Shelf support with locking device

Abstract

Shelf support (10) for furniture items, such as bookcases, shelf units and the like, comprising a first member (30) intended to be mounted on a shelf (3), and a second member (20) intended to be mounted on a side (2) of the furniture item, wherein said first member (30) has an internal groove (33) with a lower opening (33b) intended to accommodate at least partially said second member (20) in the condition of support of the shelf, on said second member being provided a locking device (22) capable of being brought from an inoperative position of disengagement with corresponding means (34) provided in said groove (33) of the first member (30) to an operative position of engagement with these means, in such a way as to make the two members (20, 30) integral by locking the shelf support in position, preventing any degree of freedom.

Description

[0001] SHELF SUPPORT WITH LOCKING DEVICE

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for supporting and securing a shelf inside an item of furniture, commonly known as a shelf support or shelf holder, mainly intended for bookcases or shelf units in general, for holding shelves for supporting different objects.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] Shelves are supported between the vertical walls or sides of the furniture item using brackets, screws, pins or similar means, which obviously have the function of supporting and sustaining the weight of the shelf and of the objects placed on it.

[0006] However, in order to make it easy for the user to position the shelf at different heights for the most widely differing needs, the constraint between the side of the furniture item and the shelf is always somewhat simplified, with the result that the connection between the side of the furniture item and the shelf only limits certain degrees of freedom of the shelf itself.

[0007] Often the constraints that are met by the shelf support are substantially two: that against a vertical drop, for obvious reasons, and that against front sliding / slipping, to guarantee greater safety with respect to accidental factors that would lead the shelf to withdraw from the compartment of the furniture item in which it is engaged.

[0008] For the purpose of greater simplicity of relocating the shelf inside the compartment of the furniture item, the devices known on the market do not constrain the shelf in an integral manner. Although this is not necessary in the specific use that a shelf performs in its function, it may be essential to play a part in the completeness of the structure and transport of the furniture item itself.

[0009] It would, for example, be advantageous to have a shelf which, in addition to being constrained against a vertical drop, is also constrained against an upward thrust, i.e. not simply resting, so that the furniture item can be easily moved from the factory to the customer without having to worry about keeping it in the vertical position. The solutions proposed in the prior art do not achieve this objective.

[0010] There are, in fact, actual joints normally used to securely constrain the base or the top of an item of furniture to the sides, made in two separate parts, or even in a single expanding member, manoeuvred with a special tool to hold the components to be joined together.

[0011] These joints, once mounted, are not suitable for being moved out of position, and in any case would leave visible marks on the sides.

[0012] Summary of the invention

[0013] An object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art described above.

[0014] More particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide a shelf support which securely constrains the shelf to be supported to the side of the furniture, allowing the furniture to be moved in any orientation it is in, and playing a part in the completeness of its structure.

[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide such a shelf support which does not require tools in order to be attached to the furniture item and removed from it.

[0016] A further object of the invention is to provide such a shelf support which allows the shelf to be positioned at different heights inside the furniture item with ease and without leaving substantial marks from a previous positioning.

[0017] Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a shelf support which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which can be easily assembled and disassembled. These and other objects are achieved by the shelf support according to the invention, which has the features listed in the appended independent claim 1.

[0018] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed by the dependent claims.

[0019] Substantially, the present invention refers to a shelf support for furniture items, such as bookcases, shelf units and the like, comprising a first member intended to be mounted on a shelf, and a second member intended to be mounted on a side of the furniture item, wherein said first member has an internal groove with a lower opening intended to accommodate at least partially said second member in the condition of support of the shelf, said shelf support further comprising a locking device capable of being brought from an inoperative position of disengagement with corresponding means provided in said groove of the first member to an operative position of engagement with these means, in such a way as to make the two members integral by locking the shelf support in position, preventing any degree of freedom, wherein said second member is formed by a first component, intended to be fixed to the side of the furniture item, and by a second component constituted by said locking device, which is pivoted to a body of the first component and comprises a hook shape capable to engage, following a rotation, with a protruding pawl provided in said groove of the first member.

[0020] Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Further features of the invention will be made clearer by the following detailed description, referring to one of its embodiments merely by way of non-limiting example, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022] Fig. 1 is a schematic axonometric view of a shelf placed between the two sides of an item of furniture, with some parts sectioned to show the positioning of two shelf supports according to the invention;

[0023] Fig. 2 is an enlargement showing in blown-up view the detail denoted by A in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 a)-f) are views of the shelf support member to be mounted on the shelf of the furniture item: more particularly, Figs, a), b), c) are, respectively, a view from below, a side profile view and a front view, while Figs, d), e), f) are axonometric views from different angles;

[0024] Fig. 4a is a blown-up axonometric view of the shelf support member to be mounted on the side of the furniture item;

[0025] Figs. 4b and 4c are frontal views of the member of Fig. 4a assembled, with the locking device in inactive and active position, respectively;

[0026] Fig. 5 is a view like that of Fig. 4c, on which the outline of the member mounted on the shelf, with the shelf support assembled, is shown in a dotted line;

[0027] Figs. 6a)-d) are, respectively, two axonometric views from opposite angles, a rear view and a front view of the partially assembled shelf support;

[0028] Fig. 7 is a sectioned view taken along plane VII- VII of Fig. 1.

[0029] Detailed description of the invention

[0030] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the shelf support according to the invention, provided with a locking device, will now be described in greater detail.

[0031] Shown in Fig. 1 is a portion of furniture 1, comprising two sides 2 and a shelf 3 supported by shelf supports 10 according to the invention. Normally four (or more) shelf supports are provided, placed in proximity of the four comers of the shelf 3, two of which are shown partially in the sectioned views of Fig. 1.

[0032] As shown in the blown-up view of Fig.2 and in the views of Fig. 6, the shelf support 10 is made up of two members 20, 30, capable of engaging, respectively, with the side 2 and with the shelf 3 of the furniture item.

[0033] In particular, a first member 30, shown in the various views in Fig. 3, is housed completely, in a substantially irreversible manner, in a cavity 4 formed in the thickness of the shelf 3, in such a way as to be arranged flush with its edge.

[0034] The cavity 4 is shaped in a manner complementary to the member 30 which it is to accommodate and, in the example shown, has two circular, coaxial seats of different diameter, a front or outer one 5 of larger diameter, open at the front and having a lower slot 5a, serving for the objects which are to be disclosed, and a rear or inner one 6 of smaller diameter.

[0035] The member 30 comprises a first cylindrical front section 31, internally hollow, substantially of the same diameter as said front seat 5 of the cavity 4, in which it goes to be housed, and a second cylindrical rear section 32, coaxial thereto, provided with indentations 32a, apt to be inserted with interference in said rear seat 6 of the cavity 4 to hold the member 30 firmly locked in the cavity 4.

[0036] The front section 31 of the member 30, which, as will be seen, serves as a housing for the member 20 fixed to the side of the furniture item, has an internal groove 33 with a frontal opening 33a, substantially in the shape of an overturned U, and a lower opening 33b, apt to be arranged in alignment with said lower slot 5a of the seat 5 of the shelf.

[0037] The frontal overturned U-shaped opening 33a is surrounded by a recess 33c, such as to couple perfectly with the member 20, as will be seen here below, in such a way that the only degree of freedom that remains free following this coupling is in the direction of insertion through the lower opening 33b. Inside the groove 33, at its back wall, is provided a protruding pawl 34, having the lower and upper surfaces of an upwardly convex arched shape, with which a means of locking of the member 20 engages to eliminate also the last degree of freedom mentioned above, making the joint solid and stable in all directions.

[0038] In the accompanying drawings, above the front section 31 of the member 30, a slit 35 is shown, which has the sole purpose of making it easier to produce the protruding pawl 34, avoiding the use of carriages in the mould if the member 30 is made in plastic material, but which plays no role in the functioning of the shelf support.

[0039] Naturally, the member 30 could have a different conformation from that illustrated, for example not necessarily cylindrical, also on the basis of the shape of the member 20 which it has to accommodate.

[0040] In the example shown, member 30 is shown as a single piece, but it is clear that its two sections, front 31 and rear 32, can be made separately and subsequently assembled.

[0041] It is likewise clear that the fixing of the member 30 in the shelf can take place in a different manner from what is illustrated, replacing the indented cylindrical section 32 with another type of expansion dowel, or providing additional means of fixing.

[0042] It would likewise be possible to provide for the groove 33 of the member 30 to be open only below, and optionally for the mounting of the member 30 to be at least partially protruding from the edge of the shelf, in any case achieving the objects of the invention, albeit with less satisfactory results.

[0043] Referring now to the various views of Fig. 4, the second member 20 to be mounted on the side of the furniture item is illustrated, formed by two components 21 and 22 pivoted one to the other via an axis denoted by r in Fig. 4a.

[0044] This pivoting, which allows for a limited angle of rotation of the component 22 with respect to the component 21, is obtained by means of a pin, or in any case a cylindrical protrusion 23 of the component 22 which is housed in a corresponding hole 24 formed in the component 21. In this particular embodiment, the pin 23 is riveted at the rear to the component 21 (see Figs. 6a, 6c) so as to make the two components integral, with the possibility of rotation mentioned above.

[0045] Obviously, the positions of pin 23 and of hole 24 can be reversed on the two components, as it can also be provided for the pivoting to take place by means of an additional component.

[0046] The component 22 has a base plate 25, from which a hook shape 26 rises, capable of engaging with the aforementioned protruding pawl 34 of the member 30, as will be disclosed in greater detail below.

[0047] The component 21 of the member 20 has a base 40 with a front notch 41 (see in particular Fig. 4a) suitable for accommodating at least partially the base plate 25 of the component 22 and for allowing movement of the hook shape 26 between the engagement and disengagement positions with the pawl 34.

[0048] From the base 40 rises up a body 42, intended to be housed in the groove 33 of the member 30, and for this purpose having a shape that substantially reproduces the overturned U shape of the frontal opening 33a of the member 30.

[0049] In practice, the member 20, and in particular the body 42 of the component 21 thereof, has a shape corresponding to that of the groove 33 of the member 30, such as to be housed perfectly therein.

[0050] The body 42 has a back wall 43, bordering off at the rear an internal cavity 44 open both frontally and above to allow the aforementioned pivoting of the component 22, the accommodating of the fixing means, as well as the sliding of the pawl 34 during assembly and disassembly.

[0051] More particularly, in the lower part of the back wall 43 said hole 24 is formed, intended to receive the pin 23, and in its upper part a larger hole 45 through which a screw 47 is inserted for fixing of the component 21, and therefore of the member 20 as a whole, to the side of the furniture item. Naturally, the fixing of the member 20 to the side of the furniture item can also take place in a manner different from that illustrated.

[0052] The back wall 43 has along the outline a recess 46, with which it goes to engage the aforementioned recess 33c of the member 30, resulting in a perfect coupling between the two members 20, 30.

[0053] Figs. 6a)-d) show only members 20, 30 in a condition of partial coupling.

[0054] In this condition, the hook shape 26 of the component 22, which constitutes the locking device of the shelf support, is rotated into the position of opening, allowing the passage of the protruding pawl 34 in the cavity 44 of the component 21, and thus the complete insertion of the member 20 in the groove 33 of the member 30, with the exception of its base 40.

[0055] In the condition of complete insertion, the member 30 can be locked on the member 20, rotating the component 22 around the axis r, so that the hook shape 26 goes to engage the protruding pawl 34.

[0056] As can be seen more easily in the schematic view of Fig. 5, the hook shape 26 has opposing arched surfaces with convexity turned upwards, which couple with the corresponding upper and lower surfaces of the pawl 34, ensuring secure locking between the two members 20, 30, and thus of the shelf support in its position of use.

[0057] To facilitate the movement of the component 22, its base plate 25 slightly protrudes laterally from the base 40 of the member 20 and has a knurling 27 below to improve grip.

[0058] The shelf support 10 according to the invention can be made in plastic or metal material. For example, the member 20 to be mounted on the side can be made in zamak, while the member 30 to be mounted on the shelf in sufficiently hard plastic.

[0059] From what has been disclosed the advantages of the shelf support according to the invention appear clear, which, with the locking device with which it is provided, allows the shelf to be constrained securely to the sides of the furniture item, becoming itself part of the structure and actively participating in the rigidity of the side. A shelf thus constrained could be intended to become a base for hinges and thus support devices for movement of the doors, giving the end user the possibility not only of positioning the various shelves of a bookcase, but also entire structures complete with doors, creating the most functional configuration for their needs.

[0060] In addition, the shelf can be positioned at different heights inside the furniture item in a simple manner and without leaving the marks of a previous positioning, using, for example, the holes already provided inside the side, for the insertion of the screw 47 for fixing the member 20.

[0061] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described previously and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but numerous detailed changes may be made thereto within the reach of the person skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Shelf support (10) for furniture items, such as bookcases, shelf units and the like, comprising a first member (30) intended to be mounted on a shelf (3), and a second member (20) intended to be mounted on a side (2) of the furniture item, wherein said first member (30) has an internal groove (33) with a lower opening (33b) intended to accommodate at least partially said second member (20) in the condition of support of the shelf, said shelf support further comprising a locking device (22) capable of being brought from an inoperative position of disengagement with corresponding means (34) provided in said groove (33) of the first member (30) to an operative position of engagement with these means, in such a way as to make the two members (20, 30) integral by locking the shelf support in position, preventing any degree of freedom, characterised in that said second member (20) is formed by a first component (21), intended to be fixed to the side of the furniture item, and by a second component (22) constituted by said locking device, which is pivoted to a body (42) of the first component (21) and comprises a hook shape (26) capable to engage, following a rotation, with a protruding pawl (34) provided in said groove (33) of the first member (30).

2. Shelf support according to claim 1, characterised in that said protruding pawl (34) is provided on the back wall of said groove (33) of the first member (30), and said body (42) of the second member (20) has an internal cavity (44) open both frontally and above so as to allow the sliding of the pawl (34) during assembly and disassembly.

3. Shelf support according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first member (30) is completely and substantially irreversibly housed in a cavity (4) formed in the thickness of the shelf (3), being arranged substantially flush with the edge of the shelf, said cavity (4) being open frontally and having a lower slot (5a), at which said lower opening (33b) of the groove (33) of the first member (30) is arranged.

4. Shelf support according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that said groove (33) of the first member (30) also has a front opening (33a) surrounded by a recess (33c) capable of engaging with a corresponding recess (46) which surrounds the back wall (43) bordering off at the rear said cavity (44) of the body (42) of the second member (20) to determine a perfect coupling between the two members (20, 30).

5. Shelf support according to claim 4, characterised in that said front opening (33a) of the cavity (33) of the first member (30) and said body (42) of the second member (20) have substantially the shape of an overturned U.

6. Shelf support according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that said first member (30) comprises a cylindrical shank (32), provided with indentations (32a), suitable for being inserted with interference in a rear seat (6) of the cavity (4) to hold the member (30) firmly locked in the cavity (4).

7. Shelf support according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the pivoting of the locking device (22) is obtained by means of a pin, or in any case a cylindrical protrusion (23) provided thereon, which is accommodated in a corresponding hole (24) formed in the body (42) of the second member (20), or vice versa.

8. Shelf support according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said hook shape (26) of the locking device (22) has opposing arched surfaces with convexity turned upwards, which couple with the corresponding upper and lower surfaces of the pawl (34), ensuring secure locking between the two members (20, 30), and therefore of the shelf support in its position of use.

9. Shelf support according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterised in that said back wall (43) of the second member (20) is applied against the side (2) of the furniture item, where it is fixed by means of a screw (17) passing through a hole (45) provided therein.

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