GB2523861A - Mounting arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting arrangement comprised a planar member 12 and a component 14. The component 14 provides a location which can receive an end of the planar member 12 in a sliding fit. A spaced pair of first engagement formations 28 are provided on the component 14 on a first side of the location. A second engagement formation 32 is provided on the component 14 on an opposite side of the location between the first and second engagement formations 28. The first and second engagement formations 28, 32 are engageable with corresponding formations 34, 36 on the planar member 12 to retain the planar member 12 in the location. The arrangement is configured such that the planar member 12 can only be moved into the location with the first and second engagement formations 28, 32 engaging with the corresponding formations 34, 36 on the planar member 12 if the planar member 12 is flexed from its original profile.

Description

Mounting Arrangement This invention concerns a mounting arrangement, and particularly an arrangement for mounting a planar member to another component.

It is required in many instances to be able to mount a planar component such as a sheet of for instance plastics material to another component such as a base from which the planar member can up stand. An example of such an arrangement is a point of sale apparatus usable for instance in a shop or other retail location. Such an apparatus may comprise a metal base which may be fitted with wheels or castors, and a structure thereon made for instance of sheets of plastics material to support items being displayed. Such an arrangement permits the apparatus to be supplied essentially flat packed and erected in situ. To date difficulties have been encountered in securely mounting such planar material to for example a base.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting arrangement for mounting a planar member to another component, the component providing a location which can receive an end of the planar member in a sliding fit, with a spaced pair of first engagement formations provided on the component on a first side of the location, a second engagement formation provided on the component on an opposite side of the location between the first and second engagement formations, the first and second engagement formations being engageable with corresponding formations on the planar member to retain the planar member in the location, the arrangement being configured such that the planar member can only be moved into the location with the first and second engagement formations engaging with the corresponding formations on the planar member, if the planar member is flexed from its original profile.

The planar member may be made of a resilient material The planar member may be made of a more flexible material than the component.

The first and second engagement formations may comprise projections extending into the location. In one arrangement the projections comprise additional members on the component, and the projections may be formed of a different material to the remainder of the component.

In a further arrangement the first and second engagement formations comprise areas of material of the component which are partially cut out from the remainder of the component, and are inclined into the location.

The corresponding formations on the planar member may be in the form of openings through the planar member.

The component may be configured such that the location is in the form of a channel with a closed end.

The planar member may be formed of any of metal, plastics material or wood.

The component may be made of any of metal, plastics material or In one arrangement the first side of the location may be formed from a sheet of material, with an end of the sheet being turned through 1800 to define the second side of the location spaced from the first side. In a further arrangement the respective first and second sides of the location may be formed from separate sheets of material. The first side of the location may be formed from a pair of spaced sheets of material, with each respective first engagement formation being provided on a one of the pair of spaced sheets of material.

The first engagement formations may be provided at a greater height than the second engagement formation.

More than two first engagement formations may be provided, with a second engagement formation provided between each adjacent pair of first engagement formations.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a point of sale apparatus according to any of the preceding twelve paragraphs, where the component forms part of a base for the apparatus, and the planar member is a side panel of the apparatus.

The component may be made of metal. The base may be provided with wheels or castors.

The planar members may be in the form of a sheet of plastics material.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a side view of a first mounting arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 of the parts of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 1 being brought together; Fig. 3 is a perspective view from beneath of the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a point of sale apparatus incorporating the mounting arrangement of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 to 8 are diagrammatic sequential side views of components of the apparatus of Fig. 1 being brought together; Figs. 9 to 11 are diagrammatic perspective side views of different parts oftheapparatusofFig. 1; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a second mounting arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a component of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the components of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 12 being brought together; Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic side view of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 12; Fig. 16 is a similar view to Fig. 15 but of a third mounting arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 17 is a first perspective view of a fourth mounting arrangement according to the invention Fig. 18 is a further perspective view of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 17; Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a component of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 17; and Fig. 20 is a further perspective view of the arrangement of Fig. 17.

Figs. 1 to 11 show a first mounting arrangement 10. The mounting arrangement 10 comprises a planar member 12 for instance in the form of a sheet of plastics material, mounted to a component 14 in the form for instance of a metal base with a plurality of castors 16 provided thereon to permit movement of the base component 14.

The base component 14 comprises a profiled sheet of metal 18 which provides a first side wall 20 close to the end of the sheet 18. At the lower end of the first side wall 20 the sheet 18 is turned outwardly at 22, and extends outwardly for a short distance before being turned upwardly to define a second side wall 24 parallel to the first side wall 20 and spaced a short distance outwardly therefrom to define a location in the form of a channel 26 which can slidingly receive an end of the planar member 12.

A pair of first engagement formations 28 are provided on the first side wall 20 towards each end thereof. The first engagement formations are in the form of rectangular areas 30 of metal which are cut out on their sides and lower end and folded outwardly to provide downwardly and outwardly inclined projections. A second engagement formation 32 is provided on the second side wall 24 equispaced between the first engagement formations 28. The second engagement formation has a similar form to the first engagement formations providing a downwardly extending projection extending into the channel 26.

The first and second engagement formations 28, 32 are configured such that the planar member 12 cannot directly pass therebetween into the channel 26, but requires to be flexed for instance in the middle of the planar member 12 away from the second engagement formation 32, so as to be able to pass downwardly beyond the first and second engagement formations 28, 32.

Corresponding first and second engagement formations 34, 36 are provided on the planar member 12 in locations to correspond in location to the first and second engagement formations 28, 32 when the planar member 12 is fully located in the channel 26. The corresponding first and second engagement formations 34, 36 in the planar member 12 are in the form of rectangular openings.

Accordingly to mount together the planar member 12 and component 14, the planar member 12 is introduced into the channel 16, and requires to be flexed so that the middle thereof bends away from the second engagement formation 32, so as to be able to pass downwardly beyond the first and second engagement formations 28, 32, until these formations engage with the corresponding first and second engagement formations 34, 36, i.e. the rectangular areas 30 locate in the respective openings in the planar member 12.

Fig. 4 shows a point of sale apparatus 38 incorporating the mounting arrangement 10. The apparatus 38 comprises a base which forms component 14, and side panels which provide the planar members 12. A plurality of sloping shelves 40 extend between the planar members 12. The apparatus 38 could be supplied flat packed, and the planar members 12 then mounted on the component 14 as described above. The shelves 40 and other dividers 42 can then be located in position.

Figs. 12 to 15 show a similar mounting arrangement 44, but in this instance the first and second engagement formations 46, 48 are in the form of projections extending from the component 14. The projections 50 can be made for instance of a different material to the remainder of the component 14, and may be mounted thereto by any suitable means. As can be seen from Fig. 14 the second engagement formation is of a different shape to the first engagement formation and hence the corresponding first and second engaging formations 52, 54 are also of different shapes, with the second engagement formation being a relatively narrow horizontal opening. Fig. 15 illustrates the relatively narrow projection 56 of the second engagement formation 48.

Fig. 16 is a similar view to Fig. 15 but shows a third mounting arrangement 58 wherein the corresponding second engagement formation is in the form of a taller projection 60 as shown.

Figs. 17 to 20 show a fourth mounting arrangement 62 which is similar to the mounting arrangement 10 except that four first engagement formations 64 are provided on the first side wall 20 of the component 14, with three equispaced second engagement formations 66 provided on the second side wall 24, each equispaced from adjacent first engagement formations 64.

Figs. 21 to 35 show a fifth mounting arrangement 68 according to the present invention which is similar to the mounting arrangement 10. Many features of the mounting arrangement 68 are similar to those previously described, and where features are the same or similar the same reference numerals have been used and these feature will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

In this instance a base component 70 of the mounting arrangement 68 includes a pair of spaced sheets of material 72 which form the first side wall 74. In this example the spaced sheets of material 72 are integral with a bracket 76 located on the underside of the base component 70. The first side wall 74 is therefore discontinuous with a gap 78 provided between the spaced sheets of material 72. A first engagement formation 28 of the type used in mounting arrangement 10 is provided on each of the respective spaced sheets of material 72.

A second side wall 80 extends from an outer edge of the base component 70 a short distance from the first side wall 74 to define a location in the form of a channel 82 which can slidingly receive an end of a planar member 84. A second engagement formation 32 of the type used in mounting arrangement 10 is provided on the second side wall 80 equispaced between the first engagement formations 28.

Figs. 29 to 35 show a point of sale apparatus 86 incorporating the mounting arrangement 68. The apparatus 86 comprises a base which forms component 70, and side panels which provide the planar members 84. A plurality of shelves 88 and a back plate 90 extend between the planar members 84. The apparatus 86 could be supplied flat packed, and the planar members 84 then mounted on the component 70 as described above. The shelves 88 and the back plate 90 could then be located in position.

There are thus described mounting arrangements which permit a planar member to be securely mounted to another component, and wherein these components should not become inadvertently disattached as it would be necessary to flex the planar member appropriately to disengage the respective engagement formations. The engagement formations can however readily be engaged by appropriate flexing of the planar member.

These mounting arrangements readily permit an article to be supplied flat packed, and to be erected without the requirement of any tools nor skilled operatives. Whilst providing a secure mounting, the arrangements can be inexpensively manufactured to provide long term operation.

It is to be realised that a wide range of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example different components may be made of different materials, and the components could be made for instance of any of metal, plastics material or wood. It is generally preferable for the planar member to be made of a resilient material, and to be made of a more flexible material than the component. The projections, where not cut out of the component, may be provided of a different material, and mounted thereto by any appropriate means.

As indicated differing numbers of engagement formations can be provided as required. In the above described examples the engagement formations are generally shown as equispaced. This need not always be the case, and in some instances it may be desirable if the engagement formations are not equispaced. Whilst described in relation to point of sale apparatus, it is to be realised that such mounting arrangements could be used in a wide variety of situations.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.