US2502746A - Portable shelf - Google Patents

Description

pr] 4i-9 i195@ l A. u. PETERSON PORTABLE SHELF Filed March 27, 1947 N Z o /////f Hf MM M0 u f WP@ Ff 7W O 6 H d3 1U 2 Z m @y O 7 7W N WH 5 Af TM, W 2 ,w mv MMM @Vaya/wi V//W m Zr mi? M 5 .L f ./z www12 M/ 6 w L i f 1|r.|.| r|,l||||||||l|1f1l11lmwlwl||l ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 11 Claims.

The invention provides a construction of port able shelf that may readily and quickly be" mounted on a wall when wanted for use, and that may easily and at once be removed from the wall when the shelf is not needed, the shelf being provided with supporting legs which may then be folded against the body member of the shelf,-

to reduce the structure to small compass for storage until the shelf is again needed. The shelf may be repeatedly mounted on a wall and removed therefrom, as many times as desired, and

without the use of special tools.

More specifically, the shelf of the invention includes a body member for supporting desired articles, from the rear or wall edge of which a first flange extends downwardly at substantially a right angle to facilitate mounting the shelf ono;

a wall by means of specially constructed hooks secured to the wall, said body member having also a second flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from its front or outer edge, to which second flange supporting legs 13- are pivotally connected to extend when in opened position, downwardly and rearwardly to engage the wall at their lower ends. The Obliquity of the second flange imparts proper direction to said legs to engage the wall as described, and whenii -i'supporting relatively heavy loads, tension members are provided between the lower ends of the legs and the body member of the shelf, to prevent the lower ends of the legs from slipping downwardly on the wall, which action might otherwise occur when the shelf is heavily loaded.

The body member of the shelf is preferably made of sheet material such as metal, and the legs are preferably made of similar material, the said tension members being preferably metal rods or wires or the equivalent, as a result of which the entire shelf structure is of simple and inexpensive construction, although entirely satisfactory for its intended purposes, for example, for use generally in houses where the convenience of supporting small or relatively light articles is desired, and particularly where said desired use is temporary and subject to repetition making the repeated removal and replacement of the shelf desirable.

It is the object of the invention to produce a shelf having the construction, operation and ad-l Y companying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in which' Fig. 1 shows the shelf in plan view mounted on a wall,

Fig. 2 is an end view in elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows in a view similar to Fig. 2, the shelf removed from the wall and with its legs folded against its front flange,

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the front flange of the shelf with its legs folded against said front flange, this view being taken along the line 4 4 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view to an enlarged scale of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 5 5 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view to an enlarged scale of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 6 6 in Fig. l.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shelf includes a flat body member IIl made preferably of sheet material such as metal or the equivalent, of a thickness adapted to carry a desired load Without deformation. Agrear flange l! integral with the body member l0, extends vertically in contact with a wall I2 when the shelf is in use with the body member Hl in horizontal position, as illusparts trated. A front flange I3 integral with the body member Ill, extends downwardly and rearwardly from said body member, and has pivotally connected with it at I 4 and I5, the upper ends of legs I6 and Il respectively, having their lower ends in engagement with the wall I2 to support the front or outer edge of the body member I0. The legs I6 and I1 preferably have the same inclination to the body member l0, as has the ange i3, to facilitate folding said legs against said iiange as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the shelf is removed from the wall. The lower ends of the legs I6 and I'I are preferably coated with friction material I8 and i9, such as soft rubber or semi-adhesive compound, to resist downward movement of the lower ends of the legs on the wall I2, when a load is placed on the shelf.

The flaange I I is supported on the wall I2, by a special form of hook 20, two of which are shown in Fig. 1. Each of the hooks 2t is preferably constructed of sheet metal as shown in Fig. 5, and has a folded upper end provided with spaced holes to receive a supporting nail 2 I, by which the nail is held at an effective supporting inclination while being driven into the wall I2, and by which the nail is retained in that inclination when the hook has been rmly mounted on the wall by said nail. The flange II is provided with a clearance opening 22 for the upper `portion of each of said hooks The bottom of each of said openings 22 is closed by a distended portion ofthe ange II forming a loop 23 for engaging the lower and upwardly opening hook-shapedportion of the corresponding hook 20 to support the flange II and in turn the rear portion of the shelf (see Fig. 5).

The flange Il is preferably provided with a plurality of integral hooks 24 formed from said flange (see Figs; 1' and 2) to support articles under the shelf when the same is in use.

Widely differing amounts of load may be sup.

ported by the shelf by suitably proportioning the parts thereof. Where only a relatively lightlo'ad is to be supported, the body member I and. the legs IE and I 'l may be of relatively thin sheet material. Where the shelf is' required-to support substantially heavier loads, said body member and legs may be of sheet material havingsubstantial inherent stiffness and they may be taken of suflicient thickness toresist deformation for the substantial downward thrusts on thellower ends ofthe legs; which may'then be suicient to overcome the friction of the lower 'ends of theflegs on the wall. -In some Tcases the-loadv to be supv ported mayv be so heavy "as fto require additional support for the lower ends'of the legs-to avoid the necessity of making 'the-body member; I0 and legsJIS yand llunduly thick and heavy.

,To provide for: casesof hea-vy'floading: of the shelf, tension members'25. and 26; are shown, which at their lowerendsarticulate with the lower end portions of the -legs-|6 and-I'L-andat their upper ends are slidably supported by voffeset'rods 2l. and:28 rigidly,secu1'ed Vito thelower surface of the body memberlll, forexampla-by welding, to permitthe folding of thelegsas described, against the flange-J3. Thetension members v25 .and .26 under. heavy loadsl on.-.the shelf, `support the lower endsy of ,the legs I6 ,and Il. against the downward thrusts 4exerted on them'inexcessof the friction-between the legs` andfthe Wall Yl2, andare illustrative only, since any equivalent de- .vicesmay be employed/.that will similarly support the legs and pemnitthesameto be -folded .against the flange. l 3.. ,.Saidmembers `beingsubjected only to tension, theymayconsist of slender steelrods .or equivalent vtension members, and they,l may be dispensed. with where the shelf is. to be. used.Y to support light loads-only.

To Yfacilitate lmounting the shelf.,ony a wall, .gauge marks .29 .are-made on.its V.upper surface .(see Fig. l), and the shelfwith. its body member in horizontal position,isplacediagainst the 4wall alittle below the,height.=desired for .the shelf, `andmarks-:fire madeon the wall at. the wall ends of thegaugemarksl; then .theshelf is removed from the wall,and .thenails 2| extending 4through .the hooks. 20. are..driv,en into. the Wall ,at the .marks somade thereongand .at theinciinationre- .quired by the.. hooks...t0 rmly..seat..,them. flat against the walL in. proper., supporting position, which .inclinations is .preferably substantially 45 degrees with the .wall surface land. .effectively en- `gages the nails .with the wall for load supporting vpurposes' and in, a. manner -preventingthe fnails ,from accidentally becomingloose and-.dropping .fr omthe .wallrallthat is then required `to mount =.the,shelf, is to engagethe loops 23-of the-flangerl l in thehocks .20 and to extend the-.legs\l6zand l1 .to their .open or lower..position. Thewhookslll mayreinain permanently on the wall, and the re- "moval` of the ,shelfY requires only the .folding .of the legs. from .their `'open position and- ,the lifting ..ofthe loops p23 from engagement with;` there hooks -2U. .Thefclding of thelegs against thelfifngecl! reduces the bulk of the shelf-i to a minimumfor storage until the shelf .is again needed for use, and it also facilitates compact. packaging.v ,for .sale purposes.

" The Asimple describ'edeconstructionofgthe;shelf makes it inexpensive to manufacture, without in any way detracting from its convenience in mounting on a wall and removal therefrom, and without in any way decreasing its effectiveness in It will be understood that the shelf constructiondescribed is illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that the parts 'of the'shelf shown, for example, the supporting hooksfthe folding legs and the tension members, may be replaced by equivalent structures having similar modes of operation, without departing from the scope of the invention. I do not therefore limit myself in carrying out the invention to the'particularstructure shown and describedpas Iv may employ equivalentsthereof without depart- .front flange extending downwardly andA rearwardly atan loblique angle from the front edge ingfrom' thescope'of the appended claims.

f What I claim is: 1. lIn apcrtable-shelf, thefcombination--on a. body member having an integral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integral 'engagement' with a'walland having an integral front flange extending downwardly vand rearwardly at an `oblique angle from the front edge of saidbody member, spaced legs pivotally connested at their upper ends with said fronty flange and when open-extending downwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement'at their lowerfends with a wall, and separable means for securing saidrear flange to ay wall; said legs being` movable to a folded positionadjacent said front flange forstorage purposes, said=legs at their lower ends carrying friction material for engagingisaid wall'and'tending toavoid slipping of -said lower leg-ends on said wall.

3.In aportable shelf, the combination'ol a body member .having an integral rear' flange for engagement kwith a wall'and having an integral of lsaid-body member, spaced legs pivotally connected-at their upper ends'with said front flange and when open extending downwardly and rearwardly fromsaid front flange for engagement'at their lower ends with a wall, andfseparable means Vfor securing said rear'flange to a wall, said4 legs fbeing movable to a folded position adjacent said 60 `their lower'ends vhaving coatings of semi-adhefrontr flangeforstorage purposes, said legsyat sive material-for engaging said wall.

4.1m avportable shelf, .the combination of. a body member having an integral rear flange for engagementrwith a walland having an'integi'al front flange: extending downwardly and'rrearwardly 1 at .f anoblique :angle vfrom the :f ront edge of said body member, spaced legsjpivotallyconnected `at their upper-ends with said front flange and when -open extending downwardly `and'rearwardly from said front ange forengagementat their-lower ends `with a wall, and separaolemeans for securing said frearflangeto a wall, saidlegs -beingmovableto a folded-position adjacent-said front flange for .storage-i purposes,saidlegac-.at

their lower ends having coatings of soft rubber compound for engaging said wall.

5. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having an integral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integral front flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from the front edge of said body member, spaced legs pivotally connected at their upper ends with said front flange and when open extending downwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at their lower ends with a wall, and separable means for securing said rear flange to a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent said front flange for storage purposes, said supporting means including up-wardly opening hooks for connection with said wall, said rear flange having clearance openings below the level of said body member for receiving said hooks.

6. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having an integral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integral front flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from the front edge of Said body member, spaced legs pivotally connected at their upper ends with said front ilange and when open extending downwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at their lower ends with a wall, and separable means for securing said rear flange to a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent said front fla-nge for storage purposes, said supporting means including upwardly opening hooks for connection with said wall, said rear flange having clearance openings below the level of said body member for receiving said hooks, the portions of said rear flange engaging said hooks being oil-set away from the wall to clear the body portions of said hooks.

7. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having an integral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integral front flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from the front edge of said body member, spaced legs pivotally connected at their upper ends with said front flange and when open extending downwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at their lower ends with a wall, separable means for securing said rear flange to a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent said front flange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lower ends of said legs from said body member for the open position of said legs.

8. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having an integral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integral front flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from the front edge of said body member, spaced legs pivotally connected at their upper ends with said front flange and when open extending downwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at their lower ends with a wall, separable means for securing said rear flange to a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent said front flange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lower ends of said legs from said body member for the open position of said legs, said means including tension members pivotally connected at their lower ends with the lower ends of said legs and slidably connected at their upper ends with said body member.

9. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having an integral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integral front flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from the front edge of said body member, spaced legs pivotally connected at their upper ends with said front flange and when open extending downwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at their lower ends with a wall, separable means for securing said rear flange to a wall,l said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent said front flange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lower ends of said legs from said body member for the open position of said legs, said means including tension rods articulating at their lower ends with the lower ends of said legs, and slide members secured to said body member and extending towards said leg pivots and having sliding engagement with the upper ends of said rods to support the same.

l0. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having a front flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from the front edge of said body member, means for supporting the rear portion of said body member from a wall, spaced legs pivotally connected at their upper ends with said front ilange and when open extending downwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at their lower ends with a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent said front flange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lower ends of said legs from said body member for the open position of said legs, said means including tension members pivotally connected at their lower ends with the lower ends of said legs and slidably connected at their upper ends with said body member.

1l. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having a front flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from the front edge of said body member, means for supporting the rear portion of said body member from a wall, spaced legs pivotally connected at their upper ends with said front flange and when open extending downwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at their lower ends with a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent said front flange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lower ends of said legs from said body member for the open position of said legs, said means including tension rods articulating at their lower ends with the lower ends of said legs, and slide members secured to said body member and extending towards said leg pivots and having sliding engagement with the upper ends of said rods to support the same.

ANTON U. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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