Base element connection for sheet metal furniture

Claim 1

In an article of sheet metal furniture, such as a merchandising display stand, comprising a sheet metal upright post, and first and second sheet metal panels meeting the post at right angles to each other, an improved structure wherein: the upright post comprises a sheet of metal formed into a horizontal cross-sectional configuration having first and second vertically elongated planar sections meeting each other at right angles along a first vertical corner line, and a third vertically elongated planar section meeting the first section along a second vertical corner line spaced from the first vertical line, the second and third sections being on opposite sides of the plane of the first section; the first panel is rigidly attached to the upright post and comprises a first panel section meeting the second section of the post perpendicularly at a location spaced from the first corner line, and a second panel section unitary with the first panel section and extending perpendicularly from the end of the first panel section, along the second section of the post, and past the first vertical corner line so that a portion of the third section of the post and a portion of the second panel section are positioned opposite and parallel to each other, the second panel section having an edge remote from the intersection of the first and second panel sections, said edge being oblique in a vertical plane with the distance between its lower end and said intersection being less than the distance between its upper end and said intersection, said second panel section having a flange along said oblique edge, said flange being unitary with the second panel section, meeting the second panel section along an oblique line of intersection, and extending toward the space between the second panel section and the third section of the post; and the second panel comprises a third panel section extending parallel to the third section of the post and into the space between the third section of the post and said second panel section, said third panel section lying against the third section of the post and having an edge meeting said first panel section, a fourth panel section, unitary with the third panel section, and extending perpendicularly from said edge of the third panel section, lying against said first section of the post and extending to and meeting the second panel section, and a fifth panel section, unitary with the fourth panel section, extending perpendicularly from the fourth panel section and lying against the second panel section, the fifth panel section having an oblique edge in a vertical plane, said oblique edge conforming to the line of intersection between the second panel section and its flange; whereby a downward force on the second panel causes the oblique edge of the fifth panel section, in cooperation with the line of intersection between the second panel section and its flange, to effect tightening of the fourth panel section against the first section of the post.