AU6583694A

AU6583694A - Shelf support

Info

Publication number: AU6583694A
Application number: AU65836/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anthony Charles Worrallo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-04-08
Filing date: 1994-04-07
Publication date: 1994-11-08
Also published as: WO1994023613A1

Description

SHELF SUPPORT

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to shelf supports and is applicable particularly but not exclusively to shelf supports of the kind in which parallel elongate upright members are attached to a wall and at least one shelf support bracket is affixed to each of said members, whereby a shelf can be supported on a pair of said brackets, one on each of the members.

BACKGROUND

Many attempts have been made to provide brackets for supporting shelves. Many of these brackets have a resilient member at the outer end of the bracket support arm with the result that the resilient member can be deformed under load so that the shelf may tip or rock, which is unsatisfactory.

Other systems involve a bracket which is fπctionally engaged in a vertical runner with the bracket adapted to receive and support a shelf. A disadvantage of these earlier systems is that the frictional engagement may fail or may require some form of screw/bolt to be adjusted to lock the bracket in place.

OBJECT It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shelf support, or one which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

In one aspect the invention provides a shelf support bracket comprising a substantially planar rear face which in use will be held substantially upright, a shelf support arm having a shelf support face extending away from said rear face and substantially normal thereto, on which support face the shelf will rest when in use, and a shelf locating member extending from the rear face and spaced from the support face , so as to be, when in use, over a portion of the support face adjacent the rear face to form in conjunction with the support face a pair of jaws having a mouth to receive a shelf, the minimum spacing between the support face and the shelf locating member being adapted to receive and retain a rear edge of a shelf characterised in that the end of the support face remote from the jaws is substantially rigid.

A feature of this invention is the absence of a resilient member at the outer extremity of the support face.

Preferably a resilient member is positioned on said support face close to but outside the mouth of the jaws, whereby in use the bracket can be mounted on a suitable support and a shelf inserted in the jaws and held in place by the interaction of the jaws and the resilient member.

Such brackets are preferably formed of metal or plastic depending upon cost and load requirements. In most cases it is preferable to die cast the brackets from zinc, aluminium or magnesium alloys. Smaller brackets can be made of plastics materials. Some of the brackets of this invention can also be conveniently extruded from aluminium alloy or the like.

Preferably the resilient member is a resilient pad which is attached to and extends across less than the full width of the support surface.

It is preferred that the resilient pad sits prior to the jaw. It must not be so close to the jaw opening that it prevents entry of the board or shelf and not so far forward that the weight and leverage of the shelf will not squash it. This differs from prior art brackets where the resilient pad is at the outer end of the support arm and can be deformed under load so that the shelf may tip slightly.

In one form where the main element or bracket is cast the pad enters one half only, this has the advantage that the groove for the pad does not extend fully across the support surface (which might otherwise weaken the bracket or require additional reinforcement in this area). It also helps to prevent the casting sticking in the die. Moreover one small resilient pad is easier and cheaper to insert than two pads or one long one.

In another form where the main element is an extruded shape of indefinite length and constant cross-section then the resilient pad may be used the full length of its receiving groove or it could be used in one or more short pieces.

The presence of the resilient pad is preferable for the support of glass shelves to absorb tolerances and grip the shelf. Glass cannot be forced between two metal surfaces if it is oversize. If it is loose it cannot be screwed into.

Whilst the resilient pad is a preferred feature of this invention it can be omitted if the shelf is formed of wood or other deformable or semi-resilient material.

The position of the resilient member close to but not inside the jaw is preferable since if it were at the outer extremity of the main element, under load the resilient member would collapse and cause the shelf to droop downwardly. This would be an unacceptable feature of a shelf support bracket designed to hold a shelf at a constant angle for example 90°. If it were inside the jaws it would impede entry of the shelf.

The bracket with the resilient member as aforesaid preferably also has on the rear face thereof locating means comprising a stem adapted to in use protrude through a narrow gap in an elongate channel member to which the bracket is to be affixed, the stem being formed with a head remote from the rear face of the bracket, the head being large enough to catch behind said flange of the elongate member on rotation of the head into the locating position.

In another aspect the invention provides a shelf support bracket adapted to be attached to and supported by an elongate channel member having a narrow gap formed by at least one flange leading to a wider chamber, said bracket having a substantially planar rear face, a shelf support arm having a shelf support face extending away from said rear face and substantially normal thereto, on which support face the shelf will rest when in use, and means for holding a shelf on said support face, characterised in that the bracket has on the rear face thereof locating means comprising a stem adapted to protrude through the narrow gap in said elongate channel member, the stem being formed with a head remote from the rear face of the bracket, the head being large enough to catch behind said flange of the elongate member on rotation of the head into the locating position.

Preferably the stem is substantially cylindrical, with the axis of the cylinder substantially normal to the rear face of the bracket, the cylinder being of smaller diameter than the gap and the head having one or more lugs protruding substantially radially from the cylinder. In a particularly preferred form of the invention there are a pair of lugs protruding from the cylinder on opposite sides thereof.

Preferably the holding means comprises a shelf locating member extending from the rear face and spaced from the support face, so as to be, when in use, over a portion of the support face adjacent the rear face, the minimum spacing between the support face and the shelf locating member being adapted to receive and retain a rear edge of a shelf.

More preferably the holding means comprises a shelf locating member extending from the rear face and spaced from the support face , so as to be, when in use, over a portion of the support face adjacent the rear face to form in conjunction with the support face a pair of jaws having a mouth to receive a shelf, the minimum spacing between the support face and the shelf locating member being adapted to receive and retain a rear edge of a shelf characterised in that the end of the support face remote from the jaws is substantially rigid, and a resilient member is positioned on said support face close to but outside the mouth of the jaws, whereby in use the bracket can be mounted on a suitable support and a shelf inserted in the jaws and held in place by the interaction of the jaws and the resilient member.

Preferably the location and retention of the bracket at a desired location along the length of the elongate member is effected by a peg formed on the head and substantially co-axial with the cylinder, the peg being engageable in a locating depression or hole in the elongate member.

Preferably the head is dimensioned so that if the peg is not entered into a locating depression or hole, but bears against a rear portion of said chamber of the elongate member, the lug will lie in a plane of the flange on the elongate member, to inhibit rotation of the bracket about the cylinder axis.

In a particularly preferred form of the invention the stem is located adjacent the level of the shelf support face.

In one version of the invention the bracket is adapted for use with an elongate member which in use is mounted horizontally, with a lug mounted above or below the cylinder.

However in most cases the bracket will be adapted for use with an elongate member which in use is mounted vertically, in which case it is preferred that the bracket has a pair of lugs with the lugs extendmg from either side of the cylinder.

In another aspect the invention provides a shelf support comprising a pair of brackets, each bracket designed to be mounted in a vertical channel as described above, in combination with a pair of elongate channel members adapted to be mounted vertically on a wall or the like to provide a pair of parallel vertical channels for reception of said pair of brackets, characterised in that the front face of each elongate member includes a pair of parallel flanges directed towards each other with said gap between them, and the rear face of the chamber of each elongate channel member has a series of spaced apart locating depressions or holes, each depression or hole being adapted to receive said peg to allow the head to penetrate the gap sufficiently for said lugs to enter the chamber thereby allowing the bracket to be rotated to lock the bracket to the elongate channel member with said peg located in a locating depression or hole, whereby in use said pair of elongate channel members are mounted parallel to one another with said series of locating depressions or holes aligned with one another, said pair of brackets are located in their respective channel members on the same horizontal level and a shelf is positioned on said support arms and held in place by said shelf locating members.

DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention are described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shelf support bracket,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the bracket shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view of a length of elongate member to be used in conjunction with the bracket shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an elevation of part of another embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 5 is an alternative to Figure 4.

Figure 6 illustrates a metal siding having horizontal slots for the reception of brackets of the type shown in figure 4.

Figure 7 is a cross-section of the track of figure 3.

Figure 7b is a cross-section of track for use with the bracket of figure 1..

Figure 7c is a cross-section of another track for use with the bracket of figure 1..

Figure 7d is a cross-section of another track for use with the bracket of figure 1..

Figure 7e is a cross-section of another track for use with the bracket of figure 1..

Figure 8 is a form of non-adjustable bracket which may be extruded.

Figure 9 is another non-adjustable bracket.

Figure 10 is further non-adjustable bracket.

Figures 1 la, 1 lb, 1 lc show a schematic view of the shelf brackets and vertical tracks of figures 1-3 and how they are assembled to support one or more shelves.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIRST EMBODIMENT - Figures 1-3 and Figures 1 la - 1 lc. In Figures 1-2 of the drawings, a shelf support bracket 10 includes a shelf support arm 11 of generally H-section having flanges 12, 13, 14 and a web 15. Such a bracket is conveniently die cast from zinc or magnesium alloys.

The upper surface of the flange 13 provides a shelf support face 16. The outer extremity of the support face 16 is substantially rigid (ie it does not have an outer resilient portion) but instead preferably has a raised surface 16a to help support the shelf clear of any imperfection or roughness along the length of the support surface 16.

The flange 14 extends upwardly past the flange 13 in the form of a strut 17 from the top end of which a shelf locating member 18, extends over the flange 13 adjacent the strut 17 to form a pair of jaws 18a. The minimum spacing between the support face 16 and the shelf locating member 18 chosen to receive and retain a rear edge of a shelf. Retention of the shelf is facilitated by a length of elastomeric material 19a trapped in a groove 19 and protruding above the support face 16. In this die cast version of the bracket 10 the groove 19 extends only halfway across the width of the bracket.

The rear face 20 of the flange 14 is generally flat with a feature in the form of a knob 22 located on the face 20 at or near the level of the flange 13.

The knob 22 comprises a cylindrical stem 23 of which the axis is substantially normal to the face 20. The stem 23 carries a head 24 having a pair of oppositely directed lugs 25. A peg 26 co-axial with the stem 23 protrudes from the rear of the head 24.

In use, the shelf is supported by at least two of the brackets 10. Each bracket 10 is carried by an elongate member or track 27 of the kind shown in Figure 3, which is typically made of extruded aluminium. The member 27 is of generally U-section, having a back wall 28, and a pair of parallel side walls 29, the outer edges of which are turned inwardly as flanges 30.

The gap between the edges of the flanges 30 is dimensioned to receive the stem 23, and the lugs 25 can be trapped behind the flanges 30.

Two or more of the elongate members 27 are fastened to a suitable structure, such as a wall, so as to be upright and parallel, by screws through holes 31 in the back wall 27. Each bracket 10 is assembled to the elongate member 28 by turning the bracket 10 until the centre line of the web 14 is substantially horizontal. The head 24 is passed through the gap between the flanges 30 and the bracket is then rotated through 90 degrees so that the lugs 25 become trapped behind the flanges 30.

Vertical location of the bracket 10 to the elongate member 27 is provided by a series of equally-spaced depressions or holes 32 formed in the back wall 28. The depressions 32 may conveniently be joined by a groove 33. The depressions 32 are dimensioned to receive the peg 26 on the bracket 10. Preferably, until the peg 26 is entered into one of the depressions 32, the lugs 25 will lie between the flanges 30, so as to inhibit rotation of the bracket 10 to the upright position, thereby inhibiting incorrect assembly of the bracket 10 to the upright member 27.

In the case where the slot is horizontal and not vertical the peg is preferably omitted. This is described below with reference to figures 4-5. In that case it is preferred that only one flange is provided for horizontal use.

Where the bracket is rotated in the slot it will be appreciated that once a shelf is attached to two or more brackets the shelf prevents rotation of the brackets.

In order that the shelf may be fitted close to the elongate member 27, the strut 17 is made as thin as possible. Similarly, the shelf locating member 18 is made thin so as to be visually unobtrusive and to have minimal interference with objects on the shelf. In order to minimise stresses in the strut 17, the knob 22 is located at or below the bottom of the strut 17. The bracket 10 can be rotated about the axis of the stem 23 without obstruction or the need to tilt the bracket, so that a track can be mounted close to a corner and the bracket can be attached to the track as shown in figures 1 la - lie.

SECOND EMBODIMENT Figures 8-10

In another embodiment of the invention, the protrusion 21 and the knob 22 are omitted and the bracket 10 is fastened direct to the structure by a screw through a hole in the strut 17, which in this form may be thickened to add strength. These brackets illustrated in figures 8-9 as brackets 108, 109, 110 may be made of die cast metal or of an appropriate plastics material, preferably fibre-reinforced, or of any other material suitable for the duty intended. Or it may be an extended horizontal rail of solid or hollow form both forms embodying groove 19 and the support plate 16a, but without 22, 23 or 26 since it is fixed to such as a wall through web 17. Each of these brackets 108, 109, 110 has a raised shelf support face 16a at its outer extremity and provision for a resilient pad 19a in groove 19 adjacent the jaws 18a.

THIRD EMBODIMENT Figures 4-6

Figures 4 and 5 show an adaption of the system described above for use with an elongate member 27 which is mounted horizontally in or on a wall 35. Although a track such as elongate member 27 of figure 3 could be used horizontally it is preferred that horizontal member 27 of figures 4 and 5 is specially shaped to receive a different type of lug 25. Such a modified bracket of figure 4 can also be used with a grooved wall structure or siding (sometimes known as a "slat wall" or "clip wall") of the type shown in figure 6. this is attached to a wall with its groove aligned horizontally so that brackets or other fittings may be attached to the grooves. The slat wall or siding of figure 6 can be roll formed or extruded.

In Figure 4, if the member 27 has 2 flanges 30, the head 24 is positioned on the stem 23 at 90 degrees from that shown in Figure 1 and 2, so that the lugs 25 are in line with the flange 14. However, if the member 27 has only an upper flange 30, as shown in Figure 4, the lower lug 25 on the head 24 can also be omitted.

To assemble the components shown in Figure 4, the bracket 10 is rotated until the centre line of the flange 14 is horizontal, the head 24 is passed into the member 27 below the single flange 30 and the bracket 10 rotated until the flange 14 is upright, the lug 25 then catching behind the flange 30.

For this horizontal disposition of the elongate member 27, the peg 26 co-acting holes 32 may be omitted, since weight on the bracket 10 will not cause the bracket 10 to slide along the member 27. However, the peg 26 and holes 32 can be retained to provide positive location if needed.

When the embodiment shown in Figure 5 is used, each of the lugs 25 (shown in Figure 2 but rotated through 90 degrees) catches behind on e of the flanges 30. Where the wall 35 is of fibre board or other similar crushable material, the member 27 may comprise a metal or plastics liner, inserted in a T-shaped or L-shaped slot (as appropriate) in the wall 35. Figure 6 illustrates that multi-opening extrusions with the main features of figure 5 and will accept the head of a bracket similar in form to figure 4.

Figures 1, 2 and 4 shown as castings may also be provided in extruded two dimensional form as well as three dimensional castings as illustrated, of indefinable length and constant cross-section.

FOURTH EMBODIMENT - vertical track details

Figure 7 is a plan view of the track 27 of figure 3.

Figure 7a is an enlarged view of the track 27 of figure 7 and the 25 of the knob 22 with the lugs engaged in the lipped opening.

Figures 7b, 7c, 7d and 7e all illustrate that the lipped opening may be incorporated in a variety of shapes too numerous to illustrate designed to accept the knob 22 of the bracket 10 (figures 1 and 2). These shapes can be roll formed or extruded.

RESILIENT MEMBER

It is preferred that the resilient pad 19a sits prior to the jaw in all of the brackets (both non-adjustable as in figures 8-10) and the adjustable bracket of figures 1-2. Its placement will vary depending on bracket size and shape and the type of shelf to be supported. In general it must not be so close to the jaw opening that it prevents entry of the board or shelf and not so far forward (relative to the raised end 16a) that the weight and leverage of the shelf will not squash it.

In one form where the main element or bracket is cast the pad enters on half only to prevent the casting sticking in the die and because one resilient pad is easier and cheaper to insert. The pad is preferably extruded and is formed of rubber or resilient plastics and cut top length. A short length of this is shown as 19a in figure 1.

In another form where the main element is an extruded shape of indefinite length and constant cross-section then the resilient pad may be used full length of its receiving groove or in short pieces. The position of the resilient member close to but not inside the jaw is preferable since if it were at the outer extremity of the main element, under load the resilient member would collapse and cause the shelf to droop downwardly. An unacceptable feature of a shelf support designed to hold such as a shelf at a constant angle for example 90".

The presence of the resilient pad is preferable for the support of glass shelves to absorb tolerances and grip the shelf.

Glass cannot be forced between two metal surfaces if it is oversize. If it is loose it cannot be screwed into. The resilient pad is preferable for glass.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

1. The rear face of the rear main support plate which in use acts against the outside surface of the lips of the lipped channel support member or against such as a wall where the bracket is used in its non-adjustable form is flat with no protrusions.

2. The round neck of the bracket (not present in the form using an elongate nut or the non-adjustable form) protrudes backwardly from the rear of the said main support plate allowing the bracket to revolve. The bracket in use is stabilised by the inserted shelf which locks the bracket in a vertical position.

3. The bracket is not required to tilt upwardly to allow it to revolve. Were this not so the said bracket could not used

a. screwed directly to such as a wall; or

b. used in conjunction with a horizontal lipped channel since protrusions required by the prior art would obstruct the use of the bracket.

4. A further improvement over the prior art is that only one resilient pad holder is provided thereby increasing the strength and reducing cost of the said bracket. Where the said bracket is of indefinite length and constant cross-section the resilient pad may run the full length of the said bracket. This advantage applies to both the non-adjustable and adjustable brackets.

5. A further improvement over the prior art is that two shelf thicknesses can be accommodated in one form. A resilient pad is inserted to grip the shelf. When a shelf 1 mm thicker is used the resilient pad allows the thicker form of shelf to push into the jaw:

a. to prevent the thicker shelf pulling out easily;

b. to prevent the shelf sliding sideways.

The ability of the bracket to accept two shelf thicknesses is an important feature. Since it eliminates the thickness problem between metric and imperial sizes of shelf thickness. It will be appreciated that the thinner shelf would be unstable without the additional safety feature.

6. A preferred embodiment of the resilient and therefore deformable pad is eliminated from the load bearing end of the bracket. It will be understood that if a pad is at the load bearing position, where either the underside of the shelf rests or which restricts upward movement of the upper rear edge of such as a shelf, then under load the shelf will droop downwardly.

7. A further feature of this invention over the prior art is that the rear face of the rear main support plate which in use acts against the outside surface of the lips of the lipped channel support member or against such as a wall where the bracket is used on it non-adjustable form the said plate is flat with no protrusions nor with any relief from the vertical plane to allow the bracket to be tilted upwardly.

A disadvantage of the prior art was that brackets which required tilting upwardly where the support rail was positioned in a comer at the junction of two vertical walls then the bracket would not revolve on its axis in the tilted position whereas brackets which do not require to be tilted which is the case with this patent will revolve even in comer situations so that the bracket can be taken out from the front of the opening in the lipped channel and not having to be slid out from the top or the bottom which was the case with the prior art which required to be tilted.

VARIATIONS

Many variations have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, with a non-adjustable bracket shown in figures 8-10, and a vertically adjustable bracket shown in figure 1. Finally, it will be appreciated that various other alterations and modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A shelf support bracket comprising a substantially planar rear face which in use will be held substantially upright, a shelf support arm having a shelf support face extending away from said rear face and substantially normal thereto, on which support face the shelf will rest when in use, and a shelf locating member extending from the rear face and spaced from the support face , so as to be, when in use, over a portion of the support face adjacent the rear face to form in conjunction with the support face a pair of jaws having a mouth to receive a shelf, the minimum spacing between the support face and the shelf locating member being adapted to receive and retain a rear edge of a shelf characterised in that the end of the support face remote from the jaws is substantially rigid, and a resilient member is positioned on said support face close to but outside the mouth of the jaws, whereby in use the bracket can be mounted on a suitable support and a shelf inserted in the jaws and held in place by the interaction of the jaws and the resilient member.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the resilient member is a resilient pad which is attached to and extends across less than the full width of the support surface.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the bracket has on the rear face thereof locating means comprising a stem adapted to in use protrude through a narrow gap in an elongate channel member to which the bracket is to be affixed, the stem being formed with a head remote from the rear face of the bracket, the head being large enough to catch behind said flange of the elongate member on rotation of the head into the locating position.

4. A shelf support bracket adapted to be attached to and supported by an elongate channel member having a narrow gap formed by at least one flange leading to a wider chamber, said bracket having a substantially planar rear face, a shelf support arm having a shelf support face extending away from said rear face and substantially normal thereto, on which support face the shelf will rest when in use, and means for holding a shelf on said support face, characterised in that the bracket has on the rear face thereof locating means comprising a stem adapted to protrude through the narrow gap in said elongate channel member, the stem being formed with a head remote from the rear face of the bracket, the head being large enough to catch behind said flange of the elongate member on rotation of the head into the locating position.

5. A shelf support bracket, according to claim 4, characterised in that the stem is substantially cylindrical, with the axis of the cylinder substantially normal to the rear face of the bracket, the cylinder being of smaller diameter than the gap and the head comprising one or more a lug(s) protruding substantially radially from the cylinder.

6. A shelf support bracket, according to claim 5, wherein the holding means comprises a shelf locating member extending from the rear face and spaced from the support face , so as to be, when in use, over a portion of the support face adjacent the rear face to form in conjunction with the support face a pair of jaws having a mouth to receive a shelf, the minimum spacing between the support face and the shelf locating member being adapted to receive and retain a rear edge of a shelf characterised in that the end of the support face remote from the jaws is substantially rigid, and a resilient member is positioned on said support face close to but outside the mouth of the jaws, whereby in use the bracket can be mounted on a suitable support and a shelf inserted in the jaws and held in place by the interaction of the jaws and the resilient member.

7. A shelf support bracket according to claim 6, characterised in that the location and retention of the bracket at a desired location along the length of the elongate member is effected by a peg formed on the head and substantially co-axial with the cylinder, the peg being engageable in a locating depression or hole in the elongate member.

8. A shelf support bracket according to claim 7, characterised in that the head is dimensioned so that if the peg is not entered into a locating depression or hole, but bears against a rear portion of said chamber of the elongate member, the lug will lie in a plane of the flange on the elongate member, to inhibit rotation of the bracket about the cylinder axis.

9. A shelf support bracket according to claim 8, characterised in that the stem is located adjacent the level of the shelf support face.

10. A shelf support comprising a pair of brackets, each bracket being as claimed in claim 5, in combination with a pair of elongate channel members adapted to be mounted vertically on a wall or the like to provide a pair of parallel vertical channels for reception of said pair of brackets, characterised in that the front face of each elongate member includes a pair of parallel flanges directed towards each other with said gap between them, and the rear face of the chamber of each elongate channel member has a series of spaced apart locating depressions or holes, each depression or hole being adapted to receive said peg to allow the head to penetrate the gap sufficiently for said lugs to enter the chamber thereby allowing the bracket to be rotated to lock the bracket to the elongate channel member with said peg located in a locating depression or hole, whereby in use said pair of elongate channel members are mounted parallel to one another with said series of locating depressions or holes aligned with one another, said pair of brackets are located in their respective channel members on the same horizontal level and a shelf is positioned on said support arms and held in place by said shelf locating members.