Patent Publication Number: US-8985349-B2

Title: Corner shelf system for storing and displaying consumer electronic source components

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application 61/753,317 filed Jan. 16, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure concerns shelving. More particularly, the present disclosure concerns a corner shelf system for storing and displaying consumer electronic source components and other objects. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Flat panel displays have become increasingly popular over the past two decades. Nearly all flat panel displays are accompanied by and connected to at least one source component, such as a piece of audio, video, or gaming equipment. As a result, successfully mounting a flat panel to a wall often accounts for only half the overall installation task. The remaining challenge concerns where and how to store the one or more source components in a way that is easy to accomplish and provides an aesthetically pleasing result. Many flat panel displays are mounted flat against a single wall. In such cases, one traditional solution for storing source components is to install a rectangular shelf on the same wall to which the flat panel display is mounted. 
     Notably, however, not all flat panel displays are mounted flat against a single wall. On the contrary, many consumers choose to mount their flat panel displays in the corner of a room. Despite that fact, the shelving market has lagged in offering consumers an easy-to-install corner shelf system that can reliably support and elegantly display source components connected to corner-mounted flat display panels. Traditional shelves designed for single walls have proven inadequate because they attach to only a single stud and cannot remain fixed within a corner. Existing shelves designed for corners are similarly inadequate because they are limited to supporting small objects like picture frames, candles, and trinkets. Such shelves lack the mechanical integrity necessary to support modern consumer electronic equipment such as set-top boxes, gaming systems, stereo receives, and optical disc players. 
     Lacking any suitable alternative, many consumers simply install traditional single-wall shelves flat against one of the two walls leading into the corner. The result, however, is an asymmetrical and aesthetically unappealing arrangement in which the shelf displaying the source components is offset from the corner-mounted flat panel. Aside from the aesthetic disadvantages, the offset nature of such arrangements can create line of site problems for users attempting to control both a corner-mounted flat panel and the accompanying source components with an infrared remote control device. Given such limitations, there is a need among consumers for an easy-to-install corner shelf system that can reliably support and elegantly display source components connected to corner-mounted flat display panels. 
     SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION 
     A corner shelf system for storing and displaying consumer electronic source components and other objects is disclosed. The corner shelf system may include a support assembly and a non-rectangular shelf. The support assembly may include two or more support members and a ratchet mechanism. The shelf may support one or more consumer electronic source components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1A  is a top view of an exemplary corner shelf system. 
         FIG. 1B  is a top-down perspective view of the exemplary corner shelf system of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  is a top-down, partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary corner shelf system of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an exemplary support member of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 4  is a top-down perspective view of the exemplary support assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded front view of the exemplary support assembly of  FIG. 1A  disposed in a room corner. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom-up, partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary support assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 7  is a top-down, partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary corner shelf system of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom-up, partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary corner shelf system of  FIG. 1A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A corner shelf system for storing and displaying consumer electronic source components and other objects is disclosed. Such consumer electronic source components may include set-top boxes, optical disc players, stereo receivers, gaming systems, and any other source component that a consumer might wish to connect to a nearby flat panel display. The corner shelf system may fit flushly within the corner of a room. As a result, it may be placed directly above or below a corner-mounted flat panel display. Because the corner shelf system may be centered with the flat panel display, the infrared remote control sensors of any source components stored on the shelf may be aligned with the infrared remote control sensor of the flat panel display. Accordingly, the corner shelf system may eliminate the need for users to deal with the “multiple lines of site” problem that often arises when source components are stored on an standard single-wall shelf or other surface that is offset from the corner-mounted flat panel display. 
     The corner shelf system may also feature a ratchet mechanism through which the members that support the shelf may be coupled. The ratchet mechanism may provide the support assembly with enhanced strength and stability by providing torsional support. If the weight of a source component is unproportionally distributed to one support member, the ratchet mechanism may disperse some of the load to the one or more other support members. The ratchet mechanism may also allow the angle between the support members to be adjustably set to various angles between about 0° and about 90°. In some embodiments, the angle may be adjustable beyond 90° to account for unconventionally obtuse room corners. Where the ratchet mechanism permits the angle to be adjusted down to about 0°, it effectively allows the support assembly to be collapsed down to a compact form that is optimal for storage and shipping. The ratchet mechanism may also greatly facilitate the user installation process. Namely, the ratchet mechanism may keep each of the support members aligned at the same height with respect to the ratchet mechanism. In effect, the ratchet mechanism may automatically ensure that the various support members are substantially level with respect to one another so that the shelf, too, is substantially level when installed into the support assembly. 
     Moreover, because the ratchet mechanism may permit the support assembly to be shipped to consumers in a pre-assembled, compact form (i.e., wherein the support members are already coupled to the ratchet mechanism and the angle between the support members has been collapsed down to about 0°), a consumer need not worry about individually installing multiple support members. As a result, the installation process may be easier and faster than those associated with existing corner shelves. 
     The corner shelf system may also include a space between the shelf and the support assembly. The space may result in improved cable management by allowing cables to run downwardly between the support members rather than occupying shelf space and extending around a support member in an awkward and unsightly manner. 
     Although certain embodiments of a corner shelf system are discussed herein, it should be understood that such embodiments are exemplary only and in no way limit the scope of the present disclosure. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure suggests many other possible embodiments in addition to those expressly described herein. For instance, although embodiments are described in the context of supporting consumer electronic source components, it should be readily apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art that the superior weight-bearing capability of the corner shelf system disclosed herein makes it equally suitable for storing and displaying other objects that are too heavy to be supported by known corner shelves, such as sculptures, vases, textbooks, or chests, to name a few. 
       FIG. 1A  is a top view of an exemplary corner shelf. As shown in  FIG. 1A , a corner shelf system  100  may include a shelf  105  and a support assembly  110 . Shelf  105  may be any shape suitable for fitting into a corner. For instance, shelf  105  may be non-rectangular. Shelf  105  may have an upper surface area large enough to accommodate one or more consumer electronic source components. For example, in one embodiment, shelf  105  may have a width of at least twenty-five inches and a length of at least twelve inches. Shelf  105  may include or be made from any rigid material, such as glass, plastic, metal, or wood. Where glass is used, shelf  105  may be tempered for enhanced strength, thermal resistance, and aesthetic appeal. In such cases, shelf  105  may be manufactured by cutting a glass sheet to desired dimensions, polishing the edges of the sheet, and heat-treating the glass according to well-known tempering techniques. Support assembly  110  may include at least two support members  115 . In some embodiments, support assembly  110  may include no more than two support members  115 . Support members  115  may be coupled at about a 90° angle such that support assembly  110  fits flush against a conventional room corner. 
       FIG. 1B  is a top-down, perspective view of the exemplary corner shelf of  FIG. 1A . In addition to support members  115 , support assembly  110  may include a ratchet mechanism  120 . Support members  115  may be coupled together by ratchet mechanism  120 . The about 90° angle at which support members  115  may be coupled may be adjustable by way of ratchet mechanism  120 . In some embodiments, the angle may be adjustable down to about 0° such that support members  115  are oriented substantially parallel with one another. When coupled together by ratchet mechanism  120 , support members  115  may be disposed at about the same height with respect to the ratchet mechanism. In such embodiments, adjusting the angle at which support members  115  are coupled by way of ratchet mechanism  120  may not alter the height of support members  115  with respect to ratchet mechanism  120 . Ratchet mechanism  120  may be manufactured using injection tooling. The injected parts for ratchet mechanism  120  may be produced using metal, plastic, or any other rigid, injectable material. Support members  115  may each include a channel  125  that slideably receives an edge of shelf  105 . Corner shelf system  100  may further include a space  130  between shelf  105  and a portion of support assembly  110 . 
       FIG. 2  is a top-down, partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary corner shelf system of  FIG. 1A . As shown in  FIG. 2 , one or more of support members  115  may include one or more holes or voids  135  that receive coupling hardware  140 . Coupling hardware  140  may be a set screw, a pin, a dowel, or any other suitable fastener. Coupling hardware  140  may include or be made from nylon. Where support members  115  each include a channel  125  that slideably receives an edge of shelf  105 , each support member  115  may receive one or more pads  145  within channel  125 . Pads  145  may include or be made from rubber, cloth, plastic, or any other suitable material that may facilitate friction between shelf  105  and pads  145  and, in turn, between pads  145  and channel  125 . Both coupling hardware  140  and pads  145  may facilitate keeping shelf  105  of  FIG. 1A  securely coupled to support members  115 . Holes or voids  135  may be disposed on the surface bottom-most surface of each support member  115  so as to remain substantially hidden from view. As a result, corner shelf system  100  may maintain a sleek, low profile design that is free of unsightly, protruding hardware. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the exemplary support member of  FIG. 1A . Support member  115  may include one or more holes or voids  150  that receive mounting hardware such as wall screw, bolts, concrete or drywall anchors, or other suitable fasteners. Any such hardware may be accompanied by appropriately sized washers. The mounting hardware may facilitate keeping the corner shelf system securely mounted to the two walls forming the corner in which the system is installed. In one exemplary embodiment, support member  115  may have a height of about 0.8 inches, thereby further contributing to the low profile characteristic of both support member  115  and the overall corner shelf system  100 . Among other suitable, well-known methods, support member  115  may be manufactured using conventional extrusion techniques. Support member  115  may include or be made from any rigid material, such as glass, plastic, metal, or wood. For instance, in one embodiment, support member  115  may be made of 3.5 mm thick extruded aluminum. 
       FIG. 4  is a top-down perspective view of the exemplary support assembly of  FIG. 1A . In operation, as illustrated with respect to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a user first positions support assembly  110  in a room corner at a desired height from the floor. The user then adjusts the angle between support members  115  until each support member  115  is positioned flat against one of the two walls forming the corner. Next, the user confirms that support members  115  are level using a leveling tool (not shown). The user then uses a marking tool, such as a pencil, to mark the location at which mounting hardware should be installed through hole or void  150  of each support member  115 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partially exploded front view of the exemplary support assembly of  FIG. 1A  disposed in a room corner. Corner shelf system  100  may mounted to a wall comprising wood studs and drywall, a wall solely comprising drywall, a concrete wall, or any other type of wall. For illustrative purposes,  FIG. 5  depicts a room corner  155  formed from walls  160  that are each comprised of both wood studs  165  and drywall  170 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , following the exemplary operational steps illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the user employs conventional mounting techniques to mount each support member  115  to one of the two walls  160  forming corner  155 . In accordance with such well-known techniques, where hole or void  150  of support member  150  may be positioned over a wood stud  165 , mounting hardware such as wall screw  175  may be screwed directly into wall  160 . Where hole or void  150  of support member  150  cannot be positioned over a wood stud  165 , where wall  160  does not contain a wood stud  165 , or where wall  160  is a concrete wall, mounting hardware such as wall screw  175  may need to be accompanied by an appropriate anchor  180 , such as a drywall or concrete anchor. Washers  185  may be used to distribute the load of the mounting hardware. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom-up, partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary support assembly of  FIG. 1A . As shown in  FIG. 6 , following the exemplary operational steps illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the user then places one or more pads  145  within each channel  125  of support member  115 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top-down, partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary corner shelf system of  FIG. 1A . As shown in  FIG. 7 , following the exemplary operational step illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the user then positions shelf  105  within support assembly  110  by sliding the two lateral edges of shelf  105  into corresponding channels  125  of support members  115 . Once shelf  105  is in place, frictional forces imparted by pads  145  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) may prevent shelf  105  from undesirably shifting during normal use. Pads  145  may further prevent the surfaces and/or edges of channel  125  from scratching shelf  105 . 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom-up, partially exploded perspective view of the exemplary corner shelf system of  FIG. 1A . As shown in  FIG. 8 , following the exemplary operational step illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the user then inserts coupling hardware  140  into holes or voids  135  and tightens coupling hardware  140  until shelf  105  is tensioned in place within channels  125  of support members  115 . Lastly, the user places one or more consumer electronic source components or other objects upon shelf  105 . 
     The above description is illustrative and should not be interpreted as restricted to the particular embodiments mentioned herein, which were selected so as to most clearly illustrate the inventive concepts. Many variations of the corner shelf system disclosed herein will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this disclosure. The present descriptions are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the appended claims and otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.