U.S. patent application number 12/158043 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-25 for shelf system comprising a support element that is infinitely adjustable in a wall rail.
Invention is credited to Wolfram Haarmann.
Application Number | 20080314850 12/158043 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36500902 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080314850 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haarmann; Wolfram |
December 25, 2008 |
Shelf System Comprising a Support Element That is Infinitely
Adjustable in a Wall Rail
Abstract
Disclosed is an infinitely adjustable shelf system comprising at
least one vertically mounted wall rail that is embodied as a
profiled part and is provided with at least one first vertical
groove facing the wall and at least one second vertical groove
facing away from the wall, as well as at least one support element
which is adjustable within the wall rail, can be fastened to the
wall rail in a selectable position, and is fitted with at least one
lateral protrusion at the rear end facing the wall, said at least
one protrusion extending forward, away from the wall. The forward
end of the protrusion is non-positively retained between the first
and the second vertical groove along with the rear end stressed in
a horizontal position of the support element while allowing the
support element to be moved freely inside the wall rail when the
support element is in a raised position at the front.
Inventors: |
Haarmann; Wolfram;
(Pfullingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stolowitz Ford Cowger LLP
621 SW Morrison St, Suite 600
Portland
OR
97205
US
|
Family ID: |
36500902 |
Appl. No.: |
12/158043 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
December 21, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP06/70090 |
371 Date: |
June 18, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/90.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 57/567
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/90.02 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/08 20060101
A47F005/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2005 |
EP |
05112637.3 |
Claims
1. shelf system comprising: at least one wall rail in the form of a
profiled part which can be vertically mounted, with at least one
wall-side first vertical groove and at least one second vertical
groove facing away from the wall, and at least one support element
which can be displaced in the wall rail and secured on the wall
rail at a selectable position, which has at least one lateral
projection on its rear end facing the wall extending forwards away
from the wall, the front end of which is guided in a second
vertical groove and the rear end of the support element is guided
in the first vertical groove, such that the support element is
non-positively retained under elastic tension between the first and
second vertical groove when the support element is in a horizontal
position, and enables the support element to be displaced freely in
the wall rail when in a position pushed upwards at the front.
2. Shelf system as claimed in claim 1, in which the wall rail is a
U-shaped profiled part with two upright first vertical grooves and
two upright second vertical grooves.
3. Shelf system as claimed in claim 1, in which a distance a
between the front end of the projection and rear end of the support
element in the tension-free state is bigger than the internal
distance b between the internal face of the first wall-side
vertical groove and the second vertical groove facing away from the
wall.
4. Shelf system as claimed in claim 3, in which the difference in
distance a-b is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.
5. Shelf system as claimed in claim 1, in which the tilting angle
for releasing the vertical fixture of the support element in the
wall rail is between 30 degrees and 45 degrees.
6. Shelf system as claimed in claim 1, in which the at least one
lateral projection is disposed close to the top edge of the support
element.
7. Shelf system as claimed in claim 6, in which the top rear corner
of the support element is rounded.
8. Shelf system as claimed in claim 7, in which the top rear corner
of the support element is arcuately shaped.
9. Shelf system as claimed in claim 1, in which the front end of
the at least one lateral projection is rounded.
10. Shelf system as claimed in claim 9, in which the front end of
the at least one lateral projection is of a semi-circular
shape.
11. Shelf system as claimed in claim 1, in which the support
element has a U-shaped cross-section with two lateral
projections.
12. Shelf system as claimed in claim 1, in which the at least one
lateral projection is formed by punching it out of the support
element.
13. Shelf system as claimed in claim 1, in which the wall rail has
markings at regular distances.
14. Shelf system as claimed in claim 1, in which the wall rail has
at least one dismantling portion where the second vertical groove
facing away from the wall is interrupted for threading in and/or
removing the at least one support element.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to shelf systems comprising shelf
rails which can be fitted vertically on a wall and support elements
or shelf supports which can be secured to these shelf rails in
order to accommodate shelves.
RELATED PRIOR ART
[0002] Such known shelf systems are widely used and have proven
themselves in private and commercial applications as a means of
providing a large surface area for storing books, objects, files
and similar. Since they can be extended upwards and to the side in
any manner, such shelf systems offer a high degree of
flexibility.
[0003] In order to secure the shelf supports, the wall rails
usually have holes or cut-outs in which the shelf supports can be
suspended. This configuration enables the shelf supports to be
reliably secured to the wall rail, thereby enabling high loads to
be supported, but their disadvantage is that the vertical positions
of the shelf supports and hence the shelves themselves are limited
to the positions of the fixing orifices.
[0004] There is therefore a need for a shelf system, whereby the
shelf supports can be infinitely adjusted.
[0005] Patent specification AT 216176 discloses a shelf system
comprising a U-shaped wall rail with lateral projections and a
U-shaped shelf support, which is provided with shelf supports on
its rear end facing the wall rail with lugs which locate in the
uprights, and the side parts of the support are connected to one
another in the vicinity of the rear end incorporating the lugs for
pressing the lugs against the lateral projections of the wall rails
by means of a screw with a right-handed and left-handed thread, and
the lugs fixedly surround the lateral projections on three sides
with their external face when in a position pressed apart from one
another. The disadvantage of this design, however, is that a screw
connection has to be released and tightened every time in order to
release and secure the shelf support. Using a screw connection also
makes manufacture of the shelf support complex and expensive, which
is a considerable disadvantage, especially when producing articles
on a mass scale.
[0006] Patent specification GB-A-1517532 discloses a shelf system
comprising a wall rail in the form of a U-shaped section and a
support element which can be adjusted and secured on the wall rail
in a selectable position, which support element has outwardly
extending projections formed on either side of its rear end, which
are retained in vertical grooves provided in the wall rail by
frictional force.
[0007] Patent specification GB-A-739425 discloses a shelf system
comprising wall rails in the form of U-shaped sections and support
elements which can be vertically displaced in them, which are
retained by means of lateral support flanges due to the weight
placed on the support element.
[0008] Patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,264 describes a
shelf system comprising wall rails in the form of U-shaped sections
and support elements which can be vertically displaced in them,
which are retained in a horizontal position by the weight placed on
them.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the objective of this invention is to propose a
shelf system comprising the elements wall rails and shelf supports,
which offers the possibility of infinitely adjusting the shelves
whilst simultaneously supporting high loads. It must also be
possible to secure the shelf supports rapidly and easily and
release them again and, finally, it must also be possible to
manufacture the wall rail and shelves as mass-produced
articles.
[0010] This objective is achieved by a shelf system comprising at
least one wall rail in the form of a profiled part which can be
vertically mounted and has at least a wall-side first vertical
groove and at least a second vertical groove facing away from the
wall, and at least one support element which can be displaced in
the wall rail and secured on the wall rail in a selectable
position, which has at least one lateral projection extending
forwards away from the wall on its rear end facing the wall, the
front end of which is non-positively retained under elastic tension
together with the rear end of the support element between a first
and second vertical groove when the support element is in a
horizontal position, and enables the support element to be freely
displaced in the wall rail when the support element is in a
position tilted upwards at the front. The support element can be
released by tilting its front end facing away from the wall up away
from the wall rail so that it can be displaced in the wall rail in
the vertical direction. This ensures that the support element can
be easily and reliably manipulated. In order to release it, the
support element is simply tilted upwards by 30 or 45 degrees, for
example, pushed to the desired height and then moved back into to
the horizontal position in order to secure it.
[0011] Accordingly, the wall rail may be provided in the form of a
U-shaped profiled part with two upright first vertical grooves and
two upright second vertical grooves.
[0012] In order to obtain the elastic tensioning, a distance a
between the front end of the projection and the rear end of the
support element in the non-tensioned state is bigger than the
internal distance b between the internal surface of the first
wall-side vertical groove and the second vertical groove facing
away from the wall. The difference in distance a-b may be between
0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.
[0013] The at least one projection is preferably disposed close to
the top edge of the support element and the top rear corner of the
support element is rounded, preferably arcuately shaped, and the
front end of the lateral projections may likewise be rounded,
preferably of a semi-circular shape. This arrangement makes it
easier to release and secure the support element by a tilting
movement relative to the wall rail. Disposing the at least one
projection close to the top edge of the support element offers an
easy way of providing support for the support element at each side
against the base of the wall rail, thereby enabling high loads to
be supported.
[0014] The support element preferably has a U-shaped cross-section
open towards the top with two lateral projections.
[0015] To facilitate manufacture, the two lateral projections may
be formed by punching them out of the support element.
[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, markings in the form
of notches or similar for example may be provided at regular
distances on the wall rail, serving as a vertical orientation for
positioning the support element and hence shelves.
[0017] In order to "thread in" the support elements or shelf
supports, the wall rail may have at least one dismantling portion
at which the second vertical groove facing away from the wall is
interrupted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The invention will be explained below with reference to
examples of specific embodiments illustrated in the appended
drawings.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective diagram showing a first
example of an embodiment of the shelf system proposed by the
invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a first example of an
embodiment of the shelf system proposed by the invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view showing a first example of an
embodiment of the support element proposed by the invention.
[0022] FIG. 4a) is a view in horizontal section showing a first
example of an embodiment of the wall rail proposed by the
invention.
[0023] FIG. 4b) is a plan view of the rear end of the support
element illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0024] FIG. 4c) is a side view showing a detail of the first
example of an embodiment of the shelf system proposed by the
invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a view in horizontal section showing the support
element illustrated in FIG. 4b), secured in a horizontal position
to a wall rail of the type illustrated in FIG. 4a).
[0026] FIG. 6 is a view in horizontal section showing a second
example of an embodiment of the support element proposed by the
invention, secured in a horizontal position to a wall rail of the
type illustrated in FIG. 4a).
[0027] FIG. 7 is a view in horizontal section showing a third
example of an embodiment of the support element proposed by the
invention secured in a horizontal position to a wall rail based on
a second example of an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] The invention will be explained in detail below with
reference to examples of specific embodiments.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a first
example of an embodiment of the shelf system proposed by the
invention. It comprises two basic elements, the wall rails 30 and
the support elements or shelf supports 20, on which shelf panels 40
can be placed. The wall rails 30 may be vertically mounted in any
arrangement on a wall, partition wall or an appropriate support
structure. The shelf supports 20, which taper towards the front
(i.e. away from the wall) as illustrated in FIG. 3, can be
suspended in the wall rails. Shelves 40 can then be placed on the
top face 27 of the shelf supports 20.
[0030] As proposed by the invention, the support elements or shelf
supports 20 can be infinitely adjusted in the wall rail 30 and can
be secured in any vertical position. Markings such as notches 39,
for example, may be provided in the wall rails at regular distances
to assist with setting the height position of the support elements
and hence the shelf, as illustrated in FIG. 4c).
[0031] The embodiment illustrated as an example in FIGS. 1 and 2
has two wall rails 30 with a total of four support elements 20 and
a shelf panel. Naturally, the invention is not limited to a
specific number of wall rails or support elements and may be used
in any configuration.
[0032] The mechanism for securing and releasing the shelf supports
in the wall rail will be explained in more detail below with
reference to FIGS. 3-7.
[0033] As illustrated in the view in horizontal section shown in
FIG. 4a), the wall rail 30 has a generally U-shaped cross-section
with a base surface 30a adjoined by legs 30b on each side. First
wall-side vertical grooves 35 are formed in the region of the base
surface 30a and second vertical grooves 32 are formed in the front
end region facing away from the wall.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4b), a shelf support 20
proposed by the invention has forwardly pointing lateral
projections 22, which, when the shelf support 20 is disposed in the
wall rail in its horizontal position as illustrated in FIG. 5,
locate by means of their front end 23 in the second vertical
grooves 32, whereas the rear ends 29 are retained in the first
vertical grooves 35. The support element 20 is therefore retained
by elastic tensioning, because a distance a (FIG. 4b) from a rear
end 29 of the shelf support to the front end 23 of the projections
22 is slightly bigger than a distance b (see FIG. 4a) from the base
surface 30a of the first vertical groove 35 to the front internal
surface 33 of the second vertical groove 32. The difference in
distance a-b is preferably between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm depending on
the thickness and elasticity of the material selected for the wall
rail and shelf support. The rear ends 29 of the two side walls 26a,
26b of the preferably U-shaped shelf support 20 are supported on
the vertical grooves 35 towards the inside, thereby laterally
strengthening the support element.
[0035] A major advantage of the retaining system proposed by the
invention is the fact that the projections 22 are secured in the
second vertical groove 32, thereby preventing any deformation or
"shifting" of the projections 22 inwards or outwards as well.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the lateral projections 22 are
disposed on a top rear region close to the top edge 27 and rear top
corner 28 of the support element 20. The support element 20
retained by its "clamped-in" projections 22 is therefore supported
against the base surface 30a of the U-shaped wall rail 30 when
placed under load by a (loaded shelf board) lying on the top edge
27 by its middle and bottom part of the rear face facing the wall.
As a result, the shelf system proposed by the invention is capable
of withstanding high loads.
[0037] A support element 20 secured on the wall rail in a
horizontal position may be released from its anchoring by tilting
up the front end 21 facing away from the wall, as schematically
indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4c) and pushed up and down in the
rail 30 in any position. In this respect, the angle needed to
release the support element 20 may be between 30 and 45 degrees,
for example.
[0038] In order to ensure that the shelf support can be easily
released and secured, it is rounded at its top rear corner 28 (FIG.
3), preferably arcuately shaped. The front end portions 23 of the
projections 22 locating in the second vertical groove 32 are
likewise rounded, for example of a semi-circular design.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a view in horizontal section showing a second
example of an embodiment of the support element proposed by the
invention, which is secured in a horizontal position on a wall rail
of the type illustrated in FIG. 4a), and FIG. 7 illustrates a third
example of an embodiment of the support element proposed by the
invention, which is secured on a wall rail based on a second
example of an embodiment of the invention.
[0040] The second example of an embodiment of the support element
20 proposed by the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 differs from the
first example of an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 due to
the fact that the support element is not a U-shaped profiled part
but is of a flat design. The clamping mechanism by which the front
end 23 of the lateral projection 22 together with the rear end 29
of the support element 20 is retained under elastic tension between
the front and rear vertical groove is identical to that of the
first example of an embodiment. In the case of the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 6, two support elements 20 are retained
adjacent to one another in the U-shaped wall rail 30.
[0041] In the embodiment illustrated as an example in FIG. 7, a
flat support element 20 formed from a sheet steel material is
retained in a wall rail 30 attached to the wall 10, which is only
suitable for accommodating a flat support element. The retaining
mechanism of the support element in the wall rail again corresponds
to that of the examples of embodiments described above.
[0042] To enable the shelf support to be manufactured
inexpensively, the projections 22 may be formed by punching and
deforming the support element 20.
[0043] In another example of an embodiment, although this is not
illustrated, the wall rail 30 has a dismantling portion where there
are no terminal portions 32. This enables the shelf base supports
20 to be "threaded into" or removed from the dismantling
portion.
[0044] The invention therefore offers a shelf system comprising the
basic elements of wall rail and support element, which enables the
support elements to be infinitely positioned whilst simultaneously
affording a high load-bearing capacity. The fact that the
projections 22 of the shelf support 20 are retained between the
front and rear vertical grooves of the wall rail 30 makes it easy
to release and secure the shelf support by tilting it up in an
inclined position or tilting it down into a horizontal position.
Since no moving parts are needed for the infinite fixing system
proposed by the invention, manufacturing costs can be kept low.
* * * * *