EP2281479A1 - Fold-down shelf - Google Patents

Abstract

The shelf has a fixing unit fixing a shelf bottom (40) at a front wall. The shelf bottom includes another fixing unit for connection with the former fixing unit. The shelf bottom rests at the rear wall in a folding arrangement. A wall shelf is connected with the former fixing unit and the front wall in a utilization arrangement, and encloses a space. The shelf bottom is tilted relative to the rear wall around an axis. A part of the shelf bottom is fabricated with two material layers. The front wall includes a cross web for supporting the shelf bottom. An independent claim is also included for a method for establishing a foldable shelf.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a foldable shelf, which can be produced from at least one shelf element. This shelf is also suitable for use as a display stand in a sales room. Such displays are found in the retail sector, such as in supermarkets, drugstores and generally in sales areas.

Background of the invention

The U.S. Patent 4,311,100 discloses a fabric stand that can be made substantially from a one-piece blank. The material for the floors is folded out of the otherwise intended for the front part of the blank. Although this stand may be useful for many purposes, a construction without a front wall and without support of shelves, such as by transverse webs in the front wall, requires the use of a relatively strong and therefore expensive material. Furthermore, the floors allow no special adaptation to be placed there goods. Goods are therefore not kept in a special way, so that they can be offered in an ideal predetermined sales position or that they are protected against falling out forward. Incidentally, the shelf element shown has partially open side walls. These side walls, which have triangular open sections, are intended to provide lateral access to the shelves. These accesses are not very useful if such stands are to be connected together to form a larger rack unit.

The patent application WO 2007/148963 discloses a foldable goods shelf. This shelf is composed of a relatively large number of individual parts and is provided in a preferred embodiment with a mechanical deployment aid. In the folded state of the shelf, the right and the left side wall is folded inwards, so in each case to the rear wall. When unfolding the shelf, both side walls move in opposite direction to the outside, that is, the left side wall folds away from the rear wall to the left and the right side wall folds away from the rear wall to the right. This erection mechanism means that you can not easily connect several such shelf parts together. In particular, it would be impossible to glue side walls of adjacent shelf parts together, as this would block the erection mechanism.

The publication DE 101 45 859 A1 discloses a folding shelving system. This should be offered for example as a CD shelf or shelf for file folders. The honeycomb shape of the shelf elements may well harmonize with the folding mechanism, but means a certain waste of space when storing cuboid objects. Also, objects are not secured against falling out forward. Rough shelves and sturdy hinges seem to be required to accommodate the folding mechanism.

The utility model DE G 87 13 942.1 discloses furniture made of corrugated cardboard or similar foldable material. The furniture is intended to be a useful product of waste paper. In particular, it can serve as a classroom furniture with compartments and drawers. However, it is obvious that even the production of the large number of drawn-out drawers and drawers complicates the manufacture and construction of the furniture.

The present development seeks to improve the state of the art. In particular, a stable shelf should be provided cheaply. It should be the transport of the required material bequen and the shelf should be easy to build by an untrained individual or untrained person. Furthermore, the shelf should also be made of lightweight material. This is achieved by the shelf according to claim 1.

Main features of the invention

The present invention relates to a foldable shelf, which can be produced from at least one shelf element. In particular, it is a foldable shelf, which comprises at least a first shelf element with a rear wall, two side walls and a partially perforated front wall, which further comprises at least one shelf, wherein the at least one shelf is movably connected to the rear wall and on the front wall a first Fixing means (for example, plug-in means) for fixing the at least one shelf is provided and further comprising at least one shelf a second fixing means (for example, receptacles) for connection to the first fixing means and the shelf of a folding arrangement, in which the at least one shelf rests against the rear wall and the shelf walls include substantially no usable space, can be converted into a utility arrangement, in which the at least one shelf with the first fixing means, is connected to the front wall and the shelf walls include a work space.

The invention thus relates to a foldable shelf, which comprises at least a first shelf element. The foldable shelf may well include several shelf elements. For example, a linear arrangement of three or four shelf elements could be offered as a shelf. This in particular if the various elements have a common base or a common head attachment.

The first shelf element, but usually all other shelf elements should include a rear wall, two side walls and a front wall. These walls can in principle include any shape, usually they will include a cuboid.

The front wall is broken. So there are suitable openings to provide, which allow access to the shelf interior.

Furthermore, the first shelf element should comprise at least one shelf. This shelf is movably connected to the rear wall. In alternative, albeit less preferred embodiments of the invention, it is also conceivable that the shelf is connected to another wall, for example one of the side walls. The mobility of the at least one shelf to the rear wall should be such that the shelf can be connected in at least one position with the front wall and fixed there. According to the invention, the front wall for this purpose has first and second fixing means, which are provided at least preferably in the form of a plug-in means as a first fixing means and in the form of a receptacle as a corresponding second fixing means. The recording is provided on or in the shelf.

The feature described herein of the at least one shelf should also have all other shelves, if a plurality of shelves is provided. Also apply herein for a shelf element made statement also for other shelf elements of a foldable shelf.

The shelf and the shelf elements should be convertible into a folding arrangement. In this folding arrangement, the at least one shelf should in any case abut substantially on the rear wall or, if a small distance should still remain between the rear wall and the shelf, come to lie substantially parallel to the rear wall. If several shelves are provided, they should all be brought into this position in the folding arrangement. In the folding arrangement, the shelves and the shelf elements do not include a usable space or at least substantially no usable space. If, for example, walls are not folded completely flush with one another, then a small space may remain, which however is not available as usable space in the sense of a useful space of a shelf.

Furthermore, the shelf and the shelf elements should be able to be converted into a utility arrangement. In this useful arrangement, the shelf is connected to the front wall with the aid of the fixing means, preferably with the aid of the insertion means, which has the front wall. Incidentally, the utility arrangement is one in which the shelf walls complete a utility space.

It has proved to be advantageous if the at least one shelf is movable relative to the rear wall in such a way that it can be tilted about an axis.

It has proved to be particularly useful if the mobility of the shelf and in particular the mobility of the shelf is made about an axis by the flexibility of the material from which the at least one shelf is made. The at least one shelf may well consist of several different materials. However, it has proved possible and advantageous to produce the shelf as a blank of a material web. It is also possible to choose this material web so that the required flexibility is provided.

The material web can be made, for example, of plastic or of cardboard, in particular of kraft cardboard or corrugated cardboard. In this case, the material web jacket blank can be single-layered or a laminate.

In particular, it is possible to produce a shelf from two layers of material. These can be, for example, two layers of material from the same blank from the material web when it is folded. In this case, the two layers of material can be arranged so that one part of the shelf consists only of one material layer and another part of the shelf consists of two layers of material. In this case, then the axis by which the shelf can be tilted relative to the rear wall, lie in the part of the floor, which made from a material layer. The usually higher flexibility of a material layer in comparison to a double material layer is used in this way. At the same time, however, it is possible to ensure adequate reinforcement of the shelf at other locations.

The invention can be carried out so that the receptacle of the at least one shelf, which serves for connection to the plug-in means, is designed as a slot. Such a slot may be a groove-like depression in the shelf or may alternatively and even preferably pass through the entire depth of the shelf so that a slot-shaped opening is formed.

It has proved to be advantageous if the front wall offers transverse webs, which are a support for the at least one shelf, typically in a front portion of the shelf. These transverse webs may be, for example, the lower limits of the openings in the front wall.

It is particularly useful if the transverse webs have upwardly directed lugs. These lugs are a form of the first fixing means and can be taken up by the second fixing means, ie in particular by the slots. With open slots, it is also possible that the lugs protrude through the slot and thus form a supernatant at the top of the shelves. Such a supernatant can be used deliberately to avoid falling out of objects from the shelves to the front.

For this purpose, it may also be useful to arrange the at least one shelf obliquely, in the form that it falls off at least in a portion of the front wall to the rear wall. Alternatively, it is of course also possible to provide the shelf level. It is also useful if the at least one shelf has a rear impact. A good placed on the shelf can then be placed so that it rests against the kick.

It is also possible to tune the shelves according to the invention especially on objects to be placed therein. In particular, the shelf can be matched to objects of certain shape, in particular certain rectangular cross-section. It can be optimized for both different objects, as well as objects of identical rectangular cross-section. In particular, it is contemplated that an object of rectangular cross-section, when it rests with its rear lower edge on the rear abutment, just with its rear upper edge abuts against the rear wall. This results in the article being supported at two points in the back. Consequently, the object is stable on the shelf and finds a clearly predefined position on the shelf.

The shelf is therefore particularly suitable for the presentation and storage of books, such as paperbacks, and sound and image carriers, such as CD's, video cassettes and DVD's. Therefore, in addition to the use in private rooms, it can also be used well in the sales room of a bookstore or video store.

A foldable shelf according to the invention may for example comprise two, three, four, five or six shelf elements. In many situations, a foldable shelf comprising four shelf elements is particularly convenient. It may be particularly expedient to arrange the four shelf elements to a rectangle or square. Preferably, this is done so that the front walls of the corresponding shelf elements in the supervision describe a rectangle or square.

Particularly useful is a foldable shelf, which can take a flat folding position. It is very useful if the foldable shelf in one square-shaped outer packaging can be placed, the amount of which is significantly less than the length of their shortest side. Preferably, this height is only one-tenth or less than the length of the shortest side.

In a further aspect, the invention also relates to a method for setting up a foldable shelf. This method comprises at least the following steps: (a) applying pressure to two opposite edges of the foldable shelf; (b) folding down the at least one shelf; (C) fixing the at least one shelf with the help of the plug means and the receptacle for connection to the plug means.

These steps are preferably performed in this order. The method may further include, prior to step (a), removing one of the foldable shelves from a cuboid overwrap.

Description of exemplary embodiments

Fig. 1

einen Zuschnitt für die Wände eines erfindungsgemäßen Regalelements

Fig. 2

einen Zuschnitt für einen Regalboden

Fig. 3

einen ersten Schritt bei der Fertigung des Regalelementes aus dem Zuschnitt

Fig. 4

zeigt als einen weiteren Schritt die Zusammenfügung des Regalbodens aus dem Zuschnitt

Fig. 5

zeigt als einen weiteren Schritt die Verbindung der Regalböden mit der Außenhülle des Regalelementes

Fig.6

zeigt einen weiteren Schritt beim Zusammensetzen des Regalelementes

Fig. 7

zeigt ein fertig zusammengesetztes Regalelement

Fig. 8

zeigt in dreidimensionaler Ansicht ein faltbares Regal, welches vier Regalelemente umfasst und in seine Nutzanordnung überführt ist

Fig. 9

zeigt ein faltbares Regal mit vier Regelelementen in der Faltanordnung und teilweise von einer Verpackung umschlossen

Fig. 10

zeigt einen teilweise schematischen Querschnitt durch ein Regalelement und einen Regalboden in einer vertikalen Ebene

Fig. 11

zeigt auf eine schematische Aufsicht auf ein faltbares Regal, welches vier Regalelement umfasst

Other features, but also advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following drawings and the accompanying description. In the figures and in the accompanying descriptions, features of the invention are described in combination. However, these features may also be included in other combinations of an article of the invention. Each disclosed feature is thus also to be regarded as disclosed in technically meaningful combinations with other features. In the pictures show:

Fig. 1

a blank for the walls of a shelf element according to the invention

Fig. 2

a blank for a shelf

Fig. 3

a first step in the manufacture of the shelf element from the blank

Fig. 4

shows as a further step the assembly of the shelf from the blank

Fig. 5

shows as a further step the connection of the shelves with the outer shell of the shelf element

Figure 6

shows a further step in assembling the shelf element

Fig. 7

shows a ready assembled shelf element

Fig. 8

shows in three-dimensional view a foldable shelf, which comprises four shelf elements and is transferred to its Nutzanordnung

Fig. 9

shows a foldable shelf with four control elements in the folding arrangement and partially enclosed by a package

Fig. 10

shows a partially schematic cross section through a shelf element and a shelf in a vertical plane

Fig. 11

shows a schematic plan view of a foldable shelf, which comprises four shelf element

Fig. 1 shows first a blank 12, from which substantially the walls of a shelf element according to the invention can be produced. From the left section of the blank, the rear wall 30 is formed, from the subsequent narrower section, the second side wall 34 is formed the subsequent section creates the front wall 36 and from the adjoining section, the first side wall 32 is formed. Particularly cost-saving is the use of rectangular blanks and thus also the production of rectangular side walls and corresponding cuboid shelf elements. The blank has lateral tabs, which are not specified and can be designed in a largely arbitrary manner expedient. In particular, tabs are useful or adhesive tabs which z. B. can carry adhesive surfaces. The front wall 36 has openings 37. Overall, four openings are provided in this blank, namely the openings 37a, 37b, 37c and 37d. At the bottom, each breakthrough is limited by a crossbar. The upper three transverse webs are narrower than the lowermost, which also serves as a kind of base element. The areas which are provided as openings 37 are still filled with material in this view. However, cuts are provided so that the apertures 37 can be opened. The exact manner in which this happens, will be explained in connection with the following figures, in particular with Fig. 3 ,

Fig. 2 shows a blank 41 from which a shelf 40 can be made. This blank is tapered towards the top and has a fold line between the 42 and the 44 marked portion. The portion 44 is shorter than the portion 42. When folding around this fold line so the section 44 can be placed on the section 42. This results in a whole area of the section 44 two-tier shelf. However, the shelf in the lower part of the section 42 is still single-ply. This single-layer area includes the connection tab 48 (but also an overhanging area). On the connecting plate 48, a glue bar 49 is provided.

It also recognizes two areas in which are provided for slots for slots, namely the area 50a and 50b. After punching out the material and superimposing the sections 42 and 44 arises here a uniform slot 50. Also visible is the crease line 52, on which the shelf 40 can be bent. Parallel to the bending line 52, a bonding bar 54 is provided above this, with which the sections 42 and 44 of the shelf 40 can be fixed to each other. The following described in more detail Fig. 4 explains this process again vividly.

The Fig. 3 to 7 show stepwise how an inventive shelf element is assembled from the corresponding blanks. To increase clarity, only the most essential elements shown are provided with reference numerals.

Fig. 3 shows the just spread blank for the walls of the shelf element. The blank 21 has as marked elements the rear wall 30 and the front wall 36. In an early construction step, the openings 37 of the front wall 36, the material not required there is folded away. This can be folded for stabilization on the adjacent side walls and can also be fixed there.

Fig. 4 shows how a blank 41, a shelf can be made. For this purpose, the upper narrower section 42 of the blank is folded down along the fold line between the cutouts for the slot 50. The result is a partially double-layered shelf with a single, continuous slot 50.

In Fig. 5 you look like four in the in Fig. 4 shown prepared soils are connected to the rear wall 30 of the blank 21. For this purpose uses the adhesive tabs 48 and their adhesive bar 49th

Fig. 6 shows how now all shelves 40 are positioned flat against the back wall. The rear wall 30 is folded over on the front wall 36 back.

This process is in Fig. 7 completed. As a result, a shelf element has arisen, which is generally cuboid and surrounded by four outer walls. In Fig. 7 Looking at the rear wall and the second side wall 34. Inside shelves are now provided, which, however, are not visible here. They lie flat on the rear wall, so that the shelf member 20 is a total of a flat structure.

Fig. 8 shows in perspective view a foldable shelf 10, which has four shelf elements. Visible is a first shelf element 20 and a second shelf element 22. Above the various shelf elements, a head part 12 is provided. This can, if provided by the head part 12 as upper edges of the shelf elements are used to stabilize the foldable shelf 10 in total. Mainly it serves as advertising space. The first shelf element 20 shows with its front wall 36 approximately to the viewer. It recognizes the openings 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d in the front wall, which are bounded at the bottom by transverse webs 38. The lowermost opening 37d is bounded at the bottom by a portion of the front wall which also serves as part of the base. In the first shelf member 20 find four shelves 40 place. The shelves are bounded to the right by the second side wall 34 of the first shelf member 20. The other side wall, the first side wall 32 of the first shelf element 20 is not visible in this arrangement. In order to make the arrangement more compact, this first side wall 32 is completely covered by the second shelf element 22. On the second shelf element, the outwardly facing second side wall 34b and the front wall 36b of the second shelf element 22 can be seen. The left side of the front wall 36b of the second shelf element 22 shows the corresponding second side wall 34c of the next shelf element, namely the third shelf element 24.

In Fig. 9 you can see the foldable shelf 10 in its folding arrangement. The foldable shelf 10 essentially forms a flat structure therein. Visible are the first shelf member 20 and the second shelf member 22. The shelf 10 is shown including the head portion 12, which can also be converted into a corresponding folding arrangement. This flat structure can be easily inserted into a package 60. In this case, as shown, is essentially a flat cuboid packaging into consideration. In particular, it is possible that the height h is small compared to the length of the side walls of the package 60. In particular, it is contemplated that the height h is only one fifth, one tenth or one twentieth of the length I of the shortest side of the parallelepiped package 60 is. This is particularly advantageous for transport purposes. For example, the packages 60 with the foldable shelves 10 can then be stacked particularly easily.

The shelf not only offers a particularly convenient installation and folding into a convenient folding form, but also offers optimized shelves. These are optimized in particular for objects of rectangular cross-section. This is in the schematic drawing in the Fig. 10 particularly recognizable. In this drawing, which is a cross-sectional view on a vertical plane from the side, one can see on the left the front wall 36 of the shelf and on the right the rear wall 30 of the shelf. Between these walls of the shelf 40 is attached, which consists of a first layer of material from the section 42 and a second layer of material from the section 44. A slot 50 is designed as a breakthrough through both layers of material and receives the retaining lug 39, which is formed on the front wall 36. The opening 37 in the front wall ensures good access to the shelf 40. At its rear side of the shelf 40 is connected by a glue 48 with the rear wall 30. Adjoining the adhesive fold 48 is a bending region 46. This bending region 46 makes it possible to fold the shelf 40 onto the rear wall 30, but also to fold it away from the rear wall 30 and to transfer it into the use position shown here. The bending region 46 is provided in such a way that only one material layer, namely the material layer from the section 42, is present there. at suitably selected material, a sufficient flexibility in the bending region 46 can be ensured even by the choice of material. The bend can take place about the axis A running in the viewing direction. If corrugated board is used as material, one would orient the wave course parallel to the axis A.

Approximately in the rear third of the shelf 40 a Kinkfalz 52 is attached. This ensures that the shelf 40 is inclined and drops in over most of its surface from the front wall 36 to the rear wall 30 out. A small piece of the shelf, namely that located behind the buckling fold 52 on the back wall, is also oblique, but rises to the back wall. The kink caused by the kink 52 forms a convenient impulse.

Schematically, a rectangular object is shown by a dashed line. This can abut with its rear lower edge to the Kinkfalz 52. He is thereby brought to a predetermined position on the shelf 40. It when the slope of the shelf is just designed so that the object in this position with its rear upper edge just touches the shelf rear wall 30 is particularly favorable. This contact additionally supports the article on the shelf. The length of the shelf, in particular its length between the nose 39 and the kink-fold 52, can be chosen so that the lower side of a rectangular object is just fitted between the kink-fold 52 and the nose 39. The over the shelf 40 upwardly projecting part of the nose 39 can then protect the object towards the front in addition to unwanted falling out.

Fig. 11 gives a schematic view of the foldable shelf from above. The foldable shelf 10 includes a first shelf member 20, a second shelf member 22, a third shelf member 24, and a fourth shelf member 26. These are arranged so that the back wall of a shelf member is partially covered by the first sidewall of the adjacent shelf member becomes. This leads to a total flush arrangement. The four rectangular shelf elements result in a total of a foldable shelf, which occupies a substantially square base. In the center of the foldable shelf 10, therefore, a cavity remains.

The description has shown how, according to the invention, an easily foldable and easily erectable shelf can be produced in a simple manner. In this particular objects of the rectangular cross section can be optimally arranged.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Foldable shelf

12

headboard

20

First shelf element

22

Second shelf element

24

Third shelf element

26

Fourth shelf element

30

rear wall

32

First sidewall

34

Second side wall

36

front wall

37

Breakthrough (37a, 37b, 37c, 37d)

38

Transverse webs (38a, 38b, 38c, 38d)

39

nose

40

shelf

42

first section

44

second part

46

bending area

48

connecting strap

49

Glued beam

50

Slot (50a top, 50b bottom)

52

Knickfalz

54

Inner glue bar

60

packaging

H

Height of the packaging

l

Length of the shorter side of the packaging

Claims (14)

Foldable shelf (10), which comprises at least a first shelf element (20) with a rear wall (30), two side walls (32, 34) and a partially perforated front wall (36), which further comprises at least one shelf (40), characterized in that the at least one shelf (40) is movably connected to the rear wall (30) and a first fixing means (39) for fixing the at least one shelf (40) is provided on the front wall (36) and the at least one shelf (40 ) has a second fixing means (50) for connection to the first fixing means (39) and the shelf (10) of a folding arrangement in which the at least one shelf (40) on the rear wall (30) and the shelf walls (30, 32 , 34, 36) substantially include no usable space, can be converted into a utility arrangement, in which the at least one shelf (40) with the first fixing means (39), with the front wall (36) is connected and the Shelf walls include a usable space. Foldable shelf (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one shelf (40) relative to the rear wall (30) about an axis (A) can be tilted. Foldable shelf (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the mobility of the shelf (40) about this axis (A) is given by the flexibility of the material from which the at least one shelf (40) is made. Foldable shelf (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a part of the at least one shelf (40) of two material layers (42, 44) and a part of the shelf (40) of only one Material layer (42) is prepared and the axis (A), by which the at least one bottom can be moved relative to the rear wall (30), in the part of the bottom, which is made of a material layer (42). Foldable shelf (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second fixing means of the at least one shelf (40) for connection to the first fixing means (39) is designed as a slot (50). Foldable shelf (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front wall (36) has a transverse web (38) for supporting the at least one shelf (40). Foldable shelf (10) according to claim 6, wherein the top of the transverse web (38) has an upwardly directed nose (39) which can be received by the second fixing means, for example the slot (50). Foldable shelf (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the at least one shelf (40) is inclined and sloping from the front wall (36) to the rear wall (30). Foldable shelf (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one shelf (40) has a rear abutment (52), against which an on-shelf good can be placed. Foldable shelf (10) according to claim 9, which is designed in particular for objects of a certain rectangular cross-section and in which the at least one shelf (40) is designed so that an object of rectangular cross-section, when abutting the rear lower edge on the abutment (52), abuts with its rear upper edge against the rear wall (30). Foldable shelf (10) comprising four shelf elements (20, 22, 24, 26). Foldable shelf (10) according to claim 11, wherein the front walls (36a, 36b, 36c, 36d) of the four shelf elements (22, 24, 26, 28) are arranged in a rectangle. Foldable shelf (10) according to one of the preceding claims, which can be placed in a parallelepiped-shaped package (60) whose height (h) is only one tenth or less than the length of its shortest side (I). Method for erecting a foldable shelf comprising the following steps: Applying pressure to two opposite edges of the foldable shelf (10), Folding down the at least one shelf (40) - Fixing the at least one shelf by means of the plug means (39) and the receptacle (50) for connection to the plug-in means (39)

Images