US Patent 9468292 Shelving connector and associated storage system and method

A shelving connector for coupling an auxiliary shelf within a shelving system includes a coupling sleeve, a support rod, and a bridge member. The coupling sleeve defines and extends between a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end and defines a sleeve exterior surface and a sleeve interior cavity. The sleeve interior cavity is open at each of the first sleeve end and the second sleeve end. The support rod defines a rod exterior surface. The center axis of the coupling sleeve and a center axis of the support rod are positioned to extend substantially parallel to each other. The bridge member is secured to the sleeve exterior surface and the rod exterior surface to statically hold the support rod in a position laterally spaced from and vertically offset from the coupling sleeve.