Abstract:
A system for detachable suspension of shelves ( 5 ), drawers or the like from essentially vertially positioned supporting elements ( 1 ) with slots or grooves ( 3 ). Plate-shaped brackets ( 4 ) are adapted to carry said shelves ( 5 ) and, by means of hook-shaped portions ( 7 ), are adapted to be inserted into a selected slot ( 3 ) for suspension of the brackets ( 4 ) from the supporting elements ( 1 ). The system also comprises a frame ( 14 ) which carries said shelves ( 5 ) and which can be detachably fastened to a pair of neighbouring brackets ( 4 ) by means of ears ( 20 ) which protrude from the frame ( 14 ) and which are inserted into L-shaped grooves ( 9 ) in the respective brackets ( 4 ). The frame ( 14 ) is locked onto the brackets ( 4 ) by means of locking elements ( 21 ) which protrude from the frame ( 14 ) and which are moved into engagement with the grooves ( 9 ), slots ( 25 ), indentations ( 26 ) or holes ( 27 ) in the brackets ( 4 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a system for detachable suspension of shelves, drawers or the like from a wall or standing on the floor, comprising at least two essentially vertically positioned supporting elements with slots or grooves and plate-shaped brackets which are adapted to carry said shelves, drawers or the like and which, by means of at least one hook-shaped portion protruding from one end of each bracket, are adapted to be inserted into selected slots or grooves for suspension of the brackets from the supporting elements, at least one essentially L-shaped groove being formed in each bracket between its ends and having a first leg which extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the bracket, and a second leg which extends from the first leg and leads to the upper portion of the bracket in its mounted position. 
   Systems for suspension of shelves in vertical supporting elements by means of a pair of brackets, which detachably can be attached at an optional level to the supporting elements, are already known from, for example, the leaflet “Planerings-och produktguide” (“Planning and Product Guide”) of Elfa International AB. The shelves are made of wood material and are adapted to be screwed to the brackets. Apart from the inconvenience screwing involves, this also means that brackets specially designed for the shelves are required. In addition, a bracket, which usually is a metal sheet bent in the shape of a U, can only carry one end of a shelf and not the end of an adjacent shelf. 
   It is also known from the above-mentioned leaflet to suspend wire baskets from vertical supporting elements, but also in this case brackets which are specially designed are required since standard brackets cannot be used, see, for instance, the leaflet “SPARRING—Makes your storage !” of Elfa International AB. 
   In the last-mentioned leaflet and in Swedish patent application 9903969-5, a system for suspension of shelves of wire from vertical supporting elements by means of brackets which can be detachably attached to the supporting elements is shown. However, the shelves are firmly fastened to the brackets and cannot without a real effort be removed from them. Moreover, these known suspension systems are not specially suited for suspension of wire baskets or drawers. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY 
   The object of the present invention is to provide a system for suspension of shelves, drawers and wire baskets from vertical supporting elements by means of brackets which allow the shelves, drawers or the like to be easily detached and removed from the brackets. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a system for suspension which comprises a frame structure which carries a shelf, a drawer and the like and which can be detachably connected by means of a pair of opposite brackets so as to be a self-supporting unit displaceable in one piece. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a suspension system having a frame structure, in which a shelf, a drawer or the like can be carried displaceably. 
   According to the invention these objects have been achieved by means of a suspension system as described in the introductory paragraph, which suspension system is characterised in that the system also comprises at least one frame which is adapted to carry said-shelves, drawers or the like and which frame exhibits a pair of separate and parallel sides with attaching means for detachable fastening of the frame to neighouringly arranged brackets and at least one connecting portion which connects said sides with one another and which is essentially perpendicular thereto, that each attaching means comprises at least one ear protruding from the respective said sides and outside the frame, and that each ear is adapted to be inserted so that it hooks into the first leg of the associated L-shaped groove. 
   Further developments of the invention will be evident from the features stated in the subclaims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the suspension system according to the invention, 
       FIG. 2  shows a portion of the suspension system on an enlarged scale and in a view corresponding to that in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view along the line A—A, 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a preferred bracket which is comprised in the suspension system, 
       FIGS. 5A–5E  illustrate alternative embodiments of the attaching means of the frame, and 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the attaching means according to  FIG. 5A . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference is first made to  FIG. 1 , in which a top plan view shows a suspension system according to the invention which comprises supporting elements  1  which are known per se and are essentially vertically positioned. The supporting element can be arranged separately and carried by a pair of feet resting on a base, for example, a floor (not shown). However, it is preferred that the supporting element be a rail or a sectional element which is attached to or integrated in a wall  2 . The supporting element  1  is preferably formed as a U-shaped rail which is screwed to the wall  2  or comprises a hanging rail which is suspended from a carrying strip attached to the wall, which is shown in Elfa&#39;s leaflet “Planerings—och produktguide”. 
   The supporting element or rail  1  is provided with two parallel rows of slots or grooves  3  of the same dimension and with the same mutual distance in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the supporting element  1  can be provided with only one row of slots or grooves. 
   In the suspension system also a number of brackets  4  are included, which in pairs are adapted to detachably carry a shelf  5  or a wire drawer (not shown but illustrated in the above-mentioned leaflet) or the like. It will easily be understood that each bracket is suspended from the respective supporting elements  1  of each shelf or the like. 
   The bracket is preferably made of a simple metal sheet or plate of metal or some other suitable material or a metal sheet bent in the shape of a U, or the like, cf.  FIG. 2 . In the last-mentioned case, the bending  6  is arranged in the lower part of the bracket  4  (in its mounted state) and its free ends in the upper part as is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Irrespective of what form the bracket  4  has, it exhibits at its one end a respective hook-shaped, protruding portion  7  which is adapted to be inserted into a selected slot  3  in the supporting element or rail  1  and to engage with an area inside the supporting element adjacent to the slot  3  for suspension of the bracket from the supporting element, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
   To be able to attach the bracket  4  more firmly to the supporting element  1 , especially if the bracket is made of a simple metal sheet or plate (not bent in a U-shape), a guide lug  8  is formed in a protruding manner at the end of the bracket with the protruding portion  7  at a distance therefrom corresponding to the mutual distance of the slots  3 . The guide lug  8  is adapted to be inserted into a separate slot in the supporting element  1 , see  FIG. 4 . 
   Reference is made to  FIG. 4 , in which one, two or more L-shaped grooves  9  are formed in that portion of the bracket  4  which is located opposite to the bending  6  and between the ends of the bracket in the longitudinal direction, that is between the protruding portion  7  and its free end  10 . The first leg  11  of the groove  9  extends in the longitudinal direction of the bracket  4  and its second leg  12  extends from the first leg  11  and leads to the upper portion of the bracket in  FIG. 4 . In the free end  10  of the bracket, there is a recess  13 , the bottom of which is located at the same level as the bottom of the L-shaped groove  9  (the first leg  11 ). 
   The above-described bracket  4  is preferred in the suspension system according to the invention, but the brackets which have been indicated in said Swedish patent application 9903969-5 and the above-mentioned leaflet can also advantageously be used. 
   In the system according to the invention also a frame  14  is included, which carries said shelf  5 , drawer or the like. The frame  14  consists of a pair of sides  15  which are parallel to one another and which are adapted to be attached to a respective neighbouring bracket  4 , and a connecting portion  16  which is perpendicular to the sides  15 , that is parallel to the wall  2  in  FIG. 1 . Preferably, the frame is made of a metal section which has been bent to said shape. 
   The metal section is in the illustrated embodiment essentially U-shaped in cross-section and consists of an upper flange  17 , a lower flange  18  and a web  19  connecting them with one another, see  FIG. 5B . In the illustrated embodiment, the shelf  5 , the drawer or the like is supported by the lower flange  18  but could also be supported by the upper flange  17 . It is also possible to use a section being L-shaped in cross-section, in which case preferably the upper flange  17  being eliminated. The frame  14  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a U-shaped structure in the plane of the shelf  5 , that is a frame with three sides. Naturally, it is possible to use a closed frame, that is a frame with four sides, which gives a frame with an essentially improved torsional stiffness. Preferably, the lower flange  18  protrudes beyond the upper flange  17  at the free ends of the sides  15  of the frame, as shown in  FIG. 2 , in order to facilitate the insertion of, for example, a shelf  5  in the mounted frame  14 , when the shelf is to rest on the lower flange  18 . 
   Both sides of the frame  14  are provided with attaching means for attaching the frame to a pair of brackets  4 . Each attaching means comprises at least one ear  20  which protrudes from each side  15  of the frame and away from the inside of the frame. In  FIG. 1  it has been shown that three ears  20  protrude from each side  15  of the frame. The ears  20  are punched in each web  19  and have a tongue-like shape, see  FIGS. 5A–5E , although other shapes are possible, such as rectangular, triangular or half-oval shapes. In addition, the ears  20  are substantially parallel to the respective webs  19 , see  FIG. 6 , or extend at an acute angle thereto. The location of the ears on the outer side  15  of the frame corresponds to the location of the groove  9  and recess  13  of the bracket, which will be discussed in the following. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, see particularly  FIG. 1 , each side of the frame has three ears  20  but, in many cases, two ears can be sufficient. Besides, each ear  20 , apart from one on each side of the frame, can be replaced by a pin or the like (not shown) protruding from the side of the frame. Thus, at least one ear on each side  15  of the frame is required. The ears  20  are oriented in, or with a slight inclination towards, the plane of the frame  14 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 A,  5 B,  5 E and  6 . Alternatively, the ears are oriented transversely to the plane of the frame, that is, downwards according to  FIG. 5C  and/or upwards according to  FIG. 5D . 
   In order to lock the frame  14  onto the associated brackets  4 , each side  15  of the frame exhibits at least one locking element  21  which protrudes from the web  19  and away from the inside of the frame and which thus protrudes from the same part of the web  19  as does the ear  20 , but an essentially shorter distance than does the ear. The position of the locking element  21  is defined relative to said at least one ear  20 , which will be discussed in the following in connection with the mounting operation. In  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 A,  5 C,  5 D, and  6 , the locking element  21  is shown as a wedge-shaped boss which is pressed in the web  19  with a sliding surface or a sliding edge  23  having a slight inclination, that is, at an obtuse angle (about 150°) to the web  19 , the sliding surface or sliding edge being oriented in the direction of mounting of the frame, see arrow  22  in  FIG. 2 , and a locking surface or locking edge  24  having a considerable inclination, that is, essentially perpendicular to the web  19 , the locking surface or locking edge being oriented opposite to the direction of mounting of the frame. 
   Although the locking element  21  presented above is preferred, the locking element can also have the shape of a short peg  21 ′ or stud which is attached to the outside of the web  19 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5E , the locking element can also be formed as a tongue  21 ″ which protrudes from the outside  15  of the frame and which is punched in the web  19  and which is similar to the ear  20  but considerably shorter and which is oriented opposite to the direction of mounting of the frame  14 , cf.  FIG. 2 . Naturally, other shapes of locking elements are also possible, for example, a screw in a threaded hole, a rivet or a pin (not shown). 
   Mounting of the illustrated suspension system takes place in the following way. 
   After the supporting elements or rails  1  have been put into position as described above, the protruding portion  7  of the respective brackets  4  is inserted into a selected slot. The frame  14  is placed between two brackets  4 , the ears  20  (and pins, if any, not shown) being inserted into the second leg  12  of the L-shaped grooves  9  and in the recess  13 , until the ears  20  rest on the bottom of the first leg  11  and the recess  13 , respectively. Subsequently, the frame  14  is displaced in a horizontal direction relative to the supporting elements  1 , that is, in the direction of mounting  22 . The locking element  21  then slides against the external surface of the bracket  4 . When the ears  20  in the L-shaped grooves  9  have been displaced towards and essentially adjacent to the innermost end of the first leg  11 , the locking element  21  snaps into the groove  9  and, with its locking surface  24 , abuts against that side of the first leg  11  which is nearest the free end  10  of the bracket, see  FIG. 3 , since the locking element  21  is positioned in such a manner relative to the ear  20  that this can take place, cf.  FIGS. 5A–6 . Of course, the same is also applicable when the locking element is formed as a pin or a pin  21 ′ (see  FIG. 5B ) or a tongue  21 ″ (see  FIG. 5E ) 
   Although the above locking arrangement with the locking element  21  and the ear  20  co-operating in the same groove  9  is preferred, it is also possible to position the locking element at another location, that is, not co-operating with the groove  9 . The locking element can thus be positioned in such a manner on the side  15  of the frame that, in connection with said displacement of the frame, it instead snaps into a slot  25  in the bracket  4  or slides into an indentation  26  or snaps into a hole  27  in the bracket. 
   After the suspension device according to the invention has been mounted in the above-mentioned manner, the shelf  4  or the upper edge of the drawer (not shown) is inserted into the frame, between the flanges  17  and  18  or above the upper flange  17 . 
   Since only one side of each bracket  4  is required in order to carry the frame  14 , see  FIG. 1 , the other side of the bracket can be used to carry another frame, wire shelf or the like. 
   The above-mentioned fastening of the frame to two brackets, and the torsion resistant arrangement which in this context is achieved when the frame is made of a metal section as stated above, also involves the advantage of the frame with the mounted brackets can be displaced as a unit to an optional location on a pair of supporting elements. If it is desirable to remove the frame from the brackets in order to mount some other structure thereon, for example, a wire shelf, one only needs to prize the locking element  21  loose (by means of a screwdriver or the like) from its engagement with the groove  9 , the slot  25  or the hole  27  and displace the frame in a direction opposite to the direction of mounting  22 , until the ear/ears  20  has/have got into the second leg  12  of the groove/grooves  9 , and lift out the frame  14 . 
   The invention is not limited to that described above or shown in the drawings, but can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.