GB2281504A

GB2281504A - Mounting slats or panelling

Info

Publication number: GB2281504A
Application number: GB9415393A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean Maurice Rene Brunet
Original assignee: BRUNET METALA ETS
Current assignee: BRUNET METALA ETS
Priority date: 1993-07-29
Filing date: 1994-07-29
Publication date: 1995-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-29
Also published as: FR2708442A1; ITMI941645A1; BE1008571A3; FR2708442B1; DE4426791A1; DE4426791C2; IT1273708B; GB9415393D0; ITMI941645A0; GB2281504B; ES2120303B1; ES2120303A1

Description

2281504 "Fittings with slats, particularly metal slats, for clip-on

panelling forming presentation surfaces" The present invention relates to fittings with slats, particularly metal slats for clip-on panelling forming presentation surfaces for display and/or coupling of supports, shelves, or products, the fittings comprising racks defining the surface to be provided with slats.

For fitting out sales areas, such as shops or showrooms in particular, it is known to use surfaces which are placed in front of the walls or are fitted thereon; these surfaces are constituted either by panels which accept display means (shelves, boxes or products) or by slats which form panelling and on which the display means are hung, or on which products are hung directly.

More precisely, for shop-fitting, it is known to create presentation or display surfaces formed by perforated tubes known as racks which are either fixed to the wall at larger or smaller intervals, according to the natural irregularities of the wall, or are jammed between the floor and the 2 ceiling so as to define a regular, generally flat surface.

The framework constituted by these vertical racks receives panels or slats forming panelling.

The racks are generally tubes of square or rectangular cross-section, the faces of which have perforations generally of rectangular shape, distributed at certain intervals. These perforations serve for the coupling of the actual presentation elements.

The racks are spaced at certain intervals corresponding either to a normal length, or to the area to be covered in order to achieve, for example, a regular distribution.

In the first case mentioned above, the presentation surface consists of panels of a width corresponding to the spacing of the racks. These panels, for example of wood or composite materials, provided if necessary with a decorative surface and coupling means (perforations or fastenings), are coupled between respective pairs of racks by hooks carried by the panels or the racks. The front faces of these panels receive the products to be displayed coupled directly to 3 the coupling means, or shelves, trays or other display means for the products to be displayed.

In this first version, the racks remain visible and may play a part in the decoration, forming lines contrasting with the decoration of the panels. These racks may also receive coupling members such as right- angled brackets, etc., to serve directly for the coupling of support elements such as shelves.

The second normal version consists of the coupling of slats forming panelling to the racks. In this case, the racks are hidden by the slats which are placed end to end. These slats, which are generally bent so as to be S-shaped serve for the coupling of display elements or for the hanging of the products directly.

The advantage of the fittings with panels is that they leave the racks free for coupling; their disadvantage is that, in practice, they permit coupling solely to the racks, since the panels can only accept very low loads.

The advantage of the fittings with slats is that they permit display over the entire surface of the slats since coupling to the slats can take place 4 4n any position. The disadvantage of this solution, however, is that all loads, even heavy loads, have to be coupled to the slats. This prohibits certain types of display.

The slats are fixed to the racks by clips constituted by a body which is slid into the cavity of the profiled section of the slat to hold the corresponding end of the slat; this body terminates in at least two hooks, the spacing of which corresponds to that of the perforations of the rack, in order to hook into these perforations. According to this prior art, the slats can only be fixed on the front faces of the racks; these clips do not permit slats to be fixed between the racks. In fact, the slats must not only be hooked onto the racks but must also bear against the front faces of the racks for stability; this support also contributes to the firmness of the slats.

If the slats were placed in the gap between the racks, according to known embodiments, the clips would certainly constitute poor pivots, but would not clamp the slats adequately; the slats would bend under the effect of the loads and would deform forwardly.

The present invention has the object of eliminating the disadvantages of the known display fittings and proposes the development of fittings with racks which enable advantage to be taken of the fact that relatively heavy loads can be coupled to the racks, whilst also having the advantage of coupling to the slats, and to permit conversion operations even on existing racks, rendering the installation of the slats independent of the type of racks.

For this purpose, the invention relates to fittings corresponding to the type defined above, characterized in that they comprise:

- an intermediate element associated with each rack and connected thereto, - connecting elements for connecting the slats of the panels to the intermediate element.

The fittings according to the invention also enable a presentation surface of slats to be formed between the racks which may be racks already fitted for re-use. The front faces of the racks are thus always available for the coupling of heavy loads, the slats being able to 6 serve for the coupling of heavy loads, decorative or display elements, etc. between the racks.

Moreover, since the intermediate element (or the compensator element) has a spacing corresponding to that of the slats, it is possible to fit out any existing installation.

As the racks are not generally fixed directly against the wall because of irregularities, there is always sufficient space behind the fitted racks, in which the intermediate element can be engaged. The slats are thus fitted on the intermediate element with the aid of clips which are slid into the ends of the slat and are coupled to each compensator element on either side of the rack.

The present invention is described in greater detail with the aid of various embodiments of the prior art and of the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a display surface constituted by racks and panels.

Figure 2 is a schematic view similar to that of Figure 1 of a display installation formed of racks and slats.

7 Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of fittings according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a view of the main face of the fittings according to the invention at the level of a rack.

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of fittings with racks and intermediate elements.

Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a variant of the intermediate element.

Figures 7A and 7B are plan views of two variants of the intermediate element, one for mounting on the left-hand side of the rack and the other for mounting on the right-hand side of the rack.

Figures 8A and 8B show two variants of the intermediate element, again one for mounting on the left-hand side of the rack and the other for mounting on the right-hand side of the rack.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the fitting of a slat on an intermediate element by means of a connecting element.

8 Figures 10A, 10B are a side view and a view from above, respectively, of a clip according to the invention.

Figures 11A, 11B, 11C are a front view, a side view and a view from above of an intermediate element according to the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5.

Figures 12A, 12B are a front view and a view from above, respectively, of a variant of the intermediate element according to Figure 6.

Figures 13A, 13B, and 13C show a variant of the intermediate element according to Figure 8B.

The descriptions both of the two known embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 and of the embodiment of the invention of Figure 3 and the subsequent drawings will be given only for a portion of the fittings, since, in fittings of this type, all the racks are identical and their distribution is predetermined; the drawings and the description can thus be limited, first of all, to the description of the assembly formed by two racks and the presentation and assembly elements, and then to a single rack, as in Figure 4, with the intermediate element and

9 the slats disposed on either side of the rack and coupled to the intermediate element.

Owing to the repetitive nature of the elements constituting the fittings, the same reference numeral will be used to indicate an element or part, even if it is repeated several times in the same drawing. Moreover, identical elements will carry the same reference numerals in the various drawings.

Figure 1 shows schematically the first version of the fittings mentioned above, in a plan view. This drawing shows the wall 1, in front of which are placed the racks 11 carrying panels 12 fixed between the racks by coupling lugs 13.

The second version shown in Figure 2 also comprises racks 11 fixed in front of the wall 1 and carrying slats 14 which are placed end to end and are coupled to the racks 11 by means of clips 15. Figure 2 shows that the slats 14 have a certain thickness and are fitted against the front faces of the racks 11. Several slats are thus "piled up" horizontally one above the other, hooked onto the racks.

Figure 3 is a view from above of fittings with slats, particularly metal slats, according to the invention. The slats are sheet-metal or plastics profiled sections of a tubular or prismatic shape which is preferably open, enabling the connecting elements which connect the slats to the intermediate elements to be housed for sliding. In general, the slats overlap one another with their lower and upper edges. Finally, it should be pointed out that the slats are generally aligned horizontally, although inclined installation is also possible without departing from the scope of the invention, according to the location (the slope) or to the display or decorative requirements. These fittings are disposed in front of a wall 1. They are carried by racks 11 between which slats 14 are fixed to intermediate elements 15 which in turn are hooked onto the rear faces 11A of the racks 11 by tabs 16 engaged in the perforations of the rear faces 11A of the racks 11.

The slats 14 are fixed to the intermediate elements 15 by connecting elements 17. Each connecting elements 17 is composed of a body 18 housed in the cavity of the slat level with its end, the body 18 carrying hooks 19 which are 11 housed in the perforations of the intermediate elements 15.

Thus, the slats 14 are not only coupled to the intermediate elements 15 but also bear against the front faces thereof, in the space between the racks 11, so that their positioning is reinforced, preventing any risk of pivoting about the hooks.

The racks 11 are vertical, tubular elements of square or rectangular cross-section, the visible face 11B and the rear face 11A of which have a series of aligned perforations with a certain spacing. The side faces may also have perforations if the racks are intended for universal applications. In the case of racks which are intended only for use according to the invention, only the front and rear perforations are necessary.

The perforations of the front face 11B serve for the coupling of display elements, trays, etc., not shown. The perforations of the rear face 11A house the tabs 16 of the intermediate elements 15.

According to Figure 3, which corresponds to a first embodiment, the intermediate elements 15 are 12 channel-sections, the front face of the web 15A of which, that is, the face which faces the racks 11, comprises tabs 16, produced, for example, in the form of cut-outs and bordered on each side by perforations for receiving the hooks 19 of the connecting elements 17. The lines of perforations of the intermediate elements 15 are positioned beside the rear faces of the racks 11.

Since the slats 14 are open on their rear faces, it is not necessary for the hooks 19 of the connecting elements 17 to be fitted directly against the side faces of the racks 11. There may be a certain clearance A such as that shown in Figure 3.

As already indicated, the slats 17-19 are profiled sections, an example of the cross-section of which is shown in Figure 9. These are open crosssections terminating in an upper edge and a lower edge which overlap the lower and upper edges of the slats disposed directly below and above in the assembly so as to constitute a continuous surface.

Figure 4 is a front view of a portion of the fittings according to the invention, showing, for example, the rack 11, to the rear of which an intermediate element 15 is fixed. The rack 11 13 comprises perforations 20 and the intermediate element 15 has two rows of perforations 21, 22 aligned on either side of the line on the rack 11.

The slats 14 are represented simply by horizontally elongate rectangles. The connecting elements have been shown by fine lines in the form of rectangles 23, 24 representing the bodies of the connecting elements and terminating at the level of the rows of perforations 21 and 22 with crosses representing the hooks 19.

More generally, the connecting elements 23, 24 on the left- and righthand sides of the rack 11 are not identical but are symmetrical, that is, they are not interchangeable because of the orientation of the hooks 19.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, the perforations 20 of the rack 11 and those 21, 22 of the intermediate element 15 have the same dimensions and the same spacing.

These may differ, however, the rack 11 possibly having perforations 20 at certain intervals and the intermediate element 15 having perforations 21, 22 at different intervals. In this case, only the spacing of the tabs for the coupling of 14 the intermediate element 15 to the rear face of t he rack 11 is important since this spacing must be the same as that of the perforations 20 of the rack 11.

Figure 5 shows a first type of fittings with slats 14 of thickness E. This embodiment corresponds to that shown in Figure 3, comprising a rack 11 carrying an intermediate element 15 which is connected to the rear face 11A of the rack by tabs 16, indicated by a single line. The perforations 21, 22 of the intermediate element 15 are shown by a double line. This convention will be used in the various Figures 6-8B.

According to the variant of Figure 5, the thickness E of the slats 14 is such that the front face 11B of the rack 11 is level with the front faces of the slats 14, or projects. It could also be recessed for relatively thick slats, but this would pose problems of the finishing at the junction of the portions of the slats and the side faces of the rack 11.

In general, the slats 14 have a thickness E corresponding to the thickness of the rack 11.

The cross-sections of the racks, and their distribution, are selected as a function of the load which the fittings are to receive. Usually, the racks have a square cross-section, in most cases.

For fittings intended for relative heavy loads, however, for example, for book-shops or stationers, it may be necessary to use racks 31 of rectangular cross-section. In this case, an intermediate element with a channel-shaped crosssection, such as the element 15 of Figure 5 can certainly be used, but if the front faces of the slats 14 are to be level with the front face 31B of the rack 31, the invention provides for an intermediate element 35 with an inverted omegashaped cross-section, comprising a hollow, rectangular portion 35A, 35B, 35C which covers the rear face 31A and a portion of the side faces of the rack 31, terminating in two lateral strips 35D, 35E carrying the perforations 37, 38, which are represented, according to the convention adopted, by two short parallel lines perpendicular to the surfaces of the strips 35D, 35E.

As indicated above for the intermediate element 15, the base 35A of the channel-shaped portion (35A, 35B, 3SC) of the intermediate element 35 16 comprises coupling tabs 36 for hooking into the perforations of the rear face 31A of the rack 31.

The other elements of the fittings are similar to those described above.

Figures 7A, 7B show special intermediate elements which are intended to be fixed to a rack 31 of rectangular cross-section such as that of Figure 6, but which constitutes an end rack serving as a support for slats 14 on only one of its sides, either the left-hand side, according to Figure 7A, or on the right-hand side according to Figure 7B. In this case, the intermediate element 45, 451 is limited to an angle piece which is fixed laterally against the rack 31 and of which the face 45A, 45'A which faces the front has perforations 47, 471 for receiving the connecting elements, not shown, for the slats 14.

Figures 8A, 8B show another embodiment of an intermediate element for the end of a fitting, either on the left-hand side 55, or on the righthand side 551 (Figures 8A, 8B), in the case of a channel-sectioned intermediate element (Figure 5).

This intermediate element 55, 551 is fitted behind a rack 11 of square cross-section.

17 These intermediate elements 55, 551 comprise a single row of perforations 7, 71. These intermediate elements 55, 551 are also fixed against the rear faces 11A of the racks 11 by coupling tabs 56, 56'.

Figure 9 shows, by means of a sectional view, the assembly of a slat 14 and an intermediate element 65 by means of a connecting element 66, the rack to which the intermediate element 65 is fixed not being shown.

The slat 14, which has an open, Z-shaped crosssection, has a main rectangular portion 141 terminating at its upper end in a lip 142 which is bent twice, and at its lower end in a larger lip 143 which is also bent twice in a manner such that the various slats overlap by means of their lower and upper lips.

This slat 14 is fixed to the intermediate element 104, which may be an element similar to the intermediate elements 65 described above, by a connecting element 66 constituted by a bent sheetmetal element, the shape of which will become clearer from Figures 10A, 10b. This connecting element 66 is composed of a body 66A which is housed in the open rectangular-sectioned portion 18 of the main portion 141 of the slat 14 and terminates in two hooks 662, 663 which are housed in two perforations 651 of the row of perforations in the front face 65A of the intermediate element 65.

Figures 10A, 10B give more details of the shape of the connecting element 66, showing, in particular, the shape of the body 661 which is constituted by a strip of sheet metal bent twice.

Figures 11A-11C shown an embodiment 75 of the intermediate element which is similar to that of Figures 3 and 4. This intermediate element 75 has a channel-shaped cross-section with a web 75A and two flanges 75B, 75C. The web carries two rows of perforations 76, 77 and cut-outs forming the tabs 78.

Figures 12a, 12B show a variant of the intermediate element like that of Figure 6. "This element 86 comprises a cavity defined by a base 86A and two side walls 86B, 86C which in turn are bordered by strips 86D, 86E terminating in turneddown edges 86F, 86G which are at right angles to the strips 86D, 86E. The lateral strips 86D, 86E comprise the perforations 87, 88 and the base 86A carries the cut-outs forming the hooks 89.

19 Figures 13A-13C show a special end embodiment 96 of the intermediate element like that of Figure 8B. This intermediate element 96 has a channelshaped cross-section with a web 96A and two flanges 96B, 96C. The web 96A carries lugs 97 formed by cut-outs and a row of perforations 98.

Claims

Fittings for clip-on panelling forming presentation surfaces for display and/or coupling of supports, shelves or products, the fittings comprising:

- a set of vertical racks defining the surface to be provided with slats forming panelling, - panelling carried by the racks, the fittings being characterized in that they comprise:

- an intermediate element (15, 35, 45, 451, 55, 551) associated with each rack and connected thereto, - connecting elements (17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 66) for connecting the slats (14) of the panelling to the intermediate element.
2. Fittings according to Claim 1, J_ characterized in that the intermediate element (15) is a channel-section which is coupled behind each rack so as to extend beyond it laterally.

21
3. Fittings according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connecting elements (17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 66) are clips which slide in the profiled sections constituting the slats (14) and which comprise coupling tabs (19) which are inserted in the perforations (21, 22) of the intermediate element (15).
4. Fittings according to Claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate element (35) is a profiled section with an inverted omegashaped crosssection having a channel-shaped portion (35A, 35B, 35C) the base (35A) of which comprises coupling tabs (36) for insertion in the perforations of the rear face of the rack, this channel-shaped portion terminating at the front in lateral strips (35D, 35E) having perforations (37, 38) for the coupling of the connecting elements of the slats.
5. Fittings according to Claim 1, characterized in that they comprise a channelshaped intermediate element (55, 551) having connecting tabs (56, 56') for coupling with the perforations of the rack and a single row of perforations (57, 57') which is offset towards the left or towards the right, this intermediate element constituting an end element which receives 22 slats (14) on only one side (on the left-hand or the right-hand side).
6. Fittings according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element (66) is a sheet-metal element comprising a body (66A) which is housed in the open cross-section of the main portion (141) of the slat (14) and which terminates in two hooks (662, 663) which are housed selectively in two perforations of the row of perforations of the front face of the intermediate element.

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