GB2258998A

GB2258998A - Frame structure

Info

Publication number: GB2258998A
Application number: GB9217981A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Archibald John Carver
Original assignee: UNIVERSAL SHELVING CO Ltd
Current assignee: UNIVERSAL SHELVING CO Ltd
Priority date: 1991-08-24
Filing date: 1992-08-24
Publication date: 1993-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-24
Also published as: WO1993003651A3; GB9118298D0; AU2475992A; WO1993003651A2; GB2258998B; GB9217981D0

Abstract

A frame structure 1 has two vertical side frames 2, 3 with a bracing member extending between respective rails 2a, 3a of the side frames. The bracing member 8 has, at each end, brackets 10, 11 for mounting onto the rails. The construction of the brackets 10, 11 is such that to locate the bracket onto the rail 2a, 3a the rail must be located between bracket elements 12, 13 and the rail and bracket pivoted. The bracket elements 12, 13 each move transversely to the rail from opposite directions to come into engagement with the rail. Shelves may be supported by the frame structure to form a storage rack. <IMAGE>

Description

FRAME STRUCTURE The present invention relates to a frame structure, particularly but not exclusively a storage rack.

Demountable storage racks are well known but may not be of the required rigidity for many applications without the rack being of a somewhat complicated construction and difficult to assemble.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the abovementioned disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame structure comprising two substantially vertical side frames and a bracing member extending between respective rails of the side frames, the bracing member being provided with brackets by means of which it is mounted on the rails wherein said brackets each comprise two bracket elements spaced axially along the rail on which they are mounted and being constructed such that, to locate the bracket on the rail, the latter is positioned in the space between the bracket elements and the bracket and rail pivoted relatively to each other so that the bracket elements each move transversely to the rail from opposite directions to come into engagement with the rail.

A second aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for assembly into a frame structure as defined in the preceding paragraph.

A third aspect of the invention provides a bracing member for a frame structure, the bracing member being provided with brackets by means of which it may be mounted on rails of side frames of the frame structure, wherein said brackets each comprise two axially spaced bracket elements and being constructed such that, to locate the bracket on the rail, the latter is positioned in the space between the bracket elements and the bracket and rail pivoted relatively so that the bracket elements will each move transversely to the rail from opposite directions to come into engagement with the rail.

The frame structure preferably also incorporates a component mounted on and extending horizontally between the side frames to improve the rigidity of the frame structure.

Preferably each side frame has at least one vertical rail and the bracing member is mounted between the vertical rails of the side frames. These side frames may, for example, each comprise a pair of vertical side rails connected by at least one horizontal rail. A shelf may be supported on the horizontal fail of the side frames or, for example, a garment rail may be supported on the horizontal rail, the height of the side frames being dimensioned accordingly. The shelf or garment rail acts to rigidify the frame structure. Conveniently, the bracket may be positioned on the side rail such that the horizontal rail is positioned between the two bracket elements.

The bracket elements are preferably generally U-shaped. The bracket elements are preferably axially spaced along a web, with the web forming a limb of each U, and with each U facing in a different direction.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of frame structure in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates a bracing member as used in the frame structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 illustrates the frame structure in a partially assembled condition; Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracing member being positioned about a vertical rail of the side frame; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracing member in position about the rail illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, a frame structure 1 comprises two side frames 2, 3 between which upper and lower shelves 4 and 5 are supported.

Each side frame 2, 3 comprises two vertical side rails referenced 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b as shown, with the vertical side rails of any one frame being connected by upper and lower horizontal bars 6 and 7.

A bracing member 8 extends between, and is mounted on, the vertical side rails 2a and 3a as shown.

The bracing member 8 is illustrated in more detail in Fig. 2 and comprises a rail 9 provided at each end with brackets 10, 11 as shown.

Referring to the bracket 11, this will be seen to comprise two generally U-shaped bracket elements 12 and 13 spaced from each other along a web 14 which provides a limb of each bracket element.

The rail 9 extends from the base of the bracket element 13 and it will be noted that the base of the bracket element 12 is at the opposite longitudinal edge of web 14 to that at which the base of element 13 is provided.

The spacing between the inner surfaces of the limbs of any one bracket element 12 or 13 corresponds to the outer cross-section of a vertical side rail 2a or 3a for reasons which will be appreciated.

Bracket 10 is of a similar construction to that described for bracket 11.

To mount the bracket 11 on the vertical side rail 3a, this latter rail is positioned so as to lie within the space between bracket elements 12 and 13 (as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 and as shown in Fig. 4). The rail 3a is now pivoted relative to the bracket 11 so that a portion of the rail 3a enters the bracket element 12 in the direction of arrow A whereas another portion of the rail 3a enters bracket element 13 in the direction of arrow B of Fig. 2.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 4, the bracing member may be pivoted in the direction of the arrows to bring bracket 11 into engagement with the rail 3a. Once mounted, bracket 11 is positioned as shown in Fig. 5. The horizontal bar 6 constrains the bracket 11 against vertical movement, whilst vertical side rail 3a constrains the bracket 11 against horizontal movement.

The positioning of bracket 10 on rail 2a is effected in a similar manner, but is not shown in Fig. 2.

The bracket elements provide a tight fit on the rail 2a or 3a since (as mentioned above) the distance between the limbs of the bracket elements corresponds to the cross-section of the vertical side rails.

Fig. 3 illustrates the partially assembled frame structure in which a bracing member has been mounted in position between side frames 2 and 3. It will be seen that horizontal bars project from the space between the bracket elements.

Shelves 4 and 5 each have terminal hook formations 15 which may be engaged over the horizontal bars of the side frames, so that the shelves may now be mounted in position to complete the frame structure illustrated in Fig. 1.

The bracing member 8 imparts substantial rigidity to the frame structure.

The unit illustrated in Fig. 1 is a "single bay" unit and may be extended to a "two bay" unit by the provision of one extra frame of the type 2 or 3 and two extra shelves. For this purpose, it should be noted that the hooks 15 at any one end of a shelf are offset compared to those at the.other end. This allows two shelves to be mounted on any one horizontal bar 6 or 7 extending from opposite sides thereof.

For the "two bay" unit it is not necessary to provide a further bracing member 8. It is of course possible to extend the storage rack to a three or higher bay unit, for which purpose it may or may not be necessary to provide at least one additional bracing member 8 at a suitable position along the extended unit.

It is also possible to extend the unit upwardly. Each of the side rails 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b may be a hollow section tube. The upper unit may be constructed in a generally similar manner to that shown in Fig. 1 (but not necessarily requiring the bracing member 8) with the lower ends of the vertical side rails being formed as spigots for locating in the corresponding side rails of the lower unit.

Claims

1. A frame structure comprising two substantially vertical side frames and a bracing member extending between respective rails of the side frames, the bracing member being provided with brackets by means of which it is mounted on the rails, wherein said brackets each comprise two bracket elements spaced axially along the rail on which they are mounted and being constructed such that, to locate the bracket on the rail, the latter is positioned in the space between the bracket elements and the bracket and rail pivoted relatively to each other so that the bracket elements to move transversely to the rail from opposite directions to come into engagement with the rail.

2. A frame structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each side frame has at least one vertical rail, the bracing member being mounted between the vertical rails of the side frames.

3. A frame structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the side frames each comprise a pair of vertical side rails connected by at least one horizontal rail or the like.

4. A frame structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the horizontal rail locates between the two bracket elements.

5. A frame structure as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein a shelf is supported on the horizontal rail.

6. A frame structure as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bracket elements are generally U-shaped.

7. A frame structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bracket elements are axially spaced along a web, with the web forming a limb of each U and with each U facing in a different direction.

8. A kit of parts for assembly into a frame structure as claimed in claim 1.

9. A bracing member for a frame structure, the bracing member being provided with brackets by means of which it may be mounted on rails of side frames of the frame structure, wherein said brackets each comprise two axially spaced bracket elements and being constructed such that, to locate the bracket on the rail, the latter is positioned in the space between the bracket elements and the bracket and rail pivoted relatively so that the bracket elements will each move transversely to the rail from opposite directions to come into engagement with the rail.

10. A bracing member as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bracket elements are generally U-shaped.

11. A bracing member as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bracket elements are axially spaced along a web, with the web forming a limb of each U and with each U facing in a different direction.

12. A storage rack unit comprising two substantially vertical side frames, and a bracing member extending between respective rails of the side frames, the bracing member being provided with brackets by means of which it is mounted on the rails, wherein said brackets each comprise two bracket elements spaced axially along the rail on which they are mounted and being constructed such that, to locate the bracket on the rail, the latter is positioned in the space between the bracket elements and the bracket and rail pivoted relatively to each other so that the bracket elements each move transversely to the rail from opposite directions to come into engagement with the rail.