The present invention relates to shelves. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a foldable shelf.
Foldable shelf members are well-known. Conventionally, these shelf members are hingeably screwed to side posts of a frame assembly so that they can be folded up when not in use or folded down in order to display article thereon.
Drawbacks of conventional foldable shelves are that conventional shelf members without screw holes or not otherwise adapted to be hinged cannot be used. Furthermore, when the shelf is in the folded up position, it is not sufficiently or securely locked in that position and hence, may easily fall into the displaying position.
There thus remains a need for an improved foldable shelf assembly.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved foldable shelf.
More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a foldable shelf a foldable shelf assembly comprising:
a shelf comprising first and second lateral sides, each first and second lateral sides comprising respective guide protrusions; and
a frame for mounting the shelf thereto, the frame comprising first and second side-surfaces, each first and second side-surfaces comprising guide slots configured and sized to releasably receive and guide the guide protrusions when the shelf is mounted to the frame;
wherein, when the shelf is mounted to the frame, the shelf is moveable between folded and unfolded displaying positions via the protrusions sliding along the slots.
In an embodiment, the guide protrusion comprises an arcuate configuration and the guide slot comprises a complementary arcuate configuration. In an embodiment, the guide protrusions comprise bottom ends, the guide slots comprise complementary bottom ends for releasably locking with the guide protrusion bottom ends when the shelf is in the folded position. In an embodiment, the guide protrusions comprise top ends, the guide slots comprise complementary top ends for supporting the guide protrusions when the shelf is in an unfolded displaying position. In an embodiment, the the protrusion comprises a curved flat member. In an embodiment, the protrusion comprises a flat member.
In an embodiment, each of the guiding slots comprise:
a resting portion for securely receiving the protrusion when the shelf is in a folded position;
a guiding portion providing for the protrusion to be guided when moving the shelf between the folded and unfolded positions; and
a supporting-portion for supporting the protrusion when the shelf is in an unfolded displaying position.
In an embodiment, the resting portion comprises a groove. In an embodiment, this groove defines opposite walls for securing the protrusion therebetween.
In an embodiment, the guiding portion comprises opposite arcuate guiding surfaces, the protrusion comprises opposite ends for respectively sliding along the opposite arcuate surfaces.
In an embodiment, the supporting portion comprises a shoulder.
In an embodiment, the protrusion comprises two fingers, the guiding slot comprising two sub-slots, each sub-slot being configured to guide a respective the finger of the same the protrusion.
In an embodiment, the fingers are co-linear with respect to one another and the sub-slots are co-linear with respect to one another. In an embodiment, one of the finger is a top finger and the other the finger is a bottom finger and one of the sub-slots is a top sub-slot and the other sub-slot is a bottom the sub-slot.
In an embodiment, each of the sub-slots comprise:
a resting portion for securely receiving a respective finger when the shelf is in a folded position;
a guiding portion providing for a respective finger to be guided when moving the shelf between the folded and unfolded displaying positions.
In an embodiment, one of the two sub-slots comprises a supporting-portion for supporting one finger when the shelf is in an unfolded displaying position. In an embodiment the other of the two sub-slots comprises a stopper for stopping another finger when the shelf is in an unfolded displaying position.
In an embodiment, the resting portion of each sub-slot comprises a groove. In an embodiment, each of these groove defines opposite walls for securing a given the finger therebetween. In an embodiment, the grooves of the two sub-slots are co-linear.
In an embodiment, the guiding portion comprises opposite arcuate guiding surfaces, a given finger comprising opposite sides for respectively sliding along the opposite arcuate surfaces. In an embodiment, the two sub-slots comprise respective oppositely configured arcuate portions.
In an embodiment, the protrusion comprises a flat member forming two fingers at a free end thereof. In an embodiment, the protrusion comprises two independent fingers mounted to a given side surface.
In an embodiment, the shelf comprises an inner surface and an opposite outer surface, the shelf further comprising a handle on the outer surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a foldable shelf assembly comprising:
a plurality of shelves, each shelf comprising first and second lateral sides, each first and second lateral sides comprising respective guide protrusions; and
a frame for mounting the shelves thereto in a side to side disposition, the frame comprising a plurality of first and second adjacent side-surfaces, each pair of adjacent the first and second side-surfaces comprising guide slots configured and sized to releasably receive and guide the guide protrusions of a given the shelf when mounted to the frame;
wherein, when a given the shelf is mounted to the frame, the shelf is moveable between folded and unfolded displaying positions via the protrusions sliding along the slots.
In an embodiment, the frame defines opposite mounting faces, the shelves being mountable to the opposite mounting faces.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a shelf for mounting to a frame comprising first and second side-surfaces, each the first and second side-surfaces comprising guide slots, the shelf comprising:
first and second lateral sides, each first and second lateral sides comprising respective guide protrusions for releasably mounting to respective guide slots
wherein, when the shelf is mounted to the frame, the shelf member is moveable between folded and unfolded displaying positions via the protrusions siding along the slots.
In an embodiment, the guide protrusion comprises an arcuate configuration. In an embodiment, the protrusion comprises a curved flat member. In an embodiment, the protrusion comprises a flat member. In an embodiment, the protrusion comprises two fingers. In an embodiment, the protrusion comprises a flat member forming two fingers at a free end thereof. In an embodiment the protrusion comprises two independent fingers mounted to a given the side surface.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the appended drawings where like elements are referenced by like reference numerals and in which:
With reference to the appended drawings an embodiment of the invention will be herein described so as to exemplify the invention and not limit its scope.
FIGS. 1 to 4 show the foldable shelf assembly 10 mounted to a vertical structure 12, such as a wall, for example, The foldable shelf assembly 10 includes shelf 14, 16. 18 and 20 and a frame 22. Shelves 14, 18 and 20 are in a folded position, which in this non-limiting example is an upright position, whereas shelf 16 is in the unfolded displaying position for displaying articles (not shown) thereo.
With reference
The frame assembly 22 includes top and bottom horizontal members 30 and 32 respectively and three vertical posts 34, 36 and 38 mounted therebetween as is known by the skilled artisan.
The pair of adjacent posts 34 and 36 have top and bottom shelves 14 and 16 mounted therebetween, the pair of adjacent posts 36 and 38 have top and bottom shelves 18 and 20 mounted therebetween as will be described below.
With reference to
Turning back to FIGS. 1 to 4, the frame assembly 22 also includes a vertical surface engaging side 44 including engaging elements 46 including fasteners (not shown), such as screws, and screw holes for fastening the frame assembly 22 to a wall 12 as is known in the art.
In operation, a given shelf member 14, 16, 18 and 20 is mounted to the frame assembly 16 between two adjacent posts 34, 36 and 38. For example, side 28 of shelf 14 is mounted to surface 40 of post 36, side 28 of shelf 14 is mounted to surface 40 of post 38 by inserting the respective fin member 24 of each side 26 and 28 into the respective guide slot 42 of each post 36 and 38.
With reference to
The complementary arcuate configuration of both the guide slots 42 and fins 24 provide for securely positioned the shelf member 14 in positions A or B. A fin 24 can releasably lock at its curved bottom end 50 with the complementary bottom end 54 of the complementary guide slot 42 in order to be in the folded position A. When the shelf 14 is unfolded, the top end of the fin 24 securely rests in locking fashion on the top end support 52 of the guide slot. In the way, the user exerts sufficient force in order to move a shelf 14 from positions A or B.
Shelves 16, 18 and 20 are similarly constructed. In
The fin members 24 may be provided in a variety of materials and curved forms. Consequently, the guide slots 28 may also be provided in a variety of complementary curved shapes. The fins 24 may be glued or screwed onto shelf member sides 26 and 28, as can be contemplated by the skilled artisan.
The shelf members 14, 16, 18 and 20 may be provided in a variety of suitable sizes, configurations and materials.
In this example the frame assembly 22 is shown to have four shelf members 14a 16, 18 and 20, yet a variety of frame assemblies can be contemplated within the scope of the present invention. In one non-limiting and non-illustrated example, the frame assembly 22 may include a middle panel and have shelves on either side of the panel. In another example, frame member may be mounted onto a wall, as shown in
With reference to
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9.
Turning back to FIGS. 7 to 9, a post 76 of a frame assembly as described herein is shown having shelf mounting surface 78. Shelf mounting surface 78 includes a guiding slot 80, this guiding slot 80 includes two sub slots 62 and 84 which are co-linear. In this non-limiting example, sub-slot 82 is a top sub-slot and sub-slot 84 is a bottom sub-slot. Each sub slot 82 and 84 is configured to slidably receive therein a respective finger 66 and 68 or a respective finger 72 and 74.
With reference to
With respect to
When the shelf 60 is in the upstanding or folded position A, the top and bottom fingers 64 and 66 or 72 and 74 and within groove 88 and are secured in position between wails 88 and 90.
When unfolding the shelf 60 the user lifts the shelf 60 upwardly, as shown by arrow C, away from co-linear grooves 86 by way of a handle for example (such as handle 19 on shelf 18 shown in
It should be noted that guiding slot 80 may provide a plurality of sub-slots within the context of the present invention. Consequently, the guide protrusion 62 may provide a plurality of complementary fingers. The fingers of the present invention may be provided in a variety of suitable configurations and sizes as well as be made in a variety of materials within the context of the present invention and as can be contemplated by the skilled artisan.
The shelf 112 is shown having a protrusion 114 in the form of a flat bar or fiat tab-like fin member.
Similarly to the embodiments described above, fin members 114 slide along guide slots 110 so as to move shelf 112 from the above mentioned upstanding or folded position A when not in use, to the above mentioned unfolded displaying position B as will be described below.
The “butterfly-type” guide slots 110 include: a resting portion 116 in the form of a groove defined by opposite resting walls 118 and 120; a guiding “butterfly” portion 122 having opposite arcuate guide walls 124 and 126; and a supporting-portion 128 in the form of a shoulder.
When the shelf 112 is in the upstanding or folded position A, the fin member 114 rests within groove 116 and is locked in position between walls 118 and 120.
When unfolding the shelf 112 the user lifts the shelf 112 upwardly, as shown by arrow C, from slot 116 by way of a handle and guides it forward along guiding “butterfly” portion 122. The top side 130 of fin 114 is guided along guide wall 124 while the bottom side 132 of fin 114 is guided along guide wall 126. The fin 114 is then rested on shoulder 128 when the shelf 112 is in the unfolded displaying position B.
Of course protrusion 114 can be constructed in a variety of suitable configurations and made of a variety of materials as can be understood by one having skill in the art.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit, scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2,446,477 | Oct 2003 | CA | national |