US1886318A - Shelf rack construction - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1932. w. N. VANCE 1,886,318

SHELF RACK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 29, 1929 ZZZ//ZZ??? Patented Nov. 1, 1932 f untrue STATES PATENT oFFic j insane wAL'rnn N. VANCE, or NORTH AURORA, ILLINoIs, AssIsNon 'ro LYoN METAL rnonucrs, INCORPORATED, or AURORA, ILLINoIs, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS SHELF RACK CONSTRUCTION Application filed March 29, 1929. Serial No. 350,938.

This invention relates to shelf racks and has more particular reference to shelf racks provided for variable assemblage.

"A principal object of this invention is the 5' provision of an adjustableshelf rack of new and improved construction having an in creased range of adjustment.

Another important object of the invention -is the provision of an adjustable shelf rack construction wherein a greater number of the shelf bearing and adjustment determining holes or slots in the rack uprights may be provided for a given height of shelf without weakening the construction or rendering itless rigid.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2, showing "the shelf bearer in position in the upright for supporting one of the shelves;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same taken.

on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line I 3-3 of Fig. 2 and through the forked end of the shelf bearer looking toward ing face of the upright, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 7 44 of Fig. 2.

the supportfi-v On the drawing, I have shown so much of a shelf rack construction as will illustrate a preferred embodiment of my present invention. The shelf rack, except for the shelf bearers or supports, is constructed of sheet 'metal and comprises rectangular or square tubular uprights 11 and side walls 12. The uprights 11 are formed with a pair of flanges 13 and 14 located at the central portion of the inner face 15 of the uprights. Each pair of flanges em braces one edge of the side wall 12 extending vertically and from front to back, the edges of the side walls being firmly held between the flangesin any suitable manner to provide a rigid wall structure.

appropriately arranged Theside edges of shelf 16'are bent to provide depending flanges 22 extending in front to back alinement with the sidewalls 12. After the shelf has beenadjusted tothe propor level, the side flanges 22 maybe secured, if desired, to the side walls by bolts and nuts 28 passed through registering holes respectively provided in -the side walls and flanges.

The shelves 16 are supported at the front and rear of the rack by means of horizontal bearers or supports24 which are engaged in bearer receiving holes'or slots in the uprights 11 in such manner as to permit extremely close spacing of the shelves at differen-t levels Without making it necessary to cut away from the upright 11 sufficient metal to impair the supporting character of'the up right. As shown in Figs/3 and 4, each up- 1:

right 11 is provided with a series of bearer re-' ceiving slots 25 spaced equal distances apart.

Each slot is of circular formin its upper portion, asshown at 26, and substantially rectang'ular in its lowerportion, as shown at 27, the rectangular portion being rower in widthbetween its opposite vertical edges-than the diameter of the circularportion. The bearer is positioned in the slots through the upper portion 26 and loweredinto the portion 27, where it is securely held oilocked into position by engagement with the side edges 28 of the lower portion. As shown in Fig. 4, the bearer 24 comprises a supporting bar of I-beain construction, having a central somewhat narweb 29 and top and bottom flanges 30. It

will, however, be readily understood that bearers of other sectional shape may be ad vantageously employed.

- At its opposite ends, the bearer24 is biso as to register with the edges 28 of the locking portions 27 of the slots. o The grooves 34 and 35 are of such depth that the portion between them, as shown at 36, is appropriately dimensioned to engage within the portion 27 of the slot. It will be seen that with this construction a bearer24 may be readily positioned in the upright by inserting the arms 31 and 32 of the. bearer ,into the upper portions 26 of bearer receiving slots and then lowering them into the portions 27 so that the edges 28 engage in the bearer grooves 34 and 35.

- The ends of the arms 31 and 32 are arranged a distance apart equal to the distance between the centers of the slots in which they are to be received, whether these slots be adjacent or not. These arms 31 and 32, as shown in Fig. 2, are inclined respectively upwardly and downwardly in respect of the longitudinal axis of the bearer and thus diverge toward their ends 33.

The construction of the bearer and bearer receiving slots just described occasions the engagement of a top and bottom part of a bearer in separate slots, and each slot, therefore, does not have a vertical depth receiving the entire upright portion of the bearer. vAs a result, the slots can be relatively short vertically, and a relatively greater number of them can be provided in a given length of upright, the while maintaining the predetermined spacing between adjacent slots desired for strength and rigidity of construction. a

.The shelf 16 is preferably bent upwardly at 37 to accommodate the upwardly projecting inclined arm 31 of the bearer 24. Each shelf is cut away at its corner adjacent the upright at 38 to permit the shelf to be positioned in close proximity to the side wall and also to permit the flange 22 to be fastened to the side wall if desired. 7

It'is thought that this invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof. 7 v

Iclaim: i '1. The combination of an upright supporting member provided with a series of bearer receiving slots, and a bearer comprising an I-beam having a central web and top and bottom flanges, the top and bottom flanges being spread apart and extending top and bottom of said bar being spread apart at each end of the bar and extending above and below the normal top surface of the bar to provide upper and lower supporting arms, said arms being received in said slots, said slots being located so as to receive said arms, and a shelf supported by said bar. a In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

- WALTER N. VANCE.

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