Abstract:
A shelf includes a U-shaped member configured to be installed in a cabinet having a back wall and opposing side walls. The width of the U-shaped member is the width of the back wall of the cabinet. The U-shaped member rests upon support pins inserted into openings within opposing side walls of a cabinet; alternatively, the U-shaped member rests upon support legs vertically inserted into openings disposed in the underside of the U-shaped member. The U-shaped member comprises a single piece; alternatively, the U-shaped member comprises a first piece connected to a second piece to adjust the U-shaped member width to the cabinet width prior to installation. The first and second pieces may include a sliding dove tail track mechanism, or the first piece may slide within the second piece, or they may have ridges and grooves for snapping the two pieces together.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates in general to the field of cabinet shelving, and more particularly, to a cabinet shelf ideal for small containers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are many problems and requirements that exist when storing small containers, such as spice containers. These problems include, but are not limited to the following. The storage design should not take up valuable countertop space, but should make efficient use of unused space within a cabinet. The storage design should make storage containers readily visible to the user. The storage design should make storage containers easily accessible to the user. The storage design should be easy to install within a cabinet. The storage design should, if possible, use existing apparatus for shelving installation and support. The storage design should not preclude items currently stored in the cabinet from being stored in the cabinet after installation of the storage design. When storing spices, the storage design should provide a dark storage location since some spices degrade with light. The storage design should be inexpensive and should be simple and easy to manufacture. 
         [0003]    Several conventional designs for a small container storage system have been provided. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,931 issued Jun. 23, 1953 discloses a V-shaped shelf with the objective of making visible the small containers which are placed on the V-shaped shelf. The V-shaped shelf is fastened to the flat underside surface of a shelf or cabinet ceiling member above it. Because the V-shaped shelf is intended to be fastened to the flat underside surface of a shelf or cabinet ceiling member above it, the height of containers to be placed on the V-shaped shelf is limited. The V-shaped shelf may prevent preexisting items stored in the cabinet from being stored in the cabinet after the V-shaped shelf is installed since it takes up space in the center of the cabinet. Placing taller items behind the V-Shaped shelf after installation would likely make access to them difficult. Finally, the V-shaped shelf employs sides with flanges used to fasten the shelf to the shelf or ceiling above it. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 2,472,004 issued May 31, 1949 discloses an L-shaped shelf secured to wall surfaces using adhesive strips. 
         [0004]    However, there exists the need for a container storage design that attempts to solve a larger number of the problems described above. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect the present invention provides a shelf. The shelf includes a U-shaped member configured to be installed in a cabinet having a back wall and opposing side walls. The width of the U-shaped member is the width of the back wall of the cabinet. The U-shaped member is configured to rest upon support pins inserted into openings within the opposing side walls that lie on a horizontal plane. Or, the U-shaped member is configured to rest upon support legs vertically inserted into openings disposed in the underside of the U-shaped member. In one embodiment, the support legs comprise at least two support legs on each side of the U-shaped member near the opposing side walls. In one embodiment, the shelf comprises a single member constructed to a predetermined cabinet width. In another embodiment, the U-shaped member comprises a first piece configured to connect to a second piece to enable the width of the U-shaped member to be adjusted to the width of the cabinet prior to installation therein. In one embodiment, the first piece slides horizontally within the second piece. In another embodiment, the first and second pieces may include a dove tail track mechanism by which the first piece slides horizontally within the second piece. In another embodiment, the U-shaped member comprises a third piece configured to be placed over an exposed portion of the first piece to cause the entire surface of the U-shaped member to be the same height. The third piece may be placed over an exposed portion of the first piece to cause the entire surface of the U-shaped member to be the same height, wherein the third piece includes non-dove tail track protrusions on its bottom to enable it to sit into dove tail track openings of a top of the first piece. In another embodiment, the first and second pieces may include grooves and ridges on opposing sides by which the first and second pieces snap together. The U-shaped member may be constructed by an injection molded plastic manufacturing process. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a shelf. The method includes constructing a U-shaped member configured to be installed in a cabinet having a back wall and opposing side walls. The width of the U-shaped member is the width of the back wall of the cabinet. 
         [0007]    An advantage of the U-shaped shelf is that it allows easy access and visibility to frequently used items, especially small items such as spice containers. Furthermore, the U-shaped shelf makes efficient use of unused space within a cabinet and is easy to install. The U-shaped shelf also provides flexibility to use various options of installation, including an existing shelf support installation apparatus, such as pins inserted into the side walls. Additionally, the U-shaped shelf may be installed in one of multiple vertical positions relative to the shelf positioned above or below it. Still further, the U-shaped shelf does not require adhesive strips or flanges to fasten it to a ceiling or shelf above. Finally, the simplicity of the U-shaped shelf may make it less expensive to manufacture than conventional designs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a U-shaped shelf installed inside a cabinet according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top down view of the U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are cross sectional views of a cabinet side wall vertically taken at the middle of an opening according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an adjustable-width U-shaped shelf according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a detailed section view of the adjustable-width U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross section view of the adjustable-width U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of an adjustable-width U-shaped shelf according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a detailed section view of the adjustable-width U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross section view of the adjustable-width U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a U-shaped shelf with leg supports according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is an illustration of an opening manufactured in the underside of a U-shaped shelf according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is an illustration of the U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 10  installed in a cabinet utilizing support legs attached to the underside of the U-shaped shelf to provide the desired vertical height within the cabinet according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 13 and 14  are illustrations of an adjustable-width U-shaped shelf according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a cross section view of the adjustable-width U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Embodiments are described herein of a U-shaped shelf designed to fit within a cabinet. The shelf has outer dimensions (width and depth) equal to other shelves sized for the cabinet. Preferably, the shelf is designed to be installed like other shelves designed to fit within the cabinet. The U-shape may allow a larger number of containers to be stored and allow the containers to be more visible. The U-shaped shelf installs around the inside perimeter of the cabinet space, thus leaving the interior space of the cabinet available for preexisting items and efficiently utilizing existing space. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a U-shaped shelf  10  as it is installed inside a cabinet  40  with side walls  20  and a back wall  30  according to the present invention is shown. U-shaped shelf  10  is shown installed utilizing an existing shelving support system manufactured within the cabinet  40 . The shelving support system comprises openings  23 , or holes, drilled in the side walls  20  of the cabinet  40 . A pair of shelf support pins  14  (see  FIG. 3 ) are installed in and extend out of two or more openings  23  in each cabinet side wall  20 . Many cabinets already exist with holes or openings drilled in the side walls of the cabinet to support currently existing full-size shelves, such that shelf support pins  14  may be inserted for supporting the U-shaped shelf  10 . Thus, advantageously, the U-shaped shelf may be easily installed and utilize an existing shelf support system. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a top view of the U-shaped shelf  10  according to the present invention is shown. The flat surface of the U-shaped shelf  10  provides an area to support, for example, spice containers, salt and pepper shakers, and other containers. Multiple U-shaped shelves  10  may be installed within a cabinet to provide additional storage area. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 3A , a cross section of a cabinet  40  side wall  20  vertically taken at the middle of opening  23  according to the present invention is shown. As shown, support pin  14  is installed in opening  23 , and supports U-shaped shelf  10 .  FIG. 3B  shows the same view of a cross section of cabinet  40  side wall  20  but contains an alternative style support pin  14 . 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the U-shaped shelf  10  is manufactured by injection molded plastic manufacturing procedures, which would satisfy the requirements for a durable, sturdy and inexpensive product. However, the U-shaped shelf  10  may be constructed from other materials, such as wood, and by other manufacturing procedures. 
         [0027]    To install the U-shaped shelf  10 , a user may insert four shelf support pins  14  into four existing openings in the side walls  20  of the cabinet  40  all on the same horizontal plane. The user may then simply rest the U-shaped shelf  10  on the installed shelf support pins  14 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the U-shaped shelf  10  comprises a single solid member, as shown in  FIG. 2 , manufactured to fit a cabinet  40  of a particular width. In another embodiment, the U-shaped shelf  10  comprises two or more members that when fitted together create an adjustable U-shaped shelf. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an adjustable-width U-shaped shelf  10  according to the present invention is shown. The U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 4  comprises two oppositely disposed L-shaped pieces denoted first piece  10   a  and second piece  10   b . The first piece  10   a  has a hollow leg, namely the leg that abuts the back wall  30  of the cabinet  40 , with an opening into the hollow leg, as shown in more detail in the section view of  FIG. 5 . The leg of the second piece  10   b  that abuts the back wall  30  of the cabinet  40  is slightly smaller than the opening into the hollow leg of first piece  10   a , as shown in more detail in the section view of  FIG. 5 . Consequently, second piece  10   b  may be inserted into first piece  10   a  to assemble the U-shaped shelf  10 , as shown in  FIG. 4  and in the cross-section view of  FIG. 6 . The assembled U-shaped shelf  10  may be thus adjusted to the width of the cabinet  40  to fit a plurality of different cabinet widths and yet maintain the ridged characteristics required for the shelf. 
         [0030]    An advantage of the adjustable U-shaped shelf embodiment is that it allows flexibility to reduce costs, including manufacturing costs and costs associated with sale of the product such as display space in retail stores. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an adjustable-width U-shaped shelf  10  according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown. The U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 7  is similar in some respects to the adjustable-width U-shaped shelf  10  of  FIG. 4 . That is, the U-shaped shelf of  FIG. 7  includes a first L-shaped piece  10   a  and a second L-shaped piece  10   b  opposing first piece  10   a . However, the embodiment of  FIG. 7  comprises a third piece, denoted  10   c . Furthermore, the legs of the first piece  10   a  and second piece  10   b  that abut the back wall  30  fit together using a dove tail track mechanism, as shown in the section view of  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 9  shows a cross section of the dove tail track mechanism with the first piece  10   a  and the second piece  10   b  assembled together to form the ridged adjustable U-shaped shelf  10 . The third piece  10   c  is placed over an exposed portion of the second piece  10   b , which allows the entire top surface of the U-shaped shelf  10  to be the same height. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the third piece  10   c  does not have a dove tail track bottom which allows it to simply sit in the dove tail track openings of the second piece  10   b . In one embodiment, the third piece  10   c  may be cut to the length of the exposed portion of the second piece  10   b  once the first and second pieces  10   a / 10   b  have been adjusted to the width of the cabinet  40 . In another embodiment, the third piece  10   c  is manufactured with scores to enable the user to break the third piece  10   c  to the appropriate length. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a U-shaped shelf  10  with leg supports  18  according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown. The U-shaped shelf  10  embodiment of  FIG. 10  may be installed in a cabinet not fitted with openings  23  of  FIG. 1 . Additionally, the leg supports  18  of  FIG. 10  may be employed to raise up the U-shaped shelf  10  to a desired height. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the U-shaped shelf can be supported using legs  18  attached to the underside of the U-shaped shelf  10 . The legs  18  may be attached to the underside of the U-shaped shelf  10  using various methods. One method comprises manufacturing the underside of the U-shaped shelf  10  to contain openings into which the support legs  18  may be inserted and fixed in place.  FIG. 11  illustrates an example of an opening  19  manufactured in the underside of the U-shaped shelf  10 .  FIG. 12  shows the U-shaped shelf  10  of  FIG. 10  installed in a cabinet  40  utilizing support legs  18  attached to the underside of a U-shaped shelf  10  to provide the desired vertical height within the cabinet  40 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , preferably the support legs  18  are attached near the outer edge of the U-shaped shelf  10 , i.e., in close proximity to the side walls  20  of the cabinet  40 , which makes the legs  18  practically unobtrusive to space utilization below the U-shaped shelf  10 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 13 , an adjustable-width U-shaped shelf  10  according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown. The U-shaped shelf  10  of  FIG. 13  comprises two identical L-shaped pieces  10   a  and  10   b , shown apart in  FIG. 14 , that when secured together form a rigid U-shaped shelf  10  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The L-shaped pieces  10   a  and  10   b  are configured with ridges and grooves such that the ridges and grooves of the first L-shaped member  10   a  line up with the grooves and ridges of the second L-shaped member  10   b  when it is flipped over, as shown. The ridges of one L-shaped member  10   a  are configured to snap into the grooves of the opposing L-shaped member  10   b  and vice versa. The assembled U-shaped shelf  10  may be thus adjusted to the width of the cabinet  40  to fit a plurality of different cabinet widths and yet maintain the ridged characteristics required for the shelf  FIG. 15  shows a cross section of the ridge and groove mechanism with the first piece  10   a  and the second piece  10   b  assembled together to form the ridged adjustable U-shaped shelf  10 . In one embodiment, the two pieces  10   a  and  10   b  may be cut or broken to the width of the cabinet  40 . 
         [0034]    An advantage of the adjustable U-shaped shelf embodiment of  FIG. 13  is that only one L-shaped member design is required, which reduces manufacturing costs. Another advantage is it provides a flat top U-shaped surface once two identical L-shaped members are fastened together. Yet another advantage is it forms a rigid U-shaped shelf where the two L-shaped members have no potential to slide apart. 
         [0035]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the exemplary embodiments described herein, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. Finally, those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiments as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.