摘要：
The invention regards a wedge for assembling a furniture unit, a kit of parts for a modular shelving unit, and a modular shelving unit for assembly without tools, wherein the wedge is a T-shaped wedge for assembling a furniture unit, comprising: a rectangular plate, wherein the edges of the plate define a length direction and a width direction, a trapezoid plate, superimposed on the rectangular plate such that a first parallel edge of the trapezoid plate is adjacent to a first width edge of the rectangular plate, and wherein the non-parallel edges are symmetrically tapered along the length direction and in the direction away from the first width edge, and a beam, placed at the first width edge, thereby forming the T-shape, wherein the wedge is configured for frictionally engaging two planes within the furniture unit.
权利要求：
Claims
A T-shaped wedge for assembling a furniture unit, comprising:
a rectangular plate, wherein the edges of the plate define a length direction and a width direction,
a trapezoid plate, superimposed on the rectangular plate such that a first parallel edge of the trapezoid plate is adjacent to a first width edge of the rectangular plate, and wherein the non-parallel edges are symmetrically tapered along the length direction and in the direction away from the first width edge, and
a beam, placed at the first width edge, thereby forming the T-shape wherein the wedge is configured for frictionally engaging two planes within the furniture unit.
The wedge according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the rectangular plate is longer than the trapezoid plate.
The wedge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wedge is configured to be slidably received within an aperture from the end opposite the beam.
The wedge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the edges in the length direction of the rectangular plate and/or trapezoid plate form an angle to the plane of the plates.
The wedge according to claim 4, wherein the tapered edges of the trapezoid plate form a first angle to the plane of the plates, wherein said angle preferably is between 10 to 90 degrees, more preferably between 30 to 45 degrees, and most preferably is between 60 to 80 degrees, or essentially is perpendicular to the plane of the plates.
The wedge according to any of claims 4-5, wherein the edges in the length direction of the rectangular plate form a second angle to the plane of the plates, wherein said angle preferably is between 10 to 90 degrees, more preferably between 30 to 45 degrees, and most preferably is between 60 to 80 degrees, or essentially is perpendicular to the plane of the plates.
7. The wedge according to any of claims 4-6, wherein the first and the second angles are reverse or mirror imaged, such that the angle formed between the planes of the tapered edges and the rectangular length edges is acute.
8. The wedge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the beam is
superimposed on the rectangular plate such that the beam level with the first width edge of the rectangular plate, and wherein the first parallel edge of the trapezoid plate abuts the beam.
9. The wedge according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a material selected from the group of: plastic materials, metals, wood, and any
combination thereof, and/or wherein the wedge is made by moulding, such as injection moulding, 3D-printing, and/or gluing.
10. The wedge according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one slit extending in the length direction of the wedge, configured for slidably receiving an expander. 1 1 . A kit of parts for a modular shelving unit, comprising:
a) a plurality of frame plates configured to be assembled to form a rectangular outer frame, wherein the inner surface of at least a part of the vertical outer frame plates comprises a first vertical groove,
b) one or more shelf modules, each shelf module configured to be assembled to form a horisontal shelf within said outer frame, each shelf module comprising:
• two vertical side plates, configured to be placed opposite each other against opposite vertical inner surfaces of the outer frame,
• a horisontal shelf plate configured to be placed on top of the two vertical side plates in a first notch-and-groove engagement with the adjacent vertical side plates, said shelf plate further comprising a second notch at each end of the shelf plate, and
c) two or more wedges of claims 1 -10,
wherein the modular shelving unit is configured to be assembled by installation of two or more wedges according to any of claims 1 -10.
12. A modular shelving unit for assembly without tools, comprising:
a) a plurality of frame plates configured to be assembled to form a rectangular outer frame, wherein the inner surface of at least a part of the vertical outer frame plates comprises a first vertical groove,
b) one or more shelf modules, each shelf module configured to be assembled to form a horisontal shelf within said outer frame, each shelf module comprising:
• two vertical side plates, configured to be placed opposite each other against opposite vertical inner surfaces of the outer frame,
• a horisontal shelf plate configured to be placed on top of the two vertical side plates in a first notch-and-groove engagement with the adjacent vertical side plates, said shelf plate further comprising a second notch at each end of the shelf plate,
• two wedges configured to be received within the apertures formed at each end of the shelf plate between the first vertical groove of the outer frame plate and the second notch at the end of the shelf plate, wherein the modular shelving unit is configured such that the installation of the wedge in the aperture displaces the horisontal shelf plate in the horisontal direction transverse to the width of the shelving unit, thereby stabilising the shelf module by compressing the horisontal shelf plate against the outer frame.
13. The unit according to claim 12, wherein the outer frame is configured to be
assembled by fastening means, such as dowels and/or wedges, and preferably wherein the outer frame is configured to be assembled by installation of two or more wedges according to any of claims 1 -10.
14. The unit according to any of claims 12-13, wherein the first vertical groove of the frame plate have the shape of a rectangular groove, and/or the second notch at each end of the shelf plate has the shape of a rectangular notch.
15. The unit according to any of claims 12-14, wherein the shelf plate is configured such that the second notch at each end of the shelf plate respectively opposes the oppositely placed first vertical grooves of the frame, when the horisontal shelf plate is placed on top of the vertical side plates, and preferably wherein the shelf plate is configured such that the second notch at each end of the shelf plate is opposing the first vertical groove of the frame with a displacement,
when the shelf plate is placed on top of the vertical side plates, and the wedges are not installed, and optionally wherein the displacement is between 1 mm to 20 mm, more preferably between 1 mm to 10 mm, and most preferably between 1 mm to 4 mm.
16. The unit according to any of claims 12-15, wherein the shelf plate is configured such that the second notch at each end of the shelf plate is opposing the first vertical groove of the frame without a displacement, when the horisontal shelf plate is placed on top of the vertical side plates, and the wedges are installed.