The invention comprises an assembleable mantelpiece, which includes a mantel, a pair of side members, and means for positioning and securing the mantel and pair of side members relative to each other and relative to a fireplace, so as to enable the mantelpiece to be manufactured, shipped and stored disassembled, and assembled and installed relative to a fireplace conveniently and efficiently, without subjecting the mantelpiece to possible damage resulting previously from installation thereof, and without requiring finishing necessary previously as a consequence of such installation thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates generally to mantelpieces, and relates specifically 
to an assembleable mantelpiece. 
A mantelpiece is a shelf, above a fireplace, with its side elements. 
Presently known mantelpieces include assembled mantelpieces which are 
manufactured, assembled, and shipped fully assembled to dealers and 
distributors. Such assembled mantelpieces, by virtue of their bulk, are 
susceptible to possible damage during shipment, handling, storage, and 
installation, are difficult and expensive to package and ship, and take up 
a large amount of space in a dealer's or distributor's warehouse, making 
them costly and inefficient to inventory. Other presently known 
mantelpieces include assembleable mantelpieces which, as with assembled 
mantelpieces, are installed relative to a fireplace by nailing thereof to 
the wall, then finishing by covering the nail holes and any dents therein 
and, in most instances, requiring application of prime and finish coats of 
paint or stain and lacquer. Such installation of assembled and 
assembleable mantelpieces to the wall by nailing thereof subjects such 
mantelpieces to possible damage as a result of hammering thereof, and the 
additional work required for finishing as a consequence of such 
installation thereof is inefficient, inconvenient and costly. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the above, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a 
mantelpiece which may be conveniently and efficiently manufactured, 
shipped and stored. A further object of the invention is to provide such a 
mantelpiece which is conveniently and efficiently positionable and 
securable relative to a wall and a fireplace, without subjecting the 
mantelpiece to possible damage resulting previously from hammering 
thereof, and without requiring finishing necessary previously as a 
consequence of such installation thereof. 
The above objects, as well as others, are provided for in the invention by 
means of an assembleable mantelpiece, which includes a mantel, a pair of 
side members, and means for positioning and securing the mantel and pair 
of side members relative to each other and relative to a fireplace, so as 
to enable the mantelpiece to be manufactured, shipped and stored 
disassembled, and assembled and installed relative to a fireplace 
conveniently and efficiently, without subjecting the mantelpiece to 
possible damage resulting previously from installation thereof, and 
without requiring finishing necessary previously as a consequence of such 
installation thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the drawings, 
comprises, for example, an assembleable mantelpiece, comprising a mantel 
10, a pair of side members 11, 11', and means for positioning and securing 
the mantel 10 and pair of side members 11, 11' in position relative to 
each other and relative to a fireplace. 
The assembleable mantelpiece may be comprised of wood or wood-like 
material. The fireplace relative to which the assembleable mantelpiece is 
positioned may comprise a steel form wood-burning fireplace, with a 
noncombustible course installable about the black surround thereof after 
the steel form wood-burning fireplace is installed in the desired location 
thereof. 
The mantel 10 comprises a face 20, and a top 21. 
The positioning and securing means comprise means for supporting the mantel 
10 and pair of side members 11, 11' in position relative to the fireplace, 
and means for connecting the mantel 10 and pair of side members 11, 11' in 
position relative to each other. The supporting means comprise a top 
support 30, and a pair of side supports 31, 31', securable in position 
relative to the fireplace. 
The preferred connecting means comprise snap-lock connectors as described 
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,155 consisting of male and female members capable 
of lockable engagement. A plurality of male members 32 extend upwardly and 
frontally on top support 30, and on side supports 31 and 31'. A plurality 
of female members or openings 33 are located inside top 21, internally 
across the front of face 20 and at the lower sides thereof and in side 
members 11 & 11'. Alternatively the male and female members may be 
reversed in whole or in part on their respective supports, mantel top, 
face or side members. 
The assembleable mantelpiece may further comprise moldings, secureable to 
the mantel 10 and pair of side members 11, 11'. Such moldings may comprise 
a pair of decorative outer moldings 40, 40', secureable to the outer sides 
of the pair of side members 11, 11', a pair of trim inner moldings 41, 
41', adjustably positionable relative to the fireplace and secureable to 
the inner sides of the pair of side members 11, 11', and a trim top 
molding 42, secureable to the bottom of the mantel 10. 
The assembleable mantelpiece mantel 10 face 20 and top 21, top support 30, 
pair of side supports 31, 31', pair of decorative outer moldings 40, 40', 
pair of trim outer moldings 41, 41', and trim top molding 42, may be 
manufactured, shipped and stored disassembled, efficiently and 
conveniently. 
The assembleable mantelpiece may be installed, after installation of the 
fireplace and the noncombustable course about the surround thereof, by 
securing the top support 30 and pair of side supports 31, 31' to the wall 
thereabout, and aligning and pressing the male members 32 extending 
frontally on top support 30 and the male members 32 at the top of each 
side support 31 & 31' onto the frontal and pair of side female members 33 
on face 20 as shown in FIG. 2; positioning the top 21 over face 20 and 
pressing the male members 32 extending upwardly from top support 30 into 
the female openings 33 of said top; and pressing the lower male members 32 
of each side support 31 and 31' into the female openings of each side 
member 11 & 11', efficiently and conveniently, without subjecting the 
mantelpiece to possible damage resulting previously from hammering 
thereof, and without requiring finishing necessary previously as a 
consequence of such installation thereof. The moldings may then be 
installed by securing the pair of decorative outer moldings 40, 40' to the 
outer side of the pair of side members 11, 11', securing the trim top 
molding to the bottom of the face 20, and adjustably positioning the pair 
of trim inner moldings 41, 41' relative to the backing therefor, as the 
noncombustable course, and securing the pair of trim inner moldings 41, 
41' to the inner sides of the pair of side members 11, 11'. 
The preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth above. It is 
to be understood, however, that variations may be made in such preferred 
embodiment, which variations may nevertheless be within the scope and 
spirit of the invention. The invention is therefor to be broadly construed 
within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.