GB2340735A

GB2340735A - Modular shelving system

Info

Publication number: GB2340735A
Application number: GB9817974A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Hayden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-19
Filing date: 1998-08-19
Publication date: 2000-03-01
Also published as: GB9817974D0

Abstract

A modular shelving system is based on a structure having shelf members A to D of equal width but differing lengths. The basic structure forms box-like spaces of differing sizes. Additional members may be added (by undoing the joints G) to extend the structure (Figs 2-9). The shelving may be floor-standing and/or supported on a wall by brackets E. The members may be connected by dowels or screws in pre-drilled holes.

Description

2340735 MODULAR SHELVING SYSTEM This invention relates to a systciii, of

modular shelving- At present it is possible to purchase shelving units in all manner of shapes and sizes. some of ss hich are capable of extension or expansion)rid are available in kit form, to be assembled at homeChanges in lifesty-le and. as a result the spaces in ishich people live have resulted in demands for greater flexibility both in the use of space around the home and from the furniture occupy.ing that space. Traditional furniture and storage sy.stenis are often in inefficient and cumbersome use of the space available in the modern home. In addition it is important for modern furniture to be capable of adapting to changing demands, either when moving house or from changes of room use, for example (lie increasingly. common change of a spare bedroom into home office space.

According to the present imention. there is provided a sy.steni of modular shelving comprising five distinct member h-pcs. which may, be easily. assembled at home in various configurations using the simplest of fixing methods to provide the desired amount of storage space. The assembled sy.stcni illay be wholly. or parily, supported by, the floor. The sy.stern may, be fixed to a wall using simple fixing brackets and mas be extended or altered in confilguration at any. tinic.

The specific embodiment of the invention will iloix be described by- say of example iith reference to the accompiny.ing draxiings in which Figure 1 slioiis the front vicsi. of the basic module or starter unit. consisting of items A. B. C. D, E, where A. B. C. D arc shelving members of cqual \ildtli but of difTerent length and E is a Fixing bracket (eg. a steel angle bracket)- Figure 2 slioss the front vicis. of the starter unit as augmented by one package of option # 1. containing two items labelled A 1 and two labelled B 1 here A 1 is a connecting slielvi ng nicinber of similar ty.pc to A. and B 1 is a connecting shelving member of similar ty pc to B. Figure.') slioss a perspccti\c \ iess of [lie starter unit plus two packages of option #1. as described in figure 2.

C, Figure 4 shows a perspective vicis of the starter unit. as described in figure 1.

Figure 5 slios the front view of llic starter unit combined with one package of option #2. containing tiio i(ems labelled B2. xslicrc B2 is a connecting shelving member of similar ty.pc to B. and itenis labelled D2. F2. where D2 is a connecting shelving merliber of similar ty,pe to D and F2 is a connecting shelving member of equal i% idth but different length to A, B. C. D.

0 Figures 6 to 9 sliox frontal vicx%s of possible,jitcrtiitic configurations of the ffic basic meniber ly pes.

7 Referring to the drawings. the basic module is constructed of one pair of each member A. & C. D. as shown in figure 1. These pieces may. be fixed together using dowels and screws in pre-drilled holes as cach joint is fomied by siniply. butting together two members to form a 'T' or L' shape as shownPatent fixing sy.stenis may. be cmploy.ed as an alternative to screws. The unit may. then be fixed to the wall using fixing brackets E (eg. a steel angle bracket). and screws as shown in figure 1.

The starter unit iiia. be augmented by additional (seperately. available) packages Package option 41 consisting of tiso ty.pc A I tile nibers and ts%o type B I menibers (figure 2) Package option #2 consisting of two ty-pc B2 members. one tylpe D2 member plus one ty-pc F2 niciliber (figure 4).

Any number of either package nias. be added to the starter unit to provide any configuration of storage space based oil the modular shape. Furthermore the sy.stciii nias be rotated through ninely, degrees and rtxcd to a wall to provide a more vertical arrangement should conditions dictate (figures 6 and 7). Examples of alternativc configurations are shown in figures 6 to 9.

Later additions to the sy,steni are achieved by. unscrewing two joints G. wherc these joints are at diagonally opposite corners of the same rec 1, the assembled bods tangle (figures 1. 2. 5) and interposirtz., of an additional package or packages. Temporary. support should be provided before fixing to ilic wall with further fixing brackets E. for c.xiiiiple by means of inanual support.

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Claims

1. A system of shelving comprising five distinct types of shelf member of different length but equal width and a means of fixing these together to form specific configurations, where these configurations can be, in various combinations, attatched to each other in a similar manner to form larger shelving units.

2. A system of shelving as claimed in cla-im 1 where, from the front elevation, the shelf members form a connected series of open boxes, where the boxes are of two different sizes and the series must consist of alternately larger and smaller boxes..

3. A system of shelving as claimed in any preceeding claim, where the shelf members are connected by way of screw-type fixings through predrilled holes.

4. A system of shelving as claimed in any preceding claim which may be whofly or partly supported by the floor or fixed to a wall using fixing brackets.

5. A system of shelving as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, plastics, wood or wood based products, or from a combination of these materials.

6. A system of shelving substantially as herein described a-nd illustrated in the accompanying drawings.