Floating shelf with internal dowel and rail mounting system

Abstract

A shelving and storage system is provided. The system comprises a rectangular mounting rail attached horizontally to a wall surface, the rail exhibiting a first plurality of vertical holes bored through the rail from an upward facing surface of the rail. The system also comprises a modular shelf assembly comprising a rectangular five-sided box, an open sixth side, and a second plurality of vertical holes bored fully through an upward facing surface of the box and a lower set of smaller diameter holes bored fully through a bottom facing surface of the assembly. The system receives placement over and enveloping the rail and against the wall surface with the sixth side contacting the wall surface in a flush manner. The system also receives, during the placement, a first insertion of the mounting rail into the open sixth side. Retaining dowels placed in the vertical holes bind the components together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shelving and storage system, comprising:
 a rectangular mounting rail attached horizontally to a wall surface, the rail exhibiting a first plurality of vertical holes bored through the rail from an upward facing surface of the rail;   a modular shelf assembly comprising a rectangular five-sided box, an open sixth side, and a second plurality of vertical holes bored fully through an upward facing surface of the box and a lower set of smaller diameter holes bored fully through a bottom facing surface of the assembly that:
 receives placement over and enveloping the rail and against the wall surface with the sixth side contacting the wall surface in a flush manner, 
 receives, during the placement, a first insertion of the mounting rail into the open sixth side, and 
 receives, after the placement and after the first insertion, a second insertion of retaining dowels into the second plurality of vertical holes and thereafter into the first plurality of vertical holes. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the mounting rail align with dimensions of the open sixth side, thus promoting tight installation of the shelf assembly over the rail and against the wall surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of holes is positioned in the rail and the second plurality of holes are positioned in the upper surface of the box such that after the first insertion, the second plurality aligns with the first plurality and facilitates the second insertion of retaining dowels. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting rail attaches to the wall surface via screws into wall studs concealed by the wall surface. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dowels are removable via upward pushing action through smaller diameter cylinder holes in an underside surface of the shelf assembly, the smaller holes leading to bottom ends of the dowels. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein size of dowels used depends on size of shelf and intended weight of objects to be placed upon shelf. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein when fully installed, the system exhibits a cantilever appearance with no visible support hardware. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein selected surfaces of the shelf assembly are covered with cladding material. 
     
     
         9 . A floating shelf system with a cantilevered appearance comprising:
 a rectangular flat box with one lengthwise side open and facing a wall surface;   a mounting rail attached to the wall surface and residing inside the open lengthwise side; and   retaining dowel pins inserted through holes in an upward facing surface of the box and into vertical holes in the rail, the pins binding the box to the rail.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the upward facing surface of the box serves as a shelf surface. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the mounting rail is not visible when the system is fully installed. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the pins are removable when the shelf system is to be dismantled. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the holes in the box and holes in the rail are positioned such that after the box is placed against the wall and over the rail, the holes in the box and the rail align with each other and facilitate insertion of retaining dowel pins. 
     
     
         14 . A shelving system for displaying lightweight objects and without visible support hardware, comprising:
 a shelf assembly comprising a rectangular box structure with one lengthwise side open, the open side positioned flush against a wall surface;   a mounting rail installed horizontally against the wall surface, the rail fitting inside the open lengthwise side of the box structure upon positioning of the open lengthwise side against the wall surface;   vertical dowels placed through first holes in an upper surface of the box structure, through second holes in the mounting rail, and resting immediately above third holes in a lower surface of the box structure.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein length and height of the mounting rail align with length and height of the open lengthwise side, the alignment promoting a tight installation of the shelf assembly over the rail and against the wall surface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the placement of dowels secures the shelf assembly to the mounting rail. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the mounting rail attaches to the wall surface screws into via wall studs concealed by the wall surface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the dowels are removable via upward pushing action through smaller diameter cylinder holes in an underside surface of the shelf assembly, the smaller holes leading to bottom ends of the dowels. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein size of dowels used depends on size of shelf and intended weight of objects to be placed atop the shelf assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein when fully installed, the system has a cantilever appearance with no visible support hardware.