Connector for shelving

Abstract

A shelving system includes a post, a shelf, a first connector piece and a second connector piece. The post has a plurality of spaced-apart grooves. The first connector piece has a C-shaped section with an inner surface and an outer surface, the first connector piece further including a protruding ridge extending radially from the inner surface, a horizontal support plate extending from the outer surface, and a support portion. The second connector plate has a C-shaped section with an inner surface, the first connector piece further including a protruding ridge extending radially from the inner surface and a support portion that is removably coupled to the support portion of the first connector piece. The shelf has a portion thereof that is supported on top of the horizontal support plate. The protruding ridges of the first and second connector plates are retained inside a groove of the post when the first and second connector pieces are connected together.

1 . A shelving system, comprising: 
 a post having a plurality of spaced-apart grooves;    a first connector piece having a C-shaped section with an inner surface and an outer surface, the first connector piece further including a protruding ridge extending radially from the inner surface, a horizontal support plate extending from the outer surface, and a support portion;    a second connector plate having a C-shaped section with an inner surface, the first connector piece further including a protruding ridge extending radially from the inner surface and a support portion that is removably coupled to the support portion of the first connector piece;    a shelf having a portion thereof supported on top of the horizontal support plate; and    wherein the protruding ridges of the first and second connector plates are retained inside a groove of the post when the first and second connector pieces are connected together.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal support plate has an upper surface, and further including: 
 a holder provided on the upper surface of the horizontal support plate; and    a screw extending through an opening on the shelf and connected to the holder.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion of the first connector piece comprises two separate supports provided on opposite ends of the C-shaped section of the first connector piece, and the support portion of the second connector piece comprises two separate supports provided on opposite ends of the C-shaped section of the second connector piece, with each support on each connector piece removably connected to a corresponding support on the other connector piece.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding ridges extend from about the center of the inner surface of the first and second connector pieces.  
   
   
       5 . A connector for a shelving system, comprising: 
 a first connector piece having a C-shaped section with an inner surface and an outer surface, the first connector piece further including a protruding ridge extending radially from the inner surface, a horizontal support plate extending from the outer surface, and a support portion; and    a second connector plate having a C-shaped section with an inner surface, the first connector piece further including a protruding ridge extending radially from the inner surface and a support portion that is removably coupled to the support portion of the first connector piece;    wherein the protruding ridges of the first and second connector plates are adapted to be retained inside a groove of a post when the first and second connector pieces are connected together.    
   
   
       6 . The connector of  claim 5 , wherein the horizontal support plate has an upper surface, and further including a holder provided on the upper surface of the horizontal support plate.  
   
   
       7 . The connector of  claim 5 , wherein the support portion of the first connector piece comprises two separate supports provided on opposite ends of the C-shaped section of the first connector piece, and the support portion of the second connector piece comprises two separate supports provided on opposite ends of the C-shaped section of the second connector piece, with each support on each connector piece removably connected to a corresponding support on the other connector piece.  
   
   
       8 . The connector of  claim 5 , wherein the protruding ridges extend from about the center of the inner surface of the first and second connector pieces.