Abstract:
A shelf having separations, the separations extending upwardly from the shelf. Extending from each of the separations is a respective horizontal portion that rests against the shelf. At least one of the ends of each horizontal portion has a portion that projects against a side of the shelf. An arrangement is provided to apply a force against the projecting portion to thereby lock the separation element in position with respect to the shelf. The locking arrangement includes a locking bar that is positioned within a groove along the shelf and a device for applying a force against the locking bar.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a shelf having separations. 
     2. Description of Background and Relevent Information 
     In mass distribution, particularly, one utilizes, to present the products, shelves having parallel separations. Identical products are positioned between two adjacent separations, generally one behind the other. 
     These shelves comprise a plurality of separations and, as they must receive conditioned products which have different dimensions, it is necessary that they be movable such that it is possible to adjust the distance between two adjacent separations. 
     Different apparatus have been proposed to allow for, after adjustment, the immobilization of the separations. Experience has shown that these apparatus were not very reliable and were delicate to implement. Furthermore, one of the main disadvantages of these known apparatus reside in the impossibility of precisely adjusting the distance between two separations in a manner such that this distance adapts itself to the dimension of the products. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     British document GB-A-844324 describes a shelf having separations of which each separation has, at one end, a folded back portion in the form of a hook adapted to hook behind an edge of the shelf against which it is pressed. It comes out from this document that each separation is affixed on the shelf independently of one another. 
     The present invention, which overcomes these disadvantages, is remarkable in that each separation has at one of its ends, at least, one folded back portion, means being provided to act simultaneously against the said folded back portions of all of the separations mounted on the shelf in a manner so as to immobilize the latter. 
     The folded back portions, or lugs, extend in a groove provided along one of the sides of the shelf and are pressed against either side of the said groove. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be better understood from the description which follows made with reference to the annexed drawings by way of indicative example, only, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is schematic view, in perspective, showing the apparatus of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial view in cross section made along line II--II of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 3 is cross sectional view made along line III--III of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a view, analogous to FIG. 2, showing an alternative embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is a view, analogous to that of one, showing another embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial view, in transverse cross section, of the shelf of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial view, on a larger scale, made along line VII--VII of FIG. 6, the movable elements being shown in a position along which the locking bar is not applied against the lugs; 
     FIG. 8 is a view analogous to FIG. 7, the movable elements being shown in a position in which the lugs are locked. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, it is seen that the problem posed consists in immobilizing separations or separation elements such as separations 2 of FIG. 1 on a shelf 1. 
     According to the invention, this result is obtained by utilizing a separation having, for example, a L-shaped cross section, whose vertical wing constitutes the separation itself and whose horizontal wing 3 rests on the shelf 1, one of the ends, at least, of the wing 3 being curved to form a bracket or lug 4 adapted to extend against the side 5 of shelf 1. 
     When the spacing between the different separations is adjusted all of the separations are immobilized simultaneously by the application, in pressure, of a locking bar 6. 
     It should be noted that, as the lug 4 is bent or folded along a line which is perpendicular to the separation, the pressure exerted by the locking bar over all of the lugs tends to press the latter against the side 5 of the shelf. This action, besides assuring the immobilization of all the separations, automatically position the said separations perpendicularly to the side of the shelf. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate and embodiment of the blocking apparatus of the locking bar 6. 
     The side 5 of the shelf forms one of the sides of a groove 7 in which is axially immobilized a screw 8 on which are mounted nuts 9 having a plane portion 10 supported against the end of the groove 7. In this manner, when one manipulates the screw 8 the nuts 9 are displaced along its axis. 
     Each nut has a ramp 11 forming an angle with the locking bar 6 positioned in the groove 7. 
     The surface of the bar 6 facing nuts 9 has projections 12. 
     Therefore, one understands that by manipulating the screw 8, it is possible to make the ramps and the or bosses projections 12 cooperate which results in displacing the bar 6 along arrow F of FIG. 1 and to simultaneously press all of lugs 4 against sides 5. 
     In FIGS. 2 and 3 the control of the rotation of the screw 8 occurs axially by means of a special key of the type of those for screws having hollow heads. As a result, if the different shelves are very close to one another, as is generally the case, the manipulation of the screw 8 can pose problems. The invention envisions thus controlling the screw 8 by means of a bevel gear in a manner such that the locking and unlocking are possible by having access to the apparatus through the front edge of the shelf. Such an embodiment has not been shown because it is within the reach of one with ordinary skills in the art. 
     When the shelf is inclined, one must provide a means to retain the products. The locking bar can be utilized for this purpose, it suffices for this that its side 6a extends above the upper surface of the shelf. This embodiment is not shown. 
     Another means, to achieve this result, consists in inserting between the lugs 4 and the bar 6 an adjustor 13 whose upper edge extends above the upper surface 6f the shelf. 
     The locking bar 6 can have along its upper edge a folded back portion 14 which covers and thereby blocks groove 7 when the said bar is in place. 
     The displacement of the bar 6 can be obtained by a rotating element such as a shaft, provided with cams, positioned in the groove 7. 
     The displacement of the bar 6 can also be obtained, as shown in FIG. 4, by pressure screws 15 engaged in the nuts 16 affixed to the internal surface 17 of the front edge of the groove 7. The apparent edge of each screw can have a recess preventing the manipulation of the screw except by means of a special key to avoid vandalism. 
     According to another embodiment, one of the edges of the shelf 1 has a groove 18 into which extend the lugs 4 and where the locking bar 6 is positioned, the said bar being interposed between the said lugs 4 and the side 18a of the groove adjacent to the edge of the shelf, means being provided to displace the bar 6 along the arrow F 1  in a manner so as to press the lugs 4 against the other or opposed side 18b of the groove 18 formed by an upstanding side member extending along and spaced apart from the side 18a. 
     The bar 6 is made affixed to a shaft 19 extending through the side 18b of the groove 18. By exerting a traction on the shaft 19, along the arrow F 1 , one displaces the bar 6 in the same direction and one presses the lugs 4 against the side 18b. 
     The end of the shaft 19 is journalled, by interpositioning a spindle or pin 20, between the wings of a clevis 21 positioned at the end of a lever 22 and configured to constitute a cam 23, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     When the lever 22 is in the position shown in FIG. 7, the locking bar is not applied against the lugs 4 and, at this moment, one can adjust the distances between the different separations shown on the shelf. 
     If, from this position, one pivots the lever 22 along the arrow F 2 , one displaces the shaft 19 along the arrow F 1 , under the action of cam 23. 
     In practice, each locking bar has two shafts 19 and levers 22 are positioned in a manner such that their ends 22a are facing when the lugs 4 are latched (FIG. 8). In this position it is easy to block the pivoting of the two levers by means of a lock which is manipulable by a key (not shown). 
     If the shaft 19 crosses freely the bar 6 and is provided with a head 19a, a spring 24 is interposed between the said bar and the side 18b. 
     To avoid that the levers pivot around the axes of the shafts 19, the ends of the axes 20 are guided between the wings of a cap whose median portion, which is traversed by the said shaft 19, is affixed against the external surface 25 of the side 18b. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 6, bar 6 can be utilized to maintain an adjustor 26, analogous to adjustor 13. The width of the lower portion of this adjustor can be doubled by means of a band 27 formed out of an elastically deformable material. 
     It should be noted that the separations can have any cross section: &#34;T&#34;, square, etc. 
     It should be noted, also, that the separations can be hollow and form boxes, provided or not with a bottom, resting on the shelf. 
     Finally, the separations can have a lug at each of their ends. In this case, the locking bar is displaced in a manner so as to press the lugs against the side of the shelf opposite side 5. The means described with reference to FIGS. 5-8 can be utilized for this purpose, it being well understood that, in this case, the lugs subjected directly to the action of bar 6 are not applied against the edge 18b of the groove.