Adhesively mountable angled wall shelf

• US 7,971,737 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Cirulli, Pasquale, Newbould, Peter J., Pihlstrom, Russell G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jayne; Darnell M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krycinski; Stanton L
• Application Number:
  US11/849,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20080053934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 211/90.01, 211/90.03, 211/134, 211/119.003, 211/119.009, 211/119.011, 211/85.31, 211/87.01, 211/88.01, 211/106, 211/126.9, 211/126.11, 211/133.6, 211/181.1, 211/1, 211/85.12, 211/119, 211/137.5, 211/133.5, 108/27, 248/205.3
• US Class Current: 211/90.01
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/027 Cantilever shelves

Abstract

A wall mountable shelf for storing items in a shower or bath enclosure includes a frame, a base member connected with the frame, a back plate connected with the frame and arranged to support the frame on the wall, and adhesive arranged between the back plate and the wall for securing the shelf to the wall surface. The frame includes a top rail portion, a front rail portion, and a pair of side rail portions connecting the top rail portion and the front rail portion. Each side rail portion includes a back portion extending downwardly from the top rail portion and a bottom portion extending from the back portion to the front rail portion arranged at an angle of less than 90°.

Claims

1. A wall mountable shelf, comprising:

(a) a frame comprising a top rail portion, a front rail portion, and a pair of side rail portions connecting the top rail portion and the front rail portion, wherein each side rail portion includes a back portion extending downwardly from the top rail portion and a bottom portion extending from the back portion to the front rail portion, and further wherein each side rail back portion and each side rail bottom portion are arranged at an angle of less than 90°

;

(b) a base removably connected with the frame, the base extending an entire lateral distance between the side rail bottom portions;

(c) at least one back plate connected with the frame and arranged to support the frame on the wall; and

(d) at least one stretch removable adhesive strip arranged between the back plate and the wall for securing the shelf to the wall surface;

and wherein;

the at least one stretch removable adhesive strip includes an adhesive portion and a non-adhesive pull tab portion that extends outwardly beyond the bottom of the back plate;

the frame includes a support bar extending between the side rail portions;

the at least one back plate extends from the top rail portion to the support bar; and

,

the base includes;

a lip arranged along a top edge of the base for engagement with the support bar, and,

a back wall portion extending upwardly at least partially along the side rail back portions, thereby to conceal the non-adhesive pull tab portion of the adhesive strip when the base is connected with the frame.

2. A shelf as defined in claim 1, wherein the frame is constructed from a rod.

3. A shelf as defined in claim 1, wherein the base includes drainage openings.

4. A shelf as defined in claim 1, further comprising side walls arranged between each side rail back portion and each side rail bottom portion.

5. A shelf as defined in claim 1, comprising a pair of back plates arranged at opposite ends of the top rail portion adjacent each side rail portion.

6. A shelf as defined in claim 1, further comprising an abutment arranged along the bottom of the shelf adjacent the wall surface, whereby the abutment is urged into engagement with the wall surface as items are placed on the shelf.

7. A shelf as defined in claim 6, wherein the abutment is formed apart from the back plate and is arranged to reduce a tensile force on the adhesive strip when secured to the wall surface as items are placed on the shelf.

8. A shelf as defined in claim 1, wherein the adhesive portion is concealed by the at least one back plate.

9. A shelf as defined in claim 3, wherein the drainage openings are positioned where the bottom surface meets the back surface.

10. A shelf as defined in claim 1, wherein the shelf is configured for mounting to a wall in a shower and the stretch removable adhesive strip is configured to maintain a holding power in the presence of water.

11. A shelf as defined in claim 1, wherein the base, when connected with the frame, is not adjustably positionable toward or away from either of the side rail portions along a direction generally aligned with a long axis of the front rail portion.