Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background of the Invention
(1) Field of the Invention:
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This invention relates to frames, both free standing and attachcd to walls,
for supporting shelves or the like.
(2) Description of the Prior Art:
Prior frames for supporting shelves have incorporated elongated members and
corner pieces such as may be seen in United States Patent No. 3,229,790 of
January lô, 1966 to 1. Shayne. The corner pieces extend horizontally between theelongated members and include diagonal sections. United States Patent No. 1,427,248
10 of August 29, 1922 to E. B. Weston, shows angular corners Formed on frame members
and angular slotted cornars are disclosed in United States Patent 2,815,130 of
December 3, 1957 to N. H. Franks, and its reissue 24,535.
The present invention forms elongated slotted channel members with the base
of the channel curving into outwardly and oppositely arranged continuous flangeswhich are themselves cross sectionally curved and which in turn curve into oppositely
disposed outturned longitudinal edge flanges. L-shaped corner members of matching
3 configurations register in the cross sectional configurations of the elongated slotted
channel members. The framing for shelves disclosed herein is not anticipated by
the structure of the priar art patents nor would the present structure be obvious to
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' 20 one having the prior art patents and their disclosures.
Summary of the Invention
Framing for shelves incorporates novel shaped elongated slotted channel
members and L-shaped corner pieces having similar cross sectionOEI configurations so
as to be registrable in ~he elongated slotted channel members. Frames formed of `
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the elongated members and the L-shaped corner pieces are unusually rigid and Form
` ideal supports for shelves and heavy loads. ~ `~
` Description of the Drawings
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Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame for shelves embodying the present
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Figure 2 is an eniarged horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a corner piece as seen in Figure l;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a framing modification utilizing the
elongated slotted channel members of Figure l; and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a framing member seen in the modification ;
of Figure 4.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
In the form of the invention disclosed herein, and referring now to Figures
10 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the framing for shelves comprises
elongated slotted channel members 10 to which a plurality of L-shaped corner -
pieceS 11 are secured by fasteners 12. The cross sectional shcspe of the elongated
slotted channel members 10 is novei and by referring to the cross section comprising
Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the channel member 10 includes a
transversly arcuate base portion 13 which curves into upwardly curving flanges
14 which are actually arcuate and which in turn curve into oppositely disposed outwardly
extending substantially flat edge flanges 15 which are therefore offset outwardly
and upwardly with respect to the base portion 13 and lie on parallel planes. ~
The base portion 13 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 16 therein. - ~-
~0 The elongated slotted channel members 10 may be formed of relatively thin steel
strips because their cross sectional configuration incorporating the curving base 13
and flanges 14 and the curves joining the same to the vase portion 13 and the edge
flanges 15 lend unusual rigidity thereto.
By referring again to figure I of the drawings, it will be seen that a pair ;
` of the elongated slotted channel members 10 have been positioned vertically in
spaced relation to a wall W and a plurality of the corner pieces 11 attached thereto
at longitudinally spaced intervals by fasteners 12 and a plurality of short sections
28 IOA of the elongated channel members 10 have been secured to the horizontai
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portions of the corner pieces 11 and extend toward the wall W. Additional cornerpieces 11 are secured to the opposite ends of the short sections 10A of the
elongated slotted channel members 10 and then attached directly to the wall W
by fasteners as will occur to those skilled in the art. A plurality of shelf boards
17 are then positioned on the short sections 10A and may be secured thereto if
desired and a completed structurally strong frame including a plurality of vertically
spaced shelves is thus formed.
By referring now to figure 3 of the drawings, a perspective view of one of
the corner pieces 11 may be seen and it will be observed that it has a cross sectional ~
configuration in both its vertical and hori~ontal sections which matches the cross ~ I -
sectional configuration of the elongated slotted channel member 10 hereinbefore
described. In Figure 3 of the drawings the L-shaped corner piece 11 will be seento have a transversely arcuate longitudinally ex~ending base portion 18 in whichslots 1, are positioned in spaced relation`to one another. Ourward~ly curving ;
flanger 20 join the base portion 18 on curves of smaller radius and the arcuate sections
of the flanges 20 and the flanges 20 cùrve gently into the oppositely disposed out~
wardly extending flat edge flanges 21
The cross sectional configuration of each of the right angular portions of the
corner pieces 11 is the same as the cross sectional configuration of the elongated
~ 20 slotted channel members 10 so that they nest one in the other and may be pulled
- into close association by fasteners such as bolts and nuts positioned therethrough.
The matching configurations lend rigidity to the framing formed of the members
herein disclosed and greatly increase the shear strength of the framing incorporation
the respective members 10 and 11.
Modifications of the framing for shelves disclosed herein will occur to those
skilled in the art and by referring to figures 4 and 5 one such modification may be
seen wherein two sections of the elongated channel members 10 are affixed to a
28 wall, not shown, in vertical spaced relation to one another and a plurlity of flanged
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arms 22 having slotted tongues 23 on one of their ends engaged on tha channel mernbers
10 by the engagement of the slotted tongues 23 in th~ sloYl 16. ilhe spac7ng ~ th'~
slotted tongues 23 is the same as the spacing of the slots lo. .
By referring to Figure 5 of the drawings in particular, it will be seen that the
end of the flanged arm 22 carrying the slotted tongues 23 also has outturned tabs 24
which engage the base 13 of the channel members 10 and hold the flanged arms 22
against pivoting motion based thereon. In f igure 5 of the drawings, boards
26 are shown positioned on the flanged arms 22 to form shelves.
Although but two embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated ~ :
and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changsd ~:
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and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the
invention and having thus described my invention what I claim is.
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