[0001] This invention refers to a method for the formation of metallic structures, in particular
shelving and to metallic structures so formed.
[0002] As it is known, shelving is made up of a series of overlying parallel surfaces fixed
to up-rights, or to side members. As a function of the use to which the shelves and
the up-rights are destined, they are generally made using sheet metal of various thicknesses.
[0003] This makes it necessary to avail of sheet metal of various thicknesses. Furthermore,
since the structure of the up-rights is different from that of the shelves, two different
operations are necessary to make them. In addition, the up-rights must be subjected
to successive working to form the holes for the fixture of the shelves, which naturally
effects the cost of the finished product.
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the drawbacks described above.
[0005] More in particular, the purpose of this invention is to provide a method for the
formation of metallic structures where the up-rights and the shelves may be made using
the same sheet metal and the up-rights not requiring holes to fix the shelves.
[0006] It has now been found by the applicant that these and other purposes are achieved
by a method which consists of making the metallic structure using modular elements
obtained from one type of sheet metal, with several folds, or projections that achieve
the so-called undercut and arranged horizontally and vertically so as to form both
the shelves and the up-rights and by fixing the said shelves to the up-rights using
elastically deformable angular fixing elements, preferably at 90° and with cavities
geometrically coherent with the said projections into which the projections of the
modular elements forming the shelf and the adjacent up-right are inserted; each projection
being tightened in the corresponding cavity using a tension rod, positioned along
the entire length of the angular fixing element.
[0007] The essential feature of the invention is the working of the starting material, generally
sheet metal of a relatively small thickness, to obtain obviously in different positions,
both the shelves and the up-rights of the shelving in its complete three dimensional
structure using the same components. More in particular, the shelving consists of
elements properly definable as " modular " since it is made using portions of worked
metallic material, having the pre-selected dimensions to form both the shelves and
the up-rights, naturally depending on the fact that the worked elements are arranged
essentially in a horizontal, or vertical position respectively.
[0008] The " modularity " does not imply dimensional limitations, but above all concerns
the repeatability of certain dimensions.
[0009] For example, the shelves may be made with the longitudinal dimensions compatible
with the capacity of the room in which the shelving must be fitted; similarly the
up-rights will be limited in their height to similar requirements of the vertical
space.
[0010] The angular fixing elements, arranged where the connections between the shelves and
up-rights are made preferably have tension rods, which pass through these elements,
suitably drilled for the purpose, to tighten the angular elements themselves about
the projections formed by the working of the starting sheet metal , or material.
[0011] These projections are preferably in a dove-tail arrangement, but may have a different
geometry, for example "T" shape, or however in the most convenient geometric form
to satisfy the primary requirement of shelving, i.e. capable of withstanding even
considerable weights and loads. This requirement is mainly of interest in the case
of shelving principally for industrial use, for example in the formation of shelving
for the orderly arrangement of mechanical spare parts, or tools and other articles.
[0012] These angular fixing elements include geometrically coherent cavities in their sections
perpendicular to the shelves and/ or to the up-rights with the said dove-tail type
projections so that tightening of the said angular elements leads to clamping of the
latter in the desired position, or positions along the shelf and/or associated up-right.
Furthermore, the worked modular elements with dove-tail type projections, where they
serve as a shelf and/or up-right respectively, have folds, the edges of which are
rounded off in a " curl " to make the different elements easier to manipulate during
the assembly and the positioning of the shelving.
[0013] The angular fixing elements may be made of plastic and their cross-section has a
geometry that permits their elastic deformation under the effect of tightening of
the above mentioned tension rods, suitably completed with threads and nuts.
[0014] To assist the elastic deformation of the angular elements, their structure may have
lightening. In addition, the holes pre-arranged in the angular elements for the passage
of the tension rods are positioned and arranged so as not to intercept the projections
of the shelves and/or up-rights, inserted in the cavities of the said angular elements
respectively. It is obvious that the method subject of this invention eliminates the
present need to use up-rights, generally drilled in a supporting side-member arrangement
for the shelves and other well known limitations in the sectorial art.
[0015] The modular elements, destined to form the up-rights may have plastic terminal edgings
on their lower and upper ends to form supporting bases on the floor, in particular
on flooring requiring some attention and a terminal edging respectively which may,
without damage, for example contrast the ceiling of the room in which the shelving
has to be installed.
[0016] The shelving, according to the invention, may be used both in the industrial field
and in furnishing, furniture and similar sectors, for example, with shelving produced
according to the method of this invention, it will be possible to make three-dimensional
structures for libraries and furniture in general complete with any desired number
of shelves, arranged as required in the various cases. Whereas, for the production
of shelving for mainly industrial use the surface of the metallic structure may be
that of the starting material ( zinc, or galvanised sheet metal), for shelving mainly
destined as furnishing articles, furniture, or other items the surfaces of the metallic
structure may be coloured, covered with various materials, wall papered and other
arrangements, everything in accordance with architectonic requirements and/or convenienc-
ed and environmental furnishing schemes.
[0017] These and other more specific features of shelving made using the assembly method
according to the invention, may be better understood from the following detailed description
with reference to the figures that illustrate only one specific embodiment provided
for an exemplificative, illustrative, but non-limitative purpose in which:
fig.1 represents the perspective view of a modular element;
fig.2 is a perspective-isometric view of possible shelving obtainable according to
the invention, made using several modular elements of fig.l, fixed using angular elements
which are also characteristic of the invention;
fig.3 is the schematic view of a cross-section of the shelving of fig.2 with parts
partially in cross-section, in the plane and in the direction indicated by III-III
in fig.2; fig.4 is the schematic view of a cross-section, with fragmentary parts removed,
in the plane and in the direction indicated by IV-IV in fig.3;
figure 5 is a schematic front view of an angular element,
in the direction indicated by V in fig.3;
fig.6 is a schematic view of the angular element of figure 5 in cross-section in the
plane and in the direction indicated by VII-VII in fig.3
[0018] Fig.l illustrates a modular metallic element M, having a relatively small thickness
with projections, undercuts and marginal features, that may be indifferently used
to form both the shelves and the up-rights of shelving.
[0019] Fig.2 illustrates shelving as an example, but not specifically for industrial applications,
that may be used to store spare parts and other products, or articles that in general
are metallic and have considerable weight.
[0020] Therefore, a primary requirement of shelving for the uses indicated, or equivalent,
is that of having considerable mechanical resistance and load-bearing capacity, despite
the fact that the shelving is made using several elements M of sheet metal with a
relatively small thickness, for example in the region of one millimetre, or even less,
irrespective of the nature of the material used which may be sheet metal, iron steel,
zinc or other material, as is, or protected by painting, galvanising, etc.
[0021] The shelving illustrated in fig.2, indicated overall by 16 is made up of several
modular elements M and includes for example, but not necessarily, three shelves 10,12
and 14.
[0022] The shelving 16, to support the said shelves 10,12 and 14, includes at least two
11 up-rights" individually indicated by 18 and 20, which support the ends of the shelves
using the characteristic angular elements each one of which is indicated by 22.
[0023] These angular elements 22 are preferably produced from polymeric material, although
the relative component material is not critical, provided it has sufficient mechanical
resistance and a certain elastic deformability ( for the reasons detailed hereunder
).
[0024] The said angular elements 22 are arranged and occupy the three-dimensional space
defined between the up-rights and the shelves. More precisely, the angular elements
22 include two " wings " 24 and 26 ( figs.5 and 6 ) the first of these wings virtually
identifying themselves with shelf 10 that rests on them while the second wings oppose
the adjacent up-right 20;
[0025] The angular elements 22 have lightenings 28 and cavities 30 made in correspondence
with the wings 24 and 26. The cavities 30 form a female portion capable of receiving
coherent male portions, or projections 32 with a " dove-tail" cross-section, or other
structure capable . of forming " undercut " which the up-rights 18, 20 and the shelves
10, 12 and 14 have.
[0026] In addition the angular elements 22 have louvres34 in correspondence with each cavity
30 which gives a certain elastic deformability on compression, in a longitudinal direction
with respect to the edge of the angular element itself.
[0027] The elastic deformation is exploited to clamp both the projections 32 of the shelves
10, 12 and 14 and of the up-rights 18 and 20 and to block the said projections inside
the cavities 30 of the said angular elements.
[0028] To achieve this elastic deformability, the angular elements 22 are compression stressed
by tightening the tension rods 36 that have a widened head 38 on their ends and at
least one nut 40 respectively. The tension rods 36 are arranged inside holes 42 made
longitudinally along the longer dimension of the angular elements 22.
[0029] The said tension rods 36 are pre-arranged so as not to intersect the projections
32 of the shelves 10, 12 and 14 and of the up-rights that are positioned inside the
cavities 30 of the angular elements.
[0030] As has already been mentioned, with the use of angular elements 22, as described
and represented above, or equivalent it is found possible to use the modular elements
M indifferently both as shelves, or as up-rights to form shelving.
[0031] These modular elements M may be produced by working a flat metallic material, or
reduced to conditions of substantial flatness with the described critical characteristics
(projections ), for example by straightening sheet metal supplied in rolls.
[0032] The edges of the worked sheet metal products have preferably " curl " type corner
radii 50 ( figures 3 and 4 ) to eliminate " sharpness " from the said edges and permit
easier handling of the materials; the said curled parts 50 are in turn inserted inside
seats 52 foreseen in the " wings " 24, 26 of the angular elements 22.
[0033] The modular elements 18 and 20 which have structural up-right functions are completed
at their lower and/or upper ends with terminal edging 51 and 54 respectively to form
resting bases on the floor and where necessary and compatible to oppose the ceiling
of the room in which the shelving is installed.
[0034] To make the shelving, the modular elements M are cut to the desired size and arranged
in a horizontal and vertical position to form the shelves and the up-rights. The angular
fixing elements 22 are arranged at the crossing points between the shelves and the
up-rights and beneath the surface of the shelves, so that the projections both of
the shelves and of the up-rights are inserted in the corresponding cavities
30 of the angular element 22. By turning the head
38 of the tension rod 36 the angular fixing element is tightened 22 so that the projections
32 both of the shelves and of the up-rights remain tightened and clamped inside the
respective cavities 30.
[0035] In the practical embodiment of this invention various modifications, variations and
changes may be made within the spirit of this invention and without falling outside
its scope.
1. Method for the formation of metallic structures, in particular of shelving, wherein
it consists of using modular elements obtained from the same sheet metal, having numerous
folds, or projections which achieve the so-called undercut and arranged horizontally
and vertically to form both the shelves and the up-rights and by using elastically
deformable angular fixing elements, preferably at 90°, having cavities to fix the
said shelves, geometrically coherent with the said projections inside which the projections
of each modular element forming the up-right and the shelf are inserted; each projection
being tightened and fixed in the corresponding cavity using a tension rod arranged
along the full length of the fixing element.
2. Method, according to claim 1, wherein the projections have a dove-tail shape.
3. Method, according to claim 1, wherein the projections are Tee shape.
4. Method, according to any-one of the previous claims, wherein the angular fixing
elements are plastic and have lightenings.
5. Method, according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the angular fixing
elements include two wings that cooperate with the shelf and with the adjacent up-right
respectively.
6. Method, according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the angular fixing
elements have louvres in correspondence with each cavity.
7 Method, according to any-one of the previous claims, where - in the tightening tension
rods are arranged inside holes made longitunally along the full length of the angular
elements.
8. Method, according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the edges of the shelves
and of the up-rights are rounded in a curled manner and inserted inside corresponding
seats of the angular elements.
9. Method, according to any-one of the previous claims, wherein the modular elements
that serve as up-rights have their ends covered with terminal edgings.
10. Metallic structure, in particular shelving, formed from a series of overlying
shelves fixed to up-rights by fixing elements, wherein the shelves and the up-rights
are modular , made using the same sheet metal and have numerous folds, or projections
which form the so-called undercut and the fixing elements are angular, preferably
at 90", elastically deformable and formed by two wings having cavities geometrically
coherent with the said projections and inside which the projections of the modular
elements forming the shelf and the adjacent up-right are inserted, a tension rod to
tighten and to fix all the projections in the respective cavities.