COLLAPSIBLE SHELVES
A collapsible shelving unit includes a front frame and a rear frame. A pair of opposed side walls are each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame. A plurality of shelves supported between the side walls. The side walls may each include a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another. The plurality of side panels may be capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed.
Stocking retail (such as grocery) shelves is relatively labor intensive. This process typically starts by receiving crates (or other temporary reusable or recyclable packages) of the products for sale at the retail store (such as a grocery store). The products are removed from the crates and arranged on the retail shelves. The crates are returned to the warehouse or recycled. As the products are removed and purchased, new products are received, unpackaged and placed on the shelves.
SUMMARYA collapsible shelving unit includes a front frame and a rear frame. A pair of opposed side walls are each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame. A plurality of shelves supported between the side walls. The side walls may each include a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another. The plurality of side panels may be capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed.
The shelving unit may be loaded with goods at a warehouse and shipped to a store. At the store, the customers can select goods directly from the shelves. When the shelving unit is empty, it can be collapsed and returned to the warehouse for reuse.
The drawings can be briefly described as follows:
A shelving unit 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The shelving unit includes a plurality of shelves 24. In the particular example shown, the shelves 24 are wire shelves, such as the known coated metal wire shelves. The front frame 14 and the rear frame 12 each include a plurality of supports 26 projecting laterally inward toward one another and each having a recess opening upward. The supports 26 support the shelves 24.
As shown in
To assemble the shelving unit 10, the front frame 14 is first partially lifted as shown in
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
Each of the components of the shelving unit 10, other than the shelves 24, may be injection molded of a suitable polymer.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
Claims
1. A collapsible shelving unit comprising:
- a front frame;
- a rear frame;
- a pair of opposed side walls each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame; and
- a plurality of shelves supported between the side walls.
2. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 1 wherein the side walls each include a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another.
3. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 2 wherein the plurality of side panels are capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed.
4. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 1 further including a top wall hingeably connected to one of the front frame and the rear frame.
5. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 4 further including a bottom wall hingeably connected to one of the front frame and the rear frame.
6. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of shelves are supported directly on the front frame and the rear frame.
7. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 6 wherein the front frame and the rear frame each include a plurality of supports projecting laterally inward toward one another and wherein the plurality of shelves are supported on the plurality of supports.
8. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 7 wherein the plurality of supports each have a recess opening upward.
9. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 8 wherein the plurality of shelves each include a plurality of feet received in the plurality of recesses in the plurality of supports.
10. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 1 wherein the front frame and the rear frame are formed of plastic and wherein the plurality of shelves are wire shelves.
11. A collapsible shelving unit comprising:
- a front frame including a plurality of front supports projecting laterally inward toward one another;
- a rear frame including a plurality of rear supports projecting laterally inward toward one another;
- a pair of opposed side walls each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame, the side walls each including a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another, the plurality of side panels being capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed;
- a top wall and a bottom wall each hingeably connected to one of the front frame and the rear frame; and
- a plurality of shelves supported on the plurality of front supports of the front frame and the plurality of rear supports on the rear frame.
12. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 11 wherein the plurality of front supports and the plurality of rear supports each have a recess opening upward.
13. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 12 wherein the plurality of shelves each include a plurality of feet received in the plurality of recesses in the plurality of front supports and the plurality of rear supports.
14. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 13 wherein the front frame and the rear frame are formed of plastic and wherein the plurality of shelves are wire shelves.
Type: Application
Filed: May 22, 2015
Publication Date: Jan 21, 2016
Inventors: John Bobel Zelek (Los Angeles, CA), William Patrick Apps (Alpharetta, GA)
Application Number: 14/719,954