Patent Publication Number: US-2004052580-A1

Title: Connection clip for boltless storage units and work benches with concealed holes angle post

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] Not Applicable  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002] Not Applicable  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
       [0003] Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] Boltless storage units and work benches are usually composed of angle posts, beams and shelves. Other accessories like hang bars, dividers, supports, drawers etc. can be used. Storage units can be single or multiple.  
       [0005] The beams are connected to posts with rivets. The angle posts have keyhole shaped punched holes. Angle posts with concealed holes are folded in such a way that the leg of the angle is doubled and the holes are punched in the interior fold so they are hidden behind the exterior fold (Drawing  2 ). Special rivets are permanently connected to the beams. They go into the larger side of the keyholes and then the beam is tapped down with a mallet so the rivets move into the smaller hole. Gravity and the load hold the beams into place.  
       [0006] Freestanding units are usually composed of four posts and the necessary number of beams and other components. Multiple freestanding units can be installed side by side or back to back (Drawing  3 ).  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The purpose of the Connection Clip is to attach two side by side or back to back shelving units or work benches units together by connecting the adjacent angle posts with a spring action connection.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0008] Drawing  1 —General isometric view  
     [0009] Drawing  2 —Concealed Angle Post  
     [0010]FIG. 1—Front view  
     [0011]FIG. 2—Back view  
     [0012] Drawing  3 —Multiple freestanding shelving units example  
     [0013] Drawing  4 —Concealed Angle Post Connection  
     [0014]FIG. 1—Clip positioning  
     [0015]FIG. 2—Connected posts 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0016] The Connection Clip is a folded piece of spring steel (Drawing  1 ).  
     [0017] The clip is folded in such a way that two adjacent legs of the angle posts fit inside it when held together.  
     [0018] Four indents are provided, two on each side of the clip. They are positioned and sized to match the angle posts keyholes.  
     [0019] The clip is positioned at the keyhole level and then pressed against the two adjacent legs of the angle posts (Drawing  4 —FIG. 1).  
     [0020] When pressed against the posts, the indents snap into the keyholes and the clip keeps the posts tight together with a four point connection (Drawing  4 —FIG. 2).  
     [0021] Based on the size of the units and the desired rigidity of the assembly, one or more clips can be used per pair of posts.