Shelf bracket
A bracket for securing a shelf to a frame includes a body portion having an opening to receive a first segment of a U-shaped shelf support member and a body channel on a surface to receive a second segment of the U-shaped shelf support member. The bracket can be used in a shelving system having a shelf mounted between a left and a right frame each having one or more mounting holes along a vertical length to receive the bracket. When the bracket is mounted to the frame, the opening and the channel are aligned substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the frame.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting bracket and, more particularly to a bracket for mounting a shelf to a frame.
2. Description of Related Art
When assembling racks, such as for shoes or shelving, frame pieces are often connected with screws to shelving components. However, using screws to assemble the frame and shelving requires the user to perform complicated assembly operations. The use of screws also implies the need for tools, such as a screwdriver.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIn one aspect, a bracket for securing a shelf to a frame includes a body portion having an opening to receive a first segment of a U-shaped shelf support member and a body channel on a surface to receive a second segment of the U-shaped shelf support member. When the bracket is mounted on the frame, the opening and the channel are aligned substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the frame.
In one embodiment, the bracket also includes a bracket washer having an aperture to receive the body portion and a bracket washer channel on a surface to receive the first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member. The body portion is sized to pass through a bracket hole in the frame but the flange portion precludes the entire bracket from passing through the bracket hole.
In another embodiment, the bracket includes a plurality of bracket washers each having an aperture to receive the body portion and a bracket washer channel on a surface to receive the first segment of a respective U-shaped shelf support member. The body portion has two openings, each opening to receive a respective first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member, and two body channels on opposing surfaces of the body portion, each body channel to receive a respective second segment of the U-shaped shelf support member.
Also disclosed is a shelving system that includes a frame member having one or more mounting holes along a vertical length and a shelf having a U-shaped shelf support member. The shelving system includes a bracket mountable to the mounting holes, each bracket having a body portion with an opening to receive a first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member and a body channel on a surface to receive a second segment of the U-shaped shelf support member. When the bracket is mounted to the frame, the opening and the channel are aligned substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the frame.
In an embodiment of the shelving system, the bracket has a flange portion for mounting to the frame. In another embodiment, the flange portion has at least one mounting hole to enable mounting of the bracket to the frame.
In another embodiment, the shelving system includes a bracket washer having an aperture to receive the body portion and a bracket washer channel on a surface to receive the first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member. The body portion is sized to pass through a bracket hole in the frame but the flange portion precludes the entire bracket from passing through the bracket hole.
In another embodiment, the shelving system includes a plurality of bracket washers each having an aperture to receive the body portion and a bracket washer channel on a surface to receive the first segment of a respective U-shaped shelf support member. The body portion has two openings, each opening to receive a respective first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member, and two body channels on opposing surfaces of the body portion, each body channel to receive a respective second segment of the U-shaped shelf support member.
The bracket of the present disclosure can be used to mount a shelf to a frame. The bracket has an opening in a body portion to receive a first segment of a shelf support and a body channel on a surface of the body portion to receive a second segment of a shelf support. The opening and the body channel cooperate to hold the shelf support in a fixed position. In some embodiments, the force of a shelf attached to the shelf support is used to hold the bracket in position to the frame.
Bracket 100 can be used to mount a shelf 170, only a portion of which is illustrated in
In one shelving system using the bracket 100 of
In one shelving system using the bracket of
In one shelving system, the bracket of
Other embodiments of the invention are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A bracket for securing a shelf to a frame, comprising:
- a body portion having an opening to receive a first segment of a U-shaped shelf support member, a body channel on a surface to receive a second segment of the U-shaped shelf support member,
- wherein, when the bracket is mounted on the frame, the opening and the channel are aligned substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the frame.
2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein in the opening extends completely through the body portion.
3. The bracket of claim 1, comprising a flange portion for mounting to the frame.
4. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the flange portion has at least one mounting hole to enable mounting of the bracket to the frame.
5. The bracket of claim 3, comprising:
- a bracket washer having an aperture to receive the body portion and a bracket washer channel on a surface to receive the first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member,
- wherein the body portion is sized to pass through a bracket hole in the frame but the flange portion precludes the entire bracket from passing through the bracket hole.
6. The bracket of claim 2, comprising:
- a plurality of bracket washers each having an aperture to receive the body portion and a bracket washer channel on a surface to receive the first segment of a respective U-shaped shelf support member,
- wherein the body portion has two openings, each opening to receive a respective first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member, and two body channels on opposing surfaces of the body portion, each body channel to receive a respective second segment of the U-shaped shelf support member.
7. A shelving system, comprising:
- a frame member having one or more mounting holes along a vertical length;
- a shelf having a U-shaped shelf support member;
- a bracket mountable to the mounting holes, each bracket having a body portion with an opening to receive a first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member and a body channel on a surface to receive a second segment of the U-shaped shelf support member,
- wherein, when the bracket is mounted to the frame, the opening and the channel are aligned substantially parallel to a vertical axis of the frame.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the bracket has a flange portion for mounting to the frame.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the flange portion has at least one mounting hole to enable mounting of the bracket to the frame.
10. The system of claim 8, comprising:
- a bracket washer having an aperture to receive the body portion and a bracket washer channel on a surface to receive the first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member,
- wherein the body portion is sized to pass through a bracket hole in the frame but the flange portion precludes the entire bracket from passing through the bracket hole.
11. The system of claim 7, comprising:
- a plurality of bracket washers each having an aperture to receive the body portion and a bracket washer channel on a surface to receive the first segment of a respective U-shaped shelf support member,
- wherein the body portion has two openings, each opening to receive a respective first segment of the U-shaped shelf support member, and two body channels on opposing surfaces of the body portion, each body channel to receive a respective second segment of the U-shaped shelf support member.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 8, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 11, 2008
Inventor: James Lee (Old Tappan, NJ)
Application Number: 11/811,133
International Classification: A47G 29/02 (20060101);