The present invention relates to a system for covering the side of a shelving bay and, in particular, to the use of vertical extrusions on mobile shelving units which are adapted to receive therebetween aesthetically pleasing side panels. The panels are also shaped to hide, if necessary, components involved in moving the shelving bay including drive assemblies, handle mountings and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile shelving systems typically comprise a plurality of mobile shelving units which are moveable along spaced apart tracks, with each individual shelf unit being a tall and narrow structure having an array of horizontal shelves held between side wall frames. Typically associated with a side wall frame is a means of moving the unit along the track, including a handle or a mechanical drive.

The shelving units are secured above structures known as runners which are configured to slideably traverse the track. An example of a runner assembly developed by the present Applicant is taught in co-pending Australian Patent Application AU2008288685 "A runner assembly for mobile shelving".

To gain an understanding of the Applicant's mobile shelving system, the reader is also directed to four other co-pending Australian Patent Applications, namely, AU2008288684 "An end stop bracket for a mobile shelving track", AU2008288683 "A ramp assembly for mobile shelving", AU2008288682 "A system for operation of electrically driven shelving", and AU2008288681 "A track assembly for mobile shelving". The contents of these co-pending applications are incorporated by reference herein.

When manufacturing and marketing mobile shelving units, one must consider the aesthetic appeal of the shelving, as well as parts and labour costs. At present, the side wall frames of mobile shelving units are not visually attractive, and the cost associated with manufacturing separate housing components for features such as electric drive mechanisms and the like increase the cost of manufacturing and installation considerably. The skilled addressee would appreciate that manufacturing each of the housings responsible for hiding the electrical drive mechanisms in AU2008288682, for example, adds significantly to the overall manufacturing and installation costs, and ultimately the price of the mobile shelving to the consumer.

There is therefore a need for generally improving the side wall configuration of mobile shelving units, both aesthetically and in consideration of manufacturing and installation costs.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems or to provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a system for covering a side frame of a shelving unit including one or more shelving bays, said system comprising:

a first and a second extrusion attachable to side corners of each bay; and

at least one cover panel which projects outwardly from said side frame and is removably attachable to said first and second extrusions along side edges thereof, said cover panel adapted to cover the side frame.

In preference the shelving unit is mobile and said cover panel extends sufficiently outwardly to cover components associated with driving the shelving.

In preference said components include a mechanical drive assembly including a wheel and drive belt.

Preferably said components include an electric drive mechanism.

In preference each of said first and second extrusions include slots for receiving a side edge of the cover panel.

In preference said unit includes a single bay having a side frame with a perpendicular corner and a rounded corner, said first extrusion being configured to engage the rounded corner, said second extrusion being configured to engage the perpendicular corner, whereby when said first and second extrusions are secured to the side frame, their associated slots face substantially toward one another.

In preference said unit includes a double bay including a third extrusion adapted for use at the junction between the side frames of each bay, said third extrusion including two oppositely extending slots adapted for receiving two cover plates. In preference each of said first, second and third extrusions include a planar surface for abutment with and attachment to the side frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a side corner of a single bay shelving unit in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a lower end of the shelving unit of

Figure 1 with the cover plate and side frame not shown;

Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the side corner of the shelving unit of Figure 1 with the runner not shown;

Figure 4 illustrates an enlarged cross sectional view of a roll post corner extrusion of the shelving unit of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged cross sectional view of a perpendicular corner extrusion of the shelving unit of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 illustrates in perspective view a side corner of a double bay shelving unit in

accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a lower end of the double bay shelving unit of Figure 6 with the cover plate, side frames and back sheet not shown;

Figure 8 illustrates a top view of the double bay shelving unit of Figure 6 with the runner not shown;

Figure 9 illustrates an enlarged top view of one bay of the double bay shelving unit of

Figure 6; and

Figure 10 illustrates an enlarged cross sectional view of a mid point extrusion of the

shelving unit of Figure 6. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

It is to be understood that whilst the invention embodied herein relates to mobile shelving, the system could equally well be applied to any type of shelving including static shelving.

One side corner of a single bay shelving unit assembly 10a according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1, whilst Figure 6 illustrates one side of a double bay shelving unit 10b according to the present invention.

The components which form part of the assembly lOa/lOb that are not shown in the drawings or described in detail herein are those which are known and described in the

Applicant's co-pending patent applications. For example, whilst the shelving unit 10a and supporting runner 12 are shown in Figure 1, the longitudinal tracks above which each runner 12 is slideable is not shown for the purpose of brevity. In brief, the runner 12 is in the form of an inverted U-shaped extrusion, having an underside channel adapted to accommodate one or more roller cartridges (not shown) adapted to slideably engage the track, and a plurality of slots 14 extending along right, left and top sides thereof for securing additional components thereto.

This invention relates in particular to the use of curved side cover panels 16 used to hide the side frames 18 of each shelving unit lOa/lOb as well as any additional components mounted to a slot 14 of the runner 12 and/or which extend up and along the side frames 18. For example, each shelving unit lOa/lOb of Figures 1 and 6 respectively includes an electric drive mechanism (not shown) mounted adjacent the side frame of the unit but hidden inside the cover plates. In the embodiments shown, the cover plates still allow for access to a wheel 22 associated with the electric drive mechanism which when rotated causes movement of the shelving unit along the track. The unit 10b of Figure 6 also illustrates a handle 24 to allow for manual movement of the unit. Various components need to be added to the Applicant's prior art shelving system, as well as existing components changed, in order to accommodate the cover panels 16 of the present invention. This will now be described in more detail.

Effectively, the cover panels 16 are held in place along each of their outer edges 26 by one of three extrusions 30, 32 or 34 depending on the unit configuration. For example, for a single bay shelving unit 10a, which would typically be an endmost unit of a complete shelving assembly, the side frame 18 includes a perpendicular corner 36 and a rounded or roll post corner 38 on each side of the shelving unit which each require different side extrusions. In particular, the perpendicular corner 36 has mounted thereto side extrusion 34, whilst the roll post corner has mounted thereto side extrusion 30. The rear frame 39 of the unit 10a is attached to the perpendicular portion of side frame 18.

For a double bay shelving unit 10b which comprises two of the single bay units back- to- back having a common back plate 40, as shown in Figure 6, there are two roll post corners 38 and a mid point 44 where the two side frames 18 meet. Whilst extrusion 30 can be used again at the roll post corners 38, the mid point 44 requires the use of extrusion 32. Each of these three extrusions 30, 32 and 34 and the way they are mounted to the side frames of each unit will be described in more detail below.

In order to support the additional weight of the extrusions 30, 32 and 34, and cover panels 16, the end stop brackets 46 mounted to the ends of each runner 12 are configured slightly differently to those described in previous patents by the Applicant. In particular, they extend out wider to enable the extrusions 30 or 34 to sit above the brackets and extend substantially flush therewith as shown most clearly in say Figure 2. In the case of double bay shelving units 10b, a mid stop bracket 48 is used to support the mid point extrusion 32 and it too extends outwardly such that extrusion 32 sits substantially flush there above. The mid stop bracket 48 preferably includes a means of engaging the outer side slot 14 of the runner 12 such that during installation it can be made to slide along the runner 12 to its designated position prior to the end stop brackets 46 being fitted. This is shown most clearly in Figure 7.

In preference the end stop and mid stop brackets are constructed of a moulded nylon material. The extrusions 30, 32 and 34 are secured in place not by engagement with the runner or end stop 46 or mid stop brackets 48, but by direct fastening to the shelving unit side frames 18 as described in more detail below.

The shape of the roll post extrusion 30, shown clearly in Figure 4, is such that it is a hollow structure and includes on one corner an angled outer edge 50, on the opposed outer corner a cover plate receiving means or slot 52, on the inside corner a rounded hook section 54 adapted to wrap around the roll post corner 38, and on the opposed inside corner a planar surface 56 adapted to abut with the shelving unit side frame 18 for attachment thereto.

The shape of the mid point extrusion 32 is such that it too is a hollow structure, and includes symmetrical inside planar surfaces 58 and 60 adapted to abut with respective side frames 18 of two back- to-back units in a double bay configuration, and also symmetrical outer cover plate receiving means or slots 62 and 64. The extrusion 32 also includes reinforcing 66 inside the hollow body to improve the structural rigidity of the extrusion 32. Separating the planar portions 58 and 60 is a notch 68 adapted to extend into the junction 44 between the back- to-back units as shown most clearly in Figure 10.

The perpendicular corner extrusion 34 adapted for use on single bay shelving units is shown attached to a perpendicular corner 36 of unit 10a in Figure 5. Again, the extrusion 34 includes a hollow body but is narrower in shape than the rounded corner extrusion 30. There is an elongated section 70 which extends behind the unit and abuts with the perpendicular portion of the side frame 18 at point 72 and the rear frame 39 at point 74. On the opposed outer end of the extrusion is a cover plate receiving means or slot 76 and disposed therebetween is a planar side frame abutment surface 78.

In preference, each extrusion has a nominal wall section of approximately 1.5 millimetres.

The skilled addressee would realise that during installation, the extrusions need to be positioned to sit appropriately above the end stop members 46 or mid stop members 48

(whichever the case may be), and that apertures 80 associated with each of the planar abutting surfaces of each extrusion are aligned with apertures (not shown) present in the side frame 18 for insertion of an appropriate fastening means. It is envisaged that each planar surface of each extrusion 30, 32 and 34 which abuts with the side frame 18 of a shelving unit would have at least three apertures along its height for fastening to the side frames 18. Furthermore, side frames typically have existing hole geometry along their height which can be utilised to attach the extrusions, but if they do not, apertures can easily be formed in the side frames. In preference, bolts are used to fasten the extrusions and this is achieved from the inside of the cabinet.

Once the extrusions are secured in place, the cover plates 16 can be attached. For a single bay unit 10a, a cover plate 16 would extend between a roll post extrusion 30 and a perpendicular corner extrusion 34. For a double bay unit 10b, a cover plate 16 would extend between each roll post extrusion 30 and the mid point extrusion 32. In preference the cover plates 16 are slightly flexible and are adapted to be fed into the slot of a first extrusion before being bent and snapped into the slot of a second extrusion.

Each cover plate is preferably manufactured from a 2mm co-moulded ABS plastic and may be available in any colour. Alternatively, the cover plates 16 may be transparent and include means for advertising and like material to be attached thereto or slotted therein.

The skilled addressee would realise that whilst it would be possible to attach a cover plate extending the full height of the cabinet between the extrusions, it would not provide for ease of installation and so each cover plate preferably extends approximately half the height of a cabinet. Thus, after a lower panel has been fitted between two extrusions, it is pushed down until it abuts against the end stop brackets 46 and/or mid stop brackets 48. Each side frame 18 will require two cover plates 16 of this size attached one above the other. In preference a joiner strip 82 is used to separate upper cover plates from lower cover plates and to provide reinforcement. Such a strip may be a similar flexible ABS plastic component, and may also include slots or some other geometry for receiving the ends of each cover plate 16 from above and below.

The final product is a mobile shelving or compactus assembly which includes a side panel configuration that is not only aesthetically pleasing but more parts and labour efficient that hitherto known assemblies of this type. Whilst not shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that the distance between the cover plates the side panels is sufficient to comfortably hide components used to facilitate movement of the shelving units along the tracks, including electrical drive mechanisms and the like. Where more space is required, the cover plates could be manufactured accordingly.

Furthermore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to any one size and style of shelving unit, and in particular not to that embodied herein. For example, side frames are typically manufactured in a range of different widths. In preference, the extrusions 30, 32 and 34, and cover plates 16, are constructed so as to accommodate various different sizes and styles of shelving unit.

It is also to be understood that the panels may come in many different materials including translucent plastic. Handles may also be adapted to be attached to the panes provide of course that there is sufficient strength in the panels to accommodate such handles.

Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.