Expandable rack

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
An expandable rack comprising (1) shelf means consisting of a plurality of shelf sections and (2) bracket means for slidably supporting said shelf means at loci intermediate the outer ends thereof and for securing said shelf means to surfaces adjacent only one longitudinal side of said shelf means, said shelf sections being adapted to slide longitudinally into or out of one another whereby the length of said rack and the position of said shelf means with respect to said bracket means can be varied while said bracket means is secured to said surfaces.
2.
An expandable rack as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper longitudinal edges of each of said shelf sections are rolled to form longitudinal beads with the size of the beads on each section selected to receive the beads of the preceding section and to fit into the beads of any succeeding section.
3.
An expandable rack as defined in claim 2 wherein said bracket means comprises a plurality of brackets and wherein the portion of each bracket which slidably supports said shelf means is formed to substantially match the exterior shape of said shelf sections thereby allowing said shelf means freedom of movement only in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shelf means.
4.
An expandable rack as defined in claim 3 wherein the outermost of said shelf sections is provided with an end wall at one end and the innermost of said shelf sections is provided with an end wall at the opposite end.




Description:
This invention relates to shelves and related articles suitable for supporting various items, and more particularly, to shelves whose length may be varied.
Variable length shelves are known to the public, as, for example, the shelf disclosed in U.
S.
Pat.
No.
905,737 to McCombe.
That shelf consists of three sections, each having beaded edges with the beads of the center section being adapted to receive or engage telescopically the beads of the two end sections which are each approximately one-half the length of the center section