초록 ▼

A corner structure, specifically for a shelving unit, which is formed by three one-piece members. The first member comprises a plastic sleeve having an external conical configuration, the sleeve being axially split throughout its length to facilitate elastic spreading so that it can be moved transve

A corner structure, specifically for a shelving unit, which is formed by three one-piece members. The first member comprises a plastic sleeve having an external conical configuration, the sleeve being axially split throughout its length to facilitate elastic spreading so that it can be moved transversely into surrounding gripping engagement with a post. The second member involves a channel-like corner piece which is preferably welded directly to a shelf adjacent a corner thereof, this corner piece defining an arcuate channel which permits it to snugly embrace one side of the plastic sleeve. The third member comprises a strap which also has a channel adapted to embrace an opposite side of the plastic sleeve. The strap and corner piece having cooperating wedge structures which lockingly join the strap and corner piece together to effectively define a closed collar having an internal conical bore which is maintained in snug clamping engagement with the exterior conical surface of the plastic sleeve. The second and third members are held together solely by the wedged relationship created therebetween.

대표청구항 ▼

In a shelving unit having at least one upright post, at least one shelf, and a corner structure coacting between said post and said shelf for stationarily but releasably securing said shelf to said post at a selected location therealong, comprising the improvement wherein: said corner structure incl

In a shelving unit having at least one upright post, at least one shelf, and a corner structure coacting between said post and said shelf for stationarily but releasably securing said shelf to said post at a selected location therealong, comprising the improvement wherein: said corner structure includes an axially-elongated sleevelike collar stationarily secured to one corner of said shelf and adapted to be disposed in surrounding relationship to the post, and an intermediate clamping sleeve concentrically interposed between said collar and said post for stationarily holding the shelf relative to the post; said clamping sleeve being axially elongated and of an axial length similar in magnitude to that of said collar, said clamping sleeve having slit means extending axially thereof for enabling the sleeve to be radially compressed into snug clamping and surrounding engagement with the exterior wall of the post, said clamping sleeve having an axially elongated central bore projecting coaxially therethrough of a diameter similar to the exterior diameter of said post, said clamping sleeve having a substantially annular and axially elongated exterior wall which is of a substantially truncated conical configuration, said exterior wall as it projects downwardly being sloped outwardly at a small angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the post; said clamping sleeve and said post having gripping means coacting therebetween for restricting axial movement of the clamping sleeve relative to the post; and said collar having an axially elongated opening extending therethrough and being defined by a substantially inner annular wall having a truncated conical configuration corresponding substantially to the conical configuration defined by the exterior wall of said clamping sleeve, said collar being disposed on and in surrounding relationship to the clamping sleeve so that the inner wall of the collar surrounds and clampingly engages the exterior wall on the clamping sleeve for clampingly compressing the clamping sleeve into snug gripping engagement with the post; said collar being formed by first and second separable corner members which cooperate to define said collar, each of said corner members defining thereon an inner surface which extends through an arcuate extent substantially less than 360°and which forms a part of said inner wall, one of said corner members being stationarily attached to the corner of said shelf, the other corner member being totally detachable and removable from said one corner member, each of said corner members being of an open channel-like configuration so that each said corner member can be transversely moved toward and away from the post for engagement of disengagement relative to the post; said collar including wedge means coacting between said first and second corner members for permitting the corner members to be locked together in surrounding relationship to the post and for permitting the corner members to be wholly separated from one another, said wedge means including a first pair of wedge parts fixedly associated with said first corner member adjacent opposite peripheral edges thereof and a second pair of wedge parts fixedly associated with the second corner member adjacent opposite peripheral edges thereof, said first and second wedge parts being axially slidably connectable for causing the first and second corner members to be joined together to define said collar; said first corner member including an arcuate concave central part extending through an angle of at least 180°and terminating in a pair of platelike flanges which project generally radially outwardly from the opposite circumferentially-spaced edges of the arcuate central part, said flanges defining said first wedge parts; said second corner member including an arcuate concave central part which extends through an angle significantly less than 180°and which terminates in a pair of channel-like flanges which project radially outwardly from said central part adjacent the opposite circumferentially spaced edges thereof, said channel-like flanges defining said second wedge parts and defining radially-inwardly opening slots for accommodating therein the platelike flanges of said first corner member; and said platelike flanges and said slots being axially elongated over a majority of the axial extent of said collar, said platelike and channel-like flanges having opposed wedge surfaces which extend at a small angle relative to said longitudinal axis so that the wedge surfaces are wedgingly engaged as the platelike and channel-like flanges are axially slidably moved one within the other to effect an axial and circumferential locking engagement between the first and second corner members, said channel-like flanges circumferentially restraining and confining the platelike flanges for preventing radial separation of the first and second corner members.