WO2001065973A1

WO2001065973A1 - A shelf system and methods for assembling said shelf system

Info

Publication number: WO2001065973A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/000475
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reine Magnusson
Original assignee: Elfa Sweden Ab
Priority date: 2000-03-10
Filing date: 2001-03-07
Publication date: 2001-09-13
Also published as: SE515094C2; SE0000800L; AU2001239613A1; SE0000800D0

Abstract

A shelf system which comprises a number of shelves (1) with edge list elements (3) along their long sides and at least one couple of end piece devices (2) with two uprights (4) and a number of crosspieces (5). The edge list elements (3) have a height dimension (h) perpendicular to the shelf (1) which is greater than its width dimension (b) parallel to the shelf (1). Shelf carrying grooves (7) are formed in the uprights (4). The depth (D) of the grooves corresponds to the width dimension (b) of the edge list elements (3), and the width of the grooves (B) in at least one upright (4') in each end piece device (2) is somewhat smaller than the height dimension (h) of the edge list elements (3). The material that defines the grooves (7) in the upright (4) is elastic, the edge list elements (3) when assembling the associated shelves (1) being received in said grooves (7) with forced fit. The invention also relates to methods for assembling the shelf system.

Description

A SHELF SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING SAID

SHELF SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a shelf system which comprises a number of shelves with edge list elements along their long sides and at least one pair of end piece devices which each have two uprights and a number of crosspieces that connect the uprights to one another. The two uprights in each end piece device are provided with shelf carriers at their lateral surfaces facing one another, in the assembled state of the end piece device. The invention also relates to methods for assembling the shelf system.

More particularly, the invention relates to a shelf system which stands by itself and is easily assembled, and which is steady and consists of a minimum of components . Self-assembly shelf systems standing by themselves are known in many variants. A common feature is the fact that they have f ctory-assembled end piece devices and a construction for stabilising the shelf system laterally. Usually, metal sections which are attached diagonally to adjacent end piece devices are used, the metal sections being, for instance, flat irons, metal bars or thick metal wires. Also scissors-like devices which are designed for this object and which are attached in a similar manner are frequently used. Solid back walls which are intended to be fastened with nails on adjacent end piece devices have the same function. The shelves of the shelf system rest on shelf carriers which are attached LO the uprights of the end piece devices. As a rule, a plurality of holes are drilled in the uprights and the shelf carriers are intended to be inserted in these holes. The shelf carriers have the shape of pins, angle irons provided with pins or wire yokes. The disadvantages of these known shelf systems are, inter alia, that they require special laterally stabilising devices which both affect the packing of the shelf system and constitute additional costs. Furthermore, the shelf carriers contribute to the costs of the shelf system to a large extent and there is always a risk that the separate shelf carriers are not complete as regards their number, on the one hand, because of the fact that an incorrect number accompanies the package and, on the other, because of the fact that some may be lost m connection with the assembling and disassembling of the shelf system. Moreover, it may be difficult to attach the shelf carriers to (and remove them from) the end piece devices. The object of the present invention is to provide a shelf system with a minimum amount of components, which are easy to assemble and are cost-effective.

A further object as regards the invention is to provide a shelf system which allows optimal packetmg, that is relatively small and light packages. Yet another object is to provide a shelf system with which a shelf system standing by itself may be built which is just as easily accessible from its both long sides .

These objects have been achieved with the aid of a shelf system as mentioned by way of introduction, the shelf system being characterised m that the edge list elements have a height dimension perpendicular to the shelf which is greater than its width dimension parallel to the shelf, that the shelf carriers are grooves which are formed m the uprights and which are open towards said lateral surfaces, that the depth of the grooves corresponds to the width dimension of the edge list elements, that the width of the grooves m at least one upright m each end piece device is somewhat smaller than the height dimension of the edge list elements and that the material which defines the grooves m the upright is elastic, whereby the edge list elements when assembling the associated shelves are received in said grooves by means of forced fit.

Methods for assembling the shelf system according to the invention have been defined in the independent claims 9 and 10.

Further developments of the shelf system according to the invention will be evident from the features indicated in the subclaims .

Preferred embodiments of the invention have been il- lustrated by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a general long side view of the shelf system according to the invention in an assembled state,

Fig. 2 is a short side view of the assembled shelf system according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, the encircled portion in Fig. 2,

Figs 4A-F are schematic partial views of alternative embodiments of the edge list elements of a shelf, Figs 5A-C are schematic cross-sectional views of various groove sections,

Figs 6A-C are schematic cross-sectional views of groove insets in the uprights,

Figs 7A-B show two steps in the assembling process of the shelf system according to a first alternative, and

Figs 8A-B indicate two steps in the assembling process of the shelf system according to a second alternative .

Referring first of all to Figs 1-3 which in side views and in partial side view, respectively, show the shelf system according to the invention in an assembled state, the shelf system comprises a number of shelves 1 and end piece devices 2. The shelves 1 are terminated at their long sides with edge list elements 3 which should have a height dimension h perpendicular to the shelf that is larger than its width dimension b parallel to the shelf, cf. Fig. 4B . The thickness of the shelf 1 between the edge lists is smaller than said height dimension h. The shelf 1 may be made of an optional material and have an optional shape, and, advantageously, shelves from elfa® may be used. The edge list element of this shelf will be evident from Figs 3 and 4A. Some alternative embodiments of the edge list element have been illustrated m Figs 4A-4F and their common feature is that the height dimension h of the edge list element is larger than its width dimension b. Figs 4B and 4C show that the edge ele- ment is rounded m its upper and lower portions while

Fig. 4D shows a rounding of one (the lowermost) portion only. Fig. 4F shows that the edge element may be bevelled instead of rounded or both, as shown m Fig. 4E .

Referring again to Figs 1 and 2, the shelf system comprises at least two end piece devices 2 with two rods or uprights 4 each and a number of crosspieces 5. The end piece devices 2 are intended to be delivered disassembled in packages, and m Fig. 2 they have been shown assembled by the crosspieces 5 being attached to the uprights 4, preferably by means of screw joints 6, as schematically indicated m Fig. 8A.

In the uprights 4, a number of grooves or recesses 7 are formed which serve as shelf carriers. The grooves 7 extend from and lead to one lateral surface 8 of the re- spective uprights 4 and into the upright, cf . Fig. 3. The grooves preferably exhibit the same cross-section along their length and extend along the entire lateral surface 8. When the end piece devices 2 are assembled, the grooves 7 of one upright 4 face, and are aligned with, the grooves 7 of the other upright 4 m the associated end piece device, see Fig. 2. In Figs 3 and 5A, the groove section is shown to be rectangular, but it may also be rounded, Fig. 5B, or have a bottom 9 which is wider than the mouth 11 of the groove, cf. Fig. 5C. The depth D of the grooves 7 corresponds to the width dimension b of the edge list elements 3, while the width B of the grooves, in at least one upright 4 m each end piece device 2, is somewhat smaller than the height dimension h of the edge list element for reasons which will be evident from the following.

The crosspieces 5 have in Fig. 2 been shown as posi- tioned approximately halfway between the shelves 1, but they may also be arranged immediately below the grooves 7. It is especially advantageous if one desires to support the shelves, for instance, if the shelves are weak or if the shelves are to carry a heavy load. Referring to Figs 1, 2 and 3, the uprights 4 are made of elastic or flexible material, for example wood or plastic. In this context, "elastic" means a material which is not deformed plastically, but a material which, when subjected to a load, is resilient and which, when the load is removed, springs back essentially to its original shape. Alternatively, the uprights 4 may be made of non-elastic material and then have recesses 12 in which insets 13 of elastic or flexible material are arranged. The internal shape of the insets 13 corresponds to that of the above-mentioned grooves 7 and the insets serve as grooves which are defined by elastic material . The insets 13 may have various shapes and some alternatives have been schematically shown in Figs 6A-C.

Since the width B of the grooves 7 is smaller than the height dimension h of the edge list elements 3, the edge list elements are received in the grooves with forced fit, which results in the advantageous characteristics as regards the assembled shelf system that, in the first place, the shelves are fixed in the shelf system and cannot by mistake be displaced longitudinally (and come loose from the shelf system) . In the second place, the shelves support and fix the end piece devices 2, so that the shelf system becomes stable also laterally, and, therefore, stabilising means, such as metal sections or back walls, do not need to be used when assembling the shelf system. The lateral stability is achieved, apart from by said forced fit, on the one hand by the length of the grooves (i.e. the width of the upright since the grooves extend between the opposite short sides of the upright along the long side 8) , and, on the other, by the number of shelves . The assembling of the shelf system takes place as follows. Each shelf 1 is placed in an inclined position relative to a first respective upright 4' in each (not assembled) end piece device 2 at associated grooves 7' m the uprights, see Fig. 7A the lower part, and a portion of one edge list element 3' of the shelf is inserted into the groove 7' for abutment against the bottom 9' of the groove. Conveniently, said uprights 4' are placed on a floor or some other suitable supporting surface and are correctly spaced apart. Subsequently, the shelf system can be assembled in essentially two different manners. According to one assembling method, the second upright 4" in each end piece device 2 is positioned opposite (in the same vertical plane as) the first upright 4' and with its grooves 7" aligned with the associated shelves 1, as shown in Fig. 7A, and a portion of the opposite edge list element 3" of the shelf 1 is inserted into the groove for abutment against the bottom 9" of the groove. Then the second upright 4" is displaced in the direction of the arrow 14, possibly with some compressive force applied to the second upright in the direction of the first upright 4' . Thus, all the shelves 1 are turned to their final positions, in the example shown in Fig. 7 to extend at right angles to the uprights, see Fig. 7B. Consequently, the portions of the edge list elements 3', 3" that were earlier free are also forced into the grooves 7', 7", whereby the shelves 1 are locked in said position by the edge list elements 3', 3" being pinched in the grooves 7', 7" with forced fit. This occurs due to the elastic material that defines the grooves 7, i.e. the elastic material of which the uprights 4 are made or the elastic material of the insets 13. Finally, the cross- pieces 5 are mounted in the end piece devices 2 by being attached to and between each pair of uprights 4', 4", for instance by means of screw joints 6', 6", as indicated m Fig. 8A.

According to the second assembling method which has been illustrated m Figs 8A-8B, each shelf 1 is turned individually so that the entire edge list element 3' is pressed into the groove 7' of the upright 4' and is squeezed into the groove, see Fig. 8A the lower half. Subsequently, the crosspieces 5 are attached to the up- right 4', for example by means of screw joints 6 ' and/or plugs (not shown), glue joints or the like. The second upright 4" m each end piece device 2 is positioned opposite the first upright 4' with its grooves 7" aligned with the associated shelves 1 and with their edge list elements 3" positioned at the respective grooves 7" . Then the second upright 4" is attached to the crosspieces 5 by means of screw joints 6" (and possibly plugs) , and by tightening these screw joints 6" the edge list elements 3" of the shelves 1 that were earlier free are forced into the grooves 7", by the displacement of the last- mentioned upright 4" m the direction of the arrow 15, and are pinched m the grooves with forced fit, cf. Fig. 8B, in which the screw joints are not shown.

In the description above, all grooves have been pre- sented having the same dimensions m relation to one another. However, it is possible to form the grooves 7" m one upright 4" of the end piece devices 2 (on the same side of the assembled shelf system) somewhat wider, i.e. so that the shelves are not fastened with forced fit m this groove 7" . This leads to the assembling of the shelf system according to the last-mentioned assembling method being easier since then no great force is required m order to secure the second upright 4" by screws to the crosspieces 5. A sufficient locking of the shelves and lateral stability as regards the assembled shelf system may thus be obtained with the forced fit of the shelves 1 m the grooves 7' of one upright 4' (m the grooves 7' of each end piece device) . In this case, the cross-section of the edge list element 3" at issue is of minor importance and can thus be round or completely absent if the shelves are made of a solid material. Furthermore, it has been indicated above that the end piece devices are supplied disassembled in packages. Naturally, they can also be provided pre-assembled, i.e. with the crosspieces attached in an optional manner to one upright and with the other upright attached loosely to the crosspieces in order to be disassembled later and, subsequently, assembled when assembling the shelf system. The invention is not limited to that described above or shown in the drawings, but may be changed within the scope of the appended claims .

Claims

1. A shelf system comprising a number of shelves (1) with edge list elements (3) along their long sides and at least one pair of end piece devices (2) which each have two uprights (4) and a number of crosspieces (5) that connect the uprights (4) to one another, the two uprights (4) in each end piece device (2) being provided with shelf carriers (7) at their lateral surfaces (8) facing one another, in the assembled state of the end piece device (2), c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said edge list elements (3) have a height dimension (h) perpendicular to the shelf (1) which is greater than its width di- mension (b) parallel to the shelf (1) , that the shelf carriers are grooves (7) which are formed in the uprights (4) and which are open towards said lateral surfaces (8) , that the depth (D) of the grooves corresponds to the width dimensions (b) of the edge list elements, that the width (B) of the grooves in at least one upright (4') in each end piece device (2) is somewhat smaller than the height dimension (h) of the edge list elements (3) and that the material defining the grooves (7) in the upright (4) is elastic, the edge list elements (3) when assem- bling the associated shelves (1) being received in said grooves (7) with forced fit.

2. A shelf system as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the uprights (4) are made of an elastic material, for example wood or plastic.

3. A shelf system as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the uprights (4) are made of a non-elastic material and exhibit recesses (12) in the positions of the shelves (1), elastic insets (13) being arranged in the recesses (12) and provided with grooves (7) of said dimensions.

4. A shelf system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that at least a portion of the edge list element (3) in its height dimension direction is rounded.

5. A shelf system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that at least a portion of the edge list element (3) in its height dimension direction is bevelled.

6. A shelf system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the cross-section of the grooves (7) is rectangular.

7. A shelf system as claimed in any one of claims 1- 5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the bottom (9) of the groove (7) is wider than its mouth (11) .

8. A shelf system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the crosspieces (5) are releasably attached (6) to the associated uprights (4', 4") in the respective end piece devices (2) .

9. A method for assembling a shelf system as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by the steps of: positioning each shelf (1) at an acute angle to a first respective upright (4') in each end piece device (2) at the associated grooves (7) and arranging a part of one edge list element (3') against the bottom (9') of the groove (7' ) , turning each shelf (1) so that the entire edge list element (3') is inserted into the groove (7') and is squeezed therein, fastening (6') the crosspieces (5) in said upright (4'), positioning the second upright (4") in each end piece device (2) opposite said first upright (4') and with its grooves (7") aligned with the associated shelves

⁽1), attaching, by means of screw joints (6"), said second upright (4") to said crosspieces (5), and tightening the screw joints (6' and/or 6") , so that the opposite, second edge list element (3") of each shelf (1) is inserted into the last -mentioned associated groove (7") .

10. A method for assembling a shelf system as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by the steps of : positioning each shelf (1) at an acute angle to a first respective upright (4') in each end piece device (2) at the associated grooves (7') and arranging a part of one edge list element (3') against the bottom (9') of the groove (7 ' ) , positioning the second upright (4") in each end piece device (2) with its grooves (7") aligned with the associated shelves (1) and applying a part of the second, opposite edge list element (3") at the bottom (9") of the last-mentioned grooves (7"), turning each shelf (1) , so that all the edge list elements (3', 3") are completely inserted into the asso- ciated grooves (7', 7"), and mounting the crosspieces (5) in each end piece device (2) by fastening them at and between each couple of uprights (4' , 4") .