Abstract:
The lock for a shelving assembly secures the connector ends of the horizontal members to the uprights of the assembly, preventing the horizontal members from being lifted from their attachments to the uprights. The lock comprises a rigid, inflexible lock bar having a peripheral frame surrounding a central passage therethrough, and an opposite distal end with a lock tab extending therefrom. The attachment edge of the lock bar frame is hooked upon a protruding lance tab of the connector end, with the lance tab serving as a hinge or fulcrum for the lock bar. A spring is wedged between the attachment edge of the lock bar frame and the adjacent connector end, urging the distal end of the lock bar toward the connector to engage the lock tab within aligned holes of the connector and upright to which it is attached.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/929,013, filed Jun. 8, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to shelving assemblies. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lock for a shelving assembly that fastens shelf components to standards or uprights having shelf bracket engagement openings formed therein, usually at spaced intervals, to lock the shelves at adjustable heights. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Prefabricated shelving is in common use in many environments, e.g., warehouses and other storage facilities, so-called “big box” stores, etc. Such shelving generally have uprights and horizontal crossmembers, which have connector ends that attach removably to the uprights by pins fitting into cooperating slots in the uprights. The uprights generally include a large number of closely spaced slots, with the slots usually having a “teardrop” or “keyhole” shape, i.e., being wider at the upper portion thereof to allow the passage of the wider head of the attachment pin, and narrower at the lower portion in order for the narrower shank of the pin to rest therein and capture the wider head of the pin behind the upright. 
         [0006]    The above-described structure allows the components to be assembled quickly and easily, and provides for considerable adjustment in the height of the crossmembers and corresponding shelves. This configuration is commonly used for large and heavy-duty shelving assemblies in warehouses and the like for the storage of palletized goods, which are placed upon and retrieved from the shelving by fork lift equipment or the like. 
         [0007]    One problem that can occur in such an environment is that the tines of the forklift may be placed inadvertently beneath the crossmember of the shelving structure, or perhaps for the pallet or other article to become caught on the shelving crossmember. When this occurs, the crossmember becomes dislodged from its installation to the adjacent upright when the tines of the forklift are raised. The result is the dropping of at least one end of the crossmember and all of the goods resting upon that shelf level, unless the forklift operator recognizes the problem in time and is able to get some assistance in reinstalling the crossmember. Even so, the reinstallation of a shelving crossmember when the shelf is loaded is not a trivial task, and may prove to be impossible under the circumstances. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, a large number of fasteners of various types have been developed to lock the shelving crossmembers to their respective uprights in order to prevent such accidents. One exemplary device is described in Swiss Patent No. 602,438, published on Jul. 31, 1978. According to the drawings and English abstract, the device comprises an adjustable height shelving system for pallets, with the uprights having a plurality of keyhole slots therein for receiving pins extending from the connector ends of the horizontal members. 
         [0009]    Thus, a lock for a shelving assembly solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The lock for a shelving assembly provides for the locking together of the crossmembers and uprights of a prefabricated shelf system to prevent their inadvertent disassembly. The lock comprises a rigid, inflexible lock bar stamped or otherwise formed of a single, unitary metal plate. The lock includes a peripheral frame defining a central passage therethrough, with the attachment end of the lock bar frame being hooked upon a lance tab extending outwardly from the connector end of the crossmember. A spring is installed between the attachment end of the lock bar frame and the underlying structure of the connector end component, with the spring urging the attachment end of the lock bar outwardly, i.e., away from the connector end. The opposite distal end of the lock bar is thus urged toward the connector end as the lock bar pivots about the fulcrum defined by the lance tab. 
         [0011]    The distal end of the lock bar includes a lock tab extending normal thereto, i.e., toward the connector end component and underlying upright. The lock tab is preferably stamped and formed as an integral unit from the lock bar plate, and engages aligned holes through the connector end component and underlying upright. When the lock bar tab is so engaged, the tab prevents the connector end component from moving parallel to the underlying upright, thereby preventing the attachment pins of the connector end from disengaging from their seats within the upright passages and assuring that the shelving assembly remains assembled. 
         [0012]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of a shelving assembly including a series of locks for shelving assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a detailed environmental perspective view of a portion of the shelving assembly of  FIG. 1 , showing further details of the lock for the shelving assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a detailed environmental front elevation view of the installed lock for a shelving assembly according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a detailed exploded perspective view of a lock bar and a spring of a lock for a shelving assembly according to the present invention, showing further details thereof. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a detailed environmental side elevation view in section of the lock for a shelving assembly according to the present invention in its installed and locked state on a shelving assembly, showing various details thereof. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a detailed side elevation view in section of the lock installation of  FIG. 5 , showing the lock bar pivoted to its unlocked state. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The present invention relates to various embodiments of a lock for a shelving assembly, assuring that the horizontal crossmembers or shelf support members cannot be lifted from their attachment to the standards or uprights of the assembly.  FIG. 1  of the drawings provides an illustration of an exemplary shelving assembly  10 , including a plurality of uprights  12  with horizontal crossmembers  20  secured between the uprights  12  and supporting one or more shelves thereon. The detail perspective view of  FIG. 2  illustrates further details of this structure, showing the elongated connector pin passages  14  formed through each of the uprights  12 . 
         [0021]    Each of the connector pin passages  14  includes a relatively wider upper portion  16  dimensioned to allow the passage therethrough of the relatively wider head of the connector pin, and a relatively narrower lower portion  18  supporting the narrower shank of the pin therein and capturing the wider head of the pin therebehind. Each of the connector pin passages  14  illustrated in the drawings comprises a “teardrop” shape, i.e., having a smoothly tapering side extending between the wider upper portion  16  and narrower lower portion  18  thereof. However, other passage shapes having relatively wider upper portions and narrower lower portions, e.g., “keyhole” configuration, etc., may be used. 
         [0022]    Each of the horizontal shelf support crossmembers  20  includes opposite distal ends  22 , with each of the ends  22  having a connector  24  extending therefrom. Each of the connectors  24  has an outwardly facing lock bar contact face  26  and an opposite, inwardly facing upright contact face  28 , with the upright contact face  28  being shown most clearly in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The connectors  24  are preferably formed as stamped angles and welded or otherwise permanently and immovably attached to the ends  22  of the crossmembers  20 , but other configurations may be used. Each of the connectors  24  has at least one, and preferably a plurality of, connector pin(s)  30  extending inwardly from the upright contact face  28  thereof, with such pins  30  best being shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Each of the pins  30  has a relatively wide head, which is captured behind the corresponding upright  12  by the narrower portion  18  of the connector pin passage  14  through which it was installed, and a narrow shank resting in the narrower lower portion of the passage  14 , as described further above. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each of the connectors  24  has a lock tab passage  32  formed therethrough for accepting the lock tab of a lock bar, described in detail further below. The lock tab passage  32  of the connector  24  is aligned with the upper portion  16  of a corresponding connector pin passage  14  when the connector  24  is installed upon the upright  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6  of the drawings. Each of the connectors  24  also has a lance tab  34  extending outwardly from its lock bar contact face  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 , and  6 . Each of the lance tabs  34  has an outwardly extending leg  36  and a leg  38  generally parallel to the plane of the connector  24 . The lance tab  34  serves as a pivot or hinge attachment point for a lock bar  40 , as described further below. 
         [0024]    The lock bar  40  comprises a rigid, inflexible bar stamped or otherwise formed of a relatively heavy sheet of durable metal, e.g., steel. The bar  40  is preferably treated after forming to increase its strength and durability further, e.g., case hardening, etc. Each lock bar  40  includes an attachment end  42  and an opposite distal lock tab end  44 , mutually opposed first and second lateral edges  46  and  48 , a front face  50 , and an opposite connector contact face  52 . The two ends  42 ,  44  and edges  46 ,  48  define a passage  54  formed through the bar, with the passage permitting removable attachment of the bar  40  to the lance tab  34  of the corresponding connector  24 . Specifically, the lance tab attachment end  42  of the bar  40  extends across the outwardly extending leg  36  of the lance tab  34 , with the leg  36  passing through the lock bar passage  54 . The attachment end portion  42  of the bar is captured between the parallel leg  38  of the lance tab  34  and the underlying lock bar contact surface  26  of the connector  24  to pivotally secure the lock bar  40  to the connector  24 . The passage  54  through the lock bar  40  may be enlarged to serve as a connector pin clearance opening, allowing the lock bar  40  to seat directly upon the lock bar contact surface  26  of the connector  24  around the protruding attachment end of the adjacent connector pin  30 . 
         [0025]    A lock tab  56  protrudes from the connector contact face  52  of the lock tab end  44  of the lock bar  40 , generally normal to the plane of the bar  40 . The lock tab  56  is preferably formed integrally with the remainder of the bar  40  of the same metal as the plate or sheet used to form the bar  40 . The flat stock used to form the lock bar  40  before bending includes first and second end distal extensions  58  that are bent to form the protruding portion of the lock tab  56 , and laterally opposed first and second intermediate extensions  60  that are mutually folded back against the connector contact face  52  of the bar  40 . Alternatively, the tab  56  could be formed as a separate component (bolt, rivet, pin, etc.) mechanically secured through or welded to the lock tab end  44  of the bar  40  to extend from the connector contact face  52  of the bar. 
         [0026]    The lock bar  40  has a finger lift tab  62  extending from the lock tab end  44  of the bar. This finger lift tab  62  is preferably formed in the same manner as the lock tab  56  described above, i.e., formed integrally with the remainder of the bar  40  of the same metal as the plate or sheet used to form the bar  40 . The finger lift tab  62  is bent to protrude outwardly from the front face  50  of the bar  40  in order to facilitate manipulation of the lift tab  62 . It is preferred to incorporate the finger lift tab  62  when forming the lock bar  40 , as the protruding finger lift tab  62  extends outwardly, i.e., spaced away from the outer face  26  of the connector  24 , at least even with the outwardly protruding lance tab  34 . Thus, in the event of contact with the shelving assembly  10  by a massive object, e.g., by a fork lift or the like during maneuvering, the outwardly protruding finger lift tab  62  serves to protect the remaining structure of the lock bar  40  and associated lance tab  34  from damage or deformation. 
         [0027]    The lock bar  40  is held in place upon the lance tab  34  of the respective connector  24  by a spring  64 . The spring  64  is formed of a relatively thin and resilient metal leaf having a narrow, generally U-shaped cross section, as shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 . The spring  64  includes opposite connector and lock bar engagement tabs, respectively  66  and  68 , which secure the spring  64  in place when the spring  64  and lock bar  40  are installed. The connector engagement tab  66  seats against the edge of the hole or passage  70  formed when the lance tab  34  is stamped or punched away from the connector  24 , with the opposite lock bar engagement tab  68  bearing against the lower edge of the attachment end  42  of the lock bar  40 . 
         [0028]    The spring  64  exerts a torque that urges the lock bar attachment end  42  of the bar  40  upwardly against the junction of the outward extending leg  36  and parallel leg  38  of the lance tab  34 , and further urges the lock bar attachment end  42  outwardly away from the front face  50  of the connector  24 . The upper edge of the lock bar attachment end  42 , i.e., the edge defining the lower edge of the connector pin clearance opening  54  in the center of the lock bar  40 , may have a bevel or chamfer  72  to fit more closely with the inner radius of the bend or junction between the two legs  36  and  38  of the lance tab  34 . 
         [0029]    As the junction of the outward extending leg  36  and parallel leg  38  of the lance tab  34  acts as a fulcrum or pivot point for the lock bar  40 , it will be seen that the distal lock tab end portion  44  of the lock bar  40  is urged toward the front face  50  of the connector  24 , thereby also urging the lock tab  56  into the aligned lock tab passage  32  and upper portion  16  of a connector pin passage  14 . Thus, once the lock bar  40  is installed with its spring  64 , the lock tab  56  automatically engages the connector  24  and underlying upright  12  to prevent the connector  24  from lifting relative to the upright  12 , thereby assuring that the shelving assembly  10  cannot be disassembled either intentionally or inadvertently without positively and intentionally pivoting the lock bar  40  outwardly away from the front face  50  of the connector  24  against the pressure of the spring  64 . Yet, the lock bar  40  is easily released by intentionally pulling or prying outwardly upon the upwardly disposed finger lift tab  62 , thereby pulling the lock tab from the upper portion  16  of the connector pin passage  14  with which it was engaged, thus allowing the connector bracket  24  (and any attached crossmember  22 ) to be lifted for removal or relocation along the corresponding upright  12 . 
         [0030]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.