U.S. patent number 3,757,705 [Application Number 05/215,579] was granted by the patent office on 1973-09-11 for adjustable shelving.
Invention is credited to Louis Maslow.
United States Patent |
3,757,705 |
Maslow |
September 11, 1973 |
ADJUSTABLE SHELVING
Abstract
Adjustable shelving comprising a plurality of posts for
supporting shelves in adjustable relation. Each of the shelves
includes sleeves at the corners thereof respectively, the sleeves
being generally frusto-conical and provided with a split wall so as
to permit partial elastic lateral expansion thereof such that each
of the sleeves are accurately positionable opposite one another at
a common elevation, in surrounding relation, along the respective
posts. The split wall elastically accounts for tolerance
differences in the configuration of each of the frusto-conical
sleeves and a frusto-conical support arrangement interpositionable
between the sleeves and associated posts.
Inventors: |
Maslow; Louis (Dallas, PA) |
Family
ID: |
22803535 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/215,579 |
Filed: |
January 5, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/147.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B
12/52 (20130101); E04G 7/26 (20130101); A47B
57/265 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
57/26 (20060101); A47B 57/00 (20060101); E04G
7/00 (20060101); E04G 7/26 (20060101); F16B
12/00 (20060101); F16B 12/52 (20060101); A47b
009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/144,148
;248/411-413 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mitchell; James C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Adjustable shelving comprising a plurality of shelf-support
posts, at least one shelf detachably supportable by said posts,
said shelf including corner portions adjustably associated with
said posts respectively, said corner portions including respective
sleeves for at least partially surrounding said posts,
sleeve-support insert means for being detachably interpositioned
respectively between each of said posts and respective sleeves
associated with said posts, each of said insert means including
inwardly extending rib means on an interior periphery for
engagement within any one of a plurality of horizontally running
indentations on said posts, each of said sleeves including a split
side wall for permitting lateral expansion thereof for movement
along said insert means, each of said insert means including
exteriorly disposed ridge means on a lower portion thereof for
engaging said sleeves to prevent downward movement of said sleeves,
each of said insert means including exteriorly disposed groove
means in an upper portion thereof, and abutment means for insertion
into each of said groove means for overlying said sleeves to
prevent upward movement of said sleeves.
2. Adjustable shelving as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said
insert means includes a pair of semi-annular segments cooperatively
associated with one another for embracing each of said posts.
3. Adjustable shelving as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
indentations on said posts define a plurality of spaced annular
grooves on each posts, each of said semi-annular segments including
a semi-annular rib receivable in said annular grooves to define
said rib means.
4. Adjustable shelving as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said
semi-annular segments is generally frusto-conical in longitudinal
cross-section.
5. Adjustable shelving as claimed in claim 4 wherein said split
side wall which permits lateral expansion of each of said sleeves
is a split frusto-conical wall.
6. Adjustable shelving as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said
semi-annular segments includes a semi-annular transverse ledge
defining said ridge means for being engaged by an associated
sleeve.
7. Adjustable shelving as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
semi-annular segments of each pair includes mutually interfitting
surfaces with one another.
8. Adjustable shelving as claimed in claim 1 wherein said abutment
means includes C-rings for snap-fit insertion into said groove
means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to adjustable shelving, and
more particularly to adjustable shelving which compensates for
discrepancies in tolerance differences between certain interfitting
portions so that each of the shelves when supported properly will
extend such that each of the respective corner portions thereof are
at a common elevation in a horizontal plane.
As is well known, adjustable shelving of the so called "knock-down"
variety often utilize thumb screws and the like for permitting
adjustments of the shelves relative to supporting posts on which
the shelves are mounted. Clearly, the disadvantage of using thumb
screws for fastening the shelves to the appropriate posts
therefore, lies in the fact that the thumb screws often cause a
disfiguration of the posts as the thumb screws are often
overtightened against the posts thereby leaving the latter with
many dimpled portions which are of unsightly nature.
The utilization of thumb screws has been obviated by an arrangement
wherein shelves incorporate frusto-conical interfitting members
such as a frusto-conical sleeve and mating frusto-conical insert
elements interpositionable between the sleeves and the posts which
support the shelves. However, as those skilled in the art well
understand, during the manufacture of frusto-conical elements which
are to be associated with one another in interfitting relation,
there often results tolerance differences between the interfitting
members, and therefore, although there is a partial interfit
between the frusto-conical members, the tolerance differences may
prevent full penetration of an inner frusto-conical assembly within
an outer frusto-conical assembly and thereby prevent the shelf from
being positioned into a truly horizontal plane. Obviously, unless
the shelf is in a horizontal plane, the contents supported upon the
shelf will not be reliably maintained thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
adjustable shelving which obviates the need for thumb screws and
the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provided
adjustable shelving which incorporates interfitting frusto-conical
members.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
adjustable shelving having interfitting frusto-conical elements
which may be sidably adjusted elastically relative to one another
at least partially such that each shelf will be positioned in a
horizontal plane.
To this end, the present invention relates generally to adjustable
shelving comprising a plurality of posts, at least one shelf
including a plurality of sleeves for association with said posts
respectively, and support means detachably interpositionable
between associated posts and sleeves for restraining said sleeves
against axial movement downwardly relative to said posts, each of
said support means and sleeves including mutually abutting tapered
surfaces, each of said sleeves including a split wall for
permitting partially elastic lateral expansion thereof such that
said mutually abutting tapered surfaces of each of said sleeves and
associated support means are partially slidably positionable
opposite one another at a common elevation along said posts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as
will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices,
combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment
in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the assembled adjustable
shelving pursuant to the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary assembled view of the
operative elements of one portion of the shelving unit pursuant to
the present invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the elements of
the invention illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the
elements pursuant to the invention illustrated in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5
in FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 illustrates a C-ring for association with structure
illustrated in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1
thereof, the present invention relates generally to adjustable
shelving denoted by the reference character 10. The shelving 10
includes four vertical generally hollow posts 12, each of the posts
12 provided with a plurality of generally equally spaced annular
grooves 14 axially separated from one another. The vertical posts
12 act to support a plurality of shelves, a typical shelf 16
illustrated in FIG. 1. Each shelf may be of completely solid extent
or may include a plurality of longitudinally extending members 18
and a plurality of transversely extending members 20, all generally
welded to one another or the like into a rigid shelf having a
rectangularly surrounding snake-like frame 100 and supporting at
the corner portions thereof respectively frusto-conical sleeves 22
which at least partially surround the respective posts 12 and are
axially shiftable relative to the latter in a manner as will be
clarified below. Moreover, each of the vertical posts 12 may be
provided with an adjustable foot 24 threadedly associated
therewith, or otherwise, for permitting adjusting the elevation of
each of the posts relative to one another independently.
Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, the adjustable shelving 10 pursuant to
the present invention furthermore includes a support arrangement 26
(denoted in FIGS. 4 and 5) which is of frusto-conical nature when
assembled. In this respect, the support arrangement 26 includes a
pair of semi-annular segments or insert elements 28 each provided
with interfitting tongue and grooves 30 and 32 respectively such
that when assembled will mate with one another so as to provide the
aforementioned frusto-conical support arrangement 26.
Each of the semi-annular insert elements 28 is provided with an
inner semi-annular rib 34 which may be readily received in a
selected one of the spaced annular grooves 14 of the vertical posts
12 so as to prevent axial shifting of the semi-annular insert
elements 28 relative to the posts 12. Moreover, each of the
semi-annular insert elements 28 is provided with a lowermost outer
semi-annular ledge 36 upon which may rest the lowermost portion of
an associated one of the frusto-conical sleeves 22 in a manner
illustrated in FIG. 4.
Thus, the adjustable shelving 10 may be assembled and adjusted
selectively simply by positioning the mating semi-annular insert
elements 28 opposite one another such that the respective inner
semi-annular ribs 34 thereof are confined within the selected one
of the spaced annular grooves 14 of the vertical posts 12. The
mating semi-annular insert element 28 each have a generally
semi-circular extent which exceeds 180.degree. and are preferably
constituted of plastic or metal which is at least partially
laterally expandable so that the opposite free edges in which are
provided the tongue and grooves 30 and 32 respectively, will act to
snap onto the posts 12 and will self-secure themselves opposite one
another without the necessity for being held manually or by other
means on the posts 12. Thus, a selected on of the frusto-conical
sleeves 22, which are fixed to the shelf 16, may be disposed above
the associated post 12 and brought downwardly so as to capture the
mating semi-annular insert elements 28.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the semi-annular insert elements
28 in longitudinal cross-section is generally frusto-conical such
that the upper portion thereof has a lesser thickness than the
lower portion thereof adjacent the lower outer semi-annular ledges
36 thereof respectively. Thus, the mating semi-annular insert
elements 28 present a frusto-conical appearance when
interpositioned between the selected sleeves 22, which are likewise
complementary frusto-conical, and therefore, the support
arrangement 26 acts as a wedge, as interpositioned between the post
12 and the sleeve 22, permitting the selected sleeve 22 to be
brought downwardly thereupon in one direction and prevents downward
movement of the sleeves 22 upon contact of the inner sleeve surface
with that of the outer frusto-conical surface 26.
Accordingly, the support arrangement 26 and the inner
frusto-conical surface of the sleeves 22 are provided with what may
be characterized as mutually abutting tapered surfaces for
adjustably restraining the sleeves against shifting axially along
the posts in a downward direction.
As those skilled in the art will readily understand, during the
manufacture of the frusto-conical sleeves 22 and the semi-annular
insert elements 28, which in longitudinal cross-section are
frusto-conical, there often results tolerance differences between
the contour of the interfitting frusto-conical members i.e., the
maximum inner diameter of the lowermost portion of the sleeves 22
being less than the maximum outer diameter of the lower portion of
the frusto-conical support arrangement 26. Thus, when there is an
attempt to bring the lowermost portion of a particular sleeve 22
into engagement with the semi-annular ledges 36, provided on the
semi-annular insert elements 28 respectively, the combined
diametral extent of the support arrangement 26, when improperly of
greater extent than that of the inner maximum diameter of the
sleeve 22, because of tolerance differences, may in fact prevent
the sleeve or sleeves 22 from actually contacting or abutting
against the semi-annular ledge 36.
Should this happen, it is quite possible that the shelves 16 may
not lie in a true horizontal plane, since the corner portions
thereof, to which the sleeves 22 are fixedly connected, may be
slightly out of alignment with the horizontal plane as specifically
defined by the semi-annular ledges 36 of the support arrangements
26.
Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide
each of the sleeves 22 with means for permitting at least partial
internal elastic lateral expansion thereof such that the mutually
abutting tapered surfaces of the inner portion of the sleeves 22
and outer portions of the semi-annular insert elements 28
respectively will be at least partially slidable relative to one
another, after contact, such that each of the sleeves 22 will be
brought into a position of common elevation along the posts, namely
in contact with the semi-annular ledges 36 of each of the insert
elements 28.
In this respect, although the entire adjustable shelving 10 is
constituted preferably of metallic content, the sleeves 22 may be
provided with a split wall portion 38 as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3
and 5, and therefore because of the provision of the split wall
portion 38 in each of the sleeves 22, although the sleeves 22 are
of metallic nature, the split wall portion 38 permits a partial
lateral expansion of the inner diameter thereof so that, when
necessary, when the maximum inner diameter of the sleeve 22,
because of tolerance discrepancies is less than the maximum outer
diameter of the support arrangement 26 proximate the semi-annular
ledges 36 thereof, the sleeve 22 may be slidably moved along the
support arrangement 26 downwardly while expanding partially such
that the sleeves 22 will contact the semi-annular ledges 36 and
permit the shelves 16 to be positioned in a horizontal plane
defined by the semi-annular ledges 36.
Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a
semi-annular groove 50 externally of each of the elements 28, as
illustrated in FIG. 3, which semi-annular grooves 50 extend above
or are exposed relative to the uppermost portion of the sleeves 22
respectively for effectively receiving a C-ring 52 illustrated in
FIG. 6. The C-ring, as is well known, is partially elastic
laterally and may be snapped into the semi-annular grooves 50, as
illustrated in FIG. 4 and, thereby, resist inadvertent uplift of
the sleeves 22 relative to the cooperating elements 28 such as may
be necessary when the entire shelving unit is moved from one
location to the next. Thus, the C-ring 52 acts to most effectively
lock the sleeves 22 relative to the posts 12 respectively.
As those skilled in the art will readily understand, the split wall
portion 38 in each of the sleeves 22 will permit the sleeves 22 to
be moved or slid relative to the cooperating elements 28, whenever
necessary, because of the tolerance differences, so as to fully
expose the semi-annular grooves 50 and permit the latter to receive
the C-ring 52.
Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest
themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be
understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred
embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration
only and is not to be construed as a limitation of the
invention.
* * * * *