Patent Application
20170065078
The present invention relates generally to a support structure that can be used to support shelving or other elements for carrying or supporting any desired item. More particularly, the present invention relates to a support assembly for use in, for example, a knock-down shelving system to adjustably support shelves.
Current knock-down shelving systems include a plurality of support posts for supporting one or more shelves at corner support assemblies thereof. These shelving systems have a sleeve or wedge member and an encircling collar both adapted to be secured to a generally cylindrical support post having a circular cross-section. The sleeve has an inner surface that is configured to embrace the support post and has an outer surface that is wedge shaped usually taking the form of a frusto-conical shape with a narrower diameter at the top and a larger diameter at the bottom. The collar has an outer surface that is secured to a shelf. The collar has an internal wedge surface formed to mate with the frusto-conical wedge surface of the sleeve but either inclined in the opposing direction or having a smaller upper opening which does not allow passage of the sleeve on the post. Thus, when the sleeve embraces the post and the collar embraces the sleeve, axial loading of the collar in one direction causes the collar's inward facing wedge surface to mate with the outward facing wedge surface on the sleeve, thereby urging the sleeve toward the post. Since the collar is restrained from radial expansion and has a fixed diameter, and since relative movement of the inclined surfaces of the sleeve and the collar want to increase in diameter as they move relative to one another in axially opposing directions, the non-expandable outer collar forces the sleeve inward and clamps the sleeve against the post and wedges the collar and sleeve into place on the post.
Such shelving systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,424,111 and 3,523,508, which use a plurality of cylindrical support posts each formed with a series of equally spaced, annular grooves on its outer surface. A basic shelving system includes four such posts to support one or more formed-wire shelves, with each shelf having a frusto-conically-shaped collar at each corner for receiving a support post. A two-piece interlocking sleeve fits around the support post. The sleeve has a circumferential rib on its interior surface for engaging one of the grooves on the support post and has a frusto-conically-shaped outer surface, which is widest at the bottom, designed to complement the shape of the shelf collars. The support posts fitted with sleeves are received in the collars of each shelf to assemble the shelving system. When assembled, the weight of the shelf and any items placed on the shelf pushes downward on the collar and sleeve, creating a radially-inwardly directed wedging force between the collars and sleeves, which brings the sleeves into tight contact with the posts. Similar wedging concepts are used in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,811,670; 4,946,350; 5,271,337; 5,279,231 and 6,113,042. Some of these devices use over-center cams to ensure the collars are locked in place.
Further, the above described collars have a fixed diameter and thus pass along the length of the post until they reach the sleeve with which they wedge against the post. That requires assembling the shelving from the bottom up or the top down since the collars cannot be positioned between two previously installed shelves. Further, a shelf cannot be inserted between pre-installed shelves since the collars cannot slide over previously installed sleeves or collars. Because the collars in these prior art connectors were tubular they had to be slid axially over one end of the post in order to mate with the sleeve and wedge the parts in place. To address this difficulty collars which encircles less than a full 360 degrees were developed, with some collars having open vertical slots like U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,302,284 and 6,257,426, and other collars mating with sleeves or other parts along generally vertical axes, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,068,143 and 4,656,952. But the open slotted collars provide a weak connection because sufficient weight on the shelf and collar will spread the unconnected parts of the collar apart in the circumferential direction, releasing the support. The collars mating with shaped sleeves required more expensive and stronger sleeves. The collars using vertical joints require precise alignment of the vertical joints making them difficult to align and assemble.
Still other connectors placed brackets on the outer, metal collars with the shelving rods engaging the brackets, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,015,052 and 6,253,687. These collars required assembling the shelving from the bottom up since the collars cannot be positioned between two previously installed shelves. Further, a shelf cannot be inserted between pre-installed shelves since the collars cannot slide over previously installed sleeves or collars. Because the collars in these prior art connectors were tubular they had to be slid axially over one end of the post in order to mate with the sleeve and wedge the parts in place. There is thus a need for a connector that can allow shelves to be inserted between existing shelves.
Despite the long use of these above-described shelving systems, a need exists for an improved connector and shelving system, especially one easier to assemble and more flexible in its assembly. There is thus a need for an improved shelving connector that may be installed without having to slide the connector along the entire length of the post to the desired shelving position and that may be easily installed.
Further, during shipment or movement of disassembled shelving systems, parts may become lost. Likewise, confusion may arise in combining the correct parts for use. There is thus a need for a way to connect together parts that will be used together when the shelf assembly is being shipped, assembled or disassembled.
A sleeve for a shelving unit has two halves joined together to form two support tabs extending outward from opposing sides of the sleeve as the sleeve clamps around a post having grooves into which a rib on the sleeve fits to hold the parts relative to the post. The support tabs have a retaining flange offset from the sleeve. A first collar part fastened to a shelf fits over half the sleeve and fits into that offset so that a slot in the first collar part fits over one of the support tabs to clamp them to the post and support the first collar part and shelf. The retaining flange keeps the collar part from moving off the support tab. A second collar part with a second slot may fit over the other support tabs to support a second shelf or to further clamp the sleeve to the post. The support tabs may be hinged together by a recessed hinge that does not extend beyond the surface of the hinged parts and that does not interfere with the mating of the collar to the sleeve.
A compression lock is provided on a connector for a shelving post having a longitudinal axis. An inner sleeve has two interlocking parts, each of which is tapered to form a frusto-conical shaped sleeve when assembled. At least one rib extends inward from each part to fit into one of several corresponding grooves spaced at intervals along the length of the post. The sleeves each have at least one outward extending tab from which extends an axially aligned retaining flange such that the tabs offset their retaining flanges from the outward facing surface of the sleeve. There are preferably two tabs and retaining flanges on opposing sides, generally vertical sides of each sleeve so the tabs and retaining flanges of each sleeve abut and form two outward extending tabs and two retaining flanges on opposing sides of the sleeve. A tapered collar part connected to a corner of a shelf fits over at least part of the sleeve with the taper wedging the sleeve toward the post. The collar part has a slot opening onto the bottom periphery of the collar part with a closed interior end. The slot is sized and located to fit over one pair of the abutting tabs and the collar part containing that slot fits between the retaining flanges and the sleeve so the collar part and shelf rest upon the abutting pair of tabs engaged by the collar part, with the retaining flange keeping the collar part from moving away from the sleeve and post. Another shelving unit and collar part may be placed on the another pair of abutting tabs on the collar part, or a retaining flange may be placed on any free pair of abutting tabs in order to lock them together and keep them and the associated parts of the sleeve from splaying. Interlocking means on the collar parts releasably engage to hold the collar parts together and prevent lateral separation.
One interlocking means comprises outwardly extending flanges on one collar part being received in a second collar part, preferably with the male flanges received in a U-shaped groove of the second collar part to engage along a length of the male flange and prevent lateral separation. A second interlocking means comprises slotted tabs on each collar part where the juncture of an outwardly extending tab has a slot extending along a length of the juncture so the slots of one collar part fit over the juncture of a mating collar part to interlock the collar parts with the mating flanges restraining lateral separation. In addition to preventing lateral separation, the mating flanges restrain rotation about two axes when one of the collar parts is fixe to a shelf or through the cooperation of the post.
There is advantageously provided an interlocking collar for use with a sleeve having a frusto-conical outer surface encircling a post having an outer surface with grooves at intervals along a length of the post. A rib on the sleeve mates with one of the grooves. The collar part is configured to wedge the sleeve against the post during use in order to position the sleeve and collar part along a length of the post. The interlocking collar include an annular collar having first and second separable and interlocking collar parts defining a frusto-conical interior passage extending along a longitudinal axis when joined together. The passage is sized to engage the outer surface of the sleeve during use. Each collar part extends about half way around the longitudinal axis and is preferably semi-circular in shape. Each collar part has a top and bottom with the bottom forming a larger diameter of the conical interior passage. A closed ended slot extends through each collar part and extends along the longitudinal axis and opens onto the bottom of each collar part and is configured to engage a pair of the outwardly extending tabs on the sleeve when the tabs abut each other. Interlocking means on each of the first and second collar parts are provided for preventing lateral separation of those interlocked collar parts in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis during use.
In one variation the interlocking means comprises a male flange having opposing sides and extending outward from each of two opposing sides of the first collar part and extending along a substantial length of each collar part measured along the longitudinal axis. Each male flange may have a thickness T between opposing sides of the flange and extend outward a distance between about 3T and 10T. The corresponding female channel extends outward from each of two opposing sides of the second collar part and extends along a substantial length of the second collar part measured along the longitudinal axis. Each female channel has an open bottom configured to slidably receive one of the male flanges during use, with each female channel extending along opposing sides of a different one of the male flanges during use.
In further variations of this interlocking collar, each male flange has a trapezoidal shape. The first collar part may be connected to a shelf, or the second collar part may be connected to a shelf. The male flange extends generally radially outward.
In a further variation, the interlocking means comprises a first collar part having a top end and bottom end with a distance H1 between the ends measured along the longitudinal axis, the bottom end forming a larger diameter portion of the frusto-conical passage. The first collar part has two first flanges each forming a first juncture with a curved portion of the first collar part as each first flange extends outward from diametrically opposing side of that curved portion of the first collar part. The first flanges may extend a distance from the outside of the curved portion between about 3 and 10 times a thickness of the first flange. The first collar part has two, first closed ended slots extending through a thickness of the first collar along a length of the first juncture and opening onto the top end to define two first flanges each having a free upper end separated from an upper portion of the first collar part and each having a lower end joined to a lower portion of the first collar part along the first juncture during use. The first collar part has a third closed ended slot extending from the bottom end along the longitudinal axis and opening onto the bottom end with the third slot located at about the middle of the curved portion of the first collar part. The third slot is configured to engage a pair of the outwardly extending tables of the sleeve during use and hold them together. This further variation has a second collar part having a top end and bottom end with a distance H2 between the ends measured along the longitudinal axis. The top end forms a smaller diameter portion of the frusto-conical passage. the first collar part has two second flanges each forming a second juncture with a curved portion of the second collar part as each second flange extends outward from diametrically opposing side of that curved portion of the second collar part. The second flanges extends a distance from the outside of the curved portion between about 3 and 10 times a thickness of the second flange/The second collar part has two, second closed ended slots extending through a thickness of the second collar along a length of the second juncture and opening onto the top end to define two second flanges each having a free lower end separated from a lower portion of the second collar part and each having an upper end joined to an upper portion of the second collar part along the second juncture during use. The second collar part has a third closed ended slot extending from the bottom end along the longitudinal axis and opening onto the bottom end of the second collar part. The third slot is located at about the middle of the curved portion of the second collar part and configured to engage two of the outward extending tabs on the sleeve to hold those tabs together. Each first slot is sized to receive a different second juncture and each second slot is sized to receive a different first juncture when the first and second collar parts are engaged by relative movement along the longitudinal axis. Each third slot is sized to engage a different pair of outwardly extending tab on the sleeve during use.
In still further variations, each first flange is generally parallel to a top portion of the second collar part and each second flange is generally parallel to a bottom portion of the first collar part when the first and second collar parts are engaged. Advantageously, wherein H1 and H2 are about the same. The length of the first slots are each about half of H1 and the length of each second slots are about half of H2. Moreover, the first and second collar parts may have a substantially uniform thickness and the first and second flanges may have a side inclined to the longitudinal axis and in a plane with that axis.
There is also advantageously provided a kit for a shelving unit having at least two, generally horizontal shelves connected to at least three generally vertical posts. The kit may include at least three posts each having a longitudinal axis and a cylindrical cross-section along the portion of a length of the posts at which the shelves are to be connected. Each post may have a plurality of grooves therein at predetermined locations which grooves are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The kit has at least six sleeves each having a cylindrical interior surface with at least one inwardly extending rib. The cylindrical surface is configured to abut the post and encircle the longitudinal axis during use with the rib configured and located to fit in one of the grooves in the post during use. Each sleeve has a frusto-conical exterior surface and each sleeve further has first and second support tabs extending radially outward from a bottom portion of opposing sides of each sleeve a short distance. Each first and second support tab has an upwardly extending retaining flange extending along an exterior surface of the sleeve and offset therefrom by the support tab from which the retaining flange extends.
The kit also has at least two shelves with each shelf having at least three first-collar parts located around a periphery of the shelf and facing outward from the shelf. Each first-collar part has a frusto-conical interior surface smaller at the top and wider at the bottom and extending around an arc of about 180° along a first-collar part axis which coincides with the longitudinal axis during use. Each first-collar part has a first slot therein extending parallel to the first-collar part axis. Each first slot has a closed end and two opposing sides opening onto a bottom of the first-collar part in which the first slot is located. Each first-collar part and its first slot are sized so the first-collar part fits between one of the retaining flanges and exterior surface of the sleeve while the sides of the first slot fit on opposing sides of one of the first support tabs from which the retaining flange extends. The first slot and first support tab are configured so that the first slot fits snuggly over the first support tab.
The kit also has at least six second-collar parts each having a frusto-conical interior surface that is smaller at the top and wider at the bottom and extending around an arc of about 180° along the first-collar part axis which coincides with the longitudinal axis during use. Each second-collar part has a second slot therein with a closed end and two opposing sides opening onto a bottom of the second-collar part in which the second slot is located with the second slot extending parallel to the first-collar part axis during use. The first-collar part and second-collar parts interlock to define a generally cylindrical interior passage. Each second-collar part and its second slot are sized so the second-collar part fits between one of the retaining flanges and exterior surface of the sleeve from which the retaining flange extends while the sides of the second slot fit on opposing sides of the second support tab from which the retaining flange extends. The second slot and second support tab are configured so that the second slot fits snuggly over the second support tab.
The kit also has interlocking means on each of the first and second collar parts for preventing lateral separation of those interlocked collar parts in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis during use. The interlocking means may include a male flange having opposing sides and extending outward from each of two opposing sides of the first collar part and extending along a substantial length of each collar part measured along the longitudinal axis. Each male flange has a thickness T between opposing sides of the flange and extends outward a distance between about 3T and 10T. The interlocking means also includes a female channel extending outward from each of two opposing sides of the second collar part and extending along a substantial length of the second collar part measured along the longitudinal axis. Each female channel has an open bottom configured to slidably receive one of the male flanges during use. Each female channel extends along opposing sides of a different one of the male flanges during use.
In further variations of the interlocking collar, each male flange has a trapezoidal shape. Each first collar part is connected to a shelf, the second collar part is connected to a shelf, or both the first and second collar parts are connected to a shelf.
In a still further variation, the interlocking means comprises a first collar part having a top end and bottom end with a distance H1 between the ends measured along the longitudinal axis. The bottom end forms a larger diameter portion of the frusto-conical passage. The first collar part has two first flanges each forming a first juncture with a curved portion of the first collar part as each first flange extends outward from diametrically opposing side of that curved portion of the first collar part. The first flanges extend a distance from the outside of the curved portion between about 3 and 10 times a thickness of the first flange. The first collar part has two, first closed ended slots extending through a thickness of the first collar along a length of the first juncture and opening onto the top end to define two first flanges each having a free upper end separated from an upper portion of the first collar part and each having a lower end joined to a lower portion of the first collar part along the first juncture during use. The first collar part has a third closed ended slot extending from the bottom end along the longitudinal axis and opening onto the bottom end. The third slot is located at about the middle of the curved portion of the first collar part.
This further variation further includes a second collar part having a top end and bottom end with a distance H2 between the ends measured along the longitudinal axis. The top end forms a smaller diameter portion of the frusto-conical passage. The first collar part has two second flanges each forming a second juncture with a curved portion of the second collar part as each second flange extends outward from diametrically opposing side of that curved portion of the second collar part. The second flanges extend a distance from the outside of the curved portion between about 3 and 10 times a thickness of the second flange. The second collar part has two, second closed ended slots extending through a thickness of the second collar along a length of the second juncture and opening onto the top end to define two second flanges each having a free lower end separated from a lower portion of the second collar part and each having an upper end joined to an upper portion of the second collar part along the second juncture during use. The second collar part has a third closed ended slot extending from the bottom end along the longitudinal axis and opening onto the bottom end of the second collar part with the third slot located at about the middle of the curved portion of the second collar part. Each first slot is sized to receive a different second juncture and each second slot is sized to receive a different first juncture when the first and second collar parts are engaged by relative movement along the longitudinal axis. Each third slot is sized to engage a different pair of outwardly extending tabs on the sleeve during use.
In still further variations of this interlocking collar, each first flange is generally parallel to a top portion of the second collar part and each second flange is generally parallel to a bottom portion of the first collar part when the first and second collar parts are engaged. Advantageously, H1 and H2 are about the same. Further, the length of the first slots are about half of H1 and the length of the second slots are about half of H2. The first and second collar parts advantageously have a substantially uniform thickness and the first and second flanges advantageously have a side inclined to the longitudinal axis and in a plane with that axis.
These and other advantages and features of the invention will be better appreciated in view of the following drawings and descriptions in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
Referring to
As used herein the relative terms above and below, upper and lower, top and bottom are with respect to the relative positions along the longitudinal axis 18 of a post 12, which is typically in the vertical direction. The relative terms inward and outward, inner and outer are the relative directions toward and away from that axis 18 when the parts are orientated in the assembled position. These terms are provided with respect to the normal horizontal orientation of shelves and the vertical orientation of posts as shown in the attached figures. The orientation of the shelving unit may change and if so the orientation of the actual unit may be transposed to correspond with the orientation of the figures for easier and consistent understanding.
The collars 16 compress sleeves 20 inward toward posts 12 and are believed to wedge against the sleeves against the post to form a friction lock with the post. The collars 16 are usually split into two parts 16a, 16b but need not be so. If split into two parts the collar part 16a is on the shelving unit 14 while the collar part 16b is used to further lock the sleeves 20 and shelves in place. The sleeves 20 are formed of two, split sleeve halves 20a, 20b which are preferably axially symmetric images of each other as seen in
The sleeve halves 20a, 20b each have two opposing, first and second sides shown in the figures as generally vertical sides. The arc subtended between each first and second side is slightly less than 180° so the sleeve halves may be squeezed toward each other by the collar parts 16a, 16b and squeezed tightly against the post 12 during use.
Each sleeve half 20a, 20b has an inwardly extending rib 26a sized and configured to mate with a corresponding groove 26b (
Each sleeve half 20a, 20b has at least one support tab 30 extending outward from a bottom portion of the sleeve half and extending radially outward from each of the generally vertical sides, so there are first and second support tabs 30a, 30b on each sleeve half. The support tabs 30 preferably extend radially outward a distance D1 about 2-3 mm, but the distance will vary depending on the thickness of the collar part 16a, 16b as will become apparent later. The support tabs 30 preferably extend around a portion of the outer circumference of the sleeve a distance D2 of about 3 mm (about ⅛ inch), but that distance will vary with the load capacity to be carried, the materials and other factors as will become apparent later. In the depicted embodiment the support tabs 30 have a height H along axis 18 of about 20 mm (about ⅞ inch), but that distance will vary as described later. The support tabs 30 are preferably molded with the remainder of sleeve 30 and thus have a slight taper with the tabs 30 being larger at the bottom of the sleeve and smaller toward the top of the sleeve. At the bottom of the sleeve the width of each tab 30a, 30b is such that it subtends an arc of about 10°. As seen in
The outward ends of support tabs 30 extend upward to form a retaining flange 32. The retaining flanges preferably are curved and inclined to be generally parallel with the adjacent portion of the outer surface 24 of the sleeve 20. In the depicted embodiment each retaining flange 32 subtends an arc of about 25-30°. The support tabs 30 offset the retaining flanges 32 from the outer surface 24. In the depicted embodiment there is an increase in thickness of about 3 to 4 times the nominal wall thickness of the sleeve halves 20a, 20b. That increased thickness preferably extends from about ⅓ to about ½ the height of the sleeve halves 20a, 20b at the location of the support tabs 30. The retaining flanges 32 extend upward a distance of about ⅕ to ⅓ the height of the sleeve 20 measured along axis 18.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The locking tabs 34 and mating locking recesses 36 are preferably configured to form a snap-fit or friction fit to releasably hold the sleeve halves 20a, 20b together. The locking tabs 34 may be tangential from the curve of sleeve 30, but preferably curves about axis 18 with the same curvature as either of the sleeves 30a, 30b and the recesses 36 may have abut walls with a conforming curve. The locking tabs and recesses 34, 36 prevent relative movement of the sleeve halves 20a, 20b along the direction of the longitudinal axis 18. In the depicted embodiment, the locking tabs 34 have a cross section about 2 mm thick by about 10 mm high and extend from the substantially straight side of the sleeve halves 20a, 20b a distance of about 4 mm. The locking recesses are preferably slightly deeper than the length of the locking tabs 34, with a depth of about 5 mm believed suitable when the locking tab 34 extends about 4 mm from the straight side of the sleeve.
Referring to
Referring to
Each collar part 16a, 16b has a slot 38 with a closed end 40 and two parallel sides 42 extending to and opening toward the bottom of the collar part 16a, 16b. The slot is preferably at about the middle of the wall forming the collar part 16, about half way between the opposing, straight sides of the collar part. For the above described sleeve 20 the slot may have a width of about 5-6 mm and a height of about 8 mm, with the collar part having a height of about 40 mm and a thickness of about 2 mm when made of steel. The slot shape and size will vary as needed to conform to the shape of support tabs 30a, 30b as the purpose of the slot is to hold the tabs 30 together, preferably tightly together.
The width of the slot between the opposing sides 42 is preferably selected to correspond to the circumferential width W of the two abutting support tabs 30 measured in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 18, so that the sides 42 fit over and preferably very close to the sides of the support tabs 30. The sides 42 of the slot straddle the abutting pair of support tabs 30 with the end 40 of the slot 38 resting on the top of the abutting pair of support tabs 30. The sides 42 are shown as straight, parallel and vertical as the abutting pair of support tabs 30 have straight, vertical sides. The sides 42 could be slightly tapered with the spacing narrower at the closed end 40 of slot 38 and further apart at the open end, preferably with the taper being about the same as that of the inclination angle of the frusto-conical wall of collar part 16a, 16b, in which case the abutting sides of the support tabs 30 preferably also have a matching inclination. Thus, if the width W of the abutting support tabs 30a, 30b increases from the top to the bottom of the support tabs, with the width W smaller at the top and larger at the bottom, then the sides 42 of the slot also increase in a corresponding manner. Advantageously, the increase in width may be slightly different to create a slight interference that resiliently urges the adjacent support tabs 30a, 30b toward each other and preferably so the tabs abut each other.
Likewise the shape of the end 40 of the slot 38 preferably conforms to the shape formed by the top of the pair of support tabs 30 abutting that slot end 40. The wall forming the collar part 16a, 16b is sized so that it fits in the offset or gap between the retaining flange 32 and the exterior surface 24 of the sleeve 20 which offset is formed by support tab 30. The slot end 40 may thus rest against the top of the abutting support tabs 30a, 30b while the bottom of the collar part 16a, 16b adjacent the slot rest against the lip 33. The lip 33 is thus advantageously located relative to the dimensions of the support tabs 30 and collar part 16a, 16b and slot end 42 so that the bottom edge of the collar part adjoining sides 40 of the slot 38, abut or rest on the lip 33 during use. The collar part 16 advantageously rests continuously against lip 33 during use, but may abut the lip 33 only when the load on the collar part 16 is high.
The collar 16 may have a collar part 16a connected to a shelf 14 (
In use, the two sleeve halves 20a, 20b may be snapped around a vertical post 20 with the locking tabs 34 mating with the locking recesses 30 to hold the parts together. The sleeve halves 20a, 20b are located along the length of post 12 so the rib or ribs 26a in the sleeve mate with a corresponding groove 26b in the post at the height or location to which it is desired to fasten the shelf 14. All corners of the shelf 14 are preferably at the same height in order to avoid twisting one or more connections. As needed, the sleeve 20 is rotated around the post 12 so each pair of abutting support tabs 30 extends along the direction of a shelf edge or side, pointing toward one of the other corner posts to which the shelf 14 will be attached. A shelf 14 with a collar part 16a is then mated with the sleeve 20 such that the slot in the collar part 16a is fit over one pair of abutting support tabs 30 until the bottom 40 of the slot 38 rests on top of the abutting support tabs and the sides 42 of the slot straddle those abutting support tabs, with the body of the collar part surrounding the slot fitting between the retaining flange 32 and the adjacent portion of the outer surface 24 of the sleeve. The other corners of the shelf 14 are similarly attached to other posts 12. That connection leaves one free pair of abutting support tabs 30 extending outward from the sleeve. Another collar part 16a on a shelf 14 may be similarly attached to that free pair of abutting support tabs. Alternatively, an end frame 44 may be connected in a similar manner with the slot of each collar part 16 fit over the abutting pair of support tabs. As a further alternative, a single collar 16 completely encircling the post may be placed over the free pair of abutting end tabs 30.
The parts may be removed and the shelves taken off the posts 12 by reversing the order of above described steps. Thus, a user may pull upward on the collar part 16a, 16b using manipulating tab 46, or pull upward on the locking bar or end frame 44, or pull upward on a shelf 14 to disengage the slot in a collar part from the paired support tabs 30. Once all collar parts 16a, 16b are removed from a sleeve 20, the sleeve halves 20a, 20b may be pulled apart and removed from the post.
When a collar part 16a, 16b is mated with an abutting pair of support tabs 30 the opposing sides 42 of the slot keep the sleeve halves 30a, 30b from separating. A tight fit is preferred between the slot sides 42 and the adjacent and preferably abutting sides of the support tabs 30a, 30b. As the end 40 of the slot 38 in the collar part abuts the top of the abutting pair of support tabs 30 the support tabs support the weight of shelf 14 and items placed thereon. As the tapered sides of the collar part 16a, 16b mate with the tapered sides of the sleeve 20, each collar part wedges against the sleeve 20 and urges the sleeve toward the post for a frictional grip, and urges the ribs 26a into mating grooves 26b. As the weight on the shelf 14 increases the gripping forces on the collar part 16a, 16b and sleeve 20 increase through the inclined surfaces of the collar part 16a, 16b and sleeve 20. But the abutting support tabs 30 reduce the wedging force the collar part 16a, 16b exerts on the sleeve 20. Thus, the compressive force the collar part exerts on the sleeve is not as large as in prior art designs. The frusto-conical shaped inner surface of collar parts 16a, 16b thus mate with the correspondingly shaped frusto-conical outer surface of sleeve 20 to urge the sleeve against the post 12 during use. The mating parts of the collar parts 16a, 16b and sleeve halves 20a, 20b advantageously have the same slope or a slight interference fit, with slopes of about 2-10 with 2-5 degrees being preferred suitable and interference fits formed by slopes of 1-3 degrees difference in slope and these fits are used herein to define the preferred mating of these parts. The retaining flange 32 helps prevent the collar part 16a, 16b from slipping off the support tabs 30 and helps prevent the collar part 16a, 16b from moving laterally in the general plane of the shelf, which is usually horizontal.
It is believed advantageous to have sides 42 of the slot in the collar part cooperate with the abutting sides of the pair of support tabs so that the collar part urges the abutting pair of support tabs 30a, 30b together. This may be achieved by having each sleeve half 30a, 30b extend slightly less than 180 degrees around the post 12 so that a slight gap is formed between the straight edges of the sleeve halves and between the adjacent support tabs 30a, 30b when the sleeve halves are snapped onto the post 12. The sides 42 of the slot in collar part 16a, 16b may then resiliently urge the support tabs 30a, 30b toward each other until they preferably (but optionally) abut thus resiliently urging the bottom portion of the sleeve 30 against the post 12. Preferably a rib 26a is located inward of the support tabs 30a, 30b and this circumferential tightening by the slot sides 42 urging the support tabs together ensures a tight connection between the sleeve 30 and post 12 at the circumferential location of the support tabs, and ensures a tight connection between the rib 26a and groove 26b.
Because the sleeves 30a, 30b may be snapped onto the post 12 at any suitable location and the collar need not pass along the length of the post in order to connect to the sleeve 30, the shelves 14 may be connected in any order to the posts 12. No bottom-up assembly is required. Shelves may be inserted between two adjacent shelves without removing the upper shelves. The ease of assembly is believed to be superior to prior art designs.
The collars 16 are preferably split collars having first and second parts 16a, 16b each of which do not extend more than 180° around the circumference of the posts 12 and preferably extend about 178-179.5° around the circumference of the post. But the collar parts 16 could extend further and enclose a majority of the circumference of the post 12 and sleeve 30, particularly for collar parts connected to shelves 14. If so, the other collar part 16 engaging the other pair of abutting support tabs 30 would have a correspondingly smaller circumferential size so as to avoid the sides of the collar parts 16a, 16b overlapping or otherwise preventing a tight clamp to the post 12. Smaller sized collar parts 16b are believed suitable for collar parts on the end frames 44 or single collars 16 not connected to a shelf or an end frame but used to lock the free pair of abutting support tabs 30 and keep them from splaying and tightening the connection to the post.
The use of a collar part encircling about 185°-270° of the circumference of the post 12 and sleeve 30 is believed possible, with the other locking collar part encircling the remaining portion of the 360° circumference. If the collar part 16a, 16b encircles much more than about 185°-190° of the circumference, then the collar part may no longer be flexible enough to allow opposing sides of the collar part to spread apart to fit around the post 12 from the side, and may require the collar part to be positioned by sliding it axially along the length of the post 12 and axis 18.
The connector 10 can be used in various other types of support systems, such as cabinets, closets, rolling carts, rolling racks and the like, with a shelving system being only one example. Moreover, the connector 10 can be used in conjunction with many shelf embodiments and is not limited to use with a corner of a shelf, or for that matter, a corner of any supported member.
The sleeves 20a, 20b may be made of a suitable plastic. ABS, polyethylene and polyurethane are believed suitable. The sleeves are preferably molded as a single piece of material to form an integrally molded part. The posts 12, collar parts 16a, 16b and shelves 14 are preferably made of metal, but one or more of them may be made of a sufficiently strong plastic material. Depending on the weight which each shelf 14 or shelving unit is designed to support, the dimensions of parts and material used will vary.
A simplified shelving unit would include four corner posts 12, at least one and preferably more shelves 14 with collar parts 16 of any type as described herein at each location on the shelf (generally corners) where the shelf is to connect to the post 12. For a rectangular shelf 14 with four collar parts 16a, 16b, one at each corner to connect to four posts, two end frames 44 would be needed for each shelf, or four single collar parts 16a, 16b for each shelf. A shelving kit may be provided that preferably includes those parts and more preferably includes two, three, four, five or six shelves 14 with corresponding numbers of collar parts 16a, 16b on each shelf, and twice the number of end frame connectors 44 as there are shelves (or four times the number of single collar parts 16a, 16b), and four times the number of sleeves 20 as there are shelves.
A kit may include the above combination of parts and combinations thereof. Thus, a simple shelving kit may have two shelves 14, which if rectangular in shape have a collar part 16a of any type described herein at each corner of the shelf. The kit would further include eight sleeves 20 and eight collar parts 16b of any type described herein that are either separated, or with pairs of collar parts 16b joined to form end frames 44. Each additional rectangular shelf added to the kit would preferably include four collar parts 16a, four collar parts 16b and four sleeves 20. If two shelving units are joined horizontally together by having two shelves 14 with two collar parts 16a at one end fasten to the same two posts 12, then the number of end frames 44 may be reduced by half, as may the number of single piece collars that completely encircle the post, if such single piece collars are used instead of end frames 44 or individual collar parts 16b.
The offset provided by extending tabs 30a, 30b is sized to form a gap between the locking tab 34 and the adjacent outer surface 24 of the sleeve 20 in order to snugly receive the mating portion of collar part 16a, 16b. A very slight interference fit is believed acceptable but undesirable. On the other than, a loose fit is undesirable. Thus a clearance of less than about 1 mm is believed desirable. The offset will vary with the materials of which the parts and shelves are made, and the load to be carried on the shelves and posts. Likewise, the dimensions of the sleeves and parts thereof will vary with the materials and loads to be carried by the parts.
The collar parts 16a 16b may be interlocked together to hold them together and clamped to the sleeve 20 to prevent separation of the sleeve halves 20a, 20b and to keep the shelf 14 in position along the axis 18 of the post 12. The interlocking of first and second collar parts 16a, 16b to prevent relative movement in the lateral plane to axis 18 is preferably achieved by interlocking means such as a male and female channel lock or a slotted interlock as described herein.
Referring to
Advantageously, the hinges 80 are made of plastic and of the same material as the sleeve halves 20a, 20b, with the hinges 80 being integrally formed with the sleeve halves 20a, 20b by injection molding to form a unitary part of the same material. The hinges 80 are shown with a rectangular cross-section with the long axis of the rectangle generally parallel with axis 18 during use. The hinges are advantageously parallel to the abutting faces of the supports 30a, 30b to which the hinges connect so that the hinges bend along a line parallel to the abutting faces of the supports 30 and allow the sleeve halves 20a, 20b to rotate about an axis parallel to those abutting faces of support tabs 30a, 30b.
Since the support tabs 30a, 30b face each other and preferably abut each other during use with the locking tabs 34 engaging the locking recesses 36, the hinges 80 flex sufficiently to allow that configuration, contact and locking engagement. Each support tab 30a, 30b preferably has a recess 82 in the exterior side of the support tab 30 at the location where each hinge 80 connects to each support tab. Advantageously, the recess 82 extends completely around the hinge 80 so as to completely encircle or completely surround the juncture of the hinge with the support tab 30. The recess 82 has a uniform depth so the hinge 80 extends from the surface of the recess 82. The depth of the recess 82 between the hinge 80 and the abutting face of support tab 30 allows the hinge to fit into the recess and reduces the deformation of the hinge. Preferably, the hinge has a thickness “t” in its thin dimension and the recess 82 has a depth of about 0.5t to t, so that the hinge can lay flat in the recess when the sleeve halves 20a, 20b join to form sleeve 20, or at least lay flat at the face of the abutting support tabs 30a, 30b. The depth of recess 82 is preferably selected so that the thickness of the hinge 80 does not prevent the faces of the support tabs 30a, 30b from abutting. By having the recess 82 surround or encircle the hinge 80, the hinge 80 bends uniformly in opposing directions along the axis about which the hinge 80 flexes during use and that is believed to reduce stress on the hinge as it bends.
The recess 82 is configured to allow the hinge 80 to fit within the recess, preferably so the hinge does not extend beyond the adjacent outer surface 24 of the sleeve 20 when the sleeve halves 20a, 20b are interlocked by locking tabs 34. As described above, a locking collar 16 with an inner surface conforming to the frusto-conical (or other) tapered shape of the outside of the sleeve 20 and if the hinge 80 extends about the outer surface of the sleeve then hinge cold impede a tight fit of the sleeve and collar. Thus, the hinge 80 fits within the recess 82 so the outer surface of the hinge 80 does not extend above the outer surface of the sleeve 20 defined by the other sleeve parts. A slight extension of about one mm or less may be workable if the sleeve 20 is made of a deformable plastic or polymer material, but that is not desired. Thus, the hinge 80 fits within the recess 82 so the outer surface of the hinge 80 is at about the same surface as that of the remaining portions of the sleeve 20 when the sleeve is on the post 12. By using a recess 82 in each support tab 30a, 30b to receive the hinge 80 when the sleeve halves 20a, 20b are interlocked the outer surface of the hinge is at or preferably slightly below the outer surface 24 of the sleeve 20 and sleeve parts 20a, 20b when the parts are interlocked for use. Thus, the hinge 80 does not prevent the collar 16 from fitting snuggly over the sleeve 20. Because the inside of the collar is configured to mate closely with the outside of the sleeve, a protruding hinge 80 could interfere with the mating of the collar and sleeve, or the collar will deform the hinge and damage or destroy the hinge's function. A slight protrusion at the location of the hinge can be tolerated if the hinge material is sufficiently deformable as to allow the hinge to open and close at least a few times after being deformed and hold the parts together, and this slight protrusion is encompassed within the meaning of having the outer surface of the hinge at or adjacent to the surface of the sleeve or sleeve parts joined by the hinge. This slight protrusion is also within the meaning of having a hinge with an outer at adjacent to the outer surface located at the surface of the first and second tabs that are hinged, adjacent the location of the hinge.
As best seen in
The hinge(s) 82 have the advantage of avoiding losing one of the sleeve halves 20a, 20b during shipping or use. The hinge(s) 82 also connect mating parts and avoid potential confusion in matching sleeves halves 20a, 20b during assembly and use. By forming the hinge(s) 80 during formation of the sleeve halves 20a, 20b a unitary part can be formed of a single piece of material and that ensure material uniformity, strength and performance. The unitary structure also simplifies sorting the parts for shipment, simplifies assembly and simplifies use.
Because the hinge 80 is preferably located in and surrounded by recess 82 the hinge or hinges are preferably located in the support tabs 30a, 30b. But the hinges could be located in the retaining flange 32, using the same construction described above. If a hinge 80 is connected to the retaining flange 32 the recess 82 may reduce the strength of the flange 32 and increase its flexibility. Depending on the strength and flexibility needed for a particular retaining flange the recess 82 may not affect performance and suitable design can be achieved if a recess 82 is desired to be used. Alternatively, because the recess 82 is optional, the hinge 80 could connect the sleeve halves 20a, 20b without a recess, with the hinge location and length being varied to achieve a desired connection of the parts to which the hinge is connected, but with an outer surface of the hinge forming a substantially continuous surface with and not protruding above the outer surface the support tabs 30 or flanges 32 connected to the hinge(s).
Because the hinge 80 connects mating parts the assembly of a shelving unit is simplified and users will not attempt to mate two like sleeve parts such as mating sleeve half 20a with 20a, or sleeve half 20b and 20b. Also, because the mating parts are connected by the hinge 80 parts will not become separated during shipment, assembly or disassembly. Because the hinge line at the surface or slightly recessed or at least does not extend much beyond the outer surface 24 of the sleeve 20, the mating between the collar 16 and sleeve 20 is not disrupted by the hinge 80.
Referring to
The channel lock mechanism may have an axially elongated outwardly extending male projection 50, shown as a flange on a first collar part 16a′, 16b′ and described herein as flange 50. The flange 50 extends along a substantial axial length of each side or distal edge of the collar part 16a′, 16b′ on which it is located, joining the typically curved exterior body of the collar part 16a′, 16b′ along juncture 49. The flange 50 preferably extends along more than half that length, and preferably extends more than 80% of that length and more preferably extends about the full length of the (vertical) side or distal edge of the collar on which the flange is located. The flange 50 thus preferably extends outward from the side of the semicircular body portion of the collar part, with the juncture 49 located at the transition between the flange and the curved body part. The flange 50 preferably extends radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis 18 during use so the flange 50 is parallel with the axis 18. The flange 50 is preferably short in the outward direction, preferably about 2-10 times the thickness of the flange and more preferably about 2-5 times the thickness of the flange. As used herein, the outward direction means away from the longitudinal axis 18 when the parts are in their use configuration.
Each outwardly extending flange 50 has two opposing side faces 51a, 51b joined by an outward facing distal edge 51c. The edge 51c is generally aligned with the post axis 18 during use, but may be slightly inclined relative to that axis, usually with the upper end closer to the axis than the lower end during use. The front face 51a faces a direction toward the main portion of the mating collar part while the rear face 51b faces away from the mating collar part. As the distal edges of the collar parts 16a′, 16b′ are preferably aligned with the axis 18 during use, the flange 50 generally extends vertically relative to the floor during use when the shelves 14 are horizontal. Thus, the first collar 16a′, 16b′ has two flanges 50, one extending along each of the opposing distal ends of the collar and forming juncture 49 with the collar.
The male flange 50 is received in a female channel 52 configured to enclose the sides and distal edge of the flange 50. The female channel 52 is connected to the second collar part, 16b′, 16a′. The depicted channel 52 has a cross-sectional shape that has a “U” shaped cross section with two outwardly aligned and preferably parallel sides 54a, 54b joined by a distal edge 56. The first side 54a extends outward from the collar part 16 with the second side 54b extending inward and with the distal edge 56 joining the outward edges of those sides. The sides 54a, 54b with end 56 form a channel having a U-shaped cross section with an elongated opening facing the axis 18 with the channel having open ends at the top and bottom of the collar part. The body forming channel 52 preferably extends radially outward relative to axis 18 when the parts are assembled for use so as to place the faces 54a, 54b general parallel with the male flange 50 so as to enclose the flange. Closed ended slot 38 extends into the bottom portion of the collar part and opens onto the lower end of the second collar part 16b′, 16a′. The slot 38 is preferably centered between the two channels 52 and extends in a direction along axis 18 during use.
The channel 52 preferably has spaced apart sides 54a, 54b forming a narrow slot or groove within which the male flange 50 is enclosed during use. The channel side 54a is located toward the mating collar part while the channel side 54b is located away from the mating collar part and closer to the main body of the collar part from which it extends. The inside surfaces of the sides 54a, 54b face each other. Each channel side 54a extends from an opposing, distal circumferential end of the collar part, and forms juncture 53 where it joins that collar part. The channel side 54a preferably extends radially outward from a side of a semi-circular collar part, with juncture 53 extending along the transition from the curved body portion of the collar part and the side 54a. The channel 52 has to receive the flange 50 so the sides 54a, 54b extend outward more than the flange 50. Thus the sides 54 extend in the outward direction, a few millimeters more than the flange 50. The sides 54a, 54b allow the male flange 50 to pass closely between them are thus spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the flange 50, but preferably close enough to form a snug fit and preferably with no gap greater than a few mm. Thus, the female channel 52 extends outward from each of two opposing sides of a collar part and extends along a substantial length of that second collar part measured along the longitudinal axis 16. Each female channel 52 has an open bottom configured to slidably receive one of the male flanges 50 during use, with each female channel 52 extending along opposing sides 54a, 54b of a different one of the male flanges during use. The second collar part 16b′ is preferably formed of a single piece of material, such as metal bent to the desired shape or molded plastic. The channel 52 preferably forma s U-shaped or C-shaped cross-section to as to enclosed opposing sides of the male flange 50 and restrain relative movement of the flange and channel in the lateral plane or direction.
In use, the first collar part 16a′, having male flange 50 is preferably fastened to the shelf 14 and the collar part 16a′ is slid downward onto the sleeve 20 on a post 12 so the slot 38 and slot sides 42 and slot end 40 in the collar part 16a′ engage two support tabs 30 on different sleeve parts 20a, 20b to hold them together and preferably also rests on the lip 33 of the sleeve parts. The second collar part 16b′ is then placed along axis 18 and moved axially downward so the female channel 52 slides over the male flange 50 and also the slot 38 engages the two support tabs 30 of the two joined sleeve portions to hold them together and preferably also rests on the lip 33 of the sleeves. If the shelf 14 is connected to the second collar part 16b′ that contains the female channel 52, the assembly sequence is the same except that after the second collar part 16b′ connects the shelf 14 to the post, then the first collar part is moved along axis 18 to slide the male flange 50 into the female channel 52.
Placing the male flange 50 in the female channel 52 interlocks the collars 16a′, 16b′ to both clamp the sleeve parts 20 against the post 12, and to further inhibit separation of the sleeve parts and collar parts. Preferably, when the male flange 50 is received in the female channel formed by opposing sides 54a, 54b, the face 51b of the male flange 50 contacts the inner face of side 54a. It is useful to have the face 51b of the male flange 50 contact the inner face of the side 54a of channel 52 as that can hold the parts together and preferably urge the parts together, but the parts must easily and removably interconnect. Thus, while the side 54a is preferably parallel to the male flange 50, the side 54b need not be parallel to that flange and may be slightly curved or inclined to form a slight interference fit as the male flange 50 fits into the channel 52.
The flange 50 contacts the sides 54a, 54b of the channel 52 to prevent relative movement of the parts from moving laterally apart along an axis perpendicular to the faces of the flange 50 and sides 54. The contact between the outward facing edges 51c, 56 of the flange 50 and channel 52 prevents the relative movement of the parts along the radial direction of the flange 50 and sides 54. Combinations of those contacting parts inhibit relative separation of the collar parts 16a′, 16b′ and sleeve parts 20a, 20b along intervening directions. The retaining flanges 32, sleeves 20 and post 12 keep the parts from moving in the plane orthogonal to axis 18. The ribs and grooves 26a, 16b on the pole and collar restrain movement along the pole 12 and its axis 18.
Because the flange 50 and channel 52 can each extend the axial length of the respective collar parts 16a′, 16b′, an increased length of the interlocking parts that resist separation is achieved. Because the flange 50 has the same thickness as the collar the flange forms a strong and stiff resistance to separation of the interlocked collar parts and the sleeve parts held inside the collar parts. Because the sides 54a, 54b and distal end 56 of channel 52 preferably have the same thickness as the collar from which the sides and end extend they form a strong and stiff resistance to separation of the interlocked collar parts and the sleeve parts held together by the interlocked collar parts.
The flange 50 and channel 52 preferably extend for about the same axial distance relative to axis 18 during use of the parts, and are aligned to mate and contact each other during use. But one could be shorter or the other could be longer, so for example, the male flange 50 may extend less than the full length of the first collar part measured along axis 18 during use, while the female channel 52 may extend the full length of the second collar part, or the female channel 52 may extend less than the axial length of the first collar part. The relative lengths could be reversed. Thus, for example, the male flange 50 could extend from the top of the collar part 16a′ toward the bottom, but end before the bottom of the collar part, preferably between about 60-90% of the length of the first collar part, while the female channel 52 may extend the full length of the second collar part 16b′ or extend about 60-90% of the length of the second collar part, from the top of the second collar part toward its bottom.
The collar parts 16a′, 16b′ have inclined sides to form a frusto-conical passage through the joined collar parts which passage extends along axis 18 during use, with each collar part extending about half way around that axis during use. Referring to
The male flange 50 and female channel 52 described herein provide interlocking collar means for restraining relative movement of the collar parts 16a′, 16b′ in the lateral plane of the shelving, or in a plane orthogonal to the axis 18 during use, or in the lateral direction relative to the shelving 14 or post 12. In this embodiment the manipulating tab 46 is shown as a wire loop with legs aligned with the exterior sides of the collar part 16 and fastened thereto with the tab extending outward so a person's finger can grab it to manipulate the collar. The loop formed by the tab 46 is preferably large enough so a person's fingertip can fit through loop between the collar part 16 and the tab. The legs of the wire loop are preferably aligned with the longitudinal axis 18, and may extend along that axis in either direction as shown in
The second collar portion 16b′ is used to lock the sleeve parts 20a, 20b together and to interlock with the first collar portion 16a′ as described above. The second interlocking collar portion 16b′ may be used independently, or a different collar portion 16b′ may be connected to each opposing end of end frame 44 to interlock a pair of first interlocking collar portions 16a′ as shown in
Referring to
The slot 62 separates a portion of the flange 60 from the collar part 16a″ to form a free end 64 on the flange 60, with the base of the flange 60 being connected to the collar part 16a″. Because the collar part 16a″ is frusto-conical the slot 62 is preferably inclined at the same angle as the inner surface of the collar part 16a″, resulting in the two slots 62 on each collar part 16a″ being slightly inclined toward each other (
Each collar part 16a″ thus has a bottom portion 66 and a top portion 68 each with a frusto-conical inner surface and preferably a parallel frusto-conical exterior surface. An outwardly extending flange 60 extends outward from each diametrically opposing side of the base portion 66 along a juncture 69 between the flange 60 and the curved, preferably semi-circular body portion of the collar part. Closed ended slot 38 extends into the bottom portion 66 and opens onto the lower end of the collar part 16a″. The slot 38 is preferably centered between the two flanges 60 and extends along axis 18 during use. The flanges 64 extend past the location of the longitudinal axis centerline 18 during use and thus the faces 61b about 180° apart while the faces 61a are more than 180° apart. The slot 62 extends from the top toward the bottom of the collar part 16a″ to separate the top flange 64 from the upper portion 68. In particular the slot 62 aligns with the juncture 59 of the outwardly extending flange 76 and separates the flange 60 from the curved body portion of the collar par 16a″ while the juncture 59 connects the bottom of the flange to the collar part.
The first collar portion 16a″ with upward slots 62 is connected to a shelf 14 and orientated so the larger diameter of the conical shape of the collar portion 16a″ is downward and the smaller diameter is at the top during use so as to mate with and wedge sleeve 20 against post 12 during use.
Referring to
A closed-end slot 72 extends along a length of the normal juncture 69 of the flange 70 to the side of distal edge of the collar part 16b″ to which the flange 70 is connected. In the depicted orientation the slot 72 extends downward. The slot 72 preferably extends about half the axial length of the collar part 16b″, but may extend shorter or longer, preferably varying within about 15% of the length of the collar part 16b″.
The slot 72 separates a portion of the flange 70 from the collar part 16b″ to form a free end 74 on the flange 70, with the base of the flange 70 being connected to the collar part 16b″. Because the second collar part 16b″ is frusto-conical the slot 72 is preferably inclined at the same angle as the inner surface of the collar part 16b″, resulting in the two slots 72 on each collar part 16b″ being slightly inclined toward each other (
Each collar part 16b″ thus has a bottom portion 78 and a top portion 76 each with a frusto-conical inner surface and preferably a parallel frusto-conical exterior surface. An outwardly extending flange 70 extends outward from each diametrically opposing side of the top portion 76 along juncture 69. Closed ended slot 38 extends into the top portion 76 and opens onto the top end of the collar part 16b″. The slot 38 is preferably centered between the two flanges 70 and extends along axis 18 during use. The flanges 74 extend past the location of the longitudinal axis centerline 18 during use and thus the faces 71a are about 180° apart while the faces 71b are more than 180° apart. The slot 72 extends from the top 76 toward the bottom 78 of the collar part 16b″ to separate the flange 74 from the bottom portion 78 while the remaining portion of juncture 69 connects the flange 74 to the body part.
The second collar portion 16b″ is used to lock the sleeve parts 20a, 20b together and to interlock with the first collar portion 16a″. The second collar portion 16b″ may be used independently, or a different collar portion 16b″ may be connected to each opposing end of end frame 44 to interlock a pair of first collar portions 16a. The second collar part 16b″ is orientated so the larger diameter of the conical shape of the collar portion 16b″ is downward and the smaller diameter is at the top during use so as to mate with and wedge sleeve 20 against post 12 during use and to interlock with the first collar part 16a″ to form a frusto-conical structure encircling a split sleeve 20 to clamp it against the post 12 during use.
Referring primarily to
The free ends 64, 74 are cantilevered from the respective collar parts 16a″ and 16b″ and when the slots 62, 72 are interlocked by relative movement along axis 18, the free ends engage the flange on the other collar part to prevent lateral separation of the collar parts. Depending on the length of the slots 62, 72 and flanges 60, 70 different engagement lengths can be achieved. Preferably the slots 62, 72 extend about half the length of flanges 60, 70 and the slots are wide enough to allow insertion of the mating collar part into the respective slots in each collar part. Thus, the juncture of base portion 66 and flange 60 fits into slot 72 and slot 72 is configured to snugly receive the juncture of base portion 66 and flange 60. Likewise, the juncture of top portion 7 and flange 70 fits into slot 62 and slot 62 is configured to receive the juncture of top portion 76 and flange 70. The flanges 60 extend upward and slots 62 open upward, with flanges 70 extending downward and slots 72 opening downward, so the junctures of the parts may interlock with the slots.
The joinder of collar part 16a″ to shelf 14 cooperate with flanges 60, 70 to prevents rotation of the collar parts about axis 18 during use as flanges 60, 70 abut to restrain rotation about axis 18 during use as well as to prevent lateral movement during use. The flanges 60, 70 and flange 50 and channel 52 abut each other and when connected to sleeve 20 and post 18, restrain rotation in the plane orthogonal to the axis 18 during use, and provide means for restraining rotation about an axis in the plane orthogonal to the axis 18 during use. The interlocking of first and second collar parts 16a, 16b by the flanges 15 mating with the U-shaped channel 52, and the interlocking of the collar parts by flanges 60 and 70 and interlocking slots 62, 72, provide interlocking collar means for interlocking the collar parts and preventing lateral separation of those interlocked collar parts, in a plane transverse to axis 18 of post 12 during use.
Referring to the
A simplified shelving unit would include four corner posts 12, at least one and preferably more shelves 14 with interlocking collar parts 16 of any type as described herein at each location on the shelf (generally corners) where the shelf is to connect to the post 12. For a rectangular shelf 14 with four interlocking collar parts 16a′, 16b′, 16a″, 16b″, one at each corner to connect to four posts, two end frames 44 would be needed for each shelf with an appropriate interlocking collar part on each opposing end of the each end frame 44, or four single collar parts for each shelf—selected to mate with the collar part connected to the shelf. A shelving kit may be provided that preferably includes those parts and more preferably includes two, three, four, five or six shelves 14 with corresponding numbers of interlocking collar parts 16a′, 16b′, 16a″, 16b″ on each shelf, and twice the number of end frame connectors 44 as there are shelves (or four times the number of single collar parts and four times the number of sleeves 20 as there are rectangular shelves, or various combinations of end frame connectors 44 and separate collar parts as needed to interlock with each interlocking collar part on each shelf.
A kit may include the above combination of parts and combinations thereof. Thus, a simple shelving kit may have two shelves 14, which if rectangular in shape have an interlocking collar part 16a, 16a′, 16a″ of any type described herein at each corner of the shelf. The kit would further include eight sleeves 20 and eight interlocking collar parts 16b, 16b′, 16b″ of any type described herein that are either separated, or with pairs of collar parts 16b′ or 16b″ joined to form end frames 44. Each additional rectangular shelf added to the kit would preferably include four interlocking collar parts 16a′, 16a″, four interlocking collar parts 16b′, 16b″ and four sleeves 20. If two shelving units are joined horizontally together by having two shelves 14 with two collar parts 16a′ or 16a″ at one end fastening to the same two posts 12, then the number of end frames 44 may be reduced by half, as may the number of single piece collars that completely encircle the post, if such single piece collars are used instead of end frames 44 or individual collar parts 16b′ or 16b″.
If two shelving units are joined horizontally together then the end of the shelf sharing posts 12 in common with another shelf preferably has collar parts configured to interlock. Thus, one shelf may have four first interconnecting collar parts 16a′ or 16a″ of the same type and orientation, and the second shelf may have two first interconnecting collar parts 16a′, 16a″ and orientation as the first shelf, and two second interconnecting collar parts 16b′, 16b″ orientated to mate the first interconnecting collar 16a′, 16a″ on the first shelf. The collar parts on the shelves 14 that connect to the common or middle post must be configured to interlock with the collar parts on the other shelf. Thus, both shelves may have opposing ends of each shelf 14 with different collar parts such as 16a′, 16a″ on a first end and mating collar parts 16b′, 16b″ on the other end of the shelf. Alternatively, one shelf 14 may have all corners with the same collar part (e.g., 16a′ or 16b′, 16a″ or 16a″) and the other shelf may have all the opposing collar parts (e.g., 16b′ or 16b′, 16b″ or 16b″) with the collar parts oriented to mate at the common middle pole.
The collar parts 16a, 16b, 16a′, 16b, 16a″ and 16b″ are preferably made of sheet metal that is of substantially uniform thickness and then cut and bent to the desired shape and typically connected to metal shelves 14 by molten metal joining techniques such welding, soldering, brazing etc. The collar parts could be made of suitably strong molded plastics and connected to shelves 14 by adhesives or suitable mechanical connections, or the parts could be integrally molded with plastic shelves, formed at the same time and as a unitary part with the plastic shelves.
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention. Further, the various features of this invention can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein.
The application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to Provisional Patent Application No. 62/214,804 filed Sep. 4, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62214804 | Sep 2015 | US |
