US4098480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal shelf system
Assignee: LOZIER STORE FIXTURES
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Filing: 1976-10-26
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Granted: 1978-07-04
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Expires: 1996-10-26
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a universal shelving system including slotted conventional upright supports, bracket assemblies for interengaging slots of the upright supports, and shelf members having uninterrupted upper surfaces for supporting goods thereon, and being supported on the underside thereof by the bracket assemblies. Hat-shaped sections are provided on the underside of the shelf members for providing reinforcement for the shelf members and for providing a surface for supporting engagement by the bracket assemblies. Each bracket assembly includes a bracket tab section for attachment to an upright support, and a bracket arm section pivotally mounted to the bracket tab section. A pivoted spring clip detent means is attached either to the tab section or the arm section, and cooperates with detent openings in the other of the sections. The bracket assembly is able to support even large loads without spreading apart of the tab and arm sections since a slot and rivet cooperating structure is provided therewith. Hinge clips are provided for attaching the bracket arms to the hat-shaped sections, cooperating elongated slots being provided in the hat-shaped sections and the bracket arms for interengagement with the hinge clips. The hinge clips normally securely (without any relative lateral movement) hold the bracket arms in perpendicular relationship to the hat-shaped sections, however the hinge clips may support the bracket arm flush against the bottom of the hat-shaped sections for ease of packaging or storage of the shelf assemblies.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard H. Neumann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:55
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B57/00; A47B57/04; A47B57/045; A47B96/00; A47B96/02; A47B96/027; A47B96/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A shelf supporting assembly comprising (a) a slotted upright support having at least two spaced slots formed in a face thereof, said at least two slots being spaced from each other a vertical distance B, and (b) a bracket assembly for connection to said upright support to extend generally perpendicular to said support face, and for supporting a shelf extending generally perpendicular to said upright support, said bracket assembly including (i) a pair of locking flanges vertically spaced from each other and the bottom of the topmost flange being spaced a distance ≧ B from the top of the bottommost flange, (ii) a bracket body portion, and (iii) means disposed between said flanges and said body portion for providing an interference free area to allow said bracket assembly to drop freely into place in locking engagement with said upright support, said means including beveled edge surface portions of said bracket body portion adjacent said bottommost locking flange on either side thereof, and extending away from said bottommost locking flange and said upright support.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A shelf supporting assembly comprising (a) a slotted upright support having at least two spaced slots formed in a face thereof, said at least two slots being spaced from each other a vertical distance B, and (b) a bracket assembly for connection to said upright support to extend generally perpendicular to said support face, and for supporting a shelf extending generally perpendicular to said upright support, said bracket assembly including (i) a pair of locking flanges vertically spaced from each other and the bottom of the topmost flange being spaced a distance ≧ B from the top of the bottommost flange, (ii) a bracket body portion, and (iii) means disposed between said flanges and said body portion for providing an interference free area to allow said bracket assembly to drop freely into place in locking engagement with said upright support, said means including beveled edge surface portions of said bracket body portion adjacent said bottommost locking flange on either side thereof, and extending away from said bottommost locking flange and said upright support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A shelf supporting assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said locking flanges comprises a hook-shaped portion having an upright engaging surface thereof for supporting said bracket body when in locking engagement with an upright support, said engaging surfaces of said hook-shaped portions being spaced a distance C equal to the distance B plus the length D of the slot of said upright support cooperating with said bottommost locking flange.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A shelf supporting assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising means formed on said bracket body portion for stabilizing said bracket assembly when it is locked with said upright support, said means comprising a pair of ears formed from said body portion and extending outwardly from either face thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
216 words
A shelf supporting assembly comprising (a) a slotted upright support having at least two vertically spaced slots formed in face thereof, said slots being spaced from each other a vertical distance B, and the lowermost of said slots having a length D, (b) a bracket assembly for connection to said upright support to extend generally perpendicular to said support face, and for supporting a shelf extending generally perpendicularly to said upright support, said bracket assembly including (i) a pair of locking flanges vertically spaced from each other and including hook-shaped portions having upright engaging generally horizontal surfaces thereof for supporting said bracket body when in locking engagement with an upright support, said engaging surfaces of said hook-shaped portions being spaced a distance C from each other wherein C=B+D, and wherein the uppermost surface of said bottommost locking flange is spaced a distance E from said engaging surface of said bottommost flange, (ii) a first edge surface generally extending between the uppermost surface of said bottommost flange and said engaging surface of the uppermost flange, and (iii) means formed on said edge surface for preventing removal of said locking flanges from said upright slots upon an upward tilting movement of said bracket tab assembly before significant upward movement of said locking flanges parallel to said upright assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
216 words
A shelf supporting assembly comprising (a) a slotted upright support having at least two vertically spaced slots formed in face thereof, said slots being spaced from each other a vertical distance B, and the lowermost of said slots having a length D, (b) a bracket assembly for connection to said upright support to extend generally perpendicular to said support face, and for supporting a shelf extending generally perpendicularly to said upright support, said bracket assembly including (i) a pair of locking flanges vertically spaced from each other and including hook-shaped portions having upright engaging generally horizontal surfaces thereof for supporting said bracket body when in locking engagement with an upright support, said engaging surfaces of said hook-shaped portions being spaced a distance C from each other wherein C=B+D, and wherein the uppermost surface of said bottommost locking flange is spaced a distance E from said engaging surface of said bottommost flange, (ii) a first edge surface generally extending between the uppermost surface of said bottommost flange and said engaging surface of the uppermost flange, and (iii) means formed on said edge surface for preventing removal of said locking flanges from said upright slots upon an upward tilting movement of said bracket tab assembly before significant upward movement of said locking flanges parallel to said upright assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said means formed on said edge surface comprise a lock step formed a vertical distance F above the uppermost surface of said bottommost locking flange along said edge surface, wherein E+F<D.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
An assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein a second edge surface is provided extending from the engaging surface of said bottommost flange toward the bottom, said second edge surface extending at an angle α less than 90° with respect to said engaging surface so that said bracket tab assembly is tilted a positive angle β with respect to the horizontal when the locking flanges are inserted into the slots in the upright, said second edge surface abutting said upright when said locking flanges are locked into place.
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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) | 1981-07-03 | 1982-01-02 | 1982-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-03 | 1986-01-02 | 1986-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-03 | 1990-01-02 | 1990-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |