US2961212A - Supporting post for fixtures - Google Patents

Description

2 1960 R. BEAL 2,961,212

SUPPORTING POST FOR FIXTURES Original Filed March 6, 1958 United States Patent SUPPORTING ros'r FOR FIXTURES Robert Beal, Lansing, Mich, assignor to Structural Products, Inc., Charlotte, Mich., a corporation of Michlgan Original application Mar. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 719,653,

now Patent No. 2,940,718, dated June 14, 1960. Divided and this application June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,591

'3 Claims. (Cl. 248-356) This invention relates to supporting posts for adjustably supporting Various items such as brackets, cabinets, shelves, panels, electric lamps and the like.

This application is a division of my prior application for Fixture Support, Serial No. 719,653, filed March 6, 1958, now Patent No. 2,940,718.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a supporting post for such items as are mentioned above, which can be quickly and easily installed where desired, without the use of tools, and which will support fairly substantial weights.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a post which can be easily removed for storage or for installation in another location.

Another object is to provide such a post, the principal part of which can be manufactured by extrusion.

A still further object is to provide such a post of sturdy construction, the parts of which can be easily constructed and assembled.

These objects are attained by means of a post of unique cross-section, in which longitudinally extending slots are formed in the outer wall thereof and internal webs connect the outer wall portions. They are also attained in part by a unique spring pressed plunger fitting into one end of the post and supported and guided by the walls and transverse Webs of the post.

In the drawings accompanying the application:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a post and bracket embodying the invention, parts being broken away to show the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on substantially theline 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on substantially theline 33 of Figure 1 with the bracket removed;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the supporting block; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a different form of post.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, and particularly to Figures 1 to 3 thereof, there is shown a supporting post which is an elongated metal extrusion, preferably aluminum, of the cross-section shown in Figures 2 and 3. The outside walls are slotted at 11 on all four sides, leavingcorners 12 which are interconnected bydiagonal webs 13.

At the top of the post is acylindrical plunger 14 partially closed. at the top by anannular flange 33 which is provided with fourvertical slots 15 equidistantly spaced to receive thewebs 13. The portions of the side wall of the plunger between the slots are located within the spaces inside the side walls of the post and between thewebs 13. A coiledspring 16 is interposed between the upper ends ofwebs 13 and the annular flange at the top of the plunger. Arubber pad 17 is attached to the upper end of the plunger.

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Anotherrubber pad 18 is attached to the bottom of thepost 10.

Thepost 10 is intended to be supported in a vertical position between two fixed surfaces such as the floor and ceiling of a room. The post is cut to a length shorter than the distance between these surfaces, but the overall length of thepost 10,spring 16,plunger 14 andpads 17 and 13 is greater, so that thepad 17 can be placed against the upper fixed surface in the desired location, thespring 16 compressed by pushing upward on the post and the lower pad of the post placed directly below the upper end. When the post is released the spring expands, forcing thepad 18 against the lower fixed surface and theupper pad 17 against the upper surface, securely fastening the post in place.

On the post is a bracket structure for supporting a shelf or the like. It consists of four parts, abracket 19, ablock 20, abolt 21 having aknurled head 22, and a nut 23.

Theblock 20 is preferably an aluminum extrusion of the cross-section shown in Figure 4. The block has an elongated rib 24 on one side and agroove 25 in the opposite side. The block is drilled to receive the shank of thebolt 21.

The nut 23 is drilled or punched and tapped to receivebolt 21. The nut is narrower in width than the width of slots 11 in thepost 10 but is longer than the distance between thewebs 13 just inside the side walls of thepost 10.

Bracket 19 is composed of avertical web 26 and a horizontalupper flange 27. Theweb 26 is generally triangular but is cut away at the lower corner adjacent the post, as shown in Figure 1, to receive thehead 22 of the bolt. Preferably theweb 26 extends downward at 28 between thehead 22 of the bolt but does not rest thereon. The purpose of this will appear presently.

Theflange 27 is extended beyond the end of the web adjacent the post, and the edges are slotted to form a T-shaped end 29.

To attach the bracket structure to the post the nut 23 is loosened onbolt 21, long way of the nut aligned with the appropriate slot 11, and the nut passed through the slot, with rib 24 located in the slot. The upper end ofblock 20 is located at the proper height andbolt 21 is rotated. Any tendency for the nut to turn appreciably is prevented by the ends thereof striking thewebs 13 inpost 10, so that the bolt and nut securely clamp theblock 20 in position when the bolt is tightened.

Thebracket 19 is then turned so that theweb 26 is horizontal and the T-shaped head 29 is inserted in slot 11 aboveblock 20. Thebracket 19 is then rotated to a position wherein the web depends downwardly and thehead 29 is located inside of the side walls of the post on opposite sides of theslot 1 1. The bracket is then lowered until theflange 27 rests on the top ofblock 20 and the end of theweb 19 adjacent thepost 10 is received ingroove 25 inblock 20.

The bracket structure can easily be adjusted to any desired height on the post by simply looseningbolt 21 and slidingblock 20 up or down. It is also readily removable by simply turning the bolt until the long dimension of the nut is aligned with the slot and can be pulled through it.

The only strain on thebolt 21 is the tension created therein by the tightening of the nut and what slight shearing stress is created by a straight downward load. The T-shaped projection 29 takes substantially all of the load placed on the bracket.

Figure 5 illustrates a somewhat diflerent cross-sectional shape for the post. It comprises acylindrical side wall 30 connected bywebs 31. Theside wall 30 of the post is relieved at 32 to receive electrical wiring for lamps either attached to the post or placed on a shelf, thus eliminating any interference with the T-shaped projections on the bracket structures. attached to the post.

' From the foregoingit will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, easily installed and adjusted fixture support that is remarkably strong, yet is easily fabricated.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fixture support comprising an upright post comprising a segmental outer wall, the segments of which are separated by longitudinally extending slots, said segments being connected by an internal transverse Web, a tubular plunger having one end slidable longitudinally in said post, said plunger having slots in the side wall thereof extending from the end inside of the post partway toward the outer end of said plunger, said slots slidably receiving said web, an abutment adjacent the outer end of said 2 plunger extending radially inwardly from the outer Walls outer wall of said post comprises at least three segments and said segments are connected together by internal transverse webs intersecting adjacent to the center of the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,548,053 Mead Aug. 4, 1925 1,820,950 Schulstadt Sept. 1, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 779,452 France Apr. 5, 1935 1,013,702 France Aug. 4, 1952

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