Shelving

Abstract

A book or magazine shelving device (1), comprising a wall mountable bracket (2) having a comb-like book or magazine receiving member (5) with tapered teeth (6). The device holds books or magazines by gripping pages that are fed between the tapered teeth. The taper angle is in the range of 1.5 to 10.0 degrees.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a shelving apparatus fitted to a wall in accordance with the present invention and about to receive a paperback book.

FIG. 2 illustrates the same top view as that illustrated in FIG. 1 after it has received the paperback book with an inset showing how the pages of the book, the taper and the angle of the taper lock the book into position.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a book or magazine receiving member adapted to slidably engage with a bracket, both components forming the shelving apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates side and face views of one of the teeth that makes up the book or magazine receiving member illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a shelving apparatus of the present invention fitted to a wall containing a number of paperback books in the manner dictated by the nature of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of stowing books on a shelving apparatus of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT

Throughout the specification, the use of the term “integral” is intended to cover not only something which is formed from the outset as one single-entity component, but also anything which whilst being assembled from a plurality of initially disparately produced integers ends up as one overall and normally non-dismantleable structure.

A shelving apparatus generally referenced 1 comprises a wall mountable bracket 2 and a paperback book receiving member 5 adapted to slidably engage with and lock with the bracket 2.

The wall bracket 2 comprises an elongate “single piece” aluminium extrusion that is substantially “L” shaped when seen in profile. The upright portion of the “L” shaped bracket 2 in its intended attitude of operation is provided with a number of evenly spaced apart circular apertures (not shown), each possessing a centre point that is substantially the same vertical distance from a line drawn from a top edge of the bracket 2.

The apertures allow the bracket 2 to be fitted to a wall, edge of a table or other appropriate substantially vertical surface (none shown) through the use of screws (not shown) the shank of which is able to pass through the aperture.

The bottom or horizontal portion of the “L” shaped bracket comprises a pair of substantially parallel jaws 10 each linked to the other by five connecting sides of a hexagon (3,4), the distal wall of the hexagon 4 opposite the mouth of the jaws 10 lying flush with upright portion of the “L”, the proximal opposing “sixth side” of the hexagon (3,4) being absent.

The paperback book receiving member 5 comprises a transparent, elongate, single piece injection moulded polypropylene comb, the spine 8 of which is shaped into a solid hexagonal block that is complementary to the hexagonal walls of the bottom of the bracket 2. Projecting orthogonally from the centre of one face of the hexagonal spine 8 of the comb 5 is an elongate projection 20 located towards one end of the spine adapted to generate an interference fit once the paperback book receiving member 5 is connected to the wall bracket 2 to form the completed shelving apparatus 1.

On the opposite surface of the spine 8 to that carrying the elongate projection 20, are a plurality of elongate tapered diamond shaped, substantially equally spaced apart comb teeth 6 each of similar dimensions, said taper occurring in two orthogonal directions.

Each tooth 6 is provided with a 1.33 θ degree taper such that the thickest part of each tooth 6 or distal end is adjacent the spine 8, whilst the exposed tip or proximal end of each tooth 6 as a result of its elliptical design has a radius of 0.175 mm along its intended line of flexibility and a radius of 0.820 mm orthogonal to the line of flexibility.

In addition, the distance separating the distal ends of adjacent teeth 6 is 2 mm. and the length of each tooth 6 from the distal end to the proximal tip is 18 mm.

In use, the bracket 2 is cut to the length of the wall and the paperback receiving member 5 is cut to a similar length and the latter is then slidably engaged with the other and the top portion of the projection 20 shears off as it enters the bracket 2, causing the two components to lock together in an interference fit, to form the shelving apparatus 1. The comb teeth 6 project from the jaws 10 of the bracket 2.

The bracket 2 is then fitted to the wall via screws that pass through the apertures of the bracket 2 and into the wall. A paperback book 7 can now be presented pages first to the comb 5 in a sharp thrusting manner and the comb teeth 6 separate bundles of pages of the book 7 that progressively exert a stronger transverse force as the pages move into an ever reducing gap as they progress along the taper to lock the book 7 into place. The very small proximal tip radius of the comb teeth 6 tend to ensure minimal damage to the book 7 as the comb 5 penetrates the leaves of the book 7.

The invention also consists in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually, collectively or in combination.

Also, where elements or features are mentioned herein and which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. Those skilled in the art to which the invention relates will see many variations not specifically mentioned herein which still come within the scope of the appended claims

Claims

1. Shelving apparatus for books or magazines comprising a wall mountable bracket provided with one or more book magazine receiving members, the or each comprising a plurality of elongate, book or magazine receiving shafts, linked at their distal end to a shaft receiving member, each shaft being arranged in mutually and substantially completely overlying, spaced apart, parallel relationship to present a phalanx of book or magazine receiving shafts wherein the angle separating opposing surfaces on adjacent shafts is in the range of 1.50-10.00 degrees.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angle separating opposing surfaces of adjacent shafts is about 2.66 degrees.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the book or magazine receiving shafts are tapered.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shafts and shaft receiving members are integrally connected.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material used for the formation of the book or magazine receiving member is plastics material.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plastics material is polypropylene.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the book or magazine receiving shafts are diamond shaped when viewed end on.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each book or magazine receiving member could be formed from clear, translucent or opaque plastics material.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shortest distance separating adjacent proximal shaft tip ends lies in the range of 1-6 mm.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein this shortest distance is substantially equal to 2 mm.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shafts are tapered in mutually orthogonal directions.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each book or magazine receiving member projects substantially horizontally from a vertical surface that the bracket has been fitted to and substantially parallel with the ground in its normal attitude of operation.

13. A method of stowing books or magazines on a shelving apparatus of the type claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of fitting the shelving apparatus to a support and tapping books or magazines into a portion of the apparatus and subsequently allowing the weight of the stowed book or magazine to re-orientate the stowed book or magazine such that a portion of the book or magazine comes into contact with the support.