Shelf bracket for a metal shelving unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a shelf support for a metal shelf, made of a strip of sheet metal and having a series of holes at each of its shorter edges, in which the holes have a trapezoidal-shaped upper part which tapers upwards and has a lower base of a certain width, and an adjacent lower part having a width at its widest point greater than the width of the lower base of the upper part, characterized in that each series (25, 26) of holes comprises three holes (30) spaced at equal distances (D) from each other. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2A

Description

Title of the invention: Shelf support for a metal shelving unit

[0001] The invention relates to a shelf support for a metal shelving unit.

[0002] Modular shelving units comprising a metal frame and wooden shelves are widely known and commonly used. These units are often supplied as self-assembly kits, which facilitates compactness for packaging and transportation. A conventional frame comprises vertical uprights connected together by horizontal supports, which not only strengthen the structure, but also serve as a basis for placing shelves.

[0003] Shelving units of this type are usually distributed as a kit of components for self-assembly, which helps maintain compact packaging dimensions. Typically, there are mounting elements in the uprights and shelf supports in the form of matching tabs and holes. Models with tabs in the upright and holes in the support, and vice versa, are known. The support is mounted on the upright by hooking the tab into the hole at the appropriate height, which allows the elements to be combined into a stable structure, which is further reinforced when the shelves are loaded - the tabs are then pressed against the edges of the holes.

[0004] An example of such a shelving unit is described in US patent US11083289B2, where the shelf uprights are L-shaped profiles with keyhole-shaped holes, and the shelf support or upright connectors have rivet-shaped tabs.

[0005] Typical shelf brackets of this type have two holes on each side, designed to hook onto two tabs in the shelf uprights. This design limits the maximum load the shelf can support, especially when the bracket is made of relatively thin sheet metal.

[0006] It is necessary to provide an alternative structure for a shelf support for a metal shelving unit, which would ensure better stability of the structure of the shelving unit and a higher maximum permissible load on the shelf.

[0007] The subject matter of the present invention is a shelf support for a metal shelving unit, including or formed from a strip of sheet metal and having a series of holes at each of its shorter edges, wherein the holes have a trapezoidal-shaped upper portion which tapers upwards and has a lower base of a certain width, and an adjacent lower portion whose width at its widest point is greater than the width of the lower base of the upper portion, each series of holes comprising three holes spaced equally (D) from each other.

[0008] The invention also relates to the following variants. Those skilled in the art will understand that each of the features of the following variants can be independently combined with the above features, without constituting an intermediate generalization.

[0009] Preferably, the lower portion of the holes has rectangular-shaped edges with rounded corners.

[0010] Preferably, the lower part of the holes has circular-shaped edges.

[0011] Preferably, the lower part of the holes has rectangular shaped edges. with rounded corners, the radius of curvature of the lower corners being greater than the radius of curvature of the upper corners.

[0012] Preferably, the lower part of the holes has rectangle-shaped edges with rounded corners, and the vertical axis constituting the axis of symmetry of the rectangle is horizontally distant from the vertical axis constituting the axis of symmetry of the upper part, and the radius of curvature of the upper corner of the longer side is greater than the radius of curvature of the upper corner of the shorter side.

[0013] The invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0014] [Fig-1] shows a representation of a metal shelving unit in which the shelf support according to the invention can be used;

[0015] [Fig.2A][Fig.2B][Fig.2C] show a first embodiment of the shelf bracket in an oblique view from the front, a series of holes in a front view from the outside of the shelf unit and a series of holes of the bracket when mounted on the shelf uprights viewed from the inside of the shelf unit;

[0016] [Fig.3A], [Fig.3B], [Fig.3C] show a second embodiment of the support shelf in an oblique view from the front, a series of holes in a front view from the outside of the shelf unit and a series of holes of the bracket when mounted on the tabs of the uprights seen from the inside of the shelf unit;

[0017] [Fig.4A], [Fig.4B], [Fig.4C] show a third embodiment of the support shelf in an oblique view from the front, a series of holes in a front view from the outside of the shelving unit and a series of holes of the bracket when mounted on the shelf uprights viewed from the inside of the shelving unit;

[0018] [Fig.5A], [Fig.5B], [Fig.5C] show a fourth embodiment of the support shelf in an oblique view from the front, a series of holes in a front view from the outside of the shelving unit and a series of holes of the bracket when mounted on the upright tabs seen from the inside of the shelving unit.

[0019] The present invention is shown in the drawings in several embodiments, all of which share a common structure, namely: all comprise three holes each on the sides of the shelf support. Thus, all embodiments refer to the same construction feature related to the structure of a real object (the shelf support of a metal shelving unit), differing only in the shape of the holes.

[0020] [Fig.l] shows a representation of a shelf unit where the shelf support according to the invention can be used. The shelf unit comprises four uprights formed of brackets 10, between which shelf supports 20 are mounted, on which the shelves 15 are supported.

[0021] Each of the shelf supports 20 is made of a strip of sheet metal, the longer edges 23, 24 of which can be bent inwards (i.e. towards the side adjacent to the uprights of the shelf unit). At each of the shorter edges 21, 22 of the support 20 there is a series 25, 26 (indicated by a dotted line) of holes 30, spaced one above the other, which have an upper part 31 of trapezoidal shape tapering upwards, a width of the lower base S1 and an adjacent lower part 32 with a width S2 at its widest point greater than the width S1 of the base of the upper part 31. The terms "bottom", "top" are to be understood as indicating the orientation in the target position with which the support is intended to be mounted on the shelf unit. The widths SI, S2 are adapted to the shape of the tabs 11 of the angle iron 10 constituting the upright of the shelf, which can be shaped as shown in [Fig.2C], 3C, 4C, 5C or otherwise, for example rivets (the shape of the tabs 11 is not important for the present invention). The support 20 is mounted on the uprights of the shelf unit in such a way that the lower part 32 of the hole is planted, after which the support 20 is lowered so that the tabs 11 get stuck in the upper part 31. The width S2 of the lower part 32 must be large enough and in such an area that the tabs 11 can be placed in the lower part 32. In turn, the width S1 of the upper part 31 must be small enough so that the tabs 11 can be stuck therein.

[0022] A feature of all embodiments of the present invention is that the structure of the shelf support is characterized by the fact that each row 25, 26 of holes comprises three holes 30 spaced at equal distance D from each other. The distance D must be equal to the distance between the tabs 11 on the upright of the shelf unit, which are generally arranged in a row along the entire length of the upright, so that it is possible to mount the supports (and, consequently, the shelves) at a height chosen as required. Due to the fact that there are three holes 30 in each row 25, 26, the support 20 is fixed more stably to the bracket 10 constituting the upright of the shelf unit and can withstand higher loads than a sheet metal support of the same thickness but with two holes as proposed by the prior art. The shapes of the individual holes, however, are not per relevant to the object of the model in terms of the construction of the support, and can take different forms.

[0023] In the first embodiment, as shown in [Fig.2A]-2C, the lower portion 32 of the holes 30 has rectangular-shaped edges 41 with a width S2 and rounded corners 42.

[0024] In the second embodiment, as shown in [Fig.3A]-3C, the lower part 32 of the holes 30 has circular-shaped edges 51 of diameter S2.

[0025] In the third embodiment, as shown in [Fig.4A]-4C, the lower portion 32 of the holes 30 has rectangular-shaped edges 61 of width S2, with rounded corners 62, 63 where the radius of curvature of the lower corners 62 is larger than the radius of curvature of the upper corners 63.

[0026] In the fourth embodiment, as shown in [Fig.5A]-5C, the lower portion 32 of the holes 30 has rectangle-shaped edges 71 of width S2, with rounded corners 72, 73, the vertical axis 07 representing the axis of symmetry of the rectangle 71 being horizontally distant from the vertical axis 03 representing the axis of symmetry of the upper portion 31. In this embodiment, the radius of curvature of the upper corner 74 of the longer side is larger than the radius of curvature of the upper corner 73 of the shorter side.

Claims

Claims

1. Shelf support (20) for a metal shelving unit, including or formed from a strip of sheet metal and having a series of holes at each of its shorter edges, wherein the holes have a trapezoidal-shaped upper portion which tapers upwards and has a lower base of a certain width, and an adjacent lower portion whose width at its widest point is greater than the width of the lower base of the upper portion, characterized in that each series (25, 26) of holes comprises three holes (30) spaced at equal distances (D) from each other.

2. Shelf support according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part (32) of the holes (30) has rectangular-shaped edges (41) with rounded corners (42).

3. Shelf support according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part (32) of the holes (30) has circle-shaped edges (51).

4. Shelf support according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part (32) of the holes (30) has rectangular-shaped edges (61) with rounded corners (62, 63), the radius of curvature of the lower corners (62) being greater than the radius of curvature of the upper corners (63).

5. Shelf support according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part (32) of the holes (30) has rectangle-shaped edges (71) with rounded corners (72, 73), the vertical axis (07) constituting the axis of symmetry of the rectangle (71) being horizontally distant from the vertical axis (03) constituting the axis of symmetry of the upper part (31), and the radius of curvature of the upper corner (74) of the longer side is greater than the radius of curvature of the upper corner (73) of the shorter side.

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