Shelving system

Abstract

The modular shelving system consists of one or more uprights ( 1 ) in combination with respective supporting shelving brackets ( 10, 11 ) which engage with the uprights ( 1 ) by means of slots ( 7 ) provided in the uprights ( 1 ). The brackets ( 10, 11 ) act to support a shelf ( 5 ) which is attached to the brackets by means of a screw ( 9 ) which passes through the bracket ( 10, 11 ) to the underneath of the shelf ( 5 ). To ensure accurate alignment of the screw ( 9 ), a screw guide ( 17 ) is provided within the bracket ( 10, 11 ) which is releasably held within the bracket ( 10, 11 ) by means of biased lugs ( 23 ) which engage with apertures ( 16 ) provided in the walls of the bracket ( 10, 11 ). In addition to ensuring that the screw cuts into the underneath of the shelf ( 5 ) substantially perpendicular to its surface, the screw guide ( 17 ) is removable detachable from the bracket ( 10, 11 ) so that when it is desired to reposition the shelf ( 5 ) the need to cut new screw holes in the shelf ( 5 ) is avoided as the screw guide ( 17 ) with the screw ( 9 ) is removed from the bracket ( 10, 11 ) and stays with the shelf ( 5 ) whilst the brackets are repositioned on the uprights ( 1 ).

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A shelving system comprising: 
 at least one upright;    at least one bracket for attachment to the upright;    at least one shelf for mounting on the bracket;    at least one bracket screw hole in each bracket for receiving a screw to be screwed into the underside of a shelf; and    at least one screw guide having 
 a screw channel for guiding the passage of a screw and  
 a bracket coupling member adapted for holding the screw guide in position within the bracket adjacent the bracket screw hole.  
   
     
     
         2 . A shelving system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the screw guide is permanently held within the bracket.  
     
     
         3 . A shelving system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the bracket coupling member is force-fitted with the sides of the bracket.  
     
     
         4 . A shelving system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the screw guide is permanently held within the bracket by means of the bracket coupling member which is in the form of a detent and at least one of the sides of the bracket includes a ridge or shoulder for permanently barring movement of the detent in a direction that would release the screw guide from the bracket.  
     
     
         5 . A shelving system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the screw guide includes a biasing member associated with the bracket coupling member and movable between a holding position in which the screw guide is held in position within the bracket and a releasing position in which the screw guide is able to move into and out of the bracket.  
     
     
         6 . A shelving system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein biasing member is in the form of a spring.  
     
     
         7 . A shelving system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the biasing member is in the form of at least one resilient arm or flange on which the bracket coupling member is mounted.  
     
     
         8 . A shelving system as claimed in  1 , wherein the screw guide includes a biasing member associated with the bracket coupling member and movable between a holding position in which the screw guide is held in position within the bracket and a releasing position in which the screw guide is able to move into and out of the bracket and in which the bracket includes an aperture in at least one side and the bracket coupling member is in the form of a movable lug mounted on the biasing member and adapted for engagement in the aperture in the side of the bracket, the lug being biased, in the absence of an external force, away from the screw channel.  
     
     
         9 . A shelving system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the bracket includes a pair of opposed apertures and the bracket coupling member includes a pair of opposed movable lugs each biased away from the screw channel.  
     
     
         10 . A shelving system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the biasing member is in the form of a spring.  
     
     
         11 . A shelving system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the biasing member is in the form of at least one resilient arm or flange on which the bracket coupling member is mounted.  
     
     
         12 . A shelving screw guide for use with a shelving system consisting essentially of an upright, at least one bracket and at least one shelf, the shelving screw guide comprising: 
 a screw channel for guiding the passage of a screw;    a bracket coupling member adapted for holding the screw guide in position within the bracket; and    a biasing member associated with the bracket coupling member movable between a holding position and a releasing position.    
     
     
         13 . A shelving screw guide as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the biasing member is in the form of at least one resilient arm or flange on which the bracket coupling member is mounted.  
     
     
         14 . A shelving screw guide as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the bracket coupling member is in the form of a lug adapted for engagement with an aperture in a bracket of the shelving system.  
     
     
         15 . A shelving screw guide as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the bracket coupling member consists of opposed lugs mounted on opposed resilient arms or flanges.  
     
     
         16 . A shelving screw guide as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the bracket coupling member consists of opposed lugs mounted on opposed resilient arms or flanges and the opposed resilient arms or flanges are attached to the screw channel along a common edge and the opposed lugs are mounted on respective arms or flanges remote from the common edge.