U.S. patent application number 15/049122 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-24 for dual side post for multiple shelving apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Frank Tsai. Invention is credited to Frank Tsai.
Application Number | 20170238710 15/049122 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59631327 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170238710 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsai; Frank |
August 24, 2017 |
Dual Side Post for Multiple Shelving Apparatus
Abstract
A dual side post, which is arranged for a multiple shelving
apparatus constructed by two or more shelving apparatus each
including a plurality of shelf supporting beams and a plurality of
cross members, includes a plurality of vertical posts. Each
vertical post has an inner attachment surface, a plurality of
attachment slots spacedly formed at the inner attachment surface,
and a retention slot formed on the inner attachment surface for
coupling with the cross member. The attachment slots are lined up
in two columns that the retention slot is located between the two
columns of the attachment slots. One of the vertical posts serves
as a common post that the two columns of the attachment slots
thereof are arranged for respectively coupling two of the shelf
supporting beams at opposite directions so as to interconnect two
or more shelving apparatus to form the multiple shelving
apparatus.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Frank; (Shenzhen,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tsai; Frank |
Shenzhen |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
59631327 |
Appl. No.: |
15/049122 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 96/14 20130101;
A47B 57/34 20130101; A47B 96/1441 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/14 20060101
A47B096/14; A47B 57/34 20060101 A47B057/34; A47B 47/02 20060101
A47B047/02 |
Claims
1. A dual side post for a multiple shelving apparatus constructed
by two or more shelving apparatus each comprising a plurality of
shelf supporting beams and a plurality of cross members, wherein
said dual side post comprises: a plurality of vertical posts, each
having an inner attachment surface, a plurality of attachment slots
spacedly formed at said inner attachment surface, and a retention
slot formed on said inner attachment surface for coupling with an
end of each of the cross members through the retention slot,
wherein said attachment slots are lined up in two columns that said
retention slot is located between said two columns of said
attachment slots and is spacedly apart from said attachment slots,
such that at least one of said vertical posts serves as a common
post that said two columns of said attachment slots thereof are
arranged for respectively coupling two of the shelf supporting
beams at opposite directions so as to interconnect two or more
shelving apparatus to form the multiple shelving apparatus.
2. The dual side post, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
retention slot is a vertical slot indent on said inner attachment
surface of each of said vertical posts.
3. The dual side post, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said
vertical posts comprises an outer wall and an inner wall spacedly
apart from said outer wall, wherein said inner wall has two
L-shaped inner wall members in which each having a first inner wall
portion and a second inner wall portion inwardly bent from said
first inner wall portion toward said outer wall.
4. The dual side post, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said
vertical posts comprises an outer wall and an inner wall spacedly
apart from said outer wall, wherein said inner wall has two
L-shaped inner wall members in which each having a first inner wall
portion and a second inner wall portion inwardly bent from said
first inner wall portion toward said outer wall.
5. The dual side post, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
retention slot is formed at a space between said second inner wall
portions of said inner wall members.
6. The dual side post, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
retention slot is formed at a space between said second inner wall
portions of said inner wall members.
7. The dual side post, as recited in claim 3, wherein said inner
attachment surface is formed at each of said first inner wall
portion, such that said two columns of said attachment slots are
formed on said first inner wall portions of said inner wall members
respectively.
8. The dual side post, as recited in claim 6, wherein said inner
attachment surface is formed at each of said first inner wall
portion, such that said two columns of said attachment slots are
formed on said first inner wall portions of said inner wall members
respectively.
9. The dual side post, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said
attachment slots has a keyhole having a larger upper hole portion
and a smaller lower hole portion.
10. The dual side post, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said
attachment slots has a keyhole having a larger upper hole portion
and a smaller lower hole portion.
11. The dual side post, as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said
attachment slots has a keyhole having a larger upper hole portion
and a smaller lower hole portion.
12. The dual side post, as recited in claim 4, wherein an outer
surface of said outer wall of each of said vertical posts is a flat
and hole-less surface.
13. The dual side post, as recited in claim 8, wherein an outer
surface of said outer wall of each of said vertical posts is a flat
and hole-less surface.
14. The dual side post, as recited in claim 11, wherein an outer
surface of said outer wall of each of said vertical posts is a flat
and hole-less surface.
15. A dual side post for a multiple shelving apparatus constructed
by two or more shelving apparatus each comprising a plurality of
shelf supporting beams and a plurality of cross members, wherein
said dual side post comprises: a plurality of vertical posts, each
of said vertical posts comprising an inner wall, two sidewalls
spacedly extended from said inner wall, and an outer wall extended
from said sidewalls that said outer wall is spaced apart from said
inner wall, wherein said inner wall has two L-shaped inner wall
members in which each having a first inner wall portion extended
from said sidewall and a second inner wall portion inwardly bent
from said first inner wall portion toward said outer wall, wherein
said second inner wall portions are extended between said two
sidewalls, wherein a retention slot is formed at a space between
said second inner wall portions of said inner wall members for
coupling with an end of each of the cross members through the
retention slot, wherein two columns of attachment slots, are formed
on said first inner wall portions of said inner wall members
respectively for coupling two of the shelf supporting beams at
opposite directions so as to interconnect two or more shelving
apparatus to form the multiple shelving apparatus.
16. The dual side post, as recited in claim 15, wherein each of
said attachment slots has a keyhole having a larger upper hole
portion and a smaller lower hole portion.
17. The dual side post, as recited in claim 15, wherein an outer
surface of said outer wall and two side surfaces of said sidewalls
of each of said vertical posts are flat and hole-less surfaces.
18. The dual side post, as recited in claim 16, wherein an outer
surface of said outer wall and two side surfaces of said sidewalls
of each of said vertical posts are flat and hole-less surfaces.
19. The dual side post, as recited in claim 15, wherein said inner
wall, said sidewalls, and said outer wall are integrally formed to
configure each of said vertical posts with a rectangular cross
section.
20. The dual side post, as recited in claim 18, wherein said inner
wall, said sidewalls, and said outer wall are integrally formed to
configure each of said vertical posts with a rectangular cross
section.
Description
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent
disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0002] Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a shelving apparatus, and
more particularly to a dual side post for a multiple shelving
apparatus, wherein a plurality of shelving apparatus can be
interlocked with each other side-by-side to selectively expand a
longitudinal size of the shelving apparatus and to substantially
distribute the weight force of an object on one of the shelving
apparatus.
[0004] Description of Related Arts
[0005] A conventional shelf structure comprises four vertical posts
vertically extended from four corners of the shelf structure and a
plurality of supporting panels horizontally and spacedly coupled at
the vertical posts to form a shelving unit for supporting objects.
In addition, each supporting panel comprises a plurality of beams
coupled between two of the post member and a panel body supported
by the beams. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,397 disclosed a beam
coupled between two posts B1. As shown in FIG. 1, the beam has an
outside vertical wall A1, a bottom wall A2 extending horizontally
from the bottom of the vertical wall A1, a top wall A3 extending
horizontally from the vertical wall A1 with a vertically downwardly
extending wall A4 extending from the top wall A3, an inwardly
extending horizontally wall A5 and a vertically downwardly
extending wall A6.
[0006] However, such beam structure has several drawbacks.
Accordingly, the beam structure requires two lockers to lock the
ends of the beam with the posts B1 respectively. In particular,
each locker has a locking mechanism to lock up the bottom wall A2
and the horizontally wall A5 of the beam to the post B1, such that
when the object is supported on the supporting panel, the downward
weighting force of the object will substantially exert to the
bottom wall A2 and the horizontally wall A5 to create stress
thereat. Since the bottom wall A2 and the horizontally wall A5 are
spacedly extended from the vertical wall A1 of the beam, the
excessive downward force of the object will bend the bottom wall A2
and the horizontally wall A5, and even twist the beam. Once the
bottom wall A2 or the horizontally wall A5 is bent or deformed, the
beam cannot be stably supported by the post B1. In addition, the
locking engagement between the beam and the locker requires a
clearance in order to enable the bottom wall A2 and the
horizontally wall A5 to be locked up with the locker. The clearance
will create an unwanted movement between the beam and the post B1.
Therefore, the overall structure of the shelving unit become wobble
and unstable.
[0007] Furthermore, each post B1 has a post wall B2 and a plurality
of rectangular openings B3 spacedly formed on the post wall B2.
When the beam is coupled at the post wall B2 of the post B1 through
the rectangular openings B3, stress will create at the rectangular
openings B3 and will transfer to post wall B2. It is worth
mentioning that the post B1 is made of rectangular hollow sheet
metal, such that the stress at the rectangular opening B3 will tear
the post wall B2. Especially when two columns of rectangular
openings B3 are formed on the same post wall B2 of the post B1 for
connecting with two beams, the two opposed stress force from two
beams will oppositely tear the post wall B2 apart. In other words,
the overall structure of the shelving unit will be collapsed once
the post B1 is broken.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] The invention is advantageous in that it provides a dual
side post for a multiple shelving apparatus, wherein a plurality of
shelving apparatus can be interlocked with each other side-by-side
to selectively expand a longitudinal size of the shelving apparatus
and to substantially distribute the weight force of an object on
one of the shelving apparatus.
[0009] Another advantage of the invention is to a dual side post
for a multiple shelving apparatus, wherein the end of the beam
member can be quickly and rigidly attached to a dual side post for
substantially distributing the weight force of an object to the
dual side post.
[0010] Another advantage of the invention is to a dual side post
for a multiple shelving apparatus, wherein a longitudinal size of
the shelving structure can be selectively expanded by coupling two
beam members to two sides of one dual side post respectively.
[0011] Another advantage of the invention is to provide a dual side
post for a multiple shelving apparatus, wherein no expensive or
complicated structure is required to employ in the present
invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects.
Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic
and efficient solution for providing a rigid configuration for
interconnecting two or more shelving apparatus with each other.
[0012] Additional advantages and features of the invention will
become apparent from the description which follows, and may be
realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations
particular point out in the appended claims.
[0013] According to the present invention, the foregoing and other
objects and advantages are attained by a dual side post for a
multiple shelving apparatus constructed by two or more shelving
apparatus each comprising a plurality of shelf supporting beams and
a plurality of cross members, wherein the dual side post comprises
a plurality of vertical posts.
[0014] Each of the vertical posts has an inner attachment surface,
a plurality of attachment slots spacedly formed at the inner
attachment surface, and a retention slot formed on the inner
attachment surface for coupling with an end of each of the cross
members through the retention slot, wherein the attachment slots
are lined up in two columns that the retention slot is located
between the two columns of the attachment slots, such that at least
one of the vertical posts serves as a common post that the two
columns of the attachment slots thereof are arranged for
respectively coupling two of the shelf supporting beams at opposite
directions so as to interconnect two or more shelving apparatus to
form the multiple shelving apparatus.
[0015] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
[0016] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a sectional perspective view of a beam structure
of a conventional shelf.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shelving apparatus
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a partially perspective view of the post locker of
the shelving apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the post locker of the
shelving apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the vertical post of the
shelving apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment of
the present invention, illustrating the post locker coupled at the
vertical post.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the beam member of the
shelving apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the reinforcing member of
the shelving apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 7A illustrates an engagement between the reinforcing
members and the longitudinal slot according to the above preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the shelf platform of the
shelving apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 9A illustrates the shelf platform supported at the
first position according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0027] FIG. 9B illustrates the shelf platform supported at second
first position according to the above preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0028] FIG. 10 illustrates two beam members coupling with the
vertical post as a common post to expand a longitudinal size of the
shelving apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] The following description is disclosed to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred
embodiments are provided in the following description only as
examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the
art. The general principles defined in the following description
would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications,
equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, a dual side post for a multiple
shelving apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated, wherein the multiple shelving
apparatus is constructed by two or more shelving apparatus.
Accordingly, each of the shelving apparatus comprises one or more
supporting frames. Each of the supporting frame comprises a shelf
platform 20 and a plurality of shelf supporting beams 30 for
supporting the shelf platform 20. The dual side post of the present
invention is arranged to interconnect two or more shelving
apparatus to form the multiple shelving apparatus, wherein the dual
side post comprises a plurality of vertical posts 10.
[0031] Each of the vertical posts 10 is supported in a vertically
oriented manner to serve as a corner post of the shelving
apparatus. In one embodiment, four vertical posts 10 are provided
that four corners of the supporting frame are coupled at the
vertical posts 10 respectively. According to the preferred
embodiment, each of the vertical posts 10 generally has a
rectangular cross section and defines an inner wall 101, two
sidewalls 102 spacedly extended from the inner wall 101, and an
outer wall 103 extended from the sidewalls 103 that the outer wall
103 is spaced apart from the inner wall 101. In particular, each of
the vertical post 10 has an inner attachment surface 11 defined on
the inner wall 101, two side surfaces 12 integrally and
perpendicularly extended from the inner attachment surface 11 and
defined on the two sidewalls 102 respectively, and a plurality of
attachment slots 13 spacedly formed at the inner attachment surface
11. It is worth mentioning that, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner
attachment surfaces 11 of the two vertical posts 10 in a transverse
direction of the shelving apparatus face toward each other while
the side surfaces 12 of the two vertical posts 10 in a longitudinal
direction of the shelving apparatus face toward each other. In
addition, the side surfaces 12 and an outer surface at the outer
wall 103 of the vertical post 10 are flat and smooth surfaces that
no hole or slot is formed thereon.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, each of the vertical post 10
further has a vertical retention slot 14 indented on the inner
attachment surface 11. Preferably, the retention slot 14 is formed
at the middle of the inner attachment surface 11. In other words,
only the inner attachment surface 11 has the attachment slots 13
and the retention slot 14 formed therein. Accordingly, the inner
wall 101 has two L-shaped inner wall members, wherein each of the
inner wall members has a first inner wall portion 1011
perpendicularly extended from the sidewall 102 and a second inner
wall portion 1012 inwardly bent from the first inner wall portion
1011 toward the outer wall 103. The retention slot 14 is defined at
a space between the second inner wall portions 1012 of the inner
wall members.
[0033] The attachment slots 13 are lined up in a column manner. In
particular, the attachment slots 13 are formed at the first inner
wall portions 1011 of the inner wall members of the inner wall 101.
Therefore, two columns of the attachment slots 13 are formed on the
inner attachment surface 11 of the vertical post 10 at a position
that the retention slot 14 is formed between the columns of the
attachment slots 13. Each of the attachment slots 13, having a
keyhole configuration, has an enlarged upper slot portion 131 and
an elongated lower slot portion 132, wherein a size of the upper
hole portion 131 is larger than a size of the lower hole portion
132.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the supporting frame further
comprises a plurality of cross members 40 extended between the
vertical posts 10 to form a side boundary of the shelving
apparatus. Accordingly, each of the cross members 40 has two ends
detachably coupled at the retention slots 14 of the two vertical
posts in a transverse direction. In other words, the cross member
40 is perpendicularly extended from the inner attachment surface 11
of the inner wall 101 of the vertical post 10. Preferably, the
cross member 40 is located at the same level of the shelf
supporting beam 30 that the cross member 40 is perpendicularly
aligned the shelf supporting beam 30 end-to-end.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the supporting frame comprises
four different supporting levels, wherein at each supporting level,
there are one shelf platform 30, two shelf supporting beams 30, and
two cross members 40.
[0036] According to the preferred embodiment, the shelf platform 20
is a wire shelf made by a plurality of longitudinal and transverse
wires intersecting with each other. It should be appreciated that
the shelf platform 20 can be made of other configurations such as
solid panel, laminated panel, or other materials such as wood or
plastic.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 8, the shelf platform 20 has a surrounding
frame 21 and a base frame 22 located at different horizontal levels
of the surrounding frame 21, wherein the shelf platform 20 is
reversibly supported by the shelf supporting beams 30. Accordingly,
the base frame 22 is constructed to have a wire shelf
configuration, wherein the surrounding frame 21 is formed as a
surrounding wall and is upwardly extended from the base frame 22.
In particular, a circumferential size of the surrounding frame 21
is smaller than a circumferential size of the base frame 22.
[0038] Each of the shelf supporting beams 30 is detachably coupled
with two of the vertical posts 10, such that the shelf supporting
beams 30 form a boundary frame to support the shelf platform 20
therewithin. In particular, each of the shelf supporting beams 30
has two ends arranged for detachably coupling with two of the
vertical posts 10. Accordingly, two of the shelf supporting beams
30 serve as a front boundary and a rear boundary respectively, such
that the boundary frame is formed between the front boundary and
the rear boundary. Preferably, the length of the front boundary
matches with the length of the rear boundary.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, each of the shelf supporting beams
30 comprises a beam member 31 and two post lockers 32 provided at
two ends of the beam member 31 to detachably couple at two of the
vertical posts 10 respectively.
[0040] Each of the beam members 31 has a planar structure to be
detachably coupled at two of the vertical posts 10 via the post
lockers 32. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the beam members 31
comprises a vertical beam wall 311, a top beam wall 312 integrally
and horizontally extended from a top edge of the vertical beam wall
311, and a recessed beam flange 313 integrally extended from the
top beam wall 312 to define a platform supporting surface 314 to
support the shelf platform 20 thereon.
[0041] The recessed beam flange 313 comprises a vertical flange
wall 3131 downwardly extended the top beam wall and a U-shaped
folded platform supporting wall 3132 integrally and horizontally
extended from the vertical flange wall 3131 to define the platform
supporting surface 314 on the folded platform supporting wall 3132.
Accordingly, the folded platform supporting wall 3132 has a double
wall structure not only for rigidly supporting the shelf platform
20 on the platform supporting surface 314 but also reinforce the
structure of the recessed beam flange 313 to prevent any twisting
movement or torque created thereat when the object is placed and
supported on the shelf platform 20.
[0042] As it is mentioned that the shelf platform 20 is reversibly
supported by the shelf supporting beams 30. In particular, the base
frame 22 of the shelf platform 20 is supported on the platform
supporting surfaces 314 of the beam members 31 at a first position
and a reversibly second position. At the first position, as shown
in FIG. 9A, the base frame 22 is supported by the platform
supporting surfaces 314 of the shelf supporting beams 30 at a
position that the surrounding frame 21 of the shelf platform 20 is
located above the base frame 22 to form an obstruction wall of the
shelf platform 20. At the second position, as shown in FIG. 9B, the
base frame 22 is supported by the platform supporting surfaces 314
of the shelf supporting beams 30 at a position that the surrounding
frame 21 is located below the base frame 22 to form a boundary-less
frame structure.
[0043] Each of the beam members 31 further comprises a reinforcing
wall 315 integrally extended and inwardly folded on the vertical
beam wall 313 at a bottom edge thereof to bias against the post
locker 32, and at least one longitudinal reinforcing rib 316
integrally and outwardly extended from the vertical beam wall 311.
Accordingly, the reinforcing wall 315 is inwardly folded to overlap
on an inner side of the vertical beam wall 313 at the bottom edge
thereof, wherein the reinforcing wall 315 and the bottom portion of
the vertical beam wall 313 also form a double wall structure to
reinforce the structure of the vertical beam wall 313 to prevent
any twisting movement or torque created thereat. As shown in FIG.
6, two longitudinal reinforcing ribs 316 are extended in parallel,
wherein each of the longitudinal reinforcing ribs 316 has a curved
cross section integrally bent at a mid-portion of the vertical beam
wall 313 to reinforce the structure of the vertical beam wall 313
to prevent any twisting movement or torque created thereat.
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the post lockers 32
comprises an extension wall 321 perpendicularly extended from the
beam member 31 to bias against the side surface 12 of the vertical
post 10, a locker wall 322 perpendicularly extended from the
extension wall 321 to bias against the inner attachment surface 11
of the vertical post 10, and at least a locking element 323
provided at the locker wall 322 to selectively engage with at least
one of the attachment slots 13 so as to detachably couple the shelf
supporting beam 30 between the vertical posts 10 at a position that
the beam member 31 is extended between the side surfaces 12 of the
vertical posts 10. In particular, two ends of the beam member 31
are rigidly mounted with the two post lockers 32 respectively,
wherein each of the extension wall 321 of the post locker 32 has a
locker tail 3211 extended to fittingly fill the space underneath
the top beam wall 312 at an opposite side of the platform
supporting surface 314, as shown in FIG. 4. In other words, the
shape of the beam member 31, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, is rigidly
supported and retained by means of the extension walls 321 of the
two post lockers 32 at two ends thereof. Therefore, the top beam
wall 312 can be strengthened by the locker tail 3211 when the shelf
platform 20 is supported on the platform supporting surface
314.
[0045] It is appreciated that, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, when the
shelf platform 20 as shown in FIG. 8 sits on the platform
supporting surface 314 of the beam member 31, the downward force
applied on the platform supporting surface 314 is supported and
held by supporting wall 312 which is further reinforced by the
reinforcing ribs 316 that not only prevent the beam wall from being
bent and deformed, but also provide better supporting ability to
the supporting wall 312 and the supporting surface 314. It is worth
mentioning that two ends of the beam members 31 are coupled at two
of the vertical posts 10 via the post lockers 32 respectively, such
that the longitudinal reinforcing ribs 316 will generate an
anti-twist reinforcing force to reinforce the planar structure of
the vertical beam wall 311 so as to prevent any twisting force
created thereat. In addition, when the downward force is applied on
the platform supporting surface 314 on the recessed beam flange
313, the downward force will transfer to the vertical beam wall
311. Therefore, the reinforcing force from the reinforcing rib 316
will withstand the downward force at the vertical beam wall 311. In
other words, the reinforcing ribs 316 will also reinforce the
downward force applied on the platform supporting surface 314.
Furthermore, by configuring the longitudinal reinforcing rib 316 to
have a curved cross section outwardly extended from the vertical
beam wall 311, the longitudinal reinforcing rib 316 will also
generate a resilient force at the curved portion thereof. The
direction of the resilient force of the longitudinal reinforcing
rib 316 is opposite to the downward force applied on the platform
supporting surface 314, such that the longitudinal reinforcing rib
316 will also enhance the supporting ability of the platform
supporting surface 314 to support a heavier load thereon.
[0046] Accordingly, the angle between the extension wall 321 and
the locker wall 322 matches with the angle between the inner
attachment surface 11 of the vertical post 10 and the side surface
12 thereof. Preferably, the angle between the extension wall 321
and the locker wall 322 is 90 degrees. Therefore, when the locking
element 323 is engaged with the respective attachment slot 13, the
extension wall 321 and the locker wall 322 will overlappedly biased
against the side surface 12 and the inner attachment surface 11 of
the vertical post 10 respectively. It is worth mentioning that when
the locking elements 323 are engaged with the attachment slots 13
respectively, the locker wall 322 is biased against the first inner
wall portion 1011 to cover the attachment slots 13. In other words,
the corresponding attachment slots 13 are covered by the locker
wall 322 once the post locker 32 is coupled at the vertical post
10.
[0047] Each of the post lockers 32 further comprises an attachment
wall 324 perpendicularly extended from extension wall 321, wherein
the attachment wall 324 is overlappedly attached to the vertical
beam wall 311 of the beam member 31. In other words, when the
attachment wall 324 is overlappedly attached to the vertical beam
wall 311 of the beam member 31, the extension wall 321 is
perpendicularly extended from the vertical beam wall 311 of the
beam member 31. It is worth mentioning that two opposed edges of
the extension wall 321 are integrally extended between the locker
wall 322 and the attachment wall 324 at a position that the locker
wall 322 and the attachment wall 324 are extended from the
extension wall 321 at opposite directions. In other words, the
locker wall 322 and the attachment wall 324 are extended in
parallel.
[0048] The locking element 323 is slidably passed through the upper
slot portion 131 of the respective attachment slot 13 and is
downwardly slid to engage with the lower slot portion 132 of the
attachment slot 13 so as to detachably lock up the beam member 31
with the vertical post 10. In particular, the locking element 323
has an elongated neck portion 3231 extended from the locker wall
322 and an enlarged head portion 3232 extended from a free end of
the neck portion 3231. The size of the head portion 3232 of the
locking element 323 is smaller than the size of the upper slot
portion 131 of the attachment slot 13 and is larger than the size
of the lower slot portion 132 of the attachment slot 13. Also, the
size of the neck portion 3231 is smaller than the lower slot
portion 132 of the attachment slot 13. Therefore, when the head
portion 3232 of the locking element 323 passes through the upper
slot portion 131 of the attachment slot 13, the neck portion 3231
of the locking element 323 is downwardly slid to engage with the
lower slot portion 132 of the attachment slot 13, as shown in FIG.
5. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, two locking elements 323 are spacedly
provided on the locker wall 322 to detachably engage with two
adjacent attachment slots 13 respectively, so as to prevent any
unwanted movement between the beam member 31 and the vertical post
10.
[0049] Each of the post lockers 32 further comprises a retention
wall 325 perpendicularly extended from the locker wall 322 to
slidably insert into the retention slot 14 when the locking element
323 is engaged with the attachment slot 13. As shown in FIGS. 4 and
5, the extension wall 321, the locker wall 322, and the retention
wall 325 form a U-shaped configuration, wherein a distance between
the retention slot 14 and the side surface 12 of the vertical post
10 matches with a distance between the extension wall 321 and the
retention wall 325 of the post locker 32. In other words, the
extension wall 321 and the retention wall 325 are integrally
extended from two opposed edges of the locker wall 322
respectively. Therefore, when the locker wall 322 is biased against
the inner attachment surface 11 of the vertical post 10, the
extension wall 321 is biased against the side surface 12 of the
vertical post 10 while the retention wall 325 is slid into the
retention slot 14. Preferably, two retention walls 325 are spacedly
extended from the locker wall 322 at the upper and lower portions
thereof respectively.
[0050] Therefore, the post locker 32 provides three different
locking mechanisms to securely lock up the beam member 31 to the
vertical post 10. In particular, the first locking mechanism is
that the locking element 323 is engaged with the attachment slot 13
of the vertical post 10. The second locking mechanism is the
surface engagement between the extension wall 321 and the side
surface 12 of the vertical post 10, and the surface engagement
between the locker wall 322 and the inner attachment surface 11 of
the vertical post 10. The third locking mechanism is that the
retention wall 325 is slidably inserted into the retention slot 14
of the vertical post 10.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 7, the supporting frame further comprises a
plurality of reinforcing members 33 extended between two of the
beam members 31, wherein the reinforcing members 33 are extended
parallelly to the cross members 40 to support the shelf platform
20. Accordingly, each of the beam members 31 further has at least a
longitudinal slot 318 formed at an inner side thereof, such that
two ends of each of the reinforcing members 33 are detachably
engaged with the longitudinal slots 318 of two of the beam members
31 to reinforce the beam members 31 and to retain a fixed distance
therebetween. In particular, each of the reinforcing members 33 has
a L-shaped reinforcing panel 331 to support the shelf platform 20,
and two coupling latches 332 integrally extended from two ends of
the reinforcing panel 331 respectively and opposedly extended with
each other to slidably engage with the longitudinal slots 318 of
two of the beam members 31 respectively. Accordingly, each of the
coupling latches 332 is perpendicularly extended from the end of
the reinforcing panel 331.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 7A, each of the coupling latches 332 has a
tapered latch portion 3321 perpendicularly extended from the end of
the reinforcing panel 331 and an inserting end portion 3322
integrally extended from the latch portion 3321. In other words,
two slanted edges are defined at the latch portion 3321, wherein
the inserting end portion 3322 has a uniform width. In order to
form the longitudinal slot 318, a coupling panel 317 is
overlappedly attached to the inner side of the beam member 31 to
define the longitudinal slot 318 between the coupling panel 317 and
the inner side of the beam member 31. In particular, a peripheral
edge of the coupling panel 317 is welded to the inner side of the
beam member 31, wherein the coupling panel 317 is punched, via a
metal punching machine, to form the longitudinal slot 318 with a
shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of the coupling
latch 332. Therefore, after the inserting end 3322 of the coupling
latch 332 is inserted into the longitudinal slot 318, the latch
portion 3321 of the coupling latch 332 is frictionally engaged with
the longitudinal slot 318 so as to evenly distribute the weight
force of the object to the beam members 31 and to prevent any
torque generated at the reinforcing members 33 and/or the beam
members 31.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 8, the shelf platform 20 further has a
plurality of guiding notches 23 spacedly formed along the
surrounding frame 21, wherein each of the reinforcing members 33 is
fitted into the guiding notches 23 when the shelf platform 20 is
supported at the second position. It is worth mentioning that at
the second position, as shown in FIG. 9B, the base frame 22 is
supported by the platform supporting surfaces 314 of the shelf
supporting beams 30 at a position that the surrounding frame 21 is
located below the base frame 22 to form the boundary-less frame
structure.
[0054] It is worth mentioning that for the four-leveled supporting
frame of the instant invention, the structural configuration of the
shelving apparatus can withstand totally 6000 lbs of object without
deforming or twisting the supporting frame. In other words, each
supporting level of the supporting frame can withstand 1500 lbs of
object to be placed thereon without damaging the structure of the
shelving apparatus since the weight force of the object can be
substantially distributed to the beam members 31 and the vertical
posts 10.
[0055] In addition, two columns of the attachment slots 13 are
formed on the inner attachment surface 11 of each of the vertical
posts 10, wherein two of the shelf supporting beams 30 are
detachably coupled at the vertical post 10 as a common post at the
opposite directions as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 10 to selectively
expand a longitudinal size of the shelving apparatus. In other
words, the locking element 323 of one of the shelf supporting beams
30 is engaged with the attachment slot 13 at the first column while
the locking element 323 of the other shelf supporting beam 30 is
engaged with the attachment slot 13 at the second column, such that
the two shelf supporting beams 30 are opposedly extended from the
common vertical post 10 and are aligned with each other end-to-end.
In other words, two or more shelving apparatus are interconnected
side-by-side via the common post to form a multiple shelving
apparatus. Therefore, the longitudinal expansion of the shelving
apparatus could be unlimited and the object supported thereon will
be evenly distributed to the entire structure of the shelving
apparatus. It is worth mentioning that when the object is loaded at
one of the shelving apparatus, the object can be supported by the
multiple shelving apparatus through the common posts. In addition,
the multiple shelving apparatus will also provide a stable and
rigid support by interlocking the different shelving apparatus with
each other via the common posts.
[0056] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
[0057] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The
embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of
illustrating the functional and structural principles of the
present invention and is subject to change without departure from
such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
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