US3294250A - Shelving structure - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 27, 1966 R J. EVANS 3,294,25G

SHELVING STRUCTURE Original Filed March 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR.

@aber/ c/ Z'VansM wh 1% BY 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1966 R. J. EVANS 3,294,250

SHELVING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 5, 1964 INVENTOR.

@oer/d A yans United States Patent 3,294,250 SHELVING STRUCTURE Robert J. Evans, Aurora, Ill., assignor to Aurora Equipment Company, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application Mar. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 349,623. Divided and this application Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No.

15 Claims. (Cl. 211-.17 6) The present application is a division of my copending earlier filed application entitled, Shelving Structure, Serial No. 349,623, filed March 5, 1964, only directed to non-elected subject matter.

The present invention relates generally to a new and improved shelving structure.

An important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved shelving structure that is adapted for using only one-half the number of posts as is currently employed by most manufacturers.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved post for use in a shelving structure which can be more economically manufactured from strip stock having a width of only two inches.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved manner of coaction between posts or uprights and shelves attachable thereto.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved technique for connecting or mounting the the shelves on the posts.

According to the general featuresof this invention, I have provided a new and improved shelving structure which includes shelves that are disposable in end-to-end relation and which each possesses cut-away corners. The contiguous end-to-end related shelves define post receiving pockets. A series of corner posts are disposed in the pockets and are provided with portions nestingly coordinated with the pockets. Means join the nested portions of the posts and the cut-away corners together to separate the shelves on the posts. In one form of my invention, the pockets are of a V-shaped configuration when the shelves are positioned in end-to-end relation. In this form, the posts are generally of a V-shaped cross section. In another form of my invention, the pockets are of an arcuate configuration and arcuately configured posts are provided for coaction therewith.

According to other features of this invention, different types of means have been provided for mounting the shelves on the posts. An an example, one important form utilizes a stud bearing bracket that is supported on ledges positioned beneath the associated shelf with the stud carried thereon extending through the cut-away corner or corner recess of the shelf for attachment with a key-hole slot on the post associated therewith.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully become apparent in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating therein several embodiments and in which:

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a shelving structure embodying important features of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front view of the shelving structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded bottom view of the shelving structure;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view with the stud shown in elevation illustrating the coaction of the components in assembly with a modified shelf;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a post;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a shelf;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of one type of stud bearing bracket useable with the shelf shown in FIG-URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of another type of stud bearing bracket useable with the shelf shown in FIG-URE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the bracket shown in FIG- URE 8 only with a portion of the bracket being broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of still another type of stud bearing bracket where the stud is formed as an extrusion;

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGURE 6 but illustrating a modified type of shelf corner; and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary view of a corner shelf with a stud formed as an extrusion thereon.

As shown on the drawings:

Thereference numeral 10 indicates a shelving structure and the structure has a series of vertically spaced shelves 11 which are attachably mounted on a series ofangular posts 12 positioned at the four corners of each shelf. As is illustrated in FIGURE 1, the shelves 11 can be disposed in side-by-side relation and the pair ofposts 12 positioned between the side-by-side related shelves can serve to support separate rows of shelves rather than a single row.

Each of the angular posts has a pair ofpost legs 13, 13 and vertically spaced key-hole slots orpost slots 14 are provided on the legs. A series ofstuds 15 are also provided for securing the shelves 11 to theangular posts 12 according to other important features of this invention. Eachstud 15 has an enlargedhead 15a and a reduced head 15b disposed at opposite ends of a central cylindrically shapedstud portion 15c.

The shelves 11 each include afiat shelf portion 16 which is peripherally bound by underturned marginal fianges 'orsides 17. Joined with thesides 17 are a series of inwardly turned angle bracket carrying shelf flanges or ledges 18. Each shelf has four flatted or cut-awaycorners 19. Thesecorners 19 are formed by die cutting flat sheets of steel whereby corner portions of theshelf portions 16, 17 and 18 are removed. After theshelf portions 16, 17 and 18 are formed to shape as shown in FIGURE 6 and as a result of the previously described notching operation, corner notches orrecesses 20 are formed at the four corners of each shelf 11. Theledges 18 are reduced in width at 18a, 18a (FIGURE 3) adjacent to each of the cut-away corners 19 to enable thestuds 15 to be more readily projected through thenotches 20.

As a result of my tests and study, a number of new types of systems have been developed for securing the shelf ll having the cut-away corners 19 to the posts. One of the preferred forms which I have developed is illustrated in FIGURE 3. In this instance astud supporting bracket 21 has been provided for each corner. Thebracket 21 is generally C-shaped and is channeled along its length. Thebracket 21 has acentral bracket portion 21a and a pair of convergingbracket leg portions 21b are joined with its opposite ends. Thecentral bracket portion 21a has a hole 210.

Before the shelves 11 are mounted on theposts 13, a group ofcorner brackets 21 are positioned so that the holes 210 are in alignment with thecorner notches 20. Theledges 18 provide means for supporting thebrackets 21 in assembly with the shelves before the shelves are finally mounted on theangular posts 12. The shelves are then mounted between theangular posts 12, and the reduced heads 15b of thestuds 15 are projected through theholes 21c, thenotches 20 and the key-hole slots 14.

The assembled position of the stud is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 3 and it will here be noted that the enlargedhead 15a bears against thecentral section 21a of the bracket to hold the bracket securely against thepost leg 13. The reduced stud head 15b bears against an inside surface of thepost leg 13 to insure that the shelf will be securely attached with the post leg. By utilizing the key-hole shapedslots 14, the cylindricallyshaped stud section 150 can be wedgingly engaged with diverging side edges of the slots. The shelves 11 can be readily disassembled from the posts by forcing each shelf in an upward direction to release the wedge fit between thestuds 15 and the post legs so that the reduced head 15b of the stud can be disengaged from the associatedkeyhole slot 14.

When the shelves are positioned in side-by-side relation, the contiguous flattedcorners 19 coact to form post receiving pockets 22. In the shelf structure illustrated in FIGURES 1-3, thepost legs 13 on eachpost 12 are of equal length and positioned 90 from one another. The shelves 11 are notched in such a way to permit the post legs to be engaged in flush relation against the flatted corners. Also, the post legs are nested within the post receiving pockets 22.

A modified form of shelf bracket is illustrated at 31 in FIGURE 7. Eachbracket 31 can be used in place of a pair of thebrackets 21 illustrated in FIGURE 1. Thebracket 31 is continuously channeled along its length and includes a pair ofendlegs 32 and 33 which are joined withdiagonal legs 34 and 35. Thediagonal legs 34 and 35 are joined together by an elongated bracket leg 36 which extends substantially the entire front to back dimension of the shelf. Thebracket 31 is adapted to be supported on theshelf legs 18 in the same manner as previously described. If desired,studs 37, 37 can be extruded fro-m thediagonal bracket legs 34 and 35- or welded to them. As illustrated, thestuds 37, 37 are secured by welds with thebracket 31 in the same manner illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9 to be hereafter described in further detail.

In FIGURES 8 and 9, a further modification is illustrated. In this instance, a stud supporting bracket orcorner bracket 41 is illustrated as being provided with astud 45. Thebracket 41 and thestud 45 are very similar to thebracket 21 and thestud 15 except that anenlarged head 45a of the stud is welded at 46 to a central section 41a of thebracket 41. Thebracket 41 can be assembled with the shelf 11 and theposts 12 in essentially the same manner as previously described.

In FIGURES 10 and 11 is still another modified type ofstud supporting bracket 51. Here the bracket is provided with astud 55 which comprises an extrusion and is formed from the metal ofcentral bracket section 56. Thebracket 51, as well as the other brackets previouly described, can be formed from any suitable material and excellent results are obtainable where sheet steel is used.

In FIGURES 12 and 13 modified shelves are indicated at 61 and 71. In both instances, the shelves are formed from flat sheet stock and the corners are notched, but corner flaps 62 and 72 remain attached withfiat shelf portions 66, 76 alongfold lines 67, 77. Side flap edges 68, 68 and 78, 78 may be welded to underturned marginal flanges orsides 69, 69 and 79, 79. By forming the shelves 61 and 71 with theflaps 62 and 72, it is not necessary to use stud brackets to assist in attaching the shelves to shelf posts. With the shelf 61, a stud such as thestud 15 can be projected through corner flap hole 63. In FIGURE 13, astud 73 is formed as an extrusion from the material of the flap 72.

In FIGURE 4 a modified shelf 11' is illustrated with the bracket and stud being identical to those in FIGURE 3. In FIGURE 3, thebracket 21 is adapted to be carried on theflanges 18, while in FIGURE 4 the fiange 18' and its edges 18c'1'8c' are shorter providing clearance to permit the shelf to be moved directly on top of thebracket 21 to facilitate assembly.

In the assembly of the shelving components shown in FIGURE 4 the brackets such as thebracket 21 can be assembled on thepost 13 by engaging thestud head 15!) in the key-hole slot 14. Thereafter, the shelf 11' can be guided into position in such a way that flatted or cut-awaycorners 19 are positioned in assembled relation between thestud end 15a and the associated leg of thepost 13. In the assembly of the stud bracket with thepost 13, the stud would be extended through the stud bracket hole 210 thus securing thestud 15, thestud bracket 21 and thepost 13 together. Where the stud is operatively connected with the stud bracket such as is shown in FIGURES 8, 9, 10 and 11, the separate step of positioning the stud with respect to the stud bracket would not be required so that the stud bracket would itself be directly mounted on the post and so that the shelf 11' can thereafter be moved into assembled relation with these previously assembled components with the modified shelf 11'. It will be appreciated that this type of operation facilitates the rapid assembly of the components and effects labor savings by the user of the subject invention.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a shelving structure,

a shelf having cut-away corners,

a series of corner posts each comprising strip stock and having a pair of integrally connected convergently related leg portions each of which has a row of vertically spaced lug-receiving slots and the slots of each row being horizontally aligned with the corresponding slots of the other row, said leg portions confronting said cut-away corners 'with certain of said slots aligned therewith, studs projecting outwardly from said cut-away corners into and engaged in said slots and shavinig enlarged stud heads at opposite ends, and

stud supporting brackets at inner sides of said out-away corners with each bracket having a bracket portion held in face-to-face relation against one of said leg portions on said posts by said enlarged stud heads and with said studs being projected through respective slots in said stud supporting brackets,

one of each of the enlarged stud heads being engaged against respectively oppositely facing sides of said leg portion and said stud supporting bracket, the distance between said enlarged heads on each stud being only slightly greater than the combined thickness of the associated leg portion of the post and the bracket portion to insure that the three associated components including the leg portion, the shelf and the associated bracket may be readily assembled but are held in substantially rigid assembly together.

2. In a shelving structure,

shelves disposed in end-to-end relation each having out-away corners and with adjacent cut-away corners defining post receiving pockets,

a series of corner posts complementary to and disposed in said pockets and each having leg portions with each leg portion having a pair of integrally connected convergently related vertically spaced key-hole slots for association with said cut-away corners and with one of said leg portions engaging one of said cutaway corners on one of said shelves and with another of said leg portions engaging one of said cutaway corners on another of said shelves, and

supporting brackets engaged by said shelves and having studs extending through holes in said brackets,

the studs having enlarged heads at opposite ends with one head being disposed at the inside of said bracket and with another head being disposed in said pocket and the stud engaged in a keyhole slot of said post.

3. The structure of claim 2 further characterized by said studs being in welded assembly with said brackets.

4. The structure of claim 2 further characterized by at least one of said brackets having opposite ends carrying said studs and associated with a pair of said cutaway corners.

5. The structure of claim 2 further characterized by said cut-away corners each including an upright portion having a hole therein, the stud supporting brackets each having a stud projected through the hole in said upright portion of said corner into engagement with a slot in said corner post.

6. In a shelving structure,

a shelf having a central shelf portion and angular marginal shelf flanges about the perimeter and with the shelf ha ving cut-away corners at the corner junctions of the angular marginal shelf flanges which are open at bottom ends,

a series of corner posts complementary to said cutaway corners and having a pair of integrally connected convergently related leg portions with said leg portions having vertically spaced post slots for association with said cut-away corners, angular stud supporting brackets each having a stud engaged in an associated one of said post slots for enabling said posts to support shelves,

the shelf being mountable on the corner posts by positioning the shelf in overlying relation to the studs and moving the shelf downwardly engaging the cut-away corners of the shelf between the stud supporting brackets and the post and supporting the shelf by means of the studs.

7. The shelving structure ofclaim 6 further characterized by said stud being formed integral as an embossing on said stud supporting bracket.

8. The shelviing structure ofclaim 6 further characterized by said stud comprising a separate element for assembly with the stud supporting bracket.

9. In a shelving structure,

shelves disposed in end-to-end relation each having recessed corners and with adjacent recessed corners defining outwardly opening post receiving pockets, a series of corner posts complementary to and disposed in said pockets and each having a pair of integrally connected inwardly convergently and outwardly flaringly related leg portions with each leg portion having vertically spaced slots for association with said recessed corners and with one of said leg portions engaging one of said recessed corners on one of said shelves and with another of said leg portions engaging one of said recessed corners on another of said shelves, and projections extending outwardly from said recessed corners into and releasably engaged in said slots for supporting the shelves on the posts.

10. A shelving structure as defined in claim 9, in Which said projections comprise studs extruded from shelf material at said recessed corners.

11. A shelving structure as defined in claim 9, including shelf engaging brackets from which said projections extend.

12. A shelving structure as defined in claim 9, including brackets engaging the shelves and extending longitudinally therealong and having opposite end portions aligned with opposite recessed corners of said shelves and said projections extending from said aligned portions of the brackets.

13. A shelving structure as defined in claim 9, including 'brackets with which the shelves are engaged and which brackets have said projections comprising studs welded thereto.

14. A shelving structure as defined in claim 9, ineluding brackets engaged by said shelves and said projections comprising studs extruded from the material of the brackets.

15. A shelving structure as defined in claim 9, in which said recessed corners of the shelves have underturned corner flanges each provided with a hole therethrough and said projections comprising studs extending through said holes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 359,691 3/1887 Reed 1081l4 1,554,011 9/1925 Lehman 108--107 1,689,481 10/ 1928 Gerberich l08-64 1,952,111 3/1934 Bales 108-107 2,639,043 5/1953 Dunham 108-64 2,939,589 6/1960 Handler et al. 108l44 2,948,409 8/ 1960. Wrobkeski et al 211-176 2,990,067 6/ 1961 Bartlett 108144' 3,104,627 9/1963 Fohn 108-157 FOREIGN PATENTS 632,482 12/1961 Canada. 568,100 10/1957 Italy.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 2. IN SHELVING STRUCTURE, SHELVES DISPOSED IN END-TO-END RELATION EACH HAVING CUT-AWAY CORNERS AND WITH ADJACENT CUT-AWAY CORNERS DEFINING POST RECEIVING POCKETS A SERIES OF CORNER POSTS COMPLEMENTARY TO AND DISPOSED IN SAID POCKETS AND EACH HAVING LEG PORTIONS WITH EACH LEG PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF INTEGRALLY CONNECTED CONVERGENTLY RELATED VERTICALLY SPACED KEY-HOLE SLOTS FOR ASSOCIATION WITH SAID CUT-AWAY CORNERS AND WITH ONE OF SAID LEG PORTIONS ENGAGING ONE OF SAID CUTAWAY CORNERS ON ONE OF SAID SHELVES AND WITH ANOTHER OF SAID LEG PORTIONS ENGAGING ONE OF SAID CUTAWAY CORNERS ON ANOTHER OF SAID SHELVES, AND SUPPORTING BRACKETS ENGAGED BY SAID SHELVES AND HAVING STUDS EXTENDING THROUGH HOLES IN SAID BRACKETS, THE STUDS HAVING ENLARGED HEADS AT OPPOSITE ENDS WITH ONE HEAD BEING DISPOSED AT THE INSIDE OF SAID BRACKET AND WITH ANOTHER HEAD BEING DISPOSED IN SAID POCKET AND THE STUD ENGAGED IN A KEYHOLE SLOT OF SAID POST.

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