Universally adjustable, portable shelving unit

A portable, self mounting shelf is made of a plurality of generally tubular legs and cross members. A first adjustable leg and second adjustable leg are held within the same horizontal plane by a center adjustable crossbar and a rear adjustable crossbar. A holding foot is affixed each to the first leg and the second leg at the end opposite the rear crossbar. Pivotal attachment are included capable of allowing rotation of the legs about the crossbars in a pivoting manner along the same horizontal plane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to portable shelving and, more 
particularly, to a universally adjustable, portable shelving unit that is 
nonpermanently mounted and vertically adjustable without rigid fasteners 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In the related art, many improvements are known for adjustable shelves. For 
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,013, issued in the name of Santucci, an 
adjustable self supporting shelf is disclosed which allows the user to 
adaptable include a portable shelving unit without rigid fasteners. 
However, a shelf made in accordance with the Santucci disclosure requires 
placement between two relatively parallel, vertical surfaces in order to 
remain self supporting. 
Another example of an improved shelf is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,188,246, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,969, both issued in the name of 
Maxworthy. Such shelves, however, require a horizontally slatted wall to 
insert into for support. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,056 issued in 
the name of Krikorian, a wire shelf and bracket therefor are disclosed 
requiring some form of vertical, slatted surface for support. 
Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,209, issued in the name of Schafer, a shelf 
of laminated material is disclosed, wherein the improvement appears to be 
an otherwise conventional horizontal shelf having improved vertical 
rigidity. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,616, issued in the name of 
Gray, a shelf with end flange caps is disclosed, also providing improved 
vertical rigidity. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,711, issued in the name of Solomon, an adaptable 
frame is disclosed for portably and adjustably supporting a horizontal 
shelf. The frame as envisioned in Solomon, however, although envisioned as 
a stand-alone support frame, is required to rest upon a stable, flat, 
horizontal surface in order to safely support a shelf. 
Although these and other shelf designs provide adaptable, portable support 
for a variety of items and under a variety of circumstances, there remains 
many unique situations where such a need remains unfulfilled. The present 
invention is directed to providing adaptable shelving capable of adjusting 
to portably grip in a positive seated manner to any shape column, 
configured panel, door, or the like. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable 
shelve for mounting to vertical posts or similarly vertically elongated 
structures. 
It is another abject of the present invention to provide a portable shelve 
system for mounting without the necessity of conventional fasteners such 
as screws, clamps, brackets and the like. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shelving 
system that is adjustable to the shape of a object to which it is affixed 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable 
shelving system that can be manufactured from a variety of construction 
materials, such as wood, metal, or plastic. 
It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved shelf that 
utilizes a rear cross member that creates pressure on three sides of the 
vertical object to which it is affixed. 
Briefly described according to the first preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, a vertically self supporting shelf is non-permanent 
mounting is provided that is adaptable to various shaped and sized 
objects. Capable of attaching to any vertically elongated post (round, 
square, "u" shaped, "t" shaped, etc.) The present invention provides two 
horizontally adjustable frontal vertical legs and a center rear adjustable 
leg that will accomplish a positive affixment seat despite the post's 
shape. Uniform distribution of forces are applied across the shelf is 
accomplished, with no vertical slippage. 
According to a slightly modified second preferred embodiment, the shelf can 
be used on the edges of doors or panels having a thickness of between 1 
inch to 4 inches or more, without damaging the panel surface. 
An advantage of the present invention is that the shelf is held square to 
any shaped vertical support post. 
Another advantage of the present invention is that is vertically 
adjustable. 
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that is can be not 
permanently mounted, and therefore, portable. 
Further, the present invention is capable of adjusting to portably grip in 
a positive seated manner to any shape column, capable of mounting without 
the necessity of conventional fasteners such as screws, clamps, or 
brackets, is adjustable to the shape of an object to which it is affixed, 
and can be used to support objects within a wide range of weights 
depending upon the materials of construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
As shown in FIG. 1, a portable, self mounting shelf 10, according to the 
preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown formed from a 
plurality of generally elongated, tubular members, each having a generally 
square cross sectional shape. A first adjustable leg 12 is aligned within 
the same horizontal plane with a second adjustable leg 14. The first leg 
12 and second leg 14 are held together in the middle by a center 
adjustable crossbar 16 and a rear adjustable crossbar 18. The center 
crossbar 16 connects together the legs 12, 14 at a midpoint of the legs, 
and the rear crossbar connects together the legs 12, 14 at one end of the 
legs. The elongated legs 12, 14, each have a holding foot 20 affixed 
thereto at the end opposite the rear crossbar 18. 
As best shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the interrelation of the various legs 
and crossbars is more clearly shown. Both the first leg 12 and second leg 
14 are generally linearly elongated. Although other shapes are envisioned, 
in its preferred embodiment each said leg is formed of a generally tubular 
member having a square cross sectional shape. As such, four surface faces 
are formed. Along the top surface face a formed a series of linearly 
aligned positioning orifices 22. It is envisioned in a preferred 
embodiment that each leg 12, 14, (as well as other crossbar members) could 
be formed of a tubular, hollow metal material, such as plastic, iron, 
steel, or aluminum. As such, the positioning orifices 22 would comprise a 
circular penetration through the upper surface only. In one other 
particular embodiment that is presently envisioned, each leg 12, 14, (as 
well as other crossbar members) could be formed of a tubular, solid 
material, such as wood, plastic, iron, steel, or aluminum. As such, the 
positioning orifices 22 would comprise a recess into the body of the leg 
12, 14, thereby penetrating through the upper and into the inner space of 
the leg only. A rear crossbar receiving orifice 26 is formed at the 
rearmost end of each leg 12, 14 in a similar manner. In either structural 
variation, a pair of first pivotal attachments 24 are used to affix each 
end of the center crossbar 16 to the first and second legs 12, 14 
respectively at one of these positioning orifices 22. A pair of second 
pivotal attachments 28 are used to affix each end of the rear crossbar 18 
to the first and second legs 12, 14 respectively at one of each of this 
orifices 26. The pivotal attachments 24, 28 are envisioned as being 
similar to each other, and capable of being generally conventional, such 
as rivets, screws, bolt/nut combinations, and the like. Each pivotal 
attachment 24,28 is designed to allow rotation of the legs 12, 14 about 
the crossbars 16, 18 in a pivoting manner along one (the same) horizontal 
plane. It can therefor be seen by one skilled in the art and with the aid 
of the present disclose that various detailed designs for each pivotal 
attachment 24, 18 can be included within the scope of the present 
disclosure, depending upon the choice and selection of member designs, 
(i.e., hollow metal, solid wood, injection molded plastic, etc.) 
A third pivotal affixment means 30 is shown for affixing the holding foot 
20 at the distal end of each leg 12, 14, and will be discussed in greater 
detail below. 
In FIG. 3a, a rear elevational view of the shelf 10, showing in greater 
detail the holding foot 20 and a center angle adjustable support member 
32. Each holding foot 20 is affixed to the end of the leg 12, 14 by use of 
a "C" shaped retaining clamp 34 in which the holding foot 20 can be 
pivotally recessed into. A retaining pin (not shown) or other similar and 
conventional means of retaining the foot 20 within the clamp 34 is used. 
Each foot 20 is pivotally disposed inward toward the shelf centerline and 
toward each opposite foot 20. 
In a relatively similar fashion, it is envisioned that the center angle 
adjustable support member 32 is affixed to the bottom surface of the 
center crossbar with an inverted "U" shaped retaining clamp 36 in which 
the center angle adjustable support member 32 is pivotally recessed into. 
A retaining pin (not shown) or other similar and conventional means of 
retaining the center member 32 within the clamp 36 is used. The center 
member 32 is pivotally disposed downward. As best shown in FIG. 3b, the 
center angle adjustable support member 32 is disposed downward and pivots 
along a single vertical plane such as to provide a straightening support 
means for a pot or planter "P" or other similar object. Shown in greater 
detail in FIG. 5a, a frictional retaining means 50, such as a cushion, a 
pad, or other similar friction increasing element is affixed to the inner 
surface of the center angle adjustable support member 32 in order to 
provide firm mechanical contact with the pot or planter "P" without 
causing damage. 
As shown in FIG. 4, each cross bar is comprised of a nested inner member 40 
slidably retained within a pair of disposed telescoping outer members 42. 
A frictional impingement holding means 44 for fixing the inner member 
within the outer members is included, and envisioned as a conventional 
clamping means utilizing screws, threaded rod, bolt and nut combinations, 
or the like. 
As shown in greater detail in FIG. 5b, the foot 20 is shown, and in which 
the foot 20 is capable of pivotal translation inward. As such, each foot 
20 can be translated inward in order to come into firm mechanical contact 
with an object held within the shelf 10. 
2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
As depicted in the various figures, a pot, planter, or other similar object 
can be held in and supported by the present shelf 10. The articulating, 
adjustable legs 12, 14 in conjunction with the center crossbar 16 operate 
to firmly grasp in a mechanical manner a supported object such as a pot or 
planter. Various sizes and shapes can be accommodated. Further, the center 
angle adjustable support member 32 is moved into a guiding and supporting 
position to keep the pot or planter in a vertically aligned position. The 
center rear adjustable crossbar 16 and rear adjustable crossbar 18 are 
then used to wedge in a firm mechanical manner around a vertical column, 
post, or the like. As such, the shelf 10 is self supporting. 
The foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the 
preferred embodiment and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. 
The scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.