SHELVING SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS THEREFOR

• US 20100000449A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kirk J. Botkin
• Original Assignee: Kirk J. Botkin
• Inventors: Botkin, Kirk J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/152
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/545 clamped in discrete positions, e.g. on tubes with grooves or holes shelf supports being cantilever brackets A47B57/562
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/06 Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves A47B96/022 takes precedence; aspects of adjusting height or inclination A47B57/00 ; brackets for the display of articles A47F5/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/067 Horizontal rails as suspension means in a cantilever arrangement suspension fittings for cabinets to be hung on walls A47B95/008
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 25/06 Clothes hooks; Clothes racks; Garment-supporting stands with swingable or extending arms with lockable hooks E05B69/02

Abstract

A shelf apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes first and second upstanding posts each having a plurality of horizontally-extending grooves in an external surface thereof, the grooves spaced vertically from one another. First and second shelf support clamps are supported by the first and second posts, respectively. The clamps each have a clamp body received only partially about its corresponding post, and the clamps each include a horizontally-extending protuberance such as a rib received in one of the grooves of its respective post. The apparatus further includes first and second shelf brackets supported by the first and second clamps, respectively, and a shelf supported by the first and second shelf brackets.

Claims

1. A shelf apparatus, comprising:

a first upstanding post having a plurality of horizontally-extending grooves in an external surface thereof, said grooves spaced vertically from one another;

a second upstanding post having a plurality of horizontally-extending grooves in an external surface thereof, said grooves spaced vertically from one another;

a first shelf support clamp supported by said first upstanding post, the first shelf support clamp having a clamp body received only partially about said first upstanding post, said first shelf support clamp further including a horizontally-extending rib portion received in one of said grooves of said first upstanding post;

a second shelf support clamp supported by said second upstanding post, the second shelf support clamp having a clamp body received only partially about said second upstanding post, the second shelf support clamp further including a horizontally-extending rib portion received in one of said grooves of said second upstanding post;

a first shelf bracket supported by said first shelf support clamp;

a second shelf bracket supported by said second shelf support clamp; and

a shelf supported by said first and second shelf brackets.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second upstanding posts are mounted to a rail.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, also comprising first and second pucks attached to said first and second posts, respectively, and wherein said first and second pucks are interfit within an opening of said rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second upstanding posts have a generally rectangular cross section.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second shelf support claims each define a generally rectangular channel, and wherein said posts are received in said channels.

6. The shelf apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second support clamps each define a slot for receiving a portion of said first and second brackets, respectively.

7. The shelf apparatus of claim 1, wherein said grooves defined in said first and second posts only partially circumscribe the periphery of said posts.

8. The shelf apparatus of claim 7, wherein said posts each have a generally rectangular cross section, and wherein said grooves are defined in only one face of said posts.

9. The shelf apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second support clamps each define a rib, with said ribs each received in one of said grooves.

10. A shelf support clamp for mounting on a shelf support post having a substantially horizontal groove, the shelf support clamp comprising:

a clamp body defining an interior channel for receipt about the shelf support post, the interior channel including a top opening, a bottom opening, and a side opening; and

said body further defining a protuberance into said interior channel for receipt within the groove of the shelf support post.

11. The clamp of claim 10, wherein said post has a generally rectangular cross section, and wherein said interior channel is defined by walls configured for receipt against three faces of said post.

12. The clamp of claim 10, wherein said clamp body further defines at least one slot for cooperation with a shelf bracket to be supported by said shelf support clamp.

13. The clamp of claim 12, wherein:

said clamp body comprises first and second generally parallel walls connected by a wall perpendicular thereto, with said first and second walls each having an exposed end face; and

said slot is defined by first and second receiver elements connected to the end faces of said first and second walls, respectively.

14. A combination comprising:

a shelf support clamp of claim 10; and

a shelf support bracket supported by said shelf support clamp.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein:

said shelf support clamp defines at least one slot; and

said bracket has a portion received in said slot.

16. A combination comprising:

a shelf support post; and

a shelf support clamp of claim 10 supported on said shelf support post.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein:

said post comprises at least one substantially horizontal groove; and

said clamp comprises a protuberance received in said groove.

18. The combination of claim 16, also comprising:

a shelf support bracket supported by said shelf support clamp.

19. The combination of claim 18, also comprising:

a shelf attached to said bracket.

20. A shelf apparatus, comprising:

a rail mounted on a wall, said rail including an elongate opening;

a first post member supported by said rail, the first post member including a first portion engaged in said elongate opening, a downwardly-depending arm connected to said first portion, and a second portion attached to said arm and contacting said wall at a position below said rail;

a second post member supported by said rail, the second post member including a first portion engaged in said elongate opening, a downwardly-depending arm connected to said first portion, and a second portion attached to said arm and contacting said wall at a position below said rail; and

at least one shelf supported by said first and second post members.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, also comprising:

a first support clamp supported on said first post member and a first bracket supported by said first support clamp;

a second support clamp supported on said second post member and a second bracket supported by said second support clamp; and

wherein said shelf is attached to said first and second brackets.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, also comprising:

a first support clamp supported on said first post member;

a second support clamp supported on said second post member;

one or more shelf support members supported by said first and second support clamps; and

wherein said shelf is supported by said one or more shelf support members.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said one or more shelf support members includes first and second brackets supported by said first and second support clamps, respectively.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said one or more shelf support members includes a single shelf support element extending between and supported by said first and second support clamps.