AU651178B2

AU651178B2 - A frame and method of frame construction

Info

Publication number: AU651178B2
Application number: AU11481/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Patrick Francis Caldez
Original assignee: PDG ENTERPRISES Pty Ltd
Current assignee: PDG ENTERPRISES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1991-03-07
Filing date: 1992-03-06
Publication date: 1994-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-06
Also published as: AU1148192A

Description

<W d l Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

w Name of Applicant: PDG ENTERPRISES PTY LTD a Actual Inventor: PATRICK FRANCIS CALDEZ *o Address for Service: R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: A FRAME AND METHOD OF FRAME CONSTRUCTION Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PK 4963 dated 7th March, 1991 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

1 This invention relates to a frame and method of frame construction and in particular to a frame and method of frame construction that is modular.

A preferred usage for the invention is in relation to the construction of shelving, but it will be realised that the invention is not restricted to this one application, and that a person skilled in this area will readily identify other applications for the invention.

The frames subject of this invention are preferably constructed from components comprising horizontal and vertical members, and are constructed in such a manner that does not require any fastening, such as welding or gluing.

However, the construction provides a rigid structure that in addition to being easy to assemble, may be readily disassembled.

In order to maximise the strength of the frame, steel is S 20 preferably used, but it will be realised that a frame may be constructed in accordance with the invention from materials such as wood or plastic.

0 One difLficulty with presert frame assemblies is that the methods of construction generally result in horizontal members being permanently fixed to vertical members.

Specially constructed horizontal and vertical members are required for each particular installation, which require greater time for construction and assembly.

In order to overcome problems associated with manufacture and construction of frame members, modular units are used such that the size and extent of the frame member might be varied to suit the particular installation. However the variation is only in respect of the number of modules which are used. Obviously this standardization in components results in economy in scale and production of the various 2 modules, however there is still a requirement for providing a rigid and rapidly assembled connection between the various module members.

Therefore, an object of tnis invention is to provide a frame and a method of fram- 2cnstruction that overcomes the abovementioned problems, and provides a novel means and mechod of assembling that results in a rigid frame that is easily constructed.

Therefore, in its broadest form the invention comprises a frame having a plurality of upright and horizontal memlars comprising a plurality of vertical members, which when assembled comprise an upright -ember of the frame, each vertical member having a sma ±er diameter upper portion comprising a spigot of substantially constant circular crosssection, said spigot beina joi-ned by a shoulder to a larger diameter lower portion ot substantially constant circular cross-section having at its l:wer end an opening extending 2 axially into the vertical member, the opening being of sutficient size and length to receive a spigot of a lower corresponding vertical member, and vertical member engagement means comprising a plurality of apertures of substantially constant circular cross-section within each said horizcntal member, each of said apertures being of such size to allow a said spigot to e).cend therethrough, but sized such that the horizontal member bears against said shoulder so that each said horizontal member can be held between at least two adjacent assembled vertical members.

The required frame can be constructed by using a number of horizontal members, and the required number of vertical members. The basic module will be 6een as comprising a single horizontal member and vertical members which are immediately below it. The horizontal member may comprise a substantially planar and rectangular member with a vertical member located at each corner, as well as at intermediate positions if required.

Preferably, the vertical members are constructed from circular tubing, but it will be seen that round solid material may also be used in accordance with the invention.

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3a The circular tubing may be swaged so as to reduce the diameter at the upper end, thereby forming the spigot and shoulder. The aperture, if formed in the horizontal members, is the same diameter as the swaged portion, and hence the horizontal member will rest against the shoulder formed, and the spigot portion that extends through the aperture is then used to locate within the opening of the lower end of the next vertical member which is placed on top.

The swaging reduces the external diameter of the upper end of the vertical member to the internal diameter of the tubing which is used.

go o As will be seen from the description, the vertical 15 uprights of the frame aue produced by fitting together a plurality of vertical members, wherein the horizontal members o e are held captive between the connection of adjacent vertical members.

20 The horizontal members may be formed from sheet metal and may be formed with either upwardly or downwardly turned edge portions. Although the apertures may be formed in the horizontal members, separate members having apertures therein may be attached to the horizontal members. For example the separate members may comprise rings.

In order that the invention will be readily understood, a preferred embodiment is now described, but it will be realised that the invention is not restricted to the precise arrangement of this preferred embodiment.

The preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 shows a part assembled view between a horizontal member and two vertical members, Fig. 2 shows a plan view of an aperture at the corner of a horizontal member, and 4- Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1.

The application of the invention to this embodiment is in relation to shelving, and the horizontal members are rectangular, with vertical frame members placed at each corner. Although this embodiment describes the vertical supports at each corner of the horizontal member, it is obviously possible to have vertical supports located at positions intermediate of the corners, or in fact to have vertical supports located centrally or otherwise within the horizontal members rather than being positioned at its edge.

Each joint between horizontal members and respective 15 upper and lower vertical members is illustrated in Fig. 1.

~In this embodiment, the horizontal member comprises a shelf and each vertical member 11 is produced from tubular steel. The shelf 10 in this embodiment is constructed from sheet steel and is provided with folded down edges 12.

S Each vertical member 11 has an upper end 15 which is a S spigot 16 swaged thereon. In forming the spigot, a shoulder 17 is produced. The diameter of the spigot 16 is the same or slightly less than the internal diameter of the tube used to produce the vertical member 11. Therefore, the spigot will fit within the lower end 20 of the vertical member 11 above the spigot as is illustrated in Fig. 1.

The diameter of the spigot 16 in relation to the internal diameter of the lower end is such that a sliding fit results when the two components are assembled.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of an aperture 22 in the shelf In this embodiment, the aperture 22 comprises a ring 23 that is welded to a corner of the shelf 5 In accordance with this invention, the aperture within the ring 23 is the same diameter as the spigot 16. However, the diameter of the ring 23 is the same as the diameter of the lower end 20 of the vertical member 11.

This enables the spigot 16 to be inserted within the aperture ring 23 and in accordance with the invention, the lower edge 24 of the ring 23 abuts against the shoulder 17.

As can be seen in Fig. i, the spigot 16 protrudes past the ring 2 that the lower end 20 of an upper vertical member 11 can then positively locate over the portion of the spigot 16 that extends above the ring 23.

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*"As is illustrated in Fig. 1, the lower end 20 of the o 15 upper vertical member 11 abuts against the upper edge 25 of ee oo S the ring 23. In this manner, the aperture 22 is held captive .505.5 between the upper and lower vertical members, and given that there is an aperture located at each corner of the shelf then a rigid frame can be produced having the required number S 20 of shelves.

e The weight of the frame structure, together with weight of the articles placed on the shelves will hold the frame stiucture in the assembled position and given that the ring 23 locks agains the shoulder 17, because of the gradual taper formed between the maximum diameter to the diameter of the spigot 16, then a very rigid structure will be formed.

In an additional aspect of this invention, rails 27 can be fitted between vertical members 11. As se-.i in Fig. i, the necessary aperture is formed within the required pcition in the vertical member 11, and a steel bar is inserted within the aperture. The steel bars can be located between vertical members 11 prior to assembly with the lower module, and require no welding or fixing of the rail in place as, provided the rail is of the required length, it will not be possible for it to disengage from the apertures in the vertical members.

6 The length of the vertical members 11 can be varied so as to provide the required shelf spacing. In addition, short vertical members can be used as ground supports so that the first shelf 10 is the required minimal distance froi the ground surface.

In some instances, it may be desirable to provide back and side closures to shelving produced in accordance with this invention. As an alternative to the rail 27 as shown in Fig. i, it may be possible to have a sheet metal section extending between the vertical members 11 and the upper and lower shelves 10, wherein the sheet metal members have a o S series of spigots which engage corresponding apertures in both the vertical members 11, and the upper and lower shelves

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15 e.o: ,ooa• S• In this embodiment, a ring 23 is provided to produce the required aperture 22. The ring 23 is used so as to produce the required stiffness for rigid location of the shelf 20 between the vertical members 11. However, it will be S recognised that where loading on the shelf is low, then it would be possible to have an aperture cut within the sheet metal and i-.iat the invention will work in exactly the same manner where the aperture rests against the shoulder, and that the lower end of the upper vertical member will then engage the upper surface of the shelf.

Other variations such as the use of square tubing, or the use of solid plastic or wooden components will be seen also to be within the scope of this invention.

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Claims

2. A frame according to claim 1 wherein said horizontal members are planar and substantially rectangular. e o
3. A frame according to claim 2 wherein each horizontal member is formed form sheet material, and further comprises downwardly directed edge portions.
4. A frame according to claim 2 wherein each horizontal S member is formed from sheet material, and further comprises upwardly directed edge portions.
5. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of said apertures of said vertical member engagement means is incorporated in a member which is attached to said horizontal member. 8
6. A frame according to claim 5 wherein said member comprises a ring.
7. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the vertical members comprise tubular metal se. wherein the spigot is formed by swaging one end of the tube.
8. A frame substantially as described hereinbefore and in accordance to and as illustrated in the accompanying representations. Dated this 26th Day of April, 1994. PDG ENTERPRISES PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys R K MADDERN ASSOCIATES *000 .,4 0000 0 0 A 9 :i ABSTRACT This invention relates to the construction of a frame which comprises a plurality of upright and horizontal members. Preferably, the invention is most suitably used in relation to shelving but should not be restricted to this particular application. The invention comprises a plurality of vertical members which when assembled comprise an upright member f the frame, having at an upper end e spigot (16) and shoulder and at the lower end an opening extending axially into the vertical member The opening (20) is of sufficient size and length to receive a spigot 15 (16) of a lower corresponding vertical member The invention also comprises vertical member engagement means in horizontal members (12) comprising a plurality of apertures the apertures (22) being of such size to allow the spigots (16) to extend through, but sized such that the horizontal members (12) bear aga;inst the shoulders (17) so that the horizontal members (12) can be held between adjacent assembled vertical members (11). 0 o e