Bookcase with sloping shelves
The bookcase with sloping shelves has multiple shelf compartments that slope in opposite directions. The compartments include a base section and at least one upper section connected to the base section. The base section includes a bottom wall, a top wall and opposing sidewalls attached to the bottom and top walls, one of the sidewalls being of greater height than the other. The upper section includes a shelf panel and opposing sidewalls depending from the shelf panel. The sidewalls, one being of greater height than the other, are attached to the top wall of the base section. Compartments are therefore formed that slope in opposite directions from one another because of the sidewalls of varying height.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to bookcases, and particularly to a bookcase with shelves sloping in opposite directions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bookcases typically have a frame and multiple shelves within the frame that are generally horizontally disposed and parallel to each other. The flat base allows for books to be placed within the bookcase, abutting one another for easy access. However, books vary in height and width, resulting in wasted space when multiple books are placed in the bookcases. Some bookcases are provided with adjustable shelving in order to use shelf space more efficiently. However, many people find adjustable shelving aesthetically displeasing.
In order to maintain stability, books are sometimes placed within the bookcases by height, with different shelves dedicated to books of the same height. Often the bigger, more cumbersome books are set on the lower shelves and the smaller, less cumbersome books are placed higher so the bookcase is steadier. Shorter users therefore may have problems accessing the books on higher shelves, while users with knee problems have may difficulty reaching larger books that are placed on the lower shelves.
Bookcases also tend to be quite static in their aesthetic appeal. Very few variations are made from bookcase to bookcase. Further, bookcases do not often vary in the type of joinery used to keep the shelving together. Bookcases are often manufactured using mass production techniques from laminated particle board joined by hardware, so that the bookcases have a plain, rather mundane appearance. More ornate, elaborate joinery, such as dovetail joinery, is not generally utilized with modern bookcases.
Accordingly, there is a need for a bookcase that allows books of varying height to be placed within the shelves, and which also provides a unique aesthetic look to the piece. Thus, a bookcase with sloping shelves solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe bookcase with sloping shelves is a bookcase having multiple sloped shelf compartments to accommodate books of various heights. The shelf compartments include a base section and at least one upper section connected to the base section that slope in opposite directions.
The base section includes a bottom wall, a top wall and opposing sidewalls attached to the bottom and top walls. One sidewall is greater in height than the other, so that the top wall is slanted at an angle relative to the bottom wall. The top wall extends beyond one of the sidewalls in cantilever fashion.
The upper section includes a shelf panel and opposing sidewalls depending from the shelf panel. The sidewalls are attached to the top wall of the base section. One sidewall is of greater height than the other sidewall, and the shelf panel is therefore slanted at an angle relative to the top wall of the base section.
The sidewalls may be attached to the bottom and top walls and the shelf panels using dovetail joinery, finger joinery, or any other type of joinery able to attach the sidewalls. In another embodiment, the longer sidewalls may be attached by inserting the sidewall ends into apertures in the top and bottom walls and the shelf panels and securing the sidewalls to the top and bottom walls and shelf panels by inserting pegs within apertures in the sidewall ends. The pegs keep the sidewalls affixed to the top and bottom walls and shelf panels and allow the bookcase to be constructed without the need for an adhesive.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTThe present invention is a bookcase with sloping shelves that allows for books of differing heights to be placed within each of the shelf compartments. The bookcase with sloping shelves, designated generally as 10 in the drawings, includes a plurality of shelf sections integrally connected to one another.
Turning first to
The bookcase 10 may be made from wood, including cherry, maple, walnut or any other type of wood, or may be made from any structural material able to support numerous articles within the shelf compartments 12.
The second sidewall 26 is greater in height from the bottom wall 20 to the top wall 22 than the first sidewall 24. The difference in height from the bottom wall 20 to the top wall 22 between the two sidewalls 24 and 26 slopes the top wall 22 at an angle relative to the bottom wall 20. The top wall 22 has an end section 28 that extends beyond the second sidewall 26 in cantilever fashion.
The upper section 16 includes a shelf panel 30 and two opposing sidewalls 32 and 34 depending from the shelf panel 30. The sidewalls 32 and 34 are each attached to the top surface 36 of the top wall 22 of the base section 14. The second upper section sidewall 34 is greater in height from the top wall 22 of the base section 14 to the shelf panel 30 than the first upper section sidewall 32. Angle α, defined between sidewall 24 and bottom wall 20, is substantially a 90-degree angle. Angle β, defined between sidewall 32 and top wall 22, is about a 97-degree angle. Further upper section shelves are sloped at the same angles as upper section 16, but are flipped 180° so that the shelves slope in the opposite direction.
It will be noted that a portion of shelf panel 30 extends beyond the sidewall 34 of greater height in cantilever fashion for a distance about equal to the cantilever end section 28 of the bottom shelf section 14, and this pattern is repeated in succeeding upper sections 16 (except for the top upper section) so that the center of gravity of the bookcase 10 is located in a longitudinal plane bisecting the width of the bookcase 10.
Turning now to
While dovetail joinery is shown, any other type of joinery, including finger joinery, may be used to attach the sidewalls 24, 26, 32, and 34 to the bottom wall 20, top wall 22 or panels 30.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A bookcase with sloping shelves, comprising:
- a base section having a bottom wall, a top wall, and opposing sidewalls, the opposing sidewalls being unequal in height so that the top wall slopes at an angle relative to the bottom wall, the top wall having an end extending beyond the sidewall of greater height in cantilever fashion; and
- at least one upper section having a shelf panel and opposing sidewalls depending from the shelf panel, the upper section sidewalls being unequal in height and attached to a top surface of the top wall of the base section;
- whereby the base section and the at least one upper section define shelf compartments sloping in opposite directions.
2. The bookcase with sloping shelves according to claim 1, further comprising means for attaching the base section sidewalls to the top and bottom walls.
3. The bookcase with sloping shelves according to claim 2, wherein the means for attaching the base section sidewalls to the top and bottom walls comprises dovetail joints.
4. The bookcase with sloping shelves according to claim 2, wherein the means for attaching the base section sidewalls to the top and bottom walls comprises finger joints.
5. The bookcase with sloping shelves according to claim 2, wherein the means for attaching at least one of the sidewalls to the top wall comprises a peg and an aperture defined within the sidewall, the peg releasably engaging the aperture.
6. The bookcase with sloping shelves according to claim 1, further comprising means for attaching the upper section sidewalls to the shelf panel and the top wall of the base section.
7. The bookcase with sloping shelves according to claim 6, wherein the means for attaching the upper section sidewalls to the shelf panel and the top wall comprises dovetail joints.
8. The bookcase with sloping shelves according to claim 6, wherein the means for attaching the upper section sidewalls to the shelf panel and the top wall comprises finger joints.
9. The bookcase with sloping shelves according to claim 6, wherein the means for attaching at least one of the upper section sidewalls to the shelf panel comprises a peg and an aperture defined within the sidewall, the peg releasably engaging the aperture.
10. The bookcase with sloping shelves according to claim 1, wherein said base section and said at least one upper section each further comprise a back wall closing a rear portion of the sections.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 27, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 2, 2006
Inventor: Peter Jones (Denver, CO)
Application Number: 11/115,252
International Classification: A47B 47/00 (20060101);