Abstract:
A shelving system includes one or more shelving units. Each shelving unit has posts each post having one or more indents, connectors with slots for mounting the post and one or more shelves. Each shelf has protrusions on a periphery to insert into one of the connector slots. Each shelving unit and shelving system can be assembled, disassembled, and adjusted without the use of tools or other components. The shelving units can be assembled together to create a multiple shelving unit system without the use of tools or other components.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/017,920 filed on Jan. 22, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to a shelving system. More particularly, this invention pertains to a shelving unit wherein the number and location of the shelves can be adjusted, and a shelving system wherein two or more shelving units can be connected in width and/or depth. The shelving unit and the system can be speedily and easily assembled, disassembled, or adjusted, without tools. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     When assembling shelving systems, shelving pieces are usually connected to a frame or frame pieces with screws. However, to make the connection sturdy, components other than screws, such as screw caps, brackets, or glue, are often necessary. Thus, using screws or the like to assemble the frame and shelving requires the user to perform complicated assembly operations, using an assortment of components. Furthermore, the use of screws or the like implies the need for tools, such as a screwdriver. Consequently, assembly, disassembly, or even adjustment of such a shelving system is slow and inconvenient. Moreover, repeated disassembly and re-assembly wear out screw joints, resulting in a loose shelf connection. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one aspect of the invention, a shelving unit includes a post having one or more indents along a length and a shelf having one or more protrusions on a periphery. A connector has a first slot to receive the post and has a latch on the exterior. The latch in a first position engages an indent on the post and in a second position disengages the indent. The connector has a second slot to receive a shelf protrusion. The connector is mounted to the post by inserting the post in the first slot, sliding the connector to a desired location on the post, and putting the latch in the first position that inhibits further sliding of the connector. 
     In a particular embodiment of the connector, the post mounting slot has an aperture on a periphery that is not joined with another slot. A first latch end shaped to engage the indent is rotatably mounted on the exterior adjacent to the aperture. In an closed position, the first latch end inserts through the aperture and engages the indent on the post, and a second latch end is pushed to lock the first latch end in the indent securing the connector onto the post. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a second connector is mounted on a second post at the location corresponding to the first shelf, and a second protrusion of the first shelf is inserted into a second slot of the second connector. These steps can be repeated for any additionally desired shelf-to-post connection. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus and a method for mounting an additional shelf on the shelving unit includes mounting a connector at the next desired location on the post, closing the latch, and inserting the shelf&#39;s protrusion into a slot. 
     In a third aspect of the invention, an apparatus and a method for a shelving system includes to or more shelving units. A shelving unit includes a connector having a third slot. The post mounting slot receives the post and secured thereon with the latch in a closed position. A second slot receives a shelf protrusion of a first shelf. The third slot receives a protrusion of a second shelf, mounting the first and second shelves jointly using one connector mounted on one post. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a shelving system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates assembly of a connector and a shelf on a post; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a latch prior to mounting on a connector and a shelf and a post prior to assembly; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a shelving system; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a shelving system having shelving units expanded sideways and backwards; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates top view of the shelving system of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a stabilizing bracket assembled to a shelving unit. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a shelving system of the present disclosure having stabilizing brackets. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, the shelving system of the present disclosure includes one or more shelving units. Each shelving unit has one or more shelves. Each shelf has a protrusion on a periphery of the shelf which can be vertical or horizontal. The protrusion is inserted into a slot of the slidably mounted connector on the post. The latch can be rotatable about a hinge into a first position and a second position. In the first position, the latch inhibits the connector from sliding along the post. In the second position, the latch enables the connector to slide along the post to a desired height for the shelf. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a shelving system  10  including two shelving units  100   a  and  100   b . Shelving unit  100   a  has posts  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c , and  110   d , each having one or more indents  140  along a length of each post. Connector  120   a  is mounted on post  110   a  by inserting post  110   a  into a post mounting slot on connector  120   a . Connector  120   a  is slidable over the length of post  110   a  to an indent  140  at a desired shelf location, where the connector is secured using latch  150  formed on the exterior of connector  120 . Shelf  130   a  is mounted on connector  120   a  by inserting a protrusion (not shown), described herein below, on shelf  130   a  into a second slot on connector  120   a . This process may be repeated for any additional protrusion-to-post connections according to the design of the shelving unit, using the necessary number of additional connectors  120   a.    
     To add another shelving unit  100   b  to form a shelving system  10 , a connector  120   b  is used to connect shelf  130   a  to post  110   b . Connector  120   b  has a third slot. After mounting the post  110   b  on the post mounting slot of connector  120   b  and mounting the first shelf  130   a  on post  110   b , a second shelf  130   b  is mounted on connector  120   b  by inserting a protrusion of shelf  130   b  into the third slot. 
     To add an additional shelf  130   c  to shelving unit  100   a , another connector  120   a  is slid over post  110   a , latched at the desired height, and then shelf  130   c  is mounted similar to that described herein above. This process may be repeated for each additional post-shelf connection for shelf  130   c.    
     In one embodiment, shelf  130  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 connectors  120   a  and  120   b  are mounted on the shelf substantially at the corners of the shelf. Connectors  120  have slots as described herein and engage posts  110  substantially at the corners of the shelf  130 . Each post  110  can have a foot  160 , which can make the shelving unit slidable, stable, harmless to the flooring material, or improve the appearance of the shelving unit. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of the shelving unit having optional support brackets  740 . Support bracket  740  can be made of any suitable material including plastic or metal. Support bracket  740  has a mounting portion  790  and a stabilizing portion  770 . Mounting portion  790  may have ridges  780  that extend outwardly and are deformable. Stabilizing portion  770  is in a shape to engage a post  710 . In a particular embodiment, post  710  is rectangular and stabilizing portion  770  is L-shaped. In this embodiment, shelf  730  has a tubular frame that has openings  760 . Shelf  730  is a rectangular shelf made of a rectangular tube having rectangular openings  760  at the corners thereof. Shelf  730  has protrusions  750  at the corners thereof adjacent openings  760 . Mounting portion  790  is insertable into opening  760 . In an implementation, mounting portion  790  is press-fit into openings  760  and ridges  780  deform to enable retention of mounting portion  790  in opening  760 . Stabilizing bracket  740  may be retained in the opening  760  by frictional forces between ridges  780  and tubular frame of the shelf  730 . Similar to the discussion above with respect to  FIG. 1 , A connector  720  is slidable over the length of post  710  to an indent  742  at a desired shelf location, where the connector is secured using latch (not shown) formed on the exterior of connector  720 . 
     In addition to the assembly of the shelving system described with respect to  FIG. 1 , stabilizing brackets  740  are inserted into openings  760  of the tubular frame of shelf  730 . Protrusions  750  are inserted into a slot  720   a  in connector  720 . Insertion of the protrusion  750  into slot  720   a  captivates stabilizing bracket  740  therebetween. Moreover, stabilizing portion  740  engages post  710  and helps to reduce movement of the shelf when the shelving system is assembled. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a shelving system  800  according to the present invention that uses stabilizing brackets  840 . In the embodiment illustrated, each shelf  830  is mounted between two posts  810   a ,  810   b  that are inserted into a first slot of a connector  820 . Each connected is latched in place on the post by a latch  850  at an indent  842  as discussed herein above. A stabilizing bracket  840  is inserted into an opening (not seen) of a tubular frame of shelf  830 . A protrusion (not seen) at each corner of shelf  830  is inserted into a second slot of respective connector  820  at each corner of the shelf captivating the respective stabilizing bracket therebetween. When so assembled, a stabilizing portion of the stabilizing bracket at each corner of the shelf engages a respective post to stabilize the shelf in position. Additional shelves  830  may be added to the shelving system in a similar manner. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an assembly of connector  220  and a corner of a shelf  230 . Connector  220  is mounted to post  210  by inserting the post through post mounting slot  280 . In one implementation, latch  250  is rotatable about a pin  254  mounted on connector  220  at a latch base  253  to a first position and a second position. Latch  250  has a first end  251  shaped to engage indent  240  on post  210  when the latch is in the first position and disengage the indent when the latch is in the second position. When latch  250  is rotated to the second, disengaged, position, connector  220  is enabled to slide along post  210  to a desired height. When latch  250  is rotated to the first, latched, position, latch end  251  passes through an aperture  270  in post mounting slot  280  to engage indent  240 . In the latched position (shown) latch  250  locks connector  220  on post  210  at the height of an engaged indent  240 . The connector  220  has a second slot  290   a  to receive a protrusion on the periphery of a shelf (see  FIG. 3 ). The shelf protrusion inserts into slot  290   a , mounting shelf  230  on post  210 . Connector  220  can have an additional slot  290   b  that can receive the shelf protrusion of another shelf. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates details of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  and shows connector  220 , shelf  230 , and post  210 , disassembled. Pin  254  mounts latch  250  at latch end  251  on the exterior of post mounting slot  280  enabling latch  250  to pivot around pin  254 . Connector  220  has post mounting slot  280  with aperture  270  through which latch end  251  engages indent  240  on post  210  and can be secured thereon by pushing latch end  252  to cause the latch to rotate around pin  254  to the first, latched, position. The pressure of the latch end  251  against the indent  240  can inhibit movement of the connector  220  along the post  210 . 
     Shelf  330  has one or more vertical protrusions  331  which are shaped for insertion into shelf mounting slot  290   a  on connector  220 . Thus inserted, protrusion  331  allows connection of shelf  330  to post  210  at the location of a connector  220  that can be placed at a desired indent  240 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of a shelving system  400  including three shelving units  400   a ,  400   b , and  400   c , joined in width. Each shelving unit  400   a ,  400   b ,  400   c  is joined to each another shelving unit using a common post  410   b . Each post  410   a  and  410   b  can have a foot  460  to protect a floor and to help anchor the system on a floor. It can be seen that such a shelving system can be rapidly assembled and disassembled, and uses only two additional posts for each additional shelving unit. The shelving system can be expanded by adding any number of shelving units, using either one or two posts  410  for each additional shelving unit. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a shelving system  500  including three shelving units  500   a ,  500   b , and  500   c , configured in a U-shape. Here also, each shelving unit  500   a ,  500   b , and  500   c  is joined to another using a common post  510   b . In a particular embodiment, the posts are rectangular tubes. A connector  520   b  detachably connects shelving unit  500   a  to shelving unit  500   b  by mounting a protrusion of shelf  530   a  and a protrusion of shelf  530   b  to common connector  520   b.    
       FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . Post  510   a  supports a single shelving unit, while post  510   b  and connectors  520   a  and  520   b  support and join two shelving units  600   a  and  600   b . Additional shelving units can be joined, either in the U-shaped configuration, straight as in  FIG. 1 , or diagonally as in  FIG. 4 . Other patterns of shelving may be created by combining shelving units in a similar manner. 
     Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.