GB2174891A

GB2174891A - Apparatus for hanging an article from a shelf

Info

Publication number: GB2174891A
Application number: GB08521459A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Margaret Ann Overton; John Robin Owens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-04-30
Filing date: 1985-08-29
Publication date: 1986-11-19
Also published as: GB2174891B; GB8510917D0; GB8521459D0

Abstract

Apparatus is described for hanging an article from a shelf, in particular for supporting a wine bottle horizontally beneath a refrigerator shelf. The apparatus comprises a support frame (1) defining an aperture (2) for supporting an article. The support frame (1) is formed with two-spaced apart projections which in use of the article to hang a wine or other beverage bottle from a refrigerator shelf are inserted between respective adjacent bars of the refrigerator shelf. Each projection (4) is formed with a respective passage (5) to receive an elongate engagement member (3) so that when the elongate engagement member (3) is received in the passages (5), two bars of the shelf are trapped between the frame and the engagement member and the support frame (1) is thereby secured to the refrigerator shelf. The surface (10) of the support frame (1) facing the elongate engagement member (3) is shaped so that the space between the support frame (1) and the engagement member (3) narrows away from the projections (4) to prevent the support frame (1) moving relative to the bars of the refrigerator shelf. Normally at least two support frames and associated engagement members would be provided to hang the bottle from the refrigerator shelf. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for hanging an article from a shelf This invention relates to apparatus for hanging an article from a shelf, in particular apparatus for supporting a wine bottle horizontally beneath a refrigerator shelf.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for hanging an article from a shelf, which apparatus comprises means for supporting the article and means for engaging the supporting means to trap part of the shelf between the supporting means and the engaging means.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1, showing an elongate engagement member of the apparatus engaged with a support frame; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 taken along the direction of the arrow 11 in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line x-x in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1, showing the elongate engagement member engaged with the support frame; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7 with the engagement member thereof in an open condition.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 to 5 show one embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention for hanging an article from a shelf, in particular for supporting a wine bottle horizontally beneath a refrigerator shelf.

As shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the apparatus comprises supporting means in the form of a substantially D-shaped support frame or cradle which defines an aperture 2 for receiving an article to be supported by the frame 1. The support frame 1 comprises a substantially U-shaped frame member 1a having substantially straight arms 1b connected to one another by a substantially semi-circular section Ic. The arms of the U-shaped frame member la are interconnected by a connecting bar id which extends transversely between the arms but is spaced from the free ends thereof to define two spaced-apart projections 4. Preferably, the support frame 1 is formed in one piece.

Each projection 4 is formed therethrough with a respective transversely extending through passage 5 of rectangular cross section for receiving a respective end 6a, 6b of an elongate engagement member or locking bar 6 of corresponding rectangular cross-section so that, when the elongate engagement member 6 is received in the passages 5, a slot is defined between the support frame and the engagement member 6 (see Figure 2). Each end of the elongate engagement member is provided with respective locating protrusions or pins 7 on each of two opposed faces of the elongate engagement members 6.The protrusions 7 are such that the engagement member 6 may be forced through one of the passages 5 into the position shown in Figure 2, where the protrusions 7 serve to reduce the possibility of the elongate engagement member 6 accidentally being moved back through the passages 5 and thus becoming disengaged from the frame 1.

The apparatus is intended primarily for supporting a battle such as a wine or other beverage bottle beneath a refrigerator shelf so that the bottle can be maintained in a substantially horizontal position without occupying an excessive amount of shelf space in the refrigerator. Normally, therefore, a plurality of suport frames 1 and associated elongate engagement members 6 would be provided to hang the bottle from the refrigerator shelf. Preferably two support frames 1 and the associated elongate engagement members 6 are provided.

In order to use the apparatus, a first support frame 1 is positioned adjacent but beneath a refrigerator shelf so that the bar 1d of the support frame extends tranversely of the parallel bars of the refrigerator shelf and the projections 4 of the support frame 1 extend upwardly between adjacent bars of the refrigerator shelf, and so that two bars of the refrigerator shelf extend between the projections 4, each of the said bars being located adjacent a respective one of the projections 4. One end 6a of the elongate engagement member 6 is then inserted into the passage 5 of one of the projections 4 and the elongate engagement member is pushed through the passage 5 and into the other passage 5 until the protrusions or register pins 7 provided on the one end of the elongate engagement member abut the other projection 4.The protrusions 7 provided at the other end 6b of the elongate engagement member 6 will then have passed through the one passage 5 into a position adjacent the one projection 4.

As shown most learly in Figures 1 and 2, an elongate surface 10 of the bar connecting 1d which, in use, faces the elongate engagement member 6 is shaped so as to provide an elongate abutment surface 11 extending along the surface id. The abutment surface 11 tapers toward the projections 4 and is designed so as to ensure that, during use of the apparatus, each of the two bars of the refrigerator shelf to which the apparatus is secured is trapped between a respective projection 4 and the abutment member 11 so that the apparatus cannot readily slide or otherwise move tranversely of the shelf. The slot defined between the elongate engagement member 6, the surface 1a, a respective projection 4 and the abutment member 11 is preferably dimensioned so as also to prevent the apparatus sliding along the bars to which it is attached.

It should, of course, be appreciated that, in order to support a wine bottle beneath a refrigerator shelf, two or more of the support frames 1 and associated elongate engagement members 6 are used, the support frames 1 being secured to the shelf spaced-apart but aligned along the bars of the refrigerator. Moreover, although the two support frames 1 may be of the same dimensions, it may be desirable for one of the support frames to support the neck of the bottle and, in this case, it would, of course, be necessary for the aperture 2 formed in the support frame 1 supporting the neck bottle to be smaller than that provided in the support frame 1 supporting the body of the bottle so as to ensure that the bottle is maintained in a substantially horizontal position.

The support frame 1 and elongate engagement member 6 can be made from any suitable material: for example wood, a plastics material having suitable strength and resistance to low temperatures, a metal or metal alloy or a plastics coated metal or metal alloy. Preferably the support frame is formed in one-piece although, of course, the Ushaped frame member 1a and the connecting bar Id could be formed separately. it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the support frame 1 and the elongate engagement member 6 will depend entirely upon the use to which the apparatus is to be put.However, where the apparatus is to be used to support the body of a wine bottle, for example, then it is recommended that the U-shaped frame member 1a have a semi-circular section 1c of 5.0cm radius, each arm 1b of the frame member being approximately 7 cm in length and being connected by the transversely extending bar 1d of the frame 1 so that the projections 4 extend approximately 1.2cm upwardly from the surface 10 of the bar 1 d. Preferably, the support frame 1 is approximately 0.5cm in width so that the semi-circular section of the aperture 2 is approximately 4.5cm in radius to receive a standard 70cl wine bottle, the support frame 1 being approximately 1.3cm thick.

The passages 5 are formed approximately 4.0mm below the free ends of the projections 4 to receive the elongate engagement member 6 which is approximately 10cm long, 4mm deep and 3.9mm wide. The protrusions 7 provided on the elongate engagement member 6 are preferau > approxi- mately 0.4mm long.

Figures 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment of the invention which may be moulded from a plastics or similar material. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the support frame 1 is substantially identical to the support frame 1 of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 5. However, in the arrangement shown in Figures 6 and 7, a separate engagement member is not provided. Rather, in the embodiments shown in Figures 6 and 7, the engagement member comprises an engagement arm 12 which is formed integrally with the frame 1 by extending one arm 1 b of the frame 1.A free end portion 1 2a of the arm 12 is bent at substantially 90O to the remainder of the arm 12 and has a hook-shaped end portion 12b for reception in a correspondingly shaped recess 13 provided at the corner defined between the connecting bar 1d and the other arm 1 b" of the frame 1. Figure 6 shows the hookshaped end portion 12b of the arm 12 in engagement with the recess 13. The arm 12 is arranged to be resilient and is bowed or curved so that when the arm 12 is in the closed condition shown in Figure 6, the space 14 defined between the arm 12 and the connecting bar 1d tapers toward the centre of the connecting bar 1 d. Thus, in the arrangement shown in Figures 6 and 7, the abutment surface 11 can be omitted.

It should, of course, be appreciated that, although the above apparatus has been described for use in hanging a wine or other beverage bottle from a refrigerator shelf, the apparatus is suitable for use in hanging other articles beneath a shelf which has apertures through which the projections 4 of the support frame 1 can extend to engage the associated elongate engagement member.

Claims

1. Apparatus for hanging an article from a shelf, which apparatus comprises means for supporting the article and means for engaging the supporting means to trap part of the shelf between the supporting means and the engaging means.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the supporting means is formed with an aperture to receive the article to be supported.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the supporting means comprises a frame defining the article-supporting aperture.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the frame defines a substantially D-shaped article-supporting aperture.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the engaging means comprises an engagement member having first and second ends each for engaging a respective passage provided in the support means.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the engagement member is provided with locating protrusions for retaining the engagement member in position after engagement of its ends with the passages of the support means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the support means has two-spaced apart projections, each projection defining a respective one of the said passages.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the engaging means comprises an engagement member, one end of which is connected to the supporting means and the other end of which is shaped so as to be received in a corresponding recess in the supporting means.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the engagement member is integrally formed with the supporting means.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the other end of the engagement member has a hook-shaped end for reception in a correspondingly shaped recess of the supporting means.

11. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein theoengagement member is curved so as to prevent, in use of the apparatus, move ment of the apparatus relative to a shelf trapped between the frame and the engagement member.

12. Apparatus according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein e surface of the frame, which surface is in use disposed opposite the engagement member, is provided with abutment means for preventing movement of the apparatus relative to a shelf trapped between the frame and the engagement member.

13. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 12, wherein the engagement member and supporting means when engaged define a space for receiving two or more bars of a shelf formed of a series of bars.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the supporting means and/or the engaging means are formed of a plastics material.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the support means and/or the engaging means are formed of a metal, a metal alloy or a plastics coated metal or metal alloy.

16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of supporting means and associated engagement means for use in spaced-apart relationship to support the article.

17. Apparatus for hanging an article from a shelf, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim for hanging a wine or other beverage bottle from a refrigerator shelf.

19. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.