US2636618A - Knockdown shelving and the like - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1953 J. L. MERRICK 2,636,618

KNOCKDOWN SHELVING AMD THE LIKE Filed Aug. 50, 1950 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 IN V EN TOR.

J MERE/CK April 28, 1953 J L, RI K 2,636,618

KNOCKDOWN SHELVING AMD THE LIKE Filed Aug. 30, 1950 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Hg 6 H5. 7

INVENTOR.

J g. MFEE/CK Patented A r. 28, 1953 KNOCKDOWN SHELVING AND THE'LIKE James L. Merrick, Glen Rock, Pa.

Application August 30, 1950, Serial No. 182,312

2 Claims.

This invention relates to shelving, wall brackets and the like and more specifically to articles of this type which may be readily knocked down for shipment or storage.

An important object of the invention is the provision in a structure of this character of a joint between a support and an engaged shelf or the like firmly holding the shelf against motion in any direction and securely locking the component parts to one another.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a joint of this character in which the locking is effected by the resiliency of one of the component parts.

Still another object is the provision of a structure of this type which can readily be produced from moldable materials such as plastics.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a shelf unit embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 showing the elements in partially assembled relation.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the assembly;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the standard;

Figure 7 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the shelf, and

Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 showing a slightly modified construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the numeral iii designates a standard and l I a shelf to be mounted thereon. In the present illustration a single shelf mounted on. a single standard has been illustrated. It will be understood, however, that a single bracket may be used to support a plurality of shelves or a single shelf may be mounted on a plurality of standards as desired. Furthermore while the term shelf is employed to indicate the member ll mounted on the bracket this member may be any structure which it is desired to mount upon the standard.

Standard 10 is preferably substantially rectangular in cross-section and is provided on its front face with a pair of lugs l2 and I3, forming a notch M in which the body of shelf ll fits closely. To facilitate entry of the shelf body in the notch one of these lugs, in the present illustration upper lug I2, is made slightly shorter. The sides of the standard each have an ear I6 terminating in spaced relation to the rear face of the standard and having the lower face thereof at least partially coplanar with the upper Wall a of the notch [4. Any suitable means may be provided for mounting the standard such as the socket I! opening through the rear wall thereof and adapted for the reception of a wall mounted nail (not shown).

Shelf I l is generally planar and has a notch 18 in its rear edge closely fitting the standard I 0 at the base of notch l4 and at least in the area of the notch I8 is resilient so that these portions of the shelf may be deflected downwardly within the elastic limit of the shelf during assembly or separation of the elements to permit passage beneath cars It of ribs l9 of the shelf as shown in Figure 4. When the ribs [9 pass the rear edge of ears IS the resilience of the structure forces the ribs upwardly behind the ears as shown in Figure 2, locking the shelf in position on the standard. The shelf may be removed by exerting downward and forward pressure on the rear edge of the shelf at opposite sides of its notch 18 thereby returning the shelf to position of Figure 4 where it is easily removed by forward pressure. Assembly may be facilitated by providing the under surfaces of the ears l6 with rearwardly inclining cam faces along which the ribs I8 ride during assembly as shown in Figure 9. It will be noted that by reason of the close fit provided at the notches the shelf will be solidly held against movement with relation to the standard as long as ribs I9 remain in position. In the preferred construction the shelf is formed of some elastic material such as plastic and the ribs i9 may comprise the ends of ribs defining the rear edge of the shelf.

Since the construction illustrated is capable of considerable modification without departing from the spirit of my invention I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a structure of the type described, an elongated standard substantially rectangular in in cross section arranged to be positioned vertically in use, a generally planar shelf member arranged to be detachably secured transversely relative to said standard and having in one edge a notch in which said standard is received and fits closely, said standard having a forwardly facing notch in which said shelf member fits closely and abuts the base of the notch in said shelf member, ears on the sides of the standard engageable with the upper surface of said shelf member, and ribs on said shelf member engageable directly behind the ears of the standard when the standard and shelf member are fully engaged, said shelf member at the sidesof the notch therein being resilient and arranged to be deflected within the elastic limit of said member by engagement of the ribs thereon with said ears during movement of the shelf member into 0 out of the notch of the standard. I

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ears on said standard are provided with inclined cams projecting from the surfaces thereof engageable by said shelf member to cause said deflection during movement of said shelf member into the notch of said standard.

JAMES L. MERRICK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 5 1,055,050 1,242,242 1,273,397 1,818,404 2,440,207

Number Name Date Knape Mar. 4, 1913 Roper Oct. 9, 1917 Neill July 23, 1918 Kaufman Aug. 11, 1931 Owens Apr. 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria Dec. 28, 1931 Switzerland Aug. 2, 1937 Great Britain Sept. 17, 1940

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