Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Plural related horizontal surfaces – Separable component
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-02
2001-01-30
Wilkens, Janet M. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Plural related horizontal surfaces
Separable component
C108S157130, C211S186000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178896
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in the art to provide shelving. Commonly, such shelving systems include a plurality of rectangular panels having four sockets integrally formed in the comers of the panels. Each successive panel is connected to an adjacent panel by four posts receivable within the sockets. Although such devices perform adequately, such devices could be improved upon. Specifically, shelving of the above mentioned character often do not provide sufficient resiliency to deformation. Once the shelving is loaded, such shelving often allows for stresses to concentrate in the region surrounding each of the sockets. Secondly, once loaded not only are stresses concentrated in the regions surrounding each of the sockets, but strain often concentrates towards the geometric center of each panel. Accordingly, such panels often bow once loaded. Together, the above described deficiencies reduce the maximum load that such shelving is capable of withstanding. If the maximum load is exceeded, the shelving may ultimately fail.
In order to overcome some of the above disadvantages other shelving devices have been suggested. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,158 to Wareheim discloses providing shelving having a beam structure disposed around the periphery of the panel and a beam disposed along the median portion of the panel. Wareheim also discloses providing a plurality of diagonally oriented vertical braces.
Although the device to Wareheim advances the art, Wareheim has also been found to have several deficiencies. Specifically, the beam structure of Wareheim may increase the structural rigidity of such panel members. However, the beam structure is substantially linear in shape. In contrast, the strain realized within each panel is commonly nonlinear. With a linear distribution of material, some regions may have an insufficient amount of rigidity due to an insufficient amount of material disposed within a particular region. Similarly, other regions of the panel may have adequate rigidity with an optimum amount of material usage. While still other regions may prove to have an necessarily high amount of rigidity with a corresponding waste of material. In summary, a linear distribution of material is an inefficient use of material within such panels.
A second disadvantage found in the device to Wareheim is that stresses are allowed to concentrate adjacent each of the sockets. Although the diagonally disposed vertical support ribs assist in reducing the stress concentration, a substantial amount of stresses are still allowed to concentrate in this region thereby limiting the load capable of being applied to such panels or requiring additional material to be added around such sockets.
Accordingly, one skilled in the art can appreciate that several advances could still be made in the art. Specifically, it would be desirable to have a shelving system that reduces the strain realized within each panel. It would be desirable to have a panel which optimizes material usage thereby providing a shelving system which is capable of bearing a maximum load while also requiring a minimum amount of material. It would further be desirable to reduce the stresses realized adjacent each of the socket members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a shelving system having a plurality of molded panels.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a panel having increased rigidity thereby reducing strain and the corresponding deformation of the panel.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a panel which maximizes structural rigidity while also minimizing the amount of material usage.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide a panel which distributes stresses adjacent each of the socket members.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, these and other objects and advantages are accomplished as follows.
The present invention provides a shelving system having at least one panel. The panel has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction transverse relative to the longitudinal axis. The panel further includes a plurality of rails. The plurality of rails includes at least a first rail member and a second rail member. The first rail member and the second rail member each have an upper portion extending downward a depth from the panel. One novel aspect of this invention is that the second rail has a depth approximately greater than the depth of the first rail.
Additionally, each rail of the plurality of rails includes a lower portion, the lower portion of each rail extends downward away from said upper portion. Preferably, the lower portion terminates at a curvilinear lower edge. Preferably, the curvilinear lower edge has a parabolic shape. However, one skilled in the art can best appreciate that the lower peripheral edge of this invention may have various other shapes without departing from the novel aspects of this invention.
Further, this invention includes at least one socket disposed on each panel. Each socket includes a plurality of walls. Preferably, the socket includes at least an inner wall and an outer wall circumferentially disposed around the inner wall. The socket includes at least one support member disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall. Preferably, the support member is at least one reinforcement flange. In addition, the socket also preferably includes a floor member disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall in a parallel orientation relative to the panel. Lastly, the shelving system of this invention includes a plurality of posts. Each post preferably having a bottom portion and a top portion each being receivable within a corresponding socket.
The above disclosed shelving system provides several advantages. As best appreciated by one skilled in the art, several panels may be interconnected together to form the shelving system. The number of panels may be determined by the requirements of a particular user or the constraints experienced in a particular environment. Accordingly, the user of this invention is provided with a substantial amount of versatility.
Another advantage found in this invention is that strains realized within the structure may be minimized while also reducing overall material usage. The strains realized with a particular panel are reduced by placing additional material in regions which experience greater strain. In shelving, strain is commonly concentrated at the geometric center of each panel. Accordingly, this invention reduces strain while reducing material usage by concentrating additional material towards the geometric center of each panel. Specifically, this advantage is achieved through the novel rail structure of this invention.
This invention contemplates use of at least a first rail and a second rail. The first rail member of this invention has an upper portion having a first depth and a second rail member having a second depth. Accordingly, the second rail may be placed at a location which experiences greater strain whereas the first rail may be positioned in a location which experiences lesser strain. Further, each rail has a lower portion having a generally curvilinear lower edge having a vertex. Accordingly, a greater amount of material is concentrated at the vertex once again reducing strain proximate the vertex w while also reducing material usage at other regions which do not experience such strain.
Another advantage of the present invention is that this device disperses stresses proximate the socket members. The shelving system of this device includes an inner wall surrounded by an outer wall. The outer wall is interconnected to the inner wall by a plurality of support members and a floor member. Stresses realized within the panel are communicated into the outer wall. From the outer wall the stresses are communicated into the inner wall. Finally, the inner wall in turn communicates the stresses into the corresponding post. Accordingly, the panel of this invention provides greater durability while also reducing the amount of ma
Houk, Jr. David A.
Hull Kenneth W.
Vura John
Foley & Lardner
Rubbermaid Incorporated
Wilkens Janet M.
LandOfFree
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