Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~0~ 6
FRAME ASSEMBLY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a frame assembly
which is particularly well-suited for use with shelving,
tables and the like that may be sold in a knocked-down
form for assembly by the purchaser without the use of
separate fasteners.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
AND
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART
There are presently available a wide variety
of frame assemblies for use with storage shelving
systems, tables and the like. Some such assemblies are
available with corner support posts having keyhole-
~ 15 shaped slots for receiving rivet members projecting
i~ outwardly from a shelf flange or shelf support beam.
Although such frame assemblies do not require the use of
separate fasteners, the outwardly projecting members at
each end of the shelf flange or support beam are
relatively massive compared to the thickness of the
sheet metal that is conventionally used for fabrication
of the components. ~ -
Typically, each shelf is carried by four
flanges or support beams which are supported at each
corner. For heavy load conditions, the conventional- - -
rivet and keyhole slot shelving assemblies employ two
relatively massive, vertically aligned, projecting rivet -~
members on each end of each shelf flange or shelf
support beam.
In the conventional shelving assemblies, the
two rivets on each end of the shelf flange or shelf
support beam are each received in a separate keyhole-
shaped slot on the support post. Accordingly, in a
frame assembly with four corner support posts, there are
sixteen relatively massive rivet members required f~r
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supporting one shelf. It would be desirable to provide
an improved frame assembly and connection structure
~ which requires less stock material and which would be
i less expensive to manufacture.
In order to provide a tight and rigid
connection, each projecting rivet must be properly
¦ seated at the bottom of each keyhole-shaped slot. It
has been found that proper seating of pairs of
i vertically aligl~ed projecting rivets in the keyhole
slots can be difficult to achieve. Owing to
manufacturing tolerances and twisting of components
during packaging, shipping, and handling, and/or owing
to misalignment during assembly, one of the two rivets
may bottom out in the seated position in its keyhole
slot prior to the other rivet of the pair being properly
seated in its keyhole slot. Further, owing to the
relatively massive structure of each projecting rivet,
and owing to the relative rigidity of the support post
material around the keyhole slot, little or no
deformation occurs to accommodate the seating variation.
Accordingly, the connection may remain somewhat loose.
It would be desirable to provide an improved
frame assembly in which the connection between the
support post and the shelf flange or support beam is
relatively tight and rigid notwithstanding some initial
misalignment which might have resulted from
manufacturing tolerances and/or inadvertent bending or
twisting of the components prior to assembly.
The conventional frame assemblies that employ
projecting rivets or other relatively massive, outwardly
projecting members necessarily have an increased overall
thickness dimension equal to the rivet length.
Typically, the rivet length greatly exceeds the
thickness of the remaining portion of the beam or other
member from which the rivet projects.
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The outwardly projecting rivets can interfere
with the placement of adjacent frame assemblies close to
each other. When such frame assemblies are used with
shelving systems, it may be desirable to attach, or at
least locate, two shelving systems side-by-side. Thus,
it would be beneficial to provide an improved frame
assembly that would accommodate such side-by-side
placement so as to reduce the space between the
assemblies and to permit them to be connected together
relatively rigidly.
The outwardly projecting rivets are -
undesirable in other respects too. When a conventional
rivet and slot frame assembly is packaged and shipped in
an unassembled condition, the projecting lengths of the
rivets on each beam end must be accommodated by the
packaging. Another disadvantage is that the outwardly
pro~ecting members on each beam end provide the ~-
potential for snagging or otherwise interfering with ~ -
other components during packaging, during removal from -~
; 20 the package, and during assembly. -;
It would be desirable to provide an improved
frame assembly which could employ reduced thickness `
shelf support beams having a reduced probability of
snagging or of otherwise interfering with other ~ -
components. It would be advantageous if such an
improved frame assembly would permit rapid installation
and, when used with shelving, would easily facilitate
shelf elevation changes. -
Some conventional frame assemblies are -
typically fabricated to be shipped in a knocked down
- condition and asssmbled by the customer on site.
Typically, the corner support posts of such frame
assemblies are provided in shorter length sections
(e.g., three feet) for being connected together in an
end-to-end relationship to form a longer combination
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corner support post. Some such conventional frameassemblies used in shelving systems require a shelf to
be positioned at the end-to-end joint of each corner
support post. The shelf is used to connect, or help
connect, the two shorter support posts and to provide
sufficient rigidity for the overall structure. While
this may provide a generally satisfactory way of
connecting two shorter length support posts together,
the requirement that a shelf be located right at that
post connection may be an undesirable feature in many
applications. Therefore, it would be desirable to
provide an improved knock-down frame assembly in which
two shorter length corner support posts could be joined
together in an end-to-end relationship without requiring
the placement of a shelf right at the connection of the
two posts.
When frame assemblies are used to support
relatively high loads, it is desirable that the assembly
be relatively rigid and provide good resistance to -
swaying, bending, and buckling. Accordingly, it would
advantageous to provide an improved frame assembly in
which connections between the corner support posts and
the cross members (e.g., shelves or shelf support beams)
are relatively strong, rigid, and capable of
withstanding the moments and~forces imposed at the
conneetions.
- It would also be beneficial if an improved
frame assembly could be used with generally flat, planar
shelves that would not require unitary extending flanges
or connection members which would otherwise increase the
overall thickness dimension of the shelf. Further, it
would be beneficial if such a shelf could be provided
with means for securing its position in the shelving
acse bly and for reducing the tendency of shelf support
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200~8a~
members to deflect or bend outwardly when subjected to
relatively high loads from the shelf.
Finally, it would be desirable if such an
¦ improved frame assembly could be provided with means for
readily accommodating relative movement of the
somponents as they are moved into the final assembled
~ positions and for facilitating the completion of
¦ connections between the components while providing
generally tight, rigid, and strong connections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a frame
assembly is provided with support posts which each
include a support wall. Preferably, each post has a
pair of support walls at generally right angles to one
another. Each support wall defines a plurality of
vertically spaced, inwardly projecting lugs which each
define a vertical passage extending the height of the
lug. Preferably, each lug is relatively small and
smooth, and each lug projects inwardly only a very small
amount in the preferred embodiment, typically 0.14 inch
in a contemplated commercial product embodying the
invention.
The frame assembly also includes cross members
connecting the support posts. When the frame assembly
is used in a preferred embodiment as a part of shelving
system, the cross members include at least one set of
four shelf support members for supporting at least one .!
shelf at a desired elevation on four corner support
posts. The four shelf support members are arranged in a
rectangular configuration and are connected to the four
corner support posts to provide a rigid structure.
Each cross member or shelf support member
includes an attachment portion positioned adjacent one
of the support walls of one of the corner support posts
and includes another attachment portion positioned -
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adjacent one of the support walls of another of the
corner support posts. Each shelf support member
attachment portion includes at least one tab that has a
free distal end and that is connected to the attachment
S portion to project downwardly in the absence of shelf
support material around the tab free distal end. The
tab is received in one of the lug passages on the corner
support posts.
In the preferred form of the invention, two
such tabs are provided in spaced-apart vertical
registration to provide a particularly effective and ~ -
strong connection. Preferably, the upper tab is
somewhat longer than the lower tab. This aids in
assembly by permitting one to concentrate first on
inserting the distal end of the longer tab into its lug
passage. Further, the distal end of the tab is
preferably tapered along its side edges and along at
least one face.
The passage defined within the lug is
preferably provided with an internal curved wall or
other means for reducing at least one dimension of the
passage cross section so that it is somewhat smaller
than the corresponding cross sectional dimension of the
uninserted tab above the tapered distal end. Therefore,
in order to fully insert the tab, some force must be
applied.
For example, the shelf support member may be
driven downwardly by pounding on it with a mallet. This
causes each tab to enter into the reduced cross section
lug passage and to be deformed. This provides a tight
engagement. Where two vertically aliqned tabs are
provided at each joint, the deformation of the tabs
accommodates initial misalignment and/or manufacturing
tolerances so that both t~bs are subjected, a~beit ~ ;~
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unequally, to some deformation. This results in a
relatively tight and rigid connection.
In a preferred form of the invention, each
support post is provided in sections or segments to
permit the assembly components to be packaged in an
unassembled condition in a smaller package. Typically,
a lower corner support post and an upper corner support
post are provided for each corner of the assembly and
l are aligned in vertical end-to-end abutting registry.
3 lo A splice plate is provided for connecting the
1 upper and lower corner support posts together. The
splice plate has a planar central portion spanning the
two abutting ends of the upper and lower corner support
posts and has two oppositely directed planar legs. One
of the legs projects into one of the upper corner
support post lug passages and the other of the legs
projects into one of the lower corner support post lug
passages.
Each leg of the splice plate may have the same
configuration as the configuration of shelf support
member attachment tabs. Thus, a transverse cross
sectional dimension of each uninserted leg may be
somewhat larger than the corresponding dimension of the
support post lug passage so that each leg has to be
forced into the passage with sufficient force to cause a
deformation of the leg to provide a relatively tight and
rigid joint.
In the preferred form of the invention, a
shelf is provided for being disposed on the cross
members or shelf support members. Preferably, the shelf
has a bottom surface with a pair of side margins, a
front margin, and a rear margin. The shelf defines a
downwardly open channel in the bottom surface along the
rear margin and defines a downwardly open channel in the
bottom surface along the front margin.
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A shelf support member along the front of the
assembly includes an inwardly extending flange for
supporting the front margin of the shelf. Another shelf
support member along the rear of the assembly includes
an inwardly extending flange for supporting the rear
margin of the shelf. Each front and rear shelf support
member also includes an upturned vertical lip projecting
from the flange for being received in one of the
downwardly open channels defined in the shelf. This
structure functions to locate and retain the shelf and
provides increased rigidity in the shelf support member
which lessens the tendency of the shelf support member
to bend, twist, or bow outwardly.
Numerous other advantages and features of the
present invention will become readily apparent from the
following detailed description of the invention, from
the claims, and from the 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 the shelving
support assembly of the present invention with a ~-
plurality of shelves being supported at various
elevations;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view;
FIG. 3 is an end elevational view;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view; -~
FIG. 5 is a bottom view;
FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary,
partial cross-sectional view taken generally along the
plane 6-6 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective ~-
view of the components shown in FIG. 6;
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FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional
view taken generally along the plane 8-8 in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary,
cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 9-9
in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary,
elevational view taken generally along plane 10-10 in
FIG. 7;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged, elevational view of
the splice plate taken generally along the plane 11-11
in FIG. 7;
FIG. 12 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary,
elevational view similar to FIG. 6 but showing
intermediate positions of the components prior to final
completion of the joint;
FIG. 13 is a more greatly enlarged,
perspective view of the upper portion of the structure
shown in FIG. 12, but showing the final position of the
components in the completed joint; and
FIG. 14 is a greatly enlarged view taken
generally along the plane 14-14 in FIG. 12.
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
embodiments so described, and the scope of the invention
will be pointed out in the appended claims.
The frame assembly of the present invention is
designated in FIG. 1 generally by the reference numeral
10. The frame assembly 10 is shown supporting a
plurality of shelves 12 so as to function as a shelving
assembly or shelf unit. Five shelves 12 are shown, but
it will be appreciated that a fewer or greater number of
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shelves may be employed. In a contemplated commercial
embodiment of the invention, each shelf 12 is fabricated
from a suitable particle board material.
Four vertical corner posts 14 are arranged
with each one of the posts 14 at a different one of four
corners of the assembly. Each post 14 is positioned
~ adjacent a corner of each of the shelves.
¦ In the preferred embodiment illustrated,
wherein the assembly 10 has an overall height of about 6
feet, each corner support post 14 includes a lower
corner support post 16 and an upper corner support post
18 which are aligned in vertical end-to-end abutting
registry and connected together by means described in
detail hereinafter.
All of the lower corner support posts 16 are
identical, and all of the upper corner support posts 18
i are identical to the lower corner support posts 16. The
structure of the upper and lower corner support posts is -
next described with reference to the upper corner
support post 18 illustrated in the enlarged views in
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.
The post 18 has a pair of support walls 22 ~-
which are at generally right angles to one another.
Each support wall 22 defines a plurality of vertically
spaced, inwardly projecting lugs 30. As best
illustrated in FIG. 8, each lug 30 defines a vertical
passage 40 adjacent the lug and extending the height of
the lug. In a contemplated commercial embodiment, the
posts 18 (and the posts 16) are each fabricated from
cold rolled steel having a thickness of between about
0.055 inch and about 0.065 inch. Each lug 30 is formed
to define the passage 40 with a depth of about 0.08 inch
and a width of about 0.375 inch. Preferably, as best
illustrated in FIG. 14, the passage 40 in each lug 30 is
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defined, in part, by two internal radii or curves 41 so
that the passage 40 is not a true rectangle.
A novel means is provided for connecting the
lower corner support posts 16 to the upper corner
support posts 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In
particular, a pair of splice plates 44 are provided to
join a lower corner support post 16 to an upper corner
support post 18. Each splice plate 44 includes a planar
central portion 46 spanning the two abutting ends of the
lower and upper corner support posts 16 and 18,
respectively. Each splice plate 44 also includes two
oppositely directed planar legs 48. One of the legs 48
projects upwardly into one of the upper corner support
post lug passages and the other of the legs 48 projects
downwardly into one of the lower corner support post lug
passages. Preferably, each leg 48 projects beyond the
end of the receiving lug 30. The splice plate 44
permits the upper and lower corner support posts to be
joined together without the use of threaded fasteners or
other types of fasteners that project perpendicularly to
the lengths of the support posts.
To facilitate assembly, the distal end of each
leg 48 has an end surface 51 and an angled surface 50 on
one side (FIGS. 9 and 11) for guiding the leg into the
passage behind the lug 30. The surface 50 is on the
side of the plate 44 facing against the post wall 22 and
prevents the leg 48 from hanging up on the edge of the
wall 22 at the lug aperture 40. Insertion of the leg 48
into the lug passages is further facilitated by the side
edges 52 of each leg 48 which are angled inwardly at the
distal end of the leg (FIG. 6).
Inwardly of the distal end of each leg 48, the
leg cross section is generally rectangular. The
transverse cross sectional thickness, in a contemplated
commercial embodiment, is about 0.06 inch, and the
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length is about 0.375 inch. The receiving lug passage
40, owing to its curved sections 41, has a length that
is somewhat less than 0.375 inch along one side of the
passage. Thus, when the leg 48 is fully inserted into
the lug passage 40, a portion of the leg 48 on each
front edge will be engaged and sheared or deformed
somewhat by the curved sections 41 of the lug passage 40
so as to effect a tight engagement.
Each shelf 12 is held in position on the
assembly 10 by means of four cross members or shelf
support members -- a pair of parallel front and rear
shelf support members 60 (FIG. 1) and a pair of side
shelf support members 62. Each shelf support member 60
and 62 has two ends, and each end is adapted to be
positioned adjacent, and connected to, a wall 22 of one
of the corner support posts 16 or 18. The end region of
each shelf support member 60 and 62 may be characterized ~ -
as an attachment portion or an attachment end portion
and, in the preferred embodiment, is generally planar.
Each attachment end portion includes at least one tab 71
for being received in one of the lug passages as
illustrated in FIG. 6. The tab 71 has a free distal end
and is connected to the attachment portion at a
connection region (at the base of the tab opposite the
distal end). Each tab projects downwardly in a cut-out
region which is characterized by the absence of shelf
support material around the tab free distal end.
Preferably, the tab 71 projects beyond the bottom of the
lug 30.
In a preferred embodiment, increased rigidity
in the connection is achieved by providing a second tab
72 which projects downwardly from a second connection
region and is defined by the absence of shelf support
material around the tab except at its connection region.
The first and second tabs are preferably coplanar and in
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vertical registry. The second tab 72 is received in one
of the passages of another one of the lugs 30. The tab
72 preferably projects beyond the bottom of the lug 30.
Each tab 71 and 72 preferably has the same
configuration as the legs 48 of the splice plate 44.
i Thus, each tab 71 and 72 has an end surface 51 and an
j angled surface 50 on one side facing the post wall 22.
The surfaces 51 and 52 are analogous to the splice plate
~i end surface 51 and angled surface 50, respectively, and
function to facilitate insertion of the tab into one of
l the lug passages. Similarly, each tab 71 and 72 has
j angled side edges 52, analogous to the side edges 52 of
the splice plate leg 48, to facilitate insertion of the
tab into one of the lug passages.
Preferably, as best illustrated in FIG. 12,
the upper tab 71 is somewhat longer than the lower tab
72. In a contemplated commercial embodiment, the upper
tab 71 is 1/16th inch longer than the lower tab 72.
Thus, during insertion of the tabs 71 and 72 into the -~
lugs 30, a person may initially concentrate on inserting
the distal end of the upper leg 71 into the mating lug
30. After the distal end of the upper leg 71 has begun
to enter the aperture 40 of the lug 30 (FIG. 12), then
the distal end of the lower tab 72 begins to enter into
its lug aperture, and a person may concentrate on
guiding the lower tab 72 properly into position without
regard to the upper lug 71 which has already entered
into its lug aperture.
The transverse cross section of each tab 71
and 72 inwardly of the tapered distal end is generally
rectangular in the preferred embodiment. In a
~` contemplated commercial embodiment, the rectangular ~-
~, cross section of the non-tapered part of each tab 71 and
72 has a thickness of about 0.06 inch and a length of ~-
, 35 about 0.375 inch. The two outer edges of each tab 71
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and 72 will thus project beyond the curved sections 41
of the aperture 40 defined in the lug 30. This is
illustrated in FIG. 14 by the dashed line corners on
each end of the tab 72. In order to fully insert the
tab 71 into its lug 30, the outer edges of the tab 71
must be deformed or sheared upwardly as the tab 71 is
slid down into the lug 30. This results in material 77
being sheared upwardly towards the top or base of the
tab 71 as illustrated in FIG. 13. This provides a
relatively tight connection which results in a
relatively rigid frame assembly. ~-
The interference fit and the deformable
engagement of each tab 71 and 72 has been found to
provide another important advantage. Specifically, when
two tabs 71 and 72 are employed at a joint at one end of
the shelf support member, it is desirable that each tab
71 and 72 be properly seated and engaged within its
respective lug 30. This better distributes the ~oint
loading over the two tabs and insures that both tabs are
effective to provide a tight connection which prevents
looseness or rocking of one of the tabs relative to the
other at the connection.
This would be difficult to achieve with normal
manufacturing tolerances if each tab 71 and 72 was
designed to fit easily, in~its lug 30 without being
deformed into engagement therewith. Any misalignment or
manufacturing dimensional variation could result in one
of the tabs being fully received in its lug and bottomed
out therein without the other tab being fully seated.
To avoid this potential problem, and to permit the use
of greater manufacturing tolerances, the use of the tabs
71 and 72 with a cross sectional dimension that is
slightly larger than the corresponding dimension of the
receiving lug passage results in deformation of both
tabs 71 and 72. One tab might deform slightly more than
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the other tab, but there is sufficient deformation of
each tab so that each tab i8 tightly engaged within its
lug to provide a rigid joint.
In some applications, where excessively heavy
loading conditions are encountered, it may be desirable
to provide each end of the shelf support members 60 and
62 with three or more tabs similar to the tabs 71 and
72. In such an embodiment using three tabs, the height
of each support member would be increased, and a first,
upper tab would be provided in the same position as tab
71 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. A second or middle tab
would be provided below the first tab and would be
defined by a cut-out portion of the support member in
generally the same manner as for the tab 71 illustrated
in FIG. 7. Finally, a third or bottom tab would be
provided along the bottom margin of the support member
in generally the same orientation as the tab 72
illustrated in FIG. 7. All three tabs would be in
vertical registry.
Each shelf support member 60 and 62 preferably
also includes an inwardly extending flange 82 for
supporting a margin of the shelf 12. The front and rear
shelf support members 60 each further includes an
upturned vertical lip 84. The lip 84 serves to position
and restrain the shelf 12 as will next be described.
Each shelf 12 is adapted to be supported on
the flanges 82 of the shelf support members 60 and 62, -~
and the shelf 12 includes means for receiving the
upturned lip 84 of the front and rear shelf support
members 60. Specifically, each shelf 12 has a bottom
surface 88, a pair of side margins, a front margin, and
a rear margin. FIG. 7 illustrates one side margin 91
and the rear margin 92. The shelf 12 defines a
downwardly open channel 97 in the bottom surface 88 for
receiving the lip 84 of the rear shelf support member
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60. The shelf 12 also includes an identical channel 97
along the 6helf front margin (not visible in FIG. 6 and
7) for receiving the lip 84 of the front shelf support
member 60.
In the preferred embodiment, the upturned lip
84 on the front and rear shelf support members 60 is
intermediate the ends of each shelf support member and
terminates short of the ends of the shelf support
member. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the inwardly -
projecting flanqe 82 at each end of the shelf support
member 60 presents a generally horizontally disposed
flat surface beyond the upturned lip 84. One can easily
push down with one's fingers on this flat surface at the
end of the shelf support member without interference
from the lip 84. This may help during assembly to
insure that the tabs 71 and 72 are properly received
within the lugs 30. In addition, if desired or
necessary, a mallet or other striking implement could be
used on the flange 82 at the end of the shelf support
member 60 to drive the tabs 71 and 72 into tight
engagement with the lugs 30.
To further increase the rigidity of each shelf ~-
support member 60 and 62, the shelf support members each
are provided with an inwardly projecting lower flange 87
(FIGS. 6 and 7).
Other forms of shelves may be employed,
including metal shelves without channels 97 EÇ~ se.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated, each -~
corner support post 16 and 18 includes a plurality of ~
vertically spaced apertures 96. When a shelving - i-
assembly employing these corner support posts is placed
~ adjacent another identical shelving assembly in side-by-
; side relationship, the adjacent corner support posts can
be secured together with a suitable fastener such as a
screw and nut or the like. Also, the shelving assembly
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may be secured to a vertical surface, such as a wall or
the like, with one or more fasteners extending through
the apertures 96.
The apertures 96 may also be employed to
5 accommodate fasteners for securing one or more panels or
enclosure covers to the sides of the shelving assembly.
For example, peg board panels could be secured to the
6ides of the shelving assembly with expansion fasteners
or screws and nuts. Since the corner support post lugs
10 30 project outwardly only a relatively small distance,
such panels are relatively tight fitting to the shelving
assembly. Such a tight fitting relationship is not
possible with some conventional shelving assemblies that
employ more massive, outwardly projecting rivets to
15 mount the shelves or shelf support members to the
support posts.
To provide a finished appearance and to
provide a shield on the corners of the support posts, a
cap 98 is preferably mounted to the top of each upper ;
20 corner support post 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.
The cap 98, in a contemplated commercial embodiment, is -
preferably fabricated from polypropylene in the form of
an L-shaped member having a channel for being slid over
the top of the corner support posts and held thereon by ~ -
25 a friction fit. An identical cap 98 is also preferably
mounted to the bottom of each lower corner support post
16 (FIG. 1) and functions to reduce the likelihood of
scratching the floor or other horizontal support surface
upon which the assembly is disposed.
The frame assembly of the present invention
has been found to provide a relatively efficient
structure for supporting downwardly acting static loads.
Thinner gauge metal can be used for the corner support
posts and helf support e~bers while still providing
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high load capacity. Owing to the unique joint
structure, the frame assembly is relatively rigid.
It is contemplated that relatively deep
shelving ~e.g., say four feet deep) and relatively wide
shelving ~e.g., say eight feet) can be readily
accommodated with the frame assembly of the present
invention. Further, a wire member or rod member could
be readily adapted for adding increased rigidity or
6tiffness at intermediate points in the structure.
When the frame assembly of the present
invention is used with shelving, it can be provided with
short, stackable ~upport post sections which can be
secured together end-to-end. If shelving or other cross
~; members are to be provided at various elevations, the
locations of such shelving or other cross members do not
depend upon the end-to-end joint between two vertically
stacked support post sections. Thus, the frame assembly
of the pre~ent invention offers great versatility.
Further, the fact that no shelf must be placed
at the end-to-end joint of the vertical support post
sections simplifies assembly. During assembly, a person~;
~; may concentrate on making the end-to-end joint between
post sections without having to also simultaneously ~
worry about positioning and connecting a shelf or other- `
cross member to the posts at that same location.
The frame assembly of the present invention
~ may be employed in other structural articles, such as
-~ tables, workbenches, chairs, work supports, wall units,
and the like. Since exterior cross bracing is not
;~ 30 required, the frame assembly offers ready access from
all sides of the assembly. Since the assembly requires~- -
only a few different components, manufacturing and
`~ packaging costs are reduced, and the components can be
~ relatively quickly assembled.
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When the frame assembly of the present
invention is used in structures other than shelving
assemblies, the shelf support beams (beams 60 and 62
described above with reference to FIG. 1) may be
replaced with other ~uitable cross members having
attachment portions and tabs as previously described.
Such cross members may support another horizontal member
(e.g., a table top) or may function solely as
intermediate structural members. Also, other members or
components could be secured to such cross members.
A preferred form of the frame assembly has
been tested as a prototype of a contemplated commercial
shelving assembly and has been found to provide a strong
and rigid assembly capable of supporting at least 6,000
pounds of load uniformly distributed over five shelves.
The tested assembly is 72 inches high, 36 ; --
inches wide, and 18 inches deep. Each shelf is
fabricated from 1/2 inch thick particle board.
Each corner support post 16 and 18 of the ~ -
tested as~embly is three feet long and has the shape
illustrated in the Figures. The configurations of each
shelf support member 60 and 62 and of each splice plate
44 are as shown in the Figures.
The width of each right angle support wall 22
of each corner post 16 and 18 is 1.437 inch. Each post
16 and 18 is fabricated from hard cold rolled steel
having a thickness between 0.055 inch and 0.065 inch.
The shelf support members 60 and 62 are each
fabricated from 0.060 inch thick hard cold rolled steel.
The height of each shelf support member 60 and 62 is
2.312 inch from the bottom surface of the lowest part of
the lower flange 87 to the top surface of the upper
flange 82. The lip 84 of each member 62 projects
upwardly an additional 0.125 inch. The upper flange 82
of each membee 60 and 62 extends inwardly 0.375 inch
.
21N~B~
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from the outer surface of the member. The lower flange
87 of each member 60 and 62 extends inwardly and
upwardly 0.250 inch from the member outer surface at an
angle of 10 degrees from the horizontal.
Each splice plate 44 is also fabricated from
0.060 inch thick hard cold rolled steel. The height and
width of the splice plate central portion 46 are 1-3/16
inch and 1 inch, respectively.
Each post lug 30 pro~ects outwardly 0.140
inch. The lugs 30 are vertically spaced on 1-1/2 inch
centers. Each lug passage 40 has a generally
rectangular cross section measuring 0.375 inch by 0.080
inch with the two corners formed by the curved sections
41 having a radius of 0.062 inch.
Each leg 48 and tab 71 and 72, inwardly of the
tapered end, has a rectangular cross section that is
0.375 inch wide and 0.060 inch thick. Each leg 48 and
tab 71 has a length of 0.500 inch. Each tab 72 has a
length of 0.437 inch. The end surface 51 of each tab - -
and leg is 0.030 inch thick. The last 0.187 inch length
of each tab and leg is defined by the angled side edges
52 which merge with the surface 51 through a 3/32 inch
radius on each end of the surface 51. The last 0.093 ~ -
inch length of each tab and leg is defined on one face
by the angled surface 50. ,! Thus, the angled side edges
52 are longer than the angled surface 50.
- Each aperture 96 has a diameter of 0.265 inch,
and the apertures 96 are vertically spaced on 6 inch -
centers. Each aperture 96 is equidistant between ~ -
adjacent lugs 30.
It will be readily apparent from the foregoing -
; detailed description of the invention and from the
illustrated embodiment thereof that numerous variations
and modifications may be effected without departing from ~ `
' :
: :~:
.
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20~98~6
- 21 -
the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or
principles of this invention.
' :.~
