Support bracket for ventilated shelving

Abstract

Apparatus for securing a ventilated shelf to a vertical support such as a wall including a support bracket having a first end adapted to be secured to the vertical support at a point spaced vertically from the attachment of a rearward rod of the shelf to the vertical support structure. The first end includes a first end reinforcing rib functionally positioned so as to strengthen the first end portion and to substantially prevent the first end portion from bending. The support bracket also has a second end for lockingly engaging and supporting a front support rod of the shelf. The second end includes a support face for supporting the shelf against rotation in a first direction towards the vertical support structure and a gripping portion for engaging the front support rod of the shelf and inhibiting rotation of the shelf in a second direction towards the vertical support structure. The gripping portion preferably includes at least one rod receiving slot so that it can be disposed in straddling relation to a transverse rod of the shelf or can be disposed intermediate adjacent transverse rods of the shelf. The second end also has a second end reinforcing rib functionally positioned so as to strengthen the second end portion and to substantially prevent the second end portion from bending.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A support bracket for supporting a shelf mounted to a vertical support structure, the shelf including a longitudinal front support rod and at least one transverse rod member, comprising: 
 a longitudinal main body portion;    a first end portion for mounting the bracket to a vertical support structure, the first end portion having a first end reinforcing rib functionally positioned so as to strengthen the first end portion and to substantially prevent the first end portion from bending;    a second end portion comprising a stop face defining a seat for limiting rotational movement of the front support rod relative the vertical support structure; and    a second end reinforcing rib located on the second end portion functionally positioned so as to strengthen the second end portion;    wherein the second end portion is attached to the longitudinal main body at a top portion of the longitudinal main body, such that a clearance is defined between the second end portion and a first and second side portions of the longitudinal main body, so as to allow the second end to rotate relative to its attachment to the longitudinal main body.    
     
     
         2 . A support bracket as in  claim 1 , wherein the second end portion comprises a gripping portion for engaging a portion of the front support rod, and includes at least one slot for receiving a transverse rod member of the shelf.  
     
     
         3 . A support bracket as in  claim 2 , wherein the second end reinforcing rib is located on the gripping portion.  
     
     
         4 . A support bracket as in  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion comprises an arcuate C-shaped element which extends in an arc of between about 90° and about 270° from the stop face.  
     
     
         5 . A support bracket as in  claim 1 , wherein the first end portion comprises a flat plate member defining an aperture for receiving a fastening device.  
     
     
         6 . A support bracket as in  claim 5 , wherein the main body portion of the support bracket extends at an angle from a plane of the flat plate first end portion.  
     
     
         7 . A support bracket as in  claim 6 , wherein the angle is between about 0° and about 90° from the first end portion.  
     
     
         8 . A support bracket as in  claim 1 , wherein the second end reinforcing rib extends from a point on the gripping portion to a point on the longitudinal main body portion.  
     
     
         9 . A support bracket as in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the longitudinal main body is substantially in the shape of the letter ‘U.’ 
     
     
         10 . A support bracket as in  claim 9  wherein the longitudinal main body has a transition zone near the second end portion in which the cross-sectional shape of the longitudinal main body changes from being substantially ‘U’ shaped to being substantially rectangular shaped.  
     
     
         11 . A support bracket as in  claim 1  wherein the clearance is about {fraction (1/32)} of an inch.  
     
     
         12 . A support bracket as in  claim 1 , wherein the first end reinforcing rib is substantially U-shaped.  
     
     
         13 . A support bracket as in  claim 1 , wherein the first end reinforcing rib is disposed exclusively within the first end portion.  
     
     
         14 . A support bracket as in  claim 1 , wherein the second end portion rotates relative to its attachment to the longitudinal main body to rest against the first and second side portions of the longitudinal main body.  
     
     
         15 . A shelving system comprising: 
 at least one shelf defining a substantially planar surface and comprising a plurality of spaced, parallel, transversely extending deck rod members, the rod members being coupled to and extending at least between a longitudinally extending rear support rod and a longitudinally extending front support rod of the shelf, respectively;    a means for mounting the rear support rod to an adjacent vertical support structure; and    a support bracket for the shelf comprising 
 a longitudinal main body portion;  
 a first end portion for mounting the bracket to a vertical support structure, the first end portion having a first end reinforcing rib functionally positioned so as to strengthen the first end portion and to substantially prevent the first end portion from bending;  
 a second end portion comprising a stop face defining a seat for limiting rotational movement of the front support rod relative the vertical support structure; and  
 a second end reinforcing rib located on the second end portion functionally positioned so as to strengthen the second end portion;  
 wherein the second end portion is attached to the longitudinal main body at a top portion of the longitudinal main body, such that a clearance is defined between the second end portion and a first and second side portions of the longitudinal main body, so as to allow the second end to rotate relative to its attachment to the longitudinal main body.  
   
     
     
         16 . A shelving system as in  claim 15 , wherein the second end portion comprises a gripping portion for engaging a portion of the front support rod, and includes at least one slot for receiving a transverse rod member of the shelf.  
     
     
         17 . A shelving system as in  claim 16 , wherein the second end reinforcing rib is located on the gripping portion.  
     
     
         18 . A shelving system as in  claim 15 , wherein the gripping portion comprises an arcuate C-shaped element which extends in an arc of between about 90° and about 270° from the stop face.  
     
     
         19 . A shelving system as in  claim 15 , wherein the first end portion comprises a flat plate member defining an aperture for receiving a fastening device.  
     
     
         20 . A shelving system as in  claim 19 , wherein the main body portion of the support bracket extends at an angle from a plane of the flat plate first end portion.  
     
     
         21 . A shelving system as in  claim 20 , wherein the angle is between about 0° and about 90° from the first end portion.  
     
     
         22 . A shelving system as in  claim 15 , wherein the second end reinforcing rib extends from a point on the gripping portion to a point on the longitudinal main body portion.  
     
     
         23 . A shelving system as in  claim 15 , wherein the cross-section of the longitudinal main body is substantially in the shape of the letter ‘U.’ 
     
     
         24 . A shelving system as in  claim 23 , wherein the longitudinal main body has a transition zone near the second end portion in which the cross-sectional shape of the longitudinal main body changes from being substantially ‘U’ shaped to being substantially rectangular shaped.  
     
     
         25 . A shelving system as in  claim 15 , wherein the clearance is about {fraction (1/32)} of an inch.  
     
     
         26 . A shelving system as in  claim 15 , wherein the first end reinforcing rib is substantially U-shaped.  
     
     
         27 . A shelving system as in  claim 15 , wherein the first end reinforcing rib is disposed exclusively within the first end portion.  
     
     
         28 . A shelving system as in  claim 15 , wherein the second end portion rotates relative to its attachment to the longitudinal main body to rest against the first and second side portions of the longitudinal main body.  
     
     
         29 . A support bracket for supporting a shelf mounted to a vertical support structure and including a longitudinal front support rod, comprising: 
 a longitudinal main body portion;    a first end portion for mounting the bracket to a vertical support structure; and    a second end portion comprising a stop face defining a seat for limiting rotational movement of the front support rod relative the vertical support structure; and    wherein the second end portion is attached to the longitudinal main body at a top portion of the longitudinal main body, such that a clearance is defined between the second end portion and a first and second side portions of the longitudinal main body, so as to allow the second end to rotate relative to its attachment to the longitudinal main body.