SHELF RACK

Abstract: A shelf rack consisting of posts (1) and horizontally arranged shelf planes (3) supported by said posts (1), which are arranged one adjacent each shelf plane corner, where each shelf plane (3) is fitted to said posts (1) by means of bolts (5), which extend in the transverse direction of the shelf plane between pairs of adjacent posts, and engage in guiding grooves extending in the lateral direction of the shelf plane, and which posts are arranged on the longitudinal sides of the shelf planes just in front of said guiding grooves, said posts by pre-tensioning of the bolts being clamped against said shelf planes to hold them in clamped position.

Description: Λ SHELF RACK Background of the invention The present invention refers to a shelf rack incorporating a number of horizontal, rectangular shelf planes, which are supported by posts arranged adjacent each shelf plane corner, and where said shelf planes and posts are interconnected by means of bolts. A large number of shelf racks having mountable components of varying design are available on the market. Those shelf racks sometimes are unstable and have unsafe suspending attachments for the shelf planes. Shelf racks having mounted brackets and the like are bulky, which is a drawback from transport aspects. Shelf racks having no continuous gables can mean risks for accidents as e.g. a heavy book may fall out through the gable and cause damage. Posts located at the corners have to be of coarse dimension to give stability. In order that such a shelf rack shall be stable and not sway or swing transversally it is often provided with a rearward reinforcement in form of a rear wall or with struts, or it is attached to the wall. Rear wall and struts may be disturbing in certain applications and a fixed mounting to a wall makes any displacement of the shelf difficult. Volume and weight are determining for transport and storing costs for -a product, such as a shelf rack, and possibility to reduce these costs is a good competitive weapon. Purpose and most essential features of the invention The purpose of the invention is to provide a shelf rack of the type mentioned in the introduction, which comprises comparatively light and un-bulky components, which is easy to mount and which in mounted position provides a stable shelf rack, and this has been achieved by the invention in that each one of said posts is arranged to engage with a side surface against a longitudinal side edge of said shelf plane, that guiding grooves are arranged to extend in the transverse direction of the shelf plane betwee the positions for posts situated adjacent the same short sid edge of the shelf plane, and that said guiding grooves ar receiving said bolts, which are tightened between opposed post adjacent the same short side edge of the shelf plane and thereb clamp the the posts about said shelf plane, thus that this i safely retained. Description of the drawings The invention will hereinafter be further described unde reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a portion of a shelf rack according to the inventio in perspective. Fig. 2 is a corresponding view of an alternative embodiment. Fig.s 3 and 4 show in perspective two shelf planes intended t form part of the shelf rack according to the invention in partl different embodiments. Fig.s 5, 6 and 7 show in in perspective different spacing member which may form part of a shelf rack according to the invention. Fig. 8 is a profiled moulding intended to be used together wit the shelf rack according to the invention. Fig. 9 shows in a view from above a shelf rack with two profile mouldings according to Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 shows in perspective a shelf constituted by three shel racks according ot the invention. Description of embodiments Fig. 1 shows in perspective a portion of two posts 1, which a their sides facing each other are provided with profilings i form of rims 2 extending in the longitudinal direction and havin comparatively sharp points, and between these sides is fitted shelf plane 3, with its longitudinal side surfaces against sai profiled post sides. The longitudinal side surfaces of the shelf plane are in corresponding manner provided with profilings made as rims 4, which in the embodiment shown are arranged at right angle to the rims in the posts. The material in one or both of the cooperating members, i.e. post and shelf plane, is so soft that a certain deformation can occur when the surfaces are pressed against each other. By means of a bolt 5, which extends through and between the posts 1, these posts are clamped against the shelf plane 3, thus that this is safely held thereby, at the same time as said profilings will undergo a certain, friction increasing deformation. Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment wherein the shelf plane is divided into two shelf plane halves 3a, 3b, which in the same manner as the one-piece shelf plane shown in Fig. 1 are clamped by means of a bolt 5 between the two posts 1, whereby between the shelf plane pieces is provided an intermediate post 6, which corresponds to the corner-located posts 1, beside the fact that it, in the embodiment shown, is provided with profilings 2 on both sides. Fig.s 3 and 4 show in perspective shelf planes 3 and it can be seen here that each shelf plane is equipped with transversal guiding grooves intended to house a clamping bolt 5 and thereby be supported by this. The guiding groove in Fig. 3 is formed as a through-hole 7, whereas it in Fig. 4 is shaped as an open recess 8 from the lower side of the shelf plane. At the embodiment according to Fig. 3 the bolts are inserted through the bores in post and shelf plane, which must therefore all be located in correct position, whereupon the bolts are tightened with nuts. At the embodiment according to Fig. 4 it is possible first to mount and clamp posts and bolts, whereupon the shelf plane is located with a longitudinal edge and with an edge of the guiding groove 8 on the bolts, whereupon the opposite longitudinal edge of the shelf plane is urged down until it is clamped to engagement against the bolts between the posts. Fig.s 5 - 7 show in perspective different spacing members, which may be used together with profiled or quite smooth surfaces on the shelf plane sides and/or on the posts. Fig. 5 thus shows a square washer 9 having a through hole 10 intended to receive the clamping bolt and having rimmed profilings 11 on both flat side surfaces, which in mounted position will be situated between the post side and shelf plane side. The spacing member shown in Fig. 6 is also a square washer 12 with a through-hole for the bolt but with nobbies or pins 13 instead of profilings, and Fig. 7 shows a spacing member 14 consisting of a plate having a through-hole for the bolt and with spikes 15, which project in the axial direction of the hole from one side of the plate and two parallel, spaced apart flanges 16, which project from the opposite side of the plate. The spikes 15 are intended to engage the surface of the post, whereas the two flanges 16 are intended to receive and support the shelf plane between them. With this spacing member 14 the stability of the shelf rack is increased without need for struts or the like. Fig. 8 shows in perspective a profiled moulding 17, which is provided with a number of evenly distributed and spaced apart arc-shaped recesses 18. Fig. 9 shows in a view from above ho each one of two such mouldings 17 may be located in an associated space each between two adjacent shelf planes 3 in a shelf rack having three shelf plane portions. The profiled moulding thereb is equipped with a base portion 19 having a width correspondin to the distance between two shelf plane portions, i.e. mainly th width of a post, whereas the upper part has bigger width, in this manner the mouldings rest on the edges of the shelf plan portions and they will be safely guided in the space between th shelf plane parts and the two mouldings with their profilings shown may serve as wine bottle rack. ς A Fig. 10 finally in perspective shows a shelf 20 consisting of three shelf racks according to the invention, arranged after each other, and each one having a number of shelf planes incorporating 5 three shelf plane portions each and consequently having 4 corner posts and 4 intermediate post for each shelf rack. The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in drawings and described in connection thereto, but a plurality of modifica- 10 tions are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A shelf rack incorporating a number of horizontal, rectangular shelf planes (3, 3a, 3b), which are supported by posts (1) arranged adjacent each shelf plane corner, and where said shelf planes and posts are interconnected by means of bolts (5), c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i , that each one of said posts (1) is arranged to engage with a side surface against a longitudinal side edge of said shelf plane (3, 3a, 3b), that guiding grooves (7, 8) are arranged to extend i the transverse direction of the shelf plane between the positions for posts situated adjacent the same short side edge of the shel plane, and that said guiding grooves are receiving said bolts (5), which are tightened between opposed posts (1 ) ad acent th same short side edge of the shelf plane and thereby clamp the th posts about said shelf plane, thus that this is safely retained. 2. A shelf rack as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the guiding grooves are bottom grooves (8) in the lower sid of the shelf planes. 3. A shelf rack as claimed in claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the guiding grooves are through-holes (7) in the shel planes. 4. A shelf rack as claimed in anyone of the preceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the material in shelf plane (3, 3a, 3b) and/or post (1) i comparatively soft and that cooperating surfaces of at least on of post and shelf plane in non-mounted condition is provided wit profilings (2, 4) intended to be deformed for increasing th holding force when tightening of the bolts (5) . 5. A shelf rack as claimed in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the profilings are rims (2, 4) having sharp points. 6. A shelf rack as claimed in claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that shelf plane (3, 3a, 3b) as well as post (1) are equipped with rim-shaped profilings (4 and 2 resp.), whereby in mounting position the longitudinal direction of the rims in the shelf plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rims in the post. 7. A shelf rack as claimed in anyone of claims 1 - 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that between the cooperating surfaces is provided a spacing member (9, 12, 14) having guiding groove (10) for a bolt (5) and with means (11, 13, 15, 16) for increasing the friction against said cooperating surfaces at least on one side. 8. A shelf rack as claimed in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that the spacing member (14) on one side is provided with short projecting flanges (16) intended to recieve the end edge of a shelf plane between themselves. 9. A shelf rack as claimed in anyone of the preceeding claims, whereby each shelf plane is subdividied into several thinner shelf plane parts (3a, 3b) arranged beside each other, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that between adjacent shelf plane parts (3a, 3b) are arranged intermediate posts ( 6 ) corresponding to said corner located posts ( 1 ) . 10. A shelf rack as claimed in claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that in the space between intermediate shelf plane parts ar insertable mouldings (17) equipped with profilings (18) fo supporting objects, which shall be kept on the shelf, e.g having the function of a rack for wine bottles, and whic mouldings (17) in mounted position are clamped between adjacen shelf plane parts (3a, 3b).

Inventors: ERIKSSON PER, ERIKSSON, PER
Applicants: HYLLBO AB
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A47B47
IPC codes: A47B45, A47B47, A47B57