Abstract:
A shelf component including a generally flat, planar base and a pair of side panels, each side panel being coupled to the base on opposite sides thereof. Each side panel is pivotally coupled to said base such that each side panel is positionable generally on a first side of the base. Each side panel has an opening configured to receive a mounting hook therethrough. The shelf component further includes a pair of extension hooks coupled to at least one of the side panels or the base. Each extension hook is positionable on a second side of the base that is opposite the first side.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/737,173 entitled SHELF COMPONENT, filed on Dec. 14, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to a shelf component, more particularly, to a shelf component which can be used with a locker or the like. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Students and others utilize lockers and other storage devices to secure books, coats, backpacks, files, folders, papers and other loose items. Some lockers may provide a single shelf to provide storage space, but the shelf is often inadequate to meet the storage needs of a user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, the present invention is a shelf component which can be utilized to provide a shelf, or an extra shelf or storage compartment, in a locker. More particularly, in one embodiment the invention is a shelf component including a generally flat, planar base and a pair of side panels, each side panel being coupled to the base on opposite sides thereof. Each side panel is pivotally coupled to said base such that each side panel is positionable generally on a first side of the base. Each side panel has an opening configured to receive a mounting hook therethrough. The shelf component further includes a pair of extension hooks coupled to at least one of the side panels or the base. Each extension hook is positionable on a second side of the base that is opposite the first side. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the shelf component of the present invention, shown mounted inside a locker; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the shelf component of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the locker and shelf component of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the shelf component of  FIG. 1 , shown in its flat configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , in one embodiment the present invention takes the form of a shelf component  10  which can be used in conjunction with a locker  12  or the like. The locker  12  may include a locker body  14  defining an inner volume  16  having a front opening  18 . The locker  12  may include a locker door  20  that is hingedly coupled to the locker body  14  and can selectively cover/close the front opening  18  when the locker door  20  is in its closed position. 
         [0010]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the locker  12  may include a permanent, generally horizontally-oriented locker shelf  22  positioned in the inner volume  16  near an upper portion thereof. In one embodiment, a set of opposed mounting hooks  24  are positioned in the inner volume  16 , coupled to the locker body  14  and/or underside of the locker shelf  22 . In traditional use, a user can place books and other loose components on the permanent locker shelf  22 , and hang a coat, backpack or other items from the mounting hooks  24 . In other cases, the locker  12  may lack the permanent shelf  22 , but may still include the mounting hooks  24 . 
         [0011]    In order to provide greater utility to the locker  12 , the shelf component  10  can be coupled to and/or suspended from the locker body  14 /permanent locker shelf  22 /mounting hooks  24 . In particular, in one embodiment the shelf component  10  includes a generally, flat planar base  28  and a pair of generally flat, planar side panels  30 , each side panel  30  being coupled to opposite sides of the base  28 . In its mounted configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , each side panel  30  is oriented generally perpendicular to the base  28 , and the base  28  is oriented generally parallel to the permanent locker shelf  22 . 
         [0012]    Each side panel  30  may include an opening  32  formed therein, wherein each opening  32  is positioned to receive a mounting hook  24  therethrough to thereby suspend the shelf component  10  and position it in place. Each opening  32  can be reinforced, and, in the illustrated embodiment, includes a reinforcing metal grommet positioned therein. However, the shelf component  10  may also be able to be coupled to the locker  12  by other means and mechanisms, such as by attaching directly to the permanent locker shelf  22 . 
         [0013]    When the shelf component  10  is installed in the locker  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the base  28  defines a flat shelf surface upon which the user can place books, school supplies, clothes and other loose components. The shelf component  10  thereby provides another shelf for use inside the locker  12  (or the only shelf if the locker  12  lacks a permanent locker shelf  22 ). The shelf component  10  can be positioned lower than the permanent locker shelf  22  and therefore can be accessible to shorter and younger users of lockers  12 , and provides improved visibility. In addition, the shelf component  10  can include one or more extension hooks  34  extending generally downwardly from the base  28 . In the illustrated embodiment the extension hooks  34  are mounted to the base  28  of the shelf component  10 , but could also or instead be mounted to the side panels  30 . In the illustrated embodiment the extension hooks  34  are positioned on opposite lateral sides of the front opening  18  of the locker  12 . 
         [0014]    In one embodiment the side panels  30  are positioned on one side (i.e. the upper side, extending upwardly) of the base  28 , and the extension hooks  34  are positioned on the other side (i.e. the lower side, extending downwardly) from the base  28 . The extension hooks  34  can be laterally aligned with the openings  32 /mounting hooks  24  in the depth direction (i.e. front to back of the locker  12  dimension) and in the width direction (i.e. left to right of the locker  12  dimension) when the shelf component  10  is mounted to the locker  12  such that the extension hooks  34  are positioned directly vertically below the openings  32 /mounting hooks  24 . In one case each extension hook  34  has generally the same size and shape as the mounting hooks  24 . In this manner, the extension hooks  34  are provided in the same lateral location as the mounting hooks  24 , and have the same size/shape so that the user can use the extension hooks  34  in a similar manner in which the mounting hooks  24  are used in the absence of the shelf component  10 . However, in some cases the extension hooks  34  can have a different size, shape and/or location than the mounting hooks  24 . 
         [0015]    The shelf component  10  (and/or the panels  28 ,  30 ) can be made of a single unitary piece of material wherein the side panels  28  are pivotally coupled to the base along hinge lines  36 . The shelf component  10  and panels  28 ,  30  may each be sufficiently stiff and/or rigid so as to remain generally planar when supported at any end thereof in a cantilevered fashion. In the illustrated embodiment, the side panels  30  are generally rectangular, but the side panels  30  can have any of a variety of other shapes or configurations. 
         [0016]    The shelf component  10  may be movable to a flat configuration, as shown in  FIG. 4 , wherein the shelf component  10  is generally flat and each of the panels  28 ,  30  are generally parallel and co-planar. The pivotable nature of the side panels  30  enables the shelf component  10  to be folded flat for ease of storage, packaging and transportation, and one or both of the side panels  30  can be pivoted on top of the base panel  28  to provide a compact storage arrangement. 
         [0017]    The side panels  30  provide structural integrity to the shelf component  10  to reduce twisting, torsion, swinging, etc. of the component  10 . The side panels  30  can also lay flat against the inner walls of the locker  12 , and extend upwardly therealong, to assure there is no lateral gap between the base panel  28  and the walls of the locker (i.e. to prevent relatively small items such as pencils and the like from rolling off the sides of the base panel  28 ). 
         [0018]    As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the locker body  14  may include a pair of opposed inwardly-extending lips  38 , and the base panel  28  may have a lateral width greater than the lateral gap between the lips  38  (i.e. the width of the front opening  18 ). In this manner the base panel  28 /shelf component  10  is retained in the inner volume  16  of the locker  12 , and can only be removed by positioning the base panel  28  at an angle, which avoids inadvertent removal and ensures the shelf component  10  does not interfere with closing the door  20 . In addition, when the side panels  30  are rectangular, their front edges can engage the lip  38 , and the back edge engage the back surface of the locker body  14  so that the shelf component  20  is stably trapped in place. 
         [0019]    In this manner the shelf component  10  provides a convenient storage devices which can be easily installed, can hang from the mounting hooks  24 , and provides extension hooks  34  to replace the functionality provided by the mounting hooks  24 . 
         [0020]    Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the various embodiments, it should be understood that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the claims of the present application.