Supports: racks – Special article – Recorded music type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-11-27
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Recorded music type
C211S043000, C211S194000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321918
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to a shelving system and in particular, to a modular shelving system capable of being readily assembled and disassembled.
2. Description of Related Art
Various types of modular shelving systems have been disclosed to the public for storing articles. Many modular shelving systems have stackable modular units. Examples of stackable shelving systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,421,467; 5,788,088 and 5,791,265. U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,467 describes stackable modular units each having first and second support members in parallel to one another with a continuously positionable shelf The modular units may be stacked wherein mating upper and lower stacking surfaces of the support members abut. U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,088 also describes a stackable rack. The tower-like rack described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,088 has a base body, three columns, and a plurality of support plates for individually supporting compact disk boxes. Yet another stackable shelving system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,265. The shelving system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,265 includes open-sided frames stacked together to form columns. The columns have a guide opening which receives a shelving element thereby locking the stacked frames together.
In addition to generally stackable shelving systems, other shelving systems can be extended laterally as well as vertically. Typically, extendable modular units are connected or repeated in the direction of shelving support members. An example of a modular extendable shelving system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,081 where the system comprises interconnecting vertical posts, horizontal beams, side horizontal braces, coupling connectors, and horizontal shelf pieces positioned on the horizontal beams.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,232 describes another extendable shelving assembly having two substantially upright side panels each having holes through their surfaces. Shelf-support members extend between the side panels. The shelving assembly can be repeated in the direction of the shelf-support members for the entire length of a wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,544 shows yet another extendable shelving system including modular base units connected with binder clips. Each modular base unit further has at least two shelving units interconnected with vertical support posts.
There is still a need, however, for a modular shelving system that is easy to assemble and expandable in both the vertical and horizontal directions. There is also a need for a modular shelving system that is readily assembled yet securely connected so as to prevent displacement between its components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A modular shelving assembly is provided and includes a substantially vertical first wall; a second wall parallel to the first wall wherein each of the first wall and the second wall has a base panel and an ancillary panel. The base panel comprises an upper profile and the ancillary panel comprises a lower profile adapted to vertically interlock with the upper profile of the base panel. An interface and a plurality of apertures is formed where the upper and lower profiles interlock. The shelving system further has at least one bridging member. The bridging member extends between the first wall and the second wall and can be detachably connected to the first wall with a fastener extending through one of the plurality of apertures.
The modular shelving system may further be expanded along the length of a wall by adding additional walls interconnected with additional bridging members. The modular shelving system may also be heightened by connecting additional ancillary panels to each of the walls.
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Boltz-USA, CD330 Etc., http://www.boltz-usa.com.
Space Control, CD Racks, http://www.thespacecontrol.com.
Batt Richard R.
Novosad Jennifer E.
Stodola Daniel P.
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