Stackable or nestable shelf with reinforced platform

Abstract

A particularly styled shelf of a simplified design has a unique structure and appearance from a minimum of components. The shelf may be both stackable, one shelf upon the other, for the storage of goods, and can be easily nested into a compact state, when shelves are desired to be stored or shipped. Each of the shelves has a platform with spaced apart planks upon transverse ribs, and the platform provides a smooth transition for ready storage of goods. Each shelf has two closed loop wire legs, at each end, and the legs elevate the shelf when upon another shelf or a surface. The downward end of each leg has a foot portion of less width than the handle. The foot portions may be inserted through the handle to furnish interconnection of stacked shelves, even when subject to a lifting force.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This non-provisional patent application claims priority to the design patent application having Ser. No. 29 / 255,646, which was filed on Mar. 10, 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The stackable and nestable shelf with reinforced platform relates to light duty shelving in general, and more specifically, to stackable racks with interlocking legs. Unique aspects of the present invention are legs with feet that rest upon a platform and within the handle of a leg below when two adjacent shelves are stacked vertically.[0003]Various styles of racks are available in the prior art and many of them relate to types of racks that have industrial applications, such as for holding bottles, letters, or other components in a stacked relationship. Domestically, stackable and nestable racks have been available of a particular design, such as can be seen in the U.S. patents to Massoudnia, et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,035,335 and 5,152,407. In addition, U.S. P...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]This invention contemplates the formation of a particularly styled shelf, formed of a simplified design, but yet is quite unique in structure, appearance, and in affording a minimum of components to provide for its fabrication. The shelf furnishes an attractive appearance and may be both stackable, one shelf upon the other, for assistance in organizing the storage of household or other goods, and at the same time, can be easily nested into a compact state, when a plurality of the shelves are desired to be stored or shipped. Each of the shelves is formed having a platform, of uniform planar dimension with spaced apart planks supported upon transverse ribs, and the platform provides a smooth transition from end to end, and likewise widthwise, without any further elevated components or protrusion, so as to assure that goods may be easily moved upon and stored thereon, as desired.

[0015]Therefore, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a stackable and nestable shelf, which affords a partially open platform, similar to a grill, entirely across the top of the formed shelf, and at the same time, providing interlocking means that hold one or more of the shelves together, when stacked one upon the other, so that all of the shelves may be lifted simultaneously, without separation.

[0018]Yet another object of this invention is to provide a shelf that is of simplified design, but yet very sturdy of structure, providing components that inter-engage, when a pair or more of the shelves are stacked vertically, but yet can be easily disassembled, and nested together, into a minimum of space.

[0020]Still another object of this invention is to provide a shelf, which is both stackable and nestable, and which is inexpensive of manufacture, and easy of usage, thereby allowing the owner to assemble the shelves in minutes, and to use the shelves of this design for domestic usage, for organizing closets, or the like.

Problems solved by technology

The shelves and racks in these prior patents exceed the complexity of construction of this current invention, and in many instances, were designed for specific industrial purposes, and just do not serve well for domestic storage, for use in dormitories, stacking of household goods, or for organizing closets.

But, while this shelf unit may stack, it is not identified as one which may be nested, and furthermore, even when a plurality of such shelf units are stacked, they will not hold together, because the bent leg portions will simply separate from any subjacent unit, by sliding free of the same when lifted.

Thus, prior art devices do not provide for both stacking and nesting of platforms for installation and shipping respectively.

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