NZ512360A - Shelving beam - Google Patents

Abstract

A demountable shelving beam (1) for use between opposing sides of two spaced apart shelving uprights (9, 10). Two sets of end lugs (3) with rebates (4) inward thereof are provided, one above the other, at each end (A, B) of the beam. At end A the rebates are of elongate form running longitudinally of the beam. At end B the rebates are in the form of an inverted "V" shape (7) adjacent the lugs with a ramp (8) leading downwardly and away from the rebates. The spacing of the lugs above one another match the spacing of slots in the sides of the uprights. Assembly is by first presenting end B of the beam to upright (9) and inserting the lugs into the slots such that the side wall of upright (9) locates in the rebates. The beam is moved in the direction of arrow (11), this action providing clearance for end (A) to be presented to the opposing side of upright (10). The beam is then moved in the direction of arrow (12) to insert the lugs at that end into the associate slots thereof. By downwardly pressing end (A) the engagement of ramp (8) of the wall of upright (10) dislodges the beam in the direction of arrow (12) wedging the wall of the upright (10) in the inverted "V" shaped rebates. This action also causes the lugs at end (B) to butt up on the inside of the wall upright (9) thus interlocking the beam in place. Demounting of the beam is with the reverse procedure.

Description

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 0 JUN 2002 R E e !E 1V E D No. 512360 Priority Date: 14 June 2001 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION SHELVING BEAM We, VICTOR INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a New Zealand company of 12 Cape Hill Road, Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand do hereby declare the invention for which We pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: P.F. 5 Code 1050 Fee: $250 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 This invention relates to demountable beams for framework structures such as metal shelving framework.

Metal shelving frameworks incorporating numerous spaced apart hollow uprights or posts are well known. Typically the uprights are formed at regular intervals with slots of various 5 configurations into which transverse shelf supporting beams can be mounted. Problems can arise in mounting a transverse beam between opposing sides (as distinct to front or rear faced mounting) of two spaced apart posts owning to the limited clearance available. An intention of this invention is to provide a demountable beam that can be mounted in apertures of two opposing sides of two such spaced apart uprights. A further intention is to 10 provide the public with a useful choice.

According to a first embodiment of this invention there is provided a demountable beam for mounting between two spaced apart uprights by engagement of the beam ends in mounting slots provided in the uprights, characterised in that at each end the beam is provided with a downwardly depending lug bordering a rebate inwardly thereof, the rebate at a first end of 15 the beam being of an inverted "V" shape and at a second end of the beam the rebate having an elongate profile enabling the beam to be displaced longitudinally for the length of the rebate without disengagement when the associated lug is engaged through a mounting slot of an upright, the displacement providing clearance for the other end of the beam to be presented to an opposing upright and with a reverse displacement of the beam the lug 20 inserted into a slot thereof to engage the wall of the upright in the inverted "V" shaped rebate.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 13 JUN 2003 RECEIVED According to a second embodiment of this invention there is provided a demountable beam as described in the preceding paragraph wherein two sets of a lug and associated rebate are provided, one set above the other set, at each end of the beam.

According to a third embodiment of this invention there is provided a demountable beam 5 for mounting between two spaced apart uprights by engagement of the beam ends in mounting slots provided in the uprights, characterised in that at each end the beam is provided with a downwardly depending lug bordering a rebate inwardly thereof, the rebate at a first end of the beam being of an inverted "V" shape with a ramp face extending inwardly and downwardly away from the associated lug and at a second end of the beam the 10 rebate having an elongate profile enabling the beam to be displaced longitudinally for the length of the rebate without disengagement when the associated lug is engaged through a mounting slot of an upright, whereby with the second end of the beam so mounted in an upright the first end of the beam can be can be inserted and depressed in a mounting slot of an opposingly positioned upright to cause the beam to longitudinally dislodge as the 15 depressing action impinges the ramp onto a lower edge of the slot and wedges it into the inverted "V" shaped rebate to attach the beam between the two uprights.

According to a fourth embodiment of this invention there is provided a shelving framework incorporating a plurality of spaced apart uprights having a plurality of aligned apertures in opposing faces and supporting therebetween at least one beam as described in either of the 20 two immediately preceding paragraphs.

In further describing the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein: 8 OFFICE OF N.Z 13 JUM 2003 RECEIVED N1290nz.doc 512360 4 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the beam, and Figs 2 and 3 are side elevations of the end of the beam as indicated by arrows A and B, and Fig 4 is a partly schematic side elevation depicting the mounting procedure for the beam between two uprights.

A beam 1 is formed in known manner such as from rolled metal sheet or similar manner preferably to a general box-section configuration. Preferably beam 1 includes a ledge section 2 on which the edge of a shelf (not depicted) can be supported. At each end A, B beam 1 is provided with at least one and preferably two downwardly depending mounting lugs 3. Each lug 3 is bordered by an associated rebate 4, the lugs 3 being insertable (as described in more detail below) into slots of upright 9,10 to locate the slotted wall of the upright 9,10 within the rebates 4 and thus locate the beam 1 in situ. The lugs 3 and associated rebates 4 are preferably fabricated from a separate bracket component suitably affixed such as by welding to the parent material of the beam 1.

Referring in particular to Fig 3, each rebate at end B is of an elongate profile being formed by two longitudinally spaced apart sides 5 joined by a base side 6 disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam 1. Referring in particular to Fig 2, at end A of the beam 1 the rebates 4 are of an inverted "V" shape 7 alongside the associated lug 3 with the remainder of the profile of the rebate 4 forming a ramp 8 extending inwardly and downwardly away from the associated lug 3. As viewed in the drawings, the length of the lugs 3 at end A, that is from the extreme end of the beam 1 to the apex of the inverted "V" shaped rebate 7 is preferably substantially the same as the length of the rebates 4 at end B of NI290nz.doc 512360* the beam 1. This geometry of the beam 1 ensures- a firm interlock when the beam is mounted as described below.

In situ and more particularly in assembly the end B of the beam 1 is first presented (out of plane to provide clearance) to upright 9 and the lugs 3 located into two adjacently spaced 5 apart one above the other mounting slots (for clarity, not depicted) thereof. The wall of the upright 9 locates in the rebates 4, the bases 6 thereof resting on the lower edges of the slots in the wall of the upright 9. The bean can be moved inwardly, as indicated by arrow 11, of the upright 9 for the length of the rebate 4 this movement providing sufficient clearance for end A to then be presented to the opposing face of upright 10. End A of the beam 1 can 10 then be presented to corresponding horizontally aligned apertures of upright 10. With opposing longitudinal movement, as indicated by arrow 12, of the beam 1 the lugs 3 of the end A can be inserted into the selected slots of upright 10. The ramps 8 at end A seat onto the lower edges of the slots and with the depressing of end A the beam 1 will be dislodged further in the direction of arrow 12 to wedge the wall of the upright 10 in the inverted "V" 15 shaped 7 rebates 4. At end B of the beam this dislodging action brings lugs 3 at that end into impingement with the inside of upright 9 to thus interlock the beam 1 between the uprights 9,10. Removal of beam 1 is with a reverse sequence to the above, commenced with upwardly dislodging end A from inverted "V" shaped 7 rebates 4.

Claims (1)

1. N1290nz.doc 6 6 5 15 3. 4. we claim is: A demountable beam for mounting between two spaced apart uprights by engagement of the beam ends in mounting slots provided in the uprights, characterised in that at each end the beam is provided with a downwardly depending lug bordering a rebate inwardly thereof, the rebate at a first end of the beam being of an inverted "V" shape and at a second end of the beam the rebate having an elongate profile enabling the beam to be displaced longitudinally for the length of the rebate without disengagement when the associated lug is engaged through a mounting slot of an upright, the displacement providing clearance for the other end of the beam to be presented to an opposing upright and with a reverse displacement of the beam the lug inserted into a slot thereof to engage the wall of the upright in the inverted "V" shaped rebate. A demountable beam as claimed in claim 1 wherein two sets of a lug and associated rebate are provided, one set above the other set, at each end of the beam. A demountable beam as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the length of the lug(s) at the end of the beam associated with the inverted "V" shaped rebate are commensurate with the length of the rebates at the opposing end of the beam. A demountable beam for mounting between two spaced apart uprights by engagement of the beam ends in mounting slots provided in the uprights, characterised in that at each end the beam is provided with a downwardly depending lug bordering a rebate inwardly thereof, the rebate at a first end of the beam being of 13 JUN 2003 RECEIVED NI290nz.doc 7 31 an inverted "V" shape with a ramp face extending inwardly and downwardly away from the associated lug and at a second end of the beam the rebate having an elongate profile enabling the beam to be displaced longitudinally for the length of the rebate without disengagement when the associated lug is engaged through a 5 mounting slot of an upright, whereby with the second end of the beam so mounted in an upright the first end of the beam can be can be inserted and depressed in a mounting slot of an opposingly positioned upright to cause the beam to longitudinally dislodge as the depressing action impinges the ramp onto a lower edge of the slot and wedges it into the inverted "V" shaped rebate to attach the beam 10 between the two uprights. 5. A demountable beam as claimed in claim 3 wherein two sets of a lug and associated rebate are provided, one set above the other set, at each end of the beam. 6. A demountable beam as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the length of the lug(s) at the end of the beam associated with the inverted "V: shaped rebate are 15 commensurate with the length of the rebates at the opposing end of the beam. 7. A demountable beam as claimed in any one of the preceding claims roll formed from sheet metal and incorporating a shelve support ledge therealong with the lugs and associated rebates being fabricated from a separate bracket component affixed to the parent material of the beam. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 13 JUN 2003 RECEIVED 8 8. A shelving framework incorporating a plurality of spaced apart uprights having a plurality of aligned apertures in opposing faces and supporting therebetween at least one beam as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. 9. A demountable shelving beam substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. IDUSTRIES LIMITED By their Attorneys NEWNHAM & CO 10 NI290nz.doc 5 ABSTRACT A demountable shelving beam 1 for use between the opposing sides of two spaced apart shelving uprights9, 10. Two sets of end lugs 3 with rebates 4 inward thereof are provided, one above the other, at each end A,B of the beam 1. At end A the rebates 4 are of elongate 5 form running longitudinally of the beam 1. At end B the rebates 4 are in the form of an inverted "V" shape 7 adjacent the lugs 3 with a ramp 8 leading downwardly and away from the rebates 4. The spacing of the lugs 3 above one another match the spacing of slots in the sides of the uprights 9,10. Assembly is by first presenting end B of the beam 1 to upright 9 and inserting the lugs 3 into the slots such that the side wall of upright 9 locates in the 10 rebates 4. Beam 1 is moved in the direction of arrow 11 this action providing clearance for end A to be presented to the opposing side of upright 10. Beam 1 is then moved in the direction of arrow 12 to insert the lugs 3 at that end into the associate slots thereof. By downwardly pressing end A the engagement of ramp 8 on the wall of upright 10 dislodges the beam 1 in the direction of arrow 12 wedging the wall of the upright 10 in the inverted 15 "V" shaped rebates. This action also causes the lugs 3 at end B to butt up on the inside of the wall of upright 9 thus interlocking the beam in place. Demounting of the beam 1 is with the reverse procedure. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z 13 JUN 2003 RECEIVED