Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
WALL-MOUNTED FURNITURE SYSTEM
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/950,325, entitled WALL-MOUNTED FURNITURE SYSTEM, filed July 17, 2007, said
application being fully incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wall mounted furniture systems and more
specifically to
wall mounted shelving systems for electronic devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic display devices such as stereo components, DVD players, surround
sound
systems, and LCD flat panel displays are in widespread use in commercial,
industrial,
institutional and home settings. There is often a need to mount these devices
to a wall in order to
save counter, table or floor space. Numerous specialized mounts and shelving
systems have
been developed for the purpose of mounting electronic devices from walls.
Cables and wires for supplying signal and power to a mounted device present
certain
challenges. These wires and cables are unsightly and it is therefore desirable
to conceal them in
the mount or in other structures associated with the mount. Pre-fabricated
wires, especially
video and signal cables, are generally terminated at both ends with molded
plugs or connectors,
which may be relatively large. Existing mount systems typically do not define
wire channels or
passages large enough and properly configured so as to accommodate the passage
of these
connectors after the mount is installed. This results in unsightly wires and
cables protruding
from the mounting device or in additional difficulty, expense and delay in
mount instal.lation.
Another drawback of existing mounting systems relates to height and location
adjustment
of the system. For aesthetic reasons, it is often desirable to mount devices
at a very specific
height and location on the wall. Existing mounting systems are often fixedly
attached in one
location on the wall and therefore often require a great deal of attention and
effort during
installation to ensure that the mount will be positioned on the wall as
desired before being
attached. Once attached, the position of the mount cannot be adjusted without
removing it and
relocating the attachment fasteners. In addition, it may not be possible to
relocate the device
only a small distance due to holes in the wall made by fasteners during the
previous installation.
1
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
What is needed in the industry is a wall mounted shelving system for
electronic devices
that provides simple and effective post-installation wire management and that
can also be easily
positionally adjusted post-installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The wall mounted furniture systems according to the present invention address
the need
of the industry for a wall mounted shelving system for electronic devices that
provides simple
and effective post-installation wire management and that can also be easily
positionally adjusted
post-installation. According to an embodiment of the invention, a wall mounted
shelving system
includes a frame with a plurality of spaced apart parallel vertical members
coupled by spaced
apart horizontal mounting brackets. The vertical members include a centrally
positioned wire
management channel flanked by shelf attachment columns. The wire management
channel
defines a forwardly facing slot along with a plurality of laterally facing
wire apertures. The shelf
attachment columns define a forwardly facing shelf adjustment channel that
slidingly receives a
plurality of shelf attachment cars. Each of a plurality of forwardly extending
horizontal shelves
is supported by coupling to laterally registered cars in each of the shelf
adjustment channels.
With the shelves in place, a wire can be routed from a first piece of
equipment on one of the
shelves through the forwardly facing slot in the wire management channel at a
location above the
shelf on which the piece of equipment rests and laterally out through a
proximately located wire
aperture into the space between the wire management channel and an adjacent
shelf attachment
column. The wire can then be routed upward or downward to and through a wire
aperture
proximate a second one the shelves, and through the forwardly facing slot at a
location above the
second shelf. The wire can then be connected to a second piece of equipment
resting on the
second shelf. Concealment panels can then be fitted between the wire
management channel and
the shelf attachment columns to conceal the wire from view.
The spaced apart horizontal mounting brackets include a u-shaped channel
formed along
the upper edge thereof and a flange formed along the lower edge. A pair of
elongate wall plates
is included, each wall plate having projecting flanges formed along the upper
and lower edges
thereof. The wall plates are spaced apart on the wall at locations
corresponding to the location of
the horizontal mounting brackets at a desired height of the system on the
wall. The system can
then be attached to the wall by hooking the u-shaped channel over the upper
edge of the wall
plate. A locking fastener can then be inserted through the flange at the lower
edge of the
horizontal mounting bracket so as to extend under the lower projecting flange
of the wall plate,
thus preventing the u-shaped channel from being disengaged from the wall
plate. Before
2
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
insertion of the locking fastener, the u-shaped channel is laterally slidable
on the upper flange of
the wall plate, thereby enabling limited lateral positioning of the system on
the wall.
In another embodiment, the system includes a wall mounting interface assembly
and a
plurality of shelves. The wall mounting interface assembly generally includes
an elongate
housing, wbich may be a unitary extrusion formed from aluminum, defining a
plurality of
longitudinally extending parallel channels proximate a rear side of the
housing, and a separate
elongate wall plate presenting a plurality of projecting hooks. A load-bearing
plate is received in
one of the channels and a locking plate is slidably received in an adjacent
one of the channels.
Each of the load bearing plate and the locking plate define a plurality of
apertures for receiving a
separate one of the hooks of the wall plate. The wall plate is attached to the
wall with the hooks
facing outward. To attach the housing to the wall plate, the apertures in the
load bearing plate
and locking plate are registered by sliding the locking plate to a first
position. The hooks are
then inserted through the apertures in the locking plate and the load plate.
The hooks have
upwardly facing slots registered with the locking plate, such that the locking
plate can be slid
into a second position wherein the locking plate is engaged in the slots in
the hooks to lock the
housing to the wall plate. When the housing is thus engaged on the wall plate,
the edges of the
apertures in the load-bearing plate bear on a load bearing surface of each
hook to transfer the
load on the shelves to the wall plate and the wall.
The position of the load-bearing plate in the housing is vertically adjustable
relative to
the housing with an adjusting screw. The vertical position of the housing and
attached shelves
can be adjusted, post-installation, with this adjusting screw within a limited
range of travel.
The housing further defines a shelf adjustment channel proximate a front side
with a
forwardly facing slot, and a pair of rearwardly facing generally v-shaped
grooves flanking the
slot. The shelf adjustment channel slidingly receives a shelf attachment
member therein. The
shelf attachment member defines a pair of wedge-shaped projections
corresponding to the v-
shaped grooves. A shelf support member is attached to the shelf attachment
member with a
fastener. The shelf attachment member may be fixed against sliding in the
shelf adjustment
channel by tightening the fastener, causing the wedge-shaped projections to be
drawn into the v-
shaped grooves. As the fastener is tightened, the mating of the wedge-shaped
projections with
the v-shaped grooves causes the slot to be narrowed, thereby preventing the
shelf attachment
member from being drawn through the slot and increasing the frictional force
holding the shelf
attachment member in position in the shelf adjustment channel.
In embodiments of the invention, the shelf support members may include shelf
support
pads or bumpers that are faced with a high friction, low slip material,
thereby inhibiting slippage
3
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
of the shelf on the shelf support member and preventing the shelf from being
drawn forwardly
away from the housing or frame.
The housing also defines laterally facing wire management channels on each
side thereof.
Wires may be routed through these channels from equipment on one shelf to
equipment on other
shelves. The wires can be concealed from view with snap-in covers fitted over
the openings to
the channel.
Accordingly, in an embodiment, a furniture system adapted to mount on the wall
of a
structure includes a body portion adapted to mate with a planar, generally
vertical surface of a
wall. The body portion defines at least one vertically oriented wire channel
for concealing wires
therein and having structure receiving a plurality of shelf support brackets.
The system further
includes a plurality of shelves, each of the shelves supported on a separate
one of the shelf
support brackets.
In embodiments of the invention, the body portion may include an elongate
generally
vertically oriented column structure. The column structure defines a pair of
vertically oriented
wire channels, each of the wire channels having a laterally facing opening.
The system may
further include a pair of covers, each cover for covering a separate one of
the laterally facing
openings.
In an embodiment, the structure receiving a plurality of shelf support
brackets may be a
vertical channel in the body portion, the channel defined by opposing side
walls, a rear wall, and
a front wall. The front wall defines an elongate vertically oriented opening
and inwardly
oriented v-shaped grooves on either side of the opening. Each of the shelf
support brackets
includes a shelf-height adjustment block defining a pair of spaced apart
pointed members, the
shelf-height adjustment blocks received in the vertical channel with the
pointed members
engaged in the v-shaped grooves.
In other embodiments, each of the shelf support brackets of the system has at
least one
contact portion for contacting the shelf. The shelf contact portion may be
faced with a high
friction, low slip material to inhibit slippage of the shelf on the shelf
support member.
In further embodiments, the body portion may include a pair of shelf
attachment
columns, the columns disposed on opposite sides of the wire management channel
and spaced
apart from the wire management channel. Each of the shelf attachment columns
may define a
forwardly facing shelf adjustment channel, with the system further including a
plurality of shelf
attachment cars, each of the cars slidingly received in one of the shelf
adjustment channels.
The system may include a wall interface plate presenting an upwardly oriented
flange and
the body portion may present a hook structure. The hook structure is engagable
over the
upwardly oriented flange of the wall interface plate to support the furniture
system on the wall.
4
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
The system may further include locking structure for selectively inhibiting
disengagement of the
hook structure from the wall interface plate.
In other embodiments, a furniture system adapted to mount on the wall of a
structure
includes a body portion adapted to mate with a planar, generally vertical
surface of a wall, the
body portion defining at least one vertically oriented wire channel for
concealing wires therein, a
plurality of shelves, and means for coupling the plurality of shelves with the
body portion. The
means for coupling the plurality of shelves with the body portion may be a
plurality of shelf
support brackets and structure for receiving each one of the plurality of
shelf support brackets.
In other embodiments, the furniture system may include a height adjustment
mechanism
for adjusting the height of the body portion relative to the wall interface
plate when the hook
structure is engaged with the wall interface plate.
An advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that wires and cables
can be
easily concealed from view within the system post-installation.
An advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that the location of
the system
on the wall can be easily adjusted post-installation.
An advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that a shelf
attachment member
or car can be vertically, slidably, positioned at any location along a
vertical member of the
system, thereby enabling shelves to be individually positioned at any vertical
location on the
system.
An advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that a shelf
attachment member
or car has forwardly facing wedge shaped projections that mate with
corresponding rearwardly
facing v-shaped grooves in a shelf attachment channel, thereby enabling secure
vertical
positioning of the shelf attachment member and preventing the shelf attachment
member from
being drawn out of the shelf attachment channel by overtightening of fasteners
attaching the
shelf to the shelf attachment member.
Further objects and advantages of particular embodiments of the present
invention may
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the figures and
descriptions of the
present invention herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the
following
detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection
with the following
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wall-mounted furniture system according to
an
embodiment of the present invention;
5
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
Figure 2 is a top view of the wall-mounted fumiture system of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a bottom view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a side view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an opposing side view of the wall-mounted furniture system of
Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a rear view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a front view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a top view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 1;
Figure Sa is a fragmentary view of the inset portion of Figure 8;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a wall-mounted furniture system according to
an
embodiment of the present invention with a shelf and portions of the body
portion removed;
Figure 9a is a fragmentary view of the inset portion of FIG. 9;
Figure 10 is a front view of the wall mounted furniture system of Figure 1;
Figure 11 is a rear view of the wall mounted furnitu.re system of Figure 1;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a wall-mounted furniture system according
to an
alternative embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 13 is a top view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 13;
Figure 14 is a bottom view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 13;
Figure 15 is a side view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 13;
Figure 16 is a front view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 13;
Figure 17 is a side view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 13;
Figure 18 is a rear view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 13;
Figure 19 is a side cutaway view of the wall-mounted furniture system of
Figure 13;
Figure 19a is a fragmentary view of the inset portion of Figure 19;
Figure 20 is a top view of the wall-mounted furniture system of Figure 13;
Figure 20a is a fragmentary view of the inset portion of Figure 20;
Figure 21 is a perspective view of a wall-mounted furniture system according
to an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 22 is a front view of the wall mounted furniture system of Figure 21;
Figure 23 is a perspective view of a wall plate of a wall-mounted furniture
system
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 24 is a perspective view of components of a height-adjustment mechanism
of a
wall-mounted furniture system according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 25 is perspective view of a height-adjustment mechanism of a wall-
mounted
furniture system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
Figure 26 is a perspective view of a height-adjustment mechanism and a wall
plate of a
wall-mounted furniture system according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 27 is a partially transparent perspective view of a wall-mounted
furniture system
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 28 is a partially transparent perspective view of a portion of a height-
adjustment
mechanism of a wall-mounted furniture system according to an embodiment of the
present
invention.
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative
forms, specifics
thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be
described in detail. It
should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the
invention to the particular
embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all
modifications, equivalents,
and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosed
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention can be more readily understood by reference to Figures 1-
28 and
the following description, While the present invention is not necessarily
limited to such an
application, the present invention will be better appreciated using a
discussion of exemplary
embodiments in such a specific context. Referring to Figures 1-28, wall-
mounted furniture
system 100 generally includes shelves 102, wall-mounting mechanism 200, and
shelf-adjustment
mechanism 300. Wall-mounted fumiture system 100 can also include height-
adjustment
mechanism 400 and cable-management system 500.
In an embodiment of the present invention, wall-mounting mechanism 200
includes wall
plate 210 and mounting bracket 212, as depicted in Figures 7 and 11. In
another embodiment,
wall-mounting mechanism 200 has wall-mounting interface assembly 214, as
depicted in Figures
18-19 and 26. Wall-mounting interface assembly 214 generally includes wall
plate 211,
mounting bracket 213, and locking bracket 216.
Referring to Figures 7 and 11, wall plate 210 has apertures 218. Apertures 218
can be
elongated apertures 218a and/or circular apertures 218b.
Referring to Figure 11, mounting bracket 212 generally includes upper lip 220,
lower lip
221, mounting apertures 222, stabilizing apertures 223, and column-mounting
apertures 225.
Upper lip 220 is generally U-shaped, and lower lip 221 is generally L-shaped
in profile with
mounting bracket 212. In an example embodiment of the present invention, wall
plate 210 and
mounting bracket 212 are rectangular in shape. Although wall plate 210 and
mounting bracket
212 can be any number of sizes, mounting bracket 212 is generally longer and
wider than wall
plate 210, as depicted in Figures 7 and 11.
7
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
Referring to Figures 19-20, wall plate 211 of wall-mounting interface assembly
214 has
mounting apertures 224 and retaining clips 226. Retaining clips 226 have load-
bearing surface
228 and mouth 230. Load-bearing surface 228 is adapted to support mounting
bracket 213 and
mouth 230 is adapted to receive locking bracket 216.
Referring to Figure 25, mounting bracket 213 generally has upper portion 232
and upper
portion 232. Upper portion 232 defines locking aperture 236. Main portion 234
defines
mounting slots 238.
Referring to Figure 24, locking bracket 216 has upper potion 240 and main
portion 242.
Upper portion 240 defines push-lift 244 and locking aperture 246. Main portion
242 defines
locking slots 248. In an example embodiment of the present invention, locking
aperture 246 of
locking bracket 216 and locking aperture 236 of mounting bracket 213 are
aligned and adapted
to receive locking screw 249, Locking slots 248 are designed to receive
retaining clips 226 and
engage mouth 230 of mounting bracket 213.
In various embodiments, wall-mounted furniture system 100 can include one or
rnore
shelf-adjustment mechanisms 300. Shelf-adjustment mechanism 300 generally
includes vertical
column 302 and movable shelf support 304. In an example embodiment of the
present invention,
vertical column 302 has housing 306, defining height-adjustment channel 305,
bearing-block
recess 305a, cable-management cavities 307, channel 308 and track 309, as
depicted in Figures
and 20a. In another example embodiment of the present invention, vertical
column 302 has
20 housing 306, channel 308 and track 309, and central column 303 has housing
306, deflning panel
channel 311 and cable-management cavities 307, as depicted in Figures 9 and
9a. Shelf-
adjustment mechanism 300 enables vertical columns 302 to be selectively raised
and lowered.
Housing 306 has outer surface 310, inner surface 312, and side surfaces 314.
Movable
shelf support 304 generally includes support body 316, shelf-height adjustment
block 318 and
shelf-height locking member 317. Support body 316 generally has support arms
322 and retainer
324. In an example embodiment of the present invention, both support body 316
and shelf-
height adjustment block 318 have locking-member apertures 320 which allow
support body 316
to be attached to shelf-height adjustment block 318 with shelf-height locking
member 317, as
depicted in Figure 19. In another example embodiment of the present invention,
support body
316 has support clips (not shown) which can engage support slots 319 of shelf-
height adjustment
block 318 so that support body 316 can be attached to shelf-height adjustment
block 318.
In an example embodiment of the present invention, support body 316 also has
locking
component 326, as depicted in Figure 21. Locking component 326 is
substantially planar and
has Iocking-member apertures 320 aligned with channel 308. Shelf-height
adjustment block 318
defines main portion 328 and extended portion 330. Main portion 328 has
pointed members 332
8
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
and main surface 334. Extended portion 330 has extended surface 336. Main
portion 328 Bts
within channel 308 and extended portion fits within track 309, as depicted in
Figure 20a. The
distance between pointed members 332 and the plane defined by extended surface
336 is
approximately the thickness of the portion of housing 306 between outer
surface 310 and inner
surface 312.
In another example embodiment of the present invention, support arms 322 of
support
body 316 have support clips and shelf-height adjustment block 318 defines
support-clip slots
319, as depicted in Figure 10. Shelf-height adjustment block 318 fits within
channel 308 and
main portion extends between channel 308 and track 309, as depicted in Figure
8a. Support slots
319 are adapted to receive the support clips of support arms 322. Shelf-height
adjustment block
318 also defines apertures 321. Apertures 318 are adapted to receive shelf-
height locking
member 319.
Shelf-adjustment mechanism 300 generally secures shelves 102 in place in
relation to
support body 316, Support arms 322 and retainer 324 of support body 316
present bumpers 350.
Specifically, retainer 324 presents upper bumper 350a and support arms 322
present lower
bumpers 350b. Bumpers 350 present outer surface 352. To ensure that shelves
102 are level, the
distance between the plane defined by outer surface 352 of upper bumpers 350a
and the plane
defined by outer surface 352 of lower bumpers 350b is approximately the
thickness of shelf 102.
Lower bumpers 350b generally include bumper housing 354 defining recess 356
and
mouth 358, bumper pin 360 and bumper insert 362. Bumper pin 360 extends from
bumper
recess 356 into mouth 358. Mouth 358 of bumper 350 is adapted to receive
support arm 322
such that bumper 350 rests on support arm 322. Bumper 350 receives bumper
insert 362. Upper
bumper 350a may be substantially similar to lower bumpers 350b or may include
a single
component. In an example embodiment of the present invention, upper bumper
350a may be
integrally formed as a single component. Although upper bumper 350a and bumper
insert 362
can be made from any material, upper bumper 350a and bumper insert 362 are
typically made
from a material that provides relatively strong adhesion to high surface
energy substrates such as
metals, glass, polycarbonate and acrylic, and an extremely low slip resilient
contact surface. In
an embodiment of the invention, the shelf contact faces of bumpers 350b, 350,
are faced with
3M BumponTm.
Housing 306 of shelf-adjustment mechanism 300 can receive and substantially
conceal
cables and cords for electrical appliances such as, for example, audio and
video systems.
Specifically, housing 306 defines one or more cable-management cavities 307.
Cable-
management cavities 307 include cable-management opening 370 adapted to
receive retainer clip
9
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
372. Retainer clip 372 is selectively positionable within cable-management
opening 370 so as to
substantially conceal electrical connectors within cable-management cavities
307.
Wires can be further concealed by end caps 380, End caps 380 generally fit
onto top end
382 and bottom end 384 of housing 306. In an example embodiment of the present
invention,
end caps 380 are secured with fastening members received by housing 306. In
another
embodiment, end caps 380 are snap-fit into housing 306. End caps 306 may also
be secured to
housing 306 by other means without departing from the spirit or scope of the
present invention.
Wires are also concealed by removable panels 381.
Height-adjustment mechanism 400 enables the vertical position of housing 306
to be
raised or lowered in relation to wall plate 211. Height-adjustment mechanism
400 generally
includes bearing block 402, adjustment block 404 and adjusting screw 406, as
depicted in Figure
25. Height-adjustment mechanism 400 may also include a screw-clamp (not
shown). Bearing
block 402 has upper surface 410, lower surface 412, an adjusting-screw
aperture, and a second
aperture. Adjustment block 404 has slot-engaging members 420 and an adjusting-
screw
aperture. The adjusting screw aperture of bearing block 402 is designed to
freely receive
adjusting screw 406. The adjusting screw aperture of adjustment block 404 is
designed to
engagingly receive the threads of adjusting screw 406. Mounting slots 238 of
mounting bracket
213 are designed to matingly receive slot-engaging members 420 of adjustment
block 404.
To mount wall-mounted furniture system 100, wall plate 210 or 211 is affixed
to a wall
by driving mounting screws through apertures 218 in wall plate 210 or 211
after positioning wall
plate 210 or 211 at a location that is generally proximate a desired height
above the floor.
Mounting screws are preferably anchored in studs or other vertical structural
members, although
mounting screws may be anchored in a wall by other means. In an example
embodiment of the
present invention, wall plate 210 or 211 is anchored by multiple mounting
screws.
As depicted in Figures 7 and 11, a pair of wall plates 210 can be horizontally
mounted
onto a wall in an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a
mounting screw is
driven through circular apertures 218a into a first stud or other vertical
support member.
Another mounting screw can then be driven through elongated apertures 218b.
The elongated
shape of elongated apertures 218b enables a mounting screw to be anchored in
or near the center
of a vertical support member even if variations exist in the spacing between
vertical support
members.
As depicted in Figures 18-19, a wall plate 211 can be vertically mounted onto
a wall in
another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, mounting
screws are driven
through mounting apertures 218.
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
In an example embodiment of the present invention, mounting bracket 213 and
locking
bracket 216 are loaded into height-adjustment channel 305 of housing 306, as
depicted in Figures
19 and 28. Specifically, adjustment block 404 is attached to mounting bracket
213 by inserting
slot-engaging members 420 into mounting slots 238. Slot-engaging members 420
are generally
inserted into mounting slots 238 located near the bottom of mounting bracket
213 such that the
other mounting slots 238 are available for mounting onto retaining clips 226
of wall plate 211.
Mounting bracket 213 with attached adjustment block 404 and locking bracket
216 can be
inserted through height-adjustment channel 305. Generally, height-adjustment
channel 305 is
tracked so as to conform to the shape of mounting bracket 213 (with attached
adjustment block
404) and locking bracket 216. Unintended movement of mounting bracket 213 and
locking
bracket 216 is thereby substantially limited to translational sliding between
top end 382 and
bottom end 384 of housing 306.
Mounting bracket 213 can be movably secured within housing 306 with adjusting
screw
406. Adjusting screw 406 extends through an aperture in bearing block 402 and
threads into
adjustment block 404. Bearing block 402 is situated within bearing-block
recess 305a of
housing 306. A screw-clamp (not shown) can also be situated around adjusting
screw 406
opposite bearing block 402. Generally, adjusting screw 406 is situated in a
non-threaded,
grooved portion of adjusting screw 406.
Adjusting screw 406 is freely rotatable within the aperture of bearing block
402, but
threads in and out of adjustment block 404. In this manner, upward travel of
mounting bracket
213 through height-adjustment channel 305 is restricted by the presence of
bearing block 402
within bearing block recess 305a, while downward travel of mounting bracket
213 is restricted
by the presence of upper portion 232 that extends perpendicularly from upper
portion 232.
The height of housing 306 - to which shelves 102 are functionally attached
through
shelf-adjustment mechanism 300 - in relation to wall plate 211 can thereby be
raised or lowered
by rotating adjusting screw 406. Specifically, since the weight of wall-
mounted furniture system
100 maintains the position of mounting bracket 213 on retaining clips 226,
rotation of adjusting
block causes bearing block 402 to translate in relation to adjustment block
404. With bearing
block 402 situated within bearing-block recess 305a of housing, the movement
of bearing block
402 caused by rotation of adjusting screw 406 produces a corresponding
movement of housing
306. Therefore, the amount of permitted height adjustment can be varied by
changing the length
of adjusting screw 406. Once housing 306 is positioned at the desired height,
the position can be
locked in, and locking bracket 216 is locked in place by inserting locking
screw 249 into locking
aperture 246 of locking bracket 216 and locking aperture 236 of mounting
bracket 213, as
depicted in Figure 19 and 19a. In preferred embodiments, the post-installation
height adjustment
11
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
range of housing 306 obtainable with adjusting screw 406 is about one inch.
Hence, wall plate
210 or 211 need only be initially positioned within about one-inch of the
desired height of the
system above the room floor, and adjusting screw 406 may be used for fine
adjustment of height
post installation.
With mounting bracket 213 and locking bracket 216 loaded into housing 306,
housing
306 can be mounted onto a wall. Specifically, locking slots 248 of locking
bracket 216 are
aligned with mounting slots 238 of mounting bracket 213. Push-lift 244 in
upper portion of 240
of locking bracket 216 can be raised or lowered by a user to facilitate the
alignment of slots 238,
248. Mounting bracket 213 and locking bracket 216 are positioned onto wall
plate 211 by
sliding slots 238, 248, over retaining clips 226. Locking bracket 216 can then
be slid downward
such that locking slots 248 at least partially occupy respective mouths 230
formed by retaining
clips 226. In this manner, housing 306 cannot be removed from wall plate 306
without first re-
aligning locking slots 248 with retaining clips 226 by sliding locking bracket
216 upward. In
contrast to locking bracket 216, mounting bracket 213 rests on an upwardly
facing edge of
retaining clips 226. Specifically, mounting slots 238 are positioned on top of
load-bearing
surfaces 228 of retaining clips 226. In this manner, the load on housing 306 -
including the load
of shelves 102 and any objects placed on shelves 102 by a user - is
distributed through retaining
clips 226 of wall plate 211 into a wall.
In another embodiment, vertical columns 302 and central column 303 are
attached to
both ends of mounting brackets 212, as depicted in Figure 1, 6-7, 9, and 10-
11. Specifically,
fasteners can be inserted through apertures 225 to secure columns 302, 303 to
mounting brackets
212.
Mounting brackets 212 are attached to wall plate 210 such that U-shaped upper
lip 220
fits over the upper edge of wall plate 210, as depicted in Figures 7 and 11.
In this embodiment,
wall plate 210 is spaced apart from the wall. A stabilizing screw can be
inserted through
stabilizing aperture 213 of wall plate 210. By positioning stabilizing
aperture 213 from the top
of upper lip 220 at a distance similar to the width of wall plate 210, the
stabilizing screw
substantially prevents U-shaped upper lip 220 from being unintentionally
lifted off of wall plate
210. When stabilizing screw is removed and mounting bracket 212 is removed
from wall plate
210, L-shaped lower lip 221 can provide a physical limit to the upward
movement of mounting
bracket as well as a comfortable grasping location for the user.
Although shelves can be raised or lowered by raising or lowering vertical
columns 302,
shelves 102 can also be raised or lowered once the position of vertical
columns 302 has been
fixed. Specifically, shelf supports 304 of shelf-mechanism 304 permit a user
to selectively raise
or lower support arms 322 that support shelves 102.
12
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
In an embodiment of the present invention, support body 316 and shelf-height
adjustment
block 318 are attached with shelf-height locking member 317, as depicted in
Figures 12-22.
Specifically, sheIf-height adjustment block occupies channel 308 within
housing 306 and support
body 316 is attached to shelf-height adjustment block 318 outside of housing
306. In this
manner, channel 308 provides a guide for movement of support body 316.
To secure support body 316 in place, shelf-height locking member 317 is
tightened. As
shelf-height locking member 317 is tightened, pointed members 332 of main
portion 328 of
shelf-height adjustment block 318 are drawn into corresponding v-shaped
grooves 332a in
channel 308, as depicted in Figure 20a, and locking component 326 of support
body 316 is
drawn against housing 306. By being drawn into the grooves 332a in channel
308, pointed
members 332 can cause the edges of housing 306 which define track 309 to be
drawn together,
thereby narrowing the width of track 309. In this manner, the likelihood that
the tightening
shelf-height locking member 317 will cause shelf-height adjustment block 318
to be drawn
through channel 308 - which can thereby result in slippage of support body 316
- is greatly
reduced or eliminated.
The height of support bodies 316 can be adjusted by reversing the above
process.
Specifically, as shelf-height locking member 317 is loosened, pointed members
332 are
disengaged from the corresponding grooves in channel 308. Shelf-height
adjustment block 318
is thereby able to freely travel within channel 308, which correspondingly
moves of support
body 316.
In another embodiment of the present invention, support body 316 is attached
to shelf-
height adjustment block 318 by support clips engaged in support slots 319 as
depicted in Figures
8 and 8a. Specifically, shelf-height adjustment block 318 is situated with
channel 308. To
secure shelf-height adjustment block 318 within channel, height-adjustment
locking member 319
is inserted through locking member aperture 320. Extending through locking
member aperture
320 and channel 308, height-adjustment locking member 319 contacts the back
wall of channel
308. By tightening height-adjustment locking member 319, shelf-height
adjustment block 318 is
forced against the front walls of channel 308 that define track 309, thereby
sccuring shelf-height
adjustment block 318 in place. Generally, height-adjustment locking member 319
has a pointed
tip that can create an indentation in the back wall of channel 308 with height-
adjustment locking
member 319 is tightened. The indentation reduces the risk that height-
adjustment locking
member 319 can slip when a load is placed upon shelves 302.
To change the height of support body 316, support body 316 can be removed from
shelf-
height adjustment block 318 and height-adjustment locking member 319 can be
loosened. With
height-adjustment locking member 319 loosened, shelf-height adjustment block
318 can freely
. 13
CA 02693970 2010-01-18
WO 2009/012381 PCT/US2008/070323
travel within channel 308, which acts as a guide for shelf-height adjustment
block 318. Height-
adjustment locking member 319 can then be retightened and support body 316
reattached to
shelf-height adjustment block 318.
Once the selected height of support body 316 has been selected and height-
adjustment
locking member 319 tightened, shelves 102 can be positioned onto support arms
322.
Specifically, shelf 102 can be initially angled by a user so that bottom
surface 104 makes first
contact with lower bumpers 350b. As shelf 102 is leveled, upper surface 106
makes contact with
upper bumpers 350a and additional lower bumpers 350b. In this manner, shelf
102 is supported
held in placed by support arms 322 and retainer 324. The material from which
bumpers 350 are
faced frictionally resists translational movement of shelf 102 across bumpers
102 to prevent
slippage of shelf 102.
In an example embodiment of the present invention, each shelf 102 of wall-
mounted
furniture system 100 may support approximately 75 pounds. Among the various
objects that
shelves 102 can be used to support, stereo systems and other electronic
devices that require the
use of cords, cables, and other wires can be supported by shelves 102. Wall-
mounted furniture
system 100 enables a user to conceal wires. Specifically, wires can be routed
through cable-
management cavities 307. In an example embodiment of the present invention,
cable-
management cavities 307 are located in housing 306 defined by vertical column
302, as depicted
in Figure 20a. Wires can then be concealed by inserting retainer clip 372 over
cable-
management opening 370. Retainer clip 372 is generally self-securing. In
another example
embodiment of the present invention, cable management cavities 307 are located
in housing 306
defined by central column 303. Wires can then be concealed by inserting
removable panels 381
between vertical columns 302 and central column 303.
The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting.
Additional
embodiments are encompassed within the scope of the claims. Although the
present invention
has been described with reference to particular embodiments, those skilled in
the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from
the spirit and
scope of the invention. For purposes of interpreting the claims for the
present invention, it is
expressly intended that the provisions of Section 112, sixth paragraph of 35
U.S.C. are not to be
invoked unless the specific terms "means for" or "step for" are recited in a
claim,
14
