WO1997016997A1

WO1997016997A1 - A bracket

Info

Publication number: WO1997016997A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1996/000126
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael John Finn
Original assignee: Michael John Finn
Priority date: 1995-11-08
Filing date: 1996-11-08
Publication date: 1997-05-15
Also published as: AU7712896A

Abstract

A bracket (1) for supporting a shelf (6), the bracket (1) comprising a support member (2) pivotedly attached to a mounting means (3), which mounting means (3) is configurated and arranged to, in use, mount the bracket (1) to a support structure (8) the support member (2) being pivotable from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position, characterized in that the support member (2) is spring-biased to pivot to the retracted position, the bracket (1) being configured and arranged to, in use, support a said shelf (6) when the support member (2) is in the extended position.

Description

A BRACKET

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a support for a shelf. The term "shelf" is intended, for the purposes of the present invention, to include any substantially horizontally extending load bearing platform.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional shelves are generally constructed to extend outwardly into a room, thereby permanently reducing usable floor area. If the area in which the shelf is installed is to be utilised for suitable purposes, it is likely that the shelf will need to be removed after use. Obviously this is inconvenient for occupants as the removed shelf needs to be stored and this may involve a complex task. For example, a garage may only be large enough to accommodate a car but when the car is out of the garage a workbench may be set up in the empty space.

One known solution, widely used in conjunction with tables, is to have an extension horizontally connected to the main platform portion. The extension extends downwardly, substantially vertically, when not in use, but when extra platform area is required it is raised into the horizontal position. A support area, hingedly connected peφendicularly to the extension, is swung out to support the extension in the horizontal position. In many instances the extension includes a slot in its underside into which the support arm is located, thereby improving stability.

Table extensions generally only require one support arm to maintain them in the horizontal position. Shelves and similar platforms, however, require two or three spaced apart support arms to provide the necessary stability.

A problem experienced with table extensions is that to move the support arm into or out of position can be difficult because ofthe length ofthe extension. With shelves the difficulty is similar, except that to lower the shelf to the vertical, all the support arms must be retracted fully. This can require considerable dexterity if one person is performing the task, otherwise two people may be required, one to hold the shelf or table extension, and the other to operate the support arm(s). It is an object of the invention to provide a bracket which overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first broad aspect the invention provides a bracket for supporting a shelf, the bracket comprising a support member pivotedly attached to a mounting means, which mounting means is configured and arranged to, in use, mount the bracket to a support structure, the support member being pivotable from a first, retracted, position to a second, extended, position, characterised in that the support member is spring-biased to pivot to the retracted position, the bracket being configured and arranged to, in use, support a said shelf when the support member is in the extended position.

Preferably the mounting means is pivotedly attached, peφendicularly to the pivot axis between the mounting means and the support member, to a second mounting means, the second mounting means being configured and arranged to, in use, attach the bracket to a said shelf.

In a second broad aspect the invention provides a bracket assembly comprising a bracket according to the first broad aspect together with a locking means wherein the support member of the bracket is retainable in the extended position by the locking means.

Preferably the locking means is a latch attachable to the underside ofa said shelf adjacent the distal end of the support member, the latch comprising a pivot arm pivotable about a pivot point central of its length, and having a catch at one end.

Desirably a notch is provided in the support member opposite the catch such that when the support member is in the extended position the catch and the notch are engageable.

Conveniently the latch is spring biased to, in use, maintain engagement with the notch ofthe support member. Preferably the mounting means is pivotedly attached, peφendicularly to the pivot axis between the mounting means and the support member, to a second mounting means, the second mounting means being configured and arranged to, in use, attach the bracket to a said shelf

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment ofthe invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1: - shows a bracket according to the invention fastened to a wall with the support member locked in place in an extended position supporting a shelf;

Figure 2: - shows an enlarged view of the locking means of the bracket of figure 1 engaging the distal end ofthe support member;

Figure 3 : - shows the locking means of figure 2 releasing the support member;

Figure 4: - shows a bracket according to the present invention in an extended position supporting a shelf and a second bracket according to the present invention in a retracted position; and

Figure 5: - shows the shelf of figure 4 hanging downward as the support members of brackets are in the fully retracted position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 illustrates a bracket, generally shown as 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

A support member 2, desirably in the form ofa support arm, is pivotably attached to a first mounting means in the form of an elongate plate 3. The pivot joint between the support arm 2 and plate 3 extends substantially the full length ofthe plate 3 for lateral stability. The support arm 2 is pivotable between a first, retracted, position and a second, extended, position.

A second mounting means, in the form of a plate 4, is pivotably attached to an end section 5 of the mounting plate 3. This pivot joint is oriented substantially peφendicularly to the pivot joint between the plate 3 and the support arm 2. The plate 4 is configured and arranged to enable a platform or shelf 6 to be attached thereto.

Screws 7 are illustrated as the means for attaching the shelf 6 to the plate 4, and for attaching the plate 3 to a support structure 8 such as a wall, but it will be appreciated that any form of attached means suitable for supporting the bearing weight on the shelf 6 such as, for example, nails, staples, glue, bolts or the like can be used.

An advantage with having the second mounting plate 4 is that the bracket 1 functions to support the shelf 6 both during use in the horizontal position and also when the support arm 2 is retracted, i.e. when the shelf 6 is hanging downward (as shown in figure 5).

A cut away section in the support arm 2 forming a shoulder 9 allows the free movement ofthe support arm 2 from its retracted position to its extended position.

A spring 10 is incoφorated into the pivot joint between the plate 3 and the support arm 2 is arranged to bias the support arm 2 to the retracted position when a user desires to hang the shelf 6 downward. Furthermore, by having the support arm 2 spring biased to its retracted position once the support arm 2 is released from its extended position it will freely retract without further action by a user.

In use, the bracket 1 is preferably screwed into a stud in the support structure 8, but may be attached to a solid wall. The positioning for the screws 7 in the plate 3 are to allow for proper alignment ofthe plate 3 with a stud. Alternatively, for light loads on a shelf, adhesive strips may be stuck to the rear of the plate 3 for mounting to a wall or vertical structure such as a post.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate enlarged views ofa locking means 11 for use with the bracket 1 of figure 1.

The locking means 11 comprises a latch 12 provided with a locating recess 13 to facilitate the easy catchment of the distal end 14 ofthe support arm 2. The distal end 14 is provided with a locating notch 15 which, when interlocked with the locating recess 13 in the latch 12, advantageously provides an interlocking feature to prevent the support arm 2 and shelf 6 from moving relative to the other. As the support arm 2 and shelf 6 are essentially pivotably attached to the support structure 8 the bracket 1 and shelf 6 are firmly secured in place.

The latch 12 is pivotable about a screw 16 which secures the latch 12 in place to the underside ofthe shelf 6. A washer 17 is placed behind the latch 12 to raise the latch away from the shelf 6 to allow the latch 12 to freely rotate about the screw 16 during use.

Preferably the latch 12 is spring biased into, in use, engagement with the notch 15 in the distal end 14 ofthe support arm 2 to locate into position, as seen in figures 1 and 2. This is achieved by a slot 18 provided in the body ofthe latch 12. A screw 19 is affixed through the slot 18 and a washer 20 to the shelf 6. A spring 21 is secured within the slot 18 on the side ofthe screw 19 which biases the latch 12 in the position whereby it can engage the notch 15.

The releasing action ofthe latch 12 is clearly illustrated in figure 3. A user applies force A at the free end 22 ofthe latch 12 from the locating recess 18. This pivots the latch 12 away from the notch 15 in the distal end 14 ofthe support arm 2, allowing the arm 2 to spring or retract in direction B to adjacent the support structure 8.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate brackets 30, 31, as described above as 1, mounted to a section of wall 32. The bracket 30 is in its extended position supporting a shelf 33, and bracket 31 is in its retracted position adjacent the section of wall 32.

The brackets 30, 31 are mounted to allow respective support arms 34, 35 to rotate in opposite directions toward respective latch means 36, 37. The components ofthe bracket 1 ofthe invention are preferably configured and arranged such that the brackets 1 can be mounted in either orientation as shown in this figure.

As seen in figure 5, when the support arms are released the shelf 33 hangs downward to leave the space where the shelf 33 was originally extended into free for other puφoses. The brackets 30, 31 are also conveniently hidden from view when the shelf 33 is not in use which, as will be noted, is an aesthetically pleasing feature.

In operation, to use the shelf 33 a user lifts the shelf 33 to a substantially horizontal position, and pivots the support arms 34, 35 to their extended position to be received by respective latches 36, 37. As the latches 36, 37 are spring biased in their locking position, they receive and lock their respective support arms in place to secure the shelf 33 firmly in its extended position.

After use, the user simply applies force to each of the latches 36, 37 which releases the respective support arms 34, 35 to spring back to their retracted position. The shelf 33 is then lowered adjacent the wall 32 as seen in figure 5.

It will be appreciated that more than one bracket 1 may be used to support a shelf 6. The support arm 2 may be extended and retracted in seconds and may be spring loaded to return to adjacent the support structure 8 upon release of the latch 12. This means one touch is all that is required to release the support arm 2 to lower the shelf 6.

It will be appreciated that the length ofthe support arm 2, and the length ofthe plate 3 are determined by me degree ofsupport required to counterbalance the downward force exerted on the shelf 6. If for example, the bracket 1 is for use to support the base ofa foldown bunk bed, then the size ofthe plate 3 and support arm 2 will be selected to bear the downward force ofa person's body on the bed.

The composition ofthe bracket 1 is dependent in the particular use intended. If only light weight is to be applied to a shelf 6, then a plastics material is suitable. Alternatively, with the example above ofthe bunk bed, the bracket 1 would be made ofa suitable metal material. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the bracket 1 can be formed of any suitable durable and resilient material such as aluminium, zinc, bronze, steel, plastic, fibreglass or an alloy, or any combination thereof

The collapsible supporting arrangement according to the present invention is particularly suitable for compact living such as, for example, in caravans, mobile homes, cars and in garages but is useful in any area where space is a premium.

Although this invention has been described by a way of example, it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Additional advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent for those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated. Thus, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modifications which are within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Claims

1. A bracket for supporting a shelf) the bracket comprising a support member pivotedly attached to a mounting means, which mounting means is configured and arranged to, in use, mount the bracket to a support structure, the support member being pivotable from a first, retracted, position to a second, extended, position, characterised in that the support member is spring-biased to pivot to the retracted position, the bracket being configured and arranged to, in use, support a said shelf when the support member is in the extended position.

2. A bracket according to claim 1 wherein the mounting means is pivotedly attached, peφendicularly to the pivot axis between the mounting means and the support member, to a second mounting means, the second mounting means being configured and arranged to, in use, attach the bracket to a said shelf.

3. A bracket assembly comprising a bracket according to claim 1 together with a locking means wherein the support member ofthe bracket is retainable in the extended position by the locking means.

4. A bracket assembly according to claim 2 wherein the locking means is a latch attachable to the underside of a said shelf adjacent the distal end ofthe support member, the latch comprising a pivot arm pivotable about a pivot point central of its length, and having a catch at one end.

5. A bracket assembly according to claim 4 wherein a notch is provided in the support member opposite the catch such that when the support member is in the extended position the catch and the notch are engageable.

6. A bracket assembly according to claim 5 wherein the latch is spring biased to, in use, maintain engagement with the notch ofthe support member.

7. A bracket assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the mounting means is pivotedly attached, peφendicularly to the pivot axis between the mounting means and the support member, to a second mounting means, the second mounting means being configured and arranged to, in use, attach the bracket to a said shelf.

8. A bracket substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A bracket assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.