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US 5,326,062 AGranted
Shelf connector
AssigneeVermont American Corporation
InventorLee E. Remmers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The shelf connector of the present invention forms a single bracket for the attachment of shelves to a support frame. The shelf connector can be manufactured from either metal or plastic and adapted for installation on either round or square tubing. The shelf connector of the claimed invention facilitates attachment of shelves to a support frame with the shelf lip in the "up" or "down" position. The shelf connectors may be installed on either the left hand side, right hand side, or centrally located with respect to the support member. After installation, the shelf connector covers the ends of shelves to provide a finished, decorative appearance.
Claims18
A shelf connector device comprising:
- a front face having a bore therein with a longitudinal axis therethrough;
- an outer side wall contiguous with said front face, extending along the longitudinal axis;
- an inner side wall contiguous with said front face opposing said outer side wall, said inner side wall being narrower in width than said outer said side wall;
- a top end wall contiguous with said front face, and contiguous and shorter in length than said inner side wall and said outer side wall;
- a bottom end wall opposing said top end wall, said bottom end wall being contiguous with said front face, said inner side wall, and said outer side wall, said bottom end wall being of the same width and length of said top end wall;
- a back surface being irregular in shape formed having at least one channel, and a longitudinal slot, said back surface being adapted for supporting at least one stringer rod and at least one support rod of a shelf, said back surface having a depression therein adapted for mounting said shelf connector to a frame support member;
- and
- at least one of said top end wall and said bottom end wall having a groove formed therein, said groove being positioned in a horizontal plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said shelf connector, near said inner side wall, and extending from said front face toward said back surface of said shelf connector.
5 more elements
A shelf connector device comprising:
- a front face having a bore therein surrounded by a circular recess;
- an outer side wall contiguous with said front face, extending along a longitudinal axis of said front face;
- an inner side wall contiguous with said front face opposing said outer side wall, said inner side wall being narrower in width than said outer side wall;
- a top end wall contiguous with said front face, and contiguous and shorter in length than said inner side wall and said outer side wall, said top end wall having a groove extending therethrough perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, parallel to the outer side wall near said inner side wall;
- a bottom end wall opposing said top end wall, said bottom end wall being contiguous with said front face, said inner side wall, and said outer side wall, said bottom end wall of the same width and length as said top end wall, said bottom end wall having a groove extending therethrough perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, parallel to the outer side wall near said inner side wall;
- and
- a back surface being irregular in shape containing a pair of channels recessed within said back surface each one of said channels extending through said inner side wall toward said outer side wall for receiving a support rod, a longitudinal slot extending the entire length of said back surface adjacent to and aligned with said inner side wall and adapted for supporting a stringer rod, said back surface having a concave depression therein extending along the longitudinal axis adapted for mounting said shelf connector to a frame support member.
4 more elements
A shelving assembly comprising:
- a) a shelf connector device including
- a front face having a bore therein surrounded by a circular recess;
- an outer side wall contiguous with said front face, extending along a longitudinal axis of said front face;
- an inner side wall contiguous with said front face opposing said outer side wall, said inner side wall being narrower in width than said outer side wall;
- a top end wall contiguous with said front face, and contiguous and shorter in length than said inner side wall and said outer side wall, said top end wall having a groove extending therethrough perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, parallel of the outer side wall near said inner side wall;
- a bottom end wall opposing said top end wall, said bottom end wall being contiguous with said front face, said inner side wall, and said outer side wall, said bottom end wall having a groove extending therethrough perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, parallel to the outer side wall near said inner side wall;
- a back surface being irregular in shape containing a pair of channels recessed within said back surface, each one of said channels extending through said inner side wall toward said outer side wall for receiving a support rod, a longitudinal slot extending the entire length of said back surface adjacent to the aligned with said inner side wall and adapted for supporting a stringer rod, said back surface having a concave depression therein extending along the longitudinal axis adapted for mounting said shelf connector to a frame support member;
- b) a frame having at least one support member;
- and
- c) at least one shelf mounted to said frame connected by said shelf connector, said shelf comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced apart stringer rods arranged in a horizontal plane making up a shelf surface, each one of said stringer rods being attached to at least one end support rod, and at least one intermediate support rod, said intermediate support rod being spaced apart, parallel, and juxtaposed with respect to said end support rod, said end support rod and intermediate support rod being disposed in a horizontal plane perpendicular to said stringer rods, said each one of said stringer rods having a distal end portion bent downward around said intermediate support rod and attached to said end support rod forming a vertical shelf lip.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.