WO2021177880A1

WO2021177880A1 - Suspension system and glider unit arranged to prevent tilting

Info

Publication number: WO2021177880A1
Application number: PCT/SE2021/050175
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Nilsson; Tobias RINGENHAG
Original assignee: Elfa International AB
Current assignee: Elfa International AB
Priority date: 2020-03-04
Filing date: 2021-03-02
Publication date: 2021-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-04
Also published as: US20210274933A1; SE544025C2; EP4114232A1; TWI847017B; SE2050246A1; EP4114232A4; TW202202070A; US11696641B2; AU2021230256A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a suspension system comprising a hang standard (1), having slots (3) and being configured to be vertically arranged, and a bracket (9), configured to be attached to the hang standard (1) in a cantilevered fashion, wherein connector features (13, 15) of the bracket (9) enter slots (3) of the hang standard (1). A slider unit (23) is adapted to be attached to the bracket (9) and to carry a container (5). A portion (27) of the slider unit (23) is arranged to reach into the same slot (3) of the hang standard (1) as a connector feature of the bracket (9), to prevent the slider unit from tilting forward.

Description

SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND GLIDER UNIT ARRANGED TO PREVENT TILTING

Technical field

The present disclosure relates to a suspension system comprising a hang standard having slots and being configured to be vertically arranged, a bracket, con figured to be attached to the hang standard in a cantilevered fashion, wherein connector features of the bracket enter slots of the hang standard, and a slider unit adapted to be attached to the bracket and to carry a container.

Background

Such a system is disclosed in US-7104411-B2, for instance, and allows a modular system with drawers to be set up with different configurations. A general problem associated with such systems is how to connect the slider unit to the bracket in a reliable manner which can be carried out by an end user.

Summary

One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide a suspension system where the slider unit can be connected to the system in a reliable manner by an end user. This object is achieved by a suspension system as defined in in claim 1. More specifically, in a system of the initially mentioned kind, the slider unit comprises a portion reaching into a slot of the hang standard, namely the same slot as a tab extending from the bracket. This means that a feature preventing the slider unit from rotating forward can be provided in a reliable manner, and the slider unit is kept in place in the slot as well as on the bracket. This is useful, particularly when a container is fitted to the slider unit and the centre of mass of the slider unit and the container in combination moves away significantly from the hang standard. The distance between the centre of mass and the slot in the hang standard will be minimized for each position of the container, when the portion of the slider unit is inserted into the same slot as the tab extending from the bracket. This has the effect of maximizing the contact force between the edge of the slot and the portion of the slider unit. Also, the force component directed along the hang standard may be maximized when the portion of the slider unit is inserted in as low a slot as possible, thereby reducing the risk that the portion of the slider may accidentally be pulled or pivoted out of the slot. As the bracket will also need to be fitted with the hang standard an end user can readily connect the slider unit to the hand standard at the same time.

Typically, the portion of the slider unit reaching into the slot is a tab extending from the slider unit, and the tab may include a bent portion adapted to enclose the end of a tab of the bracket. This keeps the tab of the slider unit even more reliably in place in the slot.

There may further be provided a front tab in the slider unit, adapted to connect with a cut-out at the distal end of the bracket.

The portion of the slider unit reaching into a slot of the hang standard may reach into the same slot as a tab of the bracket.

The present disclosure further considers a slider unit for a suspension system of the above-indicated kind where the slider unit comprises laterally extending connectors for suspension in the suspension system, and the slider unit further comprising a rear tab configured to reach into a slot in the suspension system, thereby keeping the slider unit in place. The connectors on the slider unit are suitable for being suspended from a bracket attached to a hang standard in the suspension system, and the slider unit further comprises a tab configured to reach into a slot of the hang standard. According to the disclosure, the tab reaches into the same slot of the hang standard as the connectors on the bracket.

The slider unit may comprise a telescopic moveable part having a connector for connecting with a container.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig 1 A shows a part of a hang standard.

Fig 1 B shows a perspective view of a suspension system according to the prior art, where a wire basket is suspended in a frame.

Fig 2 and 3 show, before and after assembling, a side view and a partial cross section of a bracket attached to a hang standard when a slider frame according to known art is attached to the bracket.

Fig 4 shows a schematic top view of suspension system according to known art in an assembled state.

Fig 5 and 6 show, before and after assembling, a side view and partial cross section of a bracket attached to a hang standard when a slider according to art the present disclosure attached to the bracket. Fig 7 illustrates a cross section along A-A in fig 6.

Fig 8 shows schematically a perspective view of a slider modified according to the present disclosure.

Fig 9 shows schematically a top view of a slider modified according to the present disclosure.

The present disclosure relates generally to suspension arrangements intended to be used in connection with hang standards 1 e.g. as illustrated in fig 1A. In the illustrated example the hang standard 1 has a U-shaped cross section, although other configurations are possible, and includes one or more rows of elongated slots 3 in the mid part of the U-shaped cross section. Such hang standards 1 are typically made from sheet metal, are well known per se since several decades, and are typically used oriented vertically, attached to a vertical surface such as a wall or the like, or are used in a free-standing configuration with feet, for instance.

Fig 1 B illustrates two such hang standards 1 used to suspend a container 5 in the form of a wire drawer. The hang standards 1 in turn are suspended from a rail 7 attached to a wall with screws or the like. As an alternative, the hang standards 1 could be directly screwed to the wall. In each hang standard 1 , a bracket 9 is attached, and at least one slider device, as illustrated a slider frame 11, is in turn attached in to the brackets 9 and carries the container 5 in a slideable manner such that the container 5 can be pulled out to an extended position like a drawer. This is useful for instance if a plurality of such containers 5 are attached to the hang standards 1 in this way. Pulling the container 5 out exposes its contents, which may otherwise be concealed beneath another container 5 located directly above, for instance.

Fig 2 and 3 illustrate schematically according to known art the connecting of a slider frame 11 to a bracket 9 attached to a hang standard 1. The bracket 9 is connected at a proximal end to the hang standard 1 in a cantilevered manner and is usually made from sheet metal, which is bent into a U-shaped cross section, the depth of which tapers towards its distal end. A hook 13 is punched in each leg of the U-shape at the proximal end of the bracket 9, and each hook 13 may, as illustrated, be inserted into a respective elongated slot 3 in the hang standard 1 and is able to suspend the bracket 9 from the hang standard 1 by hanging from the bottom edge of the elongated slots 3. In addition to the hooks 13, auxiliary tabs 15 may be provided below the hooks 3, which enter the elongated slots 3 directly under the ones of the hooks 13. The auxiliary tabs 15 serve to stabilize the connection and prevent the bracket 9 from moving straight upwards in relation to the hang standard 1. Hereby the risk for an accidental disconnection of the bracket 9 from the hang standard 1 may be significantly reduced or eliminated.

L-shaped slots 17 are provided in at least one of the upper edges of the bracket 9. The L-shaped slots 17 are intended to connect with lateral connector tabs 19 punched out on at least one of the sides of the slider frame 11. The slider frame 11 is fitted to the bracket 9 as illustrated in fig 3. This is done by guiding the slider frame connector tabs 19 into the L-shaped slots in the top of the bracket 9 until they reach the far end of the L-shape, at which point a locking feature (not shown) locks them in this position. This suspends the slider frame 11 from the side of the bracket 9, and as the slots 17 are L-shaped, it is prevented that the tabs move straight upwards. This means that the inner part of the slider frame 11 , closest to the wall, will not rotate forwards when the mass centre of the slider frame 11 , including the container 5 and any objects stored therein, moves in front of the outer L-shaped slot 17.

That situation is illustrated in fig 4 showing a schematic top view of a suspension system according to the known art in an assembled state. As shown, the slider frame 11 includes a U-shaped fixed part which is connected to both a left and a right bracket 9 in the way described above, the enlarged portion of the drawing showing one connector tab 19 reaching into one of the slots 17 in the bracket 9 for suspending the slider frame 11 therefrom. The slider frame 11 further has a right and a left slideable part 21 , each being guided in the slider frame 11. The container 5 is attached to the right and left slideable parts 21 such that it can be pulled out to an extended position, as illustrated. Either the container 5 can be directly connected to the slideable parts 21 , or a frame can be suspended in between the slideable parts 21 in which frame the container 5 can be placed. The slideable parts 21 may then comprise connectors for connecting to the container 5.

In the present disclosure, and improved slider to bracket connection is disclosed that is easier to assemble, yet very safe. This is generally accomplished by modifying a slider device, such as the above-indicated slider frame 11 , in such a way that it can both be suspended on a bracket 9 and can simultaneously interact with the hang standard 1. This makes possible a reliable prevention of the slider device rotating forward, even though different connection means for connecting the slider device to the bracket 9 may be provided.

Fig 5 and 6 show, before and after assembling, a side view and partial cross section of a bracket 9 attached to a hang standard 1 when a slider unit 23 according to the present disclosure is attached to the bracket 9. This slider unit 23 comprises laterally extending knobs 25 or buttons that may be inserted in slots 29 of the bracket 9, to suspend the slider unit 23 therefrom. Those slots can, as indicated with dotted lines, be identical with the L-shaped slots 17 of the bracket of fig 2, and in fact the improved slider unit 23 may be fitted with the known bracket 9, which need not be modified. However, according to the present disclosure the L-shaped configuration of the slots 29 is not necessary as will be shown.

The slider unit 23 is further provided with a rear tab 27, which, when the slider unit 23 is attached to the bracket 9, becomes positioned in register with the auxiliary tab 15 of the bracket 9. The slider unit 23 is attached to the bracket 9, and subsequently the slider unit 23 and bracket 9 combination is attached to a hang standard 1 as illustrated in fig 6. There, the rear tab 27 of the slider unit 23 extends into a slot 3 in the hang standard together with the auxiliary tab 15 of the bracket, as is also illustrated in the cross section of fig 7. By providing a rear tab 27, which may extend into the same slot 3 in the hang standard 1 as the tab 15 of the bracket 9, the slider unit 23 and its rear tab 27 are as little conspicuous as possible, and a favourable visual impression is attained.

In this configuration, even if the slider unit 23 takes up load with a centre of mass far in front of the knob 25 that is most distant from the hang standard 1 , the slider unit 23 will be kept in place as the rear tab 27 inserted in the hang standard slot 3 prevents the slider from tilting or rotating forward by the tab rear 27 abutting the upper rim of the slot 3. This can be used with or without the L-shaped configuration of the bracket slots 29. In any case, the connection becomes more reliable. One reason for this may be that as the lever from the fulcrum, i. e. the distance from the distal, front knob 25 to the rear tab 27 is minimized (independent of the position of the centre of mass and the size of the mass of the slider unit and the container), the contact force between the rear tab 27 and the upper rim of the slot 3 may be maximized. If the rear tab 27 had been insertable into another slot 3, positioned higher up in the hang standard 1, the lever would have been longer, and the contact force would hence have been smaller. Further, the contact force would not have been directed in the longitudinal direction of the hang standard 1 , but at an angle thereto. Both these factors may lead to a less reliable connection between the rear tab 27 and the hang standard 1. Hence a connection between the rear tab 27 and the hang standard 1 in as low a slot 3 as possible, as seen in the present disclosure, is advantageous.

As illustrated in the enlarged portions of fig 5, the rear tab 27 need not take up the full height of the slot 3, however preferably a top edge 32 of the rear tab 27 should contact the upper edge of the slot 3 when inserted therein.

In addition to the rear tab 27, the slider unit 23 may comprise, at its opposite end, a front tab 28 that is able to rest on a cut-out 30 in the distal end of the bracket 9. This may provide even more stability to the connection between the slider unit 23 and the bracket 9.

As shown in the cross section of fig 7, it may be advantageous in some cases to provide the slider unit tab 27 with a bent end portion 31 that is bent to abut the rear edge of the bracket auxiliary tab 15. This prevents the slider unit 23 from slipping in a horizontal direction such that the slider unit tab 27 leaves the hang standard slot 3. This may be advantageous for instance if a bracket 9 with L-shaped slots 29 is used as indicated in fig 5, then this or some other locking means is suggested to avoid the knobs 25 slipping in the horizontal portion of the L-shaped slots 29.

Fig 8 shows schematically a perspective view of a slider unit 23 modified according to the present disclosure and fig 9 shows schematically a top view of such a slider unit. This slider may for instance being devised as illustrated in US- 2019/0330902-A1 with a fixed part 32 and one or more moveable parts 33 slideably configured in the fixed part 32 to accomplish a telescopic function. The slider unit 23 may further comprise additional features such as braking and retracting functions (not shown) that are well known per se.

The fixed part 32 of the slider unit 23 is provided with a tab 27 and connector knobs 25 (cf. fig 9) as discussed above. Additionally, a container may be connected with connector means to the moveable slider parts 33 in a same or similar manner as previously discussed. It may be preferred to provide two such separate slider units 23 which are mutual mirror images one for the bracket to the left and one for the bracket to the right. It is however also possible to provide a U-shaped slider frame 11 , similar to the one shown in fig 4 in this way. Additionally, a front tab 28 may be provided as previously mentioned. A container 5 in the form of for instance a mesh or wire basket may located in between the telescopically moveable slider parts 33.

The present disclosure is not restricted to the examples given above and may be varied and altered in different ways within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, other connection means than knobs 25 may be provided to connect the slider unit 23 with the bracket 9, tabs 19 similar to those discussed above being one example.

Claims

1. A suspension system comprising a hang standard (1) having slots (3) and being configured to be vertically arranged, a bracket (9), configured to be attached to the hang standard (1) in a cantilevered fashion, wherein connector features (13, 15) of the bracket (9) enter slots (3) of the hang standard (1 ), and a slider unit (23) adapted to be attached to the bracket (9) and to carry a container (5), characterized by a portion (27) of the slider unit (23) arranged to reach into the same slot (3) of the hang standard (1) as a connector feature of the bracket (9), thereby keeping the slider unit (23) in place in the slot (3).

2. Suspension system according to claim 1 , wherein the portion (27) of the slider unit (23) reaching into the slot (3) is a tab (27) extending from the slider unit (23).

3. Suspension system according to claim 2, wherein the tab (27) of the slider unit (23) is arranged to extend into the slot (3) together with an auxiliary tab (15) of the bracket (9).

4. Suspension system according to claim 3, wherein the tab (27) includes a bent portion (31 ) adapted to enclose an end of a tab (15) of the bracket (9).

5. Suspension system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a front tab (28) on the slider unit (23) is adapted to connect with a cut-out (30) at the distal end of the bracket (9).

6 Suspension system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the portion (27) of the slider unit (23) reaching into a slot (3) of the hang standard (1 ) reaches into the same slot (3) as a tab (15) of the bracket (9).

7. A slider unit (23) for a suspension system according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the slider unit (23) comprises laterally extending connectors (19; 25) for suspension in the suspension system, characterized by the slider unit (23) further comprising a rear tab (27) configured to reach into a slot (3) in the suspension system, keeping the slider unit (23) in place.

8. Slider unit according to claim 7, wherein the slider unit (23) comprises a telescopic moveable part (33) comprising a connector for connecting with a container.