Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02747563 2011-07-29
CA Application
Agent Ref. 68849/00104
1 MOUNTING SHELVES WITH CONCEALMENT MEANS
2
3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
4 [0001] The invention relates generally to a shelf, more specifically to a
bookshelf
or towel shelf, and, more particularly, to a bookshelf or towel shelf that
includes at least two
6 stacking members to hold books, towels and the like, is mountable on
vertical surfaces and,
7 when loaded with books, towels or the like, conceals the support and
mounting structure of the
8 shelf.
9
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
11 [0002] Mountable shelves are known in the art. Traditionally, wall mounted
12 shelves use an integral tab that is secured to a wall with screws or a
similar attachment means.
13 Shelves, such as bookshelves, have elements that are engineered to meet
certain
14 requirements. For instance, standard sized books have a cover that requires
a horizontal shelf
surface with a width sufficient to accommodate the cover. Although the
horizontal shelf surface
16 can take the form of various shapes, such as, circular, triangular,
rectangular or an
17 asymmetrical shape, bookshelves traditionally have a flat surface that is
close to the width of the
18 book that is to be held.
19 [0003] Bookshelves or cases that are traditional cabinet-like designs are
not as
appropriate as wall-mounted shelving systems in situations where floor space
is limited. Another
21 factor that has motivates the installation of wall-mounted bookshelf units
is a desire for more
22 modern furnishings. One problem with many current wall mounted bookshelves
is that they
23 protrude from the wall and fail to hide unattractive mounting structures
and brackets. Efforts
24 have been made to design wall mounted bookshelves that conceal the mounting
structures, but
with little success. Those shelving units that have tried to conceal mounting
structures, have
26 done so by creating thick shelving surfaces that do not appeal to many
consumers.
27 [0004] In addition, wall mounted bookshelves often have limited shelf
space. If
28 more than one shelf unit is mounted on a wall, they will provide either
more visibly unattractive
29 mounting fixtures or more shelf units with thicker shelf surfaces.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for a shelf capable of holding books, towels, or
31 similar articles in a manner that conceals the shelf and the mounting
structure of the shelf.
32
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1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
2 [0006] The invention broadly comprises a shelf system including a pair of
3 stacking members fixedly attached to a mounting member, wherein the pair of
stacking
4 members is roughly perpendicular to the mounting member, in which the pair
of stacking
members each has an upper surface and a lower surface. The shelf system also
includes at
6 least two ledges disposed on the lower surface of the mounting member, such
that the at least
7 two ledges are operatively arranged to hold a book cover. The at least two
ledges can be
8 disposed proximate a joint formed at the intersection of the mounting member
and the stacking
9 member. In some embodiments, wherein one of at least two ledges are disposed
on said lower
surface of the mounting member disposed proximate a joint formed at an
intersection of said
11 mounting member and each of said pair of stacking members on a first side
of each of said pair
12 of stacking members and one of said at least two ledges is disposed on said
lower surface
13 disposed proximate said intersection on a second side of each of said pair
of said stacking
14 members. In some aspects, the joint is reinforced. A mounting hole or a
mounting structure can
be disposed on the mounting member to provide a mounting element with which to
hang the
16 shelf.
17 [0007] In some aspects the ledge is L-shaped and extends below the lower
18 surface. The mounting member can be trapezoidal, rectangular or similarly
shaped. Each of the
19 stacking members can be trapezoidal, rectangular or similarly shaped. The
two stacking
members may have different shapes.
21 [0008] It is a general object of the present invention to provide a shelf
that can
22 hold and display books, towels, and other articles on a wall in a manner
that conceals the shelf
23 when books are stacked on the shelf.
24 [0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a shelf
that has a
cover holding ledge that can hold the cover of a book in a manner that
conceals the shelf.
26 [0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will
be
27 readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments
of the invention and
28 from the accompanying drawings and claims.
29
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
31 [0011] The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now
be
32 more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention
taken with the
33 accompanying drawing figures, in which:
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1 [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bookshelf system ("bookshelf') of
the
2 present invention;
3 [0013] FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of the bookshelf shown in FIG.
1;
4 [0014] FIG. 3 is a left side view of the bookshelf shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the bookshelf system shown in FIG.
1
6 [0016] FIG. 4A is a front elevation view of the bookshelf as in FIG. 4 with
books
7 stacked upon the stacking members;
8 [0017] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bookshelf shown in FIG. 4,
taken
9 generally at line 5-5 in FIG. 4A;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the bookshelf shown in FIG. 4;
11 [0019] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a ledge of the bookshelf shown in FIG.
4;
12 [0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bookshelf shown in FIGS. 1-7,
13 illustrating a book being placed into engagement on one of the stacking
members;
14 [0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the shelf shown in FIG. 8, except
showing
a number of books being placed on the stacking member, illustrating how the
shelf itself is being
16 concealed by the books;
17 [0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 9, except
showing
18 how the stacking members are both completely concealed by a number of books
loaded on the
19 stacking members;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the bookshelf
of
21 the invention, this bookshelf especially designed and appropriate for
holding and displaying
22 articles such as towels;
23 [0024] FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the bookshelf shown in FIG. 11;
24 [0025] FIG. 13 is a right side view of the bookshelf shown in FIG. 11;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the bookshelf shown in FIG. 11,
26 illustrating how a towel would be placed into one of the stacking members;
27 [0027] FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 14, showing a
first
28 towel placed on the stacking member, partially concealing the stacking
member itself; and,
29 [0028] FIG. 16 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 15, except
showing
two towels placed on the stacking member, which towels would completely
conceal the stacking
31 member.
32
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1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
2 [0029] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on
3 different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the
invention. While the present
4 invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be
the preferred
embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the
disclosed embodiments. In
6 the description below, the terms "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "front",
"back", "rear", "left",
7 "right", and their derivatives, should be interpreted from the perspective
of one viewing the
8 invention shown in FIG. 1.
9 [0030] Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the
particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may,
of course,
11 vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the
purpose of describing
12 particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the
present invention.
13 [0031] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used
herein
14 have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in
the art to which this
invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or
equivalent to those
16 described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention,
the preferred methods,
17 devices, and materials are now described. It should also be appreciated
that the present
18 invention comprises a shelf, specially designed such that its structure
allows the holding and
19 display of articles, such as books, towels and the like, while concealing
the shelf itself. Two
different embodiments of the invention are illustrated, described and claimed.
The first
21 embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1-10, is ideal for holding and displaying
books, while the
22 second embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 11-16, is ideal for holding and
displaying towels.
23 Although these respective embodiments are sometimes described as a
bookshelf, towel shelf,
24 or shelf, respectively, it should be appreciated that these terms are used
interchangeably, and
are not intended to limit the scope of the claims, and that the two disclosed
embodiments are
26 obviously suitable for holding and displaying a variety of articles.
27 [0032] In accordance with the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective
view of
28 bookshelf system 10 ("bookshelf 10") of the present invention, which is
comprised of mounting
29 member 12, which is typically vertically arranged, relative to a pair of
stacking members 14,
which are typically horizontally arranged in a cantilevered orientation.
Bookshelf 10 can be
31 formed from a single piece of sheet steel, or similar material that is
pressed into a mounting
32 member 12 and stacking members 14, arranged at substantially a 90 degree
angle to one
33 another. Reinforcement members 18 strengthen the joint between mounting
member 12 and
34 stacking members 14. Alternatively, bookshelf 10 and its various parts can
be formed from
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1 separate pieces. The members can be made of metal, plastic, wood, or other
materials. In a
2 preferred embodiment, especially useful for holding books, stacking members
14 are
3 trapezoidal in shape, and the height B of mounting member 12 is
approximately the same as the
4 length A of stacking member 14. Although the invention as claimed is not
intended to be limited
to any particular dimensions, in a preferred embodiment especially designed to
hold books, A is
6 approximately 130 mm; the height B of mounting member 12 is approximately 30
mm; and
7 length C of the horizontal lip 24 of ledge 20 is approximately 3 mm.
8 [0033] Alternatively, mounting member 12 can be fixedly attached to stacking
9 members 14 using a weld or an equivalent attachment means known to one of
ordinary skill in
the art. Intersection 16, which is the region where mounting member 12 and
stacking members
11 14 meet, can be strengthened by reinforcement member 18 that can be crimped
into mounting
12 member 12 and stacking members 14, or attached as a strengthening structure
or strengthening
13 weld.
14 [0034] Mounting member 12 has at least one aperture 26 that can be used as
an
attachment location. Additional apertures 26 can be disposed on mounting
member 12 at
16 various locations. Apertures 26 can be round as depicted or numerous other
shapes, which
17 includes, but is not limited to a keyhole shape. One possible alternative
is to align multiple
18 apertures 26 in vertical or horizontal alignment to ensure that bookshelf
10 will be attached
19 securely. In some aspects, mounting member 12 has a mounting structure,
which can include,
but is not limited to a hanging apparatus, clip, hook, or similar apparatus to
aid in hanging
21 bookshelf 10 on a vertical surface.
22 [0035] Mounting member 12, as shown, is generally rectangular shaped, but
it
23 should be appreciated that other alternative shapes could also be used.
Similarly, stacking
24 members 14, as shown, is generally trapezoidal in shape, but it should be
appreciated that other
alternative shapes could also be used. The shapes of two stacking members 14
on the same
26 mounting member 12 may be different from each other.
27 [0036] Extending below intersection 16 on mounting member 12 is at least
two
28 ledges 20. Ledges 20 are shown attached to a lower portion or surface of
mounting member
29 12 proximate the rear perimeters of stacking members 14, proximate
intersection 16, but ledge
20, or any variation of the ledge, can be attached at any other perimeter edge
of stacking
31 member 14, i.e., the side or bottom perimeter edges. Preferably, a pair of
ledges are placed on
32 either side of each stacking member 14 proximate the rear perimeters of
stacking members 14.
33 Ledge 20 has vertical section 22 and a horizontal lip 24. In a one
embodiment, lip 24 has a
34 length C which is approximately 1/35 the length of stacking member 14. Lip
24 doesn't have to
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1 be very long when the shelf is used as a bookshelf--merely long enough to
secure a book cover.
2 A shorter length for the lip is preferred for aesthetic reasons, but not
required for functionality. In
3 some aspects, ledge 20 is formed from mounting member 12 by pressing
vertical section 22
4 and horizontal lip 24 into a portion of mounting member 12 proximate
intersection 16. In such
aspects, vertical section 22 is on the same plane as mounting member 12 and is
defined by a
6 point beginning proximate intersection 16 and extends beyond intersection 16
to horizontal lip
7 24. The length of vertical section 22 is determined by the thickness of a
typical book cover.
8 However, given that book covers are not universal, e.g., soft cover and hard
cover book covers
9 are of different thicknesses, the length of vertical section 22 can be of
various lengths
depending on the book cover that it is intended to hold.
11 [0037] Ledge 20 may be integral with mounting member 12, or it may be a
12 separate piece attached to mounting member 12 proximate intersection 16.
Vertical section 22
13 and horizontal lip 24, individual components of ledge 20, can also be
attached as separate
14 components to mounting member 12 using any attachment means known in the
art.
[0038] FIG. 2 is a left side elevation view of bookshelf 10 of the present
16 invention. The extension of ledge 20 below stacking member 14 is more
apparent. Also
17 demonstrated in this view is the positioning and approximate length of
vertical section 22 in
18 relation to intersection 16, but it should be appreciated that ledge 20 can
be of various sizes and
19 shapes. Intersection 16 designates the upper reaches of vertical section
22, while horizontal lip
24 designates the lower reaches of vertical section 22. Horizontal lip 24 can
be of various
21 lengths to accomplish the task of holding book covers. Horizontal lips 24
with shorter lengths
22 and thinner widths tend to better hide any evidence of bookshelf 10. Long
and wide horizontal
23 lips 24 tend to have more surface area showing, which can better secure a
book cover. Ledge
24 20 and vertical section 22 and horizontal lip 24 can be constructed of
pressed steel or a similar
material. However, if a substance that is translucent, such as, but not
limited to acrylic or
26 another clear plastic, is used to construct ledge 20, it should be
understood that longer and
27 wider vertical section 22 and horizontal lip 24 can be used without
detracting from the objectives
28 of bookshelf 10.
29 [0039] FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view of bookshelf 10, illustrating
ledge 20,
vertical section 22 and horizontal lip 24.
31 [0040] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of bookshelf 10. FIG. 4A is a front
32 elevation view of bookshelf 10 with books 30 stacked upon each stacking
member 14. Stacking
33 members 14 and ledges 20 are shown in phantom view to illustrate the
ability of ledges 20 to
34 hold a book cover 32 between the lower surface of each of stacking members
14 and the upper
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1 surface of horizontal lips 24. The first book 30 to be stacked upon shelf 10
has cover 32 inserted
2 into ledge 20 in such a manner that cover 32 abuts, or comes close to
abutting, vertical section
3 22, and outside surface 34 of cover 32 rests upon horizontal lip 24. In this
manner, cover 32
4 conceals stacking member 14 and a portion of mounting surface 12. Each
successive book that
is stacked upon the first book will also conceal a portion of mounting surface
12 until a sufficient
6 number of books have been stack to conceal mounting surface 12 and bookshelf
10 entirely.
7 [0041] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of bookshelf 10 shown in FIG. 4,
taken
8 generally at line 5-5 in FIG. 4A. Cover 32 of book 30 is illustrated below
stacking member 14,
9 and lodged within ledge 20, which is positioned on the right side of
bookshelf 10. Generally, two
ledges 20 are positioned on each side of each stacking member 14 to ensure
that book covers
11 are held stably by each stacking member 14. In some aspects, ledge 20 can
use one ledge
12 centrally located or multiple ledges 20 can be placed at strategic
locations. In some aspects, a
13 continuous ledge 20 or ridge can be position at roughly the same location
as the position of
14 attachment for ledge 20, i.e., proximate intersection 16. The continuous
ledge or ridge can be
utilized and placed on bookshelf 10 similar to the way the ledges 20 have been
characterized
16 and described. Ledge 20 retains the end of cover 32. More particularly,
outer surface 34 of
17 cover 32 is trapped against horizontal lip 24. Leafing stacking member 14
between pages 36
18 and cover 32 of the first book placed upon bookshelf 10 enables stacking
member 14 to support
19 multiple books 30 in such a manner that stacking member 14 is completely
concealed. Placing
multiple books 30 on stacking member 14, which cumulatively reach a height
greater than the
21 height of mounting member 12, will also conceal at least a portion of
mounting member 12.
22 Although the illustrations show bookshelf 10 with only two books 30 on
shelf 10, it should be
23 understood that many more books can be held on bookshelf 10, and that it is
preferable to place
24 multiple books on shelf 10 to fully conceal the shelf. If a first book 30
has cover 32 placed within
at least one ledge 20, wherein cover 32 is placed on the bottom side of each
stacking member
26 14 and pages 36 are placed on the top side of stacking members 14, with a
sufficient number of
27 books stacked upon this first book, generally entire bookshelf 10 will be
concealed to give the
28 appearance that the shelved books are floating unaided. In a preferred
embodiment, bookshelf
29 will hold a cumulative weight of 30 pounds.
[0042] Bookshelf 10 can be attached to any vertical surface using an
appropriate
31 attachment means such as a screw, nail, or analogous fastening means. In
some aspects,
32 bookshelf 10 can omit apertures 26 and implement an epoxy attachment means,
or implement
33 another alternative attachment means, which can include, but is not limited
to hooks, wire, clips
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1 and notches. Attachment to a vertical surface such as a wall is the intended
application, but
2 bookshelf 10 can also be adapted for attachment to other surfaces as well.
3 [0043] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of bookshelf 10 shown in FIG. 4A with
stacking
4 members 14 and pages 36 drawn in phantom to demonstrate the spatial
arrangement of the
components of book 30 relative to shelf 10 components. Cover 32 extends to the
inside surface
6 of ledge 20, with only a small portion of outside surface 34 of cover 32
held within ledge 20,
7 specifically horizontal lip 24 of ledge 20.
8 [0044] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a ledge 20 of bookshelf 10 shown in
FIG. 5.
9 This enlarged view captures the relationship of book cover 32 with ledge 20.
Insertion of cover
32 so that the outside surface 34 contacts the upper surface of horizontal lip
24 enables ledge
11 20 to hold cover 32.
12 [0045] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of bookshelf 10shown in FIGS. 1-7,
13 illustrating a book being placed into engagement on stacking member 14.
14 [0046] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of bookshelf 10 shown in FIG. 8, except
showing a number of books being placed on one stacking member 14, illustrating
how bookshelf
16 10 itself is being concealed by books 30.
17 [0047] FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 9, except
showing
18 how bookshelf 10 is completely or almost completely concealed by a number
of books 30
19 loaded onto each of stacking members 14.
[0048] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of bookshelf 10 of
21 the present invention, comprising mounting member 12, which is typically
vertically arranged
22 relative to stacking members 14, which are typically horizontally arranged
in a cantilevered
23 orientation. Bookshelf 10 can be formed from a single piece of sheet steel,
or similar material
24 that is pressed into a mounting member 12 and stacking members 14, arranged
at substantially
a 90 degree angle to one another. Reinforcement members 18 strengthen the
joint between
26 mounting member 12 and stacking member 14. Alternatively, bookshelf 10 and
its various parts
27 can be formed from separate pieces. The members can be made of metal,
plastic, wood, or
28 other materials. In a preferred embodiment, especially useful for holding
towels, stacking
29 members 14 may be rectangular in shape, and the height B of mounting member
12 is
approximately 1/3 the length A of stacking member 14, as shown in FIG. 13.
Also, in a preferred
31 embodiment especially useful for holding towels, lip 24 has a length C
which is about 40% of the
32 length A. This longer length of lip 24 functions to better hold an end of a
towel, as shown in FIG.
33 14. Although the invention as claimed is not intended to be limited by
dimensions, in a preferred
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1 second embodiment: the length A of stacking member 14 is about 200 mm; the
height B of
2 mounting member 12 is about 60 mm; and the length C of ledge 20 is about 85
mm.
3 [0049] FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the bookshelf 10 shown in FIG.
11 and
4 FIG. 13 is a right side view of the shelf shown in FIG. 11. Structural
elements of the invention
shown in these views are identical, except for dimensions, to identically
referenced elements
6 illustrated in the first embodiment.
7 [0050] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the shelf shown in FIG. 11,
illustrating
8 how a towel 52 would be placed into the bookshelf 10, with section 54 of the
towel being held
9 between ledge lip 24 and stacking member 14.
[0051] FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 14, showing a
first
11 towel 52 placed on bookshelf 10, partially concealing bookshelf 10 itself.
12 [0052] FIG. 16 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 15, except
showing
13 two towels 52 placed on bookshelf 10. It can be seen that a similar stack
of towels placed on
14 the second (right hand side) stacking member 14 seen in FIG.16 completely
or almost
completely conceals bookshelf 10 itself when viewed from the front.
16 [0053] Thus, it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently
obtained,
17 although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily
apparent to those having
18 ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit or scope of
the invention as claimed.
19 Although the invention is described by reference to a specific preferred
embodiment, it is clear
that variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention as
21 claimed.
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