IT201800002267A1 - SUPPORT FOR SHELVING TOPS IN METAL WIRE FOR SALES POINTS, FOR SUPPORTING DIVIDERS, FRONT PANELS, LED BARS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

patent for invention entitled:

SUPPORT FOR SHELVING TOPS IN METALLIC WIRE FOR POINTS

SALE, FOR THE SUPPORT OF DIVIDERS, FRONT PANELS, LED BARS

[001] The present invention refers to the technical field of furnishings for large sales surfaces, and in particular to an accessory for shelves for displaying goods. More particularly, the invention relates to a support for accessories (dividers, faceplates, LED bars) that can be used on surfaces of the metal wire type.

[002] These shelves are well known in the art; it can be said that there are essentially two types of shelving, one of which has shelves made of metal wires and a second type of shelves made of metal sheet.

[003] The first type of shelves has metal wires welded together to form a network capable of supporting the goods on sale. An example of such plans is described for example in DE102005020253 by Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik KG.

[004] The second type of top is manufactured by bending and welding metal sheet, as described for example in US2005593A of LUXE METAL FURNITURE COMPANY.

[005] It is quite frequent that within the same store there are both wire shelves of the type described by DE102005020253, and sheet metal shelves of the type described by US2005593A.

[006] It is also known to divide said shelves by means of dividers which occupy the entire short side of the surface, so as to facilitate the filling of the surface, especially when the goods are rather small in size with respect to the dimensions of the surface itself.

[007] A device for dividing the floor is for example illustrated in US9326604 of LogiQuip LLC.

[008] Another typical accessory of the shelves, both in sheet metal and in wire, is the front panel which serves to stop the packages so that they do not fall down from the shelf towards the public; these front panels are used especially in the case of particularly small or light packages, or when the top is mounted inclined towards the public.

[009] Typically, the dividers and front panels that can be applied on these two different types of shelves are different, which is a problem both for the manufacturer of shelves / shelf accessories and for the point of sale itself, as both are obliged to produce and store dividers and front panels of different types.

[010] A second drawback is given by the fact that nowadays the shelves for points of sale are frequently electrified to equip them with LED bars for lighting. Said bars are typically fixed to said planes and constitute an additional bulk. Until now, the presence of LED bars and dividers / faceplates was mutually exclusive.

[011] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an accessory that allows the same dividers and front panels to be used on both types of shelves, both in sheet metal and in wire, which is practical to fix and remove, even in the presence of LED bars for the shelf lighting.

[012] This purpose is achieved with an apparatus and a method that have the characteristics of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and refinements are specified in the claims dependent thereon.

[013] The solution consists of a support, preferably of plastic material, which is hooked to the wire top, allowing to use the same dividers and front panels, also in metal wire, used on the metal sheet tops. This support also has a cavity inside which an LED bar can be optionally housed for illuminating the shelf.

[014] The first advantage of the present invention consists in the elimination of a reference by both the manufacturer and the point of sale itself, which allows on the one hand to reduce the number of references in stock and on the other not to remain unused. of the type of partition and / or front panel that was needed at that time.

[015] The second advantage of the present invention consists in the possibility of using the same support both when the shelves are illuminated by an LED bar and when they are not illuminated, here too reducing the number of references in stock.

[016] A third advantage is given by the fact that, by using the support according to the present invention, when the need arises to add other dividers / faceplates or possibly LED bars, it is not necessary to dismantle the shelf itself.

[017] A fourth advantage of the present invention is the limited aesthetic impact of the support according to the present invention, in particular when it is produced in transparent plastic.

Further advantages and properties of the present invention are illustrated in the following description, wherein an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in detail based on the drawings:

Figure 1 Axonometric view of a typical wire plane;

Figure 2 Axonometric view from above of a sheet metal surface with mounted dividers and front panel;

Figure 2A Side sectional view of one end of the sheet metal top with the foot of a partition inserted;

Figure 3A Axonometric view from below of a wire top with dividers and front panel mounted according to a first embodiment of the support; Figure 3B Axonometric view from below of a wire top with dividers and front panel mounted according to a second embodiment of the support; Figure 4 Axonometric view of a first embodiment of the support according to the present invention;

Figure 5 Axonometric view of a second embodiment of the support according to the present invention;

Figure 6 Side view of the second embodiment of the support according to the present invention;

Figure 7 Axonometric view of different types of partitions and front panels for sheet metal shelves;

Figure 8 Axonometric view of different types of dividers and front panels for wire shelves.

[019] Figure 1 shows a typical wire plane 1. Said plane consists of a plurality of metal wires 2 generally equidistant from each other and welded to at least one reinforcement 3 perpendicular to said wires. Said reinforcements 3 consist of a piece of flat sheet a few centimeters high. Normally, to obtain an aesthetic surface, two other metal wires 4 and 5 are welded to the two front and rear ends; these two wires generally do not contribute to the bearing capacity of the structure but improve the safety of the top by protecting the protruding ends of the metal wires.

[020] Figure 2, on the other hand, shows a surface 10 made of sheet metal with a plurality of partitions 6 and a front panel 7 mounted.

[021] As can be appreciated from the comparison between Figures 2 and 3, the dividers 6 and the front panels 7 are absolutely identical, and consist of metal wires welded together.

[022] In the case of the top 10 in metal sheet shown in Figure 2, the dividers 6 and the front panels 7 have feet 12 (not visible in Figure 2) at least at the two ends and optionally central which are inserted into special holes 11 made in the top same.

[023] In particular, the sheet metal which constitutes the plane 10 is folded into a C shape as can be seen in the detail shown in Figure 2A. The hole 11 is above a corresponding hole 11A made in the lower portion of the C-folding. The foot 12 of the divider 6 fits into both holes 11 and 11A in order to give stability to the whole. It should be noted that the C-folding of the sheet is present both on the front side and on the rear side of the top 10.

[024] In a preferred embodiment, the partition 6 has a long foot and a short foot; the long foot is of a length suitable to slip into both holes 11, 11A, while the short foot is of a length suitable to slip into only hole 11. In this way, sufficient stability is obtained in the face of greater ease of assembly .

[025] Figures 3A and 3B show a wire top 1 provided with dividers 6, faceplates 7, LED bar 8 and a plurality of supports 9 (Figure 3A) and supports 59 (Figure 3B) according to the present invention which serve to hold the dividers 6, faceplate 7, and an optional LED bar 8 in place.

[026] The support 9, 59 according to the present invention is mounted on the reinforcement 3 by means of an interlocking elastic coupling terminal, exerting a slight pressure of the support against the reinforcement 3. Indicatively, the distance between the reinforcement 3 and the front metal wire 4 or rear 5 of the top is slightly shorter than the length of the support 9 (side 16 of the support itself).

[027] In one embodiment, the supports 9, 59 are intended to be inserted in the space between two adjacent wires 2 which form the support surface of the shelf, while they are coupled by interlocking to the transverse reinforcement 3 to which the wires 2 are welded Thanks to the fact that the distance between the reinforcement 3 and the front 4 and rear finishing wire 5 parallel to the said reinforcement is less than the length of the support 5, 59 in the direction of the said distance, in a condition of interlocking on the reinforcement 3, supports 5, 59 remain effectively retained against accidental detachment from the reinforcement 3, since the front thread 4 or the rear thread 5 prevents their translation in the direction away from the reinforcement 3, thus forming a disengagement stroke limiter for the supports.

[028] From Figures 3A and 3B it is possible to appreciate that the foot 12 of dividers and front panels is inserted inside a special hole 14 of the support 9, 59 itself. The depth of this hole is sufficient to give mechanical stability to the whole.

[029] Still from Figures 3A and 3B it is possible to appreciate that in the support 9, 59 itself there is a cavity 15 which allows to house an LED bar 8, preferably a window closed on all peripheral sides and through which the LED bar in the direction of its longitudinal axis.

[030] Figure 4 shows a first embodiment of the support 9 object of the present invention. Said support is preferably made of plastic material, preferably transparent, so as to have a minimum aesthetic impact, even if the metal wire that forms the top is colored.

[031] Said support 9 can be assimilated to a rectangle defined by two sides, upper 16 and lower 17, parallel to the plane 1; and two lateral sides 18 and 19 perpendicular to plane 1.

[032] In the upper side 16 of the support 9 there is a hole 14 adjacent and perpendicular to the side 18 of the support itself, which, as mentioned, accommodates the feet 12 of the dividers 6 and of the front panels 7. Said hole 14 must be of a diameter sufficient to accommodate 12 feet; since the diameter of the metal wire with which they are constructed has a diameter of approximately 5.5 mm, the hole 14 has a corresponding size, with the minimum play required to be able to easily fit said feet 12. Indicatively, the diameter of the hole 14 is approximately 6.2mm.

[033] The width of the support 9, on the other hand, must be overall such as to be placed between two adjacent and parallel metal wires 2 and which together with other wires 2 form a plane 1. Indicatively, the gap between two metal wires 2 consecutive is 10 mm. Preferably, the width of the support 9 is approximately 9 mm.

[034] One side 19 of the support 9 is intended to mechanically interlock with a reinforcement 3, and for this purpose it has two appendages 20, 21 protruding outwards in addition to side 19 from which the appendages branch off, one upper 20 and one 21. The set of said appendages 20 and 21 and of the side 19 itself has a C-shape overall, and the distance of the appendages between them in the longitudinal direction of the side 19 is commensurate with the height of the sheet metal which forms the reinforcement 3 a to which the support must be coupled. When mounted, the support 9 is hooked by means of the two appendages 20 and 21 to the two upper and lower ends of the reinforcement 3, thanks to the presence of two notches, one upper 22 and one lower 23 respectively made in said appendages. Side 19 is set back with respect to the edge of the two notches 20 and 21 to allow the support 9 itself sufficient elasticity to snap it onto the reinforcement 3.

[035] When mounted, the support 9 is stuck rigidly against the reinforcement 3 thanks to the interlocking of the two notches 22 and 23 respectively on an upper and lower edge of the reinforcement itself, and to the support of the stop step 26 provided in the connection area of the lower appendage 21 to the side 19 against the vertical wall of the reinforcement 3 itself.

[036] In this condition, the two appendages 20 and 21 embrace the metal sheet which constitutes the reinforcement at the top and bottom, and the support 9 remains blocked with respect to a translation relative to the support 9 thanks to the notches 22 and 23.

[037] According to an embodiment, the upper appendage 20 is made in the form of a hook that delimits a hole having a certain depth, while the lower appendage 21 ends with a tooth with a triangular cross-section so as to form an inclined surface d 'request that when pushing against the reinforcement 3 it cooperates with the corresponding lower longitudinal edge, contributing to the deformation in the direction of temporary spreading of the two appendages from each other and overcoming said lower longitudinal edge of the reinforcement 3 by the tooth and therefore of the joint of this same lower longitudinal edge in the recess 23. This is of less depth than that of the recess 22 on the opposite appendage, and the tooth has an inclined leading surface designed to cooperate in the same way with the lower longitudinal edge of the reinforcement 3, when a traction force is exerted in the direction of disengagement.

[038] The support 9 also has a cavity 15 intended to house a LED bar 8. The dimensions of the cavity 15 are such as to comfortably accommodate different types of LED bars 8. However, at the same time, the structure of the support must remain adequately rigid to maintain the mechanical support characteristics of the dividers 6 and faceplates 7.

[039] In particular, said cavity consists of a window which is closed or closable on all sides so as to retain the LED bar completely surrounding it.

[040] It should be pointed out that the presence of said LED bars 8 is optional, and potentially the LED bars can be mounted at a later time.

[041] According to an embodiment, to allow easy coupling of the LED bars 8, the cavity or the window of the support 9 can be opened peripherally thanks to a closing mechanism 17, in particular at the lower side of the support. When the closing mechanism 17 is in the closed position, its mechanical strength is sufficient to support the weight of a LED bar 8. However, it is possible to use the support 9 closed, with the cavity 15 not used.

[042] According to the first embodiment shown in Figure 4, the closing mechanism 17 is constituted by a segment of the lower side of the support coinciding with the said cavity or the said housing window of the LED bar. The said lower side segment is connected at one end to the support 9 by means of a hinge 24, which allows the said side of the cavity to swing in the direction of opening and closing, like a compass, without problems of breakage due to an elastic bending action of the material, based solely on the intrinsic elasticity of the material which in the long run would lead to mechanical stress and breakage. The opposite end of the oscillating side segment which forms part of the closing mechanism 17 in turn has a terminal for snap-fit coupling with the support 9, which terminal consists of a tooth mounted on an elastically flexible fin 117 and which fin 117 is intended to overlap by forcing a wall or a rib 217 for hooking the support 9 which is substantially parallel to said fin 117, said fin and said rib respectively presenting an interlocking tooth 317 and a coupling seat 417 of said interlocking tooth, which in the closed condition are forced into a condition of mutual engagement by the elastic force of the flap 117. In an easily accessible position, the end of the oscillating side segment has a gripping tab 25 to exert a release force of the oscillating segment to the side from the support body. According to an embodiment, the hinge 24 is made of one piece and of the same material as the support and is a so-called film hinge, obtained by a thinning of material between the oscillating segment of the lower side and the remaining part of the said lower side of the support.

[043] As is evident, in order to ensure greater stability of the coupling of the oscillating segment to the support in correspondence with the closing mechanism, the end of the oscillating segment carrying the elastic flap 117 extends beyond the said elastic flap and overlaps partially inferiorly and laterally on both faces to the body of the support, or to the underside of the coupling rib 217 with which the flap 117 cooperates.

[044] In this way any forces exerted in the direction of the axis of the cavity or of the window and which could have repercussions in a lateral bending of the oscillating segment on the lower side are discharged onto the walls which overlap laterally to the body of the support and which retain the said side segment oscillating against a lateral flexion in the direction of the axis of the cavity.

[045] According to a further characteristic, the oscillating lower side segment has a cradle shape 517 on its face facing towards the inside of the cavity, for example constituted by three walls angled to each other and positioned tangent to a circumference or a line curve.

[046] It should be noted that the fact that the closing mechanism 17 is in the closed position confers further mechanical rigidity to the support 9 itself.

[047] It should be noted that in the first embodiment, the support 9 is a single piece which has a reclosable closure system.

[048] In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 5, the support 59 is instead constituted by two distinct portions manufactured in two different materials. The support 59 is substantially identical to the support 9, also dimensionally; what varies is the configuration of the cavity or of the window housing the LED bar. In this case the said cavity or the said window are made by means of a distinct removable portion in the form of a cradle which can be fixed by snap-fit to a lower side of the support 59.

[049] In this embodiment, the cradle is made of metal wire having a predetermined elasticity, and the closing mechanism 29 is constituted by the ends of said cradle. Basically, the closing mechanism 29 has the shape of a double U.

[050] In particular, the wire of the closing mechanism 29 is suitably folded to form two parallel U-shaped segments, the ends of which of the corresponding branches of the two U-shapes connect to each other, forming two hooking crosspieces respectively in one of two seats 27 and 28. The two U-shaped segments are intended to house a LED bar 8, while by exerting a slight pressure the connecting crosspieces of said two U-shaped segments are hooked to the support 59 through the seats 27, 28, thanks to a controlled deformation of the wire 29 itself, which must be elastically compressed to bring the terminal portions of the two U-shaped segments closer together so as to pass beyond the delimiting walls of the seats 27, 28 and return to its original pre-interlocking dimension a once inserted in said seats. Therefore, in order to separate the cradle from the support 59 it is necessary to exert again an elastic compression of approaching the upper branches of the two U-shaped segments so as to come out of the seats and to be able to extract said cradle.

[051] It is possible to mount the support 59 without closing mechanism 29 on a wire surface 1 to support dividers 6 and front panels 7, and add the said closing mechanism 29 only at a later time if you want to mount a LED bar 8.

[052] Figure 6 shows a side view of the support 59 hooked to a reinforcement 3 of a metal surface 1. In this view it is possible to appreciate the C-shape of the hooking system of the support itself, comprising the upper appendix 20, the vertical side 19 and the lower appendage 21. Respectively, in the appendix 20 there is the cut-out 22, while in the appendix 21 there are the cut-out 23 and an abutment step 26. Figure 6 shows that the reinforcement 3 strikes against the abutment step 26 but remains distant from the side 19 of the support, so that the support 59 has the necessary elasticity to allow the said support 59 to be easily fitted / disengaged on the reinforcement 3. It is evident that the support 9 also works in the in the same way, the difference between support 9 and support 59 consists only in the way in which the LED bar 8 is housed and supported by said two supports.

[053] Figures 7 and 8 finally show a variety of dividers 6, 86 and front panels 7, 87 normally made available by the manufacturer and commonly used in sales outlets. From the comparison of these Figures it is possible to notice the multiplicity of types and sizes of dividers and front panels. All the types of dividers and front panels shown in Figures 7 and 8 can also be mounted on the wire shelves thanks to the use of the two supports 9, 59 according to the present invention, suitably positioned with respect to the surface underlying the wires 2 and correspondingly to the lower appendages 12 interlocking of the front panels and dividers.

[054] Figures 7 and 8 also show a top 80 made of metal sheet and a top 88 having a semicircular shape, which are generally used for the end portions of the sales shelves.

[055] It should be pointed out that even semicircular faceplates 87, corresponding to a quarter of a circumference, can always be mounted using the supports 9, 59 according to the present invention. This is because the reinforcement 83 of the semicircular plane has the same dimensions (height and thickness) as the reinforcement 3 of the rectangular planes, while the width of the support 9, 59 is sufficiently small, with respect to the radius of the circumference of the semicircular plane 88, to allow the mechanism of attack to function in the same way as it does on the rectangular plane that has linear reinforcement.

[056] The mounting method according to the present invention has the following steps:

to. Install a wire top 1 at the desired height on the structure for a shelving;

b. Insert at least one pair of supports 9 or 59; the interlocking of the support 9 or 59 takes place with a snap mechanism by pressing the two appendages 20, 21 against the upper and lower edges of a reinforcement 3, and bringing the step 26 abutment against the reinforcement 3 itself;

c. Insert the feet 12 of a partition 6 or a front panel 7 inside the hole 14 of each support 9 or 59;

d. Optionally, insert a LED bar 8 inside the cavity 15 and lock it with the closing mechanism 17 or 29.

[057] It should be noted that the assembly phase d can be carried out later, even after months or years, when you want to light up the shelf by installing new LED bars 8.

[058] It should be noted that if the two-piece support 59 is used, said support 59 can be mounted initially without the removable closing mechanism 29, which can only be mounted at a later time, when where it is decided to add at least one LED bar 8 to the wire shelf 1.

[059] The LED bar 8 can be removed from the support 9, 59 at any time, for example if you no longer want to illuminate the shelf or because it is faulty. This advantageously does not require dismantling of the shelf itself.

1 metal wire top

2 metal wires

3 reinforcement

4 front wire

5 rear wire

6 divider

7 front panel

8 LED bar

9 support

10 sheet metal top 11.11A hole in the sheet metal top

12 foot

13 C folding of the sheet 14 hole in the support

15 cavities

16 upper side of the holder

17 closing mechanism

18 side of the support

19 side of the support

20 upper appendix

21 lower appendix

22 burglary

23 burglary

24 zipper

25 tab

26 stop step

27 headquarters

28 headquarters

29 removable closing mechanism 59 closing

80 semicircular top in sheet 83 semicircular reinforcement

86 semicircular divider

87 semicircular front panel

88 semicircular top in wire

117 flap

217 coupling rib

317 hook tooth

417 coupling seat

517 cradle shape

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Support (9, 59) for so-called front panels (7, 87) and so-called dividing walls (6, 86) provided in combination with shelves (1) consisting of a set of wires (2) connected to each other by elements transverse reinforcement (3), which support (9, 59) comprises at least one end (20, 19, 21) for elastic interlocking to a transverse reinforcement element (3) and at least one seat (14) for coupling feet ( 12) for fixing said dividers (6, 86) or said front panels (7, 87) characterized by the fact that said support (9, 59) includes a cavity or a window (15) for housing and supporting an optional LED bar (8). 2. Support according to claim 1, in which the terminal for interlocking the transverse reinforcement element (3) comprises: - A C-shaped mechanism (20, 19, 21) with elastically retractable and elastically forceable opposing branches in the condition of engagement of a reinforcing element in which said branches embrace each other diametrically opposite edges of said transverse reinforcing elements (3); - A hole (14) open towards an upper side of the support for the insertion of a corresponding foot (12) of said dividers (6, 86) and front panels (7, 87). 3. Support (9, 59) according to claim 2, in which the joint terminal to the reinforcement (3) of the surface (1) has an upper appendage (20), and a lower appendage (21) connected to a certain predetermined distance between them on a vertical side (19); in the appendix (20) there is a cut-out (22), while in the appendix (21) there is a cut-out (23) and in combination with said cut-out a stop step (26) to distance the said reinforcement from the vertical side ( 19). Support (9) according to one or more of the preceding claims, produced in one piece and having a closing mechanism (17) for opening and closing the cavity or window (15) housing the LED bar, the which mechanism comprises a segment of a perimeter side delimiting said cavity or window (15) which is oscillating thanks to a hinge (24) at one of its ends and which is provided with a snap-fit terminal (117, 317) in a coupling stop (217, 417) of the support (9). Support (59) according to one or more of the preceding claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that it is produced in two distinct pieces, the first piece of which comprises the coupling terminal (19, 20, 21) to the elements (3 ) of the top (1) and the coupling seats (14) of the front panels (7, 87) and dividers (6, 86), while the second piece consists of a removable cradle that can be coupled by means of a removable closing mechanism (29) with seats (27, 28) for coupling on said support (59). Support (59) according to claim 5, characterized in that the cradle is constituted by a wire shaped so as to form a double U and is elastically engageable in two seats (27, 28) on the support (59). Support (9, 59) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein: - the width of the support is less than the gap between two metal wires (2) adjacent to the set of parallel metal wires (2) that form a plane (1); - the length of the support is less than the gap between the reinforcement (3) and a metal wire (4, 5) transversal to the wires (2) which define the plane (1) and which defines the front or rear end of said plane ( 1); - said support is made of plastic material, preferably transparent. Method for mounting the support (9, 59) according to claims 1 to 7 comprising the following steps: to. Install a wire top (1) at the desired height on the structure for a shelving; b. Press-fit at least one pair of supports (9 or 59) by positioning them at a distance from each other corresponding to the distance of at least two feet of a partition (6, 86) or of a front panel (7, 87); c. Insert the said feet (12) of a partition (6, 86) or a front panel (7, 87) inside the corresponding hole (14) of each support (9 or 59); d. Optionally, open the cavity (15) for housing an LED bar (8) of the at least two supports (9, 59), insert a LED bar (8) inside the cavity (15) and close said cavity (15 ) via the locking mechanism (17 or 29). 9. Method for mounting the support (9, 59) according to claim 8, wherein the support (9 or 59) is interlocked with a snap mechanism by pressing the two appendages (20, 21) against the upper and lower edges of a reinforcement (3), and bringing the abutment step (26) into a position of contact against the reinforcement (3) itself. Method for mounting the support (59) according to claim 10, wherein the support (59) is mounted without the support cradle of the LED bar (8), while said cradle is subsequently coupled, at a later time thanks to the closing mechanism (29) by clamping the LED bar (8) between said cradle and the seats (27, 28) for hooking it to the support.