ES2319790T3 - BACKGROUND PANEL FOR METAL FURNITURE OF SHELVES. - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a rectangular back panel (10) supported by vertical upright columns (2a, 2b). The columns have openings (6) cooperating with arms (7) to support horizontal racks (9) inclined from rear towards front. Upper and lower cross-braces (11, 12) are placed above and below the panel. The panel and the cross braces have L-shape hooks cooperating with openings arranged on lateral sides (13) of the columns by bending the panel. An independent claim is also included for a method of assembling a shelf.

Description

Bottom panel for metal furniture shelves

The present invention relates to a shelving device essentially consisting of uprights vertical supporting by means of removable fixing shelves to deposit or present merchandise and comprising at least one bottom panel so as to form a single frame, independent and perfectly rigid.

In the field of shelving devices intended to present products, especially in large surfaces, devices consisting of uprights are known tubular verticals provided with opening cooperating with some arm fixing means supporting the shelves classically horizontal or inclined from back to front and from top to bottom to present merchandise destined for sale.

These devices usually comprise two vertical uprights integral to a base, or also four vertical uprights joined together by sleepers horizontal. The lower extremities of the uprights vertical then constitute the feet, arranged rectangularly to ensure shelf stability. These devices also comprise bottom panels  supported by two uprights to constitute visual dividers on the back side of the shelf.

The bottom panels, although ensuring their first function of visual separator, have the disadvantage of bend under the load, that is to say that they are apt to deform according to the proper ways of deformation of a plate, well known, especially according to the flexion and / or torsion modes. This fatally contributes to increasing the instability of a framework formed by two adjacent uprights and a bottom panel joining them, especially under the influence of significant loads arranged on the shelves that said uprights support and this, that the configuration is of the type "shelving" (four vertical uprights connected to each other by sleepers horizontal) or "gondola" type (two vertical uprights solidarity to a base, holding cantilever shelves).

Patent application GB 2,362,808.A is known.  which discloses a shelf device equipped with two sleepers horizontal high and low, arranged between the two uprights vertical panels that receive the bottom panels that serve as a separator visual. These sleepers allow stiffening the uprights vertical and limit deformations of the bottom panels.

The panels are generally constituted by flat sheet plate whose longitudinal and / or transverse edges are folded to form peripheral skirts perpendicular to the plane of said panel. These skirts are provided with holes to allow the fixing of the panels on the uprights vertical by screws, rivets or any other means analogous. In the case of patent application GB 2,362,808.A, the bottom panels are plated and fixed on the faces front of the vertical uprights by added means of Type fixing clips.

These different ways of fixing the background panels require the use of special tools and all require significant time to assemble and disassemble various elements composing each shelving device.

On the other hand the bottom panels present the  inconvenient, during its production, of occupying a large volume and therefore a large storage area. Indeed, the storage of these panels is done by stacking on palette leaving a free volume between two successive panels corresponding to the height of the skirts. This constitutes a loss of volume that results in an occupation on the ground more important that considerably increases the costs of storage before assembly but also the costs of transport.

One of the objectives of the present invention is  alleviate these problems by proposing a device shelves comprising at least one bottom panel that can disassemble and assemble without using special tool, in a minimum time, allowing to increase the rigidity of the structure performed and decrease your storage volume before mounting.

For this purpose and in accordance with the invention, a shelving device comprising at least one bottom panel, globally rectangular and constituted by a flat plate, supported by at least two vertical uprights tubular of globally rectangular section provided, on their front and / or rear faces of openings cooperating with some fixing means to arms to support horizontal shelves or leaning back and forth and at least one cross ties stiffening the frame, characterized in that the bottom panels that are then superimposed are provided with  fixing means that are inserted and hooked on the faces sides of the vertical uprights, the insertion is done by curved panels obtained by its flat plate shape.

The invention also relates to a bottom panel placement procedure used in the shelving device, characterized in that the placement of the bottom panels 10 you get:

- positioning and inserting the hooks of the first vertical edge of the panel in the openings located above the lateral faces of the first vertical upright,

- manually bending the panel until the curved panel width, including hooks, is less than which separates the side faces of the two vertical uprights, allowing so:

- position the hooks of the second edge vertical curved panel in front of openings on the face side of the second vertical post, then,

- let the curved panel return to its shape normal and initial ceasing to exert the bending effort, and parallel to this stage,

- insert the hooks of the second edge vertical panel in the openings on the side face of the Second vertical upright.

The invention also relates to a assembly procedure of the shelving device according to a any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a first stage of mounting the base and at least two uprights verticals on which at least one sleeper is mounted on its high limb, by insertion of the hooks of hook of said crossbeam in the openings on the lateral faces of said uprights characterized in that it then comprises the realization of the following stages:

- bending by bending a first panel in the background by inserting the hooks of said panel into the openings on the side faces of the uprights they receive simultaneously the hooks of the high sleeper, then,

- placement by bending of bottom panels successive overlapping and eventually overlapping them, obtaining the overlap by inserting the hooks of a first panel in the openings of the lateral faces of the uprights that simultaneously receive the hooks of a Second adjacent panel.

The bending of the bottom panels is obtained according to the panel placement procedure as presented above.

It is understood that the structure obtained by the simultaneous use of bottom panels and sleepers to join two adjacent uprights have greater rigidity because the sleepers advantageously suppress the possibility of deformation of a bottom panel only that is, we remember, susceptible to deform in torsion and flexion under loads. On the other hand, the presence of the background panel (s) suppresses any deformation of the deformable parallelogram type that the presence of horizontal sleepers alone to join two uprights could engender.

It is also understood that such a conception advantageously allows mounting and fixing very easily, without tool and without any fixing part added, the panels bottom on the lateral faces of the vertical uprights. It allows to superimpose and eventually overlap several panels to adjust them to the height of the placed gondola that is delimited on his upper limb by a high naughty and on his limb lower by the base of the device or possibly by a Naughty low.

In addition these panels do not include skirts peripherals contrary to the prior art which allows a stacked on the loading pallet without loss of volume to the extent in which you can put them directly on each other.

The invention will be better understood with the description below, referring to the drawings schematic annexes, representing as examples not limiting various ways of executing devices shelves:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shelving device according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a face view of a panel background used in the device of figure 1,

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a amount used in the device of figure 1,

- Figure 4 is a front view of a crossbar used in the device of figure 1,

- Figure 5 is a side view of a sleeper mounted on figure 4,

- Figure 6 is a sectional view of the shelving device according to the invention.

It will be described in this example of execution no limiting, a two-post shelving device vertical classically called "gondola" putting into practice a rigid non-deformable frame according to the invention, comprising together: two vertical uprights, two sleepers globally horizontal and a bottom panel arranged between said uprights; it is understood that an analogous description could have been given to from an example of execution where the shelving device out of four vertical uprights classically called shelf.

Referring to FIG. 1, the gondola 1 is constituted of two vertical uprights 2 a and 2 b maintained in a stable vertical position by a base 3 comprising horizontal stringers, not shown, integral with the lower parts of the vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b and provided on its free end of jacks 4 of adjustable plastic material to ensure the stability of the gondola 1. The horizontal stringers of the base 3 support plates 5 enabling the structure of the base 3 and forming on both sides of the vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b a presentation shelf.

The vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b are constituted by tubes of rectangular section comprising on their front and rear faces, that is to say the visible face and the opposite side of the uprights when facing the gondola 1, rectangular openings 6 arranged in line with each other according to their length and regularly spaced along the vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b allow the fixing of arms 7 that extend forward and generally triangular provided in their base of hooks for their reversible fixation easily removable a the uprights 2 a , 2 b . The arms 7 serve as a support for plates 8 to constitute display shelves 9, on both sides of the vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b , and on which products intended for sale are exposed. Thus a first alignment by superposition of shelves 9 extends forward in the direction of a first aisle where the customers circulate and a second alignment of symmetrical shelves 9 in relation to the vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b extends backwards in the direction of a Second aisle parallel to the first.

It is understood that the arms 7 and therefore the presentation shelves 9 can be more or less inclined from back to front and from top to bottom according to the invention and that the vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b can be constituted by tubes of cylindrical or polygonal section.

In order to visually separate the products presented in a corridor in relation to the parallel, the gondola comprises a bottom panel 10 with reference to Figure 1, which extends between the two vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b with which it is in solidarity to separate the gondola 1 into two different assortment zones. The bottom panel 10 extends from the bottom of the uprights 2 a , 2 b to its upper extremities so that the separation of the two merchandise zones is complete and to ensure greater rigidity of the structure of the gondola 1.

It is understood that the separation of the areas of merchandise can be made by several bottom panels 10 apt to overlap as will be explained later.

On the other hand, at least one cross member 11 is arranged horizontally at the high end of the uprights 2 a , 2 b , above the bottom panel 10; This cross member 11 reinforces the rigidity of the structure of the gondola 1, and especially that of the upper extremity of the uprights 2 a , 2 b .

The lower end of the uprights 2 a , 2 b is sufficiently stiffened on the base 3 which, covered by plates 5 constituting a presentation shelf, is thus loaded with articles and then has a very good stability. In order to reinforce the rigidity of the frame, the gondola 1 may eventually be equipped with a crossbar 12, arranged horizontally at the lower end of the uprights 2 a , 2 b , under the bottom panel 10.

In the example of shelving device represented in the attached figures, on which the following the description of the invention, two are provided sleepers 11 and 12, high and low respectively, arranged almost horizontally on both sides of the bottom panel 10, that is one above the latter and the other below.

With reference to Figure 2, the bottom panel 10 has on its vertical edges fixing means to the lateral faces 13 of the vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b which are in principle hooks 14 in general form of "L" lying , capable of being inserted in openings 15 arranged along said lateral faces 13. The openings 15 are distributed in a line centered on the lateral faces 13 or not, (depending on the desired application according to a regular step and according to its length. Likewise, the hooks 14 are distributed over the entire length of the vertical sides of the bottom panel 10 according to a regular passage of a value corresponding to an integer multiple of the value of the passage of the openings 15.

The bottom panels 10 are manufactured by sheet metal cutout whose thickness is reduced relative to to the prior art, the rigidity of the frame to which the bottom panel belongs is obtained in parallel thanks to sleepers 11 and 12 whose number can be equal to or greater than two. Classically the bottom panel 10 is a globally shaped flat plate rectangular and the thickness of the hooks 14 is equal to the thickness of the sheet metal plate from which the bottom panel is obtained 10.

In a non-limiting preferential mode, the panel background 10 is made of metal and has a thickness of millimeter order that allows you to manually bend the panel in the elastic field, returning the panel to its initial shape when the bending effort on it ceases.

It is clear that the bottom panels 10 can be made of wood, plexiglas®, plastic or generally from any material can be presented in the form of a plate rectangular, rigid enough to fulfill its role admitting at the same time bending during assembly as will be explained later.

The bottom panel 10 has a width between its vertical edges, that is to say without counting the hooks 14, substantially smaller, and at most equal, to the width that separates the faces 13 of the two vertical uprights 2 a and 2 b . While the width of the bottom panel 10 including the hooks 14 arranged on the two vertical edges, is greater than the width that separates the side faces 13 of the two vertical uprights 2 a and 2 b , in the normal equilibrium position of said panel 10.

Thus, during the assembly of the device shelf 1, object of the present invention, the placement of a bottom panel 10 is obtained as follows:

- a) the hooks 14 of the first vertical edge of the panel 10 are positioned and inserted in the openings 15 located on the side face 13 of the first vertical upright 2 a and 2 b ,

- b) the panel 10 is curved manually until the width of the curved panel, including the hooks 14, is less than that which separates the side faces 13 of the two vertical uprights 2 a and 2 b , thus allowing:

- position the hooks 14 of the second vertical edge of the curved panel 10 in front of the openings 15 on the side face 13 of the second vertical upright 2 a or 2 b , then,

- let the curved panel 10 return to its shape normal and initial ceasing to exert the bending effort, and parallel to this stage,

- insert the hooks 14 of the second vertical edge of the panel 10 into the openings 15 on the side face 13 of the second vertical upright 2 a or 2 b .

Advantageously the width of the openings is greater than twice the thickness of a bottom panel 10, of so that two hooks 14 belonging to two bottom panels different can be introduced simultaneously in an opening 15. This particular feature allows you to overlap two bottom panels 10 and thus adjust the desired total height of the  separation of merchandise areas. It is clear that according to another Execution variant, not shown in the figures, the background can be obtained by superimposing two or several panels 10 mounted below each other.

Advantageously also, the sleepers 11 and 12 are identical and are obtained by trimming, then bending a plate according to two longitudinal folds 16 and 17 (Figure 5), parallel to each other so that each one presents a section in general "Z". Each end 18, 19 of a cross member 11, 12 has fixing means, to the lateral faces 13 of the uprights 2 a , 2 b , easily removable. More precisely in the particular embodiment described herein and referring to Figure 4, each of the extremities 18 and 19 comprises two hooks 20 analogously to the hooks 14 arranged on the vertical sides of the bottom panels 10. The general section "Z" allows to obtain a great resistance to bending and torsion of the sleepers 11 and 12. The thickness of the sheet from which the sleepers 11 and 12 are obtained is the main parameter that influences this resistance

According to another particular feature, the openings 15 have a width greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the sheet forming the sleepers 11 and 12 and the sheet forming the bottom panels 10, which allows to introduce simultaneously in an opening 15 a hook 14 for engaging a bottom panel 10 and a hook 20 for a crossbar 11, 12. This feature allows to obtain the presented configuration to figure 6, where the flat part of each crossbar 11 or 12 formed by the vertical portion of the "Z" section is parallel to the bottom panel 10. To increase the rigidity of the together, the cross member 11 is arranged from one side of the plane to the which the bottom panel 10 belongs, while the naughty 12 It is arranged on the other side.

Finally, each limb 18, 19 of a cross member 11, 12 comprises removable means that allow to avoid involuntary disengagement by lifting it. More precisely, at least one tongue 21 (figure 4) is provided to be inserted after folding into an opening 15 of the corresponding post 2 a , 2 b , then the tongue coming into contact with the upper side 22 (figure 3) of said opening 15. Thus during the assembly of the described metal furniture, it is sufficient for the operator to fold the tabs 21 arranged at the ends 18 and 19 of the sleepers 11 and 12 after the latter have been fixed to the studs 2 a and 2 b to ensure that the involuntary disengagement of a crossbar 11 and 12 is impossible, except for forcing the tabs 21 in their initial configuration.

It follows from the foregoing that the assembly of the elements of the shelving device does not require any tools and is carried out by simple boxing of hooks 14, 20 in the openings 15 of the vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b , making the assembly and disassembly of the bottom panel (s) 10 by bending them, which is possible given their low thickness, obtaining at the same time a particularly rigid assembly.

Also, the fact of being able to superimpose some 10 identical panels to make the bottom of the shelves, according to the invention it seeks the decisive advantage of reducing the number of panel references to solve the different height cases of the uprights 2, thus ensuring a gain remarkable production.

Preferably and not limitatively, the bottom panels 10 will preferably have a height of the order of fifty centimeters; the shelving device 1 will need, in this case, to overlap and eventually overlap at least three bottom panels 10. Thus, the assembly of the shelving device 1 object of the present invention is obtained very easily given the remarkable conception of said device 1 proceeding to the following stages, which intervene after a first stage of mounting the base 3 and at least two vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b on which at least one cross member 11 is mounted at its high end, by insertion of the hooks 20 of said sleepers 11, 12 in the openings 15 on the lateral faces 13 of said uprights 2 a , 2 b :

- a first bottom panel 10 is curved by inserting the hooks 14 of said panel 10 into the openings 15 of the side faces 13 of the uprights 2 a , 2 b simultaneously receiving the hooks 20 of the crossbar 11 high, then eventually,

- the successive bottom panels 10 are curved by superimposing and eventually overlapping them, the overlapping is obtained by inserting the hooks 14 of a first panel 10 into the openings 15 of the side faces 13 of the uprights 2 a , 2 b they receive simultaneously the hooks 14 of a second adjacent panel 10.

In the configuration shown in the figures annexes where the shelving device is equipped with two sleepers 11, 12 high and low an additional stage of placement:

- by bending a second bottom panel 10 by inserting the hooks 14 of said panel 10 into the openings 15 of the side faces 13 of the uprights 2 a , 2 b simultaneously receiving the hooks 20 of the crossbar 12 low .

"Successive bottom panels 10" means that following the placement of the first bottom panel 10, mounted simultaneously with the high crossbar 11, it is placed successively, overlapping and eventually overlapping them, the bottom panels 10 until it reaches the low end of the vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b , limited by the base 3, is the second bottom panel 10 mounted simultaneously with a low sleeper 12.

It will first be necessary that the bending of the bottom panels 10 is obtained by the placement procedure as described above, and after the two stages of positioning of bottom panels 10 with high sleepers 11 and low 12 can be done in an indifferent order.

Particularly advantageously, and due to the shape of the bottom panels 10 and their positioning between the side faces, each plate 8 can have two identical rectangular notches (not shown) made respectively at the ends of the rear side of said plate, that is to say the side of the plate 8 closer to the bottom panel (s) 10. The depth of each notch is greater than or equal to half the width of a side face 13 of a vertical upright 2 a , 2 b , so that after mounting the plate 8 on the support arms 7, one of the vertical uprights 2 a or 2 b comes to be housed in the space offered by each notch, while the rear side of said plate 8 comes into contact with the panel of corresponding background 10. This configuration allows to increase the storage space offered by the plates 8 for a volume and dimensions of the equivalent gondola on the one hand, and prevents objects arranged near the rear side of the plate 8 from falling between the corresponding bottom panel 10 and said back side on the other hand.

With the same objective, it is possible to provide during the use of rectangular plates 8 a crossbeam that is interspersed between the rear side of a plate 8 and the corresponding bottom panel 10. This sleeper is easily removable, has an upper face that is globally parallel to the plane defined by the plate 8 and is sympathetically attached to the plate by any known means. It is clear that the length of the sleeper must be less than or equal to the distance between the two vertical uprights 2 a , 2 b .

Finally it is understood that the panel (s) background according to the invention can be adapted to any type of shelving device or metal furniture, such as by example to a four-post shelving device vertical, and that the examples just described are only particular illustrations in no way limiting the fields of application of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. Shelving device for the presentation of articles comprising at least one bottom panel (10), globally rectangular and constituted by a flat plate, supported by at least two vertical tubular uprights (2 a , 2 b ) of section rectangular provided on their front and / or rear faces, of openings (6) cooperating by means of fixing with arms (7) to support horizontal or inclined slats (9) from back to front and from top to bottom, and at least one cross member (11) stiffening the frame, characterized in that the bottom panel (10) which are then superimposed, are provided with fastening means suitable for inserting and engaging on the lateral faces (13) of the vertical uprights (2 a , 2 b ), obtaining the insertion by bending of the panels (10) obtained by its flat plate shape. 2. Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the fixing means of the bottom panel (10) on the uprights (2 a , 2 b ) are constituted by openings (15) made on the lateral faces (13) of said uprights (2 a , 2 b ) cooperating with the hooks (14) in general "L" form lying along the vertical edges of the bottom panel (10). Device according to the preceding claim characterized in that the openings (15) are rectangular in shape, distributed in line according to their length and according to a regular step and because the hooks (14) are distributed according to a regular pass of a value corresponding to a multiple whole of the passage of the distribution of openings (15). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom panel (10) is obtained by trimming a plate of reduced thickness. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the width of the openings (15) is more than twice the thickness of a bottom panel (10). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two sleepers (11, 12) arranged in the upper and lower extremities of the vertical uprights (2 a , 2 b ), one (11) on top of the panel (s). bottom (10) and the other (12) under the bottom panels (10). Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the means for fixing the sleepers (11, 12) to the vertical uprights consist of at least two hooks (20) in general form of "L" lying down, arranged in each end (18, 19) of each cross member (11, 12), capable of cooperating with the openings (15) made on the lateral faces (13) of the uprights (2 a , 2 b ). Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the sleepers (11) and (12) without identical and are obtained by trimming and bending a sheet according to two folds (16, 17), longitudinal and parallel between them so that each of said sleepers (11) and (12) have a general section of "Z". 9. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that each end (18, 19) of a sleeper (11, 12) comprises removable means that allow the involuntary disengagement of said sleepers (11, 12), consisting of less a tongue (21) intended to be inserted after folding into an opening (15) of the corresponding amount (2 a , 2 b ), so that the tongue (21) comes into contact with the upper side (22) of said opening (15). Device according to claims 5 and 8, characterized in that the width of the openings (15) is greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the sheet forming the sleepers (11, 12) and of the sheet forming a bottom panel (10 ). Device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the bottom panels (10) are capable of overlapping, then two hooks (14, 20) being simultaneously inserted into an opening (15) made on the side face (13 ) of the uprights (2 a , 2 b ). 12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that each plate (8) has two rectangular notches made respectively at the ends of the rear side of said plate (8), the depth of each notch being greater than or equal to half of the width of a side face (13) of a vertical upright (2 a , 2 b ). 13. Device according to claim 12 characterized in that the rear end of the plate (8) is in contact with the bottom panel (10), to increase the storage space of said plate (8) and prevent the falling of the objects arranged in East. 14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that an easily removable crossbeam comes to be sandwiched between the rear side of a rectangular plate (8) and the corresponding bottom panel (10), the upper face of said crosspiece being globally parallel to the plane defined by the plate (8) while the crosspiece is removably attached to said plate (8) by any known means. 15. Procedure for placing the bottom panel (10) used in the shelving device (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the placement of the bottom panels (10) is obtained as follows: - the hooks (14) of the first vertical edge of the panel (10) are positioned and inserted in the openings (15) located on the lateral faces (13) of the first vertical upright (2 a , 2 b ), - the panel (10) is manually curved until the width of the curved panel, including the hooks (14), is less than the width that separates the side faces (13) of the two vertical uprights (2 a , 2 b ), allowing so:

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position the hooks (14) of the second vertical edge of the curved panel (10) in front of the openings (15) on the side face (13) of the second vertical upright (2 a , 2 b ), then,

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leave the panel (10) curved return to its normal and initial form ceasing to exert the effort of curved, and parallel to this stage,

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insert the hooks (14) of the second vertical edge of the panel (10) into the openings (15) on the side face (13) of the second vertical upright (2 a , 2 b ).

16. Assembly procedure of the shelving device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising a first stage of mounting the base (3) and at least two vertical uprights (2 a , 2 b ) on the which at least one cross member (11) is mounted on its high end, by inserting the hooks (20) of said cross ties (11, 12) into the openings (15) on the lateral faces (13) of said uprights (13) ( 2 a , 2 b ) characterized in that it then comprises performing the following steps: - by curved positioning of a first bottom panel (10) by inserting the hooks (14) of said panel (10) into the openings (15) of the lateral faces (13) of the uprights (2 a , 2 b ) that simultaneously receive the hooks (20) of the crossbar (11) high, then, - placing by curving the successive bottom panels (10) by superimposing them and possibly overlapping them, the overlapping is obtained by inserting the hooks (14) of hooking a first panel (10) into the openings (15) of the side faces (13) ) of the uprights (2 a , 2 b ) that simultaneously receive the hooks (14) of engagement of an adjacent second panel (10), obtaining the bending of the bottom panels (10) according to the positioning procedure of the preceding claim .