Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SHEET METAL SHELF SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention:
The present irsvention relates to a sheet
metal shelf and to a commercial shelf system including
that shelf.
2. Brief description of the prior art:
Many sheet metal shelf systems have been
proposed and are presently available on the market.
Examples are illustrated and described in the
following United States patents:
2,900,085 (Levy) 1959
2,975,908 (Huet) 1961
3,321,089 (Krikorian) 1967
3,965,826 (Markham) 1976
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to
improve the stability, strength and aesthetic
appearance of sheet metal shelves and shelf systems
using these shelves.
;; :: ~~ ~ .::~. < . ,.~ :v...:. .. .:.. :: -.- :.
j ,, . ~. . ; . . . ':
.,:; :-;:; ;:. ,. . >
x~ - , , .. ,::.. ~::. . - ;
f = ,
,~
~
r . a
.: ~
7 2 t%; . .
;ws:.~S
J r F. L', i
:~, lj.
y.
: !n
.!.~ ,,,y~~ ~~~~,,,
''~ ~.y. s~ w. ~
y a .~! . t y.~
wb.~t .f:. > ~,
, 'v ~'S- .
.C,! - ro
' 1~.. 5 ~ tr~
~, 3 , ..,l.
r.n'St ' t , ~
y yF v
? k ~ ' ~
ue '
~ "
~
. , ,. ,.
v ,. , .~ .,Y. : .
L . . " ... ,t> , S .
" . ". J , :.,~
.. ...rY .. f :1,., ; ,'.,.~.~r v, r.
n, . . . k m 3
. .1. -h v . s ...,.Y rf
.T. c, r4, . .w '~ .,. <t
s ,: .. ? a .. N.x ..,
.. ~ "... ,n .r,.~...
_
' '.. ':' ; .' ..: ;
~ , ,'.. ,,
:
;..Sa ' ~' : ~ .. s ;, : ':,~: " . n ., . ' .', '. , . ..~. ~
: ' :.;:; , , . '.. :,:, . ' .
'.~ ; , ., . '
: '
S
' :~~ ': ;. ~;..~. ,s:~~ .:~ .
~ ' ': n: ~ ~. . ~ ' , .. .
. ' s . v
, :~ ~
.. . . . ;. : ... .,
, . ~ a ., . .
:.. . . .
. .
n
: r
Y 1
n_. . . . - ~~~ .:y .
-
t.
S 7:' f ..
H :;.~ 1
,:,;
t .. ! t ~
,
~
'~2
; :' ~nf
7
'
U y
~,:........ . ... ... , ... ... .t r .:-:;n. . . t, . .,
. " ... .. r Y.',~ . ... .n. n . , n "~
. . ,
..
CA 02105500 1998-03-16
2
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, in accordance with the
present invention, there is provided a shelf made of
sheet metal and comprising an underside and an
elongate transverse member made of sheet metal and
bent lengthwise at a given angle to define a pair of
longitudinal sections angularly disposed with respect
to each other. One of the longitudinal sections is
secured to the underside of the shelf, and the
elongate transverse member comprises mounting elements
cut and formed in the sheet metal of the elongate
transverse member, and adapted to engage a shelf-
supporting structure. The elongate transverse member
defines a corner and the mounting elements are located
in the corner of the elongate transverse member and
are formed by hollow, open box-like structures.
Also in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a shelf made of sheet
metal and comprising one end at which the sheet metal
is bent downwardly at a given angle to form a flange
and thereby define a corner. The shelf further
comprises an elongate transverse member (a) made of
sheet metal and bent lengthwise at the given angle,
(b) fitted and secured in the corner, under the shelf,
CA 02105500 1998-03-16
3
and (c) comprising mounting elements cut and formed in
the sheet metal of the elongate transverse member, and
adapted to engage a shelf-supporting structure. The
elongate transverse member defines a corner, and the
mounting elements are located in the corner of the
elongate transverse member and are formed by hollow,
open box-like structures.
The present invention is further concerned
with a shelf made of sheet metal and comprising first
and second opposite ends, wherein at the first end of
the shelf the sheet metal is bent downwardly at a
given angle to form a first flange and thereby define
a first corner. The shelf further comprises a first
elongate transverse member made of sheet metal and
bent lengthwise at the given angle, this first
elongate transverse member being fitted and secured in
the first corner, under the shelf. At the second end
the sheet metal of the shelf is bent downwardly at the
given angle to form a second flange and thereby define
a second corner. The shelf comprises a second
elongate transverse member made of sheet metal and
bent lengthwise at the given angle, and the second
elongate transverse member is fitted and secured in
this second corner, under the shelf. The first and
second elongate transverse members further comprise
mounting elements cut and formed in the sheet metal of
CA 02105500 1998-03-16
4
the elongate transverse members, and adapted to engage
a shelf-supporting structure. These first and second
elongate transverse members each define a corner, and
the mounting elements are located in the corners of
the elongate transverse members and are formed by
hollow, open box-like structures.
Still further in accordance with the
present invention, there is provided a shelf system
comprising flat cantilever shelf-supporting brackets
and a shelf made of sheet metal. The flat cantilever
shelf-supporting brackets each include an upper edge
surface formed with (a) a first notch defining a
sloping bottom edge surface and a tongue delimiting
between them a cavity, and (b) a second substantially
rectangular notch. The shelf comprises an underside
and elongate transverse members made of sheet metal
and each bent lengthwise at a given angle to define a
pair of longitudinal sections angularly disposed with
respect to each other. One of the longitudinal
sections of each transverse member is secured to the
underside of the shelf. Cut and formed in the sheet
metal of each elongate transverse member is (a) a
first hollow box-like mounting element adapted to
slide on the sloping bottom edge surface of the first
notch of an associated one of the shelf-supporting
brackets and open to receive the tongue of this first
CA 02105500 1998-03-16
5 notch and thereby enable positioning of the first
mounting element in the cavity between the sloping
bottom edge surface and the tongue, and (b) a second
hollow box-like mounting element adapted to be
received by the second rectangular notch of the
associated shelf-supporting bracket after the first
box-like mounting element has been positioned into the
cavity.
Obviously, the elongate transverse members
bent lengthwise, for example at 90°, reinforce the
sheet metal shelf. Also, the structure of the hollow
box-like mounting elements of the elongate transverse
members and the structure of the notches of the
cantilever brackets block and stabilize the sheet
metal shelves on the cantilever brackets. As the
sheet metal of the opposite ends of the shelf are bent
over the elongate transverse members, the aesthetic
appearance of the shelf and shelf system is enhanced.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the invention, each elongate transverse member has
first and second opposite ends, and the distance
between a first mounting element and the first end of
the elongate transverse member is equal to the
distance between a second mounting element and the
second end of that elongate transverse member. Each
CA 02105500 1998-03-16
5a
elongate transverse member has a plane of symmetry and
the first and second mounting elements of each
transverse member are symmetrical about this plane of
symmetry. Accordingly, the first and second ends of
each elongate transverse member are interchangeable,
and the elongate transverse members can be fitted in
any of the first and second corners.
The objects, advantages and other features
of the present invention will become more apparent
upon reading of the following non restrictive
description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given
by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the appended drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shelf
system in accordance with the present invention,
comprising a sheet metal shelf; and
%i,~ ~ .r . . ., . . .,..,. ~ . ' -::. . .:;. :.. '~.:: .. ~... . ' "'~"
_.
6
Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional
view of the sheet metal shelf of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTTON OF TgiE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The shelf system in accordance with the
present invention is generally identified by the
reference; 10 in the accompanying drawings.
The shelf system 10 first comprises flat
cantilever shelf-supporting brackets such as 11. The
elongate bracket 11 has a proximate end formed with a
pair of hook-like tongues 12 and 13. A metallic
upright member (not shown) is fixed to a generally
vertical wall and is formed with a series of vertical
slots to receive the tongues 12 and 13 and enable
hooking of the bracket 11 to this upright member in a
generally horizontal or sloping position. This type
of attachment is well known to those of ordinary skill
in the art and, accordingly, will not be further
described in the present specification.
The shelf-supporting bracket 11 further
comprises an upper edge surface 14 formed with a
distal notch 15 and a proximate notch 16. Distal
notch 15 is rectangular. Regarding proximate notch
16, it presents the general configuration of a hook.
More specifically, notch 16 comprises a sloping bottom
edge surface 17 and a horizontally extending
rectangular tongue 13 delimiting between them a
substantially rectangular cavity 19.
a
7
The shelf-supporting brackets 11 are
advantageously die cut in relatively thick sheet metal
for low cost production thereof.
The shelf system 10 further comprises
shelves such as 20. The shelf 20 is made of sheet
metal. At the front of the shelf 20, the sheet metal
is bent downwardly to form a front flange 21 defining
a front groove capable of receiving labels (not
shown). The lower portion of the front flange 21 is
bent rearwardly to form a front bottom lip 22. At the
rear of the shelf 20, the sheet metal is bent
downwardly to form a rear flange 23 defining an obtuse
angle with the flat top surface of the shelf 20. The
lower portion of the flange 23 is bent forwardly and
upwardly to define an inner lip 24. The flanges 21
and 23 as well as the lips 22 and 24 will reinforce
the shelf 2,0 lengthwise while preventing anybody from
being cut by a sharp sheet metal edge.
zo
As illustrated in Figure 2, the sheet
metal at the respective opposite ends of the shelf 20
is bent at right angle (90°) to form downwardly
extending flanges 25 and 26 and thereby define
respective corners. Elongate transverse members 27
and 28, made of relatively thin sheet metal, are bent
lengthwise at right angle (90°). Transverse member 27
is fitted under the shelf 20, into the corner
corresponding to the flange 25. In the same manner,
'transverse member 28 is fitted in the corner
corresponding to the flange 26. The transverse
members 27 and 28 are then spot welded to the sheet
metal of the shelf 20.
rS
fi r . i,
h r m 5 r v~:,
,~ a~ r ..- ~1 r
. .. ... . ., . .... ,..,~,~ ... .~ . . ... '1 .~ ~ .~., . .. . .~ ~ .. yv
5.... ~.:..
i~t ::. ~ '.'
t.......5..
s
one of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the elongate transverse members 27 and
28 can be secured to the sheet metal of a shelf 20
formed with no flanges 25 and 26. In this case, one
of the two longitudinal sections, disposed at right
angle with respect to each other, of the two elongate
transverse members 27 and 28 is applied to the
underside of the shelf 20 and spot welded to the sheet
metal of that shelf. An elongate transverse member
such as 27 and 28 can even be secured under the shelf
between the two ends of that shelf for cooperation
with a cc>rresponding shelf-supporting bracket 11.
The elongate transverse members 27 and 28
15 are fabricated at low cost by means of a die. This
die will in particular bent lengthwise at right angle
the transverse members 27 and 28. During the same
operation, it will also cut and form in the sheet
metal of each transverse member' 27 or 28 hollow box-
20 like rectangular mounting elements 29 and 30 in the
corner of that transverse member. The length of the
mounting elements 29 and 30 corresponds to the width
of the rectangular distal notch 15. The box--like .
rectangular mounting elements are also open at each
end as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
The distance between the mounting element
29 and the corresponding end 31 of the elongate
transverse member 27,28 is equal to 'the distance '
between the box-like mounting element 30 and the
corresponding end 32 of the same elongate transverse
member 27,28. Erloreover, each elongate transverse
member 27,28 has a longitudinal plane of symmetry (see
9
for example in Figure 2 the longitudinal plane of
symmetry 35 of elongate transverse member 27) , and the
box-like rectangular mounting elements 29 and 30 of
that transverse member 27,28 is also symmetrical about
'this plane of symmetry. One can therefore appreciate
that the opposite ends 31 and 32 of the elongate
transverse members 27 and 28 are interchangeable at
will and that these members 27 and 28 can be spot
welded in the corner of either end of the shelf 20.
This presents the advantage that only one piece is
required for the angle irons of both ends of the shelf
20.
Also, as the elongate transverse members
27 and 28 are interchangeable, the shelf 20 can be
reversed at will, that is mounted an the shelf-
supporting brackets 11 with eii~her the flange 21 or
the :flange 23 at the front. The elongate transverse
members 27 and 28 will still fit onto the
corresponding pair of shelf-supporting brackets 11.
<, .
Upon installation of the shelf 20 on the
shelf-supporting brackets 11, the mounting elements 30
of the elongate transverse members 27 and 28 are slid
on the sloping edge surfaces 17 of the corresponding
shelf-supporting brackets 11 until the hollow box-like
mounting elements 30 reach the respective cavities 19
( see arrow 33 in Figure 1 ) . The tongues 18 of the
brackets 11 then penetrate in the interior of the
mounting elements 30 through the open ends thereof.
The box-like mounting elements 29 are then positioned
in the distal rectangular notches 15 of the brackets
11 (see arrow 3~ of Figure 1). The mounting elements
..: :. .a .,.'... ,. ' .. ... :: . . :; . ,.':
t
..
:
'
.:: " ~
S ~., ..~. .
", ,
..!.
.;:
. : :
...r:
:
'
:.nf . .
.,.
t,.:a
a:
" ~s,: . yl
.
,
S!~
'
'
-
. ,
4.. r.'. .
Sr . , ; '; ~ 1. .; .
..: .
7 .
.
..
';.',: ~'~ : ,.!, . ... ~ , ; .
'
t . ;~. ...;'. ... : ~: "~ ., . ,.. ~~ ,.. ,., .
2~1 ~'
t
..,... . . :. W ., . ' . . :.: n. ..., ". : ; ~. . , ,.
.~.:.... '-f:. ' '. : .~:. .... .. . .,.. . .. :.....'.. . .. . .
. .. .: . .- :'~~. ...,'. ~:n ....:.' ... .. ~. ~,.,~...
1... .
1 ~ ~ ~ i~
1~
29 and 30 then engage the notches 15 and 16,
respectively, to lack the shelf 20 on the shelf-
supporting bracket 11. It should be understood that
each elongate transverse member such as 27 and 28 is
associated to one shelf-supporting bracket such as 11
and is positioned thereon by means of the above
described method. It should also be noted that the
ends of 'the rear flange 23 and lip 24 are cut to
provide for clearance for the passage of the brackets
11 (see Figure 1).
Obviously, the elongate transverse members
27 and 28 bent lengthwise at right angle (90°),
reinforce the sheet metal shelf 20. Also, the
structure of the hollow box-likes mounting elements 29
and 30 of the elongate transve~°se members 27 and 28
and the structure of the notches 15 and 16 of the
cantilever brackets 11 bloc). and stabilize the sheet
metal shelves 20 on the cantilever brackets 11. As
the sheet metal of the opposite ends of the shelf 20
ors bent over the elongate transverse members 27 and
28, the aesthetic appearance of the shelf and shelf
system is enhanced.
Although the present invention has been
described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment
thereof, 'this embodiment can be modified at will,
within the scope of the appended claims, without
departing from the spirit and nature of the subject
invention.
t~:
