Niche System

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a niche system having a frame used as a structure upon which a façade (e.g., stone, marble, etc.) is secured. The frame includes uprights, a back panel, and a plurality of shelves. The shelves are attached to the uprights and back panel to form a plurality of niche spaces. The edges of the shelves are angled to provide structural support and rigidity, allowing the niche system to be self-supporting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A niche system, comprising:
 at least one upright, the at least one upright having a first side, a second side, and a back side, wherein:
 a front of each upright is an opening; 
 the first side extends from the back side towards the front, wherein a front-facing edge of the first side has a lip that extends at an angle from the first side; and 
 the second side extends from the back side towards the front, wherein a front-facing edge of the second side has a lip that extends at an angle from the second side; and 
   a plurality of shelves, each shelf configured to slide within the front opening and attach to the at least one upright, wherein each shelf has a shelf body and shelf edges, each shelf edge having a lip that extend at an angle from the shelf body;   wherein each shelf serves as a floor for a niche space.   
     
     
         2 . The niche system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one upright and the plurality of shelves each consists of stainless steel. 
     
     
         3 . The niche system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of uprights; and   at least one back panel configured to attach to a first upright and a second upright;   wherein each shelve is configured to attach to an upright and/or the at least one back panel.   
     
     
         4 . The niche system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each shelf has a rear edge with a lip, a front edge with a lip, a first side edge with a lip, and a second side edge with a lip;   the front edge faces the front opening;   the front edge lip is only formed in a middle portion of the front edge; and   distal ends of the front edge extend beyond the front-facing edge of the first side and the front-facing edge of the second side.   
     
     
         5 . The niche system of  claim 4 , wherein the distal ends of the front edge serve as supports for a façade slab. 
     
     
         6 . The niche system of  claim 4 , wherein the front edge lip is flush with the front-facing edges of the first and second sides of the at least one upright. 
     
     
         7 . The niche system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one upright has a C-shaped profile or a U-shaped profile from a top-down view. 
     
     
         8 . The niche system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first side lip extends at 90 degree angle from the first side; and   the second side lip extends at 90 degree angle from the second side.   
     
     
         9 . The niche system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each lip of the shelve edge extends at 90 degree angle from the shelf body.   
     
     
         10 . The niche system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one upright and/or any number of shelves includes a tab and/or a tab-aperture. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing niche system, the method comprising:
 erecting at least one upright, the at least one upright having a first side, a second side, and a back side, wherein:
 a front of each upright is an opening; 
 the first side extends from the back side towards the front, wherein a front-facing edge of the first side has a lip that extends at an angle from the first side; and 
 the second side extends from the back side towards the front, wherein a front-facing edge of the second side has a lip that extends at an angle from the second side; 
   sliding at least one shelf within the front opening and attaching the at least one shelf to the at least one upright, wherein the at least one shelf has a shelf body and shelf edges, each shelf edge having a lip that extends at an angle from the shelf body;   allowing the at least one shelf to serve as a floor for a niche space.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 erecting a plurality of uprights; and   attaching at least one back panel to a first upright and a second upright;   wherein each shelve is configured to attach to an upright and/or the at least one back panel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each shelf has a rear edge with a lip, a front edge with a lip, a first side edge with a lip, and a second side edge with a lip, the method further comprising:
 positioning the front edges of every shelf towards the front opening.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the front edge lip of each shelf is only formed in a middle portion of the front edge, and distal ends of the front edge of each shelf extend beyond the front-facing edge of the first side and the front-facing edge of the second side. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising allowing the distal ends of the front edge serve as supports for a façade slab. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising generating an interlock between the at least one shelf and the at least one upright via tab and tab-aperture engagement.