Weldless support beam for rack shelving

Abstract

A shelving support member includes a unitary member of a bent sheet material and defining a support portion extending along an axis to a first end and a retention portion disposed at the first end of the support portion. The retention portion defines a base extending congruently with the support portion at least partially along the axis and to a first fold in the member. A reinforcement portion extends from the first fold along and in contact with the base. A first punched area is defined in an aligned manner through both the base and the reinforcement portion of the retention portion.

1 . A shelving support member, comprising:
 a unitary member of a formed sheet material and defining:
 a support portion defining a C-shaped cross section of the sheet material and extending along an axis to a first end; and 
 a retention portion disposed at the first end of the support portion and defining a base extending congruently with the support portion at least partially along the axis, the base further extending to a first fold in the member, a reinforcement portion extending from the first fold along and in contact with at least a portion of the base; 
   wherein a first punched area is defined in an aligned manner through both the base and the reinforcement portion of the retention portion.   
     
     
         2 . The shelving support member of  claim 1 , further including a first attachment rivet coupled with the unitary member through the first punched area. 
     
     
         3 . The shelving support member of  claim 2 , wherein a second punched area is defined through both the base and the reinforcement member of the retention portion, the support member further including a second attachment rivet coupled with the unitary member through the second punched area. 
     
     
         4 . The shelving support member of  claim 2 , wherein a second punched area is defined through both the base and the reinforcement member of the retention portion, the support member further including a retention tab coupled with the unitary member within the second punched area. 
     
     
         5 . The shelving support member of  claim 2 , wherein the unitary member further defines a second fold at an end of the reinforcement portion opposite the first fold and an stabilizer tab extending from the second fold perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         6 . The shelving support member of  claim 5 , wherein upper and lower flanges within the C-shaped cross section define respective edges extending along an upper and a lower edge of the stabilizer tab, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The shelving support member of  claim 1 , wherein the punched area is defined by three cut edges and one folded edge, the folded edge joining a coupling tab with the retention portion. 
     
     
         8 . The shelving support member of  claim 7 , wherein the coupling tab includes a first portion extending congruently from the base and a second portion extending congruently from the reinforcement portion, the first and second portions of the coupling tab contacting each other. 
     
     
         9 . A shelving system, comprising:
 a first vertical member; and   a shelf support beam, including:
 a unitary member defining:
 a support portion including sheet material extending along an axis from a first end; and 
 a retention portion disposed at the end of the support portion and defining a base extending congruently with the support portion and at least partially along the axis, the base further extending to a first fold in the unitary member, a reinforcement portion extending oppositely from the first fold along and in contact with at least a portion of the base, a first punched area being defined in an aligned manner through both the base and the reinforcement member of the retention portion; 
 
   wherein the shelf support beam is coupleable with the first vertical member at the retention portion thereof such that the shelf support beam extends perpendicularly from the first vertical member.   
     
     
         10 . The shelving system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the shelf support beam further includes a first attachment rivet coupled with the unitary member through the first punched area; and   the vertical member includes at least one slot along a portion thereof, the slot receiving the attachment rivet to couple the shelf support beam to the vertical member.   
     
     
         11 . The shelving system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a second punched area is defined through both the base and the reinforcement member of the retention portion of the shelf support beam; and   the shelf support beam further includes a second attachment rivet coupled with the unitary member through the second punched area.   
     
     
         12 . The shelving system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the unitary member further defines a second fold at an end of the reinforcement portion opposite the first fold and an stabilizer tab extending from the second fold perpendicular to the reinforcement portion;   the reinforcement portion is positionable along a first surface of the first vertical member when the shelf support beam is coupled therewith; and   the stabilizer tab extends along an edge of the first vertical member adjacent the first surface when the shelf support beam is coupled therewith.   
     
     
         13 . The shelving system of  claim 12 , wherein the support portion of the unitary member defines a C-shaped cross section of the sheet material, upper and lower flanges within the C-shaped cross section defining respective edges extending along adjacent upper and lower edge of the stabilizer tab. 
     
     
         14 . The shelving system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first punched area is defined by three cut edges and one folded edge, the folded edge joining a first coupling tab with the retention portion; and   the vertical member includes at least one slot along a portion thereof, the slot receiving the first coupling tab to couple the shelf support beam to the vertical member.   
     
     
         15 . The shelving system of  claim 14 , wherein a second punched area is defined in an aligned manner through both the base and the reinforcement member of the retention portion, the second punched area being defined by three cute edges and one folded edge, the folded edge joining a second coupling tab with the retention portion. 
     
     
         16 . The shelving system of  claim 14 , wherein the first coupling tab includes a first portion extending congruently from the base and a second portion extending congruently from the reinforcement portion, the first and second portions of the first coupling tab contacting each other. 
     
     
         17 . A method for making a shelving support member, comprising:
 bending an extension tab extending from a support portion, the support portion defining a C-shaped section of sheet material and extending along an axis to a first end, and the extension tab initially extending along the axis beyond the first end of the support portion and being bent to form a first fold separating the extension tab into a base extending congruently with the support portion and a reinforcement portion extending oppositely from the first fold along and in contact with at least a portion the base; and   forming a first punched area in an aligned manner through both the base and the reinforcement member.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including coupling an attachment rivet with the base and the reinforcement portion through the punched area. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further including subsequently bending the reinforcement portion to form a second fold and defining a stabilizer tab extending perpendicularly from the reinforcement portion and extending along respective upper and lower flanges of the C-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the punched area is formed through the base and the reinforcement member by forming three cut edges and folding respective sections of both the base and the reinforcement member within the three cut edges into a coupling tab spaced from the reinforcement member and having a portion extending generally parallel thereto.