Structural Members and Assemblages

The invention relates to structural members and assemblages and more particularly to light weight and easily assembled shelving structures and connectors.

Shelving structures are formed by the connection of members into frameworks which accommodate shelving. Such structures are needed for the organization, storage and support of articles.

A suitable form of shelving structure can be provided by using cantilever supports which are securely anchored in, for example, a wall. Alternatively the desired shelving can be provided by using support cleats which are securely attached to side panels.

While the foregoing kinds of shelving structures are generally suitable for the support and storage of articles, they can require a significant amount of assembly and can be relatively expensive, particularly if they are to support appreciable loads.

In the case of cantilever supports, for example, it is necessary to provide a heavily reinforced wall anchor, in order to provide the weight of the support brackets from prying the shelving from the anchor points in the case of even moderately heavy loads. In any case, conventional shelving structures require the use of substantial amounts of material to provide the desired framework and the shelving.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to simplify the production of structural assemblages. A related object is to simplify the production of assemblages for shelving which is required to support both ordinary and extraordinary loading.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the assemblage of structural supports. A related object is to realize a structure assemblage in which the constituent members can be joined together without the use of special tools. A related object of the invention is to provide a suitable assemblage in which the constituent members can be assembled substantially by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structural assemblage which can be simply suspended from the supporting wall. Another object is to eliminate the need for cantilever supports which are included with respect to the wall as well as the need for cleats which are anchored inside panels.

Another object of the invention is to realize the structural assemblage which can be hung from a supporting wall without any appreciable alteration in the wall structure.

In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides a connector that is easily positioned with respect to an outer surface of one structural member and is insertable into a cross-sectional opening of another structural member being joined to the first member.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention the structural members are formed by hollow tubing and the connector is in the form of a clip which at least partially embraces an outer wall of one of the members and has projecting prongs or fingers. The prongs or fingers of the connector thus mounted is then enveloped and compressed by the other member.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the connector is of aluminum with its prongs configured to have a spring-like characteristic, and has a width which is larger than the maximum cross-section opening of the structural member that it is to receive. As a result, the enveloping member applies compressive force to the connector and causes it to grip tightly the member which it embraces.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention the connectors are employed with constituent members to form a lightweight framework that is readily assembled manually and is suspended from a mounting surface, such as a wall, by using an extended attachment member which has one end secured to the mounting wall and the other end secured in the framework.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the attachment member is in the form of a hook that is pivotally mounted in the wall using, for example, an eyelet, as well as pivotally mounted in the framework. As a result the framework is easily suspended from the supporting wall without requiring any significant alteration or modification of the wall, and at the same time the diagonal configuration of the attachment member provides a desirable distribution of the forces that allow the framework to support significant loads.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent after considering several illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structural assemblage in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a portion of the assemblage of FIG. 1, showing one constituent member separated from another;

FIG. 2B is a further view of FIG. 2A showing the connector separated from its associated member;

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of FIG. 2B from the mounting side of the connector;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an alternative structural assemblage in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the mounting of a shelf in the assemblage of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a sketch illustrating a hypothetical distribution of forces for the structure of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a disassembled portion of the assemblage of FIG. 1 with an alternative connector;

FIG. 4B is a further view of FIG. 4A showing the assemblage in the process of reassembly;

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the alternate connector of FIG. 4A

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of members being coupled in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 5B is a perspective of a clamp and clip in accordance with the invention.

Turning to the drawings of a structural assemblage in accordance with the invention, taking the form of a framework, is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown, the framework 10 is formed by two structural members 11-1 and 11-2. The framework 10 can be readily suspended from a mounting surface, such as a wall 12, by a diagonal attachment member 13.

A particularly suitable form of attachment member 13 is an elongated rod with oppositely rounded ends 13a and 13b. One of the rounded ends 13a is secured with respect to the wall 12 by being inserted, for example, into an anchor eye hook 14. As a result, the diagonal member 13 is pivotable with respect to the anchor hook 14 to produce a suitable distribution of forces. The opposite end 13b of the diagonal member 13, which is an oppositely curved projection from that of the anchor end 13a, is secured to the assemblage 10 by a rounded aperture in the member 11-2 to permit a similar pivoting action at the junction of the member 13 with the member 11-2.

By contrast with prior art support assemblages, the assemblage 10 is not joined to the wall support 12 at the end 11e. As a result, the force exerted against the assemblage 10 amounts to a component of thrust on the end 113 which is balanced by a horizontal component of the thrust along the diagonal member 13.

The constituent members 11-1 and 11-2 of the assemblage 10 are removably joined to one another using connectors of the type 20 shown in FIG. 2A. The connector 20 is manually mounted on the second member 11-2 so that it has an outwardly projecting portion that receives and is enveloped by the axial opening 11c of the first member 11-1. For illustration, the members 11-1 and 11-2 are of lightweight aluminum, with approximately rectangular cross-sections. Aluminum members of this type can be formed by longitudinally folding an aluminum strip and butt joining the free longitudinal edges.

The connector 20 is advantageously made of spring steel with the projecting portion being formed by side panels 23-1 and 23-2 that are joined to an end panel 21 by connecting diagonal panels 22-1 and 22-2. At the mounting edge of the connector 20, the side panels 23-1 and 23-2 are joined to respective sets of corner members 24-1, 25-1 and 24-2 and 25-2. The corner members 25-1 and 25-2 end, in turn, in fingers, such as 26-1 and 26-2, that are inserted into apertures, such as the openings 11a-1 and 11a-2, of the support member 11-2.

The apertures for each set of fingers on the opposing mounting panels 25-1 and 25-2 are in a row of the support member that is perpendicular to its principal axis. Thus the apertures 11a-1 and 11a-2 of the member 11-2 are in a row that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A.

More than one set of fingers, and consequently more than one set of apertures, can be provided to secure the connector 20 to its support 11-2, as indicated in FIGS. 2B and 2C where a second row of apertures 11a-3 and 11a-4 is provided for a second set of fingers 26-3 and 26-4.

In any event the separation of the apertures in each row is desirably greater than the gap between the associated fingers. Thus the distance of aperture separation D1 shown in FIG. 2B is greater than the distance of finger separation D2 shown in FIG. 2C.

Accordingly, the connector 20 is attached to the support 11-2 by first inserting the finger or fingers of one of the panels 25-1 or 25-2 into a column of apertures and separating the connector panels 23-1 and 23-2 until the remaining fingers can enter the remaining apertures. Thus, the fingers 26-2 and 26-4 (shown in FIG. 2C) can be inserted into the apertures 11a-2 and 11a-4 (FIG. 2B), and the panel 23-1 separated from the panel 23-2 until the fingers 26-1 and 26-3 are able to enter the apertures 11a-1 and 11a-3.

As a result, the connector 20 becomes projectingly attached to the support 11-2 as shown in FIG. 2A, and cannot fall from its mounting position by virtue of the engagement of the fingers 26-1 through 4 with the apertures 11a-1 through 4.

At the same time, the interaperture distance D1 is less than the finger panel distance D3. Consequently the connector 20 in the absence of stress applied to it, hangs loosely on the support 11-2.

In addition the distance D4 between the side panels 23-1 and 23-2, in the absence of stress, is greater than the cross sectional opening 11C of the member 11-1. However, to facilitate receipt of the member 11-1 by the connector 20, the side panels 23-1 and 23-2 are desirably configures as a partial wedge, with the distance of separation D5 near the diagonal panels being approximately the same as opening 11C.

Accordingly, when the connector 20 is inserted into the cross-sectional opening 11c, the side panels 23-1 and 23-2 are forced inwardly and apply spring tension against the inner walls of the member 11-1. This also brings the panels 25-1 and 25-2 towards each other, causing their junctions with the fingers 26-1 through 4 to grip the edges of the apertures 11a-1 through 4. The result is a secure connection of the two members 11-1 and 11-2. At the same time, however, the connection can be released without damaging the members 11-1 and 11-2, by applying sufficient force to overcome the spring tension between the connector 20 and the member 11-1. This permits the assemblage 20 to be readily assembled and disassembled, while simultaneously permitting a coupling of between members of substantially the same quality as a permanent connection, for example of the welded type.

It will be understood that only one mode of attachment of the connector 20 to its support member 11-2 and coupling to the received member 11-1 is illustrated by FIGS. 2A through 2C and that many other modes are possible.

A complete structural assembly 30 using members 11-1 through 11-3, together with members 11-4 through 11-12 to form a framework with shelves 32-1 through 32-5 is shown in FIG. 3A.

The framework members 11-1 through 11-6 of the side support 31-1 are held together by connectors (not visible in FIG. 3A) of the type 20, illustrated in FIGS. 2A through 2C, as are the members 11-7 through 11-12 of the other side support 31-2.

The two side supports 31-1 and 31-2 are joined by the shelves 32-1 through 32-5. The mode of attachment is illustrated in FIG. 3B for the illustrative shelf 32-3 which is connected to members 11-5 and 11-12.

The connection of the shelf 32-3 to the members 11-5 and 11-12 is made using anchors 33-1 through 33-6 and plugs 33'-1 through 33'-6.

The anchors are inserted through aligned apertures 34-1 through 34-6 in the shelf 32-3 into corresponding apertures 35-1 through 35-6 in the members 11-5 and 11-12. The plugs 33'-1 through 33'-6 are then inserted into the anchors, causing their base portions to expand and secure the shelf in place. The shelf 32-3 is advantageously of lightweight material which is reinforced at its front edge by a metallic sleeve 37 which is held in place by clips. A suitable lightweight material is provided by synthetics such as polymers, and a suitable sleeve is provided by aluminum.

Once the shelving structure 30 is completely assembled, it can be suspended from a wall 40 using the elongated hooks 13-1 and 13-2 which correspond to the attachment member 13 in FIG. 1.

It is speculated that the distribution of forces for the assembly 30 is in accordance with the force diagram of FIG. 3C. Since there are two attachment members 31-1 and 31-2, one-half of the collective weight W of the supported objects is balanced by one of the components C1 of the force F along the support member 31-1. The other component C2 is believed to be balanced by the thrust T exerted by the wall 40. In any event empirical tests have demonstrated that the assembly can accommodate significant loading without damage. At the same time the assembly 30 is easy to store and ship in component form. It can be made of lightweight materials which can be easily assembled and disassembled, without requiring special tools or requiring significant structural modifications in mounting surfaces, such as walls. Yet the assembly 30 is able to take an appreciable amount of loading.

In FIG. 4A, the constituent members 11-1 and 11-2 of the assemblage 10 are removably joinable to one another by an alternative embodiment 20' of the connector 20 shown in FIG. 2A. The alternative connector 20' is manually mounted on the second member 11-2 so that it has an outwardly projection portion 20p that receives and is enveloped by the axial opening 11c of the first member 11-1.

The connector 20' is advantageously made of aluminum, with the projecting portion 20p having side panels 23-1' and 23-2' that are joined to a head member 26' by neck members 25-1' and 25-2'.

The head 26' has the general configuration of the member 11-2 to which it is attached. By contrast with the connector 20 of FIG. 2A, the connector 20' is slidable along the member 11-2 so that it can be positioned where desired by the user.

The divergence d of the projecting panels 23-1' and 23-2' is greater than the axial opening 11c. Consequently when the panels 23-1' and 23-2' are inserted into the opening as shown in FIG. 4B, there is a side thrust that is transmitted to the head 26' through the neck members 25-1' and 25-2'. The result is that the head 26' is securely held in place without the need for any auxiliary fasteners or modification in the support member 11-2.

A perspective view of the alternative connector 20' is shown viewed from the head 26' in FIG. 4C. It will be understood that the head 26' is the same general configuration of that of the support member to which it is slidably attached. Thus if the support member is of tubular cross-section, the head 26' is likewise of tubular configuration, with an arcuate periphery that extends to the neck members 25-1' and 25-2'. The attachment of the projecting panels 23-1' and 23-2' to the head 26' attached neck region is by members 25-1' and 25-2' in which there is a reversal of curvature in going from the head 26' to each of the projecting panels 23-1' and 23-2'.

Accordingly, the slope of the peripheral curve C shown on one side of the connector 20' in FIG. 4C has a zero slope beginning at position c-1 and increasingly changes to a maximum at an inflection position c-2 then decreases becoming zero once again at a minimum position c-3 and thereafter increases to an inflection position c-4 following which the slope begins to assymptotically approach zero at position c-5. The slope of course never reaches zero in order to maintain the desired separation d of the projecting panels 23-1' and 23-2'.

The coupling of support members in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 5A. A support member 11-a is joined to another support member 11-b by a coupler 50 in the form of a "U" shaped open channel which is inserted into the axial openings of the members 11-a and 11-b as shown. The latter advantageously have internal projections 11p which act as stops and can be proportioned with a ramp region facing the incoming edge of the coupler so as to jam the coupler into position when the members 11-a and 11-b are brought together in the direction of the axial arrows C C. Accordingly the distance of separation between the internal projections 11p of adjoiningly coupled members when in their final, coupled position is advantageously on the order of the length of the coupler 50. Where the members 11-a and 11-b are of aluminum, the coupler 50 is also of aluminum.

The expedited assembly of the shelving to support members is illustratively shown in FIG. 5B where the support member 11-1 has associated with it a clamp 60 with a portion 60a that envelopes a part of the external surface of the member 11-1 and has another part 60b that is elevated above the member 11-1 and contains an internal barb 60-c. Shelving is attached between the clamp 60 and the member 11-1 using a spring metal clip 61 that is overlappingly placed on the edge on an illustrative shelf 62. Clip 61 has oppositely and outwardly projecting edges 61a and 61b. Internal projections 61c and 61d securely engage opposite surfaces of the shelf 62. The assemble the shelf 62 with the clip 61 to the member 11-1 using the clamp 60, the members are brought together in the direction of the arrows D until the upstanding edge 61a of the clip 61 engages the barb 60c. Similarly the lower upstanding edge 61b bites into the surface of the member 11-1 to hold the shelf 62 in position. The shelf 62 is advantageously of a durable synthetic material such as the material sold under the name "Masonite".

The invention accordingly provides shelving and structural components of increased strength and complete adjustability of shelves and supporting members, as well as efficient packaging and modest component and production cost.

While various aspects of the invention have been set forth by the drawings and the specification, it is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is for illustration only and that various changes in parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent constituents for those shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.