Corner piece for tubular shelving

Abstract

A corner pieces for a tubular shelving unit may include a corner abutment flange, having a first lip and a second lip, the first lip adapted to contact a first wall while the second lip contacts a second wall that is adjacent to the first wall; a cross support element attached to the corner abutment flange; and tube support elements disposed on the cross support element. Alternatively, the corner piece may include a top platform, a first brace element disposed along a first edge of the top platform to form a first corner, a second brace element disposed along a second edge of the top platform to form a second corner; and tube support elements disposed adjacent to the first corner and second corners. The tube support elements may be adapted to accept and to support tubing in substantially aligned rows.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A corner piece for a tubular shelving unit, the tubular shelving unit comprising a plurality of substantially aligned tubes, the corner piece comprising:
 a top platform,   a first brace element disposed along a first edge of the top platform to form a first corner,   a second brace element disposed along a second edge of the top platform to form a second corner,   a first plurality of tube support elements disposed adjacent to the first corner and adapted to accept and to support at least a first portion of the plurality of substantially aligned tubes; and   a second plurality of tube support elements disposed adjacent to the second corner and adapted to accept and to support at least a second portion of the substantially aligned tubes,   wherein the first edge is substantially perpendicular to the second edge,   wherein the first corner is substantially perpendicular to the second corner,   wherein the first brace element is substantially perpendicular to the second brace element, and   wherein the first plurality of tube support elements is substantially perpendicular to the second plurality of tube support elements.   
     
     
         2 . The corner piece of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of tube support elements is disposed along the first corner to ensure that a top surface of each tube in the first portion of the plurality of substantially aligned tubes is substantially flush with a top surface of the top platform. 
     
     
         3 . The corner piece of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of tube support elements is disposed along the first corner to ensure that a top surface of each tube in the second portion of the plurality of substantially aligned tubes is substantially flush with a top surface of the top platform. 
     
     
         4 . The corner piece of  claim 1 , further comprising a cross support element disposed beneath the top platform and affixed thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The corner piece of  claim 4 , further comprising a corner abutment flange attached to the cross support element. 
     
     
         6 . The corner piece of  claim 5 , wherein the corner abutment flange has a first lip and a second lip, the first lip adapted to contact a first wall while the second lip contacts a second wall that is adjacent to the first wall. 
     
     
         7 . The corner piece according to  claim 5 , wherein the corner abutment flange comprising a plurality of through-holes. 
     
     
         8 . The corner piece according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of through-holes are sized to accept a fastener. 
     
     
         9 . A corner piece for a tubular shelving unit, the tubular shelving unit, the corner piece comprising:
 a corner abutment flange, having a first lip and a second lip, the first lip adapted to contact a first wall while the second lip contacts a second wall that is adjacent to the first wall;   a cross support element attached to the corner abutment flange;   a first plurality of tube support elements disposed on a first side of the cross support element; and   a second plurality of tube support elements disposed on a second side of the cross support element.   
     
     
         10 . The corner piece according to  claim 9 , wherein the first plurality of tube support elements are adapted to accept and to support a first plurality of substantially aligned tubes. 
     
     
         11 . The corner piece according to  claim 9 , wherein the second plurality of tube support elements are adapted to accept and to support a second plurality of substantially aligned tubes. 
     
     
         12 . The corner piece according to  claim 9 , further comprising a top platform disposed on and attached to the cross support element. 
     
     
         13 . The corner piece according to  claim 9 , wherein the corner abutment flange comprising a plurality of through-holes. 
     
     
         14 . The corner piece according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of through-holes are sized to accept a fastener. 
     
     
         15 . The corner piece according to  claim 14 , wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of a screw, a nail, and a pin. 
     
     
         16 . The corner piece according to  9 , wherein each of the first plurality of tube support elements have a central axis that is substantially parallel to the first lip of the corner abutment flange. 
     
     
         17 . The corner piece according to  9 , wherein each of the second plurality of tube support elements have a central axis that is substantially parallel to the second lip of the corner abutment flange.