GB2120084A - Shelves and shelf kits - Google Patents

Abstract

A shelf is formed from a plurality of shelf slats (10, 12) each pair of adjacent slats being spaced apart and secured together by dowels (22, 24) entering blind holes (20) in the sides (16, 18) of the slats. The dowels are preferably all of equal length, and the holes are preferably all of equal depth, so that the spacing between the slats may be easily and accurately gauged during assembly of the shelf. The slats are spaced apart so that any difference in warping between the slats is less noticeable and so that book-ends or the like may be secured by means extending through the spaces allowing adjustment of the book-end along the shelf. The slats may be of wood or plastics, and the dowels may be wooden (22) or of brass in solid or tubular (24) form. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shelves and shelf kits This invention relates to shelves and shelf kits.

Known shelves take a variety of forms and can be made from a variety of materials, each having their own advantages and disadvantages.

For example, solid wood shelves have the advantages of beauty and strength, but the disadvantages thattheyare expensive and may warp, swell and split with changing humidity and temperature. Blockboard shelves overcome the disadvantage of warping, swelling and splitting, but blockboard shelves must be provided with edgings to hide the sandwiched blocks of wood in orderto obtain a pleasing appearance.

Chipboard shelves with a plastics coating or wood veneer are cheaper, but also have the disadvantage of requiring edging strips for cut edges; furthermore, such chipboard shelves tend to sag, and the coating or veneer, if damaged, is difficult to repair satisfactorily.

Slatted shelves are also known in which a plurality of wooden slats are nailed or screwed to a plurality of wooden cross-battens to hold the slats parallel and spaced apart. In constructing such a slatted shelf, after the slats and cross-battens have been cut to size, the spacing of the slats must be accurately gauged to obtain a pleasing appearance, and this can be difficult, or at leasttime consuming, for a home handyman constructor.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a shelf comprising a plurality ofshelfslats arranged edge-to-edge and spaced apartfrom one another, the tops of the shelf slatsforming a slottedshelfsurface, adjacent edges of the or each adjacent pair of slats having a plurality of pairs of opposed blind holes, and for each pair of holes a dowel fitted into the holes and extending to the bottoms of the holes to hold the slats together with the respective edges spaced apart.

In accodancewith another aspect of the present invention,there is provided a kit for making a shelf, comprising a plurality of shelf slats, two of the slats having a plurality of blind holes along at least one edge of the slat and any slat in excess of two for making the shelf having a plurality of blind holes along opposed edges of the slat, the pitches of the holes along the respective edges being the same for all the edges, and the depths of all the holes being the same, and a plurality of similar dowels of length greaterthan twice the depth of each hole, wherein the dowels can be fitted into pairs of holes to extend to the bottoms of the holes and hold the slats together edge-to-edge and spaced apart from one another.

The word "slat" as used in this specification is not intended to be limiting to a slat in which one cross-sectional dimension is far greaterthan the other cross-sectional dimension, and may include squaresection slats, and also planks.

The slat may be of solid wood, thereby giving the advantages of the beauty of solid wood and strength.

However, since the shelf is formed from slats rather than a single plank, the wood is far less likely to split.

Although the slats may warp differently to each other to some extent, this is unlikely to be noticed without careful inspection, because the slats of the shelf are spaced apart.

In construction of the shelf according to the invention, no special steps need be taken by the constructorto gauge accuratelythe spacing of the slats, because the gauging is catered for automatically by the depths ofthe blind holes and the lengths of the dowels. Also, unlikethe prior slatted shelf, the shelf according to the present invention does not require cross-battens cut to the required size.

In the case where the slats are made from solid wood,they can be cut and corners ofthe shelf can be rounded without the disadvantage in the prior chip- board or blockboard shelves ofthe need to apply edging strips; also, minor damage to the slats can be repaired by sanding-down the wooden slats, and re-dying and/or re-varnishing the slats as required. If one of the slats is damaged more seriously, it can be replaced.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is partly exploded perspective view of three-slat shelf according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation of a shelf according to the present invention; and Figure 3 is an end elevation of a four-slat shelf according to the present invention on a shelf support and with a book-end mounted thereon.

Referring to Figure 1, a shelf is shown comprising three wooden slats 10, 10,10,12 of equal rectangular cross-section and equal length arranged side-by-side and parallel to one anotherto form a slotted shelf surface. The inwardly facing sides 16 of the outer slats 10 and both sides 18 ofthe inner slat 12 have equally spaced blind round holes 20 drilled therein so that pairs of holes 20 in adjacent sides ofthe slats are in register with each other. A round wooden dowel 22 is provided for each pair of holes and is fitted into the holes so that it extends two the bottoms of them. The dowels are of sufficient length so that the slats are spaced apart.The spacing may be, for example about one-tenth of the width between the sides of each slat.

The dowels 22 are a tight fit into the holes 20, and the cylindrical surfaces of the dowels may be longitudinally serrated. Glue may be used on the dowels 22 for a permanent fixing.

Referring to Figure 2, a three slat shelf is shown, in which the right-hand slat 12 has holes 20 along both sides 18 so that further slats can be added, using further dowelsto form a wider shelf. Figure 2 also illustrates that, instead of using wooden dowels 22, brass dowels 24 may be used, being either tubular, as shown in Figure 2, or as a pin.

Figure 3 illustrates a four-slat shelf supported on bracket 26 attached to an upright, both of which are shown in outline. The upright and bracket may, for example, be one of types disclosed in United Kingdom PatentApplication No. (Filing No.8201 392). A pair of book-ends 30 (one of which is shown) are secured to the top of the shelf each buy a pair of screws 32 which pass through the slots between the slats 10, 12 with thescrew heads, orwashers on them, engaging the bottoms of the slats 10,12. The book-ends may be adjusted along the shelf between the dowels connectingtheslats 10,12 upon loosening ofthescrews.

Other items may be secured to the top or bottom of theshelfi in a similar, adjustable manner. Forexample, if the shelf is used in the kitchen, hooks for hanging cups, saucepans and kitchen utensils may be fitted belowthe shelf, and if the shelf is to be used in a bedroom or clothing shop, a hanger rail may be fitted below the shelf.

Dowel holes may be formed in the outwardlyfacing sides of the outer slats if it isthoughtthattheywould notdetractfrom the appearance ofthe shelf,thus giving the advantage that all of the shelf slats can be identical.

The slat may be made of plastics rather than wood.

The shelf may be supplied, for exampleto the home handyman, as a packed kit containing the pre-drilled slats and the dowels. The handyman can cut the slats to a shorter length, if desired, and then assemble the shelf simply by inserting the dowels, using glue if desired, into the appropriate pairs of blind holes so thatthe dowels extend to the bottoms of the holes.

Claims (14)

1. Ashelfcomprising a plurality of shelf slats arranged edge-to-edge and spaced apartfrom one another, the tops of the shelf slats forming a slotted shelf surface, adjacent edges of the or each adjacent pair of slats having a plurality of pairs of opposed blind holes, and for each pair of holes a dowel fitted into the holes and extending to the bottoms of the holes to hold the slats together with the respective edges spaced apart.

2. A shelf as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the shelf slats are parallel to each other.

3. A shelf as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each adjacent pair of slats are spaced apart closely compared with the widths of the slats.

4. A shelf as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein both sides of each slat have a plurality of such holes.

5. A shelf as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein thetwo slats forming the edges ofthe shelf are not provided with holes along the outwardly facing sides thereof.

6. A shelf as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with an item securedtothetoporthe bottom of the shelf by securing means passing between the adjacent slats of the shelf and engaging the bottom or top, respectively, ofthe shelf.

7. Ashelfasclaimed in Claim 6, wherein the fastenening means can be loosened or released to permitthe position of the item to be adjusted along the shelf between the dowels.

8. A kitfor making a shelf, comprising a pluralityof shelf slats, two of the slats having a plurality of blind holes along at least one edge of the slat and any slat in excess oftwo for making the shelf having a plurality of blind holes along opposed edges of the slat, the pitches ofthe holes along the respective edges being the sameforall the edges, and the depths of all the holes being the same, and a plurality ofsimilardowels of length greaterthan twice the depth of each hole, wherein the dowels can befitted into pairs of holes to extend to the bottoms of the holes and hold the slats together edge-to-edge and spaced apart from one another.

9. Ashelfas claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7 ora kit as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the slats are all of substantially equal rectangular cross-section.

10. Shelf as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 or 9, our a kit as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein each slat edge having said holes has three or more such holes equally spaced along the edge.

11. A shelf as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7,9 orlO,ora kitasclaimed in anyoneofClaims8to 10, wherein the holes and dowels are round.

12. A shelf as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 or 9to 11,ora kit as claimed in any one of Claims 8to 11, wherein each dowel is fluted and is a tightfit in the respective holes.

13. A shelf substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. Akitformaking a shelf, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.