Shelf

Abstract

A shelf, attachable to upwardly oriented mounting members on upright members, is comprised of a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface being generally rectangular and generally planar and having front, back, left and a right sides. The shelf is further comprised of a front lip and back lip, both extending downward from the front and back side of the top surface, respectively. A left and right lip extend downward from the left and right side of the top surface, respectively. The left and right lips each include two or more pairs of openings dimensioned to receive mounting members, and each opening in the pair is aligned vertically with the other opening. The front, back, left, and right lips are integrally connected to the top surface. The shelf is formed from a unitary sheet of metal.

1 . A shelf for attaching to one or more upright members, wherein each upright member has one or more upwardly oriented mounting members, the shelf comprising: 
 a) a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface being generally rectangular and generally planar and having a front side, a back side, a left side and a right side, said top surface being formed from a unitary sheet of metal;    b) a front lip extending downward from the front side of the top surface, said front lip being integrally connected to the top surface and formed from the unitary sheet of metal;    c) a back lip extending downward from the back side of the top surface, said back lip being integrally connected to the top surface and formed from the unitary sheet of metal;    d) a left lip extending downward from the left side of the top surface, said left lip being integrally connected to the top surface and formed from the unitary sheet of metal, said left lip comprising two or more pairs of openings dimensioned to receive mounting members, each opening in a pair being aligned vertically; and    e) a right lip extending downward from the right side of the top surface, said right lip being integrally connected to the top surface and formed from the unitary sheet of metal, said right lip comprising two or more pairs of openings dimensioned to receive mounting members, each opening in a pair being aligned vertically.    
     
     
         2 . The shelf  claim 1 , wherein the one or more mounting members on the one or more upright members comprises a tab having an end.  
     
     
         3 . The shelf of  claim 2 , wherein each tab is oriented vertically.  
     
     
         4 . The shelf of  claim 2 , wherein each tab is generally flat.  
     
     
         5 . The shelf of  claim 4 , wherein the end of the tab is rounded.  
     
     
         6 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are the same size.  
     
     
         7 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein each of the openings is a slot.  
     
     
         8 . The shelf of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one strengthening member.  
     
     
         9 . The shelf of  claim 8 , wherein said strengthening member is attached to the bottom surface.  
     
     
         10 . The shelf of  claim 9 , wherein said strengthening member comprises two flanges and a rib positioned between the two flanges.  
     
     
         11 . The shelf of  claim 8 , wherein said strengthening member is substantially parallel to the front side of the top surface.  
     
     
         12 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of metal is galvanized steel.  
     
     
         13 . The shelf of  claim 12 , wherein the sheet of metal is between about 24 gauge and about 18 gauge.  
     
     
         14 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the front, back, left and right lips are approximately no greater than about ¾″ tall.  
     
     
         15 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is devoid of any welds.  
     
     
         16 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the front, back, left and right lips each comprise a side surface extending downward and generally normal to the planar top surface.  
     
     
         17 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the front lip extends diagonally downward from the front side of the top surface.  
     
     
         18 . The shelf of  claim 1 , wherein the front lip is curved.  
     
     
         19 . A shelf for attaching to one or more upright members, wherein each upright member has one or more upwardly oriented mounting tabs, the shelf comprising: 
 a) a generally planar top surface formed from a unitary sheet of metal, said top surface defining a shelf space upon which articles may be placed;    b) a side surface extending downward and generally normal to the planar top surface;    c) a bottom surface extending inward and generally normal to the side surface, wherein the side surface and the bottom surface; and    d) a pair of slots dimensioned to receive a upwardly oriented mounting tab of an upright member, wherein each slot in the pair is vertically aligned with the other slot in the pair, the pair comprising a top opening in the top surface and a bottom opening in the bottom surface, wherein the slots extend at least in part on the side surface.    
     
     
         20 . A shelf for attaching to one or more upright members, wherein each upright member has one or more upwardly oriented mounting members, the shelf comprising: 
 a) a generally planar top surface formed from a unitary sheet of metal, said top surface comprising two or more sides adapted to be installed adjacent an upright member;    b) at least two lips extending from and being integrally connected to the top surface, each of said lips comprising a lip side surface extending downward and generally normal to the planar top surface;    c) a lip bottom surface extending inward and generally normal to the lip side surface, wherein the lip side surface and the lip bottom surface are formed from the unitary sheet of metal;    c) an opening dimensioned to receive an upwardly oriented mounting members of an upright member, said opening being positioned in the bottom lip surface; and    d) one or more strengthening members positioned underneath the top surface, said one or more strengthening members extending substantially between the two lips.