US3830170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Free standing shelf support units and system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-31
•
Granted: 1974-08-20
•
Expires: 1993-01-31
Abstract
Abstract Highly versatile free standing shelf support units are usable singly or in combination to support shelves of different shapes and sizes for displaying merchandise and the like. These units are readily collapsible for movement to different points of use. An upper shelf support unit stacks on a base shelf support unit for added shelf capacity. Each shelf support unit is comprised of two sections pivotally connected to one another for swinging movement between a shelf-supporting position in which the sections are disposed at a selected angle relative to one another and a collapsed position. Each section has a plurality of horizontal shelf support members at different heights to support a plurality of shelves at different elevations. The sections preferably are made up of a minimum number of metal rods welded together to provide a durable, lightweight, low cost design.
Inventors
- 👤 G Faulstich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:55
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B43/00; A47F; A47F5/00; A47F5/10; A47F5/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
In a free standing colLapsible shelf system, the combination comprising: a free standing shelf support unit including two sections pivotally connected to one another at adjacent ends thereof for swinging movement between an open position wherein the sections are disposed at an angle relative to one another and adapted to be positioned upright with the sections disposed at a selected angle relative to one another; said sections having a single, common vertical member at the pivotally connected ends thereof, each of said sections having an outer vertical member opposite the pivotally connected ends and each of said sections having at least two vertically spaced horizontal shelf support members with each connected at one end to an outer vertical member for that section, said common vertical member being connected integral with the pivotally connected ends of the two shelf support members of one of said sections to form a rigid four-sided open framework, the other of said sections being a rigid three-sided open framework having a hinge portion at each of the pivotally connected ends of its two shelf support members, each hinge portion extending normal to the axis of the associated support member forming a loose-fitting joint about the common vertical member which acts as a pivot with the hinge portions being supported on the adjacent shelf support members of said one section to transmit any load on the shelf support members having the hinge portions to the common vertical member and with corresponding pairs of horizontal shelf support members of said sections being at a common elevation for demountably supporting a shelf in a horizontal position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
In a free standing colLapsible shelf system, the combination comprising: a free standing shelf support unit including two sections pivotally connected to one another at adjacent ends thereof for swinging movement between an open position wherein the sections are disposed at an angle relative to one another and adapted to be positioned upright with the sections disposed at a selected angle relative to one another; said sections having a single, common vertical member at the pivotally connected ends thereof, each of said sections having an outer vertical member opposite the pivotally connected ends and each of said sections having at least two vertically spaced horizontal shelf support members with each connected at one end to an outer vertical member for that section, said common vertical member being connected integral with the pivotally connected ends of the two shelf support members of one of said sections to form a rigid four-sided open framework, the other of said sections being a rigid three-sided open framework having a hinge portion at each of the pivotally connected ends of its two shelf support members, each hinge portion extending normal to the axis of the associated support member forming a loose-fitting joint about the common vertical member which acts as a pivot with the hinge portions being supported on the adjacent shelf support members of said one section to transmit any load on the shelf support members having the hinge portions to the common vertical member and with corresponding pairs of horizontal shelf support members of said sections being at a common elevation for demountably supporting a shelf in a horizontal position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer vertical members and the associated horizontal shelf support members making up the framework for each section are metal rods welded together at the connections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said frameworks has a diagonal brace member connected between the associated outer vertical member and extending up to connect with an associated horizontal shelf support member for added strength and supporting a shelf on an incline, said diagonal brace member terminating above the next lower horizontal shelf support member so as not to interfere with a shelf being supported thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each hinge portion has forked upper and lower portions projecting normal to the axis of the associated shelf support member, said upper and lower portions embracing the corresponding shelf support member of the other section and having aligned apertures receiving the common vertical member to connect the two sections for pivotal movement relative to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower forked end portions are in the form of a pair of axially spaced washers surrounding the common vertical member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a free standing shelf system as set forth in claim 1 further including a shelf demountably supported on each of said corresponding pairs of horizontal shelf support members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a pair of shelf support units are arranged side by side and a shelf extends across each of the shelf support members at a common elevation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a pair of said shelf units are arranged in opposed facing relation and a shelf extends across each of the corresponding shelf support members at a common elevation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said sections swings between at least an angle between 0* and 180* in relation to one another from the folded position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said common vertical mEmber is a compression rod and each of said horizontal shelf support members are in the form of rods, each said open framework having a diagonal brace rod, each said brace rod being connected between the associated outer vertical compression rod and extends up to connect with an associated horizontal shelf support rod for added strength and supporting a shelf on an incline, said diagonal brace rod terminating above the next lower horizontal shelf support rod so as not to interfere with a shelf being supported thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shelf support unit is made up of a base shelf support and an upper shelf support adapted to releasably mount on said base shelf support and a horizontal shelf demountably positioned on each of the corresponding shelf support members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a free standing collapsible shelf system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said base shelf support has extension portions of the vertical members above the upper horizontal shelf support members and said upper shelf support has the lower end portions of the vertical compression members terminating in sleeve adapted to slidably fit over the extension portions to provide for the releasable stacking of said upper shelf support on said base shelf support and the vertical members of said base shelf support terminate at their lower ends in feet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |