GB2109671A - Improvements in or relating to supports - Google Patents

Abstract

A support for shelving (8, 9) (Fig. 1) or the like comprises a post (1) and a support member for the shelving in the form of a tubular collar (3) mounted on the post. The support also includes a gripping member (7) (22) which exerts a wedging action on the post to lock the support member in a desired position when the tubular collar (3) and the post (1) are subjected to relative rotation. An alternative form using an eccentric locking ring 26 is shown in Fig. 5. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to supports This invention relates to supports and more particularly, but not exclusively, is concerned with supports for shelving or the like.

Adjustable shelving is known in which posts are passed through support members for the shelves in the form of tubular collars. The support members are secured to the posts by set screws extending through threaded apertures in the support members whereby the ends of the set screws engage with the outer surface of the post.

In order to adjust the height of the shelf or to assemble or disassemble the shelf, the set screws have to be loosened using a screwdriver or the like so that the support member may be moved axially with respect to the post. Systems of this type have the disadvantage that the screws may be overtightened and thereby cause indentations on the post which apart from being unsightly render the posts more difficult to clean and hence may give rise to hygiene problems in the case where for example the shelves are used in the catering industry. Further, the threads of the set screws may become stripped and if a set screw becomes lost then the shelving cannot be used. Further, a screwdriver or the like is not always to hand when it is desired to adjust the shelf.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a support structure for shelving or the like which comprises: (i) a post and (ii) a support member for the shelving comprising a tubular collar mounted on the post and capable of being slid along the post, the support structure also including (iii) a gripping member which exerts a wedging action between the collar and the post upon relative rotation of the collar and the post so as to lock the support member at a desired position along the post.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the collar and the gripping member are separate unconnected entities. In one form of this embodiment, the gripping member is a coiled member in the form ot a spiral spring of, for example, rectangular cross--section. The gripping member has dimensions such that it can enter the annular space formed bv the outer surface of the post and the innei- surface of the tubular collar and exert the desired wedging action when the collar is rotated with respect to the post.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention the gripping member is secured to and forms part of the tubular coilar. In this case, the tubular collar includes first and second relatively rotatable portions each of which has a bore through which the post passes, and one of which constitutes the gripping member. In one form of this embodiment, these portions are eccentrically mounted with respect to one another so that relative rotation of the portions causes the bores to move into and out of registry and exert the desired wedging action.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a support structure for shelving in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of a part of the structure of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a top view of part of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a bottom view of the part of Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a partially sectioned side view of a support structure for shelving in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the support structure includes a tubular post 1 of circular section carrying a cap 2 of plastics material at its upper end. Mounted on the post 1 is a support member comprising a tubular collar 3 formed of for example a zinc alloy. As is more apparent from Figures 2 to 4, the collar 3 includes a cylindrical shoulder 4 provided with three integral fingers 5 generally extending along the longitudinal axis of the collar. Each of these fingers 5 tapers from the shoulder end to the free end and together they define a bore through which the post 1 passes.

The collar 3 has an internal taper such that its minimum internal diameter occurs at the free ends of the fingers 5 where the internal diameter is essentially the same as the external diameter of the post 1. The collar 3 also has an external taper.

At its shoulder 4, the collar 3 is provided with an internal chamfer 6.

Wrapped around the post 1 is a gripping member in the form of a spiral clock spring 7 of rectangular section and formed of steel, preferably stainless steel. The relative dimensions of the collar and the post are such that the collar 3 can be axially displaced along the post either upwards or downwards but is self retaining on the post. The relative dimensions of the spring 7 and of the internal chamfer 6 of the collar 3 are such that the spring can partially enter into the annular space defined between the outer surface of the post 1 and the chamfer 6 of the tubular collar 3.

In use of the support structure, the spring 7 is slid along the post 1 until it is in the desired position and thereafter the collar 3 is slid down the post until the chamfer 6 fits over the spring.

The collar 3 is then rotated slightly with respect to the post 1 in the appropriate direction so as to effectively tighten the spring around the post so that the spring becomes tightly wedged between the post and the collar to lock the collar in position. Thus, in the case where the spring 7 is wrapped clockwise around the post when viewed from above, the collar should be rotated slightly in a clockwise direction, also when viewed from above, in order to cause the desired wedging action. Thereafter shelving may be mounted on the collar 3. As shown in Figure 1 , the shelving may include a steel tubular portion 8 at each corner joined together by channel sections 9.

Tubular portions 8 each have constant internal and external diameters and hence the channel sections 9 can be readily welded to the tubular portions 8. Located within each tubular portion 8 is a tubular insert 10 of synthetic plastics material (e.g. nylon) having an external wall of constant diameter and a tapered internal wall, the taper of the internal wall being complementary to the external taper of the collar 3. The load carrying portion of the shelving may be, for example, in the form of a wire mesh secured to the channel sections 9 or a metal sheet secured to, or formed integrally with, the channel sections 9. The shelving is supported by four collar and post arrangements as described simply by sliding the shelving down the posts 1 so that the plastic inserts 10 at each corner engage with the respective collars 3 of the posts.The weight of the shelving tends to increase the gripping action of the collars 3 on the posts 1 since the relative tapers of the plastics inserts 10 and the collars 3 tend to urge the fingers 5 against the outer surfaces of the posts 1. The cap 2 on each post 1 serves to prevent ingress of dirt into the hollow posts. Also, the inserts 1 0 and the springs 7 effectively seal the ends of the collars 3.

When it is desired to adjust the height of the shelving. the shelving is lifted off the posts. Then by a slight rotation of the collars 3 in the appropriate direction (i.e. in the anti-clockwise direction viewed from above when the spring 7 is wrapped around the post in a clockwise direction when viewed from above) the collars are released from the springs 7 so as to relax the wedging action. The springs 7 can then be repositioned on the posts and the collars 3 be re-engaged therewith in the manner above described followed by the repositioning of the shelving on the collars.

Referring now to Figure 5, parts corresponding to parts of Figures 1 to 4 are denoted by like reference numerals. In this embodiment the shoulder 4 is provided on the side opposite to the fingers 5 with an integral cylindrical extension 21 provided with a circular bore 22 through which the post 1 passes. Thus the centre of bore 22 lies on the centre line 23 of the post. The outer cylindrical surface of the extension 21 is however eccentric with respect to bore 22 and has its centre on line 24 i.e. it is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis 23 of the collar. A circumferential bead 25 is provided on the cylindrical surface of the extension 21.

A gripping member in the form of a separately formed ring 26 is attached to and forms part of the collar 3. The ring 26 includes a bore having a first portion 27 which is circular in section and has a diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the extension 21 and 3 second portion 28 also of circular section but of a smaller diameter. The centre of portion 27 lies on line 24 and the centre of portion 28 is offset from the centre of portion 27 by a distance equal to the distance between line 24 and centre line 23. The inner cylindrical surface of ring 26 includes a recess 29 to receive the bead 25 so as to retain the ring 26 on extension 21 in a manner such that they can be relatively rotated about line 24.The eccentric arrangement is such that rotation of ring 26 wich respect to the remainder of the collar 3 (and with respect to the post 1) causes the bore 22 and bore portion 28 to move into and out of registry. Both the ring 26 and the remaining portion of the collar 3 are formed of a deformable metal or plastics material and the outer surface of the ring 26 is provided with fluting 30 to facilitate the gripping of the same by the operator in use. As shown in Figure 5, the rotational disposition of the ring 26 with respect to the remainder of the collar 3 is such that the centre of bore portion 28 lies on axis 23 and is in registry with bore 22 and the bore defined by fingers 5.However, on further relative rotation of the ring 26 ano the remainder of the collar, the eccentric arrangement causes the centre of bore portion 28 to be displaced off the axis 23 whereby the inner cylindrical surfaces ofbore portion 28 and bore 22 exert radial pressure on the post 1.

In use, the tubular collar 3 (with the ring 26 in the configuration shown on Figure 5) is slid along the post 1 until it reaches the desired position.

Then ring 26 is rotated with respect to the remainder of the tubular collar 3 (and with respect to the post 1) whereby the centre of bore portion 28 is displaced away from the axis 23 (i.e. out of registry with bore 22) so as to exert a radial pressure on the post 1. The ring 26 is thus effectively wedged between the remainder of the collar 3 and the post 1 to lock the collar 3 in the desired position. The fluting 30 assists the operator to grip the ring 26 when rotating it.

Thereafter shelving is mounted on the collars 3 as previously described in Figure 1. When it is desired to adjust the height of the shelving, the shelving is lifted off the posts. Then by rotating the ring 26 of each collar in the opposite direction the wedging action of the ring 26 is relaxed so that the collars 3 can be repositioned along the posts as desired.

Claims (9)

1. A support structure fo shelving or the like which comprises: (i) a post, and (ii) a support member for the shelving comprising a tubular collar mounted on the post and capable of being axially displaced with respect to the post, the support structure also including (iii) a gripping member which exerts a wedging action between the collar and the post upon relative rotation of the collar and the post so as to lock the support member at a desired position along the post.

2. A support structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collar and the gripping member are separate unconnected entities.

3. A support structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the gripping member is a coiled member wrapped around the post.

4. A support structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the coiled member is a spiral spring of rectangular cross-section.

5. A support structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collar includes first and second relatively rotatable portions, each of which has a bore through which the post passes and one of which constitutes said gripping member.

6. A support structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein said portions are eccentrically mounted with respect to one another so that relative rotation of the portions causes the bores to move into and out of registry and to exert said wedging action.

7. A support structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the collar and the gripping member are formed of synthetic plastics material.

8. A support structure for shelving or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A support structure for shelving or the like substantialiy as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.