Cuboid shelf element, shelving system and shelf made of cuboid shelf elements

Abstract

A cuboid shelf element (1, 1') comprising a base plate (2), a top plate (3) and three side walls (4), all rigidly connected to one another, such that either a longitudinal side (L) or an end face (S) of the shelf element (1, 1') is unclad, characterized in that the side walls (4) each have elongated holes (5), wherein the elongated holes (5) are arranged on opposite side wall edges and run parallel to the side wall edges, and that the base plate (2) has base plate slots (6) for the passage of fastening means, wherein the base plate slots (6) run parallel to base plate edges or diagonally across the base plate (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cuboid shelving element comprising a base plate, a cover plate, and three side walls, all firmly connected to one another, so that either one long side or one end of the shelving element is unclad. The invention further relates to a shelving element system comprising cuboid shelving elements and matching fastening elements, as well as a shelf composed of cuboid shelving elements.

[0002] Cuboid shelving elements that can be variably combined to form a shelf are known in various designs from the state of the art. The idea behind them is to generate the greatest possible variety of furniture from the smallest possible number of different base elements or components. By connecting different base elements or connecting different numbers of base elements, numerous combination possibilities arise for creating functionally and space-optimized pieces of furniture, especially shelves.

[0003] For example, the publication DE10 2021 109 616 A1 discloses a variable furniture element and modular furniture system (shelf) consisting of several furniture elements. The furniture element therein comprises a base frame with several frame sides and several support rails for inserting a respective cladding panel. Three outer support rails run parallel to each other along at least three outer edges of the base frame, while at least three further inner support rails run parallel to each other and are offset inwardly relative to the outer support rails. The inner and outer support rails are arranged and designed for inserting a respective cladding panel between two parallel support rails.

[0004] The furniture system consists of at least two furniture elements, wherein a first furniture element is connected to the base frame of a second furniture element via a cladding panel with fastening means.

[0005] A disadvantage of the furniture elements known from the document DE 10 2021 109 616 A1 as well as other furniture elements known from the prior art is that the connection of the individual elements to one another leaves little scope for a configuration that can be adapted to a specific installation situation and the furniture elements are therefore not suitable, or only with difficulty, for furnishing complex room shapes, e.g. the interior of a mobile home or camper.

[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to overcome some of the disadvantages known from the prior art and to provide a shelf element (system) and a shelf formed therefrom that can be safely and flexibly adapted to complicated construction and usage situations and is particularly suitable for equipping a camper van or a mobile home.

[0007] The problem is solved by a shelf element with the features of the main claim.

[0008] According to the invention, a cuboid shelving element is provided with a base plate, a cover plate, and three side walls, all firmly connected to one another, so that either one long side or one end of the shelving element is unclad. The side walls each have elongated holes, wherein the elongated holes are arranged at opposite side wall edges and run parallel to the side wall edges. Furthermore, the base plate has base plate slots for the passage of fastening devices, wherein the base plate slots run parallel to the base plate edges or diagonally across the base plate.

[0009] The shelving element according to the invention essentially corresponds to a cuboid-shaped box with a base plate, cover plate, and three side walls, all of which are firmly connected to one another. "Firmly connected" in this context means that the aforementioned parts either merge into one another in a materially bonded manner, e.g., by means of a correspondingly shaped edged sheet, or that the base plate, cover plate, and the three side walls are detachably or permanently connected to one another by additional connecting means, such as screws, rivets, or weld points.

[0010] The three side walls mean that either one end or one long side of the shelf element is uncovered and thus freely accessible for picking up and storing objects.

[0011] In other words: The side walls, the base plate and the cover plate enclose a shelving element interior that is accessible via the unclad front side or the unclad long side of the shelving element.

[0012] The unclad long side or end can be concealed with an easily removable panel, which can be attached with magnets or Velcro strips, for example. A door can also be installed on the unclad long side or end, allowing the interior of the shelving unit to be closed off.

[0013] The side walls, as well as the top panel and / or the base panel, do not have to completely cover the interior of the shelving unit; they can certainly have openings and recesses. For example, they can have punched-out surfaces for decorative purposes, to ventilate the interior of the shelving unit, or to reduce weight, or they can be made of perforated sheet metal.

[0014] The side walls each have elongated holes. These are slot-shaped recesses through which a fastener can be inserted. Each side wall has elongated holes located on opposite side wall edges and running parallel to the side wall edges. These elongated holes allow shelving elements placed side by side or end to be connected using fasteners. This allows individual shelving elements to be connected horizontally in two directions, namely lengthwise and end by end, to form a single-tier shelving unit.Because the necessary fastening elements are guided through elongated holes, it is possible to create a secure connection between the individual shelf elements even if an offset of the shelf elements on the front or along the length has to be taken into account and a specific assembly situation does not allow a congruent connection between two adjacent long sides or ends.

[0015] For example, by connecting two shelving units via the elongated holes, room projections can be cleverly converted. For example, a chimney shaft running along the corner of a room can be easily and space-optimized with shelving units, which can then still be connected very securely and stably. The advantages of the shelving unit according to the invention are particularly evident when furnishing a motorhome interior or equipping a camper van for motorhome use. The elongated holes allow height differences in a multi-level loading area of ​​a camper van to be easily compensated for when connecting adjacent shelving units, as the shelving units can still be firmly connected to one another even if they are vertically offset.

[0016] Because the slots are arranged on opposite side wall edges, the connection between two shelf elements is particularly stable and tilt-free.

[0017] The elongated holes not only allow for a particularly advantageous connection of individual shelving elements to one another, they are also perfectly suited, for example, to create a connection between one of the shelving elements and a wall of a building or vehicle. For example, the elongated holes are suitable for attaching the shelving elements, either lengthwise or at the ends, to existing mounting rails, especially lashing rails, in the cargo area of ​​a camper van.

[0018] According to the invention, the base plate has base plate slots for the passage of fastening means, wherein the base plate slots run parallel to the base plate edges or diagonally across the base plate. The base plate slots, like the elongated holes, are intended to pass a fastening means through and thus to fasten the base plate to a storage surface. Because the base plate slots, like the elongated holes, are slot-shaped recesses, it is possible to first arrange the shelving element in an optimal manner and then connect it with fastening means to fastening points on the storage surface. For example, a shelving element can be fastened to a lashing rail on the loading area of ​​a van.Thanks to the base plate slots running parallel or diagonally across the base plate, the shelf element can be moved anywhere on the loading area of ​​a van, caravan or camper for optimal use of space, with a fastening option always being available between the lashing rail and at least one of the base plate slots.

[0019] Thanks to the elongated holes and the base plate slots, the shelving elements can be used to equip even the most demanding rooms, whereby the available space is used optimally and a secure fastening option can always be found both for the shelving elements to one another and for the shelving elements to a wall and / or a support surface.

[0020] In one embodiment of the shelf element according to the invention, the cover plate has cover plate slots for the passage of fastening means, wherein the cover plate slots run parallel to cover plate edges or diagonally across the cover plate.

[0021] Like the elongated holes and the base plate slots, the cover plate slots are slot-shaped recesses through which a fastener can be inserted. The cover plate slots make it possible to connect stacked shelving units. To do this, a fastener is simply passed through the cover plate slot of a first shelving unit and the base plate slot of a second shelving unit placed on top of the first shelving unit.

[0022] It proves particularly advantageous if the elongated holes are designed as lashing rails. Lashing rails, also called airline rails, are fastening rails with circular rail openings connected by a groove, into which a suitable fastening element can be inserted. The fastening element can be moved along the groove and fixed in the rail openings by a spring-loaded return element. The elongated holes designed as lashing rails are a groove-shaped recess with spaced-apart circular openings that are arranged equidistantly along the groove and whose circular diameter is larger than the width of the groove. Due to this advantageous design of the elongated holes, the fastening elements known from airline rails, as well as other accessories designed for airline rails, can be used directly for the shelving element according to the invention.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the shelving element, the base plate slots and / or the cover plate slots are designed in the manner of a lashing rail. The advantages previously identified with the elongated holes designed as lashing rails apply analogously to the base plate slots and / or the cover plate slots designed as lashing rails.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment of the shelf element, the elongated holes extend over at least one-third, preferably over at least one-half, even more preferably over at least three-quarters, and even more preferably over at least nine-tenths of a side wall edge length. In principle, the longer the elongated holes are and the more elongated holes are arranged on the individual side wall edges, the more flexible the use of the shelf element becomes, as this provides more options for fastening the shelf elements to one another and the shelf elements to a wall. The same considerations can also be made for the base plate slots and, if present, also for the cover plate slots.

[0025] The shelf elements can be combined to form a shelf particularly cleverly if the shelf element has a shelf depth and a shelf width, whereby the shelf width corresponds to one and a half times or twice the shelf depth.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shelving element has an internal height of a minimum of 40 cm to a maximum of 43 cm, an internal width of a minimum of 60 cm to a maximum of 63 cm, and an internal depth of a minimum of 40 cm to a maximum of 43 cm. A shelving element sized in this way is ideal for precisely accommodating a EURO box measuring 40 cm x 60 cm x 32 cm, while still leaving enough height for an optional drawer panel. Three EURO crates measuring 40 cm x 60 cm x 12 cm stacked on top of each other can be easily stored in a shelving element sized in this way, while still leaving enough height for an optional drawer panel. A further advantage of shelving elements sized in this way is that when two such shelving elements are stacked on top of each other, a working height of at least 80 cm is achieved with respect to the upper cover panel. This makes the shelving elements perfectly suited to creating a work line.

[0027] It is particularly advantageous if the base plate and / or the cover plate have a centrally located access opening. The access opening is, for example, 5 cm to 15 cm wide, allowing for easy routing of utility lines such as power cables, data cables, gas lines, water pipes, and sewer pipes. This allows multiple shelving units to be arranged to create an outdoor kitchen or a mobile home kitchen, and the utility lines required for the kitchen's operation can be cleverly routed through the individual shelving units.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, a pull-out drawer panel is arranged above the base plate. A box can be arranged on the drawer panel, which can be inserted precisely into the interior of the shelving element. The box can simply be placed on the drawer panel or be attached to the drawer panel. The drawer panel is arranged so that it can be pulled out of the shelving element either from the front or lengthwise via the unclad front or long side. Optionally, the drawer panel can have a drawer cladding panel that closes the unclad front or long side when the drawer panel is retracted into the shelving element.

[0029] For an attractive and at the same time functional finish to the shelving element, it is advantageous if the top panel is covered with a worktop.

[0030] The shelf element can be made from different materials: plastic, solid wood, plywood, aluminum sheet, steel sheet as well as from other materials and material compositions from which furniture, especially camping furniture, is usually made.

[0031] To optimize weight while maintaining high stability of the shelf element, it is advisable that the side walls, the base plate and / or the cover plate are each formed from a frame with diagonal struts.

[0032] The object is further achieved by a shelf element system having at least one shelf element and at least one fastening element, wherein the fastening element is composed of a knurled screw and a knurled nut, which are designed to be connectable to one another through the elongated holes or the base plate slots.

[0033] The object is further achieved by a shelf with at least one shelf element according to the invention.

[0034] The structure, function, and advantages of the shelving element according to the invention will be explained below using exemplary embodiments. They show: Fig. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a shelf element according to the invention with an unclad longitudinal side; Fig. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a shelf element according to the invention with an unclad front side; Fig. 3 schematically shows a front view of the shelf element from Fig. 2; Fig. 4 schematically shows a longitudinal side view of the shelf element from Fig. 2; Fig. 5 schematically shows a top view of the shelf element from Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 schematically shows an embodiment of a shelf which consists of two shelf elements according to Fig. 1 and a shelf element according to Fig. 2 is composed.

[0035] The representations in the Fig. Figures 1 to 5 are schematic and not necessarily to scale. Some details have been omitted or only indicated in the figures to provide an unobstructed view of features of the invention that require more detailed explanation.

[0036] Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a shelf element 1 according to the invention. The shelf element 1 comprises a base plate 2, a cover plate 3, and three side walls 4. The base plate 2, the cover plate 3, and the three side walls 4 are all firmly connected to one another.

[0037] At the Fig. In the embodiment of the shelving element 1 shown in Figure 1, the base plate 2, the cover plate 3, and the three side walls 4 are firmly connected to one another with screws. Two side walls 4 located opposite each other on end faces S of the shelving element 1 are folded over at three edges, and a side wall 4 located on a long side L of the shelving element 1 is folded over at two opposite edges of its long side. The base plate 2 and the cover plate 3 are not folded over, but rest as flat metal sheets on the folded edges of the side walls 4.

[0038] At the Fig. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, one long side L is not covered by a side wall 4. The shelf element 1 is accessible for storing objects via this unclad long side L.

[0039] At the Fig. 1, the side walls 4 arranged on the front side S are identically designed; they each have a square shape and an edge length of approximately 40 cm. Likewise, the cover plate 3 is identical to the base plate 2; both are rectangular in circumference with an edge length of approximately 40 cm x 60 cm. The side wall 4 arranged on the long side L differs from the base plate 2 and the cover plate 3 only in the folded edges on the long sides. The approximate dimensions of the side walls 4 as well as the cover plate 3 and the base plate 2 are to be understood in such a way that when assembled to form the finished shelf element 1, an internal height of 40 to 43 cm, an internal width of 60 to 63 cm and an internal depth of 40 to 43 cm results. Fig. The embodiment shown in Figure 1 can accommodate a Eurobox.

[0040] The side walls 4 each have several elongated holes 5. These are slot-shaped recesses through which a connecting or fastening means can be passed.

[0041] Each side wall has 4 of the Fig. 1, the embodiment shown has three elongated holes 5, each of which runs parallel to a side wall edge. It is not absolutely necessary that elongated holes 5 are formed on each of the four side edges of a side wall 4; it may be sufficient for only two opposite side edges of a side wall 4 to have elongated holes 5. Further details of the side walls 4 will be explained below with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 in more detail.

[0042] The Fig. The base plate 2 shown in Figure 1 has base plate slots 6 running parallel to the base plate edges for the passage of fastening devices. Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the base plate slots 6 correspond in shape and arrangement to the elongated holes 5 in the side wall 4 arranged on the long side L. However, this is not necessarily the case. The base plate slots 6 can just as easily run diagonally across the base plate 2. The greatest flexibility when attaching the base plate 2 to a base is provided by several base plate slots 6, some of which run diagonally in the base plate 2 and others parallel to the base plate edges.

[0043] At the Fig. In the embodiment of the shelf element 1 according to the invention shown in Figure 1, the cover plate 3 has cover plate slots 7 for the passage of fastening means, wherein the cover plate slots 7 run parallel to the cover plate edges. Instead of or in addition to the cover plate slots 7 running parallel to the cover plate edges, the cover plate 3 can have cover plate slots 7 running diagonally across the cover plate 3. As with the elongated holes 5 and the base plate slots 6, the cover plate slots 7 are slot-shaped recesses through which a fastening means can be passed. The cover plate slots 7 make it possible to connect shelf elements 1 arranged one above the other.

[0044] At the Fig. In the embodiment of the shelving element 1 shown in Figure 1, the base plate 2 and the cover plate 3 each have a centrally located through-hole 8, each consisting of two adjacent cutouts. Supply lines, such as power cables, data cables, gas lines, water lines, and sewage lines, can be routed through the through-hole 8. This allows multiple shelving elements 1 to be arranged to form an outdoor kitchen or a mobile home kitchen, and the supply lines required for operating the kitchen can be routed through the individual shelving elements 1.

[0045] In Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a shelf element 1' according to the invention. Fig. The shelf element 1' shown in Figure 2 differs from the one shown in Fig. 1 in that it has two side walls 4 arranged on the long side L and only one side wall 4 arranged on the end face S. Thus, one of the end faces S is unclad, i.e., one of the end faces S does not have a side wall 4.

[0046] The unclad long side L of the Fig. 1 shown embodiment of the shelf element 1 as well as the unclad front side S of the Fig. The embodiment of the shelf element 1' shown in Figure 2 can, if necessary, be concealed with an easily removable panel (not shown here), which is attached, for example, with magnets or Velcro strips. A door can also be arranged on the unclad long side L or the unclad front side S.

[0047] As it is in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the side walls 4, as well as the cover plate 3 and the base plate 2, do not completely cover the interior space of the shelf element enclosed by them. Thus, in the embodiments 1, 1' shown, the side walls 4, the base plate 2, and the cover plate 3 have punched-out surfaces, which results in a weight saving.

[0048] If necessary, each of the side walls 4, as well as the cover plate 3 and the base plate 2, can be fully covered with a panel, whereby a recess can be provided in the area of ​​the feed-through openings 8. Instead of additional panels, punched-out areas in the side walls 4 can be omitted for a full-surface covering of the shelf interior. The cover plate 3 can also be covered with a worktop or instead.

[0049] Fig. 3 shows a front view, Fig. 4 a longitudinal side view and Fig. 5 a top view of the shelf element 1' from Fig. 2.

[0050] As it is in the Fig. 3 to 5, the front side wall 4, the longitudinal side wall 4 and also the cover plate 3 are formed from a frame 9 and diagonally extending struts 10. The same applies to the base plate 2, as shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 can be seen.

[0051] Evidenced Fig. 3, the side wall 4 shown there has three elongated holes 5 on each of its side wall edges (one middle and two outer elongated holes 5) which run parallel to the respective side wall edge. The middle elongated holes 5 are designed like a lashing rail, with four circular rail openings connected to one another by a groove. The outer elongated holes 5 are designed as a groove and are each connected to an outer elongated hole 5 of an adjacent side wall edge, so that a rectangular recess is created in the area of ​​a side wall corner. The rectangular recess has a circular rail opening at the intersection of the two elongated holes 5 from which it is formed. A fastening element consisting of a knurled nut and a knurled screw can be passed through the rail openings and then moved into the groove to be tightened there.

[0052] In Fig. 4 shows that the longitudinally arranged side wall 4 has three elongated holes 5, namely one central and two outer elongated holes 5, along each side wall edge. The central elongated holes 5 are again designed in the manner of a lashing rail and each have three or four rail openings connected by a groove, into which a fastening element known from lashing rails or airline rails can be inserted. The outer elongated holes 5 consist of a simple groove with a rail opening at its outer end.

[0053] When comparing Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 shows that the cover plate 3 is essentially identical in structure to the longitudinal side wall 4. In contrast to the longitudinal side wall 4, the cover plate 3 in the embodiment shown does not have folded edges.

[0054] The shelf element according to the invention can be made of different materials and material compositions from which furniture, especially camping furniture, is usually made: plastic, solid wood, plywood, aluminum sheet, steel sheet, and so on. Fig. The shelf elements 1, 1' shown in Figures 1 to 5 are made, for example, from stamped sheet metal parts.

[0055] In an embodiment of the invention not shown, a pull-out drawer plate is arranged above the base plate 2.

[0056] Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of a shelf 100, which consists of a shelf element 1 according to the Fig. 1 and two shelf elements 1' according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 shown embodiment. The lower shelf elements 1, 1' are connected to each other at their front side walls 4 by fastening elements (not shown here) being guided through aligned slots 5 of the two shelf elements 1, 1'. The two stacked shelf elements 1', 1' are connected to each other by fastening elements which are guided through base plate slots 6 of the upper shelf element 1' and congruent cover plate slots 7 of the lower shelf element 1'. Fig. The fastening elements used in the embodiment shown in Figure 6 are each composed of a knurled screw and a knurled nut, wherein a knurled nut diameter and a screw head diameter of the knurled screw are smaller than a diameter of the rail openings and larger than a groove width of the grooves.

[0057] Instead of the fastening elements consisting of a knurled nut and a knurled screw, alternative fastening means can also be used to connect individual shelf elements 1, 1' to form a shelf 100.

[0058] As can be seen from Fig. As can be clearly seen in Figure 6, a wide variety of shelves can be configured from the individual shelf elements 1, 1'. The elongated holes 5, the base plate slots 6, and the cover plate slots 7 allow for easy vertical or horizontal offsets between the shelf elements 1, 1' when connecting them, while maintaining a secure connection, allowing the shelf to be adapted even to complex assembly situations.

[0059] In addition, the elongated holes 5, base plate slots 6, and cover plate slots 7 offer a variety of fastening options, e.g., with a loading platform or other fastening points in the cargo area of ​​a vehicle. The shelf elements 1, 1' according to the invention and a shelf 100 formed therefrom are thus particularly suitable for equipping a mobile home or camper. List of reference symbols 1, 1' shelf element 2 base plate 3 Cover plate 4 side walls L long side S front side 5 elongated holes 6 base plate slots 7 cover plate slots 8 Feed-through opening 9 frames 10 struts 100 shelves QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2021 109 616 A1 [0003, 0005]

Claims

[1] Cuboid shelf element (1, 1') with a base plate (2), a cover plate (3) and three side walls (4), all firmly connected to one another, so that either one long side (L) or one end face (S) of the shelf element (1, 1') is unclad, characterized by that the side walls (4) each have elongated holes (5), wherein the elongated holes (5) are arranged on opposite side wall edges and run parallel to the side wall edges and that the base plate (2) has base plate slots (6) for the passage of fastening means, wherein the base plate slots (6) run parallel to base plate edges or diagonally across the base plate (2). [2] Shelf element according to claim 1, characterized by that the cover plate (3) has cover plate slots (7) for the passage of fastening means, wherein the cover plate slots (7) run parallel to cover plate edges or diagonally across the cover plate (3). [3] Shelf element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the elongated holes (5) are designed as lashing rails. [4] Shelf element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the elongated holes (5) extend over at least one third, preferably over at least one half, even more preferably over at least three quarters, even more preferably over at least nine tenths of a side wall edge length. [5] Shelf element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the shelf element (1, 1') has a shelf depth and a shelf width, wherein the shelf width corresponds to one and a half times or twice the shelf depth. [6] Shelf element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the shelf element (1) has an internal height of at least 40 cm to a maximum of 43 cm, an internal width of at least 60 cm to a maximum of 63 cm and an internal depth of at least 40 cm to a maximum of 43 cm. [7] Shelf element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the base plate (2) and / or the cover plate (3) has a centrally arranged through opening (8). [8] Shelf element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a pull-out drawer plate is arranged above the base plate (2). [9] Shelf element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the cover plate (3) is covered with a worktop. [10] Shelf element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the side walls (4), the base plate (2) and / or the cover plate (3) are each formed from a frame (9) with diagonally extending struts (9) therein. [11] Shelf element system with at least one shelf element (1, 1') according to one of the preceding claims and at least one fastening element, wherein the fastening element is composed of a knurled screw and a knurled nut, which are designed to be connectable to one another through the elongated holes (5) or the base plate slots (6). [12] Shelf (100) with at least one shelf element (1, 1') according to one of the preceding claims.

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