Wide span shelving

A shelved storage rack has end frames including end posts and cross-beams therebetween. The beams each comprise a vertical panel having a reverse bend therefrom which results in an outwardly extending horizontal flange adapted to support a deckplate; the vertical panel being longitudinally extended at each end with regard to the flange; and a removable planar connector plate fastened along the longitudinal face of each panel extension. First and second tab means extending from the plate in the beam in a longitudinal direction and overlying, in operative association with, a face of the post. The first tab means terminating in inwardly directed hook means which secure on aperture defining structure in said post face.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Industrial steel storage shelving is normally produced in two basic types. 
One, a flat panel shelf that is usually hand loaded and another type being 
a heavy duty rack that is machine loaded by fork trucks or the like. 
Recently, a different type shelving has appeared and is presently in use 
and known as a wide span shelving which is used primarily to support 
thereon articles of relatively light weight. 
With the above in mind, it is one object of the invention to provide a wide 
span shelving which can be mass produced by use of conventional equipment 
with a minimum of labor costs. 
Another object of the invention is to construct a wide span type shelving 
which may be either factory assembled and shipped to the user thereof in 
erected condition or the same may be shipped in knockdown condition for 
assembly at site of use of the shelving. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a wide span type shelving 
with a minimum of cross bracing so as to economize on the material 
employed in the construction of the wide span type shelving. 
Another object of the invention is to employ a beam section for the 
shelving which is provided at the opposite ends thereof with a clip 
formation which will engage with upright members which will retain the 
shelving in proper upright position and which will eliminate the 
employment of some of the cross bracing usually found in shelving to 
thereby stabilize the shelving arrangement. 
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become 
apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are employed 
to designate like parts throughout the several views, 10 designates in 
general, the shelving arrangement of the present invention. The shelving 
comprises a plurality of end frames 11 in the nature of T-shaped vertical 
posts and horizontally extending cross-beams 12. The end frames 11 
comprise a generally rectangular framework with the end frame members 11 
secured to one another as by means of diagonal braces 13 which are secured 
as by rivets 14 or otherwise to the generally T-shaped upright members 
which form the end frames for the shelving arrangement. As best seen in 
FIG. 3 of the drawings, the T-shaped upright members receive therein the 
diagonal brace bar 13 which is secured thereto as aforesaid by the rivets 
or bolts 14. 
Shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, is an installation whereby a 
vertically extending T-shaped end frame member may be employed for 
mounting a plurality of side-by-side shelving units. However, since the 
components of the invention are alike, the description will describe with 
particularity only one shelf component and the manner of securing the same 
to the vertical support. 
Mounted on the said T-shaped upright member 11 are a plurality of beams 12 
and the same are mounted on said T-shaped end frames 11 in a manner to be 
described more fully hereinafter. Beams 12 are made from sheet metal or if 
desired, the same may be made from plastic material. The beams can be 
constructed by a suitable roll forming machine of known construction or by 
any other known forming machine. However, prior to the roll forming 
operation, cut-outs 15, 16 are formed in the blank 17 which is to form the 
beams and openings 18 are also formed in the blank as more clearly shown 
in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings. It will be appreciated that like 
cut-outs and openings will be provided at the opposite end of the blank 17 
so that when the blank is severed on the line 19, there will be presented 
a pair of blanks from which a beam 12 is to be constructed and which will 
be provided with identical end sections. In the formation of the beam 
whether by roll forming or by other suitable means, both the upper and 
lower portions of the blank are reversely bent such as shown at 20, 21 of 
FIG. 7 of the drawings. However, in order to form a lip 22 at the upper 
portion of the beam, a further bend is imparted to the blank material to 
form the lip 22 shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings which is adapted to 
support a deck 23 constructed of plywood, plastic or any other suitable 
material on which is placed the article 24 to be supported on the shelving 
arrangement. 
Mounted on each end of the support beams 12 is a connector clip 25 formed 
of any suitable material and the clip, which is in the nature of a 
platelike element, is secured to the beam 12 by means of rivets or bolts 
26 which extend through the openings 18 formed in the ends of the support 
beam 12. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the clip 25 is 
provided with a plurality of wedge-shaped hooks 27 and a plurality of 
projections 28 and as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The projection 28 
is bent approximately 5.degree. away from the plane of the clip and the 
wedge-shaped hooks 27 are bent approximately 100.degree. away from the 
plane of the clip but in the opposite direction for a purpose to be 
described more fully hereinafter. 
The T-shaped end frame members 11 are provided with a plurality of slots 
therein designated at 29. Thus, when the support beams 12 with the clips 
25 secured thereto as aforesaid, are mounted on the standards, the 
wedge-shaped hooks 27 enter into the opening 29 and upon exerting a 
downward force on the beam, the wedge-shaped hooks will effect a pulling 
force on the beam to firmly secure the same to the T-shaped frames 11. 
When the wedge-shaped hooks have been firmly seated in the openings 29 the 
projections 28 will be caused to press firmly against the T-shaped frames. 
The combined action of the wedge-shaped hooks in the openings 29 and the 
firm engagement of the projections against the wall of the T-shaped frames 
will produce a tight connection between these parts which will resist any 
side-to-side movement of the assembled shelving unit. This is more clearly 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. To assist in supporting the deck 
23 which, as seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings, lies flush with the top of 
the support beams 12, transversely extending cross beams 30 constructed of 
metal, plastic or the like are provided with hooks 31 at both ends thereof 
which are adapted to enter into slots 32 formed in the side wall of the 
support beams 12 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 of the drawings. 
Cross beams 30 are of generally L-shaped cross-section with one portion 
thereof, 33, adapted to engage with the undersurface of the deck 23 to 
assist in supporting the deck on the shelving arrangement. 
From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will be seen 
that the invention provides a novel shelving arrangement for use primarily 
adapted for wide span shelving where the articles to be supported on the 
shelving are relatively light. It will also be seen that the connection 
between the support beams and the end frames provides for a tight 
connection between these parts of the shelving arrangement thereby 
increasing the rigidity of the structure and obviating the need for cross 
bracing in order to provide a staple structure. 
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.