Patent Abstract:
A dual function shelf unit has identical support columns, horizontal shelf-supporting beams adjustably-mounted on the columns for vertical shelf adjustment and one or more hooks also mountable on at least one column. The columns have apertures with complementary apertures having opposed inclined edges for accepting a beam-end bracket from either side of the column and tabs for accepting mounting flanges of hooks. Both beam-end brackets and hooks are each mounted in two vertically-spaced apertures. Vertically adjustable shelf and hook storage is provided.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to steel shelving and more particularly to a steel shelving unit providing both adjustable shelving as well as accessory functions for holding items other than on a shelf. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Steel shelving units comprising horizontal shelf-supporting beams with ends adjustably connected to vertical support columns for shelf height adjustment are known. While such units are very useful, it is desirable to provide such beams with improved structures for converting such beams to such columns. As well, it is frequently desirable to provide additional capacity in such units for holding items other than by positioning on the shelves themselves. Additionally, it is desired to provide for vertical adjustability of shelf unit accessories providing such additional capacity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    To these ends, a preferred embodiment of the invention includes an improved support column for a shelving unit with provisions for adjustably mounting shelf-supporting beams and accessories, such as a removable, adjustable, hook accessory for hanging items for storage or display, other than on the shelves of the unit. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, an improved support column according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of perforations or apertures in the column face and which operably accommodate end brackets of a horizontal shelf-supporting beam as well as removable accessories, such as hooks which cooperate with the apertures. 
         [0005]    Each perforation in the column is defined by a plurality of edges which define tapered support surfaces for cooperating with beam end brackets to adjustably mount the brackets in position up and down the columns. Transverse edges of the perforations or apertures are preferably bent or curved to support a bracket component of an accessory such as a hook. Both the beam-end bracket and the hook bracket interface with two adjacent, vertically-spaced, apertures in the column for securely holding them in a selected vertical position on the column. 
         [0006]    Preferably the perforations are symmetrical on the column face, and centrally disposed therein so a column can be used on both right and left sides of the shelving unit with all columns in the unit (typically four of them) preferably identical. 
         [0007]    The beam-end brackets are each angular or L-shaped, with one leg welded or affixed to the beam, and the other leg for lying adjacent to or on the column face over at least part of the column aperture. This other bracket leg preferably has tabs for extending into and engaging a tapered edge of each of two column apertures, one above the other, to hold the bracket and its fixed beam in a fixed, but removable position at selected vertical positions on the column. 
         [0008]    The hook bracket has extensions, one fitting over a curved portion of an upper aperture on the column and another over a similar curved portion of a next lower aperture for securing the hook in the column face at a selected vertical position. A tab, upwardly extending from the hook bracket, engages a rear side of the column face at the upper aperture to facilitate mounting ad holding the hook and accessory thereon. 
         [0009]    Other accessories, similarly mountable to the columns, and other than hooks, are contemplated. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, the invention provides a shelving unit having vertically adjustable shelf-supporting beams, as well as vertically adjustable accessories, both mountable on a supporting column at variable, selected, vertical positions. Improved perforation on the faces of the columns facilitates both beam and accessory mounting. 
         [0011]    These and other objectives and advantages will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the drawings in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of the overall shelving unit of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front isometric view of a column of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front isometric view of a horizontal shelf-supporting beam of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary isometric cross-sectional view generally taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a rear isometric view of the fragmentary isometric cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged isometric view of the encircled area of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a front partial view of the beam and post of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of the partial beam and post of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a front isometric view of a hook accessory spaced from a column shown in partial view; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view as in  FIG. 10 , but showing the hook accessory mounted to the column; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11  but showing the respectively rotated hook accessory being partially mounted to a column; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  but showing the hook accessory mounted to the column. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in  FIG. 1  an isometric view of a dual function shelf unit  10  according to one embodiment of the invention. Shelf unit  10  includes four vertical support columns  11 - 14 , a plurality of horizontal shelf-supporting beams  15 - 22 , a plurality of shelves  23 - 26  which are shown as wire-formed shelves but could be in other wire patterns, of solid material, of grate or other patterns or of any suitable shelf configuration, each supported by one of beams  15 - 18  and one of beams  19 - 22 , respectively. 
         [0026]    A plurality of horizontal braces  27 - 30  extend between respective columns  12 ,  13  and  11 - 14  as shown, as well as a plurality of slanted braces  31 ,  32  as shown. 
         [0027]    Optionally, a plurality of preferably identical tie bars  33 ,  34 ,  35  extend between respective ones of the front beams  15 - 18  and rear beams  19 - 22  to support shelves  23 - 26  respectively, these bars  33 - 35  extending respectively under each shelf and supported on the respective horizontal beams, particularly on flange  78  (see  FIGS. 4-6 ). 
         [0028]    A column  12  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , column  12  being preferably identical to columns  11 ,  13 ,  14  and thus only one being described in detail, each with preferably like parts. Identical construction allows a column to be used at any corner position in unit  10 . 
         [0029]    Columns  11 - 14  are in a C-shaped cross-sectional configuration (see also  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  10 - 13 ). Each column thus has a face  40 , a plurality of symmetrical apertures  42  in the face  40 , and a plurality of rectangularly-shaped apertures  44  in each leg  46 ,  48 . Each leg terminates along its legs  46 - 48  with its flanges  50 ,  52  completing configuration of column  12  (see  FIGS. 2 ,  6  and  9 , for example). 
         [0030]    Details of apertures  42  are perhaps best seen in  FIGS. 6-13 . Referring first to  FIG. 6 , each aperture  42  is preferably identical to each other aperture  42  in the respective columns. Each aperture  42  is oriented one above the other in the columns, equally spaced vertically and aligned centrally and symmetrically in column face  40 , as shown. Each aperture is defined in part by edges  54 ,  56 , tapering or inclined from a bottom edge  58 ,  60  upwardly and outwardly in face  40  to upper edges  62 ,  64 . 
         [0031]    A curved tab  66  extends upwardly between bottom edges  58 ,  60  and is turned or curved inwardly from face  40 . A second tab  68  extends downwardly as part of face  40  between edges  54 ,  56  and has an inwardly curved tab end  70 , as shown. 
         [0032]    Tapering or inclined edges  54 ,  56  may be continuously straight, or may define slightly different angles, such as at breaks  72 ,  74  as illustrated in  FIG. 6  such that upper regions of edges  54 ,  56  incline outwardly in face  40  at a slightly greater angle than lower regions of those edges to facilitate initial bracket engagement. 
         [0033]    Horizontal beams  15 - 22  are, like columns  11 - 14 , each preferably identical to each other so they can be interchangeably used in shelf unit  10 . Only one exemplary beam  17  will be described in detail. 
         [0034]    With initial reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , an elongated shelf support beam  17  includes a preferably embossed face  76 , having a plurality of outstanding ornamental projections  77  of any suitable form embossed, pressed from or otherwise defined in face  76 . 
         [0035]    Beam  17  is defined by a lower, rearwardly extending flange  78 , a first rearward extending upper flange  79 , a return  80  and a final rearwardly extending shelf-supporting flange  81 . Other beam configurations may be used but this beam provides both shelf-supporting flange  81  and lower, tie-bar supporting flange  78  as will be described. 
         [0036]    To an end of beam  17  is welded (or otherwise fixed) an L-shaped bracket  82  having a rearwardly extending leg  83  and a front leg  84 . A bracket  82   a,  which is essentially a mirror image and otherwise identical to bracket  82 , is fixed to the other end of beam  17  and is otherwise similar to the bracket  82 . Similar parts of the respective brackets are numbered with a suffix “a”. Legs or faces  84 ,  84   a  of brackets  82 ,  82   a  are provided with punched-out upper and lower locking tabs  87 ,  88 ,  87   a,    88   a  formed at an angle in leg  84  ,  84   a,  respectively ( FIGS. 4 ,  5 ). As will be described, these tabs serve to engage and interface with inclined edges  54  of adjacent apertures  42  (see  FIGS. 8 ,  9 ) holding and locking the brackets  82  to column  12 . Similar tabs  87   a,    88   a  will engage and interfere in similar fashion with inclined edge  56  of apertures  42  in another column  11  at the other end of the beam to hold and lock the bracket  82   a  and beam  17  to that column  11 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 6-8  further illustrate the interconnected relationship of a beam  17  to a column  12 . The other beam end is supported and locked such as on a column  11  by a bracket  82   a  operational in a similar fashion. 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 6 , bracket  82 , via tabs  87 ,  88  is locked onto column  12 . For example, the beam  17  and its fixed bracket are oriented proximate vertically adjacent apertures  42  in column  12 , with tabs  87 ,  88  initially proximate upper ends of apertures  42  so the tabs can be inserted into the apertures. When leg  82  is against face  40 , the bracket (and beam) is moved downwardly, tabs  87 ,  88  engaging and fitting around inclined edges  54  in the respective apertures. The distance between tabs  87 ,  88  and the leg  82  of the bracket causes, as the bracket moves downwardly, the tabs  87 ,  88  and leg  84  to be frictionally wedged onto column  12 , the engagement of respective tabs  87 ,  88  with edges  54  providing frictional, locking engagement of bracket  82  and beam  17  to column  12 . Similar complementary action of tabs  87   a  and  88   a  with inclined edges  56  of vertically-adjacent apertures  42  in column  11  secures the other end of the beam in vertically-coordinated position so the beam  17  is horizontally supported across and between columns  11  and  12  as described. 
         [0039]    The vertical locations of the beams  15 - 22  can be set on the columns as desired to provide the eventually desired spacing between any shelves as described in unit  10 . 
         [0040]    It will be further appreciated that the frictional interface between two respective apertures  42  in each column, and the single complimentary brackets at each end of the beam strengthens and rigidifies any tendency of the columns connected by the beams to “rack”, move or tilt toward or away from one another, resulting in a very strong, rigid unit  10  construction. This benefit is, in part, also provided by the engagement of the inner faces of legs  83 ,  84  with the respective leg  46  and face  40  of column  12  as well as tabs  87 ,  88  and inclined aperture edge  54 . Complementary engagement of complementary parts of bracket and column at the other beam end provide the same result. 
         [0041]    Accordingly, it will be appreciated that a shelf unit  10 , as described above, provides a rigid shelving function for a variety of applications. 
         [0042]    In a further embodiment of the invention, a further support function is provided by the addition of an accessory which provides a further article support or hanging function shelving unit  10 . 
         [0043]    This additional embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 10-13  of the drawings, wherein an accessory hook  90  is provided for use on a column, such as a column  12  as described above. In  FIG. 10 , hook accessory  90  includes a hook member  91  preferably rigidly-mounted at shank  91   a  to a hook bracket  92 . Bracket  92  includes a face surface  93 , a lower flange  94  with a depending tab  95 , and upper flange  96  with a downwardly depending tab  97 , and an upwardly extending locking tab  98 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 10  illustrates a column  12  and a hook accessory  90 , not yet assembled and  FIG. 11  illustrates a hook accessory  90  attached to a column  12 . In  FIG. 11 , it is noted that flanges  94  and  96  of hook accessory  90  rest on the curved tabs  66  respectively of vertically-oriented adjacent apertures  42  in face  40  of column  12 . Tabs  97 ,  95  prevent hook accessory  90  from being pulled outwardly, away from column  12 . Locking tab  98  prevents removal of hook accessory  90  horizontally and forwardly of column  12  since it engages or is in close blocking proximity to curved end  70  of tab  68  if moved directly forwardly. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 ,  FIG. 12  illustrates the preferred motion for attaching accessory hook  90  to a column such as  12 . In use, the upper end of hook  90  is inserted into an upper aperture  42 , tab  98  extending therein below, then behind end  70  of tab  68  in the aperture. Once the upper end of accessory hook  90  is extended into upper aperture  42 , the lower end of bracket  92  can be rotated into a lower aperture  42  and then bracket  92  lowered so tabs  97 ,  95  are locked behind the curved tab ends  66 , respectively of the vertically-adjacent apertures as in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 13 . 
         [0046]    Hook accessory  90  is thus removably but securely mounted at selected vertical positions up and down column  11 ,  12  and others, providing for additionally supporting functions for a variety of items on shelving unit  10 . In this embodiment, the hooks can be selectively spaced along the entire lengths of the columns excepting at the same position of the brackets  82 ,  82   a  on the columns for the horizontal shelf-supporting beams. 
         [0047]    Vertically-adjustable storage is thus not limited to the shelves only but includes the additional function of hanging items suitably on vertically-adjustable hooks. 
         [0048]    It will be appreciated that other storage or hanging accessories can be similarly attached to the columns to provide additional hanging or storage functions.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0