US2777583A

US2777583A - Auxiliary shelf supports

Info

Publication number: US2777583A
Application number: US407459A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Beltz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-02-01
Filing date: 1954-02-01
Publication date: 1957-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1974-01-15

Description

Jan. 15, 1957 w. A. BELTZ AUXILIARY SHELF SUPPORTS Filed Feb. 1. 1954 mmvnm M 561 T2 BY United States Patent AUXILIARY SHELF SUPPORTS William A. Beltz West Boyl ston, Mass. Application February 1, 1954, Serial No. 407,459

1 Claim. (Cl. 211-135) This invention is an improvement on the invention disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 258,909 filed November 29, 1951, for an Auxiliary Shelf Support. This application is hereby referred to in order to additionally explain the present invention which is directed to the subject matter thereof but includes an improvement thereon.

In general, this invention relates to new and improved brackets, plates, or the like for building or supporting shelves and shelving without the use of separate fasteners or tools, and the principal object of the invention provides a plate-like bracket which is applicable against a vertical wall adjacent a floor .or already existing shelf, there being means at the lower end of the bracket to support the same on the floor, said bracket including means at the upper end thereof for supporting a shelf made to fit the space allotted for the length of the shelf and the shelf itself holding the plate in position, and including inter-engaging cooperating means between the plate and the end portion of the shelf whereby the latter is firmly held against accidental lateral movement, all without the use of any tools or fastening means or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of one of the improved bracket members;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modification, part being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an edge view, partly in section, parts being broken away and in section and showing the application of the bracket of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an edge view illustrating the application of the bracket of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the bracket of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 2.

This invention and its use in the main parts thereof are adequately explained in the above identified application. Briefly, there is a plate-like bracket generally indicated at 10 which is preferably elongated in form and has a lower co-planar extension or the like 12 which fits in between the side wall of a closet or the like and the floor or a lower shelf. Adjacent theextension 12, there is a lateral extension or extensions 14 which will rest upon the floor or' another shelf as indicated in Fig. 4. The extension 12 therefore is seen to hold the plate 10 in upright position against the wall A which would appear at the left of the brackets in Figs. 3 and 4.

With the bracket in this position against the wall, the

shelf

16 or 18 is placed upon a pair of lateral supports or extensions 20, it being understood that there is a bracket 10 at each end of the proposed new shelf. This shelf is cut to length and bears upon a co-planar extension 22 at the upper end of the plate 10 and therefore the bracket holds the shelf in position and at the same ice , 2 time the shelf holds the bracket in position. This construction may be continued upwardly as far as desired and no tools are needed to apply such a device or to build the shelving. Ribs 21 are raised to stiffen the brackets.

In order to provide a mechanical inter-engagement between the bracket or plate and the shelving, this invention provides a tab 24 which may be die cut as at 26 and bent outwardly in the direction of the

extensions

20, 20, so that when the shelf is set upon the

extensions

20, 20, the projection 24 willengage the end portion of the shelf and actually penetrate the same as clearly shown in Fig. 3. With this construction, it is impossible for the shelf to move laterally, i. e. outwardly of the closet or other place of location of the shelf.

It will be seen that this invention is extremely simple as it is merely necessary to cut the arcuate line at 26 and then bend out the tab 24. This tab makes the mechanical inter-engaging means referred to and at the same time provides at its lower end as at 28 a reenforcing means for the tab which is below

extensions

20, 20 and is not engaged by the shelving, so that this portion of the tab acts as a reenforcing support, preventing the tab 24 from being bent when the shelf is moved into engagement therewith.

Figs. 2, 4 and 6 illustrate a modification of the invention wherein the plate 10 is provided with the same shelfsupporting members 26, but in this case the extension 22 is not cut but merely pressed forwardly or raised as at 30 to provide an outwardly extending bearing portion or the like. When the shelf 18 is pressed down, the pressedout portion 30 may be distorted to a slight extent and the end portion of the grain of the wood will be dis placed slightly, depending upon the exact length of the shelf. In any event, a firm mechanical engagement is occasioned between the shelf and the bracket.

It will be seen that this invention provides an improvement over my prior invention in providing the mechanical inter-engaging means between the supporting bracket and the shelf member and small variations in length of the shelf will not occasion any looseness of the parts since in both modifications of the present invention the shelving will firmly press the plate against the wall against which the bracket or plate 10 is originally positioned, and in both cases, the member 24 and the member 30 act somewhat in the nature of wedges in order to bind the parts and make the structure more rigid.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not Wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claim, but what I claim is:

The combination of a supporting structure including a horizontal bottom member and end walls adjacent thereto, with a shelf construction comprising a pair of brackets, each bracket comprising a main body, co-planar end extensions at each end of the main body and a pair of spaced lateral projections adjacent each end of the body, each one of said brackets having one end extension adapted to be inserted between an end wall and the bottom member with a lateral projection overlying the latter in contact therewith, said brackets extending upright in close contact with the respective end walls and at least partially held in upright position by the said inserted end and bottom member, and a shelf of penetrable material resting on the other lateral projection at the other end of the bracket, said shelf being of a length to conform to the spacing of the brackets, and a longitudinally extending lateral projection in the area of the upper extending end, said last-named projection being at right angles to the main body of the bracket and located between the respective lateral projections at the jection comprising a partly cut out member bent out to form a tab, said tab extending above and below the uppermost lateral projections and forming below the latter a support and Ieenforcement for the shelf-engaged portion of the tab above the projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 753,678 Dannenberg Mar. 1, 1904 4 Casper May 26, 1914 Goddin Oct. 27, 1914 Ruff July 27, 1915 Wilkins Sept. 14, 1920 Gray Oct. 27, 1925 Gueth et a1. Jan. 17, 1933 Fraser Mar. 20, 1934 Von Palmenberg Nov. 17, 1942 Susnow Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 24, 1944