Shelving standards and assemblies

Abstract

Described are preferred shelf standards adapted to be installed on wall-forming studs in unfinished areas such as garages, basements and attics. The standards are simple and inexpensive to manufacture and can be easily installed with common hand tools. In combination with shelving members the standards transform wasted space into useful shelves for storing a variety of items. Adapted with an additional bracing means for preventing side-to-side motion, the shelf standards can also be attached to a finished wall surface. Different embodiments of the standards in combination with optional shelving members, fasteners, and the like can be included in a variety of shelf standard kits.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to novel shelf standards adapted to fit on a vertical edge of wall-forming studs in buildings where the studs are exposed.

BACKGROUND

Coupled with one or more shelving members the standards transform the space between the wall-forming studs in unfinished attics, basements, garages, closets or other locations into shelving units providing useful storage space. Although designed primarily for use between wall-forming studs the novel standards can be adapted for installation onto the flat surfaces of finished walls. The novel shelf standards are simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and are easily installed by one person using simple hand tools.

SUMMARY

Accordingly one aspect of this invention provides for novel shelf standards for supporting one or more shelving members when installed to fit vertically on an interior edge of an exposed wall-forming stud or on a finished wall. Certain of the standards comprise a planar or generally planar member having a front surface, a back surface, at least four edges, a lip connected to an edge of the planar member and directed toward the back surface of the planar member and forming a right angle with the planar member. A plurality of flanges, sized and positioned to receive and retain one or more shelving members, extend from the front surface of the planar member. The standard's backside is generally shaped to conform to a front and side surface of a wall-forming stud. In describing a generally planar member, “generally planar” means a surface that is either planar or that is sufficiently planar to approximately conform to a planar surface. One example of a generally planar member that is not precisely planar has one or more grooves and/or ridges across its surface to increase the member's rigidity. Because of the grooves, the surface is not precisely planar, but it can still generally conform to a planar surface. Other shelf standards lack a lip attached to the planar member and depend on fasteners and orifices on the planar member for attachment to a wall stud or other surface.

A further aspect of this invention is a double shelf standard for supporting one or more shelving members. Certain of the double standards comprise two planar or generally planar members having a front surface, a back surface, and at least four edges connected along their front edges with two edges of a lip intermediate between the planar members. The planar members and lip form right angles causing the standard's back side to conform to the shape of an exposed wall forming stud. A plurality of flanges, positioned to receive and retain one or more shelving members, extend from the front surfaces of the planar members. Certain embodiments of the double shelf standard can be advantageously used with certain embodiments of standard shelf standards for installations that span several wall-forming studs.

A further aspect of the present invention provides for shelf standard kits comprising at least two shelf standards adapted to fit along the internal edges of adjacent exposed wall-forming studs. Certain shelf standard kit can additionally contain one or more shelving members adapted to be received and supported by the opposing flanges of two shelf standards installed on opposing wall-forming studs. Certain other shelf standard kits can additionally contain fasteners such as screws, nails or tacks for attachment of a standard to a wall. Additionally certain other shelf standard kits can also include a shelving member and one or more double standards.

Although the various embodiments of the novel standards are designed primarily for installation onto and between wall-forming studs in an unfinished wall, installation onto a planar surface such as a finished wall is also possible provided a means for stabilizing the standard's side-to-side motion is added. Installation onto a finished wall can accomplished by placing the standard's lip flush against the finished wall, preferably over a covered wall stud, with the standard's planar surface protruding outward from the wall. Preferred shelf standards can be manufactured from a sheet metal using standard metalworking methods. Similarly, shelf standards can be manufactured from a variety of polymers by molding processes widely used to manufacture plastic articles.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention to those already stated above will be apparent from the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the front of a single shelf standard.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the back of a single shelf standard.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of two shelf standards attached to two wall-forming studs.

FIG. 4 is a front view of two shelf standards holding two shelving members and a retaining bar; the standards attached to two wall-forming studs.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of two shelf standards attached to two wall-forming studs holding one shelving member that extends beyond the edge of the wall-forming stud and one shelving member that extends to the front edge of the wall-forming stud.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of two shelf standards and two shelving members; the standards attached to a planar surface with a brace attached to the standard.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the brace shown with the standard in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is front view of two shelf standards and a central double standard holding four shelving members and a retaining bar; the three standards attached to three wall-forming studs.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a double standard.

FIG. 10 is a view of a kit including two shelf standards and optional items that can be provided including a double standard, a shelving member s, fasteners, a bar and a mounting plate.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a shelf standard having removable flanges that can be inserted into the standard through a front slit.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a shelf standard having removable flanges that can be inserted into the standard through a void from the standard's back side.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the front of a single shelf standard for contact with a single surface of a wall stud, the standard having a plurality of slots to accept a plurality of flanges.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the front of a single shelf standard for contact with a single surface of a wall stud, the standard having a plurality of voids to accept a plurality of flanges.

DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended, such alterations and further modifications and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

One aspect of the present invention shown in the illustrated embodiment includes a shelf standard adapted when installed to fit vertically on an interior edge of a wall-forming stud in buildings where the studs are exposed. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of such a single shelf standard 10 having lip 12 connected to side 18 of a planar member 11. The lip 12 and planar member 11 form a right angle along side 18 to allow the standard to conform to a front and side of a wall-forming stud. Preferred standards have a lip 12 that is about 1½ to about 2 inches wide and have a planar member 11 that is about 3½ inches wide. The length of lip 12 and planar member 11 can vary depending on the number of shelves to be supported and the desired height of the shelving system. A tall shelving unit can be constructed from one set of tall shelving standards or from several shorter standards placed one above another on individual wall-forming studs. The lip 12 is sized and positioned for attachment to the front side of a wall-forming stud. Standards can be attached to the wall-forming stud with standard means for attachment including, but not limited to adhesives, nails, tacks and screws. Attachment with screws is facilitated by first drilling a hole in lip 12 for each screw. Although not required certain shelf standards have a plurality of apertures 23 along the lip 12 to allow for the insertion of a fastener to facilitate installation. The flanges 20 in FIG. 1 extend from the front surface 14 of planar member 11 to support the ends of a shelving member. In FIG. 1 a single flange 20 extends from the planar member's front surface 14 at an approximately 90 degree angle and is positioned above void 21. However, the angle between flange 20 and the planar member's front surface 14 is not critical provided flange 20 protrudes from the front surface 12 of planar member sufficient to engage the end of a shelf member placed thereon. Additionally, flange 20 can similarly be positioned below void 21. Although the depth of flange 20 is not critical, provided the flange has sufficient overlap with the end of a shelving member to provide support, preferred flanges have a depth of at least about ¼ of an inch.

Void 21 in FIG. 1 is not required for the standard of FIG. 1 and is an artifact of the method and material employed to manufacture the standard 10. For example, one method for the manufacture of the standard 10 from sheet metal typically involves cutting or otherwise rupturing the metal along three sides of a rectangle or other shape located on the planar member 11 and bending the rectangular or other shape portion away from the planar member to provide flange 20 and void 21 proximate flange 20. A shelf standard manufactured by molding standard 10 from a rigid thermoplastic or by fixing flange 20 to the planar member's front surface 14 by gluing, soldering, welding or by other means can provide a standard 10 having flange 20 but lacking void 21. The manufacture of standard 10 from a rigid thermoplastic or other material without void 21 is contemplated by applicant as an embodiment of the present invention. Similarly, the embodiments of standard 10 described above where flange 20 is attached to the front surface 14 of planar member 11 by other means such as gluing, welding, soldering, or other means are similarly contemplated as embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the backside of the standard 10 with planar member 11 having a back surface 15, sides 16-19, voids 21 and lip 12 with apertures 23. The backside of standard 10 is sized and shaped to conform to the shape and contour of a wall-forming stud when installed thereon.

FIG. 3 shows a view of two standards 40 installed in opposing positions on two wall-forming studs 30 with fasteners 24. The standards 40 have two flanges 20 about a void 21, the two flanges 20 spaced to receive the end of a shelving member placed therein.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of two shelf standards 40 attached to opposing wall-forming studs with two shelving members 25 installed. The two flanges 20 are positioned to receive each end of shelving member 25 and prevent the shelving member from movement either upward or downward. Shelving member 25 is additionally prevented from tipping and can accept shelving members deeper than a wall-forming stud 30. Shelving member 25 can be constructed of wood, a wood product, metal, one or more polymeric materials, composites, and the like.

FIG. 4 additionally shows a bar 32 positioned proximate to a shelving member 25 to prevent articles placed on shelving member 25 from being displaced. Although bar 32 can be held in place with separate fasteners, FIG. 4 shows a first end of bar 32 hooked over a first fastener 24 related to a first standard 40 with a second end resting upon a second fastener 24 related to a second standard 40. Preferred standards have orifices 23 placed along lip 18 at levels slightly higher than flange 20 or flanges 20 to facilitate positioning of optional bar 32.

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a pair of standards 40 attached to opposing wall-forming studs 30, the standards 40 molded from a rigid plastic such as polypropylene. Standards 40 illustrate a type of standard made by a molding process or with flanges 20 otherwise bonded to front surface 14 of a standard 40 lack voids 21. The pairs of flanges 20 in FIG. 5 additionally nearly bridge the distance between edges 16 and 18 of the standard's front. Flanges 20 shown in FIG. 5 are shown supporting a standard shelf member 25 and the deeper shelf member 26 that extends out beyond the wall forming studs. Pairs of flanges 20 as shown in FIG. 5 are preferred for supporting and stabilizing the deeper shelf members 26 against tipping. Optional screws 28 further secure shelving members 25 and 26.

FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of two shelf standards 10 installed on a planar wall surface and held in place with fasteners 24. The standards in FIG. 6 are stabilized against flexing from side to side by fixing shelving member 25 to flange 20 with fastener 31 inserted through aperture 29 and with brace 45 (See FIG. 7). Pins are preferred fasteners 31 for shelving members made of a polymeric material, but other fasteners including, but not limited to, machine screws, pins, rivets, bolt and nut combinations may also be used. Although brace 45 (See FIG. 7) can have any shape that will prevent side to side movement of standard 10, a preferred brace 45 comprises a generally L-shaped structure sized to fit along lip 12 and the back surface 15 of planar member 11. The brace can be fixed to standard 10 with an adhesive or with fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets and other fastening means. Preferred fasteners 55 include rivets and nut and bolt combinations. A brace 45 installed at the top and bottom of a standard attached to a planar surface is generally preferred with fastener 24 used to attach both brace 45 and standard 10 to a planar surface. Preferred brace 45 is constructed of a rigid metal having a sufficient thickness to resist flexing when installed on standard 10.

Optional mounting plate 60 shown in FIG. 6 can be mounted behind a standard between lip 12 and a wall's surface to minimize the formation of indentations on the drywall along the edges of lip 12. The dimensions of mounting plate 60 are not critical provided its width and height are at least slightly greater than the width and height of lip 12. Preferred mounting plate 60 is made of metal or a rigid plastic that is capable of distributing any forces created by the standard 10 over an area greater than the surface area of lip 12. In preferred embodiments, the apertures 63 in mounting plate 60 and the apertures 23 in the standard should overlap to facilitate installation.

FIG. 7 shows an L-shaped brace 45 having apertures 29 positioned to match aperture 23 on lip 12 (See FIG. 6) and apertures 56 located on the planar member 11 of standard 10.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of two shelf standards 40 and a double shelf standard 41 attached to opposing wall-forming studs with four shelving members 25 installed. The two flanges 20 in FIG. 8 are positioned to receive each end of shelving member 25 and prevent the shelving member from movement either upward or downward. Shelving member 25 is additionally prevented from tipping and can accept shelving members deeper than a wall-forming stud 30.

FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of one front of double standard 41, comprising two planar or generally planar members 11, each planar member having a front surface 14, a back surface 15, and at least four edges 16-19; a lip 12 intermediate front edges 18 of the two planar members; and a plurality of flanges 20 extending from the front surface 14 of each planar member 11, the flanges 20 positioned to receive and retain one or more shelving members. The double standard 41 is particularly useful where shelving is to be installed between several adjacent wall-forming studs. Optionally, two shelf standards 40 can be used in place of a single double standard 41.

FIG. 10 shows a shelf standard kit comprising two shelf standards 10 with optional members including shelving members 25, a double standard 41, fasteners 24, bar 32 and backing plates 60.

FIG. 11 shows a shelf standard 70 having flanges 60 that can be inserted into void 22 through slit 50. Flanges 60 can be inserted or removed to provide a desired shelving configuration without removal of shelf standard 70 from a stud or other installation site. Removal of flanges 60 not used to support shelving members can improve the unit's appearance and prevent injury through unwanted contact with the edge of a flange. Additionally flange 60 can have only a single lip and be sized to fit into a narrow void 22.

FIG. 12 shows a shelf standard 75 having flanges 65 that can be inserted into void 21 before standard 75 is installed on a stud. As with shelf standard 70 (FIG. 11), the flanges in standard 75 can be inserted or removed to provide a desired shelving configuration, but unlike standard 70 (FIG. 11) flange 65 are be inserted either before standard 75 is installed or after it has been removed from a stud or similar surface.

FIG. 13 shows shelf standard 80 having flanges 60 that can be inserted directly into void 22 causing flanges 60 to extend from front surface 14. Standard 80 lacks a lip for attachment, but has apertures 23 on the generally planar member 13 for attachment to the side of a wall stud or similar surface with fasteners 24. Flanges 60 can be installed before or after standard 80 has been installed onto the side of a stud or similar surface. The flanges in FIG. 13, like those illustrated in FIG. 11, can have a single lip and be sized to fit into a narrow void 21.

FIG. 14 shows shelf standard 85 having flanges 65 that can be inserted into void 21 from the back side 15 of generally planar member 13 before standard 85 is installed on the side of a wall stud or similar surface with fasteners 24. Like standard 75 (FIG. 12), flanges 65 can be inserted to provide a desired shelving configuration and like standard 75, the installation or removal of flanges 65 are be carried out either before standard 85 is installed or after it has been removed from a stud or similar surface. One skilled in the art will understand that removable flanges 60 and 65, of a type shown in FIGS. 11 through 14 can be constructed using the same methods and materials used to create the fixed flanges illustrated in FIGS. 1-10. Additionally, it will be understood that flanges having one or two flanges can generally be used interchangeably for most applications utilizing removable flanges and for flanges having a single lip, both the thickness of a flange and the voids for receiving the flange can be varied.

While applicant's invention has been described in detail above with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood that modifications and alterations in the embodiments disclosed may be made by those practiced in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of he invention. All such modifications and alterations are intended to be covered.

Claims

1. A shelf standard for supporting one or more shelving members comprising a generally planar member having a front surface, a back surface, at least four edges, a lip connected to an edge of the planar member and directed toward the back surface of the planar member and forming a right angle with the planar member; and a plurality of flanges extending from the front surface of the planar member, the flanges sized and positioned to receive and retain one or more shelving members.

2. The shelf standard of claim 1, wherein the shelf standard is adapted, when installed, to fit vertically on an interior edge of an exposed wall-forming stud.

3. The shelf standard of claim 2, wherein the standard is constructed of metal and the flanges are formed from the surface of the planar member leaving a void proximate each flange.

4. The shelf standard of claim 3, wherein the lip has a plurality of orifices sized and positioned to receive fasteners suitable for connecting the standard to the wall-forming stud.

5. The shelf standard of claim 4, wherein the lip has a width of less than about 2 inches.

6. The shelf standard of claim 5, wherein the flanges have a depth of at least about ¼ of an inch.

7. The shelf standard of claim 6, wherein the flanges are positioned in pairs to receive an upper and lower surface of one or more shelving members.

8. The shelf standard of claim 2, wherein a void is positioned between pairs of flanges.

9. The shelf standard of claim 8, wherein the flanges are inserted into the planar surface through the void.

10. The shelf standard of claim 9, having a slit located in the lip, wherein the slit is in communication with the void and positioned to receive the flange and facilitate its insertion into the void.

11. A double shelf standard for supporting one or more shelving members, the standard comprising two generally planar members, the planar members having a front surface, a back surface, and at least four edges; a lip intermediate between two edges of the planar members forming a right angle with the planar members; and a plurality of flanges extending from the front surface of the planar members, the flanges positioned to receive and retain one or more shelving members, the double shelf standard adapted, when installed, to fit vertically on an interior edge of an exposed wall-forming stud.

12. The double standard of claim 11, wherein the lip has a width of less than about 2 inches and has a plurality of orifices sized and positioned to receive fasteners suitable for connecting the double standard to a wall-forming stud.

13. The double standard of claim 12, wherein the flanges have a depth of at least about ¼ of an inch.

14. The double shelf standard of claim 13, wherein the flanges are positioned in pairs to receive an upper and lower surface of one or more shelving members.

15. A shelf standard kit comprising at least two of the shelf standards of claims 1 adapted to fit along the internal edges of adjacent exposed wall-forming studs.

16. The shelf standard kit of claim 15, wherein the kit additionally includes at least one shelf member adapted to be received and supported by opposing flanges of two shelf standards installed on opposing wall-forming studs.

17. The shelf standard kit of claim 15, wherein the kit additionally includes a plurality of fasteners to attach the standards to the surface of a wall forming stud.

18. The shelf standard kit of claim 15, wherein the kit additionally includes a brace that can be attached to the lip of the standard and contact the adjacent generally planar member to maintain an angle of 90 degrees between the lip and generally planar member to allow for installation of the shelf standard on a surface wall.

19. The shelf standard kit of claim 16, wherein the kit additionally includes a bar adapted to connect the lips of adjacent standards to secure stored items to the surface of the shelf member.

20. The shelf standard kit of claim 15, wherein the kit additionally includes at least one double standard.

21. The shelf standard kit of claim 15, wherein the kit additionally includes a mounting plate adapted to fit behind the standard's lip for mounting the standard on a flat surface.

22. A shelf standard for supporting one or more shelving members comprising a generally planar member having a front surface, a back surface, a plurality of voids and a plurality of flanges, the flanges adapted to be positioned within the voids to receive and retain one or more shelving members and the voids located on the generally planar member to position the one or more shelving members.

23. The shelf standard of claim 22, wherein the generally planar member has a plurality of orifices sized and positioned to receive fasteners suitable for connecting the standard to a wall-forming stud.

24. The shelf standard of claim 22, wherein the void is a slot, the slot having an opening at a first edge of the planar member and the flange is adapted to be positioned within the slot from the first edge of the planar member.