[0001] The invention relates to a shelf support for a shelf in a rack. Such a rack is intended
particularly for placing along a wall or in a free space in a supermarket such that
supermarket staff or buyers can walk along the racks with a pallet truck or shopping
trolley to respectively stock these racks or collect goods displayed therein.
[0002] Known from the American patent no. 5 160 051 is a rack wherein four posts placed
at the corners of a rectangle are connected along the long sides of this rectangle
by horizontal supports placed at different heights. Placed on opposite pairs of supports
are rectangular containers for displaying of goods thereon. As a consequence of the
differing height of the supports, the containers are oriented obliquely downward toward
the front, i.e. toward the customer, and goods placed in these containers slide to
the front under the influence of gravity. Proper functioning of the known rack achieves
that the goods supplied first are always within direct reach of the customer, and
the most recently supplied goods are furthest removed from the customer, which is
of course conducive to realizing a flow of goods on the basis of the "first in-first
out" principle.
[0003] It is a drawback of the known rack that goods placed therein can tip over when handled
carelessly by the customer, as a result of which the relevant container appears, wrongly,
to be empty. It is known for instance that elongate, high and therefore not very stable
packs with dairy products tip over easily in such sloping containers.
[0004] It is a further drawback of the known rack that it is awkward for supermarket staff
to fill the sloping containers with new goods since, as the container becomes further
filled from the relatively low forward part, the relatively high rear part becomes
increasingly difficult to access. Filling of such a rack is therefore labour-intensive,
and therefore relatively expensive.
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a shelf support for a shelf in a rack
with which goods, as they are supplied, can be placed in easy manner beyond the direct
reach of a customer, and whereby it is precisely those goods already present on this
shelf which can be placed in easy manner within reach of a customer.
[0006] It is also an object to provide such a shelf support which can be manufactured in
simple and efficient manner.
[0007] These objectives are achieved, and other advantages gained, with a shelf support
for a rack which according to the invention comprises a first protruding support member
which can be coupled to a post of this rack and a second protruding support member
which is displaceable along this first protruding support member and coupled thereto
and which is adapted to support a shelf for displacement and for tilting over a determined
angle.
[0008] In a rack wherein a shelf rests on at least two shelf supports according to the invention,
for the purpose of replenishing the stock on this shelf it is possible in simple manner
to pull the shelf forward, i.e. toward the user, and then tilt it through a determined
angle so that this shelf protrudes from the rack in a downward sloping orientation.
In order to prevent goods placed on the shelf falling off this shelf in the downward
oriented position thereof, a shelf for a support according to the invention is preferably
provided on its front side with a standing edge. When the shelf is tilted goods that
are still present slide forward, whereafter freshly supplied goods, for instance of
a more recent production date, can be placed behind these goods that are still present.
Replenishing stocks in this manner provides practical advantages particularly in the
case of shelves arranged relatively high, i.e. eye level.
[0009] In an embodiment of a shelf support according to the invention, the second protruding
support member is provided with a support element for a shelf extending along this
second protruding support member and coupled thereto for tilting through a determined
angle.
[0010] The first protruding support member is herein provided for instance with a guide
rail for guiding therein at least one guide element coupled to the second protruding
support member, which guide element for instance comprises a roller bearing.
[0011] In another embodiment of a shelf support according to the invention, the second protruding
support member comprises an elongate element which is formed by bending plate material
and which in the situation of use is provided on its top side with a horizontal edge
zone and a vertical edge extending obliquely downward therefrom for supporting the
support element thereon in respectively the non-tilted and tilted situation.
[0012] In this latter embodiment the first protruding support member preferably comprises
an element which is formed by bending plate material and which in the situation of
use is provided on its top side with a horizontal edge zone which extends under the
horizontal edge zone of the second protruding support member, wherein said edge zones
are provided with co-acting bounding means for bounding the displacement of the second
protruding support member along the first protruding support member.
[0013] A guide rail on a first protruding support member manufactured from plate material
is preferably also manufactured from plate material, wherein guide rail and first
protruding support member are for instance coupled in each case by co-acting, local
plastic deformations arranged according to a method per se known from US-A-4 760 634,
which is now generally designated Tox®-joining.
[0014] In order to prevent a shelf on shelf supports according to the invention unintentionally
or unwittingly being pulled forward, at least one of these shelf supports is preferably
provided with first locking means for locking the second protruding support member
against displacement along the first protruding support member, which first locking
means for instance comprise a pin coupled to the second protruding support member
and displaceable in lengthwise direction, and a hole corresponding therewith in the
first protruding support member.
[0015] In yet another embodiment, the support element in a shelf support is provided with
second locking means for locking a shelf supported by this support element against
tilting.
[0016] The invention further relates to a rack provided with at least two shelves extending
in the situation of use one above another on above described shelf supports, which
rack is provided according to the invention with third locking means for locking more
than one shelf against displacement.
[0017] If more than one shelf can be pulled forward out of a rack, there is the danger of
the rack falling forward under the weight of goods placed on these shelves if it is
not anchored. This danger is not present in a rack provided with the third locking
means.
[0018] In an exemplary embodiment the third locking means comprise an elongate locking element
which in the situation of use is coupled to a second protruding support member of
the respective shelves and which is provided on its outer end with a first wedge-shaped
part and a second wedge-shaped part in opposite direction thereto, and a vertically
displaceable actuator strip provided with openings corresponding with the respective
first and second wedge-shaped parts, wherein the first wedge-shaped part in each case
of a first locking element is adapted for the purpose, during displacement of the
second protruding support member coupled thereto from a first position, wherein the
associated shelf is received in the rack, to a second position wherein this shelf
is placed at least partially outside the rack, of displacing the actuator strip from
a first position to a second position in which this actuator strip locks the second
wedge-shaped part of a second locking element of another second protruding support
member coupled thereto against displacement of this other second protruding support
member, and wherein the second wedge-shaped part of this first locking element is
adapted for the purpose, during displacement of the first mentioned second protruding
support member from the second to the first position, of displacing the actuator strip
from the second to the first position.
[0019] The invention will be elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of exemplary embodiments,
with reference to the drawings.
[0020] In the drawings
Fig. 1A and 1B show respectively in perspective view and side view an embodiment of
a shelf support according to the invention with extended and tilted support element;
Fig. 2A and 2B show respectively in perspective view and side view an embodiment of
a shelf support according to the invention with extended and non-tilted support element;
Fig. 3A and 3B show respectively in perspective view and side view an embodiment of
a shelf support according to the invention with retracted and non-tilted support element;
Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the shelf support shown in Fig. 1A-3B;
Fig. 5A and 5B show respectively in perspective and cross-sectional view an embodiment
of a locking against sliding-out of a support element of a shelf support as shown
in fig. 4;
Fig. 6A and 6B show respectively in side view and top view a locking of a support
element against tilting in a shelf support according to the invention, and
Fig. 7A, 7B and 7C show in cross-sectional view a detail of an actuator strip and
locking elements for locking of more than one shelf against displacement in a rack
with support elements according to the invention.
[0021] Corresponding components are designated in the figures with the same reference numerals.
[0022] Fig. 1A - Fig. 4 show a shelf support 1 for a shelf in a rack (not shown) which is
assembled from a first protruding support member 2 of bent plate material, a second
protruding support member 3 of bent plate material which is coupled thereto and displaceable
along this first protruding support member 2, and a support element 4 for a shelf
coupled to the second protruding support member 3 and likewise of bent plate material.
First protruding support member 2 is provided with hooks 6 which correspond with openings
formed for this purpose in a post of a rack, and with a guide rail 5 (shown in Fig.
1B and 2B) for guiding therein two roller bearings 7 (shown in Fig. 4) which are coupled
with their shafts 8 to second protruding support member 3. Support element 4 is coupled
to second protruding support member 3 for tilting over a determined angle on a shaft
9. Second protruding support member 3 is provided on its top side with a horizontal
edge zone 10 and a vertical edge 11 extending obliquely downward therefrom for supporting
the support element 4 thereon in respectively non-tilted and tilted position. First
protruding support member 2 is provided on its top side with a horizontal edge zone
12 which extends below horizontal edge zone 10 of second protruding support member
3, wherein said edge zones 10, 12 are provided with co-acting lips 14, 13 which respectively
extend obliquely forward in downward direction and obliquely rearward in upward direction
and which bound the displacement of second protruding support member 3 along first
protruding support member 2.
[0023] Fig. 5A and 5B show a part of a support 1, wherein a pin 16 with a compression spring
17 is enclosed displaceably in an L-profile 19 fixed against support element 4, which
pin protrudes permanently through second profile 3 and releasably through a hole 15
in first profile 2, whereby second profile 3 is locked against displacement. The locking
of second profile 3 is released by pulling control ring 18.
[0024] Fig. 6A shows a shelf support 1, the support element 4 of which is provided with
a horizontal slot 20 in which an L-shaped locking element 21 is received releasably
so as to lock support element 4 against tilting on shaft 9.
[0025] Fig. 6B shows a top view of locking element 21 which is received in a U-profile 22,
fixed to second protruding support member 3, for displacement counter to the force
of a spring 17.
[0026] Fig. 7A shows a post for a rack with closed rear 23 (on the left in the figure) and
a front side 24 (on the right in the figure) in which openings 25 are arranged through
which extend respective locking elements 26, 27 which are each connected to a second
protruding support member (not shown) of a shelf support (not shown). Each locking
element 26, 27 is provided on its outer end with a first wedge-shaped part 28 and
a second wedge-shaped part 29 in opposite direction thereto. Received in post 23,
24 is a vertically displaceable actuator strip 30 which is provided with openings
31 corresponding with the first 28 and second wedge-shaped parts 29. Actuator strip
30 is received on its top side in a releasable clamping element (not shown).
[0027] Fig. 7B shows how, when one shelf is moved forward (to the right in the figure as
according to the horizontal arrow) and when the associated second protruding support
member and the relevant locking element 26 are thereby moved forward, the actuator
strip 30 is pressed downward by the first wedge-shaped part 28 of locking element
26 (as according to the vertical arrow), as a consequence of which the actuator strip
30 is displaced in front of the second wedge-shaped parts 29 of the other locking
elements 27, which are thus locked against forward displacement.
[0028] Fig. 7C shows the post in a situation where a locking element 26 is displaced fully
forward and actuator strip 30 is in its lowest position. When the one shelf is re-placed,
and therewith the associated locking element 26, the second wedge-shaped part 29 of
this locking element 26 presses actuator strip 30 upward, whereby the wedge-shaped
second parts 29 of the other locking elements 27 are released and one of the shelves
associated with these other locking elements 27 can be pulled forward as desired,
and the cycle described here is repeated.
1. Shelf support (1) for a shelf in a rack, comprising a first protruding support member
(2) which can be coupled to a post (23, 24) of said rack and a second protruding support
member (3) which is displaceable along said first protruding support member (2) and
coupled thereto and which is adapted to support a shelf for displacement and for tilting
over a determined angle.
2. Shelf support (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second protruding support member (3) is provided with a support element (4) for
a shelf extending along said second protruding support member (3) and coupled thereto
for tilting through a determined angle.
3. Shelf support (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first protruding support member (2) is provided with a guide rail (5) for guiding
therein at least one guide element (7) coupled to the second protruding support member
(3).
4. Shelf support (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the guide element comprises a roller bearing (7).
5. Shelf support (1) as claimed in any of the claims 2-4, characterized in that the second protruding support member (3) comprises an elongate element which is formed
by bending plate material and which in the situation of use is provided on its top
side with a horizontal edge zone (10) and a vertical edge (11) extending obliquely
downward therefrom for supporting the support element (4) thereon in respectively
the non-tilted and tilted situation.
6. Shelf support (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the first protruding support member (2) comprises an element which is formed by bending
plate material and which in the situation of use is provided on its top side with
a horizontal edge zone (12) which extends under the horizontal edge zone (10) of the
second protruding support member (3), wherein said edge zones (10, 12) are provided
with co-acting bounding means (14, 13) for bounding the displacement of the second
protruding support member (3) along the first protruding support member (2).
7. Shelf support (1) as claimed in any of the claims 1-6, characterized in that it is provided with first locking means (15-18) for locking the second protruding
support member (3) against displacement along the first protruding support member
(2).
8. Shelf support as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the first locking means comprise a pin (16) coupled to the second protruding support
member (3) and displaceable in lengthwise direction, and a hole (15) corresponding
therewith in the first protruding support member (2).
9. Shelf support (1) as claimed in any of the claims 2-8, characterized in that the support element (4) is provided with second locking means (20, 21) for locking
a shelf supported by said support element against tilting.
10. Rack provided with at least two shelves extending in the situation of use one above
another on shelf supports (1) as claimed in any of the claims 1-9, characterized in that the rack is provided with third locking means (26, 27, 30) for locking more than
one shelf against displacement.
11. Rack as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the third locking means comprise an elongate locking element (26, 27) which in the
situation of use is coupled to a second protruding support member (3) of the respective
shelves and which is provided on its outer end with a first wedge-shaped part (28)
and a second wedge-shaped part (29) in opposite direction thereto, and a vertically
displaceable actuator strip (30) provided with openings (31) corresponding with the
respective first (28) and second wedge-shaped parts, wherein the first wedge-shaped
part (28) in each case of a first locking element (26) is adapted for the purpose,
during displacement of the second protruding support member coupled thereto from a
first position, wherein the associated shelf is received in the rack, to a second
position wherein said shelf is placed at least partially outside the rack, of displacing
the actuator strip (30) from a first position to a second position in which this actuator
strip (30) locks the second wedge-shaped part (29) of a second locking element (27)
of another second protruding support member coupled thereto against displacement of
this other second protruding support member, and wherein the second wedge-shaped part
(29) of this first locking element (26) is adapted for the purpose, during displacement
of the first mentioned second protruding support member from the second to the first
position, of displacing the actuator strip (30) from the second to the first position.