lies rearwardly relative to the slot 21a but, by virtue of being located under the bridge 440, lies forwardly of the bridge 440. Thus the tongue 21a is sandwiched between the bridge 440 and the material of the member 11a which lies in the vicinity of the aperture 21 and the slot 21a.

A foot member 500 may be provided for engaging with and supporting the member 11b. The foot member 500 (Figure 5 of the drawings) comprises a base 501 having a suitably shaped engaging element 502 integral therewith. The element 502 by virtue of its shape, in the case u-shaped, engages with the member 11a. The element 502 has legs 503, 504 joined by a connecting element 505. The legs 503, 504 has respective free ends 506, 507. In mounting the member 11a on the foot member 500, the free ends 19, 20 (if present) engage with the free ends 506, 507 respectively. The legs 16, 18 and connecting element 17 will be in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the legs 503, 504 and connecting element 505 respectively.

The embodiment shown in Figure 6 of the drawings is equivalent to the embodiment shown in Figure 3 of the drawings with the exception that the interengagement means of the components of Figure 6 of the drawings is the same as that described with respect to Figures 4-6 of the drawings.

Using other members 11, 11a, 11b, 12, 12a, as required, a free standing shelving system 10 may be constructed as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings.

Having joined together the members 11, 12 and 12a (or the members 11b, 12k as desired) shelf supports 100 are mounted between opposing member 11 (or 11b). A support member 100 is shown in Figure 9 of the drawings and comprises a substantially u-shaped member having legs 101, 102 and a connecting element 103.

Extending from each end of the leg 101 is an extension portion 104. Each extension portion 104 has a tongue 147 similar to the tongue 47 shown in Figure 1 of the drawings or shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The tongue 147 is designed to engage in a manner similar to the tongue 47 of Figure 1 of the drawings (or Figure 4 of the drawings) as the case may be.

With reference to Figure 8 of the drawings there is shown two shelving systems 10, 1Ob one on top of the other. Positive interengagement of the shelving systems 10, 1Ob may be achieved by providing modified second members 112, 112 respectively. The difference between the modified members 112, 112a and the members 12 12a respectively is that each of the modified members 112, 112a is double the width of the members 12, 12a. Thus, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the modified member 112a has the openings 55, 56, 55a, 56a and the tongues 57, 58, 57a, 58a collectively referred to as a first set of elements.A second set of elements similar to the first set of elements is provided in the second member 112a so that the modified member 112a may interengage with the first members 11, lia. Thus, by constructing the two shelving systems 10, 1Ob as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, double the shelving capacity may be achieved in the same floor area as that of a single shelving system 10.

It will be appreciated that a similar two or more shelving systems may be constructed using the components as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings which is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 3 of the drawings except for the manner of interengagement which is as described with reference to Figures 4-6 of the drawings.

The shelving system according to the invention provides a relatively inexpensive yet sturdy means for constructing a free standing shelving system.

In addition, the components are relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to erect and easy to dismantle.

If desired the shelving system according to the invention may be used to partition a room. By erecting a shelving system and placing panel elements on one side thereof with shelving on the other side thereof, the room may be partitioned as shown.

The invention is not limited by or to the specific embodiments described which can undergo considerable variation without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS:

1. A shelving system comprising first and second elongate structural members having respective first and second substantially flat surface portions provided with respective first and second interengagable formations, the arrangement being such that the two members may be fixed together without the use of separate fixing devices by bringing the flat surface portions of the two members into abutment with the said formations engaging one another, the two members when so fixed together extending substantially at right angles to one another generally in or close to the plane containing the abutting surfaces.

2. A shelving system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each member is formed from sheet material, wherein the first formation comprises a plurality of apertures provided in the sheet material of the first member in the region of the first flat surface portion, and wherein the second formation comprises a plurality of tongues formed from the sheet material of the second member in the region of the second flat surface portion, each tongue having a free end displaced above the level of the second flat surface portion, the tongues being adapted to enter into the apertures and engage the surface of the first member on the opposite side of the sheet material to the first flat surface portion to fix the two members together.

3. A shelving system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the first member is adapted to serve as an upright support post, and the second member has a substantially flat surface portion with tongues at each longitudinal end so that the member can serve as a cross-member extending transversely between two such posts.

4. A shelving system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first member is of generally U-shaped cross-section with three substantially flat external surfaces, and apertures are provided in all three flat surfaces for connecting the second member to any of said three surfaces.

5. A shelving system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the second member is of generally U-shaped cross-section along the major part of its length and has at each end a substantially flat sheet metal extension provided with said tongues.

6. A shelving system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.