CA1189833A

CA1189833A - Ladder shelving unit

Info

Publication number: CA1189833A
Application number: CA000398636A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Leon Altman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-17
Filing date: 1982-03-17
Publication date: 1985-07-02

Abstract

A B S T R A C T

A storage unit comprising a plurality of opposing vertical ladder sections having rungs, a plurality of rods each rod being adapted to lie between the ladder sections hooked over a rung of each of two ladder sections and a plurality of shelves adapted to lie horizontally on the rods between and abutting the ladder sections, each rod having hooked ends which are offset from said rods at an acute angle, with opposing ends being offset in opposite directions to permit two rods hooked onto the same rung from the opposite directions to be in line.

Description

g~33 Summary of the Invention The storage unit of this invention comprises a plurality of opposing vertical ladders sections..having rungs, a plurality of rods, each rod being adapted to lie between ~he ladder sections hooked over a rung of each o~ two ladder sections and shelving adapted to lie hori~ontally on the rods between the ladder sections each rod having hooking, oppositely offset end conditions adapted to permit two rods hooked onto the same rung ~rom opposite directions to be in line.

The underside of the shelving may be grooved to fit over the rods. Two rods may be sufficient to support a shelf but the shelves may be adapted with a plurality of grooves to permit more than two supporting rods where a heavy load is anticipated.

In the Figures which illustrate the preferred embodiment of this invention.

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the storage unit of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view illustrating the end condition of the rods.

Figure 3 is a sketch of the assembled shelving with two units connected in series.

Figure 4 is a sketch of a storage unit in which the sides may be extended forward or backward.

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In the figures li~e numerals indicated lil~e elements.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the basic elements of the preferred embodiment of the storage system are ladder sections (2), rods (4) and shelving (6).

The two ladder sections each comprise two columns (8) which are predrilled with holes (10) spaced apart from each other and from the ends (12) of the columns (8) by predetermined distances.
The spacing is such that the holes (10) in each column (8) will be in horizontal planes when the columns ~) are vertical. Rungs (14) are adapted to fit into the holes (10) of each column (8) so that two columns (8) and a plurality of rungs (14) may be assembled into a la~der section (2). Similarly, other such ladder sections

(2) may be assem~led. The rungs (14) of each ladder section (2) will be level with the rungs (14) of other ladder sections (2).

The rods (4) are adapted to be hooked over the rungs (14). ~urther, as illustrated in Figure 2,each end (16) of the rods (4) is offset at an angle of about 45.
The opposite ends (16) of each rod (4) are offset ln opposite directions. Thus, two rods (4) may hook over a rung (14) at the sa~e location and continue with respect to one another in a straight line.

The shelves (6) are adapted to lie over the rods (4) hoooked on rungs (14) between the ladder sections (2).

The underside of each shelf (6) may be cut with grooves (18) to fit over the rods (4) to fix the shelves (6) on the rods (4) with respect to movement in the horizontal plane forwards or backwards. The columns (8) of the ladder sections (2) - 4 - ~ 8;3~
a-e adapted to abut the ends of the shelves (6) as shown in Figure 2 to prevent lateral horizontal movement of the shelves (6) and to provide stability to the ladder sections '~. If additional stability is desi-ed the ladder scctions ~y bc joined at the ~aclc by cxiss-crossin~ stabili~ing memhers.

~ s shown in Figure 3 additional ladder sections (2), rods (4) and shelving (6) may be added at either end of the basic unit shown in Figure 1 by adding another ladder section (2), rods (4) and shelving (6). As illustrated in Figure 2, the o~fset end conditions of the roads (4) permit the additional storage units to continue in a straight line from the basic unit using similar construction elements.

The addition of more and more units to the ends of existing units may continue in a line to the limit of available storage space. Of course, size of the units may be changed by using ladder sections (2) of different heights and widths.

Similarly, the ]ength of the roads (4) and the shelving (6) may be changed to permit the construction of a wider or narrower unit.
It will be apparant to those skilled in the art that the underside of -the shelving (6) may be cut with a plurality of yrooves (18) to allow more than two rods (4) to be used for heavy loads or to permit different spacing of the roads (4) under a shelf (6) where that was desired.

As shown in Figure 4, the ladder sections (2) may be staggered forwards and backwards for example to follow the line of a wall about corners.

It is a simple matter to asjust the height of shelves or to knock down the whole storage unit and to reassemble it differently if desired. When knocked down the parts may be conveniently stacked and need no special identification, since they are interchangeable with other similar parts.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A storage unit comprising a plurality of opposing vertical ladder sections having rungs, a plurality of rods each rod being adapted to lie between the ladder sections.
hooked over a rung of each of two ladder sections and a plurality of shelves adapted to lie horizontally on the rods between and abutting the ladder sections, each rod having hooked ends which are offset from said rods at an acute angle, with opposing ends being offset in opposite directions to permit two rods hooked onto the same rung from opposite directions to be in line.

2. The storage unit of Claim 1 in which the underside of the shelves is grooved to receive the rods said grooves being adapted to prevent movement of the shelf transverse the length of said rods.

3. A storage unit as in Claims 1 or 2 in which the rungs of the ladder sections are spaced apart equidistantly from each other and a predetermined distance from each end of the ladder sections so that the rungs of one ladder section are level with the rungs of other ladder sections whichever end of the one ladder section is up.

4. A storage unit comprising a plurality of columns, rungs, rods and shelves wherein the rungs are adapted to be fitted in holes predrilled in the columns to connect the columns to form ladder sections and wherein the rods are adapted to hook over the rungs and to lie between opposing ladder sections, said rods having hooked ends which are offset from said rods at an acute angle, with opposing ends being offset in opposite directions to permit two rods on either side of a rung to hook over the rung and to lie in a straight line with respect to on another, said shelves being adapted to fit over the rods between the ladder sections abutting inside surfaces of the columns to provide vertical lateral stability.

5. The storage unit of Claim 4 in which at least one column has holes predrilled in both of opposite surfaces of said column to permit extension of the unit forwards or backwards.

6. The storage unit of Claim 4 or 5 in which the predrilled holes of the columns are spaced apart equidistantly from each other and a predetermined distance from each end of the columns so that the holes of one column are level with the holes of others whichever end of the said one column is up.

7. A rod adapted for use in a storage unit as a supporting element for shelving between ladder sections having rungs, said rod having hooked ends which are offset from said rod at an acute angle, with opposing ends being offset in opposite directions to permit two such rods to hook over a rung at the same location from opposite sides thereof and yet to be in a straight line with respect to one another.