Patent Publication Number: US-6666344-B1

Title: Book shelf support for standing on a floor and unattachably abutting against a wall

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a book shelf. More particularly, the present invention relates to a book shelf support for standing on a floor and unattachably abutting against a wall. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous innovations for supports have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
     A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 2,928,512 to Slater et. al teaches a structural assembly to support an article in a fixed position, comprising: an elongated structural member having a channel extending the full length thereof, means defining a slot opening to said channel, one edge of said slot opening having teeth thereon, a toothed member within said slot in engagement with said slot teeth, a fastening member engaged within said channel projecting outwardly therefrom into engagement with said article to support said article, and means defining an opening in said toothed member to receive said fastening member, the center of said opening being positioned on a line normal to said teeth with said line passing through one tooth at the midpoint between the high point of said tooth and one of the adjoining low points of said tooth whereby turning said toothed member will move the center of said opening relative to said structural member. 
     A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,354 to Patterson et. al teaches an adapter which comprises a pre-manufactured assembly capable of infinite vertical adjustment and self-adjusting width capability. To this end, the adapter of the present invention comprises a two-part unit in which the two parts thereof are relatively shiftable widthwise of the rack, yet a first of the part is telescoped within the second part and secured by screws to the adjacent side of the chassis unit to be mounted. The second part of the adapter can be snap-fitted into the central, hollow portion of a vertical rail of the rack and normally remains stationary with respect to such rail; whereas, the first part of the adapter can be inserted into the second part before the second part is inserted into the hollow center portion of the rail. 
     A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,794 to Bauer teaches an adjustable support bracket having a unitary or multi-member bracket assembly that can be used with a vertical channel and rail construction. Each bracket assembly can be positioned and secured at any location along the rail and can accommodate a varying shelf thickness. More specifically, the multi-member bracket assembly includes a stabilizer member and a support member having similar shaped channel plates which when joined have a similar shape to the channel. A spring mounted between the stabilizer and support members is contained between the rails. The spring in conjunction with a containing lip and a supporting lip of the stabilizer and support members, respectively, adjusts to clamp a shelf therebetween. A securing screw looks the bracket at any shelving location by creating a space between the stabilizer and support members within the vertical channel. 
     A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,756 to Dube et al. teaches a mounting assembly that is for adjustably mounting an accessory having a substantially planar portion onto a rail member having a longitudinal side channel with opposite longitudinal folds. The mounting assembly has an elongated latch member shaped for passage between the folds when the latch member is oriented substantially parallel to the channel, and for against the folds when the latch member is turned at least partially transversely inside the channel. The mounting assembly has a tightening device for tightening the accessory to the latch member. A locking device is operatively associated with the planar portion of the accessory and the latch member to prevent relative rotation and translation thereof when the accessory is tighten to the latch member. 
     A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,489 to Weaver et al. teaches a system for hanging implements on a wall which employs a hanging component formed of thin steel wire having two wire legs integrally Joined to and spaced apart at a limited portion. In a shelf supporting embodiment, bores or paired channels are provided within a shelf standard at a downwardly depending acute angle. The standard then is used with an elemental drill to form corresponding paired channels through a drywall surface. The wire bifurcate hanging components then are inserted through these channels at the noted acute angle to support a standard against a wall. The acute angle evokes an, inwardly directed vector component providing a very stable and relatively high load bearing capacity. Removal of the shelf system from the wall is simply accomplished by lifting upwardly to reveal only small paired channel openings which are easily covered or resurfaced. A continuous strap based self supporting arrangement simplifies the mounting to and supporting of shelves from spaced apart standards. 
     It is apparent that numerous innovations for supports have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore. even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a book shelf support for standing on a floor and unattachably abutting against a wall that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a book shelf support for standing on a floor and unattachably abutting against a wall that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     STILL AND ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a book shelf support for standing on a floor and unattachably abutting against a wall that is simple to use. 
     BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a book shelf support for standing on a floor and unattachably abutting against a wall. The book shelf support includes a pair of uprights and a pair of criss-cross braces. The pair of uprights stand on the floor and unattachably abut against the wall. The pair of criss-cross braces attach the pair of uprights to each other. Each upright of the pair of uprights has a lowermost end that extends inwardly away from the wall and downwardly onto the floor, and as a result thereof, allows the support to stand on the floor and unattachably abut against the wall. Each brace of the pair of criss-cross braces includes two pieces that telescope relative to each other so as to allow for length adjustment and relative orientation of the pair of criss-cross braces. 
    
    
     The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth: in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention in use; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic rear end view taken generally in the direction of ARROW  2  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW  3  in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken on LINE  4 — 4  in FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
       10  book shelf support of present invention for standing on floor  12  and unattachably abutting against wall  14   
       12  floor 
       14  wall 
       16  pair of uprights for standing on floor  12  and unattachably abutting against wall  14   
       18  pair of criss-cross braces 
       20  lowermost end of each upright of pair of uprights  16   
       22  two pieces of each brace of pair of crisscross braces  18   
       24  throughslot through each piece of two pieces  22  of each brace of pair of crisscross braces  18   
       26  plate of each brace of pair of cries-cross braces  18   
       28  inner piece of two pieces  22  of each brace of pair of cries-cross braces  18   
       30  throughbore through plate  26  of one brace of pair of criss-cross braces  18   
       32  threaded rod of plate  26  of other brace of pair of criss-cross braces  18   
       34  outer piece of each brace of pair of criss-cross braces  18   
       36  wing nut of pair of cries-cross braces  18   
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, the book shelf support of the present invention is shown generally at  10  for standing on a floor  12  and unattachably abutting against a wall  14 . 
     The overall configuration of the book shelf support  10  can best be seen in FIG. 1, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The book shelf support  10  comprises a pair of uprights  16 , and a pair of cries-cross braces  18 . 
     The pair of uprights  16  are for standing on the floor  12  and unattachably abutting against the wall  14 . 
     The pair of criss-cross braces  18  attach the pair of uprights  16  to each other. 
     Each upright of the pair of uprights  16  has a lowermost end  20 . 
     The lowermost end  20  of each upright of the pair of uprights  16  extends inwardly away from the wall  14  and downwardly onto the floor  12 , and as a result thereof, allows the book shelf support  10  to stand on the floor  12  and unattachably abut against the wall  14 . 
     The specific configuration of the pair of cries-cross braces  18  can best be seen in FIGS. 2-4, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     Each brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18  comprises two pieces  22 . 
     The two pieces  22  of each brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18  telescope relative to each other; respectively. 
     Each piece of the two pieces  22  of each brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18  has a throughslot  24 . 
     The throughslot  24  extends longitudinally along each piece of the two pieces  22  of each brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18 . 
     Each brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18  further comprises a plate  26 . plate  26  extends telescopically through an inner piece  28  of the two pieces  22  of each brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18 . 
     The plate  26  of one brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18  has a throughbore  30 . 
     The plate  26  of the other brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18  has a threaded rod  32 . 
     The threaded rod  32  extends perpendicularly from the plate  26  of the other brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18 . 
     The threaded rod  32  extends through the throughslot  24  in the inner piece  28  of one brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18 , through the throughslot  24  in an outer piece  34  of the one brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18 , through the throughslot  24  in the outer piece  34  of the other brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  16 , through the throughslot  24  in the inner piece  28  of the other brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18 , through the throughbore,  30  in the plate  26  of the inner piece  28  of the other brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18 , back out through the throughslot  24  in the inner piece  28  of the other brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18 , and back out through the throughslot  24  in the outer piece  34  of the other brace of the pair of criss-cross braces  18  where it threadably engages a wing nut  36  so as to allow for length adjustment and relative orientation of the pair of crisscross braces  18 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a book shelf support for standing on a floor and unattachably abutting against a wall, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     While further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others. can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventions