WO2003015578A1

WO2003015578A1 - System for assembling a plastic panel modular shelving unit and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2003015578A1
Application number: PCT/CA2002/001261
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alphons Van Rhienen
Original assignee: Royal Alliance Inc.
Priority date: 2001-08-17
Filing date: 2002-08-15
Publication date: 2003-02-27
Also published as: CA2355526A1; WO2003015578B1

Abstract

A system for assembling a modular shelving unit and the like includes first panels and at least one second panel. All of the panels have a substantially hollow resin material construction. The first panels are to be used as vertical supports for holding the second panel as a horizontal platform within the unit. The system further includes a panel reinforcement comprising a reinforcing brace and brace fasteners. The reinforcing brace is of generally the same length as and insertable within the second panel. The brace fasteners are fittable through the first panels to both secure the brace interiorly of and to clamp the second panel between the first panels when the unit is assembled.

Description

SYSTEM FOR ASSEMBLING A PLASTIC PANEL MODULAR SHELVING UNIT AND THE LIKE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular unit such as a shelving unit formed by plastic panels secured together by mechanical fasteners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modular shelving units having full metal or full wooden construction have been known for many, many years. The metal and/or wood material used in these units generally has sufficient strength to be self-supporting, i.e. additional reinforcement means to ensure the integrity of the units is not often required.

Resin materials such as PVC and the like are becoming more and more popular to form different types of products. The actual resin material itself has advantages over materials such as wood and metal in that the resin material is easily formed to a particular shape during either extrusion or injection mold processes, the resin material is very long lasting and durable often requiring essentially no maintenance and further the resin material is extremely light in weight enhancing the ability to ship and store products made from resin material.

Even in view of all of these benefits, resin material is not generally considered to be appropriate in the construction of shelving units other than those designed to take very light loads. This is because panels formed of resin material, particularly those formed through extrusion processes, are relatively thin walled and therefore are not designed as load bearing members. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system for assembling a modular shelving unit and the like in which the benefits provided by resin material are taken advantage of and in which the shelving unit when assembled has substantially greater strength and load bearing capacity than currently available resin material shelving units.

More particularly, the system of the present invention includes a pair of first panels and a second panel with all of the panels which are preferably made in an extrusion process having a substantially hollow resin material construction. The first panels are to be used as vertical supports for holding the second panel as a horizontal platform within the modular unit.

The system further includes panel securing and reinforcing means comprising a reinforcing brace and brace fasteners. The brace is of generally the same length as and insertable within the second panel. The brace fasteners are fϊttable through the first panels to both secure the brace interiorly of and to clamp the second panel between the first panels when the unit is assembled.

According to the description above, it will be seen that the modular unit of the present invention comprises a combination of thin walled resin members resin and brace members where the brace members provide reinforcement for the unit at discrete locations hidden interiorly of the exteriorly visible plastic components of the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above as well as other advantageous and features of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which Figure 1 is a front view of a shelving system made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the lines 2.2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the lines 3.3. of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a brace used in the shelving system of Figure 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views of the joint areas indicated by designations and A and B in Figure 1 of the drawings; and

Figures 7 through 9 show different representative shelving type units which can be built according to different preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a shelving system generally indicated at 1. This shelving system is formed by a first group of panel members 3 and a second group of panel members 5. Each of the panel members 3 is used as a vertical support with the panel members 5 suspended as horizontal platforms between the vertical supports.

All of the panel members have a relatively thin walled resin construction made from materials such as PVC and the like. Additional stabilizing and strengthening agents may be added to the resin mix in forming the panel members. Also the panel members may be non-coloured or a coloured pigmentation can be added to the resin material. Again, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the panel members is formed through a resin extrusion process as is known in the art. This makes each of the panel members both light weight and durable. The panels can be stocked as long lengths of panel material and cut to the appropriate size. The panel members which are used as the vertical supports can then be easily capped to provide a finished appearance at both their upper and lower ends. The horizontal panel members do not need to be capped as the opposite ends of these particular panel members are hidden between the vertical panel members.

Figure 3 of the drawings shows that the panel members 3 when extruded include spaced apart interior webs 9 between which are defined a number of hollow chambers 7. These webs provide strengthening against collapsing of the panels. Some of the chambers defined by the webs provide guide passages for reasons to be described later in detail.

Figure 1 shows that at some locations in the shelving unit horizontal panels align with one another completely across the unit and, at other locations, the horizontal panels only extend between two of the vertical panels. The significance of this will also be described later in detail.

Figure 4 of the drawings shows a brace generally indicated at 11 used in the formation of shelving unit 1. This particular brace comprises a rounded metal rod provided with end caps 13. These metallic end caps include threaded bores 15.

Figure 2 of the drawings shows that the braces or rods 11 are of the same length, or at least substantially the same length, as the panels 5. Furthermore, they are sized to fit interiorly of these panels.

In the particular arrangement shown, each horizontal panel or platform is provided with a pair of internal rods 11. The rods locate within two of the hollow chambers 7 of each panel. Accordingly, these chambers provide rod guides for the interior braces. Again, according to the preferred set up shown in Figure 2, the two rods locate within the outermost chambers of each of the horizontal panels.

The system further includes brace fasteners. These brace fasteners take two different forms depending upon the location in the unit in which the fasteners are used.

More particularly, the region generally indicated at A in Figure 1 of the drawings is a region where one end of one of the horizontal panels is secured to the vertical panel without alignment to any other horizontal panel. Differentiating from this is region B, where two horizontal panels are secured within the unit aligned with one another to opposite sides of a vertical panel.

Figure 5 of the drawings shows the connection of panel 5 with panel

3 in the region indicated at A. It will be seen that a bolt like member generally indicated at 17 has an enlarged head 19 and a threaded stem 23. Stem 23 fits through panel 3 and threads into the bore 15 of the end cap 13 of rod 11. The head 19 of bolt like member 17 is blocked to the outside surface of panel 3 to act as a clamp in securing the panels 3 and 5 with one another as the threaded stem of the bolt is tightened within the rod end to secure the rod interiorly of panel 5.

The head of bolt member 17 is either externally shaped or provided with some type of a center recess to receive a tool for tightening it relative to the brace.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, a straight threaded member 25 is used to secure the shelving unit joint. This threaded member extends directly through the vertical panel 3 into the aligned rod end caps 13 on opposite sides of the vertical panel. In order to provide tightening of this joint, the panels 11 are slid over the rods after the rods have been threadably secured on to member 25. In each of the above situations, the fastening member itself also preferably has a metallic construction adding to the strength of the joint.

In the particular shelving unit shown in Figures 1 through 6, the holes or passages through the vertical panels are provided at preset locations during the manufacture of the panels. This enables reinforcement of the passage or hole regions in the panels by a discrete thickening of the resin material during formation of the panel as indicated at 3 A directly around the hole or passage. Again, this adds significantly to the strength of the joint between horizontal and vertical panels in the unit.

It is also possible for the vertical panels to be formed without any preset mounting locations and for the user of the unit to drill mounting holes at different desired locations. In this type of situation, reinforcement at the mounting location may not be used or may be provided by a separate reinforcing member fitted at the through passage of the vertical support.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings show that the system of the present invention can be used in a very simple shelving unit or it can be used in more sophisticated units incorporating covering doors and the like.

It will now be understood from the description above how the shelving unit system of the present invention includes resin panels reinforced by braces where the braces are essentially hidden within the covering resin material. The braces and fasteners preferably have a metallic construction but other materials such as wood and even reinforced plastics can be used in making the braces. The system is one which has a knock down construction for easy on site assembly making it particularly desirable from a merchandising stand point. Furthermore, the system is readily adaptable for additional capacity in the event that one wishes to add further vertical and horizontal panels to the system.

Although various preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A system for assembling a modular shelving unit and the like, said system including a pair of first panels and a second panel, all of said panels having a substantially hollow resin material construction, the first panels to be used as vertical supports for holding the second panel as a horizontal platform within the unit, said system further including panel securing and reinforcing means comprising a reinforcing brace and brace fasteners, the reinforcing brace being of generally the same length as and insertable within the second panel, and the brace fasteners being fittable through the first panels to both secure the brace interiorly of and to clamp the second panel between the first panels when the unit is assembled.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the reinforcing brace has a metallic construction.

3. A system as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said brace has threaded ends and wherein said brace fasteners comprise metallic bolt like members having enlarged heads and threaded stems to thread into the ends of the brace.

4. A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said first panels have wall regions with preset holes for the fitting of the brace fasteners therethrough, the first panels being reinforced at said wall regions.

5. A system as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said wall regions are reinforced by additional resin material added discretely to the wall regions during formation of said first panels.

6. A system as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said first and second panels are made in an extrusion process, said panels including interior webs which define hollow chambers within said panels, the hollow chamber within the second panel providing a brace guide through the second panel.

7. A system as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said brace comprises a circular rod fitted with threaded end plugs.