US2291185A - Shelf bracket - Google Patents

Description

Patented July 28, 1942 SHELF BRACKET gan Application February 17, 1941, Serial No. 379,210

4 Claims.

This invention relates to shelf brackets. In furniture of various kinds supports for the ends of shelves in a case or cabinet are used. In the store furnishing field it is common to use adjustable shelf supporting brackets so that the shelves in the cabinet may be located at different heights and at different distances from each other.

It is also becoming prevalent in the store furnishing field to use illumination in connection with the cases or cabinets which hold merchandise to have the merchandise better seen and observed. The illumination may be at the top of the case or as more generally used at the front and top of the case. Under either of such conditions it is desirable that the light shall not be obstructed by the shelves; and there has come into use, and one which is increasing, glass shelves which being transparent permit the passage of light where shelves of wood or other opaque material would defeat such purpose.

Shelves of glass, because of the nature of the material, are noisier than wood when used with metal supporting brackets. Also the engagement of the glass material with metal is almost frictionless so that the shelf is quickly and readily moved from position and in such movements noise and rattling occurs to a considerable degree.

It is a primary object and purpose of my invention to provide a shelf supporting bracket which is particularly useful in supporting shelves of glass or like hard material with an elimination of noise and a production of friction engagement against the shelf which will stop easy changes of position or movements of the shelves. At the same time the construction which I have devised prevents the shelves from tilting as, for example, with a shelf extending at its forward edge a distance beyond the shelf supporting brackets when pressure or weight is applied at the upper side and forward portions of the shelf. Such a condition as described has caused the shelves at their rear portions to lift upwardly and with my invention this is obviated.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through a cabinet and through a shelf mounted therein, the shelf bracket being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section through one end of the cabinet, the shelf bracket being shown in plan.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary vertical sections 4-4 of Fig. 1, the views being in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the shelf bracket.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

The shelf bracket which I have devised is made of flat metal in angle form having a horizontal ledge I from one edge of which a vertical leg 2 extends upwardly. At each end of the leg 2 the metal is continued and turned at right angles making a lip 3 at the inner upper corner of which it is extended into a finger 4. Adjacent one end of the leg 2 and at its upper edge an integral tongue 5 of metal is bent at right angles to lie over the ledge l substantially parallel thereto.

In the lower ledge I openings are pierced and rubber members are connected at each of said openings. Each of said members comprises a thin head 6 preferably of circular outline with a downwardly extending stem 7 which is pressed through an opening in the ledge I. The exterior diameter of the head 6 is such that portions thereof coming to the vertical leg 2 are bent upwardly as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Over the tongue 5 a sleeve 8 of rubber is placed, it being stretched and extended so as to grip the tongue and lie snugly against its upper and lower sides and its front and rear edges.

Shelf brackets of this kind are adapted to be used in store furniture of the type shown in Patent No. 2,208,237, granted July 16, 1940. As shown, the ends 9 of the caibnet carcass or chassis are provided with a plurality of vertical spaced apart U-shaped supporting strips ID of sheet metal which are embedded in said ends of the cabinet in spaced relation to each other and provide supporting elements with which the parts 3 and 4 may be detachably associated and engaged as shown in Fig. 3. The end edge portions of a glass shelf l2 are adapted to be placed over the ledge I, rest upon the heads 6 of the rubber members and preferably at the rear pass underneath the rubber covering 8 on the tongue 5. It is evident that the glass does not contact with metal at any place. It rests upon the heads 6 and the edge parts thereof which are bent upwardly short distances along the leg 2, come against the lower portion of the end edges of the shelves I2 and separate such ends of the shelf from the vertical leg of the shelf support.

While we have shown the shelf support as of a length to extend between the front and rear sheet metal supporting members It! and have shown a shelf of a width to extend from the rear substantially on the planes of lines 33 and of the cabinet practically to the front opening therein, in practice in a great many instances the shelf supporting brackets are of a length such that they engage with the rear and intermediate members It]. The glass shelves in such case may be of several widths and in many instances extend beyond the front ends of the shelf supporting brackets. Pressure upon the front extended portion of a shelf either applied manually or from the Weight of merchandise will cause the rear portion of the shelf to press against the under side of the rubber covering sleeve 8, the shelf being held from tilting.

When the shelf is passed underneath the rubber covering 8 of the tongue 5, such covering is compressed slightly making a binding engagement, thereby holding the shelf in position against all normal forces which might otherwise act to cause it to move and change position.

The construction is of a simple nature but very practical and useful and effective for the purposes for which it has been designed. It is in extensive commercial use.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A shelf support comprising, an angle bar of fiat metal having a horizontal ledge and a vertical leg at one edge thereof, means for mounting said shelf support upona support, said vertical leg adjacent one end thereof having a tongue of metal at its upper edge extending therefrom over and substantially parallel to said ledge, and a rubber sleeve around said tongue, for the purposes described.

2. A shelf support comprising, an angle bar made from flat metal having a horizontal ledge and a vertical leg at one edge thereof, said leg being provided with an integral tongue at its upper edge extending therefrom over the ledge and substantially parallel thereto, a sleeve of elastic sound deadening anti-friction material located around the tongue, and a plurality of members of like material connected to the ledge at spaced points in the length thereof, each including a thin layer of said material located over and extending above the upper side of said ledge.

3. A shelf support comprising, an angle bar of fiat metal having a horizontal ledge and a vertical leg extending upwardly from one edge of said ledge, said leg at its upper edge and toward one end being provided with an integral tongue extending therefrom over and substantially parallel to the ledge, a sleeve of elastic sound deadening material around said tongue, said ledge having a plurality of spaced openings therethrough, and a plurality of members made of elastic sound deadening material, each having a stem inserted through an opening in the ledge and a thin head lying above and over the ledge.

4. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 3, each of said heads being of a size that an edge portion thereof comes to said vertical leg of the angle bar and is turned upwardly thereagainst, as and for the purposes specified.

EARL L. CLOUSE.

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