Patent Abstract:
A shelving system adapted to be quickly installed in a closet or similar space with a relative minimum of labor and finishing. The system includes a shelf, side brackets which are anchored to the side walls of the closet space, end caps adapted to lock into the side brackets and to securely retain the shelf in position, a U-shaped rear channel to cover the back of the shelf and to conform to irregularities in the rear wall surface, and a center shelf support having a rotating locking mechanism. In one embodiment, the shelving system includes a hangar bar, which is held in position by the side brackets and the center shelf support.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to shelving systems, and more specifically, to a shelving system that enables quick installation while at the same time providing features that hide edge and wall defects in the attachment surfaces and the shelving boards. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shelving systems are generally installed either by placing stringers along the wall surfaces and then attaching shelf boards or surfaces atop them, or by installing pre-fabricated systems such vinyl coated wire shelving systems, or laminated board shelving systems. All three of these shelving systems have drawbacks, however. 
     The placement of stringers with boards atop them requires that the surfaces to which the stringers and shelves will be attached be relatively true, i.e., that they be relatively flat and straight. Additionally, as the stringers and shelf boards are cut to fit, the edges must be finished in order to ensure a professional appearance. The finishing process is time-consuming and adds to the cost of installing the shelving. 
     Vinyl coated wire shelving systems, on the other hand, have an institutional look to them that many find unattractive. Also, the wide spaces between the individual vinyl coated wires allow small objects to drop through, a feature that is plainly inconvenient. 
     Laminated board shelving systems possess many of the same drawbacks as stringer and board shelving systems. Furthermore, laminate board shelving systems are prone to chipping of the laminate surface during cutting and installation. Chipping of the laminate surface results in wasted materials and increased installation time. 
     Therefore, a need existed for a shelving system having a well-finished professional look that would provide support for small items. A further need existed for a shelving system that would conceal the effects of out of true wall surfaces and edge irregularities or chips in the shelves from cutting. Yet a further need existed for a shelving system that would provide for a fast and efficient installation process while being very cost effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a shelving system having a well finished professional look that would provide support for small items. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a shelving system that will conceal the effects of out of true wall surfaces and edge irregularities or chips in the shelves from cutting. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a shelving system that would facilitate a fast and efficient shelving installation while being very cost effective. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a shelving system is disclosed. The shelving system, comprises: a shelf; a substantially U-shaped rear channel frictionally coupled to a rear edge of the shelf; a first shelf bracket having a plurality of wall attachment channels coupled to a first end edge of the shelf; a second shelf bracket having a plurality of wall attachment channels coupled to a second end edge of the shelf; and a center support member having a rotatable locking engagement member coupled below the shelf proximate a middle front underside portion of the shelf. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method for providing a shelving system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a shelf; providing a substantially U-shaped rear channel frictionally coupled to a rear edge of the shelf; providing a first shelf bracket having a plurality of wall attachment channels coupled to a first end edge of the shelf; providing a second shelf bracket having a plurality of wall attachment channels coupled to a second end edge of the shelf; and providing a center support member having a rotatable locking engagement member coupled below the shelf proximate a middle front underside portion of the shelf. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a front side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a back side perspective view of the shelving system of FIG. 1 a.    
     FIGS. 2 a-f  are overhead, inner side, bottom, outer side, front end, and rear end views, respectively, of a left hand shelf bracket of a preferred embodiment of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 3 a-f  are overhead, inner side, bottom, outer side, front end, and rear end views, respectively, of a right hand shelf bracket of a preferred embodiment of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 4 a-d  are overhead, side, bottom, and end views, respectively, of a shelf bracket cap of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 e  is a close-up front elevation view of a shelf bracket cap of the shelving system of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 d.    
     FIG. 4 f  is a close-up side elevation view of a locking tab of a shelf bracket cap of the shelving system of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 b.    
     FIGS. 5 a-f  are overhead, bottom, back end, front end, right side, and left side views, respectively, of a center support shelf bracket of a preferred embodiment of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 6 a-d  are overhead, front end, side and back end views, respectively, of a center support strut of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 7 a-f  are top and bottom, side, front end, back end, and two perspective views, respectively of a shelving attachment anchor used in the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a close-up perspective view of a right rear corner of a preferred embodiment of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a close-up perspective view of the rotatable locking engagement of the center support shelf bracket and center support strut of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a close-up side view of the center support strut locking member end and its engagement tab of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a close-up perspective view of the engagement of a shelf bracket cap locking tab engaged to the receiving slot of a shelf bracket of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a close-up side view of a U-shaped rear channel of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 13 a-f  are overhead, bottom, back end, front end, right side, and left side views, respectively, of a center support shelf bracket of an alternate embodiment of the shelving system of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 14 a-f  are overhead, inner side, bottom, outer side, front end, and rear end views, respectively, of a shelf bracket of an alternate embodiment of the shelving system of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 a-   1   b,  reference number  100  refers generally to the shelving system of the present invention. FIGS. 1 a-   1   b  show the general configuration of one embodiment of the shelving system  100 . Thus, the components of the shelving system  10  include a shelf  120 , a right hand shelf bracket  122 , a left hand shelf bracket  124 , a center support strut  128 , a center support shelf bracket  130 , and a rear channel  132 . As will be explained in more detail below, the shelf  120  is bound on either short side by the shelf brackets  122  and  124 , is bound on the rear by the rear channel  132 , and is supported in a horizontal position both by the shelf brackets  122  and  124 , which are secured to opposing walls (not shown) and by the center support shelf bracket  130 , which abuts a bottom surface of the shelf  120  and which receives the center support strut  128 . The center support strut  128  is, in turn, secured to a wall (not shown) abutting the rear channel  132 . Moreover, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 a-   1   b , the shelving system  100  additionally comprises a hanger bar  126 , coupled to the shelf brackets  122  and  124  and to the center support shelf bracket  130 . 
     Referring now additionally to FIGS. 2 a-f  and  3   a-f , the shelf brackets  122  and  124  are shown in detail. The shelf brackets  122  and  124  are mirror images of each other, with each comprising the same individual features. For this reason and for the sake of clarity, the features of the brackets  122  and  124  have been assigned identical reference numbers, and the discussion herein is intended to apply equally to both brackets  122  and  124  (referred to in this section as the “bracket  122 / 124 ”). It can be seen that the bracket  122 / 124  is substantially L-shaped in configuration when viewed from the side (see particularly FIGS. 2 b  and  2   d  and  3   b  and  3   d ). The short side of the bracket  122 / 124  is the hangar bar support  152  which, as shown in FIGS. 1 a,    1   b,    2   b  and  3   b,  projects at an essentially ninety degree angle below the long side of the bracket  122 / 124  and the shelf  120 . The hangar bar support  152  comprises a walled hangar bar receiver  142 , which is configured to conform to the shape of and matably receive an end portion of the hangar bar  126  as shown in FIGS. 1 a-   1   b . For greater strength, a screw or bolt (not shown) may be inserted into each end of the hangar bar  126  through the opening  144  in the hangar bar support  152 . 
     Attention is now given to the long side of the bracket  122 / 124 , which itself, when seen in cross-section from the end (see FIGS. 2 f  and  3   f ), is itself substantially L-shaped. The bracket  122 / 124  is dimensioned to be attached to a wall (not shown) through elongated channels  140 , which channels  140  are located in a side wall  141 . When attached, the bracket  122 / 124  is oriented as shown in FIGS. 1 a-   1   b , with the hangar bar support  152  extending downward at an essentially ninety degree angle. In this configuration, the bracket  122 / 124  has a support surface  148   a  projecting at an essentially ninety degree angle from the wall (not shown) to which the bracket  122 / 124  is attached. 
     After attachment of the bracket  122 / 124 , a portion of the bottom of the shelf  120  will sit on the support surface  148   a , with the exposed side of the shelf  120  abutting the side wall  141 . The portion of the bracket  122 / 124  opposite the support surface  148   a  is open, as is the portion opposite the side wall  141 , giving the bracket  122 / 124  its substantially L-shaped cross-section. This configuration allows the shelf  120  to be lowered onto the bracket  122 / 124  following attachment of the bracket  122 / 124  to a wall (not shown). During lowering of the shelf  120  on the bracket  122 / 124 , the exposed front side of the shelf  120  is sized and positioned to a front cap  150  located on the bracket  122 / 124  at the end thereof above the hangar bar support  152  (see FIGS. 2 a ,  2   b ,  2   e ,  3   a ,  3   b , and  3   e ). The front cap  150  prevents the shelf  120  from sliding forward off the bracket  122 / 124 . 
     Referring additionally now to FIGS. 4 a-f ,  8  and  11 , the shelf bracket cap  160 , which couples to the bracket  122 / 124  and locks the shelf  120  into position, is shown. The bracket cap  160  comprises a sheet  161 , which substantially corresponds in length and width to the support surface  148   a . The bracket cap  160  further comprises two locking tab assemblies  146   b , which are dimensioned to snap into corresponding receivers  146   a  in the bracket  122 / 124  (see also FIGS. 2 a ,  2   d,    3   a ,  3   d ). 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of the substantially U-shaped rear channel  132 . The rear channel is dimensioned to be friction fit over the rear edge of the shelf  120 , with projection  134  within the rear channel  132  causing the rear channel  132  to be relatively strongly retained relative to the shelf  120 . The rear channel  132  should preferably be positioned so as to conform to the shape of the wall (not shown) lying behind the shelf  120 , which wall may not be perfectly straight. Thus, the inside surface  131  of the rear channel  132  need not be flush with the rear edge of the  120  throughout its length, as necessary to give the appearance that the shelf  120 /rear channel  132  combination is flush with the rear wall (not shown). To accomplish its purpose of making the shelf  120  appear flush with the rear wall (not shown) by adapting to irregularities in the wall surface, the rear channel  132  should be made of a malleable, at least partially flexible material. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 a-   5   f,  the center support shelf bracket  130  is shown. The center support shelf bracket  130 , when coupled to the center support strut  128  (see FIGS. 6 a-   6   d ), provides additional support to the shelf  120  and, further, in one embodiment, additionally supports the hangar bar  126  (see FIG. 1 a ). The center support shelf bracket  130  generally comprises a plate  176 , which is dimensioned to be positioned flush against the bottom of the shelf  120 , and secured to the shelf  120  with a screw, nail, or appropriate anchor (not shown) through opening  178 . A main support arm  171  is connected at one end to the plate  176 , and at a second end to a substantially J-shaped hanger bar receiver  170 . (One advantage of the J-shape of the hangar bar receiver  170  is that it allows a user of the hangar bar  126  to slide hangars all the way along the length of the hangar  126 , without any impedance by the hangar bar receiver  170 , which does not extend over a top portion of the hangar bar  126 .) The center support shelf bracket  130  further comprises a center support strut receiver  172 , which is dimensioned to receive and lock the center support strut  128  (see FIG.  9 ). (Preferably, the center support shelf bracket  130 , including the main support arm  171 , plate  176 , hangar bar receiver  170 , and center support strut receiver  172 , comprises a single piece of molded plastic.). 
     FIGS. 6 a-   6   d  show the center support strut  128 . It comprises a main support  129 , which at its first end projects at an acute angle from a wall plate  182 , which wall plate  182  is anchored to a wall (not shown) through opening  184 , preferably using an anchor  500  of the type shown in FIGS. 7 a-   7   f.  Referring additionally to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is located at the second end of the main support  129  is a male locking member  180 , which is dimensioned to mate with the center support strut receiver  172 . This mating is accomplished through the positioning of a nub  175  projecting outward from the male locking member into a conforming horizontal channel  174   a  within the center support strut receiver  172 . The nub  175  is then moved along the horizontal channel  174   a  to its end, and then the main support  129  is rotated upward, causing the nub  175  to enter a conforming vertical channel  175 , thus locking the center support strut  128  in position relative to the shelf  120 . It is following this locking step that the wall plate  182  and anchor  500  are finally positioned. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7 a-   7   f , an anchor  500  of the type preferably used in the installation of the shelving system  100  to a wall is shown. The anchor  500  comprises a main shaft  510 , head  516 , a lip  520  (having an external diameter greater than that of the channels  140  and the opening  184 ), a hollow receiver  512  (having an external diameter less than that of the channels  140  and the opening  184  and a length slightly greater than the thickness of standard sheetrock), and two ribbed anchor members  514   a  and  514   b . During installation, a hole is drilled in the desired location having the diameter of the hollow receiver  512 . The anchor  500  is then inserted into the channel  140  or opening  184  until the lip  520  causes the anchor  500  to stop. At that point, securing may be completed by hammering the head  516 , causing the main shaft  516  to penetrate into the hollow receiver  512 , further causing the spreading of the two ribbed anchors  514   a  and  514   b  on the opposite side of the sheetrock. This spreading should prevent the anchor  500  from becoming dislodged during use of the shelving system  100 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the shelving system  100 , as shown in perspective in FIGS. 1 a-   1   b , the system includes a hangar bar  126 , as well as the hangar bar supports  152  (see FIGS. 2 b, d, e  and  f  and  3   b, d, e,  and  f ) and the substantially J-shaped hanger bar receiver  170  necessary to support the hangar bar  126 . However, it may be desirable to install a shelving system  100  without the hangar bar  126  and associated support structure, for example where the shelving system  100  is not to be used in a closet environment. Thus, referring to FIGS. 13 a-f,  center support shelf bracket  230  takes the place of the center support shelf bracket  130  described above. The center support shelf bracket  230  is identical to the center support shelf bracket  130 , with the exception that the center support shelf bracket  230  lacks a hanger bar receiver  170  and, correspondingly, has a shorter main support arm  271 . To illustrate that the other components of the center support shelf bracket  230  conform to those of the center support shelf bracket  130 , they have been given the same reference numbers. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 14 a-   14   f,  in the embodiment of the shelving system  100  lacking a hangar bar  126 , the bracket  122 / 124  is replaced by a single bracket  222 , useable on either side of the shelf  120 . The single bracket  222  is identical to the bracket  122 / 124  described above, with the exception that the hangar bar supports  152  (see, e.g., FIGS. 2 b ,  2   d,    3   b , and  3   d ) are omitted. To illustrate that the other components of the single bracket  222  conform to those of the bracket  122 / 124 , they have been given the same reference numbers. 
     Statement of Operation 
     Installation of the shelving system  100  begins with a measuring of the space to be occupied, either a closet or another space bounded on three sides by walls or similar structures. The shelf  120  is then cut to fit the length of the space and the size of the bracket  122 / 124  (which bracket  122 / 124  can be manufactured in different sizes as needed). The left hand shelf bracket  124  and the right hand shelf bracket  122  are installed, preferably by positioning the anchors  500  within the channels  140 . (The channels  140  are preferably elongated for ease of installation, to allow for precise positioning of the bracket  122 / 124  during installation while the anchors  500  are being inserted but before they have fully locked the bracket  122 / 124  into position.) However, prior to positioning the left hand shelf bracket  124  and the right hand shelf bracket  122  into the space, it is first necessary to place the hangar bar  126  into position in the two hangar bar receivers  142  and, if desired, to anchor the hangar bar  126  into place through the openings  144 . 
     The rear channel  132  is positioned onto the rear exposed side of the shelf  120 , with the projections  134  holding the rear channel  132  into position. At this point, the shelf  120  is lowered onto the bracket  122 / 124 , and the precise position of the rear channel  132  relative to the rear side of the shelf  120  may be adjusted to conform to the surface of the wall (not shown) lying behind the shelf  120 . Once the shelf  120  is in position, it may be locked into place with the shelf bracket cap  160 , which couples to the bracket  122 / 124  when the locking tab assemblies  146   b  snap into corresponding receivers  146   a.    
     At this juncture, or even at an earlier stage, the plate  176  of the center support shelf bracket  130  is attached to the bottom of the shelf  120 , preferably at substantially a middle portion thereof, and with the hanger bar receiver  170  engaging the hanging bar  126 . Next, the male locking member  180  is mated with the center support strut receiver  172 , by positioning the nub  175  into the horizontal channel  174   a  within the center support strut receiver  172 . The nub  175  is then moved along the horizontal channel  174   a  to its end, and then the main support  129  of the center support strut  128  is rotated upward, causing the nub  175  to enter a conforming vertical channel  175 , thus locking the center support strut  128  in position relative to the shelf  120 . The center support strut  128  is then anchored to the rear wall (not shown) through wall plate  182 , preferably using an anchor  500 . 
     For the embodiment of the shelving system  100  lacking the hanging bar  126 , installation is the same, except that the brackets  122  and  124  are replaced with two brackets  222 , and the center support shelf bracket  230  replaces the center support shelf bracket  130 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0