GB2359734A

GB2359734A - Shelf assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2359734A
Application number: GB0114206A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neville Waisbrod
Original assignee: Formway Furniture Ltd
Current assignee: Formway Furniture Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-26
Filing date: 1998-06-22
Publication date: 2001-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-22
Also published as: GB2359734B; GB0114206D0

Description

1 b 2359734 A WORK STATION SUPPORT AND/OR A MOUNTrNG BRACKET USED IN SAID

WORK STATION SUPPORT This invention relates to a work station support and a mounted bracket for use in work station support.

In the modem office enviro=en a work station should be designed to provide an ergonomically acceptable and convenient environment for a worker. Included in the requirements is a need for work station supports which can carry shelves or screens to create the required holding space and space separation. "Work stadon as used in this specification is intended to cover any operator area where there is a desk or top for enabling office type work to be undn.

llere we many systems recognised for providing a stable support for shelves associated with a working environment for examPle, the univ=al shelf system disclosed in US Patent 4098408, the me= of providing a convcnient fitmg for a cantilever shelf as disclosed inUS Patent 4736918 and the mean of locldnf ffle shelf in position as disclosed in US Patent 43 243 79. Within the mod=n oflice en-vironment it is desirable to provide a fitting for supporting a shelf or screen which can be engaged in position and once in position held or locked in place. It is also advantageous if assembly can be preformed without the assistance of a skilled artisan and preferably without requiring any tools.

The present invention is directed to providing a work station support which is cffec&e and sec= in use but which nay be easily ass=bird or dismantled for example allowing a work station to be adapted for changing conditions in the work place_ Inont aspect the invention consists of a work station suppon -comprising two mounting brackets wanged in use to be aniched to a work station top at a spaced relationship, each mounting bracket having a fixing plate and an arm extending from said fixing plate., two separate key hole slots formed in said fixing plate at a locus about a centre of rotation of is said fixing plate, the wider pwt of each key hole slot being adapted to gc over the bead of a mounting stud in use and upon rotation of the fixing plate for the studs to be moved to the nwrower pan of each key hole slot fbr engaging the mounting bracket to the -2.

work station with the end of the arm when the fixing plate is iu the CUMed position locatable in an accessible position, said key hole slots being formed to require the fidng pL-&-s to be rot=d in opposite directions to move to the engaged position, holding means at or adjacent the end of each aim support means engageable with said holding men= when the moun=g bracket are md in position with the fitted, support means lacking each mounting bracket in the engaged position.

In another aspect the invention cOnsisu in 3 mounting bracket comprising a fLxing plate wmged to enpge the surface of a work staton top, an UM extending C= saic, fixing plate with the end of the a= arranged in use to be located in an accessible position when the fficing plate is mgagedwith the work stadon top, holding mewu at or towards the fl= end of the arni, two separate key hole slots in said fixing plate, said key hole slots being formed on a locus about a centre of rotuion of said fixing plates so that in use the wider part of each key hole slot may be engaged over the beads of mounting studs and the fixing plate romied to move the studs to the umower part of the key hole slot so that the fxing plate in use is engaged with the work station top.

In the Drawings; A preferred =bodiment of the invention will now be descTibed with reference to the accompanyinS drawings in which., Figure 1 is an elevation showing a work station support according to the present Invention fitted in place on a work station; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mounting bracket used.in the work station support, Figure 3 is a plan view of the mounting bracket in tgwe 2; Fig= 4 is an end view of the mounting bracket; Fig= 5 is a detafl of the suppoTt posts and shelf supporting fim= in the work station support; Figure 6 is a detail of the under surface of a shelf to be supported on the shelf support arms; Fig= 7 is an cleyafion of a retafinin arm associated with the shelf on the work station support; and Figure 9 is a side view of the retaining arm.

The present invention is designed to provide a work stadon support which will allow the 3- m. g ofa shelf or shelves and/or a screen relative to the work staficm top, he work station top may be the top of a desk or a bench or any other flat work surface that is louted and designed to pro,,ide the worlding environment for a worker.

In figure 1 the work station top 1 has associated therewith a shelf 2 and a screen 3 using the work station support according to the present invention. The work station support has two mounting bmact 4 attached to the under surface of a work station top 1 at a spaced relationship.

The mounting bracket 4 is detailed in figures 2 to 4 of the drawings and has a circular fixing plate 5 with an aim 6 extending centrally from the under surface thereof and arranged so did in use the end or head 7 of fix arm protrudes beyond the edge of the work station top. In use the circular fIxing plate of each mounting bracket 4 is fixed in a camplimentaty recess cxcnding in from the under surface of the work stat on top as will be described here below.

An aperture or socket 8 is formed dirough the head 7 and located in use. when the bracket is engaged in place so that a post supported in the ape=e 8 win rise substantially vmtcaUy from the work station top.

A face plate 9 is armched to the outer end of the had 7 and on the outside face of the face plate are located two headed studs 10 substantially in line with the axis through tlic aperture 8. The headed studs 10 are wmged to engage with apertums in the screen 3 to =able the screen 3 to be supported in a position as illustrated in:Eg= 1.

The circular fixing plate 5 of the mounting bracket 4 has formed therein two key hol c slots or openings 11 and 12 preferably arranged diametrically opposed to each other and on a locus about the centre of the plate 5. Each key hole opening has a central part 13 with narrower extensions 14 and 15 on the locus about the centre of the plate and extending in either direction from the centmI apertum 13. This gives an either handed operation to the bracket 4 but it will be understood that it would be possible within the ambit of the invention to create the brackets so diat the key hole slots fimction with either a left or ri& handed operation. Also while less convenient the mounting bracket could operate with other than a circular fucing plate and with the keyhole slots arranged in other than a strictly diarnetrical opposed c 0 - On the under side of the work station top is formed a circular recess 16 of a size to 1 cooperatively receive the circular fixing plate 5, two headed studs 17 are pre-positioned in the recess and arranged to be engaged by the key hole slots in the fixing plate 5. TWS means fflat the fixing studs 17 are located so they do not protrude from the under surface of the work station top ensuring greater convenience in handling the work station top during transportation to the site for assembly.

When the work station site has been assembled the two sites for the mounting brackets 4 each have fixed thereto a mounted bracket 4 by engaging the fixing plate 5 over the studs and rotating the arms 6 towards each other, that is taking advantage of the either handed operation of the apertures in the fixing plate. This operation can quickly and easily be 1,fc,a,ej without any tools and leaves the fixing brackets in an engaged position extending from the work station top ready to receive a screen or a shelf support fi=e.

Once the brackets have been fitted in place the screen 3 can be engaged from the headed studs 10. The screen will thus operate to retain the brackets in place. Alternatively the shelf support frame can be engaged with the arms and will also serve the same function. Clearly as illustrated in figure 1 both the screen and shelf support fi=e could if desired be fitted at the same time.

The shelf support is fflustrated in figure 5 and comprises two posts 18 each having a lower end 19 of reduced diameter to engage through the aperture 8. In the illustrated preferred example two arms 20 are provided, one extending from each DOSt 18, and a connecting brace 21 joins the arms. This means that when the posts18 are engaged in the fitted brackets 4 the brackets are not free to rotate and hence are locked in position.

The shelf 2 on the under surface has complimentary grooves 22 into which will fit the arms 20 and a groove 23 into which the brace 21 will engage. The connection may be affected by any suitable fastening means but preferably it has been found desirable to fix the shelf in place by using an adhesive to retain the arms 20 and brace 21 in place in their respective grooves.

Within the ambit of the invention it would be possible to have a different support ftme to hold the shelf but it would be desirable to ensure that in the support frame once the posts are in position there is a locking action to retain the brackets in place if this function was not fulfilled by the screen. The manner in which the shelf is connected to the posts could utilise any of the numerous means of Cowing detachable attachment of shelves to "-i the posts.

For convenient operation at a work station one of the requirements is to retain in a tidy manner material stored on the shelf The Present invention addresses this requirement by providing a back rail 25 extending through appropriately positioned apertures 24 towards the top of the posts. The top of the posts preferably include a threaded aperture into which the threaded stem of a top 26 may engage and when engaged act to lock or retain the back rail 25 in position. The rail 25 provides a back stop for articles on the shelf but also more importantly ensures a support for retaining arms that can be used to retain articles on the shelf A retaining arm is illustrated in figures 7 and 8 of the drawings.

Two such retaining aims are provided in an opposite handed relationship on the rail 25.

The rail 25 and retaining arms could be dispatched separately and could be assembled on site without requiring any tools for such fitting.

is The retaining arm comprises a bush 29 having a slidable fit on the rail 25 and an arm 27 shaped to extend up and away from the bush efilectively parallel with the rail 25. The arm then continues as an are or suitably shaped end 28 to act as a holder or stop. Any force st the section 28 of the arm will tilt the bush 29 causing it to engage or lock on the rail 25 thus efFecting the retaining action required. By a suitable pressure to relocate the bush the holder can be located so that the bush can freely slide along the rail 25. In this way a convenient retaining means is formed on the back rail 25 to be used in association with the shelf 2.

The present invention desirably encapsulates the advantages for the work station support provided by the mounting bracket and the shelf support but an effective support could be achieved using a fixing plate which is fixed by more conventional fastenings such as by screws into the under surface of the work station while sti.11 preserving the remaining features of the present invention as disclosed and it is intended that this should be incorporated within the ambit of the present invention.

As stated above the screen 3 can be fitted separately or it may be included with the shelf support. In many instances it will be desirable for a screen to be fitted by itself.

Where the screen is supplied it is desirable to ensure there is a degree of height adjustability and this can be achieved by providing a plurality of apertures and vertical rows spaced to correspond with the location of the studs 10 on the facing plate of the fixed mounting brackets 4. The screen can be of any convenient material but preferably 1 6- a peribrated metal screen is both aesthcdcally pleasing and convenimit for Atting in position to retain the mounting brackets in plwe. Selecting &c appropriare apern= to me the height of the screen allows the scre= to be fitted by engaging ffic &=c= apern=s ov= die hea& of the smd 10 md allowing the scr= to drop j 0 the su"o m rted position. Tle screen can assume the pcdph=al of the work station pedph=y allowing for a fle--cbility in design tlw is desirable in the mod= worldug =vironmem The present invention thus has a numbcr of advantages in establishing a modem and =nvcúcntly adle work station suppeft for a shelf or shelves or a screen associated with a work station top in an office or office type environment \-y

Claims

A shelf assembly comphising:

a shelf having a front, a back and a length direction; a rail having a longitudinal axis extending substantially in the length direction of the shelf, adjacent the back of the shelf, above the level of the shelf to act as a backstop; a retainer comprising a single engagement portion, the engagement portion encircling the rail such that with a main axis of the engagement portion aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rail, a sliding fit is provided therebetween, the retainer being movable to a tilled position to misalign. the main axis and the longitudinal axis of the rail such that the engagement portion engages with the rail; the retainer flather comprising a retaining arm extending transversely across the shelf to act as a holder or stop for items on the shelf; is wherein the retainer is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the raiL
2. The shelf assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rail is m- the form of a rod and the engagement portion is in the form of a bush.
3. The shelf assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bush has a length exceeding the internal diameter.
4. The shelf assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the 25 retaining arm includes an arc extending across the shelf, in a plane substantially orthogonal to the plane of the shelf
5. The shelf assembly as claimed in clahn 4 wherein the retaining arm includes a first portion extending between the engagement portion and the arc, effectively parallel 30 with the rail.
6. The shelf assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the engagement portion, the first portion and the are are of integral construction.
7. The shelf assembly as claimed in claim 5 or clailm 6 wherein there are two such retainers with the respective first portions arranged to extend in opposite directions.

j
8. The shelf assembly as claimed in any - one of the preceding claims further including two upright posts, two shelf supporting arms extending from a respective posts to support the shelf, with the rail extending between the two posts.
9.

The shelf assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.