WO1996015697A1

WO1996015697A1 - A window shelf

Info

Publication number: WO1996015697A1
Application number: PCT/EP1995/004532
Authority: WO
Inventors: Meir Amiram; Mordechay Rothenberg
Original assignee: Benedum, Ulrich, Max
Priority date: 1994-11-17
Filing date: 1995-11-17
Publication date: 1996-05-30
Also published as: AU4173396A; IL111683A0; IL111683A

Abstract

A window shelf for placement on a window, comprised of a shelf made of rigid material, means for attaching said shelf to the window pane, one or more legs supporting said shelf and said means of attachment and, if necessary, means for attaching said parts between themselves. Preferably, the lower part of said supporting legs projects from below the shelf and rests on any appropriate leaning surface such as the ledge formed between the window frame and the bottom of the window glass pane. Said means of attachment may be connected to the shelf, or to an upper part of said supporting legs which project from above the shelf. The shelf itself may be connected to the supporting legs at any wanted height.

Description

A WINDOW SHELF

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a window shelf. More specifically the present invention relates to a shelf that is attached to a glass window pane from its interior side, easily fastened to the window and enables the user to place different ornaments such as a Hanukkah Lamp or a planter right on any window.

Background of the Invention According to the Jewish Law (Halacha), during the Holiday of Hanukkah each family is supposed to light candles every evening of each of the eight days of the holiday. It is customary to light the candles on a candelabra with eight receptacles called a Hanukkiah. The candles are to be lit in a place where they will be seen from the street.

Until now, that meant putting the Hanukkiah on the window sill if one existed, usually putting some object underneath to give height so the candles can be seen. Furthermore it prevents opening the windows especially hinged windows. In many homes there are no windowsills, so it is necessary to place a table by the window that has to be suitable in height; it must be high enough so that the Hanukkiah will be seen from the street. This is often bothersome because it prevents the use of the table for other functions and furthermore prevents opening the window. It must be mentioned that in some homes more than one Hanukkiah is used, so they are crowded together on one table because it is impractical to put a table next to each window facing the street. Besides, if it is desired to use another window, the table has to be moved from window to window, from room to room, nor is the table always suitable for each window. The present invention solves all the previously mentioned problems while complying with all the requirements completely. It enables the placement of the Hanukkiah on the window itself with no bother without having to use other household instruments or objects that weren't intended to be used in that manner and enables opening the window without having to move other objects. Furthermore it allows stationing the Hanukkiah next to the window itself, which is almost impossible to do without using other household objects or instruments to raise the height of the Hanukkiah. This invention permits adaptability in choosing windows without being limited by the height of the window from the floor, and also permits the use of more than one window if lighting more than one Hanukkiah.

In addition this new invention enables using the window for decorative purposes. Until now it has been troublesome to use the window itself for that because there was really no way of attaching relatively heavy objects such as a planter, to the window, and being able to remove the object easily for cleaning the window pane. One of the technological innovations of this inventions is its universal suitability to every kind of window by finding the common denominator of every kind of window which is: glass, frame, and the junction between them and utilizing it by making a combination of more than one means of support, considering the weight of object to be used, so that the weight, which is on a mainly vertical vector, is supported by a leg prop extending to the existing corner (ledge) between the glass and its lower frame, and magnifying the efficiency of an additional element such as a magnet or sticker, which by itself would not be strong or secure enough to hold the shelf or any heavy object, by extending its moment arm when placed at some high point of said combination of shelf and leg, so that when attached to the window pane, it has to overcome only a comparatively small horizontal force vector.

It is also possible according to this invention to place the shelf at a higher level on the window pane by joining to it for each supporting leg one button made of rigid material intended for gluing to the window pane and a groove for resting the supporting leg existing in it as an alternative to resting it on lower window pane frame. It is also possible according to the invention to improve the capability of the shelf for carrying more heavy objects by means such as at least one of its supporting legs that projects from below it and is adapted to fastening to the window frame when in use and released at the end of use by using clamping means, such as a clamp and butterfly screw which enables adjustment of the space of the clamp to the width of the window frame. Alternatively, at least one of said supporting legs that projects from- below the shelf may be adapted to pinning into a pore (recess) that was prepared for it in advance in the window frame. In another embodiment at least one of the supporting legs that projects form below the shelf is adapted to be fastened to the window frame by at least one pair of male-female elements of which one is permanently applied on the window frame (or on the glass) and the counter element is formed by or attached to the supporting leg.

According to this invention it becomes possible to place ornaments, Hanukkiah, or a planter, in a suitable place that is aesthetically pleasing and requires no special preparation. After its use it can be removed without leaving any marks and can be easily stored for further use at a later time.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a window shelf; more particularly, one that is especially useful for a Hanukkiah and ornaments and adapted to be placed next to the interior side of a household glass window pane. A "Shelf" is any frame or surface made of rigid material. The "shelf" may be also shaped as a Hanukkiah or an ornament such as a vase or a planter. It can also further include under its bottom an auxiliary shelf or drawer for the purpose of storing candles, matches and different accessories related to its usage or care.

The invention relates to a window shelf for placement on a window from its interior side, comprised of a shelf made of rigid material, means for attaching said shelf to the window pane at the time of use and its removal at the end of use, one or more legs supporting said shelf and said means of attachment, and if necessary, means for attaching said parts between them selves. Preferably, the lower part of said supporting legs projects from below the shelf and rests on any appropriate leaning surface such as the ledge formed between the window frame and the bottom of the window glass plane. Said means of attachment may be connected to the shelf, or to an upper part of said supporting legs which project from above the shelf. The shelf itself may be connected to the supporting legs at any wanted height.

Examples of suitable means for attachment of the shelf to the window plane are: a) At least two magnetic elements, at least one of which is an active magnet (permanent magnet) or an electromagnet. One element is connected to the shelf and intended to adhere to the pane of the window from its interior side and the other element is a free one which is located in exterior side of the window pane so that attraction is induced between the two magnetic elements, causing them to adhere to the glass pane thereby holding themselves in place together with said shelf. It is possible to use as said free magnetic element a little plastic bag containing iron powder, or to use other kinds of soft iron arrangements, to prevent damage in case of accidentally falling down. It is also possible to make said free magnetic element in a very flat and thin shape and to glue it in an appropriate place on the interior side of the window glass plane, for use in case of an unopenable window, or in a case of very thick glass pane. b) At least one vacuum pad attached to the shelf to be attached to the surface of the window pane from its interior side and to stay in place by means of air pressure on its exterior side, or a combination of a vacuum pad and a magnet according to IL 1 1 1938 Patent Application. c) At least one piece of double sided adhesive tape adhered to the shelf and intended to adhere to the surface of the window pane. d) At least one projection from the shelf contoured such to fit for entry into a groove or bore intended for it in at least one compatible attachment element glued permanently to the window pane with adhesive. The attachment element stays glued to the window pane after use and allows removal and attachment of the shelf for subsequent use as needed.

Detailed description of the Invention

The present invention will be described in detail by figures 1 - 8. These figures illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and do not intend to limit the scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 describes a side view of the window shelf. Fig. 2 describes another side view of the window shelf (facing the window from the house).

Fig. 3 describes a side view of a second preferred embodiment of the window shelf.

Fig. 4 describes another side view of the window shelf described in figure 3.

Fig. 5 describes a side view of a third preferred embodiment of the window shelf. Fig. 6 describes another side view of the window shelf described in figure 5.

Fig. 7 illustrates an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of the window shelf.

Fig. 8 illustrates a variation of some parts of the preferred embodiment of Figure 7.

Figure 1 shows a rigid shelf (1 ), having a hole (6) for inserting a supporting leg (2) which projects from below the shelf (1 ) and rests on the corner between the window frame (3) and the bottom of the window glass plane (4). The shelf (1 ) is attached to the window glass plane by two magnetic elements (5a), (5b) on both sides of the window glass plane (4).

Figure 2 shows another view of the rigid shelf (1 ), having two holes (6) for inserting supporting legs (2) projecting from below the shelf (1 ) and resting on the corner between the window frame (3) and the bottom of the window glass plane (4). The shelf (1 ) is attached to the window glass plane by a magnetic element (5a) that is attracted by another magnet element placed in the opposite of the window glass plane (4).

Figure 3 describes a side view of a second preferred embodiment of the shelf. The rigid shelf (1 1 ) is connected by a magnetic element holder (19) to two supporting legs (12). The supporting legs (12) rest on the corner between the window frame (3) and the bottom of the window glass plane (4). The two supporting legs are extending touching (or almost touching) the window glass plane (4) all along their length. The supporting legs having sharp tips, making the window shelf suitable for resting on any kind of window. The shelf { 1 1 ) is attached to the window glass plane (4) by two magnetic elements (1 5) (16) located on both sides of the window glass plane (4).

Figure 4 describes another side view of the second preferred embodiment of the shelf described in figure 3. The magnetic element holder (19) is connecting the shelf (1 1 ) and the supporting legs (12). The two supporting legs (12) are touching the window glass plane (4) and rest on the corner between the window frame (3) and the bottom of the window glass plane (4). These two supporting legs touching the window glass plane are diagonally oriented, but may also be in parallel vertical orientation. Said two supporting legs are actually one unit since they are joined together at their upper part (18) and split only at their lower part (the shelf may use also only one non-split supporting leg). The shelf (1 1 ) may also be connected directly to the supporting legs (1 2) without the mediation of the magnetic element holder ( 1 9) and the magnetic element holder ( 1 9) may also be formed as a single unit with the supporting legs and/or the shelf.

Figure 5 describes a side view of a third preferred embodiment of the shelf. In this preferred embodiment the supporting leg(s) lower part (22) and upper part (28) are extending touching (or almost touching) the window glass plane (4) all along their length. A magnetic element (25) is located at the supporting legs upper part (28) and thus the supporting legs are attached to the window glass plane (4) by the two magnetic elements (25), (26) located on both sides of the window glass plane. The section of the supporting legs upper part (28) where the magnetic element is located, may also be a separate part providing a magnetic element holder (20), connected by appropriate means of attachment as a continuation of the upper part of the supporting legs (28). The shelf (21 ) is connected to the supporting legs upper part (28) by connectors (27) and (29). The shelf may be adjusted to an appropriate required height by inserting the connector (29) into one of the grooves located along the supporting legs upper part (28) and along the magnetic element holder (20) (These grooves are better illustrated in Figure 6). The upper part (28) may split into two legs at the lower part (22) resting on the window frame corner at two points (30). Figure 6 describes another side view of the shelf described in figure 5. This figure better illustrates the lower part of the supporting legs (22) resting on the window frame corner at two points (30) . This figure also better illustrates the grooves for adjusting the shelf's required height, along the upper part of the supporting legs (28) and along the magnetic element holder (20) . The magnetic element holder may be one unit with the upper part of the supporting legs or a separate unit connected to said upper part or stuck to it by suitable means, such as male and female attachment. It is possible to extend the upper part of the supporting legs (28) by adding one additional upper part between the existing one and the magnetic element holder (20) or by connecting one additional magnetic element holder (20) above the existing one, and in such a case, further to improve the magnetic attraction power by the magnet provided with, and by the use of one additional magnetic element in the opposite side of the window glass plane.

Figure 7 illustrates an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. An inverted "U" shaped supporting frame (31 ) has legs with beveled ends (32) for placement on the window frame near the window pane glass bottom. The supporting frame also has at its apex a hole through which a connecting bolt (33) mounts a means for attachment to the window pane such as a magnetic element (34a) . This first magnetic element is for placement on the inside of the window pane glass where a second 97 PCΪYEP95/04532

magnetic element (34b- not seen in this illustration) is placed in juxtaposition to the first element, from the other side of the window pane glass or glued to the pane glass from its first side, the attractive forces between the two magnetic elements preventing the attached supporting frame from failing even when the modest forces of normal use attempt to separate the two magnetic elements.

A rigid shelf (37) has two hinges (36a) (36b - partially seen in this illustration) attached to two sides of the rigid shelf. These two hinges have only a 90 degrees angle of opening, so when screwing them (screws not illustrated in this figure) to the supporting frame (31 ) through two pairs of holes (35a) (35b), (35c) (35d- not seen in this illustration) in the supporting frame, (cooperating with two pairs of holes in the hinges), the rigid shelf can pivot so as to be in the plane of the supporting frame (for storage) or so as to be perpendicular to the supporting frame (as shown) and being so perpendicular the 90 degrees hinges stop the rotation of the rigid shelf at the preferred functional position being perpendicular to the window pane. Figure 8 illustrates a side view of a variation of some parts of the above mentioned

(Figure 7) preferred embodiment. An inverted "U" shaped supporting frame in two parts (41 a) (41 b) is made by a magnetic element holder (42) having two grooves in it (43a) (43b) for inserting there comparatively each of the said supporting frame two parts, and sliding them through, creating a supporting frame of changeable width, for the use of different sizes of shelves.

Claims

C L A I M S

1 . A window shelf for placement on an interior side of a window, comprising a shelf member, attaching means for attaching said shelf member to the window pane at the time of use and removing it after use, and at least one leg for supporting said shelf member and said attaching means.

2. A window shelf according to claim 1 , wherein said attaching means comprise a first element connected to the shelf member or the supporting leg, and a second element applied to the window pane, the first and second elements being held together in use by magnetic attraction, adhesion, suction or mutually-interlocking parts.

3. A window shelf according to claim 2, wherein said attaching means comprise at least one projection or recess on the shelf member contoured so as to fit a corresponding recess or projection on at least one compatible attachment element, said attachment element being permanently fixed to the window pane.

4. A window shelf according to claim 1 for use with a window in which the window pane is mounted in a window frame, and wherein the or each supporting leg has a lower part which is adapted to project from below the shelf and rest on a ledge formed between the window frame and the window pane or in a recess formed in the window frame.

5. A window shelf according to claim 1 wherein for the or each supporting leg there is provided a button of rigid material, intended to be fixed to the window pane and having a ledge or upon which a lower part of the leg can be rested.

6. A window shelf according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the or each supporting leg has an elongated portion arranged so as to rest against or lie parallel to the window pane when the window shelf is in use.

7. A window shelf according to claim 1 further comprising a clamping means for removably clamping the or each supporting leg to a frame of the window, said clamping means being adjustable to fit window frames of varying widths.

8. A window shelf according to claim 1 in which the shelf member is provided with at least one receptacle for a vase, planter, candle, oil jar or other ornament, and/or itself has an ornamental function such as a Hanukkiah.

9. A window shelf according to claim 1 wherein the shelf member incorporates an auxiliary shelf or drawer for the purpose of storing candles, matches or other accessories related to its usage or care.

10. A window shelf according to claim 1 wherein the shelf member is divided in sections in such a way that it can be folded or taken apart for storage.

1 1 . A window shelf according to claim 1 further comprising connector means for connecting the shelf member to the or each supporting leg.

12. A window shelf according to claim 1 1 wherein the or each supporting leg, the connector means, or the shelf member has means for adjusting the height of the shelf member relative to the window pane.

13. A window shelf according to claim 12 wherein the or each supporting leg has a plurality of vertically-spaced grooves for inserting the connector or the shelf member in a required height.