GB2327862A

GB2327862A - Shelving with decorative side supports

Info

Publication number: GB2327862A
Application number: GB9715625A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Finney; Arthur James Greenwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-25
Filing date: 1997-07-25
Publication date: 1999-02-10
Also published as: GB9715625D0

Abstract

Adjacent shelves 11-14 are interconnected and supported at their ends by members 15-17 in the shape of letters or other indicia which may spell out a word. The rear of all the shelves may be connected by uprights 18 and a wall support 19 can be provided.

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR . SUPPORTING ARTICLES The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to an apparatus for supporting articles. In particular, the present invention relates to improvements in or relating to a shelving unit.

There are basically two types of shelving unit, namely, a wall mounted or a freestanding shelving unit.

Such shelving units usually comprise a plurality of vertical planar members attached at either end thereof to a top horizontal planar member and a bottom horizontal planar member thereby forming a frame within which the shelves are located. The shelves are generally supported within the shelf unit by a plurality of inwardly protruding support members located in the sides of the horizontal planar members.

The major disadvantage exhibited by such shelving is that the height of the shelving unit is dependent on the length of the vertical planar members.

With a view to overcoming such a disadvantage, a shelving unit comprising a plurality of shelves having a number of bricks or blocks interposed between adjacent shelves, at either end thereof, have been utilised. Such an arrangement provided a shelving unit, the height of which was not dictated by the length of the vertical horizontal planar members as was the case with the shelving unit described above.

However, the disadvantage exhibited with such brick or block incorporating shelving units is that they were not particularly sturdy and moreover, due to the weight of the bricks or blocks utilised therewith, such shelving units could not be mounted to a wall or like support member.

Moreover, such shelving units were not aesthetically pleasing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for supporting articles which at least minimises the disadvantages exhibited by such apparatus of the prior art. In particular, the apparatus for supporting articles of the present invention comprises a plurality of shelves which are securably interconnected to adjacent shelves by separate interconnecting support members, which provides a more sturdy shelving apparatus than the shelving apparatus of the prior art and, additionally, same can be wall mounted. Additionally, the present invention incorporates a decorative feature as an interconnecting support member and hence, provides an apparatus which can be easily assembled and which is less bulky than the apparatus for supporting articles of the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for supporting articles comprising a plurality of planar support members and at least one interconnecting support member in each end region for securably interconnecting adjacent planar support members, each interconnecting support member being in the form of an indicating means or having an indicating means associated therewith, for example, the interconnecting support member may have the shape of a letter, sign, object and/or numeral.

Further preferably, an apparatus for supporting articles according to the present invention comprises at least four horizontal planar support members, suitably in the form of shelves, and the interconnecting support members consist of letters which, when read vertically, make up a name, word or abbreviation for a name.

Further preferably, the apparatus for supporting articles of the present invention comprises additional support means for increasing the sturdiness of same. In a preferred embodiment, such additional support means interconnect all the planar support members and additionally, such additional support means are located at the back of the apparatus for supporting articles so that access to the front of said apparatus, with a view to obtaining the articles being supported thereby, is not hindered.

Further preferably, the apparatus for supporting articles of the present invention is also provided with a wall attachment member which assists in preventing the apparatus from falling over, for example, in the event that the apparatus for supporting articles of the present invention is located on an uneven surface.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention which comprises four horizontal planar support members, wherein adjacent planar support members are securably interconnected to one another, at each end thereof, by interconnecting support members which are letter-shaped; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one way in which an interconnecting support member of Fig.l is securably attachable to a planar support member of Fig. 1.

With reference to Fig. 1, a freestanding apparatus for supporting articles, such as a shelving unit 10, comprises a plurality of horizontal planar support members, such as shelves 11, 12, 13, 14. Adjacent shelves 11 and 12, 12 and 13, 13 and 14 are securably interconnected to one another, at each end thereof, by interconnecting support members 15, 16, 17 respectively.

In order to substantiate the sturdiness of such shelving unit 10, additional support means, such as a plurality of vertical elongate support members 18 interconnect all the shelves 11, 12, 13, 14. As illustrated, such vertical elongate support members 18 are attachable to the back of the shelves 11, 12, 13, 14 so that access to the front of the shelving unit 10, with a view to obtaining an article being supported thereby, is not hindered.

In order to assist in preventing the shelving unit from falling over, for example, where the surface on which the shelving unit 10 is located is uneven, a wall attachment member 19 can be attached to the uppermost shelf 11. Such wall attachment member 19 is attachable to a wall or like support member by fixing means (not illustrated) such as a screw or nail.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, a shelf 111 has a plurality of apertures 23 provided in the upper side thereof. One or more apertures (not illustrated) are provided on the underside of a letter-shaped interconnecting support member 115. The interconnecting support member 115 is also provided with securing means 21 adapted to receive and secure fixing means 20.

As also illustrated in Fig. 2, fixing means 20 comprises a threaded portion 20a and a top portion 20b. In order to securably attach the interconnecting support member 115 to the upper side of the shelf 111, the threaded portion 20a of the fixing means 20 is screwed into an aperture 23 so that the top portion 20b of the fixing means 20 protrudes therefrom. The skilled person will realise that more than one fixing means 20 and aperture 23 may be required depending on the shape of the interconnecting support member 115.

The interconnecting support member 115 is then placed on top of the protruding top portion 20b of the fixing means 20 such that the top portion 20b of the fixing means 20 enters the aperture (not illustrated) provided in the underside of the interconnecting support member 115.

On entering such aperture, the top portion 20b of the fixing means 20 is received by the securing means 21. By moving the securing means 21 in a tightening motion, the interconnecting support member 115 is securably attached to the upper side of the shelf 111.

Correspondingly, the upper side of the interconnecting support member 115 is attached to the underside of an adjacent shelf in a similar manner.

Suitably, an Allen Key is utilised for securing and interconnecting the various integers of the apparatus of the present invention.

The apparatus of the present invention preferably will be constructed from timber, plastics or aluminium, although it is to be understood that any other suitable type of material may be utilised Although the present invention has been described by way of example to a freestanding apparatus for supporting articles comprising four planar support members each interconnected, at each end thereof, by separate interconnecting support members, it is to be understood that the number of planar support members may vary, the number and shape of the interconnecting support members may vary and this invention is also applicable to wall-mounted apparatus for supporting articles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting articles comprising a plurality of planar support members and at least one interconnecting support member in each end region for securably interconnecting adjacent planar support members, each interconnecting support member being ifl the form of an indicating means or having an indicating means associated therewith.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interconnecting support member is shaped in the form of a letter, sign, object and/or numeral.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus comprises at least four horizontal planar support members and the interconnecting support members consist of letters which, when read vertically, make up a name, word or abbreviation of a name.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises additional support means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the additional support means interconnect all the planar support members.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claims 4 and 5, wherein the additional support means are located at the back of the apparatus, such that access to the front o; said apparatus, with a view to obtaining the articles being supported thereby, is not hindered.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a wall attachment member.

8. An apparatus for supporting articles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A shelving apparatus comprising a plurality of planar support members and at least one interconnecting support member in each end region for securably interconnecting adjacent planar support members, each interconnecting support member being in the form of an indicating means or having an indicating means associated therewith.

10. An indicating means shaped in the form of a letter, sign, object and/or numeral when used as an interconnecting support member in a shelving apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or in an apparatus for supporting articles as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.