| WO/1996/014679 | FRAME FOR A SWITCHGEAR CABINET |
| JP2002058545 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING SHELF STAY TO CONNECTION MEMBER |
| JP2006187367 | UNIT FOR SELF-ASSEMBLING FURNITURE |
SULLY, Peter (Unit 7, White Horse Business ParkStandford in the Vale,Farringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 8NY, GB)
| CLAIMS A shelving unit in the form of a beam having a back member from the edges of which projects a flange, the outer edge of the flange having a lip projecting so that the beam has a C-shaped cross section characterised by the beam having two ends; at least one of the ends having a first flange extending to the end but with the lip of the first flange terminating before the end to leave a gap between the end of the lip and the end of the flange; a second flange ending in an angled edge relative to the back member with an outer corner of the second flange remote from the back member is set back longitudinally from the end of the back member, the lip of the second flange terminating at the outer corner; and the back member at or near the end being adapted to providing at least one location whereby the beam can be attached to a shelf support. A shelving unit as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that at or near the, or each, end of the beam at least one aperture is provided by means of which the end of the beam can be detachably mounted on a complementary tang in a support for the beam whereby the support locates and supports the beam. A shelving unit as claimed in any preceding claim characterised by the or both flanges of the beam being provided with an angled end to enable the beam to be juxtaposed with a similar angled end on a further beam at right angles to the beam without overlapping of the beam and further beam. |
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a shelving unit. It is particularly concerned with a shelving arrangement in which a series of vertical uprights are linked by a series of horizontal beams to provide a structure which can carry a load either directly on the beams or by way of a support mounted on the beams. Typically the uprights define a series of locations along the length of the upright. A beam can be located with the upright at one or more of these locations such as by way of, for example, a tang integral with the upright (the shelf having an aperture for locating on the tang) or by way of a mechanical connection such as a rivet or bolt.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a shelving unit in the form of a beam having a back member from the edges of which projects a flange, the outer edge of the flange having a lip projecting so that the beam has a C-shaped cross section characterised by the beam having two ends; at least one of the ends having a first flange extending to the end but with the lip of the first flange terminating before the end to leave a gap between the end of the lip and the end of the flange; a second flange ending in an angled edge relative to the back member with an outer corner of the second flange remote from the back member is set back
longitudinally from the end of the back member, the lip of the second flange terminating at the outer corner; and the back member at or near the end being adapted to providing at least one location whereby the beam can be attached to a shelf support.
According to a first preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention wherein the shelving unit is characterised in that at or near the, or each, end of the beam at least one aperture is provided by means of which the end of the beam can be detachably mounted on a complementary tang in a support for the beam whereby the support locates and supports the beam.
According to a second preferred version of the present invention or for the first preferred version thereof the shelving unit is characterised by the or both flanges of the beam being provided with an angled end to enable the beam to be juxtaposed with a similar angled end on a further beam at right angles to the beam without overlapping of the beam and further beam.
According to a third preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of the first preferred version thereof the shelving unit is characterised in that one flange of the beam has an angled end to enable the beam to be juxtaposed with a similar angled end on a flange of a further beam at right angles to the beam without overlapping of the beam and further beam; the other flange to the flange of the beam and of the further beam overlap to provide for loads fed into the flange of the beam to be transmitted to the flange of the further beam.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a shelving assembly comprising a frame of uprights on which are mounted an plurality of shelving units according to the first aspect or the preferred versions thereof; the aperture or apertures of each beam engaging with complementary tang on an upright to provide for the shelving assembly to be load bearing for a load supported directly or indirectly by a beam in the plurality thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:
Figure 1 is a perspective side view of an end of a beam;
Figure 2 is an end view of the beam of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the beam of Figures 1 and 2 and a support structure with which it is to be engaged as part of a shelf assembly; and
Figure 4 is a close up of the components of Figure 3 just prior to engagement.
Figures 5A and 5B shows a component as described in connection with Figures 1 to 4 being assembled to form a shelving structure.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The drawings show a shelving unit comprising a beam 11 having a back member 12 from the edges 13, 14 of which project respectively, a flange 15, 16. Outer edges, respectively edges 17, 18 have, respectively a lip 19, 20 projecting so that the beam 11 has a C-shaped cross section.
Only one end, end A, of the beam 11 is shown but it's unshown other end is formed as a mirror image of that shown in Figures 1 to 4 and functions in a similar way as will be described hereafter.
The beam 11 has end A with first flange 15 extending to the end A but with a lip 19 of the first flange 15 terminating before the end A to leave a gap G between end 23 of the lip 19 and end 24 of the first flange 15. End 23 of the lip 19 is rounded to improve manipulation of the beam during attachment to a vertical support as will be described hereafter. The beam 11 has a second flange 16 ending to an angled edge 26 relative to the back member 12 with an outer corner 27 of the second flange 16 remote from the back member 12 being set back longitudinally from the end A of the beam. Lip 20 of the second flange 16 terminates at outer corner 27 (see particularly Figures 3 and 4.
The back member 12 is provided with apertures 29, 30 to enable the back member to be located on, and retained by tangs as described hereafter in connection with Figures 5A and 5B.
Figures 5 A and 5B show a beam 11 identical in form and function to that described in connection with Figures 1 to 4 being assembled to form a shelving structure.
The components of beam 11 are identified by similar references. The beam 11 is assembled by coupling to a vertical column 40 which forms a corner of the required shelving structure. The vertical column 40 is L-shaped in cross-section with two integral arms 41, 42.
A further beam 43 is provided for mounting at the same level as, but right angles to, beam 11 as will be described hereafter.
Each arm 41, 42 is pierced by a series of tangs, respectively series 41A, 42A of which only the top two of each series, respectively 41A', 41A" and 41 A', 42A" are shown. Holes 44, 45 are provided whereby the beams 11, 43 can be secured once they have been mounted on the vertical column 40 on their respective tangs.
Figure 5 A shows the beams 11, 43 being presented for mounting on the column 40 and Figure 5B shows the beams 11, 43 located in place on the column 40.
Referring to Figure 1 the portion of the upper flange 15 extending over the gap G serves to overlap the corresponding portion (Figures 5A, 5B) of beam 43. Vertical loads arising at the end of beam 11 are thus readily transmitted into the end of beam 43 so
contributing to the load distribution in the working shelf assembly. The end portion of second flange 16 is bevelled so that it aligns with, but does not overlap, the corresponding end of lower flange of beam 43. These two features make a significant contribution to the stability and load carrying capacity of the resulting working shelf assembly.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention provides storage units which are readily assembled and of improved stability compared with many storage units currently available. One advantage lies in the engagement between members being readily achieved without a need for further components.