U.S. patent number 3,874,511 [Application Number 05/369,523] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-01 for shelving with removable corner structures.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Metropolitan Wire Goods Corporation. Invention is credited to Louis Maslow.
United States Patent |
3,874,511 |
Maslow |
April 1, 1975 |
Shelving with removable corner structures
Abstract
A shelf has a generally rectangular planar member having
truncated corners. The planar member is provided with peripheral
skirts which extend substantially normally to the plane defined by
the planar member. The portions of the skirts in the regions of the
truncated corners define support flanges when the planar member
comprises a sheet metal member. When the planar member comprises a
wire grid, the support flange comprises upper and lower sets of
peripheral wires which are diagonally bent and form extensions
extending about the corners of the planar member. The support
flanges extend substantially normally to the plane defined by the
planar member. A corner connector has a corner structure adapted to
be mounted on a post structure and to at least partially receive a
respective support flange. A clamping bar is positioned on the
other side of a support flange relative to an associated corner
structure. Screws are utilized to draw the corner structure and
clamping bar together with a respective support flange positioned
therebetween.
Inventors: |
Maslow; Louis (Dallas, PA) |
Assignee: |
Metropolitan Wire Goods
Corporation (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
23455830 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/369,523 |
Filed: |
June 13, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/153;
108/156 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
96/021 (20130101); A47B 57/265 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
57/26 (20060101); A47B 57/00 (20060101); A47B
96/02 (20060101); A47b 096/02 (); A47f
005/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;211/153,148
;108/144,156,106,159 ;248/188,412,243 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Britts; Ramon S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Friedman & Goodman
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shelf comprising a generally rectangular one piece planar
member having downwardly depending corner portions, said corner
portions at each corner being disposed in a plane substantially
normal to the plane defined by said planar member; corner
connectors at each corner, each connector comprising a corner
structure disposed on one side of a respective corner portion and a
clamping bar disposed on the opposing side of the respective corner
portion, at least one of said corner structure and clamping bar
being provided with a recess dimensioned to receive a corner
portion when the latter is clamped between an associated corner
structure and clamping bar, the surfaces of said corner structure
and clamping bar being substantially complementary to each other;
and fastening means for maintaining each corner structure and
associated clamping bar in abutment against each other and against
a respective corner portion with the latter being received within
the respective recess, said corner structures further being
provided with means for mounting the same on a shelf support post,
whereby each corner connector forms a substantially closed
crevice-free structure which houses a corner portion.
2. A shelf as defined in claim 1, wherein said planar member
comprises a sheet metal member.
3. A shelf as defined in claim 1, wherein said planar member
comprises a wire grid member.
4. A shelf as defined in claim 1, wherein said planar member
comprises a sheet metal member provided with a peripheral bead,
said corner connectors comprising clamping means having a clamping
bar a portion of which is configurated to mate interiorly of said
bead in a complementary manner.
5. A shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein said planar member
comprises a wire grid, said corner portions comprising wire
portions diagonally oriented relative to the sides of said planar
member, said corner connectors comprising clamping means having
grooves formed therein for receiving said wire portions in pressure
fit relation when said corner connectors are mounted on said planar
member.
6. A shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said means for
mounting said corner structures is provided with a tapered bore,
and further comprising complementary tapered sleeves receivable in
said bores, said sleeves being adjustably movable on the support
post, whereby the positions of said corner connectors can be
adjusted along the post by moving the sleeves on the post and
supporting said corner connectors on said sleeves.
7. A shelf as defined in claim 1, wherein said planar member has
truncated corners, and said corner portions each extend across a
truncated corner of said planar member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to shelving, and more
particularly it relates to novel constructions associated with
shelving having removable corner structures.
Shelving of many types are already known. Typically, a shelf is
generally uniform in cross-section. Although the weight planed on a
shelf may be uniformly distributed over the surface area thereof,
the stresses which are generated in the shelf member are
considerably higher in the regions at which the shelf is supported.
Thus, the stresses are concentrated at the corners of the shelves.
Many attempts have been made to reinforce portions of a shelf which
are exposed to large stresses. However, the methods utilized have
had shortcomings in both the manner and ease of reinforcing the
shelf portions as well as the enhancement of support to counteract
the increased stresses. For example, various types of reinforcing
members have been attached to the shelves in the regions where the
increased stresses develop. However, the reinforcing members have
generally merely transferred the stresses from one region of the
shelf to another region thereof. Also, the prior art reinforcing
structures have generally been complex in construction and
consequently have been expensive to manufacture.
Prior art reinforced shelves have generally not provided the
desired flexibility in removing or interchanging the reinforcing
members. This has limited the manner in which the shelves could be
used in various applications.
A further disadvantage of prior art shelf structures has been that
the means for reinforcing areas of increased stress concentrations
could not generally be utilized on various forms of support
structures on which the shelves are mounted. Stated otherwise,
reinforcing means suitable for one type of support structure was
frequently not suitable for another type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a shelf which is
not possessed of the disadvantages associated with comparable prior
art shelves.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a shelf
which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
shelf with removable corner structures which are adapted to be
adjustably supported on support posts.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a
shelf having truncated corner portions from which normally extend
skirt portions which are adapted to be clamped by corner
connectors.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shelf
having corner connectors which are adapted to uniformly distribute
the stresses, formed at the supporting corners, to the rest of the
shelf.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a
planar shelf, either of sheet metal or wire grid, which is adapted
to cooperate with corner connectors in the form of clamps which
securely clamp truncated corners thereof.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a
shelf which is reinforced against the concentrated stresses
generally formed in shelves at the regions of support.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide
corner connectors which are adapted to clamp the truncated corners
of planar shelf members, which corner connectors are adapted to
slidably and adjustably be mounted on support posts.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a
shelf which is provided with reinforcing corner connectors which
are easily interchangeable and which are adapted to be mounted on
support posts having various configurations and dimensions.
It is further an additional object of the present invention to
provide a blank which can easily be formed into a planar member
having truncated corners from which depend supporting flanges
adapted to be gripped by corner connectors.
In order to achieve the above objects, as well as others which will
become apparent hereafter, a shelf in accordance with the present
invention comprises a generally rectangular planar member having
truncated corner portions. Corner connectors are provided each of
which is engaged to a respective truncated corner portion. Said
corner connectors are provided with means for mounting the same on
a support post. In this manner, said planar member is supportable
on a support post by means of said corner connectors which are
connected to said truncated corner portions.
Said planar member may either comprise a sheet metal member or a
wire grid member.
Said planar member is, according to the presently preferred
embodiment, provided with peripheral skirt portions in the regions
of the corner portions. Each skirt portion extends substantially
normally to the plane defined by the planar member and defines
support flanges. Each corner connector comprises a clamp adapted to
clamp a respective support flange.
Advantageously, each corner connector comprises a corner structure
complementary to a respective corner portion to form with the
latter a square corner of the shelf. Said corner structure is
positioned on one side of a respective support flange while a
clamping bar is disposed on the other side of the respective
support flange. Means in the form of screws are provided for
drawing a respective clamping bar and a corner structure towards
each other with a support flange therebetween. In this manner, said
corner connectors are rigidly fixed to said planar member.
Optionally, said planar member is provided with a peripheral
reinforcing bead. In this instance, said corner connectors comprise
clamping means having a clamping bar a portion of which is
configurated to mate interiorly of said bead in a complementary
manner.
Either or both the clamping bar and the corner structure are
provided with recesses or grooves which are adapted to receive the
support flange or skirt portions of the planar member in pressure
fit relation when the corner connectors are mounted on the planar
member.
The presently preferred embodient provides tapered bores in the
corner structures. Complementary tapered sleeves are provided which
are movable on support posts and receivable in the tapered bores.
In this manner, the positions of said corner connectors can be
adjusted along the post by moving the sleeves on the post and
supporting said corner connectors on said sleeves.
The present invention also comprises the construction of the planar
member. According to such construction, the planar member has
truncated corner portions and peripheral skirt portions in the
regions of said corner portions. Each skirt portion defines a
support flange which is adapted to be clamped and rigidly held by a
respective corner connector. The planar member is also
advantageously provided with a bead about the periphery thereof for
reinforcing said planar member.
The present invention also contemplates a shelf corner connector
which is adapted to cooperate with an above described planar
member. Such a corner connector comprises a first clamping member
adapted to be mounted on a post structure and to at least partially
receive a respective skirt portion. A second clamping member is
positioned on the other side of a skirt portion relative to an
associated first clamping member. Means in the form of screws are
utilized for drawing the clamping members together with a
respective skirt portion positioned therebetween. According to a
preferred construction, said first clamping members comprise corner
structures which are complementary to the truncated corners. Said
first clamping members thereby form square corners on said planar
members when mounted thereon.
A blank for forming a shelf planar member of the type under
discussion also forms part of the present invention.
A shelf incorporating the novel features of the present invention
provides a shelf which overcomes most of the above described
disadvantages of prior art shelves. Firstly, the corner connectors
of the present invention absorb the load placed on the shelf and
distribute the same to the shelf planar member. Such reinforcement
is effective and increases the load capacity of the shelf. The
shelf of the present invention is also simple in construction and
economical to manufacture. The corner connectors are easily
detachable from the shelf planar member and different corner
structures may be attached thereto. The corner structures of the
present invention are provided with tapered bores which are adapted
to receive therein tapered sleeves or post supports which are
slidably mounted on support posts and adjustably positioned
thereon. By permitting the interchangeability of corner structures,
apertures of different dimensions and configurations may readily be
provided on any shelf to make same mountable on various forms of
support posts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With the above and additional objects and advantages in view, as
will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices,
combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment
in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a shelf in accordance with the present
invention, showing a planar member whose truncated corners are
fitted with corner connectors;
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the shelf of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the shelf of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmented view of one corner of the shelf
shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the shelf corner shown in FIG. 4,
taken along line 5-5;
FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, showing the shelf inverted and mounted
on a support post by means of a sleeve or post support which is
adjustably movable on a support post and receivable in a tapered
bore of the corner connector;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a blank suitable for forming a shelf
or planar member in accordance with the present invention which is
adapted to be connected to corner connectors as shown in FIG. 1,
the blank being divided by fold lines to indicate where various
panels and tabs are folded to produce the finished planar
member;
FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a support flange formed at
each truncated corner of the planar shelf member, showing the
various tabs and panels of the blank of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 but showing a rear elevational view of
the support flange;
FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of a corner structure forming part of
a corner connector in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a cross section of the corner structure shown in FIG.
10, taken along 11-11;
FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the corner structure shown
in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a cross section of the corner structure shown in FIG.
12, taken along line 13--13;
FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a clamping bar forming part
of the corner connector shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the clamping bar shown in
FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the clamping bar shown in FIG.
14;
FIG. 17 is a cross-section of the clamping bar of FIG. 14, taken
along line 17--17;
FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a shelf in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention, showing a wire grid member
instead of a planar sheet metal member as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of the shelf in accordance with
the second embodiment shown in FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmented view of a corner portion of the
shelf structure shown in FIG. 18, showing the details of a corner
connector mounted on the wire grid member;
FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of the corner structure adapted
to engage the wire grid member shown in FIG. 18, showing upper and
lower grooves adapted to engage inclined wire portions which are
clamped by the corner connectors;
FIG. 22 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 20, but with the corner
structure removed to illustrate how a clamping bar forming part of
the corner connector engages the diagonally disposed wire portions
of the wire grid member; and
FIG. 23 is an enlarged fragmented side elevational view of the
shelf in accordance with the second embodiment of the present
invention shown in FIG. 18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals
have been utilized to designate similar or identical parts
throughout, and first referring to FIGS. 1-3, a shelf in accordance
with the present invention is generally designated by the reference
numeral 10. The shelf 10 comprises a generally rectangular planar
member in the form of a sheet metal member 12. The sheet metal
member 12 has two sets of opposite parallel sides 14 which are
mutually orthogonal to each other. Peripheral skirts 16 project
from the sides 14, each skirt extending substantially normally to
the plane defined by the sheet metal member 12. This is best shown
in FIG. 3.
Provided about the upper periphery of the sheet metal member 12 is
a sheet metal bead 18 which is utilized to reinforce the sheet
metal member 12, as to be more fully described hereafter.
The sheet metal member 12 is provided with truncated corners 20.
Corner connectors 22, in the form of clamping members to be more
fully described hereafter, are provided at each truncated corner
portion 20. The corner connectors are adapted to be rigidly fixed
to the truncated corners 20. The basic structure of the corner
connectors 20 is shown in FIG. 2, wherein corner structures 24 are
connected to fastening or clamping bars 28 by means of screws 30
which extend through the clamping bars 28 into the corner
structures 24. Supporting flanges (not shown in FIGS. 1-3) are
clamped between respective ones of the clamping bars 28 and corner
structures 24. In this manner, the corner connectors 22 are rigidly
fixed and connected to the sheet metal member 12.
The corner connectors 22, to be more fully described hereafter, are
provided with means, in the form of tapered bores 26, for mounting
the corner connectors on support posts, as to be described in
connection with FIG. 6. The shelf 10 is further reinforced by
forming the skirts 16 as single sheet metal skirt edges. The
folding of the sheet metal and the doubling thereof is extended
into the region of the planar sheet metal member 12 as tabs 17 to
form single sheet metal planar edges therewith. Advantageously, the
tabs 17 are welded to the planar sheet metal members 12.
The details of the construction of each corner of the shelf is
shown in FIG. 4. Firstly, the relationship between the skirts 16
and the planar edges 17 is more fully disclosed here. Essentially,
the tabs 17 are continuations of the sheet metal skirt edges. The
tabs 17 define a plane which are parallel and adjacent to the plane
of the sheet metal member 12. Also shown in FIG. 4 are the details
of the tapered bore 26. More specifically, the bore 26 is shown to
be tapered in such a manner so as to define increasingly large
diameters in the direction of the bottom of the shelf 10. The
purpose for providing such a taper will be described more fully in
connection with FIG. 6.
In FIG. 5, the details of a shelf in accordance with a presently
preferred embodiment are shown. Here, the sheet metal member 12 is
shown to be provided about the periphery thereof with the bead 18.
The clamping bar 28 is provided with an end portion 32 which is
configurated in a complementary manner to the interior of the bead
18 to thereby fit securely therein. A lateral portion 34 projecting
from the end portion 32 projects beneath the sheet metal member 12
in the region of the bead 18 and forms additional support to the
structure in the region of the periphery of the shelf.
Also shown in FIG. 5 is the manner in which a corner connector 22
engages or clamps a corner skirt portion or support flange which
projects from the sheet metal member 12. The support flange which
is clamped by the corner connector comprises a corner tab 40 which
is directed normally to the plane defined by the sheet metal member
12 and extends from the bead 18. The support flange formed at the
corner of the sheet metal member 12 also comprises a single sheet
metal skirt edge 42 which partially overlaps the corner tab 40, as
to be more fully described in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9.
The corner structure 24 is provided with a recess defined by spaced
lips 46 which are adapted to at least partially receive the support
flange forming the truncated corners of the shelf 10. The corner
structure 24 is disposed on one side of the support flange while
the clamping bar 28 is disposed on the other side thereof. The
clamping bar, as shown, fits interiorly between recess lips 46 and
a bead 18. The screw 30 draws the clamping bar 28 and the corner
structure 24 towards each other while the support flange is
positioned therebetween. In this manner, the corner connector 22
becomes rigidly fixed to the sheet metal member 12 at the truncated
corners 20 thereof.
The tapered nature of the bore 26 is clearly illustrated in FIG. 5,
wherein the diameter of the bore continuously decreases in the
upward or towards the top surface of the shelf. The details of
construction of the support flange will be more fully described
hereafter.
In FIG. 6, the corner section as shown in FIG. 5 is shown oriented
in its normal supporting position. Also shown in FIG. 6 is the
manner in which the shelf is supported on a support post 50.
For this purpose, a corner support post 50 is shown which is
provided with a plurality of spaced indentations or annular
recesses or slots 52. The distance between successive annular
recesses 52 along the length of the support post 50 determines the
degree of adjustability or selectability of possible positions
along the support post 50 along which the shelf 10 can be
fixed.
The support post 50 is adapted to cooperate with a sleeve or post
support 60 which has a cylindrical inner surface and a tapered
outer surface 62. The sleeve 60 may be constructed to have two
mating halves which are engageable with one another when mounted on
the support post 50. When mated, the two halves tend to hold one
another in a fixed position. To this end, there is provided a
tongue and groove construction (not shown) suitable for connecting
the halves to one another. In this connection, reference may be had
to my U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,424,111; 3,523,508; 3,604,369 and my
Application Ser. No. 215,579, dated Jan. 5, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No.
3,757,705. These patents and pending patent application are
incorporated by reference into this application to supplement the
description of the support means or securing means for the shelves.
Generally, the external tapered surface 62 defines a frusto-conical
shape which corresponds to the internal taper of the bore 26. By
fixing the sleeve 60 on the support post 50 as shown in FIG. 6,
namely with an external upwardly decreasing taper, and by mounting
the corner structure 24 on the sleeve 60 with the internal surface
of the bore 26 having a decreasing taper in the upward direction,
as shown in FIG. 6, a tight and secured fitting relation may be
obtained between the sleeve 60 and the corner structure 24.
By adding a load or weight onto the planar member 12, the corner
structure 24 is urged downwardly -- this causing a wedging action
to result which provides a gripping force against the external
surface of the sleeve 60 which increases as the shelf is loaded. In
this connection, when the sleeve is formed of two halves, the
confronting edges of each half advantageously do not make actual
contact to thereby permit full pressure to be exterted against the
surface of each corner post 50. A more specific description of the
above described action is more fully described in my patent
entitled "Readily Assemblable and Adjustable Shelving," U.S. Pat.
No. 3,424,111. Advantageously, an annular lip 64 is provided about
the lower periphery of the sleeve 60 which limits the extent of
movement of the sheet metal member 12 and the corner member 24 in
the downward direction.
By securing the corner structure 24 on the support post 50 as
described above, the corner connector 22 provides substantial
support to the planar sheet member 12. The lips 42 define a cavity
or recess which matingly receives the bead 18 and the corner tab 40
of the shelf as well as the single sheet metal skirt edge 42. The
clamping bar 28 assures that these elements remain within the
recess formed by the lips 46 and provides added support for the
planar sheet metal member 12 by the mating configurations of the
end portion 32 and lateral portion 34.
In FIG. 7, a blank is illustrated which is suitable to be folded
into a planar sheet metal member 12, as described above, for
forming a shelf to which corner connectors 22 can be connected.
FIG. 7 illustrates a fragmented portion of a complete blank,
showing only one corner thereof.
A blank 70 comprises a planar sheet in the form of a sheet metal
member 12. The corner portion 40 thereof is foldable or bendable
about a corner fold line 72 into a plane which is substantially
normal to the plane of the planar sheet 12. The corner fold line 72
is diagonally disposed relative to orthogonal sides 71 and 73. It
should be clear that by bending the corner portion 40 about the
fold line 72, a truncated corner is formed on the planar sheet, as
suggested above and designated by the reference numeral 20. The
corner portion 40, when so bent, forms part of a support flange to
be more fully described hereafter.
To reinforce both the sheet metal member 12 as well as the corner
region, the sheet metal member 12 is provided with first panels 74
which extend along sides 71 and 73 and are bendable about fold
lines 76. Second panels 78 extend in parallel relation to the
panels 74 and are separated from the latter by fold lines 80.
Similarly, tabs 17, parallel to panels 74 and 78, are bendable
about fold lines 84.
The panel 74 and 78 each extend approximately from the region of
the corner fold line 72 to a corresponding corner fold line at the
other end of the sides 71 and 73. Each of the panels 74 and 78
therefore extends between two corner fold lines 72 along each of
the orthogonal sides of the sheet metal member 12.
A tab 86 projects or extends beyond the end of each of the panel 78
and a tab 90 similarly projects beyond the ends of the panels 74.
The tabs 86 are bendable about fold lines 88 while the tabs 90 are
bendable about the fold lines 92. Each of the tabs 86, 94, are
provided with holes 94 therein whose function will be described
hereafter.
One possible method of forming the shelf planar member 12 from the
blank 70 will now be described. Firstly, the tabs 82 are folded
about fold lines 84 to one side of the panels 74 and 78 into planes
which are normal to the plane of the planar sheet 12. The panels 78
are now folded about fold lines 80 to bring both of these panels
into planes adjacent to panels 74. Simultaneously, the tabs 86 are
brought into adjacent abutment against the tabs 90 with both holes
94 on each of the tabs in alignment with one another.
Panels 74 and 78, in abutting or adjacent planes parallel to the
plane of sheet 12, are now together folded about the fold lines 76
to bring these now two parallel panels into planes which are normal
to the planar sheet 12. Such folding about the fold lines 76 bring
the tabs 17 into abutment against the planar sheet 12. The tabs 86
and 94, now adjacent and aligned with each other, project beyond
the respective panels 74 and 78 along the direction of the
orthogonal sides 71 and 73 respectively. The two tabs 86 and 90 are
now together bent about fold lines 88 and 92 to substantially bring
the tabs into alignment with the corner fold lines 72. More
particularly, the two tabs 86 and 94 are bent relative to the now
upright panels 74 and 78 so that an angle defined between the tabs
and the panels corresponds to the angle defined between the fold
lines 72 and 76.
The corner tab 40 is now folded about the corner fold line 72 into
a plane substantially normal to that defined by the planar sheet
12. In so folding the corner tab, the latter overlaps and comes
into abutment against the bent tabs 86 and 94 which are now
substantially coextensive with the corner fold line 72.
Advantageously, the various folded elements above described are now
welded to each other to assure that the elements remain in their
above described folded positions.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the resultant shelf planar member
formed from the blank 70 is illustrated. As best shown in FIG. 8,
the folding of the panels 74 and 78 in the manner described forms
what is commonly known as a sheet metal single edge 42. Such a
single edge reinforces the sheet metal member 12 about the
peripheral edges thereof. Similarly, the tab 17 forms in a single
sheet metal planar edge. This connection may also be considered to
be an ordinary sheet metal lap joint when the tab 17 is welded to
the sheet metal member 12.
As suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9, the folding of the panels as
described in connection with FIG. 6 generates skirts 16 which
extend about the periphery of the sheet metal member 12. The skirt
16 depends from the sides 14 of the sheet metal member 12. At the
corners of the planar member 12, the skirts are modified to
incorporate corner tabs 40. The apertured ends of skirts 16
associated with different sides 14, with a corner tab 40, together
define a support flange corner portion 96 which is formed at the
truncated or diagonally formed corners of the planar member 12. The
support flanges or corner portions 96, which comprise the sheet
metal skirt edges 42, the corner tabs 40 and the beads 18, are
configurated to be receivable in the recesses between lips 46 of
the corner structure 24.
An important feature of the present invention, as should become
clear from the above description, is the ability of the present
construction to distribute stresses. Not only are these stresses
distributed along extended diagonal dimensions of the corners but
the stresses are also distributed to the reinforcing skirts 16
which extend along the sides 14 of the sheet metal member. Thus,
not only are the stresses, generated at the corners of the shelves,
evenly distributed, but the same reinforcing means, namely the
beads 18 and the skirts 16, improve the shelf performance by
preventing the shelf from buckling or otherwise becoming
deformed.
Although the skirts in accordance with the presently preferred
embodiment extend substantially about the entire periphery of the
entire sheet metal member 12, this is not a critical requirement
and skirt portions may be provided which only project or extend
from the planar sheet 12 in the regions of the corners thereof.
With such construction, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, equivalents of
tabs 86 and 90 as well as corner tabs 40 would be provided.
However, the equivalents of panels 74 and 78 would be reduced or
totally eliminated. The broad aspects of the present invention
include shelves which are not provided with skirts or other
projections from the planar sheet member. It is possible, for
example, to merely fold a corner tab 40 about a fold line 72 or cut
off the corner tabs 40 to provide a truncated or diagonally cut
corner. Suitable clamping means may then be utilized to clamp a now
enlarged length or surface area of the planar sheet 12. Thus,
according to the broad aspects of the present invention, a corner
connector is mounted on a truncated corner to provide a better grip
thereon and for the purpose of more evenly distributing the
stresses.
The corner connectors 22 in accordance with the present invention
are advantageously clamping connectors which clamp the shelf planar
sheet 12. When the shelf is provided with a support flange 96 as
described above, the corner connector 22 is advantageously of the
type shown in FIGS. 10-17. However, the specific construction of
this corner connector is not critical and any other construction
which is suitable for connection to support flanges 96 as above
described or to other truncated corner arrangements is equally
suitable.
The corner connector 22 comprises a corner structure 24 which is
advantageously cast. The corner structure 24 itself has a square
corner and an elongate recess 98 defined by upper and lower recess
lips 46 and lateral recess shoulders 100. The recess 98 receives
the support flange or corner portions 96 therein. A triangular
depression 102 is provided for matingly receiving the corner
portion 40 which is positioned exteriorly or slightly beyond the
tabs 90. The lateral shoulders 100 are configurated to abut the
skirts 16 when the support flange or corner portion 96 is received
in the recess 98.
Threaded holes 104 are provided in the corner structure 24, which
threaded holes are aligned with holes 94 of the support flanges
96.
The clamping bar 28 is illustrated in FIGS. 14-17 and shown to
comprise a bar provided with two spaced holes 106 positioned to be
aligned with holes 94 and threaded holes 104 when the clamping bar
28 is mounted as shown in FIG. 4. As described above, the clamping
bar 28 is provided with an end portion 32 which is configurated to
fit interiorly of the bead 18 and is provided with a lateral
portion 34 which is configurated to mate and abut against the sheet
metal member 12 in the region of the bead 18.
The basic principal of the present invention, namely the provision
of corner connectors which are interchangeable and readily
detachable from truncated corners of a shelf member, may be
utilized with other forms of shelf constructions. Another
embodiment of example of a further shelf construction which may
incorporate the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 18-23.
Here, the shelf comprises a wire grid planar shelf member 110 which
is defined by elongate longitudinal parallel wires 112 and
longitudinal transverse wires 114 which are welded to each other or
otherwise connected to each other at respective crossing points. As
best illustrated in FIG. 23, the shelf supporting structure
comprises the upper elongate longitudinal and transverse wires 112,
114. However, to provide reinforcement to the shelf, as with the
sheet metal member 12, a skirt is advantageously provided which
comprises additional lower longitudinal and transverse wires 112,
114 which extend about the periphery of the wire grid shelf member.
Disposed between the peripheral spaced wires is a corrugated wire
116 which is connected to the respective upper and lower wires at
successive peaks thereof.
The upper and lower peripheral wires each terminate in the region
of the corners of the wire grid shelf member 110 and are bent to
produce diagonally disposed wire portions 112a and 114a which form
support flanges or corner portions which serve a function similar
to that of the member designated by the reference numeral 16
above.
A slightly modified corner connector 22' comprises a corner
structure 24' whose construction is best shown in FIG. 21. In FIG.
21, similar to FIG. 12, the corner connector 24 is shown to be
provided with grooves 120 instead of the triangular depression 102
of the corner structure 24. Each groove 120 is adapted to receive a
respective wire portion 112a, 114a. Alternately, the clamping bar
28' associated with the corner structure 24' may be provided with
grooves. The wire portions in the nature of support flanges or
corner portions 112a, 114a are thereby received in clamping
relation in at least one set of grooves and are clamped between the
corner structure 24' and the clamping plate 28' by means of screws
30 similarly as with the corner connector 22.
As evident from the FIGURES, the corner connectors are configurated
to be complementary to the truncated corners. In this manner,
square corners are formed when the corner connectors are mounted on
the planar shelf members. This is shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 2
and 18. The corner connectors 22 can be readily and easily detached
from the planar members 12 and 110. Such interchangeability makes
it possible to interchange various corner structures as required by
different corner support posts 50. Clearly, the tapered bores 26 of
the corner structures 24 and 24' can be replaced with any other
suitably dimensioned or configurated apertures. This added
flexibility makes it possible to utilize the same shelving with
various configurated corner support posts.
As should be evident from the above description as well as an
examination of the drawings, the shelving construction above
suggested provides numerous manufacturing advantages which permit
more efficient and more economical manufacture of the shelving. The
shelving hitherto manufactured has the tapered corner portions
welded into the shelf. The above described two-piece corner
connector, as related to wire shelving, eliminates the difficult
welding of four 1/4 inch diameter wires to each tapered sleeve, as
described in several of the above referenced patents and
application. In the version that relates to sheet metal shelving,
the present corner arrangement eliminates all welding and, of
course, thereby the need for grinding and polishing or secondary
operations to alleviate distortion that may be caused by each
generated by welding or grinding and polishing.
Another advantageous feature of the present construction described
above relates to the sanitary aspects of the shelving, which is
frequently utilized in establishments handling foods of various
types. With increased supervision on the part of health
departments, there is an increasing emphasis on the need for
"crevice-free" constructions, especially on work surfaces. The work
surfaces are frequently known in the food service field as "food
contact zones". As should be more readily apparent from FIGS. 5 and
6, in the instance of sheet metal shelving and in FIG. 20, in the
instance of wire shelving, the corner structures and their
associated clamping plates are configurated to mate with each other
and substantially closed off openings which may form food-receiving
crevices. The crevices may be almost totally eliminated by
dimensioning the corner structures and clamping plates with close
tolerances and by sufficiently tightening the clamping screws 30.
In this manner, the clamping plates are fully received within the
recesses 98 in close abutment with the recess lips 46. Therefore,
the corner connectors have the advantage that they may clamp a
portion of either a sheet metal or a wire shelving while
presenting, when fully assembled, a substantially solid block or
unit which is free of the above described undesirable crevices.
Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest
themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be
understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred
embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration
only and is not to be construed as a limitation of the
invention.
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