Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02675317 2009-07-10
Shelf systeni
Description
The i nventi on relates to a].oad-beaz'zng framework, in
particular rack, having upright, profiled load-bearin.g
means or supports and having transversely directed
elements, in particulax having horizontal shelves,
carrying rails and the like, fitted thereon via
connecting components.
The invention is concerned, in the broadest sense, with
a three-dimensional load-bearing system made of upriqht
supports and horizontal elements connected to the
upright supports. These horizontal elements are
constituted, in particular, by shelves, clothes rails
or other horizontal components of a rack system.
It is an object of the invention to design such a rack
system such that the individual parts can in particular
be straightforwardly assembled or installed on site,
bilt a three-dimensa.onal load-bearing systern which can
be subjected to high loading is neverthelews created.
zn, order to achieve this object, the invention is
characterized by the following features:
a) the upright load--bearing means, in particular the
supports, have a peripheral groove continuing
preferably over the entire height,
b) a retaining profile with spaced-apart retaining
elements is fixed in the groove,
c) the transversely directed components, in
particular shelves, rails or the like, have
connecting elements which can be introduced i.nto
the groove of the supports and are connected to
the retaining elements arranged ozi the load-
bearing profile.
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The special feature is that the connection between the
upright supports and the horizontal transversely
directed components takes place by means of connecting
elements which are accommodated entirely within the
supports and/or transverse carriers. Accordingly, the
connection cannot be seen from the outside-
A further special feature is that the upright supports
are designed in the form of hollow profiles, in
particular of extruded profiles made of metal or
aluminum alloy with the peripheral groove formed
therein. In particulaz' the supports or the hollow
profiles are dzmensioned to be comparatively wide with
a comparatively small depth.
A further special feature is that the upright supports
are corinected to transverse carriers, preferably
likewise made of hollow profiles with the same
configuration and dimensioning as the supports, wherein
the transverse carriers are connected to tn.e upright
supports via connection components which have one sub-
region located within the transverse carriers, designed
in the form of hollow profiles, and have another sub-
region located within the mutually facing grooves o-L
the supports which are to be connected, the result
being that the transverse carriers k?iatt directly
against the upriqht supports, preferablv flush with the
supports.
k'urther connecting means serve for fitting load-bearing
profiles which are likewise a-rranged between the
upright supports and are connected via special
connecting components to the retaining elements of the
load-bearing profile within the groovEs.
A further special feature is the design of a clothes
rail which can be used in conjunction with the rack
system or independentiy of the same.
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petails of the invention will be described more
specifically hereinbelow with reference to the
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the
load-bearing system,
Figure 2 shows a simplified front view of the rack
system,
Figure 3 shows an exploded illustration of the load-
bearing or rack system,
Figure 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, an element of
the rack system, namely a profile in cross
section,
Figure 5 shows the profile according to figure 4 with
a load-bearing profile introduced thexein,
Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of the load-
bearing proiile,
Figure 7 shows a connecting component for connecting
profiles to one another,
F.igure o shows a connecting component of similar
design,
Figure 9 shows a retaining element for supporting
horizontal parts on upright supports,
Figure 10 shows an illustration analogous to figure 2
with certain details enlarged,
Figure 11 shows a first detail XI from figure 10,
Figure 12 shows a second detail XII from figure 10,
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Fi.gure 13 shows, on an enlarged scale, a further detail
XIII from figure 10,
Figure 14 shows, on an enlarged scale, a detail XIV
from figure 2,
Figure 15 shows a (clothes) rail in cross section,
Figure 16 shows the clothes rail according to figure 15
on a smaller scale, with special installation
elements inserted therein,
Figure 17 shows another embodiment of a clothes rail
designed in the form of a hollow profile,
Figure 18 shows, in detail form, a molding for
connecting in particular shelves to upright
supports, and
Figure 19 shows a connection between a shelf and an
upright support, partly in vertical 5ection.
Figures 1-14 show a load-bearing structure, which is
preferably used as a rack or rack system, in its
entirety and in detail. The load-bearing structure
comprises (two) lateral load-bearing frameworks 10, 11
and transversely directed elements whi-ch are connected
to the lateral load-bearing frameworks 10, 11. The
transversely directed elements are constituted, for
examp].e, by transversely directed, horizontal panels,
naznely shelves 12, and may also be in the -form of other
set-up parts, for example a clothes rai7. 13.
The load-bearing frameworks 10, 11 are designed in a
particular manner and are shown in elevation in figuxe
1. They are constituted, in the first instance, by
upright load-bearing parts, namely supports 14, 15.
These are designed in a particular manner, namely in
the form of hollow profiles made of 'olastzc or, in
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particular, made of extruded aluminum profiles or made
of aluminum alloys. The figures 4 and 5 show an
advantageous embodiment of the cross-sectional shape of
the supports 14, 15. Accordingly, the supports 14, 15,
in comparison with the profile width, are very deep.
The supports 14, 15 or the hollow profiles accorc'ting to
figures 4 and 5 are configured in a particular manner
for connection to other load-bearing elements and in
order for transversely directed structural elements to
be fitted thereon. An important feature is constituted
by a groove 16 which is formed along at least one
periphery of the hollow profile or of the supports 14,
and has, in particular, a U-shaped cross section and
15 extends over the entire length of the profiie and/or
over the entire height of the support ?4, 15. The
groove 16 is bounded by large-surface-area side walls
17, 18 of the hollow profile, these side walls being
formed periphera?.lv as projecting, free profile legs. A
(first) transverse wall forms a base 19 ofthe groove
16. This base, or the transverse wall, isprovided here
with a central slot 20.
Further (two) transverse walls 21, 22 are formed within
the hollow profile. These serve for sta.bilizing the
wide hollow profile and/or for allowing cross-
sectionally annular profile extensions 23, 2~ to be
f?tted thereon. These profile extensions likewise
extend over the entire height and/or length o? the
hollow profile and are designed such that connecting
screws can be introduced longitudinally into the round
profile extensions 23, 24 in order to fasten further
elements. Formed on that peripheral side of the hollow
profile which is located opposite the groove 16 is a
transversely directed terminating wall 25, which is
connected to peripheries of the side walls 17and 18.
The groove 16, which is formed along at least one side
of the profiles or supports 14, 15, serves for
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accomntodating connecting means for the connection of
transverselv directed structural parts, such as
shelves, load-bearing elements etc., such that the
connecting means or fittings are located entirely
within the groove 16 once the relevant parts have been
installed.
A particular method of connecting elements of the load-
bearing system, in particular of a raGk system, is
constituted by use of separate profiles with connecting
components which are positioned independently on or in
the load-bearing profile. The ' preserit exemplary
embodiment makes use of a load-bearing profile 26 which
has an exposed load-bearing web 27 extending in the
region of the groove 16. Suitable connecting means are
arranged on this load-bearing web. In the case of the
present exemplary embodiment, these connecting means
are transversely directed load-bearing bolts 28, which
are arranged in corresponding recesses of the load-
bearing web 27. The load-bearing profile 26 is
pre.erab,ly an extruded part made of plastic. The load-
bearing bolts 28 expediently consist of metal and are
fixed in a force-fitting manner in corresponding holes
in the load-bearing web 27. The length of the load-
bearing bolts 28 are somewhat smaller "?ian the free
spacing between the side walls 17, 18 of the hollow
profile or of the groove 16.
The load-bearing profile 26 has a w?dened base part
fastened on the hollow profile or on the support 14,
15. The present exemplary embodiment (ri.gure 5)
provides for form-fitting fastening. The load-bearing
profile 26 has a transverse web.29, and accordingly is
of cross-sectionally T-shaped design throughout. The
transverse web 29 is fastened on the holl.ow profile, to
be precise in a channeJ. 30 which extends over the
entire length of the hollow profile and is bounded by
the base 19 of the groove 16, on the one~ =hand, and by
the transverse wall 21, on the other hand. The channel
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30 corresponds, in terms of dimensions, to the
transverse web 29. The correspondingleyT dimensioned
load-bearing web 27 passes through the sl-'-ot 20 in the
base 19 into the region of the groove 16 and is located
centrally within the J.atter. .The load-bearing profile
26 is provided with a plurality of preferably equally
spaced-apart load-bearing components, that is to say
with the transversely directed load-bearing bolts 28.
In accordance with the number of these load-bearing
mearzs, it is possible for components to be set down on
the load-bearing bolts 28, by means of suitable
supporting parts, at corresponding height positions or
relative positions.
The system parts which are to be connectecl to the load-
bearing framework 10, 11 or the supports 14, 15 may be
provided with different fittings for connection to the
respective load-bearing profile 26. The fitting parts
should be designed such that they disappear completely
in the groove 16: An advantageous configuration of the
connecting partsis one where an obliquely directed,
slot-like recess 31 is formed in a coupling part. The
recess 31 fits the load-bearing bolt 28, and the
relevant connecting part therefore moves, under its own
weight, into a stable anchoring position on the load-
bearing bolt 28, the effect being that the connecting
componerit is drawn into the groove 16 as a result of
the inclined recess 31.
Figure 9 shows a first configuration of a connecting
component 32. This is suitable, in particular, for
supporting panel-like system parts, that is to say, for
exampl.e, for supporting a shelf 12. The connecting
component 32 is connected to the part which is to be
supported, that is to say, for example, to the shelf
12, to be precise in each case in the region of the
(four) corners of the panel-like structure. A coupling
part 33 of the connecting component 32 is provided with
the obliquely directed recess 31, which is designEd to
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fit the load-bearing bolt 28. Furthermore, the coupling
component 33 is of fork-like design, that is to say it
has two spaced- apart legs, each with a recess 31.
Accordingly, the coupling part 33 has a central gap, It
is thus possible for the two legs of the coupling part
33, upon connection to the load-bearing profile 26, to
come into engagement with the exposed regions of the
load-bearing bolt 28 on either side of~ the load-bearing
web 27.
The conziecting component 32 is connected to the shelf
12, that is to say to mutually opposite side
peripheries of the shelf 12, via profile components 34,
35. The two profile components 34, 35 are connected to
the shelf 12 in a central region of a side surface of
the latter (figure 3). The two assembled profile
components 34, 35 together form a cavity which is open
in the downward directzon and into which enters the
connecting component 32 (figure 14). Ac ordingiy, the
profile components 34, 35 butt as a unit against the
profiled top side of the connecting component 32, to be
precise outside the coupling part 33. The profile
components 34, 35 are dimensioned such that they fit
between the associated supports 14, 15, and therefore,
in this region, the profile components 34, 35 form the
outside of the shelf 12 between the supports 14, 15.
Furthermore, the profile components 34, 35 are
dimensioned such that they terminate flush with the
outer surfaces of the supports 14, 15 when the shelf
has been inserted (figure 3, rear side).
Another type of connecting component 36`is of angular
design (figur'es 8 and 11) This component is also
suitable, as an a.lternative, for mounting shelves 12.
In the case of the present exemplary embodiment (figure
3), the connecting component 36 serves for fastening a
respective transverse carrier 37 on the supports 14, 15
or between the same. The transverse carriers 37,
located opposite one another, of the two load-bearing
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frameworks 10, 11 serve to have any desired load-
bearing parts, in the present case the clothes rail 13,
fitted on them.
The txansverse carrier 37 is likewise designed in the
form of a hollow profile with a (downwardly or upwardly
directed) groove 16. In the arrangement according to
figures 3 and 11, the groove 16 in the transverse
carrier 37 is directed downward. A leg 38 of the
connecting component 36 enters into thegroove 16 of
the transverse carrier 37 and is anchored therein, for
example by a screw 39. An upright load-bearing leg 40
of the connecting component 36 is provided, at the top
end, with a coupling part 41, analogous to the coupling
part 33 of the connecting component 32. In particular,
the coupling part 41 has an obliquely directed recess
31. This can be fixed, in the manner described, on a
load-bearing bolt 28. The coupling part 41,
furthermore, is provided with a. thickened portion, in
the region of which can be found connecting means for
fastening the connecting component 36 or the upright
load-bearing leg 40 to the transverse carr4er 37 in the
region of an end surface of the latter, in particular
by means of screws which are guided through the
thickened portion of the coupling part 41. The upright
load-bearing leg 40 is arranged entirely within the
groove 16 of the support 14, 15 and the horizontal leg
38 is arranged within the groove 16 of the transverse
carrier 37. The abovedescribed configuration of the
connecting component 36 with the coupling part 41 makes
it possible for the transverse carrier 37, like, for
example, the shelf 12, to be connected in a releasable
manner, to the upright supports 14, 15 and,
accorda.ngly, to be removed again therefrom and fitted
in different beight positions.
The supports 14,. 15, as upright load-bearing elements
of the load-bearing framework 10, 11 are connected to
one another by transverse profiles, in this case by a
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top crossmember 43 and a bottom crossmember 44. These
form, together with the supports 14, 15, a closed load-
bearing framework.
The crossmembers 43, 44 ha-ve, along at least one
periphery, a groove 16 of the abovedescribed
confi-guration. In particular, the crossmembers 43, 44
are designed in the form of hollow profiles, preferably
with the same configuration and the same dimensioning
as the supports 14, 15. The arrangement of the
crossmembers 43, 44 is selected such, that the groove 16
of the top crossmember 43 is directed upward and the
correspondinggroove of the bottom crossmember 44 is
directed downward. The crossrnembers 43, 44 lie flush
against the supports 14, 15 at the top and bottom.
The crossraernbers 43, 44 are connected to the supports
14, 15 by special connecting components 45, which are
designed in a similar manner to the connecting
components 36 for the transverse carriers 37. A
horizontal1.eg 38 of the connecting component 45 fits
in each case within the respectivel.y upwardly or
downwardly oriented horizontal grooves 16 of t.he
crossmembers 43, 44 and is connected to the profiles by
at least one screw 39. The upright load-hearing leg 40
of the connActing component 45 is fixed to the
respective support 14, 15. For this purpose, the free
end of the load-bearing leg 40 has arxanged on it a
headpiece 46 which has the load-bearing leg 40 located
in the upright groove 16 of the support 14, 15. In the
reaion of the headpiece 46, the connecting component 45
is fixed on a permanent basis on the support 14, 15 by
means of transversely directed screws 42. The screws 42
pass through the slot 20 and are anchored, in
particular in the transverse wall 21. It is also the
case that this connecting part, that is to say the
connecting component 45, is located entirely within the
contour of the hollow profiles, that is ' o say of the
supports 14, 15, on the one hand, and of the
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crossmernbers 43, 44, on the other hand. The 1.oad-
bearing profile 26 is preferably dimensioned such that
it terminates' at the connecting components 45 at the
top and bottom.
A further special feature is the design of the supports
14, 15 in the bottom region. Adjustable supporting feet
47 are fitted here at the bottom ends of the supports
14, 15. The supporting foot 47 can be adjusted by means
of an upright threaded bolt 48. The latter passes
through a load-bearing plate 49 and can be adjusted in
height by being rotated. The load-beaxir.g plate 49 is
`astened on the underside of the hollow profile of the
support 19, 15 by means of screws, the screws entering
into the profile extensions 23, 24.
In order that, irrespective of the adjusted height
position of the supports 14, 15, the latter (are seen
to) extend right down to the ground, a sleeve 50 is
positioned at the bottom end of each support 14, 15,
this sleeve comprising a U-shaped profile and being
pushed over the bottom end of the support 14, 15 such
that it rests under its own weight on the ground. The
bottom end of the supports 14, 15 is thus concealed.
i.t is also provi.ded, in accordance with figure 3, that
the load-bearizzg framework 10, 11, namc-sly the frame
having the supports 14, 15, i:5 fastened on a building
wall, or on some other load-bearing part, by means of
an adjustable holder 51. The holder 51 is provided with
a claw 52 which partially encloses the wall-s.ide
support 14, that is to say beneath the top crossmember
43.
A further special feature is constituted by the clothes
rail 13. The latter is designed in the foxm of a round
hollow profile, in particular of a circular hollow
profile. This tubular structure has formed within it
channels 53, 54 which are separated cff from one
CA 02675317 2009-07-10
- 12' - another by profiled partition walls 55. This gives
rise, for example, to a top channel 53 and a bottom
channel 54. Functional components providing for novel
or additional functions of the clothes rail 13 may be
accommodated within the channels. Open regions
extending over the length of the clothes rail 13 are
provided for this purpose, that is to say a
longitudinal slot 56 is provided on the top side and a
longitudinal recess 57 is provided on the underside.
The resulting clothes rail is produced in the form of
an extruded profile, in particular one made of metal
(aluminum alloy)
In the case of the present example, a supporting
profile 58, preferably consisting of plastic, is
arranged in the region of the top cliannel 53. This
supporting profile is seated in a forrnTfitting manner
within the channel 53. An upright weh 59 projects
through the longitudinal slot 56 and bevorid the contour
of the clothes rail 13. This gives rise to a protrusion
made of elastic material which acts as a carrying means
for clothes hangers, etc.
In the case of the exemplary configuration according to
figure 15, the bottom channel 54 is provided with a
covering profile 60 in order to close the longitudinal
recess 57. Tn the case of the configuration according
to figure 16, the bottom channel 54 contains another
functional component, that is to say a light system 61
comprising light cables, running in tr: longitudinal
direction of the clothes rail 13, and in particular a
plurality of downwaxdly directed lighting elements 62,
in parti.cular configured as diodes. The light system 61
is connected to a power source, in particular, in the
case of the configuration according to figure 3, via
the transverse carriers 37 and the supports 14, 15.
The clothes rail 13 can be integrated in the load-
bearing system described, that is to say it can be
CA 02675317 2009-07-10
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connected, for example, to the appropriately arranged
transverse carriers 37. The latter have fitted on them
special supporting parts 63 which enter into the
downwardly oriented recess, that is to say into the
longitudinal recess 57, of the clothes rail 13.
A simpler configuration of a clothes rail 13 designed
in the form of a hollow profile is shown in figure 17.
Predominantly a round pzofile (of circular form) is
provided here too, this time with a slightly curved
flattened portion 64 on the underside. The bottom
channel 54 is designed in the form of a closed hollow
body, with circular sub-channels 65 approximately
halfway up the profile. These cross-sectionally
circular sub-channels 65 serve for. introducing
connecting means, in particular screws or bolts, at the
ends of the clothes rail for connection to the
txansverse carrier 37. it is also the case that the top
channel 53 is of simpler configuratior. than in the
previous exemplary embodiment, that is ' to sav it is
separated off from the bottom channel, 54 by a
transversely directed partition wall 55, wherein a
cxoss-sectionally C-shaped longitudinal groove 66 is
formed in the region of the partition wall and a
simple, T-shaped profile 58 is drawn into the same. The
profile 58 likewise has a web 59 projecting out of the
profile of the clothes rail 13. Accordingly, the
embodiment according to figure 17 is characterized by a
simple cross-sectional shape having two chambers or
cizannels.
As an alternative to the e:eraplary embodiment according
to figure 9, the connecting component 32 may be
configured in accordance with figure 18 and consist of
metal or, plastic. A coupling part 33, with the
obliquely directed, slot-like recess 31, is formed on
the one side of the cOnnecting component 32. The recess
31 here is prov'ided with an upwardly directed short leg
67, in the region of which rests the lpa.d-beazing bolt
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" 14 -
28. The coupling part 33 may further be foxmed from two
thin-walled, spaced-apart webs.
A central connecting web 68 is located on the opposite
side to the coupling part 33. This connecting web
interacts with profiles or profile components which are
arranged on transversely directed elements, namely
shelves, transverse carriers, clothes rails or the
like. Figure 19 shows an example in which a connection
profile 69 is designed in the form of a closed hollow
profile. This connection profile - as an alte--native to
the profil,e components 34, 35 from figure 3-- is fitted
on the free periphery of a transverse element, in this
case on the free periphery of a shelf 12. The
connecting component 32 according to figure 18 serves
for making the connection to the upright load-bearzng
components, namely the supports 14, 15 or the loacl
bearizig profile 26. The connecting web 68 enters into a
free end of the connection profile 69 and is retained
in a guide within the profile 69, in this case between
bottom and top, inner guide webs 70.
In order for the position of the connecting cornponent
32 on the shelf 12 to be additional?v secured, a
protrusion 71 is fitted on one or both sides of the
connecting component 32. This is designed with a
converging, wedge-shaped form and enters inta a recess
(not shown) in the periphery of the shelf 12,
pzeferably with a fitting part which is iitted an the
shelf 12 i,n the region of a recess.
CA 02675317 2009-07-10
List of designations
Load-bearing 41 Coupling part
f raniework
11 Load-bearing 42 Screw
framework
12 Shelf 43 Crossmember
13 Clothes rail 44 Crossmember
14 Support 45 Connecting component
Support 46 Headpiece
16 Groove 47 Supporting foot
17 Side wall 48 Threaded bolt
18 Side wal1. 49 Load-bearing plate
19 Base 50 Sleeve
Slot 51 Holder
21 Transverse wall 52 Claw
22 Transvexse wall 53 Channel
23 Profile extension 54 Channel
24 Profile extension 55 Partition wall
Terminating wall 56 Longitudinal slot
26 Load-bearing profile 57 Longitudinal recess
27 Load-bearing web 58 Profile
28 Load-bearing bolt 59 Web
29 Transverse web 60 Covering profile
Channel 61 Light system
31 Recess 62 Lighting elements
32 Connecting component 63 Supporting part
33 Coupling part 64 Flattened portion
34 Profile component 65 Sub-channel
Profile component 66 Longitudinal groove
36 Connecting component 67 Leg
37 Tz=ansverse carrier 68 Connecting web
38 Leg 69 Connection profile
39 Screw 70 Guide web
Load-bearing leg
