SHELVING CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

摘要

A compression lock on a connector for a shelving post has upper and lower, mating collar parts having distal ends encircling more than 180 degrees of the post but separated by a gap through which the post can pass. Each distal end has an axially extending projection with a rounded end and a recess adjoining the projection. The projections of one collar part mate with the recesses of the other collar part to interlock the collar parts around a compression sleeve and form a frusto-conical inner surface that wedges the a mating sleeve against the post to affix a shelf attached to the connector. A tab allows removal of a locking connector, with the connectors stamped out of sheet metal and bent into the frusto-conical shape.

主权项

1. A connector assembly for use with posts having a cylindrical cross-section of diameter D with a wedging sleeve to position shelves along a longitudinal axis of the post, the sleeve having a frusto-conical outer surface with a first, small sleeve end and a second, larger sleeve end with both ends encircling the longitudinal axis during use, the connector comprising:
a collar having first and second mating parts which when mated form a frusto-conical surface sized to encircle and wedge against the sleeve during use, each collar part having two distal ends with projections having an inner surface extending along the frusto-conical surface of the collar, the distal ends being separated by a gap sufficiently large to allow the post to pass laterally through the gap during use, each projection forming a side of a recess adjoining each projection, the recess configured to receive a projection on the other collar part; and a tab extending outward from the second collar parts a distance sufficient for a person to engage the tab with a finger and move it along the longitudinal axis.