Horizontally supported planar surfaces – With structural installation
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-20
2002-08-06
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
With structural installation
C108S050110, C211S119003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06427606
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shelf assembly for attachment to an electrical outlet, electrical switch, toilet tissue holder or other similar holder mounted in a framework recessed in a wall without removing the holder to install the shelf assembly.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Additional shelving is needed in many rooms, both at home and in the office. For those handy with tools, hanging a small shelf is not a problem, but many people lack tools or experience. In addition, if the premises are leased, the tenant may not be permitted to drive holes in the walls and, in any case, would prefer to install something that can be easily removed, without damaging the walls, and taken along when the lease ends.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a small shelf assembly that can be easily installed and removed in bathrooms, kitchens, college dorm rooms, etc. It is another object to provide a shelf assembly that can be easily installed with a screwdriver to an existing electrical outlet, electrical switch, toilet tissue dispenser or other similar holder without removing the holder from the wall such that it is easy to restore the holder to its original condition when the shelf is removed. It is a further object to provide a shelf assembly that almost anybody can successfully install. Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Features of the invention useful in accomplishing the above objects include a convenience shelf assembly to be attached to a wall having a holder mounted in a framework recessed in the wall. The holder is of a kind having a peripheral rim flush with the wall and attached to the framework with at least one threaded fastener. The convenience shelf assembly includes a shelf, a pair of spaced apart brackets attached to the shelf and a back wall having top, bottom and side edges. The side edges are connected to the brackets and the top edge is connected to the shelf. The back wall is wider along the top edge than the peripheral rim and has a thickness not substantially greater and preferably equal to or less than the thickness of the rim. The back wall has at least one slot dividing the back wall into sections, each of the slots opening from the bottom edge. The sections are adapted to straddle a portion of the holder recessed into the wall to prevent sideways tilting of the shelf assembly. The convenience shelf can be attached to the wall by loosening each of the threaded fasteners and slipping the back wall under the peripheral rim and then tightening each of the fasteners. The shelf assembly can be removed and the holder restored to its original condition by reversing the operation.
In a preferred embodiment, shelf and side brackets are notched for receipt of the back wall such that the back wall is not visible when the shelf is viewed from above or the brackets are viewed from the sides.
The invention summarized above comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the subjoined claims.
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Anderson Jerry A
Cuomo Peter M.
Fishel Grace J.
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