Patent Publication Number: US-9888770-B1

Title: Shelf assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a shelf assembly and, more particularly, to a shelf assembly capable for storing articles while providing enhanced assembling convenience and reliable support. 
     To improve article storage convenience, a type of shelf includes a plurality of vertical posts, a plurality of horizontal beams, and a plurality of support boards. Each vertical post includes a plurality of engaging holes at different heights. The horizontal beams are mounted to the vertical posts at suitable heights to form supports for the support boards. The number and the heights of the support boards can be adjusted according to need to increase the article storage applicability. 
       FIG. 10  shows a portion of a conventional shelf assembly including a plurality of vertical posts  1 ′, a plurality of horizontal beams  2 ′, and a support board  3 ′. Each of the vertical posts  1 ′ and the horizontal beams  2 ′ includes a plurality of engaging holes  11 ′,  21 ′. Bolts  4 ′ extend through engaging holes  11 ′ and  21 ′ in proper locations and are coupled with nuts  41 ′ to assemble the vertical posts  1 ′ and the horizontal beams  2 ′ together. The support board  3 ′ is placed on the vertical beams  1 ′ and the horizontal beams  2 ′ for supporting articles. 
     However, the assemblage requires extending the bolts  4 ′ through the engaging holes  11 ′ and  21 ′ and coupling the bolts  4 ′ with the nuts  41 ′, resulting inconvenient assemblage. Furthermore, the shelf is apt to fall when the threading connection between the bolts  4 ′ and the nuts  41 ′ is not secure. Furthermore, the support board  3 ′ rests on the vertical beams  1 ′ and the horizontal beams  2 ′ by its weight and is not securely positioned. Thus, the support board  3 ′ is apt to displace and fall due to impact. 
       FIG. 11  shows another conventional shelf assembly for increasing the assembling convenience. This shelf assembly includes four vertical posts  5 ′, four horizontal beams  6 ′, and a support board  7 ′. Each vertical post  5 ′ includes two connecting walls  51 ′ and  52 ′ extending perpendicularly to each other. Engaging holes  511 ′,  521 ′ are provided in each connecting wall  51 ′,  52  at different heights. Each horizontal beam  6 ′ includes an outer side having buckles  61 ′ for coupling with the engaging holes  511 ′ or  521 ′. Each horizontal beam  6 ′ can be coupled with the engaging holes  511 ′ and  521 ′ in different directions to form a shelf assembly, and the support board  7 ′ can be placed on top of the horizontal beams  6 ′. 
     The above shelf assembly can be easily assembled without bolts and nuts. However, the two connecting walls  51 ′ and  52 ′ of each vertical post  5 ′ are respectively connected to two of the horizontal beams  6 ′ which are not interconnected. As a result, the resultant shelf assembly has insufficient structural strength and is, thus, apt to deform when subjected to external forces. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a shelf assembly providing enhanced assembling convenience and a secure structure. 
     A shelf assembly according to the present invention includes four vertical posts disposed in four corners of a square area. Each of the four vertical posts includes at least one connecting wall and a sidewall extending at a non-parallel angle to the at least one connecting wall. The at least one connecting wall includes a plurality of first engaging holes and a plurality of second engaging holes. The plurality of first engaging holes is spaced from each other in a vertical direction. The plurality of second engaging holes is spaced from each other in the vertical direction. Each of the plurality of first engaging holes is spaced from one of the plurality of second engaging holes in a length direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. Two horizontal beams are spaced from each other in a width direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the length direction. Each of the two horizontal beams includes a first board including first and second ends spaced from each other in the length direction and respectively coupled with two of the four vertical posts spaced from each other in the length direction. Each of the first and second ends of each of the two horizontal beams includes a first buckle extending perpendicularly to and outwardly from the first board in the width direction and having a first coupling groove. Each of the first end and the second end of the first board of each of the two horizontal beams includes a third engaging hole. Two connecting beams are spaced from each other in the length direction. The two horizontal beams and the two connecting beams together form a rectangular structure. Each of the two connecting beams includes a second board having two ends. Each of the two ends of the second board includes a second buckle extending therefrom in the width direction. Each second buckle includes a bottom face having a second coupling groove. A support board has rectangular cross sections and is mounted on top of the two horizontal beams and the two connecting beams. Each first buckle of each of the two horizontal beams is engaged with one of the plurality of first engaging holes of a corresponding one of the four vertical posts. Each of the plurality of second engaging holes is aligned with one of the third engaging holes. Each second buckle of each of the two connecting beams extends through a corresponding one of the third engaging holes and a corresponding one of the plurality of second engaging holes. Each first coupling groove of each of the two horizontal beams is engaged with a bottom edge of the one of the plurality of first engaging holes. Each second coupling groove securely receives the at least one connecting wall of one of the four vertical posts and the first board of one of the two horizontal beams. 
     In an example, the first board of each of the two horizontal beams includes a first ledge extending perpendicularly to and inwardly from an upper end of the first board, and the support board rests on the first ledges of the two horizontal beams. 
     In an example, the first ledge of each of the two horizontal beams includes a plurality of positioning protrusions. The support board includes a bottom side having a plurality of positioning grooves. The plurality of positioning protrusions is received in the plurality of positioning grooves. 
     In an example, at least one of the plurality of positioning protrusions extends in the length direction, and the rest of the plurality of positioning protrusions extends in the width direction. 
     In an example, the plurality of first engaging holes is located outward of the plurality of second engaging holes. Each of the two horizontal beams includes a first stopper plate extending perpendicularly to and outwardly from a lower end of the first board thereof. A spacing between each of two ends of the first stopper plate and a corresponding one of the first and second ends of the corresponding first board corresponds to a spacing between each of the plurality of first engaging holes of a corresponding one of the four vertical posts and an inner edge of the at least one connecting wall. An end face of each of the two ends of each first stopper plate abuts the sidewall of a corresponding one of the four vertical posts. 
     In an example, the second coupling groove of each second buckle has a width corresponding to the sum of a thickness of the at least one connecting wall of a corresponding one of the four vertical posts and a thickness of the first board of a corresponding one of the two horizontal beams. Each second coupling groove includes an inclined guiding surface at a lower end thereof. 
     In an example, each of the two connecting beams includes a second ledge extending inwardly from an upper end of the second board thereof. The support board rests on the second ledges of the two connecting beams. A spacing between each of two ends of each second ledge and a corresponding one of the two ends of a corresponding one of the second boards approximates a width of the first ledge of each of the two horizontal beams. 
     In an example, the plurality of first engaging holes is located outward of the plurality of second engaging holes. Each of the two connecting beams includes a second stopper plate extending inwardly from a lower end of the second board thereof. An end face of each of two ends of each second stopper plate abuts the first board of a corresponding one of the two horizontal beams. 
     In an example, each of the two horizontal beams includes another first buckle spaced from the first buckle in the vertical direction. The first buckle and the another first buckle respectively engage with two of the plurality of first engaging holes. Each of the first end and the second end of each first board further includes another third engaging hole spaced from the third engaging hole in the vertical direction. Each of the two connecting beams further includes another second buckle. The second buckle and the another second buckle of each of the two connecting beams respectively extend through two of the plurality of second engaging holes. 
     In an example, the shelf assembly further includes another two horizontal beams, another two connecting beams, and another support board. The two horizontal beams, the two connecting beams, and the support board are mounted to upper ends of the four vertical posts. The another two horizontal beams, the another two connecting beams, and the another support board are mounted to lower ends of the four vertical posts. 
     In an example, the shelf assembly further includes at least two additional vertical posts, a plurality of additional horizontal beams, a plurality of additional connecting beams, and a plurality of additional support boards. The four vertical posts, the at least two additional vertical posts, the two horizontal beams, the plurality of additional horizontal beams, the two connecting beams, and the plurality of additional connecting beams, the support board, and the plurality of additional support boards are assembled with each other to form a shelf assembly with a larger volume. 
     The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a shelf assembly of an example according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is an enlarged view of a circled portion of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1B  is an enlarged view of another circled portion of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is a partly-exploded perspective view of a portion of the shelf assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the portion of the shelf assembly of  FIG. 2  after coupling. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the portion of the shelf assembly of  FIG. 2  after coupling. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the shelf assembly of an example according to the present invention after assemblage. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a shelf assembly of another example according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a shelf assembly of a further example according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial, perspective view of a conventional shelf assembly. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial, perspective view of another conventional shelf assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , a shelf assembly of an example according to the present invention includes four vertical posts  1 , two horizontal beams  2 , two connecting beams  3 , and a support board  4 . The four vertical posts  1  are disposed in four corners of a square area. Each vertical post  1  has an inner side adjacent to the square area and an outer side remote to the square area. Each vertical post  1  is a hollow tube and includes two connecting walls  11  opposite to each other and two sidewalls  10  extending between and at a non-parallel angle to the two connecting walls  11 . Each connecting wall  11  includes a plurality of first engaging holes  12  and a plurality of second engaging holes  13 . The first engaging holes  12  are spaced from each other in a vertical direction. The second engaging holes  13  are spaced from each other in the vertical direction. Each first engaging hole  12  is spaced from one of the second engaging holes  13  in a length direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. In this example, the first engaging holes  12  are located outward of the second engaging holes  13 . Each vertical post  1  can include only one connecting wall  11  and only one sidewall  10 . 
     The two horizontal beams  2  are elongated and are spaced from each other in a width direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the length direction. Each horizontal beam  2  includes a first board  21  having first and second ends spaced from each other in the length direction and respectively coupled with two of the four vertical posts  2  spaced from each other in the length direction. Each of the first and second ends of each of first board  21  includes two first buckles  22  spaced from each other in the vertical direction and detachably coupled with two of the first engaging holes  12 . Each first buckle  22  extends outwardly from and perpendicularly to the first board  21  in the width direction and has a bottom side a first coupling groove  221  for coupling with a bottom edge of one of the first engaging holes  12  of a corresponding vertical post  1 . 
     Each horizontal beam  2  includes a first ledge  23  extending perpendicularly to and inwardly from an upper end of the first board  21  thereof. The first ledge  23  of each horizontal beam  2  includes a plurality of positioning protrusions  231 . At least one of the positioning protrusions  231  extends in the length direction, and the rest of the positioning protrusions  231  extend in the width direction. 
     Each horizontal beam  2  further includes a first stopper plate  24  extending perpendicularly to and outwardly from a lower end of the first board  21  thereof. A spacing W 1  between each of two ends of the first stopper plate  24  and a corresponding one of the first and second ends of the corresponding first board  21  corresponds to a spacing W 2  between each first engaging hole  12  of a corresponding one of the four vertical posts  1  and an inner edge of the corresponding connecting wall  11 . An end face  241  of each of the two ends of each first stopper plate  24  abuts a corresponding sidewall  10  of a corresponding one of the four vertical posts  1 . 
     Each of the first end and the second end of the first board  21  of each horizontal beam  2  includes two third engaging holes  25  spaced from each other in the vertical direction. A spacing W 3  between each third engaging hole  25  and a corresponding first buckle  22  approximates a spacing W 4  between each first engaging hole  12  and a corresponding second engaging hole  13 . Each first board  21  can include a coupling hole  26  for coupling with a rod  5  (see  FIG. 8 ). 
     The two connecting beam  3  are spaced from each other in the length direction and are coupled with two of the four vertical posts  1  spaced from each other in the width direction. The two horizontal beams  2  and the two connecting beams  3  together form a rectangular structure. Each connecting beam  3  is elongated and includes a second board  31  having two ends. Each of the two ends of the second board  31  includes two second buckles  32  extending therefrom in the width direction. The two second buckles  32  are spaced from each other in the vertical direction. Each second buckle  32  includes a bottom face having a second coupling groove  321 . The second coupling groove  321  of each second buckle  32  has a width corresponding to the sum of the thickness of a corresponding connecting wall  11  of a corresponding vertical post  1  and the thickness of the first board  21  of a corresponding horizontal beam  2 . Each second coupling groove  321  includes an inclined guiding surface  322  at a lower end thereof. 
     Each connecting beam  3  includes a second ledge  33  extending inwardly from an upper end of the second board  31  thereof. A spacing W 5  between each of two ends of each second ledge  33  and a corresponding one of the two ends of a corresponding second board  32  approximates a width W 6  of the first ledge  23  of each horizontal beam  2 . Each connecting beam  3  includes a second stopper plate  34  extending inwardly from a lower end of the second board  31  thereof. An end face  341  of each of two ends of each second stopper plate  34  abuts the first board  21  of a corresponding horizontal beam  2 . 
     The support board  4  is has rectangular cross sections and rests on the first ledges  23  of the two horizontal beams  2  and the second ledges  33  of the two connecting beams  3 . The support board  4  includes a bottom side having a plurality of positioning grooves  41  for engaging with the positioning protrusions  231 . 
     In assembly, the four vertical posts  1  are located in four corners of the square area. The two horizontal beams  2  are mounted in opposite locations. Each first buckle  22  of each horizontal beam  2  is engaged with one of the first engaging holes  12  of a corresponding vertical post  1 . Each second engaging hole  13  is aligned with one of the third engaging holes  25 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Each first coupling groove  221  of each horizontal beam  2  is engaged with a bottom edge of a corresponding first engaging hole  12 . 
     The two connecting beams  3  are mounted in opposite locations. Each second buckle  32  of each connecting beam  3  extends through a corresponding third engaging hole  25  and a corresponding second engaging hole  13  (see  FIG. 3 ). With reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , each connecting beam  3  is pressed downward, such that each second coupling groove  321  securely receives a corresponding connecting wall  11  of a corresponding vertical post  1  and the first board  21  of a corresponding horizontal beam  2 . The inclined guiding surface  322  of each second coupling groove  321  provides a larger opening in the lower end of the second coupling groove  321  to permit easy downward movement of the second coupling groove  321  for coupling with the connecting wall  11  and the first board  21 . 
     The horizontal beams  2 , the connecting beams  3 , and the vertical posts  1  are connected to each other to provide a three-dimensional structure with a better coupling effect and a better supporting effect. The first ledges  23  and the first stopper plates  24  at the upper and lower ends of the horizontal beams  2  increase the anti-torsional effect and the anti-bending effect of the horizontal beams  2 . Furthermore, each end face  241  of each first stopper plate  24  abuts the corresponding sidewall  10  of the corresponding connecting wall  11  of the corresponding vertical post  1 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Furthermore, the second ledges  33  and the second stopper plates  34  at the upper end lower ends of the connecting beams  3  increase the anti-torsional effect and the anti-bending effect of the connecting beams  3 . Furthermore, each end face  341  of each second stopper plate  34  abuts the corresponding first board  21  of the corresponding horizontal beam  2 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Thus, the anti-torsion effect of the whole frame assembly can be increased. Furthermore, the support board  4  rest on top of the first ledges  23  of the horizontal beams  2  and the second ledges  33  of the connecting beams  3 , and the positioning grooves  41  of the support board  4  engage with the positioning protrusions  231  extending in different directions to reliably mount the support board  4  on top of the horizontal beams  2  and the connecting beams  3 . Thus, the support board  4  serves as a reinforcing member to increase the assembling strength of the whole shelf assembly. Furthermore, the shelf assembly according to the present invention can be assembled without bolts while providing a better coupling effect and a better supporting effect. 
     In an example, two horizontal beams  2 , two connecting beams  3 , and a support board  4  are mounted to upper ends of the four vertical posts  1 . Furthermore, another two horizontal beams  2 , another two connecting beams  3 , and another support board  4  are mounted to lower ends of the four vertical posts  1 . Thus, the assembling strength of the shelf assembly is further enhanced. In an example shown in  FIG. 7 , another two horizontal beams  2 , another two connecting beams  3 , and another support board  4  are mounted at middle portions of the four vertical posts  1 . Thus, the number and the heights of the mounting locations of the horizontal beams  2 , the connecting beams  3 , and the support boards  4  can be varied according to needs while increasing the assembling strength and the article storage convenience. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , six or more vertical posts can be assembled to form a shelf assembly having a larger volume. Furthermore, a rod  5  can be disposed between two horizontal beams  2  for hanging clothes. Furthermore, drawers  6  can be disposed in the shelf assembly. Furthermore, shielding boards  7  can be disposed to outer sides of the shelf assembly to form a closed closet. Thus, the present invention provides a better combination effect and better applicability. 
     In view of the foregoing, the present invention increases the convenience, stability, and security while assembling the shelf assembly. Furthermore, the vertical posts  1  can be of a multi-section design and can be coupled in the vertical direction or in other combination arrangements. Furthermore, the vertical posts  1  can be dismantled to reduce the volume. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.