PT1629744E - Back panel for metal shelvings - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a rectangular back panel (10) supported by vertical upright columns (2a, 2b). The columns have openings (6) cooperating with arms (7) to support horizontal racks (9) inclined from rear towards front. Upper and lower cross-braces (11, 12) are placed above and below the panel. The panel and the cross braces have L-shape hooks cooperating with openings arranged on lateral sides (13) of the columns by bending the panel. An independent claim is also included for a method of assembling a shelf.

Description

6722

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a shelving device essentially constituted by vertical uprights which support by removable attachment means shelves for storing or presenting merchandise and which comprises at least one bottom panel so as to form a single, independent and perfectly rigid framework.

In the field of shelf devices intended to display products, in particular on large surfaces, devices consisting of tubular vertical uprights with apertures cooperating with arm securing means which support trays which are classically horizontal or inclined backwards and from top to bottom to display goods intended for sale.

These devices usually comprise two vertical uprights integral with a base, or further four vertical uprights connected by horizontal cross members. The lower ends of the uprights then constitute the feet, arranged rectangularly to ensure shelf stability. These devices further comprise bottom panels supported by two uprights to constitute visual separators on the rear face of the shelf.

Claims (16)

A display shelf device comprising at least one bottom panel (10), generally rectangular in shape and constituted by a flat plate, supported by at least two vertical tubular section posts (2a, 2b) (6), which cooperate with the arm securing means (7) to support horizontal or inclined trays (9) from the rear and from the top to the bottom, and (11) which stiffens the frame, characterized in that the bottom panel (10) which is then overlapped, is provided with fastening means able to be inserted and hangs on the side faces (13) of the uprights (2a, 2b), the insertion being achieved by arching the panels (10) obtained by their flat plate shape. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for securing the bottom panel (s) (10) on the uprights (2a, 2b) are constituted by openings (15) practiced on the side faces (13) of said uprights ( 2a, 2b) cooperating with hooks (14) generally " L " positioned, positioned along the vertical edges of the bottom panel (s) 10. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the apertures (15) are rectangular in shape, distributed in line according to their length and according to a regular step and that the hooks (14) are divided according to a regular step 6722 of a value corresponding to an integer multiple of that of the pitch of the apertures (15). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom panel (10) is obtained by cutting a sheet of reduced thickness sheet. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the width of the apertures (15) is more than twice the thickness of a bottom panel (10). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two rods (11, 12) arranged at the upper and lower ends of the vertical uprights (2a, 2b), one (11) above the bottom panel (10). ) and the other (12) beneath the bottom panel (s) (10). A device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the means for fixing the rods (11, 12) to the uprights consists of at least two hooks (20) in general shape of " L " arranged at each end (18, 19) of each rod (11, 12), capable of cooperating with the openings (15) on the side faces (13) of the uprights (2a, 2b). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rods (11) and (12) are identical and obtained by cutting following folding of a sheet according to two longitudinal folds (16, 17), and 6722 parallel to each other so that each of said rods (11) and (12) has a generally shaped section of η 17 rr A device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that each end (18, 19) of a rod (11, 12) comprises removable means for preventing unintentional disengagement of said rods (11, 12) consisting of (21) provided so as to be inserted after folding into an opening (15) of the corresponding upright (2a, 2b), so that the pawl (21) comes into contact with the upper side (22) of said opening (15). A device according to claims 5 and 8, characterized in that the width of the apertures (15) is greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the plate forming the rods (11, 12) and of the plate forming a bottom panel (10) . Device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the bottom panels (10) are able to overlap, with two hooks (14, 20) being simultaneously introduced into an aperture (15) in the side face ( 13) of the uprights (2a, 2b). A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each tray (8) has two rectangular notches respectively provided at the rearward ends of said platform (8), the depth of each notch being greater than or equal to 3 6722 of the width of a side face (13) of a vertical upright (2a, 2b). Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the rear end of the platform (8) is in contact with the bottom panel (10) to increase the storage space of said platform (8) and to prevent objects falling arranged on this. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an easily detachable rod is inserted between the rear side of a rectangular platform (8) and the corresponding bottom panel (10), the upper face of the rod being generally parallel to the plane defined by the platform (8) while the tie rod is detachably attached to said platform (8) by any known means. Method of installing the bottom panel (10) used in the shelving device (1) according to the previous claims, characterized in that the installation of the bottom panels (10) is obtained as follows: they are positioned and inserted the hooks 14 of the first vertical edge of the panel 10 in the apertures 15 located on the side faces 13 of the first vertical upright 2a, 2b, the panel 10 is manually arched until the width of the arcuate panel including the hooks 14, 4 6722 is lower than that separating the side faces 13 from the two upright uprights 2a, 2b, thus enabling: - to position the hooks 14 of the second vertical edge of the panel (10) opposite the apertures (15) on the side face (13) of the second upright (2a, 2b), then let the arched panel (10) resume its normal and initial shape by no longer exerting the effort and in parallel with this step, inserting the hooks (14) of the second edge see (10) in the apertures (15) on the side face (13) of the second upright (2a, 2b). A method of assembling the rack device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising a first step of assembling the base (3) and at least two vertical uprights (2a, 2b) on which are mounted at least one tie rod 11 to its high end, by insertion of the engagement hooks 20 of said tie rods 11, 12 into the apertures 15 on the side faces 13 of said uprights 2a, 2b, (10) inserting the engaging hooks (14) of the said panel (10) into the apertures (15) of the side faces (13) of said panel (10) of the uprights (2a, 2b) which simultaneously receive the engaging hooks (20) of the high rod (11), and then - successive overlapping and overlapping of successive bottom panels (10) the overlap obtained by inserting the engat hooks (14) and a first panel (10) in the openings (15) of the side faces (13) of the uprights (2a, 2b) which simultaneously receive the engagement hooks (14) of a second adjacent panel (10), the paneling (10) obtained in accordance with the method of installation of the preceding claim. 6722 The bottom panels, although assuring their main function of visual separator, have the disadvantage of flexing under the load, that is to say, they are able to deform according to the own modes of deformation of a plate, well known, namely according to the inflection and / or torsion modes. This contributes fatally to increase the instability of a frame formed by two adjacent uprights and a bottom panel which connects them, in particular under the influence of significant loads arranged on the shelves which said uprights support, and this either the "; shelf " (four vertical uprights connected by horizontal crossbars) or of the type " gondola " (two vertical uprights with a base that support the shelves). There is known patent application GB 2,362,808.A which discloses a rack device equipped with two high and low horizontal tie rods disposed between the two vertical uprights which receive the bottom panels which serve as a visual separator. These tie rods allow the vertical uprights to be rigid and limit the deformations of the bottom panels. The panels generally consist of a flat sheet plate whose longitudinal and / or transverse edges are folded to form peripheral skirts perpendicular to the plane of said panel. These skirts are provided with holes to allow the panels to be secured to the uprights by screws, rivets or any similar means. In the case of patent application GB 2,362,808. A, the 2,722 background panels are scored and fixed on the front faces of the uprights by suitable clip-like type means. These different ways of attaching the backing panels require the possibility of using a special tool and, above all, they require a significant time to assemble and disassemble the various elements that make up each shelf device. In addition, bottom panels have the disadvantage that at the time of production they occupy a large volume and, consequently, a large storage surface. In fact, the storage of these panels is done by pallet stacking leaving a free volume between two successive panels, corresponding to the height of the skirts. This is a loss of volume which results in a more important land occupation which considerably increases storage costs before assembly but also transport costs. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a shelving device comprising at least one bottom panel, which can be dismantled and reassembled without using specific tools, in a minimum time, allowing to increase the rigidity of the made structure and decrease storage volume before assembly. To this end and in accordance with the invention, there is proposed a shelf arrangement comprising at least one bottom panel, generally rectangular in shape and constituted by a flat plate, supported by at least two tubular vertical uprights of overall section rectangular flanges provided on their front and / or rear faces with openings cooperating with arms fastening means for supporting horizontal or downwardly inclined backward and top down trays and at least one rod which makes the frame rigid, notable in that the panel or bottom panels which are then overlapped are provided with fastening means which engage and engage the side faces of the upright uprights, the arcuate insertion of the panels being achieved by their flat plate shape. The invention also relates to a method of placing the bottom panel used in the shelving device, notable in that the placement of the bottom panels 10 is achieved by: - positioning and inserting the hooks of the first vertical edge of the panel into openings on the faces by manually arching the panel until the width of the arcuate panel, including the hooks, is lower than that separating the side faces of the two vertical uprights, thus enabling: - to position the hooks of the second vertical edge of the arcuate panel in front of the openings in the side face of the second vertical upright, then - let the arched panel resume its normal and initial shape by ceasing to exert the bending stress, and parallel to this step, - insert the hooks of the second edge vertical portion of the panel in the apertures in the side face of the second upright. The invention also relates to a method of assembling the rack device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a first step of assembling the base and at least two vertical uprights on which at least one tie rod at its upper end, by insertion of the engagement hooks of said rod in the apertures on the side faces of said uprights characterized in that it comprises following the steps of: arcing a first bottom panel by inserting the engagement hooks of said panel in the openings of the side faces of the uprights that simultaneously receive the hooks of the upper tie rod, then placing by successive bottom panels by overlapping them and eventually overlapping them, the overlap being obtained by inserting the engagement hooks of a first panel in the openings of the 5 6722 side faces of the uprights that receive sim coupling hooks of an adjacent second panel. The bending of the bottom panels is achieved in accordance with the panel placement process as set forth above. It is well understood that the structure obtained by the simultaneous use of bottom panels and tie rods to connect two adjacent uprights presents a greater rigidity because the tie rods advantageously suppress the possibility of deformation of a single bottom panel which is, susceptible to deform in torsion and inflection under loads. On the other hand, the presence of the bottom panel (s) suppresses any deformable parallelogram type deformation which the presence of single horizontal rods to connect two vertical uprights could generate. It is also to be understood that such a design advantageously makes it easy to assemble and secure, without tooling and without any additional fastening part, the bottom panels on the side faces of the vertical uprights. It makes it possible to overlap and eventually overlap various panels to adjust them to the height of the applied shelf which is delimited at its upper end by a tall riser and at its lower end by the base of the device or possibly a low riser. 6 6722 Furthermore, these panels do not comprise peripheral skirts contrary to the prior art which allows a pallet-stacking without loss of volume as it is possible to place them directly on top of each other. The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings which represent, by way of non-limiting examples, various embodiments of shelf devices: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for Figure 2 is a front view of a bottom panel used in the device of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of an upright used in the device of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side view of a bottom panel used in the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of a rod shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the shelving device according to the invention. 7 6722 This non-limiting embodiment example will be described as a two-upright stand-up device classically called "gondola " which apply a rigid frame which is unshaftable in accordance with the invention, comprising: two vertical uprights, two generally horizontal risers and a bottom panel disposed between said uprights; it is clear that an analogous description could have been given from an exemplary embodiment in which the rack device would be four upright columns classically called the shelf. The gondola 1, with reference to figure 1, is constituted by two vertical uprights 2a and 2b held in a stable vertical position by a base 3 which comprises horizontal unarmed girders, integral with the lower parts of the upstanding uprights 2a, 2b, provided with their free end of monkeys 4 in plastic material adjustable to ensure the stability of the gondola 1. The horizontal struts of the base 3 support platforms 5 which apply to the structure of the base 3 and form on both sides of the upstanding uprights 2a, 2b, a tray of presentation. The vertical uprights 2a and 2b are tubes of rectangular cross-section which, on their front and back faces, comprise the visible face and the opposite face of the uprights when facing the gondola 1, rectangular openings 6 arranged in line each other along their length and regularly spaced along the vertical uprights 2a, 2b, permit the attachment of forwardly and generally triangularly shaped arms 677, provided in their base of hooks for their easily removable fasteners in the uprights 2a, 2b. The arms 7 serve as support for platforms 8 for forming presentation trays 9, on both sides of the vertical uprights 2a and 2b, and on which products intended for sale are displayed. Thus a first alignment by tray overlap 9 extends forward towards a first corridor where the customers circulate and a second alignment of trays 9 symmetrical with respect to the vertical uprights 2a, 2b which extends towards the back in parallel to the first one. It is evident that the arms 7, and hence the presentation trays 9, can be inclined more or less backwards and forwards according to the invention and that the upright uprights 2a, 2b may be comprised of cylindrical or polygonal section. To visually separate the products presented in a corridor relative to the parallel corridor, the gondola comprises a bottom panel 10 with reference to figure 1, which extends between the two upright uprights 2a, 2b with which it is secured to separate the gondola 1 in two different areas of clientele. The bottom panel 10 extends from the bottom of the uprights 2a, 2b to their upper ends so that the separation of the two customer zones is complete and to ensure greater rigidity of the gondola 1. 9 6722 It is evident that the separation of the customer areas can be effected by a number of bottom panels 10 able to be interposed as will be explained further away. In addition, at least one rod 11 is disposed horizontally at the high end of the uprights 2a, 2b, above the bottom panel 10; this tie 11 reinforces the rigidity of the structure of the gondola 1, and more particularly that of the upper end of the uprights 2a, 2b. The lower end of the uprights 2a, 2b is made sufficiently rigid in the base 3 which, with the pallets 5 constituting a presentation tray, is therefore loaded with articles and then exhibits very good stability. To reinforce the frame rigidity, the gondola 1 may optionally be equipped with a rod 12, arranged horizontally at the low end of the uprights 2a, 2b, below the bottom panel 10. In the example of the shelf device shown in the attached figures, which support the sequence of the disclosure of the invention, there are provided two rods 11 and 12, respectively tall and low, arranged horizontally horizontally on both sides of the bottom panel 10, that is, one above the latter and the other under. Referring to Figure 2, the bottom panel 10 has at its vertical edges securing means to the side faces 13 of the vertical uprights 2a, 2b which are generally hooks 14 generally " L " arranged to be inserted into apertures 15 practiced along said side faces 13. The apertures 15 are distributed in line centered on the side faces 13 or not (depending on the intended application) according to a regular step and according to its length. Likewise, the hooks 14 are spread over the entire length of the vertical sides of the bottom panel 10 according to a regular pitch of a value corresponding to an integer multiple of that of the pitch of the apertures 15. The bottom panels 10 are manufactured by the thickness of the panel to which the bottom panel 10 belongs, being obtained in parallel by the rods 11 and 12, the number of which can also be equal to or greater than two. Typically the bottom panel 10 is generally a rectangular flat plate and the thickness of the hooks 14 is the same as that of the sheet plate from which the bottom panel 10 is obtained. In a non-limiting preferred manner, the bottom panel 10 is made of metal and has a thickness of the order of millimeters which allows the panel to be manually arched in the elastic domain, the panel returning to its initial shape when the bending stress ceases thereon. It is evident that the bottom panels 10 can be made more generally in wood, Plexiglas®, plastic or, more generally, from any material which may be in the form of a rectangular plate, sufficiently rigid to perform the his 11 6722 paper, admitting at the same time arching at the time of assembly as will be explained more distantly. The bottom panel 10 has a width between its vertical edges, i.e. without counting the hooks 14, substantially lower and at most equal to the width separating the side faces 13 of the two upstanding uprights 2a and 2b. The width of the bottom panel 10, including the hooks 14 disposed on the two upright edges, is greater than the width separating the side faces 13 of the two upstanding uprights 2a and 2b, in the normal equilibrium position of said panel 10. Thus , at the time of mounting of the shelving device 1, object of the present invention, the installation of a bottom panel 10 is obtained as follows: a) the hooks 14 of the first vertical edge of the panel 10 are positioned and inserted in the openings 15 situated on the side face 13 of the first vertical upright 2a, 2b, b) the panel 10 is manually arched until the width of the arcuate panel, including the hooks 14, is lower than that separating the side faces 13 from the two uprights 2a and 2b, thus enabling: to position the hooks 14 of the second vertical edge of the arcuate panel 10 opposite the apertures 15 on the side face 13 of the second upright 2a or 2b, and then to leave the panel 10 arcuate to resume its normal and initial shape by no longer exerting the bending stress, and in parallel with this step, - insert the hooks 14 of the second vertical edge of the panel 10 into the apertures 15 on the side face 13 of the second upright 2a or 2b. Advantageously, the width of the apertures 15 is more than twice the thickness of a bottom panel 10, so that two hooks 14 belonging to two different bottom panels can be simultaneously introduced into an aperture 15. This specific feature allows an overlap of two bottom panels 10 and thus adjust the desired total height of separation of customer areas. Of course, according to another alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the bottom can be obtained by overlapping two or several panels 10 mounted one below the other. Advantageously, the rods 11 and 12 are identical and are obtained by cutting, followed by folding a sheet according to two longitudinal folds 16 and 17 (Figure 5), parallel to each other so that each has a shaped section General of " Z ". Each end 18, 19 of a rod 11, 12 has fastening means to the side faces 13 of the uprights 2a, 2b, easily detachable. More precisely, in the specific embodiment described herein and in reference figure 4, each of the ends 18 and 19 comprises two hooks 20 in a manner analogous to the hooks 14 arranged on the vertical sides 136722 of the bottom panels 10. The shape section general in " Z " allows very great resistance to bending and twisting of the rods 11 and 12. The sheet thickness from which the rods 11 and 12 are obtained is the main parameter which influences this resistance. According to another specific feature, the apertures 15 have a width greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the plate forming the rods 11 and 12 and the plate forming the bottom panels 10, which allows to simultaneously introduce into an aperture 15 a hook 14 of engagement of a bottom panel 10 and a hook engaging hook 20 of a rod 11, 12. This feature allows to obtain the configuration shown in figure 6, wherein the flat part of each rod 11 or 12 formed by the vertical portion of " Z " in section is parallel to the bottom panel 10. To increase the rigidity of the assembly, the tie rod 11 is disposed on one side of the plane to which the bottom panel 10 belongs while the tie rod 12 is disposed on the other side. Lastly, each end 18, 19 of a rod 11, 12 comprises removable ones which allow to avoid unintentional disengagement by lifting it. More precisely, at least one pawl 21 (Figure 4) is provided so as to be inserted after folding into an aperture 15 of the corresponding upright 2a, 2b, the pawl then coming into contact with the upper side 22 (Figure 3) of said pawl opening 15. Thus at the time of assembly of the metal furniture described, it is sufficient for the operator to lower the tongues 21 disposed at the ends 18 and 19 of the rods 11 and 12 after the latter have been attached to the uprights 2a and 2b to ensure that the unintentional disengagement of the rod 11 and 12 is impossible, except in the event that the tongues 21 are forced into their initial configuration. It should be noted from the foregoing that the assembly of the elements of the shelving device does not require any instrument and is effected by simple engagement of the hooks 14, 20 in the apertures 15 of the uprights 2a, 2b, by assembling and disassembling the or of the bottom panels 10 by bending them, which is possible due to their poor thickness, while at the same time obtaining a particularly rigid assembly. Likewise, the fact of being able to overlap identical panels 10 to make the bottom of the shelves according to the invention seeks the decisive advantage of reducing the number of panel references to manage the different cases of heights of the uprights 2, thus seeking a remarkable gain in production. In a preferred and non-limiting mode, the bottom panels 10 will preferably have a height of the order of fifty centimeters; the shelf device 1 will in this case need to overlap and possibly overlap at least three bottom panels 10. Thus, the assembly of the shelf device 1 object of the present invention is very easily obtained due to the remarkable design of said device 1 proceeding to the following stages which intervene after a first stage of the assembly of the base 3 and of at least two vertical uprights 2a, 2b on which at least one tie rod 11 is mounted at its upper end by insertion of the engagement hooks 20 of the said rods 11, 12 in the apertures 15 in the side faces 13 of said uprights 2a, 2b: - a first bottom panel 10 is inserted by arcuating the engaging hooks 14 of said panel 10 into the apertures 15 of the side faces 13 of the uprights 2a, 2b which simultaneously receive the engaging hooks 20 of the high rod 11, then, optionally, - the successive bottom panels 10 are placed by bending and the interlocking is achieved by inserting the engaging hooks 14 of a first panel 10 into the apertures 15 of the side faces 13 of the uprights 2a, 2b which simultaneously receive the engaging hooks 14 of a second adjacent panel 10 . In the configuration shown in the attached figures where the rack device is equipped with two high and low rods 11, 12, an additional installation step is carried out: - by bending a second bottom panel 10 by inserting the hooks 14 of engagement of said panel 10 in the apertures 15 of the side faces 13 of uprights 2a, 2b which simultaneously receive the engaging hooks 20 of the low rod 12. 16 6722 "10 successive backbones " the fact that after the installation of the first bottom panel 10, which is mounted simultaneously with the high rod 11, the bottom panels 10 are successively placed overlapping and eventually overlapping the bottom panels 10 until either the low end of the uprights 2a, 2b, bounded by the base 3, or the second bottom panel 10 simultaneously mounted with a low rod 12. It will first be appreciated that the arching of the bottom panels 10 is achieved by the installation process as described above, and then that the two steps of positioning the bottom panels 10 with the high and low risers 12 can be performed according to an indifferent order. In a particularly advantageous manner, and due to the flat shape of the bottom panels 10 and their positioning between the side faces, each platform 8 may have two identical rectangular notches (not shown) respectively provided at the rearward ends of said platform, i.e. is the platform side 8 as close as possible to the bottom panel (s) 10. The depth of each notch is greater than or equal to half the width of a side face 13 of a vertical upright 2a, 2b, so that after mounting of the platform 8 on the support arms 7, one of the vertical uprights 2a or 2b comes to lodge in the space provided by each notch, while the rear side of said platform 8 comes into contact with the corresponding bottom panel 10. This configuration allows to increase the storage space 176722 offered by the platforms 8 to an equivalent volume and dimensions of the gondola, on the one hand, and prevents objects arranged near the rear side of the platform 8 from falling between the corresponding bottom panel 10 and the said back side, on the other hand. For the same purpose, it is possible to envisage, when using rectangular platforms 8, a rod which is inserted between the rear side of a platform 8 and the corresponding bottom panel 10. This rod is easily dismountable, has a top face generally parallel to the plane defined by the platform 8 itself and detaches the platform removably by any known means. It is quite evident that the length of the tie rod should be less than or equal to the distance separating the two upright uprights 2a, 2b. Finally it is evident that the bottom panel (s) according to the invention may be adapted to any type of shelf or metal furniture device, such as a four-upright shelf device, and that the examples which are given no more than specific illustrations, and in no way limiting the scope of application of the invention. Lisbon, 10 March 2009 18