Adjustable rack of shelves
AssigneeAmco Corporation
InventorsRalph Olson, Irwin Kulbersh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rack system of adjustable shelves has a simple and economical shelf assembly mechanism. A shelf is attached to its supporting vertical posts by placing each of the posts through an individually associated corner shelf socket. The shelf is kept in position by a plastic keeper which can be moved up and down the post to the desired height of the shelving. The keeper has a generally truncated pyramidal shape and at least one internal projection which fits into a dimple, recess, or notch formed in the post at the desired shelf height. The keeper has vertical slots that enables it to be squeezed together and to tightly wedge into the shelf socket and support the shelf on the corner post. The system can be adapted to both square and circular posts.
Claims21
A rack of adjustable shelves for sale in kit form to be assembled on site, said rack comprising at least two spaced parallel vertically oriented posts, each of said posts having a generally rectangular cross section and a plurality of recesses located at periodic intervals along the length of an edge, said recesses being formed along at least one corner of said rectangular cross section, keeper means in the form of a plastic sleeve with at least two external tapered side walls forming external contours which are at least part of a truncated pyramidal shape, said keeper means having at least part of two side walls forming an internal passageway for gripping said post and for fixing the rotational position of said keeper means on said post, whereby said two side walls embrace said post to hold said keeper in place at a fixed rotational position on said post and to enable it to slide longitudinally to a selected position along the length of said post, detent means formed in said keeper and on an inside corner edge of the internal passageway within said keeper, said detent means fitting into said recesses when said keeper is in said fixed rotational position on said post in order to fix the longitudinal position of said keeper on said post, and socket means formed on each shelf at points where said shelf is supported by said posts, each of said socket means having an internal opening with a generally truncated pyramidal shape with internal surface walls which are complementary to the contours of the external walls of said keeper means, whereby said rack may be assembled by placing said keeper on said post with said socket means over and resting on said keeper means without requiring a rotational indexing of the keeper at the time when a socket is placed over the keeper.
A rack of adjustable shelves for sale in kit form to be assembled on site, said rack comprising at least two spaced parallel vertically oriented posts, each of said posts having a generally rectangular cross section and a plurality of recesses located at periodic intervals along the length of an edge, said recesses being formed along at least one corner of said rectangular cross section, keeper means in the form of a plastic sleeve with four side walls forming a complete truncated pyramid, at least one of said side walls being vertically split, said keeper means having at least part of three side walls forming an internal passageway for gripping said post and for fixing the rotational position of said keeper means on said post, whereby said three side walls embrace said post to hold said keeper in place at a fixed rotational position on said post and to enable it to slide longitudinally to a selected position along the length of said post, detent means formed in said keeper and on an inside corner edge of the internal passageway within said keeper, said detent means fitting into said recesses when said keeper is in said fixed rotational position on said post in order to fix the longitudinal position of said keeper on said post, and socket means formed on each shelf at points where said shelf is supported by said posts, each of said socket means having an internal opening with a generally truncated pyramidal shape with internal surface walls which are complementary to the contours of the walls of said keeper means, said passageway being slightly smaller in cross section than said post whereby said split one side wall is deflected outwardly somewhat when said post is fitted through said passageway and said keeper is squeezed together by the weight of the shelf when the shelf socket is placed over the keeper, whereby said rack may be assembled by placing said keeper on said post with said socket means over and resting on said keeper means without requiring a rotational indexing of the keeper at the time when a socket is placed over the keeper.
A rack of adjustable shelves for sale in kit form to be assembled on site, said rack comprising at least two spaced parallel vertically oriented posts, each of said posts having a generally rectangular cross section and a plurality of recesses located at periodic intervals along the length of an edge, said recesses being formed along at least one corner of said rectangular cross section, keeper means in the form of a plastic sleeve with at least two external tapered side walls forming external contours which are at least part of a truncated pyramidal shape, said keeper means having at least part of two side walls forming an internal passageway for gripping said post and for fixing the rotational position of said keeper means on said post, said keeper means having a generally rectangular cross section and two adjacent and contiguous tapered sides forming half of said truncated pyramid shape, whereby said two side walls embrace said post to hold said keeper in place at a fixed rotational position on said post and to enable it to slide longitudinally to a selected position along the length of said post, detent means formed in said keeper and on an inside corner edge of the internal passageway within said keeper, said detent means being positioned inside said sleeve at the junction of said two tapered adjacent and contiguous sides and fitting into said recesses when said keeper is in said fixed rotational position on said post in order to fix the longitudinal position of said keeper on said post, and socket means formed on each shelf at points where said shelf is supported by said posts, each of said socket means having an internal opening with a generally truncated pyramidal shape with internal surface walls which are complementary to the contours of the external walls of said keeper means, whereby said rack may be assembled by placing said keeper on said post with said socket means over and resting on said keeper means without requiring a rotational indexing of the keeper at the time when a socket is placed over the keeper.
A rack of adjustable shelves for sale in kit form to be assembled on site, said rack comprising at least two spaced parallel vertically oriented posts, each of said posts having a generally rectangular cross section and a plurality of recesses located at periodic intervals along the length of an edge, said recesses being formed along at least one corner of said rectangular cross section, keeper means in the form of a plastic sleeve with at least two external tapered side walls forming external contours which are at least part of a truncated pyramidal shape, said keeper means having at least part of two side walls forming an internal passageway for gripping said post and for fixing the rotational position of said keeper means on said post, whereby said two side walls embrace said post to hold said keeper in place at a fixed rotational position on said post and to enable it to slide longitudinally to a selected position along the length of said post, detent means formed in said keeper and on an inside corner edge of the internal passageway within said keeper, said detent means fitting into said recesses when said keeper is in said fixed rotational position on said post in order to fix the longitudinal position of said keeper on said post, and socket means formed on each shelf at points where said shelf is supported by said posts, each of said socket means having an internal opening with a generally truncated pyramidal shape with internal surface walls which are complementary to the contours of the external walls of said keeper means, said post and said keeper each having indicia means which are mutually disposed to facilitate a serial engagement of the keeper's internal detent with a selected one of the post's various recesses, whereby said rack may be assembled by placing said keeper on said post with said socket means over and resting on said keeper means without requiring a rotational indexing of the keeper at the time when a socket is placed over the keeper.
A rack system of adjustable shelves wherein a plurality of vertically disposed cylindrical post members support at least one shelf in a generally horizontal disposition, each of said post members having a plurality of axially spaced recesses, the shelf including at least two truncated pyramidal sockets, each socket having an internal contour with a substantially truncated pyramidal configuration, comprising a keeper adapted to fit over said cylindrical posts for supporting said shelves on said cylindrical posts, said keeper including two pieces which mate together, each of said pieces having a semi-circular internal detent, said detent fitting into at least one of said recesses in the posts, an inside semicircular passageway within said keeper complementary to said post for engaging said post at locations which are spaced away from said detent, means for mating and controlling said two pieces relative to each other, and exterior truncated pyramidal side walls on said keeper when the pieces are mated together to accept the truncated pyramidal socket on said shelf.
A rack system of adjustable shelves wherein a plurality of vertically disposed hollow post members support at least one shelf in a generally horizontal disposition, comprising a coupling for joining the hollow ends of said post members, said coupling including a central flange-like member having at least one exterior recess and two integral stud portions extending in opposite directions outwardly and perpendicularly from said flange members, said stud portions having external contours which are complementary to interior configurations of the hollow end of said posts, the external contours of said studs engaging said posts at a plurality of points, and said flange member providing a seat for receiving and supporting said hollow end of said posts, and a keeper mounted on said posts to support said shelf, said keeper adapted to fit over said coupling and having an internal detent to fit into said recess when said keeper is fitted over said coupling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.