Abstract:
A connector is provided for coupling a member or a shelf to a support oriented in a substantially vertical direction. The connector can have a first receiving space for receiving the support, and a second receiving space for receiving the cross brace or the shelf, and can have one or more projections extending into the first receiving space and into corresponding apertures in the support. The connector may have opposing lateral walls on opposite sides of the first and second receiving spaces. The first and second receiving spaces can be separated by another wall extending between and coupling the lateral walls.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Priority is hereby claimed to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/494,609 filed on Aug. 12, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to shelving and particularly to a method and structure for holding parts of a shelving system together. More particularly, the present invention relates to the connection between a cross brace or shelf and a vertical support column of a shelving frame. 
   Conventional shelving systems include frame systems that support a plurality of horizontally spaced shelves. Typically, the frames of the shelving systems include vertical support members or columns connected by horizontal cross braces. In conventional systems, a plurality of horizontal cross braces are permanently coupled between two vertical support columns at various heights along the columns. In a typical system, shelves are often secured to some of the permanently affixed cross braces. The cross braces provide front-to-back rigidity to the system and the shelves secured to the cross braces provide side-to-side, or lateral, rigidity. Additionally, a plurality of adjustable clips can be moveably positioned at various heights along the vertical support columns to support shelves at any desired location within the frame. However, shelves supported by conventional adjustable clips add little, if any, rigidity to the system. 
   In a conventional shelving system, the permanently-affixed cross braces are necessary to give the shelving system sufficient rigidity. In particular, some states require certain rigidity levels to meet seismic requirements. However, horizontal cross braces may be positioned at inconvenient locations along the height of the vertical support members for some end users. A cross brace&#39;s location may not precisely correspond to a location at which an end user desires to position a shelf. As a result, an end user may want to remove a shelf from a permanently affixed cross brace if a shelf at that location is not desired. This may compromise the structural integrity of the shelving system. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A cross brace and connector that is adjustable to meet the shelving requirements of an end user, but that also supplies the necessary rigidity to meet certain seismic requirements, would be welcomed by users of such shelving systems. 
   According to some embodiments of the present invention, a connector for coupling a cross brace to a vertical shelving column is provided, wherein the vertical shelving column has a surface including a plurality of indexing holes. The connector can include a central wall oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the vertical shelving column, and two lateral walls that are substantially perpendicular to the central wall and extend from opposite edges of the central wall to form first and second connector portions. A projection can extend from the central wall in the first portion of the connector. In some embodiments, at least one bolt hole, one each in each of the second portions of the lateral walls, are substantially aligned along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the lateral walls. 
   Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a shelving system according to the present invention, showing a bottom shelf supported on each end by a cross brace connecting vertical support columns of the shelving system; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cross brace coupled to one of the vertical support columns using a connector; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view, similar to  FIG. 2 , showing the cross brace, connector, and vertical support column; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the connector, similar to  FIG. 4 , but taken from an opposite direction; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the connector of  FIG. 2  showing two projections projecting from a central wall of the connector; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the connector of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an end view of the connector of  FIG. 2 , looking at the projections; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a shelf coupled to one of the vertical support columns using a connector; and 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view, similar to  FIG. 9 , showing the shelf, connector, and vertical support column. 
     The present invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a shelving system  10  according to the present invention can include a plurality of vertical support columns or members  12  coupled to each other by a plurality of permanently affixed horizontal cross braces  13  and/or a plurality of adjustable horizontal cross braces  14 . In this way, a series of “ladders” are created to support a plurality of shelves  16 . The shelves  16  may be screwed, bolted or otherwise attached to any of the permanent or adjustable cross braces  13 ,  14 , as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The permanent cross braces  13  can provide front-to-back rigidity to the shelving system  10 . A shelf screwed or otherwise attached to either a permanent or adjustable cross brace  13 ,  14  can also provide side-to-side, or lateral, rigidity to the shelving system  10 . Therefore, if a user does not desire a shelf to be located at the precise height of a permanent cross brace  13 , an adjustable cross brace  14  can be attached to vertical support columns  12  at a desired height, as will be described in further detail below. Shelves may also be supported within the shelving system  10  by adjustable clips (not shown) attached to the vertical support columns  12 . In some embodiments, a back panel  18  is secured to the support columns  12  using suitable fasteners (e.g., staples, nails, etc.), as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the vertical support columns  12  can include a plurality of conventional indexing holes  20 . The indexing holes  20  can be used to connect a plurality of shelf clips (not shown) at various locations along the vertical support column  12  to support shelves  16  at selected heights along the vertical support columns  12 , as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
   According to the present invention, a connector  22  can be used to couple the adjustable cross brace  14  to the vertical support column  12 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the connector  22  can include a central wall  24  that extends between two lateral walls  26 , dividing each lateral wall into a first portion  28  and a second portion  30 . In some embodiments, the lateral walls are parallel or substantially parallel to one another, although other relative orientations of the lateral walls  26  are possible, and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. A floor  32  extends between the second portions  30  of the lateral walls  26  to form with the second portions  30  of the lateral walls  26  a second receiving space  34  in which the cross brace  14  can sit. The floor  32  and second portions  30  of the lateral walls  26  can define any shape capable of receiving the cross brace  14 , such as a pocket as illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-8 . Opposite the second receiving space  34 , the first portions  28  of the lateral walls  26  can extend to create a first receiving space  33  that engages the vertical support column  12 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 2 , with the cross brace  14  positioned in the second receiving space  34  of the connector  22 , bolts (not shown) can be inserted through two bolt holes  36  in the second portions  30  of the lateral walls  26  of the connector  22 . The bolts can extend through the two bolt holes  36  in the connector  22  and through cooperating bolt holes  38  (see  FIG. 3 ) in the end of the cross brace  14 . Either or both portions  30  of the lateral walls  26  can have any number of holes  36  having any size and shape suitable for receiving bolts, screws, pins, or other fasteners in order to couple the connector  22  to the cross brace  14 . 
   With reference now to  FIG. 5 , the connector  22  can includes a pair of projections  40  that extend from the central wall  24  into the first receiving space  33  formed between the first portions  28  of the lateral walls  26 . Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the vertical support column  12  can be positioned in the first receiving space  33  of the connector  22  with the projections  40  inserted into any pair of the indexing holes  20  selected along the height of the vertical support column  12 . In this way, the connector  22  can be positioned in multiple locations along the height of the vertical support column  12  as desired and, thus, provides an adjustable location in which the cross brace  14  can be supported. With the projections  40  of the connector  22  plugged into indexing holes  20  of the vertical support column  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and the end of the cross brace  14  positioned in the second receiving space  34  of the connector  22 , the projections  40  of the connector  22  are prevented from backing out of, or otherwise dislodging from, the indexing holes  20 . The projections  40  cannot be dislodged from the indexing holes  20  until the cross brace  14  is first removed from the connector  22  (e.g., unbolted from the connector  22  and lifted up and out of the second receiving space  34 , in some embodiments). With the cross brace  14  bolted to the connector  22 , a semi-permanent connection between the cross brace  14  and the vertical support column  12  is created, allowing for adjustability, but providing desired rigidity. 
   Although the connector  22  illustrated in  FIGS. 2-8  has two projections  40  adapted to extend into indexing holes  20  in a vertical support column  12 , any other number of projections  40  can instead be employed for this purpose. For example, a single projection  40  can extend from the central wall  24  for insertion into an indexing hole  20  in a vertical support column. Connectors  22  having such a configuration can be useful for connection to vertical support columns  12  each having only a single indexing hole  20  into which a projection  40  can extend at any given height along the vertical support column  12 . Alternatively, such connectors  22  can be coupled to other vertical support columns  12  each having two or more indexing holes  20  at a given height along the vertical support column  12 . As another example, the connectors  22  in some embodiments have three or more projections  40  extending from the central wall  24 . 
   The projections  40  extending from the central wall  24  in the illustrated embodiment are located at substantially the same elevation when the connector  22  is coupled to a vertical support column  12  as described above. However, projections  40  can extend from different vertical positions when the connector  22  is coupled to a vertical support column  12 . The projections  40  of such connectors  22  can be received within two or more indexing holes  20  located at different vertical positions on the vertical support column  12 . 
   In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , a cross brace  14  is received within and is supported by the connector  22 . However, in other embodiments, the connector  22  can be used to support and connect a shelf  16  directly to the vertical support columns  12  without the need for a cross brace  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , for example, the shelf  106  has one or more portions (only one of which is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ), each of which is shaped to be received within a second receiving space  134  of the connector  122 . The connector  122  can have any of the same features and elements (and alternatives thereto) described above with reference to the connector  22  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 . For example, the connector  122  illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10  includes a receiving space for the vertical support column  112 , lateral walls  126 , and a central wall  124  dividing each lateral wall  126  into a first portion  128  and a second portion  130 . Like the cross brace  14  described above, the shelf  106  can have one or more fastener holes  138  for receiving fasteners (not shown) passed through fastener holes  136  in the second portions  130  of the lateral walls  126 , and can have projections  140  (not visible in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ) for coupling the connector  122  to a vertical support column  112 . Accordingly, in those embodiments of the present invention in which the shelf  106  is connected to a support column  112  without the use of a cross brace, the shelf  116  can be configured to fit in portion  132  of the connector  122  in a manner similar to that described above for the cross brace  114 , and can be bolted to the connector  122  in some embodiments. 
   The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and example. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the forms disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain best modes known for practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other, embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.