GB2341537A

GB2341537A - Support for shelving

Info

Publication number: GB2341537A
Application number: GB9820356A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Simmons
Original assignee: DIXIONS CONNECTABLES Ltd
Current assignee: DIXIONS CONNECTABLES Ltd
Priority date: 1998-09-19
Filing date: 1998-09-19
Publication date: 2000-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-19
Also published as: GB2341537B; GB9820356D0

Abstract

A support for shelving mounted on vertical rods 10 includes a first part 11 of inverted J-shape fixed to the rod (as by pins 12 engaging holes in the rod) and a second part 17 having a downwardly open cavity (21) which receives part 11 and a surrounding rim 19 for supporting a shelf. A nib 16 engages an opening 22 in the cavity wall whereby the parts 11 and 17 snap-fit together. The tail 23 of the J extends out of the cavity and can be deflected to release the nib and hence the part 17.

Description

1. 2341537 SUPPORT HMS" This invention relates to support means for

supporting an article such as a shelf at a chosen height along an elongated, generally vertical member as a rod.

Many shelving systems have been prop in the past but all present problems either of complexity, and therefore cost, or lack of versatility and in particular ease of disassembly. A principal object of the present invention is to improve upon prior art shelving systems and like support Means.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a support weans for supporting an article such as a shelf at a chosen height along an elongated, generally vertical member as a rod, the support mans comprising a first component adapted to be fixed at said chosen height to said vertical member so as to have a downwardly extending tail portion and a second component adapted to s=ound said vertical member so as to have a downwardly-opening cavity to receive said f irst component in an assembled condition of said first and second components, said tail portion and said cavity having formations which snap-engage as said first component is received in said cavity and said tail portion extending out of the cavity in the assembled condition of the components and being bendable to disengage said formations when it is desired to raise the second component relative to the. first component.

Preferably the said formations are an opening in the wall of the cavity and a nib which projects outwardly with respect to the tail por. tion and which is positioned to snap-engage into said opening as the first component is fully received into the cavity.

The second component may have a substantially flat, load-bearing rim surrounding a domed central region in which said cavity is formed.

The first component may be generally of inverted j-, in the assembled condition the longer limb of the i forming said tail portion and extending downwardly and Outwardly with respect to the vertical member.

The components are preferably moulded from a resilient plastics material.

2 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which:

Figures 1 & 2 show in sectional elevation support means in accordance with the invention engaging a vertical rod respectively in a pre- assembled and in an assembled condition.

The rod_ 10 of Figure 1 may be one of four or more similar rods upstanding in mutually spaced relation to support a number of shelves (not shown) at chosen heights along the lengths of the rods. In accordance with the present invention the height of a given shelf is determined by the position along rod 10 at which a first component 11 is fixed to it. This fixture is by any known suitable means, in the example illustrated by means of lugs 12 which penetrate holes in the rod 10. It will be understood that in place of pin 12 a nut and bolt may be used, and the bolt may if desired pass through aligned holes diametrically opposite one another in the wall of rod 10. It is within the scope of the invention to use a known means of fixture or engagement of rod 10 by the first component 11 which does not require the rod 10 to be formed with holes such as 13, but a pin or bolt passing through a hole in the rod will provide a relatively strong and stable means of support.

The first component 11 is generally of inverted J-shape, its shorter limb 14 being secured by lugs 12 to the rod 10 and its longer limb 15 extending outwardly and downwardly with respect thereto. At a position intermediate the ends of the longer limb 15 a nib 16 projects outwardly therefrom. The component 11 is moulded from a resilient plastics material so that the longer limb 15, constituting a tail portion, is bendable toward the rod 10.

A second component 17, which may be moulded from a similar material, has a domed central part 18 rising from and s = aunded by a flat, plate-like rim 19. The second component 17 has a central aperture 20 which surrounds the rod 10 and the dome 18 is formed on one side' of this aperture 20 with a downwardly-opening cavity 21. The shape and dimensions of this cavity 21 are such that as the component 17 moves downwardly from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 the f irst component 11 is received into the cavity 21 and the tail 15 is deflected toward the rod 10 until the nib 16 snap-engages into an opening 22 in the wall of the cavity. In this position, with the shorter limb 14 of the f irst component fully 3.

received into the cavity 21 and the junction between limbs 14 and 15 of component 11 abutting the top of cavity 21 the distal end 23 of tail portion 15 projects out of the cavity so as to be accessible under the rim 19 of the second component.

In this position the second component 17 is immovable downwardly and its rim 19 may support any desired load, such as a shelf. Snap engagement of nib 16 In opening 22 prevents inadvertent movement of component 17 upwardly with respect to component 11 and for example prevents the component 17 falling off the upper end of rod 10 during a pre-assembly or pre-erection stage. However when it is desired to disassemble the components 11 and 17 finger pressure on the exposed end 23 of the tail 15 will be sufficient to disengage the nib 16 from the opening 22, permitting the cient 17 to be raised.

The reception of nearly all of the first component 11 into the cavity 21 of the second component 17 presents a smooth, neat appearance especially as viewed from above, but without any consequent disadvantage either in having no positive connection between the components or in having difficulty m separating them.

It will of course be understood that if desired more than one first component 11 may be associated with the second component 17. Cnents 11 may be secured to rod 10 at the same position along its length but in circumferentially spaced relation and the second component 17 may have a corresponding number of cavities 21 or one large enough to accommodate all associated first components 11.

4

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Support means for supporting an article such as a shelf at a chosen height along an elongated, generally vertical member such as a rod, the support means comprising a first component adapted to be fixed at said chosen height to said vertical member so as to have a downwardly extending tall portion and a second component adapted to s=ound said vertical member so as to have a downwardly"Opening cavity to receive said first component in an assembled condition of said first and second components, said tail portion and said cavity having formations which aw- engage as said first component is received in said cavity and said tail portion extending out of the cavity in the assembled condition of the components and being bendable to disengage said formations when it is desired to raise the second component relative to the first component.

2. Support means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said formations are an opening in the wall of the cavity and a nib which projects outwardly with respect to the tail portion and which is positioned to snap-engage into said opening as the first component is fully received into the cavity.

3. Support means as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein the second component has a substantially flat, load-bearing rim surrounding a domed central region in which said cavity is formed.

4. support means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first component is generally of inverted J-shape, in the assembled condition the longer Limb of the J forming said tail portion and extending downwardly and outwardly with respect to the vertical member.

5. support means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the components are moulded from a resilient plastics material.

6. Support means for supporting an article such as a shelf at a chosen height along an elongated, generally vertical member such as a rod substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying Drawing.