U.S. patent application number 15/585055 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-08 for shelf structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to MALZINE CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is PAO-HSUN TANG. Invention is credited to PAO-HSUN TANG.
Application Number | 20180317651 15/585055 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64013495 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180317651 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TANG; PAO-HSUN |
November 8, 2018 |
SHELF STRUCTURE
Abstract
A shelf structure may include four vertical posts, a plurality
of spacers, a plurality of connecting tubes and at least two shelf
boards. Each of the vertical posts has a plurality of peripheral
grooves separated with the same interval and sequentially formed on
a surface thereof, and each of spacers comprises two arc pieces
which are configured to fit together to secure the spacer on the
vertical post. When an additional shelf board is needed, a user can
directly mount the spacers and connecting tubes respectively on the
four vertical posts to enable the additional shelf board to be
assembled between the vertical posts, thereby achieving the
quick-assembly effect. Moreover, the connecting tube has two
engaging slots which enable an additional shelf board to be
directly assembled and extended from a side of the shelf when
cooperating with additional vertical posts.
Inventors: |
TANG; PAO-HSUN; (Changhua,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TANG; PAO-HSUN |
Changhua |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
MALZINE CO., LTD.
CHANGHUA
TW
|
Family ID: |
64013495 |
Appl. No.: |
15/585055 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 57/34 20130101;
A47B 47/0083 20130101; A47B 57/545 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47B 57/54 20060101
A47B057/54; A47B 47/00 20060101 A47B047/00; A47B 57/34 20060101
A47B057/34 |
Claims
1. A shelf structure comprising: four vertical posts; each of the
vertical posts having a plurality of peripheral grooves separated
with the same interval and sequentially formed on a surface
thereof; a plurality of spacers; each of the spacers comprising two
arc pieces which are configured to fit together to secure the
spacer on the vertical post, and an inner surface of the arc piece
having a rib which is adapted to be received in and engaged with
the peripheral groove; a plurality of connecting tubes; each of the
connecting tubes, which is configured to couple around an outer
periphery of the spacer, having two engaging slots at two
corresponding sides thereof; and at least two shelf boards; each
shelf board secured by at least two arc panels which are evenly
located at two parallel edges thereof and enable the shelf board to
be horizontally positioned between the four vertical posts, wherein
the two arc panels on one edge of the shelf board are located at
positions corresponding to the two arc panels at another edge
thereof; each of the arc panels comprising two engaging notches
upwardly formed from a bottom edge thereof, and an engaging member,
which is formed between the two engaging notches, configured to
engage with the engaging slot of the connecting tube, wherein an
upper portion of the arc panel comprises a plurality of
substantially triangular engaging points which are configured to
couple with an outer surface of the connecting tube to tightly
assemble the arc panel with the connecting tube.
2. The shelf structure of claim 1, wherein the spacers and the
connecting tubes are formed in a tapered-drum shape.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a shelf structure, and more
particularly to a shelf structure with low manufacturing cost and
convenient to use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Referring to FIG. 16, a conventional shelf (50) comprises a
plurality of supporting posts (51) and a plurality of shelf boards
(52), and each of the supporting posts (51) has a plurality of
peripheral grooves (511) sequentially formed on a post body
thereof. A plurality of locating members (53) is configured to
dispose on the post body of the supporting post (51), and each of
the locating members (53) comprises two arc panels which are
configured to fit together to form a tapered-drum shape. Each of
the locating members (53) has an engaging rib (531) protruding from
an inner edge thereof. The shelf board (52) is made of metal bars
through welding, and each of four corners of the shelf board (52)
is connected with a connecting tube (521) through welding. A user
can secure corresponding locating members (53) on the supporting
posts (51) at a same height, and each of the engaging ribs (531) of
the locating member (53) is configured to engage with the
peripheral groove (511). Moreover, the connecting tubes (521) of
the single shelf board (52) are configured to firmly couple with
the locating members (53) at the same height thereby enabling the
shelf board (52) to be supported by the supporting posts (51).
[0003] However, the conventional shelf is disadvantageous because:
(i) the shelf board (52) is secured between the supporting posts
(51) through connecting the connecting tubes (521) with the
locating members (53) at the same height. In this way, each of the
connecting tubes (521) has to firmly couple with the locating
member (53) to steady the shelf board. As a result, after assembly,
the locating members (53) cannot be moved freely and the shelf (50)
has limitations when needing to add more shelf boards (52) thereon
according to use conditions; and (ii) after assembly, a user cannot
directly assemble additional shelf boards (52) without more
supporting posts, which is inconvenient to use. Therefore, there
remains a need for a new and improved design for a shelf to
overcome the problems presented above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a shelf structure which
comprises four vertical posts, a plurality of spacers, a plurality
of connecting tubes and at least two shelf boards. Each of the
vertical posts has a plurality of peripheral grooves separated with
the same interval and sequentially formed on a surface thereof, and
each of spacers comprises two arc pieces which are configured to
fit together to secure the spacer on the vertical post. Moreover,
an inner surface of the arc piece has a rib which is adapted to be
received in and engaged with the peripheral groove. Each of the
connecting tubes has a first arc member and a second arc member,
which are configured to fit together and couple around an outer
periphery of the spacer, wherein the spacers and the connecting
tubes are formed in a tapered-drum shape. Additionally, each of two
lateral ends of the first arc member has a first engaging portion
and an L-shaped first protruding piece respectively formed at a
middle portion and protruding from a lower portion thereof. Also,
each of two lateral ends of the second arc member comprises a
second engaging portion and an L-shaped second protruding piece
respectively formed at a middle portion and protruding from a lower
portion thereof. The first arc member is configured to fit together
with the second arc member, and the two first engaging portions of
the first arc member are adapted to respectively engage with the
two second engaging portions of the second arc member at
corresponding positions. Furthermore, each of the two first
protruding pieces is configured to abut against the corresponding
second protruding piece to form an engaging slot above the first
protruding piece and the second protruding piece. Each of the two
shelf boards has four arc panels evenly located at two parallel
edges thereof; i.e. each of the two edges has two arc panels, and
the two arc panels on one edge are located at positons
corresponding to the two arc panels at another edge. Furthermore,
each of the arc panels comprises two engaging notches upwardly
formed from a bottom edge thereof, and an engaging member is formed
between the two engaging notches. In addition, the shelf board is
configured to be positioned between the four vertical posts.
[0005] Comparing with conventional shelves, the present invention
is advantageous because: (i) the single connecting tube is mounted
on the vertical post through fitting the first arc member and the
second arc member together, and the four corresponding connecting
tubes are mounted on the four vertical posts at the same height
such that the shelf board is configured to be horizontally
assembled between the vertical posts through engaging the arc
panels with the engaging slots; when an additional shelf board is
needed, a user can directly mount the spacers and connecting tubes
respectively on the four vertical posts to enable the additional
shelf board to be assembled between the vertical posts, thereby
achieving the quick-assembly effect; and (ii) the two engaging
slots are respectively located at the outer periphery and inner
periphery of the single vertical post, and by cooperating with two
additional vertical posts, an additional shelf board is configured
to be directly assembled between the two vertical posts at a
designated edge of the shelf and the two additional vertical posts,
which lowers the costs and greatly increases the practicability of
the shelf.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional assembly view of a shelf
structure of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the shelf
structure of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the shelf structure of
the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a connecting tube is
mounted on a vertical post of the shelf structure in the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 is another schematic view illustrating the connecting
tube is mounted on the vertical post of the shelf structure in the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an edge of a shelf
board is engaged with the connecting tube of the shelf structure in
the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 7 is another schematic view illustrating the edge of
the shelf board is engaged with the connecting tube of the shelf
structure in the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a second embodiment of the connecting tube of the
shelf structure in the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a third embodiment of the connecting tube of the
shelf structure in the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a fourth embodiment of the connecting tube of the
shelf structure in the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a fifth embodiment of the connecting tube of the
shelf structure in the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 12 is another embodiment of the shelf board of the
shelf structure in the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 13 is the third embodiment of the shelf board of the
shelf structure in the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating an additional shelf
board is assembled with an edge of the shelf structure in the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating the shelf board is
disengaged from the shelf structure of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 16 is a prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The detailed description set forth below is intended as a
description of the presently exemplary device provided in
accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not
intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention
may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that
the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished
by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed
within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0023] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although
any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those
described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention,
the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.
[0024] All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for
the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs
and methodologies that are described in the publications that might
be used in connection with the presently described invention. The
publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the
text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing
date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed
as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate
such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
[0025] In order to further understand the goal, characteristics and
effect of the present invention, a number of embodiments along with
the drawings are illustrated as following:
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the present invention provides a
shelf structure which comprises four vertical posts (10), a
plurality of spacers (20), a plurality of connecting tubes (30) and
at least two shelf boards (40). Each of the vertical posts (10) has
a plurality of peripheral grooves (11) separated with the same
interval and sequentially formed on a surface thereof, and each of
spacers (20) comprises two arc pieces (21) which are configured to
fit together to secure the spacer (20) on the vertical post (10).
Moreover, an inner surface of the arc piece (21) has a rib (22)
which is adapted to be received in and engaged with the peripheral
groove (11). Each of the connecting tubes (30) has a first arc
member (31) and a second arc member (32), which are configured to
fit together and couple around an outer periphery of the spacer
(20), wherein the spacers (20) and the connecting tubes (30) are
formed in a tapered-drum shape. Additionally, each of two lateral
ends of the first arc member (31) has a first engaging portion
(311) and an L-shaped first protruding piece (312) respectively
formed at a middle portion and protruding from a lower portion
thereof. Also, each of two lateral ends of the second arc member
(32) comprises a second engaging portion (321) and an L-shaped
second protruding piece (322) respectively formed at a middle
portion and protruding from a lower portion thereof. The first arc
member (31) is configured to fit together with the second arc
member (32), and the two first engaging portions (311) of the first
arc member (31) are adapted to respectively engage with the two
second engaging portions (321) of the second arc member (32) at
corresponding positions. Furthermore, each of the two first
protruding pieces (312) is configured to abut against the
corresponding second protruding piece (322) to form an engaging
slot (33) above the first protruding piece (312) and the second
protruding piece (322). Each of the two shelf boards (40) has four
arc panels (41) evenly located at two parallel edges thereof; i.e.
each of the two edges has two arc panels (41), and the two arc
panels (41) on one edge are located at positons corresponding to
the two arc panels (41) at another edge. Furthermore, each of the
arc panels (41) comprises two engaging notches (411) upwardly
formed from a bottom edge thereof, and an engaging member (412) is
formed between the two engaging notches (411). In addition, the
shelf board (40) is configured to be positioned between the four
vertical posts (10).
[0027] Structurally, referring to FIGS. 1, to 7, the two shelf
boards (40) are respectively and horizontally positioned between
the four vertical posts (10) at two different height levels, and
the spacers (20) are respectively and firmly coupled on the surface
of the vertical posts (10) through the peripheral grooves (11). The
connecting tubes (30) are respectively engaged with and limited
positions by the spacers (20). In one embodiment, the two first
engaging portions (311) at the two lateral ends of the first arc
member (31) are respectively formed as a first fastener and a first
slot, and the two second engaging portions (321) at the two lateral
ends of the second arc member (32) are respectively formed as a
second slot and a second fastener, which are configured to engage
with the first fastener and the first slot respectively, wherein
the first fastener and the second fastener are configured to be
inserted into and secured inside the first slot and the second slot
respectively, thus completing the assembly between the first arc
member (31) and the second arc member (32). Meanwhile, the two
first protruding pieces (312) on the two lateral ends of the first
arc member (31) are respectively abutted against the two second
protruding pieces (322) on the two lateral ends of the
corresponding second arc member (32), thereby forming the two
engaging slots (33) located at an inner periphery and an outer
periphery of the vertical post (10) respectively. Thereafter,
through the four arc panels (41) engaged with the engaging slots
(33) formed at the inner peripheries of the vertical posts (10),
each of the two shelf boards (40) is adapted to be engaged with the
four connecting tubes (30) and firmly secured between the four
vertical posts (10). In the assembly process, each of the engaging
members (412) of the arc panel (41) is configured to be positioned
downwardly to engaged with the engaging slot (33) located between
the first protruding piece (312) and the second protruding piece
(322), thereby completing the assembly.
[0028] In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 8, the two first
engaging portions (311) at the two lateral ends of the first arc
member (31) are respectively formed as two third fasteners, and the
two second engaging portions (321) at the two lateral ends of the
second arc member (32) are respectively formed as two third slots
which are configured to respectively engage with the corresponding
third fasteners, thereby completing the assembly between the first
arc member (31) and the second arc member (32). Moreover, in still
another embodiment, the two second engaging portions (321) are
respectively formed as two fourth fasteners while the two first
engaging portions (311) are respectively formed as two fourth
slots, which are configured to engage with the two fourth fasteners
respectively, thereby completing the assembly between the first arc
member (31) and the second arc member (32).
[0029] In a further embodiment, referring to FIG. 9, the two first
engaging portions (311) at the two lateral ends of the first arc
member (31) are respectively formed as a first oblique hook and a
first oblique recess, and the two second engaging portions (321) at
the two lateral ends of the second arc member (32) are respectively
formed as a second oblique recess and a second oblique hook, which
are configured to respectively engage with the first oblique hook
and the first oblique recess, thereby completing the assembly
between the first arc member (31) and the second arc member
(32).
[0030] In still a further embodiment, referring to FIG. 10, the two
first engaging portions (311) at the two lateral ends of the first
arc member (31) are respectively formed as two third oblique hooks,
and the two second engaging portions (321) at the two lateral ends
of the second arc member (32) are respectively formed as two third
oblique recesses, which are configured to respectively engage with
the two third oblique hooks, thereby completing the assembly
between the first arc member (31) and the second arc member (32).
Additionally, in yet a further embodiment, the two second engaging
portions (321) are respectively formed as two fourth oblique hooks
while the first second engaging portions (311) are respectively
formed as two fourth oblique recesses, which are configured to
engage with the two fourth oblique hooks respectively, thereby
completing the assembly between the first arc member (31) and the
second arc member (32).
[0031] In a particular embodiment, referring to FIG. 11, the two
first engaging portions (311) at the two lateral ends of the first
arc member (31) are respectively formed as a first round fastener
and a first round slot respectively, and the two second engaging
portions (321) at the two lateral ends of the second arc member
(32) are respectively formed as a second round slot and a second
round fastener, which are configured to engage with the first round
fastener and the first round slot respectively, thereby completing
the assembly between the first arc member (31) and the second arc
member (32).
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, referring to FIG. 12, the four
arc panels (41) are configured to firmly secure on four corners of
the single shelf board (40) through welding, and a concave surface
of the single arc panel (41) is faced outwardly.
[0033] In an advantageous embodiment, referring to FIG. 13, an
upper portion of the concave surface of the single arc panel (41)
comprises a plurality of engaging points (413) which are configured
to couple with an outer surface of the connecting tube (30) thereby
tightly assembling the arc panel (41) with the connecting tube
(30).
[0034] Moreover, referring to FIG. 14, after assembly, the two
engaging slots (33) of the single connecting tube (30) are
respectively located at the inner periphery and the outer periphery
of the single vertical post (10), thereby enabling more shelf
boards (40) to be assembled at sides of the shelf. More
specifically, two additional vertical posts (10) having the spacers
(20) and the connecting tubes (30) thereon are positioned at a
first side of the shelf (10) and separated with a preferred
distance same as the distance between the two vertical posts (10)
on the first side of the shelf, and one of two engaging slots (33)
on the single additional post (10) is configured to align with the
engaging slot (33) at the outer periphery of the corresponding
vertical post (10) on the first side of the shelf while the
engaging slot (33) on the other additional post (10) is configured
to align with the outer engaging slot (33) located on the other
vertical post (10) on the first side of the shelf. As a result,
through engaging the arc panels (41) with the engaging slots (33),
an additional shelf board (40) is configured to be securely
assembled between the two vertical posts (10) at the first side of
the shelf and the two additional vertical posts (10) and the
additional shelf board (40) is located at the same height of the
corresponding shelf board (40) of the shelf, which is convenient to
use. Furthermore, the shelf is configured to be extended from other
edges thereof or further extended from the additional shelf board
(40) in the same way.
[0035] In addition, referring to FIG. 15, since the shelf board
(40) is secured between the vertical posts (10) through engaging
the engaging members (412) of the arc panels (41) with the engaging
slots (33) of the connecting tubes (30), a user can easily
disassemble the shelf board (40) from the shelf by simply pushing
the shelf board (40) upwardly to disengage the engaging members
(412) from the engaging slots (33). Conversely, the shelf board
(40) can be directly assembled between the vertical posts (10) with
the same mechanism.
[0036] Comparing with conventional shelves, the present invention
is advantageous because: (i) the single connecting tube (30) is
mounted on the vertical post (10) through fitting the first arc
member (31) and the second arc member (32) together, and the four
corresponding connecting tubes (30) are mounted on the four
vertical posts (10) at the same height such that the shelf board
(40) is configured to be horizontally assembled between the
vertical posts (10) through engaging the arc panels (41) with the
engaging slots (33); when an additional shelf board (40) is needed,
a user can directly mount the spacers (20) and connecting tubes
(30) respectively on the four vertical posts (10) to enable the
additional shelf board (40) to be assembled between the vertical
posts (10), thereby achieving the quick-assembly effect; and (ii)
the two engaging slots (33) are respectively located at the outer
periphery and inner periphery of the single vertical post (10), and
by cooperating with two additional vertical posts (10), an
additional shelf board (40) is configured to be directly assembled
between the two vertical posts (10) at a designated edge of the
shelf and the two additional vertical posts (10), which lowers the
costs and greatly increases the practicability of the shelf.
[0037] Having described the invention by the description and
illustrations above, it should be understood that these are
exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as
limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as
limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents.
Application No. 15/585,055 Listing of and Amendments to the Claims
Including Status Indicators:
* * * * *