GB1604232A - Shelving structures - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SHELVING STRUCTURES (71) We, LINK 51 LIMITED, a British Company of Haldane House, Halesfield, Telford, in the County of Salop, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention is concerned with improvements relating to shelving or the like structures, particularly dismantleable shelving structures of the kind (hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified) comprising horizontally- extending support members, upon which a shelf support is mounted.

Conventionally, in a shelving structure of the kind specified, the shelf support comprises a number of cross members mounted on the ledges of the horizontally-extending support members, and secured thereto in a desired position. A cladding material is then placed across the cross members to provide a continuous load bearing surface of the shelving structure. However, unless the cross members are mounted at close intervals, the cladding material must itself have substantial load bearing characteristics.

Since it is desirable to use cladding material which does not have substantial load bearing characteristics, a large number of cross members may be needed, and this adds significantly to the time taken to erect the shelving structure.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a dismantleabie Shelving structure comprising horizontally-extending support members, and a shelf support secured to and extending between the support members, said shelf support being formed of a plurality of supporting sections, each section comprising a plurality of flat root portions, a plurality of flat crest portions, the root portions lying in a plane parallel to, and spaced from the planes in which the crest portions lie, and a plurality of sloping portions extending between the crest and root portions at included angles of less than 90" thereto, end portions of the section being in the form of flanges extending at 900 to said planes.

Each end flange may extend from a crest portion towards the plane in which the root portions lie, or from a root portion towards the plane in which the crest portions lie.

Thus the shelf support may comprise a plurality of such sections with adjacent end flanges in abutting relationship, which flanges may be secured together by clips if desired.

Alternatively, the shelf support may com prise a plurality of such sections with adjacent end flanges in overlapping relationship.

Preferably, the sloping portions extend at included angles of between 30 and 80" to adjacent crest and root portions, preferably at an angle of between 45" and 65". Each section may be formed to a desired standard length, and of a desired sectional profile, by rolling of sheet metal.

In this manner, the shelving structure may be provided with a shelf support which has a high load bearing capability with relative simplicity. If desired, cladding may be secured to the upper surfaces of the support provided by the crests of the various sections, to provide a flat upper surface of the structure. However, such cladding need have only relatively low load bearing characteristics, and the provision of such cladding may not be necessary.

There will now be given a detailed descrip tion, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a shelving structure which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, and which has been selected to illustrate this invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating part of the shelving structure, in particular a vertical and horizontal supporting member thereof; and FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the shelf support in position on two horizontal support members.

The shelving structure which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is a dismantleable shelving structure comprises a num ber of vertical support members or struts 14, and a plurality of horizontal support members or beams 12 mounted thereon and extending therebetween.

Each strut 14 is provided, through at least one side thereof, with a number of uniformlyspaced apertures 16, and a connector member 6 of L-shape in cross-section is secured to the end face of each beam 12 in the orientation shown in Figure 1, with the outer face of the limb 8 of the connector abutting against the end face of the beam 12, and tangs 10 of the connector member projecting through an inner face of the limb 9 lengthwise of the connector in a downward direction. The beam 12, together with the connector 6, is presented to the strut 14 so that the limbs 8 and 9 embrace the two sides of the strut as shown in Figure 1, and the tangs 10 enter into two of the apertures 16 at a desired side of the beam 12.

Each beam comprises an inwardly directed and upwardly facing ledge 13, and mounted on and extending between the two ledges 13 of a pair of parallel beams of equal height is a shelf support.

The shelf support comprises a plurality of supporting sections 54, each supporting section comprising a plurality of flat root portions 56, a plurality of flat crest portions 58, said root portions 56 lying in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane in which the crest portions 58 lie, and a plurality of sloping portions 60 extending between the crest and root portions at included angles of between 30 and 80 , preferably between 45" and 65 , and advantageously about 60". Each section 54 also comprises end flanges 62, extending downwardly from and end-most crest portion 58 at right angles thereto, thus, each section terminates at either side with a crest portion and a downwardly-extending flange portion.

In use, several sections 54 are positioned on the ledges 13 of the two beams, and adjacent end flanges are brought into abutting rela tionship and may be secured together by the use of clips (not shown).

Alternatively, each section may terminate, at one side, with a crest portion, and a downwardly extending flange portion, and at the other side with the root portion and an up wardly extending flange portion. In such circumstances, adjacent flanges may be secured together in overlapping relationship.

The sections 54 are formed by the continuous rolling of sheet metal, the sections being cut to desired lengths (that is the dimension ex tending widthwise of the shelf structure).

As shown in Figure 2, the crest portions 58 are longer in the direction parallel to the beam 12, than the root portions 56.

The shelf support provided in this manner has a high load bearing capability and is provided conveniently and relatively inexpensively.

Attention is drawn to the Specification of U.K. Patent Application No. 10250/77 (Serial No. 1,64,231) from which this present application has been divided.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A dismantleable shelving structure comprising two horizontally extending support members, and a shelf support secured to and extending between said support members, said shelf support being formed of a plurality of supporting section, each section comprising a plurality of flat root portions, a plurality of flat crest portions, the root portions lying in a plane parallel to, and spaced from, the plane in which the crest portions lie, and a plurality of sloping portions extending between the crest and root portions at included angles of less than 900 thereto, end portions of the section being in the form of flanges extending at 900 to said planes.

2. A shelving structure according to Claim 1 wherein some at least of the end flanges extend from a crest portion towards the plane in which the root portions lie.

3. A shelving structure according to any one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein some at least of the end flanges extend from a root portion towards the plane in which the crest portions lie.

4. A shelving structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein adjacent end flanges of adjacent supporting sections are in abutting relationship.

5. A shelving structure according to any one of Claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein adjacent end flanges of adjacent supporting sections are in overlapping relationship.

6. A shelving structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sloping portions extend at included angles of between 30 and 80" to adjacent crest and root portions.

7. A shelving structure according to Claim 6 wherein the sloping portions extend at included angles of between 45" and 65" to adjacent crest and root portions.

8. A shelving structure according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of vertical support members, and a plurality of horizontal support members releasably secured to the vertical support members by the use of connector members.

9. A dismantleable shelving structure constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ber of vertical support members or struts 14, and a plurality of horizontal support members or beams 12 mounted thereon and extending therebetween. Each strut 14 is provided, through at least one side thereof, with a number of uniformlyspaced apertures 16, and a connector member 6 of L-shape in cross-section is secured to the end face of each beam 12 in the orientation shown in Figure 1, with the outer face of the limb 8 of the connector abutting against the end face of the beam 12, and tangs 10 of the connector member projecting through an inner face of the limb 9 lengthwise of the connector in a downward direction. The beam 12, together with the connector 6, is presented to the strut 14 so that the limbs 8 and 9 embrace the two sides of the strut as shown in Figure 1, and the tangs 10 enter into two of the apertures 16 at a desired side of the beam 12. Each beam comprises an inwardly directed and upwardly facing ledge 13, and mounted on and extending between the two ledges 13 of a pair of parallel beams of equal height is a shelf support. The shelf support comprises a plurality of supporting sections 54, each supporting section comprising a plurality of flat root portions 56, a plurality of flat crest portions 58, said root portions 56 lying in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane in which the crest portions 58 lie, and a plurality of sloping portions 60 extending between the crest and root portions at included angles of between 30 and 80 , preferably between 45" and 65 , and advantageously about 60". Each section 54 also comprises end flanges 62, extending downwardly from and end-most crest portion 58 at right angles thereto, thus, each section terminates at either side with a crest portion and a downwardly-extending flange portion. In use, several sections 54 are positioned on the ledges 13 of the two beams, and adjacent end flanges are brought into abutting rela tionship and may be secured together by the use of clips (not shown). Alternatively, each section may terminate, at one side, with a crest portion, and a downwardly extending flange portion, and at the other side with the root portion and an up wardly extending flange portion. In such circumstances, adjacent flanges may be secured together in overlapping relationship. The sections 54 are formed by the continuous rolling of sheet metal, the sections being cut to desired lengths (that is the dimension ex tending widthwise of the shelf structure). As shown in Figure 2, the crest portions 58 are longer in the direction parallel to the beam 12, than the root portions 56. The shelf support provided in this manner has a high load bearing capability and is provided conveniently and relatively inexpensively. Attention is drawn to the Specification of U.K. Patent Application No. 10250/77 (Serial No. 1,64,231) from which this present application has been divided. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A dismantleable shelving structure comprising two horizontally extending support members, and a shelf support secured to and extending between said support members, said shelf support being formed of a plurality of supporting section, each section comprising a plurality of flat root portions, a plurality of flat crest portions, the root portions lying in a plane parallel to, and spaced from, the plane in which the crest portions lie, and a plurality of sloping portions extending between the crest and root portions at included angles of less than 900 thereto, end portions of the section being in the form of flanges extending at 900 to said planes.

2. A shelving structure according to Claim 1 wherein some at least of the end flanges extend from a crest portion towards the plane in which the root portions lie.

3. A shelving structure according to any one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein some at least of the end flanges extend from a root portion towards the plane in which the crest portions lie.

4. A shelving structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein adjacent end flanges of adjacent supporting sections are in abutting relationship.

5. A shelving structure according to any one of Claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein adjacent end flanges of adjacent supporting sections are in overlapping relationship.

6. A shelving structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sloping portions extend at included angles of between 30 and 80" to adjacent crest and root portions.

7. A shelving structure according to Claim 6 wherein the sloping portions extend at included angles of between 45" and 65" to adjacent crest and root portions.

8. A shelving structure according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of vertical support members, and a plurality of horizontal support members releasably secured to the vertical support members by the use of connector members.

9. A dismantleable shelving structure constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.