Corner brace

Dec. 28, 1965

3,225,720

L. MASLOW

CORNER BRACE

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/77777?^ YS

L. MASLOW

CORNER BRACE

Dec. 28, 1965

Filed May 3, 1963

3,225,720

Sheets-Sheet 2

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3,225,720

Patented Dec. 28, 1965

United States Patent Office

CORNER’BRACE

Louis Maslow, Huntsville Road, Dallas, Pa.

Filed May 3, 1963, Ser. No. 277,923

Claims. (Cl. 108—64) _ o

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the construction especially of industrial shelving assemblies and also to improvements in the construction of furniture such as cabinets, shelves, bookcases or the like which can be readily assembled from component parts io which can be readily dismantled and which shelving or furniture arrangement can be modified as desired.

Knockdown industrial shelving units of the type to which the present invention relates are illustrated and described in by United States Patent No. 2,919,817, issued 15 on January 5, 1960 and in my copending applications Serial No. 126,709, filed on January 25, 1961 and Serial No. 262,102, filed on March 1, 1963.

In general the present invention is directed to shelving units especially for industrial purposes which are sub- 20 stantially of similar construction and which can be joined by a non-skilled person to form a variety of shelving units and which as may be desired may be readily dismantled or modified. The means for coupling the shelving units are integrally incorporated in the frames and require but 25 a simple operation to effect an assembly or the dismantling of an existing assembly. In particular, the present invention is directed toward a highly novel arrangement which permits for the formation of corner units or corner shelving assemblies. ³θ

In prior art devices of the type to which the present invention relates, where it was desired to utilize a corner of a room or storage area in which to erect a shelving unit, it was necessary to install two separate and complete shelving units which were positioned at right angles to 35 each other. Since this required the utilization of two complete units, the net result was that at the angular intersection of the two units the vertical post of one of the units would interfere with access toward the horizontal shelving or framing areas of the other unit so ⁴⁰that areas of the latter were not readily accessible. In addition, there resulted a duplication of unnecessary parts with a consequence increase in the overall cost of providing a right angular or corner shelving assembly of the described type. ⁴¹’

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a shelving construction of the described type which is especially adapted to form a corner shelving assembly and wherein the disadvantages of the prior art shelving corner assemblies are obviated ^5Uand eliminated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a frame-type corner shelving assembly which can be readily assembled or dismantled as may be required and which can be manufactured and sold at a relatively low price and which, nevertheless, is highly efficient in operation and utilization.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a corner shelving assembly of the described type in which the duplication of the prior art arrangements for corner “θ shelving assemblies is eliminated with the result that there can be produced a highly economical arrangement.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a highly novel corner shelving assembly arrangement which utilizes frame units which can be readily ⁶⁵assembled in right angular relation through the utilization of highly novel clips or braces which can be readily disengaged from the assembled units when it is desired to disassemble or modify the shelving assembly.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present '° invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the appended drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of a knockdown corner shelving assembly pursuant to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale and illustrates portions of the corner shelving assembly secured together by means of a clip or brace pursuant to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3—3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of two horizontal shelving frames secured together in right angular or corner arrangement pursuant to the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a brace or clip assembly on an enlarged scale pursuant to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown a knockdown shelving unit 10 of the type illustrated and described in my previously identified patent and copending patent applications. As here shown, the shelving unit 10 is constituted by a pair of vertically spaced shelf or horizontal frame components 12 which are supported between a pair of spaced vertically extending supports or frame components 14. Each frame or shelf 12 comprises a plurality of laterally spaced ribs 36 which are secured to transversely extending rods 37. As best illustrated in FIGURE 1, the front and rear edges of each shelf frame comprises pairs of spaced ribs 38 and 39 which are closely spaced adjacent the ends of the frame and more widely spaced in parallel relation along the central portion thereof. The pairs of spaced ribs 38 and 39 are additionally provided with a truss-like reinforcement in the form of a sinuously bent wire 4® which is secured to the upper and lower members or ribs 38 and 39 at abutting points thereof preferably by welding. The longitudinal side edges of the shelf frame are thus substantially reinforced against bending stresses and a more rigid assembly is achieved wherein considerably greater weights may be supported over substantially increased stands. The rods 37 are welded to the upper surfaces of the transverse ribs 36. However, at each of the opposite ends of each shelf frame 12 provision is made for an additional transverse rod 41 which is welded to the lower surfaces of the ribs 36. The exterior edges of the ribs 38 and 39 are provided at their respective ends with curvate pairs of notches 26, 27, 28 and 29 which provide means for securing each shelf 12 to transverse supporting frames 14 as will be hereinafter disclosed. These notches are shown in detail in my prior patent and copending applications and are also illustrated in the additional horizontal frame component or shelf 12A which is similar in all respects to the previously described horizontal shelves or components 12, the function of which will hereinafter appear.

The vertical supporting frames 14 each comprise pairs of vertical supports 32 and 33 which are interconnected with a pair of spaced horizontal stiffeners 34 and with a third horizontal stiffener 74 having an upward bow 72, which form transverse supports for the shelves. The stiffeners are interconnected by a pair of vertical supporting struts 15 and by a diagonal strut 73. The space separating the pairs of supports 32 and 33 is smaller than the overall width of the horizontal shelf frames 12. That is, the out-to-out dimension from the ribs 38 to the ribs 39 is greater than the space separating the inner surfaces of the supports 32 and 33. Consequently, the notches 26, 27, 28 and 29 are made large enough to permit the insertion of the frame between the supports 32 and 33 of the supporting frame members 14.

Each of the horizontal stiffeners 34 of the support

3,225,720 ³ frames 14 is provided centrally thereof with an integral U-shaped portion 18. The U-shaped portions 18 form expansion elements or beams within the horizontal stiffeners 34 so that when the shelf elements 12 are associated or mounted by the end supports 14, as hereinafter described in detail, the expansion means 18 will expand slightly so as to increase the lateral distance between the horizontal supports 32 and 33 to facilitate the full movement of the shelf elements 12 to their normal horizontal positions. When each shelf element 12 reaches its normal horizontal position, the expansion means 18 will compress somewhat or reduce its horizontal dimension so as to provide the necessary compressive force to effect a secure coupling between the superposed shelf frames 12 and the support frames 14. When the horizontal shelf frames 12 are supported in the described manner by the vertical support frames 14, there is formed a shelving unit 10 as shown in FIGURE 1. Pursuant to the present invention, said shelving unit 10 may be readily formed into a right angular or corner shelving assembly 42 as best shown in FIGURE 4 which shows a shelving assembly 42 formed pursuant to the present invention. Basically, the corner shelving assembly 42 pursuant to the present invention comprises a shelving unit 10 to which there is added one or more horizontal frame components or shelves 12A, depending upon the number of horizontal shelves 12 utilized in the shelving unit 10. It will be understood that the shelving unit 10 may be provided with one or more superposed horizontal shelves 12 and it will be understood that there may be an equal number of horizontal additional shelves 12A equal in number to the horizontal shelves 12 of the shelving unit 10 or that there may be a lesser number of additional horizontal shelves 12A than there are horizontal shelves 12 depending upon the particular arrangement which it is desired to utilize. In any event, there must be at least one horizontal shelf 12 in the assembly unit or shelving unit 10 and at least one additional horizontal shelf 12A which is secured to the horizontal shelf 12 in order to produce a comer shelving assembly 42. This is due to the fact that each additional horizontal shelf 12A is secured to a companion horizontal shelf 12 of the shelving unit 10. At one end thereof, which is the end remote from the shelving unit 10, as best seen in FIGURE 4, the additional horizontal shelf 12A is provided with a vertical support or frame component 14 which is mounted thereon in the same manner as previously described in connection with the horizontal shelves 12. The end of the horizontal shelf 12A which is adjacent to the shelving unit 10 is not provided with a vertical frame support 14 so there is not any obstruction whatsoever between the shelving unit 10 and the adjacent end of the additional shelf 12A.

In order to secure or mount the adjacent end of the additional shelf 12A, which is free of a vertical support 14, to the shelving unit 10 and at the same level with a companion horizontal shelf 12, there is provided pursuant to the present invention the clip assemblies or brace assemblies 44. As best shown in FIGURE 5, each clip or brace assembly 44 comprises a clip or brace member 46 and an associated bolt 48. The bolt and the clip are each formed of a suitable metal, preferably steel.

As here shown, the clip 46 is a generally U-shaped member provided with a bight 50 from which there extends the opposing arms 52 and 54. The arm 52 terminates in an inwardly directed semi-circular or arcuate end 56. The arm 54 also terminates in an inwardly directed semi-circular or arcuate end 58 which is in confronting relation with the end 56. While the arm 52 extends in a substantially straight linear relationship from the bight 50 to its inwardly directed end 56, it will be noted that the arm 54 has a substantially straight linear portion 60 adjacent the bight 50 and has an outwardly or rearwardly directed portion 62 between the linear portion 60 and the inturned end 58 of the arm 54. The arm 52 is provided with an aperture 64 and the portion 62 of arm 54 has a threaded aperture 66. The bolt 48 when inserted through aperture 64 will threadedly engage in aperture 66 to move the arms together.

In order to form the corner shelving assembly 42, the shelving unit 10 is first assembled. This is accomplished, as described in my prior patent and applications by assembling one or more shelves 12 between a pair of vertical supports 14 to form a substantially rigid assembly. It will be noted that said assembly is provided with adjustable leg assemblies 68 having vertically adjustable legs so as to variably adjust the height of the assembly.

When the assembly unit 10 has been formed, an additional shelf 12A provided with a vertical support 14 is then assembled therewith. More specifically, as best seen in FIGURE 4, a vertical support 14 is provided at the end of shelf 12A which is remote from the unit 10. This leaves the transverse rib 41 at the free end of shelf 12A. A pair of clips 46 are then mounted on rib 41 in laterally spaced relation. With bolt 48 removed from the clip, each clip is mounted on rib 41, as shown in FIGURE 1, so that the bight 50 thereof engages the rib and the arms 52 and 54 project therefrom. The arms are engaged upon the adjacent parallel pair of side ribs 38 or 39, as the case may be, of the shelf 12. As here shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the free ends 56 and 58 are engaged on ribs 39 of shelf 12. The bolt 48 is then engaged in aperture 64 and threaded into aperture 66 to move arms 52 and 54 together so as to clamp the ribs 39 therebetween. This provides for a secure engagement of the additional shelf 12A with shelf 12 so as to prevent any relative movement therebetween. In essence, shelf 12A forms an angular continuation of shelf 12 with no obstruction therebetween since there is no vertical support 14 therebetween. It will be apparent that a plurality of additional shelves 12A may be utilized for securement to a plurality of shelves 12, as may be desired.

The corner assembly 42 may be placed as may be desired, in the corner or any other spot in a suitable storage area. It may be readily disassembled by removing the clip assemblies 44 and then disengaging the respective shelves from the respective supports.

While I have illustrated and described the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be readily apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein without however departing from the inventive concept thereof as set forth in the appended claims.