Patent ID: 8672577

Claim:
A post coupler for use in a shelving unit having composite corner posts of two angular post sections having outer surfaces and comprising post flanges of predetermined thickness and having lateral edges, one post section atop another, each post section proximate a respecting abutting end with another post section having rivet receiving apertures therein, spaced from said lateral edges a first distance, for receiving rivets extending from end portions of horizontal, shelf-supporting beams, said post coupler comprising: a pair of integral post coupler flanges disposed at an included angle respecting each other, said coupler flanges having exterior surfaces; a reverse bend flange extending outwardly from each post coupler flange and for orientation along an exterior surface of a post flange, each reverse bend flange having a width less than said first distance, each reverse bend flange and each respective post coupler flange forming a gap therebetween as wide as said predetermined thickness for receiving a post flange therein; and a plurality of rivet receiving apertures in said post coupler flanges and of the same configuration as the rivet receiving apertures in the post sections for indexing with apertures in said post sections, when said coupler couples said post sections together and wherein said reverse bend flanges of said couplers have lateral edges extending laterally along said reverse bend flanges and spaced from said apertures in said post coupler flanges, and said coupler further including an upper edge and a lower edge, both said edges comprising a projection extending beyond ends of said reverse bend flanges for facilitating assembly of said coupler and said post sections.