Abstract:
A shelving system having at least four posts with upper and lower traverses between the posts joined by dovetails on the posts and post connectors connecting the posts. A metal core forms the posts surrounded by plastic. A support post underlies at least one of the traverses having a metal interior portion and an exterior plastic with a foot at the base and an end cap distal from the foot for engaging the traverse.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The field of this invention lies within the art of racks and shelving. More particularly, it lies within the art of supporting a rack and shelving with a number of posts, shelves, and cross members. The posts, shelves, and cross members can be formed of metal having a substantial plastic coating therearound to reduce rust and deterioration while at the same time having improved strength based upon an inner metal core.  
           [0003]    2. The Prior Art  
           [0004]    The prior art relates to shelving, particularly for usage with regard to food products in the institutional, industrial, and general restaurant food service art.  
           [0005]    It has been found in the past that such shelving made of aluminum, steel, plastic, and other materials have substantial limitations. These limitations can be in the form of rust when it comes to steel, even though the steel has been painted. With respect to aluminum, the strength of the shelving is oftentimes compromised. As to the use of plastic for shelving without any strengthening, it has been found that such plastic can be formed and not be sufficiently strong to support such shelving.  
           [0006]    Also, it has been well known in the food service area, particularly with regard to institutional, industrial, and restaurant food service activity, that substantial quantities of food must be stored on racks. The food must be readily accessible and at the same time visible to maintain proper inventories and availability.  
           [0007]    The shelving, posts, and cross members of the invention hereof provide for excellent storage with respect to refrigerators and freezers based upon the ability to withstand varying temperatures.  
           [0008]    The invention hereof overcomes the drawbacks of prior art shelving by being molded without welds and substantially avoids rust. To this extent, the combination with the plastic and steel core help to support the shelving hereof in a most desirable manner.  
           [0009]    The weight bearing components are made of a steel core with a polypropylene or other suitable plastic exterior, thus making the shelving strong and easy to clean.  
           [0010]    The prior art shelving when made of various metals as previously set forth does not enhance the weight bearing characteristics combined with low oxidation.  
           [0011]    The shelving of this invention is based upon easy to use assembled components that provide for posts and cross members from which shelving can be suspended. The shelving is smooth with a polypropylene surface which is easy to clean and wipe. Liquid and dirt do not affect the overall characteristics of the shelving.  
           [0012]    Regardless of the foregoing, it has been found that even with respect to the high strength steel that is used as the core as to the cross members, that sometimes the cross members will sag under significant load. To this extent, this invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a center post which enhances the overall support of members that are used for cross members in supporting the bending moment of the cross members of the shelving. As will be seen hereinafter, this invention substantially avoids cross member sag while at the same time maintaining the enhanced characteristics of the invention over the prior art as to metal and other types of shelving.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    In summation, this invention provides for a shelving system having reinforced steel posts and cross members formed with a steel core to provide strength and durability with a plastic molded exterior surface to reduce rust and other deterioration while at the same time creating a system with a center post support for cross members to avoid sag and bowing of such cross members.  
           [0014]    More specifically, the invention incorporates the aspects of posts, cross members, and various linkages with shelving. The posts and cross members can be formed with a steel core. The steel core provides strength and durability. At the same time, the steel core is formed with a molded surface therearound which can be a polypropylene or other type of suitable plastic.  
           [0015]    The posts and cross members can be easily joined together by means of dovetails molded on the posts that mate with the cross members having molded dovetail receipt openings. Further to this extent, the cross members can be incorporated with the posts to form support in various directions as will be set forth hereinafter.  
           [0016]    In order to enhance the support of the cross members, an adjustable mid support for the cross members is utilized which can be snapped into place and easily adjusted for various loads on the shelving supported by the cross members and the posts.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 shows a front elevation view of the shelving of this invention with a significant load thereon being supported in part by a center post.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 shows a detailed fragmented portion that has been encircled by circle  2  of FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the center post in the direction of lines  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 shows a fragmented perspective view of the center post and cross members.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 shows a fragmented perspective view looking upwardly at the center post and cross members.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Looking specifically at FIG. 1, it can be seen that the rack or shelving of this invention is shown generally as shelving  10 . The rack or shelving  10  is supporting a plurality of sacks or bags  12  thereon. The plurality of sacks  12  are on an upper shelf  14  and a lower shelf  16 . The shelving  14  and  16  is shown with a number of cross member supports that shall be referred to hereinafter as traverses  18  and  20 .  
         [0023]    The traverses  18  and  20  generally support the shelving between four posts  22  and  24 . The posts  22  and  24  have a series of dovetailed receipt areas therein in order to receive dovetails of the traverses  18  and  20 . Each respective dovetail on the posts  22  and  24  provides for an adjustment as to height and spacing of the traverses  18  and  20  that support the shelving. The dovetails can be interchanged as to receipt portions as projecting dovetails on either posts  22  and  24  or the traverses  18  and  20 .  
         [0024]    In order to connect the posts  22  and  24  a pair of upper post connectors  30  and  32  are utilized. These upper post connectors  30  and  32  have caps that slide over and are secured to the tops of the posts  22  and  24 .  
         [0025]    To provide for stability and support on the lower portion of the posts  22  and  24 , post connectors  34  and  36  are utilized. These post connectors  34  and  36  slide upwardly onto the posts  22  and  24  so that cross stability is realized in both directions by the respective traverses and post  2  connectors.  
         [0026]    A number of various types of shelving can be extended or span between the traverses  18  and  20  so as to allow for the support and access of such items as bags  12  being accessed or any other types of items.  
         [0027]    The foregoing configuration as to the dovetails and the posts  22  and  24  as well as the relationship of the traverses  18  and  20  and the post connectors  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  can be seen in European Patent 0686817A2 based on European Application 95201281.3 naming Hense, et al as inventors. The features of the foregoing patent assigned to the Assignee of the Applicant herein are incorporated herein by reference as to the dovetailed showings between the traverses  18  and  20  and the posts  22  and  24  as well as the respective post connectors. Also, the nature of the metal structure and core of that patent are included herein by reference as part of the supporting specification.  
         [0028]    Looking more specifically at FIGS. 2 and 3 which have been encircled from circle  2  of FIG. 1 it can be seen that a center post is shown with a portion of a traverse. In particular, the lower traverse  20  is shown connected to a center post  42 . The center post  42  is comprised of an outer molded column section  44  having an interior steel tubular reinforcement  46 . The interior steel reinforcement  46  is of a columnar nature and terminates at an abutment end  48  co-terminus with the end of the outer plastic portion  44  and a co-terminal point  50 .  
         [0029]    In order to maintain the rigidity of the center post  42  underneath the traverse  20 , a cross member that can be in the form of a post connector  34   a  has been shown. The cross member  34   a  has the interior portion thereof at the end formed as an opening  52  in a collar  51  which can circumscribe the outer plastic portion  44 . The collar portion  51  with the space  52  terminates against a ledge or small dimension portion  56  of the outside plastic portion  44  of the post  42 .  
         [0030]    In order to seat the traverse  20  on the center post  42 , an end cap  66  is shown. The end cap  66  has an insert  68  that inserts into the metal portion  46  of the center column. The end cap  66  with its insert  68  terminates with an upper flattened portion on the interior forming a channel or receipt  70  into which the portions  44  and  46  of the center post  42  can be inserted. In order to secure them, an exterior flange  74  and  76  is shown.  
         [0031]    The end cap  66  extends upwardly to provide an elongated channel  78  that extends along its length which is spilled over in the form of longitudinal flanges  84  and  86 . These longitudinal flanges  84  and  86  receive the traverse  20  therein based upon lower flanges  90  and  92  on either side of the traverse.  
         [0032]    In this manner, the traverse  20  with its interior steel portion  21  can be well supported on the center post  42  with the corresponding post connector  34  stabilizing it.  
         [0033]    In order to adjustably seat the center or support post  42  on a surface to support the traverse  20 , an adjustable end or base foot  100  is seated therein. The adjustable end foot  100  has a metal extension or column  102  which can be in the form of any suitable material terminating in threads  104 . The threads  104  are seated within a metal or plastic sleeve  106  having matching threads. The sleeve  106  with its matching threads  108  allows for adjustment upwardly or downwardly of the foot  100  on its column  102 . Thus, after the sleeve is inserted and formed in any suitable manner to be retained within the metal portion of the column  46 , it can be adjusted as to the foot  100  upwardly and downwardly for centering and balancing the shelving  10 .  
         [0034]    Various alternatives can be utilized with the invention hereof such as the substitution of steel with hard durable plastic as well as the utilization of steel for instance in the post connectors in the analogous manner to which the tubular steel support  21  has been emplaced within the traverse  20 . Also, various types of plastic can be utilized for molding around the steel core as set forth hereinafter.  
         [0035]    Inasmuch as the plastic coating or molded covering should be food compatible and meet with FDA food-contact regulations, polycarbonate is deemed desirable and is well received. Polycarbonate is further desirable because of its clarity.  
         [0036]    Other preferred plastics include among others polyethylenes, polypropylenes, and styrenic resins, in particular, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).  
         [0037]    The invention can be made from many other plastic materials besides those preferred plastic materials mentioned above. When intended for food use, any of the resins and polymers approved for food use by the Food and Drug Administration can be used keeping in mind that chemically compatible material provides a better bond. Examples of such plastic materials can include among others the homopolymers, copolymers, polymers and mixtures thereof containing:  
         [0038]    Acrylic and modified acrylic plastics;  
         [0039]    Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymers;  
         [0040]    Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene/methyl methacrylate copolymers;  
         [0041]    Acrylonitrile/styrene copolymers;  
         [0042]    Acrylonitrile/styrene copolymer modified with butadiene/styrene elastomers;  
         [0043]    n-Alkylglutarimide/acrylic copolymers;  
         [0044]    Cellophanes;  
         [0045]    Cross-linked polyacrylate copolymers;  
         [0046]    1,4-Cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate and 1,4-Cyclohexylene dimethylene isophthalate copolymers;  
         [0047]    Ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers;  
         [0048]    Ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymers.  
         [0049]    Ethylene-1,4-cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate copolymers;  
         [0050]    Ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers.  
         [0051]    Ionomeric resins;  
         [0052]    Ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer resins;  
         [0053]    Ethylene/1,3-phenylene oxyethylene isophthalate/terephthalate copolymers;  
         [0054]    Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers;  
         [0055]    Ethylene-vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol copolymers;  
         [0056]    Fluorocarbon resins;  
         [0057]    Isobutylene polymers;  
         [0058]    Isobutylene-butene copolymers;  
         [0059]    Melamine-formaldehyde resins;  
         [0060]    Nitrile rubber modified acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymers;  
         [0061]    Nylon resins;  
         [0062]    Olefin polymers;  
         [0063]    Perfluorocarbon resins;  
         [0064]    Polyarylate resins;  
         [0065]    Polyaryletherketone resins;  
         [0066]    Polyarylsulfone resins;  
         [0067]    Poly-1-butene resins and butene/ethylene copolymers;  
         [0068]    Polycarbonate resins;  
         [0069]    Polyestercarbonate resins;  
         [0070]    Polyester elastomers;  
         [0071]    Polyetherimide resins;  
         [0072]    Polyethylene resins, carboxyl modified;  
         [0073]    Polyethylenes, chlorinated;  
         [0074]    Polyethylenes, fluorinated;  
         [0075]    Polyethylenes, oxidized;  
         [0076]    Polyethylene phthalate polymers;  
         [0077]    Poly(phenyleneterephthalamide)resins;  
         [0078]    Poly(p-methylstyrenes) and rubber-modified poly(p-methylstyrenes); Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyloxycarbonyl-2,6-naphthalenediylcarbonyl)resins;  
         [0079]    Polystyrenes and rubber-modified polystyrenes;  
         [0080]    Polysulfide polymer-polyepoxy resins;  
         [0081]    Polysulfone resins;  
         [0082]    Poly(tetramethylene terephthalates);  
         [0083]    Polyurethane resins;  
         [0084]    Styrene block polymers;  
         [0085]    Styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers;  
         [0086]    Styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymers;  
         [0087]    Textryls;  
         [0088]    Urea-formaldehyde resins;  
         [0089]    Vinyl chloride-ethylene copolymers;  
         [0090]    Vinyl chloride-hexene-1 copolymers;  
         [0091]    Vinyl chloride-lauryl vinyl ether copolymers;  
         [0092]    Vinyl chloride-propylene copolymers;  
         [0093]    Vinylidene chloride/methyl acrylate copolymers; and,  
         [0094]    Vinylidene chloride/methyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate polymers.  
         [0095]    The above list is only intended to be illustrative of the plastics which can be used and is not intended to constitute a limitation to the structure of this invention. Other plastic materials and mixtures thereof will be apparent to one skilled in the art and can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.