Shelving connector

Abstract

An improved sleeve for a shelving unit having an annular collar wedge the sleeve against a post, wherein the sleeve has one of a retaining wall encircling the bottom of the sleeve or a retaining latch extending from a bottom of the sleeve, both to position and retain the collar during assembly and to support the collar during use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleeve for a wedging sleeve and collar shelving connection on a post that has an outer surface with grooves at intervals along a length of the post and with a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the post, the collar having an annular configuration that mates with the outer surface of the sleeve to wedge the sleeve inward against the post as the collar moves downward along the axis relative to the sleeve during use, the sleeve comprising:
 an annular sleeve having a tapered outer surface that is smaller at a top and larger at a bottom of the sleeve, the sleeve having an inner surface forming an inner passage surrounding a short length of the post during use with at least one rib extending from the inner surface of the sleeve and configured to mate with one of the grooves in the post during use, the sleeve having first and second, interconnecting parts with each sleeve part having two opposing sides each extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis, each sleeve part having a retaining wall around a majority of the periphery of the bottom of each sleeve part, the retaining wall offset radially outward from the bottom of the sleeve part a distance of a few millimeters or less with the distance being about a thickness of a bottom of the collar that is mating with the sleeve part during use.   
     
     
         2 . The shelving connection of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve has a frusto-conical outer surface and a generally cylindrical inner passage. 
     
     
         3 . A sleeve for a wedging sleeve and collar shelving connection on a post that has an outer surface with grooves at intervals along a length of the post and with a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the post, the collar having an annular configuration that mates with the outer surface of the sleeve to wedge the sleeve inward against the post as the collar moves downward along the axis relative to the sleeve during use, the sleeve comprising:
 an annular sleeve having a tapered outer surface that is smaller at a top and larger at a bottom of the sleeve, the sleeve having an inner surface forming an inner passage surrounding a short length of the post during use with at least one rib extending from the inner surface of the sleeve and configured to mate with one of the grooves in the post during use, the sleeve having first and second, interconnecting parts with each sleeve part having two opposing sides each extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis, each sleeve part having a flange extending radially outward a distance less than a few millimeters from the bottom of the sleeve part, the distance being about a thickness of a bottom of the collar part that is mating with the sleeve part during use, the flange having a retaining member extending from an outward end of the bottom flange generally parallel to the longitudinal axis a distance along the longitudinal axis of less than about ⅔ a height of the sleeve, a void space between the retaining member and the sleeve which void space extends from the bottom flange to the top of the retaining member and along a circumferential length of the flange.   
     
     
         4 . The sleeve of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve has a frusto-conical outer surface and a generally cylindrical inner passage. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve of  claim 4 , wherein the flange on each sleeve part extends along less than a majority of a circumference of the sleeve part and more than an arc of about ° 5 , the flange not being located at one of the two opposing sides of the sleeve part and having a height of about ⅓ or less of the length of the sleeve along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve of  claim 4 , wherein the flange and retaining member extend along one of the opposing sides of the sleeve part and each retaining member extends along an arc of about °5 to about 10°. 
     
     
         7 . A shelving connection for holding two shelves to a common sleeve at the same location along a length of that post, the post having an outer surface with grooves at intervals along a length of the post with a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the post, the shelving connection comprising:
 an annular sleeve having a tapered outer surface that is smaller at a top and larger at a bottom of the sleeve, the sleeve having an inner surface forming a passage surrounding a short length of the post with at least one rib extending from the inner surface of the sleeve and mating with one of the grooves in the post, the sleeve having first and second, interconnecting parts with each sleeve part having two opposing sides each extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis, the sleeve parts being clamped to the post and surrounding a short length of the post at a location of a shelf;   a first shelf having a first collar part connected to a corner of the shelf, the first collar part having a tapered body with two opposing sides with a first flange extending outward from each side and extending along a length of each side generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, each of the first flanges on the collar part of the first shelf being spaced apart about 180° or slightly less from the other first flange of the collar part of the first shelf, the tapered body of the first shelf defining a portion of a tapered interior passage configured to engage about half or slightly less of one side of the sleeve with a smaller passage at a top of that tapered body and a larger passage at a bottom of that tapered body;   a second shelf having a first collar part connected to a corner of the second shelf, the first collar part on the second shelf also having two opposing sides with a first flange extending outward from each side and extending along a length of each side generally parallel to the longitudinal axis during use, each of the first flanges on the first collar part of the second shelf being spaced apart about 180° or slightly less from the other first flange of the collar part of the second shelf, the tapered body of the first collar part on the second shelf defining a portion of a tapered interior passage configured to engage about half or slightly less of one side of the sleeve with a smaller passage at a top of that tapered body and a larger passage at a bottom of that tapered body;   wherein the first collar part of the first and second shelf are each connected to opposing sides of the sleeve with a substantial portion of the first flanges on the first shelf being immediately adjacent a substantial portion of the first flanges on the second shelf; and   a retaining coupler having two parallel legs connected by a connecting member adjacent an upper end of the legs, each leg comprising a separate, elongated member having a U-shaped cross-section with opposing sides spaced a distance apart sufficient to fit over and contact the immediately adjacent flanges and sufficiently strong to restrain those flanges from separating laterally when a predetermined load is applied to the shelf, the retaining coupler having no connection between a lower end of the two legs along a substantial length of the legs.   
     
     
         8 . The shelving connection of  claim 7  wherein the sleeve has a frusto-conical outer surface and the collar has a frusto-conical interior passage. 
     
     
         9 . The shelving connection of  claim 8 , each sleeve part has a retaining wall around a majority of the periphery of the bottom of each sleeve part, the retaining wall offset from the bottom of the sleeve a distance of about a thickness of a bottom of the collar part that is mating with the sleeve part during use, the retaining wall not extending to each opposing side of the sleeve so the first and second flanges do not abut against a top of the retaining wall. 
     
     
         10 . The shelving connection of  claim 8  wherein each sleeve part has a retaining member offset from the bottom of the sleeve a distance of about a thickness of a bottom of the collar part that is mating with the sleeve part during use, the extending along less than a majority of a circumference of the sleeve part and more than an arc of about °5, each retaining member located intermediate the two opposing sides of the sleeve part and having a height along the longitudinal axis of less than about ⅓ a height of the sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The shelving connection of  claim 8  wherein each sleeve part has a retaining member extending along each opposing side of the sleeve part and offset from the bottom of the sleeve a distance of about a thickness of a bottom of the collar part that is mating with the sleeve part during use, each retaining member extending along an arc of about °5 to about 10° and having a height generally parallel to and extending along the longitudinal axis that is less than about ⅔ a height of the sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . A connector for releasably fastening an outer, tapered collar to an inner, tapered sleeve on a post that has an outer surface with grooves at intervals along a length of the post and with a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the post, the collar having an annular configuration that mates with the outer surface of the sleeve to wedge the sleeve inward against the post as the collar moves downward along the axis relative to the sleeve during use, the connection comprising:
 the sleeve of  claim 2 ,   an annular collar having first and second separable and interlocking collar parts defining a tapered interior passage that is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom and configured to surround a length of the sleeve during use and mate with the tapered outer surface of the sleeve to wedge the sleeve against the post as the collar moves downward relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal axis during use, the first collar part comprising first and second opposing sides extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis and a first, male flange extending in a direction outward from each first side and extending along a length of each first side, each male flange having a length along the longitudinal axis about the same as the height of the sleeve or up to about ⅓ less.   
     
     
         13 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein the second collar part further comprises a female channel extending outward from each of two opposing sides of the second collar part and extending along a length of the second collar part measured along the longitudinal axis, each female channel having a C-shaped cross-section and configured to slidably receive one of the male flanges during use, each female channel extending along opposing sides of a different one of the male flanges during use. 
     
     
         14 . The connector of  claim 12  wherein the sleeve has a frusto-conical outer surface and the collar has a frusto-conical interior passage. 
     
     
         15 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein each first male flange extends outward from a frusto-conical body along a juncture with a closed ended slot extending along that juncture and opening onto a top end of the first collar part, and wherein the second collar part comprises two opposing sides extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis and a second flange extending in a direction outward from each opposing side of the second collar part and further extending along a length of each opposing side of the second collar part, the second flange having a length along the longitudinal axis about the same as the height of the sleeve or up to about ⅓ less, the second flange extending outward from the frusto-conical body along a juncture with a closed ended clot extending along that juncture and opening onto a bottom end of the second collar part which has a larger diameter than a top end of that second collar part, the slots of the first and second collar part and the configurations of the first and second flanges allowing each collar part to enter the slots of the other collar part to interlock the collar parts during use with each flange of the first collar part immediately adjacent a different flange of the second collar part. 
     
     
         16 . The connector of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a retaining coupler having two parallel legs connected by a connecting member adjacent an upper end of the legs, each leg comprising a separate, elongated member having a U-shaped cross-section with opposing sides spaced a distance apart sufficient to fit over and contact the immediately adjacent flanges and sufficiently strong to restrain those flanges from separating laterally when a predetermined load is applied to the shelf, the retaining coupler having no connection between a lower end of the two legs along a substantial length of the legs.   
     
     
         17 . A connector for releasably fastening an outer, tapered collar to an inner, tapered sleeve on a post that has an outer surface with grooves at intervals along a length of the post and with a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the post, the collar having an annular configuration that mates with the outer surface of the sleeve to wedge the sleeve inward against the post as the collar moves downward along the axis relative to the sleeve during use, the connection comprising:
 the sleeve of  claim 4 ,   an annular collar having first and second separable and interlocking collar parts defining a tapered interior passage that is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom and configured to surround a length of the sleeve during use and mate with the tapered outer surface of the sleeve to wedge the sleeve against the post as the collar moves downward relative to the sleeve along the longitudinal axis during use, the first collar part comprising first and second opposing sides extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis and a first, male flange extending in a direction outward from each first side and extending along a length of each first side, each male flange having a length along the longitudinal axis about the same as the height of the sleeve or up to about ⅓ less.   
     
     
         18 . The connector of  claim 17 , wherein the second collar part further comprises a female channel extending outward from each of two opposing sides of the second collar part and extending along a length of the second collar part measured along the longitudinal axis, each female channel having a C-shaped cross-section and configured to slidably receive one of the male flanges during use, each female channel extending along opposing sides of a different one of the male flanges during use. 
     
     
         19 . The connection of  claim 17  wherein the sleeve has a frusto-conical outer surface and the collar has a frusto-conical interior passage. 
     
     
         20 . The connection of  claim 17 , wherein each first male flange extends outward from a frusto-conical body along a juncture with a closed ended slot extending along that juncture and opening onto a top end of the first collar part, and wherein the second collar part comprises two opposing sides extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis and a second flange extending in a direction outward from each opposing side of the second collar part and further extending along a length of each opposing side of the second collar part, the second flange having a length along the longitudinal axis about the same as the height of the sleeve or up to about ⅓ less, the second flange extending outward from the frusto-conical body along a juncture with a closed ended clot extending along that juncture and opening onto a bottom end of the second collar part which has a larger diameter than a top end of that second collar part, the slots of the first and second collar part and the configurations of the first and second flanges allowing each collar part to enter the slots of the other collar part to interlock the collar parts during use with each flange of the first collar part immediately adjacent a different flange of the second collar part. 
     
     
         21 . The connection of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a retaining coupler having two parallel legs connected by a connecting member adjacent an upper end of the legs, each leg comprising a separate, elongated member having a U-shaped cross-section with opposing sides spaced a distance apart sufficient to fit over and contact the immediately adjacent flanges and sufficiently strong to restrain those flanges from separating laterally when a predetermined load is applied to the shelf, the retaining coupler having no connection between a lower end of the two legs along a substantial length of the legs.