Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
` - ~
~L31~;r~'~2
POS~ AND JOINT CONSTRUCTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to a
column; standard, or post for use wi~h shelving and
the like.
BACKGROUND OF TRE I2~VENTION
AND
TECHNICAL PROBI.EMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART
It is common to provide shelving fabricated
from sheet metal. Typically, support posts are
provided at the corners of the shelving, and such
posts are also commonly fabricated from sheet metal.
In order to reduce the cost of such
shelving, some ~anufacturers attemp~ to minimize the
thickness of the sheet metal that is used. However,
to the extent that the sheet metal thickness is
reduced, the rigidity and load-carrying capacity of
the shelving may be undesirably reduced.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an
improved post construction that would acco~modate the
use o~ thinner sheet metal while still providing
sufficient rigidity and load carrying capability.
On thin sheet metal post structures, the
edges of the sheet metal may define sharp edges which
might be bothersome to a person who is handling the
shelving or who accidentally brushes up against the
shelving. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an
improved shelving support pos~ in which such thin
edges are minimized if not eliminated.
Some sbelving products are typically
provided to a user in a package of disassembled
pieces. The pieces are designed and fabricated for
ease of customer assembly. With such "knock-down"
type shelving, it would be desirable to provide a
design in which the lengths of the shelving support
~.~
~ 3 ~ 5 ~ L~L 2
post could be reduced so as to accommodate smaller
packaging. Accordingly, it would be ~esirable to
provide means for connecting smaller lengths of posts
together to form a longer column.
It would also be advantageous if such an
improved post construction accommodated the crea~ion
of a substantially rigid connection between two
shorter length posts.
Further, it would be beneficial if the
improved post structure was relatively easily and
readily assembled by the user.
Finally, it would be advantageous if the
means for connecting the shorter length posts were
relatively simple to fabricate and had a relatively
low manufacturing cost.
SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
A corner support post for shelving and the
like is provided in the form of an elongate member of
sheet metal. The member has two side portions that
are generally perpendicular to each other, that each
define laterally offset, parallel walls, and that
each have a vertical margin defining a generally
cylindrical configuration to rigidify the member and
provide a smooth surface.
In a preferred embodiment, the member has a
planar central wall having two vertical side margins,
a pair of planar first side walls each extending
laterally outwardly at an angle of about 45 degrees
from a differen~ one of the vertical side margins of
the central wall, a pair of second side walls each
extending laterally outwardly at an obli~ue angle
from a different one of the first side walls, and a
pair of planar third side walls each extending
laterally outwardly at an oblique angle from a
different one of the second side walls. Each third
153 ~ ~j rl 4~ 2
side wall is oriented in a plane offset from~ and
generally parallel to, one of the second side walls.
A pair of generally cylindrical
configurations each extend from a different one of
the third side walls so that a plane extending from
one of the first side walls would be substantially
tangent to one of the cylindrical configurations.
The cooperative structural relationship among the one
cylindrical configuration, the one third side wall,
and the one second wall define a receiving channel
for a fastening plate.
Two identical posts can then be arranged in
an end-to-end abutting registration relationship. A
plate is provided with a first portion disposed in
the channel of the first post and with a second
portion disposed in the channel of the second post.
Fastening means, such as nuts and screws, can be used
to secure the plate to each of the posts and thereby
join the posts together in the end-to-end
relationship.
Numerous other advantages and features of
the presen~ invention will become readily apparent
from the following detailed description of ~he
inventionr from the claims, and from ~he accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings forming part of
the specification, in which like numerals are
employed to designate like parts throughout the same,
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular
shelving assembly employing four corner posts in
accordance with the teachings of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, rear,
perspective view of two corner posts fastened
together in accordance with the principles of one
aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of
the assembled components illustrated in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged,
cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane
4-4 in FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
While this invention is susceptible of
embodiment in many different forms~ this
specification and the accompanying drawings disclose
only one specific form as an example of the use of
the invention. The invention is not intended to be
limited to the embodiment so described, and the scope
of the invention will be pointed out in the appended
claims.
A modular shelving system, assembly, or unit
is designated generally by reEerence numeral 10 in
FIG. 1. The unit 10 includes a plurality of
generally horizontally disposed shelves 12 which are
supported by f~ur corner support columns or standards
16. Each column or standard 16, in the particular
embodiment illustrated in ~IG~ 1, includes two
identical posts 20 arranged in an end-to-end abutting
registration relationship.
Each shelf 12 can be placed at any desired
height and secured to the four support columns 16 by
suitable meansr such as with conventional screws and
nuts. To this end, each shelf 12 may be provided
with a flange 22 which defines, at its corners, one
or more apertures (not visible) for receiving the
mounting screw which can be inserted through a
selected aperture 30 in the column 16 (FIG. 2).
Other conventional or special attachment
means may be provided on each shelf 12 and/or the
1 3 ~
post 20 of the columns 16 for mounting the shelves
12. The details of such conventional or special
shelf moun~ing means form no part of the present
invention~
Each post 20, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3
and 4, is an elongate member of sheet metal having
two side portions or sides 40 tha~ are oriented
generally perpendicular to each other and that extend
at about a 45 degree angle from a central wall 42.
Each side portion 40 has a generally cylindrical
configuration 50 to rigidify the post 20 and provide
a smooth surface which reduces, if not substantially
elminates, the likelihood of the edge of the post 20
snagging articles carried past ~he post or cutting a
person handling the post or brushing against the
postO
As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the sides 40
of the post 20 are preferably identical. Further, as
best illustrated in FIG. 4, each side portion of the
post 20 includes a planar first side wall 61 which
extends laterally ou~wardly at angle of about 45
degrees from a vertical side margin of the central
wall 42. A planar second side wall 62 extends
laterally outwardly at an oblique angle from the
first side wall 61. A planar third side wall 63
extends laterally ou~wardly at an oblique angle from
the second side wall 62. The third side wall 63 is
oriented in a plane offset from, and generally
parallel to, the firs~ side wall 61.
As best illustrated in FIG. 4, ~he sheet
metal of the post 20 has two distal side edges 7Q
which each lie on the locus of the cylindrical
configuration 50. In the preferred embodiment
illustrated, each cylindrical configuration 50 has
more than one half of the exterior diameter located
~3~f~,
to one side of a plane defined by the associated
third wall 63.
Preferably, however, a portion of the
cylindrical configuration 50 projects somewhat on the
other side of the plane. In the particular
embodiment illustrated, the cylindrical configuration
50 has a diameter such that a plane extending from
the first side wall 61 is substantially tangent to
the cylindrical configuration 50. A receiviny
channel is thus defined by the cooperative structural
relationship of the cylindrical configuration 50, the
third side wall 63, and the second side wall 62. A
plate 90 can be received within each channel as best
illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. Fastening means, such as
screws and nuts 92 and 94~ respectively, are provided
for securing the plates 90 to the two posts 20
arranged in the end-to-end abutting registration
relationship to form the shelving support standard or
: column 16.
In a preferred form of the invention, the
sheet metal of each post 20 is substan~ially uniform
in thickness. The sheet metal thickness is about
one-eighth of the outer diameter of the cylindrical
configuration sn~ Further, the exterior diameter of
the cylindrical configuration 50 is about one-fourth
of the length of one of the side portions wherein the
side portion length includes the associated
cylindrical configuration 50 and is measured along a
plane perpendicular to the other side portion of the
post 20.
Preferably, as best illustrated in FIG. 4,
the sheet metal distal edge 70 on each side of the
post 20 lies on the locus of the cylindrical
configuration 50 adjacent the third wall 63, and the
third wall 63 is located between the distal edge 70
and the other side portion 40 of the post 20.
~3~7l~
7--
The novel post construction of the present
invention provides a relatively rigid and
light-weight member for use in supporting shelves in
a shelving assembly.
Further 9 the post structure accommodates the
end-to-end alignment of identical posts to provide
longer shelving support standards or columns as may
be required. The novel post structure accommodates
quick and easy fastening of post sections together.
Finally, the novel cylindrical configuration
along each vertical margin of the post functions to
define, in part, a receiving channel for the
connecting plate as well as to provide increased
rigidity and a smooth surface that minimizes the
likelihood of snagging or scratching other objects or
people.
From the foregoing, it ~ill be observed that
numerous variations and modifications may be effected
without departing from the true spirit and scope of
the novel concept of the invention. It is, of
course, intended to cover by the appended claims all
such modifications as fall within the true spirit and
scope of the claims.
