Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
RACK ASSEMBLY APPARATUS
This device relates to a rack assembly apparatus for use
in assembling decorative racks, display racks or racks for
storing articles.
It has been a customary practice to assemble the rack
of the kind described above by fixing rack plates, side
plates and the like by use of nails or screws. If the rack
is fixed in this manner, however, disassembly of the rack is
very troublesome and time-consuming and if the rack is a
display rack whose design or pattern must be frequently
changed, the rack constituents after disassembly are damaged
and cannot be used again.
To obviate these problems, various assembly apparatuses
for assembly type racks have been developed and various
assembly tools and jigs have been developed, but the con-
ventional assembly apparatuses involve the problems that
they are complicated in construction, are expensive to pro-
duce and easy to break and their assembly is difficult. If
- the rigidity of the joints of the constituent members is not
sufficiently high, the rack after assembly undergoes shaking
during use for an extended period of time.
To eliminate these problems, the present device is
directed to a rack assembly apparatus which is simple in
construction, does not call for any particular jigs or tools
at the time of assembly but can be assembled easily within
a short period of time and yet can firmly join the con-
stituents with one another~ and can be easily disassembled
rapidl~ WitilOUt damaging the constituents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front view of the rack;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connection member
l;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connection memb~r
2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connection member
3;
Figure 5 is a front view of the panel;
Figure 6 is a front and side view of the transverse
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beam;
Figure 7 is a partial transverse sectional plan view
showing the state of connection between the connection
members 1, 2 and the panels and the transverse beams;
Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the
state of connection between the connection members and the
panels;
Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the
state of connection between the connection members and the
transverse beams; and
Figure 10 is a partial transverse sectional plan view
showing the state of connection between the connection
members 3 and the panels and the transverse beams.
The present device will be described with reference to
an embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings.
The apparatus of the present device is of the type in which
panels, glass sheets or the like are fitted to connection
members consisting of a rigid material such as synthetic
resin, metal or wood, and comprises three kinds of con-
nection members, i.e., connection members 1 to be used at
the corners of the racks, connection members 2 to be used at
the intermediate portions of the rack, and connection members
3, panels 10, transverse beams 13, and rack plates 16, the
members 10, 13 and 16 being fitted to the connection members.
As shown in Eigures 2 and 7, each connection member 1
has a rectangular parallelopiped base 4 having a rectangular
square front, and an L-shaped panel fitting plate 5 is
formed so as to project along two adjacent side edges of
both surfaces of the base 4. Each panel fitting plate 5
consists of two fitting support plates 5a, 5b arranged in
parallel with each other that define a thinly elongated
fitting groove 6 between them. This fitting groove 6 is
also bent in the L-shaped form. An engaging protuberance 7
is formed at the bottom of each fitting groove 6 so as to
projecttowards the open portion. On the other hand, a thin
elongated, transverse beam fitting groove 8 that opens out-
ward is further defined at the portion of the base 4 extend-
ing along the fitting support plate 5b that is disposed
64
inward. An engaging protuberance 9 is formed at the ~ottom
of this transverse beam fitting groove 6 so as to project
towards the open portion.
Each connection member 2 includes a rectangular
parallelopiped base 4 having an elongated flat surface as
shown in Figures 3 and 7. Each panel fitting plate 5 con-
sists of two fitting support panels 5a, 5b that are disposed
along the side edge of the longer side and at its center,
respectively, in such a manner as to cross at right angles
and to describe a substantially T-shaped form and are
parallel to each other. A thin, elongated panel fitting
groove 6 is likewise defined between these fitting support
plates 5a, 5b also in the T-shaped form. An engaging pro-
tuberance 7 is formed at the bottom of each panel fitting
groove 6 so as to project towards the open position. On the
other hand, a thin, elongated, transverse beam fitting
groove ~ is disposed on the base 4 along the outer surface
of each fitting plate 5 9 and an engaging protuberance 9 is
formed at the bottom of this transverse beam fitting groove
8 so as to face the open portion.
As shown in Figures 4 and 10, each connection member 3
includes a rectangular parallelopiped base 4 having a
regular square flat surface and panel fitting plates 5 are
formed so as to project from both surfaces on the base 4 in
the vertical direction and to cross each other at the center.
Each fitting plate 5 consists of two fitting support plates
5a, 5b that are arranged in parallel with each other and
define a thin, elongated panel fitting groove 6 between them.
This panel fitting groove 6 i5 defined in the criss-cross
form, too. An engaging protuberance 7 is defined at the
bottom of each panel fitting groove 6 so as to face each open
portion. On the other hand, a thin, elongated, transverse
beam fitting groove 8 is disposed on the base 4 along the
outer surface of each panel fitting plate 5 and an engaging
protuberance 9 is formed at the bottom of each transve.se
fitting groove 8 so as to face the open portion.
The three kinds of connection members 1, 2, 3 have the
same projecting height for their panel engaging plates 5 but
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do not have any extensions in the vertical direction. The
base portion, which becomes the upper surface at the time
of use, serves as a rack plate support 4a. From the appear-
ance of the rack, it is preferred that the projecting height
of each engaging plate 5 is substantially equal to the
thickness of the rack plate to be placed thereon.
Figure 5 shows a panel 10 to be used as the side plate
and the back plate. Engaging notches 11 are formed in the
vertical direction close to both side edges of the panel lO.
Figure 6 shows the transverse beam 12, which is dis-
posed horizontally to support the rack in the direction of
width and supports the rack plates placed thereon. The
transverse beam 12 has an inverted L-shaped cross section.
Its vertical plate 13 is a portion where the beam 12 is
fitted to the connection member, and its both end portions
are lower than the rest and are equipped with engaging
notches 14 to mate with the engaging protuberances 9 of
the aforementioned connection members. The horizontal
plate portion 15 of the beam is cut off at both ends at an
angle of 45 and this is a portion where the rack plate 16
is placed.
Each member has the construction described above. The
state of assembly will be described in detail. First, the
connection members 1 are used for the corner portions. On
the bottom surface of the rack, the panel 10 is detachably
fitted to the panel fitting plate 5 of the connection member
- 1 that projects upward. In other words, in the case of the
connection member l to be disposed at the corners on the
bottom surface and at the back of the rack, the panel 10 for
the side plate and the panel 10 for the back plate are
fitted to the panel fitting grooves 6 of this connection
member 1 so that they cross each other at right angles. In
the case of the connection members 1 to be disposed at the
front corner portions on the bottom surface, only the panels
10 for the side plates are fitted into the fitting grGoves 6
of the connection member 1. On the upper surface of the
rack, on the other hand, the panel 10 is detachably fitted
; to the panel fitting plate 5 of the connection member 1 that
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s
projects downward. In other words, in the base of the con-
nection members 1 to be disposed at the back corners on the
upper surface, the panel 10 for the side plate and the panel
10 for the back plate are fitted into the panel fitting
grooves 6 of the connection member 1 so that they cross each
other at right angles. In the case of the connection mem-
bers 1 to be disposed at the front corners of the upper
surface9 only the panels 10 for the side plates are fitted
into the panel fitting grooves 6 of the connection members
1. Furthermore, at the intermediate stage portions of the
rack, the panels 10 are detachably fitted into the panel
fitting plates 5 of the connection member 1 that projects
both upward and downward. In other words, in the case of
the connection members 1 to be disposed at the back corners
lS of the intermediate stages, the panel 10 for the side plate
and the panel 10 for the back plate are fitted into the panel
fitting grooves 6 of the connection member 1 from above and
below so that these panels 10 cross each other at right
angles. In the case of the connection members 1 to be
disposed at the front corner portions of the intermediate
stages, only the panels 10 for the side plate are fitted into
the panel fitting grooves 6 of the connection member 1 from
the vertical direction.
The connection member 2 is used at the intermediate
portion of the direction of width of the rack. The panels
10 for the back plate are fitted into the panel fitting
groove 6 of the connection member 2 from two directions and
the panel 10 for the side plate is also fitted to the panel
fitting groove 6 in such a manner as to cross the panels 10
for the back plates at right angles. In the case of the
connection members 2 to be disposed on the upper and bottom
surfaces of the rack, only the panels lOare fitted to the
engaging plates 5 of the connection members 2 that project
upward and downward, respectively, in the same way as in the
connection members 1.
As described above, the panels 10 are fitted to the
connection memb~ers 1 or 2 in accorance with the respective
positions of the rack. In the panels 10 thus fitted, the
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engaging notches 11 defined close to their end portions are
engaged with and anchored to the engaging protuberances 7
that project from the bottom of the fitting grooves 6.
Furthermore, both end portions of each transverse beam 12
are fitted into the transverse beam fitting groove 8 defined
on each of the connection members 1 and 2. The transverse
beam 12 is disposed hori~ontally along the side and back
plates. The transverse beam 12 disposed at the front of the
rack so as to bridge over the side plates are shaped in the
form of the hori~ontal frame for each stage. In this case,
the engaging notches 14 of the transverse beam 12 are
engaged with and anchored to the engaging protuberances that
project from the bottom of the transverse beam fitting groove
8. The rack plates 16 are placed on the transverse beam 12
lS that are thus shaped in the form of the horizontal frame.
The panel fitting plates 5 do not project from the rack
plates 16 but provide good appearance if their projecting
height is m4de substantially equal to the thickness of the
rack plate 16.
The connection member 3 is used particularly for the
rack having a large depth in which at least two shelves are
defined in the direction of depth. Two panels 10 for the
side plates as well as two panels 10 for the back plates are
fitted into the criss-cross panel fitting grooves 6 so that
they cross orthogonally each other.
The present device has the construction as described
above. The panels for the side and back plates are fitted
into the panel fitting grooves defined by the panel fitting
plates of the connection member, the transverse beams are
fitted to the transverse beam fitting grooves defined at
the base of the connection member and the rack plates are
placed on the transverse beams. According to this arrange-
ment, ti~e rack can be assembled extremely easily and within
a short period of time without calling for any assembly jigs,
in particular. Moreover, the engaging protuberances are
formed at the bottom of the panel fitting grooves and at the
bottom of the transverse beam fitting plates while the
engaging notches are defined on the panels and on the
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transverse beams at the positions corresponding to the
engaging protuberances. Accordingly, the panels and the
transverse beams can be reliably engaged by engaging the
engaging notches with the engaging protuberances, and they
S do not cause shake even after use for an extended period or
at the time of earthquake.
Morevoer, since the present device does not use any
nails or screws at all, it can be easily disassembled. The
constituent members of the rack can be used again because
they are not damaged. Hence 9 the present device is especially
suitable for display racks whose design must be frequently
changed.
