Space saving support shelf for column mounting

[00002] This invention relates to a support shelf comprising at least one pie-shaped segment manufactured in one piece from durable and high temperature resistant plastic.

[00003] Column supported shelving has been utilized for many years as noted by Longyear patent 423,611 of Mar. 18, 1890. Over the years column support shelving for columns such as lolly columns in garages and basements has utilized extensive bracing for heavy loads such as noted in Manor, Speckin and Funk.

[00004] Additionally, pole mounted shelving or platforms have been designed for use for example on umbrella stands as shown in Tomaselli; portable grills such as in Hall kitchen units such as Gehrmann; garment and clothes holders such as Buckingham; Geddings and Miller and for pot and medical holding devices such as Ekdahl and Davis; and flower and furniture stands such as Roppeneker et al.; Rives, Hedgecock and Van Horn. All of these devices comprise a plurality of individual parts for assembly. Further, manufacturing the devices requires numerous steps because of individual pieces which have to be separately manufactured.

[00005] It is an object of this invention to provide a pie-shaped support shelf for column mounting which may permit mounting of a one pie-shaped segment or a number of pie-shaped segments about a column with means to interconnect pie-shaped segments securely mounted on the column without slippage thereon even under heavy loads.

[00006] It is a further object of this invention to provide a support shelf for mounting on a column, post or the like comprising a one piece pie-shaped segment of integral plastic manufacture.

[00007] Still a further object of this invention is to provide a pie-shaped segment which can be readily connected to similar segments all of which are of molded composition and all of which are identical so that they can be manufactured by a single mold operation.

[00008] Another object of this invention is to provide a support shelf for columns which has high strength load carrying capabilities for use in areas such as garages and cellars for supporting heavy loads such as canoes, kayaks, boat motors and the like.

[00009] Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a support shelf for column mounting which permits shipping of individual pie-shaped segments from one manufacturing source.

[00010] Still another object of this invention is to provide a high temperature resistant support shelf for columns to minimize danger from fire.

[00011] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a support shelf for column mounting which is made from plastic and is designed to have mold release clearances for ease in mold separation.

[00012] A further object of this invention is to provide a support shelf for column mounting which is of grill configuration to allow air to circulate through the shelf to permit drying of articles which are wet which may be placed on the shelf.

[00013] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a support shelf with means for securing containers beneath the shelf as well as devices which can be hung about the rim of the shelf.

[00014] In summary, this invention relates to a one-piece high strength molded support shelf which may be fire resistant and can be readily mounted on a column for heavy loads without slippage of the shelf on the column as will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings which are as follows:

[00021] In FIG. 1, the support shelf S may comprise of a single pie-shaped segment 2 or a combination of similar segments 4, 6 and 8. The segments 2, 4, 6 and 8 are mounted on a column 10.

[00022] Each of the pie-shaped segments may be constructed of materials such as wood, metal and the like, but are preferably injection molded of high density polyethylene or a similar high density plastic material such as those capable of withstanding temperature fluctuations in areas experiencing sever cold or high heat. Such plastics have long life and are not easily subject to ultra violet radiation from the sun which could cause oxidation and weakening of the material by cracks or the like. The segments 2, 4, 6 and 8 are shown as quarter piece segments, which when connected together encompass the column 10. Obviously, the number of pie-shaped segments comprising the support shelf S may vary as to the degrees of arc which an individual pie-shaped segment covers on the support column 10.

[00023] Pie-shaped segment 2 is illustrative of the basics of each pie-shaped segment used. Segment 2 includes a front 12, equally-distant right and left side 14 and 16, a back edge 18 and a support platform 20. The support platform 20 includes a top 22 and a bottom 24. The back edge 18 may be an arc as shown in FIG. 1 or a chord or other typical configurations as shown in FIG. 2 in phantom lines.

[00024] The front 12 includes upper and lower plates 26 and 28 having screw holes 30, 32 and 34. The upper and lower plates 26 and 28 of the front 12 are concave to receive the column 10 when the support shelf S is mounted thereon.

[00025] The back edge 18 has an upstanding rim 36 for preventing displacement of articles placed on the support shelf S. The support platform 20 comprises a first series of parallel reinforcing ribs 38 and a second series of parallel reinforcing ribs 40. The first series 38 extends transversely to the second series 40 and primarily at 90 degrees to said second series. The left and right sides 14 and 16 have walls 42 and 44 which extend upwardly and downwardly from the support platform 20. The walls 42 and 44 are designed to prevent buckling as well as to prevent displacement of articles placed on the support platform 20. The reinforcing ribs 38 and 40 are connected to the front 12, back edge 18 and the left and right equally distant sides 14 and 16. The support platform 20 has a central reinforcing member 46 which connects the front 12 to the back edge 18 as best shown in FIGS. 1, and 3. The central reinforcing member 46 is T-shaped and extends below the surface of the support platform 20 and tappers from the front 12 to the back edge 18.

[00026] As will be noted in FIG. 5, the ribs 38 and 40 are T-shaped for strength purposes. The ribs 38 are perpendicular to the central reinforcing member 46 and the ribs 40 are parallel to the central reinforcing member 46.

[00027] Between the front 12 and the back edge 18 is an arcuate mounting member 48 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The mounting member 48 is designed to have screw or support holes 50. The holes 50 allow for a clip or screw F to be inserted therein and downwardly thereof to engage a cover L which will permit a container or jar C to be supported beneath the support shelf S for holding articles such as nails, screws, etc. It may be T-shaped or planar to permit ease in mounting an article. It will be obvious that any type of mounting means can be provided including rivets etc. to the mounting member 48.

[00028] As noted in FIGS. 1 and 4, the walls 42 and 44 are provided with fastener holes 52 for securing pie-shaped segments such as 2, 4, 6 and 8 together by means of bolts B and nuts N. Slots 54 are provided for fastener straps 56 as best shown in FIG. 1.

[00029] As noted in FIG. 1, rim 36 may be provided with slots 58 for suspending articles therefrom.

[00030] In FIG. 1 the front 12 may be provided with an adhesive back foamed strip 60 which grips the column 10 as well as the front 12 upper and lower plates 26 and 28. It should be noted that the walls 42 and 44 taper from the front 12 with the upper portion tapering from adjacent the top of the upper plate 26 of the front 12 to the back edge 18. The walls 42 and 44 at the bottom portion taper from the lower plate 28 of the front 12 upwardly towards the back edge 18. For strength purposes, the walls 42 and 44 adjacent the top of the upper plate 26 and the bottom of the lower plate 28, as noted by X, are horizontal for a short distance prior to the taper. This is also true of the central reinforcing member 46, as noted by X, but the taper of the lower portion of the member 46 does not extend fully to the back edge 18. 46 does not extend to the bottom of 28 to allow for strap 56.

[00031] While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.