GB2114873A - Shelves for television stands - Google Patents

Abstract

The shelf for a television stand consisting of two leg end assemblies each having a single upright (2) fixed at its lower end to a horizontal bar (3) to form an inverted T, comprises a rectangular shelf member (10) with a hook shaped bracket (11) provided at each corner region which hook over and rest on the horizontal bars (3). Each bracket may be adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the shelf, to fit different width television strands, and variable clamping means may be provided for clamping the brackets to various cross-sectional widths of cross bars. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Television stand and shelf This invention relates to a shelf for a television stand and to a method of providing a television stand with such a shelf suitable for supporting video equipment to be used in combination with a television on the stand.

Most free-standing television stands are of the design in which there are two vertical legs, one at each end of the stand, each leg being rigidly connected at its lower end to an intermediate point on a horizontal bar so that the leg and bar form an inverted T, and castors are provided beneath each end of the bar on each leg thereby affording four support points. The two legs are connected rigidly to each other by a single cross rail removably fastened to each leg at a point some way up from its lower end. The television set simply rests or is fixed by screws directly on to a further cross bar at the top of each leg or onto a cross member extending across between the tops of the legs.

The present invention, in its broadest aspect, provides a method of converting such a television stand so that it is capable of supporting additional equipment on a shelf located under the television set, comprising removing the cross rail from the vertical legs, positioning a generally rectangular shelf member to extend horizontally between the legs at their lower ends and locating the shelf with respect to the legs by means of brackets secured to the shelf member respectively at each corner region, which brackets are arranged to rest on the cross-bars of the legs.

In another aspect, the invention provides a shelf for securing to a television stand, comprising a generally rectangular support or shelf member provided at each corner region with a bracket which is adapted to hook over and rest on a horizontal bar leg member of a television stand, the brackets or at least two of them at one short side of the rectangular support being positionally adjustable in a direction longitudinally of the rectangular support, means being provided for securing the brackets in any adjusted position. The adjustable brackets enable the shelf to be fitted to a range of similar but not identical television stands.

Preferably all four brackets are adjustable so that the shelf member can be located exactly centrally between the vertical legs of the television stand. The brackets preferably project out from the shorter sides of the support or shelf member beyond the edges so that the shelf member can be a plain rectangle and of a length shorter than the distance between the legs of the television stand; otherwise if the shelf member is wider it will need a slot in each short side to accommodate the vertical legs of the stand.

To provide rigidity to the stand to which the shelf is to be fitted, each bracket is preferably provided with releasable clamping means so that it can be secured tightly to the appropriate leg cross bar. The clamping means should conveniently be variable so as to be capable of clamping against various cross-sectional widths of cross bars.

The invention may be put into practice in various ways but two specific embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of a free-standing television stand with a shelf to be fitted to it, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a view showing the shelf when fitted to the stand; Figure 3 is an underneath view of the shelf fitted to the stand; Figure 4 is a detailed view of one of the brackets on the shelf; Figures 5A and 5B are two side elevations of one of the brackets on the shelf; and Figures 6A and 6B are similar views to Figures 5A and 5B, with a cross-sectional view Figure 6C, of a different bracket.

Figure 1 shows a typical television stand consisting of two leg end assemblies 1 connected with a cross rail 6. The end leg assemblies each comprise a single upright 2 fixed at its lower end to a horizontal bar 3 so that the two form an inverted T. The lower end of each upright 2 is rigidly connected either to the mid-point of the bar 3 or to a point somewhat nearer to one end of the bar 3 (usually offset to the back of the stand), the leg 2 usually being welded to the bar at a simple butt joint. Alternatively the uprights 2 and bars 3 are sometimes connected integrally together with a thickened, radiussed joint. Four castors 4 are fixed one under each end of each bar 3.

The cross rail 6 is releasably connected to each leg upright 2 at a point a little way up from its lower end, thereby to act as a rigid cross brace of the stand. The upper ends of the leg uprights 2 may be provided with cross pieces to which the television set is fixed and on which the set can simply rest with suitable location pegs. In Figure 1 a plywood top is shown merely for ease of transporting the stand; it would not normally be present.

The shelf 10 to be fitted to the stand is a plain rectangular board, of face chipboard or the like, with a hook-shaped bracket 11 provided at each corner region. Each bracket 11 comprises a flat strip 1 2 adjustably fixed to the underside of the shelf 10 so that it projects beyond the short side of the rectangular shelf 10 by an amount which can be varied. The fixing comprises a screw 1 3 which passes through a longitudinal slot 14 in the strip 1 2 and which is screwed into a suitable boss set into the board (see Figure 5A). A peg 1 5 also screwed to the board also locates in the slot 14 to ensure that the bracket 11 can only slide longitudinally.

The outer end of the strip 12 carries a downwardly bent flange 16, and a further, similar flange 1 7 is provided, projecting downwardly, about one inch or so in from the flange 1 6 so that the two flanges 1 6 and 1 7 and the portion of the strip 12 between them form an inverted channel shape.

A clamping screw 1 8 is threaded into a hole in the flange 17 so that the end of the screw shank can be screwed into the channel by turning the thumb screw head 19.

In one construction, the amount of adjustment in the position of each bracket is about 12 inches giving an overall stand width adjustment of 3 inches, making it possible for the shelf to be fitted to a variety of different stands. Furthermore, the clamping screws 1 8 can be screwed into the channel up to about 2 inch so that the brackets 11 can be fitted onto any bars from about 2 inch to one inch thick.

To fit the shelf 10 to a stand, the cross rail 6 is removed and the shelf 10 positioned between the leg assemblies 1 on a level with the top of the lower bars 3 having previously adjusted each bracket 11 to a position in which the flanges 1 6 and 1 7 fit either side of each bar 3 with the outermost flange 1 6 just touching the outer side of the bar 3, and also having unscrewed the clamping screws 1 8. The shelf 10 is then lowered so that the brackets 6 rest on the bars 3 and support the shelf 10 in cantilever fashion. The four clamping screws 1 8 are then tightened against the insides of the bars 3. The fitted shelf thus rigidly connects the legs 1 and provides stability to the stand.

Whilst it may be possible to remove the cross rail 6 and fit the shelf 10 without removing the television set with certain designs of stand, in most cases it will be advisable or essential to remove the set first.

By and large, one size of shelf with brackets adjustable as described would be capable of fitting most makes of television stand for a given set size.

Different shelf sizes would be provided to suit different set sizes.

Figures 6A, B and C show an alternative bracket in which the screw and peg adjustment is replaced by a channel shaped strip 20 fastened to the underside of the shelf; a screw 21 passes through the slot 14 and into a boss in the board as before but the bracket 11 slides in the channel shaped strip 20 instead of being guided by the peg. In other respects the brackets are the same as those described previously.

Although the brackets are shown projecting out from the edge of the shelf 10, it would be possible to locate them wholly underneath the shelf if a wider shelf is used though in that case slots would need to be provided in the shelf 10 to accommodate the uprights 2 of the leg assemblies 1.

The brackets themselves may be made of any suitable material and by any appropriate method of manufacture, for example of die cast aluminium, extruded section plastics moulding, etc.

Claims (13)

1. A shelf for securing to a television stand, comprising a generally rectangular support or shelf member provided at each corner region with a bracket which is adapted to hook over and rest on a horizontal bar leg member of a television stand, the brackets or at least two of them at one short side of the rectangular support being positionally adjustable in a direction longitudinally of the rectangular support, means being provided for securing the brackets in an adjusted position.

2. A shelf as claimed in claim 1 , in which all four brackets are adjustable so that the shelf member can be located exactly centrally between the vertical legs of the television stand.

3. A shelf as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the brackets project out from the shorter sides of the support or shelf member beyond the edges and the shelf member is a plain rectangle for use on a television stand in which the length of the shelf is shorter than the distance between the legs of the television stand.

4. A shelf as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the shelf member has a slot in each short side to accommodate the vertical legs of a television stand, for use where the shelf length is greater than the distance between the vertical legs of the stand.

5. A shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each bracket is provided with releasable clamping means so that it can be secured tightly to the appropriate leg cross bar of a television stand.

6. A shelf as claimed in claim 5, in which the clamping means is variable so as to be capable of clamping against various cross-sectional widths of cross bars, to suit different television stand dimensions.

7. A shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the brackets which are positionally adjustable each have a flat strip with a longitudinal slot in it through which a fixing screw passes into the shelf member.

8. A shelf ss claimed in claim 7, in which a peg is fixed to the shelf member so as to locate in the slot to guide the bracket for longitudinally sliding movement.

9. A shelf as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the brackets which are positionally adjustable each have a flat strip which locates in a channel shaped strip fastened to the underside of the shelf member, securing means being provided for securing the bracket relative to the channelshaped strip.

10. A shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each bracket at its outer end region has two downwardly extending flanges, spaced apart, for locating one each side of a television stand horizontal bar leg member.

11. A shelf for a television stand substantially as specifically described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A television stand including two end leg assemblies each having a single upright leg fixed at its lower end to a horizontal bar to form an inverted T, and a shelf as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

13. A method of converting a television stand which includes two end leg assemblies each having a single upright leg fixed at its lower end to a horizontal bar to form an inverted T, with a cross rail extending between the upright legs, so that the stand is capable of supporting additional equipment on a shelf located under the television set, comprising removing the cross rail from the upright legs, positioning a generally rectangular shelf member to extend horizontally between the legs at their lower ends and locating the shelf with respect to the legs by means of brackets secured to the shelf member respectively at each corner region, which brackets are arranged to rest on the cross-bars of the legs.

1 4. A television stand which includes two end leg assemblies each having a single upright leg fixed at its lower end to a horizontal bar to form an inverted T, and a shelf comprising a generally rectangular support or shelf member provided at each corner region with a bracket which brackets are adapted to hook over and rest on the horizontal bar members of the television stand.