Abstract:
An adjustable connector includes a main body portion and a locking connector to removably engage a top portion of the main body, allowing a shelf to be connected to a support anywhere along the support. A shelving system using the adjustable connector, supports, and a shelf having engaging members for connecting to the adjustable connector is presented.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to provisional application No. 61/662,829, filed on Jun. 21, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Shelving systems are typically modular systems that allow for limited, if any, individuality or adjustment. However, the places where the shelves are located are not always amenable to the limitations imposed by the inflexibility of the shelving systems. The shelves typically can only be adjusted up and down on a stepwise basis, and the steps may be too small or too large for the intended purpose. Therefore, there needs to be a shelving system that has an adjustable connector to allow for infinite adjustment of the shelving height. Additionally, the adjustable connector must be easy to attach to the supports and to adjust the attachment point. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is directed to an adjustable connector for attaching a portion of a shelf to a support that includes a main connector portion having a main body, the main body having a top and a bottom and an opening extending therebetween to receive at least a portion of the support therein, the bottom having a radially-outward extending portion, at least a portion of the radially-outward extending portion having a first groove therein, the first groove partially formed by an outside portion of the main body; and a locking connector portion configured to removably engage the top portion of the main body. 
         [0004]    In some embodiments, the locking connector portion, when connected to the top portion of the main body, forms a second groove, the second groove formed by the locking connector portion and the outside portion of the main body. 
         [0005]    In other embodiments, the opening in the main body has a first diameter at the top and second diameter at the bottom, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the top of the main body has a threaded portion and the locking connector portion also has a threaded portion to engage the threaded portion on the top of the main body. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the present invention, an adjustable shelving system is provided that includes a plurality of adjustable connectors, each of the adjustable connectors comprising a connector portion having a main body, the main body having a top and a bottom and an opening extending therebetween, the bottom having a radially-outward extending portion, at least a portion of the radially-outward extending portion having a first groove therein, the first groove partially formed by an outside portion of the main body, and a locking connector portion configured to removably engage the top portion of the main body, a plurality of supports, each of the plurality of supports configured to be disposed at least partially in the opening of the adjustable connectors, and at least one shelf having a plurality of engaging members, each of the engaging members configured to engage the first groove in one of the plurality of adjustable connectors. 
         [0008]    In yet another aspect, an adjustable connector for attaching a portion of a shelf to a support is provided, the connector includes a main connector portion having a main body, the main body having a top and a bottom and an opening extending therebetween, the bottom having a radially-outward extending portion, at least a portion of the radially-outward extending portion having a first groove therein, the first groove partially formed by an outside portion of the main body, a sleeve, the sleeve having a top, a bottom, an outer surface configured to engage the opening in the main body, and an inner surface defining an opening therethrough to receive at least a portion of the support, the inner surface configured to engage the support and the outer surface configured to engage the opening in the main connector portion, and a locking connector portion configured to removably engage the top portion of the sleeve. 
         [0009]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0010]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a shelving system using an adjustable connector according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded partial view of the shelving system in  FIG. 1  illustrating the adjustable connector and shelf with an engaging member; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded partial view of another embodiment of a shelving system according to the present invention illustrating the adjustable connector and a solid shelf with an engaging member; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of another embodiment of an adjustable connector having a sleeve according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of another embodiment of an adjustable connector having a different sleeve according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross section view of the adjustable connector of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the adjustable connector of  FIG. 4  disposed on a support; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an cross section view of the adjustable connector of  FIG. 2  with the shelf attached thereto; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an cross section view of another embodiment of an adjustable connector with a sleeve used with another embodiment of a shelf according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cross section view of another embodiment of an adjustable connector without a sleeve according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is cross section view of the adjustable connector of  FIG. 9  disposed on a support; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a cross sectional and exploded view of another embodiment of an adjustable connector according to the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a top view of a main body portion of another embodiment of an adjustable connector according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a shelving system  20  has a shelf  30 , a plurality of supports  40 , and a corresponding number of adjustable connectors  50 . The shelf  30  is illustrated as a wire shelf, which is generally known in the industry. Other configurations a wire shelf  30 , different from those as illustrated in the figures, may be used with the shelving system  20  and still fall within the scope of the present invention. As an example, a solid shelf  32  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  may be used. The solid shelf  32  may be constructed of any appropriate material including, but not limited to, solid wood, fiber board, melamine, plastic, and metal. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the shelf  30  (as well as the solid shelf  32 ) includes an engaging member  34  that are attached at the corners  36  of the shelf  30 . The engaging member  34  is preferably a thin metallic structure that approximates a quarter of a circle. The engaging member  34  also has tabs or projections  38  that extend above and below the shelf  30 ,  32  to engage the corresponding adjustable connector  50 , as described in more detail below. The configuration of the engaging member  34  corresponds to the configuration of (more specifically, the radius of) the outer surface of the or spotting adjustable connector  50 . 
         [0026]    Referred back to  FIG. 1 , the plurality of supports  40  are preferably lengths of cylindrical metallic poles. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the supports  40  may have spaced indentations that function as visual indicia for the operator in placing the adjustable connectors in shelves  30 . However, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art, the exact configuration of and the material from which supports  40  can be numerous. The supports  40  should be chosen appropriately for the size, weight (both of the shelf and for the load that can be placed on the shelf), and intended use of the shelving system  20 . The diameter of the supports  40  should correspond to the openings in the adjustable connectors  50  as described in detail below. 
         [0027]    The adjustable connectors  50  have a main body  52 , the main body  52  has a top  54  and a bottom  56  with an opening  58  extending therebetween. The bottom  56  of the main body  52  has a radially-outward extending portion  60  that at least partially defines a first groove  62 . The first groove  62  is also formed by an outside surface  64  of the main body  52 . The 1st groove  62  is configured to receive the bottom tab  38  of the engaging member  34  on the shelf  30 . As such, the groove  62  is substantially circular, but as noted below, it could have other configurations. 
         [0028]    The adjustable connectors  50  have at the top  54  of the main body  52  a threaded portion  66  to receive a locking connector portion  68 . The locking connector portion  68  also has a threaded portion  70  on an internal surface  72  thereof. The threaded portion  70  cooperates with the threaded portion  66  of the main body  52 . When the locking connector portion  68  is attached to the top  54  of the main body  52 , a second groove  74  is formed. See  FIG. 7 . The second groove  74  is also preferably formed by an outside surface  64  of the main body  52  in conjunction with the locking connector portion  68 . Both the bottom  56  and the locking connector portion  68  preferably have surface treatments  78  that allow for easy gripping by the user to allow the user to rotate the bottom  56  and the locking connector portion  68  relative to one another. While grooves are illustrated in the figures, other configurations could be used and come within the scope of the present invention, e.g., knurled surfaces, bumps, etc. 
         [0029]    The opening  58  is sized to receive the support  40  and also a removable sleeve  80 . See  FIG. 4 . The sleeve  80  in  FIG. 4  has two pieces  80   a  and  80   b  that cooperate to form a single piece when put together and the main body  52  placed over it. The pieces  80   a  and  80   b  have a tab  82  and an indentation  84  that receives the tab  82  from the other part of the sleeve  80 . The outer surface  86  of the sleeve  80  corresponds to engage the opening  58  of the main body  52 . It should be noted that the opening  58  of the main body  52  has a first diameter D 1  at the top  54  and a second diameter D 2  at the bottom  56 , the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter. Similarly, the outer diameter SD 1  at the top of the sleeve  80  is smaller than the outer diameter SD 2  of the sleeve  80  at the bottom, so the outer surface  86  corresponds to the opening  58 . 
         [0030]    Another embodiment of a sleeve  80 ′ is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The sleeve  80 ′ is similar in most respects to the sleeve  80  in  FIG. 4  except that the sleeve  80 ′ is a single piece with a hinge  82 ′ along the length thereof. The hinge  82 ′ may be a living hinge type, and the second side  84 ′ of the sleeve  80 ′ may be flat or have a tab/indentation to allow for the sleeve  80 ′ to be placed around the supports  40 . 
         [0031]    The adjustable connector  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 7  on a support  40 . The adjustable connector  50  has the sleeve  80 ′ between the main body  51  and the support  40  to provide resistance and secure the adjustable connector  50  to the support  40 . As noted above, the sleeve  80 ′ can be located anywhere along the length of the support  40  to allow the adjustable connector  50  to placed at the precise location needed/wanted by the user. The main body  52  is placed over the top of the support  40  and engages the outer surface  86  of the sleeve  80 ′. The locking connector portion  68  is then placed over the top of the support  40  and threaded on to the main body  52 . As will be intuitive, the engaging member  34  will be placed into the grooves  62 , 74  before the locking connector portion  68  is tightened such that engaging member  34  will not be able to be placed in to the grooves  62 , 74 . See  FIG. 8 . The same is done on at least three (and usually four) other supports  40  to set up a shelving system  20 . Each of the adjustable connectors  50  can accommodate up to four of the engaging members  34 . Thus, a single support  40  could be used to support up to four different shelves  30 , 32 , depending on the layout by the user. 
         [0032]    The connection of the engaging member  34  to the shelves  30 , 32  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . However, there can be other methods of making that connection. A different method is illustrated in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  illustrates another shelf  130  that is thiner than the shelves  30 , 32  and has a lower profile. This allows for a lower profile adjustable connector  150  as well. While the components are the same, they are simply not as long, but would have similar dimensions to engage the support  40  as before. The shelf  130  has inwardly projecting supports  132  that engage the engaging member  134 . The adjustable connector  150  has a main body  152 , the main body  152  has a top  154  and a bottom  156  with an opening  158  extending therebetween. The bottom  156  of the main body  152  has a radially-outward extending portion  160  that at least partially defines a first groove  162 . The first groove  162  is also formed by an outside surface  164  of the main body  152 . The locking connector portion  168  attaches to the main body  152  to form the second groove  174 . The sleeve  180  is also shorter, but has the same configurations and relationship to the opening  158  in the adjustable connector  150 . 
         [0033]    Another embodiment of an adjustable connector  250  is illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The adjustable connector  250  has a main body  252 , the main body  252  has a top  254  and a bottom  256  with an opening  258  extending therebetween. The bottom  256  of the main body  252  has a radially-outward extending portion  260  that at least partially defines a first groove  262 . The first groove  262  is also formed by an outside surface  264  of the main body  252 . The locking connector portion  268  attaches to the main body  252  to form the second groove  274 . The adjustable connector  250  does not have a sleeve that is used to secure the adjustable connector to the support  40 . See  FIG. 11 . Rather, the main body  252  has two openings  290  therein that extend from the top  254  to a middle portion of the main body  252 . There are preferably two openings  290  in the main body  252  and they are preferably on opposite sides of the main body  252 . However, there could more or fewer openings and located in different locations about the main body  252  and still come within the scope of the present invention. Thus, with the two openings  290  on opposites sides of the main body  252 , when the locking connector portion  268  is secured to the top  254 , it causes the two top portions of the main body  252  (caused by the openings  290  extending downward from the top  254 ) to be squeezed inward and causes the main body of the adjustable connector  250  to engage the supports  40  directly. 
         [0034]    Another embodiment of an adjustable connector  350  is illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The adjustable connector  350  has a main body  352 , the main body  352  has a bottom  356  with a radially-outward extending portion  360  that at least partially defines a first groove  362 . The first groove  362  is also formed by an outside surface  364  of the main body  352 . The adjustable connector  350  has a sleeve  390  that has a threaded portion  392  at the top to receive a locking connector portion  368 . The locking connector portion  368  also has a threaded portion  370  on an internal surface  372  thereof. The locking connector portion  368  has formed therein the second groove  374 . The sleeve  390  is placed on to the support  40  and then the main body  352  is placed on top of the sleeve  390 . The locking connector portion  368  is placed on the support  40  and aligned with the top of the sleeve  390 . The engaging members of the shelves are inserted into the first and second grooves  362 , 374  and then the locking connector portion  368  is secured to the sleeve  390 , locking the adjustable connector  350  into place. 
         [0035]      FIG. 13  illustrates another embodiment of an adjustable connector  450  according to the present invention. Adjustable connector  450  is illustrated from the top looking down into the first groove  462  formed at least in part by the radially-outward extending portion  460 . The adjustable connector  450  also has the openings  490  that allow for direct engagement with the supports  40 . However, the first groove  462  could also be incorporated into the other adjustable connectors as well. The first groove  462  has a plurality of straight segments rather than being generally circular. This configuration of the first groove  462  would allow for the engaging members to have at least one flat surface, rather than the curved, quarter round configuration illustrated above. 
         [0036]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.