Shelf board support structure and showcase having the same

Abstract

To provide a shelf board support structure that facilitates the work of changing a shelf board to a desired height.SOLUTION: Provided is a shelf board support structure 2 that includes: a pair of right and left shelf columns 5 extending in a vertical direction and having a plurality of locking holes 12 formed in the vertical direction; a shelf plate 4 having both ends supported by the pair of right and left shelf columns 5; and a pin 15 supported at both ends of the shelf plate 4 so as to be slidable in an axial direction, a tip part 16 of the pin 15 being locked to the locking hole 12, and the pin 15 being slidable between a first position where the tip part 16 is locked to the locking hole 12 by the energizing force of a spring 28 and a second position where the tip part 16 is separated from the locking hole 12 against the energizing force; wherein a second retaining portion 30 for retaining the pin 15 in the second position is provided on the shelf board.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shelf support structure and a showcase having the shelf support structure. [Background technology]

[0002] The showcase described in Patent Document 1 is known as an example of an article display fixture (showcase) having a shelf support structure. The showcase described in Patent Document 1 has horizontally long shelves for displaying products arranged in multiple tiers in the vertical direction, and each shelf is supported by a pair of upright supports. The shelves have pins supported at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the back surface of the shelves so as to be freely slidable in the longitudinal direction, and the pins constantly protrude outward in the longitudinal direction due to spring force. The supports have multiple locking holes at a predetermined pitch in the vertical direction for locking the tips of the pins. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model Publication No. 3204977 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the showcase described in Patent Document 1, when changing the shelf to a desired height, the worker first moves the pin, which is always protruding outward in the longitudinal direction by the spring force and engaged in the engagement hole, inward in the longitudinal direction against the spring force, to remove the tip of the pin from the engagement hole formed in the support, and removes the shelf from the support while maintaining that state. Therefore, when removing the shelf from the support, the worker must hold the pin so that the spring force does not cause the pin to protrude outward in the longitudinal direction, making it difficult to change the shelf to a desired height. In particular, in a showcase having four supports and in which the shelf is supported by the four supports, the worker must hold all of the pins engaged with the four supports so that the pins do not protrude outward in the longitudinal direction by the spring force, and this must be done by multiple workers.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned situation, and its object is to provide a shelf support structure that allows shelves to be easily removed and the shelves to be easily adjusted to a desired height position, and a showcase having such a shelf support structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a shelf support structure comprising a pair of left and right vertical pillars extending in the vertical direction and having a plurality of locking holes formed in the vertical direction, a shelf board whose both ends are supported by the pair of left and right vertical pillars, and a pin supported at both ends of the shelf board so as to be able to slide freely in the axial direction, with a tip of the pin locking in the locking hole, the pin being slidable between a first position where the tip is locked in the locking hole by the spring force of a spring and a second position where the tip disengages from the locking hole against the spring force, and a second retaining portion is provided on the shelf board for retaining the pin in the second position.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a showcase having the shelf board support structure according to one aspect of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to a shelf support structure which is one aspect of the present invention, and a showcase having a shelf support structure which is one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a shelf support structure which allows shelves to be easily removed and the shelves to be easily adjusted to a desired height position, and a showcase having that shelf support structure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a showcase having a shelf board support structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1(a) is an oblique view showing a shelf and shelf column of a showcase having a shelf support structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(b) is an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 1(c) is an enlarged view of the locking hole. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1(a) is an oblique view showing the pin and pin fixing bracket (A) of the shelf support structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention fixed to a shelf, and FIG. 1(b) is an oblique view showing the pin and pin fixing bracket (A). [Figure 4] (a) is a view taken along the arrow AA in Figure 3(a), showing the state in which the pin of the shelf support structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is held in a first rotation position, and (b) shows the state in which the pin of the shelf support structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is positioned in a third rotation position. [Diagram 5] (a) is an oblique view showing a state in which the pin of the shelf support structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is positioned in a third rotation position, (b) is an oblique view showing a state in which the pin of the shelf support structure according to the first embodiment is positioned in the third rotation position and maintained in the first position, and (c) is an oblique view showing a state in which the pin of the shelf support structure according to the first embodiment is moved from the first position to the second position in the third rotation position. [Figure 6] (a) is an oblique view showing a state in which a pin of a shelf support structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is held in a first position and a first rotation position, and (b) is an oblique view of the state of (a) viewed from the tip side of the pin. [Figure 7]1(a) is an oblique view showing the state in which the pin of the shelf support structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is held by the second holding portion, and FIG. 1(b) is an oblique view showing the relationship between the pin and the shelf column in the state of (a). [Figure 8] 10(a) is an oblique view showing the pin and pin fixing bracket (B) of the shelf support structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention fixed to a shelf, and (b) is an oblique view showing the pin and pin fixing bracket (B). [Figure 9] (a) is an oblique view showing the state in which the pin of the shelf support structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention is positioned in the third rotation position, and (b) is an oblique view of the state of (a) viewed from the tip side of the pin. [Figure 10] (a) is an oblique view showing a state in which a pin of a shelf support structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention is held in a first position and a first rotation position, and (b) is an oblique view of the state of (a) viewed from the tip side of the pin. [Figure 11] 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a pin of a shelf board support structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention is held by a second holding portion. FIG. [Figure 12] 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a pin and a pin fixing metal fitting (C) of a shelf board support structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention are fixed to a shelf board. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. A showcase 1 having a shelf support structure 2 according to the first embodiment is a so-called reach-in showcase, which has a door (not shown) on the front and shelves 4 for displaying products arranged in multiple levels in the vertical direction in a product storage chamber 3.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of a showcase 1 having a shelf support structure 2 according to the first embodiment, viewed from the upper right side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing shelves 4 and shelf columns 5 constituting the shelf support structure 2 arranged in a product storage room 3 of the showcase 1. The showcase 1 is installed in a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store, and has a product storage room 3 on the front of which transparent doors 6 (not shown) are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In the product storage room 3, two sets of product shelf units 7 are arranged in the left-right direction, in which shelves 4 for displaying products are arranged in multiple tiers in the up-down direction. Products can be put in and taken out of the product storage room 3 by opening and closing the transparent doors 6 (not shown). Each of the shelves 4 arranged in multiple tiers can be arranged at a predetermined height in the up-down direction by the shelf support structure 2.

[0012] A pipe extending from a condensing unit arranged outside the store is connected to showcase 1, and refrigerant sent from the condensing unit is supplied via the pipe to a heat exchanger inside product storage room 3. Hereinafter, "upper" or "upper side" refers to the direction of arrow U in Fig. 1, "lower" or "lower side" refers to the opposite direction to the direction of arrow U in Fig. 1, "right" or "right side" refers to the direction of arrow R in Fig. 1, "left" or "left side" refers to the opposite direction to the direction of arrow R in Fig. 1, "front" or "front side" refers to the direction of arrow Fr in Fig. 1, and "rear" or "rear side" refers to the opposite direction to the direction of arrow Fr in Fig. 1.

[0013] Next, the shelf board support structure 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view showing a product shelf unit 7 having a shelf board 4 and a shelf column 5, FIG. 2(b) is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2(a), and FIG. 2(c) is an enlarged view of a locking hole 12 described later, which is a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2(b). The product shelf unit 7 has four shelf columns 5 and rack columns 8, each including a pair of left and right shelf columns 5 arranged in front and behind, a top plate 9 arranged at the top, a bottom plate 10 arranged at the bottom, and shelf boards 4 arranged in multiple tiers in the vertical direction. FIG. 2(a) shows only one shelf board 4 for convenience. The top plate 9 is fixed to the four rack columns 8 at the top, and the bottom plate 10 is fixed to the four rack columns 8 at the bottom. In FIG. 2(a) and (b), the rack column 8 is seen through in order to show the shelf column 5, and therefore, one rack column 8 on the right front side is not shown. The same is true for Fig. 2(b) and (c). A shelf column 5 is fixed to each of the four rack columns 8. A plurality of locking holes 12 are formed in each of the four shelf columns 5 in the vertical direction. As shown in Fig. 2(b) and (c), when the locking hole 12 is viewed from the axial direction, the locking hole 12 is a slot having a short diameter portion 13 and a long diameter portion 14, which have different diameters on the inner circumference of the locking hole 12. The radial direction (short diameter direction) of the short diameter portion 13 is vertical, and the radial direction (long diameter direction) of the long diameter portion 14 is horizontal, so that the locking hole 12 is formed to be elongated in the horizontal direction. Although details will be described later, pins 15 are supported at the four corners of the shelf board 4, and the tip portion 16 of each pin 15 is locked in the locking hole 12 as shown in Fig. 2(b). The shelf board 4 is supported by the four shelf columns 5 by engaging the tips 16 of the pins 15 supported at the four corners of the shelf board 4 with the locking holes 12. The pins 15 are supported on the shelf board 4 so as to be able to slide freely, and the tips 16 of the pins 15 can be freely engaged and disengaged with the locking holes 12. The height of the shelf board 4 is changed by engaging and disengaging the tips 16 of the pins 15 with the locking holes 12. In this embodiment, the shelf columns 5 are fixed to each of the four rack columns 8, but the rack columns 8 and the shelf columns 5 may be integrated. In this embodiment, the shelf columns 5 are vertical columns according to the present invention.

[0014] Next, the pin 15 and the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 supporting the pin 15 will be described with reference to Figs. 3(a), (b), 4(a), and (b). Fig. 3(a) is a perspective view showing the state in which the pin 15 and the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 are fixed to the shelf board 4, and Fig. 3(b) is a perspective view showing the pin 15 and the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25. Fig. 4(a) is a view seen from the arrow AA in Fig. 3(a) and shows a case in which the pin 15 described later is in a first rotation position, and Fig. 4(b) is a view seen from the arrow AA in Fig. 3(a) and shows a case in which the pin 15 described later is in a third rotation position. Four pins 15 are arranged at each corner portion, which is the end portion 11 of the shelf board 4, but all four pins 15 have the same shape, so hereinafter, only the pin 15 arranged at the end portion 11 on the right front of the shelf board 4 shown in Fig. 1 will be described, and the other three pins 15 will be omitted. 3(a) indicates the direction when explaining the pin 15 and the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 described later, and the axial direction of the pin main body 17 described later is the left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to the left-right direction is the front-rear direction. In addition, in FIGS. 5 to 7, the shelf column 5 is disposed to the right of the end face of the end portion 11 of the shelf board 4, and the rack column 8 is disposed to the right of the shelf column 5. In addition, hereinafter, the "front end" of the pin 15 may refer to the right end of the pin 15 in FIGS. 3(a), (b), and 5 to 7, and the "rear end" of the pin 15 may refer to the left end of the pin 15.

[0015] The shelf support structure 2 according to this embodiment includes a shelf 4, a shelf column 5, a pin 15, and a pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the pin 15 is supported by the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 on the back surface of the end 11 of the shelf 4 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the "end 11 of the shelf 4"). As shown in FIG. 3(b), the pin 15 has a round bar-shaped pin body 17 having a tip portion 16 at the front end, and an arm portion 18 extending from the rear end of the pin body 17 in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the pin body 17. The outer diameter of the pin body 17 is smaller than the diameter of the short diameter portion 13 of the locking hole 12. The pin body 17 and the arm portion 18 are made of a round bar member, and the arm portion 18 is bent 90 degrees at the rear end of the pin body 17 relative to the pin body 17. Furthermore, the tip of the arm portion 18 is bent toward the tip portion 16. However, this is not necessarily limited to this. The tip of the arm portion 18 may be in the shape of a flattened plate so that the worker can easily operate it. With the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 fixed to the end portion 11 of the shelf board 4, the pin 15 is supported by the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction, which is the axial direction of the pin body 17. Also, with the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 fixed to the end portion 11 of the shelf board 4, the pin 15 is supported by the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17. That is, the pin 15 is supported by the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 so as to be rotatable about the axial center of the pin body 17. Therefore, the pin 15 is supported so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the pin body 17 relative to the shelf board 4, and is supported so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 relative to the shelf board 4.

[0016] The pin 15 is supported by the shelf board 4 via the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 so as to be freely slidable between a first position where the tip 16 protrudes to the right of the end face of the end 11 of the shelf board 4 and engages with the locking hole 12 of the shelf column 5, and a second position where the tip 16 is released from the locking hole 12 of the shelf column 5 and does not protrude from the end face of the end 11 of the shelf board 4. In the second position, the end face of the tip 16 is in a position that is approximately flush with the end face of the shelf board 4. In addition, in the second position, the end face of the tip 16 may be located to the left or right of the end face of the shelf board 4. In other words, the tip 16 may be in a position where it does not protrude from the end face of the shelf board 4 or in a position where it protrudes from the end face of the shelf board 4. Even if the tip 16 protrudes from the end face of the shelf board 4, it is acceptable as long as the tip 16 can be released from the locking hole 12 of the shelf column 5 and the shelf board 4 can be removed from the shelf column 5.

[0017] The pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 has a base metal fitting 26 attached to the rear surface of the shelf board 4, a pin support bracket 27 that supports the pin body 17, and a spring 28 for biasing the pin 15. The pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25, details of which will be described later, has a first holding portion 29 for holding the pin 15 in a first position, and a second holding portion 30 for holding the pin 15 in a second position.

[0018] The pin support bracket 27 has two channel-shaped pin support parts 31 with an open top, which are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction. The front end of each pin support part 31 in the front-rear direction is engaged with a hole formed in the base metal fitting 26, and the rear end side of each pin support part 31 in the front-rear direction is fixed to the back surface of the shelf board 4 together with the base metal fitting 26 by two pin fixing metal fitting screws 32, thereby connecting the pin support bracket 27 and the base metal fitting 26. The pin body 17 is supported by two support holes 33 formed by the two pin support parts 31 and the base metal fitting 26 with the arm part 18 being disposed to the left of the left pin support part 31. As shown in Figs. 5(b) and (c) , the ring member 21 is attached to the pin body 17. The ring member 21 is a so-called C-shaped retaining ring, and is attached to a groove formed on the outer periphery of the pin body 17. With the pin body 17 supported in two support holes 33 formed by the two pin support parts 31 and the base metal fitting 26, the ring member 21 is positioned between the two pin support parts 31.

[0019] The base metal fitting 26 has a flat base plate 34 attached to the rear surface of the shelf board 4, a support plate 38 extending vertically downward from the front end in the front-rear direction on the left end side of the base plate 34, and a guide plate 39 arranged rearward of the support plate 38 and facing the support plate 38. A concave recess 38a is formed in the left end of the support plate 38. When the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 supports the pin 15 and is fixed to the end portion 11 of the shelf board 4, the support plate 38 is arranged on the front side of the pin body 17 in the front-rear direction, and the guide plate 39 is arranged on the rear side of the pin body 17 in the front-rear direction.

[0020] With the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 supporting the pin 15 and fixed to the end portion 11 of the shelf board 4, the spring 28 is disposed between the pin body 17 and the pin support portion 31 so as to urge the pin 15 to the right, i.e., so as to move the pin 15 toward the first position. The spring 28 covering the outer periphery of the pin body 17 is disposed between the ring member 21 (see Figs. 5(b) and (c)) attached to the pin body 17 and the left-side pin support portion 31. As shown in Figs. 4(a) and (b), the right end of the spring 28 engages with a through-hole formed in the pin body 17, and the left end of the spring 28 abuts against the end face of the left-side pin support portion 31 as shown in Fig. 3(b). In addition, when the pin fixing bracket (A) 25 supports the pin 15 and is fixed to the end 11 of the shelf board 4, the extension extending tangentially from the left end of the spring 28 is positioned forward of the pin body 17 and abuts against the back surface of the shelf board 4, and is positioned so that the spring 28 does not rotate clockwise when the pin 15 is viewed from the tip 16 side (hereinafter, clockwise and counterclockwise refer to the rotation directions when the pin 15 is viewed from the tip 16 side).

[0021] With the pin fixing bracket (A) 25 supporting the pin 15 and fixed to the end of the shelf board 4, the pin 15 moves to the right due to the axial biasing force of the spring 28, and the tip 16 of the pin 15 protrudes rightward beyond the end face of the end 11 of the shelf board 4. By the tip 16 protruding rightward beyond the end face of the end 11 of the shelf board 4, the tip 16 is brought into a first position where it engages with the engaging hole 12 of the shelf column 5.

[0022] 5(b), the pin 15 moves to the right by the axial biasing force of the spring 28, and in the first position where the tip 16 is engaged with the engagement hole 12 of the shelf column 5, the ring member 21 is attached to the pin body 17 so that the ring member 21 abuts against an end face of the right-side pin support part 31. In this embodiment, the right-side pin support part 31 serves as a first retaining part that retains the pin 15 in the first position.

[0023] The spring 28 also biases the pin 15 so that the pin 15 rotates counterclockwise in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17. That is, the spring 28 biases the pin 15 in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the pin body 17. Therefore, when the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 supports the pin 15 and is fixed to the end 11 of the shelf board 4, the arm portion 18 of the pin 15 is biased by the spring 28 to rotate from the front side to the rear side with respect to the pin body 17, and is held in contact with the rear side of the shelf board 4 with respect to the pin body 17 as shown in FIG. 4(a). The rotation position in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 when the arm portion 18 is in contact with the rear side of the shelf board 4 with respect to the pin body 17 is the first rotation position of the pin 15 in the present invention. The rear side of the shelf board 4 is the third holding portion 40 in the present invention that holds the pin 15 in the first rotation position.

[0024] With the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 supporting the pin 15 and fixed to the end 11 of the shelf board 4, the pin 15, which is in the first position, is moved to the second position by the axial biasing force of the spring 28 against the axial biasing force of the spring 28, and the arm portion 18 is rotated forward in the clockwise direction relative to the pin body 17, and the arm portion 18 is engaged with the recess 38a of the support plate 38, thereby holding the pin 15 in the second position. The spring 28 biases the pin 15 to rotate counterclockwise, but the arm portion 18 is held in a state in which it is approximately parallel to the back surface of the shelf board 4 on the front side relative to the pin body 17 by engaging with the recess 38a. The rotation position in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 when the arm portion 18 is approximately parallel to the back surface of the shelf board 4 on the front side relative to the pin body 17 is the second rotation position of the pin 15 in the present invention. The support plate 38 is the second holding portion 30 of the present invention that holds the pin 15 in the second position and in the second rotational position. Therefore, when the pin 15 is not held by the second holding portion 30, the axial and circumferential biasing forces of the spring 28 cause the pin 15 to be in the first position and in the first rotational position.

[0025] Next, the shape of the tip 16 of the pin 15 will be described. The tip 16 has a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the pin body 17, and has an oval shape with a short diameter portion 19 and a long diameter portion 20, which have different diameters on the outer periphery of the tip 16. The diameter of the short diameter portion 19 is smaller than the diameter of the short diameter portion 13 of the locking hole 12, and the diameter of the long diameter portion 20 is larger than the diameter of the short diameter portion 13 of the locking hole 12 and smaller than the diameter of the long diameter portion 14 of the locking hole 12. Therefore, since the pin 15 can rotate in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17, when the rotation of the pin 15 causes the radial direction (long diameter direction) of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip 16 to become horizontal, that is, when the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip 16 coincides with the radial direction (long diameter direction) of the long diameter portion 14 of the locking hole 12, the tip 16 can be inserted into the locking hole 12. When the circumferential rotation of pin 15 causes the radial direction of long diameter portion 20 of tip portion 16 to be no longer horizontal, the radial direction of long diameter portion 20 of tip portion 16 to not coincide with the radial direction of long diameter portion 14 of locking hole 12, and the dimension of tip portion 16 in the vertical direction becomes larger than the radial dimension of short diameter portion 13 of locking hole 12, tip portion 16 cannot be inserted into locking hole 12. Therefore, depending on the circumferential rotation position of pin 15, tip portion 16 may or may not be able to be inserted into locking hole 12.

[0026] Next, the relationship between the rotational position of the pin 15 in the circumferential direction and the major axis direction of the tip portion 16 will be described. Figs. 5(a) to (c) show the case where the pin 15 is in a third rotational position described later, Figs. 6(a) and (b) show the case where the pin 15 is in a first position and in a first rotational position, and Figs. 7(a) and (b) show the case where the pin 15 is in a second position and in a second rotational position. As shown in Figs. 6(a) and (b), when the pin 15 is held by the third holding portion 40 and is in the first rotational position, the radial direction of the major axis portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is vertical. Therefore, when the pin 15 is in the first rotational position, the tip portion 16 cannot be inserted into the locking hole 12. As shown in Fig. 7(a), when the pin 15 is held by the second holding portion 30 and is in the second rotational position, the radial direction of the major axis portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is vertical. Therefore, when the pin 15 is in the second rotation position, the tip portion 16 cannot be inserted into the locking hole 12. As shown in Figs. 5(a) to (c), when the pin 15 is in a position (third rotation position) rotated in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 so that the arm portion 18 is not held by the first holding portion 29 and the second holding portion 30 and faces downward in the vertical direction, the radial direction of the major diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is horizontal. Therefore, when the pin 15 is in the third rotation position, the tip portion 16 can be inserted into the locking hole 12. The third rotation position in which the arm portion 18 faces downward in the vertical direction includes a rotation position of the pin 15 in which the tip portion 16 can be inserted into the locking hole 12.

[0027] Next, with reference to Fig. 5(a) to (c), the third rotation position in which the pin 15 is not held by the first holding portion 29 and the second holding portion 30 and the arm portion 18 faces vertically downward will be described. Fig. 5(a) to (c) show the pin 15 in the third rotation position, Fig. 5(a) shows the pin 15 in the first position and the third rotation position, Fig. 5(b) shows the relationship with the shelf column 5 when the pin 15 is in the first position and the third rotation position, and Fig. 5(c) shows the pin 15 in the second position and the third rotation position. When the arm portion 18 faces vertically downward and the pin 15 is in the third rotation position, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 becomes horizontal, so that the tip portion 16 can be inserted into the locking hole 12. Therefore, when changing the height of the shelf board 4, it is necessary to move the pin 15 from the first rotation position to the third rotation position and move the pin 15 from the first position to the second position. Since the spring 28 biases the pin 15 toward the first position and the first rotation position, when the pin 15 is moved from the first position to the second position, if the pin 15 rotates toward the first rotation position due to the circumferential biasing force of the spring 28, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is no longer horizontal, and the tip portion 16 cannot be inserted into the locking hole 12.

[0028] Therefore, in this embodiment, a guide plate 39 is provided to guide the arm portion 18 so that the pin 15 does not rotate toward the first rotation position by the circumferential biasing force of the spring 28 when the pin 15 is moved between the first position and the second position. The guide plate 39 is disposed on the rear side of the pin body 17 in the front-rear direction, and is set so that the arm portion 18 does not interfere with the guide plate 39 when the pin 15 rotates in the circumferential direction at the first position. The guide plate 39 is also set so that the arm portion 18 interferes with the guide plate 39 when the pin 15 moves between the first position and the second position in the third rotation position, so that the pin 15 does not rotate toward the first rotation position by the circumferential biasing force of the spring 28.

[0029] Therefore, when moving the pin 15 from the first position shown in Figure 5(b) to the second position shown in Figure 5(c), the guide plate 39 interferes with and guides the arm portion 18, so that the pin can be moved while maintaining the third rotation position, making it easy to engage and disengage the tip portion 16 with the engagement hole 12.

[0030] Next, referring to Figs. 6(a) and (b), the state in which the pin 15 is held by the first holding portion 29 and the third holding portion 40 will be described. Figs. 6(a) and (b) show the state in which the pin 15 is held by the first holding portion 29 and the third holding portion 40, with Fig. 6(a) showing the side of the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 and Fig. 6(b) showing the side of the tip portion 16. The ring member 21 attached to the pin body 17 abuts against the first holding portion 29 by the axial biasing force of the spring 28, and the pin 15 is in the first position. In addition, the arm portion 18 abuts against the rear surface of the shelf board 4, which is the third holding portion 40, by the circumferential biasing force of the spring 28, and the pin 15 is in the first rotation position. Since the pin 15 is in the first rotation position, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is in the vertical direction. Furthermore, since the pin 15 is in the first position, the tip 16 is locked in the locking hole 12. Therefore, when the tip 16 is locked in the locking hole 12, the tip 16 abuts against the wall surface of the shelf column 5 that forms the locking hole 12, so the tip 16 cannot be removed from the locking hole 12 and the pin 15 can maintain its state of being locked in the locking hole 12. Therefore, the shelf board 4 is stably supported by the shelf column 5.

[0031] Next, referring to Figs. 7(a) and (b), the state in which the pin 15 is held by the second holding portion 30 will be described. Figs. 7(a) and (b) show the state in which the pin 15 is held by the second holding portion 30, with Fig. 7(a) showing the side of the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 and Fig. 7(b) showing the relationship with the shelf column 5 when held by the second holding portion 30. With the arm portion 18 of the pin 15 held by the second holding portion 30, the pin 15 is in the second position and the second rotation position. Therefore, since the pin 15 is in the second position, the end face of the tip portion 16 is in a position that is substantially flush with the end face of the shelf board 4. Also, since the pin 15 is in the second rotation position, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is vertical. The axial biasing force of spring 28 causes pin 15 to move to the right and assume the first position, but since arm portion 18 is held by second holding portion 30, pin 15 can be held in the second position. Also, the circumferential biasing force of spring 28 causes pin 15 to assume the first rotation position, but since arm portion 18 is held by second holding portion 30, pin 15 can be held in the second rotation position. Therefore, even if the worker releases pin 15, tip portion 16 of pin 15 will not protrude from the end face of shelf board 4 due to the biasing force of spring 28.

[0032] Next, a case where the shelf board 4 is adjusted to a desired height position will be described. (i) The shelf board 4 is supported by four shelf columns 5. The tip portion 16 of each pin 15, which is disposed at the four corners of the shelf board 4 via pin fixing brackets (A) 25, is engaged with the locking hole 12 of each shelf column. Each pin is in a first position state in which the pin 15 is held by a first holding portion 29, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), and is also in a first rotation position state in which the pin 15 is held by a third holding portion 40. In this state, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is vertical, so that the tip portion 16 will not come out of the locking hole 12. (ii) Next, the worker removes the shelf board 4 from the shelf column 5 in order to change the shelf board 4 to a desired height position. The worker removes one of the pins 15 arranged at the four corners of the shelf board 4 from the first holding portion 29 and rotates the pin 15 clockwise in the circumferential direction to the third rotation position shown in Figures 5(a) and (b). By rotating the pin 15 clockwise in the circumferential direction to the third rotation position, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 becomes horizontal, and the tip portion 16 can be released from the locking hole 12. 5(c), while keeping pin 15 in the third rotation position, pin 15 is moved leftward against the axial biasing force of spring 28 to bring arm portion 18 into contact with guide plate 39, and tip portion 16 is removed from locking hole 12. Pin 15 attempts to return to the first rotation position due to the circumferential biasing force of spring 28, but because arm portion 18 is in contact with guide plate 39, pin 15 can be easily moved to the second position while kept in the third rotation position. (iv) Next, as shown in Figures 7(a) and (b), the pin 15 is rotated clockwise in the circumferential direction to the second rotation position, and then the pin 15 is held by the second holding portion 30. In this state, since the pin 15 is held by the second holding portion 30, even if the worker releases the pin 15, the tip portion 16 of the pin 15 does not protrude from the end face of the shelf board 4 due to the axial biasing force of the spring 28. Furthermore, the pin 15 tries to move to the first rotation position due to the circumferential biasing force of the spring 28, but the pin 15 can be held in the second rotation position. (v) Next, perform the steps (ii) to (iv) for the remaining three pins 15. Since the pins 15 are held by the second holding part 30, the worker does not need to hold down the pins 15, and therefore the steps (ii) to (iv) can be easily performed for the remaining three pins 15. (vi) Next, the worker moves the shelf board 4 to a desired height position, and then removes the arm portion 18 of one of the pins 15 arranged at the four corners of the shelf board 4 from the recess 38a. When the arm portion 18 is removed from the recess 38a, the pin 15 rotates counterclockwise due to the circumferential biasing force of the spring 28, and the arm portion 18 abuts against the guide plate 39, so that the pin 15 is held in the third rotation position. When the pin 15 rotates to the third rotation position shown in Figs. 5(a) to (c), the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 becomes horizontal, so that the tip portion 16 can be inserted through the locking hole 12. When the pin 15 rotates to the third rotation position, the pin 15 moves rightward due to the axial biasing force of the spring 28 while being maintained in the third rotation position by the guide plate 39, and the tip portion 16 passes through the locking hole 12 and is locked in the locking hole 12. (vii) When pin 15 moves to the first position due to the axial biasing force of spring 28, arm portion 18 comes off guide plate 39, and as shown in FIG. 6(a), pin 15 rotates circumferentially counterclockwise due to the circumferential biasing force of spring 28 to the first rotation position, and pin 15 is held by first holding portion 29. (viii) Next, perform operations (vi) and (vii) for the remaining three pins 15. By performing the above operations, the shelf board 4 can be adjusted to the desired height position. Since the pins 15 are held by the second holding parts 30, the worker does not need to hold down the pins 15, and therefore, the operations (vi) and (vii) can be easily performed for the remaining three pins 15.

[0033] The first holding portion 29 (right pin support portion 31), which is one of the features of the present invention, functions as a stopper that restricts the position of the front end portion 16 so that the tip portion 16 does not protrude too much from the end face of the shelf board 4 by abutting the ring member 21. The configuration of the first holding portion 29 may be other forms as long as the tip portion 16 does not protrude too much from the end face of the shelf board 4. For example, the tip portion 16 may be abutted against the right rack column 8 to restrict the right position of the tip portion 16. In this embodiment, the ring member 21 is abutted against the first holding portion 29 to prevent the tip portion 16 from protruding too much from the end face of the shelf board 4. However, instead of the ring member 21, for example, the pin body 17 may be partially pressed and deformed to protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the pin body 17 and abut against the first holding portion 29.

[0034] The spring 28, which is one of the features of the present invention, biases the pin 15 not only in the axial direction of the spring 28 but also in the circumferential direction. Therefore, when an operator simply removes the arm portion 18 from the recess 38a, the pin 15 is automatically locked in the locking hole 12 by the axial biasing force of the spring 28, and when the arm portion 18 is removed from the guide plate 39, the pin 15 is automatically rotated counterclockwise to the first rotation position by the circumferential biasing force of the spring 28. Also, when the pin 15 is in the first position, the pin 15 rotates toward the first rotation position by the circumferential biasing force of the spring 28 and is held in contact with the rear surface of the shelf board 4, which is the third holding portion 40. Therefore, it is not necessary to set the third holding portion as a separate part.

[0035] The second retaining portion 30, which is one of the features of the present invention, functions as a stopper that retains the pin 15 so that the tip portion 16 of the pin 15 does not protrude from the end face of the shelf board 4 due to the axial biasing force of the spring 28. The second retaining portion 30 may have another form as long as it prevents the tip portion 16 from protruding from the end face of the shelf board 4 due to the axial biasing force of the spring 28.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first retaining portion 29, the second retaining portion 30, and the guide plate 39 are attached to the shelf board 4 via the pin fixing bracket (A) 25, but the first retaining portion 29, the second retaining portion 30, and the guide plate 39 may also be attached directly to the shelf board 4.

[0037] Next, a pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 11. The difference between the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 according to the first embodiment and the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 according to the second embodiment is that the configurations of the first holding portion 46, the second holding portion 47, and the guide plate 52 of the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 according to the second embodiment are different from the configurations of the first holding portion 29, the second holding portion 30, and the guide plate 39 of the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 according to the first embodiment, and there are no other differences in configuration. In the description of the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 according to the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for configurations common to the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 of the first embodiment, and a description of the common configurations will be omitted.

[0038] As shown in Figs. 8(a) and (b), the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 has a base metal fitting 26 attached to the back surface of the shelf board 4, a pin support bracket 27 supporting the pin body 17, and a spring 28 for biasing the pin 15. The base metal fitting 26 has a first holding portion 46 and a second holding portion 47 for holding the pin 15 in a predetermined position, as will be described in detail later. The pin support bracket 27 has two channel-shaped pin support portions 31 with an open top, which are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction. The front end of each pin support portion 31 in the front-rear direction is engaged with a hole formed in the base metal fitting 26, and the rear end side of each pin support portion 31 in the front-rear direction is fixed to the back surface of the shelf board 4 together with the base metal fitting 26 by two pin fixing metal fitting screws 32, thereby connecting the pin support bracket 27 and the base metal fitting 26. The pin body 17 is supported by two support holes 33 formed by the two pin support portions 31 and the base metal fitting 26 with the arm portion 18 being arranged to the left of the left pin support portion 31.

[0039] With the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 fixed to the end 11 of the shelf board 4, the spring 28 is disposed between the pin body 17 and the pin support portion 31 so as to urge the pin 15 to the right, i.e., so as to move the pin 15 toward the first position. The spring 28 covering the outer periphery of the pin body 17 is disposed between the ring member 21 (see FIG. 11) attached to the pin body 17 and the left-side pin support portion 31. The right end of the spring 28 engages with a through-hole formed in the pin body 17, and the left end of the spring 28 abuts against the end face of the left-side pin support portion 31 as shown in FIG. 8(b).

[0040] With the pin fixing bracket (B) 45 fixed to the end 11 of the shelf board 4, the pin 15 moves to the right by the axial biasing force of the spring 28, and the tip 16 of the pin 15 protrudes to the right beyond the end face of the end 11 of the shelf board 4. By the tip 16 protruding to the right beyond the end face of the end 11 of the shelf board 4, the tip 16 is brought into a first position where it engages with the engaging hole 12 of the shelf column 5.

[0041] The first holding portion 46 of the base metal fitting 26 is used to hold the pin 15 at the first position. The base metal fitting 26 has a flat base plate 34 attached to the back surface of the shelf board 4, and the first holding portion 46 has a vertical plate 48 extending downward from the left end of the base plate 34 at the rear end side in the front-rear direction from the left pin support portion 31, an inclined plate 49 inclined leftward as it goes downward from the lower end of the vertical plate 48, and an introduction plate 50 inclined rightward as it goes downward from the lower end of the inclined plate 49. The first holding portion 46 is elastically deformable. In the first position, when the pin 15 rotates counterclockwise in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 and the arm portion 18 abuts against the introduction plate 50, the entire first holding portion 46 elastically deforms leftward, and the first holding portion 46 holds the outer peripheral surface on the right side of the arm portion 18. More specifically, the first holding portion 46 holds the arm portion 18 at a position (first rotation position) where the pin 15 has rotated counterclockwise in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 until the arm portion 18 becomes substantially parallel to the rear surface of the shelf board 4 at the rear end side of the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 in the front-rear direction. The arm portion 18 is held by the vertical plate 48 abutting against the outer peripheral surface of the right side of the arm portion 18 and the inclined plate 49 abutting against the outer peripheral surface of the right lower side of the arm portion 18. The first holding portion 46 holds the pin 15 to hold the pin 15 at the first position and the first rotation position. The arm portion 18 held by the first holding portion 46 can be released from the first holding portion 46 by rotating the pin 15 clockwise in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17. Therefore, the arm portion 18 can be engaged with and disengaged from the first holding portion 46 by rotating the pin 15 in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17.

[0042] The second holding portion 47 of the base metal fitting 26 is used to hold the pin 15, which is biased by the spring 28 to move toward the first position, in the second position against the biasing force of the spring 28. The second holding portion 47 has a support plate 51 extending vertically downward from the front end in the front-rear direction on the left end side of the base plate 34, and a guide plate 52 extending from the lower end of the support plate 51 toward the rear end in the front-rear direction. When the pin 15 rotates clockwise around the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 in the second position and the arm portion 18 abuts against the support plate 51, the left end of the second holding portion 47 holds the arm portion 18 since the pin 15 is biased rightward by the spring 28. More specifically, the left end of the second holding part 47 holds the arm part 18 at a position (second rotation position) where the pin 15 rotates clockwise in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 until the arm part 18 becomes parallel to the back surface of the shelf board 4 at the front end side of the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 in the front-rear direction. That is, the second holding part 47 holds the pin 15 at the second position and the second rotation position. In addition, the guide plate 52 functions as a guide that allows the arm part 18 to move while abutting against the rear end surface of the guide plate 52 when the pin 15 is moved left and right with the arm part 18 facing downward in the vertical direction. Therefore, it has a function of maintaining an orientation in which the tip part 16 can be inserted into the locking hole 12. The arm part 18 held by the second holding part 47 can be released from the second holding part 30 by rotating the pin 15 counterclockwise in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17. Therefore, by rotating the pin 15 in the circumferential direction of the pin body 17, the arm portion 18 can be engaged with and disengaged from the second holding portion 30.

[0043] Next, the relationship between the rotational position in the circumferential direction of the pin 15 and the long diameter direction of the tip portion 16 will be described. As shown in Figs. 10(a) and (b), when the pin 15 is held by the first holding portion 46 and the pin 15 is in the first rotational position, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is vertical. Therefore, when the pin 15 is in the first rotational position, the tip portion 16 cannot be inserted into the locking hole 12. As shown in Fig. 11, when the pin 15 is held by the second holding portion 47 and in the second rotational position, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is vertical. Therefore, when the pin 15 is in the second rotational position, the tip portion 16 cannot be inserted into the locking hole 12. 10(a) and (b), when the pin 15 is in a position (third rotation position) rotated circumferentially around the pin body 17 so that the arm portion 18 is not held by the first holding portion 29 and the second holding portion 30 and faces vertically downward, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is horizontal. Therefore, when the pin 15 is in the third rotation position, the tip portion 16 can be inserted into the locking hole 12. The third rotation position in which the arm portion 18 faces vertically downward includes a rotation position of the pin 15 in which the tip portion 16 can be inserted into the locking hole 12.

[0044] Next, referring to Figs. 9(a) and (b), the third rotation position in which the pin 15 is not held by the first holding portion 46 and the second holding portion 47 and the arm portion 18 faces downward in the vertical direction will be described. Figs. 9(a) and (b) show the pin 15 in the third rotation position, with Fig. 9(a) showing the side of the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 and Fig. 9(b) showing the side of the tip portion 16. When the arm portion 18 faces downward in the vertical direction and the pin 15 is in the third rotation position, the pin 15 moves to the right by the axial biasing force of the spring 28 and is in the first position, and as shown in Fig. 9(b), the radial direction of the major diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is horizontal. Therefore, when the pin 15 is engaged with the engagement hole 12, the operator can move the arm portion 18 leftward to disengage the tip portion 16 from the engagement hole 12. In addition, since the guide plate 52 of the second holding portion 47 guides the arm portion 18, the pin 15 can be moved left and right while maintaining the arm portion 18 facing vertically downward (the third rotation position), so that the tip portion 16 can be easily engaged and disengaged from the engagement hole 12.

[0045] Next, with reference to Figures 10(a) and (b), a case where the pin 15 is held by the first holding portion 46 and is in the first position where the pin 15 has moved to the right will be described. Figures 10(a) and (b) show the state of the first position where the pin 15 is held by the first holding portion 46, with Figure 10(a) showing the side of the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 in the first position and Figure 10(b) showing the side of the tip portion 16. When the arm portion 18 of the pin 15 is held by the first holding portion 46, the pin 15 is in the first rotation position, so that the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is in the vertical direction, and the pin 15 is in the first position where it has moved to the right by the axial biasing force of the spring 28. Therefore, when the pin 15 is locked in the locking hole 12, the tip 16 hits the wall surface of the shelf column 5 that forms the locking hole 12, so the tip 16 cannot be removed from the locking hole 12 and the pin 15 can maintain its state of being locked in the locking hole 12. Therefore, the shelf board 4 is stably supported by the shelf column 5.

[0046] Next, referring to FIG. 11, the case where the pin 15 is held by the second holding portion 47 and moves to the left in the second position will be described. FIG. 11 shows the state of the pin 15 in the second position held by the second holding portion 47. When the arm portion 18 of the pin 15 is held by the second holding portion 47, the pin 15 is in the second rotation position, so the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 is in the vertical direction, and the pin 15 is in the second position moved to the left against the axial biasing force of the spring 28. The pin 15 moves to the right by the axial biasing force of the spring 28 to the first position, but since the arm portion 18 is held by the second holding portion 47, the pin 15 can be held in the second position. Therefore, even if the operator releases the pin 15, the tip portion 16 of the pin 15 does not protrude from the end face of the shelf board 4 due to the axial biasing force of the spring 28.

[0047] Next, a case where the shelf board 4 is adjusted to a desired height position will be described. (i) The shelf board 4 is supported by four shelf columns 5. The tip 16 of each pin 15, which is arranged at the four corners of the shelf board 4 via pin fixing brackets (B) 45, is engaged with the locking hole 12 of each shelf column. Each pin is in a first position in which the pin 15 is held by a first holding portion 46 as shown in Figures 10(a) and 10(b), and the pin 15 is in a first rotation position. In this state, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip 16 is vertical, so that the tip 16 will not come out of the locking hole 12. (ii) Next, the worker removes the shelf board 4 from the shelf column 5 in order to change the shelf board 4 to a desired height position. The worker removes one of the pins 15 arranged at the four corners of the shelf board 4 from the first holding portion 46, and rotates the pin 15 clockwise in the circumferential direction to the third rotation position shown in Figures 9(a) and (b). By rotating the pin 15 clockwise in the circumferential direction to the third rotation position, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 becomes horizontal, and the tip portion 16 can be released from the locking hole 12. (iii) Next, while the pin 15 is held in the third rotation position, the pin 15 is moved leftward against the axial biasing force of the spring 28 to disengage the tip portion 16 from the locking hole 12. 11, pin 15 is rotated clockwise in the circumferential direction to a second rotation position, and then pin 15 is held by second holding portion 47. In this state, pin 15 is held by second holding portion 47, so that tip portion 16 of pin 15 will not protrude from the end face of shelf board 4 due to the axial biasing force of spring 28 even if the worker releases pin 15. (v) Next, perform the steps (ii) to (iv) for the remaining three pins 15. Since the pins 15 are held by the second holding portion 47, the worker does not need to hold down the pins 15, and therefore the steps (ii) to (iv) can be easily performed for the remaining three pins 15. (vi) Next, after changing the shelf board 4 to a desired height position, the worker removes one of the pins 15 arranged at the four corners of the shelf board 4 from the second holding portion 47 and rotates the pin 15 counterclockwise in the circumferential direction to the third rotation position shown in Figures 9(a) and (b). By rotating the pin 15 counterclockwise in the circumferential direction to the third rotation position, the radial direction of the long diameter portion 20 of the tip portion 16 becomes horizontal, so that the axial biasing force of the spring 28 can move the tip portion 16 to the right and pass through the locking hole 12. The tip portion 16 is moved to the right to pass through the locking hole 12, and the pin 15 is locked in the locking hole 12. (vii) Next, the worker rotates the pin 15 counterclockwise in the circumferential direction to the first rotation position, as shown in FIG. 10, so that the pin 15 is held by the first holding portion . (viii) Next, perform operations (vi) and (vii) for the remaining three pins 15. By performing the above operations, the shelf board 4 can be adjusted to the desired height position. Since the pins 15 are held by the second holding parts 47, the worker does not need to hold down the pins 15, and therefore, the operations (vi) and (vii) can be easily performed for the remaining three pins 15.

[0048] The first holding portion 46, which is one of the features of the present invention, functions as a stopper that regulates the position of the tip portion 16 in front so that the tip portion 16 does not protrude too much from the end face of the shelf board 4. The first holding portion 46 also functions as a stopper that prevents the arm portion 18 from facing downward in the vertical direction due to gravity, that is, prevents the tip portion 16 from coming out of the locking hole 12 by making the long diameter direction of the tip portion 16 parallel. The first holding portion 46 may be configured in other ways as long as the tip portion 16 does not protrude too much from the end face of the shelf board 4 and the arm portion 18 does not face downward in the vertical direction due to gravity. For example, the ring member 21 may be abutted against the right pin support portion 31 to regulate the position of the tip portion 16 on the right side. Alternatively, the tip portion 16 may be abutted against the right rack column 8 to regulate the position of the tip portion 16 on the right side.

[0049] The second retaining portion 47, which is one of the features of the present invention, functions as a stopper that retains the pin 15 so that the tip portion 16 of the pin 15 does not protrude from the end face of the shelf board 4 due to the axial biasing force of the spring 28. The second retaining portion 30 may have another form as long as it prevents the tip portion 16 from protruding from the end face of the shelf board 4 due to the axial biasing force of the spring 28.

[0050] Next, a pin fixing metal fitting (C) 60 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The only difference between the pin fixing metal fitting (C) 60 according to the first embodiment and the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 according to the third embodiment is the configuration of the first retaining portion 61 of the pin fixing metal fitting (C) 60 according to the third embodiment, and there are no other differences in configuration. In the description of the pin fixing metal fitting (C) 60 according to the third embodiment, configurations common to the pin fixing metal fitting (A) 25 of the first embodiment and the pin fixing metal fitting (B) 45 of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of the common configurations will be omitted.

[0051] In the first holding section 46 according to the second embodiment, the arm section 18 is held by the vertical plate 48 abutting against the outer peripheral surface of the right side of the arm section 18 and the inclined plate 49 abutting against the outer peripheral surface of the right lower side of the arm section 18. The first holding section 61 according to the third embodiment differs from the first holding section 46 according to the second embodiment in that the first holding section 61 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the left side of the arm section 18 to hold it. The first holding section 61 has a vertical plate 62 extending downward in the vertical direction from the left end of the base plate 34 on the rear end side in the front-rear direction from the pin support section 31 on the left end side, an inclined plate 63 inclined to the right as it goes downward from the lower end of the vertical plate 62, and an introduction plate 64 inclined to the left as it goes downward from the lower end of the inclined plate 63. The first holding section 61 is elastically deformable. In the first position state, when the pin 15 rotates counterclockwise around the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 and the arm portion 18 abuts against the introduction plate 64, the entire first holding portion 51 elastically deforms leftward and the first holding portion 61 holds the left outer peripheral surface of the arm portion 18. More specifically, the first holding portion 61 holds the arm portion 18 at a position (first rotation position) where the pin 15 rotates counterclockwise around the circumferential direction of the pin body 17 until the arm portion 18 becomes parallel to the rear surface of the shelf board 4 at the rear end side in the front-rear direction of the pin fixing metal fitting (C) 60. The arm portion 18 is held by the vertical plate 62 abutting against the left outer peripheral surface of the arm portion 18 and the inclined plate 63 abutting against the outer peripheral surface on the lower left side of the arm portion 18.

[0052] The pin 15 is biased by the axial biasing force of the spring 28 so that the tip 16 protrudes outward from the end 11 of the shelf board 4, but in the pin fixing metal fitting (C) 60 according to the third embodiment, the arm portion 18 abuts against the pin support portion 31 on the left end side, or, although not shown in the figure, the tip portion 16 abuts against the rack column 8 arranged to the right of the shelf column 5, thereby restricting the position of the tip portion 16 on the right side so that the tip portion 16 does not protrude too much from the end face of the shelf board 4. Therefore, in the pin fixing metal fitting (C) 60 according to the third embodiment, the first holding portion 61 and the pin support portion 31 on the left end side or the rack column 8 function to prevent the tip portion 16 from protruding too much from the end face of the shelf board 4 and to prevent the arm portion 18 from pointing vertically downward due to gravity. In addition, the first holding portion 61 restricts the leftward movement of the pin 15 by abutting against the left peripheral surface of the arm portion 18. Although not shown in the figure, the tip portion 16 abuts against the wall surface of the shelf column 5 that defines the locking hole 12, thereby restricting the movement of the pin 15 to the left.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the tip 16 is larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the pin body 17 and has an oval shape having a short diameter portion 19 and a long diameter portion 20, but this configuration is not necessarily required. The tip 16 may be the same as the outer diameter of the pin body 17. When the tip 16 is the same as the outer diameter of the pin body 17, the locking hole 12 does not need to be a horizontally elongated slot, and may be a perfect circle. However, it is preferable that the tip 16 is larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the pin body 17 and has an oval shape having a short diameter portion 19 and a long diameter portion 20. When the pin 15 is in the first position, the tip 16 of the pin 15 is locked in the locking hole 12, but if the shelf column 5 is deformed and moves away from the end face of the shelf board 4 more than usual, if the tip 16 is the same as the outer diameter of the pin body 17, the tip 16 of the pin 15 may come off the locking hole 12. On the other hand, in the case where the tip 16 is larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the pin body 17 and has an oval shape having a short diameter part 19 and a long diameter part 20 as in the above embodiment, even if the shelf column 5 is deformed and moves away from the end face of the shelf board 4 more than usual, the tip 16 of the pin 15 is engaged with the engaging hole 12, so that it is possible to prevent the pin 15 from coming off the engaging hole 12. In the above embodiment, the pin body 17 is made of a round bar member, but the cross-sectional shape may be polygonal, such as a square or hexagon. Even if the cross-sectional shape of the pin body 17 is polygonal, such as a square or hexagon, it is sufficient that the pin 15 is supported rotatably about the axis of the pin body 17, i.e., rotatably in the outer circumferential direction of the pin body 17.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the locking hole 12 is formed so as to be elongated in the horizontal direction, but this is not necessarily limited to this. The locking hole 12 may be formed so as to be elongated in another direction other than the horizontal direction. In that case, it is sufficient that the tip portion 16 cannot be inserted into the locking hole 12 when the pin 15 is in the first rotation position and the second rotation position, and the tip portion 16 can be inserted into the locking hole 12 when the pin 15 is in the third rotation position. Alternatively, the locking hole 12 does not have to be formed so as to be elongated in the horizontal direction. The locking hole 12 is not a perfect circle but is formed with different diameters having a short diameter portion and a long diameter portion, and the tip portion 16 is also not a perfect circle but is formed with different diameters having a short diameter portion and a long diameter portion, and the tip portion 16 is set to be insertable into the locking hole 12 or not insertable depending on the difference in the circumferential rotation position of the pin body 17. Alternatively, the tip 16 may be bent into an L-shape, or a horizontally long member may be attached to the tip of the pin body 17 by welding or the like to form a T-shape, and the locking hole 12 may be formed horizontally, so that the tip 16 may or may not be inserted into the locking hole 12 depending on the circumferential rotation position of the pin body 17. Alternatively, the tip 16 may be rectangular, triangular, or star-shaped, and it is sufficient that the tip 16 may or may not be inserted into the locking hole 12 depending on the difference in the circumferential rotation position of the pin body 17. The same applies to the shape of the locking hole 12, and for example, the locking hole 12 may be rectangular, triangular, or star-shaped, and it is sufficient that the tip 16 may or may not be inserted into the locking hole 12 depending on the difference in the circumferential rotation position of the pin body 17. Alternatively, tip 16 may be circular, but eccentric with respect to the axial center, so that tip 16 may or may not be insertable into locking hole 12 depending on the difference in the circumferential rotational position of pin body 17. By making locking hole 12 a horizontally long slot, the shelf board support structure of the above embodiment can be constructed using a conventional shelf column.

[0055] The shelf board support structure 2 of the above embodiment has been described in the case of the showcase 1 having four shelf columns 5 and the four corners of the shelf board 4 being supported by the four shelf columns 5, but the showcase 1 does not necessarily have to have four shelf columns 5 and the four corners of the shelf board 4 being supported by the four shelf columns 5. The shelf board support structure 2 of the above embodiment is also applicable to a showcase in which both ends of the shelf board are supported by two shelf columns. In the above embodiment, the pin 15 is engaged with the engagement hole 12 formed in the shelf column 5, but this is not necessarily limited. For example, the engagement hole 12 may be formed in the rack column 8 instead of the shelf column 5, and instead of the engagement hole 12, the shelf column 5 may be formed with a hole through which the tip 16 can be inserted regardless of the rotational position of the pin 15, and the tip 16 may be engaged with the engagement hole 12 formed in the rack column 8. In this case, the rack column 8 is the vertical column according to the present invention.

[0056] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1. Showcase 2 Shelf support structure 3. Product Storage Room 4 Shelves 5 shelf pillar 6 Transparent Door 7 Product Shelf Unit 8 Rack Pillar 9. Tabletop 10 Bottom plate 11 End 12 Locking hole 13 Short diameter section 14 Long diameter section 15-pin 16 Tip 17 pin body 18 Arm section 19 Short diameter section 20 Long diameter 21 Ring member 25 Pin fixing bracket (A) 26 Base bracket 27-pin support bracket 28 Spring 29 1st holding part 30 Second holding part 31 Pin support 32 Pin fixing bracket screw 33 Support hole 34 Base plate 38 Support Plate 39 Guide plate 40 Third holding part 45 Pin fixing bracket (B) 46 1st holding part 47 Second holding part 48 Vertical Plate 49 Inclined Plate 50 Introduction Plate 51 Support Plate 52 Guide plate 60 Pin fixing bracket (C) 61 1st holding part 62 Vertical Plate 63 Inclined Plate 64 Introduction Plate

Claims

1. A pair of left and right vertical columns extending in the vertical direction and having a plurality of locking holes formed in the vertical direction; A shelf board whose both ends are supported by the pair of left and right vertical columns; A pin is supported at both ends of the shelf plate so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and a tip portion of the pin is engaged with the engaging hole, The pin is a shelf board support structure that is slidable between a first position where the tip portion is engaged with the engagement hole by the biasing force of a spring and a second position where the tip portion is disengaged from the engagement hole against the biasing force, A shelf support structure, characterized in that a second holding portion that holds the pin in the second position is provided on the shelf.

2. 2. The shelf board support structure according to claim 1, wherein the shelf board is provided with a first holding portion for holding the pin in the first position.

3. The pin has a rod-shaped pin body having the tip portion, The pin body is supported on the shelf plate so as to be slidable in the axial direction and rotatable in the circumferential direction, the pin is rotatable between a first rotation position in which the pin body is rotated in the circumferential direction by the biasing force of the spring and a second rotation position different from the first rotation position in which the pin body is rotated in the circumferential direction against the biasing force of the spring, a third holding portion that holds the pin in the first rotation position is provided on the shelf plate; The shelf board support structure according to claim 2 , wherein the second holding portion holds the pin in the second rotational position when in the second position.

4. the pin is rotatable to a third rotational position obtained by rotating the pin body in a circumferential direction, the third rotational position being different from the first rotational position and the second rotational position; In the first rotation position, the tip portion cannot be inserted into the locking hole, and the tip portion is prevented from being removed from the locking hole; The shelf support structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, in the third rotation position, the tip portion can be inserted into the locking hole and the tip portion can be removed from the locking hole.

5. The locking hole is formed with an inner periphery having a major diameter and a minor diameter that are different in diameter, The tip portion is formed with an outer circumferential diameter having a major axis and a minor axis, The major axis of the tip portion is smaller than the major axis of the locking hole and is larger than the minor axis of the locking hole, and the minor axis of the tip portion is smaller than the minor axis of the locking hole, At the first rotation position, a major axis direction of the tip portion is different from a major axis direction of the locking hole, and the tip portion cannot be inserted into the locking hole; The shelf support structure according to claim 4, characterized in that in the third rotation position, the long diameter direction of the tip portion coincides with the long diameter direction of the locking hole, and the tip portion can be inserted into the locking hole.

6. The pin has an arm portion extending from the pin body in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the pin body, At the first rotation position, the third holding portion holds the arm portion, and the tip portion cannot be inserted into the locking hole; The shelf support structure described in claim 5, characterized in that when the pin body rotates circumferentially and the arm portion is positioned vertically downward, the pin reaches the third rotation position and the tip portion can be inserted into the engagement hole.

7. The shelf support structure according to claim 6, characterized in that a guide plate is provided on the shelf to maintain the third rotation position and enable the pin to move between the first position and the second position.

8. The pin has a rod-shaped pin body having the tip portion, The pin body is supported on the shelf plate so as to be slidable in the axial direction and rotatable in the circumferential direction, When the pin body is rotated in a circumferential direction to a first rotational position, the first holding portion holds the pin at the first position; The shelf support structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the second retaining portion retains the pin in the second position at a second rotational position different from the first rotational position obtained by rotating the pin body circumferentially.

9. The pin has an arm portion extending from the pin body in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the pin body, The shelf board support structure according to claim 8 , wherein the first holding portion and the second holding portion hold the arm portion.

10. the pin is rotatable to a third rotational position obtained by rotating the pin body in a circumferential direction, the third rotational position being different from the first rotational position and the second rotational position; In the first rotation position, the tip portion cannot be inserted into the locking hole, and the tip portion is prevented from being removed from the locking hole; The shelf support structure according to claim 9, characterized in that, in the third rotation position, the tip portion can be inserted into the locking hole and the tip portion can be removed from the locking hole.

11. The locking hole is formed with an inner periphery having a major diameter and a minor diameter that are different in diameter, The tip portion is formed with an outer circumferential diameter having a major axis and a minor axis, The major axis of the tip portion is smaller than the major axis of the locking hole and is larger than the minor axis of the locking hole, and the minor axis of the tip portion is smaller than the minor axis of the locking hole, At the first rotation position, a major axis direction of the tip portion is different from a major axis direction of the locking hole, and the tip portion cannot be inserted into the locking hole; The shelf support structure according to claim 10, characterized in that in the third rotation position, the long diameter direction of the tip portion coincides with the long diameter direction of the locking hole, and the tip portion can be inserted into the locking hole.

12. The pin has an arm portion extending from the pin body in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the pin body, At the first rotation position, the first holding portion holds the arm portion, and the tip portion cannot be inserted into the locking hole; The shelf support structure described in claim 11, characterized in that when the pin body rotates circumferentially and the arm portion is positioned vertically downward, the pin reaches the third rotation position and the tip portion can be inserted into the engagement hole.

13. A showcase having the shelf board support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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