GB2552970A

GB2552970A - Hidden shelving support structure

Info

Publication number: GB2552970A
Application number: GB1614002.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Wilkinson Christopher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-08-16
Filing date: 2016-08-16
Publication date: 2018-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-16
Also published as: GB2552970B; GB201614002D0

Abstract

A shelving support comprising a sleeve with an open end and a closed end for insertion into a shelf, a retractable dowel pin mounted in the sleeve and an insert for insertion into a wall or upright wherein the insert has a protrusion which the dowel can extend past and engage to hold it securely in the insert. The dowel pin may have a slanted head or cone shaped head which is spring loaded within the sleeve. The dowel may have a step to limit its movement and the sleeve a screw in bushing. The dowel may have a slot which can engage a step in the insert to hold it in place. The insert may have a threaded outer surface to allow it to engage plaster board and the device may be used in an alcove.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Hidden shelving support structure Abstract Title: A retractable hidden shelving support (57) A shelving support comprising a sleeve with an open end and a closed end for insertion into a shelf, a retractable dowel pin mounted in the sleeve and an insert for insertion into a wall or upright wherein the insert has a protrusion which the dowel can extend past and engage to hold it securely in the insert. The dowel pin may have a slanted head or cone shaped head which is spring loaded within the sleeve. The dowel may have a step to limit its movement and the sleeve a screw in bushing. The dowel may have a slot which can engage a step in the insert to hold it in place. The insert may have a threaded outer surface to allow it to engage plaster board and the device may be used in an alcove.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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Hidden shelving support structure.

Shelving in alcoves lend themselves to the use of hidden supports, by means of which any reasonable handyman can produce a professional looking construction without the need for special tools or complex explanations.

Many differing systems are on the market to help the hobby handyman achieve a good looking result. A basic example of such systems is disclosed in FR2040601 (DARIOSECQ) describes a blind dowel for assembling furniture in which a dowel sits in a sleeve and a spring biases the dowel forward out of its sleeve.

Whilst this dowel is very simple in construction and assembly, it has several drawbacks. Firstly, it cannot be disassembled without breaking the dowel or the plank it is holding.

There are no means for retracting the dowel once fitted. Another drawback of the existing systems is the hole where the dowel engages with the wall. As most shelving is constructed to be removable, the locating hole for the dowel becomes worn and loses its shape with the result that the shelf does no longer sit tight in its alcove.

The aim of the invention is to provide a support structure that is at the same time easy to fix and looks totally professional. Moreover it is invisible once the shelf is put up. If the shelf is to be taken down, the only sign of it having been there will be two holes in either side of the alcove wall which can easily be filled in and painted over.

To this end, a version of the present invention discloses a combination of a hidden locator dowel, with a slanted front end, for supporting elongate objects and a wall insert, known as a “Top Hat”, which allows for a shelving plank being held reliably and repeatedly in its place without the fear of damaging the wall or the plank loosening through deformation of the hole.

Moreover, the combination “Top Hat” and dowel is shaped in such a way that when the shelf is to be removed, it can be done easily and cleanly by simply tapping the underside of the plank upwards. That will retract the dowel, because of its slanted front end, and enable the plank to rise and release the dowel from the “Top Hat” in the locating hole.

Statement of the invention.

A hidden shelving support wherein no part of that support extends beyond the upper or the lower surface of the shelf it is to support, making it effectively invisible, said support comprising a sleeve showing an open end and a closed off end and a retractable dowel pin inserted into said sleeve and the said sleeve inserted with its closed end leading into a hole drilled into an end face of a shelving plank and the dowel pin retractably engaging a hole in a wall or similar upright structure, thus supporting the said shelving plank and wherein said dowel pin comprises a head which engages with a insert set into said hole in said wall, which insert comprises a flange, which flange is a partial flange such that when said dowel in said shelf is introduced into said insert, said head of said dowel passes through the missing part of said flange and pushes into said Top Hat to hold said dowel firmly and securely in its place.

The modification of alcove wall (or side support) required is a hole drilled in an appropriate position and the “Top Hat” inserted which allows the dowel to engage it when it is extended beyond the open end of the sleeve. The exact shape of this “Top Hat” is described below.

The “Top Hat” has a flange with comes to lie against mouth of the location hole. Preferably the location hole is recessed into the wall to allow this flange to he flush with the surface of the wall. The flange is a partial flange, with a segment cut out so that the front end of the dowel can slide downward toward the locator hole and engage the insert.

In the removable variant, the upper inside of the insert “Top Hat” is slanted away from the surface of the wall, such that the slanted front end of the dowel pin located against this slanted surface thus providing firm engagement between the front of the dowel and the inside of the “Top Hat”.

The dowel pin is located in a sleeve which shows a slot on its lower side. This slot serves to engage a matching bulge on the outside of the dowel. When the dowel is assembled, the bulge, being formed on the end of an elastic finger, which finger is cut out of the rear end of the dowel, clicks into the slot in the dowel sleeve to prevent the dowel being pushed completely out of its sleeve before the mounting of the plank.

This finger may also be used for driving the dowel pin forward into the “Top Hat”, thus locating the part to be fixed to the wall.

The optional spring mentioned above, would be located in the sleeve and engage with the rear of the dowel pin and to push it forward out of the sleeve and up against said bulge thus stopping the forward movement. The underside of the dowel pin shows a notch, which notch serves to engage with a step rising out of the lower inside wall of the “Top Hat” when the dowel penetrates said “Top Hat” insert.

This way, the dowel is solidly and firmly engaged with the insert and hence with the wall. Such an arrangement is particularly useful where the assembly is used in complete free standing shelf units, where the side support might move away from the shelf and make the dowel disengage from the locator hole and hence the “Top Hat” and collapse the shelving unit.

The usual number of dowels to support an alcove shelf is four, two at each end of the plank. For heavier duty shelves, extra dowels may be placed along the long edge of the plank with corresponding holes in the alcove walls.

Listing of terminology.

Outer sleeve Removable pin Non-removable pin

Olive

Top Hat Fixed center Top Hat Floating center Top Hat Plasterboard fixing

Universal fitting

Key tool houses the dowel pin and is introduced into the side of the plank dowel pin with slated cut off at top for easy disengagement dowel pin has a flat top and a conical end, cannot be removed without destruction bushing which is screwed into the outer sleeve and limits the travel of the dowel pin insert in wall which is engaged by dowel pin locks firmly around the dowel pin allows for a loose fit with dowel, to accommodate minor errors in horizontal alignment the Top Hat is pushed into a universal fitting to reduce the possibility of it pulling out of the plaster board a receptacle for the Top Hat is crewed into the plaster board which serves to reduce the possibility of the Top Hat being pulled out of the plaster board serves to fit the “olive” into place and, alternatively, fix the “plaster board” top hat into the board.

Description of the figures.

The invention comprises two main variants, a permanent one (non-removable) and a removable version.

Sheet 1 shows the removable version where the head of the dowel pin is slanted in the manner of door latch to facilitate the removal of said head from the “Top Hat” insert, which is located in the recess.

The Top Hat comes in two major variants. Its inside is such that the dowel pin will easily slide into it and engage an internal ridge for safe location purposes. But the play inside the Top Hat can be either a tight, fixed center fit or a loose fit around the dowel pin.

The looser fit allows for slight horizontal alignment errors and yet holds the plank securely against vertical movement. By combining the fixed center Top Hat at the front of the shelf with the loose fit Top Hat at the back, the shelf remains firm but allows for lack of horizontal accuracy in drilling by the installer.

The Top Hat, moreover, comprises a flange to limit the possible penetration of said top hat into its orifice, in case of over drilling of said orifice beyond the required depth. This flange has a cut out to facilitate the introduction and removal of the dowel pin. This cut out would normally be located on the upperside of the plank to properly serve its purpose.

The main body of the dowel pin sits in the outer sleeve and is held in place by an “Olive”, a bushing, carrying an outer thread, which screws into the sleeve after the dowel pin has been inserted. The depth to which the bushing is screwed into the sleeve determines the length of travel of the dowel pin.

For both, the removable and non-removable versions, the “Olive” allows for inaccuracy in cutting the length of the shelf Tf the shelf has been cut a little too short, the Olive can be wound out to allow the pin to move forward for correct fitting.

Disengagement is done by tapping the underside of the plank to lift it and simultaneously forcing the dowel pin into its sleeve and release the plank without damage to either the plank or the wall.

Several of the figures show he dowel being spring loaded. This is purely optional, since the dowel could be retracted by inserting a key into the underside of the plank to push said dowel out of engagement, away from the top hat in the wall.

Both the sleeve and the top hat show ridges in the longitudinal direction on the outer surface to ensure a good grip in their holes and reduce the risk of the sleeve or the top hat rotating in their locations.

Sheet 2 shows said removable dowel pin in action in its sleeve and engaged into its corresponding Top Hat in the wall. The first two figures are sections from various viewpoints, and the third figure illustrates the (dis)engagement of the dowel in relation to its Top Hat.

The last figure on sheet 2, bottom right shows the Top Hat pushed into a universal plaster board fitting. This universal fitting is specifically designed for being inserted into plaster board. It has an external thread so that it can be screwed into the plaster board and reduce the risk of said Top Hat being pushed through the plaster board, which would make it impossible for the location of a shelf without serious repair work on that section of the wall.

Once the plaster board fitting has been correctly installed, the Top Hat is simply pushed into said fitting till it clicks over ridged on the inside of said fitting. The Top Hat can then be turned to its correct orientation.

The said combination of Top Hat and universal plaster board fitting (sheet 2, bottom right) is separately illustrated on sheet 3 showing its internal design. Apart from its outer screw thread, it is designed with an internal ridge which serves to engage a notch on the outside of the Top Hat. This helps to make the connection more secure and reduces the risk of the plaster board moving away from the plank and releasing the dowel pin.

Sheet 4 shows corresponding views of the “permanent” version of the dowel pin. This variant is mainly concerned with the shape of the head of the pin and the interior of the Top Hat.

This “permanent” or “non-removable” dowel pin comprises a different shape head. It shows an undercut near the top of its head, all the way around, to effectively creating a “conical” shaped head. This conical head, when the dowel is pushed into engagement with the Top Hat, forces its way past two finger hooks inside the Top Hat which click in behind said ridge on the dowel head.

Sheet 5 shows this non-removable dowel pin in operative situe together with an illustration of the process of engagement of the dowel pin.

It also shows the corresponding view of the dowel being used in combination with a plaster board connection.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the two realizations shown in the drawings. Other shapes of the dowel pin may be envisaged and other corresponding shapes of “Top Hat” could be used. Such modifications would still be considered to form part of the invention.

The skilled person will no doubt think of more possible applications of the dowel, but they are considered to form part of the underlying invention

The invention finds many applications other than “flying” alcove shelves. It can be used in any situation where visible fixings are unwanted. Bannister spindles can be located in place by the invention. Fitted furniture units never quite meet the wall and need to have a filling element inserted into a narrow gap where visible fixings would not be tolerated. Damaged mullions can be replaced without the need for disassembling the whole structure. The list is endless.

Claims

1. A hidden shelving support wherein no part of that support extends beyond the upper or the lower surface of the shelf it is to support, making it effectively invisible, said support comprising a sleeve showing an open end and a closed off end and a retractable dowel pin inserted into said sleeve and the said sleeve inserted with its closed end leading into a hole drilled into an end face of a shelving plank and the dowel pin retractably engaging a hole in a wall or similar upright structure, thus supporting the said shelving plank and wherein said dowel pin comprises a head which engages with a insert set into said hole in said wall, which insert comprises a flange, which flange is a partial flange such that when said dowel in said shelf is introduced into said insert, said head of said dowel passes through the missing part of said flange and pushes into said Top Hat to hold said dowel firmly and securely in its place.

2. A hidden support according to claim 1, wherein said insert in the hole in the wall or similar upright structure is in the shape of a “Top Hat” with part of the rim missing.

3. A hidden shelving support according to claims 1 and 2 wherein said “Top Hat” comprises an oblong interior cavity to allow for horizontal movement of said dowel pin inside said Top Hat.

4. A hidden shelving support according to claim 1 wherein said dowel pin has a slanted part of its head for easier introduction into said Top Hat.

5. A hidden shelving support according to claim 1 wherein said dowel pin has a cone shaped head for engaging with the inside of the Top Hat.

6. A hidden shelving support according to claim 1, wherein said dowel pin is spring loaded inside its sleeve.

7. A hidden shelving support according to claims 1 and 2 wherein said dowel pin comprises a step on its barrel to limit the length of its possible travel.

8. A hidden shelving support according to claims 1 and 2 wherein said dowel pin is held inside the sleeve by a screw-in bushing, called an “Olive” to prevent the pin from exiting from said sleeve beyond a set limit.

9. A hidden shelving support according to claims 1 to 5 wherein said dowel pin comprises a slot on its upper side near the front end, which slot cooperates with a step in said Top Hat to ensure that said dowel pin cannot be pulled out of said Top Hat once it has properly engaged in said Top Hat.

10 A hidden shelving support according to claims 1 to 5 wherein a special universal screw-in fitting is provided to accommodate the Top Hat in constructions where plaster board forms the side wall.

11. A hidden shelving support according to claims 1 to 10, wherein said support is specifically designed for supporting shelving in an alcove

12. A hidden shelving support according to claim 1 to 11, wherein said alcove shelving is supported by at least two dowel pins at each end of the plank.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB 1614002.2 Examiner: Daniel Cox