Patent Publication Number: US-2017370521-A1

Title: Adjustable shelf

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/132,350, filed Mar. 12, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The subject technology invention relates to a shelf for use in a medical environment, in particular a shelf that is ADA compliant and is useful for supporting working materials and computer accessories when in use, and capable of low profile storage when not in use. 
     Background of the Related Art 
     In the modern office, space, storage and ergonomics are all at a premium. An efficient organization of the work space creates not only a cost effective environment but a positive and productive environment as well. This is particularly true in the health care field in which patients in varying degrees of discomfort and malady regularly pass. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the above, a need exists to improve upon the availability, storage and use of office equipment. These needs are particularly apparent in a dental operating room, in which there is limited space. 
     One embodiment of the subject technology is directed to an adjustable shelf including a wall mount for coupling to a wall. A fixed post extends downwardly from the wall mount along a first axis. A post assembly has a rotatable tube coupled to the fixed post so that the rotatable tube is rotatable about the first axis. An arm extends from the rotatable tube along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the first and second axis are substantially parallel to the wall. A shaft rotatably couples to the arm and extends from the arm along the second axis, the shaft being rotatable about the second axis between an operational orientation and a storage orientation. A tray extends from the shaft. 
     Preferably, the adjustable shelf has a housing enshrouding the wall mount. The tray may have an upper working surface for supporting an item, a rear edge secured to the shaft, and a front lip for retaining the item on the tray. The tray has an upper working surface for mounting a keyboard thereto. The adjustable shelf can also have a locking assembly for fixing the tray in the operational orientation. The shelf can simply hang down in the storage orientation or the locking assembly can fix the tray in the storage orientation. The lock assembly includes a locking button secured to one of: the shaft and the arm; and a slot defined on the other of: the shaft and the arm, the slot defining an operational detent for each orientation so that when the locking button is in one of the operational detents, the tray is fixed in the respective orientation. The operational detent for the operational orientation may set the tray horizontally, at a downward angle from the wall or at an upward angle. The slot may have a plurality of detents for setting two or more different operational orientations. The wall mount extends from the wall a certain depth and, in the storage orientation, the tray is within the certain depth from the wall. 
     Another embodiment of the subject technology is directed to an adjustable shelf including a wall mount for coupling to a wall, wherein the wall mount extends from the wall a certain depth. A housing encloses the wall mount with a fixed post extending downwardly from the wall mount along a first axis. A post assembly has a rotatable tube coupled to the fixed post so that the rotatable tube is rotatable about the first axis. A hollow arm extends from the rotatable tube along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the first and second axis are substantially parallel to the wall. A shaft rotatably couples within the hollow arm and extends from the arm along the second axis, the shaft being rotatable about the second axis between an operational orientation and a storage orientation. A tray has an upper working surface extending from the shaft for mounting a keyboard thereto. In the storage orientation, the tray is substantially parallel to and within the certain depth from the wall and, in the operational orientation, the tray is at a downward angle with respect to the wall. A locking assembly selectively fixes the tray in the operational orientation and the storage orientation, wherein the lock assembly includes a locking button secured to one of: the shaft and the arm; and a slot defined on the other of: the shaft and the arm. The slot defines an operational detent so that when the locking button is in the operational detent, the tray is fixed in the operation orientation. 
     The adjustable shelf may also be configured such that the tray has a rear edge secured to the shaft and a front lip for retaining the keyboard on the tray. The slot can define a storage detent so that when the locking button is in the storage detent, the tray is fixed in the storage orientation. The downward angle sets the tray slightly below horizontal. 
     The subject technology provides an adjustable shelf. More particularly, the subject technology provides a shelf that has a rotatable tray that can be rotated to a first orientation (working orientation, or working position) in which the tray provides a work surface that is useful for supporting objects for a user, and that can be rotated to a second orientation (storage orientation, or storage position) in which the tray extends parallel to a wall in a room so that it takes up minimal space in the room when not in use. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the adjustable shelf has a wall mount that is configured to be secured to a wall in a room, such as a dental operating room or another room. A housing is securable to the wall mount, and the housing is configured to enshroud the wall mount. A housing post extends from the housing, and the housing post supports a rotatable tube. The rotatable tube has a receiver for receiving the housing post. The rotatable tube is rotatable with respect to the housing, about a first axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the first axis is an at least substantially vertical axis. 
     A tray provides a rotatable working surface for a user, and is preferably dimensioned and configured as a keyboard tray for supporting a computer keyboard. The tray is supported by an arm that is secured to the rotatable tube. The arm extends laterally from the rotatable tube along a second axis. The shaft extends laterally from the arm along the second axis, and the shaft is rotatable about the second axis between a first orientation and a second orientation. In an exemplary embodiment, the second axis is a substantially horizontal axis. The tray extends from the shaft. The tray has an upper working surface, a front edge, a rear edge, a left edge, and a right edge. The tray is secured to the shaft at its rear edge. A front lip extends along the front edge of the tray. The front lip is useful for retaining items on the upper surface of the tray when the tray is in use by a user. 
     In the first orientation, the upper surface of the tray extends at an angle with respect to the wall on which wall mount is secured. In the second orientation, the upper working surface extends at least substantially vertically, so that the upper working surface is substantially parallel to the wall on which the wall mount is secured. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the adjustable shelf also includes a lock configured to allow a user to selectively lock the shaft in the first orientation. The lock may also be configured to allow a user to selectively lock the shaft in the second orientation. An exemplary embodiment of the adjustable shaft includes a locking button formed on either the shaft or the arm, and a slot defined on the other of the shaft or the arm. The locking button is moveable relative to the slot, so that when the post engages the slot, the shaft is rotatably locked with respect to the arm. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the tray has an upper surface that is dimensioned and configured to support a typical computer keyboard for use with a desktop computer. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the depth of the housing is configured so that the rotatable tube does not extend forwardly of the front housing edge when the wall mount is secured to a substantially vertical wall, and the tray does not extend forwardly of the front housing edge when the wall mount is secured to a substantially vertical wall. 
     Accordingly, among the objects of the subject technology are: the provision of an adjustable shelf that allows a user to rotate a tray to a stowed orientation in which the tray is substantially parallel to a wall and substantially out of the way of the user; the provision of an adjustable shelf that allows a user to rotate a tray to a working orientation in which the tray is oriented so its upper surface extends at an angle so that the upper surface is useful for supporting working materials for a user; the provision of an adjustable shelf that is useful for supporting a computer keyboard; and the provision of an adjustable shelf that has a selective locking mechanism. 
     It should be appreciated that the subject technology can be implemented and utilized in numerous ways, including without limitation as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, a method for applications now known and later developed. These and other unique features of the system disclosed herein will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed system appertains will more readily understand how to make and use the same, reference may be had to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of a shelf assembly mounted to a wall in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a shelf assembly in the operational orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of a shelf assembly in the operational orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a left view of a shelf assembly in the operational orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a right view of a shelf assembly in the operational orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a shelf assembly in the operational orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of a shelf assembly in the operational orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective front view of a shelf assembly in the storage orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a shelf assembly in the storage orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a back view of a shelf assembly in the storage orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a left view of a shelf assembly in the storage orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a right view of a shelf assembly in the storage orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of a shelf assembly in the storage orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view of a shelf assembly in the storage orientation in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a persepective front exploded view of a shelf assembly in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a front exploded view of a shelf assembly in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 17  is a left exploded view of a shelf assembly in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 18  is a right exploded view of a shelf assembly in accordance with the subject disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The subject technology overcomes many of the prior art problems associated with use and storage of office equipment such as keyboards. The advantages, and other features of the system disclosed herein, will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings which set forth representative embodiments of the present invention and wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural elements. It is understood that references to the figures such as horizontal, vertical, up, down, upward, downward, left, and right are with respect to the figures and not meant in a limiting sense. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective front view of a shelf assembly  100  mounted to a wall  102  in accordance with the subject disclosure is shown. The shelf assembly  100  is particularly useful in dental offices where space is often limited. The shelf assembly  100  supports a keyboard  104  for easy access when in use (e.g., the operational orientation of  FIGS. 1-7 ). When not needed, the shelf assembly  100  can be easily moved to a storage orientation (see  FIGS. 8-14 ). 
     The keyboard  104  may remain fixed to the shelf assembly  100  or be removed in the storage orientation. Preferably, the keyboard  104  is wireless for communicating with a computer (not shown) so that desired images and actions may be shown on a monitor  106 . The monitor  106  may be mounted on the wall  102 , set on an adjacent counter, fixed to an articulating arm associated with a dental chair and the like. 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS. 15-18 , exploded views of the adjustable shelf  100  are shown. The adjustable shelf  100  includes a wall mount  110  for coupling to the wall  102 . The wall mount  110  includes a mounting plate  112  that defines mounting holes  114 . Fasteners (not shown) pass through the holes  114  into the wall  102  for fixing the shelf assembly  100  thereto. A mounting bracket  116  extends from the mounting plate  112 . 
     A housing  118  enshrouds the wall mount  110  so that the wall mount  110  is hidden from view when the adjustable shelf  100  is fully assembled. One or more screws  120  pass through the housing  118  into a threaded hole  122  in the mounting bracket  116  for coupling the housing to the wall mount  110 . The housing  118  extends from the wall  104  a certain depth “d” (see  FIG. 17 ). 
     The housing  118  also includes a fixed post  124  extending along a first axis “a” downwardly through a central bore  126  in the mounting bracket  116 . A post assembly  128  couples to the fixed post  124 . The post assembly  128  has a tube  130  along the first axis “a.” The tube  130  surrounds the fixed post  124  so that the tube freely rotates about the fixed post  124  (e.g., rotation about the first axis “a”). The fixed post  124  may include washers  125  and other features like a snap ring for spacing and retention within the tube  130 . 
     The post assembly  128  also has a hollow arm  132  extending from the rotatable tube  128  along a second axis “b” substantially perpendicular to the first axis “a”. It is envisioned that the first axis “a” and the second axis “b” are substantially vertical and horizontal, respectively, as well as parallel to the wall  102 . An elongated shaft  134  rotatably couples within the hollow arm  132  and extends from the arm  132  along the second axis “b.” The shaft  132  has a narrower portion  136  that fits within the arm  132 . An end cap  137  is received in the rotatable tube  130  to make for a neat and tidy appearance. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 16 , the shelf assembly  100  includes a locking assembly  138  for selectively setting the shelf assembly  100  in the operational orientation and the storage orientation. The locking assembly  138  includes a locking button  140  on the narrower portion  136  that interacts within a slot  142  defined in the hollow arm  132 . The slot  142  is L-shaped with enlarged ends  144  that act as detents to capture the button  140 . The enlarged ends  144  equate to the operational and storage orientations, respectively. A spring  146  fits within the hollow arm  132  to bias shaft  134  outward so that movement and positioning of the button  140  within the slot  142  is reliable and feels snug. In another embodiment, the end of the shaft  134  is hollow to define a slot and receive the arm and a button thereon. 
     A tray  148  is attached to the shaft  134  for rotation therewith. The tray  148  has an upper working surface  150  for mounting the keyboard  104  thereto. The keyboard  104  may be glue or screwed to the tray or simply rest thereupon. In the storage orientation, the tray  148  is substantially parallel to and within the certain depth “d” from the wall  102 . Preferably, the keyboard  104  is also within or substantially within the depth as well. In the operational orientation, the tray  148  is at an angle a with respect to a third axis “c” coming perpendicularly out of the wall  102 . The angle a is selected to present the keyboard  104  in a desirable position for use. The angle a may range from 0 to 65 degrees in the embodiment shown but any angle is possible, even negative angles (e.g., tilted upward coming away from the wall  102 ). 
     In other embodiments, the upper working surface  150  can be used to support charts, notebooks, notepads, computer keyboards, writing instruments, books, and/or other objects. For example, the working surface  150  may form a hole as a cupholder. Preferably, the upper working surface is dimensioned and configured to support a standard computer keyboard for a desktop computer, such as one having a footprint that is roughly 4-10 inches long by 12-22 inches wide. When the user no longer needs the working surface  150  provided by the tray  148 , the user rotates the tray  148  to the storage orientation. In a dental setting, the storage orientation is useful for allowing the user, the patient or another person, to enter the work space and/or to move about more freely. Preferably, the tray  148  has a rear edge  152  secured to the shaft  134  and a front lip  154  for retaining whatever items may be on the tray  150 . 
     It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art that the functions of several elements may, in alternative embodiments, be carried out by fewer elements, or a single element. Similarly, in some embodiments, any functional element may perform fewer, or different, operations than those described with respect to the illustrated embodiment. Also, functional elements (e.g., locking mechanisms, rotation mechanisms, fasteners, connections and the like) shown as distinct for purposes of illustration may be incorporated within other functional elements in a particular implementation. 
     While the subject technology has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the subject technology without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Additionally, various features may be included and disclaimed in a corresponding design patent application. For example without limitation, the housing, the tube, the shaft, the art and/or the tray may be shown in dashed lines to disclaim such ornamental features in a design patent application.