Patent Application
20210153645
The present invention generally relates to foldaway shelving.
Foldaway shelving is generally known in the art for providing a space-saving storage options attached to a structure, such as a building or a vehicle. Typically, the shelving shelves spaced above the ground or floor and supported by upright posts. The shelves have a pivotable connection to the upright posts that allow the shelves to move between a foldout position and a stored position. At least one cable connects the shelves to the vehicle wall or the upright posts to support the shelves in the foldout position. The cord, cable, or other hanging hinged member takes up space in both the foldout position and the stored position, but also prevents clear access for the user to place a load on the shelf. The shelves typically cannot share a common upright post in a side-by-side configuration because the pivotable connections of the shelves interfere with one another. Thus, there is a demand for a foldaway shelving unit that allows the shelves to be side-by-side and provides clear access for a user to place the load on the shelves.
The present invention provides foldaway shelving that is easy to assemble. The present invention also provides foldaway shelving that is simple to adjust. Further, the present invention provides foldaway shelving that allows shelves to be easily installed side-by-side to a common support.
It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a foldaway shelving unit for attachment within a vehicle. The foldaway shelving unit comprises at least one shelf spaced from a floor of the vehicle for supporting a load on the at least one shelf in a foldout position of the foldaway shelving unit. The at least one shelf is moveable between the foldout position and a stored position. At least one support extends upwardly from the floor for supporting the at least one shelf. At least one end panel connects the at least one shelf to the at least one support. The at least one end panel includes a mounting bracket and a mounting arm. The mounting bracket connects to the at least one shelf and the mounting arm connects to the at least one support. A hinge extends between the mounting bracket and the mounting arm to allow the mounting bracket to rotate between the foldout position and the stored position. The mounting bracket has a first stopping surface and a second stopping surface each spaced from one another. A stopper extends outwardly from the mounting bracket for engaging the first stopping surface in the foldout position and for engaging the second stopping surface in the stored position.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a foldaway shelving unit for attachment within a vehicle. The foldaway shelving unit comprises a first shelf and a second shelf disposed side-by-side, each spaced from a floor of the vehicle for supporting a load on each of the first shelf and the second shelf in a foldout position of the foldaway shelving unit. Each of the first shelf and the second shelf is moveable between the foldout position and a stored position. A common support extends upwardly from the floor for supporting the first shelf and the second shelf. A first end panel connects the first shelf to the common support. A second end panel connects the second shelf to the common support. Each of the first end panel and the second end panel includes a plurality of tabs spaced from one another by at least one notch. The plurality of tabs of the first end panel mesh with the plurality of tabs of the second end panel. The plurality of tabs of the first end panel engage the at least one notch of the second end panel. The plurality of tabs of the second end panel engage the at least one notch of the first end panel. At least one of the plurality of tabs receives a fastener for securing each of the first end panel and the second end panel to the common support.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide an end panel for a shelf of a foldaway shelving unit. The end panel comprises a mounting bracket and a mounting arm. The mounting bracket connects to the shelf. The mounting arm connects to a support of the foldaway shelving unit. A hinge extends between the mounting bracket and the mounting arm to allow the mounting bracket to rotate between a foldout position and a stored position. The mounting bracket includes a lip for supporting the shelf and an upper rear portion spaced from the lip. A first stopping surface is disposed on a lower rear portion of the lip. A second stopping surface is disposed on the upper rear portion of the mounting bracket. A stopper extends outwardly from the mounting bracket for engaging the first stopping surface in the foldout position and for engaging the second stopping surface in the stored position. The end panel includes a securing portion of the mounting arm. The securing portion includes a plurality of tabs spaced from one another by at least one notch. The plurality of tabs receives a plurality of fasteners to secure the end panel to the support.
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, foldaway shelving constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is generally shown in
With reference to
The supports 26, 28 are mounted to the floor of the vehicle by cantilevered feet 50. In some embodiments, the cantilevered foot extends to a foot end 52 laterally spaced from the at least one support 26, 28 by a first distance A. In the foldout position, a center of gravity X of the at least one shelf 22, 24 is laterally spaced from the at least one support 26, 28 by a second distance B. The first distance A may be greater than the second distance B. In some embodiments, when the load L is on the at least one shelf 22, 24, the center of gravity X of the loaded shelf 22, 24 relative to the position of the foot end 52 allows transfer of the static load to the vehicle floor. In addition, the center of gravity X of the loaded shelf relative to the position of the foot end 52 also may also convert dynamic load, which is typically on the vehicle wall fasteners 86, from a tension load to a shear load to protect the integrity of the vehicle structure.
The supports 26, 28 of the disclosed embodiment have a side surface 38 and a front surface 40. The surfaces 38, 40 include openings 42, 44 for attachment of the braces 36 and attachment of the end panels 30, 32. As illustrated, the side surface 38 has oval openings 42, and the front surface 40 has circular openings 44. These give adjustability in mounting at different positions in the vehicle. The oval openings 42 are for receipt of the wall mount brace bolts. The circular openings 44 are for receipt of the preassembled end panel 30, 32 bolts. As illustrated, a threaded plate 46 may be provided for easier mounting of the end panels 30, 32. The threaded plate 46 is an elongated plate 46 with a series of threaded openings 48 for receipt of fasteners 86, such as bolts, of the end panel 30, 32.
As illustrated in
The end panel 30, 32 includes a biasing member 70 extending between the mounting bracket 54 and the mounting arm 56 to bias the shelf 22, 24 in either the foldout position or the stored position. The biasing member 70 facilitates the raising and lowering of the shelf 22, 24. In some embodiments, the biasing member 70 is a gas shock, or damper, to dampen movement of the at least one shelf 22, 24 between the foldout position and the stored position. The end panels 30, 32 further include a stopper 71 extending outwardly from the mounting bracket 54 for engaging the first stopping surface 62 in the foldout position and for engaging the second stopping surface 66 in the stored position. In other words, the stopper 71 is provided to stop the shelf 22, 24 in the fully up (stored) and fully down (foldout) positions. In some embodiments, the stopper 71 of the disclosed embodiment is a bolt with a spacer over the bolt. The first stopping surface 62 contacts the stopper 71 in the fully down position, and the second stopping surface 66 contacts the stopper 71 in the fully raised position. The stopper 71 also transfers the load placed upon the shelves 22, 24 to the post. In some embodiments, the foldaway shelving unit 20 does not have a cord, cable, or other hanging support hinge extending between the at least one shelf 22, 24 and either the support 26, 28, the at least one end panel 30, 32, or the vehicle wall to support the at least one shelf 22, 24 in the foldout position.
A guard 72 extends from the mounting arm 56 adjacent the hinge 58 to provide clearance between the guard 72 and the mounting arm 56. In some embodiments, a minimum clearance between the guard 72 and the mounting arm 56 is at least 0.5 inches in the stored position. The guard 72 has an arcuate shape between a top 74 of the guard 72 and a bottom 76 of the guard 72 and defines a groove 78 adjacent the bottom 76 for receiving the stopper 71. The pinch guard 72 protects the user by isolating the areas where a user can place their hand while using the shelf 26, 28 that could otherwise result in pinching of the user's fingers or hands.
The mounting arm 56 of the at least one end panel 30, 32 includes a securing portion 80 for attaching to the post. The securing portion 80 including a plurality of tabs 82 spaced from one another by at least one notch 84. The plurality of tabs 82 receive a plurality of fasteners 86, or bolts, to secure the end panel 30, 32 to the support. In some embodiments, the at least one support 26, 28 and the securing portion 80 sandwich the threaded plate 46, and bolts are threaded through the tabs 82 to lock the at least one support 26, 28, the threaded plate 46, and the securing portion 80 together.
As illustrated in
The plurality of tabs 82 of the first end panel 30, 32 engages the at least one notch 84 of the second end panel 30, 32 adjacent the common support 28, and the plurality of tabs 82 of the second end panel 30, 32 engages the at least one notch 84 of the first end panel 30, 32 adjacent the common support 28 as well. Accordingly, the plurality of tabs 82 of the first end panel 30, 32 mesh with the plurality of tabs 82 of the second end panel 30, 32. At least one of the plurality of tabs 82 receives a fastener 86 for securing each of the first end panel 30, 32 and the second end panel 30, 32 to the common support 28. In some embodiments, the foldaway shelving unit 20 does not have a cord extending between either of the first shelf 22 and the second shelf 24 and either of the common support 28, the first end panel 30, 32, the second end panel 30, 32, and the vehicle wall to support each of the first shelf 22 and the second shelf 24 in the foldout position.
In some embodiments, the plurality of tabs 82 and the at least one notch 84 of each of the at least one end panel 30, 32 create a zigzag shape along an edge 88 of the securing portion 80 of the mounting arm 56. The zigzags mate with the zigzags of an adjacent mounting arm 56. This allows adjoining shelves 22, 24 to be mounted adjacent one another on the same post and allows the post to have a thinner overall profile. In other words, in some embodiments, the mounting arms 56 mate. One mounting arm 56 is for the right-hand side, and the other is for the left-hand side, i.e. they are left and right hand specific. The left- and right-hand zigzag end panels 30, 32 are offset to allow interlocking. This allows the shelves 22, 24 to be the same height even though the mounting hole positions on the supports 26, 28 are different. In the illustrated embodiment, there is a greater distance between the topmost tab 82 and the next tab 82, which may allow for a longer plate 46 with greater strength and load distribution.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility. The use of the word “said” in the apparatus claims refers to an antecedent that is a positive recitation meant to be included in the coverage of the claims whereas the word “the” precedes a word not meant to be included in the coverage of the claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Patent Ser. No. 62/941,546, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62941546 | Nov 2019 | US |
