GB2438822A

GB2438822A - Folding shelf

Info

Publication number: GB2438822A
Application number: GB0611368A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lee Brinsley
Original assignee: COUNTY GATES Ltd
Current assignee: COUNTY GATES Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-09
Filing date: 2006-06-09
Publication date: 2007-12-12
Also published as: GB0611368D0

Abstract

A folding shelf, particularly though not exclusively, to support a disposable barbecue and comprising a back plate (10) adapted to be screwed to a wall, a pivoted platform (13) and pivoted side walls (15). The forward ends of the platform and side walls respectively may be removably connected together to support the platform in a horizontal position while the entire device may be opened to lie flat against the wall when not in use.

Description

A FOLDING SHELF

This invention concerns a folding shelf or platform for attachment to a wall to support, for example, a disposable barbecue.

Barbecues are usually mounted on legs or wheeled trolleys and tend to be rather cumbersome requiring storage usually in a garage or garden shed. The spontaneity of barbecue cooking is often prevented because of the difficulty in readily setting up the barbecue for use.

Disposable barbecues are available and often used by campers but, for convenience, they need to be mounted on some surface above the ground.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a folding shelf which may be used, inter alia, for supporting a disposable barbecue and which may be folded away when not in use but readily deployed when required.

According to the present invention there is provided a folding shelf comprising a back plate for attachment to an upright surface, a platform hingedly attached to the back plate thus to pivot between positions respectively aligned with and normal to the back plate, and support means to suspend the platform in its position normal to the back plate.

The support means may be a pair of side walls hingedly attached to the back plate at opposed ends thereof.

Means may be provided for removably connecting respective parts of the side walls and the platform when the platform is in its position normal to the back plate.

The connecting means may be a rod projecting from each end of the platform and adapted to be located captively in a complementary recess in the adjacent side wall.

The connecting means may be a lug projecting from each side wall and adapted to be located captively in an adjacent complementary recess in the platform.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with respect to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. I shows a folding shelf made in accordance with the invention in a deployed condition; Fig. 2 shows the shelf unfolded with the parts thereof aligned in a common plane; and Fig. 3 is a detailed view of a part of the shelf.

Referring now to the drawings, the shelf comprises a back plate (10) adapted to be fixed to a wall or other upright surface and having apertures (II) to receive fixing screws.

Attached, by a piano-type hinge (12) to the bottom edge of the back plate (10), is a plafform (13) having a depth of some 30 centimetres, and with a width of some 60 centimetres, for example.

Pivotally attached by similar hinges (14) to the opposed side edges of the back plate (10) are a pair of side walls (15).

As can be seen from Fig. 2, the entire device, when not in use, may lie flat against the wall to which the plate (10) is attached but may be readily deployed for use by pivoting the platform (13) upwardly and the side walls (15) inwardly to assume the configuration shown in Fig. 1. Removable connecting means are provided to connect together the forwardmost regions of the platform (13) and the side walls (15). These can take the form of a screwed rod projecting from opposite ends of the forward edge of the plafform (13) which locate within apertures (16) in the forward edge regions of the side walls (15) and which are then secured with wing nuts (9) or the like. Alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 3, hooked lugs (17) may be provided on the side walls which locate behind downturned edges (18) of the platform (13).

Preferably, the connecting means are formed integrally with or permanently attached to parts of the device so that they cannot become misplaced when the device is not in use.

Whilst the folding shelf described above is intended primarily for supporting a disposable barbecue, nevertheless it may be used for any other purpose, either indoors or out of doors, for temporarily supporting articles so that the device may be stored flat against the wall when not required. This is particularly important when the device is used in restricted areas where the shelf, if left deployed, could be inconvenient or cause injury.

The entire device is preferably made from steel or aluminium in sheet form and, for outdoor use, is preferably coated with a weatherproof paint.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only. For example, the side walls (15), while providing some wind protection, may be replaced by pivoted rods.

Again, the side walls (15) may be omitted and the shelf supported by a pivoted or hinged flap beneath it which nevertheless is adapted to fold flat to lie behind the shelf against the wall. The back plate (10) provides protection for the wall surface but if this is not an issue then the plate could be replaced by a skeletal framework. Indeed, the entire structure may be apertured or of mesh-like form.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A folding shelf comprising a back plate for attachment to an upright surface, a platform, hingedly attached to the back plate thus to pivot between positions respectively aligned with and normal to the back plate, and support means to suspend the platform in its position normal to the back plate.

2. A folding shelf according to claim I wherein the support means is provided by a pair of side walls hingedly attached to the back plate at opposed ends thereof.

3. A folding shelf according to claim 2 including means for removably connecting respective parts of the side walls and the platform when the platform is in its position normal to the back plate.

4. A folding shelf according to claim 3 wherein the connecting means are in the form of a rod projecting from each end of the platform and adapted to be located captively in complementary recesses in the side walls.

5. A folding shelf according to claim 3 in which the connecting means are in the form of a lug projecting from each side wall and adapted to be located captively with respect to complementary means on the platform.

6. A folding shelf substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.