US20180055220A1

US20180055220A1 - Modular storage installation

Info

Publication number: US20180055220A1
Application number: US15/555,982
Authority: US
Inventors: Giulio Epicureo
Original assignee: Compagnie Europe SAS
Current assignee: Compagnie Europe SAS
Priority date: 2015-03-06
Filing date: 2016-02-19
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Also published as: TW201637597A; EP3264945A1; WO2016142598A1; AU2016230961A1; FR3033236B1; TWI676436B; FR3033236A1; EP3264945B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a storage installation (10) which comprises:

- a structure (100) intended to be fixed to a vertical wall (M), comprising at least one first upper crossbar (124 a) and at least one first lower crossbar (126 a) which are parallel;
- at least one storage accessory (200) arranged to be removably mounted to the structure (100), said storage accessory comprising a fastening device arranged to be removably hooked to the structure, said fastening device having an upper end part configured to cooperate with an upper part of the first upper crossbar (124 a), and a lower end part configured to cooperate with the first lower crossbar.

Description

BACKGROUND DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to the field of installations and storage systems which are generally intended to be installed in living quarters such as for example the kitchen, the bathroom, the garage or any other room of a house or apartment.
It is known that the average habitable area per person in an urban zone is tending to diminish, especially due to the high cost of real estate. Yet the number of possessions people own continues to increase, so individuals always need more storage options.
For storing items, it is known to use cupboards or wardrobes or even to fix shelves on a wall. However, cupboards and wardrobes are bulky storage systems, sometimes difficult to install and not modular-friendly. Also, more and more shops are offering do-it-yourself furniture or shelves, and this can prove tiresome if the user is not a handyman. Not only this, it is not easy to fix shelves to a wall, but this becomes particularly fastidious if it then has to be shifted, for example to modify the arrangement of shelves.

DISCLOSURE SUMMARY

An aim of embodiments of the present disclosure is to propose a storage installation which is simple to install and is modular.
The disclosure therefore relates to a storage installation, which comprises:
a structure intended to be fixed to a vertical wall, the structure comprising at least one first upper crossbar and at least one first lower crossbar which are parallel and transversally distant from each other;
at least one storage accessory arranged to be removably mounted to the structure, said storage accessory comprising at least one fastening device arranged to be removably hooked to the structure, said fastening device having an upper end part configured to cooperate with an upper part of the first upper crossbar, and a lower end part configured to cooperate with the first lower crossbar.
The vertical wall is for example a wall panel, such as a wall or a partition.
The structure is fixed, for example by screwing, to the vertical wall. The fastening device, to which the storage accessory is fixed, is therefore arranged to be removably hooked to the structure, without tools.
Also, this allows the storage installation to be assembled easily and be modified rapidly without forcing the configuration. The user can utilise one or more storage accessories as a function of needs and the size of the structure. In addition, this easy assembly lets the user move or remove the storage accessories he is no longer using, or even replace them with other storage accessories.
Also, because of embodiments of the disclosure the user can take on new storage accessories and assemble them on the structure to create his own storage system so that it corresponds to what he needs and wants. In other words, the storage installation according to the disclosure can easily be customized and made modular.
The storage accessory comprises a storage element, for example a support element, which is integral with the fastening device. The storage element is intended to bear the object(s) to be stored away.
According to embodiments of the disclosure, the fastening device hooks to the structure by way of the upper and lower end parts which cooperate with the first upper and lower crossbars. The first upper and lower crossbars may have a circular transverse section. To hook the fastening device to the structure, the upper end part is first engaged with the first upper crossbar.
After being hooked to the structure, the fastening device is made integral with the structure by the fact that the end part of the fastening device cooperates with the upper part of the first upper crossbar.
When hooked to the structure, the fastening device comes into contact with at least the first lower crossbar to stabilise the fastening device in a vertical position. Advantageously, the lower part of the rear face of the fastening device comes into contact with the first lower crossbar when the fastening device is hooked to the structure.
The upper end part may pass behind the first upper crossbar, that is, between the first crossbar and the vertical wall. Next, the lower end part of the fastening device is brought into contact with the first lower crossbar by pivoting of the fastening device around the axis of the first upper crossbar. When an object to be stored away is disposed on the storage accessory, rotation torque occurs which tends to press the fastening device, and especially its lower end, against the first lower crossbar, the effect of which is to keep the storage accessory in place.
The upper end part may form a hook which is arranged to cooperate with the first upper crossbar. The hook may engage with the upper part of the crossbar. The support device may include a body in the shape of a plate and the hook extends from the upper end of the body.
The hook may have an upper section which is located above the first upper crossbar. The upper section of the hook may come into contact with the upper part of the first upper crossbar when the fastening device is hooked to the structure.
When the transverse cross-section of the first upper crossbar is cylindrical, “upper part” of the first upper crossbar means the upper cylindrical half surface of the first upper crossbar. The upper section of the hook cooperates with all or part of this upper cylindrical half surface. When the fastening device may be hooked to the structure and with the lower end part in contact with the first lower crossbar, the section of the hook cooperates with at least half of the upper cylindrical half surface of the first upper crossbar, so as to absorb vertical forces exerted on the storage accessory.
The hook may extend between the first upper crossbar and the vertical wall when the fastening device is hooked to the structure, the hook bearing above the first upper crossbar.
The upper end part may be configured to guide pivoting of the fastening device around the axis of the first upper crossbar during assembly of the fastening device on the structure.
When the upper end part forms a hook, the latter may cooperate with the first upper crossbar to form a sliding pivot link. In other words, the fastening device can easily be pivoted around the axis of the first upper crossbar, or even translated along the first upper crossbar, and this to adjust the position of the storage accessory.
The hook may open towards the outer face of the fastening device which bears the storage element. It is specified here that the inner face is that which is turned towards the vertical wall when the fastening device is hooked to the structure.
The lower end part may be configured to be coupled with the first lower crossbar to block rotation of the fastening device around the first upper crossbar.
This coupling improves the holding of the fastening device on the structure. In particular, coupling is performed so as to prevent pivoting of the fastening device around the axis of the first upper crossbar in a direction in which the lower end part moves away from the first lower crossbar. This prevents the upper end part from disengaging from the first upper crossbar, which further improves the safety of the installation according to embodiments of the disclosure.
According to a second embodiment of the disclosure the lower end part comprises a lower portion, arranged to be disposed below a lower part of the first lower crossbar when the fastening device is hooked to the structure.
The lower end part may be dimensioned to perform forced engagement of the lower wall with the first lower crossbar. The lower and upper end parts of the fastening device therefore clamp the first upper and lower crossbars. The effect of clamping performed with the first lower crossbar is to oppose disengagement of the fastening device, and especially pivoting in the direction of moving away from the lower end part of the first lower crossbar.
The lower portion may extend transversally relative to the body of the fastening device, defining a return which projects towards the rear face of the body of the fastening device, opposite the storage element.
The lower portion comprises at least one bulge arranged to block the fastening device on the first lower crossbar to further improve holding of the fastening device on to the structure.
The bulge is disposed on an upper face of the lower portion so as to be in contact with the lower part of the first lower crossbar.
According to some embodiments, at least one of the first lower and upper crossbars further comprises an adhesion device to improve adhesion of the fastening device to said crossbar. It is understood that the adhesion device opposes displacement of the fastening device relative to the first crossbars. The fastening device is thus prevented from pivoting around the axis of the first upper crossbar, or from moving in translation according to a direction parallel to the first crossbars. The adhesion device can form a single piece with the structure or else be an attached piece. It is preferably a plastic or rubber piece.
The adhesion device may be a sheathing. This is therefore a sheath enclosing the first crossbar at least partially.
The distance between the first upper crossbar and the first lower crossbar may be substantially equal to the length of the fastening device. The fastening device is therefore compact. It is possible to have several support devices above each other when the structure comprises several upper and lower crossbars. This allows several storage accessories, above each other, to optimise available space.
According to a variant, the width of the fastening device is substantially equal to the length of the first crossbars.
The structure may comprise at least two parallel uprights between which extend the first lower and upper crossbars. The parallel uprights extend preferably according to a vertical direction.
According to a variant, the distance between the two uprights may be substantially equal to the width of the fastening device, such that the fastening device is wedged according to a horizontal direction, the uprights constituting stops disposed on either side of the width of the fastening device.
According to another variant, the distance between the two uprights may be substantially equal to a multiple of the width of the hook device.
The multiple is a whole number greater than or equal to two. This configuration has several support devices side by side between two uprights, and ensures horizontal wedging of the support devices. It is understood in fact that the space between the two uprights is occupied by the support devices forming a horizontal row which is flanked by the two uprights.
According to a variant, the storage accessory may comprise at least one other fastening device configured to be removably hooked to the structure. An aim here is to be able to support heavier loads exerted on the storage accessory, the plurality of support devices absorbing heavier vertical forces. The support device can be arranged on the same structure, or on two structures disposed side by side.
According to embodiments of the disclosure the structure further may comprise at least one second upper crossbar disposed under the first upper crossbar, as well as at least one second lower crossbar disposed under the first lower crossbar.
The second upper and lower crossbars are parallel to each other, separate from the first upper and lower crossbars, and transversally distant from each other.
The first upper crossbar, the first lower crossbar, the second upper crossbar and the second lower crossbar are arranged according to a vertical row.
According to embodiments of the disclosure, the upper end part is arranged to be engaged between the first upper crossbar and the second upper crossbar, by which the second upper crossbar is capable of absorbing some of the forces exerted on the fastening device and/or improving the stability of the fastening device.
In particular, the fastening device bears against the second upper crossbar when said fastening device is hooked to the structure. According to some embodiments, the rear face of the body of the fastening device may be wedged on at least two crossbars, which improves the stability of the fastening device and therefore of the storage accessory in the hooked position.
The upper end part of the fastening device may comprise a bearing portion arranged to be disposed between the first upper crossbar and the second upper crossbar when the fastening device is hooked to the structure.
The function of this bearing portion is to bear on the upper part of the second upper crossbar either permanently, or in the event the hook breaks. It is understood that this bearing portion improves the absorption of vertical forces and/or improve the safety of the installation. When the bearing portion permanently bears on the second upper crossbar it is not necessary for the upper end part to also bear on the upper part of the first upper crossbar when the fastening device is hooked, the lower end part bearing against the first lower crossbar. In particular, the hook can be slightly offset upwards.
The bearing portion may be arranged to bear on the second upper crossbar when the fastening device is hooked to the structure. The bearing portion may bear on the upper part of the second upper crossbar when the fastening device is hooked to the structure.
The distance between the second upper crossbar and the first lower crossbar is at least equal to twice the distance between the first and second upper crossbars.
The upper and lower crossbars are arranged in pairs. The structure may have a plurality of pairs of crossbars disposed according to at least one, and possibly several, vertical rows.
The storage accessory can be any type. The storage accessory could be a hook, a receptacle, a tray, a towel rail, or a bottle rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following description of embodiments of the disclosure given by way of non-limiting examples, in reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the storage installation according to the disclosure, in a frontal view;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a storage accessory of the installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail view showing the storage accessory of FIG. 2 mounted on the structure of the installation of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate, in side elevation, the assembly of the storage accessory of FIG. 2 on the structure of the installation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a variant of the structure of the storage installation according to the disclosure; and

FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate other examples of storage accessories for the installation according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a storage installation 10 according to the present disclosure.
The storage installation 10 comprises a structure 100 which is intended to be fixed to a vertical wall M, in this case a wall panel. In this example, the structure 100 comprises five vertical uprights 102, 104, 106, 108, 110 which are uniformly spaced from each other by a distance D. It is evident that the uprights 102, 104, 106, 108, 110 are parallel to each other.
The structure 100 further includes fixing holes 112 for fastening the structure to the wall panel M, these fixing holes 112 being arranged at the four corners of the structure 100.
The structure 100 further includes a plurality of pairs of horizontal crossbars which extend between the uprights 102 and 110 which are arranged at each end of the structure. In this example, the structure 100 comprises seven pairs of horizontal crossbars, the pairs of crossbars being referenced 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132. The pairs of crossbars are uniformly spaced from each other. The distance separating two crossbars in a pair of crossbars is identical from one crossbar to the other. In other words, the crossbars 120 a and 120 b of the pair of crossbars 120 have a spread e which is the same as that between the crossbars 122 a and 122 b of the second pair of crossbars 122. Also, the crossbars of the structure exhibit circular transverse sections. In this example, the transverse sections are the same from one crossbar to the other. The crossbars here comprise cylindrical metal rods.
It is also evident that the distance between two pairs of crossbars is substantially more than the gap between two crossbars of the same pair.
Also, it is evident that the uprights are arranged behind the crossbars, that is, the uprights are arranged between the wall panel M and the crossbars when the structure is fixed to the wall panel.
In this example, the uprights and the crossbars are made of metal.
If there is interest more particularly in two adjacent pairs of crossbars, for example the pairs of crossbars 124, 126 in FIGS. 1 and 3, here called a pair of upper crossbars 124 and a pair of lower crossbars 126, it is evident that the structure includes a first upper crossbar 124 a, a second upper crossbar 124 b, disposed under the first upper crossbar 124 a; the first and second upper crossbars 124 a, 124 b belonging to the pair of upper crossbars 124. The structure further includes a first lower crossbar 126 a and a second lower crossbar 126 b, disposed under the first lower crossbar 126 a; the first lower crossbar 126 a and the second lower crossbar 126 b belonging to the pair of lower crossbars 126.
The first upper crossbar 124 a and the first lower crossbar 126 a are parallel and transversally distant from each other by a distance d which is substantially equal to the distance between the second upper crossbar 124 b and the second lower crossbar 126 b.
As is seen in FIG. 1 the distance E between the second upper crossbar and the first lower crossbar is at least equal to twice the distance e between the first and second upper crossbars.
In keeping with the disclosure, the storage installation 10 further includes one or more storage accessories 200 which are arranged to be removably mounted to the structure 100. A first example of such a storage accessory is illustrated in FIG. 2. This is a storage accessory of support type which comprises a storage or support element 206 fitted with two lugs 202, 204 forming for example a coat rack or any other type of support.
The storage accessory 200 comprises in the example of FIG. 2 a fastening device 210 to which the support element 206 is fixedly attached. The fastening device 210 comprises a body 212 which here has the shape of a substantially rectangular plate. The fastening device comprises an upper end part 214 and a lower end part 216. The upper end part 214 and the lower end part 216 extend respectively from the upper and lower ends of the body 212.
The body 212 has a front face 212 a and a rear face 212 b opposite the front face 212 a. The front face 212 a is that which is turned towards the support element 206. More precisely, the support element 206 is fixedly attached to the front face 212 a. The rear face 212 b is substantially planar.
As is evident from FIG. 2, the upper end part 214 forms a hook 218 which has an upper section 218 a and a middle section 218 b which connects the upper section to the body 212. More precisely, the upper end part 214 of the fastening device 210 further includes a bearing portion 220 which connects the middle section 218 b to the body 212.
As is clear from FIG. 2, the hook 218 opens towards the front face 212 a of the body 212 of the fastening device 210.
It is also evident that the middle section 218 b is substantially parallel to the rear face 212 b. Also, the upper section 218 a has a curved form, whereof the radius of curvature may be substantially equal to the radius of the transverse section of the crossbars of the structure.
It is also evident that the upper end part 214 is configured such that the middle section 218 b extends behind a plane containing the body 212, such that the upper section 218 a projects towards the front face 212 a of the body 212.
In reference again to FIG. 2, it is evident that the lower end part 216 includes a lower portion 224 which extends substantially orthogonal to the body 212 and projects according to a direction opposite the fastening element 206. It is therefore clear in FIG. 2 that the lower portion 224 and the bearing portion 220 are substantially parallel and extend on the same side relative to the body 212 of the fastening device 210.
The lower portion 224 further includes an upper face 224 a which bears a bulge 226, in this case a boss which projects towards the bearing portion 220.
The fastening device 210 has a width l and a length L which, in this example, is substantially equal to the distance d between the first upper crossbar 124 a and the first lower crossbar 126 a.
As is understood by way of FIG. 3 the storage accessory 200 is arranged to be removably mounted to the structure 100. For this to be done, the fastening device 210 is arranged to be removably hooked to the structure.
It will now be explained in more detail how the storage accessory 200 is hooked to the structure 100.
In reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4C it is evident that the upper end part 214 is configured to cooperate with an upper part 125 of the first upper crossbar 124 a. More precisely, the hook 218 is arranged to engage with the first upper crossbar 124 a and more precisely with the upper part 125 of the first upper crossbar 124 a.
FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate the way in which the storage accessory is mounted on the structure. In the detail view of FIG. 4C it is evident that the upper section 218 a of the hook 218 extends behind the first upper crossbar 124 a and bears on substantially half of the upper part 125 of the first upper crossbar, which in this example represents a semi-cylindrical shape.
More precisely, the hook 218 extends between the first upper crossbar 124 a and the vertical wall M when the fastening device is hooked to the structure, the hook therefore bearing above the first upper crossbar.
In reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C it is also understood that the upper end part, and especially the hook 218, is configured to guide the pivoting of the fastening device 210 around the axis X of the first upper crossbar 124 a during assembly of the storage accessory on the structure 100.
The lower end part 216 per se is configured to be coupled with the first lower crossbar 126 a to block pivoting of the fastening device around the first upper crossbar. For this to occur, as noted in FIG. 4C, the lower portion 224 is arranged to be disposed below a lower part 127 of the first lower crossbar 126 a when the storage accessory is hooked to the structure. The bulge 226 is arranged to block the fastening device on the first lower crossbar 126 a, preventing its pivoting around the axis X of the first upper crossbar 124 a.
In the example of FIGS. 4A to 4C, the crossbars are sheathed in a plastic sheathing 129 which constitutes an adhesion device to improve the hold of the fastening device on the crossbars. In reference now to FIG. 4A it is evident that during assembly of the storage accessory, the upper end part 214 is engaged between the first upper crossbar 124 a and the second upper crossbar 124 b. The storage accessory pivots around the axis X of the first upper crossbar 124 a, illustrated in FIG. 4B, until the lower wall 224 engages below the first lower crossbar 124 a.
In FIG. 4C, it is evident that the rear face 212 b of the body 212 bears against the second upper crossbar 124 b and against the first lower crossbar 126 a.
It is also evident from FIG. 4C that the bearing portion 220 is arranged to be disposed between the first upper crossbar 124 a and the second upper crossbar 124 b when the fastening device is hooked to the structure. More precisely, in reference to the detail view of FIG. 4C it is evident that the bearing portion is arranged to bear on the upper part of the second upper crossbar 124 b when the fastening device is hooked to the structure. It is therefore understood in this example that the fastening device vertically bears both on the first upper crossbar 124 a and on the second upper crossbar 124 b.
In reference again to FIG. 1, it is clear that the distance D between two consecutive uprights 106, 108 is substantially equal to three times the width l of the hook device 210, such that it is possible to juxtapose three storage accessories between two adjacent uprights 106, 108 between which these three storage accessories are blocked in horizontal translation.
FIG. 5 illustrates a variant of the structure 100′ of the storage installation according to the disclosure. In this variant embodiment, the structure 100′ comprises only two uprights 102′, 104′ between which the crossbars 120′ extend. In this example, the distance D between two uprights is substantially equal to the width l of the fastening device. Otherwise expressed, the structure 100′ illustrated in FIG. 5 has the shape of a ladder whereof each pair of crossbars can take up a single storage accessory only.
FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate other variants storage accessories.
In FIG. 6, the support element 206 has been replaced by a basket or receptacle, the latter being welded to the fastening device 210′. FIG. 7 illustrates a storage accessory 200″ which has the shape of a tray, this storage accessory 200″ including two fastening devices 210 a″, 210 b″. It is understood that each of the fastening devices 210 a″ and 210 b″ is intended to be hooked to crossbars belonging to two vertical rows distant from each other.
FIG. 8 illustrates a storage accessory 200′″ forming a towel rail, while FIG. 9 illustrates the storage accessory 200″″ constituting a bottle rack.
Quite obviously, these examples are not limiting and other forms of storage accessories fitted with the fastening device according to the disclosure could be possible.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A storage installation, including:

a structure intended to be fixed to a vertical wall, the structure comprising at least one first upper crossbar, at least one second upper crossbar disposed under the first upper crossbar and at least one first lower crossbar, the first upper crossbar, the second upper crossbar and the first lower crossbar being parallel and transversally distant from each other;

at least one storage accessory arranged to be removably mounted to the structure, said storage accessory comprising at least one fastening device arranged to be removably hooked to the structure, said fastening device having an upper end part configured to cooperate with an upper part of the first upper crossbar by being engaged between the first upper crossbar and the second upper crossbar, and a lower end part configured to cooperate with the first lower crossbar.

21. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein the upper end part forms a hook which is arranged to cooperate with the first upper crossbar.

22. The storage installation according to claim 21, wherein said hook extends between the first upper crossbar and the vertical wall when the fastening device is hooked to the structure, the hook bearing above the first upper crossbar.

23. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein the upper end part is configured to guide the pivoting of the fastening device around an axis of the first upper crossbar during assembly of the storage accessory to the structure.

24. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein the lower end part is configured to be coupled with the first lower crossbar to block pivoting of the fastening device around the first upper crossbar.

25. The storage installation according to claim 24, wherein the lower end part comprises a lower portion, arranged to be disposed below a lower part of the first lower crossbar, when the fastening device is hooked to the structure.

26. The storage installation according to claim 25, wherein the lower portion comprises at least one bulge arranged to block the fastening device on the first lower crossbar.

27. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the first lower and upper crossbars further includes an adhesion device to improve adhesion of the fastening device to said crossbar.

28. The storage installation according to claim 27, wherein the adhesion device is a sheathing.

29. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein a distance between the first upper crossbar and the first lower crossbar is substantially equal to the length of the fastening device.

30. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein the structure includes at least two parallel uprights between which extend the first lower and upper crossbars.

31. The storage installation according to claim 30, wherein a distance between the two uprights is substantially equal to a multiple of the width of the fastening device.

32. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein the storage accessory further comprises at least one other fastening device configured to be removably hooked to the structure.

33. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein the structure further includes at least one second lower crossbar disposed under the first lower crossbar.

34. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein the fastening device bears against the second upper crossbar when it is hooked to the structure.

35. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein the upper end part of the fastening device further includes a bearing portion arranged to be disposed between the first upper crossbar and the second upper crossbar when the fastening device is hooked to the structure.

36. The storage installation according to claim 35, wherein the bearing portion is arranged to bear on the second upper crossbar when the fastening device is hooked to the structure.

37. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein a first distance between the second upper crossbar and the first lower crossbar is at least equal to twice a second distance between the first and second upper crossbars.

38. The storage installation according to claim 20, wherein the storage accessory is selected from a support, a receptacle, a tray, a towel rail, a bottle rack.