Adjustable bookend

• US 6,598,754 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Standrite Bookends, LLC
• Original Assignee: Standrite Bookends, LLC
• Inventors: Weiler, Raywood C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lev, Bruce A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Novosad, Jennifer E.
• Application Number:
  US10/260,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• Field of Search: 211/184, 211/42, 211/43, 211/59.4, 211/11, 108/60, 108/61, 248/441.1, 248/447.2, 248/448, 248/453, 248/454, 248/412, 248/222.13, 248/222.14, 248/222.11, 248/229.16, 248/229.21, 248/229.26, 248/228.2, 248/228.7, 248/231.31
• US Class Current: 211/184
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/583 by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 65/00 Book-troughs; Accessories specially adapted for book-storing, e.g. book-ends
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 65/20 Book-ends
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

A bookend for use with a bookshelf includes an upright, a base adapted for placement generally adjacent the bookshelf upper surface, a lower portion depending from the base, and an adjustable securement mechanism. The lower portion cooperates with the base to define a capture area, and the capture area is sized to receive the bookshelf front edge portion. The adjustable securement mechanism is mounted to the lower portion and is adapted to secure the bookshelf front edge portion in the capture area, thus securing the bookend to the bookshelf.

Claims

1. A bookend for use with a bookshelf, the bookshelf an upper surface, a lower surface, and a front edge portion, the front edge portion of the book shelf including a downwardly depending flange, the downwardly depending flange and the lower surface of the bookshelf defining an interior corner, the bookend comprising:

a frame, the frame including a first portion adapted to overlie the upper surface of the bookshelf, the frame further including a second portion depending from the first portion, the first and second portions cooperating to define a capture area, the capture area being sized to receive therein the front edge portion of the bookshelf, at least a portion of the second portion defining a camming surface;

a threaded rod rotatably mounted to the frame; and

a clamp member engaging the threaded rod, the clamp member sized to extend into the interior corner of the bookshelf and further arranged to engage the interior corner when the front edge portion of the bookshelf is placed in the capture area, the clamp member moveable toward the capture area in response to rotation of the threaded rod, the clamp member including an extension, the extension mounted to the clamp member and moveable relative to the clamp member, the extension extending into the interior corner.

2. The bookend of claim 1, wherein the clamp member includes a cylindrical threaded portion and wherein the extension is pivotally mounted to the cylindrical threaded portion.

3. The bookend of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the frame includes a pad positioned to contact the upper surface of the bookshelf.

4. The bookend of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the frame includes a pad positioned to contact the front edge portion of the bookshelf.

5. The bookend of claim 1, wherein the threaded rod is secured to the second portion of the frame by a clip.

6. The bookend of claim 5, wherein the clip includes an aperture sized to receive a portion of the threaded rod.

7. The bookend of claim 1, including a plate member removably attached to an upright, the upright joined to the first portion of the frame, the plate member being attachable in a first position in which the plate member extends upwardly away from the upper surface of the bookshelf, the plate member further being attachable in a second position in which the plate member extends downwardly toward the upper surface of the bookshelf.

8. A bookend for use with a bookshelf, the bookshelf having an upper surface, a lower surface, and being bounded in part by a front edge portion, the bookend comprising:

an upright mounted to a base;

the base adapted for placement generally adjacent the bookshelf upper surface;

a lower portion depending from the base, the lower portion cooperating with the base to define a capture area having an interior corner, the capture area being sized to receive therein the bookshelf front edge portion; and

an adjustable securement mechanism mounted to the lower portion, the securement mechanism including a threaded rod mounted to the lower portion and further including an extended portion, the extended portion adapted to extend upwardly from the threaded rod toward the interior corner, the securement mechanism adapted to secure the front edge portion of the bookshelf in the capture area, the securement mechanism operating in response to rotation of the threaded rod to permit the extended portion to move progressively toward or away from the interior corner, the extended portion further pivotally engaging the threaded rod to permit the extended portion to pivot about a horizontal axis, the horizontal axis disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of the threaded rod.

9. A bookend for use with a bookshelf, the bookshelf having an upper surface, a lower surface, and being bounded in part by a front edge portion, the bookend comprising:

an upright mounted to a base;

the base adapted for placement generally adjacent the bookshelf upper surface;

a lower portion depending from the base, the lower portion cooperating with the base to define a capture area having an interior corner, the capture area being sized to receive therein the bookshelf front edge portion;

a threaded rod rotatably mounted adjacent the lower portion of the base; and

a wedge member engaging the threaded rod and being moveable toward and away from the capture area in response to rotation of the threaded rod, the wedge member having an arm extending upwardly away from the threaded rod toward the capture area.

10. The bookend of claim 9, wherein the wedge member is generally cylindrical, and wherein the arm is mounted to the wedge member and shiftable relative to the wedge member.

11. The bookend of claim 9, wherein the lower portion of the base includes a camming surface, and wherein the wedge member coacts with the camming surface to thereby move the arm further toward the capture area in response to rotation of the threaded rod.

12. The bookend of claim 11, including a centering clip engaging the threaded rod and the lower portion of the base.

13. A bookend for use with a bookshelf, the bookshelf having an upper surface, a lower surface, and being bounded in part by a front edge portion, the bookend comprising:

an upright;

a base supporting the upright and adapted for placement generally adjacent the bookshelf upper surface;

a lower portion depending from the base, the lower portion cooperating with the base to define a capture area having an interior corner, the capture area being sized to receive therein the bookshelf front edge portion; and

an adjustable securement mechanism mounted to the lower portion, the securement mechanism including a wedge member having a cylindrical portion and further having an extending portion pivotally mounted to the cylindrical portion of the wedge member, the extending portion adapted to extend upwardly from the wedge member toward the interior corner of the capture area, the extending portion sized and positioned to engage the front edge portion of the bookshelf when the front edge portion of the bookshelf is positioned adjacent the interior corner of the capture area; and

the securement mechanism further including a threaded rod rotatably mounted to the lower portion, the wedge member moveable in response to rotation of the threaded rod to permit the extending portion of the wedge member to move progressively toward or away from the interior corner of the capture area in response to rotation of the threaded rod.