U.S. patent application number 12/620871 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-10 for free standing shelving unit.
Invention is credited to Gordon Janis.
Application Number | 20100140202 12/620871 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42229905 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100140202 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Janis; Gordon |
June 10, 2010 |
Free Standing Shelving Unit
Abstract
A shelving unit containing two vertical members. Each vertical
member is adapted to receive a plurality of support brackets, and
each vertical member has a bottom portion which is angled forward.
Angling the bottom portion of the legs moves the center of gravity
forward and thus stabilizes the unit when it is leaned either (1)
against a wall, or (2) back-to-back with another unit. The vertical
members may also each contain a continuous slot that allows
movement of the shelf brackets so that they can be fixed in place
at any position on the vertical members.
Inventors: |
Janis; Gordon; (West Palm
Beach, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF GERARD F. DUNNE, PC
156 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 1223
NEW YORK
NY
10010
US
|
Family ID: |
42229905 |
Appl. No.: |
12/620871 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61199423 |
Nov 18, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/183 ;
248/235 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 57/34 20130101;
A47F 5/0018 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/183 ;
248/235 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00; A47B 96/06 20060101 A47B096/06 |
Claims
1. A shelving unit containing two vertical members, wherein each
vertical member is adapted to receive a plurality of support
brackets, and each vertical member has a rear-facing surface and a
forward-facing surface, and each vertical member further comprising
a substantially straight top portion and a bottom portion, said
bottom portion angled outwardly in the direction of the
forward-facing surface.,
2. The shelving unit of claim 1, wherein each vertical member is
substantially straight from the top of the vertical member to a
point at least 75% down the total length of the vertical member,
and the angled bottom portion comprises at most 25% of the total
length of the vertical member.
3. The shelving unit of claim 1, wherein each vertical member
includes a continuous T-shaped recess through the center, said
recess being open on one end, and said recess extending
continuously along each vertical member for no less than 75% of the
total length of the vertical member, and said shelf-unit further
comprising a plurality of support brackets, each support bracket
including a T-shaped end and a support screw, wherein said T-shaped
end is slightly smaller than the T-shaped recess of the vertical
member, and whereby, when said support screw is not engaged, the
T-shaped end can slide freely within the T-shaped recess, and when
said supports crew is engaged, the T-shaped end is fixed in place
in the T-support bracket in a fixed position.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The application claims priority of provisional patent
application, serial number 99A23 filed Nov. 18, 2008.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a shelving unit that does
need to be attached to a supporting wail and further, two units can
be used back-to-back as a free-standing shelving unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Shelving units are useful for space organization within home
and office spaces. However, installation and the need to locate
support beams in the wall can often make their use more difficult.
The current invention is designed to eliminate the difficulties
commonly associated with the installation of such shelving units.
Previous inventions have solved the problem with use of what is
commonly referred to as "ladder" shelf units. In such devices the
entire shelf unit is set at an angle to lean against a support
wall, similar to a ladder, for example the devices shown by United
States Design Patents, Des. 339,256 and Des. 364,763. One problem
of this design is that the entire frame of the unit is set at an
angel, so that the is frame is away from the wall at it's based and
steadily progressing inwards towards the top of the frame which is
abutting the wall. Accordingly, the construction and arrangement of
each shelf must take into account the relative spacing from the
wall. Further, because of the angled frames, such devices require a
wall, and cannot be used as a free-standing unit.
[0004] The present invention overcomes these drawbacks and allows
for uniform, freely adjustable and interchangeable shelves. The
device can be used by leaning the unit against a support wall,
however a wall is not needed if two units are used. Two units can
be placed back-to-back to be used as free-standing unit without the
need of a support wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the present invention, a shelving unit is made
more useful by providing the unit with two vertical members having
a bottom portion angled forwardly in order to shift the center of
gravity of the unit. Angling the bottom portion of the legs moves
the center of gravity forward and thus stabilizes the unit when it
is leaned either (1) against a wall, or (2) back-to-back with
another unit.
[0006] One key advantage of the present design is that allows for
uniform shelves throughout the unit, while allowing the shelves to
also be freely moved. In the ladder-type units discussed above,
each shelf must account for the varying of the frame from the wall,
and therefore the shelves are not easily interchangeable and
adjustable. In the present invention, such adjustability can be
achieved by having numerous pre-set slots in each vertical member
of the frame, where each shelf bracket can be easily moved form one
slot to the next.
[0007] However, in the preferred embodiment, the vertical members
of the shelf-unit each contain a continuous slot that allows
movement of the shelf support brackets so that the support brackets
can be fixed in place at any position on the vertical members. The
groove extending the length of each vertical member of the frame is
a T-shaped recess designed to receive a corresponding T-shaped
projection at the end of each shelf bracket. Each bracket is
equipped with a securing screw that will secure the bracket in the
desired location on the vertical member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an alternate
embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an interior cross-sectional side-view of one
vertical member of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top-down cross-sectional view of one vertical
member of the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a top-down view of one support bracket of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In FIGS. 1 and 2, shelf-unit 10 is supported by wall 40. Two
vertical members 20 have a straight top portion which abuts wall
40, and an angled bottom portion 21 with feet 22. By angling bottom
portion 21,, the center of gravity of shelf-unit 10 is adjusted,
thereby stabilizing the unit.
[0014] In FIG. 1 vertical members 20 have predefined slots 35 for
shelf securing brackets 30 in place. Securing brackets 30 can be
secured in varying slots 35, thereby adjusting the location and
spacing of shelves 50. In FIG. 2 an alternate embodiment is shown
where vertical members 20 have a continuous T-shaped recess 31. In
this embodiment, shelf brackets 30 can be slid up and down recess
31 to allow for a full-range of adjustability for the location of
shelf brackets 30 and in-turn, full adjustability he location and
spacing of shelves 50.
[0015] FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 further illustrate the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2. Recess 31 is slightly wider than the corresponding T-shaped
end 33 of each shelf bracket 30. When downward pressure is applied
on bracket 30, which can simply be gravity, bracket 30 enters an
angled position 30a. When bracket 30 is in position 30a, end 32 is
slightly angled within recess 31, and the top of end 32 is forced
against the interior wall of recess 31. While in position 30a,
securing screw 33 can be tightened, securing bracket 30 in place.
When securing screw 33 is loosened, and downward pressure is
removed, by slightly lifting bracket 30, bracket 30 enters a
straight vertical position 30b. While bracket 30 is in position
30b, end 32 can be freely slid along recess 31 to new position.
When the bracket 30 is in the desired position, it is released and
re-enters position 30a where it can again be secured in place with
securing screw 33.
* * * * *