Rack connecting member and rack connecting structure using the same
The connecting member for racks facilitates easy, tool-free assembly of modular racks in multiple shapes, ensuring even shelf heights and efficient space use by using stepped receiving holes and engaging projections.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DREAMWARE
- Filing Date
- 2026-05-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-09
Smart Images
Figure 0003256511000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting member for racks for connecting prefabricated racks to each other and a connecting structure of prefabricated racks connected using the same. In particular, by using the developed connecting member for racks of the present invention, without using any special tools, the other rack can be easily connected to one rack in a straight line in plan view or in a rectangular shape in plan view, and can be configured. In the corner portion of the connected racks, a space is formed without any obstacles between the connecting members for racks arranged vertically, so that the storage items can be smoothly taken in and out of the shelf board in the space, and a connecting structure of a rack that can effectively utilize the space can be achieved. The present invention relates to a connecting member for racks and a connecting structure of prefabricated racks connected using the same.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, in various factories and office workrooms, for example, steel racks are frequently used for storing and preserving various items.
[0003] In such conventional racks, the columns constituting the rack are, for example, as long as 1.8 m, 2.0 m, 2.7 m, etc., and many are in a total of two packages, one package for only the columns and one package for the shelf boards and brackets other than the columns. Also, when assembling this rack, fasteners such as screws, bolts, and nuts are indispensable, including the problem that the handling workability before assembly and the assembly workability are not good.
[0004] Further, in a prefabricated rack having a structure in which a plurality of shelf boards are multi-stage supported by a column frame joined by a column joint, the column joint is inserted in a state where the ends of two column frames are opposed or overlapped, and a pair of sheath portions for connecting up and down, an attachment portion for fixing the shelf board, and a pair of male and female locking portions for locking and connecting male and female locking portions formed on other column joints to be connected are provided. A prefabricated rack is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
[0005] However, in the case of the assembly-type rack described above, the support joint used to connect the ends of the two support columns is a sheath structure, and the ends of the two support columns, which are inserted into this support joint from both sides, are fixed inside the support joint using countersunk screws.
[0006] Therefore, it is difficult to ensure that the positions of the ends of the two support columns, which are fixed by countersunk screws within the support column joint, are evenly distributed for each support column frame. As a result, the positions of the mounting parts for fixing the shelves tend to vary from one support column frame to another, making it difficult to assemble multiple shelves in a precise horizontal arrangement.
[0007] Therefore, a modular rack has been proposed in which the components are packaged in a small size for easy transport, assembly is simple and easy, and after assembly, the assembly accuracy of the shelves is good, resulting in a strong article support structure (see Patent Document 2).
[0008] The assembly rack described in Patent Document 2 above is an assembly rack that supports the required number of shelves by arranging the assembled shelves using L-shaped connecting columns formed by connecting L-shaped columns with connectors, wherein the connectors are integrally formed in an L-shape so that the ends of each connecting column can be fitted from both sides and supported in a close-connection state, and a stopper projection is provided in the longitudinal center of the folded-back clamping piece, and the position of each end of each connecting column is restricted by the stopper projection.
[0009] In such modular racks, the assembly process is simple and easy, and after assembly, the shelves are assembled with good precision, resulting in a robust structure for supporting items, which is desirable. However, while it is possible to combine and install two (two sets) of modular racks in a straight line when viewed from above, it is not possible to combine and install them in a rectangular shape such as an L-shape or a T-shape when viewed from above. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]
[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-20742 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6877032 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0011] This invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances in the conventional era, and aims to provide a connecting member that enables two (two sets) of modular racks to be installed not only in a straight line in plan view, but also in a rectangular shape such as an L-shape or T-shape in plan view, and a rack connecting structure using the same. [Means for solving the problem]
[0012] To achieve the above objective, the rack connecting member of the present invention is a connecting member that enables two assembly racks, each assembled by bridging brackets that support shelves between adjacent support columns, to be connected and installed in a linear or rectangular shape in plan view, and comprises a mounting portion that enables attachment to the bracket of one rack, and a mounting portion that enables attachment to the bracket of the other rack, wherein the mounting portion is connected to the mounting portion and has a first mounting portion that enables the bracket of the other rack to be attached in the same direction as the bracket of the rack to which the mounting portion is attached, and a second mounting portion that enables the bracket of the other rack to be attached in a direction that is perpendicular to the bracket of the rack to which the mounting portion is attached.
[0013] In the above-described rack connecting member, the mounting portion may be attached to any position along the length of the bracket of one of the racks. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned rack connecting member, the mounting portion comprises a hook portion that hooks onto the upper rear edge of the bracket, a mounting portion that is in close contact with the upper surface of the bracket on which a shelf board can be placed, and a hanging portion that is in close contact with the front surface of the bracket, and it is preferable that the hook portion, the mounting portion and the hanging portion are connected in order. Furthermore, in the rack connecting member described above, both the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion should be such that the bracket of the other rack can be mounted at the same height as the bracket of the other rack to which the mounting portion is attached.
[0014] Furthermore, in the rack connecting member described above, both the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion may be provided with stepped receiving holes that engage with engaging projections provided at the longitudinal ends of the bracket of the other rack. In this case, the stepped receiving hole comprises a wide hole portion into which the engaging projection of the bracket can be inserted, and a narrow hole portion that is narrower than the wide hole portion, and the engaging projection of the bracket inserted through the wide hole portion is pressed against and supported in the narrow hole portion. Furthermore, it is preferable that at least two stepped receiving holes be provided, each at a different height.
[0015] Furthermore, the mounting portion is preferably connected to the mounting portion via a connecting portion that protrudes in the direction in which the other rack is installed. In this case, the connecting portion may have one or more recesses or protrusions along the boundary portion with the mounting portion and / or the boundary portion with the portion to be mounted. Furthermore, the rack connecting members described above may consist of a set of two rack connecting members, where the mounting portion is symmetrically connected to the mounting portion, and the positions of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are different.
[0016] Furthermore, the rack connection structure of this invention is characterized in that, using any set of the above-mentioned rack connecting members, racks are assembled by bridging brackets that support shelves between adjacent support columns without the use of any special tools, and racks are simply connected in a rectangular shape in plan view. At the corners of the connected racks, a space is formed between the rack connecting members arranged vertically without any obstructions, thereby allowing for smooth loading and unloading of items stored on the shelves in that space, and enabling effective use of the space.
[0017] In the above-described rack connection structure, the rack is an assembly-type rack that supports the required number of shelves by connecting L-shaped support columns with connectors to form L-shaped connecting columns, and arranging the assembled shelves in this structure, wherein the connector has a folded-back clamping piece that is integrally formed in an L-shape so that it can abut against the support column from the outside, and the folded-back clamping piece has a stopper projection in the longitudinal center of the folded-back clamping piece, and the position of each end of each of the connected support columns is restricted by the stopper projection.
[0018] Furthermore, in the above rack connection structure, the rack comprises a required number of support columns, each of which is formed by integrally creating a pair of long pieces in an L-shape, with numerous stepped receiving holes arranged in corresponding positions and spaced equally in the length direction on each long piece; and a required number of connectors, each of which is formed in an L-shape so that the ends of the connected support columns can be fitted from both sides and supported in a close-connection state, and which are equipped with stopper projections in the longitudinal center of the pair of folded-and-clamping pieces to restrict the position of each end of the pair of long pieces of the connected support columns, and the connectors The connecting member comprises a required number of connecting members, each having engaging projections at both ends that engage with the stepped receiving holes of each of the multiple connecting columns to connect them at predetermined intervals, and connecting the two engaging projections, with shelf board receiving pieces arranged in an L-shape; each connecting member's engaging projections engage with the corresponding stepped receiving holes of adjacent connecting columns arranged at predetermined intervals to connect the connecting columns, and a required number of brackets that enable shelves to be supported by the shelf board receiving pieces of each connecting member; and an arbitrary number of shelves supported on the shelf board receiving pieces of the brackets attached to the connecting columns. [Effects of the Invention]
[0019] The rack connecting member of the present invention comprises a mounting portion that allows attachment to the bracket of one rack and a mounting portion that allows attachment to the bracket of the other rack, the mounting portion having a first mounting portion that allows attachment to the bracket of the other rack in the same direction as the bracket of the first rack, and a second mounting portion that allows attachment to the bracket of the other rack in a direction that is perpendicular to the bracket of the first rack.
[0020] Therefore, by using this connecting member for the rack, without using any special tools, the other rack can be easily connected to one rack in a straight line or in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and in the corner portion of the connected racks, a space is formed without any obstacles between the connecting members for the racks arranged vertically and horizontally, so that the storage items can be smoothly taken in and out of the shelf board in this space, and a connecting structure of the rack that can effectively utilize the space can be achieved.
[0021] Therefore, it is possible to provide a connecting member that enables two (two sets) of assembled racks to be combined and installed not only in a straight line in a plan view but also in a rectangular shape such as an L-shape or a T-shape in a plan view, and a connecting structure of the rack using the same.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0022] [Figure 1] It is a diagram for explaining an example of the structure of the connecting member for the rack according to the present invention, and is a schematic perspective view showing (A) one of the connecting members for the rack that forms a pair, and a schematic perspective view showing (B) the other connecting member for the rack that forms a pair. [Figure 2] It is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an assembled rack to which the connecting member for the rack according to the present invention is attached. [Figure 3] It is a schematic perspective view separately showing the components of the assembled rack shown in FIG. 2 and the hammer used for assembly. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing the configuration of a connecting column using a connector in the assembled rack shown in FIG. 2, and is a schematic diagram showing (A) the state before connecting two columns, and a schematic diagram showing (B) the state after connecting two columns to form a connecting column. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing a bracket attached to the connecting member for the rack according to the present invention, and is a perspective view showing (A) the entire bracket, and a schematic diagram showing (B) an engaging protrusion provided at an end portion indicated by reference numeral A in FIG. 5(A). [Figure 6A]Figure 2 shows the assembly process of the modular rack, and (A) is a schematic perspective view showing the state of attachment of the connector to the support column with the first bracket attached to the lower end of the support column, and (B) is a schematic perspective view showing the state of connecting other support columns to each of the connectors attached to each support column to form a connecting support column. [Figure 6B] Figure 2 shows the assembly process of the modular rack, and (C) is a schematic perspective view showing the fifth bracket attached to the upper end of the connecting column, (D) is a schematic perspective view showing the second bracket attached to the connecting column, and (E) is a schematic perspective view showing the modular rack before the shelves are installed, with the third and fourth brackets attached to the connecting column. [Figure 7A] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the first mounting position of the pair of rack connecting members shown in Figure 1 (when one rack is connected to the other rack in a planar rectangular shape). [Figure 7B] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the second mounting position of the pair of rack connecting members shown in Figure 1 (when one rack is connected to the other rack in a straight line in a plan view). [Figure 8] The diagram shows rack connecting members attached to one rack, and (A) is a schematic diagram showing some rack connecting members attached to the first mounting position shown in Figure 7A, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of the mounting state of the rack connecting member attached to the part indicated by reference numeral B in Figure 8(A). [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the bracket of the other rack is attached to a pair of rack connecting members that are attached to the first mounting position shown in Figure 7A. [Figure 10] Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of the bracket of the other rack attached to the rack connecting member, and a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of the rear side of the part indicated by reference numeral C. [Figure 11]Figure 7A shows the assembly process where a rack connecting member is attached to the first mounting position shown in Figure 7A, connecting one rack to the other in a planar rectangular shape. (A) is a perspective view showing the assembly in progress with the brackets of the other rack attached to the top and bottom shelves, and (B) is a perspective view showing the completed assembly with the brackets of the other rack attached to all shelves. [Figure 12] This is a magnified plan view showing a state in which the bracket of one rack is attached to the rack connecting member attached to the bracket of the other rack. [Figure 13] This is a schematic perspective view showing two racks (two sets) assembled by connecting them in a planar rectangular shape using the rack connecting member according to the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a schematic perspective view showing two racks (two sets) assembled by connecting them in a straight line in plan view using the rack connecting member according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0023] The following describes, with reference to the drawings, an example of an embodiment for implementing the rack connecting member according to the present invention and a rack connecting structure using the same. The embodiments described below are preferred examples of the present invention and are subject to various technical limitations. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these forms unless otherwise specified in the following description.
[0024] The rack connecting member 10 in this embodiment shown in Figure 1 is a connecting member that enables the installation of two (two sets) of prefabricated racks, which are assembled by bridging brackets that support shelves between adjacent support columns, in a straight line in plan view, or in a rectangular shape such as an L-shape or T-shape in plan view. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the structure of a rack connecting member 10 according to this embodiment, where (A) is a schematic perspective view showing one of the paired rack connecting members, and (B) is a schematic perspective view showing the other of the paired rack connecting members.
[0025] As shown in Figure 1, this rack connecting member 10 includes a mounting portion 11 that allows it to be attached to the bracket of one already assembled modular rack (hereinafter referred to as the "rack body"), and a mounting portion 12 that allows the bracket of the other rack (hereinafter referred to as the "connecting rack") to be attached. These mounting portion 11 and the portion to be mounted 12 are connected to each other via a connecting portion 13.
[0026] The mounting portion 11 includes a hook portion 51, a mounting portion 52, and a hanging portion 53. The hook portion 51 is a part that can be hooked onto the upper back edge of the bracket, which is roughly L-shaped and inverted, as will be described later, when attaching the rack connecting member 10 to the bracket. The mounting portion 52 is a part that stably and closely contacts the upper surface of the bracket (shelf support piece, described later) which allows the shelf board to be placed when the rack connecting member 10 is attached to the bracket. The hanging portion 53 is the part that stably and closely contacts the front surface of the bracket when the rack connecting member 10 is attached to the bracket.
[0027] In this mounting portion 11, the hook portion 51 is connected to one edge of the mounting portion 52, and the hanging portion 53 is connected to the other edge of the mounting portion 52 opposite to the hook portion 51. In other words, the hook portion 51, the mounting portion 52, and the hanging portion 53 are connected in order to constitute the mounting portion 11. Therefore, the rack connecting member 10 can be easily installed by hanging it up, by hooking the hook portion 51 of the mounting portion 11 onto the bracket of the rack body, stably and closely contacting the mounting portion 52 with the upper surface of the bracket, and stably and closely contacting the hanging portion 53 with the front surface of the bracket.
[0028] On the other hand, the mounting portion 12 has a first mounting portion 61 and a second mounting portion 62. The first mounting portion 61 is a part that allows the bracket of the connecting rack to be assembled to be attached in the same orientation as the bracket of the rack body to which the mounting portion 11 is attached. The second mounting portion 62 allows the bracket of the connecting rack to be attached in a direction that is perpendicular to the bracket of the rack body to which the mounting portion 11 is attached. In other words, the mounting portion 12 has a second mounting portion 62 attached to it in a direction that bends at a right angle to the first mounting portion 61.
[0029] Furthermore, both the first mounting portion 61 and the second mounting portion 62 are provided with stepped receiving holes 63 that engage with engaging projections located near the longitudinal ends of the bracket of the connecting rack. In other words, the engaging projections of the bracket of the connecting rack engage with the stepped receiving holes 63, allowing the bracket of the connecting rack to be connected to and installed on the rack connecting member 10.
[0030] The stepped receiving hole 63 comprises a wide hole portion 64 into which the engaging projection of the bracket can be inserted, and a narrow hole portion 65 which is narrower than the wide hole portion 64 and into which the engaging projection of the bracket is locked. Therefore, in the stepped receiving hole 63, the engaging projection of the bracket, which is inserted through the wide hole portion 64, is pressed against and locked in the narrow hole portion 65 to be supported. This allows for robust support of the brackets of the connecting rack when two sets of racks are joined together.
[0031] Furthermore, in the rack connecting member 10, both the first mounting portion 61 and the second mounting portion 62 are designed to allow the bracket of the connecting rack to be mounted at the same height as the bracket of the rack body to which the mounting portion 11 is attached. In other words, the narrow hole portion 65 in the stepped receiving hole 63 is provided at a position where the bracket of the connecting rack is mounted at the same height as the bracket of the rack body.
[0032] This ensures that the height of the shelves supported by the brackets of the main rack is equal to the height of the shelves supported by the brackets of the connecting rack, eliminating any height difference at the boundary between the two racks. Therefore, items can be stored efficiently and stably across both racks.
[0033] These stepped receiving holes 63 may be provided in two or more configurations with different heights. That is, multiple such holes may be provided in the vertical direction on the first mounting portion 61 and the second mounting portion 62.
[0034] This allows the engagement position of the engaging projections on the brackets of the connecting rack to be selected when attaching them to the stepped receiving holes 63, so that the height of the shelf supported by the brackets of the rack body is equal to the height of the shelf supported by the brackets of the connecting rack when connecting two sets of racks. Furthermore, if the brackets of the connecting rack have at least two or more engaging projections at different heights, the number of connection points when connecting two sets of racks increases, and the brackets of the connecting rack can be supported stably.
[0035] In this embodiment, the mounting portion 11 and the mounted portion 12 are connected via a connecting portion 13 that protrudes in the direction in which the connecting rack is installed. That is, the connecting portion 13 is provided with a step in the direction in which the two sets of racks are connected, and connects the mounting portion 11 and the mounted portion 12.
[0036] Furthermore, the connecting portion 13 may have one or more recesses (or protrusions) 71 along the boundary with the mounting portion 11 and / or the boundary with the portion to be mounted 12. That is, recesses (or protrusions) 71 that serve as reinforcing ribs are provided at the boundary with the mounting portion 11 and the boundary with the portion to be mounted 12. In this way, the recess (or projection) 71 reinforces the connecting portion 13, increasing its strength, which prevents distortion and maintains a strong connection.
[0037] Such rack connecting members 10 consist of two rack connecting members 10,10, each having a mounting portion 11 and a mounting portion 12 symmetrically connected to it, with the positions of the first mounting portion 61 and the second mounting portion 62 being different. In other words, one rack connecting member 10A shown in Figure 1(A) and the other rack connecting member 10B shown in Figure 1(B) are used as a pair.
[0038] Here, we will describe an assembly-type rack to which the rack connecting member 10 according to this embodiment is attached. As shown in Figure 2, the modular rack 100 can be, for example, a five-tiered rack with five shelves 151 on which items are placed. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of an assembly-type rack 100 to which the rack connecting member 10 according to this embodiment is attached. In other words, it shows the configuration of the rack body described above.
[0039] As shown in Figure 3, the assembly rack 100 is configured to be assembled using the required number of support columns 111, the required number of connectors 121, the required number of brackets 131 of different sizes (lengths), the required number of support column leg covers 141, and the required number of shelves 151. Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the individual components of the modular rack shown in Figure 2, as well as the hammer used for assembly.
[0040] The support column 111 is a component that, when connected in the longitudinal direction, forms a long connecting support column 101. The connector 121 is a component used to connect the two support columns 111 in the longitudinal direction. The bracket 131 is a component that spans between two adjacent support columns 111 to allow the placement of a shelf board, and is made up of two types: a short size and a long size. The support leg cover 141 is a component attached to the lower end of the connecting support column 101, and is made of, for example, rubber. The shelf board 15 is a flat plate-shaped component on which items can be placed, and is mounted on the bracket 131.
[0041] Therefore, in the case of a five-tiered assembly rack 100, for example, eight support columns 111, four connectors 121, ten short brackets 131 and ten long brackets 131, four support column leg covers 141, and five shelves 151 are required.
[0042] Furthermore, in assembling the modular rack 100, as shown in Figure 3, a hammer H with rubber material on the striking parts Ha and Hb used during assembly is provided as an accessory. For example, one striking part Ha of this hammer H can be colored yellow for white products, and the other striking part Hb can be colored black for black products.
[0043] In Figure 2, the modular rack 100 is shown to be constructed using four connecting support columns 101...101, which are formed by connecting two support columns 111 in two tiers, upper and lower, using a connector 121. The modular rack 100 is also shown to be constructed by fitting support column leg covers 41 to the lower ends of each connecting support column 101 to create an upright configuration, and then using two short brackets 131 and two long brackets 131 per tier, which are horizontally positioned opposite each other to create a rectangular shelf configuration. After attaching four brackets 131 to each of the five tiers, a total of five shelves 51 are placed on each tier.
[0044] Next, with reference to Figure 4, the details of the support column 111, the connector 121, and an example of the configuration of the connecting support column 101 will be described. Figure 4 shows the configuration of a connecting support column 101 using a connector 121 in an assembly rack 100, where (A) is a schematic diagram showing the state before the two support columns 111 are connected, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing the state after the two support columns 111 are connected to form a connecting support column 101.
[0045] As shown in Figure 4(A), the support column 111 is a long, integrally formed L-shaped cross-section, and is provided with numerous stepped receiving holes 113 at equal intervals along its length for firmly connecting the bracket 131. Each of these stepped receiving holes 113 is provided near each end of the bracket 131 in the longitudinal direction and includes a wide hole portion 114 into which an engaging projection 134 (described later) can be inserted, and a narrow hole portion 115 which is narrower than the wide hole portion 114 and into which the engaging projection 134 of the bracket 131 is pressed and locked.
[0046] The connector 121 is integrally formed in an L-shape so as to be able to abut the end 111a of the support column 111 from the outside, and includes a pair of folded-back clamping pieces 122, 122 which are fitted onto the opposing ends 111a of each support column 111 to be connected. The folded-back clamping piece 122 has an internal fitting receiving area that enables the support columns 111 to be supported in a close-connection state.
[0047] This connector 121 has a stopper projection 123 at the longitudinal center of the folded-back clamping piece 122 that protrudes towards the internal fitting receiving area, thereby restricting the position of the end 111a of each support column 111 and connecting a pair of support columns 111, 111 to form a connecting support column 101.
[0048] Furthermore, along the length of the folded-back clamping piece 122, small protrusions 124 are provided on both sides of the stopper projection 123, each slightly protruding toward the fitting receiving area and contacting one surface of each support column 111 to increase the connecting support force. In the figure, the stopper projection 123 and the small projection 124 are shown in a recessed state as viewed from their rear side.
[0049] Furthermore, the folded-back clamping piece 122 has a roughly U-shaped recessed portion 125 between the stopper projection 123 and the small projection 124, which allows the end of the connected support column 111 to be visible from the outside.
[0050] Therefore, as shown by the arrows in Figure 4(A), when the ends 111a of each support column 111 are folded back and inserted into the pieces 122 from both opposing sides of the connector 121, the insertion position of each end 111a of the support column 111 is restricted by the stopper projections 123, as shown in Figure 4(B). In addition, one surface of each support column 111 comes into contact with the small projection 124, thereby increasing the connecting support force and securing the connection. Therefore, the pair of support columns 111, 111 can be connected by the connector 121 to form a connecting support column 101.
[0051] Next, with reference to Figure 5, an example configuration of bracket 131 will be described. Figure 5 shows a bracket 131, where Figure 5(A) is a perspective view showing the entire bracket 131, and Figure 5(B) is a schematic diagram showing the engaging projection 134 provided at the end of the bracket 131 indicated by the reference numeral A in Figure 5(A).
[0052] As shown in Figure 5(A), the bracket 131 is a long body with a cross-sectional shape that is roughly inverted L-shaped, and comprises a connecting piece 132 that forms the front surface facing outward, and a shelf support piece 133 that forms the upper surface on which a shelf can be placed and supported. In other words, the bracket 131 is a connecting member in which the connecting piece 132 and the shelf support piece 133 are arranged in an inverted L-shape and integrally formed.
[0053] Furthermore, the bracket 131 is equipped with engaging projections 134 near both ends that engage with stepped receiving holes 113 provided in multiple connecting posts 101 connected by connectors 121, and connect two adjacent connecting posts 101, 101 at a predetermined distance apart. As shown in Figure 5(B), the engaging projection 134 can be inserted into the wide hole portion 114 of the stepped receiving hole 113 in the support column 111 (connecting support column 101), but has a bulging region that presses against and locks into the narrow hole portion 115. That is, the engaging projection 134 is fitted into the wide hole portion 114 of the stepped receiving hole 113 in the support column 111 (connecting support column 101), and in plan view, it takes on a V-shape when pressed against the narrow hole portion 115 of the stepped receiving hole 113 by the action of, for example, the force of a hammer H.
[0054] In this description, we have explained an example of the configuration of the bracket 131 of the rack body 100 as an assembly-type rack. However, considering the ease of assembly, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of the assembly parts for the connecting rack 200 that is assembled by connecting it to the rack body 100, the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 can also be configured in the same way as the bracket 131 described above.
[0055] The bracket 131 connects the connecting columns 101 to each other by engaging its engaging projections 134 with the corresponding stepped receiving holes 113 of each adjacent connecting column 101, which are arranged at predetermined intervals, and creating a press-fit state. The bracket 131 is also configured to support the shelf board 151 installed on its upper part at the shelf board receiving piece 133.
[0056] Next, the assembly process for the modular rack, which will become the rack body 100, will be explained with reference to Figures 6A and 6B. Figures 6A and 6B both show the process of assembling the aforementioned modular rack (rack body 100).
[0057] First, prepare four support columns 111 with support column leg covers 141 fitted to the ends of the support columns 111, two short brackets 131, and two long brackets 131. Next, as shown in Figure 6A(A), in the upright position of the support column 111 with the support column leg cover 141 side as the lower end, the engaging projection 134 of the short bracket 131 is fitted into the stepped receiving hole 113 of the same height near the support column leg cover 141 side, and the engaging projection 134 of the long bracket 131 is also fitted into it, thereby assembling the four brackets 131 into a rectangular shape and connecting the four support columns 111 together.
[0058] Then, one side of the connector 121 (folded-back clamping piece 122) is fitted onto the upper end of each upright support column 111, and the other side of each connector 121 is struck with a hammer H to bring the end 111a of each support column 111 into contact with the stopper projection 123 (of the folded-back clamping piece 122). Figure 6A (A) is a schematic perspective view showing the attachment state of the connector 121 to the support column 111, with the first bracket 131 attached to the lower end of the support column 111.
[0059] Next, as shown in Figure 6A(B), the end (lower end) 111a of each of the four connectors 121 is fitted to the other side, and the upper end of each of these support columns 111 is struck with a hammer H to abut the lower end of each support column 111 against the respective stopper projection 123 of the respective connector 121, thereby connecting them. This creates a rectangular arrangement of four connecting support columns 101 connected by the connector 121. Figure 6A(B) is a schematic perspective view showing the state in which each of the connecting devices 121 attached to each of the support columns 111 are connected to other support columns 111 to form a connecting support column 101.
[0060] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6B(C), two short brackets 131 and two long brackets 131 are attached to each of the uppermost stepped receiving holes 113 of the four connecting support columns 101 in the same manner as the first row. Figure 6B(C) is a schematic perspective view showing the state in which the fifth bracket 131 is attached to the upper end of the connecting support column 101.
[0061] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6B(D), brackets 131 from other levels are attached at predetermined intervals between the bottom (first) bracket 131 and the top (fifth) bracket 131. That is, two short brackets 131 and two long brackets 131 are attached to each stepped receiving hole 113 located at a predetermined position from the bottom of the four connecting support columns 101, in the same manner as the first level. Figure 6B is a schematic perspective view showing the state in which the second bracket 131 is attached to the connecting support column 101 (D).
[0062] Then, as shown in Figure 6B(E), the third bracket 131 and the fourth bracket 131 are attached at predetermined intervals between the bottom bracket 131 and the top bracket 131, respectively, to assemble the rack before the installation of the five shelves 151. Figure 6B (E) is a schematic perspective view showing the prefabricated rack 100 before the installation of the shelves 151, with the third and fourth brackets 131 attached to the connecting support columns, respectively.
[0063] Therefore, by placing the shelf boards 151 on the shelf board receiving pieces 133 of the brackets 131 of each level, a five-tiered assembly rack (rack body 100) can be constructed as shown in Figure 2.
[0064] Next, the procedure for assembling the connecting rack 200 using the rack connecting members 10 (10A, 10B) according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 7A and 7B, the rack connecting members 10 (10A, 10B) can be connected in a rectangular shape in plan view or in a straight line in plan view, depending on their mounting position on the rack 100.
[0065] In other words, as shown in Figure 7A, the first mounting position for the rack connecting member 10 is to attach it to the front bracket 131F of the bracket 131 that constitutes each tier in the rack body 100. Figure 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating the first mounting position of the pair of rack connecting members 10A and 10B according to this embodiment, in which the connecting rack 200 is connected to the rack body 100 in a square shape in plan view.
[0066] The rack connecting member 10 can be attached to any position along the length of the bracket 131 of the rack body 100. Specifically, the rack connecting member 10 can be freely attached to any position along the length of the rack body 100 by hooking the hook portion 51 of the mounting portion 11 onto the front bracket 131F of the rack body 100 and suspending it.
[0067] In Figure 7A, one rack connecting member 10A is shown to be attached to the front bracket 131F of each shelf of the rack body 100 at the end position enclosed by the dashed circle, as indicated by the dashed arrow, in order to install the connecting rack 200 in an L-shape in plan view relative to the rack body 100. The other rack connecting member 10B is shown to be attached to the front bracket 131F of each shelf of the rack body 100 at the central position enclosed by the dashed circle, as indicated by the double dashed arrow.
[0068] In Figure 7A, reference numeral 131B indicates the rear bracket of the rack body 100, reference numeral 131R indicates the right bracket, and reference numeral 131L indicates the left bracket. Furthermore, for the sake of explanatory purposes, the drawings may sometimes show the rack body 100 in a state where the shelf board 151 is not installed.
[0069] This allows the mounting position of the rack connecting member 10 on the front bracket 131F to be arbitrarily adjusted according to the length (size) of the bracket 231 arranged in the depth direction of the connecting rack 200. Furthermore, if the rack connecting member 10 is attached near the center of the front bracket 131F, the connecting rack 200 can be connected to the rack body 100 not only in an L-shape in plan view, but also in a T-shape in plan view. Therefore, two sets of racks can be freely connected and installed, and even two sets of racks with different depths can be freely connected and installed.
[0070] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7B, the rack connecting member 10 can be attached to the right-side bracket 131R of the bracket 131 that constitutes each tier in the rack body 100 as a second mounting position. Figure 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating a second mounting position for the pair of rack connecting members 10A and 10B according to this embodiment, in which the connecting rack 200 is connected to the rack body 100 in a straight line in plan view.
[0071] In Figure 7B, one rack connecting member 10A is shown to be attached to the right bracket 131R of each shelf on the rack body 100, enclosed by a dashed circle, at one end position (front side), as indicated by the dashed arrow, in order to install the connecting rack 200 in a straight line in plan view relative to the rack body 100. The other rack connecting member 10B is shown to be attached to the other end position (back side), enclosed by a dashed circle, at the right bracket 131R of each shelf on the rack body 100, as indicated by the double dashed arrow.
[0072] In Figure 7B, the pair of rack connecting members 10A and 10B are shown as being attached to the right bracket 131R, but they may also be attached to the left bracket 131L.
[0073] Next, using the case where the connecting rack 200 is connected to the rack body 100 in a planar rectangular shape (see Figure 7A) as an example, the method of attaching the rack connecting member 10 to the bracket 131 of the rack body 100 will be explained with reference to Figure 8. The method of attaching the rack connecting member 10 is the same even when connecting the connecting rack 200 to the rack body 100 in a straight line in a plan view (see Figure 7B). Figure 8 shows a rack connecting member 10 attached to the rack body 100. Figure 8(A) is a schematic diagram showing the rack connecting member 10 (10A, 10B) attached to the first mounting position shown in Figure 7A. Figure 8(B) is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of the mounting state of the rack connecting member 10 (10A) attached to the part indicated by reference numeral B in Figure 8(A).
[0074] As shown in Figure 8, the rack connecting members 10 (10A, 10B) are attached to the rack body 100 by hooking the hook portion 51 onto the upper back edge of the shelf support piece 133 of the bracket 131, which has a roughly inverted L-shaped cross-section, and by bringing the mounting portion 52 into close contact with the shelf support piece 133, and bringing the hanging portion 53 into close contact with the front connecting piece 132, thereby suspending them in a simple and stable manner. Although only one rack connecting member 10A is shown in Figure 8(B), the method of attaching the other rack connecting member 10B to the bracket 131 is the same.
[0075] Next, as shown in Figure 9, the brackets 231 of the connecting rack 200 are attached to the pair of rack connecting members 10A and 10B. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 is attached to a pair of rack connecting members 10A and 10B that are attached to the first mounting position shown in Figure 7A.
[0076] In other words, the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 is attached to the respective rack connecting members 10A and 10B by inserting the engaging projection 234 of the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 into the stepped receiving hole 63 provided in the first mounting portion 61 of the mounting portion 12 of the rack connecting member 10 which is attached to the front bracket 131F of the rack body 100. In Figure 9, the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200, which is attached to the front bracket 131F of the rack body 100, is the right-side bracket 231R.
[0077] When attaching the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 to the rack connecting member 10 (10A, 10B), as shown in Figure 10, it can be done simply without the need for screws, bolts, nuts, etc. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 is attached to the pair of rack connecting members 10A and 10B shown in Figure 8(A), and is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of the rear side of the part indicated by the reference numeral C in the figure.
[0078] In other words, as described above, the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 can be firmly connected by inserting (fitting) the engaging projection 234 into the wide hole 114 in the stepped receiving hole 63 of the rack connecting member 10 (first mounting portion 61), and then, for example, striking it with a hammer H, pressing the engaging projection 234 against the narrow hole 115.
[0079] After attaching the right-side brackets 231R of the connecting rack 200 to the front-side brackets 131F of each shelf of the rack body 100, the brackets 231 of each shelf of the connecting rack 200 are assembled in the same manner as the assembly method of the assembly-type rack (rack body) 100 described above, as shown in Figure 11. Figure 11 shows the assembly process in which the rack connecting members 10 (10A, 10B) are attached to the first mounting position shown in Figure 7A, and the connecting rack 200 is connected to the rack body 100 in a planar rectangular shape. (A) is a perspective view showing the assembly in progress with the brackets 231 of the connecting rack 200 attached to the top and bottom sections, and (B) is a perspective view showing the completed assembly with the brackets 231 of the connecting rack 200 attached to all sections.
[0080] In assembling the brackets 131 for each tier of the connecting rack 200, since the right-side brackets 231R for each tier of the connecting rack 200 are already installed, the assembly of the rack is carried out assuming that the two connecting columns 201 that support the right-side brackets 231R already exist. That is, the left-side bracket 231L is attached by bridging it between the two connecting columns 201 that support the left-side bracket 231L, then the connecting columns 201 are erected, and the remaining front-side brackets 231F and rear-side brackets 231B are attached to each tier, thereby assembling the rack before the installation of the five-tiered shelves 251.
[0081] Figure 11(A) shows the left brackets 231L for the bottom row (first row) and the top row (fifth row) attached between the two connecting support columns 201, 201, and also shows the front brackets 231F and rear brackets 231B for the first and fifth rows, respectively.
[0082] Furthermore, Figure 11(B) shows the connecting rack 200 before the installation of the shelf board 251, which consists of a total of five levels, formed by attaching the remaining left brackets 231L, front bracket 231F, and rear bracket 231B for the second, third, and fourth levels, respectively, thereby creating the first rack section 200-1, the second rack section 200-2, the third rack section 200-3, the fourth rack section 200-4, and the fifth rack section 200-5.
[0083] When attaching the rear bracket 231B, the front bracket 231F of the connecting rack 200 is attached to the stepped receiving hole 63 provided in the second mounting portion 62 of the mounting portion 12 of one rack connecting member 10A. When attaching the front bracket 231F, the rear bracket 231B of the connecting rack 200 is attached to the stepped receiving hole 63 provided in the second mounting portion 62 of the mounting portion 12 of the other rack connecting member 10B.
[0084] Furthermore, when attaching the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 to the rack connecting member 10, the mounting portion 12 to which the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 is attached is positioned as shown in Figure 12. The connecting portion 13 separates the mounting portion 11 from the connecting portion 13, and is positioned to protrude in the direction in which the connecting rack 200 is installed. Figure 12 is a magnified plan view showing a state in which the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 is attached to the rack connecting member 10 (10A) which is attached to the bracket 131 of the rack body 100.
[0085] In other words, the mounting portion 12 to which the right bracket 231R of the connecting rack 200 is attached is configured such that the connecting portion 13 causes it to protrude from the front bracket 131F of the rack body 100 by the amount indicated by the symbol α in the figure toward the direction in which the connecting rack 200 is installed.
[0086] As a result, a space α is provided on the back side of the mounting portion 12 by the amount α that protrudes due to the connecting portion 13, making it easy to engage the engaging projection 234 of the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 with the stepped receiving hole 63 provided in the first mounting portion 61. In other words, the protruding thickness of the engaging projection 234 provided on the bracket 231 of the connecting rack 200 is absorbed by the space α provided by the connecting portion 13.
[0087] Then, by installing shelves 151 and 251 on the first rack section 100-1, 200-1, the second rack section 100-2, 200-2, the third rack section 100-3, 200-3, the fourth rack section 100-4, 200-4, and the fifth rack section 100-5, 200-5 of the rack body 100 and the connecting rack 200, respectively, the connecting rack 200 can be assembled to connect to the five-tiered rack body 100 in a rectangular shape in plan view, as shown in Figure 13. Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view showing two (two sets) of modular racks 100 and 200 assembled by connecting them in a rectangular shape in plan view using the rack connecting member 10 according to this embodiment.
[0088] As described above, by using the rack connecting member 10 according to this embodiment, the assembly of the entire structure becomes simple and easy without requiring screws, bolts, nuts, etc. Furthermore, by using the rack connecting member 10, two (two sets) of assembly racks can be easily connected in a planar rectangular shape, and in the connection between the rack body 100 and the connecting rack 200, the connecting rack 200 can eliminate all the support columns located on the rack body 100 side. That is, when only one of the rack connecting member 10 is used with the bracket, the connecting rack will only eliminate the front support column located on the rack body side, while the depth support column will be used. However, by using a set of rack connecting members 10, the connecting rack can eliminate both the front support column located on the rack body side and the depth support column.
[0089] Therefore, as shown enclosed by the dotted line in Figure 13, a shelf can be formed at the corner portion of the connected racks (the front portion of the connection) that has a space between the rack connecting members 10 arranged vertically and horizontally, without any obstructions such as support columns. As a result, it is possible to make it overwhelmingly easy and smooth to put items on and take them off the shelves in that space, and to create a rack connecting structure that makes effective use of the space.
[0090] Furthermore, while corner storage has always been a bottleneck in limited spaces such as closets and wardrobes, by using the rack connecting member 10 according to this embodiment, even when assembling racks are stored in closets or the like, the effective use of the corner portions of the connected racks can be significantly increased.
[0091] In the embodiments described above, the explanation mainly focused on the case where the rack connecting members 10 (10A, 10B) are attached to the first mounting position shown in Figure 7A. However, by attaching the rack connecting members 10 (10A, 10B) to the second mounting position shown in Figure 7B, it is also possible to configure two (two sets) of assembly racks to be connected in a straight line in plan view, as shown in Figure 14. Figure 14 is a schematic perspective view showing two (two sets) of modular racks 100 and 200 assembled by connecting them in a straight line in plan view using the rack connecting member 10 according to this embodiment.
[0092] As described above, the rack connecting member 10 according to this embodiment allows for the connection of the connecting rack 200 to the rack body 100 not only in a rectangular shape in plan view, but also in a straight line in plan view. Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the space without wasting any space, according to the size and shape of the room in which the modular rack is to be installed, and to design and install the modular rack as appropriate.
[0093] Furthermore, the rack connecting member 10 according to this embodiment is designed to be difficult to see from the outside when attached to the bracket of an assembly rack, as the shelf board is placed on top of it, thus avoiding any deterioration in appearance. [Industrial applicability]
[0094] The rack connecting members of this invention are expected to be used in the installation of two (two sets) of assembly-type racks in offices, factories, various stores, private homes, etc., by being able to freely select and combine them in a rectangular shape such as an L-shape or T-shape in a plan view, or in a straight line. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0095] 10 Rack connecting components 11 Mounting part 12 Mounting part 13 Connecting part 51 Hook section 52 Mounting section 53 Drooping part 61 First mounting part 62 Second mounting part 63 stepped receiving holes 64 Wide hole section 65 Narrow hole 71. A depression (or protrusion) 100 Rack unit (one of the racks) 101 Connecting strut 111 Post 121 Connector 131 Bracket 134 Engagement protrusion 200 Connecting rack (the other rack) 201 Connecting column 231 Bracket 234 Engagement protrusion
Claims
1. A connecting member that enables the installation of two prefabricated racks, each assembled by spanning brackets that support shelves between adjacent support columns, in a linear or rectangular configuration in plan view, A mounting portion that allows attachment to the bracket of one rack, A mounting portion that allows the bracket of the other rack to be attached, Equipped with, The mounting portion is connected to the mounting portion, A first mounting portion that enables the bracket of the other rack to be mounted in the same orientation as the bracket of the other rack to which the mounting portion is attached, A second mounting portion that enables the bracket of the other rack to be attached in a direction that is perpendicular to the bracket of the other rack to which the mounting portion is attached, Having, A rack connecting member characterized by the following features.
2. The mounting portion can be attached to any position along the length of the bracket of one of the racks. The rack connecting member according to feature 1.
3. The mounting portion comprises a hook portion that hooks onto the upper rear edge of the bracket, a mounting portion that is in close contact with the upper surface of the bracket on which a shelf board can be placed, and a hanging portion that is in close contact with the front surface of the bracket, with the hook portion, the mounting portion and the hanging portion being arranged in sequence. The rack connecting member according to feature 1.
4. Both the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion enable the bracket of the other rack to be mounted at the same height as the bracket of the other rack to which the mounting portion is attached. The rack connecting member according to feature 1.
5. Both the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are provided with stepped receiving holes that engage with engaging projections provided at the longitudinal ends of the bracket of the other rack. The rack connecting member according to feature 1.
6. The stepped receiving hole comprises a wide hole portion into which the engaging projection of the bracket can be inserted, and a narrow hole portion that is narrower than the wide hole portion, and the engaging projection of the bracket inserted through the wide hole portion is supported by being pressed against the narrow hole portion. The rack connecting member according to feature 5.
7. The stepped receiving holes are provided with at least two or more of different heights. The rack connecting member according to feature 5.
8. The mounting portion is connected to the mounting portion via a connecting portion that protrudes in the direction in which the other rack is installed. The rack connecting member according to feature 5.
9. The connecting portion has one or more recesses or protrusions along the boundary portion with the mounting portion and / or the boundary portion with the portion to be mounted. The rack connecting member according to feature 8.
10. A rack connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 9, A set of two rack connecting members is provided, each having a mounting portion symmetrically connected to the mounting portion, and the positions of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion being different. A rack connecting member characterized by the following features.
11. Using the rack connecting member described in claim 10, a rack is assembled by bridging brackets that support shelves between adjacent support columns without using any tools, and the rack is constructed by simply connecting the brackets in a planar rectangular shape. In the corners of the connected racks, a space is formed between the upper and lower connecting members for the racks without any obstructions, thereby enabling smooth loading and unloading of items onto the shelves within that space, and allowing the space to be used effectively. A rack connecting structure characterized by the following features.
12. The aforementioned rack is This is an assembly-type rack that supports the required number of shelves by connecting L-shaped support columns with connectors to form L-shaped support columns, and then arranging the assembled shelves using these L-shaped support columns. The connecting device has a folded-back clamping piece integrally formed in an L-shape that can abut against the support column from the outside, so that the ends of each support column to be connected can be fitted from both sides and supported in a close-connected state, and a stopper projection is provided in the longitudinal center of the folded-back clamping piece, and the stopper projection is used to restrict the position of each end of each support column to be connected. The rack connection structure according to feature 11.
13. The aforementioned rack is A pair of elongated pieces are integrally formed in an L-shape, and a required number of support columns are provided, each elongated piece having numerous stepped receiving holes arranged in a corresponding configuration and at equal intervals along its length. The ends of each connected support column are fitted from both sides and supported in a close-connection state. A required number of connecting devices are provided, each having a folded-back clamping piece integrally formed in an L-shape that can abut against the support column from the outside, and a stopper projection within the longitudinal center of the pair of folded-back clamping pieces that restricts the position of each end of the pair of long pieces of each connected support column. The connecting member comprises a required number of connecting members, each having engaging projections at both ends that engage with the stepped receiving holes of each of the multiple connecting posts connected by the aforementioned connector, thereby connecting them at predetermined intervals, and connecting the two engaging projections, with shelf board receiving pieces arranged in an L-shape, and the connecting posts are connected by engaging the engaging projections of each connecting member with the corresponding stepped receiving holes of adjacent connecting posts arranged at predetermined intervals, and a required number of brackets that enable shelves to be supported by the shelf board receiving pieces of each connecting member, Any number of shelves supported on each shelf support piece of the bracket attached to the connecting support column, The rack connecting structure according to claim 11, characterized by having the following: