MODULAR SHELVING

Abstract

Modular shelving comprising at least one shelf supported by at least one tube, wherein said shelf is coupled to said tube by means of a coupling element which is arranged externally in said tube and internally in a hole passing through the shelf, where each coupling element is divided lengthwise into two identical halves which are tongue and groove coupled together and, being coupled, can fit snugly into the hole of the shelf, whereby a tube supporting the shelf is fitted.

Claims

1. Modular shelving comprising at least one shelf supported by at least one tube, wherein said at least one shelf is coupled to said at least one tube by means of a coupling element which is arranged externally on said tube and internally in a hole which passes through the shelf, characterised in that each coupling element is divided longitudinally into two identical halves which fit together by means of a tongue and groove joint and, being coupled, can fit tightly into a hole of a shelf, whereby a tube supporting the shelf is fitted.

2. Modular shelving according to claim 1, wherein for each coupling element the shelving comprises two clamping pieces, one positioned on each side of the shelf, in a close-fitting manner, wherein the coupling between the coupling element and each clamping piece is achieved by axially engaging flanges comprising each coupling element in corresponding coupling openings located in an inner flange of each clamping piece, so that the relative rotation of the clamping piece relative to the coupling element, once axially seated, causes the retention of the tabs on the inner flange of the clamping piece.

3. Modular shelving according to claim 1, comprising at least three tubes.

4. Modular shelving according to claim 1, comprising at least two shelves, such that one shelf is located at the top and is supported by at least one tube below, while another shelf is located in between and is supported by at least one tube below and is also coupled at the top with at least one tube above.

5. Modular shelving according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tube and the holes of said at least one shelf have a circular cross section.

6. Modular shelving according to claim 1, in which each clamping piece has a sealing cap that covers the openings and the annular space between the tube and a perimeter contour of said clamping piece by means of clipping in some sealing openings that each clamping piece has.

7. Modular shelving according to claim 4, in which the coupling between the upper and lower tubes in an intermediate shelf is made by means of a threaded rod internally to both tubes.

8. Modular shelving according to claim 1, wherein said at least one coupling element is made of plastic material.

9. Modular shelving according to claim 2, wherein said at least one clamping piece is made of plastic material.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] To complement the description being made and in order to assist in a better understanding of the features of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of a practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached hereto as an integral part of the said description, in which the following is illustratively and non-limitingly depicted:

[0019] FIG. 1.Shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the shelving system of the invention with five shelves and four columns of tubes.

[0020] FIG. 2.Shows a detail in exploded perspective of the coupling between an intermediate shelf and the tubes corresponding to two holes, where the arrangement between the different parts and elements comprising the shelving of the invention has been represented in explosion.

[0021] FIG. 3.Shows a view as in FIG. 2 of a sequential instant later in the arrangement between parts than that shown in FIG. 2.

[0022] FIG. 4.Shows an elevation view of the shelving system shown in FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In view of the figures shown, it can be seen how in one of the possible embodiments of the invention the shelving system proposed by the invention comprises five shelves (1) supported by four columns of tubes (2), where each section of the column of tubes (2) between shelves (1) is formed by a tube (2) which is coupled to the next one by means of a threaded rod (11) internally to both tubes (2).

[0024] Each coupling element (4) is arranged to embrace the tube (2) by means of two halves that insert flanges into the grooves of the tube (2) and are fixed to it. On its outer side, the coupling element (4) has projections to support the shelf (1). The shelf (1) and tube (2) assembly is fixed with the clamping pieces (5) arranged above and below the coupling element (4), which provides the necessary rigidity to the assembly.

[0025] As can be seen in FIG. 2, each coupling element (4) is divided lengthwise into two identical halves, so that when they face each other they can be coupled together by means of tongue and groove. When these halves are coupled, they can fit snugly into a hole (3) of a shelf (1), and a tube (2) supporting the shelf (1) is fitted into it. In the case of an intermediate shelf, a lower tube (2) and an upper tube (2) are fitted into the same coupling element (4).

[0026] In turn, for each coupling element (4) the shelf comprises two clamping pieces (5), one positioned on each side of the shelf (1) in a close-fitting manner, where the coupling between the coupling element (4) and each clamping piece (5) is achieved by axially engaging flanges (6) comprising each coupling element (4) into corresponding coupling openings (8) located on an inner flange (7) of each clamping piece (5). Once axially seated, a relative rotation of the clamping piece (5) with respect to the coupling element (4) results in the retention of the tabs (6) on the inner flange (7) of the clamping piece (5), which contacts and butts against the bottom surface of the shelf.

[0027] In the embodiment shown, the shelf (1) at the top is supported by four lower tubes (2), while the shelves (1) in between are supported by four lower tubes (2) and are also coupled at the top with four upper tubes (2). The tubes (2) and the holes (3) of the shelves (1) have a circular cross-section.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each clamping piece (5) is fitted with a sealing cap (9) which covers the openings (8) and the annular space between the tube (2) and a perimeter contour of the clamping piece (5) by clipping into the sealing openings (10) of each clamping piece (5).

[0029] As mentioned above, the coupling between the upper and lower tubes (2) in an intermediate shelf (1) can be achieved by means of a threaded rod (11) internally to both tubes (2), thus achieving the desired height.

[0030] It is envisaged that the coupling elements (4), the clamping pieces (5) and the sealing caps (9) will be made of plastic material, which reduces the cost of production and at the same time reduces the weight of the entire shelving.

[0031] In the case of annularly scored tubes (2), the coupling element (4) can be positioned at any point on the scored tube (2).

[0032] In view of this description and set of figures, the person skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments of the invention that have been described can be combined in multiple ways within the subject matter of the invention. The invention has been described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that multiple variations can be introduced into such preferred embodiments without exceeding the claimed subject matter of the invention.