State of the art Shelving of the type indicated above, generally formed from a plurality of selves coupled to uprights by means of suitable removable attachment means in such a way that the shelves are substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the uprights is known.

Connection means can essentially be subdivided into two large families, that of threaded means and that of interlocking connections.

Threaded means may comprise screws or bolts which can be inserted into holes made in the uprights and the corners of the shelves in order to join them together. The bolts exert either a shear force which opposes the weight of the shelves and the objects placed upon them or a friction force between the contact surfaces sufficient to overcome rotation between them.

Because these connecting members offer insufficient stability over the course of time, and in order to overcome transverse and longitudinal racking by the shelves as a result of lengthening of the screw connections, suitable opposing means have been envisage, essentially comprising plates or rackets with a central hole and two end holes, which can be attache to the shelves and the

uprights by means of at least two end bolts in such a way as to ensure that they are perpendicular to each other in two vertical planes at right angles, the transverse plane and the longitudinal plane. Thus, the assembly of shelving units with such opposing means requires the use of two rackets and four bolts at every corner of the selves, an overall total of 8 rackets and 16 bolts per shelf, with a consequent increase in the labour and time involved in assembly.

In both cases it is nevertheless necessary to use spanners, screwdrivers or special tools, and it is not possible to guarantee that the connections will remain stable over time because of the inevitable slackening of the screws or bolts.

The second type of connection means, involving interlocking, tends to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages avoiding the use of threaded members and corresponding screwing tools so that connections are made by simple downward pressure from the shelves with respect to the uprights.

Interlocking connection means generally comprise projecting rods or male members, for example on the uprights, which are capable of acting together with corresponding recessed seats or female members formed for example in the shelves at all the corners thereof, or vice versa.

Shelving having connection means of the interlocking type is for example described in Italian Patent 1282020, in Italian Utility Model Application No.

PD95U000059 and in British Patent No. 2,260,481.

In such known shelving the shelves are generally-obtained from substantially flat, rectangular or polygonal sheets, formed so that they have peripheral edges stiffened by means of one or more subsequent bends approximately at

a right angle.

Desirably, the edges are stiffened by welding, rackets or keys which engage suitable seats or cavities in the edges, in order to overcome deformation of the shelves at the corners where the greatest shear forces and the highest bending and torsion moments are concentrated.

The application of such means requires laborious operations with high automation costs. In the case of automatic operations, these are performed using extremely complex and costly machines which, in addition to cutting the sheets, have to edge them along the sides and make the bent edge attachments using punches and/or dies.

A disadvantage which arises at the time when such shelves with bent-back edges are packed and transported lies in the fact that generally they cannot be stacked rationally, that is inserted one into another, because of the presence of the continuous stiffening edges along all the sides, and above all in the vicinity of the corners.

The shelves therefore have to be placed one on top of another, leaving virtually 95% of the volume enclose between the upper surface and the edges unused, with consequent loss of savings in space during storage and transport.

Presentation of the invention A principal object of this invention is to eliminate the abovementioned disadvantages by providing assemblable shelvirzg of the interlocking type which has shelves with reduced dimensional characteristics in storage and transport so as to reduce the costs of storage and transport.

Another object is to provide self-supporting sectional shelving with multiple shelves having a simplifie geometry so as to appreciably reduce production costs.

A further objective is to design sectioning shelving with multiple shelves which guarantees good reliability and structural stability despite the fact that thin sheets are used.

Another object is to provide interlocking sectional shelving which is easy to assemble.

These objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by modular sectional shelving of the interlocking type of the type defined in the foreword which, in accordance with Claim 1, is characterized in that the shelves have stiffening edges with interruptions or discontinuities between one edge and another at the corners so as to permit two shelves to be coupled together at the same time in the space approximately occupied by only one.

Preferably the interruptions or discontinuities in the shelf edges comprise notches or slots of a size greater than the thickness of the shelf sheeting.

As a result of the presence of such interruptions or discontinuities the shelves can be coupled together in pairs by mutual penetration at the front, reducing the space for storage and transport by about 50% in comparison with that normally required hitherto.

The interlocking attachment means comprise a series of male members formed on the uprights which are capable of engaging corresponding female members formed at the corners of the selves.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention the connecting means comprise removable inserts which are capable of being housed in the inside space at the corners of the shelves to restore the continuity of the open corners and to renforce the connection with the uprights.

With this object, each insert has at least a second female member which can be coupled with a corresponding male member formed in a corresponding upright at the time when the latter is coupled with a first female member in the shelf in which the insert is housed.

Each insert has a substantially"L"shape which matches the internal surface of the corner of the shelf in which it is housed in order to adhere to such internal surface when it is engaged with the male member of the corresponding upright.

Brief description of the drawings Further features and avantages of the invention will be more apparent in the light of the following description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of sectional self-supporting interlocking shelving illustrated by way of a non- restrictive example with the help of the appende plates of drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an overall perspective view of modular shelving according to the invention from above with the upper shelf being fitted and with a portion partly removed in order to reveal a detail thereof, Figure 2 shows a transparent perspective view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the shelving in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of some separate components

of the shelving in Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the components in Figure 3 at a subsequent stage during assembly, Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a detail in Figure 4 on an enlarged scale, Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a separate detail in the foregoing figures on an enlarged scale, Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the detail in Figure 6 along a plane VII-VI1, Figure 8 shows a view of the detail in Figure 6 from above, Figure 9 shows a front view of a length of upright of the shelving in Figure 1, Figure 10 shows a transverse view of the upright in Figure 9 sectioned along a plane X-X, Figure 11 shows a perspective view of detail XI in Figure 1 on an enlarged scale, Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view from above along the plane XII-XII in Figure 1, Figure 13 shows a lateral view in cross-section of a detail of the shelving in Figure 12, sectioned along a vertical plane XIII-XII6,

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of a pair of shelves in the shelving according to the invention coupled frontally prior to packaging.

Description of a preferred embodiment With reference to the figures mentioned, Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the sectional shelving according to the invention, indicated as a whole by the reference number 1, which generally comprises a plurality of uprights 2 which can be removably connecte to a plurality of shelves 3 by means of suitable interlocking connections, indicated as a whole by reference number 4, in such a way that after assembly shelves 3 are substantially horizontal and perpendicular to uprights 2.

Both uprights 2 and shelves 3 and interlocking means 4 are preferably obtained from metal sheet, e. g. deep pressed steel of a thickness between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm, suitably cut and bent. As an alternative other materials, including natural or synthetic non-metals worked using different processes, may be used.

In particular, uprights 2 may comprise lengths of substantially"L"-shaped section so as to form an internal corner S and a longitudinal axis A, which may be provided with longitudinal stiffening grids 2', 2"corresponding to corner S and the edges respectively. Several lengths of section may be attache together by means of terminal interlocking joints of a type which is in itself known and similar to those which will be described below.

Shelves 3 may comprise a flat central portion 5, e. g. having a substantially rectangular shape in plan, provided with edges-which are stiffened e. g. by bending. Preferably the edges along the longer sides are bent twice with respect to central portion 5 and as a result have two sides 6,7 at right

angles, while the edges along the shorter sides are bent only once and have a single side 8.

Corners 9 of the selves, which in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings are sides at 90°, are in any event of a shape which is complementary to the internal or corner space S of uprights 2. Because of the existence of the broad rib 2'at corner S, corners 9 of the shelves can conveniently be inserted into the internal space of uprights 2.

Interlocking means 4 may be of a type which is in itself known, and that is may comprise male members 10 formed on the uprights at positions which are equally spaced along their longitudinal length which are capable of engaging the corresponding first female members 11 formed on shelves 3 at corners 9.

In particular, every first female member 11 comprises at least one substantially elongated slot formed on bent edges 6,7,8 of each shelf 3 in a position corresponding to that of a corresponding male men-lber 10 formed on uprights 2.

Preferably slot 11 has a margin 1 1'substantially parallel to its edge, that is perpendicular to the central plane 5 of the shelf, and the other edge 11" incline with respect to the former at an angle oc of between 3° and 8° and preferably equal to approximately 5°.

Each male member 10 may comprise at least a wing-like projection 10' formed by cutting and plastic deformation of upright 2 at a predetermined distance from corner S. Preferably each male member 10 comprises a pair of wing-like projections 10', 10", which oppose each other and are substantially symmetrical so as to act on the two edges 11', 11"of a corresponding female

member 11. As an alternative a single wing-like projection, in particular the incline projection 10"acting on the incline edges 1 1", 14"of corresponding female members 1 1,14 may be provided.

Advantageously, wing-like projections 10', 10"extend towards the interior of upright 2 in a direction which is substantially parallel or slightly incline with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the upright.

In accordance with the invention, bent stiffening edges 6,7,8 of shelves 3 are not joined together but have interruptions or discontinuities 12 at corners 9.

Preferably, interruptions or discontinuities 12 in shelf 3 are obtained by removing corresponding end portions of bent edges 6,7 adjacent to edges 8.

Thus the edges 8 of another identical opposing shelf can be inserted into the slots so that two shelves can be coupled together substantially in the space occupied by a little more than a single shelf, as clearly illustrated in Figure 14.

The pairs of shelves coupled together as described above can therefore be packed and protected e. g. using a film of thermoformable material, reducing the dimensions for storage and transport by approximately 50% in comparison with shelves in the past.

Also, in order that edge 8 can be inserted into slot 12, the latter must be bent only once and does not have to be attache to edges 6,7, eliminating many stages of bending and punching and appreciably reducing the manufacturing time for the shelves and therefore for the shelving as a whole.

The lack of continuity in the edges and their mutual connection at the corners has however the direct consequence of weakening the shelf just in the area

where it is interlocked with the uprights, i. e. where it is most mechanically stresse. In fact, longitudinal edges 6,7 and transverse edges 8 of the shelves which are not connecte together can open up, further opening angle 9 and prejudicing the stability of the interlocked joint, as a result of shear forces and bending moments.

In order to overcome this disadvantage the interlocking means also comprise removable inserts 13 which can be housed in the inner cavity of corners 9 of the shelves in order to restore their continuity and in order to force them against uprights 2.

Each insert, clearly illustrated in Figures 6,7 and 8, comprises an approximately L-shaped body with arms 15 joined at a corner 16, in such a way as to adhere to the inner surface of corner 9.

Suitably, each insert 13 has at least a second female member 14 similar to first female member 11 provided in shelves 3. This female member 14 may be coupled to a corresponding male member 10 formed in a corresponding upright, when such male member 10 is inserted into female member 11 of shelf 3 in which insert 13 is housed.

Suitably, lateral arms 15 may be provided with bent edges 17,18 to increase rigidity and structural strength.

As already anticipated, second female member 14 has a similar shape to that of slot 11 formed on the selves, and in particular has margins 14', 14" which are mutually incline at an angle a of between 3° and 78° and preferably equal to approximately 5°.

The interaction between two male members 10 of an upright 2, on the one

hand, and two first female members 11 of a shelf and two second female members 14 of an insert 13 on the other hand, can be clearly seen in Figures 1 1,12 and 13. In particular, wing-like projections 10', 10"extend towards the interior of upright 2 to a depth C which is greater than the sum of thicknesses Sr and Si of shelf 3 and insert 13 respectively.

Suitably, wing-like projections 10', 10"are elongated. Wing-like projection 10' extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the upright, while wing-like projection 10"forms an angle p of between 3° and 8° and preferably equal to approximately 5° with the former.

As a result of this inclination the projection of wing 10"engages with similarly incline margin 14"of second female member 14 of insert 13 in such a way as to force the latter towards corner S of the upright, restoring the continuity of corner 9 which is open at 12 and reinforcing the interlocking joint.

Preferably two slots 11 on the two sides of the dihedral angle of the shelf and two slots 14 on both arms 15 of the insert are provided substantially at identical distances from the corners.

From what has been indicated above, assembly of the shelving is virtually immediate.

After insert 13 has been housed within a corner 9 of a shelf 3, first and second female members 11 and 14 are then lined up, wing-like projections 10', 10"are then inserted into these and finally shelf 3 together with insert 13 is pressed downwards. In this way insert 13 is progressively wedged into projections 10', 10", with consequent compression thereof towards the inner surface of the corner and therefore the corner S of upright 2. This effect increases as the shelf is pressed downwards, either as a result of its own

weight or that of the objects placed on the selves.

It will be obvious from the above that the self-supporting sectional shelving according to the invention achieves all the specified objectives, and in particular its appreciable lightness, simplicity of construction, robustness, reliability and economy is emphasized.

The self-supporting sectional shelving according to the invention is susceptible of many modifications and variants all of which fall within the concept of the invention defined in the appende claims. All details may be replace with other equivalents without going beyond the scope of the invention.

The instant application is based upon Italian patent application Vl99A000048, filed on 8 March 1999, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference thereto, and the priority of which is hereby claimed.