EP0587811A1 - Modular element for mounting with other identical or similar elements to form a store assembly, and modular assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

L'invention décrit un élément modulaire comprenant au moins une pièce d'accouplement mâle (6a, 6b) située sur un premier côté dudit élément et, sur un côté opposé de l'élément, une pièce femelle (7a, 7b) alignée axialement avec la pièce mâle dans le sens de l'empilement; la connexion et la déconnexion entre la pièce mâle située sur un élément et la pièce femelle située sur l'autre élément s'effectuent par déplacement relatif entre lesdites pièces, dans des sens d'accouplement et de désaccouplement opposés et orthogonaux par rapport au sens de l'empilement. La pièce mâle comprend, en position verticale à partir du premier côté de l'élément, une tige (8a, 8b) d'épaisseur réduite transversalement aux sens d'accouplement et de désaccouplement, au-dessus de laquelle se trouve une tête (9a, 9b) de dimensions plus importantes; la pièce femelle définit une cavité (11a, 11b) servant à loger la tige et la tête de la pièce mâle d'un autre élément, ladite cavité de logement possédant une base ouverte et une entrée dont la forme latérale permet de recevoir, dans le sens d'accouplement, la tige et la tête de l'autre élément. La pièce mâle comprend, de plus, une partie verticale (10a, 10b) à partir dudit premier côté de l'élément et éloignée à partir d'au moins un côté de la tige et la pièce femelle possède au moins une partie saillante vers le bas (14a, 14b) située au-dessous de la cavité et pénétrant étroitement entre la tige et la partie verticale de la pièce mâle de l'élément mâle quand sa tige et sa tête sont introduites dans la cavité. L'invention décrit également des connexions latérales (22, 23) des éléments, un élément de base (34) pour des piles d'éléments modulaires, ainsi qu'un rail (40) servant à monter la base horizontalement ou tout élément verticalement.The invention describes a modular element comprising at least one male coupling part (6a, 6b) located on a first side of said element and, on an opposite side of the element, a female part (7a, 7b) aligned axially with the male part in the stacking direction; the connection and disconnection between the male part located on one element and the female part located on the other element is effected by relative displacement between said parts, in opposite and orthogonal directions of coupling and uncoupling stacking. The male part comprises, in a vertical position from the first side of the element, a rod (8a, 8b) of reduced thickness transverse to the directions of coupling and uncoupling, above which is a head (9a , 9b) of larger dimensions; the female part defines a cavity (11a, 11b) used to accommodate the rod and the head of the male part of another element, said housing cavity having an open base and an inlet whose lateral shape makes it possible to receive, in the direction of coupling, the rod and the head of the other element. The male part also comprises a vertical part (10a, 10b) from said first side of the element and distant from at least one side of the rod and the female part has at least one protruding part towards the bottom (14a, 14b) located below the cavity and penetrating closely between the rod and the vertical part of the male part of the male element when its rod and its head are introduced into the cavity. The invention also describes side connections (22, 23) of the elements, a base element (34) for stacks of modular elements, as well as a rail (40) for mounting the base horizontally or any element vertically.

Description

- 1

"MODULAR ELEMENT FOR MOUNTING WITH OTHER IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR ELEMENTS TO FORM A STORE ASSEMBLY, AND MODULAR AS¬ SEMBLY"

Due to the considerable and rapid developments in sound and video technology, the most diverse types and sizes of cassettes are presently available in homes and commerce, often to be stored in a single piece of furniture and compris¬ ing audio cassettes, laser discs (CD's), video discs, VHS or Betamax video tapes and the like. This has generated a demand for a single storage system for all existing or future types of cassettes, in which the various modules may be intercon¬ nected both vertically to form stacks and horizontally, in a manner permitting a maximum use of the space available.

Various cassette storage systems comprising stackable components are already known. Examples of such sys¬ tems are those disclosed in US 3.635.350, AU 17424/76, DT 26 22 958 and EP 0 333 271. All such systems, however, suffer the serious disadvantage associated with the manner of stacking which is effected, as a general rule, by simple insert type connections, it often being necessary to use complementary clips to reinforce the fixture of the modular components to each other.

Furthermore, although the modules can be intercon¬ nected either horizontally or vertically, there is no positive fitment between different stacks of cassettes of different types or dimensions.

All this results in lack of stability of the mounted systems, there being the serious risk of the stacks collapsing on the introduction or withdrawal of a cassette if only one hand is used.

CA 1092062 also uses rail-like components, but the disclosure deals in reality with an expandable bookcase type system in which both cassettes and books may be freely placed without restraint.

Many inventions have considered the fact that plas¬ tic injection techniques require a degree of conicity of the walls for demoulding purposes. This results in a crooked stacks on piling various units (see US 3.635.350 and AU 17424/76).

Brazilian patent application BR 8904598 (PCT/BR 90/00013) discloses a three dimensionally expandable system obtained by means of modular elements with vertical insertion connections and lateral connection formations, bases for the stacks of modular elements and guide rails for the bases. It is necessary, however, to use one hand to hold the stack while the other hand carries out the operation of inserting or with¬ drawing any given cassette.

An object of the present invention is to create a modular system having special vertical couplings that do not have any tendency to become uncoupled on handling a stack of modular elements joined to each other by such couplings. Apart from this, a system is provided whereby a stack of modular el¬ ements may be mounted on a base using the same type of coupl- ing and the base may be mounted on a rail member so that, during use, the stack of elements and base have no tendency whatsoever to come free from the rail member, all this being achieved when the system is manipulated with the use of only one hand. The invention also provides for facility of mount¬ ing, dismounting and restructuring the system, permitting the user to adapt the systematic form of his cassette collection the composition of which is always subject to alterations due to new acquisitions and changes in taste. Apart from the above mentioned organisational and handling facilities, the present invention permits a system of low manufacturing cost to be provided so as to ensure a favourable relationship with the cost of the cassettes them¬ selves (recording supports) which are constantly becoming less expensive. This becomes possible due to large^" scare" mav-iu-catt- ture from plastic material. An another important object of the invention is therefore to permit the system components to be manufactured by plastic injection techniques without compli- cated drawer and jaw constructions that require movements per¬ pendicular to the opening of the injection moulding machine. The system according to the preferred embodiment of the in¬ vention uses a modular housing for storing a cassette, which is injectiom moulded to be absolutely planar with completely parallel components, this permitting the formation of per¬ fectly aligned stacks using vertical couplings that are moulded in the same injection operation as the remaining part of the housing.

According to the present invention, a modular ele- ment for mounting with other identical or similar elements to form a store assembly, comprises at least one coupling for connection to a corresponding coupling on another of said ele¬ ments in a stacking direction. The coupling comprises a male coupling formation on a first side of the element and, on an opposite side of the element, a female coupling formation axially aligned in the stacking direction with the male forma¬ tion, coupling and uncoupling between the male formation on the element and the female formation on the other element be¬ ing effected by means of relative movements therebetween in opposite coupling and uncoupling directions orthogonal to the stacking direction.

Preferably, male formation comprises a shaft portion of reduced thickness in the coupling and uncoupling di¬ rections, protruding from said first side of the element, said shaft portion terminating in a head of greater dimensions, and in that the female formation defines a cavity for receiving the shaft portion and head of the male formation of another modular element, the cavity having an open bottom and a lat¬ eral entrance shaped laterally to receive in the coupling di- rection, the shaft portion and the head of the male formation of the other element.

In the illustrated embodiments of this invention, the male formation further comprises a part upstanding from said first side of the element, spaced from at least one side of the shaft portion, and the female formation has at least one downward projection extending below said cavity, which en¬ ters tightly between the shaft portion and the upstanding part of the male formation of another modular element when its shaft portion and head are introduced into said cavity.

The element is preferably further formed with a lat¬ eral male pressure connection on a first side wall and a cor¬ responding lateral female connection on a second side wall, a second end of the second side wall being in the form of a wedge and a second end of the first side wall having an ex¬ ternal laterally projecting tab formed with a groove open to¬ wards the rear wall so that, on fitting the wedge at the second end of the second side wall of a first modular element into the said groove in another modular element, the first el- ement may be rotated about the wedge until the female con¬ nection on its second side wall fits over the male connection on the first side wall of the other modular element.

One of the elements may be the base mentioned above, such base comprising a block of plastic material having a front wall formed along its lower edge with a wedge shaped lip having an included angle substantially equal to the included angle of the wedge at the second end of the second side wall, said block further having a bottom formed with a transverse channel extended between its said first and second side walls. Such transverse channel is designed to receive a mounting rail.

Thus, a rail member comprises a base, a transverse rail protruding from said base and adapted to be received equally into the said female connection or into the transverse channel at the bottom of said block, and a transverse protuberance parallel to said rail and defining with the upper surface of the base a channel facing the rail, said channel having an included angle substantially equal to the included angle already mentioined, so that, on introducing the wedge at the second end of the second side wall or the said wedge shaoed lip into said channel on the rail member, the modular element may be rotated about such wedge or lip until its fe¬ male connection or the transverse channel at the bottom of the block may be fitted over the rail in a pressure connection re- lationship.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of a modular housing according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the same hous¬ ing;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the modular housing shown in Figures 1 and 2, indicating an angle alpha for coupl¬ ing with an assembly of fixing rails and a surface;

Figure 4 is a front view of the modular housing;

Figure 5 is a side view of the modular housing;

Figure 6 is a second side view in section along line A-A of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a three di¬ mensional arrangement with a multiplicity of combinations of stacks of modular housings for video, CD and other cassettes, in both vertical and horizontal positions on fixing rails mounted on a surface;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a three housings of the invention mounted on a base and a fourth hous¬ ing ready for connection;

Figure 9 is a detail in perspective showing the ver- tical couplings of two housings at the moment of connection;

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are partially sectional views showing one of the vertical couplings of a modular housing;

Figures 13 and 14 are views in cross section taken along lines A-A and B-B, respectively, of the vertical coupl- ing shown in Figure 10;

Figure 15 is a perspective detail of the modular housing of Figure 1, showing two types of vertical couplings, one having two catches and the other having one catch and an elastic element; Figures 16 and 17 partially sectional views showing the vertical couplin coupling systems during the operation of connecting or stacking one housing over another, one having two catches and the other having a single catch and an elastic element; Figures 18 and 19 are partially cut-away views show¬ ing another type of vertical coupling with lateral slits and applicable to larger housings;

Figures 20, 21 and 22 upper partially sectional views showing the vertical coupling during connection of one housing over another, that is to say, the approximation of the upper modular housing, fitment onto the lower modular housing and the beginning of an uncoupling operation, respectively;

Figures 23, 24 and 25 are partially sectional views of the vertical coupling system showing an alternative wedge type fitment without any looseness where the two housings meet;

Figure 26a is an upper partially cut-away view of two housings being connected laterally; Figure 26b is a cross sectional detail of the view of Figure 26a, showing a stop arrangement to prevent longi¬ tudinal slippage between two laterally connected modular housings;

Figure 26c is a partially sectional side view of two interconnected vertically arranged cassettes at the moment of removing a cassette;

Figure 26d is a sectional detail of the view of Fig¬ ure 26a, showing a demonstration of how difficult it is to break an elastic element of the lateral connection; Figure 27 is an upper perspective view of a pre¬ ferred embodiment of the region of the modular housing adja¬ cent the male lateral connection formation, showing a safety catch arrangement for positively preventing unintentional dis¬ connection between adjacent modular housings in a stack due to the upper modular housing slipping forward with respect to a housing immediately beneath it during handling of the stack;

Figure 28 is a lower perspective view of the ar¬ rangement shown in Figure 27;

Figures 29 (a) to (e) illustrate from below the op- eration of the catch arrangement of Figures 27 and 28 during stacking and unstacking of two modular housings;

Figure 30 is a plan view of a base suitable for con¬ nection thereto of a modular housing according to the in¬ vention, showing the angles alpha for coupling with a fixing rail assembly to a surface;

Figure 31 is a longitudinal section along line A-A of the modular housing base shown in Figure 30;

Figures 32 and 33 are partially sectional views of the modular housing base shown in Figure 30, Figure 32 being a section along line B-B;

Figure 34 is a perspective top view of the base of the modular housing according to the present invention, show¬ ing a form of mounting the base on a bracket fixed to a wall; Figures 35 and 36 are partially sectional side ele¬ vations, showing the possibilities of mounting of a stack of four housings coupled to a base onto a surface by means of drawing pins, and onto a bracket fixed to a wall, respec¬ tively; Figure 37 is a perspective view of rail assembly for fixture to a surface and suitable for the mounting of a stack of modular housings coupled to a base and the uni-directional locking thereon;

Figure 38 is a plan view of an assembly of rails for fixture to a surface;

Figure 39 is a front view of the assembly of rails for fixture to a surface, shown in Figure 37;

Figure 40 is a longitudinal section taken along line A-A of the assembly of rails for fixture to a surface, shown in Figure 38;

Figures 41 and 42 are lateral sections taken along lines B-B and C-C, respectively, of an assembly of rails for fixture to a base, showing the angle alpha for receiving the coupling of the modular housings connected together with their bases;

Figure 43 is a side view of the assembly of rails for fixture to a surface, shown in Figure 37;

Figure 44 is a side view partially in section of an assembly of rails for fixture to a surface, with a base carry- ing housings mounted horizontally thereon and showing the di¬ rectional force of a spring included in the rail assembly to ensure a wedge type fitment;

Figure 45 is a side view partially in section of an assembly of rails for fixture to a surface, with a base mounted vertically thereon and showing the directional force of a spring included in the rail assembly to ensure a wedge type fitment;

Figure 46 is a side view partially in section of an assembly of rails for fixture to a surface, with a modularhousing mounted thereon and showing the directional force of a spring included in the rail assembly to ensure a wedge type fitment;

Figure 47 is a partially sectional side view of the connection of rail assemblies, as shown in Figure 37;

Figure 48 is a partially sectional top view of the connection of Figura 47;

Figure 49 is a partially sectional view, showing the fixing of a rail assembly, as shown in Figure 37, to a surface by means of a drawing pin;

Figure 50 is a partially sectional view, showing the fixing of a rail assembly, as shown in Figure 37, to a surface by means of a self adhesive and the possibility of removal us¬ ing a lever type tool in a suitable compartment; Figure 51 is a partial upper view of the represen¬ tation of Figure 50;

Figure 52 is partially sectional side view showing two rail assemblies mounted in parallel;

Figure 53 is a cross sectional detail of the previ- ous view of the coupling of two ξail assemblies mounted in parallel;

Figure 54 is detail in plan of the rail assembly of Figure 37, showing a connecting element for a second rail;

Figure 55 is a front detail of the representation of Figure 54;

Figure 56 is a side view of another embodiment of rail assembly to be manufactured by extrusion, showing the an¬ gle alpha for receiving the coupling of modular housings mounted on their bases; Figure 57 is a detail of Figure 56, showing a modu¬ lar housing base at the moment of coupling;

Figure 58 is a perspective view of an assembly of four housings mounted on a base, showing another application of the present invention using, instead of cassettes, drawers for storing small objects;

Figure 59 is a side view of an assembly of four housings, showing the possibility of stepped mounting using more than two equally spaced vertical couplings; and Figure 60 is a perspective view of another applica¬ tion of the present invention, showing an assembly of five larger housings with drawers mounted on a base and used, for example, for filing and organising office papers and docu¬ ments. Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 to 6 show various views and sections, as mentioned above, of a modular housing 1 made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. When mounted over an identical housing or on a base (Figures 30 to 34), the housing 1 is designed to receive a cassette inside its own box, it being provided with means that permit easy introduction and ejection of the cas¬ sette. Such means, however, will not be described as not being relevant to the present invention which refers more specif¬ ically to the connections between housings either in a stack- ing or in a lateral direction, between housings and the base and between the base and/or the housings and mounting rails.

Housing 1 is formed by a larger area upper panel 2 as well as by a back wall 3 and side walls 4 and 5 that depend from panel 2 and have a height substantially the same as that of the sides of the box of the cassette to be received in the housing.

The vertical or stacking connection between housings is effected by means of four coupling means formed in associ¬ ation with walls 4 and 5. Each coupling means comprises a male formation 6a or 6b upstanding from the upper surface of panel 2 and a female portion 7a or 7b at the lower sides of walls 4 and 5.

The male formations 6a situated, respectively, at the front end of side wall 4 and slightly spaced from the front end of side wall 5, comprise a rod shaped pin 8a having a reduced thickness on its sides facing the respective side walls 4 and 5, topped by a cylindrical head 9a having a diam¬ eter equal to the maximum thickness of the rod and projecting outwardly from the two sides of the rod at its region of re- duced thickness (see Figures 2 and 4). Each male formation 6a also comprises a horseshoe shaped protuberance 10a of less height than rod 8a and having an internal diameter equal to the diameter of head 9a, thus defining a lateral space between the horseshoe and the rod at its sides of reduced thickness. The horseshoe is open at the front as clearly shown in the drawings.

The two rear male formations 6b are imilar to forma¬ tions 6a except that their rods 8b have their thicknesses re- duced only on their outer sides so that their heads 9b project outwardly from the rods only on such sides. Consequently, horseshoes 10b also define lateral spaces with respect to rods 8b only at their outer sides.

Female formations 7a and 7b are best seen in Figures 1, 8, 9 and 15 to 19 and, just as formations 6a and 6b, differ slightly from each other. Each female formation 7a, aligned with the respective male formation 6a, comprises a cavity 11a (Figure 15) that is open rearwardly towards back wall 3 and also downwardly by means of a slot 12a having a width equal to the reduced thickness of the corresponding rod 8a, such slot being defined by lower lips 13a from which respective half moon shaped protuberances or wedges 14a extend downwardly. The height of each catch 14a corresponds to the height dimension of the horseshoes 10a. Figures 8, 15 and 16 best show how, when one housing

1 is assembled over another, it is slid backwardly over the top panel 2 of the lower housing so that head 9a enters cavity 11a precisely over lips 13a with rod 8a tightly received in slot 12a and with the wedges 14a fitted into the lateral spaces between the inner sides of horseshoe 10a and the re¬ duced thickness sides of the rod. A firm coupling is then cre¬ ated between the two parts, which resists any attempt to shift them vertically or laterally with respect to each other.

It will be seen from Figures 15 and 16, for example, that cavity 11a has a front wall 15a formed in the respective wall 4 or 5 which is a double wall, wall 15a having a vertical slit 16a along the grater part of its height. This slit 16a serves to facilitate manufacture of the housing 1 as a single part using injection moulding techniques, providing the elasticity required on demoulding and also providing the fe¬ male formation with a certain elasticity to optimize the firmness of the coupling beween it and the male formation 6a. One of the female formations 7b is best seen in Fig- ures 15 and 17, it being positioned at the corner 17 of hous¬ ing 1 where side wall 5 meets back wall 3. The cavity lib, which also has a front wall 15b with a slit 16b, has its inner side formed by a vertival concave elastic element 18 the lower face of which lies in a plane slightly above a single lip 13b having a single wedge 14b.

The back and side walls 3 and 5 of corner 17 of housing 1 are formed with a substantially rectangular opening 19 and are also open downwardly to permit passage of rod 8b and head 9b of the correponding male formation 6b to the inte- rior of cavity lib.

In the same way as Figures 15 and 16 show how conection is effected between the male and female formations 6a and 7a, Figures 15 and 17 show how coupling is effected be¬ tween formations 6b and 7b. Differently, however, from the former where firmness of connection is ensured at both sides by the insertion of a wedge 14a between rod 8a and one of the arms of horseshoe 10a, the coupling between formations 6b and 7b depends on one hand on the fitment of the single wedge 14b between rod 8b and one of the arms of horseshoe 10b and, on the other hand, on the elastic adjustment of the inner concave surface of elastic element 18 to the curved surface of rod 8b. As a result of this elastic adjustment with concave elastic element 18, the coupling between formations 6b and 7b elas- tically opposes uncoupling forces attempting to slide the up- per housing 1 forwardly with respect to the housing immediately beneath it. Figures 20 and 21 illustrate the con¬ necting movement and operation, the arrow in Figure 21 indi¬ cating the elastic force of element 18. Figure 22 shows the operation of uncoupling, the arrow indicating the uncoupling force applied to element 18 when the user applies his finger to push housing 1 forward.

The use of four connections as described on each modular housing 1 for stacking permits one to assemble a stack (Figures 7 and 8) that, although consisting of modules, be- haves basically as if it were a monolithic block, there not being any danger of accidental collapse during use. At the same time, intentional disassembly is extremely easy, as shown in Figure 22. Further with respect to the vertical couplings. Fig¬ ures 23, 24 and 25 show an embodiment where the lower surfaces 20 of the heads 9a and 9b are inclined downwardly and backwardly, as also are the upper surfaces 21 of lips 13. This configuration ensures an even firmer fitment between the male and female formations as the upper surfaces 21 of the lips of the female formation are forced below the lower inclined sur¬ faces of the head of the male formation (Figure 25).

Figure 18 shows an embodiment of a vertical coupling to be used when the distance between one coupling and another is very large which could lead to a convexity (separation), for example, in the case of housings for large video cas¬ settes. In this embodiment, the male formation 106 is identi¬ cal to formation 6a except that the reduced thickness portion of the rod 108 is transverse to wall 4 or 5 of the housing. The female formation 107 is similarly displaced by 90° with respect to formation 7a and the cavity 110 is provided with a wall 150 having two lateral slits 160 that serve to facilitate demoulding of the housing when made by injection moulding.

Each modular housing is also provided with means to permit its lateral connection with another module. Aligned male and female lateral connections 22 and 23 are provided in the respective side walls 4 and 5 of housing 1. The male con¬ nection 22 comprises two parallel elastic pins the ends of which are thickened outwardly. The female connection 23 in side wall 5 comprises a substantially rectangular receiving cavity having a narrower entrance 26 that is slightly smaller than the external dimension of the male connenction when the pins are not compressed together. It will be understood imme¬ diately that the male formation 22 of one housing 1 will coop- erate with the female formation 23 of another housing when they are pressed together laterally so that the pins 24 snap into the entrance 26 of the cavity of the female formation.

Side wall 4 of the housing is also provided at its front end with a small lateral tab 27 defining a small groove 28. A vertical outer rib 29 on wall 5 is located between the male formation 22 and tab 27.

The portion of side wall 5 that is in front of the vertical connection 6a is tapered to a wedge shaped point 30 having an included angle alpha (see Figure 3). This angle is repeated in other parts of the modular system (sse Figures 30, 33, 42, 44 to 46 and 56), the relevance of which will become apparent later. In the outer side of side wall 5, at a posi¬ tion corresponding to vertical rib 29 on side wall 4, there is a vertical groove 31 designed slightly loosely to receive the rib 29 of another modular housing.

The manner of effecting lateral connection between two housings 1 is shown in Figure 26. As will be seen,the point 30 on side wall 5 of one housing is first fitted into groove 28 of tab 27 on the other housing and the first housings then pivoted about point 30 until its receiving cav¬ ity 23 receives with an audible click the pins 24 of lateral male connection formation 22 of the other housing, rib 29 fit¬ ting freely into groove 31. Obviously this fitment positively prevents forward or backward shifting of the housings with re¬ spect to each other. Figure 28 shows the importance of this during use since it is necessary to resist the force applied to the housing on ejecting a cassette therefrom.

It should also be seen from Figure 27 that the gap between rib 29 and groove 31 is less than the depth of groove 28 so as to prevent point 30 from escaping from the groove during use.

Figure 29 shows why the specific shape of lateral male connection 22 is preferred. This shape avoids any possi- bility of breaking since, even when one squeezes them together as shown, the free ends of pins 22 abut one another so as to limit their deformation.

Figures 27 and 28 are perspective views of the left hand side 4 of a modular housing that incorporates a preferred aspect in the form of a safety catch arrangement to prevent unwanted disengagement of adjacent housings in a stack due to an unintentional forwardward slippage or uncoupling movement of an upper housing with respect to a housing immediately be¬ low. For example, when handling a stack with a view to remov- ing or adding a housing, there may ■Bfe' ϋiSh tømffefVf' *o unintentional dismounting of the rest of the stack since forces similar to those necessary for intentional disassembly might be applied. The arrangement of Figures 27 and 28 ensures that this will not happen.

The safety catch arrangement of Figures 27 and 28 comprises a pear shaped upward protuberance 54 on the top of side wall 4 at the base of the rear flexible elastic pin 24 of the male lateral connection formation 22, the thin end of the pear shaped protuberance facing forwards. At the same time, side wall 4 immediately behind male formation 22 is separated from top panel 2 over a short distance and also from elastic pin 24 to define a spring portion 56 having a thickened free end 57 adjacent pin 24. The lower surface 58 of spring portion 56 (excluding free end 57) is cut away so as to lie in a plane slightly above the lower edge of wall 4. The corresponding re¬ gion of free end 57 is chamfered or beveled to define a small forwardly inclined and backwardly facing deflector surface 59, such inclination corresponding to that of the angled sides of the protuberance 54. The forward facing front edge of free end 57 is concave at its lower end to correspond substantially to the wider rounded end of pear shaped protuberance 54.

In order to provide a free space at the bottom of rear elastic pin 24 opposite the concave portion of the free end 57 of spring portion 56 so as to give access to a position on the under side of the housing corresponding to that of protuberance 54 on its top side, the lower base end of pin 24 is cut away at 60.

The operation of the safety catch arrangement de- scribed above will become clear from a consideration of Fig¬ ures 26 (a) - 26(e) which are lower plan views of a detail of a housing during stacking coupling (Figures 29 (a) - (d)) and uncoupling (Figure 29 (e)). These figures also show in a fixed position the pear shaped protuberance 54 on the upper panel of the housing immediately below with respect to which connection and disconnection is being effected. Thus, passing through the sequence of Figures 26 (a) - 26 (d), the upper housing is slid backwardly over the lower housing (upwardly in the figures) until the inner inclined edge of the pointed end of protuberance 54 abuts the similarly inclined rearward facing deflector surface 59 on the thickened free end 57 of spring portion 56. Continued movement deflects end 57 of spring por¬ tion 56 inwardly to permit the protuberance to pass thickened end 57 of spring portion 56, after which the spring portion returns to its normally straight condition (see Figure 26 (d). In this position any attempt at relative movement between the housings in the opposite (uncoupling) direction will be posi¬ tively prevented by the wider rounded end of protuberance 54 abutting and fitting into the concave lower region of free end 57 of spring portion 56 which will therefore not deflect and not permit passage of the protuberance.

Figure 26 (e) shows that a sideways finger pressure on spring portion 56, however, will liberate protuberance 54 from end 57 of the spring portion, thus permitting simple in¬ tentional disconnection of the housings from each other.

Since the upper panel 2 of housing 1 provides a bot¬ tom panel for the housing immediately above in a modular stack and with a view to complete the lowermost housing of the stack, the arrangement includes a base 34, as shown in Figure 8. Base 34 is shown in detail in Figures 31 to 33 and also, in perspective, in Figure 34. The base is provided with all the vertical and lateral connections found in the modular housings 1, including a point 300 having the included angle alpha at the front end of one of its sides. Apart from this, along the lower part of its front side, there is a wedge shaped lip 35, also defining an angle alpha.

The under side of base 34 is formed with rectangular section transverse central channel 36 for fitment over a rail to be described later. There are also four reentrances or cavities 37 in the base, at least two of which are perforated for the passage of a fixing element (a drawing pin or a nail, for example) for when the base is to be fixed to a support, such as a shelf (see Figure 35). Two openings 38 at the back of the base permit the insertion of a support 39 for mounting the assembly on a wall or the like, as shown in Figure 34.

Figures 37 to 43 show a rail assembly 40 to be fixed to a surface and for supporting various bases and housings with all the options shown in Figure 7. This rail assembly 40 comprises three sections 40a, 40b and 40c connected to each other by weakening lines 41 that permit separation thereof by cutting, when necessary to adapt the length of the system to the space available. Each section 40a, 40b e 40c comprises a base panel

42 along the front edge of which there is an upstanding bar 43 formed internally with a wedge-type lip 44 defining with panel 42 a channel having an included angle alpha (see Figure 42). This channel is designed to receive lip 35 or point 300 of base 34 or the point 30 of housing 1, depending upon the man¬ ner in which the user wishes to assemble his modular system.

Bar 43 is cut away at 45 to permit it to be fixed to a support surface (Figure 49) and there are furthermore two cut-outs 46 in its front portion for cooperation with corre- sponding connection elements 46a at the back edge of another identical rail assembly (see Figures 52 to 55). This charac¬ teristic permits the parallel assembly of as many rail assem¬ blies 40 as desired. Openings 45a, also in the front of bar 43, serve to simplify the removal of assembly 40 (Figure 50). In the case of Figure 50, fixing may be effected by self- adhesive tape or the like.

Parallel to bar 43 is the rail 47 itself. The front face of the rail is formed with four elastic tabs 48 having a dimension (along the rail) substantially equal to the height of side walls 4 and 5 of each housing 1. The rear face of rail

47 is formed with elastic tabs 49.

Finally, the outer ends of rails 47 and of bars 43 in sections 40a, 40b and 40c are respectively formed with male and female connecting portions 51 and 52, so that one rail as- sembly 40 can be connected to another at either one or both of its ends.

Figures 44 to 46 clearly show the flexibility of the modular assembly of the present invention. As already men¬ tioned, angle alpha is common to various parts of the system. Thus, Figure 44 shows how a base 34 which supports a stack of housings 1 may be mounted on a rail section 30a, for example. Initially wedge shaped tab 35 having an angle alpha of the base is inserted into the alpha angled groove of lip 44 on the front bar of section 40a. Base 34 is then pivoted downwardly - 17 -

about tab 35 until its channel 36 fits over rail 47. On forc¬ ing base 34 downwardly, the two elastic tabs 48 and 49 of the rail are squeezed together and thus serve to fix the assembly to the rail. This results in a firm fixing of the base with its stack of housings to the rail assembly, at the same time permitting relatively easy separation by inclining the stack forwardly.

Figure 45 shows how the same base 34 may be mounted vertically on the rail assembly 47. In this case, alpha angled point 300 of base 34 is inserted into the groove of lip 44 of section 40a and the vertical base base is then pivoted backwardly and downwardly so that its lateral female con¬ nection 23 fits over rail 47 similarly to the description just given with respect to Figure 46. When base 34 is maintained vertically over the basea

(Figure 45), it will be part of an assembly of housings, for example, the assembly of video cassette housings seen at the left hand side of Figure 7.

Figure 46 shows how the housings 1 of this assembly can also be mounted on the rail assembly 40. In this case, it is the alpha angled point 30 of each housing that is intro¬ duced into the groove below lip 44 and the lateral female con¬ nection 23 of the housing that fits over the rail.

Figures 56 and 57 show an embodiment of rail that may be made by extrusion of thermoplastic material which makes it more economical. This rail cooperates with the other com¬ ponents of the system in substantially the same manner as de¬ scribed with respect to rail assembly 40 However, it may be manufactured with any width desired and with considerable length. The user can then cut it to the desired size.

Figure 58 shows that the diversity of connections between modular elements according to the invention is not limited to assemblies designed for storing cassettes. Thus, the individual housings may be formed to receive small drawers 53 and mounted on each other and to the base 34 (with or with¬ out the rail assembly) to form a mini-set of drawers for stor¬ ing small objects, such as screws.

In the case of Figures 59 and 60, it will be seen that the system may be used for larger objects, for example, forms, pamphlets and the like. Thus, a larger number of ver¬ tical connections are used, five on each side being illus¬ trated. When the vertical connections are formed at equal in¬ tervals, there is the possibility of mounting the assembly in stepped relation (see Figure 59).

Claims

1. Modular element for mounting with other identi¬ cal or similar elements to form a store assembly, comprising at least one coupling for connection to a corresponding coupl- ing on another of said elements in a stacking direction of the elements, characterised in that. said coupling comprises a male coupling formation on a first side of the element and, on a second opposite side of the element, a female coupling forma¬ tion axially aligned in the stacking direction with the male formation, coupling and uncoupling between the male formation on the element and the female formation on the other element being effected by means of relative movements therebetween in opposite coupling and uncoupling directions orthogonal to the stacking direction.

2. Modular element according to claim 1, characterised in that the male formation comprises a shaft portion of reduced thickness in the coupling and uncoupling directions, protruding from said first of the element, said shaft portion terminating in a head of greater dimensions, and in that the female formation defines a cavity for receiving the shaft portion and head of the male formation of another modular element, the cavity having an open bottom and a lat¬ eral entrance shaped laterally to receive in the coupling di¬ rection, the shaft portion and the head of the male formation of the other element.

3. Modular element according to claim 2, characterised in that the male formation further comprises a part upstanding from said first side of the element, spaced from at least one side of the shaft portion, and the female formation has at least one downward projection extending below said cavity, which enters tightly between the shaft portion and the upstanding part of the male formation of another modu¬ lar element when its shaft portion and head are introduced into said cavity.

4. Modular element according to claim 3, characterised in that the said upstanding part extends par¬ tially around the shaft portion so as to constitute a stop cooperable with the downward projection of another modular el¬ ement so as positively to determine the coupling position.

5. Modular element according to claim 3 or 4, characterised by comprising a plurality of couplings, the fe¬ male formation of at least one of the couplings having two of said downward projections interspaced by a distance substancially equal to the said reduced thickness, and the up¬ standing part of the male formation has a horseshoe shape so that, in the coupling position of the two elements, the horseshoe shaped upstanding portion of one element is squeezes internally against its shaft portion, the two downward projections of the other element.

6. Modular element according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterised by comprising at least one front coupling on the element and at least one rear coupling, the female formation of the rear coupling having only one downward projection and also an elastic cavity wall part, said elastic wall part being internally shaped to adapt itself to the shape of the shaft portion of the male formation of the coupling.

7. Modular element according any one of claims 2 to

6, characterised in that each coupling is provided with oppo- site longitudinal slits open from the bottom of the female formation to a point near the shaft portion of the male forma¬ tion.

8. Modular element according any one of claims 2 to

7, characterised in that a lower surface of the head of the male formation, projecting laterally of the shaft portion, is inclined downwardly when seen in the coupling direction, and a corresponding upwardly facing surface on the cavity of the fe¬ male formation is correspondingly inclined so that, when cou¬ pling is effected between the formations of two elements, the said surfaces provide a firm wedged coupling.

9. Modular element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised by comprising a stop formation adjacent an edge of one of said first and second sides and an elastically deflectable catch adjacent a corresponding edge of the other of said first and second sides of the element, said catch and stop formations being so arranged that said relative movement in said coupling direction results in said stop formation de¬ flecting said catch on the other said element and that said relative movement in said uncoupling direction is prevented by abutment between said stop formation and said catch until lib¬ erated by an external force being applied to deflect said catch.

10. Modular element according any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised by comprising a substantially rectangular larger area upper surface and, pending therefrom, first and second opposite side walls and a rear wall substantially con¬ tiguous with first ends of said side walls, each wall being associated with at least one of said couplings, which said coupling has one of its male and female formations at said up¬ per surface and the other formation at a lower edge of the re¬ spective wall, said modular element further comprising a lateral male pressure connection on the first side wall and a corresponding lateral female connection on the second side wall, a second end of the second side wall being in the form of a wedge and a second end of the first side wall having an external laterally projecting tab formed with a groove open towards the rear wall so that, on fitting the wedge at the second end of the second side wall of a first modular element into the said groove in another modular element, the first el¬ ement may be rotated about the wedge until the female con¬ nection on its second side wall fits over the male connection on the first side wall of the other modular element.

11. Modular element according to claim 10, characterised by comprising a small protuberance on one of said side walls and a corresponding cavity in the other of said side walls.

12. Modular element according to claims 10 or 11, characterised by comprising a block of plastic material having a front wall formed along its lower edge with a wedge shaped lip having an included angle substantially equal to the in¬ cluded angle of the wedge at the second end of the second side wall, said block further having a bottom formed with a trans¬ verse channel extended between its said first and second side walls.

13. Modular assembly comprising a modular element ac¬ cording to claim 12 and a rail member, characterised in that the rail member comprises a base, a transverse rail protruding from said base and adapted to be received equally into the said female connection or into the transverse channel at the bottom of said block, and a transverse protuberance parallel to said rail and defining with the upper surface of the base a channel facing the rail, said channel having an included angle substantially equal to the included angle already mentioined, so that, on introducing the wedge at the second end of the second side wall or the said wedge shaped lip into said chan¬ nel on the rail member, the modular element may be rotated about such wedge or lip until its female connection or the transverse channel at the bottom of the block may be fitted over the rail in a pressure connection relationship.