Configurable wall-mounted storage shelf system

Abstract

A wall mounted shelf system is disclosed. The system includes a wall bracket, a plurality of orifices in the wall bracket, each orifice for accepting a fastener, and a shelf removably coupled to the wall bracket. The shelf comprises: a) a planar surface sloped downwards towards the distal end, b) a first planar strip that extends downwards for attachment to the wall bracket; c) a protruding portion of the planar surface that protrudes upwards, d) a second planar strip located below the planar surface, wherein the second planar strip is oriented vertically for placement coplanar with the wall, and e) wherein the planar surface, the first and second planar strips and the protruding portion are integrally formed from a single piece of a material.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wall-mounted shelf system, comprising:
 a wall bracket comprising a first elongated strip for placement coplanar with a wall and a second elongated strip connected to the first elongated strip, wherein the second elongated strip is parallel to the wall;   a plurality of orifices in the wall bracket, each orifice for accepting a fastener for fastening the wall bracket to the wall; and   a shelf removably coupled to the wall bracket, wherein the shelf comprises:
 a) a planar surface having a proximal end adjacent to the wall and a distal end, wherein the planar surface is sloped downwards towards the distal end, and wherein the planar surface accepts placement of items on its top surface for storage; 
 b) a first planar strip located proximally to the planar surface, wherein the first planar strip extends downwards for placement behind the second elongated strip of the wall bracket; 
 c) a protruding portion of the planar surface that protrudes upwards, wherein the protruding portion is located distally to, and co-extensive with, the planar surface, so as to provide a barrier to items placed on the top surface of the planar surface; 
 d) a second planar strip located below, proximally to the planar surface, wherein the second planar strip is oriented vertically for placement coplanar with the wall, so as to provide support for the shelf; and 
 e) wherein the planar surface, the first and second planar strips and the protruding portion are integrally formed from a single piece of a material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 1 , wherein the single piece of material comprises a sheet metal comprising at least one of aluminum, brass, copper, steel, tin, nickel, titanium, silver, gold, platinum, any alloys of the materials above or any combination of the materials above. 
     
     
         3 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 1 , wherein the single piece of material comprises an extruded material, such as metal, plastic or PVC, or a molded material, such as plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 2 , wherein the planar surface comprises a rigid strip positioned such that its main axis is parallel to the wall, and wherein a width of the strip is less than a length of the strip along its main axis. 
     
     
         5 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 4 , wherein the first planar strip comprises a rigid strip positioned such that its main axis is parallel to the wall, wherein a width of the first planar strip is less than a length of the first planar strip along its main axis. 
     
     
         6 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 5 , wherein the second planar strip comprises a rigid strip positioned such that its main axis is parallel to the wall, wherein a width of the second planar strip is less than a length of the second planar strip along its main axis, and wherein the second planar strip is located below the first planar strip. 
     
     
         7 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 6 , wherein the wall bracket further comprises a rigid flat strip that connects the second elongated strip with the first elongated strip of the wall bracket. 
     
     
         8 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 7 , wherein the second elongated strip has a width from about 0.25 inch to about 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of orifices are spaced along a main axis of the wall bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one sidewall located on one end of the shelf, wherein the sidewall is positioned perpendicularly to the shelf so as to abut the shelf, and wherein the sidewall is coupled to the wall. 
     
     
         11 . A wall-mounted shelf system, comprising:
 a wall bracket comprising a first elongated strip for placement coplanar with a wall and a second elongated strip connected to the first elongated strip, wherein the second elongated strip is parallel to the wall;   an adhesive disposed on one side of the wall bracket for affixing the wall bracket to the wall; and   a shelf removably coupled to the wall bracket, wherein the shelf comprises:
 a) a planar surface having a proximal end adjacent to the wall and a distal end, wherein the planar surface is sloped downwards towards the distal end, and wherein the planar surface accepts placement of items on its top surface for storage; 
 b) a first planar strip located proximally to the planar surface, wherein the first planar strip extends downwards for placement behind the second elongated strip of the wall bracket; 
 c) a protruding portion of the planar surface that protrudes upwards, wherein the protruding portion is located distally to, and co-extensive with, the planar surface, so as to provide a barrier to items placed on the top surface of the planar surface; 
 d) a second planar strip located below, proximally to the planar surface, wherein the second planar strip is oriented vertically for placement coplanar with the wall, so as to provide support for the shelf; and 
 e) wherein the planar surface, the first and second planar strips and the protruding portion are integrally formed from a single piece of a material. 
   
     
     
         12 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 11 , wherein the single piece of material comprises a sheet metal comprising at least one of aluminum, brass, copper, steel, tin, nickel, titanium, silver, gold, platinum, any alloys of the materials above or any combination of the materials above. 
     
     
         13 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 11 , wherein the single piece of material comprises an extruded material, such as metal, plastic or PVC, or a molded material, such as plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 12 , wherein the planar surface comprises a rigid strip positioned such that its main axis is parallel to the wall, and wherein a width of the strip is less than a length of the strip along its main axis. 
     
     
         15 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 14 , wherein the first planar strip comprises a rigid strip positioned such that its main axis is parallel to the wall, wherein a width of the first planar strip is less than a length of the first planar strip along its main axis. 
     
     
         16 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 15 , wherein the second planar strip comprises a rigid strip positioned such that its main axis is parallel to the wall, wherein a width of the second planar strip is less than a length of the second planar strip along its main axis, and wherein the second planar strip is located below the first planar strip. 
     
     
         17 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 16 , wherein the wall bracket further comprises a rigid flat strip that connects the second elongated strip with the first elongated strip of the wall bracket. 
     
     
         18 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 17 , wherein the second elongated strip has a width from about 0.25 inch to about 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The wall-mounted shelf system of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one sidewall located on one end of the shelf, wherein the sidewall is positioned perpendicularly to the shelf so as to abut the shelf, and wherein the sidewall is coupled to the wall. 
     
     
         20 . A wall-mounted shelf system, comprising:
 a wall bracket comprising a first substantially rectangular strip for placement coplanar with a wall and a second substantially rectangular strip connected to the first rectangular strip, wherein the second rectangular strip is parallel to the wall;   a plurality of orifices in the wall bracket, each orifice for accepting a fastener for fastening the wall bracket to the wall; and   a shelf removably coupled to the wall bracket, wherein the shelf comprises:
 a) a substantially rectangular planar surface having a proximal end adjacent to the wall and a distal end, wherein the rectangular planar surface is sloped downwards towards the distal end, and wherein the rectangular planar surface accepts placement of items on its top surface for storage; 
 b) a first substantially rectangular band located proximally to the rectangular planar surface, wherein the first rectangular band extends downwards for placement behind the second rectangular strip of the wall bracket; 
 c) a protruding portion of the rectangular planar surface that protrudes upwards, wherein the protruding portion is located distally to, and co-extensive with, the rectangular planar surface, so as to provide a barrier to items placed on the top surface of the rectangular planar surface; 
 d) a second substantially rectangular band located below, proximally to the rectangular planar surface, wherein the second rectangular band is oriented vertically for placement coplanar with the wall, so as to provide support for the shelf; and 
 e) wherein the rectangular planar surface, the first and second rectangular bands and the protruding portion are integrally formed from a single substantially rectangular piece of a material.