Pole Shelving

Abstract

Pole supports for shelving are disclosed formed of interchangeable easily fabricated and assembled parts including a tubular guide for spring-biased rod-supported ceiling and floor shoe members, a pair of channeled support members having recessed concealed web walls with spaced slots to engage cantilever shelf brackets and having opposed offset wall portions for receiption of the lugs and cleats of top and bottom trim cap members that hold the assembly together. An easily inserted cleat interlocks the web walls of the support members and provides a seat for the spring-biased ceiling shoe. The cap members have a fulcrum recess to receive a latch member that frictionally engages the rod of the ceiling shoe member to lock same. Shelf brackets of two types are used which engage the slots of the web wall in cantilever relationship and are adapted to support either steel reinforced wooden shelves or steel shelves having either down-turned end flanges and rolled box-shaped side flanges, or are adapted for use with a snap-on molded end flange. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 72050 entitled POLE SHELVING filed by the instant inventors on Sept. 14, 1970 now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modular steel shelving for home or office which is conventionally assembled with the aid of bolts or screws and various securing devices is known. Some units employ a vertical support at the four notched corners of the shelves which receive two sides of each of the corner supports and are rigidly fastened flush thereto by means of detachable securing devices. It is a disadvantage in shelving of the knockdown variety if the assembly is difficult and requires skilled labor for the initial installation and adjustment of the parts. Steel shelving or shelf supporting frames held by means of a pair of poles at each end that extend from floor to ceiling are also known. These units are affixed to each other by conventional screw attachments and are held in position by means of spring-loaded shoes at the top ends of the poles to engage between the floor and ceiling. Such units are used where light weight objects are stored on the shelves. Stability for the shelf supporting frame is generally obtained by circular brackets which encompass the poles and are tightened thereabout by a screw or holt. The brackets and screws are visible and the assemblies have the undesired appearance of being a knockdown arrangement. The problems of ease of assembly, strength and rigidity, combined with good appearance are not altogether satisfactorily solved by the prior art, especially in pole-supported shelving where above average weight-bearing ability along with good appearance and easy assembly are desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the provision of pole supports for shelving and the like wherein a combination of easily assembled support and trim parts go together to form a unitized pole which is devoid of external and exposed fastening devices and wherein certain shapes and structures of the parts are used interchangeably in snap-fit relationships to hold the parts together and also provide means for attaching brackets upon which the shelves engage in a cantilever supporting relationship.

The support columns of the poles comprise a central teim member that provides outer trim flanges connected by a transverse web wall to a tubular center member which lends to the rigidity of the trim member and provides a recess for the housing of a spring-biased ceiling shoe and an adjustable floor shoe along with a seat for a dual function cross cleat member. The trim member is interchangeable end for end so that no mistakes can be made in the assembly. Also, the trim member is fabricated of lightweight, high strength, durable plastic and presents in-turned flanges bordering opposed outwardly opening side channels abutting at the transverse wall. Formed metal support members are shaped like a W in cross section, and have an inturned center channel defining a strong, narrow web wall at the apex with spaced slots therealong. A pair of the formed metal support members and a trim member snap together, with the support members within the side channels of a trim member, are used to form the main part of the column or pole. Here again, the support members are interchangeable end-for-end and each support member can be used on either side of the trim member. The trim member and support members are the same length or substantially so constructed.

In one embodiment of support members fit within the side opening channels of the trim member with their inturned center channels opening outwardly. The slotted web apex walls are hidden and their slots register in opposed pairs along the tubular portion of the trim member. A cross bore in the central tubular section of the trim member, there being one near each end for interchangeability, registers with an opposed pair of slots in the web wall of the support members to receive a hook cleat transversely therethrough. The cleat has hook ends which drop over the bottom edge of each slot and bite into the web wall within the apex. The opposite side of the cleat forms a stop or retainer for an optional coil spring within the top end of the tubular section that resiliently supports the rod of a ceiling shoe. Plastic cap members with an outer trim flange are provided with lugs and bosses on their base portions. The cap members snap-fit into the top and bottom ends of the assembled trim and support members as the primary fastening means and are provided with a central bore to receive the shafts or rods of the floor and ceiling shoes. The cleats of the cap members extend within the end openings of the internal channels of the opposing support member and are provided with inturned shoulder edges that snap into the top-most pair of opposed slots in the web walls of the support members. The web walls of the support members extend from a pair of internal opposed reinforcing shoulders and the base of the cleats of the cap members have bosses which fit behind the shoulders on each side within the center channel to lock the caps in place and at the same time fasten the pole elements together. Each cap member has a recessed top and an internal braced tab on the inside of the recess. A spring locking cleat with a bore to receive the shaft or rod section of the ceiling shoe is provided for use in place of the coil spring. This lock fits in nested hidden relationship in the top-most cap member to cooperate with the braced tab therein in hinged relationship. The cap members are interchangeable in this function and cooperation with the locking cleat. Shelf support brackets are provided for attachment in cantilever relationship into the slots at the apex of the web walls and extend outwardly on opposite sides of the support members. The brackets are of two types, one adapted to fit steel reinforced wooden shelving and the other to fit steel shelving having down-turned end flanges and box side flanges, or for use with a molded adapter which replaces the end flanges of a metal shelf.

Accordingly, an assembled pole may comprise:

A center trim member.

A pair of equal length metal support members co-extensive with the trim member.

A pair of cap members.

An adjustable bottom floor shoe.

A hook cleat.

A resilient coil spring, or a spring locking cleat.

A ceiling shoe and support rod; and

An assembled shelving unit includes:

A pair of pole assemblies.

A pair of shelf support brackets on each pole at the desired elevation; and

A shelf interlocked at its ends upon each pair of support brackets.

IN THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of shelving unit of this invention shown affixed between the floor and ceiling against the wall of a room;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of an assembled pole with one form of the shelf support bracket affixed thereto and with the shelves removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an assembled pole with another form of shelf bracket affixed thereto and with the shelves removed;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the shelf pole of FIG. 3 with the top bracket partially shown;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the shelf pole of FIG. 2 with the top bracket partially shown;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view, partially in cross-section of one end of a steel reinforced shelf used with the pole of FIG. 2 to show the transverse end slots;

FIG. 6A is a fragmentary end view of a shelf pole showing one shelf about to snap-fit upon a pair of support brackets and another shelf in place;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of an end of a known type of steel shelf to show the rolled flanges and box side flanges;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary partial cross-sectional view of one of the support members, a pair of which is used in an assembled pole;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the side edge of the support post component shown in FIG. 8 to show the apex web wall thereof;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the guide and trim member used as a component of the assembled support pole;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bottom of a plastic cap member used at the top and bottom of an assembled pole;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a hook cleat used in the assembly;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the releasable spring locking means used in the top of the assembly in place of the coil spring;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary partial cross-sectional view of the pole assembly of FIG. 2 as affixed between the floor and ceiling of a room and with an auxillary ceiling plate for use with sound insulated drop ceilings;

FIG. 14A is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the coil spring in place of the spring lock;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 15--15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the lines 16--16 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary partial sectional view to more clearly show the top assembly of a pole and the attachment of an illustrative steel flanged shelf to the pole;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view to show the corner insert used with flanged steel shelving;

FIG. 19 is a view like FIG. 1 showing a perspective view of a modified form of sheet metal shelf the end flanges of which are replaced by a snap-on end adapter for engagement with the pole and bracket combination shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective end view of a modified sheet metal shelf and the end adapter in a position to snap fit thereon;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective end view of the modified sheet metal shalf of FIG. 20 with the end adapter in position over the end;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the inner side of the end adapter taken along the lines 22--22 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan veiw of the end adapter; and

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 24--24 of FIG. 21 with the assembly resting on a bracket.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is illustrated by the several views of the drawings to comprise several cooperating parts to form the shelf poles and different types of brackets that attach to the poles to support different types of shelves, in particular shelves which are notched at their ends and shelves which are notched at their corners. In describing the invention the general assembly and component parts making up the assembly will be covered first, followed by a description of their assembled relationship.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a pair of identical shelf poles 10 mounted between the floor 12 and ceiling 14 of a room and supporting the shelves 16 in spaced horizontal relationship adjacent the wall 18. Each pole has a resilient ceiling shoe assembly 20, an adjustable floor shoe assembly 22 and adjustable brackets (not shown here) to receive and support the shelves 16 (of the type shown in FIG. 6) in rigid snap-fit relationship at a multiplicity of desired levels therealong.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a pole 10 with the brackets 24 designed to fit the end-notched shelf shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 3 this same pole 10 carries the modified brackets 26 designed to fit the steel flanged and corner-notched shelf shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 6, the shelf comprises a wooden core 27 encased within a metal cover 28 forming together a flat surface upon which items can be placed. The wooden core is preferably made of hardwood or the equivalent and has the generally rectangular notch 28 cut into each end at a midpoint between the side edges of the shelf. The inner wall of the notch has the conforming off-set 29 to fit the contour of the pole. A pair of elongated substantially rectangular grooves or slots, indicated at 30, are cut into the wooden core 27, each communicating at the inner end with the notch 28 and extending in straight line relationship to a point spaced from the side edges of the shelf. The grooves are uniform in cross-section and are open on their bottoms. The shelf 16 is merely illustrative of a shelf having a central end notch and transverse end grooves to fit upon a pole such as shoen in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 7, a typical sheet metal shelf 32 of known construction, is shown having an upper flat surface 34 with the down-turned end flange 36 having the in-turned reverse edge flange 38. The side flanges 40 are formed with an up-turned edge 42, the planar top 44, the outer wall 46 and the inturned bottom wall 48 with the inner wall 50 terminating in the rolled edge 52 that nests within the edge 42 and the top 44. Each of the four corners of the shelf is notched, as indicated at the edges 54-56 to receive the usual upright supports for which this shelf is fabricated. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention this type of shelf is adapted to mounting on a pole by means of a special bracket, to be described, wherein the corner notches 54-56 and the box flanges 40 are utilized in a different manner.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the first component of the pole 10 is shown, comprising an elongated rolled steel support member 60 having equal width side walls 62 with in-turned trim edges 64 and reverse walls 66 that are spaced from each other to form the channel 68 and having the flared shoulders 69 and converging side walls 70 that are rolled together to form the relatively narrow edge or web wall 72. This web wall 72 has a series of equally spaced elongated slots 74 therealong. The top and bottom edges 76 of the support member 60 are cut off square. Each support 60 is 7 to 7 1/2 feet long so as to extend the greater part of the distance between the floor 12 to the ceiling 14 of an average room. A pair of such support members is used in the assembly of a pole as will be described.

FIG. 10 shows another component of a pole comprising an elongated molded plastic guide and trim member 80 having the spaced side walls 82 with four in-turned opposing trim edges 84 at the corners, the opposing transverse connecting web walls 86 and the central tubular member 88 having the internal bore 90. The tube 88 is uniform throughout its length, has a cross bore hole 92 at each end and spaced from square cut edge 94 a distance such as to register with the topmost or second slot 74 of the support members 80 in a manner to be described. The members 80 can be used interchangeably, end for end.

FIG. 12 shows the hooked cleat 96 that is used in the assembly of the pole 10. The cleat has a straight shank 98 with flat top and bottom edges 100 and 102, and a hook member 104 at each end with the in-turned points 105. The hook cleats 96 are constructed from metal bar stock or may be constructed of high strength plastic since they are primarily a fastening means and their secondary function is as a support for the coil spring 154 (to be described). The hook members 104 are uniform in configuration and the total width of the hook members is less than the diameter of the cross bore 92 in the members 80 so that they are easily inserted therein.

Each pole utilizes a pair of end cap member 106, shown in FIG. 11, also formed of molded plastic. These members comprise a rectangular cup-shaped body having flat side walls 108, end walls 109 and a flat bottom, indicated at 110, from which extend a pair of co-planar longitudinally spaced cleats 112 and 114 each having an inner beveled outer corner 116 with a sharp shoulder 118 at the inner edge. At the base of and on each side of the cleats and spaced therefrom there is provided a pair of bosses 120. The bottom 110 is slotted at 121 from the center bore 122 to the base of the cleats 112 and 114. On the underneath side of the bottom wall 110 there are provided the four corner members 123 that are adapted to receive a threaded nut 123A which is firmly seated thereon (FIG. 14). As shown in FIGS. 4,5 and 15, the walls of the body 106 define a recess 124 and one of the end walls 109 is formed with the pair of inwardly directed bosses 128 which are spaced as at 130 from the bottom 110. The bosses 128 provide a fulcrum pivot for one end of the locking member 156 (FIG. 13).

The floor shoe 132 (FIG. 14) comprises the molded rubber or resilient plastic cup 134 fastened to the threaded shank 136 and having the integral metal flange 138 to provide a weight bearing surface. A portion of the shank extends into the base of the cup 134 and is attached thereto by any suitable means.

The ceiling shoe 140 (FIG. 14) comprises the molded collar member 142 having an internal recess to receive the top end of the elongated support tube or shank member 144, which can be formed of metal tubing, be rod-like or formed of a plastic rod. The ceiling shoe has the molded plastic cup member 146 with a hemispherical base 148 that is held to the base member 142 by means of the double flared rivet 150 that engages the inturned radial flange at the end of the tube 144 and also engages the opening in the cup 146 by means of the flared end 151. This mounting provides a slight swivel action so that the cup member 146 can seat upon irregularities in the surface of the ceiling. Where the ceiling 14 is false and composed of soundproof panels, a hardwood ceiling plate 152 can be used between the cup member and the ceiling as shown in FIG. 14.

The remaining components of the pole assembly comprise the coil spring 154 (FIG. 14A) of known design, and the locking cleat 156 (FIG. 13). The latter member comprises a flat piece of spring steel having the upturned finger tab 158, the L-shaped body portion 160 with the center bore 162 and the hinge tab 164. The bore 162 is slightly larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the support tube 144 and being off-set in a plane that is not perpendicular to the axis of the tube, presents its edges at an angle to opposite portions of the exterior surface of the tube so that once extended and under compression the tube is fixed on its longitudinal axis in relation to the post assembly.

A pole 10 may be assembled by placing a pair of support members 60 within each side opening (between the flange 84) of the guide member so that the walls 62 thereof extend on each side of the tubular portion 88 and rest against the web walls 86. The trim flanges 84 press against the outer surfaces of the walls 62 and temporarily hold the support members 60 therein. These support members being the same length as the guide member, the opposite ends of the pair of supports 60 and the ends of the guide member 80 are substantially co-planar. The cross bore 92 is thereby aligned with the opposed slots 74' (FIG. 14) which are second from the end of the support members. The hooked cleat 96 is placed through the channel 68 (from either side), into the cross bore 92 and pressed downwardly so that its points 104 bite into the web wall 72.

Next a cap member 106 may be inserted into each end of the pole 10. The cap members are the same except the bottom cap member is fitted with a nut 123A. The nut is encompassed by the four corner members 123 and held from rotating. The bottom between the corner members can be thickened, if desired, and meets the upper face of the nut. The top cap member and bottom cap member engage the assembly in the same manner. Thus, the cleats 112 and the cap members are so spaced as to fit within the opposite channels 68 of the opposed support members 60 in the manner shown in FIGS. 14 and 14A. The cleats of the top and bottom cap members extend, respectively downwardly and upwardly therein so that their inner hooks 118 catch within top and bottom-most slots 74 in the web walls 72. At the same time the bosses 120 on each side of the cleats seat opposite the offset shoulders 69 of the inner channel formed by the walls 66. It is seen that as the cleats 112 are pushed inwardly, the hooks 118 ride upon the outside of the web walls 72 and as the bosses 120 come into place, the hooks 118 snap into the slots 74. A firm fastening is formed at each end of the assembly. In order to remove the cap members 106, the cleats 112 must be spread by insertion of a blunt instrument, such as a screwdriver, under the bottom edge of each side. The bottom shoe 132 may now be screwed into the threaded opening of the nut 123A of the bottom cap member.

Two types of pole assemblies are shown. The one in FIG. 14 uses the locking cleat 156 to affect longitudinal adjustment and may be used without the spring 154, while the assembly in FIG. 14A uses the spring 154 alone. Both the spring and locking cleat can be used together in still a third embodiment of the pole assembly.

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the locking cleat 156 is next placed in the recess 124 of the top cap member with its hinge tab 164 under the pair of bosses 128. Then the tube 144 is inserted while the locking cleat 156 is raised so that its bore 162 is aligned with the bore 122 of the top cap member. The ceiling shoe sub-assembly 140 is already attached on the one end of tube 144.

To attach the assembled pole of FIG. 14 between the floor and ceiling it is merely necessary to place the ceiling shoe at the desired location on the floor, raise the tube 144 until the shoe assembly 140 engages the ceiling (the cleat pivots on the tab 164 to allow this action), then the finger tab 158 is pushed down and the cleat cants slightly with the tube held in this extended position by the binding and biting action of the canted bore 162 about the tube. The tube 144 cants slightly from the vertical axis as it is caught by the cleat 156 depending on the radial clearance of the tube in the bore 90.

If the spring 154 alone is used it seats upon the diametric cleat 96 and the top shoe 140 is placed at the desired position against the ceiling. The assembly is then pushed upwardly against the bias of the spring so that the bottom shoe 132 can be vertically aligned therewith. Both of these assemblies can be mounted upwirhg between floor 12 and the ceiling 14 with or without the plate 152. A second pole assembly can then be placed in a spaced relationship from the first pole using a shelf to adjust the horizontal spacing at the top and bottom. The poles are placed with their opposite channels 68 in spaced parallel planes vertical to the longitudinal axes of the shelves.

Next, in one embodiment, a series of brackets 24 is inserted into the channels 68 of the support members to form the completed pole shown in FIG. 2 and the poles are finally adjusted and vertically spaced from each other to receive the shelves therein and form the assembly shown in FIG. 1. The shelves 16 are snap-fitted into the respective elevations of the brackets as shown in FIG. 6A. This is done by placing a pair of brackets 24 at an angle in the slots 74 through the aid of the rounded bottom portion of the hooks. The second pole assembly can be fitted with a pair of brackets similarly canted at the same elevation. A shelf 16 is then placed with its ends above the brackets and pushed down abruptly upon them, assuming the locked position shown at the bottom of FIG. 6A.

Referring to FIG. 14, the manner in which the brackets 24 attach to the pole 10 is shown. The brackets 24 are heavy sheet metal stampings formed in the elongated shape shown in which the supported end or neck portion 170 that engages the support member, comprises the upwardly extending ear 172 and the downwardly extending bracing ear 174. The inner surface of the top ear 172 and the bottom bracing ear 174 are planar and spaced from each other about the thickness of the web wall 72. With the bracket in an inclined position, the bracket end 176 is then lowered until the bottom bracing ear 174 engages the outer surface of the web wall 72 under a compression force. By placing a shelf 16 upon a pair of brackets in their inclined positions (see top of FIG. 6A), and then pushing the shelf downwardly to snap-fit into place, as shown in the bottom of FIG. 6A assembly is facilitated. For this purpose the slots 72 are opposed in pairs along the assembled pole and a bracket 74 is mounted on opposite sides of the pole from each said pair of slots at desired elevations co-ordinated with the elevations chosen for the other pole so that the shelves 16 are level. Sufficient vertical distance between the shelves to facilitate assembly and disassembly as well as use of the shelves for storage, etc., is of course provided. Assembly can also be accomplished with the brackets in their normal horizontal positions.

Referring to FIG. 6, it is seen that as the shelf 16 is brought with its end above a pair of brackets 74, the notched end 20 encompasses the pole 10, the inner notch 29' fits around the inside wall 82 and the slots 30 are immediately above and aligned with the brackets 24. The shelf is then pressed downwardly upon the bracket so that the arms 24 are engaged in the slots 30. The ends 176 of the brackets may press against or be spaced from the ends of the slots as desired. Preferably the brackets are formed of metal stock which has a thickness about that of the width of the side channels 68 of the support members 60 so that the walls 66 are against or close to the sides of the brackets. This provides lateral stability for the brackets.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 17 and 18, it is seen that the brackets 26 are differently shaped so as to cooperate with a rolled metal shelf 32 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The brackets 26 are formed in one piece of heavy sheet metal and comprise a hook end 180 (like the ear 172 of the bracket 24) adapted to engage within a slot 74 of the web wall 72 against the top edge thereof, and have a supported end 182 with a bottom bracing ear 183 (like the ear 174), and an in-turned flat portion 184 that is notched at the top as indicated at 186. The bracket is formed with an upstanding flat flange portion 188, the top edge 190 of which is flat and straight. This flange 188 is off-set at 192 a distance along the longitudinal axis of the shelf less than that of the notched opening 186 and is reverse formed into the inwardly extending corner member 194 having the ear 196 which extends along the axis of the shelf a distance equal to the width of the edge 54 of the cut-out corner 54-56.

To assemble a bracket 24, the hook end 180 is inserted into a slot 174 and the bracket lowered until the bottom bracing ear 183 seats against the outside of the web wall 72. Alternatively the in-turned portion 184 may be so dimensioned as to strike the outer walls 64 of the support member 60 for additional rigidity. With a pair of brackets 24 in place as shown in FIG. 17, a shelf 32 is fitted thereon by merely dropping the end flange 36 into the slots 186 and against the inner wall 82 of the trim member 80 whereupon the corner 194 and the tab 196 fit within and complete the cut-out corner 54-56.

A molded plastic insert 208 is provided to insert into this corner and cover the opening that is formed. The corner insert 200 comprises a flat square top 202 having a wall 204 to fit against the end of the flange 36 at the cut-out edge 54 and the wall 206 with the notch 208 to fit against the end of the box flange 40 and engage over the top edge of the tab 196. The insert 200 has the depending tab 210 extending from the underside of the top wall 202 and spaced from the side walls 212 and 214 so that it fits within the opening 216 and against the inside corner 218 of the bracket 26 in snug fitting relationship. In place, the top 202 of the insert 200 is substantially co-planar with the top 44 of the box flange 40.

The general organization of the parts shown in FIGS. 19-24 comprises a modification wherein the end flanges 36 of the sheet metal shelves are eliminated and a rigidifying adapter is placed over the ends of each shelf to provide a conforming finish piece that fits the end of the shelf to each of the poles 10 and provides on its underneath side, a slot to receive the straight support brackets 24 that are suitably located in pairs at a desired level along the poles.

Referring to FIG. 19, the shelf poles 10 are shown supporting such a modified sheet metal shelf 16' by means of the end adapters 220 engaging the brackets 24 (see also FIG. 2). The bottom support of floor for the poles is not shown in FIG. 19. Several shelves 16' can be carried by the poles 10.

In FIG. 20, it is seen that the end flange of the shelf 16' has been removed along the cut-off edge 222 of the top flat surface 28 of the shelf. This cut conforms with the edges 56 at each cut-out corner (see FIG. 7) so that the end surfaces of the box flanges 40 are substantially coplanar therewith. The edge 222 is notched intermediate its ends by the square cut edges 224, the connecting inner edges 226, which are interrupted by the smaller square cut edges 228, joined by the connecting inner central edge 230. The flat surface 28 is provided with a pair of holes 232 located opposite and spaced from the edges 226 and also about opposite the edges 228, longitudinally and transversely of the shelf, respectively. The other end of the shelf 16' is modified in an identical manner.

The end adapters 220 (a pair being used for each shelf) are formed of any suitable plastic to include an outer flange wall 234 and an inner flange wall 236 (FIG. 22) spaced therefrom, joined to and made integral with the longitudinal support or rigidifying wall 238 meeting at right angles therewith and having the flange covers or flange box-like flange receptacles 240 at each end.

The wall 234 is interrupted at an intermediate portion by the spaced square cut walls 242, the interconnecting substantially coplanar walls 244 and the central off-set wall 246 joined by the square connecting walls 250. Accordingly, a recess is formed in the front side of the adapter 222 to encompass one side of a pole 10 and accommodate the trim pieces 80. A corresponding protuberance is thus provided on the back side of the adapter 220 which conforms with the cut-out edges 224,226, 228 and 230 of the sheet metal shelf 16'.

The flange covers 240 each have a shallow inside top wall 252 which is spaced at the elongated slot 254 from the rigidifying flange 238 at each end and include the top walls 256, outside walls 258, the bottom wall 260 and the inside wall 262 defining an opening 264 shaped to conform with the outer configuration of the box flanges 40 and receive same in nested relationship. A narrow trim wall or flange 266 extends inwardly from the top edges of the walls 234,242,244 and 246 in spaced relationship from the rigidifying flange 238 to provide an elongated recess 268 therealong to receive the cut edge 222-224-226 and 230 of the shelf top 28 therebetween. The notch 254 allows the cut out edge of the shelf to seat therein as the box flanges are received by the flange covers 240. The elongated space 268 between the narrow top trim flange 266 and the wider rigidifying flange 238 opens through the slots 254 to the spaces 264.

The outer and inner flange walls 234 and 236 are spaced from each other to define an elongated slot 270 closed at the outer ends by the inside wall 262 of each flange cover 240. The slots 270 are open at the bottom and communicate at their inner ends through the walls 242 (FIG. 21) on each side of the center post recess.

A plurality of spaced vertical connecting walls 272 are provided in the slot 270 connecting between the walls 234 and 236. The walls 272 are the same height and are coplanar along their top edges with the top edge 274 (FIG. 20) of the opening 270 so as to receive and contact the top edge of the brackets 24. The holes 276 are formed by the mold pins so that the mold will release easily in forming these parts from plastic. These holes extend through rigidifying flange 238 just under the edge of the trim flange 264 at that part of the structure.

The openings 278 are provided on each side of the central wall 246 in the rigidifying flange 238 in a position to register with the openings 230 in the shelf surface 28. A pair of tabs 280 are molded integral with the underside of the flange 264, which projects over each of the openings 232. These tabs are opposite the openings 278, and extend sufficiently into the space or groove 268 to allow the edges 226 of the shelf to pass thereunder as the tabs yield and then snap into the holes or slots 230 of the shelf. By these means the adapters 220 are locked upon each end of the shelf 16'. The manner in which the tabs 280 lock in the holes 230 of the shelf top 28 is shown in FIG. 24. The edge 222 is received in the opening 280, with the flange 238 extending in rigidifying relationship along the width of the end of the shelf. The brackets 24 are received in the slots 270 with their top edges registering against the spaced vertical walls 272.

By these means a sheet metal shelf has been modified to a form like the wooden shelf of FIG. 6 and snap fits onto the brackets 24 in the manner shown in FIG. 6A. With poles having differently contoured trim pieces 80, the recess on the adapter 220 would be altered to a conforming contour. The holes 232 and the corresponding tabs 280 can be located at any desired positions along the ends of the shelf and length of the adapters 220.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Floor to ceiling pole supports for shelving comprising:

a pair of elongated support means having a channel with a web wall, said web wall having a series of spaced slots therealong;

elongated trim means co-extensive with said support means having a tubular portion and outer trim walls defining side channels;

said support means being adapted to nest longitudinally within the side channels of said trim means with said web wall spaced from said tubular portions;

a diametric support member carried by said tubular portion;

cap means adapted to engage within and close the contiguous ends of said nested pair of support means and having spaced depending cleats engageable against said web wall and within opposed pairs of said slots, said cap means having bore holes axially aligned with said tubular portion;

shank members carried by said bore holes in said cap members;

a compression member within said tubular portion and retained by support member; and

a resilient pad on the extended end of each of said shank members;

one of said shank members being resiliently supported by said compression member whereby said assembly is adapted to be retained between a floor and ceiling by said resilient pads and the bias of said compression member and with the intermediate slots of said web wall accessible for the placement of oppositely disposed shelf supporting brackets therealong.

2. Floor to ceiling pole supports in accordance with claim 1 in which:

said channels of said support means have offset wall portions spaced from said web wall; and

said cleats have bosses therein adapted to pressfit against said offset wall portions thereby biasing said support means toward each other and within the side channels of said trim means.

3. Floor to ceiling pole supports in accordance with claim 1 in combination with:

cantilever shelf brackets adapted to engage within said slots of said web wall and having elongated arms extending from opposite sides of said pole supports.

4. The combination defined by claim 3 in which:

the arms of said shelf brackets are offset toward one side of said pole supports and are provided with arm portions adapted to engage under and behind the flanges of shelves supported thereby.

5. The combination defined by claim 3 in which:

the arms of said shelf brackets are substantially straight and adapted to engage within coplanar slots in the ends of shelves supported thereby.

6. Pole supports for shelving adapted for attachment between the floor and ceiling of a room for the support of a plurality of horizontal shelves therebetween comprising:

a pair of elongated support members having spaced substantially parallel side walls joined to each other by an integral edge wall having an inwardly formed outwardly open walled channel therealong terminating in a relatively narrow internal web wall;

the walls of said channel each having an offset therealong spaced from said web walls, said offsets including substantially coplanar transverse sections and defining therebetween an enlargement of said channel;

a series of spaced slots along said web wall;

an elongated guide and trim member co-extensive with said support members having a tubular central portion connected by a transverse wall to diametrically opposed substantially parallel trim walls having inturned trim flanges along their outer edges;

a cross bore in said tubular section;

said support members being adapted to nest longitudinally within and on each side of said guide and trim member with their side walls between the trim flanges and with said web wall spaced from the tubular section;

hook means engageable transversely through said cross bore and a pair of opposing slots in said web wall thereby forming a diametric support thereacross;

cap members adapted to engage within and close the contiguous ends of said nested pair of support members and said guide and trim member;

said cap members having depending cleats adapted to fit within said channels of said support members and engage an opposed pair of top and bottom slots of said web walls and having opposes bosses engageable with said offsets whereby said support members are retained within said guide and trim member;

bore holes in said cap members axially aligned with said tubular central portion of said guide and trim member;

elongated shank members receivable within said bore holes each having resilient pads therein to engage the floor and ceiling of a room; and

a compressible member between one of said shank members and said diametric support.

7. Floor to ceiling pole supports for shelving comprising:

a pair of elongated support means having side walls defining a channel with an interior web wall, said web wall having a series of spaced slots therealong;

elongated trim means co-extensive with said support means having a central tubular portion and outer trim walls defining open side channels;

said support means being adapted to nest longitudinally within the side channels of said trim means with said side walls biased against said trim walls and with said web wall radially spaced from said tubular portion;

a diametric support member carried transversely by said tubular portion and engaging within an intermediate pair of said slots of opposite portions of said web wall;

cap means adapted to engage within and close the contiguous ends of said nested pair of support means and having spaced depending cleats engageable against said web wall and within opposed pairs of said slots, said cap means having bore holes axially aligned with said tubular portion;

said cap members having a recess on the side opposite said depending cleats and a fulcrum member in said recess and radially spaced on one side of the bore hole therein;

elongated shank members carried axially by the end portions of said tubular portion and said bore holes in said cap members and extending respectively beyond the co-planar ends of said nested support means and trim means;

a locking cleat in the recess of the topmost of said cap members and having one end pivotally engaged under said fulcrum member with an intermediate portion having an off-set wall with a locking bore therein encompassing said respective shank member obliquely; and

a resilient pad on the extended ends of each of said shank members whereby said assembly is adapted to be retained between floor and ceiling surfaces by said resilient pads and the bias-lock of said locking clear and with the intermediate slots of said web wall accessible for the placement of oppositely disposed shelf supporting brackets therealong.

8. Floor to ceiling pole supports in accordance with claim 7 in which:

said cap means are interchangeably end for end in the assembly and are provided with a circumferential recessed seat around said bore hole within the recessed side thereof;

a threaded nut member in the recess of the respective lower cap member; and

a threaded portion is provided on the lower shank member to adjustably engage within said threaded nut member.

9. A shelf assembly adapted to be detachably retained between the floor and ceiling of a room including a pair of pole supports each comprising:

a pair of elongated support means having an open side channel defined by side walls with an internal web wall, said web wall having a series of spaced slots therealong;

elongated trim means co-extensive with said support means having a tubular portion and outer trim walls defining side channels;

said support means being adapted to nest longitudinally within the side channels of said trim means with the side walls thereof compressed between said trim walls and with said web wall spaced from said tubular portion;

a diametric support member carried transversely by said tubular portion and engaging within an intermediate pair of said slots of opposite portions of said web wall;

cap means adapted to engage within and close the contiguous ends of said nested pair of support means and having spaced depending cleats engageable against said web wall and within opposed pairs of said slots, said cap means having bore holes axially aligned with said tubular portion of said trim means;

shank members carried by said bore holes in said cap members and extending axially within said tubular portions of the trim means;

a compression member within said tubular portion and retained by said diametric support member; and

a resilient pad on the extended end of each of said ahank members;

one of said shank members being resiliently supported by said compression shank

a pair of shelf brackets having hook ends adapted to extend into and engage in cantilever relationship through remaining opposed pairs of slots in the respective web walls of said support members and provided with elongated laterally extending co-planar bracket portions; and

a shelf member supportable by said pairs of shelf brackets between said upright pole supports.

10. A shelf assembly in accordance with claim 9 in which:

said shelf member is provided with a notched opening in each end to receive a side of its respective pole support;

a pair of transverse slots extend from said notched opening toward the sides of said shelf members; and

said laterally extending portions of said shelf brackets engage within said slots with the notched openings of said shelf members abutting upon the inside of said pole supports.

11. A shelf assembly in accordance with claim 10 in which:

said hook ends of said shelf brackets yieldably receive said opposed pair of slots in said support members with said elongated portions canted upwardly on opposite sides of the pole supports; and

said shelf member is engaged thereupon by snap-fitting the respective transverse slots thereof downwardly upon said elongated portions of both ends of said shelf brackets to pivot said shelf brackets to their horizontal cantilever relationship.

12. A shelf assembly in accordance with claim 9 in which:

said shelf member aformed metal shelf provided with depending end and side flanges with cut-out corners;

said laterally extending portions of said shelf brackets are off-set inwardly toward the respective ends of said shelves and provided with a notched top edge to engage the undersides of said end flanges of said shelf and have an inwardly directed tab end to engage behind said side flange.

13. A shelf assembly in accordance with claim 12 including:

corner inserts adapted to snap-fit into and behind said tab end of the brackets and enclose said cut-out corners of said shelf.

14. A shelf assembly in accordance with claim 9 in which:

the side walls of said elongated support means are flared outwardly from each other a distance greater than the transverse distance between the internal edges of the outer trim walls of said trim means and the diameter of said tubular portion of said trim means is less than said transverse distance by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of said side walls whereby said side walls are compression biased along and within the side channels defined by the outer trim walls.

15. A shelf assembly to be detachably retained between the floor and ceiling of a room comprising:

a pair of elongated pole supports adapted to extend between the floor and ceiling in spaced apart upright coplanar relationship;

a pair of bracket supports extending from opposite sides of each of said pole supports normal to their common plane;

a shelf extending between said supports having a flat object supporting surface end edges and rigidifying coextensive side flanges;

cross bracing adapter means at each end of said shelf;

said adapter means having an elongated conforming recess on one side to receive the end edges and said side flanges of said shelf in nested relationship and a recess on the other side to conform with the abutting contour of the inside of said support means; and

open bottomed slot means on each side of said conforming recess to receive said bracket supports.

16. A shelf assembly in accordance with claim 15 in which:

said edges of said shelf include a cut-out portion conforming to the abutting contour of said pole supports; and

said elongated recess includes an offset portion conforming to said cut-out portion.

17. A shelf assembly in accordance with claim 15 in which:

an aperture is provided in the supporting surface of said shelf and spaced from the end edges thereof; and

said elongated recess includes a tab member projecting from a wall thereof and adapted to register with said aperture and retain said nested relationship.

18. In a shelving assembly the combination of:

a supporting pole of predetermined cross-sectional configuration adapted to be affixed in a rigid upright position;

a pair of bracket arms extending from said supporting pole on opposite sides thereof;

a sheet metal shelf member having a flat generally rectangular planar portion with a straight end edge and front and rear flanges normal to said end edge and terminating in substantially coplanar relationship with said straight end edge;

a notch in the central portion of said edge of said flat planar portion of said shelf, said notch defining a contoured edge conforming generally with the cross-sectional configuration of the abutting side of said supporting pole;

an adapter for the end of said shelf;

said adapter having an elongated wall portion with a pair of open ended receptacle members to receive said flanges of said shelf member in nested relationship;

a contoured slot along the top side of said adapter and communicating with the inside of said receptacle members to receive said end edges and contoured edges in nested relationship; and

open-bottomed slot means along said elongated wall portion to receive said bracket arms and support said shelf thereon with said adapter in rigid abutting relationship between said supporting pole and said end of said shelf.

19. A shelving assembly in accordance with claim 18 in which:

said ends of said shelf include an aperture spaced from the edge thereof; and

said contoured slot includes a tab member projecting from a wall thereof and adapted to register with said aperture and retain said nested relationship.

20. A shelf assembly comprising:

a pair of elongated support means each having a predetermined cross-sectional contour and having an axially extendable resiliently mounted end for compression attachment between spaced opposed horizontal surfaces;

a pair of bracket supports extending in substantially coplanar relationship from opposite sides of each of said support means;

said bracket supports being of lesser width than the width of the sides of said support means from which they extend;

a sheet metal shelf having a planar essentially rectangular portion bordered on the front and rear sides with box flanges;

the ends of said sheet metal shelf presenting a generally square cut edge between said box flanges;

a cut-out contour in said square cut edges at aid end of said planar portion of said shelf;

an adapter abutting between the square cut edges of said shelf ends and an adjacent inner side of each of said support means;

said adpaters having inwardly facing recesses on one side to receive the generally square cut edge, said box flanges and said cut-out contour on the planar portion of said shelf in nested relationship;

a contour on the other side of said adapters to fit against and conform with the adjacent inner sides of said support means; and

elongated open-bottomed slot means on each side of said contour to receive said bracket supports.

21. A shelf assembly in accordance with claim 20 in which:

said planar portion of said shelf includes an aperture spaced from the cut edges thereof; and

said recesses of each of said adapters receiving said cut edges each include a tab member adapted to seat within the respective recesses in the nested position of said adapters at each end of the shelf.

22. A shelf assembly in accordance with claim 20 in which:

said adapters include box-like receptacle members at each of their ends;

such receptacle members each having an open end and being connected through their inside walls by a pair of spaced depending flanges extending to said contour and by a horizontally disposed flange defining the bottom wall of said inwardly facins recesses;

a slot in the inside walls of said receptacle members above said horizontally disposed flanges to receive the juncture of said planar portion and the inside wall of said box flanges of said shelf member;

the top wall of said recess being defined by a second horizontal flange extending from the outermost of said pair of spaced depending flanges; and

said open-bottomed slot means being defined by the space between said pair of depending flanges.

23. An adapter for the ends of sheet metal shelving, said shelving having front and rear box flanges and a planar surface joined therebetween with squared cut-off end edges including cut-out central portions for the purpose of conforming the ends of said sheet metal shelf to and partially around the outer contour of upright support members abutting the ends of said shelf and providing means to rigidify and support said shelf from opposite side projecting brackets on said support members comprising:

a molded plastic member including an elongated wall member having a central section offset in a contour to encompass the outer contour of a support member and front and rear portions on each side thereof defining bottom opening slots communicating at their inner ends with said off-set section to receive said bracket members;

a pair of flanges integral with said wall member extending in vertically spaced substantially parallel relationship from and along the top of said central section and each of said front and rear portions thereof, defining therebetween an elongated side-opening slot of sufficient width to receive said squared cut-off end edge of said sheet metal including the edge of said cut-out central portion; and

box-like open-ended receptacles integral with the ends of the front and rear portions of said elongated wall member to receive the front and rear box flanges of said shelf and including an internal slotted wall to receive the juncture of said box flanges with the planar surface of said shelf.