US2690266A - Auxiliary shelving - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 28, 1954 D. E. JOHNSON AUXILIARY SHELVING 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed May 8, 1952 D. E. JOHNSON I AUXILIARY SHELVING Sept. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1952 IN V EN TOR.

JaZmsow J 0ml Patented Sept. 28, 1954 h ilh.

rs rim" orrics 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to shelving, and more particularly to auxiliary shelving adapted to be assembled with standard cabinets.

The auxiliary shelving of this invention may be utilized in any standard cabinet, wherein various articles are stored, and one such use is in combination with kitchen cabinets used to store dishes and the like. One difficulty presently en countered when using standard kitchen cabinets is that it is necessary to stack various articles on each other, in order to use the entire space between the shelves. This often necessitates the piling of bowls or cups, or saucers, on each other or on other articles, such as larger dinner plates, in a haphazard arrangement. This arrangement besides being unstable is often a source of great annoyance, since whenever it is desired to remove one of the lower plates, it is necessary first to remove the upper articles, such as the bowl and the cup from the stack. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to eliminate the above difiiculties by providing an auxiliary shelving unit, which may be easily assembled and installed in a standard cabinet, in order to provide sufficient shelf space to store a plurality of diiferent articles without the necessity of piling different types of articles in the same stack.

Another object of this invention is to provide auxiliary shelving of the above type, wherein the shelves are adjustable both vertically and lengthwise, in order to fill the requirements of the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary shelving having end support plates and one or more shelves, all constructed of sheet material, preferably metal, and to form the various parts so a very strong and stable structure is obtained.

A more specific object of this invention is to construct an auxiliary shelving of the above described type so as to provide a very rigid detachable connection between the shelves and the end plates, which connection is formed integrally with the parts of the shelving so as to eliminate the need for any screws or other auxiliary fastening devices.

Another object of this invention is to construct an auxiliary shelving of the above described type so that articles may be placed on or removed from a lower shelf without undue interference from an upper shelf.

Still another object of this invention is to construct an auxiliary shelving of the above described type, which may be stored or shipped flat with the various parts nesting within one another, so as to require a minimum of space, and which is constructed so that the parts interlock to prevent relative movement therebetween, whereby marring of the finish during storing or shipping is prevented.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, showing auxiliary shelving embodying the principles of this invention being used in a standard kitchen cabinet made of wood;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section taken along line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical cross section taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial horizontal cross section similar to Fig. 2, showing the auxiliary shelving of this invention assembled with a standard metal cabinet;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, showing auxiliary shelving embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical cross section taken along line 58 in Fig. 5 and showing the lower shelf being assembled with the end plate;

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical cross section taken along line ll in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view, showing the parts of the auxiliary shelving nested together for shipping or storing;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section taken along line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a partial vertical cross section taken along line li3i ii in Fig. 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the figures, the auxiliary shelving of this invention is shown best in Fig. 5 and is generally designated by the numeral I2. The shelving [2 comprises a pair of end support plates Hi and I6 and at least two shelves it and 20.

The shelf It is composed of two telescoping inverted channel members 22 and 2% having flanges 26, 28, 3d, and 32, depending from the longitudinal edges thereof, as shown best in 'i As clearly shown in the drawings, the member it with its depending flanges 39 and 32 is constructed so that it may telescope or slide within the flanges 2d and 128 of the member 22, so that the shelf may be adjusted to the desired length. The flanges 26 and 28 terminate in upturned portions 3t and 35, which provide channels or guideways for the similar upturned portions 33 and ii! of the flanges 3t and 32. This structure not only retains the members 22 and 25 in assembled relationship, but it also makes the structure very strong and rigid. The outer end of the member 22 is provided with 2. depending flange 42 for a purpose more fully described below, and the outer end of the member 24 is provided with a similar depending flange M.

The lower shelf 20 is constructed in exactly the same manner described above for the upper shelf, except that the lower shelf is wider. Thus, when the shelves are assembled with the end plates, as shown in Figs. 1 through 5, the front edge 36 of the shelf 20 extends forwardly of the front edge 48 of the shelf l8. As shown best in Figs. 2 and 3, the articles, such as plates 5a, which may be stacked on the lower shelf 20, stand beyond the front edge 48 of the shelf [8, so that they may be easily grasped by a user for either placing them on the shelf or moving them therefrom without interfering with the upper shelf. Furthermore, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower shelf 20 is preferably constructed so that it is narrower than the bottom shelf 52 of the standard cabinet 54, so that articles, such as large meat platters or vegetable dishes '55, which may be placed on the shelf .52, may be easily grasped by the user without interference with the shelf 20.

The end plates l4 and I6, which are preferably formed from sheet metal, are provided with a plurality of shelf engaging and supporting tabs struck therefrom. As shown in the drawings, there are preferably three sets of these locking tabs. In one set, the tabs 58 are arranged in vertically spaced relationship adjacent the rear vertical edge of the end plate. The tabs Elli of the second set are arranged in vertical spaced relation adjacent the front portion of the end plate. As shown in the figure, there are four of the tabs 66, which are arranged in the same horizontal planes as the bottom four tabs 58, whereby the tabs 69 and the lower tabs 53 are adapted to cooperate to support the lower shelf it. The third set of tabs 62 are spaced inwardly of the tabs 60 and are disposed in the same horizontal planes as the upper two tabs 53 to cooperate therewith for supporting the upper shelf it. The locking tabs are arranged in exactly the same manner on both of the end plates l4 and E6.

The locking tabs are all constructed in the same manner, and Fig. 6 shows the structure more in detail. As shown in Fig. 6, the locking tabs 58 are connected adjacent their bottom edges with the end plate l6 by a short generaliy laterally disposed connecting portion iii-i. The length of the connecting portion 64 is such that the space between the bottom of the tab 58 and the end plate has a width substantially equal to the cross sectional thickness of the flanges it of the shelves 20 and 22. The tabs 58 are preferably flared outwardly a slight amount from the face of the end plate. This structure is best shown in Fig. 6 and is exaggerated therein for better illustration. Because of this structure, the flange d2 of the shelves may be readily inserted between the tab and the end plate and then forced downwardly until it engages the connection portion 64, at which point it will be held tightly between the locking tab and the end plate to provide a very secure connection. Furthermore, it should be noted that the length of the tab 58 is substantially equal to the length of the flange #12, so that when the shelf is assembled, as it is shown in Fig. 6, the lower end of the flange engages the connection portion 64, and the upper or free end of the tab engages the under surface of the shelf, whereby the stability of the joint or connection is increased.

The rigidity of the end plates is increased in accordance with the present invention by folding over the marginal portions thereof to form flanges 66, 6'8, I0, and 12 shown on the end plate it in Fig. 5. The edges of the end plate i l are folded over in the same manner. In order to conserve material, and for other reasons more fully pointed out hereinbelow, the front edges "M and 16 of the end plates are inclined from the horizontal at an angle of about 60. The junctions of the edges 14 and 16 with the bottom edges of the end plates form points 18 and 80. These points are especially usable when the auxiliary shelving is installed in wooden cabinets, as shown in Figs. 1 through 3, wherein the points may be used to dig slightly into the surface of the Vertical posts 82 and 84 to prevent accidental shifting of the end plates within the cabinet. When used with the metal cabinet shown in Fig. 4, the points extend behind the flange 36 of the cabinet to prevent the shelving from shifting an undesirable amount.

When using the auxiliary shelving of this invention in a kitchen cabinet, as shown in Figs. 1 to i, the end plates M and 16 are first installed adjacent the ends of the cabinet, as shown. The shelves are then inserted within the cabinet and adjusted to the proper length, whereupon they are assembled with the supporting tabs. The tabs in each of the above described sets are preferably spaced about one inch apart, so that the shelves may be adjusted to the approximate desired vertical spacing. As shown in Figs. 1 through 3, the lower shelf 20 is adjusted to a vertical height, so that large platters or serving dishes may be positioned on the shelf 52 of the cabinet. The shelf is is then spaced sufliciently above the shelf 20, so that plates 5t and other articles may be stacked between the shelves l8 and 20. The smaller plates, cups, and glasses, or the like, may then be positioned on the shelf l8. Thus, it is seen that various articles may be stacked between the shelf 52 and the shelf 88 of the standard kitchen cabinet 54 without piling unlike articles in the same stack.

Fig. 8 shows the various parts of the auxiliary shelves I2 disassembled and nested together in a fiat condition for storing or shipping. It is noted that the shelf H3 is of such a width that it may be easily inserted within the flanges of the shelf 26. The end plates M and It are then disposed within the flanges of the shelf H8. The end plates are preferably disposed so that the supporting tabs on one extend outwardly and the supporting tabs of the other extend inwardly or downwardly. As shown in Fig. 8, the end plate it is disposed with its supporting tabs facing outwardly, and the end plate It is disposed with its tabs facing inwardly. The end plates are disposed so that their inclined edges ?4 and 15 extend transversely of the shelf ill with the edge it being disposed over the edge M of the end plate it. With the parts in this position, the shelf is pushed together so that it in turn forces the shelf I8 together. This movement will cause the end plates to move so that the inclined edge it engages one of the upstanding tabs 68 or 62, which engagement forces the end plates laterally of the shelf E8 in opposite directions. As shown best in Figs. 7 and 10, the upturned or hook portions 34 and 38 terminate at points spaced from the under surface of the member 24. This spacing is sufiicient to enable the edge of the end plate Hi to slide beneath the upturned portions, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The opposite upturned portions 36 and 60 of the members 22 and 24 are similarly spaced from the inner surface of the shelf, so that the end plate 16 can slide therebeneath, as shown in Fig. 9, or, if the end plates are in reverse position, not shown, the end plate it could slide therebeneath in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 10. Thus, when the shelves are in the fully collapsed position shown in Fig. 8, the end plates are securely held in position beneath the portions 38 and 40, so that they cannot slide relative to one another or to the shelf [8, whereby the possibility of the edges of the supporting tabs marring the surface or finish of the parts is eliminated.

From the above description, it is seen that the present invention provides an auxiliary shelving which may be easily made of sheet metal and wherein the shelves may be adjusted either lengthwise or vertically to fit the particular needs of the user. Moreover, the simple construction provides a shelving which may be easily installed within a standard cabinet to provide a very strong and rigid structure without the aid of screws or other auxiliary fastening devices. In addition, the novel structure set forth hereinabove enables the parts of the auxiliary shelving to be packed and shipped in a very compact unit in which the parts are restrained against relative movement, whereby shipping costs may be reduced and the possibility of marring or injuring the finish or surface of the parts due to relative movement therebetween is eliminated.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described and shown herein, it is obvious that many changes in the details of construction may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An auxiliary shelving adapted to be assembled between the shelves of a standard cabinet or to be assembled together to provide a substantially flat unit for storing or shipping, com-- prising a flat shelf member having flanges extending normally therefrom along opposed longitudinal edges, said flanges terminating in inturned portions to form a guideway, a second flat shelf member having flanges extending normally from opposed longitudinal edges thereof and terminating in inturned portions to form bearing surfaces, said second flat member being slidably disposed between the flanges of the first flat member to provide a longitudinally adjustable shelf, the terminal edges'of said inturned portions of the flanges of both flat members being spaced from the surfaces of said members, a pair of end plates having a height less than the width of said fiat members, whereby said end plates may be disposed in overlapping relationship within the longitudinal flanges of said flat members to form a substantially flat unit for storing or shipping, each of said end plates when disposed within the longitudinal flanges of the flat members having an edge extending transversely of and inclined at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said longitudinally adjustable shelf adapted to engage a protuberance extending from the other end plate, whereby upon movement of the end plates together, the engagement of said inclined edges and the protuberances causes the end plates to move laterally in opposite directions, so that their marginal edges are disposed under said terminal edges of said inturned portions, and means at the opposite ends of the longitudinally adjustable shelf for engaging said end plates when the length of said longitudinally adjustable shelf is shortened to cause the above described movement of said end plates.

2. An auxiliary shelving adapted to be assembled between the shelves of a standard cabinet or to be assembled together to provide a substantially flat unit for storing or shipping, comprising a substantially flat shelf member having flanges extending generally normally therefrom along opposed longitudinal edges, each of said flanges terminating in inturned portions to provide a guideway, a second substantially fiat shelf member slidably disposed between the flanges of said first flat member to provide a longitudinally adjustable shelf, the terminal edges of said inturned portions of said flanges being spaced from the surfaces of said flat member, a pair of end plates insertable between said flanges and on said substantially flat members to form a substantially flat unit for storing or shipping, one of said end plates when disposed between said flanges having an edge extending transversely of and inclined at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said longitudinally adjustable shelf, the other of said end plates when disposed between said flanges having a protuberance extending therefrom for engagement with said inclined edge, whereby upon movement of the end plates together the engagement of said inclined edge and said protuberance causes the end plates to move laterally in opposite directions so that their marginal edges are disposed under the terminal edges of said inturned flange portions, and means adjacent the opposite ends of said longitudinally adjustable shelf for engaging the end plates when the length of said longitudinally adjustable shelf is shortened to cause the above described movement of the end plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 298,656 Barr May 13, 1884 334,260 May Jan. 12, 1886 463,667 Meisenbach Nov. 24, 1891 510,562 Breslin Dec. 12, 1893 905,737 McCombe Dec. 1, 1908 1,029,576 Byham July 11, 1912 1,069,411 Greene Aug. 5, 1913 1,569,013 Gowran Jan. 12, 1926 1,599,653 Cranston Sept. 14, 1926 1,742,976 Vance Jan. 7, 1930 2,346,150 Brown Apr. 11, 1944 2,360,452 Stone Oct. 17, 1944 2,414,334 Schild Jan. 14, 1947 2,528,807 Whitney Nov. 7, 1950 2,657,810 Garrick Nov. 3, 1953

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