Back panel holder and storage system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a back panel holder 13 for a storage system 1. The storage system includes first and second hang standards 3, 5, which are arranged vertically on a wall. The back panel 13 holder comprises a first hang standard connector 15, configured to connect with the first hang standard 3, and a second hang standard connector 17, configured to connect with the second hang standard 5. An intermediate portion 19 spanning between the first and second hang standard connectors 15, 17 and comprises a ledge 21 on which a back panel 9 may rest.

Description

[0001] BACK PANEL HOLDER AND STORAGE SYSTEM

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a back panel holder for a storage system, wherein the storage system comprises first and second hang standards, arranged vertically on a wall. The present disclosure further considers such a storage system.

[0004] Background

[0005] Storage systems of this type have been known for several decades and provide storage functions such as shelves, containers and hooks that can be configured in a flexible manner depending on specific needs in any particular use case. It has been suggested to add back panels in between the hang standards, mainly to achieve a more finished appearance that is suitable for residential spaces, for instance. This can be accomplished by attaching a back panel directly to the wall in between the hang standards using screws, for instance. Alternatively, as disclosed in WO- 2019 / 083632-A1 , back panels may be fitted in side-grooves of hang standards.

[0006] Summary

[0007] One object of the present disclosure is to provide improved means for retaining one or more back panels in a storage system in a reliable manner and without damaging the wall behind the panel with screws through the panel, for instance.

[0008] This object is achieved by means of a back panel holder as defined in claim 1 . More particularly, the back panel holder then comprises a first hang standard connector, configured to connect with a first hang standard, a second hang standard connector, configured to connect with a second hang standard, and an intermediate portion spanning between the first and second hang standard connector and comprising a ledge on which a back panel may rest. Such a solution utilises the connector means already present in the storage system to keep a back panel suspended at a predetermined location in relation to the hang standards, such that a more reliable retaining of the back panel in the storage system is accomplished.

[0009] Each connector may comprise a backwards projecting piece having a tab configured to connect with a slot in a hang standard, and a connecting piece connected with a 180 degrees bend to the backwards projecting piece and being connected with the intermediate portion. This allows the holder to connect with the front of a hang standard while at the same time extending between the hang standards close to the wall.

[0010] The ledge may comprise an upwards projecting front tip and a plurality of tabs bent from the ledge on the opposite side of the ledge as seen from the tip.

[0011] The back panel holder may be made in one piece from sheet metal.

[0012] The present disclosure also considers a storage system comprising a first and second hang standard, configured to be arranged vertically on a wall, at least one back panel and a back panel holder as defined above. The back panel is configured to rest on the back panel holder which is connected to the first and second hang standard.

[0013] Side edges of the back panel may fit inside lateral grooves of the hang standards.

[0014] The storage system may comprise two back panel portions, one stacked on top of the other and being interconnected by a panel-to-panel connector.

[0015] There may further be provided a horizontal rail and a top panel connector configured to be fitted on the horizontal rail and to retain the top edge of a back panel.

[0016] Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Fig 1 shows an exploded view of a storage system with features of the present disclosure.

[0018] Fig 2 shows a perspective view of a back panel holder according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0019] Fig 3 shows a side view of the back panel holder in fig 2.

[0020] Fig 4 illustrates a cross section through a hang standard to which a back panel holder is connected.

[0021] Figs 5A and 5B illustrate a panel-to-panel connector.

[0022] Figs 6A and 6B illustrate a top panel holder.

[0023] Fig 7 shows the storage system of fig 1 in an assembled state.

[0024] Detailed description

[0025] The present disclosure relates to a storage system and a back panel holder for such a system. Fig 1 shows an exploded view of a storage system 1 according to one example of the disclosure.

[0026] The storage system 1 comprises a first (left) 3 and a second (right) 5 hang standard of a type which is known per se, see for instance WO-2021 / 221556-A1 . The hang standards are intended to be arranged vertically on a wall, by means of screws (not shown) and a horizontal rail 7, which may be attached to the wall, and from which the hang standards 3, 5 may be suspended.

[0027] The hang standards 3, 5, as best seen in the enlarged portion A and in the cross section of fig 4, have a generally U-shaped cross section, comprising a front portion 21 having a number of slots 20 for connecting with cantilevered brackets (not shown) for instance, and legs 22 of the U-shaped cross section extending backwards therefrom forming a free space 24 behind the front portion 21 . In the illustrated case, there are provided protruding portions 26 at each side of the front portion 21 , such that it is located in a groove. Each leg in the cross section may further have a transition portion 28 where it is bent, such that the distance between the legs is reduced, and finally an outwardly directed flange 30 may be provided at each leg’s end that is intended to rest against a wall or other vertical surface. This also forms lateral grooves 32 in the leg portions which will become useful as will be shown.

[0028] The legs in the U-shaped cross section may comprise slots 34, as illustrated in the enlarged portion B, configured to connect with the aforementioned horizontal rail 7.

[0029] The present disclosure is occupied with attaching back panel portions 9, 11 in the storage system 1 . The back panel portions 9, 11 are generally flat, thin, and rectangular boards that are fitted in between the hang standards 3, 5 abutting the wall or in the close vicinity thereof. They may have different functions. To start with they may be simply decorative, for instance being coloured or patterned. Additionally they may protect the wall from wear and may have attenuating acoustic functions, if made in a porous material, for instance. They may comprise storage features such as hooks or slots on their front surfaces. Finally, for instance a whiteboard or similar allowing writing and erasing on the front surface could be considered. If as illustrated two or more back panel portions are used, they may have different appearances and functions, and thus need not be identical. In some cases one single, large back panel could be considered. A back panel holder 13 intended to be used in the bottom portion of the storage system is shown in fig 1 , and in greater detail in figs 2-4. A panel-to-panel connector 35 may be used to connect one panel 9 to another and is illustrated in figs 5A and 5B. Further, a top panel connector 37 for holding the upper edge of the upper panel 11 is illustrated in figs 6A and 6B.

[0030] First, with reference to fig 2, a back panel holder 13 for holding the bottom edge of a back panel comprises a first hang standard connector 15, configured to connect with the first hang standard 3 (cf. fig 1 ), and a second hang standard connector 17, configured to connect with the second hang standard 5. Those connectors 15, 17 will be described in greater detail. An intermediate portion 19 spans between the first 15 and second 17 hang standard connectors. The intermediate portion 19 forms a ledge 21 , on top of which a bottom edge of a back panel portion 9 may rest. The back panel holder 13 may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal by punching and bending.

[0031] The hang standard connectors 15, 17 may be each other’s mirror images but are otherwise similar. Thus, one 17 connects to a hang standard from the right and the other 15 from the left. With reference to the example of the hang standard connector 17, most visible in fig 2 and shown in a side view in fig 3, this hang standard connector 17 comprises a tab 23 configured to connect with a slot 20 in a hang standard 5 (cf. fig 1 ). It may typically connect to the second lowest slot in the slot row, although this is not necessary. In a slightly different configuration, the lowest slot may be used, and it is not necessary that the back panel portion 9 reaches all the way down to the bottom of the storage system, so slots higher up may also be used.

[0032] The tab 23 is provided in a backwards projecting piece 25 of the back panel holder 13. This piece is provided to clasp the protruding portions 26 of the hang standard 5 and is not needed if no such protruding portions are provided. There are provided two 90 degree bends about a vertical axis after the backwards projecting piece 25 to form a connecting piece 27 that connects to the intermediate portion 19. This may also be accomplished with a single, 180 degrees ll-bend that provides room for the protruding portion 26.

[0033] As best seen in the cross section of fig 4, the tab 23 thus connects to the slot in the front portion 21 of the hang standard and still allows the intermediate portion 19 to be aligned with the wall in close vicinity thereof. The intermediate portion 19 comprises a ledge 21 that is bent forward from the rear plane of the intermediate portion and on which the back panel 9 can rest. The outer tip 16 of the ledge can be bent sligthly upwards to keep the edge of the back panel in place, and tabs 29 may be bent from the ledge 21 to keep the back panel 9 edge from slipping backwards on the ledge 21 . At the same time, the back panel’s 9 lateral edges may extend into the lateral grooves 32 of the hang standards. One of the hang standard can temporarily be pulled slightly to the side to facilitate this before being screwed to the wall.

[0034] This back panel holder 13 can thus keep a back panel bottom edge firmly in place when attached to the two hang standards 3, 5.

[0035] While it is possible to provide a back panel that covers the entire surface between the hang standards 3, 5, it is in many cases advantageous to provide two or more back panel portions which may have different properties. Figs 5A and 5B illustrate a panel- to-panel connector 35 that facilitates connecting one back panel 9 to another 11 . This connector 35, as illustrated in the cross section in fig 5b, may generally have an Flshaped configuration, allowing an upper panel portion 11 to be inserted from above, and a lower panel portion 9 to be inserted from below, the upper portion effectively becoming an extension of the lower and vice versa. Typically the minimum distance between the sides of the H-shape may be slightly smaller than the thickness of the panel such that the front sides 38 biases the panels somewhat against the rear side 40. The width of the groove 41 formed for each panel thus tapers somewhat towards its opening. The panel-to-panel connector 35 may typically be made in a plastic material by injection moulding or extrusion.

[0036] Figs 6A and 6B illustrate a top panel holder 37. The top panel holder is configured to connect with and optionally cover the horizontal rail 7, from which the hang standards 3, 5 are suspended. To this end, the top panel holder 37 comprises a front panel 51 from which a lower end portion 53 extends. The top panel holder 37 may further comprise a snap connector for connecting with the horizontal rail of fig 1 . Typically, this may be accomplished by means of first 55 and a second 57 rear flanges that are configured to clasp features of the horizontal rail 7 to keep the top panel holder 37 attached thereto, although other types of snap connectors are conceivable in this context. When attached to the horizontal rail 7, the top panel holder 37 keeps the upper panel 11 edge retained behind the extending lower end portion 53. The top panel holder 37 may typically be made in a plastic material by injection moulding or extrusion.

[0037] Fig 7 shows the storage system of fig 1 in an assembled state.

[0038] The present disclosure is not limited to the above examples and may be varied and altered in different ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A back panel holder (13) for a storage system (1 ), wherein the storage system comprises first and second hang standards (3, 5), arranged vertically on a wall, characterized by the back panel holder (13) comprising a first hang standard connector (15), configured to connect with a first hang standard (3), a second hang standard connector (17), configured to connect with a second hang standard (5), and an intermediate portion (19) spanning between the first and second hang standard connectors (15, 17) and comprising a ledge (21 ) on which a back panel (9) may rest.

2. Back panel holder (13) according to claim 1 , wherein each connector (15, 17) comprises a backwards projecting piece (25) having a tab (23) configured to connect with a slot in a hang standard, and a connecting piece (27) connected with an 180 degrees bend to the backwards projecting piece (25) and being connected with the intermediate portion (19).

3. Back panel holder (13) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ledge 21 comprises an upwards projecting tip (16) and a plurality of tabs (29) bent from the ledge (21 ) on the opposite side of the ledge (21).

4. Back panel holder (13) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the back panel holder is made in one piece from sheet metal.

5. A storage system comprising a first (3) and second (5) hang standard, configured to be arranged vertically on a wall, at least one back panel (9) and a back panel holder (13) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the back panel (9) is configured to rest on the back panel holder (13) which is connected to the first (3) and second (5) hang standards.

6. Storage system according to claim 5, wherein the side edges of the back panel (9) fits inside lateral grooves (32) of the hang standards (3, 5).

7. Storage system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the storage system comprises two back panel portions (9, 11 ) one stacked on top of the other and being interconnected by a panel-to-panel connector (35).

8. Storage system according to any of claims 5-7, further comprising a horizontal rail (7) and a top panel connector (37) configured to be fitted on the horizontal rail (7) and to retain the top edge of a back panel (11 ).

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