Shelving system

Abstract

A system for creating shelving, pedestal supports, a cabinet or desk and for mounting these items against a substantially vertical wall. One or more rails are provided which are affixed to the substantially vertical wall. Each rail is characterized as having an elongated longitudinal axis, base portion configured to contact the substantially vertical wall and a pair of flanges extending perpendicularly from the base portion in establishing a channel therebetween along the longitudinal axis noting further that the flanges are provided with a plurality of openings configured therein. The shelf, pedestal, cabinet or desk each have at least one rear surface supporting at least one bracket. A first portion of each bracket is embedded within the shelf and a second portion of each bracket extends from the shelf and is insertable within the channels and is slideable therein. In addition, the second portion of each bracket is provided with openings which align with openings in the flanges. Pins are provided which are sized to pass through the openings in the flanges and openings in the second portion of each bracket to releaseably secure the shelves to the substantially vertical wall.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved mounting system for shelves, pedestals and other objects such as cabinets and desks. Not only is the shelving system of the present invention straightforward in its execution, but, when properly configured, provides a degree of stability and adjustability far greater than corresponding systems currently available.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There has not been significant innovation for quite some time relating to the mounting of shelves on substantially vertical walls. Most shelving systems involve the use of planar sheet material composed of lumber or synthetic substitutes which are joined to L-shaped brackets. The L-shaped brackets structurally are composed of metal or wood and are provided with the first leg which is screwed other otherwise joined to the shelf while its perpendicular counterpart is joined directly to a wall by screwing the bracket into a structural support member, such as a stud. Alternatively, a longitudinally extending wall bracket can be provided which, itself, is joined to a substantially vertically extending wall and which has a series of key slots for accepting corresponding keys made part of the L-shaped bracket discussed previously.

Each shelf mounting system described above has its own sets of advantages and limitations. For brackets which are screwed or otherwise joined directly to the wall, the shelf is rigidly secured to its supporting structure and resists inadvertent removal. However, the positioning of the shelf upon a suitable wall cannot be altered without removing the L-shaped bracket from the wall leaving behind unsightly holes which must be patched to provide an acceptable aesthetic appearance. Shelves which employ longitudinally extending brackets, keys and keyhole supports do allow for some degree of shelf repositioning, but such a shelving system is still fought with inherent limitations. For example, often times, a user of such a shelving system may inadvertently contact the shelf either with one's body or with an object being handled. The key slot can inadvertently disengage resulting in the shelf falling from its associated vertical wall spilling its supported contents on the surrounding floor. Further, even when a catastrophic disengagement does not occur, a user of such a shelving system often times finds it difficult to line up appropriate keys and key slots particularly in dealing with shelving of significant length. It is clearly apparent that there is much room to improve such systems making them more versatile and user friendly.

In addition, there does not appear to be a viable system which is capable of a single installation and which can accommodate platforms and structures of various types without significant modification. For example, reference is made to FIG. 1, the details of which will be described more fully hereinafter. FIG. 1 is intended to display a typical installation of the present invention including various alternative components which illustrate the flexibility inherent herein. Specifically, installation 10 including horizontally extending rails 11 and 12 can be employed to slideably accept various structural elements such as shelf 13, pedestal 14 and even cabinet or desk 15. No longer need one employ different attachment means for creating a system which includes not only shelving but other structures such as pedestals, cabinets and desks all of which are slideably positionable within an overall mounting system providing flexibility unachievable by the prior art.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a system for supporting shelving, pedestals, cabinets and desks within a single installation and without the need for employing elaborate or difficult to use hardware.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a system for displaying shelving, pedestals, cabinets and desks which can be readily applied and removed from a substantially vertical wall structure and which can be positioned along said structure easily and conveniently and without the need for the employment of any tools or elaborate hardware.

These and further objects of the present invention will be more readily appreciated when considering the following disclosure and appended drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention involves a shelving system for mounting shelves, pedestals, cabinets and desks against a substantially vertical wall. The shelving system comprises a pair of rails spaced apart and extending parallel to one another, each being affixed to said substantially vertical wall. Each rail has an elongated longitudinal axis, a base portion configured to contact said substantially vertical wall and a pair of flanges extending perpendicularly from said base portion and establishing a channel therebetween along said longitudinal axis. The flanges have a plurality of openings configured therein.

As noted, the present invention involves shelves, pedestals, cabinets and desks, each of which is provided a rear surface having brackets embedded therein; at least one in the case of a pedestal and at least two in the case of shelves, cabinets and desks. The brackets are spaced apart from one another the approximate distance between the pair of rails such that a first portion of each of the brackets is embedded within the shelf and a second portion of each of the brackets extends from the shelf and is insertable within the channels. The second portion of each of the brackets is slideable within the channels and are further provided with openings which align with openings in the flanges of the rails such that pins sized to pass through the openings in the flanges and openings in the second portion of the brackets are sized to releaseably secure the shelves, pedestals, cabinets and desks to the substantially vertical wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a shelving system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view, partially a cross section, of the shelving system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective partial view of a portion of the shelving system of FIG. 1 illustrating the details of the attachment components constituting the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As noted previously, FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 for mounting shelves 13, pedestals 14 and cabinets or desks 15 against a substantially vertical wall (not shown). The shelving system comprises a pair of rails 11 and 12 spaced apart and extending parallel to one another. It is worth noting that regarding the installation of pedestal 14, only one vertical rail 12 would be necessary. However, for convenience, the present invention is described in a fashion which is broad enough to encompass the installation of not only pedestal 14 but also shelf 13 and cabinet or desk 15.

Each rail 11 and 12 has its own longitudinal axis 1 and 2, a base portion 16 (FIG. 3) configured to contact said substantially vertical wall and a pair of flanges 17 (FIG. 3) extending perpendicularly from base portion 16 thus establishing channel 18 (FIG. 3) therebetween along said longitudinal axis. As noted by reference to FIG. 3, said flanges are provided with a plurality of openings 33 configured therein.

Shelf 13 as well as pedestal 14 and cabinet or desk 15 each have a rear surface having embedded therein brackets 30. As it pertains to shelf 13, bracket 30 is shown embedded within shelf 13 in FIG. 3, the details of which apply equally as well to pedestal 10 and cabinet or desk 15.

Turning again to FIG. 3, shelf 13 is characterized as having rear surface 39 having at least two brackets 30 spaced apart from one another the approximate distance between rail pairs 11 and 12.

A first portion 29 of each of said brackets 30 is embedded within shelf 13 while second portion 31 of each of said brackets extends from shelf 13 and is insertable within channels 18 and is slideable therein. As further noted by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, brackets 30 are provided with openings 35 which align with corresponding openings 33 in flanges 17. Pins or other suitable expedients (not shown) are sized to pass through openings 33 and 35 to releaseably secure shelves 13 to said substantially vertical wall. It is quite apparent, in doing so, that shelf 13 can not only be conveniently appended to rails 11 and 12, but the height and positioning of shelf 13 can be easily changed by removing attachment pins and sliding second portion 31 of bracket 30 along channel 18 and upon achieving a suitable, user dictated position, the pins can be reinserted through openings 33 and 35 to retain the newly selected position.

As noted above, shelf 13 has embedded therein, at least two brackets 30 spaced apart from one another the approximate distance between rail pairs 11 and 12. Noting that the brackets extend from rear surface 39 of shelf 13 and are insertable within channels 18, the present invention is configured with notches 34 which are sized to receive flanges 17 whenever the second portion 31 of bracket 30 is inserted within channels 18. By providing such notches, shelf 13 is able to surround flange 17 and capture a portion of the flange within the body of shelf 13 at rear surface 39 enabling shelf 13 to abut against base portion 16 and thus shelves 13 are able to approach the surface of the supporting vertical wall in a way unachievable by the prior art.

By again referring to FIG. 3, it is noted that bracket 30, being L-shaped and having one leg 29 embedded within shelf 13 while its second leg extends beyond the confines of shelf 13 to pass within channel 18 of rail 11 is provided with openings 35 which are intended to align with openings 33 configured within flanges 17. By aligning at least two openings 35 with corresponding openings 33, pins can be inserted thus providing sought after rigidity and stability noting that shelf 13, whose position is vertically adjustable, will not ajar from its assigned position unless pins inserted through openings 33 and 35 are removed. Once removed, shelf 13 can slide along rails 11 and 12 to assume a number of varying heights.

Although the description of the present invention up to this point has focused upon the interaction of shelf 13 and rails 11 and 12, the present shelving system is flexible enough to include other physical embodiments such as pedestals and cabinets or desks. In this regard, reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing pedestal 14 appended to rail 12.

Pedestal 14 is intended to embrace the various design features discussed with regard to shelf 13 including the use of bracket 30 and notch 34. The main distinction between pedestal 10 and shelf 13 is that pedestal 14 is appended to only a single rail 12 rather than to both parallel rails 11 and 12. Otherwise, its elements and integration with its supporting rail are as described previously.

FIGS. 1 and 2 also show the integration of cabinet or desk 15 into the present shelving system. Cabinet or desk 15 includes horizontally extending top and bottom members 20 and 21 (FIG. 2) and connecting vertical side members 22 and 23 (FIG. 1) to create a box-like structure. In integrating cabinet or desk 15 with the remaining elements of the present invention, it is noted that top horizontally extending member 20 includes bracket 28 embedded within horizontally extending top member as was the case with element 30 described in detail with regard to shelf 13. Cabinet or desk 15 can also include bracket 27 in order to achieve suitable stability such that both top and bottom horizontally members would be suitably captured by rails 11 and 12 as was the case with previously described shelf 13 and pedestal 14.

Cabinet or desk 15 can also include notches corresponding to notches 34 again being sized to receive flanges of rails 11 and 12 whenever second portions of brackets 27 and 28 are inserted within channels 18. These brackets also have openings which align with openings in the flanges to enable cabinet or desk 15 to change its vertical orientation. Further, cabinet or desk 15 could be slid out from its existing rails 11 and 12 and positioned to a different pair of rails as the need arises. Such flexibility, shared with shelf 13 and pedestal 14 provides for design oppportunities unachievable by the prior art.

In addition, cabinet or desk 15 could, if one desires, have no backing thus allowing cabinet or desk 15 to employ the vertical wall upon which it is mounted to act as its rear surface thus saving wood and corresponding cost and weight generally necessary by corresponding cabinet or desk installations. The entire box structure of cabinet or desk 15 can be enclosed by providing door 24 swingable upon hinge 26 which can also act as a writing surface when desired. The ability of the rear wall to enclose cabinet or desk 15 is enhanced by the use of notches which enables both horizontally and vertically extending members to abut more closely to the rear wall as flange 17 is captured by the horizontally extending members by virtue of the presently described figuration.

Claims

1. A shelving system for mounting shelves against a substantially vertical wall said shelving system comprising a pair of rails spaced apart extending parallel to one another and each being affixed to said substantially vertical wall, each rail having an elongated longitudinal axis, a base portion configured to contact said substantially vertical wall and a pair of flanges extending perpendicularly from said base portion establishing a channel therebetween along said longitudinal axis, said flanges having a plurality of openings configured thereon, at least one shelf having a rear surface and at least two brackets spaced apart from one another the approximate distance between said pair of rails such that a first portion of each of said brackets is embedded within said rear surface of said shelf and a second portion of each of said brackets extending from said shelf and insertable within said channels and being slideable therein and wherein said second portion of each of said brackets is provided with openings which align with said openings in said flanges and pins sized to pass through said openings in said flanges and openings in said second portions of said brackets to releaseably secure said shelves to said substantially vertical wall.

2. The shelving system of claim 1 wherein said rear surface of said at least one shelf is provided with notches, said notches being sized to receive said flanges whenever said second portions of said brackets are inserted within said channels.

3. The shelving system of claim 1 wherein said brackets comprise L-shaped stock with one leg of said L-shaped stock being said first portion and a second leg of said L-shaped stock being said second portion.

4. The shelving system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of openings in said flanges are spaced along said flanges to enable said shelf to be slideable along said pair of rails and releaseably secured at a multitude of locations there along.

5. The shelving system of claim 1 wherein said second portion of each bracket is provided with two openings, each of which align with openings in said flanges such that as said second portion of each bracket is installed within each of said channels, said pins are caused to pass through said openings in securing said shelf to said substantially vertical wall.

6. A pedestal system for mounting pedestal shelves against a substantially vertical wall, said pedestal system comprising at least one rail being affixed to said substantially vertical wall, said rail having an elongated longitudinal axis, a base portion configured to contact said substantially vertical wall and a pair of flanges extending perpendicularly from said base portion in establishing a channel therebetween along said longitudinal axis, said flanges having a plurality of openings configured therein, at least one pedestal having a rear surface and at least one bracket such that a first portion of said bracket is embedded within said rear pedestal and a second portion of said bracket extends from said pedestal and is insertable within said channels and is slideable therein and wherein said second portion of said bracket is provided with openings which align with said openings in said flanges and pins sized to pass through said openings in said flanges and openings in said second portion of said bracket to releaseably secure said pedestal to said substantially vertical wall.

7. The pedestal system of claim 6 wherein said rear surface of said at least one pedestal is provided with at least one notch, said notch being sized to receive said flanges whenever said second portion of said bracket is inserted within said channels.

8. The pedestal system of claim 6 wherein said bracket comprises L-shaped stock with one leg of said L-shaped stock being said first portion and a second leg of said L-shaped stock being said second portion.

9. The pedestal system of claim 6 wherein said plurality of openings in said flanges are spaced along said flanges to enable said pedestal to be slideable along said rail and releaseably secured at a multitude of locations there along.

10. The pedestal system of claim 6 wherein said second portion of said bracket is provided with two openings, each of which align with openings in said flanges such that as said second portion of said bracket is installed within said channel, said pins are caused to pass through said openings in securing said pedestal to said substantially vertical wall.

11. A cabinet or desk system for mounting a cabinet or desk against a substantially vertical wall, said cabinet or desk comprising substantially horizontally extending top and bottom members and connecting substantially vertical side members to create a box-like structure, said cabinet or desk system comprising a pair of rails spaced apart and extending parallel to one another, and each being affixed to said substantially vertical wall, each rail having an elongated longitudinal axis, a base portion configured to contact said substantially vertical wall and a pair of flanges extending perpendicularly from said base portion establishing a channel therebetween along said longitudinal axis, said flanges further having a plurality of openings configured therein, at least one cabinet or desk having a rear surface and at least two brackets, extending from said top member spaced apart from one another the approximate distance between said pair of rails such that a first portion of each of said brackets is embedded within said horizontally extending top member and a second portion of each of said brackets extending from said horizontally extending top member and insertable within said channels and being slideable therein and wherein said second portion of each of said brackets is further provided with openings which align with said openings in said flanges and pins sized to pass through openings in said flanges and openings in said second portions of each of said brackets to releaseably secure said cabinet or desk to said substantially vertical wall.

12. The cabinet or desk system of claim 11 wherein said bottom member is further provided with at least two brackets extending from its rear surface, the second portion of each being slideably received by said channels and having openings that align with opening configured in said flanges and pins sized to pass through said flanges and openings in said second portions of each of said brackets to further releaseably secure said cabinet or desk to said substantially vertical wall.

13. The cabinet or desk system of claim 12 wherein said rear surfaces of said at least two horizontally extending top and bottom members are provided with notches, said notches being sized to receive said flanges whenever said second portions of said brackets are inserted within said channels.

14. The cabinet or desk system of claim 12 wherein said brackets comprise L-shaped stock with one leg of each L-shaped stock being said first portion and a second leg of said L-shaped stock being second portion.

15. The cabinet or desk system of claim 12 wherein said plurality of openings in said flanges are spaced along said flanges to enable said cabinet or desk to be slideable along said pair of rails and releaseably secured at a multitude of locations there along.

16. The cabinet or desk system of claim 12 wherein said second portion of each bracket is provided with two openings, each of which align with openings in said flanges such that as said second portion of each bracket is installed within each of said channels, said pins are caused to pass through said openings in securing said cabinet or desk to said substantially vertical wall.

17. The cabinet or desk system of claim 12 further comprising a front panel hingedly connected to said substantially horizontally extending bottom member to provide access to the interior of said cabinet or desk.