Modular shelf construction

Abstract

Shelves for books and the like are constructed from extruded framing pieces which support adjustable shelves. Three basic extrusion framing pieces may be cut to various lengths in order to fabricate different size shelf units of strong, rigid construction. At least some of the extrusions are provided with replaceable facia strips which, not only conceal connecting screws, but provide a decorative appearance. The sides of the shelf may be closed in by panels held in position by a resilient locking extrusion strip extending about the inner faces of the framing members and adapted to seat into a groove formed about the edges of the panels. Some of the framing pieces are formed with internal longitudinal passages adapted to receive connecting screws from perpendicularly extending other framing members. Adjustable shelf supports are provided by a one-piece bracket extending underneath each end of the horizontal shelving and is provided with upward extending ears adapted to lock in cooperating sockets formed in the vertical framing members. The bracket is moved from one set of sockets to another by pivoting the bracket outwardly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to shelf construction and more particularly is directed towards a new and improved modular shelf construction fabricated from a minimum number of extruded framing parts which are easily assembled to form a rigid support for adjustable horizontal shelves.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional bookcases normally are made out of wood or metal using standard carpentry or metal working techniques. Wooden bookcases typically are made from wood planking cut and built in the usual manner while the metal ones employ reinforced sheet metal assembled by bolting or welding. Generally conventional bookcases have fixed shelves and are not particularly satisfactory from the standpoint of structural strength, rigidity and cost. Bookcases of all wood construction tend to be rather heavy and require periodic re-finishing, particularly if heavily used. Most bookcases that are fabricated from sheet metal are also unsatisfactory for many applications since they often lack lateral rigidity unless heavily reinforced. Sheet metal bookcases also are quite heavy and require frequent re-finishing to maintain a satisfactory appearance. Further, sheet metal type bookcases are rather difficult to fabricate and normally require the use of a large metal brake and other heavy equipment and any change in the size of the bookcase being fabricated requires substantial changes in tooling.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in shelf construction. Another object of this invention is to provide a shelf construction of modular configuration which is readily adapted to be fabricated in a variety of sizes using a minimum number of common components. A still further object of this invention is to provide a simple, light weight, shelf system characterized by high strength and rigidity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention features a modular shelf system, comprising upright, rectangular end frames connected to and supporting rectangular top and bottom frames and a plurality of rectangular shelves supported by detachable brackets. The end frames are fabricated from elongated extrusions characterized by a U-shaped cross-section formed with opposing grooves near the outer ends thereof adapted to slidably receive decorative facia pieces disposed therein. The extrusion is also formed with an interior elongated rib formed with a central passage adapted to receive locking screws for joining two perpendicular extrusions. The exterior of the base thereof is formed with another pair of grooves adapted to receive another extrusion of a T cross-section adapted to engage peripheral grooves formed about the edge of a side panel mounted in the center of the end frames. The top and bottom frames are assembled from two extrusions including front and rear extrusions having a generally H cross-section with a pair of oppositely facing grooves along the front face thereof adapted to receive a decorative facia insert. The top and bottom frames also include extrusions of U-shaped cross-section, the legs of which are formed with opposing ribs adapted to receive decorative facia strips and the interior thereof is formed with a longitudinal rib having elongated central passage adapted to receive connecting screws threaded therein from mutually perpendicular directions.

The upright side frames are formed with spaced slots and a shelf bracket, formed with a wide, U-shaped configuration and rearwardly and upwardly extending arcuate ears, is adapted to lockably engage the slots and support a shelf rested thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a modular shelf system made according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the encircled portion of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shelf support bracket,

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view showing a panel and frame assembly, and,

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the bracket connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 10 generally indicates a modular shelf unit for use as a bookcase or the like fabricated from rectangular side frames 12a, 12b, etc., and rectangular horizontal frames 14a, 14b, etc., connected to the top and bottom portions of the side frames in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Rectangular shelves 16 are supported between pairs of side frames 12a and 12b, etc., by means of movable brackets 18 which are adjustable to various vertical positions.

The shelf units may be fabricated in single units comprised of a pair of side frames 12a and 12b and top and bottom horizontal frames 14a and 14b with whatever shelves are needed or any number of shelving units may be assembled in end-to-end modular relation using the side frames 12 as a common side for adjacent shelf units. Any number of shelves may be constructed in this fashion so that an entire whole wall of shelves may be readily assembled.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, the construction of the framing members will be described in detail. First, with respect to the side frames 12, each side frame is fabricated from a single side frame extrusion cut and assembled to form front and rear vertical frame members 20 and 22, respectively connected at their upper and lower ends by top and bottom cross members 24 and 26, respectively. In practice, the front frame member 20 may have its lower end extend beyond the rear frame member 22 as shown in FIG. 1 to form a front leg where the shelving is to be of permanent installation and the framing is attached to a support wall. This arrangement raises the rear lower edge of the shelf allowing it to clear any baseboard that may be present and permit the back of the shelf to be mounted flush against the wall.

The side frame extrusion, whether employed as the vertical or cross framing member, is a boxed channel piece generally having a rectilinear U-shaped cross-section as best shown in FIG., 2 with side walls 28 and 30 connected by an end wall 32. The outer ends of the side walls 28 and 30 are each formed with a pair of longitudinal ribs defining oppositely facing grooves 34 adapted to receive a facia piece 36 inserted therein. The facia piece 36 preferably is an elongated strip of rigid decorative material such as formica or the like which serves to close the extrusion to form a fully boxed member. In the assembly of the frame members, screws 38 are driven through the wall 32 without the facia piece 36 in place. The opening opposite the wall 32 is employed for access by a tool to drive the screw 38 into position. Once the screws have all been connected, the facia piece 36 is slipped into the grooves 34 thereby hiding the screw heads as well as the interior of the extrusion and providing a neat, decorative, finished appearance to the frames.

Extending lengthwise along the inner face of the wall 32 is a rib 40 having a longitudinal groove 42 of arcuate cross-section formed therein. The groove 42 is employed to threadably engage a screw 38 driven perpendicularly through the groove 42 of the member 20, for example, into the groove 42 of the member 24 as suggested in FIG. 2.

The outer face of the wall 32 is formed with a pair of parallel L-shaped ribs 44 and 46 defining a slot groove 48 lengthwise along the outer face of the wall 32 adapted to mount a tongue connector 50 therein. The function of the tongue connector is to mount side panels 52 as suggested in FIG. 4 for closing the ends of the book shelves to prevent books or other objects on the shelf 16 from falling off the ends, particularly where the side frame is the last of a series of connected shelf units. The tongue connector 50 is generally T-shaped in cross-section and preferably is extruded from relatively stiff plastic material to provide a good locking connection with the panel 52. The tongue member 50 is formed with a cross head 54 which fits into the groove 48 and is formed with a leg 56 having longitudinal barbs 58 extending along both sides thereof. The leg is somewhat tapered so that it is easily inserted into a groove 60 formed along the edge of the panel 52 and is wedged into place to firmly mount the panel to the side frames. In practice, the tongue connectors 50 are mounted to all of the side frame members so that the panel 52 will be firmly supported along all four edges.

The front and rear vertical frame members 20 are virtually identical to the top and bottom cross members 24 and 26 with the exception that the front and rear vertical members are formed with spaced slots 60 formed in the walls 28 and 30 to receive the shelf brackets 18. No slots are needed in the top and bottom cross members 24 and 26 although the members 24 and 26 are formed with screw holes 62 which may be reinforced with pads 64 in order to mount the frames 14a and b.

The bracket 18, as best shown in FIG. 3, is of one-piece construction formed with a straight center portion 66 which extends under the lower edge of the shelf 16 and is formed with upturned ends 66 and 68, the forward upper portions of which are rounded and terminating in rearwardly and upwardly extending ears 70 and 72, the rear edges of which are arcuate. The bracket is mounted to the upright frame members by holding the bracket tipped so that the ears are generally horizontal and inserting the ears into the slots 60. The bracket is then released and drops to a vertical position with the ears in locking engagement with the rear of the wall 30 as best shown in FIG. 5. The bracket is readily released by tipping the bracket upwardly and withdrawing the ears from the slots. In this fashion the height of the shelf 16 may be readily adjusted.

The horizontal frames 14a and 14b, etc., are fabricated from two different extrusions namely front and rear members 72 and 74, respectively, of matching configuration and end members 76 and 78 respectively of matching configuration. The frame members 72 and 74, as best shown in FIG. 2, are generally H-shaped in cross-section each formed with upper and lower walls 80 and 82 connected by a central wall 84. The walls 80 and 82 are formed at their outer ends with oppositely facing grooves 86 and 88 adapted to receive a facia piece 90 inserted therein to provide a decorative finish and to hide the edge of connecting screws 92 driven through the wall 84 thereof. The wall 80 is also formed with upwardly extending lips 92 and 94 which may serve as supports for a shelf rested thereon, if desired.

The end frame members 76 are of a rectilinear, U-shaped cross-section similar to the extrusions 20 and 24. Each member 76 is formed with side walls 94 and 96 connected by an end wall 98 having a somewhat Y-shaped central rib 100 extending along the center thereof and formed with a central passage 102 adapted to receive the threaded end of the screw 92 driven through the wall 84 of the member 72 when the parts are perpendicularly connected. In assembling the frames 14 to the side frames 12, machine bolts 104 and 106 are driven perpendicularly into the rib 100 through the pre-drilled holes 62 of the member 24. The extrusion 76 is also formed with oppositely facing grooves 108 and 110 in the outer ends of the walls 94 and 96 to receive a facia strip, if desired.

The frames 14a and b may be fabricated in any length so that the same extrusions may be employed to assemble into any size book shelf, counter or desk. The facia pieces may be made up in any color or grain so that the trim finish will match other furniture trim or blend in with the overall decorative scheme. Likewise, the side panels 52 may be fabricated in various colors or other decorative appearance, as desired. The resulting frame work is extremely strong and rigid and, by virtue of its modular construction, is readily adapted to assemble in any number of units so as to be particularly suitable for installation in libraries and the like.

Claims

Having thus described the invention what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A bookcase or the like of modular construction, comprising

a. at least a pair of rectangular vertical side frames,

b. at least a pair of rectangular horizontal top and bottom frames rigidly connected at their opposite ends to a pair of said side frames at their upper and lower portions to form a rectangular frame assembly in which the side frames are mounted in spaced parallel relation by said top and bottom frames,

c. shelf support means mounted to said side frames, and,

d. a shelf mounted horizontally on said support means,

e. each of said side frames being fabricated from a plurality of extrusion members each of a U-shaped cross-section and including spaced parallel side walls and a connecting transverse base wall, said side walls being formed with a pair of oppositely facing longitudinal grooves along the free edges thereof and a longitudinal rib formed along the centerline of the inner face of said base wall, said rib being formed with a longitudinal passage therein of C-shaped cross-section to engage screws connecting adjacent members, said rib being further formed with a longitudinal slot opening facing the open side of said extrusion member,

f. a substantially flat facia strip mounted in said grooves,

g. each of said members being formed with a second pair of oppositely facing grooves in the outer face of said base wall,

h. a connecting tongue of a T-shaped cross-section mounted with the head thereof in said second pair of grooves, and,

i. an edge grooved panel mounted within said side frames, the leg of said tongue extending into the grooved edges of said panel.

2. A bookcase according to claim 1 wherein said support means includes a bracket formed with a horizontal flat section and perpendicular end sections at each end thereof, each end section being formed with rearwardly and upwardly extending ears having arcuate rear edges and vertically straight forward edges, said forward edges being substantially aligned with the rear edge of said flat section, said side frames being formed with vertically spaced pairs of slots adapted to receive said ears in locking engagement.

3. A bookcase according to claim 1 wherein each of said top and bottom frames includes matching front and back extrusion members and matching side extrusion members connecting said front and back members, said front and back members being formed with an H-shaped cross-section defining a pair of oppositely facing outer grooves and a facia strip mounted in said grooves.