SELF-SUPPORTED EXHIBITOR SHELF SYSTEM, AND SAID SHELF MOUNTING METHOD

Abstract

A self-sustaining shelf system is provided that comprises a board, with two faces and one thickness, at least two mounting hardware and two anchoring elements and fixing elements to a supporting wall. Each mounting hardware comprises two side walls, with a separation space between them, and a bottom wall. The side walls of each support element define a substantially rectangular groove with dimensions substantially equal to the thickness of the board to embrace it in a substantially perpendicular direction, with a deviation of between 0° and 5°, extending over the faces of said board. In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one of the mounting hardware of the self-supporting shelf system includes an insertion-mounting and ratchet mechanism made up of four elements that, on the one hand, allow the board to be inserted into the groove of each hardware, up to the back wall, and, on the other hand, they make it possible to anchor and immobilize the board to prevent its unwanted detachment.

Claims

1. A self-supporting shelf system, which includes a board (A) that has two faces (A4) that define a certain thickness, and which has two lateral sides (A3), a proximal side (A1) and a distal side (A2); anchoring elements (E), fixing elements (F) and at least one mounting hardware that allows the board to be mounted to a vertical wall in a cantilevered manner, where said at least one mounting hardware consists of a basic support element (B) comprising side walls (10) and a bottom support wall (9), said side walls of said basic support element define a gap (2), and a substantially rectangular not narrow groove (12), and both said gap as said substantially rectangular groove have a magnitude substantially similar to the magnitude of the thickness of board (A); characterized in that at least one mounting hardware includes an insertion-mounting and ratchet mechanism (11, 13, 14 and 17) for a board (A).

2. A self-sustaining shelf system in accordance with claim 1, which comprises at least two basic support elements (B), each of which includes an insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism (11, 13, 14 and 17) for a board (A).

3. A self-sustaining shelf system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism comprises four elements (11, 13, 14 and 17) that, on the one hand, allow the introduction of a board (A) inside each rectangular groove (12) of each fitting (B), up to the groove end stop (6), and, on the other hand, they make it possible to anchor and immobilize board (A) to prevent its unwanted detachment.

4. A self-sustaining shelf system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the ratchet of the insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism takes the form of a sharp spike or pawl (11) that, preferably, exists in both tabs (5) of each hardware (B).

5. A self-supporting shelf system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the insertion-assembly mechanism comprises three elements (13, 14 and 17) that, on the one hand, allow the introduction of a board (A) inside the rectangular groove (12) of each hardware (B), in two stages: where in the first stage board (A) touches only one point of groove end stop (6), said board resting on element (14) and, in the second stage, board (A) sits on elements (13) and (17), substantially in the same horizontal plane, and where each pawl (11) fits inside the lower side of the panel (A).

6. A method for mounting the self-supporting shelf system of claim 1 to a support wall, which includes the steps: remove each basic support hardware (B) that embraces and covers distal side (A2) of board (A); extract anchoring elements (E) and fixing elements (F) from hole or holes (1) located on said distal side (A2) of board (A): anchor the anchor elements (E) to a supporting wall (M); fix each basic assembly hardware (B), using the fixing elements (F), to the support wall (M); and Insert board (A) in two steps, where in the first step said board is slipped at an angle, bringing its distal side (A2) into the rectangular grooves (12) of each basic assembly hardware (B), with proximal side (A1) in a position higher than distal side (A2) so that the upper part of distal side (A2) touches each groove end stop (6) and the lower part of distal side (A2) sits on each recess (14) of each basic mounting hardware (B), leaving the board above each ratchet mechanism pawl (11); and, in the second step, the proximal end (A1) of board (A) is pulled downwards making existing pawls (11) on the upper edge of the lower tabs (5) of each basic support hardware (B) fit into lower face (A4) of board (A) and leaving distal side (A2) of board (A) touching each groove end stop (6) and resting on each element (13) of the insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism elements (11, 13, and 17).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the accompanying drawings that form part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like elements throughout the same,

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a shelf system of the invention, in a possible commercial packaging in which various components can be distinguished;

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a system of multiple shelves of the invention, stacked, in a possible commercial packaging in which various components can be distinguished;

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates the shelf system of FIG. 1, without its packaging and illustrating fixing elements to a supporting wall and concealed receptacles;

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a top plan view of the mounting hardware or bracket;

[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a view similar to that of FIG. 4, but now including the board in packed condition;

[0028] FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B illustrate side elevation views of the mounting hardware or bracket, each highlighting different elements, especially the ratchet mechanism;

[0029] FIG. 6C and FIG. 6D illustrate front elevation and perspective views, respectively, of the mounting hardware or bracket;

[0030] FIG. 6E illustrates a detail & of FIG. 6B, where the angle 7 and the inclination of element 14 of the insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism of the shelf system of the present invention can be seen;

[0031] FIG. 7A is a side elevation view of the mounting hardware or bracket element B placed on a wall and to which a board A has already been inserted until only touching just a point of the groove end stop 6, illustrating board A in its proper inserting position or position prior to being seated down toward its final position. The insert-mount and ratchet mechanism is also illustrated with its various elements 11, 13, 14 and 17; that contribute to form the improved self-supporting shelf system of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 7B is a view similar to that of FIG. 7A, though illustrating the final position, with board A fully seated to both the groove end stop 6 and the mounting surface 13, which is where the pawl 11 is located, that is, in the final position of board A.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mounting hardware or bracket element B with a side wall different from the other.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the mounting hardware or bracket element B with a different side wall variant different from the other.

[0035] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a variant of the board of the invention, which has notches that allow it to embrace or cover the mounting hardware or bracket element B from the sides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates a more complete version of the floating shelf system of the self-supported shelf system of the invention, which consists of a board A made of a rigid material, of the type of wood and similar materials, which has two faces A4, which define its thickness, and four sides: two side sides A3, one proximal side A1 and one distal side A2. Proximal side A1 is the side that is closest to a user of the shelf, while distal side A2 is the side that adjoins the wall on which shelf A rests and is fixed.

[0037] There are at least two basic support hardware or bracket elements B that serve as interface between distal side A2 of shelf A and the support wall on which board A-hardware B assembly will be installed, as described below.

[0038] Support hardware or bracket elements B are fixed to the supporting wall by means of at least two anchoring elements E and two fixing elements F, as will be described later. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D, at least one, preferably two, of the support hardware or bracket elements B, seen in front elevation FIG. 6C, consists of a generally hexagonal body and, seen in right or left side elevation FIGS. 6A-6B, preferably in a body in the form of an isosceles triangle, which base or unequal side projects beyond the vertices that delimit said side, forming appendages that have the purpose of giving greater stability and robustness to the mounting hardware or bracket element B.

[0039] Returning to FIG. 3, for strictly presentation reasons and ease of packaging, on distal side A2 there is a pair of holes 1 located, preferably, equidistant from lateral sides A3 of board A, although they can have practically any location. The dimensions, both in diameter and in depth, of each hole 1 are such that they can accommodate an anchoring element E and a fixing element F, which are kept inside hole 1 by splicing a mounting hardware or bracket element B, as shown in FIG. 3. For this reason the dimension of the gap or spacing 2 between walls 10 FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 corresponds to the dimensions of the width of the proximal and distal sides A1 and A2 of board A.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, a single hole is located on distal side A2 of board A, which can have virtually any location. The dimensions, both in diameter and in depth, of this single hole 1 are such that they can accommodate more than one anchoring element E and more than one fixing element F, which are kept inside the single hole 1 by splicing a mounting hardware or bracket element B to board A, in a manner analogous to that shown in FIG. 3.

[0041] As previously mentioned, this arrangement or disposition of the self-supported shelf system is for reasons of practicality and ease of packaging, for its display, commercialization, purchase and handling in general.

[0042] Returning to FIGS. 6A-6D, where two side elevation views FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, a front elevation view FIG. 6C and a conventional perspective view FIG. 6D can be seen, it can be seen a bottom or support wall 9 and two side walls 10 that form the basic support element or hardware B, preferably manufactured by punching steel sheet to improve its strength. The two side walls 10 are separated from each other by a gap or spacing, element 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 which magnitude corresponds to the minor or transverse dimension of bottom or support wall 9.

[0043] On bottom or support wall 9 there is a perforation 3, through which a fixing element F FIG. 3 passes to join it to the anchoring element E which is embedded in a wall.

[0044] In each side wall 10 of each basic support hardware or bracket elements B, generally of an isosceles triangle configuration, on the vertex line of the sides of equal size there is a cut that truncates precisely that vertex to define a substantially rectangular not narrow groove 12 FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6D, 8 and 9 and of which two of its solid sides are preferably unequal in length and which constitute tabs 4 and 5. Both side walls 10 are preferably symmetrical to each other, including groove 12 that each of them define.

[0045] Upper tab 4 of a side wall 10 of bracket element B is preferably smaller than the lower tab 5 of the same side wall 10, preferably both tabs 4 and 5 exist on both side walls 10 of bracket element B and both tabs 4 and 5 separated by groove 12 which has a height 8 FIG. 6B with a dimension equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of board A.

[0046] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the dimensions of groove 12 are substantially similar to the dimensions of gap or spacing 2 FIG. 4 that separates the side walls 10 of the basic support hardware or bracket element B.

[0047] Groove end stop 6 of groove 12 is part of each of the side walls 10 that, it can be said, it joins tabs 4 and 5; and furthermore its purpose is to ensure that the space of groove 12 that defines the tabs 4 and 5 does not touch bottom or support wall 9 of basic support hardware or bracket element B.

[0048] Groove end stop 6 has a minimum height such that it allows the head of fixing element F with which support hardware or bracket element B is attached to the wall to be housed between distal side A2 of board A and bottom or support wall 9 of said support hardware or bracket element B. Groove end stop 6 also has the purpose of being a reinforcing component, since said component exists, it is much more difficult to cause a deformation in support hardware or bracket element B that increases the height 8 of groove 12 between tabs 4 and 5 due to the load placed on board A.

[0049] The upper side of tab 5 has at least four elements that form an insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism 11, 13, 14 and 17. The most proximal of them is a pawl that, in a preferred embodiment, takes the form of a sharp peak 11 FIG. 6A that preferably exists in both tabs 5 of each support hardware or bracket element B; spike or pawl that is intended to end up embedded in lower face A4 of board A when the insertion and assembly process is finished, as shown in FIG. 7B.

[0050] The pawl, in the form of a spike, fits into a dent that did not exist on the underside of board A before it was inserted and mounted. This indentation is the result of the penetration of pawl 11, penetration that occurs when pressing down the proximal side A1 of board A, going through the phases illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, because the material from which support hardware or bracket element B is made is harder than that of face A4 of board A being, for example, a support hardware or bracket element B made of steel sheet and board A made of softer materials, such as, for example, chipboard or wood fiber board, plywood, solid wood and foamed plastic.

[0051] The second and fourth elements 13 and 17 of the insertion-mounting and ratchet mechanism consist of two sections of support surface that are located on the upper part of tab 5. Second element 13 consists of a first substantially straight section FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6D, 7A, 7B that begins before pawl 11 and projects towards groove end stop 6, in a plane that is substantially the same plane as fourth element 17 of the insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism, and that consists of a second section 17 of support surface that is projected until it meets groove end stop 6 of support hardware or bracket element B. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 7B, second and fourth elements 13 and 17 of the insertion-mounting and ratchet mechanism define the final mounting surface of board A on which said board A rests and, therefore, they define the same plane that coincides exactly with lower face A4 of said board A.

[0052] In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the elements of the insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism necessarily exist in both tabs 5 of each support hardware or bracket element B.

[0053] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at the end of the assembly, on said straight sections 13 and 17 lower face A4 of board A will end up resting as shown on FIG. 7B and said straight sections 13 and 17 have a slope, defined by angle 7 FIG. 6B which is an angle greater than and/or similar to 0°, preferably an angle between 0° and 5°, with which it is preferably sought that, on the one hand, the lower and upper sides A4 of board A are aligned with the surfaces of tabs 5 and 4 that define groove 12, placing the underside of board A4 on tab number 5 and penetrated by pawl 11.

[0054] In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, surfaces of faces A4 of board A are not completely horizontal or at an angle of 90 degrees with the plane of vertical wall M onto which the support hardware or bracket element B is attached, but rather have an inclination towards above, in order to ensure that board A is preferably not placed leveled but slightly inclined, projecting upwards, so that, once board A is already in its final and definitive position, proximal side A1 is slightly higher than distal side A2 FIG. 7B. This characteristic has the advantage of compensating for the possible deformation that may be caused by the load on board A and that could make it lose its horizontal, making it look like it is hung or bowed.

[0055] The third element of the insertion-mounting and ratchet mechanism is located on tab 5 and consists of a recess 14 FIG. 6A that is located between the second and fourth elements 13 and 17 of the insertion-mounting and ratchet mechanism.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said third element of the insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism exists in both tabs 5 of support hardware or bracket element B to allow the insertion and assembly of board A. Said recess 14 prevents the straight section 13 from continuing straight until it reaches groove end stop 6 FIGS. 6A and 6B and said recess 14 allows board A to be inserted until it touches only one point of groove end stop 6 FIG. 7A, sliding board A above the spike(s) or pawl(s) 11 FIG. 7A before the final movement of board A, to carry it until the distal side A2 touches groove end stop 6. The shape and location of recess 14 is free but it must at least allow the insertion of board A above spike(s) or pawl(s) 11 until reaching groove end stop 6 FIG. 7A.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as can be seen in FIGS. 6C and 6D, upper and lower edges of bottom or support wall 9 of support hardware or bracket element B are finished in a curve, element 16, which, by eliminating peaks on said edges, allow the user a safer and more comfortable handling during the assembly process, avoiding the repetition of more acute angular points that in other parts of basic support element or hardware B are necessary for its best performance.

[0058] As can be seen in FIG. 4, basic support element or hardware B, seen in plan, from the upper side of FIG. 6, defines a gap or spacing 2, which is the internal free measurement between its two side walls 10, measurement which dimension must be similar and/or slightly larger than the thickness of board A to embrace it on both sides, as can be seen in FIG. 5, where basic support element or hardware B is illustrated assembled on one the edges of board A embracing the two faces of the latter.

[0059] FIG. 7A illustrates a side elevation view of basic support element or hardware B installed on a wall M and to which a board A has already been inserted until it touches only one point of groove end stop 6, with lower face A4 of board A resting on sharp pawl(s) 11, position prior to completion of assembly. The finished surface of both sides A4 of board A could be the same, whereby the choice of which of the two sides of the board is up or down is at the user's discretion and at the same time makes it possible for the user to turn it upside down if decided.

[0060] FIG. 7B illustrates a side elevational view of the basic support element or hardware B installed on a wall M and on which a board A has already been mounted to have the self-supporting or floating shelf system of the invention ready and operational. Board A is resting on mounting surface element 13 located on top of tab 5, with pawl(s) 11 embedded in lower face A4 of board A and tab 4 prevents proximal side A1 of board A from hanging or dropping. Preferably, the user fits the pawl(s) 11 of at least two support fittings B in board A at the moment of applying force by pressing down the portion closest to side A1 of upper face A4 of board A, with said support fittings B fixed to a wall M at the same height and said operation results in as many indentations on lower face A4 of board A as there are pawls 11 on the supporting fittings B. The weight of board A and the load that is placed on top of it, keep board A with pawl 11 housed in the indentation that said pawl made below shelf A when it was assembled, making it impossible to remove board A from support fitting B without first lifting its proximal side A1. Fitting B is attached to wall M using fixing element F and anchoring element E. Fixing element F passes through perforation 3 which is preferably located halfway between tabs 4 and 5 so that the user cannot see said fixing element F once board A has been placed and the head of mentioned fixing element F is too big to pass through perforation 3.

[0061] For packaging purposes, as shown in FIG. 1, the self-supporting or floating shelf system of the invention is visibly presented in a commercial package of a board A in which two basic supports or hardware B are visible as well as a commercial presentation label C, all this preferably inside a transparent and shrinkable original packaging D.

[0062] FIG. 2 illustrates a stack of boards A arranged one on top of the other, each one wrapped in thin transparent packaging D, alternating the positions in which the basic support elements or hardware B are placed.

[0063] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, basic support element B has a different configuration than that illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D, where, as FIG. 8 illustrates, one of the side walls 10 is truncated so that said truncated wall has a height similar to or equivalent to groove end stop 6 of groove 12 (see FIGS. 6A-6D) which in this particular case is part of each of side wall 10 which, it can be said, joins tabs 4 and 5; and also has the purpose of ensuring that the space of groove 12 that defines tabs 4 and 5 does not touch bottom or support wall 9 of fitting B. In this same alternative modality, the truncated wall 10 has dimensions equivalent to groove end stop 6 and, therefore, it has a minimum height such that it allows the head of fixing element F with which hardware B is attached to the wall to be housed between distal side A2 of board A and bottom or support wall 9 of said hardware B. Groove end stop 6 also has the purpose of being a reinforcing component, since said component exists, it is much more difficult to cause a deformation in support hardware or bracket element B that increases the height 8 of groove 12 between tabs 4 and 5 due to the load placed on board A.

[0064] In another alternative embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 9, basic support element B has another configuration different from those illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D and 8, where, now, there is only one of the side walls 10 with the elements that appear in FIGS. 6A-6D that, although existing on only one side of fitting B, are sufficient for the latter to perform the function for which it is designed, although its load capacity, like that of fitting B FIG. 8, is lower in load capacity than hardware B illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D, a circumstance that may not be relevant given the specific case of the use of the present invention and provide both hardware B FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, as viable alternatives to achieve the objectives of the present invention because they are obviously cheaper, given the savings in the consumption of material for its manufacture and the reduction in the cost of tooling to produce them.

[0065] In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIG. 10, board A includes two notches 15, which are pockets, not necessarily related to holes 1, which are omitted in FIG. 10. These notches 15 are designed to embrace the sides of basic fittings B, allowing a variant of the shelf system of the invention, in which distal side A2 is able to approach the support wall M until it touches it, instead of being separated from the latter, due to the existence of groove end stop element 6.

[0066] In this alternative embodiment of the floating shelf system of the invention, when notches 15 exist, there are at least the following advantages: there is no space between board A and wall M, so, small objects, which are not often found on these types of shelves, such as straws thinner than pencils, can no longer fall off the back of the shelf; the direct contact of board A with wall M contributes to improve the perception that the public may have of the floating shelf system.

[0067] From another point of view, this last alternative modality has the drawbacks that machining notches 15 is more costly and complicated than not doing it; the existence of notches 15 forces the user to place basic fittings B at an exact distance from each other and such a condition is sometimes very difficult to achieve, especially when they are mounted on walls with hard and rough finishes because the drill bit with which the anchor holes are drilled normally deviates from the point where it has been determined to be. However, there will always be conditions that allow deciding which alternative is better both for the manufacture of the shelf system and for its application, installation and use.

[0068] In an especially preferred embodiment, the self-supporting shelf system can be mounted to a supporting wall M, from its packed state, generally following the steps below;

[0069] Remove the existing basic support fittings B that cover distal side A2 of board A;

[0070] Extract anchoring elements E and fixing elements F from hole or holes 1 located on said distal side A2 of board A;

[0071] Insert anchoring elements E into a supporting wall M;

[0072] Fix basic assembly fittings B to support wall M, using fixing elements F; and

[0073] Insert board A in two steps, where in the first step said board is slipped at an angle, bringing its distal side A2 into the rectangular grooves 12 of each basic assembly hardware B, with proximal side A1 in a position higher than distal side A2 so that the upper part of distal side A2 touches each groove end stop 6 and the lower part of distal side A2 sits on each recess 14 of each basic mounting hardware B, leaving the board above each ratchet mechanism pawl 11; and, in the second step, the proximal end A1 of board A is pulled downwards making existing pawls 11 on the upper edge of the lower tabs 5 of each basic support hardware B fit into lower face A4 of board A and leaving distal side A2 of board A touching each groove end stop 6 and resting on each element 13 of the insertion-assembly and ratchet mechanism elements 11, 13, and 17.

[0074] It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that, with the progress of technology, the basic idea of the invention can be applied in different ways. This is how the invention and its embodiments are not restricted to what is described here, but these could vary in many ways and always within the scope of the appended claims.