US2420173A

US2420173A - Shelf structure

Info

Publication number: US2420173A
Application number: US527952A
Authority: US
Inventors: Russell M Hall
Original assignee: Philco Ford Corp
Current assignee: Space Systems Loral LLC
Priority date: 1944-03-24
Filing date: 1944-03-24
Publication date: 1947-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1964-05-06

Description

' May 6, 1947. R. HALL.

' SHELF sTRUcTURB n Filed lgrml 194.4' @ai ;PatentedMay 6, 194'?- UNI-[Ensures PATENT orma SHELF STRUCTURE Russen M. Hau. Philadelphia, ra., assignmto Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Application March 24, 1944, Serial No. 527,952 6 Claims. (Cl. 2li- 153) This invention relates to shelf structures more particularly of the type having means adapted for cooperation with a supporting structure in a manner to provide for mounting the shelf selectively at various levels upon said structure.

More especially, the invention is concerned with the problem of mounting a shelf or shelves -within a conned storage area of standardized dimensions defined by fixed perpendicular walls as, for example, in domestic refrigerator cabinets, so that the vertical spaces above and below a particular shelf or between adjoining shelves may be readily varied at will'to accommodate articles diiiering as to the vertical dimension.

The invention has for a primary object the provision of a shelf structure of the aforesaid type having easily manipulated, inexpensive, and sirnple yet rugged means for facilitating adjustment of the shelf to various positions in the supporting structure and for securely maintaining the shelf in the adjusted position against accidental displacement while in use.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a shelf having a plurality of elements arranged for cooperation with complementary shelf-supporting means and retractably mounted on the shelf with respect to said means, said elements being connected for simultaneous retraction and readvancement to operative position in the shelf structure.

Still another object oi the invention is to provide a device oi the aforesaid character in the nature of an attachment applicable to the conventional refrigerator shell without material expense or extensive modication of the conventional construction.

More particularly, the invention contemplates provision oi a shelf designed especially for use in domestic refrigerator cabinets and incorporating a device having portions adapted, in normal position, to project at a plurality oi points beyond the marginal edges of the shelf for engagement with complementary support means in the cabinet and retractable from engagement with said support means for the purpose of relocation of the shell at diiierent levels within the cabinet, said device comprising spring wires associated with said portions and connected for displacement as a unit to eiect simultaneous retraction of said portions from the said normal position, said spring wires acting automatically when released to return the said portions to normal position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the within the refrigerator cabinet, the latter being n shown in horizontal cross-section of Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the shelf on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail illustrating the construction and cooperation .ofthe adjustable shelf supporting means; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

With reference to the drawings, 4it will be noted that the shelf I0 illustrated therein is adapted to iit within a generally rectangular space II defined in part by a back wall I2 and two opposite side walls I3, i3. In this instance, therefore, the

as on line 2-2 shelf I0 is correspondingly rectangular in form,

with rectilinear marginal edge portions I4 and I5 dimensioned so as to correspond substantially to the width and depth of the space II The marginal edge portions I4 of the shelf substantially parallel the back wall I2 and the marginal edge portions I5 substantially parallel the side walls I3 oi said space.

suitably mounted at the side edges oi the she are two pairs of elements I8, each element .being movable in the shelf structure between a normal extended position. wherein it projects lieyondrthe marginal edge portion I5, and a retract ed position withdrawn within the conines of said edge portion.: In. practice the elements I5 are preferably located respectively adjacent the ends ofthe edge portions I5 of the shelf i0, and are normally urged into the extended positions for engagement with Isuitable complementary support means I8 on the side walls i3 so that the shelf, as a whole, may be detachably suspended within the space I I. It is proposed that the shell?` I0 may be selectively established at various levels within the space I I and, to that end the support means :I8 are formed with series of step-like recesses IS as more clearly shown in Fig. 5.

In adcordance with the invention, provision is made for moving the elements I5 simultaneously into the retracted and extended positions. -As will appear from Figs. 2 and 4, each of the 0ppositely arranged pairs of the elements i5 are iormedintegrally with flexible resilient rod-like elements 2li, preferably steel spring wires, by

bendingor otherwise shaping the ends of the eleinadvertent These end portions are slidable in U-shaped members 22 depending from the undersides ci the marginal edge portions l5 of the shelf. The wires normally lextend rectilinearly across the underside of the shelf and each wire is of such length that the widened end portions 2| thereof Vments so as to provide the widened end portions are projected for positive engagement with the associated support means I8 on the side walls i3. A link 2l interconnects the mid-portions of the wires-20, which for that purpose may provided with loops 24, so that manual :dexure or lateral' bowing of one wire will be accompanied by a corresponding flexure of thc other. as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2, will retract the end portions 2| simultaneously and will thereby disengage the shelf from the support means I8. When the flexed or bowed wires are released, the wires straighten themselves and thereby return the end portions 2| simultaneously to positions engaging the support means.v

It is to be noted that the end portions 2| of the wire 20 are bent reversely, as shown at 25 and 26 (Fig. 5), which adds to the rigidity of said portions and tends to limit the sliding movements thereof in the members 22. In order to preclude disengagement of of the wires 20 from the associated U-shaped members 22, threaded elements 21 may be provided on the marginal edge portions i5 of the shelf to intersect the looped end portions 2| and to thereby prevent withdrawal of said portions from the U-shaped members.

While the shelf structure is capable of many uses, it is, as hereinbeiore indicated, especially useful in domestic refrigerator cabinets of the general vtype illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein an inner liner, including the back wall I2 and the side walls il, defines a food storage compartment which in this case constitutes the space iiwithin which the adjustable shelf it is to be suspended adiustably shelves 30 and 2|, and below the shelf i0. r

It will be noted that provision of the aforedescribed device involves no material change in the normal construction of the shelf which may, and preferably does, comprise a continuous rectangular frame 33, forming the marginal edge portions Il and IB, and the usual cross-wires 3d. .En as Fig. 5. In such event, it is Such iiexure, l

- the invention is'not the end portions 2| with respect to the companion mounted respectively above sembling the device with the shelf, the whes Eil -V may be flexed or bowed in a plane substantially f at right angles to the plane of the shelf so that' the end portions 2l may be introduced into the U-shaped members 22. The wires 2t may then assume their normal positions wherein the bends 2i oi the end portions will abut adjoining por-- tions of the frame 33 in the manner best seen in Fig. 5, thereby assuring a symmetrical position of the wires between the side portions iii.

' 4To locate the shelf withintherefrigerator food storage compartment or space ii, one ci the wires 20, which in actuality will be the wire nearest the front of the shelf, may be gripped manually as by hooking the ngers of one hand behind the midportion of said Wire, preferably at both sides of the loop 24, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, and by then exerting a forward pull in a plane substantially parallel to the plane ol the shelf, the interconnected wires may be flexed or bowed, as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby retreating the end portions 2| to an extent afcrding clearance with` the supports iti and permitting the shelf to be moved into desired position in the said compartment. When the wires assioma of said support means and will thereby suspend the shelf within the compartment or 890.00 Il.

Preferably, the wires 20 are associated with the shelf so that the'maior portion ofthe wires, as

more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, will lie in close proximity to the cross-wires Il. In this manner the wires 20 may act to brace the shelf should the same be weighted to iiex the wires downwardly about the points of contact with the supportmeans indicated at C in v to be noted that because of the reverse bends 25 and 2t of the end portions 2|, these portions would be urged with increasing force into positive engagement with the recess I9 thereby insuring retention of the loaded shelf by the supporting means.

While a preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described,

vlimited thereto and that structural changes and modiiications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I'claim:

1'. In a shelf having marginal edges, suspension means including a nexible member provided with end portions enggeable with the shelf respectively at different marginal edges thereof, said end portions being simultaneously movable either into a projected or a retracted position with relation to the said edges in response to flexing movements of said member.

2. In a shelf having sion means comprising i'lexible elongated members each provided with end portions mounted on and located respectively aty different marginal edges of the shelf, said end portions being movable between projected and retracted positions with relation to the said` edges in response to movements oi said members, and means interconnecting said members ments of one are transmitted to the other.

3. In aV shelf having marginal edges, suspension means comprising exible elongated members each provided with end portions'mounted on the shelf and located respectively at different marginal edges thereof, movable between projected and retracted positions with relation to the said edges in response to ilexing movements of said members, and a link interconnecting the .flexible members atV lpoints intermediate the end portions thereof so that the said exing movements of one member may be accompanied by corresponding flexing movements of the other member.

4. In a shelf having opposed marginal edges provided with'depending U-shaped members, and suspension means for said shelves including a flexible member provided with end portions slidable in said U and retracted positions with relation t0 the said edges in response to movements of said flexible member.

5. In a shelf having opposed marginal edges provided with depending U-shaped members, suspension means ,for the shelf comprising flexible elongated members each provided with end portions supported in said U-shaped members for movements into projected and retracted positions with relation to the said edges in response to flexing movements of said flexible members, and means interconnecting the flexible members at points intermediate the end portions thereof so that said flexing movements of one member may l down t0 an extent nding.

it is to be understood that marginalr edges. suspenso that the said movesaid end portions being -shaped members into projected be accompanied by corresponding nexinz m0vements ot the other member.

6. In a shelf having opposed marginal' edges provided with depending U-shaped members, suspension means for the shelf comprising flexible elongated members each provided with end portionsv supported in said U-shaped members for movements into projected and retracted positions with relation to the said edges in response to iiexing movements of said ilexible members, and a link interconnecting the iiexible members at points intermediate the end portions thereof so that said flexing movements of one member ma;1

be accompanied by corresponding flexing move-` ments oi' the other member.

RUSSELL M. HALL.

Emmons on'nn 'UNrrEn STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Hunter Jan. 11, 1898 Mohr Nov. 25, 1902 Retrzycki Mar. 1, 1927 Roberts May 15, 1883 Holden Dec. 13, 1904' Harris Oct. 14, 193D