GB2236243A

GB2236243A - Shelf support means

Info

Publication number: GB2236243A
Application number: GB9010493A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Peter Bennett
Original assignee: TECH Ltd B
Current assignee: TECH Ltd B
Priority date: 1989-09-27
Filing date: 1990-05-10
Publication date: 1991-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-10
Also published as: GB8921810D0; GB2236243B; GB9010493D0

Abstract

Shelf support means comprise a pair of brackets (1) arranged in use to engage opposed ends of a shelf (2), each bracket (1) being provided with a channel (3) in use engaged by at least a part of the corresponding end of the shelf (2), and each bracket comprising at least one portion (4) extending substantially at right angles to the channel and apertured to receive securing means by which the bracket (1) can be attached to a support structure. Removable covers 8 are provided to obscure the securing means when in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SHELF SUPPORT MEANS This invention relates to shelf support means and has for its objective to provide such means which are simple of construction and yet highly effective in performing the required function.

Various types of shelf support means are known ranging from the straightforward L-shaped bracket having means for attaching the bracket to a wall or other support structure, with a generally flat surface extending therefrom to receive the undersurface of a shelf and usually provided with one or more apertures to accommodate screws or the like for securing the shelf in position on the bracket. Although these brackets are of simple construction, they suffer from the disadvantage that they only support the shelf on the undersurface and thus primarily, against downward forces only as opposed to upward forces.

Another type of shelf support is of the cantilever type such as disclosed, for example, in GB-A-1602264, 1126253 and 2053666. These supports comprise an elongated structure which is attachable to a wall or other support structure and has a channel running the length thereof to receive the rear edge of a shelf. The channel member is augmented in GB-A-1126253 by end brackets which are also channelled to receive the end portions of the shelf and are also arranged to cooperate with the elongate member in order to prevent the shelf from being pulled from the latter.One disadvantage with this cantilever type of shelf support, especially that of GB-A-1126253, is that the elongate channel member needs to be dimensioned to suit the length of shelf which means that several sizes of shelf support means have to be provided and the user may well have to buy an oversize member and trim to the required length. Another disadvantage is that the entire rear edge of a shelf is lost where it is gripped by the elongated member.

According to the present invention there is provided shelf support means comprising a pair of brackets arranged in use to engage opposed ends of a shelf, each bracket being provided with a channel in use engaged by at least part of the corresponding end of the shelf, and each bracket comprising at least one portion extending substantially at right angles to the channel and apertured to receive securing means by which the bracket can be attached to a support structure.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides very simple but highly effective support means for a shelf which do not involve any trimming to length in as much as the brackets are merely positioned at the appropriate positions to accommodate the required length of shelf. Furthermore, the brackets may be provided in a very small number of sizes, if not a single size, to accommodate different depths of shelves, it not being necessary for a shelf to lie wholly within the channel member provided by each bracket, i.e. a shelf can extend forwardly from a bracket if the depth thereof is greater than the draft of the brackets.

The present invention is particularly suitable for use with lengths of faced chipboard which is commonly available in different lengths and widths from DIY stores and although these boards are basically of standard thickness, at least for a given size, there are certain tolerance variations as well as some increase in thickness as the size of board increases.The channel provided in each bracket of the shelf support means in accordance with the present invention is preferably dimensioned so as to receive at least a portion of the end of each shelf as a push or friction fit, the dimension being such as to accommodate a nominal thickness of board but the brackets can be arranged to accommodate different thicknesses of board by providing means on one or both of the opposed faces of the channel, which means effectively decrease the width of the channel to accommodate one size of shelf thickness, and which means can be selectively removed to accommodate a greater thickness of shelf.

Furthermore, the brackets are preferably moulded from a stiff but resilient synthetic plastics material such that they can accommodate slight tolerance variations in thickness of shelves, as the design of the brackets and resilience of the plastics material is such that the brackets can yield slightly so that the channel can be opened slightly beyond its nominal width thus to receive the edge of a shelf slightly exceeding the desired nominal thickness.

Shelf support means in accordance with the present invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of shelf support means, shown erected, in accordance with the present invention shown supporting a shelf; Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 as attached to a supporting structure; Figure 3 is a perspective view of one bracket of the shelf support means of Figure 1, partly exploded; Figure 4 is an exterior side view of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an interior side view of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a front view of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a rear view of Figure 4.

Referring to all-of the figures of the drawings, the shelf support means in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair of brackets 1 arranged to support therebetween a shelf 2, the shelf being received at each end in a corresponding channel 3 provided in each of the brackets, the channel running the entire length of the bracket. Each bracket 1 is provided with a rear portion or plate 4 through which the channel 3 extends substantially at right-angles, the portions of the plate on either side of the channel being apertured at 5 to receive screws or the like by which the brackets are attached to a support structure such as a wall indicated at 6 in Figure 2. The apertures 5 are in the form of slots in order to provide some adjustments when mounting the brackets on the support structure 6.

Each bracket 1 tapers in height from rear to front and also tapers in thickness from each of the opposed sides of the channel 3 to the outer edge of the bracket, whereby two chambers 7 of generally triangular cross-section are formed. The inner face of each chamber 7 is provided with a removable cover 8, which cover is removed to gain access to the associated aperture 5 in order to secure the bracket to, or remove it from, the support structure 6. With the cover 8 in position, the fastening means employed to attach the bracket to the support structure 6 is obscured and with the general tapering of the bracket as described, the overall appearance is extremely aesthetically pleasing.

In order to erect the shelf 2, the two brackets 1 are positioned appropriately on the support structure 6, the slotted apertures 5 allowing fine adjustment of the distance between the bases of the channel members 3 in order to ensure that that distance is substantially the length of the shelf 2. With the brackets firmly secured in position, the shelf 2 is slid into the channels 3, the width of the channels being such as to receive the shelf as a push or friction fit so that the shelf is firmly held by the brackets. The drawings illustrate a shelf having the same front to rear (depth) dimension as that of the brackets 3 but it will be appreciated that if the depth of the shelf were greater than that of the brackets, then the shelf would still be firmly supported by the latter, whereby only a small number of different sizes of bracket, if not a single size of bracket, need be produced to accommodate the standard depths of pre-faced chipboard which is commonly available from DIY stores. It will be understood, however, that the brackets 1 can support shelves composed of other than pre-faced chipboard. When the shelf 2 is in position, it is supported against both upward and downward loads and due to the push or friction fit of the shelf within the channels 3, inadvertent movement of the shelf forwardly out of the brackets 3 is prevented.However, if it is required positively to retain the shelf 2 within the brackets 1, then one or both opposing faces of each channel 3 may be apertured to receive screws or the like by which the shelf can be attached to the brackets 1, the cover plates 8 serving to obscure the securing means just as they obscure the means used to attach the brackets to the support structure 6.

The brackets 1 are preferably moulded from a synthetic plastics material but they may, of course, be constructed from any other material.

The brackets 1, when moulded from a synthetic plastics material, for example ABS plastics, (acrylonitide butadiene styrene), can accommodate slight variations in thickness of shelves, as the design of the brackets and resilience of the plastics material is such that the channel of the bracket can be opened slightly to spring the bracket over the edge of shelves and the inherent springiness accommodates slight variations in thickness of boards which arise due to manufacturing tolerances.

When ABS plastic is used, for example, no ancillary means are required to accommodate tolerances of plus or minus 0.5 mm.

The brackets 1 can be arranged to accommodate more substantially different thickness of shelf 2 by providing on one or both of the opposing faces of the channels 3 one or more series of pips, each series having a different length and thus determining the effective width of the channels 3. The series of pips of greatest dimension will determine the minimum thickness of shelf to be accommodated but if that series is removed, then a shelf of greater thickness can be accommodated by the next series, and so on until all pips are removed and the basic width of the channels 3 dictates the maximum thickness of shelf which can be accommodated. Removal of the pips or other means may be effected automatically by the act of inserting a shelf in the channels 3.

The present invention affords the following advantages:1. Only a small portion at each end of a shelf is lost where the shelf is gripped by the brackets.

2. The brackets act as stops to prevent articles from falling off the ends of the shelf.

3. Separate means (such as screws) to secure a shelf to the brackets are not essential.

4. The height of the brackets is small, compared with conventional L-shaped brackets and therefore shelves can be mounted at much closer vertical intervals if required.

5. The brackets are of simple construction but effective in withstanding both upward and downward shelf loads.

6. Only a small number of different sizes is required as the depth of a bracket does not need to be the same as that of a shelf to be mounted thereon. Thus the brackets do not dictate any trimming of the shelf as regards length or depth.

7. The brackets can be moulded of a suitable plastics material, the inherent springiness of which allows the channel of the bracket to be sprung open slightly beyond its nominal width to receive the edge of shelves whereby to accommodate slight variations in thickness of boards due to manufacturing tolerances. Thus no ancillary means may be required for this purpose.

Claims

l.Shelf support means comprising a pair of brackets arranged in use to engage opposed ends of a shelf, each bracket being provided with a channel in use engaged by at least part of the corresponding end of the shelf, and each bracket comprising at least one portion extending substantially at right angles to the channel and apertured to receive securing means by which the bracket can be attached to a support structure.
2.Shelf support means according to Claim 1, wherein the width of the channel in each bracket is such as to receive the shelf as a friction or push fit.
3.Shelf support means according to Claim 1, wherein the bracket is made from a resilient material so that it can yield to receive the edge of a shelf in the channel.
4.Shelf support means according to Claims 1 to 3, wherein the channel of each bracket is of variable width by way of removable means being provided on one or both of the opposed surfaces of the channel, the means extending into the channel and thus determining a minimum thickness of shelf to be accommodated, removal of the means accommodating a greater thickness of shelf.
5.Shelf support means according to Claim 4, wherein a plurality of series of said means is provided with the dimensions of each series being different so as selectively to provide varying widths of channel.
6.Shelf support means according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein the means are in the form of pips.
7.Shelf support means according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each bracket tapers in height from rear to front.
8.Shelf support means according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each bracket tapers in thickness from the channel to the respective outer edges of the bracket to form two chambers of generally triangular cross-section.
9.Shelf support means according to Claim 8, wherein one side of each of the chambers is provided with a removable cover to provide access to securing means by which the bracket is attachable to a support structure, the cover obscuring said securing means when in position.
10.Shelf support means according to Claim 9, wherein at least one of the opposed surfaces of the channel in each bracket is apertured to receive securing means operable to secure a shelf end in the associated channel.
11.Shelf support means according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each bracket is moulded from a synthetic plastics material.
12.Shelf support means according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each bracket comprises two said portions extending to either side of the channel.
13.Shelf support means substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.