Shelving with a drop leaf

Abstract

An apparatus for holding various objects. The apparatus comprises a plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members and a plurality of vertically disposed post members located substantially at each corner of the plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members for engagement thereto. There is provided a fastening means engageable with post members and with the individual shelf members for securing the shelf members to the post members. There is also a drop leaf shelf member. The drop leaf shelf member is hingedly attached to one of a top portion of a radially opposed pair of the post members and to an underside of a top shelf closely adjacent one end thereof. There is at least one support member hingedly engageable with a bottom surface of the drop leaf shelf member and with at least one of a second shelf horizontally disposed at a predetermined distance below the top shelf and a bracket member disposed below and closely adjacent the second shelf and between the pair of post members.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to a shelving unit, and, more specifically the present invention relates to a shelving unit that has a drop leaf on the side of the shelving.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various types of shelving or storage systems have been known and used for many years. These prior art systems include units wherein a plurality of shelves are disposed on vertical supports so as to provide a relatively large storage area for a small amount of floor space.

[0003] The units may vary from being individual stackable units which can mount on top of one another so as to provide a variety of units to meet the individual needs to simple shelving units such as basic bookcases with open fronts and backs. Thus, the user has a variety of options in choosing units for his particular needs. There is always a need for units which provide different attachments or configurations so as to broaden the available options for individuals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides an apparatus for holding various objects. The apparatus comprises a plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members and a plurality of vertically disposed post members located substantially at each corner of the plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members for engagement with the horizontally disposed individual shelf members. There is provided a fastening means engageable with plurality of vertically disposed post members and with the plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members for securing the plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members to the plurality of vertically disposed post members. There is also a drop leaf shelf member. The drop leaf shelf member is hingedly attached to one of a top portion of a radially opposed pair of the plurality of vertically disposed post members and to an underside of a top shelf of the plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members closely adjacent one end thereof. There is at least one support member hingedly engageable with a bottom surface of the drop leaf shelf member and with at least one of a second shelf horizontally disposed at a predetermined distance below the top shelf and a bracket member disposed below and closely adjacent the second shelf and between the radially opposed pair of the plurality of vertically disposed post members.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a shelving unit which has a hinged drop leaf.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelving unit in which the shelves are open.

[0007] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a shelving unit in which the drop leaf is disposed on the side of the shelving.

[0008] These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a shelving unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view looking at the underside of a portion of the shelving unit seen in FIG. 1 showing one embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an enlarged portion of the unit shown in FIG. 3.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view looking at the underside of a portion of the shelving unit seen in FIG. 1 according to an alternate embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of an enlarged portion of the unit shown in FIG. 4 showing a different embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the shelving unit seen in FIG. 1 with the drop leaf in a down position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

[0016] The present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for holding various objects. The apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members 2 and a plurality of vertically disposed post members 4 located substantially at each corner of the plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members 2 for engagement with the horizontally disposed individual shelf members 2. There is provided a fastening means, generally designated 20, engageable with plurality of vertically disposed post members 4 and with the plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members 2 for securing the plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members 2 to the plurality of vertically disposed post members 4. There is also a drop leaf shelf member 6. The drop leaf shelf member 6 is hingedly attached to one of a top portion of a radially opposed pair of the plurality of vertically disposed post members 4 and to an underside 12 of a top shelf 3 of the plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members 2 closely adjacent one end thereof. There is at least one support member 14 hingedly engageable with a bottom surface 16 of the drop leaf shelf member 6 and with at least one of a second shelf 5 horizontally disposed at a predetermined distance below the top shelf 3 and a bracket member 18 disposed below and closely adjacent the second shelf 5 and between the radially opposed pair of the plurality of vertically disposed post members 4.

[0017] The support member 14 is hingedly engageable with the bottom surface 12 of the drop leaf 6 and with at least one of a second shelf 5 horizontally disposed at a predetermined distance below the top shelf 3 and a bracket member 18 disposed below and closely adjacent the second shelf 5 when the drop leaf 6 is in a substantially horizontal position.

[0018] It is presently preferred that support member 14 is engageable with such second shelf 5. It is also presently preferred that such support member 14 engage either the second shelf 5 or the bracket member 18 by means of a notch 22 or a slanted edge of support member 14. It is preferred that such engagement is by notch 22. It is also preferred that such notch 22 is a V-shaped notch 22.

[0019] When such support member 14 is not in engagement with at least one of a second shelf 5 and such bracket member 18 the support member 14 and the drop leaf 6 are disposed in a vertical position.

[0020] The at least one support member 14 of apparatus 10 is hingedly engageable by hinge 8 with a bottom surface 16 of the drop leaf 6 and with at least one of a second shelf 5 horizontally disposed at a predetermined distance below the top shelf 3 and a bracket member 18 disposed below and closely adjacent the second shelf 5 and between the radially opposed pair of such plurality of vertically disposed post members 4 when the drop leaf 6 is in a substantially horizontal position.

[0021] When the at least one support member 14 is not in engagement with the second shelf 5 horizontally disposed below such top shelf 3 or such bracket member 18 disposed below and closely adjacent the second shelf 5 and between radially opposed pair of the plurality of vertically disposed post members 4 the at least one support member 14 and the drop leaf 6 are disposed in a vertical position.

[0022] Such fastening means 20 can be one of screws, bolts or pegs. It is presently preferred that such fastening means 20 be screws.

[0023] While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding various objects, said apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members; (b) a plurality of vertically disposed post members located substantially at each corner of said plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members for engagement with said horizontally disposed individual shelf members; (c) a fastening means engageable with said plurality of vertically disposed post members and with said plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members for securing said plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members to said plurality of vertically disposed post members; (d) a drop leaf shelf member, said drop leaf shelf member being hingedly attached to one of a top portion of a radially opposed pair of said plurality of vertically disposed post members and to an underside of a top shelf of said plurality of horizontally disposed individual shelf members closely adjacent one end thereof; (e) at least one support member hingedly engageable with a bottom surface of said drop leaf shelf member and with at least one of a second shelf horizontally disposed at a predetermined distance below said top shelf and a bracket member disposed below and closely adjacent said second shelf and between said radially opposed pair of said plurality of vertically disposed post members.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support member is hingedly engageable with a bottom surface of said drop leaf and with at least one of a second shelf horizontally disposed at a predetermined distance below said top shelf and a bracket member disposed below and closely adjacent said second shelf and between said radially opposed pair of said plurality of vertically disposed post members when said drop leaf is in a substantially horizontal position.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said at least one support member is hingedly engageable with said bottom surface of said drop leaf shelf member and with said second shelf horizontally disposed at a predetermined distance below said top shelf.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said at least one support member engages said second shelf by means of a notch.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said notch is a V shaped notch.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein when said at least one support member is not in engagement with at least one of a second shelf horizontally disposed at a predetermined distance below said top shelf and a bracket member disposed below and closely adjacent said second shelf and between said radially opposed pair of said plurality of vertically disposed post members said at least one support member and said drop leaf are disposed in a vertical position.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said at least one support member is hingedly engageable with said bottom surface of said drop leaf shelf member and with said bracket member disposed below said second shelf.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said at least one support member engages said bracket member by means of a notch.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said at least one support member engages said bracket member by means of a slanted edge of said support member.