April 3, 1951 M.

ROGGERo
SHELVING STRUCTURE.
Filed May 23, 1946 3 sheets-Sheet

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April 3, 1951 M. RçGGERO 2,547,597
SHELVING STRUCTURE
Filed May 23, 1946 ? 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

INVENTOR.
MARIO ROGGERJO

AT TORNEY
April 3, 1951 M. ROGGERo 2,547,597
SHELVING STRUCTURE
Filed May 23, 1946 3. Sheets-Sheet 3.

INVENTOR.
MARIO ROGGERO

ATTORNEY
 Patented Apr. 3, 1951
2,547,597

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

SHELVING STRUCTURE
Mario Roggero, Genova-Sestri, Italy, assignor to
Pier Carlo Ricchiardi, Rome, Italy
Application May 23, 1946, Serial No. 671,712
16 Ciaims. (CI. 211-143)
2
1. andThis invention relates to articles of furniture
more particularly to shelving structures hav toshelving
return,sections
with thefromsame easiness, the movable
the position indicated by
ing superimposed shelving sections. F” into the position F.
An object of the invention is to provide a As shown at the right-hand side of Figure 1,
shelving structure, wherein the upper movable 5 the shelves may be protected by shutters or the
: shelving section may be readily-lowered or lifted like A, hinged or otherwise connected to the sta
without any angular shifting or swinging thereof. tionary frame of the shelving structure. . . .
Another object of the invention is to arrange According to the invention, the said mechanism
track-forming elements for the movable shelving comprises for each movable shelving section F.
Section as well as the counterweights connected a number (preferably a pair) of fixed guides or
with said movable shelving section in such a man stationary track-forming means, G (Figures 1 to
ner, that they do not occupy useful space within 3) attached to the fixed piece of furniture
the shelving structure and do not affect the outer M (or in the case of a shelving structure as shown
appearance thereof.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent in Figure 1, to the frame of the stationary shelv
from the following specification when read in con ing sections) and projecting upwardly to a height
junction with the accompanying drawings form substantially corresponding to the height of the
ing part of this specification, wherein: upper shelves F. Each of said guides G com
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shelving struc prises a substantially straight vertical portion 10,
ture according to the invention, which is provided 2)
a substantially straight horizontal portion f2 and
with a series of movable shelving sections nor an intermediate curved portion 14 connecting,
mally superimposed over a series of stationary without forming any sharp angle, said vertical
shelving sections, and which includes a mecha front portion 0 and said horizontal upper por
nism for displacing thë movable shelving sections tion 2. The vertical front portion arranged
downwardly in front of the stationary shelving 3 substantially, parallel- and near to the front up
Sections: - right members of the side frames projects down
Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically, in side wardly to a suitable point and extends upward
elevation, the arrangement of guides and other y substantially to the height of the top of the
elements of the shelving structure according to movable shelving section F when the latter is
Fig. 1 for displacing the upper movable shelving O in its upper position. The upper horizontal
Section; portion 2 extends forwardly from the rear end
FigS. 2d. and 2b are fragmentary diagrammati of the frame of the shelving structure, and the
cal views, sinilar to that shown in Fig. 2, illus intermediate curved portion f 4 may be consid
trating the upper movable shelving section in two ered as the rounding off of the angle formed by
different positions; h- said vertical and horizontal portions.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of another On the other hand a complementary guide
embodiment of the invention, and member G' is arranged on each side of the mov
Figure 4 illustrates an engaging roller of the able shelving section F. According to the em
. . movable shelving Section in engagement with a bodiment shown in Figs. 2, 2a, 2b, said guiding
track-forning member of the structure. means G' is formed by members of the frame of
According to the invention, an article of furni the movable shelving section F. Said guiding
ture, e.g. a shelving structure as shown in Figure means G' comprises a lower substantially hori
1, may comprise a number of elementary shelves zontal portion 6 extending rearwardly from the
composed of a lower fixed part or stationary front of the movable shelving section F, a curved
: shelving section M and an upper part or mov portion 8 being a continuation of said lower por
able shelving section F superimposed to the low tion 6 and a rear substantially vertical portion
er one and connected to said lower part by a 20 extending upwardly and being a continuation
mechanism rendering possible an easy . lower of said curved portion 8. The lower portion 6
ing of the movable shelving section F from its of the guiding means G’ is substantially parallel
; upper position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 into to the upper. portion 2 of the stationary track
a lowered position F" shown in dash and dot forming means G; the curve of the curved por
lines in said Fig. 2 by a pull on one of the handles tion 8 of the guiding means G' is similar, re
H attached to the bottom part of the movable versed and inverted relative to the curve of the
... SectionS. F. Of course, as Will be better. Seen curved portion 4 of the stationary track forming
- hereinafter, by the same mechanism it is possible 65, means G (according to the embodiment shown in
 2,547,597
3. 4.
Figs. 2, 2a and 2t, said curved portions 8 and 4 tion G of the stationary track-forming means
respectively are represented by arcs with the through the notch 24 for engagement with the
radius R' and R respectively); and the rear por latter.
tion 20 of the guiding means G' is substantially Then, the movable shelving section F may be
parallel to the front portion 3 of the track 5 moved downwardly from the position shown in
forming means G. Fig.2b into the position F shown in dash and
The guiding means G' arranged on the movable dot lines in Fig. 2. During said downward move
shelving section F are arranged for cooperation ment both engaging rollers B and B ride along
with supporting rollers P (only one being shown) the vertical front portion fo of the stationary
rotatably arranged at a fixed point at the front iU track-forming means G.
of the shelving structure adjacent to the front In the lower position F", the movable shelving
portions C of the stationary track-forming section is suspended from the front portion 0
means G. Said supporting rollers P being in of the stationary track-forming means G in the
rolling engagement with said guiding means G' manner of a cantilever.
Support the movable shelving Section F during For a return of the movable shelving Section
their engagement with the lower portion 6 of from the lower position F" (Fig. 2) into its upper
Said guiding means. position F. (Fig.2) above described steps are taken
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the in reversed order.
Stationary track-forming means G are made of a As mentioned above, the portions 2 and 16 of
hollow tubular member having a longitudinally 20 the stationary track-forming means G and guid
ing means G' respectively are parallel to each
extending slot 22. Furthermore, for a purpose to
be described hereinaifter, each hollow front por other, the portions 0 and 20 of said track-form
tion of the tubular stationary track-forming ing means and guiding means are likewise paral
means G is provided with a notch or cut-out 24 lel to each other and the curve of the curved por
communicating with the interior of said hollow tion 8 of the guiding means G is similar, re
front portion. -- - versed and inverted relative to the curve of the
On each side of the movable shelving section curved portion 4 of the track-forming means G.
Fan upper engaging roller B is rotatably mounted Therefore, during above described displacement
on a shaft at the upper rear portion of Said mov of the movable shelving section F the latter is
able shelving section F. The shaft carrying the 30 always moved parallel to itself, also when guided
engaging roller B extends through the slot 22 of along a curved path. In Figs. 2 and 2a K' indi
the hollow tubular track-forming means G into cates the path of roller B'; in Fig. 2d K indicates
the interior of the latter So that the engaging the path of a point of the movable shelving Sec
roller B cooperating with the stationary track tion F near the handle H. The parallel move
- forming means may ride within the latter. inent of the movable shelving section F is a char
Moreover, on each side of the movable shelving acteristic feature of the guiding mechanism ac
section F a lower engaging roller B' is rotatably cording to the invention which will be referred to
arranged at the lower rear portion of said mov hereinafter as the "reverse guides.'
able shelving section remote from the upper en In order to facilitate the displacement of the
- gaging roller B. A line drawn to connect the movable shelving section, preferably a counter
axes of said rollers B and B. With each other Weight W is connected thereto. As shown in
is parallel to the front portion to of the station Figure 3, to the lower part of the shiftable. Shev
ary track-forming means. G'. ing section F, flexible connecting means L. Such
As will be apparent from above, when the as a line, strap, band or the like, (or even a pair
movable shelving section F is superimposed over ?5
or a number of such flexible connecting means)
the stationary shelving section M as shown in is attached which may run over the Supporting
full lines in Fig. 2, the upper engaging roller B roller P and an idling roller P' journalled at the
of the movable shelving section is in engagement rear of the shelving structure and carries at its
with the rear end of the upper horizontal portion lower end a weight W which, during the shift
2 of the stationary track-forming means G and ing of the shelving section F, runs along the
the supporting roller P is in engagement with the rear part of the fixed piece of furniture M.
front end of the lower portion 6 of the guiding When the upper shelving section Fis moved sub
means G' arranged on the movable shelving stantially from the position shown in Fig. 2b
. Section E. into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2,
When it is desired to lower the movable shev the weight W passes rearwardly of a lower guide
- ing Section Fº frCm , its upper position shown in pulley P'', rolls or slides along an inclined guide
full lines in Fig. 2 into a lower position F shown way C and comes to rest near the front bottom
in dash and dot lines in said Fig. 2, the movable part or socket Z of the lower furniture. Thus,
shelving Section is gripped by hand at the handle when the upper movable shelving section F is
H and, at first, is pulled outwardly. During said 60 Superimposed over the stationary shelving Sec
OutWard noVement of the movable shelving Sec tion M the counterweight is inoperative and when
tion F, the upper engaging roller B rides along the upper movable shelving section is first pulled
the horizontal portion 2 of the stationary track outwardly, the operator does not need to lift
forming means G until it reaches the position the counterweight, and during the first part of
shown in Fig. 2d., Whereupon it enters the curved 65 the downward path he needs only to shift same
portion f4 and rides along the latter until it along the bottom of the inclined guideway C.
reaches the position shown in Fig. 2b. At the When on the contrary the movable shelving Sec
same time, the lower portion of the movable tiontends to slide downwardly on the straight front
shelving section F is supported and guided by portion f O of the stationary track-forming means
the Supporting roller P cooperating at first with G, the counterweight is gradually lifted first along
the lower portion 6 of the guiding means G' 70
and thereafter with the curved portion 8 of the the ascending portion of the guideway C and
latter. -
at the end of the curved path said weight W
- Moreover, shortly before the movable shelving comes to be freely suspended, so that it approxi
section F reaches the position shown in Fig. 2b, mately balances the load of the movable shelv
its lower engaging roller B' enters the front por Ks Av
ing section, which is now suspended from the
 2,547,597
5 6
front portion fo of the track-forming means G of a hollow, tubular member having a longitudi
by means of the spaced rollers B and B. nally extending slot, and said engaging means
. . . According to the embodiment shown in Figure extending through said slot and riding within said
. 3, the pairs of engaging rollers B and B' are tubular member.
mounted on brackets secured to the movable 3. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim i,
- shelving section F, so that the straight rear por said Supporting means being in the shape of at
tion of the guiding means G' is at a distance least One roller rotatably mounted on a stationary
from the straight' front portion of the track point of the shelving structure.
- forming means when the shelving section F is 4. In combination. With a shelving structure as
. Suspended from the latter. The roller B' may claimed in claim 1, a counter-Weight, and means
leave Or enter the interior of the hollow tubular
track-forming means through a slot 24. It is connecting said counter-weight to said movable
shelving Section.
apparent that the above roller pairs B, B' co 5. In combination with a shelving structure as
operating with the stationary track-forming claimed in claim 1, a counter-weight, and means
means G avoid any angular shifting of the mov 5 connecting Said counter-weight to said movable
able shelving section F obliging same to remain shelving section, said counter-weight connection
always in true upright position, and be always including means rendering the counter-weight
displaced parallel to itself. - substantially ineffective during the engagement
It is to be noted that in Figure 3 the weight of said engaging means with the forwardly ex
W is simply attached to the line L, or the like tending upper portion of said stationary track
: through a coiled spring S so that when the weight forning means.
W reaches its lower position (which takes place 6. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim 1,
when the upper piece of furniture has reached said supporting means being in the shape of at
its upper level) it simply bears on the ground, least One Supporting roller rotatably mounted on
while the spring S by recoiling keeps the line 25 a stationary point of the shelving structure, a
I sufficiently tight to avoid of same running off counter-weight, and flexible connecting means
the sheaves or rollers P', or otherwise running connected to Said counter-Weight; and to Said
out of the guide members. On the other hand, movable shelving Section, Said flexible connect
when the upper piece of furniture is pulled out, ing means being engaged with Said Supporting
the Spring remains in its coiled position and 3) roller.
begins to uncoil only at the end of the horizontal 7. A shelving structure comprising in combina
path, during the shifting along of the curved tion: stationary track-forming means for con
guide part and the weight W is lifted only when nection with a support, said stationary track
the Said piece of furniture is pulled down, at the forming means including a substantially straight
end of its curved path. upper portion extending forwardly from the rear
It is apparent that the invention may be em of said shelving structure, a curved portion being
bodied in many different ways always based on a continuation of said upper portion and a sub
the principle of the reversed guides, which might stantially straight front portion being a continua
have a different shape, provided the fixed guide. tion of said curved portion and extending down
be made Symmetrical to the movable one and the wardly, supporting means fixedly disposed at the
different straight guide branches be connected front of said shelving structure in a plane below
together by curved parts of suitably ample radii. the plane of said upper portion of the stationary
What I claim is: track-forming means, a movable shelving section,
1. A shelving structure comprising in combina engaging means mounted at the rear upper por
tion: Stationary track-forming means for connec 45 tion of said novable shelving section and coop
tion with a Support, said stationary track-form eratively and shiftably engaged with Said station
ing means including an upper portion extending alry track-forming means, and guiding means ar
forwardly from the rear of said shelving struc ranged on said movable shelving Section, Said
ture and a front portion being a continuation guiding means including a Substantially straight
of Said upper portion and extending downwardly, lower portion extending rearwardly from the
50
Supporting means fixedly disposed at the front of front of said shelving section, a curved portion
Said shelving structure in a plane below the plane being a continuation of said lower portion and a
of said upper portion of the stationary track Substantially straight rear portion being a con
forming means, a movable shelving section, en tinuation of Said curved portion and extending
gaging means mounted at the rear upper portion 55 upWardly, Said lower portion of Said guiding
of Said movable shelving section and cooperative means being substantially parallel to said upper
ly and shiftably engaged with said stationary portion of said track-forming means, the curve
track-forning means, and guiding means ar of said curved portion of said guiding means being
ranged on Said movable shelving section, said Similar, reversed and inverted relative to the
guiding means including a lower portion extend 60
- ing rearwardly from the front of said shelving curve of said curved portion of said track-form
ing means, said rear portion of said guiding means
Section and a rear portion being a continuation being substantially parallel to said front portion
of said lower portion and extending upwardly, of said track-forming means, and said supporting
said lower portion of said guiding means being means being in cooperative and shiftable engage
Substantially parallel to said upper portion of said 65 ment with said guiding means and supporting
track-forming means, said rear portion of said said movable shelving Section during an engage
guiding means being substantially parallel to ment with the lower portion of Said guiding
said front portion of said track-forming means, e2S.
ani said supporting means being in cooperative 8. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim 7,
and shiftable engagement with said guiding 70 Said Supporting means being arranged adjacent
means and Supporting Said movable shelving sec the straight front portion of said stationary track
tion during an engagement with the lower por forming means. -
tinn of Said guiding means.
2. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim 1, 9. A shelving structure comprising in combina
... said stationary track-forming means being made 75 nectionstationary
tion: track-forming
with a support, means fortrack
said stationary con
 2,547,597
7 8
forming means including an upper portion ex of said curved portion of said track-formifing
means, said rear portion of Said guiding means
tending forwardly from the rear of said shelving being
structure and a front portion being a continui
ation of said upper portion and extending down of
means being in cooperative and shiftable engage
wardly, supporting means fixedly disposed at the ment
front of said shelving structure in a plane below guidingwith
the plane of said upper portion of the Stationary ing section
track-forming means, a movable shelving Section,
first engaging means mounted at the rear upper
portion of said movable shelving Section and co
operatively and shiftably engaged with Said sta
tionary track-forming means, guiding means air
ranged on said movable shelving section, Said
guiding means including a lower portion extend
ing rearwardly from the front of said ShelVing
section and a rear portion being a continuation
of said lower portion and extending upwardly,
said lower portion of Said guiding means being
substantially parallel to said upper portion of
said track-forming means, said rear portion of
said guiding means being Substantially parallel to
said front portion of Said track-forming means,
said supporting means being in cooperative and
shiftable engagement With at least the lower por
tion of said guiding means and Supporting said
movable shelving section during an engagement
With the lower portion of said guiding means, and
second engaging means mounted at the rear lower
portion of said movable shelving section, Said sec
ond engaging means being arranged below and st)
remote from said first engaging means and be
ing capable of cooperative and shiftable engage
ment with the front portion of said stationary
track-formiing means when said first engaging
means engages said front portion of the track- :
forming means.
10. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim
9, said stationary track-forming means being
made of a hollow tubular member having a longi
tudinally extending slot, Said first engaging means
extending through said slot and riding within
Said tubular ninenber, and said hollow tubular
member having a notch communicating with its
interior, said notch Serving as a passage for Said
second engaging means SO. as to enable same to
ride within said tubular member.
11. A shelving structure comprising in combi
nation: stationary track-forming means for con
nection with a Support, said stationary track
forming means including a substantially straight.
upper portion extending for Wardly from the rear
of said shelving structure, a curved portion being
a continuation of Said upper portion and a sub
Stantially Straight front portion being a continu
ation of Said curved portion and extending down
wardly, supporting means fixedly disposed at the
front of Said shelving Structure in a plane below
the plane of Said upper portion of the stationary
track-forming means, a movable shelving sec
tion, first engaging means mounted at the rear. 60
upper portion of said movable shelving. Section
and cooperatively and shiftably engaged with said
stationary track-forming means, guiding means
Secured to Said movable shelving Section, Said
guiding means including a Substantially straight.
lower portion extending rear Wardly from the front
of Said shelving section, a curved portion being
a continuation of Said lower portion and a Sub
stantially straight rear portion being a continu
ation of Said curved portion and extending up
Wardly, said lower portion of said guiding means
being Substantially parallel to said upper portion
of Said track-forming means, the curve of said
curved portion of Said guiding means being simi
lar, reversed and inverted relative to the curve 73 portion of said frame, the upper portion of said
substantially parallel to Said front portion
said track-forming means, said Supporting
at least the lower portion of said
means and supporting said movable shelv
during an engagement with the lower
portion of said guiding means, and Second engag
ing means mounted at the rear lower portion of
said movable shelving Section, Said Second engag
ing means being arranged below. and remote from
said first engaging means and being capable of
cooperative and shiftable engagement With the
front portion of said stationary track-forming
naeans when said first engaging means engages
said front portion of the track-forming means.
12. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim
11, Said Stationary track-forming means being
made of a hollow tubular member having a longi
tudinally extending slot, Said first engaging means
extending through said slot and riding within
said tubular member, and Said hollow tubular
member having a notch communicating. with its
interior, said notch serving as a passage for said
25
second engaging means So as to enable Same, to
ride Within said tubular member.
13. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim
1, a frame constituting said support connected
with said stationary track-forming means, and a
stationary shelving Section arranged in the lower
portion of said frame, the upper portion of said
track-forming means being arranged above said
stationary shelving section and extending for
Wardly from the rear of the shelving structure
beyond the plane of the front of the stationary
shelving section, and said movable shelving sec
tion being superimposed over said stationary
shelving Section when its engaging means is in
engagement with the rear end of said upper por
tion of the track-forming means. . . .. .
14. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim
7, a frame constituting said support connected
with said Stationary track-forming means, and a
stationary shelving Section arranged in the lower
portion of Said frame, the upper portion of Said
track-forming means being arranged above said
stationary shelving Section, said upper portion
and the curved portion of the track-forming
means extending forwardly from the rear of the
shelving structure beyond the plane of the front
of the stationary Shelving Section, and said mov
able shelving section being Superimposed over
Said Stationary shelving section when its engag
55 ing means is in engagement with the rear end of
Said upper portion of the track-forming means.
15. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim
9, a frame constituting said support connected
With Said stationary track-forming means, and a
Stationary shelving section arranged in the lower
portion of said frame, the upper portion of said
track-forming means being arranged above said
Stationary shelving section and extending for
Wardly from the rear of the shelving structure be
yond the plane of the front of the stationary
shelving section, and said movable shelving sec
tion being superimposed over said stationary
shelving Section. When its first engaging means is
in engagement with the rear end of said upper
70 portion of the track-forming means.
16. In a shelving structure as claimed in claim
11, a frame constituting said support connected
With Said Stationary track-forming means, and a
Stationary shelving Section arranged in the lower
 2,547,597
9 10
track-forming means being arranged above said REFERENCEs CITED
stationary shelving section, said upper portion The following references are of record in the
and the curved portion of the track-forming file of this patent:
means extending forwardly from the rear of the
shelving structure beyond the plane of the front 3 UNITED STATES PATENTs
of the stationary shelving section, and said mov- Number Name Date
able shelving section being superimposed over 617,965 Lippincott et al. ----- Jan, 17, 1899
said stationary shelving section when its first 64,212 Lippincott ---------- Jan. 9, 1900
engaging
end means
of said upperis portion
in engagement with the rear to
of the track-forming 714,206 Lippincott --------- Nov. 25, 1902
eaS :

MARIO R,OGGER,O.