SHEET METAL SHELVING

Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet metal shelving comprising posts (10) and shelves (11). The posts comprise a waist (12) which via a first flange (13) is connected to a second flange (14). The waist abuts a first edge part (18) of the shelf whereas the second flange (14) engages recesses (29,30) in a second edge part (19) of the shelf (11). The second edge part (19) forms a closed torsion resistant profile with several in vertical direction separated extending flanges (22,24) having said re­ cesses (29,30).

Description: This invention relates a sheet metal assembly shelving comprising posts and shelves in accordance with the pre-characterizing part of claim 1. Shelving assemblies of the above type are previously known and used for storing various types of details. Such shelving assemblies with the exception of posts and shelves comprise several loose details for joining the shelves to the posts and for staying the posts. Thus, often screw joints are used to fasten the shelves to the posts as well as to fasten cross stays to the posts for staying them. In order to reduce the number of details it has also been proposed to use shelving assemblies with different types of shelves, which without separate locking means can be fixed to the posts, see for instance DE-B-1 186 182. In such shelving assemblies the shelves for instance rest on hooks extending from the posts the risk however being that there will be a play between the parts as time goes. Such a play has a negative effect on the stability of the assembly and is often created by a weak shelf structure and by overloading the assembly. Also in this type of assemblies it is sometimes necessary to stay the posts in any suitable way in particular is the assembly has to support heaby loads. Thr purpose of this invention is to create a solid shelving assembly without staying means the shelving generally speaking only consisting of two basic elements namely posts and shelves. This is achieved by a shelving assembly which has the characteristics mentioned in claim 1. Preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 4. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a partly broken perspective view of a shelving assembly according to the invention whereas Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the shelving assembly and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shelving assembly. As appears from the figure the assembly comprises posts 10 and shelves 11. The posts 10 in are manufactured by bending a comparatively thick sheet metal plate forming a waist 12 which by means of a first flange 13 perpendicular to the waist 12 continues into a second flange 14 which is parallel to the waist 12. The lastmentioned flange 14 is manufactured by bending the edge part of the plate to a double layer structure. Also the waist 12 continues with a 180° bend into a mirror symmetrical arrangement with a waist 12a and flanges 13a and 14a respectively. The waist 12, as well as its mirrors symmetrical equivalence 12a, has several at a certain distance from each other placed lugs 15 these lugs being punched out from the plate. The lugs 15 are fastened to the waist at their lower part 16 and at one side 17 extending mainly downwards inwards towards the first flange 13 of the post so that a slot which is open upwards and inwards towards the flange 13 between the waist 12 and the lug 15 is created. Preferably the lug has such a shape that the width of the slot decreases somewhat in the downward direction in order to pinch the shelves to the post. The shelf 11 is manufactured from a sheet metal plate which is bent so that a first edge part 18 and a second edge part 19 are formed the edge parts being arranged at right angles to each other. The first edge part 18 comprises a bend which is downwardly directed and perpendicular to the upper surface of the shelf and which has a recess 20 near the corner of the shelf. This recess 20 has the character of an inverted slightly V-shaped slot one edge 21 cooperating with and having about the same inclination to the length direction of the post as one side 17 of the lug 15. The second edge part 19 has a boxlike profile where the sheet plate is bent so that an upper flange 22 is formed which is a continuation of the upper side of the shelf and which via a vertical part 23 is connected to a lower flange 24 extending into a horizontal part 25. This horizontal part then continues as a vertical part 26 which continues into another horizontal part 27 supporting the upper side of the shelf. The outer end of this part 27 is inserted between the two bent parts of the sheet plate forming the upper flange 22 whereby the flange 22 and the horizontal part 27 are fixed to each other by means of several punched out lugs 28, by spot welding or in any other suitable way. Both the upper and the lower flanges 22 and 24 have, near the corners of the shelf, a recess 29 and 30 respectively which cooperate with the second flange 14 of the post. The elements cooperate as follows. To mount the shelvings assembly the corner of the shelf 11 is inserted down into the post 10 so that the edge part 18 is placed between the lug 15 and the waist 12 of the post and the edge 21 of the recess 20 engages the side 17 of the lug 15. At the same time the flange 14 of the post enters the recesses 29 and 30 at the edge part 19 which means that the shelf is locked against movement in the length direction of the second edge part 19. When loading the shaft the edge 21 of the recess 20 will be pressed against the side 17 of the lug 15 which means that the flanges 22 and 24 between the recesses 29, 30 are forced to abut the first flange 13 of the post. Increased load means increased engaging forces. By the existence of a comparatively large and torsionresistant second edge part 19 of the shelf and a corresponding abutting surface of the post the joint between the shelf and post will be so stiff that further means for stabilizing the posts are not necessary which means that the number of details in the shelving assembly is are reduced to a minimum.

Claims: Sheet metal shelving assemply comprising posts (10) and shelves (11), the post having a waist (12) with fastening means (15) for the shelves which waist (12), continues into a first flange (13) who extends mainly perpendicular to the waist, characterized in that the first flange continues into a second flange (14) which is mainly parallel to the waist, the shelf comprising a plate which at its front and read edge part (19) is bent so that a profile with an upper and a lower outwardly extending flange (22, 24) separated vertically and parallel to the shelf is created, the lastmentioned flanges near the corners of the shelf being provided with recesses (29, 30) in which the second flange (14) of the post when being mounted is inserted, the side edge parts (18) of the shelf comprising a vertical bend of the plate abutting the waist part (12) of the post when being mounted, the vertical bend being provided with means (21) engaging the fastening means (15) of the post, the corners of said shelf being so shaped that the two flanges (22, 24) of the shelf when being mounted are forced to abut the first flange (13) of the post at the same time as the second flange (14) of the post engages the recesses (29, 30) of the shelf whereby the shelf and the post are fixed to each other. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means (15) comprises lugs engaging a recess (20) in said vertical bend the lugs being joint to the waist (12) on a line which is inclined downwards towards the first flange (13) of the post. Assembly according to any of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the post (10) in section is mainly T-shaped and forms two mirror symmetrical halves each half supporting a shelf. Assembly according to any of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the profile of the shelf (11) is closed and is manufactured by bending the edge parts of the shelf, the upper flange (22) of the shelf being a direct continuation of the upper surface of the shelf and comprising a 180° bend of the plate, the outermost end of the edge part (27) being clamped between the two layers forming the bend and being fixed to them.

Inventors: ANDERSSON, OLOF INGVAR
Applicants: ELECTROLUX CONSTRUCTOR AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A47B57
IPC codes: A47B47, A47B57