Shelving system
A shelving system includes one or more shelving units. Each shelving unit has vertical frames each frame having at least two vertical posts. The vertical posts are separated by shelf support pieces. A shelf can be mounted horizontally between the vertical frames and be supported by the horizontal shelf support pieces. The shelf is detachably mounted to the vertical post by a sliding mounting connector having a U-shaped channel that can slide along the vertical post. A wedge-shaped piece can be wedged between the sliding mounting connector and the vertical post to secure the sliding mounting connector to the vertical post.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a shelving system. More particularly, this invention relates to a shelving system wherein the height of the shelving units can be altered, and which system can be assembled and disassembled without tools.
2. Description of Related Art
When assembling shelving systems, frame pieces and shelving pieces are often connected with screws to connect the shelving components. However, using screws to assemble the frame and shelving requires the user to perform complicated assembly operations. The use of screws also implies the need for tools, such as a screwdriver.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIn a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus and a method for a shelving unit includes two vertical frames each having vertical posts. One or more shelf supports attached to each vertical frame horizontally separate the respective vertical posts thereof. At least one shelf has a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the shelf, sized to detachably engage and slide along a respective vertical post. A wedge-shaped piece inserted between the sliding mounting connector and the respective vertical post. When the shelving unit is assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the shelf support and the wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors.
In a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus and a method for expanding the shelving unit vertically includes adding an additional shelving unit. The vertical posts of the vertical frames are hollow at least at a top end and a bottom end, the bottom hollow end having internal screw threads. Vertical connectors having a first end shaped to detachably engage the top end of the vertical post and a second end threaded to thread into the bottom end of the vertical post can be used to assemble a first shelving unit to a second shelving unit.
In a third aspect of the invention, an apparatus and a method for expanding the shelving unit horizontally includes a first vertical frame, a second vertical frame and a third vertical frame each having a respective first, second and third vertical posts. One or more shelf supports attached to each of the first, second and third vertical frames and horizontally separate the respective vertical posts thereof. A first shelf has a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the first shelf, the connectors sized to detachably engage and slide along the first, second or third vertical posts. One or more first wedge-shaped pieces can be inserted between the sliding mounting connectors and the respective first, second or third vertical posts. When the shelving system is assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the respective first or second vertical posts until the connectors of the first shelf abut the shelf support and the first wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors of the first shelf. A second shelf has a plurality of the sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the second shelf. When the shelving system is assembled, at least one of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf is caused to slide along the third vertical post until the connector abuts the shelf support of the third frame and at least one of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf is caused to slide along the second vertical post until the connector abuts the sliding mounting connector of the first shelf. Wedge-shaped pieces between the sliding mounting connector of the second shelf and the respective vertical posts prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf.
In general, the shelving system of the present disclosure includes one or more shelving units. Each shelving unit has vertical frames each frame having at least two vertical posts. The vertical posts are separated by shelf support pieces. A shelf can be mounted horizontally between the vertical frames and be supported by the horizontal shelf support pieces. The shelf is detachably mounted to the vertical post by a sliding mounting connector having a U-shaped channel that can slide along the vertical post. A wedge-shaped piece can be wedged between the sliding mounting connector and the vertical post to secure the sliding mounting connector to the vertical post.
Shelf 140 is mounted between two vertical frames 110 using sliding mounting connectors 130 located on the periphery of the shelf. In one embodiment, the shelf 140 is a polygonal shape although the shape of the shelf can be curved or a combination of curved and straight edges. In a particular embodiment, the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are mounted on the shelf substantially at the corners of the shelf. Sliding mounting connectors 130 have U-shaped channels, as described below, and engage vertical post 160 of the vertical frame 110 substantially at the corners of the shelf 140.
Sliding mounting connectors 130 of a shelf 140a, for example, are detachably engaged with vertical posts 160 during assembly of the shelf to the vertical posts. Shelf 140a and sliding mounting connector 130 can slide along the vertical post 160 until the sliding mounting connector or shelf abuts shelf support 120. When assembled to the vertical posts, the shelf or sliding mounting connectors is supported by shelf supports 120. Shelves 140b and 140c are illustrated in the assembled position supported by respective shelf supports 120.
Referring again to
Shelving unit 700 is assembled substantially as described in
Shelving unit 700 can be expanded sideways by assembling an additional vertical frame 710b and shelf 740b to shelving unit 700. Shelf 740b has sliding mounting connectors 730b on the periphery of the shelf 740b. In an embodiment where shelf 740b is rectangular, sliding mounting connectors 730b may be located at respective corners of shelf 740b. Similar to the description above in
Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A shelving unit, comprising:
- two vertical frames each having vertical posts;
- one or more shelf supports attached to each vertical frame and horizontally separating the respective vertical posts thereof;
- at least one shelf;
- a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the shelf, sized to
- detachably engage and slide along a respective vertical post; and
- a wedge-shaped piece inserted between the sliding mounting connector and the respective vertical post,
- wherein, when assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the shelf support and the wedge-shaped piece prevents further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors.
2. The shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are located substantially at each corner of the shelf.
3. The shelving unit of claim 2, wherein each sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel.
4. The shelving unit of claim 3, wherein the vertical posts are rectangular.
5. The shelving unit of claim 1, wherein the shelf is in the shape of a polygon having more than four sides.
6. A method of assembling a shelving unit, comprising:
- providing a first and a second vertical frame each having respective first and second vertical posts horizontally separated by a respective first and second shelf support;
- attaching a plurality of sliding mounting connectors to the periphery of a first shelf;
- attaching each sliding mounting connector to a respective vertical post of the first and second vertical frames;
- sliding the sliding mounting connectors along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the first and second shelf supports; and
- inserting a wedge-shaped piece between the sliding mounting connector and the respective vertical support,
- wherein the sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel sized to detachably engage the vertical support.
7. The method of assembling a shelving unit of claim 6, wherein the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are located substantially at each corner of the shelf.
8. The method of assembling a shelving unit of claim 7, wherein each sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel.
9. The method of assembling a shelving unit of claim 8, wherein the vertical posts are rectangular.
10. The method of assembling a shelving unit of claim 6, wherein the shelf is in the shape of a polygon having more than four sides.
11. A shelving system, comprising,
- two or more shelving units, each shelving unit comprising two vertical frames each having vertical posts, the vertical posts being hollow at least at a top end and a bottom end, the bottom hollow end having internal screw threads; one or more shelf supports attached to each vertical frame and horizontally separating the respective vertical posts thereof; at least one shelf; a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the shelf, sized to detachably engage and slide along a respective vertical post; and a wedge-shaped piece inserted between the sliding mounting connector and the respective vertical post, wherein, when assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the shelf support and the wedge-shaped piece prevents further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors; and a plurality of vertical connectors having a first end shaped to detachably engage the top end of the vertical post and a second end threaded to thread into the bottom end of the vertical post.
12. The shelving system of claim 11, wherein the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are located substantially at each corner of the shelf.
13. The shelving system of claim 12, wherein each sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel.
14. The shelving system of claim 13, wherein the vertical posts are rectangular.
15. A method of assembling a shelving system, comprising:
- assembling a plurality of shelving units, the assembling of each shelving unit comprising the steps of:
- providing two vertical frames each having vertical posts horizontally separated by a shelf support, the vertical posts being hollow at least at a top end and a bottom end, the bottom hollow end having internal screw threads;
- attaching a plurality of sliding mounting connectors to the periphery of a shelf;
- attaching each sliding mounting connector to a respective vertical post of a vertical frame;
- sliding the sliding mounting connectors along the vertical posts until the connectors abut the shelf support; and
- inserting a wedge-shaped piece between the sliding mounting connector and the vertical support,
- wherein the sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel sized to detachable engage the vertical support;
- threading one end a vertical connector into each bottom end of a respective vertical post of a first shelf unit; and
- stacking the first shelving unit on a second shelving unit by inserting a second end of the vertical connectors into the top ends of respective vertical posts of second shelving unit.
16. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 15, wherein the shelf is rectangular and the sliding mounting connectors are located substantially at each corner of the shelf.
17. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 16, wherein each sliding mounting connector has a U-shaped channel.
18. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 15, wherein the vertical posts are rectangular.
19. A shelving system, comprising: a first shelf;
- a first vertical frame, a second vertical frame and a third vertical frame each having a respective first, second and third vertical posts;
- one or more shelf supports attached to each of the first, second and third vertical frames and horizontally separating the respective vertical posts thereof;
- a plurality of sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the first shelf, the connectors sized to detachably engage and slide along the first, second or third vertical posts;
- one or more first wedge-shaped pieces inserted between the sliding mounting connectors and the respective first, second or third vertical posts,
- wherein, when assembled, the sliding mounting connectors are caused to slide along the respective first or second vertical posts until the connectors of the first shelf abut the shelf support and the first wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors of the first shelf;
- a second shelf having a plurality of the sliding mounting connectors attached to a periphery of the second shelf;
- a second wedge-shaped piece,
- wherein, when assembled, at least one of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf is caused to slide along the third vertical post until the connector abuts the shelf support of the third frame and at least one of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf is caused to slide along the second vertical post until the connector abuts the sliding mounting connector of the first shelf, and
- wherein the wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf.
20. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 6, comprising:
- providing a third vertical frame having third vertical posts horizontally separated by a third shelf support;
- attaching a plurality of sliding mounting connectors to the periphery of a second shelf;
- attaching a first sliding mounting connector of the second shelf to the third vertical post of the third vertical frame;
- attaching a second sliding mounting connector of the second shelf to the second vertical post of the second vertical frame;
- sliding the first sliding mounting connector along the third vertical post until the first connector abuts the third shelf support; and
- sliding the second sliding mounting connector along the second vertical post until the second connector abuts the sliding mounting connector of the first shelf; and
- inserting a wedge-shaped piece between the first and second sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf and the respective third and second vertical supports,
- wherein the wedge-shaped pieces prevent further sliding of the first and second sliding mounting connectors of the second shelf.
21. The method of assembling a shelving system of claim 20, wherein the third vertical post is rectangular.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 17, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2009
Inventor: James Lee (Old Tappan, NJ)
Application Number: 12/002,485
International Classification: A47B 57/06 (20060101); A47B 47/03 (20060101); A47B 96/00 (20060101); A47B 47/00 (20060101);