Shelving standards and assemblies

Abstract

Described are preferred shelf standards adapted to be installed on wall-forming studs in unfinished areas such as garages, basements and attics. The standards are simple and inexpensive to manufacture and can be easily installed with common hand tools. In combination with shelving members the standards transform wasted space into useful shelves for storing a variety of items. Adapted with an additional bracing means for preventing side-to-side motion, the shelf standards can also be attached to a finished wall surface. Different embodiments of the standards in combination with optional shelving members, fasteners, and the like can be included in a variety of shelf standard kits.

1 . A shelf standard for supporting one or more shelving members comprising a generally planar member having a front surface, a back surface, at least four edges, a lip connected to an edge of the planar member and directed toward the back surface of the planar member and forming a right angle with the planar member; and a plurality of flanges extending from the front surface of the planar member, the flanges sized and positioned to receive and retain one or more shelving members.  
   
   
       2 . The shelf standard of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf standard is adapted, when installed, to fit vertically on an interior edge of an exposed wall-forming stud.  
   
   
       3 . The shelf standard of  claim 2 , wherein the standard is constructed of metal and the flanges are formed from the surface of the planar member leaving a void proximate each flange.  
   
   
       4 . The shelf standard of  claim 3 , wherein the lip has a plurality of orifices sized and positioned to receive fasteners suitable for connecting the standard to the wall-forming stud.  
   
   
       5 . The shelf standard of  claim 4 , wherein the lip has a width of less than about 2 inches.  
   
   
       6 . The shelf standard of  claim 5 , wherein the flanges have a depth of at least about ¼ of an inch.  
   
   
       7 . The shelf standard of  claim 6 , wherein the flanges are positioned in pairs to receive an upper and lower surface of one or more shelving members.  
   
   
       8 . The shelf standard of  claim 2 , wherein a void is positioned between pairs of flanges.  
   
   
       9 . The shelf standard of  claim 8 , wherein the flanges are inserted into the planar surface through the void.  
   
   
       10 . The shelf standard of  claim 9 , having a slit located in the lip, wherein the slit is in communication with the void and positioned to receive the flange and facilitate its insertion into the void.  
   
   
       11 . A double shelf standard for supporting one or more shelving members, the standard comprising two generally planar members, the planar members having a front surface, a back surface, and at least four edges; a lip intermediate between two edges of the planar members forming a right angle with the planar members; and a plurality of flanges extending from the front surface of the planar members, the flanges positioned to receive and retain one or more shelving members, the double shelf standard adapted, when installed, to fit vertically on an interior edge of an exposed wall-forming stud.  
   
   
       12 . The double standard of  claim 11 , wherein the lip has a width of less than about 2 inches and has a plurality of orifices sized and positioned to receive fasteners suitable for connecting the double standard to a wall-forming stud.  
   
   
       13 . The double standard of  claim 12 , wherein the flanges have a depth of at least about ¼ of an inch.  
   
   
       14 . The double shelf standard of  claim 13 , wherein the flanges are positioned in pairs to receive an upper and lower surface of one or more shelving members.  
   
   
       15 . A shelf standard kit comprising at least two of the shelf standards of claims  1  adapted to fit along the internal edges of adjacent exposed wall-forming studs.  
   
   
       16 . The shelf standard kit of  claim 15 , wherein the kit additionally includes at least one shelf member adapted to be received and supported by opposing flanges of two shelf standards installed on opposing wall-forming studs.  
   
   
       17 . The shelf standard kit of  claim 15 , wherein the kit additionally includes a plurality of fasteners to attach the standards to the surface of a wall forming stud.  
   
   
       18 . The shelf standard kit of  claim 15 , wherein the kit additionally includes a brace that can be attached to the lip of the standard and contact the adjacent generally planar member to maintain an angle of 90 degrees between the lip and generally planar member to allow for installation of the shelf standard on a surface wall.  
   
   
       19 . The shelf standard kit of  claim 16 , wherein the kit additionally includes a bar adapted to connect the lips of adjacent standards to secure stored items to the surface of the shelf member.  
   
   
       20 . The shelf standard kit of  claim 15 , wherein the kit additionally includes at least one double standard.  
   
   
       21 . The shelf standard kit of  claim 15 , wherein the kit additionally includes a mounting plate adapted to fit behind the standard's lip for mounting the standard on a flat surface.  
   
   
       22 . A shelf standard for supporting one or more shelving members comprising a generally planar member having a front surface, a back surface, a plurality of voids and a plurality of flanges, the flanges adapted to be positioned within the voids to receive and retain one or more shelving members and the voids located on the generally planar member to position the one or more shelving members.  
   
   
       23 . The shelf standard of  claim 22 , wherein the generally planar member has a plurality of orifices sized and positioned to receive fasteners suitable for connecting the standard to a wall-forming stud.  
   
   
       24 . The shelf standard of  claim 22 , wherein the void is a slot, the slot having an opening at a first edge of the planar member and the flange is adapted to be positioned within the slot from the first edge of the planar member.