Supports: racks – Shelf type – Knockdown
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-20
2003-10-21
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Shelf type
Knockdown
C108S180000, C403S294000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06634511
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains generally to furniture, and more particularly to shelving such as modular shelving having shelving pieces which may be combined to form a variety of shelving configurations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many types of shelving are available which span the range in cost, appearance, and portability. Built-in shelving systems made of wood and similar materials are often very attractive. However, such systems can be expensive to install, often requiring customized construction for the room in which the shelves are to be placed. Also, once constructed, built-in shelving systems become a permanent feature of the room in which they are placed. Such shelving systems are not portable. Stand alone shelving pieces, such a stand alone book cases, made of wood and similar materials can also be attractive. While such shelving pieces can be moved, as a practical matter, they are often relatively large pieces of furniture which can be very heavy, unwieldy, and difficult to transport easily. At the other end of the scale from built-in shelving and stand alone shelving pieces are shelving systems which are designed to be portable. Such systems span the range from the impromptu board, cinder block, and milk crate shelving which are staples of many college dorm rooms, to much more sophisticated shelving systems made of wood or metal which can be disassembled or even folded about hinges for easy transport.
Most portable shelving systems, and even some built-in shelving systems, allow for adjustment of the number of shelves and the spacing between shelves in the system. This feature is provided by extending tabs or other structures formed extending from the vertical support structure of the shelving system and upon which individual shelves may be placed. These extending shelf support tabs or other structures are often removeably positioned in holes or slots formed in the face sides of vertical support structures. In other systems shelves may be removably held in position on vertical support structures using fasteners, such as screws or bolts. Such fasteners are most typically used to hold together metal shelving systems which may be disassembled for transport.
Beyond the ability to move the positions of shelves in the system, a limitation of most existing shelving systems is that they are often very inflexible with regard to the shelving arrangements which otherwise can be established using such systems. Unless one is willing to pay the price of having custom shelving made for a specific space or specific desired configuration, one is typically limited to selecting from a limited number of shelving arrangements which, in general, cannot be easily configured to an individual space or desired configuration.
What is desired, therefore, is a shelving system in which the component parts of the system are easily interchangeable such that an unlimited variety of shelving configurations can be formed quickly and easily. Such a modular shelving system should be able to be implemented inexpensively, and should be easily assembled, disassembled, and reassembled in a variety of configurations by anyone without requiring carpentry skills of any kind.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a modular shelving system including component parts which are easily assembled together to form a variety of shelving configurations. A modular shelving system in accordance with the present invention includes basic shelving components of two types, structural shelving components and connector shelving components. Structural shelving components in accordance with the present invention may be employed as both horizontally oriented shelves and vertically oriented shelf support structures in a modular shelving system in accordance with the present invention. The structural shelving components are formed such that they may be joined together easily using the connector shelving components to form a variety of shelving configurations.
Structural shelving components in accordance with the present invention are preferably formed in the shape of substantially flat boards having parallel face surfaces separated by edge surfaces preferably formed at right angles thereto. The structural shelving components may be formed in a variety of sizes and may be formed of a variety of structural materials, e.g., plastic, metal, reinforced wood, etc., using a variety of fabrication processes. A plurality of preferably circular apertures are formed along at least two opposite parallel edge surfaces of each structural shelving component. Each of the plurality of apertures are separated from each other along the length of the edge surfaces such that the center-to-center distance between the apertures is a first distance X. Each of the plurality of apertures are also positioned along the length of the edge surfaces such that the distance between the center of each aperture and a face surface adjacent to the edge surfaces on which the apertures are formed is X/2. Furthermore, preferably at least one of the plurality of apertures is positioned on the edge surface such that the distance between the center of this at least one aperture and a second edge surface adjacent and perpendicular to the edge surface on which the aperture is formed is also X/2.
Connector shelving components in accordance with the present invention may be formed as substantially flat plates having a plurality of projections extending from a substantially flat surface thereof. The connector shelving components may be formed in a variety of shapes from a variety of structural materials, such as metal or plastic, using a variety of manufacturing processes. In accordance with the present invention, the plurality of projections extending from the connector shelving components are sized and shaped to fit snugly in the apertures formed along the edge surfaces of the structural shelving components, and are separated from each other on the connector shelving components such that a center-to-center distance between the projections is the distance X.
In accordance with the present invention, structural shelving components are joined together using the connector shelving components to form modular shelving of any desired configuration. Such shelving is formed by selecting structural shelving components of a desired size and shape, placing the structural shelving components adjacent to each other (face-to-face, edge-to-edge, or edge-to-face) to form the desired shelving configuration, and then joining the structural shelving components together by inserting the projections extending from a connector shelving component of the desired shape into the apertures formed in the edge surfaces of the adjacently positioned structural shelving components. The respective spacing and positioning of the apertures on the edge surfaces of the structural shelving components and the projections extending from the connector shelving component allow the structural shelving components to be joined together to form a variety of shelving configurations. Structural shelving components and connector shelving components of various sizes and shapes in accordance with the present invention may be made available as individual components, or provided as a kit including a plurality of structural shelving components and connector shelving components in accordance with the present invention.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2319415 (1943-05-01), Lightfoot
patent: 3378320 (1968-04-01), Morgan et al.
patent: 3415554 (1968-12-01), Papayoti
patent: 3604146 (1971-09-01), Winer
patent: 4030236 (1977-06-01), Schnabel
patent: 4055373 (1977-10-01), Andresen et al.
Harris Erica B
Stodola Daniel P.
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