GB2027586A

GB2027586A - A modular shelf panel elements

Info

Publication number: GB2027586A
Application number: GB7917068A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-17
Filing date: 1979-05-16
Publication date: 1980-02-27
Also published as: BE876329A; CH633432A5; ATA364079A; YU117379A; FR2456494B1; AT374101B; FR2456494A1; NL7903902A

Abstract

A shelf panel is provided with reinforcing ribs 5 in the central region of the shelving, projecting below the plane of the shelving 1 and 2, and with side ribs 3 and 4 which aid the reinforcement of the shelving and also act as male and female interlocking members to lock adjacent panels together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A modular element suitable for horizontal shelves of stands The present invention relates to shelving, and more particularly to a modular element for forming shelves for fitting to storage stands or frameworks or the like.

At present, metal and wooden stands or frameworks for storing goods etc. may be provided with shelves which comprise modular elements supported by inner tabs or flanges, angle iron or the like of the supporting framework.

A known form of modular element comprises a plate having flanges at the sides at right angles to the plane of the shelf which flanges are the only reinforcement of the shelf which is mounted in the frames as simply bearing thereon and in side by side relationship to other elements.

The elements although made of rather substantial thickness may suffer from the disadvantages of yielding or bending when loaded.

This occurs because the elements are reinforced against loading by only the vertical side flanges.

The bending of the elements breaks the continuity of the shelving and reduces the stability of the goods stored thereon. The elements are placed adjacent one another without having any coupling to one another for increasing the connection, compactness and reliability thereof when arranged in the frame accommodationg them.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention consists in a modular element for forming shelves in which there are provided flanges at a pair of opposite sides, which flanges are cooperable with corresponding flanges of adjacent modular elements so as to interlock adjacent modular elements and in which the interlocking flanges form a reinforcing rib.

A further aspect of the present invention consists in the provision of reinforcing ribs, which are preferably of similar cross section to a pair of interlocking flanges and which are cooperable with the separate flanges of adjacent modular elements so as to allow overlapping of the modular elements.

In a preferred form of the present invention the cross-section of the reinforcing ribs is triangular, having an open apex at the suport plane of the modular element, so as to minimize the width of the discontinuity in the support plane.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a modular element according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective side view showing a portion of stand shelf containing a series of the modular elements of Figure 1: Figure 3 isa sectional view, showing the ribs of the modular element, taken along the line A-A of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a modular element according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which may be formed, for example, by bending a single sheet of metal and comprising surfaces 1 and 2, side flanges 3 and 4, and a central rib 5.

Side flanges 3 and 4 form female and male locking members respectively.

Each of the ribs and flanges are of a particular characteristic shape, and each wall of the ribs or flanges is at a small constant angle relative to a vertical plane, alternately to the right and to the left. The side wall of flange 3 which lies, as do the otherr walls, below the planar surfaces 1 and 2, is inwardly inclined relative to the element. The base of the flange 3 is formed by flat horizontal portion 6. Asmall flange 7 projects upwardly from the side of pdrtion 6 and is inclined towards the wall of the flange 3 at the same angle of inclination to the vertical as the wall. The male locking member 4 is disposed at the opposite side of the element to the side flange 3 and is similar in shape to the flange 3 but does not have the flange 7.The horizontal portion 8 is slightly narrower than the horizontal portion 6 of side flange 3.

The two side flanges 3 and 4 allow coupling of the elements as required for joint connection of adjacent modular elements to form an extended carrying plane, as shown in Figure 2.

Either individually or coupled with the corresponding flanges of other elements, the flanges 3 and 4 form a reinforcement and support of the bearing planes 1 and 2 and are connectable, as shown in the drawing, as they are formed in a similar shape.

The central longitudinal rib 5, with the two walls 5' and 5" inclined by the same constant angle, also reinforces and supports the planes or surfaces 1 and 2. Wall 5' is parallel to wall 3, while wall 5" is parallel to wall 4. It is preferable that the base of the rib 5 is of such width so as to accommodate the base of the flange 4 inside the rib 5 and/or such that the rib 5 may be accommodated in the flange 3.

Figure 2 shows a series of interconnected modular elements located on the shelf support members of a framework. In the example shown, two longitudinal members 9 and 10, of right angled section support the modular elements. The vertical backs 11 and 1 1 ' of the members 9 and 10 retain the modular elements which comprise the carrying plane or shelf, the elements are supported on the flanges 12 and 12'.

Figure 3 shows how the modular elements are connected together.

The male locking member, comprising the flange 4 with the horizontal portion 8, of each modular element is located within the female locking element, flange 3, of the adjacent modular element forming a very reliable, compact and dismantable connection. The connection also provides support to the surface 1 and 2, similar to that provided by the central ribs 5.

It can be seen that by having triangular section ribs 5 and part triangular section locking members 3 and 4, discontinuities in the plane of the shelving may be kept to a minimum.

In case of need, the cavity of the reinforcing rib 5 of a first modular element can accommodate the side flange 4 of a second element while the side flange 4 of the former remains surrounded by a side of the reinforcing rib 5 of the second element.

This greatly increases the range of widths of shelving which can be made from modular elements of the same size.

The modular element provided as described has the advantages of being economical and practical, and particuiarly the element may be made of plates of thinner gauge and/or less weight and hence cost over shelving which is provided without central supporting ribs.

It is, of course, possible to provide more than one central rib 5 where the width of the modular element makes this desirable. Also the modular elements may be formed from moulded plastics or sheet metal or the like.

The details of the invention as described may be varied within the scope of the accompanying

Claims

claims. CLAIMS

1. A modular element for forming shelves in which there are provided flanges, at a pair of opposite sides, which flanges are cooperable with corresponding flanges of adjacent modular elements so as to interlock adjacent modular elements and in which the interlocking flanges form a reinforcing rib.

2. A modular element as claimed in claim 1, in which there is provided at least one reinforcing rib which is of similar cross section to a pair of interlocking flanges of adjacent modular elements such that the reinforcing rib is cooperable with the separate flanges to allow overlapping of the modular elements.

3. A modular element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the reinforcing ribs are substantially triangular in cross section, having an open apex at the support plane, so as to minimize the width of the discontinuities in the support plane.

4. A modular element for forming shelves, wherein there are provided one or more reinforcing ribs extending below the use plane.

5. A modular element as claimed in claim 4, wherein such an element is provided with joining means for its connection with other like modular elements, to provide with the latter a strong supporting shelf.

6. A modular element as claimed in claim 5, wherein the joining means comprise ribs extending below the use plane.

7. A modular element 4 as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, comprising a single sheet with supporting and reinforcing ribs at a pair of opposite sides.

8. A modular element for shelving as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the side ribs are cooperable with corresponding side ribs of adjacent like elements.

9. A modular element for shelving as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the element is made of plate sheets of minimum thickness owing to stiffening provided by the ribs.

10. A modular element as claimed in any of claims 4 to 9 wherein the element is provided with a central reinforcing rib which has a base and two sides and having a substantially identical profile to the side ribs.

11. A modular element as claimed in claim 10, wherein the central reinforcing rib is of triangular cross-section.

12. A modular element as claimed in any of claims 4 to 11 , wherein the central reinforcing rib is juxtaposed by one or more spaced ribs equal to the central ribs and in such a number as to assure the required carrying capacity and rigidity.

13. A modular element as claimed in any of claims 4 to 12, wherein a central rib can accommodate one of the side ribs of another modular element to be connected to the first modular element.

14. A modular element for shelving as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the modular element is formed from sheet metal.

15. A modular element as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the modular element is made for frames having support means for wooden shelving.

1 6. A modular element as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the modular element is made for frames having support means of tubular or angle iron or the like.

1 7. A modular element as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the modular element surfaces are protected by paint, plastics, zinc, chromium or the like.

18. A modular element as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the modular element comprises a single independent plane or shelf with two side reinforcing ribs, separately bent and connected thereto by welding or the like.

1 9. A modular element as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising an independent plane or shelf with two side ribs and one or more central ribs connected thereto by welding or the like.

20. A modular element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.