GB2534881A

GB2534881A - Stacking modular box shelving system

Info

Publication number: GB2534881A
Application number: GB1501732.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pole Laurence
Original assignee: Avocet Eng Services Ltd
Current assignee: Avocet Eng Services Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-03
Filing date: 2015-02-03
Publication date: 2016-08-10
Also published as: GB201501732D0

Abstract

A modular box shelving system comprising a plurality of modules that are stacked and to suit the users storage and display needs. The modules are made from 4 side panels in a range of incremental sizes, both in width and length, to allow a wide range of different sized square or rectangular modules to be made. The side panels may be joined together via a variety of joint configurations including butt joints fixed using mechanical means and/or adhesive, or woodworking joint such as a mitre, dovetail or interlocking comb joint to form a box. Preferably sequential interlocking comb joints, allows the corner nodes of an array of modules to have the same appearance (fig 3) regardless of the orientation of the modules. The panels have a plurality of incrementally spaced apertures, that allow the modules to be interlocked via collared dowels (fig 6), or mechanical fixings (fig 7), to form temporary or permanent shelving arrangements. The modules may be fixed together either vertically to form a stack, and/or horizontally to form bridge sections. The modules may have an optional back panel, and may be used as open fronted shelves, fitted with doors or drawers.

Description

Stacking modular box shelving system This invention relates to a modular stackablc box shelving system.

There is a wide requirement for a high quality and versatile shelving system, for storage and/or display of books and other items.

The present invention proposes a system constructed from a range of precisely manufactured standard parts of incremental sizes which can be easily assembled to produce a variety of layouts, widths, heights and depths of shelving to suit the space available, the items to be stored and the needs of the user. The parts can be manufactured from, timber, metal, plastic or any other suitable material.

Description

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Modules are assembled from 4 sides and an optional back panel to produce a square or rectangular box like unit. (fig I a) the optional back panel can he contained by a machined groove in the sides or it can he fixed to the back of the module using adhesives and/or mechanical fixings such as screws or nails. The back panel, when fitted, contributes to the strength and rigidity of the complete module. (fig lb) The modules can he used as open fronted shelves and can also be fitted with doors to form cupboards, or with drawers and drawer runner mechanisms to form drawer units.

The sides are produced in incremental standardized lengths and widths, so that it is possible to make a very wide range of different sized modules from relatively few different sized sides.

Pairs of different length sides can he assembled to produce rectangular modules. (fig 2a & fig 2b) Module corners can be joined using a variety of joint configurations including butt joints fixed with mechanical fixings and/or adhesive or more elaborate joints such as a mitre, stepped mitre, or dovetails. The modules can also he constructed using a special sequential interlocking comb joint feature which is described as follows:-A sequential interlocking comb joint enables rectangular modules to be arrayed in either portrait or landscape mode while maintaining the same appearance at the corner nodes in an array of modules regardless of individual module orientation. (fig 3) The sequential interlocking joint feature also allows square modules to he assembled from 4 of the same part, there being no physical distinction between top, bottom and side panels. (fig lb) The corner joints are fixed together using adhesive and/or mechanical fixings, the joint being arranged in such a way that when modules are stacked on top of one another most of the loads are taken by the sequential interlocking joint and not by the fixings or adhesive, making the strength of the joints largely independent of the chosen fixing method or it's integrity.

The sides have standardised incrementally spaced fixing/location through holes which facilitate stacking of the modules and construction of module arrays. (fig 4) The holes are countersunk on each side to prevent potential damage to the sides and to accommodate the head of a countersunk screw or the collar of a collared location dowel. (fig 5) Modules can be arranged to form a great variety of layouts to suit the space available and the users needs. The standardised incremental module dimensions allow different lengths heights and depths of modules to he arranged and located or fixed to one another. For location only applications collared dowel pins are inserted into the horizontal top surface of a module, the collar on the dowel preventing it falling right through the hole, leaving the top section of the dowel protruding from the surface so that it will locate in the corresponding location hole of the module above, 2 location dowels being sufficient to provide a secure location for most module sizes. (fig 6) Where modules are to be fixed together either vertically to form stacked arrays, or horizontally to form bridge sections (fig 8) the standardised incrementally spaced fixing/location through holes can he used with conventional nuts and bolts, or where the internal faces of the modules need to be free of protrusions, a pair of countersink screws can be used with a sleeve nut. (fig 7)

Claims

Claims 1. A modular box shelving system using modules made from precision manufactured flat components with incremental dimensions allowing various sized modules to he assembled into an array to suit user requirements.
2. A modular box shelving system according to claim 1 with modules made from 4 identical components with joint features which interlock in sequence enabling a perfectly square module to be constructed.
3. A modular box shelving system according to claim 1 with modules made with joint features which interlock in sequence enabling rectangular modules to be arrayed in either portrait or landscape mode while maintaining the same appearance at corner junction nodes regardless of the orientation of the modules.
4. A modular box shelving according to any of the proceeding claims in which modules are made from fiat sides with an incremental pattern of holes which allow the various sized modules to he located or fastened together.