Shelf assembly

Abstract

A shelf assembly includes a shelf section having at least one shelf, the shelf section being rotatable about an axis of rotation between a display position in which the shelf is accessible from a front portion of the shelf section and a refill position in which the shelf is accessible from a rear portion of the shelf section. The shelf assembly also includes a support having a carriage that rotatably supports the shelf sections and is movable in a fore-aft direction. When the shelf section is rotated from the display position to the refill position, the carriage first moves forward and then returns back to the starting position. The shelf section also includes a frame having opposing first and second side posts, the shelf being mounted between the side posts at any height. The shelf is provided with corresponding clamping portions at opposite ends thereof to secure the shelf at the side posts. Each clamping portion includes a hook portion engaging with a respective side post at a first surface of the side post, and a locking portion engaging with an opposite second surface of the side post, the locking portion being releasable for movement of the shelf at any height.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of an application with application number 201780097771.9 and entry date into the Chinese national phase on June 17, 2020. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a shelf assembly having shelves for products. The shelf assembly is arranged to be placed in a limited space and is rotatable between at least one display position in which the shelves are accessible from the front of the shelf section and a refill position in which the shelves are accessible from the rear of the shelf section. Background Art

[0003] In supermarkets and department stores, there are many different types of shelf assemblies filled with products to be sold. Many of these products must be supplied in a manner that the last supplied product is positioned at the rear portion of the shelf for various reasons (e.g., opening date or refrigeration reasons). At the same time, this meets the requirement that the first supplied product is also sold first. Rotatable shelf assemblies meet these requirements and also facilitate the operation of refilling these shelves with other products when these shelves begin to become empty. EP 2091391 discloses such a prior art shelf assembly.

[0004] However, the shelf assembly of EP 2 091 391 creates a need for a further simplified refilling operation. Summary of the invention

[0005] Simplifying the refilling operation would be advantageous. In order to better solve this problem, in a first aspect of the invention, a shelf assembly for products to be placed in a space is presented, the depth of the shelf assembly being limited at least by a rear boundary surface and the sides being limited by lateral boundary surfaces, the shelf assembly having a shelf section having a front and a rear, the shelf section comprising a shelf, the shelf section being rotatable about a rotation axis between a display position in which the shelf is accessible from the front of the shelf section and a refilling position in which the shelf is accessible from the rear of the shelf section, wherein the shelf assembly further comprises a support member comprising: a slide rotatably supporting the shelf section and movable in a front-to-rear direction in the depth of the space; and an arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally connected to the shelf section at a bottom end of the shelf section at a distance from the rotation axis. The arm is connected to the fixed part of the support member, and the second end is pivotally connected to the fixed part of the support member so that when the shelf section is rotated from the display position to the refilling position, the slide first moves forward a certain distance from the starting position and then returns backward to its starting position due to the pivoting of the arm during the rotation; and wherein the shelf section further includes a frame having opposite first and second side columns, wherein the shelf is mounted between these side columns at any height, wherein the shelf is provided with corresponding clamping parts at opposite ends of the shelf, wherein these clamping parts fix the shelf at these side columns, wherein each clamping part includes a hook part engaged with the first surface of the corresponding side column, and a fastening part engaged with the opposite second surface of the side column, whereby the side column is clamped between the hook part and the fastening part, and wherein the fastening part can be loosened for movement of the shelf to any height.

[0006] Compared to the above-mentioned prior art shelf sections, the combination of a swivel solution, in which the shelf section does not protrude more from the space in the refilling position than in the display position, and one or more shelves whose height is freely adjustable does indeed simplify the refilling operation.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the shelf assembly, the shelf comprises an end plate at each end thereof, wherein the clamping portion is attached to the end plate, wherein the hook portion and the fastening portion are attached to the end plate in a mutually spaced manner, and wherein the hook portion comprises a first edge surface and a second edge surface, the first edge surface protruding from the end plate and engaging with the first surface of the side column, the second edge surface extending perpendicularly to the first edge surface and engaging with a third surface of the side column, the third surface extending perpendicularly to and close to the first surface. Thus, the hook portion advantageously grasps the corresponding corner of each side column and fixes the lateral position of the shelf.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the shelf assembly, the fastening portion comprises a nut attached to the side plate and a screw, the screw being arranged on the nut, protruding from the nut towards the hook portion, and engaging with the second surface of the side column, wherein the screw is arranged to loosen the fastening portion by being loosened. The nut and screw are classic in themselves, but in this context, advantageously simple.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the shelf assembly, at the lower side of the carriage, the carriage is provided with wheels which run in guide rails. Thus, the reciprocating movement of the carriage in the front-rear direction is well controlled, and the shelf section moves with low friction and low force.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the shelf assembly, the shelf assembly comprises a top bracket, wherein a top of a shelf section is rotatably connected to the top bracket, the top bracket supporting the shelf section.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the shelf assembly, the top support comprises a telescopic beam which is rotationally connected thereto at the top of the shelf section and telescopes forward and backward, and wherein the telescopic beam moves in a housing which is a fixed part of the shelf assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of a shelf assembly according to the present invention installed in a space;

[0014] Figures 2 to 6 schematically illustrates the operation of a shelf section of a rotating shelf assembly; and

[0015] Figures 7 and 8 A schematic perspective view of a portion of a shelf of a shelf assembly is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of a shelf assembly 1 according to the invention is arranged in a space defined by a rear wall 2, which provides a rear boundary surface, and side walls 3, 4, which provide lateral boundary surfaces and are attached to the rear wall 2 at their side edges. The rear wall and the side walls 2 to 4 are shown only schematically, and in practice they can be any kind of walls, such as fixed walls of a room, walls of a cooler or freezer compartment of a store, walls of a free-standing cargo rack, etc. The shelf assembly comprises a shelf section 5 having at least one shelf 6. Typically, the shelf section 5 comprises a plurality of vertically spaced shelves 6, but the application also covers the alternative of a single shelf. The shelf section 5 has a front part 7 and a rear part 8, and the shelf section can be rotated around a rotation axis in at least one display position ( Figure 1The shelf assembly 1 is rotatable between a display position (shown) in which at least one display position the shelf is accessible from the front of the shelf section and a refilling position in which the shelf is accessible from the rear 8 of the shelf section 5. Preferably, the shelf 6 is of the gravity-fed type. The term gravity-fed means that the shelf 6 is mounted at an angle and is provided with a surface that allows products placed on the shelf 6 to move forward and downward along the surface towards the opening of the space, as is known from the prior art. The shelf assembly 1 further comprises a support 9, which comprises a slide 10 that rotatably supports the shelf section 5 and is movable in the depth of the space in a front-to-rear direction, i.e., towards the front opening of the space and reciprocating towards the rear wall 2. The shelf section 5 further comprises a frame 16 having opposing, spaced-apart first and second side posts 17, 18 (these side posts are visible in the figure), a bottom bar 19 and a top bar 20. The shelf 6 is mounted between the side posts 17 at an arbitrary height, which height is adjustable as will be described further below.

[0017] The movement of the carriage is guided by guide rails 28 comprised in the fixed part 15 of the support 9. More specifically, at its lower side the carriage 10 is provided with wheels which run in the guide rails 28.

[0018] The support 9 further comprises a base plate 29. The bottom bar 19 is attached to the top surface of the base plate 29, and a rotating device (not shown) is attached to the bottom surface of the base plate 29 and to the top surface of the carriage 10. The rotating device may be of any suitable conventional type known to those skilled in the art, such as a ball bearing structure or the like.

[0019] Reference Figure 2 , wherein the shelf 6 is shown from above and transparently or by a cut-away portion to reveal a support 9 underneath, the support 9 further comprising an arm 11 having a first end 12 and a second end 14, the first end being pivotably connected to the shelf section 5 at its bottom end at a distance from a central rotation axis 13 of the shelf section 5, and the second end being pivotably connected to a fixed portion 15 of the support 9. When the shelf section 5 is rotated from the display position to the refilling position, the carriage 10 first moves forward a certain distance from the starting position, as the arm 11 pivots during the rotation, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 The rack 10 is shown as being rotated and then returns to its starting position. This distance corresponds to the distance between the central rotation axis 13 and the pivot connection at the second end of the arm 11. More specifically, when a person grabs the shelf section 5 at a position off-center and preferably close to one side or the other and starts pulling it, the shelf section 5 will start to rotate and the carriage 10 will start to move forward. Figures 2 to 6 The rotation is shown in step , assuming that a person pulls the shelf section 5 toward Figure 2Since the arm 11 is rigid, when the shelf section 5 is pulled forward, the bottom bar 13 pivots about the first end 12 of the arm 11, and since the lateral position of the carriage is fixed, the carriage 10 begins to move forward. At the same time, the arm 11 begins to pivot about its second end 14 toward the center of the shelf section 5, i.e., toward Figure 2 The left side of the device is pivoted.

[0020] like Figures 3 to 6 As shown, these figures are top views of the entire shelf assembly 1, and in this embodiment, the shelf assembly 1 includes a structure at the top thereof, which is similar to the support 9 at the bottom of the shelf section 5. More specifically, the top of the shelf section 5 is rotatably connected to the top bracket 22, which supports the shelf section 5. The top bracket 22 is not necessary if the support is made strong enough, but it is beneficial to achieve a slimmer support 9. The top bracket 22 includes a telescopic beam 23, which is rotatably connected to the shelf section 5 at the top and telescopes forward and backward. The telescopic beam 23 moves in a housing 24, which is a fixed part of the shelf assembly 1. Like the support 9, the top bracket includes an arm 25, which is vertically aligned with the arm 11 of the support 9. Therefore, in Figures 3 to 6 The arm 11 of the support member 9 is not visible in the figure because it is blocked by the arm 25 of the top bracket 22. The arm 25 of the top bracket 22 is pivotally connected to the top rod 20 at a first end 26 thereof and at a distance from the central rotation axis equal to that of the arm 11 of the support member 9. At the second end 27 of the arm 25, the arm of the top bracket is pivotally connected to the housing 24 at the rear end of the housing 24. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, when the operation of rotating the shelf section 5 is continued, the shelf section moves further forward, thus preventing the shelf 6 from hitting the rear wall 2. Figure 5 As shown, when the shelf section 5 has rotated 90 degrees, the carriage 10 reaches its forward most position. In this position, the arms 25 of the top bracket 22 extend along the housing 24 and are hidden below the housing in the figure. During continued rotation, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown, the carriage 10 and therefore the shelf section 5 move backwards in the front-to-back direction back to its starting position. Now, the shelf section 5 has been rotated to its refilling position and has the same position in the depth of the space as in the display position. Therefore, the shelf 6 does not protrude out of the space like the shelf assembly of the above-mentioned prior art. The arms 11, 25 have been pivoted to a position in which the first ends of these arms are positioned to the left of the central rotation axis 13 at the same distance as they were positioned to the right of the central rotation axis 13 in the display position.

[0021] Now refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8, the shelf 6 is provided with corresponding clamping parts 30 at the opposite ends of the shelf 6, wherein the clamping parts 30 fix the shelf 6 at the side posts 17, 18. Each clamping part 30 includes a hook part 31 engaged with the corresponding side posts 17, 18 at the first surface 32 of the side posts 17, and a fastening part 33 engaged with the opposite second surface 34 of the side posts 17, whereby the side posts 17 are clamped between the hook part 31 and the fastening part 33, and wherein the fastening part 33 is releasable for movement of the shelf 6 at any height. More specifically, the shelf 6 includes an end plate 35 at each end thereof, wherein the clamping portion 30 is attached to the end plate 35, wherein the hook portion 31 and the fastening portion 33 are attached to the end plate 35 in a mutually spaced manner, and wherein the hook portion 31 includes a first edge surface 36 and a second edge surface 37, wherein the first edge surface protrudes from the end plate 35 and engages with the first surface 32 of the side column, and the second edge surface extends perpendicular to the first edge surface 36 and engages with a third surface 38 of the side column 17, which third surface extends perpendicular to and close to the first surface 32.

[0022] The fastening portion 33 includes a nut 39 attached to the side plate 35 and a screw 40 arranged on the nut 39, protruding from the nut 39 toward the hook portion 31 and engaging with the second surface 34 of the side column 17, wherein the screw 40 is arranged to loosen the fastening portion 33 by being loosened.

[0023] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0024] Other variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A shelf assembly for products to be placed in a space, the depth of the shelf assembly being limited at least by a rear boundary surface (2) and laterally by lateral boundary surfaces (3, 4), the shelf assembly (1) having a shelf section (5) having a front part (7) and a rear part (8), the shelf section comprising a shelf (6), the shelf section being rotatable about a rotation axis (13) between a display position in which the shelf is accessible from the front part of the shelf section and a refilling position in which the shelf is accessible from the rear part of the shelf section; wherein The shelf assembly further includes a support member (9), which includes: a slide (10) that is rotatably supported by a base plate (29) that is configured to rotate together with the shelf section and is movable in the depth of the space and in the front-to-back direction; and an arm (11), the arm having a first end (12) and a second end (14), the first end being pivotally connected to the shelf section at a distance from the rotation axis at the bottom end of the shelf section, and the second end being pivotally connected to a fixed portion (15) of the support member. The rack section is connected so that when the rack section is rotated from the display position to the refilling position, the slide first moves forward a certain distance from the starting position and then returns backward to its starting position due to the pivoting of the arm during the rotation; and wherein the rack section further includes a frame (16) having opposing first side posts (17) and second side posts (18) and a bottom bar (19) attached to the top surface of the base plate, wherein the rack is mounted between these side posts at any height, and wherein the rack is provided with a bottom bar (19) at opposite ends of the rack. Respective clamping portions (30), wherein the clamping portions secure the shelf at the side posts, wherein each clamping portion comprises a hook portion (31) engaged with a first surface (32) of the corresponding side post, and a fastening portion (33) engaged with an opposite second surface (34) of the side post, whereby the side post is clamped between the hook portion and the fastening portion, and wherein the fastening portion is releasable for movement of the shelf to any height, wherein the shelf (6) comprises an end plate (35) at each end thereof, wherein , the clamping portion (30) is attached to the end plate, wherein the hook portion (31) and the fastening portion (33) are attached to the end plate in a mutually spaced manner, and wherein the hook portion includes a first edge surface (36) and a second edge surface (37), the first edge surface protruding from the end plate and engaging with the first surface of the side column, the second edge surface extending perpendicularly to the first edge surface and engaging with a third surface (38) of the side column (17, 18), the third surface extending perpendicularly to and close to the first surface (32).

2. The shelf assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The fastening portion (33) includes a nut (39) attached to the side plate (35) and a screw (40), which is arranged on the nut, protrudes from the nut toward the hook portion (31), and engages with the second surface (34) of the side column (17), wherein the screw is arranged to loosen the fastening portion by loosening.

3. A shelf assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: At its underside, the carriage (10) is provided with wheels which run in guide rails (28).

4. A shelf assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a top bracket (22), wherein: The top of the shelf section (5) is rotatably connected to a top bracket, which supports the shelf section.

5. A shelf assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The top support (22) includes a telescopic beam (23) which is rotationally connected to the top of the shelf section (5) and telescopes forward and backward, and wherein the telescopic beam moves in a housing (24) which is a fixed part of the shelf assembly (1).

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