Automatic rising folding shelf

Abstract

An automatic rising folding shelf (100) for mounting on a vertical surface, comprising a shelf member (102) with a top surface (108) for placing items thereon, a body member (104), and a folding support brace member (106) pivotably connecting the shelf member (102) to the body member (104). The folding support brace member (106) comprises a first bracket (136) and a second bracket (138) pivotably connected to the first bracket (136) about a pivot axis (140). The body member (104) and the first bracket (136) are attached together. The shelf member (102) is mounted on the second bracket (138). The shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) are movably adjustable, relative to the body member (104) and the first bracket (136), between a use position, in which the shelf member (102) extends laterally outward from the body member (104), and a storage position, in which the shelf member (102) is arranged downwardly alongside the body member (104). The shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) are biased to automatically rise into the use position from the storage position. The body member (104) carries a push latch (184) that releasably retains the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) in the storage position.

Description

AUTOMATIC RISING FOLDING SHELFBACKGROUND

[0001] The are many places where it would be convenient to have a shelf to allow someone to put down something they are holding, at least briefly, but having a shelf extending out all the time would not be desirable for a variety of reasons. Hotels, apartment buildings, and hospitals are representative of such locations. For example, people often approach the door to their apartment or hotel room carrying things which they then need to set down, typically on the floor, in order to retrieve the door key to open the door. This is generally true for contactless keys and readers (e.g., RFID) as well as conventional magnetic stripe keycards and mechanical keys. However, permanent shelves extending laterally outward into hallways and corridors are often not desirable, particularly for high traffic passageways, narrow passageways, and passageways through which large loads pass. While folding shelves are known, such folding shelves often require using one or two hands to move the shelf into the use position and lock it into place.

[0002] The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.SUMMARY

[0003] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and depicted in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

[0004] Proceeding from this background, one aspect of the disclosure is to provide a shelf that can be raised to a use position with a single contact on the shelf surface, such by a light push of an elbow, back of the hand, or hip, causing a folding support to raise the self to the use position and automatically lock in place, thereby allowing the user to place items, such as a drink or bag, on the shelf surface, and free at least one hand to unlock the door and / or operate the door opening hardware, without the user needing to bend down and place items on the floor.

[0005] The disclosed automatic rising folding shelf for mounting on a vertical surface comprises a shelf member, a body member, and a folding support brace member pivotably connecting the shelf member to the body member. The folding support brace member comprises a first bracket and a second bracket pivotably connected to the first bracket about a pivot axis. The body member and the first member are attached together, and the shelf memberis mounted on the second bracket. The shelf member and the second bracket are movably adjustable, relative to the body member and the first bracket, between a use position, in which the shelf member extends laterally outward from the body member with the shelf top surface facing upward, and a storage position, in which the shelf member is arranged downwardly alongside the body member with the shelf top surface facing away from the body member. According to some embodiments, the second bracket has a U-shaped profile which fits over the first bracket in the storage position.

[0006] The shelf member has a top surface for placing items thereon. In some embodiments, the shelf member comprises an upwardly projecting lip which extends around the top surface for preventing items from falling or running off the top surface. Sidewalls of the shelf member preferably extend downwardly from the top surface to form a skirt structure such that, in the storage position, the sidewalls laterally cover and prevent access to the folding support brace member. This reduces the risk of foreign objects, such as a child’s finger, from becoming caught in the folding mechanism and also improves aesthetics. In such embodiments, the shelf member forms a shell-shaped structure with an open bottom cavity. To increase rigidity and protect against buckling, transverse reinforcement ribs may be provided on the bottom surface of the shelf member extending adjacent the second bracket to the sidewalls of the shelf member. The shelf member may be fixed to the second bracket of the folding support brace member via fasteners and / or adhesive for example.

[0007] The shelf member and the second bracket are biased to automatically rise into the use position from the storage position. In this regard, the body member preferably carries a push latch that releasably retains the shelf member and the second bracket in the storage position. The shelf member and / or the second bracket may thus carry a knob which engages the push latch. Preferably, the shelf member and the second bracket are biased to automatically rise by a double torsion spring comprising a central portion, end portions, and interposed coils therebetween. A ratio of the spring force of the double torsion spring to the weight of the shelf member and the second bracket upwardly biased by the double torsion spring into the use position is preferably in the range 1.5-2.5. According to some embodiments, the central portion of the spring is fixed relative to the shelf member and the second bracket, and the end portions of the spring are fixed relative to the body member and the first bracket. For example, the central portion may be mounted in a groove between the shelf member and the second bracket.

[0008] The folding support brace member preferably carries a releasable latch which, when the shelf member and the second bracket are moved into the use position from the storage position, automatically locks the shelf member and the second bracket in the use position. In someembodiments, for example, the folding support brace member comprises two support arms, which are pivotably mounted to the first bracket about a pivot axis at one end, and movably mounted to the second bracket via a pin connecting the two support arms. The pin is slidably disposed within a slot formed in the second bracket. The releasable latch has one or more locking stops at one end, and a release lever at the other end, which faces away from the body member in the use position. The releasable latch is pivotably mounted to the second bracket about a pivot axis such that, in a default position, the one or more locking stops are tilted upward into a course of the slot and the release lever is tilted downward. When the shelf member and the second bracket are moved into the use position from the storage position, the pin travels along the slot and pushes the one or more stops out of the course of the slot via rotation of the releasable latch about its pivot axis. Then, once the pin clears the one or more stops, the releasable latch rotates back into the default position with the one or more stops positioned within the slot blocking return movement of the pin along the slot. This mechanically locks the shelf member and the second bracket in the use position. The locking mechanism also provides a weight supporting function. In the reverse action, when the shelf member and the second bracket are moved into the storage position from use storage position, the release lever is tilted upward to remove the one or more stops via rotation of the releasable latch about the pivot axis, such that the pin is free to move along the slot in lowering the shelf member and the second bracket into the storage position. The releasable latch may be biased into the default position by a torsion spring or by a weight distribution of the releasable latch about its pivot axis.

[0009] The shelf member and the body member are preferably formed, at least in part, from plastic material to reduce weight. This reduces the load on the self-rising bias mechanism. The first and second brackets may comprise metal components for mechanical durability and strength.

[0010] The body member and / or the first bracket may be directly fastened to a vertical surface for installation. However, such direct mounting can be unwieldy in some cases. Therefore, the folding shelf preferably further comprises a mounting bracket which is first installed to the vertical surface, e.g., via fasteners and / or adhesive tape. With the mounting bracket properly positioned on the vertical surface, the body member and / or the first bracket may then be easily mounted to the mounting bracket.

[0011] In addition to aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the appended drawings, wherein like reference numerals generally designate corresponding structures in the several views.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Example embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of an automatic rising folding shelf;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a bottom front perspective view of the folding shelf;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the folding shelf in the use position;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view of the folding shelf in the storage position;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a top front perspective view of the folding shelf with the shelf member and lower front panel omitted;

[0018] FIG. 6 is a bottom front perspective view of the folding shelf of FIG. 5 ;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a top front perspective view of the folding shelf of FIG. 5 with the body member having a cutaway portion offset from centerline to show additional detail;

[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example latch for retaining the shelf member in and releasing the shelf member from the storage position;

[0021] FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the folding shelf in the storage position, corresponding to a location of the left spring end portion on the body member;

[0022] FIG. 10 is a sectional side view corresponding to FIG. 9 with the folding shelf rising up into the use position;

[0023] FIG. 11 is a sectional side view of the folding shelf locked in the use position, corresponding to a location of the center plane of the folding shelf;

[0024] FIG. 12 is a sectional side view corresponding to FIG. 11 with the slot latch rotated to allow the folding shelf to be moved downward into the storage position;

[0025] FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of the folding shelf being lowered into the storage position, corresponding to a location of the center plane of the folding shelf;

[0026] FIG. 14 is a sectional side view corresponding to FIG. 13 with the folding shelf in the storage position;

[0027] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the folding shelf.

[0028] Before explaining example embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in application to the details of particular arrangements shown in the drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] With reference to FIGS. 1-4, an example automatic folding shelf assembly or unit 100 comprises a shelf portion or member 102, a body portion or member 104, and a folding support brace portion or member 106. The shelf portion 102 is pivotably connected to the body portion104 via the folding support brace 106. When installed, the body member 104 is mounted to a vertical surface, such as next to a guest room door in a hotel hallway for example. The shelf assembly 100 is adjustable between a use position and a storage position. In the use position (see FIG. 3), the shelf portion 102 is raised into a horizontal position extending outward from the body portion 104 for placing items thereon. In the storage position (see FIG. 4), the shelf portion 102 is lowered into a vertical position alongside the body portion 104 so as to occupy less space. As discussed in more detail below, the shelf member 102 is positionally biased to be in the use position, such that the shelf member 102 automatically rises from the storage position into the use position when unrestricted.

[0030] The shelf member 102 has a shelf body 107 with a top surface 108 and a bottom surface 110, and one or more side walls 112. The top surface 108 and bottom surface 110 are opposite planar sides of the shelf body 107 and the side walls 112 are formed around the periphery of the shelf body 107, such that the shelf member 102 forms a shell-shaped structure with an open bottom cavity in the depicted embodiment. The top surface 108 preferably has a projecting lip 114 around the outer edge thereof to help prevent objects from being knocked off, rolling off, running off, or otherwise falling off the top surface 108. In the depicted example, the lip 114 is formed as an upward extension of the sidewall 112. Opposite the lip 114, the sidewall 112 preferably extends to form a skirt structure which covers the folding support brace 106. The sidewall skirt structure 112 is designed to limit access to the folding support brace 106 in the storage position, as such access could result in malfunction and / or injury in the event that a foreign object, for example a child’s finger, were to be caught in the automatic rising mechanism. The sidewall skirt structure 112 also serves an aesthetic function in hiding the folding support brace 106. The front side of the sidewall skirt structure 115 preferably includes a recessed area or contour 115 to allow a user to access a release lever 176, which is discussed in more detail below. According to some embodiments, the side skirt structure 1 12 may be substantially reduced or completely omitted, such that the shelf member 102 has a more planar construction compared to the shell-shaped structure of the depicted example. The shelf member 102 may further comprise ribs 116 formed on the bottom surface 110. The ribs 116 provide off-center load support and reinforce against buckling. In this regard, the sidewalls 112 also provide a reinforcing effect. The transverse ribs 116 extend from the interior surface of opposing sidewalls 112 to either side of a center beam structure 118, which is formed on the bottom surface 110 in the shell cavity. The center beam 118 provides a mounting structure for the folding support brace 106, and further reinforces the shelf member 102 along with the sidewalls 112 and ribs 1 16. In addition to or in lieu of the transverse ribs 116, someembodiments may further have one or more metal crossmembers or girders that provide lateral reinforcement and support to the shelf member 102. Such crossbeams would extend in the direction of the transverse ribs 1 16 shown in FIG. 2.

[0031] With further reference to FIGS. 5-7, the body member 104 has a front surface 120, a back surface 122, a side surface 124, and a bottom surface 126. The front surface 120 is preferably provided with removable panels 128, 130. For example, the panels 128, 130 may attach to the body member 104 in a snap-fit manner. The panels 128, 130 enclose a respective cavity 132 of the body member 104. When the panels 128, 130 are removed, a user may access mounting holes 134 formed in the back surface 122 of the body member 104 from the front of the shelf assembly 100. The mounting holes 134 may be used to mount the body member 104 to a vertical surface, e.g., a wall. For example, fasteners such as drywall toggle bolts may be inserted through the mounting holes 134 to fix the body member 104 directly to a wall. The upper panel 128 may display branding, as in the depicted embodiment, or room / unit numbers depending on the application. According to some embodiments, the upper section of the body member 104 including the upper panel 128 may be substantially reduced or completely omitted, such that the body member 104 terminates closer to the shelf member 102. The lower panel 130 functions to provide a clean aesthetic appearance in covering the cavity 132. The body member 104 and / or the lower panel 130 are preferably designed such that the lower panel 130 does not interfere with folding support brace 106 being folded into the storage position. For example, the housing shape of the body member 104 may be configured for this purpose, or the lower panel 130 may be provided with slots to accommodate the folding support brace 106 in the storage position. The lower panel 130 may also be readily omitted according to some embodiments such that the cavity 132 is exposed to the surroundings.

[0032] The folding support brace 106 comprises a first portion 136 and a second portion 138 pivotably attached to the first portion 136 via pivot axis 140. In the depicted embodiment, the first portion 136 comprises a body support plate or bracket 136 attached to the body member 104, in particular to the front surface 120. Alternatively, the first portion 136 may comprise structure of the body member 104 such that the second portion 138 is pivotably attached directly to body member 104. The second portion 138 comprises a shelf support plate or bracket 138 which is bonded and / or fastened to the shelf member 102. In the depicted embodiment, the shelf support plate 138 is attached to the bottom surface 110 along the central beam 118. The shelf support plate 138 is pivotably attached at one end to the body support plate 136 via the pivot axis 140 located in an upper end section of the body support plate 136. The shelf member 102 is biased upward into the use position via torsion spring 142. The torsion spring 142 ispreferably a double torsion spring having a central portion 144, end portions 146, and interposed coils 148 therebetween as in the depicted embodiment. The ends 146 of the torsion spring 142 are positionally fixed relative to the body member 104. In the depicted embodiment, the end portions 146 are mounted through apertures formed in ribs 150 on the front surface 120 of the body member 104. Alternatively, the end portions 146 may be fixed to the body support plate 136. Various mounting configurations are possible and apparent to those skilled in the art. The center portion 144 of the torsion spring 142 is positioned between the shelf support plate 138 and the shelf member 102. For example, the center portion 144 may be positioned in a groove 192 between the top surface 166 of the shelf support plate 138 and the bottom surface 110 of the shelf member 102 (see FIG. 9). In some embodiments, the groove 192 may be filled with adhesive to prevent the center spring portion 144 from moving during use since this could cause frictional rub wear. Lowering the shelf member 102 from the use position into the storage position twists the coils 148 of the torsion spring 142 tighter. The opposing spring force counteracts this motion. It should be appreciated that the spring force of the torsion spring 142 in the use position is necessarily greater than the net weight or gravitational force of the components biasedly supported in the use position by at least some amount and, accounting for normal spring wear from repeated use, preferably about twice as great to increase the functional lifetime of the automatic rising mechanism. It should be further appreciated that the upward biasing spring force should not be overly strong so as to prevent or make it undesirably difficult to lower the shelf portion 102 into the storage position. According to some embodiments, the ratio of the spring force to the net gravitational force in the use position is in the range of 1.5- 2.5. Rather than rely on the torsion spring force to also support the weight of objects placed on the shelf member 102 during use, the folding support brace 106 preferably has an additional mechanism that mechanically locks the shelf member 102 in the use position.

[0033] The folding support brace 106 further comprises two support arms 152. At one end, the support arms 152 are pivotably attached to body support plate 136 via pivot axis 154. At the other end, the support arms 152 are movably mounted to the shelf support plate 138 via pin 156. In the depicted embodiment, the body support plate 136 is a hat-shaped profile member with a U-shaped body 158 and two mounting flanges 160. The pivot axis 140 for the shelf support plate 138 and the pivot axis 154 for the support arms 152 are transversely mounted through the body 158 of the body support plate 136. The body support plate 136 is mounted to the front surface 120 of the body member 104 via fasteners 162. For example, fasteners 162 may be provided as nuts and bolts, rivets, or the like. The shelf support plate 138 is a U-shaped profile member with two side surfaces 164 and a top surface 166 extending therebetween.Supports plates 136, 138 are dimensioned so that the U-shaped profile of the shelf support plate 138 fits over the body support plate 136 in the storage position. The shelf support plate 138 has a longitudinal slot 168 extending through both side surfaces 164. The pin 156 of the support arms 152 is slidably disposed within the slot 168.

[0034] The folding support brace 106 further comprises an automatic latch 170 pivotably mounted to the shelf support plate 138 via pivot axis 172. The latch 170 has one or more locking stops 174 at one end and a release lever 176 at the other end. The latch 170 is biased into a default position with the locking stops 174 tilted upward and the release lever 176 tilted downward. FIGS. 5-7 show the latch 170 in this default position. When the automatic rising mechanism lifts the shelf member 102 from the storage position into the use position, the slide pin 156 travels along the slot 168 from one end to the other end. With this motion, the slide pin 156 pushes the locking stops 174 out of course of the slot 168 - rotating the latch 170 about the pivot axis 172. Once the slide pin 156 clears the locking stops 174 in moving to the end of the slot 168, the latch 170 will automatically rotate about the pivot axis 172 to return to the default position, with the locking stops 174 tilted upward blocking a return movement of the slide pin 156 along the slot 168. In this way, when the shelf member 102 is moved into the use position, the folding support brace 106 is positionally locked via the automatic latch mechanism and mechanically supports the shelf member 102 including objects placed thereon during use. This also means that the torsion spring 142 is not responsible for meeting the load capacity requirements of the system. To return to the storage position, the user moves the release lever 176 upward - rotating the latch 170 about the pivot axis 172 and moving the locking stops 174 out of the slot 168 - and pushes the shelf member 102 downward against the biasing force of the torsion spring 142. Another mechanism retains the shelf member 102 in the spring-loaded storage position.

[0035] This mechanism is preferably a push latch mechanism providing push-to-release and push-to-lock operation. The push latch mechanism is preferably triggered by a light contact or touch which allows a user carrying items to easily actuate the mechanism with the user’s hip, elbow, back of the hand, etc. In the depicted embodiment, a knob portion 178 is fixed on the shelf member 102. The knob 178 comprises a head 180 and a mounting plate 182 for fixing the knob 178 to the shelf member 102. Complimentary to the knob portion 178, a latch portion 184 is fixed on the body member 104. In the depicted embodiment, the latch 184 is mounted to the bottom surface 126 of the body member 104 via fasteners. According to some embodiments, the body member’s 104 housing enclosure and / or lower panel 130 are configured to mount the latch 184 above the bottom surface 126 within the cavity 132. FIG. 8 shows an example latch184 comprising a push button 188 and two claws 190 configured to grasp the knob portion 178. When the claws 190 are open as seen in FIG. 8 and the push button 188 is pressed in, the claws 190 will close together with the return of the push button 188. Then when the claws 190 are closed together and the push button 188 is again pressed in, the claws 190 will rotate apart with the return of the push button 188 back into the open position of FIG. 8. In this way, operation of the push button 188 alternates between an open position and a closed retaining position of the claws 190. In the closed position, the claws 190 of the latch 184 grasp the head 180 of the knob 178 around the neck thereof. In this way, the latch 184 retains the shelf member 102 via the knob 178 in the closed position against the upward biasing force of the torsion spring 142. Other embodiments may use push latches 184 with different gripping configurations. It should be appreciated the knob portion 178 and the latch portion 184 are shown as separate components mounted to the shelf member 102 and the body member 104, respectively, because complimentary push latches and knobs are generally packaged together and sold as a unit. Rather than sourcing as separate components, the structure and function of the push latch mechanism may be readily incorporated into the other components of the folding shelf assembly, such as the shelf member 102, shelf support member 138, and / or body member 104 for example.

[0036] FIGS. 9-14 show the operation of the folding shelf assembly 100. In FIG. 9, the folding shelf assembly 100 is in the storage position. The claws 190 of the latch 184 are retaining the head 180 of the knob 178, such that the shelf portion is held in the storage position against the spring force of the torsion spring 142. The latch mechanism is preferably positioned so that, when the knob 178 is securely retained by the latch 184 in the storage position, the shelf member 102 is vertically aligned parallel to the body member 104, and thus the vertical surface, to optimize space savings and provide a clean aesthetic appearance. In other embodiments, the engaged position between the knob 178 and the latch 184 may be located further forward or backward, such that the shelf member 102 is inclined relative to vertical in the storage position. The arrow 201 indicates the user contact movement to release the knob 178 from the latch 184 and thus actuate the automatic rising mechanism. The folding shelf assembly 100 may have a visual indicator instructing how to release the stored position retaining mechanism, such as the “push” text on the top surface 108 of the shelf member 102 in the depicted embodiment. As mentioned above, when the knob 178 is pushed into the latch 184, the claws 190 will release the knob head 180 and rotate back into the open position with the return movement of the knob 180. With the knob 178 no longer retained by the latch 184, the shelf member 102 swings upward due to the spring force as indicated by the block arrow in FIG. 10. With this motion,the support arm 152 is also brought upward with its pin 156 sliding from one end (storage position end) of the slot 168 to the other end (use position end) of the slot 168, during which movement the pin 156 rotates the latch 170 about its pivot axis 172 to push the locking pawl 174 out of the slot 168.

[0037] FIG. 11 shows the folding shelf 100 in the use position with the pin 156 fully at the use position end of the slot 168, and the latch 170 rotated back into its default position with the locking pawl 174 tilted upward. In this configuration, the locking pawl 174 prevents the reverse movement of the pin 156 toward the storage position end of the slot 168. Therefore, even if the upward spring force is overcome by the weight of objects placed on the shelf member 102, the pin 156 is pressed against the locking pawl 174 and the shelf member 102 is mechanically supported by the folding support brace 106 in a force-locked manner. FIG. 12 shows how to release the shelf member 102. The user moves the release lever handle 176 upward as indicated by arrow 202, causing the latch 170 to rotate about pivot axis 172, until the locking pawl 174 is clear of the slot 168 and therefore no longer blocking the movement path of the pin 156. At this point, the user can push the shelf member 102 downward as indicated by arrow 203 to move the shelf member 102 into the storage position. According to a preferred embodiment, the release lever handle 176 is designed to extend much closer to the front of the shelf portion, such that it is easier for the user to reach under and engage the release lever handle 176. Further, the release lever handle 176 is preferably visible to users to make it easy to reach out and lift. Still further, the release lever handle 176 is preferably positioned such that the user can lift the release lever handle 176 with their fingers and grasp over the edge of the shelf member 102 with their thumbs, thereby allowing user operation with one hand to return the folding shelf assembly 100 into the storage position. In which case, the sidewall 112 including the front access contour 115 thereof may be correspondingly designed for this functionality. Some embodiments may further comprise a handle or grip structure on the front of the shelf member 102 for this purpose.

[0038] FIG. 13 shows the shelf member 102 being pushed downward into the storage position. As seen here, the head 180 of the knob 178 is beginning to enter the latch 184 with the locking claws 190 in the open position. With continued motion, the head 180 will contact the push button 188 and move the push button 188 against the force of spring 194 in the latch 184. At a certain point, this will actuate the lock / release mechanism of the latch 184 such that the claws 190 will close to capture the head 180 when the user ceases pushing the shelf member 102 and the push button 188 is returned via the spring 194. It should be appreciated that the internal components of the latch 184 are shown schematically here. In FIG. 14, the folding shelfassembly 100 is again in the storage position, with the claws 190 of the latch portion 184 lockingly engaged behind the head 180 of the knob portion 178, thereby retaining the shelf member 102 against the upward biasing spring force of the torsion spring 142. Accordingly, the automatic rising mechanism of the folding shelf assembly 100 is ready for redeployment as indicated by the arrow 201.

[0039] FIGS. 13 and 14 further show bores 196 in the shelf body 107 for fastening one or more components of the folding support brace 106 to the shelf member 102. In the depicted embodiment, the bores 196 correspond to fastener holes in the top surface 166 of the shelf support member 166 and the mounting plate 182 of the knob 178. The bores 196 may be preformed or formed into the material of the shelf body 107 by self-tapping fasteners during assembly. According to another embodiment, the folding support brace 106 is mounted to the shelf body 107 using rivets. In which case, the top surface 108 of the shelf member 102 preferably has counterbores formed therein so that the rivet heads do not protrude to form an uneven top surface 108. According to another embodiment, the shelf member 102 and the folding support brace 106 are adhesively bonded together. In which case, the shelf member 102 preferably has a groove or channel structure to fittingly receive the folding support brace 106. For example, such a channel structure may be formed into the central beam structure 118. Various mounting configurations are possible and apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0040] In the depicted embodiment, the shelf member 102 and the body member 104 are molded plastic components and the folding support brace 106 is comprised of metal components. The plastic components represent cost and weight savings. The metal components provide solid support to the shelf member 102 for load requirements. Of course, various materials and / or combinations thereof may be used in other embodiments of the folding shelf assembly 100.

[0041] FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of the folding shelf 100 which is the same as the embodiment of the previous figures except as otherwise indicated. The above statements thus apply equally here (except as otherwise indicated) and therefore are not repeated. In FIG. 15, the folding shelf 100 further comprises a mounting bracket 197 which is first fixed to the vertical surface during the installation process. For instance, the mounting bracket 197 may be mounted to the vertical surface via fasteners 198 which are shown as drywall toggle bolts in the depicted example. The first bracket 136 of the folding support brace 106 here is formed as a rear plate which is mounted to the mounting bracket 197. Preferably, the first bracket 136 and the mounting bracket 197 are designed to couple in a sliding, hanging, or like manner, i.e., the first bracket 136 is simply placed and securely retained on the mounting bracket 197without additional tools or fastening steps. The body member 104 is then mounted to the first bracket 136. In the depicted embodiment, the first bracket 136 comprises outwardly extending mounting plates 137 and the body member 104 comprises corresponding slots 135. During installation, the body member 104 is slid onto the first bracket 136 with the plates 137 extending through the slots 135 and supporting the body member 104 thereon. The body member 104 is then secured to the first bracket 136, e.g., via a single fastener 199 installed in the upper body cavity 132 as in the depicted embodiment. In assembly, the mounting plates 137 of the first bracket 136 project out of the slots 135, with the second bracket 138 pivotably connected to the mounting plates 137 about the pivot axis 140 and the two support arms 152 pivotably connected to the mounting plates 137 about the pivot axis 154. The push latch 184 is mounted in the lower body cavity 132 with the lower body panel 130 configured to allow latch access for the knob 178. The releasable latch 170 here is biased into its default position by a torsion spring 143. The releasable latch 170 also has a single locking stop 174 for engaging the slide pin 156 in the slot 168. A cover piece 175 is optionally mounted to the contact surface of the stop 174. For example, if the releasable latch 170 is provided as a plastic component for weight reduction, the cover piece 175 may be a metal piece to increase mechanical durability and protect the stop 174 against wear. If the releasable latch 170 is provided as a metal component, the cover piece 175 may be formed of another material to reduce contact noise, such as a hard rubber for example. The release lever 176 is also positioned closer to the recessed area or contour 115 of the shelf member 102 for easier access and operation by a user.

[0042] The folding shelf 100 has been described as being mounted to a vertical surface via fasteners. However, it is readily possible to adhesively mount the folding shelf 100 to a vertical surface, and / or adhesively attach components of the folding shelf 100 together, e.g., using double-sided mounting tape. Adhesive connections may be advantageous for certain applications such as where mechanical fastener holes cannot be introduced into the vertical surface. In which case, the adhesive fastener should be selected for strength and adhesive properties in view of application load requirements and joined surface materials. Moreover, the shelf assembly 100 may also embodied a freestanding structure secured to a fixed post. Various mounting configurations are possible and apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the disclosure.

[0043] While several aspects and embodiments have been discussed herein, those persons skilled in the art will recognize numerous possible modifications, permutations, additions, combinations and sub-combinations therefor, without these needing to be specifically explained or shown within the context of this disclosure. The claims should therefore beinterpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations, which are within their true spirit and scope. Each embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.

[0044] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown or described, or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Thus, it should be understood that although the invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the claims. Whenever a range is given in the specification, all intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are hereby incorporated into this disclosure. When a Markush group or other grouping is used herein, all individual members of the group and all combinations and sub-combinations possible of the group are hereby individually included in this disclosure. In general, the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard texts, references and contexts known to those skilled in the art. Any above definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the invention.LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS folding shelf assembly or unit 152 support arms shelf member 154 support arms pivot axis body member 156 slide pin folding support brace 158 body support bracket center body shelf body 160 body support bracket flanges shelf top surface 162 fasteners shelf bottom surface 164 shelf support side surfaces shelf sidewall 166 shelf support top surface shelf lip 168 shelf support slot lever access contour 170 latch reinforcing ribs 172 latch pivot axis center beam 174 latch locking stop body front surface 176 latch release lever body back surface 178 knob body side surface 180 knob head body bottom surface 182 knob mounting plate upper front panel 184 latch lower front panel 186 fasteners body cavity 188 push lock-release button mounting holes 190 retaining claws body bracket slots 192 spring slot body support bracket 194 latch spring shelf support bracket 196 mounting bores pivot axis 197 mounting bracket torsion spring 198 mounting fasteners torsion spring 199 body mounting fastener spring body portions 201 release contact action spring shelf portion 202 release lever action spring coils 203 storage pushing action spring mounting ribs

Claims

CLAIMS1. An automatic rising folding shelf (100) for mounting on a vertical surface, comprising: a shelf member (102), a body member (104), and a folding support brace member (106) pivotably connecting the shelf member (102) to the body member (104), wherein the shelf member (102) comprises a top surface (108) for placing items thereon, wherein the folding support brace member (106) comprises a first bracket (136) and a second bracket (1 8) pivotably connected to the first bracket (136) about a pivot axis (140), wherein the body member (104) and the first bracket (136) are attached together, and the shelf member (102) is mounted on the second bracket (138), wherein the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) are movably adjustable, relative to the body member (104) and the first bracket (136), between a use position, in which the shelf member (102) extends laterally outward from the body member (104) with the top surface (108) facing upward, and a storage position, in which the shelf member (102) is arranged downwardly alongside the body member (104) with the top surface (108) facing away from the body member (104), wherein the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) are biased to automatically rise into the use position from the storage position, and the body member (104) carries a push latch (184) that releasably retains the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) in the storage position.

2. The folding shelf (100) of claim 1, wherein the folding support brace member (106) carries a releasable latch (170) which, when the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) are moved into the use position from the storage position, automatically locks the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) in the use position.

3. The folding shelf (100) of claim 2, wherein: the folding support brace member (106) comprises two support arms (152), which are pivotably mounted to the first bracket (136) about a pivot axis ( 154) at one end, and movably mounted to the second bracket (138) via a pin (156) connecting the two support arms (152), with the pin (156) slidably disposed within a slot (168) formed in the second bracket (138), the releasable latch (170) has one or more locking stops (174) at one end and a release lever (176) at another end, which faces away from the body member (104) in theuse position, with the releasable latch (170) pivotably mounted to the second bracket (138) about a pivot axis (172) such that, in a default position, the one or more locking stops (174) are tilted upward into a course of the slot (168) and the release lever (176) is tilted downward, when the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) are moved into the use position from the storage position, the pin (156) travels along the slot (168) and pushes the one or more locking stops (174) out of the course of the slot (168), via rotation of the releasable latch (170) about the pivot axis (172), and when the pin (156) clears the one or more locking stops (174), the releasable latch (170) rotates back into the default position with the one or more locking stops (174) positioned within the slot (168) blocking return movement of the pin (156) along the slot (168) and locking the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) in the use position, and when the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) are moved into the storage position from use storage position, the release lever ( 176) is tilted upward to remove the one or more locking stops (174), via rotation of the releasable latch (170) about the pivot axis (172), such that the pin (156) is free to move along the slot (168) in lowering the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) into the storage position.

4. The folding shelf (100) of claim 3, wherein the releasable latch (170) is biased into the default position by a torsion spring (173) or by a weight distribution of the releasable latch (170) about the pivot axis (172)..

5. The folding shelf (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second bracket (138) comprises a U-shaped profile which fits over the first bracket (136) in the storage position.

6. The folding shelf (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) are biased to automatically rise by a double torsion spring (142) comprising a central portion (144), end portions (146), and interposed coils (148) therebetween.

7. The folding shelf (100) of claim 6, wherein a ratio of the spring force of the double torsion spring (142) to the weight of the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138) upwardly biased by the double torsion spring (142) into the use position is in the range 1.5-2.

58. The folding shelf (100) of claim 6 or 7, wherein the central portion (144) is fixed relative to the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138), and the end portions (146) are fixed relative to the body member (104) and the first bracket (136).

9. The folding shelf (100) of claim 7 or 8, wherein the central portion (144) is mounted in a groove (102) between the shelf member (102) and the second bracket (138).

10. The folding shelf (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the shelf member (102) comprises an upwardly projecting lip (114) which extends around the top surface (108) for preventing items from falling or running off the top surface (108).1 1. The folding shelf (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein sidewalls (112) of the shelf member (102) extend downwardly from the top surface (108) to form a skirt structure such that, in the storage position, the sidewalls (112) laterally cover and prevent access to the folding support brace member (106).

12. The folding shelf (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the shelf member (102) is fixed to the second bracket (138) of the folding support brace member (106) via fasteners and / or adhesive.

13. The folding shelf (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a bottom surface (110) of the shelf member (102) comprises transverse reinforcement ribs (116) extending adjacent the second bracket (138) to the sidewalls (112) of the shelf member (102).

14. The folding shelf (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the shelf member (102) and the body member (104) are formed, at least in part, from plastic material to reduce weight, and wherein the first bracket (136) and the second bracket (138) are metal components.

15. The folding shelf (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the shelf member (102) and / or the second bracket (138) carry a knob (178) which engages the push latch (184).

16. The folding shelf (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a mounting bracket (197), wherein the body member (104) and the first bracket (136) are supported relative to the vertical surface by the mounting bracket (197).

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