U.S. patent application number 10/813701 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for attachment bracket for shelf support system.
Invention is credited to Simard, Gilles.
Application Number | 20050056749 10/813701 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25107059 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050056749 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Simard, Gilles |
March 17, 2005 |
Attachment bracket for shelf support system
Abstract
An attachment bracket for a shelf support system, adapted for
being mounted to a post of square cross-section and for receiving a
portion of a shelf unit therein, comprises a bracket. The bracket
has a back wall defining a bottom, a top and vertical edges, and
side arms, extending laterally from the vertical edges of the back
wall, whereby defining outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the
bracket. First protrusions are located on the inner surfaces of the
bracket and are adapted for mating engagement with a corresponding
indentation in the post for being vertically secured thereto. The
side arms comprise slots adapted for supporting a portion of the
shelf unit therein. The slots have friction edge portions, adapted
for the captive engagement of the portion of the shelf unit
therein. The inner surface of one of the side arms has a second
protrusion at a predetermined distance from the back wall, whereby
the bracket is adapted for snap-fitting engagement with the corner
post. The inner surface of the back wall has a third protrusion,
whereby adapted for biasing the bracket outwardly from the corner
post when the bracket is matingly engaged therewith for forcing the
portion of the shelf secured thereto against the post.
Inventors: |
Simard, Gilles; (LeGardeur,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David M. Carter
Carter & Schnedler, P.A.
56 Central Avenue, Suite 101
P.O. Box 2985
Asheville
NC
28802
US
|
Family ID: |
25107059 |
Appl. No.: |
10/813701 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10813701 |
Feb 6, 2003 |
|
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09776321 |
Feb 2, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/248 ;
248/250 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 57/34 20130101;
A47B 96/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/248 ;
248/250 |
International
Class: |
E04G 003/08 |
Claims
1. An attachment bracket for a shelf support system, adapted for
being mounted to a post of square cross-section and for receiving a
portion of a shelf unit therein, and comprising: a bracket having a
back wall defining a bottom, a top and vertical edges, and side
arms, extending laterally from said vertical edges of said back
wall, whereby defining outer surfaces and inner surfaces of said
bracket; at least a first protrusion, located on said inner
surfaces of said bracket, adapted for mating engagement with a
corresponding indentation in the post for being vertically secured
thereto; each of said side arms comprising at least a slot adapted
for supporting at least a portion of the shelf unit therein; and
wherein said slots have friction edge portions, adapted for the
captive engagement of the portion of the shelf unit therein.
2. The attachment bracket according to claim 1, wherein said inner
surface of one of said side arms has a second protrusion at a
predetermined distance from said back wall, whereby said bracket is
adapted for snap-fitting engagement with the corner post.
3. The attachment bracket according to claim 2, wherein said first
protrusions are located on junctions of said inner surfaces of said
side arms and of said inner surface of said back wall.
4. The attachment bracket according to claim 1, wherein said inner
surface of said back wall has at least a second protrusion, whereby
adapted for biasing said bracket outwardly from the corner post
when said bracket is matingly engaged therewith for forcing the
portion of the shelf secured thereto against the post.
5. The attachment bracket according to claim 1, wherein each of
said side arms comprises a lower and an upper one of said
slots.
6. The attachment bracket according to claim 5, wherein said upper
slots are open at a top edge of said side arms.
7. The attachment bracket according to claim 6, wherein each of
said side arms has a gap open at a lateral edge thereof, whereby
said gaps are transversely connected to said lower slots in an
arcuate channel, adapted for facilitating said captive engagement
of the portion of the shelf unit therein.
8. An attachment bracket for a shelf support system, adapted for
being mounted to a post of square cross-section and for receiving a
portion of a shelf unit therein, and comprising: a bracket having a
back wall defining a bottom, a top and vertical edges, and side
arms, extending laterally from said vertical edges of said back
wall, whereby defining outer surfaces and inner surfaces of said
bracket; at least a first protrusion, located on said inner
surfaces of said bracket, adapted for mating engagement with a
corresponding indentation in the post for being vertically secured
thereto; each of said side arms having at least a slot adapted for
supporting at least a portion of the shelf unit therein; and
wherein said inner surface of one of said side arms has a second
protrusion at a predetermined distance from said back wall, whereby
said bracket is adapted for snap-fitting engagement with the corner
post.
9. The attachment bracket according to claim 8, wherein said first
protrusions are located on junctions of said inner surfaces of said
side arms and of said inner surface of said back wall.
10. The attachment bracket according to claim 8, wherein said slots
of said side arms have friction edge portions, adapted for the
captive engagement of the portion of the shelf unit therein.
11. The attachment bracket according to claim 8, wherein said inner
surface of said back wall has at least a third protrusion, whereby
adapted for biasing said bracket outwardly from the corner post
when said bracket is matingly engaged therewith for forcing the
portion of the shelf secured thereto against the post.
12. The attachment bracket according to claim 8, wherein each of
said side arms comprises a lower and an upper one of said
slots.
13. The attachment bracket according to claim 12, wherein said
upper slots are open at a top edge of said bracket.
14. The attachment bracket according to claim 13, wherein each of
said side arms has a gap open at a lateral edge thereof, whereby
said gaps are transversely connected to said lower slots in an
arcuate channel, adapted for facilitating said captive engagement
of the portion of the shelf unit therein.
15. An attachment bracket for a shelf support system, adapted for
being mounted to a post of square cross-section and for receiving a
portion of a shelf unit therein, and comprising: a bracket having a
back wall defining a bottom, a top and vertical edges, and side
arms, extending laterally from said vertical edges of said back
wall, whereby defining outer surfaces and inner surfaces of said
bracket; at least a first protrusion, located on said inner
surfaces of said bracket, adapted for mating engagement with a
corresponding indentation in the post for being vertically secured
thereto; each of said side arms comprising at least a slot adapted
for supporting at least a portion of the shelf unit therein; and
wherein said inner surface of said back wall has at least a second
protrusion, whereby adapted for biasing said bracket outwardly from
the corner post when said bracket is matingly engaged therewith for
forcing the portion of the shelf secured thereto against the
post.
16. The attachment bracket according to claim 15, wherein said
inner surface of one of said side arms has a third protrusion at a
predetermined distance from said back wall, whereby said bracket is
adapted for snap-fitting engagement with the corner post.
17. The attachment bracket according to claim 16, wherein said
first protrusions are located on junctions of said inner surfaces
of said side arms and of said inner surface of said back wall.
18. The attachment bracket according to claim 15, wherein said
slots of said side arms have friction edge portions, adapted for
the captive engagement of the shelf unit therein.
19. The attachment bracket according to claim 18, wherein each of
said side arms comprises a lower and an upper one of said
slots.
20. The attachment bracket according to claim 19, wherein said
upper slots are open at a top edge of said side arms.
21. The attachment bracket according to claim 20, wherein each of
said side arms has a gap open at a lateral edge thereof, whereby
said gaps are transversely connected to said lower slots in an
arcuate channel, adapted for facilitating said captive engagement
of the portion of the shelf unit therein.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to shelving systems and, more
particularly to an improved attachment bracket adapted to be
mounted with a particular type of existing shelving systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various types of shelving systems have been provided with
post support brackets, whereby they combine ease of installation
and variable height positioning. Furthermore, some shelving systems
using brackets have been disclosed wherein no fastening means nor
tools outside of a hammer are needed for the assembly.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,678, issued on Mar. 21, 1978 to
Champagne, discloses such a bracket to be used with wire shelves
and will be described with more detail hereinafter. U.S. Pat. No.
4,592,286, issued to Trubiano on Jun. 3, 1986, uses the
aforementioned bracket with flat surface shelves. Pat. No.
4,592,286 further discloses means for supporting adjacent shelving
in planar alignment to a shelf supported between four posts
provided with such support brackets.
[0004] Although the above mentioned brackets provide simplicity of
installation and variable height positioning, as well as solid
connection means to strengthen shelving systems against jarring,
the previously disclosed brackets only oppose gravity against
upward vertical motion, for instance when a shelf is struck from
below, it can pop out of its connecting bracket. Furthermore, the
bracket forms a collar with a portion of the shelving, whereby the
collar ensures the releasable securing to the corner post. However,
the assembly of the collar is troublesome if it is to be achieved
by a sole individual as the bracket and the shelf must be held
while assembling one to another. Furthermore, the prior art bracket
of U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,678 is sometimes difficult to assemble due
to the right angle configuration of its connecting slot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a
bracket adapted for supporting shelves between square cross-section
support posts and which substantially overcomes the above mentioned
disadvantages of the prior art.
[0006] According to the above feature of the present invention,
from a broad aspect, the present invention provides an attachment
bracket for a shelf support system, adapted for being mounted to a
post of square cross-section and for receiving a portion of a shelf
unit therein, and comprising a bracket. The bracket has a back wall
defining a bottom, a top and vertical edges, and side arms,
extending laterally from the vertical edges of the back wall,
whereby defining outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the bracket.
At least a first protrusion is located on the inner surfaces of the
bracket and is adapted for mating engagement with a corresponding
indentation in the post for being vertically secured thereto. Each
of the side arms comprises at least a slot adapted for supporting
at least a portion of the shelf unit therein. The slots have
friction edge portions, adapted for the captive engagement of the
portion of the shelf unit therein.
[0007] According to a further broad aspect of the present invention
there is provided an attachment bracket for a shelf support system,
adapted for being mounted to a post of square cross-section and for
receiving a portion of a shelf unit therein, and comprising a
bracket. The bracket has a back wall defining a bottom, a top and
vertical edges, and side arms, extending laterally from the
vertical edges of the back wall, whereby defining outer surfaces
and inner surfaces of the bracket. At least a first protrusion is
located on the inner surfaces of the bracket and is adapted for
mating engagement with a corresponding indentation in the post for
being vertically secured thereto. Each of the side arms has at
least a slot adapted for supporting at least a portion of the shelf
unit therein. The inner surface of one of the side arms has a
second protrusion at a predetermined distance from the back wall,
whereby the bracket is adapted for snap-fitting engagement with the
corner post.
[0008] According to a still further broad aspect of the present
invention there is provided an attachment bracket for a shelf
support system, adapted for being mounted to a post of square
cross-section and for receiving a portion of a shelf unit therein,
and comprising a bracket. The bracket has a back wall defining a
bottom, a top and vertical edges, and side arms, extending
laterally from the vertical edges of the back wall, whereby
defining outer surfaces and inner surfaces of the bracket. At least
a first protrusion is located on the inner surfaces of the bracket
and is adapted for mating engagement with a corresponding
indentation in the post for being vertically secured thereto. Each
of the side arms comprises at least a slot adapted for supporting
at least a portion of the shelf unit therein. The inner surface of
the back wall has at least a second protrusion, whereby adapted for
biasing the bracket outwardly from the corner post when the bracket
is matingly engaged therewith for forcing the portion of the shelf
secured thereto against the post.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a bracket in
a shelving system using square cross-section support posts in
accordance with the prior art;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bracket of the
prior art secured to a post and supporting a wire shelf;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bracket in accordance with
the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the bracket; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the bracket.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] According to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, a
bracket of a shelf system of the prior art is generally shown at
10. The bracket comprises a back wall 11 and side arms 12a and 12b
extending forwardly from vertical edges of the back wall 11 at
substantially right angles thereto. The back wall 11 and the side
arms 12a and 12b define inner surfaces 14 and outer surfaces 15.
Protrusions 13 are included in the inner surfaces 14 of the bracket
10 and are formed by indentations 13a on the outer surfaces 15 at
the junction of the back wall 11 and the side arms 12a and 12b.
Still referring to FIG. 1, only one protrusion 13 is shown, whereby
three other protrusions are present on the inner surfaces 14 of the
bracket 10.
[0016] The side arms 12a and 12b each comprise an upper slot, 17a
and 17b, respectively, depending from a top edge thereof, 12a' and
12b', respectively. The side arms 12a and 12b further comprise
lower slots 16a and 16b, respectively, downwardly projecting from
transverse gaps 18a and 18b, respectively. The transverse gaps 18a
and 18b laterally project in the side arms 12a and 12b,
respectively. The lower slots 16a and 16b extend substantially
perpendicular to the gaps 18a and 18b, respectively, and extend
substantially parallel to the back wall 11.
[0017] A corner post of the prior art is generally shown at 20 in
FIG. 1. The corner post 20 is of square cross-section and comprises
a plurality of indentations 21 at its corners, disposed in sets in
horizontal planes equally spaced from one another. The indentations
21 of the corner post 20 are shaped to engage in mating
relationship with the protrusions 13 of the bracket 10 and are
spaced to correspond with the spacing of the protrusions 13 in the
vertical direction. Thus, the bracket 10 can be disposed on any set
of indentations 21 of the corner post 20.
[0018] Similar ones of the above described mating bracket 10 and
corner post 20 may be disposed at the corners of a shelf for the
support thereof, as will be explained below. Still referring to
FIG. 1, a portion of a wire shelf is generally shown at 22. The
wire shelf 22 is defined by a plurality of elongated straight wires
23 having downwardly shaped transverse end sections 23' (only one
end being shown). Opposed sinusoidally shaped wires 24a (only one
being shown) extend between the straight wires 24 adjacent the end
sections 23'. The wire shelf 22 further defines an end wall corner
portion 25 consisting of spaced parallel wires 26 and 27. The
spacing between the wires 26 and 27 is equal to the spacing between
the lower slots 16a, 16b and the upper slots 17a, 17b of the
bracket 10. In mounting the shelf 22 on the corner post 20, the
wire 26 is disposed in the slots 16a and 16b through the gaps 18a
and 18b, whereas the wire 27 is disposed in the slots 17a and 17b.
Bracket and corner post assemblies had been placed beforehand at
the four corners of the wire shelf 22, whereby the wire shelf 22 is
supported thereat. FIG. 2 shows a corner adjacent to the corner
described in FIG. 1, wherein the wire shelf 22 is mounted to the
bracket 10 and corner post 20 assembly by the aforementioned
method.
[0019] It can be appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the wire shelf
22 forms a collar with the bracket 10 by being secured in the slots
thereof, whereby the bracket 10 is kept in mating engagement with
the corner post 20. As explained above, the sets of indentations 21
receive the protrusions 13 of the inner surface 14 in mating
engagement. Consequently, the bracket 10, and thus the wire shelf
22, are kept from sliding in a vertical direction on the corner
posts 20 at the corners thereof. However, a certain amount of
dexterity is expected from a person to mount a shelf to the above
described bracket. For instance, the bracket must be held manually
on the post while the wire shelf is inserted therein, manually once
more. At the same time, the wire shelf must be kept generally
horizontal in order for the mounting to be completed.
[0020] Returning to FIG. 1, a set of four slots 26a, 26b and 27a,
27b, are defined in the wires 26 and 27, respectively, whereby to
be received in a snuggle fit in the slots 16a, 16b, and 27a, 27b of
the bracket 10 respectively. Consequently, the arms of the bracket
10 can not be spread apart when held in the slots of the wires 26
and 27. Furthermore, the wire shelf 22 is secured to the bracket 10
in all horizontal directions. As a result, the shelving system
using the brackets of the prior art provides a solid structure,
thereby preventing dislodging of its components when subject to,
for instance, jarring or shaking.
[0021] However, the wire shelf 22 sits in the slots of the bracket
10 and is kept in position by its own weight. If the wire shelf 22
is pushed from below, it may move out of the brackets 10.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, and more particularly to FIG. 3,
there is provided an attachment bracket, generally shown at 1. The
attachment bracket 1 is similar to the bracket 10 described in FIG.
1, and thus like numerals will designate like elements.
[0023] The bracket 1 comprises a back wall 11 and side arms 12a and
12b extending forwardly from vertical edges of the back wall 11 at
substantially right angles thereto from a top plan view, as shown
in FIG. 4. The back wall 11 and the side arms 12a and 12b define
inner surfaces 14 and outer surfaces 15. As shown in FIG. 4, a
plurality of protrusions 13 are included in inner surfaces 14, and
are formed by, in a preferred embodiment, indentations 13a on the
outer surfaces 15 at the junction of the back wall 11 and the side
arms 12a and 12b. The bracket 1 depicted in FIG. 3 comprises four
indentations 13a, and thus four protrusions, hidden in FIG. 3, but
partially shown in FIG. 4.
[0024] Similarly to the known bracket 10 depicted in FIG. 1, the
protrusions 13 are equally spaced, whereby to engage in a mating
relation with the indentations 21 of the corner post 20, as
explained herein above. Furthermore, the side arms 12a and 12b of
the bracket 1 are spaced such that, when the bracket 1 embraces the
corner post 20, the inner surfaces 14 of either side arms 12 are
generally co-planar therewith.
[0025] Advantageously, as best seen in FIG. 4, a pimple 40 is
located on the inner surface 14 of one of the side arms 12,
resulting from a nick 41 in the outer surface 15. The pimple 40 is
placed at a predetermined distance from the back wall 11 equivalent
to the width of the corner post 20, whereby the protrusions 13 are
kept in mating engagement with the indentations 21 of the corner
post 20 when the bracket 1 is placed on the corner post 20. Thus,
the bracket 1 and the corner post 20 may interconnect such that the
bracket 1 is releasably locked in all directions on the corner post
21 by the pimple 40, whereby installation of a shelf in the bracket
1 will be facilitated as the latter no longer needs to be held
manually on the corner post 20.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the side arms 12a and 12b have
upper slots 17a and 17b, respectively, depending from top edges
12a' and 12b', respectively. The side arms 12a and 12b also have
lower slots 16a and 16b, respectively, downwardly projecting from
transverse gaps 42a and 42b. The lower slots 16a and 16b are
arcuatly linked to the gaps 42a and 42b, respectively, and are
substantially parallel to the back wall 11. The arcuate connections
between the gap 42a and the lower slot 16a, and between the gap 42b
and the lower slot 16b, define friction edges 43a and 43b,
respectively. Furthermore, the upper slots 17a and 17b of the side
arms 12a and 12b, respectively, also define friction edges, 44a and
44b, respectively.
[0027] The slots 16a, 16b, 17a and 17b are sized to receive a
portion of a shelf, may it be the wire shelf 22 of FIG. 1 or a
plate member as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,286, issued on
Jun. 3, 1986 to the present assignee. In any case, the shelf
elements are snuggly received in the slots 16a, 16b, 17, and 17b,
and are now held captive therein by the friction edges 43a, 43b,
44a and 44b, respectively. Therefore, the shelving is now prevented
from upwardly moving out of the slots of the bracket 1 in response
to an accidental upward force. On the other hand, the insertion of
the shelving in the lower slots 16a and 16b of the bracket 1 is
facilitated by the arcuate connections thereof. Furthermore, no
tools outside of a hammer, when necessary, are required to secure
the shelving to the bracket 1 nor for the releasing thereof.
[0028] The inner surface 14 of the back wall 11 of the bracket 1
also comprises at an upper edge 11' thereof a further protrusion
45, formed by an indentation 45a in the outer surface 15 thereof.
As shown in FIG. 3, only one indentation 45a and thus only one
protrusion 45 have been added to the bracket 1. However, another
pair of protrusion 45/indentation 45a can be added at a bottom edge
thereof. When shelving is inserted in the bracket 1, a collar is
formed around the corner post 20, by the side arms 12a and 12b, the
back wall 11 and the shelving, similarly to FIG. 1 of the prior
art. The protrusion 45 is compressed such that it biases the
bracket 11 away from the corner post 20. As a result thereof, the
shelving closing the above described collar is pressed against the
corner post 20, whereby added strength is provided to the corner
post 20 and bracket 1 assembly.
[0029] It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any
obvious modifications of the embodiments described herein, provided
such modifications fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *