Anti-sway mechanism for a modular shelving and display system

Abstract

A modular stand-alone shelving and display system comprising left and right vertical support members, each having front and rear corner posts connected by a welded grid of horizontal and vertical wires (“wires” are also referred to herein interchangeably as “rods”). A vertical display member and optionally one or more shelves formed of sheet metal are disposed between the vertical Support members, each shelf or panel including hook elements formed near the corners thereof for engaging and resting on horizontal wires of the grid. A lock in the form of a slotted tube inserted onto the vertical rod between the tops of the hooks and an adjacent horizontal rod prevents motion of the vertical display member which might result in rhombic distortion of the system. The lock obviates the prior art need for diagonal wires and turnbuckles to prevent rhombic sway of a modular shelving system.

1 . In a modular shelving system and display system including a plurality of spaced-apart vertical support members, each of said members including posts connected by a welded wire grid attached therebetween and formed of vertical and horizontal wires, a vertical display member having rhombic strength disposed between said adjacent spaced-apart vertical support members and having hooks extending therefrom for engaging respective horizontal wires in said adjacent spaced-apart support members, 
 the improvement comprising an anti-sway mechanism including at least one removable lock disposed between at least one of said hooks and an adjacent one of said horizontal wires for retaining said vertical display member in place to provide rhombic stability of said shelving and display system.    
   
   
       2 . A lock in accordance with  claim 1  formed of a resilient material.  
   
   
       3 . A lock in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, silicone rubber, nylon, polyurethane, and polystyrene.  
   
   
       4 . A lock in accordance with  claim 1  comprising a length of material having a longitudinal slot formed therein, 
 wherein said length is slightly greater than the distance from said hooks to the next adjacent of said horizontal wires, and    wherein said slot has a width approximating the diameter of a one of said vertical wires.    
   
   
       5 . A method for installing a lock in accordance with  claim 4 , comprising the steps of: 
 a) engaging a vertical wire adjacent said hooks into said slot; and    b) urging said lock into position between said hooks and a next adjacent horizontal wire.    
   
   
       6 . A modular shelving and display system comprising: 
 a) a plurality of spaced-apart vertical support members, each of said members including first and second posts connected by a welded wire grid attached therebetween and formed of vertical and horizontal wires;    b) a vertical display member disposed between said adjacent spaced-apart vertical support members and having hooks extending therefrom for engaging respective horizontal wires in said adjacent spaced-apart support members; and    c) at least one removable lock disposed between at least one of said hooks and an adjacent one of said horizontal wires for retaining said vertical display member in place.    
   
   
       7 . A modular shelving and display system in accordance with  claim 6  comprising first and second of said spaced-apart vertical support elements.  
   
   
       8 . A modular shelving and display system in accordance with  claim 7  comprising at least one shelf element disposed between said first and second vertical support elements.  
   
   
       9 . A modular shelving and display system in accordance with  claim 6  wherein at least one corner region of said vertical display member comprises first and second hooks spaced apart from each other more than the diameter of a vertical wire, and wherein said first and second hooks are both resident upon a horizontal wire and straddle a vertical wire.  
   
   
       10 . A modular shelving and display system in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said vertical display member includes at least one of said hooks extending from each of four corner regions of said shelf element.