Shelf mounting bracket for adjustable organizer system

• US 7,240,803 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Stitchick, David M., O'Brien, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newton; Jared W.
• Application Number:
  US10/886,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20050109901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.43, 248/221.11, 248/245, 248/222.13, 211/90.03, 211/192, 211/106, 244/57, 245/23, 245/24, 245/27
• US Class Current: 211/106
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/022 with cantilever shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/42 the shelf supports being cantilever brackets
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/027 Cantilever shelves
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/028 characterised by support bracket location means, e.g. fixing means between support bracket and shelf
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/061 Cantilever brackets
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/1458 with perforations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44017 with specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or semirigid supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured

Abstract

A shelf mounting bracket has a bracket body with a forward end, a rear end, an upper side, and a lower side. One or more connectors extend from the rear end for mounting the bracket to a support. At least one forward shelf support is provided near the forward end and faces in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body. At least one rear shelf support is provided near the rear end and faces in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body. A locking clip is carried near the rear end of the bracket body. The clip is slidable between a locked position such that a portion of the locking clip is positioned vertically over and spaced from the rear shelf support, and an unlocked position providing vertical clearance to the rear shelf support.

Claims

1. A shelf mounting bracket comprising:

a bracket body having a forward end, a rear end, an upper side, and a lower side;

one or more connectors extending from the rear end for mounting the bracket to a support;

at least one forward shelf support provided near the forward end and facing in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body;

at least one rear shelf support provided near the rear end and facing in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body, the at least one rear shelf support recessed from the upper side of the bracket body; and

a locking clip carried near the rear end of the bracket body, the locking clip being slidable between a locked position such that a portion of the locking clip is positioned vertically over and spaced from the rear shelf support, and an unlocked position providing vertical clearance to the rear shelf support, wherein the bracket body is a U-shaped channel having an open top, and wherein the locking clip is received between side walls of the bracket body.

2. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the locking clip is horizontally slidable.

3. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the locking clip comprises:

a U-shaped clip body;

a wire receiving channel that is longitudinally oriented, open ended, and extending along the clip body; and

a pair of oppositely outwardly extending ribs protruding from sides of the clip body.

4. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the locking clip further includes a pair of projections that extend rearward and are laterally spaced apart facing toward the rear end of the bracket body, the projections providing the portion of the locking clip that cover the rear end shelf support surface when in the locked position, and wherein the projections are configured to extend beyond the rear end of the bracket body in at least the locked position.

5. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the locking clip further comprises:

a U-shaped clip body having an open top forming a longitudinal open ended channel there along; and

a pair of longitudinally outwardly extending retainer flanges positioned adjacent upper edges of side walls of the U-shaped clip body.

6. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 1, further comprising:

a rear stop positioned adjacent the rear shelf support; and

a front stop positioned adjacent the front shelf support, the front and rear stops located between the front and rear shelf supports along the upper side of the bracket body.

7. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 6, wherein the rear shelf support has a rounded notch recessed therein adjacent the rear stop, and wherein a nub extends upward between the rounded notch and a remaining part of the rear shelf support.

8. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 1, further comprising at least one forwardly extending finger projecting from a forward edge of the forward end of the bracket body, the at least one finger defining the forward shelf support on its upward facing side.

9. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of ribs on opposite sides of the locking clip received in corresponding slots in opposed side walls of the bracket body, the ribs retained in the slots and slidable along the slots.

10. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the connectors include an upper pair of hooks that are laterally spaced apart and extend rearward and downward from the rear end of the bracket body.

11. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 10, wherein the connectors further include a lower pair of hooks that are laterally spaced apart and extend rearward and downward from the rear end of the bracket body and that are positioned below and spaced from the upper pair of hooks.

12. A shelf mounting bracket according to claim 10, wherein the connectors further include a pair of tabs that are laterally spaced apart and that extend rearward from the rear end of the bracket body and that are positioned below and spaced from the upper pair of hooks.

13. A shelf mounting bracket comprising:

a bracket body having a forward end, a rear end, an upper side, and a lower side wherein the bracket body is formed as a U-shaped channel having side walls and an open top;

one or more connectors extending from the rear end for mounting the bracket to a support;

at least one forward shelf support provided near the forward end and facing in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body;

at least one rear shelf support provided near the rear end and facing in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body; and

a locking clip carried near the rear end of the bracket body, the locking clip being slidable between a locked position such that a portion of the locking clip is positioned vertically over and spaced from the rear shelf support, and an unlocked position providing vertical clearance to the rear shelf support, wherein the locking clip comprises;

a U-shaped clip body;

a wire receiving channel that is longitudinally oriented, open ended, and extending along the clip body; and

a pair of oppositely outwardly extending ribs protruding from sides of the clip body, wherein the locking clip is received between the side walls of the bracket body, and wherein the side walls of the bracket body include elongate slots, each rib of the locking clip received in a respective one of the slots, and the slots having a length greater than a length of the corresponding ribs to permit sliding of the locking clip along the slots.

14. A shelf mounting bracket comprising:

a bracket body having a forward end, a rear end, an upper side, a lower side, and opposed side walls having corresponding slots;

one or more connectors extending from the rear end for mounting the bracket to a support;

at least one forward shelf support provided near the forward end and facing in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body;

at least one rear shelf support provided near the rear end and facing in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body;

a locking clip carried near the rear end of the bracket body, the locking clip being slidable between a locked position such that a portion of the locking clip is positioned vertically over and spaced from the rear shelf support, and an unlocked position providing vertical clearance to the rear shelf support; and

a pair of ribs disposed on opposite sides of the locking clip received in the corresponding slots in the opposed side walls of the bracket body, the ribs retained in the slots and slidable along the slots, wherein the ribs each include a pair of opposed dimples, and wherein the slots each include a bump extending into the slot, the bumps received in corresponding ones of the dimples when the locking clip is in the locked position.

15. A mounting bracket for a shelving unit, the mounting bracket comprising:

a bracket body in the form of a U-shaped channel having a pair of opposed and spaced apart side walls, a forward end, a rear end, a lower side, an open top, and a slot in each of the side walls, each slot having a pair of dimples confronting one another across the slot;

one or more connectors extending from the rear end for mounting the bracket to a support;

at least one forward shelf support provided near the forward end and facing in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body;

at least one rear shelf support provided near the rear end and facing in the direction of the upper side of the bracket body; and

a locking clip carried between the side walls of the bracket body near the rear end of the bracket body, the locking clip having a U-shaped clip body, a wire receiving channel that is longitudinally oriented, open ended, and extending along the clip body, and a pair of ribs extending outwardly from opposite sides of the clip body, each rib received in a corresponding one of the slots in the bracket body, the ribs retained in the slots and the locking clip being horizontally slidable along the slots between a locked position such that a portion of the locking clip is positioned vertically over and spaced from the rear shelf support and an unlocked position providing vertical clearance to the rear shelf support, each rib having a pair of opposed dimples whereby the bumps of the slots are received in corresponding ones of the dimples when the locking clip is in the locked position.