US3478993A - Vertically adjustable shelf - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 18, 1969 R. M- WYEROSKI ET AL. 3,478,993

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE SHELF Filed Oct. 31. 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS RONALD M. Wvarzosm Bg HNDERT P BOKMG Nov. 18, 1969 R. M. WYEROSKI ET AL 3,478,993

VERTI CALLY ADJUSTABLE SHELF Filed Oct. 51, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet s i i I 64 Fl I X/ mvzsmvms RONALD M. WREROSPU BYMINDERT P BQKMH QTTORN EYS Nov. 18, 1969 R. M.WYEROSKI E L VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE SHELF Filed Oct. 31, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS QQNALD M WvERosm Q S M w. K N 0 B nw T P T A T R E D N Y B United States Patent VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE SHELF Ronald M. Wyeroski, Newfoundland, and Mindert P. Bokma, Oakland, N.J., assignors to Victory Shelvmg C0., Oakland, N.J., a partnership Filed Oct. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 679,494 Int. Cl. A47f /00, 5/100; A47b 9/00 US. Cl. 248-245 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to vertically adjustable shelves and in particular to those shelves which are movable on a support column wherein the column is mounted in a vertical position and one or more of the shelves may be located in an infinite number of vertical positions along the column.

More particularly, the invention is directed toward those adjustable shelves which may be mounted on walls or in corners of rooms. There have been many prior art, wall-mounted shelves but none of them permit the vertical position of each shelf to be infinitely variable along the support column.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a vertical column of solid material having three intersecting outer surfaces, one outer surface being affixed to a wall, each of the other surfaces being provided with a vertical channel to thereby permit an adjustable shelf to be clamped in position along the column. The shelf is provided with inner and outer clamp members, the inner clamp member engaging at least one of the surfaces of each of the channels, the outer clamp member engaging portions of the other outer surfaces and a portion of the inner clamp member.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device wherein the column is fitted into a corner of the room, namely, at the intersection of two wall surfaces.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a device wherein the column presents a closed finished appearance in the room.

These and other objects, advantages, features and uses will become more apparent as the description proceeds when considered in view of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric, front, elevational view of an embodiment of an assembled adjustable shelf and support column of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric, elevational view showing the support column of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric, elevational view of the in ner clamp member used on the shelf of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric, elevational view of the outer clamp member of FIGURE 1 showing a portion of the shelf to which it is afiixed;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1 of a further embodiment of an assembled adjustable shelf and support column of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2 showing the support column used in the embodiment of FIGURE 5;

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FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 3 showing the inner clamp member used in the embodiment of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 4 showing the outer clamp member of the embodiment of FIGURE 5 and a portion of the shelf to which it is affixed.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, are shown preferred embodiments of the vertically adjustable shelf and support column of the invention, the numeral 10 generally designates one embodiment of the invention. Assembly 10 is seen to comprise (FIGURE 1) support column 12, having four outer surfaces 14, 16, 18 and 20, and channels 22 and 24 which are respectively cut into surfaces 18 and 20. Shelf 34 is atfixed to outer clamp member 28 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 4 and outer clamp member 28 is connected to inner clamp member 26 by means of stud 30 and wing nut 32. Stud 30, which is affixed to inner clamp member 26 so that it projects outwardly therefrom, fits through opening 40 in outer clamp member 28 (FIGURES 1 and 4).

Surfaces 14 and 16 of column 12 intersect along a line or curve as shown at 15 depending upon the shape of the corner into which the device is to be placed. The support column 12 is mounted on a wall or in a corner in a generally vertical position so that the inner clamp member 26 can he slid into channels 22 and 24. Legs 33 and 35 of inner clamp member 26 fit in the channels 22 and 24 as shown in FIGURE 1. The longer arms of inner clamp member 26 and 28 are sized so that they fit along the portions of the column walls 18 and 20 lying between the channels and their intersection as shown in FIG- URE 1.

Support column 12 is fitted to the intersection of the walls (the room corner) by fitting intersection 15 into the corner so that surfaces 14 and 16 are against the wall surfaces. Preferably, the column is atfixed to the walls by means of screws 42 which project through openings 44 and are threaded into the wall. There should be a sufiicient number of these screws to hold the support column firmly in position against the wall.

Wing nut 32 is tightened on stud 30 until the inner clamp member arms 33 and 35 are in frictional contact with surfaces 23 and 25 of the channels 22 and 24 as shown in FIGURE 1. The outer clamp membe 28 is off-set as shown in the figures so that enlarged portions 37 and 39 of the outer clamp member 28 are in frictional contact with portions of the surfaces 18 and 20 of the column. The enlarged portions 37 and 39 also bear against the intersections of arms 29 and 33 and 31 and 35, respectively, as shown in FIGURE 1. This augments the clamping action by forcing the inner clamp members arms 33 and 35 into tight, frictional contact with the surfaces 23 and 25 of the channels.

Support column 12 presents a finished appearance in the room since the corner facing into the room is solid except for the channels. A decorative top may be used to complete the desired aesthetic effect. For facility in using the device of the invention, the top of the column should be a sufficient distance below the room ceiling so that the mounting of shelves on the column as well as their removal from the column is simplified. It can be readily seen that the shelf 34 may be moved to any desired position by merely loosening the wing nut 32 and tightening it again when the desired position of shelf 34 is reached. It may also be seen that more than one shelf may be supported on the same column so several shelves may be placed on the column to produce, for example, a tier etfect.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 8. Adjustable shelf system 50 is seen to comprise vertical column 52 and shelf 66 to which is attached inner clamp member 62 and outer clamp member 64. The two clamp members 62 and 64 are drawn toward each other by means of wing nut 68 which engages stud 70 which is attached to inner clamp member 62. Column 52 comprises members 54 and 56, the surfaces of which may be affixed to a pair of intersecting walls to hold the column in position, and outwardly extending legs 58 and 60 which enclose the channel 53 within the column 52. Surfaces 54 and 56 meet at the junction 55 which may be shaped to fit the junction of the intersecting walls to which the column is to be afiixed by means of screws which feed through openings 74 and engage the walls. A sufficient number of screws should be used to hold the column firmly in place against the wall. Enough space should be provided between the top of the column and the room ceiling to permit the shelves to be added and removed easily.

Inner clamp member 62 rides inside the channel 53 when the shelf is to be installed on the column. When the shelf is installed on the column from the top and is lowered to its desired position the wing nut 68 is tightened on stud 70 so that the shelf is in position. Inner clamp member 62 bears against the inner surfaces of legs 58 and 60 in frictional relationship therewith and outer clamp member 64 bears against the outer surfaces of legs 58 and 60 in frictional relationship therewith so that the shelf will not move once the wing nut 68 is tightened to the proper degree of firmness.

If desired, decorative inserts may be placed and suitably fastened in the portions of the channel 53, unoccupied by the clamps, to present a finished appearance facing into the room from the column.

It can readily be seen that a plurality of shelves may be mounted on the vertical support column and that a tier of shelves may also be mounted on the column depending upon the particular aesthetic effect desired by the user.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

We claim:

1. A vertically adjustable shelf comprising:

a column, formed of solid material, mounted in a vertical position, and comprising at least three intersecting outer surfaces and having two vertical channels, the first such outer surface being formed that it may be afiixed to a wall surface, the first such channel being in the second such outer surface and the second such channel being in the third such outer surface;

a shelf having an inner clamp member and an outer clamp member which are adjustable toward and away from each other;

the shelf being held in frictional locking position on the column by drawing the clamp members toward each other such that the inner clamp member engages at least one of the surfaces of each of the channels and the outer clamp member engages portions of the second and third outer surfaces and a portion of the inner clamp member when the clamp members are drawn together.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein:

the column comprises four outer surfaces, two of which are intersecting surfaces by which is may be afiixed to two intersecting wall surfaces;

the two channels being formed in the other two intersecting surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 866,695 9/ 1907 Taussig 248-245 1,472,260 2/ 191-6 Crist 248-22'2 3,132,609 5/ 1965 Chesley' 108106 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,021,879 3/ 1966 Great Britain.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,478,993 November 18, 1969 Ronald M. Wyeroski et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 44, "membe" should read member Column 4, line 24, "is" should read it Signed and sealed this 23rd day of June 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

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