US2825470A

US2825470A - Shelving construction

Info

Publication number: US2825470A
Application number: US514833A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert D Dahlin
Original assignee: Benchcraft Inc
Current assignee: Benchcraft Inc
Priority date: 1955-06-13
Filing date: 1955-06-13
Publication date: 1958-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1975-03-04

Description

March 4,1958 R, D, DAHUN l2,825,470

SHELVING CONSTRUCTION Filed Junel, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 4, 1958 R. D. DAHLIN SHELVING CONSTRUCTION v Filed June 13, 1955 INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. DAHLIN ATTORNEY ilnited States Patent srmLvusG CONSTRUCTION Robert l). Dahlin, Rockl Hill, Mo., assigner to Benchcraft, inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 1 3, 19 5 5Se ral No. 514,833

4. Cininrs- (CL 2171-136.)

This invention relates in general to storage equipment and, more particularly, to novel shelving construction which provides` clearance throughout. the full extent of the shelf space. i

Heretofore, in commercialA shelving and bins there has been an inordinate amount of waste storage space resulting from the customary nature of construction. It has been the practiceA to provide T-shaped center posts with the leg or iiange of the T extending inwardly between the ends of juxtaposed shelf sectionsand thereby restricting the over-alll shelf clearance. Such center posts are presented in transversely aligned pairs and, consequently, the maximum extent of unrestricted shelf space will necessarily coincide withthe length of a particular shelf section. The lack ofv economy in such an arrangement will be readily apparent when one notes the fact ythat shelving will be, through stress of circumstances, considered from the standpoint of shelf section rather than from the standpoint( of a Composite integrated shelf of desired length. If the particular articles and the like to be shelved are not so dimensioned as to' allow compact storage from one end of a` shelf section to the other, or, as Ait were, from one restricting corner post to the next, certain storage space adjacent the end of each shelf section will be, perforce, left vacant. Furthermore, since a distance between transversely aligned center posts is less than the width of the shelf sections, the intervening space is seldom amenable to usage. Depending upon the character of the merchandise or the like to be stored, the loss of effective storage space in shelving of current construction has in some cases reached a heightened degree, withk expected attendant eXpel'lSe.

storage space commensurate with the, particular requirements. lt will be seen that considerations of suchv a character will call for the provision of adequate Warehouse space in new construction to accommodate such actually unneeded shelving. The unwanted cost of such additional shelving, together with the` loss of valuable warehouse space for receiving same, have proved-most expensive to business.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide shelving construction which permits of maximum free clearance so that contiguous shelf sections, from front to back, throughout their entire combined extent are available for storage.

it is a further object to provide shelving construction which comprises shelving units in back-to-backarrangements, having common back panels and being engaged to form integrated structure by unique common center posts. l 'Y a 2,825,47 1C@ Patent-4Min. 4 lass It is a further Object nfV the present invention te prnvids shelving Construction having novel reinforcing means. which nbvintns. the necessity nf. sway-braces. 0r other structural support members disposed betweenshelf sections. and provides the snnstrnctinn with rigidity and strength. i

An additional nbisct Qf. the present invention is to. Prnvids shelving Cnnstrnstinn. which may be. readily assembled in Upright Position and, disassembled without the use of skilled labor; whichl is durable and reliable in usage; and the use 0f. which. will render unnecessary the heretofore purchase of excess shelving b y industry. Y

'Ihese and other detailed objects arey obtained by the structures illustrated inthe accnrnpanvingdrawings (twg sheets) in which-- Figure l is a perspective View of shelving constructed in accordance with and embodying: the prsssnt invsnlinn.

Figure- 2 is a horizontal. transverse sectional view tnlssn onl the line 2-.2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontaltransyerse sectional viewtakcn on the line 3,-3 of Figure 1.

Figure` 4 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on the. line 4-.4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal transverse sectional View talen on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is ahorizontal transverse sectional view-taken on the line 6-.6 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional View talgen on the line 7-.f7 of Figure l.

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse sectional viewtalsen on the line S-S of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view talgen on the line 9,-9V of Figure 1,.

Figure 1,0 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on the line 10-10 of- Figure 1.

Referring nsw by Inference characters tothe drawings whichY illustrate a preferred embodiment; of the present invention. A designates shelving construction. of the commercial type consisting of two like units indicated 1, 2 in back-to-back relationship. Since units 1, 2 are similarly constructed, constituent elements of only one unit will be described with the understanding that the same forml parts of the other.

E ach unit comprises two inner and two outer angleshaped corner posts 3, 3 respectively, a plurality offront center posts 4 presented in parallel, spaced relationship to the outer corner posts 3', and a plurality of end-,to-end shelf sections 5 to form shelves of desired length. Each shelf section 5, which is constructed preferably of suitable gauge sheet metal, is provided with depending. anges, there being a front ange 6, a rear flange 7, and two

end anges

8, 9. The saidY flanges are formed integrally with the top of the shelf section, which is provided adjacent its front edge with a series or a rowl of openings 10, punched or otherwise formed therein for receiving bolts 11 for the retention of partitions or shelf dividers 12 at predetermined locations.

Shelf section flanges

6, 7, 8 and 9 at their` lower ends are turned inwardlyto present a horizontal extension 6', 7', 8', and 9 respectively, and are thence bent upwardly to form a lip 12', 13, 14 and 15 respectively, therebyendowing said shelf sections 5 with increased rigidity for resisting twisting or bending forces. Each

ange extension

6', 7', 8 and 9 is cut away at its end portions, as may best be seen in Figure 3, to renderaccessibleV the inner portions of the corners of each shelf section 5 f or facilitating assembly. Provided for engagement to the inner surfaces of adjacent shelf anges at each corner of each shelf section 5, is an angle-shaped corner brace 16, the legsv 16 of which are of substantially equal length with the cut-a-way portions ofthe ange extensions, and are each' provided with YaV bolt-receiving opening .17,S 18"re Vspectively, for registration with Vopenings designated gen# erally 20 at each end of Veach shelf flange.l Secured to the innerface'of the front ange 6 of each shelf section v Y is; Va'jreinforcingV bar V21V extending.substantiallyn the fdis- ,fance between the alignedp'legs of adjacent cornerfbraces Y '16,fand'whri'ch may be secured in position, as. by spot welding.l' l t "As shown-inV Figures areieachV throughoutiheir length,Y provided witha plurality of apertures 24 for extension therethrough ofrbolts bolts 25 project through alignedapertures 24,` shelf flange openings120,andropenings 17, v18 of corner bracersfl. Legs22 of corner Vposts'3, 3"will be-ush on their innerV surface"against'the outer face ofshelf flanges 6,V 7 respectively, whereas legs 23 of said corner posts 3, 3-wil1 be presented in spaced relationship to the outer faceA of end anges 9 of the adjacent shelf sections 5 to permit extension therebetween of the edge Vportions of a sheetrmetal end panel 26. Said end panel 26 ingits vertical edge portions'is punched or otherwiseV provided with a'rseriesV of openings 27 `for kreceiving bolts 25. 'With theV openings formed in the tlanges of shelf sections 5, corner Aposts 3, 3', and end panels 26, the shelves maybe verticali;l

spaced from each other' any desired distance Vand yet'V have Ythe corner portions thereof securely engaged to the corner posts 3, 3 and/endpanels 26.' Front center posts '4' are presented for engagement to the end' portions of each two ljuxtaposed sh'e'lfpsections 5,/ andby VVtheirsuse 1 and 4, corner pests; s, s', being angle-Shaped in cross section, comprise Vlegs 22, `23, which l adjacent outer face portionsV of channel walls35,36.f Y

m Retaining boltsV 42, 43aY are presented forfextension,V Y Y 25 for engaging same to the Vcorner portions'at the outerV Y Y j end ofthe end shelfY sections 5. It will thus be seen that allow 'of the incorporation'of any numbercf shelf sections'in end-to-end relationship to provide a horizontal storage space of desired length.l In crossrsection4 front center posts 4 arecontourred, as by stamping, to Vform planar'aligned'side flanges Vor :portions V2S, 29 andan -intc'rmediateV or central, outwardly projecting VLShYaped/i'portion 30, which provides markedrigidity Vto said center posts; 4,. thereby rendering same resistant to;applied stresses and strains. vEachfofrsaid center post anges728,

29 isV apertured throughout'its extent to present vertically aligned apertures'31, 32V respectively for registration with openings 20 in front flanges 6 of the associated shelf sections 5;,1Bolts 33V extend` through apertures 31,-Y 32 and tlxe` registered openings 20 ofthe Vrelated shelf lsec- 4tions 5, as wellV as through openings 17 of the related Y corner bracestl', all as may best be'seen in Figure 3,- to

present arm and stable joint. l, Y, t, Y- Y' Shelf sections YSare thus presentedin end-'tolend relationship, 4arid proximatei their Ylines of adjacncy, on' their outwardlypresented faces, a'reengaged to" front center posts4, Which thus cooperate'with corner posts 3, 3l-to l Ymaintain shelf sections 5 inY integratedv relationshipff'for presenting a resultant shelfV of their combinedy lengths which may be of any requisite extent. VItis .to beV particularly noted that center'posts4, due to the novel configu-V ration thereotihave noportions which extend :inwardly of the forward edges 'of shelf sections 5, Vso thatino. obstruction or 'restriction ispresented within the shelfarea, with free clearance fromj front to back throughout their united extentbeing provided. Y Y' v' f f VFor the purpose of supporting shelf sections their Yinwardly presented surfaces, aswell'asto bind units l', 2 together in :an integral structure, there is'provideda pluralityY `ofsinner ,c enterposts134,A Vwhich as will now be 'shown,jare"common2to both unitsl, 2, Vandare Veacliin transverseA alignment with a'front center post 4 of Veach unitjl, 2. 2: Referring to FigureZ,V ,itV` will be Vnoted that inne'rcenterY postsr34, are fabricated preferablyfrom a pair, of elongated bars or strip *stock secured surface-wise 'together,as by'weldingand contoured at'their ends,ras

at 35, 36, to form oppositelyv openings, aligned channellikerecesses 37, V38,'interconnected byrafcentralweb portion 325th@ Surface Q f whichn are Spassd inwardly f 'the Said channelwall portions 35, 36 are drilled,V punched, or otherwise apertured from theirupperendsto a pointY spaced 'from their lower ,endsk with aligned bolt openings 40, V41 respectively, the axis of said openingsY 40, 41 beingv` normal to the Vvertical axis ofjchannels 37, 38.`

through openings 40, 41, of channel walls 375,; 36 for'l engaging Vsame to rear anges7 and' and the'related corner braces 16. ofradjace'ntside-by-side shelf sections'S of the'l Y'. units 1, 2; the shelf sections 5 of one unit beingrdesirablyj butV not necessarily, alignedY plana'rfwise' with theshrelfVV Vsections 5 of the other uniti j'lhe, distance betweenthek shelf 'sections Stof oneunitand those Yo f the other will be equal to thethicknessV ofthe channel-formed'ends of inner center posts 34. Said center posts 34, in additionV to ixedly's'upportingY shelf sections Soif the units 1, 2, also serve the normal'function of center postsv by securing the adjacent end-to-end shelf sections 5 ofeachLunit 12.V For disposition Vbetweent'ne shelf sections Y5 .of onegonit 1, 2 and those'of the other arecommon back panels 44, fabricated of sheet metal'or othersuitable material, hav# Y ing a width slightlyless than the lengthsof'the shelf 'sec- Y' tions, Vwhich along their vertical side edges l,are provided with a series of perforations or openings .'45. The said perforated edge portions of back panels 44 arereceivedY withiuichannels 37, 38V and retained therein by said YVbolts '42, 43,V which `pass throughn perforations 45; Thus, in Y addition to supporting the shelf sections 5 of unitsxl, and forming the meansv for tying units,1,12 into Van in-V tegrated structure, center posts 34 also fserveV to Vmain-y tain commonyback panelsY 44y in position. Itv is`to Vbe.

noted that the Athickness ofinne'r center posts ,34 ,is most; Y

limited so that thedistance' between fadjacentfshelfsections 5 of the units 1, 2 is relativelylimited, solthatjthere Y' is no substantial wasted/space.` l

A Asrwillbe seen in'Figure 5, ther'outerend VerticalV margins of the back panels 44V at theopposite `ends of shelving constructi'on'A` arerecei'ved between-the{con fronting legs 22 jo'f .adjacent inner cc'Jrner-.pos'ts fof units 1, 2, Vand are retained in such position by.v bolts .46.:

Directing Vattention now to VFigures-Tand 8,1it Ywill Vbe 'Y seen that inner'center posts 34 Vr.ata predetermined 'point spacedlyfabove 'the lower'ends thereof Vare stamped toY presenta pair of outwardly and upwardly turned tongues Y 4.7, V which extend from channel walls"35,l36 Vfor support- Y Vvingly engaging lower shelf sections '5,' adjacent the inner corners thereof.- YIt will Vthus be seen thatiin assembly of shelf construction A the lower shelf sections are` readily vr1 located by dispositionpupon tongues47. By suchV engager mentjthe inner center posts 34 will be located with respect.: Y Y

to the shelf sectionsS so that theapplication of the corner` post 3, 3 and Vfront ,centerV posts 4 can'be readily accom-f mate site and. obviate Vthe need for special equipment. Having completed the assembly'of the elements Vabove described, front and end basestrips 4S, 49, respectively', Ymay be easily applied to the structure by means'V of con Ventional spring fasteners 50, which `extend through fthe openings of front center posts 4 yand cornerV posts'3, 3 and registering openings` 51 provided at --the endsofsaidV strips 4S, 49. Frontbase strips 43als'oare` provided'r` with an opening 52, at a pointV nterrnediateitsends andy adjacent its upper edge for alignment with an aperture 53 formed in front Vflange 6.ofeach shelf section 5; there.'V Y

eing a fastener 50,.also projectingYY through-said aligned opening 52 and aperture V53. Y Front Vand end basestrips 4S, 49 are mounted outwardly kof center posts 4, and.A

corner posts 3, 3', respectively, and are each cut away in their upper corner portions, as at 54, to avoid interference with the lowermost retaining bolts 33, 25, as the case may be. By the unique design of said base strips 48, 49 the same are readily mounted from the exterior, without requiring access under the shelving to perform such operation. The appearance of shelving construction A is decoratively finished by said strips 48, 49 as well as the rigidity of same being materially enhanced thereby. ln view of the above, the present invention provides shelving construction which permits of full effective storage area throughout the combined extent of the shelf sections 5 which are not in any way restricted by structural members, as is common with currently used shelving. Full front-to-back and end to end space is presented. Furthermore, shelving construction A is of marked rigidity and durability, despite the absence of the heretofore customary sway braces and the like, since corner braces 16 serve to effectively and reliably render shelf sections 5 resistant to any untoward twisting forces, and make the over-al1 construction a most rugged and stable one.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the shelving construction may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Storage construction comprising first and second shelving units, each unit having end members and at least two shelves extending between said end members in end to end relationship, a common center post being disposed between each pair of end to end shelves of said first and second units and being connected thereto, said center post being provided with oppositely opening recesses, a back panel common to both of said first and second units being received in its vertical side portions within the recesses of said center post, means engaging said back panels to said center post, and fastening means securing said back panel between end portions 0f opposed shelves of said first and second units.

2. Storage construction comprising first and second juxtaposed shelving units for disposition in back to back relationship, each unit having end members and a plurality of shelves extending between said end members in end to end relationship, common center posts being disposed between the shelves of said first and second units, said center posts each having oppositely opening channelforming portions and are in surface abutment on their outer faces with the lateral face of the proximate shelf of said first or second unit, and a back panel common to both of said first and second units, said panel being provided along its vertical edge portions with a plurality of apertures for registration with the aligned openings of the center post channel walls, and fastening means extending through selected ones of said openings and back panel apertures for securing said center posts and back panel to the confronting shelves of said first and second units.

3. Storage construction comprising first and second juxtaposed shelving units, each unit having end members and a plurality of shelves extending between said end members in end to end relationship, common center posts being disposed between the first and second units, each center posts having oppositely opening channel-forming side portions, the walls of each channel-forming side portion being parallel throughout a substantial part of their length for surfacewise abutment against lateral faces of the adjacent confronting shelves of said first and second units, a web portion connecting said channel-forming side portions and being disposed inwardly of the outer faces of the walls thereof for extension across the joint line between the proximate shelves of each unit, and a back panel common to said first and second units and being received in its vertical edge portions within the channel-forming side portions of adjacent center posts for disposition between said first and second units.

4. Storage construction for providing maximum shelf clearance comprising first and second juxtaposed shelving units, in back to back relationship each of said units comprising end members, a plurality of shelf sections in abutting end to end relation to form shelves of preselected length, each shelf section having depending lateral fianges, outer center posts having planar-aligned side portions for surfacevn'se engagement to lateral flanges of adjacent shelf sections, an intermediate web between and connecting said side portions of said outer center posts and Abeing presented outwardly of the adjacent lateral flanges of the adjacent shelf sections, common inner center posts disposed between the rst and second units and having for extension across the joint line of abutting shelves of each unit oppositely opening channel-forming side portions the walls of which are parallel throughout a substantial part of their transverse extent, a web connecting said channel-forming side portions of said common center posts, the outer faces of said webs being presented inwardly of the outer faces of the adjacentV walls of the channel-forming side portions, and a common back panel having its vertical edge portions received within the confronting channels of adjacent common inner center parts, and fastening means for securing said back panel and inner center posts to confronting lateral flanges of shelf sections of said first and -second units.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 910,473 Bales Jan. 19, 1909 917,870 Jefferis Apr. 13, 1909 966,002 Fricke Apr. 2, 1910 1,126,094 Schatfert lan. 26, 1915 1,136,245 Leland Apr. 20, 1915 1,141,991 Terrell June 8, 1915 1,161,792 Schaffert Nov. 23, 1915 1,557,066 Medart et al. Mar. 16, 1926 1,700,549 Sprott Ian. 29, 1929 1,880,179 Onions Sept. 27, 1932 2,007,354 Vass July 9, 1935 2,621,800 Neubauer Dec. 16, 1952