US3021013A

US3021013A - Shelf bracket construction

Info

Publication number: US3021013A
Application number: US107715A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert L Shivek
Original assignee: EASTERN STEEL RACK Co
Current assignee: EASTERN STEEL RACK Co
Priority date: 1961-05-04
Filing date: 1961-05-04
Publication date: 1962-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 1979-02-13

Description

Feb. 13, 1962 H. L. SHlVEK SHELF BRACKETCONSTRUCTlON Filed May 4, 1961 INVENTOR.

HERBERT L SHIVEK BY WW M j/M FIGS ATTORNEYS United States Patent '0 3,021,013 SHELF BRACKET CQNSTRUCTION Herbert L. Shivek, Brookline, Mass, assignor to Eastern Steel Rack Company, Dorchester, Mass, :1 corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 4, 1961, Ser. No. 107,715 4 Claims. (Cl. 211136) This invention relates to an improved shelf bracket construction, and has as its primary object the provision of an improved bracket construction for adjust-ably supporting shelves upon vertical supporting posts. It is a further object of the invention to provide a shelf bracket construction which is simply constructed and yet is extremely sturdy for withstanding rough usage and supporting substantial loadings.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of a tubular bracket slidably receivable on a supporting post, and having means for releasably securing the bracket in a vertically-adjusted position upon the post. A shelf formed about its edges with vertically-depending sills terminating in horizontal lips, is provided with a novel arrangement of flanges and tabs for locking engagement with the bracket to firmly secure these members in assembled relation. At a corner of the horizontal surface of the shelf, an opening is punched for slidably receiving a vertical post therethrough, and the punched sheet material is bent downwardly to form flanges interiorly engageable with an upper end of the bracket, and positioned to locate the bracket against the corner formed by the converging sills of a side and an end of the shelf. The horizontal lips are partially cut away at the corner of the shelf to form a pair of locking tabs transversely receivable in the bracket through mating slots formed therein. The locking tabs are subsequently upset to firmly lock the bracket in position. The bracket is further provided with means for releasably securing the shelf in a vertically adjusted position on the post, these means preferably comprising a set screw threadedly engaged in the bracket. While this construction is quite simple to manufacture, it affords a high degree of strength for a given thickness of shelf material, and is readily adjustable for the arrangement of stacked shelves to suit the needs of a user. It will be understood that one such bracket is to be provided for each point of attachment of a shelf to a plurality of vertical posts, such as are customarily afforded for supporting each corner of a vertically-spaced array of shelves.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which I regard as my invention, it is believed that the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a bracket and a shelf formed according to the invention, shown prior to their assembly;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the shelf viewed from an interior vantage point, showing the assembled juxtaposition of the bracket in dotted lines, and

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation and partially in section of the shelf bracket construction mounted on a vertical supporting post.

Referring to the drawing, the improved shelf bracket construction includes a tubular bracket 1 of a cross-sectional configuration adapted to conform to the interior corner formed by converging

vertical sills

2 and 3, depending from each edge of a shelf 4. While only a single bracket is shown, in conjunction with a fragmentary corner portion of a shelf, it will be understood that one such bracket is preferably provided at each corner of the shelf supported by a vertical post. The shelf 'is shown inverted in the drawingfor greater clarity. The shelf is further formed with

horizontal lips

5 and 6, bent transversely from the lower edges of the sills to increase its rigidity.

As initially formed, the

lips

5 and 6 are cut away obliquely at 9 and 1 0, respectively, at a distance from the corner 12 of the shelf, to receive the bracket 1 in abutment with the sills in the corner. However, the flange from which the lips are formed is only partially removed, being trimmed to form locking tabs 14 intermediate the terminations of the lips and the corner of the shelf. The bracket, which in this case is of a square cross-section to conform to the square corner 12, is formed with slots 16 arranged for receiving the tabs 14 therethrough. The transverse edges 18 of the tabs 'confronting the corner are cut parallel to one another and oblique to their respective sills, to facilitate the insertion of the tabs 14 into the bracket.

The horizontal surface portion of the shelf is punched to form an opening 20 in spaced relation to the interior surfaces of the sills, and the sheet material thus -'deflected is trimmed and upset at right angles to the shelf surface to form locating flanges 22 about the edges of the opening. The opening is of such size and location that the locating flanges 22 are snugly received in the interior surface of the bracket with a sliding fit, as best shown in FIG. 3. Further, these flanges are so spaced from the

sills

2 and 3 that the bracket is snugly received, in surface engagement between the sills and those of the flanges which directly confront the respective sills.

In assembly, the bracket is first inserted into the corner of the shelf, interiorly receiving the locating flanges 22 longitudinally, and receiving the locking tabs 14 transversely, through the slots 16. The locking tabs are then upset into parallel relation with the sills, firmly gripping the interior surfaces of the bracket to secure the assembly. The resulting assembly is rigid, and resistant to distortion by torsional loadings which may be applied in use to the vertical supporting posts, since the tabs 14 and flanges 22 restrain the bracket through substantial lever arms corresponding to the height of the sills.

7 At its lower end, the corners of the bracket are notched at 23, and the edges are upset to provide transverse flanges 24 forming an opening slightly smaller than the interior cross-section of the body of the bracket, for snugly receiving a vertical supporting post 26 slidably therein. The interior surfaces of the locating flanges 22 form an opening of equal size for slidably receiving the post. A set screw 28 is threadedly engaged in a boss 30 formed transversely through the surface of the bracket for gripping the post in a desired vertically-adjusted position of the shelf thereon.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the improved shelf bracket construction aflords a sturdy means for adjustably supporting shelves upon vertical posts, although its construction is simple and easily executed, requiring only the shearing and upsetting of the shelf necessary to form the locating flanges and locking tabs for securely mounting the bracket in the shelf. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that varipus changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, which I intend to define in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shelf bracket construction comprising, i com: bination, a shelf having a horizontal surface portion terminating in transversely-extending vertically-depending sills forming an open box structure, said horizontal portion being formed with an opening adjacent at least one of said sills and with transversely-extending locating flanges depending therefrom about the edges of said open ing, a tubular bracket receivable in interior abutment upon said one of said sills and interiorly receiving said locating flanges in snugly-fitting relation therein, a cating tab extending transversely from said one of said sills, said bracket being formed with a slot for receiving said locking tab, said locking tab being adapted to be upset into engagement with the interior surface of said bracket for securing said bracket in assembled relation with said shelf, said bracket being adapted to slidably receive a supporting post transversely through said opening in said shelf, and locking means for releasably securing said bracket in an adjusted vertical position along said post.

2. A shelf bracket construction comprising, in combination, a shelf having a horizontal surface portion terminating at its edges in transversely-extending verticallydepending sills to form an open box structure, said surface portion being formed with an opening adjacent at least one corner thereof and with transversely-extending locating flanges depending therefrom about the edges of said opening, a tubular bracket receivable in interior abutment with two of said sills terminating in said corner, and interiorly receiving said locating flanges in snuglyfitting relation therein, a locating tab formed in each of said two sills, said tabs being spaced from said corner, said bracket being formed with slots for receiving said locking tabs, said locking tabs being adapted to be upset into engagement with the interior surface of said bracket for securing said bracket in assembled relation with said shelf, said bracket being adapted to slidably receive a supporting post passed vertically through said opening in said shelf, and locking means for releasably securing said bracket in an adjusted vertical position along said post.

3. A shelf bracket construction comprising, in combination, a shelf having a horizontal surface portion terminating at its edges in transversely-extending verticallydepending sills to form an open box structure, said surface portion being formed with a first rectangular opening adjacent at least one corner thereof and with locating flanges depending therefrom about the edges of said opening, a tubular bracket of rectangular cross-section receivable in interior abutment with two of said sills terminating in said corner, and interiorly receiving said locating flanges in snugly-fitting relation in a first end thereof, a locating tab formed in each of said two sills, said tabs being spaced from said corner, said bracket being formed with slots for receiving said locking tabs, said locking tabs being adapted to be upset into engagement with the interior surface of said bracket for securing said bracket in assembled relation with said shelf, said bracket being adapted to slidably receive a supporting post of rectangular cross-section passed vertically through said opening in said shelf, and locking means for releasably securing said bracket in an adjusted verti cal position along said post.

4. A shelf bracket construction as recited in claim 3, in which the other end of said bracket is upset to form a second rectangular opening equal in dimension to said first opening for snugly receiving a post of longitudinallyuniform cross-section slidably therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 856,036 Dean June 4, 1907 1,685,064 Fritz Sept. 18, 1928 2,604,334 Schultz July 22, 1952