Shelf system

Abstract

The shelf system of the present invention comprises a tray or wire shelf or rack having double running surfaces on two opposing sides, which in use provide support for said shelf on the runners provided within an oven cavity. The shelf may be placed within an oven and slid over the runners formed on opposite side walls of the surface liner of the oven. Either the top running surface or bottom running surface of the shelf may be supported by a runner on either side of the oven. Therefore the shelf may be placed in the oven where the runner is between the double running surfaces, or the double running surfaces may allow for the placement of the shelf between two runners. Therefore the number of shelf positions within the oven cavity may be up to double that provided in conventional ovens, allowing for a finer adjustment of positioning of the shelf within an oven.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shelf or rack for an enclosure which includes at least one pair of support means on opposite side walls of said enclosure for supporting said shelf or rack, said shelf or rack having: 
 a pair of upper and lower engagement members located on each of two opposing sides of said shelf or rack, where each engagement member is capable, in use, of engaging with said support means to support said shelf or rack,    such that when said upper engagement members are engaged with a pair of support means said shelf or rack is supported at a lower height in said enclosure than when said lower engagement members are engaged with the same pair of support means.    
     
     
         2 . A shelf or rack for an enclose according to  claim 1  wherein said engagement members are two parallel elongate members attached to opposing sides of said shelf or rack.  
     
     
         3 . A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to either of claims  1  or  2  wherein said shelf or rack is formed from wire and said engagement members are integrally formed therewith.  
     
     
         4 . A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to either of claims  1  or  2  wherein said shelf or rack and said engagement members are formed of a sheet type material.  
     
     
         5 . A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to any one of  claims 1  to  4  wherein there is a plurality of support means and the spacing between each of said pair of support means is equal to or greater than the distance between said upper and lower engagement members.  
     
     
         6 . A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to any one of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the number of positions tat said shelf or rack are placeable within said enclosure is up to but not exceeding twice the number of support means provided within said enclosure.  
     
     
         7 . A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein said support means are solid elongate supports.  
     
     
         8 . A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein said support means are runners.  
     
     
         9 . A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to any one of  claims 1  to  8  wherein said engagement members are provided with restricting means to restrict tilting and removal of said shelf or rack when in use.  
     
     
         10 . A shelf or rack for an enclosure according to  claim 9  wherein said restricting means is an upward tilt provided at the ends, nearest the back of said enclosure, of said upper and lower engagement members.  
     
     
         11 . A shelf or rack for an oven which includes at least one pair of support means on opposite side walls of said oven for supporting said shelf or rack, said shelf or rack having: 
 a pair of upper and lower engagement members located on each of two opposing sides of said shelf or rack, where each engagement member is capable, in use, of engaging with said support means to support said shelf or rack,    such that when said upper engagement members are engaged with a pair of support means said shelf or rack is supported at a lower height in said oven than when said lower engagement members are engaged with the same pair of support means.    
     
     
         12 . A shelf or rack for an oven according to  claim 11  wherein said upper and lower engagement members are two parallel elongate members attached to opposing sides of said shelf or rack.  
     
     
         13 . A shelf or rack for an oven according to either of claims  11  or  12  wherein said shelf or rack is formed from wire and said engagement members are integrally formed therewith.  
     
     
         14 . A shelf or rack for an oven according to either of claims  11  or  12  wherein said shelf or rack and said engagement members are formed of a sheet type material.  
     
     
         15 . A shelf or rack for an oven according to any one of  claims 11  to  14  wherein there are a plurality of support means and the spacing between each of said pair of support means is equal to or greater than the distance between said upper and lower engagement members.  
     
     
         16 . A shelf or rack for an oven according to any one of  claims 11  to  15  wherein the number of positions that said shelf or rack are placeable within said enclosure is up to but not exceeding twice the number of support means provided within said oven.  
     
     
         17 . A shelf or rack for an oven according to any one of  claims 11  to  16  wherein said support means are solid elongate supports.  
     
     
         18 . A shelf or rack for an oven according to any one of  claims 11  to  17  wherein said support means are runners.  
     
     
         19 . A shelf or rack for an oven according to any one of  claims 11  to  18  wherein said engagement members are provided with restricting means to restrict tilting and removal of said shelf or rack when in use.  
     
     
         20 . A shelf or rack for an oven according to  claim 19  wherein said restricting means is an upward tilt provided at the ends, nearest the back of said enclosure, of said upper and lower engagement members.  
     
     
         21 . An oven having a rack or shelf, said oven including at least one pair of support means on opposite side walls of said oven for supporting said shelf or rack, said shelf or rack having: 
 a pair of upper and lower engagement members located on each of two opposing sides of said shelf or rack, where each engagement member is capable, in use, of engaging with said support means to support said shelf or rack,    such that when said upper engagement members are engaged with a pair of support means said shelf or rack is supported at a lower height in said enclosure than when said lower engagement members are engaged with the same pair of support means.    
     
     
         22 . An oven having a rack or shelf according to  claim 21  wherein said engagement members are two parallel elongate members attached to opposing sides of said shelf or rack.  
     
     
         23 . An oven having a rack or shelf according to either of claims  21  or  22  wherein said shelf or rack is formed from wire and said engagement members are integrally formed therewith.  
     
     
         24 . An oven having a rack or shelf according to either of claims  21  or  22  wherein said shelf or rack and said engagement members are formed of a sheet type material.  
     
     
         25 . An oven having a rack or shelf according to any one of  claims 21  to  24  wherein there is a plurality of support means and the spacing between each of said pair of support means is equal to or greater than the distance between said upper and lower engagement members.  
     
     
         26 . An oven having a rack or shelf according to any one of  claims 21  to  25  wherein the number of positions that said shelf or rack are placeable wit said enclosure is up to but not exceeding twice the number of support means provided within said oven.  
     
     
         27 . An oven having a rack or shelf according to any one of  claims 21  to  26  wherein said support means are solid elongate supports.  
     
     
         28 . An oven having a rack or shelf according to any one of  claims 21  to  27  wherein said support means are runners.  
     
     
         29 . An oven having a rack or shelf according to any one of  claims 21  to  28  wherein said engagement members are provided with restricting means to restrict tilting and removal of said shelf or rack when in use.  
     
     
         30 . An oven having a rack or shelf according to  claim 29  wherein said restricting means is an upward tilt provided at the ends, nearest the back of said enclosure, of said upper and lower engagement members.