Patent Publication Number: US-6655538-B2

Title: Telescoping adjustable-length shelf

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to bath caddies and more specifically a shelf assembly attached to a telescoping rod, which can be secured between two supports. 
     BACKGROUND 
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 5,014,860 
                 May, 1991 
                 Emery 
               
               
                 5,588,543 
                 Dec., 1996 
                 Finger 
               
               
                 D379,891 
                 June, 1997 
                 Hampshire 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Caddies and related support devices for use in the bathroom are well known. Many such caddies are readily mountable in the bathtub or adjacent structures. The caddy provides a convenient and efficient location for storing accessories, which are often used in the tub or while taking a shower. Such accessories often include shampoos, soaps, and shaving accessories. 
     There are different methods of installing shower caddies. Suction cups as shown in U.S. Pat. No. D379,891 to Hampshire and U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,860 to Emery can adhere to a shower wall, but have a tendency to lose suction after a while. 
     Racks designed to be hung, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,543 to Finer are not stable. 
     Caddies with mounts secured to a wall are very stable, but not easily moved or removed. Securing brackets to a wall will normally damage the wall, and requires repair when removed. 
     It occurred to me that a need exists for an adjustable length shelf, which can be easily installed or removed without the need for mounting hardware secured to a wall. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of bath caddies described above, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     (a) to provide shelf space which can be used singularly or in plurality. 
     (b) to provide a shelf which can be adjusted in length to fit between two support pieces. 
     (c) to provide a shelf which can be installed with or without being permanently attached to a surface. 
     (d) to provide shelf space anywhere provided there are two supports available. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention in the closed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the present invention in the opened and installed position; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the main shelf section; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the outside of the shelf bracket; 
     FIG. 6 is a view inside the shelf bracket; 
     FIG. 7 is a view of the movement of the inner telescoping shelf piece; 
     FIG. 8 is a view of the edge where the moveable shelf piece is attached to the outer shell of the telescoping shelf section; 
     FIGS. 9 a  and  9   b  show cross sectional views of possible shapes of the shelf assembly. 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 10 
                 first hollow tube 
                 12 
                 second hollow tube 
               
               
                 14 
                 shelf bracket 
                 16 
                 telescoping shelf section 
               
               
                 18 
                 outer wall of main 
                 18A 
                 bracket wall 
               
               
                   
                 shelf section 
                   
               
               
                 21A 
                 hole on inner wall 21 
                 22 
                 main shelf section 
               
               
                 24 
                 drainage holes 
                 26 
                 edge where moveable shelf 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 piece attaches 
               
               
                 28 
                 flexible inner shelf 
                 30 
                 hole in outer wall of 
               
               
                   
                 pieces 
                   
                 main shelf section 
               
               
                 30A 
                 hole in bracket wall 
                 32 
                 support wall 
               
               
                 34 
                 end cap 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     SUMMARY 
     An adjustable-length shelf system, fabricated onto a hollow rod in which the inside can be modified to be able to house a chosen tension mechanism, so that the shelf can then be secured between two vertical supports. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 to  9 B 
     There is shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3  a telescoping shelf assembly that can be made of plastic, wood, metal, and cardboard, to support storage of intended items when shelf is installed. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, the telescoping shelf assembly is comprised of shelf sections in conjunction with a first hollow tube  10  and a second hollow tube  12 . Hollow tube  12  is fitted within hollow tube  10  to provide a reasonably tight fit. Hollow tubes  10  and  12  form a rod which has pressure pads  34  secured to the ends. 
     FIG. 1 shows a main shelf section  22 , and a telescoping shelf section  16 . Said main shelf section  22  is attached by molding, gluing, or other securing means to hollow rod  10  at a hole  30  on an end wall  18 . 
     Shown in FIG. 4 is where said main shelf section  22  is permanently attached to hollow tube  10  at a hole  21 A on an inner wall  21  of main shelf section. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 1,  4 , and  6 , the lower portions of shelf sections  16  and  22 , and shelf bracket  14  fit around hollow tubes  10  and  12 . The top portionsof the shelf sections and bracket form shelf surfaces  20  and  28  located above the tubes. 
     Shown in FIG. 5 is a hole  30 A in a bracket wall  18 A where the hollow tube  12  is attached to shelf bracket  14 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, there is space inside the bracket  14  to fit telescoping shelf section  16 . 
     Shown in FIG. 7 is telescoping-shelf section  16 , which is not permanently attached to any part of the telescoping shelf assembly. 
     FIG. 8 shows a location of attachment  26  where the moveable shelf piece  28  is attached to the outside wall of section  16  at the end closest to the bracket  14 . 
     FIGS. 9 a  and  9   b  show different possible cross sectional views. 
     The present invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments. It is contemplated, however, that it may be practiced with modifications, some of which are outlined above, within the scope of the appended claims. 
     Operation 
     Shown in FIG. 1 is a telescoping shelf assembly intended to house a selected tension mechanism inside a rod formed from a hollow tube  10  and a hollow tube  12 . The rod has pressure pads secured to the ends for helping to make a pressure fit against vertical supports. 
     The manner of using the telescoping-shelf assembly, with a tension mechanism installed inside the hollow rod, is similar to a tension-based shower curtain rod. While the telescoping-shelf section is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2, the rod is adjusted in size to fit in an intended space between two supports. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, once the rod is in place between two supports  32 , the telescoping-shelf section is pulled out from the main section of shelf and is inserted into the bracket  14  located on hollow tube  12 . 
     Shown in FIG. 4, a main shelf section  22  is permanently attached to hollow tube  10  at a hole  21 A on an inner main shelf section wall  21 . 
     Shown in FIG. 5 is the location of the hole  30 A on the shelf bracket wall  18 A where shelf bracket  14  is attached to hollow tube  12 . Also shown in FIG. 5 are drainage holes  24 . 
     FIG. 6 shows the inside view of shelf bracket  14 . Shelf bracket  14  is just slightly larger than shelf section  16  to allow for a reasonably tight fit. 
     FIG. 7 shows a telescoping shelf section  16 . Telescoping shelf section  16  is not permanently attached to any other part of the assembly so that it can be moved into position during installation. An inner shelf piece  28 , located on the telescoping section  16 , lifts to slide over the inner shelf of main shelf section  22 , while the bottom section of  16  fits into the bottom of main shelf section  22 . 
     FIG. 8 shows the location of attachment  26  where the moveable inner shelf section  28  is attached to the outer shell of telescoping shelf section  16 . 
     FIG. 8 also shows the telescoping shelf assembly in the closed position, with section  16  fitted into section  22 . While in this closed position, the rod is able to turn to be adjusted in length. Once the right length is achieved for a given space between two supports, the shelf can be placed in position, and the telescoping section  16  pulled out from the main section of shelf  22  and fitted into shelf bracket  14 . 
     Conclusion 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that the adjustable-length shelf is easy to fit and install in a given space, and can be removed just as easily. In addition, it can be placed at a convenient height for accessibility in a shower or bath, or high enough to avoid being in the spray of water. This invention can be used in plurality for added shelf space. 
     Although the description above contains many-specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the method of water drainage could consist of numerous holes along the entire shelf structure. The shelf can vary in color, shape, and dimensions, etc. The number of hollow tubes may vary depending on the application, and the inside of the hollow tubes may be modified depending on the tension mechanism being used. The telescoping shelf section could have the end bracket attached to it, to be secured in place on the rod by other locking means. The telescoping shelf section could be eliminated all together, resulting in one shelf section attached to an adjustable length rod. The adjustable-length shelf could be installed with permanent brackets on the supporting walls eliminating the need for a tension mechanism, etc. 
     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the examples given.