Bracket and shelf apparatus for equipment enclosures

Abstract

A compact storage bracket and shelf apparatus is disclosed for the interior of an equipment enclosure. The bracket is attached to the inner surface of an enclosure door. This forms a storage compartment for literature or the like to be maintained within the enclosure. The shelf is pivotally connected to the bracket to close in a very compact arrangement and to open with enough space for a service technician's laptop computer. The shelf may be opened and closed in a very easy manner and the opening and closing may be accomplished with one hand. The shelf is maintained in a closed position by use of a spring biased plunger, and a shoulder bolt is used to abut an edge of a shelf wall to support the shelf in an opened position.

1 . A compact compartment and shelf apparatus for an equipment enclosure comprising: 
 a generally channel shaped bracket adapted to be connected to a support surface, said bracket having a base, oppositely disposed walls connected to said base and a ledge portion connected to said base wherein said base is spaced from the support surface for forming with said walls and ledge portion a storage compartment;    a movable shelf pivotally connected to said bracket and supported thereby to allow movement of said shelf between a closed upper position and an opened lower position, said shelf having a generally flat surface positioned adjacent to said base of said bracket when said shelf is in said closed upper position, and said generally flat surface extending away from said base of said bracket at approximately a perpendicular angle when said shelf is in said opened lower position;    a first pair of surfaces, one of said first pair of surfaces connected to said bracket and the other of said first pair of surfaces connected to said shelf, said first pair of surfaces for engaging one another when said shelf is in said opened lower position; and    a second pair of surfaces, one of said second pair of surfaces connected to said shelf and the other of said second pair of surfaces connected to said bracket, said second pair of surfaces for engaging one another when said shelf is in said closed upper position.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said first pair of surfaces includes an edge surface integral with said shelf and a surface of a projection connected to said bracket.  
 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said second set of surfaces includes a wall surrounding an opening in said bracket and a surface of a projection, said projection being connected to said shelf.  
 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  including: 
 a support surface.  
 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein: 
 said support surface is a door of an equipment enclosure.  
 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said shelf includes integral side walls, each of said side walls having an upper edge forming said other of said first pair of surfaces.  
 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein: 
 said projection is spring biased.  
 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said shelf includes side walls;  
 each of said side walls aligns adjacent a wall of said bracket when said shelf is in said closed upper position;  
 said one of said first pair of surfaces and said one of said second pair of surfaces are outer surfaces of first and second projections;  
 said first projection is connected to said bracket; and  
 said second projection is connected to said shelf.  
 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 said first pair of surfaces includes an edge surface integral with said shelf and a surface of a projection connected to said bracket;  
 said second set of surfaces includes a wall surrounding an opening in said bracket and a surface of a projection, said projection being connected to said shelf; and  
 said shelf includes oppositely disposed integral side walls connected to said generally flat surface.  
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  including: 
 a support surface wherein said support surface is a door of an equipment enclosure.  
 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein: 
 each of said shelf side walls aligns adjacent a wall of said bracket when said shelf is in said closed upper position;  
 said one of said first pair of surfaces and said one of said second pair of surfaces are outer surfaces of first and second projections;  
 said first projection is connected to said bracket; and  
 said second projection is connected to said shelf.