Shelf with integrated book/object holder

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shelving systems, foldable and removable bookends, display entities, office organizers, free standing shelf units, wall mounted storage units, office units and home furniture.

Shelves and supporting systems for the storage and display of books and objects of various nature are found in residential, educational and industrial locations, in a variety of designs and configurations. Typically the shelf itself is a planar surface extending across two fixed points, either sides of a bookcase or brackets onto a wall. Frequently and often intentionally, fewer books than the total number which would fill the shelf are placed. Maintaining such books and objects in an upright position on a shelf is more difficult than it would appear. When not using the weight of the books to create a counter leverage to prevent them from falling, three types of solutions are commonly devised:

• • 1. At least one external bookend is placed on the shelf for support. Such add-on bookends can be free-standing, using its own weight to hold the books, or could be attached either to the planar surface of the shelf or to the wall. These independent mechanisms often need to be acquired and attached separately. Some of these leave marks on the shelf surface, or are often not heavy enough to provide adequate support, or not very reliable.
  • 2. Lockable bookends have been devised which slide along tracks or are somehow fastened to the shelf. These are often stronger but clumsier, harder to remove when not in use, require storage of additional parts and leave the shelf with an empty track or channels and an unfinished look that is not desirable.
  • 3. Combinations of shelves and bookends themselves are positioned in non-vertical positions (e.g. a slant) to hold the books by incasing them.

This invention provides an integrated book and object holder apparatus which overcomes the challenges above, it is solid and self contained, doesn't require external elements or fasteners, and is simple in construction for a low manufacturing cost.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in the storing, support and display of books and objects on a planar surface. The invention provides built-in inset(s) in multiple locations of a shelf to hold/divide objects, without visible hinges or screws; inset(s) that can be concealed when not in use, without requiring disassembly. The inset(s) can hold objects upright in different locations within the supporting surface in a seamless and unified look

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A: A perspective view of the bookshelf with the insets in horizontal position, constructed in accordance with the definition of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B: A perspective view of the bookshelf with the insets in vertical position, constructed in accordance with the definition of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A: A disassembled perspective view of the individual components, constructed in accordance with the definition of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B: An exploited view, constructed in accordance with the definition of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3: A bottom/top view, constructed in accordance with the definition of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A: A cross sectional view, constructed in accordance with the definition of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B: A cross sectional view, constructed in accordance with the definition of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A: A perspective view of another embodiment of the bookshelf.

FIG. 5B: A perspective view of another embodiment of the bookshelf.

FIG. 5C: A perspective view of another embodiment of the bookshelf.

FIG. 5D: A perspective view of another embodiment of the bookshelf.

FIG. 5E: A perspective view of another embodiment of the bookshelf.

FIG. 6A: Another embodiment with insets of different heights—All tall.

FIG. 6B: Another embodiment with insets of different heights—All Small.

FIG. 6C: Another embodiment with insets of different heights—Mixed Lengths.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises of a book and object divider and holding device comprising several components, in combination:

• • 1. As in FIG. 1A, first provided is an elongated base member or planar surface (The shelf), made of rigid or semi-rigid material and used to support books and objects. The shelf has a front side, a backside, an upper end and a lower end, two opposing side ends and an intermediate planar area. The shelf can have rectilinear as well as oval configuration. The overall shape of the shelf can be modified to multiple shapes, which include a flat end to go against the wall and still work as a supporting horizontal member. The shelf can be placed on an angle. Within the planar area, there are one or more cut contact plates, as in FIG. 1B, members made of rigid or semi-rigid material of similar or lesser thickness than the base plate itself, often but not necessarily always of the same material of the base plate. They could for example be of see-through plastic material and be barely visible when standing as well. Because each supporting member (inset) is a cutout of the shape of the horizontal body, and therefore it always fits back into place when put on flat position. Each inset is held by an extruding edge. Each inset has its own individual hinge and support. Depending on the material of the shelf and the insert, adequate tolerances are applied to enable the insert to fall back into place with no resistance. When used as a support the inset(s) can be pulled up from the planar surface or fixture and rotated to the vertical position. The inset(s) stay locked in vertical position by the edges of the holder they are cut out from. The borders prevent the inset(s) from angling further than the desired distance.
  • 2. In more detail, the insets can be moved by hand, or through additional mechanisms to pull it up or put it down into place. Because the inset(s) are only supported by a small edge within the hole in which they reside, they can be accessed from the bottom and pulled up to be in use. Each individual inset is separate and independent from the others and can be in rest or upward position based on need of the user. The location of the insets along the horizontal axis of the supporting unit can vary depending on the length of the shelf, as well as the material. The hinge provides sufficient support to hold the inserts in both vertical and horizontal position, and works as center point for its rotation from flat to vertical position. The hinge is never visible since it is hidden between the planks that compose the shelf and cram the elements. The hinge can be a metal, wood, or plastic insert or any kind of moving hinge that allows the inserts to move from a flat position to a standing position.
  • 3. The system can be manufactured in a variety of different materials and variations including wood, metal, plastic, laminated wood, Corian, glass, and composites, which could be also combined with each other. Each material will give the opportunity to change the general dimensions and proportions of the shelf. It will also permit to eliminate additional elements such as hardware or manufacturing steps that are currently used to assemble the shelf. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood and obvious to one skilled in the art, that the invention is not limited in its application to the detail of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being carried out in various ways around its key claim.

The Advantages of the present invention include, without limitations:

• • 1. Simplicity, portability and strength of the construction for a low manufacturing cost, ease of use, long-term reliability and portability. The shelf can be flat packed, simplifying transportation and storage.
  • 2. Flexibility and adaptability of the design to multiple functional configurations, where not only books can be stored but other decorative and personal items.