Shelf fastening device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shelf fastening device (1) for particularly efficiently, safely and removably supporting a shelf on a support structure, such as for example the side of a piece of furniture. Furthermore, the invention relates to a novel composition of the components of the shelf fastening device designed to allow a greater control of the interactions between said components.

Description

SHELF FASTENING DEVICEDESCRIPTIONTECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a shelf fastening device for particularly efficiently, safely and removably supporting a shelf on a support structure, such as for example the side of a piece of furniture. Furthermore, the invention relates to a novel composition of the components of the shelf fastening device designed to allow a greater control of the interactions between said components.STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Patent EP2177129 discloses a shelf fastening device comprising a cylindrical containment housing and an engagement pin slidably housed in an inner hole of said housing. The containment housing is adapted to be introduced into a corresponding seat, suitably obtained in the thickness of the shelf and accessible through an opening made on the head edge thereof. The pin is axially movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the head of the pin is alternately extracted and retracted with respect to the edge of the shelf so that it can be inserted or removed from a corresponding engagement hole obtained on the side of the piece of furniture, at whose height the shelf is intended to be placed.

[0003] The switching from the first position to the second position occurs by opposing elastic means, such as in particular a compression helical spring inserted into the containment housing coaxially to the pin and configured so that, in inoperative condition, it holds the pin in the extracted position.

[0004] The second position is instead held unstably by engaging snap-coupling means formed by interacting parts of the pin and of the containment housing.

[0005] In order to allow the manoeuvrability of the pin manually, that is without using a tool, the pin is connected to a control slider, formed by a flat plate slidable on an outer surface of the containment housing along a direction parallel to the extension of the pin and arranged so as to cover the part of the housing that is exposed, being positioned on the lower face of the shelf.

[0006] In particular, the containment housing comprises a body portion having a generally Q- shaped cross-section which identifies the pin sliding hole for the pin therein, whose edges of the feet consist of two flat portions parallel to which there are slidably engaged opposite lateral edges of the control slider.

[0007] However, the fact that the control plate slides externally with respect to the body of the housing results in an increase in the thickness of the device, in particular at the part where it is visible from the external, therefore jeopardising the aesthetic appeal of the piece of furniture.

[0008] In order to overcome this drawback, there was provided a device, as described in the Italianutility model No. 202017000034109, wherein the containment housing comprises a flat base adapted to be arranged abutting against the lower surface of a shelf, said base being provided with a recessed seat defined by a pair of parallel edges adapted to cooperate with the opposite lateral edges of a control slider to guide the sliding movement thereof so that the outer surface of the slider is flush with the outer surface of the flat base. In particular, the slider comprises an engagement body which is fitted in a fitting opening of the pin so as to control the latter through said slider. Then, the pin slides within a hole obtained in said housing formed by a single piece.

[0009] The fact that the slider is engaged to the pin through then engagement body results in a certain complication both in terms of assembly and manufacture. Furthermore, the two workpieces could be disassembled during the movement of the packages.

[0010] The housing made of a single piece also complicates the manufacturing of the inner hole and the corresponding reversible retaining teeth of the pin when there arises the need to design pins with different capacity characteristics.

[0011] The hole of the pin designed to receive the aforementioned engagement body with the slider does not allow to insert a reinforcing core for example made of steel, should the engagement holes in the walls of the piece of furniture be reduced or so as to obtain a sort of load-bearing reinforcement should the pin be made of plastic.

[0012] Last but not least, the stress to which the separate components of the pin and of the body for engagement with the relative slider are subjected could lead to wear or detachment of the components in the long run.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks outlined above relating to shelf fastening devices of the prior art.

[0014] Therefore, a first object of the invention is to provide a shelf fastening device comprising components designed to allow an excellent handling of the stresses to which they are subjected.

[0015] A second object is to provide a shelf fastening device which can be easily modified during manufacturing so as to adapt it to particular functional needs.

[0016] A third object is to provide a shelf fastening device that is particularly robust and versatile.

[0017] The aforementioned objects mentioned above as well as others which will be more apparent from the following description, are attained by a shelf fastening device as defined in claim 1 .BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] Further characteristics and advantages of present the invention will become more apparent from the following description of some embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures, wherein: figures 1 A and 1 B respectively show a top perspective view and bottom perspective view of the exploded view of the shelf fastening device according to the present invention; figures 2A and 2B respectively show a top and bottom perspective view of the explodedview of the housing of the device of figure 1 ; figures 3A-3C respectively show a lateral view, a bottom view and a cross-sectional view along the line Ill-Ill of figure 3A, with separate core, of the pin of the device of figure 1 ; figures 4A-4E respectively show a top perspective view of the shelf fastening device of figure 1 assembled, a bottom view thereof, an open lateral view thereof with the pin in longitudinal cross-section, a front view thereof and a top view thereof; figures 5A-5C respectively show a bottom view, an open lateral view with the pin in cross- sectional view and a top view of a shelf fastening device according a first variant of the invention; figures 6A-6D respectively show a bottom view, an open lateral view with the pin in cross- sectional view, a front view and a top view of a shelf fastening device according a second variant of the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In the description below, terms such as “above”, “beneath”, “higher”, “lower”, “up”, “down” or the like refer to a shelf fastening device in its normal operative configuration, that is in use. In particular, such configuration provides for the device inserted into a seat obtained in the thickness of a plane or shelf so that only a functional portion of the pin protrudes from an edge of said plane or shelf.

[0020] With reference to the figures 1A and 1 B, the shelf fastening device of the invention is indicated in its entirety with reference numeral 1 and it comprises a housing 2 within which there slides a pin 3 for engagement with a hole of a wall of a piece of furniture (not shown) and there is housed an actuation elastic element 4 on said pin.

[0021] As shown in the figures 2A and 2B, the housing 2 is advantageously formed by two first 5 and second 6 half-shells which extend straight around a longitudinal axis X-X. The two half-shells 5 e 6 can be fixed to each other so as to define a pin sliding hole 20 of the pin 3 for engaging and receiving the elastic element 4 in line with the pin.

[0022] In particular, each first 5 and second 6 half-shell comprises a first portion 50, 60 and a second portion 51 , 61 made of a single piece, in which preferably the first portion 50, 60 has a smaller diameter than the second portion 51 , 61. Furthermore, the first portions 50, 60 cooperate to form an axial bottom 21 of the housing (figures 4B, 4C, 4E) that is closed or substantially closed so as to create an abutment against which the elastic element 4 rests fixedly. The second portions 51 , 61 instead cooperate to delimit an axial opening 22 of the housing 2, opposite with respect to said bottom 21 , from which said pin 3 protrudes.

[0023] The edges of the first 5 and second 6 half-shell can be fixed to each other by gluing, welding or using mechanical means.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, in proximity of said bottom 21 , the wall of said first portions 50, 60 comprises engagement means 52, 62 (figures 2A-2B). Preferably, said engagement means are a pair of elastic tongues 62 which engage corresponding grooves 52, the former for example extend radially from the vacant edge of the first portion 60 of the second half-shell 6 and the latter are obtained radially on the surface of the first portion 50 of the first halfshell 5.

[0025] The second portions 51 , 61 of the first 5 and second 6 half-shells, respectively, have a half-omega-shaped cross-section with a semi-cylindrical part 53, 63 and a flat part 54, 64. These second portions 51 , 61 are also engaged using engagement means 55, 65. Preferably, said engagement means are a radial tongue 65 of the second half-shell 6 and a corresponding radial groove 55 of the first half-shell 5. Centring / interlocking means 56, 66 are then obtained beside said engagement means 55, 65 and they preferably consist of a pair of radial pins 66 which engage corresponding holes 56, the former for example obtained beside said tongue 65 and the latter beside said groove 55.

[0026] The flat part 54, 64 of the first 5 and second 6 half-shells delimits a radial opening 23 (figures 2A-2B) for the axial sliding of the slider of the pin 3, as explained below. Such opening is connected with the semi-cylindrical part 53, 63 through a radial edge 24. Furthermore, the flat part 54, 64 comprises a recess 57, 67 (better observable in figure 2B);when the half-shells are assembled together, the recesses form a seat for receiving a slider of the pin 3, as explained below. In particular, each recess 57, 67 shows a guide 58, 68 in which there slides one of the two opposite parallel edges of said slider.

[0027] In addition, preferably, further engagement means 59, 69 are present at said opening 22 axial to the housing 2. These engagement means are preferably a radial elastic tongue 69, which protrudes towards the hole 20 of the housing and positioned in proximity of the flat part 64 of the second portion 61 of the second half-shell 6, and a corresponding groove 59 obtained in a diametrically opposite position on the second portion 51 of the first half-shell 5.

[0028] Furthermore, the housing 2 conventionally comprises means 7 for reversibly locking the sliding of the pin 3. Preferably, said means are elastic teeth facing towards the hole 20 of the housing and positioned on the wall of the cylindrical part 53, 63 of the second portion 51 , 61 of each half-shell 5, 6.

[0029] With reference to figures 3A-3C, the pin 3 advantageously comprises a preferably cylindrical body 30 for sliding within the housing 2, provided with a radial protuberance 31 for connecting with a slider 32 for controlling the axial displacement of the pin. It should be observed that the cylindrical body, protuberance and slider are made as a single piece.

[0030] Preferably, the body 30 is internally hollow (figure 3C) and it comprises a closed bottom 33 from which there extends a preferably cylindrical straight hole 34 terminating with an opening 35 opposite to said bottom. Preferably, the hole 34 is divided into a first portion 36 which extends from said bottom until approximately half the full length of the hole and a second portion 37 which extends over the remainder of the length of the hole until the opening. The first portion is such to receive a reinforcing core 8 for the body 30, while the second portion is such to at least partially receive the elastic element 4 mentioned above. The reinforcing core 8 may for example be made of steel. Furthermore, preferably, the outer surface of the body 30 comprises reliefs or grooves38 (figure 3A) for reversibly engaging with the aforementioned locking means 7 of the first 5 and second 6 half-shells, as explained below.

[0031] The elastic element 4 is any straight elastic body which can be compressed and can recover the initial shape; for example, as shown in the figures 1 A and 1 B, such element is a helical spring, but it could also be a body made of rubber.

[0032] The shelf fastening device 1 of the present invention is easy to assemble given that the core 8 is firstly inserted into the hole 34 of the cylindrical body 30 of the pin 3 until it abuts against the closed bottom 33. Subsequently, the elastic element 4 is also at least partially inserted into the hole 34 so as to abut against the core (figure 4C). At this point, the elastic element 4 is compressed and the pin thus made is placed on one of the two first 5 and second 6 half-shells so that the protuberance 31 abuts against the radial edge 24 of the flat part 54, 64 of the second portion 51 , 61 of the two first 5 and second 6 half-shells. In this position, the elastic element 4 is released so as to abut against the bottom 21 of the shell 2. Lastly, the other half-shell is engaged on the latter through engagement means 52, 62 of the first portions 50, 60, engagement means 55, 65, of the further engagement means 59, 69 and centring / interlocking means 56, 66 of the second portions 51 , 61 (figures 4A-4E).

[0033] As shown in figure 4C, the assembled shelf fastening device 1 comprises the pin 3 slidably enclosed in the housing 2 so as to partially protrude from the opening 22. The pin remains in this position due to the thrust exerted by the elastic element 4 on the core 8 and due to the stop abutment of the protuberance 31 of the pin 3 against the axial edge 24 of the flat part 54, 64 of the second portion 51 of the first 5 and second 6 half-shells (figure 4C).

[0034] The shelf fastening device 1 of the invention operates in an entirely conventional manner. As a matter of fact, once the device has been inserted into the thickness of a shelf so that substantially the entire housing 2 is received in said housing in an appropriate pre-formed seat, the shelf with the protruding pin 3 is inserted inclined into a piece of furniture for example between two shoulders. At this point, the shelf is straightened so that upon impacting against the shoulders, the pin retracts into the housing 2 overcoming the resistance of the elastic element 4. In this position, the shelf may slide up to the desired height where the pin 3 abuts against a corresponding hole obtained on said shoulders and protrudes so as to be inserted thereinto and safely lock the position of the shelf. In order to remove or displace the height of the shelf, all one has to do is act on the slider 32 in order to push the pin 3 into the housing 2 for a section greater than the length of the protruding part of the pin so as to activate the locking means 7.

[0035] It should be observed that the movement of the slider is carried out on the aforementioned seat obtained on the flat base so that the outer surface of the slider is flush with the outer surface of the flat base.

[0036] It should be observed that the pin 3, as described above, is preferably formed by a hollow cylinder 30 adapted to contain a reinforcing core 8 and the elastic element 4 partially. Alternatively, should the shelf not be designed to bear significant heights, the hollow cylinder maybe fully or partially made of plastic and solid material so as to be able to mount an elastic element that is variable depending on the needs.

[0037] In addition, the housing 2 may comprise on the outer surface thereof ribs 9 for a better engagement in the seat of the thickness of a shelf (figures 2A and 4D).

[0038] With reference to figures 5A-5C, there is shown a variant of the shelf fastening device described above, assembled and in operating condition. In particular, the device 100 comprises a housing 2 identical to the one described above and therefore the parts in the drawings have the same reference numeral. The pin 300 is instead changed at the body 303, while it remains unchanged for the protuberance 310 and the slider 320. As a matter of fact, such body is formed by a hollow cylinder open at both first 301 and second 302 ends. Furthermore, the inner hole 304 comprises a first portion 305 in which there is interlocked a protruding portion of a core 800 and a second portion 306 engaged by a portion of an elastic element 400. In this manner, as shown in figure 5B, the core 800 on the one hand protrudes from the opening 22 of the housing 2 and on the other hand it is in contact with an end of the elastic element 400, while the opposite end of the elastic element abuts against the bottom 21 of the housing 2.

[0039] As described above, it operates in the same way, and that is after mounting the device 100 on the shelf with the protruding core 800, the shelf is inserted inclined into the piece of furniture, then straightened so that the pin 300 retracts positioning the core 800 into the housing 2 and compressing the elastic element 400. In this position, the shelf is brought to the engagement position with the holes of the shoulders of a piece of furniture so as to allow the protrusion of the pin and the safe fixing of the shelf in position. In order to remove or displace the height of the shelf, all one has to do is act on the slider 320 in order to push the pin 300 into the housing 2 for a section greater than the length of the protruding part of the core 800 so as to activate the locking means 7.

[0040] The advantage of this embodiment lies in the fact that a robust engagement can be obtained with a core made of steel with reduced diameter, therefore fostering saving in plastic material for manufacturing the cylindrical body 303.

[0041] Figures 6A-6D show a further variant embodiment 110 in which the housing 2 corresponds to the one already described above and has the same reference numerals. The pin 330 is identical in the cylindrical body 303 and in the slider 320 with the protuberance 310, while the core 880 comprises a first portion 881 for engagement with the first portion 305 of the hole 304 of the body 303 and a second portion 882 protruding from the first end 301 of the body. In particular, said second portion 882 has a diameter that is larger than the first portion 305 but still smaller than the opening 22 of the housing 2. Therefore, there may be provided the pin of a core adapted to the size of the holes made on the shoulders of the pieces of furniture that are larger than standard ones. More generally, a pin designed according to the two variants, that is with an open cylindrical body at least at the end facing towards the opening of the housing, advantageously allows to change the size of at least one portion of the core which will engage the holes of the shoulders ofthe pieces of furniture so as to adapt the shelf fastening device according to the present invention in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0042] In the light of the above, it is clear that the drawbacks of the shelf fastening devices of the prior art have been overcome while major advantages have been achieved at the same time.

[0043] First and foremost, it allows to avoid the complication of manufacturing a housing made of a single piece that requires complex manufacturing operations to adapt the internal elements, such as the pin locking means mentioned above, depending on the specific needs.

[0044] Then, providing the pin of the body as a single piece with the protuberance and the slider allows to avoid dividing into multiple pieces with the risk of detachments or wear in the contact points with resulting malfunctioning.

[0045] Furthermore, the coupling between the slider and cylindrical body of the pin according to the prior art does not allow to obtain a hole in the body to receive a reinforcing core, especially in cases where greater robustness of the shelf fastening device is required.

[0046] The shelf fastening device of the invention is also susceptible to modifications within the reach of the person skilled in the art, but without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the attached claims.

[0047] For example, the embodiments described above may be modified depending on the particular needs or preferences without altering the functionality of the elements.

[0048] The materials may be plastics, metals and respective alloys or combinations thereof as described above in the combination between the core and the body of the pin.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Shelf fastening device (1 ;100;110) comprising a hollow housing (2) which extends along on a rectilinear axis (X-X) and in whose inner hole (20) there is housed an elastic element (4) which can be compressed by means of a pin (3;300;330) slidable in said hole, characterized in that said housing (2) is formed by two first (5) and second (6) half-shells fixed together along respective contact edges by gluing, welding or using mechanical means, and said pin (3;300;330) comprises a single piece formed by a body (30;303) slidable within said housing (2), a protuberance (31) which protrudes radially from said body so as to be connected with a slider (32;320) for controlling the axial displacement of said pin.

2. Shelf fastening device ( 1 ; 100 ; 110) according to claim 1 , wherein the first (5) and second (6) half-shells comprise respective first portions (50, 60) which cooperate to form an axial bottom (21 ) of said housing (2), and second portions (51 , 61 ) which delimit an axial opening (22), opposite to said bottom, for the protrusion of at least one portion of said pin (3;300;330).

3. Shelf fastening device (1 ;100 ; 110) according to claim 2, wherein said first (5) and second (6) half-shells comprise coupling means (52, 62) obtained on the wall of said first portions (50, 60) at said bottom (21 ).

4. Shelf fastening device (1 ;100;110) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said second portions (51 , 61) comprise a semi-cylindrical part (53, 63) and a flat part (54, 64), each part respectively comprising coupling means (55, 65).

5. Shelf fastening device (1 ;100;110) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said coupling means (52, 62; 55, 65) are respectively an elastic tongue (62, 65) on said second half-shell (6) and a corresponding groove (52, 55) on said first half-shell (5).

6. Shelf fastening device (1 ;100;110) according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising centring / interlocking means (56, 66) obtained beside said coupling means (55, 65) of said second portions (51 , 61 ).

7. Shelf fastening device (1 ;100;110) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein said flat part (54, 64) delimits an opening (23) for sliding the slider (32;320), the opening being connected with the semi-cylindrical part (53, 63) by means of a radial edge (24), said protrusion (31 ) for the end-of-stroke of said protuberance.

8. Shelf fastening device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein said body (30) of the pin (3) comprises a hole (34) with a closed bottom (33) facing towards the opening (22) of the housing (2) and an opening (35) opposite to said bottom, said hole housing a reinforcing core (8) abutting against said bottom (33) and at least part of said elastic element (4) which protrudes from said opening (35) of said hole (34) of the pin to abut against said bottom (21 ) of the pin.

9. Shelf fastening device (100 ; 110) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein said hollow body (303) is open at both first (301) and second (302) ends, and the inner hole (304)comprises a first portion (305) wherein there is interlocked a portion of a core (800;880) protruding from the body, and a second portion (306) being engaged by at least one portion of an elastic element (400), said elastic element abutting against said bottom (21 ) of said pin (3).

10. Shelf fastening device (110) according to claim 9, wherein said core (880) comprises a first portion (881) for engagement with the first portion (305) of the hole (304) of the body (303) and a second portion (882) protruding from said first end (301 ) of the body and having a diameter larger than the first portion (305) of the body.

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