US2830706A

US2830706A - Quick mounting shelf and legs

Info

Publication number: US2830706A
Application number: US444594A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter L Canning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-07-20
Filing date: 1954-07-20
Publication date: 1958-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 1975-04-15

Description

April 15, 1958 w. L. CANNING QUICK MOUNTING SHELF AND macs Filed July 20, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

W191 7'67? 1.. Cfl/VA/l/VG QUICK MOUNTING SHELF AND LEGS Walter L. Canning, Detroit, Mich. Application July 20, 1954, Serial No. 444,594 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-90) This invention relates to a quick mounting shelf assembly and supporting legs therefore which are quickly and easily mountable above a previous shelf or a floor such as in a closet.

Several shelf and leg devices have been employed heretofore to facilitate the establishing of a shelf such as in the upper part of the closetfor hats, etc.,"or in the lower part of a closet such as for shoes'to use the otherwise unused space, however, the several devices of the prior art have not proven entirely satisfactory inasmuch as they are complicated in design and construction, expensive to manufacture, and difiicult and unsatisfactory to install and use.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is to provide an adjustable, auxiliary shelf which is simple in design and construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy and satisfactoryto install, use, and remove without spoiling the adjacent walls or floors.

An objectof the invention is to'provide a quick mounting shelf assembly composed of two telescoping sheetmetal shelf members.

An object of the invention is to provide wooden cross pieces atthe outer ends of the telescoping shelf members for reinforcingand mounting purposes. 1

An object of the invention is to provide indexed slots in the faces of the telescoping shelf members and a cooperating center cross member which in conjunction with a nut and bolt facilitates reinforcing and locking the members in the desired lengthwise adjusted position.

An object of the invention is to provide leg members which have axially extending tangs at either end thereof for locking between the existing shelf. and side Wall atthe bottom and for locking between the existing wall and inventive shelf assembly, at the top.

An object of the invention is to provide extending feet at the top and bottomof the leg members so that the leg members are supported and located at the proper horizontal plane at their bottom ends-and also for supporting the inventive shelf assembly thereabove.

An object of the invention is to provide a center backleg having an aperture for receiving a tongue of a triangulatedbridge or brace portion to support the inventive shelf assembly in thecenterin the area of the center cross piece reinforcement in conjunction with the locking nut and bolt. i

An object of the invention is'to provide a quickly insertable shelf assembly which is mountable without the use of nails or screws. 3

An object of the invention is to provide an inventive shelf assembly and legs therefore which can be manufactured' cheaply as thecomponent parts are easily made and the assembly of the parts readily accomplished.

An object of the invention is to provide an inventive shelf and legassembly which can be installed with ease by any person including a householder orhis wife.

An object of the invention is to provide a shelf and leg assembly which can be fitted to all sized shelves, walls, or

"ice

rangement of the parts thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a shelf and leg assembly which can be easily dismounted and moved to another position if desired.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of a telescoping shelf and supporting legs therefore embodying the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig.1 is a front elevational view of the device such as installed on a closet shelf between the side walls thereof.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken on the line 22 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of the end leg and shelf assembly at the end thereof.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the inventive leg.

Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of the inventive shelf; and

Fig) 6 is a perspective bottom View of the inventive shelf.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like figures refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the shelf assembly and legs therefore discloses therein to illustrate the invention comprises, a telescoping shelf member 111 which is disposed between the side walls L and R against the back wall B and above the shelf S. The shelf assembly 10 is supported on the legs 11 and 11A and it is to be noted that the legs 11 and 11A lie against the walls with portions of the legs disposed between the shelves and walls to locate, position, and secure the legs.

More particularly, the inventive quick-mounting shelf assembly 10 comprises a first externally telescoping member 12 having an outer end 12A, an inner co-operating end 1213, a face slot 12C and a first end cross piece 15 located at the outer end 12A thereof; a second internally telescoping shelf member 13 having an outer end 13A, an inner cooperating end 13B, 2. second end cross piece 14 located at the outer end thereof, and a center-face slot 13C adapted to index with the slot 12C. The center cross piece 16 lies within the

telescoped portions

12 and 13 in the area of their indexed slots 12C and 13C with the bolt 16 lying in the slots and through an aperture in the cross piece 16 and the nut17 is threaded on the bolt 16 to compress the telescoped

members

12 and 13 and the center cross piece 16 into frictional engagement to frictionally bind the parts as adjusted.

The leg portions 11 are preferably composed of flat wall I contacting portions 2% and 21 and a center connecting outwardly extending ribbed portion 22 the

ends

23 and 24 of which constitutes tabs or feet for contacting the horizontal shelf surface below the legs and for contacting the telescoping shelf assembly at the upper portion of the legs. Theflat portions 21) and 21 are equipped with tangs 25,

26, 27, and 28 which extend axially beyond the

foot portions

23 and 24 and which are provided with sharp points so as to be adaptable so as to be driven into the shelf below and between the joint of the floor below and the wall on either side thereof. The

feet portions

23 and 24 can be equipped with outwardly extending toe portions 29 and 311 which maybe equipped with

apertures

31 and 32 for receiving a nail therethrough such as desired when mounting a shelf as a permanent addition. Likewise the V at the top thereof for interconnecting the brace member flat side wall contacting

side portions

20 and 21 can be provided with

apertures

33, 34, 35, and 36 to enable a user to establish the leg portions in a connected relationship to the walls to which they are adjacent.

The center leg portion 11A is provided with an aperture 14, within the area of the ribbed portion 22 for receiving the tongue 40 of the triangulating center bridge or brace member 41 which is equipped with an apertured tab 42 41 with the center cross member 16 via the nut and

bolt

16 and 17. The dismounted assembly is easily packaged in a carton for retail sales at various stores. The shipping and handling of the device is made much easier and insures the customer of receiving a complete kit while at the same time provides an inexpensive manner of handling the inventive device and getting the device to the public.

To mount the inventive device on a shelf in a closet for the purposes of illustration, the user locates a leg 11 in the back corner of the closet above the shelf S against either the back wall B or side walls, L and R, it being shown in the drawing as being against the side walls, and by using a hammer against the upper foot 23, the user drives the

bottom tangs

27 and 28 into the bottom shelf S. These legs will then stand in position until their use is required. The user then locates two legs spaced forwardly from the back legs a distance equal to the widthof the shelf and again drives the

bottom tangs

27 and 28 into the bottom shelf S or between the bottom shelf S and the side walls L and R. If a center back reinforcing leg is required, the user then drives a leg 11A between the shelf S and the back wall B by driving the

guide tangs

27 and 28 between the back edge of the shelf S and the surface of the back wall B or into the surface of the shelf S immediately adjacent at the back wall B. It is to be noted that the front leg-s will also stand in position until required.

The user then places the inventive shelf assembly above the legs 11 and extends the

telescoping members

12 and 13 relative to one another until the ends 12A and 13A abut the top tangs and 26 of the legs 11 and forces the fiat

wall contact portions

20 and 21 of the legs 11 into a pressured position against the walls L, R, and B. The user then locates the center reinforcement 16 opposite the back leg 11A and places the bridge 41 with its tongue in the aperture 44 of the back leg 11A and connects the aperture tab 42 over the bolt 16 and then tightens the nut 17 against the tab 42 whereby the head of the bolt 16 presses oppositely to the nut 17 and wedges the

telescoping members

12 and 13 together as well as the center brace tab 42 into a solid frictionally engaged locked condition. This simple maneuver establishes the auxiliary or supplementary shelf 10 in position firmly and fixedly Without the use of nails or other wall piercing devices. It is obvious that should a center bridge support 41 be considered not necessary, the center leg can be eliminated as well as the bridge member 41 within the purview of the invention and the nut and bolt and cross member will lock the device in position as can be understood from the previous description.

Should the user decide to then nail the device in position, he can drive nails through the

toe apertures

31 and 32 into the shelves below and into the

end cross members

14 and 15 above and he may also, if desired, nail the legs themselves to the adjacent walls via the

apertures

34, 35, 36, and 33. The apertures are provided to suit the desires or requirements of the user rather than to necessitate integrating the shelf and legs in an established weight supporting position.

The inventive shelf and leg assembly with these features constitutes a compact, durable, and neat appearing shelf which is easily operated and the assembly has an appearance as attractive as though much labor, time, and cost had been consumed in establishing the shelf.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail, and arrangements of the various elements of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. For example one tang member can be provided at the top and bottom of the legs. The center cross piece member also can be eliminated and the nut and bolt applied directlyto the

telescoping members

12 and 13. It is also obvious that the

toe members

29 and 30 can be eliminated from the

foot portions

23 and 24 and the center ribbed portion be employed to support the legs.

I claim:

1. In combination, a quick mounting shelf assembly and supporting legs comprising an externally telescoping shelf member having an outer end, an inner co-operating end, a face slot adjacent said co-operating end, and a first end cross piece at the outer end thereof; an internally telescoping shelf member having an outer end, an inner co-operating end, a face slot adjacent said co-operating end, and a second end cross piece at the outer end thereof; said members being adapted to telescope and said slots to index; a bolt slidably disposed in said members indexed slots, a third cross piece having an aperture for receiving said bolt adjustably slidably disposed with said bolt relative to said members, a nut on said bolt adapted to frictionally lock said members and said third cross piece in adjusted telescopic position such as with said first and second cross pieces abutting opposed adjacent vertical wall surfaces; leg members adapted to lie against adjacent vertical wall surfaces at the four corners of said shelf assembly, a bottom foot on each said leg members adapted to rest on an adjacent horizontal surface, at least one bottom tang on each said leg members extending axially beyond said bottom foot adapted to lie in a position between the adjacent vertical wall surfaces and the adjacent horizontal surfaces to prevent movement of said leg members; said bottom tangs being adapted to be driven into position between the surfaces and said bottom feet being adapted to act as stops on the horizontal surface so as to properly horizontally locate the bottom of said leg members; a top foot on each of said leg members adapted to support said shelf assembly at said first and second end cross pieces, and at least one top tang on each said leg members extending axially beyond said top feet so as to lie in a position between said shelf assembly first and second end cross pieces and the adjacent vertical wall surfaces to prevent movement of the tops of said leg members; said shelf assembly being adapted to telescope outwardly to engage said top tangs and to lock thereagainst.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, a like center back leg having a slot intermediate the ends thereof located in the plane of said center cross member, and a bridge member triangulated between said back leg and said center cross member; said bridge member having a tongue for engaging said back leg via said slot and an aperture for engaging said bolt and nut so as to support said shelf assembly at said center cross member.

3. A quick mounting shelf assembly comprising a first externally telescoping shelf member having an outer end, an inner co-operating end, and a first end cross piece at the outer end thereof; a second internally telescoping shelf member having an outer end, an inner co-operating end,

' a face slot adjacent said co-operating end, a second end cross piece at the outer end thereof, and a face slot adjacent said co-operating end; said members being adapted to telescope together and said slots to index; a bolt slidably disposed in said members indexed slots, a third cross piece having an aperture for receiving said bolt adjustably slidably disposed with said bolt relative to said members, and 'a nut on said bolt adapted to frictionally lock said members and said third cross piece in the adjusted position.

4. A quick mounting and dismounting leg for supporting a shelf without the use of nails or screws comprising a leg portion adapted to lie against an adjacent vertical surface, 'a protruding ribbed portion extending sidewise outwardly from said leg portion adapted to abut a supporting horizontal surface below and a supported horizontal surface above, and tangs on said leg portion extending axially beyond said ribbed portion at either end thereof adapted to be located between said vertical and horizontal surfaces so as to secure said legs in mounted position without other securement with said ribbed portion acting as a stop against said horizontal surfaces to prevent overtravel of said tangs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Maytham June 8, 1897 Dannenberg Mar. 1, 1904 Kettcman Sept. 5, 1905 Greene Aug. 5, 1913 Goddin Oct. 27, 1914