Shelf bracket for wire shelves

A bracket for a wire shelf having at least one of an inner rod, an outer rod and a middle rod, the bracket extending generally normally to the rods upon installation and including an elongate body having an inner end for mounting to a substrate bracket, an outer end opposite the inner end, and an upper edge. The upper edge is provided with at least one groove for accommodating a corresponding one of the inner, outer and middle rods, each groove having an inner curved wall closer to the inner end, an outer curved wall closer to the outer end, and a floor connecting the inner and outer curved walls, the outer curved wall being vertically displaced from the inner curved wall so that the floor is inclined from the inner curved wall to the outer curved wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present application relates generally to wall-mounted, cantilever type 
shelf brackets, and specifically to such brackets which are used with 
wall-mounted slotted wall supports to support ventilated shelves made of 
metallic wire. 
While for many years such wire shelving was strictly used in refrigerators, 
freezers, and in commercial establishments, recent years have seen a 
significant increase in the use of wire shelving for residential 
applications, particularly for closets and kitchen pantries. The increased 
popularity of such shelving is due in part to its ease of adaptation to a 
wide variety of storage applications and closet sizes. In a typical 
application, the shelves are supported by cantilever brackets which 
adjustably engage vertical slots in wall supports which are secured to the 
wall. Each of the brackets has at least one hook-like tab which engages 
the slots at a height designated by the user. 
One problem of conventional ventilated or wire shelves of the type used 
with standard vertical wall supports, is that the wire shelves are 
somewhat unstable in their supporting brackets. This instability is 
particularly problematic when the forward edge of the shelf is loaded 
disproportionately to the rear portion of the shelf. An imbalanced 
condition is thus created, which promotes the tendency of the rear edge of 
the shelf to disengage from the cantilever bracket and flip upward. As 
such, conventional wire shelves have a tendency to become disengaged from 
the bracket, and sometimes spill their contents. Such situations may cause 
personal injuries and/or property damage. 
One attempted solution to this problem of instability is addressed in U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,346,077. There, the bracket was provided with a plurality of 
nesting receptacles for accommodating the transverse rods of a typical 
wire shelf. In addition, a locking lip located near the rearmost or inner 
rod prevents the shelf from flipping up in the rear. However, a drawback 
of this design is that in instances when the shelf is lightly loaded and 
receives an impact directed generally horizontally toward the rear of the 
shelf, or from beneath the shelf, such as from inadvertent bumping by a 
user, the design of the patented bracket is such that the shelf may still 
become easily disengaged and cause injury or damage. 
Another problem of conventional cantilever brackets for wire shelves is 
that the generally plate-like construction of the bracket creates a pivot 
point where the bracket engages the wall support, which becomes more 
unstable as the length of the bracket increases. As a result, conventional 
brackets have the tendency to move in a side-to-side manner. 
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an 
improved shelf bracket for wire shelves in which the wire shelf is 
securely retained in the bracket. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved shelf 
bracket for wire shelves in which the bracket retains the shelf even upon 
impacts which are directed from the front in a horizontal plane, or from 
beneath the shelf. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved shelf 
bracket for wire shelves in which the bracket is provided with integral 
formations for increasing lateral stability. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved 
shelf bracket for wire shelves which features supplemental locking inserts 
which are used to lock at least one of the shelf rods in a corresponding 
one of the bracket slots. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above-listed objects are met or exceeded by the present shelf bracket 
for wire shelves, in which the upper edge of the bracket is provided with 
a plurality of slots configured for accommodating the corresponding 
transverse rods of a typical wire shelf. Each of the slots is provided 
with curved inner and outer walls to retain the rods even when they are 
inadvertently pushed backward or upward. In addition, the rear or inner 
curved wall is disposed higher than the front or outer curved wall of each 
slot to further retain the rod upon such inadvertent impacts. In addition, 
the present bracket features a variety of integral stabilizer formations 
for maintaining lateral stability. Another feature of the present bracket 
is the inclusion of locking inserts for releasably retaining at least one 
of the shelf rods in a corresponding slot in each bracket. 
More specifically, the present package provides a bracket for a wire shelf 
having at least one of an inner rod, an outer rod and a middle rod, the 
bracket extending generally normally to the rods upon installation. 
Included in the bracket is an elongate body having an inner end for 
mounting to a substrate bracket, an outer end opposite the inner end, and 
an upper edge. The upper edge is provided with at least one groove for 
accommodating a corresponding one of the inner, outer and middle rods, 
each groove having an inner curved wall closer to the inner end, an outer 
curved wall closer to the outer end, and a groove floor connecting the 
inner and outer curved walls. In the preferred embodiment, the outer 
curved wall is vertically displaced from the inner curved wall so that the 
groove floor is inclined from the inner curved wall to the outer curved 
wall. 
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a bracket for a wire 
shelf having at least one of an inner rod, an outer rod and a middle rod, 
the bracket extending generally normally to the rods upon installation and 
including an elongate body having an inner end for mounting to a substrate 
bracket, and an outer end opposite the inner end. The inner end is 
provided with a retaining flange disposed at an upper edge of the bracket 
which projects from a first side of the bracket, and a lower flange 
projecting from a second side of the bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the bracket of the invention is 
generally designated 10, and is intended for engagement with a substrate 
or wall-mounted bracket 12 provided with a plurality of vertically 
oriented and spaced slots 14. As is well known in the art, the bracket 12 
is mounted to a wall or substrate 16 using fasteners such as threaded 
screws, anchors, toggle bolts or equivalent fasteners. Once installed in 
the wall mount bracket 12, the shelf bracket 10 creates a cantilever 
support for a wire shelf. generally designated 18 (best seen in FIG. 13). 
The wire shelf 18 includes a plurality of generally parallel, spaced load 
rods 20 (only one shown in FIG. 3) which project generally parallel to the 
bracket 10, and which are all attached to transverse support rods which 
extend generally normally to the installed bracket 10. In the present 
invention, the shelf 18 is preferably of the type having three such 
support rods, designated the inner support rod 22, the middle support rod 
24, and the outer support rod 26. It will be understood, however, that the 
middle support rod 24 is preferred, but is not required. 
Included on the bracket 10 is an elongate, generally laterally flattened, 
bar-like body 28 having an inner end 30 for mounting to a substrate 
bracket, an outer end 32 opposite said inner end, an upper edge 34 and a 
lower edge 36. It will be seen that the inner end 30 generally corresponds 
to the inner support rod 22, and that the outer end 32 generally 
corresponds to the outer support rod 26 of the shelf 18. 
At least one, and preferably three grooves 38, 40, 42, designated inner, 
middle and outer grooves, respectively, are configured for accommodating a 
corresponding one of the inner, middle and outer rods, 22, 24, 26. Each 
groove 38, 40, 42 has an inner curved wall 44 disposed closer to the 
bracket inner end 30, an outer curved wall 46 disposed closer to the outer 
end 32, and a groove floor 48 connecting the inner and outer curved walls. 
It will be seen that the outer curved wall 46 is convex or bulges toward 
the outer end 32, and the inner curved wall 44 bulges or is convex toward 
the inner end 30. From FIGS. 1 and 2 it is also apparent that the outer 
curved wall 46 is lower than the inner curved wall 44, and this is because 
the groove floor 48 is inclined from the inner curved wall to the outer 
curved wall at an angle "x" (best seen in FIG. 1). The advantages of this 
inclination of the floor 48 are described in greater detail below. 
In appearance, the middle and outer grooves 40, 42 are more similar in 
appearance to each other than to the inner groove 38, in which the inner 
curved wall 44 has a greater radius and is larger overall. This 
configuration is designed to facilitate the insertion of the shelf 18 into 
the bracket 10, and acts as a locator for the inner support rod 22. In all 
of the grooves, 38, 40, 42, the outer curved wall 46 is provided with an 
angle "z" (best seen in FIG. 1) which approximates the diameter of the 
corresponding support rod 22, 24, 26, and defines an angle which in the 
preferred embodiment is in the range of 10.degree.-15.degree.. As such, 
once the shelf 18 is in position in the bracket 10, the support rods 22, 
24, 26 will be securely retained by the corresponding grooves 38, 40, 42. 
Each of the grooves 38, 40, 42 is also provided with an entrance gap 50 
located along the upper edge 34. In length, each such gap 50 is long 
enough to accommodate one of the corresponding support rods 22, 24, 26. In 
addition, the gap is shorter in length than the groove floor 48, to 
discourage the shelf 18 from becoming inadvertently disengaged from the 
bracket 10. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, outer peripheries of the inner and outer rods 22, 
26 are separated by a first distance D, and an outermost point of the 
inner curved wall 44 of the inner groove 38 and the outer curved wall 46 
of the outer groove 42 define a second distance G. In the preferred 
embodiment, the distance G is greater than the distance D. This disparity 
in distances, which is preferably slight, allows the shelf 18 to be more 
easily inserted into the corresponding grooves of the bracket 10, yet also 
facilitates the retention of the shelf in the bracket during normal use. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, the inner end 30 of the bracket 10 is 
preferably provided with a pair of inwardly projecting mounting hooks 52 
for engaging the slots 14 in the wall mount bracket 12. A slightly angled 
slot 54 is defined by a tab-like head 56 of each of the hooks 52, for 
tightly engaging the wall mount bracket 12. Preferably two such hooks 52 
are provided in vertically spaced orientation to each other, however it is 
contemplated that the number and spacing of the hooks 52 may vary 
depending on the application and the type of wall mount bracket used. 
Also provided at the inner end 30 is a retaining flange 58 which at least 
partially covers the inner groove 38, and which projects toward one of a 
left side 60 and a right side 62 of the bracket 10. In the preferred 
embodiment, the flange 58 is generally triangular-shaped when viewed from 
above, and is configured for providing lateral stability to the bracket 
upon engagement in the wall mount bracket 12. One of the shorter legs of 
the triangle abuts the wall mount bracket 12 to stabilize the bracket 10. 
However, other shapes for the flange 58 are contemplated depending on the 
application. 
Additional lateral stability to the inner end 30 of the bracket 10 is 
provided by a lower flange 64 which projects from an opposite side of the 
bracket from the retaining flange 58 (best seen in FIG. 7). As is the 
retaining flange 58, the lower flange 64 is preferably generally 
triangular in shape when viewed from above, with one side of the triangle 
being disposed along a front surface of the wall mount bracket 12. Thus, 
in the preferred embodiment, the flanges 58, 64, being located on opposite 
sides of the bracket 10, cooperate in providing lateral stability to the 
bracket regardless of the direction of the lateral force which may cause 
the pivoting action. 
Another function of the retaining flange 58 is that it partially defines 
the entrance gap 50 of the inner slot 38. As such, the retaining flange 58 
thus blocks the unwanted disengagement of the shelf 18 from the bracket 
10, which occurs when the shelf is subject to impact from below, as 
represented by the force F5 in FIG. 3. It will be seen that even though 
the impact has dislodged the shelf from the outer and middle slots 42, 40, 
the retaining flange 58 will still maintain the engagement of the shelf 18 
with the bracket 10. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a significant advantage of the present 
shelf bracket 10 is that the shelf 18 is more securely retained by the 
bracket, and inadvertent impacts upon the shelf 18 are accommodated by the 
configuration of the inner curved walls 44 and the inclined grooved floors 
48. FIG. 1 depicts the bracket 10 and the shelf 18 in the normal position, 
with the rods 22, 24, 26 engaged in the corresponding grooves 38, 40, 42 
by contacting the adjacent outer curved walls 46. Due to the inclination 
of the groove floors 48, the shelf will naturally settle toward the outer 
curved walls 46, and the addition of weight to the shelf will more 
securely retain the shelf in this position. Thus, when loaded, the shelf 
will become "self-locking" in the bracket 10. The size of the angle "z" of 
the outer curved walls 46 will also assist in the shelf retention by 
frictionally engaging the corresponding, similarly dimensioned, support 
rods 22, 24, 26. 
Upon an upward or rearward impact, as depicted by the force vectors F3 and 
F4, respectively in FIG. 2, the shelf 18 is displaced slightly upward and 
backward, however this displacement is controlled by the angle of 
inclination of the groove floor 48, and also by the shape of the grooves 
38, 40, 42 and their engagement with the corresponding rods 22, 24, 26. 
The curved shape of the inner curved walls 44 frictionally engages the 
rods 22, 24 and 26 and prevents them from becoming disengaged from the 
bracket 10, resulting in a safer shelf and bracket assembly. Upon removal 
of the impact forces represented by the vectors F3 and F4, the shelf 18 
will return to its original position depicted in FIG. 1. 
Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, an optional feature of the bracket 10 is 
the inclusion of at least one locking insert, generally designated 70, for 
retaining, either by friction or by the weight of the insert, a 
corresponding one of the rods 22, 24, 26 in the corresponding groove 38, 
40, 42. In the preferred embodiment, the inserts are made of plastic or 
metal, and are generally "U"-shaped when viewed in cross-section (best 
seen in FIG. 10). Generally, the inserts 70 are configured to straddle the 
bracket 10 in the grooves 38, 40, 42 to occupy the space in the groove not 
occupied by the respective rod 22, 24, 26. In this manner, the rods, and 
of course the shelf 18, will be prevented from unwanted movement along the 
longitudinal axis of the bracket 10. 
More specifically, each of the inserts 70 includes a central, generally 
cylindrical portion 72 provided on each end with a depending leg 74. It is 
contemplated that the portion 72 may, as an alternative to cylindrical, be 
conical or some other shape, as long as the extra space in the groove is 
occupied to hold the rod in place. Preferably, the cylindrical portion 72 
has a length which approximates the thickness of the bracket 10, so that 
the legs, 74 snugly engage the sides 60, 62 of the bracket. In the case of 
metal inserts 70, in some applications the mere weight of the insert will 
hold it in the groove without requiring a friction fit. 
For applications where the inserts 70 are employed, the user merely 
installs the shelf 18 in the bracket, then slides at least one insert into 
a corresponding groove on at least one bracket supporting a given shelf 
18. Additional inserts are not required for locking the shelf in place, 
but their use is contemplated. To remove or adjust the shelf 18, the 
process is merely reversed. 
Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, an alternate embodiment of the insert is 
generally designated 76, and includes a generally cylindrical portion 78 
dimensioned to fit within the groove 38, 40, 42 just as is the case with 
the insert 70. At one end of the cylindrical portion 78 is disposed a head 
80, which is larger in diameter than the cylindrical portion and as such 
engages one of the sides 60, 62 of the bracket 10 in the same way as one 
of the legs 74 of the insert 70. Also provided to the cylindrical portion 
78 is at least one barb formation 82 which projects radially from the 
generally cylindrical portion to releaseably lock the insert 76 in the 
corresponding groove 38, 40, 42. The barb formations 82 engage the 
opposite side 60, 62 from that engaged by the head 80. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, another optional feature of the present bracket 
10 is the provision of at least one lateral stability tab, generally 
designated 84, for providing additional support against lateral movement 
of the bracket 10 when engaged in the wall mount bracket 12. In the 
preferred version of this embodiment, which is designed for heavier duty 
applications, and referring now to FIGS. 5-7, in addition to the retaining 
flange 58 and the lower flange 64, there are two stability tabs 84, each 
being integrally formed in the bracket 10 and each having a corresponding 
portion 86, 88 projecting towards a respective side 60, 62 of the bracket 
10. 
The portions 86, 88 are constructed and arranged so that an inner side 90 
(best seen in FIG. 7) engages a front surface of the wall mount bracket 12 
to provide the desired additional stability. In the preferred version of 
this embodiment, the stability tabs 84 are disposed generally between the 
retaining flange 58 and the lower flange 64, and are stamped and formed in 
the inner end 30 of the bracket. However, it is contemplated that other 
locations and manufacturing techniques could be employed to create the 
tabs. 
Referring now to FIG. 8, alternately, the portions 86, 88 can be formed so 
that both project from the same side 60, 62 of the bracket 10. In that 
embodiment, it is preferred that the retaining flange 58 and the lower 
flange 64 project from the same side 60, 62, which is opposite the side 
from which the portions 86, 88 project. 
Referring now to FIGS. 13-15, a pair of the present shelf brackets 10 is 
depicted assembled with a shelf 18, and using one of the optional locking 
inserts 70 (FIG. 15) and a variant dowel-shaped insert 92 (FIG. 14) in 
corresponding middle grooves 40. 
Thus, it will be seen that through the configuration of the grooves 38, 40, 
42, the present bracket 10 features the ability to securely retain a wire 
shelf 18 in the face of impacts from a variety of directions. The optional 
locking inserts 70, 76 provide additional assurance to the user that the 
shelf 18 will be securely restrained within the bracket 10. Also, the 
provision of the flanges 58, 64 and the retaining tabs 84 add lateral 
stability to the bracket 10 and to the shelf assembly 10, 12, 18 as a 
whole. 
While a particular embodiment of the shelf bracket for wire shelves of the 
invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those 
skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto 
without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set 
forth in the following claims.