GB2293307A - Support column for shelving - Google Patents

Abstract

Shelves are supported using a single free-standing or wall-mounted column 1 comprising two parallel uprights 2, 3 having bracket support locations 10 and which are held together as a unit at a fixed spacing eg by cross members 4. The brackets may be angled outwardly relative to each other, so as to support a shelf which is long in relation to the fixed spacing, either by making the uprights face outwardly at an angle or by using front-facing uprights with brackets which are suitably angled. A cover 5, 6, 7, 8 between the uprights may define a rear space for wiring which is brought out through spaces 9. <IMAGE>

Description

"SHELVING SYSTEM" This invention relates to shelving systems and related furniture systems for the home and office.

The invention is concerned with systems of the type comprising two or more uprights which are attached vertically to a wall or similar surface and each of which are equipped along their length with a plurality of spaced attachment means, usually holes, by which brackets may be attached at desired heights to support shelves, cupboards and the like. Although generally intended for wall mounting, nevertheless free-standing versions are possible, and display units used in shops and similar premises use the above components to create island shelving units.

The shelving systems currently available are supplied as separate parts, or occasionally as kits of parts, to be assembled by the user. Assembly can be a time-consuming operation, requiring no little skill, and the end result seems inevitably to possess a utilitarian appearance which is difficult to disguise.

The present invention seeks to provide a shelving system, which may be provided for wall fixing or as a free-standing unit, which is easier to assemble and which is able to provide an aesthetically attractive unit in the home or office environment.

According to the invention there is provided a shelving system comprising a number of uprights each of which is equipped along its length with a plurality of spaced attachment means, and a plurality of brackets of a number suitable for the desired arrangement of shelves, each of said brackets having means for supporting a shelf and attachment means for attachment to one of said uprights at a desired height, said system being characterised by comprising a single column from which all the shelves are hung, said column comprising a pair of uprights, and means for attaching said uprights together as an integral unit such that said uprights are parallel and spaced apart.

Since cupboards are often hung from the shelving brackets, it will be understood that by "shelf" or "shelving" used herein, we intend to cover cupboards and the like.

In a normal shelving system of this type, the number and positioning of the uprights is chosen so as to give secure support along the length of the shelf being fitted. In the system of the present invention, the spacing of the uprights is effectively fixed and will in practice, and in order to meet the requirements of ease of assembly and pleasing appearance, be fixed at a relatively small spacing compared with the potential length of the shelves.

We envisage a minimum spacing of 80 mm and a maximum spacing of 500 mm between the two uprights forming the column. Narrower than this, and mechanical stability will be compromised; wider than this will make the column bulky and heavy and will make it more difficult to render the unit attractive. A typical spacing will be about 200 mm.

It will be seen that the fixed, relatively small, spacing of the uprights places a limit on the length of shelving which can be accommodated. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the brackets extend from the uprights at an angle, in such a direction as to support shelves of greater length: in particular, if we take a notional line joining the two uprights, and then take an axis extending orthogonally to that line, and bisecting the line centrally between the two uprights, then the brackets will extend from the uprights in a direction such that, the further away from the upright they are, the further away they are from this axis.

These angularly-extending brackets can be realised in various ways, for example: 1) The bracket itself can be cranked so that, as it enters the upright, it will be in the conventional direction parallel to the axis but, at some position along its length, it will have a bend which causes the remainder of the bracket to its tip to extend away from the axis in the manner described above; 2) The bracket attachment means may be formed eccentrically, whereby the bracket extends away from the axis as described above; 3) The uprights themselves, forming part of the column, may be such as to present an angled face so that, when the brackets are attached, they extend away from the uprights in a direction away from the axis.

By angling the brackets, as described above, longer lengths of shelving can be achieved; for example, for an upright spacing of 200 mm, shelves of 300 mm depth and 800 mm length, or 600 mm depth and 1000 mm length can be.safely fitted. Such shelf sizes happen to be sufficient to make a most attractive small shelving unit, suitable for use, for example, as a desk, or computer workstation.

Although the basic unit comprises just a single column, and it is envisaged that this will be the normal mode of use, nevertheless it will be seen that two or more columns, suitable spaced apart, could be used to achieve greater length. Alternatively, one or more columns can be used in conjunction with an isolated upright or uprights to enable extended shelf lengths to be achieved.

Said means for attaching the uprights together will preferably comprise a plurality of spaced cross members which extend between the uprights in such a way that the basic column has a ladder-like structure with the rungs being the cross members. The cross members are fixedly attached at either end to the respective upright to make a rigid structure which can be handled as a unit Conven- iently, the cross members can incorporate clips or holes or equivalent whereby the column may be attached to a wall.

The cross members, and any wall fixing attachments, may be hidden from view by means of a cover means extending between the uprights.

Preferably the cover means is such as to create a space between the uprights which defines a conduit for the passage of services, in particular electrical wiring. Means may also be provided for dividing up this space, in the direction of the uprights, in order to define separate conduits for different classes of wiring - for example computer data, telephone services and mains wiring.

The cover means may take the form of a single cover member, extending between the uprights for their full length from top to bottom, or may take the form of a plurality of individual cover members which, when butted together, make up the full cover member. The latter arrangement can be more versatile since it enables wiring to be brought out from the wiring conduit onto the shelf positions more readily. This latter may be achieved by leaving small spaces between adjacent cover members, or by providing holes or cutouts in the cover members so as to allow wiring to pass through.

In order that the invention may be better understood, several embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a basic shelving system according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are side and frontal elevations of the shelving system of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view across the column forming part of the shelving system of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a front view of a portion of the column of Figure 4, with cover removed; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the column, illustrating the general arrangement of uprights and cross members; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing an alternative embodiment; Figure 8 is a front view of a portion of the cover member used in the embodiment of Figure 7; ; Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views showing alternative constructions of shelf brackets and uprights; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the column, showing a further alternative embodiment; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a column, illustrating a still further alternative embodiment; Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view, on a slightly enlarged scale, of a part of the column of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a free-standing version fitted as a computer workstation; Figure 15 is a frontal view of a shelving arrangement incorporating the basic shelving system of the present invention; Figures 16 A and B are side and plan views respectively of part of the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, but showing a method of fixing the shelves to the brackets using locking blocks; and Figures 17 and 18 are top and side views respectively of the locking blocks such as are used in the embodiment of Figure 16.

Reference is first made to Figures 1 to 3 which show the general arrangement of a typical basic shelving system in the form of a simple desk or computer workstation. The system comprises a vertical column 1 which in this case is attached to a wall or similar surface. The column 1 comprises a pair of uprights 2, 3 fixed together in spaced parallel relation by means of a plurality of spaced cross members 4, normally hidden from view, but one of which is shown dotted in Figure 3. Extending between the uprights is a cover member in four sections 5 to 8 which covers the space between the uprights, thus hiding the cross members and wall fixing means and at the same time defining, between itself and the wall on which the shelving system is mounted, an elongate space forming a conduit in which wiring can be accommodated.Spaces 9 are defined between adjacent cover members to enable such wiring to be brought out to the exterior, as desired.

Each of the uprights is equipped along its length with a plurality of spaced, preferably equally spaced, holes 10 by which means are attached, at desired heights, shelving brackets 11 to 16. The shelving brackets are of conventional type, incorporating fixing hooks which engage the holes 10 to firmly attach the brackets to the uprights. As will become clear later, the uprights 2, 3 are angled so that the brackets extend away from the uprights at an angle from the wall, when seen in plan.

Each pair of brackets 11, 12; 13, 14; and 15, 16 carries a respective shelf 17, 18, 19. The shelves are generally rectangular in shape and may be of graduated size, as shown in the example illustrated. Alternative shelf shapes are possible: for example, the front edge, particularly of the bottom shelf, may be curved to allow two people to sit at the desk. The rear edge of each shelf is generally straight, but is formed with a concave cut away section 23 at the centre to take account of the convex shape of the cover member. In the system illustrated, the rear edge is cut away in such a way as to leave a small space between the rear edge and the wall surface. This is advantageous in order to take account of possible irregular wall surfaces but the rear edge could, of course, be cut so that the rear edge abutted the wall, thus leaving no space for small items to drop through.

The shelf 17-19 may on occasions be secured onto each of the shelving brackets 11-16 by means of one or more locking blocks 61 as shown in Figure 16.

These locking blocks are fixed to the underside of the shelves by screws or similar means, and may contain a securing screw 62 if required.

The locking blocks are mounted in such a way to create forces which eliminate the manufacturing tolerances between the fixing hooks 60 of the shelving brackets 11-16 and the uprights 2, 3. As a consequence the shelf is firmly pressed against the uprights, the process enhanced by the provision of a shelf edge strip 63 mounted at the rear of the shelf and made of a compliant material.

The locking blocks may be located on the undersides of the shelves by means of integral projections 64, as shown, or may be screwed to the undersides of the shelves. Detailed drawings of locking blocks of this latter type are given in Figures 17 and 18. The blocks, made for convenience of plastics material, e.g. nylon, have countersunk holes 65 for receiving screws (not shown) whereby the blocks may be screwed to the undersides of the shelves. Typically the blocks are about 70 mm long and have a width suited to be a snug fit in the associated shelving bracket. Fingers 66 at the end of the block give a degree of flexibility to allow the left-hand end of the block to securely locate into the closed end of the bracket (which is rounded - see Figure 16) and thereby discourage movement.

The assembly of both locking blocks 61 and shelf edge strip 63 combine to lock the shelves securely onto the brackets and firmly against the uprights 2, 3. It will be noted that the use of the locking blocks 61 is not confined to shelving systems of the type described in the present invention; such blocks could be used with any shelving system, but particularly those of the type referred to above, and comprising a plurality of uprights and brackets attached to these uprights for supporting shelves.

The shelving system is completed by end caps 20, 21 which close off the top and bottom ends of the wiring space behind the cover member. The bottom end cap 21 may be equipped with means for introducing one or more electrical wires 22, as illustrated. In addition one or more of the shelves may have attached to their underside, or possibly to or within the adjacent column 1, a multiple electrical socket by which just a single mains flex can be brought into the shelving unit, and distribution taking place within the unit. When mounted within the column the electrical sockets are safely hidden from view.

Further detail of the construction will now be given with particular reference to Figures 4 to 6.

Referring firstly to Figure 6, the basic construction of the column 1 Is illustrated in diagrammatic form to show the ladder-like structure of the uprights and cross members. For ease of supply, it is envisaged that the column will be supplied in fixed lengths. As an example, the column shown in Figure 6 is approximately 225 mm in overall width, and 1 metre long. In order to make a shelving system such as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, two such lengths, positioned end to end, will be necessary. The break line between the two lengths is shown in Figures 2 and 3 under reference 24. For this reason the uprights shown in Figure 6 are given the reference numerals 2a and 3a to represent the fact that, in themselves, they may only form part of the complete upright.Alternatively, single lengths may be created in lengths suited to floor to ceiling heights normally associated with homes and offices.

Figures 4 and 5 show in detail the construction of a typical column length. For reference purposes, the wall surface is represented by the straight line 25 in Figure 4 although it will be understood that the unit need not necessarily be attached to a wall.

Each upright 2a, 3a comprises a generally channel section strip of rigid material such as metal or strong rigid plastics material. In the preferred form the uprights are made from steel which is given a paint finish. The channel section strip comprises opposite parallel side walls 26, 27 joined by a front wall 28. Extending from wall 26 in the manner shown is an integral flange 29 which extends along the full length of the respective wall 26. The two uprights are joined by the cross members 4, as already explained. To this end, each end of each cross member 4 is joined to one of the flanges 29 by means of spot welds 30. Other methods of attachment, such as riveting, may alternatively be used. The angle between the flange 29 and adjacent wall 26 is such as to orient the front wall 28 of the upright so that it lies at an angle, typically 300, to the wall surface 25.

The front wall 28 of each upright 2a, 3a is formed along its length with a series of equallyspaced pairs of holes in the form of slots 10. As already explained, these slots are intended to engage with corresponding elements (not shown) on the shelf brackets, and enable the brackets to be hung at selected positions along the uprights, as required.

The fixing system is well known, and will not be described further; clearly, the present invention is not to be thought of as limited to the particular system shown - there are a number of similar systems which would be equally suitable, and two alternative systems are indeed described below.

The brackets, when fitted, extend outwards from the respective upright in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of front wall 28. This is represented in Figure 4 by the lines 31 which make an included angle of approximately 600 with the wall surface 25.

Extending between the uprights 2a, 3a is a cover member 32. The cover member 32, which as already stated may be provided in sections, is formed of thin sheet material such as cardboard, plastic laminate or even thin metal and is sprung into a convex shape, latched at its edges 33 under flanges 34. The exterior surface 35 of the cover member 32 may be formed with a surface pattern according to taste, or may be left plain for the user to decorate by sticking on decorative plastic or paper.

Alternatively, rigid shaped extrusions or mouldings might be used, fitting in a similar manner.

The cover member 32 is located and supported by a pair of elongate support members 36, 37.

Although similar, the support members 36, 37 as illustrated are different and, to this extent, the left and right sides of Figure 4 separated by the centre line 61, represent different embodiments. The support members 36, 37 take the form of elongate strips, for example of plastics material which extend with the associated upright 2a or 3a. They are attached to the uprights by means of rivets 59, or similar. The support members have a multifunctional role: 1) They are equipped with a flange 34 for locating the edges 33 of the cover member 32, as described above.

2) They may be equipped with a wall portion 38 having an enlarged end 39 for supporting from behind the relatively thin cover member 32.

3) The above-mentioned wall portions 38 have the additional function of subdividing the space behind the cover member 32 into separate conduits 40, 41 and 42 for housing individual electrical services such as computer data, telephone and mains.

4) Support member 36 is equipped with a cover portion 43 which serves the additional function of covering the front wall 28 of the uprights. In the case of support member 36, this function is carried out by means of a separate self-adhesive cover strip 44.

The only other difference between the support members 36 and 37 is that, on support member 36, the wall portion 38 is spaced further inwards.

An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 7 to which reference will now be made. In this embodiment, the cover member 32 takes the form of a thin extrusion of metal or plastics material. Along each of the edges 33 an L-shaped flange 43 is formed on the inside surface, thus forming a channel section.

The outermost edge of the flange 43 is formed with a plurality of equally spaced tongues 44 which extend through corresponding slots 45 formed in the side wall 26 of each of the uprights 2a, 3a. For decoration, the whole outer surface of both the cover member 32 and the front walls 28 may be covered with a decorative material. The interior 46 can be subdivided as before by any suitable means such as by support members 36, 37 or may be left as a single conduit, as illustrated.

Figures 9 and 10 show two alternative constructions of upright and bracket. For the purpose of explanation, the following description is with reference to a representative upright 3a and bracket 15.

Referring firstly to Figure 9, the upright 3a is an extrusion having the cross sectional shape shown and in particular defining a flange 29 whereby the cross member 4 is attached in the manner described above. The remainder of the section basically comprises two parts joined by a series of equally spaced bridge pieces 47. These bridge pieces are formed by punching out the intermediate sections 48 after extrusion. The two parts define spaced apart parallel walls 49 joined by a continuous web which is punched to form the aforesaid bridge pieces, and it is between these walls that the bracket 15 is inserted in order to secure same to the upright. A lip 60 provides means for retaining the edge of a cover member (not shown) The bracket comprises sheet material, for example steel, which is shaped as shown and whose upper edge 52 is provided with means (not shown) for securing a shelf.The bracket is formed with a pair of hook-shaped portions 50 spaced apart by an amount equal to the spacing of adjacent bridge pieces 47.

In order to secure the bracket 15 to upright 3a, the bracket is offered up in the direction of arrow A so that the hook shaped portions 50 enter the spaces 48 between the bridge pieces 47. When fully home, the bracket is tapped downwards to cause the bridge pieces 47 to enter the reentrant slot 51. The spacing between walls 49 is such as to securely locate the bracket 15, and prevent substantial side to side movement, but yet not too tight on the bracket to hinder fitting and removal.

Figure 10 shows a similar arrangement to Figure 9, but in which the walls 49 are, in effect, turned through 900 so that the bracket 15 is assembled to the upright by means of entry from the side. Such a construction will give an improved frontal appearance, uncluttered by the bracket fixing holes.

In order to ensure that the bracket 15 extends outwards at an appropriate angle, as described above, a bend 53 is made at which the plane of the metal making up the bracket is bent by an angle of approximately 600, as shown.

Figure 11 shows an alternative construction of column. The principal difference over previous constructions is that the two uprights are angled so that their front walls 28 are parallel with the wall surface so that, using a conventional shelf bracket, the bracket extends outwardly at right angles to the wall surface.

The cover member 32 is made of shallow channel section sheet, such as thin metal, and is held in place between the uprights by friction. In this embodiment, no flange 29 is fitted; the cross members 4 attach directly to the side wall 26 of the uprights 2a, 3a. The drawing also illustrates fixing holes 54 in the cross member 4 by which means the column is attached to a wall surface using screws 55.

This arrangement, when used with conventional shelving brackets, will result in the brackets extending out in a direction at right angles to the wall surface. If angled brackets such as described above are desired then special cranked brackets can be used, or the hooked end of the brackets can be formed eccentrically so that, when fitted, the same effect is achieved.

Figures 12 and 13 show a further embodiment similar to those described in Figures 4 to 8, but using proprietary channel-section shelving uprights 2a, 3a which are attached together in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 6 by spaced cross members 4 which are cranked at their ends so as to fit into the interior of the uprights, as shown clearly in Figure 13, and so as to orientate the front surface 28 of the uprights at the required angle, as explained above.

The flange 67 which is formed at each end of each cross member sits on the inside bottom surface of the respective upright and is attached thereto by any suitable means, for example rivets 68 which are passed through the pre-existing fixing holes in the uprights.

The width of the flange 67 is such that the intermediate angled member 69 defines a narrow gap between itself and the adjacent inside surface of the wall 26, 27 of the upright so as to receive an elongate cover support member 70. The support member 70, which may for convenience be made as a plastic extrusion has a cross section with the shape of a narrow channel with a flange 71 at the free end of one of the walls of the channel. This flange 71 has the same purpose as the flange 34 in the embodiment of Figures 4/5, namely to locate a cover member (not shown) of sheet material which is sprung into a convex shape. The other wall 72 of the narrow channel locates between the member 69 and the adjacent inside wall of the upright and the components are preferably located so as to slightly grip the wall so as to trap the support member 70 in place.

Figures 14 and 15, which are largely selfexplanatory, show two further alternative arrangements of shelving system out of the vast number that can be made up from the system of the present invention.

The structure of Figure 14 is similar to that of Figure 1, except that the wall-mounted system of Figure 1 is replaced by a free-standing system, with a set of feet 56 used to permit the unit to stand freely (although it would, of course, be expected that it would in practice by placed against a wall, even though not attached thereto). As can be seen, by way of example, the system is arranged as a computer workstation with a keyboard on the bottom shelf 19, a monitor on the second shelf 18, and books or discs on the top shelf 17.

The wall-mounted arrangement of Figure 15, also set up as a computer workstation, is intended for situations where longer shelf lengths are desired.

This is achieved by supplying further separate uprights 57, 58 which are attached, like column 1, to the wall surface and used in the conventional manner to support rightwards extensions of the shelf 17, 18 and 19.

Claims (14)

1. A shelving system comprising a number of uprights each of which is equipped along its length with a plurality of spaced attachment means, and a plurality of brackets of a number suitable for the desired arrangement of shelves, each of said brackets having means for supporting a shelf and attachment means for attachment to one of said uprights at a desired height, said system being characterised by comprising a single column from which all the shelves are hung, said column comprising a pair of uprights, and means for attaching said uprights together as an integral unit such that said uprights are parallel and spaced apart.

2. A shelving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when considered in a plane at right angles to the general plane of said column, the brackets, or at least a part thereof which comprises said means for supporting a shelf, extend from the uprights at an angle.

3. A shelving system as claimed in claim 2 where, taking an axis defined as crossing at right angles a notional line extending between the two uprights, said angle is such that the brackets, or at least a part thereof which comprises said means for supporting a shelf, will extend from the uprights in a direction such that, the further away from the uprights they are, the further away they are from said axis.

4. A shelving system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the brackets are shaped so that, when fitted in the upright, they comprise a first portion, including said attachment means, which is generally parallel to said axis and a second, outer, portion which extends at said angle to the axis.

5. A shelving system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the bracket attachment means are formed eccentrically whereby the bracket extends away from the axis at said angle.

6. A shelving system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the uprights are angled with respect to said axis such that the brackets, when fitted, extend away from the axis at said angle.

7. A shelving system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said angle is approximately 300.

8. A shelving system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said means for attaching said uprights together comprises a plurality of spaced cross members which extend between the uprights to attach them together.

9. A shelving system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said cross members include means whereby the column may be attached to a wall surface.

10. A shelving system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a cover member extending between the uprights and creating a space behind the cover member and between the uprights which defines a conduit for services such as electrical wiring for items to be supported by the shelves.

11. A shelving system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said cover member takes the form of a plurality of cover members which may or may not be butted together to form a full cover member.

12. A shelving system as claimed in either one of claims 10 or 11 further including support members attached to said column for supporting said cover member.

13. A shelving system as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of said support members comprises an elongate member attached to a respective upright and defining a flange behind which is located the edge of the cover member to locate same in position.

14. A shelving system is claimed in claim 13 wherein said elongate member further defines a wall extending within said space to thereby sub-divide the space.