Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Plural related horizontal surfaces – Vertically adjustable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-25
2003-07-01
Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3637)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Plural related horizontal surfaces
Vertically adjustable
C108S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06584916
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to racks and rack-type supports having horizontal planar surfaces and, more particularly, to such racks and supports of the type having removable and adjustable shelves.
A wide variety of racks and rack-type supports are known. Examples of but a few types are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,805,989 (Levene), 1,990,756 (Saaf), 5,127,340 (Maro et al.) and 5,607,070 (Hellyer). While these arrangements have been generally satisfactory for their intended purposes, they are not without disadvantages for certain applications.
For example, the shelves disclosed in the Levene patent must be bolted in place and unbolted to be removed and, if desired, stored. Where time has value, as is usually the case in a work environment, the arrangement is cumbersome. While the shelves disclosed in the Saaf patent may be more quickly mounted and removed, that convenience requires a shelf having pins mounted for pivoting movement into and out of supporting holes.
For greatest flexibility in erection, use and “tear-down, a scaffold should have a shelf-like platform which can be readily mounted and, just as readily, removed. Home entertainment centers, another type of product having one or more shelves, are most preferably configured so that the vertical spacing between shelves can be selected consistent with the vertical height of the components, e.g., tuner, compact-disc player, amplifier or the like, which are intended to rest upon such shelves. Structures like that disclosed in the Levene patent do not lend themselves easily to such uses.
Another type of rack with one or more shelves is embodied as mounted or freestanding units used to display retail products for sale. Such units are often referred to in the industry as “store fixtures.” Most preferably, store fixtures should be aesthetically attractive, permit easy reconfiguration for displaying any of a variety of types of products and have features easily adapted to integration of advertising graphics or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,419 describes one display-type shelving unit which includes a plurality of shelves mounted to laterally spaced posts. Each shelf is mounted using two special brackets which cooperate with slots and recesses in the shelf to support the shelf in a horizontal position, to hang the shelf in an essentially vertical position, or to maintain the shelf in an angled position. While this solution facilitates quick and easy movement of each shelf among its three possible positions, this solution does not enable shelf removal, facilitate changing the vertical positions of each shelf and facilitate various other useful shelving arrangements.
Yet another product which advantageously includes one or more flat surfaces having adjustable height includes a flat-surface desk which may be used by multiple persons. For example, in factories which have more than one shift, often persons who use a desk during different shifts are different heights. To comfortably accommodate users having various heights it is advantageous to have an adjustable-height desk top.
An improved support and shelf which responds to the needs described above would be an important advance in this field of technology.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved support and shelf which addresses problems and shortcomings of the prior art.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved support and shelf arrangement which can be quickly reconfigured.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved support and shelf arrangement which permits rapid mounting and de-mounting of a shelf. To this end, an ideal shelving unit should facilitate essentially unobstructed shelf mounting and removal.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved support and shelf arrangement which permits self-storing” of a shelf.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved support and shelf arrangement which, in particular embodiments, involves a store fixture.
One other object is to provide an extremely strong shelving unit which can withstand relatively large weight.
Yet another object is to provide a shelving system wherein, when one shelf is hanging in a stored position, other shelves may be moved vertically with respect to the stored shelf without disturbing the stored shelf.
One more object is to take advantage of the surfaces of a stored shelf for various secondary purposes such as advertising, changing the appearance of a shelving unit, mounting of a mirror and so on.
A further object is to provide a shelving system wherein the vertical position of a shelf, the extending direction (i.e. forward or rearward) of the shelf and the direction in which surfaces face, can easily be modified.
Another object of the invention is to provide a shelving system wherein shelves can be supported in any of several different positions including several different positions that define angles with respect to a horizontal plane.
One more object of the invention is to provide a shelf assembly wherein, when a shelf is mounted to a frame member in a vertical position a shelf edge can be received within a bracket of a supportable member such as a hang bar so that the hang bar is useable as a display device.
How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention involves the combination of a shelf having a longitudinal axis and an end surface coincident with such axis. It also involves an apparatus for supporting the shelf at such end surface. In the improvement, the shelf includes first and second support pins extending from the end surface in a direction parallel to the axis and defining a first spacing dimension. The apparatus includes a support member having first and second slots, each with a pin-support portion. A clearance region is between such pin-support portions and between the slots.
The clearance region has first and second boundaries and the second slot includes a pivot portion. Such pivot portion and the first boundary define a second spacing dimension slightly greater than the first spacing dimension.
More specifically, the pin-support portion of the first slot is shaped to conform to the shape of the first support pin. And the second pin is arcuate as is the pivot portion of the second slot. In a highly preferred embodiment, the support member is vertical and when the first and second support pins are in registry with the pin-support portions of the first and second slots, respectively, the shelf extends along a substantially horizontal plane.
As to other relationships of components of the new combination, when the second support pin is in registry with the pivot portion of the second slot, the shelf is angled with respect to the horizontal plane. And when such second support pin is in registry with the pivot portion of the second slot and when the shelf is angled with respect to the horizontal plane, the first support pin is spaced below the pin-support portion of the first slot.
In a specific embodiment suitable for self-storing of shelves on the support member, the apparatus has a third slot spaced below the first slot and a fourth slot spaced below the second slot. When the second support pin is in registry with the pivot portion and the shelf is angled with respect to the horizontal plane, e.g., perpendicular to such plane, the first support pin is in the fourth slot.
And the new combination of the shelf and support apparatus has yet additional features when further combined with a hang bar. More specifically, the shelf has an edge defining an edge dimension or thickness between top and bottom shelf surfaces, the top and bottom surfaces forming first and second limiting surfaces, respectively. The hang bar has a mounting bracket including a bridge member and first and second oppositely facing panels and first and second extension members extending from first and seco
Felton J. Reed
Lawrence Douglas G.
Chen José V.
Quarles & Brady LLP
Versatile Products LLC
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