Connection for a structural rack system

A rack apparatus comprising:

• a) a plurality of first elongated structural members, each first member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced aligning holes extending therethrough having an inside bearing surface;
• b) a plurality of second elongated structural members connected to said plurality of said first elongated structural members, each second member connected to a first member, each second member having at least one seating lug protruding from at least one axial end thereof and at least one fastening hole longitudinally spaced from said seating lug at said axial end, said seating lug of one of said second members adapted to be inserted into one of said aligning holes in one of said first members whereby said fastening hole in said second member is brought into registry with an aligning hole in said first member;
• c) fastener means protruding through said fastening hole and said aligning holes for drawing said members together;
• and
• d) cam means on said seating lug of said second elongated structural member in sliding contact with said inside bearing surface of said aligning hole for moving one of said first and second members into general orthogonal contact with the other member when said fastening means draw said first and second member together whereby a rigid assembly is assured.

A system for removably assembling structural members to one another comprising:

• a) a plurality of first elongated structural members, each first member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced aligning holes extending therethrough with each aligning hole having an inside bearing surface;
• b) a plurality of second elongated structural members removably connected to said first elongated structural members, each second member having at least one seating lug protruding from at least one axial end thereof and at least one fastening hole longitudinally spaced from said seating lug at said axial end, said seating lug of one of said second members adapted to be inserted into one of said aligning holes in one of said first members whereby said fastening hole in said second member is brought into registry with another one of said aligning holes in said first member;
• c) removable fastener means protruding through said fastening hole and said another aligning hole for drawing said members together;
• and
• d) cam means on said seating lug for moving one of said first and second members into side-by-side contact with the other member when said fastening means draws said first and second member together whereby a rigid assembly is assured.

A method for assembling first and second elongated structural members together in a rack system, each said first members having a plurality of longitudinally spaced aligning holes therethrough, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing each of said second members with a protruding seating lug having a tapering cam surface at each axial ends thereof and at least one fastening hole extending therethrough, said fastening hole longitudinally spaced from said seating lug a distance equal to the longitudinal spacing of said aligning hole in said first member;
• b) orientating a plurality of said first elongated structural members in one direction at spaced intervals therebetween;
• c) inserting one of said seating lugs in one of said second members into one of said aligning holes in one of said first members and then inserting said seating lug at the opposite axis end of said one of said second members into an aligning hole of another one of said first members so that said second member transversely extends between said one first member and said other first member, said seating lugs supporting the weight of said second member and aligning said fastening hole at each end of said second member with an aligning hole in said one of said first member and an aligning hole in said other one of said first member;
• d) providing fasteners;
• e) inserting a fastener through aligned fastening hole and aligning hole and tightening said fastener thereby camming said first and second members together by said tapering cam surface.