Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to Eree-standing rigid shelving
syst~ms -thak may be assembled without tools. In particular,
the invention relates to such systems in which the shelves
are supported by brackets into which post pieces are screwed.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a need for shelving systems that are quickly and
easily assembled. One oE the best ways to facilitate the
assembly i5 to use pieces that can be assembled without any
tools. The advantages o such construction usually also
apply to the disassembly oE the shelving, and to the
rearrangemen-t of the height and placements of the various
shelves within the system.
One oE the difficulties in making a set of shelves without
tools is to fit and interlock the pieces -tightly enough that
the shelving system is suEficiently rigid to s-tand securely
and to support whatever objects are supposed to be placed on
the shelves.
Another problem in making such a set of shelves is to do it
with a minimal number oE pieces and steps of construction.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR TECHNOLOGY
The broad concept o inserting a flange or bracket within a
post in order -to support the corner of a shel:E is very old.
An example of a device using this concept is shown in U.S.
Patent number 3,981,251. The corner structure is comprised
of a few pieces, held in place by a single screw.
A shelving unit that features -the greater or lesser
insertion of -tubes within tubes to obtain the appropriate
height o-f the shelves on the supporting tubes is disclosed
in U.S. Patent number ~,257,333. It appears to be readily
assembled, but its rigidity would depend on the extent -to
which the tubes and the spacer used were jammed together,
making disassembly correspondingly difficult.
The application of a nut, spacer, and bolt to join two
separated panels is illus-trated in U.S. Patent number
4,282,977. Vertical panels are there joined, while the
double-ended bolt-like extensions are there -the supporting
suraces, but the arrangement could be turned sideways
ninety degrees to apply the same principle to a shelving
system.
Some oE the broad concepts embodied in the above-noted
inventions are rela-ted to this inv~ntion, but none of the
prior technology reveals -the device and means herein
disGlosed .
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SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE :[MVENTION
This invention is comprised of vertical structure pieces
-that are screwed into holes in substantially U~shaped
brackets that snugly fit over the corner areas of the
shelves to be joined into a shelving unit.
The holes can be predrilled and tapped completely through both
arms of the brackets, enabling the vertical structure
pieces to be screwed in to a depth at ~hich they too abut
the shelves to secruely grip and support each corner of
each shelf. The topmost shelf of the structure is then held
securely in place be screwing a short threaded plug into the
topmost bracket.
This invention facilitates the simple and rapid assembly of
a free-standing rigi.d shelving systam. No tools are
reguired. Disassembly is correspondingly easy.
Construction of the components necessary for the system is
simple in that no holes need to be drilled or otherwise
formed in the shelvesO
.The invention may be embodied in a variety of shelf
components, permitting the construction of utility or
decorative shelving to meet any taste, purpose, or budget,
for use in the home, office, workshop, or storage area.
The parts of the invention are also suitable for the
assembly of other Eurniture such as coffee and end
tables.
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE :[NVENTION
The shelving system of this inv~n-tion is comprised of a
number of typical rectangular shelves and a special modular
vertical post and bracke~ construction.
The vertical struc~ure pieces are joined to the shelves by
means of the brackets. The shelves are held in a vertical
arrangement by means of the brackets being joined to the
ver-tical structure pieces~ There are two kinds of
vertical structure pieces: posts and end plugs.
The top and bottom flange of each bracket has a
female threaded hole. Each of the post pieces has a male
threaded top and bottom. The post can thus be thread~d into
one of the bracket holes. The bracket can be made of plastic,
wood, metal, or any other sui-table material. The posts can
likewise be made of plastic, wood, metal, or any other
suitable material. The other component, a male threaded plug,
can be used to finish off the bracket at the top of each of
the corners of the top shelf of the assembled structure.
The assembly of the shelves is done as follows:
Step 1. The assembly of a typical shelving unit is begun by
sliding a close-fitting bracke-t onto the Eirst (bottom)
shelf board at or near eac'n corner of the shelf.
Step 2. The brackets are held firmly in place by screwing a
post connector into the top of each bracket and tightening
down until the bottom oE the post connector is in firm
contact with the shelf board.
Step 3. Four new brackets are -then screwed onto -the top end
of -the four upright post connectors, the assembler taking
care -that the threaded ends o f the post do not e~tend
beyond the inside face of the bracket. The brackets should be
twisted to face inward, in an orientation such that they can
receive and grip a second shelf. At this time the assembler
may choose to insert a foo-t plug in the bottom of each
bracket to slightly elevate -the unit, or to adjust the foot
plugs to level the unit if it is on an uneven floor surface.
Step 4 a The next level of shelf board is slid into the
brackets from the fron-t or end, depending on the
location and orientation of the brackets.
Step 5: Continue to repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 until the
desired number of shelves or overall unit height is achieved.
Step 6: Insert a short threaded top securing plug into -top of each
topmost bracket connector and tighten down firmly onto the top
of the shelf board.
No modifications are necessary to the shelf board~ or
connectors, and the system may be assembled, revised or
disassembled without damage to any components.
Structural strength is maintained by transferring the
accumulated multiple shelf loads vertically downward through
-the posts which are situated within the outline oE the
shelves. There are no cantilevered or angled forces
in this post over bracket structure.
Any type of shelf board with a thickness matching the size
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of the side bracke-t connec-tor can be used to assemble a Eull
shelving system. The total maximum load is limited mainly to
the shelE board beam streng-th and the compressive strength
of the connector posts.
The shelving unit can be made ~uite low, for use as a table
top~ and in fact the unit can be made stable with only one
shelf, the supporting posts extending -to the floor.
The post connectors can be made in sets to match the desired
heigh-t between any -two shelves in the shelving unit. The
sets of posts for each shelE may be mixed in any
combination in -the same sys-tem for a variety of heights
between shelves.
The post components and the shelves can be oE any size or
material within the structural limits of those materials.
The post components can be molded or machined into the
correct form for -the system. The brackets can be round or
square on their outer surfaces, edges, or corners.
E'or long shelves, addi-tional brackets and posts could be
placed in the middle of the shelf for increased support.
A subsidiary option would be to have rubber feet on -the foot
plug components -to reduce skidding by the shelving unit on a
smooth 100r.
This invention could be sold as a kit, for assembly by the
re-tail purchaser. It would also be suitable for sale from
mix-and-match bins con-taining a variety oE styles, shapes
and sizes of shelves and vertical structure pieces. The
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invention provldes an easy rneans of construction of both
utility and decorative shelving for a wide variety of
purposes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a cxoss-sectional side view of a corner
connection in the sh~lving system.
Figure 2 is a top view of a post connector.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a post connector.
Figure 4 is a perspective of the bracket used in the shelving
system D
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a top securing
plug or a levelling foot plug.
Figure 6 is a top view of a shelf after assembly into the
system.
Figure 7 is a perspective of the shelving system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, the shelf 2 is shown, held in place
by the top arm 3 and the bottom arm 4 of the bracXet 5. The
top 6 of post 7 is screwed into the bottom arm 4 until the
top surface 8 is almost Elush with the bottom 9 of the
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shelE 2, and the shoulder 10 of -the post is almos-t flush
with the outer surEace of the bo-t-tom arm 4 of the
bracket 5. The top securing plug 11 is screwed into the
-top arm 3 until ~he bottom surface 12 of the -top
securing plug 11 is tight with the top 13 of the shelf
2, and the shoulder 14 o the top securing plug 11 is
clear of the outer surface of the top arm 3 of the
bracket 5.
Referring to F'igure 2, the top 21 of the post 7 is shown,
with -the inner 22 and outer 23 shoulders of the threadsO
The shoulder 24 between the outer circumference and -the
threaded portion of the post will almost abut the outer
surface of the bracket arm into which the post is
screwed.
Referring to Figure 3, the post 7 is shown, with top 31 and
bottom 32 male threaded protusions. As an option, the posts
could be made with reversed thread at either end in
order to allow posts to be screwed simultaneously into
brackets placed on a lower and an upper shelf
respectively.
Referring to Figure 4, the bracket 5 has a top ar~ 3 and a
bottom arm 4. Holes 41 and 42 respectively are pre-drilled
-through each arm and are pre-tapped to receive the
threaded portion of the posts.
Referring to Figure 5, the cylinder-shaped securing top plug
(or levelling foot plug) 11 is shown, with its shoulder
14 and its male threaded end 51.
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Referring to Figure 6, the shelf 2 is shown, with brackets 5,
61, 62, and 63 on each of its corners respectively. The
shelves need not be rec-tangular, of course. They could be
octagonal, for example. The brack2ts should be placed
near the extremities oE the shel in order to maximi~e
stability. The length oE the arms of the brackets should be
such as to allow the positions oE the holes to be
somewhat away from the edge of the shelE in order to
provide a strong area of the shelE upon which the posts
can abut and grip the shelf in cooperation with each
other.
Referring to Figure 7, the shelves 71 are shown connected
by the posts 72 and the brackets 73. A drawing of a man
is adjacent to the shelving unit to show a typical scale.
A securing top plug 74 has been screwed into each of the
corner brackets on the top shelE, and an identical foot
levelling plug 75 has been screwed into the bottom of
each corner bracket on the bottom shelf.
The within-described invention may be embodied in other
specific forms and with additional options and accessories
without departing Erom the spirit or essential
characteristics thereoE. The presently disclosed embodiment
is thereEore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention
being indicated by the appended claims ra-ther -than by the
foregoing description, and all changes which come within the
meaning and range oE equivalency of the claims are therefore
intended to be embraced therein.
