Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SHELVING SYSTEM WITH CLAMP CONNECTORS
TECHNICAL FIELD
foooll The present invention relates to a shelving
system and wherein shelves are clampingly secured to corner
posts by clamps which are latched and unlatched by a lever
to provide a sturdy and easy-to-assemble shelf assembly
BACKGROUND ART
tooo2l Various shelf assemblies are known wherein a
plurality of shelves are connectable to support posts. One
major problem of such shelf assemblies is that they are
difficult and time-consuming to assemble in order to secure
a rigid connection of the shelf with the support posts.
Often, a hammer or such other device is necessary in order
to engage the connection of brackets with the support posts.
Being difficult to assemble, they are also difficult to
disassemble, if additional shelves need to be added to a
shelf assembly. Most of the shelves are connected to the
post by sliding corner connectors from the top of the posts
and therealong. Usually, if a shelf is to be added, the
other shelves need to be displaced to provide a different
shelf spacing.
fooo3l A still further problem with shelf assemblies of
the above-described type is that during assembly of the
shelving to the post it is often necessary to lay at least
two posts on the floor surface and hold the shelves
vertically thereover to effect the connections. Once all
the shelves have been connected to two of these posts, then
the other two posts are laid on the floor and the semi-
assembled assembly is then placed over those two posts
wherein the connectors have to be engaged at corresponding
spacings to the already engaged two posts. This creates
misalignment of shelves and waste of time in assembling and
disassembling the shelf assembly in order to obtain proper
alignment of the shelves with the posts. Skilled personnel
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is usually required to assemble these shelf assemblies.
Still further, some of the shelf assemblies are not
aesthetically pleasing to the eye due to the construction of
the support posts and the clamping devices.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
tooo4l It is therefore a feature of the present
invention to provide a shelving system which substantially
overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior
art.
tooo5l Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a shelving system which is easy to assemble and
which provides a secure clamping connection of the shelves
to the support posts.
tooo6l Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a shelving system wherein the shelves are easy to
assemble and disassemble from the posts and wherein
additional shelves can be added by easily displacing already
assembled shelves in a simple, effective and quick manner.
tooo~7 Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a shelving system which can be assembled with the
post disposed vertically and the shelves connected
horizontally and without the use of tools and by a non-
expert person.
fooo8) According to the above features, from a broad
aspect, the present invention provides a shelving system
which comprises one or more shelves of rectangular outline.
Each shelf has an open-ended post receiving channel in each
corner thereof. The post receiving channel is transversely
oriented with respect to a shelf support surface of the
shelf and has a vertical opening facing inwardly of the
shelf. The channel is shaped to receive a support post in
close fit therethrough with an inner wall portion of the
support post facing the vertical opening. The inner wall
has spaced-apart arresting formations on an outer surface
thereof. A clamp having a clamping means is provided with
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one or more connecting formations for interlocking with the
arresting formations. A latch is provided for urging the
connecting formations against the inner wall portion of the
support post with the one or more connecting formations in
engagement with one or more of the arresting formations.
The latch maintains a constant locking pressure against the
clamping means to immovably secure the shelf to the support
post at a desired position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
fooo9l A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
toooi0~ FIG. 1 is perspective view of a corner of a
shelving system illustrating a shelf connected to a corner
support post by a clamp as constructed in accordance with
the present invention and illustrating the clamp in an
engaged position;
fo0o11~ FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1
but showing the clamp in a disengaged position;
toooi2l FIG. 3 is a sectioned perspective view showing a
further version of the clamp connecting a shelf to a corner
post and herein illustrating the clamp in a disengaged
position;
(000131 FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3
but wherein the clamp is shown in an engaged position;
toooi4l FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the clamp
parts in an exploded condition;
foooi5l FIG. 6 is a perspective top view showing the
clamp of Figures 3 to 5 in an engaged position to secure a
shelf to a corner support post;
foool6~ FIG. 7 is a simplified perspective view showing
a shelving assembly comprising a plurality of shelves
connected to four corner posts with the clamps of the
present invention;
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(000171 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further
embodiment wherein the post receiving channel is formed by a
pair of wires shaped to form an open U and wherein the clamp
is a flat clamping plate with the pivotal arm being
permanently pivotally secured to a transverse wire rod;
foo0la) FIG. 9 is a section view illustrating a further
variation of the embodiment of Figure 8 and wherein the post
receiving channel is a U-shaped member similar to that as
illustrated in Figures 3 to 6;
(ooois) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the embodiment as
illustrated in Figure 9;
Ioo02o) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further
embodiment and wherein the clamp is a separate wire rod
member having a clamping wire rod member shaped to define
connecting formations;
(00021) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wire rod
clamping member;
(00022) FIG. 13 is a perspective view, partly
fragmented, showing the clamp in a disengaged position;
Ioo023) FIG. 14 is a view similar to Figure 13, but
showing the clamp in an engaged position;
(00024) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a further
embodiment and wherein the clamping member is constituted by
a rectangular wire rod member secured to a pair of parallel
straight wire rods of the wire rod latch; and
(00025) FIG. 16 is a further perspective view showing
the latch in an engagement position similar to that shown in
Figure 14.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
fooozs) Referring now to the drawings and more
particularly to Figure 7, there is shown generally at 10 a
shelf assembly which comprises one or more shelves 11 of
rectangular outline and secured to four corner support posts
12. The present invention concerns the clamp assemblies 13
which secure the shelves 11 to the corner support posts and
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for ease of illustration the drawings only show a corner
portion of the shelves together with their clamp assemblies.
It is noted that a clamp assembly 13 is provided in all four
corners of a shelf.
tooo2~) With reference now to Figures 1 and 2, there is
shown a clamp assembly 13 connected to a corner support post
12. As hereinshown, each shelf 11 has an open-ended post
receiving channel 14 secured in each corner thereof by
welding. The shelf as hereinshown is a wire-rod shelf
having a plurality of horizontal wires 15 spot-welded to
transverse reinforced transverse ribs 16, also formed of
wires welded together. Accordingly, the post receiving
channel 14 is welded to some of these steel rods. As
illustrated, the post-receiving channel 14 is transversely
oriented with respect to the support surface 17 of the shelf
11. The post receiving channel 14 also has a vertical
opening 18 as better seen from Figure 2, which faces
inwardly of the shelf. The post receiving channel 14 also
has a transverse cross-section which is configured for
receiving the support post 12 in close fit therethrough.
tooo28) As hereinshown, the support post 12 has an oval-
like cross-section which defines opposed parallel side walls
19 and convex end walls 20 and 20'. Arresting formations
21, in the form of transverse notch depressions, are formed
at the apex of the inner convex end wall 20. The support
post is also fabricated of steel.
tooo29) As illustrated, when the support post 12 is
received within the post receiving channel 14, an inner wall
portion of the end wall 20 of the post projects outwards of
the vertical opening 18. The clamp assembly 13 is provided
with a clamping jaw 22 which is provided on an inner surface
thereof with connecting formations 23 as shown in Figure 3
for interlocking with the arresting formations 21.
Accordingly, the connecting formations 23 have the same
spacing as the arresting formations 21.
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(000301 The clamping j aw 22 is connected to a latch 24
which urges the clamping jaw 22 against the convex end wall
20 of the support post with the connecting formations in
engagement with the arresting formations. This latch 234,
when in a closed or engaged position, as shown in Figure 1,
maintains a constant locking pressure against the clamping
jaw 22 to immovably secure the shelf 11 to the support post
12 at a desired position therealong.
(ooosil As hereinshown, the latch 24 is provided with a
pivotal arm 25 whereby to engage and disengage the
connecting formations 23 from the arresting formations 21
and hence disconnecting the clamping jaw 22 from the support
post 12. The clamping jaw has a concave shape to embrace
the convex end wall 20 of the support posts. As shown in
the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, the latch and clamping
jaw 22 are removably secured to the shelf and the post.
(ooos2l The pivotal arm 25 is pivotally secured at one
end thereof to an end pivot connection 26 secured to a
projecting rib 27 welded to the clamping jaw 22. A bracing
arm 28 is pivotally connected to the pivotal arm 25 at a
further pivot connection 29 spaced from the end pivot
connection 26. The bracing arm 23 has a shelf-engaging end
constituted by a U-shaped notch 30 formed in the free end 31
of the bracing arm and dimensioned to receive a wire rod,
herein wire rod 32 of the shelf thereacross. When the latch
is in the engaged position, as shown in Figure 1, the
bracing arm is in alignment with the connecting rib 27 and
the end pivot connection 26 and further pivot connection 29
are in horizontal alignment. The bracing arm 28 is also
dimensioned whereby to apply this constant pressure and is
therefore positioned to apply a constant force against the
clamping jaw 22 when disposed in disalignment. In order to
disconnect the latch, it is simply necessary to lift the
pivotal arm, as shown in Figure 2, to remove the clamping
pressure.
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fooo331 As hereinshown, the clamping jaw 22 is also
provided with guide ribs 33 which maintain the clamping jaw
in alignment in that these guide ribs are disposed on
opposed sides of wire rods, herein wire rod 34.
Iooo341 As is also illustrated in Figure 2, the pivotal
arm 25 is provided with a flexible retention means in the
form of a spring clip 35 which is shaped to snappingly
engage a wire rod, herein wire rod 36 when the arm is urged
to an engaging position, as shown in Figure 1.
fooo351 With reference now to Figures 3 to 6, there is
shown another embodiment of the construction of the latch 24
and herein designated by reference numeral 24'. The latch
24' is separate from the clamping jaw 22". As hereinshown,
the post receiving channel 14' is also of U-shaped cross-
section and defines post parallel side walls 40 and 40' and
a concave end wall 41. The clamping jaw 22' is formed as a
concave clamping wall, similar to that illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 and is provided with the one or more
connecting formations 23. The side walls of the clamping
jaws are provided with outer projecting tabs 42 which are
received in respective guide slots 43 formed in the parallel
side walls 40 and 40' of the post receiving channel 14'.
Accordingly, the clamping jaw 22 is movably connected to the
post receiving channel.
Iooo3sl The latch 24' is herein formed as an integrally
casted or injected part and defines a cam formation 45 at an
actuating end thereof opposite the pivotal arm 25'. When
the arm 25' is displaced to a shelf engaging position, as
shown in Figure 4, the cam applies a clamping force against
the clamping jaw 22' as thereinshown. The clamp 24' is
further provided with a U-shaped cavity 46 under the pivotal
arm 25' adjacent the cam formation 45 for snap engagement
with a wire rod, herein wire rod 47 of the shelf 11 and this
wire rod 47 constitutes a pivot connection. As hereinshown,
when the latch is in the engaged position (see Figure 4) the
pivotal arm 25 lies below the support surface 17 of the
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shelf I1 to prevent accidental disengagement of the latch by
goods placed on the shelf. As hereinshown, the clamping jaw
22" is dimensioned to fit between the opposed side 2alls 40
and 40' of the post receiving channel 14' in an
unobstructive manner to permit the concave surface 48 of the
clamping jaw to embrace the convex end wall 20 of the
support post 12.
Iooos7~ As shown in Figures 1 and 2, post receiving
channel 12 is provided with outwardly sloping end edges 12"
and the clamping jaw has a concave clamping surface 39
having opposed inner wall end portions disposed for sliding
displacement on the outwardly sloping end edges 12" when
urged thereon by the latch 24.
Iooo3s~ Referring now more specifically to Figures 8, 9
and 10, there is shown a further modification of the clamp.
As hereinshown, the clamp assembly 50 is comprised of a flat
clamp plate S1 which is provided with a projecting tab 52 in
a rear face 53 thereof whereby to receive a pivot pin 54
secured to a free end 55 of the pivotal arm 56 thereof. The
pivotal arm 56 has a connecting pivotal sleeve 57 secured
transversely thereof whereby to secure the pivotal arm 56 to
a transverse wire rod 58 of the wire shelf 60. The pivotal
arm has an offset intermediate section 59 to locate the free
end 61 closely spaced below the upper surface of the wire
shelf 60.
(00039) As can be seen from Figure 9, the flat clamping
plate 51 has a flat end wall or clamping face 62 which is
provided with one or more of the connecting formations,
herein formation 63 for interlocking with the arresting
formations 21 formed in the support post 12. By depressing
the free end 61 of the pivotal arm 56 in the direction of
arrow 64, the clamping plate 51 is retracted from its
engagement with the support post 12. This permits the
support post 12 to be displaced within the open-ended post
receiving channel formed in each corner of the wire shelf
60.
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tooo4ol As hereinshown, the open-ended post receiving
channel 70 is constituted by a pair of parallel spaced wire
rods 71 and 71' bent to form a U-shaped channel when viewed
from above or below -the wire shelf 60 whereby to receive the
support post 12 in close fit therein. The two wire rods 71
and 71' are formed from a single rod having an intermediate
wire rod section 72 and define opposed parallel side wire
sections, one side wire section denoted by reference numeral
71 and 71' and the other one denoted by reference numeral
71" and 71"'. The wires also define a concave end wire
section 73 and shaped for close fit about the curved edge
wall 12' of the support post. The clamping plate 51 may
also be provided with notches 74 and 74' to loosely receive
the wire rods 71, 71' and 71", 71"' therein to guide the
plate and to retain it in position during its actuation by
the pivotal arm.
fooo4il Referring now to Figure 9, the post receiving
channel is similar to that as illustrated in Figures 3 to 6
and wherein the post receiving channel is a U-shaped clamp
secured to the corners of the shelf by welding. The channel
has opposed parallel side walls 80 and 80', as better seen
from Figure 10 and a concave end wall 81., As better
illustrated from the exploded view of Figure 10, the
clamping plate 51 is provided with outer projecting tabs 82
in opposed side edges 83 thereof. These projecting tabs are
received in respective guide slots 84 provided in the
parallel side walls 80 and 80' of the post receiving channel
whereby to guidingly displace the clamping plate 51 from an
engaged to a disengaged position by the actuation of the
pivotal arm 56. The guide slots 54 are curved or angulated
guide slots to guide the displacement of the flat clamp
plate 51.
tooo421 It can readily be seen that with the shelving
system as described herein, shelves are easily connected and
disconnected from the support post 12. To construct a shelf
assembly as shown in Figure 7, it is merely necessary to
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first dispose the post within the post-receiving channels 14
and each of the corners of the shelf and to engage the
clamping jaw at a desired position with respect to the
arresting formations 21. Although not illustrated, numbers
can be disposed or stamped in the side walls 19 of the
connecting posts adjacent these arresting formations. If
these formations are spaced apart one inch then one inch
interval markings would appear therein whereby to make it
easy to connect the shelves to the posts whereby the shelves
are perfectly parallel to one another between the posts. To
connect the shelf, it is merely necessary to engage the
latches. Additional shelves are positioned from the top of
the posts and secured at a desired elevation with respect
thereto. If it is necessary to add more shelves after an
assembly has been in use, then one needs to merely displace
some or all of the shelves already assembled and thereafter
to introduce a new shelf from the top end of the post. This
is easily accomplished with this latching system. To
disassemble a shelving system, the shelves are easily
disconnected from the post and they can be removed one at a
time from the top end. On the other hand, the shelves could
be disengaged from the bottom end and just slid down the
post one on top of each other. With all of the latches in
the disengaged position, the post can then be pulled out
with the shelves stock-piled one on top of the other.
Accordingly, this system is easy to assemble and disassemble
and does not require extra tools or skilled personnel in
order to fabricate a shelving system utilizing the present
invention.
(000431 Referring now to Figures 11 to 14, there is
shown a further embodiment of the clamp 90 and as
hereinshown the clamp has a latch section 91 having a hook
end 92 for securing at its free end a clamping means, herein
constituted by a wire rod clamping member 93. The clamping
member 93 is illustrated at Figure 12 and it is constituted
by a single wire rod which is bent in S-shape to define
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opposed half sections 94 and 94' angled with respect to one
another and to a connecting transverse straight wire section
95. The opposed straight wire sections 96 and 96'
constitute the connecting formations. As shown in Figure
11, the hook end 92 of the latch 91 is secured about this
connecting transverse straight wire section 95.
fooo44~ The latch 91 is also a wire-rod latch formed of
a single wire rod bent in two sections to provide a pair of
closely spaced equal length wire rods 97 and 97' and each
defining a hook 98 and 98' at its free end to constitute the
hook end 92. The latch 91 has a clamping formation 99 for
engaging a transverse edge of the shelf which is spaced
forwardly of the vertical opening and herein constituted by
the transverse wire rod 36.
fooo451 The clamping formation 99 is constituted by an
upward bend in the latch rods 97 and 97' and this bend is
spaced a predetermined distance from the wire rod clamping
member 93. This upward bend merges into a substantially
transverse handle formation 100 integrally formed therewith
and at the opposed end of the latch. The predetermined
distance of the upward bend from the clamping member 93 is
calculated in relation to the distance between the inner
wall portion 20 of the support post 12 and the transverse
wire rod 36 whereby an outer face 101, see Figure 13, of the
bend or clamping formation 99 can be clamped under pressure
over a forward face 102 of the transverse wire rod 36 by
applying a downward pressure against the handle formation
100 in the direction of arrow 102, as shown in Figure 13, to
pressure clamp the connecting formations 96 and 96' into the
arresting formations 21 as shown in Figure 14. As shown in
Figures 13 and 14, the distance of the intermediate rod
sections 91 is such that when the connecting formations 96
and 96' are resting in the arresting formations 21, the
curved section 104 of the wire rods 97 and 97' just below
the clamping formation 99 rests against the transverse wire
rod 36, as better shown in Figure 13 and by applying the
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downward clamping pressure in the direction of arrow 102
this urges the latch 91 downward into the top surface of the
shelf 11 and clamps under pressure the connecting formations
into the arresting formations 21 with this pressure
remaining applied due to the rigidity of the steel wire
rods. As can be seen in Figure 14 with the clamp in
engagement, the handle portion 100 lies within the surface
of the shelf thereby providing no obstruction. It is also
easy to disengage the clamp by simply engaging the free end
105 of the clamp and lifting it out of engagement with the
transverse wire rod 36.
tooo4s) With reference now to Figures 15 and 16, there
is shown a further embodiment of the wire rod clamping
member and herein constituted by a rectangular wire rod
member 110. The wire rod member is formed by a wire rod
which is bent to form opposed parallel horizontal wire
sections 111 and 112' and opposed parallel vertical wire
sections 112 and 112'. The horizontal sections 111 and 111'
are spaced and dimensioned to clamp into opposed ones of a
pair of the arresting formations 21 of the support posts l2,
as previously described.
tooo4~) The rectangular wire rod member 110 is secured
to the wire rod latch 100 as previously described with
reference to Figures 11 to 14 but wherein the wire rods 97
and 97' have been flattened at their free end to form a flat
connection shoe 113 and 113' respectively to secure to a
respective one of the parallel vertical wire rod sections
112 and 112' by means of welding. This provides a very
rigid connection and prevents any movement of the wire rod
clamping member with the latch.
tooo4s) It is within the ambit of the present invention
to cover any obvious modifications of the preferred
embodiment described herein. Although the shelves as
hereinshown are illustrated as wire rod shelves, it is to be
understood that the shelves could be fabricated from plastic
materials or they may have a solid support surface. Other
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obvious modifications become apparent to a personnel skilled
in the art from a reading of the present specification.
