Self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket

The self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket is a device that is adapted to attach onto and support itself perpendicularly with respect to a fence picket or baluster. Moreover, the self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket is adapted to interface with the fence picket or baluster provided the fence picket or baluster is vertically oriented. The self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket includes a shelf-supporting arm and a back support member that are parallel with one another, and translate relative to one another via a pair of lever arms. Installed, the fence picket or baluster is adapted to be sandwiched between the shelf-supporting arm and the back support member. The shelf-supporting arm is elongated and able to receive and support a shelf member thereon and at a perpendicular orientation with respect to the fence picket or baluster.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of shelf brackets, more specifically, a shelf bracket that is adapted to secure itself against a fence or baluster.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket is a device that is adapted to attach onto and support itself perpendicularly with respect to a fence picket or baluster. Moreover, the self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket is adapted to interface with the fence picket or baluster provided the fence picket or baluster is vertically oriented. The self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket includes a shelf-supporting arm and a back support member that are parallel with one another, and translate relative to one another via a pair of lever arms. A spring attaches between the pair of lever arms to provide a compressive force that draws the shelf-supporting arm and the back support member together. Installed, the fence picket or baluster is adapted to be sandwiched between the shelf-supporting arm and the back support member. The shelf-supporting arm is elongated and able to receive and support a shelf member thereon and at a perpendicular orientation with respect to the fence picket or baluster. The shelf member and applicable load provide a bending moment force that is countered via the collaboration of the fence picket or baluster, the back support member and the pair of lever arms. The lever arms provide a counter bending moment that helps to secure the self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket in place on the fence picket or baluster.

These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket in detail, it is to be understood that the self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket.

It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Detailed reference will now be made to a plurality potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5.

The self-supporting fence or baluster shelf bracket100(hereinafter invention) comprises a shelf-supporting arm101and a back support member102. The shelf-supporting arm101and the back support member102are adapted to sandwich a fence picket or baluster200there between. The shelf-supporting arm101extends perpendicularly away from the fence picket or baluster200in order to support at least one shelf board103thereon. In use, the invention100is able to support the at least one shelf board103at a perpendicular orientation with respect to the fence picket or baluster200and a fence201.

As a side note, the invention100is adapted for use with the fence201. The term fence201may be more broadly used to determine a handrail along a stairway or walkway. It shall be duly noted that the invention100may be utilized in other environments aside of a traditional picket fence. Handrails provided along a walkway or stairs may also be utilized, and shall fall within the purview of applicable uses of the invention100.

The shelf-supporting arm101is further defined with a rear, shelf surface104. The back support member102is further defined with a front, back surface105. The rear, shelf surface104of the shelf-supporting arm101is adapted to interface with a first picket or baluster surface202of the fence picket or baluster200; whereas the front, back surface105of the back support member102is adapted to interface with a second picket or baluster surface203of the fence picket or baluster200. The first picket or baluster surface202is opposite the second picket or baluster surface203.

The shelf-supporting arm101is further defined with a top shelf surface106atop of which the at least one shelf board103rests. Shelf board brackets107are provided on distal ends of the top shelf surface106. The shelf board brackets107help to secure the at least one shelf board103atop of the shelf-supporting arm101.

The shelf-supporting arm101is affixed and translates with respect to the back support member102. Moreover, at least one lever arm108. The at least one lever arm108is pivotably attached to the shelf-supporting arm101as well as the back support member102. The at least one lever arm108is a “U” shaped bracket further defined with a first lever end109and a second lever end110. The first lever end109is threaded and is secured to the back support member102via a first threaded nut111. The second lever end110is threaded and is secured to the shelf-supporting arm101via a second threaded nut112. The at least one lever arm108ensures that the shelf-supporting arm101and the back support member102are parallel with one another in order to adaptively sandwich the fence picket or baluster200there between.

The invention100as depicted in the figures, shows the at least one lever arm108as a pair, and being further defined as a first lever arm112and a second lever arm113. The first lever arm112is parallel with and positioned above the second lever arm113. A spring114is connected between the first lever arm112and the second lever arm113in order to bias the back support member102to the shelf-supporting arm101. The spring114helps to prevent over-rotation of the first lever arm112and the second lever arm113with respect to the shelf-supporting arm101and the back support member102.

Referring toFIG. 3, both the first lever arm112and the second lever arm113form an angle115with the at least one shelf board103. The angle115increases when the invention100is not in use with the fence picket or baluster200via the spring114.

In use, the invention100secures itself onto the fence picket or baluster200by utilizing a bending moment155about the fence picket or baluster200. The bending moment155applies a tensile force156onto the first lever arm112in order to pull the back support member102towards the shelf-supporting arm101. Moreover, the bending moment155generates a compressive force157onto the second lever arm113in order to push the shelf-supporting arm101towards the fence picket or baluster200. The bending moment155is increased upon addition of an object300onto the at least one shelf board103(seeFIG. 5).

It shall be noted that the first lever arm112and the second lever arm113are adapted to interface against an inner picket or baluster surface210of the fence picket or baluster200. The inner picket or baluster surface210is adjacent the first picket or baluster surface202and the second picket or baluster surface203. The back support member102is ideally a rectangular block; whereas the shelf-supporting arm101may have a curved edge and is generally elongated. Moreover, the shelf-supporting arm101is generally perpendicular with respect to the back support member102.

Referring toFIG. 4, the invention100may utilize a pair of back support members102as well as a pair of the shelf-supporting arms101. A distance180spans between the pair of back support members102as well as the pair of the shelf-supporting arms101. The distance180enables the at least one shelf board103to span across the distance180in order to support the object300thereon.