US3240463A - Shelf hook - Google Patents

Description

.1. R. COOK 3,240,463

SHELF HOOK Filed July 21, 1964 IN VENTOR. Jkmw K 600 /zfM/d. M

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,240,463 SHELF HOOK James R. Cook, 224 Queen St., Woodbury, NJ. Filed July 21, 1964, Ser. No. 384,187

3 Claims. (Cl. 248339) in its position on a shelf, mantel or the like, being immediately operative upon mere positioning on a supporting shelf without permanent affixation thereto, and which is capable of immediate removal from its operative condition on a shelf without detachment from or defacement of the shelf.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a shelf hook having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph which is extremely simple in construction, capable of manufacture from a single integral piece of wire-rod stock, adapted for use on substantially any shelf, table, mantel or other horizontal supporting surface, which can be economically manufactured by mass-production techniques, and is extremely durable and entirely reliable throughout a long useful life.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a shelf hook of the type described which is extremely well suited for temporary usage, such as in the hanging of Christmas stockings from a fireplace mantel, and while such usage will be illustrated and described hereinafter with particularity, it is understood that the device is capable of many varied applications all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view showing a shelf hook of the present invention in position on a shelf or mantel and supporting a suspended article, such as a Christmas stocking;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the shelf hook of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the shelf hook of FIGURE 1, absent the suspended article.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, a shelf hook of the present invention is there generally designated 10 and is illustrated in operative position on a shelf or mantel 11 and carrying therebelow a suspended article 12, in the nature of a Christmas stocking, or the like.

The shelf hook 10 may advantageously be integrally fabricated of a single length of rod or wire stock cut to the necessary size and bent to the desired configuration.

The shelf hook 10 includes a seating portion 15 adapted to rest on the upper surface 16 of the shelf 11 spaced inward from the front edge 17 of the shelf. The seating portion 15 is of generally elongate configuration extendice ing transversely away or inwardly from the front or outer shelf edge 17. More particularly, the seating portion 15 is formed at its forward end with a laterally or transversely extending generally closed loop 18. The loop 18 may be of laterally elongate configuration having transversely oppositely projecting end portions 19 and 20. Medially of the laterally elongate loop 18, extending from the inner side thereof is an intermediate seating portion 21, which may be slightly elevated above the shelf surface 16, as best seen in FIGURE 3. The intermediate region 21 of seating portion 15 extends rearwardly or inwardly and downwardly to a rear portion or toe 22 engaging the upper shelf surface 16. Thus, the laterally elongate forward seating region or loop 18 may seat generally flat on the shelf surface 16, and the rear region 22 of the seating portion may engage the shelf surface for a stable resting engagement on the shelf.

Spaced above the seating portion 15 is an elevated portion 25. In particular, the elevated portion 25 may be in vertical coplanarity with and spaced over the intermediate region 21 and rear region 22 of seating portion 15. Further, the rear region 22 of the seating portion 15 may extend upwardly and arcuately forwardly, as at 26 for integral formation with the elevated portion 25.

The elevated portion 25 extends forwardly beyond the forward region 18 of seating portion 15, there bending forwardly and downwardly, as at 27, and continuing generally vertically downwardly to define a hanger portion 28. That is, the generally vertically depending hanger portion 28 is in substantially vertical coplanarity with the arcuate connecting region 27, elevated portion 25, connecting region 26, and intermediate and rear regions 21 and 22 of the seating portion 15.

The hanger portion 28 may depend considerably beyond the seating portion 15 and at its lower region is curved downwardly and inwardly or rearwardly, to define a connecting region 29.

Integral with and continuing downwardly and rearwardly from the connecting region 29 is an open loop or hook 30 providing a suspension portion. The hookshaped suspension portion 30 includes a downwardly and rearwardly extending region 31 which is integral at its lower end with a bight region 32 curving substantially degrees to extend forwardly and upwardly, as at 33 beneath the portion 31. A terminal portion 34 extends from the hook portion 33, substantially directly beneath the arcuate connecting portion 29 and extending obliquely away from the latter to define a generally forwardly and upwardly opening receiving throat 35 for the suspension portion 30. The suspension portion 30 is also arranged in substantially vertical coplanarity with the hanger portion 28, elevated portion 25 and intermediate and rear regions 21 and 22 of the seating portion 15.

It will be observed that the bight region 32 of suspension portion 30 extends inwardly or rearwardly to a position beneath the seating portion 15 and inward of the forward end of the seating portion, see FIGURE 3.

Hence, upon engagement of an article 12 in the suspen sion portion 30, for suspension thereby, the load is transmitted to the seating portion 15 intermediate the ends thereof for inherent stability of the hook 10 on the shelf 11. Further, even under conditions of dynamic load, say upon swinging of the suspended article 12, the lateral extensions 19 and 20 of seating portion 15 maintain stability of the hook 10.

From the foregoing, it will now be understood that the instant invention provides a shelf-hook construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for pur- 3/ poses of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A shelf hook fabricated of an integral length of Wire and comprising a transverse loop at one end of said Wire adapted to rest on a shelf at a lo-cation adjacent to and spaced inward from a shelf edge, an inward extension from said loop adapted to rest on a shelf, an upstanding reverse 'bend at the inner end of said inward extension, an outward extension from the upper end of said bend projecting outwardly past said loop and adapted to extend beyond a shelf, a depending extension on the outer end of said outward extension depending below said loop, and an upwardly facinghOOk on the lower end of said depending extension, the bight of said hook extending under said loop.

2. A shelf hook according to claim 1, said inward extension being medially elevated for spacing over a shelf, the rearward portion ofsaid inward extension defining a toe for stabilizing engagement with the shelf.

3. A shelf hook according to claim .2, said loop being laterally elongate, and said inward extension being generally normal to the longitudinal dimension of said loop.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 373,770 11/1887 Duncan 248-340 1,516,024 11/ 1924 Meyer 248303 X 2,503,108 4/ 1950 Glandville 248-211 2,532,255 11/1950 Davis 248215 2,631,803 3/1953 Meyers 248-215 2,938,696 5/1960 Hinshaw 248-215 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,188,808 3/1959 France. 1,301,642 7/1962 France.

21,645 10/1904 Great Britain. 562,939 7/ 1944 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SHELF HOOK FABRICATED OF AN INTEGRAL LENGTH OF WIRE AND COMPRISING A TRANSVERSE LOOP AT ONE END OF SAID WIRE ADAPTED TO REST ON A SHELF AT A LOCATION ADJACENT TO AND SPACED INWARD FROM A SHELF EDGE, AN INWARD EXTENSION FROM SAID LOOP ADAPTED TO REST ON A SHELF, AN UPSTANDING REVERSE BEND AT THE INNER END OF SAID INWARD EXTENSION, AN OUTWARD EXTENSION FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID END PROJECTING OUTWARDLY PAST SAID LOOP AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND BEYOND A SHELF, A DEPENDING EXTENSION ON THE OUTER END OF

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