GB2236942A - Improvements in and relating to shelf units - Google Patents

Abstract

A wall mountable shelf unit comprises a shelf 1 and at least one shelf-end member 2 which serves the dual functions of wall mounting bracket and book end. The or each shelf-end member is adapted to enable it to be secured directly to a wall e.g. by upper and lower sections 3 and being connectable to the shelf by one or more members e.g. dowel-pins 5 the or each of which protrudes into a hole or groove 4 formed either in the shelf or shelf-end member or into complementary holes or grooves formed in those faces of the shelf and shelf-end member(s) which abut with one another on assembly of the shelf unit. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in and Relating to Shelf Units This invention relates to shelf units and more especially to shelf units supplied to the end user as a kit of parts.

Wall mounted shelf units are, of course, well known.

However, one problem associated with such units is that, unless shelf ends abut against walls or the like, separate book ends are required if the shelf is to be used to display books and other items which are not free standing.

The present invention overcomes this problem by providing shelf-end members which serve the dual functions of wall mounting brackers and book ends. By book ends is meant side supports for items which are not free standing, such items including but not necessarilly limited to books.

According to the present invention in one aspect, there is provided a wall mountable shelf unit comprising a shelf and at least one shelf-end member which serves the dual functions of wall mounting bracket and book end, the or each shelf-end member being adapted to enable it to be secured directly to a wall and being connectable to the shelf by one or more members the or each of which protrudes into a hole or groove formed either in the shelf or shelf-end member or into complementary holes or grooves formed in those faces of the shelf and shelf-end member(s) which abut with one another on assembly of the shelf unit.

The members may comprise dowel pins, preferably of hard wood. These pins may, however, be produced from any suitable material. The holes into which the dowel pins protrude are preferably grooved for the retention of adhesive. The complementary holes formed in the shelf and shelf-end member(s) may be produced by a mirror drilling technique.

Alternatively, the or each shelf or shelf-like member may be formed with a tongue which, in use, protrudes into a groove formed in the adjacent shelf-end or shelf. The tongue and groove may take the form of a dovetail joint.

The shelf unit may include one or more additional intermediate members of similar shape and configuration to the or each shelf-end member, the or each intermediate member being connectable to adjoining shelves by member(s) (e.g. dowel pins) which protrude into complementary hole(s) or groove(s) formed in those faces of the shelves and the intermediate member(s) which abut with one another on assembly of the shelf unit.

The shelf, end-shelf member(s) and intermediate members may be constructed of wood, for example pine, oak, teak or rosewood. Alternatively, they may be constructed of metal, plastics, plastics coated chip board. Indeed, any suitable material may be employed.

Whereas the dowel pins are preferably of hard wood, they may also be constructed of any other suitable materials, e.g metal.

According to the present invention in another aspect, there is provided a kit of parts intended to be assembled together to produce a shelf unit, the kit of parts comprising a shelf, at least one shelf-end member which, in use, serves the dual functions of a wall mounting bracket and a book end, a plurality of dowel pins or the like and means for securing the or each shelf-end member to a wall, the free ends of the shelf and the face of the or each shelf-end member which, on assembly of the kit of parts, abuts the or each end of the shelf including complementary holes or grooves each dimensioned to receive one of the dowel pins or the like.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a shelf-end member of a shelf unit in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of a shelf unit in accordance with the invention comprising two shelf-end members as illustrated in Figure 1 between which is supported a shelf; Figure 3 is a front view of a shelf unit in accordance with the invention including two shelf-end members and an intermediate shelf member; and Figure 4 is a shelf unit in accordance with the present invention which includes corner shelf members.

The shelf unit illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings includes a shelf 1 supported between shelf end members 2 which serve the dual functions of wall mounting brackets and book ends to support items positioned on the shelf.

It is to be understood that, in practice, the shape of the end members 2 may differ from that illustrated, the latter merely being exemplary of one design which may be employed.

The end members 2 include upper and lower sections 3 of reduced thickness which are drilled to receiving fixing screws or the like to enable the members 2 to be secured to a wall. The ends of the section 3 are squared to enable other such members to be located above and/or below those illustrated.

Each member 2 is formed with a series of holes 4 into each of which one end of a dowel pin 5 protrudes. Each end of the shelf 1 is formed with complementary holes 6 to receive the other ends of the dowel pins 5. The dowel pins 5 therefore provide the fixing of the end members 2 to the shelf 1. Preferably the holes 4, 6 are formed by mirror drilling. More or less than the number of dowel pins and holes may be employed.

The dowel pins are preferably produced from a hard wood and the holes 4, 6 are preferably grooved to retain adhesive used to provide an additional bond between the members 2 and the shelf 1.

Other relatively strong materials, e.g. metal, may be used for the dowel pins. Indeed, any suitable material may be employed In the shelf unit illustrated in Figure 3, an intermediate member 8 is provided to provide support for each of the two shelves la, ib. In this arrangement, the faces of the intermediate member 8 which, on assembly of the unit, abut the ends of the shelves la, ib are formed with through-apertures 9 which receive the ends of dowel pins Sa protruding from the ends of the shelves la, ib.

More than one intermediate member may be positioned along the length of a shelf unit.

As will be seen from Figure 4 of the drawings, a shelf unit in accordance with the invention may also include corner shelf units ic connected together hy dowel pins 5c.

The shelf-end members 2, the dowel pins 5, the shelf 1, and/or the intermediate members 8 and corner units ic will normally be supplied to the end user as a kit of parts together with suitable wall fixings. On assembly, the shelf (which may be supplied in a variety of lengths) is connected to the respective end or intermediate members by the dowel pins and an adhesive and the end and/or intermediate members attached to the respective wall by the fixings supplied.

It is to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary of shelf units in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention. Thus, the dowel pins may be replaced by a tongue which protrudes from the shelf-end member and extends into a complementary groove set in the adjoining end of the respective shelf. A dovetail shaped tongue may be employed, the complementary groove being shaped accordingly. Any suitable material may be employed for any member of the assembly.

Claims (10)

1. A wall mountable shelf unit comprising a shelf and at least one shelf-end member which serves the dual functions of wall mounting bracket and book end, the or each shelfend member being adapted to enable it to be secured directly to a wall and being connectable to the shelf by one or more members the or each of which protrudes into a hole or groove formed either in the shelf or shelf-end member or into complementary holes or grooves formed in those faces of the shelf and shelf-end member(s) which abut with one another on assembly of the shelf unit.

2. A shelf unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the members comprise dowel pins.

3. A shelf unit as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the dowel pins are of hard wood.

4. A shelf unit as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the holes into which the dowel pins protrude are grooved for the retention of adhesive.

5. A shelf unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the complementary holes formed in the shelf and shelf-end member(s) are produced by a mirror drilling technique.

6. A shelf unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the or each shelf or shelf-like member is formed with a tongue which, in use, protrudes into a groove formed in the adjacent shelf-end or shelf.

7. A shelf unit as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the tongue and groove are in the form of a dovetail joint.

8. A shelf unit as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims further comprising one or more additional intermediate members of similar shape and configuration to the or each shelf-end member, the or each intermediate member being connectable to adjoining shelves by member(s) which protrude into complementary hole(s) or groove(s) formed in those faces of the shelves and the intermediate member(s) which abut with one another on assembly of the shelf unit.

9. A kit of parts intended to be assembled together to produce a shelf unit, the kit of parts comprising a shelf1 at least one shelf-end member which, in use, serves the dual functions of a wall mounting bracket and a book end, a plurality of dowel pins or the like and means for securing the or each shelf-end member to a wall, the free ends of the shelf and the face of the or each shelf-end member which, on assembly of the kit of parts1 abuts the or each end of the shelf including complementary holes or grooves each dimensioned to receive one of the dowel pins or the like.

10. A shelf unit substantially as herein described and as described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 or Figure 3 or Figure 4.