Importance

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Abstract

A shelf assembly (10) including apparatus (20, 22) for interlocking upright and transverse members (12, 14, 80, 90) without the need for separate fasteners or supplemental cross-bracing to achieve structural rigidity. The interlocking apparatus includes connectors (20) formed near the ends of the transverse beams, each connector comprising a lug (40) spaced from a side panel (30) of the transverse member (14) by a keyed pedestal (42). The pedestal is defined by spaced lug supporting legs (44, 46), joined by a curved interconnecting wall (48). The uprights include pairs of apertures (22) each defined by an upper slot segment (50a) having a lug clearance notch (52) and a lower slot segment (50b) having a narrowing transverse dimension. The upright and transverse members are interlocked by inserting the connectors of a transverse beam into the upper slot segments (50a) and then moving the transverse beam downwardly so that the lug overlies a face (30b) of the upright and the keyed pedestal coengages the edges of the lower slot segment (50b ) at three areas (62a, 62b, 62c) for a given length. The lug engagement prevents lateral separation of the upright and the transverse member whereas the pedestal/slot engagement inhibits relative rotation between the upright and transverse members. A 'T' upright (80) and a tie bar (90) are also disclosed which enable side-by-side shelf units and spaced apart shelf units to be joined as well as supplemental supports (88) engageable with opposite transverse beams. In addition, the tie bars may provide support for an aisleway for multi-level shelf units.

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First Claim