This application is the US national phase of international application PCT/EP2006/001417 filed 16 Feb. 2006, which designated the U.S. and claims the benefit of German Application Nos. 10 2005 010 026.0 filed 4 Mar. 2005, and 10 2005 036 809.3 filed 4 Aug. 2005, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a shelf system according to the preamble of Claim 1.
The most varied shelf systems using one or more shelf bottoms are known.
A known shelf system as a basic principle works with shelf supports, which are normally provided on their rear ends with at least two hanging lugs, lying offset to one another in the vertical direction, which can be hung in vertically running shelf rails, fixed for example on the wall or on vertical props or supports. For this purpose, these shelf rails comprise elongated holes lying offset in the longitudinal direction of the shelf rail, into which the corresponding lugs of the shelf supports can be hung.
The shelf supports therefore project transversely away from the shelf rail. They can have a horizontal top support edge, on which a shelf bottom can be laid.
In order to anchor the shelf bottom as securely as possible, that is to say, particularly also against inadvertent raising, and therefore to prevent it from lifting from the shelf support, shelf supports are known, which are provided with horizontally extending lugs curved about 90°, into which a hole is drilled. As a result, screws can be inserted from the lower face into a shelf bottom.
The object of the present invention is to create, in comparison to the above, an improved and aesthetically more pleasing shelf system, with which a shelf bottom, as easy to detach and nevertheless as securely as possible, can be fitted to a shelf support.
The object is achieved according to the invention through the features indicated in Claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in the sub-claims.
In the case of the present system according to the invention, an aesthetically very pleasing solution is achieved, which also ensures firm and secure anchoring of a shelf bottom on corresponding shelf supports. Nevertheless, the shelf bottoms can be easily dismantled and removed again by in turn loosening a screw, in particular a grub screw.
The system according to the invention substantially only requires anchoring pots, for example in the form of insertable pots, which can be hammered or inserted into corresponding bores on the lower face or mounting side of a shelf bottom. For this purpose, a corresponding pocket bore, in which the corresponding anchoring pot can be anchored, is inserted in the shelf bottom on the mounting side, that is to say, normally on the lower face. The anchoring pots have a Christmas tree or saw tooth profile on the outer circumference, as a result of which they are firmly prevented from being pulled out of the pocket bore by interaction with the wall of the bore.
Now, an insertion opening, preferably a slot-type insertion opening, and an opening offset thereto for twisting a screw, in particular a grub screw, in and out, are provided on the lower shelf bottom face. A corresponding projection, protruding upwards from the shelf support, preferably in the form of a lug, can be inserted into the anchoring pot through the corresponding insertion opening until the shelf bottom rests on the shelf support.
Said screw can either interact directly, thus generally collide, with the shelf support or the preferably lug-type projection, which is provided on the shelf support, and/or prevent the anchoring projection from being pulled off, by for example, a non-positive or positive connection being formed, or, however, it is possible that said screw interacts accordingly only indirectly with the shelf support or with the preferably lug-type projection, if the screw firstly acts on a force reversing mechanism, which then produces the corresponding positive or non-positive locking while interacting with the shelf support and/or the lug formed thereon.
This force reversing mechanism can be constructed in accordance with a variant, so that forces working in the axial direction or predominantly axial direction, produced by twisting the screw (even if the adjustment path of the screw runs parallel to the projection on the shelf support) are reversed by said force reversing mechanism with a component transverse to the anchoring projection, preferably configured in lug form, of the shelf support, and as a result at least non-positive locking between the anchoring pot and the shelf support is produced. Said force reversing mechanism preferably consists of a ball, in particular a steel ball, wherein the advancing section of the screw strikes the ball off-center, so that the ball can be moved in an adjustment or ball channel towards the anchoring projection, preferably in the form of a lug.
If, as stated, the screw, however, does not interact via the force reversing mechanism but directly with the shelf support or the lug formed thereon, it is preferably intended that the adjustment or screw path of said screw runs diagonally and at the same time the axial direction of this adjustment path intersects the preferably lug-type projection of the shelf support protruding into the anchoring pot. As a result, the screw can be twisted and tightened, so that the advancing screw face collides directly with the lug-type projection of the shelf support, thus producing the desired non-positive and/or positive engagement with the shelf support or the lug belonging to the shelf support.
In a particularly preferred embodiment a recess or passage, for example in the form of a circular bore whose smallest diameter is less than the diameter of the ball, is provided in the anchoring projection, preferably in the form of a lug, of the shelf support. As a result, the ball can engage with a partial depth into this recess in the anchoring projection or the lug in fixed position and therefore not only leads to non-positive but in particular to positive locking, as a result of which a shelf board is securely held on the associated shelf support.
If said screw is to interact directly with the shelf support or the lug, the connection technique can be improved not only for achieving non-positive but, above all, for achieving positive connection, due to the fact that the advancing screw face now partly penetrates or engages into said recess or opening in the lug and, as a result, produces the desired positive engagement.
However, alternatively or additionally a projection, which engages into said recess or depression in the lug or generally in the anchoring projection of the shelf support, can also be formed in the anchoring pot itself, so that, in this case, when the force reversing mechanism, preferably in the form of the ball, is used, it only needs to rest non-positively against the anchoring projection outside the bore, in order to prevent the shelf bottom from lifting off the shelf support. Particularly in this case, a correspondingly broadly dimensioned holding space or a holding space conically widened in the insertion direction of the anchoring projection of the shelf support is provided in order to firstly insert, and subsequently tilt, the anchoring projection past the projection protruding laterally into the holding space, in such a manner that the corresponding projection connected to the holding pot engages into said bore in the preferably lug-type anchoring projection. The same system with a projection belonging to the anchoring pot, which engages into corresponding recesses in the lug belonging to the shelf support, can also be used in the case of a diagonally running screw, whose screw head directly interacts (that is to say, without force reversing mechanism) with the lug belonging to the shelf support.
Further advantages, details and features of the invention will become evident from the following exemplary embodiments explained on the basis of drawings. These show in detail:
a: an illustration corresponding to
b: an illustration corresponding to
In
Such shelf bottom supports are known in principle. They can be hung into corresponding variously shaped support rails, usually running vertically on a wall or other support devices, which have elongated holes lying offset to one another in the vertical direction at a distance from the hanging lugs 3c. For anchoring such a shelf support 3 its anchoring end 3b is fitted in the known way onto the anchoring rail, not shown in more detail in the figures, wherein the anchoring lugs 3c extend into the slots formed in the anchoring rail, in order then to subsequently move the shelf bottom support downwards corresponding to the length of said hanging slots 3d and to secure it firmly to the shelf rail.
Said shelf bottom 1 is then to be mounted and detachably fixed on such a shelf support. To do this, for each shelf bottom 3 two bores 11, lying offset to one another in the longitudinal direction, that is to say pocket bores 11, are formed in the shelf bottom shown in the exemplary embodiment, as this can also be seen in principle from the cross sectional illustration in
So-called anchoring or insertion pots 13 are then hammered and firmly anchored into this pocket bore 11. So that these are held captively in the pocket bore 11, the outside diameter of the anchoring pots corresponds to, or is slightly larger than, the diameter of the pocket bore 11. Furthermore, the anchoring pots 13 are usually provided with Christmas tree or saw tooth like grooves 13b, circulating around the cross section on their circumferential pot wall 13a (
From the perspective illustration in
Furthermore, a fixing screw 21, preferably a grub screw 21, is provided in the anchoring pot 13, which can be twisted in or out of an adjustment, thread or screw path 23 running parallel to the holding space 17′ in the material of the anchoring pot 13. This screw path 23 is formed by a hole or a corresponding channel 23 in the material of the anchoring pot 13.
The screw path 23 is arranged in such a way that the access opening 23′ of the screw path 23 lies on the cap underside 13c, laterally offset to the opening slot 17. On the other hand, the screw or thread path 23 is aligned and arranged so that it cuts an adjustment path 28, in which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, a ball 20 is located. As a result, a force reversing mechanism 22 is created, the significance of which will be discussed in detail below.
The shelf bottom support 3 on its upper retaining or mounting side has two projections 27 lying offset in the longitudinal direction, which in the exemplary embodiment shown are configured as anchoring lugs 27′. In other words, the anchoring lugs 27′ viewed laterally are shaped in a tongue or more rectangular fashion and connected solidly, that is to say, integrally, to the shelf bottom support 3. Therefore, they are part of the shelf bottom support 3. The shelf bottom support 3 formed in this way can be produced overall as a metal pressing and then painted for example.
Preferably, the anchoring lug 27′ is provided in the exemplary embodiment shown with a likewise round anchoring opening 29, which intersperses the anchoring lug 27′ while forming a circumferential material edge 31.
Said anchoring projection 27 and anchoring lug 27′ rise above a horizontal support 33, shown in the exemplary embodiment, in the form of a horizontal support edge, whose longitudinal extension towards the shelf bottom support is greater than the length of the opening slot 17. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this has a length, which corresponds to the diameter of the anchoring bottom 13. Deviating therefrom, this edge, however, could also be constructed shorter and longer.
For anchoring a shelf bottom, the latter with the anchoring pots 13 firmly inserted in the pocket bore 11 is now placed onto the corresponding shelf bottom supports 3. For this purpose, said anchoring lugs 27′ penetrate through the opening slots 17, correspondingly adapted to the form and size of the anchoring lugs 27′, into the anchoring pot and as a result come to lie in the holding space 17′ lying below the opening slot 17′, which in the exemplary embodiment shown corresponds in its cross sectional dimension to the opening slot 17.
The penetration movement can continue until the advancing end of the anchoring lug 27′ strikes the inner end of the anchoring pot 13 at the base of the pocket bore 11 and/or until the corresponding horizontal support edge 33, adjacent to the anchoring lug 27′ strikes the anchoring pot lower face 13b. This support edge 33, in the exemplary embodiment shown, rises above an adjacent edge 3e of the shelf bottom support 3, the consequence of which is a virtually “floating” impression of the shelf bottom 1 above the shelf bottom support 3.
This mounting is carried out while the grub screw 21 is at least partially loosened. Now, the grub screw 21 is further tightened.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, said anchoring opening 29 is formed in the lug 27′, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the form of a circular hole (however, it can also have a different, for example, polygonal or rectangular etc., cross section). The diameter of such an opening, in the case of a non-circular opening the smallest diameter in one direction, is, however, less than the diameter of the ball, so that the ball can only penetrate with a partial depth into the opening, thus in an order of magnitude smaller than the radius. The ball with a ring seat then contacts the edge of the anchoring opening 29, whereby a positive connection is formed. In this position, the shelf bottom can no longer be lifted off the shelf support.
In particular from
Finally, it is also clear from the drawings, in particular
Preferably, a ball made of hard material, in particular a steel ball, is used for the ball or roller body.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, a positive connection is thus formed, wherein the ball at least partly intersperses the anchoring opening 29 or penetrates into it and collides with the upper transverse hoop 31′ of the material section 31 surrounding the anchoring opening 29.
The projection 27, preferably formed as anchoring lug 27′, in principle can also have different configurations. Thus, in particular the anchoring opening 29 does not need to intersperse the anchoring lug 27′ completely. A recess, into which the ball 20 can engage or penetrate, would be sufficient in many cases. Likewise, the lug, viewed laterally, does not need to be rectangular or tongue-shaped, but can also be formed more pin-shaped etc.
From the construction described, it is evident that the anchoring pots 13 with their elongated slot-shaped opening 17, in the exemplary embodiment shown adapted accordingly to the lug form, as well as the associated holding space 17′ are anchored in the shelf bottom, in such a way that the longitudinal direction of the slot 17 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the anchoring lug 27′ and thus the longitudinal direction of the shelf bottom support 3. Therefore, said grub screw and the associated adjustment path 23 are also provided with an offset transverse thereto, as is evident from the figures. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the adjustment path 23 is arranged running parallel to the holding space 17′, that is to say, perpendicularly to the bottom face 13d of the anchoring pot 13, which visibly comes to lie on the lower side of a shelf board.
From the exemplary embodiment, it is clear that the anchoring pot 13 preferably has a circumferential edge 13′ limiting the hammering-in depth, which in the fitted state lies on the lower face of the shelf bottom.
In the following, reference is also made to a modified exemplary embodiment on the basis of
In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to
However, in the case of this exemplary embodiment, in order to ensure not only non-positive connection, but also positive connection, a projection 51 is provided on the opposite side of the ball 20 on the inner wall of the holding space 17′, which in the fixed position engages into the anchoring opening 29, so that when the grub screw is tightened and the ball is impinged with pressure, a shelf board likewise cannot be lifted off the shelf bottom support 3.
However, in order to be able to insert the lug of a shelf bottom support into the corresponding holding space 17′ of the anchoring pot, the holding space is expanded so as to diverge away from the insertion side, at least on the side in which the force reversing mechanism 22 with the ball 20 is also located. To introduce the anchoring lug 27′, this must be introduced in the tilted position approximately in a parallel position or in contact with one boundary wall 17a until the anchoring opening 29 lies level with the projection 51. Then, the shelf bottom support 3 can be tilted in such a way that the projection 51 penetrates into the anchoring opening 29, in which the lug is moved away from the conical boundary wall 17a, which is aligned at an angle to the axial direction of the anchoring pot. Afterwards, the grub screw can be twisted into the fixed position, wherein in turn the ball 20 is then moved towards the lug to the extent described in order to keep this pressed in its final fixed position against the opposite boundary wall 17a′ of the holding space 17′, wherein in this condition, as shown in
In the following, a modified exemplary embodiment in accordance with
In the case of the exemplary embodiment in accordance with
Furthermore, a fixing screw 21, preferably a grub screw 21, can be provided in the anchoring pot 13, which can be twisted in and out of a diagonally running screw or adjustment path 23 in the material of the anchoring pot 13. This screw or adjustment path 23 is formed by a diagonally running hole or corresponding channel 24 in the material of the anchoring pot 13.
The screw or adjustment path 23 is arranged in such a way that the access opening 23′ of the screw or adjustment path 23 lies on the pot lower face 13b laterally offset to the opening slot 17. On the other hand, the screw or adjustment path 23 is aligned diagonally so that it cuts the holding space 17′.
If now in the case of this exemplary embodiment, the shelf bottom 1 is positioned after it has been placed onto the shelf supports 3 with the anchoring pots 13 mounted therein the grub screw 21 can be twisted after the anchoring lug 27′ has penetrated into the corresponding holding space in the anchoring pots 13.
As is evident in particular from the cross sectional illustration in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, however, in comparison to this an improved non-positive and positive connection is formed, wherein the advancing section 21a of the locking or grub screw 21 at least partly intersperses the anchoring opening 29 or penetrates into it and collides with the upper transverse hoop 31′ of the material section 31 surrounding the anchoring opening 29.
If an attempt were made to lift the shelf bottom upwards, as a result the anchoring pot 13 with the grub screw 21 would also be raised up, which, however, would collide with the transverse hoop 31a and therefore with the anchoring lug 27′, which is part of the shelf bottom support.
Also, in this exemplary embodiment the anchoring opening 29 does not need to intersperse the anchoring lug 27′ completely. Also, in this exemplary embodiment a recess, in which the advancing section 21a of the locking screw 21 can engage, would be sufficient in many cases.
The angle between the screw or adjustment path 23 for the grub screw 21 and the line vertical to the face of the shelf bottom may differ within a wide range, for example it can lie between 20° and 70°, preferably 30° and 45°.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2005 010 026 | Mar 2005 | DE | national |
10 2005 036 809 | Aug 2005 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2006/001417 | 2/16/2006 | WO | 00 | 11/29/2007 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2006/094611 | 9/14/2006 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20080156950 A1 | Jul 2008 | US |