Abstract:
A cantilevered shelving system is provided for manual assembly along the wall panels of a molded utility shed. Several shelves are provided that are removably secured to brackets that removably fasten into reinforcing strips in the wall panels. Each shelf is supported by at least two triangular brackets near the opposite ends. The brackets have upper and lower fasteners on a vertical leg that pivotably connect to the shed through apertures in the reinforcing strips.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/______ filed ______ entitled, Plastic Expandable Utility Shed and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed ______ entitled Stacking Shelving for a Utility Shed. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to a large enclosure constructed of plastic structural panels. More specifically, the present invention relates to a modular construction system utilizing shelves having integrated connectors to cooperate with integrated connectors in the structural panels for stability and support.  
         [0003]     Utility sheds are a necessity for lawn and garden care, as well as general all-around home storage space. Typically, items such as garden tractors, snow blowers, tillers, ATVs, motorcycles and the like consume a great deal of the garage floor space available, forcing the homeowner to park his automobile outside.  
         [0004]     The large items, such as mentioned above, require accessories and supplies that must also be stored, as well as other small tools. To avoid using more floor space for these supplies, a system of shelving is usually constructed as free standing units or attached to the walls of the sheds. Free standing units are unstable, particularly, when carrying a top-heavy load. And in the modular plastic sheds, now available, it is difficult to attach shelves to the plastic panels without damaging the integrity of the panels.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0005]     Modular shelving systems are well known as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,896 to Houk, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,158 to Wareheim and U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,541 to Goetz. These are stand-alone modular units with multiple horizontal shelves supported by sectional legs or, in the case of the Goetz patent, a back panel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Accordingly, it is a primary objective of the instant invention to provide a cantilevered shelving system for cooperating with structural elements in a plastic utility shed for stability and support.  
         [0007]     It is another objective of the instant invention to provide a modular shelving system with flexibility in assembly to support different size and different weight articles.  
         [0008]     It is a still further objective of the instant invention to provide manual assembly of the shelving system.  
         [0009]     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of the interior of a utility shed with a cantilever shelf;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective of a cantilever bracket;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is and exploded view of a cantilever bracket and reinforcing strip;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross section of a reinforcing strip with a bracket in place; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective of the bottom of a shelf and a cantilever bracket.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     The modular cantilever shelving system  10  is designed to cooperate with the wall panels of a molded plastic utility shed to provide storage space. The shelving system may be manually installed without tools and is removable. As shown in the drawings, the shelving system  10  has a molded shelf  11  with a storage surface  12  supported by an integral frame of stringers  13  and bulkheads  14 . The ends of the stringers and bulkheads are joined together by a peripheral flange  15  depending from the storage surface  12 . A corner shelf is shown in  FIG. 1  molded in a right angle to fit in the interior corner formed by shed walls  16  and  17 . Of course, straight shelf modular units are also included to extend between reinforcing strips that are spaced along each side wall. The individual shelves are of a length to span the distance between reinforcing strips to provide for a bracket  20  at each end of the shelves. Some straight shelves may be longer, e.g. in multiples of the distance between reinforcing strips. In such instances intermediate brackets  20  may be installed on each reinforcing strip spanned by the shelf.  
         [0016]     Near each end of the shelves there is a depending hook  18  which snaps over the horizontal support of a bracket  20  to maintain the position of the shelf on the bracket. The hook must be deflected to clear the bracket when it is assembled this results in a spring bias on the hook and bracket to secure the shelf.  
         [0017]     The bracket  20 , shown in the drawings, may be metal or plastic or other material of sufficient strength to support the shelving and a useful load. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bracket has a vertical leg  21  and an integral cantilever leg  22 . The vertical leg has a fastener  23  at the top and another fastener  24  at the bottom to secure the bracket in the reinforcing strips apertures  25  and  26  to maintain alignment with the strip and carry the load of the stocked shelf. The cantilever leg  22  extends upwardly from the bottom of the vertical leg at approximately 45 degrees to intersect the outer edge of the shelf  11 . The upper end of the cantilever leg terminates with an upstanding flange  27  which stabilizes the free end of the bracket and supports the outer end of the shelf. The shelf  11  serves to separate the upper ends of the vertical leg and the cantilever leg and distribute the load.  
         [0018]     In  FIGS. 3-5 , the bracket  20  has an integral horizontal leg  28  which serves to rigidify the structure in triangular form. The bracket  20  is shaped as an I-beam with a planar surface  29  and  30  at each end of a internal web  31 . As mentioned above, the hook  18  is deflected over the planar surface at assembly to provide a spring biased contact between shelf and bracket. The hooks maintain the position of the shelves laterally along the direction of the shed walls and the upstanding flanges maintain the shelves against the shed walls.  
         [0019]     The fasteners  23  and  24  of the brackets  20 , shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , cooperate with the structure of the shed to form a secure but removable connection between the reinforcing strip and the shelving system. Each fastener has a shaft  31  extending from the vertical leg parallel to the horizontal leg and separated by the distance equal to the vertical distance between apertures in the strips. Each fastener ends in a foot  32  extending parallel to the vertical leg. A locking bar  33  extends from the shaft  31  between the foot  32  and the vertical leg. The locking bar is wedge shaped with the thicker portion joining the shaft  31 .  
         [0020]     The reinforcing strips  40  are an integral part of the molded shed and are necessary for the structural integrity of the shed. The strips have an additional function of providing the structural strength to support cantilevered shelving. The strips, as shown in  FIG. 4 , have an internal webbing with planar outer walls. Within the strips are spacers  41  for strength and uniformity of shape.  
         [0021]     In assembly of the shelving, the fasteners are inserted through the apertures with the locking bars oriented toward the floor. The brackets  20  are moved downwardly in such a manner that a spacer is located between the locking bar and the foot of a fastener. As the bracket moves downwardly, the wedge shaped locking bar and foot forms a friction fit with the spacer. The shelves can then be snapped in place on adjacent brackets. Since the modules are interchangeable, the units can be mixed and matched to form shelves of different sizes and shapes.  
         [0022]     It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.  
         [0023]     One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.