GB2193879A

GB2193879A - Shelf supports

Info

Publication number: GB2193879A
Application number: GB08712325A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeffery Lappage
Original assignee: BRITANNIA SHELVING Ltd
Current assignee: BRITANNIA SHELVING Ltd
Priority date: 1986-05-23
Filing date: 1987-05-26
Publication date: 1988-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2007-05-26
Also published as: GB8925925D0; GB2223933A; GB2193879B; GB8712325D0; GB2223933B

Abstract

A shelf support system comprises a U-shaped elongate channel member (1) for attachment to a vertical surface, the channel member having a side wall (3) with a plurality of regularly spaced elongate slots (6) in combination with a bracket member (7) for supporting a shelf, said bracket member having hook-shaped projections (10a, 10b) which engage the slots (6) and a top surface (8), preferably provided with apertures, to which a shelf may be secured. The two hook shaped projections on the bracket (7) may be offset in the vertical plane such that the upper projection (10a) abuts the front surface of its slot (6) and the lower projection (10b) abuts the rear surface of slot (6) thus providing a rigid right angle between the top surface (8) of the bracket (7) and the channel member (1). The front (4) of the channel member (1) may have an elongate concave depression therein for engaging the hook-shaped projections (10a, 10b), thus allowing the slots (6) to be set further back from the angle between the front and side wall of the channel member (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shelf supports This invention relates to supports for shelving and is more particularly concerned with a support of the kind comprising an elongate channel section strip which in use is secured vertically to a wall surface and which has a plurality of regularly spaced formations which are engaged by brackets having a surface extending generally at right angles to the strip and which serve to support a wooden or metal shelf. Constructions of such shelf support systems known comprise a U-shaped channel member which is secured to a wall and of which the front surface formed by the base limb of the U has one or more rows of regularly spaced slots which are engaged by hook like projections on the rear of a shelf supporting bracket. In a domestic environment in particular the slots, which extend necessarily the whole length of the strip, are unsightly.

According to this invention there is provided a supporting system comprising, in combination, an elongate channel member including a plurality of regularly spaced slots and a bracket member including one or more hook shaped projections to engage with a slot or slots, the bracket bearing against and projecting from a front wall of the channel member wherein the slots are provided in a side wall of the channel member, and the hook shaped projection extends generally at right angles to the plane of the bracket.

Preferably each bracket will include two hook shaped projections for stability although more than two projections are possible.

With this arrangement the front surface of the channel member does not include slots and therefore an unsightly appearance is avoided. To secure the channel member to a wall surface or the like apertures may be provided at spaced locations to receive screw fixings. With this construction the brackets are engaged from the side of the channel member by entering the hook shaped projections into respective slots, the bracket then dropping downwardly so that the hook portion engages behind the side wall, thus securing the bracket against displacement. The bracket will include an abutment which contacts the front surface of the channel member, the abutment being arranged to substantially prevent sideways movement of the bracket.

Slots may be provided in one side wall only of the channel member or in both sides. The brackets may be "handed" with some brackets having the hook shaped projections extending in from one side whereas other brackets have the projections extending in from the other side. Generally, however, it will be preferable to provide a channel member with a single row of slots along one side wall with bracket members all of the same hand.

More than two rows of slots may be provided along the side wall of the channel member, for example, to facilitate engagement with different brackets or alternatively a bracket may include spaced pairs of hook shaped projections which engage with adjacent slots when two rows thereof are provided. The slots in the channel member may be constituted by closed or open recesses.

In a preferred embodiment to avoid having the slots in the side wall of the channel member too close to the front wall the front wall may have a concave (as viewed from the front) depression extending along the length whereby the rear surface of this depression engages the front surface of the hook shaped part on the bracket. With this arrangement the slot may be positioned more rearwardly thus avoiding distortion during the manufacturing process. The concave depression may be arcuate or possibly a plurality of such depressions may be provided in discrete locations along the front wall of the channel member and positioned so that the rear of the depressions are abutted or engaged by the hook shaped projection on the bracket.

In a further preferred embodiment the hook shaped projections on the brackets do not lie in the same vertical plane but the lowermost projection is displaced rearwardly with respect to the upper projection. When assembled to the channel member the lowermost projection abuts the rearward side of the slot whereas the upper projection abuts the forward side of the slot. In this way the lower projection cooperates with its slot to prevent drooping of the bracket and the upper projection also cooperates with the forward side of its slot to assist in this process. This feature has been found to be important as it enables the bracket to remain truly at right angles to the channel member and compensates for small tolerances in the dimensions and in differences in thickness of the paint layer.Both this arrangement and the aforesaid arrangement which includes the depression extending along the length of the front surface of the channel member offers particular advantages in that the bracket is forced against the back side of the slot to provide rigid engagement According to a further aspect of this invention a supporting system comprising, in combination, an elongate channel member including a plurality of regularly spaced slots and a bracket member including one or more hook shaped projections to engage with a slot or slots, the bracket bearing against and projecting from a front wall of the channel member wherein the slots are provided in a side wall of the channel member, and the hook shaped projection extends generally at right angles to the plane of the bracket, means being provided to urge the rear surface of at least one hook shaped projection jnto contact with the rear side of a slot in the channel member.

The front facing surface of the channel member may be embellished with decorative patterning, for example, formed by printing embossing or the like processes and the concave depressions may form part of such embellishment. In a further preferred arrangement the channel member may be formed from an extrusion of a metal such as aluminium or formed from steel.

Embodiments according to the invention are shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a channel member, Figure 1a shows a fragmentary view of an alternative slot arrangement in a channel member, Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section on the line ll-ll of Figure 1 through a channel member with a front end view of a bracket, Figure 3 shows a sectional view through the channel member with the bracket engaged, Figure 4 is a side view of the bracket, Figure 5 shows a view similar to Figure 3 but using a different profile of channel member, and Figure 6 shows a side view of a further embodiment of bracket.

Referring to the drawings, the shelving system provided comprises an elongate channel member 1 having side wall 2 and 3 and a front wall 4. In use a length of channel member is secured to a wall or other upright surface by means of screw holes 5. The screw holes are provided at spaced locations along the length and the normally upper end of the channel member may be identified by two closely spaced apertures. Through the side wall 3 is provided a plurality of regularly spaced longitudinally aligned slots 6. In a modification shown in Figure 1a, the slots have an open rear side but otherwise perform a similar function.

In combination with the channel member there is provided a bracket member for supporting a shelf, the bracket member forming a cantilever support and being formed from sheet metal material with a side 7 and a top 8 preferably provided with apertures to which a shelf 9 may be secured. The rear of the bracket has two spaced hook shaped projections 10, each of which may be passed through adjacent slots 6 in the channel member and thereafter drop downwardly whereby the portions of the channel member lying between the two adjacent slots enter the notches 11. The bracket is then secured against lateral withdrawal.

To provide stability an abutment 12 is formed by the rear edge of the top surface 8 and spacing between the hooks 10 and abutment 12 is arranged so that the parts closely embrace the front wall 4 of the bracket to substantially prevent sideways displacement.

In a typical embodiment the channel member will have a width across the front face of some 18 mm and a depth of some 10 mm.

Needless to say slots 6 may be provided in both side walls of the channel member if necessary and bracket members having the hook shaped projections 10 on the opposite side may be provided also. The invention also contemplates a construction of channel member having a much reduced depth and wherein the slots 6 are open somewhat as illustrated in Figure la. It is also possible to provide two rows of slots 6 in a side wall of the channel member to be engaged by double hooks provided on the bracket. Such a construction may offer improved strength and stability.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, this shows a modification and in the drawings like references have been used to indicate like parts with particular reference to Figure 3. The embodiment of Figure 5 includes a longitudinally extending arcuate concave depression 13 which forms a bump on the rear inner surface of the channel member. As may be seen from Figure 5, the purpose of this bump is to enable the hooks 10 to be relatively displaced rearwardly with respect to the abutment surface 12 and thus to allow the slot 6 in side wall 3 to be positioned more rearwardly so that the slot may be cut or otherwise formed in the wall more readily without distortion or deformation of the metal. The bump 13 thus forms a bearing surface for the hook 10 and surface 12 of the bracket to provide for a stable location when the bracket is in its position.This arrangement additionally provides improved stability and prevents the bracket "drooping" due to tolerances.

The depressions 13 could be formed as discrete elongate channels or of hemispherical profile Other means may be provided by deforming the channel member so as to provide abutments for the hook member 10 whilst the surface 12 of the bracket abuts the front face of the channel member or possibly projections which extend from the front face. The embodiment shown in Figure 5 enables the slot to be displaced back from the front face of the channel member by about 4 mm.

Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings this shows a particularly advantageous embodiment which, as in Figure 5, provides much improved stability and is better able to absorb tolerances in dimensions and paint thicknesses. In Figure 6, the hook shaped projections 10a and 10b have their normally vertical planes displaced such that the projection 10a abuts the front side surface of a slot 6 and the lower projection 10b abuts the rear side surface of slot 6 In this way, it is possible to make the top surface 8 of the bracket truly a right angle with respect to the front surface of the upright and in addition an inbuilt tension is provided whereby the bracket is very rigidly secured in conjunction with the abutment 12 at the end of the top surface 8.

The arrangements of Figures 5 and 6 provide a particularly novel means of obtaining rigidity and good securement of the bracket to the upright in a simple manner and this avoids any looseness or droop which may occur due to wear or tolerances.

Claims

1. A supporting system comprising, in combination, an elongate channel member including a plurality of regularly spaced slots and a bracket member including one or more hook shaped projections to engage with a slot or slots, the bracket bearing against and projecting from a front wall of the channel member wherein the slots are provided in a side wall of the channel member, and the hook shaped projection extends generally at right angles to the plane of the bracket.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein each bracket will include two hook shaped projections for stability although more than two projections are possible.

3. A system according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the bracket includes an abutment which contacts the front surface of the channel member, the abutment being arranged to substantially prevent sideways movement of the bracket.

4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein slots are provided in one side wall only of the channel member.

5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein more than two rows of slots are provided along the side wall of the channel member.

6. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein a bracket includes spaced pairs of hook shaped projections which engage with adjacent slots when two rows thereof are provided.

7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the front wall of the channel member has a concave (as viewed from the front) depression extending along the length whereby the rear surface of this depression engages the front surface of the hook shaped part on the bracket.

8. A system according to Claim 7, wherein the concave depression is arcuate or a plurality of such depressions are provided in discrete locations along the front wall of the channel member and positioned so that the rear of the depressions are abutted or engaged by the hook shaped projection on the bracket.

9. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the hook shaped projections on the brackets do not lie in the same vertical plane but the lowermost projection is displaced rearwardly with respect to the upper projection whereby when assembled to the channel member the lowermost projection abuts the rearward side of its slot whereas the upper projection abuts the forward side of its slot.

10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the front facing surface of the channel member is embellished with decorative patterning, for example, formed by printing embossing or the like processes.

11. A supporting system comprising, in combination, an elongate channel member including a plurality of regularly spaced slots and a bracket member including one or more hook shaped projections to engage with a slot or slots, the bracket bearing against and projecting from a front wall of the channel member wherein the slots are provided in a side wall of the channel member, and the hook shaped projection extends generally at right angles to the plane of the bracket, means being provided to urge the rear surface of at least one hook shaped projection into contact with the rear side of a slot in the channel member.

12. A system as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the said means comprises a protuberance on the rear of the front wall of the channel member, the protuberance abutting the front surface of the hook shaped member.

13. A system as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the bracket has a plurality of hook shaped projections, one projection having the plane thereof offset relatively to another whereby the offset forms said means.

14. A support system as described herein and exemplified with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings.

15. A support system as described herein and exemplified with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings.

16. A support system as described herein and exemplified with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.