Support device for furniture shelves

A shelf-supporting device configured to create a reversible connection of a shelf with an opposite shoulder of a piece of furniture includes a shelf bracket having a main body with a shaped profile that includes, on its outer surface, one or more projecting elements extending toward the outside of the main body so as to optimize the load distribution in an area of the shelf of maximum thickness.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved supporting device for furniture shelves for the reversible connection of a shelf to the opposite shoulders of a piece of furniture.

The device according to the present invention responds to the need, felt in the sector, for being able to provide furniture shelves with supporting devices that create a connection with the shoulders of an increasingly miniaturized piece of furniture, so as to minimize the aesthetic impact and possibly disappearing completely from sight when the shelf is assembled, while responding to the need for ensuring a safe and stable connection of the shelf, capable of supporting even extremely heavy loads.

The present invention provides a shelf bracket capable of optimizing the transfer of the loads created in normal use.

STATE OF THE ART

Devices of the type considered herein are commonly called shelf brackets in the field, and exert the function of allowing a horizontal element (shelf) of a piece of furniture to be stably but removably supported and fixed between two vertical elements commonly called the shoulders of a piece of furniture.

Said shelves and said shoulders are arranged perpendicular to each other.

Shelf brackets of this type are known from the state of the art, and in particular the Applicant itself is the holder of Italian patent application nr. 102019000013428 and also Italian patent application nr. 102019000016343 that illustrate devices with respect to which the present invention represents a further improvement.

More specifically, these known solutions generally respond to the need for creating a shelf-supporting device which has a minimum aesthetic impact once assembled in the shelf and which allows easy and fast assembly and disassembly of the shelf itself with respect to the shoulders of the furniture.

Purely by way of example, with reference to the attachedFIGS.1to3, an example of a known type of shelf bracket100′ is shown which allows the reversible connection of a shelf to the shoulders of a piece of furniture.

The reversible connection between the shelf200and the shoulders300of the piece of furniture is obtained through a shelf-supporting device100′ comprising a pin or plug110which is connected to movable engagement means150of said device suitable for moving said pin110with respect to the main body120of the device itself.

The main body120is configured for being inserted into said shelf, in particular into a housing formed within the thickness of the shelf, so that when the device is assembled on the shelf said pin or plug110can be moved between an operating position in which it protrudes from the edge B of said shelf200so as to be able to be inserted into a corresponding housing hole301formed on the shoulder300of the piece of furniture.

As already mentioned, this known type of shelf-supporting device100′ comprises a main body120with respect to which movable engagement means150are slidingly associated in turn associated with the engagement pin110.

As the device100′ is configured so that it can be inserted within the thickness of the shelf200, the main body120has a box-like shape, and is preferably formed by the coupling of two half-shells according to what can be seen for example in the exploded view ofFIG.1.

The shelf-supporting devices of the type described so far are not, however, free from drawbacks.

One of these drawbacks is represented by the resistance to loads by the device itself, but also by the shelf+device complex.

The need, in fact, for providing a device with increasingly reduced dimensions in order to minimize the aesthetic impact of the device and housing seat to be created within the shelf, often involves an inadequate resistance to loads.

In particular, the miniaturization of the shelf-supporting device involves a greater concentration of the loads that are transferred to the shelf itself through the device as the contact surfaces between the device and the internal surfaces of the housing seat of the device within the thickness of the shelf, decrease.

By way of example, with reference to the attachedFIGS.15and16, the loads P acting on the shelf create a reaction force Rp on the pin of the device which, in turn, involves the transfer of a resultant Rr from the shelf bracket to the shelf.

As can be seen inFIG.16, the resultant Rr, which is transferred from the device to the shelf, acts specifically in correspondence with the section of the shelf having a smaller thickness, due to the presence of the housing seat of the device formed in said section.

This obviously implies that there are limits imposed by the resistance to loads in the possibility of miniaturizing the shelf-supporting device and reducing the thickness of the shelf itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the light of what is specified above, the undertaking of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks affecting shelf-supporting devices known in the state of the art.

Within this undertaking, the objective of the present invention is to provide a shelf-supporting device for shelves and for supporting and fixing shelves to the shoulders of a piece of furniture, which further improves the mechanical resistance of the shelf bracket itself and of the shelf bracket+shelf complex, while remaining a device having reduced dimensions and with a reduced aesthetic impact.

An objective of the present invention is also to provide a shelf-supporting device that is more versatile, as it can be inserted into shelves having an extremely reduced thickness, so that it can used with multiple types of shelves and in furniture with a particularly refined aesthetic impact.

The above-mentioned undertaking, as also the above-mentioned objectives and others that will appear more evident hereunder, are achieved by a shelf-supporting device for the reversible connection of a shelf to the shoulders of a piece of furniture according to the enclosed claim1.

Further characteristics of the preferred embodiments of the device according to the present invention described in the present application are object of the dependent claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With particular reference to the attachedFIGS.1to3, these illustrate an example of a shelf-supporting device100′ of a known type for the reversible connection of a shelf100′ to the opposite shoulders200of a piece of furniture, according to what is known from the above-mentioned patent applications in the name of same applicant.

The shelf-supporting device100′ is of the type suitable for creating the connection by means of a pin110associated with the shelf200and configured for protruding from the transverse edge B of said shelf200and suitable for being inserted into a corresponding housing hole301formed on the shoulder300of a piece of furniture, and has a main body120with which movable engagement means150are slidingly associated which are produced integrally with the pin110or can be associated with the latter with a shape coupling or an interlocking or similar systems.

The device100′ of the known type comprises a main body configured for being inserted into the thickness of the shelf. When the device100′ is in use, as shown for example inFIGS.3and4, the loads acting on the pin110are those shown schematically inFIGS.15and16.

As shown in the attachedFIGS.15and16, the loads P acting on the shelf entail a reaction force Rp on the pin of the device which, in turn, involves the transfer of a resultant Rr from the shelf bracket to the shelf.

As can be seen inFIG.16, the resultant Rr, which is transferred from the known device100′ to the shelf200, acts specifically in correspondence with the section of the shelf having a smaller thickness, due to the presence of the housing seat for the device formed in said section.

For the sake of conciseness, reference will be made hereunder indifferently to the shelf-supporting device1, l′,1″, but it should be understood that the present invention also relates to a combination of a shelf-supporting device as described and its housing seat.

With particular reference toFIGS.4to19, the shelf-supporting device1,1′,1″ for the reversible connection of a shelf200to the shoulders300of a piece of furniture according to the present invention is configured for being inserted into a seat201formed within the thickness of the shelf200and, for this purpose, comprises a main body12,12′,12″ which is slidingly associated with a connection pin11movable between a first operating position wherein said pin11protrudes from said shelf200so as to be able to be inserted into a housing seat301formed on one of said shoulders300, and a second retracted position wherein the pin11does not protrude from said shelf200or protrudes so as to be able to be in any case released from the housing seat301formed in the shoulder.

The shelf-supporting device according to the present invention advantageously comprises a main body12,12′,12″ having a solid section in correspondence with its front area14.

With the expression “solid section”, it should be understood, in this description and in the following claims, that the front area has a continuous wall interrupted only by the hole through which the pin11passes; the front area14, in fact, clearly visible for example inFIG.4, is the portion of the device close to the front surface14afrom which the pin11protrudes, and which faces the shoulder of the furniture when the device is assembled.

In a front transverse section, the area of the hole through which the pin11passes is about 10 times smaller than the continuous surface of the front area; this guarantees a high robustness.

As the main body12,12′ internally comprises the means30for moving the pin11, and it is therefore internally shaped so as to provide a seat21for housing said movement means30, the shelf bracket according to the present invention provides that the main body12,12′ has a front portion14not affected by the reduction in thickness of material consequent to the formation of this seat21. This front area14therefore has a section on a transverse plane with a full thickness, within which the seat14′ which will be illustrated further on, is formed.

Furthermore, the main body12,12′,12″ advantageously has a shaped profile so that at least a portion of the upper surface12c,12c′,12c″ of the main body12,12′,12″ does not come into contact the upper internal wall201′ of the housing seat201of said main body12,12′,12″ formed within said shelf200when the device is assembled to the shelf.

As can be seen for example fromFIGS.17,18and19, the housing seat201formed in the shelf200is advantageously obtained by milling and has, on a transverse plane, a substantially oval profile.

The transverse oval profile of the housing seat201can, as is known, be easily obtained by means of a milling operation and is therefore among the preferable forms together with the simple circular section of a cylindrical hole.

As can be seen inFIGS.17,18and19, the shelf bracket1,1′,1″ according to the present invention has, seen on a transverse plane, a bevel in correspondence with said at least a portion of its upper surface12c,12c′,12″ so that the latter does not come into contact with the upper internal surface201′ of the housing seat201.

The flat profile of the upper portion of the device is also clearly visible in the perspective view ofFIG.5.

Furthermore, the main body12of the shelf-supporting device1according to the present invention advantageously comprises, on its outer surface, one or more projecting elements13which extend outwardly.

As can be seen in particular from the perspective view ofFIG.5, from the view from above ofFIG.13, and from the raised side views ofFIGS.11and12, the shelf-supporting device1according to the present invention has a substantially box-like shape comprising an upper surface12c, a lower surface12d, a front area14from whose front surface14athe pin11protrudes, and a pair of side surfaces12e, and comprises said one or more projecting elements13which protrude outwardly from the side surfaces12eof said box-like body12.

Said one or more projecting elements13advantageously protrude towards the outside of said side surfaces12eat least in correspondence with said front area14of the box-like body12.

Said one or more projecting elements13preferably have a substantially triangular profile on a transverse plane so as to have a shape that facilitates the insertion of the shelf bracket1into the seat201formed in the shelf200by means of interference. The insertion of the device into the seat can be advantageously forced so that the projecting elements themselves create their own seat in the shelf, generally made of wood, as occurs with the insertion of a self-tapping screw.

For this purpose, said one or more projecting elements13can have a greater extension in a transverse direction in correspondence with the front area14of the box-like body12, and are tapered, reducing their overall dimensions, in a transverse direction towards the rear area of the device, opposite the front area14. In this way the insertion of the shelf bracket into the seat101and the creation of the seats for said projecting elements13are facilitated.

The shelf bracket1can therefore be firmly coupled with interference into the seat201.

In order to allow an optimal release of the forces, the dimensions of the projecting elements are preferably such as to have a certain extension with respect to the device; it is evident in fact that excessively small projecting elements would not allow an optimal discharge of the forces.

In this sense, in a front transverse section and considering a measurement along a measurement line starting from the centre of the pin and arriving at the end of the projecting element, the ratio between the dimension of the projecting element and the dimension of the body (both measured along said measurement line) preferably ranges from about 1 to 5 and from 1 to 10; more preferably, if the transverse section of the device is round, the above-mentioned ratio is approximately equal to 1 to 5, whereas if the transverse section is substantially oval, the above-mentioned ratio is approximately equal to 1 to 10.

The box-like body12of the shelf-supporting device1according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention advantageously has a substantially symmetrical profile with respect to a horizontal symmetry plane and said one or more projecting elements13protrude outwardly from the side surfaces12eof the box-like body12substantially in correspondence with said horizontal symmetry plane.

In this way, the forces that the pin11transfers to the shelf bracket1are discharged onto the shelf through these projecting elements13, as shown inFIG.17by the arrows Rr (shelf resultant), i.e. in an area of the shelf where the latter has a solid section, with a maximum thickness, and no longer in correspondence with the upper area of the seat101in which there is a reduced thickness of material, as occurs with known devices according to what is schematized inFIG.16.

In accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, visible for example inFIG.18, the shelf-supporting device1′ can have said one or more projecting elements13which extend outwardly from the side surfaces12eof the main body12′ beneath an ideal horizontal symmetry plane.

Again, in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, visible for example inFIG.19, the shelf-supporting device1″ can have a substantially cylindrical main body12″, advantageously having said one or more projecting elements13which protrude outwardly laterally from said main body12″.

Even more preferably, in order to better distribute the forces that are transferred from the shelf bracket to the shelf, said one or more projecting elements13extend along the whole length of the side surfaces12e,12e′,12e″ of the main body12,12′,12″, preferably tapering, as already mentioned, from the front area towards the rear area of the device.

The shelf-supporting device1′,1″ according to the present invention advantageously has a main body12′,12″ having, on a transverse sectional plane, a substantially “flattened” oval profile, i.e. wherein the transverse sides have a straight section.

This configuration is, as mentioned, one of the preferred configurations as it allows insertion into a seat201formed in the shelf200by means of a simple milling operation.

The box-like body12,12′,12″ preferably comprises an upper surface12c,12c′,12c″ which has a bevel, clearly visible for example inFIG.5, so that, in use, when the device is inserted in the seat201having a substantially oval section obtained by milling, said upper surface12c,12c′,12c″ of the main body12,12′,12″ does not come into contact with the upper internal wall201′ of said housing seat201.

The result obtained when the device is inserted in the seat formed in the shelf can be seen inFIG.17, where the distance d created between the upper surface12c,12c′,12c″ of the main body12,12′,12″ of the device1,1′,1″, and the upper internal surface201′ of the housing seat201formed in the shelf200, can be seen.

According to what is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached figures, the main body12of the shelf-supporting device1according to the present invention comprises a base body12bwhich internally defines a seat21for housing actuation means15,16,17of the pin11, and a cover12asuitable for closing said base body12bfrom above.

According to a preferred embodiment of the shelf-supporting device1according to the present invention illustrated in the attached figures, the box-like body12comprises, in correspondence with the front area14having a solid section, an open seat14′ in correspondence with the lower surface12dof the box-like body12and suitable for receiving a T-shaped nut18.

The nut18comprises a main body18aprovided with a pass-through hole18dfor the passage of the pin11, and a base portion18bdefining two flaps18cprojecting laterally with respect to said main body18a.

When the device is assembled, the main body18aof the nut18is inserted into said seat14′, whereas the flaps18cof said base portion18become abutted against said box-like body12.

The situation can be very clearly seen inFIG.17, where the resultants of the forces discharged through the nut18when the resultant force Rp is applied to the pin11, are represented by the arrows Rd.

As can be seen, thanks to the presence of the T-nut18and crossed by the pin11, the forces Rp which, when the device is in use, act on the pin11, are transferred to the box-like body12in correspondence with its front area14having a solid section.

The actuation means15,16,17of said pin11advantageously comprise axial movement means15of the pin11which are movable along the longitudinal movement direction X of the pin11, and motion transformation means16suitable for transforming the movement rotation of an actuation tool in the translational movement of said axial movement means15.

Said axial movement means15of the pin11advantageously comprise a slide15connected or produced integrally with said pin11. In turn, the slide15comprises a longitudinal groove and a shaped internal seat, and the motion transformation means comprise a rotating element16having a substantially cylindrical main body16aand a cam-shaped element16bconnected to said main body16a.

The cylindrical main body16aof the rotating element16is rotatably inserted into said longitudinal groove15aof said slide15and said cam-shaped element16binteracts with the internal shaped seat of said slide15so that a rotation of the main body16aof the rotating element16, imposed by the operator through a tool of the type shown inFIGS.2and3, causes movement of the slide15in an axial direction X.

Said axial movement means15of the pin11preferably further comprise, associated with said slide15, elastic means, for example comprising a helical spring17, suitable for keeping said slide15in an advanced position and consequently said pin11in its operating position. In order to retract the slide, and consequently the pin, the action of the spring17must be overcome, whereas with a simple rotation of the rotating element16by means of a tool, the cam16bcan be released from the blocked condition of the device in the non-operating position, allowing the advancement of the slide15by the spring17.

In the shelf-supporting device1according to the present invention, the slide15and the pin11are advantageously connected to each other by means of a shape coupling.

The present invention has been described, for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to various preferred embodiments, it should be understood however that variations and/or modifications can be applied by a skilled person in the field without thereby departing from the relative protection scope, as defined in the enclosed claims.