Reinforced shelves, kits therefor and shelving units comprising reinforced shelves

Abstract

Provided are reinforced shelves, kits for reinforced shelves and shelving units comprising at least one reinforced shelf.

1 . A reinforced shelf having:
 a shelf comprising:
 a front edge, a rear edge, a pair of opposed side edges and two side surfaces, at least one of the front edge and the rear edge comprising a first engagement portion; and 
 support portions at the opposed side edges thereof configured, in use, to engage vertical support members; and 
   a reinforcing member configured with a second engagement portion which engages the first engagement portion;   wherein the reinforcing member is spaced from the support portions, whereby the reinforcing member attached to the respective edge increases the bending stiffness of the shelf about an axis perpendicular to the respective edge of the shelf.   
     
     
         2 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member has a height which is smaller than or equal to a greatest height between the two side surfaces of the shelf. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second engagement portions comprises a recess and the other of the first and second engagement portions comprises a protrusion arranged to be received in the recess. 
     
     
         6 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first engagement portion comprises two separate engagement portions disposed on either side surface of the shelf; and   the second engagement portion of the reinforcing member comprises two separate engagement portions, each of which is configured to engage one of the first engagement portions.   
     
     
         7 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises an elongate member arranged to attach in a clipping manner to the first engagement portion of the shelf. 
     
     
         8 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf comprises a polymer material and the reinforcing member comprises a metal material. 
     
     
         9 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member is formed from sheet metal. 
     
     
         10 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing member is formed from steel sheet metal. 
     
     
         11 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the sheet metal reinforcing member is arranged to surround the respective edge of the shelf;   the first engagement portion comprises a channel on either side surface of the shelf; and   the second engagement portion comprises folded edges of the reinforcing member configured to be received within the channels.   
     
     
         12 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 11 , wherein the folded edges of the reinforcing member are elastically moved away from one another while the reinforcing member is pushed onto the edge of the shelf and a return bias force in the sheet metal reinforcing member brings the folded edges back towards one another as the folded edges engage in the channels. 
     
     
         13 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion comprises a locking portion arranged to retain the second engagement portion against disengagement. 
     
     
         14 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member extends along a majority of the respective edge of the shelf between the opposed side edges. 
     
     
         15 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf comprises at least one stiffening rib, spanning the shelf between the front edge and the rear edge and spaced from the opposed side edges, whereby the at least one stiffening rib increases the bending stiffness of the shelf about an axis perpendicular to the span of the at least one stiffening rib. 
     
     
         16 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one stiffening rib comprises a plurality of stiffening ribs positioned parallel to one another and spaced from one another. 
     
     
         17 . The reinforced shelf of  claim 15 , wherein the shelf comprises connector ribs connecting the at least one stiffening rib to one of the two side surfaces of the shelf. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A shelving unit comprising at least one reinforced shelf according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         36 . A kit of parts for a reinforced shelf comprising:
 a shelf comprising:
 a front edge, a rear edge, a pair of opposed side edges and two side surfaces, at least one of the front edge and the rear edge comprising a first engagement portion; and 
 support portions at the opposed side edges thereof configured, in use, to engage vertical support members; and 
   a reinforcing member configured with a second engagement portion arranged to engage the first engagement portion;   wherein the reinforcing member is configured to be spaced from the vertical shelf support members when the first and second engagement portions are engaged.   
     
     
         37 . The kit of  claim 36 ,
 wherein the reinforcing member is configured to has a height which is smaller than or equal to a greatest height between the two side surfaces of the shelf.