Search

WO-2026095851-A1 - A SHELF AND A STORAGE SYSTEM

WO2026095851A1WO 2026095851 A1WO2026095851 A1WO 2026095851A1WO-2026095851-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a shelf (9) for a storage system The shelf comprises a main piece (13) being formed by a sheet metal web, which is bent, at a front (15) and a rear (17) edge, out of the plane of the top surface (11) to form vertical front and rear edge surfaces (19). The shelf further comprises side pieces (21), attached to the main piece (13) and having connector means (23, 25) for connecting to a respective bracket thereby suspending the shelf. Each side piece (21) has a horizontal top flange (27) covering a side edge (29) of the main piece (13) and a vertical section (31) comprising said connector means (23, 25). An intermediate section (33) is located between the top flange (27) and the vertical section (31), such that the vertical section is retracted under the side edge (29).

Inventors

  • NILSSON, PETER

Assignees

  • ELFA INTERNATIONAL AB

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251030
Priority Date
20241104

Claims (8)

  1. 1 . A shelf (9) for a storage system, the shelf comprising a main piece (13) defining a top surface (11) and being formed by a sheet metal web, which is bent, at a front (15) and a rear (17) edge, out of the plane of the top surface (11 ) to form vertical front and rear edge surfaces (19), and first and second side pieces (21), which are attached to the main piece (13) and comprise connector means (23, 25) for connecting each of the side pieces to a respective bracket or the like for suspending the shelf (9) thereon, characterized by each of the side pieces (21 ) comprising a horizontal top flange (27) covering a side edge (29) of the main piece (13) and a vertical section (31 ) comprising said connector means (23, 25) wherein each side piece (21) further comprises an intermediate section (33) between the top flange (27) and the vertical section (31), such that the vertical section is retracted under said side edge (29).
  2. 2. Shelf according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate section (33) is inclined with regard to the top flange (27), forming an acute angle in the range between 15 and 60 degrees therebetween.
  3. 3. Shelf according to claim 2, wherein said acute angle is in the range between 45 and 55 degrees.
  4. 4. Shelf according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein said connector means (23, 25) include at least two tabs (23) punched from the side piece (21).
  5. 5. Shelf according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front edge (51 ) of each side piece (21) is covered behind the front edge surface (19) of the main piece (13).
  6. 6. Shelf according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf further comprises a reinforcement beam (41) which is welded to the bottom side of the main piece (13), and the ends of which are each welded to a bottom flange (49) of a side piece (21).
  7. 7. Shelf according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the main piece (13) is at least partly punched and stretched to form a mesh material.
  8. 8. A storage system comprising a shelf according to any of claims 1 -7.

Description

A SHELF AND A STORAGE SYSTEM Technical field The present disclosure relates to a shelf for a storage system, the shelf comprising a main piece, defining a top surface and being formed by a sheet metal web, which is bent, at a front and a rear edge, out of the plane of the top surface to form vertical front and rear edge surfaces, and first and second side pieces, which are attached to the main piece and comprise connector means for connecting each of the side pieces to a respective bracket, for instance, for suspending the shelf thereon. The present disclosure also considers a storage system. Background Such a shelf is described for instance in EP-3398482-A1 , where a shelf made partly of an expanded mesh material has side pieces adapted to connect to other elements in a system, typically by each connecting to a cantilevered bracket. One problem associated with shelves of this type is how to make a number of such shelves to function well together in a storage system. One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide a shelf with an improved functionality in a storage system. This object is achieved by a frame as defined in claim 1 . More specifically, in a shelf of the initially mentioned kind, each of the side pieces comprises a horizontal top flange covering a side edge of the main piece and a vertical section comprising said connector means. Each side piece further comprises an intermediate section between the top flange and the vertical section, configured such that the vertical section is retracted under said side edge. This means that the side piece can protect the lateral side edge of the main piece at the same time as the vertical section, that comprises connector means, is withdrawn under this side edge. When two such shelves are fitted on a bracket with U-shaped cross section, on a respective side thereof, the gap in between the neighbouring shelves can be minimized. This provides an improved function, as the shelves can provide a more or less uninterrupted common shelf top surface. The intermediate section may be inclined with regard to the top flange, forming an acute angle in the range between 15 and 60 degrees therebetween. More particularly, the angle may be in the range between 45 and 55 degrees. The connector means may include at least two tabs punched from the side piece. This facilitates connecting to a cantilevered bracket with a U-shaped cross section. The front edge of each side piece may be covered behind the front edge surface of the main piece. This prevents a forward-directed edge of the side piece sheet metal from being exposed. The shelf may further comprise a reinforcement beam which is welded to the bottom side of the main piece, and the ends of which are welded to a bottom flange of the side piece. This makes the shelf stronger. The main piece may be at least partly punched and stretched to form a mesh material. The present disclosure also considers a storage system comprising a shelf as defined above. Brief description of the drawings Fig 1 illustrates elements of a storage system. Fig 2 shows enlarged the portion A of the shelf in fig 1. Fig 3 illustrates elements of a sheet metal shelf example. Fig 4A and 4B shows a side views of a side piece. Fig 5 is a perspective view of the side piece in fig 4. Detailed description The present disclosure relates a storage system, and more particularly to a shelf for a storage system. Fig 1 illustrates elements of a storage system 1 including a shelf 9. The storage system may include hang standards 5 that are attached to a wall, for instance, or used in a free-standing configuration by attaching feet to the hang standards 5. In the illustrated case, the hang standards 5 are wall-mounted and this is facilitated by means of a horizontal rail 3, attached to the wall and on which the hang standards 5 are suspended, optionally in addition to being screwed on the wall. Cantilevered brackets 7 are attached to the hang standards 5 which may include slots on their fronts, configured to connect to connection means on the rear of the brackets 7. The brackets 7 may be made in one piece in sheet metal and generally have a U-shaped cross section. Thus far, the system is well known, for instance from WO2021/- 221555-A1. However, it may be noted that the shelf to be described in the following may work also with other types of systems that employ similar brackets or the like. The present disclosure is thus concerned with the shelf 9 also illustrated in fig 1 . Components of this shelf are illustrated in fig 3. The shelf 9 may be made up from a main piece 13 defining a top surface 11 . The main piece 13 may be formed in one piece from a sheet metal web. The web may be bent, at a front 15 and a rear 17 edge, out of the plane of the top surface 11 thereby forming vertical front and rear edge surfaces 19. This renders the main piece 13 in itself stiffer, and this effect can optionally be enhanced by bending the piece again at the front and rea