BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to shelving apparatus, and in particular, to a connector for supporting a shelf at a desired vertical location along the poles of a shelving rack.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Knock-down shelving systems have been very popular in recent times. Knock-down shelving refers to shelving racks having modular components (e.g., shelves, connectors and support posts) that can be assembled and disassembled relatively quickly and conveniently, so that the user can (i) deploy the shelving rack at any number of different locations, and/or (ii) re-configure the shelving rack by adding or omitting shelves and posts.
There are numerous knock-down shelving systems that are available in the market. Unfortunately, most of these assemblies suffer from one of many drawbacks, but the most common problem relates to the connector that connects each shelf to a specific vertical level or location along the support post. The connector must simultaneously meet all of the following objectives: (i) it must allow stable and secure connection of the shelf to the post, (ii) it must be easy and convenient to connect and dis-connect, and (iii) it should have a simple construction to minimize production cost. Unfortunately, none of the currently-available knock-down shelving systems meet all of these three objectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for a knock-down shelving system that provides a stable and secure connection of the shelf to the support post.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a connector for a knock-down shelving system that is easy and convenient to connect and dis-connect.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a connector for a knock-down shelving system that has a simple construction.
In order to accomplish the above-described and other objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a shelving system having a post, a shelf, a first connector piece and a second connector piece. The post has a plurality of spaced-apart grooves. The first connector piece has a C-shaped section with an inner surface and an outer surface, the first connector piece further including a protruding ridge extending radially from the inner surface, a horizontal support plate extending from the outer surface, and a support portion. The second connector plate has a C-shaped section with an inner surface, the first connector piece further including a protruding ridge extending radially from the inner surface and a support portion that is removably coupled to the support portion of the first connector piece. The shelf has a portion thereof that is supported on top of the horizontal support plate. The protruding ridges of the first and second connector plates are retained inside a groove of the post when the first and second connector pieces are connected together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector and a support post according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector and support post of FIG. 1 as viewed from a different angle.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shelf support piece of the connector in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector and support post of FIG. 1 shown with the connector secured at a vertical location along the support post.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the connector and support post of FIG. 1 shown with the connector secured at a vertical location along the support post, and with a shelf supported on the connector.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a knock-down shelving rack assembly according to the present invention utilizing the connector and support post of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the connector and support post of FIG. 1 shown with the connector secured at a vertical location along the support post, and with a shelf supported on the connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The present invention provides a connector and support post system that has a simple construction, and which can be easily and conveniently assembled for use, and taken down for storage, re-configuration or transportion. In addition, each connector provides a stable support for a portion of a shelf.
Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, the basic structure of the present invention includes a support post 10 and a connector. The connector includes a shelf support piece 12 and a clamp piece 14. The support post 10 can be similar to any conventional metal or stainless steel support post that is used for such knock-down shelving, and has a generally cylindrical configuration with a plurality of grooves 16 provided at spaced-apart locations along the vertical length of the support post 10. In this regard, the connector can be used with most conventional posts 10, because many of the posts 10 that are currently available in the marketplace have a plurality of grooves 16 that are spaced apart along the length of the post 10. FIGS. 5-7 illustrate a shelf 100 that can be supported by the connectors.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the shelf support piece 12 has a generally semi-circular or C-shaped wall or section 20 which can be made of a sufficiently rigid material, such as aluminum or plastic. The section 20 has a protruding ridge 22 that extends radially inwardly throughout the curvature of the inner surface 24 thereof, and can be positioned at about the center of the inner surface 24 between the top edge 26 and the bottom edge 28 of the section 20. A planar connecting support 30 extends from one end of the section 20, and another planar connecting support 32 extends from the other end of the section 20. A threaded through-hole 34 and 36 extends through each support 30 and 32, respectively. A shelf support plate 40 extends horizontally from the outer wall 42 of the section 20. The shelf support plate 40 is connected to the outer wall 42 via a vertical wall 44 that is transverse to the plate 40, and which together with the plate 40 defines a shoulder 46. The vertical wall 44 is secured at its central portion to the outer wall 42 of the section 20. A plurality (e.g., two) of cylindrical holders 50 extend vertically from the upper surface 52 of the plate 40. Each holder 50 has a threaded bore 54. In one embodiment of the present invention, the section 20, the vertical wall 44 and the plate 40 can be provided (e.g., molded) in one piece, although it is also possible to provide the section 20, the vertical wall 44 and the plate 40 in separate pieces and then weld or otherwise attach them together using techniques that are known in the art. The vertical wall 44 and the plate 40 can be made of a sufficiently rigid material, such as aluminum or plastic, and can be provided in the same material as the section 20.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the clamp piece 14 has a generally semi-circular or C-shaped wall or section 60 which can be made of a sufficiently rigid material, such as aluminum or plastic. The section 60 corresponds to the section 20, and similarly has a protruding ridge 62 that extends radially inwardly throughout the curvature of the inner wall 64 thereof, and can be positioned at about the center of the inner surface 64 between the top edge 66 and the bottom edge 68 of the section 60. A planar connecting support 70 extends from one end of the section 60, and another planar connecting support 72 extends from the other end of the section 60. A threaded through-hole 74 and 76 extends through each support 70 and 72, respectively.
The supports 30 and 70 are adapted to be coupled to each other, and the supports 32 and 72 are adapted to be coupled to each other, when the pieces 12 and 14 are secured together at a groove 16 along the post 10. The pieces 12 and 14 are secured together by first pressing the pieces 12 and 14 against a selected groove 16 so that the ridges 22 and 62, respectively, are received inside the groove 16, then threading a screw 80 through the aligned through-holes 34 and 74, and then threading another screw 82 through the aligned through-holes 36 and 76. FIG. 4 illustrates the pieces 12 and 14 secured to each other at a groove 16 along the post 10. The retention of the ridges 22 and 62 inside the groove 16 secures the pieces 12 and 14 at the location of the selected groove 16.
To assemble a knock-down shelving rack using the posts 10 and connector of the present invention, the user utilizes at least two posts 10 (see FIG. 6), and secures connectors to the selected grooves 16 at which shelves 100 are to be located. The connectors are secured in the manner described above. A plurality of screws 102 are used to secure each shelf 100 to the corresponding connectors. In particular, sets of openings 104 are provided adjacent the edges 106, 108 of each shelf 100, with the sets of openings 104 aligned with the bores 54 of each set of corresponding holders 50. The shelf 100 is positioned between two or more connectors on the same vertical level with the openings 104 aligned with the holders 50, and then a screw 102 is passed through each opening 104 and threaded into the corresponding bore 54. The shelf 100 is secured to the connectors after a screw 102 has been threaded to all the aligned openings 104 and bores 54.
To dis-assemble the knock-down shelving system, the user simply unscrews the screws 102, lifts up each shelf 100, and then unscrews each screw 80 and 82 at each connector to disengage the pieces 12, 14 from the posts 10. Thus, the assembly and dis-assembly of the knock-down shelving system can be accomplished quickly and conveniently.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Patent Application
20070256613
