ELEMENT FOR CONNECTING THE PERFORATED STILES WITH THE SHELVES OF A RACK, WITHOUT MAKING USE OF BOLTS OR SCREWS

Abstract: The present invention relates to an element for connecting perforated stiles with the shelves of a rack without making use of bolts or screws, which shelves comprise perforated, bent over, transversal and longitudinal rims, characterised in that said element consists of an angle bar (1), of which the legs comprise orthogonal protrusions (2), that can be used with corresponding orthogonal perforations (3) which belong on the one hand to the stiles (4) and on the other hand to the bent over transversal and longitudinal rims (5) of the shelves (5').

Description: Element for connecting the perforated stiles with the shelves of a rack, without making use of bolts or screws. The present invention relates to an element for connecting the perforated stiles with the shelves of a rack without making use of bolts or screws manner, which shelves comprise perforated, bent over, transversal and longitudinal rims. The connection of stiles with the shelves of a rack can be performed with various means. The stiles and the rectangularly bent rims of the shelves comprises holes, wherein bolts or screws fit. Such connections not only show poor aesthetic insight, but also the stability of the racks will mostly have to be assured by the use of panels. It is the aim of the present invention to provide an element, which is not only aesthetically sound, but which assures a sturdy connection between the stiles and the shelves, without having to rely on bolts or screws, so that further strengthenings of the rack are completely superfluous. It is also an aim of the invention to provide the possibility of developing elements in metal or a plastics material, based on the same concept. To achieve this according to the invention, the element of the present invention consists of an angle bar, of which the legs comprise orthogonal protrusions, that can be pushed into corresponding orthogonal perforations, that belong on the one hand to the stiles, and on the other hand to the bent over transversal and longitudinal rims of the shelves. According to a preferably applied embodiment, at least part of said protrusions (2) are provided sideways with small fins (4) that extend parallel with the sense in which the protrusions (2, 2') are pushed into the perforations (3). Other details and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of an element for connecting the perforated stiles with the shelves of a rack without making use of bolts or screws, according to the invention. This description is only given by way of example and is not meant to limit the invention. The reference numbers refer to the attached figures. Figure 1 is a front view of the element according to the invention. Figure 2 is a cross section along the line ll-ll in figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of an angle connection, which makes use of two elements with the shape of an angle bar according to the invention. The element shown in these figures consists of an angle bar 1 , which can be made in any desired material, although a plastic material is the pre-eminently suited material. In each leg of the angle bar 1 comprises orthogonal protrusions 2 occur, which comprise a rectangular basis that is so adapted as to be capable of being pushed into the orthogonal perforations 3 of a stile 4, as well as of the bent over rim 5 of the shelve 5'. The element according to the invention consists of an angle hook with an arbitrary number of protrusions. In the example described hereafter, five protrusions appear. All protrusions 2 have an orthogonal shape, which is adapted so as to fit in the perforations 3 without any play. A protrusion, i.e. 2' is common to both legs of the angle bar 1 , and is, in side elevation view, purely square shaped. In each of the four sides of this protrusion 2', small fins 6 appear, which, upon clamping of the protrusion in the perforation 3 of a stile 4 of the bent over rim 5 of a shelve 5' concerned, assure a sturdy connection, completely free of play, between the angle bar 1 and other parts of the rack. The other protrusions 2, comprise an orthogonal profile, with on one of the sides of the protrusion, a hook shaped rim 7, which, upon pulling the protrusions 2 in the corresponding perforations 3, gives rise to a connection that doesn't show the least play between the different parts. Sideways, the protrusions 2 can comprise small fins, which don't disturb nor hamper the pushing of the protrusions into the perforations, but assure an extremely efficient connection of angle bar and rack parts. In practise, protrusion 2' will be pushed in first, whereafter the others can easily be pushed into the perforations 3 provided thereto. By using such angle bars, an extremely efficient connection between shelve and a stile is obtained, which does not show the least play. Also from an aesthetic point of view, this connection satisfies the expectations in all respects. An angle bar of a plastic material of the type described above, provides in all aspects an excellent solution to the problem of connecting the shelves with the stiles of a rack in a mechanically reliable way, without having to rely on screws, bolts or similar connecting parts. The invention is not limited to the technical domain described above, and it should be clear that the connecting elements according to the invention can be applied for connecting transversal parts to profiles, to form in that way a supporting frame. Also the interconnection of profiles can be carried out using the elements of this invention.

Claims: CLAIMS. 1. Element for connecting perforated stiles with the shelves of a rack without making use of bolts or screws, which shelves comprise perforated, bent over, transversal and longitudinal rims, characterised in that said element consists of an angle bar (1 ), of which the legs comprise orthogonal protrusions (2), that can be pushed into corresponding orthogonal perforations (3) which belong on the one hand to the stiles (4) and on the other hand to the bent over transversal and longitudinal rims (5) of the shelves (5'). 2. Element as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that at least part of said protrusions (2) comprise sideways small fins (6) that extend parallel with the sense in which the protrusions (2, 2') are pushed into the perforations (3). 3. Element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said protrusions (2) comprise at least on one side, a hook shaped rim (7), so as to click the angle bar (1 ) with respect to the stiles (4) and the bent over rims (5) of the shelves (5').

Inventors: GALLET PIET, VERVENNE GEERT, GALLET, PIET, VERVENNE, GEERT
Applicants: AVASCO IND, GALLET PIET, VERVENNE GEERT, AVASCO INDUSTRIES, GALLET, PIET, VERVENNE, GEERT
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47B57
IPC codes: A47B57, A47B96