Shelf

Abstract

 The present invention concerns a window board comprising a bearing slab (1).
It is significant of the window board of the present invention that the window board comprises an intermediate layer (3), arranged on top of the bearing slab (1), a transparent slab (5) arranged on top of the intermediate layer (3), and two end fittings (7) which are designed to hold together the slabs (1, 5) and the intermediate layer (3).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention concerns a shelf which contains a load-bearing slab. The shelf according to the present invention can constitute a window board, for example.

Prior art

[0002] From DE 19963972 is known a prefabricated window board whose component materials are moulded to each other. The window board is provided with plastic cover profiles at its ends.

[0003] From EP 0982463 is known a window board that comprises two horizontal layers, wherein the top layer is a solid slab while the bottom layer can be made of fibreglass. The horizontal layers are permanently joined to each other.

Objects and features of the invention

[0004] A primary object of the present invention is to indicate a shelf of the kind defined above, wherein the appearance of the shelf can be varied in a user-friendly manner.

[0005] A further object of the present invention is to be able to match up the appearance of the shelf with the appearance of the room where the shelf is installed.

[0006] Yet another object of the present invention is that a number of shelves can be joined together to make an integrated shelving unit.

[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is some length adjustment can be done for an individual shelf.

[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is parts of the shelf according to the present invention are interchangeable.

[0009] At least the primary object of the present invention is realised by means of a device which contains the features indicated in the following independent patent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent patent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention shall be described hereafter with reference to the enclosed drawings, where:

Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the parts making up the shelf/window board according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an end fitting which is part of the shelf/window board according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the shelf/window board according to the present invention in assembled state;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the placement of the shelf/window board according to Fig. 3 in relation to a window;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an end fitting which is part of the shelf/window board according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the placement of a shelf/window board with the alternative end fitting in relation to a window;

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of another alternative end fitting for a shelf according to the present invention;

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the placement of a shelf with an end fitting per Fig. 7 in relation to a window;

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a shelf according to the present invention that is mounted on a wall;

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a lengthening piece; and

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a number of shelves according to the present invention joined together by means of lengthening pieces.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0011] Fig. 1-10 show embodiments of the shelf according to the present invention, where Fig. 4, 6, 8 and 11 show how the shelf is used as a window board. The shelf according to the present invention comprises a load-bearing slab 1, which in the assembled state of the parts is situated at the bottom in the window board according to the present invention. As an example and not in limiting fashion it can be mentioned that the bearing slab 1 can be a mdf board, a wooden slab, a corian sheet or a transparent sheet. As regards thickness of the bearing slab 1, it should be enough to be able to support a normal load to which a window board may be subjected. Of course, the thickness will depend on the material of the bearing slab 1 and how the bearing slab 1 is supported. Normally the bearing slab 1 is supported by wall brackets (not shown), where the thickness of the bearing slab 1 and the distance between the wall brackets are mutually dependent parameters.

[0012] The window board according to the invention also comprises an intermediate layer 3, which normally is relatively thin. This layer can in theory be made from a number of materials, mentioning as examples and not limited to paper, carton, plastic film, textile, veneer or metal foil. The intermediate layer 3 is placed on top of the bearing slab 1, and normally the intermediate layer 3 is not joined to the bearing slab 1, i.e., the intermediate layer 3 lies loosely on top of the bearing slab 1. The intermediate layer 3 has an area corresponding to the area of the bearing slab 1 on which the intermediate layer 3 is placed. Preferably, the side of the intermediate layer 3 that is away from the bearing slab 1 has an aesthetically pleasing/decorative appearance. For example, the intermediate layer 3 can consist of a piece of wallpaper, while the decorative side of the wallpaper is facing away from the bearing slab 1. Another conceivable alternative is that a digital print is arranged on the intermediate layer 3.

[0013] The window board according to the present invention also comprises a transparent slab 5, this transparent slab 5 preferably but not necessarily consisting of a glass sheet. As for the thickness of the transparent slab 5, this can vary, but normally it is as thick as the bearing slab 1. Since the transparent slab 5 can be seen through, the intermediate layer 3 will define the appearance of the window board according to the invention, i.e. the side of the intermediate layer 3 facing the transparent slab 5 will be perceived by an observer as the top side of the window board. The transparent slab can be totally clear or somewhat shaded.

[0014] As appears from Fig. 1, the shelf according to the invention comprises three parts. The part which is primarily intended to be interchangeable is the intermediate layer 3, although the other two parts are also interchangeable if need be.

[0015] To hold together the three parts of the window board according to the invention, shown in Fig. 1, the window board of the present invention comprises two end fittings 7, one such end fitting being shown at larger scale in Fig. 2. The end fitting is generally a right parallelepiped with three planar longitudinal side walls 9, 10, 11 and two opposite planar end walls 12. This lets an internal space 8 be defined for the end fitting 7. The material of the end fitting 7 is preferably metal or light metal, but it is also conceivable for the end fitting 7 to be made of another material, such as plastic.

[0016] As appears from Fig. 2, the current embodiment of the end fitting 7 has a hole 13 in one side wall 11, more particularly the side wall 11 that has an opposite side wall 9. Preferably, the side wall 11 provided with the hole has a lower side wall in the state of use of the end fitting 7.

[0017] Fig. 3 shows the window board according to the invention in the state of use, i.e., the parts of the window board shown in Fig. 1 are assembled into one unit. The bearing slab 1 and the intermediate slab 3 are arranged so that they lie against each other. The transparent slab 5 is brought to lie against the side of the intermediate layer 3 facing away from the bearing slab 1. The "sandwich" of parts obtained in this way is held together by placing the end fittings 7 on the opposite short sides of the "sandwich". The respective short sides of the "sandwich" are thereby accommodated in the inner space 8 that is defined in each of the end fittings 7. To make sure that the end fitting 7 is fully secured to the short sides of the "sandwich", the end fitting 7 is anchored in the bearing slab 1. This can be done, for example, by placing a locking screw (not shown) in the hole 13 and extending it into the bearing slab 1. The window board of the present invention is now ready for use. The mounting of the window board of Fig. 3 can be done in various ways, for example, on a wall beneath a window, for which it is customary to use brackets (not shown) that both support the window board and are fastened to the wall beneath the window. Fig. 4 shows schematically the placement of a window board per Fig. 3 beneath a window.

[0018] An exceptionally great benefit of the window board according to the invention is that one can change the "appearance" of the window board in an exceptionally simple and user-friendly manner. For example, if one installs new wall paper in a room, one can match the appearance of the window board to the new wall paper, in which case a complete matching means that the intermediate layer 3 consists of a piece of the new wall paper. Of course, a different matching in terms of colour and/or style can also be done.

[0019] In practice, the "appearance" of the window board is changed by removing the window board from its support elements (brackets), after which the end fittings 7 are dismounted by removing the screws holding the end fittings 7 in place. The slabs/layers making up the window board of the present invention can now be separated from each other and the intermediate layer 3 exchanged to create a new "appearance" of the window board. Normally, only the intermediate layer 3 needs to be exchanged. When a new intermediate layer 3 has been placed between the slabs 1, 5, the end fittings 7 are put back in place and secured by means of screws.

[0020] Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of an end fitting 107 making up a window board according to the invention. The other component parts of the window board can be in theory identical with the parts of the window board of Fig. 3. The end fitting 107 differs from the end fitting 7 in that one upper side wall 9 has been removed. The end fitting 107 thus contains two side walls 110 and 111, which preferably make a right angle with each other crossways to the lengthways direction of the side walls 110, 111. The end fitting 107 also contains two opposite end walls 112. A hole 113 is made in one side wall.

[0021] The purpose of this structural change is apparent from Fig. 6, which shows the window board according to the invention mounted in a window recess, with the end fitting 107 joined to the bearing slab 1 by screws (not shown) which are accommodated in the hole 113. In order to change the intermediate layer 3 in a user-friendly manner, it is necessary to lift up the transparent slab 5 and the intermediate layer 3, and the configuration of the end fitting 107 allows for this.

[0022] Fig. 7 shows yet another alternative embodiment of an end fitting 207 that is basically shaped the same as the end fitting 7 described above, i.e., the end fitting 207 contains three planar side walls 209, 210, 211 and two opposite planar end walls 212. However, two of the planar side walls 209, 211 and the end walls 212 have a larger extension perpendicular to the remaining planar side wall 210 than in the above described embodiment. This means that the end fitting 207 can be used for some adjusting of the length of the shelf/window board of the invention. This is illustrated in Fig. 7, where there is an "empty" space between the side wall 210 and the end of the shelf. In order to firmly anchor the end fitting 207 in the shelf, the end fitting 207 is provided with two holes 213, which are located in the underside of the shelf.

[0023] Fig. 8 shows how a shelf/window board with end fitting 207 is placed in a window recess. Since the length of the available space is predetermined, the adjustment possibility offered by the end fitting 207 is important in this regard.

[0024] Fig. 9 shows how a shelf according to the invention is placed on a wall by means of two brackets 215, the shelf depicted being provided with the end fitting 207. However, the shelf per Fig. 9 can instead be provided with the end fitting 7. In this regard, it should be pointed out that the shelf per Fig. 9 is constructed in corresponding fashion to that described above in regard to Fig. 1-3.

[0025] Fig. 10 shows a lengthening piece 15 which defines a continuous space 16, in which the ends of two neighbouring shelves are designed to be accommodated. The lengthening piece 15 comprises two plane parallel side walls 17 and 18 and two opposite end walls 19. The lower side wall 18 is provided with four holes 20, which are assigned in pairs to one end of the one shelf that is accommodated in the lengthening piece 15. Normally, screws (not shown) are placed in the holes and anchored in the underside of the respective shelf. The end sections of the two shelves that are accommodated in the same lengthening piece 15 can lie against each other or be arranged at a certain distance from each other.

[0026] Fig. 11 shows how three shelf segments are coupled together by means of two lengthening pieces 15. In this regard, it should be pointed out that the shelf segments in Fig. 11 are constructed similar to what was described above in connection with Fig. 1-3. The outermost shelf segments are provided with end fittings 207. However, the end fitting 7 can also be used if deemed appropriate. By studying Fig. 11 it will be seen that the lengthening pieces 15 can be used to assemble an arbitrary number of shelf segments into an integrated shelf.

Conceivable modifications of the invention

[0027] In the above described embodiments, the shelf/window board generally consists of three slabs/layers. In the context of the present invention, one can conceive of the shelf/window board comprising additional slabs/layers between the bearing slab 1 and the intermediate layer 3.

[0028] In the context of the present invention, one can conceive of the bearing slab 1 being made of transparent material, e.g., glass or plastic. In this connection, it can be appropriate for the intermediate layer 3 to be aesthetically pleasing/decorative on both sides. This may be important if the shelf, e.g., is placed relative high up on a wall, i.e., the underside of the shelf is visible.

[0029] In the above described embodiments, the end fitting is anchored by means of screws. In the context of the present invention, one can conceive of an alternative way of anchoring the end fitting, mentioning as an example and not limited to this the use of Velcro tape.

Claims

1. Shelf comprising a bearing slab (1), characterised in that the shelf comprises an intermediate layer (3), arranged on top of the bearing slab (1), a transparent slab (5) arranged on top of the intermediate layer (3), and two end fittings (7; 107; 207) which are designed to hold together the slabs (1, 5) and the intermediate layer (3).

2. Shelf according to claim 1, characterised in that the intermediate layer (3) lies loosely against the enclosing slabs (1, 5).

3. Shelf according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the intermediate layer (3) is thinner than the slabs (1, 5).

4. Shelf according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each end fitting (7; 107; 207) in the assembled state at least partly encloses an end section of the shelf, and the end fitting (7; 107; 207) is provided with holes (13; 113; 213) for anchoring same by means of locking screws.

5. Shelf according to claim 4, characterised in that the end fitting (7; 207) has a parallelepiped form and defines an inner space (8; 208).

6. Shelf according to claim 5, characterised d in that the inner space (208) is only partly taken up by the end section of the shelf.

7. Shelf according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transparent slab consists of a glass sheet (5).

8. Shelf according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the side of the intermediate layer (3) facing the transparent slab (5) is decorative.

9. Shelf according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of shelf segments, and segment ends facing each other are taken up in lengthening pieces (15) which define a continuous space.

10. Shelf according to claim 9, characterised in that the lengthening pieces (15) have holes (20) to accommodate anchoring elements which engage with the ends of the segment.

Drawing