Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to shelf mounting systems and more
specifically to a bracket having a plurality of fastener mounting holes and
having a number
of cantilevered forwardly projecting members forming the supports for a shelf
having
mating female cavities on one or more edges for receiving said male
cantilevered supports
and bracket thereby providing a shelf with concealed mounting members.
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Description of the Prior Art
There are other shelf mounting systems designed to provide low footprint shelf
support members. Typical of these is U.S. Patent No. 3,386,590 issued to Gretz
on
June 4, 1968.
Another patent was issued to Forman on May 3, 1983 as U. S. Patent No.
4,381,715. Yet another U.S. Patent No. 4,886,236 was issued to Randall on
December 12, 1989 and still yet another was issued on February 6, 1990 to
Steinway as U.S. Patent No. 4,898,355.
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U.S. Patent Number 3,386.590
Inventor: Charles Gretz
Issued: June 4, 1968
A construction kit is provided in the form of hollow tubular pieces of square
cross
section in various shapes and lengths. The tubular pieces are basic and
comprise a channel
which forms three sides and a panel which forms the fourth side. The panel is
connected to
the channel by interlocking members on the interior of the channel. The
outermost of these
interlocking members are recessed from the outer ends of the tubular pieces to
form
abutments for mating pieces. The pieces are made of a rigid plastic material,
the surface of
which is treated to simulate an artistic metal. These interlocking pieces may
have two, three
or more ends for various design configurations. Ancillary pieces are also
provided, such as
scrolls and plates, together with connectors for attaching them to the basic
pieces.
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U.S. Patent Number 4.381.715
Inventor: David M. Forman
Issued: May 3, 1983
A novel shelf support system which is capable of bearing heavy loads and
provides a
large measure of adjustability, yet is completely self contained and only very
minimally
visible where the shelf meets the wall. The system comprises threaded
fasteners for
securement to a wall, e.g. at the stud locations, each fastener bearing a
support shaft and a
spring clip for interengagement with detent grooves which run lengthwise of
elongated
recessed chambers within the shelf.
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U.S. Patent Number 4.886.236
Inventor: Harold M. Randall
Issued: December 12, 1989
A support for a shelf having a top surface, a bottom surface, a rear wall, and
a front
wall. The support includes a bracket having a throat for receiving the rear
wall of a shelf;
and one or more wedges for being inserted between the shelf and the throat of
the bracket
after the rear wall of the shelf has been received by the throat of the
bracket to fix the shelf
to the bracket. The shelf is attached to a wall by securing the bracket
secured to the support
member at the desired location; inserting the rear wall of the shelf into the
throat of the
bracket until the rear wall is adjacent the rear of the throat; and then
inserting one or more
wedge members into the throat of the bracket between the top surface of the
shelf and the
bottom surface of an upper arm of the bracket to fix the shelf to the bracket.
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U.S. Patent Number 4.898.355
Inventor: Steven Steinway
Issued: February 6, 1990
The present invention is a mounting structure for glass shelving or a glass
wall
panel. The mounting structure has a supporting bar which may be an elongated
member or a
u-shaped member, and an attachment bracket. The rod or bar is used to support
the shelf or
wall panel. The bracket attaches the supporting bar to a support surface,
which is preferably
an inner stud. The bracket is generally rectangular in shape, having an
elongated hollow
interior area for receiving and securing the supporting bar. The supporting
bar can be
mounted vertically on the stud, extending through a wall or can be directly
mounted on the
outer wall in either a vertical or horizontal orientation.
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While these shelf mounting systems may be suitable for the purposes for
which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of
the
present invention, as hereinatter described.
_g_
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SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention discloses a modular shelf mounting system having a
bracket
member for mounting and supporting a shelf member. The bracket member has
multiple
holes therein for having its rear side mounted to a wall at the stud
locations. Furthermore,
the bracket has forwardly projecting multiple cantilevered male members which
cantilevered
members are inserted into mating female apertures located in the shelf whereby
the shelf can
be slidably attached onto the cantilevered members. Alternative embodiments
are shown
for placement of the shelf in a corner and having the cantilevered members
hinged at their
base. An additional embodiment is shown wherein the shelf is mounted onto the
bracket
using multiple attachment means thereby avoiding the need of the cantilevered
forwardly
projecting members.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a shelf having
concealed
support members.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bracket having means
for
attachment to a wall.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a shelf having a
bracket
with a number of forwardly projecting cantilevered members.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a shelf with a
number
of apertures wherein the brackets cantilevered members will be inserted.
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Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description
proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing
a
bracket which can be attached to a wall and having a number of cantilevered
forwardly
projecting members whereby a shelf having a number of apertures will slid over
and conceal
the brackets projecting members.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the
description to
follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings,
which forms a
part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments
in which the
invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient
detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be
understood that other
embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without
departing
from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference
characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a
limiting sense,
and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
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BRIEF DESCRIPT10N OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be
described,
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention. Shown is a shelf
support
module mounted to the studs of a wall. Shown in outline are the apertures
within the shelf
therein housing the bracket and cantilevered support members.
FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. Shown is
the
bracket member with a plurality of fastener mounting apertures whereby the
shelf module
can be mounted without regard to stud location. Also shown is the shelf with
the apertures
within the shelf for the support members and the cavity for the bracket shown
in outline.
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the
bracket of the present invention having a plurality of fastener mounting
apertures.
FIGURE 4 is a back perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the shelf
of
the present invention showing the apertures for the bracket and support
members.
FIGURE 5 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present
invention showing a corner shelf module mounted to the studs of a wall.. Shown
in outline
are the apertures within the shelf and with the bracket and cantilevered
support members
inserted.
FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the
present invention. Shown are the bracket members with a plurality of fastener
mounting
apertures whereby the shelf module can be mounted without regard to stud
location. Also
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shown is the shelf with the apertures within the shelf for the support members
and the cavity
for the bracket shown in outline.
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the
bracket of the present invention having a plurality of fastener mounting
apertures. The
bracket is composed of two members which compensate for corners which are not
generally
square.
FIGURE 8 is a back perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the shelf
of the
present invention showing the apertures for the bracket and support members.
FIGURE 9 is a front perspective view of the additional alternate embodiment of
the
present invention showing a corner shelf with the bracket having two hinged
cantilevered
members shown in outline.
FIGURE 10 is an exploded front perspective view of the additional alternate
embodiment of the present invention showing the corner shelf removed from the
bracket
having two hinged cantilevered members.
FIGURE 11 is a front perspective view of the additional alternate embodiment
of
the bracket of the present invention showing means for attachment of the two
hinged
members of the bracket to the wall, as well as, two cantilevered shelf support
members.
FIGURE 12 is an exploded view of the additional alternate embodiment of the
bracket of the present invention showing means for attachment of the two
hinged bracket
members as well as, two hinged cantilevered shelf support members whereby the
shelf and
support members are adjustable to an inside or outside corner.
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FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of another additional embodiment of the
present
invention. Shown is a shelf support module mounted to the studs of a wall.
Shown in
outline is the aperture for the bracket within the shelf therein housing the
bracket.
FIGURE 14 is an exploded perspective view of the other additional embodiment
of
bracket of the present invention. Shown is the bracket member with a plurality
of fastener
mounting apertures whereby the shelf module can be mounted without regard to
stud
location.
FIGURE 15 is an rear perspective view of the additional alternate embodiment
of
the shelf of the present invention showing the aperture for the bracket.
FIGURE 16 is an exploded perspective view of the other additional embodiment
of
bracket of the present invention. Shown is one possible variation to the shape
of the bracket
member with a plurality of fastener mounting apertures whereby the shelf
module can be
mounted without regard to stud location.
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LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
With regard to the reference numerals used, the following
numbering is used
throughout
the
various
figures.
present invention
11 wall mounting means
12 shelf
14 stud
16 shelf apertures
18 cantilevered members
bracket
22 bracket holes
24 bracket recess
26 hinged cantilevered member
28 mounting means
fastener means
32 corner attachment means
34 pin
36 alternative bracket
38 mounting holes
screws
42 screw apertures
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference
characters
denote similar elements throughout the several views, Figures 1 through 16
illustrate the
present invention being a modular shelf mounting system.
Turning to Figure 1, therein is shown a perspective view of the present
invention
generally shown at 10. Also shown therein is the shelf 12 and the wall 14 to
which the
present invention 10 mounts the shelf 12. Shown is the shelf support module of
the present
invention 10 mounted to the studs 14 of the wall using wall mounting means 11
which
could be screws or other standard means. Shown in outline are the mating
female apertures
16 within the shelf 12 therein housing the elongated cantilevered support male
members 18
shown in outline.
Turning to Figure 2, therein is shown an exploded perspective view of the
present
invention 10. Also shown is the bracket member 20, the male support member 18,
with a
plurality of fastener mounting holes or apertures 22 through which fastener
means pass for
mounting to the wall. The multiple holes 22 allow the bracket member to be
mounted to
the studs without regard to the stud location. Also shown is the shelf 12 with
the female
apertures 16 within the shelf. Note the recess or cavity 24 on the rear edge
of the shelf 12
wherein the mounting bracket 20 rests to allow the rear edge of the shelf 12
to be mounted
flush with the wall. In operation, the bracket 20 is mounted onto a wall and
the shelf 12 is
then mounted onto the bracket
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Turning to Figure 3, therein is shown an enlarged view of the preferred
embodiment
of the bracket 20 of the present invention having a plurality of apertures 22
for being
mounted to a wall (not shown). Also shown therein are the cantilevered members
18 of the
bracket 20 which mount into the shelf apertures 16 (not shown).
Turning to Figure 4, therein is shown a back perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the shelf 12 of the present invention showing the female shelf
apertures,16
in which the male cantilevered members 18 are slidably and removably mounted.
Also
shown therein is the recessed area 24 on the back edge of the shelf wherein
the bracket 20 is
mounted.
Turning to Figure 5, therein is shown a front perspective view of an
alternative
embodiment of the present invention 10 showing a corner shelf module mounted
to the
studs 14 of the wall. Shown in outline are the apertures 16 of the shelf 12
with the bracket
20 and cantilevered support members 18 mounted therein along with wall
mounting means
11.
Turning to Figure 6, therein is shown an exploded perspective view of the
alternative embodiment of the present invention 10. Shown are the bracket
members 20
with a plurality of mounting apertures 22 therein whereby the shelf module can
be mounted
in a variety of locations on the stud wall. Also shown therein is the shelf 12
with the
apertures 16 in which the cantilevered support members 18 are mounted. Also
shown is the
bracket recess areas 24 on the back edges of the triangular shaped shelf 12.
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Turning to Figure 7, therein is shown an enlarged perspective view of the
alternative
embodiment of the bracket 20 of the present invention having a plurality of
fastener
mounting apertures 22. The bracket is composed of two members which when
mounted
compensate for irregular corners which are not exactly square. Also shown
therein are the
cantilevered members 18.
Turning to Figure 8, therein is shown a back perspective view of the
alternative
embodiment of the shelf 12 of the present invention showing the apertures 16
for the
bracket and cantilevered support members. Also shown are the recessed areas 24
wherein
the bracket (not shown) is inserted to be flush with the shelf 12.
Turning to Figure 9, therein is shown a front perspective view of an
additional
alternative embodiment of the present invention 10 showing a modular shelf
corner 12 with
the bracket 20 having two hinged cantilever members 26 shown in outline
attached thereto.
Turning to Figure 10, therein is shown an exploded front perspective view of
an
additional embodiment of the present invention showing the corner shelf 12
removed from
the bracket 20 having two hinged cantilevered members 26. Also shown therein
are the
cantilevered member mounting means 28 attached to the bracket 20 having
additional
fastening means 30 whereby the cantilevered members 26 are connected onto the
mounting
means 28 and thereby to the bracket 20. Note that the attachment means 28 and
30 further
provide pivoting means.
Turning to Figure 11, therein is shown a front perspective view of an
additional
alternative embodiment of the bracket 20 of the present invention 10 showing
means for
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attachment of the two hinged members 26 of the bracket 20 to the wall as well
as two
cantilevered shelf support means 26. Also shown therein are the mounting means
28 and
attachment means 30.
Turning to Figure 12, therein is shown an exploded view of the additional
alternative
view of the bracket 20 of the present invention showing means for attachment
32, being a
hinge having a pin 34 and groove, of the two hinged bracket members 20 as well
as two
hinged cantilevered shelf support members 26 whereby the shelf and support
members are
adjustable to an inside or an outside corner.
Turning to Figure 13, therein is shown a perspective view of another
additional
embodiment of the present invention 10. Shown is an alternative shelf support
module 36
mounted to the wall using wall mounting means 11. Shown in outline are the
apertures 22
for the bracket 36 within the shelf 12 therein housing the bracket 36. Also
shown therein
are mounting screws 40 into the female threaded holes (not shown) which attach
the shelf
12 to the alternative bracket 36.
Turning to Figure 14, therein is shown an exploded perspective view of the
additional alternative embodiment of the bracket 36 of the present invention.
Shown is the
bracket member 36 with a plurality of fastener mounting apertures 22 whereby
the shelf
module can be mounted without regard to stud location along with the threaded
holes 38.
Turning to Figure 15, therein is shown a rear perspective view of the
additional
alternative embodiment of the shelf 12 of the present invention 10 showing the
apertures 42
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through the which screws 40 are inserted to attach the shelf 12 to the
alternative bracket 36.
A bracket recess area 24 is also shown.
Turning to Figure 16, therein is shown an exploded perspective view of another
additional embodiment of the bracket 36 of the present invention. Shown is one
possible
variation to the shape of the bracket member 36 having a plurality of fastener
mounting
apertures 22 whereby the shelf module (not shown) can be mounted without
regard to stud
location. Also shown are the threaded holes 38
19
