Abstract:
A particularly styled shelf of a simplified design has a unique structure and appearance from a minimum of components. The shelf may be both stackable, one shelf upon the other, for the storage of goods, and can be easily nested into a compact state, when shelves are desired to be stored or shipped. Each of the shelves has a platform with spaced apart planks upon transverse ribs, and the platform provides a smooth transition for ready storage of goods. Each shelf has two closed loop wire legs, at each end, and the legs elevate the shelf when upon another shelf or a surface. The downward end of each leg has a foot portion of less width than the handle. The foot portions may be inserted through the handle to furnish interconnection of stacked shelves, even when subject to a lifting force.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This continuation application claims priority to the non-provisional patent application having Ser. No. 12/151,232, which was filed on May 5, 2008, which claims priority to the Continuation-In-Part design patent application having Ser. No. 29/307,684, which was filed on May 6, 2008, which is now Patent No. D587,492, which claims priority to design patent application having Serial No. 29/255,646, which was filed on March 10, 2006, which is now Pat. No. D579,237. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The stackable and nestable shelf with reinforced plafform relates to light duty shelving in general, and more specifically, to stackable racks with interlocking legs. Unique aspects of the present invention are legs with feet that rest upon a plafform and within the handle of a leg below when two adjacent shelves are stacked vertically. 
         [0003]    Various styles of racks are available in the prior art and many of them relate to types of racks that have industrial applications, such as for holding bottles, letters, or other components in a stacked relationship. Domestically, stackable and nestable racks have been available of a particular design, such as can be seen in the U.S. patents to Massoudnia, et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,035,335 and 5,152,407. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,570 shows related structure. These patents are owned by an assignee affiliated with the applicant herein. 
         [0004]    In these prior patents, the shown racks are stackable and nestable. One on top of the other, the racks can be erected into multiple heights. When not in use, the racks nest, one on top of the other, so as to reduce their size when undergoing shipment, placement in storage, or display for sale. The essence of these previous racks is to provide an upstanding handle, proximate each end of the rack, that furnishes clearance between the upper part of the handle, and the platform or surface formed of the rack, so that the turned foot of the supra-adjacent rack may engage in some manner with the raised handle, to secure the racks while holding fast, when two or more spaced apart racks are lifted, but likewise, to secure the racks together, when stacked. 
         [0005]    More particularly, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,335 patent shows a shelf with a wire grid bounded by a perimeter wire. The grid is generally located upon the upper edge of the perimeter wire. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,407 patent describes a shelf of a wire grid where the racks can be stacked together. 
         [0006]    Various other prior art embodiments for miscellaneous types of racks are available in the art, to provide for stacking of one rack upon the other, such as can be seen in the previous United States patents to Barbier, U.S. Pat. No. 2,814,390; Von Stein et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,836; Beach, U.S. Pat. No. 2,600,191; Pfeifer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,785; Ondrasick, U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,885; Cassel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,238; Chesley, U.S. Pat. No. 3,435,958; and, VanDerTog, U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,906. The shelves and racks in these prior patents exceed the complexity of construction of this current invention, and in many instances, were designed for specific industrial purposes, and just do not serve well for domestic storage, for use in dormitories, stacking of household goods, or for organizing closets. 
         [0007]    The United States patent to Chap, U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,320, discloses a stackable shelf unit, not identified as a nestable type shelf, but it discloses how the bottom of the legs unit are bent inwardly, and downwardly, so as to locate through the surface of the shown shelf. But, while this shelf unit may stack, it is not identified as one which may be nested, and furthermore, even when a plurality of such shelf units are stacked, they will not hold together, because the bent leg portions will simply separate from any subjacent unit, by sliding free of the same when lifted. 
         [0008]    Thus, prior art devices do not provide for both stacking and nesting of platforms for installation and shipping respectively. 
         [0009]    The present art overcomes the limitations of the prior art. The present invention has a platform with two spaced apart leg portions at the ends of the platform. Each of such leg portions has a handle extending to above the platform, a pair of generally horizontally spaced, depending front and back side or leg members, and a foot portion positioned below the platform and generally vertically opposite the handle on the leg portion. Between the platform and the foot, the leg portions taper in width, narrowing in the direction of the foot portion. Differing from the prior art, the present invention, a stackable and/or nestable shelf with reinforced platform, provides leg portions that are nestable between the front and back leg members or sides of a lower adjacent nestably stored shelf when a plurality of shelves are nested above one another for storage, and that rest upon the platform of a lower adjacent shelf, with the foot portion thereof in engagement with the handle of the adjacent shelf, when a plurality of shelves are stacked in a spaced relationship for use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    This invention contemplates the formation of a particularly styled shelf, formed of a simplified design, but yet is quite unique in structure, appearance, and in affording a minimum of components to provide for its fabrication. The shelf furnishes an attractive appearance and may be both stackable, one shelf upon the other, for assistance in organizing the storage of household or other goods, and at the same time, can be easily nested into a compact state, when a plurality of the shelves are desired to be stored or shipped. Each of the shelves is formed having a platform, of uniform planar dimension with spaced apart planks supported upon transverse ribs, and the platform provides a smooth transition from end to end, and likewise widthwise, without any further elevated components or protrusion, so as to assure that goods may be easily moved upon and stored thereon, as desired. 
         [0011]    Each of the shelves is formed having two closed loop wire leg portions, hereinafter often referred to more simply as legs, disposed generally at opposite ends of the platform. The legs of the formed platform provide elevation for the shelf when stood upon a surface and taper downwardly from generally adjacent the platform, with spaced front and back sides. The downward, or lower end, of each leg portion of each shelf incorporates an out turned foot portion, hereinafter often referred to more simply as a foot, that has a width less than the width of the handle that is disposed at the upper end of the leg, generally vertically opposite the foot. In use, the shelves may be conveniently stacked above one another, with the foot portions of an upper shelf inserted through the handles of a next lower shelf, to effect interconnection of such stacked shelves, even when a plurality of shelves are stacked, and are subject to a lifting force. For storage purposes, the shelves may be conveniently nested upon one another, in a balanced arrangement with upper shelves closely overlying lower shelves and being in a general vertical alignment thereabove, with the foot portions of an upper shelf passing over the tops of the handles of the next lower shelf and extending downwardly to nest between the front and back sides of the legs within a leg nesting area formed between such front and back sides. 
         [0012]    Another unique aspect of this invention is the method for formation of the described shelves. The shelves may generally be fabricated as two components, a platform and adjacent legs, where the platform has spaced apart planks upon at least two transverse ribs with a perimeter frame enclosing the platform, similar to a grill, and where the handles of each pair of legs are welded in place upon the narrow ends of the platform. The platform may have the ribs extending below the planks and below the edge of the ribs. Alternatively, the ribs and planks are located within the height of the frame. 
         [0013]    Where the surface of the platform for the shelf includes longitudinal wires or planks, the shelves, when stacked one upon the other, may not remain elevated, because the legs will simply flare out and then slide outwards from the upper edge of the platform and the shelf will not remain suspended in its desired elevated position, when stacked one upon the other. Hence, it is intended that various types of protrusions, particularly a handle, may be provided proximate the upper end of the leg portions of each shelf, and these protrusions may either be configured from an integral bending of the wires forming the legs, or have welded components fabricated thereto. The protrusions extend laterally and then engage the sides of the legs, forming the sides for the elevated surface platform, for the shelf, and contain a foot from an upper leg within the handle of a lower leg, thus preventing the further descent of the legs once they are inserted and installed as when a pair of shelves are stacked one upon the other. 
         [0014]    This particular method and style for manufacture and assembly of shelves of this design, particularly because of the simplified design with a minimum of components is especially suited for initial fabrication by a manufacturer overseas, then shipped to a final assembly plant at another destination, and then finally welded, coated, painted, or otherwise treated for final appearance, and then shipped nested in bulk to a vendor for display, marketing, and sale to customers. 
         [0015]    Therefore, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a stackable and nestable shelf, which affords a partially open platform, similar to a grill, entirely across the top of the formed shelf, and at the same time, providing interlocking means that hold one or more of the shelves together, when stacked one upon the other, so that all of the shelves may be lifted simultaneously, without separation. 
         [0016]    It is another object of this invention to provide a shelf of the foregoing design, and which may be also nestable. 
         [0017]    Still another object of this invention is to provide a shelf which is both stackable and nestable, and fabricated from a minimum of components. 
         [0018]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a shelf that is of simplified design, but yet very sturdy of structure, providing components that inter-engage, when a pair or more of the shelves are stacked vertically, but yet can be easily disassembled, and nested together, into a minimum of space. 
         [0019]    Still another object of this invention is to provide a shelf that has a surface platform that has few if any elevated or protruding components upon its upper platform within the legs and handles, thus the shelf is ready for placement of goods thereon. 
         [0020]    Still another object of this invention is to provide a shelf, which is both stackable and nestable, and which is inexpensive of manufacture, and easy of usage, thereby allowing the owner to assemble the shelves in minutes, and to use the shelves of this design for domestic usage, for organizing closets, or the like. 
         [0021]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a stackable and nestable shelf that can easily be used commercially, at a business, in a student&#39;s room, or even in industrial plants. 
         [0022]    Another object of this invention is to provide a stackable and nestable shelf wherein its reinforced platform includes a series of parallel aligned and longitudinally arranged bars, rods, or planks, to add reinforcement to the shelf. 
         [0023]    These and other objects may become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the invention as described herein, and upon undertaking a study of the description of its preferred embodiment, when viewed in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    In referring to the drawings, 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a stackable and nestable shelf of this invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a side view thereof, the opposite side view being a mirror image; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is an end view, the opposite end view being a mirror image; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a top view; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a modification to the stackable and nestable shelf; the opposite side view being a mirror image thereof; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the shelf in  FIG. 6 , the opposite end view being a mirror image thereof; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view; 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a pair of the shelves in a stackable setting; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9A  is a detailed view of the connection of an upper leg upon a lower leg, particularly the foot upon the frame; and, 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a series of the shelves being nested together. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  shows an isometric view of a modification to the stackable and nestable shelf of this invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is a side view, of the opposite side view being a mirror image thereof; 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is an end view, the opposite end view being a mere image thereof; 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  is a top plan view; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 15  is a bottom view. 
       
    
    
       [0041]    The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0042]    The present art overcomes the prior art limitations by providing a stackable and nestable shelf  1  with a grill like platform  5 . The platform has interior planks  3  surrounded by a perimeter frame  2  with two spaced apart opposite legs  6 . One platform of this invention stacks upon another by engaging the legs. 
         [0043]    In particular,  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the stackable and nestable shelf  1  of this invention is disclosed. The shelf includes a perimeter frame  2 , here shown as rectangular in plan and in section, having longitudinally arranged rods or planks  3 , and may also include lateral ribs  4 , although it is just as likely that the planks forming the surface platform  5 , if they are sturdy enough, can form these particular components for the structured shelf. At each end of the shelf there are provided down-turned legs, as at  6 , and at the bottom of each leg is formed an outwardly extending foot, as at  7 . The single foot shown in the preferred embodiment extends laterally towards each corner of the shown shelf. Opposite the foot  7 , each leg  6  has a handle  8 , generally parallel to the foot but included, or offset, inwards of the foot, the perimeter frame is of a height substantially greater than its thickness to add to its strength. 
         [0044]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the legs have a handle proximate the lateral ends of the frame. Each handle joins to a side  6   a  of a leg  6  at a shoulder  9 . Above the shoulder, the side  6   a  deflects towards the frame  2 . Below the shoulder, the side of a leg proceeds downward vertically to the foot. The foot  7  extends perpendicular from the side  6   a  and generally outwards from the frame and the handle. In the platform shown in this Figure, the ribs  4  terminate beneath the frame  2  here shown as rounded ends and the ribs may be of wire. As previously described in  FIG. 1 , the planks rest upon their edges on the ribs. Where the planks have the same height as the frame, the ribs will extend beneath the frame. Here the ribs are located below the frame but contiguous to the lower edge of the frame preferably for a welded connection. 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  describes the shelf  1  of this invention from the side. The platform is shown extending in a generally horizontal plane with the ribs  4  extending laterally and beneath the frame. Upon this side, a leg  7  joins to the lateral end of the platform  5 . As before, the leg has a handle  8  above the platform and generally parallel to the lateral end of the platform. Below the handle, the leg  6  has two sides  6   a  that descend to the foot  7 . The sides have a slight taper, generally inwards, as they connect the wider handle to the narrower foot. The taper of the legs eases the nesting of a pair of shelves together, when arranged one upon the other, as can later be seen in  FIG. 10 . In addition, because of the slight inward disposition for the handles  6 , as previously explained, when a pair or more of the shelves are stacked one upon the other, as can later be seen in  FIG. 9 , after the foot  7  at one end of the shelf are inserted through the handles  8  forming one end for the shelf, the foot  7  at the opposite end of the shelf, having its legs  6  biased or forced inwardly, against their inherent resiliency, may then be located outwardly through the handle for the subjacent shelf, as later shown in  FIG. 9   a,  to provide for a very sturdy mount of a pair of shelves together, when assembled. 
         [0046]    Rotating the invention from  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  shows a top view of the invention. The platform has a generally rectangular shape with the frame  2  containing the planks  3  within it and orienting the planks longitudinally. The ribs  4  extend laterally, here shown as three ribs. Upon each lateral end of the frame, the handle of each leg bends inwards from the shoulder and appears to partially cover the lateral end of the frame. Outwards from the shoulder, the leg descends into the foot oriented away from the frame. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  shows the invention rotated upside down. Here, the platform has three ribs  4 , spaced apart and parallel, that spans laterally and supports the planks  3 . Each rib connects to the longitudinal sides of the frame upon the lower edge. In this view, the lateral ends of the frame are shown with the handle  8  as a thickened line behind the lateral ends. The shoulders of each leg adjoin the lateral ends, generally near each corner. The shoulders extend the legs slightly outwards from the frame and the sides of the legs extend to the feet shown here. As before, the feet extend outwards from the frame, generally perpendicular to the legs. In this view as in  FIG. 4 , the feet  7  have a lesser width than the handles  8 . The lesser width of the feet permits nesting of the shelves when they are stacked in a tight vertical bundle. 
         [0048]    Similar to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment. As before, the invention has a platform  5 , generally rectangular with a frame  2  upon the perimeter. Within the frame, a plurality of longitudinal and spaced apart planks rest upon ribs  4 . Here, the invention has three ribs that span laterally between the longitudinal sides of the frame. The height of the frame is established so that the planks  3  and the ribs  4  fit within the frame  2  and no protrusions interfere with items placed upon the platform and with sub-adjacent shelves when stacked tightly. The alternate embodiment has two spaced apart legs upon each lateral end of the frame. Each of the legs  6  have a handle  8 , also spanning laterally above the lateral end of the frame  2  and connecting to a shoulder  9 . The shoulder has a bend that locates the handle above the lateral end of the frame. Beneath the shoulder, each leg descends to a foot, bent perpendicular to the plane of the leg and generally parallel to the plane of the platform. 
         [0049]    Turning to the alternate embodiment,  FIG. 7  shows a side view of the platform and legs. The platform has a frame  2  upon the perimeter that has sufficient height to conceal both the planks  3  and the ribs  4  from viewing the frame. As in  FIG. 3 , each of the legs has a handle  8  parallel to the lateral end of the platform and generally above the lateral end. The handle joins to shoulders at each end. The shoulders join to legs descending vertically towards a foot. The legs descend at a taper that reaches the foot where it has a narrower width than the handle for ease of nesting when shelves are stacked tightly. 
         [0050]    Similar to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 8  shows the alternate embodiment from below. The platform has a perimeter frame that receives the ribs  4 . In this view, the ribs are contained within the longitudinal sides of the frame  2 . Each end of a rib generally abuts the inside face of a longitudinal side. The handles  8  are shown as a thickened line upon the lateral ends of the platform. From the handles, shoulders  9  supplies a bend to each leg  6  that moves each leg slightly away from the platform and begins a tapering of each leg towards a foot  7 . The foot is bent generally perpendicular to the sides of the leg and away from the platform. 
         [0051]    In use,  FIG. 9  shows two shelves of the present invention in a vertically stacked and spaced apart relationship. As before, each shelf has two spaced apart legs upon each lateral end. Here the upper shelf has two legs extending below the platform that reach the handles of the lower shelf. Upon reaching the lower shelf, the sides of the legs are deflected inwardly so that each foot from the upper shelf enters the gap beneath the handle and above the lower shelf. As the sides are deflected, the resiliency of the leg material urges the feet outwardly through the handle until the sides of the legs abut or engage the handle. When the legs engage the handle, the feet come to rest upon the lateral ends of the lower shelf, particularly the frame. The upper shelf is now stacked upon the lower shelf and ready for items to be placed upon the upper shelf. The upper shelf is also ready for additional shelves to stack vertically thereupon as desired by the owner of the shelves. The connection of legs between the shelves follows the engagement of feet through handles as described. 
         [0052]    The connection of an upper shelf to a lower shelf appears in  FIG. 9A . The upper shelf has a leg with a side  6 A that descends to a foot  7 . The foot passes beneath, through, and out of the handle  8  of the lower leg, and comes to rest upon the upper edge of the frame  2  of the lower shelf. In this view the longitudinal planks  3  are perpendicular to the frame  2  and below its top edge. The handle continues to each side  6   a  of the lower leg along an angle to the lower leg  6 . The lower leg straightens at the shoulder  9  and then proceeds downwards to the foot below, not shown. The connection of a foot from an upper leg beneath a handle of a lower leg and upon the frame of the lower shelf permits shelves of the present invention to stack and bias the legs against collapsing outwardly. 
         [0053]    For shipment between locations or storage at the owner&#39;s location,  FIG. 10  shows the present invention in a tightly nested relationship. As the alternate embodiment differs from the preferred embodiment by the height of the frame, the description of stacking the shelves also applies to the alternate embodiment. Here in a nestably stored relationship, the legs of an upper shelf fit over the top or upper portions of the handles of a lower adjacent shelf and are located outside of such handles and extend downwardly. The tapered legs of the upper-shelf fit within nesting areas of the legs of the lower adjacent shelf. A plurality of shelves can be nestably stored in this way, as shown in  FIG. 10 , with the platforms of upper shelves overlying the platforms of the platforms of the lower shelves and resting upon the handles of the lower shelves and with the feet of-the nestably stored shelves spaced apart vertically but disposed between the sides of the legs of the lower shelf. The legs of such nestably stored shelves remain generally straight and without deflection, in contrast to  FIG. 9  which depicts a plurality of shelves arranged in a stacked arrangement for use. 
         [0054]      FIG. 11  shows an isometric view of the stackable and nestable shelf of another embodiment of this invention. The shelf  10  includes a series of longitudinal and parallel lined bars, rods, or planks  11 , that are affixed to the lateral ribs  12 , with the end ribs  12  being secured with the end frames or legs  13  as can be seen. These legs are constructed similarly to those as previously described at  6  with respect to the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 . The parallel bars  11  have greater height and width, and therefore, add significantly to the reinforcement of the platform formed for the shelf as shown. 
         [0055]      FIG. 12  provides a side view of the said reinforced platform, and the height of the bars  11  can be noted. The same can be seen from the end view as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0056]      FIGS. 14 and 15  provide top and bottom views for the reinforced platform for this particular stackable and nestable shelf. It can also be seen that the lateral ribs  12  have significant diameter, and therefore, add further structure to the reinforced shelf. 
         [0057]    From the aforementioned description, a stackable and nestable shelf with a reinforced platform has been described. The stackable and nestable shelf is uniquely capable of engaging the feet and the handles of legs for stacking and separating the feet and handles of the legs for nesting a plurality of shelves vertically, or, optionally, certain of the shelves may be stacked, but may be made so that they will not necessarily nest. The stackable and nestable shelf and its various components may be manufactured from many materials including but not limited to polymers, high density polyethylene HDPE, polypropylene PP, polyethylene terephalate ethylene PETE, polyvinyl chloride PVC, polystyrene PS, nylon, steel, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, their alloys, and composites.