Patent Publication Number: US-2016227924-A1

Title: Rack assembly joint

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a rack assembly joint and particularly to a joint structure for assembly of racks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Please referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a conventional assembly rack mainly includes a plurality of clamp joints  1  and a plurality of shelves assembled together. Each clamp joint  1  has four clamp portions  3 . Each clamp portion  3  consists of two plates  4  spaced from each other at a selected distance. Each shelf  2  has four corners wedged respectively in a corresponding clamp portion  3  and clamped thereof to be assembled to form an assembly rack as desired. 
     The conventional assembly rack thus formed can be configured in various grid type spaces to hold goods, such as a single grid space, nine-rectangle-grid spaces or stepped grid spaces or the like, and can be assembled and changed freely according to user&#39;s requirements, hence is a furniture well accepted in the market. 
     However, the conventional assembly rack, due to it relies on clamping of the clamp joint  1  to couple the shelves  2 , after used for a prolonged period of time elasticity fatigue occurs. Hence clamping force gradually deceases after used for a period of time or repeatedly disassembly and assembly that could result in loosening. Moreover, the clamp joint  1  that clamps the shelf  2  in the conventional manner cannot withstand a swiveling force parallel with the shelf  2 . Hence after being hauled and moved, the assembly rack could loosen and require assembly anew. In the event that the loosened state is not noticed by users or reassembly is not being done properly, and goods are placed thereon, the assembly rack could collapse and cause damage of the goods or injury of people. 
     Hence the assembly structure of the conventional assembly rack cannot fully meet use requirements and still has room for improvement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a rack assembly joint that can firmly assemble shelves to meet use requirements. 
     To achieve the foregoing object the rack assembly joint of the invention aims for assembly of a plurality of shelves. Each shelf has four corners at two lateral edges and four insertion rods respectively protruding from the four corners straightly toward two sides thereof. The rack assembly joint includes a main body, a first coupling structure and a second coupling structure. The main body has a first coupling end and a second coupling end perpendicular to each other. The first coupling structure is located on the first coupling end and includes at least two first coupling round holes coupled with the insertion rod in a compact manner. The second coupling structure is located on the second coupling end and includes at least two second coupling round holes coupled with the insertion rod in a compact manner. 
     Thus, after a plurality of the rack assembly joints and a plurality of the shelves are coupled together an assembled rack is formed. Because the first coupling round holes and the second coupling round holes are coupled with the insertion rod in a compact manner a secure structure is formed that can provide a sufficient bonding force without the problem of loosening caused by elasticity fatigue, and maintain a firm assembly rack even after subject to assembly and disassembly a plurality of times, hence can meet use requirements. 
     The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following embodiments and detailed description, that proceed with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional rack assembly joint. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a conventional assembly rack. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a shelf used in the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the invention incorporated with a door panel. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the invention incorporated with a caster. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the invention in a use condition. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of the invention in a use structure partly disassembled. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view of the invention in another use condition. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view of the invention showing a shelf and the rack assembly joint in a coupling condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 3 and 4  for a first embodiment of the invention that aims to couple with a plurality of shelves  10 . Each shelf  10  has four corners at two lateral edges each has four insertion rods  11  respectively protruding from the four corners straightly toward two sides. The rack assembly joint  20 A includes a main body  21 , a first coupling structure  41  and a second coupling structure  42 . The main body  21  has a first coupling end  31  and a second coupling end  32  perpendicular to each other. The first coupling structure  41  is located on the first coupling end  31  and includes at least two first coupling round holes  51  coupled with the insertion rod  11  in a compact manner. The second coupling structure  42  is located on the second coupling end  32  and includes at least two second coupling round holes  52  coupled with the insertion rod  11  in a compact manner. 
     Each first coupling round hole  51  and each second coupling round hole  52  have respectively a latch rim  60  formed inside to clamp the insertion rod  11  to enhance clamp forces. The main body  21  also has a first flank plate  71  and a second flank plate  72  connected thereon and extended outward transversely in the directions of the first coupling round hole  51  and the second coupling round hole  52 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5  for a second embodiment of the invention. Compared with the first embodiment, in the second embodiment the rack assembly joint  20 B further includes a third coupling structure  43 , and the main body  21  has a third coupling end  33  opposite to the first coupling end  31  at the rear side thereof. The third coupling structure  43  is located on the third coupling end  33 . The third coupling structure  43  has at least two third coupling round holes  53  to couple with the insertion rod  11  in a compact manner. The second coupling round holes  52  include at least three sets. Similarly, in the second embodiment each of the first coupling round holes  51 , the second coupling round holes  52  and the third coupling round holes  53  has a latch rim  60  formed inside to clamp the insertion rod  11 . Moreover, the main body  21  also has a first flank plate  71 , a second flank plate  72  and a third flank plate  73  connected thereon and extended outward transversely in the directions of the first coupling round hole  51 , the second coupling round hole  52  and the third coupling round hole  53 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6  for a third embodiment of the invention. Compared with the second embodiment, in the third embodiment the rack assembly joint  20 C further includes a fourth coupling structure  44 , and the main body  21  has a fourth coupling end  34  which is located opposite to the second coupling end  32  at the rear side thereof. The fourth coupling structure  44  has at least three coupling round holes  54  to couple with the insertion rod  11  in a compact manner. The first coupling round holes  51 , the second coupling round holes  52  and the third coupling round holes  53  include respectively three sets. Similarly, each of the first coupling round holes  51 , the second coupling round hole  5  and the third coupling round hole  53  and the fourth coupling holes  54  has a latch rim  60  formed inside to clamp the insertion rod  11 . Moreover, the main body  21  also has a first flank plate  71 , a second flank plate  72 , a third flank plate  73  and a fourth flank plate  74  connected thereon and extended outward transversely in the directions of the first coupling round hole  51 , the second coupling round hole  52 , the third coupling round hole  53  and the fourth coupling round hole  54 . 
     Please referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the invention can be incorporated with a door panel  12  and a caster  13  when in use. The door  12  has a grip knob  121 , and the insertion rods  11  (two sets) on the same side of the grip knob  121  must be shortened without being jammed to allow the door panel  12  to be opened as desired. The caster  13  has an installation strut  131  to facilitate moving after installation. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 9 and 10  for the invention in use conditions. The components include the rack assembly joint  20 A of the first embodiment, the rack assembly joint  20 B of the second embodiment, the door panel  12 , the shelves  10  and the casters  13 . After assembly is finished an assembly rack equipped with the door panel  12  is formed to meet use requirement. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 11  for the invention in another use structure. The components include the rack assembly joint  20 A of the first embodiment, the rack assembly joint  20 B of the second embodiment, the rack assembly joint  20 C of the third embodiment and the shelves  10 . After assembly is finished a stepped type assembly rack is formed to meet use requirement. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 12  for a design of the first flank plate  71 , the second flank plate  72 , the third flank plate  73  and the fourth flank plate  74  (with the rack assembly joint  20 A as an example, and merely the first flank plate  71  is shown for discussion). Each flank plate is formed in a shape to fill and mate a truncated corner  14  of each shelf  10  to avoid creating too large a gap with the rack assembly joints  20 A,  20 B and  20 C, and to enhance aesthetic appeal. 
     As a conclusion, the invention allows various types and quantity of the rack assembly joints, shelves, door panels and casters to be assembled to form assembly racks of varying styles according to users&#39; requirements. Since the first coupling round hole and the second coupling round hole can form compact coupling with the insertion rod, sufficient bonding forces are generated, hence the problems of elasticity fatigue and loosening also are less likely to occur. The rack thus formed can be assembled and disassembled repeatedly many times and still very firm in structure, thus can meet use requirements. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, they are not the limitation of the invention, modifications 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.