U.S. patent application number 10/929478 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-02 for shelving system with clamp connectors.
Invention is credited to Antoine Trubiano.
Application Number | 20060042522 10/929478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35941226 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060042522 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trubiano; Antoine |
March 2, 2006 |
Shelving system with clamp connectors
Abstract
A shelving system is comprised of one or more shelves of
rectangular outline, each shelf having an open-ended post receiving
channel secured in each corner thereof. The post receiving channel
is transversely oriented with respect to a support surface of the
shelf and has a vertical opening facing inwardly of the shelf. The
post has spaced-apart arresting formations on an outer wall portion
thereof. A clamp is provided and has a clamping jaw with one or
more connecting formations for interlocking with the arresting
formations of the post. A latch urges the clamping jaw against an
inner wall portion of the support post which projects in the
vertical opening of the post receiving channels whereby the one or
more connecting formations engage with the one or more arresting
formations. The latch maintains a constant locking pressure against
the clamping jaw to immovably secure the shelf to the support post
at a desired position.
Inventors: |
Trubiano; Antoine;
(Montreal, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OGILVY RENAULT LLP
1981 MCGILL COLLEGE AVENUE
SUITE 1600
MONTREAL
QC
H3A2Y3
CA
|
Family ID: |
35941226 |
Appl. No.: |
10/929478 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 57/10 20130101;
A47B 96/024 20130101; A47B 57/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/110 |
International
Class: |
A47B 9/00 20060101
A47B009/00 |
Claims
1. A shelving system comprising one or more shelves of rectangular
outline, each shelf having an open-ended post receiving channel in
each corner thereof, said post receiving channel being transversely
oriented with respect to a support surface of said shelf and having
a vertical opening facing inwardly of said shelf, said channel
being shaped to receive a support post in close fit therethrough
with an inner wall portion of said support post facing said
vertical opening, said inner wall having spaced-apart arresting
formations on an outer surface thereof, a clamp having clamping
means provided with one or more connecting formations for
interlocking with said arresting formations, and a latch for urging
said connecting formations against said inner wall portion of said
support post with said connecting formations in engagement with one
or more of said arresting formations, said latch maintaining a
constant locking pressure against said clamping means to immovably
secure said shelf to said support post at a desired position.
2. A shelving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping
means is a clamping jaw.
3. A shelving system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said latch has a
pivotal arm whereby to engage and disengage said connecting
formations with said arresting formations.
4. A shelving system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said clamp is
removably securable to said shelf.
5. A shelving system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said clamp is
pivotally and permanently secured to said shelf by a pivotal
connection to a wire rod of said shelf.
6. A shelving system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pivotal arm
is pivotally secured at one end thereof to an end pivot connection
projecting from an outer surface of said clamping jaw, a bracing
arm pivotally connected to said pivotal arm at a further pivot
connection spaced from said end pivot connection, said bracing arm
having a shelf engaging end for detachable connection to an
engageable element of said shelf disposed in a plane substantially
aligned with a central pivot axis of said end pivot connection.
7. A shelving system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said pivotal arm
is further provided with flexible retention means to engage said
pivotal arm with an element of said shelf when said pivotal arm is
in a shelf engaging position.
8. A shelving system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said shelf is a
wire-rod steel shelf, said bracing arm shelf engaging end being
constituted by a U-shaped notch formed in a free end of said
bracing arm and dimensioned to receive a wire rod of said shelf
thereacross.
9. A shelving system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said flexible
retention means is a spring clip shaped to snappingly engage a wire
rod of said steel shelf.
10. A shelving system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said support
post has an oval-like cross-section defining opposed parallel side
walls and convex end walls, said post receiving channel having a
U-shaped cross-section defining opposed parallel side walls and a
concave end wall, said clamping jaw having a concave clamping
surface provided with said one or more connecting formations, said
inner wall portion being an inner wall portion of an inner one of
said convex end walls.
11. A shelving system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said arresting
formations are transverse notch depressions formed at the apex of
inner wall portions, said connecting formations being one or more
transverse ribs formed in said concave clamping surface.
12. A shelving system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pivotal
arm is pivotally secured to a pivot connection of said shelf spaced
adjacent said clamping jaw, said latch having a cam formation at an
actuating end thereof opposite said pivotal arm, said arm when
displaced to a shelf engaging position causing said cam to apply a
clamping force against said clamping jaw.
13. A shelving system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said shelf is
a wire-rod steel shelf, said pivotal arm having a U-shaped cavity
under said pivotal arm forwardly of said cam formation for
snap-engagement with a wire rod to constitute said pivot
connection, said pivotal arm lying below said support surface when
said latch is in said shelf engaging position.
14. A shelving system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said post
receiving channel has a U-shaped cross-section defining opposed
parallel side walls and a concave wall, said clamping jaw has a
concave clamping end wall provided with said one or more connecting
formations, said side walls of said clamping jaws having outer
projecting tabs received in respective guide slots disposed in said
parallel side walls of said post receiving channel.
15. A shelving system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said arresting
formations are transverse notch depressions formed at the apex of
inner wall portions, said connecting formations being one or more
transverse ribs formed in said concave clamping surface.
16. A shelving system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said latch is
a one-piece latch detachably securable to said shelf adjacent said
clamping jaw.
17. A shelving system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said opposed
parallel side walls of said post receiving channel have outwardly
sloping end edges, said clamping jaw concave clamping surface
having opposed inner wall end portions disposed for sliding
displacement on said outwardly sloping end edges when urged thereon
by said latch.
18. A shelving system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said channel is
constituted by a pair of parallel spaced wire rods bent to form a
U-shaped channel when viewed from above or below said shelf whereby
to receive in close fit therein said support post, said support
post having an oval-like cross-section defining opposed parallel
side walls and convex end walls, said U-shaped channel defining
opposed parallel side wire sections and concave end wire sections,
said clamping jaw is a flat clamping plate having a flat clamping
surface provided with said one or more connecting formations.
19. A shelving system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said flat
clamping plate is provided with a pair of spaced notches in opposed
parallel vertical side edges thereof for receiving in sliding fit
therein a respective one of said parallel spaced wire rods of said
opposed parallel side wire sections.
20. A shelving system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said post
receiving channel has a U-shaped cross-section defining opposed
parallel side walls and a concave end wall, said clamping jaw being
a flat clamping plate having a flat end wall provided with said one
or more connecting formations, said side walls of said clamping
plate having outer projecting tabs received in respective guide
slots disposed in said parallel side walls of said post receiving
channel whereby to guidingly displace said clamping plate from an
engaged to a disengaged position by the actuation of said pivotal
arm.
21. A shelving system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said guide
slots are curved guide slots.
22. A shelving system as claimed in claim 3 wherein there are
provided four of said support posts secured to respective post
receiving channels secured in each corner of a plurality of said
shelves.
23. A shelving system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping
means is a wire rod clamping member shaped to provide said one or
more connecting formations as spaced transverse straight rod
sections.
24. A shelving system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said wire rod
clamping member is secured to a free end of said latch, said latch
having a clamping formation for engaging a transverse edge of said
shelf spaced forwardly of said vertical opening.
25. A shelving system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said clamping
formation is constituted by an upward bend in said latch spaced a
predetermined distance from said wire rod clamping member, said
upward bend merging into a substantially transverse handle
formation integrally formed therewith at an opposed end of said
latch.
26. A shelving system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said shelf is
a wire-rod shelf constructed of transversely connected wire rods,
said transverse edge being a transverse wire rod of said shelf.
27. A shelving system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said latch is
a wire-rod latch, said predetermined distance of said upward bend
being calculated in relation to a distance between said inner wall
portion of said support post and said transverse wire rod whereby
an outer face of said bend of said wire-rod latch can be clamped
under pressure over a forward face of said transverse wire rod by
applying a downward pressure against said handle formation to
pressure clamp said connecting formations into said arresting
formations of said post.
28. A shelving system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said wire-rod
clamping member is formed by a single wire rod bent in S-shape with
opposed half sections of said S-shape being angled with respect to
one another and to a connecting transverse straight wire
section.
29. A shelving system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said wire-rod
latch is formed by a single wire rod bent to provide a pair of
closely spaced equal length wire rods.
30. A shelving system as claimed in claim 29 wherein said pair of
wire rods have a hook formed at said free end to engage said
connecting transverse straight wire section of said wire-rod
clamping member.
31. A shelving system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said wire rod
clamping member is secured to a free end of said latch, said
clamping member being a rectangular wire rod member having opposed
parallel horizontal wire sections and opposed parallel vertical
wire sections, said horizontal sections being spaced and
dimensioned to clamp into opposed ones of a pair of said arresting
formations of said post.
32. A shelving system as claimed in claim 31 wherein said latch has
a clamping formation for engaging a transverse edge of said shelf
spaced forwardly of said vertical opening.
33. A shelving system as claimed in claim 32 wherein said clamping
formation is constituted by an upward bend in said latch spaced a
predetermined distance from said wire rod clamping member, said
upward bend merging into a substantially transverse handle
formation integrally formed therewith at an opposed end of said
latch.
34. A shelving system as claimed in claim 33 wherein said shelf is
a wire-rod shelf constructed of transversely connected wire rods,
said transverse edge being a transverse wire rod of said shelf.
35. A shelving system as claimed in claim 34 wherein said latch is
a wire-rod latch, said predetermined distance of said upward bend
being calculated in relation to a distance between said inner wall
portion of said support post and said transverse wire rod whereby
an outer face of said bend of said wire-rod latch can be clamped
under pressure over a forward face of said transverse wire rod by
applying a downward pressure against said handle formation to
pressure clamp said horizontal wire sections of said clamping
member into said arresting formations of said post.
36. A shelving system as claimed in claim 35 wherein said vertical
wire sections of said clamping member are welded to a free end of a
pair of parallel straight wire rods of said wire rod latch.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a shelving system and
wherein shelves are clampingly secured to corner posts by clamps
which are latched and unlatched by a lever to provide a sturdy and
easy-to-assemble shelf assembly
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Various shelf assemblies are known wherein a plurality of
shelves are connectable to support posts. One major problem of such
shelf assemblies is that they are difficult and time-consuming to
assemble in order to secure a rigid connection of the shelf with
the support posts. Often, a hammer or such other device is
necessary in order to engage the connection of brackets with the
support posts. Being difficult to assemble, they are also difficult
to disassemble, if additional shelves need to be added to a shelf
assembly. Most of the shelves are connected to the post by sliding
corner connectors from the top of the posts and therealong.
Usually, if a shelf is to be added, the other shelves need to be
displaced to provide a different shelf spacing.
[0003] A still further problem with shelf assemblies of the
above-described type is that during assembly of the shelving to the
post it is often necessary to lay at least two posts on the floor
surface and hold the shelves vertically thereover to effect the
connections. Once all the shelves have been connected to two of
these posts, then the other two posts are laid on the floor and the
semi-assembled assembly is then placed over those two posts wherein
the connectors have to be engaged at corresponding spacings to the
already engaged two posts. This creates misalignment of shelves and
waste of time in assembling and disassembling the shelf assembly in
order to obtain proper alignment of the shelves with the posts.
Skilled personnel is usually required to assemble these shelf
assemblies. Still further, some of the shelf assemblies are not
aesthetically pleasing to the eye due to the construction of the
support posts and the clamping devices.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore a feature of the present invention to
provide a shelving system which substantially overcomes the
above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
[0005] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
shelving system which is easy to assemble and which provides a
secure clamping connection of the shelves to the support posts.
[0006] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
shelving system wherein the shelves are easy to assemble and
disassemble from the posts and wherein additional shelves can be
added by easily displacing already assembled shelves in a simple,
effective and quick manner.
[0007] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
shelving system which can be assembled with the post disposed
vertically and the shelves connected horizontally and without the
use of tools and by a non-expert person.
[0008] According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the
present invention provides a shelving system which comprises one or
more shelves of rectangular outline. Each shelf has an open-ended
post receiving channel in each corner thereof. The post receiving
channel is transversely oriented with respect to a shelf support
surface of the shelf and has a vertical opening facing inwardly of
the shelf. The channel is shaped to receive a support post in close
fit therethrough with an inner wall portion of the support post
facing the vertical opening. The inner wall has spaced-apart
arresting formations on an outer surface thereof. A clamp having a
clamping means is provided with one or more connecting formations
for interlocking with the arresting formations. A latch is provided
for urging the connecting formations against the inner wall portion
of the support post with the one or more connecting formations in
engagement with one or more of the arresting formations. The latch
maintains a constant locking pressure against the clamping means to
immovably secure the shelf to the support post at a desired
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is perspective view of a corner of a shelving system
illustrating a shelf connected to a corner support post by a clamp
as constructed in accordance with the present invention and
illustrating the clamp in an engaged position;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing
the clamp in a disengaged position;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a sectioned perspective view showing a further
version of the clamp connecting a shelf to a corner post and herein
illustrating the clamp in a disengaged position;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 but wherein
the clamp is shown in an engaged position;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the clamp parts in an
exploded condition;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective top view showing the clamp of FIGS.
3 to 5 in an engaged position to secure a shelf to a corner support
post;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a simplified perspective view showing a shelving
assembly comprising a plurality of shelves connected to four corner
posts with the clamps of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment wherein
the post receiving channel is formed by a pair of wires shaped to
form an open U and wherein the clamp is a flat clamping plate with
the pivotal arm being permanently pivotally secured to a transverse
wire rod;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a section view illustrating a further variation of
the embodiment of FIG. 8 and wherein the post receiving channel is
a U-shaped member similar to that as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to
6;
[0019] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the embodiment as illustrated
in FIG. 9;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further embodiment and
wherein the clamp is a separate wire rod member having a clamping
wire rod member shaped to define connecting formations;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wire rod clamping
member;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a perspective view, partly fragmented, showing
the clamp in a disengaged position;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but showing the clamp
in an engaged position;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a further embodiment and
wherein the clamping member is constituted by a rectangular wire
rod member secured to a pair of parallel straight wire rods of the
wire rod latch; and
[0025] FIG. 16 is a further perspective view showing the latch in
an engagement position similar to that shown in FIG. 14.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG.
7, there is shown generally at 10 a shelf assembly which comprises
one or more shelves 11 of rectangular outline and secured to four
corner support posts 12. The present invention concerns the clamp
assemblies 13 which secure the shelves 11 to the corner support
posts and for ease of illustration the drawings only show a corner
portion of the shelves together with their clamp assemblies. It is
noted that a clamp assembly 13 is provided in all four corners of a
shelf.
[0027] With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a clamp
assembly 13 connected to a corner support post 12. As hereinshown,
each shelf 11 has an open-ended post receiving channel 14 secured
in each corner thereof by welding. The shelf as hereinshown is a
wire-rod shelf having a plurality of horizontal wires 15
spot-welded to transverse reinforced transverse ribs 16, also
formed of wires welded together. Accordingly, the post receiving
channel 14 is welded to some of these steel rods. As illustrated,
the post-receiving channel 14 is transversely oriented with respect
to the support surface 17 of the shelf 11. The post receiving
channel 14 also has a vertical opening 18 as better seen from FIG.
2, which faces inwardly of the shelf. The post receiving channel 14
also has a transverse cross-section which is configured for
receiving the support post 12 in close fit therethrough.
[0028] As hereinshown, the support post 12 has an oval-like
cross-section which defines opposed parallel side walls 19 and
convex end walls 20 and 20'. Arresting formations 21, in the form
of transverse notch depressions, are formed at the apex of the
inner convex end wall 20. The support post is also fabricated of
steel.
[0029] As illustrated, when the support post 12 is received within
the post receiving channel 14, an inner wall portion of the end
wall 20 of the post projects outwards of the vertical opening 18.
The clamp assembly 13 is provided with a clamping jaw 22 which is
provided on an inner surface thereof with connecting formations 23
as shown in FIG. 3 for interlocking with the arresting formations
21. Accordingly, the connecting formations 23 have the same spacing
as the arresting formations 21.
[0030] The clamping jaw 22 is connected to a latch 24 which urges
the clamping jaw 22 against the convex end wall 20 of the support
post with the connecting formations in engagement with the
arresting formations. This latch 234, when in a closed or engaged
position, as shown in FIG. 1, maintains a constant locking pressure
against the clamping jaw 22 to immovably secure the shelf 11 to the
support post 12 at a desired position therealong.
[0031] As hereinshown, the latch 24 is provided with a pivotal arm
25 whereby to engage and disengage the connecting formations 23
from the arresting formations 21 and hence disconnecting the
clamping jaw 22 from the support post 12. The clamping jaw has a
concave shape to embrace the convex end wall 20 of the support
posts. As shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the latch and
clamping jaw 22 are removably secured to the shelf and the
post.
[0032] The pivotal arm 25 is pivotally secured at one end thereof
to an end pivot connection 26 secured to a projecting rib 27 welded
to the clamping jaw 22. A bracing arm 28 is pivotally connected to
the pivotal arm 25 at a further pivot connection 29 spaced from the
end pivot connection 26. The bracing arm 23 has a shelf-engaging
end constituted by a U-shaped notch 30 formed in the free end 31 of
the bracing arm and dimensioned to receive a wire rod, herein wire
rod 32 of the shelf thereacross. When the latch is in the engaged
position, as shown in FIG. 1, the bracing arm is in alignment with
the connecting rib 27 and the end pivot connection 26 and further
pivot connection 29 are in horizontal alignment. The bracing arm 28
is also dimensioned whereby to apply this constant pressure and is
therefore positioned to apply a constant force against the clamping
jaw 22 when disposed in disalignment. In order to disconnect the
latch, it is simply necessary to lift the pivotal arm, as shown in
FIG. 2, to remove the clamping pressure.
[0033] As hereinshown, the clamping jaw 22 is also provided with
guide ribs 33 which maintain the clamping jaw in alignment in that
these guide ribs are disposed on opposed sides of wire rods, herein
wire rod 34.
[0034] As is also illustrated in FIG. 2, the pivotal arm 25 is
provided with a flexible retention means in the form of a spring
clip 35 which is shaped to snappingly engage a wire rod, herein
wire rod 36 when the arm is urged to an engaging position, as shown
in FIG. 1.
[0035] With reference now to FIGS. 3 to 6, there is shown another
embodiment of the construction of the latch 24 and herein
designated by reference numeral 24'. The latch 24' is separate from
the clamping jaw 22''. As hereinshown, the post receiving channel
14' is also of U-shaped cross-section and defines post parallel
side walls 40 and 40' and a concave end wall 41. The clamping jaw
22' is formed as a concave clamping wall, similar to that
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is provided with the one or more
connecting formations 23. The side walls of the clamping jaws are
provided with outer projecting tabs 42 which are received in
respective guide slots 43 formed in the parallel side walls 40 and
40' of the post receiving channel 14'. Accordingly, the clamping
jaw 22 is movably connected to the post receiving channel.
[0036] The latch 24' is herein formed as an integrally casted or
injected part and defines a cam formation 45 at an actuating end
thereof opposite the pivotal arm 25'. When the arm 25' is displaced
to a shelf engaging position, as shown in FIG. 4, the cam applies a
clamping force against the clamping jaw 22' as thereinshown. The
clamp 24' is further provided with a U-shaped cavity 46 under the
pivotal arm 25' adjacent the cam formation 45 for snap engagement
with a wire rod, herein wire rod 47 of the shelf 11 and this wire
rod 47 constitutes a pivot connection. As hereinshown, when the
latch is in the engaged position (see FIG. 4) the pivotal arm 25
lies below the support surface 17 of the shelf 11 to prevent
accidental disengagement of the latch by goods placed on the shelf.
As hereinshown, the clamping jaw 22'' is dimensioned to fit between
the opposed side 2alls 40 and 40' of the post receiving channel 14'
in an unobstructive manner to permit the concave surface 48 of the
clamping jaw to embrace the convex end wall 20 of the support post
12.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, post receiving channel 12 is
provided with outwardly sloping end edges 12'' and the clamping jaw
has a concave clamping surface 39 having opposed inner wall end
portions disposed for sliding displacement on the outwardly sloping
end edges 12'' when urged thereon by the latch 24.
[0038] Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, there
is shown a further modification of the clamp. As hereinshown, the
clamp assembly 50 is comprised of a flat clamp plate 51 which is
provided with a projecting tab 52 in a rear face 53 thereof whereby
to receive a pivot pin 54 secured to a free end 55 of the pivotal
arm 56 thereof. The pivotal arm 56 has a connecting pivotal sleeve
57 secured transversely thereof whereby to secure the pivotal arm
56 to a transverse wire rod 58 of the wire shelf 60. The pivotal
arm has an offset intermediate section 59 to locate the free end 61
closely spaced below the upper surface of the wire shelf 60.
[0039] As can be seen from FIG. 9, the flat clamping plate 51 has a
flat end wall or clamping face 62 which is provided with one or
more of the connecting formations, herein formation 63 for
interlocking with the arresting formations 21 formed in the support
post 12. By depressing the free end 61 of the pivotal arm 56 in the
direction of arrow 64, the clamping plate 51 is retracted from its
engagement with the support post 12. This permits the support post
12 to be displaced within the open-ended post receiving channel
formed in each corner of the wire shelf 60.
[0040] As hereinshown, the open-ended post receiving channel 70 is
constituted by a pair of parallel spaced wire rods 71 and 71' bent
to form a U-shaped channel when viewed from above or below the wire
shelf 60 whereby to receive the support post 12 in close fit
therein. The two wire rods 71 and 71' are formed from a single rod
having an intermediate wire rod section 72 and define opposed
parallel side wire sections, one side wire section denoted by
reference numeral 71 and 71' and the other one denoted by reference
numeral 71'' and 71'''. The wires also define a concave end wire
section 73 and shaped for close fit about the curved edge wall 12'
of the support post. The clamping plate 51 may also be provided
with notches 74 and 74' to loosely receive the wire rods 71, 71'
and 71'', 71''' therein to guide the plate and to retain it in
position during its actuation by the pivotal arm.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 9, the post receiving channel is
similar to that as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6 and wherein the post
receiving channel is a U-shaped clamp secured to the corners of the
shelf by welding. The channel has opposed parallel side walls 80
and 80', as better seen from FIG. 10 and a concave end wall 81. As
better illustrated from the exploded view of FIG. 10, the clamping
plate 51 is provided with outer projecting tabs 82 in opposed side
edges 83 thereof. These projecting tabs are received in respective
guide slots 84 provided in the parallel side walls 80 and 80' of
the post receiving channel whereby to guidingly displace the
clamping plate 51 from an engaged to a disengaged position by the
actuation of the pivotal arm 56. The guide slots 54 are curved or
angulated guide slots to guide the displacement of the flat clamp
plate 51.
[0042] It can readily be seen that with the shelving system as
described herein, shelves are easily connected and disconnected
from the support post 12. To construct a shelf assembly as shown in
FIG. 7, it is merely necessary to first dispose the post within the
post-receiving channels 14 and each of the corners of the shelf and
to engage the clamping jaw at a desired position with respect to
the arresting formations 21. Although not illustrated, numbers can
be disposed or stamped in the side walls 19 of the connecting posts
adjacent these arresting formations. If these formations are spaced
apart one inch then one inch interval markings would appear therein
whereby to make it easy to connect the shelves to the posts whereby
the shelves are perfectly parallel to one another between the
posts. To connect the shelf, it is merely necessary to engage the
latches. Additional shelves are positioned from the top of the
posts and secured at a desired elevation with respect thereto. If
it is necessary to add more shelves after an assembly has been in
use, then one needs to merely displace some or all of the shelves
already assembled and thereafter to introduce a new shelf from the
top end of the post. This is easily accomplished with this latching
system. To disassemble a shelving system, the shelves are easily
disconnected from the post and they can be removed one at a time
from the top end. On the other hand, the shelves could be
disengaged from the bottom end and just slid down the post one on
top of each other. With all of the latches in the disengaged
position, the post can then be pulled out with the shelves
stock-piled one on top of the other. Accordingly, this system is
easy to assemble and disassemble and does not require extra tools
or skilled personnel in order to fabricate a shelving system
utilizing the present invention.
[0043] Referring now to FIGS. 11 to 14, there is shown a further
embodiment of the clamp 90 and as hereinshown the clamp has a latch
section 91 having a hook end 92 for securing at its free end a
clamping means, herein constituted by a wire rod clamping member
93. The clamping member 93 is illustrated at FIG. 12 and it is
constituted by a single wire rod which is bent in S-shape to define
opposed half sections 94 and 94' angled with respect to one another
and to a connecting transverse straight wire section 95. The
opposed straight wire sections 96 and 96' constitute the connecting
formations. As shown in FIG. 11, the hook end 92 of the latch 91 is
secured about this connecting transverse straight wire section
95.
[0044] The latch 91 is also a wire-rod latch formed of a single
wire rod bent in two sections to provide a pair of closely spaced
equal length wire rods 97 and 97' and each defining a hook 98 and
98' at its free end to constitute the hook end 92. The latch 91 has
a clamping formation 99 for engaging a transverse edge of the shelf
which is spaced forwardly of the vertical opening and herein
constituted by the transverse wire rod 36.
[0045] The clamping formation 99 is constituted by an upward bend
in the latch rods 97 and 97' and this bend is spaced a
predetermined distance from the wire rod clamping member 93. This
upward bend merges into a substantially transverse handle formation
100 integrally formed therewith and at the opposed end of the
latch. The predetermined distance of the upward bend from the
clamping member 93 is calculated in relation to the distance
between the inner wall portion 20 of the support post 12 and the
transverse wire rod 36 whereby an outer face 101, see FIG. 13, of
the bend or clamping formation 99 can be clamped under pressure
over a forward face 102 of the transverse wire rod 36 by applying a
downward pressure against the handle formation 100 in the direction
of arrow 102, as shown in FIG. 13, to pressure clamp the connecting
formations 96 and 96i into the arresting formations 21 as shown in
FIG. 14. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the distance of the
intermediate rod sections 91 is such that when the connecting
formations 96 and 96' are resting in the arresting formations 21,
the curved section 104 of the wire rods 97 and 97' just below the
clamping formation 99 rests against the transverse wire rod 36, as
better shown in FIG. 13 and by applying the downward clamping
pressure in the direction of arrow 102 this urges the latch 91
downward into the top surface of the shelf 11 and clamps under
pressure the connecting formations into the arresting formations 21
with this pressure remaining applied due to the rigidity of the
steel wire rods. As can be seen in FIG. 14 with the clamp in
engagement, the handle portion 100 lies within the surface of the
shelf thereby providing no obstruction. It is also easy to
disengage the clamp by simply engaging the free end 105 of the
clamp and lifting it out of engagement with the transverse wire rod
36.
[0046] With reference now to FIGS. 15 and 16, there is shown a
further embodiment of the wire rod clamping member and herein
constituted by a rectangular wire rod member 110. The wire rod
member is formed by a wire rod which is bent to form opposed
parallel horizontal wire sections 111 and 111' and opposed parallel
vertical wire sections 112 and 112'. The horizontal sections 111
and 111' are spaced and dimensioned to clamp into opposed ones of a
pair of the arresting formations 21 of the support posts 12, as
previously described.
[0047] The rectangular wire rod member 110 is secured to the wire
rod latch 100 as previously described with reference to FIGS. 11 to
14 but wherein the wire rods 97 and 97' have been flattened at
their free end to form a flat connection shoe 113 and 113'
respectively to secure to a respective one of the parallel vertical
wire rod sections 112 and 112' by means of welding. This provides a
very rigid connection and prevents any movement of the wire rod
clamping member with the latch.
[0048] It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any
obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein.
Although the shelves as hereinshown are illustrated as wire rod
shelves, it is to be understood that the shelves could be
fabricated from plastic materials or they may have a solid support
surface. Other obvious modifications become apparent to a personnel
skilled in the art from a reading of the present specification.
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