Collapsible structure for a shelving arrangement

Claim 2

A collapsible storage rack structure having plural pairs of elongated vertical posts, plural cross-bars connected between the vertical posts of each pair to form a rigid rectangular frame, and a plurality of elongated horizontal beams extending between and connected to adjacent pairs of substantially parallel rectangular frames, said beams being connected to said posts so as to be adjustable to different heights, comprising the improvement wherein each post comprises a plurality of elongated post sections each of truncated form, said post sections being positioned in end-to-end relationship so that said post is truncated and has a cross-section which continuously decreases from the lower end to the upper end thereof, and collar means coacting with adjacent post sections for fixedly connecting same together in said end-to-end relationship.

Claim 3

A structure according to claim 1, wherein each post section comprises a hollow member of substantially triangular cross section and formed from sheetlike metal, the two lengthwise edges of each hollow member being placed against each other and forming a rigid platelike external flange projecting outwardly from one side of the triangular cross-section, said horizontal beams extending between and being supported on the flanges of a pair of posts and the pair of posts in each frame being arranged so that the flanges extend inwardly toward each other and are substantially coplanar.

Claim 4

A structure according to claim 2, wherein said horizontal beam comprises a hollow member of triangular cross-section and formed from sheetlike metal, the two ends of said beam being flattened and cooperating with perforations cut at regular intervals through the external flanges of the truncated posts.

Claim 5

A structure according to claim 3, wherein the beams are positioned so that flat surfaces thereof face upwardly to support a load.

Claim 6

A structure according to claim 3, wherein each flattened end of the beam has at least two horizontal, parallel and spaced fingers which project through different perforations in the post, said perforations being sufficiently wide to receive simultaneously in side-by-side relationship the fingers of two adjacent beams which are positioned in lengthwise extension of each other.

Claim 7

A structure according to claim 5, wherein the lower edges of said fingers have notches cooperating with the wall means defining the lower edge of the corresponding perforation of the post to assure correct positioning of the beams between the posts.

Claim 8

A structure according to claim 3, wherein each beam has at least two horizontal, parallel and spaced fingers at one of its ends, said fingers projecting through separate perforations in said post, the other end of said beam having an inverted U-shaped portion arranged for support on the fingers of an adjacent beam as they project through the perforations of the corresponding post.

Claim 9

A structure according to claim 7, wherein a pair of said beams are arranged in lengthwise extension and their adjacent ends are interconnected by bolt means extending through the U-shaped portion of one beam and one of the fingers of the other beam.

Claim 10

A structure according to claim 1, wherein each post section comprises a hollow tubular member formed from sheetlike material, the two lengthwise edges of said hollow member being placed against each other and forming a rigid platelike external flange projecting outwardly from said hollow member, said platelike flange extending lOngitudinally throughout the complete length of said hollow member, the individual platelike flanges of the individual post sections being aligned with one another when said post sections are assembled in end-to-end relationship, the external flange of each hollow member having a plurality of perforations extending transversely therethrough with said plurality of perforations being spaced from one another and disposed within a row extending in the longitudinal direction of said hollow member, and the pair of posts in each frame being arranged so that the flanges extend inwardly toward one another and are substantially coplanar; and said horizontal beams extending between and being supported on the flanges of a pair of posts, each said horizontal beam being flattened and cooperating with the perforations formed in the external flanges of said posts, at least one of the flattened ends of said beam being comprised of at least two substantially parallel and horizontally elongated fingers projecting outwardly from the end of said beam substantially in the longitudinal direction thereof, said two fingers being vertically spaced one above the other so as to project through two different perforations formed in said external flange, said fingers projecting through and beyond the other side of said flange for a substantial distance.

Claim 11

A structure according to claim 9, wherein the other end of said beam is provided with a pair of horizontally elongated, substantially parallel, vertically spaced fingers extending outwardly from the end thereof in the longitudinal direction of said beam, each of the fingers on the opposite ends of said beam having a notch formed therein and projecting upwardly from the bottom surface thereof, said notch being located approximately midway between the opposite ends of the finger and being adapted to receive therein a portion of said platelike flange after said finger has been projected through one of said perforations.

Claim 12

A structure according to claim 9, wherein each said beam comprises a hollow tubular member formed from sheetlike material, said hollow member having at least one flat surface positioned so as to face upwardly, and the opposite ends of said hollow member being flattened and disposed for cooperation with the perforations formed in said vertical flanges for securing said horizontal beams to said posts.