GB2585744A

GB2585744A - Shelving system, shelving side panel and side panel

Info

Publication number: GB2585744A
Application number: GB2005952.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dahner Jürgen; Geiger Bernd
Original assignee: Bott GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Bott GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2019-04-27
Filing date: 2020-04-23
Publication date: 2021-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-23
Also published as: GB202005952D0; GB2585744B

Abstract

A rack system, suitable for installation into a utility vehicle comprises at least two rack side walls 1 and at least one connecting element (4, Figure 11) for connecting the system to a positionally fixed component (9, Figure 11) wherein the walls 1 have at their rear sides 1b, an attachment region (3, Figure 3) which is designed for the fixing of the element (4, Figure 11). The system is characterised in that at least one additional side wall part 2 is provided which can be installed with a front side 2a onto the rear side 1b or onto the front side 1a of one of the walls 1 in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall 1. The side wall part 2 may have, on a rear side 2b, an attachment region 8 for permitting the fixing of at least one of the elements (4, Figure 11) in order to connect the part 2 to the component (9, Figure 11). The attachment region 8 may be of identical form to the region 3, at least with regard to the configuration provided for the fixing of the element (4, Figure 11).

Description

Rack system, rack side wall and side wall part The invention relates to a rack system, in particular for installation into a utility vehicle, having at least two rack side walls and at least one connecting element for connecting the rack system to a positionally fixed component, wherein the rack side walls have, at their rear sides, an attachment region which is designed for the fixing of the at least one connecting element.

The invention furthermore relates to a rack side wall for a rack system, and to a side wall part for lengthening the depth of a rack side wall of a rack system.

Rack systems of this type are commonly used as installation kits for service vehicles for the storage and provision of tools, small parts and the like. In this way, it is the intention to realize efficient working by means of a provision of materials and tools in a manner individually adapted to processes, wherein it is the intention for the available stowage space to be utilized in the most effective manner possible.

The rack systems known from practice which are installed in service vehicles are made up of rack side walls, between which connecting struts, shelves, storage trays, drawers, flaps or the like, are arranged. Here, the known rack systems normally also have a rack rear wall in order to increase the stability of the rack system.

The weight of the rack system is normally introduced via the rack side walls into the floor of the utility vehicle or into a special floor structure which is mounted on the floor of the utility vehicle.

The known rack systems may have two, three or even more rack side walls. This is dependent primarily on the length of the rack system, the provided fixtures, and the raster dimension.

In addition to the rack system standing on and being fixed to the vehicle floor, connecting elements are provided in order to fix the rack system to a positionally fixed component.

In the context of the invention, if the rack system is fixed in a utility vehicle or more generally in a vehicle, the expression "positionally fixed component" is to be understood to mean a component fixed to the vehicle, for example a body component, a strut or else a wall panel part fixedly installed on the body, or a correspondingly fixed rail or the like.

In order to additionally fix the rack system by means of at least one connecting element to a positionally fixed component, it is known from the prior art for the rear sides of the rack side walls to have an attachment region. One end of the connecting element may be fixed to the attachment region, whereas the other end of the connecting element is screwed fixedly in position or fixedly to the vehicle. This gives rise to particularly high stability of the rack system if the latter is installed in a vehicle.

It is known from the general prior art that utility vehicles have different depths, that is to say the installation space that is available for the rack system differs from vehicle to vehicle. This makes it necessary for the rack systems to have side walls with different depths in order to correspondingly allow for the customer demands and also the vehicle-specific installation situations. There is consequently a need for rack systems with different system depths.

It is furthermore known from the prior art that the available installation space within a utility vehicle is not uniform, and the installation space is for example restricted by wheel arches, such that, in order to utilize the available installation space in a correspondingly efficient manner, it may be necessary to use rack side walls with different depths. The installation situation may have the effect that the rack side walls cannot have a depth which is uniform over their height, that is to say in a vertical direction, for example because a wheel arch is present in the lower region. The rack side wall must therefore have a set-back portion. Equally, in a utility vehicle, a situation may also arise in which a relatively large installation space is available in the lower region of the height of the rack side wall, and it is therefore advantageous, in order to utilize the installation space in an efficient manner, if the rack side wall is lengthened rearward, or projects rearward.

The different installation space of the individual utility vehicles and also the installation space which varies within a utility vehicle makes it necessary for the manufacturers of rack systems to stock a relatively large number of rack side walls in order to allow for the corresponding installation situation.

From the prior art, rack side walls are known in the case of which the rear rack post is of multi-part form, wherein horizontally running transverse connections are used in order to follow the installation space.

With regard to the fact that it is advantageous if the rack side wall, in particular the rack posts, introduce the weight forces of the rack into the floor of the vehicle, a multi-part structure of a rack post with corresponding transverse connections is not advantageous.

Despite the required stability, the rack system should be as lightweight as possible, which is of importance in particular for use in a vehicle.

The present invention is based on the object of creating a rack system which makes it easily possible to allow for different installation depths, wherein it is furthermore the intention for the rack system to have high stability and a structure which is suitable for mass production.

The solution according to the invention is furthermore based on the object of providing a rack side wall for a rack system, and a side wall part, in particular for installation into a utility vehicle, which makes it possible to allow for different installation depths.

With regard to the rack system, said object is achieved by means of Claim 1.

Said object is achieved, with regard to a rack side wall for a rack system, by means of Claim 24 and, with regard to the side wall part, by means of Claim 25.

The rack system according to the invention has at least two rack side walls and at least one connecting element for connecting the rack system to a positionally fixed component.

The rack system according to the invention is particularly suitable for installation into a vehicle, in particular into a utility vehicle. In this case, the positionally fixed component is then a component fixed with respect to the vehicle, such as for example the vehicle body, a strut of the vehicle, a vehicle wall, a wall panelling fixed with respect to the vehicle, or a rail system fastened to the vehicle. A rail system fastened to the vehicle, in particular with a T-shaped slot, preferably formed in the manner of a so-called airline rail, is particularly suitable for fastening the rack system fixedly with respect to the vehicle by means of the connecting element.

The rack side walls according to the invention have, at their rear sides, an attachment region which is designed for the fixing of the at least one connecting element.

The attachment region may preferably be designed for a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection.

In the context of the invention, it may suffice if at least one of the rack side walls has a corresponding attachment region on its rear side. It is preferable for several of the rack side walls to have a corresponding attachment region on their rear sides, and it is particularly preferable, in particular with regard to reducing the variety of parts, for all rack side walls of the rack system according to the invention to be provided with an attachment region on their rear sides.

In the context of the invention, it is not necessary for the rack system to be fastened by way of the attachment region on the rear side of the rack side walls by means of the connecting element to a component which is positionally fixed or fixed with respect to the vehicle. In the context of the invention, it suffices for the rear sides of the rack side walls to be configured to have an attachment region which can be used for the fixing of the at least one connecting element, should this be necessary.

According to the invention, at least one additional side wall part is provided which can be installed with a front side onto the rear side and/or onto the front side of one of the rack side walls in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall.

By means of the additional side wall part according to the invention, the rack system can be easily adapted to different installation spaces. The additional side wall pad makes it possible for the rack side wall to be extended with regard to its depth, such that identical rack side walls can be used for different types of utility vehicles, for example. Furthermore, in accordance with the customer demand, a rack system with a normal or with an increased depth can be used without the need to stock rack side walls of different depths.

The increase of the depth makes it possible, for example, to use deeper trays or shelves.

A particular advantage of the solution according to the invention also consists in that the installation situation in a specific utility vehicle can be allowed for. In those regions of the utility vehicle in which a greater depth is available owing to the structural space, the rack system can have a depth which is correspondingly increased by means of the additional side wall part, whereas, in other regions, the rack system has a "normal" depth, which is defined by the depth of those rack side walls which are not extended by means of a side wall part.

It is particularly advantageously also possible here for the depth to be varied along the height of a rack side wall through the use of the additional side wall part. Accordingly, in that region in which the installation space of the utility vehicle is restricted, for example owing to a wheel arch, the rack side wall can, in the lower region, have a normal depth (without additional side wall part). Above the wheel arch, the additional side wall part according to the invention may then be installed onto the rack side wall in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall in that region.

This results in a reduction of variants, because there is no longer a need for stepped rack side walls, or it is no longer necessary to stock rack side walls with different depths. It is also no longer necessary for the rear region of the rack side wall, or the rear rack post, to be redirected by means of a cumbersome structure with transverse strut parts and angle pieces in order to adapt the course of the rack side wall, for example in the lower region of the rack side wall, to a locally restricted structural space.

The solution according to the invention makes it possible for additional side wall parts of any desired length to be used as required, and at any desired height, on the rear side of the rack side wall.

The rack system according to the invention may also be configured such that the at least one additional side wall part is installed onto the front side of one of the rack side walls in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall. Here, provision may also be made whereby side wall parts are installed both on the front side and on the rear side.

By virtue of an additional side wall part being installed on at least a front side of one of the rack side walls of the rack system, the rack system can be particularly advantageously adapted to specific installation situations or to the requirements of the user. For example, it is possible for the rack system to be configured such that, in the lower region at the front side, a free space remains such that a pallet can be slid into the vehicle. For this purpose, it may be advantageous if the rack system has a set-back portion in the lower region at the front side, but becomes wider again in the upper region, in particular above the height of the pallet, in order to provide corresponding stowage space. This can be achieved by virtue of an additional side wall part being attached in the upper region to the front side of one or more rack side walls.

A rack system which makes it possible to cater to the installation situation in a vehicle or to the customer demands in such a flexible manner, without the need to stock a large number of variants of parts for this purpose, is not known from the prior art.

The solution according to the invention makes it possible, through the use of additional side wall parts, to lengthen the rack side wall in targeted fashion, specifically possibly both at the rear side and alternatively or additionally at the front side, in order to adapt the depth of the rack side wall in a targeted manner.

It is advantageous if the side wall part has, on a rear side, an attachment region for permitting the fixing of at least one of the connecting elements in order to connect the side wall part to the positionally fixed component.

By virtue of the side wall part having an attachment region on its rear side, the side wall part and thus the rack side wall connected thereto, or the entire rack system, can be easily fixed to a positionally fixed component or a component fixed with respect to the vehicle. Cumbersome structures for a transition from the rack side wall to the positionally fixed component, which is normally a side wall part of the vehicle, preferably a rail attached thereto, if the rack system is installed in a utility vehicle, are thus avoided. The side wall part is generally in any case already situated in the immediate vicinity of the component fixed with respect to the vehicle, such that a connection can be produced in a structurally simple manner.

It is advantageous if the attachment region on the rear side of the side wall part is of identical design to the attachment region on the rear side of the rack side wall, at least with regard to the configuration provided for the fixing of the connecting element.

By means of this configuration, it is possible for the connecting elements that can be used for the direct connection of the rack side wall to a positionally fixed component to also be used for the connection of the side wall part to the positionally fixed component. The multiplicity of parts for the rack system is thus further reduced.

In the case of the rack system according to the invention, provision may be made whereby the rack system is connected by means of at least one connecting element to the positionally fixed component, wherein the connecting element is fixed to an attachment region on the rear side of the rack side wall and/or to an attachment region on the rear side of the side wall part. Mixed forms are also possible here within the scope of the solution according to the invention. Provision may in particular also be made whereby the rack system is fixed only by means of the attachment region on the rear side of the side wall part or of the rack side wall. The fixing may be dependent on the specific installation situation or also on the positioning of the positionally fixed components, in particular if this is a rail which is connected to the side wall of the utility vehicle.

It is advantageous if the attachment region on the rear side of the side wall part is of identical form to the attachment region on the rear side of the rack side wall.

In order to simplify the production process and in order to reduce the variety of parts, it has proven to be particularly suitable to design the attachment regions to be identical.

According to the invention, provision may be made whereby the side wall part extends only over a portion of the height of the rack side wall.

Such a configuration is expedient in particular in order to be able to optimally allow for the installation situation in a utility vehicle. Often, in the case of a rack side wall, the installation situation varies over the height of the rack side wall, such that a particularly advantageous adaptation to the installation situation is possible by means of a side wall part which extends only over a portion of the height of the rack side wall.

The length of the side wall part can be individually selected, for example by virtue of side wall parts of different lengths being stocked, which are then assembled in the manner of a construction kit. Provision may however also be made whereby the side wall parts are cut to length, such that they have a desired length.

It is advantageous if the side wall part is fixable to the rear side and/or to the front side of the rack side wall in a continuously variable manner, or in a raster, in a vertical direction.

Such a configuration has proven to be particularly suitable for making it possible to individually determine the installation position of the side wall part.

It is advantageous if the rear side and/or the front side of the rack side wall extends in a vertical direction from a bottom side of the rack side wall to a top side of the rack side wall without any bends.

In order to introduce the weight forces of the rack system into the floor, in particular into the floor of a utility vehicle, in an optimum manner, it has proven to be particularly suitable if the rear side and/or the front side of the rack side wall extends in a vertical direction from a bottom side of the rack side wall to a top side of the rack side wall without any bends. This is particularly advantageous in relation to solutions in which the rear side or the rear rack post of the rack side wall is angled in order that the course of a side wall of the vehicle, or the installation situation, can be followed. For the accommodation of weight forces, it is particularly preferable if the rear side and/or the front side of the rack side wall runs in a vertical direction or extends vertically from a floor or from the bottom side upwards, or to the top side of the rack side wall.

According to the invention, provision may furthermore be made whereby the side wall part is formed and installed such that the side wall part is fixed to the positionally fixed component only by way of the attachment region formed on the rear side of the side wall part, and no weight forces are dissipated via a bottom side of the side wall part.

It has proven to be particularly suitable not to use the side wall part to introduce weight forces via the bottom side of the side wall part into the floor, in particular into a vehicle floor. In the context of the invention, it is preferable if the side wall part is used only to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall, as it were as a depth attachment, without additionally performing the task of introducing weight forces in a vertical direction via the bottom side of the side wall part into a floor. In the context of the invention, such weight forces are preferably introduced via the bottom side of the rack side wall into the floor.

It has however proven to be advantageous to fix the side wall part -if the latter is installed onto the rear side of one of the rack side walls -to the positionally fixed component by means of the preferably provided attachment region formed on the rear side of the side wall part. The positionally fixed component is typically, if the rack system is installed into a utility vehicle, a side wall part which is fixed with respect to the vehicle, for example a rail attached thereto. The side wall part thus contributes significantly to the stability of the rack system, in particular in order to sat-isfy the safety requirements in a vehicle, without the need for weight forces to additionally be introduced via the bottom side of the side wall part into a vehicle floor. This furthermore has the advantage that the side wall part can be positioned as desired, in particular along the height of the rack side wall, without the need to allow for a dissipation of weight forces via the bottom side of the side wall part.

It is advantageous if the side wall part has a wall thickness substantially identical to that of the rack side wall.

Such a configuration has proven to be particularly suitable for firstly connecting the side wall part in a reliable and stable manner to the rack side wall and secondly maintaining a uniform appearance, and also for being able to connect further functional parts or struts in a uniform manner both to the rack side wall and to the side wall part.

According to the invention, provision may be made whereby the side wall part is, by way of its front side, connected in form-fitting fashion, preferably by means of a slot-and-key connection, to the attachment region on the rear side and/or on the front side of the rack side wall.

A form-fitting connection of the side wall part, preferably by means of a slot-and-key connection, to the rear side of the rack side wall is particularly suitable for producing a stable and load-bearing connection. This is advantageous in particular if the rack system is to be installed into a utility vehicle. The side wall part preferably has a key which at least partially projects into a slot on the rear side of the rack side wall. The formation of a slot on the rear side of the rack side wall may furthermore also be suitable in order, as will be presented further below, to make a screw con-nection possible between the side wall part and the rack side wall. Furthermore, the slot on the rear side of the rack side wall may also serve for the installation of further functional elements or stiffening elements. The slot may in particular also be used for the fixing of a connecting element thereto, in order to connect the rack system possibly to a positionally fixed component.

The slot in the rear side of the rack side wall preferably extends over the entire height of the rack side wall. It is preferably also the case that the key in the side wall part extends over the entire height of the side wall part.

The slot in the rack side wall is preferably formed as a so-called T-shaped slot.

The rack side wall may be configured in any desired manner at its front side for the installation of a side wall part there. The front side of the rack side wall preferably likewise has an attachment region, which is used for installing the side wall part in form-fitting fashion on the front side of the rack side wall. For this purpose, the front side of the side wall part may be configured correspondingly. A form-fitting connection of the side wall part, preferably by means of a slot-and-key connection, to the front side of the rack side wall is particularly suitable. It is basically possible for the front side of the rack side wall to be of identical form to the rear side of the rack side wall. This is advantageous in particular with regard to reducing the variety of components. In particular, provision may be made whereby a T-shaped slot is also formed on the front side of the rack side wall, in which T-shaped slot a side wall part according to the invention can be fixed in form-fitting fashion.

The front side of the side wall part is preferably of uniform configuration, or the configuration is independent of whether the side wall part is installed onto a front side or onto a rear side of one of the rack side walls.

In the context of the invention, provision may however also be made whereby the additional side wall parts provided for installation onto the rack side walls are provided in at least two different variants, which differ in terms of the configuration of the rear side of the side wall parts and/or of the side surfaces of the side wall parts.

It has proven to be advantageous if a side wall part which is installed onto the rear side of the rack side wall has, on the rear side, an attachment region for fixing the already described connecting element (as already described). This makes it easily possible for the side wall part to be connected to the positionally fixed component. In the case of a side wall pad which is fixed to the front side of the rack side wall, such a configuration is generally not necessary. Side wall parts which are installed by way of their front side on the front side of one of the rack side walls therefore preferably have, on their rear side, a configuration which is functionally advantageous on the front side of the rack side wall. For example, a slot system may be provided, in particular in the manner in which it is used in the case of airline rails, for fixing further elements, for example lashing straps.

Furthermore, it may also be advantageous for the side surfaces of the side wall part to be configured in a manner dependent on whether the side wall part is installed on the front side or on the rear side of the rack side wall.

The inventors have recognized that, in the case of a side wall part which is installed onto the front side of one of the rack side walls, it is advantageous if bores are formed into the side surfaces in order for drawers, shelves, trays, carrier parts or the like, which are attached between two rack side walls, to additionally be connected by means of screws. The bores in the side surfaces of the side wall parts are preferably formed in the same raster as the related bores in the rack side wall, in particular the related bores in rack posts of the rack side wall. It has been found that the formation of such bores in side wall parts which are installed onto the rear side of the rack side wall is not as highly advantageous. In order to fix shelves or the like in a reliable and stable manner, it suffices for those side wall parts which are installed on the front side of the rack side wall to have corresponding bores. Therefore, for cost reasons, those side wall parts which are installed onto the rear side of the rack side wall may be formed without such bores.

It is advantageous if an installation region is formed on a front side of the side wall part in order to connect the side wall part to the attachment region formed on the rear side of the rack side wall and/or to the front side of the rack side wall, wherein the installation region is preferably of complementary form with respect to the attachment region of the rack side wall.

The formation of a specific installation region on the front side of the side wall part has proven to be particularly suitable for fixing the side wall part to the rear side and/or to the front side of the rack side wall. Here, the installation region may be configured so as to have one part of the slot-and-key connection, as presented above. The installation region may preferably provide the key of the slot-and-key connection.

According to the invention, provision may be made whereby the attachment region of the rack side wall has a T-shaped slot which extends preferably from an upper end of the rack side wall as far as a lower end of the rack side wall. The front side and/or the rear side of the rack side wall may be of identical form in this regard.

It has proven to be particularly suitable to form the attachment region of the rack side wall with a T-shaped slot. Here, the T-shaped slot may extend over a portion of the height of the rack side wall or preferably over the entire height of the rack side wall, that is to say from an upper end of the rack side wall to a lower end of the rack side wall. The T-shaped slot thus permits continuously variable fixing of the side wall part at any desired height. Furthermore, the T-shaped slot may also serve for fixing functional elements, strut parts or connecting elements for connecting the rack system to the positionally fixed component. A corresponding T-shaped slot may also be formed on the front side of the rack side wall.

It is advantageous if the T-shaped slot is provided for the fixing of the side wall part.

It is furthermore advantageous if, for the fixing of the side wall part, at least one slot nut is provided in the T-shaped slot on the front side and/or on the rear side of the rack side wall.

Slot nuts are connecting elements for T-shaped slots. These are particularly suitable for producing a stable and load-bearing connection between two parts, which connection is preferably also adjustable in continuously variable fashion along the T-shaped slot. Slot nuts are also referred to as nuts for T-shaped slots, or as T-shaped-slot nuts.

The slot nut is preferably equipped with a thread, for example for a stud screw. It has been found that the use of a T-shaped slot in conjunction with a slot nut is particularly suitable for producing a stable connection between the rear side and/or the front side of the rack side wall and the front side of the side wall part, in particular in order to achieve that the position is adjustable in continuously variable fashion, such that the installation situation can be correspondingly allowed for.

Through the use of a T-shaped slot and a slot nut, a connection can be produced between the side wall pad and the rack side wall without the need for drilling. This firstly reduces the production costs and the installation costs, and secondly, no drilling chips are generated, and corresponding errors that may arise during the drilling process are avoided.

The slot nut may be configured such that it can be inserted into the T-shaped slot through the opening, formed in the front wall, of the T-shaped slot. Alternatively, provision may also be made for the slot nut to be inserted into the T-shaped slot from a top or bottom end. This is suitable in particular if the slot nut is particularly large, or a particularly large contact area is provided between the slot nut and the inner surface of the front side of the T-shaped slot.

It is advantageous if the slot nut has the shape of a parallelogram in plan view, wherein two opposite sides have an identical length L1 and two opposite sides have an identical length L2, and wherein the length L1 is shorter than the length L2, and wherein the angles between adjacent sides do not form a right angle.

A slot nut with the form presented above can be inserted in a particularly advantageous manner into the T-shaped slot by virtue of the slot nut being rotated such that its relatively long side L2 runs parallel to the opening edges of the slot. After being inserted into the slot from the front, the slot nut can then be rotated, preferably such that the relatively short sides Li of the slot nut lie against opposite side surfaces of the inner wall of the T-shaped slot.

The rotation of the slot nut can be realized in a particularly advantageous manner by virtue of a screw being inserted or screwed into the thread of the slot nut. A rotation of the screw causes the slot nut to initially also rotate until the latter comes to bear, by way of its short sides Li, against the side surfaces of the inner wall of the T-shaped slot, and thus a further rotation of the slot nut is prevented.

The spacing between the two sides with the length L2, that is to say an orthogonal with respect to the two sides which has the length L2, is dimensioned so as to be smaller than the width of the opening of the T-shaped slot in the front wall thereof, though the spacing between the two sides which has the length L2 is preferably also selected so as to correspond to at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, particularly preferably at least 70%, very particularly preferably at least 80%, in particular at least 90%, of the width of the opening. It is ensured in this way that the slot nut can firstly be inserted through the opening in the front wall, but secondly also that a suitably large bearing area is provided between the slot nut and the inner surface, which bearing area ensures a good introduction of forces from the slot nut into the front wall of the T-shaped slot.

The oblique form of the slot nut has the effect that, after the rotation of the slot nut into the installed position, an optimized bearing area is available between the slot nut and the front wall of the T-shaped slot. This has proven to be particularly suitable in order to produce a stable and load-bearing connection between the side wall part and the rack side wall, which is of particular significance in particular for use in a utility vehicle and in the event of an accident.

It is advantageous if the top side of the slot nut has at least two parallel-running grooves, wherein the grooves run at least approximately parallel to the two short sides with the length L1 of the slot nut, and wherein an inner surface, facing towards the top side of the slot nut, of the T-shaped slot has two parallel-running elevations and/or beads and/or webs which engage into the grooves when the slot nut has been installed in the T-shaped slot.

It has been found that a particularly stable connection is realized through the use of grooves in the slot nut which run at least approximately parallel, preferably parallel, to the two shod sides with the length L1 of the slot nut in conjunction with webs or the like on the inner surface of the T-shaped slot. By virtue of the fact that the grooves in the slot nut are adapted in the described manner to elevations, beads or webs in the profile of the T-shaped slot, additional securing against undesired rotation or loosening during driving operation is realized. Furthermore, a large and stable bearing area is provided.

The grooves in the slot nut and the beads or the elevations or the webs in the profile of the T-shaped slot form a form fit, which prevents the T-shaped slot from bending open.

The above-described solution using a T-shaped slot and a slot nut is not only suitable for fixing the side wall part to the rack side wall but can also be used for fastening functional elements, strut parts or the above-described connecting element, for connecting the rack system to a positionally fixed component, to the rack side wall.

As has likewise already been described above, it is advantageous if the attachment region on the rear side of the side wall part is of identical form to the attachment region on the rear side of the rack side wall, at least with regard to the configuration provided for the fixing of the connecting element.

Preferably, the attachment region of the side wall part has a T-shaped slot which is designed as described above and into which a slot nut, likewise preferably in the described embodiment, can be inserted in order to fix functional elements, strut parts and in particular the above-described connecting element to the rear side of the side wall part.

The T-shaped slot in the rear side of the side wall part is preferably of identical form to the T-shaped slot in the rear side of the rack side wall.

It is advantageous if the front side of the side wall part has at least one bore for the leadthrough of a screw element which can be screwed to the slot nut, and wherein the rear side of the side wall part has a correspond-ing bore which is positioned such that the central axes of the bores run at least approximately coaxially.

The bore in the front side of the side wall part allows a screw element to be easily led through. The bore in the rear side of the side wall part makes it possible for the screw element to be easily actuated. A screwdriver or the like can be inserted through the bore in the rear side of the side wall part in order to then correspondingly actuate the screw element that has been inserted through the bore in the front side of the side wall part. The installation of the side wall part on the rear side and/or on the front side of the rack side wall is thus simplified.

It is advantageous if a U-shaped fastening element is provided for the installation of the side wall part onto the rack side wall, wherein, when the side wall part has been installed by means of the U-shaped fastening element onto the rack side wall, the limbs of the U-shaped fastening element adjoin the inner side of two side surfaces, which run with a spacing to one another, of the side wall part, and the base of the U-shaped fastening element adjoins the inner side of the front side of the side wall part.

The use of a U-shaped fastening element results in a particularly stable connection between the side wall part and the rack side wall, whereby in particular transverse forces that may arise in particular during the use of the rack system in a utility vehicle can be absorbed in a particularly advantageous manner. The U-shaped fastening element may have a correspondingly suitable depth and height, that is to say may extend with the limbs and the base part along a suitable portion of the depth and of the height of the side wall part, such that a good transmission of forces and a good form fit are realized.

According to the invention, provision may be made whereby the side wall part is formed as an extruded profile, preferably as an aluminium extruded profile.

According to the invention, provision may be made whereby multiple side wall parts of different heights and/or different depths but identical wall thicknesses are provided.

By virtue of the fact that the rack system comprises multiple side wall parts, the rack side walls of the rack system can be correspondingly equipped with side wall parts. Here, provision may be made whereby each rack side wall is equipped with an additional side wall part or else with multiple side wall parts. It is however basically also conceivable for only one side wall part to be used in the rack system according to the invention. The side wall parts may have different heights and/or different depths. Provision is however preferably made whereby the wall thicknesses are in each case identical.

Provision may be made whereby multiple side wall parts are installed one behind the other in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall.

By virtue of multiple side wall parts being fitted together or installed one behind the other, that is to say by virtue of a front side of one side wall part being attached to the rear side of another side wall part, it is possible to realize different system depths. It is advantageous here if the attachment region on the rear side of one side wall part is of identical form to the attachment region on the rear side of the rack side wall, such that a front side of a further side wall part can be correspondingly connected to both attachment regions.

According to the invention, provision may be made whereby in each case at least one side wall part is provided or installed on the front side and on the rear side of the rack side wall.

By virtue of the fact that in each case at least one side wall part is installed both on the front side and on the rear side of the rack side wall, the rack system can be adapted in a particularly advantageous manner to the installation situation and to customer demands. Here, it may in particular be advantageous if the rack side wall is, at the front side, lengthened in an upper region by means of a side wall part, whereas, at the rear side of the rack side wall, in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall, an additional side wall part is installed in the lower region or in the upper region in order to allow for the vehicle-specific installation situation, for example a wheel arch.

It is advantageous if the rack side wall is formed as a pillar profile.

It is advantageous if the rack side walls are formed from in each case two rack posts and a rack side surface arranged in between, wherein the attachment region is formed in a rack post positioned at the rear side of the rack side wall.

Formation of the rack side walls from in each case two rack posts and a rack side surface arranged in between has proven to be particularly suitable in order to construct the rack side wall in a stable manner and also in order to introduce the acting weight forces of the rack system reliably into the floor, in particular a vehicle floor. Here, the weight forces are dissipated primarily, preferably exclusively, via the rack posts. The rack posts may preferably be formed as extruded profiles, in particular as aluminium extruded profiles. Here, at least the rear rack post may have the above-described attachment region of the rack side wall.

By virtue of the rack side wall being formed from two rack posts, between which a rack side surface can be arranged, the flexibility of the rack system according to the invention is further increased. Provision may possibly also be made whereby the depth of the rack side walls is varied in that, between the rack posts, a rack side surface is inserted which has a suitable depth, that is to say a suitable extent, from the front rack post to the rear rack post in order to provide different system depths.

As already presented, the at least one additional side wall part according to the invention may be installed on the front side and/or on the rear side of the rack side wall in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall. It is basically possible for the side wall parts provided for installation onto the front side to be of identical form to the side wall pads provided for installation onto the rear side of the rack side wall. Therefore, the description above and also the description below, in particular also the exemplary embodiment, are to be understood in the sense that all features described with regard to a side wall part which is fastened to the rear side of a rack side wall may also be used in the case of a side wall part which is installed onto the front side of the rack side wall. Here, it is however also possible that only some features that have been described with regard to a side wall part for installation on the rear side of a rack side wall are implemented in the case of a side wall part which is mounted onto the front side of a rack side wall. Here, any combinations of the features are possible. As has already been discussed above, provision may be made whereby at least some features of the side wall parts that are installed on a front side of a rack side wall are configured to deviate from the features of the side wall parts that are installed onto the rear side of a rack side wall. This applies in particular to the configuration of the side surfaces of the side wall parts (as described).

A rack side wall according to the invention for a rack system, in particular for installation into a utility vehicle, emerges from Claim 24.

The rack side wall according to the invention has at least one additional side wall part which is installed with its front side on the rear side and/or on the front side of the rack side wall in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall.

The rack side wall may be combined in any desired manner with all features described above and below with regard to the rack system. Here, the advantages and variants arise analogously.

A side wall part according to the invention for lengthening the depth of a rack side wall of a rack system, in particular for installation into a utility vehicle, emerges from Claim 25.

The advantages of the side wall part according to the invention emerge analogously from the statements made above and below. The side wall part according to the invention may be combined in any desired manner with all features described above and also below.

Where provision is to be made in the context of the invention for the side wall part to be installed only onto the front side of the rack side wall, the specific configuration of the rear side of the rack side wall is not relevant. Preferably, the rack side wall may duly, in this case too, have on the rear side an attachment region which is provided for the fixing of at least one connecting element in order to connect the rack system to a positionally fixed component, but this feature can be omitted in the context of the invention if provision is made for the additional side wall part to be fastened only to the front side of the rack side wall.

A corresponding rack system according to the invention, in particular for installation into a utility vehicle, is thus characterized by the fact that it has at least two rack side walls, wherein, according to the invention, at least one additional side wall part is provided which can be installed by way of a front side onto the front side of one of the rack side walls in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall. Here, provision is preferably made whereby system components, such as for example trays, drawers, struts, shelves and the like, which are installed between the two rack side walls are screwed both to the rack side walls and to the additional side wall part, and, for this purpose, the side wall part has bores arranged preferably in the raster in the side surfaces.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the appended figures. The figures show multiple features of the invention in combination with one another. A person skilled in the art is however self-evidently capable of also considering said features independently of one another and possibly combining them to form further expedient sub-combinations, without the person skilled in the art having to perform an inventive step for this purpose.

In the figures: Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of the rack system according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a further perspective side view of the rack system according to the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective illustration from above of a side wall part according to the invention which has been installed onto the rear side of a rack side wall, wherein only a rear rack post of the rack side wall is illustrated; Figure 4 shows a cross section through a side wall part which has been installed on a rear rack post of a rack side wall, wherein a region is illustrated in which the installation by means of a slot nut, a screw and a U-shaped fastening element can be seen; Figure 5 is a further cross-sectional illustration through the side wall part and the rear rack post of the rack side wall; Figure 6 shows a longitudinal section through the rear rack post of the rack side wall according to the invention in an attachment region, with an illustration of a slot nut which has been inserted into a T-shaped slot of the attachment region; Figure 7 is a perspective illustration of the rear side of the side wall part according to the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective illustration from above of the side wall part according to the invention; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a top side of a slot nut; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a bottom side of a slot nut; Figure 11 is a perspective illustration of a detail of the rack side wall and of the side wall part, wherein a connecting element has been connected to an attachment region of the side wall part and to a positionally fixed component; Figure 12 is an illustration as per Figure 11 from a different perspective; Figure 13 shows a cross section through the side wall part in a region in which the connecting element has been fixed in the attachment region to the rear side of the side wall part; Figure 14 is a further cross-sectional illustration in order to illustrate the fixing of the connecting element in the attachment region of the side wall part, Figure 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of a detail of a rack system without an installed side wall part, with an illustration of a strut for connecting two rack posts of a rack side wall to one another; Figure 16 is a perspective illustration of a strut for connecting two rack posts (not illustrated) to one another; Figure 17 shows a cross section through the strut as per Figure 16 in an installation situation in which the strut connects two rack posts of the rack system to one another; Figure 18 shows a side view of a rack side wall with a front rack post and with a rear rack post, on which in each case one side wall part has been fixed or mounted; and Figure 19 is a perspective illustration of a rack side wall with different positioning of two side wall parts in relation to Figure 18.

Rack systems, in particular for installation into utility vehicles, are basically known from the prior art, for example from EP 2 157 884 81, DE 10 2012 204 883 A1 and DE 10 2004 104 117A1, for which reason only elements that are of interest for the description of the invention will be discussed in more detail below.

The rack system according to the invention may preferably be a rack which has one or more rack side walls, between which there are fastened one or more supports, which are preferably shelves, trays, functional elements or struts.

The rack system according to the invention is not limited to use in a utility vehicle or in a vehicle, but is particularly suitable for this purpose. The exemplary embodiment described below is to be understood accordingly.

As can be seen from the exemplary embodiment as per Figures 1 and 2, the rack system has at least two rack side walls 1, in the exemplary em-bodiment three rack side walls 1 on which at least one, in the exemplary embodiment three, additional side wall pads 2 have been installed.

The side wall parts 2 serve for lengthening the depth of the rack side walls 1.

The rack side walls 1 have a front side la and a rear side 1 b.

The side wall parts 2 have a front side 2a and a rear side 2b.

In order to lengthen the rack side walls 1, provision is made whereby the side wall parts 2 are installed by way of their front side 2a onto the rear side lb and/or onto the front side la of a rack side wall 1.

The rack side walls 1 have, at the rear side lb, an attachment region 3 which is designed for the fixing of the side wall parts 2. The attachment region 3 is furthermore also designed for the fixing of at least one connecting element 4, which is illustrated in more detail in Figures 11 to 14. In the exemplary embodiment, the attachment region 3 of the rack side wall 1 is duly designed or suitable for the fixing of the connecting element 4, but in the exemplary embodiment, the connecting element 4 has been fixed not in the attachment region 3 but rather, as will be presented in more detail further below, to the rear side 2b of the side wall part 2.

In the exemplary embodiment, however, provision is made whereby it is basically possible for the connecting element 4 to also be fixed in the attachment region 3 of a rack side wall 1.

In the exemplary embodiment, provision is made whereby the rack side walls 1 are formed from a front rack post 5 and a rear rack post 6, wherein a rack side surface 7 is formed between the rack posts 5, 6. In the exemplary embodiment, provision is furthermore made whereby the attachment region 3 is formed in the rear rack post 6, in which regard reference is made in particular to Figures 3 to 6.

It is basically also possible for the rack side wall 1 to be formed as a single piece, or for at least one of the rack posts 5, 6 to be formed as a single piece with a part or the entirety of the rack side surface 7. This is not of importance in the context of the invention. An embodiment of the rack side walls 1 composed of two rack posts 5, 6 and of a rack side surface 7 has however proven to be particularly suitable with regard to a reduction of variants and an inexpensive and also stable construction of the rack side wall 1. The rack posts 5, 6 are preferably formed as extruded profiles, in particular as aluminium extruded profiles.

As can be seen in particular from Figures 6 to 8 and Figures 12 to 14, the side wall parts 2 have, on their rear side 2b, an attachment region 8. The attachment region 8 may preferably serve (inter alia) for the fixing of at least one of the connecting elements 4 in order to connect the side wall part 2 to a positionally fixed component 9, in the exemplary embodiment a component 9 which is fixed with respect to the vehicle.

In the exemplary embodiment, the positionally fixed component 9, or component 9 which is fixed with respect to the vehicle, may be any desired component fixed with respect to the vehicle, for example a body component, a side wall of the utility vehicle, a strut part or, as illustrated in Figures 11 and 13, a rail, which is in turn fixed, in a manner fixed with respect to the vehicle, to a wall 10 of the utility vehicle. In the exemplary embodiment, the component fixed with respect to the vehicle is formed as a rail 9, which is fixed to the wall 10 of the utility vehicle. This configuration is particularly suitable, but the invention is not restricted to this.

The connecting element 4 may be any desired connecting element, for example a fastening plate, a strut, an angle bracket, a U-shaped component or, as illustrated in Figures 11 to 14, a fastening angle bracket or some other part of a wall attachment system.

In the exemplary embodiment, provision is made whereby the attachment region 8 on the rear side 2b of those side wall parts 2 which are fastened to the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1 is of identical form to the attachment region 3 on the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1, at least with regard to the configuration provided for the fixing of the connecting element 4. In the exemplary embodiment, provision is made whereby the attachment regions 3, 8 are identical.

As can be seen in particular from Figures 1 and 2, the side wall parts 2 extend only over a portion of the height of the rack side walls 1. It is basically also possible for the side wall parts 2 to extend over the entire height of the rack side wall 1. It is also possible for the rack side wall 1 to be equipped with two or more side wall parts 2. It is basically also possible for only a proportion of the rack side walls 1 to be equipped with one or more side wall parts 2, the arrangement of which, with regard to the height of the rack side walls 1, may in this case be adapted in each case to the installation situation.

In the exemplary embodiment, provision is made whereby the side wall parts 2 are fixable to the rear side lb and/or to the front side la of the rack side walls 1 in a continuously variable manner, or in a raster, in a vertical direction.

In the exemplary embodiment, the front side la and the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1 extend in a vertical direction from a bottom side of the rack side wall 1 to a top side of the rack side wall 1. In the exemplary embodiment, the front side la and the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1 are, as already described, provided by the front rack post 5 and by the rear rack post 6 respectively, which run linearly without bends, such that the weight forces can be introduced in a particularly simple manner into a floor (not illustrated in any more detail) of the utility vehicle. Here, the rack posts 5, 6 are arranged orthogonally or perpendicularly on the floor.

As can also be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the side wall parts 2 are preferably formed and installed such that the side wall parts 2 do not dissipate any weight forces via the bottom side thereof, that is to say the bottom side of the side wall part 2 is not connected to the floor of the utility vehicle. The weight forces of the rack system are dissipated through the rack posts 5, 6. It is basically also possible for weight forces to be dissipated via the bottom side of the side wall part, though this is not necessay.

As can be seen in particular when viewing Figures 1 and 2 together with Figures 11 to 14, provision is made in the exemplary embodiment whereby the side wall parts 2 are connected to the positionally fixed component, in the exemplary embodiment the rail 9, by way of the attachment region 8 formed on the rear side 2b of the side wall parts 2 and by means of the connecting element 4. In this way, the rack system according to the invention is fixed in a particularly reliable manner.

As can be seen from the exemplary embodiment, the side wall parts 2 have a wall thickness which is substantially identical to the rack side wall 1.

As can be seen from Figures 3 to 6, the side wall parts 2 are, by way of their front side 2a, connected in form-fitting fashion by means of a slotand-key connection to the attachment region 3 on the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1. For this purpose, the front side 2a of the side wall parts 2 has an installation region 11 which is of complementary form with respect to the attachment region 3 of the rack side walls 1. The attachment region 3 of the rack side walls 1 has a T-shaped slot 12, into which a key 13 formed on the front side 2a of the side wall 2 or in the installation region 11 engages preferably in form-fitting fashion. Here, the key 13 engages into an opening region 14 of the T-shaped slot 12 so as to realize a form fit. In the exemplary embodiment, the T-shaped slot 12 extends from an upper end of the rack side wall 1 as far as a lower end of the rack side wall 1.

The fixing of a side wall part 2 to the front side la of one of the rack side walls 1, as is diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 18 and 19, may be performed analogously. For this purpose, the front side la of the rack side wall 1 may have a correspondingly configured attachment region, which possibly corresponds to the attachment region 3 of the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1. It is in particular expedient to likewise provide a slot-and-key connection, preferably a T-shaped slot 12, for the fixing of the side wall parts 2 to the front side 1a of the rack side wall 1. All fea-tures described in the exemplary embodiment with regard to the fixing of a side wall part to the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1, in particular also the use of a slot nut as will be presented in more detail further below, are also suitable for the fixing of the side wall part 2 to the front side la of the rack side wall 1, without this being explicitly presented once again in each case.

In the exemplary embodiment, the T-shaped slot 12 serves primarily for the fixing of the side wall part 2. The T-shaped slot 12 is however designed such that the connecting element 4, or other stiffening elements, system components or functional elements, can also be fixed thereto in the same way as required. In the exemplary embodiment, provision is made whereby a slot nut 15 is used for the fixing of the side wall part 2 in the T-shaped slot 12 of the rack side wall 1. The slot nut 15 may correspondingly also be used for the fixing of other components, as described above, in the T-shaped slot 12, for which purpose the features described in more detail further below may also be used.

The slot nut 15 is formed such that it can be inserted into the T-shaped slot 12 from the front, that is to say through the opening 14 of the T-shaped slot 12.

The slot nut 15 provided in the exemplary embodiment has, as can be seen in particular from Figures 9 and 10, the shape of a parallelogram in plan view, wherein this preferably excludes the special forms of a parallelogram, specifically a rectangle or a square.

In the exemplary embodiment, the slot nut 15 is preferably formed as follows. Provision is made whereby two opposite sides 15b have an identi-cal length Li and two opposite sides 15c have an identical length L2, wherein the length Li is shorter than the length L2, and wherein the angles between two adjacent sides 15b, 15c do not form a right angle.

The spacing between the two sides 15c or the orthogonal with respect to the sides 15c is dimensioned such that the spacing is smaller than the width of the opening 14 in the front wall of the T-shaped slot 12. It is thereby possible to insert the slot nut 15 into the T-shaped slot 12 through the opening 14. By means of a corresponding rotation of the slot nut 15 in the T-shaped slot 12, it can then be achieved that the relatively short sides 15b (with the length Li) bear against side surfaces within the T-shaped slot 12. The rotated end position of the slot nut 15 in the T-shaped slot 12 is diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 4, Sand 14 and in particular in Figure 6.

As an alternative to the illustration in Figures 9 and 10, provision may also be made whereby the slot nut 15 has bevelled corners. This is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 10 by dashed lines. Here, provision is made whereby the slot nut 15 lies with the non-bevelled part against the side surfaces within the T-shaped slot 12 when the slot nut 15 has been correctly installed into the T-shaped slot 12. An embodiment of the slot nut 15 as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 and in Figure 6 (without the bevelling of the corners illustrated by dashed lines) is however preferred, because this results in a larger contact area between the top side 15a of the slot nut 15 and the inner side of the front wall, provided with the opening 14, of the T-shaped slot 12.

A configuration of the slot nut 15 as illustrated in Figures 6, 9 and 10 offers the advantage of an optimized bearing area/contact area between the top side 15a of the slot nut and the inner surface 12a of the T-shaped slot 12, whereby the introduction of force is optimized. The connection is thus particularly stable, which is of importance in particular in the event of a crash. A configuration of the slot nut 15 with bevelled corners, as illustrated by dashed lines in figure 10, reduces the bearing area/contact area but has the effect that the height of the slot nut 15 in the T-shaped slot 12 is reduced, such that two slot nuts 15 can be positioned one above the other in a more closely adjacent manner in the T-shaped slot 12.

A particularly advantageous configuration of the slot nut 15, which also constitutes an independent invention for which the applicant reserves the right to file a divisional application, emerges from the features and illustrations described with regard to the slot nut 15, in particular in Figures 4, 5 and 9.

As illustrated, the slot nut 15 has two parallel-running grooves 16 on the top side 15a. Here, the grooves 16 run parallel to the two short sides 15b (with the length Li) of the slot nut 15. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, provision is made whereby an inner surface 12a, facing towards the top side 15a of the slot nut 15, of the T-shaped slot 12 has two parallel-running webs 17. Here, the grooves 16 in the slot nut 15 are adapted to the webs 17 in the T-shaped slot 12. As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the webs 17 engage into the grooves 16 when the slot nut 15 has been installed in the T-shaped slot. This yields a form-fitting connection, whereby the bending-open of the T-shaped slot 12 is also prevented, and a securing action against undesired rotation (loosening), in particular during driving operation of the utility vehicle, is realized.

As can also be seen from Figures 9 and 10, the slot nut 15 has a thread 18 for a screw element 19 As can also be seen in particular from Figures 5, 7 and 8, the front side 2a of the side wall part 2 is equipped with a bore 20 for the leadthrough of the screw element 19. The screw element 19 can thus be inserted through the front bore 20 in order that it can be screwed to the slot nut 15 or to the thread 18 of the slot nut 15. In order to facilitate the screwing of the screw element 19 to the thread 18, a corresponding bore 21 is formed into the rear side 2b of the side wall part 2, which bore is positioned such that the central axes of the bores 20, 21 run at least approximately coaxially. The bore 21 serves for the introduction of a screwdriver, by means of which the screw element 19 inserted through the front bore 20 can then be manipulated.

As can also be seen in particular from Figures 4 and 5, a U-shaped fastening element 22 is provided for the installation of the side wall part 2 onto the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1. The U-shaped fastening element 22 is in this case configured such that the limbs 23 of the U-shaped fastening element 22 adjoin the inner side of two side surfaces 24, which run with a spacing to one another, of the side wall pad 2 when the U-shaped fastening element 22 has been positioned and screwed to the slot nut 15.

Furthermore, the U-shaped fastening element 22 is configured such that a base 25 of the U-shaped fastening element 22 adjoins the inner side of the front side 2a of the side wall part 2 when the side wall part 2 has been installed onto the rack side wall 1 by means of the U-shaped fastening element 22.

As can be seen from Figures 15 to 19, the rack side walls 1 have, at the top side, a strut 26 which runs in a horizontal direction and which extends over the entire depth of the rack side walls 1. The strut 26 serves for increasing the stability of the rack side wall 1 if this is formed from two rack posts 5, 6 and a rack side surface 7. The strut 26 may in this case be designed such that it is mounted onto the rack side wall 1, preferably in form-fitting fashion, from above. Additionally, provision may be made whereby the strut 26 is screwed to the rack side wall 1. For this purpose, provision may be made whereby the rack posts 5, 6 have engagement openings 27, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 4 and 17. The engagement openings 27 serve for receiving a screw 32 which fastens the strut 26.

Figure 15 illustrates the rack system according to the invention without an installed side wall part 2. Figure 15 serves here primarily for illustrating an advantageous structure of the rack side walls 1, wherein provision is preferably made whereby the rack posts 5, 6 of the rack side walls 1 are connected to one another by means of in each case one strut 26 both at the top side and at the bottom side, in which regard reference is also made to the illustration as per Figures 18 and 19.

Figure 16 illustrates the strut 26 on its own. Provision is made whereby the strut 26 is mounted in form-fitting fashion onto the rack posts 5, 6 and is additionally screwed by means of screws 32 to the engagement openings 27 in the rack posts 5, 6. The strut 26 thus connects the rack posts 5, 6. To increase stability, provision may be made, as is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 17, whereby in each case one screw 33 which runs obliquely in relation to the screws 32 is additionally screwed in in order to connect the rack posts 5, 6 to the strut 26.

In the exemplary embodiment according to Figures 1 to 19, provision is made whereby the rack side wall 1 has in each case two struts 26 for connecting the rack posts 5, 6, as illustrated in Figures 18 and 19. It is however basically also possible for only one strut 26 to be provided. The strut 26 may also be omitted entirely. It is basically also possible for the rack posts 5, 6 to be connected in some other way.

As can be seen in particular from Figures 1, 2, 11 and 12, a cover 30 may be mounted on the top side of the rack side walls 1. Here, the cover 30 may cover the strut 26 from above.

The cover 30 may, in the region of its front side, that is to say in the region of the front side 1a of the rack side wall 1, be shaped so as to form a hook in order for a coat or a bag, for example, to be hung thereon. This constitutes an independent invention, wherein the applicant reserves the right to file a divisional application directed to this.

In the exemplary embodiment, the cover 30 extends over the entire depth of the rack side walls 1. In the exemplary embodiment, the cover 30 has a length selected such that it does not also cover the top side of the side wall parts 2. In the exemplary embodiment, separate cover plates 31 are provided for covering the top side of the side wall parts 2, which cover plates can be mounted from above onto the side wall parts 2. In the exemplary embodiment, provision may be made here whereby the side wall parts 2 likewise have engagement openings 27, and the cover plates 31 are configured so as to have connecting elements which engage in form-fitting fashion into the engagement opening 27. It is self-evidently also possible for the cover plate 31 to be screwed to the engagement openings 27 using a screw (not illustrated). Use may possibly also be made of covers 30 which also cover the top side of the side wall parts 2.

As can be seen diagrammatically from Figure 1, it is possible in a known manner for system or functional elements, such as for example shelves, trays, flaps, struts, guide rails for cases or the like, to be fastened between the rack side walls 1. Here, provision is made whereby the rack posts 5, 6 have bores 28 which are arranged in a raster and to which functional elements, such as for example trays, can then be screwed at any desired height. The bores 28 are designated by way of example in Figures 1, 2, 11, 12, 18 and 19.

In the exemplary embodiment, provision is made whereby those side wall parts 2 which are attached to the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1 have no bores for the fastening of the functional elements, for example trays, corresponding to the bores 28 in the rack posts 5, 6. Although the side wall parts 2 may basically also have corresponding bores 28, it has however been found that this is not necessary, such that corresponding bores 28 in the side wall pads 2 can be omitted. The functional elements, such as for example trays or shelves, can be fastened in a reliable and stable manner by means of the bores 28 in the rack posts 5, 6, such that an additional screw connection of said elements with the aid of bores 28 in the side wall parts 2 is not necessary. In the context of the invention, provision is however preferably made whereby, in order to increase the stability or in order to stiffen the rack system, the functional elements are also screwed to the side wall parts 2, for which purpose use may preferably be made of self-tapping screws (not illustrated). In the exemplary embodiment, in order to improve the screw connection, provision is made here whereby the side wall parts 2 have slots 29 running in a vertical direction, into which slots the screws for the fastening of the functional elements, such as for example shelves and trays, can then be screwed. Those side wall parts 2 which are fastened to the rear side lb of the rack side wall 1 can be produced particularly inexpensively owing to the omission of the bore 28.

The inventors have recognized that it is advantageous if those side wall parts 2 which are installed on the front side la of one of the rack side walls 1 have bores 28' which are preferably implemented in the same raster as the bores 28 in the rack posts 5, 6. Here, the bores 28' are situated in the side surfaces 24 of the side wall part 2 and serve for the additional screw connection of functional elements, for example trays, which are arranged between two rack side walls 1. A screw connection of these functional elements to those side wall pads 2 which are installed on the front side la of one of the rack side walls 1 has proven to be particularly advantageous in order to increase the stability of the rack system, in particular also in the event of a crash.

In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 18 and 19, provision is therefore made whereby those side wall parts 2 which are installed onto the front side la have bores 28', whereas, in the case of those side wall parts 2 which are installed onto the rear side 1b of the rack side walls 1, it is advantageous if these only have grooves 29 (as described).

Figure 18 illustrates, by way of example, a rack side wall 1 which is made up of two rack posts 5, 6 which are connected to one another at their top side and at their bottom side by means of a strut 26. The rack side wall 1 may additionally have a rack side surface 7 (not illustrated). In Figure 18, provision is made whereby a side wall part 2 is fixed to the front rack post 5 in the upper region. Here, the fixing is performed such that, by means of the side wall part 2, the depth of the rack side wall 1 is lengthened only in an upper region. In this way, it is advantageously possible, for example, for a pallet to be slid into the utility vehicle. By virtue of the fact that a free space remains below the side wall part 2, a pallet can advantageously be slid into the utility vehicle.

It is also illustrated in Figure 18 that a side wall part 2 is also installed on the rear rack post 6. Here, the installation is likewise performed in the upper region of the rack side wall 1, such that a free space remains below the side wall part 2, which free space can be occupied for example by a wheel arch.

Figure 19 shows a different configuration in relation to Figure 18. Provision is in turn made here whereby a side wall part 2 is fixed to the front rack post 5 in the upper region. A side wall part 2 is likewise fixed to the rear rack post 6, but is fixed there in the lower region, such that a free space remains above the side wall pad 2.

In a manner which is not illustrated in any more detail, provision may also be made, in Figures 18 and 19, whereby the rack side wall 1 is equipped with a side wall part 2, or with multiple side wall parts 2, only on the front side or only on the rear side.

It has been found that, by virtue of the functional elements, for example trays or shelves, also being screwed to the side wall parts 2, it is possible to achieve a particularly high degree of stability for the rack system, and this has a positive effect in particular in the event of a crash.

Figures 11 to 14 illustrate in detail how a connecting element 4 can be connected to the attachment region 8 of a side wall part 2 and to a rail 9 which is fixed with respect to the vehicle. This is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment, and the invention is not restricted to this. For the fastening of the connecting element 4 to the rail 9, fastening means (not designated in any more detail) are provided which are in particular basically known for fastening in airline rails and which are particularly suitable for the exemplary embodiment.

The fixing of the connecting element 4 in the attachment region 8 of the side wall parts 2 may basically be performed, as already described above with regard to the attachment region 3, with the aid of a T-shaped slot 12, a slot nut 15 and a screw element 19.

The side wall parts 2 are formed preferably as extruded profiles, particularly preferably as aluminium extruded profiles, wherein other materials may also be used here. The same also applies to the rack posts 5, 6.

In the context of the invention, the side wall parts 2 may be used with different heights and/or different depths. In particular, provision may be made whereby the rack system has a construction kit composed of a multiplicity of side wall parts 2 which have different heights and/or different depths but identical wall thicknesses.

In a manner which is not illustrated, provision may be made whereby multiple side wall parts 2 are installed one behind the other in order to correspondingly lengthen the depth of the rack side walls 1 and provide different system depths.

Claims

Patent Claims 1 Rack system, in particular for installation into a utility vehicle, having at least two rack side walls (1) and at least one connecting element (4) for connecting the rack system to a positionally fixed component (9), wherein the rack side walls (1) have, at their rear sides (1 b), an attachment region (3) which is designed for the fixing of the at least one connecting element (4), characterized in that at least one additional side wall part (2) is provided which can be installed with a front side (2a) onto the rear side (1 b) and/or onto the front side (1a) of one of the rack side walls (1) in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall (1).
Rack system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the side wall part (2) has, on a rear side (2b), an attachment region (8) for permitting the fixing of at least one of the connecting elements (4) in order to connect the side wall part (2) to the positionally fixed component (9).
3. Rack system according to Claim 2, characterized in that the attachment region (8) on the rear side (2b) of the side wall part (2) is of identical form to the attachment region (3) on the rear side (1b) of the rack side wall (1), at least with regard to the configuration provided for the fixing of the connecting element (4).
4. Rack system according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the attachment region (8) on the rear side (2b) of the side wall part (2) is of identical form to the attachment region (3) on the rear side (1b) of the rack side wall (1).
5. Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the side wall part (2) extends only over a portion of the height of the rack side wall (1).
Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the side wall part (2) is fixable to the rear side (1b) and/or to the front side (1a) of the rack side wall (1) in a continuously variable manner, or in a raster, in a vertical direction.
7. Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rear side (1 b) and/or the front side (1a) of the rack side wall (1) extends in a vertical direction from a bottom side of the rack side wall (1) to a top side of the rack side wall (1) without any bends.
Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the side wall part (2) is formed and installed such that the side wall part (2) is fixed to the positionally fixed component (9) only by way of the attachment region (8) formed on the rear side (2b) of the side wall part (2), and no weight forces are dissipated via a bottom side of the side wall part (2).
9. Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the side wall part (2) has a substantially identical wall thickness to the rack side wall (1).
Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the side wall part (2) is, by way of its front side (2a), connected in form-fitting fashion, preferably by means of a slot-and-key connection, to the attachment region (3) on the rear side (1b) and/or on the front side (la) of the rack side wall (1).
11 Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that an installation region (11) is formed on a front side (2a) of the side wall part (2) in order to connect the side wall part (2) to the attachment region (3) formed on the rear side (1b) of the rack side wall (1) and/or to the front side (1a) of the rack side wall (1), wherein the installation region (11) is preferably of complementary form with respect to the attachment region (3) of the rack side wall (1).
12 Rack system according to any of Claims 1 toll, characterized in that the attachment region (3) of the rack side wall (1) has a T-shaped slot (12) which extends preferably from an upper end of the rack side wall (1) as far as a lower end of the rack side wall (1).
13. Rack system according to Claim 12, characterized in that the T-shaped slot (12) is provided for the fixing of the side wall part (2).
14 Rack system according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, for the fixing of the side wall part (2), at least one slot nut (15) is provided in the T-shaped slot (12) of the rack side wall (1).
Rack system according to Claim 14, characterized in that the slot nut (15) has the shape of a parallelogram in plan view, wherein two opposite sides (15b) have an identical length (Li) and two opposite sides (15c) have an identical length (L2), and wherein the length (Li) is shorter than the length (L2), and wherein the angles between adjacent sides (15b, 15c) do not form a right angle.
16 Rack system according to Claim 15, characterized in that the top side of the slot nut (15) has at least two parallel-running grooves (16), wherein the grooves (16) run at least approximately parallel to the two short sides (Li) of the slot nut (15), and wherein an inner surface (12a), facing towards the top side of the slot nut (15), of the T-shaped slot (12) has two parallel-running elevations and/or beads and/or webs (17) which engage into the grooves (16) when the slot nut (15) has been installed in the T-shaped slot (12).
17. Rack system according to any of Claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the front side (2a) of the side wall part (2) has at least one bore (20) for the leadthrough of a screw element (19) which can be screwed to the slot nut (15), and wherein the rear side (2b) of the side wall part (2) has a corresponding bore (21) which is positioned such that the central axes of the bores (20, 21) run at least approximately co-axially.
18 Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a U-shaped fastening element (22) is provided for the installation of the side wall part (2) onto the rack side wall (1), wherein, when the side wall part (2) has been installed by means of the U-shaped fastening element (22) onto the rack side wall (1), the limbs (23) of the U-shaped fastening element (22) adjoin the inner side of two side surfaces (24), which run with a spacing to one another, of the side wall part (2), and the base (25) of the U-shaped fastening element (22) adjoins the inner side of the front side (2a) of the side wall part (2).
19 Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the side wall part (2) is formed as an extruded profile, preferably as an aluminium extruded profile.
Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that multiple side wall parts (2) of different heights and/or different depths but identical wall thicknesses are provided.
21. Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 20, characterized in that multiple side wall parts (2) are installed one behind the other in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall (1).
22 Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 21, characterized in that in each case at least one side wall part (2) is provided on the front side (la) and on the rear side (lb) of the rack side wall (1).
23 Rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the rack side walls (1) are formed from in each case two rack posts (5, 6) and a rack side surface (7) arranged in between, wherein the attachment region (3) is formed in a rack post (6) positioned at the rear side (1) of the rack side wall (1).
24 Rack side wall (1) for a rack system, in particular for installation into a utility vehicle, according to any of Claims 1 to 23, characterized in that at least one additional side wall part (2) is provided which can be installed with its front side (2a) on the rear side (1b) and/or on the front side (1a) of the rack side wall (1) in order to lengthen the depth of the rack side wall (1).
25. Side wall part (2) for lengthening the depth of a rack side wall (1) of a rack system according to any of Claims 1 to 23.