Shelving Apparatus

Abstract

A shelving apparatus includes a supporting frame and a plurality of foldable posts for coupling with the supporting frame. Each foldable post includes an upper post member, a lower post member and a post joint, wherein each of the upper and lower post members has a first post wall and a second post wall extended from the first wall at an angle. The post joint includes an engaging tongue extended from an end portion of the first post wall of the upper post member, an engaging groove provided at an end portion of the first post wall of the lower post member, and a pivot hinge pivotally coupled the second post walls of the upper and lower post members. When the post members are pivotally moved to engage the engaging tongue with the engaging groove, the upper and lower post members are coupled with each other end-to-end.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This is a Continuation application that claims the benefit of priority under 35U.S.C. §120 to a non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 15 / 047,648, filed Feb. 19, 2016, which is a Continuation-In-Part application that claims the benefit of priority under 35U.S.C. §120 to a non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 15 / 004,989, filed Jan. 24, 2016. The afore-mentioned patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT[0002]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION[0003]Field of Invention[0004]The present invention relates to a shelf structure,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a shelving apparatus with several technical advantages. Firstly, the post members of the foldable post are pivotally coupled with each other end-to-end, making assembly and disassembly easier. Secondly, the post members are coupled with each other via tongue-and-groove engagement to ensure rigidity. Thirdly, a post locker is provided to lock up a pivot connection between the post members, ensuring they are securely locked in place. Fourthly, the shelf platform is reversibly supported by the foldable posts, allowing adjustment of the supporting frame without having to disassemble the posts. Finally, the shelf retaining members are reversibly supported by the foldable posts, also allowing adjustment of the frame without disassembling the posts. This design also minimizes manufacturing costs, as it does not require changes to the original structural design of the shelving apparatus.

Problems solved by technology

However, after the objects are loaded and supported by the shelving unit, the overall weight of the objects will exerted to the vertical posts via the supporting panel.

In addition, when one of the tubular connectors A3 is broken or damaged, the supporting panels cannot be securely coupled to the vertical posts any more.

Therefore, the material cost of the shelving unit will be substantially high and the size of the shelving unit will be enlarged.

However, due to the frictional engagement between the end portion of the post member B1 and the coupler B2, the user may not able to correctly insert the end portion of the post member B1 into the gap of the coupler B2.

It is unstable for the shelf structure when the end portion of the post member B1 cannot be fully inserted into the gap of the coupler B2.

The excessive inserting force of the end portion of the post member B1 will damage the structure of the coupler B2 and will enlarge the size of the gap thereof.

Furthermore, such shaped detachable connecting structure cannot solve the same problem of how to easily disassemble the shelving unit.

The overall structure of the shelving unit become wobble and unstable.

In addition, when one of the couplers B2 is lost or damaged, the post members B1 cannot be coupled end-to-end any more.

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