Adjustable rack of shelves

Claim 2

A shelf for a rack of shelves which are supported by at least two corner posts, each of said corner posts provided with a plurality of recesses spaced at intervals along the length of said posts, a plurality of sleeves for receiving said corner posts, each of said sleeves having an internal passageway complementary in shape to said corner posts whereby said sleeves may slide longitudinally along said posts, detent means formed on the inside of said passageway of each of said sleeves for cooperating with said recesses whereby said sleeves may be held in place on said posts by said detent means fitting into a selected one of said recesses, comprising a molded or formed all plastic shelf having a surface and having at least one peripheral open channel formed therein and on the underside therof, said channel opening to the exterior of the shelf surface, plastic sockets molded into at least two corners of said shelf for receiving said corner posts, metal reinforcing members inserted within said channel through said channel opening, a plurality of metal sockets disposed in said plastic sockets for receiving and capturing said sleeves when said sleeves are held in place on said posts.

Claim 3

The shelf of claim 1 wherein said metal reinforcing members comprise a metal frame formed from a plurality of side rails joined at their ends to said metal sockets, said rails shaped and dimensioned to fit into said channels.

Claim 4

The shelf of claim 2 wherein said side rail includes a transverse flange disposed along the bottom of said rail and positioned to extend across almost all of the opening in said channel thus tending to seal the channel against any entry of foreign matter.

Claim 5

The shelf of claim 3 wherein said side rail has a somewhat C-shaped cross section and said transverse flange is the lower portion of said C-shape.

Claim 6

The shelf of claim 2 wherein said side rail has a somewhat C-shaped cross-section, the bottom flange of said C-shaped cross-section being less than the width of said opening, a cover plate extending along a width and length of said channel to cover and close said channel, said cover plate hving a thin strip of plastic integrally formed thereon to slip over and thus attach to said flange, said fastener means for holding said cover plate in place.

Claim 7

The shelf of claim 2 wherein said side rail has a box shaped cross-section which substantially fills the channel.

Claim 8

The shelf of claim 2 and a sealant covering said frame and extending across said peripheral channel for sealing said metal frame in said channel, whereby chemicals spilled on said shelf do not attack said frame.

Claim 9

The shelf of claim 2 and a cap shaped to fit around said post and adapted to rest on top of and in close abutment with said molded plastic socket for covering and closing any crack between said sockets and a corner post.

Claim 10

The shelf of claim 1 wherein at least one intermediate support member extends across the underside of the shelf intermediate the ends of the metal reinforcing members, and a channel is formed in said plastic shelf for said intermediate support member to fit into.

Claim 11

The shelf of claim 1 wherein a plurality of vertical fins from an underside of said shelf to add vertical supporting strength to said shelf.

Claim 12

The shelf of claim 10 including an upper surface wherein openings are formed in said upper surface through said shelf between said vertical fins.

Claim 13

The shelf of claim 1 wherein said shelf has a solid upper surface.

Claim 14

The shelf of claim 12 wherein said shelf has a raised upwrdly extending lip around the perimeter of the upper surface of the shelf.

Claim 15

The shelf of claim 1 wherein said shelf has openings formed therein.

Claim 16

A shelving system of all plastic shelves having corners with corner post receiving sockets formed therein; corner posts with a plurality of capture means formed periodically along the length thereof for engaging and securing said shelf in place at a desired position on said posts; keeper means for mating with said capture means and adapted to fit around said corner posts and to engage said shelves and to secure the shelves in place on said posts at selected ones of said capture means; comprising a plurality of shelves being made of molded or formed plastic, each of said shelves having at least one channel extending peripherally along the edge of said shelf and terminating in said corner sockets which are attached to said shelf; a metal frame having side rails disposed in said channel; and a plurality of metal sockets attached to said side rails and disposed in said molded or formed corner sockets, the metal sockets of said metal frame being shaped and dimensioned to receive and hold said keeper.

Claim 17

A shelving system of all plastic shelves having corners with corner post receiving sockets formed therein; corner posts with a plurality of capture means formed periodically along the length thereof for engaging and securing said shelf in place at a desired position on said posts; keeper means for mating with said capture means and adapted to fit around said corner posts and to engage said shelves and to secure the shelves in place on said posts at selected ones of said capture means; comprising a plurality of shelves being made of molded or formed plastic, each of said shelves having at least one channel extending peripherally along the edge of said shelf and terminating in said corner sockets which are attached to said shelf; a metal frame having side rails disposed in said channel; and a plurality of metal sockets attached to said side rails and disposed in said molded or formed corner sockets, the metal sockets of said metal frame being shaped and dimensioned to receive and hold said keeper.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15 and at least one cover plate for closing said channel after said frame is fitted therein in order to prevent entry of foreign matter into said channel.

Claim 19

The system of claim 15 and sealant means for sealing said metal frame into said channel.

Claim 20

The system of claim 15 and vertical fins which are integrally formed on the bottom of said shelf and depend downward from said shelf to give added strength.

Claim 21

The system of claim 15 and a cap shaped to fit around said post and adapted to rest on top of said plastic socket molded into said shelf for sealing any crack between said plastic socket and said corner post.

Claim 22

A shelf for a rack of shelves which are supported by at least two corner posts, each of said corner posts provided with a plurality of capture means formed periodically along the length thereof for engaging and securing said shelf in place at a desired position on said posts, a plurality of keeper means for mating with said capture means and adapted to fit around said corner posts to secure said shelves in place on said posts, comprising a molded or formed all-plastic shelf having a surface and having at least one open peripheral channel formed therein and on the underside thereon, said channels opening to the exterior of the shelf surface, plastic sockets molded or formed into at least two corners of said shelf, metal reinforcing members inserted within said channel, said members comprising a metal frame formed from a plurality of side rails each of which includes a transverse flange disposed along the bottom of said rail and positioned to extend across the opening in said channel thus tending to seal the channel against any entry of foreign matter, and a plurality of metal sockets disposed in said plastic sockets for receiving and holding said keepers when said keepers are mated with said capture means.

Claim 23

A shelf for a rack of shelves which are supported by at least two corner posts, each of said corner posts provided with a plurality of capture means formed periodically along the length thereof for engaging and securing said shelf in place at a desired position on said posts, a plurality of keeper means for mating with said capture means and adapted to fit around said corner posts to secure said shelves in place on said posts, comprising a molded or formed all-plastic shelf having a surface and having at least one open peripheral channel formed therein and on the underside thereon, said channels opening to the exterior of the shelf surface, plastic sockets molded or formed into at least two corners of said shelf, metal reinforcing members inserted within said channel, said members comprising a metal frame formed from a plurality of side rails each of which includes a transverse flange disposed along the bottom of said rail and positioned to extend across the opening in said channel thus tending to seal the channel against any entry of foreign matter, and a plurality of metal sockets disposed in said plastic sockets for receiving and holding said keepers when said keepers are mated with said capture means.

Claim 24

The shelf of claim 20 wherein said side rails has a somewhat C-shaped cross section and said transverse flange is the lower portion of said C-shape.

Claim 25

The shelf of claim 20 wherein said side rail has a somewhat C-shaped cross-section, the bottom flange of said C-shaped cross-section being less than the width of said opening, a cover plate extending along a width and length of said channel to cover and close said channel, said cover plate having a thin strip of plastic integrally formed thereon to slip over and thus attach to said flange, and fastener means for holding said cover plate in place.