Supports: racks – Shelf type – Knockdown
Patent
1986-10-02
1988-10-18
Gibson, Jr., Robert W.
Supports: racks
Shelf type
Knockdown
211181, 211182, A47F 501
Patent
active
047780665
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a shelving unit assembly which comprises a number of ladder-like side frames and a number of shelf frames, or the like, which can be connected in various ways to the side frames whereby a varied assortment of shelving units of different shapes can be assembled.
PRIOR ART
Many systems are known in similar structures. In some cases, the component parts have been mainly made of wood, and despite the use of metal hardware, very high precision standards have been a requisite. Often, the finished shelving structure is so unsteady that either cross-bracing or back panels or similar stiffening means must be used.
In other cases, the shelving unit structures have been built entirely of metal components in which cases extremely high precision requirements must have been observed for the components to fit one another when assembled. In such structures, loosened screw joints or other connections have been the usual cause of unsteadiness and malfunctions. Consequently, such shelving structures have had to be provided with stiffening means such as cross-bracings, back panels, etc., in order to ensure their proper function.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,919,817 discloses a shelving unit which is a good example of such an older type of metal construction. The system of the U.S. patent comprises side frames designed in the form of a ladder with pairs of vertical rods extending along the front and rear edges of the side frames and with transverse rods extending therebetween, the transverse rods being secured, by welding, between the vertical rods of the side frames. The shelf frames are designed in a corresponding manner. They comprise parallel rods secured one upon the other along the front and rear edge, and transverse rod extending between the parallel rods and being secured, by welding, thereto. The transverse rods of the side frame support the shelf frames in the vertical direction. The shelf frames have ground notches at the ends of their rear and front edges, the notches being adapted to receive the vertical rods of the side frame. The design of the structure is such that the compressive force brought about between the notches of the shelf frames and the vertical rods of the side frames is sufficient to prevent the dislodgement of the shelving in normal use, without the necessity of using cross-bracing, back panels, etc.
According to the U.S. patent, the transverse rods of the shelf frames are mounted between the two notches in the longitudinal rods which receive both vertical rods of the side frame. Consequently, no possibility of springing effect and compensation for small dimensional deviations is left, neither in the side frame nor in the shelf frame, due to transverse rods being mounted in the shelf frames in the above-described manner. As a result, the notches in the shelf frames must be precision-ground to achieve close fit tolerances. This also means, of course, that a shelf frame which has been made to fit in a certain side frame at a specific place, does not necessarily fit another side frame or even the first frame at another place.
Further, the notches being ground out means that the contact surfaces of the vertical rods matching the notches are relatively small which results in highly concentrated loads and generally poor cohesion at the connections.
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
The object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art structures and to provide a shelving system of the type defined, which is made of welded metal components without excessive precision demands, wherein loosened connections or poor stability do no pose any problem, not even when back panels, cross-bracing and similar stabilizing means are omitted.
SOLUTION
According to the invention, there is provided a shelving unit or system comprising side frames with substantially vertical rods and transversely extending rods, and shelf frames having longitudinal rods and transverse rods, the longitudinally extending rods of the shelf frames having notches on their front
REFERENCES:
patent: 2894643 (1959-07-01), Maslow
patent: 2919816 (1960-01-01), Maslow
patent: 2919817 (1960-01-01), Maslow
patent: 3208408 (1965-09-01), Maslow
patent: 3316864 (1967-05-01), Maslow
Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
Inter Ikea A/S
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