Supports – Brackets – Specially mounted or attached
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-24
2001-05-01
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Specially mounted or attached
C248S235000, C297S217700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224029
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of shelves, more particularly to hanging shelves, and still more particularly to shelves associated with balustrades around patios, balconies, decks and the like.
2. Background Discussion
It is known that patios, balconies, decks and the like, particularly those provided with apartments and condominiums are often relatively small with little room for plants and eating tables. Consequently it is not unusual for occupants to attach shelves or counters to balustrades around the patios, decks or balconies.
As examples, U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,924 to Burr T. Carmody discloses a support fixture for mounting on railings and the like and U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,380 to Thomas G. Fee discloses a rail mounted rack for such containers as outdoor grills and the like. Further U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,715 to James D. Owen discloses a patio railing shelf bracket.
One of the problems typically associated with such fixtures, racks or brackets is their lack of flexibility concerning the attachment, location and height of installation and the width of the railing to which they are intended to be attached and/or their lack of versatility of use.
For these and other reasons, the present inventor has invented an improved and attractive shelf or counter which is easily attached to and detached from balustrade railings of any reasonable width, which can be easily adjusted for height from the top of the railing, and which can be used for such diverse purposes as holding potted plants, for an eating table, and for a convenience shelf.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable, adjustable shelf or counter apparatus for hanging from a balustrade or the like, said apparatus comprising a shelf having a front edge, a back edge and side edges. Included are first and second elongate, flexible hanging elements each having first and second end regions and securing means for securing the first end region of each of the first and second hanging elements to the shelf adjacent the shelf front edge in a spaced apart relationship. Attaching means are provided for detachably attaching the second end region of each of the first and second hanging elements to the shelf adjacent the shelf rear edge in the spaced apart relationship. A back member is fixed to the shelf adjacent the back edge.
The securing means secures the first end regions of the first and second hanging elements to an under surface of the shelf adjacent the shelf front edge. The attaching means detachably attaches the second end regions of the first and second hanging elements to an under surface of the shelf adjacent the shelf rear edge.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention there are included first and second protective sleeves slidingly installed over at least portions of respective first and second hanging elements. Preferably, the protective sleeves comprise plastic tubing.
There may be included edge rails installed on an upper surface of said shelf adjacent said front and side edges to retain objects on the shelf.
Preferably, the first and second hanging elements comprise metal chains, and the attaching means include eye screws attached to an under side of the shelf adjacent said shelf side edges and further include split rings for detachably attaching each of the first and second hanging elements to respective ones of the eye screws.
The shelf apparatus can then be conveniently hung from an upper railing of a balustrade at any desired height and can be conveniently moved from one location to another as may be desired.
Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention is attractive and is easy to manufacture.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 251357 (1979-03-01), Chasen
patent: D. 270034 (1983-08-01), Shepard
patent: 626641 (1899-06-01), Vaughan
patent: 1010812 (1911-12-01), Shuttleworth
patent: 1270738 (1918-06-01), Jones
patent: 2497658 (1950-02-01), Davis
patent: 2503602 (1950-04-01), Titley
patent: 3050355 (1962-08-01), Hess
patent: 3465893 (1969-09-01), Kinney
patent: 4138019 (1979-02-01), Smith
patent: 4949924 (1990-08-01), Carmody
patent: 5009380 (1991-04-01), Fee
patent: 5052648 (1991-10-01), Landau
patent: 5267715 (1993-12-01), Owen
patent: 5427344 (1995-06-01), Beauchemin
Marble Jeanette L.
Marble William D.
Baxter Gwendolyn
Braun Leslie A.
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