Patent Publication Number: US-6663201-B2

Title: Vertically stabilized adjustable shelf bracket assembly

Description:
CONTINUATION-IN-PART INFORMATION 
     This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/255,258, filed Feb. 22, 1999 which will issue as U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,141 on Mar. 6, 2001, and which is hereby incorporated by reference, in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to adjustable shelf support systems in general, and more particularly to shelf support systems employing slotted shelf support strips. 
     2. Prior Art 
     A common adjustable shelving design in the prior art utilizes a design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,803 to Gartung, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This shelving system consists essentially of two or more vertical support strips containing a plurality of vertically aligned slots. Shelf support brackets having hooks designed to engage the slots in the support strips are attached to the strips. By positioning two or more strips parallel to each other on a wall, and aligning two or more brackets horizontally on the strips, the brackets can be used to support shelving. This type of shelving system provides a significant advantage over the prior art in that it may be installed over walls without requiring any alterations to the wall itself. However, the Gartung type shelving also have a significant shortcoming: stability. The hooks securing the brackets to the strips are much shorter than the brackets themselves. Force exerted against the shelves can use the full length of the brackets to exert leverage against the hooks. For this reason, small lateral forces can cause the brackets and the shelves they support to sway substantially. Gartung type shelving system also have vertical stability problems. The shelves are typically held on the brackets by their own weight. This can create problems if the shelf becomes unevenly laden. Consider a shelf supporting a collection of valuable but fragile lamps on one end and a bronze sculpture on the other. Lifting the sculpture during household cleaning may cause the shelf to become unbalanced and allow it to pivot on the bracket, and may lead to a tumble for the lamps. The shelves are also quite susceptible to displacement from upward forces. A shelf struck from below with a heavy object such as a dictionary being moved on a lower shelf may move upward with nothing but gravity to oppose it. If the bracket itself is bumped from below, it may be displaced and possibly even knocked out of the strip. Previous works, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,835 to Herron which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, have made substantial improvements to the horizontal stability of the shelving; however, problems persist in the state of the art with respect to the vertical stability of Gartung type shelving. Therefore, a shelving system satisfying the following objectives is desired. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a shelf bracket assembly in which the shelves are substantially stable. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a shelf bracket assembly in which the shelves are substantially vertically stable. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a shelf bracket assembly in which the shelves may be easily adjusted. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a shelf bracket assembly which is aesthetically pleasing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A shelf bracket assembly is disclosed for providing improved vertical stability to adjustable shelves. The assembly comprises a plurality of Gartung type support strips, containing a plurality of vertically aligned slots along their length. A plurality of shelf brackets having a base and a horizontal support member extending from the base are provided. The base contains at least one hooked portion sized to fit in and engage the vertically aligned slots of the support strips. The shelves are stabilized vertically in several ways. First the base is provided with a recess for receiving the shelf. The shelf is either sized to fit securely in the recess or the recess is provided with a shim to secure the shelf in the recess. Second, a vertical member may extend upwardly from the horizontal support member, preferably at the end of the horizontal support member opposite the base. A slot or an indentation may be provided in the shelf to receive the vertical member. The slot or indentation and the vertical member are preferably configured to engage one another so that the shelf is releasably attached to the horizontal member. This may be accomplished by providing the vertical member with an enlarged head and providing the slot or indentation with a deformable constriction sized to engage the head. With the shelf attached to the horizontal support member at one end by the vertical member and at the other end in the recess, the shelf is secured to the horizontal support member so that it cannot pivot vertically along its width. Securing the shelf to another horizontal support member attached to a parallel support strip will provide additional vertical stability along the shelf length. In this position, the shelf can be displaced vertically only by moving the entire support bracket upward, as would be done to remove the bracket from the support strip. 
     Additional vertical stability may be provided by securing the brackets against upward movement. One way this can be accomplished is to provide the support strips with a plurality of horizontally and vertically aligned strip apertures. At least one corresponding base aperture is provided in the base of the brackets. The locking apertures and the base aperture should be positioned and sized to align when the bracket is engaged with the support strip. A locking pin is also provided which is sized to be inserted into the locking apertures and the base apertures. By placing the locking pin in these apertures when the bracket is engaged with the support strip, upward movement of the bracket may be prevented. 
     The brackets may also be provided with a vertical stabilizer configured to engage the shelf support strips. The vertical stabilizer comprises an elongated member having a top end, a bottom end, and an arm extending perpendicularly therefrom. The arm is sized to fit into the slots of the support strips. The vertical stabilizer is sized and configured so that the bottom end of the elongated member will be positioned above and in close contact with the base of the shelf bracket. These stabilizers are designed to be held in place by a cover means such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,835. With the stabilizer and cover means in place, the bracket cannot be moved upwardly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective partial cut-away view of a preferred embodiment of a support strip. 
     FIG. 1B is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a support strip having a separate back wall. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket having a vertical member and a recess. 
     FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket having a shim. 
     FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket having a shim. 
     FIG. 3C is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket having a shim with three different tongue and groove engagement mechanisms. 
     FIG. 4A is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf containing an indentation. 
     FIG. 4B is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf containing a slot. 
     FIG. 5A is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf with a rounded edge during installation into a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket assembly. 
     FIG. 5B is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf with a rounded edge after having been installed into a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket assembly. 
     FIG. 5C is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf with a rounded edge and an enlarged second end during installation into a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket assembly. 
     FIG. 5D is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf with a rounded edge and an enlarged second end after having been installed into a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket assembly. 
     FIG. 6A is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a locking pin and a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket assembly. 
     FIG. 6B is an exploded view of another preferred embodiment of a locking pin and another preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket assembly. 
     FIG. 7A is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a vertical stabilizer. 
     FIG. 7B is a side view of another preferred embodiment of a vertical stabilizer having a lateral brace. 
     FIG. 7C is an end view of the preferred embodiment of a vertical stabilizer illustrated in FIG.  7 B. 
     FIG. 8A is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a vertical stabilizer in position over a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket. 
     FIG. 8B is the same view shown in FIG. 8A, but with a preferred embodiment of a divider section in place over the vertical stabilizer. 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket assembly without the shelves. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a fully assembled shelf bracket assembly. 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a cabinet support member. 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of a cabinet support member. 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of one preferred embodiment of a cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 14 is a side view of another preferred embodiment of a cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a cabinetry assembly used with a shelf bracket assembly. 
     FIG. 17A is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a vertical brace. 
     FIG. 17B is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a vertical brace in use. 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a pair of brackets having closet rod apertures and a closet rod. 
     FIG. 19 is perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a cap section. 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a bottom section. 
     FIG. 21 is an exploded view of one preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket having a releasably connectable horizontal support member. 
     FIG. 22 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a base having a cap for a preferred cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 23 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a base having a cap for a preferred cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 24 is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of a base having a cap for a preferred cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 25 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a base having a cap for a preferred cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 26 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a base for a preferred cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 27 is a cut away side view of a base having a cap for a preferred cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 28 is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a base having a cap for a preferred cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 29 is rear perspective view of preferred cabinetry assembly. 
     FIG. 30 is a side view of a preferred cabinetry assembly 
     FIG. 31 is a rear perspective blow up view of a preferred embodiment of a base having a cap for a preferred cabinetry assembly and a preferred hanging casing. 
     FIG. 32 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a base having a cap for a preferred cabinetry assembly and a preferred hanging casing. 
     FIG. 33 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a shelf bracket and a preferred hanging casing. 
     FIG. 34 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a vertical stabilizer. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     A shelf bracket assembly  1  is disclosed. Shelf bracket assembly  1  comprises a plurality of vertical support strips  2 . Support strips  2  are preferably provided with a face  3  and generally perpendicular sidewalls  4 . For added strength, support strips  2  may also be provided with a back wall  5 , opposite face  3 . In one preferred embodiment, back wall  5  may be provided as separate piece from the rest of support strip  2 , as illustrated in FIG.  1 B. When this embodiment is used, back wall  5  preferably contains a pair of aligned grooves sized to receive the edges of sidewalls  4 . Support strip  2  preferably contains a plurality of slots  6  in face  3 . Slots  6  should be evenly spaced and vertically aligned. In one preferred embodiment (not shown) two parallel columns of slots  6  are provided in strips  2 . When this embodiment is used, two columns of hook members  14  (described below) may be provided on shelf bracket  9  (also described below). Support strips  2  are also preferably provided with a plurality of attachment apertures  7  sized to receive a nail, a screw, a bolt, or other means for operatively attaching support strip  2  to a wall. Support strips  2  may also be provided with a plurality of strip apertures  8 . Strip apertures  8  are preferably contained in sidewalls  4 , and are preferably vertically aligned. Strip apertures  8  are preferably provided in each sidewall  4 . The strip apertures  8  in each sidewall  4  should preferably be aligned with each other vertically and horizontally. 
     A plurality of shelf brackets  9  configured to engage support strips  2  are also provided. Shelf brackets  9  comprise a base  10  and a horizontal support member  11  fixedly attached to base  10 . In one preferred embodiment, horizontal support member  11  is releasably attached to base  10 . This is preferably accomplished by providing horizontal support member  11  with one or more hook members  14 A (substantially similar to hooks  14 , discussed below). In this embodiment, base  10  is provided with one or more apertures  400  sized to allow passage of hooks  14 A. Thus, hooks  14 A can pass through apertures  400  and engage support strip  2 , securing horizontal support member  11  and base  10  to support strip  2 . In another preferred embodiment, base  10  may be provided with independent hook members (substantially similar to hooks  14 , discussed below). In this embodiment, hook members will engage support strip  2 . Depending on their length, hook members  14 A will either engage strip  2  as well or they may engage apertures  400  of base  10 . In another preferred embodiment, base  10  and horizontal support member  11  may be provided with one or more pairs of snaps comprising a recess and a matching headed shaft to allow horizontal support member  11  to engage base  10  by inserting the headed shaft into the recess. The recess or the head or both should be deformable in order to allow the shaft to be inserted into and withdrawn from the recess. 
     Horizontal support member  11  should be of a size and strength to support at least half the weight of a shelf  18 , including any reasonably expected load for the intended use of shelf  18 . In most preferred embodiments, horizontal support member  11  will be between six and twenty-four inches in length. Base  10  has an upper end  12  and a lower end  13 . Between upper end  12  and lower end  13  are hook members  14 . Hook members  14  should be sized and positioned to lockingly fit within slots  6  in support strips  2 . Hook members  14  should define a groove  15 . Groove  15  should have an open mouth  16  and a closed end  17  opposite mouth  16 . In one preferred embodiment, the width of groove  15  narrows from mouth  16  to closed end  17 . This narrowing may be continuous, or it may occur in discrete steps. By having groove  15  vary in width, it may securely engage support strips  2  of differing thicknesses. 
     Base  10  should preferably be provided with a horizontal stabilizer  41 . Horizontal stabilizer  41  is configured to contact the wall to which support strips  2  are mounted. Stabilizer  41  may comprise a right flange  42  and a left flange  43 , each of which include a wall surface  44  configured and sized to contact the wall and a strip surface  45  configured to contact strip  2  when bracket  9  is mounted on support strip  2 . Flanges  42  and  43  of horizontal stabilizer  41  thereby operate to form a channel  46  under which support strip  2  resides when shelf bracket  9  is attached to support strip  2 . Wall surfaces  44  of horizontal stabilizer  41  brace bracket  9  against the wall, thereby resisting horizontal displacement of bracket  9  or shelf  18 . 
     Shelf  18  has a first end  19 , and a second end  20 . Base  10  should be provided with a recess  21  sized to receive first end  19  of shelf  18 . Recess  21  may be sized to provide a tight fit for first end  19  of shelf  18 . Alternatively, a shim  22  may be provided to fill any extra space in recess  21  when shelf  18  is in place. Shim  22  and base  10  may be provided with a tongue and groove interlocking mechanism  23  so that shim  22  may engage base  10  when it is in place. A tongue and groove interlocking mechanism  23 A may also be provided between shelf  18  and base  10  or between shelf  18  and shim  22 . 
     When recess  21  is sized to provide a tight fit for first end  19  without shim  22 , first end  19  may be provided with a rounded edge  29 . Rounded edge  29  should face support member  11 . In this embodiment, shelf  18  should be positioned at an angle to support member  11  with first end  19  in recess  21 . Shelf  18  may be rotated on rounded edge  29  until shelf  18  is parallel to and rests against support member  11  across the length of support member  11 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, shelf  18  is sized so that second end  20  extends beyond the vertical member  24  of support member  11 . When shelf  18  is so sized, second end  20  may be enlarged so that it rests against vertical member  24  of support member  11 , as illustrated in FIGS. 5C and 5D. This will provide additional support for shelf  18 . 
     Shelf bracket  9  may be provided with a vertical member  24 , which extends substantially perpendicularly from support member  11 . Vertical member  24  should extend upwardly from support member  11  and should preferably be positioned on support member  11  to correspond to second end  20  of shelf  18 . Vertical member  24  is preferably provided with an enlarged head  25 . Shelf  18  may be provided with a slot  26  or an indentation  27  sized and positioned to receive vertical member  24  when shelf  18  is placed on bracket  9 . Slot  26  or indentation  27  is preferably provided with a deformable constriction  28  sized to engage head  25  of vertical member  24 . Deformable constriction  28  may be formed of rubber, plastic, or other resilient material. Deformable constriction  28  should be narrower than the width of head  25 , but sufficiently deformable to allow head  25  to pass constriction  28 , preferably in both directions, when force is applied to shelf  18 . 
     When shelf  18  is secured to support member  11  at first end  19  with recess  21  and at second end  20  with vertical member  24 , it will be prevented from pivoting vertically along its width. If another support member  11  is attached to shelf  18  in a similar fashion at an adjacent support strip  2 , shelf  18  will be prevented from pivoting vertically along its length. In the embodiment where vertical members  24  are secured within indentations  27 , vertical member  24  will secure shelf  18  against horizontal displacement as well. Also, where the fit between recess  21  and first end  19  of shelf  18  is sufficiently tight, particularly where shim  22  is used, recess  21  may secure shelf  18  against horizontal displacement as well. 
     Brackets  9  may be further secured against vertical displacement by providing base  10  with at least one base aperture  30 . Base aperture  30  should be sized and positioned to align with strip apertures  8  in support strips  2  when bracket  9  is attached to strip  2 . Base aperture  30  may be positioned in hook members  14  or in upper end  12 , lower end  13 , or horizontal stabilizer  41  of base  10 . Shelf bracket assembly  1  may be provided with a locking pin  31 . Locking pin  31  should be sized to fit base aperture  30  and strip apertures  8 . Locking pin  31  may be inserted in base apertures  30  and strip apertures  8  when bracket  9  is attached to strip  2 . Pin  31  will prevent shelf bracket  9  from being vertically displaced. This will secure shelf  18  against displacement, and it will prevent bracket  9  from being disengaged from strip  2 . For additional security, pin  31  may be threaded to engage apertures  8  and/or  30 . Pin  31  may also be provided with a control arm  32 . Control arm  32  should preferably be at approximately a right angle to pin  31 . Base  10  may be provided with an arm depression  33  sized and positioned to receive control arm  32  when pin  31  has been inserted in apertures  8  and  30 . 
     Shelf bracket assembly  1  is preferably provided with a cover  34  operatively attached to support strips  2 . Cover  34  is configured to completely cover support strips  2  between each shelf bracket  9 , in the space above the top shelf bracket  9 , and in the space below the bottom shelf bracket  9 . 
     The preferred embodiment of cover  34  utilizes base  10  of shelf bracket  9  and also comprises a number of intermediate sections  35 , a cap section  36 , a top divider section  37 , a bottom section  38 , and a bottom divider section  39 . Divider sections  35 ,  37 , and  39  are of sufficient length to cover support strip  2  between consecutive brackets  9  and also between uppermost shelf bracket  9  and cap section  36  and between bottommost shelf bracket  9  and bottom section  38 . Each divider section  35 ,  37 , and  39  is comprised of a divider body  40  having a channel  47  identical in width to channel  46  in shelf bracket  9  in order to completely cover a portion of support strip  2 . Also present is an axial clearance groove  48  parallel to channel  46  to allow the heads of screws or other means for attaching support strip  2  to the wall to protrude from support strip  2  without interfering with the proper fitting of divider sections  35 ,  37 , and  39 . Each end of intermediate divider sections  35  is sized to fit within the cavity  49  of either upper end  12  or lower end  13  of base  10  and is retained by retainer flange  50  which is the portion of base  10  at upper end  12  and lower end  13  that overlaps divider section  35 . The lengths of intermediate divider sections  35  are determined entirely by the spacing between shelf brackets  9 . 
     Cap section  36  includes a body  51  having a downwardly extending retainer flange  52  and a cap cavity  53 . Metal clip  54  extending into cap cavity  53  is formed as an integral part of body  51  and matably engages the upper edge of support strip  2  for attachment. Metal clip  54  comprises two downwardly extending tabs  55 . Tabs  55  are preferably provided with a V-shaped slot  56  and define an engagement space  53 A capable of straddling any screws or other hardware used to attach support strip  2  to the wall but yet fit within sidewalls  4  of support strip  2 . Cap cavity  53  and retainer flange  52  also act to receive the top end of top divider section  37 . 
     Bottom section  38  comprises a body  56  from which hook members  57  extend. Hook members  57  are identical to hook members  14  in structure and function. Hook members  57  retain bottom section  38  on support strip  2  in the same manner that hook members  14  retain shelf bracket  9  on support strip  2 . Body  56  contains a channel  58 , a left flange  59 , and a right flange  60  that are identical in function to their counterparts in divider sections  35 ,  37 , and  39 . A lower end  61  extends downwardly from body  41  and is in all respects identical to divider sections  35 ,  37 , and  39 , except that lower end  61  is an integral extension of body  56 . Body  56  also has an upper end  62  which has a cavity  63  and a retainer flange  64  for retaining the bottom end of bottom divider section  39 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, a modified shelf bracket (not shown) may be used in place of bottom section  38 . Modified shelf bracket has all the features of shelf bracket  9  except that lower end  13  is replaced with lower end  61  of bottom section  38 . 
     Shelf bracket assembly  1  may be provided with a vertical stabilizer  66  comprised of an elongated member  67  having a top end  68 , a bottom end  69 , and an arm  70  extending substantially perpendicularly from elongated member  67 . Arm  70  is sized to fit into one of slots  6  in support strip  2 . The fit between arm  70  and slot  6  should be substantially tight in order to prevent substantial vertical movement of vertical stabilizer  66  while arm  70  is in slot  6 . Vertical stabilizer  66  may also be provided with a lateral brace  72  to prevent horizontal movement while vertical stabilizer  66  is in place, preferably at bottom end  69  and substantially perpendicular to elongated member  67 . When arm  70  is placed in slot  6 , elongated member  67  will be substantially parallel to support strip  2  and bottom end  69  and preferably lateral brace  72  will be above and in close contact with base  10 . In one preferred embodiment, the edge of elongated member  67  containing arm  70  will include one or more indentations  550 , preferably immediately adjacent to arm  70 . Support strip  2  is frequently secured to wall W with screws. The heads of these screws will typically rest on the surface of support strip  2  that contacts vertical stabilizer  66 . Indentations  550  will allow vertical stabilizer  66  rest against support strip  2  without being displaced by the heads of the screws. 
     When vertical stabilizer  66  is in place, elongated member  67  will fit between support strip  2  and divider section  35 ,  37 , or  39 , that is within axial clearance groove  48 . The fit between divider section  35 ,  37 , or  39 , elongated member  67 , and support strip  2  is sufficiently close to prevent arm  70  from being removed from slot  6  with divider section  35 ,  37 , or  39  in place. Lateral brace  72  is sized to fill the remaining space in axial clearance groove  48  and channel  47 , thereby securing vertical stabilizer  66  against horizontal displacement. In another preferred embodiment, lateral brace  72  may be sized to substantially fill cavity  49 . In this embodiment, divider section  35 ,  37 , or  39  will rest over lateral brace  72 . In either embodiment, lateral brace  72  will also provide greater surface area with which stabilizer  66  can engage base  10 . The increased surface area of lateral brace  72  will enhance the ability of stabilizer  66  to resist forces tending to vertically displace base  10 . In addition to shelf bracket  9 , vertical stabilizer  66  may be used to stabilize cabinetry support members  102  (described below) in the same fashion as described herein. 
     Shelf Bracket  9  is preferably made of a strong metal such as steel or aluminum. Bracket  9  may be provided with a plastic or resinous coating for aesthetic purposes. The coating will provide a functional advantage as well in that it will also increase the width of horizontal support member  11 , thereby widening the surface area of the surface supporting shelf  18  and thus enhancing the stability of shelf  18 . 
     In the most preferred embodiment of shelf bracket assembly  1 , at least two support strips  2  will be mounted on a wall. Support strips  2  should be vertically aligned and positioned parallel to one another. Assembly of cover  34  should preferably be performed from the bottom up. Bottom section  38  is attached first, although modified shelf bracket  65  may be substituted if it is being used. Bottom divider section  39  is attached next by placing it over support strip  2  and pushing the bottom end of bottom divider section  39  down into cavity  63 . Bottommost shelf bracket  9  is then positioned over strip  2  so that the top end of bottom divider section  39  is contained within cavity  49  of lower end  13  of base  10 . Bottom divider section  39  will thus be held in place by bottommost shelf bracket  9  and bottom section  38 . Vertical stabilizer  66 , if used, will be placed over bottommost shelf bracket  9  with arm  70  in one of slots  6  so that elongated member  67  is parallel to strip  2 . Bottom end  69  of elongated member  67  should be in contact with some portion of base  10  so that bracket  9  cannot be moved upwardly with vertical stabilizer  66  in place. An intermediate divider section  35  will be placed over strip  2  above bottommost shelf bracket  9  and pushed down so that the bottom end of divider section  35  is contained within cavity  49  of upper end  12  of base  10 . The top end of divider section  35  will be contained within cavity  49  lower end  13  of base  10  of the next shelf bracket  9 . Thus, intermediate divider section  35  will be held in place by these two shelf brackets  9 . Divider section  35  will hold vertical stabilizer  66  in place which will prevent bottommost shelf bracket  9  from being vertically displaced or removed from strip  2 . Bottommost shelf bracket  9  may also be secured vertically by inserting locking pin  31  through base apertures  30  and strip apertures  8 . This procedure is repeated for each successive shelf bracket  35  until top divider section  37  is installed. Above top divider section  37  is placed cap section  36  rather than another bracket  9 . Metal clip  54  of cap section  36  engages the top edge of strip  2 . Retainer flange  52  and cap cavity  53  fit over the top end of top divider section  37  and hold it in place. This procedure is repeated for at least one parallel support strip  2 . Additional strips  2  may be used if more than two brackets  9  are desired per shelf  18 . Brackets  9  attached to each strip  2  should be horizontally aligned. 
     Shelf  18  may be installed by simply placing it on two or more horizontal support members  11  of aligned shelf brackets  9 . When brackets  9  contain a recess  21 , first end  19  of shelf  18  should be placed in recess  21 . When the fit between recess  21  and first end  19  of shelf  18  is tight, this may be accomplished by placing shelf  18  at an angle on support members  11  and inserting first end  19  into recess  21 . Shelf  18  may then be rotated on rounded edge  29  until shelf  18  lies flat against support members  11 . Where the fit between shelf  18  and recess  21  is not tight, first end  19  may simply be inserted into recess  21 . The fit between recess  21  and first end  19  may then be tightened by inserting shim  22 . 
     Where vertical member  24  is provided on support member  11 , shelf  18  will be provided with slot  26  or indentation  27  either of which will be sized to receive vertical member  24  so that vertical member  24  will be positioned inside slot  26  or indentation  27  as shelf  18  is placed flat against support members  11 . If vertical member  24  is provided with an enlarged head  25 , and indentation  27  or slot  26  is provided with a deformable constriction, slot  26  or indentation  27  will engage vertical member  24  and secure second end  20  of shelf  18  to shelf bracket  9 . In some applications, it may be preferable to attach shelf  18  to brackets  9  before attaching brackets  9  to support strips  2 . In this application, brackets  9  and shelf  18  may be installed as a unit. 
     In one preferred embodiment, shelf  18  and support member  11  may be provided with interlocking hook and loop VELCRO® type strips  71  to secure shelf  18  to support member  11 . Double sided tape may also be used. In operation one strip  71  should be attached to support member  11  with adhesive while a matching strip  71  should be attached to she If  18 . When shelf  18  is placed on support member  11 , strips  71  will engage one another, thereby securing shelf  18  to support member  11  and improving the horizontal and vertical stability of shelf  18 . VELCRO® type hook and loop strips  71  are expected to be most useful when shelf  18  is made of glass; however, they may also be used when shelf  18  is made from other materials such as wood or plastic. 
     In another preferred embodiment, shelf  18  and support member  11  may be provided with a repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive such as the tacky surface active monomers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,556 or the solid, inherently tacky, elastomeric microspheres disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,691,140; 3,857,731; 4,166,152; and 5,576,617, all five (5) of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, to the extent they are not contrary to the teaching of the present application. The application of such adhesives to support member  11  will also allow shelf  18  to be releasably secured to support member  18 . 
     In another preferred embodiment, shelf bracket assembly  1  may be provided with a vertical brace  201 . Vertical brace  201  may be used to provide support against vertical displacement of shelf  18 . Vertical brace  201  will be primarily useful when Gartung type shelf brackets  9  are used. Vertical brace  201  is comprised of a vertical member  202  having a first end  203 , a second end  204 , a face  205  and a back  206 . A plurality of vertically aligned hook members  207  should be provided on back  206  of vertical member  202 . Hook members  207  should be sized to engage slots  6  in support strip  2 . Hook members  207  differ from the preferred embodiment of hook members  14  in that hook members  207  should preferably be configured to inhibit movement by vertical member  202  in an upward direction. Hook members  207  are preferably configured so that they have an upper retaining edge  208 . The upper edge should preferably create a retaining groove  210 A between hook member  207  and vertical member  202 . Hook members  207  may be inserted into and removed from slots  6  in support strip  2  by angling them slightly. If vertical brace  201  is pushed upwardly, retaining groove  210 A will engage the edges of slots  6  and prevent movement. 
     A brace plate  211  is positioned at second end  204  of vertical member  202 . Brace plate  211  should be substantially perpendicular to vertical member  202 . In operation, shelf  18  will be installed after vertical brace  201  and shelf bracket  9  are in place. Shelf  18  may be provided with a curved edge as illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5D. Alternatively, the curved edge of shelf  18  may be accomplished by providing shelf  18  with a plurality of angled sections (not shown) rather than the smooth curve shown in FIGS. 5A-5D. Either embodiment will allow shelf  18  to be assembled by angling shelf  18  between brace plate  211  and horizontal support member  11  and then rotating shelf  18  downwardly in the same manner illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5D. Vertical brace  201  should be sized and positioned so that brace plate  211  is adjacent to or in contact with shelf  18  when shelf  18  is substantially aligned with horizontal support member  11 . If needed, a shim such as that illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C may be added between brace plate  211  and shelf  18  in order to take up any space. When vertical brace  201  is in place, it will prevent shelf  18  from being displaced should an upward force be applied against shelf  18 . 
     In another preferred embodiment, a cabinetry assembly  101  is provided. Cabinetry assembly  101  utilizes support strips  2 . A plurality of cabinet support members  102  are provided to support one or more cabinets  111 . Cabinet support members  102  are comprised of a base  104  having an upper end  105  and a lower end  106 . Vertically aligned hooked portions  107  extend from base  104 . Hooked portions  107  are configured to lockingly fit within vertical slots  6  in support strip  2 . Hooked portions  107  define a groove  108  between hooked portion  107  and base  104 . Groove  108  extends from an open mouth  109  and a closed end  110 . In a preferred embodiment, groove  108  narrows from open mouth  109  to closed end  110 . In another preferred embodiment, groove  108  narrows in discrete steps. 
     Base  104  should also be provided with a first interlocking member  116  configured to engage a cabinet  111 . In one preferred embodiment, base  104  has a shelf  112  which is configured to support a bar  113 . In another preferred embodiment, base  104  is provided with an opening  501  sized to receive bar  113 . Bar  113  is preferably comprised of a strong metal such as steel or aluminum. Bar  113  may be round, rectangular, triangular, or any other conventional shape in cross section. The ends of bar  113  are preferably provided with a cap for cosmetic purposes and to avoid any sharp edges being exposed. In one preferred embodiment, bar  113  is comprised of three sections, a horizontal section  114  and two vertical sections,  115 A and  115 B. Vertical section  115 A may be shorter than vertical section  115 B. Vertical sections  115 A and  115 B will typically form a right angle with horizontal section  114 ; however, in one preferred embodiment, vertical section  115 A may form an acute angle with horizontal section  114 . Vertical sections  115 A will usually be the portion of bar  113  that will actually engage cabinet  111 . In one preferred embodiment, base  104  will recede toward support strip  2  below shelf  112 . 
     A cabinet  111  will be provided. Cabinet  111  will typically be a six sided rectangular enclosure, although it can be any shape. It may contain doors  130  on its face  117 . Alternatively, face  117  may be open. Cabinet  111  will be provided with a second interlocking member  118  which will be configured to operatively engage first interlocking member  116 . In one preferred embodiment, second interlocking member  118  comprises an arm  119  extending from the back  131  of cabinet  111  and a lip  120  depending from the end of arm  119 . Lip  120  should be sized and configured to engage vertical section  115 A of bar  113 . Lip  120  may be angled to match the angle of vertical section  115 A when that embodiment is used. Back  131  may contain an indentation  121  to receive cabinet support members  102  so that cabinet  111  can hang straight down from bar  113 . Alternatively, lip  120  and arm  119  may be sized to extend completely across bar  113 . 
     Back  131  may also be provided with a stop  122 . Stop  122  should preferably be placed near the bottom of cabinet  111  and should be sized to rest against wall W or support strip  2  when cabinet  111  is hanging straight down from bar  113 . 
     In another preferred embodiment, first interlocking member  116  will comprise a pin  132  extending substantially horizontally from cabinet support member  102 . Pin  132  will engage second interlocking member  118 . In this embodiment, second interlocking member  118  may comprise arm  119  and lip  120 , under which pin  132  may fit. Alternatively, the sides  123  of cabinet  111  may be provided with a pair of holes  124  sized to receive pin  132 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, at least two support members  102  will be mounted on parallel support strips  2 . Bar  113  will rest on shelves  112 . Cabinet  111  will hang from bar  113  by arm  119  and lip  120 . In another preferred embodiment, the pins  132  of two support members  102  will be inserted into holes  124 . With cabinet  111  already suspended therefrom, support members  102  may be mounted on support strips  2 . 
     Base  104  is preferably made of a strong metal such as steel or aluminum. Base  104  may be provided with a plastic or resinous cap  502  for aesthetic purposes. Base  104  and cap  502  may be all one piece of metal, plastic, or resin or other strong conventional material. While cap  502  is aesthetic, it will provide a functional advantage as well in that it will also allow base  104  to rest against the wall, thus enhancing the stability of cabinetry assembly  101 . Additionally, where cap  502  is used, upper end  105  and lower end  106  of base  104  can be configured to engage cover  34 . As with base  10 , base  104  will have a cavity  549  within upper end  105  and preferably lower end  106 . Cavity  549  in upper end  105  of base  104  should be sized to receive intermediate divider sections  35  or top divider section  37 . Similarly, cavity  549  in lower end  106  will be sized to receive intermediate diver sections  35  or bottom divider section  39 , although the latter may be omitted as cabinet  111  will cover support strips  2 . Thus, base  104  may be used with cover  34  to conceal support strips  2 . 
     The inner walls of cavity  549  in lower end  106  or the inner walls of cavity  49  in lower end  13  will preferably be provided with a pair of horizontal grooves  606 . These grooves will allow a preferred hanging casing  601  to be used with cover  34 . Hanging casing  601  comprises an elongated body  602  having an upper end  603  and a lower end  604  and a channel  605  similar in width to channel  46  in shelf bracket  9  in order to completely cover a portion of support strip  2 . Channel  605  should be deep enough to allow the heads of screws or other means for attaching support strip  2  to the wall to protrude from support strip  2  without interfering with the proper fitting of hanging casing  601 . Upper end  603  of hanging casing  601  is sized to fit within cavity  49  of lower end  13  of base  10  or cavity  549  of lower end  106  of base  104 . Upper end  603  of hanging casing  601  should be provided with a tongue or rod  607  sized to engage grooves  606 . When hanging casing  601  is inserted into cavity  549  of lower end  106  or cavity  49  of lower end  13 , tongue or rod  607  will engage grooves  606  so that hanging casing  601  will be suspened from lower end  13  of base  10  or lower end  106  of base  104 . When support strip  2  extends below base  10  or base  104  about five inches or less, hanging casing  601  can be used to cover this lower portion of support strip  2  without using bottom section  38 . 
     Shelf brackets  9  may also be attached to support strips  2  so that shelves  18  may be used with cabinets  111 . Shelf brackets  9  will function in the same manner described above. The description of shelf brackets  9  and the various other previously described components of the preferred embodiments of shelf bracket assembly  1 , locking pin  31 , groove  15 , and vertical stabilizer  66  may be used equally well with cabinetry assembly  101 , in much the same way as cover  34  described above, and their descriptions need not be repeated herein. 
     In another preferred embodiment, brackets  9  may be provided with apertures  250 . Apertures  250  should be sized to receive a rod  251 . Rod  251  may be supported by two or more brackets  9 . In place, rod  9  can serve as a closet rod from which coat hangers and other hooked hangers may be supported. 
     There are, of course, alternate embodiments which should be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description of the invention which are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.