Patent Application
20150327680
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a locker shelving system, and more particularly, to a modular temporary shelving system for organizing and optimizing space in a locker.
2. Background
Lockers are used in numerous schools and other facilities. Numerous lockers are of similar design. Conventional lockers tend to include vertical space which is not suitable for storing a number of books and other supplies and personal items in an organized fashion.
A lack of a suitable way to organize locker space efficiently for storage is a common problem, particularly for students using a locker in a school. While a number of prior shelving systems have been disclosed, they are each lacking in various ways.
For example, some prior art shelving systems, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,646 issued to McNamara et al. utilize lateral pressure to hold a shelf in place. This can be very unstable as the weight of a large load of textbooks can cause the shelf to collapse. Furthermore, if too much pressure is used to hold the shelf in place, the locker walls can be bent outward, which can lead to distortion and locker door jams of the locker using the system or adjacent lockers.
Other shelving systems use a boxy system of four support legs and shelves, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,826 issued to Wood et al. Such systems can be cumbersome, difficult to install and remove, and take up lateral space which limits storage space.
Still other conventions shelving systems use a hanging shelving system. Such systems tend to be highly unstable and unsuitable for larger amounts of weight, and can limit storage space.
None of these prior devices provide for an efficient shelving system for a locker which optimizes storage space, provides ample stability, and is easy to install and remove. Thus, there continues to be a need for a more efficient locker shelving system.
The present invention is a locker shelving system. The shelving system is provided to organize shelving space within a locker. The system is particularly useful in schools where students must store books and personal items in a locker and access the items during the day. Such students may install the system easily, customize the configuration, and optimize storage space. The system provides a temporary stable shelving arrangement. Ideally, the configuration of the components is suitable for most textbooks and other school supplies commonly used by students of various ages.
In various embodiments, the locker shelving system of the present invention includes a shelf member and a pair of side support members. The side support members do not take up the entire side wall space of the locker between the front and back sides of the locker between shelves. Thus, a greater amount of space is preserved for storage space. The side support members have a securing element at their top sides which engage the shelf member. As the shelf member will tend to tip forward, the shelf member is stabilized via the securing elements, contact with the top surfaces of the side members, and contact with the back wall of the locker. Thus, the slight pivoting forward of the side members allows the shelf member to secure itself once contact with the back locker wall is made. By using suitable materials, the stability and strength of this configuration is surprisingly high.
Various embodiments allow the distance between shelf members to be increased using spacers. Optionally, reduced height compartments can be created also using spacers between shelf members.
Ideally, the side support members are configured to fit within existing grooves at the front edges of lockers, thus helping to secure them into place to create a stable system.
The components of the shelving system ideally include cavities and cutouts configured to allow space and clearance for existing locker hardware so that the components can be installed flush against the walls of the locker.
In this manner, a locker system is provided which optimizes storage space, provides stability, provides customizable configurations, and is easy and efficient to install or remove.
In certain preferred embodiments, each side support member is designed to fit into a locker such that it occupies the typical “U” channel found at the left and right side inside front of the locker. An interlocking/mating tab on the side support member extends vertically up from the legs. The shelf member installs by first interlocking with mating tab on pivot-leverage side support member and then rests on the side support member such that the load is accepted on the side support member. The assembled depth of the complete module is designed to equal the manufactured depth of the locker space. With the shelf member correctly installed, the pivot-leverage side support members are now interlocked within the “U” channel or front inside frame of the locker space with a portion of the load force supported through the side support member to the bottom. The “U” channel space serves to maintain the side support members upright without collapse laterally. The combination of interlocks not only supports the shelf member, but also prevents any collapse or topple of contents. This represents the “shelf module”.
In various preferred embodiments, each shelf module is self-supporting once installed and does not require other modules to function. The “pivot-leverage” side support member incorporates the parts described into a “leverage-system” where when installed properly, a portion of the load force is shared by the normal force downward through the side support members and the remaining portion of the load force is accepted by the back wall of the locker. As the pivot-leverage side support members accept the load, they begin to pivot forward longitudinally at the fulcrum formed by the bottom of the side support member which immediately engages the shelf piece against the back wall of the locker. The leverage or mechanical advantage is delivered horizontally along the plane of the shelf piece via the interlocking tab or securing elements. Functionally, a greater portion of the load force exists downward through the side support members with the remaining lesser portion applied to the inside back wall of the locker. This is only possible using the typical frame space and structure of the locker. This leverage system remains intact even If the center of mass of the load shifts toward the rear of the shelf member. In this case, the mating “interlock” prevents any downward pivoting of the shelf member where it meets the end of the side support member platform. Multiple shelf modules are erected one on top of another each independently interlocked at the side support member to shelf member and also fitted into the locker door frame “U” channel space. Spacers also assume the role as side leg platforms to form the “Tablet-Safe” add- on module. As each “shelf module” can be stacked, further organizational opportunity is available by vertically reordering different height “shelf modules” or using different numbers of modules.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein it is shown and described only the preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like features, and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
The present invention is a shelving system 10 for a locker. The system 10 can be used in a number of configurations. In certain embodiments, the shelving system 10 includes a first shelf member 30 shaped and adapted to fit horizontally within a locker. The shelf member 30 is sized to extend close the back wall of the locker, leaving only a small amount of space such as 1/16 inch to ¼ inch, any amount of space is contemplated as within the scope of the invention.
In various embodiments, the system 10 further includes a first pair of side support members 20 adapted to fit along respective sides of a locker. In many lockers, a vertical groove is disposed at the edges of the front side of the locker. Ideally, side support members 20 are adapted to fit within that groove, as can be seen in
Each of the side support members 20 includes a base which is shaped and sized to be positioned within a front region of an underlying support surface. The most forward point, or the point closest to the back wall of the locker, herein called a back base end point, is positioned at a back end of the base. This back base end point is ideally positioned a distance away from the back wall. The side support members 20 further include a top surface having a top end point positioned at a top end of the top surface closest to the back wall of the locker. The top end point is also disposed a distance away from the back wall of the locker. In various embodiments, the top end point is closer to the front side of the locker than the back wall. In many embodiments, the top end point is positioned closer to the back wall of the locker than the back base end point is. The shelf member 30 sits atop the side support members 20.
Preferably, the side support members 20 include securing elements 28. The securing elements 28 engage with the shelf member 30 at its front edge, i.e., the edge closest to the front side of the locker. The shelf member 30 extends horizontally close to the back wall of the locker, leaving only a small amount of space to enable the shelf member 30 to be easily installed or removed. Since the top end point of the side support members 20 are a distance away from the back wall of the locker, weight placed on the shelf member 30 may tend to bias the shelf member 30 to tilt down and toward the back wall of the locker. However, the securing elements 28 substantially prevent the shelf member 30 from becoming vertically displaced with respect to the securing elements 28, and the side support members 20. Thus, through contact with the securing elements 28, the top surface of the side support members 20, and the back wall of the locker as the shelf member 30 leans forward slightly, the shelf member 30 is secured against angular displacement.
In certain embodiments, the shelf member 30 further includes engaging members 34 which are configured to engage with the securing elements 28. Such engaging members 34 and securing elements 28 preferably do not extend vertically above the top surface of the shelf member 30, thus allowing another set of side support members 20 to be placed atop the unit and repeated as many times as desired within a given locker space.
In various embodiments, the side support members 20 include a cavity such as a groove 26 configured to provide clearance for locker hardware when installed within a locker. Similarly, shelf member 30 may include cutout corners 32 to allow clearance for locker hardware. Thus, the pieces can fit flush against the locker walls to optimize storage space.
It is understood that repetitions of the side members 20 and shelf member 30 can be added atop one another to provide multiple shelving spaces within a locker. Various additional optional configurations are possible as well. For example, spacers 40 may be used to add height to the side support members 30, as seen in
Ideally, the securing elements 28 are positioned to leave a front area of the top surface of the side support members 20 exposed so that a vertical extension or peg 42 in the spacers 40 may be positioned to hold the spacers 40 in place. Similarly, the vertical extensions 42 can fit into cutout areas 32 at the back edge of the shelf member 30.
It is understood that the size, shape, and materials of the components may vary. Many of the components may be formed of particle board, plastic, or any other suitable material. The side support members 20 may be substantially trapezoidal in shape, however, the invention does not require that this shape be used. Ideally, the components are sized and shaped to reduce the amount of space taken up by the components and to leave greater storage space available.
While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/824,900 filed May 17, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
