Corner Clamps For Shelving And The Like

Abstract

Corner clamps for shelving and the like having rectangular shelves with notches at each corner thereof and a tubular support member positioned at each notch and secured therein by a corner clamp. The corner clamp consists of a U-shaped strap that extends about the tubular support and has leg portions that extend through slots formed in a bracket that is positioned diagonally across the corner and welded to the shelving. A saddle having a notch in alignment with the shelving notch is secured to the bracket. The strap is tightened against the shelving by a lock bolt positioned below the shelf and threaded through a threaded bore in a cross bolt that extends between the ends of the strap and bearing against the saddle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to clamps and is more particularly directed to a corner clamp for securing a shelf and the like to a tubular support.

2. Description Of The Prior Art

The present shelving assembly are either permanent in connection in that the shelves cannot be adjusted or if adjustable consist of a complexity of nuts and bolts and other equipment that render the assembly of the shelving difficult and complex. Some of the conventional adjustable shelving assemblies permit movement of the shelves along their supports, but do not permit the insertion of a shelf between existing shelves without disturbing the existing shelves. In these instances, the upper shelves have to be lowered in order to insert an additional shelf among the existing shelves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a corner clamp for shelving assembly which permits the shelves to be adjusted to any position on their supports and to insert an additional shelf or shelves between existing shelves without disturbing the existing shelves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a corner clamp for shelving assembly that is very readily assembled and which is simple in construction and operation to secure a shelf to the corner supports.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shelving assembly with corner clamps that secure the shelves to the support at any desired position on the supports and permits any adjustment of the shelves on the supports after being assembled.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of shelving wherein the shelves are attached to corner tubing by means of our clamps.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the corner clamp in position as viewed from the lower side of the shelf.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of our clamp with the tubing and the shelf having been omitted.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a shelf alone.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers generally to a shelving assembly consisting of corner supports T and a plurality of shelves S connected to the tubular supports T by means of clamps C constructed in accordance with our invention and explained in detail hereinafter. The tubular supports T are square in cross section, but it is to be noted that any of the conventional shaped tubing may be used.

The shelves S consist of a rectangular sheet of metal such as aluminum or sheet steel, at whose corners a square notch or slot 11 is cut out therefrom, the size and shape of the notch 11 being determined by the cross sectional size and shape of the tubular supports T. The tubular supports T fit evenly in the notch 11 with the outer surfaces of the tubular supports T being flush with the shelves S. Each of the shelves S are provided with a depending flange 12 along the four sides thereof with a horizontally disposed flanged 13 extending inwardly from the free edge of the depending flange 12 to provide the shelves S with rigidity.

At each of the notched corners 11 of the shelves S there is a bracket plate 14 that extends diagonally, engaging the inner surfaces of the depending flanges 12 and resting on the horizontal flanges 13. The bracket plate 14 is provided at its lower edge with a base plate 15 that is triangular in shape, fitting in the corners with a notch 16 equal in size with the notch 11. The bracket plates 14 are secured to the shelf S by welding as at 17 along the edge of the horizontal flange and the base plate 15. The bracket plate 14 is provided with a centrally disposed bore 18 and a pair of symetrically disposed slots 19 on either side of the bore 18.

Interposed between the bracket plate 14 and the notch 11 and fastened in position therein is a saddle 20 consisting of a body member 21 mounted on a base plate 22 at whose free ends are tabs 23. The tabs 23 are received by the slots 19 and swedged as shown by FIG. 5 to secure the saddle 20 therein. The free end of the body member 21 is notched as at 24 to conform with the notches 16 and 11. A further notch 25 is formed on the centerline of the base member 22 of the saddle 20. The notch 25 is in alignment with the bore 18 of the bracket plate 14.

The slots 19 are sufficiently wide to receive in addition to the tab 23, the free ends or legs 26 of a strap 27 which extend about the outer surface of the tubular supports T. The free ends 26 are provided with aligned keyhole openings consisting of an enlarged bore 28 and communicating smaller bore 29. The enlarged bore 28 receives a cross bolt 30 therethrough; the cross bolt 30 being provided with symmetrically disposed peripheral grooves 31 that are received in the smaller bores 29 upon sliding the cross bolt 30 laterally of the strap ends 26 to secure the cross bolt 30 against disengagement by any transverse movement with relation to the strap ends 26.

At the center of the cross bolt 30 is a threaded bore 32 which receives a lock bolt 33 provided with a head 34 at one end and having its other end 35 conical in shape to be received by the bore 18 and notch 25 of the saddle 20.

It can be readily noted that the shelving assembly 10 can be quickly and easily erected by use of our clamps C. All that need be done is place a tubular support T within the notch 11 at the corner of the shelf S engaging the notch 24 of the saddle 20. A preformed strap 27 is placed about the tubular support T with the ends 26 inserted through the space between the tubular support and the depending flanges 12 of the shelf S and received by the slots 19 to extend beyond the bracket plate 14. The cross bolt 30 is then inserted through the enlarged opeings 28 and when the peripheral slots 31 of the cross bolt 30 are in alignment with the small openings 29, the cross bolt 30 is slid rearwardly to seat in the openings 29; the lock bolt 33 is then threaded into the bore 32 of the cross bolt 30 with the pointed end received by the opening 18 in the bracket plate 14 and the notch 25 of the saddle 20. The bolt 33 is then tightened to cause the strap 27 to engage the tubular support 27 securely so that any force or weight placed on the shelf S will not cause the shelf S to move or slide on the tubular support T, but will remain fixed thereto under all circumstances.

Whenever it is decided to add shelves S to an already constituted shelving assembly 10, a shelf S can be inserted without having to disturb the already erected shelves. A shelf S can readily be inserted between two existing shelves S by placing the notches 11 at the position of each of the tubular members T and inserting the straps 27 at the appropriate position as described hereinabove. The cross bolts 30 and lock bolts 33 are palced in position from the inside of the shelving assembly 10 and locked in position as aforesaid.

Claims

Having disclosed our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A corner clamp for shelving and the like having a shelf, notches formed at substantially each corner of said shelf and a tubular member mounted at each of said notches, a bracket mounted diagonally on said shelf across and in proximity of one of said notches, means securing said bracket to said shelf, saddle means mounted between said one of said notches and said bracket, said bracket means having a bore at its center portion and a slot substantially equally distanced on each side of said bore, an elongated strap having leg portions, said strap engaging said tubular member and said leg portions extending through said slots, a cross bolt extending between said leg portions, said cross bolt having a threaded bore at its midportion and a lock bolt threaded in said threaded bore and extending through said center bore in said bracket for tightening said strap on said tubular member and securing said tubular member to said shelf, said saddle means comprising a body member and a plate base portion having tabs, said tabs received by said slots and swedged therein for securing said saddle means to said bracket, said body member having a notch in alignment with said one of said notches and said base portion having a second notch in alignment with said center bore for receiving the free end of said lock bolt.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said leg portions have aligned openings, and said cross bolt having peripheral slots received by said aligned openings.