Metal shelving

Abstract: A metal shelving is described which comprises vertical posts (1), horizontal longitudinal stringers (5), means (17, 19, 21) for hooking the stringers (5) to the posts (1), cross members (3) for connecting facing posts (1) and means (11, 13, 15) for connecting the cross members (3) to the posts (1); the posts (1) have a box-type structure with T-shaped cross-section, on the web (7) of which means (11) are provided for connecting the cross members (3) to the posts (1), and on the flanges (9) of which means (17, 19) are provided for the hooking of the stringers (5).

Description: The invention refers to a metal shelving comprising pairs of vertical posts, each pair including a front and a rear post respectively, horizontal longitudinal stringers each of which mutually connects adjacent front posts or adjacent rear posts, means for hooking said stringers to the posts, cross members for connecting each front post to the corresponding rear post, means for connecting the cross members to the respective posts, and shelves supported by said posts and by said stringers, and wherein said posts have a box-type structure with T-shaped cross-section, the means for connecting the cross members to the posts being provided on the web of said posts, and said means for hooking said stringers being provided on the flanges of said posts. A shelving of this kind is disclosed in EP-A-0 044 282. An object of the present invention is to further improve a shelving of this type in order to make it possible, thanks to a new system for anchoring the various elements, which make up the shelving, to reach an excellent stability and a particularly neat appearance, that is to say a shelving where the anchoring elements are hidden. This is achieved by a shelving of the above mentioned type, wherein the stringers have a box-type structure made up by a bent sheet forming: an upper longitudinal channel engaging the longitudinal edges of said shelves, an intermediate longitudinal surface formed by three thicknesses of said sheet in correspondence of the connection between two longitudinal free edges of said sheet, said intermediate longitudinal surface forming a support for reinforcing ribs of the shelves, and two reinforced edges formed by bending said sheet to form along said edges angular regions wherein the stringer wall is made up of a triple sheet thickness. The means for connecting the cross members to the facing posts are advantageously positioned in such a way as to form also a support for the horizontal stringers. In this way, each stringer is anchored by means of the slots and the projections to the respective posts and further made to lean against an eyelet or other suitable means provided for anchoring the cross members. In a possible embodiment the means for connecting the cross members to the posts are provided with an eyelet able to cooperate with an appendix; the eyelet and the appendix are provided with respective edges which are inclined to the vertical and which - when the cross member is connected to the respective posts - cause a tension on the cross member and thus a stiffening of the whole structure. Advantageously, the eyelet is formed on a side surface of the web of the T-section post, while the appendix is formed on the end portion of the cross member. To achieve an optimal connection between the facing posts of the shelving, it is particularly advantageous to provide either ends of each cross member with two appendixes engaging into two respective, vertically superimposed eyelets. The shelve-reinforcing ribs may be obtained by a U-shape bending of the sheet, which is suitably open to allow the inner region of the bending to be cleaned. This is particularly advantageous when the shelf is used for showing or stocking foodstuffs, for which special hygienic requirements must be met. Reverse T-section ribs may also be provided always by bending the shelf-forming sheet. The invention will be better understood by following the description and the attached drawing, which shows a practical, not limiting example of the same invention. In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a very schematic view of a portion of the shelving; Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the shelving of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a partial longitudinal section taken on line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 3A shows a shelf portion in a different embodiment; Figs. 4 and 5 show local sections taken on horizontal planes along lines IV-IV and V-V of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 shows a detail of the end region of a horizontal stringer; and Figs. 7 and 8 show local cross-sections taken on lines VII-VII and VIII-VIII of Fig. 6. With reference to Fig. 1, the shelving is made up of a plurality of vertical posts 1, disposed in two substantially parallel alignments so as to have pairs of posts 1 facing each other in tranverse direction, and connected to each other by horizontal cross members 3. The shelving is further provided with horizontal longitudinal stringers 5 which are provided along the whole front of the shelving on the two sides thereof. Resting upon the horizontal stringers 5 are suitably reinforced shelves 8, on which the goods on show or in stock are laid. As shown in particular in Figs. 2 to 5, each post 1 has a box-type structure with a substantially T-shaped cross-section which has a web 7 and two flanges 9. Formed on the web 7 are eyelets 11 intended to engage corresponding appendixes 13, 15 of the cross members 3 for connecting the facing posts. As shown in particular in Fig. 2, the appendixes 13, 15 and the eyelets 11 are suitably inclined to stiffen the assembly formed by the facing posts 1 and the connecting cross member 3. Each cross member 3 has (see Fig. 3) a C-shape cross-section which terminates with a region 3A (Fig. 2) lacking in edges 3B in order to come close to the web portion 7 of the relevant post 1. Each pair of facing posts 1 is provided with two connecting cross members 3 disposed in facing relationship (Fig. 5). Inserted into the slot, between the cross members 3 of each pair, a grate or other element forming a vertical partition may be provided. Formed on the inner walls 9A the flanges of each post 1 are slots 17 having an inclined edge 19 (Fig. 3) to cooperate with projections 21 worked out by drawing on the stringers 5. The projections 21 are visible in Figs. 6 and 8. They have an inclined side portion 21A intended to cooperate with the inclined edge 19 of the respective slot 17, and a horizontal upper portion 21B able to stabilize the stringer when it is hooked to the respective posts 1. The horizontal load applied on the stringers 5 causes the edges 19 to be forced into the slot formed by the projections 21 and by the surface of stringer 5, thereby stabilizing the shelving. Once assembled (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3), the stringers 5 are made to lean against the eyelets 11 formed on the web portion 7 of the respective post 1 also by means of their lower edge and by an intermediate bend 49. In this way, each stringer 5 is anchored to the posts 1 through the two projections 21 in correspondence of each one of its own ends which engage corresponding slots 17; moreover, each stringer rests with both its ends on corresponding eyelets 11. The assembling of the stringers is possible, despite the presence of eyelets 11, by means of slots 23 formed on the end edges of the stringers. The cross-section of the stringers 5 is shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8. As shown in these figures, each stringer 5 has a box-type shape formed by bending a sheet. The sheet is bent in such a way as to form an upper longitudinal channel 31 which extends over the length of the respective stringer 5. Engaged in said channel is the corresponding longitudinal edge 8A of the horizontal bearing shelf 8. The disposition is shown in detail in Fig. 2, wherein the two longitudinal edges 8A of the shelf are engaged in corresponding channels 31 of opposite and parallel stringers 5 extending along the two shelving fronts. The longitudinal edges of the sheet forming the stringer 5 are folded as shown at 33 and 35 in Figs. 7 and 8, in order to close the box-type structure and form an intermediate bearing surface 37 on which reinforcing ribs 8B of the bearing shelves 8 are made to rest. By this arrangement, each shelf 8 is engaged, along its own longitudinal edges, both to the longitudinal channels 31 and to the bearing surfaces 37, thereby giving said shelves a high stability. Each stringer 5 further has two front edges 41 and 43 reinforced by a triple bending of the base sheet forming the said stringer. In this way, angle regions are provided along the edges 41 and 43, wherein the stringer wall is formed by a triple layer of sheet confering both torsional and flexural rigidity to the stringer. Developed on the front stringer face are two bendings 45 which render the element more rigid. The longitudinal bending 49 forms a support on the eyelet 11 of the relevant post. As shown in particular in the section of Fig. 3, the ribs 8B for reinforcing the shelf 8 have a U-shape section open on top. This allows an easy cleaning of the sheet bend, which makes this element suitable also for use in the food field, wherein it is required that the goods-bearing shelf be constantly cleaned for obvious sanitary purposes. Fig. 3A shows a modified embodiment of the shelf 8, wherein the ribs have a reverse T-shape cross-section. This shape confirs more rigidity to the shelf. It is understood that the drawing shows an exemplification given only as a practical demonstration of the invention, as this may vary in the forms and dispositions without nevertheless coming out from the scope of the idea on which the same invention is based. The possible presence of reference numbers in the appended claims has the purpose to facilitate the reading of the claims, reference being made to the description and the drawing, and does not limit the scope of the protection represented by the claims.

Claims: A metal shelving comprising pairs of vertical posts, each pair including a front and a rear post respectively, horizontal longitudinal stringers (5) each of which mutually connects adjacent front posts (1) or adjacent rear posts (1), means (17, 19, 21) for hooking said stringers (5) to the posts (1), cross members (3) for connecting each front post (1) to the corresponding rear post (1), means (11, 13, 15) for connecting the cross members (3) to the respective posts (1), and shelves supported by said posts and by said stringers (5), and wherein said posts (1) have a box-type structure with T-shaped cross-section, the means (11) for connecting the cross members (3) to the posts (1) being provided on the web (7) of said posts (1), and said means (17, 19) for hooking said stringers (5) being provided on the flanges (9) of said posts (1), characterized in that the stringers (5) have a box-type structure made up by a bent sheet forming: in the upper surface thereof a longitudinal channel for (31) engaging the longitudinal edges (8A) of said shelves; parallel to the upper surface an intermediate longitudinal surface (37), intermediate of the upper and lower surfaces of said stringer, formed by three thicknesses of said sheet in correspondence of the connection between two longitudinal free edges (33, 35) of said sheet, said intermediate longitudinal surface forming a support for reinforcing ribs (8B) of the shelves (8); two reinforced corners (41, 43) of said stringer are formed by bending said sheet back along itself to form along said corners (41, 43) a triple sheet thickness around the corner of the stringer wall. Metal shelving according to claim 1, characterized in that each means (17, 19, 21) for hooking the stringers (5) to the posts (1) comprises a slot (17) on the post (1) with an edge (19) which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the post (1), and a projection (21) formed on the stringer (5) in the angular region thereof having a triple sheet thickness along said reinforced edges (41, 43), said projection (21) being obtained by an L-shaped cutting and drawing of said sheet, said projection being connected to the stringer (5) along a first joining portion (21A) which is inclined in the same direction as said edge (19) of said slot (17) and a second connecting portion (21B) developing approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stringer (5). Metal shelving according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said means (11, 13, 15) for connecting the cross members (3) to the posts (1) include a set of longitudinally aligned and outwardly projecting eyelets (11) on said posts (1), and at each end of each cross member (3) corresponding appendixes (13, 13, 15, 15) which are inserted into corresponding eyelets on the corresponding post, said eyelets (11) and said appendixes (13, 15) having respective cooperating edges which are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the posts, said inclined edges causing the end portions of the relevant cross member (3) to be forced against the respective flange (9) of the post, and said eyelets (1) also forming a supporting abutment for the stringers (5). Metal shelving according to claim 3, characterized in that for the connection of each cross member (3) to a corresponding post (1) two eyelets (11) and two appendixes (13, 15) are provided.

Inventors: BETTINI ROSSANO, BETTINI, ROSSANO
Applicants: ROSSS DEI FRATELLI BETTINI S N, ROSSS DEI FRATELLI BETTINI S.N.C.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A47B47
IPC codes: A47B57, A47B47