US20070138362A1

US20070138362A1 - Adjustable shelf system

Info

Publication number: US20070138362A1
Application number: US11/312,067
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry McAllister; William Bartz; Kenneth Christianson
Original assignee: Metal Masters Foodservice Equipment Co Inc
Current assignee: Metal Masters Foodservice Equipment Co Inc
Priority date: 2005-12-20
Filing date: 2005-12-20
Publication date: 2007-06-21

Abstract

An adjustable shelf system comprises a plurality of shelf supporting brackets and a generally planar shelf having an upright back wall. Each bracket includes a lower vertical portion for attachment to a wall, and an outwardly extending horizontal portion for supporting the shelf. Each bracket further includes an upper vertical portion terminating in a down-turned shelf retaining tab arranged to receive the upright back wall of the shelf to thereby releasably secure the shelf to the brackets.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustable shelf system, and more particularly to a system that includes shelf supporting brackets and a horizontal shelf where the brackets are releasably secured to the shelf to any location along the length of the shelf.
Prior to the present invention, numerous shelf constructions have been proposed that include brackets secured to a wall and a shelf secured to the brackets. In many instances the connection between the shelf and the brackets occurs at fixed locations along the length of the shelf, and in other instances the connection points are variable, but subsequent attachment of the shelf to the brackets is required. These constructions have inherent disadvantages and deficiencies which are overcome by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the objects of the present invention is a relatively simple adjustable shelf system that comprises shelf supporting brackets and a horizontal shelf where the brackets are releasably secured to the shelf at any location along the shelf length.
Another object of the present invention is an adjustable shelf system which is easy to install with minimum effort and few tools.
Another object of the present invention is an adjustable shelf system where the shelf is quickly and easily releasably secured to wall mounted brackets.
Still another object of the present invention is an adjustable shelf system manner.
In accordance with the present invention, an adjustable shelf system includes a plurality of shelf supporting brackets constructed and arranged for attachment to vertical wall structure and a shelf releasable connected to the brackets. Each of the brackets includes a lower vertical portion for attachment to the wall structure and an outwardly extending horizontal portion that supports the shelf. Each of the brackets further includes an upper vertical portion extending upwardly from the horizontal portion of the bracket and terminating in a down-turned shelf retaining tab. The shelf has an upright back wall that fits under the down-turned tab of the shelf brackets when connected to the brackets.
Preferably, the height of the upright back wall of the shelf is approximately equal to the height of the upper vertical portion of the bracket which produces a snug fit of the back wall of the shelf under the down-turned tab of the bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Novel features and advantages of the present invention in addition to those mentioned above will be readily apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an adjustable shelf system, according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the adjustable shelf system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the adjustable shelf system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the adjustable shelf system with the down-turned shelf retaining tab of a bracket engaging the upright back wall of a horizontal shelf shown in phantom outline;
FIG. 5 is a fragmental perspective view of the upper portion of a shelf supporting bracket and the down-turned shelf retaining tab;
FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the adjustable shelf system of the present invention illustrating the upright back wall of the shelf under and behind the down-turned shelf retaining tab of the bracket;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various components of the adjustable shelf system of the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the fully assembled adjustable shelf system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring in more particularity to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an adjustable shelf system 10 comprising a plurality of shelf supporting brackets 12, 14, 16 and a generally planar shelf 18 having an upright back wall 20. Each shelf supporting bracket includes a lower vertical portion 22 for attachment to a wall structure (not shown). Openings 24 are provided in the lower vertical portion 22 so that mounting bolts, screws and the like may extend through the bracket into the wall structure. Each shelf supporting bracket also includes an outwardly extending horizontal portion 26 for supporting the shelf 18, as explained more fully below.
The shelf supporting brackets 12, 14, 16 further include an upper vertical portion 28 which extends upwardly from the horizontal portion 26. The upper vertical portion 28 terminates a down-turned shelf retaining tab 30 constructed and arranged to receive the upright back wall 20 of the shelf 18. As shown best in FIG. 5, the shelf retaining tab 30 is outwardly spaced so that the upright back wall 20 of the shelf fits behind the tab and is retained thereby.
The right bracket 12 is essentially the same as the left bracket 16, the only difference being that a triangular shaped cover 32 on each bracket is positioned to the outside of the bracket. Hence, the cover 32 on bracket 12 is to the right of the bracket while the cover 32 of bracket 14 is to the left. This provides the adjustable shelf system 10 with an attractive appearance when viewed from either side of the system. Any number of intermediate brackets such as 16 needed to adequately support the shelf 18 may be provided and these brackets may have the configuration of either the right bracket 12 or the left bracket 14.
The upright back wall 20 of the shelf 18 has a height substantially equal to, but slightly less than the height of the upper vertical portion 28 of the shelf supporting bracket and this relationship produces a snug fit of the upright back wall 20 under and behind the down-turned shelf retaining tabs 30 of the brackets.
Overall the components of the adjustable shelf system 10 may be fabricated from metal or other materials having the needed strength.
FIG. 6 shows the interaction between the upright back wall 20 of the shelf 18 and the down-turned shelf retaining tab 30 of one of the shelf-supporting brackets 12, 14, 16. As illustrated, the shelf 18 is inclined and the upright back wall 20 is positioned under and behind the down-turned shelf retaining tabs of the brackets. As shown in FIG. 7, double faced adhesive strips 34 may be positioned between the horizontal portion 26 of each bracket and the underside of the shelf 18. This prevents any side-to-side sliding of the shelf 18 relative to the brackets 12, 14, 16.
A down-turned lip 36 is provided along the front edge of the shelf 18. Alternatively, the lip may be up-turned, if desired. Also, the shelf 18 may include upright side walls 38.
The adjustable shelf system 10 is unique in that the brackets can be secured to the wall structure at any location along the wall particular at locations where the brackets can be securely mounted in place. As long as the brackets are positioned on the wall within the overall side-to-side length of the shelf, attachment of the shelf to the brackets is possible. Hence, the shelf supporting brackets may be releasably secured to the shelf 18 at any location along the length of the shelf.

Claims

1. An adjustable shelf system comprising a plurality of shelf supporting brackets and a shelf having a uniform thickness throughout, the shelf including a horizontal shelf portion and an upright planar back wall extending upwardly from the horizontal shelf portion, each bracket including a lower vertical portion for direct attachment to a wall structure and an outwardly extending horizontal bracket portion for supporting the shelf, each bracket further including an upper vertical planar portion extending upwardly from the horizontal bracket portion and terminating in a down-turned shelf retaining tab constructed and arranged to receive the upright planar back wall of the shelf with the upright planar back wall of the shelf engaging the upper vertical planar portion of the shelf supporting brackets and with a portion of the upright planar back wall of the shelf behind the down-turned shelf retaining tabs.

2. An adjustable shelf system as in claim 1 wherein the upright planar back wall of the shelf has a height substantially equal to the upper vertical planar portion of each shelf bracket to thereby produce a snug fit of the upright back wall under and behind the down-turned shelf retaining tab of each bracket.

3. An adjustable shelf system as in claim 1 including a double faced adhesive strip between the shelf and the outwardly extending horizontal portion of each bracket for securing the shelf in place relative to the brackets.