WO1985002332A1

WO1985002332A1 - Profile system, especially for fixtures and fittings and similar installations and equipment

Info

Publication number: WO1985002332A1
Application number: PCT/DK1984/000112
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik Tonsgaard
Original assignee: Erik Tonsgaard Butiks-Design Aps
Priority date: 1983-11-22
Filing date: 1984-11-21
Publication date: 1985-06-06
Also published as: DK532783D0; EP0162090A1; DK532783A

Abstract

A profile system especially for assembling shop equipment and installations for exhibitions, such as display counters, display racks for garment, sales display racks for commodities, dress forms, decor figures, etc. The profile system comprises one or more profile lengths (1) comprising two flat sides (2, 3) enclosing a cavity (5) between them which cavity (5) possesses an oblong cross section having the smallest cross sectional dimension as the spacing internally between these two profile flat sides. The profile sides (2, 3) may especially in the lengthy direction of the profile be fitted with a zig-zag-running-sequence of holes (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, ...). The system permits a widely varied structure of building up including a minimum of use of material and with a small amount of necessary and different parts.

Description

Profile System, especially for Fixtures and Fittings similar Installations and Equipment.

The present invention relates to a profile system especially for -assembling shop equipment and installations for exhibitions, such as display counters, display racks for garments, sales display racks for commodities, dress forms, dδcor figures, etc.

It belongs to the State of the^~Art:to assemble book shel¬ ves, tables,, racks. or different purposes, etc. , of bars, rods, profiles, etc. It is also known to provide such rods with predrilled holes so that assembling may take place by means of bolts and nuts of one or more standardized sizes. It is also in general known to use f.i. angle-shaped or U-shaped profiles for the purpose. It is also wellknown that the rigidity of these profiles is limited so that they to a certain extend undergo bending or twisting at a certain load". This problem is obviated in that the profile material used is of especially hard-drawn kind so that a hard and ductile material is obtained. Vice versa a drawback is that in cases of further-construction to an already existing installation by using the profiles it is difficult to drill holes serving for special purposes, etc.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a profile system to which lesser demands to the strength of the material may be posed but where it also is possible by means of screws and their respective nuts of f.i. only two standardized lengths to assemble the profiles and simulta¬ neously to achieve that one single through-drilling of the profiles poses so much material in direction of the thick- ness of the profile to disposition that a f.i. in stead of a screw inserted long threaded pin at the spot of fixation exhibits a larger rigidity sidewardsly.

This is according to the present invention attained in

O PI that the profile system comprises one or more profile lengths comprising two flat sides enclosing a cavity be¬ tween them which cavity possesses an oblong cross section having the smallest cross sectional dimension as the spacing internally between these two profile flat sides. This profile solves the inventional purpose and furthermore, a profile is provided which spectacular seen is easier to clean. This is especially the case when the profile along the lengthy narrow side exhibits a curved shape, i.e. that the cross sectional shape of the profile still in continuation possesses an oblong shape, but that the narrow sides of the cross sectionf.i. are half-circular shaped. Such profiles may be provided with suitable holes for fixation means which are able wholly or partly to grip around the profile and may be fixed.through spanning by means of spanning or spring means.

On the other side, it is also possible to provide such a profile according to the present invenion with an espe- sially in the lengthy direction of the profile running zig-zag-sequence of holes. The sequence of holes may be present solely on one side of the profile as f.i. threaded holes may be comprised, or sequences of holes are present on both of the flat sides of the profile. Hereby a modular structure is made possible. Suchamodular structure is especially posssible, when according to the present invention the spacing between the holes is equidistant along the zig-zag-sequences. In a per se known manner this profile may be used for a modular structure. On the other hand the best embodiment is attained when according to the present invention the holes of the flat sides of the profile belonging to one and the same profile wholly or partly are positioned mutually opposite, i.e. with the axis of the holes registriήg_. wholly or part- ly. Hereby a possibility for an especially safe fixation to each other of the profile items is provided for, inclu-

O PI r m WI sive profile items unto angles or other construction parts made of f.i. plate material, as the position control of f.i. screws stuck through both flat sides of the profiles is particularly safe. Furthermore, a profile being stiff against bending is attained so that one single vertical profile is capable of carrying more than the unto now known angle-, ϋ- or with narrow sides shaped, f.i. with sqaure cross section shaped, known profiles were able to. Simul¬ taneously the work of cleaning is essentially simplified. A particular simple embodiment, which_^also makes a larger amount of variations of- angle-dierections at assem¬ bling possible, is present according to the present inven¬ tion when the hole axis mainly are orientated perpendicular to the flat profile side with the hole. Nothing prevents that the aforementioned profiles may possess a variable, f.i. along a given longitudinal direc¬ tion decreasing size of the cross section of the profile. But, the simplest embodiment. is presented when according to the present invention the profile cross section for a pro- file length is the same for the complete length of the pro¬ file.

Anadvantage at the described profile system, when used in shops especially, also is that the system contrary to the known profile systems can be assembled, if wanted, without sharp corners or edges, but with a pleasant curved shape so when persons are moving around less chance is present to hit sharp edges and furthermore, the chance that handles of bags or other objects may get caught by sharp edges is essentially reduced. The number of profiles may, as already mentioned, furthermore become more reduced compared to the known equivalent constructions so that also the last men¬ tioned conditions also herethrough by itself is further im¬ proved by means of the described profile. If wanted, the profile which is described may also easily be faced or covered so that it is easy to provide different kinds of appearances. In connection with the embodiments described in the following, on the other side it is not aimed parti¬ cularly at this feature in relation to what illustrating concerns, even though this feature in it carries a certain importance, but it is aimed at the features of assembling; but f.i. in relation to the mentioned dress forms it can be deduced that such a further-structuration with other ob¬ jects able to be added, such as heads, hands, etc., is possible, whereby the dress forms or the decor figures appear more lively for the purpose. A procedure for the manufacturing of profiles to be used according to the present invention may be that in shape extruded profiles of plastic are subdued to punching in the manner that the punching tool besides a counterstay, which serves as holder-up against the profiles opposite to the side, whereto the punch-tool or punch-tools are led at the beginning of the punch-operation at simultaneous pun¬ ching of a number of holes in one and the same profile or simultaneous punching of more beside each other positioned profiles, comprises.a before the punching operation into the cavity of the profile stuck and preferably the whole cavity occupying and with holes equal to the diameter and cross sectional shape of these holes provided corre¬ sponding bodily means which is inserted in such a manner that the hole or the holes in the bodily means register with the pathway of the punch-tool through the profile side, respectively the profile sides, whereupon, when the punching-tool has become withdrawn, the bodily means is taken out from the cavity or is shifted for the punching of the next hole or set of holes. It is thinkable at the same punching operation to let the punching-tool pass through more profile sides than the two normally belonging to one and the same profile in case the profile in itself not has been manufactured as a multiple profile.

Embodiments according to the present invention are de- scribed in more details in the following with reference to the drawing, whereupon: Fig. 1 in the perspective illustrates a profile shaped according to the present invention, fig. 2 also in the prespective shows an assembly-angle for the holding together of two profiles or of one profile and another object, fig. 3 illustrates a side view ofa straight assembly- item for the assembling of two profiles or of a profile and an object, fig. 4 seen from the side shows a flat angle-item for the assembling of two profiles or of a profile and an object, fig. 5 illustrates a plate provided with simple edge- holes, whereby the plate is able to be spanned unto profiles according to the present infen- tion, fig. 6 illustrates a plate without holes and with

- possible not shown edge bendings as the plate is illustrated in side view, fig. 7 illustrates a netting to be used in relation to profiles, fig. 8 illustrates a loose suspending arm to be posi¬ tioned unto the profiles, fig. 9 shows a rod with a threaded screw at the end respectively at the ends to be used in connec- tion with the profiles and where only one end of the rod is shown as the rod is illustrated in the perspective, fig.10 illustrates in side view a suspending arm for firm spanning together with profiles, fig.11 illustrates a suspending arm as the one shown in fig. 8 but with an integrated wave shaped suspending arm, fig.12 illustrates in the perspective a drawer means constructed of the profiles and of the items according to fig. 6 and 9, fig.13 shows in the perspective a shelf to be spanned

O PI unto the profiles and where the shelf is assem¬ bled of profiles and items according to fig. 6 and possibly fig. 9, fig.14 illustrates in the perspective an exhibition stand constructed of parts according to the present invention, fig.15 shows a sales room comprising equipment which as a total is assembled of items according to the present invention, fig.16 illustrates in the perspective in some more de¬ tails a part of the equipment of the same kind as that-shown in fig. 15, fig.17 shows in the perspective a sales room of which the near background goes out into a display window, and fig.18 illustrates in the perspective in more details an installation assebled of items according to the present invention and to be used in a sales room. In fig. 1 of the drawing of a profile 1 according to the presentinventionanendisshown,which has a straight cut and forms part of the profile 1. The profile 1 has two profile sides 2 and 3 which at the shown embodiment mutually are parallel and are connected to each other through roundly curved lengthy edges so that a completely closed profile with an inner cavity 5 is presented. In the profile side or in the profile sides, namely preferably in both of them and opposite to each other in the two profile sides 2 and 3, holes 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, etc. are provided, f.i. being shaped by punching. In general the holes should be smooth, but they could naturally, if not due to any other cause at the site f.i. be provided with thread. In praxis the holes are positioned in two rows forming a zig-zag-shaped pattern. It is to be seen that profiles 1 not present sharp corner ed- ges, furthermore, that objects stuck through the hole^'s 4 are kept in place without any wriggling by themselves being

OMPI possible in case of less good registring between hole and the inserted object. The reason is the high degree of regi- dity being present in the connection between the two pro¬ file sides 2 and 3, whereby it simultaneously is attained that the cross section of the profile 1 in the longitudinal direction of the cross section may possess a rather large size of extension so that a vertical positioned and on the lower end resting profile in the said direction possesses an essential lessoned tendency to tilting. A number of easy to perform uses of the profiles for the described purposes and for many other purposes are herethrough made possible. Relating to the purposes hinted at, practical use shows that it suffices with only two lengths of screws to build even complicated structures. In the following a number of examples -relating hereto including some simple items to be used for the purpose are described.

In the fig.s 2, 3 and 4 some simple assembling items 6, 7; 9; 10 for the assembling of profiles, respectively for the assembling of-profiles with other more or less casual objects, are illustrated. The assembling items may comprise lengthy holes, or the oblong contours 8 in fig.s¹ 2, 3 and 4 may be understood as beads which f.i. are manu¬ factured by pressing operation or in some other manner. The assembling items may be connected unto the profiles exter- nally or internally into the ends of the profiles. The junction may be secured as mentioned by means of screws and nuts or also by means of self tapping screws even that these generally will damage the holes so the advantage being present, namely reuse at change of exhibition, to a certain extend is diminshed. But the possibility to use such connecting elements as well as screwlike spring catch joining elements is present.

It is to be seen that together with the profiles 1 such a simple plate with holes 11, 12 as shown in fig. 5 may be used to possible cover of openings between profiles 1 being used. Respectively a plate 13 may be used, also mo-

-βU EA OMPI ^"dular shaped, which f.i. may possess not illustrated edge bendings for firm gripping around the profiles 1 or around the rods as shown in fig. 9, which also in modular shape may serve to join two profiles to each other or to join profiles with other objects. In stead of the plate 13 a more or less transparent netting 14 shown in fig. 7 may be used, which netting may possess short edge bendings 15. For loosely suspending at the profiles a suspending arm 17 as shown in fig. 8 may be used, in connection with which a per se known suspending hook plate 16 is employed. In fig..9 the already mentioned rod or bar carries reference sign 18, whereas the screws carries reference numeral 19. A fixable suspending arm is shown in fig. 10 and comprises an arm 23 with abutment element 24 and threaded length 25 carrying a fixation nut 26. Corresponding to the contents of fig. 8 the suspending arm could also be oblique as shown through reference numeral 21 in fig. 11 and being further supple¬ mented with a wave shaped suspending arm item 22 so that an easy suspending of garment hangers etc. is attained. A drawer means structure consisting of the mentioned items is shown in fig. 12 in which the bottom of the drawer is a plate 13, the drawer sides consists of profiles 1 and the fron of the drawer consists of rods 18 which, as simul¬ taneously hinted at, could carry the plate 13 in relation to the lowermost of the rods. In fig. 13 a book shelf ele¬ ment consisting of a plate 13 and profiles 1 and f.i. not shown rods 18 with scerws 19 ai-≤ shown. The plate 13 carries reference numeral 20.

In fig. 14 of the drawing an exhibition stand con- structed only of parts as described is illustrated whereby the profiles 1 form the main element. F.i. dress forms or decor figures 27 and 28 may also be constructed.

In fig. 15 of the drawing a larger sales room con¬ structed of the same parts is shown. Among others it is to be seen that the profiles 1 lend themselves also to be used oblique positioned as shown at rack 29. A dress form or

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OιV-PI_^ decor figure 30 being otherwise positioned compared to fig. 14 is also hinted at. Further details are illustrated in fig. 16.

A sales room constructed from the same parts having a netting divisioning between this room and a at the near background positioned display window is shown here. The netting carries reference numeral 31 corresponds to that shown in fig. 7.

Of fig. 18 of the drawing other possible details are to be observed, the profiles 1 may thus be oblique posi¬ tioned, but, as hinted at by reference numeral 32, the pro¬ files may equally be manufactured in such a way that they only comprise holes 4 along parts of their longitudinal lengths. Sections or parts with or without holes may natu- rally also be presented through a kind of modular system. At 33 is shown how even delicate objects may be laid di¬ rectly over the rounded lengthy edges of the profiles 1. Of the shown examples it also can be seen that light elements, cash register, etc. easily may be positioned by means of the shown items able to be assembled.

The profiles 1 and the other items belonging hereto as described may either be painted, decorated or covered by means of adhesive material, i.e. with adhesive covering and adjoining material, as the surfaces possess a certain ex- tension and thus are easy accessible and though not are too small so that it not is difficult to provide adaptation ^' unto such cover material.

It is to be remarked that with flat sides is to be understood that the sides of the profiles mainly are flat which not prevents that the flat sides may present some curvature, being convex or concave.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Profile system especially for assembling shop equipment and installations for axhibitions, such as display counters, display racks for garments, sales display racks for commodities, dress forms, dδcor figures, etc., c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the profile system comprises one or more profile lengths (1) comprising two flat sides (2, 3) enclosing a cavity (5) between them which cavity (5) possesses an oblong cross section having the smallest cross sectional dimension as the spacing in¬ ternally between these two profile flat sides.

2. Profile system according to claim 1 c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n t h a t the profile sides (2, 3) especially in the lengthy direction of the profile are fitted with a zig-zag-running-sequence of holes (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, ....).

3. Profile system according to claim 2 c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d " i n t h a t the spacing between the holes (4) is equidistant along the zig-zag-sequence.

4. Profile system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the holes^' (4) of the flat sides (2, 3) of the profile belonging to one and the same profile (1) wholly or in part are positioned mutually opposite, i.e. with the axis of the holes (4) re- gistring wholly or partly.

5. Profile system according to claim 4 c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n t h a t the axis of the holes (4) - mainly are orientated perpendicular to the flat profile side with the hole (4) .

6. Profile system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h a t the profile cross section for a profile length (1) is the same for the complete length of the profile.