Shelving brackets

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to brackets for connecting shelves to uprights in modular shelving systems, particularly to brackets having improved weight bearing capacities.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Modular shelving systems are used widely for domestic and commercial storage and in the retail trade, particularly throughout supermarkets. Many such systems are constructed from variable numbers of three primary components, i.e two or more uprights, one or more shelving panels and two or more shelf-supporting brackets that hook into slots in the uprights.

[0003] Uprights for use in modular shelving systems may be freestanding or wall-mounted, and are usually rectangular section hollow bars of which the front faces have been provided with a series of slots, spaced at fixed intervals along the length of the uprights, and into which the hooks of the shelf-supporting brackets mount. Generally the slots are spaced at fixed intervals, commonly with a spacing (or pitch) of 50mm. For conventional systems the spacing of the slots in the upright is a determinant of the vertical spacing between shelves mounted thereto. Brackets for use with such uprights usually comprise two or more mounting hooks for engaging the slots in the uprights. These hooks may either all engage the lower edges of their respective slots (known as "down-hooking" brackets) or may all engage the upper edges of their respective slots (commonly known as "up-hooking" brackets). Brackets may also have combinations of hooks, some of which engage the lower edges of their slots whilst others engage the upper edges of their slots. In most cases the hooks will be arranged to engage consecutive slots in an upright.

[0004] One means for increasing the load bearing capacity of brackets for use in modular shelving systems is to increase the number of slots engaged by the brackets. In general this is done by increasing the number of hooks provided on each bracket, for example, brackets having three hooks for engaging an upright are generally stronger than brackets having two upright engaging hooks, and brackets having four upright engaging hooks are generally stronger than brackets having three upright engaging hooks. However, increasing the number of hooks on a bracket normally results in an increase in the minimum vertical spacing between the shelves that can be attached by the brackets. For example, in modular systems comprising uprights having a conventional slot spacing of 50mm, brackets having 3 slot engaging hooks may be used to attach shelves with a minimum spacing of 150mm, whereas the minimum spacing for shelves attached to the uprights by using brackets having four upright attaching hooks is 200mm.

[0005] US 2,956,766 discloses a shelf supporting bracket having two upright engaging hooks and a horizontal engaging hook.

[0006] DE 198 21 898 discloses a shelf supporting bracket having one upright engaging hook and a horizontal engaging hook.

[0007] DE 20 2004 002 701 discloses a shelf supporting bracket having two upright engaging hooks.

[0008] FR 2 276 017 discloses a shelf supporting bracket having two upright engaging hooks.

Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention provides a shelf supporting bracket for connection to an upright having a plurality of regularly vertically spaced apart slots comprising first, second and third consecutive slots with said second slot to be positioned below the first slot, and said third slot to be positioned below said second slot; the bracket comprising: an upper edge comprising shelf supporting means: and a mounting edge for location against said upright; wherein the mounting edge comprises: a first attachment lug for location in said first slot of said upright; a second attachment lug for location in said second slot of said upright, the second attachment lug comprising a second vertical engagement means for engaging the inside surface of the face of the upright above said second slot; and a third attachment lug for location in said third slot of said upright, the third attachment lug comprising a first horizontal engagement means for supportingly engaging a lower edge of third slot, and the first horizontal engagement means comprising means for engaging the inside surface of the face of the upright below the third slot; the mounting edge further comprising third vertical engagement means for engaging an outside surface of the face of the upright below said third slot characterised by: said first attachment lug extending above said upper edge of said bracket and comprising a first vertical engagement means for engaging an area of an inside surface of a face of the upright above said first slot, and said second attachment lug further comprising a second horizontal engagement means for supportingly engaging a lower edge of second slot.

[0010] The provision of means to engage the inside surface of the face of the upright to which the bracket is attached below the third slot helps to prevent brackets of the invention being accidentally removed from the uprights to which they are attached. In a preferred embodiment, the first horizontal engagement means is in the form of an attachment hook located on the mounting edge of the bracket and having a notch in its lower surface so that, when the bracket is attached to an upright, the notch cooperates with the lower edge of the slot in which it is inserted, to support the bracket and also to prevent its accidental removal from the upright.

[0011] In preferred brackets of the invention the first vertical attachment means is arranged in the form of a hook located on the mounting edge of the bracket, and extending above the upper edge of the bracket.

[0012] Preferably, the third vertical engagement means of brackets of the present invention is arranged so that, when the bracket is attached to an upright, it engages the outside surface of the upright at a position substantially immediately below the third slot. Most preferably, the third vertical engagement means is formed by the mounting edge of the bracket extending below the first horizontal engagement means.

[0013] In preferred brackets according to the present invention, the mounting edge comprises a fourth vertical engagement means positioned between the second vertical engagement means and the first horizontal engagement means so that, when the bracket is attached to an upright, the fourth vertical engagement means engages the outside surface of the face of the upright to which the bracket is attached. In such preferred brackets, the fourth vertical engagement means is preferably a vertical surface of the mounting edge of the bracket. Most preferably, the fourth vertical engagement means engages the outside surface of the upright immediately above the slot engaged by the first horizontal engagement means.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment of a bracket of the present invention, the second vertical engagement means and the second horizontal engagement means are provided in the form of a hook mounted on the mounting edge of the bracket. The hook comprises a notch located in its upper surface, the notch having a vertical surface for engaging the inside surface of the face of the upright to which the bracket is attached at a position above the slot into which the hook is inserted. The hook also comprises a horizontal surface at the bottom of the hook which rests upon the lower edge of the slot into which the hook is positioned.

[0015] Brackets according to the present invention generally have load-bearing capacities that are similar to or exceed the load-bearing capacities of conventional brackets having four slot engaging hooks, but may be connected to uprights with the minimum spacing normally provided only by brackets having three slot engaging hooks.

[0016] Brackets according to the present invention are easy to connect to uprights, and in particular it is not necessary for the brackets to be tilted to extreme angles to allow the vertical and horizontal engagement means to be inserted into appropriate slots in an upright, thus permitting preferred brackets according to the invention to be connected to an upright immediately below a previously connected bracket if required.

[0017] Brackets of the present invention may be of any suitable size or shape. Preferred brackets of the present invention are elongated generally triangular plates. Most preferably in brackets of the present invention, the mounting edge is generally connected to one end of the upper edge and is generally perpendicular thereto. In such preferred brackets the forward edge of the bracket opposite to the mounting edge is a vertical or forwardly sloping edge having a length significantly shorter than the length of the mounting edge, so that the lower edge of the bracket opposing the upper edge slopes upwardly from the mounting edge towards the forward edge of the bracket.

[0018] Lengths of the upper edges of brackets of the present invention may vary from approximately 250mm to 1000mm, preferably from 400 to 800mm, more preferably from 550 to 700mm, for example 670mm.

[0019] Suitable lengths for the mounting edges of brackets of the present invention will generally depend upon the number of slots that are to be engaged by the brackets, and the spacing of the slots in the uprights to which they are to be attached.

[0020] Brackets according to the present invention preferably further comprise shelf engaging means. The shelf engaging means may include slots in the upper edges of the brackets.

[0021] Brackets according to the present invention preferably have widths of from 2 to 3.5mm, more preferably from 2.5 to 3mm, most preferably 3mm.

[0022] Brackets according to the present invention may be made from any suitable materials, including metals, plastics and composite materials. Suitable metals include steel, particularly high tensile micro alloy steel.

[0023] The present invention also provides shelves to which are attached two or more brackets of the present invention. Such shelves may be attached directly to slotted uprights.

[0024] The present invention also provides a modular shelving system comprising a plurality of uprights having a plurality of regularly spaced apart slots and further comprising a plurality of brackets and/or shelves of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0025] An embodiment of the present will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a conventional shelving upright for use with brackets of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a shelving bracket according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the mounting edge of the bracket shown in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the mounting edge of a first bracket as shown in Figure 2 attached to an upright as shown in Figure 1, and also showing part of a second bracket as shown in Figure 2 attached to the upright below the first bracket.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a conventional upright for use with a bracket of the present invention. The upright 1 is a hollow steel bar having a rectangular cross section. The front face 5 of the upright comprises a vertical series of upright slots 7 each slot 7 having a height of 28mm, and the land 8 between each slot 7 being 22mm. Each slot 7 has a lower edge 9 and an upper edge 11.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, an embodiment of a bracket 3 of the present invention has the appearance of a substantially flat generally triangular plate. The bracket 3 is made of a high tensile micro alloy steel and has a thickness of 3mm. The bracket has an upper edge 13, and a mounting edge 15 which is generally perpendicular to the upper edge 13. The bracket 3 also comprises a front edge 17 at the opposite end of the bracket 3 to the mounting edge 15. The front edge 17 slopes forwardly from the upper edge 13 and is of substantially shorter length than the mounting edge 15. A lower edge 19 joins the mounting edge 15 to the front edge 17. The upper edge 13 of the bracket 3 comprises various shelf engaging means 43.

[0028] The total length of the bracket 3 from the mounting edge 15 to the front edge 17 where it meets the upper edge 13 is 670mm.

[0029] The mounting edge 15 of the bracket 3 comprises an upper attachment lug 21, a middle attachment lug 23 and a lower attachment lug 25.

[0030] As shown in more detail in Figures 3 and 4, the upper attachment lug 21 comprises a first vertical face 27 which, when the bracket 3 is attached to an upright 1, engages the inner surface of the land 8 above the slot 7 into which the upper attachment lug 21 has been inserted. When the bracket 3 is attached to an upright 1, the upper attachment lug 21 does not engage the lower edge 9 nor the upper edge 11 of the slot 7 into which it has been inserted.

[0031] Also as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lower attachment lug 25 comprises a first horizontal surface 29 which, when the bracket 3 is attached to an upright, engages the lower edge 9 of the slot 7 into which the lower attachment lug 25 is inserted. The lower attachment lug 25 also comprises a tab 33 having a vertical surface 31 which engages the inner surface of the land 8 below the slot 7 when the first horizontal surface 29 is resting on the lower edge 9 of the slot 7. The tab 31 prevents the bracket 3 from moving forwards with respect to the upright 1 when it is located in the slot 7 of the upright 1, and will therefore help to prevent the bracket 3 from being accidentally knocked from the upright 1.

[0032] As shown in more detail in Figures 3 and 4, the middle attachment lug 23 comprises a second vertical face 39 which, when the bracket 3 is attached to an upright 1, engages the inside surface of the land 8 above the slot 7 into which the middle attachment lug 23 is inserted. The middle attachment lug 23 also comprises a second horizontal surface 41 which supportingly engages the lower edge 9 of the slot 7 into which the middle attachment lug 23 is inserted.

[0033] The mounting edge 15 of the bracket 3 also comprises a third vertical face 35 which, when the lower attachment lug 25 is located in a slot 7 in an upright 1, engages the outer surface of the land 8 immediately below the slot 7 engaged by the lower attachment lug 25.

[0034] The mounting edge 15 of the bracket 3 also comprises a fourth vertical face 37 located between the middle attachment lug 23 and the lower attachment lug 25. When the bracket 3 is attached to an upright 1, the fourth vertical face 37 engages the outer surface of the land 8 between the slots 7 engaged by the middle attachment lug 23 and the lower attachment lug 25.

[0035] Thus, when the bracket 3 is attached to an upright 1, the upper attachment lug 21, middle attachment lug 23 and lower attachment lug 25 will be inserted into 3 consecutive slots 7, first horizontal surface 29 and second horizontal surface 41 will each supportingly engage with the lower edges 9 of their respective slots 7, the first vertical face 27 and second vertical face 39 will each engage the inside surface of the land 8 above the slots 7 engaged by the upper attachment lug 21 and the middle attachment lug 23 respectively, and the third vertical face 35 and fourth vertical face 37 will each engage the outer surface of the land 8 respectively below and above the slot 7 engaged by lower attachment lug 25. The vertical surface 33 of the tab 31 will also engage the inner surface of the land 8 immediately below the slot 7 into which the lower attachment lug 25 is inserted.

[0036] The bracket 3 shown in Figures 1 to 4 is capable of supporting loads equivalent to conventional brackets having four hooked attachment means; however, as shown in Figure 4, when brackets 3 according to this embodiment are attached above each other to an upright 1, the lower attachment lug 25 of a first bracket 3 may be located in a slot 7 immediately above a slot 7 engaged by the upper attachment lug 21 of a second bracket 3 positioned below the first bracket 3, and therefore, when the pitch of the upright 1 is 50mm, the spacing between the shelves may as small as 150mm (the minimum spacing would be 200mm for conventional brackets having four hooks).

[0037] The bracket 3 shown in figures 1 to 4 is particularly convenient for attaching to conventional uprights 1. In particular, the bracket 3 does not need to be tilted at an extreme angle in order to be attached to an upright. Thus, in order to attach a bracket 3 to an upright 1, the bracket 3 may be held adjacent to the upright 1 and generally perpendicular thereto. The front edge 17 may then be elevated slightly, and the upper 21 and middle 23 attachment lugs inserted into two consecutive slots 7 in the upright 1. The front edge 17 may then be lowered so that the lower attachment lug 25 enters its corresponding slot 7, and the bracket 3 may be lowered slightly so that the first horizontal surface 29 and the second horizontal surface 41 each engage the lower edges 9 of their respective slots 7. In this position, the first vertical face 27 and second vertical face 39 will each respectively engage the inside surface of the upright 1 above the slots 7 engaged by the upper attachment lug 21 and the middle attachment lug 23, and the third vertical face 35 and fourth vertical face 37 will respectively each engage the outer surface of the upright 1 below and above the slot 7 engaged by the lower attachment lug 25. The vertical surface 33 of the tab 31 will also engage the inner surface of the upright 1 immediately below the slot 7 into which the lower attachment lug 25 is inserted. This will allow the bracket 3 to be inserted into an upright 1 immediately below a second bracket 3 already attached to the upright 1. Similarly, the bracket 3 may be easily removed from an upright 1 without the need to also remove a further bracket 3 attached immediately above it.

Claims

1. A shelf supporting bracket (3) for connection to an upright (1) having a plurality of regularly vertically spaced apart slots (7) comprising first, second and third consecutive slots with said second slot to be positioned below the first slot, and said third slot to be positioned below said second slot; the bracket (3) comprising:

an upper edge (13) comprising shelf supporting means: and

a mounting edge (15) for location against said upright;
wherein the mounting edge (15) comprises:

a first attachment lug (21) for location in said first slot (7) of said upright (1);

a second attachment lug (23) for location in said second slot (7) of said upright (1), the second attachment lug (23) comprising a second vertical engagement means (39) for engaging the inside surface of the face (5) of the upright (1) above said second slot (7); and

a third attachment lug (25) for location in said third slot (7) of said upright (1), the third attachment lug (25) comprising a first horizontal engagement means (29) for supportingly engaging a lower edge (4) of third slot (7), and the first horizontal engagement means (29) comprising means (33) for engaging the inside surface of the face (5) of the upright (1) below the third slot (7);

the mounting edge (15) further comprising third vertical engagement means (35) for engaging an outside surface of the face (5) of the upright (1) below said third slot (7)

characterised by: said first attachment lug (21) extending above said upper edge (13) of said bracket (3) and comprising a first vertical engagement means (27) for engaging an area of an inside surface of a face (5) of the upright (1) above said first slot (7), and said second attachment lug further comprising a second horizontal engagement means (41) for supportingly engaging a lower edge (9) of second slot (7).

2. A bracket (3) as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when the bracket (3) is attached to an upright (1), the third vertical engagement means (35) engages the outside surface of the upright (1) substantially immediately below the third slot (7).

3. A bracket (3) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the mounting edge (15) comprises a fourth vertical engagement means (37) positioned between the second vertical engagement means (39) and the first horizontal engagement means (29) so that, when the bracket (3) is attached to an upright (1), the fourth vertical engagement means (37) engages the outside surface of the face (5) of the upright (1) to which the bracket (31) is attached.

4. A bracket (3) as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising shelf engaging means (43).

5. A shelf comprising two or more brackets (3) as claimed in any preceding claim.

6. A modular shelving system comprising a plurality of uprights (1) having a plurality of regularly spaced apart slots (7), and further comprising a plurality of brackets (3) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 and/or a plurality of shelves as claimed in claim 5.

Ansprüche

1. Regalabstützträger (3) zur Verbindung mit einem Pfosten (1), der eine Anzahl gleichmäßig vertikal beabstandeter Schlitze (7) enthält, die einen ersten, zweiten und dritten aufeinanderfolgenden Schlitz aufweisen, wobei der zweite Schlitz unter dem ersten Schlitz positioniert ist, und der dritte Schlitz unter dem zweiten Schlitz positioniert ist; und der Träger (3) Folgendes aufweist:

eine Oberkante (13), die Regalabstützmittel aufweist; und

eine Einbaukante (15) zur Positionierung an dem Pfosten;

wobei die Einbaukante (15) Folgendes aufweist:

einen ersten Befestigungsansatz (21) zur Positionierung in dem ersten Schlitz (7) des Pfostens (1);

einen zweiten Befestigungsansatz (23) zur Positionierung in dem zweiten Schlitz (7) des Pfostens (1), wobei der zweite Befestigungsansatz (23) ein vertikales Eingriffsmittel (39) zum Ergreifen der Innenseite der Fläche (5) des Pfostens (1) über dem zweiten Schlitz (7) aufweiset; und

einen dritten Befestigungsansatz (25) zur Positionierung in dem dritten Schlitz (7) des Pfostens (1), wobei der dritte Befestigungsansatz (25) ein erstes horizontales Eingriffsmittel (29) zum abstützenden Ergreifen einer Unterkante (4) des dritten Schlitzes (7) aufweist, und das erste horizontale Eingriffsmittel (29) Mittel (33) zum Ergreifen der Innenseite der Fläche (5) des Pfostens (1) unter dem dritten Schlitz (7) aufweist;

wobei die Einbaukante (15) weiter ein drittes vertikales Eingriffsmittel (35) zum Ergreifen einer Außenseite der Fläche (5) des Pfostens (1) unter dem dritten Schlitz (7) aufweist;

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass: der erste Befestigungsansatz (21) sich über die Oberkante (13) des Trägers (3) erstreckt und ein erstes vertikales Eingriffsmittel (27) zum Ergreifen eines Bereichs einer Innenseite einer Fläche (5) des Pfostens (1) über dem ersten Schlitz (7) aufweist, und der zweite Befestigungsansatz weiter ein zweites horizontales Eingriffsmittel (41) zum abstützenden Ergreifen unterkante (9) des zweiten Schlitzes (7) aufweist.

2. Träger (3) nach Anspruch 1, bei dem, wenn der Träger (3) an einem Pfosten (1) befestigt wird, das dritte vertikale Eingriffsmittel (35) die Außenseite des Pfostens (1) im Wesentlichen direkt unterhalb des dritten Schlitzes (7) ergreift.

3. Träger (3) nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, bei dem die Einbaukante (15) ein viertes vertikales Eingriffsmittel (37) aufweist, das zwischen dem zweiten vertikalen Eingriffsmittel (39) und dem ersten horizontalen Eingriffsmittel (29) so positioniert ist, dass, wenn der Träger (3) an einem Pfosten (1) befestigt wird, das vierte vertikale Eingriffsmittel (37) die Außenseite der Fläche (5) des Pfostens (1) ergreift, an dem der Träger (31) befestigt ist.

4. Träger (3) nach einem vorhergehenden Anspruch, der weiter Regaleingriffsmittel (43) aufweist.

5. Regal, das zwei oder mehr Träger (3) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche aufweist.

6. Modulares Regalsystem, das eine Anzahl von Pfosten (1) mit einer Anzahl gleichmäßig beabstandeter Schlitze (7) aufweist, und das weiter eine Anzahl von Trägem (3) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4 und/oder eine Anzahl von Regalen nach Anspruch 5 aufweist.

Revendications

1. Console de support d'étagère (3) à des fins de connexion sur un montant (1) ayant une pluralité de fentes (7) espacées régulièrement les unes des autres à la verticale comportant des première, deuxième et troisième fentes successives, ladite deuxième fente devant être positionnée en dessous de la première fente, et ladite troisième fente devant être positionnée en dessous de ladite deuxième fente ; la console (3) comportant :

un bord supérieur (13) comportant un moyen de support d'étagère : et

un bord de montage (15) à des fins de positionnement contre ledit montant ; dans laquelle le bord de montagne (15) comporte :

une première patte de fixation (21) à des fins de positionnement dans ladite première fente (7) dudit montrant (1) ;

une deuxième patte de fixation (23) à des fins de positionnement dans ladite deuxième fente (7) dudit montant (1), la deuxième patte de fixation (23) comportant un deuxième moyen vertical de mise en prise (39) à des fins de mise en prise avec la surface intérieure de la face (5) du montant (1) au-dessus de ladite deuxième fente (7); et

une troisième patte de fixation (25) à des fins de positionnement dans ladite troisième fente (7) dudit montant (1), la troisième patte de fixation (25) comportant un premier moyen horizontal de mise en prisé (29) à des fins de mise en prise dans un but de support avec un bord inférieur (4) de la troisième fente (7), et le premier moyen horizontal de mise en prise (29) comportant un moyen (33) à des fins de mise en prise avec la surface intérieure de la face (5) du montant (1) en dessous de la troisième fente (7) ;

le bord de montage (15) comportant par ailleurs un troisième moyen vertical de mise en prise (35) à des fins de mise en prise avec une surface de la face (5) du montant (1) en dessous de ladite troisième fente (7)

caractérisée par : ladite première patte de fixation (21) s'étendant au-dessus dudit bord supérieur (13) de ladite console (3) et comportent un premier moyen vertical de mise en prise (27) à des fins de mise en prise avec une zone d'une surface intérieure d'une face (5) du montant (1) au-dessus de ladite première fente (7), et ladite deuxième patte de fixation comportent par ailleurs un deuxième moyen horizontal de mise en prise (41) à des fins de mise en prise dans un but de support avec un bord inférieur (9) de la deuxième fente (7).

2. Console (3) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle, quand la console (3) est attachée à un montrant (1), le troisième moyen vertical de mise en prise (35) se met en prise avec la surface extérieure du montant (1) sensiblement immédiatement en dessous de la troisième fente (7).

3. Console (3) selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans laquelle le bord de montage (15) comporte un quatrième moyen vertical de mise en prise (37) positionne entre le deuxième moyen vertical de en prise (39) et le premier moyen horizontal de mise en prise (29) de sorte que, quand la console (3) est attachée à un montant (1), le quatrième moyen vertical de mise en prise (37) se met en prise avec la surface extérieure de la face (5) du montrant (1) auquel la console (31) est attachée.

4. Console (3) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes comportant par ailleurs un moyen de mise en prise d'étagère (43).

5. Étagère comportant deux consoles (3) ou plus l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.

6. Système d'étagère modulaire comportant une pluralité de montants (1) ayant une pluralité de fentes (7) espacées régulièrement les unes des autres, et comportant par ailleurs une pluralité de consoles (3) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4 et/ou une pluralité d'étagères selon la revendication 5.

Drawing