GB2441387A

GB2441387A - A Bracket for Attaching a Shelf to a Frame

Info

Publication number: GB2441387A
Application number: GB0617137A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Robinson
Original assignee: KE GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: KE GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-31
Filing date: 2006-08-31
Publication date: 2008-03-05
Also published as: EP1894491A1; GB0617137D0

Abstract

A bracket (1) comprises two hook-shaped projections (3, 4) for insertion through two apertures (18) in an upright elongated member (17) of a frame (7) and at least one hook-shaped projection (5, 6) for insertion through an aperture (21) in a shelf (8).

Description

A Bracket for Attaching a Shelf to a Frame The invention relates to a

bracket for attaching a shelf to a frame.

It is known to directly attach a shelf to a frame using screws and nuts.

However, a problem with this known system is that it is time consuming to assemble as the shelf must be aligned before the screws can be located in the screw holes, and the screws must be loosely screwed in before they can be tightened up. Moreover, the known system requires two persons for assembly, one person to hold the shelf in place and one person to locate the screws in the screw holes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bracket which allows the n... assembly time to be reduced, and which allows a shelf to be attached to a frame * by one person.

: According to a first aspect, the invention provides a bracket for attaching a shelf to a frame, the bracket comprising means for attaching the bracket to the frame and means for attaching the shelf to the bracket, the shelf-attaching I...

means comprising at least one projection for insertion through an aperture in the * shelf so that the shelf hangs on the projection.

With the invention, it is possible to first attach a number of brackets to a frame, and then to attach a shelf to the brackets by inserting each projection through an aperture in the shelf. This means that it is not necessary to hold the shelf in place while the brackets are located, with the result that it becomes possible for one person to attach a shelf to a frame.

Said projection may be hooked. The term hooked' as used herein means curved or bent. Using a hooked projection has the result that it becomes more difficult to accidentally dislodge a shelf once it has been attached to one or more brackets.

Said projection may comprise two sections which are substantially perpendicular to one another.

Said projection may be substantially planar.

The bracket may comprise one or more apertures for receiving a fixing for preventing removal of said projection once it has been inserted through an aperture in the shelf.

The bracket may comprise at least two said projections. Having more than one projection increases the strength and stability of the connection between the bracket and the shelf.

Said projections may be aligned with one another but spaced apart.

Said frame-attaching means may comprise two projections for insertion ". through two apertures in the frame.

Each of said projections may be hooked.

Each of said projections may comprise two sections which are .. substantially perpendicular to one another.

* . Said projections may be opposed such that the free ends of the two projections face in opposite directions.

The bracket may be made from any suitable material, for example it may be made from a single piece of sheet metal. This piece of sheet metal can then be folded to form the bracket. Alternatively, it may be made from a plastics material.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a shelf which comprises at least one aperture for receiving a projection on a bracket, preferably a hooked projection.

Said aperture may comprise two sections which are substantially perpendicular to one another.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a frame which comprises at least one upright elongate member comprising a series of spaced apart apertures for receiving a projection on a bracket, preferably a hooked projection.

The invention will now be illustrated by way of example with reference to the following drawings of which; Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bracket according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of a piece of sheet metal used to assemble the bracket of Figure 1; and Figures 3a to 3h show the bracket of Figure 1 in use.

The bracket 1 of Figure 1 comprises a body 2 comprising four hooked projections 3, 4, 5, 6. *...

Two of the projections 3, 4 are for attaching the bracket 1 to a frame 7 and two of the projections 5, 6 are for attaching a shelf 8 to the bracket 1.

Each of the projections 5, 6 for attaching a shelf 8 to the bracket 1 is planar and comprises two sections 9, 10 which are perpendicular to one another so that the projection is substantially L-shaped. The projections 5, 6 are identical and are in alignment with one another, but spaced apart. Two apertures 11 are located in each projection 5, 6. The apertures 11 of the two projections 5, 6 are aligned.

Each of the projections 3, 4 for attaching the bracket to a frame 7 also consists of two sections 12, 13 which are substantially perpendicular to one another. However, instead of being planar, each projection 5, 6 consists of two aligned planar faces 14 joined together by a web 15, so that the planar faces 14 are spaced apart.

The body 12 consists of two spaced apart substantially rectangular planar members 16.

The two projections 5, 6 for attaching a shelf 8 to the bracket 1 are attached to the upper edge of the body 2, at one end of the body 2, one on each of the spaced apart members 16. The free ends of the projections 5, 6 project over the body 2.

The two projections 3, 4 for attaching the bracket 1 to a frame 7 are attached to the lower edge of the body 2, one at each end. These two projections 3, 4 are opposed such that the free ends of the two projections 3, 4 face in opposite directions. Thus, one of the projections 4 points in the same direction as the shelf-attaching projections 5, 6, and one of the projections 3 points in the opposite direction to the shelf-attaching projections 5, 6. The free end of the former projection 4 is longer than the free end of the latter projection 3.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the bracket 1 of Figure 1 is made from a cut-out piece of sheet metal, which can be folded to form the bracket 1.

Figures 3a to 3h show the bracket 1 of Figure 1 being used to attach a shelf 8 to a frame 7. The frame 7 is a 19 inch rack, commonly used for carrying servers and other electronic equipment. S.. * . S...

The frame 7 comprises a number of upright elongate members 17, each of which include a series of square apertures 18.

The shelf 8 includes a flange 19 of substantially L-shaped cross-section attached to the rear edge of the shelf platform 20. The flange 19 includes a series of L-shaped slots 21 located at the point where the two sections of the L-shaped flange 19 meet one another.

The bracket 1 is attached to the frame 7 by inserting one of the frame-attaching projections 4 through a first aperture 18 in the frame 7 with the bracket 1 at an angle to the frame 7, rotating the bracket 1 and then inserting the other of the frame-attaching projections 3 through a second aperture 18 beneath the first aperture 18, and lowering the bracket 1 so that it comes to rest against the lower edge of the second aperture 18.

This process is repeated on other upright elongate members 17 of the frame 7 until there are sufficient brackets 1 to support the shelf 8.

Once this has been done, the shelf 8 may be simply lowered on to the brackets 1 so that the two shelf-attaching projections 5, 6 are inserted through an adjacent pair of L-shaped slots 21. The slots 21 are configured so as to be able to line up with the brackets 1 no matter where they are positioned within the frame 7. Finally, self-tapping screws 22 are inserted through the apertures 11 in the shelf-attaching projections 5, 6 to prevent removal of the shelf 8 from the brackets 1. * * * S.. S... * S * S *

S *... * . *..*

S

S..... S *

Claims

Claims 1. A bracket for attaching a shelf to a frame, the bracket

comprising means for attaching the bracket to the frame and means for attaching the shelf to the bracket, the shelf-attaching means comprising at least one projection for insertion through an aperture in the shelf so that the shelf hangs on the projection.

2. A bracket according to claim 1, wherein said projection is hooked.

3. A bracket according to claim 2, wherein said projection comprises two sections which are substantially perpendicular to one another.

4. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein said projection is substantially planar.

5. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the bracket comprises one or more apertures for receiving a fixing for preventing removal of the projection once it has been inserted through an aperture in the shelf.

*** 6. A bracket according to any preceding claim, the bracket comprising at least two said projections.

7. A bracket according to claim 6, wherein said projections are aligned with one another, but spaced apart.

8. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein said frame-attaching means comprises two projections for insertion through two apertures in the frame.

9. A bracket according to claim 8, wherein each said projection is hooked.

10. A bracket according to claim 9, wherein each said projection comprises two sections which are substantially perpendicular to one another.

11. A bracket according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said projections are opposed such that the free ends of the two projections face in opposite directions.

12. A bracket according to any preceding claim, which is made from a single piece of sheet metal.

13. A bracket for attaching a shelf to a frame substantially as described herein or as shown in the drawings.

14. A shelf which comprises at least one aperture for receiving a projection on a bracket.

15. A shelf according to claim 14, wherein each said aperture is suitable for receiving a hooked projection.

16. A shelf according to claim 15 wherein said aperture comprises two sections which are substantially perpendicular to one another. * * S ** *

17. A shelf substantially as described herein or as shown in the drawings.

*..*.* 18. A frame which comprises at least one upright elongate member **** comprising a series of spaced apart apertures for receiving a projection on a bracket.

19. A frame according to claim 18, wherein each said aperture is suitable for receiving a hooked projection.

20. A frame substantially as described herein or as shown in the drawings.