Patent ID: 7533948
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: A47B,F25D

Abstract:
1. A piece of food equipment having an adjustable shelf system comprising: a) at least one series of vertically spaced back support surfaces mounted in the food equipment for providing support to a back of a shelf; b) at least two front brackets, each having a base and a support member extending from the base, the support member having an outer edge, the support member also having a series of vertically spaced notches extending from the outer edge toward the base, the notches having a first elevation and a second elevation lower than the first elevation, the first elevation being located between the edge and the second elevation, and the second elevation being located between the first elevation and the base, the front brackets being mounted vertically in the food equipment such that the second elevation of the notches in the front bracket are at the same elevation as corresponding back support surfaces, the front brackets also being mounted such that the support members extend from the bases substantially toward each other in a direction generally parallel with a vertical plane that intersects both of the front brackets; and c) at least one shelf supported by the back support surfaces and the front brackets with a front, back and two sides, the front and the back defining the depth of the shelf and the two sides defining the width of the shelf, the shelf having a main shelf surface and at least two extensions extending outwardly from the sides between the front and the back and protruding beyond the width of the shelf, the extensions having a width, measured from the front to the back of the shelf, of less than the depth of the shelf, and a thickness such that they can pass laterally through the front bracket notches; the extensions being placed on the shelf, the front brackets and back support surfaces being placed in the food equipment, and the extensions and notches being configured such that in a first longitudinal shelf position, the back of the shelf is supported by one of the at least one series of back support surfaces and the extensions extend into corresponding notches in the front brackets and rest on the second elevation of said notches, and such that the front of the shelf can be lifted to where the extensions clear the first elevation, allowing the shelf to be moved laterally to a second longitudinal shelf position in which the back of the shelf is no longer supported by the back support surfaces and the extensions are clear of the notches in the front brackets, thereby allowing the shelf to be moved vertically to a different height while maintaining the shelf in a substantially horizontal plane.