Technical field

The present disclosure relates to a suspension system comprising a rear rail, configured to be arranged horizontally on a vertical surface such as a wall or the like, the rear rail comprising a lower flange bent out of the plane of said vertical surface, and a hang standard, configured to be vertically arranged on said vertical surface and comprising a front portion a having slots for connecting with cantilevered brackets and the like. The hang standard has rear leg portions arranged laterally with regard to the front portion and being configured to leave a space behind the front portion in front of the vertical surface, wherein the hang standard comprises a suspension slot arranged in each of the leg portions, the suspension slots being configured to connect with the lower flange of the rear rail to suspend the hang standard from the rear rail.

Background

Such a system is disclosed in US-5110080-A. That system has a horizontally oriented rear track which is attached to a wall and includes a lower, upwardly bent edge forming a flange, with which a mounting slot in the rear of the hang standard engages, such that the hang standard becomes suspended from the rear track. The rear track also includes an upper bent edge which prevents that the hang standard becomes disengaged from the rear track in an involuntary manner, by abutting the hang standard end.

One problem associated with a suspension system of this kind is how to obtain a more reliable connection between the hang standard and the rear rail.

Summary

One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide a suspension system with an improved hang standard to rear rail connection.

This object is achieved by means of a suspension system as defined in claim 1. More specifically, in a system of the initially mentioned kind, the rear rail further has an upper flange bent out of the plane of the vertical surface. Each leg portion of the hang standard comprises a mounting slot adapted to connect with the upper flange of the rear rail, and the upper and lower flanges at least partially extend in different directions. This means that the hang standard may become firmly locked in connection with the rear rail.

Both the lower and upper flanges may be directed obliquely upwards, such that they can both contribute with carrying the load of the hang standard.

The upper flange may comprise an inner portion and an outer portion which are differently angled with respect to the plane of the vertical surface. This serves to lock the hang standard to the rear rail even more reliably.

The rear rail may comprise one or more cut-outs in the upper flange providing an entry point for the hang standard. This means that the hang standards need not be applied from the end of the rear rail and can be attached thereto at the middle of the rear rail, for instance.

The cut-outs may comprise first and second notches in the upper flange, which have the same mutual distance as the rear leg portions of the hang standard.

A stop may be provided at an end of the rear rail, such that an attached hang standard does not exit the rear rail at that end. This means that the risk that the hang standard falls off at the end of the rear rail is eliminated. Further there is provided an option to present a predetermined hang standard to hang standard distance by means of the rear rail.

The stop may for instance be in the form of a tab, bent from the rear rail.

A recess may be provided in each of the rear leg portions in between the suspension slot and the mounting slot. This allows the hang standard to slide more freely sideways and provides room for wiring, etc.

The present disclosure also considers a suspension system comprising a rear rail, configured to be arranged horizontally on a vertical surface such as a wall or the like, the rear rail comprising a rear surface adapted to abut said vertical surface and a lower flange bent out of the plane of said rear surface, and a hang standard, configured to be vertically arranged and comprising a front portion a having slots for connecting with cantilevered brackets and the like, and, in cross section, rear leg portions arranged laterally with regard to the front portion and being configured to leave a space behind the front portion in front of the vertical surface, wherein the hang standard further comprises a suspension slot arranged in each of the leg portions, the suspension slots being configured to connect with the lower flange of the rear rail to suspend the hang standard therefrom. The rear rail comprises a stop at an end of the rear rail, such that an attached hang standard does not exit the rear rail at that end. Such a rail can be made short, without risking that the hang standard slips of the rail sideways, thereby saving material. Also, a predetermined hang standard to hang standard distance can be easily obtained.

The stop may in the form of a tab bent from the rear rail, typically bent about an axis perpendicular to the elongated direction of the rear rail or parallel to that direction of the real rail. In the latter case, the tab may be bent from the lower flange.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig 1 A, 1 B, and 1 C show a side view, a perspective view and a front view of a hang standard according to an example of the present disclosure.

Fig 2A and 2B show a perspective view and a side view of a rear rail.

Figs 3A-3E illustrate side views of a hang standard being connected to a rear rail.

Fig 4 shows a side view of a bracket.

Figs 5A-5D show in perspective two hang standards being connected to a rear rail.

Fig 6 shows a rear rail with a modified end tab in accordance with an alternative example.

Fig 7 illustrates a hang standard where the rear part is provided with outwardly extending flanges according to an alternative example.

Figs 8-11 illustrate a suspension system with end stops and single rear slot hang standards. Detailed description

The present disclosure relates generally to a suspension system used for storage purposes, where vertically oriented hang standards are arranged on a vertical surface, such as a wall or the like. The hang standards have a U-shaped cross- section where in the mid-section include slots to which for instance cantilevered brackets can be attached. In turn, the brackets can carry shelves, etc. Fig 1 A, 1 B, and 1 C show a side view, a perspective view and a front view of an elongated hang standard 1 according to the present disclosure. As best seen in fig 1C, the hang standard 1 comprises two rows of elongated slots 7 in a front portion 9 thereof for connecting with connecting means 13 of e.g. a cantilevered bracket 11 illustrated in fig 4.

As best seen in fig 1 B, the hang standard 1 further has, in cross-section, two leg portions 15, extending backwards on either side of the front portion 9. The front portion and the leg portions 15 together form a U-shaped cross section, but in order to strengthen the hang standard 1, typically increasing its bending stiffness, there may be provided forward-projecting protrusions in the transitions between the backward extending leg portions 15 and the front portion 9, such that the cross section becomes H-shaped The hang standard 1 can be made from a single strip of sheet metal that is punched and bent into this shape.

The rear portion of the hang standard 1 comprises a connector 5 for connecting with a rear rail as will be described. As shown in the enlarged portion of fig 1A, the connector 5 includes a lower suspension slot 17, which is cut in each of the backwards extending leg portions 15 and is directed obliquely upwards. There is further provided a mounting slot 19 and optionally a recess 21. The mounting slot 19, as shown, may have two portions oriented slightly differently.

Fig 2A shows a perspective view of an elongated rear rail 3 which is configured to connect with the hang standard 1. At the same time, it is referred to fig 2B, illustrating a side view of the rear rail 3. The rear rail 3 may be made from a single strip of sheet metal and may comprise screw holes 23 to allow the rear rail 3 to be fastened to a vertical surface such as a wall or similar. The screw holes 23 may be elongated to allow some tolerances when making holes for the screws in the vertical surface. As best seen in fig 2B, the rear rail 3 may comprise a rear surface 25, which is configured to abut the vertical surface. The rear surface 25 may be flat, as shown, although this is not necessary. However, the rear surface 25 generally extends in a vertical plane 27, parallel to the one indicated by the dash-dot line of fig 2B, which plane 27 will also coincide with the vertical surface.

The rear rail 3 comprises a lower flange 29 which is bent out of the plane 27 of the rear surface 25, more than 90 degrees, such that the lower edge of the strip making up the rear rail 3 is directed obliquely upwards in an angle corresponding to the one of the hang standard’s 1 suspension slot 17. Thereby, the rear rail 3 becomes capable of suspending the hang standard 1. The upper edge of the strip making up the rear rail 3 is as well bent out of the plane 27 of the rear surface 25 forming an upper flange 31 and being bent as well in the direction towards the hang standard 1. As shown, the upper flange 31 can have two differently angled portions 33, 35. In principle, the lower flange could also be configured in this way, but, if so, the upper flange 31 should be straight. At least partially, the upper 29 and lower 31 flanges may extend in slightly different directions. Either should be configured to at least partly extend upwards when the rear rail 3 is attached to a wail to be able to suspend a hang standard 1 as will be discussed.

The configuration of the suspension slot 17 and the mounting slot 19 on the one hand, and the lower flange 29 and the upper flange 31 on the other, match in such a way that the hang standard 1 can be attached to and slide on the rear rail 3. At the same time, the hang standard 1 becomes locked to the rear rail 2 in such a way that it does not fall off the wall or the like, and can reliably carry heavy loads, for instance in the form of brackets with associated shelves and goods stored thereon. Also, the double slots 17, 19 and flanges 29, 31 prevent that the hang standard swings in the plane of the wall or the like, especially if as illustrated the upper flange 31 has a portion 33 that projects more or less horizontally from the plane 27 of the rear surface, i.e. about perpendicularly therewith.

If the rear rail 3 has a uniform cross section along its length, it would be possible to connect the hang standard 1 to the rear rail by threading the upper and lower flanges 31, 29 into the mounting slot 19 and the suspension slot 17, respectively, at the end of the rear rail 3. While this may be considered in a basic form of the suspension system, this disclosure proposes a further developed solution as illustrated in fig 2A. At some point along the rear rail 3, in the illustrated case at the mid-point, there is provided cut notches 37 in the upper flange 31. In the shown case, the distance between these notches 37 corresponds to the mutual distance between the leg portions 15 of the hang standard 1. However, it would also be possible to provide a single notch, which is as wide or somewhat wider than the width of the hang standard 1

At these notches 37, the hang standard 1 can be easily connected to the rear rail 3 as will be described with reference to figs 3A-3E illustrating side views of a hang standard 1 being connected to a rear rail 3. As the hang standard 1 is attached at the notches 37, the lower flange 29 can be slid into the suspension slot 17 while the leg portions 15 of the hang standard 1 , as best seen in the enlarged portion of fig 3D, pass by the upper flange 31 in the notches 37 until the mounting slot 19 is aligned with the upper flange 31 and the lower flange 28 is fully inserted in the suspension slot 17, as best seen in the enlarged portion of fig 3E In this position, the rear rail 3 is fully inserted in the hang standard 1 , such that the rear edges of the hang standard leg portions 15 are aligned with the rear surface 25 of the rear rail 3. This means that the hang standard 1 may rest against the wall 27 or some other vertical surface (cf. fig 2B) in addition to being suspended from the rear rail 3, which gives a stable suspension where the hang standard 1 is not prone to swing.

Figs 5A and 5B shows in a perspective view a hang standard 1 being connected to a rear rail 3 as previously described in connection with figs 3A-E. Then, the hang standard 1 may be slid to the right on the rear rail 3 and, when thereby being removed from the location of the notches 37, becomes firmly connected to the rear rail 3. The hang standard 1 can be slid until reaching an end tab 39, best shown in an enlarged portion of fig 2A, to reach the position in fig 5G.

As shown e.g. in the enlarged portion of fig 1 A there may be provided a recess 21 in each rear leg portion 15 of the hang standard, in between the suspension slot 17 and the mounting slot 19. This allows the hang standard to pass by heads of screws (not shown) used to attach the rear rail 3 to a wail or the like. Those recesses 21 also may provide space e.g. for wiring, for instance for lighting purposes.

Then, a second hang standard 1 can be attached in the same way at the notches and be slid to the right until reaching an opposing end tab 39 as shown in fig 5D. This allows a user to readily position the hang standards 1 at a predetermined desired mutual distance which is suitable for instance for a shelf or drawer system to be connected to the hang standards.

Fig 6 shows a rear rail with a modified end tab 39 in accordance with an alternative example. In this example, a curved slit is punched from the rear rail 3 a short distance from the end thereof, and a tab 39 is bent out of the main plane of the rear rail 3, which retains a straight short edge. This saves some material when the rear rail 3 is produced. Stops such as the above indicated end tabs can be generally useful in suspension systems with rear rails and hang standards as will be discussed. Thanks to the stops, no significant margins are needed at the sides of the hang standard, allowing for a shorter rail than in known systems without risking that the hang standard slips off.

This saves material and hence costs.

Fig 7 illustrates a modified hang standard 1 where the rear part is provided with outwardly extending flanges 41 according to an alternative example. Providing such flanges increases the second moment of area of the hang standard 1 such that it becomes stiffer, thereby avoiding that the hang standard is bent away from the wall or the like if loaded heavily by a cantilevered bracket. The flanges 41 may extend along the length of the hang standard, but to facilitate connecting to the rear rail 3, typically the flanges 41 do not extend over the connector.

As illustrated, a hang standard 1 may also be provided with screw holes 43 at one or more locations along its length to provide complementing or alternative ways of attaching the hang standard 1 to a wall, if desired.

As also illustrated in fig 7, it is possible to provide the hang standard 1 with rectangular slots 7, which may enhance the load distribution, avoiding that the end of the slot is deformed.

As mentioned, stops such as the above indicated end tabs can be generally useful in suspension systems with rear rails and hang standards as will be discussed. This is thus not limited to cases where two slots are provided in each leg portion of the hang standards. For instance, the stop can also be provided in a suspension system as disclosed in US-511008G-A or similar as illustrated with an example in figs 8-11. Fig 8 shows a hang standard 1 attached to such a rear rail 3, the latter being shown in a side view in fig 9 and in a perspective view in fig 10.

Generally, a suspension system is considered with a rear rail 3, having a lower flange 29 bent out of the plane of rear surface, and a hang standard 1 , configured to be vertically arranged and having rear leg portions 15 arranged laterally with regard to a front portion 9 wherein the hang standard comprises a suspension slot 17 arranged in each of the leg portions 15, for connecting with the lower flange 29 of the rear rail 3. The rear rail 3 has a stop 45 at an end of the rear rail, such that an attached hang standard does not exit the rear rail 3 at that end. As shown, this feature can be applied also in otherwise known systems. Double rear slots are not necessary as the hang standards can be prevented from leave the lower flange 29 for instance by being screwed to a wail, e.g. through a screw hole (not shown) in the hang standard 1 Although the stops in the illustrated cases are in the form of a tabs 39 (cf. fig 2A), 45 bent from the rear rail 3, it would be possible for instance to provide a stop in the form of a bead welded in the rail 3 or a screw, for instance.

As shown in fig 2A, the tab 39 may bent about an axis perpendicular to the elongated direction E of the real rail 3. As shown in fig 9, the tab 45 may also be bent about an axis parallel to the elongated direction of the real rail 3, in the illustrated case bent from the lower flange 29.

The present disclosure is not restricted to the examples given above and may be varied and altered in different ways within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, the hang standard shown for illustrative purposes is very short, just having five or six slots in each row. In a more usual configuration, the hang standard has several tens of slots.