IP Library Granted Patent US 9,474,366
Granted Patent B2
US 9,474,366 · App. 14/686,026 · Granted Oct 25, 2016

Adjustable shelf

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,474,366
App. No.
14/686,026
Granted
Oct 25, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A partition system includes various accessories that may be associated with a wall or base element. The accessories include without limitation an adjustable shelf. The wall element may be curved or linear in various embodiments. The wall element may include an upstanding wall or a channel, either or both of which are engaged by one or more accessories.

Claims (28)

1. An adjustable shelf comprising:

a plurality of mounting portions disposed adjacent a first end and a plurality of distal end portions adjacent a second end opposite said first end, said plurality of mounting portions and distal end portions defining an upper support surface;

and a plurality of flexible joints connecting said mounting portions and said distal end portions a plurality of first slots separating said mounting portions and having an open end proximate said mounting portions; a plurality of second slots separating said distal end portions and having an open end proximate said distal end portions, wherein said second slots are offset from said first slots; wherein each mounting portion comprises a claw defining a downward opening channel configured to receive a wall having an upper surface; and

wherein said plurality of mounting portions and distal end portions can be arranged in a linear configuration or a curved configuration on a concave surface.

2. The adjustable shelf of claim 1 wherein each of said flexible joints comprises a strip bendable about an axis orthogonal to a plane defined by said support surface.

3. The adjustable shelf of claim 1 wherein adjacent ones of said distal end portions are moveable toward or away from each other, and adjacent ones of said mounting portions are moveable away from or toward each other respectively when said elongated supports are arranged in said curved configuration.

4. The adjustable shelf of claim 1 wherein said elongated supports are biased toward said linear configuration.

5. The adjustable shelf claim 1 wherein said channels of said claws form a curved channel when said elongated supports are in said curved configuration.

6. The adjustable shelf of claim 1 wherein said channels of said claws form a linear channel when said elongated supports are in said linear configuration.

7. The adjustable shelf of claim 1 wherein said plurality mounting portions and distal end portions can be arranged in a second curved configuration on a convex surface.

8. An adjustable shelf comprising:

a plurality of elongated mounting portions disposed adjacent a first end and a plurality of elongated distal end portions adjacent a second end opposite said first end, said plurality of mounting portions and distal end portions defining an upper support surface;

a plurality of flexible joints connecting said mounting portions and said distal end portions;

a plurality of first slots separating said mounting portions and having an open end proximate said mounting portions;

a plurality of second slots separating said distal end portions and having an open end proximate said distal end portions, wherein said second slots are offset from said first slots; and wherein each mounting portion comprises a claw defining a downward opening channel configured to receive a wall having an upper surface.

9. The adjustable shelf of claim 8 wherein said upper support surface can be arranged in a linear configuration or a curved configuration.

10. The adjustable shelf of claim 8 wherein at least one of the plurality of elongated mounting portions is joined to a pair of said plurality of elongated distal end portions.

11. The adjustable shelf of claim 8 , wherein the claw includes opposing arms extending substantially perpendicular to the upper support surface.

12. The ad useable shelf of claim 8 , further comprising a bookend mounting portion connected to one of the plurality of elongated mounting portions.

13. The adjustable shelf of claim 8 wherein said upper support surface can be arranged in a linear configuration, a curved configuration on a concave surface, or a curved configuration on a convex surface.

14. The adjustable shelf of claim 8 wherein and second slots includes a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width less than said first width in an un-stretched position.

15. The adjustable shelf of claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of first and second slots includes a rounded closed end.

16. An adjustable shelf comprising:

a plurality of elongated mounting portions disposed adjacent a first end and a plurality of elongated distal end portions adjacent a second end opposite said first end, said plurality of mounting portions and distal end portions defining an upper support surface;

a plurality of flexible joints connecting said mounting portions and said distal end portions; a plurality of first slots separating said mounting portions and having an open end proximate said mounting portions; a plurality of second slots separating said distal end portions and having an open end proximate said distal end portions, wherein said second slots are offset from said first slots; and wherein each mounting portion comprises a claw defining

a downwardly opening channel configured to receive a wall having an upper surface oriented parallel to the upper support surface, said channel extending perpendicular to said elongated mounting portions and said upper support surface.

17. The adjustable shelf of claim 16 wherein said channel is defined by a first arm extending perpendicular from a first mounting portion and a second arm extending perpendicular from said first mounting portion.

18. The adjustable shelf of claim 16 wherein said upper support surface can be arranged in a linear configuration or a curved configuration and said channel forms a curved channel when said upper support surface is in said curved configuration.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
To: MILLERKNOLL, INC.
Reel/Frame 059360/0500 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2015
From: PLIKAT, THE ESTATE OF CLAUDIA
To: SCHMITZ, JOHANN BURKHARD; ZWICK, CAROLA; ZWICK, ROLAND
Reel/Frame 036784/0573 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 13, 2015
From: SCHMITZ, JOHANN BURKHARD; ZWICK, CAROLA E.M.; ZWICK, ROLAND R.O.; MAIDL, JANJA
To: HERMAN MILLER, INC.
Reel/Frame 036784/0691 →