Display shelf assembly and bracket useful therein

• US 5,975,318 A
• Filed: 02/13/1998
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Display Technologies, LLC (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Original Assignee: Display Technologies, Inc. (Rhode Island)
• Inventors: Jay, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Redman, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US09/023,862
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.22, 248/220.43, 248/242, 248/225.21, 248/243, 248/250, 211/90.01, 211/88.01, 211/150, 211/153, 211/96, 211/187
• US Class Current: 211/90.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/42 the shelf supports being cantilever brackets
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/101 Display racks with slotted uprights

Abstract

An assembly supporting a display shelf at a non-transverse angle to a support includes at least one elongate support, at least one transversely-extending display shelf and angling brackets. Each elongate support defines a plane, an upright front surface and a plurality of longitudinally spaced first engaging elements facing forwardly in the support front surface. Each transversely-extending display shelf defines a generally upright back surface and at least one plurality of longitudinally spaced second engaging elements facing rearwardly from the shelf back surface. The plurality of second engaging elements are configured and dimensioned for cooperation and interconnection with the first engaging elements for releasable maintenance of the shelf in a plane transverse to the plane of the support. The angling brackets are interposed between the shelf back surface and the support front surface. The angling bracket defines an upright first surface and an angled second surface, the angling bracket second surface defining a single predetermined angle of about 5 to 15 degrees with respect to the angling bracket first surface for releasable retention of the shelf in a single predetermined plane angled to the plane of the support, but not transverse thereto.

Claims

1. An assembly supporting a display shelf at a non- transverse angle to a support, said assembly comprising:

(A) at least one elongate support defining a plane an upright front surface and a plurality of longitudinally spaced first engaging means facing forwardly in said support front surface;

(B) at least one transversely-extending display shelf, each said shelf defining a generally upright back surface and a plurality of longitudinally spaced second engaging means facing rearwardly from said shelf back surface, said plurality of second engaging means being configured and dimensioned for cooperation and interconnection with said first engaging means for releasable retention of said shelf in a plane transverse to the plane of said support; and

(C) angling means interposed between said shelf back surface and said support front surface, said angling means defining an upright first surface and an angled second surface, said angling means second surface defining a single predetermined angle of 5 to about 15 degrees with respect to said angling means first surface, said angling means second surface defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced engaging means facing forwardly and being configured and dimensioned for cooperation and interconnection with said second engaging means of said shelf for releasable retention therein of said second engaging means of said shelf, said angling means first surface defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced engaging means facing rearwardly from said angling means first surface and being configured and dimensioned for cooperation and interconnection with said first engaging means of said support for releasable retention of said shelf in a single predetermined plane angled to the plane of said support, but not transverse thereto.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said angle is about 9-10 degrees.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said support first engaging means are apertures and said shelf second engaging means are lugs.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said lugs are L-shaped, extending rearwardly and downwardly.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said angling means first surface engaging means are apertures, and said angling means second surface engaging means are lugs.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said angling means first surface engaging means are apertures, and said angling means second surface engaging means are lugs.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said lugs are L-shaped, extending rearwardly and downwardly.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said angling means is devoid of any means for engaging either of said shelf and said support intermediate said first and second surfaces of said angling means.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said shelf is secured to said angling means only by the engagement of said second engaging means of said shelf and said second surface engaging means of said angling means.

10. An assembly supporting a display shelf at a non-transverse angle to a support, said assembly comprising:

(A) at least one elongate support defining a vertical plane, an upright front surface and a plurality of longitudinally spaced female engaging means facing forwardly in said support front surface;

(B) at least one transversely-extending display shelf, each said shelf defining a generally upright back surface and a plurality of longitudinally spaced male engaging means facing rearwardly from said shelf back surface, said plurality of male engaging means of said shelf being configured and dimensioned as lugs for cooperation and interconnection with said support female engaging means for releasable retention of said shelf in a plane transverse to the plane of said support; and

(C) angling means interposed between said shelf back surface and said support front surface, said angling means defining an upright back surface and an angled front surface, said angled front surface of said angling means defining a single predetermined angle of 5 to about 15 degrees with respect to said back surface of said angling means, said angled front surface of said angling means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced female engaging means facing forwardly from said angled front surface of said angling means and being configured and dimensioned as apertures for cooperation and maintenance with said male engaging means of said shelf for releasable retention therein, said back surface of said angling means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced male engaging means facing rearwardly from said back surface of said angling means and being configured and dimensioned as lugs for cooperation and maintenance with said female engaging means of said support for releasable retention therein of said female engaging means of said support, thereby to releasably maintain said shelf in a single predetermined plane angled to the plane of said support, but not transverse thereto.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said lugs are L-shaped, extending rearwardly and downwardly.

12. A bracket adapted to support a display shelf at a non-transverse angle to a support defining a vertical plane, said bracket comprising:

angling means interposed between a shelf back surface and a support front surface, said angling means defining an upright back surface and an angled front surface, said angling means front surface defining an angle of 5 to about 15 degrees with respect to said angling means back surface, said angling means front surface defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced engaging means facing forwardly and being configured and dimensioned for cooperation and interconnection with the shelf back surface, said angling means back surface defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced engaging means facing rearwardly from said angling means back surface and being configured and dimensioned for cooperation and releasable interconnection with the support front surface;

said angling means being configured and dimensioned to releasably retain the shelf in a single predetermined plane angled to the plane of the support, but not transverse thereto.

13. The bracket of claim 12 wherein said angle is about 9 to 10 degrees.

14. The bracket claim 12 wherein said engaging means of said angling means front surface are apertures and said engaging means of said angling means back surface are lugs.

15. The bracket of claim 14 wherein said lugs are L-shaped, extending rearwardly and downwardly.

16. The bracket of claim 12 wherein said angling means is devoid of any means for engaging either of said shelf and said support intermediate said first and second surfaces of said angling means.

17. The bracket of claim 12 wherein said shelf is secured to said angling means only by the engagement of said shelf back surface and said engaging means of said angling means front surface.

18. A bracket adapted to support a display shelf at a non-transverse angle to a support defining a vertical plane, said bracket comprising:

angling means interposed between a shelf back surface and a support front surface, said angling means defining an upright back surface and an angled front surface, said angled front surface of said angling means defining an angle of 5 to about 15 degrees with respect to said back surface of said angling means, said angled front surface of said angling means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced female engaging means facing forwardly from said angled front surface of said angling means and being configured and dimensioned as apertures for cooperation and retention with male engaging means of the shelf for releasable retention therein said back surface of said angling means defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced male engaging means facing rearwardly from said back surface of said angling means and being configured and dimensioned as lugs for cooperation and retention with female engaging means of the support for releasable maintenance therein, said angling means being configured and dimensioned to releasably retain the shelf in a single predetermined plane angled to the vertical plane of the support, but not transverse thereto.

19. The bracket of claim 18 wherein said lugs are L-shaped, extending rearwardly and downwardly.