WO2004026084A1

WO2004026084A1 - Support system

Info

Publication number: WO2004026084A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/004122
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lee Carl Mccormack
Original assignee: Lee Carl Mccormack
Priority date: 2002-09-19
Filing date: 2003-09-19
Publication date: 2004-04-01
Also published as: AU2003269183A1; GB0221726D0

Abstract

A support system for supporting articles comprising a number of panels (10) connectable together in edge-to-edge relationship by connectors (11) adapted for fitting to adjoining corners of the panels to connect the panels together to form an integral structure. Each connector (11) is provided with locating means in the form of channels (19) adapted for engagement with cooperating means in the form of lips (101) provided on the panels to prevent relative movement of the panels in a plane containing the corner portions of the panels connected by the connector. Each connector (11) comprises two parts (11a, 1b) adapted to clamp the corner portions of the panels between them, one part being provided with spigots (17) which are received in recesses (16) in the other part. The panels have means adapted to support articles on the structure each of which comprises a hooked element (12) extending through a hole in a panel and having a enlarged portion (24) for engagement in a recess (13) in the panel.

Description

SUPPORT SYSTEM

This invention is concerned with a support system for supporting

articles, for example for display purposes or for storage purposes.

According to the invention there is provided a support system for

supporting articles comprising a number of panels connectible together in edge-

to-edge relationship, and at least one connector adapted for fitting to adjacent

I corners of at least two panels to connect said panels together to form an integral

structure, said connector being provided with locating means adapted for

engagement with cooperating means provided on said panels to prevent relative

movement of the panels in a plane containing portions of the panels at said

corners, and clamping means comprising two parts adapted to clamp the said

corner portions of the panels between them.

Preferably the panels are rectangular although they may be of other

shapes, for example polygonal so that they can be connected together to form a

geodesic structure.

The panels may be flat so that they can be connected together to form a

flat wall- or board-like structure. Alternatively, or in addition, curved or other

appropriately shaped, non-flat panels may be provided enabling structures of

other shapes to be constructed.

In the case of a wall-like structure base units may be provided to

support the interconnected panels so that the structure is free-standing. Preferably the locating means comprise channels provided in the

connector for receiving lips provided on the panels.

The connector is preferably itself formed in two parts and means such

as nuts and bolts are provided to secure the parts together and clamp the

adjoining corner portions of the panels between them in sandwich fashion. This

sandwich clamping design enables an integral structure to be constructed

without the need for any supporting framework as used in many conventional

structures.

A number of panels or/and connectors may be provided with means

adapted to support articles on the structure. Preferably these means are provided

on the panels and they are of the form described below in reference to a further

aspect of the invention.

According to this aspect of the invention there is provided a support

system for supporting articles comprising a panel and a support element

mountable on the panel, the panel being formed on a front face thereof with a

recess and an aperture extending through the panel from the bottom of the

recess, and the supporting element having a first portion capable of being passed

through the said aperture and being provided with a formation adapted to engage

the rear face of the panel to prevent withdrawal of said portion from the

aperture, the supporting element also being provided adjacent said first portion

with a second, enlarged portion arranged to engage in the recess. Preferably the recess and the enlarged portion are of complementary

shapes, for example part-spherical. The said formation is preferably a hook-like

formation provided at the end of the first portion of the element.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a

support system according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of another form of support system

according to the invention,

FIGURES 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D (referred to collectively as FIGURE 3)

are respectively two side views at 90° to one another, a perspective view and a

plan view of one form of panel which may be provided in a support system

according to the invention,

FIGURES 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D (referred to collectively as FIGURE 4)

are similar views of another form of panel,

FIGURES 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D (referred to collectively as FIGURE 5)

are similar views of another form of panel,

FIGURES 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D (referred to collectively as FIGURE 6)

are similar views of another form of panel,

FIGURES 7 A, 7B, 7C and 7D (referred to collectively as FIGURE 7) are similar views of yet another form of panel,

FIGURES 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D (referred to collectively as FIGURE 8)

are respectively an end view, a front view, a perspective view and a rear view of

one form of base unit which may be provided for a support system according to

the invention,

FIGURES 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D (referred to collectively as FIGURE 9)

are respectively an end view, a front view, a perspective view and a plan view of

another form of base unit,

FIGURES 10A, 10B, IOC and 10D (referred to collectively as FIGURE

10) are respectively a perspective view, an end view, a further perspective view

and a plan view of another form of base unit,

FIGURES 11 A, 11B, 11C and 11D (referred to collectively as FIGURE

11) are respectively two side views taken at 90° to one another, a perspective

view and a plan view of one of the two parts of one form of connector which

may provided in a support system according to the invention,

FIGURES 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D (referred to collectively as FIGURE

12) are similar views of the other part of the connector of Figure 11 ,

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view from below showing the manner in

which the connector illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 is fitted to a panel, and

FIGURES 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D (referred to collectively as FIGURE 14) are respectively a front view, side view, top view and perspective view of

one form of support element which may be provided in a support system

according to the invention.

The support system illustrated in the drawings comprises a number of

rectangular panels generally designated 10 which may be of various shapes, a

number of connectors 11 for connecting the panels together in edge-to-edge

relationship to form a wall-or board-like structure, and a number of support

elements 12 for supporting articles on the structure. These components are

moulded from a suitable plastics material, for example ABS formed by heat and

pressure.

The support system may be supplied with any number of panels of any

one or more of a number of different shapes. Five examples are shown in the

accompanying drawings. FIGURES 3, 4, 6 and 7 show panels which are

rectangular and curved in cross section to provide, respectively, a 112° concave

panel 10a, a 112° convex panel 10b, a 90° concave panel 10c and a 90° convex

panel lOd. FIGURE 5 shows a square flat panel lOe.

Each panel 10 is formed on its front face with rows of part-spherical

recesses 13 each provided with a central hole 13a passing from the bottom of the

recess through the panel to its rear face to enable the panel to support articles,

the holes being intended to receive support elements which may support the

articles direct or carry a support such as a shelf for articles. Each corner 14 of each panel is made of reduced thickness by forming a

triangular rebate at the front face of the panel, and is formed with an aperture 15

for engagement by a connector 11 connecting the panel to an adjacent panel.

Each panel 10 is also formed with rearwardly projecting lips 101 along

its edges which meet at the corners.

Each connector 11 comprises two square parts 11a, l ib shown in

FIGURES 11 and 12. The part 11a shown in FIGURE 11 is intended to be

located at the rear of the panel structure and is formed with four equidistantly

spaced recesses 16 adapted to receive, respectively, four spigots 17 formed on

the part 1 lb. Each recess 16 is formed in a separate triangular portion 18 of the

part 11a, the four portions being joined together by thin webs 19 forming two

channels 19a perpendicular to one another between the portions 18. Both parts

1 la, 1 lb are formed with a central aperture 102.

In order to connect together the adjacent four corners 14 of four panels

10 the part 11a is positioned behind the corners as shown in FIGURE 13 with

the abutting lips 101 of the panels located in the respective channels 19a. The

other part lib is then located at the front of the structure and its spigots 17 are

inserted through the holes 15 in the corners of the panels and into the recesses

16 in the part 1 la. The spigots 17 may be a friction or snap-in fit in the recesses

16. A bolt (not shown) is inserted from the front through the aligned apertures

102 in the parts 11a and lib and fitted with a nut at the rear, the nut and bolt then being tightened to clamp the corner portions of the panels between the two

parts of the connector. The panels are thereby clamped together.

Connectors 30 having only two triangular portions with recesses and

two spigots are provided for connecting together the two corners of only two

adjacent panels.

If desired, the or each outer face of the connector which is visible in

use, may be provided with a complementarily shaped cover 33 as shown in

FIGURE 13. This cover may be a moulded element carrying graphics or a logo.

The cover may be attached to the connector by "Velcro" (Trade mark).

Any number of flat panels lOe may be connected together to provide a

flat board-like structure which may be mounted on a wall or other support such

as a metal framework 31 as shown in FIGURE 1, in which event the structure is

attached to the framework by the bolts passing through the apertures 102 in the

parts 11a, lib of the connector 11. Alternatively the panels may be connected

together to form a flat wall-like structure. Such a wall-like structure may be

made free-standing by mounting it on a number of straight base units 20 of the

form illustrated in FIGURE 8 placed end-to-end.

Walls of different (non-flat) shapes may be formed using any

combination of panels of the shapes shown in FIGURES 3,4,6 and 7 with or

without flat panels of the form shown in FIGURE 5. As shown in Figure 2

correspondingly shaped base units 20 are used to make the wall free-standing, two examples of which are shown in Figures 9 and 10, namely a 112° convex

base unit and a 112° concave base unit. Top units 31 similar in shape to the base

units may be mounted on top of the structure.

Each base unit 20 comprises a horizontal part 20a intended to rest on

the ground and an upwardly extending part 20b, the upper corners of which are

rebated and formed with apertures 21 enabling an adjacent panel of the structure

to be connected to it by connectors 11. The top units 31 may be secured to the

panel structure in the same way.

The support elements 12 enabling articles to be supported on the

structure may be of the form shown in FIGURE 14, being designed to support a

shelf (not shown) on which articles can be placed. Each element comprises an

elongate member 22 formed with a hook 23 at one end and provided at a spacing

from the hook with a greater diameter part 24 of spherical form. In use the hook

is passed from the front through one of the holes 13a in one of the panels 10 of

the structure and the element is manipulated so that the hook is engaged behind

the panel with the spherical part 24 seated in the associated part-spherical recess

13 in the front face of the panel whereby the element is supported by the panel

in cantilever fashion.

The support system of the present invention, being modular, enables

structures of a wide variety of shapes and sizes to be assembled. Such structures

have a wide range of uses, for example exhibition display stands, interior displays for retail premises, interiors for restaurants and entertainment

establishments, sound insulation for recording studios. The structures can

support or display a wide range of articles, for example shelves, cabinets,

hanging rails, poster displays and mirrors.

The system relies solely on the components of the structure itself for its

integrity and stability without the need for the other external elements.

Claims

1. A support system for supporting articles comprising a number of

panels connectible together in edge-to-edge relationship, and at least one

connector adapted for fitting to adjacent corners of at least two panels to connect

said panels together to form an integral structure, said connector being provided

with locating means adapted for engagement with cooperating means provided

on said panels to prevent relative movement of the panels in a plane containing

portions of the panels at said corners, and clamping means comprising two parts

adapted to clamp the said corner portions of the panels between them.

2. A support system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the panels are

rectangular and flat or curved.

3. A support system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the panels

are adapted to form a wall-like structure, base units being provided to support

the interconnected panels so that the structure is free-standing.

4. A support system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the panels

are adapted to form a board-like structure which is attached to a framework or

other support.

5. A support system as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the

locating means comprise channels provided in the connector for receiving lips

provided on the panels and constituting said cooperating means.

6. A support system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector is itself formed in two parts and means are provided to

secure the parts together and clamp adjoining corner portions of panels between

them in sandwich fashion.

7. A support system as claimed in Claim 6 wherein one of the parts

of the connector is provided with spigots which are arranged to be received in

recesses in the other part.

8. A support system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims

wherein a number of panels or/and connector are provided with means adapted

to support articles on the structure.

9. A support system for supporting articles comprising a panel and a

support element mountable on the panel, the panel being formed on a front face

thereof with a recess and an aperture extending through the panel from the

bottom of the recess, and the supporting element having a first portion capable

of being passed through the said aperture and being provided with a formation

adapted to engage the rear face of the panel to prevent withdrawal of said

portion from the aperture, the supporting element also being provided adjacent

said first portion with a second, enlarged portion arranged to engage in the

recess.

10. A support system as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the recess and the

enlarged portion are of complementary shapes, for example part-spherical.

11. A support system as claimed in Claim 9 or 10 wherein the said formation is a hook-like formation provided at the end of the first portion of the

element.

12. A support system as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the said means

for supporting articles on the structure are of the form specified in Claim 9, 10

or 11.