US20170086578A1 - Shelf bracket - Google Patents
Shelf bracket Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170086578A1 US20170086578A1 US15/274,504 US201615274504A US2017086578A1 US 20170086578 A1 US20170086578 A1 US 20170086578A1 US 201615274504 A US201615274504 A US 201615274504A US 2017086578 A1 US2017086578 A1 US 2017086578A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- bracket
- upright
- shelf
- hook portion
- positioning tab
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B57/00—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions
- A47B57/30—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions with means for adjusting the height of detachable shelf supports
- A47B57/40—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions with means for adjusting the height of detachable shelf supports consisting of hooks coacting with openings
- A47B57/42—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions with means for adjusting the height of detachable shelf supports consisting of hooks coacting with openings the shelf supports being cantilever brackets
- A47B57/425—Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions with means for adjusting the height of detachable shelf supports consisting of hooks coacting with openings the shelf supports being cantilever brackets introduced by a vertical pivoting movement
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B96/00—Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture
- A47B96/06—Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves
- A47B96/061—Cantilever brackets
Abstract
A shelf bracket is provided for use in retail shelving systems having shelves supported on brackets attached to slotted uprights which stand vertically either independently or by attachment to a wall or other vertical surface. The bracket includes a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a middle portion configured to support a shelf. The proximal end portion includes a hook portion and a positioning tab that is vertically spaced from the hook portion.
Description
- This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/232,164 filed Sep. 24, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
- The present invention relates generally to retail shelving systems and, in particular, to a shelf bracket for such systems.
- Retail shelving systems typically feature slotted uprights which stand vertically either independently or by attachment to a wall or other vertical surface. Shelves are supported on a pair of brackets that engage the slots of a pair of the slotted uprights. The uprights feature multiple slots so that the height of the brackets, and thus the shelf supported thereon, may be selected and adjusted.
- Retail establishments typically require that the shelves be oriented with the top surface of the shelf at an angle of just under ninety degrees with respect to the vertical plane of the uprights. This permits items on the shelves to be easily viewed but also reduces the chances that an item may fall off of the front of the shelf.
- A shelf bracket typically features at least one hook portion at the proximal end that engages the slots of a corresponding upright. The hook portion includes a least one abutting surface that engages the outer surface of the upright when the hook portion is in engagement with a slot. An issue exists, however, in that the thickness of the material of the uprights, which is usually metal or steel, varies between different types of uprights. Such a variance impacts the angle that the top surface of the shelf makes with respect to the vertical plane of the upright. A need exists for a shelf bracket that addresses this issue.
-
FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of theproximal end portion 10 of an embodiment of a shelf bracket of the present technology; -
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on a slotted upright having a slotted wall first thickness; -
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 prior to being installed on a pair of slotted uprights ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on the slotted uprights ofFIG. 3A ; -
FIG. 3C is a side elevational view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on the slotted uprights ofFIG. 3A ; -
FIG. 3D is a detail view of the circled area ofFIG. 3B , showing the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on the slotted uprights ofFIG. 3A ; -
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on a slotted upright having a slotted wall second thickness; -
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on a slotted upright having a slotted wall third thickness; -
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on a slotted upright having a slotted wall fourth thickness and an alternative slot spacing; -
FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 prior to being installed on a pair of slotted uprights ofFIG. 6 ; -
FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on the slotted uprights ofFIG. 7A ; -
FIG. 7C is a side elevational view of the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on the slotted uprights ofFIG. 7A ; and -
FIG. 7D is a detail view of the circled area ofFIG. 3B , showing the shelf bracket ofFIG. 1 installed on the slotted uprights ofFIG. 7A . -
FIGS. 1-7 illustrate one embodiment of ashelf bracket 20 of the present technology. -
FIG. 1 shows theproximal end portion 10 of theshelf bracket 20. Theshelf bracket 20 may be preferably formed from a sheet of steel or metal, but any suitable strong and at least semi-rigid material may be used. As illustrated inFIG. 1 , theproximal end portion 10 of theshelf bracket 20 includes ahook portion 22. Thehook portion 22 includes an upwardly extendingsafety stop 24 and a downwardly extendinghook engagement member 26. Ahook recess 32 is provided beneath thehook portion 22 of the bracket, adjacent to thehook engagement member 26. Apositioning tab 34 is provided and located a vertical distance 36 (indicated by arrow) down from thetop edge 38 of the hook recess. Aguide surface 42 extends between thehook recess 32 and thepositioning tab 34. Themiddle portion 61 of the bracket is configured and adapted to support ashelf 64. - With reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3 , a pair of shelf brackets of the type illustrated inFIG. 1 may be used to support ashelf 64 upon a pair ofslotted uprights slotted uprights vertical slots 54 formed inwall 62 separated bydividers 56. - The
shelf bracket 20 may be installed upon theuprights FIGS. 3A-3D . Using upright 50 as an example, theshelf bracket 20 may be tilted with the distal end portion 60 (inFIG. 3 ) slightly elevated above theproximal end portion 10, so that thestop 24 may pass through aslot 54 of the upright. Thehook engagement member 26 may then be passed through the upright slot as thedistal end portion 60 of the shelf bracket is rotated downwards so that it is approximately level with theproximal end portion 10. Theentire shelf bracket 20 may then be lowered so that thehook recess 32 receives the top edge of the upright divider below theupright slot 54 through which the shelf bracket hook portion stop 24 andhook engagement member 26 passed. As a result, thebracket guide surface 42 abuts, generally along its entire length, the exterior surface of thewall 62 of the slotted upright 50. Furthermore, as best shown inFIG. 2 , thepositioning tab 34 of the bracket is positioned within one of theslots 54 of the upright beneath theslot 54 through which the shelf brackethook portion stop 24 andhook engagement member 26 passed. - With reference to
FIG. 2 , thebracket 20 may cause thetop surface 64 of the shelf 44 to form afirst angle 66, with the slottedwall 62 of the upright when the slottedwall 62 has afirst thickness 68. As an example only,first angle 66 ofFIG. 2 could be 88.1° whenfirst thickness 68 is 0.190 inches. - Returning to
FIG. 3 , a second bracket identical tobracket 20, the hook portion of which is indicated at 69, supports theshelf 64 on the second slotted upright 52 in the same fashion as described forbracket 20 andupright 50. - With reference to
FIG. 4 , thebracket 20 is shown engaging an upright, indicated in general at 70. The upright 70 features awall 72, havingvertical slots 74 separated by dividers 76 (in a manner similar toupright 50 ofFIGS. 2 and 3 ). - The
shelf bracket 20 may be installed upon theupright 70 by tilting the bracket with thedistal end portion 60 slightly elevated above theproximal end portion 10 so that thestop 24 may pass through aslot 74 of the upright. Thehook engagement member 26 may then be passed through the upright slot as thedistal end portion 60 of the shelf bracket is rotated downwards so that it is approximately level with theproximal end portion 10. Theentire shelf bracket 20 may then be lowered so that the hook recess receives the top edge of the upright divider below the upright slot through which the shelf brackethook portion stop 24 andhook engagement member 26 passed. The lower portion of thebracket guide surface 42 abuts the exterior surface of thewall 72 of the slottedupright 70, while the top portion of theguide surface 42 is slightly spaced from the exterior surface ofupright wall 72. As a result, a wedge-shaped gap is formed between thebracket guide surface 42 and the outer surface of thewall 72 of the upright. Furthermore, as best shown inFIG. 4 , thepositioning tab 34 of the bracket is positioned within one of theslots 74 of the upright. - With reference to
FIG. 4 , thebracket 20 may cause thetop surface 78 of a shelf supported by the bracket (in cooperation with a neighboring bracket as inFIG. 3 ) to form asecond angle 82 with the slottedwall 72 of the upright when the slottedwall 72 has asecond thickness 84. As an example only,second angle 82 ofFIG. 2 could be 88.8° whensecond thickness 84 is 0.165 inches. - With reference to
FIG. 5 , thebracket 20 is shown engaging an upright, indicated in general at 90. The upright 90 features a wall, indicated in general at 92, havingvertical slots 94 separated by dividers 96 (in a manner similar toupright 50 ofFIGS. 2 and 3 ). - The
shelf bracket 20 may be installed upon theupright 90 by tilting the bracket with thedistal end portion 60 slightly elevated above theproximal end portion 10 so that thestop 24 may pass through aslot 94 of the upright. Thehook engagement member 26 may then be passed through the upright slot as thedistal end portion 60 of the shelf bracket is rotated downwards so that it is approximately level with theproximal end portion 10. The entire shelf bracket may then be lowered so that the hook recess receives the top edge of the upright divider below the upright slot through which the shelf brackethook portion stop 24 andhook engagement member 26 passed. The lower portion of thebracket guide surface 42 abuts the exterior surface of thewall 92 of the slottedupright 90, while the top portion of theguide surface 42 is slightly spaced from the exterior surface ofupright wall 92. As a result, a wedge-shaped gap is formed between thebracket guide surface 42 and the outer surface of thewall 92 of the upright. Furthermore, as best shown inFIG. 2 , thepositioning tab 34 of the bracket is positioned within one of theslots 94 of the upright. - With reference to
FIG. 5 , thebracket 20 may cause thetop surface 97 of a shelf supported by the bracket (in cooperation with a neighboring bracket as inFIG. 3 ) to form athird angle 98 with the slottedwall 92 of the upright when the slottedwall 92 has athird thickness 99. As an example only,third angle 98 ofFIG. 5 could be 89.5° when thethird thickness 99 is 0.140 inches. - With reference to
FIGS. 6 and 7 , a pair of shelf brackets of the type illustrated inFIG. 1 may be used to support ashelf 104 upon a pair of slotteduprights vertical slots 110 formed inwall 112 separated bydividers 114. - The
shelf bracket 20 may be installed upon the upright 106 by tilting the bracket with the distal end portion 120 (inFIG. 7 ) slightly elevated above theproximal end portion 10 so that thestop 24 may pass through aslot 110 of the upright. Thehook engagement member 26 may then be passed through the upright slot as thedistal end portion 60 of the shelf bracket is rotated downwards so that it is approximately level with theproximal end portion 10. The entire shelf bracket may then be lowered so that the hook recess receives the top edge of the upright divider below the upright slot through which the shelf brackethook portion stop 24 andhook engagement member 26 passed. In this situation, however, thepositioning tab 34 abuts adivider 114 so that thebracket guide surface 42 is spaced along its entire length from the exterior surface of thewall 112 of the slottedupright 106. This permits the shelf to be mounted to the upright at the desired angle even though the thickness of the upright slottedwall 112 may be thin (as compared to other types of uprights, such as those ofFIGS. 2-5 ). - With reference to
FIG. 6 , thebracket 20 may cause thetop surface 116 of the shelf to form afourth angle 118, with the slottedwall 112 of the upright when the slottedwall 112 has afourth thickness 120. As an example only,fourth angle 118 ofFIG. 6 could be 89° whenfourth thickness 120 is 0.104 inches. - Returning to
FIG. 7 , a second bracket identical tobracket 20, the hook portion of which is indicated at 122, supports theshelf 104 on the second slotted upright 108 in the same fashion as described forbracket 20 andupright 106. - While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Claims (8)
1. A bracket for mounting a shelf to a first upright having a first set of slots separated by a first set of dividers and a second upright having a second set of slots separated by a second set of dividers comprising:
a. a middle portion configured to support a shelf;
b. a proximal end portion including a hook portion and a positioning tab;
c. said positioning tab vertically spaced from the hook portion so as to abut one of the first set of dividers of the first upright when the hook portion engages one of the first set of slots of the first upright; and
d. said positioning tab also positioned to pass through a first one of the second set of slots of the second upright when the hook portion engages a second one of the second set of slots of the second upright.
2. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the hook portion includes an upwardly extending stop and a downwardly extending hook engagement member.
3. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the positioning tab is vertically spaced beneath the hook portion.
4. The bracket of claim 1 further comprising a guide surface positioned between the hook portion and the positioning tab.
5. A shelving system comprising:
a. a first pair of uprights, each having a plurality of slots separated by a plurality of dividers;
b. a pair of shelf support brackets, each bracket including:
i) a middle portion configured to support a shelf;
ii) a proximal end portion including a hook portion and a positioning tab;
iii) said positioning tab vertically spaced from the hook portion so as to engage a divider of a corresponding one of the first pair of uprights when the hook portion engages a slot of the corresponding one of the first pair of uprights;
iv) said positioning tab also positioned to pass through a first slot of a corresponding one of a second pair of uprights when the hook portion engages a second slot of the corresponding one of the second pair of uprights;
c. a shelf positioned upon the pair of shelf support brackets.
6. The shelving system of claim 5 wherein the hook portion of each bracket includes an upwardly extending stop and a downwardly extending hook engagement member.
7. The shelving system of claim 5 wherein the positioning tab of each bracket is vertically spaced beneath the hook portion.
8. The shelving system of claim 5 wherein each bracket further includes a guide surface positioned between the hook portion and the positioning tab.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/274,504 US20170086578A1 (en) | 2015-09-24 | 2016-09-23 | Shelf bracket |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201562232164P | 2015-09-24 | 2015-09-24 | |
US15/274,504 US20170086578A1 (en) | 2015-09-24 | 2016-09-23 | Shelf bracket |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20170086578A1 true US20170086578A1 (en) | 2017-03-30 |
Family
ID=58406353
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/274,504 Abandoned US20170086578A1 (en) | 2015-09-24 | 2016-09-23 | Shelf bracket |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20170086578A1 (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10687617B2 (en) * | 2017-08-01 | 2020-06-23 | Clark Davis | Modular shelf system with tab and slot mounting |
US10823214B2 (en) | 2016-10-26 | 2020-11-03 | Clark Evan Davis | Modular furniture with distributed pressure panel joint |
US11083293B2 (en) | 2019-10-17 | 2021-08-10 | Clark Davis | Modular stackable shelves |
US11085474B2 (en) | 2017-09-15 | 2021-08-10 | Clark Davis | Furniture with flexible dovetail dowel and slot joint |
US11154137B2 (en) | 2017-08-30 | 2021-10-26 | Clark Evan Davis | Modular furniture with locking tab and slot joint |
US11346382B2 (en) | 2017-08-30 | 2022-05-31 | Clark Evan Davis | Modular furniture with stressed dovetail tab joint |
US11578739B2 (en) | 2017-10-05 | 2023-02-14 | Clark Davis | Furniture with interwoven tab and slot joint |
US11767867B2 (en) | 2020-11-17 | 2023-09-26 | Clark Davis | Pivoting joint for wooden furniture |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3182945A (en) * | 1963-08-29 | 1965-05-11 | M & D Store Fixtures Inc | Multi-angle bracket |
US3248079A (en) * | 1963-12-30 | 1966-04-26 | Clark Equipment Co | Angularly adjustable shelf bracket |
US3572626A (en) * | 1968-11-13 | 1971-03-30 | Penney Co J C | Adjustable bracket |
US3983822A (en) * | 1975-07-30 | 1976-10-05 | James Marshall Suttles | Shelving system |
US4064996A (en) * | 1975-12-17 | 1977-12-27 | Robert L. Shillum | Rack system |
US4108085A (en) * | 1976-11-16 | 1978-08-22 | J.A. Wilson Display Limited | Display structure |
US4204480A (en) * | 1975-07-30 | 1980-05-27 | The Mead Corporation | Shelving system |
US4219175A (en) * | 1978-11-20 | 1980-08-26 | Darling Store Fixtures | Extensible slotted upright |
US4716841A (en) * | 1982-09-07 | 1988-01-05 | The Mead Corporation | Shelving unit |
US20060213849A1 (en) * | 2005-03-25 | 2006-09-28 | Gemtron Corporation | Refrigerator shelf |
-
2016
- 2016-09-23 US US15/274,504 patent/US20170086578A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3182945A (en) * | 1963-08-29 | 1965-05-11 | M & D Store Fixtures Inc | Multi-angle bracket |
US3248079A (en) * | 1963-12-30 | 1966-04-26 | Clark Equipment Co | Angularly adjustable shelf bracket |
US3572626A (en) * | 1968-11-13 | 1971-03-30 | Penney Co J C | Adjustable bracket |
US3983822A (en) * | 1975-07-30 | 1976-10-05 | James Marshall Suttles | Shelving system |
US4204480A (en) * | 1975-07-30 | 1980-05-27 | The Mead Corporation | Shelving system |
US4064996A (en) * | 1975-12-17 | 1977-12-27 | Robert L. Shillum | Rack system |
US4108085A (en) * | 1976-11-16 | 1978-08-22 | J.A. Wilson Display Limited | Display structure |
US4219175A (en) * | 1978-11-20 | 1980-08-26 | Darling Store Fixtures | Extensible slotted upright |
US4716841A (en) * | 1982-09-07 | 1988-01-05 | The Mead Corporation | Shelving unit |
US20060213849A1 (en) * | 2005-03-25 | 2006-09-28 | Gemtron Corporation | Refrigerator shelf |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10823214B2 (en) | 2016-10-26 | 2020-11-03 | Clark Evan Davis | Modular furniture with distributed pressure panel joint |
US10687617B2 (en) * | 2017-08-01 | 2020-06-23 | Clark Davis | Modular shelf system with tab and slot mounting |
US11154137B2 (en) | 2017-08-30 | 2021-10-26 | Clark Evan Davis | Modular furniture with locking tab and slot joint |
US11346382B2 (en) | 2017-08-30 | 2022-05-31 | Clark Evan Davis | Modular furniture with stressed dovetail tab joint |
US11085474B2 (en) | 2017-09-15 | 2021-08-10 | Clark Davis | Furniture with flexible dovetail dowel and slot joint |
US11578739B2 (en) | 2017-10-05 | 2023-02-14 | Clark Davis | Furniture with interwoven tab and slot joint |
US11083293B2 (en) | 2019-10-17 | 2021-08-10 | Clark Davis | Modular stackable shelves |
US11767867B2 (en) | 2020-11-17 | 2023-09-26 | Clark Davis | Pivoting joint for wooden furniture |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: RAPID DISPLAYS, INC., ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NOWAK, WITOLD;REEL/FRAME:039846/0534 Effective date: 20160909 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |