WO2012080733A1

WO2012080733A1 - Shelving unit

Info

Publication number: WO2012080733A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/052479
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Sully
Original assignee: STORAGE SOLUTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: STORAGE SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-17
Filing date: 2011-12-14
Publication date: 2012-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-17
Also published as: GB2486640B; GB201021419D0; GB2486640A

Abstract

A shelving unit comprising a beam in the form of a longitudinal member with parallel first and second side edges; the first and second side edges each having an integral projecting flange; the outer edge of the first side edge remote from the member having a first lip projecting towards a corresponding second lip on the second side edge remote from the member from the other flange so that the member, flanges and lips in combination give the beam a C- shaped cross section; a first recess provided in an edge of the first lip remote from its flange; a second recess provided on an edge of the second lip remote from its flange; the first and second recesses lying on a common transverse axis of the longitudinal member intermediate ends of the beam and being spaced from one another spaced by a first distance; and a cross member in the form of a longitudinal element with parallel first and second side edges; the first and second side edges each having an integral projecting flange; the element and flanges in combination give the cross member a U-shaped cross section; a first end of the cross member having a slot in each flange parallel to, and near but not at, the end of the flange; the slot extending across the width of the flange perpendicular to the flange and part way across the width of the element to give a second distance between those ends of the slots lying in the element; with an open end to each recess in the edge of the flange remote from the element.

Description

SHELVING UNIT

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a shelving unit.

BACKGROUND ART

In our application GB 1013516.8 (the 'Application') there is described a shelving unit in the form of a beam with a number of features including a back member from the edges of which projects a flange, the outer edge of the flange having a lip projecting so that the beam has a C-shaped cross section. The Application is concerned with features of an end of the beam to enhance its function when connected to another beam.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a shelving unit comprising:

a beam in the form of a longitudinal member with parallel first and second side edges; the first and second side edges each having an integral projecting flange; the outer edge of the first side edge remote from the member having a first lip projecting towards a corresponding second lip on the second side edge remote from the member from the other flange so that the member, flanges and lips in

combination give the beam a C-shaped cross section; a first recess provided in an edge of the first lip remote from its flange; a second recess provided on an edge of the second lip remote from its flange; the first and second recesses lying on a common transverse axis of the longitudinal member intermediate ends of the beam and being spaced from one another spaced by a first distance; and

a cross member in the form of a longitudinal element with parallel first and second side edges; the first and second side edges each having an integral projecting flange; the element and flanges in combination give the cross member a U-shaped cross section; a first end of the cross member having a slot in each flange parallel to, and near but not at, the end of the flange; the slot extending across the width of the flange perpendicular to the flange and part way across the width of the element to give a second distance between those ends of the slots lying in the element; with an open end to each recess in the edge of the flange remote from the element;

the beam and cross member being juxtaposed with each slot in the member engaging a recess in the beam and the longitudinal element between the slots the ends of the cross member between the slots and the end engaging with the beam within the first and second flanges of the beam and an interior surface of the beam.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the recesses mirror one another in plan view of the beam.

According to a second preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention the recesses are dissimilar in plan view of the beam.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of fabricating a shelving unit made up of a beam and a cross member; the beam being in the form of a longitudinal member with parallel first and second side edges; the first and second side edges each having an integral projecting flange; the outer edge of the first side edge remote from the member having a first lip projecting towards a corresponding second lip on the second side edge remote from the member from the other flange so that the member, flanges and lips in combination give the beam a C- shaped cross section; a first recess provided in an edge of the first lip remote from its flange; a second recess provided on an edge of the second lip remote from its flange; the first and second recesses lying on a common transverse axis of the longitudinal member intermediate ends of the beam and spaced by a first distance; and the cross member being in the form of a longitudinal element with parallel first and second side edges; the first and second side edges each having an integral projecting flange; the element and flanges in combination give the cross member a U-shaped cross section; a first end of the cross member having a slot in each flange parallel to, and near but not at, the end of the flange; the slot extending across the width of the flange perpendicular to the flange and part way across the width of the element to give a second distance between those ends of the slots lying in the element; with an open end to each recess in the edge of the flange remote from the element; the method comprising the steps of:

providing at the first end of the cross member for the second distance to be equal to or less than the first distance;

juxtaposing the first end of the cross element with the beam so as to cause the first end to lie within, and with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to, the lips of the beam;

inserting a first slot of the cross member into the first recess of the beam;

rotating the cross beam about its longitudinal axis relative to the beam so as to cause the second slot of the cross member to engage with and be seated within the second recess of the beam; so that the cross member lies perpendicular to, and transversely across, the beam;

causing the first end of the cross member lying between the slots to engage adjacent internal parts of the beam to rigidity the combination of the beam and the end of the cross member.

A shelving unit according to a third aspect of the present invention comprising a plurality of units according to the first aspect or any preceding preferred version thereof when assembled into a structure having a generally horizontal configuration.

A shelving unit according to a third aspect of the present invention comprising a plurality of units according to the first aspect or any preceding preferred version thereof when assembled into a structure having a generally vertical configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembled shelving unit;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a first component of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the first component of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a second component of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective cross sectional view of the second component of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an assembled shelving unit as shown in Figure 1 from a different viewpoint; and

Figure 7 shows possible variants of a part of the first component of Figure 2. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 variously show an assembled shelving unit 11 and components thereof comprising a beam B and a cross member C.

The beam B is in the form of a longitudinal member 12 with longitudinal axis 13 and parallel first and second side edges respectively side edges 14, 15. The first side edge 14 and second side edge 15 each have an integral projecting flange, respectively flanges 16, 17. Outer edge 18 of the first side edge 14 remote from the member 12 has a first lip 19 projecting towards a corresponding second lip 20 on the second side edge 15 remote from the member 12. The member 12, flanges 16, 17 and lips 19 20 in combination give the beam B a C-shaped cross section (Figure 3). A first recess 21 is provided in an edge 22 of the first lip 19 remote from its flange 16. Similarly a second recess 23 is provided on an edge 24 of the second lip 20 remote from its flangel7. The first recess 21 and second recess 22 lie on a common transverse axis 25 of the longitudinal member 12 intermediate ends el, e2 of the member 12. The recesses 21, 22 are spaced by a first distance Dl.

Figure 7 shows examples of alternative types of pairs of recesses in the beam B for receiving one end of the cross member C as will be described hereafter. All are shown in lips 19, 20 in beam B with longitudinal axis 13. Only the edges of the lips remote from the member 12 are shown. Each pair of recesses lie on a common transverse axis 25 of beam B. 7 A to 7C show a range of mirror image recesses with members of the pair being of similar shape. 7D and 7E show pairs of dissimilar recesses with a slot T and curve G.

Reverting to Figures 4 and 5 the cross member C is in the form of a longitudinal member 32 with longitudinal axis 33 and parallel first and second side edges respectively side edges 34, 35. The first side edge 34 and second side edge 35 each having an integral projecting flange respectively flanges 36, 37. The element 32 and flanges 36, 37 in combination give the cross member a U-shaped cross section

(Figure 5). Near end CI of the element 32 there is provided starting in flange 36 a slot 41 parallel to, and near but not at, end CI. The slot 41 extends across width wl of the flange 36 perpendicular to the element 32 and then part way across width w2 of the element 32. Likewise near end CI of the element 32 there is provided starting in flange 37 a slot 42 parallel to, and near but not at, end CI. The slot 42 extends across width w3 of the flange 37 perpendicular to the element 32 and then part way across width w4 of the element 32. In an undistorted state of the end El of the cross member C there is a second distance D2 between those ends of the slots 41, 42 lying in the element 32.

To assemble the prepared beam B and cross member C the end CI of the cross member C is inserted into the beam B so that the end CI abuts inner face 45 of the longitudinal member 12 and the longitudinal axis 13 of the member 12 aligns with longitudinal axis 33 of the longitudinal element 32. The cross member C is then rotated about axis 33 to cause first slot 41 in the element 32 to engage with first recess 21 in the member 12 and thereafter with further rotation the second slot 42 engages with second recess 22. The distances Dl, D2 are selected to provide for the cross member C to be securely engaged with beam B on completion of rotation to ensure for the region of the cross member C within the beam B in the vicinity of end CI to closely abut the interior of the beam B with the flanges 16, 17 lock in place within the beam.

In the exemplary embodiment for the sake of simplicity there are described in combination one beam and one cross member. However in use two beams will conveniently be used to provide front and back supports for a shelf or other storage means and they can be linked by several cross members at or near either end of the beams and at any intermediate location along their length.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention provides for the ready construction of storage and support means making use of relatively simple beam and cross members which can be readily combined in a variety of shelving and/or storage configurations.

Claims

1 A shelving unit comprising:

a beam in the form of a longitudinal member with parallel first and second side edges; the first and second side edges each having an integral projecting flange; the outer edge of the first side edge remote from the member having a first lip projecting towards a corresponding second lip on the second side edge remote from the member from the other flange so that the member, flanges and lips in combination give the beam a C-shaped cross section; a first recess provided in an edge of the first lip remote from its flange; a second recess provided on an edge of the second lip remote from its flange; the first and second recesses lying on a common transverse axis of the longitudinal member intermediate ends of the beam and being spaced from one another spaced by a first distance; and

the beam and cross member being juxtaposed with each slot in the member engaging a recess in the beam and the longitudinal element between the slots the ends of the cross member between the slots and the end engaging with the beam within the first and second flanges of the beam and an interior surface of the beam. A shelving unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the recesses mirror one another in plan view of the beam.

A shelving unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the recesses are dissimilar in plan view of the beam.

A method of fabricating a shelving unit made up of a beam and a cross member;

the beam being in the form of a longitudinal member with parallel first and second side edges; the first and second side edges each having an integral projecting flange; the outer edge of the first side edge remote from the member having a first lip projecting towards a corresponding second lip on the second side edge remote from the member from the other flange so that the member, flanges and lips in combination give the beam a C-shaped cross section; a first recess provided in an edge of the first lip remote from its flange; a second recess provided on an edge of the second lip remote from its flange; the first and second recesses lying on a common transverse axis of the longitudinal member intermediate ends of the beam and spaced by a first distance;

the cross member being in the form of a longitudinal element with parallel first and second side edges; the first and second side edges each having an integral projecting flange; the element and flanges in combination give the cross member a U-shaped cross section; a first end of the cross member having a slot in each flange parallel to, and near but not at, the end of the flange; the slot extending across the width of the flange perpendicular to the flange and part way across the width of the element to give a second distance between those ends of the slots lying in the element; with an open end to each recess in the edge of the flange remote from the element; the method comprising the steps of: providing at the first end of the cross member for the second distance to be equal to or less than the first distance;

inserting a first slot of the cross member into the first recess of the beam;

rotating the first end of the cross beam about its longitudinal axis relative to the beam so as to engage the second slot of the cross member with the second recess of the beam; sp that the element lies perpendicular to, and transversely across the beam;

causing the first end of the cross member lying between the slots to engage adjacent internal parts of the beam to rigidity the combination of the beam and the end of the element.

A shelving unit comprising a plurality of the units as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 when assembled into a structure having a generally horizontal

configuration.

A shelving unit as claimed in Claim 1, 2or 3 when assembled into a structure having a generally vertical configuration.