Decorative and strength enhancing assembly for wire shelving
A system is disclosed that enhances the appearance and strength of wire shelves, covering its frontal face with an assembly that generally includes a U-shaped profile with top and bottom slots to fit firmly to specially designed clasps connected to the horizontal frontal top and bottom shelving wires by the action of group of legs.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/619884 filed Jan. 21, 2018, with inventor RODRIGO CERON which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to devices and methods used to cover open-wire shelving.
BACKGROUNDThe most popular solution for shelving used in closets and storage compartments, is to use a vinyl-coated wire-frame construction, which typically uses two or more members running the length of the shelf with a number of closely spaced cross-members. This kind of solution is affordable and easy to install for developers or home owners.
Regardless of these benefits, many users, find this shelving unattractive. A substantial industry has developed for the upgrading of closets and pantries, for examples are when the shelves are removed and replaced with wood or covering the wire shelves with wood, plastic or composite surfaces, or enhancement of the appearance is achieved by placing a decorative frontal fascia. While these solutions work well for their intended purposes, they normally are expensive, difficult to install and/or not sturdy enough for the daily use.
The present invention is about a system which has, among other advantages, strength, solid connection with the wire shelving, adaptability, easier installation, use and maintenance, while keeping an affordable cost and a long lasting pleasant look.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object of this invention is to provide a system to enhance the aesthetics and strength of the open-wire shelving with a solution firmly attached to the standard front face of the shelving by the use of specially designed clasps connected to the wire with groups of legs, combined with a U-shaped frontal profile attached to the clasps.
The system includes two basic elements. First: clasps to be attached to the front face of the open-wire shelving separated 6″ between them. Each clasp includes a substantially flat surface with a front side and a back side, a top anchor and bottom anchor. The back side of the clasp has group of top and bottom legs specially calculated and shaped to fit the top and bottom horizontal wire of the shelf. Second: A substantially U-shaped profile element to be installed running along the shelving, with three components: A frontal substantially flat surface with a front side and back side and top and bottom elements substantially perpendicular to the front side ending in shoes to be attach to the top and bottom anchors in the clasps.
The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention,
The object of this invention is a system that enhances the appearance and strength of open-wire shelves covering the frontal vertical and horizontal wire elements, with an assembly generally including a U-shaped profile with top and bottom shoes to fit firmly to specially designed clasps connected to the horizontal frontal top and bottom shelving wires by the action of group of legs.
The substantially U-shaped profile element to be installed running along the open-wire shelving has three components: 1. Frontal: substantially flat surface with a front side and back side. 2. Top: perpendicular to Frontal, has a shoe to connect with the clasp anchors and a structural reinforcement at the end. Both, shoe and reinforcement run along the entire profile. 3. Bottom: also has a shoe running along the profile to connect to the clasp anchors.
The specially engineered clasp includes a substantially flat surface with a front side and a back side, a top anchor and bottom anchor. The back side of the clasp has group of top and bottom legs specially calculated and shaped to fit the top and bottom horizontal wire of the shelf. These clasps are inserted along the wire shelf approximately 6 inches apart. Once the clasps are in place, the U-shaped profile is firmly connected to them, first from the top inserting this part in the clasps anchors and then pushing the whole U-shaped profile against the clasps to make the bottom part of the profile flex and to be inserted in the bottom anchors of the clasps.
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Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are being shown and described, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The assembly described can be formed of a wide range of suitable materials, such as nylon, plastics (e.g., ABS, nylon, polyethylene, etc.), metals (e.g., steel, bronze, etc.), rubber, composite materials, etc. In various embodiments, the assembly described, is molded from plastic. Alternatively, other suitable materials and manufacturing processes can be used to form the assembly. For example, other embodiments include a device that is not monolithically or integrally formed as a single component. Instead, one or more of the device components, such as the interlocking member, clip, and/or catch, may be separately attached to one another to form the device.
Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “front”, “back”, “rear”, “bottom” and “side”, describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first”, “second” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.
When introducing elements or features of the present invention and the exemplary embodiments, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of such elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features other than those specifically noted.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A decorative and strength enhancing assembly for use with open-wire shelving, said open-wire shelving having a top panel and a front panel, said shelf enhancing assembly comprising:
- A substantially U-shaped profile element to be installed running along the shelving, with three components: A frontal substantially flat surface with a front side and back side and top and bottom elements substantially perpendicular to the front side ending in shoes to be attach to the top and bottom anchors in the specially designed clasps.
- Clasps to be attached to the front face of the wire shelving separated 6″ between them. Each clasp includes a substantially flat surface with a front side and a back side, a top anchor and bottom anchor. The back side of the clasp has group of top and bottom legs specially calculated and shaped to fit the top and bottom horizontal wire of the shelf.
2. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1 wherein the top element of the U-shaped profile, substantially perpendicular to the frontal, includes a shoe, shaped specially to connect to the top anchor in the clasp.
3. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1 wherein the top element of the U-shaped profile, substantially perpendicular to the frontal, includes an end, shaped and calculated specially to provide additional strength to the U-shaped element and therefore to the whole assembly.
4. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1 wherein the bottom element of the U-shaped profile, substantially perpendicular to the frontal, includes a shoe, shaped specially to connect to the bottom anchor in the clasp.
5. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1 wherein the clasp flat element ends at the top in a specially shaped anchor to connect firmly with to top shoe in the U-shaped profile.
6. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1 wherein the clasp flat element ends at the bottom in a specially shaped anchor to connect firmly with to bottom shoe in the U-shaped profile.
7. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1 wherein the clasp back side includes top and bottom legs specially designed to connect firmly to the top and bottom elements of the front in the wire shelving.
8. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1 wherein legs substantially perpendicular the clasp back side are rectangular shaped ending each one in a semicircular surface to connect to the wire shelving front side, and an angled surface to allow the easy installation to the wire shelving.
9. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1, wherein the U shaped profile and the clasp are formed from a material including at least one of metal, plastic, composite, or combination thereof.
10. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1 wherein said assembly is pigmented in any color and having any texture.
11. The decorative and strength enhancing assembly in claim 1 wherein said assembly is dimensioned accordingly to the open-wire shelving to be installed on.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 8, 2019
Publication Date: Jul 9, 2020
Inventor: Rodrigo Ceron (Calgary)
Application Number: 16/242,473