Floating shelf system

Abstract

A floating shelf system and a method of installing the floating shelf system thereof. The floating shelf system includes at least one cleat having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a longitudinal axis defined therebetween. The floating shelf system also includes a shelf that is operably engaged with the at least one cleat. The shelf has a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a longitudinal axis defined therebetween. The at least one cleat of the floating shelf system is adapted to operably engaged with a support structure. The longitudinal axis of the at least one cleat and the longitudinal axis of the shelf are aligned and coaxial with one another upon being installed on the support surface.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A floating shelf system, comprising:
 at least one cleat having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a longitudinal axis defined therebetween; and   a shelf operably engaged with the at least one cleat, the shelf having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a longitudinal axis defined therebetween;   wherein the at least one cleat is adapted to operably engaged with a support structure; and   wherein the longitudinal axis of the at least one cleat and the longitudinal axis of the shelf are aligned and coaxial with one another.   
     
     
         2 . The floating shelf system of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf comprises:
 a third end positioned between the first end of the shelf and the second end of the shelf;   a fourth end positioned between the first end of the shelf and the second end of the shelf and opposite to the third end; and   a slot defined in the shelf extending from the fourth end towards the third end;   wherein the slot is configured to receive the at least one cleat entirely when the shelf operably engages with the at least one cleat.   
     
     
         3 . The floating shelf of  claim 2 , wherein the shelf further comprises:
 a first interior surface positioned inside of the slot;   a second interior surface positioned inside of the slot opposite to the first interior surface; and   a third interior surface positioned inside of the slot between the first interior surface and the second interior surface.   
     
     
         4 . The floating shelf system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one cleat comprises:
 a first cleat portion operably engaged with the shelf; and   a second cleat portion extending from the first cleat portion and operably engaged with the shelf;   wherein the second cleat portion is adapted to operably engage with the support structure in conjunction with the shelf.   
     
     
         5 . The floating shelf system of  claim 4 , wherein the first cleat portion operably engages with the first interior surface and the third interior surface; and
 wherein the second cleat portion operably engages with the second interior surface.   
     
     
         6 . The floating shelf system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one cleat further comprises:
 a first cleat surface provided on the first cleat portion;   a second cleat surface provided on the first cleat portion opposite to the first cleat surface; and   a third cleat surface provided on the first cleat portion positioned between the first cleat surface and the second cleat surface.   
     
     
         7 . The floating shelf system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one cleat further comprises:
 a fourth cleat surface provided on the second cleat portion;   a fifth cleat surface provided on the second cleat portion opposite to the fourth cleat surface; and   a sixth cleat surface provided on the second cleat portion positioned between the fourth cleat surface and the fifth cleat surface.   
     
     
         8 . The floating shelf system of  claim 7 , wherein the first cleat surface operably engages with the first interior surface of the shelf;
 wherein the third cleat surface operably engages with the third interior surface of the shelf;   wherein the fourth cleat surface is adapted to operably engages with the support structure; and   wherein the sixth cleat surface operably engages with the second interior surface.   
     
     
         9 . The floating shelf system of  claim 7 , wherein the shelf further comprises:
 a first slot length of the first interior surface measured from the fourth end of the shelf to the third interior surface; and   a first cleat length of the first cleat portion measured from the third cleat surface to the fifth cleat surface;   wherein the first slot length and the first cleat length are equal to one another.   
     
     
         10 . The floating shelf system of  claim 9 , wherein the shelf further comprises:
 a second slot length of the second interior surface measured from the fourth end of the shelf to the third interior surface; and   a second cleat length of the second cleat portion measured from the fourth cleat surface to the sixth cleat surface;   wherein the second slot length is greater than the first cleat length.   
     
     
         11 . The floating shelf system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one cleat further comprises:
 a first cleat plane disposing the first cleat portion; and   a second cleat plane disposed the second cleat portion;   wherein the first cleat plane and the second cleat plate intersect one another.   
     
     
         12 . The floating shelf system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one cleat further comprises:
 at least one aperture extending entirely through the second cleat portion along an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the at least one cleat.   
     
     
         13 . The floating shelf system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 at least one fastener adapted to attach the at least one cleat to the support structure via the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         14 . The floating shelf system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one cleat further comprises:
 a plurality of apertures extending entirely through the second cleat portion;   wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures extends along an axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the at least one cleat.   
     
     
         15 . The floating shelf system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a plurality of fasteners adapted to attach the at least one cleat to the support structure via the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising steps of:
 introducing at least one cleat of a floating shelf system to a support structure at a desired position, wherein the at least one cleat has a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a longitudinal axis defined therebetween;   engaging the at least one cleat with the support structure at the desired position;   introducing a shelf of the floating shelf system with the at least one cleat, wherein the shelf has a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, and a longitudinal axis defined therebetween; and   engaging the shelf with the at least one cleat at the desired positon, wherein the longitudinal axis of the at least one cleat and the longitudinal axis of the shelf are aligned parallel with one another.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 engaging the shelf with the support structure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of engaging the shelf with the at least one cleat at the desired positon further comprises:
 inserting the at least one cleat into a slot defined by the shelf.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of engaging the shelf with the at least one cleat at the desired positon further comprises:
 inserting a first cleat portion and a second cleat portion into a slot defined by the shelf; and   engaging the second clear portion of the at least one cleat with the support surface.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of engaging the at least one cleat to the support surface at the desired position further comprises:
 inserting at least one fastener, via at least one aperture defined in the at least one cleat, through the at least one cleat; and   fastening the at least one cleat, via the at least one fastener, with the support surface at the desired position.