GB2326815A - Shelf arrangement - Google Patents

Description

SHELF ARRANGEMENT This invention relates to a shelf arrangement which can be used, for example, for supporting containers holding components for assembly.

Components for assembly are often supplied in containers such as standard size "Eurocontainers" and for the purposes of efficiency it is generally desirable to avoid transferring the components from one container to another prior to their use. There is therefore a need for some form of support arrangement to hold a number of containers in a manner which provides ready ergonomic access to the contents. In this respect it has been found that simply providing a storage rack in which one container is supported above another with a small space therebetween is unsatisfactory.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shelf arrangement for supporting containers or the like and which provides ready access to the contents of the containers.

According to the present invention there is provided a shelf arrangement comprising a plurality of frame members for supporting a plurality of shelf members in the region of each end thereof, and a plurality of shelf members secured to the frame members, the shelf members being positioned one below the other with the or each lower shelf member protruding beyond the shelf member thereabove so as to facilitate access to the or each lower shelf member.

The or each lower shelf member may be provided with a lip along that edge thereof protruding beyond the shelf member thereabove. If desired, all shelf members may be provided with a lip along that edge thereof corresponding to the protruding edge of the or each lower shelf member.

The or each shelf member may be arranged in substantially parallel planes. For example, the or each shelf member may be arranged to be substantially horizontal. Alternatively, the or each shelf member may be arranged to be inclined with the protruding edge of the or each lower shelf member lower than the opposite edge thereof.

Alternatively, the upper shelf member may be arranged to be substantially horizontal and the lower shelf member may be arranged to be inclined with the protruding edge of the lower shelf member lower than the opposite edge thereof.

The shelf members may be adjustable between a substantially horizontal configuration and an inclined configuration.

The frames may be in the form of an upturned U-shape. A bracing member may be provided between the legs of the Ushape.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of part of a frame for use in a shelf arrangement according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a first shelf for use in a shelf arrangement according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a second shelf for use in a shelf arrangement according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a shelf arrangement incorporating the components of Figures 1 to 3 in a first configuration; and Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a shelf arrangement incorporating the components of Figures 1 to 3 in a second configuration.

The shelf arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a pair of frames 1 as shown in Figure 1. The frames are each generally in the form of an upturned U-shaped member 3 provided with a lateral bracing member 5 extending between the legs of the U-shaped member. The frame may be made, for example, of mild steel tube having a diameter of about 25 mm, although other materials and dimensions may be used if desired dependent on required shelf capacity. The material of the tube may be provided with a protective coating if desired.

Each leg of the U-shaped member is provided with a number of holes 7 therethrough, the purpose of which will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The holes 7 are arranged in pairs, one hole in each of the legs, each pair being positioned a predetermined distance from the ends of the legs of the U-shaped member. In the illustrated embodiment, four pairs of holes 7 are provided in each frame 1.

The shelf 9 shown in Figure 2 comprises a substantially planar base provided with an upstanding lip 11 around three sides thereof. In practice, lip lla is provided on opposite sides of the shelf where the shelf is to be secured to the frames 1 and lip llb is provided along a further side extending between the two opposite sides, the lip 11b serving in practice to retain a container (not shown) on the shelf. It should be noted that it is convenient for the lip 11 to be upstanding along all three sides, but this is not essential. If desired, the lip Ila could be arranged downwardly where the shelf 9 is to be secured to the frames 1.

The shelf 9 may be made of sheet mild steel, which may be protected with a suitable coating. However, the shelf may be made of any suitable material. Moreover, it is not essential that the shelf should be made of a solid sheet of material and the material may be perforated or formed as a mesh provided it has sufficient strength to support the anticipated load.

The opposite sides of the shelf 9 are provided with a number of holes 13, 15, 17 to enable the shelf to be mounted on the frames 1. Holes 13 are positioned close to the free edge of the shelf. Holes 17 are positioned close to the other edge of the shelf (provided with the lip lib), and holes 15 are positioned close to the holes 17 intermediate the holes 13 and 17.

Holes 13 and 15 are positioned to correspond to a pair of laterally opposing holes 7 provided in the frames 1 with the result that the shelf 9 is arranged substantially horizontally when mounted in this manner.

Holes 13 and 17 are positioned to correspond to a pair of offset holes 7 provided in the frames 1 with the result that the shelf 9 is inclined when mounted in this manner with the lip llb being at a level lower than the free edge of the shelf. In this case, the lip llb prevents a container sliding off the inclined shelf.

To allow for manufacturing tolerances, one or more of the holes 13, 15 and 17 may be somewhat elongate in a plane substantially parallel to the shelf to ensure the shelf can readily be secured to the frames 1. Indeed, if desired the holes 15 and 17 could be combined into a single elongate slot.

The shelf 19 shown in Figure 3 is generally similar to the shelf 9 shown in Figure 2 and the same reference numerals are used to denote the same of similar parts.

The shelf 19 differs from the shelf 9 only in that it is wider. That is, the holes 13, 15 and 17 are spaced as in the shelf 9, but there is a greater distance between the holes 17 and the lip llb. The effect of this is that the front lip of the shelf 19 protrudes forwardly of the frames 1 to a greater distance than the shelf 9.

One embodiment of the assembled shelf arrangement according to the present invention is shown in Figure 4. As can be seen, the relatively narrow shelf 9 is mounted above the relatively wide shelf 19 such that the front lip lib of the lower shelf protrudes beyond the front lip of the upper shelf. This significantly aids access to the lower shelf as compared with using two shelves 9.

The shelves 9 and 19 are secured to the frames 1 by any convenient means, such as nuts and bolts.

Of course, the arrangement can include more than two shelves provided each lower shelf protrudes forwardly beyond the shelf above.

It should be noted that shelves can be mounted to either side of a frame to extend the shelving laterally, provided the regions of the free ends of the outermost shelves are each supported by a frame.

Figure 5 shows how the shelves 9 and 19 can be arranged at an inclination. However, it should be noted that it is not essential to incline both the lower and the upper shelf and that it could be desirable to incline the lower shelf but to arrange the upper shelf substantially horizontally. The configuration of the shelf arrangement can be altered to suit the user simply by removing the nuts and bolts and replacing them after the shelves have been re-positioned.

It should be noted, however, that the shelf arrangement can also be manufactured so as to be fixed, i.e. not adjustable.

Claims (11)

1. A shelf arrangement comprising a plurality of frame members for supporting a plurality of shelf members in the region of each end thereof, and a plurality of shelf members secured to the frame members, the shelf members being positioned one below the other with the or each lower shelf member protruding beyond the shelf member thereabove so as to facilitate access to the or each lower shelf member.

2. A shelf arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each lower shelf member is provided with a lip along that edge thereof protruding beyond the shelf member thereabove.

3. A shelf arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein all shelf members are provided with a lip along that edge thereof corresponding to the protruding edge of the or each lower shelf member.

4. A shelf arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each shelf member is arranged in substantially parallel planes.

5. A shelf arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each shelf member is arranged to be substantially horizontal.

6. A shelf arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each shelf member is arranged to be inclined with the protruding edge of the or each lower shelf member lower than the opposite edge thereof.

7. A shelf arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper shelf member is arranged to be substantially horizontal and the lower shelf member may be arranged to be inclined with the protruding edge of the lower shelf member lower than the opposite edge thereof.

8. A shelf arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shelf members are adjustable between a substantially horizontal configuration and an inclined configuration.

9. A shelf arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frames are in the form of an upturned U-shape.

10. A shelf arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein a bracing member is provided between the legs of the U-shape.

11. A shelf arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.