JP7722441B2 - Shelf - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a shelf suitable for use in offices, etc.

A conventional shelf of this type has a structure in which shelves are attached to a frame, and hooks are attached to horizontally extending cross frames to support the shelves (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, if you want to attach optional components such as panels to such a shelf, you will need to provide a separate, independent option fixing structure.

Special Publication No. 56-024808

The present invention aims to solve the problem of the need to provide an additional, separate, independent structure when attaching optional components, resulting in a more complex structure.

The invention described in claim 1 is a shelf comprising a frame, a shelf adjacent to the frame, and an optional component that is attached between the frame and the shelf , wherein the optional component comprises an optional main body and a locking portion that extends from one side of the optional main body in the thickness direction and is inserted between the frame and the shelf.

A second aspect of the present invention is the shelf according to the first aspect, wherein the option body has a thickness substantially the same as that of the frame .

A third aspect of the present invention is a shelf according to the first or second aspect , wherein the locking portion is formed with a thickness dimension corresponding to the width dimension of the opening between the frame and the shelf board .

The invention of claim 4 is the shelf of claim 1 , 2 or 3 , wherein the option body is disposed directly above the frame .

The invention described in claim 5 is a shelf described in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the optional member comprises a panel-shaped optional main body and a locking portion arranged in front of the front of the optional main body and inserted between the frame and the shelf board .

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a shelf according to any one of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth aspects, wherein the upper surface of the frame and the mounting surface of the shelf board are substantially flush with each other .

A seventh aspect of the present invention is a shelf according to any one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth aspects, in which the frame is arranged on at least three sides, the left and right sides and the rear, and a plurality of frames are provided in the vertical direction .

The invention described in claim 8 is a shelf described in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, in which the locking portions are provided on the upper and lower end sides of the optional member, and the optional member is positioned simply by inserting the locking portions between the frame and the shelf board .

The invention described in claim 9 is a shelf comprising a shelf body with a shelf plate arranged adjacent to a frame, and an optional member that can be detachably attached to the shelf body, wherein the optional member has an optional body and a locking portion that extends from one side of the optional body in the thickness direction and is inserted between the frame and the shelf plate.
The invention described in claim 10 is a shelf comprising a frame, a shelf adjacent to the frame, and an optional member attached between the frame and the shelf, wherein the optional member comprises an optional main body and a locking portion extending from the optional main body and inserted between the frame and the shelf, the locking portions being an upper locking portion provided on the optional member and a lower locking portion provided on the optional member, the frame being provided with a plurality of locking portions in the vertical direction, and the shelf being configured so that after the lower locking portion of the optional member is inserted between the lower shelf and the frame, only the upper shelf that was lifted can be returned to its normal position adjacent to the frame, thereby positioning the upper locking portion between the upper shelf and the frame.
The invention described in claim 11 is a shelf described in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the optional body is made of wood and the engaging portion is made of sheet metal with its base end embedded in the upper and lower ends of the optional body.

This invention provides a shelf that allows optional components to be attached between the frame and shelf without complicating the structure.

1 is an overall perspective view of a shelf according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a front view of the shelf according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the shelf according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 in which an optional member of the shelf according to the embodiment has been removed. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 6. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shelf according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a shelf body according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part D in FIG. 9 . FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a frame and a support column according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the connecting member according to the embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an assembled state of the shelf body according to the embodiment; 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an assembled state of the shelf body according to the embodiment; 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an assembled state of the shelf body according to the embodiment;

One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 16.

As shown in Figures 1 to 5 and 8, the shelf S according to this embodiment comprises a shelf body 1 and optional components 4A and 4B that can be removably attached to the shelf body 1. As shown in Figures 1 to 9 and 12, the shelf body 1 comprises horizontally extending frames 11A and 11B (hereinafter, the frame extending in the front-to-rear direction will sometimes be referred to as the "first frame 11A" and the frame extending in the left-to-right direction will sometimes be referred to as the "second frame 11B") and shelf boards 12 that are adjacent to the frames 11A and 11B and form the mounting surface q. Joints 13A and 13B are formed between the frames 11A and 11B and the shelf boards 12 for attaching the optional components 4A and 4B.

The upper surface p of each frame 11A, 11B and the mounting surface q of the shelf board 3 are substantially flush with each other as shown in FIG. 6, and as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, each shelf board 3 is held by a hook 14 attached to the frame 11A, 11B. The joints 13A, 13B are formed by a protrusion 140 provided on the hook 14.
It is formed by

As shown in Figures 1 to 5 and 8, optional components 4A and 4B are panel-shaped components that separate the space above the corresponding shelf 12 from adjacent spaces. They include an optional body 41 and locking portions 42 and 43 that extend vertically from the optional body 41 and are inserted into the aforementioned joints 13A and 13B. The optional body 41 has a thickness approximately equal to that of the frames 11A and 11B, and the locking portions 42 and 43 are formed on one side of the optional body 41 with a thickness that corresponds to the opening width w of the joints 13A and 13B. Here, "corresponding thickness" refers to a dimension that allows the optional components to be inserted into the joints 13A and 13B without significant rattle when inserted, and refers to the effective thickness of the entire locking portions 42 and 43. The locking portions 42, 43 are provided on the upper and lower ends of the optional members 4A, 4B, and the optional members 4A, 4B are positioned simply by inserting the locking portions 42, 43 into the joints 13A, 13B.

The shelf S of this embodiment is described in detail as follows:

As shown in Figures 1 to 5 and 8, this shelf S comprises a shelf body 1 in which shelves 12 are arranged adjacent to horizontally extending frames 11A, 11B, with joints 13A, 13B formed between the frames 11A, 11B and the shelves 12, and optional members 4A, 4B having locking portions 42, 43 that are inserted into the joints 13A, 13B of the shelf body 1.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, 8, and 9, the shelf body 1 comprises four corner posts 15, first frames 11A connecting each pair of front and rear posts 15, and second frames 11B connecting each pair of opposing posts 15. The shelf S in this embodiment is a five-tier type, comprising six pairs of left and right first frames 11A and front and rear second frames 11B, with shelves 12 arranged inside the first and second frames 11A and 11B from the bottom to the fifth tier. 1 to 8, the shelves 12 are supported by hooks 14 hooked onto the inner surfaces of the frames 11A, 11B and are detachably arranged inside the frames 11A, 11B, and in this arrangement, the placement surface q of the shelves 12 is substantially flush with the upper surfaces p of the corresponding frames 11A, 11B, and joints 13A, 13B having an opening width w of, for example, about 2 mm are formed between each frame 11A, 11B and the shelves 12. In this embodiment, hooks 14 are attached near both ends of the first frame 11A and in the center of the second frame 11B in the left-right direction, and these hooks 14 support the shelves 12 horizontally. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, each hook 14 comprises a hanging plate 141 that abuts against the inner surface of frames 11A and 11B, a bent plate 142 attached to the upper end of hanging plate 141 and inserted into frames 11A and 11B through slits t formed in the frames, and a shelf support plate 143 that extends from the lower end of hanging plate 141 toward shelf 12. These components are integrally made from sheet metal. Hanging plate 141 of hook 14 has a protrusion 140 that abuts against the side of shelf 12. Protrusion 140 is formed by a portion of hanging plate 141 bulging out toward shelf 12, and the sum of the material thickness of hanging plate 141 and the bulging dimension of protrusion 140 is set to be the same as or slightly smaller than the opening width w of joints 13A and 13B.

As shown in Figures 2 to 9 and 12, the support pillars 15 are rectangular pipes with a roughly square cross section, with an adjuster 151 at the bottom end and a support pillar cap 152 attached to the top end. In this embodiment, the opposing support pillars 15 and the first frame 11A are rigidly connected by welding or the like, forming a ladder-shaped frame structure as shown in Figure 12. The opposing support pillars 15 on the left and right and the second frame 11B spanning between these support pillars 15 are each detachably connected via connecting members 16.

The first frame 11A is a rectangular pipe with the same cross-sectional shape as the support posts 15, and as shown in Figure 14, has horizontal slits t for attaching hooks on the side facing the shelf board 12 near both ends. The second frame 11B is a rectangular pipe with the same cross-sectional shape as the support posts 15 and the first frame 11A, and as shown in Figure 12, has horizontal slits t for attaching hooks on the side facing the shelf board 12 in the center in the left-right direction.

The connecting member 16 for connecting the second frame 11B to the support pillar 15 connects the support pillar 15 and the second frame 11B without being exposed to the outside, and as shown in Figures 14 to 16, the support pillar 15 and frame 11B can be attached and detached by fastening and detaching a single screw 161. More specifically, as shown in Figures 13 to 16, the connecting member 16 comprises a connecting member main body 162 that is fitted into the end of the frame 11B, and two hooking portions 163 that protrude from one end of the connecting member main body 162 and are inserted into and hooked onto a pair of slits u in the support pillar 15. As shown in Figures 13, 15, and 16, the connecting member main body 162 has a bottom plate 162a, side plates 162b standing up from both side edges of the bottom plate 162a, and a nut unit 162c attached between these side plates 162b. The bottom plate 162a and side plates 162b are a single piece made of metal. The bottom plate 162a has a screw insertion hole v associated with the nut unit 162c. The nut unit 162c includes a nut holder 162d made of elastic synthetic resin and a nut 162e held non-rotatably on the bottom surface of the nut holder 162d. The nut holder 162d is box-shaped with elastic claws x on both side walls, and the nut 162e is attached to a hexagonal hole in the bottom wall. The nut holder 162d is configured so that its elastic claws x engage with the locking holes y of the side plates 162b when pressed into the connecting member main body 162. In this engaged state, the nut holder 162d is attached between the side plates 162b, and the nut 162e is held in a position facing the screw insertion hole v of the connecting member main body 162.

The structure of the connecting portion between the support 15 and the frame 11B by the connecting member 16 will be described below, along with its assembly procedure. First, as shown in Figure 15, the hooking portion 163 of the connecting member 16 is inserted into the slit u of the support 15 and hooked. Because the hooking portion 163 has an upward hook shape, in this state the connecting member 16 cannot be moved away from the support 15 in a straight, horizontal manner without tilting. In this position, the end of the frame 11B is fitted onto the connecting member main body 162, and the tip of the frame 11B is brought into contact with the support 15. At this stage, the outer screw insertion hole f drilled in the frame 11B, the inner screw insertion hole v drilled in the bottom plate 162a of the connecting member 16, and the screw hole g of the nut 162e approximately correspond to each other, and by tightening the screw 161 threaded into the nut 162e from below through the outer screw insertion hole f and the inner screw insertion hole v, the connection between the support 15 and the frame 11B is completed as shown in Figure 16. In this embodiment, the screw 161 is a flat head screw type having a tapered surface 161t on its head, and the outer screw insertion hole f and the inner screw insertion hole v are provided with tapered surfaces ft and vt corresponding to the tapered surface 161t of the screw 161, respectively. When the end of the frame 11B is fitted onto the connecting member main body 162 and the tip of the frame 11B is brought into contact with the support 15 without being pressed against it, the dimensions are set so that the axis c2 of the outer screw insertion hole f is offset by a small dimension d0 in the direction away from the support 15 with respect to the axis c1 of the nut 162e and the inner screw insertion hole v. Note that this small dimension d0 is set to a small value that allows the screw 161 to be threaded into the nut 162e through both screw insertion holes f and v, but it is exaggerated in Figure 15 for ease of understanding. When the screw 161 is threaded into the nut 162e and then tightened, the guiding action of the tapered surface 161t of the screw 161 finally brings the tapered surface 161t of the screw 161 into intimate contact with the tapered surfaces ft and vt of both screw insertion holes f and v, as shown in Figure 16, and the connecting operation is completed. In the process, the centripetal action of the tapered surface 161t of the screw 161 being tightened urges the frame 11B relatively toward the support 15 with respect to the connecting member 16, and the tip of the frame 11B is pressed against the support 15. That is, in this embodiment, a frame connecting structure is incorporated in the connecting portion between the support 15 and the frame 11B, which can simultaneously fix the frame 11B to the connecting member 16 and press the frame 11B against the support 15 by attaching a single screw 161.

The shelf boards 12 are made, for example, of sheet metal, and as shown in Figures 4 to 6, comprise an upper plate 121 that is rectangular in plan view, side plates 122 that hang down from the outer edge of the upper plate 121, and bottom plates 123 that extend inward from the lower edges of each side plate 122.The bottom plate 123 is supported by hooks 14 and is detachably arranged in the space surrounded by the first and second frames 11A and 11B.

In this embodiment, the optional components 4A and 4B shown are one that is attached using the joint 13A between the first frame 11A and the shelf 12 (sometimes referred to as the "first optional component 4A"), and one that is attached using the joint between the second frame 11B and the shelf 12 (sometimes referred to as the "second optional component 4B").

As shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8, the first optional component 4A comprises a square-shaped optional body 41 capable of closing the space enclosed by the support 15 and the first frame 11A, and locking portions 42 and 43 that extend vertically from the optional body 41 and are inserted into the joint 13A formed between the first frame 11A and the shelf 12. The optional body 41 has a thickness that is approximately the same as the left-right width of the support 15, and when attached, the outer and inner surfaces of the optional body 41 are approximately flush with the outer surfaces of the support 15. The optional body 41 is made, for example, of sheet metal and is hollow and comprises a flat outer case portion 411 and an inner case portion 412 fitted inside the outer case portion 411. The outer box portion 411 comprises an outer plate 411a, a top plate 411b extending inward integrally from the upper edge of the outer plate 411a, a bottom plate 411c extending inward integrally from the lower edge of the outer plate 411a, and side plates 411d extending inward integrally from both side edges of the outer plate 411a. The inner box part 412 includes an inner plate 412a, an inner top plate 412b extending integrally from the upper edge of the inner plate 412a along the underside of the top plate 411b, an inner bottom plate 412c extending integrally from the lower edge of the inner plate 412a along the upper surface of the bottom plate 411c, and inner plates 412d extending integrally from both side edges of the inner plate 412a along side plates 411d, and these inner top plate 412b, inner bottom plate 412c, and inner plate 412d are fixed to the corresponding top plate 411b, bottom plate 411c, and side plate 411d by spot welding or the like. The locking parts 42 and 43 are plate-shaped and extend integrally from the extending ends of the top plate 411b and bottom plate 411c that constitute the outer box part 411, and the locking parts 42 and 43 and the outer box part 411 are made integrally from a common sheet metal material. In this embodiment, the locking portions 42, 43 have a thickness smaller than the opening width w of the joint 13A into which they are to be inserted, but are slightly tilted relative to the opening direction of the joint 13A, i.e., the vertical direction, so that the optional component 4A does not wobble when inserted into the joint 13A.

The second optional member 4B has the same structure as the first optional member 4A, differing only in its left-to-right width. Therefore, parts that are the same as or equivalent to those of the first optional member 4A are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

To attach the optional components 4A and 4B described above so that they surround the storage space formed between the upper and lower shelves 12, for example, the upper shelf 12 is raised and the lower locking portions 43 of the optional components 4A and 4B are inserted into the joints 13A and 13B formed between the lower shelf 12 and frames 11A and 11B, and then the upper shelf 12 is returned to its normal position so that the upper locking portions 42 are positioned within the joints 13A and 13B formed between the upper shelf 12 and frames 11A and 11B.

Here, Figure 1 is a front perspective view of this shelf S, Figure 2 is a front view, Figure 3 is a right side view, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along line B-B in Figure 3. Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 with optional components removed, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along line C-C in Figure 6. Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of this shelf S. Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the shelf 12 removed from frames 11A and 11B and placed to the side, and Figure 10 is an enlarged view of section D in Figure 9. Figure 11 shows the hook 14 of this embodiment, with (a) being a front view of the hook, (b) being a side view, and (c) being a perspective view. Note that in Figure 11(b), the shelf 12 and support 15 are shown in phantom lines. Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view showing how the second frame 11B is attached to the support 15. Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting member 16. Note that in Figure 13, the connecting member main body 162 is shown partially cut away. Figure 14 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the attachment location of the second frame 11B to the support 15, Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the state before the screw 161 is threaded into the nut 162e of the connecting member main body 162, and Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the state after the screw 161 has been threaded into the nut 162e of the connecting member main body 162.

With this configuration, optional components 4A and 4B can be attached using the joints 13A and 13B formed between the frames 11A and 11B and the shelf boards 12, eliminating the need to add special structures for attaching options, and naturally simplifying the configuration and reducing the number of parts.

In addition, the upper surfaces p of the frames 11A and 11B and the support surfaces q of the shelves 12 are approximately flush with each other, giving the shelves 12 a floating appearance and improving their appearance.

Furthermore, the hooks 14 for supporting the shelves attached to the frames 11A, 11B are provided with protrusions 140, which form the joints 13A, 13B, ensuring that the joints 13A, 13B are formed reliably between the frames 11A, 11B and the shelves 12.

In addition, in this embodiment, horizontally extending frames 11A, 11B are arranged on the left and right sides, front, and rear, allowing joints 13A, 13B to be formed around almost the entire periphery of the shelf 12, enabling a variety of mounting methods for optional components 4A, 4B. If optional components 4A, 4B are panel-shaped, as in this embodiment, box-shaped storage spaces can easily be formed on each shelf.

As mentioned above, if the optional components 4A and 4B are equipped with an optional main body 41 and locking portions 42 and 43 that extend vertically from the optional main body 41 and are inserted into the joints 13A and 13B, the optional components 4A and 4B can be secured using only the joints 13A and 13B.

Furthermore, as in this embodiment, by setting the thickness dimension of the optional main body 41 to approximately the same value as the thickness dimension of the frames 11A and 11B and positioning the locking portions 42 and 43 on one side of the optional main body 41 in the thickness direction, the optional members 4A and 4B, which function as inset panels, can be contained within the thickness dimension of the frames 11A and 11B, achieving a simple appearance.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

For example, if the distance between the axes of the front and rear support columns is one module, the shelf in the above-described embodiment has a left-right width of two modules. The present invention is not limited to this configuration and can be similarly applied to shelves with a width of one module, shelves with a width of three or more modules, etc.

In addition, while the above example was described as a single-unit shelf, the present invention can also be applied to a type in which additional units are added to the left and right. In this embodiment, additional units can be added by connecting one end of a new second frame to the front and rear support columns located on one side of the completed shelf via connecting members, and then connecting the other ends of these second frames to the new front and rear support columns via connecting members.

Furthermore, while the above embodiment describes the application of the present invention to a five-tiered shelf, the number of tiers is not limited to this form.

Furthermore, the optional components are not limited to inset panels, and the material is not limited to metal; they can also be made of wood. Specifically, an optional component could be one that includes a wooden optional component body and sheet metal locking portions with their base ends embedded in the upper and lower ends of the optional component body.

Shelves do not have to be made of metal, they can also be made of wood.

Furthermore, the structure for forming the joint is not limited to the example shown in the figure. For example, the thickness of the hook may be the joint dimension, or a spacer portion may be provided on the side of the shelf board and the spacer portion may be abutted against the side of the frame to form the joint. It is also possible to form a stable joint by using such a spacer portion in combination with the protrusion of the hook.

Various other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

S...Shelf 1...Shelf body 11A, 11B...Frame 12...Shelf board 13A, 13B...Joint 14...Hook 140...Protrusion 4A, 4B...Optional member 41...Optional body 42, 43...Latching portion p...Upper surface of frame q...Placement surface w...(Opening width) dimension of joint

Claims (11)

A shelf comprising a frame, a shelf board adjacent to the frame, and an optional member attached between the frame and the shelf board,
The optional member includes an optional body and a locking portion extending from one side of the optional body in the thickness direction and inserted between the frame and the shelf board. A shelf as described in claim 1, wherein the option body has a thickness dimension approximately the same as that of the frame. A shelf according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking portion is formed with a thickness corresponding to the width of the opening between the frame and the shelf. A shelf as described in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the option body is disposed directly above the frame. A shelf according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the optional member comprises a panel-shaped optional main body and a locking portion disposed in front of the front surface of the optional main body and inserted between the frame and the shelf board. A shelf according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the upper surface of the frame and the support surface of the shelf are substantially flush. A shelf as described in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the frames are arranged on at least three sides, the left and right sides and the rear, and multiple frames are provided in the vertical direction. The locking portions are provided on the upper and lower end sides of the optional member,
8. The shelf according to claim 1, wherein the optional member is positioned between the frame and the shelf board simply by inserting the engaging portion between the frame and the shelf board. The shelf includes a shelf body on which shelves are arranged adjacent to a frame, and an optional member that is detachably attached to the shelf body.
The optional member is a shelf having an optional body and a locking portion extending from one side of the optional body in the thickness direction and inserted between the frame and the shelf board. A shelf comprising a frame, a shelf board adjacent to the frame, and an optional member attached between the frame and the shelf board,
The optional member includes an optional main body and a locking portion extending from the optional main body and inserted between the frame and the shelf board, the locking portion being an upper locking portion provided on the optional member and a lower locking portion provided on the optional member;
The frame is provided in plurality in the vertical direction,
A shelf configured so that the upper engaging portion can be positioned between the upper shelf and the frame by inserting the lower engaging portion of the optional member between the lower shelf and the frame, and then returning only the upper shelf that was lifted to its normal position adjacent to the frame. The option body is made of wood,
11. The shelf according to claim 1, wherein the locking portions are made of sheet metal and have their base ends embedded in the upper and lower ends of the option body.