Shelf Support

Abstract

The shelf support securely supports and locks shelves in place within conventional cabinetry and accommodate shelves having multiple thicknesses. The shelf support has a shelf seat, post, lower back, a hinged upper back, and a pair of locking tabs integrally formed or molded as single component. The shelf seat provides the platform upon which the shelves rest. The hinges upper back has two or more locking tabs that extend angularly over the shelf seat that flex and engage the top surface of the shelves to hold the shelves against the shelf support. Each locking tab is dimensioned and configured to engage a shelf of differing thicknesses.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A shelf support for supporting a shelf within cabinetry having a hole for receiving the shelf support, comprising:
 a back;   a shelf seat extending from the back for receiving the shelf;   a post extending from the back opposite the shelf seat for seating within the hole of the cabinetry,   the back having a lower back, a hinged upper back and flexible locking tab extending over and spaced from the shelf seat to engage and secure the shelf when seated atop the shelf seat.   
     
     
         2 . The shelf support of  claim 1  wherein the upper back has a top section thereof and a bottom section thereof joined by a central hinge element, such that the hinge element acts as a living hinge to allow the upper back to flex. 
     
     
         3 . The shelf support of  claim 1  wherein the locking tab extends from the upper back at an angle relative to the plane of the lower back. 
     
     
         4 . The shelf support of claim  10  wherein the upper back has a central opening therein, the locking tabs resiliently extending into the central opening of the upper back. 
     
     
         5 . A shelf support for supporting one or more shelves of differing thicknesses within cabinetry having a hole for receiving the shelf support, the shelf support comprising:
 a back;   a shelf seat extending from the back;   a post extending from the back opposite the shelf seat for seating within the hole of the cabinetry,   the back having a lower back, a hinged upper back and one or more flexible locking tabs extending over and spaced from the shelf seat to engage and secure each of the one or more of the shelves when seated atop the shelf seat.   
     
     
         7 . The shelf support of  claim 5  wherein the upper back has a top portion thereof and a bottom portion thereof joined by a central hinge element, such that the hinge element acts as a living hinge to allow the upper back to flex. 
     
     
         8 . The shelf support of  claim 5  wherein each of the one or more locking tabs extends from the upper back at an angle relative to the plane of the lower back. 
     
     
         9 . The shelf support of  claim 5  wherein the upper back has a central opening therein, each of the one or more locking tabs resiliently extending into the central opening of the upper back. 
     
     
         10 . The shelf support of  claim 5  wherein each of the one or more locking tabs is dimensioned and configure to engage one of the one or more shelves to securely hold the one of the one or more shelves against the shelf seat when the one of the one or more shelves is seated atop the shelf seat. 
     
     
         11 . A shelf support for supporting one or more shelves of differing thicknesses within cabinetry having a hole for receiving the shelf support, the shelf support comprising:
 a back;   a shelf seat extending from the back;   a post extending from the back opposite the shelf seat for engagement within the hole of the cabinetry,   the back having a lower back, a hinged upper back and one or more flexible locking tabs extending over and spaced from the shelf seat to engage and secure each of the one or more of the shelves when seated atop the shelf seat,   the upper back has a top portion thereof and a bottom portion thereof joined by a central hinge element, such that the hinge element acts as a living hinge to allow the upper back to flex, the upper back has a central opening therein, each of the one or more locking tabs resiliently extending into the central opening of the upper back,   each of the one or more locking tab extends from the upper back at an angle relative to the plane of the lower back, each of the one or more locking tabs is dimensioned and configure to engage one of the one or more shelves to securely hold the one of the one or more shelves against the shelf seat when the one of the one or more shelves is seated atop the shelf seat.