Shelf support

An elongate shelf support for engaging a rear portion of a rectangular section shelf having an underside and a top, and holding said shelf as a cantilever, said shelf support being formed as an elongate member so that the support extends along a substantial part of the length of a rear portion of said shelf, said shelf support comprising:

• mounting means for mounting said shelf support on an upright surface, said mounting means having a rear surface for engaging said upright surface, said mounting means also having a front surface which can engage the rear of said shelf;
• support means carried by said mounting means and comprising first and second support parts at substantially the same level for engaging a rear portion of said underside of said shelf, said second support part being spaced behind said first support part whereby said second support part is nearer said mounting means rear surface than is said first support part;
• and
• retaining means carried by said mounting means for engaging a rear portion of said top of said shelf, said retaining means comprising a retaining surface inclined forwards and downwards at a small angle to the horizontal, said retaining surface being spaced above said first and second support means and having a lowermost retaining part which is positioned nearer said mounting means rear surface than said first support part but further from said mounting means rear surface than said second support part, said retaining part being movable upwards with respect to said support means by the application of only substantially vertical upwards force to said retaining part, said retaining means and said support means defining a gap for receiving and frictionally engaging said rear portion of said shelf, and said retaining means, said support means and said front surface of said mounting means defining a channel such that when said shelf is inserted in said channel with a forward edge thereof raised, and is pushed generally horizontally back towards said forward surface of said mounting means, a mechanical action is produced which causes said retaining surface to move upwardly with respect to said support means.

A shelf support for engaging a rear portion of a rectangular section shelf having an underside and a top, and holding said shelf as a cantilever, said shelf support comprising;

• mounting means for mounting said shelf support on an upright surface, said mounting means having a rear surface for engaging said upright surface;
• support means carried by said mounting means and comprising first and second support parts at substantially the same level for engaging a rear portion of said underside of said shelf, said second support part being spaced behind said first support part whereby said second support part is nearer said mounting means rear surface than is said first support part, there being between said first and second support parts a dip defined by a dip zone and a wedge surface, defined on said support means, said dip zone and said wedge surface meeting at a large obtuse angle, said dip zone being inclined forwards and upwards at a small angle to the horizontal and said wedge surface being inclined forwards and downwards at a small angle to the horizontal;
• and
• retaining means carried by said mounting means for engaging a rear portion of said top of said shelf, said retaining means comprising a retaining surface inclined forwards and downwards at a small angle to the horizontal, said retaining surface being spaced above said first and second support part, and said retaining surface having a lowermost, retaining part which is positioned nearer said mounting means rear surface than said first support part but further from said mounting means rear surface than said second support part, and above said wedge surface, the vertical distance between the said retaining part and the end of said wedge surface which is furthest from said mounting means rear surface being greater than the vertical distance between said retaining part and said first support part or said second support part such than when said shelf is pushed generally horizontally back towards said upright surface, the wedging action produced by said wedge surfaces causes said retaining part to move upwardly with respect to said support means.