SE545432C2

SE545432C2 - Suspension system comprising a rear rail, a hang standard, an inner locking member and an outer locking member

Info

Publication number: SE545432C2
Application number: SE2250070A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Ludvig Rignell; Peter Nilsson
Original assignee: Elfa Int Ab
Priority date: 2022-01-26
Filing date: 2022-01-26
Publication date: 2023-09-12
Also published as: SE2250070A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a suspension system with a rear rail (13) having a lower hanger flange (19) forming a bend (20) out of the plane of a rear surface of the rear rail (13) such that the flange is directed obliquely upwards, and a hang standard (1), comprising a front portion (3) having slots (5) for connecting with cantilevered brackets and the like, and suspension slots being configured to connect with the hanger flange (19) of the rear rail (13). An inner locking member (21) is provided comprising a slot (25), configured to be fitted on the hanger flange (19) of the rear rail (13) and to grasp its lower bend (20), and an outer locking member (23) is provided configured to connect with the inner locking member (21) through front slots (5). of the hang standard (1) to keep the hang standard (1) in place on the rear rail (13).

Description

SUSPENSION SYSTEM Technical field The present disclosure relates to a suspension system comprising a rear rai|, configured to be arranged horizontally on a vertical surface, such as a wall or the like, the rear rai| comprising a rear surface adapted to abut said vertical surface and a lower hanger ﬂange forming a bend out of the plane of said rear surface such that the hanger flange is directed obliquely upwards, The system further comprises a hang standard, configured to be vertically arranged on said vertical surface and comprising a front portion having front slots for connecting with cantilevered brackets and the like, and, in cross section, rear leg portions arranged laterally with regard to the front portion and being configured to leave a space behind the front portion in front of the vertical surface. The hang standard further comprises suspension slots arranged in each of the leg portions, the suspension slots being configured to connect with the hanger flange of the rear rai| to suspend the hang standard from the rear rai|.

Background Such a system is disclosed in US-5110080-A. That system has a horizontally oriented rear rai| which is attached to a wall and includes a lower, upwardly bent edge forming a flange, with which mounting slots in the rear of the hang standard engages, such that the hang standard becomes suspended from the rear rai|. To prevent that the hang standard becomes disengaged from the rear rai| by accident, there is also provided an upper, outvvardly bent edge in the rear rai| which, which stops the hang standard from moving upwards by abutting the hang standard end. Then, the hang standard can only be attached to and removed from the rear rai| at specific insertion points where there are provided cut-outs in the upper edge.

This has been found inflexible, and if other items are attached to the wall which prevent the hang standard to move sideways from the insertion point, it becomes difficult to assemble the suspension system.

Summaﬂ One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide a more flexible suspension system.

This object is achieved by means of a suspension system as defined in claim 1. More specifically, in a system of the initially mentioned kind, there is provided an inner locking member comprising a slot, configured to be fitted on the hanger flange of the rear rai| and to grasp its lower bend. The inner locking member further has a connector at the portion facing away from the rear rai| and is configured to fit between the rear leg portions of the hang standard. There is also provided an outer locking member configured to connect with the connector of the inner locking member through slots of the hang standard, and to rest against the front portion of the hang standard.

This makes it possible to suspend and lock the hang standard on the rear rai| by attaching the inner locking member on the rai| and suspending the hang standard on the rai| while enclosing the inner locking member between the rear leg portions of the hang standard. Then, the outer locking member is connected to the inner locking member through the hang standard slots. As a result, the hang standard becomes locked to the rear rai|, as the inner locking member grasps the lower bend of the rear rai|, thereby preventing the hang standard from moving upwards.

Thanks to this arrangement, the hang standard can be fastened on the rear rai| at any desired position and no sideways movements are necessary. This allows a more flexible assembling of the suspension system. The rear rai| need not have an upper outwards bent edge stopping the hang standard.

The inner locking member may be made in a plastic material, such as Polyamide, PA.

The outer locking member may also be made in a plastic material such as typically Polycarbonate, PC.

The connector of the inner locking member may comprise two slots accessible through the front slots of the hang standard, and the outer locking member may comprise tabs configured to connect to those slots of the inner locking member by means of a snap locking feature.

The slots of the inner locking member may correspond to the front slots of the hang standard.

A stop may be provided at an end of the rear rai|, such that an attached hang standard does not exit the rear rai| at that end if pushed sideways.Brief description of the drawinqs Fig 1 shows a hang standard.

Fig 2 shows a rear rail devised to suspend hang standards of the type shown in fig 1. Fig 3 illustrates a cross section through the rear rail of fig Fig 4 is a perspective view of an example of an inner Iocking member.

Fig 5 is a corresponding view of an example of an outer Iocking member.

Figs 6-8 illustrate the suspension of a hang standard on a rear rail using the Iocking arrangement according to an example of the present disclosure.

Fig 9 illustrates a cross-section through the hang standard and the rail in fig Detailed description The present disclosure relates generally to suspension systems used for storage purposes, where vertically oriented hang standards are arranged on a vertical surface, such as a wall or the like.

A hang standard 1 of this type is shown in fig 1 and has a generally U-shaped cross- section where in a mid-section 3, there are included slots 5 to which for instance cantilevered brackets may be attached. ln turn, the brackets may carry shelves, drawers, etc. ln the illustrated case, two rows of elongated slots 5 are provided. The hang standard may be formed in one piece from sheet metal, and two rear leg portions 7 are bent laterally with regard to the front portion 3, thereby completing the U-shaped cross section. This leaves a free space 9 behind the front portion 3 that may accommodate for instance connector features of cantilevered brackets when the latter are attached to the hang standard and the hang standard is attached to a wall.

Hang standards thus far described have been available for several decades. They were initially intended to be attached directly to a wall by means of screws applied in screw holes (optional and not shown in the version of fig 1). Additionally, the aforementioned document US-5110080-A describes suspending hang standards from a rear horizontal rail, where the rail is instead fastened to the wall. To this end, the hang standard 1 is provided with suspension slots 11, one in each leg portion 7, where the suspension slots 11 are directed obliquely upwards to cooperate with a hanger flange of a rai| as will be shown.

Fig 2 illustrates a perspective view of a rear rai| 13, and fig 3 shows a cross section through such a rai| when attached to a wall 15 or the like.

The rear rai| 13 is to be arranged horizontally on a vertical surface, such as a wall 15 or the like, and comprises a rear surface 17 adapted to abut the wall 15, to which it may be attached with screws through screw holes 18, for instance.

The rear rai| 13 further comprises a lower hanger flange 19, which is formed by bending the rai|, in parallel with the lower edge, forming a bend 20 out of the plane of the rear surface 17. The hanger flange 19 is then directed obliquely upwards. The direction of the hanger flange 19 may be parallel to the suspension slots 11 of the hang standard 1 when the latter rests against the wall to which the rear rai| 13 is attached although this is not necessary if a wide slot 11 is used. The hanger flange 19 fits in the suspension slots 11, such that the hang standard 1 can be suspended from the rai| 13 and carry a load.

Described so far, the suspension system is similar to the one described in the above- mentioned document. ln the following there is described a new, improved locking arrangement that is provided to secure the hang standard 1 to the rear rai| The locking arrangement comprises an inner locking member 21, shown in fig 4, and an outer locking member 23, shown in fig To start with, the inner locking member 21, illustrated in fig 4, may be made in one piece and may be produced in a plastic material where Polyamide (PA) is a preferred choice, although other plastic materials or metal may be considered. The plastic material may be reinforced with glass fiber, for instance, and then becomes rather stiff. The inner locking member may generally be formed as a hollow box being open towards the rear in order to facilitate efficient production with injection moulding by providing a goods thickness not exceeding a few millimeters at any location.

The inner locking member 21 has a width w that allows it to fit at least partly in between the two leg portions 7 of the hang standard 1. Preferably it may be a relatively precise fit. The depth d may also be chosen so that the inner locking member 21 fits completely inside the hang standard 1, although this is not a requirement, and the inner locking member 21 may, as will be shown,advantageously extend out of the hang standard 1 at some locations without interfering with the ability of the hang standard to be suspended to the rear rai| 13, tightly following the wall 15 or other vertical surface.

The inner locking member 21 comprises a slot 25 at the side intended to face the rear rai| 13. The hanger flange 19, is to be enclosed by this slot 25, including the lower bend 20 thereof. The inner locking member slot 25 therefore has an extension that is larger than the hanger flange 19 cross section such that it can be fitted thereon and may comprise a lower surface 27 devised to abut the lower bend 20 of the hanger flange 19, continuously or at some discrete locations.

Additionally, the inner locking member 21 comprises a connector 29 at the side 31 facing away from the rear rai| 19. ln the illustrated case, the connector 29 comprises two slot openings conforming with the front slots 5 of the hang standard 1, although this is not necessary. Other connector features are possible as will be discussed, although the connectors should be accessible through the hang standard front slotsas will be discussed.

The outer locking member 23 is shown in fig 5. This part may be formed in different ways depending on the form of the inner locking member 21, but generally the outer locking member 23 is configured to connect with the connector 29 of the inner locking member 21. This connection takes place through the slots 5 of the hang standard 1. When thus connected, a part of the outer locking member 23 rests against a front portion 3 of the hang standard 1, firmly keeping the inner locking member 21 in place inside the hang standard The outer locking member 23, as well, may be made in one part by injection moulding a plastic material, Polycarbonate, PC, being considered a suitable choice, although other plastic materials or even metal may be viable as well. PC offers some elasticity which is considered favorable to provide a snap-locking feature. ln the illustrated case, the outer locking member 23 comprises tabs 33 configured to reach through the front slots 5 of the hang standard 1 and to engage with the connectors 29 of the inner locking member 21. To this end, the tabs 33 are provided with sloping surfaces that end with an outer ledge 35 that snap into place resting on the inside of the slot openings forming the connector 29 of the inner locking member 21 _ lt should be noted that other oonneotor features are possible than the above- desoribed tabs 33 of the outer looking member 23 and the openings 29 of the inner looking member 21. For instanoe, the outer looking member 23 oould be oonneoted to the inner looking member 21 even by means of sorews that reaoh through the front slots 5 of the hang standard 1. ln any oase, the front portion of the hang standard beoomes sandwiohed in between the inner and outer looking members 21, As this oonneotion may beoome very firm, it may be advantageous to provide an inner notoh 37 in the outer part of the outer looking member 23 whioh faoilitates releasing the outer looking member 23 if desired.

Figs 6-8 illustrate the suspension of a hang standard 1 on a rear rail 13 using the looking arrangement aooording to an example of the present disolosure. ln fig 6, the inner looking member 21 is fitted on the hanger flange 19 of the rear rail 13. As seen in the enlarged portion, the lower surfaoe 27 of the slot 25 abuts the lower bend 20 of the hanger flange ln fig 7, the hang standard 1 is fitted on the rear rail 13, the hanger flange 19 entering the suspension slots 11 in the leg portions 7 of the hang standard 1. This is done similarly to in the initially mentioned dooument. with the exoeption that the inner looking member 21 beoomes enolosed in between the leg portions 7 of the hang standardln fig 8, the outer looking member 23 is, as a final step, oonneoted to the inner looking member 21 through two of the front slots 5 of the hang standard 1, thereby preventing that the hang standard 1 is disoonneoted from the hanger flange 19 of the rear rail 13. The hang standard 1 may however still move sideways on the rear rail 13 to adjust its position. With referenoe to fig 2, it may be preferred to provide stops at the ends of the rear rail 13 e.g. by deforming the hanger flange 19 with a folded end portion 39, for instanoe, although this is optional.

Fig 9 illustrates a oross-seotion through the hang standard 1, the inner and outer looking members 21, 23, and the rear rail 13 in fig 8. As seen in the oross seotion, the hang standard 1 is prevented from moving upwards by the outer looking member 23 oonneoting with the inner looking member 21 through the openings 5 in the hang standard front portion 3, and by the inner looking member 21 abutting the bottom side of the rear rail lower bend As seen at the upper portion of the rear rail 13, the top edge 41 of the rear rail 13 may be bent slightly outwards. The hang standard top portion rests against this edge 41 and may thereby become adjusted to hang fixed vertically without being connected to the wall 15 or the like further down. This also leaves a small gap between the hang standard 1 and the rear rail 13 in between the upper and lower edges, and the inner locking member 21 may project slightly from the area in between the legs of the U-shaped cross section of the hang standard in order to reach the rear rail The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described examples and may be varied and altered in different ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A suspension system comprising a rear rail (13), configured to be arranged horizontally on a vertical surface (15), such as a wall or the like, the rear comprising a rear surface (17) adapted to abut said vertical surface (15) and a lower hanger flange (19) forming a bend (20) out of the plane of said rear surface that the flange directed obliquely upwards, and a hang standard (1 ), configured to be vertically arranged on said vertical surface (15) and comprising a front portion (3) a having slots (5) for connecting with cantilevered brackets and the like, and, in cross section, rear leg portions (7) arranged laterally with regard to the front portion (3) and being configured to leave a space (9) behind the front portion front of the vertical surface (15), wherein the hang standard further comprises a suspension slot (11) arranged in each of the leg portions (7), the suspension slots being configured to connect with the hanger flange (19) of the rear rail (13) to suspend the hang standard (1) from the rear characterized by »an inner locking member (21) comprising a slot (25), configured to be fitted on the hanger flange (19) of the rear rail (13) and to grasp its lower bend (20), and a connector (29) at the portion facing away from the rear rail (13), the inner locking member gjjgšjgšggggbeing configured to fit between the rear leg portions (7) of the hang standard (1); and an outer locking member (23) configured to connect with the connector (29) of the inner locking member (21) through front slots (5)~..» of the hang standard (1) and to rest against the front portion (3) of the hang standard.

2. Suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the inner locking member (21) is made in a plastic material.

3. Suspension system according to claim 2, wherein the inner locking member (21) is made in Polyamide, PA.

4. Suspension system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer Iocking member (23) is made in a plastic material.

5. Suspension system according to claim 4, wherein the outer Iocking member is made in Polycarbonate, PC.

6. Suspension system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (29) of the inner Iocking member (21) comprises two slots (29) accessible through the front slots (5) of the hang standard (1), and the outer Iocking member (23) comprises tabs configured to connect to the slots (29) of the inner Iocking member (21)with a snap Iocking feature.

7. Suspension system according to claim 6, wherein the slots (29) of the inner Iocking member (21) correspond to the front slots (5) of the hang standard (1).

8. Suspension system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a stop (39) is provided at an end of the rear rail (13), such that an attached hang standard (1) does not exit the rear rail (3) at that end.