Molded shelf

Abstract

A shelf assembly includes a plastic body and a frame, which includes a pair of spaced apart side frame members. In addition, the frame is adapted for mounting the shelf assembly to a mounting surface. The plastic body forms a shelf element, which extends between the side frame members. Furthermore, the plastic body has portions that encapsulate at least portions of the side frame members wherein the portions of the side frame members are enclosed in the plastic body.

1 . A shelf assembly comprising: 
 a frame, said frame having a pair of spaced apart side frame members and said frame being adapted for mounting said shelf assembly to a mounting surface; and    a plastic body forming a shelf element extending between said side frame members, said plastic body having portions encapsulating at least portions of said side frame members wherein portions of said side frame members are enclosed in said plastic body.    
   
   
       2 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame includes a transverse frame member interconnecting said side frame members, said shelf element extending to said transverse frame member, and said body including a portion encapsulating a portion of said transverse frame member.  
   
   
       3 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said body includes a downwardly depending portion at a front end of said shelf element.  
   
   
       4 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said downwardly depending portion is substantially contiguous with said portions encapsulating at least portions of said side frame members.  
   
   
       5 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said body includes an upwardly projecting rib at one chosen from said side frame members, said transverse frame member, and said front end of said shelf element.  
   
   
       6 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said body includes an upwardly projecting rib at said side frame members, said transverse frame member, and said front end of said shelf element wherein said ribs form a spill barrier rim.  
   
   
       7 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said shelf element includes a recessed portion for forming a receptacle.  
   
   
       8 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising a lid, said lid enclosing said recessed portion for forming a compartment.  
   
   
       9 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said lid is hinged to said shelf element.  
   
   
       10 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said body includes an upwardly projecting rib adjacent said recessed portion for providing a spill barrier.  
   
   
       11 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said shelf element includes a support surface area, said support surface are having a perimeter, and said upwardly projecting rib extending around said perimeter of said support surface area to form a spill barrier rim.  
   
   
       12 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said recessed portion is provided at said front end of said shelf element.  
   
   
       13 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said recessed portion is provided adjacent one of said side frame members.  
   
   
       14 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said body includes at least one structure chosen from a projecting rail and a recessed groove at each of said portions encapsulating at least portions of said side frame members for slidingly supporting a tray.  
   
   
       15 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one structure chosen from a projecting rail and a recessed groove comprises a recessed groove.  
   
   
       16 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising a sliding tray, said sliding tray being supported by said shelf assembly and being slidable along said side frame members.  
   
   
       17 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said portions encapsulating at least portions of said side frame members include inwardly facing sides, said structures provided at said inwardly facing sides.  
   
   
       18 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame comprises a metal frame.  
   
   
       19 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said metal frame comprises a metal stamping.  
   
   
       20 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said plastic body comprises a plastic polycarbonate material.  
   
   
       21 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lift, said frame being adapted for movably mounting said shelf assembly to the mounting surface, and said lift for raising or lowering said shelf assembly along said mounting surface.  
   
   
       22 . A shelf assembly comprising: 
 a frame, said frame having a pair of spaced apart side frame members and a transverse frame member interconnecting said side frame members, said frame further being adapted for mounting said shelf assembly to a mounting surface;    a plastic body encapsulating at least portions of said side frame members wherein portions of said side frame members are enclosed in said body, said body having at least one structure chosen from a projecting rail and a recessed groove at each of said frame side members; and 
 a shelf element, said shelf element slidingly supported and movable along said structures wherein said shelf element is extendable from said frame.  
   
   
   
       23 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said body includes a portion encapsulating a portion of said transverse frame member.  
   
   
       24 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said portion encapsulating a portion of said transverse frame member includes at least one structure chosen from a projecting rail and a recessed groove for receiving said shelf element when said shelf element is extended into said frame.  
   
   
       25 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said shelf element includes a downwardly depending portion at a front end of thereof.  
   
   
       26 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said shelf element includes a perimeter and a substantially continuous rib extending around its perimeter for forming a spill barrier rim.  
   
   
       27 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said shelf element includes a support surface area, and said rib includes rib portions substantially vertically aligned with said side frame members and said transverse frame member to thereby maximize the size of said supporting surface area of said shelf element.  
   
   
       28 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said portions encapsulating at least portions of said side frame members include inwardly facing sides, said at least one structure chosen from a projecting rail and a recessed groove provided at said inwardly facing sides.  
   
   
       29 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said frame comprises a metal frame.  
   
   
       30 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein said metal frame comprises a metal stamping.  
   
   
       31 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said plastic body comprises a polycarbonate material.  
   
   
       32 . A method of forming a shelf assembly, said method comprising: 
 providing a frame, the frame including a pair of spaced side frame members;    encapsulating at least portions of the side frame members in a body; and    forming a shelf element with the body, the shelf element extending between the side frame members.    
   
   
       33 . A method of forming a shelf assembly, said method comprising: 
 providing a frame, the frame including a pair of spaced apart side frame members and a transverse frame member extending between the spaced apart side frame members; and    molding a plastic body around at least portions of the frame wherein the portions of the frame are encapsulated in the plastic body, said molding including forming a shelf element extending between the side frame members.