Patent Publication Number: US-2019183246-A1

Title: Shelving system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to shelf and rack systems for storing goods. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Shelving systems, including those having shelves made of wire racks are common. Conventionally, those shelves are supported by metal support posts. The shelves typically include fittings at each corner. The fittings are slipped over the posts and are generally press-fit into frictional engagement at a desired location on the post to position the shelf at the desired height. 
     Conventional shelving systems, including conventional wire rack systems, have disadvantages. For example, it is often inconvenient and often requires tools to disassemble a shelving system and reconfigure it at different heights. The fittings can become damaged or the posts can become damaged as the fittings are often hammered loose from their initial position on the support posts. 
     Other systems include nuts and bolts to fasten the shelves to the support posts. It can be time consuming to assemble and disassemble the shelving systems by tightening and loosening nut and bolt fastening systems. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved shelving system having a more convenient construction for assembly and disassembly and which overcomes disadvantages of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an improved shelving system is provided, comprising a shelf, a plurality of posts supporting the shelf and a quick release clamp attached to a post. The shelf is supported by the clamp and thereby, supported by the post. 
     The clamp can include a hinged jaw portion formed with two arms and a clasp portion on each arm. In one embodiment of the invention, the clasp includes one or more resilient projections on one jaw of the clasp, which engages a recess on the other jaw. The clasp can include a plunger that upon activation, permits the projection(s) to retract and the jaws of the clasp to open. In another embodiment of the invention, the clasp is hand screwed tight and then the final tightening is achieved by hand pivoting a lever mechanism. In still another embodiment of the invention, The posts have grooves at spaced intervals. The inner surface of the clamp arms include an inwardly projecting ridge. The ridge fits in a groove on the posts and helps maintain the clamp in a selected position. 
     The quick release nature of the clamp permits fast and convenient reconfiguration of the shelving system to different heights without the need for tools, by hand tightening and loosening the clamp. Accordingly, a method of assembling and disassembling or reconfiguring a shelving system involving a quick-release clamp is also provided. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and the specification to follow and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the specific description accompanied by the following drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a quick release clamp, in an open configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the clamp of  FIG. 1 , in a closed configuration, gripping a post (shown in cross-section), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a clasp portion of the clamp of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is an exploded perspective view of a quick release portion of a clamp in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the assembled quick release of  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a quick release clamp, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a shelf assembly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a clamp, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals will be used to indicate similar elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, by way of example only, and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure. 
     Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure. In particular, they are intended to refer to the spatial reference of the display stand in its normal, assembled configuration during intended use. 
     A quick-release clamp, in an open condition, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, is shown generally as clamp  100  in  FIG. 1 . Clamp  100  includes a hinge  110  connecting a male arm  120  and a female arm  130  extending from hinge  110 . 
     Male arm  120  includes a male portion of a clasp  140 , shown in detail in  FIG. 3 . Clasp  140  includes a pair of projections  141  which are forced outwards by a wide distal end  142  of a plunger  143 . Wide distal end  142  is wider than a narrow section  146 , proximal to wide distal end  142 . Plunger  143  is biased in the proximal direction of an arrow A by a spring  147 . Accordingly, when a button  144  at the proximal end of plunger  143  is activated against the resilience of spring  147 , wide distal end  142  moves past projections  141 , and permits projections  141  to slide inward towards narrow section  146  of plunger  143 . This disengages clasp  140  from female arm  130  and permits clamp  100  to swing open, as discussed in further detail below. 
       FIG. 2  depicts clamp  100  in the closed condition around a post  610 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , plunger  143  is extended in the proximal direction, with wide distal end  142  forcing projections  141  outward. This causes projections  141  to be fixed in a pair of recesses  151  of a receiving section  150  of female arm  130 . Because wide distal end  142  prevents projections  141  from moving inwardly, clasp  140  remains securely attached to receiving section  150 , which keeps male arm  120  fixed to female arm  130  and keeps clamp  100  in the closed condition. The inner diameter of clamp  100  is sized to be slightly less than the outer diameter of post  610 , which supports the shelf. Consequently, clamp  100  will remain tightly attached to post  610  until the quick release is activated by activating plunger  143 . In certain embodiments of the invention, high friction material, such as rubber or plastic can be disposed on the inner surface of clamp  100  to improve the grip to post  610 . 
     To remove clamp  100  from post  610  and disengage the quick release holding arm  120  to arm  130 , button  144  is pressed in a direction opposite arrow A, against the resilience of spring  147 , which moves wide end  142  past projections  141 . This permits projections  141  to retract inwards and clasp  140  will swing away from receiving end  150 . 
     A lever-assisted quick release in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is shown generally in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , as lever release  400 . Lever release  400  includes a rod  410  having a far threaded end  411  and a near threaded end  412 . A threaded cap nut  413  can be fingered tightened over far threaded end  411 . A washer  431  is slipped over near threaded end  412  and a cupped washer  432  is nested therein. Cupped washer  432  includes a concave surface to receive a threaded cylinder  433 . Threaded cylinder  433  is threaded over near threaded end  412  at a threaded opening  434  through cylinder  433 . A one-piece (not shown) or a two-piece lever  450  is slipped over cylinder  433  and held in place by a screw  451  into a threaded opening  435  of threaded cylinder  433 . 
     To operate lever-assisted quick release  400 , it is initially fingered tightened around a post by either tightening cap nut  413  or twisting lever  450 . The base portion of lever  450  includes a cam  452 . Final tightening is accomplished by pivoting lever  450  in the direction of an arrow B, which further tightens quick release  400 . 
     Another shelf supporting clamp in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is shown generally as ridged clamp  500  in  FIG. 5 . Ridged clamp  500  is shown with lever release  400 . However, the quick release structure of clamp  100  or a different quick release can be used. Likewise, a clamping portion with a ridge can be employed with the other features of clamp  100 . 
     Ridged clamp  500  includes a ridge  510  on its inner surface. The post supporting the shelf can be formed with grooves, spaced at selected intervals. Ridge  510  can be received in those grooves to provide additional support for ridged clamp  500  and thereby, the shelf resting on clamp  500 . 
     A clamp for supporting a rack shelf in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, is shown generally in an open condition as clamp  800  in  FIG. 8 . Clamp  800  is similar in construction to clamp  500 , but includes a pair of tapered edges  820  on what will be the upper and lower walls thereof. In another embodiment of the invention, only the upper or only a lower wall is tapered and the other is flat. 
     As shown, clamp  800  includes a ridge  810  on its inner surface. The post supporting the shelf can be formed with grooves, spaced at selected intervals. Ridge  810  can be received in those grooves to provide additional support for ridged clamp  800  and thereby, the shelf resting on clamp  800 . In another embodiment of the invention, clamp  800  is formed without ridge  810  (not shown) and has an inner surface similar to that of claim  100 . 
     An shelf assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown generally in  FIG. 6  as shelf system  600 . Shelf system  600  includes four posts  610 . Each post  610  can have an outer diameter of approximately one-inch, 0.75 inches, 1.25 inches or any other dimension as desired. Each post  610  includes spaced grooves  615 . Grooves  615  can be spaced at regular intervals, such as every 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5 inches or any spacing as desired. 
     Shelf system  600  includes one or more shelves  620  having a wire rack  625  structure. Other shelf structures can be used. Each shelf  620  includes four post fittings  630 . Post fittings  630  are slipped over post  610  and held up by resting on a quick release clamp  640  secured to post  610 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Clamp  640  can be similar to clamps  100  or  500  or can be a different quick release clamp and may or may not have a ridge to engage the grooves in post  610 . 
     To assemble shelf system  600 , clamps  640  are attached to posts  610 . Post fittings  630  of a shelf  620  are slipped over each post  610  and slid down, to rest on quick release clamp  640 . If a location of a shelf, with respect to a post  610 , is desired to be changed, the entire assembly need not be disassembled. Rather, the clamps and shelves can be repositioned by hand, without the need for tools. In fact, quick release clamps in accordance with the invention need not be removed from the post. Rather, the quick release feature can loosen their attachment to the posts and the clamps and shelves can be hand repositioned in a convenient manner, without the need for any tools. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, clamp  800  is used in place of clamp  640  when assembling shelf system  600 . In this embodiment of the invention, upper surface of clamp  800  is tapered edge  820 . The lower edge of post fitting  630  can slip over tapered edge  820  and assist with the security of the assembly, by helping force clamp  800  tightly around post  610 . 
     Please note that where this application has listed the steps of a method or procedure in a specific order, it may be possible, or even expedient in certain circumstances, to change the order in which some steps are performed, and it is intended that the particular steps of the method or procedure claim set forth herebelow not be construed as being order-specific unless such order specificity is expressly stated in the claims. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. Modification or combinations of the above-described assemblies, other embodiments, configurations, and methods for carrying out the invention, and variations of aspects of the invention that are obvious to those of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of the claims.