Lock for securing front rail to wire shelving

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10517410-B2
Application number	US-201715705518-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2017
Priority date	Jul 16, 2013
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A fastener for securing a rail to a wire shelf having a plurality of support rods extending in parallel spaced-apart fashion. The fastener has a fastener body with an elongate rail engaging flange, a shelf engaging flange, and a connecting shaft portion extending between the rail engaging flange and the shelf engaging flange. The rail engaging flange is insertable through an elongate opening of an the rail in a first orientation and, upon rotation of the fastener, the rail engaging flange is configured to extend across said elongate opening thereby restricting withdrawal therefrom, while the shelf engaging flange traps a support member of the shelf thereby interlocking the associated rail to the associated shelf.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fastener for securing an associated rail to an associated wire shelf having a plurality of support rods extending in parallel spaced-apart fashion, the fastener comprising:
a monolithic fastener body including an elongate rail engaging flange defining a first width, a shelf engaging flange defining a second width, and a connecting shaft extending between and connecting the rail engaging flange and the shelf engaging flange;
wherein the connecting shaft has a generally cylindrical cross-section defining a first diameter substantially equal to the second width, and a reduced diameter portion defining a second diameter less than the first diameter, the generally cylindrical cross-section extending along a portion of a length of the connecting shaft, the reduced diameter portion defining a shoulder;
wherein the shelf engaging flange has at least one cam structure extending therefrom in a direction towards the rail engaging flange, the at least one cam structure being spaced apart from the connecting shaft and defining a channel therewith for receipt of a support rod of the associated wire shelf;
wherein the rail engaging flange is insertable through an elongate opening of an associated rail in a first orientation and, upon rotation of the fastener to a second orientation, the rail engaging flange is configured to extend across said elongate opening thereby restricting withdrawal therefrom, while the shelf engaging flange traps a support rod of the associated shelf in the channel thereby interlocking the associated rail to the associated shelf.

2. The fastener of claim 1 , further comprising a finger grip extending from the shelf engaging flange in a direction opposite the connecting shaft.

3. The fastener of claim 2 , wherein the at least one cam structure includes a cam surface having an arcuate profile extending in a direction perpendicular to the finger grip and in a direction towards the rail engaging flange.

4. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein each of the rail engaging flange and the shelf engaging flange extend beyond common opposite sides of the first diameter of the connecting shaft.

5. The fastener of claim 4 , wherein the shelf engaging flange and rail engaging flange are oval-shaped.

6. The fastener of claim 5 , wherein the shelf engaging flange has a longitudinal extent that is greater than a longitudinal extent of the rail engaging flange.

7. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is unitary and of one piece.

8. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder is disposed between the rail engaging flange and the shelf engaging flange.

9. A fastener for securing an associated rail to an associated wire shelf having a plurality of spaced apart support rods extending in a common direction, the fastener comprising:
a monolithic fastener body comprising a rail engaging member, a shelf engaging member spaced apart from the rail engaging member, the shelf engaging member including at least one contact structure extending from the shelf engaging member in a direction towards the rail engaging member and adapted to engage a support rod of the associated wire shelf, and a connecting portion extending between the rail engaging member and the shelf engaging member;
wherein the connecting portion of the fastener is received in an elongate opening of the associated rail and the contact structure of the shelf engaging member engages a support rod of the associated wire shelf, and
wherein the rail engaging member defines a first width and the shelf engaging member defines a second width, and wherein the connecting portion includes a first portion defining a first diameter and a second portion defining a second diameter, the second diameter substantially equal to the second width and greater than the first diameter.

10. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the at least one contact structure is spaced apart from the connecting portion and defines a channel therewith for receipt of the support rod.

11. The fastener of claim 10 , wherein the fastener is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation, and wherein upon rotation of the fastener to the second orientation, the rail engaging member is configured to extend across the elongate opening and the shelf engaging member is configured to trap the support rod in the channel.

12. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the at least one contact structure includes a cam surface having an arcuate profile extending in a direction towards the rail engaging member.

13. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the shelf engaging member and rail engaging member are oval-shaped.

14. The fastener of claim 13 , wherein the shelf engaging member has a longitudinal extent that is greater than a longitudinal extent of the rail engaging member.

15. The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the first diameter defines a shoulder between the rail engaging member and the shelf engaging member.

16. A fastener for securing an associated rail to an associated wire shelf having a plurality of support rods extending in parallel spaced-apart fashion, the fastener comprising:
a first flange including a first surface defining a first width extending in a first direction and a first length extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction, the first length being greater than the first width;
a second flange integrally formed with the first flange for rotation therewith between a first orientation and a second orientation, the second flange including a second surface defining a second width extending in the first direction and a second length extending in the second direction, the second surface having a first cam structure extending therefrom and along the second surface in the first direction; and
a connecting shaft extending between the first flange and the second flange, wherein the connecting shaft includes a first portion defining a first diameter and a second portion defining a second diameter, the second diameter substantially equal to the second width and greater than the first diameter.

17. The fastener of claim 16 , wherein the second surface includes a second cam structure extending therefrom and along the second surface in the first direction, the connecting shaft disposed between the first cam structure and the second cam structure.

18. The fastener of claim 16 , wherein the first cam structure is spaced apart from the connecting shaft and defines a channel therebetween.

19. The fastener of claim 16 , wherein the first cam structure includes a cam surface having an arcuate profile extending in a direction towards the first flange.

20. The fastener of claim 16 , wherein the first diameter defines a shoulder between the first flange and the second flange.

Assignees

• Fasteners For Retail Inc

Inventors

• Williams Richard A
• Szpak Gerald Matthew

Classifications

• F16B2/08

  using bands · CPC title

• F16B12/42

  connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts {(connecting table tops to underframes A47B13/003)} · CPC title

• A47B55/02

  made of wire · CPC title

• F16B17/008

  of sheets or plates mutually (joining sheets by riveting without the use of separate rivets F16B5/045) · CPC title

• A47F5/0056 Primary

  made of tubes or wire · CPC title