Abstract:
Disclosed is a mounting clip for adjustable shelf systems, which ensures reliable and durable fixing of adjustable shelf boards without leaving any screw holes or marks on the board and also provides a possibility to dismount shelf boards by being re-adjustable in the same or different location. The mounting clip automatically locks its position between the shelf board and upper part of the rail opening. When the clip reaches its final position the wings will pass through the opening and create a snap in fixation.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is generally related to adjustable organizers for storage system. More specifically, the disclosure relates to adjustable shelf mounting systems. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Adjustable shelf systems are widely used today. The system normally consists of a rail with opening slots, also called wall band, which is usually fixed to the wall with screws. On the rails, a number of different objects may be attached. Brackets for holding shelves, different types of hangers for tools, clothes and so on. One of the major usages is the combination of bracket with hooks for mounting into the opening slots of the rail and melamine or wooden shelves that are placed on the brackets and fastened by screws. The standard thickness of the melamine shelve is typically 19 mm and is available at a number of different lengths and widths. Wooden shelves common shelve plate is typically 18 mm thick and is available at a number of different lengths and widths. 
         [0003]    For fixing the shelve to brackets, screws are generally recommended. This is a secure and strong fixation if it is done properly. The problem occurring with using screws for fixing the shelves, and in particular melamine shelves, are that the screws need to be of the exact correct length and that two screws with different lengths are necessary for each type of bracket. Too long screws will penetrate the shelf board and too short screws will not fix the shelf board properly. 
         [0004]    The melamine shelf board has a hard surface that protects it from wear. This hard surface is however a drawback when screwing the screws into the shelf boards. It is difficult to get an angular attachment and it requires considerable force to screw the screws. Incorrect mounting may result in bad fixation, which is not detectable. To ease the screwing and secure the positioning of the screws, a hole may be pre-drilled. This however demands a screwdriver, a drilling machine, a drill with the correct diameter and the ability to controlling the depth that is drilled. 
         [0005]    In order to be able to readjust the height of the shelf on the rails, after the first mounting, the shelf board either needs to be unscrewed, which reduces the strength between screw and shelf board material or the shelf board need to be mounted at a distance from the wall allowing the shelf and the bracket to be tilted upwards before being removed from the rail and inserted in the new position. If the shelf board is placed too close to the rail, all screws need to be unscrewed to move the shelf and if it is placed too far away from the rail, the force applied on a screw will increase. The gap between the edge of the shelf and the wall also allows objects to fall down. 
         [0006]    Due to its mounting difficulties it is common that the shelf board is just placed on the brackets without any further fixation. This works in the normal loading situation but is a personal hazard if load is applied on the outer edge of the shelf board, i.e. a load placed incorrectly or when a small child climbs and risks resulting in that the shelf board will tilt over. 
         [0007]    Different brackets and bracket systems for adjustable shelf systems are also known, following are examples of these: 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,263 discloses a shelf clip with upper shelf bracket and a lower shelf bracket defining a shelf space there between for the seating of a shelf. 
         [0009]    EP1829463 discloses a shelf support with two part spacer elements, between which shelf plate can be fixed and EP0390045, GB2182842 disclose shelf-support brackets, between which lower and upper surface shelf board is fixed. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,584 discloses a shelf support comprising a support body with a support surface for supporting a shelf, which in use retains the shelf on the support surface. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The invention provides a mounting clip for adjustable shelf systems, which does not require any further fixing with screws, provides reliable fixation and enables dismounting and re-adjusting the same shelf board without damaging it. The provided mounting clip fixes shelf board on a bracket, which in turn is fixed to shelf rail and the mounting clip automatically locks the shelf board in a fixed position on the bracket. 
         [0012]    The mounting clip is mounted by positioning its&#39; back wings through the openings of the shelf rail and by pushing the mounting clip inwards into locking position. The mounting clip automatically locks its position between the shelf board and upper part of the rail opening. The upper part of the mounting clip, which enters the opening, has an angle to secure fastening and the lower flat part of the clip has an angle to ease the mounting of the clip and applying a spring force to the shelf board. When the clip reaches its final position the wings will pass through the opening and create a snap in fixation. 
         [0013]    Removing of the clip is most easily done through placing a pointy blunt instrument like a table knife or a screwdriver on the upper part between the rail and the clip and tilt the clip gently forward. 
         [0014]    The mounting clip provided by the invention ensures reliable and durable fixing of adjustable shelf boards without leaving any screw holes or marks on the shelf board and also provides a possibility to dismount shelf boards by being re-adjustable in the same or different location. With the provided mounting clip, standard shelf plates and standard brackets for adjustable shelf systems can be used. 
         [0015]    The fundamental idea of a described organizer system is that it is highly versatile, adjustable, and reconfigurable before, during, and after installation. The present invention enhances all these major criteria. 
     
    
     
       LIST OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are described with accompanying drawings, wherein the drawings represent following: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1 : Perspective view of shelf mounting clip 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A : Frontal view of mounting clip with trapezoid shaped back part 
           [0019]      FIG. 2B : Frontal view of mounting clip with alternative trapezoid shaped back part 
           [0020]      FIG. 2C : Frontal view of mounting clip with alternative rectangular shaped back part 
           [0021]      FIG. 3 : Side view of mounting clip 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A : Perspective view of mounting clip 
           [0023]      FIG. 4B : Side view of mounting clip 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A : Bottom view of mounting clip 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B : Perspective view of mounting clip 
           [0026]      FIG. 6A : Side view of mounting clip before mounting 
           [0027]      FIG. 6B : Side view of mounting clip in mounted position 
           [0028]      FIG. 7A : Side view of shelf system before mounting of mounting clip in final position 
           [0029]      FIG. 7B : Enlargement of section in  FIG. 7A   
           [0030]      FIG. 8A : Side view of shelf system with of mounting clip in final position 
           [0031]      FIG. 8B : Enlargement of section in  FIG. 8A   
           [0032]      FIG. 9A : Rear view of mounting clip with trapezoid shaped back part in final position in rail. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9B : Rear view of mounting clip with alternative trapezoid shaped back part in final position in rail. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9C : Rear view of mounting clip with alternative rectangular shaped back part in final position in rail. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10 : Normal mounting with shelf fixating clips in a shelf system with two wall mounted rails 
           [0036]      FIG. 11 : Rear section view 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    The invention, mounting clip for adjustable shelf systems, contains a back part  1 , back wings  2 , base plate  3  and in preferred embodiment, a reinforcement  4  in the form of a bulge, which reinforces back part  1  and base plate  3 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The back wings  2  are joined with back part  1  from both side edges, forming an element with substantially U-shaped profile. Between back wings  2  and back part  1  bottom parts are opening slits  5 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , which correspond to shelf rail tube wall thickness on which the mounting clip is mounted. In a preferred embodiment, the opening slit has a wider width at the bottom than the width at the top. The width of the slit at the bottom shall always be larger than the rail tube wall thickness and the width at the top of the slit is same or smaller than the smallest thickness of the wall band to be expected. This is to secure no gap is left due to tolerances of the rail thickness while mounting. 
         [0038]    In alternative solutions, the back part  1  has trapezoid shape. In another alternative solution, back part  1  has rectangular shape, as shown in  FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C . The back part  1  on  FIG. 2A  has a wider base  6  than top  7  creating a width of the base  6  with wings that is wider than the outer parameter of the opening slots of the rail, while on  FIG. 2B , the back part has a wider top  8  compared to the base  9  creating a width of the base  9  with wings is narrower than the inner parameter of the opening slots of the rail. In  FIG. 2C , back part  1  has an equal width resulting in a similar width at base  10  and top  11  with wings bent inwards or outwards creating a width of the base with wings is wider/narrower than the inner parameter of the opening slots of the rail. The difference between the top and base dimensions  6 - 7 ,  8 - 9  and  10 - 11  of the back part  1  creates an angle that determines the angle of the back wings  12 ,  13  and  14 . The width of the back part top  15 ,  16  and  17  is equal in different provided embodiments. The back wings  2  typically consist of a bottom bevel  18  and top bevel  19  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Between the back part  1  and base plate  3  is an obtuse angle, when the mounting clip is not mounted. In unmounted position, the back wings  2  top front angle  20  and back wings  2  lower parts angles  21  are similar to the angle  22  of the base plate  3  towards the horizontal plane. The flexible area between the base plate  3  and the back part  1  is created by the slit  5  in back wings  2 . The rigidity of the flexible area is mainly determined by the length of the slit  5 , the thickness of the material and width of the base  6 ,  9 ,  10 , but also by existence of a bulge. Another flexible area is on the lower part of the back wings  2  that will flex when entering the opening slit in the rail (not shown on drawings). 
         [0039]    The bulge  4  increases the strength for resisting the bending of the base plate  3  upwards, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . It is understood that the size of the bulge  4  determines the force that the base plate  3  resists. The bulge  4 , however, made with excessive influence, provides the possibility to pack and store objects of the adjustable shelf. 
         [0040]    According to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , in another alternative solution, the base plate  3  has rounded edges  23  in front to reduce the risk of interference with objects placed in the shelf. The bottom side  24  of the base plate  3  has a high friction material added on all over or in alternative solutions on parts of the surface. The high friction material is typically a rubber material or similar that has a friction coefficient. The high friction material typically has an adhesive on the backside that is permanently fixated to the bottom side  24  of the base plate  3 . The friction material may also have a surface structure that increases the friction even more. The high friction material together with the force applied through the base plate  3  origin from the clip being snapped in its final position prevents the shelf board from being moved sideways or forward. Alternatively, the friction is created through having parts of the base plate  3  bent downwards  25  for creating a sharp edge  26 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 6A  shows a mounting clip in an unmounted position. The angle between the base plate  3  and the back part  1  is larger than 90 degrees.  FIG. 6B  shows the mounting clip in its final mounted position having an angle equal to 90 degrees between the base plate  3  and the back part  1 . 
         [0042]    The initial state of mounting process of the mounting clip on a shelf system, which consists of a rail  27 , bracket  28  and shelf board  29  is shown on  FIGS. 7A and 7B , where  FIG. 7B  is an enlargement of the specified area A of  FIG. 7A . The mounting of the mounting clip is done by positioning the mounting clip in the opening slots  30  of the rails  27 . The mounting clip will automatically be in backward tilted position when positioned on the shelf board  29  as the angle between base plate  3  and back part  1  is larger than 90 degrees. The height  31  of the mounting clip in its backward tilted position is smaller than the distance  32  between the shelf board  29  and the upper perimeter  33  of the opening slot  30  of the rail  27 .  FIGS. 8A and 8B , where  FIG. 8B  is an enlargement of the specified area B of  FIG. 8A , displays the final positioning of the mounting clip into the opening slot  30  of the rail  27 . In final position, the angle between back part  1  and base plate  3  is equal to 90 degrees. The height  33  of the mounting clip in its final mounting is larger than the distance  32  between the shelf board  29  and the upper perimeter  31  of the opening slot  30  in the rail  27 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 9A  shows the described embodiment, as shown on  FIG. 2A , of the mounting clip in mounted position, where the upper part of the back wings  2  and the opening slots  30  of the rail are in the same centre to centre measurement  35 . The flexible parts of the back wings are bent inwards during the mounting, when guided by the outer side parameters of the opening slots  30  in rail  27  until the slit  5  (not shown on a figure) in the back wings passes through to opening slots  30  in the rail  27  where the flexible part of the back wings snaps back to its relaxed original position. 
         [0044]      FIG. 9B  shows the described embodiment, as shown on  FIG. 2B , which has the upper part of the back wing  2  and the opening slots  30  of the rail  27  in the same centre to centre measurement  36 . The flexible parts of the back wings are bent outwards during the mounting, when being guided by the outer side parameters of the opening slots  30  in rail  27  until the slit  5  in the back wings as shown in  FIG. 9  in flexible part of the back wings  2 , passes through to opening slots  30  where the flexible part snaps back to it at relaxed original position. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9C  shows the described embodiment, as shown on  FIG. 2C , which has the upper part of the back wing  2  and the opening slots  30  of the rail  27  in the same centre to centre measurement  37 . The flexible part of the back wings are bent outwards or inwards during the mounting, dependent on the original relaxed positioning of the flexible wings, being guided by the inner side parameter or outer side parameters of the opening slots  30  in rail  27  until the slit  5  in the back wings of  FIG. 9  passes through to opening, where the flexible part snaps back to it in relaxed original position. 
         [0046]      FIG. 10  shows a mounted shelf system including the mounting clip with two rails  27  ready for use. The shelf board  29  is supported by the brackets  28 . The number of rails  27  needed can be multiple and is dependent on the length of the shelf board  29 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 11  shows the mounting clip as it is positioned into the opening slots  30  in the rail  27  and there through positioned and locked for downward and sideway movements. The mounting clip is locked towards upward forces, which are applied on the shelf board  29  by the upper part of the clip back wings  2  towards the top of the rail opening slots  30  and forward by the upper bevelled front part of the back wings  2  towards the top of the rail opening slots  30  and locking, with snap, of the back wings  2  towards the rail  27 . The locking sideways and forward between the mounting clip and the shelf board  29  is done through friction between the base plate  3  and the shelf board  29  surface. 
       Overview of the Shelf System Mounting Procedure 
       [0048]    After the shelf board is placed on the bracket, which is positioned at the right height in the rail, the mounting clip is fixed. The adjustable mounting clip is mounted through positioning its&#39; back wings in the slots of the rail and by pushing it inwards in locking position. The adjustable mounting clip automatically locks its position between the shelf board and upper part of the rail slot. The upper part of the clip, which enters the slot, has an angle to secure fastening and the lower flat part of the clip has an angle to ease the mounting of the clip and for applying a spring force to the shelf board. The locking between the clip and the shelf board is obtained, separate or in combination, either through having the edges on the flat part closest to the rail bent in a reversed angle compared to the remaining flat surface creating a sharp edge to the shelf board or through applying a high friction material on the flat surface. 
         [0049]    In alternative embodiment, the locking between the clip and the rail is obtained through positioning of the upper part of the backward facing clips in the upper part of the opening of the rails. The backwards facing wings have an angle facing either inwards or outwards leading to a bending of the wings as the clip is placed in position. When the clip reaches its final position, the wings will pass through the opening and create a snap in fixation. 
         [0050]    Removing of the clip is most easily done through placing a sharp instrument like a table knife or a screwdriver on the upper part between the rail and the clip and by tilting the clip gently forward.