GB2203027A

GB2203027A - Support system for shelves

Info

Publication number: GB2203027A
Application number: GB08806134A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Lambert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-10
Filing date: 1988-03-15
Publication date: 1988-10-12
Also published as: GB8708594D0; GB8806134D0

Abstract

A shelf (10) is supported at its rear edge by plates (12) secured to the shelf and a wall, and at its front edge by flexible members (eg chains) 14 secured thereto and to the wall by screws (22). The screws (22) may act as anchorages for plates (12) of a higher shelf. <IMAGE>

Description

Support System for Shelves This invention relates to a support system for shelves, particularly (but not exclusively) for domestic and office use.

Many means of supporting shelves are known, but most of these rely on tracks and/or brackets which are visually obtrusive and frequently of poor aesthetic appearance. Other, less obtrusive, supporting arrangements have limited load-bearing capacity.

An object of the present invention is to provide a support system for shelves which is unobtrusive in appearance while providing a good load-bearing capacity.

Accordingly, the invention provides a shelf supporting arrangement comprising: at least two plate members adapted to be secured to the rear edge of the shelf so as to provide an exposed area for securement to a wall; and at least two tension members each of which is adapted to be secured at one end adjacent the front edge of the shelf and at the other end to the wall at a location above the shelf.

Each of said plate members may suitably comprise a T-shaped plate having two holes in the cross-piece for passage of screws securing the plate to the edge of the shelf and one hole in the leg for passage of a screw or bolt securing the plate to the wall.

Said tension members are preferably in the form of inextensible flexible elements such as chains.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a shelf supported in accordance with the invention; Fig 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear of the shelf; Fig 3 is a side view of the invention applied to a pair of shelves; and Fig 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view illustrating a modification.

Referring to Figs 1 and 2, a shelf 10 is secured to a wall by means of T-shaped plates 12 and chains 14. The plates 12 are fixed to the rear edge of the shelf 10 by means of screws 16 so that the limb of each plate 12 projects beneath the shelf 10 exposing a hole 18 for receiving a further screw or bolt secured into the wall.

Each of the chains 14 is secured to the front edge of the shelf 10, or to the underside of the shelf adjacent the front, by screws 20 and to the wall by screws or bolts 22.

As seen in Fig 3, a vertical row of shelves 10 may be fixed to a wall 24 in such a manner that the screws 26 through the plates 12 of an upper shelf also serve to anchor the chains 14 of the shelf beneath.

In a modification, illustrated in Fig 4, a channel section 28 is fitted around the front edge of the shelf 10, and the screws 20 pass through holes in the channel section 28. The channel section 28 is preferably of metal, eg. anodised aluminium, but may be of other suitable material such as extruded plastics. The section 28 serves both to give a decorative finished edge to the shelf and to prevent the screws 20 causing splitting of the shelf.

The screws mounting the items to the wall may cooperate with wall plugs of known types. Alternatively anchor bolts or toggle fastenings of known type may be used.

With longer shelves, a greater number of plates and chains may be provided suitably spaced along the length of the shelf.

The chains may be replaced by other inextensible, flexible members such as metal cable, or by other tension members such as metal wire or thin rod.

The shelves themselves may be of any suitable material such as timber or veneered chipboard.

The plates can also be hidden by recessing them into the plaster of the wall, and covering with a proprietary filler.

The shelving system of the present invention gives a visual appearance in which the mounting arrangements for the shelves are extremely unobtrusive, but it has been found that with suitable anchoring to the wall considerable loads can be carried.

Claims

1. A shelf supporting arrangement comprising: at least two plate members adapted to be secured to the rear edge of the shelf so as to provide an exposed area for securement to a wall; and at least two tension members each of which is adapted to be secured at one end adjacent the front edge of the shelf and at the other end to the wall at a location above the shelf.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, in which each of said plate members comprises a T-shaped plate having two holes in the cross-piece for passage of screws securing the plate to the edge of the shelf and one hole in the leg for passage of a screw or bolt securing the plate to the wall.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 or claim 2, in which said tension members are in the form of inextensible flexible elements.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, in which said inextensible flexible elements are chains.

5. A shelf supporting arrangement in accordance with any preceding claim and comprising a plurality of shelves arranged one above the other on a common wall, and in which the tension members secured adjacent the front edge of each shelf other than the topmost have their other ends secured to the wall by a screw or bolt passing through the exposed are plate member above.

6. The arrangement of any preceding claim, in which the outer edge of the or each shelf is enclosed in a channel section member.

7. A shelf supporting arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figs 1-3 or Figs 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.