Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6814245
-
Patent Number
6,814,245
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, October 9, 200221 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 9, 200419 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 211 187
- 211 186
- 211 135
- 108 107
- 108 109
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The hybrid shelving unit comprises first and second spaced-apart end frame portions, an intermediate frame portion located spacedly between the first and second end frame portions, a first spacer element attached to the first end frame portion and linking the first end frame portion and the intermediate frame portion, a second spacer element different from the first spacer element, attached to the second end frame portion and linking the second end frame portion and the intermediate frame portion, first brackets attaching the first spacer element to the intermediate frame portion, second brackets different from the first brackets and attaching the second spacer element to the intermediate frame portion, first shelves located and supported between the first end frame portion and the intermediate frame portion, and second shelves located and supported between the second end frame portion and the intermediate frame portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to shelving units, and more particularly to a hybrid shelving unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known shelving units include a ground-resting frame comprising a number of upright posts which are linked to one another by means of crossbars. The upright posts are provided with slots spaced apart therealong. The crossbars releasably engage these slots to link the posts with fingers provided on the crossbars. Shelves in the form of platforms are provided between the posts, with the shelves either engaging the slots of the posts directly by means of fingers provided on the shelves, or with the shelves resting on crossbars with the latter having fingers engaging the slots of the posts. The problem with such conventional shelving units is that a single attachment means in the form of the co-operating fingers and slots, are provided on the shelving units, thus providing limited versatility to the shelving units.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hybrid shelving unit comprising:
first and second spaced-apart end frame portions;
an intermediate frame portion located spacedly between said first and second end frame portions;
a first spacer element attached to said first end frame portion and linking said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion;
a second spacer element different from said first spacer element, attached to said second end frame portion and linking said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion;
first attachment means, attaching said first spacer element to said intermediate frame portion;
second attachment means different from said first attachment means and attaching said second spacer element to said intermediate frame portion; and
first shelves located and supported between said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion, and second shelves located and supported between said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion.
In one embodiment, said first attachment means comprises a first set of slots provided on said intermediate frame portion and at least one first bracket co-operating with and engaging said first set of slots, each one of said at least one first bracket being attached to said first spacer element.
In one embodiment, said second attachment means comprises a second set of slots provided on said intermediate frame portion and at least one second bracket co-operating with and engaging said second set of slots, said at least one second bracket being attached to said second spacer element.
In one embodiment, said first spacer element is a hinged brace comprising a pair of rods hinged at an intermediate portion thereof, each rod of said pair of rods having a first extremity attached to said first end frame portion and a second extremity equipped with a said first bracket.
In one embodiment, said intermediate frame portion comprises four parallel posts integrally linked by pairs, with each said pair of posts comprising a first and a second post each provided with first slots forming said first set of slots and second slots forming said second set of slots, said first posts of each said pair of posts being adjacent and attached to each other by said first brackets which engage said first slots in said first posts.
In one embodiment, said first end frame portion comprises slots, and wherein said first extremity of said brace rods are equipped with third brackets similar to said first brackets which engage said first end frame portion slots.
In one embodiment, said posts forming each said pair of posts of said intermediate frame portion are spaced-apart by means of crossbars which engage said second slots on each said post of said pair of posts.
In one embodiment, said second bracket engages the same slots as at least one crossbar which spaces-apart the first and second posts of at least one of said pairs of posts of said intermediate frame portion.
In one embodiment, said first shelves are supported between said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion by means of a number of lugs which each either co-operate with and engage said first set of slots in said intermediate frame portion or which are supported by said first end frame portion.
In one embodiment, said second spacer element comprises a number of struts extending between said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion, said struts each defining a first extremity attached to said second end frame portion and a second extremity opposite said first extremity and equipped with one said second bracket.
In one embodiment, each said second bracket is generally L-shaped and comprises an abutment plate abutting against said second frame portion and integrally attached to said strut, a linking plate attached to said abutment plate and at least one finger carried by said linking plate and co-operating with and engaging said second set of slots.
In one embodiment, each said strut is equipped at its first extremity with a fourth bracket similar to said second bracket, with said second end frame portion being provided with slots co-operating with and engaged by said fourth brackets to support said struts.
In one embodiment, each one of said second shelves is supported by a pair of spaced-apart, horizontally coplanar struts located and supported between said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion.
In one embodiment, each said pair of spaced-apart, side-by-side struts is linked by transverse reinforcement bars.
In one embodiment, said intermediate frame portion comprises a number of parallel posts each defining a polygonal cross-section and each consequently defining a number of longitudinal surfaces, each said post having first slots forming said first set of slots and second slots forming said second set of slots, with said first and second slots being provided on respective longitudinal surfaces.
In one embodiment, said second spacer element is a wall member having a first edge attached to said second end frame portion and a second edge opposite said first edge and equipped with at least one said second bracket.
In one embodiment, said intermediate frame portion comprises a number of parallel posts each defining a polygonal cross-section and each consequently defining a number of longitudinal surfaces, each said post having first slots forming said first set of slots and second slots forming said second set of slots, with said first and second slots being provided on respective longitudinal surfaces, at least two said posts being linked by means of at least one crossbar having at least one finger co-operating with and engaging a said second slot, said at least one finger of one of said struts co-operating with and engaging said second slot which is engaged by said at least one finger of said crossbar.
The invention also relates to a shelf assembly comprising:
a first end frame portion comprising two pairs of posts each defining first and second spaced-apart posts integrally linked by means of crossbars;
a second end frame portion spaced from said first end frame portion, said second end frame portion comprising a pair of spaced-apart posts linked by crossbars;
an intermediate frame portion located spacedly between said first and second end frame portions and comprising two pairs posts each defining first and second spaced-apart posts integrally linked by means of crossbars;
first and second sets of slots provided on said posts forming said first, second and intermediate frame portions, each said post having a polygonal cross-section and consequently defining a number of longitudinal surfaces, with said first and second set of slots being provided on respective longitudinal surfaces of said posts;
a first spacer element having a first extremity equipped with first bracket means that co-operate with and engage said first set of slots of said first posts of said first end frame portion thus integrally and releasably linking said two pairs of posts of said first end frame portion, and a second extremity equipped with second bracket means that co-operate with and engaged said first set of slots of said first posts of said intermediate frame portion thus integrally and releasably linking said two pairs of posts of said intermediate frame portion, said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion being integrally and releasably linked by said first spacer element;
a number of spacer struts having a first extremity equipped with third bracket means that co-operate with and engage said second set of slots of said posts of said second end frame portion, and a second extremity equipped with fourth bracket means that co-operate with and engage said second set of slots of said second posts of said intermediate frame portion, said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion being integrally and releasably linked by said second spacer struts;
first shelves located and supported between said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion; and
second shelves located and supported between said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion.
The invention further relates to a strut for a shelving unit comprising an elongated main body defining first and second opposite ends, a bracket at each said first and second ends comprising an abutment plate integrally attached to said main body, a linking plate angularly integrally attached to said abutment plate and fingers integrally attached to said linking plate and protruding therefrom, said fingers being destined to engage slots provided on a polygonal post in the shelving unit with the slots of the shelving unit being provided on a first surface of the post, and with the abutment plate being destined to abut against a second surface of the polygonal post.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the annexed drawings:
FIG. 1
is a top front perspective view of the hybrid shelving unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with the first shelf assembly portion of the shelving unit being devoid of shelves and equipped with a single shelf separator;
FIG. 2
is a bottom rear perspective view of the hybrid shelving unit of
FIG. 1
, with the first shelf assembly portion being provided with a single pair of side-by-side shelves and a shelf separator, and with a side panel being provided along the first end frame portion of the shelving unit;
FIG. 3
is an enlarged perspective view of area III of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is an enlarged perspective view of a crossbar forming the frame portions of the shelving unit of
FIGS. 1 and 2
;
FIG. 5
is an enlarged perspective view of area V of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 6
is an enlarged perspective view of a strut of the shelving unit of
FIGS. 1 and 2
;
FIG. 7
is an enlarged perspective view of area VII of
FIG. 6
;
FIG. 8
is an enlarged perspective view of area VIII of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 9
is a perspective view similar to
FIG. 8
, but taken at a different angle to show more particularly the engagement of the strut bracket fingers and the crossbar fingers into the second set of slots of the frame post;
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a shelving unit of the invention; and
FIG. 11
is an enlarged perspective view of area XI of FIG.
10
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 and 2
show a shelving unit or shelf assembly
20
according to the present invention, which comprises two shelf assembly portions
20
a
,
20
b
. Shelving unit
20
comprises three spaced-apart upright frame portions, namely a first end frame portion
22
, an intermediate frame portion
24
and a second end frame portion
26
, frame portions
22
,
24
,
26
being linked to each other in a manner described hereinafter. The first shelf assembly portion
20
a
is defined between first end frame portion
22
and intermediate frame portion
24
, and the second shelf assembly portion
20
b
is defined between second end frame portion
26
and intermediate frame portion
24
. Shelf assembly portions
20
a
,
20
b
commonly share the intermediate frame portion
24
.
Frame portions
22
,
24
,
26
are each formed with posts generally referred to by numeral
28
. More particularly, first end frame portion
22
is formed of four posts
28
a
,
28
b
,
28
c
,
28
d
, intermediate frame portion is formed of four posts
28
e
,
28
f
,
28
g
,
28
h
, and second end frame portion is formed of two posts
28
i
,
28
j
. All posts
28
, for example post
28
c
shown in
FIG. 3
, are of a same design, namely they are of rectangular cross-section and thus define four longitudinal surfaces generally referred to by numeral
30
: a first surface
30
a
devoid of any slots; second and third surfaces
30
b
and
30
c
in facing register with each other and both provided with a similar first set of slots
32
; and a fourth surface
30
d
in facing register with the first surface
30
a
and provided with a second set of slots
34
. As shown, each one of the first and second set of slots
32
,
34
comprises slots which are equally spaced along its corresponding surface
30
, but which have a different spacing interval than that of the other set of slots
34
,
32
. More specifically, the first set of slots
32
comprises a single row of slots along each surface
30
b
,
30
c
, with the slots
32
being slightly larger than those of the second set of slots
34
, the latter comprising two parallel rows of slots along surface
30
d
. The successive slots
32
are closer to each other than the successive slots
34
. According to one embodiment, visual markers
36
in the form of a small indentations can be provided at regular intervals on the slots of the set of slots
32
,
34
to facilitate visual reference when assembling the shelving unit
20
.
FIGS. 1
to
3
show that first end frame portion
22
and intermediate end frame portion
24
are both formed by assembling posts
28
by pairs, through the instrumentality of upper and lower crossbars
38
which, as further shown in
FIG. 4
, comprise fingers
40
sized and shaped to co-operate with and hookingly engage selected slots of the two rows of slots
34
of the fourth surfaces
30
d
of the two posts
28
of a pair of posts which are installed in facing register with each other (see also FIG.
9
). First end frame portion
22
and intermediate frame portion
24
are furthermore spacedly assembled by means of a first spacer element in the form of a hinged brace
42
comprising two rods
44
,
46
hinged at their central portion, with the two extremities of each rod
44
,
46
being provided with three-fingered brackets
48
which engage slots of the first set of slots
32
of two side-by-side posts
28
which are part of different pairs of posts. Consequently, not only does brace
42
link first end frame portion
22
and intermediate frame portion
24
, but also the brace brackets
48
link the two pairs of posts
28
,
28
together in each frame portion
22
,
24
, as shown in FIG.
3
. To facilitate the installation of brackets
48
, they are pivotally installed at the extremities of rods
44
,
46
. Furthermore, to fixedly and releasably secure brackets
48
to posts
28
, an optional bolt
50
extends through brackets
48
and a slot
32
of one post
28
.
FIG. 2
shows that a side panel
52
can optionally be installed alongside first end frame portion
22
. Side panel
52
is fixedly and releasably attached at the top and bottom ends of first end frame portion
22
, for example by being bolted to crossbars
38
.
First shelves
54
are located and supported between first end frame portion
22
and intermediate frame portion
24
. More specifically, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 5
, first shelves
54
are supported by means of lugs
56
which each engage one of the slots of the first set of slots
32
. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, two elongated shelves
54
are installed side-by-side in a same horizontal plane, with each shelf
54
occupying half the depth of shelving unit
20
. A vertically extending separator panel
58
, equipped with fingers (not shown) at its extremities that co-operate with and hookingly engage slots of the first set of slots
32
, can also optionally be installed between shelves
54
. Shelves
54
can include integral side panels
60
, as shown.
Although only two shelves
54
are shown in the drawings, it is understood that any suitable number of vertically spaced-apart first shelves
54
could be provided in the first shelf assembly portion
20
a
. Also, a single first shelf occupying the full depth of shelving unit
20
could replace the pair of shelves
54
.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, second end frame portion
26
comprises a single pair of posts
28
, linked by means of upper and lower crossbars
62
which are similar to crossbars
38
but which are longer. Crossbars
62
are also equipped with fingers at their extremities which co-operate with and engage the slots of the second set of slots
34
of posts
28
i
,
28
j.
As shown in
FIGS. 1
,
2
,
6
and
7
, a second spacer element in the form of a number of struts
64
is installed between the second end frame portion
26
and intermediate frame portion
24
. Each strut
64
is provided at both its extremities with a strut bracket
66
which comprises an abutment plate
68
that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated strut
64
, a linking plate
70
perpendicular to abutment plate
68
, and a pair of fingers
72
perpendicular to linking plate
70
. Each strut
64
can be releasably attached to frame portions
24
,
26
, for example to frame post
28
h
of intermediate frame portion
24
as further shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9
, by inserting the fingers
72
into the slots of the second set of slots
34
of post
28
h
. More particularly, the abutment plate
68
of strut bracket
66
abuts against the surface
30
c
of post
28
h
which is in facing register with second end frame portion
26
, and the elbow formed by abutment plate
68
and linking plate
70
allows fingers
72
to engage two slots of the second set of slots
34
which is located on the side surface
30
d
of post
28
h
. Thus, two same slots of the second set of slots
34
are engaged both by fingers
40
of crossbar
38
and by fingers
72
of strut bracket
66
(FIG.
9
).
Optional reinforcement bars
74
may be transversely installed between and fixed to two spaced-apart, horizontally coplanar struts
64
.
Second shelves
76
are located and supported between second end frame portion
26
and intermediate frame portion
24
. More particularly, second shelves
76
are each supported by a pair of horizontally coplanar struts
64
(FIG.
2
), and also by the reinforcement bars
74
. Second shelves
76
extend for the full depth of shelving unit
20
, and may include integral side panels
78
and separator panels
80
.
Four base frame bars
82
may also be fixedly attached in a known manner between frame portions
22
,
24
and
24
,
26
. Reinforcement bars
74
may be installed between base frame bars
82
.
FIG. 10
shows a second embodiment of a shelving unit
100
′ according to the present invention, in which all numerals are primed to differentiate them from those of the first embodiment. Similar elements in the second embodiment have a same numeral, although primed. Shelving unit
100
′ is similar to that of the first embodiment of the shelving unit
20
, but comprises a different second spacer element in the form of a panel
102
′ instead of struts
64
. Also, second end frame portion
26
′ comprises four posts
28
′ linked by pairs with crossbars
38
′. As shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11
, panel
102
′ is attached to intermediate frame portion
24
′ and to second end frame portion
26
′ by means of brackets
48
′ which also have the purpose of linking the pairs of posts by engaging slots of the first sets of slots
32
′ of two adjacent posts
28
′ which are part of respective adjacent pairs of posts.
Also, the second embodiment of the shelving unit
102
′ comprises a first end frame portion
22
′ having a single pair of posts
28
′ which are linked by crossbars
38
′, although it is understood that two pairs of posts
28
′ could also be provided. The brace
42
′ is provided on a post
28
e
′ of intermediate frame portion
24
′ which is not centrally located. Indeed, the brackets
48
′ of panel
102
′ already link the pairs of posts
28
′ of intermediate frame portion
24
′, and consequently brace
42
′ can be installed on any post
28
′ of intermediate frame portion
24
′. Brackets
104
′ having a single or a pair of fingers are used to releasably attach brace
42
′ to first end frame portion
22
′ and to intermediate end frame portion
24
′.
Claims
- 1. A hybrid shelving unit comprising:first and second spaced-apart end frame portions; an intermediate frame portion located spacedly between said first and second end frame portions; a first spacer element attached to said first end frame portion and linking said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion; a second spacer element different from said first spacer element, attached to said second end frame portion and linking said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion; first attachment means, attaching said first spacer element to said intermediate frame portion and comprising a first set of slots provided on said intermediate frame portion and at least one first bracket co-operating with and engaging said first set of slots, each one of said at least one first bracket being attached to said first spacer element second attachment means different from said first attachment means and attaching said second spacer element to said intermediate frame portion, said second attachment means comprising a second set of slots provided on said intermediate frame portion and at least one second bracket co-operating with and engaging said second set of slots, said at least one second bracket being attached to said second spacer element; and first shelves located and supported between said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion, and second shelves located and supported between said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion; wherein said first spacer element is a hinged brace comprising a pair of rods hinged at an intermediate portion thereof, each rod of said pair of rods having a first extremity attached to said first end frame portion and a second extremity equipped with a said first bracket.
- 2. A shelving unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said intermediate frame portion comprises four parallel posts integrally linked by pairs, with each said pair of posts comprising a first and a second post each provided with first slots forming said first set of slots and second slots forming said second set of slots, said first posts of each said pair of posts being adjacent and attached to each other by said first brackets which engage said first slots in said first posts.
- 3. A shelving unit as defined in claim 2, wherein said first end frame portion comprises slots, and wherein said first extremity of said brace rods are equipped with third brackets similar to said first brackets which engage said first end frame portion slots.
- 4. A shelving unit as defined in claim 2, wherein said posts forming each said pair of posts of said intermediate frame portion are spaced-apart by means of crossbars which engage said second slots on each said post of said pair of posts.
- 5. A shelving unit as defined in claim 4, wherein said second bracket engages the same slots as at least one crossbar which spaces-apart the first and second posts of at least one of said pairs of posts of said intermediate frame portion.
- 6. A shelving unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first shelves are supported between said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion by means of a number of lugs which each either co-operate with and engage said first set of slots in said intermediate frame portion or which are supported by said first end frame portion.
- 7. A shelving unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said second spacer element comprises a number of struts extending between said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion, said struts each defining a first extremity attached to said second end frame portion and a second extremity opposite said first extremity and equipped with one said second bracket.
- 8. A shelving unit as defined in claim 7, wherein each said second bracket is generally L-shaped and comprises and abutment plate abutting against said second frame portion and integrally attached to said strut, a linking plate attached to said abutment plate and at least one finger carried by said linking plate and co-operating with and engaging said second set of slots.
- 9. A shelving unit as defined in claim 8, wherein each said strut is equipped at its first extremity with a fourth bracket similar to said second bracket, with said second end frame portion being provided with slots co-operating with and engaged by said fourth brackets to support said struts.
- 10. A shelving unit as defined in claim 8, wherein each one of said second shelves is supported by a pair of spaced-apart, horizontally coplanar struts located and supported between said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion.
- 11. A shelving unit as defined in claim 10, wherein each said pair of spaced-apart, side-by-side struts is linked by transverse reinforcement bars.
- 12. A shelving unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said intermediate frame portion comprises a number of parallel posts each defining a polygonal cross-section and each consequently defining a number of longitudinal surfaces, each said post having first slots forming said first set of slots and second slots forming said second set of slots, with said first and second slots being provided on respective longitudinal surfaces.
- 13. A shelving unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said second spacer element is a wall member having a first edge attached to said second end frame portion and a second edge opposite said first edge and equipped with at least one said second bracket.
- 14. A shelving unit as defined in claim 8, wherein said intermediate frame portion comprises a number of parallel posts each defining a polygonal cross-section and each consequently defining a number of longitudinal surfaces, each said post having first slots forming said first set of slots and second slots forming said second set of slots, with said first and second slots being provided on respective longitudinal surfaces, at least two said posts being linked by means of at least one crossbar having at least one finger co-operating with and engaging a said second slot, said at least one finger of one of said struts co-operating with and engaging said second slot which is engaged by said at least one finger of said crossbar.
- 15. A shelf assembly comprising:a first end frame portion comprising two pairs of posts each defining first and second spaced-apart posts integrally linked by means of crossbars; a second end frame portion spaced from said first end frame portion, said second end frame portion comprising a pair of spaced-apart posts linked by crossbars; an intermediate frame portion located spacedly between said first and second end frame portions and comprising two pairs posts each defining first and second spaced-apart posts integrally linked by means of crossbars; first and second sets of slots provided on said posts forming said first, second and intermediate frame portions, each said post having a polygonal cross-section and consequently defining a number of longitudinal surfaces, with said first and second set of slots being provided on respective longitudinal surfaces of said posts; a first spacer element having a first extremity equipped with first bracket means that co-operate with and engage said first set of slots of said first posts of said first end frame portion thus integrally and releasably linking said two pairs of posts of said first end frame portion, and a second extremity equipped with second bracket means that co-operate with and engage said first set of slots of said first posts of said intermediate frame portion thus integrally and releasably linking said two pairs of posts of said intermediate frame portion, said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion being integrally and releasably linked by said first spacer element; a number of spacer struts having a first extremity equipped with third bracket means that co-operate with and engage said second set of slots of said posts of said second end frame portion, and a second extremity equipped with fourth bracket means that co-operate with and engage said second set of slots of said second posts of said intermediate frame portion, said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion being integrally and releasably linked by said second spacer struts; first shelves located and supported between said first end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion; and second shelves located and supported between said second end frame portion and said intermediate frame portion.
US Referenced Citations (18)