Movable shelf

April 24, 1951

H. J. MILLER

MOVABLE SHELF

2,549,984

Filed Feb. 9, 1948

Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR.

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Attorneys

April 24, 1951

H. J. MILLER

MOVABLE SHELF

2,549,984

Filed Feb. 9, 1948

Sheets-Sheet 2

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⁹ if Attorneys

Patented Apr. 24, 1951

2,549,984

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,549,984

MOVABLE SHELF

Harold J. Miller, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 9,1948, Serial No. 7,201

Claim.

Ordinarily, shelves within closets, or the like, are so positioned that a great deal of storage space is wasted due to the fact that the area between the shelf and the top of the closet could hold a great many more articles than are usually placed therein, because of the instability occurring when several packages or articles are mounted one above the other. And even where the space is to be so utilized, it becomes necessary, in most instances, to use a foot stool or similar ladder to place those articles in position. In order to utilize such storage space to the best advantage, and, in addition, to avoid the necessity for mounting a ladder, the device of this invention is adapted to attain such results.

This invention relates to a movable shelf and is particularly adapted for use where additional storage space is needed, and a primary object of the invention concerns a device that is adapted to provide such means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that can foe retained in raised position without the use of special locking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is capable of being used without the necessity for providing mounting means.

A further object of the invention is to move said device in a horizontal plane throughout its entire path of travel and to retain objects thereof in place at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is quickly and easily installed in already existing closets, is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and is durable and sturdy when in use.

Some of the features of the invention concern the use of staggered supporting arms and an actuating level^- locked out of the way when the device is in raised position.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the major of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device is lowered position;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device in raised position;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the device as viewed in the direction of the arrows 3—3 on Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the actuating arms as viewed along the line 4—4 on Figure 2; and, (Cl. 211—93)

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the latching means of the device, together with the actuating lever.

Referring to the figures, the usual closet is 5 shown at Ϊ0 and includes side walls 12 and 14, a back wall 16, and a front door portion 18. A usual shelf 20 is mounted in said closet on the usual supporting angles 22' suitably secured together by screws 24, or the like. A movable shelf 10 26 of somewhat shorter diameter than fixed shelf 20, and composed of any suitable material such as wood, light metals or the like, is pivotally mounted by means of two pairs of vertical arms 28, 30·, in spaced relation to shelf 20.

As is'best seen in Figure 4, pivot arm 30 is secured at its upper end to an angled bracket 32, one leg 34 thereof being apertured at 36 to correspond with a similar aperture 38 in the upper portion of arm 30 for retention of suitable 20 pivot pin 40. The other leg 42 of bracket 32 is secured to the underside of movable shelf 26 by screw means 44, or the like. The othei· extremity of arm 30 is similarly apertured at 46 to align with an aperture 48 on a second angle bracket 25 50, a leg 52 thereof including aperture 48 and a pivot pin 54 mounted therein. The other leg 56 of angle bracket 50 is similarly secured to the upper surface of stationary shelf 20 by means of a screw 58. It is, of course, understood that go this fastening arrangement is repeated for all of the vertical arms 28 and 30. It,is to be noted that angle brackets 32 and 50 are not in vertical alignment and are so positioned that arms 28 and 30 are slightly inclined to the vertical with brackets g5 32 secured closer to the rear wall 16 of closet 10 than brackets 50. It thus becomes readily apparent that when the device has been raised in the position shown in either Figure 3 or 4, the center of gravity has been shifted sufficiently to 40 retain shelf 26 in abutting relation with wall 16 without the necessity of providing additional securing means.

Referring specifically to Figures 2 and 5, the actuating member of the device is clearly illus45 trated. The device consists of an arcuately curved lever arm 60 whereby it may readily and firmly be grasped by the user, and includes an aperture 62 for mounting on the lower surface of shelf 26. A pair of angle irons 64, 66 are secured 50 at 68 to the lower surface of shelf 26 and includes apertures 70 which are in direct alignment with aperture 62 of lever arm 60 and arm 60 is pivotally mounted therein by means of bolt 72 and secured against displacement by means 55 of cotter pin 74. A channeled latching clip 76

2,549,984 is mounted at the forward end of shelf 26 for engagement and retention of lever arm 60.

From the above description, the operation of the device is readily apparent. When it is desired to utilize the storage space made available by shelf 26, lever arm 60 is grasped and urged downwardly and out of engagement with clip 76. The same continuing motion will cause shelf 26 to move forward in a horizontal plane by means of pivoted arm 28, 30 until the device is in the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. Objects to be stored are then placed thereon, and lever arm 60 is then pushed upwardly, thus serving to return shelf 26 to its original position without displacement of the objects thereon. When the arm 60 is not in use, it is locked in clip 76. By means of the staggered relation of parallel arms 28 being positioned within parallel arms 30, there is no interference of said arms in the movement of shelf 26. In addition, these arms serve to additionally support the shelf in that arms 28 rest upon the stationary shelf 20 for a greater portion of their length and also support the rear ends of movable shelf 26 when it is in horizontal position. Arms 30 provide the major support for shelf 26 and are additionally supported by shelf 20.

It is to be understood that as many modifications of the device above illustrated might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, and it is intended that the above description and accompanying drawings and claim shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.