Sliding pull-out shelf

• US 5,720,230 A
• Filed: 08/19/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shane Mansfield
• Original Assignee: Shane Mansfield
• Inventors: Mansfield, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/699,432
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 108/108, 108/143, 108/105, 108/102, 211/175, 211/90, 211/DIG. 1, 248/240.1, 248/235, 248/206.5, 248/309.4
• US Class Current: 108/108
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 46/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, having one or more surfaces adapted to be brought into position for use by extending or pivoting A47B63/04, A47B77/10 take precedence; writing tables with extensible leaves A47B17/03; with extensible garment holders A47B61/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0043 Show shelves shelves in general A47B96/02; brackets or similar shelf-supporting means A47B96/06; advertising or price indication G09F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 211/01 Magnetic article holder

Abstract

A sliding pull-out shelf comprising a shelf board, a shelf bracket with at least one shelf bracket tang, a pair of vertical supports spaced a predetermined distance apart, a pair of telescopic slider mechanisms, a magnet, and a magnetic anchor. Each telescopic slider mechanism attaches each shelf board side to each shelf bracket. Each shelf bracket is secured to each vertical support with the shelf bracket tang which is inserted into the vertical support vertical slots. Each shelf bracket is secured to each vertical support such that the shelf brackets project horizontally and parallel to each other. The magnetic anchor lies in the same plane as the vertical supports and is located midway between the vertical supports. The magnet is attached to the shelf board and contacts the magnetic anchor when the shelf is fully against the vertical supports. The slider mechanism allows the shelf board to move horizontally away from the vertical supports if a force, greater than the magnetic force between the magnet and the magnetic anchor, is applied to the shelf board. With the shelf board moved horizontally away from the vertical supports, access to goods located towards the rear of the shelf board is facilitated.

Claims

1. A sliding pull-out shelf comprising:

a) a pair of vertical supports spaced a predetermined distance apart each having a plurality of vertical support vertical slots;

b) a pair of shelf brackets spaced a predetermined distance apart having one or more shelf bracket tangs and a shelf bracket inner surface, each shelf bracket projects from one of the vertical supports and is secured to said vertical support by inserting the shelf bracket tangs into the vertical support vertical slots such that the shelf brackets extend horizontally and parallel to each other;

c) a shelf board having a shelf board bottom surface, a shelf board back surface, a shelf board top, a pair of shelf board side surfaces, and a shelf board ledge, the shelf board top has a shelf board top upper surface and a shelf board top lower surface, the shelf board side surface is attached to the shelf board top lower surface, the shelf board top extends beyond and overhangs over each shelf board side surface, the shelf board back surface extends beyond the shelf board side surface, the shelf board ledge has a shelf board ledge back surface, the shelf board ledge projects from the shelf board top upper surface, the shelf board ledge back surface is flush with the shelf board back surface, the shelf board is located between the shelf brackets;

d) a pair of telescopic sliders each having a first telescopic slider element, a second telescopic slider element which envelopes the first telescopic slider element, and a third telescopic slider element which envelopes both the first telescopic slider element and the second telescopic slider element, the first telescopic slider element has a first telescopic slider element inner surface, the third telescopic slider element has a third telescopic slider element outer surface, each first telescopic slider element inner surface is attached to one of the shelf board side surfaces, each third telescopic slider element outer surface is attached to one of the shelf bracket inner surfaces, the telescopic slider attaches between each shelf board side surface and each shelf bracket inner surface allowing the shelf board to move horizontally toward and away from the vertical supports by a force applied to the shelf board front surface.

2. The sliding pull-out shelf as in claim 1 further comprising a locking means having a magnetic anchor, and a magnet having a magnet top surface and a magnet back surface, the magnet top surface is secured to the shelf board bottom surface midway between the shelf board side surfaces, the magnet back surface is flush with the shelf board back surface, the magnetic anchor lies in the same plane as the vertical supports and is located midway between the vertical supports such that the magnet back surface contacts the magnetic anchor when the shelf board back surface is in contact with the vertical supports, a magnetic force between the magnet and the magnetic anchor prevents a second weaker force applied to the shelf board front surface from moving the shelf board horizontally away from the vertical supports.

3. A sliding pull-out shelf comprising:

a) a pair of vertical supports spaced a predetermined distance apart;

b) a pair of shelf brackets spaced a predetermined distance apart each having a shelf bracket inner surface, each shelf bracket is secured to one of the vertical supports and projects from said vertical support such that the shelf brackets extend horizontally and parallel to each other;

c) a shelf board having a shelf board top surface, a shelf board bottom surface, a shelf board back surface, and a pair of shelf board side surfaces, the shelf board is located between the shelf brackets;

d) a pair of telescopic sliders, each having a plurality of telescopic slider elements including a first telescopic slider element, and a final telescopic slider element that envelopes all of the telescopic slider elements, the first telescopic slider element is enveloped by all of the telescopic slider elements, one of the final telescopic slider elements is attached to each shelf bracket inner surface, one of the first telescopic slider elements is attached to each shelf board side surface, one telescopic slider attaches between each shelf bracket inner surface and each shelf board side surface allowing the shelf board to move horizontally toward and away from the vertical supports; and

e) a locking means, comprising a magnetic anchor and a magnet secured to the shelf board having a magnet top surface secured to the shelf board bottom surface midway between the shelf board side surfaces and a magnet back surface flush with the shelf board back surface, the magnetic anchor contacting the magnet when the shelf board back surface is in contact with the vertical supports, the magnetic anchor lies in the same plane as the vertical supports and is located midway between the vertical supports thereby creating a magnetic force between the magnet and the magnetic anchor that opposes horizontal motion of the shelf directed away from the vertical supports, for preventing a force below a threshold magnitude applied to the shelf board front surface from moving the shelf board horizontally away from the vertical supports.