US20020046982A1

US20020046982A1 - Support structure of items in general

Info

Publication number: US20020046982A1
Application number: US09/896,839
Authority: US
Inventors: Massimo Guizzardi
Original assignee: Terry Store Age SpA
Current assignee: TERRY STORE - AGE SpA; Terry Store Age SpA
Priority date: 2000-06-30
Filing date: 2001-06-29
Publication date: 2002-04-25
Also published as: ITMI20000398U1; IT250013Y1; FR2810863A3; FR2810863B3; DE20107472U1; ITMI20000398V0

Abstract

A support structure (1) of items in general comprises a plurality of uprights (2) supporting a plurality of shelves (3). The structure exhibits connection members (4, 5, 8) arranged between each upright (2) and the shelves (3), and holding members (12, 13) associated to the shelves (3), which allow connecting at least two structures (1) with one another.

Description

The present finding relates to a support structure of items in general. In particular, reference is made to plastic support structures of the shelf type. Traditional metal support structures comprise several uprights supporting a variable number of shelves. Shelves often do not have predetermined positions, but they can also be fixed at desired intervals on the uprights, so as to determine support spaces having the desired dimensions.

However, the connections realised in traditional metal support structures require screws or bolts. Thus, the implementation of the connections exhibits a certain difficulty and requires the operator to exert a certain strength.

Moreover, metal support structures are subject to corrosion, they are heavy and consequently, difficult to be transported.

On the other hand, plastic support structures do not exhibit the possibility of arranging the shelves at any height, but only in the proximity of the end portion of the uprights, thus making the structure not very flexible.

It must also be said that, in the case of plastic support structures, the sided connection of the same is always not very stiff, due to the material with which they are made.

The technical object of the present finding is that of realising a support structure for items in general which should allow eliminating the above disadvantages.

Within the scope of such object, a purpose of the finding is that of realising a support structure which could be assembled in a very simple manner without requiring considerable efforts by the operator.

Another purpose of the finding is that of realising a structure which could be connected to other similar structures in a very simple manner but capable of strongly opposing any force weighing on the structure. Last but not least, another purpose of the finding is that of realising a support structure of items in general which should be extremely flexible, thus allowing the arrangement of the shelves at any height, and allowing the connection between each shelf in case of two or more sided structures.

These and other purposes, according to the present finding, are achieved by realising a support structure of items in general according to claim 1.

Advantageously, the structure according to the present finding is very stout.

Such feature is maintained also when more structures according to the finding are connected to one another. In fact, the connection between the structures is not realised through points, but it substantially extends for the entire depth of the shelves.

Features and advantages of a support structure of items in general according to the present finding will appear more clearly from the following exemplificative and non-limiting description, made with reference to the attached schematic drawings. In such drawings: [0012]
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of two structures according to the finding, which are reciprocally associated; [0013]
FIG. 2 shows a plan bottom view of a shelf of the structure according to the finding; [0014]
FIG. 3 shows a plan bottom view of two reciprocally associated portions of shelf; [0015]
FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section realised according to line III-III of FIG. 2; [0016]
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a coupling for connecting the shelf to the uprights; [0017]
FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the coupling of FIG. 5; and [0018]
FIG. 7 shows a side elevation view of an upright connected to a shelf.[0019]
With reference to the above figures, each support structure of items in general according to the finding is globally indicated with reference numeral [0020] 1. Each structure 1 comprises four uprights 2 supporting a plurality of shelves 3.
Each upright [0021] 2 consists of a plurality of tubular members jointly coupled to one another and exhibiting a plurality of grooves or housings 4 at their ends.
In the example shown, [0022] housings 4 are arranged in groups of three and they are obtained on opposed portions of the uprights for the entire length of the same.
[0023] Couplings 5 can be locked on uprights 2 and, in turn, they lock and support shelves 3.
[0024] Couplings 5, which are arranged between shelves 3 and uprights 2, function as connection means between the same uprights 2 and shelves 3.
[0025] Couplings 5 are made of an elastically yielding material, and they exhibit a substantially longitudinal aperture 6 on their entire length. Moreover, an edge 7—which covers the entire edge of coupling 5—protrudes from a first end of couplings 5 outwards, but it ends at the aperture.
The outside wall of [0026] coupling 5 is slightly conical, and it converges towards a second end of coupling 5, opposed to the first one.
In practice, when [0027] coupling 5 is mounted on one of uprights 2, edge 7 is arranged downwards whereas the outside wall converges upwards. Coupling 5 also exhibits projections or stakes 8 extending inwards.
[0028] Such projections 8 are adapted to be inserted into housings 4 and, in the example shown, they are six grouped in two groups arranged at opposed portions of coupling 5.
Shelves [0029] 3 exhibit four tubular through housings 9, arranged at their four corners. Such housings 9 exhibit an edge 10 protruding from their first end, adapted to abut against the second end of couplings 5.
In practice, as shown in FIG. 7, [0030] edges 10 of housings 9 abut against the second end of couplings 5, a second end of housings 9 abuts against edges 7 of couplings 5, and the conical wall of coupling 5 presses against the inside wall of housing 9.
Shelves [0031] 3 exhibit a plurality of stiffening ribs 11 developing at one of their faces adapted to face downwards when structure 1 is assembled.
[0032] Such ribs 11 are very thick at the two side opposed ends of each shelf 3, and they are jointed to housings 9.
Moreover, the [0033] transversal ribs 11 exhibit a lower height with respect to the longitudinal ones.
Holding means is associated to the side opposed ends of [0034] shelves 3, which allows connecting at least two structures 1 with one another.
Such holding means comprises a [0035] dovetail projection 12 associated to one end, and a conjugated recess 13 of such projection 12, associated to the other end.
The dovetail projections exhibit slightly inclined walls, so as to make the connection very firm. [0036]
Moreover, [0037] ribs 11 also extend into the dovetail projection 12 whereas, at the other side, ribs 11 are jointed to undercuts 14 of recesses 13.
Structure [0038] 1 is provided with feet, which insert at the lower ends of uprights 2, and with plugs, which insert, on the contrary, at their upper ends.
All the elements forming the structure are made of a plastic material. In particular, [0039] uprights 2, shelves 3 and couplings 5 are made of plastic.
The support structure of items in general according to the finding is substantially assembled as indicated below. [0040]
The elastically yielding [0041] couplings 5 are first inserted on uprights 2, inserting projections 8 into housing 4. Of course, couplings 5 adapted to support a same shelf 3 must be arranged at the same height on each upright 2.
[0042] Uprights 3 are thus inserted into housings 9, and the coupling is locked by bringing shelf 3 at couplings 5. The disassembly of the support structure 1 according to the finding is equally simple and quick.
In fact, it is sufficient to push [0043] shelves 3 from bottom upwards so that housings 9 free from couplings 5.
At this point, [0044] shelves 3 can be removed. In practice, the materials used as well as the sizes, can be of any type according to the technical requirements.
In practice, it has been noted that the support structure according to the finding is particularly advantageous for allowing a considerable resistance to the load force it is subject to, even though it is entirely made of a plastic material. [0045]
In fact, thanks to the connection of a shelf to the adjacent one, and to the length of the connection surfaces, it is capable of strongly opposing even considerable forces due to vertical loads also at the bending and torsional moments. [0046]

Claims

1. Support structure (1) of items in general, comprising a plurality of uprights (2) supporting a plurality of shelves (3), characterised in that it comprises connection means (4, 5, 8) arranged between each of said uprights (2) and said shelves (3), and holding means (12, 13) associated to said shelves (3), which allows connecting at least two structures (1) to one another.

2. Structure (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said holding means (12, 13) comprises a dovetail projection (12) extending from a side end of said shelf (3) and a conjugated recess (13) of said dovetail projection (12).

3. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said dovetail projections (12) exhibit at least one slightly inclined side wall.

4. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said shelves (3) exhibit stiffening ribs (11) which become thicker at their side ends and in particular, of said dovetail projection (12) and said recess (13) conjugated to it.

5. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said ribs (11) also extend into said dovetail projections (12).

6. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said ribs (11) are jointed to undercuts (14) of said recesses (13).

7. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said connection means (4, 5, 8) comprises at least one elastically yielding coupling (5) provided with at least one aperture (6) on its entire length, where said coupling (5) is inserted on said upright (2) and exhibits projections (8) extending inwards, inserted into grooves or housings (4) of said uprights (2).

8. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said shelves (3) exhibit through housings (9) wherein said couplings (5) are inserted and locked.

9. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said grooves or housings (4) are arranged into groups, and are obtained on opposed portions of said uprights (2) for the entire length of the same; similarly, also said projections (8) are arranged into groups and are obtained on opposed portions of said couplings (5).

10. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said coupling (5) comprises an edge (7) protruding outwards, where said edge (7) protrudes from an end of said coupling (5) facing downwards, and an end of said housing (9) abuts on it.

11. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said housings (9) of said shelves (3) exhibit a protruding edge (10) at their upper wall, arranged in abutment on an end of said coupling (5) facing upwards.

12. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said coupling (5) exhibits slightly conical walls converging upwards.

13. Structure (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that all the elements forming it are made of a plastic material

14. Support structure (1) of items in general, as described and claimed.

The above as substantially described, illustrated, and for the specified purposes.