Abstract:
An attachable, adjustable railing device for shelves comprises a plurality of horizontal rails, a plurality of vertical braces, and a structure to fasten to a shelf. The rails are “L”-shaped being joined along a front edge portion by a telescoping insertable connection for adjusting an overall width of the device. The rails further comprise fasteners affixed to side portions which attach to corresponding fasteners attached to adjacent surfaces of cabinets, cupboards, walls, or other adjacent structures.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Dec. 28, 2009, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to retainers for shelving, and in particular, to an attachable and width adjustable retainer for shelves. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Millions of Americans enjoy camping and traveling as their preferred leisure time activity. Among avid campers, many choose to do so in recreational vehicles that range in size from small pop-up campers that are designed to be towed behind a car or truck to large motorized recreational vehicles (RV&#39;s) with integral engines. These RV&#39;s provide all the comforts of home, including a multitude of storage cabinets and cupboards to hold food, materials, and supplies. Unfortunately, the contents of such cabinets tend to move and slide about as the RV travels down the road or during stops. In instances of rough roads it is not uncommon to have one of these cabinet doors accidentally open, causing the contents to spill out upon the floor of the RV. Should such materials be made of glass or other fragile materials, breakage can happen and require a large amount of cleanup. Even if such cabinet doors do not open on their own, many RV occupants have been surprised when opening a cabinet at a later time and having the contents fall out upon them. 
     While various shelf retainers and barriers have attempted to provide a way to selectively retain, hold, or otherwise support shelved items, none have been suitable for use to solve these problems. Examples of these attemtps can be seen by reference in several U.S. Patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,872, issued in the name of Hagerman, discloses a shelf retainer for mobile vehicle refrigerators. U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,087, issued in the name of Dorf, discloses recreational vehicle shelf bars. U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,572, issued in the name of Hoffman, discloses a shelf retainer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,198, issued in the name of Reed, discloses a flexible barrier for a shelf. 
     While these devices may accomplish their specific intended purpose, each suffers from one (1) or more disadvantage or deficiency with respect to design, function, or effectiveness. In particular, these attempts do not provide an effective method of adjusting the width of the retainer in order for the device to be used on various types and sizes of cabinets or cupboards. Additionally, these attempts typically do not allow a user to conveniently access those shelved items without removing the retainer and also may interfere with proper operation of the cabinet or cupboard doors. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which items inside of cabinets located in recreational vehicles can be safely and securely stored without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a device which provides a simple and effective way to retain and secure various times commonly stored within cabinets or cupboards, particularly those found in recreational vehicles. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which prevents the various shelved items from falling from the cabinet or cupboard. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows access to the various shelved items when desired. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is simple and time effective to install and remove. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is does not interfere with the operation of the cabinet or cupboard door. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is simple and intuitive to use with little to no training. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is durable and economical to manufacture. 
     One (1) or more of these and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing an adjustable retaining device for shelving comprising a first rail section including at least two (2) elongated tubular members, a second rail section including at least two (2) elongated tubular members, a plurality of flat generally “L”-shaped braces, and a removable fastener for installing the device within the storage compartment of the cabinet or cupboard. Each tubular member of the first rail section includes a receiving end, a terminating end, and a generally ninety degree (90°) intermediate bend. Each tubular member of the second rail section includes an insertable end, a terminating end, and a generally ninety degree (90°) intermediate bend. Each of the second rail tubular member insertable ends are insertably connected to each of the first rail tubular member receiving ends, providing a width adjustable, telescoping connection. The braces include a vertical leg oriented across the tubular members to retain the shelved items and a horizontal leg extending inwardly from the tubular members to provide support to the device. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the invention may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The invention can be practiced without one or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable retainer for shelves  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the adjustable retainer for shelves  10  depicting installation within a cupboard  150 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the adjustable retainer for shelves  10  depicting separation of first  22  and second  24  tubular rail portions, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the first  22  and second  24  tubular rail portions taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10  
                 adjustable retainer for shelves 
               
               
                 20  
                 vertical retaining brace 
               
               
                 22  
                 first tubular rail 
               
               
                 23  
                 female tubular feature 
               
               
                 24  
                 second tubular rail 
               
               
                 25  
                 male tubular feature 
               
               
                 30 
                 tubular fastener 
               
               
                 35 
                 receiving fastener 
               
               
                 40 
                 end cap 
               
               
                 42 
                 hollow end portion 
               
               
                 100 
                 brace fastener 
               
               
                 110 
                 items 
               
               
                 150 
                 cupboard 
               
               
                 160 
                 cupboard floor 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an adjustable retainer for shelves (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which comprises a plurality of vertical retaining braces  20 , a pair of first tubular rails  22 , a pair of second tubular rails  24 , and a plurality of tubular fasteners  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Each of the vertical retaining braces  20  comprises a flat “L”-shaped structure having a bottom leg portion which extends inwardly to a central space and are envisioned to be constructed of durable, lightweight materials such as plastic, wood, or metal. The vertical retaining braces  20  are held in vertical position and in a parallel orientation with regards to each other by the pair of first tubular rails  22  and the pair of second tubular rails  24 , which are arranged in horizontal upper and lower parallel positions and are affixed to the vertical retaining braces  20  using brace fastenings  100  such as rivets, screws, or the like. The first  22  and second  24  tubular rails comprise hollow round tubes forming a general “L”-shape and having a rounded corner portion. Additionally, the first  22  and second  24  tubular rails provide a telescopingly connected to each other at an intermediate location of the device  10 , thereby providing a means to vary an overall width of the device  10  based upon a particular cupboard  150  into which the device  10  is to be installed (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     The tubular fasteners  35  are affixed to each rail  22 ,  24  being adjacent to an end portion of the rail  22 ,  24  and being positioned opposite the aforementioned intermediate joining portion. The tubular fasteners  30  are to be wrapped around respective rail portions  22 ,  24  in a cylindrical manner and bonded preferably using an industrial adhesive or equivalent bonding technique. During installation of the device  10  into a cupboard  150  or similar storage area, the tubular fasteners  30  are adjoined to corresponding pre-installed receiving fasteners  35  having been affixed to an inner surface of the cupboard  150 . The communicating fasteners  30 ,  35  securing the device  10  at a desired position along a front opening of the cupboard  150  (see  FIG. 2 ). The tubular fasteners  30  and corresponding receiving fasteners  35  are preferably hook-and-loop-type fasteners. The receiving fasteners  35  are preferably mounted to an interior vertical wall surface of the cupboard  150  at a selected location to mate with the tubular fasteners  30  by use of adhesives. 
     The device  10  is depicted here having three (3) vertical retaining braces  20  affixed to each tubular rail  22 ,  24 ; however, it is understood that an actual number of vertical retaining braces  20  as well as the actual width of the tubular rails  22 ,  24  may vary with respect to a cupboard  150  having a particular width in which the device  10  is installed and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the device  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an environmental view of the device  10  depicting installation within the cupboard  150 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  provides containment and stability to various items  110  which are typically loaded into and stored within cupboards  150 . Items  110 , such as food stuffs, personal care stuffs, and the like are placed and stored upon a cupboard floor portion  160 , or similar storage compartment. Particularly related to cabinets and cupboards  150  used in recreational vehicles, these items  110  have a tendency to shift or fall when the vehicle is in motion or stops. The device  10  is further stabilized by positioning the items  110  upon the horizontal portions of one (1) or more vertical retaining braces  20 . The vertical retaining braces  20  are envisioned to be approximately three (3) inches tall so as to allow easy access by a user to an inner space of the cupboard  150  and convenient loading and unloading of the items  110  from the cupboard  150 . 
     Furthermore, the tubular rails  22 ,  24  provide a width adjustment which allows the user to extend and retract the rails  22 ,  24  in a telescoping manner to span the front opening of the cupboard  150  as well as provide attachment of the tubular fasteners  35  affixed to the rails  22 ,  24  to the receiving fasteners correspondingly located along inner surfaces of the cupboard  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a perspective and a section view of the device  10 , depicting the interaction between the first  22  and second  24  tubular rail portions, are disclosed. The first  22  and second  24  tubular rails comprise hollow round tubes which provide an insertable telescoping connection with each other via respective integral female tubular features  23  and male tubular features  25 . The female tubular feature  25  and male tubular feature  23  provide a means to vary the overall width of the device  10  allowing the user to configure the device  10  to snuggly fit the front opening portion of a particular cupboard  150 . Each female tubular feature  25  and male tubular feature  23  provides a close, smoothly sliding engagement to secure a horizontal alignment and to strengthen the tubular rails  22 ,  24  when connected. The telescoping function of the inserted tubular features  23 ,  25  allows the user to select a prescribed overall width of the device  10 . 
     The tubular rails  22 ,  24  further comprise respective end caps  40  which provide an aesthetic termination at opposite end positions. The end caps  40  are envisioned to be made of soft plastic and are to be tightly inserted into the hollow end portions  42  of the tubular rails  22 ,  24 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a particular model of the device  10  having an overall width which corresponds to an opening of a cupboard  150  or other storage space into which the device  10  is to be installed; inserting the male tubular feature  25  of each second tubular rail  24  into the respective female tubular features  23  of each first tubular rail portion  22 ; installing hook-and-loop fasteners  35  along inner surfaces of the cupboard  150  at positions which correspond with mating hook-and-loop portions  35  affixed to the tubular rails  22 ,  24 ; placing the device  10  within a front opening of the cupboard  150  such that the front portion of the device  10  is slightly indented from the front opening, thereby allowing normal closure of door portions of the cupboard  150 , if so equipped; joining the tubular fastening means  35  located upon the tubular rails  22 ,  24  to the tubular fastening means  35  previously installed along inner side surfaces of the cupboard  150  by spreading the fist  22  and second  24  tubular rails telescopingly apart until the tubular fastening means  35  are in contact with and secured to each other; loading various items  110  such as food stuffs, personal care items, and the like, into the cupboard  150 ; and, benefiting from containment and stable vehicular transporting of various items  110  within a cupboard  150  using the present invention  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.