U.S. patent number 3,831,533 [Application Number 05/282,431] was granted by the patent office on 1974-08-27 for shelving system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kirsch Company. Invention is credited to Harlan F. Kellogg.
United States Patent |
3,831,533 |
Kellogg |
August 27, 1974 |
SHELVING SYSTEM
Abstract
A free-standing shelf system comprises a plurality of shelves
having passages through end portions thereof. A plurality of
spindles support the shelves in spaced relation, the spindles
having fastening elements extendible through the passages for
axially interconnecting a pair of spindles with a shelf sandwiched
therebetween. Interlocking tongue and groove portions on an opposed
shelf surface and spindle end are provided. The tongue and groove
portions are laterally adjacent the corresponding spindle fastening
element and shelf passage for positively preventing lateral
shifting of the shelf with respect to the spindles sandwiching same
therebetween. The passage is circumferentially continuous opening
through a shelf near the end thereof or alternatively is a
circumferentially continuous opening formed at the juncture of two
end abutting shelves by opposed, substantially hemicircular opening
portions in the abutting shelf end edges. In the latter instance,
the tongue and groove interlock prevents the abutting shelf ends
from shifting apart laterally.
Inventors: |
Kellogg; Harlan F. (Rockford,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Kirsch Company (Sturgis,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
23081489 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/282,431 |
Filed: |
August 21, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/64; 108/101;
108/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
87/0215 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
87/02 (20060101); A47B 87/00 (20060101); A47b
057/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/64,101,106,96,110,114,111,158 ;211/148 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Assistant Examiner: Marquette; Darrell
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A free standing shelf system, comprising in combination:
a plurality of shelves having passages through end portions
thereof;
a plurality of spindles for supporting said shelves in spaced
relation, said spindles having fastening elements extendible
through said passages for axially interconnecting adjacent pair of
spindles with a shelf sandwiched therebetween;
interlocking tongue and groove portions on an opposed shelf surface
and spindle end, said tongue and groove portions being laterally
adjacent the corresponding spindle fastening element and shelf
passage for positively preventing lateral shifting of said shelf
with respect to the spindles sandwiching same therebetween;
at least one of said shelves comprising a pair of substantially
coplanar end abutting shelf segments, said passages of such shelf
segments including substantially hemicircular opening portions
which extend through said shelf segments at the abutting ends
thereof and which open endwise of the abutting ends of said shelf
segments in opposed diametrically aligned relation with each other
for defining circumferentially closed openings when said shelf
segments are in aligned end abutting relation with each other and
for receiving therethrough the fastening element of one of said
sandwiching spindles, the tongue and groove portions of one of said
sandwiching spindles and of said shelf segment at said opening
coacting when the fastening elements of the adjacent spindles are
interengaged, so as to interlock said abutting shelf segments
against lateral shifting away from each other.
2. A free standing shelf system, comprising in combination:
a plurality of shelves having passages through end portions
thereof;
a plurality of spindles for supporting said shelves in spaced
relation, said spindles having fastening elements extendible
through said passages for axially interconnecting adjacent pair of
spindles with a shelf sandwiched therebetween;
interlocking tongue and groove portions on an opposed shelf surface
and spindle end, said tongue and groove portions being laterally
adjacent the corresponding spindle fastening element and shelf
passage for positively preventing lateral shifting of said shelf
with respect to the spindles sandwiching same therebetween;
at least some of said shelves having free end portions and at least
some of said shelves comprising plural segments having abutting
type end portions, each abutting end portion being adapted to end
abut another abutting type end portion of another shelf segment
arranged in substantially coplanar relation therewith, said
passages of said free end portions being longitudinally spaced from
the corresponding end edge of the corresponding shelf and
comprising circumferentially continuous first openings through said
shelf adapted to receive fastening elements of axially opposed
spindles therethrough, said axially opposed spindles extending in
opposite directions from said shelf in sandwiching relation
therewith and adjacent said end edge of said shelf, the passages of
said abutting type end portions being circumferentially
discontinuous and defining partial openings which open laterally
through the end edges of said abutting type end portions, the
partial openings of abutting type end portions which are disposed
in aligned end abutting relationship being opposed and defining
circumferentially continuous second openings, the fastening
elements of said spindles comprising an internally threaded opening
at one end of each said spindle and an axially extended externally
threaded male fastening element at the other end of each said
spindle, said male fastening element being snugly receivable
through one of said shelf openings for threadedly engaging the
threaded opening at the end of an opposed further spindle for
forcibly engaging the shelf portions adjacent said opening
therebetween, said tongue comprising an annular boss on one of the
opposed spindle ends and said groove comprising an annular groove
in the shelf surface opposed to said one spindle end and adapted to
snugly receive said annular boss therewithin, each of said abutting
type end portions having a part of said annular groove therein
adjacent a corresponding partial opening for defining a
circumferentially complete groove when two said abutting type end
portions are in end abutting relation whereby engagement of said
boss on said spindle with said groove portions of said abutting
type end portions prevents lateral separation of the latter.
3. A free standing shelf system comprising in combination:
a plurality of shelves having passages axially through end portions
thereof, the passages in opposed ends of a longitudinally aligned
pair of shelves opening endwise of said shelves and defining a
radially closed passage upon end abutment of said aligned
shelves;
a plurality of spindles each having a pair of opposite ends and a
corresponding pair of complementary fastening elements at and
extending coaxially of said ends, said ends defining radial end
faces extending radially outwardly from the corresponding fastening
element to the periphery of the spindle, adjacent complementary
fastening elements of aligned upper and lower spindles being
interengagable through the closed passage defined by end abutting
shelves, the top and bottom lateral faces of said end abutting
shelves being snugly sandwiched by the opposed radial end faces of
said upper and lower spindles, respectively, for vertically
supporting said end abutting shelves;
an annular and axially outwardly extending boss defining a
concentric tongue on one spindle radial end face, said boss being
radially spaced from at least one of said fastening element and
spindle periphery, leaving exposed at least one radially extending
annular portion of said radial end face in bearing contact with the
opposed lateral shelf face, and a pair of end opening grooves in
ones of said lateral shelf faces, said grooves being concentric
with said radially open passages and defining a closed annular
groove around said closed passage with said shelves in said end
abutting relation, said annular groove being of cross-section
substantially complementary to said boss and snugly laterally
receiving the latter and preventing relative lateral shifting of
said end abutting shelves.
4. The shelf system of claim 3, in which said spindle fastening
elements comprise a threaded male element at one end of each said
spindle and a threaded opening at the other end of each said
spindle, said annular boss extending only from said other end, in
coaxially spaced and surrounding relation with said threaded
opening.
5. The shelf system of claim 3, in which said spindle has a tapered
opening extending coaxially therethrough, said tapered opening
being internally threaded at one end of said spindle to define a
female fastening element, a coaxial and threaded male fastening
element extending from the other end of said spindle, the smallest
diameter portion of said tapered opening extending through said
male fastening element, said boss being coaxial with and spaced
radially outward of said internally threaded end of said
opening.
6. The shelf system of claim 3, in which said annular boss is of
substantially hemicircular cross section, the opposed groove in the
lateral face of said shelf being of cross-section substantially
corresponding to said boss and sized to snugly laterally receive
said boss, said groove surrounding and being radially spaced from
said passage.
7. The shelf system of claim 3 in which said boss is radially
spaced from both said fastening element and said spindle periphery,
leaving exposed radially spaced, concentric inner and outer
radially extending portions of said radial end face for axially
supporting contact with said lateral shelf face.
8. The shelf system of claim 7 in which the other radial end face
of said spindle and the other lateral surface of said shelf are
planar.
9. The shelf system of claim 8 in which a male fastening element
extends from said planar other end face of each spindle, and said
planar other shelf face is the bottom face of the shelf, and a
female fastening element is provided on the tongued end of each
spindle and the grooved face of each shelf is the upper face
thereof.
10. The shelf system of claim 3 in which fastening elements of the
opposed ends of said upper and lower spindles are threadedly
engagable upon relative rotation of said upper and lower spindles,
said passages and grooves being spaced inboard from the
longitudinal edges of said shelves, said closed passages, boss and
annular groove being circular for permitting such relative spindle
rotation.
11. The shelf system of claim 4, in which said threaded opening is
formed centrally and integrally in said other spindle end and is
opposed to the corresponding annular groove in the adjacent
shelves, said threaded male element being formed centrally and
integrally on said one end of said spindle for insertion through
the radially closed passage in adjacent shelves and into threaded
engagement with the other end of another spindle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a shelving system and more particularly
of the type wherein a plurality of shelves are supported in spaced
relation by spindles extending substantially vertically
therebetween.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Shelving system wherein a plurality of vertically spaced shelves
are supported by spindles extending between adjacent shelves have
been known for some time. In such systems, it has been common to
provide openings through the shelves near the ends thereof and to
equip the spindle ends with coacting male and female threaded
fastening elements wherein the male element extends through the
shelf openings so that adjacent, threadedly engaged spindle ends
sandwich the shelf therebetween for rigidly fixing the spindles to
the shelf and hence to the remainder of the shelf system. Such
shelf systems have frequently utilized wood or wood product shelves
and decoratively turned wooden spindles and are frequently marketed
as decorative shelving for the home for supporting books or other
articles.
In such shelving systems, the basic shelving unit has frequently
consisted of a plurality of vertically stacked, elongate
rectangular shelves supported by sets of axially interconnected
spindles, normally one set at each of the four corners of the stack
of shelves. The length of the shelves between supports is
necessarily limited by the load carrying capability of the shelves
and frequently shelf length will be about two to four feet. To
obtain a greater shelving system length, or greater shelf lengths,
has raised certain problems to which no completely satisfactory
solution has previously been found.
Additional system length has been achieved by merely placing two
such shelf units side-by-side. However, such makes no provision for
interconnection of the shelf units (so as to assist each other in
stability, for example) and, further, doubles the number of spindle
sets in the middle of the resulting system, which may be considered
unattractive and also is wasteful of spindles and hence
unnecessarily expensive.
In an attempt to overcome this problem, prior spindle-type shelf
systems have been provided wherein two side-by-side shelf units
have shared common central sets of spindles. This at least
initially meant, however, that the shelves of the two units had to
be staggered vertically with respect to each other, resulting in
double the normal vertical shelf spacing. Further, this approach
did not produce a planar double length shelf supported intermediate
the ends thereof.
To achieve the latter, several approaches have been taken in the
past. One was to simply provide a monolithic shelf of substantially
double (or triple, etc.) normal length having spindle openings
intermediate its ends to provide required intermediate support.
However, the necessity for providing shelves of such radically
differing lengths raises problems in inventory control as well as
in packaging and shipping. Another approach utilized shelf elements
of standard single unit length but provided with flange like end
projections of substantially half normal shelf thickness to allow
opposed ends of adjacent shelf elements to be lapped in a kind of
shiplap joint, the spindle fastening means extending through
coaxial openings in the lapped flanges. However, the shiplap joint
approach has been disadvantageous in that substantial care must be
exercised in the manufacture of the overlapping shelf end portions
to achieve a smooth interfitting therebetween. In addition, the
substantial length of contact along the substantially Z-shaped
shiplap joint may be readily and objectionably visible from the
front of the shelf unit. Further, shelves of such systems are
frequently provided with a decorative veneer or surface finish on
the upper side, a less expensive and attractive finish or surfacing
being utilized for the underside thereof, so that lapped shelf
elements extending rightwardly and leftwardly from such a shiplap
joint differ and must be stocked as separate items.
Thus, the objects and purposes of this invention include provision
of:
1. A shelf system of the free-standing, knock-down type comprising
a plurality of shelves supported in vertically spaced relation by
interspersed upstanding spindles, wherein a multiunit shelf system
can be provided utilizing a common pair of spindle sets for
interconnecting adjacent shelf units and allowing for both spaced
interfingering and substantially coplanar alignment of shelf
elements of the adjacent shelf units.
2. A shelf system as aforesaid, in which shelf elements of adjacent
shelf units can be arranged in substantially coplanar alignment to
form a multisection elongate shelf extending from shelf unit to
shelf unit without overlapping the adjacent ends of such shelf
elements.
3. A shelf system as aforesaid, in which the sections of such an
elongate multisection shelf lie in end abutting relation and use a
common set of spindles to interconnect same to shelves located
thereabove and therebelow and wherein the interconnection of the
abutting section ends to the adjacent spindles prevents lateral
displacement of said abutting shelf section ends away from each
other and rather holds same in end-to-end abutting relation.
4. A shelf system as aforesaid, in which the end section for such a
multisection shelf can be utilized at either end of the
multisection shelf without turning same upside down, and in which
the number of types of different components in the shelf system is
minimized without reducing flexibility of shelf arrangement.
5. A shelf system as aforesaid, in which multisection shelves can
be manufactured continuously in indefinite lengths and in which the
individual shelf sections may be produced from such an indefinite
length by a simple severing operation.
6. A shelving system as aforesaid, in which the means by which the
spindles interlock with abutting end portions of shelf segments is
provided with little or no addition of cost or mechanical
complexity as compared with existing shelf systems.
7. A shelf system as aforesaid, in which the arrangement for
securing together the abutting shelf sections and spindles allows
for production of spindles by molding from plastic materials.
Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to
persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading
the following specification and inspecting the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, somewhat simplified pictorial view of a
three-unit shelf system in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged top view of two sections,
including a central section, of an elongate multi-section shelf
usable in a system according to FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view substantially
taken on the line III--III of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, exploded, fragmentary sectional view
substantially taken on the line IV--IV of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view substantially taken on the
line V--V of FIG. 3.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for
convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words
"up," "down," "right" and "left" will designate directions in the
drawings to which reference is made. The words "in" and "out" will
refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the center
of the device and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will
include derivatives and words of similar import.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing a
free-standing shelf system comprising a plurality of shelves having
passages through end portions thereof. A plurality of spindles
support the shelves in spaced relation, the spindles having
fastening elements extendible through the passages for axially
interconnecting a pair of spindles with a shelf sandwiched
therebetween. Interlocking tongue and groove portions on an opposed
shelf surface and spindle end are provided. The tongue and groove
portions are laterally adjacent the corresponding spindle fastening
element and shelf passage for positively preventing lateral
shifting of the shelf with respect to the spindles sandwiching same
therebetween. The passage is a circumferentially continuous opening
through a shelf near the end thereof or alternatively is a
circumferentially continuous opening formed at the juncture of two
end abutting shelves by opposed, substantially hemicircular opening
portions in the abutting shelf end edges. In the latter instance,
the tongue and groove interlock prevents the abutting shelf ends
from shifting apart laterally.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 discloses in a somewhat simplified form, a portion of a
shelf system 10 incorporating the present invention. The shelf
system 10 comprises a plurality, here three, of interconnected
shelf units, more particularly a central shelf unit 12 flanked by
rightward and leftward end shelf units 13 and 14. It will be
understood, however, that shelving systems in accordance with the
present invention can encompass differing numbers of
interconnecting units or a single unit.
In general, each of the units 12 through 14 comprises a plurality
of vertically spaced shelf elements 16 supported and interconnected
by substantially vertical, intervening spindles 20. More
particularly, each shelf element 16 engages a pair of spindles 20
adjacent each end thereof, the spindles of each pair being spaced
from each other along the end edges of the shelf element so that in
effect each shelf element contacts at least one spindle adjacent
each of the four corners thereof. In the multiunit shelf system 10
of FIG. 1, wherein the shelf units are interconnected in
side-by-side relation, the same pair 21 of sets of spindles 20 is
utilized to support the adjacent ends of the shelf elements of two
adjacent units.
The spindles 20 vertically interposed between shelves are all
preferably identical. However, shorter base spindles 23 are
preferably utilized below the lowermost shelf element of each unit
to support the unit. In addition, the uppermost shelf element of
each unit preferably supports thereon, in vertical alignment with
its supporting spindle 20, shorter finial spindles 22. The base
spindles and finial spindles may be of any desired configuration
but their upper and lower ends respectively are configured like the
upper and lower ends, respectively, of the intermediate spindles 20
so as to coact with the adjacent shelf and adjacent spindle 20 in
the manner hereinafter described with respect to interconnected
spindles 20.
In certain instances, as shown for example at the leftward end of
the end shelf unit 13, it may be desired to omit a shelf between
vertically adjacent sets of spindles. In such case, suitable
spacers 26 are preferably provided vertically between the axially
aligned spindles 20 whereat the shelf is omitted. The provision of
such spacers 26 thus insures that higher shelves in the shelf unit
will be level. The spacers 26 are preferably annular, corresponding
in general configuration and thickness to a portion of the shelf or
shelf section 16, hereinafter described, contacted by spindles 20,
but wherein the periphery of the spacer 26 generally corresponds in
diameter to the adjacent spindles 20.
Each of the spindles 20 (FIG. 3) preferably comprises an elongate
molded plastic body 28 provided at its ends with coaxial fastening
elements 29 and 30 and corresponding radial end walls 33 and 34,
respectively. In the preferred embodiment shown, the fastening
elements 29 and 30 are respectively threaded male and female
portions of the body 28. The male fastening element 29 extends
coaxially beyond the corresponding end wall 33 and is externally
threaded. The female fastening element 30 is defined by an
internally threaded coaxial opening through the end wall 34
arranged for threaded reception of the male fastening element 29 of
another spindle. The spindle 20 is preferably hollow having a
central opening 36 therethrough which tapers from the threaded
female fastening portion 30 toward and through the male fastening
element 29. The external peripheral wall 38 of the spindle body 28
may be provided with decorative contouring of any desired kind for
example to emulate a turned wooden spindle. In addition, any
desired surface finish, for example to imitate a wood grain, may be
provided on the peripheral wall 38.
The shelf elements 16 may be of any convenient construction, for
example, of solid lumber or of laminated construction. In the
preferred embodiment shown, surface skins 39 (FIG. 3) of a
convenient material such as hardboard or the like, sandwich
therebetween a lumber perimeter frame 40 and if desired
intermediate transverse members, not shown. In addition, trim
moldings 44 or the like may be provided around the exposed
perimeter of each shelf element if desired and the upper and lower
faces of the shelves may be finished for any desired effect.
Shelves of several different kinds are included in the shelf system
10 (FIG. 1). More particularly, a single section, or full, shelf
16A extends substantially the width of one shelf unit whereas a
multisection shelf 16B extends the width of several shelf units,
comprising in FIG. 1 three end-to-end abutting and substantially
coplanar shelf segments, including a central shelf section 16BA and
end sections 16BB and 16BC. The opposite end sections 16BB and 16BC
are preferably identical to each other but oppositely oriented,
that is, one is rotated in a horizontal plane through 180.degree.
away from the orientation of the other. Another multisection shelf,
indicated at 16D for purposes of reference, is a two section shelf
comprising end sections like section 16BB or 16BC. Multisection
shelves can comprise as many sections as desired, using central
sections 16BA flanked at each shelf end by an end section 16BB (or
16BC). Thus, a multiunit shelf system can be erected utilizing a
variety of combinations of full shelves 16A and multisection
shelves 16B of various lengths utilizing just three different types
of shelf elements, represented by the full shelf 16A, the central
shelf section 16BA and the end shelf section 16BB.
The three different types of shelf elements above discussed, namely
shelf elements 16A, 16BA and 16BB differ from each other in end
configuration. Each uses a different combination of two basic end
configurations, a free end configuration 41 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and an
abutting type end configuration 42 (FIGS. 2 and 4). Both ends of
each full shelf 16A and of each multisection shelf 16B of the free
end type whereby the outer end of each end section 16BB, or 16BC,
is of the free end type. On the other hand, both ends of each
central shelf section 16BA and the inner, or adjoining, end of each
shelf end section 16BB, or 16BC, are of the abutting type. Thus,
each end shelf section has a free end configuration at one end
thereof and an abutting type end configuration at the other end
thereof.
Each shelf element end of the free end type 41 has an opening 46
(FIG. 2) therethrough adjacent the shelf end edge 47 and near each
of the shelf sides 48 and 49 in coaxial alignment with the spindles
extending upwardly and downwardly from such shelf end portion. Each
such opening 46 (FIG. 3) is adapted to snugly but slidably receive
therethrough the male fastening element 29 of the corresponding
spindle. Thus, in the free end configuration 41, the end edge of
the shelf is located beyond the plane defined by the axes of the
openings 46 and of the associated spindles.
In contrast, the abutting end configuration 42 has an end edge 51
which is preferably coplanar with the plane defined by the axes of
spindles coacting therewith. More particularly, the abutting end
configuration 42 is provided with partial openings 52 spaced from
each other and from the side edges 54 and 55 in correspondence to
the openings 46. The partial openings 52 are formed as semicircular
notches extending through the thickness of the shelf and opening
longitudinally outwardly therefrom. The partial openings 52 are
each preferably identical to one half of the opening 46. Thus, when
two abutting-type end configurations, for example the adjacent
edges of the shelf end section 16BB and shelf central section 16BA,
are placed in end-to-end substantially coplanar abutting relation,
as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the partial openings 52 thereof are
opposed and open into each other to define a pair of composite
openings 57 which are substantially identical to the aforementioned
openings 46 and adapted to receive therethrough the male fastening
element 29 of an adjacent spindle, as generally indicated in the
exploded view in FIG. 4.
Interlocking tongue and groove portions on the opposed faces of the
spindles and shelves prevent lateral shifting of the shelves and
lateral separation of each pair of abutting shelf segment ends. In
the particular embodiment shown, the lower or female end of each
spindle carries an axially extended annular boss 61 (FIGS. 3 and 4)
coaxial with and radially spaced between the central opening 36 and
the periphery 38 of the spindle body 28. The boss 61 is preferably
of substantially hemicircular cross-section.
As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, corresponding annular grooves 62 and
67 are provided in the opposed surface of the various shelves for
receiving the bosses 61 of corresponding spindles 20. Each annular
groove 62 comprises an opposed pair of half circular, communicating
partial grooves 64 and 65 in the corresponding surfaces of the
abutting end portions of the adjacent end abutting shelf segments.
The annular groove 62 coaxially surrounds and is radially spaced
from the composite opening 57 defined between the abutting shelf
sections, as indicated in FIG. 2. The corresponding annular grooves
67 coaxially surround corresponding openings 46 in the free ends 41
of the various full shelves and end shelf sections. In the
particular embodiment shown, the grooves 62 and 67 are
substantially of hemicircular cross-section, corresponding to the
cross-section of the annular boss 61 of the opposed spindle end and
each is arranged to snugly receive such a boss therewithin. The
interengaged boss and groove prevent lateral shifting of the
corresponding shelf element with respect to the opposed female
spindle end, independently of the occupation of the adjacent shelf
opening by the male spindle end extending therethrough. Such boss
and groove interengagement also prevents separation of the abutting
sections of multisection shelves.
Although the dimensions of the annular grooves 62 and 67 may vary
with respect to the dimensions of the spindles and shelves, it has
been found that, for example, a groove cross-section radius of
0.070 inch, an overall groove diameter of approximately 1.3 inch
and a corresponding diameter for the related opening 52 or 57 of
0.94 inch provides sufficient interlocking to prevent lateral
separation or shifting of shelf elements. Thus, a relatively small
depth for the annular grooves 62 and 67 will suffice.
OPERATION
Components for shelf systems according to the present invention may
be compactly packaged for shipment in that the full shelves and
shelf segments are all of substantially similar length
corresponding to the width of one shelf unit, the center shelf
sections 16BA being in the illustrated embodiment somewhat shorter
than the full shelves 16A while the shelf end sections 16BB are
here of intermediate length. From the relatively compact and
readily packaged components disclosed can be assembled multiunit
shelf systems of substantial width.
A single unit system is assembled by placement of base spindles 23
on a supporting floor, placement of a full shelf 16A thereover
wherein the threaded male fastening elements of the base spindles
are received through the openings 46 at the corners of the full
shelf to protrude upwardly therethrough. Thereafter the lower or
internally threaded end of a spindle 20 is placed on each such
protruding male fastening element to snugly grip the shelf between
the opposed end walls of the adjacent spindles, the annular locking
bosses 51 being received in the groove 67 in the upper face of the
shelf. This process is then repeated until the topmost shelf is in
place after which suitable finial spindles or the like are
installed to complete the single shelf unit.
A multiunit shelf system may be constructed in substantially the
same way, except that a common pair of spindle sets 21 carries the
adjacent ends of shelf elements of two adjacent units so as to
positively interlock the two shelf units and enhance the stability
thereof.
Where no multisection shelves are employed in the multiunit system,
full shelves 16A may be used throughout, with the shelves of
adjacent units alternating in vertical location to give a vertical
shelf spacing of approximately double the length of the bodies 28
of the associated spindles 20. In such case, spacers 26 are
preferably employed between spindle ends not having a shelf
therebetween.
On the other hand, where multisection shelves are employed, end
shelf sections 16BB (or 16BC) and where more than two sections are
needed, central shelf sections 16BA, are required. In erecting a
multiunit system including such a multisection shelf, the abutting
ends 42 of two adjacent shelf sections are butted with the male
fastening elements 29 of the supporting spindles extending upwardly
through the openings 57 defined by the partial openings 52 in the
abutting section ends. Thereafter, the female spindle end is
threaded onto the protruding male fastening element 29, the annular
boss 61 of the female spindle end engaging the annular groove 62
defined by the partial grooves 64 and 65 in the abutting shelf
section ends to positively prevent lateral separation of such shelf
segments, thereby to hold such shelf sections in end-to-end
abutting relation thereafter.
It will be apparent that utilizing the components above-described,
that a multiunit shelf system can be constructed providing any
desired combination of multisection shelf lengths, single unit
shelf lengths and vertical shelf spacings to provide shelves of
varying widths in staggered and/or non-staggered arrangements.
The joints between the abutting ends in multisection shelves are
not readily visible since they are aligned with and partially
hidden by the spindles associated therewith, the length of such
joint being minimized in that it extends only the thickness of the
shelf section.
Although it is preferred and has been found most advantageous that
the threaded male fastening element of each spindle be located so
as to extend upwardly in the shelving system and that the tongue
and groove interlocking arrangement be arranged to cause the boss
61 to protrude downwardly from the face of the female spindle end
with the corresponding groove being provided in the upper face of
the shelf or shelf section, within the broader aspects of the
invention reversal of orientation of the spindles, reversal of the
location of the boss and groove on the spindle and upper shelf
face, and alternative or additional provision of a tongue and
groove interlocking arrangement on the lower shelf face and opposed
spindle end are contemplated.
Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has
been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be
recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed
apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the
scope of the present invention.
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