Abstract:
A cargo rack utilizing structural beams, structural beams used in a framework comprising a plurality of vertical posts with either key shaped apertures or slots and a plurality of horizontal shelving members, structural beams contain either circular apertures when corresponding vertical post contains key shaped apertures or fingers when corresponding vertical post contains slots enabling structural beams to connect to vertical posts, thus allowing horizontal shelving members to be associated with structural beams and vertical posts.

Description:
This application is a continuation in part from patent application Ser. No. 10/715,000 with a filing date of Nov. 17, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,225. Edsal Manufacturing Co., Inc. is the assignee of this application and application Ser. No. 10/715,000. There are one or more inventors in common between the applications. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates in general to a shelving unit and more particularly to the structural beams in the shelving unit. Several products are similar to this product in that they rely on beams affixed to posts to form a rigid shell that in turn supports shelf members. The same problems and disadvantages associated with prior art disclosed in the original CARGO-RACK patent application nonetheless exist for purposes of this Continuation-in-Part application. Generally, the disadvantages related to inadequate load bearing capacities, over-sized units, multiplicity of components required for assembly along with potential instability of shelving units. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The shelving unit of the present invention preferably includes at least 4 vertical post members mutually spaced from one another. The structural beams are orientated perpendicular to vertical post members and removeably associated therewith taking the form of a parallelogram. The shelving unit is complete when shelf members are removeably associated to the structural beam and vertical post framework. 
   Acknowledging the same problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art as disclosed in the original CARGO-RACK patent application Ser. No. 10/715000, this Continuation-in-Part CARGO-RACK patent application serves to provide additional assemblies discovered by the inventors to associate the structural beams to the vertical posts. Incorporating these additional methods provides additional means to easily assemble the shelving unit while still minimizing cost per unit, maximizing strength to material weight ratio, and ensuring that cargo will be adequately supported. These features will become more clearly understood upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
   For purposes of clarity, we are herein incorporating by reference the following portions of the parent application filed on Nov. 17, 2003, pages 6-9, and any other parts of the Parent Application that provide support for certain claims of this case: 
   “The recessed structural beams  2  include a rib  8 , with a recessed flange  6 , and a return flange  4  as seen in  FIG. 5 . The rib  8 , recessed flange  6 , and return flange  4  terminate in a vertical edge of the recessed structural beam  2 . The recessed flange  6  is chamfered at the ends of its base  7  in order to enable assembly to appear as seen in  FIG. 4  once it has moved along the dashed lines to engage the legs  20 ,  21  of the vertical post  10 .” 
   “The recessed structural beams  30  combine a recessed flange  31  and a return flange  32  as seen in  FIG. 13 . The recessed flange  31  and return flange  32  terminate in a vertical edge of the recessed structural beam  30 . The recessed flange  31  is chamfered at its base  33  in order to enable assembly much in the same way as recessed flange  6  is chamfered at its base  7  on recessed structural beams  2  as shown in  FIG. 4  once it has moved along the dashed lines to engage the legs  20 ,  21  of the vertical post  10 .” 
   “The standard structural beams  25  includes a rib  26  formed between an angled standard flange  27  and an angled return flange  28  as seen in  FIG. 11 . The rib  26 , angled standard flange  27 , and angled return flange  28  terminate in a vertical edge of the standard structural beam  25 . The angled standard flange  27  is chamfered in order to enable standard structural beam assembly to appear as seen in  FIG. 10  once it has moved along the dashed lines to engage the legs  20 ,  21  of vertical post  10 .” 
   “Once structural beams  2 ,  25 , or  30  are associated to vertical post  10 , it is then possible to removeably associate shelf member  12  to the unit thereby completing the shelving unit  1 .” 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the shelving unit; 
       FIG. 2  is a broken view of the apertures on a vertical post; 
       FIG. 3  is a broken view illustrating the connection between the shelving member and the structural beam via the recessed flange; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view illustrating the recessed structural beam with ribbing to vertical post assembly via nubs and apertures; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the profile of the recessed structural beam with ribbing; 
       FIG. 6  is a corner view illustrating a shelf member being installed and positioned by the recessed flange; 
       FIG. 7  is a broken top view of the corner of the shelving unit; 
       FIG. 8  is a pictorial view of an example of one profile possible with an attachment; 
       FIG. 9  is the side view of the example profile for the attachment shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded view illustrating a standard structural beam with ribbing being assembled to vertical post via nubs and apertures; 
       FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view taken along a plane passing through the line  11 / 11  and looking in the direction of the arrows of the line  11 / 11  of the standard structural beam; 
       FIG. 12  is a corner view illustrating a shelf member being installed and positioned by the standard beam with ribbing and the angled flange; and 
       FIG. 13  is a cross sectional profile of the recessed structural beam without ribbing. 
       FIG. 14  is a broken/exploded view illustrating the connection of the vertical post and the structural beams incorporating the nut-bolt embodiment; 
       FIG. 15  is an isometric view of the slot embodiment shelving unit; 
       FIG. 16  is a broken view of the slots on a vertical post; and 
       FIG. 17  is a broken/exploded view illustrating the connection of the vertical post and the structural beams incorporating the finger-slot embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the assembled shelving unit  1  is shown including four vertical posts  10 . Each vertical post  10  has a pair of legs  20 ,  21  perpendicular to one another as shown in  FIG. 14 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 14 , a plurality of structural beams  50  and horizontal shelving members  12  extend between the pairs of legs  20 ,  21  on vertical posts  10  and may be attached in a manner that is described below. 
   The structural beams  50  contain circular apertures  51  which can be seen in  FIG. 14 . The purpose of circular apertures  51  are to provide means for the structural beams  50  to become associated with vertical posts  10 . A pair of the circular apertures  51  are located at each end of structural beam  50 . The vertical location of each pair of circular apertures  51  is relative to the vertical distance between the key shaped apertures  18  on legs  20  and  21  on vertical post  10 . Furthermore, each pair of circular apertures  51  will be generally proportionate across the vertical centerline of structural beams  50 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 14 , the vertical post  10  is provided with a plurality of key shaped apertures  18  comprising a circular hole  19  with a slot  19   a  that extends downward from the larger circular hole  19 . 
   To assemble the framework, the vertical posts  10  should be orientated in a way such that the legs  20 ,  21  of each post  10  are aligned with legs  20 ,  21  of the remaining 3 posts to form a rectangular shape within the legs  20 ,  21  of all four posts  10 . The structural beams  50  can then be removeably associated with vertical posts  10  through the use of screws/bolts  52  and nuts  53  as seen in  FIG. 14 . In operation, the circular apertures  51  on structural beam  50  should be aligned with the slot  19   a  of key shaped apertures  18  on vertical posts  10 . Once aligned, screws/bolts  52  can be inserted through the circular aperture  51  on structural beams  50  and continue through the slot  19   a  of key shaped apertures  18  on vertical posts  10  so that structural beam  50  is in contact with vertical post  10  and the screw/bolt  52  protrudes through the slot  19   a  and past the vertical post  10 . To removeably lock the beams  50  to the vertical posts  10 , the nut  53  can be fastened to the screw/bolt  52  as seen in  FIGS. 14 . This process can be repeated until the structural beams  50  are remeoveably attached to the vertical posts  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 15 , the assembled shelving unit  3  is shown including four vertical posts  37 . Each vertical post  37  has a pair of legs  39 ,  40  perpendicular to one another as shown in  FIG. 17 . A plurality of structural beams  35  and horizontal shelving members  12  extend between the pairs of legs  39 ,  40  on vertical posts  37  and may be attached in a manner to be described below. 
   Structural beam  35  is provided with fingers  36  as seen in  FIG. 17 . The fingers  36  enable structural beam  35  to be associated with the vertical post  37 . A pair of fingers  36  are located at each end of structural beam  35 . The vertical location of each pair of fingers  36  is relative to the vertical distance between the slots  38  on legs  39  and  40  on vertical post  37 . The horizontal location of fingers  36  on structural beams  35  also enable a corner fit between structural beams  35  as shown in  FIG. 17 . As seen in  FIG. 17 , the vertical posts  37  are provided with a plurality of slots  38  on legs  39  and  40 , along with fingers  36  enable beams  35  to be removeably assembled to the vertical posts  37 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 17 , the framework is assembled with the vertical posts  37  and are orientated in a way such that the legs  39 ,  40  of each post  37  are aligned with legs  39 ,  40  of the remaining  3  posts to form a rectangular shape within the legs  39 ,  40  of all four posts  37 . The structural beams  35  can then be removeably associated to the vertical posts  37  such as seen in  FIG. 17 . In operation, the fingers  36  are inserted through the respective slots  38  such that the bottom portion of the finger  36  pass through the top portion of the slot  38 . The beams  35  become secured to vertical posts  37  when the edge  41  contacts the top of the slot  38  as seen in  FIG. 17 . This same assembly can be repeated until all structural beams  35  are removeably associated to the vertical posts  37 . 
   It may thus be seen that the objects of the present inventions set forth as well as those made apparent from the foregoing description, are officially obtained. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set for purposes of disclosure, modification of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.