US3669395A

US3669395A - Shelf and pole bracket

Info

Publication number: US3669395A
Application number: US94673A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard G Gehrke
Original assignee: Lawrence Brothers Inc
Current assignee: Lawrence Brothers Inc
Priority date: 1970-12-03
Filing date: 1970-12-03
Publication date: 1972-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-13

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a combined closet shelf and pole bracket, and more particularly to a novel and improved structural arrangement in which the elements comprising the bracket are readily attachable and detachable with respect to each other. The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein includes a horizontally disposed bracket member attachable at one extremity to a vertical work surface and formed at its opposite extremity with a first depending section. A second bracket member is in the form of a brace bar diagonally disposed with respect to the horizontal bracket member. The upper end of the brace bar engages the underside of the outer portion of the horizontal bracket member and is formed with a second depending section adapted to engage the inner surface of the first depending section, said section having an interlocking connection. A pole support forms an extension of the second depending section.

Description

United States Patent 51 June 13, 1972 Gehrke 1 SHELF AND POLE BRACKET [72] Inventor: Howard G. Gehrke, Rock Falls, 111.

[73] Assignee: Lawrence Brothers, Inc., Sterling, Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 94,673

[52] US. Cl ..248/235, 108/29,211/90 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..248/235, 239, 247, 249, 243; 108/29, 30, 47; 21 H90, 123

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 2,908,471 10/1959 Hallensworth .2] H90 X 3,1 13,678 12/1963 Dickinson et al .108/29 UX 1,809,216 6/1931 Quandt ....2l l/90 UX 1,189,988 7/1916 Moody ..21l/90 UX 1,156,129 10/1915 Berger ..2ll/9O UX 275,481 4/1883 Gould ..21l/90 X Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Att0rney--Olson, Trexler, Wolters & Bushnell [57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates generally to a combined closet shelf and pole bracket, and more particularly to a novel and improved structural arrangement in which the elements comprising the bracket are readily attachable and detachable with respect to each other. The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein includes a horizontally disposed bracket member attachable at one extremity to a vertical work surface and formed at its opposite extremity with a first depending section. A second bracket member is in the form of a brace bar diagonally disposed with respect to the horizontal bracket member. The upper end of the brace bar engages the underside of the outer portion of the horizontal bracket member and is formed with a second depending section adapted to engage the inner surface of thevfirst depending section, said section having an interlocking connection. A pole support forms an extension of the second depending section.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHELF AND POLE BRACKET SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved shelf and pole supporting bracket device of a knock down" construction comprised of elements which may be readily interlocked for attachment to a supporting surface and disengaged to facilitate storage and shipping.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates a combined shelf and pole bracket of the type referred to above wherein the outer extremities of bracket members may be interlocked in a unique and practical manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The foregoingand other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein: 1

, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf and pole bracket device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary-perspective view of the interlocking elements disclosed in separated relation;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a shelf and pole bracket device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is afragmentary view of the underside of the adjustable extremity of the horizontal bracket structure; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view disclosing the manner in which the horizontal bracket member and the diagonal brace bar, when in detached relation, may be nested together for the convenience of storage, shipping and package display.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing more in detail wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that'a shelf and pole bracket device constructed in accordance with the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. The device includes a horizontally disposed bracket member or arm 12 for supporting a shelf 14. The inner extremity of the bracket member 12 is adjustably connected with an angle bracket 16 through the agency of a screw member 18 extending through a key slot 20 and making threaded engagement with the bracket member 12. A second key slot 22 provides for additional horizontal adjustment of the angle bracket 16. The angle bracket 16 may be secured in any suitable manner to a work or wall surface 23 as'by means of fastening screws.

' A lower, diagonally extending brace bar 24 is suitably secured by screw fasteners 26 to the work surface 23. The upper and outer extremity of the brace bar 24 supports the underside of the bracket member 12 along a limited horizontal area designated by the numeral 30. A depending section 32 of the brace'bar, is adjacently superimposed by a complementary depending section 34 of the bracket member 12. A lower extension of the depending section 32 provides a pole accommodating hook 36.

Particular attention is directed to the interlocking coupling between the depending

sections

32 and 34. This interlocking coupling includes a pair of tongues or lugs 38 extending v laterally from the lower extremity of the depending section 34, and a pair of complementary tongue accommodating slots or recesses 40 provided in opposite margins of the depending section 32.

With the tongues 38 and notches 40 disposed in interlocking relation as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bracket member 12 and brace bar 24 are firmly secured together at their outer engaging extremities. This unique interlocking arrangement makes it possible to nest together the bracket arm 12 and the brace bar 24 as illustrated in FIG. 5. This serves to greatly facilitate the ease with which the elements forming the bracket device 10 may be stored or shipped. By employing the above described depending

sections

32 and 34 in surface to surfacecontact, the tongue and slot arrangement assures a firm permanent assembly, once the angle bracket 16 and the lower extremity of the brace bar 24 have secured to the workpiece.

Applicants knock-down feature also facilitates the display of the bracket devices. The two elements which comprise the bracket devices may be display packaged in a slender polyethylene bag for merchandising and the screws for attaching the bracket structure may also be housed within the bag. Thus the complete product may be displayed, free'from the potential hazard of losing constituent parts and within a minimum of space. Space for merchandising is usually ata'tremendous premium; hence to the average dealer, the saving-of space for display purposes is very meaningful.

From the foregoing it.will be apparent that the present-invention provides a unique, structurally simple yet firm bracket device for shelves and poles. Not infrequently, when a work supporting structure is composed of separate pieces adapted .to be interlocked in work supporting position, the resulting structure lacks the firmness and rigidity of parts held together by welds or fasteners. Hence, commercially available bracket devices heretofore available have been constructed of elements permanently fastened together. While such structures do assure firmness and rigidity, they represent considerable bulk for packaging and transporting. Applicant's knock down" type bracket device solves this problem by permitting the parts thereof to be nested in close association as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing. By providing the limited area 'of horizontal contact between the outer extremities of the bracket member and brace bar, and the depending interlocked sections the requirement for firmness and rigidity'is fulfilled. All of the parts comprising the bracket device may be produced by practicing conventional metal working methods and, therefore, may be produced at minimum expense.

Iclaim:

1. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket comprising a horizontally disposed shelf supporting bracket member, means located at the inner extremity of said bracket member for attachment to a work surface, a first section depending from the outer extremity of said bracket member, a diagonally disposed brace bar positioned beneath said bracket member, the upper extremity of said brace bar adapted to engage and support the underside of the outer extremity of said bracket member, a second section depending from the upper extremityof said brace bar adapted todetachably engage the rear side of said first depending section, pole supporting means forming a lower extension of one of said depending sections, tongue and slot means mutually snugly interfitting transversely of the depending sections for detachably interlocking said depending sections and preventing relative sliding movement therebetween under influence of weight applied to the pole supporting means, and means for attaching the lower extremity of said brace bar to a work surface.

2. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pole supporting means comprises a lower extension of said second depending section.

3. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket-as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tongue and slot means includes at least one tongue projecting laterally from one depending section and a complementary tongue accommodating recess in the other depending section.

4. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket as set forth in claim 3, wherein at least one tongue projects laterally from said first depending section into a complementary recess in said second depending section.

5. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket as set forth in claim 1, wherein said horizontally disposed shelf supporting bracket is longitudinally adjustable with respect to the means located at the inner extremity thereof for attachment to a work surface.

6. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket as set forth in claim I, wherein the pole supporting means comprises a lower extension of said second depending section.

7. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first depending section is integral with said bracket member and, terminates short of the lower extremity of said second depending section.

Claims

1. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket comprising a horizontally disposed shelf supporting bracket member, means located at the inner extremity of said bracket member for attachment to a work surface, a first section depending from the outer extremity of said bracket member, a diagonally disposed brace bar positioned beneath said bracket member, the upper extremity of said brace bar adapted to engage and support the underside of the outer extremity of said bracket member, a second section depending from the upper extremity of said brace bar adapted to detachably engage the rear side of said first depending section, pole supporting means forming a lower extension of one of said depending sections, tongue and slot means mutually snugly interfitting transversely of the depending sections for detachably interlocking said depending sections and preventing relative sliding movement therebetween under influence of weight applied to the pole supporting means, and means for attaching the lower extremity of said brace bar to a work surface.

3. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tongue and slot means includes at least one tongue projecting laterally from one depending section and a complementary tongue accommodating recess in the other depending section.

6. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pole supporting means comprises a lower extension of said second depending section.

7. A combination closet shelf and pole bracket as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first depending section is integral with said bracket member and terminates short of the lower extremity of said second depending section.