US2227924A - Folding portable shelf - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a folding shelf which may be shifted readily to be used from place to place and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a shelf that may be readily 5 secured upon a smooth vertical support such as a pane of glass or the like, making it particularly adapted for holding paint and paint brushes for sign painting purposes;

Second, to provide a folding portable shelf of this class with novel hinge structure for holding the shelf in relation toits support but permitting the ready folding of the same;

Third, to provide a shelf of this class which is exceptionally sturdy in accordance with its size and weight;

Fourth, to provide a folding portable shelf of this class which is so constructed and arranged that it folds up closely so that it may be easily carried from place to place; and

Fifth, to provide a folding portable shelf of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, easy to apply, efficient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my folding portable shelf opened up ready for use; Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view shown on an enlarged scale and showing the shelf fragmentarily; Fig. 4 is an end view and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the shelf and support folded up ready for transportation.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing:

The shelf support I, adhesive members 2, hinge members 3, and shelf member 4 constitute the principal parts and portions of my foldable portable shelf.

The shelf support I is a flat sheet metal member provided with a reenforcing ledge Ia along its normally upper side and with ledges lb and I at its ends. It is provided with a pair of transverse slots Id and la in spaced relation to each other as shown best in Figs. 1 and of the drawing. Mounted on the inner side of this member I over these slots Ib and I0 are the adhesive members 2 which are preferably an adhesive tape with'the adhesive side against the outer side of the member I and extending from side to side of said member over the slots Idzand Ie and extending some distance from the edges of said slots Id and Ie so that these members 2 are secured by the adhesive to this inner side of the member I over the slots. This provides that the adhesive may be pressed through the slots for engagement with any smooth surface for supporting the member I, it being here noted that these slots Id and Ie of the adhesives 2 may be positioned longitudinally of the member I or in other directions to provide such support. The member I is also provided with holes I f and Ig near its opposite upper corners adapted to receive a nail or hook or other supporting means for supporting the member I in some instances where it is not satisfactory to use the adhesive members 2 for supporting said member I. The lower edge of the member I is substantially plain and it is provided with a plurality of extended curved hinge portions 3 which extend down through holes or slots 40, which extend through the members 4 near one side as shown best in Fig. 3 of the drawing. These hinge members 3 are curved and extend sideways under the shelf member some distance, then extend upwardly at a substantial right angle portion 3a against which the lower side of the shelf member 4 rests. This permits the shelf member 4 to shift when folding the same in the slots 4a in curved form so that the lower side of the member 4 rests against the portion 3a when the shelf is folded relatively to the support as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing and vas shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. This shelf member 4 is provided with extending ledges on its four sides 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e. The ledge 41) forms a support against which the support I rests when the shelf is in unfolded position and ready for use, while the ledges 4c, 4d and 4e form side walls for the shelf and also reenforcing for said shelf. It will be noted that in the preferred form of construction as shown, support I is slightly narrower than the shelf member 4 so that it will fold within the member as shown best in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

It will be noted, however, that the shape may be changed if desired and only single adhesive used, either transversely or at right angles thereto, if desired, or the support I may be extended so that it is considerably wider than the shelf if desired.

The operation of my folding portable shelf is substantially as follows:

If it is desired to usethe shelf for signs on windows or other smooth upright surfaces, the support I is placed against the surface and with the finger the adhesive member 2 is depressed through the slots Id and le against the upright smooth surface and is secured by the adhesive member, the member 4 having first been opened up at substantially right angles to the member I and supported as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing on the hinge portion 3a and with the ledge 4b resting against the back side and the shelf is ready for use. To remove it, all that is necessary is to take hold of the outer edge of the shelf and give a quick jerk and the support is thus released from the smooth surface and the support I is then folded into the shelf 4 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. Or, if it is desired, to use the shelf before folding, it may be secured by pressing the adhesive through the slots Id and le against another smooth upright surface. If it is desired to hang the shelf permanently on a nail or hook or other means, the holes If and I g are placed over the hook or nail members and the shelf is ready for use.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination, and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding portable shelf structure of the class described, the combination of a normally vertical metallic supporting member provided with a plurality of integral extended curved hinge portions provided with right angle turned terminals, and a shelf member provided with slots adapted to receive said integral curved hinge portion said right angle turned terminals forming stops for supports for said shelf when in folded or unfolded position.

2. In a folding-portable structure shelf of the class described, the combination of a normally vertical metallic supporting member provided with a plurality of integral extended curved hinge portions provided with right angle turned terminals, a shelf member provided with slots adapted to receive said integral curved hinge portion, said right angle turned terminals forming stops for supports for said shelf when in folded or unfolded position said shelf provided with a flange adjacent 'said slots adapted to rest against said support adjacent said hinge portion when the shelf is in unfolded position.

FLOYD L. BUNCH.

Images