DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a stackable element for shelves and, more specifically, to a flat stackable element for shelves which constitutes a shelf integral to relevant supporting elements for the same, and suitable to be stored in a stacked manner with a plurality of similar shelf stackable elements.

This invention is particularly directed to shelves for storing items on sale in shops and retail outlets.

Shelves are already known for showing and supporting items on sale in retail outlets and shops. Typically, such kind of shelves are generally constituted by a number of vertical metal racks or uprights, and supporting a respective plurality of shelves for showing goods for sale. The assembling operation involves the mounting of shelf uprights first, and then inserting and securing each shelf over the former.

To the operator is presented a first drawback due to the fact that the mounting can be long and tedious, given the sequence of preparing the uprights first and then the shelves on a supporting surface until the complete assembly of the shelving, and then placing the assembled shelving vertically.

In addition, there is a second drawback due to the fact that when the shelving is disassembled, all components must be transported separately (i.e. the uprights are separated from the shelves), which means a need of a transporting volume that is not indifferent and also according to the size of the uprights (generally according to the length thereof). From this it follows that the overall dimensions in the dismantled condition are comparable if not in fact often roughly equal to the overall dimension in the assembled state.

To the industry there is, therefore, the need to provide a shelving that overcomes such drawbacks, and which has a greatly ease of installation and reduced dimension during transport thereof.

Main object of this invention is to solve these problems by providing a stackable element for shelving especially for showing products on sale, which has integrally to the shelf also its supporting elements conformed as uprights elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stackable element for shelving which has the feature of being stackable with other identical shelving elements, and to be stacked in a condition wherein shows reduced dimension, thereby substantially reducing the space required for the transporting of the shelving in the disassembled condition.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stackable element for shelving that allows easy assembly of the shelving, having light weight, ruggedness, and low cost.

Therefore, this invention provides a stackable element for a shelving substantially according to the appended claims.

A detailed description of the stackable element for a shelving will be now provided according to the present invention, given by way of example and without limitation, and by reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side and from above of a stackable element for a shelving according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a plurality of stackable elements of the present invention in a stacked condition;

Figure 3 is a detailed view of a part of Figure 2 and showing in greater detail the condition of a plurality of stackable elements in a stacked condition;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a shelving obtained with a plurality of stacked elements of the present invention; and

Figures 5A and 5B are detailed views of parts of the shelving of Figure 4.

With reference now to Figure 1 , it is shown therein the flat stackable element for shelving according to the present invention.

According to the invention, there is a substantially flat element 1 which includes a flat part 2 which is capable of accommodating a plurality of products to be displayed (not shown in the figure).

The flat part 2 is integrally joined to four supporting elements 3, each being arranged to support said stackable element 1 when the latter is in an vertically assembled state to form a shelving 4 (more detailed illustrated here below).

The flat part 2 further has a containment rim 20 for the goods to be exhibited, the rim 20 being arranged around the outside to the same flat part 2.

On the other hand, the supporting elements 3 are arranged at the outer perimeter edge 20 of said flat part 2. Preferably, the supporting elements 3 have a substantially parallelepid shape.

With reference now to Figure 2, there is illustrated a plurality of flat elements 1 in a stacked condition, which is not functional. As can be seen in the figure, the geometrical shape of the first flat element 1 of the present invention is such that it is possible to realize a stack of flat elements 1 for transporting the same in the a stacked condition having minimum overall dimensions. In this condition, the supporting elements 3 are arranged one next to each other in a parallel condition, and the flat part 2 is likely to rest on a flat element 2 below the former.

This will guarantee a minimum overall dimensions when transporting the shelving 4 in a disassembled state. With reference now to Figure 3, there is shown the blocking means to hold a first flat element 1 onto a second flat element 1 when in a stacked and assembled condition constituting a shelving.

As can be seen in the picture, and how it will be better understood hereinafter, as a blocking means for a first flat element 1 over another flat element 1 , there is provided that on each supporting element 3 two joining regions 30 and 31 , each being integrally obtained at an end part of a respective supporting element 3.

As can be seen in the figure, the arrangement is such that each joint region 30 is shaped to accommodate a complementary joint region 31 of another supporting element 3 and having a complementary shape, and when each stackable element 1 is in the assembled stacked state.

More precisely, the joining regions consist of a protruding part 30 obtained at one end of a respective first longitudinal element 3, and a concave part 31 having a complementary shape to the protruding part 30, and the concave part 31 being obtained at the opposite end of the same longitudinal supporting element 3.

As will be better understood below, the locking of the shelving 4 is obtained after the mounting of a first flat stackable element 1 stacked vertically onto the top of a second stackable element 1 with the simultaneous insertion of said protrusions 30 of the first element 1 in respective complementary concave regions 31 of the second stackable element 1 therebelow.

With reference now to Figure 4, it is shown therein a shelving 4 obtained by stacking and locking of a plurality of flat elements in a manner described above.

More specifically and with particular reference now to Figures 5A and 5B, once a flat stackable element 1 is arranged having its joint regions 30 inserted in the concave regions 31 of the below flat stackable element 1 , under the action of an interference coupling between the joints regions 30 and 31 it is prevented from moving in the parallel plane the flat part 2 and even transversally across the same plane, thereby obtaining a locking of all the elements 1 which constitute the shelving 4.

Moreover, the flat element 1 which rests onto the ground it is provided with a supporting frame 10 which has complementary regions to the regions 30 and in such a way as to constitute a supporting base for the shelf 4 itself, and rendering the same even more robust and more stable.

The flat stackable element 1 of the present invention has many advantages.

A first advantage is the fact that the supporting elements 3 and the flat part 2 may be entirely made of one piece, thus optimizing the transporting of all of the components and facilitating the assembly of the shelving 4.

Another advantage is the fact that the flat stackable element 1 can be obtained by a molded thermoplastic material. In this way it is obtained a component for a shelving 4 that has a low weight, high versatility, and ease of mounting and extreme rationalization, and reduced cost.

A third advantage is the fact that the stacked condition of the flat element 1 (i.e. during the transporting of the disassembled shelving 4) is extremely compact, easy to carry, and with significantly reduced dimensions compared to a shelving 4 of the same size of the state of the art.

The flat stackable element 1 of the present invention may be subject of different embodiments according to any alternative of production and function, as well as the choice of materials or shapes, but all covered in the appended claims.