Patent Application
20200383472
The innovation relates to furniture, such as shelving units and designs for including shelving units within other articles of furniture. The innovation also relates to methods of making and using such apparatuses.
Examples of shelving units can be appreciated form U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,592,886 and 6,024,333. Shelving units are often wall mounted or encased adjacent the wall of a room. Such shelving units can utilize brackets having a rear end attached to the wall and a front end that is distal from the wall to support a shelf that may hold books or other objects.
We have determined that such brackets can negatively affect the aesthetic effect of a shelving unit and limit design options. We have determined that a new shelving unit is needed to provide greater design flexibility. We have determined that a new bracket assembly is needed to help provide such improved design flexibility while also permitting an improvement in the aesthetic effect that can be created by a design for an article of furniture having a shelving unit or structure as a shelving unit.
An article of furniture can include a shelving unit that can be configured to facilitate a modular design that permits height adjustment for positioning of shelves of the shelving unit. The adjustability that is provided can be provided at a manufacturing level for adjustable manufacturing of different sized shelving units or can be provided at a user level to facilitate user adjustment of the shelf heights of a shelving unit. In some embodiments, the shelving unit can include a reverse cantilevered bracket assembly. The bracket assembly can be configured to facilitate the modular design that permits height adjustment of shelves for an article of furniture.
In some embodiments, the brackets can be configured to be positioned to avoid obstructing a front opening so that a user can easily access shelfs supported by the brackets. In some embodiments, the brackets can also be positioned to minimize their appearance to improve the aesthetic effect of the shelving unit.
For instance, embodiments of an article of furniture can include a left sidewall, a right sidewall, a first front rail positioned adjacent to a front of the left sidewall, and a second front rail positioned adjacent to a front of the right sidewall. A rear face of the first front rail can have sets of positional openings. Each of the sets of positional openings can include a plurality of spaced apart positional openings. Each of the sets of positional openings can be spaced apart from the other sets of the positional openings along the rear face of the first front rail. A rear face of the second front rail can also have sets of positional openings. Each of the sets of positional openings can include plurality of spaced apart positional openings. Each of the sets of positional openings can be spaced apart from the other sets of the positional openings along the rear face of the second front rail. The article can also include a first bracket having a front end and a rear end. The front end of the first bracket can have a plurality of attachment protrusions that extend for adjustable positioning in the sets of positional openings of the first front rail. A second bracket having a front end and a rear end can also be included. The front end of the second bracket can have a plurality of attachment protrusions that extend for adjustable positioning in the sets of positional openings of the first front rail.
Each of the attachment protrusions of the first bracket can have a hook-like element that includes a distal downwardly extending element that is positioned away from the front end of the first bracket by a horizontally extending portion of the attachment protrusion in some embodiments. Each of the attachment protrusions of the second bracket can also have a hook-like element that includes a distal downwardly extending element that is positioned away from the front end of the second bracket by a horizontally extending portion of the attachment protrusion in some embodiments.
In some embodiments, the article can be configured so that the second end of the first bracket is freely hanging via the attachment protrusions of the first bracket positioned in the positional openings of the first rail and the second end of the second bracket is freely hanging via the attachment protrusions of the second bracket positioned in the positional openings of the second rail.
In some embodiments, the first rail and the second rail can be spaced apart from each other to define a front opening that is in communication with an inner cavity defined between the left sidewall and the right sidewall. A rear sidewall can be attached between the left sidewall and the right sidewall to define the inner cavity. The rear end of the first bracket can be positioned adjacent a left side of the rear sidewall and the rear end of the second bracket can be positioned adjacent a right side of the rear sidewall. An upper cross-member can extend from a top end of the first front rail to a top end of the second front rail. A top member can be attached to the upper cross-member and an upper end of the left side wall, an upper end of the right sidewall, and an upper end of the rear sidewall to define the inner cavity.
The first bracket can be a reverse cantilevered bracket and the second bracket can also be a reverse cantilevered bracket in some embodiments.
Embodiments of methods of providing a shelving unit are also provided. Embodiments of the method can include positioning a first front rail adjacent to a front of a left sidewall. A rear face of the first front rail can have sets of positional openings where each of the sets of positional openings comprise a plurality of spaced apart positional openings and each of the sets of positional openings are spaced apart from the other sets of the positional openings along the rear face of the first front rail. The method can also include positioning a second front rail adjacent to a front of a right sidewall. A rear face of the second front rail can have sets of positional openings where each of the sets of positional openings comprise a plurality of spaced apart positional openings and each of the sets of positional openings being spaced apart from the other sets of the positional openings along the rear face of the second front rail. The method can also include positioning a first bracket for attachment to the first front rail so that a plurality of attachment protrusions that extend from a front end of the first bracket are passed into a selected set of the positional openings of the first front rail and positioning a second bracket for attachment to the second front rail so that a plurality of attachment protrusions that extend from a front end of the second bracket are passed into a selected set of the positional openings of the second front rail that are vertically aligned with the set of the positional openings of the first front rail in which the attachment protrusions of the first bracket are positioned. A shelf can be positioned onto the first and second brackets to position the shelf in an inner cavity defined by the first front rail, second front rail, left sidewall, right sidewall, a rear sidewall and a top member attached to upper ends of the left sidewall, right sidewall and rear sidewall.
In some embodiments of the method, each of the attachment protrusions of the first bracket can have a hook-like element that includes a distal downwardly extending element that is positioned away from the front end of the first bracket by a horizontally extending portion of the attachment protrusion. Each of the attachment protrusions of the second bracket can also have a hook-like element that includes a distal downwardly extending element that is positioned away from the front end of the second bracket by a horizontally extending portion of the attachment protrusion.
In some embodiments, the second end of the first bracket can be freely hanging via the attachment protrusions of the first bracket positioned in the positional openings of the selected set of positional openings of the first rail and the second end of the second bracket is freely hanging via the attachment protrusions of the second bracket positioned in the positional openings of the selected set of positional openings of the second rail. In such embodiments, the first rail and the second rail can be spaced apart from each other to define a front opening that is in communication with the inner cavity. An upper cross-member can also be positioned to extend from a top end of the first front rail to a top end of the second front rail. The top member can be attached to the upper cross-member.
Other details, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain exemplary embodiments thereof and certain exemplary methods of practicing the same proceeds.
Exemplary embodiments of an article of furniture and exemplary embodiments of a reverse cantilevered bracket assembly for a shelving unit are shown in the accompanying drawings and certain exemplary methods of making and practicing the same are also illustrated therein. It should be appreciated that like reference numbers used in the drawings may identify like components.
Referring to
The article of furniture 1 can have a top 1b, a bottom 1c, and lateral sides 1d that extend vertically between the top 1b and bottom 1c. The top 1b can include a top member attached to upper ends of the right and left sides 1d and the upper end of the rear side 1d. The bottom 1c can include a bottom member attached to lower ends of the right and left sides 1d and the lower end of the rear side 1d. The front 1f of the article can have a front opening 1a. The front opening can be defined between spaced apart front rails 2, the bottom 1c and the top 1b. In some embodiments, the front opening 1a can have a polygonal shape (e.g. rectangular, square, etc.). In other embodiments, the front opening 1a can have a different type of shape (e.g. oval, etc.).
The rear 1r of the article can be defined by a lateral side 1d that defines a back or rear of the article for defining an inner cavity 1y in which shelves 3 are positioned. The inner cavity 1y can be defined by the top 1b, bottom 1c and sides 1d. Some articles of furniture can include feet 1e that are attached to the bottom 1c of the article of furniture. The feet 1e can be glides, castors, or other types of feet that support the article on a floor.
The front 1f of the article can define the front opening 1a for permitting access to at least one shelf 3 positioned inside the inner cavity 1y of the body of the article that is in communication with the front opening 1a. The body of the article that defines the inner cavity 1y can include the sides 1d, top 1a and bottom 1b.
In some embodiments, the front opening 1a can extend from between the left side 1d and the right side 1d of the article. Spaced apart front rails can be positioned adjacent the left and right sides 1d. In some embodiments, the front rails 2 can be attached to the bottom 1c at their bottom ends 2b and extend vertically to their top ends 2a. Top ends 2a of the front rails 2 can be attached to opposite ends of a front cross-member 4 that extends between upper portions of the left and right sides 1d above the bottom 1c.
The front of the front rails 2 can be attached to a covering to define a front vertical wall that helps define the front opening 1a. In other embodiments, the front of the front rails can define the front vertical walls adjacent the left and right sides 1d for defining the shape of the front opening 1a.
Each of the front rails 2 can include a plurality of positional openings 2p. The positional openings 2p can be defined on a rear side of the front rails 2 that face toward the rear of the article within the inner cavity 1y. Each front rail 2 can have multiple sets of positional openings 2p at spaced apart locations to define different height positions for different brackets 5 for supporting a body of a shelf 3 at different positions in the inner cavity 1y. For instance the front rail 2 adjacent the right side 1d and the front rail 2 adjacent the left side 1d can each include a first set 2m of upper positional openings 2p that are vertically aligned with each other and a second set 2n of intermediate positional openings 2p that are vertically aligned with each other. The second set 2n of intermediate positional openings 2p can be below the first set of upper positional openings. Also, the front rail 2 adjacent the right side 1d and the front rail 2 adjacent the left side 1d can each include a third set 2o of lower positional openings 2p that are vertically aligned with each other. The third set 2o of lower positional openings 2p can be below the second set 2n of intermediate positional openings 2p such that the second set 2n of intermediate positional openings 2p is between the first upper set 2m and third lower set 2o of positional openings 2p.
Other embodiments can utilize different sets of positional openings 2p. In some embodiments, there may be more than three sets of positional openings 2p in each front rail (e.g. four, five, etc.). In other embodiments, there may be less than three sets of positional openings 2p (e.g. just upper and lower sets of openings, etc.).
Each set of brackets 5 can be positioned in a corresponding set of positional openings 2p in each front rail 2 to be positioned for supporting a respective shelf in a level orientation or other desired orientation. For example, there can be a first set of brackets 5 having first and second brackets in which the first bracket 5 is in upper positional openings of an upper set of openings in the first front rail 2 and the second bracket is in upper positional openings of an upper set of openings in the second front rail 2 so that the first and second brackets are aligned and in a parallel orientation for supporting a first shelf. A second set of brackets 5 having third and fourth brackets can be positioned so that the third bracket is positioned via a lower set of positional openings of the first front rail to support a second shelf and the fourth bracket is positioned via a lower set of positional openings of the second front rail 2 to support the second shelf. The lower positional openings of the first and second rails can have corresponding vertical positions so that the third and fourth brackets are aligned and in a parallel orientation for supporting the second shelf below the first shelf.
Some embodiments can also include a third set of brackets 5 having fifth and sixth brackets (or more than three sets of brackets and more than 3 shelfs 3). For such embodiments, the fifth and sixth brackets can be positioned in corresponding vertical positions via positional openings of the spaced apart front rails 2 at a vertical position that is between the positions of the first set of brackets and second set of brackets, or above the position of the first set of brackets or below the positions of the second set of brackets. The positional openings of the first and second rails that are utilized for attachment to the fifth and sixth brackets can have corresponding vertical positions so that the fifth and sixth brackets are aligned and in a parallel orientation for supporting the third shelf.
In yet other embodiments, there may only be a single shelf 3 supported by a single set of brackets or just two shelves 3 supported by first and second sets of brackets 5.
Each bracket 5 can include a front end 5a that includes attachment protrusions 5p and at least one stability projection 5s. Each stability projection 5s can extend laterally and each attachment protrusion can extend away from the body of the bracket for insertion into a positional opening 2p. In some embodiments, the attachment protrusions 5p can be shaped as hook-like elements that include a distal downwardly extending element that is positioned away from the front end 5a of the bracket 5 by a horizontally extending portion of the attachment protrusion. The attachment protrusions 5p can be sized and shaped for insertion into positional openings 2p of a particular set of positional openings for attachment of the bracket to the front rail 2 as illustrating via arrows P in
The one or more laterally extending stability projections 5s can extend laterally for contact with a rear face of the front rail 2 to which the bracket is attachable. Each stability projection 5s can be positioned between two immediately adjacent vertically spaced apart attachment protrusions 5p and be configured for positioning adjacent to one or more of the positional openings 2p to contact the front rail 2 between positional openings 2p to provide additional stability for the attachment of the bracket 5 to the front rail 2 via the attachment protrusions 5p.
When attached to the front rail via positional openings 2p, each bracket can have its rear end 5b positioned away from the front end 5a. A length of the bracket body can extend from the front end 5a to its rear end 5b via an intermediate elongated portion 5c of the bracket body. The second end 5b can be positioned in a rear portion of inner cavity 1y and be positioned to freely hang via the positional attachment the bracket 5 has to the front rail 2 via attachment protrusions 5p being inserted into the positional openings 2p. The rear end 5b of the bracket 5 can freely hang and not require attachment to any side 1d of the shelving unit or other element to support the position of the bracket 5 or shelf 3 that the bracket 5 may help support. In some embodiments, the rear end 5b of the bracket 5 can include a hole 5e.
In some embodiments, the hole 5e of the second end 5b of the bracket 5 can be configured to facilitate attachment of the second end of the bracket to another structure or to permit a cord to pass through the bracket 5. For example, the hole 5e can be sized to permit a power cord or other type of wire to pass through the bracket 5. Alternatively, the hole 5e can be sized to permit a fastener or sidewall attachment projection to extend through the hole 5e to help attach the second end 5b of the bracket to a rear portion of the shelf unit 1.
As may be appreciated from
Each shelf 3 can include front corners 3a defined at the front right and left edges to facilitate positioning in the inner cavity 1y on a set of aligned brackets 5. The front corners can define a space for mating with a portion of the front rails adjacent the left and right sides of the article of furniture 1 for a relatively tight interference fit. The position of each shelf 3 can be maintained by the bottom of each shelf 3 contacting a top side of a pair of corresponding brackets 5 that are vertically aligned brackets attached to the right and left side front rails 2. It should be appreciated that the embodiment shown in
As discussed herein, other embodiments can utilize less than three shelves and more than three sets of brackets 5. As another alternative, other embodiments can use less than three shelves and utilize less than three sets of brackets 5.
It should be appreciated that embodiments of the article of furniture and embodiments of the reverse cantilevered bracket assembly for a shelving unit can be configured differently to meet different sets of design criteria. The type of material the sidewalls 1d, front rails 2, brackets 5 and/or shelves 3 are composed of can be any type of suitable material (e.g. metal, wood, etc.). The size and shape of each element can also be adjusted to meet a particular type of design criteria to provide a desired structural support and/or aesthetic effect. As yet another example, it is contemplated that a particular feature described, either individually or as part of an embodiment, can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments. Therefore, while certain exemplary embodiments of the article of furniture and embodiments of the reverse cantilevered bracket assembly for a shelving unit and methods of making and using the same have been discussed and illustrated herein, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/857,357, filed on Jun. 5, 2019. The entirety of this provisional patent application is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62857357 | Jun 2019 | US |
