BACKGROUND
Shelving assemblies are used to store objects and can be located in a garage, a kitchen, or other position inside or outside of a building. In some circumstances, shelving assemblies may be used to store relatively heavy objects, such as vehicle components, athletic weights, or the like. Conventional shelving assemblies generally include shelves that are supported on vertical columns by support members that extend between the vertical columns, and the shelves may rest on top of the support members. The construction of the support members may limit the amount of weight that may be supported by each of the shelves, which may limit storage capacity and/or the types of objects that can be stored on the shelving assembly.
To support relatively heavy items on the shelves, some shelving assembles may include support members including reinforcements, or may include support members formed from heavy gage steel, which may increase the weight of the shelving assembly. The use of heavy gage steel and/or reinforcements may thus increase manufacturing and shipping costs of the shelving assembly. Additionally, the increased weight of the shelving assembly may make it difficult for a user to assemble and/or transport the shelving assembly.
Accordingly, a need exists for shelving assemblies that are capable of storing relatively heavy objects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
FIG. 1 schematically depicts a perspective view of an assembled heavy-duty shelving assembly according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 2 schematically depicts a perspective view of another assembled heavy-duty shelving assembly according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 3A schematically depicts a perspective view of a column member of the heavy-duty shelving assembly of FIG. 1 according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 3B schematically depicts another perspective view of the column member of FIG. 3A according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 4 schematically depicts an enlarged view of the area 4 of the column member of FIG. 3A according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 5 schematically depicts a side view of a coupling portion of the column member of FIG. 3A according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 6 schematically depicts a side view of the main portion of the column member of FIG. 3A according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 7A schematically depicts a front perspective view of a horizontal support of the heavy-duty of FIG. 1 according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 7B schematically depicts a rear perspective view of the horizontal support of FIG. 7A according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 8 schematically depicts an enlarged view of area 8 of the horizontal support of FIG. 7A according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 9 schematically depicts a top view of a portion of the horizontal support of FIG. 7A according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 10 schematically depicts a side view of the horizontal support of FIG. 7A according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 11 schematically depicts a center brace of the heavy-duty shelving assembly of FIG. 1 according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;
FIG. 12 schematically depicts a perspective view of the heavy-duty shelving assembly of FIG. 1 in a partially assembled configuration; and
FIG. 13 schematically depicts a perspective view of the heavy-duty shelving assembly of FIG. 1 in a disassembled configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
Various embodiments of the present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. The term “or” is used herein in both the alternative and conjunctive sense, unless otherwise indicated. The terms “illustrative” and “exemplary” are used to be examples with no indication of quality level. And terms are used both in the singular and plural forms interchangeably. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
As used herein, the vertical direction (i.e., the +/− Z-direction as depicted) refers to the upward/downward direction of components of the shelving assembly. The longitudinal direction (i.e., the +/− X-direction as depicted) refers to the forward/rearward direction of components of the shelving assembly and is transverse to the vertical direction. The lateral direction (i.e., the +/− Y-direction as depicted) refers to the cross-wise direction of components of the shelving assembly and is transverse to the vertical direction and the longitudinal direction.
I. Exemplary Shelving Assembly
Shelving assemblies are configured to store objects, and in some circumstances it is desirable to store relatively heavy objects on the shelving assembly. In embodiments, heavy-duty shelving assemblies include vertical columns including column members that are selectively coupled to one another, and horizontal supports that extend between the column members. Shelves are positioned on the horizontal supports and may rest on a support portion of the horizontal supports. The horizontal supports include a truss portion connected to the support portion that distributes the downward forces applied to the support portion by the shelves, thereby increasing the downward forces that may be applied to the shelf and increasing the weight capacity of the shelves.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a heavy-duty shelving assembly 100 is schematically depicted. The shelving assembly 100 includes vertical columns 110 extending in the vertical direction, horizontal supports 150 extending between the vertical columns 110, and one or more shelves 140 positioned on the horizontal supports 150. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the shelving assembly 100 includes four vertical columns 110 positioned at four opposing corners of the shelving assembly 100. Each of the vertical columns 110 may include one or more column members 114 that are selectively coupled to one another in the vertical direction to form the vertical columns 110. When assembled, the one or more shelves 140 generally extend between the vertical columns 110 in the lateral and the longitudinal directions and are supported by the horizontal supports 150. The position of the shelves 140 with respect to the vertical columns 110 may be adjustable in the vertical direction, as will be described in greater detail herein.
In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, each of the shelves 140 include a wire rack 142 that include wires extending in the lateral and the longitudinal directions. In one embodiment, the wire racks 142 are formed from metal wires coupled to one another. In other embodiments, the wire racks 142 may include any suitable material or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, polymers, composites, or the like. The wire racks 142 may allow for ventilation to the bottom of items stored on the shelves 140, which may be desirable in some circumstances, for example, when storing perishable items and/or items that may be damaged by condensation or moisture.
Referring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the heavy duty shelving assembly 100 is depicted. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the shelving assembly 100 includes solid shelves 144 extending between the vertical columns 110. In one embodiment, the solid shelves 144 are formed from metal. In other embodiments, the solid shelves 144 may include any suitable material or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, polymers, composites, or the like. The solid shelves 144 provide a solid surface extending in the longitudinal and the lateral directions, which may allow for easy cleaning of the shelves 140 and may be suitable in circumstances, such as when storing small or irregularly shaped objects that may become tangled or may fall through a wire rack.
Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a front and a rear perspective view of a column member 114 are depicted, respectively. The column members 114 generally include a pair of angled flanges 112 that are oriented transverse to one another to generally form an “L” shape. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the flanges 112 are oriented to be perpendicular to one another, however, it should be understood that the flanges 112 may be oriented at any suitable angle with respect to one another. Each of the flanges 112 are generally planar and define a plurality of apertures 130 extending along and spaced apart from one another on the flanges 112 in the vertical direction. The apertures 130 are configured to engage the horizontal supports 150 (FIG. 1), to couple the horizontal supports 150 to the vertical columns 110. The apertures 130 are further configured to couple adjacent column members 114 to one another, as will be described in greater detail herein. The column members 114 may be formed from any suitable material, such as steel, iron, a polymer, a composite or the like, and the column members 114 may be formed through any suitable process, such as stamping, forging, extrusion, molding, or the like. For example, each coupling portion 120 may be integrally formed with column members 114, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and 12-13, such as through a stamping operation. This minimizes or eliminates areas where stress may concentrate when the shelving assembly is under load.
Referring to FIG. 4, an enlarged view of the area 4 of the column member 114 of FIG. 3A is depicted. Each of the column members 114 include a main portion 116, and a coupling portion 120 positioned at one of the ends of the column member 114. The coupling portions 120 extend outward from the main portion 116 in the lateral or the longitudinal direction and are configured to selectively couple column members 114 to one another to form the vertical columns 110 (FIG. 1).
Each of the column members 114 may have a thickness t1 at the main portion 116, and the flanges 112 of the coupling portion 120 may extend outward from the main portion 116 by a distance that corresponds to the thickness t1. The flanges 112 of the coupling portion 120 may also be co-planar with the main portion 116 of the column member 114. In this way, the coupling portions 120 may accept at least a part of a main portion 116 of an adjacent column member 114 selectively nested within the coupling portion 120.
The coupling portions 120 include one or more engagement tabs 122 that extend inward and which are configured to engage apertures 130 of an adjacent column member 114. When part of the main portion 116 of one column member 114 is nested within the coupling portion 120 of an adjacent column member 114, engagement between the engagement tabs 122 and the apertures 130 of the adjacent column member 114 may selectively couple the column members 114 to one another. While in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, each of the flanges 112 include a pair of engagement tabs 122 positioned adjacent to one another in the vertical direction, it should be understood that coupling portions 120 may include any suitable number of engagement tabs 122. The engagement tabs 122 may be integral with the coupling portion 120 and may be formed through stamping, and the coupling portions 120 may define openings 124 positioned behind the engagement tabs 122. In other embodiments, the engagement tabs 122 may be coupled to the column members 114, such as by welding, brazing, or structural adhesives.
Referring collectively to FIGS. 5 and 6, a side view of the coupling portion 120 and the main portion 116 of a column member 114 are depicted, respectively. As described above, the engagement tabs 122 of the coupling portion 120 are configured to engage with the apertures 130 of the main portion 116 of another column member 114. Each of the engagement tabs 122 include a height h, and a thickness t2. Each of the apertures 130 generally include a vertical portion 134 defining a gap g1 and a horizontal portion 132 that is oriented transverse to the vertical portion 134 and that defines a gap g2. The gap g2 of the horizontal portion 132 may generally increase moving along the horizontal portion 132 toward the vertical portion 134. The gap g2 may be larger than the height h of the engagement tab 122, such that an engagement tab 122 may be inserted within the horizontal portion 132.
The gap g1 of the vertical portion 134 is larger than the thickness t2 of the engagement tab 122 such that, when installed to the vertical column 110, the engagement tab 122 may be positioned within the vertical portion 134 of the column member 114. In embodiments, each of the engagement tabs 122 may include an end tab 123 that extends outward from the engagement tab 122, such that when the engagement tab 122 is positioned within the vertical portion 134 of the column member 114, movement of the engagement tab 122 with respect to the aperture 130 is restricted in both the lateral and the longitudinal directions. In this manner, the engagement tabs 122 may selectively couple column members 114 to one another.
Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a front and a rear perspective view of a horizontal support 150 are schematically depicted, respectively. The horizontal supports 150 are configured to support the shelves 140 (FIG. 1) when installed to the shelf assembly 100. In some embodiments, the horizontal supports may define an aperture 168 that is configured to receive a center brace, as will be described in greater detail herein.
Referring collectively to FIGS. 8 and 9, an enlarged view of area 8 of the horizontal support 150 of FIG. 7A and a top view of a horizontal support 150 are depicted, respectively. The horizontal support 150 includes a pair of engagement tabs 152 positioned at the ends of the horizontal support 150 and that extend outward from the horizontal support 150. The engagement tabs 152 are configured to engage apertures 130 (FIG. 6) of the column members 114. As described above, as column members 114 include the plurality of apertures 130 (FIG. 3A) extending along the column members 114 in the vertical direction, the horizontal supports 150 may be selectively installed at different heights with respect to the column members 114 by positioning the engagement tabs 152 within different apertures 130. As a result, shelves 140 positioned on the horizontal supports 150 may likewise be selectively positioned at different heights with respect to the column members 114.
In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, the horizontal supports 150 include an upper engagement tab 151 and a lower engagement tab 153 that is positioned below the upper engagement tab 151. Similar to the engagement tabs 122 (FIG. 4) of the column member 114, in some embodiments, the engagement tabs 152 of the horizontal support 150 may be stamped into the horizontal support 150 and an opening 161 may be positioned behind the engagement tabs 152. In other embodiments, the engagement tabs 152 may be coupled to the horizontal support, such as by welding, brazing, or structural adhesives. While the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 depicts an upper engagement tab 151 and a lower engagement tab 153, it should be understood that the horizontal supports 150 may include any suitable number of engagement tabs configured to engage the apertures 130 of the column members 114 (FIG. 3A).
Referring to FIG. 10, a side view of the horizontal support 150 is depicted. The horizontal support 150 generally includes an upper portion 154 that extends in the vertical direction, a support portion 156 that extends horizontally outward from the upper portion 154, a truss portion 158 extending downward from the support portion 156, and a lower portion 160.
The upper portion 154 generally includes the upper engagement tab 151 and the lower portion 160 generally includes the lower engagement tab 153, and the upper portion 154 and the lower portion 160 are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction. The upper portion 154 and the lower portion 160 are generally co-planar with one another such that the upper engagement tab 151 and the lower engagement tab 153 may engage the apertures 130 (FIG. 6) of a column member 114. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper portion 154 and the lower portion 160 of the horizontal support 150 are aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction and are positioned directly above/below one another.
The support portion 156 extends inward from the upper portion 154 and is configured to support the shelf 140 (FIG. 1). When installed to the shelf assembly 100 (FIG. 1), the support portion 156 is generally oriented in a horizontal direction, such that the shelf 140 (FIG. 1) may sit on the support portion 156 in the vertical direction. In embodiments, the shelves 140 (FIG. 1) may rest on the support portions 156 and may not be coupled to the horizontal supports 150. In other embodiments, the shelves 140 may be coupled to the horizontal supports 150. The support portion 156 extends inward towards an inward edge 157, where the horizontal support 150 transitions between the support portion 156 and the truss portion 158.
The truss portion 158 of the horizontal support 150 extends outward and downward from the inward edge 157 of the support portion 156 toward the lower portion 160 of the horizontal support 150. While the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 depicts the lower portion 160 of the horizontal support 150 as extending upward from the truss portion 158, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the lower portion 160 may extend downward from the truss portion 158. Additionally, while in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the upper portion 154, the support portion 156, the truss portion 158, and the lower portion 160 are depicted as being integral with one another, it should be understood that the upper portion 154, the support portion 156, the truss portion 158, and the lower portion 160 may include separate or separable components that are coupled to one another.
Referring collectively to FIGS. 1 and 10, when the shelving assembly 100 is assembled, the shelves 140, as well as any objects stored on the shelves 140, apply a downward force to the vertical columns 110 through the horizontal supports 150. In particular, the weight of the shelf 140, and any objects being stored on the shelf 140, is applied to the horizontal supports 150 through engagement between the support portion 156 of the horizontal support 150 and the shelf 140. The downward force applied to the support portion 156 is applied to the vertical column 110 through engagement between the apertures 130 of the vertical column 110 and the upper engagement tab 151, which is connected to the support portion 156 through the upper portion 154 of the horizontal support 150, as well as the lower engagement tab 153, which is connected to the support portion 156 through the lower portion 160 and the truss portion 158.
As the truss portion 158 extends outward and downward from the inward edge 157 of the support portion 156, the truss portion 158 may transfer downward forces applied to the inward edge 157 of the support portion 156 to the lower engagement tab 153 through the lower portion 160 of the horizontal support 150. By transferring downward forces applied to the inward edge 157 to the lower engagement tab 153, the horizontal support 150 may support relatively higher weights as compared to configurations in which the support portion is cantilevered inward to support a shelf.
In particular and without being bound by theory, as the inward edge 157 of the support portion 156 is spaced apart from the engagement tabs 152, downward forces applied at the inward edge 157 would apply a moment evaluated at the engagement tabs 152 in configurations in which the support portion were cantilevered. As the truss portion 158 extends outward from the inward edge 157 to the lower portion 160 (which includes the lower engagement tab 153), downward forces applied to the inward edge 157 may be transmitted through the truss portion 158 to the lower engagement tab 153, thereby reducing the moment evaluated at the engagement tabs 152. In this way, by including a truss portion 158 extending between the inward edge 157 and the lower portion 160, the horizontal supports 150 may sustain greater downward forces as compared to a horizontal supports that do not include a truss portion 158.
Referring collectively to FIGS. 1 and 11, in some embodiments, the shelving assembly 100 may include a center brace 170 extending between opposing horizontal supports 150. The center brace 170 may be selectively inserted into the aperture 168 (FIG. 7B) of the horizontal support 150 and may assist in distributing downward forces applied to the shelf 140 to the horizontal supports 150. In some embodiments, the aperture 168 (FIG. 7B) of the horizontal support 150 is centrally located along the horizontal support 150, such that center brace 170, when installed, may support a center section of the shelves 140 that is spaced apart from the horizontal supports 150. In this way, the center brace 170 may assist in distributing downward forces applied to the center section of the shelves 140 to the horizontal supports 150.
Referring to FIG. 12, a partially assembled shelving assembly 100 is depicted. As depicted in FIG. 12, horizontal supports 150 and shelves 140 are assembled to the column members 114, however, the column members 114 are not assembled to one another at the coupling portions 120 of the column members 114 to form the vertical columns 110 (FIG. 1). In this way, the shelving assemblies 100 may be modularly assembled to different heights based on the number of column members 114 that are vertically coupled to one another.
Referring to FIG. 13, a disassembled shelving assembly 100 is depicted. In some embodiments, the column members 114 and the shelves 140 may each have a length L, which may allow for the column members 114 and the horizontal supports 150 to be positioned within a footprint of the shelves 140. By positioning the horizontal supports 150 and the column members 114 within the footprint of the shelves 140, the size of the shelving assembly 100 in a disassembled configuration may be minimized, which may allow for easy handling during shipping, thereby reducing shipping costs.
II. Conclusion
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Patent Application
20200253374
