OUTSIDE WRAP POST COUPLER ACCOMMODATING BEAM RIVET

• US 20110272541A1
• Filed: 07/16/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edsal Manufacturing Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Edsal Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: WOJTOWICZ, DAVID J., St. Germain, Thomas, Liss, Mitchell, Dunaj, Al
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/218.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0215 Stackable frames, or frame elements, with upright parts connected by inserting the ends or tips of the uprights, e.g. at the corners, into the uprights of the next frame or frame element, e.g. coaxial tubular ends
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/145 Composite members, i.e. made up of several elements joined together
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/14 Tubular connecting elements for wire stands connections for rods or tubes in general F16B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/347 Polyhedral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/57 Distinct end coupler

Abstract

A post coupler is provided with a pair of coupler flanges having rivet receiving apertures for receiving rivets extending from horizontal shelf-supporting beams to facilitate vertical shelf placement in a shelving unit unfettered by the vertical disposition of the post couplers. Apertures in the coupler index with apertures in abutting corner post sections to permit rivet extension therethrough. The reverse bend flanges of the coupler have a length shorter than the overall length of the coupler.

Claims

1. A post coupler for use in a shelving unit having composite corner posts of two angular post sections comprising post flanges of predetermined thickness and having lateral edges, one post section atop another, each section at a respecting abutting end with another section having rivet receiving apertures therein, spaced from said lateral edges a first distance, for receiving rivets extending from end potions of horizontal, shelf-supporting beams, said post coupler comprising:

a pair of integral post coupler flanges with interior surfaces disposed at an included angle respecting each other;

a reverse bend flange extending inwardly in a direction toward said included angle from each post coupler flange, each reverse bend flange having a width less than said first distance,

each reverse bend flange and each respective post coupler flange forming a gap therebetween as wide as said predetermined thickness for receiving a post flange therein; and

a plurality of apertures in said post coupler flanges oriented to and for indexing with apertures in said post sections when said coupler couples said post sections together.

2. A coupler as in claim 1 wherein said reverse bend flanges of said couplers are laterally spaced from said apertures in said post coupler flanges.

3. A coupler as in claim 1 wherein said coupler includes an upper edge and a lower edge, both said edges comprising a completely rounded projection facilitating assembly of said coupler and said post sections.

4. A coupler as in claim 3 wherein each projection extends longitudinally from said post coupler flanges, ends of said projections defining the overall length of the coupler.

5. A coupler as in claim 3 wherein said reverse bend flanges have a length less than said overall length.

6. A shelving unit comprising composite corner posts of two angular post sections comprising post flanges of predetermined thickness and having lateral edges, one post section atop another, each section at a respecting abutting end with another post section having rivet received apertures therein, spaced from said lateral edges a first distance, for receiving rivets extending from end potions of horizontal, shelf-supporting beams, said post coupler comprising:

a pair of integral post coupler flanges having interior surfaces disposed at an included angle respecting each other;

a reverse bend flange extending inwardly in a direction toward said included angle from each post coupler flange, each reverse bend flange having a width less than said first distance,

each reverse bend flange and each respective post coupler flange forming a gap therebetween as wide as said predetermined thickness for receiving a post flange therein; and

a plurality of apertures in said post coupler flanges for indexing with apertures in said post sections.

7. A shelving unit as in claim 6 wherein said reverse bend flanges of said couplers are laterally spaced from said apertures in said post coupler flanges.

8. A shelving unit as in claim 6 wherein said coupler includes an upper edge and a lower edge, both said edges comprising a rounded projection facilitating assembly of said coupler and said post sections.

9. A shelving unit as in claim 6 wherein said coupler has a predetermined length and wherein said reverse bend flanges have a length less than said predetermined length.

10. A shelving unit as in claim 6 further comprising:

at least one shelf-supporting beam mounted on said corner posts and onto reverse bend flanges of said post coupler.

11. A shelving unit as in claim 10 further including an elongated member extending from said beam through said corner post through said post coupler.

12. A shelving unit as in claim 10 wherein said beam is mounted on a post coupler flange.

13. A shelving unit as in claim 12 including an elongated member extending froms aid beam thrus aid post coupler flange and said corner post.

14. A shelving unit as in claim 6 further comprising:

a plurality of horizontally-oriented shelf-support beams having respective ends mounted on respective corner posts,

said ends mounted against respective bend flanges of a respective post coupler in each corner post; and

an elongated member extending from an end of each beam through an aperture in a corner post and through a post coupler flange.