Abstract:
A container shelving system comprising two shelf support members and a plurality of shelves, the shelf support members comprising a chain, a turnbuckle, an adjustable upper bracket and an adjustable lower bracket, each bracket comprising a first box beam, a second box beam, and a box beam adjustment fastener, the box beams including recesses at each end, the recesses configured to receive the chain; the upper bracket further comprising a stabilizer perpendicularly connected to an end of the upper bracket; the plurality of shelves each comprising a plurality of lumber whereby the lumber is configured to sit upon a bracket; whereby the chain is threaded through the first and second cargo rings and the upper and lower brackets and connected and tightened using the turnbuckle such that the shelves may be supported upon the brackets within the shipping container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED INVENTIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/410,842, filed Nov. 5, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates generally to brackets for shelving systems and containers and more particularly, to brackets applicable for use in connection with a variety of systems including chain and cable shelving systems and stationary and shipping container systems. 
         [0004]    Existing brackets for shelving systems and containers are typically comprised of a variety of components including assemblies utilizing straps, cables, rod, couplers, suspended shelves, uprights, hooks and webbing. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0006]    Adding shelving support to shipping containers is not new. U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,065 to Sloan discloses a storage system for sea-land shipping containers. The system disclosed therein includes an elongated hanging beam which is hooked onto a shipping container. 
         [0007]    The aforementioned shelving systems are often unreliable for their intended field of use. The weight of the systems in conjunction with the items shelved thereon affects the performance and reliability of the systems. Additionally, the weight and size of the systems hinders the transportation of the systems to installers. 
         [0008]    In spite of the advancements in the use of modern, more lightweight materials for industrial applications, there has been little improvement in the overall technology and implementation in the shelving system field. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, there exists a need in the industry to overcome these problems and provide a shelving system which is sturdy enough to support sufficient load, while still being portable and easy to package and deliver to locations. 
         [0010]    The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A preferred embodiment of the present disclosure provides for utilization of brackets for shelving systems and containers of various designs for a variety of applications. This disclosure will include embodiments which can benefit from the invention. 
         [0012]    In one aspect of the present disclosure, shelves are supported within a container by way of two support members where each support member comprises two or more brackets, a connector and a turnbuckle. In one aspect, the connector is a chain. In another aspect, the connector is a cable. 
         [0013]    An advantage of the present disclosure is the ability to install shelving in a shipping container, or any other wall surface with a hooking mechanism at the top and bottom using a portable system. 
         [0014]    Another advantage of the present disclosure is the ease with which shelving can be installed in a container in accordance with the present teachings. 
         [0015]    Various embodiments of the disclosure may have none, some, or all of these advantages. Other technical advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. 
         [0016]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. 
         [0017]    Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a system in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a bracket for use in a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a top bracket for use in a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5   a  is a front view of a bracket for use in a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a bracket for use in a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a top bracket for use in a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7   a  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a bracket for use in a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a side view of an extension bracket for use in a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a bracket for use in a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a top bracket for use in a supporting member in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a supporting member in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0032]    Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0033]    The present disclosure relates to a wall shelving system. In a preferred embodiment, the wall shelving system is utilized in a container, such as a shipping container. Alternatively, the shelving system may also be applied against any other wall with appropriate connecting mechanisms. Additionally, the shelving system may also be used against a post or other support mechanism that has the ability to interconnect with the system discussed below. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wall shelving system  10  is comprised of two shelf support members  12  and one or more shelves  14  supported by the shelf support members  12 . In a preferred embodiment, the shelves  14  may be standard lumber sufficient to support whatever is to be placed on the shelf. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 2 and 3  provide more detail for the shelf support members  12 . Each shelf support member comprises one or more brackets  20  which are interconnected and supported via a connector  40 .  FIG. 3  depicts the connector  40  as a cable, while  FIG. 2  depicts the connector  40  as a chain. Any suitable material which could be threaded through or attached to the brackets  20  and cargo rings  44  (as discussed below) which would have suitable strength characteristics to support the load on the shelves  14  would suffice. Alternatively connector  40  may be attached to cargo rings  44  with 1 or 2 clevises or similar attachments. 
         [0036]    In a preferred embodiment, the shelving system  10  of the present disclosure is installed in a container  50 , such as a shipping container. These containers  50  have cargo rings  44  typically located at the top and bottom of a wall. Any wall surface with a hooking mechanism at the top and bottom would be suitable for installation of the shelving system  10  disclosed herein. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the connector  40  is connected to the top cargo ring  44  with a shackle or other secure means to prevent rotation while still being strong enough to carry the intended load. Connector  40  can then be threaded or attached to bottom cargo ring  44 . Two connector  40  ends can then be joined using a turnbuckle  42  or any other coupler. The turnbuckle  42  eases installation of the shelving system  10  because the connector  40  can be connected through the brackets (discussed below) and the cargo rings  44 , leaving slack in the connector  40 . Once the connection is in place, an operator can affix the turnbuckle  42  and tighten the connector an appropriate amount to provide adequate support. 
         [0038]    In the case of a chain connector  40  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), a single chain connector or two connectors  40  may be used. When using a cable connector  40  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), a single connector  40  can be used (not depicted), or two connectors  40  may be used. Per  FIG. 3 , a first connector  40  is attached to the top cargo ring  44 . In a preferred embodiment, the cable connector  40  includes an eyelet in one end and a clevis is used to connect the eyelet in the cable connector  40  to the cargo ring  44 . This first cable connector  40  can be run parallel down the wall of the container  50  and looped through the bottom cargo ring  44 . A second cable connector  40  could then be connected to the top cargo ring  44  on one end, and connected (by way of the turnbuckle  42 ) to the first cable connector  40 . The turnbuckle  42  may be connected in any number of manners, as shown for example in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  11 . For instance, the turnbuckle  42  may be connected directly underneath the bottom bracket  20  as shown in  FIG. 11 . This may have the added advantage of freeing up additional storage space underneath the shelving system  10  without interference from the connector  40 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows a bracket  20  in accordance with the present disclosure. The bracket  20  may be used with either a chain connector  40  or cable connector  40  (as discussed further below). The bracket  20  is preferably a box beam  22  configuration and includes two recesses  26  at each end. 
         [0000]    Alternatively, the bracket  20  may be a U-channel configuration (not depicted). The bracket  20  may be made from tubular steel (or any other suitable material) in a box beam or U-channel form. The box beam (as shown in more detail in  FIGS. 5   a  and  7   a ) can be any suitable dimensions, with a preferred height and width of 1.25″×1.25″ or whatever size needed to withstand the intended load. 
         [0040]    The recesses  26  at each end may be cut out of the steel (or formed in any other suitable manner) with such dimensions that the connector  40  can be connected to the bracket  20  to support the bracket  20  in the system  10  disclosed herein. In the case of a chain connector  40 , the brackets  20  depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5  are a preferred embodiment. A fastener  26  (for instance, a bolt, a screw or the like) can be connected to the bracket  20  at the point of the recesses  24 . Thus, when a chain connector  40  is placed within the recess  24 , a fastener  26  can be run through a link in the chain connector  40  connecting the bracket  20  to the chain. This enables an operator to thread the chain connector  40  to the container  50  first, and then install brackets at whatever desired height is needed. The chain connector  40  is connected to the distal and proximal ends of the bracket  20 . The tension in the chain connector  40  (caused by tightening the turnbuckle  42 ) provides the support needed to hold the shelving system  10 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  depicts an alternate bracket  20 . This bracket  20  includes an additional stabilizer  28  which is affixed perpendicularly to the lengthwise box beam (or U-channel) member  22 . Preferably, the stabilizer  28  is welded to the lengthwise member  22 . In a preferred installation, a bracket  20  including a stabilizer is installed as the uppermost shelf support, while brackets  20  without the stabilizer (per  FIG. 4 ) are used for the lower shelves. The use of a stabilizer  28  in the uppermost bracket  20  combined with proper tension in the connector  40  provides a suitably secure support structure for the shelves  14 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 6 and 7  depict an alternate embodiment for brackets  20  in accordance with the present disclosure. The brackets  20  depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7  are for use with a cable connector  40 . Each bracket has a cable opening at the distal and proximal ends so that a cable connector  40  may be threaded through, or slid into a slot (as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ) to attach the bracket  20  to the cable connector. In order to provide vertical support (so the bracket does not slide down the cable connector  40 ), a clamp  32  (or any other similar mechanism) is preferably affixed to the cable connector immediately below the desired height of the respective bracket  20 . See  FIG. 3 . Additional clamps  32  may also be used, for instance above the bracket  20  (not depicted). 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  shows an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure whereby the bracket  20  lengths can be adjusted. Using such brackets  20 , an operator can control the amount of shelf space to provide within the container  50 . In such a configuration, the bracket  20  includes a first lengthwise member  22  and a second lengthwise member  22   a . The second lengthwise member  22   a  is also a box beam shape (or U-channel), but is dimensioned so that it can slide into the first lengthwise member  22 . The second lengthwise member  22   a  can be fixed in place within the larger first lengthwise member  22  by means of a fastener through an opening  30   a . Putting a fastener through opening  30   a  is not required though, as once the system  10  is installed, the placement of the shelves  14  on top of the brackets  20  will ensure that the brackets  20  do not compress. 
         [0044]    Brackets  20  in the shape of  FIGS. 4 and 5  may also be used with a cable connector  40 . This provides one of the same advantages as above, namely an operator can install the cabling and then affix the brackets  20  afterwards at whatever desired height. To do so, the cable connector  40  is installed, then an operator slides a bracket  20  over the cable connector  40  such that the cable connector sits within the recess  24 . The operator then installs a fastener  26  behind the cable connector  40  such that the cable connector  40  is bound between the apex of the recess  24  and the fastener  26 . This connects the bracket  20  to the cable connector  40 . Finally, the operator installs a clamp  32  directly underneath the bracket so as to hold the bracket in place. Additional clamps  32  may also be used, for instance above the bracket  20  (not depicted). 
         [0045]    In another embodiment, brackets  20  in the configuration of  FIGS. 9 and 10  may be used with a cable connector  40 . These brackets  20  include a slot  34  which may be used to slide the bracket  20  onto the cable connector  40 . Again, a clamp  32  may be placed underneath the bracket  20  to provide additional support. Additional clamps  32  may also be used, for instance above the bracket  20  (not depicted). 
         [0046]    In an alternate embodiment (not depicted), a second turnbuckle  42  may be used so that the connector  40  may be tucked under the bottom shelf  14  and connected back to the connector  40 . The first turnbuckle  42  in this embodiment would be used to connect the connector  40  to the bottom cargo ring  44 . In this manner, the space under the bottom shelf  14  may be utilized without needing to work around the connector  40 . 
         [0047]    Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 
         [0048]    Now that the invention has been described,