Storage shelf system having shelf members with securing elements engaging cutouts at horizontal bars

• US 6,039,192 A
• Filed: 12/01/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nedcon Magazijninrichting B.V. (Voestalpine AG)
• Original Assignee: Nedcon Magazijninrichting B. V.
• Inventors: Hollander, Rudolf Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Strimbu, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US08/980,502
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 211/186, 211/151, 211/187, 403/329
• US Class Current: 211/186
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/021 Structural features of shelf bases
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/02 Storage devices furniture A47B; shop fittings A47F

Abstract

A storage shelf system includes vertical supports and spacedapart, parallel horizontal bars connecting the vertical supports. Horizontal shelf members extend perpendicularly to the horizontal bars and are fastened with their first and second end portions to the spaced-apart, parallel horizontal bars. The horizontal shelf members provide support surfaces for goods to be stored in the shelf system. The horizontal bars have cutouts. The horizontal shelf members have securing elements engaging the cutouts for securing the horizontal shelf members to the horizontal bars.

Claims

1. A storage shelf system comprising:

vertical supports;

spaced-apart, parallel horizontal bars connecting said vertical supports;

horizontal shelf members extending perpendicularly to said horizontal bars and each having first and second end portions, wherein said horizontal shelf members are fastened by said first and second end portions to said spaced-apart, parallel horizontal bars;

said horizontal shelf members each having a length in a direction of a depth of said shelf system;

said horizontal shelf members having smooth, continuous support surfaces for supporting goods stored in said shelf system;

said support surfaces each having a length identical to said length of said horizontal shelf members;

each one of said horizontal bars having a top side and cutouts extending in said top side in said direction of depth of said shelf system;

said horizontal shelf members having securing elements engaging said cutouts to connect said horizontal shelf members to said horizontal bars;

wherein said horizontal shelf members are unitary profiled members having side portions extending downwardly and in said direction of depth of said shelf system, wherein said securing elements comprise bent portions of said side portions;

said first and second end portions having free ends without said side portions such that said free ends project past said cutouts and rest face-to-face on said top side of said horizontal bars, wherein said cutouts extend in said top side of said horizontal bars and in vertical sides of said horizontal bars facing said horizontal shelf members.

2. A shelf system according to claim 1, wherein said cutouts are slots extending perpendicularly to a length of said horizontal bars.

3. A shelf system according to claim 2, wherein said horizontal bars include edges formed by intersections of said top sides and vertical sides, said slots extending from said top sides through said edges and into said vertical sides, wherein a length of each of said slots in said top sides is less than a width of each of said top sides and wherein a length of each of said slots in said vertical sides is less than a height of each of said vertical sides.

4. A shelf system according to claim 3, wherein portions of said slots extending within said vertical sides have upper ends and lower ends, wherein each of said lower ends is wider than each of said upper ends, wherein said bent portions comprise spring elements that snap into said lower ends to secure said horizontal shelf members to said horizontal bars.

5. A shelf system according to claim 1, wherein said bent portions comprise upwardly bent sections forming spring elements.

6. A shelf system according to claim 1, wherein said side portions form longitudinal edges of said horizontal shelf members and increase bending and torsional stiffness of said horizontal shelf members.

7. A shelf system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said end portions of said horizontal shelf members has slanted guide projections.