Expandable shelf for displaying items

Abstract

An expandable shelf for displaying desired items. The expandable shelf comprises a main shelf, a first slidable end shelf which engages with a first end of the main shelf and a second slidable end shelf which engages with an opposed second end of the main shelf. A pair of brackets facilitate supporting the expandable shelf on a display stand. The main shelf has female members and the first and the second slidable shelves each having mating male members. The male members engage with the female members to permit each of the first slidable shelf and the second slidable shelf to move, relative to the main shelf, and thereby adjust an overall length of the expandable shelf.

Wherefore, I/we claim: 
     
         1 . An expandable shelf for displaying desired items comprising:
 a main shelf;   a first slidable end shelf for engaging with a first end of the main shelf;   a second slidable end shelf for engaging with an opposed second end of the main shelf;   a pair of brackets for supporting the expandable shelf on a display stand;   the main shelf having female members and the first and the second slidable shelves each having mating male members, and the male members engage with the female members to permit each of the first slidable shelf and the second slidable shelf to move, relative to the main shelf, and thereby adjust an overall length of the expandable shelf.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein the main shelf comprises a generally planar rigid, rectangular structure which has a front wall and a rear wall which are bent and extend substantially normal to the rigid rectangular structure. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein the mating male and female members respectively comprise female channels and mating male channels, and a first section of the female channel is secured to the front wall of the main shelf and at least a second section of the female channel is secured to the rear wall of the main shelf. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein the main shelf comprises a plurality of metallic rods or wires which extend in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of metallic rods or wires which extend in a transverse direction so as to form a grid, and an intersection of each one of the metallic rods or wires which extend in a longitudinal direction and the metallic rods or wires which extend in a transverse direction are secured together. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein the main shelf comprises a generally planar rigid, rectangular structure which has a front wall and a rear wall which are bent and extend substantially normal to the rigid rectangular structure;
 a rectangular perimeter metallic rod or wire surrounds and forms a boundary of the rigid rectangular structure, and   a first longitudinal channel support metallic rod or wire extends parallel to a first segment of the perimeter metallic rod or wire along the front wall and a second longitudinal channel support metallic rod or wire extends parallel to a second segment of the perimeter metallic rod or wire along the rear wall.   
     
     
         6 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 5 , wherein the female and mating male members respectively comprise first, second and third female channels and mating male channels, the first female channel is secured to the front wall of the main shelf and extends along the length thereof, the second female channel is secured to the rear wall of the main shelf adjacent a first end thereof and the third female channel is secured to the rear wall of the main shelf adjacent a second thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 6 , wherein opposed ends of the female channel are bent toward one another so as to form a partially enclosed internal cavity which is designed to captively receive and retain a leading portion of a respective mating male channel therein. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second slidable shelves comprise a plurality of spaced apart U-shaped metallic rods or wires which extend parallel to one another, and at least one transverse shelf metallic rod or wire is secured to each one of the spaced apart U-shaped metallic rods or wires, and free ends of the spaced apart U-shaped metallic rods or wires are bent to form an end wall. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 8 , wherein the male member comprises a male channel which has a straight base section and first and second straight side sections with a respective 90 degree bend formed between the straight base section and each of the first and the second straight side sections and the straight base section is permanently connected to the bent free ends to complete the end wall. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one shelf end stop member is secured to the main shelf, adjacent each end thereof, and the at least one shelf end stop member interacts with one of the first and the second slidable end shelves to prevent overexpansion of the first or the second slidable end shelf. 
     
     
         11 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 8 , wherein a pair of shelf end stop members are secured to the main shelf, adjacent each end thereof, and each pair of shelf end stop members interact with one a respective one of the first and the second slidable end shelves to prevent overexpansion and complete withdrawal of the respective slidable end shelf from the main shelf. 
     
     
         12 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the expandable shelves and assembled with the display stand which comprises a framework having at least two spaced apart horizontal legs and at least two vertically extending supports which extend generally normal to the horizontal legs, and front surface of each one of the two vertically extending supports has a plurality of sequentially arranged and spaced apart slots which are located so as to receive mating legs of the pair of brackets and releasably connect one of the plurality of the expandable shelves to the framework. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 12 , wherein a fixed display is supported at a top of the framework of the display stand. 
     
     
         14 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 10 , wherein each shelf end stop member comprises first and second planar sections which are spaced apart and offset from one another by an inclined section, so as to define, with a bottom surface of the main shelf, a wire recess for engaging with a closed U-shaped end of the respective first or second slidable end shelf and preventing further expansion of thereof relative to the main shelf. 
     
     
         15 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 12 , wherein each bracket is generally a planar member and an end wall of the bracket is provided with at least one hook which is designed to matingly engage with a mating slot of the vertical supports of the framework to couple the expandable shelf to the framework at a desired location. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable shelf according to  claim 15 , wherein each bracket has a pair of spaced apart tabs which are secured to a perimeter metallic rod or wire of the main shelf to couple the main shelf to the bracket. 
     
     
         17 . A method of displaying desired items on an expandable shelf, the method comprising:
 forming a main shelf from metal;   forming a first slidable end shelf from metal for engaging with a first end of the main shelf;   forming a second slidable end shelf from metal for engaging with an opposed second end of the main shelf;   forming a pair of brackets for supporting the expandable shelf on a display stand;   providing the main shelf with female members and providing the first and the second slidable shelves with mating male members; and   engaging the male members with the female members so as to permit each of the first slidable shelf and the second slidable shelf to move, relative to the main shelf, and thereby adjust an overall length of the expandable shelf.